These are hard days for the church of the living God. It seems that there is a spirit of apathy that occupies the hearts of church members. Most seem satisfied with their present condition and with the condition of the church. Sadly, the present condition of most churches is far degraded from what the church used to be. There was day when the power of God rested on the church. There was a day when prayer and holiness were the order of the day. There was a time when revivals swept the nations as the church prayed, witnesses and lived out the Gospel in the power of God. Those days are gone!

The church needs to rediscover the ministry of prayer. We have forgotten that the power of God does not come through polished preaching, upbeat services or through our modern organizational techniques. The power of God falls on people who humble themselves before the Lord. The power of God falls on people who seek His face. The power of God falls on people forsake their sins. The power of God falls on people who pray.This truth is made abundantly clear throughout the Bible. Of course, 2 Chron. 7:14, is the preeminent verse. It says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

The church needs to rediscover the power of holiness and separation. One person said, “I looked for the church and I found it in the world. I looked for the world and I found it in the church.” God has commanded His people to be a clea, separate people. 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” As long as there is sin in our lives and in the church, there will be no power from Heaven poured out on us. We need to get holy before the Lord.

The church is in trouble! She is under attack from without. The world as a whole, and certain political elements in particular, would love nothing better than to silence the voice of the church. The church is also under attack from within. As more and more preachers and church members abandon the Word of God as the sole authority and the sole standard for truth in the church, the church grows weaker. The modern church more resembles a social organization than it does the awesome powerhouse that was the early church.

Can we recover the glory? Can we experience the power of God once more? Can the church have the power of God on her once again so that she is a force in the world and a mighty weapon in the hand of God? Yes! But, we can only have those things when we humble ourselves before Him, seek His face in prayer and change our ways. If we want God and His power then preachers need to get back to preaching the undiluted truth of God. The church as a whole must forsake this modern attitude that worldly ways will make us successful. The church must return to old fashioned praying, preaching and praising the Lord. Until we seek the old paths, we will never recover what we need the most: the power of God.

Well, that is what is on my heart today. Pray for me that I will live my life in the right way and that I will lead the church I have been called to Pastor in the right paths, in the old paths for the glory of God.

Today is a busy day, as usual. I need to make four hospital visits. I need to attend a funeral. I need to study. So, I had better get about it!

Alan Carr