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The Call to Prayer

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 18, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 46.

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The Call to Prayer

By F. M. W.

The Spirit the Motive Power

It is most natural for the mind of man to trust in material progress, numbers, and organization. Invading armies which came against Israel of old, trusted to their numerous legions to gain the victory, little realizing the power of the God of Israel, which was not dependent upon mighty hosts. The mistake of David in numbering Israel resulted from this dependence upon material strength, numbers, and national prosperity.
Organization has its place in the work of God. Government is of divine origin. God desires everything done decently and in order in connection with his church; but while all this is true, at the same time organization of itself does not furnish the power which God desires to see among his people.
It is a blessed thing to see men and women accepting this truth by the thousands, but increasing membership alone does not bring power; it may prove rather a source of weakness. It is encouraging that we see institutions built up in the various countries of the world, but these of themselves may be but monuments of brick and mortar, and not add one whit to the power of the work of God in the earth.
Our sanitariums may be filled with patients, our schools overflowing with students, our publishing houses running to their fullest capacity; but even this temporal prosperity will not bring the power of God into the lives of the men and women connected with these institutions. Often in the midst of religious activities, that power which is destined of God to move the world and prepare a people for translation is lost, and God is forgotten. It is not by human might or worldly power, not by planning and devising, not by organized and concerted effort, however perfect, but "by my Spirit, saith the Lord," that God's work is to be accomplished. These material means are valuable auxiliaries just to the extent, and to the extent only, that they become the agencies through which the Spirit shall manifest himself among men.
The secret spring of true power lies in divine contact. Spirit-filled men and women are God's ministers of light and blessing. These, by organization and concerted effort, can work more effectively than as separate and independent factors, but plans and methods must be but servants to the motive power of the Spirit.
Without God we can do nothing; with his Spirit leading and controlling, we can accomplish all things. So, after all, the vital, practical question is, Do we possess that measure of God's Spirit in our work which will energize all our undertakings? The prophet Ezekiel, in describing the movements of the throne of God, says: "The spirit of the living creature was in the wheels." This same spirit is the motive power which must be applied to the machinery of the denomination to make it effective. Thisis the power which must go out from every institution, transforming it into a radiating center of light and blessing. In the sick-room it must be present to heal both body and soul, in the classroom to instruct, in the board or committee meeting to give sanctified judgment, and with the printed page to carry conviction to the heart. This is the power which must transform the hearts of the believers in this message if they are to be made like the three hundred men who followed Gideon, and not like the vast host that were sent home because of their indifference and lack of consecration.
The great and most important need of this people to-day is not more organization, not increased institutions; not more money and influence, but the vital, living power of God in the individual hearts of the believers. It is this, and this alone, which will cause the loud cry of this message to sound to earth's remotest bounds. It is this power which will fill the valleys and level the mountains, which will separate the seas and dam back the rivers, which will break down every stronghold of error, and remove every obstacle out of the way, giving free course to the great truths of this time. "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
When this experience of a living, conscious communion with God is realized, it will bring joy into every life. No man will hold his life or his possessions dear unto himself, but every soul will joyfully spend and be spent for the service of the Master.
There will be a breaking away from the spirit of settling down to ease and comfort. Alienation and bitterness will be laid aside. Criticism and evil speaking will be banished from every heart. Unholy ambition for office, and grasping for worldly goods will be supplanted by the spirit of humility and true sacrifice. Enlargement of the material part of this work and all missionary operations will be kept above the plane of commercialism and mere business activity, and done as unto God alone, and for his glory. O that God may baptize his people with this spirit of consecration! FOR THE DAY OF CONSECRATION MUST PRECEDE THE DAY OF POWER. God can not commit his power to unsanctified hearts and lives. He can not use as his oracles men and women whose lives are selfish and unconsecrated.
Upon whom does the burden of responsibility rest in leading out in this great work of complete consecration? Truly it must fall to the workers in this cause, to those who stand as leaders and teachers. When these dedicate their all to God, willing to follow where he shall lead, willing to sacrifice ambition, home, friends, convenience, every earthly possession, and if need be, life itself, to the promotion of this work, then shall we witness a Spirit-filled ministry, and this kind of ministry will beget a Spirit-filled church, who will willingly follow the example of complete consecration placed before them.
God is waiting, long has he been waiting, for us to come into that place where we could witness his marvelous workings. Let us open the door of our hearts and bid Christ welcome. Let us permit him to dethrone every idol, and remove from the life every stone of stumbling.
To his people to-day the call of God is the call to prayer, to earnest, prevailing prayer which shall know no denial. To his ministers the call is to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, weeping, between the porch and the altar, and pleading with God to spare his people and give not his heritage to reproach. The demand of this hour, so freighted with solemn responsibility, and so charged with possibility for service, is for holy living, for Spirit-filled lives, for power to walk and talk with God as did Enoch of old. Who will consecrate himself this day unto God, and take hold of the power which will transform his life, and make him a messenger of light and blessing to the world? With this spirit and this consecration possessing their hearts, God's people will soon witness the speedy triumph of this movement, and the glorious salvation of God in behalf of Israel. "Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord." Jer. 9: 23, 24.
F. M. W.