Page 116 - Maranatha (1976)

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In Partnership with Christ, April 13
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in
him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do
nothing.
John 15:5
.
The end is near! God calls upon the church to set in order the things
that remain. Workers together with God, you are empowered by the Lord to
take others with you into the kingdom. You are to be God’s living agents,
channels of light to the world, and round about you are angels of heaven
with their commission from Christ to sustain, strengthen, and uphold you
in working for the salvation of souls....
Stand out separate and distinct from the world—in the world, but not
of it, reflecting the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, being pure,
holy, and undefiled, and in faith carrying light into all the highways and
byways of the earth.
Let the churches awake before it is everlastingly too late. Let every
member take up his individual work and vindicate the name of the Lord
by which he is called. Let sound faith and earnest piety take the place of
slothfulness and unbelief. When faith lays hold upon Christ, the truth will
bring delight to the soul, and the services of religion will not be dull and
uninteresting.... Daily you will have a rich experience as you practice the
Christianity you profess. Sinners will be converted....
Oh, that all may arouse and manifest to the world that theirs is a living
faith, that a vital issue is before the world, that Jesus will soon come. Let
men see that we believe that we are on the borders of the eternal world.
The upbuilding of the kingdom of God is retarded or urged forward
according to the unfaithfulness or fidelity of human agencies. The work is
hindered by the failure of the human to cooperate with the divine. Men may
pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”;
but if they fail of acting out this prayer in their lives, their petitions will be
fruitless. But though you may be weak, erring, and sinful, the Lord holds
out to you the offer of partnership with Himself. He invites you to come
under divine instruction. Uniting with Christ, you may work the works of
God. “Without me,” Christ said, “ye can do nothing.”
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