Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

576 Testimonies for the Church Volume 1[627]and in the spirit of humility, in the spirit of Jesus, who has bidden youlearn of Him, who is meek and lowly in heart. And then in order toglorify God and exemplify the character of Christ, you should nevertake unlawful advantage of your opponent. Lay aside sarcasm andplaying upon words. Remember that you are in a combat with Satanand his angels, as well as with the man. He who overcame Satan inheaven and vanquished the fallen foe and expelled him from heaven,and who died to redeem fallen man from his power, when at the graveof Moses, disputing about his body, durst not bring against Satan arailing accusation, but said: “The Lord rebuke thee.”In your last two discussions you despised counsel and would notlisten to God’s servant, whose whole soul was devoted to the work.God in His providence provided you an adviser whose talents andinfluence entitled him to your respect and confidence, and it couldin no way have injured your dignity to be guided by his experiencedjudgment. God’s angels marked your self-sufficiency and with griefturned from you. He could not safely display His power in your behalf,for you would have taken the glory to yourself, and your future laborswould have been of but little value. I saw, Brother F, that you shouldnot, in your labors, lean upon your own judgment, which has so oftenled you astray. You should yield to the judgment of those of experience.Do not stand upon your own dignity and feel so self-sufficient that youcannot take the advice and counsel of experienced fellow laborers.Your wife has been no special help to you, but rather a hindrance.Had she received and heeded the testimonies given her more than twoyears ago she would now be a strong helper with you in the gospel.But she has not received and really acted upon that testimony. Hadshe done this, her course would have been entirely different. She hasnot been consecrated to God. She loves her ease, shuns burdens, anddoes not deny herself. She indulges in indolence, and her example isnot worthy of imitation, but is an injury to the cause of God. At timesshe exerts a strong influence over you, especially if she feels homesickor discontented. Again, in church affairs she has an influence overyou. She forms her opinion of this brother or that sister, and expressesdislike or strong attachment, while it has frequently been the casethat the very ones she takes into her heart have been a source of greattrial to the church. Her unconsecrated state leads her to feel verystrong attachments to those who manifest great confidence and love