Where is the missing ministry? Where is the voice of the prophet? Making the Word of God heard in the conscience, not the foretelling of future events, is the character of prophecy today.
We have teachers who, through the grace of God, have given us back many long lost truths. But the ministry of yesterday is not that of today. Yesterday, ignorance was the prevailing sin, and for this, teachers were needed. Today it is deadness of conscience, and for this, a prophet’s voice is required.
Truth that was previously dug out with years of prayer and fasting can now be clearly apprehended by the reading of a single tract, without the least reading of a single tract, without the least exercise of heart of conscience. The result is appalling.
Laying hold of truth and having truth hold us are two vastly different things. We should cry to God for true prophets, men who lead godly lives and who are gifted to speak solemnly, and searchingly; men who can awaken the long slumbering conscience, and who will not flinch in exposing “in the light” that hidden corruption that loves darkness.
Let none say love forbids such an exercise of gift. LOVE CALLS FOR IT. None loved like the Master, and yet none ever spoke to the conscience like Him, Who was full not only of grace but also of truth.
Such a ministry is greatly needed. If it were present, self-satisfaction would receive a death blow. Much “fair show in the flesh” would be brought to an untimely end. But only that which is false and unreal would suffer, and surely no heart would regret this.
The question for us is whether OUR REPUTATION is dearer to our hearts than GOD’S GLORY. We have speakers and writers, but where is this ministry to be found? Is it silent through fear of man?
The Lord will hear our prayer. Let every true heart to whom his honor is dear, cry to Him to raise up in our midst in conscience-searching power this missing ministry.
—Thomas Wilson