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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
Verse
7
.
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of
love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill
ye My joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one
accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory;
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the
things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus.”
Philippians 2:1-5
.
The closer we keep to Christ, and the more meek and lowly and
self-distrustful we are, the firmer will be our hold on Christ, and the
greater will be our power, through Christ, to convert sinners; for it
is not the human agent that moves the soul. Heavenly intelligences
co-operate with the human agent and impress the truth upon the heart.
Abiding in Christ we are able to exert an influence over others; but it is
because of the presence of Him who says: “Lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world.”
Matthew 28:20
. The power we have
to overcome Satan is the result of Christ working in us to will and to
do of His good pleasure.
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Present Truth with Gentleness
The truth should be presented with divine tact, gentleness, and
tenderness. It should come from a heart that has been softened and
made sympathetic. We need to have close communion with God, lest
self rise up, as it did in Jehu, and we pour forth a torrent of words
that are unbefitting, that are not as dew or as the still showers that
revive the withering plants. Let our words be gentle as we seek to win
souls. God will be wisdom to him who seeks for wisdom from a divine
source. We are to seek opportunities on every hand, we are to watch
unto prayer, and be ready always to give a reason for the hope that
is in us, with meekness and fear. Lest we shall impress unfavorably
one soul for whom Christ died we should keep our hearts uplifted to
God, so that when the opportunity presents itself, we may have the
right word to speak at the right time. If you thus undertake work for
God, the Spirit of God will be your helper. The Holy Spirit will apply