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God Speaks Through the Silence, November 5
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation,
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that
is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus
Christ.
Revelation 1:9
.
By permitting John to be banished to the Isle of Patmos, Christ placed
His disciple in a position where he could receive the most precious truth
for the enlightenment of the churches. He placed him in solitude, that
his ear and his heart might be sanctified to receive this truth.... The
persecution of John’s enemies became a means of grace. Patmos was
made resplendent by the glory of a risen Saviour.... What a Sabbath that
was to the lonely exile! ... Never had he learned so much of Jesus. Never
had he heard such exalted truth.
The worker for God often regards the activities of life as essential to
the advancement of the work. Self is mingled with all that is said and
done.... The worker looks upon himself as a necessity. God says, “This
poor soul has lost sight of Me and My sufficiency. I must cast My light
and My vitalizing power into his heart. I must prepare him to receive truth
by anointing him with the heavenly eyesalve. He sees too many things.
His eye is not fastened on Me....”
Sometimes the Lord makes His path to the soul by a process painful
to humanity. He is compelled to fortify the soul against self-esteem and
self-dependence, in order that the worker shall not regard the failings and
infirmities of his unsanctified nature as virtues, and thus be ruined by
self-exaltation.
If those who claim to believe the grand truths for this time would
prepare themselves by searching the Scriptures, by earnest prayer, and
by the exercise of faith, they would place themselves where they would
receive the light they so much crave.... The eloquence of silence before
God is often essential. If the mind is kept in continual excitement, the ear
is prevented from hearing the truth that the Lord would communicate to
His believing ones. Christ takes His children from that which holds their
attention, that they may behold His glory.
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