Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE 

I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see.

— Revelation 3:18 HCSB 

THE TESTIMONY 

The gold that Jesus would have us buy of him is gold tried in the fire; it is the gold of faith and love, that has no defiling substance mingled with it. The white raiment is the righteousness of Christ, the wedding garment which Christ alone can give. The eye-salve is the true spiritual discernment that is so wanting among us, for spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. 

The word of God declares, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.” We should pray earnestly and inquire with sincere hearts as to what the will of the Lord is, that we may be ready to receive the blessing we so much need. 

We should seek for a living experience, and obtain the grace of Christ. We need his love and gentleness; we need our faith revived... let us all buy of him gold, and white raiment, and plead for the anointing of his Holy Spirit.

Jesus desires us to have a personal knowledge of the truth, and we should search the heart carefully, critically, cease to do evil, and learn to do well. Jesus says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent.” No one should feel like rebelling, like standing in defiance of God, because he rebukes you on account of your lukewarm condition and spiritual pride. God condescends to entreat you that he may talk with you, and invites you to open the door of the heart, that he may come in and sup with you, and you with him. He declares, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” 

Then how proper, yea, how essential that men should pray and not faint! How important that they should be instant in prayer, petitioning for the help that can come only from Christ our Lord! If you will find voice and time to pray, God will find time and voice to answer. 

— The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890 

THE RESPONSE 

Pray earnestly and inquire with a sincere heart what the will of the Lord is that you may be ready to receive the blessing. 

Seek for a living experience, plead for the anointing of his Holy Spirit. 

Search your heart carefully, cease to do evil and learn to do well. Open the door of the heart that He may come in. 

Pray and not faint! Petition for the help that can come only from Christ our Lord! If you will find voice and time to pray, God will find time and voice to answer.