p. 91 | Calls for Preaching by H. C. MILLER

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 21, 1866

Calls for Preaching.

By H. C. MILLER

Never, perhaps, has there been more urgent calls for men to preach the word of the Lord than at the present time. Never was there more necessity for heeding the words of our Saviour: “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”

But while the harvest is so great and the laborers so few, there is still no need of any one thinking that the work cannot go on in their place or town, without the aid of a preacher. No, brethren, instead of being discouraged because no one from abroad comes to help you, lift up your eyes to the Lord in prayer. We do not feel the power of prayer. Says James: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain.” If the occasion for such a request should come upon us, would our faith stand? Should we not begin to doubt? Should we not reason like this: Now will God stop the course of nature? will he stay the flood, and dry up the rain, because such a poor worm as I shall ask it? Ah yes, if for his glory we ask. Is there one single soul in all the earth upright before God, him will God hear, though there be millions of wicked men, who all desire the contrary. Such is God’s love for them that serve him. He has given us ample proof of this.

Now brethren, let us make application of this fact. Here is a town of two or three hundred souls, or more. In that town are two or three believers—righteous ones—and they long to have the word of truth spoken to their neighbors. Now remembering the words of Jesus, “Where two of you shall agree as touching anything ye shall ask of my Father it shall be given you,” let them begin to pray. Let them erect an altar and appoint stated seasons for prayer. Let them erect the standard, and pray God to draw all in the place who will be saved, to it. God has a Holy Spirit that works upon the heart, and leads it to examine his word, and convinces it of sin, of righteousness, of truth. And if there are two or more praying ones in that town on the Lord’s side, God can bring others who will believe, to them. There is a secret influence which attracts as the magnet, unseen, yet doing its work thoroughly. Let your light so shine that it may be seen in the town where you reside. Pray often, earnestly, faithfully. It may be you will not have occasion to call so loudly for laborers. Call upon Jesus, the Lord of the harvest.

“And it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit,” is the result recorded of Elias’ praying.

H. C. MILLER.

Whitewater, Wis.