The spectator., 1919-10-14

atsastsous Ire occurred a alnost iglme- diateiy after his assuming the pasto- Tate of this church The membersh tp has increased about 25o within the last eighteen months.
 and take treatment Beloved, the crying need of the church and Chris. tisn today is for the great Spiritual Physician
 Why? Because the spirit of prayer has waned. The unconfessed state of Christians everywhere is, Ut is oR ffcult to pray" The war. instead of bringing the world to it's knees has hardened millions and driven them away from the altar.
 True prayer is based on:
 l. A Deep Craving-A natural de- sire. The normal body craves 10 eat and eats; normal soul desires to pray and prays My soul lougeth yea even fainteth for the courts or Jehovah my heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God ," (Ps. s4:2)
 Augustine says: Give me Thine tGod's) own self without whom. Thou shouldst give me all that ever thou hadst more. yet could not my desires be satisfied [" George Matheson prays: Whether Thou comest in sunshine or rain. would take Thee into my heart ioy. fully. Thou art Thyself more than the sunshine; thou art Thyself com pensation for the rain It is Thee and not Thy gtfts crave"
 Is this your deep soul craving for God? Is 1t mine? Do you hunse~.
 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteous ness: for thev shall be filled" Matt 5:sD And thirst? "As the heart panteth after the water brooks so panreth my soul after Thee. o God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. When shall l come and appear before God o- tPs 42:l-2.)
 7, A Conscious Need.-The heal thy growing child wakes Tn the night
 Mother, l am hungry-T want q drink" The child did not have to create his appetite-it was there: |, Was natural-he was conscious of if and mother set herself 10 satjsf1 tb. need. God in Christ is the satisfec ton of soul need (John 6.35 4S.54)
 Beloved, true prayer is based n, conscious need Where there is no need. there is no prayer. and where there is no prayer there Is no bless. ing. Herein lies the religious tragedy of the hour-unoffered prayers. And Tn that day ye shall ask me nc oues- ton. Verify, verify, I say unto you If ye shall ask anything of the Fath. CT, He will give it to you in Nv name Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask and ye shall receive that your joy ma? he made full. SC (John 16:23-24)
 When John Knox was crushed by the fearful condition of Scotland under the tyranr Queen. Mary. he Is said to have cried out to God, Give me Scotland or I die"
 St RHlUuHF says, How can we see the lost. even our own children rushing headlong to ruin. while we glide peacefully into glory. without d cry to God for their dellveranca, Either our faith Is moekery or our profession is a lie
 God has promised the gift of His Spirit for power in service. "If yo then. being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall vour heavenly Fa- ther give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" Luke 11:18. Yet we go on depending on man-made strength and organizations withou, Him, refusing 10 pray and receive.
 When our people are crushed be- meath the load of the lost. We win see hundreds brought to Christ where we now number them by ones and twos
 "If my people, who are called by my name. shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face. and turn from their wicked ways then will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" lII. Chron. 7:1D.