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Testimonies for the Church Volume 7
forward to victory. Let there be perfect unity in their ranks. Let them
press the battle to the gates. As a mighty Conqueror, the Lord will
work for them.
Let the gospel message ring through our churches, summoning
them to universal action. Let the members of the church have increased
faith, gaining zeal from their unseen, heavenly allies, from a knowledge
of their exhaustless resources, from the greatness of the enterprise in
which they are engaged, and from the power of their Leader. Those
who place themselves under God’s control, to be led and guided by
Him, will catch the steady tread of the events ordained by Him to take
place. Inspired with the Spirit of Him who gave His life for the life
of the world, they will no longer stand still in impotency, pointing to
what they cannot do. Putting on the armor of heaven, they will go
forth to the warfare, willing to do and dare for God, knowing that His
omnipotence will supply their need.
An Ever-Widening Work
God’s servants are to make use of every resource for enlarging His
kingdom. The apostle Paul declares that it is “good and acceptable
[15]
in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved,
and to come unto the knowledge of the truth,” that “supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”
1
Timothy 2:3, 4, 1
. And James says: “Let him know, that he which
converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from
death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
James 5:20
. Every believer
is pledged to unite with his brethren in giving the invitation, “Come;
for all things are now ready.”
Luke 14:17
. Each is to encourage the
others in doing wholehearted work. Earnest invitations will be given
by a living church. Thirsty souls will be led to the water of life.
The apostles carried a weight of responsibility to enlarge their
sphere of labor, to proclaim the gospel in the regions beyond. From
their example we learn that there are to be no idlers in the Lord’s
vineyard. His servants are constantly to enlarge the circle of their
efforts. Constantly they are to do more, never less. The Lord’s work is
to widen and broaden until it encircles the world.
After making a missionary tour, Paul and Barnabas retraced their
steps, visiting the churches they had raised up and selecting men to