36 The Fundamentals Prayer is, then, a most effective and powerful agency in winning others. We ought also to pray more in our public utterances for the immediate and direct result of our preaching; that souls may be converted; that hearts may be arrested in sin and turned to God. Dr. Maltbie Babcock used to pray for a verdict then and there, that souls might yield during that very service. When a congregation feels that a preacher actually expects results, they begin to expect and pray for them too. If the soul hungers for souls, then public as well as private prayer will claim them. METHOD AND MEANS We must now take up the subject of method and means. The method is, after all, secondary, and if it becomes too set and orderly, it will be self-destructive, for as soon as one sees your method, the heart and mind are steeled against it, and there is little or no interest. When God’s Spirit leads, we are responsive to all kinds of openings and ways. Instead of studying approach we simply advance as the plan opens before us, and we find ourselves doing in an unexpected way the very work we have always hoped to do. A revival of God’s Spirit means the disregard of former ways and means, and an initiation of new and untried channels. We regard and value less the method, and seek only for the result. It is wise and right for us, however, to consider methods and means. Christ Himself began His work with reaching individuals and training them to work for others. When Dr. Bruce wrote “The Training of the Twelve,” he gave us the scholarly development of this truth. The Founder of our faith gave Himself largely to twelve men, and one of these was not worthy and another extremely vacillating. With them He walked, to them He revealed Himself in conversa tion, precept, parable and miracle. They grew like Him and followed His teaching. Five hundred millions of souls today
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