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Conference Officials
275
Now, in probationary time, we are all on test and trial. Satan is
working with his deceiving enchantments and bribes, and some will
think that by their schemes they have made a wonderful speculation.
But lo, as they thought they were rising securely and were carrying
themselves loftily in selfishness, they learned that God can scatter
faster than they can gather.
“I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself
like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not:
yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.” He who sees the end
from the beginning, and who brings order out of confusion, is doing
all things well. We will view another side of the picture: “Mark
the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is
peace.” The word of God is offering all the preparation for eternal
life. Our faith must be a faith that works by love and purifies the
soul, not defies faith and practice. Do we believe the word of God?
Are all who profess the truth faithful and true, steadfast to principle?
Are we doing missionary work in the spirit of Christ?
There are men who stand in the pulpits as shepherds, professing
to feed the flock, while the sheep are starving for the bread of life.
There are long-drawn-out discourses, largely made up of the relation
of anecdotes; but the hearts of the hearers are not touched. The
feelings of some may be moved, they may shed a few tears, but
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their hearts are not broken. The Lord Jesus has been present when
they have been presenting that which was called sermons, but their
words were destitute of the dew and rain of heaven. They evidenced
that the anointed ones described by Zechariah (see chapter 4) had
not ministered to them that they might minister to others. When
the anointed ones empty themselves through the golden pipes, the
golden oil flows out of themselves into the golden bowls, to flow
forth into the lamps, the churches. This is the work of every true,
devoted servant of the living God. The Lord God of heaven cannot
approve much that is brought into the pulpit by those who are pro-
fessedly speaking the word of the Lord. They do not inculcate ideas
that will be a blessing to those who hear. There is cheap, very cheap
fodder placed before the people.