Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader.
Books / Pr - Prayer (2002) / Chapter 7—Prayer And Obedience
Christ Is the Medium of Prayer Between Us and God—Christ is the connecting link between God and man. He has promised His personal intercession. He places the whole virtue of His righteousness on the side of the suppliant. He pleads for man, and man, in need of divine help, pleads for himself in the presence of God, using the influence of the One who gave His life for the life of the world. As we acknowledge before God our appreciation of Christ’s merits, fragrance is given to our intercessions. As we approach God through the virtue of the Redeemer’s merits, Christ places us close by His side, encircling us with His human arm, while with His divine arm He grasps the throne of the Infinite. He puts His merits, as sweet incense, in the censer in our hands, in order to encourage our petitions. He promises to hear and answer our supplications. {Pr 66.1}
Yes, Christ has become the medium of prayer between man and God. He has also become the medium of blessing between God and man. He has united divinity with humanity. Men are to cooperate with Him for the salvation of their own souls, and then make earnest, persevering efforts to save those who are ready to die.—( Testimonies for the Church 8:178.) {Pr 66.2}
As the high priest sprinkled the warm blood upon the mercy-seat while the fragrant cloud of incense ascended before God, so, while we confess our sins and plead the efficacy of Christ’s atoning blood, our prayers are to ascend to heaven, fragrant with the merits of our Saviour’s character. Notwithstanding our unworthiness, we are to remember that there is One who can take away sin, and who is willing and anxious to save the sinner. With His own blood He paid the penalty for all wrongdoers. Every sin acknowledged before God with a contrite heart, He will remove. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”(The Review and Herald, September 29, 1896.) {Pr 66.3}
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. There is no other intercessor between man and the Father except for Christ Jesus. We are not to pray to statues, Bishops, or Priests, but only in the name of the High Priest, which is Christ Jesus. Christ shed His blood to atone for our sins. Christ gave up divinity for humanity, giving His life for you and for me. Christ is interceding on our behalf. He will blot out all sins of the repentant sinner. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. The lifeline to heaven is but a prayer away through Christ Jesus. What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We thank You for giving us the privilege, honor, and the opportunity to come to the foot of Your throne in prayer. We humbly bring our petitions before Thee with contrite hearts. We are sorry we have sinned against You and pray for Your forgiveness. Though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. We thank You for Your longsuffering, mercy, and grace. Thank You for granting us Power from the Holy Spirit that lives and dwells in us. Thank You for granting us the strength and wisdom to overcome sin to prayerfully sin no more. We thank You, dear Lord, for interceding on our behalf. For being the medium between God and us. For being our voice, our advocate to the Father. We do not always know what to pray, so we pray that You pray for us. That You make a sweet utterance to the Father on our behalf. We pray to receive all the blessings You have in store for us and thank You in advance. We place all our trust and believe on You. Let everything we say and do honor and glorify Your name. We pray for those who worship and pray to idols and statues that have eyes, but cannot see, have ears, but cannot hear, have legs but cannot walk. Please let the Holy Spirit fall upon them so they give up their idols and false worship. We pray that false teachers do not influence Your people with their false doctrines. We pray bishops and priests turn from their false teachings, and direct the lost to Christ Jesus as the only way to the Father in heaven. Heal us, and we shall be healed. Save us, and we shall be saved, for Thou art our praise. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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