The time has come to make decided efforts
in places where the truth has not yet been proclaimed. How shall
the Lord's work be done? In every place that is entered, a solid
foundation is to be laid for permanent work. The Lord's methods
are to be followed. It is not for you to be intimidated by outward
appearances, however forbidding they may be. It is for you to
carry forward the work as the Lord has said it should be carried.
Preach the word, and the Lord by His Holy Spirit will send conviction
to the minds of the hearers. The word is: "And they went
forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and
confirming the word with signs following." Mark 16:20.
Many workers are to act their part, doing
house-to-house work and giving Bible readings in families. They
are to show their growth in grace by submission to the will of
Christ. Thus they will gain a rich experience. As in faith they
receive, believe, and obey Christ's word, the efficiency of the
Holy Spirit will be seen in their lifework. There will be seen
an intensity of earnest effort. There will be cherished a faith
that works by love and purifies the soul. The fruits of the Spirit
will be seen in the life.
Christ is the Light of the world. Those
who follow Him do not walk in darkness, but have the light of
life. John declares of Christ: "As many as received Him,
to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on His name." John 1:12. Behold Christ. Beholding
Him brings heart and mind and character into conformity to the
will of God.
There is need of all the instruction that
our missions can give. Continue
in your work in the power of the same Spirit that led in its
establishment. By opening the Scriptures, by praying, by exercising
faith, educate the people in the way of the Lord; and there will
be built up a church founded on the Rock, Christ Jesus.
The work must be carried forward in the
simplicity of truth. God says: "I have words of encouragement
for you." The Lord has in our large cities many precious
souls who have not bowed the knee to Baal, and He has those who
have worshiped Baal ignorantly. On these the light of truth is
to shine, that they may see Christ as the way, the truth, and
the life.
Carry forward your work in humility. Never
rise above the simplicity of the gospel of Christ. Not in the
art of display, but in lifting up Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer,
will you find success in winning souls. As you work for God in
humility and lowliness of heart, He will manifest Himself to
you.
By the use of charts, symbols, and representations
of various kinds the minister can make the truth stand out clearly
and distinctly. This is a help, and in harmony with the word
of God; but when the worker makes his labors so expensive that
others are unable to secure from the treasury sufficient means
to support them in the field, he is not working in harmony with
God's plan. The work in the large cities is to be done after
Christ's order, not after the order of a theatrical performance.
It is not a theatrical performance that glorifies God, but the
presentation of the truth in the love of Christ.
Do not divest the truth of its dignity
and impressiveness by preliminaries that are more after the order
of the world than after the order of heaven. Let your hearers
understand that you hold meetings, not to charm their
senses with music and other things, but to
preach the truth in all its solemnity, that it may come to them
as a warning, arousing them from their deathlike sleep of self-indulgence.
It is the naked truth that like a sharp, two-edged sword cuts
both ways. It is this that will arouse those who are dead in
trespasses and sins.
He who gave His life to save men and women from idolatry and self-indulgence left an example to be followed by all who take up the work of presenting the gospel to others. God's servants in this age have been given most solemn truths to proclaim, and their actions and methods and plans must correspond to the importance of their message. If you are presenting the word in Christ's way, your audience will be deeply impressed with the truths you teach. The conviction will come to them that this is the word of the living God.