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The Voice in Speech and Song
the unsanctified hurry and confusion of worldly things.—
Manuscript
101, 1902
.
Preaching and Practicing—At this period of time every minister
of Christ is to heed the charge Paul gave to Timothy, “Take heed unto
thyself,” to your character, your words, your conduct, “and unto the
doctrine” [
1 Timothy 4:16
]. The minister must practice the doctrine
he preaches, else he needs that someone should teach him the first
principles of pure doctrine....
The Lord has given me a message for you. Ministers of the gospel
must keep self in continual subjection to Christ. But in your present
state of mind you are not subject to the will or control of God. Self,
poor, sick self, is revealed on every hand. When self dies, the peace of
Christ will take possession of the soul. As long as you are a minister
of the gospel, you are under the most solemn obligation to God to be
wise, not in your own conceit, but wise in the wisdom of God.
Every day hereditary tendencies to wrong will strive for the mas-
tery. Every day you are to war against your objectionable traits of
character, until there are left in you none of those things which need
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to be separated from you. Then you will think candidly and wisely
how to take yourself to the Lord. You will foresee the evils which will
come, unless you change by avoiding the cause which produces the
effect.
You need now to understand as never before the softening, subdu-
ing power of true, Christlike character. You need to understand the
warfare in which we are engaged. The power of holy living is far
ahead of all doctrinal discourses....
We need now as never before to pray with heart and voice for the
Spirit of Christ to use us in His service through the sanctification of
the Spirit. We need to pray that we may by uniting with our fellow
workers build up God’s kingdom. We are never to be satisfied with
self, but are ever to press upward, seeking to attain higher fervency
and greater zeal. Our heart’s greatest desire should be to be found
among the meek and lowly people of God. Then we can find souls and
win souls.
Those who minister in word and doctrine must first be partakers
of the fruits of the Spirit. Bear this in mind. Bridle your disposition,
and then peace and contentment will find room in your soul. If you
wish your heart to overflow with the love of God, cultivate grateful