A Message from Missions to the Modern Ministry 105 And his wonder grew when told that this was not an excep tion, but they were all like that! And Bishop Foss, after attending a camp-meeting at the foot of the Himalaya Moun tains, writes: “Never in my life, in any period of the old- time camp-meeting fervor, have I heard more sermons, and exhortations, and prayers, and experiences on the subject of the gift of the Holy Spirit” ( “Cleveland Missionary Con vention,” p. 209). “My brethren, we have unlearned the Holy Spirit”. These words are true. He who was the inspirer of the first mission aries; Who again and again has awakened the Church from her slumber and pointed out the duty still not done; who is today giving proofs of His power to direct and to obtain re sults—this Holy Spirit we have ignored, if not forgotten. We here at home have not realized, as have the missionaries, that the life that was “born from above” must also be directed from above; that the Church with a supernatural beginning must have a supernatural leadership ; that as Christ was neces sary, by His atonement, to set men’s feet in the way of life, so the Holy Spirit, by knowing the will of God, is necessary to keep men singing and triumphing in that way. From many a mission field, yielding bounteous harvests, the Holy Spirit is calling to us here at home to yield to Him the right of way, promising to convict men of sin, of righteousness, of judg ment, and to take of the things of Christ and show them unto us and unto many. III. PRAYER AND MISSIONS Prayer preceded Pentecost. Prayer preceded God’s rais ing up needed workers. Prayer preceded the sending out of the first missionaries. The reason given for appointing dea cons was that the Apostles might give themselves unto prayer. Every man or woman who has been mighty on the mission field has first been mighty on his knees before God. In many “a going apart,” in scores of “all night” seasons, again
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