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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4b
another was playing the game of life for them, and they had nothing
to do but wait the result. Oh, what folly! what madness! If all
will only manifest that degree of ambition, zeal, and earnestness, for
everlasting life that they manifest in their worldly pursuits, they will be
victorious overcomers. Every one, I saw, must obtain an experience for
themselves, act well and faithfully their part in the game of life. While
Satan is watching his opportunity when the Christian is unguarded, to
seize the precious graces, the Christian will have a severe conflict with
the powers of darkness to retain them; or if they have lost through lack
of watchfulness a heavenly grace, to regain it.
But I was shown that it is the privilege of Christians to obtain
strength from God to hold every precious grace. Fervent and effectual
prayer will be regarded in Heaven. When the servants of Christ take
the shield of faith for their defense, and the sword of the Spirit for
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war, there is danger in the Enemy’s camp, and something must be
done. Persecution and reproach only wait for those who are endued
with power from on high to call them into action. When the truth in
its simplicity and strength prevails among believers, and is brought
to bear against the spirit of the world, it will be evident that between
Christ and Belial there is no concord. The disciples of Christ must be
living examples of the life and spirit of their Master.
Young and old have a conflict and warfare before them. They
should not sleep for a moment. A wily foe is constantly on the alert
to lead them astray and overcome them. Believers in present truth
must be as watchful as their enemy, and manifest wisdom in resisting
Satan. Will they do this? Will they persevere in this warfare? Will
they be careful to depart from all iniquity? Christ is denied in many
ways. We may deny him in our words, by speaking contrary to truth,
or by speaking evil of others, or by foolish talking or jesting, or by
words that are idle. In these things we manifest but little shrewdness or
wisdom. We make ourselves weak, and our efforts are feeble to resist
our great Enemy, and we are conquered. From the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaketh, and through lack of watchfulness we confess
that Christ is not in us. Those who will hesitate to devote themselves
unreservedly to God, make poor work of following Christ. They follow
him at such a distance they do not really know half the time whether
they are following his footprints, or the footsteps of their great Enemy.
Why are we so slow to give up our interest in the things of this world,