02.05. The Pastor in the Prayer Meeting

V. THE PASTOR IN THE PRAYER-MEETING. The secret power with God is prayer. The prayer meeting is the most important circle that gathers in the church, both in its influence on Christians and on the world. The Church of Christ was bom in a tendays’ prayer-meeting, and it must still be found in the place of prayer. In building the Church of God, prayer has the first place. Before sermon or parish work is prayer. Above all other services is the prayer service. God calls his house a House of Prayer. He rears his church over the wells of salvation, and by prayer the water of life with joy is drawn. The believer that is always there receives and gives a blessing which will hardly be exceeded by any other work he ever does. The prayer-meeting must have the pastor for its guide. There may be scores of godly and able members, but he stands at the centre, and none can understand the needs and fitnesses, and bring out the gifts and graces as he can. An engine on the deck of a steamship moves nothing; but planted at the heart of the vessel, fired and throbbing, it geai*s on to everything; each part finds its place and use, and the whole ship is in motion. So the pastor is the heart of fire at the hour of prayer, setting everything in order, calling each talent into service, and giving direction and movement. The staple of the prayer-meeting is its spirituality. It is not a sociable, though it is social. It is not a talking and singing meeting, though men talk and sing with the heart. It is not a solemn rehearsal of prayermeeting prayers; nor is it a weekly lecture by the pastor, made up of what is left over. Such a meeting is the poppy among the flowers in the garden of plants. Nothing can be substituted for the pure gold of devotion. Sprightliness and skill in displaying trifles will not pass. You cannot have a soul-moving prayermeeting without soul-moving piety. There is auroral light, and there are many stars, small and great, but it is the sun that creates the day. The one thing that makes the hour of prayer blessed is the light of the living God in the souls of his communing children. If our prayer-meetings are poor, it is because our piety is shallow. Nothing will make them powerful and profitable like more godliness. Deepen the consecration and you deepen the interest and helpfulness. When the church has had most form, it has had least prayer; when its power has been greatest, it has been oftenest bowed at the mercy-seat. The gift of knees is Pentecost. Wealth, worldliness, and fashion fly to form and say prayers. Living faith lifts the heart and bends the knee. George Herbert, in his ’ Priest to the Temple,” strange to say, makes no mention of the prayer-meeting. It was choked by the ritual, as it is now at times by unbelief, by conclusions of science, speculations of philosophy, and the higher criticism.

Preparation for the hour of prayer is essential. It will not go itself, however good the saints that are gathered. It requires as much time and thought to be charged for it as it does for a sermon; and the conduct of it, as much wisdom and skill. It deals with the greatest principles of our being, and with the most vital doctrines of revelation. He who guides it, — his mind must be taught of God, his heart must be near Christ’s heart, and his ear long at the lips of his Lord. The leader Avill not go up lightly from the world to this gathering, but come down as from the high places, his face made like Moses’ face, from secret communings. The prayer-meeting is a place of power. Miracles are done in it. When the disciples were praying, the Holy Spirit’descended. When the church was praying at John Mark’s house, Peter was let out of prison by an angel. When the church prays now, there is answer in India and China and Africa. While Christians pray there is fresh anointing from on high; they become strong in the Lord and the power of his might. The hour we stop doing for God and spend in communing with him is the most strengthening in the week. More prayers and less words. Less time with men, and more with God. We get the victory in the prayer-room where no eye sees but God’s, and all hearts are one before Him. The prayer circle is a place of instruction. Prayer is a great teacher. The word of truth is unfolded there; mysteries are explained; promises are fulfilled; deliverances are wrought; what God teaches in prayer is pure truth; what we learn on our knees, we never unlearn. The place of prayer is a place of rest after toil, for comfort in perplexity and trouble. It is good to draw near to God. “Draw nigh unto me and I will draw nigh unto you.” The gates to the mercy-seat are many, and, like those to the Golden City, stand open day and night, that every soul may enter in. It is a place of fellowship. Next to the joy of heaven is the gladness of hearts gathered together in prayer. It is a place for conversion of souls. Of how many it shall be written: “They were born there.” It is a place for replenishing the daily losses of the heart, and enthroning or God again from the seat of the soul. A Christian is always helped in his association with other Christians. Single coals do not hold fire, but gathered together there is glow. Double the number in this fellowship and commission, and you more than double the interest and power of the meeting. A definite object is desirable, toward which the current of the meeting presses, that it may gather force as it goes, and draw into itself the cold and waiting ones. Variety is important; sameness is tameness. The tree of life bears twelve manner of fruit, a great diversity; and it sheds its leaves every prayer-meeting hour for the healing of God’s children. Many a leader runs the wheels of salvation into the old rut early in the meeting, and there he is stuck, with no help from saint or sinner.

Make the meeting the centre of Christian work and benevolence. Let the best life of the church gather there; cause it to be a place of resort and comfort for all the weary and heavy laden, bringing what they have learned in the daily conflict of life; what defeats and what progress; see that it is the register of all best thoughts, feelings, struggles, and triumphs for each week. Make it a praise-meeting now and then.

Let each one give a reason for thanksgiving; recount hindrances to the better life; sing sometimes through the entire hour, alternating after each verse with prayer. Have a conference on ’such subjects as Sabbath keeping, family worship, training of children, amusements, and so on. Let any ask for prayers. Suggest a season of silent prayer; join in the Lord’s Prayer.

Write out a covenant each one, and resolutions, and let them be presented. Have a Scripture reading, all taking part. Privately ask several beforehand to take part one after another without being called on. For a Bible lesson, at the opening, let each one repeat a verse, and so read the Scriptures from the tablet of memory. Print a list of subjects and circulate them. Have a question-box. Give out the subject from the pulpit Sunday. Be on the watch for fresh experience of God’s love and goodness, of promises fulfilled, of aid rendered, and prayers answered, and new conversions, and let the facts be spoken to the praise of God. At the beginning of a meeting give out. a living topic, and name six brethren before you to speak on it, three minutes each, and after singing and prayer call on them. If the meeting refuses to go at any time, turn it into a conversation, all rising and greeting the next neighbor; they will soon find their tongues. Appoint several members quietly beforehand to discuss a subject, and set it going without any public warning. Let a verse of Scripture be handed to each one on entering, to be read or recited in due time, and given away to some one before Sunday. There should be a great deal of Bible in the meetings. Sit in silence a little time now and then with God and your own thoughts. Let all bow sometimes, and one after another utter a sentence of prayer that most presses on the heart, without rising. Take much pains with the music. Short sentiments in prose and verse may be repeated by the young with profit. Talk about the prayer-meeting through the week. Never scold, or tease, or worry the members. If you have any criticism or rebuke to give, do it in private. Make it the happiest hour in the week, and the most helpful place for the soul. Let it all be mellowed and sanctified by the spirit of prayer. Ask all the church to come, and make the hour so profitable to the inner life that they cannot afford to stay away. You cannot drive the bees with a whip, but plant a clover field and you will get them, and they will fill the hive with honey.