Ms 139, 1906

Sermon/Thoughts on Matthew 4

Oakland, California

July 24, 1906

Previously unpublished.

Matthew 4:13-25 [Passage read.] 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 1

Now this was the first experience these disciples had of the ministry of Christ as the great Healer. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 2

Matthew 5:1, 2. Read and study the wonderful discourse found in Matthew 5. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 3

Matthew 8:1. There was a very large congregation in the open air, listening to His discourse. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 4

Matthew 7:28, 29. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 5

We are to have our senses quickened by the Holy Spirit that dwelt with Christ. We have to move out and improve our opportunities to reach the people where they are. Men and women can labor in their various capacities. In the home life, in visiting with our books and our publications, when opportunities shall present themselves, improve your chance to give the words of the greatest Teacher this world ever knew. God would have our printing establishments honored with men and with women who will realize they have characters to form after the divine similitude. Let the sanctification of the Holy Spirit take possession of voice, of mind, of strength, and use the gift of the voice to give utterance to words that are indited by the Holy Spirit. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 6

The words of Christ’s discourse from the Mount of Olives is your lesson to take in and impart to the people, high or low. And every sanctified heart and mind can become a channel of light to awaken an interest by taking the discourses and presenting them just as they are given in the Word, and then present them to the people as of the utmost importance, coming from the lips of the divine Teacher. How easy to be understood, how simple. If these discourses were dwelt upon in giving them the exact words, which the disciples did do, they realized that a divine power worked on human minds. If there were not another word often presented on different occasions in outdoor labor, these words would, if received and practiced, be to the saving souls. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 7

Why? Because the Holy Spirit is right beside the ones that are giving the lessons in the Scriptures, so that the right impression be made upon the human mind. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 8

We need in our life practice to preach the Word, to be instant in season, out of season, to have the armor of righteousness on and minister to the souls that need to be converted to Christ. Let every member of the church improve opportunities to speak the truth in love. Let men and women, sound in the faith, obtain acquaintance with that class who know not the truth, and introduce the truth of the Bible doctrine. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 9

We should not just assemble right among ourselves and cluster right among our own selves, but in kindness, in tenderness, in love, become acquainted with those who know not the truth. God wants you to be the salt of the earth. God wants you to be the light of the world. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 10

Let all gossip in the church be expelled from you individually. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 11

Individually, interest yourselves for the unconverted. This is your work. We have no time to gossip; we have no time to censure; we have no power given us of God to be censuring and to be discouraging. We want to encourage every one and sit down together and talk of the best ways to introduce the truth, and to obtain light, so that we shall let that light be reflected upon the pathway of every one that we come in association with. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 12

Stop your efforts to talk nothingness, things that are of no account at all. God wants us to come to our senses. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 13

Talk the truth, precious truth as it is in the Lord Jesus Christ’s teachings, as Christ charged His disciples just before His ascension, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” [Matthew 28:19.] 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 14

When you baptize them, and you see that they are in error in any respect, do you, any one of you that feel that you have a message from God, go to them kindly, and tell them, between them and you alone, where their trouble is, and where their difficulties will come in unless they change the course of their action? This is the work that is to rest upon us. And then what? Why, it says, “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” [Verse 19.] Three personalities; and these three personalities are the pledged power from God that His people shall have, if they have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Now there is no excuse for souls to be left in ignorance and weakness if they will be gospel believers, if they will carry out these principles, and know that the three great Worthies, the Powers in heaven, are pledged to the church of God that will work in harmony with Christ’s teachings. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 15

“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.” [Verse 20.] 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 16

That is what Christ was teaching in the very last lessons given to His disciples before He ascended up 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 17

Christ is our power of efficiency. Work under Christ, controlled by His Holy Spirit, and there will be efficiency and power. In your perplexity to understand the way to take up the work, you can say as did the disciples, “Lord, to whom shall we go but unto Thee? Thou hast the words of eternal life. We have advanced truth.” [See John 6:68.] 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 18

God means we shall advance continually. Some phases of the truth in the Word we do not take hold of, and those who do not understand it will come and ask us a question upon it. Then you bow down for a season of prayer, and ask the Lord that you may understand what is in His Word. I think you would have very much more praise to offer to God when you do that way than when you begin a conversation about how this one has done or that one has done, and begin to pick flaws. Had not we better stop right here, and make a vow before God? 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 19

Seeing that San Francisco is punished because they did not keep the commandments of God, how many have done their duty in San Francisco? How many have worked as living missionaries in San Francisco? That was the question that has been placed before me that I was to place before the people. How many have been blessed by your missionary effort, when there was a world right in San Francisco, a small world there? Who has done his duty? God help us to arouse ourselves, else there will be a repetition of the wrath of God on others besides those in San Francisco. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 20

There is where in your perplexity you can say, as did the disciples, “Lord, to whom shall we go, but unto Thee? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” [Verse 68.] 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 21

Then suppose, as you cannot see Christ in your midst, that you get right down and see Him by faith, that you become humble enough to pray and ask God to give you the right instruction on how to win souls to Christ. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 22

“Ye are the light of the world. ... Let your light so shine before men” [Matthew 5:14, 16]—not just before your church, and tell them over and over something; tell them to let the world alone that is perishing in its sins. But let your light so shine before the world that they see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Now, if you shut yourself right in your churches, and preach over and over and over the same things, hadn’t you better stir up every member of the church and organize them and teach them how to become living missionaries, to present the truth to those that are ready to perish? 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 23

We have a truth which the nominal churches have not received. The grand truth of the Sabbath, the seventh day, in which the Lord rested after creating the world in six days. The Sabbath is the seventh day, and the holy beings in the heavenly courts observe the sacred hours God has specified should be the day of rest. The holy church in heaven assemble before the throne of God. They worship in the beauty of holiness, crying, Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And this divine assembly is looking upon the inhabitants of the earth, who honor God in keeping holy the seventh day, and are in different companies all over the world, who observe the Sabbath of the Lord, and let their light shine amid the moral darkness that follows the transgression of God’s law. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 24

Those who observe the Sabbath of the Lord have a special work to accomplish in our world, and they need to be aroused and baptized with the Holy Spirit, that they may teach the world. This is acknowledged in the heavenly courts as a sign of their allegiance to Jesus Christ who has bought them with the price of His own blood. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 25

There are societies all through the world who are observing the seventh day Sabbath. Thank God for these. It is given as “a sign between Me and you throughout your generations forever.” [Exodus 31:13, 17.] That sign is never to be removed. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 26

Then why are we so inefficient? You have no time to talk. You have no time to tell of wrongs. You have no time to pull down one another. You have a work to do for the Master; and you are to work for those that would have the blood of souls upon their garments, unless they do this work as God would have them do it. Observing the Sabbath day is doing the very thing that came from God after He had created the world in six days, and rested upon the seventh day, and sanctified the day of His rest. He did not take any other day for that sanctification of the day of His rest. It denominates those who observe the Sabbath as the people of God. These people have given themselves to observe the commandments of God, to teach them to their children, and to work efficiently in behalf of the world. What does it do? It tells the story to the whole world that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. And that day He sanctified. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 27

There is the testimony, the sign to be borne, that you are loyal, that you are true, if you will carry it out in character. Just your assenting to it does not amount to anything. It can only bring condemnation if you are not carrying out the principles of love for one another. Souls are perishing. We have no time to heap up treasure upon this earth. We want to extend a missionary influence from place to place. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 28

That is why I came from Australia. I felt that I must see the sanitariums established, the schools established, the educational centers in different parts of America. And we mean to do it. God is helping us, and bringing us into possession of properties for not more than one-fifth of what they cost, that we may have opportunity to work in all parts of the world. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 29

Observing the seventh day Sabbath, given to the world by our God, is His sign that we are His loyal subjects. And when these numbers who bear the sign of God assemble, let all bear in mind they are acknowledged in the heavenly courts; and all who keep the Sabbath, as God has enjoined the seventh day, they are in harmony with the angels in the heavenly courts. It is God’s distinguishing sign that they are loyal, and are preparing the people to become church members for uniting in the loftiest worship in the city of God. Can you take it in? I am awakened in the night with these things presented to me. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 30

These are the results of the missionary efforts to bring God’s holy law before those who are in the darkness of error, that they may keep God’s commandments and live. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 31

Now a little point. As the saints in the kingdom of God are accepted in the beloved, they hear: “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” [Matthew 25:34.] And then the golden harps are touched, and the music flows all through the heavenly host, and they fall down and worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And then what? What next did I see? One meets another; and they say, as they fall right upon their necks with their faces shining with the glory of God, “It was you, it was you that brought the truth to me, and I would not hear it at first, but, O I am so glad.” Now that will be acted all through the heavenly courts, thanksgiving and praise to God for those that have been the means of winning others to the truth, that they should come and have an interest for them, and then they are united among the saved. O what a meeting! what a meeting! 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 32

Exodus 31:13-16. No change takes place. It is not changed to Sunday; it is the very day that denominates you, that you keep to honor God who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and rested the seventh. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 33

Now sanctification without your having any burden or any weight for souls, it cannot be. God wants the burden to rest upon every soul to make straight paths for his feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way, and that you bring them to show them what the truth is. Wake up, brethren! Wake up, sisters! 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 34

Exodus 31:14-16, 18. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 35

Present before the people the strong proofs which Moses was commanded to repeat to the congregation of Israel. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 36

Now here is a great deal of light, that I have not time to go through. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 37

Deuteronomy 7:6-11. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 38

I do not know as I shall attempt to read all I have here. I want to talk a little. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 39

I want to say to each one that we have a solemn, sacred work to do. It is not for you to consider how you can bind about the work for fear it will cost something. I have found that when they did advance to present the truth before new companies, there is where my liberty is. There is where I have strength. They took me when I was unable to move any limb but just this arm, when I could not move without much suffering; they would take me in an easy carriage and carry me to the halls, and then carry me up in an armchair to stand before the people, and speak. Well, the blessing of God rested upon us. It was a severe tax for me, but here are able men and able women, keeping the Sabbath. What are you keeping it for? Do you understand it? If so, in simplicity present to others the truth; and if you want to have strength of influence and power before the people, for Christ’s sake make known the truth. Do not hide it; do not put it under a bushel, nor under a bed. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 40

Your light is to shine forth to all that are in the house, and to whoever you come in contact with. There will be many lost because they do not do this. How? For the very reason that they do not realize the importance of the truth as they might realize it; because everyone that works for God, if it is but one soul that they are working for, they introduce the angels of God; and the angels of God give those workers words to utter, words to speak, as they open the Scriptures. There they see them in a new light, because it is of importance to them to give the clear light to those that they are laboring for. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 41

There is a work to be done. Now, do not watch for fear we are branching out too much. We are not branching out one-hundredth part of what we ought to be. There are places where people never heard the truth, and we want to improve, every soul of us, our mind; we want to improve our intelligence; we want to search the Scriptures; and as we search them, the angels of God will give us a clear understanding of what these Scriptures mean. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 42

“Lo, I am with you, even unto the end of the world.” [Matthew 28:20.] If you give to others the influence I have commanded you, that is the very work to be done. God wants His converting power to come to us in this meeting, and He wants us to humble our souls before Him. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 43

We have schools to be established. In Loma Linda, there should be a first-class school established there, near the sanitarium; and the sanitarium can help the school, and the school can help the sanitarium. I could read it all when I went there and saw the land, nearly one hundred acres of land. “O, this is just the place,” I said. “Now here is where the school can be established; and the sanitarium, the medical work, and the ministry can be worked here, so that it will be the one thing, the perfecting of the work in Jesus Christ, to carry this message to the world. That is our study now.” 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 44

Every penny you can save from dress, every penny you can save from any indulgence in your houses—in expensive indulgence—can be used for the simple cottages that shall be erected in the most simple, inexpensive way at once, right upon Loma Linda ground. There can be the higher school, and at the same time the primary class in another department, so there will be two classes of schools right upon the same ground. One is working with an influence upon the medical line, another an influence upon the ministry, and all is to blend. It is one work; it is a great work. And the foundation timbers are to be laid in different places. And we are to see the salvation of God. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 45

I prevailed on Brother Haskell and his wife to come to Loma Linda and labor. And they took up, not the easiest place, Redlands, but the most objectionable place. They went to work right there to see what they could do. They have been sowing the seed; they have been preparing for others to come in and to help to take that work and carry it forward in the right lines; and then they will return again from New England, and the Lord will work. He has wrought wonderfully, and I thank God Brother and Sister Haskell have gone there, and they are fitting up workers that shall go into the field to carry the work. And just as these workers will advance the work, they will see and understand, as their minds are growing stronger. Their intellect is improving. And they have an education by practice. That is what we believe in, an education by practice. And they can carry the work of God intelligently. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 46

Now there are advanced moves to be made in Loma Linda—these small houses to be established on the ground, so as to save the expense of a big building. And the Lord will help us. There are means that shall come from our people to carry on this very work, for just as soon as they are baptized with the Holy Spirit of God, you could no more keep them to put their means in the mechanical business lines of the world, the money-making schemes. You would see they will say, “This is the Lord’s money. He has let us have it, but every dollar of it is the Lord’s.” He says, “The gold and the silver is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” [Haggai 2:8; Psalm 50:10.] And therefore the Lord calls upon every one to bring a faithful tithe into His treasury, that the treasury should not be empty. He wants every one to wake up on this point; for when you read Malachi with the Spirit of the Lord resting upon you, you may understand that you have got a responsibility resting upon you, perhaps, that you have not realized before. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 47

If you have been robbing God in tithes and offerings, come right to your senses. God has given you all that you have. He has given you life, and He has given you what wealth you have that you have not destroyed by indulgence of appetite and liquor taking and tobacco-using. Those who destroy the physical and mental and the moral by a perverted appetite, they need to be converted, that the Spirit of God shall come upon them; and let every one of us stand as soldiers. How? With every piece of the armor on. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 48

We war not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. Do you think, when you are talking to this one, that, and the other, it is only just the person? The enemy is trying to divert every effort you may make. You must have the courage that you will not be diverted. You must have a faith that will not be blanketed, that will not be repulsed; and then you take right hold, and you say, “This is the property of Christ, and He has given His blood to purchase these men and these women; and now I must take right hold to impart with all the powers of my being, and I must do everything I can with the means God has given to me to establish the truth in different parts of the world.” And these you will find in the different parts where scarcely anything has been done—not very far off, right in America. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 49

The Lord would have us work intelligently, that we may have some means, that we may establish the work among the people that do not speak our language—in the islands of the sea, and the various missions in foreign countries—they are the ones that we are to work for. There is no end to the work, and God wants us to prepare a people, for the end of all things is at hand. The Lord is coming, and we have no time to lose, no time to waste. God help us that we may take right hold of His work, and that we may do it intelligently. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 50

Here are various things to be considered. Here is the work now at Loma Linda that is to be considered, and the preparations made, so that the school can commence at once, and there will be a place where they can go where there are not companies that are constantly working to undermine the confidence of those who come to the place that has seen the glory of God. But Satan thinks this a nice place for him, and he is working there through those who once stood firmly upon the truth. God wants us to prepare a place for those who shall receive their education, not only in book knowledge, but in agricultural lines, to till the soil; and as they are tilling the soil, they are getting their lessons all the time, how the soil of the Lord should be worked, how they should weed out the wrongs, how they should stir up the fallow ground of the heart, that the seeds of truth may find access to the soil. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 51

What we want is a full religion. What we want is the perfecting of Christian character day after day. And never stop nor hesitate until you can reflect the image of Jesus Christ and are prepared for the next world, which is the heaven above, where there entereth into it nothing that defileth or maketh a lie. Now here is the very work that God calls upon every one of us to do, to understandingly take hold of this work. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 52

We are not to compass ourselves in a little section by ourselves. No. It is the world. They tried to get Christ to stay in one place in His first ministry. “No,” He said, “I must go to other places.” And then He toiled on. What a light shone forth in this place where He went, and numbers were converted to the truth. This is the very work that we are to do. God help us to understand what it means to be converted. Your tongue is to be converted. Your mind is to be converted. There is to be no frivolity by any one that teaches the truth or that takes hold of the truth. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 53

The Lord would have us minutemen. Put on the whole armor of God, every piece of it; and the gospel shoes, be sure to put them on. If you have on the gospel shoes, you will not sit down in your house and do nothing. If you have the gospel shoes, you must go with these gospel shoes on to impart the truth to those that are in darkness. Travel on foot from place to place, and God will give the grace that is so much needed, and the whole heart will be rejoicing. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 54

Then Christ went to another place, and another place, and so He kept traveling. He let the light shine forth in these places that He went to, and I want to say, brethren and sisters, Never open your lips to tattle; never open your lips to condemn and find fault. You have got other business to do. You have got other business than to lay these things before the servants of God, and they have other business to do than to hear you. We want every one to work in his capacity and to do whatever he can do for the Master. My heart has bled as I have seen that there are hindrances, hindrances, hindrances to keep the work from going to perfection, where it should be perfected. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 55

But we want now the Holy Spirit of God to come in. And the Lord will help us. The blessing of the Lord will rest upon us, and I ask you, every one, Pray, pray, pray for the ministers. Do not stop to find fault. Pray for the Holy Ghost to come upon the ministers. There is a world to save. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 56

Look at San Francisco. How many might have been saved in San Francisco if you had put on the whole armor and the gospel shoes and the lamp of salvation? And if you had kept at work for them, there might have been many souls won to the truth. God help us to take hold of the truth here. We know not how soon Oakland may be visited—there is great wickedness in Oakland. There is a truth for them to take hold of. We want Oakland to know that those that are transgressing the Sabbath commandment, and are keeping the first day of the week, are trampling on and disregarding the positive commandments of God. And yet they expect to enter in through the gates into the city. They would create a second rebellion there. No, it never can be so. God help us that we may take up this work. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 57

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. Confess your sins one to another. This is the work of God. Confess your sins one to another. This is the Word of God. Confess your sins and forsake your sins. Humble your souls before God. If you do this, just as surely as you make room so that the Holy Spirit of God shall come right into your midst, before you know it, you will find, when the truth is presented in the congregation, you can no more sit and not open your lips. You will say, Praise God, Amen, Good is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and you will find that there will be open lips; and the mind will be absorbing the truth, and that truth sanctifying the heart of the believer. What we want is pure and undefiled religion. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 58

As I was aroused very early this morning to write out some matters that I have not read to you—I will read it before I leave—I felt such a burning desire to create some kind of a spirit of advancement, to create an earnestness, to create a zeal, to create a proficiency here. Because we are keeping the commandments of God, and He says, It is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations forever. Now, we want to be in touch with Jehovah, we want to be in perfect harmony with the Lord God of heaven who created the world. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 59

I want to tell you, God lives, and Christ is making intercession for us; and when He sees you backsliding, He places His hands before God, saying, “Give them another opportunity. I have graven them upon the palms of My hands. They have forsaken Me, they have gone away from Me. I want to exert an influence over My people, that they shall be brought back again.” Now that is the work that the Lord has presented to me to be done. God help us every one to be wide-awake. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 60

*****

Brother Kellogg wants me to bring in a word here. Do not any one think that the establishment of the Loma Linda school interferes with the school at Healdsburg one particle. It is to educate medical missionaries to go to all parts of the world, and to carry the truth. It is to bring them up to a high standard in the medical missionary work. And then the only school they have besides that is for the young children that are in Loma Linda that come and settle there. It does not interfere with any school anywhere, or in Healdsburg. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 61

I am glad if they will start the school in Healdsburg and carry it right through on the highest line possible. I am glad if they will take it, and may God put courage into their hearts. But the Loma Linda work has no more bearing on this work at Healdsburg at all. It does not have any bearing. It is to take those that shall go forth in ministry of healing, to act in various places where they have no representation, and there they are to educate, to come in and teach them how to preserve healthful habits and leave off all liquor. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 62

That makes me think, I want someone to bring to me pledges, just the best pledges that you can get, and bring them here so that we can handle them. What we want is that the appetites and passions shall be brought under control to God. We eat these things and we partake of these things; the dead animal creation, you partake of these things, and you act out the animal; and your children will act it out. You are composed of what you eat, and we want the fruits and grains; and the simple fruits and grains, will be all that will satisfy us. The counsel of God has been given, that if I would come to the position on fruits and grains, (and that was many, many years ago), I should overcome the difficulty of the heart that I was suffering under and fainting away every little while. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 63

Well I have; I have overcome it. I came right down to the strictest diet, the simplest diet. I let the meat diet go, as the Lord said; it was not good for me, and it was establishing a weakness in my constitution, so that I could not carry His work. Now I want to say to every one of you that will come right to the fruits and grains and let meat alone, you will not be the disposition of that animal of which you now partake. God wants us to bring heaven into our homes, for we are preparing for the heaven above. We want our children there, and we want to be there ourselves. God help us to work to the point. 21LtMs, Ms 139, 1906, par. 64