by E. W. Rogers (England)
It is a thing to be specially marked that prayer for the Lord’s servants is equivalent to helping them actively. Even if it be not possible to do anything more (and, of course, we should do more than pray) sincere prayer to God for them is a great help. Paul says so in 2Cor.1.11: “Ye also helping together by prayer for us.” This phrase is found in a context that has to do with Paul’s perilous Asian experiences, which elsewhere he graphically describes as ‘fighting with wild beasts.’ He even despaired of his life, though he knew that if that were lost God is He who raises the dead. Still, deliverance came and the prayers of the Corinthian saints had helped to bring it. Prayer had been proved to be that mighty power
“Which moves the hand that moves the world
To bring deliverance down.”
The prayers offered up by many saints issued in thanksgiving to God offered by the same many: a volume of prayer had produced a volume of praise.
Paul uses a stronger word in Rom.15.30: “Strive together with me in your prayers.” He felt the force of adverse powers who were ever seeking to hinder his prayers and, therefore, he urged the Roman believers to join him in the contest. It was a real contest. He was making a journey to Judea, but wondered what sort of reception he would have by the saints and how he would fare at the hands of his unbelieving fellow-nationals. His desire was that he should be delivered from the hands of the opponents, welcomed by the saints, and be able in due course to come to the saints at Rome with joy. If this programme were to be fulfilled he knew he would have to fight his way through, and he, therefore, besought these Roman believers to join him in the battle of prayer.
See what prayer can do: it can deliver out of menacing circumstances such as those in Asia: it can overcome the devices and activities of hostile foes such as those in Judea. But more, it can even release from prison confinement. Of this Paul was confident and, therefore, to the Philippians he wrote, 1.19: “I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ.” By the word ‘salvation’ he may have had much more in view than deliverance from prison, he may have been thinking of spiritual failure. Certainly the prayers of many a saint have saved many an one from such spiritual shipwreck. But whether it be physical or spiritual, prayer need not be limited to any place or to any state. It is boundless in its scope.
The prayers of the Philippians imparted confidence to the great Apostle Paul, for note the words ‘I know.’ He uses the word that denotes inward conviction, he was confident that God would respond to the prayers of the saints seeing they needed the help of the Apostle. Therefore, later he says: “having this confidence, I know.”
It was not only churches which he urged to pray for him. He wrote to Philemon, father, mother, and son, for he expected after his release from prison (to which he had alluded to the Philippians) to go to that Colossian home. The word he used, v22, is stronger than ‘trust,’ it is ‘hope.’ He does not here ask them to pray for him, he knew they were doing that, but he does ask them to supplement those prayers with appropriate action, for their prayers had begotten within his breast the confident assurance that he had procured from the hand of God as an answer of grace the desires of both Philemon and Paul and that each would be together again in due course.
Prayer has been eulogized: many have written on the topic: many sermons have been preached about it. But how many of us are like Epaphras, who did much prayer-business with God in dead earnest? Who can tell what would be accomplished were every reader of this magazine to engage himself thus. Prayer is the first prerequisite of all other aids to missionary enterprise. It will have a salutary effect upon our own spiritual life: it will direct our steps: it will unloose our purse: it will help the Lord’s servants in difficult circumstances: it will smooth their journeys: it will meet their needs: and there is no telling what prayer can do.
Conversely, if we fail in this direction who can measure the loss not only that we ourselves sustain but which we incur for those who “on behalf of the Name” have gone forth. No marvel that they constantly ask “Brethren, pray for us.”