Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Charles G. Finney, who is widely considered
as the father of modern revivalism, began preaching around 1825 in
upstate New York. He instituted many of the practices
such as what many today might describe as the altar call of
modern evangelism. He believed that men were the
cause of their own salvation. and brought their own faith to
God rather than receiving faith from the hand of God. His message
was widely and happily received, and for a season appeared to
usher in a new era of spiritual prosperity. Yet as in all endeavors
of the flesh, the glory of God took second place to the glory
of men, and their accomplishments and the lasting effects of his
errors remain with us today. One of his more egregious errors,
which persists in the minds of many today, is that men can,
by their own efforts, prayers, and devotion, cause God to pour
out his blessings and send revival. We certainly believe in the constant
need of God's people for revival and hope to join with Habakkuk
in imploring the Lord for such. O Lord, I have heard thy speech
and was afraid. O Lord, revive thy work in the
midst of the years. In the midst of the years, make
known. In wrath, remember mercy. We often find ourselves in a
cold and indifferent frame of mind due to the weakness and
wickedness of our own flesh, and only because he works in
us both the will and to do of his good pleasure do we desire
with David to see thee as we have seen thee in the sanctuary.
Quite in contrast, if any's appeals to the natural man to cause God
to hear him through much praying. The psalmist makes all of his
appeal to the Lord, recognizing that unless the Lord is pleased
to turn us again, we cannot even desire his presence, much less
call upon his name in such fashion as to compel him to hear us.
The man who does not recognize that all of his blessings, faith,
obedience, and true prayers are the gift of God, which are bestowed
according to his sovereign pleasure, is a man who is not acquainted
with the God of the Bible. For a man to desire to be turned
from his natural sinful way, he must first be visited by the
Lord. O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself.
It is not in man that walketh to direct his step. Left to himself,
every man will be consumed by his own corruption. The preparations
of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
We do not point this out to discourage men from praying, but rather
that they might recognize him from whom all blessings flow.
The psalmist's appeal is to the Lord God of hosts. This literally
means he who has all power and is the commander of the hosts
of the heavens as well as those of the earth. As Nebuchadnezzar
learned, I blessed the Most High and praised and honored him that
lived forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and
his kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants
of the earth are reputed as nothing. And he doeth according to his
will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the
earth, and none can stay his hand or say unto him, What doest
thou? He is not a God who waits upon
the activity of man's free will, but rather is the one who causes
his people to be willing in the day of his power. The psalmist
desires the presence of the Lord himself, and not simply some
benefit which can be derived from religious activity. Cause
thy face to shine. This is exactly what Paul describes
to the Corinthians when he said, For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. There is no other avenue of blessing
to the sons of men than that which arises in and through a
knowledge of Jesus Christ as the Savior of sinners and the
Lord God of heaven and earth. Paul willingly cast off all of
his religious and cultural traditions for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but lost for
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them
but done, that I may win Christ and be found in him, not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which
is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection. Then the psalmist brings forth
the conclusion of that work which he desired for the Lord to carry
out in his own power and bring to fruition. We shall be saved. He understood that what the Lord
undertakes to perform will be done, and the gates of hell cannot
prevail against it. One of Finney's errors was to
define salvation as something which men participate in. Yet
the psalmist clearly states, but the salvation of the righteous
is of the Lord. He is their strength in the time
of trouble. Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain
that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh
but in vain. The blood of Jesus Christ, his
son, cleanseth us from all sin. Have you been cleansed by the
blood of Christ? For a free CD containing 15 of these radio
broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.