Prayer and Promises

THE PROMISE  

The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.

— Isaiah 50:4, NKJV

THE TESTIMONY 

Said Jesus to His disciples: “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” I would plead with those who have accepted the position of teachers, to first become humble learners, and ever to remain as pupils in the school of Christ to receive from the Master lessons of meekness and lowliness of heart.  

The mind that dwells much on the revealed will of God to man will become strong in the truth. Those who read and study with an earnest desire for divine light, whether they are ministers or not, will soon discover in the Scriptures a beauty and harmony which will captivate their attention, elevate their thoughts, and give them an inspiration and an energy of argument that will be powerful to convict and convert souls. 

Christ, our Example...made supplication with strong crying and tears. He prayed not for Himself, but for those whom He came to save. 

He prayed to the Father, showing that human nature requires all the divine support which man can obtain that he may be braced for duty and prepared for trial... This Saviour, who prayed for those that felt no need of prayer, and wept for those that felt no need of tears, is now before the throne, to receive and present to His Father the petitions of those for whom He prayed on earth. 

We fail many times because we do not realize that Christ is with us by His Spirit as truly as when, in the days of His humiliation, He moved visibly upon the earth. The lapse of time has wrought no change in His parting promise to His apostles as He was taken up from them into heaven: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” 

Ministers who are truly Christ’s representatives will be men of prayer. With an earnestness and faith that will not be denied, they will plead with God that they may be strengthened and fortified for duty and for trial, and that their lips may be sanctified by a touch of the living coal from off the altar, to speak the words of God to the people. 

— Testimonies to the Church, Volume 4, p. 526-529 

THE RESPONSE 

Teachers, first become humble learners and continue as pupils in the school of Christ. 

Pray for those who feel no need of prayer and weep for those who feel no need of tears. 

With earnestness and faith, plead with God that you may be strengthened and fortified for duty and that your lips may be sanctified by a touch of the living coal from off the altar to speak the words of God to the people.