Many church members don’t realize it, but there is a preparatory work that must precede an effort, as it used to be called. In other words there must be individual effort before a public effort if the blessing of the Lord would attend the meetings. It’s not enough to go to the expense of sending for an evangelist and of advertising a series of meetings if individual heart work is not done before hand.
Review & Herald Dec. 6, 1906 says, “When a special effort to win souls is put forth by laborers of experience in a community where our own people live, there rests upon every believer in that field a most solemn obligation to do all in his power to clear the King’s highway, by putting away every sin that would hinder him from cooperating with God and with his brethren.”
What good will it do to bring people in if the body they are brought into is not one with Christ?
If the new converts understand that Jesus’ true followers are to be known by their love for one another, what will they think when they see backbiting, evil surmising, gossiping, fanaticism, disunity, and a general laxness when it comes to following Spirit of Prophecy counsel in regards to the health and moral laws?
How many times have we seen people come in the revolving church door and go right back onto the street where it will be much more difficult to reach them the second time around, if at all?
Have you ever wondered why there isn’t very much evangelism happening within “Historic Adventism”? Could it be because of some of the things already mentioned? Could it be because there is too much in-fighting? Could it be because our eyes are turned inward instead of outward? Could it be because we are more concerned with what we can get out of church instead of what we can give? Could it possibly be because the majority are not converted?
Oh friends, my heart aches as I see how the devil has sidetracked a people who should be proclaiming the everlasting gospel to the world!
A little over a year ago I had it in mind to change the focus of my ministry somewhat and begin to do evangelism! But the devil had other ideas, and because of internal church difficulties my new focus has been delayed. However, once again this focus is coming into view and my desire is to follow through, regardless of what the devil tries to do to stop it!
I’ve already started preparing a series of power point programs for public evangelism and hope to have them completed by next spring/summer.
Because of the time involved in preparing a series of twenty something programs, and because my priorities are changing and something has to give, we have decided that the Gospel Workers newsletter will no longer be sent out in printed form. Instead, the format of our free monthly audio cassette will include mission reports from time to time and an occasional editorial along with the sermon. For those who are not already receiving our free monthly sermon, you may want to return the enclosed postcard so we can add you to our monthly mailing. If you fail to do this, this may be the last time you hear from us since no reminder will be sent out.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have faithfully supported us through the years and thank you in advance for continuing to do so. Without your help it would be impossible to carry on with the work the Lord has called us to do. Every other phase of our ministry will remain the same except for the newsletter, so we ask for your continued support as we make this shift.
One of the many inspired statements from the Spirit of Prophecy that gives me the urgency to do public evangelism is found in Evangelism, pg. 59, 60. “There are those who think it is their duty to preach the truth, but they dare not venture from the shore, and they catch no fish. They will choose to go among the churches, over and over the same ground. They report a good time, a pleasant visit, but we look in vain for the souls that are converted to the truth through their instrumentality. These ministers hug the shore too closely. Let them launch out into the deep, and cast their net where the fish are.”
We solicit your prayers as we prepare to do some deep-sea fishing.
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. xiv, 9-12.
This is the most solemn warning that the Bible contains. As the pen of inspiration has recorded this language for our instruction, it will be wise for us to listen and obey. It is certain that church history presents no testimony that this message has been heard in the past. And the fact that the first and second angels of this series apply to the present generation, most clearly establishes the point that this message does not belong to past ages. Said J.V. Himes, in 1847:
“But the fourteenth chapter [of Rev.] presents an astounding cry, yet to be made, as a warning to mankind in that hour of strong temptation. Verses 9-11. A denunciation of wrath so dreadful cannot be found in the book of God, besides this. Does it not imply a strong temptation, to require so terrific an admonition?”
It is proper that I should here notice three symbols employed in this message, namely, the beast, his image and his mark, and call attention to four other distinct points embraced by it. These are, the patience of the saints, the commandments of God, the faith of Jesus, and the penalty threatened.
1. The Beast. The familiar manner in which the Beast, the Image, and the Mark, are introduced in this message, shows that they are symbols which are elsewhere explained in the prophetic word; for when a symbol is first introduced into prophecy, specifications and particulars are given sufficient to lead the humble seeker after truth to an understanding of it. We find no such particulars in this message respecting the symbols here introduced, and therefore look for them in other portions of the book of Revelation. In chapter xiii, 1, and onward, we find a power introduced under the symbol and name of “a beast.” The time and manner of its use is given, its characteristics are pointed out, its work is described, the time of its duration is stated, and the termination of its career is foretold. That this is the beast mentioned in the third message is certain; for it is the only symbol in the book of Revelation which bears the unqualified title of “the beast.” In verse 11 of chapter xiii, another beast is introduced, but after being once named as another beast, it is ever after designated by the pronoun he. This other beast makes an image to the first beast, and causes all to receive the mark of the beast. No other image or mark as pertaining to any beast are anywhere introduced; hence these are the ones referred to in the third message. Therefore the symbols before us are all described in chapter xiii.
We now inquire, What power is represented by the beast? To learn this, we go still further back, to chapter xii, where we find a power symbolized by a great red dragon, which is the one next preceding the beast of chapter xiii. The seven heads and ten horns upon both of these symbols, show that they represent two phases of the same power. By universal consent of Protestant expositors, the great red dragon is considered a representative of Pagan Rome. The next phase presented by Rome after the Pagan form was the Papal. Rome Papal succeeded Rome Pagan. The dragon gave his seat, power, and great authority to the beast. Hence the beast can represent none other but Papal Rome.
This is further shown by the identity that exists between this beast and the little horn of Dan. vii, 8, 19-26, which Protestant commentators all agree is a symbol of the Papacy. If the reader will compare carefully the verses referred to in Dan. vii, with Rev. xiii, 1-10, he will see, 1. That both these powers are blasphemous powers, speaking great words and blasphemies against God. 2. That they both make war with the saints, and prevail against, or overcome them. 3. That they both have a mouth speaking great things. 4. That they both succeed the Pagan form of the Roman empire. 5. That they both continue a time, times, and dividing of time, or 1260 years. 6. That both at the end of the specified period lose their dominion. Now here are points that prove identity; for when we have in prophecy two symbols, as in this instance, representing powers that come upon the stage of action at the same time, occupy the same territory, maintain the same character, do the same work, exist the same length of time, and at the end of that time meet the same fate, those symbols represent the same identical power. Now all these particulars do apply alike to the little horn of Dan. vii, and the beast of Rev. xiii, conclusively showing that they both represent the same power. No more need here be said to show that the beast is the Papacy. Those who wish to pursue the argument more at length, will find it presented in works published at the Review Office.
Evangelism, pg. 35, 36: “I was given instruction that as we approach the end, there will be large gatherings in our cities, as there has recently been in St. Louis, and that preparations must be made to present the truth at these gatherings. When Christ was upon this earth, He took advantage of such op-portunities. Wherever a large number of people was gathered for any purpose, His voice was heard, clear and distinct, giving His message. And as a result, after His crucifixion and ascension, thousands were converted in a day. The seed sown by Christ sank deep into hearts, and germinated, and when the disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit, the harvest was gathered in.”
“We should improve every such opportunity as that presented by the St. Louis Fair. At all such gatherings there should be present men whom God can use. Leaflets containing the light of present truth should be scattered among the people like the leaves of autumn. To many who attend these gatherings these leaflets would be as the leaves of the tree of life, which are for the healing of the nations.”
During the four days of the fair we were able to give away 75 Steps to Christ, an assortment of booklets covering such subjects as the Sabbath, once saved always saved, predestination, the immortality of the soul, and the eight laws of health. We also gave away several tracts dealing with the evils of tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and one on the virtues of a vegetarian diet. We also gave away Christ’s Object Lessons, The Desire of Ages, The Great Controversy, Ministry of Healing, and a few Bibles.
On our table we placed a fishbowl with “Steps to Christ” sermons on audio cassettes inside, and by the end of the fair people had taken 56 tapes. We also gave away 13 album sets of our "Steps to Christ" series on tape to those who indicated special interest.
The next time we send out our free monthly sermon tape, we will include a few of the experiences we had at the fair, so don’t forget to get on our monthly mailing by sending in the enclosed postcard right away.
I recently had a conversation with a friend who said his mother used to make onion poultices, not only for ear infections, but chest congestion. He told me just how his mother and Polish grandmother used to make those poultices. A week or so later I came down with an ear infection for the first time in my life (that I can remember). Rather than high-tailing it to the doctor I decided to give the onion poultice a try. I sliced a thick slab of onion, put it in the oven in a covered casserole dish and baked it until it was just getting juicy and soft. I wrapped the hot onion in a double layer of paper towel and held it up to my ear—a little distant at first, but closer as the onion began to cool. I must have held it there for a good 30-45 minutes. An hour or so after the treatment was over my ear felt much better.
While I was in treatment I was also reading of other natural remedies. I told Jack that onion poultice worked so well, I guess I’d have to do another treatment later. Well, I didn’t get around to doing another onion treatment, but I did do the hot mustard foot soak with ice to the forehead—another recommended remedy for ear infections. After the foot soak treatment my ear infection was gone forever. Praise the Lord for His natural remedies.
My Dear brother Jack,
God bless you and yours and may his face
always shine mercy and love upon you all your days.
I want to thank you all for your care and
concern, that you would take time to make sure a sinner like myself can learn the truth
and find peace with myself in the truth of the word.
God bless you and all that you do
Brothers in Christ, J
Jack and Cindy Jones
First, I want to thank God for His
servants, you two, and I want to thank you both for assisting me as I strive to
understand Jesus, God, and my purpose in all of this. . . . I love you both for your
attention to my needs and I ask in Jesus name, that God blesses you both. It will be
an honor to be called a friend by you both and I pray that I become worthy of that honor.
Thank you.
JDW, Georgia
Often times the lessons and any notes we include are the only mail some prisoners receive. We have received notes from these men expressing their gratitude that someone would take the time to correspond with them.
In His Service,
Jack and Cindy Jones
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