Modern Revivals
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He declares: “I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin
and the sin of my people.” And when at a later time the Son of God
appeared, to give him instruction, Daniel says: “My comeliness was
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turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.”
Daniel 9:18,
15, 20
;
10:8
.
When Job heard the voice of the Lord out of the whirlwind, he
exclaimed: “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job 42:6
. It
was when Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord, and heard the cherubim
crying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts,” that he cried out, “Woe
is me! for I am undone.”
Isaiah 6:3, 5
. Paul, after he was caught up
into the third heaven and heard things which it was not possible for a
man to utter, speaks of himself as “less than the least of all saints.”
2
Corinthians 12:2-4
, margin;
Ephesians 3:8
. It was the beloved John,
who leaned on Jesus’ breast and beheld His glory, that fell as one dead
before the feet of the angel.
Revelation 1:17
.
There can be no self-exaltation, no boastful claim to freedom
from sin, on the part of those who walk in the shadow of Calvary’s
cross. They feel that it was their sin which caused the agony that
broke the heart of the Son of God, and this thought will lead them to
self-abasement. Those who live nearest to Jesus discern most clearly
the frailty and sinfulness of humanity, and their only hope is in the
merit of a crucified and risen Saviour.
The sanctification now gaining prominence in the religious world
carries with it a spirit of self-exaltation and a disregard for the law of
God that mark it as foreign to the religion of the Bible. Its advocates
teach that sanctification is an instantaneous work, by which, through
faith alone, they attain to perfect holiness. “Only believe,” say they,
“and the blessing is yours.” No further effort on the part of the receiver
is supposed to be required. At the same time they deny the authority of
the law of God, urging that they are released from obligation to keep
the commandments. But is it possible for men to be holy, in accord
with the will and character of God, without coming into harmony with
the principles which are an expression of His nature and will, and
which show what is well pleasing to Him?
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The desire for an easy religion that requires no striving, no self-
denial, no divorce from the follies of the world, has made the doctrine
of faith, and faith only, a popular doctrine; but what saith the word
of God? Says the apostle James: “What doth it profit, my brethren,