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Chapter 26—Burden Bearers in the Church
Dear Brother and Sister N,
June 12, 1868, I was shown some things in reference to you.
You have a work to do but see it not; you have not been burden
bearers. You should feel greater interest in the work and cause of
God than you do. You are so blinded by the love of the world
that you do not see how great an influence the world has over you.
You do not feel that a special weight of responsibility rests upon
you, nor do you realize the importance of the time and the work to
be accomplished. You are like persons asleep. Unity is strength.
There is great feebleness in the church because there are in it so
many backward ones who take no burdens. You are not workers
with Christ. The spirit of the world is shutting from your hearts
impressions which the truth should make.
It is important that all now come up to the work and act as though
they were living men, laboring for the salvation of souls who are
perishing. If all in the church would come up to the help of the Lord,
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we would see such a revival of His work as we have not hitherto
witnessed. God requires this of you and of each member of the
church. It is not left with you to decide whether it is best for you to
obey the call of God. Obedience is required; and unless you obey
you will stand on worse than neutral ground. Unless you are favored
with the blessing of God you have His curse. He requires you to
be willing and obedient, and says that you shall eat the good of the
land. A bitter curse is pronounced on those who come not to the
help of the Lord. “Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse
ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help
of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” Satan and
his angels are in the field to oppose every advance step that God’s
people take, therefore the help of everyone is required.
Brother and Sister N, the influence of unbelieving friends affects
you more than you are aware of. They bring you no strength, but
darkness and unbelief. You have an individual work in the vineyard
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