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Separation From the World
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to temptation and folly. These profess to know God, yet in works
deny Him. How great is their darkness! The love of the world with
many, the deceitfulness of riches with others, have choked the word,
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and they have become unfruitful.
I was shown that the church at-----have partaken of the spirit of
the world and become lukewarm to an alarming extent. When efforts
are made to set things in order in the church and bring the people
up to the position God would have them occupy, a class will be
affected by the labor, and will make earnest efforts to press through
the darkness to the light. But many do not persevere in their efforts
long enough to realize the sanctifying influence of the truth upon
their hearts and lives. The cares of the world engross the mind to
that degree that self-examination and secret prayer are neglected.
The armor is laid off and Satan has free access to them, benumbing
their sensibilities and causing them to be unsuspicious of his wiles.
Some do not manifest a desire to know their true state and es-
cape from Satan’s snares. They are sickly and dying. They are
occasionally warmed by the fire of others, yet are so nearly chilled
by formality, pride, and the influence of the world that they have no
sense of their need of help.
There are many who are deficient in spirituality and the Christian
graces. A weight of solemn responsibility should daily rest upon
them as they view the perilous times in which we live and the
corrupting influences which are teeming around us. Their only hope
of being partakers of the divine nature is to escape the corruption that
is in the world. These brethren need a deep and thorough experience
in the things of God, and this can only be obtained by an effort on
their part. Their position requires them to possess earnestness and
unabated diligence, so as not to be found sleeping at their post. Satan
and his angels sleep not.
Christ’s followers should be instruments of righteousness, work-
men, living stones, emitting light, that they may encourage the
presence of heavenly angels. They are required to be channels, as
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it were, through which the spirit of truth and righteousness shall
flow. Many have partaken so largely of the spirit and influence of
the world that they act like the world. They have their likes and dis-
likes, and discern not excellence of character. Their conduct is not
governed by the pure principles of Christianity; therefore they think