"The Necessity of Prayer"

"Faith that ceases to pray, ceases to live", so said E.M. Bounds - one of the greatest authorities on prayer in church history.  Although he wrote his books mostly during the late 19th century, his works still resonate in the hearts of modern-day Christians.  For example, the current pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernacle, Jim Cymbala, has these rousing words to say concerning Bounds' books, "Reading E.M. Bounds is like camping near a blazing fire on a cold winter night - you either stand near to enjoy its warmth or move away because the flame seems too much to bear."  These words rang true for me after reading "The Necessity of Prayer."  In this book by E.M. Bounds (he wrote a total of eight books on prayer) his desire to be in continual, burning and impassioned communion with God is clearly felt in his words when describing what prayer is and why it is essential for spiritual survival.  Concerning the need for blazing fervent prayer, Bounds wrote, "Prayer ascends by fire.  Flame gives prayer access as well as wings, acceptance as well as energy.  There is no incense without fire; no prayer without flame."

For Christians who feel their prayer-life with God may not have their heart in it and has grown cold and lifeless, the book "The Necessity of Prayer" by E.M. Bounds will exalt the importance of prayer and rekindle a strong fire in the hearts of its readers to engage God daily with prayer in a deeply profound and life-giving way.

"Prayer must be habitual, but much more than a habit... It is the expression of a relation to God, a yearning for divine communion.  It is the outward and upward flow of the inward life toward its original fountain."

- E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer, Chapter 6, pg 39

"The Attributes of God"

During one of Jesus' prayers to the Heavenly Father, Jesus said, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." - John 17:3.  Clearly, it is important for a person to have some comprehensive understanding of the divine nature of God in order to claim to know and to be known by God Himself.  The book "The Attributes of God" is a very well-written, specific and concise volume that serves the purpose of equipping each Christian with a biblical and doctrinal understanding of who God is as revealed in the Scriptures.  Written by theologian A.W. Pink (1886-1952) this book delves into and defines 17 attributes of God; such attributes are the decrees of God, the sovereignty of God, the immutability of God, the faithfulness of God, the love of God, and the wrath of God.

In our time when the word "God" is thrown around loosely and without definition or qualification by numerous groups, it is important for Christians to retain and proclaim the definite and precise doctrinal attributes of the God of the Bible for their own sake and for the good of their hearers.  A.W. Pink wrote, "A spiritual and saving knowledge of God is the greatest need of every human creature... An unknown God can neither be trusted, served, nor worshiped."  Reading "The Attributes of God" by A.W. Pink will help reveal the all-encompassing power, infinite nature, and majestic glory that is our almighty God.

"To countless thousands, even among those professing to be Christians, the God of the Scriptures is quite unknown."
- A.W. Pink, The Attributes of God, Chapter 5, pg 23

"A Tale of Two Sons"

Subtitle: The Inside Story of a Father, His Sons, and a Shocking Murder

The Prodigal Son parable is the longest, most gripping, and most well known parable that Jesus ever uttered.  Having read this parable a number of times myself, I thought I had learned all there was to learn from it.  However, after reading "A Tale of Two Sons" by pastor and theologian John MacArthur, I realized there was a wealth of knowledge and wisdom still to be uncovered in this most important parable.  MacArthur digs deep into the historical significance of the three protagonists fictional lives and the cultural settings in which the hearers of this parable (1st century Jews) would have understood its fullest meaning.  Another tremendous blessing taken from this book is the profound way in which MacArthur expounds God's love and forgiveness which He shows to all prodigals that have turned away from Him but who would return to God to find immediate mercy and grace and are warmly and strongly embraced and accepted.

But as MacArthur points out, the most important point Jesus wanted to get across through this parable is a warning to those who resent, are jealous of, or even express hatred toward God for His exuberant show of forgiveness and joy to those who are deemed totally unworthy by the rest of society (as demonstrated by the eldest son in the parable).  MacArthur concludes his book with an added ending to the parable (a 'shocking murder') which was taken from the real events that happened shortly after Jesus spoke this parable in public (I will not give that ending away here).

"A Tale of Two Sons" is easily one of the most illuminating and profound books I have ever read.  For those wishing to fully grasp the essential truths of the Prodigal Son story, John MacArthur's book will provide the detail and eternally imperative truths that Jesus purposed to reveal through this parable.

"The Prodigal Son is a living symbol of every sinner who has ever lived - including you and me."

- John MacArthur, A Tale of Two Sons, Chapter 5, pg 78

"The Pursuit of God"

Christians not satisfied with simply having "knowledge" of God, but additionally want to experience His presence from day-to-day, need look no further for a prime example of such a hunger for God than in the life of A.W. Tozer (1897-1963).  Tozer never settled for simply understanding correct doctrine, memorizing scripture, or faithfully attending church every Sunday.  Although Tozer counted all those things as good and necessary, he made it very clear that by themselves they were not enough to fill his heart; he needed to pursue and experience God's presence everyday of his life.  Tozer wrote, "It is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth."  Every morning Tozer would lay prostrate on his study room floor and seek and ultimately find God's presence, and the fruit of such a hunger is laid out in his masterpiece "The Pursuit of God."

Christians who have this same heart-felt desire to pursue God's presence daily would benefit greatly from studying this book from A.W. Tozer.  His book and life's example will help us to replicate the words of King David spoken to God in Psalm 27:8 - "You have said, 'Seek my face.'  My heart says to you, 'Your face, Lord, do I seek.'"

"The presence of God is the central fact of Christianity.  At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself waiting for His redeemed children to push into conscious awareness of His presence."

- A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, Chapter 3, pg 34-35

The Purpose of a Christian Library

The "Library of Christian Principles" is a blog where I can post, describe and promote books that I've read through which I've experienced positive and sanctifying effects in my walk with God.  With all the advances in technological gadgetry and the ever-increasing noise of city metropolises, the chance for Christians to have quiet, contemplative time alone with God is becoming more and more of a dying spiritual ideal.  This fact is causing a great spiritual decline in the areas of both personal fellowship between God and each individual believer, as well as the weakening of the Christian mind because believers today tend to put aside religious books in favour of TV remotes and that which appeals to the human eye.  For myself, some of the most intimate moments I have with God are when I am alone reading through evocative Christian literature written by men and women who themselves sought time alone with God on a continual basis.  It truly takes great discipline and self-control for Christians to turn off the world and pick up an edifying book to enrich their souls and to be in solitude with their Creator.  But the harvest of blessings that are reaped from such discipline and time alone with God while wading through God-honoring spiritual discourses cannot be ignored by Christians while in the type of world we live in today.

Although this blog is meant to promote extra-biblical books, it is in no way meant to discourage daily readings of the Bible itself.  Nor are the books promoted herein designed to replace or usurp the Word of God as the ultimate authority in a Christian's life, as 17th century Puritan Richard Baxter wrote, "Let the Holy Scriptures ever have the pre-eminence.  Let Scripture be first and most in your hearts and hands and other books be used as subservient to it."

As we continue to maintain our literary priorities by keeping the Bible paramount in our studies, at the same time may we also engage and interact with the books and writings of our brothers and sisters in current and past times upon whose shoulders and heritage we Christians stand today.

"Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to your soul."

- Proverbs 2:10