The Lord has shown me that great interest should be taken by Sabbathkeepers
to keep up their meetings and make them interesting. There is
great necessity of more interest and energy being manifested in
this direction. All should have something to say for the Lord,
for by so doing they will be blest. A book of remembrance is written
of those who do not forsake the assembling of themselves together,
but speak often one to another. The remnant are to overcome by
the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Some expect
to overcome alone by the blood of the Lamb, without making any
special effort of their own. I saw that God has been merciful
in giving us the power of speech. He has given us a tongue, and
we are accountable to Him for its use. We should glorify God with
our mouth, speaking in honor of the truth and of His unbounded
mercy, and overcome by the word of our testimony through the blood
of the Lamb.
We should not come together to remain silent; those only are remembered
of the Lord who assemble to speak of His honor and glory and tell
of His power; upon such the blessing of God will rest, and they
will be refreshed. If all moved as they should, no precious time
would run to waste, and no reproofs would be needed for long prayers
and exhortations; all the time would be occupied by short, pointed
testimonies and prayers. Ask, believe, and receive. There is too
much mocking the Lord, too much praying that is no praying and
that wearies angels and displeases God, too many vain, unmeaning
petitions. First we should feel needy, and then ask God for the
very things we need, believing that He gives them to us, even
while we ask; and then our faith will grow, all will be edified,
the weak will be strengthened, and the discouraged and desponding
made to look up and believe that God is a rewarder of all those
who diligently seek Him.
Some hold back in meeting because they have nothing new to say
and must repeat the same story if they speak. I saw that pride
was at the bottom of this, that God and angels witnessed the testimonies
of the saints and were well pleased and glorified by their being
repeated weekly. The Lord loves simplicity and humility, but He
is displeased and angels are grieved when professed heirs of God
and joint heirs with Jesus suffer precious time to run to waste
in their meetings.
If the brethren and sisters were in the place they should be,
they would not be at a loss to find something to say in honor
of Jesus, who hung upon Calvary's cross for their sins. If they
would cherish more of a realizing sense of the condescension of
God in giving His only beloved Son to die a sacrifice for our
sins and transgressions, and of the sufferings and anguish of
Jesus to make a way of escape for guilty man, that he might receive
pardon and live, they would be more ready to extol and magnify
Jesus. They could not hold their peace, but with thankfulness
and gratitude would talk of His glory and tell of His power. And
blessings from God would rest upon them by so doing. Even if the
same story were repeated, God would be glorified. The angel showed
me those who ceased not day nor night to cry, "Holy, Holy,
Lord God Almighty." "Continued repetition," said
the angel, "yet God is glorified by it." Although we
may tell the same story over and over, it honors God, and shows
that we are not unmindful of His goodness and mercies to us.
I saw that the nominal churches have fallen; that coldness and
death reign in their midst. If they would follow the Word of God,
it would humble them. But they get above the work of the Lord.
It is too humiliating for them to repeat the same simple story
of God's goodness when they meet together, and they study to get
something new, something great, and to have their words exact
to the ear and pleasing to man, and God's Spirit leaves them.
When we follow the humble Bible way, we shall have the movings
of the Spirit of God. All will be in sweet harmony if we follow
the humble channel of truth, depending wholly upon God, and there
will be no danger of being affected by the evil angels. It is
when souls get above the Spirit of God, moving in their own strength,
that the angels cease watching over them, and they are left to
the buffetings of Satan.
Duties are laid down in God's Word, the performance of which will
keep the people of God humble and separate from the world, and
from backsliding, like the nominal churches. The washing of feet
and partaking of the Lord's supper should be more frequently practiced.
Jesus set us the example, and told us to do as He had done. I
saw that His example should be as exactly followed as possible;
yet brethren and sisters have not always moved as judiciously
as they should in washing feet, and confusion has been caused.
It should be introduced into new places with carefulness and wisdom,
especially where the people are not informed relative to the example
and teachings of our Lord on this point, and where they have prejudice
against it. Many honest souls, through the influence of former
teachers in whom they had confidence, are much prejudiced against
this plain duty, and the subject should be introduced to them
in a proper time and manner.
There is no example given in the Word for brethren to wash sisters'
feet; but there is an example for sisters to wash the feet of
brethren. Mary washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, and wiped
them with the hair of her head. (See also 1 Tim. 5:10.) I saw
that the Lord had moved upon sisters to wash the feet of brethren
and that it was according to gospel order. All should move understandingly
and not make the washing of feet a tedious ceremony.
The holy salutation mentioned in the gospel of Jesus Christ by
the apostle Paul should ever be considered in its true character.
It is a holy kiss. It should be regarded as a sign of fellowship
to Christian friends when parting, and when meeting again after
a separation of weeks or months. In 1 Thessalonians 5:26 Paul
says: "Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss." In
the same chapter he says: "Abstain from all appearance of
evil." There can be no appearance of evil when the holy kiss
is given at a proper time and place.
I saw that the strong hand of the enemy is set against the work
of God, and the help and strength of everyone who loves the cause
of truth should be enlisted; great interest should be manifested
by them to uphold the hands of those who advocate the truth, that
by steady watchcare they may shut out the enemy. All should stand
as one, united in the work. Every energy of the soul should be
awake, for what is done must be done quickly.
I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, "Fearful
is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to
select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat
for the heavenly garner. These things should engross the whole
mind, the whole attention." -