Chapter 14—Power of the Truth
The word of God was preached by His ministers in early days “in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” The hearts of men were
stirred by the proclamation of the gospel. Why is it that the preaching
of the truth has now so little power to move the people? Is God less
willing to bestow His blessing upon the laborers in His cause in this
age than in the apostles’ day?
The warning which we bear to the world must prove to them a savor
of life unto life or of death unto death. And will the Lord send forth His
servants to proclaim this fearfully solemn message and withhold from
them His Holy Spirit? Shall frail, erring men, without special grace
and power from God, dare to stand between the living and the dead to
speak the words of everlasting life? Our Lord is rich in grace, mighty
in power; He will abundantly bestow these gifts upon all who come
to Him in faith. He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them
that ask Him than are parents to give good gifts to their children. The
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reason why the precious, important truth for this time is not powerful
to save is that we do not work in faith.
We should pray as earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit as the
disciples prayed on the day of Pentecost. If they needed it at that time,
we need it more today. Moral darkness, like a funeral pall, covers the
earth. All manner of false doctrines, heresies, and satanic deceptions
are misleading the minds of men. Without the Spirit and power of God
it will be in vain that we labor to present the truth.
It is by contemplating Christ, by exercising faith in Him, by experi-
encing for ourselves His saving grace, that we are qualified to present
Him to the world. If we have learned of Him, Jesus will be our theme;
His love, burning upon the altar of our hearts, will reach the hearts of
the people. The truth will be presented, not as a cold, lifeless theory,
but in the demonstration of the Spirit.
Many of our ministers in their discourses dwell too largely upon
theory and not enough on practical godliness. They have an intellectual
knowledge of the truth, but their hearts are untouched with the genuine
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