"If weak in prayer, we are weak everywhere"--Ravenhill

I was continuing to read and study about prayer, and men of prayer this morning.  I came across these excellent quotes by a 20th century English Evangelist/Revivalist that Paul Washer, along with one of my former pastors used to reference frequently, Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994) on prayer.  

"If weak in prayer, we are weak everywhere."

"A sinning man stops praying, a praying man stops sinning."

I also posted them on facebook, and within a few hours, a Christian friend shared with me in a personal conversation  that these quotes from Ravenhill, spoken decades ago, ministered to him in a mighty and relevant way this morning, and he went home on his lunch break to pray about some things he was trying to handle on his own over the last few days. He came back refreshed and renewed.  I was deeply moved. 

Piccadilly Religion?

"If you believe what you like in the Gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself."

Saint Augustine of Hippo 

A former pastor of mine used to call  that "Piccadilly Religion".  Some people think Christianity is like going down a food buffet line at the Piccadilly Cafeteria.  They'll take a little jello, strawberry pie, maybe a piece of chicken, maybe a roll, but they'll leave the liver and onions.  They don't want any spinach, broccoli, etc..They'll pick and choose what they like and leave what they don't like. Everybody's happy.

The problem is, Christianity is not like that at all.  It is either all or none.  Either you believe all Scripture, or you don't really believe any of it. 

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

 Do you believe the Gospel, or yourself?