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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
him. Do not say: “I am not responsible. I shall have nothing to do
in this meeting.” If you feel thus, you are giving Satan opportunity to
work through you. He will crowd your mind with his thoughts, giving
you something to do in his lines. Instead of gathering with Christ, you
will scatter abroad.
[42]
The success of the meeting depends on the presence and power
of the Holy Spirit. For the outpouring of the Spirit every lover of the
cause of truth should pray. And as far as lies in our power, we are to
remove every hindrance to His working. The Spirit can never be poured
out while variance and bitterness toward one another are cherished
by the members of the church. Envy, jealousy, evil surmising, and
evilspeaking are of Satan, and they effectually bar the way against the
Holy Spirit’s working. Nothing else in this world is so dear to God
as His church. Nothing is guarded by Him with such jealous care.
Nothing so offends God as an act that injures the influence of those
who are doing His service. He will call to account all who aid Satan
in his work of criticizing and discouraging.
Those who are destitute of sympathy, tenderness, and love cannot
do Christ’s work. Before the prophecy can be fulfilled, The weak
shall be “as David,” and the house of David “as the angel of the Lord”
(
Zechariah 12:8
), the children of God must put away every thought
of suspicion in regard to their brethren. Heart must beat in unison
with heart. Christian benevolence and brotherly love must be far more
abundantly shown. The words are ringing in my ears: “Draw together,
draw together.” The solemn, sacred truth for this time is to unify the
people of God. The desire for pre-eminence must die. One subject of
emulation must swallow up all others—who will most nearly resemble
Christ in character? who will most entirely hide self in Jesus?
“Herein is My Father glorified,” Christ says, “that ye bear much
fruit.”
John 15:8
. If there was ever a place where the believers should
bear much fruit, it is at our camp meetings. At these meetings our acts,
our words, our spirit, are marked, and our influence is as far-reaching
as eternity.
[43]
Transformation of character is to be the testimony to the world of
the indwelling love of Christ. The Lord expects His people to show
that the redeeming power of grace can work upon the faulty character
and cause it to develop in symmetry and abundant fruitfulness.