Work in New Fields
51
There is a great work yet to be accomplished in all the fields from
which we have heard reports. All through these countries there is
precious talent that God will use; and we must be wide awake to
secure it. The great obstacle to the advancement of the work is the lack
of means. Ought we not to make this a special subject of prayer? Men
who have means will receive the truth in this country; but the Lord
would have us labor earnestly in faith until that time comes. He would
have all who accept the truth become light-bearers. They should act
as though they had a message of infinite importance to present. It is
God’s truth, and all should be sanctified through it. All should have a
living faith, a living connection with heaven.
The work of the minister is not simply to preach, but it is to visit
families at their homes, to pray with them, and open to them the Scrip-
tures. He who conducts the work outside the pulpit in a proper manner
will accomplish tenfold more than he who confines his labor to the
desk. When Christ was teaching on earth, he watched the counte-
nances of his hearers, and the kindling eye, the animated expression,
told him in a moment when one assented to the truth. Even so should
the teachers of the people now study the countenances of their hearers.
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When they see a person in the audience who seems interested, they
should make it a point to form his acquaintance before leaving the
place of meeting, and, if possible, should ascertain where he lives, and
visit him. It is this kind of personal labor that helps to make him a
perfect workman. It enables him to prove his work, to give full proof
of his ministry.
This is also the most successful way of reaching the people; for
by this means their attention is best secured. Unless the attention of
the people is gained, all effort for them will be useless. The word of
God cannot be understood by the inattentive. They need a plain “Thus
saith the Lord” to arrest their attention. Let them see that their cases
are tried and condemned by the Bible, not by the lips of man; that
they are arraigned at the bar of infinite justice, not before an earthly
tribunal. When the plain, cutting truth of the Bible is presented before
them, it comes directly across long-cherished desires and confirmed
habits. They are convicted, and then it is that they specially need your
counsel, encouragement, and prayers. Many a precious soul balances
for a time, and then takes his position on the side of error, because he
does not have this personal effort at the right time.