LIBERTY BAPTIST SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
QUIET TALKS
A BOOK CRITIQUE
SUBMITTED TO DR. KENNEDY A. ADARKWA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE
STRATEGIC PRAYER AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE
EVAN 670
BY
DANYELLE GATLIN
JULY 24, 2016
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Introduction
It never occurred to me when first opening the book Quiet Talks by S.D. Gordon that I was
reading a timeless wonder, but as I read things that resonated with my spirit even now, I could
feel S.D. Gordon’s connection to God. Such an awesome wonder to read a book written so long
ago that still has relevance years and years later, and is still used as a tool to teach others the
inevitability of prayer. This book, endowed with treasures to provoke our hearts and minds, has
withstood the trajectory of time and is still quite relevant concerning prayer today.
It is a jewel in the midst of thousands of books, written by thousands of scholars, but still has
a quiet little demeanor that opens a quiet little place in the corner of our minds and hearts to
evaluate its merit and worth. S. D. Gordon for sure had a voice crying in the wilderness of the
world, but through his writings, his voice lives on and the directions he is so adamantly trying to
lead the readers of this book towards, is wonderful.
Author
Samuel Dickey Gordon was an author who wrote over 25 devotional books, selling over half
a million copies of the span of 40 years. He was not an ordained minister nor did he receive a
theology degree but he instead a public school student with no scholarly background. He was
seemingly a man after God’s own heart who became a public speaker traveling widely in order to
share the concepts and precepts he learned by reading his Bible.
Born August 12, 1859 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania growing into a hard working young
man, Gordon served as assistant secretary of the Philadelphia Young Men’s Christian Association
between the years of 1884-86. He developed what some called a speaking style, which was
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distinct and remarkable. Gordon did not publish his first book until the age of 42, “Quiet Talks
on Power”, which published in 1901 by Fleming H. Revell. The book “Quiet Talks on Prayer”
became his second book published in 1904. Gordon traveled extensively, visiting the mission
fields in the Orient, then later to tour Europe speaking on the missions he encountered. Gordon
died in June 1936.1
Book Summary
S.D. Gordon in his book Quiet Talks on Prayer, shares an eloquent array of spiritual nuggets
concerning prayer. From even the table of contents, one cannot help but wonder what type of
treasures are located in the four sectioned books that contains titles that not only captures the
mind quickly but also sends a thrill of optical excitement that conveys a treasure trove awaits the
reader. Immediately upon opening, the urging to mark and highlight, clutching each word as to
not miss anything, yet desiring to remember everything, absolutely irresistible.
One picks up almost instantly in the book that prayer is not just a habit for Gordon, but
instead a mandatory occurrence that he is provoked in his heart to cause others to appreciate and
embrace. From the very beginning and throughout, the feel of sitting on the swing next to a wise
grandfather who uses something as tangible as electricity to explain the spirit life2 is strikingly
amazing. There are so many aspects capturing your attention instantly like, “The greatest thing
anyone can do for God and for man is to pray. It is not the only thing. But it is the chief thing. A
correct balancing of the possible powers one may exert puts it first. For if a man is to pray right,
1 http://peterwade.com/articles/gordsd/biogsdg.shtml
2 Gordon, S. D. Quiet Talks on Prayer. (Chicago: Fleming H. Revell Co, 1904) P. 14.
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he must first be right in his motives and life.”3 Then in this same chapter, Gordon goes farther to
say that people who pray are the people in the earth who are great, and he gives the presumption
that when you find a praying person, their “good works” are a result of this prayer life. Thus
ascertaining that one cannot do anything of power apart from prayer but can do great things
when prayer is incorporated in one’s life.
Early on in Chapter 2, Gordon discloses what is seemingly a ground explaining details that
one must understand is the real reason for conflict in the human realm, which is the results of a
spiritual war. He shares how he has marked a schedule of prayer4, taking the ground through
prayer, which must be definite and persistent5, and states “Prayer is man giving God a footing on
the contested territory of this earth”.6 Chapter 3 marks the beginning of Gordon rightly defining
what prayer is and how God’s will in unveil through prayer. Here he sets the stage, to follow-up
the “why we should pray” given in Chapter 2, by giving the reader the foundational truths of
prayer such as the definition which he states from God’s side is communication between Himself
and His allies in the enemy’s country.7 Gordon sets the foundational stage concerning this with
the truths of prayer in which he discloses that in prayer the man on the contested earth (us), pray
3 Ibid., 9
4 Ibid., 24
5 Ibid., 25
6 Ibid., 26
7 Ibid., 27
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to a God (Our Father), concerning one who we pray against (Satan), not to persuade God but
instead joins forces with Him against the devil.8
Lastly, in Chapter 3, Gordon shares the forms of prayer: communion, petition, and
intercession noting that the first two we do for ourselves, but the last, intercession, is what we do
for others.9 This is such a power packed chapter in that it gives clarity concerning what we are
accomplishing by praying and the phenomenal end to this awesome chapter is the six facts
underlying prayer: 1) The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.10 2) God gave the dominion
of the earth to man.11 3) Man, who held the dominion of the earth in trust from God, transferred
his dominion to somebody else, by an act, which was a double act.12 4) The dominion or kingship
of this earth so far as given to man, is now not God’, for He gave it to man. 5) God was eager to
swing the world back to its original sway: for His own sake, for man’s sake, for the earth’s sake,
and 6) these two, God’s Man, and the pretender prince, had a combat: the most terrific combat
ever waged or witnessed.13
The first section ends at Chapter 4 with Gordon asking and answering whether prayer
influences God and then leading into the Model Prayer, which is the prayer he considers the
8 Ibid., 87-88
9 Ibid., 28
10 Psalm 24:1a.
11 Genesis 1:28
12 Genesis 3
13 Gordon, Quiet Talks, P.32-33.
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greatest prayer. It is here that Gordon makes clear that while some believes it does, others think it
does not. Gordon believes that every right thing that has been prayed for, God has already
purposed to do, but prayer is then us giving God consent to do it. He also ends this first section
making known how the Model prayer, intentionally sweeps the whole field of action, then
touches the heart of action, and then it attacks the opposition.
The next section of the book deals with the hindrances of prayers. Gordon starts right off
dissecting three of what he feels is the main hindrances to prayer: things that break off
connection with God, things in us that delay or diminish the results, and then outside
hindrances,14 which then simplifies as sin, selfishness, and an unforgiving spirit which could be
at the center of answered prayers. The author explores these until chapter 7 often referring to
Jesus as the Chief.
In the third portion, Gordon deals with how to pray. He said, “The first thing in prayer is to
find God’s purpose, the trend, the swing of it; the second thing to make that purpose our prayer.
We want to find out what God is thinking, and then to claim that that shall be done.”15 He
declares after Jesus came to the earth, “now prayer is this: finding out God’s purpose for our
lives, and for the earth and insisting that that shall be done here. The great thing then is to find
out and insist upon God’s will. And the “how” of method in prayer is concerned with that.”16
Book Critique and Evaluation
14 Ibid., P. 52
15 Ibid., P.107
16 Ibid., P.108
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For of all I must commend S.D. Gordon for the exceptional life instructions he has handed
throughout generations concerning prayer. To think that this is the second book of a man over the
age of forty who had no formal higher-educational background, but simply poured from his spirit
that which God impressed upon his heart is beyond dynamic. I reiterate, the feeling of having a
grandfather sharing his thoughts and wisdom sitting on the porch sipping tea, is the perception I
felt while reading this book. There were moments when I felt, okay Paw-Paw, I understand what
you are trying to say even though I would have conveyed that in different terms.
When Gordon writes “prayer is man giving God a footing on the contested territory of this
earth” or “that man is God’s footing on the enemy’s soil”17, someone young in the faith might
actually believe that God needs our permission through prayer to operate in the earth realm and
that we become God on earth when we pray. John Piper said this concerning Daniel 10 which
shares a clear picture of the function of prayer, “Notice the words: “I have come because of your
words.” Put that together with the words in verse 11: “I have been sent to you.” That is, God sent
him. So the point is that God answered Daniel’s prayer as soon as he began to pray three weeks
ago. “From the first day that you humbled yourself before your God your words [your prayers]
have been heard, and I have come because of your words [your prayer].”18 This shows that God
sent an angel to the earth realm concerning Daniel’s prayer. God does not have to leave His
throne to answer our prayers. He is God and He has tones of workers who are employed and can
be deployed on His behalf; thus it also being a wonderful thing when we contrast Daniel 10 to
the book that while Daniel was fasting and praying, the prince of Persia was struggling with the
17 Ibid., P.26
18 John Piper. “Prayer: A Warrior’s Weapon”. Ligonier Ministries.
http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/prayer-piper/
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messenger of God the same length of time- 21 days. This denotes that as Daniel is in warfare in
prayer, the spirit realm is in the same war, giving Gordon credibility in understanding prayer to
be an important weapon in the war.
Gordon states that God has been hindered in His purpose by our lack of willingness19 and
although I rather understand where he is coming from (that grandpa thing again), nevertheless, I
do not fully agree with the terms he used. I believe that God in all of his reputable wisdom,
knows His purpose and regardless to man’s plan or lack of prayer, God’s purpose prevails.20
Prayer to me causes a smoother transition for us in our incorporation into His purpose, because
once we have become prayers of His Word, which is His purpose, then we become more
advocated to following His course and implementing our services to become as the angel
Michael, God’s hand agents, mouth agents, etcetera in the earth.
Now as I wrote in my earlier review concerning Chapter 4, I must say this, prayer to me has
a turgidity purpose that defies the law of natural occurrence and reaches the heart of God
concerning you as the individual. As I read chapter five through seven, my mind reflect back to
this, "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the
gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none."21 What could have
possibly been blocking, blinding, or hindering at least one person from standing in intercession
for the land?
19 Ibid., P. 40.
20 Proverbs 19:21
21 Ezekiel 22:30
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If there we something I thought so profound that Gordon should have dealt with especially
concerning the hindrances of prayer is the lack of faith. He went on to say faith is intelligent,
obedient, expectant, and persistent22, but to incorporate asking in faith verses without, would
have really taken the reader to a deeper place. Overall, I truly enjoyed this book and took some
excellent nuggets away.
Personal Application
Earlier, I use the Ezekiel 22:30 as the prime example of the fate of those who do not prayer.
As I have gathered throughout my lifespan, prayer is not only essential; it is evolutional, life
changing, and life altering. We have been definitely through the reading of this book been
challenge to stay before the presence of God with a good heart and good intentions. I understand
fully the reciprocity that takes place during prayer and I have come to understand that sometimes
when I feel my prayers are not answered, I have to step back and take a deeper evaluation or
assessment of the situation. It is then that I often come to realize that they were answered but
maybe not in the way, I perceived or even desired them to be.
As a result of this book, I’m going to make sure that I find God’s will by staying in touch
with Him, by delighting to do His will, and by allowing His Word to discipline my judgment
according to Himself and His will.23 Christian maturity has been a schoolmaster for me teaching
me that God honors those, who honor Him through prayer, and I can definitely assure you if you
wait for God, He will answer. I am for sure going to keep chapter seventeen close to me as it
22 Gordon, Quiet Talks, P.114
23 Ibid., P. 136
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reached back to chapter nine and laid the answers to the six suggestions how to pray, and I am
going to allow it to be a blueprint for me to imitate Christ’s example and how He revered prayer.
This book has truly been a great read and although God has given greater insight into prayer
from writers like the late Dr. Myles Munroe and Dave Earley just to mention two of my favorite.
