And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
All that is asked in believing prayer will be received, for the prayer of faith unlocks heaven's treasury and God holds Himself pledged to hear and answer those who trust Him. The promise does not grant every wish without condition, but rests on abiding in Christ with His words abiding in the believer, asking in His name as Mediator, and seeking His will and glory apart from selfishness with obedience to His law. It requires coming with humility, repentance and holy hands, believing that God is and rewards seekers, trusting His Word without wavering or doubt, and believing the gift is received even while asking. Jesus spoke it after the rapid withering of the barren, leaf-covered fig tree, which showed the power of undoubting faith and exposed profession without fruit as worthless, hateful to Christ, and a warning of doom to fruitless professors and churches. God answers such prayer in His own time and way for the best good and His glory, giving guidance, counsel, help in need, and even healing, while those who ask are to keep bringing burdens, wait patiently, and continue asking with unlimited confidence.
Fig-Tree Setting and Symbol
The promise belongs to the fig-tree episode in which faith without doubt can command a mountain to be removed, and the rapid withering of the tree demonstrated the power of faith. The blighting of the barren fig tree, together with the triumphal entrance into Jerusalem and the cleansing of the temple, pointed to Jerusalem's doom. The barren tree, covered with leaves but with no fruit found on it, represents impenitent Israel and the Jewish nation while Jesus was in their midst, covered with leaves of profession. Guilt was fixed on the generation that rejected Him after warning, judgments, and blessing given and withdrawn, imposing the most solemn responsibility while He was among them.
The curse pronounced on the tree represents a moral, thinking, living agent cursed of God. The Jews lived on for forty years after this event yet were dead, while the trees representing the Gentiles were not covered but leafless, making no pretension to knowledge of God, because their time of fruit-bearing was not yet. Profession without practice and without the fruit of a faithful, holy life is worthless to Christ, and outward appearance and profession do not prove fruitfulness. Lives that make an outward show but bear no spiritual fruit are barren, and God is not pleased when His human agencies utterly fail to fulfill the purposes for which they were created and redeemed to bear fruit in good works.
Christ hates hypocrisy and hollow pretense and searches critically for good fruit. He looks for fruit as principles of goodness and sympathy and love, the principles of heaven, and when they are revealed Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. Gorgeous apparel, fine singing, and instrumental music in the church are like the branches of that unfruitful tree when fruit is missing and do not call forth the songs of the angel choir. A congregation may be the poorest in the land, without music or outward show, but if it possesses heavenly principles the members can sing, for the joy of Christ is in their souls as a sweet oblation to God.
The cursed fig tree serves as a warning to professed Christians and to Christian churches in every age. Its fruitlessness represents lack of piety, self-denial, self-sacrifice, compassion, zeal for God, repentance and faith, and concern to save others from unbelief and ruin, repeating the failure of the Jewish nation. Churches that disregard God's law bring destruction upon themselves. The doom of the withered tree has a personal application to people in the last days who claim to have great light in advance of every other people yet whose daily life and unholy character belie profession of godliness.
They bear only leaves of profession to conceal deformity but no fruit, without inward crucifixion of sin and without the mold of Christ. They manifest pride and selfishness, peevish fretfulness, frivolity, discontent, uncharitableness, censoriousness, evil thinking and evil speaking of brethren, with soul chambers desecrated by sin to Satan's control. An open sinner is in a more favorable condition before God and there is more hope of him than of a fruitless professor of religion. Christ receives and heals the truly penitent, and the warning presses fruitless professors to be Christians indeed, be zealous and repent, have true contrition and humble hearts before God, confess sins and be converted before forever too late, that sins may be blotted out and the name retained in the Lamb's book of life.
Conditions of Believing Prayer
The promise does not mean that merely believing guarantees whatever is asked, for not every request is granted without condition. It rests on a foundation of faith in Christ, with the believer abiding in Him and His words abiding in the believer.
Coming to God requires believing that He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, drawing near with the realization that His help alone is needed. Trust is to be placed in His promises and His Word rather than in the word of man, taking the Bible as guide and living its teachings, and God makes His word Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus to those who trust Him.
Prayer must be offered with confidence that it reaches the throne of God and that what is asked will be received, without wavering, doubt, or unbelief. Tame prayer without belief that the request will be granted should not be offered, but believing prayer is to be spoken clearly and distinctly as by one who knows Christ abides within. Such faith is possible because Christ died to bring a whole heaven of opportunities and privileges within reach of fallen humanity.
The prayer of faith trusts God's promises even when circumstances and appearances seem to contradict them and however faith is tested. A request for assurance of God's love, healing, renewal, and strength to serve may be asked in this confidence, while leaving the manner of healing to God's wisdom. After silent prayer and firm confidence despite continuing pain and weakness, pain can cease, strength return, and healing be granted.
Those who ask are to believe that they receive what they ask, believing that God gives while they ask. The faith exercised is proportionate to the blessings received, and believing makes faith grow and strengthens and encourages others. This trust applies to practical decisions, including where to locate a school, acknowledging God as Counselor rather than depending on counsel from those who do not trust or obey Him.
Prayer is to be offered in Jesus' name and in Christ's name as Mediator, since petitions have value only in His name by whose atoning sacrifice the gulf of sin is bridged. Christ joins the merits of His perfect obedience to sincere, humble prayers and intercedes for His people, so believers can pray with confidence that an answer will come. They are to ask as stewards of the grace of heaven, trusting the pledge of what an omnipotent Saviour can bestow.
What is asked must be for God's name's glory and to do His will apart from all selfish personal consideration, bringing His word to triumph and honoring Him before those watching critically for failure. Lives should be brought into harmony with the prayers offered, with earnest supplication joined with obedience to God's law to cooperate with God so His kingdom is established in the heart. This means seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness with the whole heart in sincerity and truth, with the heart kept open to receive the grace of Christ.
Prayer requires coming without self-justification but with humility, repentance of sins, and holy hands without wrath and doubting. Hunger for righteousness and longing for mercy, counsel, and love show that Christ has created a sense of need in the heart. A person need not become holy before coming, for knowing one is a sinner is sufficient reason to ask for mercy and cleansing, which God gives through the Holy Spirit for what people cannot do for themselves.
Believers are to bring needs, burdens, plans, and requests to God, keep praying when an answer is delayed, continue to pray and continue to ask with unlimited confidence, casting all care upon Him. They are to wait patiently and trustingly for His saving work rather than trying to secure the desired result by human strength or stepping in before Him, then acting in confidence that He can answer. Plans and requests are thus to rest under God's wisdom and be for His glory.
Every promise in God's Word belongs to believers to present in prayer and claim by faith, with assurance that asking in faith brings all spiritual blessings and continuing to ask brings exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought. For God as King has the abundance of heaven to supply necessities and gives every good and perfect gift from above.
The promise is the only hope in sickness and means moving forward in faith to pray for the sick to be healed and restored by God's power instead of holding back for fear they will die. Saying in prayer for the sick, if it can be for Thy glory, does not show unbelief, because God who knows the present and future history of all will do what is for our best good and His name's glory, whether the sick live or die.
How God Hears and Answers
The omnipotent Saviour pledges to give what He can bestow to those who trust in Him and ask in faith. The prayer of faith is the key that unlocks the treasury of heaven, and God holds Himself responsible to hear and answer. He invites sinners to come and bestows His best and choicest gifts to supply great need because He loves to help. This pledge is to be studied and held to instead of worrying and thereby making the yoke severe and the burden heavy.
God hears prayer offered for others and works for their good and for His own name's glory. No sincere supplication is lost. Those who pray in faith may receive what they ask for, and are to rejoice and praise Him for answering. The faith exercised is proportionate to the blessings received.
God answers believing prayer in His own time and His own way, and it is His glory to impart the things most needed. Trusting His wisdom and power gives faith, peace, and comfort. Coming to God requires believing that He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, drawing near with the realization that His help alone is needed, and He is glorified as the hearer of prayer when the suppliant believes He will hear and answer. Saying in prayer for the sick, if it can be for Thy glory, does not show unbelief, because God who knows the present and future history of all and has no human limit on healing will do what is for our best good and His name's glory, whether the sick live or die.
To those who draw near, trust, and faithfully serve Him, God gives help to go forward. He provides a Guide to direct the way in every situation, a sure Counselor in every perplexity, and a sympathizing Friend in sorrow, bereavement, and loneliness. He does not leave or forsake followers even when ignorance leads to missteps, but with outstretched omnipotent arm guides onward. He keeps the trusting mind in perfect peace and delivers the needy who cry.
When prayers are asked for His glory, His word triumphs gloriously and He is honored before those watching critically for failure, despite forbidding appearances and discouraging circumstances. God gives help to those who draw near and trust Him, and answers their requests when they seek His name's glory, bringing His word to triumph and showing His power to those watching. Christ joins the merits of His perfect obedience to sincere, humble prayers and intercedes for them, so they can pray with confidence that an answer will come.
God understands the whole case, moves upon hearts, and raises up helpers moved by His Spirit to impart means in necessity. He makes every lawful scheme for advancing the work of saving perishing souls a success and enables going forward with assurance in spite of discouraging appearances.
Those who know how to trust, lay hold on God as the source of strength, repose in Him, wait patiently for Him, and have confidence in His promises will find Him a present help in every time of need and will see His workings. They will not be overcome in stormy times ahead. Those who recognize their need and ask God for what they need in faith receive His gifts, and believing God gives while they ask makes faith grow and strengthens and encourages others.
Practical Applications for Life
The promise supports going to God directly and individually for guidance about duty, trials, perplexity, practical decisions, and knowing and doing His will. He is to be acknowledged as Counselor, even in such practical matters as where to locate a school, rather than relying on human judgment or depending on counsel from those who do not trust or obey Him. Those who ask without wavering and trust that He will do as He has said receive gracious answers with strength and grace. That confidence brings peace, assurance, light, and hope.
Faith in the Word brings fulfillment of its promises, so requests made in believing faith are granted. Reliance is therefore to be placed not on the word of man but on God, who makes His word Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus to those who trust Him. This calls for taking the Bible as guide, living its teachings, seeking God individually for deeper spirituality, and maintaining individuality while following the one pattern Christ Jesus.
Prayer is the way to bring requests, burdens, and worries to God rather than worrying over them. Worrying only makes the yoke severe and the burden heavy, while doing all that can be done without worrying, trusting in Christ, asking in faith as stewards of the grace of heaven in His name, waiting trustingly for His salvation without stepping in before Him to bring about the desired thing in human strength, and acting as if His power to answer were believed, honors the pledge. Bringing burdens to God and asking Him for help with faith that He will answer is a source of strength. Those who come to Him in such faith receive His help and are honored by Him.
Believers may ask God for great things in prayer and receive what they ask in faith, for faith draws from Jesus the things that are needed. The promise is sure and never failing, to be accepted as surety, and it belongs personally even to one who is listless and hopeless. God's people therefore need not be disheartened or lack confidence that He is near and will answer.
Praying, asking in faith, and believing will always bring returns. Therefore prayer is to be without ceasing, not vocal prayer all the time, but a continual life of prayer in which there is never a time to cease praying. This includes earnest prayer for others, as at the family altar, that they will be led and taught of God. It calls for good courage and pressing on in faith and hope.
The promise applies to earnest prayer for God to work and be honored through the growing interest in meetings. It applies to seeking the means needed to build a house of worship, giving grounds to hold fast in prayer for that need. It applies also to seeking the bread of life and a meek and quiet spirit, which are of greater worth than earthly possessions.
The promise is fulfilled in physical healing when trusted even though circumstances and appearances seem to contradict it. The request for assurance of God's love is granted and faith is revived by relying on the promises despite continuing pain and weakness. After silent prayer and firm confidence, pain ceased, strength returned, and eye swelling disappeared with eyesight restored.
Opening the heart to the Spirit leads Him to work through the believer and bless labor for souls. Believing prayer asked for God's name's glory receives sent help, so workers for God are never forsaken in any position. Jesus provides a Guide to direct the way in every situation, a sure Counselor in every perplexity, and a sympathizing Friend in sorrow, bereavement, and loneliness, and does not leave followers even when ignorance leads to missteps. The arm of Omnipotence leads onward, keeping the trusting mind in perfect peace and delivering the needy who cry, so that despite forbidding appearances and those watching for failure, God's word triumphs gloriously.
Believing prayer is answered in the work of scattering truth-filled and temperance publications through towns and cities. Humble prayers joined with unselfish activity are blessed by God so the truth as it is in Jesus comes to needy souls as the bread of life and waters of salvation. Christ repeats through humble, faithful workers the words He spoke on earth. Their humility of heart and simplicity of true godliness causes respect and leads men and women to seek the source of their power.
All that is asked in believing prayer will be received, for the prayer of faith unlocks heaven's treasury and God holds Himself pledged to hear and answer those who trust Him. The promise does not grant every wish without condition, but rests on abiding in Christ with His words abiding in the believer, asking in His name as Mediator, and seeking His will and glory apart from selfishness with obedience to His law. It requires coming with humility, repentance and holy hands, believing that God is and rewards seekers, trusting His Word without wavering or doubt, and believing the gift is received even while asking. Jesus spoke it after the rapid withering of the barren, leaf-covered fig tree, which showed the power of undoubting faith and exposed profession without fruit as worthless, hateful to Christ, and a warning of doom to fruitless professors and churches. God answers such prayer in His own time and way for the best good and His glory, giving guidance, counsel, help in need, and even healing, while those who ask are to keep bringing burdens, wait patiently, and continue asking with unlimited confidence.
Fig-Tree Setting and Symbol
The promise belongs to the fig-tree episode in which faith without doubt can command a mountain to be removed, and the rapid withering of the tree demonstrated the power of faith. The blighting of the barren fig tree, together with the triumphal entrance into Jerusalem and the cleansing of the temple, pointed to Jerusalem's doom. The barren tree, covered with leaves but with no fruit found on it, represents impenitent Israel and the Jewish nation while Jesus was in their midst, covered with leaves of profession. Guilt was fixed on the generation that rejected Him after warning, judgments, and blessing given and withdrawn, imposing the most solemn responsibility while He was among them.
The curse pronounced on the tree represents a moral, thinking, living agent cursed of God. The Jews lived on for forty years after this event yet were dead, while the trees representing the Gentiles were not covered but leafless, making no pretension to knowledge of God, because their time of fruit-bearing was not yet. Profession without practice and without the fruit of a faithful, holy life is worthless to Christ, and outward appearance and profession do not prove fruitfulness. Lives that make an outward show but bear no spiritual fruit are barren, and God is not pleased when His human agencies utterly fail to fulfill the purposes for which they were created and redeemed to bear fruit in good works.
Christ hates hypocrisy and hollow pretense and searches critically for good fruit. He looks for fruit as principles of goodness and sympathy and love, the principles of heaven, and when they are revealed Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. Gorgeous apparel, fine singing, and instrumental music in the church are like the branches of that unfruitful tree when fruit is missing and do not call forth the songs of the angel choir. A congregation may be the poorest in the land, without music or outward show, but if it possesses heavenly principles the members can sing, for the joy of Christ is in their souls as a sweet oblation to God.
The cursed fig tree serves as a warning to professed Christians and to Christian churches in every age. Its fruitlessness represents lack of piety, self-denial, self-sacrifice, compassion, zeal for God, repentance and faith, and concern to save others from unbelief and ruin, repeating the failure of the Jewish nation. Churches that disregard God's law bring destruction upon themselves. The doom of the withered tree has a personal application to people in the last days who claim to have great light in advance of every other people yet whose daily life and unholy character belie profession of godliness.
They bear only leaves of profession to conceal deformity but no fruit, without inward crucifixion of sin and without the mold of Christ. They manifest pride and selfishness, peevish fretfulness, frivolity, discontent, uncharitableness, censoriousness, evil thinking and evil speaking of brethren, with soul chambers desecrated by sin to Satan's control. An open sinner is in a more favorable condition before God and there is more hope of him than of a fruitless professor of religion. Christ receives and heals the truly penitent, and the warning presses fruitless professors to be Christians indeed, be zealous and repent, have true contrition and humble hearts before God, confess sins and be converted before forever too late, that sins may be blotted out and the name retained in the Lamb's book of life.
Conditions of Believing Prayer
The promise does not mean that merely believing guarantees whatever is asked, for not every request is granted without condition. It rests on a foundation of faith in Christ, with the believer abiding in Him and His words abiding in the believer.
Coming to God requires believing that He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, drawing near with the realization that His help alone is needed. Trust is to be placed in His promises and His Word rather than in the word of man, taking the Bible as guide and living its teachings, and God makes His word Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus to those who trust Him.
Prayer must be offered with confidence that it reaches the throne of God and that what is asked will be received, without wavering, doubt, or unbelief. Tame prayer without belief that the request will be granted should not be offered, but believing prayer is to be spoken clearly and distinctly as by one who knows Christ abides within. Such faith is possible because Christ died to bring a whole heaven of opportunities and privileges within reach of fallen humanity.
The prayer of faith trusts God's promises even when circumstances and appearances seem to contradict them and however faith is tested. A request for assurance of God's love, healing, renewal, and strength to serve may be asked in this confidence, while leaving the manner of healing to God's wisdom. After silent prayer and firm confidence despite continuing pain and weakness, pain can cease, strength return, and healing be granted.
Those who ask are to believe that they receive what they ask, believing that God gives while they ask. The faith exercised is proportionate to the blessings received, and believing makes faith grow and strengthens and encourages others. This trust applies to practical decisions, including where to locate a school, acknowledging God as Counselor rather than depending on counsel from those who do not trust or obey Him.
Prayer is to be offered in Jesus' name and in Christ's name as Mediator, since petitions have value only in His name by whose atoning sacrifice the gulf of sin is bridged. Christ joins the merits of His perfect obedience to sincere, humble prayers and intercedes for His people, so believers can pray with confidence that an answer will come. They are to ask as stewards of the grace of heaven, trusting the pledge of what an omnipotent Saviour can bestow.
What is asked must be for God's name's glory and to do His will apart from all selfish personal consideration, bringing His word to triumph and honoring Him before those watching critically for failure. Lives should be brought into harmony with the prayers offered, with earnest supplication joined with obedience to God's law to cooperate with God so His kingdom is established in the heart. This means seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness with the whole heart in sincerity and truth, with the heart kept open to receive the grace of Christ.
Prayer requires coming without self-justification but with humility, repentance of sins, and holy hands without wrath and doubting. Hunger for righteousness and longing for mercy, counsel, and love show that Christ has created a sense of need in the heart. A person need not become holy before coming, for knowing one is a sinner is sufficient reason to ask for mercy and cleansing, which God gives through the Holy Spirit for what people cannot do for themselves.
Believers are to bring needs, burdens, plans, and requests to God, keep praying when an answer is delayed, continue to pray and continue to ask with unlimited confidence, casting all care upon Him. They are to wait patiently and trustingly for His saving work rather than trying to secure the desired result by human strength or stepping in before Him, then acting in confidence that He can answer. Plans and requests are thus to rest under God's wisdom and be for His glory.
Every promise in God's Word belongs to believers to present in prayer and claim by faith, with assurance that asking in faith brings all spiritual blessings and continuing to ask brings exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought. For God as King has the abundance of heaven to supply necessities and gives every good and perfect gift from above.
The promise is the only hope in sickness and means moving forward in faith to pray for the sick to be healed and restored by God's power instead of holding back for fear they will die. Saying in prayer for the sick, if it can be for Thy glory, does not show unbelief, because God who knows the present and future history of all will do what is for our best good and His name's glory, whether the sick live or die.
How God Hears and Answers
The omnipotent Saviour pledges to give what He can bestow to those who trust in Him and ask in faith. The prayer of faith is the key that unlocks the treasury of heaven, and God holds Himself responsible to hear and answer. He invites sinners to come and bestows His best and choicest gifts to supply great need because He loves to help. This pledge is to be studied and held to instead of worrying and thereby making the yoke severe and the burden heavy.
God hears prayer offered for others and works for their good and for His own name's glory. No sincere supplication is lost. Those who pray in faith may receive what they ask for, and are to rejoice and praise Him for answering. The faith exercised is proportionate to the blessings received.
God answers believing prayer in His own time and His own way, and it is His glory to impart the things most needed. Trusting His wisdom and power gives faith, peace, and comfort. Coming to God requires believing that He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, drawing near with the realization that His help alone is needed, and He is glorified as the hearer of prayer when the suppliant believes He will hear and answer. Saying in prayer for the sick, if it can be for Thy glory, does not show unbelief, because God who knows the present and future history of all and has no human limit on healing will do what is for our best good and His name's glory, whether the sick live or die.
To those who draw near, trust, and faithfully serve Him, God gives help to go forward. He provides a Guide to direct the way in every situation, a sure Counselor in every perplexity, and a sympathizing Friend in sorrow, bereavement, and loneliness. He does not leave or forsake followers even when ignorance leads to missteps, but with outstretched omnipotent arm guides onward. He keeps the trusting mind in perfect peace and delivers the needy who cry.
When prayers are asked for His glory, His word triumphs gloriously and He is honored before those watching critically for failure, despite forbidding appearances and discouraging circumstances. God gives help to those who draw near and trust Him, and answers their requests when they seek His name's glory, bringing His word to triumph and showing His power to those watching. Christ joins the merits of His perfect obedience to sincere, humble prayers and intercedes for them, so they can pray with confidence that an answer will come.
God understands the whole case, moves upon hearts, and raises up helpers moved by His Spirit to impart means in necessity. He makes every lawful scheme for advancing the work of saving perishing souls a success and enables going forward with assurance in spite of discouraging appearances.
Those who know how to trust, lay hold on God as the source of strength, repose in Him, wait patiently for Him, and have confidence in His promises will find Him a present help in every time of need and will see His workings. They will not be overcome in stormy times ahead. Those who recognize their need and ask God for what they need in faith receive His gifts, and believing God gives while they ask makes faith grow and strengthens and encourages others.
Practical Applications for Life
The promise supports going to God directly and individually for guidance about duty, trials, perplexity, practical decisions, and knowing and doing His will. He is to be acknowledged as Counselor, even in such practical matters as where to locate a school, rather than relying on human judgment or depending on counsel from those who do not trust or obey Him. Those who ask without wavering and trust that He will do as He has said receive gracious answers with strength and grace. That confidence brings peace, assurance, light, and hope.
Faith in the Word brings fulfillment of its promises, so requests made in believing faith are granted. Reliance is therefore to be placed not on the word of man but on God, who makes His word Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus to those who trust Him. This calls for taking the Bible as guide, living its teachings, seeking God individually for deeper spirituality, and maintaining individuality while following the one pattern Christ Jesus.
Prayer is the way to bring requests, burdens, and worries to God rather than worrying over them. Worrying only makes the yoke severe and the burden heavy, while doing all that can be done without worrying, trusting in Christ, asking in faith as stewards of the grace of heaven in His name, waiting trustingly for His salvation without stepping in before Him to bring about the desired thing in human strength, and acting as if His power to answer were believed, honors the pledge. Bringing burdens to God and asking Him for help with faith that He will answer is a source of strength. Those who come to Him in such faith receive His help and are honored by Him.
Believers may ask God for great things in prayer and receive what they ask in faith, for faith draws from Jesus the things that are needed. The promise is sure and never failing, to be accepted as surety, and it belongs personally even to one who is listless and hopeless. God's people therefore need not be disheartened or lack confidence that He is near and will answer.
Praying, asking in faith, and believing will always bring returns. Therefore prayer is to be without ceasing, not vocal prayer all the time, but a continual life of prayer in which there is never a time to cease praying. This includes earnest prayer for others, as at the family altar, that they will be led and taught of God. It calls for good courage and pressing on in faith and hope.
The promise applies to earnest prayer for God to work and be honored through the growing interest in meetings. It applies to seeking the means needed to build a house of worship, giving grounds to hold fast in prayer for that need. It applies also to seeking the bread of life and a meek and quiet spirit, which are of greater worth than earthly possessions.
The promise is fulfilled in physical healing when trusted even though circumstances and appearances seem to contradict it. The request for assurance of God's love is granted and faith is revived by relying on the promises despite continuing pain and weakness. After silent prayer and firm confidence, pain ceased, strength returned, and eye swelling disappeared with eyesight restored.
Opening the heart to the Spirit leads Him to work through the believer and bless labor for souls. Believing prayer asked for God's name's glory receives sent help, so workers for God are never forsaken in any position. Jesus provides a Guide to direct the way in every situation, a sure Counselor in every perplexity, and a sympathizing Friend in sorrow, bereavement, and loneliness, and does not leave followers even when ignorance leads to missteps. The arm of Omnipotence leads onward, keeping the trusting mind in perfect peace and delivering the needy who cry, so that despite forbidding appearances and those watching for failure, God's word triumphs gloriously.
Believing prayer is answered in the work of scattering truth-filled and temperance publications through towns and cities. Humble prayers joined with unselfish activity are blessed by God so the truth as it is in Jesus comes to needy souls as the bread of life and waters of salvation. Christ repeats through humble, faithful workers the words He spoke on earth. Their humility of heart and simplicity of true godliness causes respect and leads men and women to seek the source of their power.