At F7, we believe in Divine intervention and that God does answer prayer.
A call for prayer and fasting on April 7 was observed by many participants here on Fulcrum 7. In response to our united prayers the GC ExCom Leaders issued a statement about The One Project addressing serious concerns many of us have had for some time about T1P.
Some may say, “That action was already being discussed before April 7. It was just a coincidence that this action was announced after April 7, the day set aside for prayer and fasting.”
Let’s consider the important lessons given to us in Daniel 9 and 10. First Daniel 9:
”In the first year of Darius … In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the LORD God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O LORD, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:”
Daniel recognized that the 70-year prophecy about the captivity of Judah in Babylon was about up. Not content to let things just happen on their own Daniel saw the need for intercession on behalf of Jeremiah’s prophecy and God’s people.
Daniel 9 reveals an earnest prayer struggle that God’s word might be fulfilled, and for Divine understanding regarding the vision in Daniel 8. One can read Daniel 9 to see how that prayer was answered!
Daniel 10 opens with another episode of Daniel in earnest preserving prayer for “three entire weeks” about spiritual matters important to God’s people. Daniel 10: 2, 3 reads:
“In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”
Verses 4- 11 tells of the result of this prayer/fast by Daniel and how an angel came to give him understanding. Now, we need to consider the words in 10: 12- 13:
“Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”
Here one gets a behind the scene picture of the intense struggle in progress to thwart
Jeremiah’s prophecy from being fulfilled. And Daniel’s prayer is given to us to let us as Last Day Daniels know that intercessory prayer plays an important part in Last Day Events, and in events connected with God’s remnant Church. None of us can see the struggles surrounding that GC ExCom meeting. But we can see from Daniel that every advancement for good for God’s church is opposed by Satan and the struggle to do what is right can be intense.
Just recall the intense conflict in Fall Council in 2017 and you get a small picture what may be going on in the supernatural world. God’s men in high places need our prayer support.
From Daniel we learn the part prayer/fasting play in Last Day Events. Seeing many things in the Church and the world are in turmoil, it seems appropriate that we continue in prayer/fasting, particularly for our Church, its leaders and pastors, that Jesus may intervene and take control of His Church at this time and turn aside Satan’s plans for its hurt.
Therefore we are asking those on F7 who are concerned about the condition of our church to join together on Sabbath, May 5 from evening to evening for another day of prayer and fasting for our church. More days of prayer and fasting are planned in the months ahead. The times we live in demand earnest intercessory prayer/fasting and each prayer/fast will help develop in us the strength to pray like Daniel, who still remains an example for all living in these Last Days. And if May 5 doesn’t work for you, pick another Sabbath close to it.
God will hear us for the prayer of the righteous avails much with Him.
Douglas Carlson is a retired SDA pastor. After serving in Michigan for many years, Douglas now lives in Arizona.