Relationships Within the Church
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you will find the very best cure for this in talking faith to others, and
in presenting the truth to those who are in darkness. Extend your
efforts to your neighbors, and to those who have not the privileges of
meetings. Sow the seeds of truth beside all waters, and encourage the
hearts of the servants of God when they visit you by showing that you
have not been idle, but through your instrumentality one or more have
been brought from darkness to light. You can keep above despondency
and doubt by making it your practice to daily pray for the blessing of
[101]
God to rest upon the men who are presenting the solemn message of
warning to the world. Let your prayers follow the servants of God like
sharp sickles in the harvest field. God will hear the earnest entreaties
of his people. The prayer of faith will move the arm of God.—
The
Signs of the Times, September 4, 1879
.
Members must not expect their minister to do the church’s
work—Ministers should not do work that belongs to the laymen,
thus wearying themselves, and preventing others from doing their
duty. They should teach the members how to work in the church
and community, to build up the church, to make the prayer-meeting
interesting, and to train for missionaries youth of ability. The members
of the church should cooperate actively with the ministers, making
the section of country around them their field of missionary labor.
Churches that are weak or few in numbers, should be looked after by
sister churches.—
The Review and Herald, October 12, 1886
.
Members depending on their minister for power, become pow-
erless—The success of a church does not depend on the efforts and
labor of the living preacher, but it depends upon the piety of the indi-
vidual members. When the members depend upon the minister as their
source of power and efficiency, they will be utterly powerless. They
will imbibe his impulses, and be stimulated by his ideas, but when he
leaves them, they will find themselves in a more hopeless condition
than before they had his labors. I hope that none of the churches in
our land will depend upon a minister for support in spiritual things;
for this is dangerous. When God gives you light, you should praise
Him for it. If you extol the messenger, you will be left to barrenness
of soul. Just as soon as the members of a church call for the labors of
a certain minister, and feel that he must remain with them, it is time
that he was removed to another field, that they may learn to exercise
the ability which God has given them. Let the people go to work. Let