February - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

Holiness, Self-Denial and the Minister 55
mouth, to speak unto God, must be obvious to all. Our mode of offering up
our prayers without a preconceived form can commend itself to enlightened
and spiritual men only when our ministers shall possess the true spirit of
prayer and shall pray with the spirit and with the understanding. Cultivate
piety then in all its parts, for prayer is nothing else but the natural language
of the pious heart; it is the breathing of the new man, or rather the inexpressible
groaning and sighing of a soul sick of sin and panting for deliverance.
O that young men who seek to be useful in the ministry would spend more
time in communion with God in prayer than they commonly do! To be
eminent in piety and mighty in prayer are identical.
Holiness, Self-Denial and the Minister 1
J W Alexander
o sustain a gospel minister in such labours, something is necessary beyond
Thabitual diligence or mere professional zeal. There may be great stir and
bustle, and activity, and yet no gospel efficiency. What we need is a spring of
holy influence always within us, gushing out like a river-head of living waters.
What shall secure this? Answer: the grace of God in the heart, working holiness
and devotion . . . . O that every pastor could say to the people whom he
serves, or has served: “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly,
and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe”.
Paul could say so, for he followed Christ; and Christ was “holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners”. After a certain tour of preaching and
healing, we are told, “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee
. . . and He taught in the synagogues, being glorified of all”. The indwelling
Spirit was in the head, as in the members, a Spirit of grace and supplication,
and frequent are the incidental but pathetic notices of our Lord’s retreats for
private devotion. By these, Olivet and Gethsemane were signalised, long
before His final agony. Here He “rejoiced in spirit”, here He doubtless
groaned and wept, here He cried, “Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in
Thy sight”.
How often did He, after days of weariness, spend the nights in solitary
watching and prayer! While the storm was on the lake, Jesus, having dismissed
an immense audience, was gone “up into a mountain apart to pray: and
when the evening was come, He was there alone”. When the fame of Him
increased, “He withdrew Himself into the wilderness and prayed”. The seven-
1 The two final points from an article, “The Lord Jesus Christ the Example of the Minister”,
reprinted from Princeton and the Work of the Christian Ministry, vol 2.