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Principles for Christian Leaders

3/97

The object of Christ’s supreme regard

I testify to my brethren and sisters that the church of Christ, enfeebled and defective as it may be, is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard. While He extends to all the world His invitation to come to Him and be saved, He commissions His angels to render divine help to every soul that cometh to Him in repentance and contrition, and He comes personally by His Holy Spirit into the midst of His church. —GCDB, February 17, 1893; TM 15 PCL 20.2

A church, separate and distinct from the world, is in the estimation of heaven the greatest object in all the earth.—Letter 26, 1900 (February 15); 3SM 17 PCL 20.3

The church is the property of God, and God constantly remembers her as she stands in the world, subject to the temptations of Satan. . . . He forgets not His representative people who are striving to uphold His downtrodden law. . . . PCL 20.4

Jesus sees His true church on the earth, whose greatest ambition is to cooperate with Him in the grand work of saving souls. He hears their prayers, presented in contrition and power, and Omnipotence cannot resist their plea for the salvation of any tried, tempted member of Christ’s body. . . . Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us. Through our Redeemer what blessings may not the true believer receive? The church, soon to enter upon her most severe conflict, will be the object most dear to God upon earth. . . . But exalted “to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins,” (R.V) will Christ, our representative and head, close His heart, or withdraw His hand, or falsify His promise? No; never, never.—RH, October 17, 1893; TM 19, 20 PCL 20.5

We do not worry. The cause is the Lord’s; He is on board the ship as Chief Director, and He will guide our bark into port. Our Master can command the winds and the waves. We are only His workers, to obey orders; what He saith, that will we do. We have no need to be anxious or troubled. God is our trust. The Lord sends His richest endowments of reason and reasoning to a people He loves, and who keep His commandments. He has by no means forsaken His people who are working in His lines. —Letter 121, 1900 (August 13) PCL 21.1

It is not the power that emanates from men that makes the work successful, it is the power of the heavenly intelligences working with the human agent that brings the work to perfection. A Paul may plant, and an Apollos may water, but it is God that giveth the increase. Man cannot do God’s part of the work. As a human agent he may cooperate with the divine intelligences, and in simplicity and meekness do his best, realizing that God is the great Master Workman. Although the workmen may be buried, the work will not cease, but it will go on to completion.—RH, November 14, 1893; ChS 260 PCL 21.2

The most complete system that men have ever devised, apart from the power and wisdom of God, will prove a failure, while the most unpromising methods will succeed when divinely appointed and entered upon with humility and faith. . . . All heaven awaits our demand upon its wisdom and strength. God is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20—PP 554 (1890) PCL 22.1