A Message to Responsible Men and Church Members
NP
June 3, 1909 [typed]
Portions of this manuscript are published in 3MR 222; 10MR 359-360. +NoteOne or more typed copies of this document contain additional Ellen White handwritten interlineations which may be viewed at the main office of the Ellen G. White Estate.
Our meetings are soon to close, yet we do not see the work of the Lord deepening in our experience. At this time every believer should be drawing near to God. God is speaking to His people, saying, Let your faith increase. Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. There should at this time be a general awakening to an understanding of the truth for this time. There is weakness among us, an inability to read the signs of the times. The hope of this people lies in the converting, reviving power of the truth. God can give grace and power to His people. To all who will come to Him, repenting of their lukewarmness, He will impart spiritual life and power. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 1
The Lord has given me a message for Elder Prescott. God has a work for Brother Prescott to do in bringing the light of present truth to those who have not seen it. It is not wisdom for him to remain continuously in Washington. He has special ability for ministering the Word of God to the people. The Lord has given him light, and there are many who will be enlightened and blessed by the message of truth that he can give. The work that the Lord would have him do in giving a knowledge of the third angel’s message to those who are in error will be as a light shining from the Scriptures to enlighten others. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 2
The Lord is not pleased with the spiritual advancement that Elder Prescott has made. He is not where the Lord would have him be. He would be the recipient of much greater spiritual strength if he were much of the time out in the field, seeking to lead souls to the light of truth. Brother Prescott, your ministerial ability is needed in the work that God requires shall be done in our cities. These cities are not to be left unenlightened and unwarned. Open your eyes to see the work that is to be done in sowing the seeds of truth in new places. You should unite with other workers in seeking to bring souls to the truth. I am instructed to say to you that you are needed in the fields that are opening for evangelistic work. When you make the Lord your trust, and give to the people the message of truth, wonderful reformations will be seen. There will be an awakening and conversion of many souls who are now ignorant of what is the truth for these last days. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 3
The Lord would have the workers in Washington prepare His way before Him. All their capabilities are to be used in giving this last message of warning to the world. The Lord expects every worker to be a laborer together with Him. Let there be no arbitrary forbiddings placed upon the men chosen to engage in God’s service. This kind of hindrance to the advancement of the work is no longer to be permitted. The workers who occupy positions of responsibility need to understand that those who believe the truth must live the truth. If they would co-operate with divine intelligences, they must co-operate with every agency whom God would use in His work. If they refuse to do this, their light will become darkness, and they will be brought to confusion. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 4
Recently the agony of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane was three times vividly portrayed before me. The Saviour left His disciples in the garden, bidding them watch and pray with Him, and going “about a stone’s cast from them,” He “kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” [Luke 22:41-46.] 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 5
Three times the Saviour prayed, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.” [Matthew 26:39.] It was here that the destiny of a lost world hung in the balance. Should He refuse to drink the cup, the result would be eternal ruin to the human race. But an angel from heaven strengthened the Son of God to accept the cup and to drink its bitter woe. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 6
How little do we comprehend what the Son of God passed through that we might not perish, but have everlasting life. I wish that all who are attending this meeting might have a view of the scene that was presented to me. It was a representation that I shall never be able to forget. I said then, God help and strengthen me to give to the people the words of warning that they need. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 7
Christ came to the earth to suffer and to die, that through the exercise of faith in Him, and the appropriation of His merits, we might become laborers together with God. It was the Saviour’s purpose that after He ascended to heaven to become man’s intercessor, His followers should carry on the work that He had begun. Shall the human agent show no special interest in giving the light of the gospel message to those who sit in darkness? There are some who are willing to go to the ends of the earth in order to carry the light of truth to men; but God demands that every soul who knows the truth shall seek to win others to the love of the truth. Those who claim to be the children of God, but who do not carry their religion into their practical life, can never be welcomed to the kingdom of God. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 8
“Behold I come quickly,” Christ declares; “and My reward is with Me, to give to every man according as his works shall be.” [Revelation 22:12.] The Lord at His coming will scrutinize every talent; He will demand interest on the capital He has entrusted. By His own humiliation and agony, by His life of toil and His death of shame, Christ has paid for the service of all who take His name and profess to be His servants. All are under deepest obligation to improve every capability for the work of winning souls for Him. “Ye are not your own,” He says, “for ye are bought with a price;” therefore glorify God by a life of service that will win men and women from sin to righteousness. [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.] We are bought with the price of Christ’s own life—bought that we may return to God His own in faithful service. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 9
We have not time now to give our energies and talents to worldly enterprises. Shall we become absorbed in serving the world, serving ourselves, and lose eternal life and the everlasting bliss of heaven? O we cannot afford to do this. Let every talent be employed in the work of God. Those who receive the truth are by their efforts to increase the number of men and women who shall be laborers together with God. Souls are to be enlightened and taught to serve God intelligently; they are to be continually increasing in the knowledge of righteousness. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 10
All heaven is interested in the carrying forward of the work that Christ came to the world to do. Heavenly agencies are opening ways for the light of truth to shine to the dark places of the earth. Angels are waiting to communicate to the workers who will take hold of the work that has been pointed out to us for years. Shall we not manifest an interest to set in operation ways and means for the opening up of city work? Many opportunities have been lost through neglecting to do this work at once, through failing to go forward in faith. The Lord says, Had you exercised faith in the messages I have sent, there would not now be a lack. When men pursue a course of unbelief, and leave souls to perish in ignorance and darkness, some delusion will come in that will imperil the soul. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 11
The coming of Christ is near and hasteth greatly. The time in which to labor is short, and men and women are perishing. Said the angel, Should not the men who have had great light co-operate with Him who sent His Son to the world to give light and salvation to men? Christ gave His life that the human family might become partakers of the divine nature. Shall men who have received a knowledge of the truth line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, show but little appreciation of Him who came to the earth, that His divine power might be the heritage of every believing soul? It was thus that the divinity of Christ was to become effectual in the salvation of the race and the intercession of our great High Priest avail before the throne of God. The plan was devised in heaven. Shall those who have been bought with such a price fail to appreciate the great salvation? 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 12
The True Witness, the Spirit of the living God, is inspecting character in every home, in every family. There has been a waste of energy; talents have been perverted. Christ calls for men and women to engage in His service who will use their abilities to sanctified purposes. There is need that all in such important centers as this shall help to the limit of their ability. The truth for this time is a divine treasure; it is to be revealed in our lives, in our speech, in our purity of heart. If this is not the experience of the people of God, instead of drawing souls to the truth, they will draw souls away. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 13
I speak to men and women who know the truth. Testify in words and works that you appreciate your talents. Some who have connected with the work are in danger of imperiling their own souls and of leading others from the truth. The believers in Washington need to advance in spirituality; they need to show a greater interest in the work of the third angel’s message. They need to take the light from under the bushel and let it shine forth to the world. 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 14
The Lord cannot commend the people who, professing godliness, professing to believe in the soon coming of Christ, leave the cities unwarned of the judgments that are soon to fall on the land. Those who do this will be judged for their neglect. What excuse can those offer who know the truth for this time and yet refuse to make it known to those who know it not? Christ gave His precious life to save the souls that were perishing in their sins. Shall we refuse to do the work assigned us, refuse to co-operate with God and heavenly agencies? There are thousands who are doing this, who are failing of becoming one with Christ, failing of letting the great sacrifice of Christ shine forth in the life in saving grace that reveals the truth in works of righteousness. Yet this is the work given to men by the sacrifice of the Son of God. Can we remain indifferent, knowing this? Appeal to the brethren to wake up. The spiritual faculties will grow weak and die if they are not exercised in winning souls to Christ. What excuse can be offered for the neglect of the great, grand work that Christ gave His life to accomplish? 24LtMs, Ms 41, 1909, par. 15