7. They were immediately united in faith, hope, and love. 8. They all had burning hearts, and their lips touched with fire from above. 9. They received Christ’s rebukes and counsel humbly. 10. They obeyed His commands im mediately and were astoundingly blessed. This original revival of the early church gives churches for all time the pattern of the work of the Spirit that gives Christ glory in the Church. Only as ministers pursue the same course to revival as that followed by original believers will they have a visit from the glorious Saviour in awakening, renewing and quickening souls. All substitutes for a real watch night meet ing will fail. Bringing people together who want only “ loaves and fishes” and have little interest in the person and
power of the glorious Saviour and Lord will fail. But you say, “ Then you mean no refeshments on watch night?” No, I do not mean that. The Lord served re freshments quite often. He served them in “ the upper room,” “ on the seashore,” and “ ate and drank” with the disciples on occasion during His forty days with them in His glorified body. Refreshments are all right if kept in their inferior place. But spiritual in terest must be uppermost. Let eating and drinking be incidental and not the lure. Make everything of the Lord and what He wants in the life of His people. Get His Church to walk in the light and to glorify God in body, soul and spirit. Build your church of “ gold, silver and precious stones,” and get rid of the “ hay, wood, and stubble,” Ministers have a grave duty. They
must be “ warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man per fect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labour, striving according to his work ing, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians 1:28, 29). We have only One to please. Please not yourselves. Suit not the whims of the flesh. The devil watches to see which way you lean. If you incline to the Spirit, he will oppose you; if to the flesh, he will give great encourage ment. You must choose your way as to whom you will please. This watch night be sure that the angels of God are present, that the Book of God records your meeting to gether, and that the Spirit of God may have joy and not grief. And remember that your church will not be awakened from her slumbers with a sedative, but a divinely prescribed tonic.
JANUARY, 1960
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