Perseverance in Prayer
We feel the importance of Perseverance our correspondent’s remarks on prayer, and feel that God would have us pass them on for the stirring up of our readers to more diligence in prayer, according to the word: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:22Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Colossians 4:2)). Here are three things — praying, watching, thanksgiving.
“I have been very much edified by one of the articles in the Christian’s Library, some time back, on the reason why we see so little of manifest answers to prayer. What you point out is, I believe, the true reason, illustrated by what we get in Ezekiel 20 And I have been for some time stirred up myself to persevere in crying to God by what it says in Ephesians 6:18,1918Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, (Ephesians 6:18‑19), linking this verse 18 with what our Lord says to us about getting requests answered because of ‘importunity’ (Luke 11), and ‘continual coming’ (Luke 18). And I have learned that part of the Christian’s armor is ‘praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. And watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication (not for gathered brethren only, but) for all saints.’ And for one carrying the gospel to souls. How I do long to see a spirit of prayer and supplication given to us gathered ones. We do not as assemblies seem to value, and gladly come together for, the privilege and service of helping together by prayer, others, as well as seeking God’s face, ‘His holy face, with our censer of praise and prayer,’ for ourselves. Indeed, is it not a fact that when there is little heart for prayer — persevering prayer for all saints and the gospel — there is most likely very little prayer of any kind? And I should like to see your remarks on prayer, and why we do not see God answering the little prayer that there is among us, in a booklet form, to give away among Christians. For I feel sure that those remarks are much needed. And saints need to understand these hindrances to answers being manifestly granted to our prayers, and to be stirred up to prayer more. What a blessed precious privilege it is to labor in prayer for souls. I remember in years gone by, when we used to spend a week, evening after evening, in prayer for souls around us. And when a wife’s request for prayer for her unsaved husband was, I was told after, answered while we were praying, by God bringing that man to a point, alone in his office, and saving his soul there. And what a comfort to know that if from my own want of courage, or some hindrance that shuts me out from personally dealing with some precious soul that my heart longs for, yet I can get at that soul, as some one has said, ‘by way of the Throne,’ by going to God for him or her. I notice that in Acts 6, the apostles say, ‘But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word.’ Prayer comes first.
“I believe we should see a great deal more manifest blessing to souls in our gospel meetings, if saints in gatherings as well as we preachers, came to the Gospel meeting, from our knees, from getting alone with God, about souls, before they came, and really believed that the Holy Ghost, God the Holy Ghost, is here, and that He compels souls to come in, in answer to prayer. And that it is God that converts and saves, not the preachers, however gifted and eloquent. I do not wonder at God not giving us manifest blessing, more than He does — though blessed be His name He does give us some — for saints come to the gospel meeting to hear a good preaching themselves. And without prayer, before they come, or when there. So, if God were to give much manifest blessing, the preacher would get all, or mostly all of the praise, not God, and he and his gifts would be looked to more than God himself! I was much refreshed by Evan Roberts’ answer to some Christians in London, who had written to him asking him to come and have revival meetings there, who had heard of the blessing in Wales. It is reported that he wrote back to them that he believed God had called him to go on where he was, for one thing. And then they were making too much of him as an instrument for another, &c. &c., or words to this effect. This was casting over upon God, which they evidently needed. Oh, for faith in a living, almighty, loving Saviour. God, who though He does use instruments, yet does all that is ever done at all in any soul or souls, by the working of His own Holy Spirit — the Holy Ghost, using the Word, the word of life, the gospel of His grace in answer to prayer and supplication which He Himself has led to, by that same blessed Spirit. So that God gets what is due to Him — all the praise — when the blessing comes, both from the praying preacher and the praying saints, who don’t preach, but help with their prayers. And thus all rejoice in the blessed, giving, Saviour God. And their eyes and hearts are up to Him, and not on instruments, however much used, and honored by using them, of God. But I must close. We do not forget you in prayer some of us over here.”
J. B.
The Use of the Lord’s Prayer
I did not (in preaching) say anything about not using the Lord’s prayer. Mr.— jumped at that conclusion. I was illustrating ¤ John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12): ‘These things write I unto you, (little) children, because your sins ARE forgiven you for His name’s sake.’
“I was showing from this and other passages that every true child of God is privileged to know that his sins are forgiven ‘Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake HATH forgiven you’ (Eph. 4:3232And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)).
“Now, Mr.— drew the conclusion as to the Lord’s prayer, and I am not going to say that his conclusion was not a just one. The Lord’s prayer was given to the disciples before the cross, that is, before the work of redemption had been accomplished. They were on Jewish ground, but we are on Christian ground, and as Christians we rejoice in a finished work of redemption, and can say — ‘We HAVE redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins’ (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)).
“The difference is not an unimportant one — but I said nothing about the Lord’s prayer! The gospel I preached may have made him see the inconsistency of using since the cross, a form of prayer given to the disciples before the cross.”
ED.
Old Letter to an Evangelist
“There is still one thing, dear brother, that has come upon my spirit. I suppose that you have continued relations with the Established Church; perhaps I am mistaken, but I discern the possibility that these relations may be enfeebled if you follow the call to evangelization which you think you have received from God. If this come to pass, I hope with all my heart that you will not throw yourself, on the other hand, into narrowness.... It is my joy and my privilege to find myself in the midst of brethren who know one another in Christ, and to rejoice in the blessedness of brotherly communion in all the weakness in which it may be found at present; but I could not recognize an assembly that does not receive all the children of God, because I know that Christ receives them. I see the Church in ruins; I follow my conscience according to the light that I have received from the Word, but I desire to bear with the weakness or lack of light that I may find in other Christians, and do all that I can to unite those that love the Lord.
“The liberty of your ministry, if God bless it, may be a means to this desirable result; and I, according to the light that I have received, find it impossible to remain in nationalism, but I would rather remain alone and isolated — a position, I admit, not at all desirable — than to restrict the limits of the Church of Christ to some brethren, even though they may be more correct in their thoughts than others, and to enfeeble the action of the Spirit of God in uniting the Lord’s sheep, scattered by our wretchedness and by our sins.... If you are able not entirely to give up your calling so much the better; the workman is worthy of his hire, but it is my experience that in the existing circumstances of the Church, the more one is independent of men the better one is circumstanced.”
J. N. D.