The Weekly Prayer-Meeting
By H. J. Farman
“AGAIN I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.” What greater blessings could be offered the church than those contained in the first text? or could a more definite reason be given for her lack of power and blessedness than is stated in the second,—“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive”? Do not these texts have special reference to us and to our time, and more especially as we draw near the end? There are many churches and companies among us that have no weekly prayer-meetings. Why should so important a meeting be overlooked? Some will answer, “It is too expensive to keep it up;” or “We are too scattered;” and perhaps others, “It is too much exertion11after a hard day’s work.” These excuses may seem quite plausible at first, but will they offset the blessings offered? “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” “Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.” It may be said that the interest can not be kept up, but if those conducting and taking part in such services, have a daily experience in the knowledge of God, and prevail at the throne of grace as did Jacob, there will be no trouble about the interest. The old-time prayer and social meetings were places where God met with his people; for there his Word was read, his promises believed and acted upon. Sincere prayers were offered in faith and answered in power. People enjoyed such services because there was a power attending them that moved sinners to repentance. To us God has given greater light, larger responsibilities, and a world-wide message to be given in this generation. For this reason we need to be the most devout people on earth. Why, then, are not our prayer-meetings considered of more importance? Are we to become a prayerless people? There is certainly danger of our greatly neglecting this part of the worship of God. Why do not our ministers give more attention to establishing prayer-meetings in all our churches and companies of Sabbath-keepers? If new companies and churches were raised up under a prayer-meeting influence, we should have fewer apostasies, more spirituality, greater missionary zeal, and more conversions. There is no duty more often enjoined in the Bible than prayer, both secret and public. See Luke 18:1-8; Eph. 6:17-20; Col. 4:2-4; and many other texts. Of the importance of the prayer-meeting, the following is to the point: “Why do not believers feel a deeper, more earnest concern for those who are out of Christ? Why do not two or three meet together and plead with God for the salvation of some special one, and then for still another? In our churches let companies be formed for service. Let different ones unite in labor as fishers of men. Let them seek to gather souls from the corruption of the world into the saving purity of Christ’s love.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. VII, page 21. Yet how often the very opposite course is taken. Some one gets offended because things do not go as they ought to, and immediately draws away from the rest, thinking thereby to improve matters, but instead they grow worse. How much better it would be to draw together and follow the Saviour’s teaching. Matt. 18:15-20. “The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort has been presented to me by One who can not err. If there is a large number in the church, let the members be formed into small companies, to work not only for the church-members, but for unbelievers. If in one place there are only two or three who know the truth, let them form themselves into a band of workers. . . . As they work and pray in Christ’s name, their numbers will increase; for the Saviour says, ‘If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.’”—Testimonies, Vol. VII, pages 21, 22. Aside from the Sabbath service, what more important meeting can be held than the weekly prayer-meeting? If those taking part in it can tell of what Jesus is to them, and what they are to him, how he answers their prayers, conquers their sins, and makes them victorious through grace, there will be no deadness in that meeting. Saints and sinners alike will want to attend. There are many who would like to go to such a meeting. When Christ is in the life of the individual, he will draw men to himself. Therefore, let there be more prayer-meetings where Christ is lifted up, prayer answered, and souls converted, “that your joy may be made full.”