by micheal2k1c

There are in Scripture striking illustration of what sometimes happens when there is persistence in demanding of God what He is loath to give, because in His infinite wisdom He has something far better for us than we in our folly realize. We have already seen that it is only while abiding in Christ and with His words abiding in us that we can pray in His name, knowing that whatever we ask the Father, we shall receive of Him because we do His will and are pleasing in His sight. A restless will may lead us to pray to our own hurt. If there is not a timely recognition of this, accompanied by self-judgment and submission to the Word of God, we may find our prayers answered only to our deepest distress and sorrow afterwards.

The fretful demands of the people of Israel in the wilderness, when they insistently cried for meat, is a case in point. When the Psalmist summarizes their desert experiences, he tells us how "they soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul" (Psalm 106:13-15). Fatith would have reckoned on the unfailing car of God, and a subject people would have left it to Him to provide the kind of food which He saw would be best for them. But their lustful hearts were set upon one particular thing, and without it they were sure they could not be happy.

At the moment, nothing seemed so important as the gratification of their desires. Not content with the manna from heaven which He gave them so abundantly, they cried, "Who will give us flesh to eat?" and " Our soul loathes this worthless bread" (Numbers 11:18,21:5). We are told in another psalm that "He cause the east wind to blow in the heavens; and by His power He brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, feathered fowl like the sand of the seas: and He let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled: for He gave them their own desire" (Psalm 78:26-29).

Doubtless many would have looked upon this as a most remarkable answer to prayer, and would have taken for granted that the answer in itself proved that the prayer was right and proper. Such a conclusion, however, would have been far from correct; for in the verses that follow we read: "They were not deprived of their craving; but while their food was still in their mouths, the wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest of them, and struck down the choice men of Israel." The fact that we receive what we pray for does not, therefore, in every instance, indicate either a right state of soul on our part or, on the other hand, God's pleasure in our petition. It may be just as true now as then, that God will in His indignation grant our request and send leanness into our souls.

The mistake has often been made of assuming that if God seems to prosper a certain undertaking in which the heart is engaged, it must, therefore, have His approval. Later circumstances may show clearly that He was simply allowing us to hav our own way in order that we might learn a lesson through eating of the fruit of our own devices, a proof of our own folly in persisting in a course for which we did not have a "Thus says the Lord."

Another striking example of what we are considering is that of Israel when they desired a king. Earnestly they pleaded that they might become like the nations around them with a king ruling over them and leading them to battle. God took them at their word; a king was provided, and when they saw him, they were filled with delight. A heroic noble figure, he towered head and shoulders above the people. Just the ideal ruler and wariror, as men might think. But He who looks not on outward appearances, but on the heart, knew well the character of the man who was so readily acclaimed as king when presented to them by Samuel the prophet.

Years afterwards He says through Hosea: "Oh, Israel, you are destoryed, but your help is from Me. I will be your King; where is any tother, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges to whom you said, 'Give me a king and princes?' I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My wrath" (Hosea 13:9-11). In their demand for a king, they were really rejecting God who had ruled them until now. Yet He allowed their plea, provided a king Himself, and used that king to chasten and afflict them. It was another case of prayer answered in judgment.

It is never safe to trust what some people call Providence while neglecting obedience to the Word. Let me cite an example. A Christian young woman became deeply infatuated with a brilliant but Christless young man. They got engaged, but Christian friends weree earnestly praying that God would deliver her from an unequal yoke, which they felt would only bring sorrow into her life. It was delicate matter to discuss with her. In fact, she resented any interference with her private affairs. However, in a short time they were estraged, and the young man himself broke the engagement.

Instead of recognizing that this was God's method of deliverance for her, the young woman was greatly distressed, and prayed day and night that the offended one nmight return to her and the engagement again be entered into. All that Christian friends could do to occupy her mind and heart with other interests, or to show her that God had acted in mercy toward her did not help. Constantly she grieved, and persistently she prayed that the desire of her heart might be granted. Strikingly enough, most unexpectedly he returned to her, took all the blame of the past upon himself, and asked for a renewal of the engagement. Gladly she entered into this, and shortly afterwards they were married.

Years of sorrow and misery resulted from her disobedience to the Word of God; yet she insisted at the time that it was God who had answered her prayer, and brought back her loved one to her. His deep hatred of Christ and the things of God, camouflaged fro a time by a gentlemanly exterior, soon manifested itself, and before long a separation ensued, and she was left in wretchedness and misery with two little children dependent upon her. She realized deeply as the years have gone on that what she thought was a token of God's approval was but His chastening hand upon her because of her willfulness.

Instances such as the above might be multiplied almost without number in the lives of God's children. I was in a home some years ago where a poor mother was laboring under the grief of caring for a severly retarded son who did not so much as recognize her in the slightest way. She told me that years before, when he was a little baby in his cradle, he was taken ill with scarlet fever. The physicians gave him up, declaring there was no home, but her heart was rebellious. She felt she could not let him go. She fell upon her knees, and told God she could never love Him again if He took her child from her. Within an hour, there was decided evidence of improvement. The little on recovered, but he never recognized his mother again. Her own heart had become tender and subdued through the years. The rebellion was all gone, but she said to me: "How much better it would have been, if I could have said, 'Your will be done.'"

When a seeming crisis is reached in the life, and the soul is filled with perplexity as to what would be best, it is always wise to remember that the Holy Spirit Himself indwells the believer. And when we know not what to pray for, He can be trusted to make intercession for us according to the will of God with groanings that cannot be uttered. The subject heart, instead of insisting that God do according to its natural desires, will pray with Jeremiah: "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. O Lord, correct me, but with justice; not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing" (Jer. 10:23-24). None need be afraid to trust everything in His hands who is deeply concerned about the welfare of each of His own, and who has declared in His Word that "All things work together for good to those who love God; who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

We often have to learn, indeed, that His ways are not our ways, but infinitely above them, and we shall praise Him at last for every seeming disappointment when we see "the end of the Lord." He is the Husbandman. We are the trees of His planting. he can be depended upon to do what is best for His own. We have cost Him too much for Him to be indifferent to our welfare now.

It is part of the chastening of the Lord to put the soul through experiences where it learns the utter unprofitableness of the flesh and is cast entirely upon God. No such experience is without real value, and recognizing this, we shall tread softly and pray submissively, remembering with whom we have to do. Nor should we think of chastisement as synonymous with punishment. It is the educative process of the soul, and is all in love, and never in anger. It's object is ever our blessing, and it invariably yields "the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb.12:11).

by micheal2k1c

Now let's consider prayer as the expression of the soul's communion with God. If we stop to consider what is involved in this statement, it will perhaps begin to dawn upon us that true prayer is a great deal more than some of us have thought. It is certainly far more than going lightly into the presence of God with some request that is possibly dictated by selfishness rather than the desire for the glory of God Himself. It is to those who abide in Him that there seems to be no answer, it would be well for me to remember the Word of the Lord, "When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door pray to your Father who is in the secret place"(Matthew 6:6). Thus removed from all human interruption or worldly distraction, let there be a period of honest self-examination in the quiet presence of God. Ask yourself the following questions and answer each one faithfully and honestly:

1. Am I truly desirous that God's will should be done in me at whatever cost?
2. In presenting this particular request, am I seeking His glory or my own pleasure?
3. Is there anything in my life with which God has a controversy?
4. Have I been guilty of any known sin which lies unconfessed and unjudged upon my conscience?
5. Am I consciously yielded to God and endeavoring to walk in obedience to His Word?
6. Have I availed myself of the instruction in the Word of God, by meditating upon it carefully day by day to learn His will?
7. If my own heart condemns me along any of these lines, do I now honestly judge in myself everything that He, by the Spirit through the Word, shows me to be contrary to His mind?

I put before the reader these questions which I myself have employed for many years, though not always using the same terms, I earnestly desire to press the importance of taking stock, so to speak, of one's own actual state of soul. It may be that conscience does not condemn on any point, but even then it is well to remember that God, who "is greater than our heart of knows all things" may detect something in us which we ourselves fail to recognize. The Apostle Paul said on one occasion, "I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me in the Lord" (1 Cor. 4:4). Therefore, the importance of a lowly mind even when not conscious of failure.

After self-examination, weigh carefully the petition which you feel God has not answered. Look at it squarely, and see if you can honestly present it again in the light of all that has transpired between your soul and God. Perhaps you will realize that you cannot consistently press your claim lest, in doing so, you take yourself out of the hand of God. Perhaps it may be the very opposite. You will have your faith strengthened, and you will realize more clearly than before that your request was one that you were entitled to present with confidence. You will see that the temporary delay in answering was not a denial, but rather a test of faith. You will then leave the matter with the Lord as to the time and the manner in which He is to answer your cry and give you your heart's desire.

Undoubtedly, many times the Lord purposely waits, when His loving heart would gladly give us at once that for which we yearn; but He would make us more dependent upon Himself, and more appreciative of His mercies when we recieve them. The waiting season may become a time of rich spiritual blessing and of real growth in grace, as we learn to say, "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him" (Psalm 62:5). Others have pointed out that the Hebrew word here translated "expectation" is exactly the same as the word translated "cord" inn Joshua 2:15. Think of the spies suspended by a cord from the window of Rahab's house, and think of your own soul linked by expectation to the very throne of God! What a cord is this to draw your heart out to Himself as you wait upon Him to fulfill His Word in His own way and time!

As the soul enters more deeply into communion, the form of the petition may itself become changed, and that almost unconsciously, so that instead of definiteness there may be seeming indefiniteness. But this does not necessarily indicate lack of faith, but rather fuller confidence in the unchanging love and wisdom of Him who delights to have us address Him as "Our Father." We read in Philippians 4:6-7: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Chirst Jesus." How blessed in this!

The soul in communion with God knows no anxiety. It is enabled to bring everything that distresses the heart to God Himself by prayer and supplication, not forgetting thanksgiving for past mercies and present blessings. And the heart rests in quietness, garrisoned by the very peace of God, a peace which passes all understanding because the human mind knkows nothing of it. It is something of a purely spiritual character, not to be in any way confounded with stoical human determination to make the best of circumstances. It is the very calm that dwells in the heart of the Eternal GOd as He sits in peace upon His throne far above all the stomrs of earth, keeping the hearts and minds of those who believe in His son, our lord Jesus christ.

A few years ago, as a guest in a Christian home, I sat one afternoon at an open window. A beautiful child of perhaps eight years old was playing on the lawn, a lovely picture in a garden of flowers. Shortly my attention was attracted by the voice of another child who had come to the gate and called to my little friend in the garden "Annie, she said, "we are going to have a picnic on Saturday, and a lot of us will be there, and we want you to come along. Will you?" "I will ask my mother," replied the other, and immediately ran around the house to make inquiry. In a little while she returned and reported: "Mother says she will think about it." "Oh," exclaimed the other in an annoyed voice, "don't leave it like that. Go and beg her until she says yes." "It isn't necessary to beg my mother," said little Annie. "If she thinks it is best for me I know she will let me go; and if she doesn't let me go, she probably has something better in mind for me anyway." What a trustful child, I thought. What a lesson she may teach to many of her elders in regard to trusting implicitly the loving heart of our Father above!

Prevailing prayer is not to be confounded with the fretful begging of a restless heart, unhappy and disatisfied, crying out rebelliously for changed circumstances that its own comfort may be increased. It is rather the trusting petition of a soul at perfect peace, resting in the very center of the will of God, asking in happy confidence for what the blessed Holy Spirit knows will bring added glory to God. It is thus as we learn to delight in the Lord for what He is in Himself, not merely because of what He gives to us, that we have the assurance that when we pray in faith, we shall receive the desires of our heart.

by micheal2k1c

John's Gospel was written to unfold the glories of Christ as Son of God. And the very "holy of holies" of this tabernacle of truth are chapters thirteen to seventeen. In this section we see our blessed Lord, shut in with "His own," instructing them as to their path, revealing secrets until now unknown, and praying for them in the most sacred intimacy. And it is here that we get much valuable instruction about prayer, which is to be the resource of His tried and needy people during His absence.

He first speaks of prayer in connection with service. In John 14:12-14 He says: "most assuredly, I say to you, He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it." Few of His saying have been more perverted or misunderstood than these. Let us weigh them carefully as He eveidently desired that we should. His solemn "most assuredly," ("verily,verily" in the KJV) is always a challenge to our hearts, and invites us to pause and thoughtfully consider what follows.

His works have testified to the Father's delight in Him, and attested to His Messiahship. Now He is going away, and He empowers His disciples to continue the hallowed service which He had begun. Undoubtedly this involved, for a time at least, the power to work miracles, though it would be a great mistake to confine it to that. What were "the works" He did? Luke 7:22 gives the answer: "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them." These were His works, and of these the last is by no means least. As for the other works, we have only to read the Acts to see how truly they did follow His believing apostles, thus corroborating the message they carried to a godless world. They did not heal everybody, nor were there many occasions when the dead were raised, but they did "go everywhere preaching the Word." This was their great ministry, and miracles were but signs to attest to their divine commision.

But what are the "greater works" which He promised they should do? Surely not miracles, as commonly understood. If we think of these, who has ever performed greater works of power than He? Have any of His disciples called from the tomb a man four days dead, whose body was already decaying? Have any stilled the waves, and quieted the winds by a word? Have any multiplied food so as to feed greater multitudes that He? The centuries answer, "No." The "greater works" cannot therefore refer to such wonders as these.

The "greater works" then, begun in the opening chapters of Acts, were the conversion of thousands, the eventual overturning of the paganism of the Roman Empire by the advancing light of Chirstianity, the miraculous changes wrought, not only in a few individuals, but in whole communities, and even nations, by the power of the gospel, the widespread dissemination of the Holy Scriptures carrying light and salvation to myriads-these are the greater thing which have been accomplished through the power of the promised Holy Spirit. Linked with this promise is His assurance regarding prayer. It is only as his servants pray that they see the glory of the Lord and behold His power working. And so He says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do... If ye ask anything in My name, I will do it."

Agian in John 15:16, He links the Father with Himself in answering, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give you." here is complete furnishing for the servant's path. All that is needed, all that faith can ask in His name, the Father and the Son engage to supply.

But let there be no mistake here. To present a petition and then merely add routinely, "In the name of the Lord Jesus," is not necessarily praying in His name. For millions of such prayers have gone unheeded, as every thoughtful person knows. Have you not often so prayed only to be denied?

But does this invalidate the promise? Surely not. It should lead one to inquire, "What is it to pray in the name of the Lord Jesus?" And the answer is clearly this: To pray in His name is to ask by His authority; and to ask by His authority is to ask in accordance with His will as revealed in His Word, thus bringing us back to what we were considering in our last chapter.

Let me illustrate what I mean by citing three prayers that recently came to my attention. At a political convention years ago, a chaplain offered the invocation. He prayed " that it may please You to give wisdom to select a man for his high office who will lead the party to victory," and he closed with the words, "this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son." At a rival convention a very similar prayer was offered and closed in almost the same language.

Now were either or both of these petitions "in the name" of Him whom the world rejects today as it rejected Him of old? Certainly, God could not answer both of them, Nor if He seemed to answer one, by permitting the choice of one party to become president would that in itself be proof that the prayer of the chaplain had been in the name of Jesus.

About the time that my attention was called to these rival "prayers," I attented a little gathering where a few simple Christians had met together to wait on God. There I heard more than one pray fervently for the country, for those aspiring to high office, that all might be so ordered that blessing might come to man  and that God might be glorified, and that His people might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness. This was prayer in accordance with the Word (1 Timothy 2:1-4), and in the name, that is, by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

The conclusion is this: To pray in the name of Jesus I must be intelligent as to the mind of Christ, and be in fellowship with Him as to God's present and furture plans, If we go throught the Acts and Epistles and notice how the expressions, "IN the name of the Lord." "For His name's sake," and similar phrases are employed, we shall see this very clearly.

As the soul enters into this, what a solemn thing prayer becomes! It is no light matter to come before God bringing the petitions that the Holy Spirit lays upon the heart, in accordance with the revealed will of the Lord. To pray aright we must walk in the Spirit, study to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly divide the Word of Truth, and be in communion with Him who has said, "Whatever you ask in my name , I will do it." Lord, teach us to pray! As we become intelligent as to what it is to pray in His name we shall be saved from many a  disappointment.

Take, for instance, the question of bodily healing, which occupies so large a place in the thoughts of many today, when an ever-increasing emphasis seems to be laid upon what is purely physical. If the Lord had promised continued health of body to all obedient believers in this dispensation, or if His atonement was for sickness as well as for sin, then we would be authorized, not only to pray for, but claim healing on all occasions, providing there be self-judgement and confession of all know sin on our part. But facts are stubborn things, and facts prove conclusively that many of the godliest saints are familiar with affliction, pain and sickness.

Moreover, those who advocate prayer as the divine and only remedy for illness, invariably succumb at last to some disease from which they pray to be healed. What then is the conclusion? Either that they are not praying in faith, or that is not the will of God always to heal the bodies of His people in the present age. The latter is clearly the testimony of Scripture. We are "blessed with every spirtual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3), but we are not promised all temporal or physical blessings. We still await the redemption of the body. Therefore, the prayer for health should be supplemented by subjection to the Father's will. We dare not demand healing "in the name" of the Lord because He has not authorized us thus to pray.

As one becomes better acquainted with the Word of God, and walks in the power of the Spirit, he will better understand what it means really to ask in the name that cannot be denied.

To present a petition and then merely add, "In the name of the Lord Jesus," is not necesarrily to pray in His name.

by micheal2k1c

Let's now consider the prayer that God delights to answer. First of all we have the clear, unequivocal declaration of 1 John 5:14,15: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: and if we know that He hears us, whatever w eask, we know that we  have the petitions that we asked of Him." What words are these: "If we ask anything," and "whatever we ask!" But let us not fail to observe the all-important condition, "According to His will."

Now God has been pleased, in wonderful grace, to make known His will in a book. We rightly call the Scriptures by the sublime title our Lord Himself used, "The Word of God" John 10:35. If I would know His will, I must study His book. Ignorance of the revealed Word accounts for many unanswered prayers. In regard to prayer, as in other matters, we are through not knowing the Scriptures. he who would pray aright must be taught of the Spirit though the written Word. Learning thus the mind of God, prayer becomes, not the whimsical expression of our own poor minds, but it takes on a high and holy character. It is asking of God what He delights to give, what He has declared is His desire and purpose.

Here again we have to meet the natural objection of our unbelieving hearts: if it is God's will to do a certain thing, why need I pray about it? But Daniel may well teach s a lesson here. When he "understood by books" what God was about to do, he immediately set himself to pray in accordance with the prophetic message. and as he thus asked "according to His will, " God answered in a way marvelously confirming the faith of His servant Daniel 9:2.

It is therefore all-important that we search the Scriptures in a self judged and teachable spirit, in order that we enter into the current of the divine counsels. Then as we learn anything that is in accordance with the will of God, we can bear it up before Him in confidence.

"I prayed for years," said an almost hysterical woman, "that God would sanctify me wholly by rooting out all inbred sin and making me absolutely pure within, but He has not heard my cry." I could only reply, "But you had no title to pray for anything of the kind. God has expressed His mind too clearly for any subject soul to be mistaken. His will is, not that inbred sin should be rooted out of you, but that through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, sin shall not reign in your mortal body."

As with thousands of similar cases, this new view-point changed the character of her prayers completely. Israel desired a short-cut thourgh the land of Edom-and Edom is a type or picture of the flesh. But God's will was that they whould compass the land of Edom, even though the way was long and trying. In the desert they proved how ell He was able to care for them. Go through your Bible and learn. particularly from the Epistles of the New Testament, what the will of God really is; and as His counsels are opened up to your soul, pray accordingly, and He will do for you exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think.

When one is concerned about unsaved friends, relatives, or casual acquantances, it is most blessed to know that prayer for their conviction and conversion is indeed in accordance with His will. "He is not willing that any should perish" 1 Peter 3:9, but "desires all men to be saved" 1 Timothy 2:4. To those who refused His grace, our Savior said sorrowfully, "I would, but you would not."

With what assurance can one pray for those in need, when he knows it is the will of God to save! Someone has well said, "Prayer does not change the will of God. It allows God to work upon man's will,a dn change it." The last sentence is perhaps capable of serious misunderstanding.  But surely the meaning is that God is waiting on our prayers, in order to work in such a way that we may know He is revealing Himself in wondrous grace. Whenever He is about to work, He first stirs hearts to pray.

Abraham prayed, and God delivered Lot, Jacob prayed, and God cause Esau to meet him in peace. moses prayed, and Amalek was defeated, and Israel was victorious. Hannah prayed definitely for a son, and God heard, and she called her little one Samuel, which means "asked of God." Daniel prayed, and the whole prophetic panorama was opened up to him. Nehemiah prayed, and the king's heart was turned toward the remnant of Israel and the holy city.

These all prayed according to the will of God, and He heard and answered. The history of the Church abounds in similar instances, furnishing indisputable evidence of the supernatural character of Christianity, and should ever be an encouragement to each believer to seek to learn the will of God, and to ask largely in accordance with it, knowing that "He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself" 2 Timothy 2:13.

If we would pray more, we might worry less, for we would understand better what it means to rest in His love. He has said, "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give your the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4. Well may we cry with earniest hearts, "Teach me Your will;" and then "Lord teach us to pray. " and notice, the last petition is not merely "teach us how to pray," but "teach us to pray," for it is not enough to know the proper way in which to approach God, but we need to learn to pray without ceasing.

He who finds his delight in the Lord will not ask selfishly for the gratification of carnal desires.

It is only as His servants pray that they see the glory of the Lord and behold His power working.

by micheal2k1c

He who seeks to enter into the privileges and responsibilities of prayer will soon be conscious of unseen hindrance which may greatly perplex him if uninstructed by Scripture. Satan and his hosts of evil spirits-unholy principalities and powers in heavenly places-constantly endeavor to hinder the prayer-life; and if the believer wills to be "instant in prayer," the unseen enemy will use all his diabolic ingenuity to delay the answer.

This may astonish some who ho have never considered the teaching of the Word of God on this subject. Let us meditate a little on Ephesians 6:10-20. here we have the veil, as it were, pushed aside, and we discern the nature of the conflict in this heavenlies. Ephesians is the New Testament Book of Joshua. It gives us the Christian's inheritance (secured for us by the death of Christ), as faith sees the waters of judgment turned back and a dry way opened up into the good land-the heavenly places where all our blessings lie.

This is not heaven itself, which will be our eternal home; but our present place of privilege, as blessed with every spiritual blessings in Christ. "All things are yours," says the apostle elsewhere; but what is now needed is appropriating faith. All the land of Canaan was given to Israel by God Himself. But energy was needed to enter into and enjoy it-to appropriate it-to "possess their possessions."

There will be no enemies to fight when we reach the Father's house. But the seven nations of Canaan, greater and mightier than Israel, typify the unseen spiritual foes with which we have now to cope. Therefore, the call in Ephesians 6:10 is to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." We are as dependent on God in this conflict as Israel was in the wars of the land. But "the Captain of the Lord's host" was sent to lead them on to victory, and the same blessed One is our present onmipotent Captain of salvation. In His strength and power we shall be overcomers if we are obedient to His Word.

We must be arrayed in the whole armor of God, if we would stand against the wiles of the devil. Off his guard, Joshua was easily deceived by the wiles of the Gibeonites. Their good words and fair speeches spread a net for his feet, and Satan Today works by cunning craftiness (Ephesians 4:14), or, as it might be rendered, "willy error," to deceive those who do not know their Bibles and are not subject to the Word.

It is therefore of the utmost importance not to underestimate the power, nor misunderstand the nature, of the foes we have to meet. "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood" (it is not with men, however wicked in life or however false their systems of teaching) "but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places". These are evil principalities and powers-craven, defeated foes-yet still relentlessly pursuing the people of God, and seeking to thwart them as they endeavor to appropriate their blood-bought blessings.

The devil is a defeated prince, but a prince still; and myraids of fallen spririts give allegiance to him. These are the "rulers" of the verse we are considering. The passage might be rendered: "The world-rulers of this darkness." These unseen "world-rulers" hold sway over the minds of men who refuse to be subject to our Lord Jesus Christ. To them, Satan is the prince of this world, and its God too. They are "led by the devil captive at his will."

But as we have seen, he is not the only enemy. He is distinctly called in Ephesians 2:2 "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience." "The air" is included in the heavenly regions-"the high places," or "heavenlies"-of our present verse.

In view of organized opposition such as this, how helpless we would be relying on our own strength and wisdom. Hence the exhortation to "take unto you the whole armor of God." That heavenly suit of armor is outlined for us in the verses that follow. Note its parts:

1. "Having girded your waist with truth." It is as we know and practice the faith that we are kept from error. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Christ is the Truth personally. Satan works by deception.
2. "The breastplate of righteousness." This is practical righteousness-not that which is imputed to us through faith in Christ. The believer is made the righteousness of God in Christ, but if he does not practice righteousness he cannot stand in the great conflict in which we are engaged. God said to Israel, "When the army goes out against your enemies, then keep yourself from every wicked thing" (Deutoronomy 23:9). he who tampers with evil is trafficking with the enemy, and is already defeated.
3. "Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace." What shoes are these! We read of them again in Philippians 1:27, "Only let your conduct (or walk) be worthy of the gospel of Christ." Its is the walk in accord with the gospel.
4. "The shield of faith" is implicit confidence in the living God, "whose I am and whom I serve." It says, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
5. "The helmet of salvation" is the knowledge of God's delivering grace protecting our minds from the doubts Satan would inject.
6. "The sword of the Spirit" is not just the Word of God as a whole, but the particular saying of God-that special word or passage-to meet each particular case. This is well illustrated, for instance, by our Lord Himself in His conflict with Satan in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13).
7. "All prayer" lastly in John Bunyan's peculiar, undescribed weapon without which we certainly shall be defeated: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance." If the devil can rob you of this you will not be able to maintain your ground. "Watch and pray" go together-"praying always... with all perseverance." This demands spiritual energy. I must not allow myself to be careless or neglectful. It is well to accustom oneself to fixed times of prayer, and to refuse to allow even pressing business to turn one aside.

Have you heard of the white handkerchief in front of General Charles "Chinese" Gordon's tent? The guard outside allowed no courir to enter, no matter how urgent, till that kerchief was removed. It indicated that Gordon, a British military officer, was having an audience with God, and all other matters must wait. Is it not often otherwise with many of us? Oh  how often God is put last! If there is time, after all else is attended to, a few moments are given to prayer.

Meditate with me on a remarkable passage in the book of Daniel, chapter 10. Here we see God's prophet on his face before the Lord for "three full weeks," He is so exercised about a certain matter that he cannot partake of his ordinary food and drink. Day after day and night after night he prays. The burden is not lifted, for no answer has come. But observe the consummation. An angel comes to him and says: "Do not fear, Daniel: for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people."

What a mustery! A holy angel was sent from the throne of the Divine Majesty in immediate answer to the prophet's prayer, but for twenty-one days he could not reach Daniel! Who would believe this if it were not so plainly written in the word of God? For three weeks this angelic messenger had been in conflict with that particular "world ruler of this darkness" who was evidently appointed by Satan to control, if possible, the king of Persia and prevent the carrying out of God's plan.

The mystery deepens as we learn that Michael the archangel had to come to assist the first messenger, before the evil angel was defeated. May we not learn from this why answers to many of our prayers seem to be long delayed? may it not be  that God answered at once, but there may be something unseen to us that needed to be settled before the answer could reach us?

Let us not then be discouraged, nor accuse God of turning a deaf ear to our agonized cry. The answer may already be on the way, but Satan and his evil hosts are battling against it. But God is faithful, and in His due time He will see that the prayer we have made in accordance with His will is wonderfully answered to His praise and glory and to our eternal blessing.

It is in this way that patience has her perfect work. Praying in spite of the enemy's effort to hinder, watching against anything that might delay the blessing, trusting even though "hope deferred makes the heart sick," assured that God is faithful and will not suffer you to be tempted, or tested, above what you are able to bear. Faith looks to Him and cries, "I will trust, and not be afraid."

And even though called from this scene before the answer comes in a better world, with clearer vision, you may see how your heart-cry has been heard and answered in a way least expected. "I do not need to live," said a dying saint, "to keep watch upon the faithfulness of God." The enemy may seem to triumph for a moment, but his final defeat is certain and eternal. Therefore let us heed the admonition to "pray without ceasing," and "pray in faith, nothing wavering."

by micheal2k1c

Our fifth hindrance is mentioned in James 1:6,7: "Let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord." Wavering is really unbelief, and it is the very opposite to faith, and, therefore, a prime hindrance to prayer.

But wavering is generally a symptom of something deeper. He who wavers may well examine himself and see whether he has not a condemning heart, an unforgiving spirit, a selfish motive, or whether there is not some definite thing in his life whereby his prayer is hindered. It is absolutely impossible to offer the prayer of faith if any of these things are present. Faith and holiness are too intimately linked to be separated.

God reveals His will to one who walks before Him, and thus he is enabled to "ask in faith, with no doubting." Where there is no such assurance it is well to take the word of the prophet: "Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord" Lamentation 3:40. "Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord" Hosea 6:3. And so we shall enter into His mind and understand His will, in order that we may pray in accordance with His Word, and so without hindrance.

God Has never promised to answer the prayer of one who has an unforgiving spirit.

Whatever condemns me in my own conscience hinders prayer.

I do not really know any truth unless I walk in it.

Though the Holy Spirit dwells in all believers now, all have not recognized this marvelous fact.

by micheal2k1c

Fourthly, wrong family rlationships hinder prayer. Read 1 Peter 3:1-7. Note the concluding verse of this section in which wives and husbands are being instructed as to their duties toward each other. "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife as to the weaker vessel, and as being theirs together of the grace of life that your prayers may not be hindered." When wife and husband are one in heart, one in purpose, each occupying the place divinely assigned in the home, loving and honoring one another, with what boldness and holy confidence can they kneel together before God in prayer, counting on His unfailing grace for their households and every interest of their hearts!

But where it is otherwise, how difficult it is to pray. And if strife and discord rule, prayer together is and impossiblity. Formal prayers may yet be uttered while kneeling at the family altar, but definite answers will not be there.

Surrounded by a growing family, it is well that parents carefully condsider whether their own behavior towards onne another, publicly and privately, helps or hinders prayer. It is so very important that those who are responisible for their little ones should ever live in an atmosphere of trustful prayer, counting on God for the salvation of their households, and so live before them that the impressionable hearts of the children will recognize the practical power of godliness.

by micheal2k1c

A third hindrance is suggested in James 4:3: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." Selfishness is in the way. God loves us too well to grant every request of our selfish hearts. Yet how often do we forget this. Perhaps we read in verse 2, " You do not have, because you do not ask," and immediately conclude that we may ask what we will, and that God is bound to give; but we have already seen that promises such as these are subject to conditions. If we delight ourselves in the Lord, He declares He will "give us the desires of our hearts" Psalm 37:4. But it is plain that he who thus finds his delight in the Lord will not ask selfishly for the gratification of carnal desires. If God does answer such prayers it is in judgement, as we shall see later on. Here the important thing to realize is that no promise is attached to the prayer of selfishness.

Suppose, for instance, I desired great wealth. Why not come to God and ask for a million dollars? If I did, would I receive it? Certainly not. God loves me too much to entrust me with a million dollars unless the circumtances be most exceptional. B