Personal Devotions
17
right to try to instruct others in the way to heaven.—
Gospel Workers,
249
.
Young ministers should search the Scriptures for themselves—
I call upon the young men who are entering the work as ministers to
take heed how they hear. Be careful how you oppose the precious truths
of which you now have so little knowledge. Search the Scriptures for
yourselves. You have altogether too limited knowledge of yourself.
Know for yourselves what is truth. Do not take any man’s words, any
man’s prejudices, any man’s arguments, any man’s theories. This has
been done by ministers to the injury of their experience, and it has
left them novices when they should be wise in the Scriptures and in
the power of God. Take your Bibles, humble yourselves, and weep
and fast and pray before the Lord, as did Nathanael, seeking to know
the truth. Jesus’ divine eye saw Nathanael praying, and answered his
prayer.—EGW’88 141.
Bible truth not felt by the minister’s own soul is rejected by
hearers as error—We have a dwarfed and defective ministry. Unless
Christ shall abide in the men who preach the truth, they will lower the
moral and religious standard wherever they are tolerated. One example
is given them, even Christ. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” In the Bible we have the
unerring counsel of God. Its teachings, practically carried out, will fit
men for any position of duty. It is the voice of God speaking every
day to the soul. How carefully should the young study the Word of
God and treasure up its sentiments in the heart, that its precepts may
be made to govern the whole conduct. Our young ministers, and those
[23]
who have been some time preaching, show a marked deficiency in
their understanding of the Scriptures. The work of the Holy Spirit is to
enlighten the darkened understanding, to melt the selfish, stony heart,
to subdue the rebellious transgressor, and save him from the corrupting
influences of the world. The prayer of Christ for His disciples was:
“Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” The sword of
the Spirit, which is the Word of God, pierces the heart of the sinner
and cuts it in pieces. When the theory of the truth is repeated without
its sacred influence being felt upon the soul of the speaker, it has no
force upon the hearers, but is rejected as error, the speaker making