NECESSARY STEPS TO SALVATION

1.    ACKNOWLEDGE: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13). You must acknowledge in the light of God's Word that you are a sinner.

2.    REPENT: "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). You must see the awfulness of sin and then repent of it.

3.    CONFESS: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "With the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). Confess not to men but to God.

4.    FORSAKE: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord ... for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7). Sorrow for sin is not enough in itself. We must want to be done with it once and for all.

5.    BELIEVE; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9). Believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross.

6.    RECEIVE: "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:11, 12). Christ must be received personally into the heart by faith, if the experience of the New Birth is to be yours. (FGBMFI)

If you wish to accept Jesus Christ into your soul and life, it will help you to pray this prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father.

I thank you that you love me.

I ask your son Jesus Christ to come into my life.

I know I have sinned and committed deeds unpleasing to you.

I ask you now to forgive me of these sins and to cleanse my life.

Help me to follow You and Your teachings.

Protect me from Satan and evil.

Teach me to put You first in all my thoughts and actions.

Help me to love my fellow man as you have loved me.

And, Father, show me step by step the plan you made for my life.

I give you myself and my life.

I worship and praise you, my Creator and Lord.

I will continually thank You for sacrificing Your Son on the cross that I might have eternal life with You.

Help me to win others to Christ.

I await the return of Christ to take me to heaven.

Come soon, Lord Jesus. Amen.

CONTENTS

1    Prayer that Moves Mountains

2    The Secret of the Presence of God

3    The Secret of Praise

4    The Secret of the World Vision

5    The Secret of Praying in the Will of God

6    The Secret of the Daily Contact

7    The Secret of Prayer that Anticipates Evil

Chapter I

Prayer that Moves Mountains

JESUS in Matt. 21:21-22 said, "Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

Power to move mountains! That is what Jesus said. His promise includes that and more; it includes "all things." "And all things whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." It sounds too good to be true, but it is true.

Perhaps friend, at this moment you are weighted down with a heavy burden. It may be that a serious illness has come to you or a member of your family. Or it may be that you are wrestling with embarrassing financial problems. Whatever your need might be, at your fingertips is the means by which you can solve every problem. You who are sick, in your very room there is a power waiting to be released that can set you free from every illness and disease!

Power to move mountains! Yes! But you must learn the secret by which you may release this power. Just wishing for things to get better won't bring the result. You have probably found this out already; yet, the right kind of prayer, the kind that Jesus spoke about when He said, "If ye ask anything in my name, I will do it," will bring the answer without fail. (Jn. 14:14)

Perhaps one of the most common ways in which people weaken their faith is the assumption that many of their prayers are not answered because it is not the will of God to answer them. While it is true that people sometimes ask for things that are not His will to give, the fact remains that many things they ask for are in harmony with the revealed will of God. It is the will of God that the sick be healed. It is the will of God that we have good health. It is the will of God that we have victory over oppression and fear. It is the will of God that our daily needs be supplied. It is the will of God that we have the joy of the Lord in our heart. It is the will of God that we prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers. (Ill Jn. 2)

Let us get this straight. God doesn't want His people to reconcile themselves to defeat and failure in their prayer life. He wants them to have tangible results from their praying just as people did in Bible days. Prayer isn't a last resort—to turn to in an emergency. Prayer is an essential part of our day by day life. When we learn the secret of praying, our whole life will become a succession of miracles.

Look at the mighty answers to prayer the men of the Bible experienced. When Abraham at advanced age desired God to give him a child of his wife, Sarah, God miraculously strengthened Sarah's womb so that she could bear him a son.

Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, once a common adventurer, but later to become a prince with God, wrestled with God in a night of prayer, while his brother Esau rode toward him with an army seeking vengeance. He prevailed with God and God prevailed with Esau. (Gen. 32-33)

Jerusalem was invested by a superior force of Assyrians that had been invariably successful in all previous campaigns. The resources of Hezekiah were no match for their great army. But Hezekiah prayed and that night a plague of death struck the invading host, and by morning 185,000 men lay dead. (II Ki. 19:15-35)

Shortly after this, Hezekiah was sick unto death, so that in the natural order of things there was no hope for his recovery. But Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and plead with God. The result was that fifteen more years were added to his life. (II Ki. 20)

Elijah prayed for the widow's son who had died. Never before had life returned to any person after death had come. There was no precedent for raising the dead in all history. Yet, the prayer of Elijah reversed time and caused the dead boy to open his eyes and return to this world. (I Ki. 17:20-23)

Daniel prayed for the restoration of Jerusalem, which had been lying in ashes since the days of Nebuchadnezzar's invasion. The faithful prophet lived to see King Cyrus make a decree permitting all Jews who would, to return and rebuild their city. (Daniel 9)

Peter was cast into prison, and orders had been given for his execution. But the church prayed without ceasing for his release, and lo, an angel of the Lord visited the prison and led Peter to safety.

And thus we see again and again how God answered prayer for every conceivable need of His people and under every imaginable circumstance. Whether it was deliverance from sickness, or for a miracle of supply, for preservation from danger, for divine guidance, for saving one from dying of thirst, or for needed wisdom in ruling a kingdom, no matter what the need was, God supplied it in answer to believing prayer. The law of receiving is positive and certain. Jesus said, "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For he that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth, and he that knocketh, to him it shall be opened." What does this mean? It means that there is an Invisible Power about us, that is able to work out every problem, that will anticipate every need, and supply whatever may be required, a power so great that it can move the very mountains if need be. Does, this sound too good to be true? As God is true, so the promise is true. Such answers to prayer can be yours too if you will take time to learn the secret.

Chapter II

The Secret of the Presence of God

IN THE first recorded sermon of Christ, He took occasion to lay down some of the great principles that governed the successful operation of prayer. Jesus was interested only in prayer that was successful, prayer that brought the answer, prayer that would, if need be, move the very mountains.

It was always the habit of Jesus to strike right at the heart of the matter. He knew what was essential and what was not. He didn't tell men they ought to pray. That instinct was born in their hearts. The most ignorant heathen prayed. The prophets of Baal prayed. The hypocritical Pharisees prayed. What Jesus was interested in was showing men the right way to pray, so that they could have miracles in answer to their prayers.

THE SECRET CLOSET

Jesus began at the beginning. He showed that true prayer was communion with the Supreme Being—the Father God. That prayer was a solemn act, and should be entered into the right way. He told men that before praying, they were to seclude themselves where they would be free from interruption. Men could not successfully carry on human and Divine communion at the same time. Jesus bid them to go into their closet, make fast the door, and then to pray to their Heavenly Father Who "seeth in secret."

To emphasize His point He reminded them of the Pharisees who prayed on the street corners to be seen of men. He cautioned His disciples not to be like them:

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily 1 say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." (Matt. 6:5-6)

Why must men get alone to pray? Because in the act of prayer they are entering into the Presence of God. When men pray they must be conscious that they are approaching their Creator, the One Who is worthy of absolute reverence and respect. The Old Testament writer wisely said:

"Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." (Eccl. 5:2)

Most everyone knows that God is in heaven, but the great secret of prayer is to realize and understand that He is also in the very room where you are. It is the realization that God is actually present that makes prayer vital and powerful. When one realizes that God is in the very room where he is he will not be careless in his conversation with Him. As Jesus said, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do; for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking." (Verse 7)

God is in heaven, but He is also on earth. When David was chased from place to place by Saul, he was ready to believe that God was so far off that he might not be able to hear him in time to save him. (I Sam. 27:1) David was to learn that wherever he was, God also was present. In Psalm 139:6-10, he acknowledges this, although be admits he does not fully understand it:

"Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

GOD IS EVERYWHERE-HE DOESN'T COME AND HE DOESN'T GO

God is everywhere. He is as omnipresent as the air we breath. He doesn't come and He doesn't go. He is the great I AM! Jesus showed that worship of God is not to be confined to a certain place, or a certain time. The woman of Samaria wanted to know whether Jerusalem or a mountain nearby was the proper place to worship. This question was the subject of bitter controversy in that day and it occurred to the woman that this was a golden opportunity to get a prophet's answer. Jesus replied to her question in a way she hardly expected. He said,

"Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father ... But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him." (Jn. 4:21-23)

How different men's lives would be if they recognized that another world was watching them! That angels are near. (Psa. 34:7) But more than angels, the Presence of God sees all, observes all and records all. There is nothing we can hide from Him.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb. 11:6)

WE MUST RECOGNIZE THE PRESENCE OF GOD

It is the recognition of the Presence of God that makes it easy to pray, easy to have faith. Though God is not present in visible form, He is present just the same. It is in recognizing this actual presence of God that we find that prayer no longer is a chore, but a supreme delight. That Christ's presence is always with His people the Lord made plain in John 14:23.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

Moses became the great intercessor of the Old Testament. When the children of Israel sinned so that the Lord refused to continue with them on their journey to Canaan, but offered to send His angel instead, Moses would have none of it. He said, "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence." (Exod. 33:15) And he persuaded the Lord to grant his request. God reassured him, saying:

"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And the Lord spake to Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." (Exod. 33:14,11)

The day came that Jesus was to leave His disciples. How they longed that He might tarry with them longer! But Jesus explained why He must leave, saying, "If I go not away the Comforter will not come." If Jesus went away, the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit would be sent by the Father into the world. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus then could be present, not with a few, but with believers everywhere. He could then fulfill His promise that "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:20)

What is the first secret of prayer? What is the secret of moving mountains by the prayer of faith? The first thing is to recognize the presence of Him who created mountains. Recognize that Christ is with you every moment in your daily life. Then it will be easy to recognize the presence of Christ when you pray. Start today recognizing and practicing the presence of Christ in your life.

Chapter III

The Secret of Praise

YOU WISH to learn the secret of prayer that will move mountains? Prayer that will change things? Prayer that will tap the infinite resources of Almighty God? That will make the invisible to become visible? That will release the power of heaven for the benefit of humanity? Well, you can learn that secret, but he who would learn it, must be willing to follow the rules.

THE DISCIPLES SAID, "LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY"

In the Luke account of the Lord's prayer (read Luke 11:1-4) the disciples had said to Jesus, "Lord teach us to pray." There was a reason why they asked this question. The disciples had witnessed His amazing and unique ministry. They had watched Jesus as He healed the sick. They had seen Him with the touch of His hand cleanse the leper. They had witnessed His healing power go out to the blind and the deaf. They had observed that even the elements responded to His command. That at His word the winds were stilled, that as He spoke the waves of the angry sea were calmed. How was He able to do these things? What was the secret of such mighty power? At first it all seemed a mystery, but gradually the disciples learned the secret. Jesus had this power because He knew how to pray! And as they continued day by day with the Lord, a longing came into their hearts to also learn how to pray. One day they ventured to ask Jesus if He would teach them.

The Lord did not hesitate to grant their request. He never was one to keep His secrets to Himself. Men have often sought to monopolize power—but not Christ. He came into the world to teach others to do what He did. He was willing that His disciples should learn to do even greater works. (Jn. 14:12) Yes, He would teach them to pray. And He began by telling them that they were to pray after this manner: "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." And as He ended His model prayer, He concluded with these words, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen." In these sentences Christ revealed a second great secret of prayer. Prayer that reaches God, begins and ends with worship!

PRAYER BEGINS WITH WORSHIP

Our God is a great God, a good God. All that we are or will be, is entirely due to Him, the "Giver of every good and perfect gift." Therefore, as a creature to his Creator, We owe God our sincere worship and praise. Worship, therefore, is the first element in prayer.

Right there is where some make their mistake. Prayer is regarded by them mostly as a means by which they can receive help in time of emergency. True, that is a purpose of prayer, but certainly such is far from the whole purpose. God will move mountains, He will stop the sun and the moon in their courses, if necessary, but He wants something out of prayer also. What could God possibly want? He that is eternal, the All-sufficient One—what have we to give Him who rules the universe?

But there is indeed one thing that we can give God, something that He seeks and longs for—our devoted worship. Since the creature owes everything to God, it is right and proper that the creature should worship Him.

Men should praise the Lord all the days of their life. As the last verse of the Psalms declares, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." (Psa. 150:6)

We mentioned in the first chapter the account of the woman at Jacob's well. She had brought up the question as to where was the best place to worship. To this poor unenlightened soul, Christ gave one of His greatest revelations. He said, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." (Jn. 4:23)

Christ thus revealed that God seeks one thing from the human race, the one thing that they can give if they will— worship in spirit and in truth.

When Jesus was on earth, religious people of that day, to a great extent, had made prayer a form. One sect claimed that men should worship God only in Jerusalem. Another said that the proper place to worship was in Mount Gerizim in Samaria. But Jesus revealed that neither Jerusalem nor a particular mountain had anything to do with where men should pray. God is a spirit. He is everywhere. Therefore, He wants all men, wherever they are to worship Him. God seeks such worship.

Satan also competes for the worship of men. When the devil tempted Christ, he promised Him the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them if only He would fall down and worship him. (Matt. 4:9) Jesus spurned the offer of Satan and told him that worship was reserved for God only.

Notice how Christ in His praying, gave thanksgiving and praise to God. His first recorded prayer was, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." (Matt. 11:25) Before Christ raised Lazarus from the tomb, He thanked God that He had already heard Him. When little children praised the Lord as He made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, instead of rebuking them as He was urged, He said, "Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" (Matt. 21:16)

Important in the art of prayer is the secret of praise and thanksgiving. Enter into God's presence with praise. Bring your requests to God with thanksgiving. Praise Him for what he has already done. The powers of heaven and earth, the power to move mountains, is at the bidding of those who have learned the secret of praise. Begin today the habit of giving Him the sacrifice of praise continually. Heb. 13:15

Chapter IV

The Secret of the World Vision

"Pray ... thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:9-10)

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isa. 2:2,4)

WHEN ONE refers to the promise of Jesus that prayer has power to move mountains, it often causes a puzzled expression to come upon people. Surely, they say the word "mountains" must be figurative. The Lord did not mean that a real mountain could be moved by prayer.

It is true that the term "mountain" is often used figuratively in the Scripture — though this does not lessen the force of the promise. "Mountain" is often used as symbolic of a kingdom. Christ's Kingdom is spoken of in Daniel 2:35, 44-45, as a "great mountain" that "filled the earth." In the above verses which speak of the "mountain of the Lord's house," Isaiah refers to the Kingdom of God that is to be established upon the earth—a kingdom that will result in universal peace, with the nations beating "their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks."

But let us ask this question. How is this great "mountain of the Lord's house", the Kingdom of God to be established on the earth? The startling answer is that it will come as the result of the prayers of God's people! That is what Jesus indicated in the prayer He taught His disciples when He said, "Pray ... thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Christ would not ask us to pray for something that would come to pass whether we prayed or not. He never told us to pray for the sun to rise when it would rise anyway. But He did tell us to pray for the Kingdom to come — a kingdom to supercede the kingdoms of this world. (Rev. 11:15 and 16:20)

THE KINGDOM MUST COME FIRST INTO HEARTS OF MEN

Are we then to pray until the Kingdom drops down out of heaven? No, Jesus made it plain that it would not come that way. He said, "The Kingdom of God cometh not by observation; Neither shall they say, Lo there! Lo here! for behold the Kingdom of God is within you". (Luke 17:20-21) Christ must rule in the hearts of men before He will reign over them. The supreme work, therefore, of the followers of Christ is to preach the Kingdom of God, that it might enter into the hearts of men. This was the great task that was begun by the apostles and today is still unfinished. Christ has expressly stated that, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14)

God, from His great position on the throne, looks over the earth with all its sorrow and woe caused by sin and the broken law, and He yearns for its redemption. He so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son. Yet He still awaits the evangelization of vast populations who have never heard the name of Jesus. What is the Church doing about this? What are we doing about it?

The truth is that the Church's prayers are weak because of the narrowness of its vision. A vast number of Christians pray only for their personal interests. Of how many churches can it be said that they have a real interest in world evangelization? How many have an interest in God's work outside of their own denomination? Surely we must broaden our vision to wider horizons. World evangelization can only be fully brought about by the united effort of the whole Body of Christ. Only then will the world believe that Christ is the Son of God:

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

(Jn. 17:21)

Now is the time for the Church to pray as Jesus taught, "'Thy kingdom come thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". Let the Church pray that its members become one that the world may believe that Jesus Christ is indeed sent of the Father. They who will pray this unselfish prayer may also pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," and they will not wait long for the answer.

Shortly after our conversion, God gave us a vision of world revival. The call of the gospel absorbed our whole being to the extent that all other ambitions in life faded. We found that we would rather preach the gospel than anything else in the world.

Much of our evangelistic work was during the depression years. Those were the days when one could prove whether he had a call from God or not. Often an evangelist might find that his love offering at the end of the week amounted to from three to five dollars. But whatever the financial remuneration, we can truthfully say that never did we have the slightest temptation to leave the ministry.

Nevertheless, from the beginning, in one thing we were greatly dissatisfied. The results were not in proportion to the overwhelming need. The church was winning the lost, one by one, but all this was not a drop in the bucket as far as world evangelization was concerned. It was plain from the Scriptures that God intended that this Gospel of the kingdom should be preached as a witness unto all nations. Indeed He said, "Preach the gospel to every creature." But at the rate the job was being done, it would never be accomplished.

God showed to us during those days, as well as to many others, that a revival was coming that would reach the masses. How we prayed and looked forward for its coming. A revival that would reach the whole world! One that would reach audiences of tens of thousands!

Then God sent the revival! By a series of strange providences, we were brought into the center of it. It was our privilege to share in the organization of the first union meetings of this present visitation. As time went on, it was our joy to see many of our colleagues participating in great campaigns in foreign lands — revivals that were reaching tens, even hundreds of thousands. Whole nations were being stirred. Where missionaries had labored arduously for years with meager results, the mightiest visitations came. The revival soon proved to be of a scope never before known in history.

We thank God for those to whom He has given this world vision. In praying "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as is done in heaven," they are receiving a rich reward in personal happiness. But all this is but a token of what is yet to come. Before the Church are broader visions of accomplishment. We must enter a prayer crusade for revival that has never been known before. God give us all a vision of world revival, a revival that goes beyond organization or denomination, one that will take in the whole Church. As we pray "Thy kingdom come," we will find that our personal needs will be taken care of. That as God pours out His blessing upon the whole world, we, ourselves, shall receive abundantly, even above our capacity to receive.

If we would learn the secret of moving mountains by prayer, then we must accept the world vision. We must pray for the world harvest. We must pray for the evangelization of a thousand million souls without Christ. We must pray that God's kingdom will come and His will be done on earth-and he who prays this prayer unselfishly will see mountains moved and his own needs will not go unanswered.

Chapter V

The Secret of Praying in the Will of God

"Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:10)

"And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, (Divine love) I am nothing." (I Cor. 13:2)

GOD HAS promised us power to move mountains, but we must be sure that we move the mountains He wants moved. God never puts His power on display, nor does He give special demonstrations for the entertainment of the vulgar. The moving of a mountain is of no benefit unless it accomplishes a purpose in the will of God, and unless the act is motivated by a love for humanity. As Paul says, if we have faith to move mountains and have not love we are nothing.

In this we see the all important factor of the will of God. It is necessary that when we pray, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven," that we seek the will of God to be done in our life. As I John 5:14 says, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to His will He heareth us."

MAN IS GOD'S MASTERPIECE

Man is the crowning glory of the creation of God. He was made in the image and likeness of God and given dominion over the earth. (Gen. 1:26) His home was in the Garden of Eden, and in this Paradise there was no sin, no sickness, no pain, no suffering nor death. Before man chose to disobey God, all things moved in the orbit of God's perfect will.

Man in the Garden made an evil choice and thus moved out of the will of God. God countermoved to save him by sending Christ into the world to redeem him, so that in the end he should have all that Adam originally possessed and more too. Through Christ all was to be his for the asking. As Jesus said:

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Luke 11:9-10)

Why is it then that so many of God's children seem unable to appropriate the promise? Why is it that they fail so often in getting their prayers answered? Why do so few miracles happen in their lives? Why is it that no mountains are moved? Could it be that there is something missing, something lacking in their lives that deprives them of the benefit of the promise?

THE MYSTERY OF UNANSWERED PRAYER

Here lies the answer to the mystery of much unanswered prayer. God has a pattern for the life of every person born into this world. For every creature made in the image and likeness of God there is a special purpose. The greatest moment in any Christian's experience is when he discovers that purpose for his being on earth.

When a man finds the will of God for his life, then the powers of heaven and earth work for his good. As it is written, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28) When a man becomes absolutely committed to the will of God, he will discover to his delight that the most vexing problems of life have a mysterious way of working themselves out. How does this happen? The God Who made the planets, the sun, the moon, and stars and Who causes them to follow in their appointed paths by His irresistible will is now causing all things in that person's life to also follow in their proper orbits.

HOW GOD SHOWED US HIS WILL IN BUILDING CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS PLANT

The importance of the will of God in accomplishing anything worth while became very clear in our work with THE VOICE OF HEALING. In the year 1951, we contemplated building offices in Dallas. At that time we had no money to pay for the project.

We knew that this move must be absolutely in Divine will if it were to succeed. Daily we took the matter to the Lord in prayer. Once we were ready to move, but God checked us. Those who wait on the Lord will not make haste. We continued to pray. Day by day we laid the matter before God. Finally the hour came when God said, "Now is the time. Rise and build." We were certain that we were moving in the will of God.

But we were to find that every step needed to be carefully prayed through. First we had to make a choice of a building site. We were about to make a deal for a lot which later we would find was not at all adequate for our future growth. We did not then fully realize what God had in store for us. But God knew. He kept us from making a mistake. Through an unexpected legal technicality, we were held from going forward until we had a chance to locate a piece of property that would meet our requirements. The City Planning Commission had intended on zoning this area for residences, but through a clerk's error we were given permission to build. Then when the mistake was discovered, the Commission decided to let us go ahead. We have always felt that this location is ideal and that God gave it to us.

But now we came to the critical moment. If God was in our move, He must supply us with $20,000 in a short time. Did God meet us? He did! The miracle took place, and in a few months' time we had a fine commodious building erected. But it was only a small part of what we were going to need in the next few years.

Soon the enlarging ministries of CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS demanded that we expand. From where was the money that would be needed to come? God gave us the answer in an unexpected way. He blessed us in the ministry of the written word, which not only enabled us to support our family but the proceeds enabled us to continue our program of expansion. This, with the addition of some liberal gifts permitted us to move forward with great rapidity. Since then we have built additional offices for a missionary department. We have erected a publication building and installed printing equipment for our literature crusade. So at the present time from almost nothing a few years ago, we now have a large well-equipped establishment. Thus are we geared for the extensive missionary program in which now we are deeply committed.

As we look forward, we can see greater responsibilities ahead. But we have learned that when each step is prayed through and is clearly in the will of God, the miracle that is needed will always take place.

THE PILLAR OF CLOUD

God's plan for guidance of His redeemed people is beautifully illustrated in the story of how God led the children of Israel. They knew that they were to make the journey to the Promised Land, but they were not left to their own resources and wisdom even in the making of that short journey. They were to be led by the Presence of the Lord that dwelt in the Cloud of the Tabernacle. When that Cloud moved forward they went forward, and when it tarried, they tarried:

"And when the cloud was taken from the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and the fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys." (Ex. 40:36-38)

It is a solemn thing to note that when Israel refused to follow the Cloud, that particular generation was never permitted to enter the Promised Land.

The lesson is clear. These things were written for our admonition. (I Cor. 10:11) When we see the common tragedy of Christians who are no longer going forward in their Christian experience, we know that in some way they have either rejected or ignored Divine guidance in their lives. Those who wish to have their prayers answered must be willing at all costs to follow the leading of Christ in their daily lives.

Sad is the story of those who day after day plaintively cry for this or that person to pray for them; who confess that God does not answer their prayers. That though they pray, seemingly nothing happens and their problems become greater and greater. What is wrong? Why are these people so beaten? Could it be that their life in some way is out of the revealed will of God? The reason for their consistent failure is usually right there. Jesus said to pray, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." And he who prays that prayer must include it to mean, "Lord let thy will be done in my life." For the will of God can only be done in earth as it is done in the lives of men.

Yet even while His soul was tortured in the terrible struggle, He was able to pray, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." (Matt. 26:39) Christ resigned Himself to the will of God though it meant His drinking the cup to the bitter dregs.

If we are going to see mountains moved as Christ saw them moved, then we like He must pray, "Not as I will, but as thou wilt." If we are going to receive answers to prayer as He received answers, then we must commit ourselves, as He did, to the will of God. This means death to the self-life. It means crucifixion. But with death, there also comes as compensation the resurrection life, and with it joy and peace in the Holy Ghost. Though Christ endured suffering in the closing hours of His life, God also gave Him such joy that He could say, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (Jn. 15:11)

Now we have learned another important secret of prayer. We must like Christ pray, "Not my will but thine be done." Every step we take must be committed to God. Not that God should bless our plans, but that we should seek Gods will and ask Him to bless us in doing it. God will give us power to move mountains if it accomplishes a purpose in the will of God. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye

The Secret of Praying in the Will of God will, and it shall be done unto you." (Jn. 15:7)

Chapter VI

The Secret of the Daily Contact

"Give us day by day our daily bread." (Luke 11:3)

IN THESE WORDS there is a clue to another vital secret in the art of praying to change things. This is the principle of daily contact with the living God. Jesus taught men to pray saying, "Give us day by day our daily bread."

God has ordained certain laws for the governing of His universe. In no sphere is the immutableness of these laws more evident than in the realm of prayer. Successful prayer means daily contact with God. When a man's spiritual life begins to deteriorate, generally the cause can be traced to a lack of consistent daily prayer. Those who have investigated have been amazed to learn the small amount of time many people, even ministers, give to real prayer. Perhaps five or ten minutes a day are spent in saying prayers, and then they are up and on their way. No wonder the forces of darkness are able to mobilize against them and in some cases completely paralyze their efforts.

The things of which a successful life is made are shaped in the crucible of the daily hour of prayer. God must work with the material given Him and if there is a paucity of material made available, He is limited in what He can do. Many people do not realize that there is an actual substance to prayer. That there is, may be seen in Rev. 8:3, where God stores up the prayers of His saints for use at the proper time. In a vital way the prayers of God's people have a part in the execution of His plan on earth.

God has ordained that men should have at their command the resources of heaven. "All power in heaven and in earth is delivered unto me," said Jesus, "Therefore go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." "As the Father hath sent me so send I you." The Church can undertake this momentous task because all power has been made available but it is available only to those who day by day keep contact with their God.

"Give us day by day our daily bread." Jesus did not ask us to pray for a year's supply, or a month's, or even a week's supply of bread. God wants us daily to be in utter dependence of Him. He wants us to daily feel the need of the strength of His presence, of His sustaining power.

THE DAILY MANNA

This great lesson of daily dependence on God was taught in the giving of manna to the children of Israel. They were to receive only enough for a day's supply. No man could gather a supply for several days and hoard it for future use. Those who did, found that it bred worms and was unfit for human consumption.

There is a common mistake that is made by many Christians. They would have healing that they can't "lose", rather than the health that comes from a daily dependence on the quickening power of the Spirit of God. They would rather have financial security that does not compel them daily to go to the secret chamber and ask God to meet their needs. They would have a Baptism of the Holy Ghost that does not require a daily waiting on God for a fresh anointing. But such desires are not in accord with God's purpose.

God's plan involves a daily dependence on Him. Without Him we can do nothing. And if we are to successfully accomplish His will in our lives we must not allow a single day to pass without that vital communion with God. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God." Men are careful to partake regularly of the natural food, but they are not so careful about the inner man which also needs a daily replenishing. Just as the body feels the effect of doing without food, so the spirit suffers when it fails to be fed on the Bread of life.

Daniel is a splendid illustration of one who learned the secret of true success. His life spanned a century, during which time dynasties rose and fell. It was one of the most turbulent eras in the history of the world. Time and again Daniel's life was in grave jeopardy. Once he was condemned to perish with all the wise men of Babylon. At another time he was thrown alive into a den of vicious lions. On each occasion his life was miraculously preserved. His integrity and wisdom caused him to rise in favor with each succeeding regime. Because the Spirit of God dwelt in him he was admired and respected by kings and queens. (Dan. 5:11) Whenever an emergency arose, they turned to him for help. For the better part of a century his life influenced nations. His fearless courage and faith moved kings to acknowledge the true God.

What was the secret of Daniel's power? The answer is that prayer was a business with him. He did not go running to God just when some crisis appeared. Crises were common in his life but when they came he always knew what to do. Three times a day he met with God and gave thanks. This was a daily habit with him that nothing was allowed to interrupt.

THE LESSON OF THE BREACHED WALLS

The importance of daily prayer, a daily meeting with God, and not just a casual saying of prayers is forcefully illustrated in the story of a Christian Armenian merchant who was carrying merchandise by caravan across the desert to a town in Turkish Armenia. Having been brought up by Christian parents he had formed a life habit of daily committing himself into the hands of God.

At the time of this incident, the country was infested with "Kurds," that is bandits who lived by robbing caravans. Unknown to the merchant, a band of these highwaymen had been following the caravan, intending to rob it at the first camping place on the plains.

At the chosen hour, under cover of darkness, they drew near. All was strangely quiet. There seemed to be no guards, no watchers but, as they pressed up, to their astonishment, they found high walls where walls had never stood before.

They continued to follow but, the next night, they found the same impassable walls. The third night the walls stood but there were breaches in them through which they went in.

The captain of the robbers, terrified by the mystery, awakened the merchant.

"What does this mean?" said he. "Ever since you left Ezerum, we have followed, intending to rob you. The first night and the second night we found high walls around the caravan but, tonight, we entered through broken places. If you will tell us the secret of all this, I will not molest you.

The merchant, himself, was surprised and puzzled. "My friends," he said, "I have done nothing to have walls raised about us. All I do is pray every evening, committing myself and those with me to God. I fully trust in Him to keep me from all evil; but tonight, being very tired and sleepy, I made a rather half-hearted lip prayer. That must be why you were allowed to break through!"

The "Kurds" were overcome by such testimony as this. Then and there, they gave themselves to Jesus Christ, and were saved. From caravan robbers, they became Godfearing men. The Armenian, however, never forgot that breach in the wall of prayer.

And thus we learn another secret of mighty prayer. He who moves mountains must make prayer a life habit. He, like Daniel, must regularly meet with His God. Prayer must become as natural as breathing. With such prayer, men defeat spiritual forces arrayed against them that no human means could overcome. By such continuous prayer the enemy is kept at bay and a hedge of protection is maintained about us through which evil cannot touch us.

Chapter VII

The Secret of Prayer that Anticipates Evil

"And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine." (Luke 4:5-7)

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen." (Matt. 6:13)

THERE IS such a thing as prayer that moves mountains. But he who would pray this prayer must also be willing to meet and overcome the temptations involved in moving mountains. In the above passage, we are told that Christ was transported to a high mountain, where He received a dazzling offer from the prince of this world. From the vantage point of the mountain, the devil in a moment of time, showed Jesus the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them. He then proposed to give all to Jesus if He would but fall down and worship him. Christ spurned the devil's offer declaring that worship was for God only.

Mountains have often been the trysting place of the testing of the saints. It was at a mountain that the children of Israel witnessed the thunderings and lightnings and shaking of Sinai. It was this awe-inspiring scene that caused them to draw back and say to Moses, "Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die." (Exod. 20:19) But Moses replied, "Fear not: for God is come down to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not" (Verse 20) It was on Mt. Moriah that Abraham met the supreme test of his life when he was asked to give up Isaac, his only son. "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: ... Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead." (Heb. 11:17-19) Abraham's steadfastness in meeting the test caused him to be called "father of the faithful."

It was on Mt. Carmel that Elijah challenged the Baal prophets, and called Israel back to God with the words, "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, them follow him." (I Ki. 18:21) There, before the people, he justified his faith in a supernatural God when in answer to his prayer, fire came down out of heaven and consumed the sacrifice.

Those who would move mountains must be willing to meet the challenge of the mountains. They must be able to scale their height and take their measure. And always, the higher one climbs, the greater his temptations will be. At the top he will meet the tempter face to face as Christ met him.

Sooner or later he will face the devil's most subtle temptation—that involving human pride and human ambition. Satan knowing that Christ had successfully overcome all other temptations, gave Him yet this one more — the promise that all the kingdoms of the world would be His, if He would but give him worship.

THE SECRET OF VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION

All men must meet temptation, just as Christ had to meet it. But we are not to run into it. There is no advantage in putting ourselves in the way of temptation. That is why Christ taught men to pray the words, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Here is the Divine anticipation of, and the deliverance from evil, before it can reach us!

A mother, who was a young Christian, learned the secret of God's protecting providence. Prayer had become a very important part in her life and she became sensitive to the Spirit's leadings. This daily living in the spirit resulted in her being able to pray in time to avert a tragedy in the life of her child. This is her testimony:

"One day in the fall, just before time for school to be out, a great fear suddenly gripped my heart. Something tragic was about to happen. I knew that one of my children was in danger. This was a new experience for me, as I had known only happiness since I had been saved. I realized this was a warning from God, so I began to pray. Relief came.

A great calm came over me. I rose up, thanking the Lord.

"When I saw my children running down the road, I stepped out of the gate and went to meet them. As they came near, one of the girls reported that our neighbor's little boy had been struck by a car.

"Johnny, my little boy, came up with a puzzled expression on his face. He said, 'Mother, that car would have gotten me, too, for we were crossing the road together, but it was going so fast that the wind from the car just picked me up and set me out of the road.' I told him it was the hand of God that moved him from the path of danger."

SOME PRAYERS ARE PRAYED TOO LATE

Some prayers are prayed too late. Some people seek God earnestly after they get into trouble, not realizing that had they prayed sooner, they might have avoided the pitfall. There is such a thing as foreseeing evil and avoiding it. "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished." (Prov. 27:12) How can a man hope to escape the traps that devils continually devise against him? The answer is, not in human foresight or wisdom, for the same writer adds, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." (Prov. 3:5)

There is a place of safety that is hid from the eye of the ordinary passerby, that is reserved for him who "overturns mountains." Job alludes to this:

"There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: the lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountain by the roots." (Job 28:7-9)

This place of safety and protection from evil is plainly revealed in the 91st Psalm:

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty ... surely he shall deliver thee from the snare o f the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust . . . "

Here is promised deliverance from Satan's traps! The expression "snare of the fowler" is a clear allusion to the work of Satan who is busy setting snares for God's people. Many indeed get caught in their grip and God in His mercy somehow extricates them. But how much better to be forewarned and be able to avoid the snares. It is one thing to fall into a pit and be rescued. It is another thing to see the danger, and avoid it.

Jesus taught men to pray to be delivered from temptation rather than to be rescued from it after it engulfs them.

The lesson of anticipating temptation before it overwhelms us is clearly portrayed in the drama of Gethsemane. There, that fateful night Jesus met the greatest crisis of His life. The powers of darkness concentrated their forces in a desperate effort to foil the purpose of God in one overwhelming attack upon Christ. As Jesus prayed that awful night, His soul was drawn out in agony. "Sweat as it were great drops of blood" fell from His brow to the ground. He wrestled on in mortal combat while the disciples engaged in slumber, in apparent ignorance of the drama that was engaging the attention of the universe. But Jesus prayed on, until at length, victory crowned His efforts.

"And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven strengthening Him." (Luke 22:43)

But all was not so well with the disciples. They too were about to meet the greatest crisis of their lives. Soon the betrayer would appear and they would be thrown into panic and confusion. Yet during this precious time when they might have fortified themselves against the storm that would burst upon them, they continued to sleep. Christ interrupted His own prayer in an effort to rouse them to their peril. "Rise and pray," He said, "lest ye enter into temptation." But it was to no avail.

The disciples slept on till the hour struck. The armed soldiers came and they awoke to fall into a great confusion. Peter, in panic, spoke before he thought, only to discover in shocked realization that he had denied his Lord. Bitterly he wept over his act of cowardice. What would he not have given if he could have turned time back just a few hours. His great mistake was that he did not pray when temptation threatened. He did not heed the words of Jesus when He warned him to "Rise and pray." But he slept on while his world was falling at his feet.

A WARNING FOR OUR TIME

This warning to watch and pray was not a warning that Jesus intended for the disciples alone. The warning is applicable to Christians of all ages, and it is especially timely for the present hour. When Jesus gave His great discourse on events which would precede His Second Coming, He warned that the "cares of life" would cause that day to come upon many "unawares." "For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." (Luke 21:35) He gave a special warning to those who should live in that day:

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36)

Table of Contents

1 Prayer that Moves Mountains

2 The Secret of the Presence of God

3 The Secret of Praise

4 The Secret of the World Vision

5 The Secret of Praying in the Will of God

6 The Secret of the Daily Contact

7 The Secret of Prayer that Anticipates Evil