Ms 86, 1910

Sermon/Lessons from the Fifteenth Chapter of John

Berkeley, California

August 21, 1910

Previously unpublished.

(Sermon by Mrs. E. G. White at Berkeley Camp-Meeting, Sunday, August 21, 1910.)

[John 15:1-4 quoted.] Now that is the plain statement. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 1

Verse 5. Will we take that into consideration—“Without Me ye can do nothing”—in the line of soul-saving? 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 2

Verse 5 again. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 3

Let us bear that in mind. We must have a living Saviour. We must be in a position where we can exercise that right that Christ gives us, so that we bear fruit in Christ. “Without Me ye can do nothing.” And if we realize our advantages, and if we will claim the promises of God, we shall see the salvation of God just as surely as it is represented here. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 4

Verse 6. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 5

What more can we expect than to have a living connection Christ? There we have the promise that is full, “Ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” [Verse 7.] Now where is our faith? Do we walk out by that living faith that claims our advantage? We are losing a living sense of Christ abiding in us every day of our life; we are losing the most precious experience which it is possible for us to have. Well, then, the simplicity of it is brought right in here. Now a word of it but what you can understand it. And mark you: 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 6

Verse 7. Now there is no need of our going crippling along, and thinking we are half saved, and that is enough. We want the fulness that is to come to us through a crucified and risen Saviour. He is pleading in our behalf. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 7

“If ye abide in Me.” The “if” is there. “Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” I think how oft we disappoint our Saviour, when if we recognized Him, when if we would come to Him in humility, we should see so many difficulties removed that loom up before us in our religious experience. The fathers and the mothers want that living faith that will bear the test, and we cannot afford to be without it. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 8

We want that living connection with Jesus Christ that it is our privilege to have, and you can take in what I have read; it is simple enough to be understood. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 9

Verse 7. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 10

I thank Thee, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, that Thou hast given us assurance upon assurance, lest our faith should weaken. Help this people to lay hold on this. Help this people that are in this congregation to be baptized with the Holy Spirit of God, and that the sinner may be convicted, and that the sinners may be converted. This is the prayer I offer to our Father now through Jesus Christ. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 11

Verse 7 again. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 12

Well, now, if you feel that you have not much faith, you just take the Bible in your hands, and say, Lord, I am a weak, feeble mortal; but I come right to Thee with Thy Word. I present it to Thee, and I ask Thee to bring me in a sacred nearness with Thyself, that I can speak forth understandingly and intelligently to those that I am trying to win to Thee. Now this is the prayer that you can make. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 13

(Verse 8, verse 9) to “so have I loved you.” 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 14

Here Christ came to walk on foot from place to place, and the multitudes followed Him. And then there were so many and they were weary, and He just called them aside, and He said, Prepare a place for these; they are weary; and they prepared a place. There were five thousand, and all that large company was following Christ. They were drawn by the impressiveness of Him that was teaching them. “Herein is My Father glorified.” Now, then, we know how our Father will be glorified. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 15

“That ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be My disciples.” 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 16

Verses 9, 10. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 17

Now this is said to every one of us. It is left for us in the Word, that we should take this Word, and we should believe the Word, and we should accept the Word. And we should in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth claim large blessings, and then we will have the large blessings to bestow. God wants us to increase in faith, in love, in knowledge, and in rejoicing in the God of our salvation. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 18

Verse 10. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 19

Now here are the conditions; here are the provisions made for us. There are none of us who need to go complaining and feeling that we are really having a hard time. Well, you do not need to have it. There is the promise. Do you believe the words of Christ? If you do, take Him into your family. Teach it to your children, the trust that we can have in One that left the heavenly throne, and came down into our world to meet Lucifer, who was playing the game of life with the souls of men. And here He came to withstand the power of Lucifer, who was cast out of heaven because he wanted the place of Christ and could not have it. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 20

“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” [Verse 10.] 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 21

Verse 11. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 22

Now I want every one of you to have your ears open, and to understand what it is: “This is My commandment, that ye should love one another, as I have loved you.” [Verse 12.] 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 23

Is that a possibility? Would He require anything of us that was impossible? Oh, the Lord wants to do great things for us, if we will let Him; if we will only take our position as Christians, humble Christians, not Christians that are one day on the mount, and the next day in the valley. We have got a present Saviour; and therefore we must speak to honor that Saviour, to glorify that Saviour. Every one of us has a character to form for eternal happiness. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 24

We are passing through the test now. We are passing through the trial, and we are developing character for the future, immortal life, if we accept of Jesus Christ as an abiding Saviour, and take His words, and know that if we know the Lord, we shall know His goings forth are prepared as the morning. Shall we do it? Shall we act like Christians, or will we act half and half—today on the mount, and tomorrow away down in the vale, scolding and fretting because things do not go right? Well, now, if we hide in Christ, and Christ abides in us, we are having the victory every day; and what we want is a living Saviour. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 25

“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” [Verses 10, 11.] Brethren, what can we ask more? “That my joy might remain in you, and your joy might be full.” What do you think would be the influence if that should be the representation? What would be the influence, I ask, if that should be the representation? Well, it is our privilege to make it so. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 26

We want to put away our unbelief; we want to put away our pettish feelings. We want not to speak out because we feel disturbed in our minds. We want to sensibly carry forward the idea that Christ is abiding in us, if we will let Him come in and we are abiding in Him. We want to see victories here in this meeting. We want to see the salvation of God revealed here. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 27

We want your faith to grasp the living promise. We want your faith to walk out so that it will be demonstrated to believers and unbelievers that your life is hid with Christ in God. Shall it be so? Will you grieve the Saviour that left the royal courts? What did He do it for? Well, Lucifer, he was striving; he had glory in the heavenly courts, but he was striving for Christ’s place next to God. Next he wanted to be God, but he could not obtain that. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 28

Christ was the only begotten Son of God, and Lucifer, that glorious angel, got up a warfare over the matter, until he had to be thrust down to the earth. He knows what I am saying today. He knows whenever there is a company assembled together as you are here. He knows when we are making efforts in every way possible to reach out to win the minds of the people. He has his agencies appointed so that after this meeting will be over, circumstances will arise and the enemy will try to gain the victory. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 29

Now if you are converted here, if you have evidences that Jesus Christ is abiding in you, if you take that to your homes and with your children, you just bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We want to meet them in the heavenly courts; we want to see these children. Christ has paid the price of His own blood, that He could bring these children to the heavenly courts, to this eternal life. When you are welcomed into the city of God, and the gates are thrown back upon their glittering hinges, the nations that have kept the truth are welcomed in. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 30

But if you serve the devil half of the time, you will lose heaven entirely. There is a grand review ahead of us. It is going on now. The time will come when we shall understand what our destiny is—whether we shall enter the courts of the Lord, or whether we shall be forbidden to have any part there. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 31

Every one of your children could be educated to recognize that the Lord Jesus will cleanse them from all sin. When the parents dropped the burden, when He was upon the earth, they felt their need of help. One family after another came and united together. They came to where Jesus was, and Jesus knew all about when they had left their homes. After they had walked on their long way, the disciples were sending them away. But Christ is teaching this company that is here. He cannot be interrupted. “Forbid them not,” says Christ. “Let the children come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 19:14.] 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 32

Well, now, let parents take that in. Let them educate and train their children for the future, immortal life. Let them seek with all the influence and ingenuity of the mind to win these children, so that Christ can let His rich blessing rest upon the children. Well, let us take in all of these things. Every one of us that are to act the part of Christians at home and abroad, we want the light of heaven to shine upon our pathway. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 33

[John 15] Verses 10-12. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 34

What a requirement is that! The commandment is to love one another, and here we see professed Christians that know the truth, and we see them getting up little differences, we see them not in harmony. It causes our heart such pain as we consider that Christ has written this beautiful chapter for every living soul that is connected with the church in any capacity. We want to be in connection with the children. We do not want to set them aside; I know we do not. I know we do not. I know there are efforts made to bring these children to the love of Jesus. There are children that understand the truth—many of them have a knowledge of the truth. Let us work intelligently in this line; let us not repress it. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 35

“These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you.” [Verse 11.] Now you see it is not a hopeless, it is not a complaining, spirit, but “these things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” God help us. “This is My commandment, That ye love one another. As I have loved you. Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down His life for his friends.” [Verses 12, 13.] And now here He comes right to the point, where in a few hours he would be in the hands of the persecutors—Lucifer working with all his power that he should in some way get the victory over the Son of man. “Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth ... for all things ... I have made known unto you.” [Verse 15.] 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 36

Will you search it out? Will you bring it into your mind? Will you exercise your reasoning faculties to do the very things that Christ came into the world to make you capable of doing? Shall not every one of us at this meeting get such decided victories that we will be able to glorify God in this tent, and there will be a unity that will destroy this disunion and this hedging one way and the other way, and every one wanting his own way. We thank God that there are many of our people who stand decided, and are trying to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 37

Verse 15. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 38

He took special pains to correct every evil, knowing just what His lot would be, that they would take Him, abuse Him, and He would move straight along in the channel that was marked out, to do the very works that He should do. Shall we show Christ today that we appreciate what He has done? Shall we do it? Shall we take hold and repent of our sins, and shall we be converted, and shall we lay hold on God? May the salvation of God go through our encampment, that many souls will be brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 39

He says: “I have called you friends.” 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 40

Verses 15, 16. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 41

Now mark this promise: “That whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.” Oh, thank the Lord with heart and with soul and with voice. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 42

Verse 18-27. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 43

This chapter should be taken to your hearts. There is a disposition in us—lack of love, lack of resignation to bear any cross or any difficulty—but if we just come in sacred union with God, we shall see the salvation of God in a remarkable manner. The Lord Jesus is to do a great work for us before we can stand that grand review where we shall be reined up at the Judgment. Let us get ready right here on this campground. You need not wait to get home, but right here humble your souls before God. If you would seek the Lord, confess your way where you are wrong, and let your light shine forth because the Lord is working with you. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 44

Lucifer will come in and he will tell you every kind of theory. Lucifer was determined to have the place of Christ; therefore he worked against Him all the time that He was upon the earth. And he is working for every soul. Fathers and mothers, educate your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The admonition is here in this chapter. You will find it in many ways, and you will find that it requires strict discipline in love. Don’t scold, don’t fret, because you gain nothing by it. But just present to them that Christ gave His life for them. I have always gained the victory in that way. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 45

I have tried to approach children, presenting how Christ loved them, how He took children in His arms. And when those mothers came, the disciples wanted to send them right off. “Why, the Master is teaching,” they said. But Christ catches that word. Did He not see those children come from home, and in the dusty path, and calling on neighbor after neighbor, and neighbor after neighbor? Did He not observe this? Certainly He did. He caught the word. He said, “Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” [Luke 18:16.] 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 46

Now, little children and large children, we want every one of you to be determined that you will strive for the victory over your passions. See that your parents won’t have so hard a battle to bring up their children. They do not want to cause them pain. But do try, for Christ’s sake. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 47

We want the victory at every step, and those who are older, if they want to enter the kingdom of heaven through the gates into the city, they must put away all disunion. They can do it, if they will. But the idea to have one’s own way seems to be a great victory for them to gain, when if they should gain it, it would be at the loss of their own souls. Now let us, every one, strive for the victory; let us every one follow on to know the Lord. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 48

Let us seek to help one another in the way to life, eternal life; and let me tell you, the grand review is to take place. Are we ready for it? You know not how soon Satan’s battle may be set in array, bringing in the most difficult heresies for us to overcome. God help us to help one another, and may we see the salvation of God that shall be revealed. But I want to see fathers and mothers coming to the Saviour, and I want to see them in unity and in harmony and in love, and when we shall come into the meetings the glory of God shall be revealed, because the principles of heaven are being carried out. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 49

But we have got a work to perform right here in this world. Men that are grown, men that have had an experience, we want to seek the Lord in these meetings. We want the shout of victory to go up from this place. We want to humble our hearts before God, and we want to be reconverted, because the enemy and the powers of darkness are striving against us. Lucifer, who was next to Christ, because he could not have Christ’s place, is working the very best he can to deceive and to lead souls to destruction. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 50

Well, I am glad we have got a Father in heaven. I am glad we have got a Redeemer. I am glad that Christ lives. I am glad that Christ has disciples here upon earth. I am glad we can work in companionship with the heavenly host together, if we will. There is a heavenly host that is working in our behalf against the power of Lucifer, that was condemned to the world because he would not obey the government of heaven. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 51

But let us now obey this chapter. I don’t know but that I have said enough on it; but we want, fathers and mothers, never to get into a scolding line. You will never gain anything by it in your home. Just try to bring the children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord in the home. Try to teach them the love and nurture and knowledge of Jesus Christ. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 52

Remember that there is a vast host, a vast host, that is working every device possible, so that souls may perish in discouragement. But shall we join them or shall we join Christ? Think what He suffered. He was not exalted. He traveled from place to place on foot. He walked, and was weary, until His parents and His friends felt that they must take Him by force, and yet they hardly dared to do it. Christ saw their design, and He slipped out in a boat. He went away, and thought He would have solitude, but there they were; they would come right around. He could not get rid of them. He wanted to keep His work going. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 53

Well, I want to tell you we have got a Saviour on our side. Will you be on His side? Who will be on Christ’s side, we ask you? Who will be on Christ’s side, to work with Christ, just to the best of your ability, to overcome the temptations of the enemy? Who will work that they may enter in through the gates into the city? Whoever will, stand up, right up on your feet, if you can. We want to know. We want life, eternal life, that we may enter through the gates into the city, where there is no more death, there is no more sin, there is no more temptation, there is no devil; there is no Lucifer. I hope you will carry out the purpose that you have in mind. I hope you will carry it out to victory. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 54

May God put His Spirit upon you, and upon our ministers. Let us labor unitedly and heartily for the victory at every step; and if we do, the Lord will reveal Himself to us as Christ is represented by the chapter that I have read, that we are never alone. We are working, working, for the victory, working for heaven, working to see the King in His beauty. You want your children to have beauty of character, that they can be welcomed in through the gates into the city, and have right to the tree of life, and it will only be a little while now, only a short while now and the history here now earth will be closed. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 55

Brethren, let us do everything that we can, and our very best. That is all we can do—leave our cases in the hands of God. We will have perplexities to the close of time; we shall have it. Souls are deciding one way or the other. May God help us to lift up our “voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, ... as a people that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinances of their God.” [Isaiah 58:1, 2.] 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 56

Well, now, let us stop all this parleying with the devil. Let us come right up to the help of the Lord. Let us talk faith; let us work faith; let us pray in faith. There are souls that have been hesitating, who will gather up their responsibilities; they will take their stand on the side of God. Amen. 25LtMs, Ms 86, 1910, par. 57