The unction, the divine unction, this heavenly anointing, is what the pulpit needs and must have. This divine and heavenly oil put on it by the imposition of God’s hand must soften and lubricate the whole man—heart, head, spirit—until it separates him with a mighty separation from all earthly, secular, worldly, selfish motives and aims, separating him to everything that is pure and Godlike.
– EM Bounds –
God requires to be represented by a fiery Church. He can and does tolerate many things in the way of infirmity and error in His children. He can and will pardon sin when the penitent prays, but two things are intolerable to Him–insincerity and lukewarmness. Lack of heart, and lack of heat are two things that He loathes, and to the Laodiceans He said, in terms of unmistakable severity and condemnation: “I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). Nothing short of being red hot for God can keep the glow of heaven in our hearts these chilly days.
– EM Bounds –
Fire is the motivating power in prayer. This holy fervent flame in the soul awakens the interest of heaven, attracts God’s attention, and places at the disposal of those who exercise it, the inexhaustible riches of divine grace.
– EM Bounds –
The little estimate we put on prayer is evidence from the little time we give to it.
– EM Bounds –
Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.
– EM Bounds –
A revival of real praying would produce a spiritual revolution.
– EM Bounds –
The evangelist who preaches for eternity is never great on numbers. He is not apt to count hundreds of converts where there is no restitution, no confession, and no glad cry which proclaims, “The lost is found, the dead is made alive again!”
– EM Bounds –
No erudition, no purity of diction, no width of mental outlook, no flowers of eloquence, no grace of person can atone for lack of fire. 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.
– EM Bounds –
Never let the world break in
Fix a mighty golf between
Keep me humble and unknown
Prized and loved by God alone
– EM Bounds –
