Manuscript Releases, vol. 6 [Nos. 347-418]

MR No. 407—Intercessory Prayer

I remember in Battle Creek when there were those who felt the burden for the unconverted, and those who were in darkness and saw no light; then prayer meetings were appointed that they might make the strength of God their strength. In every case the heavenly intelligences worked with these efforts, and souls were saved.—Manuscript 32, 1893, 7. (Untitled, February 16, 1893.) 6MR 376.1

There is home missionary work that is to be done, and we hear the plea, So long as there is so much sin and such need of labor in our own country, why manifest such zeal for foreign countries? I answer, Our field is the world. Wickedness abounds to an alarming extent everywhere. The Saviour directed His disciples to begin their work in Jerusalem, and then pass on through Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Only a small proportion of the people accepted the doctrine; but the messengers bore the message rapidly from place to place, passing from country to country, lifting the standard of the gospel in all the near and far-off places of the earth. But there was a preparatory work. The Saviour's promise was, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me.” Those who will not follow their own will and desires, but seek counsel of the Lord, will not be dull scholars for the Lord will teach them. 6MR 376.2

Although thousands at home neglect this great salvation and prove themselves unworthy of eternal life, let zealous efforts be put forth for those who are in the midnight of darkness. God will speak to the unenlightened. This light is to shine amid the moral darkness. “I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. While there are so many to be sought for, so many that are in gross darkness, shall we not cry aloud and spare not? 6MR 376.3

How much more is needed! How much wise, well-planned efforts to send the truth by publications and the living preacher! Many, we are happy to say, are doing much, opening new fields and broadening the work everywhere. But there are many ways in which we can personally do much more than we have done, by practicing self-denial, living not to please ourselves. Every soul who has accepted this truth should make personal efforts for the salvation of friends and relatives and neighbors. Individual cases should be presented as subjects of our prayers, to our heavenly Father. Let us imitate the life of Christ.—Letter 42a, 1893, pp. 1, 2. (To S. N. Haskell, undated.) 6MR 377.1

The Lord is good and greatly to be praised. He has bestowed on you the talent of communicating the truth to others. I have a longing desire that you and every member of your family shall receive the reward to be given to the tried and faithful; that you shall be saved with an everlasting salvation. I have a far greater desire that this shall be, than you suppose. In our daily worship, your family is often mentioned by name. My earnest prayer to God is that you and your wife and children shall be kept by His power. I shall continue to pray for you, my brother and sister, and for your dear children, in whom I am deeply interested. I desire that every one of them shall have the precious experience that they may gain by cooperating with God. Let our prayers ascend to God, Brother and Sister Franke, for the salvation of your children. They are all dear to His heart. He is waiting to be gracious to them. He will receive them. If they will come to Him and learn of Him, he will use them in saving other youth. He will honor them with a sacred trust, making them laborers together with Him. How blest, how doubly blest, is the home in which father, mother, and children are consecrated to the service of Christ.—Letter 126, 1902, pp. 4, 5. (To Brother and Sister Franke, August 7, 1902.) 6MR 377.2

The Lord has warned me that there will come a great apostasy. There will come a falling away in spirituality. Many will turn away their ears from hearing the truth, and will accept fables. Our sanitariums are to be conducted by wise, God-fearing men, who will teach sound doctrines and show why we believe the truth and why we should practice strict temperance in all things, studying how to avoid all harmful practices and influences. Virtue and holiness shall be practiced. 6MR 378.1

In view of what the Word warns us is coming upon the earth, I felt that I must urge upon our people the necessity of establishing Sanitariums. We cannot pray for the miraculous healing of those who know not the truth. They have prostituted their powers, and were they thus healed, they would not return God the glory, but would continue to dishonor him by following wrong practices. We are to educate those who come to our sanitariums, teaching them how to bring themselves into right relation with God by following right habits of eating, drinking, and dressing.... 6MR 378.2

We are to watch for opportunities to speak a word in season, asking God to help us to present the truth in such an acceptable way that those we are trying to help will not take offense, but will say, “Lord, evermore give us this bread.” Hold up Jesus, and be sure that your words and deeds correspond with the principles found in the word of God. By Christlike beauty of character we are to show to the world the power of the principles of God's word.... How earnestly and devotedly we should labor to point sinners to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Let every one connected with a sanitarium prepare himself by earnest effort to bear witness for the Master. 6MR 378.3

We dare not say, We must not pray for the sick. Let the voice of prayer be heard in our institutions in behalf of the sick, that they may place themselves where they can cooperate with Him who can save both soul and body. Many of those who have been Satan's willing subjects will turn to Christ, the great Healer. All need Bible teaching, line upon line, precept upon precept. Prejudice will give way, and even those who have been seducers of souls will turn to God and be saved. Educate, educate, educate, showing men and women how much relief a change in diet will bring to them. Be always kind and courteous, cheerful and hopeful. Keep praying and working for souls.—Letter 338, 1905, pp. 7, 8. (To J. H. Kellogg, December 22, 1905.) 6MR 379.1

We must be much more with God in earnest prayer. We must make God our only trust. The Lord is our God, the strength of our soul. We must take hold upon the Lord. The Lord is pleased when we importune Him for His grace and His favor, not only for ourselves but for those who are in need of help. Oh let us put implicit confidence in our Lord Jesus. Now pray, and believe, and pray, and the Lord will certainly hear us.—Letter 403, 1906, pp. 1, 2. (To Brother Magan, February 10, 1906.) 6MR 379.2

Released March 11, 1975.