"The Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered."-Rom. viii. 26 (R.V.).
"The exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,
according to that working of the strength of His might which He wrought
in Christ when He raised Him from the dead." - Eph. i. 19, 20 (R.V.)
THE mighty power which God has put into the hands of men in the material
world is constantly creating fresh surprise, and causing multitudes to wonder
what further startling demonstrations of the material forces may yet be
expected to take place. Scientists tell us that in every single drop of
water in the ocean there is energy enough to generate two thunderstorms.
The power is there, silent and hidden, ready at any moment to leap forth
and do terrible execution.
One of the most powerful elements in nature that has ever been discovered
is radium. Scientists tell us that it is practically an inexhaustible reservoir
of energy. The President of the British Association in 1905 described it
as, "perhaps a million times more powerful than dynamite," and
he illustrated his remark by a statement to the effect that whereas 12000
tons of coal are required to drive a ship 6000 miles through the sea at
15 knots an hour, the same effect would be produced by 22 ounces of radium.
Fourteen pounds of radium would keep a 50,000-horse-power engine running
for a year; 1 ounce would drive one's motorcar during the whole term of
one's natural life. A sufficient block would run an Atlantic liner for generations
across the ocean. A piece of radium is calculated to continue in full activity
for two million years.
These are all statements of leading scientific men of the day. There never
was a time in the history of the world when there were so many evidences
of existing powers in the material world; and never a time when there was
a greater interest taken in discoveries or inventions of some new application
of the powers already brought to light. As a rule men are not slow to make
use of these combined forces placed at their disposal in the material world,
but, alas, how slow we are to make use of the power and blessing which God
has placed within our reach in the spiritual world!
It is possible to overrate the power and strength in relation to material
forces, but there can be no mistake in this direction in our attempt to
explain the greatness of the power of spiritual forces. The difficulty here
lies in finding suitable words to express their greatness. The Apostle Paul
in his letter to the Ephesians tried to explain the power which God has
placed at the disposal of believers, but he had to acknowledge that it is
exceeding greatness. It is impossible to measure or explain it.
Who can measure or explain resurrection power? From death unto life in the
spiritual realm, as well as in the physical, is beyond our thought. There
is no power in the material universe that can approach it. Even the power
of radium is infinitely behind it. Neither can we measure nor explain rightly
the power in relation to prayer force: that is, intensified prayer when
wrought in the soul by the power of the Holy Ghost. But we can read of mighty
things which have been accomplished by its power in the past history of
the Church and of the world, and of what our forefathers did by its mighty
force in their day.
As one great writer expressed it, the prayer of faith is mightier than any
dynamite, for it has the almightiness of God linked to it. It reaches round
the world. It can touch the highest Heaven or shake the lowest Hell. Prayer
is a Jacob's ladder with God's angels ascending and descending, taking up
the petitions and bringing down the answers. Prayer may be as simple as
a baby's cry, as eloquent as a tear, as secret as a heart pang, as swift
as the lightning, as mighty as the tornado, as strong as love, and as divinely
human as the Christ of God.
Prayer is only real prayer when inspired by Him and His Spirit. He has mastered
but little of prayer who knows but little of the Spirit-groaning which cannot
be uttered. No matter how great our petition, His promise is always "exceeding
abundantly above all we ask or think." We also know that which we have
proved again and again of its power and reality in our own lives, and what
we have witnessed of its power among others.
The late Rev. T. G. SELBY, a very eminent saint and noted preacher and writer,
calling attention to the fact that believers are the only channels for the
transmission of spiritual force, says, " Some of the material forces
of the universe can only be manifested through the special elements and
agencies that are adapted to transmit them. Electricity must have a pathway
of susceptible matter over which to travel, even if that pathway be one
of indefinitely minute particles of ether only. So with the spiritual forces
of the universe. If the power of the mediatorial presence has no conducting
lines along which to travel, it must sleep for ever, and the world be left
to swing in its old grooves of evil and death. The manifestation of all
the energies of that presence can only come through the believing request
of the disciples. Prayer, bound only by the human instincts of the faith
that inspires it, and the rights of the Name in which it is presented, is
a thing of illimitable power."
Dr. COURTLAND, who is considered to be one of the world's greatest and most
renowned scientists, claims that: "Prayer is the mightiest force in
the universe," and that the Christian world is blind to the fact. Judging
by what is already accomplished, we have to acknowledge that if prayer is
anything it is everything; if it is true, it is the greatest truth.
The Rev. J. A. MORGAN, Vicar of St. John's, Deritend, Birmingham, declared
that, "True prayer is the Holy Ghost praying through us back to God."
This statement is quite in harmony with the Apostle's teaching when he says,
"The Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered" (Rom. viii. 26), which reveals the truth that it
is not simply the power or influence of the Spirit, but rather the Holy
Spirit Himself. While not setting aside our responsibility, He kindles the
desire, begets the prayer, and also "maketh intercession for the saints
according to the win of God" (Rom. viii. 27). It is this glorious fact
that makes the true prayer of the righteous the greatest force on earth.
As we recognise that the Holy Spirit Himself inspired the Apostle to utter
these words in his prayer: "The exceeding greatness of His power to
us-ward who believe," there is no room left for us to doubt the fact
that prayer-force when wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit is the Greatest
Force on Earth. Power that exceeds greatness in any sphere is beyond the
region of human conception, but how much more when we think of the greatness
of power, in relation to the Almighty! We may admit this in the abstract
- His ability to create untold worlds in a moment of time if He chose -
but here we discover that it is the exceeding greatness of His power in
the subjective. Yes! even at our disposal, "to us-ward who believe."
This is still more encouraging when we consider that the exceeding greatness
of His power may be received by us to advantage in the prayer-life. He,
Himself, really comes to "make intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered." O brethren, is not this an exceedingly great condescension
on the part of the blessed and eternal Spirit - thus to help our infirmities,
and to teach us how to pray intensely so as to prevail! Surely such exceeding
greatness of His power to us-ward is past our comprehension and all our
powers of expression. Nor can we measure its wonderful possibilities, especially
when the Spirit of grace and supplication is allowed to have the complete
control of our prayer-life.
Then we may settle it in our minds once and for ever that prayer-force -
that is, if it is to be the greatest force on earth - is not worked-up force,
physical, or material force of any kind, but a force that is wrought in
the soul by the Holy Spirit Himself; after the manner of the experience
of Paul when he exclaimed, "Which worketh in me mightily" (Col.
i. 29). And we may reckon that the workings of His mighty power in prayer
and intercession in the divinely anointed soul is mightier than the power
of dynamite, or lyddite, or radium, or any other power, intellectual or
material. God does not look at the length or breadth or the polish of our
prayers. He looks and listens to the Spirit's voice reproduced in us and
through us. The Holy Spirit has a Voice that is distinguishable from all
other voices by His sympathetic tones.
The sainted FRANK CROSSLEY of the Star Hall, Manchester, described this
distinguishing feature of the Spirit's grace, in all who have received it,
as a sanctified, or spiritual tone. Our Lord Himself, when instructing His
disciples, said, "It is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father
which is in you" (Matt. x. 20).
It is said that the secret of the success of that great preacher, GEORGE
WHITEFIELD, was not so much his extraordinary sermons, but rather the spiritual
tone and unction in which he preached them. When in the fulness of the Spirit
he would utter the word "Oh!", the power of conviction would be
so great that at times sinners would fall by hundreds, helpless to the ground,
as if smitten by the hand of death. This is what St. Jude meant when speaking
of the ministry of prayer, as praying in the Holy Ghost.
Such were the prayers of JOHN KNOX, when in the fulness of the Spirit he
would pray all night in agonising tones, "Lord, give me Scotland or
I die." God heard the voice of his supplications and shook Scotland
in answer to his prayers. This is what the Vicar of Madeley, the Rev. JOHN
FLETCHER, meant when he being asked what was to be experienced in the full
accomplishment of the promise of the Father, replied, "Oh! what shall
I say . . . the Spirit maketh intercession in the soul like a God wrestling
with a God." Oh that we knew better how to pray in the Holy Ghost,
and to rely absolutely upon Him for utterance! What wonders would be wrought
in the Church in answer to our prayers! He knows the kind of prayer that
will prevail with our Heavenly Father. He knows the kind of prayer that
will bring about a world-wide revival. His eyes still run to and fro in
the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect
toward Him. (Lord, teach us to pray; and inspire us to expect greater things.)
It is true, as expressed by one whose name we have already mentioned, we
ask for toys when we should ask for continents, and be claiming the world
for Christ.
Intensified prayer, when offered through the atoning merits of Jesus Christ
and in reliance upon the Holy Spirit, is as the putting forth of vital energy
and is considered to be the highest effort of which the human spirit is
capable, and becomes an irresistible force. When we consider its wonderful
possibilities and our own responsibilities in relation to our souls, we
are overwhelmed with the thought of it. (O God! pour down a flood of divine
illumination on the soul of the writer so that he may be able to stir up
the souls of others in order that they may be able to realise the importance
of this duty, and thereby create a spiritual awakening such as shall bring
everlasting glory to Him who is the Author and Inspirer, as well as the
Hearer and Answerer of prayer.)
If the Church fully realised the power of this grace and knew the experience
of its divine operation, nothing would be impossible to her, because she
would possess the key of Heaven's unspeakable treasures, and would be mighty
through God to the pulling down of strongholds. As rightly expressed by
Dr. ANDREW MURRAY: "We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery
of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world,
and can bring its power down to earth."
CHARLES H. SPURGEON remarked on one occasion that the "power of prayer
can never be overrated. They who cannot serve God by preaching need not
regret. If a man can but pray he can do anything. He who knows how to overcome
with God in prayer has Heaven and earth at his disposal."
GOSSNER, the humble pastor of Bethlehem Church in Berlin, relied on prayer
more than any other force. It was said of him that he prayed mission stations
into being, and missionaries into faith; he prayed open the hearts of the
rich, and gold from the distant lands. Before his life ended he had sent
forth one hundred and forty-four missionaries, and usually had no less than
twenty of them depending directly upon him for support. "Prayer,"
says one of our ablest writers on this vital subject, "is a spiritual
law which cooperates with the mind of God. It has more in it than merely
petition. It clothes itself in reality and power, with the force of God
Himself. It is an attitude of spirit and mind. Language is secondary in
true prayer."
We shall discover, as we proceed, that prayer is not only the greatest force
on earth, but the greatest privilege on earth. Prayer is a means by which
we may call in the intervention of the Almighty God and obtain instant deliverance
in times of danger and sudden temptation. Prayer has been called the outlet
of trouble and the inlet to comfort. Prayer is like a window in the soul
by which we can let out that which is oppressive and let in that which is
pure and refreshing. It is a medium by which we can let in the light, which
will put out the darkness. Prayer is also a means by which we can hold fellowship
with other Christians, and unite with them in making our appeal to God on
behalf of the Church and the world.
All good things in Heaven and earth, and all the exceeding great and precious
promises by which they may be obtained, are opened to the grasp of consistent
persevering prayer. It is a further privilege that prayer, especially when
"in the Holy Ghost," brings the soul into a clear atmosphere,
because it brings us into fellowship with God Himself, "in Him there
is no darkness at all" (I John i. 5) and, "if we walk in the light
as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood
of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin" (I John i. 7).
Our Lord said, "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall
ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John xv. 7).
It is plain, therefore, that without any attempt to go beyond what is written,
if we are to pray consistently and successfully, we must abide in the clear
light of holiness; as saith the Apostle, "For what communion hath light
with darkness." The two things are incompatible; you cannot at the
same time have holiness and sin (see 2 Cor. vi. 14 to end of chapter).
As a compensation for consistent persevering prayer on the lines of truth
and righteousness, the three Hebrew children were sustained in the burning
fiery furnace, and were brought out of it, without having even the smell
of fire upon them (Dan. iii. 20, 27). And multitudes since their day have
been called to pass through the fiery trials of sorrow and persecution,
slander and afflictions; but God, in answer to their intensified prayers
"in the Holy Ghost," sustained them, and so kept them by His power
that the flame did not kindle upon them, nor the waters overflow them.
In her last days Mrs. BOOTH of the Salvation Army sent this message to her
friends - it is a triumphant death-song: "The waters are rising, but
so am I. I am not going under, but over. Do not be concerned about your
dying. Only go on living well, and the dying will be all right." Doubtless
when the roll is called up yonder, a mighty army of saints will join the
song of the ransomed, in praise to Him who in answer to their fervent prayers
supplied them with grace sufficient to "glorify Him in the fires,"
and be able to witness, as expressed in the lines of the poem:
"He brought me through the scorching fire,
Altho' the flame waxed hotter, higher!
Yet, lo! what did those flames for me
But burned my bonds and set me free;
Thus through it all I learned to sing
The power and wisdom of my King."
L. A. BARTER SNOW.
It was in answer to the power of intensified prayer that God sent an earthquake
and shook the foundations of the prison at Philippi, and not only brought
Paul and Silas out of the inner prison but filled their souls to overflowing
with songs of praise, and saved the jailor and his household, and gave birth
to a church in a new centre. "Thus saith the Lord, the Holy
One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask Me of things to come; and concerning My
sons, and concerning the work of My hands, command ye Me" (Isa. xlv.
11). If we rightly consider the character of the One who uttered these words,
we may reverently conclude that actual authority is given (especially to
those who pray "in the Holy Ghost" and through the atoning merits
of Christ) for the right to believe that prayer is the one power on earth
whereby we may command the Almighty. Or, as expressed by one writer, "Prayer
is the power on earth that commands the Power in Heaven."
We are reminded that in launching an ironclad, the pressure of a baby's
finger is not infrequently required to put into operation the ponderous
machinery by which the iron leviathan glides evenly and majestically on
to the ocean wave. So, if we may dare to say it, all the purposes of God,
and the providential machinery by which they were to be executed, stood
in suspense until the chosen people had asked for the things which He had
promised and had even commanded Him concerning the work on which His heart
was set. It is also admitted that "the Divine gauge of the worth of
prayer is its pressure on the heart of God." "Concerning My sons,
and concerning the work of My hands, command ye Me."
Mr. SPURGEON remarks that this is a wonderful expression, and calls upon
us to rise to the sublimity of faith and be daring with our God. It is considered
that our Lord used this tone when He said, "Father, I will"; and
we shall discover that Moses used the same sublime daring when he stood
in the breach, and in his supplication on behalf of Israel, prayed, "Forgive
their sin, and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy Book which Thou
hast written." Joshua rose to the same sublimity of faith and daring
when, in the supreme moment of his triumph, he lifted his spear towards
the setting sun and cried, "Sun, stand thou still." Elijah used
the same sublimity of faith and daring when he shut up the heavens for three
years and six months and again opened them. Yet, as well said by one, "After
our greatest deeds of prayer and faith, we shall ever lie low before God;
as Elijah did, who, after calling fire from Heaven, prostrated himself on
the ground with his face between his knees."
It is likewise true if we have the intense desire that our prayers take
rank with the mighty intensified prayers of those Old Testament saints,
that we purpose calling attention to, then, as in their case, we must not
be surprised if our prayers cost us real soul agony, if not blood and tears.
But the love of God and the price paid by the awful tragedy of the Cross,
and the needs of a dying world demand it. Therefore without further delay
let us cross the Rubicon of doubt, cut the shore line of all carnal indulgences,
and learn how to " pray in the Holy Ghost"; and, in the strength
of Almighty God, the victory shall be ours. |