All the world is mobilizing. To mobilize is the spirit of the hour. There is a reason, as we note from the following:
"Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. . . . The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. ""The Desire of Ages,'" pp. 635:636. "Events are changing to bring about the day of God, which hasteth greatly."—"Testimonies,' Vol. VI, p. 14. "The conditions of things in the world show that troublous times are right upon us. The daily papers are full of indications. of a terrible conflict in the near future."—Id., Vol. IX, p. 11
Satan, too, is mobilizing. He "is putting forth desperate efforts to ensnare the world. . . In every city. his agencies are busily organizing into parties those who are opposed to the law of God."—"Acts of the Apostles," p. 219. (See also "Testimonies," Vol. I, p. 263.) The only hope for the church is to
"Let the gospel message ring through our churches, summoning them to universal action."—Id., Vol. VII, P. 14. "Let us arouse! The battle is raging. Truth and error are nearing their final conflict."—Review and Herald, March 13, 1888. "Every member of the church should be instructed in a regular system of labor. "—"Testimonies," Vol. V, p. 308.
The only hope for the individual is to mobilize every talent, every capability, and every possibility for service. (See "Christ's Object Lessons," p. 363.) Mobilization is the alpha and omega of expression today.
Bible workers, "How readest thou?" "My . . . sisters, are you among those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not? . . Time is short, and our forces must be organized to do a larger work. Laborers are needed who comprehend the greatness of the work.
... The time demands greater efficiency. . . Oh, I am so full of this subject that I cry to God, 'Raise up and send forth messengers filled with a sense of their responsibility. "Id., Vol. IX, p. 27. If these testimonies of Jesus do not stir the Bible worker to stand in her lot and place and consider her responsibility to do a larger work in mobilizing the members of the church, what could?
In considering the Bible worker's responsibility in God's work for the hour, we must consider the time, the need, the opportunity.
The time.—"If there ever was a crisis, it is now."—Id., Vol. VI, p. 16. "We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages." —"Prophets and Kings," p. 278. "We are now standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. A crisis is before us, such as the world has never witnessed."—"Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing," p. 175.
The Need.—"We as a people have not accomplished the work which God has committed to us. We are not ready for the issue to which the enforcement of the Sunday law will bring us. It is our duty, as we see the signs of approaching peril, to arouse to action."—"Testintonics," Vol. V, pp. 713, 714. (See also Vol. IX, pp. 47, 32; "Gospel Workers," p. 352.)
The Opportunity.—"God expects His 'church to discipline and fit [mobilize] its members for the work of enlightening the world. An education should be given that would result in furnishing hundreds who would put out to the exchangers valuable talents."--/d., Vol. VI, pp. 431, 432. "It is by education and practice that persons are to be qualified to meet any emergency which may arise; and wise planning [mobilization] is needed to place each one in his proper sphere, that he may obtain an experience that will fit him to bear responsibility."—Id., Vol. IX, p. 221. (See also page 119.)
Lay preachers have been mobilized to help finish the work. But how about woman lay members? Do we not need to mobilize them also?
"Women as well as men . . . can take their place in the work at this crisis, and the Lord will work through them. If they are imbued with the sense of their duty, and labor under the influence of the Spirit of God, they will have just the self-possession required for this time. The Saviour will reflect upon these self-sacrificing women the light of His countenance, and this will give them a power that will exceed that of men. . Their work is needed." —Id., p. 128. "Christian women are called for."— Review and Herald, Dec. 19, 1878. "Women of firm principle and decided character are needed."—/dem. "If there were twenty women where there is one, who would make this holy mission their cherished work, we should see many more converted to the truth."—Id., ,fa,n. 2, 1879. "Women who can work are needed now."--Idem. "Hundreds of our sisters might be at work today if they would."—Id., Dec. 12, 1878.
Bible workers have a responsibility in mobilizing the church members that cannot be assigned to any other class of workers.
'The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the . . . 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. "Many would be willing to work if they were taught how to begin. They need to be instructed. . . There should not only be teaching, but actual work under experienced instructors. Let the teachers lead the way in working among the people, and others, uniting with them, will learn from their example."—"Ministry of Healing," p. 149.
This testimony points the index finger the Bible worker. It is our responsibility to train lay Bible workers. They are needed to go into a field to work and to get the vision of mobilizing the women of the church into a training class where they can be not only taught, but organized into "a regular system of labor." The Bible worker should lead the way in working among the people, the others learning from her example. The lay women of the church should get "education and practice" to qualify them to meet any emergency which may arise. The Bible worker should plan wisely to place each one in her sphere, so that she may obtain an experience that will fit her to bear responsibility.
Such a Bible worker will not be weighed in the balance and found wanting. "Those who labor in visiting the churches should give the ... sisters instruction in practical methods of doing missionary work."—"Testimonies," Vol. IX, p. 117. As a result of this training, the servant of the Lord in vision saw hundreds and thousands of such lay women going from home to home, visiting families and opening before them the word of God. Doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth on every side. (See Id., p. 126.)
From personal experience I can say that a Bible worker's efforts directed into this channel will produce one hundredfold greater results than can be accomplished in any other way. The public effort will soon be a thing of the past, and so will the Bible worker who does not get a vision of the responsibility of her part in mobilizing the women in the church to enlarge the place of [her] tent, to lengthen [her] cords and strengthen [her] stakes. "Our efforts in missionary lines must become far more extensive. A more decided work than has been done must be done prior to the second appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."
