Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

— Luke 10:27,28, NLT 

THE TESTIMONY

If any are in perplexity to know whether they will be saved or not, they will find the query settled here. The world’s Redeemer has plainly specified the conditions of eternal life. Both the conditions and the promise are positive. Christ must be the center. We must love him with every power of our being, and our neighbors as ourselves. And if we do love our neighbor as ourselves, we shall labor earnestly to present to him the truth in its beauty and simplicity. 

When you meet those, who...are prejudiced against the truth, do not urge your peculiar views too strongly. Talk with them at first of subjects upon which you can agree. Bow with them in prayer, and in humble faith present your petitions at the throne of grace. Both you and they will be brought into a closer connection with heaven. 

Let the heart be softened with the love of God; and then, with quivering lip and tearful eye, open to the people the treasures of truth. Present the truth as it [is] in Jesus; not for the sake of contention, not for the love of argument, but with meekness and fear; and it will reach the hearts of the honest. That which makes the truth so objectionable to many is that it is not presented in the spirit of Christ. 

Ask God in faith to give you access to those very souls. Cease not your efforts; but study and plan until you find some other means of reaching them. If you do not succeed by personal visits, try sending them the silent messenger of truth...our publications often gain admittance where the living messenger cannot. 

To all who are engaged in the missionary work I would say, Hide in Jesus. Let not self but Christ appear in all your labors. When the work goes hard, and you become discouraged and are tempted to abandon it, take your Bible, bow upon your knees before God, and say, “Here, Lord, thy word is pledged.” Throw your weight upon his promises, and every one of them will be fulfilled. 

— Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, p.149-153 

THE RESPONSE 

When you meet those prejudiced against the truth, do not urge your peculiar views. Talk with them at first on subjects you can agree. Bow with them in prayer and in humble faith present your petitions at the throne of grace.

Ask God in faith to give you access to those souls. 

Take your Bible, bow on your knees before God and say, “Here, Lord, Your word is pledged.” Throw your weight upon His promises and every one of them will be fulfilled.