The Week of Prayer Continued
By Arthur G. Daniells
We are now, as I write, in the midst of the week-of-prayer services. Our attention as a people is fixed upon this great cause of the third angel’s message with which we are connected. We are thus filled with admiration for this truth as it is unfolded to us in this message. Our hearts yearn for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is set before us by Sister White in the first reading of the series. We are mightily aroused and stirred by the many striking evidences of the nearness of the end which are marshaled together by Brother Wilcox. As we finished this reading, who could not hear ringing in his ears the anxious call of the commander of the storm-tossed vessel to Jonah:— “What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.”
This call comes to Seventh-day Adventists, not as the call of a small ship’s crew about to perish in the tempestuous sea, but as the perishing cry of a world going down to eternal destruction. Although we are in the breakers, and everything is fast going to wreck under the fury of the sea, yet there is a chance to escape, and the way is by and through the third angel’s message. And although the people do not know this message as the provision of God for their rescue, yet they are calling for it. They do not know the exact formula, but they long for the deliverance, and express their longing in ways that we can easily understand. The poor, lonely, lost Chinese woman put over her door the call for help in these words: “May the great truth come to this door.” And as we go through the readings from day to day, keeping our minds fixed upon these spiritual interests, we are awakened from slumber, aroused to earnestness, and quickened to a new life. The world begins to look different—less charming; the cause of God looms up before us with much greater meaning; we are drawn out by new and strong desires to do and give for the finishing of God’s work in the earth. What a blessed experience! Everything connected with this message becomes so real, so living, so tangible, so uplifting, when, through Bible study, prayer, and service, we fasten our minds upon this one thing for a few days. Who does not most earnestly and devoutly wish that the week of prayer might be a year long? And who can tell what would happen in this poor, old, perishing world if the experience of this denomination during one short week of prayer were to be continued one whole year? The week of prayer is only half gone, but already letters are coming to our office from our brethren, telling how their hearts are stirred to do something to help the cause forward. One brother and his wife volunteer for service in South America. Another proposes to mortgage his farm, and loan all he can thus raise to the General Conference. We tell this good brother that this step will not be best now; that our people have means that they can donate to our missions. Others are already sending help. If every believer in the third angel’s message were to give this cause in all its bearings the close thought, the earnest prayer, and the unselfish attention an entire year that are being given to it by many during this one week, the loud cry would be heard. There would be a new and full surrender by many to the cause, and as a result there would be a new endowment of power and more efficient service. Messengers would go forth with a message that would awaken the world. Brethren, let us extend the week of prayer. One of the great objects of the week of prayer is to lead us all to study our Bibles more carefully, to pray more earnestly, to love the cause of God more passionately, to give more liberally, and to work more zealously. This object can not be attained if we dismiss this matter when the week closes. Then let us keep on reading and thinking of our missions; let us keep on praying for them and giving to them. Brethren, let us extend the week of prayer through the year. Who will join the praying, giving, working band for 1904?