An Unknown Christian

The Kneeling Christian

Chapter 9
Answers to Prayer

MERE human nature would choose a more startling title to
this chapter. Remarkable answers — wonderful answers —
amazing answers. But we must allow God to teach us that it
is as natural to Him to answer prayer as it is for us to
ask. How He delights to hear our petitions, and how He
loves to answer them! When we hear of some wealthy person
giving a treat to poverty-stricken people, or wiping out
some crushing deficit in a missionary society, we exclaim,
“How nice to be able to do a thing like that!”
Well, if it is true that God loves us — and we know it is
true — do you not think it gives Him great joy to give us
what we ask? We should like, therefore, to recount one or
two answers to prayer out of very many which have come to
our notice, so that we may have greater boldness in coming
to the Throne of Grace. God saves men for whom we pray. Try
it.

In talking over this question with a man of prayer a few
days ago, he suddenly asked me, “Do you know St.
M-‘s Church, L-?”

“Quite well — have been there several times.”

“Let me tell you what happened when I lived there. We
had a prayer-meeting each Sunday before the 8 o’clock
communion service. As we rose from our knees one Sunday a
sidesman said, ‘Vicar, I wish you would pray for my
boy. He is twenty-two years old now, and has not been to
church for years.’ ‘We can spare five minutes
now,’ replied the vicar. They knelt down again and
offered up earnest supplication on behalf of that man.
Although nothing was said to him about this, that youth
came to church that same evening. Something in the sermon
convicted him of sin. He came into the vestry
broken-hearted, and accepted Jesus Christ as, his
Savior.”

On Monday morning my friend, who was working as a Church
Army captain in the parish, was present at the weekly
meeting of the staff. He said to the vicar, “That
conversion last night is a challenge to prayer — a
challenge from God. Shall we accept it?” “What do
you mean?” asked the vicar. “Well,” said he,
“shall we single out the worst man in the parish and
pray for him?” By unanimous consent they fixed upon K-
as the worst man they knew. So they “agreed” in
prayer for his conversion. At the end of that week, as they
were conducting a Saturday night prayer-meeting in the
mission hall, and whilst his very name was on their lips,
the door swung open and in staggered K-, much the worse for
liquor. He had never been in that mission hall before.
Without thinking of removing his cap he sank on a chair
near the door and buried his face in his hands. The
prayer-meeting suddenly became an enquiry-room. Even as he
was — in drink — he sought the Lord Who was seeking him.
Nor did he ever go back. Today he is one of the finest
dockyard missioners in the land.

Oh, why do we not pray for our unconverted friends? They
may not listen to us when we plead with them, but they
cannot hold out if we pray for them. Let two or three agree
in prayer over the salvation of the worst, and then see
what God will do! Tell God and then trust God. God works in
a wonderful way, as well as in a “mysterious”
way, His wonders to perform.

Dan Crawford told us recently that when returning to his
mission field after a furlough, it was necessary to make
all possible haste. But a deep stream, which had to be
crossed, was in flood, and no boats were available, or
usable, for that matter. So he and his party camped and
prayed. An infidel might well have laughed aloud. How could
God get them across that river! But, as they prayed, a tall
tree which had battled with that river for scores of years
began to totter and fall. It fell clear across the stream!
As Mr. Crawford says, “The Royal Engineers of heaven
had laid a pontoon bridge for God’s servants.”

Many young people will be reading these prayer-stories.
May we remind them that God still hears the voice of the
lad — yes, and the lass? (Gen. xxi. 17.) For them may we
be allowed to add the following story, with the earnest
desire that prayer may be their heritage, their very life;
and that answered prayer may be their daily experience.

Some little time ago, a Chinese boy of twelve years old,
named Ma-Na-Si, a boarder in the mission school at Chefoo,
went home for the holidays. He is the son of a native
pastor.

Whilst standing on the doorstep of his father’s house
he espied a horseman galloping towards him. The man — a
heathen — was in a great state of perturbation. He eagerly
enquired for the “Jesus-man” — the pastor. The
boy told him that his father was away from home. The poor
man was much distressed, and hurriedly explained the cause
of his visit. He had been sent from a heathen village some
miles away to fetch the “holy man” to cast a
devil out of the daughter-in-law of a heathen friend. He
poured out his sad story of this young woman, torn by
devils, raving and reviling, pulling out her hair, clawing
her face, tearing her clothes, smashing up furniture, and
dashing away dishes of food. He told of her spirit of
sacrilege, and outrageous impiety, and brazen blasphemy and
how these outbursts were followed by foaming at the mouth,
and great exhaustion, both physical and mental “But my
father is not at home,” the boy kept reiterating. At
length the frenzied man seemed to understand. Suddenly he
fell on his knees, and, stretching out his hands in
desperation, cried, “You, too, are a Jesus-man; will
you come ?”

Think of it — a boy of twelve! Yes, but even a lad, when
fully yielded to his Savior, is not fearful of being used
by that Savior. There was but one moment of surprise, and a
moment of hesitation, and then the laddie put himself
wholly at his Master’s disposal. Like little Samuel of
old he was willing to obey God in all things. He accepted
the earnest entreaty as a call from God. The heathen
stranger sprang into the saddle, and, swinging the
Christian boy up behind him, he galloped away.

Ma-Na-Si began to think over things. He had accepted an
invitation to cast out a devil in the name of Christ Jesus.
But was he worthy to be used of God in this way? Was his
heart pure and his faith strong? As they galloped along he
carefully searched his own heart for sin to be confessed
and repented of. Then he prayed for guidance what to say
and how to act, and tried to recall Bible instances of
demoniacal possession and how they were dealt with. Then he
simply and humbly cast himself upon the God of power and of
mercy, asking His help for the glory of the Lord Jesus. On
arrival at the house they found that some of the members of
the family were by main force holding down the tortured
woman upon the bed. Although she had not been told that a
messenger had gone for the native pastor, yet as soon as
she heard footsteps in the court outside she cried,
“All of you get out of my way quickly, so that I can
escape. I must flee! A ‘Jesus-man’ is coming. I
cannot endure him. His name is Ma-Na-Si.”

Ma-Na-Si entered the room, and after a ceremonial bow
knelt down and began to pray. Then he sang a Christian hymn
to the praise of the Lord Jesus. Then, in the name of the
Risen Lord, glorified and omnipotent, he commanded the
demon to come out of the woman. At once she was calm,
though prostrate with weakness. From that day she was
perfectly whole. She was amazed when they told her that she
had uttered the name of the Christian boy, for she had
never heard of it or read of it before, for the whole of
that village was heathen. But that day was veritably a
“beginning of days” to those people, for from it
the Word of the Lord had free course and was glorified.

Beloved reader, I do not know how this little narrative
affects you. It is one that moves me to the very depths of
my being. It seems to me that most of us know so little of
the power of God — so little of His overwhelming,
irresistible love. Oh, what love is His! Now, every time we
pray, that wonderful love envelops us in a special way.

If we really loved our blessed Savior, should we not
oftener seek communion with Him in prayer? Fellow
Christian, is it because we pray so little that we
criticise so much? Oh, let us remember that we, like our
dear Savior, are not sent into the world to condemn, to
judge, the world, “but that the world should be saved
through Him” (John iii. 17).

Will any thoughtless word of criticism of anyone move
anyone nearer to Christ? Will it even help the utterer of
that fault-finding to be more like the Master? Oh, let us
lay aside the spirit of criticism, of blaming, of
fault-finding, of disparaging others or their work. Would
not St. Paul say to us all, “And such were some of
you, but ye are washed”? (II Cor. vi. 11.)

Do you see what we are aiming at? All the evil
dispositions and failings we detect in others are due to
the devil. It is the evil one in the heart who causes those
words and deeds which we are so ready to condemn and to
exaggerate. Demon-possession is not unknown in England, but
it takes a different form, perhaps. Our very friends and
acquaintances, so kindly and lovable, are often tied and
bound by some besetting sin — “whom Satan hath bound,
lo, these many years.”

We may plead with them in vain. We may warn them in vain.
Courtesy and charity — and our own failings and
shortcomings — forbid us standing over them like Ma-Na-Si
and exercising the evil spirit! But have we tried prayer —
prayer always backed up by love which cannot be
“provoked”? (I Cor. xiii. 5.)

God answers prayer from old and young, when there is a
clean heart, a holy life, and a simple faith. God answers
prayer. We are but frail and faulty servants at the best.
Sincere as we may be, we shall sometimes ask amiss. But God
is faithful that promised, and He will guard us from all
harm and supply every need.

Can I have the things I pray for?
God knows best;
He is wiser than His children.
I can rest.

“Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have
boldness toward God; and whatsoever we ask we receive of
him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things
that are pleasing in his sight” (I John iii.
21.)