We entreat the heralds of the gospel of Christ never to become discouraged in the work, never to consider the most hardened sinner beyond the reach of the grace of God. Such may accept the truth in the love of it and become the salt of the earth. He who turns the hearts of men as the rivers of water are turned can bring the most selfish, sin-hardened soul to surrender to Christ. Is aught too hard for God to do? “My word,” He says, “shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”Isaiah 55:11.
(4T 537.1)
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God will not place His benediction upon those who are negligent, selfish, and ease-loving—who will not lift burdens in His cause. The “Well done”Matthew 25:21. will be pronounced upon those only who have done well. Every man is to be rewarded “according as his work shall be.”Revelation 22:12. We want an active ministry—men of prayer who will wrestle with God as did Jacob, saying: “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.”Genesis 32:26. If we obtain the victor’s crown we must stretch every nerve and exercise every power. We can never be saved in inactivity. To be an idler in the Lord’s vineyard is to relinquish all title to the reward of the righteous.
(4T 537.2)
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November 23, 1879, some things were shown me in reference to the institutions among us and the duties and dangers of those who occupy a leading position in connection with them. I saw that these men have been raised up to do a special work as God’s instruments, to be led, guided, and controlled by His Spirit. They are to answer the claims of God and never to feel that they are their own property and that they can employ their powers as they shall deem most profitable to themselves. Although it is their purpose to be and to do right, yet they will most surely err unless they are constant learners in the school of Christ. Their only safety is in humbly walking with God.
(4T 537.3)
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