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Always a Witness in the Church, October 27
The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire.
Deuteronomy 5:4
.
God has never left His church without a witness. In all the scenes of trial and
proving, of opposition and persecution amidst moral darkness, through which the
church has passed, God has had men of opportunity who have been prepared to
take up His work at different stages and carry it forward and upward. Through
patriarchs and prophets He revealed His truth to His people. Christ was the teacher
of His ancient people as verily as He was when He came to the world clothed in the
garments of humanity. Hiding His glory in human form, He often appeared to His
people and talked with them “face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” He,
their invisible Leader, was enshrouded in the pillar of fire and of cloud, and spoke
to His people through Moses. The voice of God was heard by the prophets whom
He had appointed to a special work and to bear a special message. He sent them to
repeat the same words over and over again. He had a message prepared for them
that was not after the ways and will of men, and this He put in their mouths and
had them proclaim. He assured them the Holy Spirit would give them language and
utterance. He who knew the heart would give them words with which to reach the
people....
There never will be a time in the history of the church when God’s worker can
fold his hands and be at ease, saying, “All is peace and safety.” Then it is that sudden
destruction cometh. Everything may move forward amid apparent prosperity; but
Satan is wide awake, and is studying and counseling with his evil angels another
mode of attack where he can be successful. The contest will wax more and more
fierce on the part of Satan; for he is moved by a power from beneath. As the work of
God’s people moves forward with sanctified, resistless energy, planting the standard
of Christ’s righteousness in the church, moved by a power from the throne of God,
the great controversy will wax stronger and stronger, and will become more and
more determined. Mind will be arrayed against mind, plans against plans, principles
of heavenly origin against principles of Satan. Truth in its varied phases will be in
conflict with error in its ever-varying, increasing forms, and which, if possible, will
deceive the very elect.
Our work must be an earnest one. We are not to fight as those that beat the air.
The ministry, the pulpit, and the press demand men like Caleb, who will do and dare,
men whose eyes are single to detect the truth from error, whose ears are consecrated
to catch the words from the faithful Watcher (
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel
Workers, 404-407
).
The world needs evidences of sincere Christianity (
Testimonies to Ministers and
Gospel Workers, 416
).
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