Bible Gem
"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."---1 Peter 4:7
Question
What is the purpose of prayer meeting? Is it necessary that the busy twentieth-century Christian attend?
Answer
Faithful to their duty: "Seek every opportunity to go where prayer is wont to be made. Those who are really seeking for communion with God will be seen in the prayer meeting, faithful to do their duty and earnest and anxious to reap all the benefits they can gain. They will improve every opportunity of placing themselves where they can receive the rays of light from heaven."---Steps to Christ, page 98
Spirited-filled Christians seen in prayer meeting: " When the Spirit of God shall work upon the heart, cleaning the soul-temple of its defilement of worldliness and pleasure-loving, all will be seen in the prayer meeting faithful to do their duty and earnest and anxious to reap all the benefits they can gain."---Testimonies, vol, page 461
Educate the mind to love prayer meeting: "Prepare for eternity with such zeal as you have not yet manifested. Educate your mind to love the Bible, to love the prayer meeting, to love the hour of meditation, and above all, the hour when the soul communes with God. Become heavenly minded if you would unite with the heavenly choir in the mansions above."---Ibid., vol. 2, page 268
The object of the prayer meeting: "What is the object of assembling together? Is it to inform God, to instruct Him by telling Him all we know in prayer?
We meet together to edify one another by an interchange of thoughts and feelings, to gather strength, and light, and courage by becoming acquainted with one another's hopes and aspirations; and by our earnest, heartfelt prayers, offered up in faith, we receive refreshment and vigor from the Source of our strength. These meetings should be most precious seasons and should be made interesting to all who have any relish for religious things."---Ibid., page 578
Making prayer meeting interesting: "Our prayer and social meetings should be seasons of special help and encouragement. Each one has a work to do to make these gatherings as interesting and profitable as possible. This can be done by having a fresh experience daily in the things of God, and by not hesitating to speak of His love in the assemblies of His people."---Christian Service, page 211
"Long, prosy talks and prayers are out of place anywhere, and especially in the social meetings....They weary the angels and the people who listen to them. Our prayers should be short and right to the point."---Testimonies, vol 4, pages 70, 71
Pray short prayers: "All should feel it a Christian duty to pray short. "Tell the Lord just what you want."---Ibid., vol. 2, page 578
"One or two minutes is long enough for any ordinary prayer."---Ibid., page 581
Summary and Prayer Thought
God has promised wherever two or three are gathered together in His name that He will come to comfort, edify, to give us strength, courage and spiritual vigor to fight the good fight of faith.
"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."---1 Peter 4:7
Question
What is the purpose of prayer meeting? Is it necessary that the busy twentieth-century Christian attend?
Answer
Faithful to their duty: "Seek every opportunity to go where prayer is wont to be made. Those who are really seeking for communion with God will be seen in the prayer meeting, faithful to do their duty and earnest and anxious to reap all the benefits they can gain. They will improve every opportunity of placing themselves where they can receive the rays of light from heaven."---Steps to Christ, page 98
Spirited-filled Christians seen in prayer meeting: " When the Spirit of God shall work upon the heart, cleaning the soul-temple of its defilement of worldliness and pleasure-loving, all will be seen in the prayer meeting faithful to do their duty and earnest and anxious to reap all the benefits they can gain."---Testimonies, vol, page 461
Educate the mind to love prayer meeting: "Prepare for eternity with such zeal as you have not yet manifested. Educate your mind to love the Bible, to love the prayer meeting, to love the hour of meditation, and above all, the hour when the soul communes with God. Become heavenly minded if you would unite with the heavenly choir in the mansions above."---Ibid., vol. 2, page 268
The object of the prayer meeting: "What is the object of assembling together? Is it to inform God, to instruct Him by telling Him all we know in prayer?
We meet together to edify one another by an interchange of thoughts and feelings, to gather strength, and light, and courage by becoming acquainted with one another's hopes and aspirations; and by our earnest, heartfelt prayers, offered up in faith, we receive refreshment and vigor from the Source of our strength. These meetings should be most precious seasons and should be made interesting to all who have any relish for religious things."---Ibid., page 578
Making prayer meeting interesting: "Our prayer and social meetings should be seasons of special help and encouragement. Each one has a work to do to make these gatherings as interesting and profitable as possible. This can be done by having a fresh experience daily in the things of God, and by not hesitating to speak of His love in the assemblies of His people."---Christian Service, page 211
"Long, prosy talks and prayers are out of place anywhere, and especially in the social meetings....They weary the angels and the people who listen to them. Our prayers should be short and right to the point."---Testimonies, vol 4, pages 70, 71
Pray short prayers: "All should feel it a Christian duty to pray short. "Tell the Lord just what you want."---Ibid., vol. 2, page 578
"One or two minutes is long enough for any ordinary prayer."---Ibid., page 581
Summary and Prayer Thought
God has promised wherever two or three are gathered together in His name that He will come to comfort, edify, to give us strength, courage and spiritual vigor to fight the good fight of faith.
