80 The Fundamentals Christ’s name is to come to God, as identified with the very person of Christ. A wife makes a purchase in her husband’s name. Literally, she uses his name, not her own. She says, “I am Mrs. A--------—,” which means, “I am his wife, identified with his personality, character, wealth, commer cial credit, and business standing.” To go to God in Christ’s name is to claim identity with Christ as a member of His body, one with Him before the Father, and having in Him a right to the Father’s gifts, a right to draw on the Father’s infinite resources. Again, we are told that, if we ask anything " according to His will," He heareth us. But what is asking according to His will but ceasing to ask according to our own self- will? Here the impulse is not human, but essentially Di vine. It implies a knowledge of His will, an insight into His own mind, and a sympathy with His purpose. Now is this possible unless by the Holy Spirit we are brought into such fellowship with God as that He can guide us in judgment and yearning, and teach us His way? He is in deed “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,” but it is “according to His power which work- eth in us.” If that power work not in us first, how can it work for us, in answered prayer ? In order to gain higher results, wrought for the Church or the world, in answer to supplication, there must first be deeper results wrought in the believer by the Holy Spirit. In other words, there must be a higher type o f personal holi ness i f there is to be a higher measure of power in prayer. The carnal mind does not fall into harmony with God, does not even see and perceive His mind, and hence the carnally- minded disciple can not discern the will of God in prayer, but is continually hindered and hampered by mistaking self- impelled petitions for divinely inspired prayers, confounding what self-will craves with what is spiritually needful and Scripturally warranted.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker