Dr. Oswald Jeffrey Smith (November 8, 1889 – January 25, 1986) was a Canadian pastor, author, and missions advocate. He founded The People’s Church in Toronto in 1928. He was a leading force in Fundamentalism in Canada. He traveled the world to recruit missionaries. Over the course of eighty years he preached more than 12,000 sermons in 80 countries, wrote thirty-five books (with translations into 128 languages), as well as 1,200 poems, of which 100 have been set to music.
Smith said “intercessory prayer is not only the highest form of Christian service, but also the hardest kind of work.” He believed in having a regular time and place for prayer and paced as he prayed to prevent distractions. Every decision of his life was guided by prayer. More than anything he wanted to be used of God. He prayed, “Lord, use me…” “What must I do?” He prayed to be a victorious, Spirit-filled man of prayer, a surrendered man of the word, and of one purpose. As a youth he was troubled with poor health, which prevented him from doing his heart’s desire, serve on the mission field. From the Bible, Smith found the qualifications that he lists in his book “The Man God Uses.” Prayer was a major component. In the book Smith says, “Prevailing prayer, prayer of travail such as Jesus knew, will lead to God being glorified in you.”
No Substitute
Intercessory Prayer is the Christian’s most effective weapon. Nothing can withstand its power. It will do things when all else has failed. And the marvel is that we turn to other agencies in order to accomplish what only prayer can bring to pass. God has placed this mighty weapon in our hands, and He expects us to use it. How disappointed He must be when we lay it a side and substitute naturel means for supernatural work.
In this twentieth century we are, more and more, turning from the God-appointed means of intercessory prayer and adopting, instead, merely natural agencies for the carrying on of His work. Everywhere we look it is the same, both in evangelism and ordinary church work. Intercessory prayer has been shelved. For some reason it is out of date. Our methods, we say, are better, and our plans more successful ad so we adopt natural means to bring to pass the supernatural.
My brethren, it can never be done. We may appear to be successful; the crowds may come; the altar may be full night after night. Reported results may be broadcasted everywhere. Whole cities ma be stirred and mightily moved! Yet when it is all over and two or three years have passed, how little will be found to be genuine! And why? Simply because we have been satisfied with superficial, specular work, brought to pass by natural means. Consequently the truly supernatural has been largely lacking. Oh let us get back to intercessory prayer, the highest form of Christian’s service, and give God no rest until we have a spiritual outcome.