Thursday, February 11, 2016

#16 Prayerlessness is Sin

Wesley L. Duewel: "There is NO easier sin to commit than the sin of prayerlessness. It is a sin against man and a sin against God.

Are you guilty of that sin today? On some occasions the Bible specifically addresses the sin of failing to pray for others. Samuel said to Israel,

   'As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against 
    the LORD for failing to pray for you' (1 Sam. 12:23).

It would have been a sin against them and against God, who loved them so much.

You can sin not only by doing what is wrong but by not doing what is right, by not doing your duty.

   'Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do 
    and doesn't  do it, sins' (James 4:17).

Jesus said,

   'That servant who knows his master's will and...does 
    not do what his master wants' commits such a sin
    (Luke 12:47).

Such sins of omission do not separate you from God, but they certainly grieve His heart. They show disrespect to the Word of God, to the love of Christ, and to the tender Holy Spirit, who seeks to remind you of what you should do.

Sins of omission weaken your spiritual life, make you comparatively useless to God, and rob you of the rewards God longs to give you.

              A SIN OF NEGLECT

O. Hallesby has written, 

   'A child of God can grieve Jesus in no worse way than 
    to neglect prayer....Many neglect prayer to such an 
    extent that their spiritual life gradually dies out.'

Those who are careless about prayer show that they are careless about other spiritual things. They are rarely ready to be used by God. Prayerlessness means unavailability to God—a sin against God's love.

Prayerlessness proves that the person has very little real love for God. It is not difficult to make time to speak to those we love.

   'Brethren, the crying need of the church is her 
    laziness after God,' says Samuel Chadwick. 

Andrew Murray adds,

   'The sin of prayerlessness is a proof...that the life of 
    God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness.'

The prayerless person is more carnal than spiritual. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of prayer (Zech. 12:10, margin). He prompts us to pray, guides us in prayer, and helps our weakness in prayer (Rom. 8:26). 

Prayerless Christians are not filled and controlled by the Spirit, no matter what they may profess. One's neglect to pray can be a sin against God."

(Google image and my emphasis added)


Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana
#16 Prayerlessness is Sin
by Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 29, 30) Zondervan 

    Father, help us to not sin by our lack of praying. Open our eyes to what it is You desire for us to pray for each day.
   May we remember that the prayerless person is more carnal than spiritual, and that if we want to serve You the best we can, there must be a regular commitment to be prayerful about everything we do.
   Prayerlessness does not separate us from You, but it does grieve You, as You love us so much and want to do things in and through us that otherwise won't be accomplished.
    Forgive my unwillingness to pray as the Holy Spirit has prompted me. May I be ready and willing to obey Him from now on.
   I ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: 1 Cor. 10:12 "Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

Today’s quote: "If darkness surrounds me ..though I cannot see ..this I know ...My God reigns
if my strength has left me and taken my hope as its prisoner ...still My God reigns....
if my faith fails me when it's all that's left ..He remains faithful and ..still....My God reigns
darkness flees from His presence, fear trembles at His word,
storms cease their raging, and death bows to its conqueror
Jesus Christ my Lord." Ernie Miller

Our thought today: Watch for community life together. The key to community building is: 

  •  breaking bread 
  •  connecting with one another 
  •  sharing same cause of common ground 
  •  and sharing life by doing stuff together

    How to Revamp Your Quiet Time
 13th- Saturday's post by Sharon Jaynes
    
    We'll One Day Split the Sky!
 14th- Sunday evening's post by Lee Forbes
    
    #17 A Sin of Disobedience
 16th- Tuesday's post by Wesley. L. Duewel
    
    #18 A Sin Against Your Own Spiritual Life
  18th- Thursday's post by Wesley L. Duewel
    

A popular post: Taste and See Wendy Herrmann Smith shares with us her conversation:

"No, we’re not buying shoes for you today,' 
I told my five-year-old daughter. 'We’re here to find your brother some hiking boots.' 

I wasn’t in the market for the pink sandals..." 

  



1 comment:

  1. I really like the posts from Mighty Prevailing Prayer. Debbie

    ReplyDelete