The many interests centering in Battle Creek should be divided
and subdivided, and placed in other cities. You who think you are
wise men may say: “It will cost too much. We can do the work here
in Battle Creek at less expense.” Well, does not the Lord know all
this? Is not He a God who understands all the unbelieving reasoning
that holds so many interests in Battle Creek? He has revealed to you
that centers should be made in all the cities. This would call many
out of Battle Creek to work in other places.
In order to be carried forward aright, the medical missionary
work needs talent. It requires strong, willing hands, and wise, discriminating
management. But can this be while those in responsible
places—presidents of conferences and ministers—bar the way?
The Lord says to the presidents of conferences and to other
influential brethren: “Remove the stumbling blocks that have been
placed before the people.”
Our people in Battle Creek have not exercised their talents in
planning and devising how to plant the standard of truth in regions
where the message has not been proclaimed and where decided
efforts should be made; and the Lord has moved upon Dr. Kellogg
and his associates to do the work which belongs to the church and
which was offered to them, but which they did not choose to accept.
Some in Battle Creek, instead of taking up the work given them of [72]
God, have, by following their own selfish way, blinded their spiritual
eyesight and the spiritual eyesight of others; and God has placed His
precious work in the hands of those who will take it up and carry it
forward.
God is in His holy place, and He dwells also with him who is of
a humble and contrite spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to
revive the heart of the contrite ones. Those who are doing medical
missionary work should have the full sanction and co-operation of
the church. If they do not have this they are hindered. Nevertheless,
they will advance. It is not in God’s plan that there shall be two
churches in Battle Creek because of the want of co-operation. How
much better it is to seek for unity of action. If the medical missionary
workers will carry this line of effort into the churches everywhere, if
they will work in the fear of God, they will find many doors opened
before them, and angels will work with them.
74 Testimonies for the Church Volume 8
Please read the invitation to the supper, and the last call to be
made. Study what is being done to meet the command of Jesus. I
cannot understand why such indifference is manifested, why you
should stand afar off and criticize and draw away. The gospel net is
to be cast into the sea, and it draws both good and bad. But because
this is so, shall men and women ignore the efforts made to save those
who will believe and who will unite in reaching that class of whom
Christ spoke in His rebuke to the Pharisees? Sinners and harlots,
He said, “go into the kingdom of God before you.” Will you not see
that even in the church there are those who have no connection with
God? But Christ says: Let the tares and the wheat grow together
until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers,
Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn
them: but gather the wheat into My barn.”
[73] When the Lord moves upon the churches, bidding them do a
certain work, and they refuse to do that work; and when some, their
human efforts united with the divine, endeavor to reach to the very
depths of human woe and misery, God’s blessing will rest richly
upon them. Even though but few accept the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, their work will not be in vain; for one soul is precious, very
precious, in the sight of God. Christ would have died for one soul in
order that that one might live through the eternal ages.
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
Let us study the eighteenth chapter of Matthew. This chapter
should enlighten our eyes. “Take heed,” Christ says: “that ye despise
not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their
angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.