The Sabbath-School as a Missionary Field, 1886

October 1, 1886

The Sabbath-School as a Missionary Field.

Our Sabbath-schools are nothing less than Bible societies, and they may embrace far more than they have hitherto done in the sacred work. They possess a power, if rightly managed, and are capable of doing a good and great work; but they are not what they may be and what they should be. If properly conducted, the influence growing out of the Sabbath-school will improve and enlarge the church, instead of diverting the interest from the church, and concentrating it in the school. There is a most precious missionary field in the Sabbath-school. If now there are omens of good, they are only the beginning of what may be. The great work of opening God’s word to the people by the means of Bible readings from house to house, gives character and importance to the Sabbath-school. It proves that the teachers should be really converted men and women, who understand the Scriptures, and can adapt their teaching to the various grades in the school. The idea of Bible readings is Heaven-born. It may put hundreds into the field to do an important work that otherwise would remain undone. The Bible is unchained. It may be carried to every man’s door, and its truth presented to every man’s conscience, and as a result, many will, like the Bereans, search the Scriptures, to see what is truth. Christ has said, “Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they that testify of me.” Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, bids men not only to read, but to search the Scriptures. (SSW, October 1, 1886 par. 1)

This is a great and important work, and in doing it will be found a great reward, for obedience to Christ’s injunction will not go unrewarded. He will crown with special tokens of his favor this act of obedience and loyalty in following the light revealed in his word. As soon as men and women will open the Bible, and look upon the utterances of God with reverence, and with an earnest desire to know what saith the Lord, light and grace will be given them, and they will see wondrous things out of God’s law. They will not see it as a yoke of bondage, but as God’s utterances, given for them to obey, –wise, just, and good. These great truths, which have been neglected, unheeded, and unappreciated for ages, the Spirit of God will flash into the understanding, and every page will be illuminated with the light of life. The book is not sealed, but the wonderful truths are revealed. The living oracles are heard by wondering ears, and the consciences of men are aroused to action. (SSW, October 1, 1886 par. 2)

Gather all into your Sabbath-schools and Sunday schools, from the lisping infant to those of gray hairs, and set them to the task of solving mysteries which have not been comprehended by men of giant minds. Let not narrow ideas circumscribe and bind about your labors. “The field is the world.” The doctrines lie plainly revealed on every page of the Bible, and yet the enemy will blind minds so that they cannot discern the plainest truths. Then let the truth be taught the dear children, and let them become acquainted with the revealings of God’s word, and let them tell what is written. Let the minister from the desk, with lips touched by a living coal from off the altar of God, speak words that will burn into the hearts and souls of these, although the wise have not comprehended the truth. We must second the command of God, “Go forward.” There should be no standing still. We make improvements because God and his providence lead us on in the path of obedience. The truth has a sanctifying power. (SSW, October 1, 1886 par. 3)

Why should not the Seventh-day Adventist and Seventh-day Baptist harmonize? Why not co-operate? Why not unite in the work and become one without compromising any principle of truth, and without damage to any interest worth preserving? Both are in defense of the law of God. The Bible and the Bible alone is to be the rule of our faith, the sole bond of our union, and they who evade the truth of the Bible will not desire more intimate relationship. But if these two bodies would unite in the Sabbath-school interest, in the effort to open the word of God to the people, a work would be done that would not please the artful foe at all. One grand lesson should be taught to our children, and that is, freedom from every particle of egotism and bigotry. They should be taught that other souls outside of our faith are precious, and that jesting, sneering, sarcasm, or contempt for those outside of our faith will be an offense to God. Such a course will wound the soul, hinder the prayers, and enfeeble the spiritual growth of those who indulge in them. We should educate the children not to be narrow, but broad; and an agony of desire and a wrestling faith should be encouraged, that God will give them the ability to win souls. (SSW, October 1, 1886 par. 4)

One thing is certain, the spirit of love is wanting in the church and in the Sabbath-school. The workers and the learners remain on too low a level. All need to be enlarged, to have holier aspirations, to inhale a purer atmosphere. Young men are to come forth from our Sabbath-schools and from our colleges to become missionaries. They need the best kind of instruction. They need to have the virtue added to faith which comes alone from God, which will qualify them for most trying, responsible positions. The growth of the mind, of the intellect, the spiritual growth, should correspond with the growth of the body. Workers of experience should not be contended to do all the work themselves, but let the burden fall upon younger shoulders. The young men should feel it their duty to become intellectual as well as spiritual workers. Many fail, not because they lack ability, but they lack in a determined effort. They do not apply themselves, and while the experienced should unload some of the burden, placing it upon them, the inexperienced should be making the very best of their time and opportunity, learning and practicing caretaking, that they may be able to take the burdens put upon them. This is a great and important missionary effort,–the training and disciplining workers to go forth into all the world to preach the gospel to every creature.

Ellen G. White. (SSW, October 1, 1886 par. 5)

Effectual Prayer, 1884

April 22, 1884 Effectual Prayer.

[REMARKS ADDRESSED TO THE MINISTERS ASSEMBLED IN GENERAL CONFERENCE AT BATTLE CREEK, MICH., NOV. 10, 1883.]

By Mrs. E. G. White.

Many prayers are offered without faith. A set form of words is used, but there is no real importunity. These prayers are doubtful, hesitating; they bring no relief to those who offer them, and no comfort or hope to others. The form of prayer is used, but the spirit is wanting, showing that the petitioner does not feel his need, and is not hungering and thirsting after righteousness. These long, cold prayers are untimely and wearisome; they are too much like preaching the Lord a sermon. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 1)

Learn to pray short and right to the point, asking for just what you need. Learn to pray aloud where only God can hear you. Do not offer make-believe prayers, but earnest, feeling petitions, expressing the hunger of the soul for the Bread of Life. If we prayed more in secret, we should be able to pray more intelligently in public. These doubtful, hesitating prayers would cease. And when we engaged with our brethren in public worship, we could add to the interest of the meeting; for we should bring with us some of the atmosphere of Heaven, and our worship would be a reality, and not a mere form. Those about us can soon tell whether we are in the habit of praying or not. If the soul is not drawn out in prayer in the closet and while engaged in the business of the day, it will be manifest in the prayer-meeting. The public prayers will be dry and formal, consisting of repetitions and customary phrases, and they will bring darkness rather than light into the meeting. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 2)

The life of the soul depends upon habitual communion with God. Its wants are made known, and the heart is open to receive fresh blessings. Gratitude flows from unfeigned lips; and the refreshing that is received from Jesus is manifested in words, in deeds of active benevolence, and in public devotion. There is love to Jesus in the heart; and where love exists, it will not be repressed, but will express itself. Secret prayer sustains this inner life. The heart that loves God will desire to commune with him, and will lean on him in holy confidence. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 3)

Let us learn to pray intelligently, expressing our requests with clearness and precision. Let us put away the listless, sluggish habit into which we have fallen, and pray as though we meant it. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Faith takes a firm hold of the promises of God, and urges her petitions with fervor; but when the life of the soul stagnates, the outward devotions become formal and powerless. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 4)

I have listened to testimonies like this: “I have not the light that I desire; I have not the assurance of the favor of God.” Such testimonies express only unbelief and darkness. Are you expecting that your merit will recommend you to the favor of God, and that you must be free from sin before you trust his power to save? If this is the struggle going on in your mind, I fear you will gain no strength, and will finally become discouraged. As the brazen serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, so was Christ lifted up to draw all men unto him. All who looked upon that serpent, the means that God had provided, were healed; so in our sinfulness, in our great need, we must “look and live.” While we realize our helpless condition without Christ, we must not be discouraged; we must rely upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Poor sin-sick, discouraged soul, look and live. Jesus has pledged his word; he will save all who come unto him. Then let us come confessing our sins, bringing forth fruits meet for repentance. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 5)

Jesus is our Saviour today. He is pleading for us in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, and he will forgive our sins. It makes all the difference in the world with us spiritually whether we rely upon God without doubt, as upon a sure foundation, or whether we are seeking to find some righteousness in ourselves before we come to him. Look away from self to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. It is a sin to doubt. The least unbelief, if cherished in the heart, involves the soul in guilt, and brings great darkness and discouragement. It is saying that the Lord is false; that he will not do as he has promised; and he is greatly dishonored. Some have cherished doubts, discontent, and a disposition to be on the wrong side, until they love doubts, and seem to think it is praiseworthy to be on the side of the doubting. But when the believing ones shall receive the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls, the doubting ones, who have sowed unbelief, will reap that which they have sown, and a pitiful, undesirable harvest it will be. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 6)

Some seem to feel that they must be on probation, and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed before they can claim his blessing. But these dear souls may claim the blessing of God even now. They must have his grace, the spirit of Christ to help their infirmities, or they cannot form Christian characters. Jesus loves to have us come to him just as we are,–sinful, helpless, dependent. We claim to be children of the light, not of the night nor of darkness; what right have we to be unbelieving? (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 7)

Some obtain answers to prayer, a little freedom, and they become elated. They do not increase in faith, do not grow in strength and courage, but they depend on feeling. If they happen to feel well, they think they are in favor with God. How many stumble here, how many are overcome! Feeling is no criterion for any of us. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We are to examine our characters in God’s mirror, his holy law, to detect our errors and imperfections, and then to remove them by the precious blood of Christ. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 8 )

Jesus, who died for us, loves us with a love that is infinite; and we must love one another. We must put away all selfishness, and work together in love and unity. We have loved and petted ourselves, and excused ourselves in our waywardness; but we have been unmerciful toward our brethren, who are not as faulty as ourselves. The Lord loves us, and bears with us, even when we are ungrateful to him, forgetful of his mercies, wickedly unbelieving; but consider, brethren, how relentless we are to one another, how pitiless; how we hurt and wound one another when we should love as Christ has loved us. Let us make a complete change. Let us cultivate the precious plant of love, and delight to help one another. We must be kind, forbearing, patient with one another’s errors; we must keep our sharp criticisms for ourselves, but hope all things, believe all things, of our brethren. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 9)

When we have cultivated a spirit of charity, we may commit the keeping of our souls to God as unto a faithful Creator, not because we are sinless, but because Jesus died to save just such erring, faulty creatures as we are, thus expressing his estimate of the value of the human soul. We may rest upon God, not because of our own merit, but because the righteousness of Christ will be imputed to us. We must look away from self to the spotless Lamb of God, who did no sin; and by looking to him in living faith, we shall become like him. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 10)

There are rich promises for us in the word of God. The plan of salvation is ample. It is no narrow, limited provision that has been made for us. We are not obliged to trust in the evidence that we had a year or a month ago, but we may have the assurance today that Jesus lives, and is making intercession for us. We cannot do good to those around us while our own souls are destitute of spiritual life. Our ministers do not wrestle all night in prayer, as many godly ministers before us have done. They sit up bent over tables, writing lessons, or preparing articles to be read by thousands; they arrange facts in shape to convince the mind in regard to doctrine. All these things are essential; but how much God can do for us in sending light and convicting power to hearts in answer to the prayer of faith! The empty seats in our prayer-meetings testify that Christians do not realize the claims of God upon them; they do not realize their duty to make these meetings interesting and successful. They go over a monotonous, wearisome round, and return to their home unrefreshed, unblessed. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 11)

If we would refresh others, we must ourselves drink of the Fountain that never becomes dry. It is our privilege to become acquainted with the Source of our strength, to have hold of the arm of God. If we would have spiritual life and energy, we must commune with God. We can speak to him of our real wants; and our earnest petitions will show that we realize our needs, and will do what we can to answer our own prayers. We must obey the injunction of Paul, “Arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.” (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 12)

Luther was a man of prayer. He worked and prayed as though something must be done, and that at once, and it was done. His prayers were followed up by venturing something on the promises of God; and, through divine aid, he was enabled to shake the vast power of Rome, so that in every country the foundations of the church trembled. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 13)

The Spirit of God co-operates with the humble worker that abides in Christ and communes with him. Pray when you are faint-hearted. When you are desponding, close the lips firmly to men; keep all the darkness within, lest you shadow the path of another, but tell it to Jesus. Ask for humility, wisdom, courage, increase of faith, that you may see light in his light, and rejoice in his love. Only believe, and you shall surely see the salvation of God. (RH, April 22, 1884 par. 14)