As the week of prayer comes in the midst of the great missionary campaign, this solemn season is a favorable opportunity for personal examination, a review of past efforts, and for laying further plans. Every season of prayer like this should be an occasion for planting our feet more firmly and resolutely in the good way of personal service and soul saving.
The value of such spiritual occasions may be truly gauged by their effect on us. If they accomplish nothing more than to make us temporarily happy and self-satisfied, they will have proved a failure. If, on the other hand, we are led to consecrate our lives more fully as a willing offering for God's service, the value of the effort can not be estimated.
The missionary campaign has been thoroughly organized. Never before in the history of our work have more careful, well-organized plans been laid for the prosecution of a missionary enterprise, and never before have conference presidents and other officials taken hold with greater determination to make the work a success.
In all the plans for this missionary work, one purpose has been uppermost—to inaugurate lines of work which would be continued month by month and year14by year, without interruption. No unique features have been introduced.
The work began with an effort to extend the circulation of the REVIEW, a work in which we must persevere continually until every family of Seventh-day Adventists, and many others who would enjoy its precious teachings and reports, are blessed by the visits of our church paper. Then followed the circulation of the Signs of the Times leaflets and other message-filled tracts; then the special numbers of The Signs of the Times, the Watchman, and our foreign papers, the sale of books in the Home Workers' list, the holding of Bible readings, cottage meetings, etc. There is nothing new about these plans. These are the old methods by which we have worked since the birth of this people, and these are the means by which the majority of nearly every congregation have been brought to a knowledge of the truth of the third angel's message.
Which of these lines of work should be dropped when these winter months are over?—Not one. And this special week of prayer ought to be an occasion for renewed consecration to the blessed service offered through such practical means as these.
God has committed the work of soul saving to his church—not to a few persons, but to all. He has committed it to men instead of to angels, that by the gift of his service, the gift of his love, and by the exercise of his higher faculties, man himself might be fitted for the home above. Were it not for man's need for service like this in working out his own salvation, angels might be commissioned to do the work, and it would soon close. But this is not God's plan. He will use human means, in order that those who labor may, through their own work, be blessed.
By this personal labor we become co-laborers with Christ; by seeking after souls as he did, we learn to think his thoughts, to love as he loved, and to be spent for others as he was; and thus we grow into his likeness, and in laboring to save others, we ourselves are fitted for translation.
In the birth of every great reform, God has placed the burden of personal labor heavily upon individuals. Every denomination which has started out with new light from God has been intensely active, through all its members, in extending the blessed light given to them. But later, as each denomination has developed in wealth and strength and influence, the tendency has been for the individual to turn over his personal work to men specially set apart for service, or to institutions organized for that purpose. O that we as a people may escape from that constant impelling force which naturally carries us away from our early vigorous experience, when personal piety and personal consecration to service were the corner-stones of our hope!
A few familiar scriptures will show our individual relationship to the work which God will accomplish in the world before his kingdom is set up.
(The following scriptures may be read by persons in the congregation, as answers to the questions, and with such additional suggestions and instruction as time will permit the leader to introduce.)
What duty is assigned to every servant until the Master's return? Mark 13: 32-37.
What is the chief cause of our neglect of the duty assigned us? 1 Kings 20: 35-43.
Although the man who was charged with keeping the prisoner knew the penalty, if he should let the prisoner escape, yet he permitted various busy cares to occupy his time. What a confession this was—“As thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone.”
According to the prophet Jeremiah, what method of work for the world is to be employed in the last days? Jer. 16:16.
The spirit of prophecy, in referring to troublous times in the last days, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, states that those who love the truth, with their Bibles open, will be seen moving among excited throngs, reading the Scriptures, and laboring personally to set before them the truths for the time. The prophet Jeremiah represents God's people at this time as hunters, seeking for the lost upon every mountain and hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
What should be the attitude of the entire congregation—elders, lay members, and children—when on the march to the heavenly Canaan? Num. 9: 15-23.
Note how every eye was fixed upon the cloud, watching it by day and night, ready to march, ready to camp, as the cloud might indicate. None was doing his marching by proxy. Every soul who would reach Canaan must be in the ranks.
What is the promised reward to all who labor? Ps. 126: 5, 6.
(Note to the Leader.—It may be well to follow this section of the reading with a season of prayer. The whole congregation may be asked to consecrate themselves to this personal work of saving others. After the special activities of the missionary campaign, there is likely to be a tendency to drop the burden. This season of prayer should have particularly as its object the consecration of personal talent and time to this great work of carrying the gospel from door to door and from heart to heart.)
Encouraging Fruits From Past Labors
As we plan our work for others, it will be a source of encouragement to know the means by which people are brought to accept the third angel's message.
The following instructive statistics, gathered and compiled by A. J. S. Bourdeau, missionary secretary of the California Conference, are based upon replies received from nine hundred and seventy-two church-members, representing thirty-nine churches in that conference.
Slips of paper were passed, on which the individuals were asked to write (1) name and address; (2) the name of the minister, Bible worker, book, paper, pamphlet, tract, or any other means which was chiefly instrumental in leading them to become Seventh-day Adventists; (3) whether the Bible alone had been the means of changing their belief.
Of the nine hundred and seventy-two persons replying, the means of bringing them into the truth were as follows:—
Labors of gospel ministers ........ 321
From reading our publications:
books, 73; periodicals, 70; tracts, 45; other publications, 24; total... 212
Born into the truth, or through home influences .................... 180
Through cottage Bible readings ... 139
Through reading the Bible alone... 55
Other personal efforts ............ 44
Institutions, Sabbath-schools, etc. .. 21
Most Interesting Cases
From the most interesting replies received, Brother Bourdeau has selected the following. These are long stories condensed into one or two sentences:—
1. Reading The Signs of the Times at the bedside of his brother.
2. A sick lady in a Catholic hospital. A nurse loaned her a copy of “Great Controversy.” Result: her conversion to present truth, much to the dismay and anger of the nurse who brought her the book. Nurse was not aware of the nature of the work.
3. Inviting a Seventh-day Adventist to ride with him in his wagon fifteen miles. The Seventh-day Adventist talked the Sabbath all the way, and the man could not throw the subject off his mind.
4. A tract sent from Colorado to Canada.
5. Invited to attend Seventh-day Adventist meeting by his own pastor, a Methodist.
6. Started in to read his Bible, with the firm determination to prove that Sunday, and not the Sabbath, is the rest day.
7. A Catholic friend handed him a bundle of religious papers, among which were two copies of the REVIEW. The reading of these, together with two tracts on the Sabbath and immortality questions.
8. Taking the same course of Bible readings from the same Bible worker who had been the means of converting her mother.
9. Had been living in the mountains for ten long years, away from any church. Some one sent her The Signs of the Times and other reading-matter occasionally.
10. A daughter writes: “Mother bought ‘Great Controversy,’ It did the good work.”
11. A wife: “I accepted the truth through my husband and the Bible.”
12. One copy of The Signs of the Times, purposely dropped in the road by a Seventh-day Adventist hunter, who remembered to take some papers and tracts with him. Picked up by a man on his way to church. It became the means of converting him and his entire family—four.15
13. A bundle of The Signs of the Times loaned to a family bitterly opposed to the truth. The papers, utilized as wall-paper all over the house, were read by the young rancher while waiting for his mother to prepare the meals. He next ordered some tracts from the Pacific Press, and accepted the truth. Mother and sister subsequently followed.
14. The reading of Canright's book against Seventh-day Adventists.
15. Seeing a copy of The Bible Echo in a store window in Melbourne, Australia, led to an investigation.
16. His wife's godly life—an experience of fifteen years—led him to become an Adventist.
17. A sick boy, overhearing from his bed a Bible reading being given to his parents in an adjacent room, by a Seventh-day Adventist minister.
18. The reading of one tract—“Elihu on the Sabbath.”
19. Accepted the truth through Bible readings given while picking grapes.
20. Became an Adventist by reading a Danish tract, “Both Sides of the Sabbath Question,” handed him by a young man one Sunday morning on his way to church, on street corner in Christiania.
21. Seeing one of our brethren quit work Friday night, led him to think and investigate.
22. One tract, “State of the Dead,” led him to attend Sabbath-school, which, in turn, led to Bible readings, the reading of our large books, and to Bible lectures by our ministers.
23. Going to work for a Seventh-day Adventist.
24. An infidel, eating lunch with other workmen, when a Seventh-day Adventist canvasser, failing to sell any publications, gave the Sentinel to one of the workmen. Was led to think of the Sabbath question, through conversation with the workman who had the Sentinel. Had no Bible in the house. Went to a neighbor, and offered a load of wood for a New Testament. Read it through, and accepted the truth.
25. Read “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” ten years before hearing a preacher. Says the Lord sent him across the continent to hear preaching by Elder ——, of California.
26. Through meeting Brother B. O. Wade, one of our missionaries in Japan. Now an active missionary, and publisher of Japanese Seventh-day Adventist literature.
27. Through boarding with Elder G. H. Baber in Valparaiso, Chile, South America.
28. Through the Adventist argument on the question of spiritualism.
29. Through lectures in Stockholm, Sweden.
30. The entire Baptist church of Riceland, Minn., was advised by its pastor to study the Bible to see which day is the Sabbath. The sister writes: “Six of the fifty members, of which I was one, began keeping the Sabbath.”
These figures are powerful witnesses of the fruitfulness of humble efforts. They afford food for thoughtful study, and should be cause for sincere rejoicing. Note the following points:—
1. While the gospel ministry stands at the head, as it should, of the means for bringing the light of truth to the knowledge of the world, still the greater volume of the work was accomplished by inexpensive, humble means.
2. One fourth of the entire number were brought into the truth directly by reading our books, tracts, and periodicals, and not only so, for according to the reports, nearly every other person was assisted and instructed by the printed page.
3. What an encouragement and incentive to parents it must be to know that one fifth of the believers in present truth are brought in through home influence.
It appears, from our experience in the tract and missionary work, that the dear Lord watches with peculiar tenderness and care over little seeds sown by the wayside—those little acts inspired wholly by love by which we set no store, kindnesses which we forget to count when summing up what we have done. Because human pride was laid aside, and the deed sprang from a divine impulse, God could use it and multiply it exceedingly to his glory.
An interesting illustration of this was given by W. C. Sisley, manager of the International Tract Society, of London, when presenting his report of the publishing work in Great Britain. A canvasser had become disheartened, and feared that he was accomplishing but little. He decided one morning simply to scatter a few little leaflets on the second coming of Christ. One of these was dropped into the letter-box of a wealthy man, who read the tract with great interest. Though not a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church, he decided to assist in the circulation of this leaflet. So he wrote to the International Tract Society, and obtained terms for printing fifty thousand copies; then he hired newsboys, and had these circulated from door to door through the city where he lived. One of the fifty thousand leaflets fell into the hands of another gentleman, who decided upon the same course of action, only he pushed the work still further than the first, by securing one hundred thousand copies of the leaflet, paying for the same, and distributing them at his own expense. Thus one leaflet, placed in a mail-box that morning, when the agent felt that he could accomplish nothing, resulted in the circulation of one hundred and fifty thousand leaflets telling the glad news of Christ's soon coming.
(Note to the Leader.—If time will permit, it may be well to open the way, at the close of the reading, for a brief praise service. If the congregation is not large, perhaps all can speak a few words, stating how present truth was brought to them, and how they are resolved to continue their efforts to carry it to others. By remarks and suggestions, make the social meeting as practical as possible, looking toward a continuation of active personal missionary work in the church.)
Individual Consecration Needed
By Ellen G. White
MRS. E. G. WHITE
(Reading for Thursday, December 14)
God chose a people for himself, and gave them the name of Christian. This is a royal name, given to those who join themselves to Christ. It is of this name that James is speaking when he says, “Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?” And Peter says, “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”
God expects those who bear the name of Christ to represent him in thought, word, and deed. Their thoughts are to be pure, and their words and deeds noble and uplifting, drawing those around them nearer to the Saviour.
In the life of the true Christian there is nothing of self. Self is dead. There was no selfishness in the life that Christ lived while on this earth. Bearing our nature, he lived a life wholly devoted to the service of others.
“Be ye therefore perfect,” is God’s word to us. And in order that we might obey this word, he sent his only begotten Son to this earth to live in our behalf a perfect life. We have before us his example; and the strength by which he lived this life is at our disposal. In thought, word, and act Jesus was sinless. Perfection marked all that he did. He points us to the path that he trod, saying, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in this world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last message of mercy for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the Word of God. What manner of persons, then, ought they to be?
Our lives should show steady spiritual growth. But I have seen that which makes me tremble—men and women dwarfed in character, possessing the Word of God, which tells them what they must do in order to be saved, yet unsanctified and unholy. They do not enjoy the strength provided for every Christian, because they refuse to be Christlike.
It is the purpose of God to glorify himself in his people before the world. He longs to make them channels through which he can pour his boundless love and mercy. But are we what God would have us?—No, we are not. The members of our churches in every place need to examine themselves closely, and surrender their lives unreservedly to God. They need to grasp the offered gifts of heaven, and live out their love and gratitude. Did they do this, they would regard time as too precious to be spent in faultfinding and criticism.16
When God’s people bring the righteousness of Christ into the daily life, sinners will be converted, and victories over the enemy will be gained.
Let us come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness. Satan is working with intensity of purpose to enslave and destroy souls. Let us take a firm stand against him. He who is fully consecrated to the service of God will be made strong for the battle. He will be strengthened with “all might.” He who feels his weakness, and wrestles with God as did Jacob, saying, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me,” will go forth with the fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit. The atmosphere of heaven will surround him. He will go about doing good. His influence will be a positive force in favor of the religion of Christ.
God calls for light bearers, who will fill the world with the light and peace and joy that come from Christ. He calls for humble men, men who cherish a sense of their weakness, and who remember what the service of God demands of them—the propriety of speech and action which shows the power of the grace of Christ. Such ones will reveal in their lives the virtues of Christ’s character.
There needs to be a deeper work of grace in the hearts of God’s people. Less of self, and more of Christ, must be seen. Tests, close and sharp, are coming to all. The religion of the Bible must be interwoven with all that we do and say. Every business transaction must be fragrant with the presence of God.
The condition of things in this world bears unmistakable evidence that the end of all things is at hand. Men’s hearts are filled with pride and selfishness. Theft and murder are common. And the world is not being warned as it should be. Thousands are perishing in sin, and the last message of mercy is yet to be proclaimed in the power of the Spirit. How little is being done in comparison with what must be done! Souls are perishing out of Christ. In the future men will be moved by the Spirit to leave their ordinary employment, and enter the fields in which the warning message has never been proclaimed. Many will be endued with power from on high. These workers will labor wisely, not expending means lavishly, but studying how souls can be brought to a knowledge of the truth. This work men and women can take hold of for the love of Christ.
Time is precious. The destiny of souls is in the balance. God is holding back his judgments, waiting for the message to be sounded to all. There are many who have not yet heard the testing message of truth for this time. The last call of mercy is to be proclaimed throughout the earth. Heavenly angels have long been waiting for human agents, the members of the church, to co-operate with them in the great work to be done. They are waiting for you. So vast is the field, so comprehensive the design, that every sanctified heart will be pressed into service as an agent of divine power.
At infinite cost a way of salvation has been provided. Shall Christ’s great sacrifice be in vain? Shall the earth be entirely controlled by satanic agencies? The salvation of souls is dependent upon the consecration and activity of the members of the church of God. The Lord calls upon those who believe in him to be workers together with him. While their life shall last, they are not to feel that their work is done. Until the time shall come when Christ shall say, “It is finished,” the work for the saving of souls will not decrease, but will grow in importance. A thousand times more work for God might be accomplished if all his children would fully consecrate themselves to him. If they would improve every opportunity for doing good, doors for service would open before them. They would be called to bear greater responsibilities.
The same devotion, the same self-sacrifice, the same subjection to the claims of the Word of God, that were manifest in the life of Christ, must be seen in the lives of his servants. He left his home of security and peace, left the glory that he had with the Father, left his position on the throne of the universe. He went forth, a suffering, tempted man, went forth in solitude, to sow in tears, to water with his blood, the seed of life for a lost world.
In like manner his servants are to go forth to sow. The warning message is to be carried to all parts of the world. Our books are to be published in many different languages. With these books, humble, faithful men are to go forth as colporteur-evangelists, bearing the truth to many who would otherwise never be enlightened. Those who take up this line of work are to go prepared to do medical missionary work. The sick and suffering are to be helped. Many for whom this work of mercy is done will hear and accept the words of life.
It is not learned, eloquent workers that are needed now, but humble, Christ-like men and women, who have learned from Jesus of Nazareth to be meek and lowly, and who, trusting in his strength, will go forth into the highways and hedges to give the invitation, “Come; for all things are now ready.”
Not all can go as missionaries to foreign fields, but all can live the Christ-life where they are. All can give of their means for the support of workers in foreign fields. And all can engage in home missionary work. Let not parents forget the great mission field that lies before them in the home. In the children committed to her, every mother has a sacred charge from God. “Take this son, this daughter,” God says, “and train it for me. Give it a character polished after the similitude of a palace, that it may shine in the courts of the Lord forever.”
The light and glory that shines from the throne of God rests upon the faithful mother as she tries to educate her children to resist the influence of evil.
Church-members, let the light shine forth. Let your voices be heard in humble prayer, in witness against the intemperance, the folly, and the amusements of the world, and in proclamation of the truth for this time. Your voice, your influence, your time—all these are gifts from God, to be used in winning souls to Christ.
My brethren and sisters, you have a voice, you have reason, you have capabilities, and the Lord calls upon you to make known his truth. Visit your neighbors, and show an interest in the salvation of their souls. Arouse every spiritual energy to action. Tell those whom you visit that the end of all things is at hand. The Lord Jesus Christ will open the door of their hearts, and will make lasting impressions upon their minds.
Strive to arouse men and women from their spiritual insensibility. Tell them how you found Jesus, and how blessed you have been since you gained an experience in his service. Tell them what blessing comes to you as you sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn precious lessons from his Word. Tell them of the gladness and joy that there is in the Christian life. Your warm, fervent words will convince them that you have found the pearl of great price. Let your cheerful, encouraging words show them that you have certainly found the higher way. This is genuine missionary work, and as it is done, many will awake as from a dream.
The gospel commission is never to lose its force on the minds of the people of God. Into the darkness of sin the light of truth is to shine, that the darkness may be expelled. Those who reflect light will receive more light to reflect. New power will be brought into the church.
Let companies of Christian workers unite to help the needy and to proclaim the truth for this time. As they labor with self-sacrifice, for the sake of others denying themselves of that which they have heretofore enjoyed, but have not really needed, they are God’s helping hand.
The Lord calls upon his people to arouse out of sleep. The end of all things is at hand. When those who know the truth will be laborers together with God, the fruits of righteousness will appear. By the revelation of the love of God in missionary effort, many will be awakened to see the sinfulness of their own course of action. They will see that in the past their selfishness has disqualified them to be laborers together with God. The exhibition of the love of God as seen in unselfish ministry to others will be the means of leading many souls to believe the Word of God just as it reads.
God desires to refresh his people by the gift of the Holy Spirit, baptizing them anew in his love. There is no need for a dearth of the Spirit in the church. After Christ’s ascension, the17Holy Spirit came upon the waiting, praying, believing disciples with a fullness and power that reached every heart.
In the future, the earth is to be lightened with the glory of God. A holy influence is to go forth to the world from those who are sanctified through the truth. The earth is to be encircled with an atmosphere of grace. The Holy Spirit is to work on human hearts, taking the things of God, and showing them to men.
The message of salvation is not to be proclaimed in a few places only, but throughout the world. Those who know not the gospel are in the darkness of unbelief. They know not God. Why is the church so indolent, so selfish, so weak? Why do the members not make earnest efforts to proclaim the message of mercy, that others may know the joy of salvation through Christ?
Ye churches of the living God, study the promises of the Saviour, and think of how your lack of faith, of spirituality, of divine power, is hindering the coming of Christ. If you would go forth to do the Lord’s work, angels of heaven would go before you, preparing hearts to receive the gospel. Were every one of us a genuine missionary, the message for this time would be proclaimed speedily in all lands, to every nation and people and tongue. Are you individually workers together with God? If not, why not?
The kingdoms of this world are soon to become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. “The seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.” There is to be a rapid and triumphant spread of the gospel.
“The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple. . . . Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Soon every man will be judged according to his deeds.
My brother, my sister, I urge you to prepare for the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven. Day by day cast the love of the world out of your hearts. Understand by experience what it means to have fellowship with Christ. Prepare for the judgment, that when Christ shall come, to be admired in all them that believe, you may be among those who will meet him in peace. In that day the redeemed will shine forth in the glory of the Father and the Son. The angels, touching their golden harps, will welcome the King and his trophies of victory—those who have been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. A song of triumph will peal forth, filling all heaven. Christ has conquered. He enters the heavenly courts, accompanied by his redeemed ones, the witnesses that his mission of suffering and sacrifice has not been in vain.