18
Pastoral Ministry
himself responsible for the loss of souls.—
Testimonies for the Church
4:441
.
Prayer
Great results attend the labors of praying ministers—Be in-
stant in prayer. You are a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death.
You occupy a fearfully responsible position. I entreat you to redeem
the time. Come very near to God in supplication, and you will be
like a tree planted by the river of waters, whose leaf is always green,
and whose fruit appears in due season. Ministers of Christ, you need
divine power, which God is willing to give without stint, when the
draft is made upon him. Only go to God, and take Him at his Word,
and let your works be sustained by living faith in His promises. God
does not require from you eloquent prayers and logical reasoning; but
only a humble, contrite heart, ready and willing to learn of Him. The
praying minister, who has living faith, will have corresponding works,
and great results will attend his labors, despite the combined obstacles
of earth and hell.—
The Review and Herald, August 8, 1878
.
No work for the church should take precedence over commu-
nion with God—There is nothing more needed in the work than the
practical results of communion with God. We should show by our
daily lives that we have peace and rest in God. His peace in the heart
will shine forth in the countenance. It will give to the voice a persua-
sive power. Communion with God will impart a moral elevation to the
character and to the entire course of action. Men will take knowledge
of us, as of the first disciples, that we have been with Jesus. This will
impart to the minister’s labors a power even greater than that which
comes from the influence of his preaching. Of this power he must not
allow himself to be deprived. Communion with God through prayer
and the study of His word must not be neglected, for here is the source
of his strength. No work for the church should take precedence of
this.—
Testimonies for the Church 6:47
.
Ministers’ prayers unheard if they regard iniquity—“God has
chosen us out of the world that we might be a peculiar and holy people.
Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity,
[24]
and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
God’s workers must be men of prayer, diligent students of the Scrip-