The Secret of Prevailing Prayer
J. M. Charlten, M. A. John 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. I. THE NATURE OF THE CONDITIONS LAID DOWN. 1. "If ye abide in Me," as the branches abide in the vine: union with and reception of the whole Christ by faith, as Saviour, Teacher, Example. If we accept Him in one aspect and not in another, we fail to fulfil the condition. 2. "If My words abide in you."(1) Christ's words are His whole teaching, not the part of it which we most like. (2) These words are to abide in us — not merely in our memories as words, nor in our understandings as facts, nor in our reasons as truths, nor in our feelings as sentiments; but pervading our whole spiritual being as principles of life and action, just as we assimilate food, which does not profit unless changed into blood, bone, sinew, etc. If we have Christ's words thus abiding in us, we shall have Christ Himself, and that being so we shall breathe His Spirit and be transformed into His likeness. II. THE CERTAINTY, IN THE FULFILMENT OF SUCH CONDITIONS, THAT ALL OUR PETITIONS WILL BE GRANTED. If we fulfil such conditions in the very fulfilment all our best desires are already granted. What more can we have than to be in Christ and to have Christ in us? The branch is already most fruitful if it is actually the branch of the most fruitful vine. But note the grounds on which this certainty rests. 1. God honours simplicity of trust. For what is this trust? It is to feel that truth cannot lie, that faithfulness cannot deceive, that wisdom cannot err, that power cannot fail, that holiness cannot blight the hope that perfect love has inspired. On the contrary, unbelief is absurd. Think of casting a shadow of doubt on infinite excellence, omnipotence, and wisdom. Let a man doubt that there is not enough light in the sun to enable him to see, or enough water in the sea to float his vessel. Besides, trust has naturally a drawing power on the heart of love. 2. Only such blessings will be sought for as are within the range of God's promise. All the Christian's hopes and yearnings are bounded by this. What lies beyond? Unholy honours, pleasures, etc.; but the Christian does not want these, he has done with these trifling or injurious toys. What lies within? Whatever is calculated to make us wiser, holier, happier, and more useful. 3. There is purity of desire in supplicating spiritual blessings. Prayer for other things necessarily arises from mixed motives. 4. We have further in this state of soul complete submissiveness to the Divine will. (J. M. Charlten, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. WEB: If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.