The One Most Needful Thing
By H. H. BURKHOLDER
The coming week of prayer and what it should mean to Seventh-day Adventists this year is a question that should appeal to us with greater force than any similar event of the past. Called as we are to give to the whole world in one generation the most solemn message ever committed to mortal man, there is a demand for greater earnestness on our part than has ever yet characterized our work. I do not mean by this to cast reflections upon the consecrated laborers of the past who have studied and prayed and labored hard to unfold the glorious truths we now have all arranged in one grand system. God did bless the faithful pioneers of this message, and is still blessing the efforts of his people. But I would like to ask, Has the spirit of devotion, consecration, and sacrifice grown in intensity with the passing years? Are we standing to-day equipped for the service our times demand of us? Do we really believe that the end of all things is at hand? And are we revealing this faith to the world in a convincing way? These are serious questions. It seems to me that the one thing most needful in the prosecution of our work now is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. While our proofs are clear and the arguments convincing, we fail to realize from the efforts put forth the results that should follow. It is true that by the written Word we can convince men of sin, but we greatly lack the convincing and converting power to bring men back to God. Why is this lack? We have been told that “the power of the Holy Spirit awaits our demand and reception.” The trouble, then, is with us, and not with God. Because of the unfitness of the human instrument, the power is withheld lest the work should be marred, and the cause suffer a greater loss. Brethren and sisters, how long shall we hinder the progress of the cause we profess to love? Should not the coming week of prayer mark a new era in the history of our work? What greater blessing could come to us and to the cause of God than the baptism of the Holy Spirit for service? This would bring with it every other essential to a speedy close of the message, and secure for us a part in the final triumph. For this let us pray. H. H. BURKHOLDER, of Ohio.