Preparation for the Latter Rain

The great controversy between Christ and Satan is nearing its culmination; Satan is marshaling his forces for the last act in the drama of human history.

We are told in Revelation 12:12, "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

A similar warning is given by the messenger of the Lord to the remnant:

"Perilous times are before us. Every one who has a knowledge of the truth should awake and place himself, body, soul, and spirit, under the discipline of God. The enemy is on our track. We must be wide awake, on our guard against him. We must put on the whole armor of God. We must follow the directions given through the spirit of prophecy. We must love and obey the truth for this time. This will save us from accepting strong delusions ... He [God] has spoken to us through the Testimonies to the church and through the books that have helped to make plain our present duty and the position that we should now occupy. The warnings that have been given, line upon line, precept upon precept, should be heeded. If we disregard them, what excuse can we offer?"-Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 298.

"I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me. I do not write... expressing my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision-the precious rays of light shining from the throne."-Ibid., vol. 5, p. 67.

In this dark hour of earth's history, we certainly need every ray of light shining from the throne of God. We know that a great crisis awaits the world, but we read in volume five of the Testimonies, page 711, that "a great crisis awaits the people of God. "

"The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying, and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against another, contending for the highest place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horse races, gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation's hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and entranced, until the day of probation shall be ended, and the door of mercy be forever shut."-The Desire of Ages, p. 636.

"A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. Are we prepared to meet it?"-Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 315.

"Fearful tests and trials await the people of God."-Ibid., vol. 9, p. 17.

"Every discourse should be given under a sense of the awful judgments soon to fall on the world. The message of truth is to be proclaimed by lips touched with a live coal from the divine altar. My heart is filled with anguish when I think of the tame messages borne by some of our ministers, when they have a message of life and death to bear. The ministers are asleep; the lay members are asleep; and a world is perishing in sin. May God help His people to arouse and walk and work as men and women on the borders of the eternal world."-Ibid., vol. 8, pp. 36, 37.

"If every soldier of Christ had done his duty... the world might ere this have heard the message of warning. But the work is years behind."-Ibid., vol. 9, p. 29.

"Had the purpose of God been carried out by His people in giving to the world the message of mercy, Christ would, ere this, have come to the earth, and the saints would have received their welcome into the city of God."-Ibid., vol. 6, p. 450.

Some may say, "Yes, but a national Sunday law has not yet been passed." Consider the following statement:

"Let there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled."-The Great Controversy, p. 48.

The coming of Jesus has been delayed for so many years, should we not at this time give diligent, prayerful study to the real cause for this long delay, so that we may prepare quickly to hasten His coming?

"If human agencies would but cooperate with divine agencies, many, many souls would be won to the truth. But the Lord's professing people have been sleeping over their allotted work." -Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 46.

"The Holy Spirit is waiting for channels through whom to work .... Satan will not always triumph. The Spirit of God will be poured out upon the church just as soon as the vessels are prepared to receive it."- "That I May Know Him, " p. 330.

"I saw that the remnant were not prepared for what is coming upon the earth. Stupidity, like lethargy, seemed to hang upon the minds of most of those who profess to believe that we are having the last message. My accompanying angel cried out with awful solemnity, "Get ready! get ready! get ready! for the fierce anger of the Lord is soon to come. His wrath is to be poured out, unmixed with mercy, and ye are not ready. Rend the heart, and not the garment. A great work must be done for the remnant. Many of them are dwelling upon little trials." Said the angel, "Legions of evil angels are around you, and are trying to press in their awful darkness, that ye may be ensnared and taken. Ye suffer your minds to be diverted too readily from the work of preparation and the all-important truths for these last days. And ye dwell upon little trials and go into minute particulars of little difficulties to explain them to the satisfaction of this one or that." Conversation has been protracted for hours between the parties concerned, and not only has their time been wasted, but the servants of God are held to listen to them, when the hearts of both parties are unsubdued by grace. If pride and selfishness were laid aside, five minutes would remove most difficulties. Angels have been grieved and God displeased by the hours which have been spent in justifying self. I saw that God will not bow down and listen to long justifications, and He does not want His servants to do so, and thus precious time be wasted that should be spent in showing transgressors the error of their ways and pulling souls out of the fire. I saw that God's people are on the enchanted ground, and that some have lost nearly all sense of the shortness of time and the worth of the soul. Pride has crept in among Sabbathkeepers-pride of dress and appearance. Said the angel, "Sabbathkeepers will have to die to self, die to pride and love of approbation."-Early Writings, pp. 119, 120.

However, we are without excuse, because "the events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for the time of trouble, are clearly presented." -The Great Controversy, p. 594.

"Nearly all who profess to believe present truth are unprepared to understand the work of preparation for this time."-Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 466.

Christ the True Witness (Rev. 1:5) has sent a message to the Laodicean church, which if heeded will prepare us for the latter rain.

"The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciation, and is applicable to the people of God at the present time." 3T 252

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things saith
the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (chap. 3:14-21).

"What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation of their true condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and His testimony must be correct." 3T 252

The message to Laodicea is a true picture of the spiritual condition of the remnant church during the last days of earth's history, and is Christ's final appeal to the remnant before the close of probation. The reason for Laodicea's lukewarm and wretched state is that self reigns in the heart and Christ is kept outside the door.

"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, p. 388.

"The counsel of the True Witness does not represent those who are lukewarm as in a hopeless case. There is yet a chance to remedy their state, and the Laodicean message is full of encouragement." -Review and Herald, Aug. 28, 1894.

"The warning for the last church also must be proclaimed to all who claim to be Christians. The Laodicean message, like a sharp, two-edged sword, must go to all the churches.... It is our work to proclaim this message. Are we putting forth every effort that the churches may be warned?"-Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 77.

"What disposition will these [fault finding Adventists] make of the message of the True Witness to the Laodiceans? There can be no deception here. This message must be borne to a lukewarm church by God's servants. It must arouse His people from their security and dangerous deception in regard to their real standing before God. This testimony, if received, will arouse to action and lead to self-abasement and confession of sins."-Ibid., vol 3, p. 259.

"Man's great danger is in being self-deceived."-The Ministry of Healing, p. 455.

"The only hope for the Laodiceans is a clear view of their standing before God, a knowledge of the nature of their disease. They are neither cold nor hot; they occupy a neutral position, and at the same time flatter themselves that they are in need of nothing."-Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 87.

"What shall I say to arouse the remnant people of God? I was shown that dreadful scenes are before us; Satan and his angels are bringing all their powers to bear upon God's people. He knows that if they sleep a little longer he is sure of them, for their destruction is certain."-Ibid., vol. 1, p. 263.

"Satan will, if possible, prevent them [the people of God] from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange affairs as to hedge up their way, entangle them with earthly treasures, cause, them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged with the cares of this life, and the day of trial may come upon them as a thief."-The Great Controversy, pp. 625, 626.

"The powers of Satan are at work to keep minds diverted from eternal realities. The enemy has arranged matters to suit his own purposes. Worldly business, sports, the fashions of the day-these things occupy the minds of men and women."-Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 43.

"We must turn away from a thousand topics that invite attention. There are matters that consume time and arouse inquiry, but end in nothing. The highest interests demand the close attention and energy that are too often given to comparatively insignificant things....

"We need to feel our responsibility to give our souls food that will nourish and stimulate spiritual life."-Ibid., vol. 8, p. 316.

"Man is naturally inclined to follow Satan's suggestions, and he cannot successfully resist so terrible a foe unless Christ, the mighty Conqueror, dwells in him, guiding his desires, and giving him strength... .Satan is preparing his deceptions, that in his last campaign against the people of God they may not understand that it is he."-Ibid, vol. 1, p. 341.

"This vigilant foe is upon their track every moment." -The Great Controversy, p. 508.

"Evil angels are upon our track every moment."-Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 302.

"I say to all: Be on your guard; for as an angel of light Satan is walking in every assembly of Christian workers, and in every church, trying to win the members to his side."-Ibid., vol. 8, p. 294.

"There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the Lord can pour out His Spirit."-Christ Our Righteousness, p. 149.

"A constant battle must be kept up with the selfishness and corruption of the human heart.... Those who forget God, even for an hour or a moment, are in a dangerous path."-Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 397.

"Whenever a Christian is off his guard, this powerful adversary makes a sudden and violent attack."-Ibid., p. 394.

One third of the angels of heaven were deceived. Eve and Cain, her first born, were deceived. All but eight were deceived at the time of the Flood. The religious leaders at the time of Christ were deceived; even though they witnessed the Son of God perform His greatest miracles.

"I have been shown that Satan has not been stupid and careless these many years, since his fall, but has been learning. He has grown more artful. His plans are laid deeper, and are more covered with a religious garment to hide their deformity. The power of Satan now to tempt and deceive is ten-fold greater than it was in the days of the apostles. His power has increased, and it will increase, until it is taken away. His wrath and hate grow stronger as his time to work draws near its close.

"God knows how Satan is working, and sends his angels to watch over his children, to protect them from the Devil's power. And the battle is constantly going on between the angels of God, and the Devil's angels. The angels of God are clothed with a complete armor, the panoply of heaven, and, although surrounded with deadly foes, fear nothing, for they are doing the will of their loved Commander. They enter the darkest places to rescue the children of God from the snares of Satan, and their presence causes the evil angels to fall back. And as the evil angels are defeated, they utter terrible imprecations against the injustice of God, and against his angels." 2SG 277

He will deceive, if possible, the very elect (Matt. 24:24). "Because of the increasing power of Satan's temptations, the times in which we live are full of peril for the children of God."-Counsels to Parents and Teachers, p. 322.

"No matter how high our station, we need to watch and pray continually. We must be daily controlled by the Spirit of God or we are controlled by Satan." Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 102

"The church has received warning after warning. The duties and dangers of God's people have been plainly revealed. But the worldly element has proved too strong for them. Customs, practices, and fashions which lead the soul away from God have been for years gaining ground in defiance of the warnings and entreaties of the Holy Spirit, until at last their ways have become right in their own eyes, and the Spirit's voice is scarcely heard. No man can tell how far he may go in sin when once he yields himself to the power of the great deceiver. Satan entered into Judas Iscariot and induced him to betray his Lord. Satan led Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the Holy Ghost. Those who are not wholly consecrated to God may be led to do the work of Satan, while yet they flatter themselves that they are in the service of Christ."-Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 103.

"Satan takes the control of every mind that is not decidedly under the control of the Spirit of God."-Testimonies to Ministers, p. 79.

"Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win."-The Desire of Ages, p. 636.

"Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17).

"The continued, earnest prayer of faith will bring us light and strength to withstand the fiercest assaults of Satan."-The Sufferings of Christ, p. 8.

"Intense earnestness should now take possession of us."-Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 44.

"Will you heed the counsel of the True Witness, to seek the gold tried in the fire, the white raiment, and the eyesalve? The gold is faith and love, the white raiment is the righteousness of Christ, the eyesalve is that spiritual discernment which will enable you to see the wiles of Satan and shun them, to detect sin and abhor it, to see truth and obey it."-Ibid., vol. 5, p. 233.

"But many do not appreciate the fact that they must have the heavenly unction .... The name `foolish virgins' represents the character of those who have not the genuine heart-work wrought by the Spirit of God. The coming of Christ does not change the foolish virgins into wise ones .... The state of the Church represented by the foolish virgins is also spoken of as the Laodicean state."-Review and Herald, Aug. 19, 1890.

"The Laodicean message applies to the people of God who profess to believe present truth. The greater part are lukewarm professors, having a name but no zeal .... They are unwilling to die to self."-Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 87.

"I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans applies to God's people at the present time .... It is designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel."-Ibid., vol. 1, p. 186.

"I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people.

"I saw that the testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance; all who truly receive it will obey it and be purified." -Early Writings, p. 270.

"Those who place themselves under God's control, to be led and guided by Him, will catch the steady tread of the events ordained by Him to take place. Inspired with the Spirit of Him who gave His life for the life of the world, they will no longer stand still in impotency, pointing to what they cannot do. Putting on the armor of heaven, they will go forth to the warfare, willing to do and dare for God, knowing that His omnipotence will supply their need." -Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 14.

"God will do the work if we will furnish Him the instruments." -Ibid, vol. 9, p. 107.

"Upon us rests the weighty responsibility of warning the world of its coming doom. From every direction, from far and near, are coming calls for help. God calls upon His church to arise and clothe herself with power. Immortal crowns are to be won; the kingdom of heaven is to be gained; the world, perishing in ignorance, is to be enlightened." Ibid., vol. 7, p. 16.

"As the third angel's message swells into a loud cry, great power and glory will attend its proclamation. The faces of God's people will shine with the light of heaven." Ibid., vol. 7, p. 17.

"The whole universe is watching with inexpressible interest the closing scenes of the great controversy between good and evil. The people of God are nearing the borders of the eternal world."-Prophets and Kings, p. 148.

"Christ has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to His church, and the promise belongs to us as much as to the first disciples. But like every other promise, it is given on conditions. There are many who believe and profess to claim the Lord's promise; they talk about Christ and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit. They do not surrender the soul to be guided and controlled by the divine agencies. We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us. Through the Spirit God works in His people "to will and to do of His good pleasure." Phil. 2:13. But many will not submit to this. They want to manage themselves. This is why they do not receive the heavenly gift. Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train. It is given according to the riches of the grace of Christ, and He is ready to supply every soul according to the capacity to receive." DA 672.

If we are not willing to let the Holy Spirit have His way in our lives, then we are working in the energy of the flesh and not in the power of the Spirit.

"Without the Spirit and power of God, it will be in vain that we labor to present the truth."-Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 158.

The last words of Jesus just before He ascended to heaven should constantly ring in our ears. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witness unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

"Christ, the Great Teacher, had an infinite variety of subjects from which to choose, but the one upon which He dwelt most largely was the endowment of the Holy Spirit. What great things He predicted for the church because of this endowment. Yet what subject is less dwelt upon now?"-Selected Messages, book 1, p. 156.

"Man needs a power outside of and beyond himself, to restore him to the likeness of God, and enable him to do the work of God; but this does not make the human agency unessential. Humanity lays hold upon divine power. Christ dwells in the heart by faith; and through cooperation with the divine, the power of man becomes efficient for good.

"He who called the fisherman of Galilee is still calling men to His service. And He is just as willing to manifest His power through us as through the first disciples."-The Desire of Ages, pp. 296, 297.

"We can be fitted for heaven only through the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart; for we must have Christ's righteousness as our credentials if we would find access to the Father. In order that we may have the righteousness of Christ, we need daily to be transformed by the influence of the Spirit, to be a partaker of the divine nature. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to elevate the taste, to sanctify the heart, to ennoble the whole man." -Selected Messages, book 1, p. 374.

"Notwithstanding the widespread declension of faith and piety, there are true followers of Christ in these churches. Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon His children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and His word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time to prepare a people for the Lord's second coming. The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power he will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world." The Great Controversy, p. 464.

"I was shown God's people waiting for some change to take place-a compelling power to take hold of them. But they will be disappointed, for they are wrong. They must act, they must take hold of the work themselves and earnestly cry to God for a true knowledge of themselves. The scenes which are passing before us are of sufficient magnitude to cause us to arouse and urge the truth home to the hearts of all who will listen." -Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 261.

"I was shown that if God's people make no efforts on their part, but wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in the loud cry of the third angel, they will be found wanting."-Ibid., p. 619.

"Many have in a great measure failed to receive the former rain. They have not obtained all the benefits that God has thus provided for them. They expect that the lack will be supplied by the latter rain. When the richest abundance of grace shall be bestowed, they intend to open their hearts to receive it. They are making a terrible mistake.... If we do not progress, if we do not place ourselves in an attitude to receive both the former and the latter rain, we shall lose our souls, and the responsibility will lie at our own door."-Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 507, 508.

"Today you are to give yourself to God, that you may be emptied of self, emptied of envy, jealousy, evil surmising, strife, everything that shall be dishonoring to God. Today you are to have your vessel purified that it may be ready for the heavenly dew, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord--fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit." Gods Amazing Grace p. 205

"It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost."-Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 214.

"Those who come up on every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation."-Ibid. vol. 1, p. 1.87.

"I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of `refreshing' and the `latter rain' to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God. Those who refuse to be hewed by the prophets and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth, and who are willing to believe that their condition is far better than it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building. But there will be no time then to do it and no Mediator to plead their cause before the Father. Before this time the awfully solemn declaration has gone forth, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." I saw that none could share the "refreshing" unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. Let all remember that God is holy and that none but holy beings can ever dwell in His presence."-Early Writings, p. 71.

"I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans applies to God's people at the present time, and the reason it has not accomplished a greater work is because of the hardness of their hearts. But God has given the message time to do its work. The heart must be purified from sins which have so long shut out Jesus. This fearful message will do its work. When it was first presented, it led to close examination of heart. Sins were confessed, and the people of God were stirred everywhere. Nearly all believed that this message would end in the loud cry of the third angel. But as they failed to see the powerful work accomplished in a short time, many lost the effect of the message. I saw that this message would not accomplish its work in a few short months. it is designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel."-Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 186.

"We may be sure that when the Holy Spirit is poured out, those who did not receive and appreciate the early rain will not see or understand the value of the latter rain."-Testimonies to Ministers, p. 399.

"But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it."-Ibid, p. 507.

"Those who are devoid of the Holy Spirit cannot be faithful watchmen upon the walls of Zion; for they are blind to the work that ought to be done, and do not give the trumpet a certain sound. The baptism of the Holy Ghost as on the day of Pentecost will lead to a revival of true religion and to the performance of many wonderful works. Heavenly intelligences will come among us, and men will speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit of God. But should the Lord work upon men as He did on and after the day of Pentecost, many who now claim to believe the truth would know so very little of the operation of the Holy Spirit that they would cry, `Beware of fanaticism.' They would say of those who were filled with the Spirit, `These men are full of new wine.'"

"The time is not far off now when men will want a much closer relation to Christ, a much closer union with His Holy Spirit, than ever they have had, or will have, unless they give up their will and their way, and submit to God's will and God's way. The great sin of those who profess to be Christians is that they do not open the heart to receive the Holy Spirit. When souls long after Christ, and seek to become one with Him, then those who are content with the form of godliness, exclaim "Be careful, do not go to extremes." When the angels of heaven come among us, and work through human agents, there will be solid, substantial conversions, after the order of the conversions after the day of Pentecost.

"Now brethren, be careful and do not go into or try to create human excitement. But while we should be careful not to go into human excitement, we should not be among those who will raise inquiries and cherish doubts in reference to the work of the Spirit of God; for there will be those who will question and criticize when the Spirit of God takes possession of men and women, because their own hearts are not moved, but are cold and unimpressible." --Letter 27, 1894. -Selected Messages, book 2, p. 57.

"The numbers of this company [those before seen weeping and praying in agony of spirit] had lessened. Some had been shaken out and left by the way. The careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to perserveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they were left behind in darkness, and their places were immediately filled by others taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks."-Early Writings, p. 271.

"It is now that we must wash our robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. It is now that we must overcome pride, passion, and spiritual slothfulness. It is now that we must awake and make determined effort for symmetry of character. `Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.' We are in a most trying position, waiting, watching for our Lord's appearing. The world is in darkness. `But ye, brethren,' says Paul, `are not in a darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world are receiving the worldly mold, and preparing for the mark of the beast. Those who are distrusful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth-these are receiving the heavenly mold, and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity."-Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 215, 216.

"We are not safe a moment unless guided and controlled by the Holy Spirit."-Our High Calling, p. 187.

"There is not an impulse of our nature, not a faculty of the mind, or an inclination of the heart, but needs to be, moment by moment, under the control of the Spirit of God."-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 421.

"We need the breath of the divine life breathed into us. We are to be channels through which the Lord can send light and grace to the world. Backsliders are to be reclaimed. We are to put away our sins, by confession and repentance humbling our proud hearts before God. Floods of spiritual power are to be poured forth upon those prepared to receive it." - Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 46.

"We should pray as earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit as the disciples prayed on the day of Pentecost. If they needed it at that time, we need it more today. Moral darkness, like a funeral pall, covers the earth. All manner of false doctrines, heresies, and satanic deceptions are misleading the minds of men. Without the Spirit and power of God it will be in vain that we labor to present the truth." -Ibid, vol. 5, p. 158.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5)

"Christ is our pattern, the perfect and holy example that has been given us to follow."- "That I May Know Him, " p. 265.

"The world needs today what it needed nineteen hundred years ago-a revelation of Christ."-The Ministry of Healing, p. 143.

"To be a Christian is not merely to take the name of Christ, but to have the mind of Christ, to submit to the will of God in all things."-That I May Know Him, " p. 174.

"So Christ in His humanity was dependent upon divine power. `I can of mine own self do nothing,' He declared."-The Desire of Ages, pp. 674, 675.

"When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. There was no trace of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. But He rested not in the possession of almighty power. It was not as the `Master of earth and sea and sky' that He reposed in quiet. That power He had laid down, and He says, `I can of mine own self do nothing' (John 5:30). He trusted in the Father's might. It was in faith - faith in God's love and care - that Jesus rested, and the power of that word which stilled the storm was the power of God."-Ibid, p. 336.

Jesus said, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works" (John 14:10).

And Jesus says to us, "Without me ye can do nothing" (chap. 15:5).

"All our good works are dependent on a power outside of ourselves."-Christ's Object Lessons, p. 160.

"Man's great danger is in being self-deceived, indulging self-sufficiency, and thus separating from God, the source of his strength. Our natural tendencies, unless corrected by the Holy Spirit of God, have in them the seeds of moral death. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we cannot resist the unhallowed effects of self-indulgence, self-love, and temptation to sin."-The Ministry of Healing, p. 455.

"For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself" (Gal. 6:3).

"When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ."-Christ Our Righteousness, p. 124.

"The Son of God was surrendered to the Father's will, and dependent upon His power. So utterly was Christ emptied of self that He made no plans for Himself. He accepted God's plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will."-The Desire of Ages, p. 208.

"So fully was Jesus surrendered to the will of God that the Father alone appeared in His life."-Ibid, p. 389.

"The life of Christ has shown what humanity can do by being partaker of the divine nature. All that Christ received from God we too may have." - Christ's Object Lessons, p. 149.

"The life that Christ lived in this world, men and women can live through His power and under His instruction. In their conflict with Satan, they may have all the help that He had. They may be more than conquerors through Him who loved them and gave Himself for them."-Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 22.

"Self-surrender is the substance of the teachings of Christ."-The Desire of Ages, p. 523.

"Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him."-Ibid., p. 664.

"Whenever men choose their own way, they place themselves in controversy with God. They will have no place in the kingdom of heaven."-Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 52.

Jesus said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" (John 6:38). "I do always those things that please him" (chap. 8:29).

The apostle Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Gal. 2:20). And he gives us the following counsel, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

God seeks to control the body through the mind. Satan seeks to control the mind through the body.

" In order to be fitted for translation, the people of God must know themselves. They must understand in regard to their own physical frames that they may be able with the psalmist to exclaim: "I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." They should ever have the appetite in subjection to the moral and intellectual organs. The body should be servant to the mind, and not the mind to the body."-Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 487.

"All should guard the senses, lest Satan gain the victory over them; for these are the avenues to the soul."-Ibid., vol. 3, p. 507. "The senses of many are benumbed by the indulgence of appetite and by familiarity with sin."-Ibid, p. 476.

"Our Redeemer withstood the power of Satan upon this great leading temptation [the indulgence of appetite], which imperils the souls of men. If man should overcome this temptation, he could conquer on every other point."-The Sufferings of Christ, p. 12.

"Christ was continually receiving from the Father that He might communicate to us. "The word which ye hear," He said, "is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me." John 14:24. "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." Matt. 20:28. 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."-Christ's Object Lessons, p. 139.

"Christ's humanity was united with divinity; He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And He came to make us partakers of the divine nature."-The Desire of Ages, p. 123.

If Jesus the Son of God needed a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit daily, what about you and me? Since Christ is our example in all things, we must experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit so that we may be fitted for the conflict.

"To Jesus, who emptied Himself for the salvation of lost humanity, the Holy Spirit was given without measure. So it will be given to every follower of Christ when the whole heart is surrendered for His indwelling."-Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 21.

"We must look to Christ; we must resist as He resisted; we must pray as he prayed; we must agonize as He agonized, if we would conquer as He conquered."- "That I May Know Him, " p. 34.

"The Holy Spirit must be constantly imparted to man, or he has no disposition to contend against the powers of darkness." -Ibid., p. 16.

"To sin, wherever found, `our God is a consuming fire.' Heb. 12:29. In all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them." -The Desire of Ages, p. 107.

"When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God." -Ibid, p. 173.

"We can be fitted for heaven only through the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart, for we must have Christ's righteousness as our credentials if we would find access to the Father. In order that we may have the righteousness of Christ, we need daily to be transformed by the influence of the Spirit." -Selected Messages, book 1, p. 374.

"The Spirit conforms the renewed soul to the model, Christ Jesus." -Review and Herald, Aug. 25, 1896.

"Our only security against falling into sin is to keep ourselves continually under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit."-Counsels on Health, p. 594.

"If men are willing to be molded, there will be brought about a sanctification of the whole being. The Spirit will take the things of God and stamp them on the soul."-The Acts of the Apostles, p. 53.

"As wax takes the impression of the seal, so the soul is to take the impression of the Spirit of God and retain the image of Christ."-Selected Messages, book 1, p. 337.

"The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom. 5:5).

"Unless you receive the Holy Spirit, You can not have the love of God in the soul."-Review & Herald 9-27-1892.

"The indwelling of the Spirit will be shown by the outflowing of heavenly love."-Christ's Object Lessons, p. 419.

"There is nothing that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Saviour's love."-Ibid

"By implanting in their hearts the principles of His word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God. The light of His glory- His character- is to shine forth in His followers." -Ibid. p. 414.

"The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory."-Ibid. pp. 415, 416.

"God has a church on earth who are lifting up the downtrodden law, and presenting to the world the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. The church is the depositary of the wealth of the riches of the grace of Christ, and through the church eventually will be made manifest the final and full display of the love of God to the world that is to be lightened with its glory." -Testimonies to Ministers, p. 50.

"After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the disciples were so filled with love for Him and for those for whom He died, that hearts were melted by the words they spoke and the prayers they offered. They spoke in the power of the Spirit; and under the influence of that power, thousands were converted. The Acts of the Apostles, p. 22.

"This parable (the laborers in the vineyard) is a warning to all laborers, however long their service, however abundant their labors, that without love to their brethren, without humility before God, they are nothing. There is no religion in the enthronement of self. He who makes self-glorification his aim will find himself destitute of that grace which alone can make him efficient in Christ's service. Whenever pride and self-complacency are indulged, the work is marred.

"It is not the length of time we labor but our willingness and fidelity in the work that makes it acceptable to God. In all our service a full surrender of self is demanded. The smallest duty done in sincerity and self-forgetfulness is more pleasing to God than the greatest work when marred with self-seeking. He looks to see how much of the spirit of Christ we cherish, and how much of the likeness of Christ our work reveals. He regards more the love and faithfulness with which we work than the amount we do.

"Only when selfishness is dead, when strife for supremacy is banished, when gratitude fills the heart, and love makes fragrant the life-it is only then that Christ is abiding in the soul, and we are recognized as laborers together with God."-Christ's Object Lessons, p. 402.

"The love of Christ, the love of our brethren, will testify to the world that we have been with Jesus and learned of Him. Then will the message of the third angel swell to a loud cry, and the whole earth will be lightened with the glory of the Lord."-Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 401.

"For the daily baptism of the Spirit, every worker should offer his petition to God."-The Acts of the Apostles, p. 50.

"My brethren and sisters, plead for the Holy Spirit."-Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 23.