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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4b
I was shown God’s people waiting for some change to take place—
a compelling power to take hold of them. But they will be disappointed.
They are wrong. They must act. They must take hold of the work them-
selves, and earnestly cry unto God for a true knowledge of themselves.
The scenes which are passing before us are of sufficient magnitude
to cause us to arouse. In view of these things we must urge the truth
home to the hearts of all whom we can get to listen to it. The harvest
of the earth is nearly ripe.
I was shown how important that ministers be right who engage in
the solemn, responsible work of proclaiming the third angel’s message.
The Lord is not straightened for means or instruments to do his own
work. He can speak at any time by whom he will, and his word is
powerful and will accomplish the thing whereunto it is sent. But if the
truth has not sanctified, and made pure and clean the hands and heart of
him who ministers in holy things, he is liable to speak according to his
own imperfect experience; and when he speaks of himself, according
to the decisions of his own unsanctified judgment, his counsel is not
then of God, but of himself. As he that is called of God is called to be
holy, so he that is approved and set apart of men must give evidence
of his holy calling, and show forth in his heavenly conversation and
conduct that he is faithful to Him who hath called him.
I saw that there were fearful woes for those who preach the truth
and are not sanctified by it, and there are woes also for those who
consent to receive and maintain the unsanctified to minister to them in
word and doctrine, I am alarmed for the people of God who profess
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to believe solemn, important truth, for I know that many who now
profess to believe the truth are not converted nor sanctified through the
truth. Men can hear and acknowledge the whole truth, and yet know
nothing of the power of godliness. All who carry the truth will not
themselves be saved by the truth they preach. Said the angel, “Be ye
clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.”
I saw that the time has come when those who choose the Lord
for their present and future portion, must trust in him alone. Every
one professing godliness must have an experience of their own. The
recording angel is making a faithful record of the words and acts of
God’s people. Angels are watching the development of character, and
weighing moral worth.