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Testimonies to Southern Africa
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth
is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not
that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” Oh what an
assurance is this! How full and broad! Let us take the promise just as
it reads. The Lord wants us to come unto Him with full assurance of
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faith, believing His word, that He will do just as He said He would.
Would that we might feel the importance of educating every indi-
vidual member of the church to do something. We should individually
sense the solemn obligation of the Christian to bring into activity all
his divinely entrusted resources and capabilities, to do to the utmost of
his power the work the Lord expects him to do. “Arise, shine; for thy
light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”
Were our sensibilities alive we would discern the designs of God.
“I have put you in possession of the seas, put the world in possession
of my gospel that missionary ships might be sent out to the islands
of the sea.” We need more faith, more sanctified ability. High and
ennobling motives are before us. We have no time, no words to spend
in controversy. That time devoted to debating is needed in sending up
the prayer of faith to God for the descent of the Holy spirit to subdue
and break the heart of stone, that it shall become a heart of flesh. There
is need of sanctified energy. The armies of heaven are on the move
and where is the human agent to co-operate with God?
We now need skilful generals to organize into working companies
the Lord’s believing children. Nothing must be looked upon as too
great for us to undertake, if the Captain of the Lord’s host plans the
work and arranges the battle and leads us forth, “terrible as an army
with banners.” Every movement will be a victory. We need Jesus as
our constant Leader.
Men and means are needed in this field. I think of poor Melbourne,
bound about with poverty and in need of a church. As the work
increases there must be plans devised to keep alive the interest, that it
shall not die. The Lord has means for us somewhere. Appeals must be
made to the stewards of God for help. We need wisdom from above
to calculate wisely and to proportionate the improvements that must
be made with economy. Self-denial must be practised everywhere.
Many of the scanty rills of beneficence which now water and enrich the
garden of the Lord are brought there by much effort. More, very much