Purpose in PrayerBounds, Edward M. (Edward McKendree)
Religion
Purpose in Prayer
Bounds, Edward M. (Edward McKendree)
Prayer -- Christianity
In answer to Hezekiah’s praying an angel slew one hundred and
eighty-five thousand of Sennacherib’s army in one night. Daniel’s
praying opened to him the vision of prophecy, helped him to administer
the affairs of a mighty kingdom, and sent an angel to shut the lions’
mouths. The angel was sent to Cornelius, and the Gospel opened through
him to the Gentile world, because his “prayers and alms had come up as a
memorial before God.” “And what shall I more say? for the time would
fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah;
of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets;” of Paul and Peter, and
John and the Apostles, and the holy company of saints, reformers, and
martyrs, who, through praying, “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,
waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”
Prayer puts God in the matter with commanding force: “Ask of Me things
to come concerning My sons,” says God, “and concerning the work of My
hands command ye Me.” We are charged in God’s Word “always to pray,” “in
everything by prayer,” “continuing instant in prayer,” to “pray
everywhere,” “praying always.” The promise is as illimitable as the
command is comprehensive. “All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
believing, ye shall receive,” “whatever ye shall ask,” “if ye shall ask
anything.” “Ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.”
“Whatsoever ye ask the Father He will give it to you.” If there is
anything not involved in “All things whatsoever,” or not found in the
phrase “Ask anything,” then these things may be left out of prayer.
Language could not cover a wider range, nor involve more fully all
_minutia_. These statements are but samples of the all-comprehending
possibilities of prayer under the promises of God to those who meet the
conditions of right praying.
These passages, though, give but a general outline of the immense
regions over which prayer extends its sway. Beyond these the effects of
prayer reaches and secures good from regions which cannot be traversed
by language or thought. Paul exhausted language and thought in praying,
but conscious of necessities not covered and realms of good not reached
he covers these impenetrable and undiscovered regions by this general
plea, “unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that
we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” The promise
is, “Call upon Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and
mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account