The big test of faith always seems to hit when time drags on
and on, and we still don’t see God working. Will we hold on and persevere, even
then? Inspiration tells us, “I asked the angel why there was no more faith and power
in Israel. He said, “Ye let go of the arm of the Lord
too soon. Press your petitions to the
throne, and hold on by strong faith. The promises are sure. Believe
ye receive the things ye ask
for, and ye shall have them.” I was then pointed to Elijah. He was subject to like passions as we
are, and he prayed earnestly.
His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed
before the Lord, and at last the cloud was seen. I saw that we [have] doubted the sure promises, and
wounded the Saviour by our lack
of faith.”[i]
Prayer, persistent
persevering faith-inspired prayer that sees breakthroughs, is our most
important work. But you know why more people don’t pray? It’s because true
prayer is such hard work. It’s easier to work then pray. And so we continue to work
in our own strength, rejoicing when one or two, or a few, come to Christ. When
if we would be on our faces before God in prayer, He would do the work, and it
would be in His strength, and we would see thousands converted where today
there are only a few! However, God wants to raise up another generation of
Elijah’s, of Abrahams, of Esther’s, that when perceiving the need of the church
and nation, will stand in the gap and pray.
“It was because Elijah was a man of large
faith that God could use him in this grave crisis in the history of Israel. As he prayed, his faith reached out and grasped the
promises of Heaven, and he
persevered in prayer until his petitions were answered. He did not wait for the
full evidence that God had heard him, but was willing to venture all on the
slightest token of divine favor.
And yet what he was enabled to do under God, all may do in their sphere of activity in God’s service… Faith such as this is needed in
the world today—faith that will lay hold on the promises of God’s Word and
refuse to let go until Heaven hears.”[ii]
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