Appeals and Altar Calls
Urging Souls to Decide—It is the work of the Holy Spirit to
convince the soul of its need of Christ. Many are convicted of sin,
and feel their need of a sin-pardoning Saviour; but they are merely
dissatisfied with their pursuits and aims, and if there is not a decided
application of the truth to their hearts, if words are not spoken at the
right moment, calling for decision from the weight of evidence already
presented, the convicted ones pass on without identifying themselves
with Christ, the golden opportunity passes, and they have not yielded,
and they go farther and farther away from the truth, farther away from
Jesus and never take their stand on the Lord’s side.
Now the minister is not merely to present the Word of God in such
a manner as to convince of sin in a general way, but he is to lift up
Christ before his hearers. Christ’s claims upon them are to be made
plain. The people should be urged to decide just now to be on the
Lord’s side.—
Letter 29, 1890
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Securing Audience Response—Elder _____ has had wonderful
success in this series of meetings. His method has been to make
scripture explain scripture; and the Holy Spirit has convinced many
hearts of the truth. The people can but accept a plain Thus saith the
Lord.... He has lectured only in the evening, when men are released
from their work and can come out to hear. After a few weeks of
labor he presented the Sabbath, again making the Bible prove every
statement.
The first meeting on Sabbath was held in the large tent. After Elder
_____ had finished speaking, there was a social meeting, and then
he asked all who were convinced of the truth and were determined to
take their stand to obey the Word of God, to rise to their feet. Fifty
[284]
responded; their names were taken and a meeting appointed in which
they should bear their testimony. Many had excellent words to speak....
After several weeks had passed, another call was made for those
who had decided to obey the truth. Between twenty-five and thirty
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