Science of Prayer

Boldly Unto The Throne

Lay Institute for Global Health Training
1
Part I. The Science of Problem Solving

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who
comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith
we ourselves are comforted of God" 2 Corinthians 1:3,4.

"In every difficulty we are to see a call to prayer" The Desire of Ages, page 667.

"And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me" Psalm 50:15.

In the Review and Herald there appeared a most wonderful most wonderful experience of answered prayer. A dear brother in
Porta Spain, Trinidad near the coast of South America had leprosy. He had to go to the government leper colony to live until
he recovered or died.
While he was there he gave himself to prayer and soul winning activity. As a result of his work several of his fellow
lepers gave themselves to Jesus and accepted this message. His disease was finally arrested, and he was allowed to go home.
That is a wonderful story, but it doesn't end there. The most wonderful part is ahead, and it doesn't end like you think it
did at all. It is a wonderful experience in prayer.
After this brother returned home the new converts began to slip. We call it backsliding. This brother was concerned
about it. He was praying earnestly for them. He realized something must be done for them.
After much prayer the answer came. He had worked with these men. He knew their problems and weaknesses. He
would be the best person to win them back. So he prayed that his leprosy might return so he might have an opportunity to be
sent back into that leper colony.
His prayer was answered. He went to the medical examiners and they found the disease was returning. They sent him
back to the leper colony, and he was not only instrumental in winning back these backsliders, but with their help more were
won. Today he is there in that colony witnessing for Jesus and winning souls.
[The purpose of true prayer: Not to get God to give us what we want, but to bring us to the place where God can give us
what He wants.]

"Not My will, but Thine, be done" Luke 22:42.

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we
know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him" 1 John 5:14.

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things"
Romans 8:32.

"And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness" 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Part II. Anchor of Hope

"Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee" Acts 3:6.

"The gospel we present for the saving of souls must be the gospel by which our own souls are saved" Ministry of Healing,
page 469.

"I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears" Psalm 34:4.

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need" Hebrews 4:14-16.

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"The Lord said, `Call upon me in the day of trouble.' Ps. 50:15. He invites us to present to Him our perplexities and necessi-
ties, and our need of divine help. He bids us be instant in prayer. As soon as difficulties arise, we are to offer to Him our
sincere, earnest petitions" Christ's Object Lessons, page 172.

"That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have
fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,
and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for
ever after the order of Melchisedec" Hebrews 6:18-20.

"As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you" Isaiah 66:13.

"My dear brethren and sisters, this is a very important hour with us. Satan is come down with great power, and we must
strive hard and press our way to the kingdom. We have a mighty foe to contend with, but an Almighty friend to protect and
strengthen us in the conflict. If we are firmly fixed upon the present truth, and have our hope like an anchor of the soul cast
within the second veil, the various winds of false doctrine and error cannot move us. The excitement and false reformations
of this day do not move us, for we know that the Master of the house rose up in 1844 and shut the door of the first apartment
of the heavenly tabernacle. And now we certainly expect they will go with their flocks to seek the Lord, but they shall not
find Him. He hath withdrawn Himself within the second veil from them. The Lord has shown me that the power which is
wisdom is a mere human influence and not the power of God" Present Truth, Number 8, vol. 1. [pub. March, 1850]

"True faith lays hold of and claims the promised blessing before it is realized and felt. We must send up our petitions in
faith within the second veil, and let our faith take hold of the promised blessing and claim it as ours" Early Writings, page
72.

"There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their
faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, `My Father, give us Thy Spirit.' Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost.
In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.
"I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan
appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God" Early Writings, pages 55,56.

"I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, `Father, give us Thy Spirit.' Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy
influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan's object was to keep them
deceived and to draw back and deceive God's children" Ibid.

"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were
lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail" Rev. 11:19.

Part III. Two Great Objects of Prayer: Sorrow & Trust

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which He
hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us
draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies
washed with pure water" Hebrews 10:19-22.

"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make
intercession for them" Hebrews 7:25.

"Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock
heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?" Steps to Christ, page 94,95.

"In the prayer of faith there is a divine science; it is a science that everyone who would make his lifework a success must
understand" Education, page 257.
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Two reasons God has in bringing us to prayer: The first is that we might experience a deeper sorrow for sin. Unless prayer
accomplishes this for us, we have not yet entered into the science of prayer.

Heb 11:25 (KJV) "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a
season;"

John 8:9 (KJV) ". . . being convicted by their own conscience . . . "

1 Tim 4:2 (KJV) ". . . having their conscience seared with a hot iron"

Eph 2:1 (KJV) "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:"

Heb 7:25 (KJV) "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever
liveth to make intercession for them."

"Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock
heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?" Steps to Christ, page 94,95.

"In the prayer of faith there is a divine science; it is a science that everyone who would make his lifework a success must
understand" Education, page 257.

Heb 10:19 (KJV) "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,"
20 "By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;"
21 "And having an high priest over the house of God;"
22 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and
our bodies washed with pure water."

Zec 12:10 (KJV) "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace
and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one
mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

A second reason God brings us to prayer: prayer is designed to lead us into trust.

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have
them" Mark 11:24.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:9.

Part IV. Two Agencies of Prayer: The Word & The Will

"The feeling of guiltiness must be laid at the foot of the cross, or it will poison the springs of life" Testimonies to Ministers,
page 518.

Heb 9:22 "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications:
and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and
shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn" Zechariah 12:10.

[The Holy Spirit arranged for four different men to write about the life of Jesus: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Count the
number of chapters in Matthew and see how many of them relate to the last week of the life of Jesus. Take Mark and notice
how many chapters relate to the last week of the life of Christ. Do the same with Luke and John. Unless you have thought
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and studied it you will be amazed. Study how much time is devoted to the last twenty-four hours of the life of Jesus, from the
time He gathered with His disciples in the upper room until He was laid to rest in Joseph's tomb just before the Sabbath came.
The lesson: It is God's purpose that we should give most attention to that which He has given most attention.]

"It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point
by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice
for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with
His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross." The
Desire of Ages, p. 83.

"It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ from the manger to Calvary. We should
take it point by point and let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing ones of His earthly life. . . . If
we would be saved at last we must all learn the lesson of penitence and faith at the foot of the cross" Testimonies for the
Church, vol. 4, page 374.

Along with the Word we should understand the function of the will in the prayer experience.

"For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin" Psalm 38:18.

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is
become my salvation" Isaiah 12:2.

We have both of these expressions of the will put into one paragraph. It is a testimony that Sister White wrote to a young
man in Battle Creek: "Will you not, without delay, place yourself in right relation to God? Will you not say, `I will give my
will to Jesus, and I will do it now,' and from this moment be wholly on the Lord's side? Disregard custom, and the strong
clamoring of appetite and passion. Give Satan no chance to say, `You are a wretched hypocrite.' Close the door, so that
Satan will not thus accuse and dishearten you. Say `I will believe, I do believe that God is my helper,' and you will find that
you are triumphant in God" Messages to Young People, page 153.


Part V. The Cross

"The gospel is a wonderful simplifier of life's problems" Min. of Healing, p. 363

"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray
yonder. And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith
He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me. And He went a little
farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not
as I will, but as Thou wilt. And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye
not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me,
except I drink it, Thy will be done. And He came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And He left
them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words" Matthew 26:36-44.

"Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that
was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared" Hebrews 5:7.

"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" Matt. 16:24.

"It is never difficult to do what we love to do, but to take a course directly against our inclinations is lifting a cross"
Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, page 94.

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"Happiness is to be found only in repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ; for your heart is filled
with rebellion; it breathes forth in your words. Your selfish prayers and religious forms may soothe the conscience, but they
only increase your peril" Test. for the Church, Vol. 4, p. 625.

"The mystery of the cross explains all other mysteries" Great Controversy, p. 652.


Part VI. Gethsemane

"Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
Me" Matthew 16:24.

"The Lord speaks; enter into your closet, and in silence commune with your own heart; listen to the voice of truth and
conscience. Nothing will give such clear views of self as secret prayer. He who seeth in secret and knoweth all things will
enlighten your understanding and answer your petitions. Plain, simple duties that must not be neglected will open before
you" Test. for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 163.

Christ gave all for us, and those who receive Christ will be ready to sacrifice all for the sake of their Redeemer. The
thought of His honor and glory will come before anything else.
If we love Jesus, we shall love to live for Him, to present our thank offerings to Him, to labor for Him. The very labor
will be light. For His sake we shall covet pain and toil and sacrifice. We shall sympathize with His longing for the salvation
of men. We shall feel the same tender craving for souls that He has felt. {COL 49.3}
This is the religion of Christ. Anything short of it is a deception. No mere theory of truth or profession of discipleship
will save any soul. We do not belong to Christ unless we are His wholly. It is by halfheartedness in the Christian life that
men become feeble in purpose and changeable in desire. The effort to serve both self and Christ makes one a stony-ground
hearer, and he will not endure when the test comes upon him Christ's Object Lessons, p 50.

"There is much good reading that is not sanctifying" Fund. of Christ. Ed., p. 547.

"The surrender of all our powers to God greatly simplifies the problem of life. It weakens and cuts short a thousand
struggles with the passions of the natural heart" Messages to Young People, p. 30.