Divine Equipment for Service by J. M. HOPKINS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 8, 1910

Divine Equipment for Service

By J. M. HOPKINS

J. M. HOPKINS

“SAVED to serve” is the key-note of Christian life and experience. To him who has been “born again,” who has passed “from darkness to light,” and “from the power of Satan unto God,” nothing is so dear as the advancement of Christ’s work among men. In everything it has the precedence and the preference. All enterprises have this for their first and paramount object. All worldly undertakings must be second and tributary to this. It is the one grand interest and purpose.

And in this service for our Master it is a most happy and helpful truth that none are required or expected to carry forward this stupendous work alone. Before going out into earth’s great harvest-field, our Leader requires that every laborer shall have a special preparation for his field. In the beautiful figure of the vine and the branches of John 15, Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing.” The divine Leader knows all about every field, every department of the work, and every means employed. And it is only he who can qualify laborers for those various stations and duties. It matters not what our station and condition in life may have been or may now be, how humble the lot or station or how lowly or menial the duty, still the worker needs the baptism of the Holy Spirit to enable him efficiently to do the work assigned.

When Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach the gospel, he gave this special charge, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.” This instruction was carefully obeyed. All Bible readers know how wonderfully God poured upon his chosen instruments the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and for many years after that time, and every attentive Bible student knows what blessed results followed. Thousands were converted. Mighty works were wrought by those Spirit-filled men, and the gospel message was heralded in power to all parts of the then known world. The Acts of the Apostles and the various epistles of the New Testament are wonderful and soul-thrilling records of the triumphant march of the Lord’s army.

That was the sowing time. Now we are living in the closing hours of earth’s history, the great ingathering of the Lord’s harvest. To-day, no less than at the sowing time, do Christ’s servants need divine equipment for the important work before them. And we bless God that every consecrated one may have this equipment, all that is required to enable every one fully to accomplish just the work God has assigned him. And praise God, the very humblest of his children may ask for and receive this divine equipment for service. Scattered everywhere are God’s dear children. In humble forest or prairie home, in city garret or palace hall, in civilized or in heathen lands, God has called men and women to himself, to service. All in their respective places have a work to do for God, and from every place it is their privilege to petition the God of heaven for just the blessing, just the wisdom, just the strength and direction, they need to carry forward the work committed to them.

“Be . . . filled with the Spirit,” is one of the divine commands, and the command is also a promise. “Be filled with all the fulness of God.” “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ.” This is just what God desires to do for us, what he is waiting to do for every one who will surrender all to him, who will consecrate heart and life to him for service.

This is the divine equipment for service. Shall we have it, brethren and sisters? On the farm, in the shop, in the canvassing work, in the ministry—shall we have this blessed qualifying for service?

This is for every one to decide. God desires to baptize his remnant commandment-keeping people with power from on high, that they may speedily carry forward this closing work to a glorious triumph. Let us humble our hearts before our God. Let us surrender all to him; let us seek the divine equipment for service as never before; and soon the work will swell into the loud cry, and Jesus will come.

Hewitt, Minn.