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The Desire of Ages
of Christ were a living reality to them. They saw that the prophecies
had been literally fulfilled. They searched the Scriptures, and accepted
their teaching with a faith and assurance unknown before. They knew
that the divine Teacher was all that He had claimed to be. As they
told their experience, and exalted the love of God, men’s hearts were
melted and subdued, and multitudes believed on Jesus.
The Saviour’s promise to His disciples is a promise to His church
to the end of time. God did not design that His wonderful plan to
redeem men should achieve only insignificant results. All who will
go to work, trusting not in what they themselves can do, but in what
God can do for and through them, will certainly realize the fulfillment
of His promise. “Greater works than these shall ye do,” He declares;
“because I go unto My Father.”
As yet the disciples were unacquainted with the Saviour’s unlimited
resources and power. He said to them, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing
in My name.”
John 16:24
. He explained that the secret of their success
would be in asking for strength and grace in His name. He would
be present before the Father to make request for them. The prayer
of the humble suppliant He presents as His own desire in that soul’s
behalf. Every sincere prayer is heard in heaven. It may not be fluently
expressed; but if the heart is in it, it will ascend to the sanctuary
where Jesus ministers, and He will present it to the Father without one
awkward, stammering word, beautiful and fragrant with the incense of
His own perfection.
The path of sincerity and integrity is not a path free from obstruc-
tion, but in every difficulty we are to see a call to prayer. There is
no one living who has any power that he has not received from God,
and the source whence it comes is open to the weakest human being.
“Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name,” said Jesus, “that will I do, that
the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My
name, I will do it.”
“In My name,” Christ bade His disciples pray. In Christ’s name His
followers are to stand before God. Through the value of the sacrifice
made for them, they are of value in the Lord’s sight. Because of the
imputed righteousness of Christ they are accounted precious. For
Christ’s sake the Lord pardons those that fear Him. He does not see in
them the vileness of the sinner. He recognizes in them the likeness of
His Son, in whom they believe.
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