Comforting Assurances by C. P. Whitford

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 1, 1902

Comforting Assurances

By C. P. Whitford

C. P. WHITFORD

1. WHAT invitation and assurance are extended to us? 1 Peter 5:7; Ps. 55:22.

2. How can we communicate with the Lord, and make known our burdens and cares? Phil. 4:6.

3. What is prayer?—It is the offering up of our desires unto God for things lawful and needful, with humble confidence that we shall obtain them through the mediation of Christ. It may be public or private, mental or vocal. Desire is the very essence of prayer. Prayer without desire is like an altar without a sacrifice. Prayer is a becoming acknowledgment of our Father's sufficiency. It includes asking, confessing, and rendering thanks.

4. Do you ever think that the Lord does not hear you when you pray? Do you think that he would hear you if you should get angry and profane his name? If you think that he hears you curse, but does not hear you pray, then it must be that you think he had rather hear cursing than praying. Else why should you think that he hears you curse, but does not hear you pray? But you know that such an idea as that would never do. You know that he would rather hear praying than cursing. Then please never think that God does not hear you when you pray.

5. How does David express his confidence in God to hear and answer prayer? Ps. 145: 18–20.

6. Did David pray? how often? Ps. 55: 17.

7. Had David been a great sinner? 2 Sam. 12: 1–9.

8. David committed a great sin; he deserved punishment. How does David speak of the character of God? Ps. 116: 5. “Gracious,” disposed to show mercy or love. “Merciful,” full of that disposition that leads the offended to treat the offender better than he deserves to be treated.

9. How does the prophet Micah speak of the character of God? Micah 7: 18.

10. Did God take pleasure in treating David better than he deserved to be treated? 2 Sam. 12: 13.

11. Did David confess his transgression unto the Lord? Ps. 32: 5.

12. What was his experience when forgiven? Ps. 32: 1, 2; 40: 1–3; 36: 5–8; 116: 1, 2.

13. On what condition is prayer answered? Matt. 15: 22–28; James 1: 5–7.

14. Since faith is essential to the answer of prayer, what must be believed? Heb. 11: 6.

15. Can we manufacture faith? Can we by the exercise of our will make ourselves believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him?—No; we cannot manufacture faith, since we have nothing but unbelief out of which to make it. After having put forth our best efforts to get faith by the exercise of our will power, we would still find ourselves destitute of it.

16. How does faith come? Rom. 10: 17.

17. Is it according to his will that we ask for bread? Matt. 6: 11.

18. Is he able to provide for our temporal necessities? Ps. 24: 1; 50: 10–12.

19. How does he encourage us to trust him? Luke 12: 22–31; see margin of verse 29.

20. If we do not believe the Lord, of what are we guilty? 1 John 5: 10.

21. Does God tell lies? Titus 1: 2; Num. 23: 19.

22. Then when the Lord asks us to keep the Sabbath, can we safely trust him to direct us in such a way that we may obtain a living? Ps. 37: 3.

23. What will be the experience of one who has saving faith? Ps. 145: 17–20; 84: 11, 12.

24. How does faith in what God says manifest itself? John 6: 28, 29; Gal. 5: 6.

25. What did faith in God's word lead David to do? Ps. 119: 60. No matter what the circumstances may be, the child of faith believes that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” Rom. 8: 28.