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The Sustaining Spirit, June 13
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always
having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
2
Corinthians 9:8
.
We [
Ellen White was assisting with evening evangelistic meetings in
san jose, California.
] rise at five o’clock, eat at half past six, and then the
men take the team to the tent and devote one hour and half to Bible class
and talking together, comparing their experiences of the day previous, and
are instructed in regard to the orderly habits they should cultivate and the
necessity of overcoming every defect in character. This is a school for them
which they all need very much.
The L_____s are good-spirited boys, but have great deficiencies—no
order, neglect the simplest duties in care-taking, leave things undone right
before their faces. It is a time now for them to obtain a fitness for the work
or give it up and take up that part of their education which has received no
attention, until they develop a well-balanced character. Until this is done
they will never be fit to go alone and do anything. We all need more of the
Spirit of God, more earnest faith, more constant, earnest prayer that we may
discern the grievous imperfections of our best works and our entire inability
of ourselves to meet the divine standard.
Oh, the greatness of the work to save souls! How few feel it! How few
are doing all they can to gather souls to Christ! Satan is working with his
might—persevering, diligent, untiring—while many who profess the truth
are asleep, doing nothing to save souls, not even living the truth they profess.
It is no tame testimony that will meet the people. We must reach the people
through God. We must be flexible in the hands of God, to be molded as clay
in the hands of the potter. There is sufficiency in the grace of God for every
hour of conflict, for every hour of trial. Let us take hold of God more firmly.
His Spirit will help, His Spirit will strengthen and sustain.
As we come nearer to God we shall be conscious of our own nothingness
and learn to depend more upon Jesus Christ and then we shall obtain clear
evidence of the love of Jesus. We shall see the goodness and mercy of God
displayed in the orderings of His providence.—
Letter 21, June 13, 1883
, to
W. C. White.
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