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The title to this note is suggested by John 15:16, where Jesus assured the disciples that He had chosen and appointed them to bear fruit, and that the fruit borne would remain.

These words touch my heart. These words not only speak to what God is looking for by way of outcome, but also that He has specifically chosen me to be part of the fruit-bearing process, and that somehow the fruit will remain in spite of how unqualified I feel at times—frankly, on some days any fruit seems like a major achievement:)

Of course I need to make fruit-bearing the GREAT purpose of my life. I obviously have many things to do in life, but none of those other things should take the place of fruit-bearing.

What is the fruit? There is some confusion here, the suggestion sometimes being made that the fruit is the person that we have touched here and there, being the fruit. I don’t think that has that much warrant in Scripture. Rather, it points to the fruit of the Spirit—”love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against which there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22,23)

Somehow the fragrance of those otherworldly fruits attract other longing hearts to consider making Jesus part of their own experience.

I am especially pleased that directly after speaking of choosing and ordaining us to bear enduring fruit, Jesus added, “that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

Not only are we called to bear fruit, but we are also given the key to bearing the intended fruit: asking the Father in JESUS’ name for whatever is needed.

As I have been preparing for upcoming trips to Canada and the South Pacific, I’ve been reading much on the Holy Spirit. Oh what blessings have come my way. I’ve been losing sleep, but am more than happy to have lost sleep doing the readings.

Here is some of this morning’s portion…

“In these words (ordained to bear fruit) we have surely an indication of the deep, vital connection between true prayer and true fruit-bearing; such that the two things are as it were convertible terms. It is as if He said, “I have ordained you to produce real and lasting spiritual effects for Me; in other words, I have ordained you to be, in Me, prevailing petitioners with My Father that you may be bearers of such fruit.” The “things asked of the Father in Christ’s name” are that the disciple may be a vessel meet for the Master’s use, a branch pregnant with holy fruit; and there is therefore a deep and living correspondence between the bearing and the asking. Now here again is the operation of the Spirit, “the Spirit of grace and of supplications” (Zech. xii. 10). The prayer here meant is no mere devout performance of duty, the due utterance of an expression of reverence and dependence; it is “prayer in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20), who “maketh intercession for us … according to (the will) of God’ (Rom. viii. 26,27). It is the prayer of a heart filled with Him, and therefore filled with the humble but intense desire that His will may be done, and in particular that His implement may be used for His glory. Results of life, word, and work in answer to such prayer are “fruit that remaineth.” And indeed it is “fruit of the Spirit.”—H. C. G. Moule, Veni Creator

Be blessed bearing fruit!

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If you have read a book on Taylor’s life, you probably remember there was a time when his mother decided she would pray and seek for her son’s conversion until her prayer was answered. At the time she was away from home.

Hudson didn’t claim to be a Christian. He had tried to walk with God, but had repeatedly failed in his quest and therefore had given up on Christianity

On the same day his mom decided to pray, Hudson wandered into his father’s study. Because his father was a pastor, there was religious reading matter around, including a tract that caught his attention.

Describing his experience in his book Retrospect Taylor said the following:

“Little did I know at the time what was going on in the heart of my dear mother, seventy or eighty miles away. She rose from the dinner-table that afternoon with an intense yearning for the conversion of her boy, and feeling that—absent from home, and having more leisure than she could otherwise secure—a special opportunity was afforded her of pleading with GOD on my behalf. She went to her room and turned the key in the door, resolved not to leave that spot until her prayers were answered. Hour after hour did that dear mother plead for me, until at length she could pray no longer, but was constrained to praise GOD for that which His SPIRIT taught her had already been accomplished-the conversion of her only son.

“I in the meantime had been led in the way I have mentioned to take up this little tract, and while reading it was struck with the sentence, “The finished work of CHRIST.” The thought passed through my mind, “Why does the author use this expression? why not say the atoning or propitiatory work of CHRIST?” Immediately the words “It is finished” suggested themselves to my mind. What was finished? And I at once replied, “A full and perfect atonement and satisfaction for sin: the debt was paid by the Substitute; CHRIST died for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Then came the thought, “If the whole work was finished and the whole debt paid, what is there left for me to do?” And with this dawned the joyful conviction, as light was flashed into my soul by the HOLY SPIRIT, that there was nothing in the world to be done but to fall down on one’s knees, and accepting this SAVIOUR and His salvation, to praise Him for evermore. Thus while my dear mother was praising GOD on her knees in her chamber, I was praising Him in the old warehouse to which I had gone alone to read at my leisure this little book.”

I’ve always wondered what Taylor read exactly. Well I did. Here are the key words from a little tract entitled, “Poor Richard”:

(Poor Richard) “kept on saying, ‘I am in agony.’ He was then asked if he thought he was too bad for God to pardon him. After some thought he replied very emphatically, ‘No; I believe He will save me, some day!’ The text was then repeated to him, respecting Jesus (1 Peter 2:24): ‘Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.’ Poor Richard intently raised his head off from his pillow and exclaimed, ‘Then it is done!’ He was answered, ‘Yes, Jesus said, It is finished!’ He immediately cried out, ‘Then my sins are gone—my burden is gone. Precious Jesus—He died for sinners—He died for me as well as others.’ From that moment he began to praise God with a loud voice.”

I am grateful that the same God who led Hudson’s mother to pray that particular afternoon, also led to the tract being in his father’s study, and also led him to wander in and find it. Of course the question could be raised, would this have happened if she had not prayed. I don’t think so.

She isn’t the only mother who prayed of course. Other notables include Susanna Wesley—who prayed for her children and met with them weekly; Monica—Augustine’s mother, who wept more about her son’s spiritual death than most parents weep about the physical death of their children; and James Fraser’s mom—who he credited with turning the tide for his mission work among the Lisu people in China. I have heard that Zwingli’s mom also played a great role for her son. I am sure there are a host more but these great women actually played a huge role for God even though their praying might have seemed limited in the eyes of some people.

So thank you moms for your prayers. Please keep praying. You don’t know but your child may be the next Hudson Taylor who will bring a new tide of Christianity to some far off country, or a John Wesley who will bring sorely needed reformation to the church at home. Hopefully the rest of us will also join you praying.

You can read more about Hudson Taylor at a page devoted to his life at path2prayer.com

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04/26/10

Greetings!

Introduction: I have been busy!
Much time has passed since I have written and much has taken place. Seminars have been held in Calgary Canada and locally. They have gone well in all respects. While in Canada I also spent four hours sharing in a juvenile detention center. It was an awesome experience and one in which God greatly blessed. I have added many pages of resources to path2prayer.com, as well as audio from the Calgary series and from a witnessing seminar done locally. I have also started a path2prayer ministries page on facebook (http://facebook.com/path2prayer) that has grown to 406 people in three weeks. In the meantime I also continue teaching the course in the History of Christian Spirituality, which I count a great blessing and privilege. In a few days I head to London where I speak for two weeks in the Hamstead Church. Many have been praying for me, for which I am soooooo grateful. Yes, I have been busy. But God is very good! Thank you for your interest in what I am doing. Please continue praying!

Prevailing In Prayer: The Prayer of Faith

I’ve spent considerable time studying the prayer of faith, and posted ten articles so far, which you can find at this link on the prayer of faith. The concept and terminology come from James 5:15 where it speaks of the “prayer of faith” saving the sick and allowing God to raise the person up. Here are some significant points: 1. There is such a prayer. 2. It enables definite miraculous results that would not happen without such faith (Words such as “the Lord will raise him up” and “effective prayer” are used). 3. It anticipates a particular spiritual outcome on the person being prayed for (“confess your sins…that you may be healed”). 4. It is apparently offered in the context of a godly life (“effective prayer of a righteous man avails much”). 5. Elijah’ “earnest praying” is cited as an example of such a praying person.

The most helpful and encouraging thoughts in my study on the subject came from Charles Finney and Wesley Duewel.

Finney points out that faith is indispensable to obtaining answers (Mark 11:24), and asserts that we MUST believe the following if we are to obtain answers: (1) believe in the existence of God; and (2) that we will obtain an answer. Then he marks out when we can pray for with absolute confidence: (1) when God has specifically promised the thing (such as salvation of children); (2) when a general promise indicates God will act (such as growing wickedness); (3) when there is a prophetic declaration (of which there are many regarding our time in history); (4) when providence so indicates (where one notices people becoming open to the gospel for example); and (5) when the Spirit excites a strong desire to pray (there are many such examples of such prayer in history). Finney accordingly says, look to Scripture and see if anything is promised, and pray accordingly with great confidence. I know God won’t violate a person’s will, but we can ask God to bring compelling conviction upon the person we are praying for, for example.

Duewel points to the following by way of summary: (1) It is prayer totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit; (2) It is a prayer totally committed to seeing God’s answer realized; (3) It is a prayer willing to believe and prevail for God’s answer in a situation that is utterly impossible; (4) It is prayer that believes regardless of feelings or emotions; (5) It is prayer convinced that it is in accord with God’s highest will; (6) It is prayer so sure of God’s will that it will not accept denial of the answer; (7) It is eager to obey God in any way He leads so as to help hasten the answer; (8) It may include prayer warfare in resisting and routing Satan; (9) It is willing to pray through every detail of the answer or victory.

On Overcoming: Striking quotations!
Perhaps out of my interest in the prayer of faith, a series of quotations on the absolute faithfulness of God have greatly blessed me:

“Every year, I might say almost every day, I believe I seem to see more clearly how all the rest, and gladness, and power of the Christian life hinges on one thing, and that is, taking God at His Word—believing that He really means exactly what He says, and accepting the very words, in which He reveals His goodness and grace, without substituting others, or altering the precise moods or tenses, which He has seen fit to use.”—Frances Ridley Havergal (wrote Take My Life and Let It Be plus many books)

“In the simplest manner in which I am able to express it, faith is the assurance that what God has said in His Word is true; and that God will act according to what He has said in His Word. This assurance, this reliance on God’s Word, this confidence, is faith.”—George Muller (ran an orphanage in Bristol England)

“The core element in the act of faith is that in it, by which we step out and beyond the reach of the senses, or perception; beyond apprehended facts; beyond facts apprehensible by the senses, intuition, or demonstration, to equally veritable facts, cognizable only by faith. As the telescope enables us to bring within our vision and investigation worlds almost infinitely beyond the reach of unaided sight, so faith is an instrument by which we bring within the compass of cognition and experience the most wonderfully blessed facts in the realm of the invisible and spiritual.”—Eli Wigle (wrote a book on prevailing prayer)

“Is Jesus true? Does He mean what He says? Answer decidedly, Yes, every word. Then if you have settled this, by faith claim every promise that He has made, and receive the blessing; for this acceptance by faith gives life to the soul. You may believe that Jesus is true to you, even though you feel yourself to be the weakest and most unworthy of His children.”—E. G. White (Author of many books; one on the life of Christ, the Desire of Ages, is been cited among the most read books by pastors of all denominations)

“(Christ) may be grasped with weak or with strong faith. Weak faith belongs as much to Christ as strong. Whether a man is weak or strong of faith, he is Christ’s own just the same. The grace that is promised is common to all Christians and is eternal. On this, faith must rest, whether it be weak or strong.”—Johan Arndt, (a German Pietist; his book True Christianity greatly impacts modern church history)

“Oh, how true it is; all the waters of earth, how thirsty they leave us, or how soon we become thirsty again! “But,” continued our Master, there is something better, “whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst” — shall never thirst! It may have been the end of 1868 or the beginning of 1869 when I discovered that “shall” means “ shall,” and that “never “ means “ never,” and that “thirst” means “ thirst.” I can’t tell you how delighted I was, for I was so thirsty at the time. And so hungry and thirsty was I as the Spirit of God threw his own Divine light on those words, that I saw that “shall” means “shall,” and “never” means “never,” and “thirst” means “ thirst.” I leaped from my seat; I could not sit still. How I did praise God that the thirsty days were all past! Well, you know, it is only a little over twenty years since then, and they haven’t come back since; and twenty thousand years hence, when you and I meet up there, I shall have the same story to tell you. He has promised it to me and I believe it.”—Hudson Taylor (founder of the China Inland Mission)

Of course the challenge is obtaining that power on a practical basis. Many people know there is power and help available from God, but don’t know how to obtain for themselves. I once had the same challenge with electrical power for my computer, when I had forgotten to take an electrical adapter to England with me—the power was waiting in the wall for me, but I didn’t know how to get it out to my computer. In this regard the story of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20) is most instructive. When he heard that an overwhelming enemy was coming, he immediately began “seeking the Lord and proclaimed a fast” (vs. 3) Too many of us weary ourselves trying to figure out our own solutions to overwhelming problems instead of seeking God and His solutions. Jehoshaphat acknowledged that he had neither the means, nor the wisdom, to overcome (vs.12). God then intervened through a prophet who gave great encouragement and specific instruction (vs. 15-17). Jehoshaphat recognized the virtue of following the counsel of the godly prophet (vs. 20) and obeyed accordingly (vs. 21), and God set up ambushes which defeated the enemy (vs. 22). Once again, in what should have been a great calamity, God brought about great blessings that could not have come any other way (there were the (1) spoils of war that were too great to carry away; (2) a “fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries….” (3) and “the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for God gave him rest all around.”). You will be glad to know that God sent a person with knowledge to help me in England after I made my challenge a matter of prayer, just like God sent Jehoshaphat a prophet after he prayed.

The Wise Soul-Winner (Prov. 11:30): An Intentional Witnessing Lifestyle

I shared my thoughts on witnessing at a convention for business people in the last couple of weeks. I’ve been thinking about witnessing for many years now and have been learning all I can. It hasn’t hurt that the class in spirituality has caused me to read broadly on the subject. I am convinced that we all need to develop an intentional witnessing lifestyle. Listen to learn what I mean by the witnessing funnel. You can find my talk and related resources at path2prayer at this witnessing link.

Goals:
In previous newsletters I have suggested that we all need a prayer partner. How are you doing in that respect? What about the “each one reach one” witnessing goal? How about goals for a personal relationship with Jesus?

Travel Notes: The Trip to Calgary was Amazing!

My trip to Calgary was pretty amazing. When departing, upon entering O’Hare Airport I ask God to allow me to have a meaningful conversation with at least one person. To my amazement I ended up sitting down next to a person who regularly listens to my pastor on television. God definitely answered my prayer! I also was able to spend the day praying and meditating on my talk at the juvenile center in the Minneapolis Airport due to the plane arriving late from Chicago. God provided a perfect talk for the young adults based on the life of John Newton (he wrote the song Amazing Grace). I told the young adults that I wasn’t concerned about what had happened in the past, I was only concerned about what they would do in the future and that I wanted them to be my neighbors in heaven. They listened like lambs and the Spirit was very present. Several have since written me with specific spiritual questions. The seminar on how to prevail in prayer at the church also went extremely well. There was an excellent turnout every evening the whole week, and we were all aware that the Spirit was present. Since then I have received many notes of appreciation and stories of answered prayer. You can hear the audio from Calgary at this link in the audio resources section.

Here is one of those answers to prayer:
“I prayed a lot for my exams and had asked the prayer meeting group to pray for me as well. So today morning, while I was reviewing the course (Modern Chromatographic Analysis) I came on a diagram that describes injection of analyte (a chemical substance) using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. I felt some thing powerful saying that’s a question for exam! And I jumped up and said: Thank you Lord for giving this question. There were no doubt it was from the lord, for I had studied before and never paid much attention to that diagram. I mean this coarse is full of figures, graphics and diagrams, but somehow that one, today around 10 to 11 am (maybe somebody was praying for me) it stood out! Guess what, the same question was on the exam. ‘Draw the injector in HPLC and explain how it works’ I was shocked. We serve a powerful God.”

Service Opportunities: More than one way to serve.

I am pleased that some have taken up the call to serve in short-term or longer-term mission stints in various places in the world. Remember you can go two ways: (1) directly; (2) by supporting another person to go.

Coming Up: London
I head to London and the Hamstead Church (66 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2BE; 020 7482 5022 for information) this coming Thursday evening, where I will be speaking for two weeks. I begin speaking on Saturday May 1. I am sure I can get to London on time; I hope I can get back when I am suppose to since the volcano has caused some mischief in this regard.

Path2prayer.com:
Many resources have been added at the New Resources Link.

Please consider joining the path2prayer ministry page on facebook. Find it at this link on facebook. I tweet at path2prayer.

Here is another way of supporting this ministry: Add links to path2prayer.com to your personal blog or web site, or your church’s web site.

Communicating with me and Requests:
I always appreciate updates on how things are going.

Do you know friends who would benefit from this newsletter? Please have them write me in that regard.

A Prayer:
Father, thank you for what you are doing in our lives. Thank you that we have the privilege of serving you wherever you have planted us. Be with my friends, and help them learn how to pray as effectively as Elijah did. Thank you that there is every reason to be of good courage no matter what is going on. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen!

A Final Thought:
“The men who have done mighty things for God have always been mighty in prayer, have well understood the possibilities of prayer, and made most of the possibilities.”—E. M. Bounds

God bless you!

Dan

Dan Augsburger
Web: path2prayer.com
Facebook: facebook.com/path2prayer
Twitter: path2prayer
God’s will; nothing more, nothing less, nothing else!

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Here is God’s way of peace…

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, oh LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Ps. 4:8

“Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.” Ps. 34:15,16”

“Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace.” Ps. 37:37’

“The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.” Ps. 72:3

“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Ps. 119:165

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Prov. 16:7

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isa. 26:3

“Or let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.” Isa. 27:5

“The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” Isa. 32:17

“Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” Isa. 48:18

“There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” Isa. 48:22 (to the unrepentant wicked!)

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isa. 53:5

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isa. 54:13

“The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” Isa. 59:8

“The heart of Jesus was always at peace. His life was calm amid the storms of life…. The secrets of Jesus were the perpetual presence of God in His soul, and His never-faltering faith in the loving, careful providence of God in all the experiences of His checkered life. Can we not have this? We may if we are willing to pay the price. If we will surrender our will utterly to Him; if we will tear down every veil that might hide His face, and throw open our whole being to His indwelling and use; if we will cease scheming, planning, devising, and fall back on the absolute care and arrangements of God; if we will learn to reckon on God as absolutely as on any resourceful human friend; if we will dare to believe that God holds Himself responsible for the sustenance and equipment for duty of all who absolutely seek His glory—then ‘Our lives shall be full of sunshine, and the cares that infest the day… shall silently steal away.’”—F. B. Meyer

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03/05/10

Greetings!

Introduction:
I have been busy, traveling—to Edmonton, Lacombe and Calgary Alberta Canada, Toronto Canada, Hendersonville North Carolina and other locations; teaching church history, uploading many resources to path2prayer.com, and responding to emails. I know I haven’t done as well lately in responding to many of you, for which I am sorry. Be assured, I have not forgotten you, I have not stopped praying for you, nor have I been idle.

Some Encouraging Promises:
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19

“The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.” Ps. 23:1

“Blessed is he who considers the poor; the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness; you will sustain him on his sickbed.” Ps. 41:1-3

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Ps. 84:11

“The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.” Prov. 11:25

“But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:31,32

Upcoming Travel:
Week of Prayer: Calgary Central Church, Calgary (AB, Canada), March 14-19
Witnessing Class: Lake Union ASI Chapter Meeting in Southwestern, MI, April 16
Prayer and Revival Meetings: Hampstead Church, London, England, May 1-15
Prayer Seminar: Indiana Camp Meeting, June 14-18
Prayer and Revival Seminars: South Pacific (July or August)

New Resources:
Path2prayer.com has many new resources!
Choosing A Text and Preaching by George Muller (http://path2prayer.com/article.php?id=819).
There are also entire pages of resources by great Christians:
Andrew Murray: http://path2prayer.com/article.php?id=773
Hudson Taylor: http://path2prayer.com/article.php?id=793
Theodore Monod: http://path2prayer.com/article.php?id=738#Theodore_Monod
Frances Ridley Havergal: http://path2prayer.com/article.php?id=791
Mary Lyon’s Educational Methods: http://path2prayer.com/article.php?id=782

These are just a few of the hundreds of resources that are to be found at path2prayer.com.

During the course of my travels I have learned about extending prayer in the church, I have been encouraging new ways to pray and observed answers to prayer first hand.

New Ways to Pray:
We call it “Collective Praying” locally, and it refers to a form of group praying where one person facilitates the praying of many mini, one item, prayers, in a sequence of topics starting with adoration, then confessing, then thanking God for the good things He has been doing, and concluding with supplication. It is easy to remember the progression if you think of the book of “ACTS.” Even families are picking up on this since it allows all the members of a family to easily participate regardless of prior experience with prayer. In our larger prayer meetings locally, people divide into groups of five or six and one person leads all the groups from the front. which allows many groups of people to pray together in a concert of prayer. You can find more information on this kind of praying at the Collective Conversational Prayer link.

New Ways of Connecting in Prayer:
While in Edmonton, I met Allen who promotes prayer in a unique way in his church in Toronto: He has written the name and phone number of each member of his church on a separate prayer card, and gives these cards to each member when they leave church. The members are encouraged to call the person listed on the card to find out how he or she can be prayed for. The members bring back the cards to church the next weekend, turn in the cards, and then are given a different card when they leave. This is a great idea and we are using it in our church. Thank you Allen for this good idea!

The Value of Testimonies:
On these trips attendees were encouraged to share how God was answering prayers. They did. The sharing of these testimonies led to more praying, and resulted in more answers to prayer. Please prominently feature testimonies in your midweek services and at church if possible.

Some Testimonies…

In Edmonton:
Glory was not doing well at work and greatly feared losing her job. So we made it a matter of specific prayer. Notice what she wrote: “I prayed and started working. I did better. The whole day my main manager didn’t come. In the evening he returned and started observing me. He came and told me “this is your test order.” I made a mistake again. Then God worked on his mind and he observed me again and found I did well. The whole day I did well and did not get nervous. At the end of the day an amazing thing happened. A customer called my second manager and said in front of me, ‘This girl is very good I am very pleased with her customer service, you should know it and I want you to inform your main Manager.’ Then he thanked me. I was so glad for that. A few hours later another customer came and called the same manager and took him aside and talked. When the manager returned I asked him, ‘Did I make any mistake?’ He told me – ‘No. It was the second compliment about you.’ My tears came out. It’s really amazing; my living God did it for me.” I have since received the following email: “Hi Dan. We are doing wonderfully. How are you? I’m working well. It’s time to thank God for answering our prayer. Thank you for your prayers.”

In Lacombe:
One of the students attending the prayer meetings told us she was doing poorly in calculus and requested that we pray for her. We did. The next day she returned with a smile on her face and a wonderful testimony of answered prayer. She shared how she had almost not come to prayer meeting because she needed to study for a calculus mini exam. But remembering that skipping prayer meetings had never helped in the past—her grades had not improved as a result of skipping prayer meetings in the past—she had come regardless. Hearing other testimonies, she had requested prayer and left believing that God was going to hear her prayer. Here is her instructive testimony:

“During Dan’s first few meetings I realized I needed to pray specifically and not be hesitant to ask according to God’s will.  Also once asking to wait with expectancy, knowing Jesus has heard me! I’d been thinking about how I pray, asking God for help, particularly with Calculus, and although from the many stories I knew God had heard and could answer, I didn’t think He actually would/will—the story is not finished yet.  In the meeting on the first, I saw how I’d been thinking and that it was wrong!  So I chose to take God at His Word, and believe He had heard my prayers (and Christie and Dan’s), and that He would help me do very well on the quiz the next morning so that I would pass the class. After I came back from the evening meeting I felt very awake.  Studying didn’t seem to usually help in calculus.  But I didn’t feel right not studying and expecting God to answer my prayer.  As I studied I asked God to help me by making me tired when I should stop and go to bed, so that I would still get enough sleep.  He did. The next morning I went to the 7:40 class.  Our teacher let us take the quiz at our later 1:15 PM class that day.  Praise God!  So I was able to study during my spare period.  I couldn’t figure out one particular practice question.  When the time came for the quiz I’d only studied for 2 of the 3 chapters.  On the quiz there were 3 questions, one from each chapter, and we were to answer any 2!  Praise God again!  I did the ones I’d studied for.  One of the questions was like the one I’d been trying to answer while studying but couldn’t get.  I felt I did really well for the 1st time, but I had to wait for the next class to find out.  When I finished writing the quiz I kept smiling to myself during the lecture because I knew God had heard and helped.  It was so different than the last quiz, which caused me to feel so bad that I could hardly concentrate the rest of the class. Later that afternoon I tried that same question again and I couldn’t get it.  To me this was evidence that God gave me wisdom and understanding during the quiz.  I also did as was suggested in the meetings: prayed over every question. Friday morning I got my quiz back and I made 2 minor errors, but I WAS GIVEN 100%!  God answers prayer! I am so excited!

Southern Indiana:
While in southern Indiana I had the opportunity to hear prayer stories shared by an older saint. During our time together, he spoke of his wife asking God to get his attention and his business burning to the ground as a result; and of another time when his horses escaped their pasture, but came back in answer to prayer.

Here at home:
I was contacted about praying for a gentleman’s wife who needed a score of 91% for a course. Two days ago a note arrived: She scored 91%! Yes God is answering prayers in wonderful and sometimes dramatic ways. I hope you are still praying!

A Testimony from Hudson Taylor:
Here is a testimony from Hudson Taylor the founder of the China Inland Mission, who worked under very difficult circumstances and far from any banks or cash machines:

“Many seem to think that I am very poor. This certainly is true enough in one sense, but I thank God it is “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.” And my God shall supply all my need; to Him be all the glory. I would not, if I could, be otherwise than I am—entirely dependent myself upon the Lord, and used as a channel of help to others.

“On Saturday, November 4, our regular home mail arrived. That morning we supplied, as usual, a breakfast to the destitute poor, who came to the number of seventy. Sometimes they do not reach forty, at other times exceeding eighty. They come to us everyday, Lord’s Day excepted, for then we cannot manage to attend to them and get through all our other duties too. Well, on that Saturday morning we paid all expenses, and provided ourselves for the morrow, after which we had not a single dollar left between us. How the Lord was going to provide for Monday we knew not; but over our mantelpiece hung two scrolls in the Chinese character—Ebenezer, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”; and Jehovah-Jireh, “The Lord will provide”—and He kept us from doubting for a moment. That very day the mail came in, a week sooner than was expected, and Mr. Jones received a bill [a check] for $214. We thanked God and took courage. The bill was taken to a merchant and although there is usually a delay of several days in getting the change, this time he said, “Send down on Monday.” We sent, and though he had not been able to buy all the dollars, he let us have seventy on account; so all was well. Oh, it is sweet to live thus directly dependent upon the Lord, who never fails us!

“On Monday the poor had their breakfast as usual, for we had not told them not to come, being assured that it was the Lord’s work, and that the Lord would provide. We could not help our eyes filling with tears of gratitude when we saw not only our own needs supplied, but the widow and the orphan, the blind and the lame, the friendless and the destitute, together provided for by the bounty of Him who feeds the ravens. “O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together… Taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Oh fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing”—and if not good, why want it?

“But even $200 cannot last forever, and by New Year’s Day supplies were again getting low. At last, on January 6, 1858, only one solitary cash remained—the twentieth part of a penny—in the joint possession of Mr. Jones and myself; but though tried we looked to God once again to manifest His gracious care. Enough provision was found in the house to supply a meager breakfast; after which, having neither food for the rest of the day, nor money to buy any, we could only betake ourselves to Him who was able to supply all our need with the petition, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

“After prayer and deliberation we thought that perhaps we ought to dispose of something we possessed in order to meet our immediate requirements. But on looking round we saw nothing that we could well spare, and little that the Chinese would purchase for ready money. Credit to any extent we might have had, could we conscientiously have availed ourselves of it, but this we felt to be unscriptural in itself, as well as inconsistent with the position we were in. We had, indeed, one article—an iron stove—which we knew the Chinese would readily purchase; but we much regretted the necessity of parting with it. At length, however, we set out to the founder’s, and after a walk of some distance came to the river, which we had intended to cross by a floating bridge of boats; but here the Lord shut up our path. The bridge had been carried away during the preceding night, and the river was only passable by means of a ferry, the fare for which was two cash each person. As we only possessed one cash, our course clearly was to return and await God’s own interposition on our behalf.

“Upon reaching home, we found that Mrs. Jones had gone with the children to dine at a friend’s house, in accordance with an invitation accepted some days previously. Mr. Jones, though himself included in the invitation, refused now to go and leave me to fast alone. So we set to work and carefully searched the cupboards; and though there was nothing to eat, we found a small packet of cocoa, which, with a little hot water, somewhat revived us. After this we again cried to the Lord in our trouble, and the Lord heard and saved us out of all our distresses. While we were still upon our knees a letter arrived from England containing a remittance.

“This timely supply not only met the immediate and urgent need of the day; for in the assured confidence that God, whose we were and whom we served, would not put to shame those whose whole and only trust was in Himself, my marriage had been previously arranged to take place just fourteen days after this date. And this expectation was not disappointed; for “the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed.” And although during subsequent years our faith was often exercised, and sometimes severely, He ever proved faithful to His promise, and never suffered us to lack any good thing. “And if not good, why want it?”

Some Instructive Words from George Muller:
“Only let it be trust in God, not in man, not in circumstances, not in any of your own exertions, but real trust in God, and you will be helped in your various necessities… Not in circumstances, not in natural prospects, not in former donors, but solely in God. This is just that which brings the blessing. If we say we trust in Him, but in reality do not, then God, taking us at our word, lets us see that we do not really confide in Him; and hence failure arises. On the other hand, if our trust in the Lord is real, help will surely come. ‘According unto thy faith be it unto thee.’ It is a source of deep sorrow to me, that, notwithstanding my having so many times before referred to this point, thereby to encourage believers in the Lord Jesus, to roll all their cares upon God, and to trust in Him at all times, it is yet, by so many, put down to mere natural causes, that I am helped; as if the Living God were no more the Living God, and as if in former ages answers to prayer might have been expected, but that in the nineteenth century they must not be looked for.”

“While we have often been brought low, yea, so low that we have not had even as much as a single penny left, or so as to have the last bread on the table, and not as much money as was needed to buy another loaf, yet never have we had to sit down to a meal without our good Lord having provided nourishing food for us. I am bound to state this, and I do it with pleasure. My Master has been a kind Master to me, and if I had to choose this day again as to the way of living, the Lord giving me grace, I would not choose differently.”

“Sometimes I found children of God tried in mind by the prospect of old age, when they might be unable to work any longer, and therefore were harassed by the fear of having to go into the poorhouse. If in such a case I pointed out to them, how their Heavenly Father has always helped those who put their trust in Him, they might not, perhaps, always say, that times have changed; but yet it was evident enough, that God was not looked upon by them as the LIVING God. My spirit was oft times bowed down by this, and I longed to set something before the children of God, whereby they might see, that He does not forsake, even in our day, those who rely upon Him.”

“The child of God ought not to have a single care about anything. Not even the poor woman who has a drunken husband ought to have a single anxiety about him. Everything should be taken to the Lord, and left there. If we began to carry our own burdens, the Lord would add to them. If we had a pound-weight of care, and carried it ourselves, the Lord would make it ten pounds, and go on increasing the weight till it crushed us, and, overwhelmed by our trouble, we should be obliged at last to cast it upon Him.”

Service Opportunities:
Many mission and not for-profit organizations are in need of our financial support these days, and there is always a need for volunteers. “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.” Prov. 11:25

A Prayer:

Father, I am glad you are still in charge of this world. Thank you for having a purpose for my friend. Show yourself faithful in every way, providing the resources, work, love, and blessed relationships, and whatever else is need; and most of all, a close and wonderful relationship with you. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Final Thought:
“The men who have done mighty things for God have always been mighty in prayer, have well understood the possibilities of prayer, and made most of the possibilities.”—E. M. Bounds

Find more on prayer at path2prayer.com

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Charles Spurgeon makes the following interesting statement about united prayer:

“It has pleased God to make prayer the abounding and rejoicing river through which most of our choice mercies flow to us. It is the golden key which unlocks the well-stored granaries of our heavenly Joseph. As many mercies are conveyed from Heaven in the ship of prayer, so there are many choice and special favors which can only be brought to us by the fleets of united prayer.”

Do you agree? From what I observe at many prayer meetings, I am not so sure many agree! That is sad, for it is true that many of God’s choicest blessings come as we unite praying together.

This statement comes from a wonderful sermon where he speaks to the need for united praying and praising, and points out that praying for pastors is especially called for when we are praying together.

He also strongly believed that all of God’s children could  and should pray:

“We cannot all preach. We cannot all rule. We cannot all give gold and silver-but we can all contribute our prayers. There is no convert, though he is but two or three days old in Divine Grace, but can pray. There is no bedridden Sister in Jesus who cannot pray. There is no sick, aged, imbecile, obscure, illiterate, or penniless Believer who cannot add his supplications to the general stock. This is the Church’s riches. We put boxes at the door that we may receive your offerings to God’s cause-remember there is a spiritual chest within the Church into which we should all drop our loving intercessions, as into the treasury of the Lord. Even the widow without her two mites can give her offering to this treasury. See, then, dear Friends, what union and communion there are among the people of God, since there are certain mercies which are only bestowed while the saints unitedly pray.”

Spurgeon, by the way, is one of my favorite authors when it comes to prayer. He was considered one of the greatest preachers that ever lived, and preached at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in Newington (London) England.

You can read the rest of his sermon on United Praying and Praising at path2prayer.com.

You can also find a handout to use at your midweek prayer service at path2prayer.com.

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“Ask of Me and I will give….” Ps. 8:2

For the praying saints of the past, their faith in prayer was not a passing attitude that changed with the wind or with their own feelings and circumstances, they were confident that God always heard and answered, that His ear was always open to the cry of His children, and that the power to do what was asked of Him was equal to His willingness…. Everything was possible to the men and women who knew how to pray, and it is still possible today. Prayer, indeed, opened a limitless storehouse, and God’s hand withheld nothing. Prayer introduced those who practiced it into a world of privilege, and brought the strength and wealth of heaven down to the aid of finite man. What rich and wonderful power they had who learned the secret of victorious approach to God! With Moses it saved a nation; with Ezra it saved a church.

And yet, strange as it seems when we contemplate the wonders of which God’s people had been witnesses, they became slack in prayer. The mighty hold upon God, which had so often struck awe and terror into the hearts of their enemies, lost its grip. The people, backslidden and apostate, had gone off from their praying-if the bulk of them had ever truly prayed.

In vain had the decree established the divine order, the divine call, ‘Ask of Me.’ From their earnest and fruitful crying to God, the Israelites turned their faces to pagan gods and cried in vain for the answers that could never come. Thus they sank into that godless and pitiful state in which they lost their purpose in life, because the link with the Eternal had been broken. Their favored dispensation of prayer was forgotten; they no longer knew how to pray.

What is the solution in our day? Ask!—E. M. Bounds

Learn more about prayer at path2prayer.com

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“Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.” Hosea 7:8

In the past centuries God often used letters to bring great blessings to His children. Among famous letter writers were John Newton, Fenelon, Gerhard Tersteegen and Samuel Rutherford.

The following comes from a letter by Samuel Rutherford who was a non-conformist Scottish Puritan, who was banished from Edinburgh for refusing to comply with the dictates of the ruling prelates, and forced to live in Aberdeen where he was not allowed to preach. The banishment was not welcomed and hard to endure, but in his difficulties he discovered an understanding of God and His ways that would not have been possible in any other context. In this letter he extolls God’s gracious care and blessing in his “confinement,” concluding that his prison had “neither lock nor door.” This was obviously true since he was free to move about, but he was speaking to the greater reality of God not only bringing blessings no matter what was going on, but also God bringing special blessings. Eventually Rutherford was condemned to death for his non-conformist views, but he was spared the execution, for he died of illness before it was carried out. However, he was looking forward to dying for Jesus. I think we need to adopt Rutherford’s attitude towards our trials and begin viewing them through the lens of God’s love and perfect keeping, for our situations have “neither lock nor door” in our day.

Rutherford’s letter…

Dear Brother:

I never believed, till now, that there was so much to be found in Christ on this side of death and of heaven. Oh, the ravishments of heavenly joy that may be had here, in the small gleanings of comforts that fall from Christ! “What fools are we who know not, and consider not the weight and the telling that is in the very earnest-penny, and the first fruits of our hoped-for harvest! How sweet, how sweet is our infeftment (old Scottish word referring to taking possession of property, in this case of the blessings found in Christ)! Oh, what then must personal possession be!

I find that my Lord Jesus hath not miscooked or spilled this sweet cross; He hath an eye on the fire and the melting gold, to separate the metal and the dross. Oh how much time would it take me to read my obligations to Jesus my Lord, who will neither have the faith of His own to be burnt to ashes, nor yet will have a poor believer in the fire to be half raw, like Ephraim’s unturned cake! This is the wisdom of Him who hath His fire in Zion, and furnace in Jerusalem. I need not either bud or flatter temptations and crosses, nor strive to buy the devil or this malicious world by, or redeem their kindness with half a hairbreadth of truth. He who is surety for His servant for good doth powerfully overrule all that. I see my prison hath neither lock nor door: I am free in my bonds, and my chains are made of rotten straw; they shall not bide one pull of faith…. Therefore we wrong Christ who sigh, and fear, and doubt, and despond in them. Our sufferings are washed in Christ’s blood, as well as our souls; for Christ’s merits brought a blessing to the crosses of the sons of God. And Jesus hath a back-bond of all our temptations, that the free-warders shall come out by law and justice, in respect of the infinite and great sum that the Redeemer paid….

I bless the Lord, that all our troubles come through Christ’s fingers, and that He casteth sugar among them, and casteth in some ounce-weights of heaven, and of the Spirit of glory that resteth on suffering believers, into our cup, in which there is no taste of hell.

My dear brother, ye know all these better than I. I send water to the sea, to speak of these things to you; but it easeth me to desire you to help me to pay my tribute of praise to Jesus. Oh what praises I owe Him! I would I were in my free heritage, that I might begin to pay my debts to Jesus. I entreat for your prayers and praises. I forget not you.

Your brother and fellow-sufferer in and for Christ,
Samuel Rutherford,
Aberdeen, Sept. 17, 1637

Read the rest of Rutherford’s letter and more articles on how to endure trials at path2prayer.com.

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Here’s some more poetry from my friend E. Toni Doswell. I can only say, by God’s grace, ME TOO!

I Just Want To Make It Home

I’m tired, been on this journey a long, long, time.
I just want to make it on Home.
I’m too far away to see the kitchen lights aglow.
But close enough to see the tiny path that leads there.
A path where many worn and torn adventurers have walked,
Bravely carrying the cross of Prince Emmanuel.

I’ve been buffeted, slapped, whipped, bruised and beaten,
But I continue on.
The prize is too great to even think about turning back.
Yes, I just want to make it Home.

This world jostles you like a wild horse on a mountain range.
No matter which way you go, it’s designed to keep you on your back.
But I hear the bells from afar ringing from the pearly gates.
And I just want to make it Home.

There’s been a lot of criticism lately— well– there always has been.
Skeptics who don’t believe that such a place exists.
They have their scientific reasons all mathematically calculated,
But somehow the batteries in their calculators are all down.
Even their pens have run out of ink and their pencils are dull.
From my calculations, it’s through the opening in the distant constellation Orion
That I see Home.

I ask you not to try to pull me back.
Don’t try to twist my arm to return back into this world of sin of deceit.
Ain’t nothing to be gained by that trick.
I got my eye on Home, and you can’t make me quit.

The gates there are pearly. The streets are gold.  The walls of precious stones and jasper do exist.
Ain’t nothing like Home.
I got a mansion there, not fashioned with the hands of men.
My Father called me to take this journey a long time ago.
I just can’t wait to see it all when I go Home.

My steps are slower now than when I first started.
My head is gray and the strands are few.
But Home is still in my head, fresh as ever.
And I’m still trudging on.

Goin to make it—- Yes!
Can’t be shaken — Yes!
Battle scarred, tired and weary — Yes!
But I’m going to make it Home.  — YES!

Written 1/12/2010

Read more of Toni’s poetry at her page at path2prayer.com

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