"The work of God in this earth can never be finished . . ." This would be a shocking and, if it were to stop here, a most discouraging statement. Thank God the message goes on to say: ". . . until the men and women comprising our church member ship rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers." Gospel Workers, p. 352.
The whole statement then is not one of discouragement but a formula for success. It is the plan whereby the work of God can be speedily finished and the coming of our blessed Lord can be hastened. It specifies that there is no other way for this work to be done. We can, and have, tried other methods. We can, and have, come up with other plans, but always we have in the past, and will in the future, come back to the plain assertion of the Lord that it can not be done in any other way. In view of this, it is full time that we accept this fact and base all of our efforts and plans on this divine arrangement.
The Lord requires the involvement of church members in a full and vital ministry for the lost. Their involvement demands training through exemplary leadership. Notice how this is so very clearly pointed out in the following counsel:
Many would be willing to work if they were taught how to begin. They need to be instructed and encouraged.
Every church should be a training school for Christian workers. Its members should be taught how to give Bible readings, how to conduct and teach Sabbath-school classes, how best to help the poor and to care for the sick, how to work for the unconverted. There should be schools of health, cooking schools, and classes in various lines of Christian help work. The Ministry of Healing, p. 149.
Now let us notice just how this training and these classes should be conducted:
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. One example is worth more than many precepts.--Ibid.
Who is to do this all-important service for our church members?
"The best help that ministers can give the members of our churches is not sermonizing, but planning work for them. Give each one something to do for others. . . . Let all be taught how to work."--Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 82.
Ministers should not do the "work which belongs to the church, thus wearying themselves, and preventing others from performing their duty. They should teach the members how to labor in the church and in the community. --Historical Sketches, p. 291.
If pastors would give more attention to getting and keeping their flock actively engaged at work, they would accomplish more good, have more time for study and religious visiting, and also avoid many causes of friction. --Gospel Workers, p. 198.
But is this the work of the pastor alone? The answer is a positive NO! Let us notice the following counsel:
That which is needed now for the up-building of our churches is the nice work of wise laborers to discern and develop talent in the church talent that can be educated for the Master's use. There should be a well-organized plan for the employment of workers to go into all our churches, large and small, to instruct the members how to labor for the up-building of the church and also for the unbelievers. It is training, education, that is needed. Those who labor in visiting the churches should give the brethren and sisters instruction in practical methods of doing missionary work. Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 117.
There should be no delay in this well-planned effort to educate the church members. Ibid., p. 119.
So here we have the picture of the way the work oi God is to be finished. First, our church members are to be enlisted in service for Christ. Second, the pastors and departmental leaders are to train them not only by teaching classes but by taking them out into the field, going from house to house and showing them how the work can best be done. Third, there must be no delay in this important training work. Why? When this is done God's special blessing will rest upon us.
When we have entire, whole-hearted consecration to the service of Christ, God -will recognize the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together "with God. Christian Service, p. 253.
So we learn that while all will not be come involved, when the largest portion does, and when we have found a deep and intimate relationship with Christ, and have become truly committed to Him and to His service, God will recognize the fact by the outpouring of His Holy Spirit.
Will this day ever come? Thank God the answer is crystal clear.
Many . . . will be seen hurrying hither and thither, constrained by the Spirit of God to bring the light to others. The truth, the word of God, is as a fire in their bones, filling them with a burning desire to enlighten those who sit in darkness. Many, even among the uneducated, now proclaim the words of the Lord. Children are impelled by the Spirit to go forth and declare the message from Heaven. The Spirit is poured out upon all who will yield to its promptings, and, casting off all man's machinery, his binding rules and cautious methods, they will declare the truth with the might of the Spirit's power. Multitudes will receive the faith and join the armies of the Lord. --Review and Herald, July 23, 1895.
The month of May was enlistment month in North America. The months of June, July, and August must be training months if the work of the Lord is to go forward properly. The lay activities and Missionary Volunteer secretaries of the conferences, unions, and General Conference are ready with simple and effective training methods, and they stand ready to unite with the pastors in providing such training at camp meetings, in the churches, and at every other opportunity. Let us give our dear church members, young, old, and in between, the benefit of this well-developed "on the job" training so that all will know better how to work for others and to lead souls to the Saviour.
MISSION 72 is totally dependent upon this kind of united action. The church members united with the ministers, depart mental and pastoral, and church leaders, and all working under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will produce a great harvest for the kingdom of God.
Let every minister and every church officer speak the same things as we unite with our departmental leaders in training our church members for this vital role in the finishing of the work. We are not talking about the impossible. We are talking about God's method of getting the job done. "There should be no delay in this well-planned effort to educate the church members."
