Intercessory prayer is the Christian's most effective weapon. Nothing can withstand its power. It will do things when all else has failed. And the marvel is that we turn to other agencies in order to accomplish what only prayer can bring to pass.
God has placed this mighty weapon in our hands and He expects us to use it. How
disappointed He must be when we lay it aside and substitute natural means for supernatural work.
When D. L. Moody first visited Edinburgh, Scotland, it was literally true that
within a few days the entire city was stirred to its depths. Not only so, but the whole
of Scotland was more or less aroused. It was not long until the trains were bringing
people into the city to attend the meetings from every part of the country, so
tremendous was the interest.
What had happened? Why, God in answer to volumes of intercessory prayer
that for months past had been ascending daily, had suddenly put a great concern
upon the people. Thousands became anxious about their spiritual condition, and
multitudes were swept into the Kingdom. It was one of the greatest, if not the
greatest, outpourings of the Spirit that Scotland has ever seen or known. And now
what is the result? Was it a true outcome?
I was over in the Old Country a few months ago, and this is what I discovered.
The great outstanding leaders in evangelical and evangelistic work all over the
British Isles, the men and women who have accomplished the biggest things for
God's Kingdom, in the large majority of cases, were converted under the ministry
of D. L. Moody. Scotland has never forgotten that remarkable visitation. The
secret, as everyone will admit, was first and foremost, intercessory prayer.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (Jas. 5:16). Such
is God's estimate of intercessory prayer. The illustration that follows is taken from
the ministry of Elijah. How marvellously he made use of the God-appointed
method. I think of Elijah as walking around with the key of heaven in his pocket.
Taking it out, he places it in the lock of the clouds, turns it, and lo, the heavens are
shut and closed, so that no rain can possibly fall. Three and a half years later he
takes the key again from his pocket, puts it in the same lock, turns it, and lo, the
rain falls in torrents. Thus he wielded the mighty weapon of intercession and
brought things to pass.
"Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the
church unto God for him" (Acts 12: 5). Yes, Peter was kept in prison, that was
man's power. Then follow two words that bring us immediately into a higher realm
where mightier forces are at work"But prayer." Thank God, the Early Church knew
the power of intercessory prayer. Peter was released. God had sent His angel in
answer to the cry of the Church.
Why have we turned away from it? How is it that the Church of today has such
little confidence in the efficacy of intercession? What a loss is ours!
Oh, that God
might talk loudly to us and call us back to the days of the Early Church, until once
again we are brought to realize the effectiveness of this mighty weapon, so that we,
too, may bring things to pass and do a supernatural work through intercessory
prayer.
God has placed this mighty weapon in our hands and He expects us to use it. How
disappointed He must be when we lay it aside and substitute natural means for supernatural work.
When D. L. Moody first visited Edinburgh, Scotland, it was literally true that
within a few days the entire city was stirred to its depths. Not only so, but the whole
of Scotland was more or less aroused. It was not long until the trains were bringing
people into the city to attend the meetings from every part of the country, so
tremendous was the interest.
What had happened? Why, God in answer to volumes of intercessory prayer
that for months past had been ascending daily, had suddenly put a great concern
upon the people. Thousands became anxious about their spiritual condition, and
multitudes were swept into the Kingdom. It was one of the greatest, if not the
greatest, outpourings of the Spirit that Scotland has ever seen or known. And now
what is the result? Was it a true outcome?
I was over in the Old Country a few months ago, and this is what I discovered.
The great outstanding leaders in evangelical and evangelistic work all over the
British Isles, the men and women who have accomplished the biggest things for
God's Kingdom, in the large majority of cases, were converted under the ministry
of D. L. Moody. Scotland has never forgotten that remarkable visitation. The
secret, as everyone will admit, was first and foremost, intercessory prayer.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (Jas. 5:16). Such
is God's estimate of intercessory prayer. The illustration that follows is taken from
the ministry of Elijah. How marvellously he made use of the God-appointed
method. I think of Elijah as walking around with the key of heaven in his pocket.
Taking it out, he places it in the lock of the clouds, turns it, and lo, the heavens are
shut and closed, so that no rain can possibly fall. Three and a half years later he
takes the key again from his pocket, puts it in the same lock, turns it, and lo, the
rain falls in torrents. Thus he wielded the mighty weapon of intercession and
brought things to pass.
"Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the
church unto God for him" (Acts 12: 5). Yes, Peter was kept in prison, that was
man's power. Then follow two words that bring us immediately into a higher realm
where mightier forces are at work"But prayer." Thank God, the Early Church knew
the power of intercessory prayer. Peter was released. God had sent His angel in
answer to the cry of the Church.
Why have we turned away from it? How is it that the Church of today has such
little confidence in the efficacy of intercession? What a loss is ours!
Oh, that God
might talk loudly to us and call us back to the days of the Early Church, until once
again we are brought to realize the effectiveness of this mighty weapon, so that we,
too, may bring things to pass and do a supernatural work through intercessory
prayer.
Intercessory prayer is the Christian's most effective weapon. Nothing can withstand its power. It will do things when all else has failed. And the marvel is that we turn to other agencies in order to accomplish what only prayer can bring to pass.
God has placed this mighty weapon in our hands and He expects us to use it. How
disappointed He must be when we lay it aside and substitute natural means for supernatural work.
When D. L. Moody first visited Edinburgh, Scotland, it was literally true that
within a few days the entire city was stirred to its depths. Not only so, but the whole
of Scotland was more or less aroused. It was not long until the trains were bringing
people into the city to attend the meetings from every part of the country, so
tremendous was the interest.
What had happened? Why, God in answer to volumes of intercessory prayer
that for months past had been ascending daily, had suddenly put a great concern
upon the people. Thousands became anxious about their spiritual condition, and
multitudes were swept into the Kingdom. It was one of the greatest, if not the
greatest, outpourings of the Spirit that Scotland has ever seen or known. And now
what is the result? Was it a true outcome?
I was over in the Old Country a few months ago, and this is what I discovered.
The great outstanding leaders in evangelical and evangelistic work all over the
British Isles, the men and women who have accomplished the biggest things for
God's Kingdom, in the large majority of cases, were converted under the ministry
of D. L. Moody. Scotland has never forgotten that remarkable visitation. The
secret, as everyone will admit, was first and foremost, intercessory prayer.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (Jas. 5:16). Such
is God's estimate of intercessory prayer. The illustration that follows is taken from
the ministry of Elijah. How marvellously he made use of the God-appointed
method. I think of Elijah as walking around with the key of heaven in his pocket.
Taking it out, he places it in the lock of the clouds, turns it, and lo, the heavens are
shut and closed, so that no rain can possibly fall. Three and a half years later he
takes the key again from his pocket, puts it in the same lock, turns it, and lo, the
rain falls in torrents. Thus he wielded the mighty weapon of intercession and
brought things to pass.
"Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the
church unto God for him" (Acts 12: 5). Yes, Peter was kept in prison, that was
man's power. Then follow two words that bring us immediately into a higher realm
where mightier forces are at work"But prayer." Thank God, the Early Church knew
the power of intercessory prayer. Peter was released. God had sent His angel in
answer to the cry of the Church.
Why have we turned away from it? How is it that the Church of today has such
little confidence in the efficacy of intercession? What a loss is ours!
Oh, that God
might talk loudly to us and call us back to the days of the Early Church, until once
again we are brought to realize the effectiveness of this mighty weapon, so that we,
too, may bring things to pass and do a supernatural work through intercessory
prayer.
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