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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4b
lously given them, than the indulgences they enjoyed in Egypt while
in servitude to a tyrannical, idolatrous people.
Every true follower of Jesus will have sacrifices to make. God will
prove them, and test the genuineness of their faith. I have been shown
that picnics, donations, shows, and other gatherings of pleasure, the
true followers of Jesus will discard. They can find no Jesus there, and
no influence which will make them heavenly-minded, and increase
their growth in grace. The word of God obeyed, leads us to come
out from all these things and be separate. The things of the world are
sought for, and considered worthy to be admired and enjoyed by all
those who are not devoted lovers of the cross, and are not spiritual
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worshipers of a crucified Jesus.
There is chaff among us, and this is why we are so weak. Some are
constantly leaning to the world. Their views and feelings harmonize
much better with the spirit of the world than with Christ’s self-denying
followers. It is perfectly natural for them to prefer the company of
those whose spirit will best agree with their own. And such have quite
too much influence among God’s people. They take a part with them,
and have a name among them, and are a text for unbelievers and the
weak and unconsecrated ones in the church. These persons of two
minds will ever have objections to the plain, pointed, testimony which
reproves individual wrongs. In this refining time, these persons will
either be converted wholly, and sanctified by obeying the truth, or they
will be left with the world, where they belong, to receive their reward
with them.
“By their fruits ye shall know them.” All of Christ’s followers
bear fruit to his glory. Their lives testify that a good work has been
wrought in them by the Spirit of God, and their fruit is unto holiness It
is elevated and pure. Those who bear no fruit have no experience in
the things of God. They are not in the vine. Read
John 15:4, 5
. “Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except
it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the
vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
If we would be spiritual worshipers of Jesus Christ, we must sacri-
fice every idol, and fully obey the first four commandments.
Matthew
22:37, 38
. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God