Amen, Mimi!! That is precisely why Jesus speaks to us today in the manner He has. We do not realize our condition as a people. It applies to someone else. We do not take it to heart and see if the application applies to us. Prayer will surely help, if our prayer is for God to show us our sins.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psams 139:23, 24. Forgotten verses.
Discussion Questions: What other reasons can you give for the importance of prayer, especially as we seek revival and reformation?
I want to address this with the request to discuss in Sabbath School how the "great controversy" is being manifested in your church. Remembering what the controversy is between Christ and Satan, can you see it being played out in your church....in the world church? In last week's lesson I quoted Ellen White.
"I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans applies to God's people at the present time, and the reason it has not accomplished a greater work is because of the hardness of their hearts. But God has given the message time to do its work. The heart must be purified from sins which have so long shut out Jesus."
Put these three subjects together and we will see the importance of prayer when there is the call for revival and reformation in the church.
"The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried forward for nearly six thousand years, is soon to close; and the wicked one redoubles his efforts to defeat the work of Christ in man's behalf and to fasten souls in his snares. To hold the people in darkness and impenitence till the Saviour's mediation is ended, and there is no longer a sacrifice for sin, is the object which he seeks to accomplish. When there is no special effort made to resist his power, when indifference prevails in the church and the world, Satan is not concerned; for he is in no danger of losing those whom he is leading captive at his will. But when the attention is called to eternal things, and souls are inquiring, "What must I do to be saved?" he is on the ground, seeking to match his power against the power of Christ and to counteract the influence of the Holy Spirit."DD 5. Yes, we need prayer that we might awaken to our danger and flee to Christ.
Are those in your church seeking what they must do to be saved? Many have not the slightest concern about doing anything to be saved, for they are being taught that Christ did it all, that they have nothing to do. They believe they are rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing. Yes, prayer for ourselves and for our church is so very important.
Lastly, tomorrow in Sabbath School remember to share the prayer of Daniel that Al brought to our attention in Daniel 9:4-19, the man with whom none could find fault, the man who because of his faithfulness to God was willing to be fed to the lions. Daniel was in captivity and prayed for Israel to be delivered, he knew the 70 years was about up. Judah was surely Laodicean and God had used Babylon to chastise them. Daniel pleaded for the honor of God to be preserved. In his petition he identified himself fully with those who had fallen short of the divine purpose, confessing their sins as his own.
What a prayer was that which came forth from the lips of Daniel! What humbling of soul it reveals! The warmth of heavenly fire was recognized in the words that were going upward to God. Heaven responded to that prayer by sending its messenger to Daniel. In this our day, prayers offered in like manner will prevail with God.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." As in ancient times, when prayer was offered, fire descended from heaven, and consumed the sacrifice upon the altar, so in answer to our prayers, the heavenly fire will come into our souls. The light and power of the Holy Spirit will be ours.
Have not we as great need to call upon God as had Daniel? Are we not living in the very last period of this earth's history. Do you have a burden for our churches, our schools, and our institutions? The God who heard Daniel's prayer will hear ours when we come to Him in contrition. Our necessities are as urgent, our difficulties are as great, and we need to have the same intensity of purpose, and in faith roll our burden upon the great Burden-bearer. There is need for hearts to be as deeply moved in our time as in the time when Daniel prayed. Yes, prayer is so very important when the church is need of revival and reformation. Let my prayers be foremost for me, that the revival and reformation begin in my heart.
