Gospel Workers’ Department by B. E. Miller

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 8, 1913

Gospel Workers’ Department

By B. E. Miller

Their divine calling, qualification, and preparation. Methods of labor, plans, etc.

Conducted by A. G. DANIELLS

An Earnest Ministry

THE world to-day is rushing, as it were, over the precipice of ruin. “A power from beneath is leading men to war against heaven. The powers of Satan are at work to keep the minds diverted from eternal realities. The enemy has arranged matters to suit his own purpose.” In such a state of things an earnest ministry is needed. The servant of the Lord tells us in a recent testimony, “Spasmodic efforts will do little good. We must arrest the attention. We must be deeply in earnest.” This brings me to my subject, which is the necessity of an earnest ministry. Every view we take of the situation shows us that “only by earnestness can we succeed in this work.” Earnestness, great earnestness, is what we need and must have, if the proclamation of this gospel message is accomplished in this generation.

Nature of Earnestness

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Eccl. 9: 10. “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” Rom. 12: 11.

Why is not our ministry more impressive? The third angel’s message affords one of the best of fields for tender and solemn appeals. In this message the greatest subjects are presented, the most important themes discussed, the most solemn questions urged. God and angels; the second coming of Christ; the day of judgment; the law of God; the Lord’s holy Sabbath; the incarnation, death, resurrection, and eternal reign of the Son of God; the lake of fire for the wicked, and an endless eternity of existence for the righteous; these are all revealed in this message.

Shall we not institute the personal inquiries,—Why have I not succeeded better in my ministry? How is it that my congregations are not larger, and my church increasing more rapidly? Why is it that the truth as it is in Jesus, which I believe and preach, is not attended with more power? Why do I gather so little fruit for my labors? What is further needed in my ministerial labors? What is wanting in the manner or method of my preaching?

Note the following solemn words: “The sermons preached by some of our ministers will have to be much more powerful than they are now, or many backsliders will carry a tame, pointless message, which lulls people to sleep. Every discourse should be given under a sense of the awful judgment soon to fall on the world. The message of truth is to be proclaimed by lips touched with a live coal from the divine altar. . . . My heart is filled with anguish when I think of the tame messages borne by some of our ministers, when they have a message of life and death to bear. The ministers are asleep; the lay members are asleep; and a world is perishing in sin. May God help his people to arouse and walk and work as men and women on the borders of the eternal world.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, pages 36, 37.

It is by the presentation of the truth and by the working of the Holy Spirit upon the heart that the great work of regeneration is effected. It is evident, however, that the attention of the people must be fixed upon the truth, or no permanent result will be seen. Hence the preacher is the most useful who has the greatest power of securing and holding the attention of his hearers and fixing their minds upon the truth. A dear soul once wrote a note to a minister like this, “I heard you preach last Sabbath evening, and it pleased God to bless that sermon to the good of my soul. It was not so much what you said as your manner of saying it that impressed me.”

This is but one instance out of many in which the earnestness of the worker has drawn attention to the message which would not otherwise have been secured. Large congregations are gathered, and flourishing churches raised up, by men of energy and earnestness,—men of heart, of feeling, and perseverance, who give themselves wholly to this work. Small congregations as well as declining churches do not indicate that the minister is a flame of fire. We believe that no matter under what discouraging circumstances a man in whose heart the fire of consecration burns, may commence his labors, he will soon draw around him a deeply interested and attentive body of believers.

How Shall Such a Ministry Be Obtained?

This is the most important part of our subject. It is necessary, first of all, to have the truth deeply engraved on our hearts. Then we must pray. A praying ministry will be an earnest ministry, and an earnest ministry a praying one. “One day spent in fasting and prayer to God is worth a thousand days of complaint and lamentation before men.” God’s great men were all men of prayer. Study the lives of the successful pioneers of this message, and you will see a beaten path between the pulpit and the closet. “He that is feeble among them shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.” Our Saviour said, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

Another great means to be used for obtaining a strong, earnest ministry, lies in the study of the Bible. Ministers should be earnest Bible students. Bible study will kindle in the heart a fire and zeal for soul-winning that will lead to success. The word of God is perfect. Ps. 19: 7; 12: 6. We should prayerfully study and meditate on the whole Bible, both the Old and the New Testament, and not simply a few favorite chapters. The Bible never grows old, it never loses its sap, it never runs dry. Do not let some book of man thrust God’s Book into a corner, or some commentary obscure the text. See to it that your love for the Bible is above that for every other enjoyment. The moment you begin to feel greater relish for some other book, lay it aside till you have sought deliverance from such a snare, and obtained from the Holy Spirit a keener appetite for the Word of God. Jer. 15; 16; Ps. 19: 7, 10. The following is an indication of how William Miller loved the Bible:—

“O, may the Bible be to us a rock, a pillar, a compass, a chart, a statute, a directory, a polar star, a traveler’s guide, a pilgrim’s companion, a shield of faith, a ground of hope, a history, a chronology, an armory, a storehouse, a mirror, a closet, a prayer-book, an epistle, a love-letter, a friend, a revenue, a treasury, a bank, a fountain, a cistern, a garden, a lodge, a field, a haven, a sun, a moon, a star, a door, a window, a light, a lamp, a morning, a noon, an evening, an hour-glass.

“It is meat, food, drink, raiment, shelter, warmth, heat, a feast, fruit, apples, pictures, wine, milk, honey, bread, butter, oil, refreshment, rest, strength, stability, wisdom, life, eyes, ears, hands, feet, breath; it is a help to hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling, understanding, forgiving, loving, hoping, enjoying, adoring, and saving; it declares itself to be the Word of God. And your friend and brother believes it.”—“Life of William Miller,” pages 92, 93.

May these considerations lead us to deeper thought and more fervent prayer for an earnest and devoted ministry.

B. E. MILLER.