The Ministry of Intercession Part 18

TWENTY-FIRST DAY

WHAT TO PRAY.--For G.o.d's Spirit on the Jews

="I will pour out upon the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and Supplication; and they shall look unto Me whom they pierced."=--ZECH. xii. 10.

="Brethren, my heart's desire and my supplication to G.o.d is for them, that they may be saved."=--ROM. x. 1.

Pray for the Jews. Their return to the G.o.d of their fathers stands connected, in a way we cannot tell, with wonderful blessing to the Church, and with the coming of our Lord Jesus. Let us not think that G.o.d has foreordained all this, and that we cannot hasten it. In a divine and mysterious way G.o.d has connected His fulfilment of His promise with our prayer. His Spirit's intercession in us is G.o.d's forerunner of blessing.

Pray for Israel and the work done among them. And pray too: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

HOW TO PRAY.--With the Intercession of the Holy Spirit

="We know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."=--ROM.

viii. 26.

In your ignorance and feebleness believe in the secret indwelling and intercession of the Holy Spirit within you. Yield yourself to His life and leading habitually. He will help your infirmities in prayer. Plead the promises of G.o.d even where you do not see how they are to be fulfilled. G.o.d knows the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of G.o.d. Pray with the simplicity of a little child; pray with the holy awe and reverence of one in whom G.o.d's Spirit dwells and prays.

SPECIAL PEt.i.tIONS

TWENTY-SECOND DAY

WHAT TO PRAY.--For all who are in Suffering

="Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are evil entreated, as being yourselves in the body."=--HEB. xiii. 3.

What a world of suffering we live in! How Jesus sacrificed all and identified Himself with it! Let us in our measure do so too. The persecuted Stundists and Armenians and Jews, the famine-stricken millions of India, the hidden slavery of Africa, the poverty and wretchedness of our great cities--and so much more: what suffering among those who know G.o.d and who know Him not. And then in smaller circles, in ten thousand homes and hearts, what sorrow. In our own neighbourhood, how many needing help or comfort. Let us have a heart for, let us think of the suffering. It will stir us to pray, to work, to hope, to love more. And in a way and time we know not G.o.d will hear our prayer.

HOW TO PRAY.--Praying always, and not fainting

="He spake unto them a parable to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint."=--LUKE xviii. 1.

Do you not begin to feel prayer is really the help for this sinful world? What a need there is of unceasing prayer? The very greatness of the task makes us despair! What can our ten minutes of intercession avail? It is right we feel this: this is the way in which G.o.d is calling and preparing us to give our life to prayer. Give yourself wholly to G.o.d for men, and amid all your work, your heart will be drawn out to men in love, and drawn up to G.o.d in dependence and expectation. To a heart thus led by the Holy Spirit, it is possible to pray always and not to faint.

SPECIAL PEt.i.tIONS

TWENTY-THIRD DAY

WHAT TO PRAY.--For the Holy Spirit in your own Work

="I labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily."=--COL. i. 29.

You have your own special work; make it a work of intercession. Paul laboured, striving according to the working of G.o.d in him. Remember, G.o.d is not only the Creator, but the Great Workman, who worketh all in all.

You can only do your work in His strength, by Him working in you through the Spirit. Intercede much for those among whom you work, till G.o.d gives you life for them.

Let us all intercede too for each other, for every worker throughout G.o.d's Church, however solitary or unknown.

HOW TO PRAY.--In G.o.d's very Presence