The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-03-10

WNEX III Nv er OF Coo mani
tested for the de-
llverance of his people. Prayer changed
things, and the humanity Impossible
was accomplished.
The promise of Jeremiah - was
fulfilled many times before the words
were written, as well as many times
since. Call unto me and / will answer
thee and show thee great and mighty
things, which thou krowest not" This
is Gods call and challenge to faith.
Some of His people have always be-
lieved and acted on this; others are
now being aroused to its transcendent
Importance.
Expecting God to Answer.
There is growing spirit of faith
and expectation that God will mani
fest His saving and Transforming pow
er in answer to prayer. Not for
naught have Gods people gathered to-
gether in watch-night services; not In
vain have faithful men held on in
prayer these past years in spite OF
spiritual darkness; not without fruit
age can the labors of the Great Com
mission Prayer League and kindred as
sociationS be.
Faith sees the cloud that is yet to
break in blessing on the heads Of
Gods people. It may not, at present,
be "larger than a mans hand" but it
is seen on the horizon of spiritual
vision by those who pray. The call Of
the hour is for more recruits in the
prayer warfare, and an advance into
the front trenches with the continual
cry, Lord teach us to pray"
Bible teaching concerning prayer,
like every other doctrine of Scripture,
is progressive. There is first the
blade, then the ear, then the full corn
in the ear"
In the Old Testament prevailing
prayer is linked with the quality OF
righteousness in the one who prays.
Elijah is a striking example of this.
He is presented as man jealous for
God and righteousness.
Conditions for Prevailing Prayer.
In the synoptic. Gospels the domi-
nant note for the prayer life is that of
faith. Righteousness is not ignored,
but to it faith is added. Gall things
whatsoever We shall ask in prayer be-
lieving, We shall receive" And again,
"What things soever We desire when We
pray, believe that We receive them and
We shall have them"
This, of course, implies yieldedness
to God and q life approvedsof God, and
must be considered in the light of such
Scripture as 1 John 3 %, "WhatsO-
ever we ask we receive of Him be-
cause we keep his commandments, and
do those things that are pleasing in
His sight"
In the Gospel by John, we are told
to pray sin His name: whatsoever
We shall ask the Father in my name
He will give it you. If We shall ask
anything in my name will do it." We
are one with Christ in vital spiritual
union. We are called by His name.
AS a woman does business in the name
Of her husband, so the Christian is to
do business In the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Prayer is more than
communion, it is service of the high
est kind. 1t is doing business in the
name of Christ.
The New Testament Epistles add
vet another condition for prevailing
prayer to those of righteousness, faith
and spiritual union with Christ. 1t Is
seen in our text, "Praying always with
all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit"
Praying in the Spirit is the addi-
tional condition here named. A Chris
tan must learn to walk in the Spirit,
that is. to walk by the help OF the
Spirit. Apart from this, his life will
be a partial failure. So is it in the
matter Of prayer. To pray in the
Spirit is simply to pray through the
help of the Spirit.
Helped BY the Holy Spirit.
"The Spirit helpeth our infrmities."
These infrmities are more obvious in
the matter of prayer thai in any other
spiritual exercise. We have been
"made nigh by the blood of Christ"
but our access to the Father is made
real to us by the operation of the
Holy Spirit within our hearts. 1t is
only by His Illuminating and energiz-
ing presence that we enter the battle
ground of prayer; or, in other words,
the place of real intercession, which
becomes a battle ground against the
principalities and powers and the
rulers of the darkness of this world.
''The strong man" must be bound be-
fore we can enter in and spoil his
goods by liberating those who are held
captive by him. This binding power
can be exercised by us only as we
pray in righteousness, in faith, in His
name, and in the Spirit This is the
need of the hour, Lord, teach us to
pray"