church. It is essential that we walk in the light while we have the light.—Manuscript 71,
1908.
Trifling With the Messages—Frequently I do not anticipate saying the things I do say
when I am speaking before the people. God may give me words of reproof, of warning, or
encouragement as he sees fit, for the benefit of souls. I shall speak these words, and they
may cut across the track of my brethren, whom I sincerely love and respect in the truth.
I expect to have these words distorted, misapprehended by unbelievers, and it is no
surprise to me. But to have my brethren, who are acquainted with my mission and my work,
trifle with the message that God gives me to bear, grieves his Spirit.
It is discouraging to me to have them pick out portions in the testimonies that please
them which they construe to justify their own course of action and give the impression that
that portion they accept as the voice of God, and then when other testimonies come that bring
rebuke upon their course, when words are spoken that do not coincide with their opinions
and judgment, they dishonor God’s work by saying, “Oh, this we do not accept—it is only
Reception of the Messages 55
Sister White’s opinion, and it is no better than my opinion or that of anyone else.”—Letter
3, 1889.
Watching for Words on Which Human Interpretation Is Placed—I am sensible of
the fact that I am mortal, and that I must guard my physical, mental, and moral powers. The
constant changing from place to place necessitated by travel, and the taking hold of public
labor wherever I have gone, have been too much for me, in addition to the writings that I
have been preparing day and night as the Lord has worked my mind by his Holy Spirit.
And when I am meeting with evidences that these communications will be treated by
some in accordance with the human judgment of those who shall receive them, when I
realize that some are watching keenly for some words which have been traced by my pen
and upon
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which they can place their human interpretations in order to sustain their positions and to
justify a wrong course of action—when I think of these things, it is not very encouraging to
continue writing.
Some of these who are certainly reproved, strive to make every word vindicate their own
statements. The twistings and connivings and misrepresentations and misapplications of the
Word are marvelous! Persons are linked together in this work. What one does not think of,
another mind supplies.—Letter 172, 1906.
Wresting the Scriptures and the Testimonies—The lessons of Christ were often
misunderstood, not because he did not make them plain, but because the minds of the Jews,
like the minds of many who claim to believe in this day, were filled with prejudice. Because
Christ did not take sides with the Scribes and Pharisees, they hated Him, opposed Him,
sought to counteract his efforts, and to make his words of no effect.
Why will not men see and live the truth? Many study the Scriptures for the purpose of
proving their own ideas to be correct. They change the meaning of God’s Word to suit their
own opinions. And thus they do also with the testimonies that he sends. They quote half
a sentence, leaving out the other half, which, if quoted, would show their reasoning to be
false. God has a controversy with those who wrest the Scriptures, making them conform to
their preconceived ideas.—Manuscript 22, 1890.
Words Wrested and Misunderstood—It seems impossible for me to be understood
by those who have had the light but have not walked in it. What I might say in private
conversations would be so repeated as to make it mean exactly opposite to what it would
have meant had the hearers been sanctified in mind and spirit. I am afraid to speak even to
my friends; for afterwards I hear, Sister White said this, or Sister White said that.
My words are so wrested and misinterpreted that I am coming to the conclusion that the
Lord desires me to keep out of large assemblies and refuse private interviews.
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What I say is reported in such a perverted light that it is new and strange to me. It is mixed
with words spoken by men to sustain their own theories.—Letter 139, 1900.
From the First a Voice in Our Midst—We call upon you to take your stand on the
Lord’s side, and act your part as a loyal subject of the kingdom. Acknowledge the gift that
56 Selected Messages Book 3
has been placed in the church for the guidance of God’s people in the closing days of earth’s
history. From the beginning the church of God has had the gift of prophecy in her midst as a
living voice to counsel, admonish, and instruct.
We have now come to the last days of the work of the third angel’s message, when Satan
will work with increasing power because he knows that his time is short. At the same time
there will come to us through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, diversities of operations in the
outpouring of the Spirit. This is the time of the latter rain.—Letter 230, 1908.
The Protective Barrier Torn Away—The enemy has made his masterly efforts to
unsettle the faith of our own people in the Testimonies, and when these errors come in they
claim to prove all the positions by the Bible, but they misinterpret the Scriptures. They make
bold assertions, as did Elder Canright, and misapply the prophecies and the Scriptures to
prove falsehood. And, after men have done their work in weakening the confidence of our
churches in the Testimonies, they have torn away the barrier, that unbelief in the truth shall
become widespread, and there is no voice to be lifted up to stay the force of error.
This is just as Satan designed it should be, and those who have been preparing the way
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
for the people to pay no heed to the warnings and reproofs of the Testimonies of the Spirit of
God will see that a tide of errors of all kinds will spring into life. They will claim Scripture
as their evidence, and deceptions of Satan in every form will prevail.