Need of Genuine Religion in Our Sabbath-Schools
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to the dictation of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in its highest
manifestation to men is to enable them to put forth their best energies,
as God is working in them to will and to do of His own good pleasure.
“Without Me,” Christ says, “ye can do nothing.” The worker is not
to be left alone. The Spirit of God is given unto him, that he may will
[44]
and do of God’s good pleasure, that he may make no provision for the
flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Then, teacher, follow the leadings of
the Spirit. As the Spirit of God draws the hearts of the children and
youth, you draw with tenderness and love, inviting them, and pleading
with them to give their hearts to God.
The children and youth are Christ’s purchased possession; He has
bought them with an infinite price. Jesus loves the little ones. He
looks with pity upon the young, for He knows how Satan will seek to
attract them into the broad way, making it look enticing to their eyes;
and Jesus bids the angels to take special charge of these inexperienced
souls, in their homes, in their school life, and in the Sabbath-school.
The Spirit is continually striving with them, seeking to draw them to
God; and the laborer together with God will feel his responsibility, and
will earnestly work to win souls to Christ.
Prayer and Patience Needed
The scholars in your class may be perverse and stubborn, inclined
to evil, they may severely test your patience, and yet their hearts are
soil into which you may sow heavenly seed that will bear a harvest
for good. If the teacher is not imbued with the Spirit of God, he will
become discouraged, lose his self-control, and, by an impatient word,
by a severe reprimand, may cut off all his influence, and make a failure
of his work.
The Sabbath-school teachers have need of walking carefully and
prayerfully before God. They must labor as those who must give an
account. They are given an opportunity to win souls for Christ, and
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the longer the youth remain in impenitence, the more confirmed they
become in their resistance of the Spirit of God. With increase of years
it is probable that there will be a decrease of sensibility to divine things,
a diminished susceptibility to the influences of religion. Every day
Satan works to fasten them in their habits of disobedience, their spirit
of impenitence, and there is less probability that they will become