As we have seen that the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, so also we see what importance the Lord attaches to prayer! There are two kinds of prayer: that which is the expression of our wants, and that which being made in the energy of the Spirit, is therefore infallibly answered. Whether for handling the sword of the Spirit, or for prayer, the Christian life must already exist; in order to be able to pray for others, our own life must be with God. There is among Christians too little intercession, because they come to a meeting for prayer after leading a life of languishing, absorbed by present things. The consequence is, their prayers discover the weakness of the individual, and not the work of the Spirit for the good of the church. Too often it is a settling as to our own failures. If we were watchful in these things in our daily walk, our prayers would be intercessions, instead of supplications each day for our own faults. What we should desire is, that our individual prayers should be such as to enable us to pray for all saints; without this they will never have this powerful energy of the Spirit. Satan will find some means for overthrowing Christians. How desirable this makes it that there should be some who are able to bring in the aid of God! The more we are faithful as to our position in this world, the more shall we be exposed to the ambushes of the enemy, and if we do not thus keep close to God, the enemy will find some way of making havoc.
The most faithful and advanced Christians feel their dependence upon God, and on all saints. The apostolic gift of Paul depended in one sense on the prayers of the saints: God intended it to be so, in order that the church might be united in its affections (2 Cor. 1:1111Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. (2 Corinthians 1:11)). The apostle was in a prominent position, and perhaps he received power through the prayers of someone such as a poor bed-ridden woman, but all hidden fruits will be seen in the last day. It is an encouraging thing to see that God honors the hidden members which are the least honorable to the eyes of the flesh. This thought encourages us to walk humbly in our place. Frequently there are persons hidden out of sight, who are the means of blessing for those who are in a very prominent place. We ought to think of the praise which God gives, and not of that of men. The only thing in our service is to glorify God. If my heart, which no one sees, does not beat, I cannot run. There are individuals who are truly the heart of the church; it is often not the things that are seen which are the most precious in the sight of God.
J. N. Darby