Ms 39, 1901

Sermon/Living for Christ

Denver, Colorado

May 1901

Portions of this manuscript are published in TMK 149.

Sermon by Mrs. E. G. White in the Denver Church.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. ... Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” [Colossians 3:1-4, 12-16.] 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 1

This is what we need in our households. There is in it no faultfinding, no harshness; but peace and joy and rest in the Lord. 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 2

“And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” [Verse 17.] Let us not forget that our time here is short. We shall pass through this world but once, and as we pass along, let us make the most we can of ourselves. This we may do by cultivating the graces of the Spirit, which make us as a savor of life unto life to those with whom we come in contact. There are many in this world who are in sorrow and trouble. Speak words of sympathy to them. This will make their burden lighter. 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 3

God calls for loving service. He calls upon parents to speak lovingly and tenderly to their children. Let them see that you think they help you. Give them responsibilities to bear, small ones at first, and larger ones as they grow older. Never, never let them hear you say of them, “They hinder me more than they help me.” 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 4

Parents, God calls upon you to repent of your sins. He calls upon those who have neglected to train their children in His fear to awaken to their responsibility. How few parents there are who realize the accountability resting upon them. How many there are who forget that the home is a school in which children are trained to work either for Christ or Satan. Fathers and mothers, remember that every word you speak in the hearing of your children has an influence upon them, an influence either for good or for ill. Remember that if you find fault with one another, you are educating your children to find fault. 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 5

With your children around you, bow before the Father in heaven. Ask Him for help to guard the trust He has given you. Let your petitions be short and earnest. Say, “Heavenly Father, I want my children to be saved. Grant me the aid of thy Spirit that I may so train them that they may be counted worthy to inherit eternal life.” Train your children to offer their simple words of prayer. Tell them that God delights to have them call upon Him. 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 6

We can subdue our children only as we subdue ourselves. But there are so many parents who have brought with them into the home life their hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. They have not left their childishness behind. They scold their children for things which should never be noticed. Parents, never scold your children. Deal firmly but kindly with them. Keep them busy. Make them feel that they are a part of the family firm, that they can help mother and father. Thank them for what they do for you. 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 7

Let your home be a place where God is loved and honored. Think of the love God manifested for us when He gave His Son to die for us. In this gift the Father gave Himself. And in return, He wants us to give to others the blessings He has bestowed on us. God forbid that we should be content to grasp only for ourselves the great promise of salvation. Let us seek rather to work as did the great medical missionary who went about doing good. Thus we shall bring the fragrance of His character into our own lives and into the lives of others. Our joy will be full and the Saviour will be honored. 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 8

We need to praise God more than we do. We should offer Him more thanksgiving. As we show that we are glad in the Lord, the heavenly universe will recognize our offering and will rejoice over us with singing. How often we hedge up our own way and give ourselves into the hands of the enemy by talking of his power. Let us talk instead of the power of the Almighty. Do not honor Satan by speaking of his greatness. God is infinitely greater than Satan. His righteousness goes before His believing ones, and His glory is their rearward. 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 9

God’s promises are full and free. Then shall not His people praise Him? Oh, how I would like to see your countenances lit up with the out-shining of God’s glory, the result of closing the windows earthward and opening them heavenward. The threshold of heaven is flooded with the glory with which God desires to illuminate the hearts and minds of His people. 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 10

God wants His people to be quick of understanding. He will help them if they will help themselves. He says to them, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” [Philippians 2:12, 13.] All heaven is waiting for us to call for the help we need. The angelic hosts are waiting for channels through which to work. But God cannot use as channels for His grace those who are absorbed in the things of this world, who refuse to let the Saviour take possession of the heart. 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 11

What is God’s Word to us? Christ has told us: “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” [John 6:63.] We shall be filled with grace if we eat the words of the Saviour. Belief in the Word of God will lead us to realize that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God requires us to give the human machinery intelligent care. A neglect to do this gives Satan an opportunity to enter and defile. This will keep us out of heaven; for nothing that defiles can ever enter there. 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 12

Christ has purchased us with His blood, and He does not want us to throw ourselves away. He wants us to put on the whole armor of God, that we may be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. How important, then, that we put on every piece of the armor. 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 13

God wants us to use in His service all the tact and ability He has given us. He wants us to receive His rich grace, that we may impart to others. From Him we receive every blessing we enjoy. Is it surprising that the Lord wants us to give to others, and so return to Him, a portion of the bounty He has bestowed on us? There is a world to be warned, and to us God has committed this work. “Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.] I call upon you, in the name of the Lord, to give of your substance for the advancement of His work. There are in the darkness of error those whose souls are just as precious in the sight of God as yours; and at the last great day God will ask, What did you do to save them? 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 14

Run with patience the race set before you. Practice self-denial. If you win the race in which you are running, your reward will not be a fading laurel, but a crown of everlasting life. Satan is playing the game of life for your souls. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth resist him, and receive the blessing of God. Work for the salvation of those around you. May the blessing of God rest upon you all. Be faithful to your baptismal vows. Press forward in the path of self-denial. Then you will at last see the King in His beauty, and hear from His lips the benediction, “Well done, good and faithful servant. ... Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” [Matthew 25:23.] 16LtMs, Ms 39, 1901, par. 15