God Seeks a Man of Prayer — Alan Redpath

Good evening, everyone. I'll have a drink. Good evening, everyone. That's better. Thank you so much. I'm hot. Remember our Labor Day in Chicago out in Lincoln Park temperature 100 Humidity way up there and I saw a dog Chasing a cat and they're both walking.

That's how I feel under the blaze of light here, but it's a great joy to be back in. Well, what to me is home. Because I have so many friends who pray For me for my wife and family. Constantly, I left Britain about Two to three weeks ago.

And we'll be going back there again on Thursday. Only for a week to go on to Japan for three conventions Japanese Keswick conventions and I Just asked the Lord something Lord I Don't want at my time of life to try and be clever.

I don't want to be anything but honest and Somebody said of my preaching last week, I couldn't understand their accent that came from Georgia. So you'll have to put it into Georgian, but they said, you know What I like about your ministry is you have no maggots in your manner.

You don't see that no more than I but I remember that children of Israel had manner every day. And they didn't eat it Daily. That I have maggots in it. And all I asked Jesus to do for me was when I came to Moody here the school for which I have such a love.

Where I've often preached here at Founders Week. Mainly when dr. Culbertson was principal president. Lord Just help me to discharge the burden that seems to be coming on my heart as a minister with increasing power Increasing conviction and help me to get it through.

Would you pray that I might be able to do that and That you on the receiving end may find the Holy Spirit. Speaking to you just a word of prayer together. Would you bow your head in your heart and Echo the prayer which I offer on your behalf and on my own speak Lord in The stillness while I wait on thee hush my heart to listen an expectancy.

God Seeks a Man Rather Than a Crowd

Speak O blessed master in this quiet hour May I see thy face Lord and feel and Feel thy touch of power in Jesus name. Amen. Let me first just put two verses from the old book together first Ezekiel chapter 22 and verse 30.

Ezekiel 22 and verse 30 and I sought for a man among them Who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land. That I should not destroy it. But I found none and Isaiah or Isaiah depending which side of the Atlantic Ocean you come from.

Isaiah 59 verse 16 and please open your Bible at this chapter and keep it open there. He saw that his God saw that there was no man and wondered That there was no intercessor or no one to intervene. Then his own arm brought him victory and his righteousness Upheld him.

You often read in your Bible of The need for every one of us to seek after God. Ask and it should be given to you. Seek and You shall find knock and It shall be opened. Jeremiah 29 verse 13 you will seek me and find me.

When you seek me with all your heart Seek you first said the Lord Jesus the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And all these things will be added unto you. But did you notice in the two verses that I read to you?

All that is in reverse. It's not People seeking God It's God Seeking a man. The Lord sought for a man and He's always doing that. Not for a group of men not for a drama group or a beat group or a Rock group or a singing group of which there are scores Around the world.

I can only speak with some measure of authority concerning my own country. But if you know anything about Britain You will know To what an amazing extent Christian entertainment has taken over in evangelical circles, but God is looking for a man.

He saw that there was no man and wondered wondered That there was no one To intervene or no intercessor. And the book of Revelation Every letter to the seven churches Closes with this statement he that hath an ear to hear.

Let him hear What the Spirit says to the churches. Just one man Who will get off the evangelical treadmill and take time? To hear What the Lord would say? In all the frantic rush and Feverish activity of today in our churches often with a very good object, of course Often he doesn't stand a chance.

It's a W Tosa Such a friend to me in Chicago days such an encourager Who says in his book I? Think in pursuit of God that if the Holy Spirit were withdrawn From our churches today 95 of what we do would go on and nobody would know any different.

And if the Holy Spirit were withdrawn from the New Testament Church 95 of what they did would stop and everybody would know the difference. That's not popular preaching, but it hits me right between the eyes right between the eyes.

What a dichotomy there is between In the church meeting between the nice neat orthodox sound evangelical prayer which opens proceedings and the relieved benediction with which they finish and What goes on between all the time in which the Holy Spirit hasn't even had a vote?

Prevailing Prayer as the Christian’s Only Intervention

But we ask ourselves How can we possibly intervene in society today and the answer of the Word of God is There is no area in Which the Christian can intervene in society except one and that is intervention.

Through prevailing battling victorious praying He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. And I must get in there and claim all that God has for me in Jesus and There's nobody in competition except the devil and by some mysterious Sovereign permission of God we wrestle not with flesh and blood With principalities and powers and forces of wickedness in heavenly places and If God would Seek an Internessa to Cesar to intervene in society today before it's too late before Western civilization goes to damnation.

He's got to find a man Who's brave enough bold enough? Big enough and small enough to intervene on his bar. And it's encouraging tonight to me to remember That these words in the Bible are still true if my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and Seek my faith and turn from their wicked ways.

Then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and Will heal their land. I Would say it's an immense encouragement With a world in this turmoil and the Western world, especially That there are those to whom the Lord has spoken on this issue Are now being used as Intercessors, I think particularly of the ministry in Britain of Evelyn Christiansen from this country.

Prayer and Revival in Nations Under Pressure

I think of Northern Ireland tonight So sadly misrepresented in the mass media as a battle between Protestant Roman Catholic is nothing of the kind. The IRA is not the Irish Republic Army. It is the International Revolutionary Army stemmed from Moscow Armed by Moscow and assisted often by funds from the USA.

They don't care whether it's Protestant or Roman Catholic. All they want is a united Ireland under their authority the backdoor into Britain and They're making a do of it. I Was there just three weeks ago in Belfast when there's a tremendous parade in the streets to launch a third force to attack.

And I was speaking at a meeting of a thousand young people on fire for Jesus. I Find in a country like that The church wide open to all that God wants to do with them and in them and through them. I Think I think of that dear man of God who will be here to speak to you from this platform later in the week.

George Wormer. He was a student at MBI when I was pastor at Moody Church. At one stage of my ministry there we had seven all nights of prayer on a Friday night. Seven successive Fridays he came every time.

Stayed all night. I don't know that he had permission to do that, but I didn't didn't ask him. I didn't concern me. All I knew was there was a young man from the Institute really really praying really pleading with God for revival and How mightily God has used his ministry worldwide and you will never go to an OM conference without finding on the program a night of prayer.

I Bid to many of them. I've been challenged by the spirituality by the zeal and enthusiasm by the boldness in prayer. And I think also of the church in South Korea that great church in Seoul. From which a bell rings every morning five or six o 'clock.

Hundreds of people turn out to pray and they're praying that God will give us one Christian country in the world. Before Jesus comes back. Population 38 million 12 million already outstanding Christian the Lord seeks for a man.

He found one at Bambi. I in George were were got any more in a portrait gallery picture gallery in London National Gallery visit it sometime. You know You will see a picture of General Booth the foundation founder of the Salvation Army Sitting at a table with his open Bible and his glasses in front of him.

His face lifted up to heaven in prayer. And one night's the custodian of the gallery was closing the doors on the public. And he went into that room when he found one man who had not left with the remainder of the visitors.

He'd stay. And he was on his knees looking at that picture and crying with tears in his eyes crying Lord Do it again do it again. I Confessed you That this is my burden. Please don't think I preach at you.

I share that burden with you because the thing that's marked the failure in my ministry has been that. The unwillingness to get alone the unwillingness to get aside the unwilling to take time with God Has made me sometimes spiritually bankrupt and eventually led to a severe cerebral hemorrhage about 14 years ago.

From which I nearly went to heaven. But it didn't that's an obvious comment, but my dear friend. Oh. As I saw those pictures tonight and all the voices on Satellite That are seeking to get through to the earth I thought of a greater voice and a mightier voice and an omnipotent voice who would do anything to find an intercessor to get through.

And we won't give him time. All Christians who are honest would acknowledge that this is the weakest area in our lives. A Well-known Christian leader who would be known to you by name, but who would prefer I'm sure to be anonymous said When I go to prayer I find my heart so loath to go to God and When it's with him so loath to stay.

We can always find time. For the things we think most important don't we what does that mean in your prayer life? To most of it means Curtailing the time I spend with God. Martin Luther When asked about his plans for the next day's work said work From early to late.

In fact, I have so much to do. I will spend the first three hours in prayer and dear. Dr. Tozer Would phone me at Moody Church in the early days of a ministry and said brother If you've helped fellowship if you want help and Encouragement, I'd love to pray with you.

Come and join me sometime on the south shore of Lake Michigan any morning between April and October between Five o 'clock and eight. Bit early. I lived at Lincoln wood that time. I Didn't go often. But when I did go I tell you I tell you it was liking like treading on holy ground.

There was a W Tozer Flat on his face on the sands before an open Bible. That's what made him the man. He was Week after week heard him on WMBI on a Saturday morning. Preaching the word and preaching with such terrific authority and power and function.

Did you simply couldn't sit or stand anywhere and be neutral. You knew that man was in touch with God and he spoke with all the authority of God, of course when he was here. Everybody thought he was a bit queer.

Didn't mix with people. Of course, he didn't. Didn't socialize naturally. They're only 24 hours in a day. But I tell you his books are now the bestsellers. If our view of the importance of prayer is anything like that of Jesus, well If prayer could be distanced with in any life It surely could have been dispensed with in the life of the spotless Son of God but You check me on this.

Read sometime mark chapter 1 in the morning in the synagogue teaching healing. Casting out demons in the afternoon in Simon's home healing his mother-in-law in the evening great crowds gathering and he healed them and cast out demons and Spoke to them.

And after a day like that in the morning rising a great while before day He departed into a solitary place and prayed and that wasn't one occasion only. Great crowds gathered around him and he withdrew from the multitude.

Withdrew from them and to bought it to pray to seek his father in the wilderness. He went alone to pray. Before choosing any disciples here tonight of prayer and above all at Gethsemane. He sweated great drops of blood as he prayed father.

Not my will but yours be done both our Lord and Paul. Made it perfectly clear that real prayer like that is not a sort of happy ten minutes sort of chat with God. Jowett J. H. Jowett says Oh True vital praying makes a drain on a man's vitality.

True intercession is a sacrifice a bleeding sacrifice. Jesus performed many mighty works without any sign of strain. But of his praying it's recorded in the word. That he offered up prayers and supplication.

With crying and tear I was with Stephen Alford. One of my closest friends whom you all know, I'm sure I Think it was at if I remember rightly at Columbia Bible College. Speaking to the students. When we'd finished we were going off together to catch a plane back here.

And one of the students came up to us with his notebook in his hand and pen. He said gentlemen gentlemen, just a minute. Tell me what's the key to Christian leadership? As ready to put it down I'm sure he expected a three-point address.

With introduction and conclusion and all points were the same letter a masterpiece. He expected well, he didn't get it. If you'll know Stephen Alford well bless him, you'll know that he had the answer before I had time to think.

He said son, I'll tell you in a word You want to know the secret the key to Christian leadership here it is bent knees wet eyes broken heart. That's it, that's all my hope. Your hope is not in a theological degree.

It's not it's not In any Standard of education it's in the living God Who comes and fills my heart by spirit and clothes me with himself? Not by my nor by a power. But by my spirit says the Lord the priority of prayer.

Holiness, Fasting, and the Hindrance of Sin

But think of the price of it. One thing and one thing open only opens the door of heaven. If you glance at me with me at chapter 58 of Isaiah The opening verses cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and not show my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sin.

Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways as a nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinance of their God. The ask of me the ordinance of justice they take delight in approaching to God.

Wherefore have we fasted say they and thou see us not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul and our takers? No knowledge behold in the day of your fast you find pleasure and exact all your labors. Behold you fast for strife and debate and to smite with fist of wickedness.

You shall not fast as you do this day to make your voice be heard on high. Huh? There was a people Complaining to God that they were fasting Continually, but had never start to enjoy the feast of blessing He had for them and God's answer to them was to point out they were going about it the wrong way.

He turned the whole the whole Responsibility for his apparent inaction upon them if they accuse him of inactivity. He points to their sin chapter 59 and verse 2 and verse 3. Your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear.

For your hands are defiled with blood your fingers of iniquity your lips are spoken lies. Your tongue hath muttered perverseness. What a plight to be in. He is a people who? Shut their eyes to God's law and He shut his eyes his eyes to their deliverance.

That's repeated over and over again. Don't you think that the language of verses 9 to 11 in chapter 59 could be repeated today? Therefore is judgment far from us neither doth justice overtake us. We wait for light but behold obscurity.

Brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind and we grope as if we had no eyes. We stumble at noonday as in the night we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears and mourn saw like doves.

We are we look for judgment, but there is none for salvation. But it is far from us for our transgression are multiplied before thee and our sins testify Against us for our transgressions are with us and as for iniquities.

We know them. Do you mean to say you can't relate those words to what happened in Vietnam? Few years ago South Vietnam invaded by North Vietnam. American troops go in to drive them out and stop at the border and and General Abrams says If I had my own way, I could finish the whole business in two weeks, but he's not allowed to.

Next comes Cambodia Campuchia the boat people the tragedy tragedy of that and then comes Afghanistan. And then comes Poland and a few little noises from the West. But everybody's scared stiff of communist power absolutely terrified of it.

Justice no. Why does everything go on like that and proceed as though God was dead. I Don't to make me think and it does. It's not only true nationally, but it's true personally for if I have a wrong relationship with him.

No matter what else is right. Inevitably that shuts the curtain to his purposes being fulfilled. I have found oh my. It's not easy to say this but I found The gods overflowing grace. Inadequacy for my life in every situation is never in conflict with his demands for holiness.

Be holy for I am holy Lord, I can't. No. I know you can't. I don't expect you to but you can. When the Holy Spirit really conquers you and controls you then you live like me. Stop playing religious games and mean business.

Yes, Lord. I understand Your grace adequate for my life never in conflict with your demands for holy living and Because I shirk those demands I promptly begin to form committees in my church massive business programs keep everybody working work harder than ever do will get engaged in Christian work and forget to pray and leave it all out and Prayer gets cussed out altogether.

Personal Devotion Versus Religious Activity

How long is it since you spent half an hour alone with Jesus and told him he loved him this year? Hmm had a choir in my church in London front row. The choir fell on. Nice job. One Sunday morning. I did what every other preacher does but he isn't telling anybody.

He looks to see who's there. Who isn't there that day that boy was missing? Thought where is he? So I look around the church. Oh, he's over there sitting beside a very attractive young lady. I thought that's interesting and The next week I didn't trouble look over there.

I went straight though. Ah, there they were and they were holding hands. I thought that's very interesting. Before long they come to me and asked me about their engagement and fixated from Angie, etc.

I was delighted because they're both crushed lovely Christmas, but you know something I didn't tell them this. I'm gonna telling you before before. When he sat there in the choir after the service of a while, he chatted with all his friends.

You know talk to them all didn't hurry and she she chatted with her friends. Oh, but now but now. When I pronounced the benediction you couldn't see them for dust. There were a way on the road rejoicing in the intimacy of love.

Rejoicing and being alone together. Do you love Jesus? How much how long do you tell. Answer. And The Lord has a nasty word for that. Which I wouldn't dare use. Myself, but he said you hypocrite. You people worship me with your lips, but your hearts far from me brethren said Paul.

God says he's not deaf first one. But I want if I want him to hear my prayer. I've got to break down the barrier between him and me and I've got to forsake and Abandon what I know Is not his will but which I hold on to because I like it.

The paperback which I prefer reading to my Bible. The Girlfriend the boyfriend who's doing me no good Brethren said Paul. My prayer and my heart's desire for Israel is that they might be saved. My prayer my prayer to God.

For them is that they might be saved. Did you know there's an awful difference between my prayer and my praying and For prevailing prayer so many of us wouldn't give the time. I wouldn't pay the price.

And the church has lost its attack power when the devil is launching all full-scale assault upon us. But if I'm winning for what's involved I could be and tonight could be a watershed for you. On the one side of that watershed half developed sense of values wrong priorities.

Frustrated casting around for spiritual shortcuts to exercise a sense of failure. Substitute other things put other things in place of the main thing forget it forget it. But over the other side of the watershed new standards and new touchstones and I begin to learn learn.

How few things in life really are essential? But how essential are those few things and one of them is my prayer. See my praying that's how I pray in public. It's clothing my words with a vocabulary which is acceptable to the congregation.

Acceptable in the church to which I belong it won't hurt anybody. It won't offend anybody. It covers everything that's quite right and nice. But very very rarely does it open up and do I open my heart to The real crying need in my own life.

Oh God. My sin my failure my breakdown. Lord Lord have mercy on me. Oh, no, that would be my prayer but my praying. My praying oh, no, that would never do if I really let people know what my need was.

At a prayer meeting I'd be excommunicated in the church if my breakdown in public had received the same Publicity as Simon Peter's proof. No pulpit committee would look at me my prayer and so we play religious games and we think we can fool God and Pull wool over his face by praying a tree good sound evangelical prayers.

The Spirit’s Intercession and Christ Formed in the Believer

Praying for people of sicknesses praying for their illness, but never never for my own deep need in my heart. But my prayer Oh Lord my burden. If you want it expressed clearly, let me just quickly read three verses here in Romans 8 and you'll clue on Romans 8 26 the spirit also helps our infirmities.

For we know not what we should pray for as we ought of course we don't. But the spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can't be uttered or as other translations have it with sighs too deep for words and He who searches the hearts knows the mind of the spirit because he makes intercession for the Saints according to the will of God.

You be to see it. He knows our weaknesses. He knows we don't know what to pray for us. We ought was stumbling hopeless at it. But he he he knows he knows our weaknesses. And he makes intercession for us with sighs too deep for words.

Do you know something about that Lord Jesus? My burden my failure my sin. Lord deliver me Lord Lord. It's me not somebody else me. Come right now Into this great building and Lord save me from breakdown.

Don't you know? That the only good thing about any of us is Jesus. Don't you know did you don't try to make your life better by more praying more study more work. No. The Lord is saying to us all please please get out of the way.

Let me in let me Reproduce my life in you his burden is as Paul would put it my little children. I travel in birth till Christ be formed in you. For this cause I bow my knees before the Lord Jesus Christ.

That you might be filled with all the fullness of God. That's the burden of heaven and the Spirit knows knows the mind of the Lord. And he puts that burden into my heart and I find myself beginning to echo the cry of heaven.

I didn't know what to pray for. Oh. This perhaps may narrow down The many many things and people I vaguely pray for but it places on me the burden of God for my life. I want that man to reproduce my life in him and I won't be satisfied.

I won't leave him alone till he begins to grow. Oh Lord that's my burden to Save me from being a wicked old man. I want to be like Jesus Lord you've said you want to fill me with all the fullness of God.

That's what I want my burden my prayer when the Lord Teaches us to pray like that something happens. May I Finish. I have to finish forgive me Lord it's AJ Gordon who said You can do more than pray when you have prayed.

But you could never do more than pray Till you prayed. Can I repeat that? You can do more than pray when you have prayed. But you can never do more than pray until you have prayed. David cried Oh God.

Isaiah cried. Oh that thou would rend the heavens and come down. Hannah Hannah in bitterness of soul because of the barrenness cried. Oh My prayer the Oh doesn't exist anymore in our prayer meetings. And we play religious games while society goes to hell.

Wesley, Pentecost, and Spirit-Empowered Preaching

It was said of John Wesley. Was he had the unusual combination of a cool head and a warm heart if I only have a cool head. Do you know what I'll do? I'll play everything safe. I'll have open-ended discussions.

Set up masses of committees. In fact, I'll do anything but ask the Lord really to fill me with his fullness and get out where the action is. Anything but that I used to play rugby football. That's why I shift around the pulpit a lot.

I think a year or two ago, of course and one Sunday morning early this year last year, sorry, I was confined to my home because of Hip trouble and I turned on the TV. It was a religious program coming from a place called Bolton in Lancashire.

The Methodist Central Hall. Nobody there. One man reading from Wesley's diary. Roughly, it was this went to Rochdale today. The people jostled me pushed me around wouldn't listen and My friends my helpers said you'll never get anything happening here.

Come on. Let's leave them. So reluctantly I left no blessing in Rochdale. Next day came to Bolton today. Oh. The people in Rochdale were like lambs compared with ease when they heard me they spat at me.

They threw bricks at me. They kicked me. They knocked me down and when I was on the ground, they trampled on me and I just said Jesus and in a moment They went right back and there was silence and for 30 minutes.

I offered Christ to them and Many many people repented and turned to him. Wow. Because on 24th of May 1738 Oh Lord for the witness of the Spirit. Oh for the witness of the Spirit. And my heart was strangely warm within me and a rigid formal a Episcopalian became a flaming evangelist.

With all the unction all the power and all the utterance of God the Holy Ghost in his life preach 8 ,000 sermons. Went 8 ,000 miles rather in a year on a horse. Preached a thousand sermons in a year. Because he knew what it meant to pray.

Oh Thou who came as from above the pure celestial fire to impart kindle a flame of sacred love on the mean altar of my heart. Oh Thou who at Pentecost didst fall. Do thou my sin consume. Come Holy Ghost on the air call.

Spirit of burning come. And that preaching saved Britain from revolution. And it's only that preaching that can save Western civilization today. And my last word Oh, you say you're putting a lot of burdens on me.

Finding Intercessors for the Preservation of Nations

No, I'm not. As a matter of fact, I'm removing them for my Bible makes it clear and as I 59 that God's purposes may be delayed. But they can't be thwarted. Verse 16 will still be true. He saw that there was no man wondered there was no intercessor.

Therefore his arm brought salvation to him and his right as righteousness it sustained him. Yes, and verse 19 When this enemy shall come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

Yes. But I am forced to the conclusion. I am forced to the conclusion that God finding no intercessor went to business himself and destroyed a nation. I come from a country which 70 years ago was the greatest world power anywhere.

Bridge Emperor everywhere now nothing. Third rate little island nothing hasn't got an AV hasn't an army, but nothing constantly on strike morals. Hmm. The beginning of the century 85 of the people went to church.

It didn't all weren't all converted, but they went to church now. 2 morals used to be Based on the Bible now, they're based on television. In other words, there aren't any Watch it America. Watch it.

Watch it. This country is going the same way and there's only one thing can say can find can save it. Oh lord you wonder is There no one to intervene. Is Moody Bible Institute capable of producing another George Werther?

Another 50 of them and a hundred of them and other people who care who share who dare? For God if they do God found his man and My prayer is that this week this week At this founders week the Lord will Find his man, but I'll tell you I'll tell you brother sister Once you do if you say yes, you put your life at risk.

Oh Eternally safe but a risk for you see the moment you begin you begin to care. Care about people the moment you begin to care you live dangerously if you don't care or you can be a fundamentalist. Squeeze your way into heaven.

All right. Be on a good sound evangelical church. Oh fine. You'll get there. You'll make it saved by the skin of your teeth Saved us by fire. With nothing at all. Oh. But if you care It hurts It hurts.

And you begin to dare. Well, of course our church committees most of them need a great big dose of Holy Spirit Vitality to drag them out of their ruts 18 inches deeper as early as a grave drag them out of the ruts which are so comfortable computerized and cushy and get out where the action is and tell about Jesus and When you begin to share him with others.

You don't ask the fellow in a skid row how he's got hurt. What's the matter with him? You become that man? Only Jesus could do that perfectly. But you and I can get right alongside that man that girl where he is and share and care and dare You is there no one to intercede?

He wondered That there was no intercession. I Pray with all my heart Lord Lord Find your man. Find the woman find the girl who just put everything else to one side and seek first your kingdom first your glory.

First your face and go out where the action is with all the fire of the Spirit of God in the house. Let's pray Lord, I've sought to unburden my heart, but so inadequately forgive me and Lord please find your man here find your woman.

Find people who mean business with you without reservation total commitment total abandonment. Do your will and grant there may be people who like the Lord Jesus? Turn away from the crowd. Turn away from the busy program.

Turn away from things and seek your face. You shall seek me and find me When you seek for me with all your heart Lord. Do it again and Do it in MBI right now Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on me Lord answer prayer for your namesake.

Amen.