Consecration—The Primary Education for Service

Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 1 Peter 3:15

Born Again—The BA Degree —Heaven's Ordination to Ministry

Desire of Ages, p. 141

No sooner is one converted than there is born within him a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus. The saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart. All who are consecrated to God will be channels of light.

Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 300, 301

Christ's commission, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," is spoken to every one of His followers. (Mark 16:15) All who are ordained unto the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men.… Not all can fill the same place in the work, but there is a place and a work for all.

To whom is the ordination of service given? 

Christ's Object Lessons, p. 326

Christ's followers have been redeemed for service. Our Lord teaches that the true object of life is ministry. Christ Himself was a worker, and to all His followers He gives the law of service—service to God and to their fellow men.

What has Christ said is the true object of life?

Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 188

There are many who are laborers together with God whom we do not discern. The hands of ministers have never been laid upon them in ordination for the work; but nevertheless they are wearing the yoke of Christ and exert a saving influence in working in different lines to win souls to Christ.

Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 293

Whoever is brought under the influences of the truth, and through faith is made partaker of Christ's love is by that very fact appointed of God to save others. He has a mission in the world. He is to be a co-laborer with Christ, making known the truth as it is in Jesus.

1893 General Conference Bulletin, p. 132

There are not many ordained ministers; this makes it necessary for you to deny self, lift the cross, and carry the burdens of Christ. Have you been eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God? Then if ministerial hands have not been laid upon you in the world, Christ has laid His hands upon you and said, "Ye are my witnesses; go and trade on the talents I have given you. Ye are the light of the world."

What is the requirement for Christ to lay His hands of ordination upon us?

Consecration

It is discipline of spirit, cleanness of heart and thought, that is needed. This is of more value than brilliant talent, tact or knowledge. And ordinary mind, trained to obey a "thus saith the Lord" is better qualified for God's work than are those who have capabilities, but do not employ them rightly.

This Day with God, p. 168

Seek for the higher education, which is entire conformity to the will of God, and you will surely reap the reward that comes as the result of its reception. When you hourly place yourselves in that position where you can be the recipients of the blessing of God, the name of the Lord will be magnified through your lives.

What is the True higher education?

Manual for Canvassers, p. 11

To those who are attending school that they may learn how to do the work of God more perfectly, I would say: Remember that it is only by a daily consecration to God that you can become soul-winners.

Is schooling necessary to become a worker? What then is the most needed thing? 

Review and Herald, November 27, 1900

It is discipline of spirit, cleanness of heart and thought, that is needed. This is of more value than brilliant talent, tact or knowledge. An ordinary mind, trained to obey a "thus saith the Lord" is better qualified for God's work than are those who have capabilities, but do not employ them rightly.

What is the training we need to be better qualified for God's work?

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 331

Let not too much time be occupied in fitting up men to do missionary work . Instruction is necessary, but let all remember that Christ is the Great Teacher and the Source of all true wisdom. Let young and old consecrate themselves to God, take up the work, and go forward, laboring in humility under the control of the Holy Spirit.

While instruction is necessary, how much time should be spent in receiving instruction?

Who is the greatest teacher? (See 1 John 2:27.)

Manual for Canvassers, p. 37

No one can be a successful soul-winner till he himself has settled the question of surrender to God . We are individually to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. To each one of us He must become wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Desire of Ages, p. 362

Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good . "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10. This is the effectual preparation for all who labor for God.

What is the most effective preparation to be gained? 

What work alone will prove to be most efficient? 

Desire of Ages, p. 363

In all who are under the training of God is to be revealed a life that is not in harmony with the world, its customs, or its practices; and everyone needs to have a PERSONAL experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. This is the effectual preparation for all who labor for God. Amid the hurrying throng, and the strain of life's intense activities, the soul that is thus refreshed will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. The life will breathe out fragrance, and will reveal a divine power that will reach men's hearts.

Acts of the Apostles, p. 507

Sanctified, self-sacrificing men are needed; men who will not shun trial and responsibility; men who are brave and true; men in whose hearts Christ is formed "the hope of glory," and who with lips touched with holy fire will "preach the word." For want of such workers the cause of God languishes, and fatal errors, like a deadly poison, taint the morals and blight the hopes of a large part of the human race.

What kind of workers does the languishing cause of God need, which would also meet the fatal errors in the world? 

Desire of Ages, p. 273

Principle is always exacting. No man can succeed in the service of God unless his whole heart is in the work and he counts all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. No man who makes any reserve can be the disciple of Christ, much less can he be His co-laborer. When men appreciate the great salvation, the self-sacrifice seen in Christ's life will be seen in theirs.

How alone can we succeed in our work for God?

Desire of Ages, pp. 494, 495

The only way in which we can gain a more perfect apprehension of truth is by keeping the heart tender and subdued by the Spirit of Christ. The soul must be cleansed from vanity and pride, and vacated of all that has held it in possession, and Christ must be enthroned within. Human science is too limited to comprehend the atonement. The plan of redemption is so far reaching that philosophy cannot explain it. It will ever remain a mystery that the most profound reasoning cannot fathom. The science of salvation cannot be explained; but it can be known by experience. Only he who knows his own sinfulness can discern the preciousness of the Saviour.

How only can we gain more perfect views and understanding of truth?

Acts of the Apostles, p. 57

The disciples of Christ had a deep sense of their own inefficiency, and with humiliation and prayer they joined their weakness to His strength, their ignorance to His wisdom, their unworthiness to His righteousness, their poverty to His exhaustless wealth. Thus strengthened and equipped, they hesitated not to press forward in the service of the Master.

What strengthened and equipped the disciples, and will equip and strengthen us?

Christ's Object Lessons, p. 130

If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life.

When this is in truth the experience of the Christian, there is seen in his life a simplicity, a humility, meekness, and lowliness of heart, that show to all with whom he associates that he has been with Jesus and learned of Him. This experience gives every teacher of truth the very qualifications that will make him a representative of Christ.

What will be seen in the life, that shows we have been with Christ, and is the qualification to be His representative?

Diligence and Motivation

Desire of Ages, p. 370

It is a great mistake to trust in human wisdom or numbers in the work of God. Successful work for Christ depends not so much on numbers or talent as upon pureness of purpose, the true simplicity of earnest, dependent faith. Personal responsibilities must be borne, personal duties must be taken up, personal efforts must be made for those who do not know Christ. 

On what does successful work depend upon? 

Desire of Ages, p. 799

His followers must live as He lived, and work as He worked, with intense, persevering effort.

How are we to work?

Gospel Workers, p. 111

In order for a man to be a successful minister, something more than book knowledge is essential. The laborer for souls needs consecration, integrity, intelligence, industry, energy, and tact. Possessing these qualifications, no man can be inferior; instead, he will have a commanding influence for good.

Redeeming the Time

Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 342–344

Our time belongs to God. Every moment is His, and we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time. The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it.

We are admonished to redeem the time. But time squandered can never be recovered. We cannot call back even one moment. The only way in which we can redeem our time is by making the most of that which remains, by being co-workers with God in His great plan of redemption. In him who does this, a transformation of character takes place.

The Bible gives no endorsement to idleness. It is the greatest curse that afflicts our world. Every man and women who is truly converted will be a diligent worker.

It is the duty of every Christian to acquire habits of order, thoroughness, and dispatch. There is no excuse for slow bungling at work of any character. When one is always at work and the work is never done, it is because mind and heart are not put into the labour. The one who is slow and who works at a disadvantage should realize that these are faults to be corrected.

Who does our time belong to?

What solemn obligation do we have in regards to time?

How can we redeem the time?

Who will be a diligent worker?

What is the duty of every Christian?

Receiving the Light and Truth

Desire of Ages, p. 279

The instrumentalities to be used in the gospel work are those souls who gladly receive the light which God sends them. These are His agencies for imparting the knowledge of truth to the world.

Who are God's agencies for imparting truth to the world?

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 337

Ministers should become Bible students . Are the truths which they handle mighty? Then they should seek to handle them skillfully. Their ideas should be clear and strong, and their spirits fervent, or they will weaken the force of the truth which they handle.

What will happen if the ideas presented are not clear and strong and the spirit fervent?

Gospel Workers, pp. 151, 152

Never should the messenger of God cease his strivings for greater light and power. He should toil on, pray on, hope on, amid discouragement and darkness, determined to gain a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures and to come behind in no gift.

Gospel Workers, p. 252

It is a minister's familiarity with God's word and his submission to the divine will, that give success to his efforts.

What gives success to the preacher's efforts?

Gospel Workers, p. 76

The Bible should be diligently studied . The truth of God, like gold, is not always lying right on the surface; it is to be obtained only by earnest thought and study. This study will not only store the mind with most valuable knowledge, but will strengthen and expand the mental powers, and will give a true estimate of eternal things. Let the divine precepts be brought into the daily life; let the life be fashioned after God's great standard of righteousness, and the whole character will be strengthened and ennobled.

How shall the truth of God be found?

What will this study do for us?

As the truth is brought into the daily life and the life fashioned after the standard of God, what will take place?

Gospel Workers, p. 252

It is a ministers familiarity with God's word and his submission to the divine will, that gives success to his efforts.

What is the basis of a gospel workers success?

Gospel Workers, p. 100

My message to ministers, young and old, is this: Guard jealously your hours for prayer, Bible study, and self-examination. Set aside a portion of each day for a study of the Scriptures and communion with God. Thus you will obtain spiritual strength, and will grow in favor with God.

A true knowledge of the Bible can be gained only through the aid of the Spirit by whom the word was given. And in order to gain this knowledge, we must live by it. All that God's word commands, we are to obey. All that it promises, we may claim. The life which it enjoins is the life that, through its power, we are to live. Only as the Bible is thus held, can it be studied effectively.

How much time should be set aside for prayer and study?

How only can the Bible be studied effectively?

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Prayer—Preparing the Soil for the Gospel Seed

Christ's Object Lessons, p. 149

Personal effort for others should be preceded by much secret prayer ; for it requires great wisdom to understand the science of saving souls. Before communicating with men, commune with Christ. At the throne of heavenly grace obtain a preparation for ministering to the people.

How shall we obtain a preparation to minister to others?

Gospel Workers, p. 76

All who would be efficient workers must give much time to prayer. The communication between God and the soul must be kept open, that the workers may recognize the voice of their Captain.

Gospel Workers, pp. 254–257

Christ's ministers must watch unto prayer. They may come with boldness to the throne of grace, lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting. In faith they may supplicate the Father in heaven for wisdom and grace, that they may know how to work, how to deal with minds.

God's messengers must tarry long with Him, if they would have success in their work.

Ministers who are truly Christ's representatives will be men of prayer. With an earnestness and faith that will not be denied, they will plead with God to strengthen and fortify them for service, and to sanctify their lips by a touch of the living coal, that they may know how to speak His words to the people.

For what will the workers of God plead for?

Working in Cooperation with Heavenly Intelligences

Education p, 271

All who engage in ministry are God's helping hand. They are co-workers with the angels; rather they are the human agencies through whom the angels accomplish their mission. Angels speak through their voice, and work by their hands. And the human workers, cooperating with heavenly agencies, have the benefit of their education and experience. As a means of education, what "university course" can equal this?

Through whom do angels accomplish their mission? 

How do angels speak and work?

What is of more value than a university course?

Gospel Workers, p. 15

It is the privilege of the watchmen on the wall of Zion to live so near to God, and to be so susceptible to the impressions of His Spirit, that He can work through them to tell sinners of their peril, and point them to the place of safety.

Desire of Ages, p. 297

We are to be laborers together with the heavenly angels in presenting Jesus to the world. With almost impatient eagerness the angels wait for our cooperation; for man must be the channel to communicate with man. And when we give ourselves to Christ in wholehearted devotion, angels rejoice that they may speak through our voices to reveal God's love.

What do angels with great eagerness wait for?

Why the Great Lack of Power?

Gospel Workers, p. 144

However zealously the truth may be advocated, if the everyday life does not testify to its sanctifying power, the words spoken will avail nothing. An inconsistent course hardens the heart and narrows the mind of the worker, and places stumbling-blocks in the way of those for whom he labors.

Gospel Workers, p. 253

When the theory of the truth is repeated without its sacred influence being felt upon the soul of the speaker, it has no force upon the hearers, but is rejected as error, the speaker making himself responsible for the loss of souls.