prophets and kings-第26节
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hange the heart。
〃What doest thou here； Elijah？〃 the voice inquired； and again the prophet answered； 〃I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts： because the children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant； thrown down Thine altars； and slain Thy prophets with the sword； and I； even I only； am left； and they seek my life； to take it away。〃
The Lord answered Elijah that the wrongdoers in Israel should not go unpunished。 Men were to be especially chosen to fulfill the divine purpose in the punishment of the idolatrous kingdom。 There was stern work to be done； that all might be given opportunity to take their position on the side of the true God。 Elijah himself was to return to Israel； and share with others the burden of bringing about a reformation。
〃Go；〃 the Lord commanded Elijah； 〃return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus： and when thou comest；
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anoint Hazael to be king over Syria： and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel： and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel…meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room。 And it shall come to pass； that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay： and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay。〃
Elijah had thought that he alone in Israel was a worshiper of the true God。 But He who reads the hearts of all revealed to the prophet that there were many others who； through the long years of apostasy； had remained true to Him。 〃I have left Me；〃 God said； 〃seven thousand in Israel； all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal； and every mouth which hath not kissed him。〃
From Elijah's experience during those days of discouragement and apparent defeat there are many lessons to be drawn； lessons invaluable to the servants of God in this age； marked as it is by general departure from right。 The apostasy prevailing today is similar to that which in the prophet's day overspread Israel。 In the exaltation of the human above the divine； in the praise of popular leaders； in the worship of mammon； and in the placing of the teachings of science above the truths of revelation； multitudes today are following after Baal。 Doubt and unbelief are exercising their baleful influence over mind and heart； and many are substituting for the oracles of God the theories of men。 It is publicly taught that we have reached a time when human reason should be exalted above the teachings of the Word。 The law of God； the divine standard of righteousness； is declared to be of no effect。 The enemy of all truth
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is working with deceptive power to cause men and women to place human institutions where God should be； and to forget that which was ordained for the happiness and salvation of mankind。
Yet this apostasy； widespread as it has come to be； is not universal。 Not all in the world are lawless and sinful； not all have taken sides with the enemy。 God has many thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal； many who long to understand more fully in regard to Christ and the law； many who are hoping against hope that Jesus will come soon to end the reign of sin and death。 And there are many who have been worshiping Baal ignorantly； but with whom the Spirit of God is still striving。
These need the personal help of those who have learned to know God and the power of His word。 In such a time as this； every child of God should be actively engaged in helping others。 As those who have an understanding of Bible truth try to seek out the men and women who are longing for light； angels of God will attend them。 And where angels go； none need fear to move forward。 As a result of the faithful efforts of consecrated workers； many will be turned from idolatry to the worship of the living God。 Many will cease to pay homage to man…made institutions and will take their stand fearlessly on the side of God and His law。
Much depends on the unceasing activity of those who are true and loyal； and for this reason Satan puts forth every possible effort to thwart the divine purpose to be wrought out through the obedient。 He causes some to lose
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sight of their high and holy mission； and to become satisfied with the pleasures of this life。 He leads them to settle down at ease； or； for the sake of greater worldly advantages； to remove from places where they might be a power for good。 Others he causes to flee in discouragement from duty； because of opposition or persecution。 But all such are regarded by Heaven with tenderest pity。 To every child of God whose voice the enemy of souls had succeeded in silencing； the question is addressed； 〃What doest thou here？〃 I commissioned you to go into all the world and preach the gospel； to prepare a people for the day of God。 Why are you here？ Who sent you？
The joy set before Christ； the joy that sustained Him through sacrifice and suffering； was the joy of seeing sinners saved。 This should be the joy of every follower of His； the spur to his ambition。 Those who realize； even in a limited degree； what redemption means to them and to their fellow men； will comprehend in some measure the vast needs of humanity。 Their hearts will be moved to compassion as they see the moral and spiritual destitution of thousands who are under the shadow of a terrible doom； in comparison with which physical suffering fades into nothingness。
Of families； as of individuals； the question is asked； 〃What doest thou here？〃 In many churches there are families well instructed in the truths of God's word； who might widen the sphere of their influence by moving to places in need of the ministry they are capable of giving。 God calls for Christian families to go into the dark places of the earth and work wisely and perseveringly for those who are
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enshrouded in spiritual gloom。 To answer this call requires self…sacrifice。 While many are waiting to have every obstacle removed； souls are dying； without hope and without God。 For the sake of worldly advantage； for the sake of acquiring scientific knowledge； men are willing to venture into pestilential regions and to endure hardship and privation。 Where are those who are willing to do as much for the sake of telling others of the Saviour？
If； under trying circumstances； men of spiritual power； pressed beyond measure； become discouraged and desponding； if at times they see nothing desirable in life； that they should choose it； this is nothing strange or new。 Let all such remember that one of the mightiest of the prophets fled for his life before the rage of an infuriated woman。 A fugitive； weary and travel…worn； bitter disappointment crushing his spirits； he asked that he might die。 But it was when hope was gone and his lifework seemed threatened with defeat； that he learned one of the most precious lessons of his life。 In the hour of his greatest weakness he learned the need and the possibility of trusting God under circumstances the most forbidding。
Those who； while spending their life energies in self…sacrificing labor； are tempted to give way to despondency and distrust； may gather courage from the experience of Elijah。 God's watchful care； His love； His power； are especially manifest in behalf of His servants whose zeal is misunderstood or unappreciated； whose counsels and reproofs are slighted； and whose efforts toward reform are repaid with hatred and opposition。
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It is at the time of greatest weakness that Satan assails the soul with the fiercest temptations。 It was thus that he hoped to prevail over the Son of God； for by this policy he had gained many victories over man。 When the will power weakened and faith failed； then those who had stood long and valiantly for the right yielded to temptation。 Moses； wearied with forty years of wandering and unbelief； lost for a moment his hold on Infinite Power。 He failed just on the borders of the Promised Land。 So with Elijah。 He who had maintained his trust in Jehovah during the years of drought and famine； he who had stood undaunted before Ahab； he who throughout that trying day on Carmel had stood before the whole nation of Israel the sole witness to the true God； in a moment of weariness allowed the fear of death to overcome his faith in God。
And so it is today。 When we are encompassed with doubt； perplexed by circumstances； or afflicted by poverty or distress； Satan seeks to shake our confidence in Jehovah。 It is then that he arrays before us our mistakes and tempts us to distrust God； to question His love。 He hopes to discourage the soul and break our hold on God。
Those who； standing in the forefront of the conflict； are impelled by the Holy Spirit to do a special work； will frequently feel a reaction when the pressure is removed。 Despondency may shake the most heroic faith and weaken the most steadfast will。 But God understands； and He still pities and loves。 He reads the motives and the purposes of the heart。 To wait patiently； to trust when everything looks dark； is the lesson that the leaders in God's work need to learn。 Heaven will not fail them in their day of adversity。
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Nothing is apparently
