Assuredly Gathering by C. H. Pridgeon

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 26, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 29.

"Assuredly Gathering"

By C. H. Pridgeon

BE careful not to take visions and mere happenings as sufficient indication of God's will.

There are some who, when in much doubt, or when they have matters of much importance to decide, and have a dream, or a vision when they are not sleeping, according to that dream or vision, decide the matter. Be very careful; it might or it might not be from God. A vision alone ought not to decide us. You may think of many passages in Scripture where a vision seemed decisive. There is one that nearly everybody would think had seemed to decide the apostle Paul, in Acts 16:6-11,—the vision of the man of Macedonia calling him to come over into Macedonia. Now, you say, "Was not there a place where the apostle did not know, and where God gave a vision, and he followed the vision?"

Paul says concerning his action in the matter, "assuredly gathering." If you "gather," you take more than one thing into consideration. Notice also that it does not say, "He assuredly gathered," but "We assuredly gathered." That is, the apostle not only had this vision, but he considered the rest of the party. We must take every fact into consideration. They were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the Gospel in the eastern part of Asia Minor, and they tried to go in another direction, but "the Spirit suffered them not." They came down to Troas, the only direction that seemed open to them. They might have gone in a southeasterly direction had God led in that way. Everything was taken into consideration by them. They "assuredly gathered." They must have counseled. Paul had the vision, but, "We assuredly gathered."

Be very careful in deciding things by happenings. The enemy has just as much chance as the Lord in letting you know his will. One decision that took place in the great revival of Wesley and Whitefield, was decided by the way that Wesley opened a book. They did not know any other way to decide at that time, so they decided in that way. Sometimes God's children resort to "lots." There may be some Scriptural ground for "lots," but we do not see, in the New Testament, much good that came from the casting of "lots." God has so clearly promised in His Word to guide us, that we do not need to resort to that kind of thing. It gives Satan almost an equal chance with the Lord. The devil gives many visions and dreams; also God gives dreams and visions; but do not let them alone decide you. The "assuredly gathering" brings in sanctified common sense, which is very much needed among Christians in all their decisions.—Rev. C. H. Pridgeon.