Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Danger of Self-Confidence 573you will retain your physical and mental vigor, and render your labormuch more efficient. Brother F, you are a nervous man and move muchfrom impulse. Mental depression influences your labor very much. Attimes you feel a want of freedom and think it is because others are indarkness or wrong, or that something is the matter, you can hardly tellwhat, and you make a drive somewhere and upon somebody, whichis liable to do great harm. If you would quiet yourself when in thisrestless, nervous condition, and rest and calmly wait on God andinquire if the trouble is not in yourself, you would save wounding yourown soul and wounding the precious cause of God.I saw that Brother F was in danger of becoming lifted up if hewas enabled in his discourses to strongly move the feelings of thecongregation. He would often think himself the most effectual preacheron that account. Here he sometimes deceives himself. Although hemay be for the time the most acceptable preacher, yet he may fail toaccomplish the most good. The preacher who can affect the feelings tothe greatest degree does not thereby give evidence that he is the most [623]useful.When Brother F is humble and makes God his trust, he can domuch good. Angels come to his help, and he is blessed with clearnessand freedom. But after a time of special victory he has too often beenlifted up and thought himself equal to anything, thought that he wassomething, when he was only an instrument in the hands of God. Aftersuch seasons angels of God have left him to his own weak strength, andthen, though he himself was the one at fault, he would too frequentlycharge upon his brethren and the people the darkness and weaknesshe felt. While in this unhappy state of mind he frequently bears downupon this one and that one, and, even when his work is not half done,feels that he must remove and commence labor elsewhere.I saw that Brother F was in danger of going into battle in his ownstrength, but he will find that strength but weakness in the conflict.While he made God his trust, he has often been successful in combatswith opposers of our faith. But he has sometimes felt elated with thevictory which God has given truth over error, and has taken the gloryto himself in these conflicts. Self has been magnified in his eyes.I was shown that in his last two discussions he did not have theright spirit. Previous to the first he became exalted by the flattery ofmen who love not the truth. As he listened to, and acted some part