Calls for a Revival
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both parties take sides with their respective favorites, and thus the
breach is widened. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Crimi-
nations and recriminations are engendered and multiplied. Satan and
his angels are actively at work to secure a harvest from seed thus sown.
Worldlings look on, and jeeringly exclaim, “Behold how these
Christians hate one another! If this is religion, we do not want it.” And
they look upon themselves and their irreligious characters with great
satisfaction. Thus they are confirmed in their impenitence, and Satan
exults at his success.
The great deceiver has prepared his wiles for every soul that is not
braced for trial and guarded by constant prayer and living faith. As
ministers, as Christians, we must work to take the stumbling blocks
out of the way. We must remove every obstacle. Let us confess and
forsake every sin, that the way of the Lord may be prepared, that He
may come into our assemblies and impart His rich grace. The world,
the flesh, and the devil must be overcome.
We cannot prepare the way by gaining the friendship of the world,
which is enmity with God; but by His help we can break its seductive
influence upon ourselves and upon others. We cannot individually or
as a body secure ourselves from the constant temptations of a relentless
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and determined foe; but in the strength of Jesus we can resist them.
From every member of the church a steady light may shine forth
before the world, so that they shall not be led to inquire, What do these
people more than others? There can be and must be a withdrawal from
conformity to the world, a shunning of all appearance of evil, so that
no occasion shall be given for gainsayers. We cannot escape reproach;
it will come; but we should be very careful that we are not reproached
for our own sins or follies, but for Christ’s sake.
There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of
God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the Lord
can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church and an impenitent
congregation. If Satan had his way, there would never be another
awakening, great or small, to the end of time. But we are not ignorant
of his devices. It is possible to resist his power. When the way is
prepared for the Spirit of God, the blessing will come. Satan can no
more hinder a shower of blessing from descending upon God’s people
than he can close the windows of heaven that rain cannot come upon
the earth. Wicked men and devils cannot hinder the work of God, or