Ms 32, 1897

Guidance of God in Work

“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

April 13, 1897

Previously unpublished. +^Note

This is God’s own world, and if His means and His territory is in the hands of authorities and powers over whom Satan has had control to work out his attributes, and He works upon the human agent, and through His providence brings about circumstances that will send the message to regions beyond, shall finite men set up their human conjectures and notions to block the way? This is a species of conscientiousness that is not dictated by the Holy Spirit. 12LtMs, Ms 32, 1897, par. 1

Let all be careful how they interpose themselves between God and the working of His providences. Let every messenger of God attend to his own specified work, and not be rushing into a work of his own wisdom and devising. If the Lord’s messengers would seek the mercy seat most earnestly, that they may ever be well-balanced and not move impulsively with shortsighted views; if they would wait patiently, they would have a more deep and even current of experience to leave behind them—one that would be of great help to others. The glory of the Lord is to be their rereward. They must constantly seek God for wisdom, carefully weighing each point with fear and trembling, lest human wisdom shall be brought into the work in the place of the light from heaven which is promised to all those who seek the Lord with the whole heart. 12LtMs, Ms 32, 1897, par. 2

God will open many doors of labor and hope to those who will not bring in their own impetuous plans, but patiently and prayerfully wait for Him to guide their decisions. The great General of the armies of heaven and of every battle in His cause, will lead His people in these perilous times if the under leaders, the under shepherds, will do their appointed work. If they will listen to the voice that says, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” [John 8:12.] They will walk in the light as God is in the light. 12LtMs, Ms 32, 1897, par. 3

Let the men to whom have been entrusted great responsibilities be assured that they are following their Leader Jesus Christ, and not the impulse of their own natural temperament. Then if they walk with their eye upon the Lord Jesus, working out His plans, all will be well. 12LtMs, Ms 32, 1897, par. 4

There are many kinds of light by which men direct their steps. Many follow their own counsel, ambition, and fancies, and reasoning, supposing these to be the true light. But they find that they are following not Heaven’s guiding star, but an uncertain meteor. O, how Satan is putting forth his masterly efforts to bring to pass those things that are not in accordance with God’s will, things which he can use to oppose and misrepresent the truth of God. For the sake of Jesus Christ, do not make these the truth at any time or in any place by movements which God does not require you to make. 12LtMs, Ms 32, 1897, par. 5

There has been not a little of this kind of work among God’s people. They have been ordering, getting up a variety of plans, and setting influences in operation that are helping the enemy. Satan is making use of every means to close up our way, that the standard of truth shall not be unfurled in many regions where God’s heavenly instrumentalities are preparing the way. 12LtMs, Ms 32, 1897, par. 6

Not a human hand touched Jericho. And the armies of the Lord’s host, under their heavenly General, will do many things for us if men will move in accordance with God’s will, obeying their great Captain. Give God a chance to work in His own way. I am grieved as I see men desirous to mark out the course that others should pursue in far distant lands, when we believe that this work of proclaiming the truth is of God. God must work His own appointed agencies. We must give matters more into His hands. We must not want to be masters of our own individual selves, as though everything were under the jurisdiction of a few men in a certain locality who are finite like the rest of humanity. 12LtMs, Ms 32, 1897, par. 7

God does not design that everything shall center in one place. He would have men stand aside, and not feel that they are the ones to whom all questions must be referred. This may seem Greek to you, but I know what I am talking about, although it is hard for me to express. In the name of the Lord I lift the danger signal. Men need to fear and tremble for themselves. They should not feel capable of running ahead of Jesus. He has said, “Follow me.” 12LtMs, Ms 32, 1897, par. 8

God is not pleased to have men in far distant lands wait for word from any great center before they make a move. God has the ordering of His work. Let us believe in His power to guide. He will give wisdom and understanding to His representative men in their portion of the great moral vineyard. “Ye have not chosen me,” He says, “but I have chosen you; and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit.” [John 15:16.] 12LtMs, Ms 32, 1897, par. 9

I would say to my brethren: The Lord gives His messages to His representatives in all parts of the worlds. His orders to His servants in “regions beyond” do not have to pass through a certain place. [2 Corinthians 10:16.] The Lord does not lay every responsibility upon those who assume them. He does not give to any the privilege of saying, You shall do this, or you must not do that. God is dishonored when we are educated to look so largely to any one Center. 12LtMs, Ms 32, 1897, par. 10

It was Christ who breathed on His disciples, and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” [John 20:22.] And Christ is represented by His Holy Spirit today in all parts of the world. He will give the inspiration of His Holy Spirit to those who are of a contrite heart. Let there be more dependence upon the Holy Spirit’s efficiency, and far less upon human agencies. Some, at least, have no evidence that they have an abiding Christ, and that He has inspired them with wisdom in counsel through the transfusion of His own self in the heart. There are among our leaders those who are living a life separate from Christ. While they are looked to, trusted in, and relied upon as the great council of God, they have not the mind of Christ. Jesus Christ, living in the faculties of the consecrated human agents, will act through every organ. They will depend upon and choose the will of God, and conform to His character. All pride, all superiority, all arbitrary exactment will be put away; they will feel that they are “all brethren.” [See Matthew 23:8.] 12LtMs, Ms 32, 1897, par. 11