During our visit at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, the Lord strengthened me to speak twice to the members of the church in San Diego. During the past year, as a result of efforts put forth by Elder W. W. Simpson and other laborers, there had been a good increase in the membership of this church. I felt a heavy burden for the work in this important center for tourist resort. There should be an earnest, united effort on the part of our brethren and sisters in San Diego, and the workers connected with the sanitarium, to make known the truth for this time.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 1)
Sabbath Sermon at San Diego
On Sabbath, May 4, the Lord gave me a message to our brethren and sisters in San Diego. I based my remarks on the first chapter of Hebrews:
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 2)
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 3)
Here the position of Jesus Christ in reference to his Father is brought to view. While they are one in purpose, and one in mind, yet in personality they are two. May we not learn from this that there is to be unity between believers? There is no reason why one should feel that it is necessary for him to bring others to the exact line of his own individuality. So long as we are subject to the temptations of Satan, we shall each have all we can possibly attend to, in order to maintain a right relation to God, that Christ may do for us his atoning work. And though we may differ in the form of words, and in the expression of our individuality, yet our words may be sanctified, and our characters purified through the sacrifice of Christ.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 4)
We should now make diligent inquiry of ourselves, Can I, with my present attainments, stand before the face of the holy God? If in the great day of judgment, we come short, we shall have no excuse; for we have access to the Word of God. Take the Bible for your lesson book; for it is by obedience to its truths that we shall be sanctified. To ensure the work of our salvation, God gave to our world the gift of his only begotten Son. Shall we accept the blessing that Christ has bought for us at such infinite sacrifice? He has made it possible for us to be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 5)
Let us not give the impression that our religion consists principally in coming to the church on Sabbath, and numbering one among a number who listen to a sermon, and then go back to their homes to continue in sinful practises. Christ said to his disciples, “Ye are the light of the world.... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Christ has given us the pattern to which we are to work, but unless we make diligent effort with the help of God, we shall miss the mark. We must be sanctified to God, soul, body, and spirit.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 6)
Do we learn from Christ every day? If we do not, we shall certainly come short of the knowledge that is essential. We can not afford to be weaklings in our Christian experience: for we can not tell when our account may be settled for eternity. We must constantly increase in faith, and in likeness to Jesus Christ. If we will humble ourselves, the Lord will lift us up. We may try to lift ourselves up, but this will not be reckoned in our favor, in the day when Christ estimates character.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 7)
O, we are, many of us, so filled with self! We are fastened so firmly to our peculiar temperaments and dispositions. Shall we now follow the Word closely, that this great “I” may die, and that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith?
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 8)
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 9)
The Essential Knowledge
O, that we all might more fully realize our accountability to God for the wonderful privileges he has bestowed upon us! In the Word of God are grand truths that are worthy of intense study. Shall we neglect these great fundamental truths, in order that we may enter into speculation over what has not been clearly revealed? I am frequently asked, regarding some theoretical doctrine, questions that I feel no liberty to answer. I sometimes reply to those who ask me such questions, “You have the Word. If the Lord desired you to know in regard to this matter, you would find your knowledge in the Word of God, and would not need to ask me. If we reach heaven, we may then understand the matters that are not clear to us now.” Let us study the great truths of the Scriptures: they are sufficient to tax our minds to their utmost capacity.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 10)
“This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” O, do we know God as we should? What comfort, what joy, we should have if we were to learn daily the lessons he desires us to learn! We must know him by an experimental knowledge. It will be profitable for us to spend more time in secret prayer, in becoming personally acquainted with our Heavenly Father. In our weakness, we may come to him, and ask him to impart to us an understanding of what he will do for us, in separating from us everything that is unlike his own character.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 11)
Labor for Others
When our own hearts are right with God, we shall feel an intense desire to do all we can in bringing the light of truth before those who have not heard it. In the great work of warning the world, God has committed to his people a sacred trust. “We are laborers together with God.”“As thou hast sent me into the world,” said Christ, speaking of his disciples, “even so have I also sent them into the world.” In the formation of character, we are to represent the One who gave his life for the world, and if we are alert, we shall see, on the right hand and on the left, opportunities to speak words for the Master.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 12)
If we neglect these opportunities, the time will come when there will be spoken to us by those we have not warned, words of reproach and bitterness: “You knew of these terrible judgments that were coming. We were associated together, but you did not tell us. Why did you not warn us, that we might have escaped?” May God help us that we may not have upon our garments, because of our neglect, the blood of souls!
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 13)
We have a work to do in our world, a work similar to that which Christ performed. This spiritual work must precede every other interest of our lives. That which is temporal must ever be made secondary to the requirements of God. It will not profit us to put ourselves forward in this world, at the expense of our Christianity.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 14)
United Action
In the carrying forward of God's work, we shall not be as separate, independent agents. The unity of God's people is to be to the world a convincing argument that God sent his Son to save the world. Christ prayed for his disciples, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 15)
Such is the unity for which we are to seek,—such unity as exists between the Father and the Son. If we find ourselves inclined to separate from our brethren if they do not do exactly as we think best, this is an evidence that we are not genuine Bible Christians. We need to study the relation of Christ to his Father, and we need to understand his love for the world.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 16)
Opposition
The great enemy of our souls is vigilant and alert. He is especially active when he sees us putting forth efforts to do the work of the Lord. Do you think that the work of God will go forward smoothly, without any opposition from the enemy of the faith? Do you think there will be no opposition against those who seek to perfect their characters in harmony with the Word of God? This we can not expect. We must arm for conflict. But God will be with us. He has provided a complete gospel armor, and if we will put on every piece of this armor, we may be safe from defeat.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 17)
Those who think that everything must meet their own mind, and that they need make no sacrifice, will not be numbered with the overcomers, nor will they receive the overcomer's reward. We must brace ourselves against the opposing elements. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”“God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 18)
God is in earnest with every one of us. Our greatest consideration now is to form characters for eternity. May he who has given for our salvation his only begotten Son strengthen and bless his people.
(RH August 15, 1907, Art. A, 19)
The Work in Washington, D. C
EGW Sanitarium, Cal., May 30, 1907.
I have a message to bear to our people throughout the field. There is a decided and thorough work to be done in Washington, D.C. The time is long past that should have seen this field faithfully worked. The last message of warning must be carried to those who need the truth. Men of God who have this message in their hearts should be chosen to carry it to the people of Washington and neighboring towns. One of authority was represented to me as standing before our people, and pleading that workers be sent to Washington; and I was instructed to urge this subject upon the minds of our laborers.
(RH August 15, 1907, 1)
Brethren and sisters, God has given to every man his work. He calls upon church-members in every place to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to his service. Let us go forth, and present the truth from house to house, to souls who are starving for the bread of life. We must come into line.
(RH August 15, 1907, 2)
“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” These words teach us how the field is to be supplied with workers who will labor for the salvation of souls. When church-members bring the precepts of Christ into the life practise; when they confess their sins to one another, and offer up prayers to God, he will graciously manifest his power through them.
(RH August 15, 1907, 3)
In every possible way, humble efforts should be made to win souls to the truth. The third angel's message is to be proclaimed all through the suburbs of Washington. The people living in these suburbs are precious to God. Those who believe the truth for this time must now arouse, and earnestly take hold of the work that needs to be done. We must be wide awake to the needs of the situation, and perform the work with wisdom.
(RH August 15, 1907, 4)
There should be no cramping of the sanitarium work at Takoma Park. I have been shown that the national capital should have every advantage. The workers there are to bring the truth before the ruling powers, and means must flow into that field in order that the work there shall make a presentation that will commend it to those who are accustomed to refinement and plenty. No mean impression must be given to these statesmen, whose only knowledge, perhaps, of this people and the third angel's message, may be received through the sanitarium work. It will be very essential that the means expended for the work in Washington shall be economically handled.
(RH August 15, 1907, 5)
We need to realize that we are living in critical times. There is no time to be lost if we would make the right impression regarding the work. Satan is making every effort possible to undermine the confidence of men in the law of God, causing them to regard it as of little importance. But men should remember that the God of heaven proclaimed his law from Mount Sinai with his own voice, that men might realize its importance. The Lord does not want the people who stand for his law in the earth, and who are to accomplish his closing work in the world, to represent that law and that work in a cheap manner. God's purposes in guiding us to Washington, the capital of our nation, was that we might represent his work there in a sensible way. In connection with his work he would not have anything of a cheap and faulty character.
(RH August 15, 1907, 6)
It would also be a great mistake to close up the work of the branch sanitarium we have operated in Washington. Some have thought that when our institution at Takoma Park should be in running order, we might do this. But instruction regarding this matter has been given me by higher authority than that of man; and I have been shown that to close up the work of the first institution would be a grievous mistake. There are men holding positions of responsibility in the world who are patronizing our treatment rooms there, and we must not cut off from them this opportunity of gaining a knowledge of the truth for this time.
(RH August 15, 1907, 7)
A branch sanitarium in the city will lead to an acquaintance with the larger institution at Takoma Park. Through these institutions the light of truth is to shine forth to counselors and statesmen.
(RH August 15, 1907, 8)
From the light the Lord has given me, I know there is a great work to be accomplished in Washington, and every laggard power must be aroused to act its part. A special work should also be done in this city in the establishing of schools, that the people may be educated along Christian lines. In our schools established in this city, the Word of God is to be exalted as the study book, and the law of God is to be honored and obeyed. The discipline of our schools is to be of the highest type.
(RH August 15, 1907, 9)
God calls for us to advance step by step in the building up of his work. We are now doing what should have been done twenty years ago. Some have thought that we as a people were unable to stem the current of inquiry and criticism. But I have been shown that if we had advanced in the way of reform as the light came to us, we would have a very different showing than now appears. In following the instruction of our Great Leader, difficulties would have been overcome; the consciousness of the approval of God would have made our ministers and physicians and the teachers in our schools valiant men of God. In the fullest sense of the word, they would have been laborers together with God.
(RH August 15, 1907, 10)
We must individually learn the lesson that the treasures of knowledge are with the Most High. The discourses of the men who profess to honor and reverence the law of God must be earnest, sincere, and solemn, as befits the time in which they live. Their appeals for temperance must speak powerfully to the senses of men. The love of God is to be expressed in word and action.
(RH August 15, 1907, 11)
Those who are engaged in the work for these last days must identify themselves with Christ. They must become partakers of the divine nature, and thus escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.
(RH August 15, 1907, 12)
I appeal to my brethren and sisters throughout the American field. See that the work in Washington is not delayed for want of means. It is very important that the Sanitarium be fully equipped for its work. Let the cause of truth in Washington triumph gloriously.
(RH August 15, 1907, 13)
These words were spoken regarding the work in Washington: “The work at the heart of the nation is not to be handicapped. The Sanitarium must do its part in convincing the influential men of America of the importance of the third angel's message. And our books must be handled in a way that will secure their largest circulation.”
(RH August 15, 1907, 14)
In the completion of the Washington Sanitarium, let simplicity and good taste prevail. This institution is to do an important work for the people of Washington. Through its influence inquiries will be made concerning our faith, and information will be given that will find a lodgment in some minds. One is standing back of the cause of present truth in Washington who will be a present help in every emergency. Hold firmly to the principles of truth. Guard the soul vigilantly, that you may not be found warring against the Spirit of God. Gird on the armor of Christ's righteousness. Be strong; yea, be strong.
(RH August 15, 1907, 15)