Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader,
Books / Pr - Prayer (2002) / Chapter 15—Jesus’ Example in Prayer
To the consecrated worker there is wonderful consolation in the knowledge that even Christ during His life on earth sought His Father daily for fresh supplies of needed grace; and from this communion with God He went forth to strengthen and bless others. {Pr 170.3} Behold the Son of God bowed in prayer to His Father! Though He is the Son of God, He strengthens His faith by prayer, and by communion with Heaven gathers to Himself power to resist evil and to minister to the needs of men. As the Elder Brother of our race, He knows the necessities of those who, compassed with infirmity and living in a world of sin and temptation, still desire to serve Him. He knows that the messengers whom He sees fit to send are weak, erring men; but to all who give themselves wholly to His service He promises divine aid. His own example is an assurance that earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith—faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work—will avail to bring to men the Holy Spirit’s aid in the battle against sin. {Pr 170.4} Every worker who follows the example of Christ will be prepared to receive and use the power that God has promised to His church for the ripening of earth’s harvest. Morning by morning, as the heralds of the gospel kneel before the Lord and renew their vows of consecration to Him, He will grant them the presence of His Spirit, with its reviving, sanctifying power. As they go forth to the day’s duties, they have the assurance that the unseen agency of the Holy Spirit enables them to be “laborers together with God.” [1 Corinthians 3:9.]- (Gospel Workers, 510, 511.) {Pr 171.1}
Though we live in a world full of sin and temptation, our big brother Jesus knows that we desire to serve Him. It was through prayer that Jesus strengthened His faith and received power to resist evil. This power is available to us. But we must have faith in our prayer life, and it is faith that leads us to an entire dependence on God and to have an entire commitment to His work. So, it is morning by morning that He will grant us His spirit that we may receive this power. This power will enable us to be laborers together with God. Amen.
