Spirit and Manner of Presenting the Message
155
Big Ideas of Scripture Truth—You do not present yourself, but
the presence and preciousness of truth is so large, why, it is so far-
reaching, so deep, so broad, that self is lost sight of.... Preach so that
the people can catch hold of big ideas and dig out the precious ore hid
in the Scriptures.—
Manuscript 7, 1894
.
Meetings to Witness Deep Movings of Spirit—At our meetings
held in the cities, and at our camp meetings, we do not ask for great
demonstrations, but we ask that the men who come before the people
to present the truth shall be in earnest, and shall reveal that God is with
them. There must be a special seeking after God, that the work of the
meeting may be carried on under the deep movings of the Holy Spirit.
There must be no mingling of the wrong with the right.—
The Review
and Herald, July 23, 1908
.
More Activity and Zeal—We need to break up the monotony of
our religious labor. We are doing a work in the world, but we are not
showing enough activity and zeal. If we were more in earnest, men
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would be convinced of the truth of our message. The tameness and
monotony of our service for God repels many who are looking to see
in us a deep, earnest, sanctified zeal. Legal religion will not answer for
this age. We may perform all the outward acts of service, and yet be as
destitute of the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit as the hills of
Gilboa were destitute of dew and rain. We need spiritual moisture; and
we need also the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness to soften
and subdue our hearts.—
The Review and Herald, May 26, 1903
.
Calm, Earnest Reasoning—It is not excitement we wish to create,
but deep, earnest consideration, that those who hear shall do solid work,
real, sound, genuine work that will be enduring as eternity. We hunger
not for excitement, for the sensational; the less we have of this, the
better. The calm, earnest reasoning from the Scriptures is precious and
fruitful. Here is the secret of success, in preaching a living personal
Saviour in so simple and earnest a manner that the people may be
able to lay hold by faith of the power of the Word of life.—
Letter 102,
1894
.
Present the Evidences of Truth—People cannot be expected to
see at once the advantage of truth over the error they have cherished.
The best way to expose the fallacy of error is to present the evidences
of truth. This is the greatest rebuke that can be given to error. Dispel
the cloud of darkness resting on minds by reflecting the bright light