Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)

Lt 90, 1906

Brethren Assembled in Council at Graysville, Tennessee

St. Helena, California

March 6, 1906

Portions of this letter are published in 3SM 122; TDG 74; 7BC 931; 7MR 192-193.

To the brethren assembled in council at Graysville, Tennessee

Dear Fellow Laborers:

I would say to you, Confess your sins, and cleanse the soul-temple from all selfishness. When the heart is emptied of self-importance, the door will be opened to Christ, because you will recognize His knock. But unless you clear away the rubbish that keeps the Lord Jesus out, He cannot possibly enter; for He forces no entrance. 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 1

In the visions of the night I have been bearing a decided testimony that the Lord Jesus will be found of all who will seek Him with the whole heart and lay hold of Him by faith. I was addressing you with intensity of earnestness. Answer the prayer of Christ for unity, and put away the suspicions with which Satan has been trying to lead you astray. Dismiss the enemy, and then the Spirit of the Lord will lift up for you a standard against the enemy. 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 2

Those who link up with the world, denying the faith, and refusing to be the denominated people of the Lord’s choosing, showing by their actions that they believe that there should be no special distinction between believers and unbelievers, will surely be left to the result of their choice. There are those who, though knowing the truth that has brought us out from the world as Seventh-day Adventists, have denied the faith. 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 3

The prosperity of the soul depends upon Christ’s atoning sacrifice. He came to this world to obtain forgiveness in our behalf. Our first work is to strive most earnestly for spiritual blessings, in order that we may be kept loyal and true amidst the perils of these last days—kept from yielding one inch to Satan’s devices. It is the duty of every one to make straight paths for his feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. We have no time to lose. The prosperity of the soul depends upon the oneness that Christ prayed might exist among those who believe in Him. They are to be one with Him as He is one with the Father. Drawing apart from one another is not God’s plan, but the plan of the artful foe. 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 4

We are to beware of those who are denying their past experience and who, through specious devising, would if possible deceive the very elect. He who is our Advocate in the heavenly courts is acquainted with every particular of the deceptive wiles of those who are doing this work. Those who are departing from the faith are at work to undermine the confidence of others, and they have been thus at work for years. Our warnings come from the One who is interested in us, because He sees our dangers and is acquainted with the conniving of those who are opposed to His truth. Satan has not yet given up the idea that the world’s armies will be so large that they will be able to overcome the heavenly host. But Christ is watching. He knows all about our burdens, our dangers, and our difficulties; and He fills His mouth with arguments in our behalf. He fits His intercessions to the needs of each soul, as He did in the case of Peter. Peter himself had not the clear perception necessary to an understanding of his danger. Christ said to him, “Behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” [Luke 22:31, 32.] Our Advocate fills His mouth with arguments to teach His tried, tempted ones to brace against Satan’s temptations. He interprets every movement of the enemy. He orders events. He sends messages to His people, especially to those in leading positions; and He teaches us how to pray with fervency and hold fast with importunity. He would have every soul come to Him with their trials, and not open these trials to men who are sorely tempted and whose lips will be filled with arguments against the ways and methods of the Lord. Those whose ears are opened to hear these arguments will feel aggrieved and will enter into temptation. 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 5

“Ye are My friends,” Christ said, “if ye do whatsoever I command you.” [John 15:14.] Why do we not practice the truth as Christ practiced it? I am instructed to say that a decided change is to be made in the spirit and the example of Christ’s professed followers, before they can understand what Christ is to them, and what all who claim to believe the truth may be if they glorify God. We must have the faith that works manifestly by love and purifies the soul; then there will be seen in the practice such love and tenderness that the Lord Jesus will be glorified in every church and in every sanitarium and school. But a decided work needs to be done before the work carried on in our sanitariums will be effectual in the conversion of the sick and afflicted, before Christ can be revealed in the simplicity of true godliness. Christ does not recognize a people who entertain the idea that their capabilities are a perfect whole and that they must have the first and highest place. The inwardness of the motives that prompt such a sentiment needs to be understood in the light of the Word of God. 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 6

My brethren, be not turned away from the truth by the sophistries of Satan. I am charged to bear the testimony that some are being deceived through the devising of Satan and are departing from the faith. One jot of our faith yielded through the wily presentation of the foe opens the way for departure from another principle of Bible truth. We have established truth, which is not to be changed by the presentations of medical men, even though these men may have been greatly honored of God, or by the presentations of ministers, even though these ministers may long have preached the truth. Not one pin or pillar is to be removed. Those who make efforts to sustain the men, ministers or physicians, who have been reproved by the testimonies that the Lord has been giving, are laying themselves under the rebuke of God, as did Peter, who, having unlimited confidence in himself, became subject to Satan’s temptations, until he grew desperate, and with cursing and swearing denied his Lord, saying, “I know not the man.” [Matthew 26:74.] 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 7

We are compassed with Satan’s fiery temptations. Those to whom come testimonies of reproof will be tempted to make false representations against the one who tells them of their error. The straying ones, giving heed to seducing spirits, will have the sympathy and sustaining influence of those who know not God, those who have forfeited their allegiance to God and stand in rebellion against the truth. 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 8

There ever have been false teachers who refuse to become acquainted with the facts. These put into the minds of others ideas that encourage unbelief; they take the place of teachers when they need that one teach them; for they confuse minds with sophistries and falsehoods, and thus lead others into wrong paths. 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 9

When men have advanced so far in the wrong way that they no longer believe in Christ as the atoning sacrifice, they are receiving the lying, seducing sentiments of Satan; and had they not been arrested in their course, they would have wrought fearful harm to souls. I am to do all possible to save the flock of God. I am to obey the word, “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.” “Yet they seek Me daily,” God says, “as a people that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinances of their God.” [Isaiah 58:1, 2.] 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 10

The way is to be prepared by a work that ministers and doctors and others in responsible positions as teachers can do. Let this work be done in earnest, and may the Lord enlighten blind minds, and open the understanding, leading men to see that they are standing in their own way, hedging up with all sorts of rubbish the way that should be made clear. 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 11

How many have read carefully Patriarchs and Prophets, Great Controversy, and Desire of Ages? I wish all to understand that my confidence in the light that God has given stands firm, because I know that the Holy Spirit’s power magnified the truth and made it honorable, saying, “This is the way; walk ye in it.” [Isaiah 30:21.] In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a “Thus saith the Lord.” The Holy Spirit traced these truths upon my heart and mind as indelibly as the law was traced by the finger of God upon the tables of stone, which are now in the ark, to be brought forth in that great day when sentence will be pronounced against every evil, seducing science produced by the father of lies. 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 12

Ministers and doctors may depart from the faith, as the Word declares they will, and as the messages that God has given His servant declare they will. Thus believers will be given evidence that the Word of God, the warnings He has given, are being fulfilled right among us. Some may make light of these messages, misinterpret them, and say untruthful things, which lead other minds astray. Our only hope is in the God of truth. Our Mediator understands every phase of the matter. The more plainly the testing truth is brought before the people, the more bitter will be the hatred manifested by those who have departed from the faith and given their attention to sentiments of Satan’s presentation. Those who stand in defense of wrongs that have been transacted will, unless they repent and are converted, become more and more bewildered, until the word comes, “They are joined to their idols; let them alone.” [See Hosea 4:17.] He who is our Intercessor in the heavenly courts will purify His people. Christ will perfect His saints. He is praying, “Father, confirm Thy tried and tempted ones.” 21LtMs, Lt 90, 1906, par. 13