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Testimonies to Southern Africa
manna? Who will sacrifice for Christ’s sake? Who will present in its
rich fulness the righteousness of Christ? Will the church who claim to
believe the truth, the blood-bought church, do this work?
If you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, if His love can
move your heart, and His glory be dear to you, be faithful to your trust.
Unite your influence with that of the heavenly agencies, and devote
your God-given energies, your entrusted talents to the work of saving
souls. Your talents will increase by winning souls to Christ. Paul may
plant, Apollos water; but God giveth the increase. God calls for the
co-operation of a devoted church. Their co-operation with Him will
prove that they really believe that which they teach. Let the children of
God give evidence of their faith by their actions. Every one is pledged
before God to do all that is possible to win souls to Christ. God calls
for the dedication of soul, body and spirit to the work.
Unless the truth sanctifies the soul, unless it leads to humility and
meekness, self-denial and self-surrender, the enemy will gain influence
on his side. Let the effort made be in harmony with sacred truth of
heavenly origin. The Holy Spirit will be imparted and the church will
be consistent, and will fulfil the injunction, “Arise, shine; for thy light
is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold,
the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but
the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”
They will live not unto themselves, but unto Christ who died for them,
and rose again, and liveth to make intercession for the saints.
In God we can do valiantly, for the Lord will move upon the heart
by His Holy Spirit, and add daily unto the faith of such as shall be
saved. How I long to direct our brethren in America to look to Jesus,
to study His life and character, and manifest disinterestedness, self-
denial, and devotion to the service of Christ, becoming thereby a power
for good in the world.
Brother _____, tell all who labour in Africa that they must have
characters that can be identified as Christlike. Property will not give
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us a character; but union with Christ will invest every movement we
make with interest, give power to all our actions, and bring us into
harmony with Christ’s perfection.—
Letter 23c, 1892
.