“E. G. D.” seeks to know the propriety of continuing to ask for many things of the Lord — such as more of the Spirits power; increase of faith; conversion of relatives, &c. Or whether, when these requests have been once laid before Him, should we leave them in His hands?
A. God exercises our hearts and our faith in delaying to give the answer to our prayers at times. The earnestness of our prayer will be according to the exigency of our need, and the consciousness that He alone can give the answer. The heart is exercised and kept in dependence, waiting on Him for the reply. Faith is kept alive. Other sources are not looked to when the soul has learned that He alone can do what is needed. It is a mighty engine, that of prayer. Fitting expression of the new-born souls dependence on God, in contrast to that nature which ever would be independent of Him, though it cannot escape His righteous judgment.
Daniel had to wait in fastings and mournings for three whole weeks at one time before he received the reply (Dan. 10). At another time, “While I was speaking,” he says, the answer came (Dan. 9).
It marks the fact that we are not indifferent to the result when the heart can in earnest entreaty wait upon God. We may find, like Paul, that it is better for us that our desires were withheld. He learned also the reason why they were withheld after his thrice repeated prayer; thus he could always boast in that which was the taunt of his enemies, and the trial of his friends (2 Cor. 12).
We need to be “filled with the Spirit.” We need that our faith may grow. Many are the needs of our hearts, as of others; and if God is pleased to bless His people, He exercises their hearts in prayer. Paul was indebted to some praying sister, perhaps, who could agonize in prayer before the Lord for those gifts with which he carried on his service in the gospel-field. He could agonize in prayer for those he never saw — (Col. 2:11For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; (Colossians 2:1)) — and Epaphras, too, could labor earnestly (agonize) in prayer, for those he knew and loved (Col. 4:1212Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12)).
In the midst of our cares and conflicts we have to “be careful for nothing,” but to “let our requests be made known to God.” He who has no cares, God, keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. But we have also to “continue in prayer.” We have also to “watch in the same,” and withal “with thanksgiving” for His ever opened ear. One of the exhortations in Romans 12:1212Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (Romans 12:12) is, “continuing instant in prayer”; “pursuing,” as it might be.
The very “importunity” of the man at the unseasonable hour of midnight, was the occasion of his obtaining the loaves (Luke 11:88I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. (Luke 11:8)). One can lay down no rules in such cases. The truly exercised heart gets its own answer from God. At times we can, with simple confidence, “make known,” and commit the request to God. At others the heart is conscious that it cannot but cry to God until the heart is at rest as to the petition. He will not give it till His own time, and meanwhile the soul is kept in earnest exercise; faith is tested, and patience tried, and the heart watches and waits on Him.
Again, such is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us; and if we know that He hears us, we know we have the petitions that we desired of Him (1 John 5:14,1514And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 John 5:14‑15)). He listens to everything which is in accordance with His will. He cannot fail in power, and we get the reply. The true heart would ask nothing contrary to His mind and will.
Words of Truth 4:83, 84.
“P.” What is the “ministry” (διακονια) of 2 Corinthians 4:11Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; (2 Corinthians 4:1)? Is it the ministry of the apostle, or that which he ministered? It could hardly be confined to his ministry merely, as he uses the same word, though translated “ministration,” in 2 Corinthians 3:7, 8, 97But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:7‑9) where it is the thing ministered?
A. It is the apostle’s ministry, but ministry of and characterized by what he speaks of. This is a common ambiguity in English. Hope is what passes in my mind, (faith, hope,) but my hope is laid up in heaven. Thought a good thought is thought objectively; or we are of much thought, is the habit of thinking, in the man, and so of others; in chapter 3 the subject matter — law or gospel is the ministration, that is, the thing ministered; but it was ministered by Paul, and therefore his ministry — a candle was lit up in a lantern; it was itself the light — the candles light; but his light, because he carried it. God had shone in his heart to give forth the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. His ministry was this knowledge, still he ministered it, and so it was his ministry.