Prayer and the Open Doors by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 21, 1907

Prayer and the Open Doors

By C. M. S.

If there ever was a work that was conceived in prayer and baptized in tears, it was this work that is now going forth to the world as the “third angel’s message.” Prayer has been the key, that has opened doors and hearts before it in all parts of this country and in all countries of this world where it has entered. The prayers offered and the tears shed over the first issue of this paper have been most fruitful seeds, and have yielded a wonderful harvest.

A people unknown had committed to them a truth unpopular, to be given to a world unevangelized; and the time for the giving of that truth must come within the life of a man. It was a stupendous task—an impossible task with the best of human power and the wisest of human planning. Prayer was the solution of the problem, the key to the impassable door, the bridge over the impassable chasm, the tunnel through the impassable mountain. Because that fact was realized, men and women went down upon their knees before God. They found the One who had the power to make dry land of the sea and plains of the mountains, the One who could make possible the impossible. They laid the situation before him—their weakness and the undertaking impossible without him, gave themselves to him for that work, permitting him to be responsible for the consequences.

God accepted the offering; he has accepted the responsibility also; and that prayer-born and prayer-guided work has grown in a short time from nothing to a world-wide movement. In every hour of the twenty-four the sun looks down upon dark lands where this message is finding glad adherents, and is being proclaimed in languages unknown to those who first gave tongue to its truths. Wherever men dwell, this threefold message will go. The very word of God itself is behind the movement, and that can not fail. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” “And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people.”

The magnitude of the task makes prayer a necessity. It is impossible without prayer. He who essays to give that message without the most humble and implicit reliance upon divine wisdom and strength would better choose some other calling. But letting divine purpose displace his will, divine wisdom shine out through his humility, and divine strength replace his weakness, and the love of God be in and through and over it all, he will see walls tumble, the powers of darkness tremble, and hearts be melted and touched and made susceptible to the truth of God for this time.

The minister needs to pray, but that is not the end of the need; the minister needs to have the layman pray. The rapid progress of this work has been due to the fact that in the homes all over the land, humble, consistent, Christian men and women have been praying for the ministers, the Bible workers, the canvassers, and colporteurs. This has strengthened their hands and made their work effectual.

In order that we might understand the absolute necessity of prayer to the successful prosecution of the work of God, Jesus “spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18: 1. He recognized the likelihood of our fainting in the struggle with the powers of darkness. But the only preventive he has to offer is prayer, not occasional and intermittent prayer, but continual and earnest. He showed that need further in his constant practise of that precept.

But we have noticed by our statistical reports a lessening in the increase of our numbers. Does this indicate that the rank and file are forgetting or neglecting to pray as they used to do? Is the family altar falling into disuse? Are the tendrils of our hearts twining more strongly around the things of this life and choking out eternal interests? Each must ask himself the question, and answer it to God. Whatever the trouble in our individual cases, we know the remedy; and when it has been applied, we shall see a cementing, strengthening influence running through the denomination, and with that influence will come a swifter, more powerful stride in the progress of the work. Let this season of prayer come as such to each individual heart, not as a formality which can do no good, but as a real reaching out after God, that will not be satisfied with anything short of the actual blessing of heaven. Then hearts will be watered and seeds of truth will grow. God can put into our hands then work that he can not trust us with while we lack that experience. “Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” C. M. S.