Our Greatest Need Ron Spear - The Eternal Gospel Church

OUR GREATEST NEED 153an alarm. To them everything seems to be going well, andthey see no necessity of raising the faithful, trumpet notes ofwarning which they hear borne by the plain testimonies, toshow the people their transgressions and the house of Israeltheir sins. These reproofs and warnings disturb the quiet ofthese sleepy, ease-loving sentinels, and they are not pleased.They say in heart, if not in words: “This is all uncalled for. It istoo severe, too harsh. These men are unnecessarily disturbedand excited, and seem unwilling to give us any rest or quietude‘Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregationare holy, every one of them.’ They are not willing that weshould have any comfort, peace, or happiness. It is activelabor, toil, and unceasing vigilance alone which will satisfythese unreasonable, hard-to-be-suited watchmen. Why don’tthey prophesy smooth things, and cry: Peace, peace? Theneverything would move on smoothly.”These are the true feelings of many of our people. AndSatan exults at his success in controlling the minds of so manywho profess to be Christians. He has deceived them, benumbedtheir sensibilities, and planted his hellish banner rightin their midst, and they are so completely deceived that theyknow not that it is he. The people have not erected gravenimages, yet their sin is no less in the sight of God. They worshipmammon. They love worldly gain. Some will make anysacrifice of conscience to obtain their object. God’s professedpeople are selfish and self-caring. They love the thingsof this world, and have fellowship with the works of darkness.They have pleasure in unrighteousness. They have notlove toward God nor love for their neighbors. They are idolaters,and are worse, far worse, in the sight of God than theheathen, graven-image worshipers who have no knowledgeof a better way. Ibid., vol. 2, 440–441.God counsels His unfaithful watchmen:You have injured the cause of God; your willful coursehas wounded the hearts of God’s people. Your influence encouragesa slack state of things in the church. You shouldbear a living, pointed testimony. Stand out of the way of the