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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
spring in the desert, refreshing all, and making those who are ready to
perish, eager to drink of the waters of life.
We are not to depend upon two or three members to do the work
for the whole church. We must individually have a strong, active faith,
carrying forward the work God has left us to do. There must be an
intense, living interest to inquire of God: “‘What wilt Thou have me
to do?’ How shall I do my work for time and for eternity?” We must
individually bend all our powers to search for the truth, employing
every means within our reach that will aid us in a diligent, prayerful
investigation of the Scriptures; and then we must be sanctified through
the truth, that we may save souls.
An earnest effort should be made in every church to put away
evilspeaking and a censorious spirit as among the sins productive of
the greatest evils in the church. Severity and faultfinding must be
rebuked as the workings of Satan. Mutual love and confidence must
be encouraged and strengthened in the members of the church. Let
all, in the fear of God and with love to their brethren, close their ears
to gossip and censure. Direct the talebearer to the teachings of God’s
word. Bid him obey the Scriptures and carry his complaints directly to
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those whom he thinks in error. This united action would bring a flood
of light into the church and close the door to a flood of evil. Thus God
would be glorified, and many souls would be saved.
The admonition of the True Witness to the Sardis church is: “Thou
hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen
the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found
thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast
received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.” The sin especially
charged against this church is that they have not strengthened the
things that remain, that are ready to die. Does this warning apply to
us? Let us individually examine our hearts in the light of God’s word,
and let our first work be to set our hearts in order by the help of Christ.
God has done His part of the work for the salvation of men, and
now He calls for the co-operation of the church. There are the blood
of Christ, the word of truth, the Holy Spirit, on one hand, and there are
the perishing souls on the other. Every follower of Christ has a part
to act to bring men to accept the blessings heaven has provided. Let
us closely examine ourselves and see if we have done this work. Let
us question our motives and every action of our lives. Are there not