How They Prayed, Vol. Three: “See What I can do in answer to a praying people!”

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The book by Edwin and Lillian Harvey entitled How They Prayed Volume 3, reveals the part prayer prayed in revivals, widespread and local, and the emphasis those men used of God in these revivals placed on private and public prayer. Henry Breeden was once such man:
“I came to a affixed resolve,” Breeden wrote, “that whatever else I was or was not, and whatever else I did or did not, I would by the grace of God become a man decidedly given up to prayer. And that resolve, I am thankful to be able to say, I have to a great extent been able to carry out.

However other things have been attended to, the work of calling on the Lord has been my great and chief personal business. During the early part of life, however, though thoroughly given to this exercise, I had no settled arrangement with regard to the number of times for this duty to be attended to each day. But, a good number of years ago, I fixed it as a rule, that I would never pray less than a set number of times, chiefly in private, every day, God being my helper as long as I lived. And though since that resolution was formed, many years of hard labor have passed away, yet this duty has ever been attended to most carefully. But oh, how much to God I owe for His gracious help therein! And, thanks be to Him, I can look back on this with a happy degree of humble gratitude. Of a truth, I can say, I would far rather have it said that Henry Breeden was a man given much to mighty prayer, than that it should be gazetted that he was worth his unnumbered thousands of this world’s wealth.”

The Welsh Revival was a revival, among other things, of prayer. Evan Roberts was mightily used of God in this revival and his biographer says of him: “Now, as the message gripped his soul, he gave himself to prayer as never before; and with the Holy Spirit’s guidance day by day his faith was strengthened. As he worked he prayed, and God came and filled his life. He was very practical, and soon got the secret of ‘praying without ceasing.’ He learned the sweetness of the abiding Christ through prayer, and prayer became a habit in his busy life.”
Many contemporaries of Evan Roberts attempted to discover the reason for the power and effect of that revival and had to attribute it to prayer. Campbell Morgan writes thus:
“In the name of God let us cease trying to find it! At least let us cease trying to trace it to any one man or convention. You cannot trace it. And yet I will trace it tonight. Whence has it come? All over Wales―I am giving you roughly the result of the questioning of fifty or more persons at random in the week―a praying remnant has been agonizing before God about the state of this beloved land, and it is through prayer the answer of fire has come.
“You tell me that the revival originates with Evan Roberts. I tell you that Roberts is a product of the revival. You tell me that it began in an Endeavor meeting where a young girl bore testimony. I tell you that was the result of a revival breaking out everywhere. . . . It is a Divine visitation in which God―let me say this reverently―in which God is saying to us: ‘See what I can do without the things you are depending on; see what I can do in answer to a praying people; see what I can do through the simplest, who are ready to fall in line, and depend wholly and absolutely upon Me.’

These quotations have been taken from How They Prayed Volume Three which is published by Harvey Christian Publishers and is available in their Online Christian Bookstore.

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How They Prayed Volume 3: “Make me an intercessor!”

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In the book, How They Prayed, Volume Three,” the authors, Edwin and Lillian Harvey, have given us insight into the heart-breathings of many of God’s children who were called to minister for Him at home or abroad. One such servant–author and missionary–Isobel Kuhn, shares some of her longings with us:
““Lord, I bring Thee my myrrh.’ That was the silent heart-cry that had taken the hurt and fear out of my missionary journey to Lisu-land. I had seldom before been able to offer Him that gift, and I have never forgotten the joy of it.


“There are those who think they are willing to suffer and die ‘for Christ’s sake,’ but who are unwilling to spend half an hour daily in prayer for His work and workers. It is ‘myrrh’ when we say quietly to friends: ‘No, I cannot accept your invitations. I have something I must do,’ and then to spend that time in intercession for His work and workers or in some other self-effacing work or drudgery that makes possible the giving of the Gospel to every creature.”

Make me an Intercessor,
Willing for deeper death,
Emptied, broken, then made anew,
And filled with Living Breath.

Make me an Intercessor,
Hidden―unknown―set apart,
Thought little of by those around,
But satisfying Thine heart.

“The need of all is prayer; the second need is prayer; the third need is prayer,” writes missionary to Japan, Paget Wilkes.

Within the veil, there is a secret place
Where Christ hath gone to evermore abide,
And there to plead before His Father’s face,
The wound-prints of His hands and feet and side.

It is not strange, though ’tis a grace indeed,
That He should ever live to save His own
Unto the uttermost, and intercede
For all the blood-bought jewels of His crown.

But ’tis amazing grace that He should bid
Me enter there, and suffer me to dwell,
Before His Father’s presence unafraid
And with Him intercede within the veil.
–Paget Wilkes

How They Prayed, Volume Three, is published by Harvey Christian Publishers and is available in their Online Christian Bookstore.

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How They Prayed Volume 3: Prayer—the work of the future!

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Words spoken by saints about to depart for their heavenly Home often affect us deeply. John Sung, who did so much to establish God’s work in China, had a dying message for the Church today. “The work of the future is to be the work of prayer,” he gasped.

“There is no way that Christians, in a private capacity, can do so much to promote the work of God and advance the Kingdom of Christ as by prayer,” said Jonathan Edwards.

“Prayer, unceasing and earnest,” comments William Burns, another laboror for God in China, “is that wherein the great strength of a revival of religion lieth. Who among us has the spirit of prayer?” he continues. “They are mighty who have this spirit, and weak who have it not . . . . The great fundamental error as far as I can see, in the economy of the Christian life, which many, and alas! I for one commit, is that of having too few and too short periods of solemn retirement with our gracious Father and His adorable Son, Jesus Christ.”

“Brother, if you would enter that Province, you must go forward on your knees,” wrote Hudson Taylor to a fellow-missionary who had asked his advice regarding pioneering in China.
“God Himself is the great source of power,” Mr. Taylor continues. “Power belongeth unto God. . . . Further, God’s power is available power. We are supernatural people, born again by a supernatural birth, kept by a supernatural power, sustained on supernatural food, taught by a supernatural Teacher from a supernatural Book. We are led by a supernatural Captain in right paths to assured victories.”

And still another missionary concludes: “The invisible results are, I verily believe, far greater and far more important than the visible. The growth of our work is similar to that of a plant. The root of a plant takes a longer time to grow than the stem; but maturation takes more time than either. The giant oak is wrapped up in that tiny acorn; but to develop it, the acorn must have time to strike its roots, and the sapling must be exposed to the necessary influences. Summer and winter, spring and autumn, the stormy winds and soft breezes have all had a share in, and were all necessary to, the development of the baby-oak into the fair tree you see today. So it is with our work. All great work requires time.”
– Griffith John

All the above quotations are taken from How They Prayed Volume 3, written and compiled by Edwin and Lillian Harvey, and published by Harvey Christian Publishers. This book is available in their Online Christian Bookstore.

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These quotations have been taken from How They Prayed Volume Three which is published by Harvey Christian Publishers and is available in their Online Christian Bookstore.

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How They Prayed, Vol. Two: “Oh, for five hundred Elijahs!”

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“Oh, for five hundred Elijahs,” exclaimed Charles Spurgeon, “each one upon his Carmel, crying unto God, and we should soon have the clouds bursting into showers! Oh, for more prayer, more constant, incessant prayer! Then the blessing would rain upon us.”
These words of Spurgeon’s are quoted on page sixty-one of the book, How They Prayed Vol. Two, written and compiled by Edwin and Lillian Harvey.

This volume, the second in the How They Prayed series, focuses on the prayers of preachers and ministers of the Gospel and shows how prayer was vital to the ministry of many of God’s servants. The following quotation from the same book tells of an incident in the life of Rev. Griffith of Caernarvon, Wales, who was asked to preach one night in a farmhouse:
“Some hours before the service was to begin, he asked for a retired spot in which to prepare for the evening service. The congregation had already assembled, but there was no sign of the minister. A servant in the family was sent to his room to request him to come as the people had been waiting for some time.
“On approaching the door of his room, she heard what she supposed to be a dialogue carried on in a subdued tone of voice. Listening before knocking, she heard one say to the other, ‘I will not go unless Thou come with me.’
The girl returned to the master of the house and told him that Rev. Griffiths had someone in the room with him, and that he would not come unless the other accompany him. ‘I did not hear the other reply, so I conclude he will not come from there tonight.’
“‘Yes, I am sure he will come,’ replied the master of the house, ‘and the Other will come with him. We shall begin the service by singing and reading till the two come.’
“At last the minister made his appearance, and it was evident that Someone else came with him for it was no ordinary service they had that night. It was but the beginning of a powerful revival in the neighborhood where many were born of God.” p. 65
How They Prayed Volume 2 is available on Harvey Christian Publishers’ Online Christian Bookstore.

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How They Prayed, Vol. Two: Rise Early!

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When the glory of the Father
Is the goal of every prayer―
When before the Throne in Heaven
Our High Priest presents it there―
When the Spirit prompts the asking,
When the waiting heart believes―
Then we know of each petition
Everyone who asks receives.

This poem is on the back cover of the book, How They Prayed Vol. 2, written and compiled by Edwin and Lillian Harvey. This volume particularly emphasizes the need for ministers of the Gospel to be steeped in prayer and quotes from various preachers and pastors of past generations to show how they have stressed and practiced the importance of prayer in their ministry.
The opening chapters stress the importance of early rising as can be seen by the following excerpts:

On the lone mountain side,
Before the morning’s light,
The Man of sorrows wept and cried
And rose refreshed with might:
O hear us, then, for we
Are very weak and frail;
We make the Savior’s name our plea,
And surely must prevail.
―Charles Spurgeon. p. 8

This (early rising) used to be easier than it is now. The whole habit of life of the modern world has been changed, and for the worse spiritually, by two inventions, rapid locomotion and brilliant artificial lights. By the latter, night can be turned into day; the world sits up late and cannot rise early. The evident rule of the Creator for His creatures is disregarded by man, and one inevitable result is that while birds and beasts go on without nervous disorders, the human race gets more and more neurotic and undependable.―From An Ordered Life, by G. H. Lang, by permission of Paternoster Press, Exeter. Quoted in Royal Insignia, p. 14

If you receive what I call ‘the full composure’ in the morning, the mind stayed upon God, the solid rest, this will carry you into all your little concerns with the utmost patience, and the daily cross will be the blessed means of increasing your heaven. And this is a constant heaven; this is your place―to have God your all. William Bramwell. p. 22

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How They Prayed, Vol. Two: “Getting Windward of the Almighty!”

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“A plain man once said in the presence of the writer, ‘You must get up soon of a morning if you intend to get to windward of the Almighty.’ He spoke the truth.”―Thomas Champness, How They Prayed Vol. 2, p. 33
This is the main thrust of the first two chapters of How They Prayed Vol. 2, written and compiled by Edwin and Lillian Harvey, a book which focuses on the importance of prayer in the lives of all who would serve God and minister to others. Gerhardt Tersteegen echoes the same thought:

“O brothers; in these silent hours
God’s miracles are wrought;
He giveth His beloved in sleep
A treasure all unsought.

“I sit an infant at His feet,
Where moments teach me more
Than all the toil and all the books
Of all the ages hoar.”
―Tersteegen. p. 23

“Though I am apt to be unsettled and quickly set off the hinges,” writes Joseph Alleine, “yet methinks I am like a bird out of the nest; I am never quiet till I am in my old way of communion with God, like the needle in the compass that is restless till it be turned toward the pole. I can say, through grace, with the Church, ‘with my soul have I desired thee in the night, and with my spirit within me have I sought thee early.’ My heart is early and late with God; ’tis the business of my life and the delight of my life to seek Him.” p. 25

Yet never sleep the sun up; prayer should
Dawn with the day: these are set awful hours
’Twixt Heaven and us: the manna was not good
After sun-rising; for day sullies flowers:
Rise to prevent the sun; sleep doth sins glut,
And Heaven’s gates open when the world’s is shut.
―J Henry Vaughan p. 23

How They Prayed Vol. Two is published by Harvey Christian Publishers and is available in their Online Christian Bookstore.

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George Herbert and Marguerite Estaver

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“Since then, these three wait on Thy throne,
Ease, Power, and Love, I value prayer so,
That were I to leave but one,
Wealth, fame, endowments, virtues,–all should go;
I and dear prayer would together dwell,
And quickly gain, for each inch lost, an hell.”
–George Herbert. How They Prayed Vol. 2, p. 104.

“God’s goodness
Came to me just now on a friend’s prayer.
I clearly knew them both.
Strange!
A [prayer (that priceless gift); given me,
Arrives, laden with God.
‘Are prayers I wonder,
Empty dishes we present to God
For conveyance of His great goodness?
Why, then, aren’t more prayers given?
Why are we stingy with a prayer
When we need prayer so much ourselves?”
–Marguerite Estaver. (How They Prayed Vol. 2, p. 49. Used by permission as published in the Wesleyan Methodist).

How They Prayed Volume Two is the second in a three volume series which are published by Harvey Christian Publishers and is available in their Online Christian Bookstore.

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How They Prayed Vol. 2—G. D. Watson

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“ I am convinced that we have far too shallow views of that command to pray for our enemies. It means vastly more than to say, ‘God bless our foes.’ It means that we are to take them on our heart in good earnest, and intercede for them, particularly, lovingly, perseveringly—pray for them till out of a loving heart we can unite their highest welfare with our own.. . .

“Not only must we pray long and fervently for our positive foes, but pray much for religious people who are cold and severe to us; for if we do not keep our hearts warm and pure, and very tender to everybody on earth, we lose that sweet sense of oneness with Jesus which is worth more than all the friendships of creatures.” (pp. 80-81)

“Every man’s character depends on his prayers. It will be seen, at the final judgment, that all holy character will be in exact conformity to what has been the prayer-life of the individual. There is a history to prayer which is so interior and spiritual that we ourselves are not able to analyze it, or to mark its various degrees, and it would take the intelligence of an angel to write out the history of the prayers of God’s people. Doubtless, it is this that will be manifested at the time that the prayers of all saints are brought to their culmination and completion.” (page 83.)

The above quotations are taken from How They Prayed Volume Two. This book is the second in a three volume series which are published by Harvey Christian Publishers and is available in their Online Christian Bookstore.

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The pressure and stress of our age

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If you find this busy age crowding out time for prayer you are not alone. The saintliest believers today are having a struggle. It seems the enemy is doing his utmost to distract God’s children from what is their greatest weapon against him. Battles are won or lost before the fight begins. There are so many factors that make for victory. David had the victory well before he ever heard of Goliath. We do well to associate with victors if we are to gain the victory ourselves. Try reading “How They Prayed” or “They Knew Their God” for encouragement.

How They Prayed Series—Volume 3

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Not in the tumult of the rending storm,
Not in the earthquake or devouring flame,
But in the hush that could all fear transform,
The still, small whisper to the Prophet came.

O Soul, keep silence on the mount of God
Though cares and needs thro round thee like a sea;
From supplications and desires unshod,
Be still, and hear what God shall say to thee.

O rest, in utter quietude of soul,
Abandon words, leave prayer and praise awhile,
Let thy whole being, hushed in His control,
Learn the full meaning of His voice and smile.
–Mary Rowles Jarvis.
This poem can be found on page 98 in the third volume in the How They Prayed Series, written by Edwin and Lillian Harvey and published by Harvey Christian Publishers.

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