Today being July 4, here in the United States, there's a lot of talk about freedom and liberty. My dear Christian brothers and sisters, we certainly should be thankful to God for the civil and political liberties we do have at the present time. –– But what about the spiritual freedoms we have been granted through Christ Jesus for us whose citizenship is in heaven? Are we not largely ignorant of many of those freedoms, and therefore unable to take full advantage of and savor and enjoy those freedoms our Lord purchased for us through His blood at Calvary?
One precious and paramount freedom we have been granted is access to the throne of God through the blood of Jesus, by His flesh. The Lord Jesus Christ –– our Great High Priest, Mediator, and Advocate –– has atoned for all our sins and washed away all our guilt through one sacrifice once forever, so we might be reconciled to God and draw near to God through Him. We were once sons of disobedience, but we are all now sons of God through faith in Christ! (Gal. 3:26)! "Beloved, we are God's children now...!" (I John 3:2a).
Ephesians 2:18 For through him [Christ Jesus] we [Jew and Gentile] both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Ephesians 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Hebrews 4:14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
In addition, do we understand that the Spirit of God is made available to us so we might enjoy "childlike freedom and confidence in prayer" (in the words of Susanna Anthony)? Or, are we still mostly ignorant of the workings of God's Holy Spirit? Do we continue to rely on the arm of the flesh as we pray, rather than pleading for the Spirit's supernatural endowment to help us to pray? Are we in danger of squandering God's grace, and quenching and grieving His Holy Spirit?
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
On my naphtali_deer website, I've included a few excerpts from the writings of Susanna Anthony (1726-1791) (see here). The Rev. Edward Dorr Griffin was rebuked, convicted and challenged as he read Miss Anthony's prayers. He wrote:
"Thus I have stopped at the threshold, without getting into the temple..."
Reference: "Memoir of the Rev. Edward D. Griffin, D.D., Compiled Chiefly from His Own Writings" by Edward D. Griffin & William Buell Sprague (New York: Taylor & Dodd, 1839), reprinted in 1987 by Banner of Truth Trust, 30. HT for the text: http://books.google.com/books?id=JbAEAAAAYAAJ)
Here's an experience of Miss Anthony's that should rebuke, convict and challenge each one of us as well:
Sept. 8 [1762]. Blessed be God for that gracious access he allows me; though, for the most part, when I begin prayer, I know not what to say, or ask, as though I had no words or desires. But, glory to the blessed Spirit, who ordinarily helps my infirmity, and engages my heart. This night it came to my turn to pray with his dear handmaids. But O I knew not what to say; and a pain in my head seemed to unfit me. But I dared not refuse; though I expected great straitness. I begged assistance; yet I feared the desire might rise from pride: and, therefore, I hope, submitted to God. But O how gracious was God to me: what kind access! What desires did he put in my heart, and arguments in my mouth! I seemed to find a childlike freedom and confidence. My requests were chiefly for Zion; the glory of God; the interest of Christ; the salvation of souls; and the strength and refreshment of saints. Surely the blessed God put strength in me, that I might plead with him. O methinks God was in this place; and I trust others could say so too. Glory to God.*
* Some account of this society of women: and of her praying with them, is given, page 7.
(147)
Here's the account of that society of women:
Before she was sixteen years old, she [Miss Anthony] joined a society of women, who met once every week, for prayer, reading, and religious conversation; and who devoted the afternoon, once in a month to this exercise [of secret fasting and prayer]; and spent at least four whole days a year, in fasting and prayer together. Of this society she was a distinguished member, as long as she lived; by whom she was greatly beloved and esteemed; and they received much comfort and edification from her conversation and prayers. In the latter, especially, she was distinguishedly eminent; and, at particular times, had such enlargement and access to the throne of grace, that she would pray an hour and a half, or more, with such engagedness and fervency, without any repetition, with a flow of words expressing the most pertinent and affecting ideas, and with such a natural connexion, and progression from one to another, that none who joined with her would appear to be tired, but all pleased, affected and edified: and felt a consciousness that none could have an adequate idea of what passed at such times, who were not present, as a full description of the holy fervor, the clear view of invisible things, and that nearness to God, while she poured out her heart before him, which she discovered, cannot be made by any narration of them.
(7)
Reference: "The Life and Character of Miss Susanna Anthony. Who Died, in Newport, (R I.) June 23, 1791, in the 65th year of her age. Consisting Chiefly in Extracts from Her Writings, with Some Brief Observations on Them." Complied by Samuel Hopkins, Second Edition. (Portland, Maine: Lyman, Hall & Co. 1810), 147, 7. (HT for the text: http://books.google.com/books?id=YO0QAAAAYAAJ). Emphasis mine.
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Holy Father, our Father, Abba! Father! Open the eyes of our understanding to experientially know the boldness and access that is ours as children of God by grace through faith in Your Son Jesus Christ. May we not receive Your grace in vain, and may our prayers not be in vain. Blessed God, strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit, that we might be humbled and become as little children and importunately beg Your Spirit's assistance to pray. We confess that we do not know what we should pray for as we ought. Holy Spirit, help us in our weakness and infirmity, and engage our hearts. Almighty God, put strength in us, that we might plead with You to Your glory. Lord, teach us to pray. May our wills be conformed to Yours, and our desires melted into Yours. Impart to our hearts holy desires, and put into our mouths holy arguments. As citizens of heaven, may we earnestly seek to experience and enjoy the liberty that is ours in Christ Jesus, that we might get into the temple and enjoy "childlike freedom and confidence in prayer" there –– such as Miss Anthony had. As we pray, may we pray by the strength You supply, that in all our prayers, You may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
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* Please add your PRAYERS below as God's Holy Spirit leads you. *
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