August 28, 2010
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"You have hindered God's work by your want of prayer." (from M'Cheyne's 8th Pastoral Letter)
Once again I'd like to bring you something from M'Cheyne. As way of background ~ M'Cheyne wrote a series of ten Pastoral Letters during the time he was away from his flock at St. Peter's, Dundee (initially for a few months due to illness, during which time he sensed God's call to go on mission to the Jews, and then he was gone for a period of eight months after that on mission, before returning to Scotland). (As an aside, this is a reminder how God desires to use us regardless of where we are; I've found what I've read of these letters so encouraging!)
In his Eighth Pastoral Letter, subtitled "Warnings to the unsaved—Causes why so many among us are unsaved," Robert Murray M'Cheyne first addresses his own sins and shortcomings as a minister after which he addresses his flock. His second point in that section of the letter dealt with his people's want of prayer. I think these words are a much-needed exhortation to the Church of God today.
... You have hindered God's work by your want of prayer. When God gives grace to souls, it is in answer to the prayers of His children. You will see this, on the Day of Pentecost, Acts ii. Ezek. xxxvii. 9 shews, that in answer to the prayer of a single child of God, God will give grace to a whole valley full of dry and prayerless bones. Where God puts it into the heart of His children to pray, it is certain that He is going to pour down His Spirit in abundance. Now, where have been your prayers, O children of God ? The salvation of those around you depends on your asking, and yet " hitherto ye have asked nothing in Christ's name." Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers keep not silence, and give Him no rest. Alas ! you have given God much rest— you have allowed His hand to remain unplucked out of his bosom. It is said of John Welsh, minister of Ayr, that he used always to sleep with a plaid upon his bed, that he might wrap it around him when he arose in the night to pray. He used to spend whole nights in wrestling with God for Zion, and for the purity of the Church of Scotland ; and he wondered how Christians could lie all night in bed without rising to pray. Oh! we have few Welshes now, therefore our Church is so dim, and our land a barren wilderness. Dear Christians, I often think it strange that ever we should be in heaven, and so many in hell through our soul-destroying carelessness. The good Lord pardon the past, and stir you up for the future. I learn that you are more stirred up to pray since I left, both in secret and unitedly. God grant it be so. Continue in it, dear children. Do not let it slip again. Plead and wrestle with God, shewing him that the cause is his own, and that it is all for his own glory to arise and have mercy upon Zion.* * *Isaiah 62:
1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
and her salvation as a burning torch.
2 The nations shall see your righteousness,
and all the kings your glory,
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will give.
3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the LORD delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
5 For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your sons marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.
6 On your walls, O Jerusalem,
I have set watchmen;
all the day and all the night
they shall never be silent.
You who put the LORD in remembrance,
take no rest,
7 and give him no rest
until he establishes Jerusalem
and makes it a praise in the earth.Holy Father, We confess how often we have left off in prayer. We confess we do not give You peace nor rest. Prayer is a privilege and a responsibility and a calling of all Your children. Your Son gave His body and blood so we might be given entrance to Your throne room. The Lord Jesus Christ made the way into the Holy of Holies so we might go there with Him also. He continues to intercede for us today without ceasing. Your Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Lord God, Forgive us for not availing ourselves of this blessed birthright of prayer.
Holy Father, Forgive us for being lukewarm and complacent. Forgive us for being cold and uncaring. We confess that we are so hot and engaged in worldly pursuits. Yet, where is that same fire and engagement in heavenly pursuits? Cleanse and purify our hearts, our minds and our desires so we might have a greater passion for Your cause and Your glory. We confess how we are so often self-centered, concerned about our own causes and our own glory, ready to do just about anything for self-interest. We confess how little we are concerned about Your cause and Your glory: the saving of many souls from all nations through Jesus Christ to Your glory. We confess that our own self-interests consume us more than passion for Your cause and Your glory. Forgive us and cleanse us from us selfishness. You saved us so we might not walk according to our own lusts but to Your good, acceptable and perfect will. Send Your Holy Fire to consume us afresh and anew with a passion for Your cause and Your glory.
Holy Father, Send Your Spirit to cleanse and purify our hearts, our minds and our desires so we might have a greater passion for intercessory prayer. Forgive us that we have hindered Your work by our want of prayer. Help us to be zealous for Your cause and Your glory. Help us to plead and wrestle with You for Zion without ceasing – for lost souls, for lukewarm souls, for our own souls. How often do we plead and wrestle for our own earthly, fleshly interests! Forgive us for having such impure thoughts and desires. May we be a bright and shining torch again, a city upon a hill, to which many nations will see Your light, righteousness and glory and stream there so they might seek and know You and the joy of Your salvation.
Holy Father, Stir us up so we might pray without ceasing for Your cause and Your glory. Stir us up out of our beds. Stir us up in our homes. Stir us up in our church buildings. Stir us up as we walk. Stir us up as we sit. Stir us up wherever we are. Stir us up all the day. Stir us up all the night. Stir us up so we cannot keep silent but continue importunate in prayer. Stir us up to Your cause and Your glory. How can we be content unless we are united with Your mind and heart in this desire? Have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon Zion. Have mercy upon Your Church. Have mercy upon our dry and prayerless bones! Breathe life into us, Holy Spirit, so prayers might rise as incense to Your throne once again for Your good pleasure. Amen.
Please add your own PRAYERS as God's Spirit leads you.
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