Wessels, Sister
“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
February 15, 1900
Portions of this letter are published in TSA 57-58; 12MR 164-165.
Dear Sister Wessels:
I am very thankful this morning to our heavenly Father for His great goodness and love and restoring power. I have been drawing nigh to God by faith, and asking Him in the all-prevailing name of Jesus for the strength and health and grace, to be used to His name’s glory. I magnify the Lord this morning that He has heard my prayers. I am doing much work in writing and in speaking to the people. I am thankful that I can do this at my age. I am seventy-two years old. But my health is good. I enjoy my simple food. I crave no luxuries. Fruit and bread are my diet. 15LtMs, Lt 24, 1900, par. 1
The Lord is very gracious to me, and I am so glad to be able to bear a decided testimony for present truth, the third angel’s message. This is the message we are to give to the people. We are to be “looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for me, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” [Titus 2:13, 14.] I have had special strength to bear the message God has given me to prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord. 15LtMs, Lt 24, 1900, par. 2
I thank the Lord that it is my privilege and your privilege as those chosen by God to act a part in union with Jesus Christ in great work for our time. I thank Him that we can do good by communicating to His cause and devote our talents to His name’s glory. 15LtMs, Lt 24, 1900, par. 3
The Lord would have His church purified from all contention and strife. Every phase of character is to be in harmony with the character of Jesus Christ. Unity will then be seen as the sure result. Divisions are the fruit of Satan’s work. Those who love God and keep His commandments will ever reveal the meekness and lowliness of Christ, because they have learned in the school of the great Teacher. We need to be worked by the Holy Spirit. Daily I feel the need of increased faith and increased power in faith to represent the character of Christ to our world. 15LtMs, Lt 24, 1900, par. 4
We see a great work to be done. We are doing all we possibly can in Maitland to save souls. We shall soon have to plan with reference to building a church in that place. Christ says to every one of us, Occupy till I come [Luke 19:13], that is, Do all in your power and much that seems beyond your power to save perishing souls. There are not many who can give large offerings of money, because they have not money to give. But by self-denial, by binding about their own inclinations, they may save something for the Master; and this discipline will be to them a great advantage. They may think their gift too small to be worth anything. But as it is laid upon the altar, God will bless it, and the results seen will be surprising. To practice self-denial and self-sacrifice is a discipline necessary to the disciples of Christ Jesus. 15LtMs, Lt 24, 1900, par. 5
When I see the great desire shown by men and women to hear the truth, I long earnestly for means to open up the work where the third angel’s message has never been heard. We have had some very interesting experiences in Maitland. Our women workers, in giving Bible readings, find families, not always poor, who cannot read. They have taught several persons to read. By the blessing of God these can now read the Word of God for themselves. 15LtMs, Lt 24, 1900, par. 6
Every soul is precious in God’s sight, and I am wondering what can be done for the destitute fields where the flock of God is without a shepherd. I have thought that if every Seventh-day Adventist family would, during the year 1900, cut off every needless indulgence, and place the money thus saved in the Lord’s treasury, there would be meat in His house. A rich blessing would rest upon those thus practicing self-denial. The Lord would give them more to give. We need so much just now these fruits of self-denial, to support women missionaries in the field. 15LtMs, Lt 24, 1900, par. 7
O, how my soul has thirsted for the pennies and shillings and pounds which have slipped through the fingers of those who do not realize how much they have spent for self and pride. Christ is hungering and thirsting for the money that men and women and children are thoughtlessly spending for self-gratification. If they denied their inclinations, this money might be used to do a most precious work for Christ. He says to all, old and young, “We are laborers together with God; ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” [1 Corinthians 3:9.] 15LtMs, Lt 24, 1900, par. 8
A work is to be done for God’s people, that they might employ their powers aright. God desires every one to bear his part in saving money for the many calls that come in for help to carry forward the work of God. This work is never to cease. It is to make provision to educate, educate in a knowledge of the Word of God. It is to open the Scriptures to those who are in darkness. 15LtMs, Lt 24, 1900, par. 9
How many who have access to money waste it in selfish indulgence, which undermines the health God would have sacredly preserved. The Lord desires every talent He has given to young and old to be improved and increased. Each true member of the family of believers may become part of God’s temple. “Ye are God’s building.” [Verse 9.] Each one, quickened by the Holy Spirit, may be a stone in the building. 15LtMs, Lt 24, 1900, par. 10
You have a work to do, my dear sister, in trying to give a different tone to the teaching you give your children. Self-indulgence has nearly ruined the character that Andrew should have had. God will hold you accountable unless you now see your error, and counterwork with all your influence that which has allowed Andrew to become selfish. He has been given his own way, and this has separated his soul from God. He is accountable to God, and you are accountable to God. 15LtMs, Lt 24, 1900, par. 11