Pray for Souls!

Our Lord Jesus Christ admonishes us in John 9:4: “I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work.” It makes me realize more and more my insufficiency as I attempt to think deeply what to do in order to share salvation with souls. But I thank God for the comfort He gives me in His word: “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.” Psalms 62:8.

Brian Palange.

Let me share with you my work here as an introduction. I spend every morning in personal study, and I also take time for Sabbath School translations. From 2 pm until 5 pm, I work in my office doing health consultations. In the evening, I do Bible studies with unbelievers. Every Sabbath at 2 pm I give Bible studies to other Bible students. I also do Bible readings and house visitations as part of my daily routine. When food supplements are needed in my clinic, I make the needed trips on my motorcycle to buy them.

One day, by the Lord’s grace, I asked a question in a humble and friendly manner to the lady who owns the clinic that I rent: “May I know the meaning of 666? I just want to know what it means since I have recently become curious about it. Revelation 14 says that God warns us not to receive this sign in order that we will not receive the wrath of God’s judgment to this earth. And Revelation 13 says that all the earth shall be deceived by this beast, the one who owns the mark. Who is the beast and what is the mark of the beast which is 666?” She paused for a moment and then asked me, “Do you know what 666 is?” “Let’s study,” I replied. To make a long story short, a schedule was made. This woman is a church elder of the United Church of Christ Philippines (UCCP), and she likes to talk about the Word of God. She invited her mother and two ladies who rent rooms from them to study with us. Right now there are five in all since her mother invited another renter to attend our studies. I studied with them almost every night. They said: “We have not heard this doctrine before.” This is the very reason why God still delays His coming. Please pray for this family as the Bible says: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Ephesians 6:18.

Brian Palange in his natural health clinic.

One day, a new member of our church visited me and asked for help for her weekly dialysis. I listened to her speaking about her home problems for three hours. After she finished sharing, I asked her if I could give her a Bible study. As we studied the promises of God, the thought came to me to visit her in her home so that I could share a Bible study with her entire family. That very night at her home, with her husband, we studied James chapter 5. She is supposed to have dialysis twice a week, but due to her family problems it had been nearly two weeks since she had the last dialysis. As a result, the edema in her legs was nearly to the thighs. “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” After reading verses 14 and 15 of James 5, we claimed the mercy of God and pleaded for His healing that very night. When morning came, I received this text: “Thank and praise God, Brother Brian. The Lord healed me instantly because of our prayers. My legs are normal today. The edema is gone.” Praise God!

“We should pray as earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit as the disciples prayed on the day of Pentecost. If they needed [the Spirit] at that time, we need it more today. Moral darkness, like a funeral pall, covers the earth. All manner of false doctrines, heresies, and satanic deceptions are misleading the minds of men. Without the Spirit and power of God, it will be in vain that we labor to present the truth. We must have the Holy Spirit to sustain us in the conflict; ‘for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places’ (Ephesians 6:12). We cannot fall as long as we hope and trust in God. Let every soul of us, ministers and people, say, as did Paul, ‘I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air’ (1 Corinthians 9:26), but with a holy faith and hope, in expectation of winning the prize.” Home Missionary, November 1, 1893.

Be of good courage and delight always to work for the salvation of man. Behold what a joyous day it will be when we hear the songs of praise for salvation and thankful voices thanking us for our self-denying effort. Let us work to spread the gospel. We can do this if we will give much time to prayer. Let us carry forward the gospel. This is no time for discouragement, but take advantage of the privilege of prayer. When trials come to your life, remember whatever the weight, that it is the weight of sin that God wants to take away from you, or perhaps the weight of truth that God has entrusted to you because you are a co-worker with God. Let us stop murmuring but work in the Spirit. When problems arise and seem to be hindering you, pause and pray to God for guidance instead of indulging in backbiting and evil-speaking. Remember we are the repairers of the breach, not the destroyers.

“When self dies, there will be awakened an intense desire for the salvation of others,—a desire which will lead to persevering efforts to do good. There will be a sowing beside all waters; and earnest supplication, importunate prayers, will enter heaven in behalf of perishing souls.” Prayer, 246.

“Oh, that the earnest prayer of faith may arise everywhere, Give me souls buried now in the rubbish of error, or I die! Bring them to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.” This Day With God, 171

“Begin to pray for souls; come near to Christ, close to His bleeding side. Let a meek and quiet spirit adorn your lives, and let your earnest, broken, humble petitions ascend to Him for wisdom that you may have success in saving not only your own soul, but the souls of others.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, 513.

By Joseph Brian Palange. Support for the work in the Philippines can be sent to Mission Projects International, PO Box 58656, Renton, WA 98058.