Our Greatest Need by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 7, 1911

Our Greatest Need

By F. M. W.

WE have reached in the experience of our work another week of prayer occasion. It seems less than twelve months ago that we enjoyed the last season of refreshing, so rapidly have the days come and gone. We hope that every soul can look back and see many victories gained during the year that has passed.

As we come to this season of special seeking of God, it is well for us to consider our particular need, first, in a denominational way, and second, as individuals. Many needs exist. One great need of the church is increased facilities to carry on the work committed to it. Men and women are needed to carry the message to the thousands of unwarned souls on every side. Money is needed to send these laborers forth. There is need of means for the payment of our institutional indebtedness, for the erection of church buildings, and for the launching of many new enterprises. But over and above all these material needs, there is one great need,—the need,—namely, more of the Spirit and power of God in our denominational work.

We have a splendid organization, in the formation of which we believe God has especially directed. But the organization of itself can not meet God’s purpose in the accomplishment of his work. Of itself alone it is powerless and inert. The great need of Seventh-day Adventists as a church to-day is the power of the Spirit of God. That Spirit which Ezekiel in heavenly vision saw controlling the wheels of the divine throne needs to control the wheels of our church organization, and so direct them and operate them that they shall become a living power for God and for righteousness in the earth.

In Ezekiel’s vision, as recorded in the tenth chapter of his book, the wheels

of this living organism were “full of eyes round about.” These eyes denote intelligence. The movements of the living organism were not aimless and indifferent. Every movement was the result of purpose, and was part of a well-directed effort.

God designs that this same motive power shall be connected with the wheels of this organization; and when this Spirit of wisdom permeates the work, how many aimless and futile plans will be turned into well-directed efforts! Our labors will not be in vain in the Lord, but blessed results will attend the efforts put forth on every hand. O, we need this in our work to-day! How much time we spend in planning, and in discussing resolutions! How much earnest effort we put forth in various directions, and but little or no results are seen! Beloved, this is not in God’s order. O, he wants this movement a mighty moving power in the world! Before this great truth he designs that the nations shall bow their heads, the strongholds of Satan be cast down, and light and truth and blessing and power extend to every part of the earth. Shall we not pray most earnestly and devoutly during this season of prayer that this mighty outpouring of the blessed Spirit of God may come into this work and rest upon our denominational efforts? This visitation of divine power is the greatest need of our church at the present time.

What do we need as individuals? Our material needs are many. Some, perhaps, may be lacking the comforts of life. Many lack conveniences. We can see many things that we desire in order to make our homes more comfortable. Some long for better health, for greater temporal prosperity; but in our individual experience all these needs are subordinate to the one thing above all others that every life should possess, and that is a closer living connection with the Lord Jesus Christ. We need in our own hearts the Spirit of power. We need it to subdue our iniquities, to give us the victory over envy and jealousy and malice and evil-speaking. Indeed, as members of the church of Christ, we must personally experience this power before we shall see its mighty manifestations in connection with our organized work. God must first control the individual life. He must first be permitted to come in and cleanse his people individually. This prepares the way for his mighty workings in behalf of his church.

Our personal salvation depends upon this living experience in God. We can not gain heaven through our physical efforts. We can not purchase a passport to glory by the payment of tithes, by giving to foreign missions, by resting from physical labor on the seventh day of the week, or by carrying on a missionary propaganda among our neighbors. On the other hand, if we gain heaven, we shall do these very things. To engage in such service as a means whereby we shall gain the favor of Heaven, is quite different from doing it as a result of the indwelling of the blessed Spirit. God desires that Sabbath-keeping, that tithe-paying, that giving to missions, should exist in the service of our lives as the fruit of the blessed union that he wants us to have with him, our good deeds springing from a renewed heart, not taken on from the outside.

Shall we not now seek this blessed union,—a union so complete in its surrender to God, so satisfying in its holy, elevating joy, so inspiring our motives and purposes, that God’s service shall become a pleasure, and that what we do, whether it be the keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord, the giving of our all to God’s needy cause, the traveling from door to door with the printed truth, shall be a pleasure because it is done for the One we love? O, this is the inspiration we need in our lives! This is the incentive to Christian service for which we should seek. For this spirit of blessed union with Jesus every heart should cry out eagerly.

When this individual oneness with the Lord exists, it will bring oneness into the church. As brethren and sisters our hearts will be melted together in the bonds of holy love. Wicked, unkind criticism, the greatest bane and curse that can enter the church of God, will be banished, and with one heart and with one united spirit the believers will give themselves to the speedy finishing of this message. Let every heart during this season of prayer plead for this revealing of God in the individual experience. THE CLEANSING, ENERGIZING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR GREATEST NEED. F. M. W.