The Benefits of Intercessory Prayer
Is
there anything we can do that the hearts of the hearers of truth will be
sanctified?
"God’s Man With God’s Message—God always has men to whom He entrusts His message. His Spirit moves upon their hearts, and constrains them to speak. Stimulated by holy zeal, and with the divine impulse strong upon them, they enter upon the performance of their duty without coldly calculating the consequences of speaking to the people the word which the Lord has given them. But the servant of God is soon made aware that he has risked something. He finds himself and his message made the subject of criticism. His manners, his life, his property are all inspected and commented upon. His message is picked to pieces and rejected in the most illiberal and unsanctified spirit, as men in their finite judgment see fit. Has that message done the work God designed it should accomplish? No; it has signally failed, because the hearts of the hearers were unsanctified. {2BC 1034.2}
Chapter 24—Intercessory
Prayer
Pray for Others—Let us strive to walk in the light as Christ is in the light. The Lord turned the
captivity of Job when he prayed, not only for himself, but for those who were
opposing him. When he felt earnestly desirous that the souls that had trespassed
against him might be helped, he himself received help. Let us pray, not only for ourselves, but for those who have hurt
us, and are continuing to hurt us. Pray, pray, especially in your mind. Give
not the Lord rest; for His ears are open to hear sincere, importunate prayers,
when the soul is humbled before Him.—(The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 3:1141.) {Pr 244.1}
You are to be the agent through whom God will speak to the soul.
Precious things will be brought to your remembrance, and with a heart
overflowing with the love of Jesus, you will speak words of vital interest and
import. Your simplicity and sincerity will be the highest eloquence, and your
words will be registered in the books of heaven as fit words, which are like
apples of gold in pictures of silver. God will make them a healing flood of
heavenly influence, awakening conviction and desire, and Jesus will add His
intercession to your prayers, and claim for the sinner the gift of the Holy Spirit, and pour
it upon his soul. And there will be joy
in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.—(Sons and Daughters of God, 274.) {Pr 244.2}
There are those all
around you who have woes, who need words of
sympathy, love, and tenderness, and our humble, pitying prayers.—(Testimonies for the
Church 3:530.) {Pr 245.1}
In calling God our Father, we recognize all His children as our
brethren. We are all a part of the great web of humanity, all members of one
family. In our petitions we are to include our neighbors as well as ourselves. No one prays aright
who seeks a blessing for himself alone.—(Sons and Daughters of God, 267.) {Pr 245.2}
As we seek to win others to Christ, bearing the burden of souls
in our prayers, our own hearts will throb with the quickening influence of
God’s grace; our own affections will glow with more divine fervor; our whole
Christian life will be more of a reality, more earnest, more prayerful.—(Christ’s Object Lessons,
354). {Pr 245.3}
There are souls who have lost their courage; speak to them, pray
for them. There are those who need the bread of life. Read to them from the
Word of God. There is a soul sickness no balm can reach, no medicine heal. Pray
for these, and bring them to Jesus Christ. And in all your work Christ will be
present to make impressions upon human hearts.—(Welfare
Ministry, 71.) {Pr 245.4}
Let those who are spiritual converse with these souls. Pray with
and for them. Let much time be spent in prayer and close searching of the word.
Let all obtain the real facts of faith in their own souls through belief that
the Holy Spirit will be imparted to them because they have a real hungering and
thirsting after righteousness.—(Testimonies for the
Church 6:65). {Pr 245.5}
When self dies, there will be awakened an intense desire for the
salvation of others,—a desire which will lead to persevering efforts to do good. There will be a sowing beside all waters; and earnest
supplication, importunate prayers, will enter heaven in behalf of perishing
souls.—(Gospel Workers, 470). {Pr 246.1}
Oh, that the earnest prayer of faith may arise everywhere, Give me
souls buried now in the rubbish of error, or I die! Bring them to the knowledge
of the truth as it is in Jesus.—(This Day With God, 171). {Pr 246.2}
Begin to pray for souls; come near to Christ, close to His
bleeding side. Let a meek and quiet spirit adorn your lives, and let your
earnest, broken, humble petitions ascend to Him for wisdom that you may have
success in saving not only your own soul, but the souls of others.—(Testimonies for the Church 1:513.){Pr 246.3}
There are many from whom hope has departed. Bring back the
sunshine to them. Many have lost their courage. Speak to them words of cheer.
Pray for them.—(Prophets and Kings, 719.) {Pr 246.4}
Souls are to be sought for, prayed for, labored
for. Earnest appeals are to be made. Fervent prayers are to be offered. Our
tame, spiritless petitions are to be changed into petitions of intense
earnestness.—(Testimonies for the Church 7:12). {Pr 246.5}
This work requires you to watch for souls as they that must give
an account. The tenderness of Christ must pervade the heart of the worker. If
you have a love for souls you will reveal a tender solicitude for them. You
will offer humble, earnest, heartfelt prayers for those whom you visit. The
fragrance of Christ’s love will be revealed in your work. He who gave His own
life for the life of the world will co-operate with the unselfish worker to
make an impression upon human hearts.—(Testimonies for the
Church 6:75, 76.) {Pr 246.6}
Let us work upon this plan, and pray for one another, bringing one
another right into the presence of God by living faith.—(The Review and Herald, August 28, 1888.) {Pr 247.1}
Pray for Blessings in Order to Bless Others—Our prayers are not to be a selfish asking, merely for our own
benefit. We are to ask that we may give. The principle of
Christ’s life must be the principle of our lives. “For their sakes,” He said,
speaking of His disciples, “I sanctify Myself, that
they also might be sanctified.” John 17:19. The same devotion, the same self-sacrifice, the same subjection
to the claims of the word of God, that were manifest in Christ, must be seen in
His servants. Our mission to the world is not to serve or please ourselves; we
are to glorify God by co-operating with Him to save sinners. We are to ask
blessings from God that we may communicate to others. The capacity for
receiving is preserved only by imparting. We cannot continue to receive
heavenly treasure without communicating to those around us.—(Christ’s Object Lessons, 142, 143.) {Pr 247.2}
When we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we ask for
others as well as ourselves. And we acknowledge that what God gives us is not
for ourselves alone. God gives to us in
trust, that we may feed the hungry.—(Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 111, 112.) {Pr 247.3}
Intercede for Others in Private Prayer—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. A common meeting
to worship God is not the place to open the privacies of the heart.—(Testimonies for the Church 2:578.) {Pr 247.4}
Pray for Those Who Preach and Minister—Among God’s people there should be at this time frequent seasons
of sincere, earnest prayer. The mind should be
constantly in a prayerful attitude. In the home and in the
church let earnest prayers be offered in behalf of those who have given
themselves to the preaching of the Word.—(In Heavenly Places, 87.) {Pr 247.5}
As young men go forth to preach the truth, you should have seasons
of prayer for them. Pray that God will connect them with Himself and give them
wisdom, grace, and knowledge. Pray that they may be guarded from the snares of
Satan and kept pure in thought and holy in heart. I entreat you who fear the
Lord to waste no time in unprofitable talk or in needless labor to gratify
pride or to indulge the appetite. Let the time thus gained be spent in
wrestling with God for your ministers. Hold up their hands as did Aaron and Hur the hands of Moses.—(Testimonies
for the Church 5:162.) {Pr 248.1}
Pray for the Youth of the Church—Let
those older in experience watch over the younger ones; and when they see them
tempted, take them aside, and pray with them and for them.—(Messages to Young People, 18). {Pr 248.2}
Sabbath School Teachers Pray for Your Class Members—As workers for God we want more of Jesus
and less of self. We should have more of a burden for souls, and should pray
daily that strength and wisdom may be given us for the Sabbath. Teachers, meet
with your classes. Pray with them, and teach them how to pray. Let the heart be
softened, and the petitions short and simple, but earnest.—(Counsels on Sabbath School Work, 125.) {Pr 248.3}
Students to Pray for Teachers—Students
should have their own seasons of prayer, where they may offer fervent, simple
petitions that God shall bless the president of the school with physical
strength, mental clearness, moral power, and spiritual discernment, and that
every teacher shall be qualified by the grace of God to do His work.—(Fundamentals of Christian Education, 293.) {Pr 248.4}
Pray for Fellow Christians—Too often we forget that our fellow laborers are in need of
strength and cheer. In times of special perplexity and burden, take care to
assure them of your interest and sympathy. While you try to help them by your
prayers, let them know that you do it. Send along the line God’s message to His
workers: “Be strong and of a good courage.” Joshua
1:6.—(Testimonies for the
Church 7:185.) {Pr 249.1}
Parents to Pray for Their Children—God has promised to give wisdom to those that ask in faith, and
He will do just as He said He would. He is pleased with the faith that takes
Him at His word. The mother of Augustine prayed for her son’s conversion. She
saw no evidence that the Spirit of God was impressing
his heart, but she was not discouraged. She laid her finger upon the texts,
presenting before God His own words, and pleaded as only a mother can. Her deep
humiliation, her earnest importunities, her unwavering faith, prevailed, and
the Lord gave her the desire of her heart. Today He is just as ready to listen
to the petitions of His people. “His hand is not shortened that it cannot save,
neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear;” and if Christian parents seek Him
earnestly, He will fill their mouths with arguments, and, for His name’s sake,
will work mightily in their behalf in the conversion of their children.—(Testimonies for the Church 5:322, 323.) {Pr 249.2}
We should pray to God much more than we do. There is great
strength and blessing in praying together in our families, with and for our
children.—(Child Guidance, 525.) {Pr 249.3}
Let Christ find you His helping hand to carry out His purposes. By
prayer you may gain an experience that will make your ministry for your
children a perfect success.—(Child Guidance, 69.) {Pr 249.4}
You did not consider hard labor a burden if the way would only
open that you might care for your children and shield them from the iniquity
prevailing in this age of the world. It was the burden of your heart that
you might see them turning to the Lord. You pleaded before God for your
children with strong cries and tears. Their conversion you so much desired.
Sometimes your heart would despond and faint, and you would fear that your
prayers would not be answered; then again you would consecrate your children to
God afresh, and your yearning heart would lay them anew upon the altar. {Pr 249.5}
When they went into the army, your prayers followed them. They
were wonderfully preserved from harm. They called it good luck; but a mother’s
prayers from an anxious, burdened soul, as she felt the peril of her children
and the danger of their being cut off in their youth without hope in God, had
much to do with their preservation. How many prayers were lodged in heaven that
these sons might be preserved to obey God, to devote their lives to His glory!
In your anxiety for your children you pleaded with God to return them to you
again, and you would seek more earnestly to lead them in the path of
holiness.—(Testimonies for the Church 2:274, 275.) {Pr 250.1}
He [God] will not refuse to hear the parents’ earnest prayer, that
is seconded by persevering labor, that their children may be blessed of Him,
and become faithful workers in His cause. When parents do their duty in God’s
appointed way, they may be sure that their requests for His help in their home
work will be granted.—(The Signs of the Times,
May 4, 1888.) {Pr 250.2}
Watch continually to cut off the current and roll back the weight
of evil Satan is pressing in upon your children. The children cannot do this of
themselves. Parents can do much. By earnest prayer and living faith, great
victories will be gained.—(Spiritual Gifts 4b, 139.) {Pr 250.3}
To do her work as it should be done requires talent and skill and
patient, thoughtful care. It calls for self-distrust and earnest prayer. Let
every mother strive by persevering effort to fulfill her obligations. Let
her bring her little ones to Jesus in the arms of faith, telling Him her great
need, and asking for wisdom and grace.—(Counsels to Parents,
Teachers, and Students, 128.) {Pr 250.4}
Painstaking effort, prayer and faith, when united with a correct
example, will not be fruitless. Bring your children to God in faith, and seek
to impress their susceptible minds with a sense of their obligations to their
heavenly Father.—(Temperance, 157, 158.) {Pr 251.1}
Do not expect a change to be wrought in your children without
patient, earnest labor, mingled with fervent prayer. To study and understand
their varied characters, and day by day to mould them after the divine Model,
is a work demanding great diligence and perseverance, and much prayer, with an
abiding faith in God’s promises.—(The Signs of the Times,
May 4, 1888.) {Pr 251.2}
Even the babe in its mother’s arms may dwell
as under the shadow of the Almighty through the faith of the praying mother.—(The Desire of Ages, 512.) {Pr 251.3}
Fathers and mothers, will you not lay hold
of your work with energy, perseverance, and love? Sow
the precious seed daily, with earnest prayer that God will water it with the
dews of grace, and grant you an abundant harvest. The Son of God died to redeem
a sinful, rebellious race. Shall we shrink from any toil or sacrifice to save
our own dear children?—(The Signs of the Times,
November 24, 1881.) {Pr 251.4}
After you have done your duty faithfully to your children, then
carry them to God and ask Him to help you. Tell Him that you have done your part,
and then in faith ask God to do His part, that which you cannot do.—(Child Guidance, 256.){Pr 251.5}
Chapter 25—Angels
and Prayer
Angels Record Every Sincere Prayer—We should now acquaint ourselves with
God by proving His promises. Angels record every prayer that is earnest and
sincere. We should rather dispense with selfish gratifications than neglect
communion with God. The deepest poverty, the greatest self-denial, with His
approval, is better than riches, honors, ease, and friendship without it. We must
take time to pray. (The Great
Controversy, 622.) {Pr 252.1}
Let the recording angels write the history of the holy struggles
and conflicts of the people of God, let them record their prayers and tears;
but let not God be dishonored by the proclamation from human lips, declaring,
“I am sinless. I am holy.” Sanctified lips will never give utterance to such
presumptuous words.—(The Signs of the Times,
May 23, 1895.) {Pr 252.2}
Angels Can Hear Our Prayers—Could men see with heavenly vision, they would behold
companies of angels that excel in strength stationed about those who have kept
the word of Christ’s patience. With sympathizing tenderness, angels have
witnessed their distress and have heard their prayers.—(The Great Controversy, 630.) {Pr 252.3}
Angels Bear Our Prayers
to Heaven—A well-disciplined
family, who love and obey God, will be cheerful and happy. The father when he
returns from his daily labor, will not bring his
perplexities to his home. He will feel that home, and the family circle, are
too sacred to be marred with unhappy perplexities.
When he left his home, he did not leave his Saviour and his religion behind.
Both were his companions. The sweet influence of his home, the blessing of his
wife, and the love of his children, make his burdens light; and he returns with
peace in his heart, and cheerful, encouraging words for his wife and children,
who are waiting joyfully to welcome his coming. As he bows with his family at
the altar of prayer to offer up his grateful thanks to God for His preserving
care of himself and loved ones through the day, angels of God hover in the
room, and bear the fervent prayers of God-fearing parents to heaven, as sweet
incense, which are answered by returning blessings.—(Selected Messages 2:439, 440.) {Pr 253.1}
Angels hear the offering of praise and the prayer of faith, and
they bear the petitions to Him who ministers in the sanctuary for His people,
and pleads His merits in their behalf. True prayer takes hold upon Omnipotence,
and gives men the victory. Upon his knees the Christian obtains strength to
resist temptation.—(The Review and Herald,
February 1, 1912.) {Pr 253.2}
God does not leave His erring children who are weak in faith, and
who make many mistakes. The Lord hearkens and hears their prayer and their
testimony. Those who look unto Jesus day by day and hour by hour, who watch
unto prayer, are drawing nigh to Jesus. Angels with wings
outspread wait to bear their contrite prayers to God, and to register them in
the books of heaven.—(The S.D.A. Bible Commentary
4:1184.) {Pr 253.3}
Angels Wait to Respond to Our Prayers—Often in the care of the suffering, much attention is given to
minor matters, while the patients’ need of the great all-saving truths of the gospel,
which would minister to both soul and body, is forgotten. When you neglect
to offer prayer for the sick, you deprive them of great blessings; for angels
of God are waiting to minister to these souls in response to your petitions.—(Medical Ministry, 195.) {Pr 253.4}
Before leaving the house for labor, all the family should be
called together; and the father, or the mother in the father’s absence, should
plead fervently with God to keep them through the day. Come in humility, with a
heart full of tenderness, and with a sense of the temptations and dangers
before yourselves and your children; by faith bind them upon the altar,
entreating for them the care of the Lord. Ministering angels will guard
children who are thus dedicated to God.—(Child Guidance, 519.) {Pr 254.1}
Specific Angels Are Appointed to Answer Prayers—Heavenly beings are appointed to answer the prayers of those who
are working unselfishly for the interests of the cause of God. The very highest
angels in the heavenly courts are appointed to work out the prayers which
ascend to God for the advancement of the cause of God. Each angel has his
particular post of duty, which he is not permitted to leave for any other
place. If he should leave, the powers of darkness would gain an advantage.... {Pr 254.2}
Day by day the conflict between good and evil is going on. Why is
it that those who have had many opportunities and advantages do not realize the
intensity of this work? They should be intelligent in regard to this. God is
the Ruler. By His supreme power He holds in check and controls earthly
potentates. Through His agencies He does the work which was ordained before the
foundation of the world. {Pr 254.3}
As a people we do not understand as we should the great conflict
going on between invisible agencies, the controversy between loyal and disloyal
angels. Evil angels are constantly at work, planning their line of attack,
controlling as commanders, kings, and rulers, the disloyal human forces.... I
call upon the ministers of Christ to press home upon the understanding of all
who come within the reach of their voice, the truth of the ministration of
angels. Do not indulge in fanciful speculations. The written Word is our
only safety. We must pray as did Daniel, that we may be guarded by heavenly
intelligences. As ministering spirits angels are sent forth to minister to
those who shall be heirs of salvation. Pray, my brethren, pray as you have
never prayed before. We are not prepared for the Lord’s coming. We need to make
thorough work for eternity.—(The S.D.A. Bible
Commentary 4:1173.) {Pr 254.4}
God has appointed the angels that do His will to respond to the
prayers of the meek of the earth, and to guide His ministers with counsel and
judgment. Heavenly agencies are constantly seeking to impart grace and strength
and counsel to God’s faithful children, that they may act their part in the
work of communicating light to the world.—(Testimonies
to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 484.) {Pr 255.1}
Ministering angels are waiting about the throne to instantly obey
the mandate of Jesus Christ to answer every prayer offered in earnest, living
faith.—(Selected Messages 2:377.) {Pr 255.2}
Oh, that we could all realize the nearness of heaven to earth!
When the earthborn children know it not, they have the angels of light as their
companions; for the heavenly messengers are sent forth to minister to those who
shall be heirs of salvation. A silent witness guards every soul that lives,
seeking to win and draw him to Christ. The angels never leave the tempted one a
prey to the enemy who would destroy the souls of men if permitted to do so. As
long as there is hope, until they resist the Holy Spirit to their eternal ruin,
men are guarded by heavenly intelligences. {Pr
255.3}
Oh, that all could behold our precious Saviour as He is, a
Saviour. Let His hand draw aside the veil which conceals His glory from our
eyes. It shows Him in His high and holy place. What do we see? Our Saviour, not in a position of silence and inactivity. He
is surrounded with heavenly intelligences, cherubim, and seraphim, ten thousand
times ten thousand of angels. All these heavenly beings have one object above
all others, in which they are intensely interested—His church in a world of
corruption.... They are working for Christ under His commission, to save
to the uttermost all who look to Him and believe in
Him. {Pr 255.4}
Heavenly angels are commissioned to watch the sheep of Christ’s
pasture. When Satan with his deceptive snares would deceive if possible the
very elect, these angels set in operation influences that will save the tempted
souls if they will take heed to the Word of the Lord, realize their danger, and
say, “No, I will not enter into that scheme of Satan. I have an Elder Brother
on the throne in heaven, who has shown that He has a
tender interest in me, and I will not grieve His heart of love.” {Pr 256.1}
Living amid these opposing forces, we may through the exercise of
faith and prayer, call to our side a retinue of heavenly angels, who will guard
us from every corrupting influence.—(Our High Calling, 23.) {Pr 256.2}
Angels Mark Our Prayers and Provide Help—When you rise in the morning, do you
feel your helplessness, and your need of strength from God? and
do you humbly, heartily make known your wants to your heavenly Father? If so,
angels mark your prayers, and if these prayers have not gone forth out of feigned
lips, when you are in danger of unconsciously doing wrong, and exerting an
influence which will lead others to do wrong, your guardian angel will be by
your side, prompting you to a better course, choosing your words for you, and
influencing your actions. {Pr 256.3}
If you feel in no danger, and if you offer no prayer for help and
strength to resist temptations, you will be sure to go astray; your neglect of
duty will be marked in the book of God in heaven, and you will be found wanting
in the trying day.—(Messages to Young People,
90.) {Pr 256.4}
God Sends Reinforcements of Angels to Our Aid in Answer to Prayer—If Satan sees that he is in danger of losing one soul, he will
exert himself to the utmost to keep that one. And when the individual is aroused
to his danger, and, with distress and fervor, looks to Jesus for strength,
Satan fears that he will lose a captive, and he calls a reinforcement of his
angels to hedge in the poor soul, and form a wall of darkness around him, that
heaven’s light may not reach him. But if the one in danger perseveres, and in
his helplessnesscasts himself upon the merits of the
blood of Christ, our Saviour listens to the earnest prayer of faith, and sends
a reinforcement of those angels that excel in strength to deliver him. Satan
cannot endure to have his powerful rival appealed to, for he fears and trembles
before His strength and majesty. At the sound of fervent prayer, Satan’s whole
host trembles. He continues to call legions of evil angels to accomplish his
object. And when angels, all-powerful, clothed with the armory of heaven, come
to the help of the fainting, pursued soul, Satan and his host fall back, well
knowing that their battle is lost. The willing subjects of Satan are faithful,
active, and united in one object. And although they hate and war with one
another, yet they improve every opportunity to advance their common interest.
But the great Commander in heaven and earth has limited Satan’s power. (Testimonies for the Church 1:345, 346.) {Pr 256.5}
The guardianship of the heavenly host is granted to all who will
work in God’s ways and follow His plans. We may in earnest, contrite prayer
call the heavenly helpers to our side. Invisible armies of light and power will
work with the humble, meek, and lowly one.—(Selected
Messages 1:97.) {Pr 257.1}
I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with
God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of
their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their
countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and
then their faces would light up with the marks of God’s approbation, and again
the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them. {Pr 257.2}
Evil angels crowded around, pressing darkness upon them to shut
out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be drawn to the darkness that
surrounded them, and thus they be led to distrust God and murmur against Him.
Their only safety was in keeping their eyes directed upward. Angels of God had
charge over His people, and as the poisonous atmosphere of evil angels was
pressed around these anxious ones, the heavenly angels were continually wafting
their wings over them to scatter the thick darkness. {Pr 257.3}
As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, at times a ray
of light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their hearts and light up their
countenances. Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and
pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the
darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God
left these and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones. I saw angels of
God hasten to the assistance of all who were struggling with all their power to
resist the evil angels and trying to help themselves
by calling upon God with perseverance. But His angels left those who made no
effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them.—(Early Writings, 269, 270.) {Pr 258.1}
Long Prayers Weary the Angels—Long, prosy talks and prayers are out of place anywhere, and
especially in the social meeting. They weary the angels as well as the people
who listen to them. Our prayers should be short, and right to the point.—(The Review and Herald, October 10, 1882.) {Pr 258.2}
Angels Will Teach Us How to Pray—Church
members, young and old, should be educated to go forth to proclaim this last
message to the world. If they go in humility, angels of God will go with them,
teaching them how to lift up the voice in prayer, how to raise the voice in
song, and how to proclaim the gospel message for this time.—(Messages to Young People, 217.) {Pr 258.3}
Angels Surprised That Humans Pray So Little—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.—(Steps to Christ, 94.) {Pr 258.4}