It is great grace that an ungodly person can be pardoned and justified, unmerited, by faith. It is even greater grace that a pardoned sinner, also by faith, can receive God’s righteous nature and be active in it. It is great grace that God wants to use us in His service, without us knowing about it. Without us knowing anything about it, He works the very thing that is needed in the various circumstances, through us, by His Spirit. Moreover, the grace that is more than this great grace is that He gives us, through the obedience of faith, of His wisdom, His understanding, and His discernment, so that we ourselves can test and understand God’s will as to what is needed in every circumstance and present it in word and deed. For example, when we don’t know where we should go, then God leads us without us understanding it to a place where He knows we can serve the best. He can stop us on one way and lead us onto another way. Acts 16:6-10. Nevertheless, the goal is not to be led around without understanding anything. The promises that we have go as far as partaking of divine nature. We can take note of the fact that Paul, when he had heard that some people were blessed with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and had proved it by their love in the Spirit, that then he began to pray for them without ceasing that they in this good vessel (faith and love) would receive abundant spiritual understanding so they could judge in the various matters, and be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Read Philippians 1:9-10; Ephesians 1:15-19; 1 Corinthians 14:10; Romans 12:2: “That you may prove . . . .”; Ephesians 5:17: “But understand . . . .” See also some practical examples in Acts 15:34, 36; 19:21; 20:3; 1 Corinthians 16:4-12; 2 Corinthians 1:15-18: and 1 Thessalonians 3:1. We should pay special attention to 2 Corinthians 1:17: “Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly. Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh . . . ? People plan according to the flesh when they travel to a place where it is comfortable, where they can receive much honor from people and the least amount of tribulation, etc. One plans to travel to a place according to the Spirit, according to God’s will, where one can be of most benefit to souls. Those who are well acquainted with spiritual laws are spiritual people. Not all those who have God’s Spirit are therefore spiritual, but there is hope that they can become that through the obedience of faith. The Corinthians had the Spirit of God and were not lacking in any of the spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 1:4-7), yet they were carnal. Ch. 3:1-3. Read 2 Corinthians 11:6: “Thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.”Elias Aslaksen

There is a work accomplished by prayer, but it must be the supplication of a righteous man, righteous in his personal life. Elijah could thus pray and accomplish a great work through his prayer. He prayed that the heavens should not give rain, and it did not rain for three years and six months. “And he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain.” Now observe how prayer worked in the Elijah example mentioned by James. The apostle refers to Elijah and says: Elijah was a man of like nature with us and then proceeds to show the powerful effects of his prayer. Paul needed the prayers of the faithful to open doors He writes, “Continuing steadfastly in prayer, withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ.” (Col. 4:2). If the mighty apostle of the Gentiles needed this ceaseless striving together with him in all the places that he went to open doors, then so do God’s servants now when there is such intense opposition from the powers of darkness raging around us, seducing with strong delusions. So, no servant of God preaching a pure gospel will get open doors today, but all doors are open to the man who pleases the flesh. On every side the doors are shut to the pure truth of the word. Therefore, prayer for open doors is needed. There is far too little prayer. There is nowhere near enough to meet the needs, too little prayer to cover the present necessities. There is much power in prayer. The early church knew how to pray, they knew how to open the prison doors for Peter. This resulted in the iron gate being opened to them by itself for Peter. Pray for open doors. God will just as readily open the doors of hearts as open the iron prison gates. But anybody would have had Paul to preach, surely? All the doors must have been open to him! No, he was turned out of them as often as the devil could drive him out, through men. Every step that Paul took was in the teeth of the enemy. He was dogged right through the whole of his life after his conversion, with opposition before him, and men spoiling his work behind him. Read the life of Paul on its earthward side, and you will discover that Paul did not have an easy time of it; but he had victory wherever he walked. Expect the fiercest opposition from the Satanic hosts towards a servant of God, both from the world and from many who are religious. Therefore, even Paul needed intercession. In 2 Thess. 3:1-3, Paul wrote again: “Praying that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified.” It is not more power that we need, but a more definite prayer. Prayer to open doors, prayer for the progress of the Word is a necessity. Who will join us in the battle? Satan is extremely active; he blocks all paths and obstructs all entry to the truth. What good are open doors if the word does not make progress and is glorified? What good is it to hear the most divine truths if one does not have enough love for them that he would leave everything behind to follow them? You who love the truth, I do not mean nice religious talk without following it through, pray for open doors and progress for the word. And pray right along the line unto victory.