Preaching and Prayer

We are familiar with the vision of the valley of

dry bones. We know that the Lord said to the Prophet: ‘‘Prophesy upon these bones. Behold, I

will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall

live’? (Ezek. 37: 4, 5). And we know how, when he had done this, there was a noise, and bone came together to its bone, and flesh came up, and skin covered them — but there was no breath in them. The prophesying to the bones — the preaching of the Word of God — had a powerful influence. It was the beginning of the great miracle which was about to happen, and there lay an entire army of men newly made. It was the beginning of the work of life in them, but there was no spirit there.

How then the Lord said to the Prophet: ‘‘Prophesy unto the Wind, Thus saith the Lord God, Come from the four winds, O Breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live’’ (v. 9). And when the prophet had done this, the Spirit came upon them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a very great army. Prophesying to the bones, that is preaching, has accomplished a great work. There

lay the beautiful new bodies. But the prophesying —

to the Spirit, ‘‘Come, O Spirit,’’ that is prayer accomplished a far more wonderful thing. The power —

of the Spirit was revealed through prayer. Is not the work of our ministers mostly this prophesying to dry bones in making known the promises of God? This is followed sometimes by great results. Everything which, belongs to the form of godliness has been brought to perfection; a careless congregation becomes regular and devout, but it remains true for the most part: ‘‘There is no life in them.’’? Preaching must be followed by prayer. The preacher must come to see that his preaching is comparatively powerless to bring in a new life, till he begins to take time for prayer, and, according to the teaching of God’s Word, strives and labours and continues in prayer, and takes no rest, and gives God no rest, till He bestows the Spirit in overflowing power.

Do you not feel that a change must come in our work? We must learn from Peter to continue in prayer, in our ministry of the Word. Just as we are zealous preachers, we must be zealous in prayer. We must, with all. our power, constantly like Paul, pray unceasingly. For the prayer: ‘‘Come, breathe on these slain,’’ the answer is sure.