Christian Life

Elijah’s Secret

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Elijah may have lived a simple lifestyle, but he made such a tremendous impression, that he is mentioned in four Old Testament books and six New Testament books. When Jesus was here on earth, the Jews had Elijah on their minds, because they knew that the last two verses of the Old Testament say: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4: 5, 6. The work of Elijah is to turn the hearts of the children to their parents, the disobedient to the just and to prepare a people for the Lord.

In Luke 9:51–56, we read that when Jesus and the disciples were traveling, they stopped in a Samaritan village, and the Samaritans rejected Jesus because His face was headed toward Jerusalem. This upset the disciples. They said to Jesus, “What shall we do? Shall we call down fire like Elijah did?” Elijah called fire down from heaven more than once. Which time were they talking about?—not about Mount Carmel. They were talking about something that actually happened in a village in Samaria.

When Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, had been king for about a year, he fell through the lattice on the porch and hurt himself. As he lay in bed, he wondered if he was ever going to get up. So he asked his servants to go to Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, to ask if he would ever get up. God told Elijah, to go to these people on their way to Baalzebub, and talk to them. Elijah met them and said, “Isn’t there a God in Israel? Why would you go to Baalzebub to ask questions?” He said, “I can tell you that the king is not going to get out of bed.” They went back and reported this to the king. The king called in one of the captains of fifty men, and said, “You go get Elijah and bring him here, I want to talk to him.” So the captain went.

Elijah had gone to the top of a hill, and the captain went to Elijah and said, “The king wants to talk to you. You come with me, we are going to go talk to the king.” Elijah looked at him and said, “If I’m a man of God, fire will come down and consume you.” And it did—the captain and all fifty of his men were consumed. When Ahaziah learned this, he sent another captain. The same thing happened again. So Ahaziah got a third captain and sent him, but this time, the captain came to Elijah, got on his knees and said, “Please find my life precious in your sight and the life of my men.” And the angel told Elijah that it was safe, he could go with these men and see Ahaziah. So he went to see Ahaziah and he said to him, “You’re not ever going to get out of bed.” And Ahaziah never did.

Now the important point is: who was it that destroyed those two captains and the hundred men? It was God. The men had been given many opportunities to return to God. Apparently the God who knows everything, knew that the first two captains and their men had wicked hearts, but the last one was repentant. Jesus said, “I came to save and not destroy.”

We need to take a few moments now to consider the rending of the kingdom and the sudsequent reign of Jereboam. This terrible rebellion led to the necessity of Elijah’s mission.

A Kingdom Divided

Remember first the kingdom had been given to Saul, and because of disobedience, it was given to David. David was promised that his house would last forever. The promise to Solomon was: “He shall build a house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.” 1 Chronicles 22:10. But promises are conditional upon obedience, and Solomon was not obedient. There are churches today who think the same way—that they have unconditional promises.

Jeroboam was a man of valor. He was a building superintendent for Solomon’s building projects. Jeroboam was also a good leader—apparently a man of God. One day Ahijah, a prophet, came to Jeroboam and took him out in the field. He took his garment, tore it in twelve pieces and handed ten of them to Jeroboam. He said, “Here take these. The kingdom is going to be rent and you’re going to be the ruler over ten of the kingdoms.” Then God promised Jeroboam, “I will be with you and I will build for you an enduring house, as I have built for David, and I will give Israel to you.” Jeroboam had been promised an enduring house. But how long did that last?

When Solomon heard about God’s promise to Jeroboam, he decided to kill Jeroboam, so Jeroboam had to flee to Egypt. After Solomon died, Rehoboam was established on the throne. Jeroboam came back, and got together with the leaders of Israel to talk to Rehoboam. The leaders asked Rehoboam if he was going to tax as heavily as his father, Solomon. Rehoboam said he would tax heavier then Solomon. He sent the head tax man out to start collecting taxes. The tax man was stoned. That got Rehoboam’s attention.

Rehoboam went running back to Jerusalem. He gathered up an army, to go take the ten tribes back from Jeroboam, but God sent a messenger and said, “Don’t do it. I’m the one that’s in charge of this. You just stay where you are.” So Rehoboam didn’t go after Jeroboam.

An Enduring House?

Jeroboam had been promised an enduring house. After He was anointed king over the ten tribes, he started thinking: “If my subjects here go down to Jerusalem to worship; their hearts might be turned back to the king there, and I’ll lose my subjects, so I have to protect myself.” He went and built two places of worship, one in Bethel and one in Dan. He built two idols—calves. Then he called the Levites and said, “I want you to administer the services here.” But they said, “No way, we’re not doing it!” (I am thankful for pastors who stand up against celebration worship.) They said, “We’re not getting involved in this.” So Jeroboam went and got common people and made them priests, and then he started this worship—idol worship.

God’s promise to Jeroboam could not be fulfilled either. Israel went for about two-hundred years after that, but then the ten tribes disappeared. Abijah, a prophet of God said that Israel was to be shaken like a reed and to be uprooted.

After several kings, Ahab became king. This is the setting where Elijah comes on the scene. I don’t know if Elijah knew that Abijah said that Israel was to be uprooted. I suspect he did, and yet, he made a tremendous demonstration for God to those people. Why did he do it? How did he do it? We are told, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain: and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” James 5:17, 18. How did he do it? He prayed. Who was Elijah? The verse says, he was a man like you and me and had a nature like ours.

Why did he do it? James says, “brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back; let him know, that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death, and cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19, 20. He loved the people. He wanted to turn their hearts back to God. What kind of man was Elijah? He was very simple. He lived in the mountains of Gilead, east of Jordan. He did not live by any city of renown. He had no special position. His life was devoted to the reform of God’s people.

Elijah Praying for Judgments

He could look down from his mountain retreat, and see that unbelief was separating Israel from their source of strength. He prayed that these people would turn from their wicked ways. And he prayed for judgment. Now why would anyone who loves someone else pray for judgment? Once God told Solomon, “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people; if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14. Elijah must have been claiming that promise. Elijah probably knew what Jeroboam had been told—that the kingdom would be uprooted, because of disobedience. He knew God does not change, but He also knew that God is merciful and wants to save.

Elijah prayed for judgments. Elijah’s prayers of love were answered by a God of love. Judgments came. “Say to them, as I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn, turn from your evil ways; for why should you die, O house of Israel.” Ezekiel 33:11.

Elijah was told by God to go down and see Ahab. On the way he saw beautiful forests that had never had drought. Elijah was tempted to think, “Is it really going to quit raining?” But he was determined to follow God. He got to Samaria and walked right up to the palace gate, through the palace door, and right up in front of Ahab. He said, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” Then he turned around and walked out of the palace. By the time Ahab could speak he said, “Get that man!” But Elijah was gone.

Troubler of Isreal

God kept His word, and it did not rain. Jezebel said it was because Elijah was alive. He had to be killed so Baal would be appeased and he would send rain. They searched the world for Elijah, even taking oaths from the kings of the surrounding nations, that they did not know of Elijah’s whereabouts. But God protected Elijah.

Finally, God told Elijah to go see Ahab. Ahab said to Elijah, “You are the one that troubled Israel.” Elijah said, “No I didn’t, you are the one.” Elijah was blamed for the trouble. I am sure you have seen things like that, it still happens.

Mrs. White said, “It’s natural for the wrongdoer to hold the messengers of God responsible for the calamities that come as the sure result of departure from the way of righteousness. Those who place themselves in Satan’s power are unable to see the things as God sees them. When the mirror of truth is held up before them, they become indignant at the thought of receiving reproof. Blinded by sin they refuse to repent and they feel that God’s servants have turned against them and that they are worthy of the severest censure . . . Today there is need of the voice of stern rebuke, for grievous sins have separated the people from God . . . The smooth sermons so often preached make no lasting impression, the trumpet does not give a certain sound, men are not cut to the heart by the plain, sharp truths of God’s word.

“There are many professed Christians who if they should express their real feelings would say, ‘What need is there of speaking so plainly?’ They might as well ask, why did John the Baptist say to the Pharisees, ‘Oh generation of vipers. Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Why need he have provoked the anger of Herodias by telling Herod that it was unlawful to live with his brother’s wife?’ The forerunner of Christ lost his life by his plain speaking. Why could not he have moved along without incurring the displeasure of those who were living in sin?

“So men who should be standing as faithful guardians of God’s law have argued, till policy has taken the place of faithfulness, and sin is allowed to go unreproved. When will the voice of faithful rebuke be heard once more in the church?” Prophets and Kings 139-141.

After being blamed, Elijah told Ahab, “Now therefore send and gather all Israel before me on Mount Carmel, the four-hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four-hundred of the groves who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 1 Kings 18:19. Ahab obeyed. Elijah stood there, as one in the presence of Jehovah, and told Ahab what to do, and Ahab did it. He quickly sent messengers out to get the people to meet on the top of Mount Carmel.

The people climbed Mount Carmel. Now, it was ugly. Before, it had been one of the most beautiful places, with beautiful groves and meadows with flowers. Now, those groves were leafless, the trees had no leaves on them. It was in those groves where the worship of Baal had taken place. Now the worshipers could not hide while worshipping Baal. The people were nervous. They were afraid that something terrible was going to happen. Following the people came the priests of Baal, in all their royal pomp, with Ahab in front of them. The people were much more receptive to them than to Elijah. They were afraid of what Elijah would do next.

Choose Today

Elijah looked at the broken down altar of God, and asked the people one simple question: “How long will you falter between two opinions, if the Lord is God follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. Elijah was standing alone. Then Elijah proposed that the priests of Baal build an altar and call upon their god for fire, and he would do the same and would call upon the true God. This was too reasonable for anyone to disagree.

The Spirit of Prophecy says that during the time of no rain, the priests of Baal had been sacrificing to Baal with a zeal worthy of a greater cause. Now, on Mount Carmel, they really had zeal. They cried and cut themselves. They tried to sneak fire on to the altar, but Elijah was watching them too closely. He knew, if they succeeded, he would be torn to pieces. Finally Elijah said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 1 Kings 18:27. The priests cried louder and cut themselves, until they were even cursing Baal.

Finally, Elijah said to the people, “Come near to me.” 1 Kings 18:30. With tremendous respect, Elijah took twelve stones and rebuilt the altar to God. He placed wood on it, and had a ditch dug around it, then had twelve pitchers of water poured on it. Then he prayed, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.” 1 Kings 18:36, 37.

The priests were terrified, in a split second the fire came down and consumed the wood, the altar, the water and even the dust. The people all fell on their faces and cried in one voice “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” 1 Kings 18:39. What a victory! The peoples hearts had been turned back to God.

Elijah’s work was not done. He went to the brook Kishon and slew all the prophets of Baal. Then he prayed for rain, and soon the rain came. Elijah girded his loins. He took the rope of the horse in front of Ahab’s chariot, and he ran, in a storm, for seventeen miles in front of the king, and took him back safely to the palace.

Ahab went into the palace, without even inviting Elijah in, and told Jezebel what had happened—that the priests were all dead. She was very angry, so she sent a messenger to Elijah and said, “By tomorrow at this time you’re going to be dead.” Elijah took off and he ran. That was a mistake. If he would have stayed, Jezebel would have been destroyed.

He ran and fell under a broom tree and said, “Lord let me die. I’m just like my fathers.” Then he slept. Finally, an angel woke him up, prepared some food and gave him a glass of water. He ate, drank, went back to sleep, woke up again, and the angel prepared some more food. Then the angel told him to go to Mount Horeb, which was a forty day trip.

When he got to the mountain, he went into a cave, and God came to him and he said, “What are you doing here?” Elijah said, “Israel has killed the prophets of the Lord and I’m the only one left.” Then there was a tremendous windstorm and an earthquake and a fire, but God was in none of these. Then Elijah heard a still small voice. Elijah went to the end of the cave and wrapped his face in the mantel. Again God said, “What are you doing here Elijah?” Elijah said I am the only prophet of Yours left. God said, “No, you’re not the only one left, there are seven-thousand that have not bowed to Baal.”

What a story! What was his secret? “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” James 5:17, 18.

The End

Asking to Give

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Have you ever wondered why Jesus had so much influence over men? Why did men flock just to listen to what He had to say? How was it that Jesus’ words accomplished so much good? What were the mighty secrets of His life? We want to learn them, because Jesus said that as He was in this world, so we are to be also. 1 John 4:17. One of His most powerful secrets is found in this verse, “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to Him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” Isaiah 50:4 As Jesus dwelt among men, His Father woke Him from His slumbers morning by morning and He spoke to Jesus, and would give Him words to speak—”A word in season to him that is weary.”

Each one of us have sinned and sin has made us weary. Even the affects and results of sin make us weary and stay with us all throughout our lives. Paul said, “What I would like to get rid of, I can’t, and the things that I don’t want working in me, keep working in me anyway.” (Romans 7:13-18) The law of sin is the law of death. Jesus took our place to give us eternal life, but, nevertheless, as long as we are on this earth we have the curses of sin to live with. We have the curses of sin to live with. We have disease; we have others who talk to us that are upset with us; we have financial burdens; we have trials that make us weary. But the thing that makes us the most weary is the burden of guilt that is caused by sin.

Jesus came to this earth to save us from our weariness. Jesus took the words that His Father gave Him and gave them to men. Jesus, who was pushed on every side, who was followed by enemies all of His life, who the devil personally conducted warfare against, could say at the end of His life: “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself; but that Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works…The word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.” John 14:10, 24. Rather than speaking his own words, he spoke words that ministered to the needs of others.

Can we ever live a powerful life like that? The servant of the Lord has told us that, “Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as He was.” Desire of Ages, 664. We need to find out what the secret of the power in His life was; the power that caused Him to live for others only, amid scorn, mockery and abuse.

The Secret

To learn the secret of His life we will look at quotations from the chapter “Asking to Give,” Christ’s Object Lessons, 135-149. “Not for Himself, but for others, He lived and thought and prayed. From hours spent with God He came forth morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men. Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the early hours of the new day the Lord awakened Him from His slumbers, and His soul and His lips were anointed with grace, that He might impart to others.” Is that how you are living your life? Is the Lord waking you up every morning with the first thought of your day being “Father, thank you for giving me life through another night. Thank you for Your blessing, for the morning light. Now Father, what do You want to tell me? I am listening.” God will tell us how to speak a word to the weary ones of this earth.

“Christ’s disciples were so impressed…with His habit of communion with God.” One day they found Him praying. Jesus went right on praying seemingly unconscious of their presence and they said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Jesus again gave the Lord’s payer. Read through the section on the Lord’s Prayer from the book Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings. Phrase by phrase, on your knees, pray that it may be incorporated into your life.

The Present Neighbor

Jesus, in answer to their request, then told this most interesting story. “And He said unto them, ‘Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he from within shall answer and say, “Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give him as many as he needeth.” Luke 11:5-8

This man had out-of-town company. When his company came, even though it was late, he knew that his company was hungry. In the Eastern countries the people are perhaps more courteous than people in the United States; at least that is what I hear from some who have been there. This man wanted to be hospitable to his company, but he had no food to give his guest—nothing. But he thought that his neighbor might have food. He went and knocked on his neighbor’s door in the middle of the night. His neighbor was in bed and was asleep with his children. How is it with you if you are sound asleep about midnight, and the phone or door bell rings? Most of you have experienced it. You struggle to wake up, but you are in such a deep sleep, you wish you did not have to wake up. So you can just imagine this neighbor. He did not want to get up. He wanted to stay in bed. But what did the man keep doing? He kept knocking and asking until the neighbor woke up and got up and gave him some bread.

Asking To Help Others

There are people all around us who are on their one time journey through life. They get faint and weary. If they do not receive the Bread of Life, they will die—eternally die of starvation. Jesus told us how to help them. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For [notice this next word is all-inclusive,] everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” So many times we do not ask, and then we wonder why our words have no influence to help others. No one who asks to give to others will ever be turned away. The Lord is so anxious for us to ask even though we feel unworthy, that He even tells us what to say: “do not abhor us, for Thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of Thy glory: remember, break not They covenant with us.” Jeremiah 14:21

When on earth, Jesus prayed a most beautiful prayer. He said, “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” And then He said this, “As Though hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” John 17:17, 18. How are we sent? We are sent into the world the same way He was sent into the world. So, we need the same strength that He received form His Father. We need the same power that He revealed in His life. The power of love. The power of perfect self-control. We need the words from on high, the Bread of heaven, that we can speak to weary souls and give them strength so that God’s grace may be imparted through us to others.

Our Work

There are so many that never get beyond the ABC’s of the Christian life. Here is the reason why. “It is because this work is neglected, the work of caring for others, that so many young disciples never advance beyond the mere alphabet of the Christian experience.” Desire of Ages, 640. Now when you learn to read, what is the first thing you learn? You learn the alphabet. But after you know the alphabet, do you know how to read? You can know the alphabet forwards, you can know it backwards, you can know it perfectly, you can say it fast, you can say it slow, you can write it, but do you know how to read? No, you do not know how to read if all you know is the alphabet. The alphabet is just the tool that you need to help you learn how to read, but if you do not know how to put it all together, you cannot read. Why do so many young disciples never advance? Because “the light which was glowing in their own hearts when Jesus spoke to them, ‘Thy sins be forgiven thee,’ they might have kept alive by helping those in need. The restless energy that is often a source of danger to the young might be directed into channels which it would flow out in streams of blessings. Self would be forgotten in earnest work to do others good. Those who minister to others will be ministered unto by the Chief Shepherd. They themselves will drink of the living water and they will be satisfied. They will not be longing for exciting amusements or for some change in their lives. The great topic of interest will be how to save souls that are ready to perish. The conversation is the thermometer of your Christian experience. Has the topic of your conversation been how to save souls? Or has it been on some other topic?

Jesus assigned to His followers the job of giving the Bread of Life to the perishing world. “He who had appointed their work, saw how often their faith would be tried. Often they would be thrown into unexpected positions, and would realize their human insufficiency. Souls that were hungering for the Bread of Life would come to them, and they would feel themselves to be destitute and helpless. They must receive spiritual food, or they would have nothing to impart. But they were not to turn one soul away unfed.” Now that is a real fix. They had nothing to give. They realized they were destitute and helpless, but they were commanded not to turn away one soul unfed. “Christ directs them to turn to the source of supply. The man whose friend came to him for entertainment, even at the unseasonable hour of midnight, did not turn him away…And would not God, who had sent His servants to feed the hungry, supply their need for his own work?

What Does Christ Long To Give You?

“But God delights to give. He is full of compassion, and He longs to grant the requests of those who come unto Him in faith. He gives to us that we may minister to others and thus become like Himself.” Do you get the picture that is being described here? God gives us bread that we can give it to others and in that way we become like Him. There is no other way to become like Jesus except by imparting the Bread of Life and the Water of Life to others. You cannot just get it and horde it. It will spoil. Spoiled grape juice turns into wine and it can cause all kinds of terrible things. But if we get, that we may impart, what a blessing the weakest souls on this earth could be! “There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit.” Ministry of Healing, 169. The secret is all in putting self aside.

Jesus says, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name that will I give to you.” John 15:16. But there are some conditions that He has laid down for us. One is found in this text. “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34. That was one of Christ’s last commands to His disciples. “If we have in any way grieved or wounded others, it is our duty to confess our fault and to seek for reconciliation. This is an essential preparation that we may come before God in faith, to ask His blessing.”

There is another qualification that is essential to answered prayer. It is found in this text. “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Werein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed me. In tithes and offerings.” Malachi 3:7, 8. Jesus wants us to be faithful in our tithes and offerings. He is gracious, even though we make mistakes, if we will just return to Him, He will hear our cry. And then He encourages us with this promise, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10

Obedience Is A Condition

Sometimes when we come to the Lord, He waits a little while so that we may search our hearts and cast out all of self. Prayer does not bring God down to us. That is not the purpose of prayer. Prayer brings us up to God. “All His gifts are promised on condition of obedience. God has a heaven full of blessings for those who will cooperate with Him. All who obey Him may with confidence claim the fulfillment of His promises.” There is no limit to God’s power, if we are asking to give. But so often, James says, “we pray and receive not” because why? We “ask amiss that we may consume it on our own lusts.” James 4:3. So God tests and proves us that we may be cleansed.

“The path of sincerity and integrity is not a path free from obstruction, but in every difficulty we are to see a call to prayer. There is no one living who has any power that he has not received from God, and the source whence it comes is open to the weakest human being.” Desire of Ages, 667

Often when we are giving out the Bread of Life, we find ourselves in perplexing situations. We realize that we do not have the wisdom to advance. “When perplexities arise, and difficulties confront you, look not for help to humanity. Trust all [another all-inclusive word] with God. The practice of telling our difficulties to others only makes us weak, and brings no strength to them. It lays upon them the burden of our spiritual infirmities, which they cannot relieve. We seek the strength of erring, finite man, when we might have the strength of the unerring, infinite God.

“You need not go to the ends of the earth for wisdom, for God is near. It is not the capabilities you now possess or ever will have that will give you success. It is that which the Lord can do for you. We need to have far less confidence in what man can do and far more confidence in what God can do for every believing soul. He longs to have you reach after Him by faith. He longs to give you understanding in temporal as well as spiritual matters. He can sharpen the intellect. He can give tact and skill. Put your talents into the work, ask God for wisdom, and it will be given you.”

Friends, did you hear those words? Did you catch the reality of what this promise means to the worker for God? It says He will give us wisdom, not only in our spiritual affairs, but in our temporal affairs. That is everything in life. There is nothing left that God has not made provision for. God wants you to totally surrender your life to Him. He wants you to be willing to wake up when he wakes you up in the morning, that your ear can hear as the learned. He wants you to expect great things from Him and He will give you success in your work. It is an unfailing promise.

Standing Through The Shaking

Do not talk of your faults, your trials, others’ faults, others’ trials; in short, do not talk about erring men. Talk about soul-winning. Talk about the blessings of God. If your mind is filled with these things, you will withstand temptation. But if your mind is filled with the things of earth, you will fall. You will not be able to stand. So fill your mind with the promises of God. Ask that you may give to others. If your life becomes a channel of God’s blessings, the waves of the ocean can be surging around you, the greatest tempest can be blowing, and thunder can be crashing, the lightening can be flashing through the sky, but your life is hid with Christ and you can stand in the middle of anything. That is what I want for each of you. I want us to stand together as a mighty army so that we can give the Loud Cry to this perishing world.

We are going through a mighty shaking, but if we remain steadfast in faith and prayer, we will come forth as gold. The disciples went through the terrible ordeal of the cross. But, they came through it and the Lord poured out his Holy Spirit on them. Three thousand were converted in a day. And, if we are faithful, we will yet see the mighty things that God will do for His people. The latter rain will be poured out on His humble waiting ones and the truth will be proclaimed in power to a perishing world.

The End

Investing for the Lord

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In doing research for this article, I found a statement that startled me. It said: “Often we lament the scanty resources available, but were Christians thoroughly in earnest, they could multiply the resources a thousandfold.” Ministry of Healing, 206. [All emphasis supplied.] As I prayed that God would help me earn money for the shortwave radio station, I wondered how He could turn a dollar of mine into a thousand dollars for His cause. Nevertheless, I prayed that the Lord would help me to earn money for the radio station.

The idea of house-sitting (watching people’s houses while they are away) came to my mind. That Thursday evening when I called the Wichita Eagle to place an advertisement in the classified section, the lady who took my information said, “I’ll try and get this in for free. If I have any trouble, I’ll call you back and let you know.” She never called back. One month of advertising—free!

Friday afternoon, as I was preparing for the Sabbath, the telephone rang. “Is this the place to call for the advertisement in the paper for a housesitter?”
“Yes,” I replied. The man went on to tell me that he and his wife would be traveling together for two months this winter and needed someone to watch their house while they were away. They have a nice house, he told me, and though they do not have pets, they do have plants that would need watering; and when they return, they want the house to have the “lived in” look.

As he sounded genuine, I decided to be very up front and frank with him. I told him that I worked at Steps to Life and that I was doing this to earn money for a mission project. I explained that I was a Bible worker whose duties also included work in the office, and while I could be there at night and some other time as well, I would be gone the better part of most days. He said it sounded perfect and he would have his wife call to set up a time when I could meet their housekeeper who came in on Wednesdays. (I would not even have to clean the house!) Then he said, “We would pay you $275 a week.”

I tried to act casual and replied. “That would be fine.”

The total amount I will earn for the radio station will be $2,200. Do you believe that God can work things out for His people to earn a little extra money for His work? I know that He can. “A thousand doors of usefulness are open before us. Often we lament the scanty resources available, but were Christians thoroughly in earnest, they could multiply the resources a thousandfold. Ibid.

Even as a child, Ellen White knew what it meant to sacrifice for the cause. Listen to her personal experience:

“Even though he may be poor, the youth who is industrious and economical can save a little for the cause of God. When I was only twelve years old, I knew what it was to economize. With my sister I learned a trade, and although we would earn only twenty-five cents a day, from this sum we were able to save a little to give to missions. We saved little by little until we had thirty dollars. Then when the message of the Lord’s soon coming came to us, with a call for men and means, we felt it a privilege to hand over the thirty dollars to father, asking him to invest it in tracts and pamphlets to send the message to those who were in darkness.” Messages to Young People, 299

Not every person may be able to give a thousand dollars. Some may be able to give only a small amount of money, but that small amount is needed.

“Every dollar is required in the work of saving souls. The money invested by the professed people of God in getting pictures made of human faces would support several missionaries in the field. Many small streams, when put together, swell into a large river.” Ibid., 317. “The smallest sums given cheerfully by those who are in limited circumstances are fully as acceptable to God, and even of more value in His sight, than the offerings of the rich who can bestow their thousands, and yet exercise no self-denial and feel no lack.” Counsels on Stewardship, 30

The promise to the poor everywhere is, “It is in the power of all to do something for the cause of God.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 18

God wants us to be innovative in thinking of ways to multiply funds; but He also requires of each one of us personal sacrifice, whether we are rich or poor. We are to exercise self-denial in our appetite, in our dress, and in the way we furnish our homes. Self really is the greatest hindrance to the cause of God. “We have no enemy without that we need to fear. Our greatest conflict is with unconsecrated self.” Review and Herald, March 5, 1908

To be victorious in the battle with self, we should daily contemplate three things:

  • The result received from acts of self-denial and sacrifice,
  • The result received from acts of selfishness, and
  • The sacrifice Jesus made in our behalf.

Let us look first at the results of selfishness. “When God’s bounties, so richly and abundantly given, are withheld from Him, and selfishly bestowed upon ourselves, God’s curse, in the place of His blessing, will surely be experienced; for this the Lord has declared….Selfishness is a deadly evil. Self-love and careless indifference to the specific terms of agreement between God and man, the refusal to act as His faithful stewards. Have brought upon them His curse, just as he declared would be the case. These souls have separated themselves from God by precept and example they have led others to disregard God’s plain commandments, and He could not bestow His blessing upon them.” Youth’s Instructor, August 26, 1897

“Even if we do not lose our souls, we shall realize in eternity the result of our unused talents.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 363

“He who refuses to become a ‘laborer together with God,’—the man who for the sake of selfish indulgence ignores the wants of his fellow men, the miser who heaps up his treasures here,—is withholding from himself the richest blessing that God can give him.” Counsels on Stewardship, 23
What are those blessings that we withhold from ourselves when we heap up treasures here on this earth. Through the practice of self-denial we receive the following blessings:

We are better able to understand the work of our Savior. “The giving that is the fruit of self-denial is a wonderful help to the giver. It imparts an education that enables us more fully to comprehend the work of Him who went about doing good, relieving the suffering, and supplying the needs of the destitute.” Messages to Young People, 300

Our character is thus molded into the likeness of our Savior. “While some go forth to preach, He calls upon others to answer his claims upon them for offerings with which to support His cause in the earth. He has placed means in the hands of men, that His divine gifts may flow through human channels in doing the work appointed us in saving our fellow men. This is one of God’s ways of exalting man. It is just the work that man needs, for it will stir the deepest sympathies of his heart, and call into exercise the highest capabilities of the mind.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 255

We are brought into unity with God and with one another. “Christ’s believing people are to perpetuate His love. This love is to draw them together around the cross. It is to divest them of all selfishness and bind them to God and to one another.” Ibid., 256

We are enabled to cooperate with heavenly intelligences. “When we are willing to put away our selfish desires and give the powers of heart and mind to the work of the cause of God, heavenly agencies will co-operate with us, making us a blessing to humanity.” Messages to Young People, 299

The message will go with power. “When those who know the truth practice the self-denial enjoined in God’s Word, the message will go with power. The Lord will hear our prayers for the conversion of souls. God’s people will let their light shine forth, and unbelievers, seeing their good works, will glorify our heavenly Father.” Ibid., 315

We will see souls we have helped to win to Christ in heaven. “The means used to bless others will bring returns. Riches rightly employed will accomplish great good. Souls will be won to Christ. He who follows Christ’s plan of life will see in the courts of God those for whom he has labored and sacrificed on earth.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 373

Investment. What is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it business enterprises, real estate, stocks and bonds, or savings accounts? Or maybe you thing back to the days when investment was called for in the Sabbath School department. All of these can be very valid and useful tools for the work of the Lord is employed in His service; but they are dim in comparison to the most costly investment which has ever been made or ever will be made throughout the eons of eternity—the investment God made in the human race.

Will we then, seeing our Saviour’s tremendous sacrifice, allow our hearts to remain cold, hard, and selfish? Can we see Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane and on Calvary and cling tenaciously to our habits of ease, slothfulness, and indolence, giving nothing to the cause of God? God forbid.

“The Lord God of heaven collected all the riches of the universe, and laid them down in order to purchase the pearl of lost humanity. The Father gave all His divine resources into the hands of Christ in order that the richest blessings of heaven might be poured out upon a fallen race….This gift was given to man to convince him that God had left nothing undone that He could do, that there is nothing held in reserve, but that all heaven has been poured out in one vast gift.” Lift Him Up, 232

Yes, God has invested everything in the effort to bring to lost, degraded mankind the gift of salvation. While we were yet sinners, while we showed Him contempt, while we trampled upon His law, while we were in rebellion against His law, God invested all that He had to save us. We should respond with an investment, in percentage, no less than God invested in us—everything we have.

“Some think that only a portion of their money is the Lord’s. When they have set apart a portion for religious and charitable purposes, they regard the remainder as their own, to be used as they see fit. But in this they mistake. All we possess is the Lord’s and we are accountable to Him for the use we make of it. In the use of every penny it will be seen whether we love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 351

We are to account at the bar of God for the way that we spend every penny, but that is not all. We are also responsible for what we could have returned to God if we would have been wise managers of our time, influence, and money. Remember the story of the talents in Matthew 25? God actually required more in return than what He gave the servant with two talents. What are we to learn from this? God wants us to be more industrious and energetic than we have often realized.

Make a covenant with God.

Professionals:

  • Choose a day of the week and dedicate all proceeds billed that day to the shortwave radio station. (And be prepared for a busy day!)
  • Pledge all of your new pay clients over the next six months.

Contractors:

  • Dedicate the profits from one project to the proclamation of the three angel’s messages through the means of the shortwave station.
  • Donate a certain percentage of profits (above tithe and offerings) to the Lord.

Business Owners:

  • Give all new accounts to the shortwave project.
  • Consecrate a certain percentage of profits to the project.

Stockholders:

  • Invest in something with eternal dividends! Sell your stocks and save taxes, too! (Contact Cecil Reed for particulars.)
  • Land / Property Owners:
  • Deed a piece of land to the cause of God and make your estate investment in heaven sure. (See Testimonies, vol. 1, 692.)

Anyone:

  • Pray about a second job such as house-sitting for families going on vacation and needing someone to stay in their home, baby-sitting, etc.
  • Sell your collectibles! Stamp collections, coin collections, Hummels, etc.—they are worth money now, but soon will not be. Sell now and save souls for eternity!

Children and youth:

  • Collect aluminum cans.
  • Shovel snow or do yard work.
  • Baby-sit.
  • Ask friends, neighbors, and relatives if there is anything you can do to help earn money for a mission project. (Tell them about the shortwave station!)
    Families:
  • Have a garage, attic, or yard sale, and donate the proceeds to the station.
  • Dedicate the profits from two or more Sundays a month of colporteuring with your children to the radio station—a wonderful experience for your family, and soul-saving in two ways! (Call Steps to Life to order books and/or a suggested canvas.)
  • Decide as a family to save all of the money spent on needless things such as gum, candy, and soda pop, and put it in a “self-denial box.”

The End