Brother and Sister P, had you heeded the Testimonies of the Spirit of God, you would now be walking in the light, in harmony with the people of God; but your unbelief has shut you away from great good. Sister P has not risen up against the Testimonies, neither has she shown confidence in them as from the Lord by obeying them. She loves to have her husband praised and honored by the world; it gratifies her pride, which is by no means small. You may each appropriately inquire: “Why am I so slow to come out from the world and take Christ for my portion? Why should I love and honor those whom I know do not love God nor respect His claims? Why should I wish to retain the friendship of my Lord’s enemies? Why should I follow their customs or be influenced by their opinions?” You cannot, my dear friends, serve both God and mammon. You must make an unreserved surrender, or in the near future the light that shines upon your pathway will go out in the darkness of despair. You are on the enemy’s ground. You have voluntarily placed yourselves there, and the Lord will not protect you against his assaults. (5T 436.1) MC VC

In your present state you are doing far more harm than good; for you have a form of godliness and profess to believe the truth, while your words and actions say: “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way” that leads to life, “and many there be which go in thereat.” Matthew 7:13. If your life is a confession of Christ, then we may truly say that the world has gone after Him. Your profession may be right; but have you humility and love, meekness and devotion? “Whosoever shall confess Me before men,” by a holy life and godly conversation, “him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8. No one can confess Christ unless he has the mind and spirit of Christ; he cannot communicate that which he does not possess. The daily life must be an expression of the sanctifying power of the truth, and evidence that Christ is abiding in the soul by faith. Whatever is opposed to the fruits of the Spirit, or to the work of God in separating His people from the world, is a denial of Christ; and His words are: “He that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:9. (5T 436.2) MC VC