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25 - Talents, Part 1 - Christ's Object Lessons · Philosophy and Faith

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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty five Talents, Part one. Christ on the Mount
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Speaker 1: of Olives had spoken to his disciples of his second
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Speaker 1: advent to the world. He had specified certain signs that
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Speaker 1: were to show when his coming was near, and had
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Speaker 1: bidden his disciples watch and be ready. Again, he repeated
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Speaker 1: the warning, watch therefore, for you know neither the day
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Speaker 1: nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh. Then
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Speaker 1: he showed what it means to watch for his coming.
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Speaker 1: The time is to be spent not in idle waiting,
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Speaker 1: but in diligent working. This lesson he taught in the
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Speaker 1: Parable of the Talents. The Kingdom of Heaven, he said,
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Speaker 1: is as a man traveling into a far country, who
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Speaker 1: called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods,
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Speaker 1: and unto one he gave five talents to another, two
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Speaker 1: to another, one to every man, according to his several
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Speaker 1: ability and straightway took his journey. The man traveling into
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Speaker 1: a far country represents Christ, who, when speaking the Parable,
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Speaker 1: was soon to depart from this earth to Heaven. The
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Speaker 1: bond servants or slaves of the parable represent the followers
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Speaker 1: of Christ. We are not our own. We have been
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Speaker 1: bought with a price, not with corruptible things as silver
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Speaker 1: and gold. But with the precious blood of Christ. They
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Speaker 1: that which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but
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Speaker 1: unto Him which died for them and rose again. All
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Speaker 1: men have been bought with this infinite price by pouring
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Speaker 1: the whole treasury of Heaven into this world. By giving
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Speaker 1: us in Christ all heaven, God has purchased the will,
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Speaker 1: the affections, the mind, the soul of every human being.
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Speaker 1: Where the believers or unbelievers, all men are the Lord's property.
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Speaker 1: All are called to do service for Him, and for
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Speaker 1: the manner in which they have met this claim. All
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Speaker 1: will be required to render an account at the Great
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Speaker 1: judgment day. But the claims of God are not recognized
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Speaker 1: by all. It is those who profess to have accepted
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Speaker 1: Christ's service who in the parable are represented as his
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Speaker 1: own servants. Christ's followers have been redeemed for service. Our
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Speaker 1: Lord teaches that the true object of life is ministry.
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Speaker 1: Christ himself was a worker, and to all his followers
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Speaker 1: he gives the law of service service to God and
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Speaker 1: to their fellow men. Here Christ has presented to the
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Speaker 1: world a higher conception of life than they had ever known.
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Speaker 1: By living to minister for others. Man is brought into
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Speaker 1: connection with Christ. The law of service becomes the connecting
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Speaker 1: link which binds us to God and to our fellow men.
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Speaker 1: To his servants. Christ commits his goods something to be
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Speaker 1: put to use for him. He gives to every man
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Speaker 1: his work. Each has his place in the eternal plan
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Speaker 1: of heaven. Each is to work in co operation with
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Speaker 1: Christ for the salvation of souls. Not more surely is
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Speaker 1: the place prepared for us in the heavenly mansions than
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Speaker 1: is the special place designated on earth where we are
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Speaker 1: to work for God. Gifts of the Holy Spirit the
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Speaker 1: talents that Christ's intrust to his church represent, especially the
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Speaker 1: gifts and blessings imparted by the Holy Spirit. To one
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Speaker 1: is given by the Spirit, the word of wisdom to another,
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Speaker 1: the word of knowledge by the same spirit to another,
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Speaker 1: faith by the same spirit to another, the gifts of
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Speaker 1: healing by the same spirit to another, the working of
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Speaker 1: miracles to another, prophecy to another, discerning of spirits to another,
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Speaker 1: diverse kinds of tongues to another, the interpretation of tongues.
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Speaker 1: But all these worketh that one and the self same Spirit,
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Speaker 1: dividing to every man severally as he will. All men
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Speaker 1: do not receive the same gifts. But to every servant
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Speaker 1: of the Master, some gift of the Spirit is promised.
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Speaker 1: Before he left his disciples, Christ breathed on them and
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Speaker 1: saith unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost Again, He said, behold,
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Speaker 1: I send the promise of my Father upon you. But
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Speaker 1: not until after the ascension was the gift received in
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Speaker 1: its fullness, not until through faith and prayer the disciples
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Speaker 1: had surrendered themselves fully. For his working was the outpouring
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Speaker 1: of the spirit received. Then in a special sense, the
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Speaker 1: goods of heaven were committed to the followers of Christ.
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Speaker 1: When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive
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Speaker 1: and gave gifts unto men. Unto every one of us
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Speaker 1: is given grace according to the measure of the gift
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Speaker 1: of Christ, the Spirit, dividing to every man severally as
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Speaker 1: he will. The gifts are already ours in Christ, but
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Speaker 1: their actual possession depends upon our reception of the Spirit
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Speaker 1: of God. The promise of the Spirit is not appreciated
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Speaker 1: as it should be, its fulfillment is not realized as
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Speaker 1: it might be. It is the absence of the Spirit
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Speaker 1: that makes the Gospel ministry so powerless, learning, talents, eloquence.
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Speaker 1: Every natural or acquired endowment may be possessed, but without
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Speaker 1: the presence of the Spirit of God, no heart will
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Speaker 1: be touched, no sinner one to Christ. On the other hand,
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Speaker 1: if they are connected with Christ, if the gifts of
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Speaker 1: the Spirit are theirs, the poorest and most ignorant of
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Speaker 1: His disciples will have a power that will tell upon hearts.
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Speaker 1: God makes them the channel for the outworking of the
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Speaker 1: highest influence in the universe. Other talents, the special gifts
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Speaker 1: of the Spirit are not the only talents represented in
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Speaker 1: the parable. It includes all gifts and endowments, whether original
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Speaker 1: or acquired, natural or spiritual, All are to be employed
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Speaker 1: in Christ's service. In becoming His disciples, we surrender ourselves
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Speaker 1: to Him with all that we are, and have these gifts.
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Speaker 1: He returns to us, purified and ennobled, to be used
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Speaker 1: for His glory in blessing our fellow men. To every
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Speaker 1: man God has given according to his several ability. The
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Speaker 1: talents are not apportioned capriciously. He who has ability to
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Speaker 1: use five talents receives five. He who can improved but
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Speaker 1: two receives two. He who can wisely use only one
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Speaker 1: receives one. None need lament that they have not received
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Speaker 1: larger gifts, For he who has apportioned to every man
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Speaker 1: is equally honored by the improvement of each trust, whether
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Speaker 1: it be great or small. The one to whom five
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Speaker 1: talents have been committed is to render the improvement of five.
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Speaker 1: He who has but one the improvement of one. God
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Speaker 1: expects returns according to that a man hath, and not
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Speaker 1: according to that he hath not use of talents. In
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Speaker 1: the parable, he that had received the five talents went
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Speaker 1: and traded with the same and made them other five talents.
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Speaker 1: And likewise he that had received two, he also gained
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Speaker 1: other two. The talents, however, few, are to be put
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Speaker 1: to use. The question that most concerns us is not
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Speaker 1: how much have I received? But what am I doing
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Speaker 1: with that which I have? The development of all our
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Speaker 1: powers is the first duty we owe to God and
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Speaker 1: to our fellow men. No one who is not growing
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Speaker 1: daily in capability and usefulness is fulfilling the purpose of life.
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Speaker 1: In making a profession of faith in Christ, we pledge
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Speaker 1: ourselves to become all that it is possible for us
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Speaker 1: to be as workers for the Master, And we should
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Speaker 1: cultivate every faculty to the highest degree of perfection, that
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Speaker 1: we may do the greatest amount of good of which
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Speaker 1: we are capable. The Lord has a great work to
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Speaker 1: be done, and he will bequeath the most in the
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Speaker 1: future life to those who do the most faithful, willing
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Speaker 1: service in the present life. The Lord chooses his own agents,
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Speaker 1: and each day, under different circumstances, he gives them a
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Speaker 1: trial of his plan of operation in each true hearted
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Speaker 1: endeavor to work out his plan. He chooses his agents
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Speaker 1: not because they are perfect, but because, through a connection
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Speaker 1: with Him, they may gain perfection. God will accept only
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Speaker 1: those who are determined to aim high. He places every
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Speaker 1: human agent under obligation to do his best. Moral perffection
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Speaker 1: is required of all. Never should we lower the standard
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Speaker 1: of righteousness in order to accommodate inherited or cultivated tendencies
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Speaker 1: to wrongdoing. We need to understand that imperfection of character
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Speaker 1: is sin. All righteous attributes of character dwell in God
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Speaker 1: as a perfect, harmonious whole, and every one who receives
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Speaker 1: Christ as a personal savior is privileged to possess these attributes.
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Speaker 1: And those who would be workers together with God must
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Speaker 1: strive for perfection in every organ of the body and
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Speaker 1: quality of the mind. True education is the preparation of
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Speaker 1: the physical, mental, and moral powers for the performance of
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Speaker 1: every duty. It is the training of body, mind and
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Speaker 1: soul for divine service. This is the education that will
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Speaker 1: endure unto eternal life. Of every Christian. The Lord requires
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Speaker 1: growth in efficiency and capability in every line. Christ has
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Speaker 1: paid us our wages, even his own blood and suffering,
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Speaker 1: to secure our willing. Sir. He came to our world
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Speaker 1: to give us an example of how we should work
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Speaker 1: and what spirit we should bring into our labor. He
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Speaker 1: desires us to study how we can best advance his
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Speaker 1: work and glorify His name in the world, crowning with honor,
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Speaker 1: with the greatest love and devotion the Father who so
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Speaker 1: loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,
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Speaker 1: that whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
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Speaker 1: everlasting life. But Christ has given us no assurance that
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Speaker 1: to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A
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Speaker 1: noble all round character is not inherited. It does not
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Speaker 1: come to us by accident. A noble character is earned
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Speaker 1: by individual effort, through the merits and grace of Christ,
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Speaker 1: God gives the talents the powers of the mind. We
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Speaker 1: form the character it is formed by hard stern battles
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Speaker 1: with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies.
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Speaker 1: We shall have to criticize ourselves closely and allow not
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Speaker 1: one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected. Let no one say
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Speaker 1: I cannot remedy my defects of character. If you come
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Speaker 1: to this decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life.
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Speaker 1: The impossibility lies in your own will. If you will not,
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Speaker 1: then you cannot overcome. The real difficulty arises from the
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Speaker 1: corruption of an unsanctified heart and an unwillingness to submit
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Speaker 1: to the control of God. Many whom God has qualified
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Speaker 1: to do excellent work accomplish very little because they attempt.
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Speaker 1: Little thousands pass through life as if they had no
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Speaker 1: definite object for which to live, no standard to reach.
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Speaker 1: Such will obtain a reward proportionate to their works. Remember
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Speaker 1: that you will never reach a higher standard than you
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Speaker 1: yourself set. Then set your mark high, and, step by step,
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Speaker 1: even though it be by painful effort, by self denial
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Speaker 1: and sacrifice, ascend the whole length of the ladder of progress.
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Speaker 1: Let nothing hinder you. Fate has not woven its measures
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Speaker 1: about any human being so firmly that he need main
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Speaker 1: helpless and in uncertainty. Opposing circumstances should create a firm
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Speaker 1: determination to overcome them. The breaking down of one barrier
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Speaker 1: will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press
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Speaker 1: with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be
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Speaker 1: your helpers, not your hindrances. Be ambitious for the Master's glory.
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Speaker 1: To cultivate every grace of character in every phase of
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Speaker 1: your character building. You are to please God. This you
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Speaker 1: may do, for Enoch pleased him, though living in a
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Speaker 1: degenerate age, and there are Enochs in this our day.
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Speaker 1: Stand like Daniel, that faithful statesman, a man whom no
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Speaker 1: temptation could corrupt. Do not disappoint him who so loved
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Speaker 1: you that he gave his own life to cancel your sins.
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Speaker 1: He says, without me, ye can do nothing. Remember this.
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Speaker 1: If you have made mistakes, you certainly gain a victory.
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Speaker 1: If you see these mistakes and regard them as beacons
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Speaker 1: of warning. Thus you turn defeat into victory, disappointing the
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Speaker 1: enemy and honoring your A character formed according to the
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Speaker 1: divine likeness is the only treasure we can take from
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Speaker 1: this world to the next. Those who are under the
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Speaker 1: instruction of Christ in this world will take every divine
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Speaker 1: attainment with them to the heavenly mansions, and in heaven
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Speaker 1: we are continually to improve. How important, then, is a
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Speaker 1: development of character in this life. The heavenly intelligences will
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Speaker 1: work with the human agent who seeks with determined faith
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Speaker 1: that perfection of character, which will reach out to perfection
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Speaker 1: in action. To every one engaged in this work, Christ says,
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Speaker 1: I am at your right hand to help you. As
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Speaker 1: the will of man cooperates with the will of God,
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Speaker 1: it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at his
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Speaker 1: command may be accomplished in his strength. All his biddings
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Speaker 1: are enablings mental faculties. God requires the training of the
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Speaker 1: mental faculties. He designs that his servants shall possess more
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Speaker 1: intelligence and clearer discernment than the worldling, and he is
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Speaker 1: displeased with those who are too careless or too indolent
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Speaker 1: to become efficient, well informed workers. The Lord bids us
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Speaker 1: love him with all the heart, and with all the soul,
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Speaker 1: and with all the strength, and with all the mind.
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Speaker 1: This lays upon us the obligation of developing the intellect
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Speaker 1: to its fullest capacity, that with all the mind we
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Speaker 1: may know and love our Creator if placed under the
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Speaker 1: control of his spirit. The more thoroughly the intellect is cultivated,
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Speaker 1: the more effectively it can be used in the service
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Speaker 1: of God. The uneducated man who is consecrated to God
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Speaker 1: and who longs to bless others can be and is
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Speaker 1: used by the Lord in his service. But those who,
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Speaker 1: with the same spirit of consecration have had the benefit
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Speaker 1: of a thorough education can do much more extensive work
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Speaker 1: for Christ. They stand on vantage ground. The Lord desires
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Speaker 1: us to obtain all the education possible, with the object
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Speaker 1: in view of imparting our knowledge to others. None can
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Speaker 1: know where or how they may be called to labor
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Speaker 1: or to speak. For God, Our heavenly Father alone sees
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Speaker 1: what he can make of men. There are before us
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Speaker 1: possibilities which our feeble faith does not discern. Our minds
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Speaker 1: should be so trained that, if necessary, we can present
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Speaker 1: the truths of His word before the highest earthly authorities
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Speaker 1: in such a way as to glorify His name. We
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Speaker 1: should not let slip even one opportunity of qualifying ourselves
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Speaker 1: intellectually to work for God. Let the youth who need
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Speaker 1: an education set to work with determination to obtain it.
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Speaker 1: Do not wait for an opening, make one for yourselves.
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Speaker 1: Take hold in any small way that presents itself. Practice economy.
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Speaker 1: Do not spend your means for the gratification of appetite
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Speaker 1: or in pleasure seeking. Be determined to become as useful
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Speaker 1: and efficient as God calls you to be. Be thorough
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Speaker 1: and faithful in whatever you undertake. Procure every advantage within
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Speaker 1: your reach for strengthening the intellect, Let the study of
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Speaker 1: books be combined with useful manual labor, and by faithful endeavor, watchfulness,
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Speaker 1: and prayer secure the wisdom. It is from above. This
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Speaker 1: will give you an all round education. Thus you may
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Speaker 1: rise in character and gain an influence over other minds,
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Speaker 1: enabling you to lead them in the path of uprightness
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Speaker 1: and holiness. Far more might be accomplished in the work
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Speaker 1: of self education if we were awake to our own
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Speaker 1: opportunities and privileges. True education means more than the colleges
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Speaker 1: can give. While the study of the sciences is not
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Speaker 1: to be neglected, there is a higher training to be
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Speaker 1: obtained through a vital connection with God. Let every student
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Speaker 1: take his Bible and place himself in communion with the
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Speaker 1: great Teacher. Let the mind be trained and disciplined to
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Speaker 1: wrestle with hard problems in the search for divine truth.
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Speaker 1: Those who hunger for knowledge that they may bless their
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Speaker 1: fellow men will themselves receive blessing from God through a
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Speaker 1: study of His word. Their mental powers will be aroused
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Speaker 1: to earnest activity. There will be an expansion and development
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Speaker 1: of the faculties, and the mind will acquire power and efficiency.
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Speaker 1: Self discipline must be practiced by every one who would
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Speaker 1: be aware for God. This will accomplish more than eloquence
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Speaker 1: or the most brilliant talents. An ordinary mind, well disciplined,
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Speaker 1: will accomplish more and higher work than will the most
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Speaker 1: highly educated mind and the greatest talents. Without self control speech,
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Speaker 1: the power of speech is a talent that should be
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Speaker 1: diligently cultivated. Of all the gifts we have received from God,
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Speaker 1: none is capable of being a greater blessing than this.
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Speaker 1: With the voice we convince and persuade. With it we
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Speaker 1: offer prayer and praise to God, and with it we
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Speaker 1: tell others of the Redeemer's love. How important, then, that
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Speaker 1: it be so trained as to be most effective for good.
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Speaker 1: The culture and right use of the voice are greatly neglected,
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Speaker 1: even by persons of intelligence and Christian activity. There are
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Speaker 1: many who read or speak in so low or so
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Speaker 1: rapid a manner that they cannot be readily understood. Some
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Speaker 1: have a thick, indistinct utterance. Others speak in a high
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Speaker 1: key in sharp, shrill tones that are painful to the hearers. Texts, hymns,
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Speaker 1: and the reports and other papers presented before public assemblies
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Speaker 1: are sometimes read in such a way that they are
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Speaker 1: not understood, and often so that their force and impressiveness
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Speaker 1: are destroyed. This is an evil that can and should
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Speaker 1: be corrected. On this point. The Bible gives instruction of
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Speaker 1: the Levites who read the scriptures to the people in
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Speaker 1: the days of Ezra. It is said they read in
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Speaker 1: the book in the Law of God distinctly. They gave
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Speaker 1: the sense and caused them to understand the reading. By
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Speaker 1: diligent effort, all may acquire the power to read intelligibly
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Speaker 1: and to speak in a full, clear, round tone in
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Speaker 1: a distinct and impressive manner. By doing this we may
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Speaker 1: greatly increase our efficiency as workers for Christ. Every Christian
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Speaker 1: is called to make known to others the unsearchable riches
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Speaker 1: of Christ. Therefore he should seek for perfection in speech.
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Speaker 1: He should present the word of God in a way
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Speaker 1: that will commend it to the hearers. God does not
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Speaker 1: design that his human check shall be uncouth. It is
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Speaker 1: not his will that man shall be little or degrade
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Speaker 1: the heavenly current that flows through him to the world.
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Speaker 1: We should look to Jesus, the perfect pattern. We should
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Speaker 1: pray for the aid of the Holy Spirit, and in
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Speaker 1: his strength we should seek to train every organ for
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Speaker 1: perfect work. Especially is this true of those who are
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Speaker 1: called to public service. Every minister and every teacher should
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Speaker 1: bear in mind that he is giving to the people
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Speaker 1: a message that involves eternal interests. The truth spoken will
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Speaker 1: judge them in the great day of final reckoning, and
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Speaker 1: with some souls. The manner of the one delivering the
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Speaker 1: message will determine its reception or rejection. Then let the
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Speaker 1: word be so spoken that it will appeal to the
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Speaker 1: understanding and impress the heart. Slowly, distinctly, and solemnly should
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Speaker 1: it be spoken, Yet with all the earnestness which its
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Speaker 1: importance demands. The right culture and use of the power
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Speaker 1: of speech has to do with every line of Christian work.
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Speaker 1: It enters into the home life and into all our
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Speaker 1: intercourse with one another. We should accustom ourselves to speak
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Speaker 1: in pleasant tones, to use pure and correct language, and
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Speaker 1: words that are kind and courteous. Sweet kind words are
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Speaker 1: as due and gentle showers to the soul. The scripture
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Speaker 1: says of Christ that grace was poured into his lips
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Speaker 1: that he might know how to speak a word in
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Speaker 1: season to him that is weary. And the Lord bids us,
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Speaker 1: let your speech be always with grace, that it may
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Speaker 1: minister grace unto the hearers. In seeking to correct or
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Speaker 1: reform others, we should be careful of our words. They
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Speaker 1: will be a savor of life unto life, or of
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Speaker 1: death unto death. In giving reproof or counsel, many indulge
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Speaker 1: in sharp, severe speech, words not adapted to heal the
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Speaker 1: wounded soul. By these ill advised expressions, the spirit is chafed,
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Speaker 1: and often the erring ones astirred to rebellion. All who
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Speaker 1: would advocate the principles of truth need to receive the
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Speaker 1: heavenly oil of love under all so circumstances. Reproof should
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Speaker 1: be spoken in love. Then our words will reform, but
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Speaker 1: not exasperate. Christ by his Holy Spirit, will supply the
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Speaker 1: force and the power. This is his work. Not one
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Speaker 1: word is to be spoken unadvisedly. No evil speaking, no
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Speaker 1: frivolous talk, no fretful, repining, or impure suggestion will escape
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Speaker 1: the lips of him who is following Christ. The apostle Paul,
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Speaker 1: writing by the Holy Spirit, says, let no corrupt communication
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Speaker 1: proceed out of your mouth. A corrupt communication does not
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Speaker 1: mean only words that are vile. It means any expression
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Speaker 1: contrary to holy principles and pure and undefiled religion. It
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Speaker 1: includes impure hints and covert insinuations of evil. Unless instantly resisted,
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Speaker 1: these lead to great sin upon every family, upon every individual.
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Speaker 1: Christian is laid the duty of barring the way against
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Speaker 1: corrupt speech. When in the company of those who indulge
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Speaker 1: in foolish talk, it is our duty to change the
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Speaker 1: subject of conversation, if possible, by the help of the
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Speaker 1: grace of God. We should quietly drop words or introduce
21:04
Speaker 1: a subject that will turn the conversation into a profitable channel.
21:08
Speaker 1: It is the work of parents to train their children
21:10
Speaker 1: to proper habits of speech. The very best school for
21:14
Speaker 1: this culture is the home life. From the earliest years,
21:17
Speaker 1: the children should be taught to speak respectfully and lovingly
21:19
Speaker 1: to their parents and to one another. They should be
21:23
Speaker 1: taught that only words of gentleness, truth, and purity must
21:26
Speaker 1: pass their lips. Let the parents themselves be daily learners
21:29
Speaker 1: in the school of Christ. Then by precept and example,
21:33
Speaker 1: they can teach their children the use of sound speech
21:35
Speaker 1: that cannot be condemned. This is one of the greatest
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Speaker 1: and most responsible of their duties. As followers of Christ.
21:42
Speaker 1: We should make our words such as to be a
21:44
Speaker 1: help and an encouragement to one another in the Christian life.
21:48
Speaker 1: Far more than we do. We need to speak of
21:50
Speaker 1: the precious chapters of our experience. We should speak of
21:53
Speaker 1: the mercy and loving kindness of God, of the matchless
21:56
Speaker 1: depths of the Saviour's love. Our words should be words
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Speaker 1: of pray and thanksgiving. If the mind and heart are
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Speaker 1: full of the love of God, this will be revealed
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Speaker 1: in the conversation. It will not be a difficult matter
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Speaker 1: to impart that which enters into our spiritual life. Great thoughts,
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Speaker 1: noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth. Unselfish purposes, yearnings for
22:17
Speaker 1: piety and holiness will bear fruit in words that reveal
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Speaker 1: the character of the heart treasure. When Christ is thus
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Speaker 1: revealed in our speech, it will have power in winning
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Speaker 1: souls to him. We should speak of Christ to those
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Speaker 1: who know him not. We should do as Christ did
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Speaker 1: wherever he was in the synagogue, by the wayside, in
22:37
Speaker 1: the boat thrust out a little from the land, at
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Speaker 1: the Pharisees feasts, or at the table of the publican.
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Speaker 1: He spoke to men of the things pertaining to the
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Speaker 1: higher life, the things of nature, the events of daily
22:48
Speaker 1: life were bound up by him with the words of truth.
22:51
Speaker 1: The hearts of his hearers were drawn to him, for
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Speaker 1: he had healed their sick, had comforted their sorrowing ones,
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Speaker 1: and had taken their children in his arms, and blessed them.
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Speaker 1: When he opened his lips to speak, their attention was
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Speaker 1: riveted upon him, and every word was to some soul
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Speaker 1: a savor of life unto life. So it should be
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Speaker 1: with us wherever we are. We should watch for opportunities
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Speaker 1: of speaking to others of the Savior. If we follow
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Speaker 1: Christ's example in doing good, hearts will open to us
23:19
Speaker 1: as they did to him, not abruptly, but with tact
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Speaker 1: born of divine love. We can tell them of him
23:25
Speaker 1: who is the chiefest among ten thousand, and the one
23:28
Speaker 1: altogether lovely. This is the very highest work in which
23:32
Speaker 1: we can employ the talent of speech. It was given
23:35
Speaker 1: to us that we might present Christ as the sin
23:38
Speaker 1: pardoning savior. Influence. The life of Christ was an ever widening,
23:44
Speaker 1: shawless influence, an influence that bound him to God and
23:47
Speaker 1: to the whole human family. Through Christ, God has invested
23:51
Speaker 1: man with an influence that makes it impossible for him
23:54
Speaker 1: to live to himself individually. We are connected with our
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Speaker 1: fellow men, a part of God's great whole, and we
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Speaker 1: stand under mutual obligations. No man can be independent of
24:05
Speaker 1: his fellow men, for the well being of each affects others.
24:08
Speaker 1: It is God's purpose that each shall feel himself necessary
24:12
Speaker 1: to others welfare and seek to promote their happiness. Every
24:16
Speaker 1: soul is surrounded by an atmosphere of its own, an atmosphere.
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Speaker 1: It may be charged with the life giving power of faith,
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Speaker 1: courage and hope, and sweet with the fragrance of love,
24:26
Speaker 1: or it may be heavy and chill with the gloom
24:29
Speaker 1: of discontent and selfishness, or poisonous with the deadly taint
24:33
Speaker 1: of cherished sin. By the atmosphere surrounding us. Every person
24:37
Speaker 1: with whom we come in contact is consciously or unconsciously affected.
24:42
Speaker 1: This is a responsibility from which we cannot free ourselves.
24:45
Speaker 1: Our words, our acts, our dress, our deportment, even the
24:49
Speaker 1: expression of the countenance has an influence upon the impression
24:53
Speaker 1: thus made. There hang results for good or evil, which
24:56
Speaker 1: no man can measure. Every impulse thus imparted is seeds
25:00
Speaker 1: sown which will produce its harvest. It is a link
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Speaker 1: in the long chain of human events, extending we know
25:06
Speaker 1: not whither. If by our example we aid others in
25:10
Speaker 1: the development of good principles, we give them power to
25:12
Speaker 1: do good. In their turn, they exert the same influence
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Speaker 1: upon others, and they upon still others. Thus, by our
25:20
Speaker 1: unconscious influence, thousands may be blessed. Throw a pebble into
25:24
Speaker 1: the lake, and a wave is formed, and another and another,
25:28
Speaker 1: and as they increase, the circle widens until it reaches
25:31
Speaker 1: the very shore. So, with our influence, beyond our knowledge
25:36
Speaker 1: or control, it tells upon others, in blessing or in cursing.
25:40
Speaker 1: Character is power the silent witness of a true, unselfish,
25:44
Speaker 1: godly life carries an almost irresistible influence. By revealing in
25:49
Speaker 1: our own life the character of Christ, we cooperate with
25:52
Speaker 1: him in the work of saving souls. It is only
25:55
Speaker 1: by revealing in our life his character that we can
25:58
Speaker 1: cooperate with him, and the wider the sphere of our influence,
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Speaker 1: the more good we may do. When those who profess
26:04
Speaker 1: to serve God follow Christ's example practicing the principles of
26:08
Speaker 1: the law in their daily life, when every act bears
26:11
Speaker 1: witness that they love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves,
26:15
Speaker 1: then will the Church have power to move the world.
26:18
Speaker 1: But it should never be forgotten that influence is no
26:21
Speaker 1: lesser power for evil. To lose one's own soul is
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Speaker 1: a terrible thing, but to cause the loss of other
26:28
Speaker 1: souls is still more terrible. That our influence should be
26:31
Speaker 1: a savor of death unto death is a fearful thought,
26:35
Speaker 1: Yet this is possible. Many who profess to gather with
26:39
Speaker 1: Christ are scattering from him. This is why the Church
26:42
Speaker 1: is so weak. Many indulge freely in criticism and accusing
26:46
Speaker 1: by giving expression to suspicion jealousy and discontent. They yield
26:51
Speaker 1: themselves as instruments to Satan. Before they realize what they
26:54
Speaker 1: are doing. The adversary has through them accomplished his purpose.
26:59
Speaker 1: The impression of evil has been made, the shadow has
27:02
Speaker 1: been cast. The arrows of Satan have found their mark. Distrust, unbelief,
27:08
Speaker 1: and downright infidelity have fastened upon those who otherwise might
27:11
Speaker 1: have accepted Christ. Meanwhile, the workers for Satan look complacently
27:16
Speaker 1: upon those whom they have driven to skepticism, and who
27:19
Speaker 1: are now hardened against reproof and entreaty. They flatter themselves that,
27:23
Speaker 1: in comparison with these souls, they are virtuous and righteous.
27:27
Speaker 1: They do not realize that these sad wrecks of character
27:30
Speaker 1: are the work of their own unbridled tongues and rebellious hearts.
27:34
Speaker 1: It is through their influence that these tempted ones have fallen.
27:38
Speaker 1: So frivolity, selfish indulgence, and careless indifference on the part
27:43
Speaker 1: of professed Christians are turning away many souls from the
27:46
Speaker 1: path of life. Many there are who will fear to
27:49
Speaker 1: meet at the bar of God the results of their influence.
27:53
Speaker 1: It is only through the grace of God that we
27:55
Speaker 1: can make a right use of this endowment. There is
27:58
Speaker 1: nothing in us of ourselves by which we can influence
28:01
Speaker 1: others for good. If we realize our helplessness and our
28:05
Speaker 1: need of divine power, we shall not trust to ourselves.
28:08
Speaker 1: We know not what results a day, an hour, or
28:11
Speaker 1: a moment may determine, and never should we begin the
28:14
Speaker 1: day without committing our ways to our heavenly father. His
28:18
Speaker 1: angels are appointed to watch over us, and if we
28:21
Speaker 1: put ourselves under their guardianship, then in every time of danger,
28:25
Speaker 1: they will be at our right hand. When unconsciously we
28:28
Speaker 1: are in danger of exerting a wrong influence, the angels
28:31
Speaker 1: will be by our side, prompting us to a better course,
28:35
Speaker 1: choosing our words for us, and influencing our actions. Thus,
28:39
Speaker 1: our influence may be a silent, unconscious, but mighty power
28:43
Speaker 1: in drawing others to Christ and the heavenly world. Time,
28:47
Speaker 1: our time, belongs to God. Every moment is his, and
28:51
Speaker 1: we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it
28:54
Speaker 1: to His glory. Of no talent he has given, will
28:57
Speaker 1: He require a more strict account than of our time.
29:00
Speaker 1: The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every
29:04
Speaker 1: moment as precious, and it is thus that we should
29:08
Speaker 1: regard it. Life is too short to be trifled away.
29:11
Speaker 1: We have but a few days of probation in which
29:14
Speaker 1: to prepare for eternity. We have no time to waste,
29:17
Speaker 1: no time to devote to selfish pleasure, no time for
29:20
Speaker 1: the indulgence of sin. It is now that we are
29:23
Speaker 1: to form characters for the future immortal life. It is
29:27
Speaker 1: now that we are to prepare for the searching judgment.
29:30
Speaker 1: The human family have scarcely begun to live when they
29:32
Speaker 1: begin to die, and the world's incessant labor ends in nothingness.
29:37
Speaker 1: Unless a true knowledge in regard to eternal life is gained.
29:40
Speaker 1: The man who appreciates time as his working day will
29:43
Speaker 1: fit himself for a mansion and for a life that
29:46
Speaker 1: is immortal. It is well that he was born. We
29:49
Speaker 1: are admonished to redeem the time. But time squandered can
29:53
Speaker 1: never be recovered. We cannot call back even one moment.
29:57
Speaker 1: The only way in which we can redeem our time
30:00
Speaker 1: is by making the most of that which remains, by
30:02
Speaker 1: being co workers with God in his great plan of redemption.
30:06
Speaker 1: In him who does this, a transformation of character takes place.
30:10
Speaker 1: He becomes a son of God, a member of the
30:13
Speaker 1: royal family, a child of the heavenly King. He is
30:16
Speaker 1: fitted to be the companion of the angels. Now is
30:19
Speaker 1: our time to labor for the salvation of our fellow men.
30:23
Speaker 1: There are some who think that if they give money
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Speaker 1: to the cause of Christ, this is all they are
30:27
Speaker 1: required to do. The precious time in which they might
30:30
Speaker 1: do personal service for Him passes unimproved. But it is
30:34
Speaker 1: the privilege and duty of all who have health and
30:37
Speaker 1: strength to render to God active service. All are to
30:40
Speaker 1: labor in winning souls to Christ. Donations of money cannot
30:45
Speaker 1: take the place of this. Every moment is freighted with
30:48
Speaker 1: eternal consequences. We are to stand as minute men, ready
30:52
Speaker 1: for service at a moment's notice. The opportunity that is
30:56
Speaker 1: now ours to speak to some needy soul. The word
30:58
Speaker 1: of life may never offer a gain in God may
31:01
Speaker 1: say to that one this night, thy soul shall be
31:04
Speaker 1: required of thee, and through our neglect he may not
31:07
Speaker 1: be ready in the great judgment day. How shall we
31:10
Speaker 1: render our account to God? Life is too solemn to
31:13
Speaker 1: be absorbed in temporal and earthly matters, in a treadmill
31:16
Speaker 1: of care and anxiety. For the things that are but
31:19
Speaker 1: an atom in comparison with the things of eternal interest.
31:22
Speaker 1: Yet God has called us to serve him in the
31:24
Speaker 1: temporal affairs of life. Diligence in this work is as
31:28
Speaker 1: much a part of true religion as his devotion. The
31:31
Speaker 1: Bible gives no endorsement to idleness. It is the greatest
31:35
Speaker 1: curse that afflicts our world. Every man and woman who
31:38
Speaker 1: is truly converted will be a diligent worker upon the
31:42
Speaker 1: right improvement of our time depends our success in acquiring
31:45
Speaker 1: knowledge and mental culture. The cultivation of the intellect need
31:49
Speaker 1: not be prevented by poverty, humble origin, or unfavorable surroundings.
31:54
Speaker 1: Only let the moments be treasured, a few moments here
31:57
Speaker 1: and a few there that might be fitted away in
31:59
Speaker 1: aimless talk. The morning hours so often wasted in bed,
32:03
Speaker 1: the time spent in traveling on trams or railway cars,
32:06
Speaker 1: or waiting at the station, the moments of waiting for meals,
32:09
Speaker 1: waiting for those who are tardy, and keeping an appointment.
32:12
Speaker 1: If a book were kept at hand, and these fragments
32:15
Speaker 1: of time were improved in study, reading, or in careful thought,
32:18
Speaker 1: what might not be accomplished a resolute purpose persistent industry
32:23
Speaker 1: and careful economy of time will enable men to acquire
32:26
Speaker 1: knowledge and mental discipline, which will qualify them for almost
32:30
Speaker 1: any position of influence and usefulness. It is the duty
32:34
Speaker 1: of every Christian to acquire habits of order, thoroughness, and despatch.
32:38
Speaker 1: There is no excuse for slow bungling at work of
32:41
Speaker 1: any character. When one is always at work and the
32:44
Speaker 1: work is never done, it is because mind and heart
32:47
Speaker 1: are not put into the labor. The one who is
32:49
Speaker 1: slow and who works at a disadvantage should realize that
32:53
Speaker 1: these are faults to be corrected. He needs to exercise
32:56
Speaker 1: his mind in planning how to use the time so
32:58
Speaker 1: as to secure the best results by tact and method,
33:02
Speaker 1: Some will accomplish as much work in five hours as
33:05
Speaker 1: another does in ten. Some who are engaged in domestic
33:08
Speaker 1: labor are always at work, not because they have so
33:11
Speaker 1: much to do, but because they do not plan so
33:14
Speaker 1: as to save time. By their slow, dilatory ways, they
33:18
Speaker 1: make much work out of very little. But all who
33:20
Speaker 1: will may overcome these fussy, lingering habits in their work,
33:25
Speaker 1: let them have a definite aim. Decide how long a
33:27
Speaker 1: time is required for a given task, and then bend
33:30
Speaker 1: every effort towards accomplishing the work in the given time.
33:34
Speaker 1: The exercise of the will power will make the hands
33:37
Speaker 1: move deftly. Through lack of determination to take themselves in
33:40
Speaker 1: hand and reform, persons can become stereotyped in a wrong
33:44
Speaker 1: course of action. And by cultivating their powers they may
33:47
Speaker 1: acquire ability to do the very best of service. Then
33:51
Speaker 1: they will find themselves in demand anywhere and everywhere. They
33:54
Speaker 1: will be appreciated for all that they are worth by
33:58
Speaker 1: many children and youth. Time is wasted that might be
34:01
Speaker 1: spent in carrying home burdens, and thus showing a loving
34:04
Speaker 1: interest in father and mother, the youth might take upon
34:07
Speaker 1: their strong young shoulders many responsibilities which some one must bear.
34:12
Speaker 1: The life of Christ, from his earliest years was a
34:14
Speaker 1: life of earnest activity. He lived not to please himself.
34:18
Speaker 1: He was the son of the infinite God. Yet he
34:21
Speaker 1: worked at the carpenter's trade with his father Joseph. His
34:24
Speaker 1: trade was significant. He had come into the world as
34:27
Speaker 1: the character builder, and as such all his work was perfect.
34:31
Speaker 1: Into all his secular labor, he brought the same perfection
34:34
Speaker 1: as into the characters he was transforming. By his divine power,
34:37
Speaker 1: he is our pattern. Parents should teach their children the
34:41
Speaker 1: value and right use of time. Teach them that to
34:44
Speaker 1: do something which will honor God and bless humanity is
34:47
Speaker 1: worth striving for. Even in their early years, they can
34:50
Speaker 1: be missionaries for God. Parents cannot commit a greater sin
34:55
Speaker 1: than by allowing their children to have nothing to do.
34:58
Speaker 1: The children soon learned to love idleness, and they grow
35:01
Speaker 1: up shiftless, useless men and women. When they are old
35:04
Speaker 1: enough to earn their living and find employment, they work
35:07
Speaker 1: in a lazy, droning way, yet expect to be paid
35:10
Speaker 1: as much as if they were faithful. There is a
35:12
Speaker 1: world wide difference between this class of workers and those
35:16
Speaker 1: who realize that they must be faithful. Stewards. Indolent, careless
35:20
Speaker 1: habits indulge in secular work will be brought into the
35:23
Speaker 1: religious life and will unfit one to do any efficient
35:26
Speaker 1: service for God. Many who, through diligent labor, might have
35:30
Speaker 1: been a blessing to the world, have been ruined through idleness.
35:33
Speaker 1: Lack of employment and of steadfast purpose opens the door
35:37
Speaker 1: to a thousand temptations. Evil companions and vicious habits deprave
35:42
Speaker 1: mind and soul, and the result is ruin for this
35:45
Speaker 1: life and for the life to come. Whatever the line
35:48
Speaker 1: of work in which we engage, the Word of God
35:51
Speaker 1: teaches us to be not slothful in business, fervent in spirit,
35:55
Speaker 1: serving the Lord. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do
35:59
Speaker 1: it with all thy might, knowing that of the Lord
36:02
Speaker 1: ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye
36:05
Speaker 1: serve the Lord Christ. End of Talents, Part one,