Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Nina Atchesonn, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson.
6: Prayer Warriors — It Is Written — Discussion with the Author
6: Prayer Warriors — Hope Sabbath School Video Discussion
View an in-depth discussion of in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
Click on the image below to view the video:
With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.
Intercessory Prayer in The last Days
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 NKJV
The word “carousing” in this passage is the word” Kraipalê,” which means drunk, hungover, or disoriented. Sometimes, we are disoriented as to where we are physically. I remember years ago, while living in Fort Worth, I was often driving up to Oklahoma on the weekends, preaching at different cities like Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and others. Every weekend, I was in a different city, and I remember meeting a friend for dinner in Tulsa. When I left the restaurant, before I could drive away, it took me a moment to remember what city I was in and where I needed to go from there. I was disoriented.
People have also been disoriented in regard to time. I think we all occasionally forget what time it is and even what day it is. Right now, I enjoy pastoring a three-church district, where I preach in different churches on different Sabbaths. It has not happened yet, but I would not be surprised if one Sabbath I forget which Sabbath it is and drive to the wrong church. I am not sure if that would be a time or place disorientation, or both. In the passage above, Jesus wants us to watch and pray so we do not become disoriented as to time. Jesus wants us to be aware that we are in the final moments of earth’s history, and to watch and pray accordingly.
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane,
https://www.goodsalt.com/christ-in-gethsemane-gcbas0217
In Gethsemane, Jesus asked His disciples to watch and pray with Him, but they kept falling asleep. Now, as Jesus is finishing His work of interceding for sinners in earth’s final moments, He wants His church to be awake and praying with Him.
Why does Jesus want us to pray with Him? Do intercessory prayers work? Yes, they do. When my mother was dying and was unconscious, I prayed for God to wake her up just long enough for me to tell her I loved her one more time, and that is exactly what happened. A few years ago, I baptized a mother and her three children, while the husband and father thought baptism was the craziest thing in the world. The family and I prayed for the husband and father, and a year later, I baptized him, too.
Others have told me of a spouse or loved one who accepted Jesus as their Savior after 30 or 40 years of intercessory prayer. I remember a friend in Oklahoma gave a testimony about how she left the church as a teenager, but her mother kept praying for her. Years after her mother died, she came back to Jesus. When she was rebaptized, her aunt told her that her mother had made her promise to “take over” praying for her when she died. That story has always stirred my heart and affirmed the power of intercessory prayer. I remember praying for my friend, whom I will call Anne, who had left our small group Bible study and the church. Every night I prayed, “Lord please send your Holy Spirit to work upon Anne’s heart.” After weeks of praying, she called me and told me she was coming back to Jesus because she felt “The Holy Spirit working on her heart.”
Intercessory prayer works, but how? I don’t understand everything, but considering a previous Sabbath School Lesson, Rules of Engagement, we are learning there are parameters in the great cosmic battle between Christ and Satan. Satan claims this world as his own, and while I know well that this is my Father’s world, there are rules to the battle. Temporarily, at least, there is some validity to Satan’s claim to this planet. Why else would he be allowed in those meetings with the other sons of God in Job 1 and 2? In John 14:30 and John 16:11 Jesus refers to Satan as the prince of this world.
In Matthew 8:29 NLT, the demons accuse Jesus of “interfering” with them. While I am sure Jesus was not breaking any rules, that does give us a hint that there are parameters in the cosmic battle. God cannot intervene where He is not invited, as that would be using force and manipulation, as opposed to love. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus stands knocking at the heart’s door, but does not force His way in, as that would not be love. We have to open the door to let Him in. This is where intercessory prayers come in. When we pray as members of humanity on behalf of humanity for God to intervene in the lives of humanity, He now has an invitation and is not using force. If Satan protests God’s involvement in meddling with human hearts, God can tell Satan, “I am not using force or manipulation. I have been invited to intervene.”
This is why Jesus encourages us in Matthew 18:19 -20 that when we gather together in His name He is there to work powerfully to grant our requests, Just as he answered Elijah’s powerful prayers. See James 5:14-18. Being gathered in his name does not mean we have to be gathered in a certain building. We may be in separate hemispheres and be gathered in His name.
In Matthew 6:10 Jesus prays for His Father’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Revelation 12:7-9 Satan was cast out of heaven. When we pray as humanity on behalf of humanity, it opens the way for God to cast Satan out of our hearts, homes and communities. The human heart still has free choice, but God can intervene on behalf of humanity within the parameters of the cosmic battle without using force and manipulation, as He has been invited to intervene just as Elijah prayed for God’s intervention in his day.
Elijah witnessed a great miracle on Mount Carmel when he prayed for God to intervene with the Baal worshippers in 1 Kings 18.
What are some amazing things you have witnessed after praying for God’s intervention?
Tuesday: Enoch Walked and Talked
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 5th of May 2026
Read Genesis 5:22-24. What, exactly, do we know about Enoch?
The Bible doesn’t share a lot about Enoch’s life, but it does tell us that he walked with God for 300 years until God took him to heaven. How beautiful that a person’s consistent devotion to God is what defines their life!
Image © Erik Stenbakken at Goodsalt.com
One thing we know is that Enoch must have been “continuing steadfastly in prayer” (Romans 12:12, NKJV), persevering and growing closer to God in faith through his daily experiences. The earth was becoming increasingly evil in the time in which he was living, and Enoch kept busy serving God, but he couldn’t do this well without abiding in Him.
“In the midst of a life of active labor, Enoch steadfastly maintained his communion with God. The greater and more pressing his labors, the more constant and earnest were his prayers. . . . After remaining for a time among the people, laboring to benefit them by instruction and example, he would withdraw, to spend a season in solitude, hungering and thirsting for that divine knowledge which God alone can impart. Communing thus with God, Enoch came more and more to reflect the divine image. . . . Even the ungodly beheld with awe the impress of heaven upon his countenance.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Pages 86, 87.
God doesn’t ask us to live like hermits or monks, so separate from the world that we are of no earthly use. Like Enoch, we can be productive and aware of the needs around us, but it’s only by walking and talking with God through a steady, abiding relationship that He can reflect His wonderful character through us.
We can pray anytime, anywhere. There is nowhere on earth that God doesn’t see or hear us (Psalms 139:7-12); He always hears the cries of our hearts, no matter where we are (read Lamentations 3:55-57). Yet, there is something to be said for praying out loud instead of just in our minds. When we pray silently, we might become distracted or not even finish our train of thought or our sentence, and it can be harder for our thoughts to remain focused. But when we pray aloud, whether in a whisper or in our usual tone, it’s a reminder to ourselves that God is real, that He’s listening, and that we have something specific to talk about with Him.
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As you go about your day today, where or how will you whisper a prayer in communion with Jesus? |
6: Prayer Warriors — Singing with Inspiration
Growing in a Relationship With God has many wonderful steps in it. There are several beautiful hymns from which to choose as a theme due to all the changes that come along when we grow in our relationship with God. On page 31 we see that “the most powerful weapon is prayer” to help us through our growing times. Therefore, we will wish to sing
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – Hymn 290 to keep learning every minute of the day in our journey. To help with this journey, Lord,
Give Me The Bible – Hymn 272 to instruct even more with the Holy Spirit, encouraging along the way: 
Hover O’er Me, Holy Spirit – Hymn 260.
For some dear ones, prayer is a learning and growing time. We are all able to keep growing closer to our God.
Hymn 488 – At First I Prayed For Light is a beautiful starting point in growth. Then will come the
Sweet Hour Of Prayer – Hymn 478 and
‘Tis The Blessed Hour Of Prayer – Hymn 501.
Hymn 488 – At First I Prayed For Light is a beautiful starting point in growth. Then will come the
Sweet Hour Of Prayer – Hymn 478 and
‘Tis The Blessed Hour Of Prayer – Hymn 501.
It is wonderful to see those amazing people in the Bible who relied on prayer communication with God. You will find in our pre-1985 SDA Hymnal the marvellous hymn
Dare To Be A Daniel, number 497 to unpack our study on Sunday.
Dare To Be A Daniel, number 497 to unpack our study on Sunday.
Hymn 6 – O Worship The Lord encourages us to bow down before God and to kneel and adore Him as two of the ways for “The Posture of Prayer” on Monday.
We find that Enoch walked and talked with God in different places just as we are able to sing in
Hymn 487 – In The Garden on Tuesday.
Hymn 487 – In The Garden on Tuesday.
Our next leader in the Bible to learn about is Moses and how he communicated with God. In
Hymn 147 – Christ Upon The Mountain Peak we find both Moses and Elijah trembling at His feet. Have we commenced learning enough, so far, this week to say
I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say – Hymn 465? And then take delight in God’s presence as in
Hymn 36 – O Thou In Whose Presence. Wednesday concluded with “God’s forgiving grace for sinners”:
Hymn 109 – Marvelous Grace.
Hymn 147 – Christ Upon The Mountain Peak we find both Moses and Elijah trembling at His feet. Have we commenced learning enough, so far, this week to say
I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say – Hymn 465? And then take delight in God’s presence as in
Hymn 36 – O Thou In Whose Presence. Wednesday concluded with “God’s forgiving grace for sinners”:
Hymn 109 – Marvelous Grace.
As “Moses Intercedes For A Nation” it is because he “trusted in God’s power, presence, and leading in his own life” (Thursday):
Hymn 510 – If You Trust In God To Guide You.
Hymn 510 – If You Trust In God To Guide You.
With all of the joy of learning more about prayer and our closeness to our Gracious God, “we should pray because we love God so much” (Friday):
Hymn 236 – I Love Thee.
Hymn 236 – I Love Thee.
Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others.
To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/
Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
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