Manuscript Releases, vol. 20 [Nos. 1420-1500]

MR No. 1460—How the Leaven of Evil Works

(Written October 6, 1906, from Sanitarium, California, to Brother Salisbury and Associates at the Echo Publishing Company.)

Yesterday we received the money you sent to us. We need it just now, and thank you for it. 20MR 175.1

I would advise that Brother Faulkhead be invited to connect with the office at Warburton. I believe that he would do good and faithful service. 20MR 175.2

I wish I could see Brother M straightforward, unselfish, his mind and will clean, sanctified through the truth, and every capability used to serve the Lord. Nothing would give me greater joy than to see a soul that is in peril become sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit. But Brother M needs the sentiments of truth to refine, purify, and ennoble the mind and the heart, the will and the purposes, that he may make himself an honor to the cause of God. In his present condition, the leaven of disaffection is at work. And when such a spirit shall be brought into the office, others will be leavened with evil. His influence in the office would be such that the souls of the apprentices serving under him would be imperiled. 20MR 175.3

Those who have not heeded the words of reproof that the Lord has sent to save their souls will have a hard time. Oh, I plead with every soul to soften and subdue their own dispositions, and to let self be crucified. I have had presented to me how the leaven of evil will work. 20MR 175.4

Satan has come down in great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time in which to work. He will work with all deceivableness and unrighteousness. Those who in their past experience have had great light, but have not cherished that light nor purified their souls by obeying the truth, will meet with great loss. 20MR 175.5

Will every member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church now search his own heart, and make earnest, thorough work for repentance? Whenever a man places his own wisdom or wealth or power to control in the place where God should be, he is on the losing side. “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord” [Jeremiah 9:23, 24]. 20MR 175.6

A self-righteous man esteems his own experience as one to be trusted. He finds fault with his brethren, and acts as though he does not fear God. Ministers of the gospel, unless they daily seek counsel from God, will not keep His honor in view. They will walk blindly, not in the footsteps of Jesus. 20MR 175.7

The spirit of antichrist is developing rapidly. Soon there will be a time when those who follow their own human nature, who manifest a love for supremacy, will be found to be on the losing side. The Lord has abased Kings, and He will say to all who, while professing to serve him, and yet make a display and depart from His counsel: “What doest thou to declare My law, while thou thyself livest in transgression?” 20MR 176.1

The Lord will come very near to the man of contrite heart. He will teach him wisdom. We cannot afford to walk apart from God. Unto him is to be ascribed all the honor and the glory for the success we attain. He is the true Light of the world, whose words are to be received and practiced. Those who exalt him above money, or praise, or glory, will gain precious victories. 20MR 176.2

Pray, brethren, for the Holy Spirit. Give up your own will, every desire to dominate; expel pride from the natural stubborn heart. Then we will, as church members, love as brethren, kindly, courteously. The love of Christ in the heart will expel evil speech, and as you do good to others, you will meet with the approval of Christ. Abase yourselves in the sight of God, and the Lord will lift you up. 20MR 176.3

Let every one who considers it is his privilege to do as he pleases, remember that the Lord will allow him to have his way, but he will be brought through bitter experiences. It is the truth, my brethren, that we all need, the truth that works by love and purifies the soul. 20MR 176.4

I was in a meeting in a place near Melbourne. Many people were present. There seemed to be a spirit of questioning the religious experience of others. Some could scarcely speak freely, so eager were they to criticize and condemn others who were present. But one in the assembly arose and said, Let us come to an agreement. Let us settle these questions in the fear of God. Let us bear in mind that we all acknowledge an ever-present supremacy. God is here, and He can take us all and lead us aright. 20MR 176.5

Has God made the world, and then left it entirely to the jurisdiction of men? Has He retired from the scene of action, and left it to the domination of human agencies? How can it be that among those who profess to obey him and to serve him, there shall be strife and variance? What a terrible thing is sin to intrude itself, to manifest itself in apostasy, rebellion, and discord in God's fair domain! 20MR 176.6

Let the sinner attempt to explain these matters. Lay the burden of answer upon the skeptic. The Lord created all the heavenly intelligences. Lucifer, exalted to be a beautiful, glorious being in the heavenly courts, brought in jealousy [and] evil-surmising because he himself was not in the position of God. He declared that man was bound and fettered if he made God first and last and best in everything. God had not previously been obliged to speak of allegiance to His laws, for there had been no occasion for the least disaffection till it was introduced by Satan. 20MR 176.7

We still see the deceptive working of Satan on every side. God would have us plant our feet firmly upon the platform of His truth that we may not be deceived by his [Satan's] wonderful representations. In the rock Christ Jesus is our only safety.—Letter 310, 1906. 20MR 177.1

Ellen G. White Estate

Washington, D. C.,

June 8, 1989.

Entire Letter.