Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)

Lt 24, 1910

Ford, S. H.

Sanitarium, California

March 17, 1910

Previously unpublished.

Mr. S. H. Ford
Room 11
619 Hastings Street
Vancouver, B. C.

My dear Brother:

I am instructed to keep before our people the necessity of walking in meekness, and of depending wholly upon the Lord Jesus Christ for overcoming grace. There is no safety for any one, unless his will is yielded fully to the will of his heavenly Father. Then the truth will be spoken in all its efficiency and power from human lips. Just as surely as those who desire to be Christians shall fail of walking in all humility before the Lord, those with whom they associate will not make straight paths for their feet. The Lord will be with us, so long as we walk in humbleness of heart before Him, ever seeking to attain to a higher Christian experience, growing in grace, increasing in faith, advancing in experience. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 1

We each have a character to form after the similitude of the divine. Christ is our pattern; and as we strive to imitate the divine example, we shall increase in faith, in purity, in a knowledge of God and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And as we follow on to know the Lord, the divine knowledge we receive daily will enable us to become pure and undefiled, and strengthened with spiritual vigor. Faith, kept in exercise, is the substance of things hoped for. Those who look unto Jesus in order to obtain strength and help will obtain a pure and undefiled experience as the sure result of exercising faith in His saving power. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 2

If those who claim to be followers of Christ make Him their dependence, they can overcome through the grace that He proffers them. He will enable them to carry forward His work intelligently, in the simplicity of true faith. Day by day they will experience a strength that is above all cheap commonness—a strength that will help them to do valiantly on the Lord’s side. They will learn that they can overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and attain unto purity and the beauty of holiness. They will overcome by looking with the eye of faith unto Jesus, their Saviour. By beholding, they will become changed into the likeness of the Divine. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 3

Two great powers are now on the field of battle. Satan, who at one time stood next to Christ in the courts of heaven, has become the adversary of man. Before the fall of Lucifer, he aspired for the supremacy that had been given to Christ, who was one with the Father in the government of heaven. There was war in heaven, and Satan and all the rebellious angels he had deceived were overcome. Those who had opposed the will of God in appointing Christ as the chief ruler were cast out of the heavenly courts, and since that time they have been warring against the Most High. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 4

In this age of the world, when the end of all things is at hand, Satan is making a special effort to obtain victories. But every tempted soul may find a refuge in Christ Jesus. Every human being whom God has created is invited to take his stand on the Lord’s side and is promised overcoming grace. Ever since the fall of Satan, there have been two parties in the world, the sinful and the righteous; and we are to identify ourselves fully with those who serve God. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 5

I received your letter and will write briefly in reply. We need every jot and tittle of your ability, refined, purified, and on the Lord’s side. Let not a jot of your ability be given to the enemy, in working counter to Jesus Christ, who gave His life a sacrifice for the saving of every sinner who chooses to cease from sin and become one with Christ and the Father. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 6

Oh, that Christ’s workers would show their appreciation of His infinite sacrifice, by choosing to follow him faithfully! To every soul is given the opportunity of choosing whom he will serve. I urge you, my brother, to come into unity with Him who gave His life for your redemption. The Son of the Highest suffered crucifixion on the cross of Calvary in order that you might become pure and holy, and be saved, eternally saved, through the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Choose to win the crown of the overcomer because you accept of the great sacrifice the Lord Jesus has made in your behalf. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 7

You speak of making me a donation of money. I have need of means now, while my life is still spared, to place new books before all nations, tongues, and peoples. I am working with all my capabilities to present to the world the precious things the Lord has given me. I would be very grateful to you for your assistance in this line. I have hired some money, rather than to delay this work. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 8

I am sending you copies of the books Christ’s Object Lessons and Ministry of Healing. When our training schools were in debt, and means were not forthcoming to relieve the situation, I pledged the Lord to give the manuscript for the book Christ’s Object Lessons, in behalf of our educational work, in order that, through its sale, means might be brought into the treasury to cancel the debts on our schools. I paid my workers who had helped to prepare the manuscript for publication, and then I relinquished all claims on any royalty that might otherwise have accrued from its sale. This was my donation to the cause, at a time when our educational work was facing a crisis. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 9

The managers of our publishing houses published this book without any profit to their offices, and the brethren and sisters in the different churches gave of their time to sell it to their friends and neighbors. Many thousands of copies were sold, and between two and three hundred thousand dollars came into the treasury, to be applied on the school debts, and to assist in educating worthy students. Many of our schools were largely benefited, and some were entirely freed from debt. Not a dollar of the income from this precious book have I appropriated for myself. All has been a gift to the cause of God. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 10

The book Ministry of Healing has been prepared especially for use in behalf of the interests of our sanitariums throughout the world. All our denominational medical institutions have the privilege of selling as many copies of this book as they wish, for the benefit of their institutional work; and from such sale I receive no financial returns. A large edition has already been distributed, and plans for the circulation of many thousands more of Ministry are now being carried out in various parts of the field. I have given to our sanitariums, as a freewill offering, the privilege of using Ministry of Healing in this way, without any royalty returns to myself. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 11

As our sanitariums and other institutions have multiplied, I have frequently supplied these centers of training and influence with a library of all my publications, free of charge. I have also had the privilege of helping to meet the expenses of some students in training who were unable to meet all their obligations. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 12

I will gladly accept of any freewill offering of means you may wish to place in my hands to be used in advancing the Lord’s work. I greatly desire that the circulation of my books shall largely increase in the future. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 13

The handling of the books Christ’s Object Lessons and Ministry of Healing is a source of great encouragement both to those who sell them and to those who purchase. Especially are the sick helped by reading Ministry of Healing. Through the sale of Ministry, it is possible to establish and maintain many small sanitariums in various places, and to treat free of charge some who otherwise would be unable to receive medical attention. All classes are thus reached, the poor as well as the wealthy, and our workers become acquainted with many and have opportunity to communicate to them a knowledge of saving truth. Those who have received physical benefits at our institutions are often very grateful and manifest a desire to learn more of the truths that God has given us in His Word. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 14

I am hoping that my life may be spared to continue this work of helping the teachers and students in our schools, and also those connected with the medical missionary work. In times past, we have been favored with opportunities to purchase properties well adapted for school and sanitarium purposes. Our work is still advancing. As new places are entered, and the work develops, it becomes necessary to establish additional schools for the training of workers and sanitariums for the care of the sick. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 15

Now if you can help us to extend these lines of work, we shall be pleased. In the cause of God, there is nothing needed more than practical results, as revealed in the consecrating of the life to the doing of missionary work wherever opportunity affords. It is because of this that the circulation of the relief books Object Lessons and Ministry has proved to be so great a blessing to all parties concerned. Many who have undertaken to sell these books have had the joy of inspiring unbelievers with a desire to do something for the Lord’s cause in the earth. As the workers have carried these books to the homes of the people, and solicited unbelievers to buy these works containing the precious light of Bible truth, they have gained rich experiences. The practical results have been marvelous, and most satisfactory. Many who have thus been laborers together with God testify that they have been given just the words they wished to say and have had good success. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 16

The distribution of books containing the truths of God’s Holy Word is a means of revealing to the world the practical results of the Christian religion. As consecrated workers with hearts filled with love for perishing souls go from door to door, men will take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus. Many who claim to be acquainted with heavenly things have too slight a hold upon God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. They have not comprehend in its fulness the eternal, soul-saving principles of divine truth. If, by means of consecrated service, the attention of unbelievers can be arrested long enough to create in their minds a desire to read books containing saving truth, it is certainly worthy of every effort that can be put forth. Our people need to put into operation all the tact and ability and God-given wisdom that they possess in an earnest, prayerful endeavor to present the light of heaven with convicting power, and in the spirit of the Master Worker. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 17

I will now close this lengthy epistle. If you become acquainted with those who desire to unite with us in our work, be true to the God of heaven, and urge them to do all they can in behalf of Him who has given His life for their redemption. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 18

May the Lord bless your family and yourself, and may you decide to follow the Lord fully and wholeheartedly. May the blessing of heaven rest richly upon your little daughter, who has given her heart to the Lord in her youth. 25LtMs, Lt 24, 1910, par. 19