Answers to Prayer

Chapter 4

PRAYERS WITH HIGH DIVIDENDS

For many years I had meditated upon the experience of the apostle Paul. It amazed me that Jesus had appeared to the man on his way to Damascus to point out that his religious zeal was misguided.
 
Think of it—the Lord of glory talking to a man who hurled believers into prison, was instrumental in having many put to death, and even found pleasure in trying to force some of them to blaspheme (Acts 26:10, 11).

Questions kept running through my mind. Why would God follow such a course with Saul of Tarsus? Was He showing favoritism toward Saul by working for his salvation in a manner different from what He was willing to do to save other men into His eternal kingdom?

Then one day as I was sitting in my car waiting in a long line in front of a car wash, an answer came loud and clear. I had my Bible open, reading 1 Timothy 2: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority…. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." I became deeply impressed with the thought that God was calling me to do a work that not even the angels of heaven could do. He wanted me to be an intercessor for the unsaved and the ungodly that I met in my work. And I knew exactly where to find the power to help such people in prayer and supplication to God, who waits for our requests for help so that He will then have the legal right in the sight of the inhabitants of the universe to move with power into Satan's domain and rescue his captives.

It was while I was working with the telephone directory that I saw God's Holy Spirit work in wonderful ways. But before recounting some of my prayer experi-ences, I feel it's important to consider the frame of mind that motivated Jesus as He prayed for human beings.

As I have read the Bible through the years, I have observed that our Lord tried constantly to impress the minds of His disciples with His divine compassionate love for fallen mortals. He spent much time in prayer, giving them an example to follow so that they also could become mighty intercessors for others.

When He ascended to heaven He had no fear that His disciples would fail Him as they worked for the salvation of others. He would send them the One who would teach them how to live in such a way as not to fail their Redeemer.

I have found nine essential factors behind successful, victorious, Christian living. When through the Holy Spirit we possess them, we can then ask God that the same blessings may crown the lives of those we pray for. Let's consider those factors closely.

Factor 1
While human love is wrapped up in selfishness and produces results that are at best shaky and short-lived, divine compassionate love is a force that never fails. I find great comfort in the fact that the "Father of infinite pity" so loved humanity that "he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." We need to hunger and thirst for God to impart that divine force to us.

It is my firm conviction that the reason that Christian homes are breaking up as they are today, devastating the lives of men, women, and children, is that our Christian hearts lack that divine compassionate love. We may not admit it, but the results are speaking louder than words.

Factor 2
The next factor is often greatly misunderstood because of a powerful counterfeit. That valuable element is heavenly joy.
Through the ages Satan has misled humans by causing them to believe that they will find joy in self-pleasing and self-serving. And that they can obtain it without consideration for others. But such a lifestyle leads only to disappointment and often great unhappiness.

On the other hand, we will find a joy that never fails in Christ. Romans 15:3 says that "Christ pleased not him-self." He found great joy in blessing the lives of others.

About the early disciples the Bible declares, "And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 13:52).
I believe that today we need to pray for heavenly joy with great intensity and desire. Only then can we work to pass the same blessing to others.

Factor 3
Both the rich and the poor and the strong and the weak seek peace. Because there are various degrees of peace, I like to reach out for the very best—that is, heavenly enly peace. That kind of peace brings pleasant relaxation by imparting a mental or spiritual state of mind that frees us from disquieting and perturbing fears.

We think of Jesus, who slept in a boat during a storm (Mark 4:38-40), or of Peter, who slept soundly during the night before his scheduled execution (Acts 12:6).

We today need that same freedom from fear. How can a person acquire such a state of mind? When the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the representative of Christ on earth, imparts heavenly peace to someone, He completely delivers that person's mind from any fears that would make him or her anxious or restless.

Factor 4
To appreciate this factor, one has to remember the cruel world that we live in. Distresses and perplexities come in many forms, but the most difficult ones are the injustices and unkindness inflicted upon us by others. Sometimes it amounts to harsh and even cruel treatment by individuals who have no control of their tongues.

The apostle James in chapter 3 of his Epistle compares the human tongue to a little fire that turns into an inferno doing vast damage. To survive such experiences one has to receive special help in the form of longsuffering, another divine attribute of our Redeemer. When God met with Moses on Mount Sinai, He declared Himself to be "the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6).

If we seek a fresh baptism of this heavenly grace on a daily basis, we will be able to put up with the shortcomings of others, and sincerely pray for a divine blessing on their lives also. Then like the apostle Paul we will be able to say, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

Factor 5
Here we have an element of great value to those en gaged in the field of communication. Be it in the business world or in working directly with people who need help, a most valuable asset is gentleness.

I was working on the Buffalo, New York, telephone directory for the third year, and the canvass had begun but a few days before. One morning my sales manager told me to come into his office before going out on my calls. Naturally I wondered what was so important that he wouldn't talk about it at my desk.

As I entered his office he asked me to close the door, then phoned the receptionist to say that he would not take any calls until he told her. My heart sank into my chest, since I knew whenever he did that, it spelled trouble. But I regained my composure when he said that he would like me to do him a favor. The conversation went something like this.

"Roger, I have here the files of a large account that needs very special care, and that should be handled by someone who is tactful and at the same time has the patience of an angel, or close to it. This ticket adds up to several hundreds of dollars in monthly billing. As we managers were setting up the assignments for the 43 of you, this account received a lot of discussion as to who was best suited to handle it. We need someone with the finesse, the tact, the expertise to make a favorable impression on the client. Roger, I believe that you are the right man for the job."

"What about the person who had it last year?"

"We cannot let him handle it again, seeing that he had a very difficult time with it. The account was closed 10 days before the book was shipped to the printers, with a loss of almost $200 per month in billing. Our man says that the president of the corporation is most difficult to talk to. He just will not set up an appointment to go over his yellow pages advertising program. Instead he told the rep to drop in two or three times a week until he finds him with some time to spare. The fellow claims that he went there more than 50 times over a period of six months."

As I sized up the situation, I felt extremely reluctant to accept the challenge, then silently prayed, "Jesus, what should I do?" Instantly I knew that the Lord would be with me. I felt that it could turn out to be an occasion for all the managers, and the whole sales force, to see that the Lord God does take care of His people.

My boss reminded me of some difficult business calls he had made with me as an observer in the past, and how impressed he had been of the way I had handled them.

"Roger, I am aware that a great power accompanies you, and I would like the folks here to be made aware of it also. Will you take the challenge, and make me proud of you?"

"I can see that it will take a miracle from God to make a success of this undertaking, but trusting in His power, I believe all will turn out well. I will accept the assignment."

Within 10 days I had closed the account and increased the billing substantially. After praying that the Lord would give me divine tact and gentleness, I phoned for a five-minute appointment with the man, just to introduce myself, and got it on the spot. The positive first contact led to another interview a few days later, where I showed him some ads I had prepared. On that call he was pleased with the work I had done, and to my great surprise asked if I would be willing to see him at his office at 7:00 a.m. so that we could talk about some of his other businesses and additional advertising. The place would be quiet for him till about 9:00 a.m. I agreed to that.

During that interview, while I prepared the ads, he told me of the terrible problem he and his wife were having with their only son. The young man had been the joy of their lives until he became hooked on drugs and got into trouble with the law. They could hardly stand being disgraced that way. He added that the experience had somehow caused him to become unkind to others, something he found himself unable to change. As we conversed I promised to keep them in my daily prayers, which he thanked me for.

About a month later he called me to have a new product line included in his ads. During the conversation he stated that things were getting better at home, and to keep praying for them. I explained that he would have to sign new copy sheets to authorize the changes in his ads, so we set up an appointment for two days later.

As I was rearranging his ads, he told me of some interesting changes that had taken place involving his son. The boy had decided to change his lifestyle, and had sought his parents' help in the matter. The man's wife no longer needed powerful medications to help her nerves. He could sleep entire nights now, and the feeling of carrying the world on his shoulders had left him.

Then he said something that thrilled me. "My wife and I believe that your praying for us has brought great blessings into our lives. I told her that when you left my office a powerful presence of peace and joy remained with me that whole day."

Factor 6
Again we find an attribute of God, one that might frustrate us at first, since the Bible clearly says that we do not have it. It is the element of goodness.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote that the human heart is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" Jeremiah 17:9). The ancient Hebrews failed God miserably because of their lack of goodness. Their unconse-crated lives led to their ruin.
It is a terrific encouragement to know that the Lord is more than eager to provide us with His goodness, and to enable us to experience successful, victorious, Christian living through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit if only we take the time to daily ask for it.

Factor 7
This factor is so vital to one's Christian experience that in its absence spiritual growth will not take place. In fact, the Bible tells us that without it, one cannot please God. That most important factor is a living faith.
"Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

A living faith is one that increases our spiritual strength, enabling us to develop an unfaltering trust in our heavenly Father, and in the power of His Holy Spirit. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, faith will flourish only as it is cherished.

When a person prays for it, he or she might as well seek the highest degree of faith available. That is genuine biblical faith. It will impart great belief in God, great trust in Him, and above all, a loyalty to Him that will be immovable-the kind that we read about in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews.

Factor 8
In a world that promotes self-esteem and self-exaltation on every side, God's people need as never before a precious heavenly trait that adorns the character of Christ. That valuable factor is the meekness of Christ.

To be unpretentious, humble, and submissive to God's will is of great value in God's sight. "Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isaiah 57:15).

Factor 9
What is that special power that we need so greatly? It is self-control imparted by the Spirit of God.

An old turn-of-the-century dictionary of mine defines self-control as "the ability to check or regulate, to restrain, and to govern self in all aspects of life." We can possess purity of thought, purity of heart, and purity of life even in this day and age by controlling our thoughts with the power of the Spirit of God blessing our minds. Romans 12:21 tells us to "overcome evil with good." Keeping the mind busy with thoughts that will elevate and ennoble. one's character is the formula to success here.

I have found by experience that an excellent way to do that is to work at memorizing God's Holy Word. However, I am not the first person to have discovered that. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee," the psalmist said.

The Word of God says of man, "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart" (Psalm 24:3, 4).
 
Victory through Christ—what a majestic experience!

Prayers that will produce high dividends for the kingdom of God are ours to experience and enjoy now.