E.M. Bounds - The Essentials of Prayer - Chapters 10-11

Here are a few gems from Rev. E.M. Bound's 11th chapter of his book 'The Essentials of Prayer.' The 11h chapter is called 'Concerted Prayer'. As always, I'm quoting the parts of the chapter that spoke the loudest to me. I did not locate anything in chapter 10 that stood out.

Church discipline, now a lost art in the modern Church, must go hand in hand with prayer, and that the Church which has no disposition to separate wrong doers from the Church, and which has no excommunication spirit for incorrigible offenders against law and order, will have no communication with God. Church purity must precede the Church’s prayers. The unity of discipline in the Church precedes the unity of prayers by the Church.

Let it be noted with emphasis that a Church which is careless of discipline will be careless in praying. A Church which tolerates evil doers in its communion, will cease to pray, will cease to pray with agreement, and will cease to be a Church gathered together in prayer in Christ’s name.

The work of the Church is not alone to seek members but it is to watch over and guard them after they have entered the Church. And if any are overtaken by sin; they must be sought out, and if they cannot be cured of their faults, then excision must take place. This is the doctrine our Lord lays down.

I did not find anything in the last two chapters of this book that stood out.

Posted by rebnora at January 21, 2008 6:57 AM | TrackBack