p. 9 | This Is From the Lord by Irwin Henry Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Feb 12, 1914

This Is From the Lord

By Irwin Henry Evans

In one of the beautiful psalms, in speaking of the promised Messiah, this language is used: “This is the Lord’s doing [“This is from the Lord,” margin]; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

We are entering upon a new era in the Lord’s work. We need only to open our eyes, and see what God is doing, not in one place, but in many places far apart, to be convinced that the Lord is mightily at work for his people. In today’s mail several have written me concerning the work which God is doing among them. Elder S. E. Wight writes from Nashville, Tenn., saying:—

I have not heard from our men in the field since the institute, except in Mississippi and Alabama. Mississippi has caught the spirit of the meeting, and every worker is, I believe, prepared for more efficient work. Some difficulties that have existed in the field have been straightened out as a result of this meeting, and a spirit of cooperation and hard work has taken possession of the workers. We just closed a week’s meeting in Jackson, Miss., which resulted in leading to a definite decision many who had been halting between two opinions, and I feel richly repaid for my nine days’ service in that city. . . . I have great hopes for the other conferences in the union.

The president of the Atlantic Union Conference writes:—

The work in this union has been going forward with unabated interest since the close of the institute. The Lord is working with us, and there have been many genuine conversions and reformations in lives and characters. The Lord is leading us to do very thorough work, and not to lay down the burden for the different churches until they are brought up on all lines. In one congregation, near the close of an earnest meeting a call was made for all who had been withholding the tithe to express themselves as to what they intended to do about it. A score of men arose and confessed their sins, and promised to bring all the tithes into the storehouse. We had a similar experience in other meetings, not only in the matter of tithe, but in all obligations to God. We have spent nearly all the time since you were here, in and around Boston and in the eastern part of Massachusetts, with the result that the churches are now in good condition. This week we are leaving for work among the churches of the central and western parts of the union. . . . In order to get the best results, we must all give the trumpet a certain sound, and should follow our leadership closely. When I study the experiences of the people of God in past ages, it would seem not a matter so much as to the size of the army as that all act together. I have been interested lately in reading over again the account of Gideon’s warfare against the Midianites, and noting his instructions to his followers. “He said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be, that as I do, so shall ye do. When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.” It was concerted action with the blessing of God that won the victory. It was so in most of the warfares of ancient Israel. If by voice and pen we all say the same things, the people will follow when they see that the Lord is with us.

The president of the North Pacific Union Conference writes under date of January 19. He says:—

I feel the need of a new vision and a new inspiration. . . . I believe with all my heart that we are entering upon the final era in our work. There is “a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees,” and I feel sure there is to be a change in the character of the work. I tremble as I think of the situation, and the demands the work from this time on will make upon every loyal heart. Much depends upon the attitude of the leaders. I have thought much on this of late, and have felt that there must be a revival in my own heart, and I have been seeking the Lord most earnestly for his blessing, and I know he has heard me and been with me. Quite a number of us have pledged the moonday hour as a time of seeking the Lord to bless our union conference with victory, and for results in bringing the Pentecostal showers upon the laborers in the field. I have tried to impress the brethren with these things, and believe there is a disposition to respond.

Elder Watson, of the Southwestern Union Conference, bore testimony in one of our union meetings that he and another laborer had baptized one hundred and five persons since General Conference.

The president of the Northern New England Conference writes under date of January 25:—

We are expecting great things because we have reached the fullness of time. There is now a movement begun in the union that is in advance of what was begun at the union conference session. It is in fulfillment of the prophecy of the shaking in “Early Writings,” the application and reception of the Laodicean message. There is no preaching—just the simple reading of that message, and extracts from the writings of Sister White showing our spiritual satisfaction, and the Spirit works wonderfully on the hearts of the hearers. A week ago last Sabbath, at one of our churches, strong men broke down in humble confession that they were hard-hearted and had never been really converted, and we believe they made a full surrender to God. Young people asked for prayers and yielded to God. Yesterday at Brownington, in one of our oldest churches in Vermont, it was the same. During Sabbath school an aged man who knew nothing of our visit, came in bringing his daughter. The roads over which he had come were drifted so badly that he had to get out and shovel snow several times. I spoke, and presently his daughter was converted in a very clear way. There was no excitement, no human pleading, no preaching, no formal opening as usual, but just a reading of these things and a study together, and then a prayer, when we had light upon our souls. It is the work of the Spirit. He reached out after this family. All are led to realize that we cannot live and work without the Holy Spirit. I believe we are just entering the experiences brought to view in the chapter on the shaking. We have not got very far yet, not to the point of all being clothed with the armor and keeping perfect rank. Then will follow the loud cry, the gifts of the Spirit, and the speedy finishing of the work.

The president of the Eastern Canadian Union Conference writes under date of January 18:—

I feel deeply stirred over the situation, and I am fully resolved that as far as my influence goes in this field, we shall bring about a different sort of affairs, with the help of God. I plan to leave early next week to open up a series of meetings where an interest has been awakened, and where I hope to see results. The time seems to be ripe in this field for a strong movement, and our people seem inclined to fall in line with such a movement. It has been a source of great encouragement to us to swing clear on our mission offerings for 1913, and we have to remind our people to keep up these funds, and thus avoid a rush at the close of the year.

Surely we can say, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” One thing more we can do, and that is to step in while the waters are troubled and receive this refreshing from the Lord.

I. H. EVANS.