ETERNAL IMPACT

ETERNAL IMPACT:

“The great people of the earth today are the people who pray.” -S.D. Gordon

S.D. Gordon (1859-1936) wrote one of the great timeless treasures of Christianity - Quiet Talks on Prayer. The premise of Gordon’s book is explicit in the opening paragraph, “...we won ones may be the pathway back to God for the others.” Gordon goes on to discuss the profound impact that prayer has - not in the pervasive superficial, childish, selfish, vending machine sense with which many employ it today, but rather in humble surrender, to intimately identify with, and intentionally fellowship with God in order to actually commune with and influence His will. Two of Gordon’s most profound quotes from the book are:

1) “You can do more than pray, after you have prayed. But you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”

2) “The greatest thing anyone can do for God and for man is to pray. It is not the only thing, but it is the chief thing.”

Sadly, the lime-light of speaking to an audience is often seen as the pinnacle of Christianity. This is neither a phenomenon exclusive to western culture nor is it a recent development. The same phenomenon holds true in every country of the world and in every age dating back before Christ’s incarnation. The allure is the same used by the crafty serpent in Eden, “you will become like God...”

The power and allure of the spotlight entices many. That’s why James, Jesus’ brother, wrote, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” The author of Hebrews may have been alluding to this when they wrote, “For the word of God is alive and active… it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

In 1 Corinthians Paul taught that everything we do must be for the purpose of building up the Church - Christ’s Bride. In Paul’s day the allure of teaching, preaching, and speaking had left the windbags, narcissists, and power-mongers spewing off at the mouth. So Paul told the glory-seekers that a reckoning was coming! In 4:20 he said, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of jibber-jabber but of power!” This rebuke simultaneously chastised the blowhards and egotists, while empowering the saints of Corinth. It’s not about jibber-jabber, but willful cooperation and intimate participation with Christ.

Speaking without challenging or edifying people frequently leaves them feeling inferior, inadequate, and incompetent for the glorious ministry of the gospel - or - it leaves them feeling satisfied, content, and comfortable.

Preaching, evangelism, apologetics, teaching… all are limited by time and space. But the ministry of prayer knows no such bounds. Prayer taps into the unlimited power and the righteous, benevolent, and compassionate heart of God Almighty.

Paul spoke, wrote, served, and he prayed. Like Jesus, Paul understood the power,  importance, joy, and beauty of prayer. Many of Paul’s letters were exactly that - prayers - often written from prison when he couldn’t preach, speak, evangelize, or go.

We see this reality in 2 Corinthians where Paul made a plea for individual and community prayer a strategic and emphatic point to the church at Corinth. Paul begins 2 Corinthians talking about afflictions and sufferings endured by those, like him, who are spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ; “For we don’t want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in the province of Asia. We were completely overwhelmed… so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God… And you can join in helping with prayer for us, so that thanks may be given to many on our behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many” (2 Cor 1:8-11). In the midst of talking about afflictions and suffering Paul uses the word comfort eight times - and that comfort is explicitly identified as their prayers.

In closing, I’ll leave you with one final quote from S.D. Gordon on the power and impact of prayer:

In all other service we are constantly limited by space, bodily strength, equipment, material obstacles, difficulties involved in the peculiar differences of personality. Prayer know no such limitations. It ignores space. It may be free from expenditure of bodily strength, where rightly practiced, and one’s powers are under proper control. It goes directly, by the telegraphy of spirit, into men’s hearts, quietly passes through walls, and past locks unhindered… but the intensely fascinating fact to mark is this: -that the real victory in all of this service is won in secret, beforehand, by prayer. -S.D. Gordon

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.” -1 John 5:14-15

The Psalmists, the Prophets, Paul, and Jesus all understood the profound power and impact of prayer.

How will your prayer life be transformed and utilized today as a powerful tool of blessing to others?

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com