Basilea Schlink emphasizes the transformative power of earnest prayer, illustrating how persistent intercession can bring about miraculous changes in the lives of others. She highlights the responsibility of believers to step into the breach for those in need, using the example of John Hyde's fervent prayers that led to a powerful revival. Schlink encourages the faithful to recognize the reality of spiritual warfare and the importance of invoking the name of Jesus in prayer, asserting that true prayer can break the chains of sin and release souls from bondage. She calls for a renewed commitment to earnest prayer, urging believers to intercede with passion and perseverance for the salvation of others.

The prayer of those whom God holds dear Will bring the might of God to bear, Burst open iron portals. To pray with faith gives strength to all And changes pain and duty’s call To flowers in love’s garden. Who prays in faith availeth much, For God doth yearn to answer such Who cry for grace and mercy. So he who prays with heart and soul To Him who made and ruleth all, Will find all wants supplied. Our pleas will pierce all clouds, and find His ready help, His mercy kind, Through His own Son, our Savior. The course of things and men He sways, His “Amen” everything obeys, He holds fast His promised word. What pow’r the prayer of faith can bring! All can be done, yes, everything! And miracles will happen! Like wax will mountains melt away, And foes be scattered like the spray And fortress walls will crumble. Well-Spring of Joy 195 The Great Power of Persisting Prayer Recently a guest was browsing through our books and picked up one which happened to be called “The Weapon of Prayer.” He flipped through the pages until he came to a specific passage – and there he stopped. The message must have impressed him considerably. It goes like this… “Intercessory prayer: to build a bridge for my neighbor, so that he may come home to the Father.” This guest wished to know something of the great power of persistent prayer. Yes, God has placed dynamite in our hands – the opportunity to step into the breach for others – by our prayers! Yet, at the same time, what tremen- dous responsibility lies upon us. True prayer con- tains the power to transform and release people, for in prayer we bring them to Jesus, the mighty Redeemer. Earnest prayer makes the intercessor like a king; investing him with authority, great authority! But what does the Bible describe as “earnest,” that is, correct prayer? Earnest prayer is the opposite of playing games with prayer. For example, children are enthusiastic about a toy for one day and play with it, yet the very next day they toss it away into a corner. Earnest prayer, however, is persistent. It is earnest, because we have a definite goal in mind and we don’t give up so quickly. On the contrary, we let it cost us much time and strength. We could apply the words of the great intercessor and missionary, John Hyde: “To pray correctly means to keep on praying until God answers!” These are not empty words; they are backed by this man’s life – as we see in the following story. John Hyde gave a brief account of a conference held at Sialkot, India. Approximately two thousand lead- ing missionaries – both European and native – were present. A powerful revival swept through the conference. Men and women who had toiled for years in the Lord’s service wept over their sins. Why? The Spirit of God had utterly broken their stony, self-righteous hearts. Now they recognized the lukewarmness and self-confidence in which they had lived for years as their greatest sin. They acknowledged that their sin of indifference was hindering the spiritual progress of their congrega- tions and blocking revival. They humbled them- selves, and admitted their specific failures and mis- takes before the whole assembly. The Spirit of God was mightily at work. People who had gone about the Lord’s work with indifference experienced re- lease from their lukewarmness. They were renewed and gripped with ardor. This surge of new life did not stop there but flowed out into the entire mis- sion field. What sparked off this revival? A fellow worker of John Hyde related the following, “Before the conference started, John Hyde and two other mis- sionaries knelt down and prayed almost all day and night. These men implored God; they called upon the victorious name of Jesus, praying for a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the conference. The hearts of John Hyde and his two friends were set on fire for the Christians in India. Before their eyes they could see the countless numbers of lost souls. Like Isaiah, these men of God felt their lips touched with a burning coal (see Isaiah 6:6,7). In their hearts grew the conviction, “Yes, revival will come. God is faithful to His word!” Because they had pre- vailed in earnest prayer, God fulfilled His words in James 5:16b, “The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” Yes, this intercessor, John Hyde, was privileged to see then how perse- verance and earnest struggle in prayer bring release for individual souls or entire fellowships, who are in spiritual death, bondage or distress! Such prayer holds great promise. Yes, the Lord is searching in particular for people who will step into the breach and become bridges for others so that they can turn back to God! Just think of Abraham who struggled in prayer so long until God agreed not to demolish Sodom, if there were only ten righteous men in the city. In this inci- dent we see what special authority is granted to such prayer. Every father is pleased when his child comes to him with an earnest request. The same applies to God who is a true Father – especially of those who call to Him! God in His love truly esteems and re- spects the earnest petitions of His children. Yes, when a concern has become very important for one of His children, then God moves His arm. But do any of us know about stepping into the breach for our neighbor? Who knows what it is to make earnest prayer, to struggle in intercession? Are we not more familiar with the lukewarm prayer, after which we scarcely recall what was said because it was of so little interest to us? Today we pray for this person, tomorrow for that, but we soon forget what we have prayed. Haven’t we all prayed for a particular matter concerning the kingdom of God, for a person or a group, for some weeks or months? But then we grew indifferent again and so never ex- perienced an answer to our prayers. If our prayers aren’t sincere, how can we expect God to take them seriously? Wouldn’t Satan mock such half-hearted, lazy prayers? He would be all the more likely to tighten his hold on his prey as a direct answer to our indifference and lack of concern. In the parable about the persistent widow, which we can read in Luke 18, God urges us not to be negligent in prayer, but to pray without ceasing. God knows that we have an adversary to reckon with. He knows the re- ality of Satan. We must take up the battle against Sa- tan, who wants to destroy those for whom we pray. It is vital that we use the only weapon we have in this warfare against Satan – the weapon of earnest prayer! How we would judge and condemn people who are too lazy to get up at night to help and save their neighbors, whose house is burning down! Yet how much more guilty is the person who doesn’t make use of the weapon of prayer for the sake of a hu- man soul who has fallen into the devil’s clutches? Here it’s a question of eternity, of eternal destruc- tion, of a terrible fate – being sent to hell. For this reason the Lord cannot but call us to earnest prayer – yes, to plead and implore. Satan’s kingdom is vast. Whether we pray or not will decide the eternal des- tiny of our neighbor and ourselves! Whoever is not released from Satan’s grip in this lifetime will come under Satan’s dominion in the life to come. He must dwell in the realm of horror and terror for eternity. And so Jesus calls to us, “How can you sleep now and take your rest?” Oh, how can we sleep if those for whom we should pray are in the thick of the bat- tle? Don’t we know that to sleep in the presence of the enemy means death? If we knew that a very dear friend was being attacked, we wouldn’t just sit there and close our eyes, pretending not to see! Even if we couldn’t actually see the enemy, lurking behind his barricade, we would draw out our weapons and spring into the battle. The Victorious Name of Jesus Although this arch-enemy, Satan, is attacking our neighbor, or even has him in his hand, we don’t use the weapon of prayer – we don’t step into the breach. Satan doesn’t want us to take his might seri- ously. That is his greatest trick, for then we don’t op- pose him and he can take control of our neighbor, or us, with complete ease. But Jesus has come “… to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). And so we must use the victorious name of Jesus in prayer, according to the verse, “All who call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered” (Joel 2:32 and Acts 2:21). Over the course of years the Lord showed me something. When we wrestle for the salvation of a soul, it is of great importance that we don’t neglect a certain power, and that power is Satan. He clutches souls tightly. He has but one purpose – to prevent them from becoming the trophies of Jesus Christ. He does everything possible to prevent a person from repenting. He doesn’t want people to be freed from their sins, be transformed and become happy. However, if we only ask Jesus to be with a certain person, to help him to become free, to let him be born again through the Spirit of God, we complete- ly neglect the fact that Satan still has him in hand. Our prayers miss the target, the real cause of the problem. An increasing number of people today – yes, even believers – have become slaves of Satan through occultism or sinful bonds. They can only become free when we pray cor- rectly. We must struggle in prayer until Satan gives up his booty. We must use the weapons which are at our disposal for this battle. Call upon the Blood of the Lamb For example, we must call upon the blood of the Lamb. First, we must claim the blood for ourselves when we begin to wrestle for other souls so that Sa- tan doesn’t have the slightest right to us and so that our prayers are granted authority. The Lord showed me that it is of utmost importance to lay the blood of the Lamb upon the bound soul in spirit and to pray and sing, “The blood of the Lamb will redeem you and set you completely free.” Yes, there is great power in the blood of the Lamb. Satan cannot bear to hear someone call upon the blood of the Lamb, with which Jesus has redeemed us, and Satan is forced to release souls. Reckon with the Reality of Satan Where today among Christians is intercession prac- ticed in this manner? Isn’t intercession, whether we are alone or in a prayer fellowship usually just a re- cital of a list of names? What Christian really knows what it means to wrestle for souls? Stepping into the breach for the sake of others means sacrificing the last of our time and energy! But if we don’t battle in prayer for our neighbors, it shows that we hardly reckon with the reality of Satan at all. If there is an enemy, there will be a battle. We have an enemy – Satan. So we must take up the battle of prayer. It’s simply not enough to recite to God the names of people, fellowships, various districts or to mention certain situations. Because we have little idea of what it is to enter a battle of prayer for souls, we are quickly finished with our times of intercession. But fighting costs time. In battle there are always ups and downs before the final victory is won. In battle, weapons are swung about and there will be wounds and scars as a result. Do we know such battles of prayer in which we wave the shield of faith and constantly hurl at Sa- tan new promises of God? This is what we do when we pray or sing of Jesus’ victory over people and groups. Yes, we cannot allow ourselves any peace until we have received the confirmation from God that the love of Christ has won the victory over the souls for whom we have wrestled. Let us consider a great prayer warrior in Church history: Monica, the mother of the Church father Augustine. Without ceasing, this mother cried unto the Lord as she saw her son, who was so gifted, leading a wild, unrestrained life of sin. The tears and prayers of this mother didn’t move the son. On the contrary, when Monica went into the chapel to pray through the night for her son, the latter took the opportunity to make his escape to Rome. Yet the mother did not give up praying. One day as she poured out her heart to a bishop and tearfully explained the situation, she received as an answer from God, “Go home and continue to pray. A son who is worth so many tears and prayers cannot be altogether lost!” How wonderful that Monica lived to see her son’s conversion! Moreover she also witnessed how the Lord took Augustine as His chosen tool, using him to bring countless numbers of people to salva- tion. And Augustine set up an everlasting monu- ment to Monica in his autobiography, for she was his mother twice over – having stepped into the breach for him with her continual prayers and weeping. The Prayer of Faith Changes Everything This kind of prayer is called earnest prayer and it has the promise of God’s answer. But, if we are too lazy and over-fond of our comfort to make use of this weapon of the intercessory prayer of faith, we are guilty! Above all we are guilty towards the poor, bound souls whom God has brought into our lives. They should have been released through the power of our prayers. If we intercede earnestly for such souls, standing in for them, renewal will come. The prayer of faith changes everything. I have experienced countless times how the name of Jesus is a weapon placed in our hands. When we proclaim the name of Jesus, Satan is over- thrown. That is why we must proclaim and use it more often. The other person often has bondages that resist any attack, but which are broken when the name of Jesus is called upon. How marvelous! Yes, we possess a unique weapon in the name of Je- sus, and when we bring it into our prayers, the devil must flee! Jesus Christ is already Victor. He’s already fought the battle. Whoever confronts Satan with the words and acts of Jesus wins the victory for his neighbor. Yes, whenever the victorious name of Jesus is pro- claimed, the strongholds of the enemy must fall. Then, as I have experienced, Satan has to surren- der souls. In intercessory prayer for people who are in bondage, I read, sing or pray these words, “Let praises ring aloud this day, / That Jesus’ name has pow’r / To break apart the fearful chains of sin that bind …” At this point I insert the name of the per- son concerned. The power of prayer is further strengthened when more people come together to intercede for a particular person or group of people. Then they sing, pray or praise the name of Jesus over the peo- ple concerned. Deliverance from sinful bondages will always take place when people give themselves to such a battle of prayer. To the extent that the in- tercession is sincere, to that extent will it be effec- tive. However, the sign that I take something seri- ously is that I devote more time and energy to it, that I consider it more urgent than anything else. I show that my prayer is earnest when I take time out of every day to pray for these certain people or groups of people, and if possible, coming together with others for a battle of prayer. Satan’s power will always collapse. The Lord alone determines the length of the battle. It depends upon the stubborn- ness of the case. Sometimes much patience and perseverance is required, but Jesus will always carry this prayer to victory. God seeks people who will intercede, who will step into the breach. Today He is searching for them more than ever – especially in view of our youth who are being dragged down into a swamp of uncontrolled sexuality and drug-addiction. But who hears the death cry of the world today? Who pleads and cries until salvation comes, until the Holy Spirit of God works the miracle of redemption and transformation? Already thousands of souls who seemed hopelessly lost in deep bondage have experienced release. But who knows about using the name of Jesus in battles of prayer so that souls might be released? Who holds up the victorious name of Jesus against the might of Satan, against Satan who doesn’t want to let go of any soul? Who persists until redemption and transformation actu- ally occur? Yes, prayer is to step into the breach for others so that they might turn back to the heavenly Father! It is to pray until the other person has re- pented and turned back to God. If we aren’t tired and lukewarm; if we plead, pray and implore with fire and ardor, then Jesus’ promise in Luke 18:7 avails for us, “And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night?” Nothing Is Greater than Jesus Nothing is greater than Jesus – no sinful bondage, no difficulty. Believe that for yourself and for oth- ers. And in the hardest spiritual warfare you will be victorious and you will really be stepping into the breach for others, so that they might turn back to God the Father. At the request of one of my spir- itual daughters, I wrote down for her a motto for the battle of prayer, “Who can compare with God! No one. So nothing is greater, not even our sinful bondages, not even our sinful nature. Hallelujah!” And I can testify personally, in these words is victory. When we call them out, the bastions of Satan are stormed. And then intercessory prayer will have a tremendous power that no power of hell can destroy! PRAYER OF VICTORY In the name of Jesus and in His wounds there is victory! Jesus Christ has trod upon the head of the serpent and also conquered its power over me.* The victory has been won. Hallelujah! In the name of Jesus and in His wounds there is victory! Jesus Christ has abolished death – in my heart and life as well. He has overcome death. Hallelujah! *When praying for others, the third person may be used. In the name of Jesus and in His wounds there is victory! The Lamb, the Lion of Judah, has overcome Satan’s power and the power of sin – in my life. Jesus is Victor! Hallelujah! In the name of Jesus and in His wounds there is victory! Jesus has put all His enemies under His feet – in my life as well. The enemy has been overcome. Jesus is Victor! Hallelujah! In the name of Jesus and in His wounds there is victory! Jesus has come to destroy the works of the devil. They are destroyed – in my life also, for Jesus is Victor! Hallelujah! In the name of Jesus and in His wounds there is victory! Jesus has redeemed me from every power of sin, for He says, “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” This truth avails for me. I have been redeemed from the bondages of my sin. Jesus is Victor! Hallelujah! In the name of Jesus and in His wounds there is victory! I know that my Redeemer lives. He redeems me and remolds me into a new creature. Jesus sets me free. Hallelujah! In the name of Jesus and in His wounds there is victory! Jesus has disarmed His enemies and made a public show of them. Jesus is Victor over every power of the enemy – also whenever he tries to op- press me. Hallelujah! In the name of Jesus and in His wounds there is victory! Jesus has the keys of death and Hades. No longer can the enemy harm me, rage as he will. I am redeemed! Jesus is Victor! Hallelujah! SAVIOR PRAYER O Jesus, You were born as the “Savior of the world” to save me* from the cancer of my sin. In Your sav- ing name, Jesus, and in Your precious blood shed for me there is power! The power of sin within me must be broken. The enemy who is threatening me must yield when he hears the saving name of Jesus. You have conquered him. Hallelujah! Jesus, my Savior, You have come to save me from my sins. I believe in the saving power of Your pre- cious blood, that is stronger than my own contami- nated blood. Your blood has releasing power; in it is victory and saving power. Through the power of Your precious blood Satan has to yield. Jesus, my Savior, You came to shed Your precious blood for us. In Your saving name and in the power of Your blood shed for me my chains of sin must break. Your sacrifice avails for me; Satan and sin must capitulate! I have been set free in Your name, O Jesus, and in Your blood shed for me. Jesus, my Savior, You were born as “mighty God,” and came as the Victor over the powers of hell that ensnare us and try to dominate us. In Your saving name, Jesus, and in Your blood shed for me there is victory, so that the evil powers from hell that are threatening me have to yield! Jesus, O mighty Victor, You have conquered them. Hallelujah! They have lost their claim on me. *When praying for others, the third person may be used. Jesus, my Savior, Your name is “Wonderful.” I believe that You will work the wonder of a new creation in me, when my nature is so poisoned by sin. In Your name “Wonderful” the powers of sin in my life must break. You are the wonderful, victorious and risen Lord. Jesus, Yours is the victory over my sinful nature and the evil spirits that are fighting to get me. They have to yield! Jesus, my Savior, born for us as our “Savior,” I call on Your saving name, Jesus. Save me from the clutches of Satan, who keeps me bound in my sin. Jesus, You have won the victory! He must yield! I am free! Hallelujah! Jesus, my Savior, You bear the name “mighty God” and You break all my bonds of sin. I praise You. You are stronger than every chain of sin that binds me. You will break every one of them! In Your name, O Victor and Redeemer, Satan has to release me; he has to flee! You, my Savior, died and rose for my redemption. Hallelujah! Amen! PRAYER IN THE NAME OF JESUS O Jesus, Lord of life, You bring about repentance and grant the divine life of love and prayer through Your Holy Spirit. I call upon Your name for * Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! O Jesus, my Redeemer, You break the chains of Satan which bind human hearts. I call upon Your name for . . . . . Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! *When praying for others, the third person may be used. O Jesus, my Risen Lord, You have abolished death, granting new, divine life. I call upon Your name for . . . . . Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! O Jesus, Lamb of God, You have broken Satan’s power and have come to rule in our hearts. I call upon Your name for . . . . . Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! O Jesus, Prince of victory, You have put all Your enemies under Your feet. You are victorious over all self-assurance and reluctance to repent. I call upon Your name for . . . . . Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! O Jesus, Savior of the world, You deliver us from all troubles and heal all the ailments of body and soul through Your precious blood. I call upon Your name for . . . . . Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! O Jesus, Bringer of joy and salvation, On this day You wish to bring joy to people by let- ting them repent as sinners and find healing in Your wounds. I call upon Your name for . . . . . Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! O Jesus, Lord of mercy, You wish to help all people. For this reason alone You laid down Your life. It is impossible for You not to help. I call upon Your name for . . . . . Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! O Jesus, Son of the Father, You have come to light a fire on earth and You suf- fered death on the cross so that a burning love for You and others might triumph in our hearts. I call upon Your name for . . . . . Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! O Jesus, my Friend and Bridegroom, You call souls to love You exclusively. I call upon Your name for . . . . . Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! O Jesus, my Deliverer, You have said, “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” Your words are yea and amen. I call upon Your name for . . . . . Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! O Jesus, Alpha and Omega, You are the great Creator and Perfector of the work You have begun in souls through Your grace. I call upon Your name for . . . . . Yours is the victory! Hallelujah! O Jesus, my Lord, You have been given all power in heaven and on earth. I call upon Your name for and sing of Your victory, for “the right hand of the Lord is exalted, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.” Hallelujah! Amen! Songs of Victory Let praises ring aloud this day, That Jesus’ Name has pow’r To break apart the fearful chains of sin that bind us. Let praises ring aloud this day, That by this mighty Name The powers of hell are put to flight and made to tremble. When Jesus’ Name is loudly called The gate of heav’n springs wide; And demons flee, for Jesus comes to all who trust Him. For when we call upon Your Name It heals our sinful lives. Your Name, O Jesus, comforts all the heavy laden. Jesus, Your Name is still today The joy of all our hearts. Your Name, O Jesus, brings us sweetness in our sorrow. Your Name, O Jesus, balsam is For all our bitter wounds, Be praised today and into all the future ages. Well-Spring of Joy 186  Your precious blood has such great might, It saves from Satan’s hold so tight. I praise Your blood that sets me free From Satan’s grip and tyranny. Your blood, O Lord, was shed for me; Accept my praise eternally. I praise Your blood that sets me free From Satan’s grip and tyranny. Your blood has cleansed from every sin Which my blood does contain therein. I praise Your blood that sets me free From Satan’s grip and tyranny. Your blood has broken Satan’s hold; He cannot bear the pow’r untold. I praise Your blood that sets me free From Satan’s grip and tyranny. Oh, Satan now must take to flight, For Jesus’ blood has such great might. His precious blood was shed for me; It has redeemed me, set me free. Well-Spring of Joy 185  May mighty winds of faith now blow, Repentance through our land soon flow, To move sin’s mighty mountains. For faith the hardest rock will break Christ’s Spirit then shall flow to make Disciples of us sinners. O Spirit of God’s flaming pow’r, Awake and set our hearts on fire With fervor for God’s kingdom. O may His Name be blazed abroad, For it will be extolled, adored, When men can see its splendor. Our aims of faith must shine and blaze And not grow dim with passing days But burn with zeal and ardor. In faith we plead with God anew, He always proves His word is true, He will the earth enkindle. You will prepare in every place Your chosen ones who consecrate Themselves in faith and fervor. For love comes to its fullest pow’r Through God the Holy Spirit’s dow’r Of faith which brings us victory. O soon will come the glorious day, For Satan always must give way, When hearts to God are given. His promised word shall be fulfilled, And hearts with true repentance filled, All earth shall bow before Him. Then up, ye soldiers of the cross Prepared for sacrifice and loss And pray, for faith works wonders; And faith will bring that glorious day When all on earth shall see and say, “The Lord indeed now liveth!” Well-Spring of Joy 193