The Intercessor
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Ellas was a man subject to like passions as we are.” — Jas. v. 16, 17.
There is nothing that so much weakens the force of the call to imitate the example of Scripture saints, as the thought that theirs are exceptional cases, and that what we see in them is not to be expected of all. The aim of God in Scripture is the very opposite. He gives us these men for our instruction and encouragement, as a specimen of what His grace can do, as living embodiments of what His will and our nature at once demand and render possible.
It was just to meet the so common error ‘alluded to, and to give confidence to all of us who aim at a life of effectual prayer, that James wrote: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are,” As there was no difference between his nature and ours, or between the grace that wrought in him and works in us, there is no reason why we should not, like him, pray effectually. If our Prayer is to have power, we must seek to have somewhat of Elijahs spirit. The 166 aspiration, Let me seek grace to pray like Elijah, is perfectly legitimate, is most needful. If we honestly seek for the secret of his power in prayer the path in which he trod will open to us. We shall find it in his life with God, his work for God, his trust in God.
Elijah Lived with God.
Prayer is the voice of our life. As a man lives BO he prays. Not the words or thoughts with which he is occupied at set times of prayer, but the bent of his heart as seen in his desires and actions, .is regarded by God as his real prayer. The life speaks louder and truer than the lips. To pray well I must live well. He who seeks to live with God, will learn so to know His mind and to please Him, that he will be able to pray according to His will. Think how Elijah, at his first message to Ahab, spoke of” the Lord God, before whom I stand.^’ Think of his solitude at the brook Cherith, receiving his bread from God through the ravens, and then at Sarepta through the ministry of a poor widow. He walked with God, he learned to know God well; when the time came, he knew how to pray to a God whom he had proved. It.iaQnly out of a lif a .of .true- fellowship with God that the prayer of faith can be born. Let the link between the life and the prayer be clear and close. As we give ourselves to walk with God, we shall learn to pray.
Elijah Worked for God.
He went where God sent him. He did what
God commanded him. He stood up for God and his service. He witnessed against the people and their sin. All who heard him could say: “Now I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.’’ His prayers were all in connection with his work for God. He was equally a man of action and a man of prayer. When he prayed down, first the drought and then the rain, it was, as part of his prophetic work, that the people, by judgment and mercy, might be brought back to God. When he prayed down fire from heaven on the sacrifice, it was that God might be known as the true God. All he asked was for the glory of God. How often believers seek power in prayer, that they may be able to get good gifts for themselves. The secret selfishness robs them of the power and the answer. It is when self is lost in the desire for God’s glory, and our life is devoted to work for God, that power to pray can come. God lives to love, and save, and bless men: the believer who gives himself up to God’s service in this, will find in it new life in prayer. Work for others proves the honesty of our prayer for them. Work for God reveals alike our need and our right to pray boldly. Cultivate the consciousness, and speak it out before God, that you are wholly given up to His service; it will strengthen your confidence in His hearing you.
Elijah Trusted God.
He had learned to trust Him for His personal needs in the time of famine; he dared trust Him for greater things in answer to prayer for His people. What confidence in Gods hearing him we see in his appeal to the God that answers by fire. What confidence in God’s doing what he would ask, when he announced to Ahab the abundance of rain ‘that was coming, and then, with his face to the earth, pleaded for it, while his servant, six times over, brought the message, “There is nothing.’* An unwavering confidence in the promise and character of God, and God’s personal friendship for himself, acquired in personal intercourse, and proved in work for God, gave power for the effectual prayer of the righteous man.
The inner chamber is the place where this has to be learned. The morning watch is the training school where we are to exercise the grace that can fit us to pray like Elijah. Let us not fear. The God of Elijah still lives; the spirit that was in him dwells in us. Let us cease from the limited and selfish views of prayer, which only aim at grace enough to keep us standing. Let us cultivate the consciousness that Elijah had of living wholly for God, and we shall learn to pray like him. Prayer will bring to ourselves and to others the new and blessed experience, that our prayers too are effectual and avail much.
In the power of that Redeeming Intercessor, who ever liveth to pray, let us take courage and not fear. We have given ourselves to God, we are working for Him. “We are learning to know and trust Him. We can count on the life of God in us, the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, to lead us on to this grace too: the effectual prayer of the righteous man that availeth much.
A List of
Rev. Andrew Murray’s
Works
Authorized Editions
PUBLISHED BY
Fleming H. Revcll Company
New York, Chicago, Toronto
London and Edinburgh
The With Christ Series.
6 vols., 16mo, cloth, boxed, $3.00; each, paper, net,
25c.; cloth, 50c.
With Christ in the School of Prayer.
Thoughts on our Training for the Ministry of Intercession. “It is under the impression that the place and power of
Erayer in the Christian life is too little understood that this 00k has been written.” — /V-o/w the Pre/ace.
Abide in Christ.
Thoughts on the Blessed Life of Fellowship with the Son of God.
“The author has done his work in a devout and admirable way.” — The Interior.
Holy in Christ.
Thoughts on the Calling of God’s Children to be Holy as He is Holy.
“Written in a simple yet attractive style, and full of sound instruction and sjpirituality. Valuable and important, with its clear and impressive lessons.” — Christian Work.
Like Christ.
Thoughts on the Blessed Life of Conformity to the Son
of God.
“A rich and reverent volume, with a short chapter for each day of a month, the prayerful reading of which will help to hallow the month.” — The Congregationalist.
The Spirit of Christ.
Thoughts on the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Believer and the Church.
“The aim of the author is to comfort, console, strengthen, inspire, and lift up the believer by showing the all-sufficiency of the Holy Spirit to guide the soul.” — The Christian Union.
The Master’s Indwelling.
Northfield Addresses, 1895.
“These addresses are exceedingly suggestive in their teaching about the Christian life. They are deep yet lucid, broad yet Scriptural, fervent yet philosophical, and they emphasize the experimental knowledge of God.” — 7%« Congregationalist,
The Cross of Christ.
12mo, cloth, $1.00. {In preparation A new vohuxxe of the “With Christ” series.
The Ministry of Intercession.
A Plea for More Prayer. 16mo, cloth, 75c.
A Companion volume to “With Christ in the School of Prayer,” and a further elaboration of the same great theme. A valuable appendix, entitled “Pray Without Ceasing: Helps to Intercession,” contains prayers for a month, and other aid* and guides to the life of prayer.
Pray Without Ceasing.
Per doz., net, c; per hundred, net, $2.50. The appendix to “The Ministry of Intercession.”
The Lord’s Table.
A Help to the Right Observance of the Holy Supper. Long 16mo, cloth, 50c.
Meditations and Prayers for Communion Sabbath, and for each day of the weeks before and after.
Waiting on God.
Daily Messages for a Month. Long 1 6mo, cloth, 50c.
•’ Sets forth very simply and clearly the blessedness of a life
In which God is unceasingly giving and working, His child uaceaMingly waiting a.ndTeceivins.’” — CArtsiian Advocate {N’. K.)
The Children for Christ.
12mo, cloth, $1.00.
“The work is admirable in, and well adapted to. Its noly purpose.” — TA^iV^. y. Observer
The New Life.
Words of God for Young Disciples of Christ. 12mo, cloth, 50c.
Specially designed for young disciples. Some of the subjectstreated are ‘* Faith,” “The Power of God’s Word,” “The Confession of Sin,” “Holiness,” “Humility,” “Personal Work.”
The Holiest of All.
An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews. 8vo, J cloth, net, $2.00.
In this exposition the author seeks to answer the common questions. What is the want in our religion, that, in so many cases, it gives no power to stand, to advance, to press on unto perfection? And what is the teaching that is needed to give that health and vigor to the Christian life that, through alladverse circumstances, may be able to hold fast the beginning firm to the end?
The Spiritual Life.
12mo, cloth, 50c.
A series of lectures delivered before the students of the l&aody Bible Institute, Chicago.
The True Vine.
Meditations for a Month on John xv: !-16. Long 16mo, cloth, 50c.
The Deeper Christian Life.
An Aid to its Attainment. 16mo, cloth, 50c.
“This little volume is full of that spiritual food that will build up the Christian character, and lead to deeper knowledge and faith.” — ra /^. y. Observer.
Humility.
The Beauty of Holiness. 18mo, cloth, ^oc. Shows the threefold motive urging us to humility.
Be Perfect.
A Message from the Father in Heaven to His Children on Earth. Meditations for a Month. 18mo, cloth, 30c.
Let Us Draw Nigh!
The Way to a Life Abiding continually in the Secret of God’s Presence. Long 18mo, cloth, 50c.
Why Do You Not Believe
Words of Instruction and Encouragement for All who are Seeking the Lord. iSmo, cloth, 30c.
Money.
Thoughts for God’s Stewards. 18mo, cloth, 25c.
Jesus Himself
With Portrait of the Author. 18mo, cloth, 25c.” In this little book the Christian reader listens to on« t« whom his heart responds.’^ — TAe Mid-Coniinent.
Love Made Perfect.
18mo, cloth, 25c.
“There is good food here for all devout souls.’* — 7%/ CArif tian Advocate {Nashville).
Envelope Series of Booklets.
Per doz., one tract or assorted, net, 20c.; per hundred, ‘”net, $1.50.
Carnal and Spiritual. Be Filled with the Spirit.
The Cure for Worry. Peter’s Crisis.
Out of the Grave; a New To Christian Workers.
Life. Ye Are the Branches.
Have Ye Received the Holy We Can Love All the Day.
Ghost? Impossible and Possible.
Privilege and Experience. Daily Fellowship with God.
By Rev* Andrew Murray, D»D.
Authorised, copyright editions.
THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER. 2 vols., 12mo,
cloth, each 750,; the set, boxed, $1.50.
The R^stry of Intercession: A Plea for More Prayer.
With Christ in the School of Prayer: Thoughts on Our Training for the Ministry of Intercession.
THE WITH CHRIST SERIES. 6 vols., 16mo.
Papjer, each 25c.
Cloth, each 35c.; the set, boxed, $2.00.
With Christ. Holy in Christ.
Abide in Christ. The Spirit of Christ.
Like Christ. The Master’s Indwelling.
The Two Covenants and the Second Blessing. 12mo,
cloth, 75c.
The School of Obedience. 1 2mo, paper, 1 5c.; cloth, 50c. The Tfue Vine. Meditations for a Month on John
XV. 1-16. Long 16mo, cloth, soc. Waiting on God. Daily Messages for a Month. Long
16mo, cloth, 50C.
The Lord’s Table. Long 16mo, cloth, 50c.
The Deeper Christian Life. An Aid to its Attainment.
16mo, cloth, 50C.
The New Life. Words of God for Young Disciples of
Christ. 16mo, cloth, soc.
The Spiritual Life. 12mo, cloth, 50c.
Absolute Surrender, and other Addresses. 12mo, paper,
15c.; cloth, 30c.
Humility. The Beauty of Holiness. 18mo, cloth, 30c.
Be Perfect. Meditations for a Month. 18mo, cloth, 30c.
Let Us Draw Nigh 1 18mo, cloth, 30c.
Why Do You Pvfot Believe? iSmo, cloth, 30c.
Jesus Himself. iSmo, cloth, 25c.
Love Made Perfect. iSmo, cloth, 25c.
Money: Thoughts for God’s Stewards. 18mo, cloth, 25c.
The Children for Christ. 1 2mo, paper ,^oc.; cloth, $ i .00.
The Holiest of AH. An Exposition of the Epistle to the
Hebrews. 8vo, cloth, net, $2.o«. Pray Without Ceasing. Helps to Intercession. With Rub
Blanks for Notes. Per doz., 30c., net; per hundred, $2.50, net.
Envelope Series of Booklets. 12 tracts. Per dozen, net, 20c,; per hundred, net, $1.50.
Sent postpaid upon receipt of price
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY, Publishers
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