Sermons and Biblical Studies

I knew of an able preacher greatly used of the Lord in evangelism and Bible conferences. He was a busy, busy man. There came the occasion when someone frankly asked him, “Doctor, tell us about your prayer life. How do you pray? How much do you pray?” The man was embarrassed as he replied, “I … Continue reading “PRAYER:
NECESSITY OF; PASTORAL MINISTRY: PRAYER”

For some years I have had a growing conviction that the world situation as God sees it presents two major goals to be reached by praying people, two objects at which to aim our prayers. One is that the glory of God be seen again among men, and the other that the church be delivered … Continue reading “PRAYER:
NECESSITY OF; CHURCH: SPIRITUAL CONDITION; REVIVAL: NEED FOR”

I am reminded that one old saint was asked, “Which is the more important: reading God’s Word or praying?” To which he replied, “Which is more important to a bird: the right wing or the left?” Acts 6:3–7 Jesus, Our Man in Glory, 107.

When religion loses its sovereign character and becomes mere form, this spontaneity is lost also, and in its place come precedent, propriety, system—and the file-card mentality.… The slave to the file card soon finds that his prayers lose their freedom and become less spontaneous, less effective. He finds himself concerned over matters that should give … Continue reading “PRAYER:
MERE RITUAL”

Prayer at its best is the expression of the total life.… All things else being equal, our prayers are only as powerful as our lives.… Most of us in moments of stress have wished that we had lived so that prayer would not be so unnatural to us and have regretted that we had not … Continue reading “PRAYER:
LIFESTYLE”

If prayer is (as we believe it is) an integral part of the total divine scheme of things and must be done if the will of God is to be done, then the prayers of the thousands of women who meet each week in our churches is of inestimable value to the kingdom of God. … Continue reading “PRAYER:
INTERCESSION; WOMEN”

Prayer among evangelical Christians is always in danger of degenerating into a glorified gold rush. Almost every book on prayer deals with the “get” element mainly. How to get things we want from God occupies most of the space. Now, we gladly admit that we may ask for and receive specific gifts and benefits in … Continue reading “PRAYER:
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD; PRAYER: WRONG USE OF; COMMUNION WITH GOD”

It is the privilege of every Christian to live so fully in God that he never gets out of the experienced Presence for one moment.… A life lived in Christ becomes in the true sense a life of unceasing prayer. The whole life becomes a prayer: words are verbal prayers, thoughts become mental prayers, deeds … Continue reading “PRAYER:
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD; PRAYER: LIFESTYLE”

Years ago, Max Reich, who spoke in our church a number of times, was asked to describe his prayer life. “If you are asking me about getting by myself and spending long periods alone on my knees in prayer, then I would have to say that I am relatively a prayerless man,” Dr. Reich told … Continue reading “PRAYER:
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD”

You can have this confidence in God, and you can have this respect for His will. Do not expect God to perform miracles for you so you can write books about them. Do not ever be caught asking God to send you toys like that to play around with. But if you are in trouble … Continue reading “PRAYER:
EXPECTATION; FAITH: CONFIDENCE IN GOD”