1、对传道士和教会职员的呼吁
亲爱的弟兄们:
当我一周又一周阅读发表在《评论与通讯》和本会其它期刊上的工作报告的时候,我的心因第三位天使信息在国内外园地的进展而欢喜快乐。我们的工人正在拥有许多非凡的经验。主正行在他们前面,预备道路,现代真理的事业正在取得迅速进展。这应该使我们深切地感激上帝。当我们将目前工作的兴旺与早年圣工的先驱们经历的贫困相比时,我们只能惊叹:“上帝行了何等的大事!”那时我们的人数很少,资源有限。{PH010 3.1}
然而,仍有许多工作要做。在过去,我们在寻找拯救失丧的人时,并没有像我们本应该做的那样勤勉。宝贵的机会被白白错过,未予利用。这就延迟了我们君王的到来。要是上帝的子民从伟大的复临运动之初就不断地与祂保持活的联络,要是他们顺从了祂的话并在祂一切敞开的天意中前进了,他们今日就会在天上的迦南了。{PH010 3.2}
上帝希望我们在邻舍和朋友中间所进行的传道工作,我们只做了一小部分。在我国的每一座城市里,都有人不认识真理。在海外的广大世界中,有许多新的园地有待我们去开发播种。{PH010 4.1}
少数忠心的宣教士甚至现在就在遥远的园地树立真理的旗帜。出版物正在以多种语言成倍增加。这些无声的使者正在启发成千上万的人。然而我们作为一班子民远远没有以上帝的天意开路的速度前进。我们的统帅发出了命令:“前进。”成千上万的人正在渴求活的真理。马其顿的呼声正从四面八方向我们传来。“请过来帮助我们。”我们环顾四周,问道:“谁愿意去呢?”甚愿每一个跟从耶稣的人都能响应:“请差遣我。我渴望为我的主做点什么。”{PH010 4.2}
我一次又一次蒙指示看到一个异象:大洋彼岸的人们困惑地站在那里,脸色因焦虑而苍白,诚恳地问:“真理是什么?”他们说:“我们需要生命的粮。我们的各教会背弃了上帝。我们想要找到老路。我们想回到福音信仰的简朴。”当我看到这幅画面生动地浮现在我面前时,我的眼泪流了下来。天上有声音恳求说:“你们往普天下去,传福音凡受造的听”(可16:15)。在如此伟大的工作尚未完成的时候,我们作为跟从基督的人,岂不要觉悟到上帝赐给我们的责任,积极地尽我们的本分吗?{PH010 5.1}
扩大工人队伍的计划
军队的力量大部分取决于士兵的勇猛精干。所以凡是精明的将领,必要吩咐他的军官,训练部下每个士兵服好现役。他必设法使他每一个部下的效率发挥到淋漓尽致的地步。如果他单是依靠军队中的官长,就决不能指望打一场胜仗。他所依靠的应该是全军每个人忠诚不懈地工作,所以胜败的责任,大半压在全军士兵的身上。{PH010 5.2}
大君以马内利的军队,也未尝不是如此。我们战无不胜的元帅,也要依靠凡来投在祂旗帜下的每一个人甘心乐意的服务。在这善恶两军最后交锋之时,祂希望每一个人,无论平信徒、传道人,全都投入战斗。凡应募作祂士兵的人都要有强烈的个人责任感,忠心尽职,像随时应召的志愿兵一样。{PH010 6.1}
凡监察教会灵性生活的人,都应尽力设法安排每个教会肢体在上帝的工作上都有一份工作。我们过去没有总是这样做。我们以前并没有制订计划并完全实行,使各人的才能都发挥出来去从事积极的服务。只有很少的人认识到我们因此已造成了多大的损失。{PH010 6.2}
上帝圣工的领导人,都应作聪明的将领,为全军制订前进的方针。在订计划时,他们须特别研究平信徒对各人的亲朋邻舍所能做的工。只有构成我们教会的男女都振奋起来,与教会中的传道人和职员等通力合作,上帝在这世上的工作才能得以完成。{PH010 6.3}
要拯救罪人,须作认真的个人之工。我们须将生命之道传给他们,而不是等他们到我们这里来。唉!我真不知还要用什么话来激起男男女女们奋力作工!我们可以作工的时间不多了。我们已到了永生世界的边境了。我们没有时间可以再浪费了。一寸光阴一寸金,若将如此宝贵的时间只花在侍奉自我上,真是太不值得了。谁肯切心呼求上帝,从祂那里求得能力和恩典,在传福音的园地中作祂忠心的仆人呢?{PH010 7.1}
人才,各教会都有,只要我们加以适当的训练,就可将他们培养为工作上的得力助手。我们应该有完备的计划,派工作人员到大小各教会去,教导信徒如何建立教会和为非信徒作工的种种方法。他们需要训练和教育。我们每个人都须下定决心,对于现时代的工作变得聪明起来,使自己有资格去做与自己最相宜的工作。{PH010 7.2}
现在建立教会所需要的是聪明的工人。他们要善于识别并造就教会中的人才——经过培养能为主所用的人才。凡到各教会去的工人都应将实际的传道方法,教导弟兄姐妹们。要有专人从事训练青年的工作。我们该教导我们的青年男女,在自己的家里、邻里和教会里作传道之工。{PH010 8.1}
这一切的训练工作,都须与求上帝赐下祂圣灵的恳切祈祷相辅相成。这一点,务须使每个愿意献身服务主的人明白并实行。我们的行为受到世人的注意。我们的一举一动,都会受到监察和评论。所以我们必须勤于培养基督化的美德,使我们非但能口头承认真理,也能按着那在耶稣里的真理教导人,更能以身作则,使仇敌确实说不出我们有什么错处。在他们与非信徒的一切交往中,他们都在发挥一种为善或为恶的影响。他们要么是活的香气叫人活,要么是死的香气叫人死。上帝要我们更加虔诚,要我们的生活圣洁,行为纯正,与我们所宣讲之高超神圣的真理相称。为基督作工之人的生活,应达到如此的地步,能使不信的人见了他们那种神圣的行动和谨慎的言语,就不由得心中羡慕那产生如此实效的信仰。{PH010 8.2}
末日近了,犹如黑夜的贼,不知不觉地在夜里悄然无声地临近我们。但愿主使我们不再像别人那样睡觉,却要警醒自守。真理不久必得到光荣的胜利,凡现在选择与上帝同工的人,也必与真理一同得胜。时间短促,黑夜将到,那时就没有人能作工了。凡欢欢喜喜地享受现代真理之光的人,现在应该急速将真理传给别人。主垂询:“我可以差遣谁呢?”凡愿意为真理而牺牲的人现在要应声说:“我在这里,请差遣我”(赛6:8)。{PH010 9.1}
PH010 - An Appeal to Ministers and Church Officers
Dear Brethren,As I read the reports of labor published in the?Review?and our other denominational periodicals from week to week, my heart is rejoiced over the progress of the third angel’s message in the home field and abroad. Our workers are having many remarkable experiences. The Lord is going before them, preparing the way, and the cause of present truth is making rapid advancement. This should be a source of profound gratitude to God. As we contrast the present prosperity of the work with the early years of poverty passed through by the pioneers of this cause, when our numbers were but few and our resources were limited, we can but exclaim, “What hath God wrought!”?{PH010 3.1}[1]
And yet there remains much to be done. In the past we have not been as diligent as we ought to have been in seeking to save the lost. Precious opportunities have been allowed to pass by unimproved. This has delayed the coming of our King. Had the people of God?constantly preserved a living connection with Him from the beginning of the great advent movement, had they obeyed His word and advanced in all His opening providences, they would today be in the heavenly Canaan.?{PH010 3.2}[2]
We have done only a small part of the evangelical work that God desires us to do among our neighbors and friends. In every city of our land there are those who know not the truth. And out in the broad world beyond the seas there are many new fields in which we must plow the ground and sow the seed.?{PH010 4.1}[3]
A few faithful missionaries are even now planting the standard of truth in fields far away. Publications are multiplying in many languages. These silent messengers are enlightening thousands. But as a people we come far short of moving forward as fast as the providence of God opens the way. Our General gives the command, “Go forward.” Thousands are thirsting for living truth. The Macedonian cry is coming to us from every direction, “Come over and help us.” We look about us, and inquire, “Who will go?” O that every follower of Jesus might respond: “Send?me. I long to do something for my Master.”?{PH010 4.2}[4]
Time and again I have had presented before me a vision of people across the broad ocean, standing in perplexity, and pale with anxiety, earnestly inquiring, “What is truth?” They say: “We want the bread of life. Our churches are backslidden from God. We want to find the old paths. We want to come back to the simplicity of gospel religion.” My tears flow as I see this picture rising vividly before me. The voice from heaven pleads, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” While so great a work remains to be done, shall not we, as Christ’s followers, arouse to a sense of our God-given responsibility, and be active in doing our part??{PH010 5.1}[5]
【Plans for Enlarging Our Laboring Forces】
The strength of an army is measured largely by the efficiency of the men in the ranks. A wise general instructs his officers to train every soldier for active service. He seeks to develop the highest efficiency possible on the part of all. If he were to depend upon his officers alone, he could never expect to conduct?a successful campaign. He counts on loyal, untiring service from every man in his army. The responsibility rests largely upon the men in the ranks.?{PH010 5.2}[6]
And so it is in the army of Prince Emmanuel. Our General, who has never lost a battle, expects willing service from every one who has enlisted under His banner. In the closing controversy now waging between the forces for good and the hosts of evil, He expects all, laymen as well as ministers, to take part. All who have enlisted as soldiers of His, are to render faithful service as minutemen, with a keen sense of the responsibility resting upon them individually.?{PH010 6.1}[7]
Those who have the spiritual oversight of the church should devise ways and means by which an opportunity may be given to every member of the church to act some part in God’s work. This has not always been done in the past. Plans have not been fully carried out whereby the talent of all might be employed in active service. There are but few who realize how much has been lost because of this.?{PH010 6.2}[8]
The leaders in God’s cause, as wise general, are to lay plans for advance?moves all along the line, In their planning, they are to give special study to the work that can be done by the laity for their friends and neighbors. The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church-membership, rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers.?{PH010 6.3}[9]
The salvation of sinners requires earnest, personal labor. We are to bear to them the word of life, not to wait for them to come to us. O that I could speak words to men and women that would arouse them to diligent action! The moments now granted us to work are few. We are standing upon the very borders of the eternal world. We have no time to lose. Every moment is golden, and altogether too precious to be devoted merely to self-serving. Who will seek God earnestly, and from Him draw strength and grace to be His faithful workers in the missionary field??{PH010 7.1}[10]
In every church there is talent, which, with the right kind of labor, might be developed to become a great help in this work. There should be a well-organized plan for the employment of workers to go into all our churches,?large and small, to instruct the members how to labor for the upbuilding of the church, and also for unbelievers. It is training, education, that is needed. Let all set their hearts and minds to become intelligent in regard to the work for this time, qualifying themselves to do that for which they are best adapted.?{PH010 7.2}[11]
That which is needed now for the upbuilding of our churches is the nice work of wise laborers to discern and develop talent in the church,—talent that can be educated for the Master’s service. Those who shall labor in visiting the churches should give the brethren and sisters instruction in practical methods of doing missionary work. Let there be a class for the training of the youth, as well. Young men and women should be educated to become workers at home, in their own neighborhoods, and in the church.?{PH010 8.1}[12]
All this work of training should be accompanied with earnest seeking of the Lord for His Holy Spirit. Let this be urged home upon those who are willing to give themselves to the Master’s service. Our conduct is watched by the world; every act is scrutinized and commented upon. There must be diligent?cultivation of the Christian graces, that those who profess the truth may be able to teach it to others as it is in Jesus, that they themselves may be ensamples, and that our enemies may be able to say no evil of them truthfully. In all their intercourse with unbelievers they are exerting an influence for good or for evil. They are either a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. God calls for greater piety, for holiness of life and purity of conduct, in accordance with the elevating, sanctifying truths which we profess. The lives of the workers for Christ should be such that unbelievers, seeing their godly walk and circumspect conversation, may be charmed with the faith that produces such results.?{PH010 8.2}[13]
The end is near, stealing upon us stealthily, imperceptibly like the noiseless approach of a thief in the night. May the Lord grant that we shall no longer sleep as do others, but that we shall watch and be sober. The truth is soon to triumph gloriously, and all who now choose to be laborers together with God will triumph with it. The time is short; the night soon cometh, when no man can work. Let those who?are rejoicing in the light of present truth, now make haste to impart the truth to others. The Lord is inquiring, “Whom shall I send?” Those who wish to sacrifice for the truth’s sake, are now to respond, “Here am I, Lord; send me.”?{PH010 9.1}[14]