02.16. Chapter 16. Prayer and Promises

Prayer and Promises In his celebrated Lectures on Revivals of Religion, Charles Finney inquires when is it our duty to believe the promise that God will do that which we ask? He replies that we ought to believe that God will do a certain thing when we have evidence that He will do it. For man cannot believe a given thing without having what he regards as proof thereof. Mr. Finney then discusses the supremely important question of the various kinds of proof available by which we may become convinced that any given thing is the will of God; and shows that once it is known what the will of God is, we are forthwith under a positive and inevasible obligation to believe that God will do that, in answer to our request.

Now the ground of this faith, this assured expectation, is the promise of God, for "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 3" It was by having steadfast regard to the promise of God that Abraham’s faith grew stronger and stronger at the same time as the unlikelihood of the event increased; so that when the thing promised had become an entire impossibility, he had become fully assured that it would come to pass.4

Rebels have no claim on their sovereign, nor sinners on God. Consequently we can only expect as much as God of His mercy sees fit to promise us. But it is our duty to expect that, and the whole of that. The supposition that God cannot be trusted to keep His word of promise is blasphemous Faith consists in expecting that He will keep it; and in acting accordingly. "Go thy way; thy son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus spake unto him, and he went his way.5" Elijah believed that God would perform His word of judgment ; and having asked God to do so. he forthwith announced to the king the coming drought, thus publicly staking his whole standing and reputation as a prophet upon God’s faithfulness.

1 Hebrews 12:25 and Luke 13:11 only. 2 Dr. Pierson, "George Müller of Bristol," 92. 3 Romans 10:17. 4 Romans 4:20-21. 5 John 4:50.

Faith therefore (1) is created and sustained by "looking unto the promise of God" ; and (2) being thus certain of His will, faith then ventures on God by taking such steps as His will reqaires. George Muller learned assuredly that God meant him to care for orphans, and he proceeded with arrangements for doing this though having no funds at call. Hudson Taylor knew that God would have him lead missionaries into inland China, and he took the required steps expecting that funds would be provided as needed. Neither waited for money to be in hand before committing himself to the God-appointed business. Had Elijah spoken thus to the king before being sure of God’s will, presumption would have led to disaster. But had he timidly or prudently refrained from speaking to Ahab, true faith would have been wanting. For faith does not at its own will embark on a sea of adventure, but faith does venture to walk on the sea at the call of God. Faith ventures all, hut risks nothing; for there is no risk in performing the will of God. "By faith Abraham when he was called "1—not before, but then—" went out," on an errand seemingly very risky, but actually wholly safe.

Since faith arises from and depends upon the promises of God, they who deny the authenticity and veracity of Holy Scripture render vital faith impossible. Any question as to the authenticity of a bank-note, or any ambiguity as to its words, forbids trading therewith. Who of the destructive critics of Scripture has been renowned for ventures of faith? Who is so bold as to say in one breath: "I deny or doubt that these words are from God, but I shall claim that He stand to and fulfil the promises they give"?

Further, true faith disowns any title drawn from supposed merit of our own. But then it finds a holy boldness, proportionate to its humility, by basing its appeal for blessing upon the prevailing merit of Christ Jesus, the Son of God. The saint finds no reason in himself why God should regard his prayer, but he perceives abundant reason in what Christ is to the Father. "For how many soever be the promises of God" (and they are "precious and exceeding great," and cover every possible contingency of human experience, present and eternal), "in Christ is the Yea "—that is God looks on Christ, and says, Yea, for the sake of My all-worthy Son I can and I will fulfil every promise I ever have given: "wherefore also through Him is Amen —the suppliant too looks on the Son of God, and sees in Him such abundant merit that he is able to say, Amen! that is, it shall be so!2 And this confident expectation works out "unto the glory of God through us."3

1 Hebrews 11:8. 2 Genesis 15:6, Abraham "amened God." So David, speaking of his house, "Thou, 0 Jehovah, hast blessed, and it is blessed for ever" 1 Chronicles 17:1. 3 2 Corinthians 1:20. It is worthy of remark that the R V. renderings enrich each of the chief passages here considered. E.g., Luke 18:1, the "they" in place of "men" fixing the application to disciples, who only can pray powerfully; and the margin "Do me justice" (ver. 3) showing that one who prays must have right on his side. Luke 22:31, the word "asked to have you" in place of "desired" showing that Satan had actually ‘applied to God. We do not always ask for what we may desire. And the margin. "obtained you by asking," is even more illuminating. 2 Corinthians 1:20 above: "how many soever" hints at the vast number of the promises, as "all the promises" fails to do whilst the rest of the verse is made singularly intelligible. James 5:16, "supplication" suggests at once the parallel with Hosea 12:4 and Hebrews 5:7, and the addition of "in its working" greatly strengthens the thought. Romans 4:20-21. Abraham not only did not "stagger," he did not even "waver," and he "waxed strong.. in faith, that is, grew ever stronger. until he reached "full assurance."

Thus every favour comes to us as Christians on precisely the same, condition as first secured us God’s pardon. "Your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake "1 is the initial assurance that faith grasps. And all further blessings which await our acceptance we are to acquire on the same ground, even as our Lord, ere He left His followers to face life and service and peril without the comfort and protection of His visible presence, seven times over said, "Ask in My name, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.2" He who presents another man’s check, asks for payment in the name of that other. And the bank cashes the check according to its own estimate of the value of the name at the foot, and without regard to the financial status of the person presenting the draft.