Ability of God by Arthur W. Pink

Author:Arthur W. Pink
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Moody Publishers

THE PLACE THIS PRAYER OCCUPIES

Earlier we pointed out that it will help us obtain an understanding both of the scope of this prayer and the meaning of its petitions if we observe the place it occupies in this epistle: at the close of the doctrinal section and as introductory to the practical portion. The prayer turns into supplication the contents of the former and prepares the heart for obeying the precepts of the latter. Among those precepts is this: “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), that He should occupy us unreservedly, pervading the innermost depths of our beings, energizing and using all our faculties. Have we not reason then to pray earnestly and daily that in this sense too wemight be filled? Not that God may possess us in part, but wholly; that our obedience may be such as to receive the fulfillment of Christ’s promise: “My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). May the surrender of myself be so complete that I may say, “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103:1). I cannot do so unless all is freely dedicated to Him.

How full and many-sided is this fourth petition! In addition to those meanings and applications of it given above, we point out still another, which for want of a better term we will call its practical bearing, namely, that the Christian ought to be filled with a knowledge of God’s will. The believer should indeed have His mind on all things, for to walk in darkness is one of the marks of the wicked. But observe that we have placed this signification of the request last, for we shall not have light upon our path nor divine wisdom for our problems unless we are first fully yielded to God. Let us also call attention again to the relation of this prayer to the section that follows it. Among the exhortations found in that portion is “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17), for all the details of our daily lives, for the various decisions we have to make constantly. Hence, in another of the prayers of this apostle we find him asking for the saints that they “might be filled with the knowledge of his will” (Colossians 1:9). Being ignorant of God’s will is not merely an innocent infirmity but a sin that should humble us. If the Word dwells in us richly, if we are filled with the Spirit, then we shall have clear discernment, good judgment, a knowledge in all circumstances of that which will be pleasing to Him.

Although we think the apostle primarily desired that God’s people should receive a fulfillment of this prayer in this life, it is by no means to be restricted to this life only. Coming as it does

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