Qualifications for Successful Christian Service
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urges an advance, hoping all things, believing all things.—
Patriarchs
and Prophets, 290
.
Courage
A great work is to be accomplished; broader plans must be laid; a
voice must go forth to arouse the nations. Men whose faith is weak and
wavering are not the ones to carry forward the work at this important
crisis. We need the courage of heroes and the faith of martyrs.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:187
.
When in faith we take hold of His strength, He will change, won-
derfully change, the most hopeless, discouraging outlook. He will
do this for the glory of His name. God calls upon His faithful ones,
who believe in Him, to talk courage to those who are unbelieving and
hopeless. May the Lord help us to help one another, and to prove Him
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by living faith.—
Testimonies for the Church 8:12
.
Hope and courage are essential to perfect service for God. These
are the fruit of faith. Despondency is sinful and unreasonable.—
Prophets and Kings, 164
.
Courage, energy, and perseverance they must possess. Though
apparent impossibilities obstruct their way, by His grace they are to
go forward. Instead of deploring difficulties, they are called upon
to surmount them. They are to despair of nothing, and to hope for
everything. With the golden chain of His matchless love, Christ had
bound them to the throne of God. It is His purpose that the highest
influence in the universe, emanating from the Source of all power,
shall be theirs. They are to have power to resist evil, power that neither
earth, nor death, nor hell can master, power that will enable them to
overcome as Christ overcame.—
Gospel Workers, 39
.
Consecration
True holiness is wholeness in the service of God. This is the
condition of true Christian living. Christ asks for an unreserved con-
secration, for undivided service. He demands the heart, the mind, the
soul, the strength. Self is not to be cherished. He who lives to himself
is not a Christian.—
Christ’s Object Lessons, 48, 49
.