Our public assemblies were then beautiful; the congregation was alive in God’s service, everyone earnestly intent on the public worship, every hearer eager to drink in the words of the minister as they came from his mouth; the assembly in general were, from time to time, in tears while the Word was preached; some weeping with sorrow and distress, others with joy and love, others with pity and concern for the souls of their neighbors.
A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God, Works, Vol. 4, p. 151.|A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God, Works, Vol. 4, p. 151.
When the church takes its mind and heart away from Christ and His words, human authority and tradition fills the vacuum.
If the strength of the church should be determined by its impact on its surrounding culture, we desperately need an injection of spiritual life. The present powerlessness of the church may be a sign that God has withdrawn His blessing that we might seek Him.
Erwin Lutzer America’s Spiritual Crisis, Revival Commentary, v. 1, n. 2, p. 11.
The true Church has never sounded out public expectations before launching her mission. Her leaders heard from God, they knew their Lord’s will and did it. Their people followed them- sometimes to triumph, oftener to insults and public persecution – and their sufficient reward was the satisfaction of being right in a wrong world
There are churches so completely out of the hands of God that if the Holy Spirit withdrew from them they wouldn’t find it out for many months.
