When the early church traversed the world proclaiming the “power of God unto salvation,” they understood whose duty it was to preach the gospel. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher” (Romans 1:16; 10:14)? Someone must be sent to preach! This is what Jesus meant when He said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

When Jesus sent out His disciples, He gave them one important condition first. “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem,” He said, “until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Paul spoke of this same power when he wrote: “When he ascended up on high, he . . . gave gifts unto men” (Ephesians 4:8).

What were these gifts? When the Holy Spirit descended in power on the day of Pentecost, He imparted special abilities to the disciples to aid them in their work. “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28).

Not only did the gifts serve to aid in preaching the gospel, but they helped nurture the growing church: “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” And this purpose is still being carried out by the gifts today, as we grow together to come into “the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12, 13).

With such an abundance of aid from the Holy Spirit, can we limit the work of preaching the gospel to only the apostles? Or just the prophets? Or the pastors or teachers?

A U.S. Army recruiting poster from the World War I era features a gray-bearded man with a white star-studded top hat and pointing finger. The caption reads, “I want YOU.” It is an individual call, to whomever might be ready and willing.

In the same way the Lord says to all disciples, “Ye are my witnesses . . . and my servant whom I have chosen” (Isaiah 43:10). “Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary.”1 “Whatever our position - whether presidents of conferences, ministers, teachers, students, or lay members - we are held accountable by the Lord for making the most of our opportunities to enlighten those in need of present truth.”2

Are those who work for God doing so because they are paid and given an area of labor? The apostle made clear his motivation when he exclaimed, “necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Therefore none of us works because it is his or her “job,” but because his or her commission is from God, and he or she must fulfill it.

Many brethren and sisters have lost sight of this fact. At one time the servant of the Lord wrote, “The lay members of the church especially are not doing one fiftieth part of what they might and ought to do.”3 We could readily say that the same is true among us today. “The work does not depend alone upon the ministers. The church - the lay members - must feel their individual responsibility and be working members.”4

This is a matter of spiritual life, for “those who have received the light should seek to enlighten those who have it not. If the church members do not individually take hold of this work, then they show that they have no living connection with God.”5

But if everyone is supposed to actively participate in this work, what is the job of the minister and of the Bible worker?

To the elders, the apostle Peter wrote, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2, 3).

From this passage we understand that “the minister should not feel that it is his duty to do all the talking and all the laboring and all the praying; he should educate helpers in every church. Let different ones take turns in leading the meetings, and in giving Bible readings; in so doing they will be calling into use the talents which God has given them, and at the same time be receiving a training as workers.”6 This means that the minister is like a supervisor - his job is to help the lay members be more effective in the gospel work.

Sometimes we let the workers do everything, but “it is often impossible for the laborers to look after the interest awakened, and they fail to discern that they must enlist the lay members of the church, and teach them to work, that they may hold all that has been gained, and continue to advance. The plan of labor has been such as to lead the people to feel that they could do very little themselves; if anything was to be accomplished, they must have a minister.”7

Instead of this arrangement, lay members can realize their opportunity and begin to work. “It is not alone those who labor in word and doctrine who are responsible for souls. Every man and every woman who has a knowledge of the truth should be a coworker with Christ. . . . He requires the lay members to act as missionaries. Brethren, go out with your Bibles, visit the people at their firesides, read the word of God to the family, and as many more as will come in. Go with a contrite heart and an abiding trust in God’s grace and mercy, and do what you can.”8

An important lesson is contained in the parable of the talents.“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey” (Matthew 25:14, 15). We note from these verses that everyone was given something to work with for the Master.

Some might feel excused because they are not able to preach. Does the work of God consist only of this? “Why is it that many more do not respond to the call? Is it because they think themselves excused in that they do not stand in the pulpit? Let them understand that there is a large work to be done outside the pulpit by thousands of consecrated lay members.”9

What is this work outside the pulpit? We have the answer: “By means of missionary visits and by a wise distribution of our literature, many who have never been warned may be reached. Let companies be organized to search for souls. Let the church members visit their neighbors and open to them the Scriptures. Some may be set to work in the hedges, and thus, by wise planning, the truth may be preached in all districts.”10

Often it is lay members who open up new mission fields. “Where there is an opening to obtain a livelihood, let families that are well grounded in the truth enter, one or two families in a place, to work as missionaries.”11 “In fields where the conditions are so objectionable and disheartening that many workers refuse to go to them, most remarkable changes for the better may be brought about by the efforts of self-sacrificing lay members. . . . The amount of good that these workers accomplish will never be known in this world.”12

When the Lord comes, He will ask of each of us, “where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?” (Jeremiah 13:20). When all is placed in the balances to be weighed, “the real character of the church is measured, not by the high profession she makes, not by the names enrolled on her books, but by what she is actually doing for the Master, by the number of her persevering, faithful workers. . . .

“Let ministers teach church members that in order to grow in spirituality, they must carry the burden that the Lord has laid upon them - the burden of leading souls into the truth.”13

Who, then, will finish the work? Only the church workers, or only the lay members? No! The church as a whole must arise and do its duty. “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.”14 Only as we unite in the work will it be accomplished.

The story is told of a man, traveling on foot, who was forced to walk through a blizzard to reach his destination. The wind ripped fiercely at his clothing, while the driving snow blinded his eyes and chilled him to the core. The way was hard to follow, frostbite nibbled at his fingers and toes, and as the minutes turned into hours, he began to despair. At last, he sank to his knees in the cold, unfeeling whiteness, and lost all desire to go on. But suddenly, as he was about to give himself up to freeze to death, he heard something. Someone was moaning for help! Springing to his feet and stumbling in the direction of the sound, he found a fellow traveler in worse shape than himself. Forgetting his own condition, he lay the man on his shoulder, and summoning every bit of strength remaining, made his way to a place of warmth and safety.

Many people will find when they have reached heaven that they are saved because of working for others. “Every member of the body should feel that the salvation of his own soul depends upon his own individual effort. Souls cannot be saved without exertion. The minister cannot save the people. He can be a channel through which God will impart light to His people; but after the light is given, it is left with the people to appropriate that light, and in their turn to let it shine forth to others.”15

What does the church need in order to be alive? Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). With us, “there is great need of zealous, disinterested workers in God’s cause. One Christ-loving, devoted member will do more good in a church than one hundred half-converted, unsanctified, self-sufficient workers. It is impossible for the church to be a living, active church unless its members shall be willing to bear burdens and assume responsibilities.”16

What does working do for us? “A working church is a growing church. The members find a stimulus and a tonic in helping others. . . . The lesson that in helping others we ourselves receive help, must be urged upon young believers continually, be precept and example, that in their Christian experience they may gain the best results.”17

Those familiar with exercise in the gym or in manual labor understand that strength comes by exercise. So in spiritual life, our strength will develop as we exercise our powers in study, practice, and sharing of the truth.

How do we start? Well, “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). Can you explain the major points of your faith? Begin today your study to establish yourself and to be able to give an answer.

As the ministers and workers of the church are to guide the work, they also are to lead out in preparation and training. “The forces for good among the lay members of the church cannot be developed and brought into proper working order without careful planning and systematic training.”18

We should especially make efforts to prepare the youth among us, for “with such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world! How soon might the end come - the end of suffering and sorrow and sin!”19

What came before the early rain in the time of the early disciples? “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1). Unity in the truth is an essential element for success in our work today.

However, not only doctrinal unity is important. Did you ever notice upon whom the early rain actually came? In the upper room were gathered all those “who were fully identified as disciples of Christ and associated with the apostles as evangelists.”20 From this we can definitely conclude that the latter rain, the Holy Spirit’s power, will be poured out only on a working church.

The Spirit of Prophecy confirms this conclusion in the following statement: “The great outpouring of the Spirit of God, which lightens the whole earth with His glory, will not come until we have an enlightened people, that know by experience what it means to be laborers together with God. When we have entire, wholehearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God.”21

Then, should we wait for the latter rain to make us ready to work for the Lord? Not if “the latter rain will never refresh and invigorate indolent souls, that are not using the power God has already given them.”22

Ask yourself the question, am I using the power God has given me, in working for Him?

Knowing the times we live in and the importance of the work the Lord has given us, we should echo with the apostle, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:12).

The following story from Gospel Workers helps each of us to see our duty. “The Duke of Wellington was once present where a party of Christian men were discussing the possibility of success in missionary effort among the heathen. They appealed to the duke to say whether in his judgment such efforts were likely to prove a success commensurate to the cost. The old soldier replied:

“‘Gentlemen, what are your marching orders? Success is not the question for you to discuss. If I read your orders aright, they run thus, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Gentlemen, obey your marching orders.’

“My brethren, the Lord is coming, and we need to bend every energy to the accomplishment of the work before us. I appeal to you to give yourselves wholly to the work.”23

Who will finish the work in your part of the vineyard, dear reader? Will you?