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work the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit must work you. It is the
Holy Spirit that makes the truth impressive. Keep practical truth
ever before the people.” [58]
Do not make prominent those features of the message which are
a condemnation of the customs and practices of the people, until they
have an opportunity to know that we are believers in Christ, that we
believe in His divinity and in His pre-existence. Let the testimony
of the world’s Redeemer be dwelt upon. He says: “I Jesus have
sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.”
Revelation 22:16.
* * * * *
At the Queensland camp meeting in 1898, instruction was given
me for our Bible workers. In the visions of the night, ministers and
workers seemed to be in a meeting where Bible lessons were being
given. We said, “We have the Great Teacher with us today,” and
we listened with interest to His words. He said: There is a great
work before you in this place. You will need to present truth in its
simplicity. Bring the people to the waters of life. Speak to them the
things which most concern their present and eternal good. Let not
your study of the Scriptures be of a cheap or casual order. In all that
you say, know that you have something which is worthy of the time
you take to say it, and of the time of the hearers to hear. Speak of
those things which are essential, those things which will instruct,
bringing light with every word.
“Learn to meet the people where they are. Do not present subjects
that will arouse controversy. Let not your instruction be of a
character to perplex the mind. Do not cause the people to worry over
things which you may understand but which they do not see, unless
these are of vital consequence to the saving of the soul. Do not
present the Scriptures in a way to exalt self and encourage vainglory
in the one who opens the word.”
The work for this time is to train students and workers to deal [59]
with subjects in a plain, serious, and solemn manner. There must be
no time uselessly employed in this great work. We must not miss
the mark. Time is too short for us to undertake to reveal all that
might be opened to view. Eternity will be required for us to know
54 Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
all the length and breadth, the depth and height, of the Scriptures.
There are some souls to whom certain truths are of more importance
than other truths. Skill is needed in your education in Scriptural
lines. Read and study Psalm 40:7, 8; John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16;
Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:14-17; Revelation 5:11-14.
To the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos were revealed the
things which God desired him to give to the people. Study these
revelations. Here are themes worthy of our contemplation, large
and comprehensive lessons which all the angelic host are now seeking
to communicate. Behold the life and character of Christ, and
study His mediatorial work. Here is infinite wisdom, infinite love,
infinite justice, infinite mercy. Here are depths and heights, lengths
and breadths, for our consideration. Numberless pens have been
employed in presenting to the world the life, the character, and the
mediatorial work of Christ, and yet every mind through which the
Holy Spirit has worked has presented these themes in a light that is
fresh and new.
We desire to lead the people to understand what Christ is to
them and what are the responsibilities they are called upon to accept
in Him. As His representatives and witnesses, we ourselves need
to come to a full understanding of the saving truths gained by an
experimental knowledge.
Teach the great practical truths that must be stamped upon the
soul. Teach the saving power of Jesus, “in whom we have redemption
[60] through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”Colossians 1:14. It
was at the cross that mercy and truth met together, that righteousness
and truth kissed each other. Let every student and every worker
study this again and again, that they, setting forth the Lord crucified
among us, may make it a fresh subject to the people. Show that the
life of Christ reveals an infinitely perfect character. Teach that “as
many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:12. Tell it
over and over again. We may become the sons of God, members
of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. Let it be known
that all who accept Jesus Christ and hold the beginning of their
confidence firm to the end will be heirs of God and joint heirs with
Christ “to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth
not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power
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of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time.” 1 Peter 1:4, 5.
The LastWarning
The third angel’s message is to be given with power. The power
of the proclamation of the first and second messages is to be intensified
in the third. In the Revelation John says of the heavenly
messenger who unites with the third angel: “I saw another angel
come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was
lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice.”
Revelation 18:1, 2. We are in danger of giving the third angel’s
message in so indefinite a manner that it does not impress the people.
So many other interests are brought in that the very message which
should be proclaimed with power becomes tame and voiceless. At
our camp meetings a mistake has been made. The Sabbath question
has been touched upon, but has not been presented as the great test
for this time. While the churches profess to believe in Christ, they [61]
are violating the law which Christ Himself proclaimed from Sinai.
The Lord bids us: “Show My people their transgression, and the
house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1. The trumpet is to give a
certain sound.
When you have a congregation before you for only two weeks,
do not defer the presentation of the Sabbath question until everything
else is presented, supposing that you thus pave the way for it. Lift
up the standard—the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Make this the important theme. Then, by your strong arguments,
make it of still greater force. Dwell more on the Revelation. Read,
explain, and enforce its teaching.
Our warfare is aggressive. Tremendous issues are before us, yea,
and right upon us. Let our prayers ascend to God that the four angels
may still hold the four winds, that they may not blow to injure or
destroy until the last warning has been given to the world. Then
let us work in harmony with our prayers. Let nothing lessen the
force of the truth for this time. The present truth is to be our burden.
The third angel’s message must do its work of separating from the
churches a people who will take their stand on the platform of eternal
truth.
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Our message is a life-and-death message, and we must let it
appear as it is, the great power of God. We are to present it in all its
telling force. Then the Lord will make it effectual. It is our privilege
to expect large things, even the demonstration of the Spirit of God.
This is the power that will convict and convert the soul.
* * * * *
The perils of the last days are upon us, and in our work we are to
warn the people of the danger they are in. Let not the solemn scenes
which prophecy has revealed be left untouched. If our people were
half awake, if they realized the nearness of the events portrayed in
[62] the Revelation, a reformation would be wrought in our churches,
and many more would believe the message. We have no time to
lose; God calls upon us to watch for souls as they that must give an
account. Advance new principles, and crowd in the clear-cut truth. It
will be as a sword cutting both ways. But be not too ready to take a
controversial attitude. There will be times when we must stand still
and see the salvation of God. Let Daniel speak, let the Revelation
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speak, and tell what is truth. But whatever phase of the subject is
presented, uplift Jesus as the center of all hope, “the Root
