Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)

Ms 147, 1902

An Appeal for More Earnest Effort

November 12, 1902 [typed]

Portions of this manuscript are published in UL 330. +^Note

I ask those who have charge of our work: Why are so many places passed by? Look upon the towns and cities yet unworked. There are many large cities in America, not only in the South, but in the North, yet to be worked. In every city in America there should be some memorial for God. But I could mention many places where the light of truth has not yet shone forth. The angels of heaven are waiting for human instrumentalities to enter the places where witness has not yet been borne to present truth. The Lord’s name is reproached. Please read your Bibles, and see if it is not true that our work has scarcely begun. We need to realize that to every man God has given his work. Shall those who know the truth feel no responsibility? Shall not the knowledge that the signs of the times are fulfilling rouse us from our lethargy? 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 1

Christ is our example. Of His work we read: “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. ... They brought unto Him all sick people which were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them.” [Matthew 4:23, 24.] 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 2

Christ healed the people, and then to those whom He healed and to those who had witnessed His healing, He preached the gospel of the kingdom. This is the work outlined before those who have in trust the greatest wealth of truth ever committed to mortals. The question for us to answer is, Are we willing to leave self out of the consideration? Are our energies spent in the Master’s service? 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 3

Are our voices often raised in earnest supplication for power from on high? Is our faith pure and strong? Have we put away all prejudice, all evil thinking and evil speaking? Are our affections set on things above, or are they twining about the things of this earth? Are our eyes open to see the needs of those around us? Can God call us faithful watchmen? 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 4

Christ’s life was one of constant self-sacrifice. His work was not confined to any time or place. It was bounded only by His love and sympathy for the souls for whom He was soon to give His life. His compassion knew no limit. On so large a scale did He conduct His work of healing and teaching, that there was no building in Palestine large enough to hold the multitudes that thronged to Him! In every town and village through which He passed was to be found His hospital. On the hillsides of Galilee, in the great thoroughfares of travel, on the seashore, in the synagogues, in every place where there were hearts ready to hear His message, Jesus healed the people and pointed them to their heavenly Father. In the evening, after the hours of toil were over, He talked with those who through the day must work to earn a pittance for the support of their families. 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 5

If we only realized how earnestly Jesus worked to sow the world with the gospel seed, we would not confine our efforts to attending Sabbath services. We would labor untiringly to give the bread of life to perishing souls. God calls upon His people to break the bands of their precise, indoor service. He would have hundreds in our cities doing the work that He did while on this earth. He calls upon His church to do this work, and He declares that He will give them power as they go forth in obedience to His command. Brethren and sisters, arouse, and show a living interest in the unworked portions of the Lord’s vineyard. Consecrate yourselves unreservedly to the work of giving the rich treasures of truth to those in darkness. Care for the sick, and prepare their minds to hear the words, “Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” [John 1:29.] 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 6

Catch the Spirit of the great Master worker. Learn from the friend of sinners how to minister to sin-sick souls. His heart was ever touched with human woe. Why are we so cold and indifferent? Why are our hearts so unimpressible. Christ placed Himself on the altar of service, a living sacrifice. Why are we so unwilling to give ourselves to the work to which He consecrated His life? Something must be done to cure the terrible indifference that has taken hold upon us. Let us bow our heads in humiliation as we see how much less we have done than we might have done to sow the seeds of truth. 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 7

When we are converted, our desire for ease and elegance will be changed. Christ brought His desires and wishes into strict abeyance to His mission—the mission that bore the insignia of heaven. He made everything subordinate to the great work that He came to the world to accomplish in behalf of the fallen race. When in His youth His mother found Him in the school of the rabbis, and said to Him, “Son, why hast Thou [thus] dealt with us?” “Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.” He answered—and His answer is the keynote of His lifework—“How is it that ye sought Me? Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?” [Luke 2:48, 49.] 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 8

My dear brethren and sisters, I speak to you in words of love and tenderness. Every earthly interest must be made subordinate to the great work of redemption. Remember that in the lives of the followers of Christ must be seen the same devotion, the same subjection to God’s work of every social claim and every earthly affection, that was seen in His life. God’s claims must ever be made paramount. “He that loveth father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me.” [Matthew 10:37.] His life is our lesson book. His example is to inspire us to put forth untiring, self-sacrificing effort for the good of others. 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 9

Union with Christ and with one another is our only safety in these last days. Let us not make it possible for Satan to point to our churches, saying, “Behold how these people, standing under the banner of Christ, hate one another. We have nothing to fear from them while they spend more strength in fighting one another than in warfare with my forces.” 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 10

The world is looking on with gratification at the disunion among Christians. Infidelity is well pleased. God calls for a change among His people. Agents of mercy are needed, not merely in a few places, but throughout the world. Men and women in this field should be preparing for service in distant lands. From every country is heard the cry, “Come over and help us.” [Acts 16:9.] Rich and poor are calling for light. Money and workers are needed. 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 11

We need to humble ourselves before God because so few of the members of His church are putting forth efforts that in any wise compare with the efforts the Lord desires them to put forth. The privileges that He has given them, the promises that He has made, the advantages that He has bestowed, should inspire them with a far greater zeal and devotion. 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 12

We need the vitalizing power of the Spirit—the strong cry of a church travailing to bring forth souls born again. There is need of more earnest wrestling with God for the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Eager, earnest, importunate prayer is needed. There is efficiency in prayer. In answer to fervent prayer, God can turn the hearts of men as He turns the waters of the sea. 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 13

God forbids that our churches and institutions shall be content to leave untouched the fields that are still unworked. The Saviour is saying to us, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” [Matthew 28:18-20.] “Teaching them”—not merely preaching a discourse now and then, but teaching them how to find the way to heaven. 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 14

In every age, but never so much as now, this has been the work of the church. Dare any of us withhold a jot of the influence that should be exerted for the recovery of the souls that are out of Christ? Dare we work out our ambitious projects and satisfy our selfish desires, and then bring to God’s altar the fraction that remains of our time and means? Think you that God will accept such an offering? 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 15

The members of the church of God in every place are to consecrate themselves to His service—body, soul, and spirit. Every addition to the church should be one more agency for the carrying on of the great plan of redemption. The church is to be a living, active missionary agency, moved and controlled by the Holy Spirit. The members are to act as one, blending in perfect union. This miracle the cross of Christ is fully able to accomplish for the good of an unbelieving world. 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 16

Every power of God’s servants is to be kept in continual exercise to bring many sons and daughters to God. In His service there is to be no indifference, no selfishness. Any departure from self-denial to self-indulgence, any relaxation of earnest supplication for the Holy Spirit’s working, means so much power given to the enemy. 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 17

Christ is reviewing His church. How many there are whose religious life is their own condemnation! 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 18

God demands that which we do not give—unreserved consecration. If every Christian had been true to the pledge made on accepting Christ, so many in the world would not have been left to perish in sin. Who will answer for the souls who have gone to the grave unprepared to meet their Lord? Christ offered Himself as a complete sacrifice in our behalf. How earnestly He worked to save sinners. How untiring were His efforts to prepare His disciples for service! But how little we have done! And the influence of the little that we have done has been terribly weakened by the neutralizing effect of what we have left undone—or undertaken and never brought to completion—and by our habits of listless indifference. How much we have lost by failing to press forward to accomplish our God-given work. As professed Christians, we ought to be appalled by the outlook. 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 19

Wake up, my brethren and sisters. There is a great work to be done. Unceasing activity is called for. “Darkness hath covered the earth, and gross darkness the people.” [Isaiah 60:2.] Many are far from Christ, wandering in the wilderness of sin. They are strangers from the covenant of promise. God calls upon His people to wake up, to shake off their careless indifference, and to take up the work waiting for them in their families. Then let them reach beyond their families to others who need help. God calls upon them to take up their long-neglected work. Let them commune with Him, that they may be imbued with His Spirit. Then Let them go forth to bestow on those in need the grace they have received from Him. 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 20

“For Zion’s sake will I not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory; and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. ... I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence, and give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” [Isaiah 62:1-3, 6, 7.] 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 21

“Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. And they shall call them, the holy people, the Redeemed of the Lord; and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A City not forsaken.” [Verses 10-12.] 17LtMs, Ms 147, 1902, par. 22