Before giving a discourse, ministers should take time to seek God for wisdom and power. In earlier times the ministers would often go away and pray together, and they would not cease until the Spirit of God responded to their prayers. Then they would return from the place of prayer with their faces lighted up; and when they spoke to the congregation, their words were with power. They reached the hearts of the people because the Spirit that gave them the blessing prepared hearts to receive their message. There is far more being done by the heavenly universe than we realize in preparing the way that souls may be converted. We are to work in harmony with the messengers of heaven. We want more of God; we are not to feel that our talking and sermonizing can do the work. Unless the people are reached through God, they will never be reached. We are to rely wholly upon God, pleading His promise: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6. {6T 50.2}

Prædikanterne bør tage sig tid til at søge Gud for visdom og kraft, før de aflægger en prædiken. I de første år gik prædikanterne ofte bort og bad sammen og de ville ikke ophøre før Guds Ånd besvarede deres bønner. Da vendte de tilbage fra bedestedet med deres ansigter oplyste; og når de talte til menigheden, var deres ord med kraft. De nåede folks hjerter fordi Ånden gav dem velsignelsen, der beredte hjerterne til at modtage deres budskab. Der udrettes langt mere af det himmelske univers end vi indser, når vejen beredes for sjæles omvendelse. Vi skal arbejde i harmoni med himlens budbringere. Vi mangler mere af Gud; vi skal ikke føle at vor tale og prædikener kan gøre arbejdet. Hvis folk ikke nås ved Gud, vil de aldrig kunne nås. Vi skal stole helt på Gud, bede om hans løfte: »Ikke ved magt og ikke ved styrke, men ved min ånd, siger Hærskares Herre.« Zak.4,6.