Individual Independence
379
Many make a mistake in their preaching in not stopping while the
interest is up. They go on speechifying until the interest that had risen
in the minds of the hearers dies out and the people are really wearied
with words of no special weight or interest. Stop before you get there.
Stop when you have nothing of special importance to say. Do not go
on with dry words that only excite prejudice and do not soften the
heart. You want to be so united to Christ that your words will melt and
burn their way to the soul. Mere prosy talk is insufficient for this time.
Arguments are good, but there may be too much of the argumentative
and too little of the spirit and life of God.
Without the special power of God to work with your efforts, your
[420]
spirit subdued and humbled in God, your heart softened, your words
flowing from a heart of love, your labors will be wearing to yourself
and not productive of blessed results. There is a point which the
minister of Christ reaches, beyond which human knowledge and skill
are powerless. We are struggling with giant errors, and evils which we
are impotent to remedy or to arouse the people to see and understand,
for we cannot change the heart. We cannot quicken the soul to discern
the sinfulness of sin and to feel the need of a Saviour. But if our labors
bear the impress of the Spirit of God, if a higher, a divine power attends
our efforts to sow the gospel seed, we shall see fruits of our labor to
the glory of God. He alone can water the seed sown.
Thus with you, Brother A. You must not get in too great a hurry and
expect too much of darkened minds. You must cherish humble hope
that God will graciously impart the mysterious, quickening influence
of His Spirit, by which alone your labors will not be in vain in the Lord.
You need to cling to God by living faith, every moment realizing your
dangers and your weakness, and constantly seeking that strength and
power which God alone can give. Try the best you may, of yourself
you can do nothing.
You need to educate yourself, that you may have wisdom to deal
with minds. You should with some have compassion, making a differ-
ence, while others you may save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.
Our heavenly Father frequently leaves us in uncertainty in regard to
our efforts. We are to sow beside all waters, not knowing which shall
prosper, this or that. We may stimulate our faith and energy from the
Source of our strength, and lean with full and entire dependence upon
Him.