A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs.

To seek this should be our first work.--Review and Herald, March 22, 1887. {ChS

41.4}

THEME: REVIVED FOR

SERVICE.TITLE:

CURSE YE MEROZ.

"Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty." What had Meroz done? Nothing. This was their sin. The curse of

God came upon them for what they had not done. The man with a selfish, narrow mind is

responsible for his niggardliness, but those who have kindly affections, generous impulses, and a

love for souls are laid under weighty responsibilities; for if they allow these talents to

remain unemployed and to waste they are classed with unfaithful servants. The mere

possession of these gifts is not enough. Those who have them should realize that their

obligations and responsibilities are increased.2T 284

Proclamation of Truth Our Work.--In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in

the world as watchmen and light-bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the Word of God. They have been

given a work of the most solemn import,--the proclamation of the first, second,

and third angels' messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow

nothing else to absorb their attention. The most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to proclaim to the world. The

proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to be warned, and God's people are to be true to the trust committed to them. . . {Ev

119.3}

The churches everywhere in our Conferences are losing their power and favor with God because they feel no burden for souls who have not the

knowledge of the truth. Many are in need of just this earnest work, in order to save their own

souls. Let not the curse of Meroz rest upon you. "Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord,

curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord,

to the help of the Lord against the mighty." I see fields that have never been entered. The torch of truth must be carried into the dark places of

the earth. While the angels are holding the winds, we must work as Christ worked. Let no

man fix his eyes on his own sphere of labor, and think it is of greater importance than all others.

The missionary fields are all to receive equal interest. The field is the world. {RH, December

15, 1885 }

A Christian who does not work cannot be healthy. Spiritual disease is the result of neglected duty. In order for a man's

faith to be strong, he must be much with God in secret prayer. How can a man's benevolence be a blessing to him if

he never exercises it? How can we ask God to help in the conversion of souls unless we are doing all in our power to

bring them to the knowledge of the truth? You have brought upon yourself a debility which has made you useless to

yourself and to the church, and the remedy is repentance, confession, and reform. You need moral power and the real

nourishment of the grace of God. Nothing will give bone and sinew to your piety like working to advance the cause you

profess to love, instead of binding it. There is but one genuine cure for spiritual laziness, and that is work--working

for souls who need your help. Instead of strengthening souls, you have been discouraging and weakening the hearts and hands of those who would see the cause of God advance

It is important that all now come up to the work and act as though they were living men, laboring for the salvation of souls who are perishing. If all in the church would come to

the help of the Lord, we would see such a revival of His work as we have not hitherto witnessed. God requires this of you and of each member of the church. It is not left with you to

decide whether it is best for you to obey the call of God. Obedience is required; and unless you obey you will stand on worse than neutral ground. Unless you are favored with the blessing of God you have His curse. He requires you to

be willing and obedient, and says that you shall eat the good of the land. A bitter curse is pronounced on those who come not to the help of the Lord. "Curse ye Meroz, said the angel

of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty." Satan and his angels are in the field to oppose every advance step that God's people take,

therefore the help of everyone is required. 2T 165

You will never be ministers after the gospel order till you show a decided interest in medical missionary work, the gospel of healing and

blessing and strengthening. Come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the

mighty powers of darkness, that it be not said of you, "Curse ye Meroz, . . . curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to

the help of the Lord." Judges 5:23.--General Conference Bulletin, April 12, 1901 Many of our missionary enterprises are crippled

because there are so many who refuse to enter the doors of usefulness that are plainly opened before them. Let all who believe the truth begin to work. Do the work that lies nearest you; do anything, however humble, rather than be, like the men of Meroz, do-nothings. {RH, June 30, 1903 par. 7}

"We hope those who have means trusted out to strangers will see that God's cause may be

benefited by its use. It was placed in their hands by the Lord, to test them and prove them, to see

if they will render back to the Master his own when he shall call for it. Means were given them,

not to hoard or to use for themselves. Those who are murmuring and complaining at the

outlay of means in the Publishing House and in the meeting-house, had better be at work to act their part, lest they shall be found wanting by

acting the part of Meroz. God gave commandment, 'Curse ye Meroz, curse ye

bitterly the inhabitants thereof, because they came not up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord, against the mighty.' ST December

19, 1878

When the reproach of indolence and slothfulness shall have been wiped away from the church, the Spirit of the Lord will be graciously manifested. Divine power will be revealed. The church will

see the providential working of the Lord of hosts. The light of truth will shine forth in clear, strong rays, and as in the time of the apostles,

many souls will turn from error to truth. The earth will be lightened with the glory of the

Lord.-- Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 46.

When churches are revived, it is because some individual seeks earnestly for the blessing of

God. He hungers and thirsts after God, and asks in faith, and receives accordingly. He goes to work in earnest, feeling his great dependence

upon the Lord, and souls are aroused to seek for a like blessing, and a season of refreshing falls on the hearts of men. The extensive work will

not be neglected. The larger plans will be laid at the right time; but personal, individual effort

and interest for your friends and neighbors, will accomplish much more than can be estimated. It is for the want of this kind of labor that souls for

whom Christ died are perishing. Review and Herald, March 13, 1888.