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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
The church in-----is standing on Satan’s enchanted ground, and
there is necessity for a thorough conversion. Individual effort is needed.
The rich promises of the Bible are for those who take up their cross
and deny self daily. Everyone who has a sincere desire to be a learner
in the school of Christ will cultivate spiritual-mindedness and will
avail himself of every means of grace, but in this church opportunities
and privileges have been slighted. One may be able to say but few
words in public and to do but little in the vineyard of the Lord, but
he is in duty bound to say something and to be an interested worker.
Every member should help to strengthen and sustain the church; but
in many cases there are one or two who have the spirit of faithfulness
that characterized Caleb of old, and these are permitted to bear the
burdens and take the responsibilities, while the rest shirk all care.
Caleb was faithful and steadfast. He was not boastful, he made no
parade of his merits and good deeds; but his influence was always on
the side of right. And what was his reward? When the Lord denounced
judgments against the men who refused to hearken to His voice, He
said: “But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him,
and hath followed Me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he
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went; and his seed shall possess it.” While the cowards and murmurers
perished in the wilderness, faithful Caleb had a home in the promised
Canaan. “Them that honor Me I will honor,” saith the Lord.
Hannah prayed and trusted; and in her son Samuel she gave to the
Israel of God a most precious treasure—a useful man, with a well-
formed character, one who was as firm as a rock where principle was
concerned.
In Joppa there was a Dorcas, whose skillful fingers were more
active than her tongue. She knew who needed comfortable clothing
and who needed sympathy, and she freely ministered to the wants of
both classes. And when Dorcas died, the church in Joppa realized their
loss. It is no wonder that they mourned and lamented, nor that warm
teardrops fell upon the inanimate clay. She was of so great value that
by the power of God she was brought back from the land of the enemy,
that her skill and energy might still be a blessing to others.
Such patient, prayerful, and persevering fidelity as was possessed
by these saints of God is rare; yet the church cannot prosper without
it. It is needed in the church, in the Sabbath school, and in society.
Many come together in church relationship with their natural traits