the desire of ages-第144章
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the desponding and those of little faith。 Nigh and afar off are souls weighed down by a sense of guilt。 It is not hardship； toil； or poverty that degrades humanity。 It is guilt； wrongdoing。 This brings unrest and dissatisfaction。 Christ would have His servants minister to sin…sick souls。
The disciples were to begin their work where they were。 The hardest and most unpromising field was not to be passed by。 So every one of Christ's workers is to begin where he is。 In our own families may be souls hungry for sympathy； starving for the bread of life。 There may be children to be trained for Christ。 There are heathen at our very doors。 Let us do faithfully the work that is nearest。 Then let our efforts be extended as far as God's hand may lead the way。 The work of many may appear to be restricted by circumstances； but； wherever it is； if performed with faith and diligence it will be felt to the uttermost parts of the earth。 Christ's work when upon earth appeared to be confined to a narrow field； but multitudes from all lands heard His message。 God often uses the simplest means to accomplish the greatest results。 It is
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His plan that every part of His work shall depend on every other part； as a wheel within a wheel； all acting in harmony。 The humblest worker； moved by the Holy Spirit； will touch invisible chords； whose vibrations will ring to the ends of the earth； and make melody through eternal ages。
But the command； 〃Go ye into all the world；〃 is not to be lost sight of。 We are called upon to lift our eyes to the 〃regions beyond。〃 Christ tears away the wall of partition； the dividing prejudice of nationality； and teaches a love for all the human family。 He lifts men from the narrow circle which their selfishness prescribes； He abolishes all territorial lines and artificial distinctions of society。 He makes no difference between neighbors and strangers； friends and enemies。 He teaches us to look upon every needy soul as our brother； and the world as our field。
When the Saviour said； 〃Go； 。 。 。 teach all nations；〃 He said also； 〃These signs shall follow them that believe； In My name shall they cast out devils； they shall speak with new tongues； they shall take up serpents； and if they drink any deadly thing； it shall not hurt them； they shall lay hands on the sick； and they shall recover。〃 The promise is as far…reaching as the commission。 Not that all the gifts are imparted to each believer。 The Spirit divides 〃to every man severally as He will。〃 1 Cor。 12：11。 But the gifts of the Spirit are promised to every believer according to his need for the Lord's work。 The promise is just as strong and trustworthy now as in the days of the apostles。 〃These signs shall follow them that believe。〃 This is the privilege of God's children； and faith should lay hold on all that it is possible to have as an indorsement of faith。
〃They shall lay hands on the sick； and they shall recover。〃 This world is a vast lazar house； but Christ came to heal the sick； to proclaim deliverance to the captives of Satan。 He was in Himself health and strength。 He imparted His life to the sick； the afflicted； those possessed of demons。 He turned away none who came to receive His healing power。 He knew that those who petitioned Him for help had brought disease upon themselves； yet He did not refuse to heal them。 And when virtue from Christ entered into these poor souls； they were convicted of sin； and many were healed of their spiritual disease； as well as of their physical maladies。 The gospel still possesses the same power； and why should we not today witness the same results？
Christ feels the woes of every sufferer。 When evil spirits rend a human frame； Christ feels the curse。 When fever is burning up the life current； He feels the agony。 And He is just as willing to heal the sick now as when He was personally on earth。 Christ's servants are His
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representatives； the channels for His working。 He desires through them to exercise His healing power。
In the Saviour's manner of healing there were lessons for His disciples。 On one occasion He anointed the eyes of a blind man with clay； and bade him； 〃Go； wash in the pool of Siloam。 。 。 。 He went his way therefore； and washed； and came seeing。〃 John 9：7。 The cure could be wrought only by the power of the Great Healer； yet Christ made use of the simple agencies of nature。 While He did not give countenance to drug medication； He sanctioned the use of simple and natural remedies。
To many of the afflicted ones who received healing； Christ said； 〃Sin no more； lest a worse thing come unto thee。〃 John 5：14。 Thus He taught that disease is the result of violating God's laws； both natural and spiritual。 The great misery in the world would not exist did men but live in harmony with the Creator's plan。
Christ had been the guide and teacher of ancient Israel； and He taught them that health is the reward of obedience to the laws of God。 The Great Physician who healed the sick in Palestine had spoken to His people from the pillar of cloud； telling them what they must do； and what God would do for them。 〃If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God；〃 He said； 〃and wilt do that which is right in His sight； and wilt give ear to His commandments； and keep all His statutes； I will put none of these diseases upon thee； which I have brought upon the Egyptians： for I am the Lord that healeth thee。〃 Ex。 15：26。 Christ gave to Israel definite instruction in regard to their habits of life； and He assured them； 〃The Lord will take away from thee all sickness。〃 Deut。 7：15。 When they fulfilled the conditions； the promise was verified to them。 〃There was not one feeble person among their tribes。〃 Ps。 105：37。
These lessons are for us。 There are conditions to be observed by all who would preserve health。 All should learn what these conditions are。 The Lord is not pleased with ignorance in regard to His laws； either natural or spiritual。 We are to be workers together with God for the restoration of health to the body as well as to the soul。
And we should teach others how to preserve and to recover health。 For the sick we should use the remedies which God has provided in nature； and we should point them to Him who alone can restore。 It is our work to present the sick and suffering to Christ in the arms of our faith。 We should teach them to believe in the Great Healer。 We should lay hold on His promise； and pray for the manifestation of His power。 The very essence of the gospel is restoration； and the Saviour would have us bid
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the sick； the hopeless； and the afflicted take hold upon His strength。
The power of love was in all Christ's healing； and only by partaking of that love； through faith； can we be instruments for His work。 If we neglect to link ourselves in divine connection with Christ； the current of life…giving energy cannot flow in rich streams from us to the people。 There were places where the Saviour Himself could not do many mighty works because of their unbelief。 So now unbelief separates the church from her divine Helper。 Her hold upon eternal realities is weak。 By her lack of faith； God is disappointed； and robbed of His glory。
It is in doing Christ's work that the church has the promise of His presence。 Go teach all nations； He said； 〃and； lo； I am with you alway； even unto the end of the world。〃 To take His yoke is one of the first conditions of receiving His power。 The very life of the church depends upon her faithfulness in fulfilling the Lord's commission。 To neglect this work is surely to invite spiritual feebleness and decay。 Where there is no active labor for others； love wanes； and faith grows dim。
Christ intends that His ministers shall be educators of the church in gospel work。 They are to teach the people how to seek and save the lost。 But is this the work they are doing？ Alas； how many are toiling to fan the spark of life in a church that is ready to die！ How many churches are tended like sick lambs by those who ought to be seeking for the lost sheep！ And all the time millions upon millions without Christ are perishing。
Divine love has been stirred to its unfathomable depths for the sake of men； and angels marvel to behold in the recipients of so great love a mere surface gratitude。 Angels marvel at man's shallow appreciation of the love of God。 Heaven stands indignant at the neglect shown to the souls of men。 Would we know how Christ regards it？ How would a father and mother feel； did they know that their child； lost in the cold and the snow； had been passed by； and left to perish； by those who might have saved it？ Would they not be terribly grieved； wildly indignant？ Would they not denounce those murderers with wrath hot as their tears； intense as their love？ The sufferings of every man are the sufferings of God's child； and those who reach out no helping hand to their perishing fellow beings provoke His righteous anger。 This is the wrath of the Lamb。 To those who claim fellowship with Christ； yet have been indifferent to the needs of their fellow men； He will declare in the great Judgment day； 〃I know you not whence ye are； depart from Me； all ye workers of iniquity。〃 Luke 13：27。
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In the commission to His disciples； Christ not only outlined their work； but gave them their message。 Teach the people； He said； 〃to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you。〃 The disciples were to teach what Christ had taught。 That which He had spoken； not only in person； but through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament； is here included。 Human teaching is shut out。 There is no place for tradition； for man's theories and conclusions； or for church legislation。 No laws ordained by ecclesiastical authority are included in the commission。 None of these are Christ's servants to teach。 〃The law and the prophets；〃 with the record of His own words and deeds； are the treasure committed to the disciples to be given to the world。 Christ's name is their watchword； their badge of distinction； their bond of union； the authority for their course of action； and the source of their success。 Nothing that does not bear His superscription is to be recognized in His kingdom。
The gospel is to be presented； not as a lifeless theory； but as a living force to change the life。 God desires that the receivers of His grace shall be witnesses to its power。 Those whose course has been most offensive to Him He freely accepts； when they repent； He imparts to them His divine Spirit； places them in the highest positions of trust； and sends them forth into the camp of the disloyal to proclaim His boundless mercy。 He would have His servants bear testimony to the fact that through His grace men may possess Christlikeness of character； and may rejoice in the assurance of His great love。 He would have us bear testimony to the fact that He cannot be satisfied until the human race are reclaimed and reinstated in their holy privileges as His sons and daughters。
In Christ is the tenderness of the shepherd； the affection of the parent； and the matchless grace of the compassionate Saviour。 His blessings He presents in the most alluring terms。 He i
