114
Selected Messages Book 1
O my brethren, will you grieve the Holy Spirit, and cause it to
depart? Will you shut out the blessed Saviour, because you are un-
prepared for His presence? Will you leave souls to perish without the
knowledge of the truth, because you love your ease too well to bear
the burden that Jesus bore for you? Let us awake out of sleep. “Be
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sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (
1 Peter 5:8
).—
The
Review and Herald, March 22, 1887
.
Reformation Accompanies Revival
In many hearts there seems to be scarcely a breath of spiritual life.
This makes me very sad. I fear that aggressive warfare against the
world, the flesh, and the devil has not been maintained. Shall we cheer
on, by a half-dead Christianity, the selfish, covetous spirit of the world,
sharing its ungodliness and smiling on its falsehood?—Nay! By the
grace of God let us be steadfast to the principles of truth, holding firm
to the end the beginning of our confidence. We are to be “not slothful
in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (
Romans 12:11
). One
is our Master, even Christ. To Him we are to look. From Him we are
to receive our wisdom. By His grace we are to preserve our integrity,
standing before God in meekness and contrition, and representing Him
to the world.
Sermons have been in great demand in our churches. The members
have depended upon pulpit declamations instead of on the Holy Spirit.
Uncalled for and unused, the spiritual gifts bestowed on them have
dwindled into feebleness. If the ministers would go forth into new
fields, the members would be obliged to bear responsibilities, and by
use their capabilities would increase.
God brings against ministers and people the heavy charge of spiri-
tual feebleness, saying, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold
nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miser-
able, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold
tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou
mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;