“HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES.”
A Reading in Which the Questions Are Answered by Extracts from Late Testimonies. 1. What is the present situation of our foreign missions?—“Our foreign missions are languishing. The missionaries are not sustained as God requires they should be. For want of funds, workers are not able to enter new fields.” “Think of our missions in foreign countries. Some of them are struggling to gain even a foothold; they are destitute of even the most meager facilities.” 2. Are God’s people doing all they can to relieve this situation?—“God’s people are on trial before the heavenly universe; but the scantiness of their gifts and offerings, and the feebleness of their efforts in God’s service, mark them as unfaithful stewards. If what they are doing were the best they could do, condemnation would not come upon them; but with their resources they could do much more. The world knows, and they know, that they have to a great degree lost the spirit of self-denial and cross-bearing.” 3. Why do they not do more?—“There is a stupor, a paralysis, upon the people of God, which keeps them from understanding what is needed for this time.” 4. What appeal is made to Conference officers?—“I appeal to the officers of our Conferences to make earnest efforts in our churches to arouse them to give of their means for sustaining foreign missions. . . . The last years of probation are passing into eternity. The great day of the Lord is soon to open upon us. We should now use every ability we possess to arouse our people.” 5. How urgent is the appeal to the people?—“I urge you for your souls’ sake to hear my plea for those who are missionaries in foreign countries, whose hands are tied by your ways.” 6. How is Satan endeavoring to thwart the work in foreign lands?—“Satan is playing the game of life for the souls of men. He is seeking to secure means, that he may bind it up, so that it shall not be used to advance the missionary enterprises. Shall we be ignorant of his devices? Shall we allow him to stupefy our senses, so that we shall not discern the needs of this time?” “Satan has been working with all his powers of deception to bring matters to that pass where the way will be hedged up for want of means in the treasury.” 7. How do you answer these questions?—“Do you realize that every year thousands and thousands and ten times ten thousand souls are perishing,—dying in their sins? The plagues and judgments of God are already doing their work, and souls are going to ruin because the light of truth has not been flashed upon their pathway. Do we fully believe that we are to carry the word of God to all the world? Who believes this? ‘How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?’ Who has the faith that will enable them to practice this word? Who believes in the light which God has given?” 8. How is it possible for the work of God to be restricted?—“Unless your hearts are touched as you see the situation in foreign fields, the last message of mercy to be given to the world will be restricted, and the work which God would have done will be left undone.” 9. What has delayed the coming of Christ to this earth?—“Had the purpose of God been carried out by his people in giving the message of mercy to the world, Christ would have come to the earth, and the saints would ere this have received their welcome into the city of God.” 10. What are we now called upon to do?—“Sound an alarm throughout the length and breadth of the earth. Tell the people that the day of the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly. Let none be left unwarned. We might have been in the place of the poor souls that are in the darkness of error. We might have been placed amid barbarism. According to the light we have received above others, we are debtors to impart the same to them. The Day Star has risen upon us; let us flash the light upon the pathway of those in darkness.”