The Work of Prayer
Many Christians consider this to be one of the most important books on prayer ever written. Andrew Murray was a South African pastor and Christian writer who considered missions to be the chief ed of the church.
There are two areas in which the apostle Paul clearly gives himself to every church in the New Testament. This is illustrated by the fact that so many of his letters are really the exposition of truth sandwiched between two things: an assurance that he prays continually for the recipientsand an appeal that they will pray for him.
For example, in Romans 1:9-10 Paul says, “God … is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times.” Then at the end of the letter he appeals to them, “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (15:30). Again and again in Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and other letters, we find this same pattern. The great exposition of truth at the center of the letter is sandwiched between this assurance that he prays for them and the appeal that they will pray for him.
Prayer and preaching are the two great emphases of the apostle’s ministry. There is no question that the secret of the effectiveness of his ministry lies here, in that particular marriage of teaching and prayer. There is no question either that the secret of all effectiveness in Christian ministry and service lies precisely in this marriage. If we try to divorce these two things from each other; we discover that in some sense we are disabled. But when preaching and prayer have been brought together, we are following in theapostolic tradition.