Chapter 7
THE GREAT SUBJECT OF PRAYER
Illustrating the Need of the Holy Spirit in Prayer
"Shall give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him." (Verse 13).
The Holy Spirit is the highest subject of prayer. Without Him we are helpless.
1. We need the Holy Spirit in the work of salvation --
(1) In the new birth -- We are born of the Spirit.
(2) In the mortification of the deeds of the body -- "if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
(3) In the work of entire sanctification -- "Through sanctification of the Spirit." "Sanctified by the Holy Ghost."
(4) In the witness -- "The Spirit Himself beareth witness."
2. We need the Holy Spirit as our Anointer, Guide, Instructor --
(1) "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." "But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you." (1 John 2:20-27).
(2) Guide -- "He will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13).
(3) Instructor -- "He will show you all things to come." "He shall teach you all things." (John 16:13, 14:26).
3. We need the Holy Spirit in the ministry of intercession -- "The Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Rom. 8:26).
4. We need the Holy Spirit because He is the Spirit of Unity -- "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph. 4:3).
5. We need the Holy Spirit because He is the Spirit of Liberty -- "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Cor. 3:17).
6. We need the Holy Spirit because He is the Spirit of Truth -- "Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:17).
7. We need the Holy Spirit because He is the Spirit of Life, produces fruit, is the Spirit of Holiness, and extols Christ --
(1) Spirit of Life -- "For the law the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2).
(2) Spirit of Fruit -- "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." (Gal. 5:22, 23).
(3) Spirit of Holiness -- "And declared to be the Son of God . . . according to the Spirit of Holiness." (Rom. 1:4)
(4) Spirit Extols Christ -- "He shall glorify Me." (John 16:14, 15).
Prayer, then, must be in the spirit, must be importunate, must be in simplicity, must be definite, must meet the requirement of Divine law, must include the greatest of subjects, the Holy Spirit.
"Prayer changes things" and persons. It has changed the course of individual life and changed the course of history.
Prayer calls forth workers for the harvest field (Matt. 9:38); prayer opens doors, sometimes literal doors (Acts 12:1-19); prayer makes possible the preaching of the gospel with power (Eph. 6:19); prayer makes possible a glorious and fruitful Church, as the Pentecostal Church; prayer makes the impossible possible, for with God all things are possible, that is, counting God in the situation all things are possible. Moses prayed and God opened the Red Sea. Moses' arms were held up and Joshua won the victory. The prophet prayed and fifteen years were added to his life. Jesus prayed and the twelve were called and ordained. The early Church prayed and the Holy Ghost came.
Prayer tends to spirituality. "As He was praying the fashion of His countenance was changed." (Luke 9:29). "The principal cause of my leanness and unfruitfulness," says Richard Newton, "is owing to an unaccountable backwardness to pray. I can write or read or converse or hear with a ready heart; but prayer is more spiritual and inward than any of these, and the more spiritual any duty is the more my carnal heart is apt to start from it. Prayer and patience and faith are never disappointed. I have long since learned that if ever I was to be a minister faith and prayer must make me one. When I can find my heart in frame and liberty for prayer, everything else is comparatively easy."
Prayer is paramount. "You know the value of prayer," writes Sir Thomas Buxton, "it is precious beyond all price. Never, never neglect it." Dr. Edward Payson says, "Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to a minister. Pray, then, my dear brother; pray, pray, pray." "It is recorded of Bishop Andrews that he spent five hours daily on his knees." William Penn writing about George Fox, said. "But above all he excelled in prayer. The inwardness and weight of his spirit, the reverence and solemnity of his address and behaviour, and the fewness and fullness of his words have often struck even strangers with admiration as they used to reach others with consolation. The most awful, living, reverent frame I ever felt or beheld, was his prayer. And truly it was a testimony. He knew and lived nearer to the Lord than other men, for they that know Him most will see most reason to approach Him with reverence and fear."
Prayer is gloriously inclusive. It includes everything (Phil. 4:6), the bread bill, milk bill, clothing, home, and everything that has a place in one's need. Important or not so important, great or small, it matters not, it is counted in the "every thing."
Prayer Brings Burdens and Out of Them Victory. It is related that John Welch, the holy and wonderful Scotch preacher, thought the day ill spent if he did not spend eight or ten hours in prayer. He kept a plaid shawl that he might wrap himself when he arose to pray at night. His wife
would complain when she found him lying on the ground weeping. He would reply: "O woman, I have the souls of three thousand to answer for, and I know not how it is with many of them." (Preacher and Prayer, page 48). The sainted John Fletcher says, "I would not rise from my seat without lifting my heart to God." "Do I meet you praying?" was his greeting to a friend. "Lord, teach us to pray."
THE END