Morning “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” / Luke 5:4

We learn from this narrative, the necessity of human agency. The draught of
fishes was miraculous, yet neither the fisherman nor his boat, nor his fishing
tackle were ignored; but all were used to take the fishes. So in the saving of
souls, God worketh by means; and while the present economy of grace shall
stand, God will be pleased by the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe. When God worketh without instruments, doubtless he is glorified; but
he hath himself selected the plan of instrumentality as being that by which he
is most magnified in the earth. Means of themselves are utterly unavailing.
“Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing.” What was the
reason of this? Were they not fishermen plying their special calling? Verily,
they were no raw hands; they understood the work. Had they gone about the toil
unskilfully? No. Had they lacked industry? No, they had toiled. Had they
lacked perseverance? No, they had toiled all the night. Was there a deficiency
of fish in the sea? Certainly not, for as soon as the Master came, they swam
to the net in shoals. What, then, is the reason? Is it because there is no
power in the means of themselves apart from the presence of Jesus? “Without
him we can do nothing.” But with Christ we can do all things. Christ’s
presence confers success. Jesus sat in Peter’s boat, and his will, by a
mysterious influence, drew the fish to the net. When Jesus is lifted up in his
Church, his presence is the Church’s power–the shout of a king is in the
midst of her. “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.” Let us go out
this morning on our work of soul fishing, looking up in faith, and around us
in solemn anxiety. Let us toil till night comes, and we shall not labour in
vain, for he who bids us let down the net, will fill it with fishes.

Evening  “Praying in the Holy Ghost.” / Jude 20

Mark the grand characteristic of true prayer–“In the Holy Ghost.” The seed of
acceptable devotion must come from heaven’s storehouse. Only the prayer which
comes from God can go to God. We must shoot the Lord’s arrows back to him.
That desire which he writes upon our heart will move his heart and bring down
a blessing, but the desires of the flesh have no power with him.

Praying in the Holy Ghost is praying in fervency. Cold prayers ask the Lord
not to hear them. Those who do not plead with fervency, plead not at all. As
well speak of lukewarm fire as of lukewarm prayer–it is essential that it be
red hot. It is praying perseveringly. The true suppliant gathers force as he
proceeds, and grows more fervent when God delays to answer. The longer the
gate is closed, the more vehemently does he use the knocker, and the longer
the angel lingers the more resolved is he that he will never let him go
without the blessing. Beautiful in God’s sight is tearful, agonizing,
unconquerable importunity. It means praying humbly, for the Holy Spirit never
puffs us up with pride. It is his office to convince of sin, and so to bow us
down in contrition and brokenness of spirit. We shall never sing Gloria in
excelsis except we pray to God De profundis: out of the depths must we cry, or
we shall never behold glory in the highest. It is loving prayer. Prayer should
be perfumed with love, saturated with love–love to our fellow saints, and
love to Christ. Moreover, it must be a prayer full of faith. A man prevails
only as he believes. The Holy Spirit is the author of faith, and strengthens
it, so that we pray believing God’s promise. O that this blessed combination
of excellent graces, priceless and sweet as the spices of the merchant, might
be fragrant within us because the Holy Ghost is in our hearts! Most blessed
Comforter, exert thy mighty power within us, helping our infirmities in
prayer.