I HAVE something to tell you, my young readers, which is very good, very old and very new. “What is it,” you may well ask, “that can be both old and new?” Let the following facts supply the answer.
Twenty-seven centuries ago, an aged prophet of God, but at the same time “a man subject to like passions as we are,” went up to the top of Carmel, and casting himself down upon the earth, put his face between his knees and prayed. There had been no rain in the land for three years and six months, and he was now praying earnestly that it might rain. When he had continued a good while in prayer, a little cloud like a man’s hand was seen to rise out of the sea. On being told of this, the prophet sent to king Ahab, saying, “Prepare thy chariot and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not... Meanwhile the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.” 1 Kings 18:44,4544And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. 45And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:44‑45).
That good rain, dear children, was thus given in answer to the prayer of faith in olden times; but faith itself—the gift of God—however old in the history of God’s people, is in its own nature always new. God always answers the fervent, effectual prayer of faith; and if we be subject to like passions with Elijah, still, if like him, we pray without doubting, we shall surely find how God hears and answers prayer. Besides, it is our privilege, now to pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God’s love; and He has told us that “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:1313And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13).
The following is a new fact, in proof of God’s faithfulness in hearing and answering prayer. It was not in Palestine, but in England; not twenty centuries ago, but a few years since; not the prayer of an old prophet, but of a little girl. I read the account in a French paper, and now present it to you, to encourage all of you who believe in Jesus to pray in faith for everything you need.
“At a time when many of the midland counties of England were suffering from a long drought, some praying farmers, fearing to lose their crops for want of water, asked their minister to convene a special prayer meeting, to supplicate God for the rain they so greatly needed. The time for the meeting having nearly arrived, the minister was there with the first. He thus had the opportunity of exchanging a few words with those who had come. Amongst them was a little Sunday-scholar, who had brought with her an enormous family umbrella, so large as to be a burden for one so little to carry. The minister, quite astonished, addressed her thus: “What can be your idea, my little Mary, in bringing an umbrella in such magnificent weather as we have today?” The child, evidently much surprised at such a question, replied, “I thought, sir, as we were meeting to ask God to send us rain, that I should surely need an umbrella.” The minister smiled, and the service commenced, but while they prayed, a strong wind arose, the heavens, before so bright, became occurred with clouds, thunder and lightning followed, and a deluge of rain covered the country. They who were not prepared to receive the blessing in faith, went home drenched, while little Mary returned under the shelter of the great family umbrella.”
Dear reader, whether you be young or old, let me ask you one question. When you meet with others in public prayer, or in the secret of your own 1:00M, lifting up your heart to God, is faith the key which opens your heart before the Throne of Grace? If not, remember Ahab’s chariot and the little girl’s umbrella.
PURE STREAMS.
ML 06/11/1899