The Gospel of Health, Vol. 2

January 1898

“Remarks by Elder A. T. Jones” The Gospel of Health, 2, 1, pp. 24, 25.

ATJ

When John the Baptist sent to Jesus, asking, “Art thou he that should come or do we look for another?” our Saviour replied by giving the signs and evidences that accompanied his work, among which was this one: “To the poor the gospel is preached.” As has been so beautifully brought out here to-day, the gospel is world-wide; it is to be given to all the poor in the world as well as the rich. It is said of the children of Israel that they limited the Holy One of Israel.” Let not this be said of the second house of Israel; let us not limit the Holy One of Israel. GOH 24.1

I read this sentence not long ago, “All God’s biddings are enabling.” When the Lord bids all who are heavy laden to come unto him, he enables them to come; when he bids us preach the gospel to the poor, he does not want us to pass by any one, but give it to all. We are not to limit God in financial matters any more than in matters of the soul. He has said, “The silver and the gold is mine and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” The needy doves will come, and others will come bringing their silver and their gold with them. God has all the money that we will ever need; so we are not to be afraid that too many people will come; because when the Lord brings them to us, he knows what they need, and he will supply it. But our faith must be strong in order that the channel may be kept open. God uses men as his instruments in this work; so we need to pray that men who have means may open their hands and give freely toward this work. Job was able to say, “If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: then let mine arm fall from my shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.” God wants people of this kind all over the world to-day. He is going to have a whole church of such Christians, and you and I, as we go out from here, must lift the faith of the people to the throne of God and fasten it there. We must have the faith that will hold God to what he has said. GOH 24.2

We read of Christ, “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” We have done something along this line of work, but there is much more for us than we have seen yet. God is going to show to the world Christianity in its fulness and perfection. John the Baptist was called to announce that the Saviour was coming; and when, in his discouragement, he asked, “Art thou he that should come,” he received the assurance of the fact in the signs that accompanied the message. Now we are telling the people that the Lord is coming; but what evidence do we have to show that this work is of the Lord, and that we are looking for his coming in the right way, unless we are preaching the gospel to the poor and have the divine power to witness with us. GOH 24.3

If the Lord Jesus cannot give that evidence to the world through us, he will get a people through whom he can give it. But the people who look for him in the right way will have the works which were conclusive proof to John that Jesus was the one who should come. God is over all, in all, through all, and in charge of all; and when we come to the place where we submit wholly to God, and hold ourselves ready to do his will in all things, then we shall see him work through us as he has not worked before. GOH 25.1