The Key-Note of the General Conference

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 22, 1913

The Key-Note of the General Conference

The Finishing of the Work

The finishing of the gospel message in this generation,— this is the key-note that is now being sounded in the General Conference gathering. To this call every loyal heart will respond. Indeed, the giving of the gospel message to the world constitutes the business of Seventh-day Adventists. They have no other reason for an existence. For this very purpose God has brought this people and this movement into being. But by no human power can this ministry be accomplished. Heaven itself must do the work.

In what manner may we relate ourselves to the Master that we may have a part in the work, that we may become helpers to the heavenly intelligences in carrying it forward? Is it by human plans and devisings, by the creation of material agencies, by the enlargement and perfection of organization, by conference vote, by the passing of resolutions? These of course have a natural and an appropriate place in the development and carrying forward of a united movement. Of themselves, however, they will not accomplish the work, nor will their possession by us as a church necessarily place us in a position where through them we can give to the world the message of the Lord’s soon coming. These agencies of themselves are inert and powerless. Used of God, they may become mighty and effective. It is the Spirit of divine power which must do the work in this generation, as in the days of Zerubbabel. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts,” shall the mountain become a great plain.

This was emphasized by Elder A. G. Daniells in his address before the Conference last week. After speaking of the excellent progress which this movement has made, all of which has been due to the prospering hand of God, and of the various agencies that have been called into existence to carry forward the work, he states: “We should with all our hearts pray for the baptism and abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. This is more important than all else. Without this all other efforts will fail, . . . There can be no efficient substitute for that divine Spirit. Learning, eloquence, long experience, material equipment, busy activity, cannot take the place of the Holy Spirit in the work of God.”

The need of the church today and the need of every individual member of that church is for more of God in the heart, more of the abiding and indwelling Spirit of power in the life. Christianity is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” This is the very essence of the gospel. The attainment of this individual experience in God, above all else combined, will bring the power of God into this movement, and enable us in this generation to finish the work committed to us.

We need our institutions. They have done splendid service in the printing of literature, in the education of young men and women for laborers in this cause, in caring for the sick and afflicted. We need our present system of organization. Without it there would be little of united, harmonious cooperation. Haphazard effort, misrule, and disorder would characterize the progress of this movement on every side, if, indeed, it made any progress at all. We need to distribute literature. God has accomplished much by the circulation of the printed page. We need to render to God his own in tithes and offerings. But far above all these things in importance—above organization, above the carrying forward of institutions, above the giving of means and the distribution of literature—do we need a work of grace wrought in our individual hearts. This personal experience in God is fundamental to all that follows, to all effective denominational effort.

Heaven cannot use with power worldly men and women, however liberal, or however earnestly they may enlist in a propaganda for a dissemination of the principles they hold. The Spirit of God cannot fill with power the lives of those whose hearts are impure, deceitful, or filled with malice, envy, jealousy, or emulation. This is emphasized by the Saviour. To the Pharisees of old, who considered religion as consisting of forms and ceremonies, rites and ritualism; who felt that their strict Sabbath observance, their payment of tithe extending to the smallest detail of income, commended them to God, the Saviour declared:— “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

Engaged as we have been in the carrying forward of this movement in its various departments,—in the promotion of institutions, the circulation of literature, and the extension of missionary operations,—is it not possible that even in our zeal for the Master and the message we have neglected in a measure the cultivation of Christian graces in our lives?

In the material things we should do no less, but even more. We should with fidelity and faithfulness pay the tithe of our income, but while we give careful regard to the observance of these outward forms, O, let us not neglect to cultivate in our hearts judgment, mercy, and faith! for “these,” the Saviour says, “ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Hence, we believe that the most necessary preparation on the part of this church for the finishing of the work of God is the preparation of the individual heart.

We need as a people more of God in our hearts, our homes, our churches. We need to humble ourselves before him, and confessing our sins, dedicate ourselves anew to the service of loving, unselfish ministry for others.

The ministry of personal service will then become a joy. Instead of being content to work for others alone by proxy, we shall seek the personal touch with souls, realizing that this is personal contact with the Lord Jesus Christ through the souls for whom he has died. The old-time individual missionary effort will be revived. This kind of missionary labor we believe will prove an incentive and well-spring of life to every soul, and will transform our churches from formal organizations into living, throbbing, pulsating centers of influence in the carrying of this blessed gospel to the nations of men. For this individual and denominational experience let us devoutly pray.