Over the next 9 weeks I want to share a selection of quotes by E.M. Bounds from his book, The Necessity of Prayer.
I’ll make a few comments along the way, but mostly I want to simply share these statements to encourage myself and others to pray.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Faith is an absolute necessity for anyone who would approach God. The faith which prompts a person to pray and receives answers mirrors the faith that repents and receives God’s free gift of salvation.
Such faith receives answers, not because of the strength of an individual’s faith, but because of the object of their faith – God!
To a large degree, prayer begins with faith and so we begin our study with this subject.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes are from EM Bounds’ book, The Neccessity of Prayer.
Faith Is Foundational to Prayer
“When faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live.”
“Faith does the impossible because it brings God to undertake for us, and nothing is impossible with God.”
“Is [your] faith growing or declining as the years go by?”
Faith Is Foundational to Christian Character
Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail not (Luke 22:31) and in 2 Peter 1:5 Peter puts faith as the foundation on which Christian growth occurs.
“Peter does not enjoin his readers to add to works or gifts or virtues but to faith. Much depends on starting right in the business of growing in grace.”
“The faith which creates powerful praying is the faith which centers itself on a powerful Person. Faith in Christ’s ability to do and to do greatly is the faith which prays greatly.”
“All wonderful works depend on wonderful praying, and all praying is done in the name of Jesus Christ. Amazing lesson, of wondrous simplicity, is this praying in the name of the Lord Jesus! All other conditions are depreciated, everything else is renounced, save Jesus only. He name of Christ, the person of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ-must be supremely sovereign, in the hour and article of prayer.”
Faith Acts
“A praying faith keeps the commandments of God and does those things which are well pleasing in His sight.”
Faith is Patient
“Faith does not grow disheartened because prayer is not immediately honored; it takes God at His Word, and lets Him take what time He chooses in fulfilling His purposes, and in carrying His work.”
“In some instances, delay is of the very essence of the prayer.”
Faith Exists in the Present
“Faith covers temporal as well as spiritual needs. Faith dispels all undue anxiety and needless care about what shall be eaten, what shall be drunk, what shall be worn. Faith lives in the present, and regards the day as being sufficient unto the evil thereof.”
“When we pray ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ we are, in a measure, shutting tomorrow out of our prayer.”
Faith Must be Authentic
“Genuine, authentic faith must be definite and free of doubt.”
“As the faith is specific, so the answer likewise will be definite… just so far as the faith and the asking is definite, so also will the answer be.”
A Definition and Explanation of Faith
“Faith is an operation of God, a divine illumination, a holy energy implanted by the Word of God and the Spirit in the human soul-a spiritual, divine principle which takes of the supernatural and makes it a thing apprehendable by the faculties of time and sense.”
“Faith is not believing just anything; it is believing God, resting in him, trusting his Word.”
“Faith gives birth to prayer, and grows stronger, strikes deeper, rises higher, in the struggles and wrestlings of mighty petitioning; is the substance of things hoped for… ; the assurance and realization of the inheritance of the saints. ; is humble and perservering. It can wait and pray. The lack of it lies at the root of all poor praying… little praying, unanswered prayer.”
“Faith is an operation of God, a divine illumination, a holy energy implanted by the Word of God and the Spirit in the human soul-a spiritual, divine principle which takes of the supernatural and makes it a thing apprehendable by the faculties of time and sense.”
“Faith is not believing just anything; it is believing God, resting in him, trusting his Word.”
Faith is more “demonstrable in what it does, than it is by reason of a definition given it.”
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