De Deus Deve-se Indagar Cooranbong, Austrália, 27 de agosto de 1896 Há necessidade de piedade. Deve-se ver menos confiança própria e muito mais humildade. A obra de Deus chegou a ser considerada coisa comum. Muito melhor teria sido mudar os homens das mesas de comissões do que durante anos ter conservado os mesmos homens, até virem eles a supor que suas propostas deviam ser adotadas sem objeção; e geralmente nenhuma voz se tem levantado em direção oposta. Há homens que se assentam nos concílios e que não têm o discernimento que deveriam ter. Sua compreensão é acanhada e egoísta. Há necessidade de mudança. Não será sensato executar a metade ou um quarto dos empreendimentos que têm sido planejados. Que cada um dos que se assentam nos concílios e nas reuniões de comissão escreva no coração as palavras: Trabalho para o tempo e para a eternidade. Devo prestar contas a Deus de todos os motivos que me impelem à ação. Seja este o seu moto. Ascenda a Deus a oração do salmista: "Põe, ó Senhor, uma guarda à minha boca; guarda a porta dos meus lábios. Não inclines o meu coração para o mal, nem para se ocupar de coisas más com aqueles que praticam a iniqüidade; e não coma eu das suas delícias." Sal. 141:3 e 4. -- Testemunhos para Ministros e Obreiros Evangélicos, págs. 417-418. Obs. Como você vê abaixo, apenas a introdução do Testemunho original foi traduzida, mas há pensamentos preciosos no original. Leia a íntegra desses Testemunhos:
Chap. 3 - God to be Inquired of. "Sunnyside," Cooranbong, N.S.W., Aug. 27, 1896. Piety
is needed. Less self-confidence and far more humility must be seen. The work of
God has come to be looked upon as a common thing. It would have been much better
to have changed the men on boards and committees than to have retained the very
same men for years, until they supposed that their propositions were to be
adopted without a question; and generally no voice has been fitted in an
opposite direction. There are men who sit in council who have not the
discernment that they should have. The comprehension is narrow and egotistical.
A Let each one who sits in council and in committee meetings write in his heart the words, I am working for time and for eternity. I must give an account to God for all the motives which prompt me to action. Let this be his motto. Let the prayer of the psalmist go up to God, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties." {SpTA09 32.1} I have been led to see that too much confidence is placed in the men in Battle Creek who are in positions of trust. Those living in distant countries will not do that which their judgment tells them is right unless they first send for permission to Battle Creek. Before they will advance, they will await "Yes" or "No" from that place. {SpTA09 32.2}
This condition of things is brought about by the finite wisdom of man. God did
not inspire any such dependence upon a few finite minds. God is to be inquired
of; God is to be sought in humble prayer by men living in Australia, in Africa,
in any distant land. Who alone can give mind and judgment to the men in Battle
Creek? If they possess judgment of any value, that judgment is found in God. Is
he any nearer to the men in Battle Creek than to the workers who are laboring in
his service in far-off lands? Has the Lord to go to Battle Creek; and tell men
there what the men working in distant countries must do?
Conferences Being Leavened. God is a God at hand, not afar off. "Come unto me," said Christ, "all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. O how differently from this have the men in Battle Creek felt and acted when consulted. They did not show the meekness and lowliness of heart manifested by the great Teacher and Saviour of men, but have shown, instead, a selfish superiority, an overbearing spirit. By this they showed that Jesus did not abide in their hearts. Thank the Lord, all are not of this spirit; but the conferences are fast being leavened with this self-righteous sense of superiority. {SpTA09 33.2}
Let those in different countries walk by faith. Let them inquire, Am I serving
the men at Battle Creek, or am I serving the Lord? They are to feel their
individual accountability to God, not to men who give evidence that they
themselves need to seek the Lord for wisdom. As the Lord's
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing
wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind
and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the
Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." "Do not err, my beloved
brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning." "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be
careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding, shall keep your minds and hearts through Christ
Jesus." {SpTA09 34.1}
Let God be Consulted. Let those in every far-off country work unselfishly in the fear and love of God to advance the work; as missionaries for God, they can do much for it if they are connected with him. They should draw nigh to God with full assurance of faith, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or doubting. God will make known unto them his pleasure; but all who do not work with an eye single to the glory of God, making him their dependence and trust, who lean rather upon human wisdom, will make blunders. It is in doing the work of God that the richest experience is to be gained. Here is where you get wisdom, and find the promises of God verified. {SpTA09 35.1}
It is a mistake to encourage the separate conferences to place everything before
the finite minds of those at Battle Creek, asking them what they shall do. Men
will never develop wisdom in management, either in business matters or in
spiritual things, if they are educated to depend upon other men's brains to
think and plan for them. If they make mistakes, these very mistakes may be
permitted by the Lord, to be turned into victory if they will learn to improve
in these things. Do men want always to remain shadows of other men's minds? God
has made no exception in his promise. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him
ask of God."
The Angels Waiting.
Shall we not have a change in these things? Verily there must be a decided
change. God's servants are amenable to him. No man is to be conscience for them.
The Lord wants men to know how to do the work of God, to labor in his vineyard.
{SpTA09 36.2}
Burden-Bearers.
In time of pressure there are spiritual forces to be called in which should
always share the burdens; Men have learned to send every petty request to Battle Creek, until the elevated, sacred work has passed through so many human elements that it has become contaminated. The tainted influence of unsanctified human nature has been brought in, so that nothing is sure, sacred, and holy. But it is little use to make appeals to the men who have held their superior position until in their mind the sacred is blended with the common. {SpTA09 37.1}
I have just touched upon these important matters. More yet to come. Fonte: The Published Ellen G. White Writings > PAMPHLETS > SpTA09 - Special Testimonies for Ministers and Workers -- No. 9 (1897) > Chap. 3 - God to be Inquired of. |
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