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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
providence of God? Will they gather up their hereditary trusts, avail
themselves of the present light, and feel the necessity of rising to meet
the urgent emergency that now presents itself? Oh, that all may arouse
and manifest to the world that theirs is a living faith, that a vital issue
is before the world, that Jesus will soon come. Let men see that we
believe that we are on the borders of the eternal world.
The upbuilding of the kingdom of God is retarded or urged forward
according to the unfaithfulness or fidelity of human agencies. The
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work is hindered by the failure of the human to co-operate with the
divine. Men may pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in
earth, as it is in heaven;” but if they fail of acting out this prayer in
their lives, their petitions will be fruitless.
But though you may be weak, erring, and sinful, the Lord holds
out to you the offer of partnership with Himself. He invites you to
come under divine instruction. Uniting with Christ, you may work the
works of God. “Without Me,” Christ said, “ye can do nothing.”
Through the prophet Isaiah is given the promise, “Thy righteous-
ness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.”
Isaiah 58:8
. It is the righteousness of Christ that goes before us, and
this is the glory of the Lord which is to be our rearward. Ye churches
of the living God, study this promise, and consider how your lack of
faith, of spirituality, of divine power, is hindering the coming of the
kingdom of God. If you would go forth to do Christ’s work, angels
of God would open the way before you, preparing hearts to receive
the gospel. Were every one of you a living missionary, the message
for this time would speedily be proclaimed in all countries, to every
people and nation and tongue. This is the work that must be done
before Christ shall come in power and great glory. I call upon the
church to pray earnestly that you may understand your responsibilities.
Are you individually laborers together with God? If not, why not?
When do you mean to do your heaven-appointed work?
* * * * *
For all who are disheartened there is but one remedy,..faith, prayer,
and work.
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