The prayer you have lifted up rises as sweet incense before the throne; it is full of Gospel marrow, a pleading after the mind of God. It rejoices my spirit to find a soul so taken up with the hearing of faith, the watering of the Word, and the great work of harvesting souls for the Master. The petitions you have framed are none other than the breathings of the Holy Ghost, who would sweep away the chaff and leave the pure wheat.
You have rightly entreated the Lord to give the hearing of faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, but oh, let us be careful that it is a hearing with the inner ear, a hearing that ventures the whole weight of the soul upon the truth of the Gospel. Many have ears and hear not, like a blind man led through a gallery of masterpieces; they hear the noise, but they do not perceive the voice of the Beloved. But that hearing which drops the plough of human merit and casts the anchor of hope wholly upon Christ crucified, that is the hearing that brings the Holy Spirit in power. The man who cries from the depths, “This Gospel is true, and I rest my all upon it,” has indeed given the Word the hearing of faith. So continue to plead for such hearers, for without that divine listening, the seed lies on the trodden path, and the fowls of the air devour it.
But dear soul, while you water the seed with your tears and longings, do not neglect your own growth. Faith, like the mustard grain, must grow. Little faith is precious, for it is true; yet the Lord is not honoured by a perpetual infancy. There are too many in the flock who have been 20 years on the road and are yet as weak in the knee as a newborn lamb. Why feeble faith in a mighty Saviour? Take your stand on the promises, feed upon the ordinances, and dwell near the Sun of Righteousness, lest your own faith pine and dwindle. The prayer for others will be all the more powerful when it springs from a heart that is itself strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. As you cry, “Lord, increase our faith,” believe that He will water your own soul along with the fields you have sown.
The enemy you name is not asleep. The wicked one would snatch the Word, bind the soul in slumber, and scare the tender believer into a frantic mistrust. Yet let your fear be swallowed up in trust. To be afraid is a childish and often a mischievous thing; it will thrust you into the very net you dread. When you feel the palsy of fear creeping over you, lay hold upon the Strong One, and by faith walk upon the waves. He who set the bounds of the sea sets the bounds of the evil one; not a grain of the seed shall be lost in His garner. The Captain of our salvation has plundered the strong man’s house, and He will keep His own till the day of Christ Jesus. So do not let your soul fret itself to pieces; instead, wrap yourself in the name of Jesus, for this name is our fortress, our solace, our life.
Let repentance walk hand in hand with this faith throughout all your journey. Some are ready to think repentance belongs only to the wicket-gate, but it is the daily companion of every pilgrim. He that builds up what repentance pulls down is trifling with God. Oh, for a thorough hatred of sin, a deep grief over it, and a steady turning from it, matched with a faith that keeps the heart swept and garnished for the Master alone. This is the life of the child of God: repenting and believing, believing and repenting, until we enter the Celestial City.
Hold fast, then, to the faith once delivered to the saints. Let nothing turn you away from the center, which is Christ Himself. He is the diamond set in the golden ring of doctrine; if you lose Him, you lose all. The Gospel is not a set of rules, but a Person; not a code, but a bleeding, risen, interceding Lord who was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. This is our message, and this is our glory. In that blessed name I charge you to stand fast, and as you have prayed, so live, until your prayer is swallowed up in the praise of the general assembly and the church of the firstborn.
Father, thank You for "the Wisdom of God," the "foolish plan of preaching the Cross of Jesus Power of God" 1 Cor 1:18-31, Rom 1:16. Reveal Righteousness by faith Rom 1:17, Faith from Hearing the Word, Rom 10:17, so Salvation by Grace through Faith is Freely Received, Eph 2:8-9, Bring others to Water Seeds, 1 Cor 3:6, Glory to You who Invented the Plan of Salvation, Saved and Taught us The Message, Gave us Any Ability to Do Anything of Real Value, John 15:5, You are The One Who Gives Growth 1 Cor 3:7, Grant Spiritual Hunger 1 Pet 2:2, Wisdom and Revelation in The Knowledge of You, Eph1:17 Protection from the evil thief Mk 4:15 Jn 10:10 John 17:15 
Angelic Protection until Salvation Beheld, Ps 91:11-16, Heb 1:14...
Father, we thank You for these who've been praying for grace to witness in the face of trials and opposition, 1 Thes 2:1-13. We thank You for wide doors for effective service being opened despite adversaries, 1 Cor16:9, for divine appointments with housemates, in shopping centers, in cell groups, cell blocks, in churches, street corners, restaurants, with fathers, mothers, stepmothers, children, family, friends, enemies, wherever the Spirit blows, Jn 3:8, Give us what to say and HOW to say it, Jn 12:49.
Your arm is NOT too short that it cannot save, Isa 59:1, Numbers 11:23. Remind ALL that have ever heard, especially recently (and remind us, kindly) of our humanity, sin, the gospel of free grace by the bloody death of Jesus on the cross for our sakes, His death for payment of sin, Rom 5:23, with analogies of bills being paid, therefore nothing owed, it is finished, Jn 19:30, His resurrection, His appearing to many witnesses, His ascension, and sending of The Holy Spirit, Acts 2:32-33, and the correct response of repentance and continued discipleship, Jn 8:31-32.
This Jesus who was sinless BECAME sin for us, 2 Cor 5:21 (was judged to death as The Lamb, Jn 1:29, to break the curse of sin, Gen 2:17, John 11:50-51, Gal 3:13-14) so we could be made the righteousness of God on His behalf, as His ambassadors, 2 Cor 5:20, through the Word of reconciliation He's committed to us, 2 Cor 5:19.
Thank You for those who've heard, we've prayed with and for, and WE trust YOU Holy Spirit to continue to do His work until the day of Christ Jesus, Phil 1:6. Keep them and us all from the evil one, Jn 17:15, who attempts to snatch away the seed of the Word, Mk 4:14-15. May prayes render him as being bound, and having his goods plundered, Mk 3:27, as the late evangelist said, "we plunder hell to populate heaven."
Water the seed of the word and let them grow, provide more chances to share and grant us all full faith and repentance, turning from all sin with grief and hatred of it, wholly endeavoring to new obedience, trusting Jesus who has become for us wisdom, righteousness, continued sanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor 1:30. Thank you in advance, even now, in The Name of Jesus, Mk 11:24, Amen.
