298
Evangelism
given in the life of Christ and for having a character that is cleansed
and sanctified.—
Manuscript 63, 1907
.
Not to Put Ministers in Place of God—While the new converts
should be taught to ask counsel from those more experienced in the
work, they should also be taught not to put the minister in the place of
God. Ministers are but human beings, men compassed with infirmities.
Christ is the One to whom we are to look for guidance.—
Testimonies
For The Church 7:20
(1904).
Points on Which to Establish the New Believers—Ministers fre-
quently neglect these important branches of the work—health reform,
spiritual gifts, systematic benevolence, and the great branches of the
missionary work. Under their labors large numbers may embrace the
theory of the truth, but in time it is found that there are many who will
not bear the proving of God....
How much better it would be for the cause, if the messenger of
truth had faithfully and thoroughly educated these converts in regard
to all these essential matters, even if there were less whom he could
number as being added to the church under his labors.
[344]
Ministers must impress upon those for whom they labor the im-
portance of their bearing burdens in connection with the work of God.
They should be instructed that every department of the work of God
should enlist their support and engage their interest. The great mis-
sionary field is open to men, and the subject must be agitated, agitated,
again and again. The people must understand that it is not the hearers
of the Word but the doers of the Word that will have eternal life. Not
one is exempted from this work of beneficence. God requires of all
men to whom He imparts the gifts of His grace to communicate, not
only of their substance to meet the demands for the time in successfully
advancing His truth, but to give themselves to God without reserve....
It is not a trait of the natural heart to be beneficent; men must be
taught, giving them line upon line and precept upon precept, how to
work and how to give after God’s order.—
The Review and Herald,
December 12, 1878
.
Developing New Attitudes for God’s Work—How much means
are spent for things that are mere idols, things that engross the thoughts
and affections, little ornaments that require attention to be kept free
from dust and placed in order. The moments spent in arranging these
little idols might be spent in speaking a word in season to some soul,