Communion With God

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Chapter 42—Our Responsibility to Others

BIBLE GEM

“Pray one for another.... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”—James 5:16 CWG 100.1

QUESTION

Who are some of the special ones for whom we are to pray? CWG 100.2

ANSWER

Relatives and friends: “Let those who desire to work for God begin at home, in their own household, in their own neighborhood, among their own friends. Here they will find a favorable missionary field.”—Testimonies For The Church 6:428 CWG 100.3

“In private prayer all have the privilege of praying as long as they desire and of being as explicit as they please. They can pray for all their relatives and friends.”—Testimonies For The Church 2:578 CWG 100.4

“God has promised to give wisdom to those that ask in faith, and He will do just as He said He would. He is pleased with the faith that takes Him at His word. The mother of Augustine prayed for her son's conversion. She saw no evidence that the Spirit of God was impressing his heart, but she was not discouraged. She laid her finger upon the texts, presenting before God His own words, and pleaded as only a mother can. Her deep humiliation, her earnest importunities, her unwavering faith, prevailed, and the Lord gave her the desire of her heart. Today He is just as ready to listen to the petitions of His people.”—Testimonies For The Church 5:322, 323 CWG 100.5

Young men in service for our country: “When they [your children] went into the Army, your prayers followed them. They were wonderfully preserved from harm.... How many prayers were lodged in heaven that these sons might be preserved to obey God, to devote their lives to His glory!”—Testimonies For The Church 2:275 (From a personal testimony to a mother after the Civil War.) CWG 100.6

The discouraged: “There are many from whom hope has departed. Bring back the sunshine to them. Many have lost their courage. Speak to them words of cheer. Pray for them.”—Christ's Object Lessons, 418 CWG 101.1

Those who hurt us: “The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed, not only for himself, but for those who were opposing him. When he felt earnestly desirous that the souls that had trespassed against him might be helped, he himself received help. Let us pray, not only for ourselves, but for those who have hurt us, and are continuing to hurt us. Pray, pray, especially in your mind. Give not the Lord rest; for His ears are open to hear sincere, importunate prayers, when the soul is humbled before Him.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 3:1141 CWG 101.2

Encouragement to pray for those mentioned, and others: “The redeemed will be sharers in His [Christ's] joy, as they behold, among the blessed, those who have been won to Christ through their prayers, their labors, and their loving sacrifice.”—The Great Controversy, 647 CWG 101.3

SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT

We need to pray and never give up, no matter what happens, for our precious wives or husbands and children, their husbands and wives, and grandchildren, and all of our relatives and friends. Then we also need to pray for many people who have asked us to pray for them. Let us also pray for God's children within and outside of our church and pray for all people in all religions whether they are Jews, Moslems, Christians or otherwise. CWG 101.4

Very soon every believer in Jehovah, who is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, will be tested and tried like Job was to see if we are going to be true and faithful. Every person on the face of this world will have to make a decision, either to follow the “New World Order,” the “One World Government,” the “One World Church,” which eventually will be clearly seen is the reestablishment of the New Roman World Empire, or follow the Word of God. We are going to take on the mark of the beast or be sealed by the Holy Spirit for God. CWG 101.5

Help us Father, to pray with compassion that the population of this world may know the difference and that those of us that know may not give up our precious faith. CWG 101.6

Lord, please have mercy and keep us faithful. CWG 101.7