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True Religion Needed in the Church Today, July 23
These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the
way of salvation.
Acts 16:17
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We need true religion in the church. It is God’s purpose that we shall show that
we are born again, and that we are working out in our lives the great, heaven-born
principles of truth. Thus only can we gain eternal life in the kingdom of glory....
There might be a thousand more laborers than there are now if God’s people
would deny themselves, and take up the cross, and follow Jesus. What we need
is the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and we need it every day. What we need
is men of prayer, men who in quietness and humility, without any display or
excitement, are overcoming self.
What we need ... is to settle in to the living principles of present truth. Satan
is creeping in with his sophistry to undermine the principles of our faith. You
remember how when Paul and Silas were teaching in a certain place, a woman
met them, and cried saying, “These men are the servants of the most high God,
which shew unto us the way of salvation.” This woman was possessed with a spirit
of divination, and by soothsaying brought her masters much gain. Her influence
had helped to strengthen idolatry.
“But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the
name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”
But, you say, she spoke good words, and why should Paul rebuke her? It was
Satan speaking through her, hoping to mingle his sophistry with the truths taught
by those who were proclaiming the Word of God.
The same danger exists today. The enemy is trying to bring in his sophistry
through those who ought to be on their knees before God, praying for an un-
derstanding of what saith the Scriptures, that they may stand against the evil
influences that fill the world. God desires scientific sophistry to be purged from
every heart. He desires us to rebuke every evil devising, every evil work. If we
allow such devising to go unrebuked, we shall have to suffer the consequences....
God wants us to go to Him for light, and to carry His presence with us wherever
we go....
The enemy will present his sophistries, with little fibers that would take hold of
your experience and undermine your faith. I pray that your eyes may be anointed
with the heavenly eyesalve, that you may discern what is truth and what is error.
We need to put on the white garments of Christ’s righteousness. We need to walk
and talk with God.—
Manuscript 66, 1905
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