Earnestness and Assurance
145
not come and go without accomplishing a work.—
Testimonies for the
Church 3:32
.
Living Earnestness—It is living earnestness that God requires.
Ministers may have little learning from books; but if they do the best
they can with their talents, if they work as they have opportunity, if
they clothe their utterances in the plainest and most simple language,
if they are humble men who walk in carefulness and humility, seeking
for heavenly wisdom, working for God from the heart, and actuated
by one predominating motive—love for Christ and the souls for whom
He has died—they will be listened to by men of even superior ability
and talents. There will be a charm in the simplicity of the truths
they present. Christ is the greatest Teacher that the world has ever
known.—
Selected Messages 2:152
.
Energy in the Presentation of the Bible—We must cultivate an
abiding sense of our own inefficiency and helplessness and rely wholly
on Jesus. This should keep us individually calm and steadfast in words
and deportment. Excitement in the speaker is not power but weakness.
Earnestness and energy are essential in presenting Bible truth, the
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gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation.—
Selected Messages
2:59
.
Size of Audience Not Most Important—Remember that you are
cooperating with divine agencies—agencies that never fail. Speak
with as much earnestness, faith, and interest as if there were thousands
present to listen to your voice.—
Gospel Workers, 167
Decided, Stirring Tones—To every nation, kindred, tongue, and
people the tidings of pardon through Christ are to be carried. Not with
tame, lifeless utterances is the message to be given, but with clear,
decided, stirring utterances. Hundreds are waiting for the warning to
escape for their lives.—
Gospel Workers, 29
.
Positive Presentations—Cultivate earnestness and positiveness in
addressing the people. Your subject matter may be excellent, and just
what the people need, but you would do well to mingle a positiveness
with persuasive entreaties....
Present the plain “Thus saith the Lord” with authority, and exalt
the wisdom of God in the written Word. Bring the people to a decision;
keep the voice of the Bible ever before them. Tell them you speak that
which you do know, and testify that which is truth, because God has
spoken it. Let your preaching be short and right to the point, and then