This union of assurance and humility, of boldness and dependence,
can be secured only by the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and only
so can one be prepared and fitted for such prayer.
Three great obstacles hinder mighty prayer:
1. selfishness; 2, unbelief; 3, the darkness of ignorance and
foolishness. The baptism with the Spirit sweeps away these
obstacles and brings in the three great essentials to prayer--1,
faith; 2, love, Divine love; 3, the light of heavenly knowledge
and wisdom.
1. Selfishness must be cast out by the incoming of love. The
ambassador must not be seeking personal ends, but the interests
of his government and the people he represents; the son must not
be seeking private gain, but the common prosperity of the
partnership in which he will fully and lawfully share; the bride
must not forget him to whom she belongs, and seek separate ends,
but in all ways identify herself with her husband and his
interests.
So the child of God must come in prayer, unselfishly.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit, with our co-operation and glad
consent, to search and destroy selfishness out of our hearts, and
fill them with pure love to God and man. And when this is done we
shall not then be asking for things amiss to consume them upon
our lusts, to gratify our appetites, or pride, or ambition, or
ease, or vain-glory. We shall seek only the glory of our Lord and
the common good of our fellow-men, in which, as co-workers and
partners, we shall have a common share.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124