THE WEEK OF PRAYER

L. A. HOOPES

The time has arrived when we should begin to lay our plans for the special week of prayer that is usually observed by this denomination. When this season was first instituted by this people, it was made a time for seeking the Lord and for study. It was more than a mere form of assembling for worship and listening to readings prepared for the occasion. It was a time of great spiritual refreshing. Men, women, and children sought God for his blessing as though it were for the last time. Just so it should be every time we seek the Lord for special blessings.GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.3

For more than two years there has been a special message borne to this people, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” During this time many have been the marked evidences of God’s willingness to pour out his Holy Spirit upon his people. He has told us that the Holy Spirit awaits our demand and reception. No one will hesitate to say that we are in need of just such a blessing as the Spirit brings.GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.4

It may be urged that we have the Holy Spirit already as a body and as individuals. That is true; for without him we can do nothing; but the Lord says that we should have the former and the latter rain. While we have seen marvelous things in connection with God’s work in the earth since the rise of the third angel’s message, yet we must see Pentecost revived, and the same power and grace attend the believers now as in the time of the apostles. Then the statement will be realized, one shall “chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight.”GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.5

The work entrusted to this people, and especially for this time, demands that we have the Holy Spirit to perform even the mechanical part of it. While we should always seek the Lord, yet we are repeatedly admonished to assemble ourselves together for the express purpose of unitedly seeking his face. When this has been done with all the heart, he will surely be found.GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.6

The time of trial is only a little way in the future. Then we shall need to know Him in whom we may safely trust. Let no one be deceived by thinking that he can put off the needful preparation until the time of trouble. It will then be too late.GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.7

If there were reasons in the past why we should especially seek the Lord, there certainly are many more now. Our want of power, or ability to perform, is the imperative reason why we should seek God as never before. The commission is, “Go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” This was the character of the work carried on by the early disciples. Will the work for this time be any less powerful in its effects and influence?GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.8

These things should be borne in mind. More will be said from time to time in the columns of the Review and Herald.GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.9

We would call the attention of the reader to the first three articles which appear in this number of the BULLETIN. They have been recently received from Australia, and do not appear in print in any other periodical. We take this means of placing them before you.GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.10

Our responsibility in the home, our obligation to do missionary work with our nearest neighbors, and our duty to carry the work in regions beyond, are all treated in these articles. They should be carefully studied. The fact that “the world is hearing its last message of mercy,” should arouse every one to renewed energy to push the triumphs of the cross everywhere. It remains with each one to determine what part he acts in the final conflict now going on between truth and error.GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.11

“Every day that passes brings us nearer the last great important day. We are one year nearer the judgment, nearer eternity, than we were at the beginning of 1884. Are we also drawing nearer to God? Are we watching unto prayer? Another year of our time to labor has rolled into eternity. Every day we have been associating with men and women who are judgment-bound. Each day may have been the dividing line to some soul; some one may have made the decision which shall determine his future destiny. What has been our influence over these fellow travelers? What efforts have we put forth to bring them to Christ?”—“Testimony for the Church,” No. 32, p. 222.GCB April 1, 1899, page 40.12