HIGHLIGHTS FROM A TREASURY OF PRAY
BY: LEONARD RAVENHILL
“BUT WE WILL GIVE OURSELVES CONTINUALLY TO PRAYER, AND TO THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD.” ACTS 6:4.
THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION HAS A MOTTO: “IF I FALTER – PUSH ME ON. IF I STUMBLE – PICK ME UP. IF I RETREAT – SHOOT ME!”
PRAYER IS OUR ONLY HOPE.
PRAYER IS THE AVENUE THROUGH WHICH GOD SUPPLIES MAN’S NEEDS.
PRAYER IS A PRIVILEGE.
PRAYER IS VITAL WORK.
PRAYER HAS IN ITS KEEPING THE VERY HEART OF WORSHIP.
PRAYER FILLS MAN’S EMPTINESS WITH GOD’S FULLNESS.
PRAYER FILLS MAN’S POVERTY WITH GOD’S RICHES.
PRAYER LIFTS MEN OUT OF THE EARTHLINESS AND LINKS THEM WITH THE HEAVENLIES. MEN ARE NEVER NEARER HEAVEN, NEVER MORE GOD-LIKE, NEVER IN DEEPER SYMPATHY AND TRUER PARTNERSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST, THAN WHEN PRAYING.
PRAYER PUTS AWAY MAN’S WEAKNESS WITH THE COMING OF GOD’S STRENGTH.
SUPPLICATION IS A MORE INTENSE AND MORE SPECIAL FORM OF PRAYER.
IT TAKES PRAYER TO MINISTER.
LET US BE SO IN THE HABIT OF PRAYER, SO DEVOTED TO PRAYER, SO FILLED WITH ITS RICH SPICES, SO ARDENT BY ITS HOLY FLAME, THAT ALL HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL BE PERFUMED BY ITS AROMA.
MEN WHO BELONG TO GOD ARE OBLIGED TO PRAY. THEY ARE NOT OBLIGED TO GROW RICH, NOR TO MAKE MONEY. THEY ARE NOT OBLIGED TO HAVE LARGE SUCCESS IN BUSINESS.
HE KNOWS NOT GOD WHO KNOWS NOT HOW TO PRAY.
PRAYER IS THE HEART SENDING ITS FULL AND HAPPY PULSATIONS UP TO GOD THROUGH THE CURRENTS OF JOY AND THANKSGIVING.
BY PRAYER DAILY TOIL IS SANCTIFIED AND ENRICHED, AND PARDON IS SECURED AND SATAN IS DEFEATED.
PRAYER MUST BE DONE; GOD WANTS IT DONE, HE COMMANDS IT, MAN NEEDS IT, AND MAN MUST DO IT.
“LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY.” THIS DISCIPLE HAD HEARD JESUS PREACH, BUT DID NOT FEEL LIKE SAYING, “LORD, TEACH US TO PREACH.”
THERE IS A PROFOUND SOMETHING ABOUT PRAYER WHICH NEVER LIES UPON THE SURFACE. TO LEARN IT, ONE MUST GO TO THE DEPTHS OF THE SOUL AND CLIMB TO THE HEIGHTS OF GOD.
JESUS CHRIST WAS ALWAYS A BUSY MAN, BUT NEVER TOO BUSY TO PRAY.
WE CAN ONLY MEET OUR FULL RESPONSIBILITIES AND FULFILL OUR HIGH MISSION WHEN WE PRAY.
THE MOST POWERFUL FORM OF PRAYING IS POSITIVE, AGGRESSIVE, MIGHTILY OUTGOING AND CREATIVE. IT MOLDS THINGS, CHANGES THINGS AND BRINGS THINGS TO PASS.
WE OFTEN END PRAYING JUST WHERE WE OUGHT TO BEGIN. WE QUIT PRAYING WHEN GOD WAITS AND IS WAITING FOR US TO REALLY PRAY.
PRAYER IS THE ONLY ELEMENT IN WHICH THE HOLY GHOST CAN LIVE AND WORK.
PRAYER IS A VOICE WHICH GOES INTO GOD’S EAR.
PRAYER IS THE GOLDEN CHAIN WHICH HAPPILY ENSLAVES HIM TO HIS HAPPY WORK TO US.
PRAYERS OUTLIVE THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO UTTERED THEM; OUTLIVE A GENERATION, OUTLIVE AN AGE, OUTLIVE A WORLD.
IT IS TRUE THAT THE MIGHTIEST SUCCESSES THAT COME TO GOD’S CAUSE ARE CREATED AND CARRIED ON BY PRAYER.
PRAYER PUTS GOD IN FULL FORCE IN THE WORLD.
THE SECRET OF SUCCESS IN CHRIST’S KINGDOM IS THE ABILITY TO PRAY. THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON WE CAN LEARN IS HOW TO PRAY.
IT IS ONLY WHEN THE WHOLE HEART IS CRIPPLED WITH THE PASSION OF PRAYER THAT THE LIFE-GIVING FIRE DESCENDS, FOR NONE BUT THE EARNEST MAN GETS ACCESS TO THE EAR OF GOD.
PRAYER IS A TRADE TO BE LEARNED.
PRAYER AND A HOLY LIFE ARE ONE.
PRAYING PASTORS WILL BEGET PRAYING SAINTS. A PRAYING PULPIT WILL BEGET PRAYING PEWS.
HE WHO PRAYS MUCH, STUDIES MUCH, LOVES MUCH, DOES MUCH FOR GOD.
HEAVEN IS TOO BUSY TO LISTEN TO HALFHEARTED PRAYERS OR TO RESPOND TO POP CALLS.
THERE IS NOT THE LEAST DOUBT THAT MUCH OF OUR PRAYING FAILS FOR LACK OF PERSISTENCY.
PERSISTENCY IS OF THE ESSENCE OF TRUE PRAYING.
PRAYER IS NOT A MEANINGLESS FUNCTION OF DUTY TO BE CROWDED INTO THE BUSY OR THE WEARY ENDS OF THE DAY, AND WE ARE NOT OBEYING OUR LORD’S COMMAND WHEN WE CONTENT OURSELVES WITH A FEW MINUTES ON OUR KNEES IN THE MORNING RUSH OR LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THE FACULTIES, TIRED WITH THE TASKS OF THE DAY, CALL OUT FOR REST.
WE CAN NEVER KNOW GOD AS IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO KNOW HIM, BY BRIEF AND FRAGMENTARY AND UNCONSIDERED REPETITIONS OF INTERCESSION THAT ARE REQUESTS FOR PERSONAL FAVORS AND NOTHING MORE.
THE STUDY OF THE WORD AND PRAYER GO TOGETHER.
PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR. PRAY FOR HIS BODY THAT HE MAY BE KEPT STRONG AND SPARED MANY YEARS. PRAY FOR HIS SOUL, THAT HE MAY BE KEPT HUMBLE AND HOLY, A BURNING AND SHINING LIGHT. PRAY FOR HIS MINISTRY, THAT IT MAY BE ABUNDANTLY BLESSED, THAT HE MAY BE ANOINTED TO PREACH GOOD TIDINGS, THAT THERE BE NO SECRET PRAYER WITHOUT NAMING HIM BEFORE YOUR GOD, NO FAMILY PRAYER WITHOUT CARRYING YOUR PASTOR IN YOUR HEART TO GOD.
LITTLE PRAYER IS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF BACKSLIDDEN AGE AND OF A BACKSLIDDEN CHURCH. WHENEVER THERE IS LITTLE PRAYING IN THE PULPIT OR IN THE PEW, SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY IS IMMINENT AND INEVITABLE.
ONE NIGHT ALONE IN PRAYER, MIGHT MAKE US NEW MEN, CHANGED FROM POVERTY OF SOUL TO SPIRITUAL WEALTH, FROM TREMBLING TO TRIUMPHING.
WE CAN NEVER EXPECT TO GROW IN THE LIKENESS OF OUR LORD UNLESS WE FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE AND GIVE MORE TIME TO COMMUNION WITH THE FATHER. A REVIVAL OF REAL PRAYING WOULD PRODUCE A SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION.
PRAYER HONORS GOD.
HE WHO IS TOO BUSY TO PRAY WILL BE TOO BUSY TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE.
IF WE WILL ALLOW OUR PRAYING TO BE CROWDED OUT, IT WILL ALWAYS BE DONE. SATAN WOULD RATHER WE LET THE GRASS GROW ON THE PATH TO OUR PRAYER CHAMBER THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
WHAT THE CHURCH NEEDS TODAY IS NOT MORE MACHINERY OR BETTER, NOT NEW ORGANIZATIONS OR MORE AN NOVEL METHODS, BUT MEN WHOM THE HOLY GHOST CAN USE — MEN OF PRAYER, MEN MIGHTY IN PRAYER.
THE SERMON IS FORCEFUL BECAUSE THE MAN IS FORCEFUL. THE SERMON IS HOLY BECAUSE THE MAN IS HOLY. THE SERMON IS FULL OF THE DIVINE UNCTION BECAUSE THE MAN IS FULL OF THE DIVINE UNCTION.
THE SERMON CANNOT RISE IN ITS LIFE-GIVING FORCES ABOVE THE MAN. DEAD MEN GIVE OUT DEAD SERMONS, AND DEAD SERMONS KILL. EVERYTHING DEPENDS UPON THE SPIRITUAL CHARACTER OF THE PREACHER.
THE REAL SERMON IS MADE IN THE CLOSET. THE MAN – GOD’S MAN – IS MADE IN THE CLOSET. HIS LIFE AND HIS PROFOUND CONVICTIONS WERE BORN IN HIS SECRET COMMUNION WITH GOD.
PRAYER MAKES THE MAN; PRAYER MAKES THE PREACHER; PRAYER MAKES THE PASTOR.
THE PREACHING THAT KILLS IS NON-SPIRITUAL PREACHING.
PREACHING THAT KILLS IS PRAYERLESS PREACHING. WITHOUT THE PREACHER CREATES DEATH, AND NOT LIFE.
THE CHARACTER OF OUR PRAYING WILL DETERMINE THE CHARACTER OF OUR PREACHING. LIGHT PRAYING WILL MAKE LIGHT PREACHING. PRAYER MAKES PREACHING STRONG, GIVES IT UNCTION, AND MAKES IT STICK.
THE PREACHERS WHO ARE THE MIGHTIEST IN THEIR CLOSETS WITH GOD ARE THE MIGHTIEST IN THEIR PULPITS WITH MEN.
PRAYER PUTS THE PREACHER’S HEART INTO THE PREACHER’S SERMON; PRAYER PUTS THE PREACHERS SERMON INTO THE PREACHER’S HEART.
A PREPARED HEART IS MUCH BETTER THAN A PREPARED SERMON. A PREPARED HEART WILL MAKE A PREPARED SERMON.
IT IS THE HEART AND NOT THE HEAD WHICH MAKES GOD’S GREAT PREACHERS.
THE APOSTLES KNEW THE NECESSITY AND WORTH OF PRAYER TO THEIR MINISTRY. SO THEY APPOINTED LAYMEN TO LOOK AFTER THE DELICATE AND ENGROSSING DUTIES OF MINISTERING TO THE POOR, THAT THEY (THE APOSTLES) MIGHT, UNHINDERED, “GIVE THEMSELVES CONTINUALLY TO PRAYER AND TO THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD.” PRAYER IS PUT FIRST, AND THEIR RELATION TO PRAYER IS PUT MOST STRONGLY – “GIVE THEMSELVES TO IT,” MAKING A BUSINESS OF IT, SURRENDERING THEMSELVES TO PRAYING, PUTTING FERVOR, URGENCY, PERSEVERANCE, AND TIME IN IT.
APOSTOLIC PRAYING MAKES APOSTOLIC SAINTS AND KEEPS APOSTOLIC TIMES OF PURITY AND POWER IN THE CHURCH.
THE CHURCH OF GOD MAKES, OR IS MADE BY, ITS LEADERS. WHETHER IT MAKES THEM OR IS MADE BY THEM, IT WILL BE WHAT ITS LEADERS ARE; SPIRITUAL IF THEY ARE SO, SECULAR IF THEY ARE, CONGLOMERATE IF ITS LEADERS ARE. ISRAEL’S KINGS GIVE CHARACTER TO ISRAEL’S PIETY.
PRAYER, TO THE PREACHER, IS NOT SIMPLY THE DUTY OF HIS PROFESSION, A PRIVILEGE, BUT IT IS A NECESSITY.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR THE PREACHER TO PRAY.
PRAYING, TRUE PRAYING, COSTS AN OUTLAY OF SERIOUS ATTENTION AND OF TIME, WHICH FLESH AND BLOOD DO NOT RELISH.
TO BE LITTLE WITH GOD IS TO BE LITTLE FOR GOD.
WE MUST LEARN ANEW THE WORTH OF PRAYER, ENTER ANEW THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF PREACHERS WHO WILL DELIVER GREAT AND ELOQUENT ADDRESSES ON THE NEED OF REVIVAL AND THE SPREAD OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, BUT NOT MANY THERE ARE WHO WILL DO THAT WITHOUT WHICH ALL PREACHING AND ORGANIZING ARE WORSE THAN VAIN – PRAY. IT IS OUT OF DATE, ALMOST A LOST ART, AND THE GREATEST BENEFACTOR THIS AGE COULD HAVE IS A MAN WHO WILL BRING THE PREACHERS AND THE CHURCH BACK TO PRAYER.
ONLY GOD CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT FAITH AND PRAYER MOVE GOD.
AS EVER DAY DEMANDS ITS BREAD, SO EVERY DAY DEMANDS ITS PRAYER.
WE NEED TO KEEP ON PRAYING.
IT WAS CLAIMED FOR AUGUSTUS CAESAR THAT HE FOUND ROME A CITY OF WOOD, AND LEFT IT A CITY OF MARBLE. THE PASTOR WHO SUCCEEDS IN CHANGING HIS PEOPLE FROM A PRAYERLESS TO A PRAYERFUL PEOPLE, HAS DONE A CREATOR WORK THAN DID AUGUSTUS IN CHANGING A CITY FROM WOOD TO MARBLE. AND AFTER ALL, THIS IS THE PRIME WORK OF THE PREACHER. THE PREACHER IS NOT SENT TO MERELY INDUCE MEN TO JOIN THE CHURCH, NOR MERELY TO GET THEM TO DO BETTER. IT IS TO GET THEM TO PRAY, TO TRUST GOD, AND TO KEEP GOD EVER BEFORE HIS EYES, THAT THEY MAY NOT SIN AGAINST HIM.
FOR HE THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DELIGENTLY SEEK HIM.
DESIRE IS NOT MERELY A SIMPLE WISH; IT IS A DEEP-SEATED CRAVING; AND INTENSE LONGING FOR ATTAINMENT. DESIRE PRECEDES PRAYER, ACCOMPANIES IT IS FOLLOWED BY IT. DESIRE GOES BEFORE PRAYER. PRAYER IS THE ORAL EXPRESSION OF DESIRE. THE DEEPER THE DESIRE THE STRONGER THE PRAYER. WITHOUT DESIRE, PRAYER IS A MEANINGLESS MUMBLE OF WORDS. SUCH FORMAL PRAYING, WITH NO HEART, NO FEELING, NO REAL DESIRE ACCOMPANYING IT, IS TO BE SHUNNED LIKE A PESTILENCE.
PRAYER MUST BE RED HOT. IT IS THE FERVENT PRAYER THAT IS EFFECTUAL AND THAT AVAILETH.
PRAYER GOVERNS CONDUCT AND CONDUCT MAKES CHARACTER. CONDUCT IS WHAT WE DO; CHARACTER IS WHAT WE ARE. CONDUCT IS THE OUTWARD LIFE. CHARACTER IS THE LIFE UNSEEN, HIDDEN WITHIN.
PRAYER PRODUCES CLEANLINESS OF HEART AND PURITY OF LIFE. IT CAN PRODUCE NOTHING ELSE. UNRIGHTEOUS CONDUCT IS BORN OF PRAYERLESSNESS; THE TWO GO HAND IN HAND. PRAYER AND SINNING CANNOT KEEP COMPANY WITH EACH OTHER.
PRAYER THRIVES IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF TRUE DEVOTION.
GIVING THANKS IS THE VERY LIFE OF PRAYER. IT IS ITS FRAGRANCE AND MUSIC, ITS POETRY AND ITS CROWN.
SO WE MUST SAY TO OUR FRIENDS, “I MUST AWAY AND HAVE TIME FOR PRAYER AND SOLITUDE.”
NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO GOD THAN PRAYER IN DEALING WITH MANKIND. BUT IT IS LIKEWISE ALL-IMPORTANT TO MAN TO PRAY. FAILURE TO PRAY IS FAILURE ALONG THE WHOLE LINE OF LIFE. IT IS FAILURE OF DUTY, SERVICE, AND SPIRITUAL PROGRESS. GOD MUST HELP MAN BY PRAYER. HE WHO DOES NOT PRAY, THEREFORE, ROBS HIMSELF OF GOD’S HELP AND PLACES GOD WHERE HE CANNOT HELP MEN. MAN MUST PRAY TO GOD IF LOVE FOR GOD IS TO EXIST.
APOSTOLIC PREACHING CANNOT BE CARRIED ON UNLESS THERE BE APOSTOLIC PRAYING.
“WE ARE TOO BUSY TO PRAY.” THE APOSTLES DROVE DIRECTLY AT THIS POINT, AND DETERMINED THAT EVEN CHURCH BUSINESS SHOULD NOT AFFECT THEIR PRAYING HABITS. PRAYER MUST COME FIRST. PRAYER AFFECTS THREE DIFFERENT SPHERES OF EXISTENCE – THE DIVINE, THE ANGELIC AND THE HUMAN. IT PUTS GOD TO WORK, IT PUTS ANGELS TO WORK, AND IT PUTS MEN TO WORK. IT LAYS ITS HANDS UPON GOD, ANGELS AND MEN.
PRAYING MEN ARE ESSENTIAL TO ALMIGHTY GOD IN ALL HIS PLANS AND PURPOSES.
PRAYERLESS MEN HAVE STOOD IN THE WAY OF GOD FULFILLING HIS WORD AND DOING HIS WILL ON EARTH. AS PRAYING MEN ARE A HELP TO GOD, SO PRAYERLESS MEN ARE A HINDRANCE TO HIM.
THE CHURCH TODAY NEEDS PRAYING MEN TO EXECUTE HER SOLEMN AND PRESSING RESPONSIBILITY TO MEET THE FEARFUL CRISIS WHICH IS FACING HER. THE CRYING NEED OF THE TIMES IS FOR MEN, IN INCREASED NUMBERS – GOD- FEARING MEN, PRAYING MEN, HOLY GHOST MEN, MEN WHO CAN ENDURE HARDNESS, WHO WILL NOT COUNT THEIR LIVES DEAR UNTO THEMSELVES, BUT COUNT ALL THINGS BUT DROSS FOR THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. PRAYING MEN ARE THE ONLY MEN WHO HAVE INFLUENCE WITH GOD, THE ONLY KIND OF MEN TO WHOM GOD COMMITS HIMSELF AND HIS GOSPEL.
IN DOING GOD’S WORK THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PRAYING. THE MEN OF PRAYER CANNOT BE DISPLACED WITH OTHER KINDS OF MEN. MEN OF FINANCIAL SKILL, MEN OF EDUCATION, MEN OF WORLDLY INFLUENCE NONE OF THESE CAN POSSIBLY BE PUT IN SUBSTITUTION FOR THE MEN OF PRAYER. THE LIFE, THE VIGOR, THE MOTIVE POWER OF GOD’S WORD IS FORMED BY PRAYING MEN.
WE PRAY AS WE LIVE; WE LIVE AS WE PRAY.
MEN ARE TO PRAY, “LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS,” HANDS HERE BEING THE SYMBOL OF LIFE. HANDS UNSOILED BY STAINS OF EVIL DOING ARE THE EMBLEM OF A LIFE UNSOILED BY SIN. THUS ARE MEN TO COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD, THUS ARE THEY TO APPROACH THE THRONE OF GOD, THUS ARE THEY TO APPROACH THE THRONE OF THE HIGHEST, WHERE THEY CAN “OBTAIN MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.” HERE, THEN, IS ONE REASON WHY MEN DO NOT PRAY. THEY ARE TOO WORLDLY IN HEART AND TOO SECULAR IN LIFE TO ENTER THE CLOSET; AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ENTER THERE, THEY CANNOT OFFER THE “EFFECTUAL, FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN, (WHICH) AVAILETH MUCH.”
PRAYING TAKES ITS TONE AND VIGOR FROM THE LIFE OF THE MAN OR THE WOMAN EXERCISING IT. WHEN CHARACTER AND CONDUCT ARE AT A LOW EBB, PRAYING CAN BUT BARELY LIVE, MUCH LESS THRIVE. WHEN PRAYER IS CONFINED TO SELF AND TO THE SPHERE OF ONE’S PERSONAL NEEDS, IT DIES BY REASON OF ITS LITTLENESS, NARROWNESS, AND SELFISHNESS. PRAYER MUST BE BROAD AND UNSELFISH OR IT WILL PERISH. PRAYER IS THE SOUL OF MAN STIRRED TO PLEAD WITH GOD FOR MEN.
THE THING FAR ABOVE ALL OTHER THINGS IN THE EQUIPMENT OF THE PREACHER IS PRAYER. BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE, HE MUST BE A MAN WHO MAKES A SPECIALTY OF PRAYER.
PREACHING THE WORD IS ESSENTIAL; SOCIAL QUALITIES ARE NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED, AND EDUCATION IS GOOD; BUT UNDER AND ABOVE ALL ELSE, PRAYER MUST BE THE MAIN PLANK IN THE PLATFORM OF THE MAN WHO GOES FORTH TO PREACH THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST TO A LOST AND HUNGRY WORLD. THE ONE WEAK SPOT IN OUR CHURCH INSTITUTION LIES JUST HERE. PRAYER IS NOT REGARDED AS BEING THE PRIMARY FACTOR IN CHURCH LIFE AND ACTIVITY; AND OTHER THINGS, GOOD IN THEIR PLACES, ARE MADE PRIMARY. FIRST THINGS NEED TO BE PUT FIRST, AND THE FIRST THING IN THE EQUIPMENT OF A MINISTER IS PRAYER.
HEBREWS 5:7: “WHO IN THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH, WHEN HE HAD OFFERED UP PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS WITH STRONG CRYING AND TEARS, UNTO HIM THAT WAS ABLE TO SAVE HIM FROM DEATH, AND WAS HEARD IN THAT HE FEARED.”
HE “WHO PLOWS NOT IN HIS CLOSET, WILL NEVER REAP IN HIS PULPIT.” THE FACT MUST EVER BE KEPT IN THE FOREFRONT AND EMPHASIZED THAT JESUS CHRIST TRAINED HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY. THIS IS THE REAL MEANING OF THAT SAYING, “THE TRAINING OF THE TWELVE.” IT MUST BE KEPT IN MIND THAT CHRIST TAUGHT THE WORLD’S PREACHERS MORE ABOUT PRAYING THAN HE DID ABOUT PREACHING. PRAYER WAS THE GREAT FACTOR IN THE SPREADING OF HIS GOSPEL. PRAYER CONSERVED AND MADE EFFICIENT ALL OTHER FACTORS. YET HE DID NOT DISCOUNT PREACHING WHEN HE STRESSED PRAYING, BUT RATHER TALKED
OF THE UTTER DEPENDENCE OF PREACHING ON PRAYER.
BLESSED IS THE PREACHER WHOSE PULPIT AND CLOSET ARE HARD BY EACH OTHER, AND WHO GOES FROM THE ONE INTO THE OTHER.
A PREACHER OR A CHRISTIAN MAY LIVE A DECENT, RELIGIOUS LIFE, WITHOUT SECRET PRAYER, BUT DECENCY AND HOLINESS ARE TWO WIDELY DIFFERENT THINGS. AND THE LATTER IS OBTAINED ONLY BY SECRET PRAYER.
WHERE ARE WE? WHAT ARE WE DOING? PREACHING IS THE VERY LOFTIEST WORK POSSIBLE FOR A MAN TO DO. AND PRAYING GOES HAND-IN-HAND WITH PREACHING. IT IS A MIGHTY, LOFTY WORK. PREACHING IS A LIFE-GIVING WORK, SOWING THE SEEDS OF ETERNAL LIFE. OH, MAY WE DO IT WELL, DO IT AFTER GOD’S ORDER, DO IT SUCCESSFULLY!
THE BIBLE PREACHER PRAYS. HE IS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, FILLED WITH GOD’S WORD, AND IS FILLED WITH FAITH. THE BREATH OF HIS LIFE AND THE PULSATIONS OF HIS HEART ARE PRAYER. THE BIBLE PREACHER LIVES BY PRAYER, LOVES BY PRAYER, AND PREACHES BY PRAYER. PRAYER MAKES PREACHING STRONG, GIVES IT UNCTION AND MAKES IT STICK.
MEN IN THE PEW GIVEN TO PRAYING FOR THE PREACHER ARE LIKE THE POLES WHICH HOLD UP THE WIRES ALONG WHICH THE ELECTRIC CURRENT RUNS.
PRAYER AIMS AT A DEFINITE OBJECT. PRAYER HAS A DESIGN IN VIEW. PRAYER ALWAYS HAS SOMETHING SPECIFIC BEFORE THE MIND’S EYE. PRAYER ALWAYS DRIVES DIRECTLY AT AN OBJECT AND SEEKS TO SECURE A DESIRED END.
PRAYER IS ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING AT A DOOR FOR SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT, WHICH WE DESIRE, AND WHICH GOD HAS PROMISED TO US.
PRAYER IS A DIRECT ADDRESS TO GOD. “IN EVERYTHING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD.”
PRAYER MOVES MEN BECAUSE IT MOVES GOD TO MOVE MEN.
PRAYER MOVES THE HAND THAT MOVES THE WORLD.
HE WHO HAS THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER HAS THE HIGHEST INTEREST IN THE COURT OF HEAVEN.
SATAN DREADS NOTHING BUT PRAYER.
THE ONE CONCERN OF THE DEVIL IS TO KEEP THE SAINTS FROM PRAYER. HE FEARS NOTHING FORM PRAYERLESS STUDIES, PRAYERLESS WORK, PRAYERLESS RELIGION. HE LAUGHS AT OUT TOIL, MOCKS AT OUR WISDOM. BUT TREMBLES WHEN WE PRAY.
“ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER YE ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING, YE SHALL RECEIVE.”
“BUT WE WILL GIVE OURSELVES CONTINUALLY TO PRAYER, AND TO THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD.” ACTS 6:4.
(The original source of the above material in unknown.)
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