Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.

— Philippians 2:12,13, HCSB 

THE TESTIMONY 

The religious life is wholly dependent upon the blending of both human and divine forces. 

Man is to work out his own salvation, but he cannot do this without divine aid; and although Christ has paid an infinite price to save the souls of men from everlasting ruin, he will not do that part of the work which was left for man to perform. 

We are to live by faith. We are not to be controlled by impulse and feeling, but the principles of God’s law must govern our lives. While we look to Jesus as the source of all power, we shall not fail to receive help in every time of need, “for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” 

Those who are the servants of God will renounce all evil habits and associations. There will be constant and earnest efforts made to lift up the soul from its defilement. There will be repentance toward God for past transgressions, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ,—a faith that says, “I believe that God for Christ’s sake has forgiven my sins.” Supplication will be made to God for his transforming grace. 

Faith and works go hand in hand. That man has nothing to do but to believe, is a fallacy... A man saved in his sins would be out of harmony with the plan of redemption and the work of God. 

Sin must be hated, and put away. The works of the flesh must be warred against. The Christian...must make use of all the helps that providence has placed within their reach, looking constantly unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of their faith. Christ says, “Without me, ye can do nothing.” 

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Not only must we read the word of God; but prayer must be offered, that the truth of its teaching may find an entrance into our hearts, and may be received, believed, and acted upon. 

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things?”

— The Review and Herald, October 30, 1888 

THE RESPONSE 

Look to Jesus as the source of all power in every time of need. 

Renounce all evil habits. Repent past transgressions and in faith say, “I believe that God for Christ’s sake has forgiven my sins.” 

Ask God for His transforming grace. 

Read the word of God. Pray that the truth may find an entrance into your heart to be received, believed, and acted upon.