General Conference Bulletin, vol. 6

SABBATH SOCIAL MEETING

W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, I. H. Evans, C. M. Snow, T. E. Bowen

May 22, 3 P. M.

O. A. Olsen: This Conference is a wonderful occasion. Our souls have been stirred as we have heard the experiences of the workers, and the needs of the people groping in darkness, and how they are reaching out for the truth. This Conference knows no foreign fields. This message is to go to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. We have heard the pleas to obtain the fullness of God’s Spirit, that we may go forth to proclaim the message. The time has come to do it. What shall we do? “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” GCB May 24, 1909, page 137.2

Paul said, “I would not know anything among you save Christ and him crucified.” In Christ is vested all power in heaven and in earth. We are to so appropriate Christ, that his life will be made manifest in us; then our life will be lost in the life of Christ. GCB May 24, 1909, page 137.3

Christ stands foremost of all in the exercise of faith. The remnant keep the faith of Jesus. It is a faith that does not fail to carry off the victory. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” There is a great situation confronting us. Faith in God will master it, because faith is the connecting link between the human and the divine. Israel furnishes many illustrations of the power of faith. More than 600,000 went out of the land of Egypt, and but two entered the promised land. The great multitude fell in the wilderness because of unbelief. To-day we stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan. I thank God that there is not a discouraging report among all the reports we have heard. We are ready to take up the words of Caleb, “Let us go up at once, and possess it.” Numbers 14:6-10: “And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.” GCB May 24, 1909, page 137.4

We do not doubt that the Lord led that people. Every step of the way we see his guiding hand. But, brethren, there are more evidences that God is in this movement to-day. He has led it from the very beginning. But Israel would not believe. They said, “We can not.” Do we believe? God will take every one of us at our word. Caleb and Joshua said, “We can,” and they went up. Those who said, “We can not,” did not go up. Let us learn the lesson. God has carried out his purpose in every case, and he will carry out his purpose in this work. We may fail, but God will carry his work through triumphantly. Let us place ourselves on the side of faith, for it is victory. Unbelief puts its trust in the human; and every one who places his trust in the human, is bound to fail. Faith puts its trust in the God of Israel. When Christ was on the earth, he went about doing good, but in some places he could not do anything because of unbelief. Unbelief will hinder the work of God, but all things are possible to him that believeth. GCB May 24, 1909, page 137.5

We have many examples of faith in Hebrews 11: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death.” That same faith will prepare a people to-day for translation. Abraham accepted God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. We obtain righteousness by faith. GCB May 24, 1909, page 137.6

Faith brings unity. There can be no true faith unless self is surrendered; and just as soon as self is surrendered, it brings unity and love. The believers were all of “one heart and of one soul” on the day of Pentecost. O, that the Spirit of God may bring that same spirit into this Conference! That will open the way for the power of the Holy Spirit to come and work among us. At that time the people laid all their possessions upon the altar. As soon as men are ready to enter the work, means are needed. If the spirit brought to view in the fourth chapter of Acts should come upon us, money will be forthcoming to make this message go. If those who have means will not give, God will raise up help from some other quarter. But how sad for those who withhold the means that God would have! GCB May 24, 1909, page 137.7

When the people asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” he answered, “This is the work of God, that ye believe.” If faith will take hold of us, and we turn to God with all our hearts, there will be an advance from this time just such as will meet the mind of God. In order that faith may be exercised, sin must be put away. If we put away every sin, God will come in and take full possession of the whole being. GCB May 24, 1909, page 137.8

A. G. Daniells: Brother Olsen said that in all the reports that have been submitted, there is not one discouraging note. I am so glad of that. Every man speaks the words of Joshua and Caleb. These men have courage in their hearts because they see the working of God in the fields, and they are called here to meet with us and report the progress they are making, and then return to the firing line. What a wonderful experience this is! This message started within the memory of persons who are here in this meeting. Now we are permitted to call men and women who represent over 70 mission fields throughout the world and 14,000,000 of the world’s population, and they tell us that everywhere doors are wide open. My heart was touched when I heard that Professor Shaw had reached here. I knew he had been sick on the way; but the minute we got to talking, he was telling of his plans for India and of going back. I could see that he was going back because he was bound by wonderful ties to the people there. No man created this situation. It has been created by God, who reigns on high, and who still has charge of affairs in this world, and who will continue to do so until the last victory is won. We have something to praise God for this afternoon. GCB May 24, 1909, page 137.9

Following Elder Daniell’s remarks, over an hour was spent in a very interesting and inspiring testimony meeting. GCB May 24, 1909, page 137.10