No. 5.
IMMEDIATELY after the ascent of our blessed Lord, we find the Apostles giving themselves to prayer. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, &c.” (Acts 1:14.) Like their blessed Master—our example in every good thing—in the time of their distress they poured forth their united prayers and supplications unto Him who was able to deliver them. Bereft of their Head, left in the midst of His murderers and opposers, where else could they turn for shelter and for help? “They were all with one accord in one place,” when the Holy Ghost descended upon them. “And they were all FILLED with the Holy Ghost.” Blessed answer! Wondrous fruit of intercession! They prayed and waited for that which their Lord had promised, and in due time it came. It is pleasant to dwell on this first prayer-meeting within the walls of Jerusalem, after the ascent of Jesus; and to trace from that upper-room, the fruit of intercession which was soon to spread abroad in every place. This is God’s first seal to, and witness of the value of prayer, after He had taken up His Son, ― the dawn of that blessing which was to cover the heavens with exceeding brightness. Ere He blesses, He will send us to our knees to plead with Him for the performance of His promises. He will have our souls in a state of dependence, hope, and expectancy, and thus find us ready for the fruitful shower.
The spirit of prayer is a remarkable characteristic in the Acts of the Apostles. We read (ch. 4:31), “And when they prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” What a glorious scene was this! What an unmistakable proof of God’s delight in prayer! How calculated to stir up faith, to warm cold hearts, and invigorate drooping spirits! The apostles relied on this heavenly armor―they had tried it, and found its value. They said to the multitude of the disciples, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). Peter’s prayer raised up Dorcas from the dead; he prayed alone according to the proportion of his faith, and Dorcas was restored to life. (Acts 9) How deeply interesting is the divine narrative respecting Cornelius: we are told that he “prayed to God alway.” While engaged in prayer he sees a vision, by which he is directed to send for Peter. The angel of God informs him, “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa.” On the morrow, as the Centurion’s messengers drew nigh the city, “Peter went up upon the house-top to pray, about the sixth hour;” and, while thus engaged, he also saw a vision, which opened to him the matter about Cornelius. (See Acts 10) How truly surprising is all this! Ere salvation comes to Cornelius by the mouth of Peter, and ere Peter is sent on the divine embassy, both are previously led by the Spirit to the place of intercession. What greater witness could God give of the value He sets upon prayer than this? or of the abundant answer that might be expected? The gospel came to Israel from that upper room in Jerusalem; and from the house-top in Joppa to the Gentiles. When Peter was Herod’s prisoner, “prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him,” and Peter was released by the miraculous hand of an angel―God’s answer to prayer. Trial may come, that prayer may follow; when it has done its perfect work, the blessing flows.
Surely more on prayer need not be said: its importance is taught and relied on by all the apostolic writings. The prayers of saints, Paul every where seeks for, while he seems to be always on his knees. Thus does all scripture testify, that the man whom God is blessing, and will bless, is emphatically a man of prayer. Whether David, or Daniel, Moses, Elias, or any other man of God that might be named, they owed their blessedness, first to the riches of the grace that saved them, and then the measure of their subsequent blessing depended much on their prayers, their walk, their faith. “What meanest thou, O Sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not”―was the urgent appeal of heathens to Jonah, whilst slumbering in the boat in the hour of danger. Have not these words a force of powerful application to the Church in these days? The absence of prayer shows a torpid state of soul, that portends surrounding and increasing ruin. It declares also the absence of vitality-of a heart that cares for the Church of God and the souls of men; where prayer abounds, it is like the small cloud in the days of Elias, that promises abundance of rain.