Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 20 (1905)
Ms 42, 1905
Not With Outward Show
NP
April 13, 1905 [typed]
Portions of this manuscript are published in Ev 79, 160, 203-204, 530-531.
I am instructed to say that the work of God may and should be carried forward without display. It is not the Lord’s will that a great amount of means should be spent in representing the advantages of health reform or in showing to the world any other line of our work. Wherever the truth is presented, the people are to be taught how to prepare food in a simple yet appetizing way. They are to be shown that a nourishing diet can be provided without the use of flesh meat. But in this work no extravagant display is to be made. The money absorbed in such display is wasted. The expense of one such exhibition would support several laborers for a year in the work of preaching the truth and healing diseased bodies and diseased souls. Large showings of this kind do not accomplish that which must be done in bringing the truth directly before the people. There are exhibitions that will have to be made. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 1
The use of charts is most effective in explaining the prophecies relating to the past, the present, and the future. But we are to make our work as simple and inexpensive as possible. The truth is to be explained in simplicity. In no case are we to follow the example of outward display set by the world. The Lord’s money is to be used in building the houses of worship necessary for the accommodation of those who are brought into the truth and in the erection of institutions that will serve as centers of influence in God’s work. It is to be used in sending the message of salvation to those near and afar off who have not heard it. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 2
Our cities are to be worked, but they are to be worked in a way that is after God’s order. The Saviour could have made a great display in His work. He could have called legions of angels to His aid; for He was the Prince of heaven. But He did not do this. Laying aside His royal robe and kingly crown, He came to this earth in lowliness and humility. He stood in this world as a man among men, subject to the temptations of the enemy, but never swerving from loyalty to His heavenly Father. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 3
I have been instructed to say that the Lord’s money is not to be absorbed in needless display. This is not the way to reach the people, whether they be rich or poor. The laborers are to go forth into the highways and byways and in the name of the Lord call men and women to the supper that God has prepared for everyone who will be His guest. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 4
The work of God is a work that must be sustained and carried forward by earnest, persevering personal labor. The Lord has given me a message of stern rebuke to bear against His workers’ making any display in their work. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 5
“Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth: I have put My Spirit upon Him; He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench; He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for His law. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 6
“Thus saith God the Lord, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out, He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth bread unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord; that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord and declare His praise in the islands.” [Isaiah 42:1-12.] 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 7
Let this scripture be diligently studied, and let the human science that confuses and deceives minds no longer be presented as a special treasure of knowledge. Let not the true science of redeeming grace be neglected. It is knowledge that should be treasured above gold and silver. The enemy will bring in false science of every kind, in the hope of turning the truth of God into nothingness. But he will have no power against those who take their stand firmly on the Word of God. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 8
“The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war; He shall cry, yea, roar; He shall prevail against His enemies. I have long time holden My peace; I have been still, and refrained Myself; now will I ... destroy and devour at once. I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools. I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 9
“Hear, ye deaf, and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but My servant? or deaf, as My messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant. Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.” [Verses 13-20.] He does not make use of his ears to hear evil things, or his eyes to see evil things. He does not follow the counsel of the wicked. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 10
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” [Matthew 28:18-20.] 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 11
We are to work in Christ’s lines. Some have made a theatrical display in connection with their meetings. The expense thus incurred would have supported laborers in the field. Such representations must not be allowed in our work. In reaching the people, we are to follow the methods that Christ followed. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 12
Let a band of workers go to a city and work earnestly to proclaim the truth in every part of it. Let them counsel together as to the best way of carrying on the work in the most inexpensive manner. They are to do thorough work and are ever to keep the spiritual phase of their effort uppermost. Let the talks given be illustrated by means of charts. Let these charts be such that they will appeal to the understanding of intelligent people. Let a synopsis of the discourses be printed and widely circulated. Money will be needed, but it is to be spent with the thought in mind that there are many other places yet to be worked. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 13
In this work, the subject of temperance should be strongly and clearly presented. Let the people be shown what a blessing the practice of health principles will be to them. Let them see what God designed men and women to become. Point to the great sacrifice made for the uplifting and ennobling of the human race. With the Bible in hand, present the requirements of God. Tell the hearers that He expects them to use the powers of mind and body in a way that will honor Him. Show them how the enemy is trying to drag human beings down by leading them to indulge perverted appetite. Clearly, plainly, earnestly tell them how thousands of men and women are using God’s money to corrupt themselves and to make this world a hell. Millions of dollars are spent for that which makes men mad. Present this matter so clearly that its force cannot but be seen. Then tell your hearers of the Saviour, who came to this world to save men and women from all sinful practices. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 14
Ask those who attend the meetings to help you in the work that you are trying to do. Show them how evil habits result in diseased bodies and diseased minds—in wretchedness that no pen can describe. The use of intoxicating liquor is robbing thousands of their reason. And yet the sale of this liquor is legalized. Tell them that they have a heaven to win and a hell to shun. Ask them to sign the pledge. The commission of the great I AM is to be your authority. Have the pledges prepared, and present them at the close of the meeting. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 15
One man should not try to do this work alone. Let several unite in such an effort. Let them come to the front with a message from heaven, imbued with the power of the Holy Spirit. Let them draw with all their strength, with words made eloquent by the Spirit’s efficiency. Let them ask their hearers to assist in the work of warning the cities. Let men and women be shown the evil of spending money in indulgences that destroy the health of mind and soul and body. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 16
The world is fast becoming as it was before the flood, when God said of it, “The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” [Genesis 6:13.] God gave the antediluvians a probation of one hundred and twenty years, promising that if they repented and turned to Him, He would pardon their transgressions. But they did not repent, and of the large population then living on the earth, only eight were saved. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 17
Today the Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the world. Let a decided message go forth against the extravagant use of the money that is needed in the proclamation of the truth for this time. Not by outward display, not by worldly patronage is the kingdom of Christ established, but by the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity through the work of the Holy Spirit. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God.” [John 1:12.] Here is the only power that can work for the uplifting of humanity. And the human agency for the accomplishment of this work is the teaching and preaching of the Word of God. 20LtMs, Ms 42, 1905, par. 18