prayer

Children’s Story – A Modern Raven

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The most wonderful answer to prayer that I ever saw was that of a poor Mohammedan widow, who, with her children, was starving.

I had closed the White Memorial Hospital in Pasrur, India, for two months. One day, I decided to open it, and, taking with me my assistant, a young Indian girl, we drove in the evening to put the hospital and dispensary in order. As my decision was made suddenly, I took with me only a small five-cent loaf of bread and some butter. The next morning at five o’clock, we ate most of the bread and butter.

We were so anxious to open to patients the next day that we worked on till two o’clock that afternoon, forgetting our need of food. Then, becoming weak and faint, I sent the assistant to prepare some Indian bread and greens for herself, telling her I would take what was left of the bread and butter we had in the morning.

Later, I drew a small table to the edge of the veranda, and sat down to my bread and butter. My Indian assistant drew a native bedstead close to the veranda, with her bread and greens on a brass plate, and also made ready to eat.

She had just seated herself, but had not yet touched her food, when a big black mountain crow, or raven, flopped down on her. He took one side of the bread in one claw and the opposite side in the other claw. Then he carefully brought his feet together and took up the vegetables.

It is not uncommon for crows to steal food from our plates when we sit outside, but they generally fly into a tree near by and caw and brag. This bird acted differently, and although both of us were most indignant, we watched him with interest. Up into the clear sky he went, over the hospital, across the city, on, on, till only a speck, when he seemed to sink and vanish. I shared my bread and butter with my assistant, and we finished the work. Then we opened up to patients the next day.

I cannot recall whether it was one or two days later that we saw a poor, weak woman coming in the gate, carrying a baby in her left arm, and a child of two or more on her right hip. Two other children came trailing after her, snatching at her clothes whenever they could to help themselves along. She staggered to the veranda and sank exhausted to the floor. We revived her, and asked from what she suffered.

“I am a Mohammedan widow,” she said. “My husband died six months ago, and left me with these four children. My children and I have been starving. For three days we had nothing to eat. I prayed, oh, how I prayed to Mohammed; but Mohammed never cares for women and children. Then I prayed to the gods of the Hindus, but they, too, never care for women and children. Then I threw myself on the ground and clasped my hands as the Christians do, and I cried, ‘O God of the Christians, send food to us, that my children may not die.’

“While praying, a crow dropped down and swept my head with its wings and flew away. I lifted my head and looked. There before me lay a beautiful piece of bread and some vegetables. I took the food, and my children and I ate.

“Some of the village women came past me as we ate, and asked me where I got the food. I told them the crow had brought it. ‘That is not a poor man’s food,’ they said. ‘That has come from some one of the better class.’

“ ‘I know the tender-hearted doctor who has a hospital at Pasrur,’ one woman said. ‘I think if you go to her, she will take you in and care for you.’ I started at once. Sometimes we got a ride, sometimes we walked, but we are here.”

My assistant thanked God that she had been counted worthy to give her dinner to answer this woman’s prayer. It was her food, without a doubt, that the crow had carried to the starving widow and her children.

True Education Reader, ©1931, Maria White, M.D., 354–356.

“Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).

The Prayers from Babylon

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Often people feel that God does not hear or answer their prayers. In this article we will see how you can be assured of answered prayer and why the prayers of some people are not answered.

John 9:31 says, “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” Proverbs 28:9 says, “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.” And Psalm 66:18: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”

God gives a warning message to the people today who are in spiritual Babylon. He says, “ ‘Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing, declare, proclaim this, utter it to the end of the earth; say, “The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob” ’ ” (Isaiah 48:20)!

Jeremiah had a lot more to say about this. “Move from the midst of Babylon, go out of the land of the Chaldeans; and be like the rams before the flocks” (Jeremiah 50:8). “The voice of those who flee and escape from the land of Babylon declares in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, the vengeance of His temple” (verse 28).

“Flee from the midst of Babylon, and every one save his life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity, for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; He shall recompense her” (Jeremiah 51:6).

“Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations are deranged. … We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country” (verses 7, 9).

And in verse 45, he said, “My people, go out of the midst of her! And let everyone deliver himself from the fierce anger of the Lord.”

These messages recorded in the Old Testament are repeated for the last time in the book of Revelation. The second angel said, “And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication’ ” (Revelation 14:8).

Even more to the point, Revelation 18:1 to 4 says, “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.

“And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.’ And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’ ” This by the way is the voice of Jesus Christ, Himself.

We know from these Scriptures that during the end time, the time in which we are living, many of God’s children will be in Babylon and are called to get out of there and go back to Zion or spiritual Jerusalem. Jeremiah says, “You who have escaped the sword, get away! Do not stand still! Remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind” (Jeremiah 51:50).

“ ‘In those days and in that time,’ says the Lord, ‘The children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; with continual weeping they shall come, and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces toward it, saying, “Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that will not be forgotten.” My people have been lost sheep, their shepherds have led them astray, they have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place. All who found them have devoured them; and their adversaries said, “We have not offended, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, the Lord, the hope of their fathers” ’ ” (Jeremiah 50:4–7).

The children of Israel, of course, are God’s children, those who make a profession of the Christian faith. There is a lot of confusion within the religious world today regarding the true Israel. However, the Bible makes it clear in Galatians 3:28 and 29 where it says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

All who profess Christianity, whether Jew or non-Jew, are part of spiritual Israel. But to those Jews who refuse to accept Christ, Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it” (Matthew 21:43).

Babylon is going to be destroyed and God’s people, all those who profess Christianity and who are still in Babylon, are called out or they will be destroyed with it.

What does it mean to be in Babylon, and what does it mean to come out? In The Great Controversy, page 384, Ellen White quotes a Presbyterian theologian, Thomas Guthrie, from his book titled The Gospel in Ezekiel, page 237. She wrote, “Concerning the separation of the Presbyterian Church from Rome, Dr. Guthrie writes: ‘Three hundred years ago, our church, with an open Bible on her banner, and this motto, “Search the Scriptures,” on her scroll, marched out from the gates of Rome.’ ” Then he asks the significant question: “Did they come clean out of Babylon?” Notice the word “clean” is in italics in the original. If not, they are still in Babylon.

Adventists have preached that Babylon represents those religious organizations or churches that practice lawlessness and also teach people to break the law of God. The reason for terming these organizations Babylon is because of their violation of the longest commandment, which is found right in the heart of the ten commandments (Exodus 20:3–17).

We read in Jeremiah 50 that in the last days, God’s people are going to flee from Babylon. An important concept to understand is that Babylon, in Bible prophecy, represents a way of life that is in violation with the law of God.

Paul said, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate,’ says the Lord, ‘Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you’ ” (2 Corinthians 6:14–17).

Then He says, “ ‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty” (verse 18).

What is this Babylonian way of life?

Babylon is not just some system or organization, but a way of life that is practiced by it. Some characteristics of Babylon are:

  1. It shows no mercy or consideration to other people. The Bible says, “I was angry with My people, I have profaned My inheritance, and given them into your hand. You showed them no mercy; on the elderly you laid your yoke very heavily” (Isaiah 47:6). James 2:13 says that the person who does not show mercy will not receive mercy.
  2. It is given to pleasure. “Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, who dwell securely, who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children’; But these two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day: the loss of children and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness because of the multitude of your sorceries, for the great abundance of your enchantments” (Isaiah 47:8, 9).

Pleasure itself is not wrong, but there are both righteous and unrighteous pleasures. The Bible talks about people who have pleasure in unrighteousness in 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12.

  1. It is involved in a multitude of sorceries and an abundance of enchantments.

“Stand now with your enchantments and the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth—perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will prevail” (Isaiah 47:12).

Babylon is engaged in pleasure that involves sorcery, which is contact with evil spirits or teachings of the devil.

  1. It is a destroyer of God’s people. “Because you were glad, because you rejoiced, you destroyers of My heritage, because you have grown fat like a heifer threshing grain, and you bellow like bulls” (Jeremiah 50:11).

Also, “As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon the slain of all the earth shall fall” (Jeremiah 51:49).

  1. It contends against God’s people. “You have indeed been trapped, O Babylon, and you were not aware; you have been found and also caught, because you have contended against the Lord” (Jeremiah 50:24).
  2. It is full of mixed peoples. “A sword is against their horses, against their chariots, and against all the mixed peoples who are in her midst; and they will become like women. A sword is against her treasures, and they will be robbed” (Jeremiah 50:37).
  3. It made the nations drunk. “Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunk (with her philosophy). The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations are deranged” (Jeremiah 51:7).
  4. It is very wealthy. Jeremiah 51:13 says, she is “abundant in treasures,” and also, there are several texts that say Babylon is full of covetousness and pride. (See Jeremiah 50:31 and 32.)
  5. It destroys. “ ‘Behold, I am against you [Babylon], O destroying mountain, who destroys all the earth,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will stretch out My hand against you, roll you down from the rocks, and make you a burnt mountain’” (Jeremiah 51:25). Compare this with the second trumpet in Revelation 8 and 9.
  6. It is full of violence. “Let the violence done to me and my flesh be upon Babylon, the inhabitant of Zion will say, ‘and my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea’” (Jeremiah 51:35)!

Verse 46 says, “Lest your heart faint, and you fear the rumor that will be heard in the land (a rumor will come one year, and after that, in another year a rumor will come, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler).”

The characteristics of Babylon can be simply summarized:

  • She is given to pleasures.
  • These pleasures involve sorcery, that is, contact with evil spirits.
  • She is full of violence.

This is contrary to the characteristic of heaven, about which we are told: “Violence shall no longer be heard in the land” (Isaiah 60:18). That being the case, it would eliminate much of the popular entertainment and sports events that so occupy the minds and so much time of the people now. People often spend hours being entertained by things they would never dream of being involved in themselves. Can you imagine Jesus participating and enjoying things that He condemned? We are told that He could not see a wrong act without feeling pain.

We are living in the last days. It is time to quit playing games and think seriously about getting ready for Jesus to come. Many, even though they are part of the remnant church and believe the three angels’ messages, are deceived being mentally still in Babylon. If you enjoy watching sin, then sin still has an attraction for you. You still have the spirit of Babylon and are called to get out.

Sorcery, practiced in its many varied ways, has always been the devil’s religion. It always involves secrecy where only the initiated really know what is going on. People participate in it claiming its innocence.

My dear friend, there are many people who tell us they are Christians preparing for the second coming of Christ while their feet are still planted on the road to destruction. There is much more to getting out of Babylon than leaving some church organization that is disobeying the fourth commandment. The philosophy of Babylon has to be eliminated from the mind in order to be free.

Prayers from those who stubbornly refuse the call of Jesus to come out of Babylon will not be answered. The Bible describes it this way: “Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us’ ” (Luke 23:30)!

Ellen White wrote, “Satan is playing the game of life for their [the youth’s] souls, taking from them the talents that God has given them, and placing in their stead his own evil attributes. It is his effort to lead men to ignore God. He seeks to engross and absorb the mind so completely that God will find no place in the thoughts. He does not wish people to have a knowledge of their Maker, and he is well pleased if he can set in operation games and theatrical performances that will so confuse the senses of the youth that God and heaven will be forgotten.” The Review and Herald, October 3, 1912.

In another writing she said, “There are amusements which we cannot approve, because Heaven condemns them—such as dancing, card-playing, chess, checkers, &c. These amusements open the door for great evil. Their tendencies are not beneficial, but their influence upon the mind is to excite and produce in some minds a passion for those plays which lead to gambling, and dissolute lives. All such plays should be condemned by Christians. Something should be substituted in the place of these amusements. Something can be invented, perfectly harmless.” Ibid., October 8, 1867.

“Card playing should be prohibited. The associations and tendencies are dangerous. The prince of the powers of darkness presides in the gaming room and wherever there is card playing. Evil angels are familiar guests in these places.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 652.

“I cannot believe a true follower of Christ will touch a card for amusement, nor read novels, nor attend balls and theaters. If they have learned of Him who is meek and lowly of heart, they will have disrelish for former pleasures and amusements.” The Review and Herald, February 20, 1866.

O friend, consider the destination for which you are preparing by the choices you make day by day.

“Satan has invented many ways in which to squander the means which God has given. Card-playing, betting, gambling, horse-racing, and theatrical performances are all of his own inventing, and he has led men to carry forward these amusements as zealously as though they were winning for themselves the precious boon of eternal life.” Ibid., March 31, 1896.

“Dancing, as practiced at the present day, is detrimental to the health of soul and body. Theater-going, dancing, card-playing, gambling, inebriety, are all steps in the path of vice and dissipation.” The Signs of the Times, February 23, 1882.

Some years ago, I got much pleasure flying airplanes. After my brother and his family were killed in an airplane crash, my feelings were changed. Flight instructors teach you that your attitude will determine your altitude. The same is true in a spiritual sense, your attitude will determine whether you are heading up or down.

Please do not think that I am teaching that people should not enjoy any recreation or amusements.

Ellen White wrote in 1867, “I saw that our holidays should not be spent in patterning after the world, yet they should not be passed by unnoticed, for this will bring dissatisfaction to our children. On these days when there is danger of our children partaking of evil influences, and becoming corrupted by the pleasures and excitement of the world, let the parents study to get up something to take the place of more dangerous amusements. Give your children to understand you have their happiness and best good in view.

“Let families unite together and leave their occupations which have taxed them physically and mentally, and make an excursion out of the cities and villages a few miles into the country.” The Review and Herald, October 8, 1867.

For optimal health, time must be set aside for recreation and relaxation. As in every life decision, there are choices to be made whether righteous or unrighteous.

Jeremiah 51:50 says, “You who have escaped the sword, get away! Do not stand still! Remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.” Jerusalem is a word that means, city of peace. Why is Jerusalem at peace? Because the people in Jerusalem keep God’s commandments. Jeremiah 50:20 says, “ ‘In those days and in that time,’ says the Lord, ‘The iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, but they shall not be found; for I will pardon those whom I preserve.’ ”

Jerusalem, the city of peace is a desirable place. The devil wants you to believe that it is impossible to reach that state, but it says in Jeremiah 50:20, “ ‘In those days and in that time’ says the Lord, ‘The iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, but they shall not be found; for I will pardon those whom I preserve.’ ”

My dear friend, the most important decision you can make while probation is still open and Jesus is calling, is which way you are headed. Be among those people who, in the end, live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Editorial – Keep Praying

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“Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field” (Zechariah 10:1). “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).

EVERY SINCERE PRAYER

“God is bending from His throne to hear the cry of the oppressed. To every sincere prayer He answers, ‘Here am I.’ The prayer that ascends from a broken and contrite heart is never disregarded; it is as sweet music in the ears of our heavenly Father: for He waits to bestow upon us the fulness of His blessing.” The Oriental Watchman, December 1, 1909.

PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

“We need not worry about the latter rain. All we have to do is to keep the vessel clean and right side up and prepared for the reception of the heavenly rain, and keep praying, ‘Let the latter rain come into my vessel. Let the light of the glorious angel which unites with the third angel shine upon me; give me a part in the work; let me sound the proclamation; let me be a colaborer with Jesus Christ.’ Thus seeking God, let me tell you, He is fitting you up all the time, giving you His grace.” The Upward Look, 283.

PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

“When my [Ellen White’s] children were small we had a large family of adopted children. We would have our work away before the setting of the sun. The children would hail the Sabbath as a joy. They would say, ‘Now Father and Mother will give us some of their time.’ We would take them out for a walk. We would take the Bible and some religious instruction to read to them, and explain to them the Scriptures. We would keep praying that they should know the truth of God’s word. We would not lie abed Sabbath mornings because it was Sabbath. We would have our preparations all ready the day before so that we could go to service without the hurry and worry. We would not stroll off and have a nice time to ourselves. We wanted our children to have all the privileges and blessings of God’s sanctified rest day.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 4, 104.

PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO MINISTER TO

“Be always kind and courteous, cheerful and hopeful. Keep praying and working for souls.” Ibid.,vol. 6, 379.

In Everything Give Thanks

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—Praise God because He is powerful.

“Now these [are] thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.” Nehemiah 1:10.
“[Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out: [he is] excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.” Job 37:23.

— Praise God because of His righteousness.

“Thy righteousness [is] like the great mountains; thy judgments
[are] a great deep: O Lord,
thou preservest man and beast.” Psalm 36:6.

“The Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth.” Daniel 9:14.

— Praise God because He is able.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20.
“And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work.” 11 Corinthians 9:8.

— Praise God because He is infinite.

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.” Romans 11:33–36.

— Praise God because of His strength.

“God [is] my strength [and] power: and he maketh my way perfect.” 11 Samuel 22:33.
“The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, [wherewith] he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.” Psalm 93:1.

— Praise God because He is everlasting.

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding.” Isaiah 40:28.

“. . . and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.

Giving praise to the Lord is one of the best ways to express our thanks to God for His blessings, and yet how many of us do it on a regular basis? Yes, we normally go through our routine of thanking God for our food before we eat; sometimes we even thank Him for the clothes we wear and praise Him for the sunshine. Around the Thanksgiving holiday we may even list out our blessings and reflect on what God has done, but do we really “offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually”? Hebrews 13:15.

Continual does not mean just once a year or even once a day for that matter. It implies that it is repeated without interruption. David said, in Psalm 34:1, “. . . his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth.” He also said, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.” Psalm 119:62. When is the last time we found ourselves up at midnight thanking the Lord? Later on in that same psalm David says, “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.” (Verse 164.) Do we stop seven times a day to praise God? Do we even stop once or twice to praise Him?

“Prayer is a duty and a necessity; but do we not neglect praise? Should we not oftener render thanksgiving to the Giver of all our blessings? We need to cultivate gratitude. We should frequently contemplate and recount the mercies of God, and laud and glorify His holy name, even when we are passing through sorrow and affliction. . . .” Selected Messages, Book 2, 268.

“We need to praise God much more than we do. We are to show that we have cause for rejoicing. ‘Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light’ (1 Peter 2:9). Are we doing this as fully as we should?” In Heavenly Places, 96.

“We need to praise God more ‘for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.’ Psalm 107:8. Our devotional exercises should not consist wholly in asking and receiving. Let us not be always thinking of our wants and never of the benefits we receive. We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. We are the constant recipients of God’s mercies, and yet how little gratitude we express, how little we praise Him for what He has done for us.” Steps to Christ, 102.

Now that we know that we need to praise God, and praise Him continually, how do we do it? If you think that all praising God involves is whispering a prayer of thanks to Him in your closet,—think again! Praising God is an active thing! In other words, if you receive a blessing—tell someone about it!

Praise through Words

“The prophet, in words of glowing fervor, magnifies God in His created works: ‘When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?’ ‘O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!’ ‘I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all Thy marvelous works.’ [Psalm 8:3, 9; 9:1.]” Testimonies, vol. 3, 377.

“My soul is filled with praise and thanksgiving to God from whom come all our mercies and blessings. The Lord is good, and His mercies endure forever. I will praise Him who is the light of my countenance and my God. He is the source of all efficiency and power. Why do we not praise Him by speaking words of hope and comfort to others? Why are our lips so silent? Speech is a gift of Heaven, and it should be used in sounding forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. . . .” That I May Know Him, 219.

“If we enjoy the love of God in our hearts, we will have something to say. From the treasure of our heart we will bring forth good things. We will render to God the fruit of our lips. Our words will be words of praise and thanksgiving.—Manuscript 74, 1897.” The Voice in Speech and Song, 149.

“The words to which God and the angels listen with delight are words of appreciation for the great gift that has been made to the world in the only-begotten Son of God. Every word of praise for the blessing of the light of truth . . . is written in the heavenly records. Every word that acknowledges the merciful kindness of our heavenly Father in giving Jesus to take away our sins, and to impute to us His righteousness, is recorded in the book of His remembrance.” Our High Calling, 168.

“When the blessed light of the Sun of Righteousness shines into our hearts, and we rest in peace and joy in the Lord, then let us praise the Lord; praise Him who is the health of our countenance and our God. Let us praise Him, not in words only, but by the consecration to Him of all that we are and all that we have.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 479.

Praise through Music

Under the rulership of King David, Israel had joyfully united in chanting hymns of praise to the Most High, in recognition of their entire dependence on Him for daily mercies. Their words of adoration are recorded in Psalm 65. Note verse 13: ” . . . they shout for joy, they also sing.” (See Prophets and Kings, 133, 134.)

The psalmist repeatedly encourages us to sing our praise to God. “All the inhabitants of heaven unite in praising God. Let us learn the song of the angels now, that we may sing it when we join their shining ranks. Let us say with the psalmist, ‘While I live, will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being’ (Psalm 146:2). ‘Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee’ (Psalm 67:5).” God’s Amazing Grace, 352.

“As you meet from Sabbath to Sabbath, you need no expensive organ in order to sing praises to Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Let the heart’s adoration be given ‘Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.’ [Revelation 1:5.]” General Conference Daily Bulletin, January 28, 1893.

“Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings.” Psalm 33:2. “Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.” Psalm 98:5, 6. “Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” Psalm 150:3–6.

“Music should have beauty, pathos, and power. Let the voices be lifted in songs of praise and devotion. Call to your aid, if practicable, instrumental music, and let the glorious harmony ascend to God, an acceptable offering.” Evangelism, 505.

“Musical instruments were used in religious services in ancient times. The worshipers praise God upon the harp and cymbal, and music should have its place in our services. It will add to the interest. And . . . a praise meeting should be held, a simple service of thanksgiving to God.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 62.

Praise through Prayer

“Prayer means very much, and we should come to God offering up thanksgiving before him. ‘Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. . . . O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness.’ [Psalm 95:2, 3, 6–8.]” Signs of the Times, September 10, 1894.

“David declares, ‘I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live’ (Psalm 116:1, 2). God’s goodness in hearing and answering prayer places us under heavy obligation to express our thanksgiving for the favors bestowed upon us. We should praise God much more than we do. The blessings received in answer to prayer should be promptly acknowledged. . . .” God’s Amazing Grace, 325.

“There must be a living connection with God in prayer, a living connection with God in songs of praise and thanksgiving.—Letter 96, 1898.” Evangelism, 498.

Praise through Testimony

“O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.” Psalm 105:1.

“In our devotional social meetings, our voices should express by prayer and praise our adoration of our heavenly Father, that all may know that we worship God in simplicity and truth, and in the beauty of holiness. Precious indeed in this world of sin and ignorance is the gift of speech, is the melody of the human voice, when devoted to the praises of Him who hath loved us, and hath given himself for us.” Christian Education, 131.

“To praise God in fulness and sincerity of heart is as much a duty as is prayer. We are to show to the world and to all the heavenly intelligences that we appreciate the wonderful love of God for fallen humanity, and that we are expecting larger and yet larger blessings from His infinite fulness. . . . After a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, our joy in the Lord and our efficiency in His service would be greatly increased by recounting His goodness and His wonderful works in behalf of His children. These exercises drive back the power of Satan. They expel the spirit of murmuring and complaint, and the tempter loses ground. They cultivate those attributes of character which will fit the dwellers on earth for the heavenly mansions. Such a testimony will have an influence upon others. No more effective means can be employed for winning souls to Christ.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 299, 300.

“The one appointed to conduct Sabbath services should . . . not always give so long a discourse that there will be no opportunity for those present to confess Christ. The sermon should frequently be short, so that the people may express their thanksgiving to God. Gratitude-offerings glorify the name of the Lord. In every assembly of the saints holy angels listen to the praise offered to Jehovah in testimony, song, and prayer.” Gospel Workers, 171.

Praise through Giving

“Those who fear Him [God] speak words of courage, of thankfulness, and of praise. . . . Such words make all heaven rejoice. Those who utter them may be poor in worldly possessions, but by faithfully giving to God the portion He claims, they acknowledge their indebtedness to Him. Self-serving does not make up the chapters of their life history. In love and gratitude, with songs of joy upon their lips, they bring their offerings to God, saying as did David, ‘Of Thine own we freely
give Thee.’” Review and Herald, January 5, 1897.

“Nothing has been withheld from us that God could give. So ample was the gift poured out to man, that there was nothing more which God could bestow. He is our best friend, our benefactor. Shall we not give evidence of our gratitude to him, not only by thanksgiving and praise, but by offerings to extend to others the knowledge of his great gift?” Ibid., December 2, 1890.

“The wise men have left us an example of what we should do. Jesus should be the object of our adoration, the recipient of our gifts. It is not man, but our Redeemer, that should be honored. To Him we should offer our praise and gifts and treasures; but instead of this, the world sets its treasures flowing in the channel of self-gratification, and to the honor of men. . . . few think of what they can do to show their love and gratitude to God for his great love and compassion upon them.” The Bible Echo, December 15, 1892.

“How many through selfish plans, rob God of the praise and the thanksgiving due to his holy name, because they would hold the goods lent them in trust, and fail to relieve the necessities of their brethren who are in poverty and distress.” Review and Herald, January 15, 1895.

Praise through Example

“Those who are partakers of Christ’s meekness, purity, and love, will be joyful in God, and will shed light and gladness upon all around them. The thought that Christ died to obtain for us the gift of everlasting life, is enough to call forth from our hearts the most sincere and fervent gratitude, and from our lips the most enthusiastic praise. God’s promises are rich, and full, and free. Whoever will, in the strength of Christ, comply with the conditions, may claim these promises, with all their wealth of blessing, as his own. And being thus abundantly supplied from the treasure-house of God, he may, in the journey of life, ‘walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing;’ [Colossians 1:10] by a godly example blessing his fellow-men, and honoring his Creator.” Ibid., September 20, 1881.

“The hour of prayer should not be neglected for any consideration. . . . At an early hour of the evening, when you can pray unhurriedly and understandingly, present your supplication, and raise your voices in happy, grateful praise. Let all who visit Christians see that the hour of prayer is the most sacred, the most precious, and the happiest hour of the day. Such an example will not be without effect.” Reflecting Christ, 183.

“What an example have the martyrs for Jesus left us in their lives of self-denial and sacrifice. . . . Those who were too timid to praise God vocally were not too timid to die for their Lord.” Review and Herald, December 2, 1875.

“‘Ye are my witnesses,’ says God, and God wants us by precept and example to represent Christ in our world. . . . You are to begin to work with the talent which God has lent you, and then [use] every gift there is to the praise of heaven.” Sermons and Talks, vol. 1, 260.

Know Who God is

If we are going to develop a lifestyle of praise to God continually, we need to put things in perspective. We must realize who God is and who we are not. “Know ye that the Lord he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3, 4. We need to recognize that all of the things we receive as blessings come from Him.

“I will call upon the Lord, [who is worthy] to be praised . . . .” Psalm 18:3. “God saves man through the blood of Christ alone, and man’s belief in, and allegiance to, Christ is salvation. It is no marvel to angels that the infinite sacrifice made by the Son of God was ample enough to bring salvation to a fallen race, but that this atoning sacrifice should have been made is a wonder to the universe. It is a mystery which angels desire to look into. The angels are amazed at the indifference and coldness manifested by those for whom so great a salvation has been provided. They look with grief and holy indignation upon those who do not seek to appreciate the unspeakable gift of God. Instead of offering adoration to God, finite men think themselves capable, without divine unction, of determining what is worthy of praise or blame in their fellow-men. But to be glorified by man is no glory. We should learn to value the praise of man at what it is worth. The Lord says, ‘Them that honor me I will honor.’ [1 Samuel 2:30.] Let every breath of praise, every word of exaltation, flow to him who is worthy, flow to Jesus, the Prince of life, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Elevate the cross of Christ. Elevate the Mediator. Lift up Jesus. In him is everything noble. Contemplate God in Christ. He is surrounded with angels, cherubim and seraphim continually behold him. Angelic voices day and night cry before him: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. . . . Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.’ ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.’ ‘Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before thee.’ [Revelation 4:8, 11; 5:12; 15:3, 4.]” Signs of the Times, December 30, 1889.

Giving praise to God helps us to understand just how awesome He really is! We should praise Him for how powerful He is. We should praise Him for how giving He is. We should praise Him for how loving He is. We should thank Him for all that He has done, is doing, and will do for us as His children.

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Remember The Sabbath Day . . . Part IV

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Reverence His Name

Not only should our reverence be guarded, but we should be guarded against using God’s name in vain. Psalm 111:9 tells us: “Holy and reverend [is] his name.”

“Reverence should be shown also for the name of God. Never should that name be spoken lightly or thoughtlessly. Even in prayer its frequent or needless repetition should be avoided.

“Those who are brought into covenant relation with God are pledged to speak of Him in the most respectful, reverential manner. . . .

“Swearing, and all words spoken in the form of an oath, are dishonoring to God. The Lord sees, the Lord hears, and He will not hold the transgressor guiltless. He will not be mocked. Those who take the name of the Lord in vain will find it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

“By the thoughtless mention of God in common conversation, by appeals to Him in trivial matters, and by the frequent and thoughtless repetition of His name, we dishonor Him.

“What faint views some have of the holiness of God, and how much they take His holy and reverend name in vain, without realizing that it is God, the great and terrible God, of whom they are speaking. While praying, many use careless and irreverent expressions, which grieve the tender Spirit of the Lord and cause their petitions to be shut out of heaven.

” ‘Holy and reverend is His name.’ We are never in any manner to treat lightly the titles or appellations of the Deity. In prayer we enter the audience chamber of the Most High, and we should come before Him with holy awe. The angels veil their faces in His presence. The cherubim and the bright and holy seraphim approach His throne with solemn reverence. How much more should we, finite, sinful beings, come in a reverent manner before the Lord, our Maker!” My Life Today, 282.

Can we afford to shut out heaven? Let us be careful then, in our prayers, that we do not uselessly take God’s name in vain.

“Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” Jeremiah 7:23.

Reverence the Holy Scriptures

We should also reverence the Holy Scriptures.

“The Bible is God’s voice speaking to us, just as surely as if we could hear it with our ears. If we realized this, with what awe we would open God’s Word and with what earnestness we would search its precepts. The reading and contemplation of the Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with the Infinite One.

“We are to open the Word of God with reverence and with a sincere desire to know the will of God concerning us. The heavenly angels will direct our search. God speaks to us in His Word. We are in the audience chamber of the Most High, in the very presence of God. Christ enters the heart.

“Show that you reverence your faith, speaking reverently of sacred things. Never allow one expression of lightness and trifling to escape your lips when quoting Scripture. As you take the Bible in your hands, remember that you are on holy ground.” My Life Today, 283.

So, the next time you pick up your Bible, remember to be reverent with it. When you read it, remember that you are in the presence of God, if you have a sincere heart to know the truth.

It is interesting to note that Ellen White tells us we are also to reverence our faith. Do you have respect for your faith in Christ, in the Bible, or in the Spirit of Prophecy? Have you ever considered that you are to have reverence toward your faith?

A Little Bit of Heaven

Reverence, as it is to be expressed in its different aspects, should be taught in the church, but the foundational teaching begins in the home.

“Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” 1 Samuel 2:30.

“Make the home life as nearly as possible like heaven.

“In the home the foundation is laid for the prosperity of the church. The influences that rule in the home life are carried into the church life; therefore, church duties should first begin in the home. Those who govern their families in the right way will bring into the church an influence of order and reverence.

“Fathers and mothers who make God first in their households, who teach their children that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, glorify God before angels and before men. . . . Christ is not a stranger in their homes; His name is a household name, revered and glorified. Angels delight in a home where God reigns supreme and the children are taught to reverence religion, the Bible, and their Creator. Such families can claim the promise, ‘Them that honour Me, I will honour.’ [1 Samuel 2:30.]

“The sacred privilege of communing with God makes distinct and clear the sight of the glorious things prepared for those who love God and reverence His commandments. We need to bring reverence into our daily lives. . . .

“We bring too much that is little and common into the daily duties of life, and the result is that we fail to see Him who is invisible. Thus we lose many rich blessings in our religious experience.

“True reverence is revealed by obedience. God has commanded nothing that is unessential, and there is no other way of manifesting reverence so pleasing to Him as by obedience to that which He has spoken.” My Life Today, 284.

Respect God’s Representatives

There also must be reverence for God’s representatives. We must show respect for those whom God has sent to bring us the bread of life. Reverence should not only be shown to the ministers but to teachers and parents.

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12.

“And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till [there was] no remedy.” 11 Chronicles 36:15, 16.

“Reverence should be shown for God’s representatives—for ministers, teachers, and parents who are called to speak and act in His stead. In the respect shown to them He is honored.

“The education and training of the youth should be of a character that would exalt sacred things and encourage pure devotion for God in His house. Many who profess to be children of the heavenly King have no true appreciation of the sacredness of eternal things. . . .

“They are seldom instructed that the minister is God’s ambassador, that the message he brings is one of God’s appointed agencies in the salvation of souls, and that to all who have the privilege brought within their reach it will be a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. . . .

“Many . . . make the service a subject of criticism at home, approving a few things and condemning others. . . . In regard to the service of the sanctuary, if the speaker has a blemish, be afraid to mention it. Talk only of the good work he is doing, of the good ideas he presented, which you should heed as coming through God’s agent. . . .

“Unless correct ideas of true worship and true reverence are impressed upon the people, there will be a growing tendency to place the sacred and eternal on a level with common things, and those professing the truth will be an offense to God and a disgrace to religion. They can never, with their uncultivated ideas, appreciate a pure and holy heaven, and be prepared to join with the worshipers in the heavenly courts above, where all is purity and perfection, where every being has perfect reverence for God and His holiness.

“Paul describes the work of God’s ambassadors as that by which every man shall be presented perfect in Christ Jesus.” My Life Today, 285.

Reformation Needed!

There must be a reform now among God’s people in the church. Many think lightly about reverence in the church. Whether in a church building or in a home church, many disrespect God in the way they conduct themselves. This is wrong, and when we find these things are wrong, we must make changes, if we are to remove the displeasure of God. If we continue in our irreverence, we are just as surely breaking God’s Law as we are breaking the fourth commandment when we are working, cooking, and doing other things on the Sabbath about which we have been studying.

Reverence for that which is Holy

Ellen White had a great deal to say about our attitude as we come before God. She wrote:

“The Precious Grace of Reverence.—Another precious grace that should be carefully cherished is reverence.

“The education and training of the youth should be of a character that would exalt sacred things, and encourage pure devotion for God in His house. Many who profess to be children of the heavenly King have no true appreciation of the sacredness of eternal things.

“God Is to Be Had in Reverence.—True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence. With this sense of the Unseen the heart of every child should be deeply impressed.

” ‘God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.’ Psalm 89:7. . . .

“His Word Is Sacred.—We should reverence God’s Word. For the printed volume we should show respect, never putting it to common uses or handling it carelessly. And never should Scripture be quoted in a jest or paraphrased to point a witty saying. ‘Every word of God is pure;’ ‘as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.’ (Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 12:6.)

“Children should be taught to respect every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Parents are ever to magnify the precepts of the law of the Lord before their children, by showing obedience to that law, by themselves living under the control of God. If a sense of the sacredness of the law takes possession of the parents, it will surely transform the character by converting the soul.

“The Place of Prayer—God Is There.—In every Christian home God should be honored by the morning and evening sacrifices of prayer and praise. Children should be taught to respect and reverence the hour of prayer.

“The hour and place of prayer and the services of public worship the child should be taught to regard as sacred because God is there. And as reverence is manifested in attitude and demeanor, the feeling that inspires it will be deepened.

“The House of God—His Holy Temple.—Well would it be for young and old to study and ponder and often repeat those words of Holy Writ that show how the place marked by God’s special presence should be regarded.

” ‘Put off thy shoes from off thy feet,’ He commanded Moses at the burning bush, ‘for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.’ Exodus 3:5.

“Jacob, after beholding the vision of the angels, exclaimed, ‘The Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. . . . This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’ Genesis 28:16, 17.

” ‘The Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.’ Habakkuk 2:20.

“Many . . . have no true appreciation of the sacredness of eternal things. Nearly all need to be taught how to conduct themselves in the house of God. Parents should not only teach, but command, their children to enter the sanctuary with sobriety and reverence.

“Guard Against a Growing Carelessness.—From the sacredness which was attached to the earthly sanctuary, Christians may learn how they should regard the place where the Lord meets with His people. There has been a great change, not for the better, but for the worse, in the habits and customs of the people in reference to religious worship. The precious, the sacred things which connect us with God are fast losing their hold upon our minds and hearts and are being brought down to the level of the common things. The reverence, which the people had anciently for the sanctuary, where they met with God in sacred service, has largely passed away. Nevertheless God Himself gave the order of His service, exalting it high above everything of a temporal nature.

“The house of God is often desecrated, and the Sabbath violated by Sabbath-believers’ children. In some cases they are even allowed to run about the house, play, talk, and manifest their evil tempers in the very meetings where the saints should worship God in the beauty of holiness. And the place that should be holy, and where a holy stillness should reign, and where there should be perfect order, neatness, and humility, is made to be a perfect Babylon, ‘confusion.’ This is enough to bring God’s displeasure and shut His presence from our assemblies.

“We Have More Reasons for Reverence Than the Hebrews.—It is too true that reverence for the house of God has become almost extinct. Sacred things and places are not discerned; the holy and exalted are not appreciated. Is there not a cause for the want of fervent piety in our families? Is it not because the high standard of religion is left to trail in the dust? God gave rules of order, perfect and exact, to His ancient people. Has His character changed? Is He not the great and mighty God who rules in the heaven of heavens? Would it not be well for us often to read the directions given by God Himself to the Hebrews, that we who have the light of the glorious truth shining upon us may imitate their reverence for the house of God? We have abundant reason . . . even to be more thoughtful and reverential in our worship than had the Jews. But an enemy has been at work to destroy our faith in the sacredness of Christian worship.

“The Church—the Sanctuary of the Congregation.—The house is the sanctuary for the family, and the closet or the grove the most retired place for individual worship; but the church is the sanctuary for the congregation. There should be rules in regard to the time, the place, and the manner of worshiping.

“Teach Children to Enter Reverently.—Parents, elevate the standard of Christianity in the minds of your children; help them to weave Jesus into their experience; teach them to have the highest reverence for the house of God and to understand that when they enter the Lord’s house, it should be with hearts that are softened and subdued by such thoughts as these: ‘God is here; this is His house. I must have pure thoughts and the holiest motives. I must have no pride, envy, jealousy, evil surmising, hatred, or deception in my heart; for I am coming into the presence of the holy God. This is the place where God meets with and blesses His people. The high and holy One who inhabiteth eternity looks upon me, searches my heart, and reads the most secret thoughts and acts of my life.’

“Remain With Their Parents.—The moral taste of the worshipers in God’s holy sanctuary must be elevated, refined, sanctified. This matter has been sadly neglected. Its importance has been overlooked, and as the result disorder and irreverence have become prevalent, and God has been dishonored. When the leaders in the church, ministers and people, fathers and mothers, have not had elevated views of this matter, what could be expected of the inexperienced children? They are too often found in groups, away from the parents, who should have charge of them. Notwithstanding they are in the presence of God, and His eye is looking upon them; they are light and trifling; they whisper and laugh, are careless, irreverent, and inattentive.

“To Be Sober and Quiet.—Do not have so little reverence for the house and worship of God as to communicate with one another during the sermon. If those who commit this fault could see the angels of God looking upon them and marking their doings, they would be filled with shame and abhorrence of themselves. God wants attentive hearers. It was while men slept that the enemy sowed tares.

“Not to Act as in a Common Place.—There should be a sacred spot, like the sanctuary of old, where God is to meet with His people. That place should not be used as a lunchroom or as a business room, but simply for the worship of God. When children attend day school in the same place where they assemble to worship on the Sabbath, they cannot be made to feel the sacredness of the place, and that they must enter with feelings of reverence. The sacred and common are so blended that it is difficult to distinguish them.

“It is for this reason that the house or sanctuary dedicated to God should not be made a common place. Its sacredness should not be confused or mingled with the common everyday feelings or business life. There should be a solemn awe upon the worshipers as they enter the sanctuary, and they should leave behind all common worldly thoughts, for it is the place where God reveals His presence. It is as the audience chamber of the great and eternal God; therefore pride and passion, dissension and self-esteem, selfishness, and covetousness, which God pronounces idolatry, are inappropriate for such a place.

“To Manifest No Spirit of Levity.—Parents, it is your duty to have your children in perfect subjection, having all their passions and evil tempers subdued. And if children are taken to meeting, they should be made to know and understand where they are—that they are not at home, but where God meets with His people. And they should be kept quiet and free from all play, and God will turn His face toward you, to meet with you and bless you.

“If order is observed in the assemblies of the saints, the truth will have better effect upon all that hear it. A solemnity which is so much needed will be encouraged, and there will be power in the truth to stir up the depths of the soul, and a deathlike stupor will not hang upon those who hear. Believers and unbelievers will be affected. It has seemed evident that in some places the ark of God was removed from the church, for the holy commandments have been violated and the strength of Israel has been weakened.

“Take the Disturbing Child Out.—Your child should be taught to obey as the children of God obey Him. If this standard is maintained, a word from you will have some weight when your child is restless in the house of God. But if the children cannot be restrained, if the parents feel that the restraint is too much of an exaction, the child should be removed from the church at once; it should not be left to divert the minds of the hearers by talking or running about. God is dishonored by the loose way in which parents manage their children while at church.

“Irreverence Encouraged by Display of Apparel.—All should be taught to be neat, clean, and orderly in their dress, but not to indulge in that external adorning which is wholly inappropriate for the sanctuary. There should be no display of the apparel, for this encourages irreverence. . . . All matters of dress should be strictly guarded, following closely the Bible rule. Fashion has been the goddess who has ruled the outside world, and she often insinuates herself into the church. The church should make the Word of God her standard, and parents should think intelligently upon this subject.

“Show Reverence for Ministers—God’s Representatives.— . . . Nothing that is sacred, nothing that pertains to the worship of God, should be treated with carelessness and indifference. When the word of life is spoken, you should remember that you are listening to the voice of God through His delegated servant. Do not lose these words through inattention; if heeded, they may keep your feet from straying into wrong paths.

“Accountability of Critical Parents.—Parents, be careful what example and what ideas you give your children. Their minds are plastic, and impressions are easily made. . . . It may be readily seen why children are so little impressed with the ministry of the Word, and why they have so little reverence for the house of God. Their education has been defective in this respect.

“The delicate and susceptible minds of the youth obtain their estimate of the labors of God’s servants by the way their parents treat the matter. Many heads of families make the service a subject of criticism at home, approving a few things and condemning others. Thus the message of God to men is criticized and questioned and made a subject of levity. What impressions are thus made upon the young by these careless, irreverent remarks, the books of heaven alone will reveal. The children see and understand these things very much quicker than parents are apt to think. Their moral senses receive a wrong bias that time will never fully change. The parents mourn over the hardness of heart in their children and the difficulty in arousing their moral sensibility to answer to the claims of God. But the books of heavenly record trace with unerring pen the true cause. The parents were unconverted. They were not in harmony with Heaven or with Heaven’s work. Their low, common ideas of the sacredness of the ministry and of the sanctuary of God were woven into the education of their children.

“It is a question whether anyone who has for years been under this blighting influence of home instruction will ever have a sensitive reverence and high regard for God’s ministry and the agencies He has appointed for the salvation of souls. These things should be spoken of with reverence, with propriety of language, and with fine susceptibility, that you may reveal to all you associate with that you regard the message from God’s servants as a message to you from God Himself.

“Practice Reverence Till It Becomes Habitual.—Reverence is greatly needed in the youth of this age. I am alarmed as I see children and youth of religious parents so heedless of the order and propriety that should be observed in the house of God. While God’s servants are presenting the words of life to the people, some will be reading, others whispering and laughing. Their eyes are sinning by diverting the attention of those around them. This habit, if allowed to remain unchecked, will grow and influence others.

“Children and youth should never feel that it is something to be proud of to be indifferent and careless in meetings where God is worshiped. God sees every irreverent thought or action, and it is registered in the books of heaven. He says, ‘I know thy works.’ Nothing is hid from His all-searching eye. If you have formed in any degree the habit of inattention and indifference in the house of God, exercise the powers you have to correct it, and show that you have self-respect. Practice reverence until it becomes a part of yourself.” Child Guidance, 538–547.

[All Emphasis Supplied.]

To be Continued . . .

Bible Study Guides – Hebrews 9:15–20

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May 18-24, 2003

MEMORY VERSE: “This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.” Hebrews 9:20.

SUGGESTED READING: Testimonies, vol. 4, 120–123.

INTRODUCTION: “Here the people received the conditions of the covenant. They made a solemn covenant with God, typifying the covenant made between God and every believer in Jesus Christ. The conditions were plainly laid before the people. They were not left to misunderstand them. When they were requested to decide whether they would agree to all the conditions given, they unanimously consented to obey every obligation. They had already consented to obey God’s commandments. The principles of the law were now particularized, that they might know how much was involved in covenanting to obey the law; and they accepted the specifically defined particulars of the law.

“If the Israelites had obeyed God’s requirements, they would have been practical Christians. They would have been happy; for they would have been keeping God’s ways, and not following the inclinations of their own natural hearts. Moses did not leave them to misconstrue the words of the Lord or to misapply His requirements. He wrote all the words of the Lord in a book, that they might be referred to afterward. In the mount he had written them as Christ Himself dictated them.

“Bravely did the Israelites speak the words promising obedience to the Lord, after hearing His covenant read in the audience of the people. They said, ‘All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.’ Then the people were set apart and sealed to God. A sacrifice was offered to the Lord. A portion of the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled upon the altar. This signified that the people had consecrated themselves—body, mind, and soul—to God. A portion was sprinkled upon the people. This signified that through the sprinkled blood of Christ, God graciously accepted them as His special treasure. Thus the Israelites entered into a solemn covenant with God (Manuscript 126, 1901).” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1107.

1 By what means did Christ become the Redeemer of those under the first covenant? Hebrews 9:15.

NOTE: “Abel grasped the great principles of redemption. He saw himself a sinner, and he saw sin and its penalty, death, standing between his soul and communion with God. He brought the slain victim, the sacrificed life, thus acknowledging the claims of the law that had been transgressed. Through the shed blood he looked to the future sacrifice, Christ dying on the cross of Calvary; and trusting in the atonement that was there to be made, he had the witness that he was righteous, and his offering accepted.” Conflict and Courage, 24.

2 Who are meant by “they which are called” (Hebrews 9:15)? Acts 2:39.

NOTE: “God’s field is the world. Jesus said to His disciples: ‘Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’ ‘And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’ Acts 1:8; Luke 24:47.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 56, 57.

3 What may all receive through the priesthood of Christ? Hebrews 9:15, last part.

NOTE: “Those who accept Christ as their Saviour have the promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come. [1 Timothy 4:8.] The human agent owes no part of his ability to the service of Satan; but his entire allegiance is due to the infinite and eternal God. The lowliest disciple of Christ may become an inhabitant of heaven, an heir of God to an inheritance incorruptible, and that fadeth not away. O that every one might make choice of the heavenly gift, become an heir of God to that inheritance whose title is secure from any destroyer, world without end! O, choose not the world, but choose the better inheritance! Press, urge your way toward the mark for the prize of your high calling in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 3:14.] For Christ’s sake, let the aim of your education be shaped by the inducements of the better world.” Review and Herald, November 21, 1893.

4 What is necessary before a testament can be in force? Hebrews 9:16, 17.

NOTE: The Greek word diatheke “may mean either ‘covenant’ or ‘testament’ in the sense of ‘will.’ . . . In Hebrews 9:15–18 there is a play on the two meanings of this word. The ‘inheritance’ mentioned in verse 15 probably suggested the idea of a will or testament, and the phrase ‘by means of death,’ literally, ‘death having occurred,’ probably called to mind the fact that Christ died leaving us an inheritance, and that this inheritance was left us in a testament. . . . A will, or testament, does not go into effect until the testator dies.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 454.

“Enoch, the seventh from Adam, was ever prophesying the coming of the Lord. [Jude 1:14.] This great event had been revealed to him in vision. Abel, though dead, is ever speaking of the blood of Christ which alone can make our offerings and gifts perfect. The Bible has accumulated and bound up together its treasures for this last generation. All the great events and solemn transactions of Old Testament history have been, and are, repeating themselves in the church in these last days. There is Moses still speaking, teaching self-renunciation by wishing himself blotted from the Book of Life for his fellow men, that they might be saved. David is leading the intercession of the church for the salvation of souls to the ends of the earth. The prophets are still testifying of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. There the whole accumulated truths are presented in force to us that we may profit by their teachings. We are under the influence of the whole. What manner of persons ought we to be to whom all this rich light of inheritance has been given. Concentrating all the influence of the past with new and increased light of the present, accrued power is given to all who will follow the light. Their faith will increase, and be brought into exercise at the present time, awakening an energy and an intensely increased earnestness, and through dependence upon God for His power to replenish the world and send the light of the Sun of Righteousness to the ends of the earth.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, 417.

5 How was the old covenant ratified? Hebrews 9:18–20; Exodus 24:3–8.

NOTE: “[Exodus 24:3–8 quoted.] Thus by a most solemn service the children of Israel were once more set apart as a peculiar people. The sprinkling of the blood represented the shedding of the blood of Jesus, by which human beings are cleansed from sin.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 507.

6 What did Moses speak to the people? Hebrews 9:19.

NOTE: “God graciously spoke his law and wrote it with his own finger on stone, making a solemn covenant with his people at Sinai. God acknowledged them as his peculiar treasure above all people upon the earth. Christ, who went before Moses in the wilderness, made the principles of morality and religion more clear by particular precepts, specifying the duty of man to God and his fellow-men, for the purpose of protecting life, and guarding the sacred law of God, that it should not be entirely forgotten in the midst of an apostate world.” Review and Herald, May 6, 1875.

7 What did Moses send young men to do? Exodus 24:5.

NOTE: “We must manifest confidence in our young men. They should be pioneers in every enterprise involving toil and sacrifice, while the overtaxed servants of Christ should be cherished as counselors, to encourage and bless those who strike the heaviest blows for God.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 516, 517.

“No one lives to himself; all exert an influence for good or for evil. Because of this, the apostle exhorts young men to be sober-minded. How can they be otherwise when they remember that they are to be co-workers with Christ, partakers with Him of His self-denial and sacrifice, His forbearance and gracious benevolence?” Ibid., 535.

8 What did Moses do with the blood of the sacrifice, and what were his words to the people? Hebrews 9:19, 20; Exodus 24:6. Compare Matthew 26:28.

NOTE: “The blood of the Son of God was symbolized by the blood of the slain victim, and God would have clear and definite ideas preserved between the sacred and the common. Blood was sacred, inasmuch as through the shedding of the blood of the Son of God alone could there be atonement for sin.” The Signs of the Times, July 15, 1880.

9 What did Moses use to sprinkle the blood? Hebrews 9:19. Compare Leviticus 14:4–7.

NOTE: “The hyssop used in sprinkling the blood was the symbol of purification . . . .” Patriarchs and Prophets, 277.

“The priest used cedar and hyssop [Leviticus 14], dipping them into the cleansing water and sprinkling the unclean. This symbolized the blood of Christ spilled to cleanse us from moral impurities. The repeated sprinklings illustrate the thoroughness of the work that must be accomplished for the repenting sinner. All that he has must be consecrated. Not only should his own soul be washed clean and pure, but he should strive to have his family, his domestic arrangements, his property, and his entire belongings consecrated to God.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 122.

10 What should be our prayer each day? Psalm 51:7.

NOTE: “[Psalm 51:7–13 quoted.] Let your prayers ascend to our Heavenly Father, and let this 51st Psalm bring assurance and comfort to you. Do not stay away from Jesus, for he loves you. You may say, ‘He will not hear my prayers; I am a sinner.’ But Christ says, ‘I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ [Matthew 9:13.] Then you are not to wait, but come now, and believe that he will receive you. ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ [John 3:16.]” Review and Herald, August 25, 1891.

“The blood of Christ is efficacious, but needs continually to be applied. God wants his servants to make a consecration of themselves to his cause, and to use for his glory the means which he has intrusted to them. If any have become selfish, and are withholding from the Lord that which they should cheerfully give to his service, then they need the blood of sprinkling thoroughly applied, consecrating them and all their possessions to God.” Ibid., January 9, 1883.

Are You a Stable Christian?

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Let him [who lacks wisdom] ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6– 8.

It is important that we become stable Christians. Our experience really is not a Christian experience, if we are being tossed to and fro, being controlled by the circumstances around us, or conforming ourselves to fit whatever situation in which we are found. A person who seeks to follow his own will, while professing to follow the will of God, is a double-minded man. A double-minded person knows the claims and the promises of God, yet fails to do them. He knows what God says, but he refuses to do it. James says such a person is unstable in all of his ways, and he is not going to receive anything from the Lord. James says, “let him ask in faith.” Faith is the necessary element we need to keep ourselves stable. In this article, we will look at a couple of other things that will also help us keep stable.

“For ye have need of patience [endurance], that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:36. Are you going to receive the promise if you refuse to do the will of God? No! “The just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Verse 38. We need to be stable. We must become stable Christians, so no matter what situation we are in, we will act like a Christian. As I was thinking about this, I realized an example in my daily life. I battle with allergies. Like Paul’s thorn in the flesh (11 Corinthians 12:7), I feel like allergies are a thorn in my flesh. Sometimes they get so bad that I have to lie down with a cool washcloth on my face. But that is no excuse for me to not have a smile on my face. Nothing should keep us from having a smile on our face; we should not be gloomy Christians at any time. There are some times to be solemn, but not when we are under the infirmities of our bodies.

Conforming

If I were to take a pitcher of water and pour some of it into a round glass and pour the remaining into a square container, what would happen to that water? It would be conformed to the shape of the container. Remember what James said. A man who is unstable in all of his ways is like a wave of the sea— tossed to and fro. In its liquid form, water is unstable. Jacob told his son, Reuben, “Thou [art] my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel.” Genesis 49:3, 4.

Do you ever find yourself being conformed to the circumstances in which you find yourself? If someone gets angry with you, do you immediately want to lash out at them? If some of your friends are telling jokes around you, will you soon be doing the same thing? We become unstable as water, conforming, just like water, to the shape that is around us. We become like the people with whom we associate. God does not want us to remain in that condition. He wants us to be stable in every circumstance. In every way He wants us to show forth that we are Christians, not in profession only, but in living faith in Christ.

God tells us what His ideal is for each one of us: that “we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Ephesians 4:13, 14. God’s will for us is to be the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. When we obtain that goal, we will be like Christ in character. Jesus never once compromised in difficult situations while He was here on this earth. Even when He knew that the people were going to try to kill Him, to stone Him, He did not compromise His principles. ( John 10:31–39.) Never once! He never conformed to the situation around Him; He was stable; He was solid as a rock in every situation, and friends, that is the way you and I have to be. That is what the Lord wants to make of us, if we are willing to be made willing. Never once did Jesus compromise one principle in a given situation, even though it cost Him His life.

Broaden the Path

Notice what the Lord is going to provide for us, so we can be stable: “Thou hast broadened my path beneath me; so that my feet do not slip.” 11 Samuel 22:37 (Hebrew text). If I were to walk on top of the back of a church pew, how stable would I be? How about if I step down and walk on the pew seat, which is going to be more stable? God said He was going to broaden the path beneath our feet that our feet do not slip. We want to find out how the Lord is going to do that.

When hiking in the Grand Canyon in Arizona, I discovered that you sometimes must walk along sheer cliffs, and sometimes the path gets very narrow. At those times, you find yourself being more careful about where you put your feet. You slow your pace down. As the path broadens, you pick up your pace again. This is what the Lord wants to do for us.

God wants us to have stability; He wants us to be stable Christians. He wants to enlarge the path beneath us, so we are on solid ground—not on shaky ground, not on narrow ground, but on solid ground. “Hold up my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps slip not.” Psalm 17:5. Do you want to have an experience where you never slip in your personal experience? That is what God has promised us in Jude 24. He is able to keep us faultless and present us blameless before the throne of God. That is what He is able to do for us, if we are willing to be made willing. He will broaden our path beneath us, so we are on solid ground, not wavering, not tossed to and fro, not conformed into whatever situation we are in, and not compromising, and no matter what our situation, we will be faithful Christians just as Jesus was.

“It is a perilous thing to allow an unchristian trait to live in the heart. One cherished sin will, little by little, debase the character, bringing all its nobler powers into subjection to the evil desire.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 452. That is powerful. Just one sin cherished will debase the entire character. Friends, we have to be searching our hearts. Is there one sin that we are refusing to give up, one defect of character that we refuse to change? If we continue to refuse to surrender these things to the Lord, we will become unstable and our whole character will be debased. “The removal of one safeguard from the conscience, the indulgence of one evil habit, one neglect of the high claims of duty, breaks down the defenses of the soul and opens the way for Satan to come in and lead us astray.” Ibid. All of a sudden we are going to find ourselves on shaky ground, on a narrow path, becoming as unstable as water. There is a safeguard, a way for the Lord to enlarge our path: “The only safe course is to let our prayers go forth daily from a sincere heart, as did David.” Ibid. Prayer is going to broaden the path beneath us; it is going to give us stability, and it is going to give us solid ground upon which to walk.

Power of Prayer

How many of us have learned how to pray? The disciples had been with Jesus for almost three years when they came to Him and asked Him to teach them to pray. How many of us spend time in prayer—not just in formal, five minute prayers, but down on our knees agonizing with God? The Bible tells us we are supposed to pray without ceasing. (See Luke 18.) If our heart is not lifted up in an attitude of prayer all day long, the devil is going to find an entrance into our heart. Friends, how many of us have learned, in our closets, in that secret place where we go to meet with the Lord every morning, how to overcome sin?

Jesus gave us an example of prayer. After the disciples asked Him to teach them to pray (see Luke 11) He gave an example of a man who kept coming to his neighbor’s door asking for food for some people he needed to feed. Did that man go away after the first time? No, it says that he kept coming back again and again. He was persistent. How many of us pray and agonize for the Holy Spirit every day? Without the Holy Spirit, we are not going to be saved. How many of us do not get off our knees until we have the strength that we desire of the Lord? As Christians, I think that we get off our knees too soon. We go through our normal routine, praying for people and situations, which is good, but how many of us stop and ask ourselves, Am I strengthened by this prayer? Do I have His Spirit living within my heart? Do you stay on your knees until that happens? Most of us do not, and we are not strengthened by the Lord; we do not have the blessing that we desire. Jacob did not give up. He said, I will not give up until I receive your blessing. (See Genesis 32.) We need to keep agonizing and agonizing until the break of day, until that light shines into our hearts just as it did for Jacob.

Sin is not to have dominion over us, friends. The only way that we are going to keep from sin is to have our minds lifted up to the Lord in prayer. That will broaden our path and give us stability, because God will continually guide us.

In the Bible, we are given the example of Christ spending all night in prayer. (See Luke 6:12.) The reason He was braced for conflict and did not become unstable or compromise His principles is because He often spent whole nights in prayer. He was not going to get off His knees until He had the desired strength to meet the conflicts for the next day. That was Christ’s strength, and since He is our example in all things, we should pray more than we do. I am not suggesting that we spend every night in prayer, for I know that we have to sleep, but if there is a crisis in our lives or some sin in our lives “The only safe course is to let our prayers go forth daily from a sincere heart . . .” that we need to get rid of in order to be ready for heaven, it might be a needful thing to do. “The strength of Christ was in prayer. . . . As Christ is our example in all things, if we imitate His example in earnest, importunate prayer to God that we may have strength in His name who never yielded to the temptations of Satan to resist the devices of the wily foe, we shall not be overcome by him.” Sons and Daughters of God, 136. How is it going to be? We need to learn to spend time in importunate prayer, agonizing with the Lord, pleading, Lord give me Your blessings; give me the strength that I need so I can meet the temptations of the day. When the disciples came to Jesus asking Him to teach them to pray, they had been watching the Pharisees pray for years and years. What was the difference between Jesus’ prayer and the Pharisees’ prayers? When Jesus prayed, things happened! They saw how He reacted in certain situations, and it was His prayer life that made Him stable and kept Him from being tossed to and fro. God’s Word What else does the Lord give us to keep us stable? “Order [or direct] my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133. How does it say that we are to be directed?

By God’s Word

David said, Lord, direct me by Your Word so that sin will not have dominion over me. How many of us are spending time in study? Someone once told me that they spent an hour a day in study, not counting their prayer time, so I decided that I was going to do that. My resolve was strengthened by the following statement: “Your success as a minister depends upon your keeping your own heart. You will receive more strength by spending one hour each day in meditation, and in mourning over your failings and heart corruptions and pleading for God’s pardoning love and the assurance of sins forgiven, than you would by spending many hours and days in studying the most able authors, and making yourself acquainted with every objection to our faith, and with the most powerful evidences in its favor.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 433, 434.

We do not know for ourselves what the Bible says. As a result, our minister can tell us anything he wants; he can lead us in the path of destruction, and we will never know it. Why? Because we are not spending time in Bible study. I always tell my congregations, Do not take my word for anything. You go home and check it out for yourself. I do not want anyone taking my word, because I am fallible, just like everyone else. But I could hoodwink every one of you, if you are not spending time in study. The devil is a wily foe, cunning, crafty. He knows just the deception for each one of us, but God’s Word exposes the deception. The reason that we are deceived and tricked into sin is because we are not studying God’s Word as we should.

Make a commitment today to spend at least one hour each day studying God’s Word. It would be well worth it, and I guarantee you will receive a blessing. David says, Direct my steps by Thy Word— not by the minister, not by the deacon, or the Sabbath School teacher—but by Your Word! We need to know what God’s Word says. Before we read anyone else’s material we better be spending time in God’s Word first. We can read the different ministries’ magazines, and we can say, Praise God, that was an inspiring article, but by spending time in God’s Word, the light of God’s truth will continually get broader and broader. It will never cease. Do not ever think that you have everything figured out in God’s Word. You may have the 27 fundamental doctrines all stored up in your mind, but friends, we have not even scratched the surface. We should be digging through God’s Word as for treasure hidden in a mine, comparing Scripture with Scripture, studying out things. We cannot allow study and prayer to be neglected. It is not something to do occasionally when we have a spare moment. This is something that we must plan for every day, something that we schedule into our day. We may have to bump some other activity off the schedule, but we better not be neglecting God’s Word, and we better not be neglecting prayer. It is better to deny ourselves of the other responsibilities, while we spend time in God’s Word. We are weak because we have not spent this time, and we have allowed our ministers to do our studying for us.

“The Bible is our guide in the safe paths that lead to eternal life. . . . The minds of all who make the Word of God their study will enlarge.” Mind, Character and Personality, vol. 1, 98. God promises He will enlarge our paths beneath us; He is going to give us stability of mind so we will not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. There are so many winds of doctrine, but Ellen White tells us, “Those who are close students of the Word, following Christ in humility of soul, will not go to extremes.” Gospel Workers, 317. Never! Whether it is in diet, dress, or theological issues, never will we go to extremes if we are close students of God’s Word. We must follow Jesus in humility of soul.

Memorize Scripture

When I open up God’s Word, I am stepping into the audience chamber of God. His Word should be opened prayerfully. We should not just flip it open and begin reading. We need to have a plan when we study God’s Word. What are we going to study? If we are trying to overcome a habit or some defect in our character, we should stop and pray for victory over that defect and then continue studying God’s Word until we have the victory. If we are continuing to cherish some sin in our life, Psalm 66:18 tells us, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me].” We need to battle with the Lord. We need to ask Him for all the strength that we need so that we can overcome.

“Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105. As we approach the Second Coming of Jesus, that light will become brighter and brighter. Think with me for a second. If you are up in the woods and it is completely dark and you are trying to follow a trail with the help of a little candle, how good of a job will you be able to do? But what if that candle is a flashlight? How about a spotlight? You would then be able to see everything around you, and that is what God’s Word is going to do. If we are continuing to follow Jesus in humility of soul, continuing to follow His Word, accepting the light as it comes to us, conforming our lives to the Word, our path will get broader and broader and broader, and we will have a safe path on which to walk.

“When thou goest [or when you walk] thy steps [or your Christian experience] shall not be straitened [hindered]; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.” Proverbs 4:12. Why? Because you have a broad path beneath your feet and a bright light will help you see the pitfalls of Satan; you will see his temptations coming, and you will know how to resist him.

How did Jesus resist temptation? By the Word of God. Remember when the devil came to Jesus in the wilderness after He had fasted for 40 days? Put yourself in Jesus’ place—you have fasted; you have had nothing to eat for six weeks. How do you think you would feel? How do you think your mind would be? You would not be in good shape. But Jesus had ingrained God’s Words in His mind. The Bible says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11. Jesus hid those words so deep in His heart that no matter what the situation, He had a “Thus saith the Lord” to say to the devil. We must be spending time in prayer, Bible study, and memorizing Scripture. We must do this, if we are going to be stable Christians.

Light of the World

Jesus says, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13–16. Christ has not bid His followers, strive to shine. Does any one of us have anything within us that can shine out? No, we have nothing. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, or as a leaf that fades away. (Isaiah 64:6.) He says, Let your light shine. If we have received the grace of God, the light is in us. God’s grace transforms our character; it transforms our thoughts, our affections, our pursuits, and our aims. It transforms the entire being, and when that is operating in our lives, the only thing we can do is to let the light shine.

Here are a few ways that we can let our light shine:

“Let your light shine forth in pleasant words, in soothing tones of voice.” Child Guidance, 240.

Are you letting your light shine, or are  you hiding it under a bushel?

“In no better way can you let your light shine to others than in your simplicity of dress and deportment.” Ibid., 417.

“Wherever you are, let your light shine forth. Hand out papers and pamphlets to those with whom you associate.” Counsels on Health, 435.

We know that without the grace of God there is nothing within us to shine, but we need to ask for the grace of God to operate in our lives so that we are able to shine. It becomes something that we want to do, rather than something that we have to do.

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24. Do you want to have that experience? Do you want the Lord to present you faultless before His throne? God wants to give us a path to walk upon so that we are not just wobbling around in our Christian experience, so that we are not compromising, even in difficult situations. When we are being pressed, He wants us to be stable. God has given us prayer; He has given us Bible study; we can memorize His Word, and as that light shines brighter and brighter, our path is going to grow wider and wider. If we daily participate in these activities, we soon will have that experience where Jesus presents us faultless, without one defect, without one spot or wrinkle. How exceedingly joyful we will be then.

Mike Bauler pastors the Historic Message Church in Portland, Oregon. He may be contacted by e-mail at mbauler@molalla.net.

Children’s Story – The Night Dad Prayed

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Back in 1956 we lived way out in the country, and at the time, we didn’t have a car to get around. If we went anywhere, we either had to depend on relatives or neighbors to take us to town, or we would have to walk. We were always very poor. We didn’t have any way to go to and from church, so every once in a while a preacher would come to visit and to minister to all of us, but my dad would go out to the workshop and stay out there until the preacher would leave. Then he would come back to the house.

Well, one day the preacher came to the house, and Dad didn’t have a chance to get away from him like the other times when he had come. The preacher got to minister to him a little bit that day, but Dad still didn’t seem ready to really listen to him yet. All he would say to the preacher would be “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.” For years and years that was all he would say whenever someone would try to talk to him about the Lord.

One day a neighbor let my dad use his car to go to town to get some groceries. He didn’t have too much money to buy groceries; course we never had much money, but it was enough to get us by, so he took off early in the afternoon. The rest of the family, along with myself, had finished doing our chores, finished our supper, and it was starting to get dark, but Dad still hadn’t made it home. My mother was starting to get worried, but she wouldn’t let on to the rest of us. Course, we knew something had to be wrong, because Dad had never done anything like that before.

Everyone finally went to bed except for Mother; she sat up and worked on her crocheting—she always had something like that going. I guess it was about three o’clock in the morning when Dad finally got home, carrying all the groceries, which was five full bags. We couldn’t figure out just how he managed to carry all that stuff, but the next day he told all of us the story.

He said he started from town and only went four miles out of town when the car broke down. He didn’t know what to do, so he waited and waited for someone to come by, but to no avail. So he said he got on his knees and prayed to God. Dad said he didn’t know whether God would answer him or not, but he had to try.

While he was praying, he said something was telling him to pick up the bags. He said he didn’t think he would have the strength to be able to carry all the bags, but he picked up all five bags and started out for home. He continued walking until he arrived home. When he arrived home, he said he wasn’t even tired. He also told us that the bags never, ever got too heavy for him to carry, and he did not have to set them down at all. The only way he could have walked the eleven miles home, carrying those full bags of groceries, was with help from God!

From that night on, my dad’s favorite Bible text was Matthew 17:20: “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

Watching Unto Prayer

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I believe one of the things that keeps us confined to this earth is our lack of understanding as to who our Bible heroes really were and why they did what they did. In Hebrews 11, we can read by faith Abel . . . , by faith Enoch . . . , by faith Noah . . . , by faith Abraham . . . , also Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and so on. Despite their great feats of faith, their stories reveal they were all mere mortals, as are we. Only one “had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5.

We have read the stories of Daniel, Gideon, and David. How exciting they are. What encouragement! Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (by W. B. Forbush (Editor), Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1978) is full of accounts of God’s people living their faith to the death. Have you ever asked yourself how they did it?

Faith, you say. And you would be right. Verse six of Hebrews 11 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Clearly, without faith we cannot please God. But in the accounts of the lives of most of these great men, the Bible records not only their great acts of faith, but also a few of their failures.

Remember David? What courage he displayed when he picked up those small stones in the face of the giant. Because he early learned to trust in the Lord, this fearless young boy grew to be a mighty warrior for the cause of right, displaying wisdom and humility. Despite his valiant demonstration of faith, David had his apparent weaknesses. But through it all, David was honest with God about his sins. His eloquent, heartfelt pleadings for mercy and forgiveness are among the most favored passages in the Bible. Perhaps that is because humanity so readily identifies with his struggle.

But did God not call David a man after His own heart? Indeed, He did. From the Pen of Inspiration we read, “I was shown that it was when David was pure, and walking in the counsel of God, that God called him a man after His own heart. When David departed from God, and stained his virtuous character by his crimes, he was no longer a man after God’s own heart. . . . When the righteous turn from their righteousness and do evil, their past righteousness will not save them from the wrath of a just and holy God.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4a, 87.

Remember Moses? Being provoked by the continual murmuring of the people, Moses spoke hastily in anger. Despite the marvelous account of his fearless leadership and his interactions with God on behalf of the rebellious people, that unfortunate act of humanity prevented him from the fulfillment of the long awaited entry into the Promised Land. (See Review and Herald, December 9, 1909.)

Remember Elijah? After such a magnificent display of faith on Mount Carmel, do you remember what he did shortly thereafter? “It would seem that after showing courage so undaunted, after triumphing so completely over king and priests and people, Elijah could never afterward have given way to despondency nor been awed into timidity. But he who had been blessed with so many evidences of God’s loving care was not above the frailties of mankind, and in this dark hour his faith and courage forsook him. . . . Forgetting that three years before, God had directed his course to a place of refuge from the hatred of Jezebel and the search of Ahab, the prophet now fled for his life. . . .” Prophets and Kings, 159, 160.

Humanity could probably sympathize with David’s weaknesses and might try to justify Moses’ hasty reaction. After all, those people had nagged him for 40 years. And as for Elijah, I am sure there are many men today who would not think twice about fleeing from a woman’s wrath. But taking a step back from the situation, it is easy for us to see that it was at the time when these men were dedicated to a purpose, diligent in prayer and unyielding in their faith, that they accomplished their great acts of faith. It was the time when they were plugged into the True Source of Power. And their actions proved that they wholeheartedly believed that faith in their God would prevail over human weakness and circumstance.

But at some point, humanity let go of the hand of Omnipotence and their faith failed.

Watch and Pray

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41.

In the upper room during the Last Supper, it was a presumptuous, impetuous Peter who declared that he would never deny his Lord. (Matthew 26:33, 35.) He was offended that Jesus told him that before the cock would crow twice the next morning, Peter would deny Him three times. (Mark 14:30.)

From the upper room, the still-confident Peter went with Jesus and the two sons of Zebedee to the garden. Jesus knew that His time was at hand and keenly felt the need to commune with His Father.

Three times (see Matthew 26:38, 41, 44) Jesus admonished His disciples to watch as He left them in the garden to pray. Three times He returned and found them asleep (verses 40, 43, 45).

We know the story. The disciples were noted for the purity of their language, but in the judgment hall Peter flew into a rage with cursing and swearing. While the degrading oaths were fresh on his lips, and the shrill crowing of the cock was still ringing in his ears, Jesus turned and looked full upon Peter. He realized with bitter grief how well his Lord knew him, and how accurately He had read his heart, the falseness of which was unknown even to himself.

Peter recalled Jesus’ words of caution “Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” Luke 22:31, 32. Heartbroken, in horror he rushed from the scene. At last he found himself in Gethsemane. The scene of a few hours earlier came vividly to his mind. He remembered with bitter remorse that Jesus had wept and agonized in prayer alone, while those who should have united with Him in that trying hour were sleeping.

He remembered Jesus’ solemn charge, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.”

“It was in sleeping when Jesus bade him watch and pray that Peter had prepared the way for his great sin. All the disciples, by sleeping in that critical hour, sustained a great loss. Christ knew the fiery ordeal through which they were to pass. He knew how Satan would work to paralyze their senses that they might be unready for the trial. Therefore it was that He gave them warning. Had those hours in the garden been spent in watching and prayer, Peter would not have been left to depend upon his own feeble strength. He would not have denied his Lord.” The Desire of Ages, 713, 714.

Peter was not the only disciple to deny his Lord. Every single one of them did. We all remember that upon leaving the garden, Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. But it was at this same point that Peter, in his anger, rashly drew his sword and cut off the servant’s ear. (Matthew 26:51, 52.) The disciples were offended by Jesus’ conduct, and at Peter’s proposal that they save themselves (see The Desire of Ages, 697), “they all forsook him and fled.” Mark 14:50.

Despite his earlier emphatic claims, “I will never be offended, I would die with thee, yet will I not deny thee,” to which all the disciples agreed (Matthew 26:33, 35), despite his best intentions, Peter was not ready for the test for which Jesus was trying to prepare him.

Indeed, the flesh is weak.

Just One Hour

I believe this story has even more to offer than the powerful lesson of watching and praying. Three times Jesus admonished His disciples to watch. Three times He found them asleep. “What, could ye not watch with Me one hour?” (Verse 40.)

Just one hour.

Ever notice how difficult it is to spend a thoughtful hour in prayer or study?

Ever notice how easy it is to become distracted or interrupted by tangent thoughts?

Ever notice that no matter how alert you are when you pick up your Bible, how quickly your eyelids begin to get heavy—especially during evening worship.

Ever notice on the nights when sleep evades you, how quickly you become sleepy when you try to pray or read your Bible?

Ever wonder why?

How many times have you really persevered, broken out of the fog and gained a rich blessing?

Ever wonder why you do not do it more often?

A Sleeping Church

God through His last-day prophet tells us, “In this fearful hour of trial Christ’s human nature longed even for the sympathy of His disciples. A second time He rose from the earth and went to them and found them sleeping. This was not a deep sleep. They were in a drowse. They had a limited sense of their Lord’s suffering and anguish.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1104.

This condition is also described as a “strange stupor” that over-powered them. The Desire of Ages, 694.

Ellen White further explains: “They did not intend to forsake their Lord, but they seemed paralyzed by a stupor which they might have shaken off if they had continued pleading with God.” Ibid., 688.

Clearly, if Peter and the disciples had heeded the warning and been diligently watching unto prayer, they need not have been lulled to sleep by the enemy. The condition is the same with His disciples today.

“In tenderness Jesus stood for a moment bending over them, and regarding them with mingled feelings of love and pity. In these sleeping disciples He sees a representation of a sleeping church. When they should be watching, they are asleep.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1104.

“Because of their drowsiness and stupor they failed of receiving the evidence that would have strengthened their souls for the terrible scenes before them. Thus today the very ones who most need divine instruction often fail of receiving it, because they do not place themselves in communion with heaven.” The Ministry of Healing, 509.

Sleepy Virgins

In the first part of Matthew 25, the parable is told of ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Although we know that all ten virgins had oil in their lamps at first, only five kept their lamps trimmed, while the five foolish virgins allowed their lamps to go out. But they all fell asleep.

“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” (Verse 5.) At the cry, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him,” all ten of the virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (Verse 6.) It was at this point that the foolish virgins discovered they had no oil, and quickly urged those with oil to share theirs with them.

“The state of the Church represented by the foolish virgins, is also spoken of as the Laodicean state.” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890. That is us, today.

“All who wait for the heavenly Bridegroom are represented in the parable as slumbering because their Lord delayed His coming; but the wise roused themselves at the message of His approach, and responded to the message, and their spiritual discernment was not all gone, and they sprang into line. As they took hold of the grace of Christ, their religious experience became vigorous and abundant, and their affections were set upon things above.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1099.

Of this same condition that exists today, we read: “The great controversy is nearing its end. Every report of calamity by sea or land is a testimony to the fact that the end of all things is at hand. Wars and rumors of wars declare it. Is there a Christian whose pulse does not beat with quickened action as he anticipates the great events opening before us? The Lord is coming. We hear the footsteps of an approaching God.

“This knowledge of the nearness of Christ’s coming should not be allowed to lose its force, and we become careless and inattentive, and fall into slumber—into an insensibility and indifference to realities. In slumber we are in an unreal world, and not sensible of the things which are taking place around us. . . .

“There are those who have the blazing light of truth shining all around them, and yet are insensible to it. They are enchanted by the enemy, held under a spell by his bewitching power. They are not preparing for that great day which is soon to come to our world. . . .

“As long as there are many asleep, many sporting away the precious hours in careless indifference, as it were, upon the very brink of the eternal world, those who do believe must be sober, must be awake, must be earnest and diligent, and watch unto prayer. . . .

“Have you . . . your lamps trimmed and burning?” Our High Calling, 346.

Half a Chance

“In the parable of the virgins, five were found wise, and five foolish. Can it be possible that half of us will be found without the oil of grace in our lamps? Shall we come to the marriage feast too late. We have slept too long; shall we sleep on, and be lost at last? Are there those here who have been sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting, and will they continue to do so till Christ shall come? May God help us that we may be truly united to Christ, the living vine, and bear fruit to the glory of God!” Review and Herald, April 21, 1891.

Like the disciples in the garden, God has given His church today ample admonition and warning.

“The people of God are not half awake. A stupor seems to be paralyzing their sensibilities.” Review and Herald, October 13, 1885.

“I have seen that a fearful stupor is upon nearly all. It is almost impossible to arouse the very ones who should be awakened, so as to have any just sense of the power which Satan holds over minds. They are not aware of the corruption teeming all around them. Satan has blinded their minds and lulled them to carnal security.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 478.

“We should be vigilant, lest He come and find us sleeping; and hence the admonition, ‘Watch.’ ‘Watch; . . . lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.’ [Mark 13:34–36.] There is no safety in a state of stupor or calm indifference.” Review and Herald, August 18, 1885.

“Some in [the church] are in constant danger because the cares of this life and worldly thoughts so occupy the mind that they do not think upon God or heaven and the needs of their own souls. They rouse from their stupor now and then, but fall back again in deeper slumber. Unless they shall fully rouse from their slumbers, God will remove the light and blessings He has given them. He will in His anger remove the candlestick out of its place.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 286.

God meant for His people to be far in advance of the position they now occupy. Now, when the time has come for God’s people to spring into action because the national reformers are urging measures to resist religious liberty issues, Mrs. White says that instead of being ready, we now have the getting ready to do (see Testimonies, vol. 5, 715). “Now is the time for the careless to arouse from their slumber.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 233.

Vital Connection

Just as was the case with the Bible heroes mentioned at the beginning of this article, the danger comes when humanity turns away from Omnipotence. When that vital connection with Christ is gone, humanity is fueled by human strength, and failure will be the sure result.

We too easily excuse our transgressions by reasoning that our actions are not as bad as someone else’s; I am not an evil person, we think. But as David, Moses, and a host of others along the way, discovered, that does not meet the heavenly criteria.

“It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart and will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy and shall do his bidding in the end.” The Desire of Ages, 324.

Read that again. And then, read it again.

It does not say we have to hold membership in the church of Satan in order to come under his dominion. All our good intentions will not keep us safe. If we, like Peter, fail to watch and pray, we will lose our connection with Christ and be overcome by evil.

“The reason why so many are left to themselves in places of temptation is that they do not set the Lord always before them. When we permit our communion with God to be broken, our defense is departed from us. Not all your good purposes and good intentions will enable you to withstand evil.” The Ministry of Healing, 510, 511.

Blessed Hope

“Jesus came into the world to save sinners, not in their sins but from their sins, and to sanctify them through the truth; and in order that He may become a perfect Saviour to us, we must enter into union with Him by a personal act of faith. Christ has chosen us, we have chosen Him, and by this choice we become united to Him and are to live from henceforth, not unto ourselves, but unto Him who has died for us. But this union can only be preserved by constant watchfulness, lest we fall into temptation and make a different choice, for we are free always to take another master if we so desire. Union with Christ means an unfailing preference for Him in every act and thought. . . .

“We want to become so sensitive to holy influences that the lightest whisper of Jesus will move our souls. . . . If we constantly seek to follow Jesus, the blessed hope is ours of standing before the throne of God without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, complete in Christ, robed in His righteousness and perfection.” That I May Know Him, 361. [Emphasis supplied.]

Can you imagine, becoming so sensitive to the holy influence that the lightest whisper of Jesus will move your soul? Sometimes in our daily comings and goings, we become so caught up in the cares of the world, making a living, and all that, it seems it would take a brick to the side of the head to get our attention.

Secret of Success

As we read earlier, when we permit our communion with God to be broken, our defense is departed. We need to be sensitive to holy influences. That comes only by watching and praying.

“If you will only watch, continually watch unto prayer, if you will do everything as if you were in the immediate presence of God, you will be saved from yielding to temptation, and may hope to be kept pure, spotless, and undefiled till the last.” Gospel Workers, 128.

We must be men and women of prayer, doing everything as if we are in the immediate presence of God. In The Desire of Ages chapter “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled,” we can read of that intimate connection.

“The secret of their success would be in asking for strength and grace. . . . Every sincere prayer is heard in heaven. It may not be fluently expressed; but if the heart is in it, it will ascend to the sanctuary where Jesus ministers, and He will present it to the Father without one awkward, stammering word, beautiful and fragrant with the incense of His own perfection. . . .

“If we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us. . . .

“If we come to Him in faith, He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue.” Ibid., 667, 668.

This One Thing I Do

Jesus lived a perfect life as an example for us. He has given us ample evidence that it is possible to live such a life. We can start afresh right now. “Whatever the mistakes or failures of the past, we may, with the help of God, rise above them. With the apostle we may say: ‘This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 3:13, 14.” The Ministry of Healing, 516. Today He is waiting to commission angels from heaven in response to our cry for help.

Let us consider the offer. Shall we, like David, admit our weaknesses and like Peter, fall upon the Rock and be broken? Shall we, like our Saviour, establish and maintain that unbroken communion with our Heavenly Father and accept His strength to overcome on all points? And shall we, like Enoch, have the testimony that we pleased God and live in readiness here that we might live with Him in heaven throughout eternity?

Prize Before Us

“I have seen the tender love that God has for His people, and it is very great. I saw angels over the saints with their wings spread about them. Each saint had an attending angel. If the saints wept through discouragement, or were in danger, the angels that ever attended them would fly quickly upward to carry the tidings, and the angels in the city would cease to sing. Then Jesus would commission another angel to descend to encourage, watch over, and try to keep them from going out of the narrow path; but if they did not take heed to the watchful care of these angels, and would not be comforted by them, but continued to go astray, the angels would look sad and weep. They would bear the tidings upward, and all the angels in the city would weep, and then with a loud voice say, ‘Amen.’ But if the saints fixed their eyes upon the prize before them and glorified God by praising Him, then the angels would bear the glad tidings to the city, and the angels in the city would touch their golden harps and sing with a loud voice, ‘Alleluia!’ and the heavenly arches would ring with their lovely songs.” Early Writings, 39.

Cathy Summers-Timmons, a Steps to Life staff member and a member of LandMarks’ editorial staff, writes from her home in Wichita, Kansas. She may be contacted by e-mail at: cathytimmons@stepstolife.org.

Bible Study Guides – Answers to Prayer

by

January 17, 2004 – January 23, 2004

Memory Verse

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3.

Suggested Reading: The Desire of Ages, 356, 357; Gospel Workers, 112–114.

Introduction

“We have too little faith. We limit the Holy One of Israel. We should be grateful that God condescends to use any of us as His instruments. For every earnest prayer put up in faith for anything, answers will be returned. They may not come just as we have expected; but they will come—not perhaps as we have devised, but at the very time when we most need them. But, oh, how sinful is our unbelief!” Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, 215.

1 For what purpose were the experiences of Bible characters recorded? Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11.

note: “The repeated murmurings of the Israelites, and the visitations of God’s wrath because of their transgressions, are recorded in sacred history for the benefit of God’s people who should afterward live upon the earth, but more especially to prove a warning to those who should live near the close of time. Also their acts of devotion, their energy and liberality in bringing their free-will offerings to Moses are recorded for the benefit of the people of God. Their example in preparing material for the tabernacle so cheerfully is an example for all who truly love the worship of God.” The Story of Redemption, 152.

“Not alone for men in positions of large responsibility is the lesson of Elijah’s experience in learning anew how to trust God in the hour of trial.” Prophets and Kings, 175.

“Men whom God favored, and to whom He entrusted great responsibilities, were sometimes overcome by temptation and committed sin, even as we at the present day strive, waver, and frequently fall into error. Their lives, with all their faults and follies, are open before us, both for our encouragement and warning.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 238.

“The errors, sins, and vile apostasies of some, who had been the consecrated and favored servants of God, are dwelt upon in Sacred History at length, as a warning to after generations.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, v. 2.

2 What assurance is given those who call upon the Lord in trouble? Psalms 50:15; 107:4–6.

note: “If the Hebrews had continued to obey God after they left Egypt, and had kept his righteous law, he would have gone before them and prospered them, and made them always a terror to the heathen nations around them. But they so often followed their own rebellious hearts, and departed from God, and went into idolatry, that he suffered them to be overcome by other nations, to humble and punish them. When in their affliction they cried unto God, he always heard them, and raised them up a ruler to deliver them from their enemies.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4a, 66.

3 What can we learn from the prayers of Godly men? Nehemiah 1:4–11; Daniel 9:3–5.

note: “Nehemiah humbled himself before God, giving Him the glory due unto His name. Thus also did Daniel in Babylon. Let us study the prayers of these men. They teach us that we are to humble ourselves, but that we are never to obliterate the line of demarcation between God’s commandment-keeping people and those who have no respect for His law.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, 1136.

4 How did God open the way for Nehemiah’s work? Nehemiah 2:1–6.

note: “He [Nehemiah] had a sacred trust to fulfill, in which he required help from the king; and he realized that much depended upon his presenting the matter in such a way as to win his [the king’s] approval and enlist his aid. ‘I prayed,’ he said, ‘to the God of heaven.’ [Nehemiah 2:4.] In that brief prayer Nehemiah pressed into the presence of the King of kings and won to his side a power that can turn hearts as the rivers of waters are turned.” Prophets and Kings, 631.

“Nehemiah did not regard his duty as done when he had mourned and wept and prayed before the Lord. He did not only pray. He worked, mingling petition and endeavor.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 346.

5 For what did Elijah pray? Why did his prayer so effectively alter the course of nature? James 5:17, 18.

note: “Elijah’s prayer was answered. Oft-repeated appeals, remonstrances, and warnings had failed to bring Israel to repentance. The time had come when God must speak to them by means of judgments. Inasmuch as the worshipers of Baal claimed that the treasures of heaven, the dew and the rain, came not from Jehovah, but from the ruling forces of nature, and that it was through the creative energy of the sun that the earth was enriched and made to bring forth abundantly, the curse of God was to rest heavily upon the polluted land. The apostate tribes of Israel were to be shown the folly of trusting to the power of Baal for temporal blessings. Until they should turn to God with repentance, and acknowledge Him as the source of all blessing, there should fall upon the land neither dew nor rain.” Prophets and Kings, 119, 120.

6 During Elijah’s experience at Mount Carmel, why did not the rain come immediately after his first prayer? 1 Kings 18:17–45; Psalm 26:2.

note: “Important lessons are presented to us in the experience of Elijah. When upon Mount Carmel he offered the prayer for rain, his faith was tested, but he persevered in making known his request unto God. Six times he prayed earnestly, and yet there was no sign that his petition was granted, but with strong faith he urged his plea to the throne of grace. Had he given up in discouragement at the sixth time, his prayer would not have been answered, but he persevered till the answer came. We have a God whose ear is not closed to our petitions; and if we prove his word, he will honor our faith. He wants us to have all our interests interwoven with his interests, and then he can safely bless us; for we shall not then take glory to self when the blessing is ours, but shall render all the praise to God. God does not always answer our prayers the first time we call upon him; for should he do this, we might take it for granted that we had a right to all the blessings and favors he bestowed upon us. Instead of searching our hearts to see if any evil was entertained by us, any sin indulged, we would become careless, and fail to realize our dependence upon him, and our need of his help.” Review and Herald, June 9, 1891.

7 How important was prayer to the prophet Daniel? Daniel 6:4–10.

note: “Morning, noon, and at night Daniel prayed to his God, notwithstanding the king’s decree, and the fearful den of lions. He was not ashamed, or afraid to pray, but with his windows opened he prayed three times a day. Did God forget his faithful servant when he was cast into the lion’s den? O, No. He was with him there all night. He closed the mouths of these hungry lions, and they could not hurt the praying man of God.” The Youth’s Instructor, October 1, 1855.

8 What were Isaiah’s concerns when he was called by God, and how was he strengthened by communion with the Almighty? Isaiah 6:5–8.

note: “Never before had Isaiah realized so fully the greatness of Jehovah or His perfect holiness; and he felt that in his human frailty and unworthiness he must perish in that divine presence. . . . But a seraph came to him to fit him for his great mission. A living coal from the altar was laid upon his lips . . . and when the voice of God was heard saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Isaiah with holy confidence responded, ‘Here am I; send me.’ [Isaish 6:8.] . . .

“[Isaiah] had seen the King, the Lord of hosts; he had heard the song of the seraphim, ‘The whole earth is full of His glory’ [Isaiah 6:3]; and the prophet was nerved for the work before him. The memory of this vision was carried with him throughout his long and arduous mission.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 750, 751.

9 During the time Jonah was neglecting his duty to God, what serious warning must we heed from his experience? Jonah 1:1–12.

note: “The prayers of the man [Jonah] who had turned aside from the path of duty brought no help.” Prophets and Kings, 267.

10 What does Jonah’s experience teach of God’s delight in the prayers of the penitent? Jonah 2:1–10; 3:4–10.

note: “At last Jonah had learned that ‘salvation belongeth unto the Lord.’ Psalm 3:8. With penitence and a recognition of the saving grace of God, came deliverance. Jonah was released from the perils of the mighty deep and was cast upon the dry land.

“Once more the servant of God was commissioned to warn Nineveh. ‘The word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.’ [Jonah 3:1, 2.] This time he did not stop to question or doubt, but obeyed unhesitatingly.” Prophets and Kings, 269, 270.

11 What invitation does God extend to each of us? Jeremiah 33:3.

note: “Our prayers for conformity to the image of Christ may not be answered exactly as we desire. We may be tested and proved, for God sees it best to put us under a course of discipline which is essential for us before we are fit subjects for the blessing we crave. We should not become discouraged and give way to doubt, and think that our prayers are not noticed. We should rely more securely upon Christ and leave our case with God to answer our prayers in His own way. God has not promised to bestow His blessings through the channels we have marked out. God is too wise to err and too regardful of our good to allow us to choose for ourselves.” The Upward Look, 109.

12 Under all circumstances, what promise may the righteous claim? Psalm 34:17.

note: “Our God has heaven and earth at His command, and He knows just what we need. We can see only a little way before us; ‘but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.’ Hebrews 4:13. Above the distractions of the earth He sits enthroned; all things are open to His divine survey; and from His great and calm eternity He orders that which His providence sees best.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 272, 273.

These lessons are adapted from the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly, Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California, April 1912.