“Prayer consists simply in telling God day by day in what ways we are helpless…. Only he who is helpless can truly pray…. Helplessness united with faith produces prayer.” (O. Hallesby in his book, Prayer)
David made a remarkable statement in Psalm 84:10 (NKJV) For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. Here is the king of the land saying that he would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord. A doorkeeper opens doors between God and man.
A doorkeeper/gatekeeper is an intercessor.
Psalm 24:7-10 (NKJV) Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. [8] Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. [9] Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. [10] Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah
When the doorkeeper/gatekeeper lifts the doors and opens the gate, the Lord strong and mighty, the King of glory will come in to a situation. Wow! God give us more people who recognize that the most important position in the church is doorkeeper/gatekeeper!
O. Hallesby said, “Prayer is the most important work in the kingdom of God.” He also said, “The future of the Christian work which is now being carried on with such great intensity does not depend upon curtailment or re-organization. It depends upon whether the Spirit of God can persuade us to take up the work of prayer.”
Is there power in prayer? The following is taken from an account of how God moved in response to prayer.
The Hebrides Islands are a small group of islands off the West coast of Scotland. In 1949 -1952, God poured out His Spirit in response to a handful of praying men and women. It doesn’t take multitudes to move the hand of God – but those who were determined to “push through the crowd” and touch the hem of His garment. A small group of men from Barvas, the district that was to become the center of the revival, agreed to meet in a small barn by the side of the road, to pray. They were given the revelation that God was a covenant- keeping God who had made covenant promises! “If this is true,” they reasoned, “We can enter into this covenant and if we keep our part then He must keep His. Has God given us a covenant promise for revival?” Immediately the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14, came to them, “If My people which are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”
For months they prayed and waited on God – three times a week they wrestled and prayed until 4am or 5am. Around the same time, in a little cottage in the village of Barvas, two elderly sisters – Peggy and Christine Smith, were also praying. Peggy was almost blind, and Christine was bent over with Arthritis. They were 84 and 82 years old. They also had been seeking God for revival, and to them came the promise, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.” They had a vision of the church, crowded again with young people, and felt that God had revealed to them the name of the man He wanted to use in the promised revival – The Rev. Duncan Campbell, a Presbyterian minister and a great man of prayer. God said, “In two weeks I shall send upon this community the greatest spiritual awakening it has known.”
A wire was sent to Duncan Campbell, who was ministering in the Highland town of Skye, but it was discovered that he was already booked for another meeting. He sent a reply, “It is impossible for me to come at this time but keep praying and I will come next year.” When the reply came back and was told to the sisters they answered, “That is what man has said, but God has said that He will be here in two weeks.” In the meantime Duncan Campbell’s meetings in Skye were cancelled, and within two weeks he was in Barvas!
The first meeting was held in the old parish church. Many people had gathered in a great expectancy but nothing exceptional happened at that meeting. Duncan Campbell appeared discouraged and so one of the deacons went to him and said, “Don’t be discouraged, it is coming. I hear the rumbling of heaven’s chariot wheels. We will have another night of prayer and then we will see what God is going to do!”
They went to a nearby cottage and about thirty knelt in prayer and began to travail before the Lord. About 3 am God swept in and something happened. As the group left the cottage, they found lights burning in the homes along the road – no one seemed to be thinking about sleep – men and women were earnestly seeking God. Three men were found lying by the roadside, crying out for God to have mercy on them! The Spirit of God was moving into action as He promised, and soon the parish of Barvas was to be stirred from end to end.
On the second night of the meeting, buses came from the four corners of the island. The Spirit of God fell on some people in great conviction, and they were saved even before they reached the church building! As Duncan Campbell preached his message, tears rolled down the faces of the people and men and women cried out for mercy all over the church.
When the service was over, a young man began to pray under a tremendous burden of intercession. As he continued to pray, the people streamed back into the church again and the meeting continued until 4am. About that time, someone excitedly hurried to the preacher, “Come with me! There’s a crowd of people outside the police station; they are weeping and in great distress. We don’t know what’s wrong with them but they are calling for someone to come and pray with them.”
The minister described the scene outside the police station; “I saw a sight I never thought possible. Something I shall never forget. Under a starlit sky, men and women were kneeling everywhere, by the roadside, outside the cottages, even behind the peat stacks, crying for God to have mercy on them.”
Revival had come in power and continued to sweep across this little Isle of Lewis for five weeks!!
This happened not more than 60 years ago. Does God act like this anymore? That is the wrong question! Are there any men and women left who will pray like these men and two sisters prayed?
Always remember, “Prayer is the most important work in the kingdom of God.”
Will you join us and seek to become a doorkeeper/gatekeeper in the house of the Lord?
We want to pray for you specifically. Please email us your prayer concerns.
We love yall.
Billy and Sheilah Daws