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Although much of his writing was aimed at preachers, all Christians can can learn from his enthusiastic instruction on prayer.

Here are five of the most profound lessons I’ve learned about prayer by studying the words penned by E.M. Bounds more than a century ago.

1 – Preaching is not a performance; it is the outflow of a life dedicated to prayer.

Bounds was convinced that prayer was to be a pillar of the pastoral life. When he taught on the subject of prayer and the pulpit, he declared, “Prayer is the preacher’s mightiest weapon. The real sermon is made in the closet. Every preacher who does not make prayer a mighty factor in his own life and ministry is weak as a factor in God’s work.”

Practical takeaway: Authenticity and humility are key attributes of the prayer-filled life. If we want to make a difference during our time on earth, we must learn to invest ourselves in the practice of prayer.

2 – God doesn’t anoint plans; He anoints people—people of prayer!

Bounds writes, “the true ministry is God-touched, God-enabled, and God-made.” He goes on to say, “Prayer lies at the root of all personal godliness.”

Practical takeaway: The best-laid plans cannot withstand the devastating consequence of poor moral character. If you want to have an effective ministry, you must commit to the process of becoming an effective minister.

3 – The heart of our time (the best of our time) must be given to prayer.

Prayer is not to be an afterthought. It is not to be used only “in case of emergency.” It is to be the priority of our lives. As Bounds says, “the closet first, the study and activities second, both study and activities freshened and made efficient by the closet.”

Practical takeaway:  Prayer is serious work and must be given a regular spot in our calendar. If you don’t prioritize time in prayer, don’t expect to have the power you need to live a fruitful life.

4 – No earthly ministry will have eternal impact without much prayer.

Prayer is the power source of the Christian life. When we fail to pray, we fail to invite the power of God into our life and ministry. Every facet of Christian ministry should be the outflowing of prayer.

Practical takeaway: Every facet of Christian ministry should be the outflowing of prayer. We may disagree on theology, but we must be unified in prayer.

5 – Endurance and fruitfulness in ministry are rooted in faithful prayer.

Bounds writes, “No man can do a great and enduring work for God who is not a man of prayer, and no man can be a man of prayer who does not give much time to praying.” If God is not our first thought in the morning, He will be an afterthought the rest of the day.

Practical takeaway: In the same way that Christ found strength in communion with God, so must we! Begin the day with prayer, and don’t stop praying until your work is complete.

More from EM Bounds | Support | STORE | Podcasts | PrayerMaking Peace with God – Before it’s too late | The Return of Christ

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“The MEEKNESS and Gentleness of Christ” [podcast]

Becoming Grounded in Christ

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Abiding

Abiding Under the Shadow of the Almighty [podcast]


Lord, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. 16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:  Jeremiah 15:15-16

Dwelling “in the secret place of the most High”

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Psalms 91:1-2

“In the secret place of the Most High – Spoken probably in reference to the Holy of holies. He who enters legitimately there shall be covered with the cloud of God’s glory – the protection of the all-sufficient God. This was the privilege of the high priest only, under the law: but under the new covenant all believers in Christ have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus; and those who thus enter are safe from every evil.” Adam Clarke

“[Psalms] 91:1, 2 Jesus is the One who in a preeminent way dwelt in the secret place of the Most High, and abode under the shadow of the Almighty. There never was a life like His. He lived in absolute, unbroken fellowship with God, His Father. He never acted in self-will but did only those things that the Father directed. Though He was perfect God, He was also perfect Man, and He lived His life on earth in utter and complete dependence on God. Without equivocation He could look up and say, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him I will trust.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | The Return of ChristStewardshipApostate Modern Church Exposed | Beware of the BUZZ WORD Bandits [podcast] | Preach the WordWolves Exposed | Giving | Fellowship | Christology = the Study of Christ

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Abiding

The Warnings of the Book of Jude [podcast]

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Abiding

Attend to My Words [podcast]


IF THE WORD isn’t flowing into you daily, you are falling away. Flood and fuel your heart and mind and body with the pure, the holy light of God’s Word daily and you will never famish! All darkness will be vanquished (Psalms 119:130). All who have been saved and yet aren’t in God’s Word and prayer daily – have rejected Christ, with no exception. Re-turn to the LORD prodigal. There’s no good outside of Christ the KING.

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psalms 119:130

ALL who are not in God’s written Word daily are not hearing from God, do not have God’s wisdom and direction, and are walking in darkness – 100%.

The feeding of Christ’s flock would integrally involve exhorting them to diligently study and walk in God’s Word themselves, daily (John 21:15-17). Isn’t this exactly what the apostle Paul told Timothy to do? Yes. He told his understudy to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

One of the ways we know who the false ministers are, is that they want people dependent on THEM, not God. So, they don’t constantly exhort the people to get into God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures, for themselves. Run.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8 

“He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. … My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:4, 20-23

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16

“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

“Over the last 5-10 years I can see where He has done this for me already, but the problem is …. it’s not enough! I want even more! One hour of study and prayer in the morning is not enough!” Christine

Support | STORE | PodcastsBecause You Care Page | The Greatest of these is CharityBe Ready in the Morning [podcast]The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast]At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God  | Waste | Stewardship | GivingLet Him be Your Fear [podcast]Why We Need Not Fear DeathFear Not Little Flock | The Glorious Church Jesus is Returning For [podcast]

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