QUIET TALKS ON PRAYER

Quiet Talks on Prayer

Quiet converses on plea by S.D. Gordon

Introduction

S.D. Gordon in his calm converses on plea makes very clear to us that we are committed in a gigantic spiritual battle here on earth which can only be won through prayer. "plea is man giving God a footing on the contested territory of this earth.

Summary of the book

S.D. Gordon's home surroundings in that outside world, the contact with Greek culture, his natural mental cast fitted him peculiarly for his appointed task to the great outside majority. His enthusiastic reasoning forces, his vivid fantasy, his steel-like will, his burning devotion, his unmovable purpose, his tender addition to his Lord,--what a man! Well might the expert desire to win such a man for service' sake. But Paul had some feeble traits. Let us state it very softly, recalling as we instinctively will, that where we believe of one in him there arrive crowding to memory's doorwayway numerous more in one's self. Aman's feeble issue is generally the farthest opposite sway of the pendulum on his powerful point. Paul had a marvellous will. He was a monster, a Hercules in his will. Those tireless excursions with their terrific experiences, all spell out will large and black. But, softly now, he went to extremes here. Was it due to his overtired nerves? He was obstinate, occasionally; stubborn; set in his way: sometimes head down, jaw locked, going by car hard. Say it all gently, for we are talking of dear vintage saintly Paul; but, to help, state it, for it is true. God had a hard time retaining Paul to His plans. Paul had some of his own.

Critiqur of the book

We can all effortlessly appreciate that. Take a edge glimpse or two as he is pushing eagerly, splendidly on. Turn to that sixteenth chapter of Acts, and hear: "Having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to talk the word in (the province of) Asia," coupled with the detail of sickness being permitted to overtake him in Galatia where the "forbidding" note came. And afresh this, "they assayed to proceed into Bithynia; and the essence of Jesus endured them not."[20] notify me, is this the way the essence of God leads? That I should proceed driving ahead until He should pull me up with a sharp turn, and rotate me around! It is the way He is obliged to do many times, no question, with most of us. Rather this, the holding close, and calm and hearing for the next step. Rather the "I accelerate not up yet unto this feast" of Jesus. And then in a couple of days going up, manifestly when the clear intimation came. These phrases, "assayed to go," "forbidden," "suffered not"--what flashlights they let into this powerful man's character. But there is much more powerful clues yet. Paul had an aspiration to preach to the Jerusalem Jews. It burned in his skeletal parts from the early hours of his new ...