Sin of Prayerlessness
The sin of prayerlessness leads to a weak sense of sin and a failure to hate sin as we ought, but we can overcome it by seeking a deeper understanding of sin and cultivating a constant nearness and power of the living Christ in our lives.
Andrew Murray emphasizes the grave consequences of prayerlessness, arguing that it weakens our awareness of sin and diminishes our ability to flee from it. He asserts that only through deep, consistent fellowship with God can we truly learn to hate sin as God desires. Murray highlights that understanding sin and appropriating Christ's victory requires a constant connection with the living Christ. He calls for believers to seek a deeper awareness of their sinfulness and to wait on God for the Spirit's transformative power. Ultimately, he encourages reliance on the promise that abiding in Christ leads to a life free from sin.
Text
What think you? Do you not begin to see that the sin of prayerlessness has had a more terrible effect than you at first supposed? It is because of this hasty and superficial converse with God that the sense of sin is so weak and that no motives have power to help you to hate and flee from sin as you ought. Nothing, nothing except the hidden, humble, constant fellowship with God can teach you, as a child of God, to hate sin as God wants you to hate it.
Nothing, nothing but the constant nearness and unceasing power of the living Christ can make it possible for you rightly to understand what sin is and to detest it.
And without this deeper understanding of sin, there will be no thought of appropriating the victory which is made possible for you in Christ Jesus, and will be wrought in you by the Spirit. 0 my God, cause me to know my sin and teaching me to tarry before thee and to wait on thee till thy Spirit causes something of thy holiness to rest upon me! 0 my God, cause me to know my sin, and let this drive me to listen to the promise: 'He that abideth in him sinneth not,' and to expect the fulfillment from Thee!
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The Sin of Prayerlessness - Its Effects on Our Relationship with God - The Need for Deeper Fellowship with God
- II points: - The Weak Sense of Sin - The Powerlessness of Motives to Hate Sin - The Need for a Deeper Understanding of Sin
- III points: - The Role of the Living Christ in Understanding Sin - The Importance of Constant Nearness and Power of Christ - The Possibility of Victory over Sin through Christ
- IV points: - The Need to Know Our Sin - The Importance of Tarrying Before God - The Role of the Spirit in Resting Holiness upon Us
Key Quotes
“Nothing, nothing except the hidden, humble, constant fellowship with God can teach you, as a child of God, to hate sin as God wants you to hate it.” — Andrew Murray
“0 my God, cause me to know my sin and teaching me to tarry before thee and to wait on thee till thy Spirit causes something of thy holiness to rest upon me!” — Andrew Murray
“He that abideth in him sinneth not,” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- We must seek a deeper understanding of sin in order to hate it as God wants us to.
- We must cultivate a constant nearness and power of the living Christ in our lives in order to overcome sin.
- We must listen to the promise that 'He that abideth in him sinneth not' and expect its fulfillment from God.