Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)

Lt 252, 1906

Olsen, Brother and Sister [O. A.]

“Camp-ground,” Oakland, California

July 25, 1906

This letter is published in entirety in 21MR 138-140. +^Note

Dear Brother and Sister Olsen:

I would be so much pleased to see you both and have a visit with you, and have a praying season with you. We are now to be on our guard every moment, lest Satan shall obtain victories over us. We need to brace up in the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and believe, for time is short. Be of good courage. 21LtMs, Lt 252, 1906, par. 1

We need to bear in mind what is written in John 6:3-13. Here Christ shows us that He takes advantage of circumstances. He knew well that there would be an opportunity for Him to become a field preacher. The multitude followed Him; and standing sometimes upon a hill, He sat in the chair of state as a teacher to give the Word, which is the bread of life, to the people. He did not give them the Scriptures, but He fed them by enlarging a small substance of temporal food—by a miracle. That occasion would be long remembered. Temporal food supplied to the hungry may so open the way to place Him in the chair of instruction. He did not sit at ease, yet He sat as one having authority. He condescended to bring His disciples before the large numbers to give them reputation that many would recognize in their workings that they worked as Christ had. The very deeds of mercy given by our Lord will open a door for His disciples. 21LtMs, Lt 252, 1906, par. 2

My brother, my sister, it is a delicate work to address you both. Make the Word your guide, Sister Olsen. The more you get your mind off yourself, and consider the many, many things that need to have sharp, keen thought how to handle difficult problems, the Lord Jesus will give you the wisdom you ask of Him. The distribution of the grace of God imparted to that multitude in words, as well as a free-will offering of the food enlarged, prepared the way for our Saviour in many places. Now His blessing was on the food. God’s blessing will be upon His disciples as they break the bread of life to the necessities of hungry souls. 21LtMs, Lt 252, 1906, par. 3

Now, my dear Sister Olsen, we have One upon whom we can rely to keep you and to help you to be courageous and keep looking unto your Saviour as One who can supply all your necessities. Then in speaking cheerful words yourself, the Great Healer makes those words a health to the one who speaks encouragingly to those who need words of helpfulness. Now is our lesson to be learned. Jesus gave thanks and distributed the bread, and lo, the loaves multiplied in their distribution. The fish increased in the hands of those who distributed them, and the fragments gathered up, after five thousand had been satisfied. 21LtMs, Lt 252, 1906, par. 4

“Gather up the fragments.” [Verse 12.] He who had all the resources of infinity at His command would not waste a fragment! There is to be a gathering of all the words of Christ, and these words as the bread of life are to be given to the multitude. All, however weak they may be, are to consider Jesus would have them feed the souls who are needy of instruction from the apostles. Speak the truth in love. Let all who comprehend the truth retain the impression made upon their heart which they can be able to repeat to others who did not hear the words. 21LtMs, Lt 252, 1906, par. 5

The Lord Jesus never wrought a miracle to exalt His power, but in contrast with this, in cases of a miracle, He can work intelligently. Christ did not give the example to His disciples to add glory to themselves, but as necessity occurred to satisfy the hunger. 21LtMs, Lt 252, 1906, par. 6

God would have all His gifts appreciated. All fragments, jots, and tittles are to be treasured carefully, and we are carefully to become acquainted with the necessities of others. All that we have of Bible truth is not merely for our benefit, but to impart to other souls; and this is to be impressed upon human minds and every kindly word spoken to prepare the way to make a channel through which the truth will flow forth in rich currents to other souls. Every working of Christ in miracles was essential, and to reveal to the world that there was a great work to be done on the Sabbath day for the relief of suffering humanity, but the common work was not to be done. Pleasure seeking, ball playing, swimming was not a necessity, but a sinful neglect of the sacred day sanctified by Jehovah. Christ did not perform miracles <merely> to display His power, but always to meet Satan in afflicting suffering humanity. Christ came to our world to meet the needs of the suffering, whom Satan was torturing. 21LtMs, Lt 252, 1906, par. 7

And our sanitariums have been erected to supply a great necessity in healing the sick and suffering ones, and thus counterwork the work of Satan to destroy. And as in the miracles when Christ was in the world, we His followers are to discard drugs. We are to have faith, living faith, to read the Word, to inspire faith, to pray by the bedside of the sick, to talk faith. And Christ says, “Go ye therefore, and baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” [Matthew 28:19.] Thus many are to be converted; the power of living faith is inspired in human hearts. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” [Verse 20.] 21LtMs, Lt 252, 1906, par. 8

Keep of good courage, Sister Olsen. Have faith. Look up always to the face of Jesus, and see and sense His love. A great work will be done for you, if you will only believe. Our Lord will lead you if you have faith in the high platform of truth. May the Lord bless and sanctify you both, soul, body, and spirit, is my prayer. 21LtMs, Lt 252, 1906, par. 9