Purpose in PrayerBounds, Edward M. (Edward McKendree)
Religion
Purpose in Prayer
Bounds, Edward M. (Edward McKendree)
Prayer -- Christianity
The God of revivals who answered the prayer of His child for Mr. Moody,
is willing to hear and to answer the faithful, believing prayers of His
people to-day. Wherever God’s conditions are met there the revival is
sure to fall. Professor Thos. Nicholson, of Cornell College, U.S.A.,
relates an experience on his first circuit that impresses anew the old
lesson of the place of prayer in the work of God.
There had not been a revival on that circuit in years, and things were
not spiritually hopeful. During more than four weeks the pastor had
preached faithfully, visited from house to house, in stores, shops, and
out-of-the-way places, and had done everything he could. The fifth
Monday night saw _many of the official members at lodges_, but only a
corporal’s guard at the church.
From that meeting the pastor went home, cast down, but not in despair.
He resolved to spend that night in prayer. “Locking the door, he took
Bible and hymn book and began to inquire more diligently of the Lord,
though the meetings had been the subject of hours of earnest prayer.
Only God knows the anxiety and the faithful, prayerful study of that
night. Near the dawn a great peace and a full assurance came that God
would surely bless the plan which had been decided upon, and a text was
chosen which he felt sure was of the Lord. Dropping upon the bed, the
pastor slept about two hours, then rose, hastily breakfasted, and went
nine miles to the far side of the circuit to visit some sick people. All
day the assurance increased.
“Toward night a pouring rain set in, the roads were heavy and we reached
home, wet, supperless, and a little late, only to find no fire in the
church, the lights unlit, and no signs of service. The janitor had
concluded that the rain would prevent the service. We changed the order,
rang the bell, and prepared for war. Three young men formed the
congregation, but in that ‘full assurance’ the pastor delivered the
message which had been prayed out on the preceding night, as earnestly
and as fully as if the house had been crowded, then made a personal
appeal to each young man in turn. Two yielded, and testified before the
meeting closed.
“The tired pastor went to a sweet rest, and next morning, rising a
little later than usual, learned that one of the young men was going
from store to store throughout the town telling of his wonderful
deliverance, and exhorting the people to salvation. Night after night
conversions occurred, until in two weeks we heard 144 people testify in
forty-five minutes. All three points of that circuit saw a blaze of
revival that winter, and family after family came into the church, until
the membership was more than trebled.
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account