In connection with the proclamation of
the message in large cities, there are many kinds of work to
be done by laborers with varied gifts. Some are to labor in one
way, some in another. The Lord desires that the cities shall
be worked by the united efforts of laborers of different capabilities.
All are to look to Jesus for direction, not depending on man
for wisdom, lest they be led astray. As laborers together with
God they should seek to be in harmony with one another. There
should be frequent councils and earnest, wholehearted co-operation.
Yet all are to look to Jesus for wisdom, not depending upon men
alone for direction.
The Lord has given to some ministers the
ability to gather and to hold large congregations. This calls
for the exercise of tact and skill. In the cities of today, where
there is so much to attract and please, the people can be interested
by no ordinary efforts. Ministers of God's appointment will find
it necessary to put forth extraordinary efforts in order to arrest
the attention of the multitudes. And when they succeed in bringing
together a large number of people they must bear messages of
a character so out of the usual order that the people will be
aroused and warned. They must make use of every means that can
possibly be devised for causing the truth to stand out clearly
and distinctly. The testing message for this time is to be borne
so plainly and decidedly as to startle the hearers and lead them
to desire to study the Scriptures.
Those who do the work of the Lord in the
cities must put forth calm, steady, devoted effort for the education
of the people. While they are to labor earnestly
to interest the hearers and to hold this interest, yet at the
same time they must carefully guard against anything that borders
on sensationalism. In this age of extravagance and outward show,
when men think it is necessary to make a display in order to
gain success, God's chosen messengers are to show the fallacy
of spending means needlessly for effect. As they labor with simplicity,
humility, and graceful dignity, avoiding everything of a theatrical
nature, their work will make a lasting impression for good.
There is a necessity, it is true, for expending
money judiciously in advertising the meetings and in carrying
forward the work solidly. Yet the strength of every worker will
be found to lie, not in these outward agencies, but in trustful
dependence upon God, in earnest prayer to Him for help, in obedience
to His word. Much more prayer, much more Christlikeness, much
more conformity to God's will, is to be brought into the Lord's
work. Outward show and extravagant outlay of means will not accomplish
the work to be done.
God's work is to be carried forward with
power. We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We need to understand
that God will add to the ranks of His people men of ability and
influence who are to act their part in warning the world. All
in the world are not lawless and sinful. God has many thousands
who have not bowed the knee to Baal. There are God-fearing men
and women in the fallen churches. If this were not so, we would
not be given the message to bear: "Babylon the great is
fallen, is fallen. . . . Come out of her, My people." Revelation
18:2-4. Many of the honest in heart are gasping for a breath
of life from heaven. They will recognize the gospel when it is brought to them in the beauty
and simplicity with which it is presented in God's word.