HE ORDAINED MINISTER ALONE IS NOT equal to the task of warning the world. God is calling, not only upon ministers, but also upon physicians, nurses, canvassers, Bible workers, and other consecrated laymen of varied talents, who have a knowledge of present truth, to consider the needs of the unwarned cities. There should be one hundred workers actively engaged in personal missionary work where now there is but one. Time is rapidly passing. There is much work to be done before Satanic opposition shall close up the way. Every agency must be set in operation, that present opportunities may be wisely improved.
The Lord is calling upon the men and women who have the light of truth for this time to engage in genuine, personal missionary work. . . . There are great blessings in store for those who fully surrender to the call of God. As such workers undertake to win souls for Jesus, they will find that many who never could be reached in any other way will respond to intelligent, personal effort.
Tell Them
A working church is a living church. Church-members, let the light shine forth. Let your voices be heard in humble prayer . . . and in the proclamation of the truth for this time. Your voice, your influence, your time,—all these are gifts from God, and are to be used in winning souls to Christ. 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 are found 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 that you have certainly found the higher education. This is genuine missionary work, and as it is done, many will awake as from a dream. . . .
Signs in Our Time
Soon strife among the nations will break out with an intensity that we do not now anticipate. The present is a time of overwhelming interest to all living. Rulers and statesmen, men who occupy positions of trust and authority, thinking men and women of all classes, have their attention fixed upon the events taking place about us. They are watching the strained, restless relations that exist among the nations. They observe the intensity that is taking possession of every earthly element, and they realize that something great and decisive is about to take place, that the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis.
A moment of respite has been graciously given us of God. . . . The truth must be proclaimed in the dark places of the earth. Obstacles must be met and surmounted. A great work is to be done, and to those who know the truth for this time, this work has been entrusted.
About His Business
I am instructed to speak words to our people that will give them courage to do diligently the work that shall come to them in this their day of opportunity. I am instructed to urge the necessity of personal consecration. . . . Let each one inquire, Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do, that the vigilance of Christ may be seen in my life, that his example may be followed by me, that I may speak sincere words, which will help souls in darkness? . . .
The Lord calls upon you, O church that has been blessed with the truth to give a knowledge of this truth to those who know it not. From one end of the world to the other must the message of Christ’s soon coming be proclaimed. The third angel’s message—the last message of mercy to a perishing world—is so precious, so glorious. . . .
More and more, men and women are going forth with the gospel message. We thank God for this. But we need a greater awakening. . . . That which we receive from Christ we must give to others. Just as surely as we receive, so surely must we give. None who receive the grace of Christ can keep it to themselves. As soon as Christ becomes an abiding presence
in the heart, we shall not be able to see souls perishing in ignorance of the truth and be at rest. We shall make any
sacrifice that we may reach them. . . .
Our Power Made Perfect in Weakness
The influence of the work we are doing will be felt through all eternity.
If we will work in harmony with one another and with heaven, God will demonstrate his power in our behalf as he did for the disciples on the day of Pentecost. Those days of preparation, in which the disciples prepared themselves by prayer and a putting away of all disunion, brought them into such close relation to God that he could work for them and through them in a marvelous manner. To-day God desires to accomplish great things through the faith and works of his believing people. But we must stand in right relation to him, that when he speaks to us we may hear and understand his voice. . . .
Talk faith, work in faith, and advance in faith. Obstacles will be removed as we lay hold of the promises of God. Let the Lord’s people go forward, and their hearts will be made strong. . . . “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain.”
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*Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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This article is excerpted from one that first appeared in The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, now the Adventist Review, November 17, 1910. Seventh-day Adventists believe Ellen G. White exercised the biblical gift of prophecy during her more than 70 years of public ministry.
