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OCTOBER 1976 VOLUME 71, NO. 10 SOUTHERN ASIA A CALL TO FASTING AND PRAYER ALF LOHNE Vice-President, General Conference The last day of this year's Week of Prayer— the world for a witness unto all nations; and then Sabbath, November 13, 1976—has been designated shall the end come" (Revelation 14:6; Matthew a day of fasting and prayer for the Regions Beyond. 24:14). One of the reasons why the General Conference Let us, therefore, observe Sabbath, November Spring Meeting voted this, we find in these words 6, as a day of fasting and prayer for the from the Spirit of Prophecy: "Our burden for the Regions Beyond. Pray that ways may open and regionS beyond can never be laid down till the means be found to reach and win the longing souls whole earth is enlightened with the glory of the in these unentered areas from whom "prayers and Lord."—Gospel Workers, p. 470. tears and inquiries go up... for light, for grace, for The church exists for that purpose—to carry the Holy Spirit."—The Acts of the Apostles, p 109. "our burden for the regions beyond." We must We must find and contact the many who "are on reach the unreached, enter the unentered, penetrate the verge of the kingdom waiting only to be gathered barriers erected against the truth, be they secular, in."—Ibid. spiritual or political. Jesus made it clear that some great things The messenger of the Lord prophesied, "The can only be done by "prayer and fasting" (Mark work which the church has failed to do in a time 9:29). Especially is this true when His church of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a battles against spiritual powers and tries to enter terrible crisis under most discouraging, forbidding areas where the evil one seems to be the lone ruler. circumstances."—Testimonies, vol 5, p 463. These "If the saints of God with deep humility fast and circumstances exist today in some parts of the pray, their prayers will prevail. Jesus will com- world. Large geographical areas comprising countries mission holy angels to resist Satan, and he will be where hundreds of millions of people live are seem- driven back and his power broken."—Testimonies, ingly beyond the reach of the Advent Message. In vol 1, p 344. these lands practically no public preaching, no public As far as physical food is concerned, some advertising, or other traditional Adventist methods may be able to abstain completely from eating and of soul winning can be used. There are wide areas just drink water or fruit juices. Others will eat very where our people have no Seventh-day Adventist simply and lightly, the purpose being to concentrate literature in their own language, no Sabbath schools, not on the physical but on the spiritual. and cannot operate denominational schools. Let God's people, then, make a special appoint- Because of these conditions it seems humanly ment at the throne of grace on Sabbath, November impossible to reach the masses in these paces. 6. Let us plead with God for the Regions Beyond, Yet, the time has come to finish the work. There for opening shut doors, and for wisdom and courage must be ways to reach the hearts and minds of all to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in making these people! God has destined His message now full use of existing opportunities. And let us re- to go "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, member the promise, "He will finish the work, and and people." He has given us a commission—"And cut it short in righteousness: because a short work this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all will the Lord make upon the earth" (Romans 9:28). SPIRIT OF PROPHECY The First Advent of Christ ELLEN G. WHITE I was carried down to the time when Jesus Him, because He had humbled Himself as a man. was to take upon Himself man's nature, humble Satan came with this temptation: "If thou be the Himself as a man, and suffer the temptations of Son of God, command that this stone be made Satan. bread." He tempted Jesus to condescend to give His birth was without world:y grandeur. He him proof of His being the Messiah, by exercising was born in a stable, and cradled in a manger; yet His divine power. Jesus mildly answered him, "It His birth was honoured far above that of any of the is written, Men shall not live by bread alone, but by sons of men. Angels from heaven informed the every word of God." shepherds of the advent of Jesus, and light and Satan, to manifest his power, carried Jesus to glory from God accompanied their testimony. The Jerusalem, and set Him upon a pinnacle of the heavenly host touched their harps and glorified God. temple, and there tempted Him to give evidence They triumphantly heralded the advent of the Son that He was the Son of God, by casting Himself of God to a fallen world to accomplish the work of down from the dizzy height. Satan came with the redemption, and by His death to bring peace, happi- words of inspiration: "For it is written, He shall ness, and everlasting life to man. God honoured give His angels charge over Thee, to, keep Thee; the advent of His Son. Angels worshipped Him. and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest Angels of God hovered over the scene of His at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone." baptism; the Holy Spirit descended in the form of Jesus answering said unto him, "It is said, Thou a dove and lighted upon Him, and as the people shat not tempt the Lord thy God." Satan wished stood greatly amazed; with their eyes fastened up- to cause Jesus to presume upon the mercy of His on Him, the Father's voice was heard from heaven, Father, and risk -His life before the fulfilment of His saying, Thou art My beloved Son; in thee I am well mission. He had hoped that the plan of salvation pleased. would fail; but the plan was laid too deep to John was not certain that it was the Saviour be overthrown or marred by Satan. who came to be baptised of him in Jordan. But "And the devil, taking Him up into a high God had promised him a sign by which he should mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of know the Lamb of God. That sign was given as the the world in a moment of time. And the devil said heavenly dove rested upon Jesus, and the gory unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the of God shone round above Him. John reached forth glory of them; for that is delivered unto me; and his hand, pointing to Jesus, and with a loud voice to whomsoever I will, I give it. If Thou therefore cried out, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh wilt worship me, all shall be Thine. And Jesus away the sin of the world!" answered and said unto him, Get thee behind Me, John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, to Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the proclaim the first advent of Jesus. I was pointed Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." down to the last days, and saw that John rep- Satan presented before Jesus the Kingdoms resented those who should go forth in the spirit and of the world in the most attractive light. If Jesus power of Elijah, to herald the day of wrath, and the would there worship him, he offered to relinquish second advent of Jesus. his claims to the possessions of earth. If the plan After the baptism of Jesus in Jordan, He was of salvation should be carried out, and Jesus should led by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted die to redeem man, Satan knew that his own power of the devil. The Holy Spirit had prepared Him for must be limited and finally taken away, and that that special scene of fierce temptations. Forty days he would be destroyed. Therefore it was his studied He was tempted of Satan, and in those days He plan to prevent, if possible, the completion of the ate nothing. Everything around Him was unp'easant, great work which had been commenced by the from which human nature would be led to shrink. Son of God. If the plan of man's redemption should He was with the wild beasts and the devil, in a fail, Satan would retain the kingdom which he then desolate, lonely place. The Son of God was pale claimed. And if he should succeed, he flattered and emaciated, through fasting and suffering. But himself that he would reign in opposition to the His course was marked out, and He must fulfil the God of heaven. work which He came to do. Satan exulted when Jesus laid aside His power Satan took advantage of the sufferings of the and glory, and left heaven. He thought that the Son of God, and prepared to beset Him with mani- fold temptations, hoping to obtain the victory over To page 14 2 Southern Asia Tidings Are You Receiving Tidings ? SRI LANKA MEETING B. F. Pingho Adrian M. Peterson The summons of Christ "YE ARE MY WITNESSES" was the focal point of the Sri Lanka Camp from August The present monthly circulation of postage, we request that others who 18-21.