Nothing is Beyond the Scope of Prayer which is not Beyond the Will of God

Tip! The gift of the Holy Spirit is one of the benefits flowing to us from the glorious presence of Christ at the right hand of God, and this gift of the Holy Spirit, together with all the other gifts of the enthroned Christ, are secured to us by prayer, as the condition.

Our blessed Master gives the final word, before He is seized, and bound, and scourged, before His gracious lips are silenced on the old rugged cross, "Ye shall ask in My name . . . for the Father Himself loves you" (verse 26). We have often spent much time in reflecting on our Lord's seven words from the cross. And it is imperative that we should do so. But have we ever spent one hour in meditating on our Savior's sevenfold invitation to pray?

Today He sits on the throne of His Majesty on high, and He holds out to us the scepter of His power. Shall we touch it and tell Him our desires? He offers us to take of His treasures. He desires to grant us "according to the riches of His glory," that we may "be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man." He tells us that our strength and our fruitfulness depend on our prayers. He reminds us that our very joy depends on answered prayer (John 16:24).

And yet we allow the devil to persuade us to neglect prayer! He makes us believe that we can do more by our own efforts than by our prayers — by our contact with men than by our intercession with God. It surpasses one's understanding that so little attention is given to our Lord's sevenfold invitation — commands — promise! How can we dare to work for Christ without being much in prayer on our knees? Quite recently an earnest Christian friend — a Sunday-school teacher— called me, saying, "I have never had an answer to prayer in all my life." What, why not? Is God a liar? Isn't God trustworthy? Do His promises count for nothing? Does He not mean what He says? And no doubt there are many people reading these words who in their own hearts are saying the same thing as my Christian friend. Payson is right — is Scriptural — when he says: "If we would do much for God, we must ask much of God: we must be people of prayer." If our prayers are not answered — they are always answered, but not necessarily granted — the fault must be entirely in us, and not in God. God delights to answer prayer; and He has given us His word that He will answer.

Tip! The person who prays, has a belief that they will receive an answer. The prayer is intended to inculcate certain attitudes in the one who prays, rather than to influence the recipient.

So fellow-laborers in His vineyard, it is quite evident that our Master desires us to ask, and to ask much. He tells us we glorify God by doing so! Nothing is beyond the scope of prayer which is not beyond the will of God — and we do not desire to go beyond His will.

We dare not say that our Lord's words are not true. Yet somehow or other few Christians really seem to believe them. What holds us back? What seals our lips? What keeps us from making much of prayer? Do we doubt His love? Never! He gave His life for us and to us. Do we doubt the Father's love? I say NO. "The Father Himself loves you," said Christ when urging His disciples to pray.

Do we doubt His power? Not for a moment. Hath He not said, "All power hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth. Go ye . . . and lo, I am with you always . . ."? (Matt. 28:18-20). Do we doubt His wisdom? Do we mistrust His choice for us? Not for a moment. And yet there are so very few of His followers that consider prayer really worth their while. Of course, they would deny this — but actions do speak louder than words. Are we afraid to put God to the test? He has said we may do so. "Bring Me the whole tithe into the storehouse . . . and prove Me now herewith, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Mal. 3:10). Whenever God makes us a promise, let us boldly say, as did St. Paul, I believe God (Acts 27:25), and trust Him to keep His word.