Christian Living: Ministry, Prayer Watches, and Victory Over Appetite

A self-supporting ministry is a form of gospel service where workers provide for their own financial needs through manual labor or industry rather than relying on conference funds or the church treasury9MR 310.1+1. This model follows the example of Christ and the apostles, who encouraged industry and personal responsibility in the work of saving souls Matthew 20:6CSA 62.6.

🌟 The Nature of Self-Supporting Work

To be self-supporting means to possess a noble and generous ambition to bear your own weight and not eat the bread of dependenceAH 374.1. This approach involves several key characteristics:

• Financial Independence: Workers often toil at manual labor a portion of the time to sustain themselves while using every available opportunity to proclaim the messageMM 321.4+1.

• Organizational Harmony: A true self-supporting worker is just as much a part of the organization as one on the pay-roll; they are not "independent" in the sense of acting in a way that ignores the counsel of fellow comrades5MR 373.3+1.

• Diverse Fields of Labor: This work can be carried out in farms, schools, sanitariums, or through the canvassing of literaturePH078 78.3+2.

• Personal Sacrifice: It requires a heart filled with love for souls and a willingness to work in sparsely settled or out-of-the-way places where traditional funding might not be availablePH078 78.3+1.

🚜 Practical Applications and Education

True education for this type of ministry combines mental labor with a diligent use of the muscles12LtMs, Lt 89, 1897, par. 26. By learning to be self-reliant, individuals acquire the ability to be self-sustaining and help othersCSA 62.6.

• Schools and Farms: Institutions like those in Madison, Graysville, and Huntsville teach students to raise their own crops and build their own houses, preparing them for useful labor in mission fields1888 1800.8+1.

• Medical and Health Work: Self-supporting companies often form centers for health reform, providing simple treatments and radiating light to their communitiesPH012 13.3+1.

• Canvassing: The canvassing work is one of the best fields for a self-supporting missionary, as it provides a sacred calling that brings workers into close touch with many peopleGCB April 1, 1900, page 152.6.

🤝 The Relationship with the Church

While these workers do not look to the conference for support, they must still move in concert with the "soldiers of the cross"9MR 310.1+1. Union is strength, and independent action that ignores the order of the captain or the unity of the body can lead to demoralization14MR 28.2+1. Leaders are cautioned not to condemn or withhold confidence from those who use different methods but are led by the Lord to do a special work in His appointed wayPH005 47.3.

📖 Divine Mandate and Promise

The call to service is universal; whether one is rich or poor, great or humble, God calls everyone into active service for HimPH005 16.2. As you follow Christ’s plan by going into the highways and hedges, you have the companionship of angels who wait to cooperate with youPH005 16.2+1. We are told to work while it is day, for the night comes when no man can work John 9:4. If you deny yourself and follow Him, He will provide wisdom and open ways of advance Luke 9:23PH005 37.4.

The Bible describes the night watches as vital periods for spiritual vigilance, fervent prayer, and maintaining a close connection with God. These watches are times to seek protection for our families, strength to face coming trials, and readiness for the return of our Lord. 🌌

🕰️ The Four Night Watches

The Scriptures identify specific divisions of the night where believers are called to be awake and prayerful:

• The Evening Watch (First Watch): This begins at sunset. It is a time for families to gather and dedicate themselves to God's care before the day ends. Mark 13:35.

• The Midnight Watch (Second Watch): A time of intense darkness and spiritual testing, often associated with the delay of the Bridegroom or sudden crisis. Mark 13:35+1.

• The Cock-crowing (Third Watch): The period leading toward the dawn, often a time of personal struggle and the need for repentance or renewed courage. Mark 13:35.

• The Morning Watch (Fourth Watch): The final watch before daybreak, when Jesus was seen walking on the sea and coming to the aid of His disciples. Matthew 14:25+1.

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🙏 What to Pray for During the Night Watches

The night watches are not merely segments of time but opportunities for "noble mental struggles and prayers."

1. Protection for the Family and Children

Parents are called to make a "hedge" about their children through earnest prayer and persevering faith. This is most effectively done during the morning and evening seasons of worship.

• Pray for: Divine guidance, the presence of ministering angels, and that children will be kept from the temptations and dangers of the day.

• Scripture: "Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them" Nehemiah 4:9.

2. Strength to Endure Trials and Temptations

Jesus' experience in Gethsemane teaches us that watching and praying is the only way to obtain the strength needed to witness "unspeakable agony" or face our own crosses without losing faith.

• Pray for: Spiritual endurance, clarity of mind, and that the spirit remains willing even when the flesh is weak.

• Scripture: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" Matthew 26:41.

3. Readiness for the Second Coming

The church is required to fulfill her "night watch" regardless of how long or perilous it may be. We must watch so that when the Master comes, He does not find us sleeping.

• Pray for: Sobriety, alertness, and a heart that is not weighed down by the "darkness of the evil one" or worldly cares.

• Scripture: "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" 1 Thessalonians 5:6.

4. Victory Over Self and Sin

The solitude of the night is a perfect time to put "self in the background" and seek the renewal of the heart so that Christ is uplifted in our lives.

• Pray for: Humility, the removal of pride, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to transform our characters.

• Scripture: "When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches" Psalm 63:6.

5. Protection Against the Devices of the Enemy

Satan is "rallying his forces," and we must be on our guard against the "whispered temptations" that entice us to sin.

• Pray for: Discernment to recognize Satan’s devices and for the "key in the hand of faith" to unlock heaven's storehouse of power.

• Scripture: "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" Colossians 4:2.

🌟 The Promise of the Watcher

As you keep your watch, remember that you are never alone. The Lord Himself is the ultimate Watcher whose eye "never slumbers nor sleeps." He hears the prayer of the humble suppliant and grants His blessing at any hour.

• Scripture: "Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" Psalm 121:4.

• Scripture: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" Matthew 7:7.

Victory over appetite and gluttony is achieved by placing the will under the control of God, practicing strict self-denial, and bringing every habit of eating and drinking into harmony with the laws of healthCCh 234.2+2. This victory is essential because the indulgence of perverted appetite is a primary means by which Satan weakens our moral power and obscures our perception of sacred truthsPP 378.2+2.

🛡️ Foundations of Victory

To overcome, one must recognize that the body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and that we are bought with the precious blood of Christ 1 Corinthians 6:203T 62.1+1.

• Submit the Will to God: The will must be governed by calm, intelligent reason and strengthened by divine grace to resist the clamors of appetite1TT 416.3+2.

• Exercise Constant Vigilance: We must maintain a constant warfare against the animal propensities, ensuring the mind remains the master of the bodyCon 58.1+2.

• Follow Christ's Example: Jesus gained a victory over appetite in the wilderness after forty days of fasting, showing that through His strength, we too can overcome the most powerful temptationsCon 59.1+2.

• Acknowledge Individual Responsibility: Every person has an individual work to do in cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit 2 Corinthians 7:1T11 41.2+1.

🥗 Practical Steps for Reform

Victory is won through making practical changes to our daily habits at the tableCME 40.1+1.

• Practice Strict Temperance: Be temperate in the quantity and quality of food, avoiding overeating even of healthy items, as excess burdens the system and clouds the intellect3T 487.1+2.

• Eliminate Stimulants and Narcotics: Total abstinence is the only safe course regarding tea, coffee, tobacco, and alcoholic drinks, which create unnatural cravings and weaken the nervous systemCCh 105.6+2.

• Discard Flesh Meats and Rich Foods: Highly seasoned meats, grease, spices, and rich pastries irritate the stomach and arouse the lower passionsCG 460.5+2.

• Adopt Simple, Wholesome Meals: Choose a diet of fruits, vegetables, and grains prepared with simplicity and nicety5MR 225.2+2.

• Eat at Regular Intervals: Establish regular meal times and strictly avoid eating between meals, giving the stomach time to rest2T 373.2+2.

👨‍👩‍👧‍ Noah and the Family

The home is where the battle against gluttony often begins and must be wonTe 259.3+1.

• Educate Children from Babyhood: Parents must teach children self-denial and self-control, ensuring they understand we eat to live, not live to eatTe 181.1+2.

• Set a Godly Example: Mothers and fathers should spread their tables with only healthful food, as their example significantly impacts the physical and moral power of their childrenCH 125.4+2.

• Guard Against "Sodom" Sins: We are warned to take heed lest our hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, as were the people in the days of Noah and Lot Luke 21:34-35CTBH 11.1+1.

✨ The Spiritual Reward of Overcoming

Conquering the appetite opens the way for a deeper spiritual experience and readiness for the Lord's comingCME 19.3+2.

• Clarity of Mind: When the stomach is not overtaxed, the brain is free for clear thinking and the discernment of spiritual truthPaM 71.1+2.

• Sanctification: Temperance is a fruit of true religion and is essential for soul sanctification and the perfection of Christian characterCCh 234.2+2.

• Preparation for Translation: Those preparing for Christ's return must bring their appetites into subjection to their moral and intellectual powersCCh 233.5+2.

• Increased Service: By preserving our health, we provide God with the most perfect service possible and have more means to advance the gospelCon 59.1+2.

If any man will come after Christ, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow the Savior in His path of self-denial Matthew 16:24PH128 1.2+1.

This specific thought is emphasized across several of your writings, highlighting that we must engage in deep heart-searching to ensure the cares of this life do not crowd out our spiritual devotionT28 155.1+1. The danger is that the mind becomes so preoccupied with business and temporal matters that it leads to a dearth of spiritual power and the neglect of our own soul-templesPUR July 3, 1902, par. 10+1. You are encouraged to set aside time for this vital work, as our eternal interests must always be put firstST December 17, 1896, par. 5+1.

🔍 The Necessity of Self-Examination

To maintain a living connection with Christ, we must move beyond a superficial experience and engage in a thorough investigation of our own heartsT28 155.1. This involves:

• Daily Scrutiny: We should daily examine the foundation of our hope to see if we are indeed in the love of Christ5T 332.2+1.

• Breaking Up the Fallow Ground: Without regular heart-searching, we may lose the reality of our faith and hold only to a form of godlinessCG 496.2+1.

• Prioritizing the Spiritual: We are warned to take heed that our hearts are not overcharged with the cares of this life, lest the day of the Lord come upon us unawares Luke 21:34-364T 306.2.

⚠️ The Danger of Worldly Engrossment

When we become buried in the "rubbish of the world," we often find no time to serve God or study His wordT20 128.2+1. This neglect is compared to the parable of the seeds falling among thorns, where the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word of God, making it unfruitful2SP 240.1.

• Spiritual Blindness: Constant attention to business can benumb the sensibilities, making us unsuspicious of Satan's wiles2T 126.1+1.

• Household Impact: If parents neglect their own minds and minds of their children by exalting the temporal above the spiritual, they mold their families after a worldly standardCSW 19.2+1.

🕊️ A Call to Devotion

The Lord desires for you to be a learner, more inclined to learn than to teach, and to practice the meekness of Christ in every detail of lifeT28 155.1+1. By taking everything to Him in prayer and searching the Scriptures with a humble heart, you can avoid the fatal deception of self-sufficiency5T 332.2+1.

The wisdom which God gives will lead men to self-examination. The truth will convict them of their errors and existing wrongs. The heart must be open to see, realize, and acknowledge these wrongs, and then, through the help of Jesus, each must earnestly engage in the work of overcoming them. The knowledge gained by the wise of the world, however diligent they may be in acquiring it, is, after all, limited and comparatively inferior. But few comprehend the ways and works of God in the mysteries of his providence. They advance a few steps, and then are unable to touch bottom or shore. It is the superficial thinker who deems himself wise. Men of solid worth, of high attainments, are the most ready to admit the weakness of their own unde...— T28 155.1 (1879)

There must be time for heart searching, for soul-culture. When the mind is occupied with matters of business, there must necessarily be a dearth of spiritual power. Personal piety, true faith, and heart holiness must be kept before the mind until the people realis...— PH130 16.2 (1900)

...e nurture and admonition of the Lord. The family altar is neglected; private devotion is forgotten. Eternal interests, instead of being put first, are given only the second place. God is robbed because their best thoughts are given to the world, because their time is spent on th...— ST December 17, 1896, par. 5 (1874)

The lamps are to impress upon the church the necessity of eternal vigilance as the price of safety. Devotion, watching, and prayer are not for a moment to be neglected. The Lord is coming a second time to our world, and there must be found in us a disposition to wait ...— RH March 27, 1894, par. 8 (1851)

...e no danger of self-deception. A little catechizing of self on special occasions is not sufficient. Daily examine the foundation of your hope, and see whether you are indeed in the love of Christ. Deal truly with your own hearts, for you cannot afford to run any risk here. Count the cost of bein...— 5T 332.2 (1889)

Jesus Christ, the eternal Word and only begotten Son of God, created the heavens, the earth, and humanity through the power of the FatherSITI June 29, 1888, page 390.8+2. While the Father and the Son were perfectly united in this work, it was specifically Jesus Christ who spoke the worlds into existence and formed man from the dust of the groundSITI June 29, 1888, page 390.8+2.

🕊️ The Agency of Christ in Creation

The Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy confirm that God the Father created all things through the agency of His SonBEcho March 8, 1897, par. 9+2. There is no conflict in this, as the Father and Son are one in nature and purpose John 10:307ABC 437.2+1.

• The Creative Voice: When the record of Genesis states, "And God said," it was the voice of Jesus Christ that was heard throughout the universe Genesis 1:3CAS 9.1.

• The Scope of Creation: By Him were all things created—not only the visible world but all heavenly principalities, powers, and the host of angels Colossians 1:16SITI June 29, 1888, page 390.8+1.

• The Sustainer of Life: He who created all things continues to uphold them by the word of His power, maintaining the stars in their order and the earth in its place Hebrews 1:3FBS 112.4+1.

👤 The Creation of Adam and Eve

Jesus Christ was the divine Agent who specifically brought the human race into existenceARSH March 11, 1884, page 162.4+1.

• Male and Female: It was Christ who, at the beginning of the creation, made them male and female Mark 10:6ARSH March 11, 1884, page 162.4.

• The Image of God: Christ, being the express image of the invisible God, was the one who said, "Let us make man in our image," and subsequently formed Adam and Eve to reflect the divine character Genesis 1:26-27ST November 15, 1899, par. 10+1.

• Marriage Institution: Jesus Himself pointed back to the beginning of the world as the time when He instituted marriage between the first pair Matthew 19:4SC2 79.2.

🌅 Christ and the Sabbath Memorial

Because Jesus was the actual Creator who performed the work of the six days, He is also the Author of the SabbathAMS August 10, 1893, page 250.4+1.

• Resting and Blessing: It was Jesus Christ who rested on the seventh day at the close of His creative work, and it was He who blessed and sanctified it as a memorial for manAMS August 10, 1893, page 250.4+1.

• Lord of the Sabbath: Since the Sabbath was made by Him and for His glory, He is rightfully called the Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2:27-28SITI March 25, 1886, page 186.4+1.

• Sign of Divinity: To deny that the seventh day is the Lord’s day is equivalent to denying the divinity of Christ, for it is the specific sign of His creative powerSITI June 29, 1888, page 390.8+1.

💎 The Divinity of the Creator

The fact that Jesus is the Creator is the ultimate proof of His absolute deitySITI June 29, 1888, page 390.8+1.

• Original Life: In Christ is life that is original, unborrowed, and underived, proving He is not a created being but the Fountain of all existence5BC 1130.3+2.

• Pre-existence: He existed from all eternity with the Father, and His "goings forth" have been from of old, even from everlasting Micah 5:27ABC 437.2+1.

• Redemption and Re-creation: The same power Jesus used to create the heavens and the earth is the power He uses to create a "new heart" in the sinner Ephesians 2:10ARSH October 20, 1896, page 669.10+1.

It is a dangerous error to claim that Christ had no existence before His advent to this world or to deny His role as the Creator, for such views undermine the entire plan of redemptionDD 10.1+2. We may rest with full assurance in Jesus Christ, knowing that He who was the Author of our existence is also the Finisher of our faith Hebrews 12:23SP 120.1.

You may address your prayers both to the Father and to the Lord Jesus Christ, for while we are instructed to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus, we also address Christ as our living Intercessor and only MediatorLP 40.3+1. While it is a primary biblical pattern to pray to the Father, using the name of Jesus as our credential, Christ is also a divine object of our worship and a compassionate Friend who hears our petitions directlyAA 157.1+1.

🙏 Praying to the Father in Jesus' Name

The most common instruction given to us is to come to the Father with the confidence of a child, using the name of Jesus as the golden chain that binds us to the throne of the InfinitePr 182.5+1.

• The Power of His Name: To ask in the name of Jesus means much more than just adding His name at the end of a prayer; it means our whole petition is imbued with His character and dispositionPTUK November 21, 1895, page 742.3+1.

• The Mediator's Role: Jesus stands before the Father as our Advocate, placing His own merits and the holy incense of His righteousness upon our lowly requests to make them acceptable to God1SM 332.5+1.

• A Direct Path: Through Jesus, the "gates are ajar," and the light of heaven shines upon us, allowing our petitions to enter the highest heavens because we are "accepted in the beloved" Ephesians 1:6ST July 28, 1890, par. 5+1.

🛐 Addressing Prayers Directly to Jesus

It is also entirely appropriate and biblical to address the Saviour directly in prayer, as He is our living Intercessor who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities Hebrews 4:15RH May 12, 1896, par. 4.

• Example of the Early Church: The disciples and the early Christians in Antioch addressed their prayers to God through Christ, often recounted His life with joy, and looked to Him directly as their MediatorLP 40.3+1.

• The Waldensian Example: These faithful people were heard praying in their rooms, not to saints or the virgin Mary, but directly to the Saviour as the only mediator between God and man4MR 51.1+1.

• Personal Connection: We are encouraged to tell Jesus about our mistakes and failures, and to open our hearts to Him as to one who knows and loves usPr 182.5+1.

• Crying for Help: When we fall under temptation, we are told to go to Him and repeat His own precious promises, such as "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" John 6:37HS 158.4.

⚖️ The Role of the Holy Spirit in Prayer

While we pray to the Father or the Son, the Holy Spirit acts as the representative of Christ within us to guide our petitionsTDOC 264.6+1.

• The Spirit's Intercession: While Christ is pleading for us in the heavenly courts, the Holy Spirit is working and pleading within us, making intercession with groanings that cannot be uttered Romans 8:26PTUK November 21, 1895, page 742.3+1.

• One Divine Voice: Because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are perfectly united in the work of redemption, the Father hears only one voice—the voice of His Son—when our prayers are prompted by the Spirit and offered in Christ's namePH148 5.3+1.

✨ Important Considerations for Prayer

• No Human Mediator Needed: We do not need any human priest or saint to act as a mediator, for Christ is the only name under heaven whereby we may be saved 1 Timothy 2:5Pr 182.5+1.

• Avoid Vain Repetition: Asking in His name is not a formal ceremony but a result of a living connection with the Fountain of LifeSpTB19 23.1+1.

• Faith and Sincerity: God respects the faith of the humblest saint who brings a petition or a thank offering made fragrant with the riches of His grace8LtMs, Ms 16, 1893, par. 5+1.

"Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it" John 14:13-14.