Particularly in His last discourse to them He sets forth repeated words of encouragement. Twice He used those words of tender assurance, "Let not your heart be troubled," adding, "Neither let it be afraid."[[2]] Four times He declares in substance, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do."[[3]] He assures them that He Himself will be diligent in praying the Father for them that the Blessed Comforter may abide with them forever.[[4]] He declares that if they will but abide in Him, they will be able to bring forth eternal fruit of victory.[[5]] Sorrow indeed shall be theirs, but "Your sorrow shall be turned into joy," a joy that "may be full," a joy that "no man taketh from you."[[6]] And the great discourse concludes with a pledge of their final victory,—words of lofty encouragement that should ever be in the hearts of His soldiers, sustaining in them the spirit of a divine valour: "These things I have spoken unto you that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."[[7]]
Let us therefore, as the final study we are to make of the conditions and progress of our spiritual warfare, consider the grounds we have for encouragement at every stage of the battle.
I. Members One of Another
The Church of God, "the Body of Christ,"[[8]] as St. Paul repeatedly calls it, which is "the blessed company of all faithful people," is a living organism. When the Apostle says it is "the Body of Christ," and speaks of us as members of that Body, he means that the members bear the same relation to every other member as, for example, my hands and my feet, members of my physical body, bear to each other; and that all are partakers of the one life which flows through the whole Body and which constitutes it what it is. The effect of all this he sets forth in a brief saying: "Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it."[[9]] When my hand is diseased my whole body is sick; and when health and strength return to it again, my whole body rejoices in that healing.
If we keep this principle in mind, the tempter will be powerless to discourage us in the conflict. Rather will our hearts be ever full of high hope, which will carry us rejoicing through the darkest hour of the conflict.
Think of our share in every prayer and good work that is being offered to God anywhere to-day in all the world. Think of the Eucharists in which we share. As the sun follows its course, and looks with each revolving day upon a million altars whose fires ring the world, it looks upon nothing in which I have not my part. Think how many times this day the cry has sounded forth, "Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's Church Militant!" With each exhortation there ascended to God a prayer for me, that my soul might be strong, that I might be victor in the end. The great Sacrifice of the Altar is lifted up, and it is for me; and whatever grace comes to those far-off souls of priest and people through their faithful performance of that duty, comes also to me. No grace can enter their souls without flowing on to mine; they could not be lifted up to a higher and godlier plane of life without drawing me up with them.
Little do we dream of the power of the unknown prayers of God's people. This very day Satan may have planned some deadly snare in which to entrap my feet; and the snare, it may be, was broken and swept from my path through the power of a simple prayer for tempted souls, offered this morning by a little child half-way round the world.
Picture a man walking on a dark night along a lonely mountain trail. A deadly viper lies across his path. He steps across the venomous thing; it coils and strikes,—just a moment too late! The traveller passes on, never to know the danger he was in. So with us in our journey through life. We may never know the hidden dangers; we may never know the grace that came through the prayer or good works of some far-off soul, that saved us. But what courage does the thought infuse! I had thought myself alone on this far outpost of temptation. I knew not how my soul could be reinforced by my comrades in the strife. But the help came. I was made strong; and that which might have been a grievous and hurtful battle was to me an easy victory.
Such is the power of intercession,—here a heart lifted up to God, yonder a soul made strong; here a spirit wrestling with Him, yonder a crown of victory won.
"The weary ones had rest, the sick had joy that day
And wondered how.
The ploughman, singing at his work, had prayed,
'God help them now.'