prayer

Christians and Cars

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A friend once told me jokingly that being in church does not make a person a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes a person a mechanic. At the time it was a joking reference made to my insistence on attending church, but in retrospect, she was absolutely accurate. We claim to be Seventh-day Adventists, and we believe in keeping the seventh day holy as prescribed in the Bible by God. The fourth commandment tells us that God “hallowed” the seventh day and “rested” on it. “For the seventh day is the Lord’s day, and in it, you shall do no work.” (Exodus 20: 10.) The Sabbath was made as a day of worship and rest for man, a day set aside specifically for communion with God and contemplation of the individual relationship with Him that all Christians must have. Wonderful! But where does it say that for the other six days of the week we can do as we please, and disregard the relationship we are supposed to nurture with God? What do we, as Seventh-day Adventists, do with the other six days of the week?

“Being in church doesn’t make you any more a Christian than being in a garage makes you a mechanic.”

This thought, taken most literally, is true. A pagan could walk into a sanctuary and sit among us, sing our hymns, listen to a sermon, and we would never know. They could observe the day with us, acknowledge our beliefs, and go home and rest on Sabbath. Yet, if they make a prayer to Isis or Hecate the next day, they are still pagan; simply going to church does not change that. Likewise, they could walk through the service bay of a car dealership and not suddenly gain intimate knowledge of the inner workings of my truck.

How do we gain the knowledge of what we need to do to be Christians? How do we turn “Christian” into a verb? A mechanic can only apply the term to himself if it is what he does for a living. It ought to be the same with Christians. Spending time with God is a good start. The Bible says that wherever two or more gather in My name, I will be there. (Matthew 18:20) So God’s presence is promised to any group that gathers for the purpose of serving Him. But what about individuals? Does God spend time with them? The Bible is full of examples of God spending meaningful time with individuals in isolation from others. Moses spent much time on his own with God, as is evidenced in Exodus when he stays on the mountain for many days and nights, with only the will and power of God to sustain him. He spoke with God alone in the Tabernacle and had a close relationship with God, one of the closest in biblical history.

Jonah was alone in the belly of the whale, but God heard his cries of repentance and his pleas for forgiveness. Alone, Jonah’s acceptance of God’s purpose was acknowledged by God, and Jonah’s life was spared as he accepted the mission God gave him. Imagine the honor God bestowed upon him. He, personally, heard the voice of God commanding him to go and do His bidding, and what did he do? He fled. Jonah ran from the greatest honor and gift any of us could imagine outside of being in the literal presence of God Himself! What would you give to hear the voice of God; what would you do to obey that voice if it honored you with a command? Would anything be too much, too hard? How terrible was Jonah’s cowardice and his sin in running from a command he should have been honored to receive, yet, even after all that, God heard his lone cry for a second chance and granted it. Is that what we are doing in our calling as Christians? God has given us clear instructions through the Bible and other inspired writings; instructions that clearly outline what is proper and necessary for Christians, yet the vast majority, sadly, ignore Him.

It has come to a time where we who believe Christianity is a verb must stand alone. There will be no church available to us on earth. And yet we will be Christians regardless. A mechanic does not need a garage to work in. Wherever there is a vehicle and the tools necessary, he can work. Likewise, if God is in our hearts and minds, we can practice the life of a true Christian. It is a historically documented fact that the ancient Christians sometimes sold themselves into slavery to buy the freedom of another. Do you think these Christians were surrounded by fellow believers? No, many of the slaves kept by Romans were of varied backgrounds, including Greeks, and Gauls; any race or country they conquered. These early Christians had no one with whom to practice their beliefs; they were an outlawed people of an outlawed faith, punishable by death. Do you think God did not hear them and was not with them when they could get away to worship Him?

Being in church does not make you a Christian. We are Seventh-day Adventists, and should live as such. As a mechanic daily works on cars and exercises that knowledge and expertise, so we must daily work at being a Christian and grow in our relationship with God. We are sent out to spread the word of God, to “fix” the lack of knowledge or interest of others in preparation for His coming. Would you let a person who spends one day of the week in a garage in some capacity work on your most valuable, vintage, collectible Mustang? No, you call in an expert mechanic who spends hours every day working on cars to deal with your valuable possession and fix it so it runs perfectly. These master mechanics eat, sleep, and breathe their profession. How much more so, then, must we Christians work on and maintain our own relationship with God if we are to help others? I Corinthians 10:31 says: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” How much must God be in our daily lives to become adequate to help others find their way to God? This is a question that requires exceedingly careful attention. If we are Christians only in name and do not live as such, others who are brought to the church through us will only have a partial picture. They will not understand their responsibility as Christians. What would happen to a mechanic who was hired but only stood in the shop without working? He would get fired. It is the same with Christians. We will not reap unless we work. This is our responsibility and we must impart this information to others. Actions speak louder than words. Likewise, we can exemplify the Christian duty more powerfully than we can speak it.

We are sent to help people establish or repair a relationship with God, but we must always remember not to neglect our own relationship with Him. In the same way a mechanic keeps abreast of the latest technology and advancements, we must keep our relationship with God up to date if we are to help others establish one. If someone sees us not living up to the standards we profess, how much will they trust us if we try to change their practices? Would you trust a mechanic who cannot fix his own car, let alone yours? In that manner, how can we expect someone to trust us to impart knowledge of Christianity, if we are not practicing what we preach?

The relationship between God and a Christian is a deeply personal and private thing at times, and it is not for any of us to judge one another on how it stands between God and the individual. It can be seen and expressed in small ways in church, but that is not enough. As Seventh-day Adventists we must commune with God daily, feel Him in our lives, and do as He has commanded us through the Scriptures. A whispered prayer, or even simply a silent prayer for patience in trying times, or a thanks for something positive, even as minor as a tiny bit of providence, can bring us closer to Him in our daily lives. He is with us all the time, and we owe Him so much should we not at least acknowledge Him?

Just as technology is constantly changing with vehicles, and a mechanic must keep educated, so must we, as Christians, keep up with the light given us and use the truths to draw us closer to Christ. In so doing, we are enabled to spread His light that all may know Him as their personal Savior.

Lauri Hume has completed her BS degree and is currently working as a case manager in Hutchinson, Kansas. She can be contacted at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Editorial – Prayer Calendar

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What are you praying for this year? Often our prayers tend to be quite self-centered. We pray for healing from a physical or emotional problem or for a better financial situation or some other personal desire. But if we are going to become Christlike, we must ask ourselves, “How did Jesus pray?” It is true that He prayed for Himself, but even these prayers were so that He could gain the victory over His temptations and win the right to give eternal life to you and me. When Jesus prayed, it was for the benefit of others. (See John 17.)

Below is a list of a few things that we should be praying for this year.

  1. Although we should pray for all men (I Timothy 2:1), we should especially pray for “kings and all who are in authority.” I Timothy 2:2. Some people seem to be so busy making judgments about the government that prayer for our leaders is far from their minds. We cannot be criticizing and deriding government and praying for those very same people simultaneously, can we? Christians are to be praying for all those burdened with the responsibility of governing. This would include all legislators, judges, juries, and leaders of government services.
  2. We should pray for our enemies and those who spitefully use us. (Luke 6:27, 28.) It is true that in the final generation the devil is going to deceive the whole world (Revelation 12:9; 14:13, 14; 16:13, 14; 18:23), but vengeance is not our job. Our job for those who persecute us and attempt to destroy us is to pray for them—that God perhaps might grant them repentance so that they might know the truth and escape from the snare of the devil.
    (II Timothy 2:25, 26.)
  3. Pray for every person who is attempting to communicate the gospel. (Ephesians 6:19; Hebrews 13:18.)
  4. Pray for professed Christians who do not yet give evidence that they are converted. (Luke 22:31, 32.)
  5. Pray for more gospel workers. (Matthew 10:37, 38.)
  6. Pray for mercy. (Luke 18:13.)
  7. Pray that you will not fall into temptation. (Luke 22:40.)
  8. Pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:13.)
  9. Pray for God’s professed people and for those whom you know individually. (II Thessalonians 1:11; James 5:16.)

Communing With God

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Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us. But these are not enough; we need also to pour out our hearts to Him. In order to have spiritual life and energy, we must have actual intercourse with our heavenly Father. Our minds may be drawn out toward Him; we may meditate upon His works, His mercies, His blessings; but this is not, in the fullest sense, communing with Him. In order to commune with God, we must have something to say to Him concerning our actual life.

Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.

When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us.

Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Our Saviour identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, “in all points tempted like as we are;” [Hebrews 4:15] but as the sinless one His nature recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Saviour of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer.

Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when God’s heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith? The angels love to bow before God; they love to be near Him. They regard communion with God as their highest joy; and yet the children of earth, who need so much the help that God only can give, seem satisfied to walk without the light of His Spirit, the companionship of His presence.

The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation.

There are certain conditions upon which we may expect that God will hear and answer our prayers. One of the first of these is that we feel our need of help from Him. He has promised, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.” Isaiah 44:3. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, who long after God, may be sure that they will be filled. The heart must be open to the Spirit’s influence, or God’s blessing cannot be received.

Our great need is itself an argument and pleads most eloquently in our behalf. But the Lord is to be sought unto to do these things for us. He says, “Ask, and it shall be given you.” And “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Matthew 7:7; Romans 8:32.

If we regard iniquity in our hearts, if we cling to any known sin, the Lord will not hear us; but the prayer of the penitent, contrite soul is always accepted. When all known wrongs are righted, we may believe that God will answer our petitions. Our own merit will never commend us to the favor of God; it is the worthiness of Jesus that will save us, His blood that will cleanse us; yet we have a work to do in complying with the conditions of acceptance.

Another element of prevailing prayer is faith. “He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. Jesus said to His disciples, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24. Do we take Him at His word?

The assurance is broad and unlimited, and He is faithful who has promised. When we do not receive the very things we asked for, at the time we ask, we are still to believe that the Lord hears and that He will answer our prayers. We are so erring and short-sighted that we sometimes ask for things that would not be a blessing to us, and our heavenly Father in love answers our prayers by giving us that which will be for our highest good—that which we ourselves would desire if with vision divinely enlightened we could see all things as they really are. When our prayers seem not to be answered, we are to cling to the promise; for the time of answering will surely come, and we shall receive the blessing we need most. But to claim that prayer will always be answered in the very way and for the particular thing that we desire, is presumption. God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly. Then do not fear to trust Him, even though you do not see the immediate answer to your prayers. Rely upon His sure promise, “Ask, and it shall be given you.” Matthew 7:7.

If we take counsel with our doubts and fears, or try to solve everything that we cannot see clearly, before we have faith, perplexities will only increase and deepen. But if we come to God, feeling helpless and dependent, as we really are, and in humble, trusting faith make known our wants to Him whose knowledge is infinite, who sees everything in creation, and who governs everything by His will and word, He can and will attend to our cry, and will let light shine into our hearts. Through sincere prayer we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite. We may have no remarkable evidence at the time that the face of our Redeemer is bending over us in compassion and love, but this is even so. We may not feel His visible touch, but His hand is upon us in love and pitying tenderness.

When we come to ask mercy and blessing from God we should have a spirit of love and forgiveness in our own hearts. How can we pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” and yet indulge an unforgiving spirit? Matthew 6:12. If we expect our own prayers to be heard we must forgive others in the same manner and to the same extent as we hope to be forgiven.

Perseverance in prayer has been made a condition of receiving. We must pray always if we would grow in faith and experience. We are to be “instant in prayer,” to “continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Romans 12:12; Colossians 4:2. Peter exhorts believers to be “sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7. Paul directs, “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6. “But ye, beloved,” says Jude, “praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God.” Jude 20, 21.

Unceasing prayer is the unbroken union of the soul with God, so that life from God flows into our life; and from our life, purity and holiness flow back to God.

There is necessity for diligence in prayer; let nothing hinder you. Make every effort to keep open the communion between Jesus and your own soul. Seek every opportunity to go where prayer is wont to be made. Those who are really seeking for communion with God will be seen in the prayer meeting, faithful to do their duty and earnest and anxious to reap all the benefits they can gain. They will improve every opportunity of placing themselves where they can receive the rays of light from heaven.

We should pray in the family circle, and above all we must not neglect secret prayer, for this is the life of the soul. It is impossible for the soul to flourish while prayer is neglected. Family or public prayer alone is not sufficient. In solitude let the soul be laid open to the inspecting eye of God. Secret prayer is to be heard only by the prayer-hearing God. No curious ear is to receive the burden of such petitions. In secret prayer the soul is free from surrounding influences, free from excitement. Calmly, yet fervently, will it reach out after God. Sweet and abiding will be the influence emanating from Him who seeth in secret, whose ear is open to hear the prayer arising from the heart. By calm, simple faith the soul holds communion with God and gathers to itself rays of divine light to strengthen and sustain it in the conflict with Satan. God is our tower of strength.

Pray in your closet, and as you go about your daily labor let your heart be often uplifted to God. It was thus that Enoch walked with God. These silent prayers rise like precious incense before the throne of grace. Satan cannot overcome him whose heart is thus stayed upon God.

There is no time or place in which it is inappropriate to offer up a petition to God. There is nothing that can prevent us from lifting up our hearts in the spirit of earnest prayer. In the crowds of the street, in the midst of a business engagement, we may send up a petition to God and plead for divine guidance, as did Nehemiah when he made his request before King Artaxerxes. A closet of communion may be found wherever we are. We should have the door of the heart open continually and our invitation going up that Jesus may come and abide as a heavenly guest in the soul.

Although there may be a tainted, corrupted atmosphere around us, we need not breathe its miasma, but may live in the pure air of heaven. We may close every door to impure imaginings and unholy thoughts by lifting the soul into the presence of God through sincere prayer. Those whose hearts are open to receive the support and blessing of God will walk in a holier atmosphere than that of earth and will have constant communion with heaven.

We need to have more distinct views of Jesus and a fuller comprehension of the value of eternal realities. The beauty of holiness is to fill the hearts of God’s children; and that this may be accomplished, we should seek for divine disclosures of heavenly things.

Let the soul be drawn out and upward, that God may grant us a breath of the heavenly atmosphere. We may keep so near to God that in every unexpected trial our thoughts will turn to Him as naturally as the flower turns to the sun.

Steps to Christ, 93–100.

Secret Prayer

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“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:35-37

The warning of Jesus is to be diligent and watch. He is referring here to the close of probation, the time when there will be no more interceding on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary before our Father. This time will come on the world unawares and if we are not watching, then we will be found wanting.

Jesus said, “Watch and pray.” Matthew 26:41. It is in the secret prayer, the quiet times spent alone with God, that God is able to communicate with you. “The Lord speaks, enter into your closet and in silence commune with your own heart. Listen to the voice of truth and conscience. Nothing will give such clear views of self as secret prayer.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 163. It is secret prayer that keeps a soul alive. Mrs. White says, “Family prayer, public prayer, have their place, but it is secret communion with God that sustains the soul life.” Education, 258.

Jesus understood the value in communicating with His Father, and we are told in the Scriptures that He got up a long time before morning and He went out into a solitary place and there He prayed, often spending long hours and sometimes nights in prayer.

In the book Steps to Christ, 98, we are told that we should pray in the family circle and above all we must not neglect secret prayer, for this is the life of the soul. God’s servant says in this little book, “It is impossible for the soul,” your soul and my soul, spiritually speaking, “to flourish while prayer is neglected.” Now what we are talking about here, contextually, is while you and I disregard or neglect secret communion with God it is impossible for us to live a Christian life. Impossible! And that’s the reason why we see so many good Christians slowly fall away, leave the church, leave the message. It has not much to do with years in the church; it has to do with our connection with Jesus, whether I am spending time with God in prayer, in communion with Him.

The issue of secret prayer carries a certain quality and purpose. The purpose is that God would reveal to me, myself, which is something that many of us do not want to discover, our true self. We live in an age of accolades. In other words, we live in a time when we only want to be patted on the shoulder, but do not want to be rebuked or to be corrected, so staying away from secret prayer allows us to truly misunderstand who we really are. God is struggling with us to bring us to the point where He can sit us down and say, look, you have this problem and you need to work on it. I am here to help you, and give you the power to overcome all of these problems. When our spouses or our relatives or when our friends or church members tell us that we have a certain problem, we become offended and we don’t want to hear. Maybe we think that it is because they don’t like us, or they are jealous of us. But God sits us down and God says, “Look, you may not want to hear what I’m saying, but I’m telling you, this is your problem. Work on it. I’m here to help you. I’m telling you this in love with no one else around.” You see, the Lord loves us so much that He wants to polish us, rub us down, use the hammer and the chisel to get the rough edges off us, so that we can make heaven our home. That is what the real issue is, but it will never happen until we get into our closets and pray. “It is impossible for the soul to flourish while prayer is neglected.” Family or public prayer alone is not sufficient. Did you get that? Not sufficient! Did you take time out, alone? Charlie Pride, who sang this song many years ago, “E’re you left your room this morning,”—I’m sure you know that song.—“Did you think to pray?”

There is a story of a Christian who got up out of bed and was so busy that he didn’t pray. The day was chaos, and as he retraced his steps he agreed that the reason why things went the way they did is because he just did not have time to pray. Satan is working to get us so busy with daily cares that we neglect secret prayer. Now, more than any human being, Satan knows the value of one on one communion with God. Therefore, what he does is put forth extra effort to devalue prayer in the life of the Christian. He makes us become so absorbed in worldly affairs that we neglect that special time with God.

He makes us become so absorbed in business transactions, educational pursuits, family life, money making—all at the expense of spending time with God in secret prayer. He makes us overwork ourselves. It amazes me sometimes when I see people come to church and they fall asleep. And I understand being tired, doing two, and sometimes three jobs, to barely hold on. Sometimes we become so tied up in the Lord’s work as ministers and Bible workers and elders and whatever our capacity may be in the work of the Lord, we become so absorbed, so busy doing the work of the Lord, that we neglect secret prayer, that time with God that is so critical.

The devil knows that in secret prayer we will see ourselves through God’s eye, our defects of character, our secret sins, and sins which do so easily beset us. The devil knows that. Satan knows that in secret prayer, the Christian will confess his or her sins and will receive strength to forsake them. Thus we’ll be in a state of constant watchfulness and readiness as we are reminded that “Satan well knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the searching of the scriptures will be overcome by his attacks.” Colporteur Ministry, 82. Satan not only just knows, but he well knows—my dear sister, my dear brother, young people, Satan knows who we are. He has been working on us for over 6,000 years—he knows who we are. He knows the material we are made of and what button to press to get us so mad, so angry, to fall away from the Lord, to give up. Satan well knows that his key is to get us to neglect prayer, because once you and I neglect prayer, we have no strength. There’s a statement that says, seven prayerless days makes one weak. Not w-e-e-k, but w-e-a-k.

The devil does not want you to hear this. He knows that if we neglect prayer, and the searching of the Scriptures, we’ll be overcome by his attacks. He knows that, so listen to what he does; “He invents every possible device to engross the mind.” Great Controversy, 519. And we have all kinds of excuses why we have no time to pray and have no time to study the word of God, why we have no time to commune with God. Let me ask you something. What is most important in your life? Is heaven on your mind? Then do you really think you’re going to get there just like that? “It will serve his [Satan’s] purpose well if we neglect the exercise of prayer. For then his lying wonders are more readily received.” Messages to Young People, 59.

“Neglect of prayer causes the Christian to become weak, to lose self control.” Don’t we see this happening? “To give rein to impure thoughts and impulses.” Pamphlet 066, 36.

“There is a mighty power in prayer. Our great adversary is constantly seeking to keep the troubled soul away from God.

“An appeal to heaven, by the humblest saint, is more to be dreaded by Satan than the decrees of cabinets or the mandates of kings.” The Signs of the Times, October 27, 1881.

When you and I, in trouble, fall on our knees, it doesn’t matter what the issues may be in our lives; when we fall on our knees and telephone glory and call upon our Lord for power, for deliverance, for strength, God regards it more than decisions of cabinet and earthly kings. Yes, more, and Satan dreads it, for he knows the power of secret communion with God.

Now, considering all that Satan is doing to keep us from a sweet communion with God, we should readily heed the following counsel: “Let no one in these days of peril neglect prayer.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 8, 403. Don’t neglect it! Jesus, while He was on earth, understood the value of secret prayer, and that it is the life of the soul, and He knew the effort of His enemy, Satan. Consequently, He placed secret prayer as the priority in His life; it became the bulwark against the devil, and that is precisely how Jesus won the victory—secret communion with His Father.

Ellen White tells us that a storm is coming. She says that pen cannot describe what is coming on God’s people. God’s people need to be prepared. Before Jesus went to the cross, He prepared Himself every day through private communion with His Father, and when that ultimate test came, He had self control. His body was kept under subjection so that even when He stood before Pilate, who was being motivated by Satan to cause Him to become irritated, He stood erect, completely self possessed. This control takes a constant connection with Jesus Christ. By beholding we become changed, and self is lost sight of. Let us pray that we may say, “I am completely lost to myself, and Jesus Christ and His wonderful character has been reproduced in me, so that under the most trying circumstances I can reflect my Lord.” It is coming, dear brothers and sisters. We must ask God to reveal any self—“Lord, I don’t want to be a surprise to anyone.”

The test is coming for all of us. We are so easily annoyed and we are so easily affected. One of the easiest statements that comes out of the mouth of Adventists today is, I’m going to leave the church—simply because something doesn’t go your way, or you are not satisfied about something. It is as if to say that being in the church you were doing God a favor, but the Christian who has been seeking the Lord and spending time with Jesus has learned to forget self, and has learned to endure hardship, as a good soldier. So whatever comes, let it come. You will only be kept as our Saviour was kept—by secret prayer.

There is a difference between public prayer and private or secret prayer. Often times when people are called upon to pray in public, their prayers are either very long or inappropriate. This action reflects a lack of secret prayer in the life of the individual, or a lack of understanding. Speaking concerning this matter, God’s servant states that prayers should be short and to the point, and that even angels are weary with long public prayers. When you are in your private devotion with God, you can spend one hour or you can spend two if you have the time. It is no problem with God.

“Tell the Lord just what you want without going all over the world. In private prayer all have the privilege of praying as long as they desire, and of being as explicit as they please. They can pray for all their relatives and friends. The closet is the place to tell all their private difficulties and trials, and temptations.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 578.

The worship service is not the place to talk to the Lord about Grandma and Auntie and cousin and the dog, and the cat, and to talk about the private issues that are affecting us in our lives. The closet is for that purpose. When we come together to worship and we are going to pray in public, we should address that which pertains to the worship. “A common meeting to worship God is not the place to open the privacies of the heart. What is the object of assembling together? Is it to inform God, to instruct Him by telling Him all we know in prayer?” Ibid.

Peter and the disciples’ experience illustrates how important it is to watch and pray. Upon entering Gethsemane Jesus counseled them to watch and pray. “At first they had been much troubled to see their Master, usually so calm and dignified, wrestling with a sorrow that was beyond comprehension. They had prayed as they heard the strong cries of the sufferer. 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. They did not realize the necessity of watchfulness and earnest prayer in order to withstand the temptation.” The Desire of Ages, 688.

When Jesus said, watch with Me, just watch with Me. I’m going to go yonder to pray, but watch with Me, please. Now, that wasn’t too important to them. Their eyes were heavy. They fell asleep. Just before He bent His footsteps to the garden, Jesus said to the disciples, “All ye shall be offended because of Me this night.” Matthew 26:31. They had given Him the strongest assurance that they would go with Him to prison and to death. And poor self-sufficient Peter added, “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.” Matthew 26:33. So even if the other disciples should turn their backs upon you, Lord, I am promising You, I will not leave You.

But the disciples trusted to themselves. They did not look to the mighty Helper as Christ had counseled them to do, and this problem of self-sufficiency in the church needs to go. We are no match for Satan and as long as we depend upon ourselves we will be defeated. Thus when the Savior was most in need of their sympathy and prayers, they were found asleep.

Are you sleeping? In your spiritual life, are you asleep? Even Peter was asleep, the one who promised that he would be with the Lord, no matter what. We may want to reflect and ponder the following questions. I ask you, and this is a question I ask myself, and I need you to ask yourself; Am I like Peter and the other disciples, trusting to myself? Am I unwilling to follow God’s counsels? Am I willing to know my true spiritual condition? Am I? Am I so engrossed in worldly affairs that I have no time for secret prayer? Do I truly love the time of prayer alone with my Savior, or am I self-deceived like Peter and the other disciples in believing that I am watchful and ready while probation may very well be closed or is closing, and possibly I may be forever locked out?

It is due to this awareness that the apostle Paul counseled the Thessalonian Christians, “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Pray! In your bathroom, lift up a prayer. While driving along the freeway or the highway, you can commune with God. While you’re on the job at the desk, wherever you are, take a moment to send up a little prayer. When you are faced with temptations, just remember, a little prayer coming from a sincere heart, seeking for strength, will not be turned back.

Why are we failing as Christians? Why are we apostatizing? Why is it that our hearts are saying something different from our lips? Why is it that there is envy, jealousy, selfishness, resentment, hatred, and an unforgiving spirit in our hearts? You see, this is what Jesus wants us to come to Him to deal with. When you kneel before the Lord in the closet, ask that He will reveal self to you. And then He has the remedy to uproot that unforgiving spirit. Oh yes, you may be in church every Sabbath singing and praying. Nobody knows what you are struggling with, but God knows. Maybe I have a resentful spirit or a malicious spirit, but I do not portray that publicly. Jesus knows, and because He knows, He pleads with you and me, “Come into the closet.”

I like what He says in Isaiah: “Come now and let us reason together.” Isaiah 1:18. You know, let’s talk it over. You don’t have to feel bad about the situation if it is plaguing your life, because we serve a Saviour who understands. He understands our situation and He wants to help us, but the only way we can be helped from our maladies is as we spend time with Him alone.

“Christ came to our world to engage in single-handed combat with this enemy of man, and thus to wrest the race from Satan’s grasp. In the accomplishment of this object He withheld not His own life. Now in the strength that Christ will give, man must stand for himself a faithful sentinel against the wily plotting foe. Says, the great apostle, ‘Walk circumspectly.’ [Ephesians 5:15.] Guard every avenue of the soul. Look constantly to Jesus the true and the perfect pattern and seek to imitate His example. Not in one or two points merely, but in all things. We shall then be prepared for any and every emergency.” That I May Know Him, 240.

Unceasing watchfulness, and not of the brother or sister in the church. Far too often we spend too much time looking at other people in church. What the Lord is asking us to do is to watch ourselves.

“Unceasing watchfulness is a great help to prayer. It keeps the mind from drifting away from right principles. It shuts out that vanity and trifling which prevails in the world everywhere and to an alarming extent among professed Christians. He whose mind loves to dwell upon God has a strong defense. He will be quick to perceive the dangers that threaten his spiritual life, and a sense of danger will lead him to call upon God for help and for protection.” The Review and Herald, October 11, 1881.

Just as our Jesus prepared Himself daily through secret prayer for the ultimate test and succeeded, so we are to daily prepare ourselves through spending quality time with Him in deep self-examination, confession, repentance, reconciliation, because our ultimate test is coming. Each and every one of us will be tested. Every one of us will be tested individually. It is coming. It is coming, so watch unto prayer; only as we keep that daily intimate connection with Jesus will we succeed and finally triumph. We have no time to lose, for we know not how soon our probation may close. Eternity stretches before us. The curtain is about to be lifted and Christ is soon to come. The angels of God are seeking to attract us from ourselves and from earthly things, so let us not labor in vain, ladies and gentlemen.

“A storm is coming, relentless in its fury.” Reflecting Christ, 311.

Are we prepared to meet that storm? Are we prepared? May God help us to make heaven our first goal; may God help us to value the time for prayer. May God help us, even if we have to shift up our program, our daily schedule, shift it up, but put some time in it for God. Do not become so busy that Jesus is left out of your program. I can tell you if we allow that to happen, as prominent as we are, as committed as we say we are, we are going to slowly, slowly, slowly move ourselves away from the source of life. And one day, we will die spiritually. Jesus admonishes us, He says, “Come now and let us reason together.” “Though your sins be as scarlet,” [Isaiah 1:18] whatever it may be, it doesn’t matter how dark or how crimson, whatever it might be, we have a Savior who understands. He wants to do something for you and me that only He can do so, why not give Him the chance? Take time to pray, and if we take time to pray, He has promised to listen. Victory will be our experience, and we will become a united force, such that Satan, when he thinks about us, will tremble. What a wonderful, loving God we serve. Praise and honor all go to Him!

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-822-3900.

The Sixth Seal

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You should keep in mind, as you read this article, that the time placement of the sixth seal is between the first set of martyrs and the second set of martyrs. Perhaps this thought has never occurred to you, as you have studied the seven seals prophecy, so this revelation may be a blessing to you as you study this subject. I have always understood the six seals to represent prophetic events taking place so the remnant church will recognize the last days.

In the fifth seal are those who were martyred in a time of tribulation—namely, during the 1,260 years under the papal rule. Symbolically, they are saying, “Lord, why are You not judging us?” which means, “Why do You not give us vindication? We are killed by the papacy. Lord, have mercy on us.” Then God gives to each a white robe representing His righteousness and tells them to wait until their brethren, like them, are killed for His sake and fill the number. (Revelation 6:9–11.)

Do you recall that another set of martyrs is going to come very soon after the Sunday law? So God placed the sixth seal in the interval separating the serial events that will take place from the fifth seal until the period when the second set of martyrs will occur. Keep this in your mind as we study the sixth seal.

Another “Prophecy” Source

In Catholic prophecy, the Bishop of Ireland, Malachy, predicted the reign of 111 popes. Actually, he made 112 predictions. The last pope he named, “Peter of Rome,” must be Satan. At that time, the city of Rome and the whole world will be on fire and destroyed. The last pope is not really human.

Malachy, 850 years ago, predicted that there would be 111 human popes following Pope Celestine II who died in 1146 a.d. Of these, John Paul II, interestingly enough, was pope number 110 after Celestine II, and Malachy’s prophecy claims that the next pope will be the final human pope. That is Benedict XVI, the current pope.

We do not believe in Catholic prophecy, but we can at least use it as a reference. Even according to Catholic prophecy, you and I do not have much time left.

Fornication with the Whore

When the funeral service for John Paul II was being held, I was in Germany, and I watched the proceedings live on television. It was just incredible! The CNN announcer and commentators were giving an explanation of every juncture, every order of the mass service. For 24 hours, the Vatican broadcasted to the entire world the greatest televised evangelistic crusade of all times.

Revelation 17:18 says, “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” Almost all of the world’s kings, presidents, prime ministers, political figures, and financial figures were present at the pope’s funeral. A congregation of approximately 200,000 people was scattered about in the Vatican square. About four million pilgrims came from different nations to the city of Rome to pay homage.

Representatives of various major religions, not just Christianity, attended this funeral service. Even a Buddhist monk and Islamic and Hindu representatives were there. This was not only ecumenism among Christian religions, but an ecumenical movement from whole new regions of the world. Surely the end is near.

Revelation is being fulfilled before our very eyes! The whore is having fornication with all the kings and the people of the world, which we saw depicted at the pope’s funeral service. It is nearly time for the seven last plagues to be poured out upon this world. This is how we understand chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation.

Revelation 17:2, 4, 18 says, “With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.” “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”

Kings and presidents of the world came to give their tribute as the newly elected pope, the former Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany, conducted mass. That great city, Rome, the Bible says, is the whore that wears purple and scarlet. Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, the newly elected pope, was arrayed with scarlet and purple and decked with gold and pearls and precious stones. How interesting!

That cup is full of abominations. All the kings and people of the world are drunken. When people are drunk, they do not know what to do or where to go; they are confused. This is the time when we must raise the third angel’s message in a clear and certain sound.

The Sixth Seal

“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:12–17. The sixth seal is discussing the succession of natural disasters.

Historic Perspective

We are in the end of the sixth seal period. You will understand why as we progress. Let us look at Revelation 6:12, 14 historically.

A great earthquake occurred on November 1, 1755. Known as “The Great Lisbon Earthquake,” it impacted other countries besides Portugal and was even felt along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. About 160,000 people were killed at that time. We consider this earthquake as the beginning point of the sixth seal. Why? It is because it was the largest of all the earthquakes that had ever occurred up to that time.

The second natural occurrence was the dark day of May 19, 1780. This day dawned clear and bright, in the northeastern part of the United States, but by 10:30 in the morning, the sky began to darken. Soon it was as dark as the night; all the cattle returned to their barns and all the birds flew back to their nests. That night the moon, which was at its full, had the appearance of blood.

Then, on August 12, 1833, the stars of heaven fell to the earth. This scene has been described as all the stars coming to the center of the sky and then falling to earth. It was estimated that about 200,000 stars fell in one hour. What an awesome sight that must have been!

The Bible prophecy has been fulfilled in succession exactly as it was described.Permanence Moved

Verse 14 refers to the heaven departing as a scroll and the islands and mountains being moved. We are told that just before Jesus Christ comes, there will be a great earthquake, which will shake down all the mountains and sink the islands of the oceans. (Revelation 16:18, 20.)

Ellen White wrote: “Now in regard to the coming of the Son of man. This will not take place until after the mighty earthquake shakes the earth. After the people have heard the voice of God they are in despair and trouble such as never was since there was a nation, and in this the people of God will suffer affliction. The clouds of heaven will clash, and there will be darkness. Then that voice comes from heaven and the clouds begin to roll back like a scroll, and there is the bright, clear sign of the Son of man.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 9, 251.

We have not witnessed the moving of mountains, but islands certainly have moved. As a result of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami on December 26, 2004, it has been reported that some of the smaller islands may have moved as much as 60 feet. New maps are now being drawn of this part of the world because islands moved.

This disaster gives us a small hint of what will physically happen on the earth just before Christ’s return and the great fear that will be in men’s hearts. “The kings of the earth and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves, saying, Oh, we cannot stand before the wrath of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Please, mountains and rocks, fall upon us.” They would rather be killed in natural disasters than face the Saviour.

The Fifth Seal

Revelation 6:9–11 talks about the fifth seal. “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.” In other words, that the number will be filled.

The number is not yet filled, so another set of martyrs is coming soon. It is time to prepare to become martyrs.

144,000 or Martyr

Most Seventh-day Adventists are interested in the make-up of the 144,000—those people who are going to be translated without tasting death. Oh, I hope so to be part of that number! But we do not know God’s plan or His providence for our lives. Perhaps you and I will be martyred, but either translation or death will be for the glory of our God.

Revelation 14:13 says, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Those people going through the Sunday law crisis, who die during the time of the loud cry of the third angel, will be blessed. This, in a way, is an exact description of the blessings God gave to the martyrs at the time of the fifth seal. I believe that, through the sixth seal, God is making known to us the succession of serial events taking place, so the remnant church will know the time in which we are living and what is about to take place.

“The two armies will stand distinct and separate, and this distinction will be so marked that many who shall be convinced of truth will come on the side of God’s commandment-keeping people. When this grand work is to take place in the battle, prior to the last closing conflict, many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ’s sake in standing in defense of the truth.” Maranatha, 199. Mrs. White clearly states that there will be many martyrs at the end.

“I was pointed to the remnant on the earth. The angel said to them, ‘Will ye shun the seven last plagues? . . . If so, ye must die that ye may live. Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye must have a greater preparation than ye now have [not only to become part of the 144,000 who will be translated without tasting death, but also to become martyred for the defense of the truth]. . . . Sacrifice all to God. Lay all upon His altar—self, property, and all, a living sacrifice. It will take all to enter glory.’ ” Ibid., 98.

This is the time to prepare our characters. Mrs. White wrote, “Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil.” The Great Controversy, 425. Can you stand before God without the Mediator?

“He who seeks to get to heaven by his own righteousness is forever doing, but never making progress. But he who follows where Christ leads the way, goes from strength to strength, from light to greater light. Walking in the path of faith and obedience, he wins others to the new and living way, which is consecrated by the blood of Christ. The light of truth illuminates his footsteps, and the thought of Christ’s life inspires his efforts, enabling him to go on from strength to strength, gaining continually in grace and the knowledge of Christ, until at last he is complete in Him, not having his own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, 341.

“How much we lose by doubting the love of God! Why do we not come boldly to [the] throne of grace, and by living faith lay hold of the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour? This must be an individual work. I cannot be saved by another’s faith, nor can another be saved by my faith. Every soul must be saved by his own righteousness. Can we manufacture this righteousness? No. But Jesus has furnished it for us.” The Signs of the Times, September 2, 1889.

When we are dwelling in Jesus Christ, and He is dwelling within us perfectly, it is then that He seals us. Our characters are fixed, and we will not be moved anymore. The righteousness of Jesus Christ is living within us and controlling us; hence, His righteousness has become our righteousness. The indwelling Spirit of Jesus Christ changes our characters completely and He seals us. Then we will not be changed anymore. We must be sealed with the seal of the living God and become part of the 144,000 or be martyrs.

Power of Prayer

When I was a baby, my mother, as she was nursing me at her bosom, dedicated me to the Lord many times. I have no way of knowing this except that my mother told me.

One day, when I was a teenager, attending a Seventh-day Adventist high school but associating with worldly friends, I went with these friends and did some things I should not have done. I returned home a little after midnight. I knew I would have some fire on my backside for returning home so late. As I was the only son, with four sisters, my Korean father did not want to spoil me. He was very strict with me in discipline.

I was scared, so I sneaked into my room and just lay myself very quietly on my bed, which actually was a mattress on the floor, and I pretended that I was asleep. About half an hour later, someone opened the door and came into my room. It was my mother. She knelt beside me and prayed. She was whispering, but I could hear what she was saying. She was praying, “My God, I want my son back. You remember that I gave my son to You when he was a baby nursing at my bosom. I dedicated this baby to You, to become Your servant, but now he is in the world. I want my son back.” It was the most powerful prayer that I ever heard.

After my mother went out, it was my turn to kneel on the floor and pray to God: “God, I am sorry.” I did not know God very well at the time, but because of my mother’s love and prayer, that moment became the turning point of my life.

Jesus Christ, our Mediator, is praying powerful prayers in the heavenly sanctuary every day. If only you could open your ears and listen. Jesus Christ is praying over our souls for our preparation for the last days. The end is near. I would like to ask you and challenge you, if you have not already surrendered your life to Christ, to do so right now—not tomorrow, not next week, but now. Give your heart to Him today.

If you have hidden idols, hidden sins, about which only you know, give them to Christ, who is praying continuously, in such love, for your soul. Do it now, because time is almost gone.

Pastor David Kang is Director of Light for Life Ministry operating out of Georgia, U.S.A. His sermons are broadcast weekly on New York and Virginia Korean television stations. Pastor Kang also frequently travels to Asia where he trains pastors who often work “underground.” Pastor Kang may be contacted by telephone at: 706-377-1004.

Pray Without Ceasing

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In the beginning, God spoke and made a world. David records: “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth . . .For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:6, 9.

It was Jesus, in conjunction with His Father, that created this world and designed human beings to inhabit and fill it. (See 1 Corinthians 19:1–4; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16.) What we see of creation, in our world today, is but a pittance of what the original must have looked like.

On the morning of the sixth day of creation, the beautiful world was filled with animals of all descriptions roaming over the lush green hillsides and down through the valleys, blanketed with flowers. Birds, flying through the air, warbled their lovely songs of praise to their Creator.

After pronouncing all that He had made, “good,” this great Creator wants to make a caretaker for the beautiful garden. He decides to make man, in His own image, out of the dust of the ground and then breathe into him the breath of life making him a living soul.

After forming every feature with the greatest care, God looks down on this beautiful being. He might have said, “He looks like Me.” Then, kneeling down, He puts His mouth to the mouth of this beautiful being and breathes into him His breath. As the blood reaches the brain I can see Adam give a great gasp and suddenly the heart and all the organs begin to operate. Adam opens his eyes and looks into the face of God. I imagine his first words could have been, “Who are You?” Then he must have looked at himself and asked,” Who am I?” Now, this wonderful God reaches down, raises this beautiful being to his feet, and says, “Your name is Adam. You are My gardener. And I want to show you your garden.”

I can see God now putting His arm around this beautiful being and they begin to walk through this beautiful place. He says, “You, Adam, are in charge of everything. It is your world. You can name the flowers, trees, animals and birds.”

After they had finished their tour, I can hear Adam say, “God, everything is so wonderful, but I am wondering, why are there two of all the other creatures but there is only one of my kind?” And God replies, “I have a plan.” Then He lays this giant of a man down, puts him to sleep and takes a rib from his side. From this rib He creates the most beautiful being of all, a woman. Can you imagine when Adam wakes up and sees God and then looks past God to the woman? I can hear him say, “But who is she?” And God responds, “She is your wife.”

The shadows of the sixth day are leaning heavily upon the trees of this beautiful garden of God. The sixth day is ending and the seventh day, the Sabbath, is about to begin. As they stand before Him, God puts their hands together and He pronounces them man and wife. Then, standing in the shadows of that sixth day, He watches these two beautiful people, that He has created, walk away, arm in arm, talking about this beautiful place which He has created for them to live in.

Every day they had an opportunity to meet with God and the angels. I can see them running to meet their appointment with God. Wherever they were, they came hand in hand, leaping, running and racing to meet God, and casting themselves at His feet. Then I can see this great God raise them up to their feet, put one arm around Eve and the other around Adam and walk through the beautiful garden, explaining its wonders to them.

I can just imagine Adam looking at a magnificent tree, maybe a Sequoia Redwood tree, and asking, “But God, how does the moisture get from the root to the top?” And the Creator of the world explains how it all happens.

Eden was a wonderful place, a wonderful opportunity for two people. Yet, we know what happened. The picture now changes and we find these two people hiding. God comes for His daily visit, and walking through His garden, He calls, “Adam, Adam, where are you?” I can see them now, coming from their hiding place, no longer dressed in that beautiful robe of light, which He had made for them, but in fig leaves that Eve put together.

I can hear them cry, “God, we will never do it again. Please, God, do not send us away.” But sin was so terrible, and so infectious that they had to leave the garden. This was the only way that God could solve the tremendous problem that sin had brought.

I can see Jesus standing with both arms around them, hugging them close to His breast and explaining Genesis 3:15. He tells them that He will come and take their place. The law of God had been broken, and the wages of sin is death. Jesus tells them: “I have to die for you. I am the Lawgiver and the only way I can save you and your posterity, now, is to die in your place.” Then He explains the sacrificial system that pointed to the day He would die for their sins so they could live again and come back and be caretakers of His garden once more.

Can you see the picture of Adam with that first little sacrificial lamb, taking the sharp instrument in his hands, looking into the eyes of this little innocent creature, knowing that it had to be slain because of his sin?

 

God’s Sacrifice

 

The picture changes. For four thousand years the world looked forward to the time when the Messiah would come. Every Jewish mother looked at the man-child that came from her womb and wondered if he was the one—the promised Messiah. Then, just as the Old Testament prophets had predicted, the Christ child was born to bring hope and salvation to a perishing world.

What was Christ’s mission when He came to this earth?

“Christ came to our world to counteract Satan’s falsehood that God had made a law which man could not keep. Taking humanity upon Himself, He came to this earth, and by a life of obedience showed that God has not made a law that man cannot keep. He showed that it is possible for man perfectly to obey the law. Those who accept Christ as their Saviour, becoming partakers of His divine nature, are enabled to follow His example, living in obedience to every precept of the law. Through the merits of Christ, man is to show by His obedience that He could be trusted in heaven.” The Faith I Live By, 114.

“For 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. Fallen humanity cannot measure that love. Our earthly minds cannot fully understand it. And even in heaven, we will continue to study it throughout all eternity. God’s love is so amazing! Jesus was born in a barn. He was willing to come, all the way down to where fallen humanity was, so He could show them how they could gain eternal life and go back to His garden as caretakers, for the beautiful world that He will re-create.

The cross was a tragedy, yet it was the only way God could solve the sin problem. We think that when we are taken out of our positions in churches, or are disfellowshipped, we have been mistreated; look at the cross and see what the church did to the Messiah. Yet, He uttered not a word of rebuke. He just put out His hands and they nailed them to the cross. The Roman soldiers picked up the tree and dropped it into the hole that had been prepared for it. You can imagine the physical agony 20 Land Marks

that He must have gone through, but it was not the physical agony that killed Him. It was our sins—yours and mine—that crucified the Son of God.

 

Christ Prays for Us

 

Just before Jesus was crucified, He prayed a very important prayer, not only for Himself, but also for His disciples. These were His words: “Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.

“I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee.

“For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them.

“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept; and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

“I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” John 17:1–19. What a prayer! I believe those words come closer to explaining the love of God than anything I have read in the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy.

Today, Jesus is our High Priest in the Most Holy Place. But He will not remain there long. Soon the censor will no longer sway; the cases will be decided. It is now time for us to study the Word of God and the Spirit of Prophecy earnestly, and pray like we have never prayed in our lives before. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” Often when I have read that I have wondered, “How can I do that? I would never get anything done if I prayed all the time.” But prayer is not only the position you are in, prayer is an attitude of mind that you start your day with, walk through the day with, and go to bed with, at night.

I praise the Lord for the relationship that I have with Him through prayer. It holds me in such a beautiful relationship and when I break that relationship by impatience, I weep. We must overcome this impatience. And our only hope of doing this is to pray more and take that prayer experience with us through the day. Practice the presence of Jesus and you will receive His power.

Christ’s Object Lessons, 174, contains a precious promise about prayer. It says: “Amid the anthems of the celestial choir, God hears the cries of the weakest human being. We pour out our heart’s desire in our closets, we breathe a prayer as we walk by the way, and our words reach the throne of the Monarch of the Universe! They may be inaudible to any human ear, but they cannot die away into silence, nor can they be lost through the activities of business that are going on. Nothing can drown the soul’s desire.”

What a wonderful promise! The God of the universe hears our cries for help, and is never too busy to answer. As we lay our requests before Him, claiming His promise that we can overcome, He gives us the power to keep His law. Just as Christ was constantly in tune with His father through prayer, and thus able to resist temptation, we can receive the same power.

We need to learn to pray, as we have never prayed before. We need to pray for ourselves, for our children, our husbands, our wives, our friends and our neighbors. We must carry the burden of these souls upon our hearts.

 

The Secret to Answered Prayer

 

A lot of people have told me, “I pray and nothing happens.” And I say, “Have you laid your whole life at the feet of Jesus, surrendering your will, your mind, and your life to Him? Have you given up everything in this world?” The reason many of our prayers are not answered is because of how we live. We are not fully committed to God.

When my son was in Vietnam, God taught me some unforgettable lessons about prayer. At that time in my life, I felt that I had done many things and I was proud of everything I had done. I was a good preacher, because I had worked hard to be one. But through this trying experience, God taught me every day that I had to be humble. I could not do anything, but I believed that God could.

During the eleven months that my boy was on the battlefields I learned to pray as I had never prayed before. He told us later of the many miraculous ways the Lord had brought him through the most tragic, terrible circumstances. He was a commander and there were soldiers being killed all around him. A Vietcong shot at him from ten feet away, with an automatic weapon, and the bullets never touched him. Angels were deflecting the bullets.

The lessons I learned during that time have never been forgotten. God taught me that the first thing I do in prayer is to give my will to Him. When you give your will to God you give your mind to Him and His thoughts are your thoughts. Inspiration says: “By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ . . . the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 312.

During that time I memorized that passage, and began to study my Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy in a different way. I was not studying to be a good preacher. I was studying to fill my soul with the good things that God has in His Word and in the Spirit of Prophecy. I could not leave it alone anymore. I was getting up at 3:00 or 3:30 in the morning to study and my congregation said, “What has happened to the preacher?”

I was changed—not by what I did, but by what God was doing, and I wanted Him to do it. “Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on the merits of the Saviour. By prayer, by the study of the word, by faith in His abiding presence, the weakest of human beings may live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold then by a hand that will never let them go.” Ministry of Healing, 182.

“When with earnestness and intensity we breathe a prayer in the name of Christ, there is in that very intensity a pledge from God that He is about to answer our prayer ‘exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.’” Christ’s Object Lessons, 147.

“Unwearyingly persist in prayer. The persistent asking brings the petitioner into a more earnest attitude, and gives him an increased desire to receive the things for which he asks.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 145.

“Cultivate the habit of talking with the Saviour when you are alone, when you are walking, when you are busy with your daily labor.” Ministry of Healing, 510, 511.

One of my greatest experiences in the morning is to walk in the trees and praise God. Praising God is prayer. I lift my voice in thanksgiving for the health and strength that God has given me. I praise Him with joy in my heart for the opportunity that He has given me to serve Him in this great and awesome time.

Through praising the Lord we receive a rich blessing for ourselves. “If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us a sweet joyful sense of the presence of Jesus. Often our hearts will burn within us as He draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 129.

“Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be opened for you to disentangle yourselves from embarrassments and difficulty. The weaker and the more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger will you become in His strength.” The Desire of Ages, 329. That is prayer.

 

Prayer—Finding the Experience

 

The only way we can face the tragedies of tomorrow, and the next day, and the months and years ahead of us, is by becoming a people of prayer. I pray that you are willing to be made willing to bring your life into such a prayer experience that you can have the joy of seeing your prayers answered. God does not always answer prayer the way you want it answered, but He answers every prayer.

Sometimes God says, “No,” and that means that you have to have the spiritual maturity to understand when He says “No.” When people tell me, “God does not answer my prayers,” I tell them that maybe God is saying “No” and you do not understand. I have had God say “No” many, many times to me. But I have always accepted the “No” as God’s answer.

If you are willing to be made willing to bring your life into harmony with such a beautiful relationship with Jesus, you will walk with Him day by day. And that is a prayer experience. You know that Jesus is there because your sins are forgiven. You have confessed your sins (Acts 5:31), and God gives repentance. Learn to walk in this joyous living. Otherwise, you are cheating yourself of the greatest experience in the world.

But do not expect that the road will always be easy. Learn to accept every trial as a little stepping stone to a greater relationship to Jesus. Each hardship overcome, each temptation resisted, takes us a step forward in developing a character like Christ’s. It will take effort—prayer, study and a willingness to follow Christ, wherever He leads. Without this, you will not make it.

There is nothing you can do to be saved, but if you do not do something, you are going to be lost. God’s prophet wrote it this way, “It will require the strongest effort, the persevering and unfaltering determination, and the strongest energy to control self.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 92. But we are not left to struggle alone. “Every provision has been made in the word of God whereby all may have divine help.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 574.

We “must cooperate with divine power, and put forth” our “human effort to subdue sin, and stand complete in Christ.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 429, 430.

“Many never attain to the position that they might occupy, because they wait for God to do for them that which He has given them power to do for themselves.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 248.

“If we gain eternal life, we must work, and work earnestly . . . The characters we form here will decide our eternal destiny . . . Our part is to put away sin, to seek with determination for perfection of character.” Review and Herald, June 11,1901.

“This to us is a mournful statement, that there are those who will fail to enter in at the strait gate because they only seek to enter in and do not strive.” Heavenly Places, 263.

We have a part to play, but we have not done a very good job of playing that part. Discipline and human effort must be amalgamated with divine power before we can overcome. Too many of us have been trying to overcome in our own power. We have been trying to be good, thinking we will go to heaven “being good.” But we cannot be saved “being good.” We can only be saved being holy, and holiness can only come from the Holy One.

Let us study the word of God and the Spirit of Prophecy like we have never studied before. Dedicate yourself anew to God every morning by submitting your will to Him. You will be given all the power you need to do everything He has commanded you.

“The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God and being clothed with humility, possessing that love that is pure, peaceable, and easy to be entreated, full of gentleness and good fruits, is not an easy attainment. And yet it is his privilege and his duty to be a perfect overcomer here.” Testimonies,vol. 3, 106.

May God make us like that, today and every day, until eternity.

Children’s Corner – The Right Decision

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It as the beginning of vacation when Mr. Davis, a friend of my father, came to see us, and asked to let me go home with him. I was much pleased with the thought of going out of town.

The journey was delightful, and when we reached Mr. Davis’ house, everything looked as if I would have a fine time. His son, Fred, was a boy about my own age, and all the family soon seemed like old friends.

“This is going to be a vacation worth having,” I said to myself several times during the evening, as we all played games, told riddles, and laughed and chatted merrily.

At last, Mrs. Davis said it was almost bedtime. Then I expected family prayers, but instead, we were very soon directed to our bedrooms. How strange it seemed to me, for I had never before been in a household without the family altar.

“Come,” said Fred, “mother says you and I are going to be bed fellows,” and I followed him up two pair of stairs to a nice little room. There he undressed first and jumped into bed. I was much longer about it, for a new set of thoughts began to rise in my mind.

When my mother told me good-bye, she said tenderly, in a low tone, “Remember, Robert, that you are a Christian boy.”

I knew very well what that meant, and I had now just come to a point of time when her words were to be minded.

At home I was taught the duties of a Christian child; abroad I must not neglect them, and one of these was evening prayer. From a very little boy, I had been in the habit of kneeling and asking the forgiveness of God, for Jesus’ sake, acknowledging His mercies, and seeking His protection and blessing.

“Why don’t you come to bed, Robert?” cried Fred. “What are you sitting there for?”

I was afraid to pray, and afraid not to pray. It seemed that I could not kneel down and pray before Fred. What would he say? Would he not laugh? The fear of Fred made me a coward. Yet I could not lie down on a prayerless bed. If I needed the protection of my heavenly Father at home, how much more abroad!

At my hesitation, Fred finally cried, “Come on, come to bed.”

I mustered courage, and replied, “I will kneel down and pray first; that is always my custom.”

“Pray?” said Fred, as he turned over on his pillow and said no more.

His propriety of conduct made me ashamed. Here I had long been afraid of him, and yet when he knew my wishes, he was quiet and left me to myself. How thankful I was that duty and conscience triumphed.

That settled my future course. It gave me strength for time to come. I believe that the decision of the “Christian boy,” by God’s blessing, made me a Christian man; for in after years I was thrown amid trials and temptations which could have drawn me away from God and from virtue, had it not been for my settled habit of secret prayer.

Let every child who has pious parents, read and think about this. You have been trained in Christian duties and principles. When you go from home, do not leave them behind.

Carry them with you, and stand by them; then, in weakness and temptation, by the help of God, they will stand by you.

Prayer – The Soul of Religion

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Everyone who has a relationship with God, as a personal, caring heavenly Father, and with His Son as a personal, loving Savior will have joy of heart and peace that flows like a river. (I Peter 1:8; Isaiah 48:18.) Their prayer will be a two-way connection with heaven. They can move mountains and they know the God of heaven and His Son face to face. It is God’s invitation, so why do so many of us fail to realize it in our lives? “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3.

We could list a few things that are essential to a meaningful walk with God, but as those who enjoy a real and abundant connection with heaven will testify, a vital connection is sustained only when our mind is locked into the mind of Christ. God is faithful and eager to establish that kind of relationship with you and with me. So what can we do to make that blessing ours?

Essentially, the list may be reduced to two items: do what we know to be right and commune with God. It is this last point we wish to make the focus of our discussion today.

A powerful and rewarding conscious contact with the most Supreme Being of the universe is prayer. We may pray to God at any time and under any circumstance. It can move the hand of Omnipotence, bring you through a trial you thought had no resolution, and strengthen your sense of shelter and protection in a world filled with many a danger, and strengthen your bond, love, and unity with your best and most faithful Friend. It will be found that as we develop this vital connection with the Creator, we will see that our prayer has become “the soul of our religion.” How do we find and sustain that kind of prayer?

The Vitality of Prayer

“Do not neglect secret prayer, for it is the soul of religion. With earnest, fervent prayer, plead for purity of soul. Plead as earnestly, as eagerly, as you would for your mortal life, were it at stake. Remain before God until unutterable longings are begotten within you for salvation, and the sweet evidence is obtained of pardoned sin.

“The hope of eternal life is not to be received upon slight grounds. It is a subject to be settled between God and your own soul—settled for eternity. A supposed hope, and nothing more, will prove your ruin. Since you are to stand or fall by the word of God, it is to that word you must look for testimony in your case. There you can see what is required of you to become a Christian. Do not lay off your armour, or leave the battlefield until you have obtained the victory, and triumph in your Redeemer.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 163, 164.

“I have frequently seen that the children of the Lord neglect prayer, especially secret prayer, altogether too much; that many do not exercise that faith which it is their privilege and duty to exercise, often waiting for that feeling which faith alone can bring. Feeling is not faith; the two are distinct. Faith is ours to exercise, but joyful feeling and the blessing are God’s to give. The grace of God comes to the soul through the channel of living faith, and that faith it is in our power to exercise.” Early Writings, 72.

Just as vital prayer will never happen without surrender to God and obedience to His word, it follows that, “All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And 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.” The Desire of Ages, 668.

What an unfathomable joy and privilege is ours to be linked with God in this manner, that when obeying Christ we are actually doing the things we want to do and enjoy doing! To know Him personally like this, is to know Him as a personal friend. (John 6:40, 46.). If we are finding the pull of the carnal heart a strong opposing influence, the honest Christian will pray for the change of heart, “Lord, take out of me the heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh. Give me a heart to know you and put your Spirit in me that I may not desire iniquity. Then when the devil comes to me like a flood there will be nothing in me that will desire his pleasures.” (Ezekiel 36:26, 27; Isaiah 59:19, last part.)

It takes time to change the carnal heart, to form new habits and new interests. By beholding we become changed, the righteousness of God being revealed from faith to faith. (11 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 1:17.) Those who are justified by the blood of Jesus will see the light on their path shine more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18.) They grow more like Him as, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they overcome every defect of character. (Zechariah 4:6.). God will give you the desires of your heart and if Christ’s likeness is what you seek, God will work in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12, 13.) However, if the pleasures of the world are your interest, God will leave you to pursue your interests. Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened to you, seek and ye shall find. (Matthew 7:7.) Ye shall find Him when ye search for Him with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13.) Remember, what Jesus was, we may become, transformed into the image of the Son of God.

The way we relate to God and His Son will strengthen our unity with them. (John 14:23; 17:20–23.) So how does prayer contribute to that relationship? “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. The eye of faith will discern God very near, and the suppliant may obtain precious evidence of the divine love and care for him.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 533.

Prayer—When in Distress

Sometimes the mountains in our lives are physical; we may be faced with a task that seems to demand more physical output than we have in reserve and we feel mentally and physically exhausted. Sometimes the mountains are spiritual. Every soul faces temptations, which if resisted, will bring the ire of the demonic realm upon us and hardship, or persecution may result. Here is where prayer can move the arm of Omnipotence. Has an all loving God given us a formula for dealing with these otherwise insurmountable difficulties? We are not left to face the trial alone.

“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old.” Isaiah 63:9. Look at His promise and believe.

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he asked for shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he requested.

“Therefore I say unto you, Whatsoever things ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].” Mark 11:24.

“Without faith, [it is] impossible to please Him.” Hebrews 11:6. Where does that kind of faith come from, the kind that moves mountains? From everyday surrender, obedience and prayer, coupled with a knowledge of and a love for God’s Word. It builds a history of exercising faith in God on everyday matters. As we get to know Him and trust Him, we understand Him and how He works. We learn how to align ourselves with His methods. Seeing Him ‘face to face’ we behold Him and grow more like Him. (II Corinthians 3:18.)

“The Lord will teach us our duty just as willingly as He will teach somebody else. 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. And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength. Power for obedience for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised.” The Desire of Ages, 668.

“The strength acquired in prayer to God, united with individual effort in training the mind to thoughtfulness and care-taking, prepares the person for daily duties and keeps the spirit in peace under all circumstances, however trying. The temptations to which we are daily exposed make prayer a necessity. In order that we may be kept by the power of God through faith, the desires of the mind should be continually ascending in silent prayer for help, for light, for strength, for knowledge. But thought and prayer cannot take the place of earnest, faithful improvement of the time. Work and prayer are both required in perfecting Christian character.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 459.

“I asked the angel why there was no more faith and power in Israel. He said, ‘Ye let go of the arm of the Lord too soon. Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by strong faith. The promises are sure. Believe ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them.’ ” Early Writings, 73.

There will be moments when the earnest follower of Jesus Christ will “feel” nearer to the Saviour than on other occasions. “At times a deep sense of our unworthiness will send a thrill of terror through the soul; but this is no evidence that God has changed toward us, or we toward God. No effort should be made to rein the mind up to a certain intensity of emotion. We may not feel today the peace and joy which we felt yesterday; but we should by faith grasp the hand of Christ, and trust Him as fully in the darkness as in the light.” Messages to Young People, 111, 112.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6–7.

There is no escaping the fact we live in perilous times. Satan is working tirelessly to strike terror into the hearts of men. When filled with fear, the mind can become confused, quite irrational, and easily persuaded by whatever control mechanism he wants to employ. The terror stricken heart will then conform to anything that brings relief.

Trusting in the devil’s methods brings a short-lived respite, for the end is sure destruction. While the unbelieving may not think so, Christ’s methods have a guaranteed deliverance. Contrary to the experience of he who knows not God, the faithful believer will have a history of proving the goodness of God in their lives. “The Lord says, ‘Call upon Me in the day of trouble.’ Psalm 50:15. He invites us to present to Him our perplexities and necessities, and our need of divine help. He bids us be instant in prayer. As soon as difficulties arise, we are to offer to Him our sincere, earnest petitions. By our importunate prayers we give evidence of our strong confidence in God. The sense of our need leads us to pray earnestly, and our heavenly Father is moved by our supplications.

“Often those who suffer reproach or persecution for their faith are tempted to think themselves forsaken by God. In the eyes of men they are in the minority. To all appearances their enemies triumph over them. But let them not violate their conscience. He who has suffered in their behalf, and has borne their sorrows and afflictions, has not forsaken them.

“The children of God are not left alone and defenseless. Prayer moves the arm of Omnipotence. Prayer has ‘subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire’—we shall know what it means when we hear the reports of the martyrs who died for their faith—and ‘turneth to flight the armies of the aliens (enemy). Hebrews 11:33, 34.’

“If we surrender our lives to His service, we can never be placed in a position for which God has not made provision.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 172, 173. And “whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” For “the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations.” I John 3:22; II Peter 2:9.

“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165.

On one occasion Christ was talking with His disciples, and remembering that they were not yet acquainted with the limitless resources at His command, “He said to them, ‘Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name.’ John 16:24. He (Jesus) explained that the secret of their success would be in asking for strength and grace in His name. He would be present before the Father to make request for them. The prayer of the humble suppliant He presents as His own desire in that soul’s behalf. 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.

“The path of sincerity and integrity is not a path free from obstruction, but in every difficulty we are to see a call to prayer. There is no one living who has any power that he has not received from God, and the source whence it comes is open to the weakest human being. ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name,’ said Jesus, ‘that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do [it].’” The Desire of Ages, 667.

Is your Savior and dearest Friend any less interested in supplying your needs today as He was when He met every need of His disciples and subsequent followers at the beginning of His church? “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.

Caution—Beware of the Destroyer

In his second epistle to the Corinthian church, Paul encourages the people with counsel to have love and forgiveness toward one another and not to be despondent, “lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” II Corinthians 2:11. The deeper counsel here lies in the words, “we are not ignorant of his devices.” Could it be that, notwithstanding our privilege of Bible revelations, the destroyer may still get an advantage over us? The sad reality is, yes. One of the lies Satan frequently uses is that, we are too great a sinner to be deserving of salvation and God will not accept us. To believe this would drive us to despair and has the potential to cause us to distrust God!

“The one thing essential for us in order that we may receive and impart the forgiving love of God is to know and believe the love that He has to us. I John 4:16. Satan is working by every deception he can command, in order that we may not discern that love. He will lead us to think that our mistakes and transgressions have been so grievous that the Lord will not have respect unto our prayers and will not bless and save us. In ourselves we can see nothing but weakness, nothing to recommend us to God, and Satan tells us that it is of no use; we cannot remedy our defects of character. When we try to come to God, the enemy will whisper, It is of no use for you to pray; did not you do that evil thing? Have you not sinned against God and violated your own conscience? But we may tell the enemy that ‘the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.’ I John 1:7. When we feel that we have sinned and cannot pray, it is then the time to pray. Ashamed we may be and deeply humbled, but we must pray and believe. ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.’ I Timothy 1:15.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 115.

Help, Do Not Hinder—Prayer Unites

“Give the erring one no occasion for discouragement. Suffer not a Pharisaical hardness to come in and hurt your brother. Let no bitter sneer rise in mind or heart. Let no tinge of scorn be manifest in the voice. If you speak a word of your own, if you take an attitude of indifference, or show suspicion or distrust, it may prove the ruin of a soul. He needs a brother with the Elder Brother’s heart of sympathy to touch his heart of humanity. Let him feel the strong clasp of a sympathizing hand, and hear the whisper, Let us pray. God will give a rich experience to you both. Prayer unites us with one another and with God. Prayer brings Jesus to our side, and gives to the fainting, perplexed soul new strength to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. Prayer turns aside the attacks of Satan.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 250.

Conclusion

Why is prayer the soul of religion? What is the soul of a man, but the very heart of his being, the part that is his true person or character. Just as the character reflects the soul of the man, so our prayer will tell us something of the vitality of our religion and the capacity of our connection with God.

So we have seen that earnest and sincere prayer will reach the ear of the Father, but, “if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear [me],” Psalm 66:18; yet, what a blessing when He has not turned away from hearing my prayer, nor closed off His mercy. (Psalm 66:19, 20.)

“Again, he speaks of some who ‘have not cried unto Me with their heart.’ [Hosea 7:14.] Such petitions are prayers of form, lip service only, which the Lord does not accept.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 533, 534.

“There is need of prayer,—most earnest, fervent, agonizing prayer,—such prayer as David offered when he exclaimed: ‘As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.’ ‘I have longed after Thy precepts;’ ‘I have longed for Thy salvation.’ ‘My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.’ ‘My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thy judgments.’ This is the spirit of wrestling prayer, such as was possessed by the royal psalmist. [Psalm 42:1; 119:40; 119:174; 84:2; 119:20.]” Testimonies, vol. 4, 534.

May the Father bless as your prayer life takes on a deeper, more earnest hungering and thirsting for the well-spring of life, the true indwelling of the Son of God.

Jeremiah Kayne works in the tertiary educational sector in Australia. He is a lay preacher and for the past 15 years, he and his wife have been operating a ministry sending Bibles, Bible studies, and literature to mission fields throughout the world.

Keys to the Storehouse – Personalizing God’s Word

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What do I say to the Lord? How do I talk to Him? Would you like to sit in His presence where you will find fullness of joy? Come, let us “talk” with our Lord. Let us transform the word of God into personalized prayers which will draw our hearts heavenward and which will cause us to sit in heavenly places.

Do you really want to know what God’s will is for you so that you may walk worthy of Him? Then let’s look at one of the many “keys” in God’s word that will cause your heart to plead for such a knowledge with such heart yearning, that the Holy Spirit will carry it heavenward and you will receive the thing you ask for if it truly is your heart’s desire and your heart is in unison with the Father’s will. This key is very appropriate to use when you come to spend time with Him in His word.

Open the word of God to Colossians 1:9–11. Read these three verses as they are in your Bible. My KJV reads: “For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”

Beginning at the word desire, add I and personalize these verses:

Father in heaven, I desire to be filled with the knowledge of Thy will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that I may walk worthy of Thee unto all pleasing; being fruitful in every good work and increasing in a knowledge of Thee. It is my desire to be strengthened with all might according to Thy glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.

“How complete this prayer is! There is no limit to the blessings that it is our privilege to receive. We may be ‘filled with the knowledge of his will.’ The Holy Ghost would never have inspired Paul to offer this prayer in behalf of his brethren, if it had not been possible for them to receive an answer from God in accordance with the request. Since this is so, we know that God’s will is manifested to His people as they need a clearer understanding of His will.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 906.

What did you just pray for? Is this the desire of your heart? Do you delight yourself in the Lord? If this is so, turn to Psalm 37:4 and claim that most wonderful promise. My KJV version reads: “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” What a promise! Send up a prayer right now claiming that promise:

Oh Lord, I do delight myself in Thee and You have promised to give me the desires of my heart if I delight myself in Thee. I know that it is Thy will that I be filled with a knowledge of Thy will that I may walk worthy of Thee unto all pleasing and be fruitful in every good work. Lord, I want to be strengthened with all might unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. I claim this promise right now that you will give me the desires of my heart because I delight myself in Thee and this is my heart’s desire.

Turn the words of God into your prayer, your “key to the storehouse,” and then claim the promise found in Psalm 37:4. Just remember that if you truly delight thyself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart because your heart is pleading to be one with His. May God bless you tremendously as you use this “key.”

Bible Study Guides – Determined Faith and Deliverance

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November 1, 2009 – November 7, 2009

Key Text

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” Daniel 6:10.

Study Help: Prophets and Kings, 539–548; The Sanctified Life, 42–45.

Introduction

“In all cases where the king had a right to command, Daniel would obey; but neither the king nor his decree could make him swerve from allegiance to the King of kings.” Prophets and Kings, 542.

1 What actions did Darius the Median take when he reorganized the Babylonian government? Daniel 6:1–3. In what sense did this arrangement meet the purposes of God?

Note: “In the midst of a nation of idolaters, Daniel was to represent the character of God. How did he become fitted for a position of so great trust and honor? It was his faithfulness in the little things that gave complexion to his whole life. He honored God in the smallest duties, and the Lord cooperated with him.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 356.

2 In view of Daniel’s position and influence, what strategy did Satan employ? Daniel 6:4.

Note: “The accusing host of evil angels stirred up the presidents and princes to envy and jealousy, and they watched Daniel closely to find some occasion against him that they might report him to the king; but they failed. Then these agents of Satan sought to make his faithfulness to God the cause of his destruction. Evil angels laid out the plan for them, and these agents readily carried it into effect.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 295.

“What a lesson is here presented for all Christians. The keen eyes of jealousy were fixed upon Daniel day after day; their watchings were sharpened by hatred; yet not a word or act of his life could they make appear wrong. And still he made no claim to sanctification, but he did that which was infinitely better—he lived a life of faithfulness and consecration.” The Sanctified Life, 42.

3 What does this experience teach us about Daniel? Daniel 6:5.

Note: “The secret of Daniel’s strength was found in his conscientious attention to what the world would call things of minor importance. He was found before God three times a day in prayer and thanksgiving, and he was equally steadfast in his attention to his duties to the king. It is this conscientious attention to what the world despises that makes a strong, symmetrical character.” The Signs of the Times, May 25, 1891.

“Daniel was sorely tried; but he overcame because he was of a humble and prayerful spirit. Although he was surrounded with distrust and suspicion, and his enemies laid a snare for his life, yet he maintained a serene and cheerful trust in God, never once deviating from principle. Although Daniel was a man of like passions with ourselves, the pen of inspiration presents him as a faultless character. His life is given us as a bright example of what man may become, even in this life, if he will make God his strength, and wisely improve the privileges and opportunities within his reach.” Ibid., November 4, 1886.

4 How was Darius misled by the evil men? Daniel 6:6–9.

Note: “A large number of the princes and nobles were in the secret, but the king was kept in ignorance of their purpose. …

“The king’s vanity was flattered. Not for a moment did he think that Daniel, his beloved and honored servant, would in any way be affected by the law. He signed the decree, and with it in their possession, the presidents and princes went forth from his presence, evil triumph depicted on their countenances.” The Youth’s Instructor, November 1, 1900.

5 What was Daniel’s best course of action? Daniel 6:10.

Note: “Some may ask, Why did not Daniel lift his soul to God in secret prayer? Would not the Lord, knowing the situation, have excused His servant from kneeling openly before him? Or why did he not kneel before God in some secret place, where his enemies could not see him?

“Daniel knew that the God of Israel must be honored before the Babylonian nation. He knew that neither kings nor nobles had any right to come between him and his duty to his God. He must bravely maintain his religious principles before all men; for he was God’s witness. Therefore he prayed as was his wont, as if no decree had been made.” The Youth’s Instructor, November 1, 1900.

6 How are we enjoined to imitate Daniel’s practice? Luke 18:1.

Note: “The prayer of faith is the great strength of the Christian and will assuredly prevail against Satan. This is why he insinuates that we have no need of prayer. The name of Jesus, our Advocate, he detests; and when we earnestly come to Him for help, Satan’s host is alarmed. It serves his purpose well if we neglect the exercise of prayer, for then his lying wonders are more readily received.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 296.

7 How did Daniel’s enemies quickly try to capitalize on his fidelity to God? Daniel 6:11–14. What did the king realize?

Note: “Eagerly they [the presidents and princes] hastened to Darius, concealing their cruel joy under a cloak of regret that they were obliged to inform against Daniel.” The Youth’s Instructor, November 1, 1900.

“When the monarch heard these words, he saw at once the snare that had been set for his faithful servant. He saw that it was not zeal for kingly glory and honor, but jealousy against Daniel, that had led to the proposal for a royal decree.” Prophets and Kings, 543.

8 What did God allow His servant to undergo and why? Daniel 6:15–20. Describe the contrast between the king and his princes?

Note: “Daniel was brought before the king and his princes to answer the accusation brought against him. He had opportunity to speak for himself, and he boldly acknowledged his belief in the living God, the maker of heaven and earth. He made a noble confession of faith, relating his experience from his first connection with the kingdom. …

“Full of satanic exultation, Daniel’s enemies returned to their homes. They drank freely of wine, and congratulated themselves on their success in putting out of the way one whom they could not bribe to forsake the path of integrity.

“Not so did Darius pass the night. Daniel’s testimony had made a deep impression on his mind. He had some knowledge of the dealing of God with the people of Israel, and Daniel’s conduct sent home to his heart the conviction, that the God of the Hebrews was the true God. He was filled with remorse for having signed the decree brought to him. His conscience was awakened, and he passed a sleepless and troubled night. The chamber of royalty was one of sorrow and prayer. All music was hushed. All amusements were laid aside. No comforters were admitted.” The Youth’s Instructor, November 1, 1900.

9 How does Daniel’s deliverance encourage us now? Daniel 6:21–24.

Note: “Nothing is gained by cowardice or by fearing to let it be known that we are God’s commandment-keeping people. Hiding our light, as if ashamed of our faith, will result only in disaster. God will leave us to our own weakness. May the Lord forbid that we should refuse to let our light shine forth in any place to which He may call us. If we venture to go forth of ourselves, following our own ideas, our own plans, and leave Jesus behind, we need not expect to gain fortitude, courage, or spiritual strength. God has had moral heroes, and He has them now—those who are not ashamed of being His peculiar people. Their wills and plans are all subordinate to the law of God. The love of Jesus has led them not to count their lives dear unto themselves. Their work has been to catch the light from the word of God and to let it shine forth in clear, steady rays to the world. ‘Fidelity to God’ is their motto.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 527, 528.

10 Name several lessons to be learned from this history. Daniel 6:25–28.

Note: “When Daniel was cast into the den of lions because of his fidelity to God, the Lord sent His angel to deliver him; and He will deliver us if we put our trust in Him and obey Him. Heaven is very much nearer to us than we think. When we place ourselves in the right relation to God, angels of heaven are beside us. We are to hide in Jesus, and he that touches you, he that harms or distresses you, touches Christ; for Christ identifies His interest with that of His people. Christ suffers in the person of His saints. We must remember that the God of Daniel is our God, and that we can be faithful under all circumstances. We can go to Him in confidence, and through His grace preserve our integrity.” The Bible Echo, January 15, 1893.

“All who really desire it can find a place for communion with God, where no ear can hear but the one open to the cries of the helpless, distressed, and needy—the One who notices even the fall of the little sparrow. He says, ‘Ye are of more value than many sparrows.’ Matthew 10:31.” Counsels on Health, 423, 424.

Additional Reading

“True success in any line of work is not the result of chance or accident or destiny. It is the outworking of God’s providences, the reward of faith and discretion, of virtue and perseverance. Fine mental qualities and a high moral tone are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them.

“While God was working in Daniel and his companions ‘to will and to do of His good pleasure,’ they were working out their own salvation. Philippians 2:13. Herein is revealed the outworking of the divine principle of co-operation, without which no true success can be attained. Human effort avails nothing without divine power; and without human endeavor, divine effort is with many of no avail. To make God’s grace our own, we must act our part. His grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort.

“As the Lord co-operated with Daniel and his fellows, so He will co-operate with all who strive to do His will. And by the impartation of His Spirit He will strengthen every true purpose, every noble resolution. Those who walk in the path of obedience will encounter many hindrances. Strong, subtle influences may bind them to the world; but the Lord is able to render futile every agency that works for the defeat of His chosen ones; in His strength they may overcome every temptation, conquer every difficulty.

“God brought Daniel and his associates into connection with the great men of Babylon, that in the midst of a nation of idolaters they might represent His character. How did they become fitted for a position of so great trust and honor? It was faithfulness in little things that gave complexion to their whole life. They honored God in the smallest duties, as well as in the larger responsibilities.

“As God called Daniel to witness for Him in Babylon, so He calls us to be His witnesses in the world today. In the smallest as well as the largest affairs of life, He desires us to reveal to men the principles of His kingdom. Many are waiting for some great work to be brought to them, while daily they lose opportunities for revealing faithfulness to God. Daily they fail of discharging with wholeheartedness the little duties of life. While they wait for some large work in which they may exercise supposedly great talents, and thus satisfy their ambitious longings, their days pass away.

“In the life of the true Christian there are no nonessentials; in the sight of Omnipotence every duty is important. The Lord measures with exactness every possibility for service. The unused capabilities are just as much brought into account as those that are used. We shall be judged by what we ought to have done, but did not accomplish because we did not use our powers to glorify God.

“A noble character is not the result of accident; it is not due to special favors or endowments of Providence. It is the result of self-discipline, of subjection of the lower to the higher nature, of the surrender of self to the service of God and man.” Prophets and Kings, 486–488.

©2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted with permission.