The Apostle Paul at the beginning of his first epistle to the Thessalonians told them that he made mention of them in his prayers and at the close of the epistle gave them this exhortation: “Brethren, pray for us.” In this way he was teaching them the importance of prayer-fellowship among the brethren. It is at the Throne of grace that the true people of God meet. In the very same place where the Lord Himself meets with them, there they meet with one another. If, then, prayer was so vital to the life of the church in the Apostle’s day, is it not equally so in ours?
Today there is much outward stir in religion, both within and outside of evangelical circles. Some of this activity may be proper and useful while much of it is very wide of the mark. It is right that the Church should be very concerned for those who do not have the Gospel and do all in its power to convey to them the message of salvation without which sinners cannot be saved. Much of the present-day activity of the visible Church, however, is taken up with social issues to the neglect of the real task of spreading the knowledge of the glory of God among men. But even where the proper task of the Church is adhered to, how much of the effort expended is wasted in fruitless endeavour, and all because insufficient emphasis is laid on the need for importunate and prevailing prayer.
“I will yet be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them” is still as true as when it was first uttered. We may wonder why there are so few awakened to a knowledge of the truth even where the gospel of God’s grace is proclaimed in its fullness. Why is it that there is so little evidence of growth in grace amongst those who are already in the kingdom of Christ? The answer is the same in both cases—the lack of secret importunate and prevailing prayer.
Why is it that spiritual life is at such a low ebb in days when Christians have more outward helps in religion than in other days? Why is it that fellowship among true believers instead of increasing as the day darkens is diminishing? Why is it that Christians grow more worldly-minded, less spiritually-minded, than in days past? The answer again must be—the lack of importunate and prevailing prayer.
At the door of the church of God today must be laid this charge—its neglect of the Throne of Grace. The truth is that secret prayer is not indulged in today as it was by the Fathers in former days. This is a fault which has the most serious consequences, not only with regard to the life of the Church as a whole, but also with regard to the life of the individual believer. What is the call to the Church then in these circumstances. It is the same as that given to the Church at Ephesus—“Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent.”
What need there is in our day for the true people of God to betake themselves anew to the Throne of grace earnestly and perseveringly. When the people of God are found frequenting the Throne of grace as diligently and as importunately as believers did in a past generation, the fruits of that prayer will be seen in the renewed vigour and prosperity which will be imparted by it to the church of God. The result will no doubt be the ingathering of many souls into the kingdom of Christ. May we, then be stirred up by divine grace to call upon the Lord, in order that we may obtain the blessing which we so much need.