Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)

Lt 47, 1896

Israel, Sister

“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, Australia

August 28, 1896

Previously unpublished.

Dear Sister Israel:

You have had several letters from me. Have they encouraged you? Have they taken your mind away from yourself to Jesus? Christ is the light of the world. “Let not your hearts be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” [John 14:1-3.] 11LtMs, Lt 47, 1896, par. 1

By living faith you are to trust in God. Even if the impulse is strong within you to speak distrust and unbelief, overcome that distrust. Peace enters dependent on divine power, expecting that God will, will and do, that which is for your good, according to His own good pleasure. As fast as the soul will earnestly, determinedly resolve to act in accordance with the light that is revealed, then the Holy Spirit’s office work is to take the things of God, and to give more strength and light to the soul. 11LtMs, Lt 47, 1896, par. 2

The grace of the Holy Spirit is supplied to co-operate with the soul’s resolve; but it is not to be a substitute to our individual exercise of faith and working out our own salvation—in accordance with the light bestowed. More evidence will not make you advance one step. Your success depends upon the appropriation of the light God has been pleased to give you. It is not an abundance of light and evidence that will make the soul free in Christ Jesus; but it is the rising up of the powers of the will and energies of the soul to cry out sincerely, “Lord, I do believe; help thou mine unbelief.” [Mark 9:24.] 11LtMs, Lt 47, 1896, par. 3

Acknowledge the light by your actions; move in accordance with the light already given. Thus you co-operate with God and the heavenly ministering angels appointed of God to work for the salvation of your soul. If you remain looking to yourself, talking of yourself, of how you feel, you will not be free. Look unto Jesus, else the light will shine and flash about you in vain, and a thousand fold more light will shine for you in vain. Eagerly grasp the light. Believe and walk in the light while you have the light. Talk light. Talk faith. Talk not one word of unbelief. 11LtMs, Lt 47, 1896, par. 4

In love. 11LtMs, Lt 47, 1896, par. 5