[Faith-talk] {Spam?} The Highest Ministry: Do-Or-Die Prayer by Leonard Ravenhill

[Paul Smith]

Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994) was an evangelist and author who 
challenged the modern church to compare itself to the early Christian 
church as chronicled in the Book of Acts.  The following is taken from 
"Why Revival Tarries," by Leonard Ravenhill, copyright 1959

No man is greater than his prayer life.  The pastor who is not praying 
is playing; the people who are not praying are straying.  The pulpit 
can be a shop window to display one's talents; the prayer closet allows 
no showing off.

Poverty-stricken as the church is today in many things, she is most 
stricken here, in the place of prayer.  We have many organizers, but 
few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few 
dingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much 
fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many 
writers, but few fighters.  Failing here, we fail everywhere.

The two prerequisites for successful Christian living are vision and 
passion, both of which are born in and maintained by prayer.  The 
ministry of preaching is open to few; the ministry of prayer--the 
highest ministry of all human offices--is open to all.  Spiritual 
adolescents say, "I'll not go tonight, it's only the prayer meeting." 
It may be that Satan has little cause to fear most preaching.  Yet, 
past experiences sting him to rally all his infernal army to fight 
against God's people praying.  God is not prodigal with His power; but 
to be much for God, we must be much with God.

This world hits the trail for hell with a speed that makes our fastest 
plane look like a tortoise; yet alas, few of us can remember the last 
time we missed our bed for a night of waiting upon God for a 
world-shaking revival.

Prayer is profoundly simple and simply profound.  "Prayer is the 
simplest form of speech that infant lips can try," and yet so sublime 
that it outranges all speech and exhausts man's vocabulary.  A Niagara 
of burning words does not mean that God is either impressed or moved.  
One of the most profound of Old Testament intercessors had no 
language--"Her lips moved, but her voice was not heard."

Are we so substandard to New Testament Christianity that we know not 
the historical faith of our fathers (with its implications and 
operations,) but only the hysterical faith of our fellows?

Can anyone deny that in the modern church setup the main cause of 
anxiety is money? Yet that which tries the modern churches the most 
troubled the New Testament church the least.  Our accent is on paying, 
theirs was on praying.  When we have paid, the place is taken; when 
they had prayed, the place was shaken!

In the matter of New Testament, Spirit-inspired, hell-shaking, 
world-breaking prayer, never has so much been left by so many to so few.

For this kind of prayer there is no substitute.  We do it--or die!

When I first read this about six months ago, I was forced to stop and 
take stock of my prayer life by asking my conscience and soul:  Is my 
prayer life the kind that really pleases God or selfish me? I had to 
admit that it was more the latter than the former.  With His help and 
grace, I believe that it was turned around.  This reading that you have 
just read was truly a soul-searching one for me, and I pray it was for you.

Several weeks ago in the Interactive Christian Community, it was my 
pleasure and privilege, along with several other ICC members, to hear a 
prerecorded sermon given by Brother Ravenhill, and that was as profound 
as what you just read, in my opinion.

And that will do for now, but don't forget that, Lord willing tomorrow 
there will be another message by Tim Smith of the Museum of the Bible 
in Washington, DC.  Until then may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 
just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in 
which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul