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THE KNEELING CHRISTIAN
by Unknown Christian

Oh, let us rely more upon prayer! Do we not know that “He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”? (Hebrews xi. 6.) The “oil” of the Holy Spirit will never cease to flow so long as there are empty vessels to receive it (I Kings iv. 6). It is always we who are to blame when the Spirit’s work ceases. God cannot trust some Christians with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. God cannot trust some workers with definite spiritual results in their labors. They would suffer from pride and vainglory. No! we do not claim that God grants every Christian everything he prays for.

As we saw in an earlier chapter, there must be purity of heart, purity of motive, purity of desire, if our prayers are to be in His name. God is greater than His promises, and often gives more than either we desire or deserve — but He does not always do so. So, then, if any specific petition is not granted, we may feel sure that God is calling us to examine our hearts. For He has undertaken to grant every prayer that is truly offered in His name. Let us repeat His blessed words once more — we cannot repeat them too often — “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, that will I do” (John xiv. 13, 14).

Remember that it was impossible for Christ to offer up any prayer which was not granted. He was God — He knew the mind of God — He had the mind of the Holy Spirit.

Does He once say, “Father, if it be possible, let. . .” as He kneels in agony in Gethsemane’s garden, pouring out strong crying and tears? Yes, and “He was heard for His reverential awe” (Heb. v. 7, Dr. Moule). Surely not the “agony,” but the son-like fear, gained the answer? Our prayers are heard not so much because they are importunate but because they are filial.

Brother Christian, we cannot fully understand that hallowed scene of dreadful awe and wonder. But this we know — that our Lord never yet made a promise which He cannot keep, or does not mean to fulfil. The Holy Spirit maketh intercession for us (Rom. viii. 26), and God cannot say Him “Nay.” The Lord Jesus makes intercession for us (Hebrews vii. 25), and God cannot say Him “Nay.” His prayers are worth a thousand of ours, but it is He who bids us pray!

“But was not St. Paul filled with the Holy Spirit?” you ask, “and did he not say, ‘We have the mind of Christ?’ Yet he asked thrice over that God would remove the ‘thorn’ in his flesh — and yet God distinctly tells him He would not do so.”

It is a very singular thing, too, that the only petition recorded of St. Paul seeking something for his own individual need was refused! The difficulty, however, is this: Why did St. Paul, who had the “mind” of Christ, ask for something which he soon discovered was contrary to God’s wishes? There are doubtless many fully-consecrated Christians reading these words who have been perplexed because God has not given some things they prayed for.

We must remember that we may be filled with the Spirit and yet err in judgment or desire. We must remember, too, that we are never filled with God’s Holy Spirit once for all. The evil one is always on the watch to put his mind into us, so as to strike at God through us. At any moment we may become disobedient or unbelieving, or may be betrayed into some thought or act contrary to the Spirit of love.

We have an astonishing example of this in the life of St. Peter. At one moment, under the compelling influence of God’s Holy Spirit, he cries, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Our Lord turns, and with words of high commendation says, “Blessed art thou, Simon, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father, which is in heaven.” Yet, a very little while after, the devil gets his mind into St. Peter, and our Lord turns and says unto him, “Get thee behind me, Satan!” (Matt. xvi. 17, 23.) St. Peter was now speaking in the name of Satan! Satan still “desires to have” us.

St. Paul was tempted to think that he could do far better work for his beloved Master if only that “thorn” could be removed. But God knew that Paul would be a better man with the “thorn” than without it.

Is it not a comfort to us to know that we may bring more glory to God under something which we are apt to regard as a hindrance or handicap, than if that undesired thing was removed? “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My power is made perfect in weakness” (II Cor. xii. 9). Remember that God nothing does, nor suffers to be done,
But what thou would’st thyself
Did’st thou but see
The end of all He does as well as He.

St. Paul was not infallible — nor was St. Peter, or St. John; nor is the Pope or any other man. We may — and do — offer up mistaken prayers. The highest form of prayer is not, “Thy way, O God, not mine,” but “My way, O God, is Thine!” We are taught to pray, not “Thy will be changed,” but “Thy will be done.”

May we, in conclusion, give the testimony of two who have proved that God can be trusted? Sir H. M. Stanley, the great explorer, wrote: “I for one must not dare to say that prayers are inefficacious. Where I have been in earnest, I have been answered. When I prayed for light to guide my followers wisely through the perils that beset them, a ray of light has come upon the perplexed mind, and a clear road to deliverance has been pointed out. You may know when prayer is answered, by the glow of content which fills one who has flung his cause before God, as he rises to his feet. I have evidence, satisfactory to myself, that prayers are granted.”

Mary Slessor, the story of whose life in West Africa has surely thrilled us all, was once asked what prayer meant to her. She replied, “My life is one long, daily, hourly record of answered prayer for physical health, for mental overstrain, for guidance given marvelously, for errors and dangers averted, for enmity to the Gospel subdued, for food provided at the exact hour needed, for everything that goes to make up life and my poor service. I can testify with a full and often wonder-stricken awe that I believe God answers prayer. I know God answers prayer!”

CHAPTER 9: ANSWERS TO PRAYER

MERE human nature would choose a more startling title to this chapter. Remarkable answers — wonderful answers — amazing answers. But we must allow God to teach us that it is as natural to Him to answer prayer as it is for us to ask. How He delights to hear our petitions, and how He loves to answer them! When we hear of some wealthy person giving a treat to poverty-stricken people, or wiping out some crushing deficit in a missionary society, we exclaim, “How nice to be able to do a thing like that!” Well, if it is true that God loves us — and we know it is true — do you not think it gives Him great joy to give us what we ask? We should like, therefore, to recount one or two answers to prayer out of very many which have come to our notice, so that we may have greater boldness in coming to the Throne of Grace. God saves men for whom we pray. Try it.

In talking over this question with a man of prayer a few days ago, he suddenly asked me, “Do you know St. M—’s Church, L—?”
“Quite well — have been there several times.”

“Let me tell you what happened when I lived there. We had a prayer-meeting each Sunday before the 8 o’clock communion service. As we rose from our knees one Sunday a sidesman said, ‘Vicar, I wish you would pray for my boy. He is twenty-two years old now, and has not been to church for years.’ ‘We can spare five minutes now,’ replied the vicar. They knelt down again and offered up earnest supplication on behalf of that man. Although nothing was said to him about this, that youth came to church that same evening. Something in the sermon convicted him of sin. He came into the vestry broken-hearted, and accepted Jesus Christ as, his Savior.”

On Monday morning my friend, who was working as a Church Army captain in the parish, was present at the weekly meeting of the staff. He said to the vicar, “That conversion last night is a challenge to prayer — a challenge from God. Shall we accept it?” “What do you mean?” asked the vicar. “Well,” said he, “shall we single out the worst man in the parish and pray for him?” By unanimous consent they fixed upon K— as the worst man they knew. So they “agreed” in prayer for his conversion. At the end of that week, as they were conducting a Saturday night prayer-meeting in the mission hall, and whilst his very name was on their lips, the door swung open and in staggered K—, much the worse for liquor. He had never been in that mission hall before. Without thinking of removing his cap he sank on a chair near the door and buried his face in his hands. The prayer-meeting suddenly became an enquiry-room. Even as he was — in drink — he sought the Lord Who was seeking him. Nor did he ever go back. Today he is one of the finest dockyard missioners in the land.

Oh, why do we not pray for our unconverted friends? They may not listen to us when we plead with them, but they cannot hold out if we pray for them. Let two or three agree in prayer over the salvation of the worst, and then see what God will do! Tell God and then trust God. God works in a wonderful way, as well as in a “mysterious” way, His wonders to perform.

Dan Crawford told us recently that when returning to his mission field after a furlough, it was necessary to make all possible haste. But a deep stream, which had to be crossed, was in flood, and no boats were available, or usable, for that matter. So he and his party camped and prayed. An infidel might well have laughed aloud. How could God get them across that river! But, as they prayed, a tall tree which had battled with that river for scores of years began to totter and fall. It fell clear across the stream! As Mr. Crawford says, “The Royal Engineers of heaven had laid a pontoon bridge for God’s servants.”

Many young people will be reading these prayer-stories. May we remind them that God still hears the voice of the lad — yes, and the lass? (Gen. xxi. 17.) For them may we be allowed to add the following story, with the earnest desire that prayer may be their heritage, their very life; and that answered prayer may be their daily experience.

Some little time ago, a Chinese boy of twelve years old, named Ma-Na-Si, a boarder in the mission school at Chefoo, went home for the holidays. He is the son of a native pastor.

Whilst standing on the doorstep of his father’s house he espied a horseman galloping towards him. The man — a heathen — was in a great state of perturbation. He eagerly enquired for the “Jesus-man” — the pastor. The boy told him that his father was away from home. The poor man was much distressed, and hurriedly explained the cause of his visit. He had been sent from a heathen village some miles away to fetch the “holy man” to cast a devil out of the daughter-in-law of a heathen friend. He poured out his sad story of this young woman, torn by devils, raving and reviling, pulling out her hair, clawing her face, tearing her clothes, smashing up furniture, and dashing away dishes of food. He told of her spirit of sacrilege, and outrageous impiety, and brazen blasphemy and how these outbursts were followed by foaming at the mouth, and great exhaustion, both physical and mental “But my father is not at home,” the boy kept reiterating. At length the frenzied man seemed to understand. Suddenly he fell on his knees, and, stretching out his hands in desperation, cried, “You, too, are a Jesus-man; will you come?”

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