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Bible Study Guides – The Nature of Man

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September 27, 2003 – October 3, 2003

Memory Verse

“So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27.

Suggested Reading: Patriarchs and Prophets, 44–47; Early Writings, 147–149.

Introduction

“As children of the first Adam, we partake of the dying nature of Adam. But through the imparted life of Christ, man has been given opportunity to win back again the lost gift of life, and to stand in his original position before God, a partaker of the divine nature.” The Signs of the Times, June 17, 1897.

1 What inspired instruction has been given concerning the origin of man? In whose image was man formed? Genesis 2:7; 1:26, 27.

note: “In the creation of man was manifest the agency of a personal God. When God had made man in His image, the human form was perfect in all its arrangements, but it was without life. Then a personal, self-existing God breathed into that form the breath of life, and man became a living, breathing, intelligent being. All parts of the human organism were put in action. The heart, the arteries, the veins, the tongue, the hands, the feet, the senses, the perceptions of the mind—all began their work, and all were placed under law. Man became a living soul. Through Jesus Christ a personal God created man and endowed him with intelligence and power.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 264.

2 Where was man placed? Genesis 2:15.

note: “Although everything God had made was in the perfection of beauty, and there seemed nothing wanting upon the earth which God had created to make Adam and Eve happy, yet he manifested his great love to them by planting a garden especially for them. A portion of their time was to be occupied in the happy employment of dressing the garden, and a portion in receiving the visits of angels, listening to their instruction, and in happy meditation. Their labor was not wearisome, but pleasant and invigorating. This beautiful garden was to be their home, their special residence.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, 34.

3 What command was given Adam and Eve? How were they warned against disobedience? Genesis 2:16, 17.

note: “The Lord placed our first parents in the Garden of Eden. He surrounded them with everything that could minister to their happiness, and He bade them acknowledge Him as the possessor of all things. In the garden He caused to grow every tree that was pleasant to the eye or good for food; but among them He made one reserve. Of all else, Adam and Eve might freely eat; but of this one tree God said, ‘Thou shalt not eat of it.’ Here was the test of their gratitude and loyalty to God.” Counsels on Stewardship, 65.

4 What was the result of disobeying God and eating the forbidden fruit? Genesis 3:17–19.

note: “God cursed the ground because of their sin in eating of the tree of knowledge, and declared, ‘In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.’ [Genesis 3:17.] He had apportioned them the good, but withheld the evil. Now He declares that they shall eat of it, that is, they should be acquainted with evil all the days of their life.

“The race from that time forward was to be afflicted by Satan’s temptations. A life of perpetual toil and anxiety was appointed unto Adam, instead of the happy, cheerful labor he had hitherto enjoyed. They should be subject to disappointment, grief, and pain, and finally come to dissolution. They were made of the dust of the earth, and unto dust should they return.” The Story of Redemption, 40.

5 Who brought life and immortality within the reach of man? What did Christ abolish in order to accomplish this? 11 Timothy 1:10.

note: “Christ proclaimed over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’ [John 11:25.] He, the world’s Redeemer, . . . has brought life and immortality to light. The gates of eternal life are thrown open to all who believe on Jesus Christ. All believers who pass through a natural death, have, through eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God, eternal life in them, which is the life of Jesus Christ. In dying, Jesus has made it impossible for those who believe on Him to die eternally. . . .” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 926.

6 To whom only is ascribed inherent immortality? 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:14–16. Compare Job 4:17.

note: “No earthly ruler could show himself so jealous of his honor, so interested in his subjects, so kind and tender to those who put their trust in him, as does the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the Ruler high above all rule. He has strictly prohibited all sin, and has strictly enjoined practical obedience.” Review and Herald, June 19, 1900.

7 How is eternal life obtained? Romans 6:23; 5:19.

note: “The ransom has been paid, and it is possible for all to come to God, and through a life of obedience to attain unto everlasting life. . . . The Creator of all worlds proposes to love those who believe in His only-begotten Son as their personal Saviour, even as He loves His Son. Even here and now His gracious favor is bestowed upon us to this marvelous extent. He has given to men the gift of the Light and Majesty of heaven, and with Him He has bestowed all the treasures of heaven. Much as He has promised us for the life to come, He also bestows princely gifts upon us in this life, and as subjects of His grace, He would have us enjoy everything that will ennoble, expand, and elevate our characters. It is His design to fit us for the heavenly courts above.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 234.

8 How is this gift received? 1 John 5:11, 12; John 3:36.

note: “Christ became one flesh with us, in order that we might become one spirit with Him. It is by virtue of this union that we are to come forth from the grave,—not merely as a manifestation of the power of Christ, but because, through faith, His life has become ours. Those who see Christ in His true character, and receive Him into the heart, have everlasting life. It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal.” The Desire of Ages, 388.

9 When will immortality be bestowed upon the believer; how quickly will the change from mortality to immortality be made? 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52.

note: “Christ is coming with clouds and with great glory. A multitude of shining angels will attend Him. He will come to raise the dead, and to change the living saints from glory to glory. He will come to honor those who have loved Him, and kept His commandments, and to take them to Himself. He has not forgotten them nor His promise. There will be a relinking of the family chain. When we look upon our dead, we may think of the morning when the trump of God shall sound, when ‘the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.’ 1 Corinthians 15:52. A little longer, and we shall see the King in His beauty.” The Desire of Ages, 632.

10 What will then have been brought to pass, and what shout of victory will be heard? 1 Corinthians 15:53–55.

note: “All come forth from their graves the same in stature as when they entered the tomb. Adam, who stands among the risen throng, is of lofty height and majestic form, in stature but little below the Son of God. He presents a marked contrast to the people of later generations; in this one respect is shown the great degeneracy of the race. But all arise with the freshness and vigor of eternal youth. In the beginning, man was created in the likeness of God, not only in character, but in form and feature. Sin defaced and almost obliterated the divine image; but Christ came to restore that which had been lost. He will change our vile bodies and fashion them like unto His glorious body. The mortal, corruptible form, devoid of comeliness, once polluted with sin, becomes perfect, beautiful, and immortal. All blemishes and deformities are left in the grave. Restored to the tree of life in the long-lost Eden, the redeemed will ‘grow up’ (Malachi 4:2) to the full stature of the race in its primeval glory. The last lingering traces of the curse of sin will be removed, and Christ’s faithful ones will appear in ‘the beauty of the Lord our God,’ in mind and soul and body reflecting the perfect image of their Lord. [Psalm 90:17.]” The Great Controversy, 644, 645.

11 How only can eternal life be obtained by sinful man? John 10:27–29; Acts 4:12. Compare Acts 10:43.

note: “The blessed Bible gives us a knowledge of the great plan of salvation, and shows us how every individual may have eternal life. Who is the author of the book?—Jesus Christ. He is the True Witness, and He says to His own, ‘I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.’ [John 10:28.] The Bible is to show us the way to Christ, and in Christ eternal life is revealed.” Review and Herald, September 11, 1894.

12 What blessing is promised to those who accept Christ as their Saviour? John 4:13, 14; 6:53, 54.

note: “Would you become assimilated to the divine image? . . . Would you drink of the water which Christ shall give you, which shall be in you a well of water springing up into everlasting life? Would you bear fruit to the glory of God? Would you refresh others? Then with heart hungering for the bread of life, the Word of God, search the Scriptures, and live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Your soul’s sanctification and righteousness will result from faith in the Word of God, which leads to obedience of its commands. Let the Word of God be to you as the voice of God instructing you, and saying, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it.’ Isaiah 30:21. Christ prayed, ‘Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.’ John 17:17.” The Faith I Live By, 21.

These lessons are adapted from the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly, Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California, April 1912.

Homesick

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I’m so homesick now for heaven.

This place is not my home.

My heart’s no longer in this world,

No matter where I roam.

I’m sick and tired of this old realm

Its riches have lost their glitter.

The things that once attracted me,

For me are only bitter.

For I have seen a better place,

No longer wracked with pain.

Where those we love who’re sleeping now,

We will see again.

Love and beauty reigneth there,

For it’s indeed a glorious land.

There our Savior will greet each one

With His precious hand.

Hang on, my fellow warrior.

The battle’s almost won.

Our Captain says the victory’s sure.

Soon He’ll say, “It’s done.”

Then we’ll hear the mighty trumpet blow

Until the clouds will burst.

We’ll see Him sitting on His throne,

For whom our souls did thirst.

Oh, sing a song of happiness,

O boundless jubilation.

For tears give way to ecstasy

In glorious transformation.

-Vern Shafer

Food for Life – Cashew Lentil Loaf and Country Style Gravy

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“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he [was] faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red [pottage]; for I [am] faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I [am] at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised [his] birthright.” Genesis 25:29–34.

Cashew Lentil Loaf

1 cup lentils

3 cups water

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 Tablespoons egg replacer, mixed with 2 Tablespoons water

2/3 cup carrots, chopped

1/3 cup celery, chopped

2 Tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour

3/4 cup raw cashews, chopped

1 teaspoon dried thyme

Cook lentils in water until soft. Cool and set aside. Sauté onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Add carrots and celery, and simmer covered 10–15 minutes or until carrots are tender. Allow to cool. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Spoon into an oiled loaf pan. Bake 45 minutes or until firm. Serve with Country Style Gravy.

Country Style Gravy

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup raw cashews

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder

2 Tablespoons chicken-style seasoning

2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional)

4 cups additional water

Blend first 7 ingredients together until smooth; add more water if needed. Pour into a double-boiler pan with 3 cups of the additional water. Lightly boil until thickened (approximately 10–15 minutes). The last cup of water may be added if gravy is too thick.

A member of the LandMarks editorial staff, Anna Schultz enjoys cooking and trying new recipes in her home near Sedalia, Colorado. She may be contacted by e-mail at: jschu67410@aol.com.

Ask the Pastor – Grace and Works

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Question:

If we are saved by grace, which I am told is a gift from God, and not by our good works, what does it mean in Philippians 2:12 when it says “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”?

Answer:

This is a question that has been asked by many people. At first it seems that these two concepts are contradictive, but they actually harmonize very well.

Ephesians 2:8, 9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” [Emphasis supplied.] Yet the same author, the apostle Paul, writes to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12.

This quotation from Philippians is only part of the text of the verse. Important context and instruction is given just before the part of “working out your own salvation.” Notice what the first part of that text says: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out . . . .” Paul here sets the stage by telling the believers in Philippi that they are obedient Christians doing what is right all the time, not just when someone is watching them. They are being obedient even when he is gone from them.

Paul acknowledges them as doing a good work in the realm of salvation. They have been obedient, but they need to continue on in what they are doing. Anyone who thinks that the Christian life is doing your own thing and not being accountable to anyone is only fooling themselves. We are to be accountable to other Christians who make up the Lord’s body, the church. But more than that, we are to be accountable to the Lord himself. (See 1 Corinthians 4:2–5.)

So what Paul is doing here is urging them to work, not for the sake of approving themselves to their earthly teacher, but to think of their unseen Lord and to realize His presence all the more in Paul’s absence.

When he says, “work out your own salvation,” he is saying, “Complete it;” God has begun the work; carry it out to the end. The Greek word katergazomai translated as “work out” in Philippians 2:12, is, in Ephesians 6:13, translated as “having done all.” Christ’s work of atonement is finished; work from the cross; carry out the great work of sanctification by the help of the Holy Spirit.

The words “your own” are also important here. Please do not pass this by. Each man is to attend to his own work. No friend, no pastor, not even a parent can work it for him. He is the one who must respond to the Holy Spirit by obedience. No one else can do another’s work of bringing to completion the plan of salvation in the life. When the Bible says “with fear and trembling,” it means “with fear and trembling.” Salvation is not a light matter. It is very serious. Those who move through the sanctification process do so soberly and cautiously.

Verse 13 of Philippians 2 tells the conclusion of the whole matter. “For it is God which worketh in you.” If any good is going to come from bringing the work of God to a conclusion, it is because God has His hand in the matter. It is God who works in you.

This then brings us full circle. We are saved by grace, because grace is the unmerited favor of God working in us to bring us through the complete sanctification process. We are commanded by the apostle to move along in the process without any complaining or murmuring until the process is complete.

Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life Ministry. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: LandMarks, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

Nature Nugget – Fishing Techniques

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Fish are in the middle of the food chain. Many types of predators, using various types of techniques, prey upon them.

The Bulldog Bat of Central and South America hunts both freshwater and saltwater fish at night by using echolocation to detect ripples on the surface of calm waters. When a ripple is detected, the bat swoops down and skims the surface, trailing its feet about an inch below the surface sweeping for the fish. Its feet have long, sharp claws for grasping the fish and flattened toes, which cut down on water resistance.

Found nearly worldwide, the Osprey uses its sharp eyesight to spot fish. When a fish is spotted, it hovers above it then plunges from as high as 100 feet with wings swept back and talons thrust forward. Its head enters the water first, and it frequently completely submerges. The Osprey grabs the fish with its talons, which have rough pads on their bottom to help them grasp the slippery prey. Ospreys also have an opposable front toe that they can rotate backwards to give them a more balanced hold on the fish. After capture, the Osprey adjusts the fish in its grip so that the head is pointed forward to make it more aerodynamic.

A relative of the Osprey, the Bald Eagle, also uses sharp eyesight to spot fish, which are its main diet. When a Bald Eagle spots a fish, it skims the surface of the water with its talons to catch it, rather than plunging like the Osprey. Unlike the Osprey, which can catch fish several feet below the surface, the Bald Eagle can only catch fish that are near the surface. Its rear talon is over an inch long and is used to puncture and kill its prey. Bald Eagles will also steal fish from Ospreys by diving on them and chasing them until they drop the fish, which the eagle will then catch before it hits the ground.

Found in large rivers, lakes, and oxbows of southern North America, the Alligator Snapping Turtle is the largest freshwater turtle, reaching up to 300 pounds. To catch a fish dinner, the turtle wiggles the pink worm-like lure located at the end of its tongue to attract a fish. It sits still on the bottom; its algae-covered shell camouflaging it, with its mouth wide open. When a fish comes close to take the lure, the turtle’s jaws snap shut on it like a trap.

The Six-spotted Fisher Spider of North America uses water tension to sit on the surface of the water while fishing. It plunges one leg below the surface to use as a lure to attract small fish. When a fish comes close enough, it plunges under the surface, and after catching it, bites it, injecting a poison that dissolves the body. The spider then sucks out the fish’s body juices—a type of “animal slurpy.”

Christ calls upon us to be fishers (soul winners) of men; He says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19. Although the God-given talents and gifts of each individual are varied and useful in soul-winning, there is one main technique or method which God wishes us to learn to be effective “fishers of men.” “If you are in communion with Christ, you will place His estimate upon every human being. You will feel for others the same deep love that Christ has felt for you. Then you will be able to win, not drive, to attract, not repulse, those for whom He died.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 197.

David Arbour writes from his home in DeQueen, Arkansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: incadove@ipa.net.

Children’s Story – Tales of a Tennessee Chain Gang, Part III

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Judge Parks left his question unanswered, but it was clear where he stood. He said in closing, “I have serious doubts as to the justice of the law, but the remedy is not to be found in disobeying it, but in having it repealed.”

He fined the defendants $2.50 each, suspended the sentences, but asked them to pay the court costs. The Sabbathkeepers refused to pay the costs, choosing rather to go to jail. They explained their reasons by saying that the State had taken them from their homes and work for no just cause, and they simply submitted to the powers that be, but they refused to become parties in any degree to the iniquitous proceeding by the payment of a fine. They were given prison sentences of 20 to 76 days.

Bill Burchard left behind a note in his daughter’s autograph album: “Dear Hattie, This is the 6th day of March in the year 1895 a.d., in the Cove in Rhea County, Tennessee, in the so-called free America. I go to Dayton today expecting to go to jail for the crime (?) of believing the Bible. I was found guilty by the court. . . . Yet these things and worse happened in all ages to God’s people—why not to us? Verse 12 of 11 Timothy 3 says: ‘all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.’ I want you to be a good girl and live for God and His truth. That is the only thing we can live for in this world, that is worth living for. Read and meditate on Hebrews 11:32–40 [a brief history of persecutions suffered by Old Testament heroes], and you can see what awaits us only a little way in the future.”

Jailhouse life was not severe, but there were hardships involved in the incarceration. Several of the men were nearly penniless, and their families were left without support. Then, too, with three key staff members gone, Graysville Academy had to send its 100 students home two months early, some of them without the diplomas they had expected.

Sheriff Darwin was kind enough to put the men up in the two-story house attached to the jail rather than in the cells. The quarters, the Sabbathkeepers reported, were not “offensively dirty.” They were allowed to have visitors and were given access to the well in the front yard, thus escaping the mucky water from the jail-yard pump.

The residents of Dayton petitioned the court to release the prisoners, but in spite of the uproar in the nation’s press, the court denied the petition by a narrow margin. Judge Parks recommended to Governor Peter Turney that the prisoners be pardoned, and finally the last two still serving sentences were granted clemency, even though they gave no evidence of repentance.

Scarcely had they returned home when 20 more indictments went out for Graysville Sabbathkeepers. . . . The court convened in July. Some of the cases were continued, a few dismissed, but eight Sabbathkeepers—including Burchard and Colcord again were convicted. This time, however, their enemies had succeeded in reinstating the county chain gang—a practice that had not been followed for years.

To be concluded . . .

Restoring the Temple – Diabetes

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Question:

My dad has type II diabetes. What is diabetes and what different types of diabetes are there?

—d.b., oregon

Answer:

That is a simple, yet very complicated question. Diabetes and its treatment are quite complex. Large textbooks and thousands of medical articles have been written about this disease, yet its intricacies often overwhelm health professionals. The important thing is that people with the disease, like your father, and their family members, have a basic understanding of diabetes and its treatment. While there is a library’s worth of information out there, I will try to give you a basic overview of diabetes. Remember, each person’s disease is a little different, and how it is treated is up to him or her and their medical or alternative health care practitioner.

Diabetes has been with us for a long time, although historical accounts indicate that it was totally misunderstood. One document, written by Areteus the Cappadocian, between the second and third centuries, a.d., states that diabetes is the “melting down of the flesh and limbs into urine” and is most certainly deadly. Fortunately, Areteus was mistaken on both accounts. Today, with the understanding of what diabetes is, treatments have allowed diabetics to live healthy, productive lives.

Basically, diabetes is a disease involving the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that sits behind the stomach and produces digestive juices, which are released into the small intestine. The pancreas also produces insulin, which is released into the blood stream. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use the sugar and fat from the food you eat. Diabetes occurs if the pancreas produces little or no insulin or if the body does not respond to insulin as it should. Diabetes is considered a lifelong disease; however, the prospect of health is greatly dependent upon how well the person adheres to their treatment regimen.

Every cell in your body needs glucose to make energy. Glucose is a simple sugar that is broken down from the food that you eat. Carbohydrates are transported from the intestines to the liver (via the bloodstream) where they are broken down into glucose. The bloodstream then delivers glucose to every cell in your body. Extra glucose is stored in the liver or is converted into fat. When glucose enters your cells, it decreases the glucose level in your blood stream (called blood glucose or blood sugar).

Think of insulin as sort of a membership card. Without the card, the member is not allowed into the building, right? Without insulin, glucose cannot enter the cell. So now you have all this glucose building up in the blood stream with nowhere to go. This is hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar.

There are three types of diabetes: Type I, Type II, and gestational. Type I diabetes is caused by the pancreas producing little or no insulin. Persons with Type I must take insulin injections to control their blood glucose levels. Type I diabetes is pehaps better known as juvenile-onset diabetes. It has been called this because it occurs mostly in youth under the age of 20, but it can occur at any age.

Persons who have Type II diabetes do produce insulin, but they either do not produce enough or it does not work properly. Affecting 17 million people in the United States, Type II is the most common form of diabetes. It is interesting to note that an estimated 91 percent of those cases could have been prevented by lifestyle changes. Type II diabetes is the leading cause of health complications such as blindness, non-traumatic amputations, and chronic kidney failure. Risk factors for this type of diabetes include age (usually over 40) and obesity. There is a rise of Type II diabetes in children related to the increase of obesity in childhood.

Type II diabetes is treated differently in different people. Some may be able to manage their blood sugar by controlling their weight, making dietary changes, and by exercising. This treatment is sometimes not enough for some people, and they may need to take a prescription drug or insulin injections.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy when hormone changes affect the ability of insulin to work properly. In most cases, blood sugar levels return to normal after childbirth, but women who have had gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing Type II diabetes later.

Symptoms of Diabetes

The symptoms of diabetes can include increased thirst, increased hunger, dry mouth, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, fatigue, blurry vision, itching, and increased frequency of infections.

Management of Diabetes

The main treatment goals include keeping blood sugar as close to normal levels as possible by balancing food intake with medication (if necessary) and exercise. The person with diabetes should plan their diets carefully, exercise regularly, and monitor blood sugars faithfully.

Diabetes is a lifelong test of watchfulness and self-control. Sometimes even when a diabetic is doing everything exactly right, something, such as an illness or traumatic experience throws the blood sugar out of control anyway. But, with conscientious care, and, most importantly, with our Lord’s help, diabetics can lead a long, healthy, and active life. Don’t we have an even better life to which to look forward?

“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7.

Sheryle Beaudry, a certified teletriage nurse, writes from Estacada, Oregon where she lives with her husband and twin daughters. She may be contacted by e-mail at: sbeaudryrn@hotmail.com. If there is a health-related question you would like answered in LandMarks, please e-mail your question to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: LandMarks, Steps to Life, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

From the Pen of Inspiration – A Variety of Gifts

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Last night I seemed to be in an assembly of men who had been entrusted with large and important responsibilities. There were ministers present, and all seemed to be filled with apprehension for the future. After prayer had been offered, the cases of canvassers who had been appropriating means from the treasury instead of bringing means into it, were considered with much sorrow, and some counsel was offered as to the best way of dealing with those who were proving unfaithful to their trust.

When other grave matters had been presented, I arose and said, For a long time I have been pressed under the burden of the fact that we are not elevating the standard as we should. New fields are continually opening, and the third angel’s message must be proclaimed to all kindreds, nations, tongues, and peoples.

We must not feel that we are compelled to hover over churches who have received the truth. We are not to spend our time doing detail work, but are to educate others, teaching them how to labor in right lines. We must not encourage the people to depend on ministerial help and labor to preserve spiritual life. Everyone who has received the truth must go to God for his individual self, and decide to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, and do true service for God. Those who have embraced the third angel’s message must not make man their trust, depending upon the ministers to make their experience for them. They are to secure an individual experience by looking to God for themselves.

Have Root in Yourselves

Let the people of God have root in themselves, because they are planted in Jesus Christ. There must be no strife for supremacy. Let everyone seek God for himself, and know for himself that the truth of God is the sanctifier of soul, life, and character. Service to God is an individual responsibility. Let all feel that it is their duty and privilege to bear their testimony in the church, speaking of those things which will edify. No one should try to sermonize. No one should speak in a way that savors in the least of self-exaltation, or raise questions that will cause dissension. Let each one present lessons from the life of Christ, and reveal none of self but all of Jesus.

Let ministers and responsible men impress the individual members of the church that in order to grow in spirituality they must take the burden of the work which the Lord has laid upon them—the burden of leading souls into the truth. Let them teach the people that they should have a strong desire to see those not in the faith converted to the truth. Let those who have opportunity do their God-given work. Those who are not fulfilling their responsibility should be visited, prayed with, and labored for, that they may become faithful stewards of the grace of Christ. Do not lead the people to depend upon you as ministers, but teach every one who shall embrace the truth that he has a work to do in using the talents God has given him to save the souls of those who are nigh him. In thus working, the people will have the co-operation of the angels of God. They will obtain a valuable experience which will increase their faith and give them a strong hold of God.

Pray for the Laborers

Let everyone do all in his power to help both by his means and by his prayers to carry the burden for the souls for whom the ministers are laboring. Earnest prayer sent up to God for His blessing upon the laborers in the field will follow the laborers as sharp sickles into the harvest field. When the people thus pray for the work, they will not be selfish. They will seek to answer their own prayers by corresponding works. They will not hold the minister preaching to them, but will say to him, Go and carry the truth so precious to us to those who are in error, and our prayers will go with you. This will be a valuable experience to every member of the church.

In Humanity and Weakness

The messengers God sends to the people must not permit the people to attach themselves to them. They must ever keep Jesus Christ before their congregations as the One in whom all their hopes of eternal life are centered.

In every messenger whom the Lord uses there must be humility, meekness, and lowliness of mind. . . . Self must not seek for recognition. There should be no striving to be first. Self must be hid with Christ in God. Self must die, and Christ must live in the soul.

Call for Action

The laborers must learn to bear a firm, decided testimony, in humility of mind. The truth [must be] unadulterated with cheap matters which are never a help, but always a hindrance to the truth. Carry the people upward and forward positively, step by step, from strength to strength, to the firm foundation of sound Bible doctrine. The laborers should have an intense interest in their work, and as they advance, call for decided action. While the spirit of conviction rests upon the hearts of the people, fasten upon their minds the importance of deciding for and living out the truth. While they are obtaining gems of truth, lead them out to give practical expression to their faith and their gratitude for every ray of light. Let them see that the truth is a living reality to those who are holding forth the words of life. Impress upon them the importance of walking in the light that shines upon them from the Word of God.

The workers in the cause of God are to hold themselves continually under the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness. They are to pray much, opening their hearts to receive the Holy Spirit into the life and character. Then they will manifest His holy influence in their life practice. They are not to feel that it is their prerogative to work the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to work them, mold them out of self, away from hereditary and cultivated tendencies, and fashion them into the image of Christ’s mind and ways. The workers must present with long patience, line upon line, precept upon precept, the duty of the people to be earnest workers.

Religion in the Home

They are to point out the duty of parents to teach their little ones the truth as it is in Jesus, that in their simplicity the children may present to their associates that which they have learned. . . . The home is to be an educating school where parents are to do their work in perfecting the characters of their children. But parents are asleep. Their children are going to destruction before their eyes, and the Lord would have His messengers present before the people the necessity of home religion. Urge this matter home upon your congregation. Press the conviction of these solemn duties, so long neglected, upon the conscience. This will break up the spirit of Pharisaism and resistance to the truth as nothing else can. Religion in the home is our great hope, and makes the prospect bright for the conversion of the whole family to the truth of God.

Will not our ministers wrestle in earnest prayer for the holy unction, that they may not bring unimportant, unessential things into their labor at this important time? Let them not bring into their ministerial labors only that which can be heard in any of the denominational churches. Let them ever keep an uplifted Saviour before their hearers, in order to prevent their converts from attaching themselves to the man, to bear his mold, and copy his ways in their manner of conversation and conduct.

Workers in Many Lines to Blend

The Lord has a variety of workers who must impress the people in various lines. One man’s mind and one man’s manner or ways are not to be regarded as perfect, to be imitated exclusively. Christ is our model.

This Scripture is to be understood: “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” These different workers are each to do a special work; but are they to separate themselves from their fellow laborers, confining their labors to a few whom they think they have succeeded in bringing to a knowledge of the truth? Shall one say to another of the instrumentalities of God, Leave these souls to me to work with, and to bring to perfection of the faith? Let me work for them and train and educate them to perfection of faith and character?

No, this is not the way the Lord works. The one who thus thinks and thus acts is himself deficient in character. He has some strong points, and can work in certain lines; but in other lines he is weak. Other human agencies are needed whom the Holy Spirit shall guide to act their part in completing the work. No man is complete in or through any other man. It is not any one man’s gift that accomplishes the work essential. It is the Holy Spirit that works the man. Human agents of diverse gifts are needed.

By the Power of the Spirit

One man cannot carry through any work and make it complete himself, unless no other worker is available; then the Holy Spirit supplies the deficiencies of the worker. But because a measure of success attends his labors, let him not suppose that it is his methods and capabilities which have done the work; for this idea will often bring defeat. Let not men flatter themselves and take to themselves the credit of doing wonderful things; for they are weak and feeble in doing even their best. The Holy Spirit is the worker, and if the human instrument is a close student of his Bible, seeking to know the light and to walk in it, thus learning daily of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will use him as a means of communicating the Word while the Holy Spirit Himself works the heart.

All those who hold forth the Word of Life, whether they be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers, have a part to act in the work of the perfection of the saints, wherever they may be. They are all to work together harmoniously.

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:12–16.

Begin at the Heart

To every man is given his work. One man may not be able to do the work for which another man has been trained and educated. But the work of every man must begin at the heart, not resting in a theory of the truth. The work of him who surrenders the soul to God and co-operates with divine agencies will reveal an able, wise workman, who discerns how to adapt himself to the situation. The root must be holy, or there will be no holy fruit. All are to be workers together with God. Self must not become prominent. The Lord has entrusted talents and capabilities to every individual, and those who are most highly favored with opportunities and privileges to hear the Spirit’s voice are under the heaviest responsibility to God.

Those who are represented as having but one talent have also their work to do. By trading, not with pounds, but with pence, they are diligently to employ their ability, determined not to fail or be discouraged. They are to ask in faith, and depend upon the Holy Spirit to work upon unbelieving hearts. If they depend upon their own capabilities, they will fail. Those who faithfully trade upon the one talent will hear the gracious commendations spoken to them with as much heartiness as to those who have been gifted with many talents, and who have wisely improved them, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.” [Matthew 25:21.]

It is the spirit of humility in which the work is done which God regards. He who had but one talent had an influence to exert, and his work was needed. In perfecting his own character, in learning in the school of Christ, he was exerting an influence that helped to perfect the character of those who had larger responsibilities, who were in danger of building themselves up, and of neglecting some important little things, which that faithful man with his one talent was regarding with diligent care. . . .

God Honors the Humble Worker

There should be no murmuring or complaining among the workers, when one who moves in a humble position is appointed to work with them, who are looked upon as more capable. They may suppose this humble worker incapable of co-operating with them; but in this they may be greatly in error. It is essential that they learn the lesson of humility and contrition, and become capable of blending in unity with any of God’s workers, doing their best under all circumstances, believing that God alone can water the seed sown. In thus doing they will double their influence; for when duty is done with fidelity, and faithful diligence is manifested by the worker, it is evident that he bears the test and pruning of God; and the Lord requires nothing more. That man who thinks himself least the Holy Spirit assists most.—Manuscript 21, 1894. Notebook Leaflets from the Elmshaven Library, vol. 1, 127–130.

Unity of Action Essential

Unity of action is essential in the Lord’s work. His followers are to be of one heart and one mind, speaking the same thing. But not all have the same talents or the same office. “There is a variety of gifts.” Christ gives different men different abilities, to be used in different lines of work. Some are specially fitted to carry on one line of work, while others are adapted for another line. Some will labor in one way, and some in another. Some will preach the Word, others will use their ability in writing and translating books. Still others will give themselves to the work of circulating the books containing the message of present truth.

It is by the Lord’s appointment that men of varied minds are brought into the church, to be laborers together with Him. His servants have many different minds to meet, and different gifts are needed. The apostle John was different from the apostle Peter. Each had his own work. Each was to subdue his peculiarities, that he might be a help to the other.

Is Christ divided?—No. Christ abiding in a soul will not quarrel with Christ in another soul. If we are at variance with those around us, we may know that it is because self has not been crucified. He whom Christ makes free is free indeed. And we are not free unless we love one another as Christ has loved us. Our characters must be molded in harmony with Christ’s character; our wills must be surrendered to His will. Then we shall sit together in heavenly places with Him. Then we shall work together, without a thought of collision.

Little differences, dwelt upon, lead to actions that destroy Christian fellowship. Let us not allow the enemy thus to gain the advantage over us. Let us keep drawing nearer to God and to one another. Then we shall be as trees of righteousness, planted by the Lord, and watered with the river of life. And how fruitful we shall be! Did not Christ say, “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit”? [John 15:8.]

The prayer that Christ offered for His disciples just before His crucifixion reveals God’s purpose concerning us. The heart of the Saviour is set upon His followers fulfilling God’s purpose, in all its height and depth. They are to be one in Him, even though they are scattered the world over. But God can not make them one with Christ and with one another unless they are willing to give up their way for His way.

Harmony and union existing among men of varied dispositions is the strongest witness that can be borne that God has sent His Son into the world to save sinners. It is our privilege to bear this witness. But in order to do this, we must place ourselves under Christ’s command. The tender regard shown by the Saviour for His church calls upon us to keep our souls in His love. Each one has something to do. Let us strive earnestly and untiringly to fulfill God’s purpose for us “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,” unto perfect men and women, “unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” [Ephesians 4:13.] Pacific Union Recorder, March 26, 1903.

[All emphasis supplied.]

Ellen G. White (1827–1915) wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books during her lifetime. Today, including compilations from her 50,000 pages of manuscript, more than 100 titles are available in English. She is the most translated woman writer in the entire history of literature, and the most translated American author of either gender. Seventh-day Adventists believe that Mrs. White was appointed by God as a special messenger to draw the world’s attention to the Holy Scriptures and help prepare people for Christ’s second advent.

Blessings Received from Heresies

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There is no doubt that there are many religious theories being passed around by voice, by e-mail, on video tapes, on cassette tapes, and even by phone. One may wonder why and how God would permit such a thing, even among His own people.

In the first place, we do know that God is not arbitrary and therefore would not manipulate man’s thoughts and actions. He has given the human race freedom of thought that they may choose what they want to believe or think. Then, we might query, How can He work with all these heresies and false doctrines?

I know that Satan and God do not work together, but God does turn the works of Satan around to advance God’s own plans. We are told in the Bible “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose.” Romans 8:28. So heresies must fit into the program some place. I read the following quotation in the Spirit of Prophecy that caused me to think about false doctrines.

“The perversion and misinterpretation of the Scriptures by the Pharisees, and even by those who claimed to believe His words, made it necessary for Christ to speak plainly. It is thought by some to be a misfortune when erroneous theories are advanced, but the Lord has said, ‘All things work together for good to them that love God.’ The contention among the Corinthians made it necessary for Paul to write his wonderful epistles to them. If the Gentiles had not backslidden from the faith, Paul would not have written, ‘I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you out of the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another.’ It was a misapplication of the Scriptures, to prove falsehood and error true. If the Thessalonians had not misinterpreted the instruction they received, they would not have entertained the belief that the Lord was immediately to be revealed in the clouds of heaven, thus making it necessary for Paul to present the truth as it is in Jesus, leaving on record truth important for all time. And so opposition against light and truth called from Christ a clearer definition of the truth. Every time that error is advanced, it will work for good to those who sincerely love God; for when the truth is shadowed by error, those whom the Lord has made His sentinels will make the truth sharper and clearer. They will search the Scriptures for evidence of their faith. The advancement of error is the call for God’s servants to arouse, and place the truth in bold relief.” The Signs of the Times, January 6, 1898.

After reading the above quotation, I began to think that I should seek for a blessing from the theories that are propounded. Such theories as the Feast Days, the name Yahweh, the Trinity; what is the Store House; what is the Church; what is New Theology; and a host of other theories, some true and some false.

I surely do not have time to study all these things, and it would be damaging to my experience to delve into false theories, so how can they be a blessing to me? How can I distinguish between what is truth and what is error? How does God use these heresies? He must have a purpose, or He surely would not allow them to come into His church.

God is Sifting

Let us read a statement from the pen of Ellen White. “God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat. The Lord calls upon all who believe His word to awake out of sleep. Precious light has come, appropriate for this time. It is Bible truth, showing the perils that are right upon us. This light should lead us to a diligent study of the Scriptures, and a most critical examination of the positions which we hold.” Gospel Workers, 299.

In Amos 9:9 we read, “For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as [corn] is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.” So, God is sifting.

Have you ever watched wheat being sifted? They may not all do it the same way, but what I have seen is that, first the wheat is winnowed. Then the chaff is blown away before the wheat is put through a sifting process. A screen that is graduated to just the right size to let the wheat go through is used. It shakes until all the wheat is shaken through and the remaining large pieces of refuse are discarded. After that process the wheat is put in a screen that is graduated to just the right size so the kernels of wheat will stay in the sieve, and any smaller, undesirable items, such as pieces of sand, will go through the sieve. After this process the wheat is considered clean.

Can you imagine what it would be like to make bread out of flour from wheat that had not been sifted? You might get a piece of bread made from flour containing straw or chaff or even some sand or gravel. The same thing is true about other grains.

Then think what the fruit would be like if it were not sorted before being sent to the store. You might get fruit that has been half eaten by the birds or have worms in it or be spoiled. So the sorting and the sifting is very essential to provide good food.

God’s Eternal Purpose

Now let us consider heaven and what it would be like to have people who still have a love for sin enter the pearly gates and live forever. The whole plan of salvation would soon be ruined, and we would be in the same situation of death and misery that has been in this world for about 6,000 years. So we must never lose sight of God’s eternal purpose, which is to rid the universe of sin and establish a kingdom that operates on the principle of love.

God uses even the wrath of man to praise Him, for we are told in Psalm 76:10, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” So when we look at all these different theories, we may know that “We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” 11 Corinthians 13:8. God is in control; therefore all things will work together for good.

Reasons for Sifting

The sifting is necessary, and we need to know how we fit into the program. There are at least three reasons God has for the sifting process. Number one is to sift out the false-hearted. Number two is to sift out those who are over-confident in their own reasoning. Number three is to cause God’s people to study and pray until they are rooted and grounded in the truth to the place where nothing can shake them out. We must never forget that it is the chaff that is blown away and not the least grain will fall to the ground.

The False-Hearted

Let us look at the false-hearted. Who are they, and how does this affect them? The false-hearted are the ones who are in the church only by professing the truth—not by practicing what they know to be true. Their conscience may be bothering them a little bit, and when they hear of a doctrine that accepts them and promises them salvation while they are still sinning a little bit, they fall for it. Jesus describes them as “stony ground” hearers. (Mark 4:5, 6.)

John describes the false-hearted in 1 John 2:19: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” This is the situation with the false-hearted who are shaken out; they were really not part of the program. They were really in it only for their own benefit and did not realize the depths of the love of God.

Shaking out the false-hearted is a necessary program. We are told that we must go through a time of trouble and that the antichrist will come. How will the false-hearted have the courage to stand for the truth if it means sacrificing their worldly possessions and maybe even giving their lives for it? It is better for them to fall out before the fearful time of trouble, when the desertion of such a multitude would be discouraging to the true-hearted.

Overconfident in Self

The second reason for the sifting process is being overconfident in self. This is very prevalent in the human family. There is a fine line between being overly self-confident and having abilities to perform the necessary tasks of life. We must realize that our strength and mental abilities all come to us from Jesus, and if it were not for Him, we could do nothing. When Jesus was here on earth, He said, “for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5. Self-confidence and self-righteousness are close companions. And we do know that all our righteousness is only filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6.)

Self-righteousness and Christ’s righteousness are not always distinguishable by us human beings, but God reads the heart and sorts out the true from the false. He sorts by the truth or by trials, or He may even use heresies. However, He will have a true and faithful people to take to heaven with Him when He comes.

The apostle Peter fell on the point of self-confidence. He said he would die with Jesus, and he really thought that he would, because his love for Jesus was strong, but of himself he could do nothing. He did not realize that his strength and goodness came from God. And when he was taunted in the courtroom at Jesus’ trial, he denied His Lord because he did not have the courage within himself to stand up. Trials do sift out the self-confident.

From volume 5 of the Testimonies, we may read such words as this, “Nothing is more essential to communion with God than the most profound humility. ‘I dwell,’ says the High and Holy One, ‘with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.’ While you are striving to be first, remember that you will be last in the favor of God if you fail to cherish a meek and lowly spirit. Pride of heart will cause many to fail where they might have made a success. ‘Before honor is humility,’ ‘and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.’ . . . ‘Many are called but few are chosen.’ Many hear the invitation of mercy, are tested and proved; but few are sealed with the seal of the living God. Few will humble themselves as a little child, that they may enter the kingdom of heaven.

“Few receive the grace of Christ with self-abasement, with a deep and permanent sense of their unworthiness. They cannot bear the manifestations of the power of God, for this would encourage in them self-esteem, pride, and envy. This is why the Lord can do so little for us now. God would have you individually seek for the perfection of love and humility in your own hearts. Bestow your chief care upon yourselves, cultivate those excellencies of character which will fit you for the society of the pure and holy.” Ibid., 50, 51.

Study and Pray

Now for the third reason, to cause God’s people to study and pray until they are rooted and grounded in the truth and beyond being shaken out. We have been warned by prophecy that, “None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.” The Great Controversy, 593, 594. It is wise to take note of the warnings given us through inspiration, and follow the instructions.

When we come in contact with theories that are called “New Light,” it is time to pray and study. The Lord will never allow us to be led astray, if we humble our hearts and pray and study His inspired Word.

David said, in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” This is the thing we must do, if we are not going to be deceived or fail in the end.

Show Yourself Approved

Many people go to church and take it for granted that they are Christians, waiting for the Lord’s return. However, if asked why they keep the Sabbath or why they believe that the dead are asleep until Jesus awakens them, they could not even give you one text, let alone a Bible study on their beliefs. These individuals must either study to show themselves approved or they will be sifted out. Often when confronted with some heresy that they cannot refute, they will get in and study. Thus one of the purposes of heresies being sent into the church is fulfilled.

If you and I are going to be saved from many of the erroneous theories that are floating around, we need to study the Word of God along with the Spirit of Prophecy. And in order to comprehend the truth, we must spend much time in prayer as spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Without the help of the Holy Spirit it is impossible for our carnal minds to comprehend the truths of the Bible.

Oh! That God would arouse our people to the solemnity of the days in which we live and to the necessity of cleansing our hearts from all worldliness and filling them with the Word of God. May He help us to lay our own opinions aside and with a humble spirit accept what He has given us in His inspired Word.

Ruth Grosboll is an employee of Steps to Life. A retired, registered nurse, she worked for many years with her husband in the mission field. She may be contacted by e-mail at: ruthgrosboll@stepstolife.org.

Wilt Thou be Made Whole? Part II

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Recently someone asked me about a book which promotes that the ability of our body to absorb different foods and handle stress is dependent on our blood type. For instance, the book says things like if your blood type is “B” you cannot be a vegetarian because you have to have beef. People actually buy into that stuff!

The Lord’s messenger, Ellen White, wrote: “While we do not make the use of flesh-meat a test, while we do not want to force anyone to give up its use, . . . if in the face of the light God has given concerning the effect of meat eating on the system, you will still continue to eat meat, you must bear the consequences. . . . The Lord is calling for reform.” Medical Ministry, 279.

She also counseled that “The system must be nourished. Yet we do not hesitate to say that flesh-meat is not necessary for health or strength. If used it is because a depraved appetite craves it. Its use excites the animal propensities to increased activity, and strengthens the animal passions. When the animal propensities are increased, the intellectual and moral powers are decreased. The use of the flesh of animals tends to cause a grossness of body and benumbs the fine sensibilities of the mind. . . . The intellectual, the moral, and the physical powers are depreciated by the habitual use of flesh-meats. Meat-eating deranges the system, beclouds the intellect, and blunts the moral sensibilities. We say to you, dear brother and sister, your safest course is to let meat alone.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 63, 64.

Then people read another book, Fit for Life (Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, Mass Market Paperback, February 1987), that says you do not need to eat breakfast, you can just drink fruit juice. But the Spirit of Prophecy says that we need to eat breakfast: “It is the custom and order of society to take a slight breakfast. But this is not the best way to treat the stomach. At breakfast time the stomach is in a better condition to take care of more food than at the second or third meal of the day. The habit of eating a sparing breakfast and a large dinner is wrong. Make your breakfast correspond more nearly to the heartiest meal of the day.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 173.

People believe the secular writers, so they add barley green (which is good) in the juice in the morning, eat a salad for lunch, and ingest a heavy meal in the evening, because that is what some nutritionists and doctors say to do.

Use the Manual

Many people on a juice diet have told me they will be on it for life. They may be diabetic, have cancer, or suffer from another malady. I could give case after case, testimony after testimony, contradicting such a diet, but what does the Word say? We must have a barometer to interpret everything we read. I have hundreds of books, but I know what is right because of the Bible—to the law and to the testimony. If you have never read the law and the testimony, you will buy into everything.

I challenge every medical missionary to go back to the Manual [the Bible]. I deal with Adventists who are off into all kinds of modalities such as acupuncture, reflexology, crystals, and iridology. They claim these things work. The devil believes also; he works and performs miracles too. “Satan is working with everyone who is not under the control of the Spirit of God. It is the lying wonders of the devil that will take the world captive . . . . He is to work miracles; and this wonderful, miracle-working power is to sweep in the whole world. It is now just beginning.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 51.

How are you going to know what is what unless you know the Word of God? Show me iridology in the Bible . . . it is not there. Be straight, be plain. Anything that is mysterious is not of God. God’s Plan is simple. He takes the simple things to confound the wisdom of the world. One rock felled Goliath; eleven unlearned men turned the world upside down.

Faith is Vital

Jesus says, “And He entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” Matthew 9:1, 2, 6. Jesus first said, “Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven.” Then He said, “Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thine house.” As Jesus healed, He included the three aspects of mental, spiritual, and physical.

Notice in verse 2 it says, “Seeing their faith.” Whose faith?—when Jesus saw the faith of those who had brought him! Ellen White tells us that we should speak of such faith to those in our care: “You can speak often to the sick of the Great Physician who can heal the diseases of the body as verily as He heals the sickness of the soul. Pray with the sick, and try to lead them to see in Christ their Healer. Tell them that if they will look to Him in faith, He will say to them, ‘Thy sins be forgiven thee.’ It means very much to the sick to learn this lesson.” Medical Ministry, 196, 197. [Emphasis supplied.]

The story is repeated in Mark 2 with more details: Jesus was in a place where there was no room for a sick man to get to Him. This man had four friends who knew that Jesus was the Chief Physician, but they could not get their friend near Jesus. What did they do? They climbed up on the roof and tore open a hole! They actually removed the roof to let their sick friend down into the room where Jesus was. The roof was separating the Saviour from them. Are there any roofs in your life that are separating you from the Saviour? If so, you need to tear them out!

When Jesus saw the young man with palsy, and He saw their faith, He said, “Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.” (Verse 5.) What do those words mean to you and me? Does it mean that we can bear someone up in the arms of our faith to give Christ access to their hearts? Yes, it does. We can bear our children up; we can bear our spouses up; we can bear the church up; and we can bear souls up in our faith! That is why we must be sure that our faith is not spotted with the world. We want to be sure that when we pray to our heavenly Father that our prayers do not go up to the ceiling and drop back down. That is why we do not want to regard any iniquity in our hearts. “If we regard iniquity in our hearts the Lord will not hear us. He can do what He will with His own. He will glorify Himself by working in and through them who wholly follow Him so that it shall be known that it is the Lord, and that their works are wrought in God.” Counsels on Health, 378. “If we regard iniquity in our hearts, if we cling to any known sin, the Lord will not hear us; but the prayer of the penitent, contrite soul is always accepted. When all known wrongs are righted, we may believe that God will answer our petitions.” Steps to Christ, 95.

That is why I want to walk the talk. I deal with too many suffering people, and I want God to hear my prayer in behalf of those souls. I want God to access their lives through my faith.

If you have faith, God can touch someone’s life. That is what these Scripture passages are telling us. They also show us that mental healing precedes physical healing.

Be of Good Cheer

As soon as we are diagnosed with a dreaded disease, such as cancer, the mind begins to go through depression. It shuts down. But Christ repeatedly exhorts us to be of good cheer: “Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Matthew 9:2. “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50. “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. The opposite of good cheer is fear. Fear occurs when false evidence appears real. Some of us handle problems by faith, with good cheer. Others handle problems with fear. God says that perfect love casts out that fear. When we can rise above the fear, we can live. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18.

The Bible goes on to tell us that in Him we can have peace. John 16:33 says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” We must come to the conclusion, as a Christian, that we are going to have trouble. Once we resolve that we are going to have trouble, we do not have to focus on it anymore. Man is born into trouble. Do not worry; do not dwell on it; do not look for it; know it is there—it is going to come. We might have financial trouble, children problems, sickness problems, but do not worry about them, because God says, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome.” Ibid.

Ellen White wrote that “there are many who desire to love and serve God, and yet when affliction comes upon them, they do not discern the love of God in it, but the hand of the enemy. They mourn and murmur and complain; but this is not the fruit of love to God in the soul. If we have perfect love, we shall know that God is not seeking to injure us, but that in the midst of trials, and griefs, and pains, He is seeking to make us perfect, and to test the quality of our faith. When we cease to worry about the future, and begin to believe that God loves us, and means to do us good, we shall trust Him as a child trusts a loving parent. Then our troubles and torments will disappear, and our will will be swallowed up in the will of God.” Sons and Daughters of God, 193.

Shift Your Focus

Once we shift our focus from the trouble to the solution, then we can go on to live the Christian life.

The biggest challenge in dealing with sick people is to help them shift their focus from their sickness to the Healer. If a person wants to lose weight, all they do is focus on losing weight. Stop dwelling on losing weight, dwell on being healthy. Stop dwelling on gaining weight, dwell on being healthy. Stop dwelling on diabetes, dwell on being healthy. Stop dwelling on the problem! If we will do that, watch the endorphins start kicking in; watch the immune system boost up. Our biggest challenge is to stop dwelling on the negative circumstances.

“The mind will strengthen by dwelling upon elevating subjects. If trained to run in the channel of purity and holiness, it will become healthy and vigorous. If trained to dwell upon spiritual themes, it will naturally take that turn. But this attraction of the thoughts to heavenly things cannot be gained without the exercise of faith in God and an earnest, humble reliance upon Him for that strength and grace which will be sufficient for every emergency.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 408. We should understand “how closely body and mind are related and show the need of keeping both in the very best condition.” Medical Ministry, 263.

Body and Mind Relationship

“The relation that exists between the mind and the body is very intimate. When one is affected, the other sympathizes. The condition of the mind affects the health to a far greater degree than many realize.” The Ministry of Healing, 241. Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, without a light on, and stubbed your big toe on an object? The brain begins to tell the mouth to say, Ouch! The brain says, Hand, grab that toe. Have you ever had that experience? The reaction is automatic! When one is affected the other sympathizes. Therefore, we find that the condition of the mind affects the health to a far greater degree than many realize. “Many of the diseases from which men suffer are the result of mental depression.” Ibid.

When we were in Thailand, we had one stop on our way to another meeting, and I picked up a newspaper to take on the plane with me. An article in this paper stated that 50 percent of the people in Bangkok suffer from mental depression. If we add together the populations of New York City and Los Angeles and multiply that number by 1,000, we would have the population of Bangkok. The reasons they are mentally depressed are the traffic, the noise, the pollution, and the economics. Fifty percent! One out of every five Americans are suffering from depression. Even those of God’s professed people suffer from depression.

Inspiration continues, “Grief, anxiety, discontent, remorse, guilt, distrust, all tend to break down the life forces and to invite decay and death.” Ibid. “Doubt, perplexity, and excessive grief often sap the vital forces and induce nervous diseases of a most debilitating and distressing character.” Healthful Living, 48. God did not say it is a sin to go through these emotions, but He does say that if we continue under their burden it is going to wipe out our vital force. Such a thing could happen even to someone like Elijah, a mighty prophet of God. “In the desert, in loneliness and discouragement [after his mountaintop experience on Mt. Carmel], Elijah had said that he had had enough of life and had prayed that he might die. But the Lord in His mercy had not taken him at his word. There was yet a great work for Elijah to do.” Prophets and Kings, 228. Was he depressed? Yes, he was. But God had not forsaken him; He said, What doest thou here? What are you doing under this depression? Instead of being under the circumstances, you need to be master of the circumstances. Elijah’s “petulance was silenced, his spirit softened and subdued. He now knew that a quiet trust, a firm reliance on God, would ever find for him a present help in time of need.” Review and Herald, October 23, 1913.

Jesus was not a depressed man, but depression shrouded Him in Gethsemane—so much so that He sweat great drops of blood. (Luke 22:44.) But Jesus looked through that depressed moment and saw the glory of His Father.

Grief, emotional suffering, disaster, unfortunate outcomes, anxiety, if any of these are chronically part of your life, wearing out your mental, spiritual, and physical vital force, look to Jesus. You cannot get physically well unless you hear Him say, “Be of good cheer.” God’s grace is sufficient.

These mental states can affect the whole body, but God wants us to be on top of the circumstances. He does not want us to carry the world on our shoulders—the whole world is in His hands. The mind has a definite affect upon the body. God has given us the mechanism—the biological and physiological mechanism—to deal with emergency situations short term. Heart rate accelerates, breathing increases, blood vessels constrict, fats are dumped off into the body—this gives us the fight or flight syndrome. That is all right in an emergency. But if it continues two days, three days, weeks, months, and years, it would have a devastating impact upon us.

Attitude of Gratitude

Emotional distresses can cause any disease, but God has the whole world in His hands. Courage, hope, faith, sympathy, and love promote a long life. A contented, cheerful spirit is health to the body and strength to the soul. “A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22. So if a merry heart does good like a medicine and a broken spirit dries the bones, that means that when we have an attitude of gratitude the immune system is strengthened. Every time we praise God, every time we count our blessings it has a physiological effect on us. Let us praise God! Let us think of His goodness.

One day take a sheet of paper; draw a straight line down the middle, and on one side list all of your blessings and on the other all of your curses. I will guarantee that your blessings will out-weigh your curses. God is good.

“How often those who are in health forget the wonderful mercies that are continued to them day by day, year after year. They render no tribute of praise to God for all His benefits. But when sickness comes, God is remembered. The strong desire for recovery leads to earnest prayer, and this is right. God is our refuge in sickness as in health. But many do not leave their cases with Him; they encourage weakness and disease by worrying about themselves. If they would cease repining and rise above depression and gloom, their recovery would be more sure. They should remember with gratitude how long they enjoyed the blessing of health; and should this precious boon be restored to them, they should not forget that they are under renewed obligations to their Creator. When the ten lepers were healed, only one returned to find Jesus and give Him glory. Let us not be like the unthinking nine whose hearts were untouched by the mercy of God.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 315.

Wilt thou be made whole? Physical healing follows mental and spiritual healing. I pray that God gives you this healing; and may you shift your focus from your problems to the solutions and connect with Jesus. Do not just get theoretical knowledge, but obtain an understanding of how to apply the grace of God to your life so you can enjoy true health and happiness.

Thomas Jackson is a health evangelist and Director of Missionary Education and Evangelistic Training (M.E.E.T.) Ministry in Huntingdon, Tennessee. He may be contacted by e-mail at: godsplan@meetministry.org or by telephone at: 731-986-3518.