DEVOTIONAL

I Was Just Thinking About – DEVOTIONAL.

Many church-attending people are well acquainted with Daily Devotionals that are regularly made available. Our Daily Bread is one that is most common. When people start their day with a time for prayer and Bible Reading, almost always it includes reading some comments of a devotional writer such as Streams in the Desert; My Utmost for His Highest; Daily Light; etc. There is no limit to devotional materials one can use. I usually read some myself, such as: Get More Strength For The Journey; Insight for Living; Daily Treasures; etc. There is absolutely nothing inherently wrong with doing so unless it detracts from quality time in prayer and diligent reading and study of the Holy Scriptures.

I was listening to a sermon that was given in the presence of hundreds of people who had gathered for an Awakening Conference. The speaker was clear as he stressed two convicting thoughts: (1) Do you reckon with the barrenness in one’s life because of unconfessed sin or any sense of guilt before a Holy God; and (2) Do you wonder about the desert existence of the church where there is little expectation of any display of God’s power and His presence in the midst of the church?

The early indication of what was necessary for there to be any awakening after the ascension of Jesus Christ was observable in the actions of His disciples/apostles. Acts 1:14 describes the scene for us: “With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” Some translations indicate that they “devoted themselves to prayer.” Following this time of prayer, those who had been cowardly at the crucifixion became bold in their declaration about Jesus Christ. Peter became the spokesman for the group and hundreds became so convicted that they cried out (Acts 2:37): “What must we do?” As the respondents became part of the spiritual awakening that was occurring, Acts 2:42 indicates: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Where there had been barrenness, there now was life; where there had been a desert and nothing to quench their spiritual thirst, there was now the life-sustaining presence of the Holy Spirit that was satisfying and rejuvenating that which was at the throes of death.

One of the most poorly attended gatherings in any church is when a Prayer Meeting or Group is announced. Some churches have surrendered to the inevitable and cancelled any specified time for Prayer. The result is not a surprise. Christianity Today, March 6, 2019 posted a LifeWay Survey that indicated: “6 in 10 Protestant churches are plateaued or declining in attendance and more than half saw fewer than 10 people become new Christians in the past 12 months. The research gives a clear picture of the state of Protestant churches in America today. Most have fewer than 100 people attending services each Sunday (57%), including 21 percent who average fewer than 50.  Twenty-eight percent of Protestant pastors say their church has seen worship service attendance shrink by 6 percent or more compared to three years ago. The lack of growth in worship attendance in most churches is matched by a lack of new commitments to Christ last year.”

It is obvious that the Church cannot accomplish mechanically that which can only be realized spiritually. It is not in the programs devised but in Prayer that is marked by devotedness. It is not by the powerful preaching of the pulpit occupant but by the presence of God and the outpouring of His Spirit that results in confession of sin and renewed commitment to Jesus Christ. We cannot think that we can produce a result that can only be accomplished by God in Jesus Christ (John 3:21).

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.