Chapter 35—Result of Neglecting Bible Study
“‘When our medical missionary workers follow this prescription, gaining from the Saviour power to reveal His characteristics, their scientific work will have greater soundness. Because the Word of God has been neglected, strange things have been done in the medical missionary work of late. The Lord can not accept the present showing. (PH095 43.3)
“‘Study the Word which God in His wisdom and love and goodness has made so plain and simple.... The Holy Spirit teaches the student of the Scriptures to judge all things by the standard of righteousness and truth and justice. The divine revelation supplies him with the knowledge that he needs. (PH095 43.4)
“‘And the needed knowledge will be given to all who come to Christ, receiving and practicing His teachings, making His Words a part of their lives. Those who place themselves under the instruction of the great medical Missionary, to be workers together with Him, will have a 44knowledge that the world, with all its traditionary lore, can not supply. (PH095 43.5)
“‘Make the Bible the man of your counsel. Your acquaintance with it will grow rapidly if you keep your mind free from the rubbish of the world. The more the Bible is studied, the deeper will be your knowledge of God. The truths of His Word will be written in your soul, making an ineffaceable impression. (PH095 44.1)
‘Not only will the student himself be benefited by a study of the Word of God, but his study is life and salvation to all with whom he associates. He will feel a sacred responsibility to impart the knowledge that he receives. His life will reveal the help and strength that he receives from communion with the Word. The sanctification of the Spirit will be seen in thought, word and deed. All that he says and does will proclaim that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. Of such ones the Lord Jesus can indeed say, “Ye are laborers together with God.’ (PH095 44.2)
Work for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union
“I am thankful that the Lord is leading you. I believe that the Lord has appointed you to do His work in His way. Let us in our work have faith in God, and trust Him. While we may take pleasure in counseling with our brethren, an individual work is to be done which is beyond the power of any mind to comprehend.” ... (PH095 45.1)
“I thank the Lord with heart, and soul, and voice that you have been a prominent and influential member of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. In the providence of God you have been led to the light, to obtain a knowledge of the truth.... This light and knowledge you need to bring into your work, as you associate with women whose hearts are softened by the Spirit of God, and who are searching for the truth as for hidden treasure. For twenty years I have seen that light would come to the women workers in temperance lines. But with sadness 46I have discerned that many of them are becoming politicians, and that against God. They enter into questions and debates and theories that they have no need to touch. Christ said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’”... (PH095 45.2)
“The Lord, I fully believe, is leading you that you may keep the principles of temperance clear and distinct, in all their purity, in connection with the truth for these last days. They that do His will shall know of the doctrine. The Lord designs that women shall learn of Him meekness and lowliness of heart, and cooperate with the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. When this is done, there will be no strife for the supremacy, no pride of opinion; for it will be realized that mind, and voice, and every jot of ability, are only lent talents, given by God to be used in His work, to accumulate for Him, and to be returned to the Giver with all the increase. We are expected to grow in capability, in influence, and in power, ever looking unto Jesus. And by beholding, we shall be changed into His likeness. (PH095 46.1)
’The woman’s work is a power in our world, but it is lost when, with the Word of God before her, she sees a ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ and refuses to obey. The great and difficult thing for the soul to do is to part with its own supposed works of merit. It is not an easy matter to understand what it means to refuse self the least place of honor in the service of God. All unconsciously we act out the attributes of our own character and the bias of our own mind in the very presence of God, in our prayer and worship, 47in our service, and fail to see that we are absolutely dependent upon the leading of the Holy Spirit. Self is expected to do a work that is simply out of its power to do. This is the great peril of woman’s work in Christian temperance lines. (PH095 46.2)
“The Lord does not bid you separate from the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. They need all the light you can give them. You are not to learn of them, but of Jesus Christ. Flash all the light possible into their pathway. You can agree with them on the ground of the pure, elevating principles that first brought into existence the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. ‘Behold,’ said Christ, ‘I send you forth as lambs among wolves.’ If He sends His disciples on such a mission, will He not work through you to open the Scriptures to those who are in error? Cherish the fragrance of that love that Christ has revealed for fallen humanity, and by precept and example teach the truth as it is in Jesus. (PH095 47.1)
“The Holy Spirit alone is able to develop in the human agent that which is acceptable in the sight of God. The Lord has given you capabilities and talents to be preserved uncorrupted in their simplicity. Through Jesus Christ you may do a good work. As souls shall be converted to the truth, have them unite with you in teaching those women who are willing to be taught, to live and labor intelligently and unitedly. (PH095 47.2)
And again, March 24, 1899,— (PH095 47.3)
“...I am glad, my sister, that you did not sever your connection with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. You may have to sever this connection, but not yet, not yet. Hold 48your place. Speak the words given you by God, and the Lord will certainly work with you. You may see many things you do not approve of, but do not fail nor be discouraged. I hope and pray that you may be clothed daily with the righteousness of Christ.” (PH095 47.4)
And still later, June 21, 1899, (PH095 48.1)
“My sister, let your heart ever repose in confidence in God. The Lord will be to you a present help in every time of need. He does not need to work through other minds in order to lead His chosen ones. He is desirous of communicating through those who seek Him with all the heart. While we put our entire trust in our Redeemer, we are perfectly safe. We have a large work to do, and we are to have respect unto the recompense of reward. And more than this, we are to use every God-given faculty, that others, through our influence and Christ-like example, may have the same respect that we have. (PH095 48.2)
“I hope, my sister, that you will have an influence in the Women’s Christian Temperance Association to draw many precious souls to the standard of truth. The Lord is drawing many to an examination of the truth, and you need not fail nor be discouraged. Sow beside all waters. These are good waters in which you can sow the seeds of truth, even if you do not dwell publicly upon the prominent features of our faith. It would not be wise to be too definite. The oil of grace revealed in your conscious and unconscious influence will make known that you have the light of life. This will shine forth to others in your direct, positive testimony upon subjects on which you can all agree, and this will have a telling influence.” (PH095 48.3)