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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
against the world, who are under the control of the prince of darkness?
Those who stand back indifferently in the day of battle, as though they
had no interest and felt no responsibility as to the issue of the contest,
might better change their course or leave the ranks at once.
The Master calls for gospel workers. Who will respond? All who
enter the army are not to be generals, captains, sergeants, or even
corporals. All have not the care and responsibility of leaders. There is
hard work of other kinds to be done. Some must dig trenches and build
fortifications; some are to stand as sentinels, some to carry messages.
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While there are but few officers, it requires many soldiers to form the
rank and file of the army; yet its success depends upon the fidelity of
every soldier. One man’s cowardice or treachery may bring disaster
upon the entire army.
There is earnest work to be done by us individually if we would
fight the good fight of faith. Eternal interests are at stake. We must put
on the whole armor of righteousness, we must resist the devil, and we
have the sure promise that he will be put to flight. The church is to
conduct an aggressive warfare, to make conquests for Christ, to rescue
souls from the power of the enemy. God and holy angels are engaged
in this warfare. Let us please Him who has called us to be soldiers.
All can do something in the work. None will be pronounced
guiltless before God unless they have worked earnestly and unselfishly
for the salvation of souls. The church should teach the youth, both by
precept and example, to be workers for Christ. There are many who
complain of their doubts, who lament that they have no assurance of
their connection with God. This is often attributable to the fact that
they are doing nothing in God’s cause. Let them seek earnestly to help
and bless others, and their doubts and despondency will disappear.
Many who profess to be followers of Christ speak and act as though
their names were a great honor to the cause of God, while they bear
no burdens and win no souls to the truth. Such persons live as though
God had no claims upon them. If they continue in this course they will
find at last that they have no claims upon God.
He who has appointed “to every man his work,” according to his
ability, will never let the faithful performance of duty go unrewarded.
Every act of loyalty and faith will be crowned with special tokens of
God’s favor and approbation. To every worker is given the promise: