The Divine Program Outlined
Turning now from surveying the destructive hindrances, to a consideration of constructive helps,—from the things that impede, to those forces and resources which God has not only ordained, but has specifically named and provided for the finishing of the work,—I would present for consideration, the following:
1. A deliberately planned, denomination-wide movement, born and nurtured of prayer and counsel, to arise and finish the work. Let there go forth from this Conference a universal summons, a world rally call, to arise as a people, and address ourselves in all earnestness to this one supreme responsibility of the remnant church, breaking with everything that has effectually retarded this great objective, singling out, encouraging and utilizing to the full those forces and resources pointed out by the inspired counsels so graciously given this people for guidance in this matter. In the brief expansion of points to follow, I have no new schemes to project, but I do have inspired authority for the great fundamental provisions I would here list as available, as required, and as sufficient to finish the work. Our sole hope of success lies in following the divine program laid down for us in these instructions, so plain and clear that none need err therein.
2. As prerequisite to all else, there should be coupled therewith an authoritative and solemn call to repentance, revival, and seeking with prayer and confession for the Holy Spirit, as not only our greatest personal need, but our greatest resource for the finishing of the work. This should be, indeed, our very first work. And it should begin with us ministers and other gospel workers, sweeping out to embrace all of our people, not as a feeble or intermittent effort, but with divinely authorized persistence. We should all seek for a new conversion, a new infilling, and a new and absolute surrender to the control of the Holy Spirit in personal life and in all our denominational endeavor. No clearer call rings through the Spirit of prophecy than this specific summons. Hear God's admonition:
"A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work."—Ellen G. White, quoted in "Christ Our Righteousness," p. 146.
"A revival need be expected only in answer to prayer." —/bid.
"There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the Lord can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church and an impenitent congregation. . . . When the way is prepared for the Spirit of God, the blessing will come. Satan can no more hinder a shower of blessing from descending upon God's people than he can close the windows of heaven that rain cannot come upon the earth."—Id., p. 149.
"The church must arouse to action. The Spirit of God can never come in until she prepares the way." —Id., p. 151.
"There seemed to be a great movement—a work of revival—going forward in many places. Our people were moving into line, responding to God's call. My brethren, the Lord is speaking to us. Shall we not heed His voice ?"—"Testimonies to Ministers," p. 515.
"If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little thought of, there is seen spiritual drouth, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death. Whenever minor matters occupy the attention, the divine power which is necessary for the growth and prosperity of the church, and which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in infinite plenitude. . . . For the daily baptism of the Spirit, every worker should offer his petition to God. Companies of Christian workers should gather to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely."—"Acts of the Apostles," p. 50.
"There are many who profess to believe and claim the Lord's promises ; they talk about Christ and the Holy Spirit ; yet they receive no benefit, because they do not surrender their souls to the guidance and control of divine agencies.
"We cannot use the Holy Spirit ; the Spirit is to use us. Through the Spirit, God works in His people 'to will and to do of His good pleasure.' But many will not submit to be led. They want to manage themselves. This is why they do not receive the heavenly gift. Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train."—"Gospel Workers," p. 285.
"Why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit, since this is the means by which we are to receive power ? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, preach concerning it? The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to us than parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the baptism of the Spirit every worker should be pleading with God. Companies should be gathered together to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely."—"Testimonies," Vol. VIII, p. 22.
3. Such a revival is inseparable from a genuine reformatory movement that will vitally affect the whole of life,—its outlook and activities, both personal and denominational. This should be called for, urged, and participated in as a life-and-death issue, which it is. Among other things, it will scatter us from our colonized centers, and really utilize our lay forces, causing them to go everywhere preaching the word. We are to mobilize, not by concentration in fav6red spots, but by scattering to places of need. Listen to Heaven's counsel:
"In visions of the night, representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God's people. . . . Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families, and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest. On every side, doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The world seemed to be lightened with the heavenly influence. Great blessings were received by the true and humble people of God. I heard voices of thanksgiving and praise, and there seemed to be a reformation such as we witnessed in 1844."—Id., Vol. IX, p. 126.
"God calls for a spiritual revival and a spiritual reformation. Unless this takes place, those who are lukewarm will continue to grow more abhorrent to the Lord, until He will refuse to acknowledge them as His children."
"A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend."—Ellen G. White, quoted in "Christ Our Righteousness," pp. 154, 155.
"When the earth is lightened with the glory of God, we shall see a work similar to that which was wrought when the disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaimed the power of a risen Saviour."—Id., p. 163.
The light given over and over again by the Spirit of God is, Do not colonize. Enter the large cities, and create an interest among the high and the low." —"Testimonies to Ministers," p. 400.
"But the people of God are never to collect together into a large community as they have done in Battle Creek. Those who know what it is to have travail of soul will never do this, for they will feel the burden that Christ carried for the salvation of men."—Id., p. 199.
"Enlarge ye ; spread ye ; yes, but not in one place only. Go out, and establish centers of influence in places where nothing, or next to nothing, has been done. Break up your consolidated mass ; diffuse the saving beams of light into the darkened corners of the earth. A work similar to that of an eagle stirring up her nest needs to be done."—"Testimonies," Vol. VIII, p. 150.
Though covetousness is declared to be our most grievous sin as a people, under the impulse of a genuine revival and reformation, the grip of covetousness will be broken. Breaking away from our congested centers, the question of property disposal will be more easily cared for. Cheering is the word:
"There is a time coming when commandment keepers can neither buy nor sell. Make haste to dig out your buried talents. If God has entrusted you with money, show yourselves faithful to your trust ; unwrap your napkin, and send your talents to the exchangers, that-=when Christ shall -come, He may receive His own with interest. In the last extremity, before this work shall close, thousands will be cheerfully laid upon the altar. Men and women will feel it a blessed privilege to share in the work of preparing souls to stand in the great day of God, and they will give hundreds as readily as dollars are given now."—"Historical Sketches," p. 292.
.. In this reformatory forward movement, our ministry are to lead, but the laity are to have a place of paramount importance. They are to be definitely encouraged, led and utilized beyond all plans and conceptions of the past. To be true to the counsels of the Spirit of prophecy, we must encourage a real, self-supporting laymen's movement. This is a life-ordeath matter for hosts of our laymen. 'Their break with the things that have held them,—colonization, covetousness, inactivity,—is contingent upon finding a place of consecrated service of this character. It is restless idleness in the vineyard of the Lord that makes men a prey either to sincere dissatisfaction with that idleness, or to criticism, cynicism, skepticism, and the designs of independent, offshoot elements. Of the fundamental place of laymen in God's plan for the last things, we are told:
"The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers."—"Testimonies," Vol. IX, p. 117.
"The strength of an army is measured largely by the efficiency of the men in the ranks. A wise general instructs his officers to train every soldier for active service, He seeks to develop the highest efficiency on the part of all. If he were to depend on his officers alone, he could never expect to conduct a successful campaign. He counts on loyal and untiring service from every man in his army. The responsibility rests largely upon the men in the ranks... In the closing controversy now waging between the forces for good and the hosts of evil, He expects all, laymen as well as ministers, to take part."—Id., p. 116.
"If the followers of Christ were awake to duty, there would be thousands where there is one today, proclaiming the gospel in heathen lands."—"Steps to Christ," pocket edition, p. 81.
"O that I could speak words to men and women that would arouse them to diligent action ! The moments now granted to us are few. We are standing upon the very borders of the eternal world, We have no time to lose."—"Testimonies," Vol. IX, p. 117.
5. And next, the youth and children have their allotted place, are called to do a work that none others can do. It is incumbent upon us to plan for the tremendous potentialities of our great army of youth. Converted, trained, and used to the full, they could accomplish a mighty work. This restless army of youth, with its pent-up energies that are bound to find an outlet in either wholesome or unwholesome activities, should be - mobilized for God, given definite purpose and direction, trusted and utilized in a great youth-for-youth movement. The results will surprise us all.
Youth responds to the challenge of the difficult. In fact, the harder the task the more it appeals to youth, with its boundless vitality and strength, its courage and its optimism. Challenged to really break with the things of this world, and to fulfill their irreplaceable part in God's scheme of things for the finishing of -the wcifk-, -they will nobly respond- to the call to the colors in the army of King Jesus. We are to draft heavily upon these reserves. We are to have faith in our youth. It is my deliberate conviction that the work will be largely finished by youth. When, through oppressive restrictions, our ministerial force can no longer function, our youth and children will proclaim the message due, just as did the child preachers of Sweden in the 1844 movement. Observe these counsels:
"With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world ! How soon might the end come,—the end of suffering and sorrow and sin !"—"Education," p. 271.
"You [our young people] can do a work that those who minister in word and doctrine cannot do. You can reach a class whom the minister cannot affect."—"Messages to Young People," p. 207.
"The church is languishing for the help of young men who will bear a courageous testimony, who will with their ardent zeal stir up the sluggish energies of God's people, and so increase the power of the church in the world. . . . Young men, press to the front, and identify yourselves as laborers together with Christ, taking up the work where He left it, to carry it on to its completion."—Id., p. 25.
"In the closing scenes of this earth's history, many of these children and youth will astonish people by their witness to the truth, which will be borne in simplicity, yet with spirit and power. They have been taught the fear of the Lord, and their hearts have been softened by a careful and prayerful study of the Bible. In the near future, many children will be endued with the Spirit of God, and will do a work in proclaiming the truth to the world, that at that time cannot well be done by the older members of the church."—"Counsels to Teachers," pp. 166, 167.
"Satan is a vigilant foe, intent upon his purposes of leading the youth to a course of action entirely contrary to that which God would approve. He well knows that there is no other class that can do as much good as young men and young women who are consecrated to God. The youth, if right, could sway a mighty influence. Preachers, or laymen advanced in years, cannot have one half the influence upon the young that the youth, devoted to God, can have upon their associates."—"Messages to Young People," p. 204.
6. A material increase in the number of theologically trained youth received into full-time ministry is also plainly called for. It is regrettable to hear the iteration and reiteration of some upon having reached the "saturation point" in the absorption of our youth. Such a viewpoint surely springs from lack of faith and vision. I am persuaded that we have not yet begun to touch our possibilities in direct, full-time evangelism. A successful evangelist pays his own way through the cumulative tithes and offerings of his converts. The way to greatly extend the message and build the church is through the channel of direct evangelism. It is well said that the church that ceases to "go" ceases to "grow." That there must be either progression or retrogression, is inevitable. Such is the law of life. Wholly apart from the vast army of laity, old and young, whose talents are to be mobilized and utilized for God there is a large group of young men and young women whom God is preparing and calling for full-time evangelistic service. The internship provision has already proved a godsend, but its possibilities have by no means been exhausted.
I am confident that there are many believers with means who would gladly invest in young men and women during their ministerial internship period, after their preparatory training had demonstrated their fitness. This could be effected by their assuming that portion of the salary borne by the local conference; namely, one third of the salary plus expenses, for the first year, and one half of the salary, plus expenses, during the second year.
No better investment could be made in these last days than in worthy youth prepared for the ministry or Bible work, but without an opening. If fifty or a hundred such believers could be found annually by the conferences in different sections of North America, thus to provide this additional number of graduates with opportunity to demonstrate their fitness for permanent service in homeland and mission field, it would turn the tide of hope for such youth, whose eyes and hearts are fixed on entering our denominational work. It would place them, in a unique way, upon their honor, and inspire them to do their best to justify the confidence reposed in them under such a provision. It would likewise change the whole complexion in a score of conferences financially unable to provide these opportunities, and fill that serious gap in the steady stream of recruits that should never cease.
L. E. F.
(To be continued)
