I. The Meaning And Mission Of Prayer

1.  Prayer the Greatest Outlet of Power. 2.  Prayer the Deciding Factor in a Spirit Conflict. 3.  The Earth, the Battle-Field in Prayer. 4.  Does Prayer Influence God?

Prayer the Greatest Outlet of Power

Five Outlets of Power.

A great sorrow has come into the heart of God.  Let it be told only in hushed voice—­one of His worlds is a prodigal!  Hush your voice yet more—­ours is that prodigal world.  Let your voice soften down still more—­we have consented to the prodigal part of the story.  But, in softest tones yet, He has won some of us back with His strong tender love.  And now let the voice ring out with great gladness—­we won ones may be the pathway back to God for the others.  That is His earnest desire.  That should be our dominant ambition.  For that purpose He has endowed us with peculiar power.

There is one inlet of power in the life—­anybody’s life—­any kind of power:  just one inlet—­the Holy Spirit.  He is power.  He is in every one who opens his door to God.  He eagerly enters every open door.  He comes in by our invitation and consent.  His presence within is the vital thing.

But with many of us while He is in, He is not in control:  in as guest; not as host.  That is to say He is hindered in His natural movements; tied up, so that He cannot do what He would.  And so we are not conscious or only partially conscious of His presence.  And others are still less so.  But to yield to His mastery, to cultivate His friendship, to give Him full swing—­that will result in what is called power.  One inlet of power—­the Holy Spirit in control.

There are five outlets of power:  five avenues through which this One within shows Himself, and reveals His power.

First:  through the life, what we are.  Just simply what we are.  If we be right the power of God will be constantly flowing out, though we be not conscious of it.  It throws the keenest kind of emphasis on a man being right in his life.  There will be an eager desire to serve.  Yet we may constantly do more in what we are than in what we do.  We may serve better in the lives we live than in the best service we ever give.  The memory of that should bring rest to your spirit when a bit tired, and may be disheartened because tired.

Second:  through the lips, what we say.  It may be said stammeringly and falteringly.  But if said your best with the desire to please the Master it will be God-blest.  I have heard a man talk.  And he stuttered and blushed and got his grammar badly tangled, but my heart burned as I listened.  And I have heard a man talk with smooth speech, and it rolled off me as easily as it rolled out of him.  Do your best, and leave the rest.  If we are in touch with God His fire burns whether the tongue stammer or has good control of its powers.