Personal Ministry
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to those for whom they labor; and as they thus co-operate with God,
He will clothe them with spiritual power. Christ will guide them in
their work, giving them words to speak that will sink deep into the
hearts of the listeners.
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It is the privilege of every minister to be able to say with Paul,
“I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” “I
kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you,
and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, ...repentance
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” [
Acts 20:27, 20,
21
.]
Our Saviour went from house to house, healing the sick, comforting
the mourners, soothing the afflicted, speaking peace to the disconsolate.
He took the little children in His arms and blessed them and spoke
words of hope and comfort to the weary mothers. With unfailing
tenderness and gentleness, He met every form of human woe and
affliction. Not for Himself, but for others did He labor. He was the
servant of all. It was His meat and drink to bring hope and strength to
all with whom He came in contact. And as men and women listened
to the truths that fell from His lips, so different from the traditions
and dogmas taught by the rabbis, hope sprang up in their hearts. In
His teaching there was an earnestness that sent His words home with
convicting power.
To my ministering brethren I would say, By personal labor reach
the people where they are. Become acquainted with them. This work
cannot be done by proxy. Money loaned or given cannot accomplish
it. Sermons from the pulpit cannot do it. Teaching the Scriptures in
families,—this is the work of an evangelist, and this work is to be
united with preaching. If it is omitted, the preaching will be, to a great
extent, a failure.
Those who are seeking for truth need to have words spoken to them
in season; for Satan is speaking to them by his temptations. If you
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meet with repulse when trying to help souls, heed it not. If there seems
to be little good resulting from your work, do not become discouraged.
Keep working; be discreet; know when to speak, and when to keep
silent; watch for souls as they that must give an account; and watch
for the devices of Satan, lest you be led aside from duty. Do not allow
difficulties to dishearten or intimidate you. With strong faith, with