04 -- MAKING GOD MORE REAL
Recently I was led of the Spirit into a gracious season of prayer, and at the
close of this wonderful waiting before the Lord, I made this solemn vow unto the
Lord: "I hereby resolve to make you more real to my own soul, and to the people
whom I serve." I fully realize that it is one thing to make a vow, and quite
another thing to fulfill it. How important it is that we make the Lord real in
these troublesome times! Do we act as if God still lives? Does He really live
and reign within? Are we in vital touch with Him? How can we make the Lord more
real to our own soul, and to those whom we serve?
* * *
I. WE CAN MAKE THE LORD MORE REAL BY GIVING MORE ATTENTION TO PRAYER Prayer
to the Christian is as necessary as food and clothing for the body. Prayer is
more than murmuring and complaining to the Lord. We should pray and not fuss and
fume about world conditions. We should pray until the machinery of the soul is
fully lubricated -- pray until we are in the presence of the Lord -- pray until
things come to pass. We should pray until we are empowered with supernatural
strength -- pray until the Lord becomes real to our own soul. Paul says, "Pray
without ceasing." In Acts we read, "And when they prayed, the place was shaken."
Still the writer of the Acts says, "But prayer was made without ceasing of the
church unto God for him."
* * *
II. TO KNOW GOD BETTER, WE SHOULD GIVE MORE TIME TO THE READING OF THE BIBLE
The Bible should be studied for soul food and genuine spiritual instruction.
This blessed Book should be given first place in our lives. We should read its
history, its prophecy, its poetry, its promises, its punishments, its
comparisons, its descriptions of the future, and its hopes. We should read it
for strength in these evil days. "As thy day, so shall thy strength be." In
these winding days of turmoil and strife, it is our greatest source of strength
and comfort. If we would know the Lord better, we should know His Book better.
Paul says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That
the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
* * *
III. THERE SHOULD BE FREQUENT ANOINTINGS OF THE HOLY GHOST The blessings of
the past are not sufficient -- there must be new touches of holy fire, and fresh
springs of joy springing up within the heart. We must not suffer our souls to
become dry, and fireless and powerless. The early disciples gathered in a
certain place for prayer, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost. They had
already received their Pentecost in the upper room, but they were now face to
face with an impending crisis. They prayed, and the place was shaken, and they
went forth proclaiming the Word with power and boldness. How our hearts need to
be broken, our spirits need a gracious mellowing, and we need that joy that is
unspeakable and full of glory! Yes, to know the Lord better, and to make Him
more real to others, let us seek new spiritual overflows that move others toward
the Kingdom of God.
* * *
IV. WE SHOULD LIVE MORE AND MORE IN HIS PRESENCE Moses would not continue his
march to the promised land without the presence of the Lord. He was given this
bracing promise: "My presence shall go with thee and I will give you rest. "More
and more we need this Divine Presence. His presence guided the children of
Israel safely to the land of Promise. How we need the divine presence in our
private lives, in our homes, in our work, in our testings, and in the services
of the church. With His presence, we can walk in the fiery furnace of
affliction, in the lion's den of persecution, and in the valley of the shadow of
death. His presence will empower us to meet opposition and the misunderstandings
of life. The Divine Presence in our services puts life in the singing,
winsomeness into the sermon, conviction on the sinner, and hunger in the heart
of the unsanctified. Oh, that we should live more and more in His presence! Let
us practice the presence of God!
* * *
V. WE SHOULD HAVE A GREATER PASSION FOR BLEEDING AND SOBBING HUMANITY If we
know the Lord in the power of His resurrection, then we can make Him more real
to others. This world is lost and without God, but men have never been more
hungry for the Bread of Life than now. Truly, the harvest is ripe, and this is
our greatest day of opportunity to win men to Christ. There is a real soul
hunger in men, and a growing concern for God throughout this land. Oh, that we
shall make God more real to suffering humanity! Jesus looked upon the fainting
multitudes with compassion. When He looked upon the doomed city of Jerusalem, it
broke His heart. When He looked out of tearful eyes upon the shepherdless
multitudes it crushed His spirit. We should evangelize the nations of earth, but
what about the little world near your doorsteps? What about the block where you
live? Have you touched those near you with this blessed Gospel that saves and
sanctifies men? Yes, if we are to make the Lord real to our own souls, and to
the souls of others, we must love the souls of men. We should love men as Jesus
loved them. Do we love the secret place of prayer? Is the Bible a living Book to
you? Are you frequently anointed of the Spirit? Do you have His constant
presence? Do the lost multitudes of earth move your heart? How much do you love
souls? Beloved, let's make the Lord more real to the souls of men! Let's linger
in His presence until our hearts are broken over the lost about us!
