The church’s feelings of infirmities
Wow. Listen to these promising words.
A Reformatory Movement
In visions of the night, representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God’s people. Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen, even as was manifested before the great Day of Pentecost. 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.
Yet some refused to be converted. They were not willing to walk in God’s way, and when, in order that the work of God might be advanced, calls were made for freewill offerings, some clung selfishly to their earthly possessions. These covetous ones became separated from the company of believers. 9T p. 126.
Wouldn’t you like to be part of that great finale of this world? That would be truly exciting. Faith being born in hearts, minds and bodies throwing off the shackles of unbelief Satan has bound them down with. The power to become sons of God, and the liberty that comes with being children of the heavenly King!
Yet, why is it that we don’t get involved like we should? Why is it so hard to inspire the local congregation to participate in the work of the kingdom to come, which shall destroy and consume all of these earthly kingdoms, “and it shall stand for ever.” (Dan. 2:44).
The same little lady writes of this.
An Appeal to Laymen
When a special effort is put forth by laborers of experience in a community where our own people live, there rests upon the believers in that field a most solemn obligation to do all in their power to open the way for the Lord to work. They should search their hearts prayerfully, and clear the King’s highway by putting away every sin that would hinder them from co-operating with God and with their brethren.
This has not always been fully understood. Satan has often brought in a spirit that has made it impossible for church members to discern opportunities for service. Believers have not infrequently allowed the enemy to work through them at the very time when they should have been wholly consecrated to God and to the advancement of His work. Unconsciously they have wandered far from the way of righteousness. Cherishing a spirit of criticism and faultfinding, of pharisaical piety and pride, they have grieved away the Spirit of God and have greatly retarded the work of God’s messengers.
This evil has been pointed out many times and in many places. Sometimes those who have indulged in a censorious, condemnatory spirit have repented and been converted. Then God has been able to use them to His name’s honor and glory.
We are living in a special period of this earth’s history. A great work must be done in a very short time, and every Christian is to act a part in sustaining this work. God is calling for men who will consecrate themselves to the work of soulsaving. When we begin to comprehend what a sacrifice Christ made in order to save a perishing world, there will be seen a mighty wrestling to save souls. Oh, that all our churches might see and realize the infinite sacrifice of Christ! 9T p. 125.
Laboring While Probation Lingers
The judgments of God are in the earth, and, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we must give the message of warning that He has entrusted to us. We must give this message quickly, line upon line, precept upon precept. Men will soon be forced to great decisions, and it is our duty to see that they are given an opportunity to understand the truth, that they may take their stand intelligently on the right side. The Lord calls upon His people to labor--labor earnestly and wisely--while probation lingers. 9T p. 126.
What can be done to enlist the full allegiance of the local church to be engaged in pressing forward the kingdom of grace and the warning of the Third angel’s message? As a member of the apathetic church I would like to present a few causes.
My gist of the common thought:
Its easy to fall into the idea that every revival of the past has faded, even revivals in the Bible. Why make an effort to start a big movement that is going to fizzle out in a few months? Why waste the manpower? Why bother? Even if the conference sends their best evangelist to help us, what’s going to happen after he leaves? We’ll fall right back into ineffective ministry, going through the motions.
This town has never changed, and never will. It has its big Baptist church and its big Methodists church and its big Catholic church. It has a few small churches—Pentecostal, Nazarene, and our SDA church. Our city will always be more interested in its baseball or footfall games, its local businesses, and its crime rate than it will be in preparing for Jesus to come. So why bother them? Just leave them be and lets just continue our existence as SDAs going through the motions Sabbath after Sabbath.
How can this attitude be changed?
Perhaps a 2-man team can work in the church a year in advance of an evangelistic series. The team will work among the members to buoy their faith, mingle in the neighborhood and the whole town at large and find opportunities to fix problems and bring individuals into faith in God. The team members can participate in every church event, befriending the children and youth, and adults who put their trust in them. They will pray together fervently with one purpose, to be used by heaven to turn around the apathy and unbelief of the people, to bring the people to true conversion, to a relationship with the living God who turns them into living stones.
One major tool of the team will be to help diverge the common mindset that righteousness comes by working. This fallacy has been the main cause of exhaustion toward heavenly things. How can a person have any strength to do the Lord’s work if they’ve spent all their energy on building their own tower of Babel so that God will approve of them?
Jesus sought to break the spell of infatuation which keeps men absorbed in earthly things. He placed the things of this life in their true relation, as subordinate to those of eternal interest. DA p. 254.
If this work could be done, how soon would the people of God be ready for His coming!
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! How soon, in place of a possession here, with its blight of sin and pain, our children might receive their inheritance where “the righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever;” where “the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick,” and “the voice of weeping shall be no more heard.” Psalm 37:29; Isaiah 33:24; 65:19.100 Education, p. 271.
A Reformatory Movement
In visions of the night, representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God’s people. Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen, even as was manifested before the great Day of Pentecost. 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.
Yet some refused to be converted. They were not willing to walk in God’s way, and when, in order that the work of God might be advanced, calls were made for freewill offerings, some clung selfishly to their earthly possessions. These covetous ones became separated from the company of believers. 9T p. 126.
Wouldn’t you like to be part of that great finale of this world? That would be truly exciting. Faith being born in hearts, minds and bodies throwing off the shackles of unbelief Satan has bound them down with. The power to become sons of God, and the liberty that comes with being children of the heavenly King!
Yet, why is it that we don’t get involved like we should? Why is it so hard to inspire the local congregation to participate in the work of the kingdom to come, which shall destroy and consume all of these earthly kingdoms, “and it shall stand for ever.” (Dan. 2:44).
The same little lady writes of this.
An Appeal to Laymen
When a special effort is put forth by laborers of experience in a community where our own people live, there rests upon the believers in that field a most solemn obligation to do all in their power to open the way for the Lord to work. They should search their hearts prayerfully, and clear the King’s highway by putting away every sin that would hinder them from co-operating with God and with their brethren.
This has not always been fully understood. Satan has often brought in a spirit that has made it impossible for church members to discern opportunities for service. Believers have not infrequently allowed the enemy to work through them at the very time when they should have been wholly consecrated to God and to the advancement of His work. Unconsciously they have wandered far from the way of righteousness. Cherishing a spirit of criticism and faultfinding, of pharisaical piety and pride, they have grieved away the Spirit of God and have greatly retarded the work of God’s messengers.
This evil has been pointed out many times and in many places. Sometimes those who have indulged in a censorious, condemnatory spirit have repented and been converted. Then God has been able to use them to His name’s honor and glory.
We are living in a special period of this earth’s history. A great work must be done in a very short time, and every Christian is to act a part in sustaining this work. God is calling for men who will consecrate themselves to the work of soulsaving. When we begin to comprehend what a sacrifice Christ made in order to save a perishing world, there will be seen a mighty wrestling to save souls. Oh, that all our churches might see and realize the infinite sacrifice of Christ! 9T p. 125.
Laboring While Probation Lingers
The judgments of God are in the earth, and, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we must give the message of warning that He has entrusted to us. We must give this message quickly, line upon line, precept upon precept. Men will soon be forced to great decisions, and it is our duty to see that they are given an opportunity to understand the truth, that they may take their stand intelligently on the right side. The Lord calls upon His people to labor--labor earnestly and wisely--while probation lingers. 9T p. 126.
What can be done to enlist the full allegiance of the local church to be engaged in pressing forward the kingdom of grace and the warning of the Third angel’s message? As a member of the apathetic church I would like to present a few causes.
My gist of the common thought:
Its easy to fall into the idea that every revival of the past has faded, even revivals in the Bible. Why make an effort to start a big movement that is going to fizzle out in a few months? Why waste the manpower? Why bother? Even if the conference sends their best evangelist to help us, what’s going to happen after he leaves? We’ll fall right back into ineffective ministry, going through the motions.
This town has never changed, and never will. It has its big Baptist church and its big Methodists church and its big Catholic church. It has a few small churches—Pentecostal, Nazarene, and our SDA church. Our city will always be more interested in its baseball or footfall games, its local businesses, and its crime rate than it will be in preparing for Jesus to come. So why bother them? Just leave them be and lets just continue our existence as SDAs going through the motions Sabbath after Sabbath.
How can this attitude be changed?
Perhaps a 2-man team can work in the church a year in advance of an evangelistic series. The team will work among the members to buoy their faith, mingle in the neighborhood and the whole town at large and find opportunities to fix problems and bring individuals into faith in God. The team members can participate in every church event, befriending the children and youth, and adults who put their trust in them. They will pray together fervently with one purpose, to be used by heaven to turn around the apathy and unbelief of the people, to bring the people to true conversion, to a relationship with the living God who turns them into living stones.
One major tool of the team will be to help diverge the common mindset that righteousness comes by working. This fallacy has been the main cause of exhaustion toward heavenly things. How can a person have any strength to do the Lord’s work if they’ve spent all their energy on building their own tower of Babel so that God will approve of them?
Jesus sought to break the spell of infatuation which keeps men absorbed in earthly things. He placed the things of this life in their true relation, as subordinate to those of eternal interest. DA p. 254.
If this work could be done, how soon would the people of God be ready for His coming!
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! How soon, in place of a possession here, with its blight of sin and pain, our children might receive their inheritance where “the righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever;” where “the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick,” and “the voice of weeping shall be no more heard.” Psalm 37:29; Isaiah 33:24; 65:19.100 Education, p. 271.
posted by David | 6:17 AM
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