Prayer Meeting - May 28th - The value of One soul...

At this week's Prayer Meeting, Mr. Paul Raj reminded us of the infinite value of a soul. He shared with us how all of heaven was emptied for all of humanity; yet even for one would Christ have died. One author stated that the heart of the Gospel is Christ, and the heart of Christ is man. If Christ gave up everything to redeem us, then we also need to seek those around us who are lost. Each and every individual on this planet is worth any sacrifice we make. If God places so much value on us, should we not also have value for those in our homes, our churches, our communities, and around the world?

In a letter to WC White dated June 11, 1883, Ellen White gives us this charge: "One man, when the church in Scotland was making some resolutions to compromise the faith, to concede their staunch principles, was determined never to yield a jot or tittle. He went upon his knees before God and thus pleaded, 'Give me Scotland or I die.' His importunate prayer was heard. Oh, that the earnest prayer of faith may arise everywhere, Give me souls buried now in the rubbish of error, or I die! Bring them to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.

"We must carry the burden of souls upon our hearts; every selfish consideration must give way to this. The cost of the blood of Christ shows the value of the soul."

Prayer Request for Spanish GYC

There is now a new GYC (Generation of Youth for Christ) event specifically for the Spanish speaking community taking place for the first time May 23rd-26th at Andrews University!

God has already answered many prayers in increasing the registered attendees from 117 to over 300! Let's continue to pray that many more will come and that many lives in the Hispanic community will be inspired, challenged, and motivated to greater service for our Lord!!!

Prayer Request from Javier

I would like to request prayer for my friend Nathaniel. He lives in Aulstralia and is currently doing his clinicals in Physical Therapy and it has been really tough for him.

Thank you!

Prayer Meeting - May 21st - Talk Faith

For this weeks prayer meeting, we took turns sharing personal testimonies and faith building promises and experiences. Sharon was with us and testified to us that her C.T. scan shows that her cancerous tumor has shrunk considerably! What a miracle!!!! We've been praying for her for quite some time, so just praise the Lord for His healing power. (We'll continue to pray for her complete healing.) Others shared of miracles that have been taking place in their lives as well! It was truly an uplifting and encouraing time that you could only experience the full effect of in person.

We closed our time together by kneeling in the middle of the circle to pray for those in special need and praise God for the answers to prayer that He has already given. Then, still on our knees we sang "There's a sweet sweet spirit"! It truly seemed like we could hear the angels singing with us....it was sooo beautiful!

"It is our duty to encourage faith, to talk faith that we may have faith. If we talk doubt and encourage doubt we shall have abundant doubt, for Satan will help us in this kind of work. We need sanctified hearts and sanctified lips. We need to breathe in the rich, bracing atmosphere that comes from the heavenly Canaan. . . . Why should we fill the gallery of the mind with gloomy scenes of doubt? Why not let the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine into the chambers of heart and mind, and dispel the shadows of unbelief? Turn to the Light, to Jesus the precious Saviour." That I May Know Him - EG White pg 228

Prayer Meeting - May 14th - A new look at an important Parable...

For this week's Prayer Meeting, Dave Smith shared with us interesting insights and inspiration on the “The Secret of the Soils” from the Parable of the sower from Matthew 13.

Here are some highlights:

1. Parables are “an (earthly) story with a (heavenly) meaning”.
2. NKJV Psalm 25:14 “The (secret) of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.”
3. In the heart of the wayside hearers the truth finds (no response).
4. With the stony-ground hearers the truth produces nothing more than a (momentary impulse).
5. With the thorny-ground hearers the response (begins) well but (withers) in the face of difficulty and opposition.
6. But in the hearts of the good-ground hearers the response is (on-going) and (effective).
7. The secret of the soils is the condition of the (heart).
8. God is seeking your permission to allow Him to sit on the (throne) of your heart (see Ezek. 36:26-27).
9. Before God sets up his (visible) kingdom on earth, He first establishes his (invisible) kingdom in the hearts of his believers.

What type of SOIL does the CONDITION OF OUR HEART REFLECT???

“Many who make a profession of religion are stony-ground hearers. Like the rock underlying the layer of earth, the selfishness of the natural heart underlies the soil of their good desires and aspirations. The love of self is not subdued. They have not seen the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the heart has not been humbled under a sense of its guilt. This class may be easily convinced, and appear to be bright converts, but they have only a superficial religion.” (COL 46)

"Men may profess to believe the gospel; but unless they are sanctified by the gospel their profession is of no avail. If they do not gain the victory over sin, then sin is gaining the victory over them.” (COL 50-51)

“Many of the things that attract the thorny-ground hearers and absorb their attention may not, in and of themselves, be harmful. But such persons become so absorbed in this world that they have no time to prepare for the next.” (SDABC, Vol. 5)

"The word of God often comes in collision with man's hereditary and cultivated traits of character and his habits of life. But the good-ground hearer, in receiving the word, accepts all its conditions and requirements. His habits, customs, and practices are brought into submission to God's word." {COL 60.3}

"God bids us fill the mind with great thoughts, pure thoughts. He desires us to meditate upon His love and mercy, to study His wonderful work in the great plan of redemption. Then clearer and still clearer will be our perception of truth, higher, holier, our desire for purity of heart and clearness of thought. The soul dwelling in the pure atmosphere of holy thought will be transformed by communion with God through the study of Scriptures." {COL 60.1}

Dave finished his sharing time with the sobering quote:

“Either Christ is Lord of all, or else He is not Lord at all.” ~ David Watson

Thanks Dave, for sharing!

Prayer Meeting - May 7th - The Priviledge of Prayer

For this Wednesday's Prayer Meeting, we joined those on their knees praying for GLOBAL RAIN and the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit.

In the chapter*, "The Priviledge of Prayer" it says:

"Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.

When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us.

Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Our Saviour identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, "in all points tempted like as we are;" but as the sinless one His nature recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Saviour of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer.

Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love.

What a wonder it is that we pray so little!

God is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when God's heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith? The angels love to bow before God; they love to be near Him. They regard communion with God as their highest joy; and yet the children of earth, who need so much the help that God only can give, seem satisfied to walk without the light of His Spirit, the companionship of His presence.

The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer.

Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation."

*Steps to Christ pg 93-95

Pray, Pray, Pray - We need to Pray some More...

Operation Global Rain is currently under-way once again. To be part of a group of the Advent Hope believers praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit here in Loma Linda, please attend the nightly meeting of Prayer at Danielle's Hall at 7pm - May 1st-10th! (6:30 pm on Tuesday the 6th)

Also - keep abreast of what is happening at the "Operation Global Rain" website!

Most importantly though...don't just think about prayer, read about prayer, and be inspired about prayer.... Let's get on our knees and do MORE PRAYING!!!!