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Pastoral Ministry
and students there is need of the infusion of the Spirit of God. The
prayerful, earnest appeals that come from the heart of a whole-souled
messenger will create convictions. It will not need the learned men
to do this; for they depend more on their learning from books than
upon their knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
All who know the only true and living God will know Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God, and will preach Jesus Christ and Him
crucified.—
Selected Messages 2:152
.
Christ-centered pastors have growing churches—I have felt an-
guish of soul as I have seen the true state of things. There are dishonest
men in our churches; there are licentious men. In this large conference
[Michigan] there is declension in the place of constant advancement
to a higher, holier standard. And there is little of the proper labor done
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by ministers in the churches, because many do not carry the burden of
the souls for whom they labor. The truth has not sanctified their own
hearts.
Oh, there is need of most earnest, devoted, self-sacrificing labor—
the preaching of the truth, preaching Christ, and living Christ. Oh,
that all our workers would be laborers together with God, not trifling
with time, not trifling with sacred responsibilities, with solemn, sacred
truth, the presentation of which is deciding the destiny of souls, but
representing Christ in all things, watching for souls as they that must
give an account, day by day, hour by hour, living in the channel of
light. This is the only course that you can pursue with safety in the
churches, and among the people in cities and villages, diffusing the
light received from the Sun of Righteousness.
In order to do this, you must devote much time to prayer. Brethren,
be instant in prayer. When in society, when compelled to be among
the frivolous, the careless and inconsiderate, you are not to descend
to their level and engage in cheap and frivolous talk, but dart up your
petitions to heaven, that the God of all grace will keep your souls in
the love of Christ. When the workers are thus connected with God,
there will be continual growth in every church blessed with this labor
in Michigan.—
Sermons and Talks, 2:73, 74
.
Many ministers can talk doctrine, but are ignorant of the
lessons of Christ—The minister cannot give to others that which
he himself does not possess. If Christ is not abiding in the soul, how
can He be presented to others in harmonious words of love? Many are