fears the Holy Spirit within him as a believer will conquer the over whelming concern. After going into fierce battle, feeling his legs shaking with fear, an officer ad dressed himself, "Legs, you are shaking now, but what would you do if you knew where I'm going to take you today?" We can mas ter fear through the ministry of the Holy Spirit who lives within us as we look upon Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul is telling us that we are to know that the Lord is at hand. We are to be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication we are to allow our requests to be made known unto Him. God knows our need and He alone can provide victory over all our frustrating fears. One of the most misunderstood and misapplied biblical doctrines is that of prayer. The problem may be traced to the fact that so few people know God well enough to be associated with Him in such an intimate manner. Certainly none of us is where he ought to be spir itually. We talk about prayer, agreeing that it is vital, and yet we actually do so little of it in personal practice. Philippians 4:6 and 7 are an exceptionally fine declaration of the biblical view point for intercession. The first point to keep in mind is that prayer is for believers. This is primary. Paul's exhortation is to the faithful in Philippi. It is the sacred means by which an empty soul redeemed by the Saviour may be thrust beneath the life-giving fountain of God's grace. It is our spiritual antidote for anxiety and difficulty. All who come to God must do so believing that He exists in all aspects of biblical and doc
trinal truth. Since prayer is talking to the Lord the only prayers He hears are those which are made through His own Son, Jesus Christ. In Romans 5:2 Paul deals with the results of being saved. One of the privileges which this brings is im mediate access into the presence of the Lord. This was taught by Jesus Christ Himself as He testi fied, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). It should even be underscored that no prayer offered to God, apart from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, has ever reached the ears of the heavenly Father. Have you tried to pray and found God distant and unreal? Have you gone away without any real hope that the Lord has even listened to you? It could be that your sin has divided you like a wall from God's presence. This can only be removed by the Saviour. Come to Him in faith so that the doors of prayer can be opened to you. We should also point out that God does not hear the prayers offered by some Christian people. If we are clinging to some sin in our lives the Lord will not hear us (Psalm 66:18). Isaiah warned the children of Israel, "Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear, but your sins have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you that He will not hear (Isaiah 59:1-2). If this describes your prayer life come to Him for cleansing. You may be sure, based on the promise of Scripture, that He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and purge
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