Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Bible Workers in 1954
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.” — Isa. 60:1-4.
“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” — John 4:35.
“Truly the harvest is great. “but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into His harvest.” — Matt. 9:37, 38.
“Great demands are everywhere made for the light which God has given to His people; but these calls are for the most part in vain. Who feels the burden of consecrating himself to God and to His work? Where are the young men who are qualifying themselves to answer these calls? Vast territories are opened before us where the light of truth has never penetrated.
Whichever way we look we see rich harvests ready to be gathered, but there are none to do the reaping. Prayers are offered for the triumph of the truth. What do your prayers mean, brethren? What kind of success do you desire? — a success to suit your indolence, your selfish indulgence? — a success that will sustain and support itself without any effort on your part?
“There must be a decided change…which will inconvenience those who are reclining on their lees, before laborers who are fitted for their solemn work can be sent into the field. There must be an awakening, a spiritual renovation. The temperature of Christian piety must be raised. Plans must be devised and executed for the spread of truth to all nations of the earth. Satan is lulling Christ’s professed followers to sleep, while souls are perishing all around them, and what excuse can they give to the Master for their negligence?
“…’Why stand ye here all the day idle?’ Why are you not at work in some capacity in his vineyard’ Again and again he has bid you, ‘Go ye also into my vineyard, and whatsoever is right that shall ye receive.’ But this gracious call from Heaven has been disregarded by the large majority. Is it not high time that you obey the commands of God? There is work for every individual who names the name of Christ. A voice from Heaven is solemnly calling you to duty. Heed this voice, and go to work at once in any place, in any capacity. Why stand ye here all the day idle? There is work for you to do, a work that demands your best energies. Every precious moment of life is related to some duty which you owe to God or to your fellowmen, and yet you are idle!” — Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp. 203, 204.
“Let me tell you,” continues the Spirit of Prophecy, “if your heart is in this work, and you have faith in God, you need not depend upon the sanction of any minister or any people: if you go right to work in the name of the Lord, in a humble way doing what you can to teach the truth, God will vindicate you. If the work had not been so restricted by an impediment here, and an impediment there, and on the other side an impediment, it would have gone forward in its majesty. It would have gone in weakness at first; but the God of heaven lives.” — Review and Herald, April 16, 1901. (See also Testimonies, Vol. 7, p. 25.)
“A great work of saving souls remains yet to be done. Every angel in glory is engaged in this work, while every demon of darkness is opposing it. Christ…expects corresponding self-denial and sacrifice on the part of those whom he came to bless and save. Every one is required to work to the extent of his ability. Every worldly consideration should be laid aside for the glory of God.” — Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 204. This underlies all
Laborers’ Qualifications.
Those who will today hear His voice and harden not their hearts as in the day of provocation, will He make His future servants.
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zech. 4:6. The workers will be “taught rather by the unction of His Spirit, than by the outward training of scientific institutions…God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals.” “The most weak and hesitating in the church will be as David — willing to do and dare.” — Testimonies, Vol. 5. pp. 82, 81.
“I will take illiterate men,” says the Lord, “obscure men, and move upon them by My Spirit, to carry out My purposes in the work of saving souls. The last message of mercy will be given by a people who love and fear Me.” — Review and Herald, Sept. 21, 1904. “He will use men for the accomplishment of His purpose whom some of the brethren would reject as unfit to engage in the work.” — Review and Herald, Feb. 9, 1895.
In this last call for laborers, all — small or great rich or poor, learned or illiterate — have the high and exalted privilege of becoming ministers of Christ
Men of Honor and Destiny.
“Present truth leads onward and upward, gathering in the needy, the oppressed, the suffering, the destitute. All that will come are to be brought into the fold. In their lives there is to take place a reformation that will constitute them members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King.” — Testimonies, Vol. 8, pp. 195, 196.
To these workers, the 144,000, the Lord graciously promises: “And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien [those who are not of the 144,000] shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves” (Isa. 61:5, 6), if now ye arise and hasten to effect full
Occupational Transition.
As this ministry, of which “there hath not been ever the like, neither shall he any more after it” (Joel 2:2), is to be free from all earthly encumbrances, let not anyone longer delay in effecting the transition which will ultimately see him engaged heart and soul in the Lord’s “closing work for the church,” in the ingathering of the “firstfruits” who are to be sealed from among the living in Laodicea. And while giving himself to this work, he will at the same time be preparing himself to give the message in the time of the Loud Cry, which the purification of the church — the deliverance of the sealed and the destruction of the unsealed — is to usher in, and which the purified are to proclaim.
Let each one wisely make this imperative transition by gradually curtailing pursuit of his own interests, and increasing pursuit of the Lord’s. In this way, each one will steadily climb from an empty and unsung past of self-enterprise, to a full and glorious future of divine enterprise which will inspire “from the uttermost part of the earth…songs, even glory to the righteous” — Isa. 24:16.
Now is the time when the Heavenly Householder is inquiring, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” and is urging, “Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.” –Matt. 20:6, 7.
My brethren, if you want a part in this never-so-glorious work, the crowning act in the redemption of the world, you must now hasten quickly to make ready. Let not the cares of this life rob you of the crown of eternal life. Do not hold back, letting Satan put in your mouth the excuse: “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused:” or, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused:” or “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” Luke 14:18-20. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” –I John 2:16, 17.
While yet engaged in your present occupation, go into the vineyard of the Lord, and as your interest there grows, your own work will diminish until you find yourselves completely divorced from it and wedded to the Lord’s.
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” But
“Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God” — Not Wages.
If our uppermost thoughts are for the advancement of the Kingdom then we will be giving no thought as to who will give us our pay, but will rest joyously in the assurance that our needs will be cared for.
According to the parable, the laborers whom the Master hires, go out in faith not knowing what they are to receive at day’s end. If the message of The Shepherd’s Rod is God’s, then His laborers had better learn that it is to be carried out altogether in His, not in man’s, way, and that those who are working for pay as reward for their labors, are not working for Christ, but rather for themselves; also that should the office give financial support to any who labor just part time, there would follow the obligation to pay all who did anything, be it little or much — a precedent which could only damage rather than upbuild both the worker and those for whom he might labor.
Consequently, the only righteous procedure is that all who engage in the work of this sealing message, report their activities to this office, so that it may credit to them the results of their labors. And should there accrue from these efforts sufficient means to enable them to give full time to the teaching of the message, they may be granted full time status, entitling them to a necessary living expense from the financial results of their labors.
“Time,” says the Spirit of Prophecy, “is short, and our forces must be organized to do a larger work. Laborers are needed who comprehend the greatness of the work, and who will engage in it, not for the wages they receive, but from a realization of the nearness of the end. The time demands greater efficiency and deeper consecration” (Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 27) and
Christlike Gentility.
“I have this message for you from the Lord: Be kind in speech, gentle in action. Guard yourself carefully, for you are inclined to be severe and dictatorial, and to say rash things. The Lord speaks to you, saying, Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. Harsh expressions grieve the Lord; unwise words do harm. I am charged to say to you, Be gentle in your speech; watch well your words; let no harshness come into your utterances or into your gestures. Bring into all you do and say the fragrance of Christlikeness. Let not natural traits of character mar and spoil your work. You are to help and strengthen the tempted. Let not self appear in rash words. Christ has given His life for the flock, and for all for whom you labor. Let no word of yours balance souls in the wrong direction. In the minister of Christ there must be revealed Christlikeness of character.
“Rash, overbearing expressions do not harmonize with the sacred work that Christ has given his ministers to do. When the daily experience is one of looking unto Jesus and learning of Him, you will reveal a wholesome, harmonious character. Soften your representations, and let not condemnatory words be spoken. Learn of the great Teacher. Words of kindness and sympathy will do as good as a medicine, and will heal souls that are in despair. The knowledge of the word of God brought into the practical life will have a healing, soothing power. Harshness of speech will never bring blessing to yourself or to any other soul.
“My brother, you are to be a representative of the mildness and patience and goodness of Christ. In your talks before the public, let your representations be after Christ’s order. ‘The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to he entreated, full of mercy and good fruits.’ Watch and pray, and subdue the harshness which at times breaks out in you. By the grace of Christ dwelling in you, your words may become sanctified. If your brethren do not act just as you think they should, do not meet them with harshness. The Lord has been grieved at times by your severe expressions.” — Gospel Workers, pp. 163, 164.
“It is not so much what you say,
As the manner in which you say it.
It is not so much the language you use,
As the tones in which you convey it.
The words may be mild and fair
And the tones may pierce like a dart;
The words may be soft as the summer air
And the tones may break the heart.”
“The truth should he presented with divine tact, gentleness, and tenderness. It should come from a heart that has been softened and made sympathetic. We need to have close communion with God,…we are to watch unto prayer, and be ready always to give a reason for the hope that is in us, with meekness and fear. Lest we shall impress unfavorably one soul for whom Christ died, we should keep our hearts uplifted to God so that when the opportunity presents itself, we may have the right word to speak at the right time.” — Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 400. This is
The Science of Success.
“To every worker I would say: Go forth in humble faith, and the Lord will go with you. But watch unto prayer. This is the science of your labor. The power is of God.” — Testimonies, Vol. 7, p. 272.
“I am instructed to say to my fellow-workers, if you would have the rich treasures of heaven, you must hold secret communion with God. Unless you do this, your soul will be as destitute of the Holy Spirit as were the hills of Gilboa of dew and rain. When you hurry from one thing to another, when you have so much to do that you cannot take time to talk with God, how can you expect power in your work?…
“Commune with your own heart, and then commune with God. Unless you do this, your efforts will be fruitless, made thus by unsanctified hurry and confusion.” – Gospel Workers, p. 272.
“Those who teach and preach the most effectively are those who wait humbly upon God, and watch hungrily for His guidance and His grace. Watch, pray, work — this is the Christian’s watchword. The life of a true Christian is a life of constant prayer.” — Gospel Workers, p. 257.
“A certain preacher whose sermons converted many souls, received a revelation from God that it was not his sermons or works by all means, but the prayers of an illiterate lay brother who sat on the pulpit steps pleading for the success of the sermon. It may be with us in the all-revealing day. We may believe, after laboring long and wearily, that all honor belongs to another builder whose prayers were gold, silver, and precious stones, while our sermonizing, being apart from prayer, is but hay and stubble.” — C,H. Spurgeon.
“God’s messengers must tarry long with Him, if they would have success in their work. The story is told of an old Lancashire woman who was listening to the reasons that her neighbors gave for their minister’s success. They spoke of his gifts, of his style of address, of his manners. ‘Nay,’ said the old woman, ‘I will tell you what it is. Your man is very thick with the Almighty.’
“When men are as devoted as Elijah was and possess the faith that he had, God will reveal Himself as He did then. When men plead with the Lord as did Jacob, the results that were seen then will again he seen. Power will come from God in answer to the prayer of faith.” — Gospel Workers, p. 255.
Rouse to the work, Present Truth teachers! Do the works of Him Who has sent you, “while it is day,” for the night hasteth, “when no man can work.” John 9:4. “And whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive” if ye faithfully teach
That Only Which Should Be Taught.
The Bible and the books of the Spirit of Prophecy being the sole source of the Shepherd’s Rod message, therefore when the Rod is taught, the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy are taught. And since none but the Spirit of Truth, who transmitted the mysteries of Inspiration, can interpret them, then those who attempt to teach them without this inspired interpretational Authority, inevitably fall into the forbidden practice of private interpretation (2 Pet. 1:20) — the great evil which has brought Christendom into its present almost-boundless state of schism and consequent confusion, strife, and impotency.
As we dare not follow in such a path, we must therefore, as teachers of The Shepherd’s Rod (the official publications of the Davidian S.D.A. Association), teach only in the light of the Rod those passages which in one way or another need to be interpreted. Thus only will all Present Truth believers ever become of the same mind, seeing eye to eye and speaking the same things (1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Pet. 3:8; Isa. 52:8).
And such as do choose to engage in private interpretation are respectfully asked to desist from teaching in the name of the Rod and at its expense. Let them, like honest men, teach in their own names and at their own expense.
Finally, brethren, keep the office posted as to your endeavors, and it shall in turn render every possible support to make your work a success. Now, God speed you!” –Fundamental Beliefs, pp. 23-36
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Amen.