Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. These signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will...lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

— Mark 16:15, 17,18, MEV 

THE TESTIMONY 

“These signs shall follow them that believe.” This is the privilege of God’s children, and faith should lay hold on all that it is possible to have as an endorsement of faith.

“They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” This world is a vast lazar house, but Christ came to heal the sick... He turned away none who came to receive His healing power. He knew that those who petitioned Him for help had brought disease upon themselves; yet He did not refuse to heal them. 

And He is just as willing to heal the sick now as when He was personally on earth. Christ’s servants are His representatives, the channels for His working. He desires through them to exercise His healing power. 

And we should teach others how to preserve and to recover health. For the sick we should use the remedies which God has provided in nature, and we should point them to Him who alone can restore. It is our work to present the sick and suffering to Christ in the arms of our faith. We should teach them to believe in the Great Healer. 

We should lay hold on His promise, and pray for the manifestation of His power. The very essence of the gospel is restoration, and the Saviour would have us bid the sick, the hopeless, and the afflicted take hold upon His strength. 

The power of love was in all Christ’s healing, and only by partaking of that love, through faith, can we be instruments for His work. If we neglect to link ourselves in divine connection with Christ, the current of life-giving energy cannot flow in rich streams from us to the people. 

It is in doing Christ’s work that the church has the promise of His presence. Go teach all nations, He said; “and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”   

The very life of the church depends upon her faithfulness in fulfilling the Lord’s commission... Where there is no active labor for others, love wanes, and faith grows dim. 

— The Desire of Ages, p. 823-825 

THE RESPONSE 

Teach others how to preserve and recover health. Use remedies that God provided in nature. 

Point the sick to Him who alone can restore. Teach them to believe in the Great Healer.

Lay hold on His promise and pray for the manifestation of His power. The very essence of the gospel is restoration. 

Do Christ’s work, we have the promise of His presence.