Page 286 - Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers (1923)

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Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
drinking of the flesh and blood of Christ. Those who know the truth
must be educated to receive it from their own shepherds, and pray
over it, and practice it. Then souls will grow in faith and in intelligent
knowledge. They would receive the bread of life and digest it. The
entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the
simple.” The truth needs to enter into heart and mind. More, much
more praying, and less long sermonizing will be for the health of the
body and soul.
Money has been expended in sending men to Jerusalem, to see
the place where Jesus traveled and taught, when we have the precious
Saviour nigh us, His presence with us, and we may have a Jerusalem
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in our own houses and in the churches. We can discern His fresh
footsteps, we can eat His words and have eternal life. We need more
study, more earnest meditation and communion with Christ. We
need to listen for the still small voice, and to rest by faith in the love
of Christ. We should have a much more healthful experience, and
become much more vigorous Christians.
We have a superabundance of sermons, but we need to learn
to receive the word. All the help from abroad cannot supply this
deficiency. The home missionary work must be entered into by
home missionaries. God is not pleased with the selfish devisings
to give so many advantages to those who know the truth, who had
opportunities to understand far more of the truth than they practice.
Thousands upon thousands are in ignorance, perishing out of Christ.
Yet money and time and labor are devoted to the class who are ever
learning, yet never able to come to the experimental knowledge of
the truth because they will not practice the truth.
Those who are ready to do service are those who feed most on
Christ. Read and study His word, drink in the inspiration of His
Spirit, and receive of His grace, not to hoard, but to give to others.
In order to instruct others, the teachers must first be learners of
Christ. There are Marthas in every church. They are intensely busy
in religious activities, and they do much good; but we need also
Mary’s side of character. The most zealous workers need to learn at
the feet of Jesus.
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