God's Spirit at Work

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 11, 1912

God's Spirit at Work

(One giving this may add others equally as interesting to illustrate how the Lord is working.)

God's Spirit at Work

Recent Encouraging Incidents

Mr. Moody said, “I believe it is God’s method that we should sow with one hand and reap with the other.”

In all our seed-sowing our courage is strengthened and our enthusiasm increased to know positively that God’s Spirit is now working definitely on the minds of men and women. With this in mind, we pass on two or three recent experiences to cheer the heart, and lead us all to more liberal seed-sowing in these interesting times:—

LETTER NO. 1

“Oct. 17, 1911.

“Editor Signs of the Times.

“DEAR SIR: I am much troubled over the Sabbath, and am writing you for help. Just now I am not in a position to buy books, but if you have tracts giving Scriptural references in regard to the seventh-day Sabbath, I shall be glad to buy them. I do not wish to talk about the subject to any one. I prefer to be convinced from God’s Word alone, then I can decide this momentous question. If you will kindly send me prices of tracts, I will remit at once for them.

“Very anxiously yours, “(Mrs.) —.”

LETTER NO. 2 (FROM THE SAME PERSON)

“Nov. 25, 1911.

“Some days ago I received your kind letter, and in reply will say there are some points not clear to my mind. I am now reading ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,’ found in the public library. . . . There are many questions in my mind, but I am studying and asking God’s guidance into all truth. I believe my mind is open, and free from all prejudice. I am not seeking help from any one; prefer to find the truth alone. Of course, I know what my pastor would say, were I to appeal to him, but God alone can direct aright, and to him I shall have to give an account.”

LETTER NO. 3 (FROM THE SAME PERSON)

“Dec. 19, 1911.

“DEAR MR. —: I have twenty dollars for foreign fields, and as I do not know the name of your missionary secretary, I take the liberty of sending it to you, feeling sure you will see that it reaches its proper destination.”

Comment on such a series of letters is unnecessary. The Lord is working. Our work is to put people in touch with this message. Another example. The letter tells its own story:— “Los Angeles, Cal., Nov. 2, 1911.

“Editor Signs of the Times.

“DEAR SIR: At Mr. Fulton’s vegetarian cafeteria, 359 South Hill St., where I have taken my meals for some time past, I picked up the Harvest Ingathering for Missions number of the Signs of the Times. Right opposite the table where I generally take my meals there is a sign which reads: ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ What is the right way to serve the Lord?

“My parents were Catholics, and I was brought up in that religion, but did not follow that church in any way until I was married. . . . I have had a feeling of unrest during the last few years.

“I recently went to the Glendale Sanitarium, where I now take treatments. The doctors and nurses there have shown me the right way to live. I am already feeling better, although it is only three weeks since I began taking treatment.

“Now it occurs to me that I would like to live in the right way morally, too. What should I do to receive that message you are speaking about in your editorial [of the Harvest Ingathering Signs]?

“I never read the Bible, and I would like to begin. Although I understand English fairly well, I wish to read it in French. Will you provide me with a true French translation of the Bible. . . . My work is that of an office clerk or bookkeeper.”

The Bible has been supplied, and this man is now studying it with an experienced Bible worker. How surely God is impressing hearts with the need of an acquaintance with him and his truth. Shall we not provide more opportunities for people to learn about him?

Many, many more such evidences might be given. A letter came the other day from a member of a wholesale firm in Mobile, Ala., enclosing ten dollars for foreign missions, given, he said, by a friend. “It was your fine little paper,” he wrote, “that first called my attention to the perpetuity of God’s commandments.”

A few days later a letter came from another in the same firm, saying:—

“Please find enclosed money-order for thirty dollars, which amount you will kindly use in the service of God. I have just become convinced that at least one tenth of my increase belongs to God, and the thirty dollars is one tenth of my last two months’ salary. You know where to use it.”

So, friends, God is working. May these instances inspire us to be more faithful in our work for him.

Missionary Correspondence

(Let one giving this, add to it local experiences or suggestions that will assist in strengthening this branch of missionary work in the home church.)

Next to personal work face to face, is personal work through the mails. I believe we ought to keep the mail-carriers busy carrying the truth in its attractive printed forms, and delivering letters containing warm-hearted invitations to read. From the beginning of the work of spreading the gospel, this has been an effective agency. To-day I believe we have sufficient evidence of its good results to warrant the forming of Correspondence Bands in every church, to foster and encourage and direct in continuous,

intelligent missionary correspondence.

Fear of not being able to do it in the best way, keeps many from saying a word about spiritual things to those with whom they correspond. This can be done in a tactful way without giving offense. A tract may be enclosed, something like “Benefits of Bible Study” at first; and others may follow later. Speak of your hope as a Christian when referring to conditions about us, and let some beautiful little tract, such as Apples of Gold, No. 85, “Heralds of His Coming,” give its message to the reader.

I have the example of a sister’s correspondence work that should be passed on for the encouragement of others. In a missionary service at a camp-meeting she subscribed for one hundred copies of the Signs weekly. She planned to carry on work with these herself, and being a busy woman and located in the country, she decided to send them out week by week through the mails, accompanying them with letters. Quite an undertaking, perhaps you say, for one person; as much as or more than many of our churches are doing. But this she did, and you will be interested in an extract from a letter she recently wrote with reference to how she did the work, and of the results:—

“DEAR BROTHER —: I have been trying to get time to give you a report of my work with the Signs. I secured names of persons from all over the United States, strangers to me. I sent a card with the first papers; and if a positively unfavorable answer came, the name was at once dropped, and another substituted. This has been my plan throughout the work.

“I now have sixty regular readers, most of whom have had a card and a letter, and I am now writing each again, as I am anxious to seal the work permanently with as many as possible. I think I shall have all I can do for the next six months. You might be interested in some extracts from letters received. They certainly have been very cheering to me.”

Extracts from more than thirty appreciative letters were given, of which the following are fair samples:—

“I certainly do enjoy reading the Signs, and would be glad to receive it regularly. I often wonder if Christ’s coming is near, as so many think. I try so to live that I may be prepared.”

“Your kind postal announcing the sending of the Signs of the Times was duly received. I can assure you that your kindness is thoroughly appreciated. You may rest assured that the papers will always be read with interest, especially by my dear mother.”

“I have wondered who had been sending the Signs of the Times to me. Please accept my sincere thanks. My husband and myself are greatly interested in the scriptures discussed, and in anything pertaining to the coming of our Lord. I am unable to pay for the paper at present, but if you continue to send it, I shall appreciate it.”

The sister continues: “I wish to say that I have enjoyed this work very much. There are many families who could afford to take a few copies of the Signs, and by using these to cultivate a missionary spirit among the youth as they are growing up, would get a great blessing themselves. I feel anxious that out of this work there shall be some souls for the kingdom. The dear mother mentioned may get such a hold of this message that others may be drawn, and the two wives who are studying with their husbands may be led into the light. There are many others whose interest appeals to me, but even though none should accept this truth at once, I feel sure that out of this little work there will be some fruit for the kingdom.”

Could we wish for stronger evidence of what may be accomplished by well-directed efforts through the mails? May many be encouraged and inspired by such evidences to take hold anew of this method of reaching others within the reach of all.