Greater Light-7 quotes

“The Holy Ghost is the author of the Scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy. These are not to be twisted and turned to mean what man may want them to mean, to carry out man's ideas and sentiments, to carry forward man's schemes at all hazards.--Letter 92, 1900.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 30.

“I shall write just as God bids me write. What I have written, I have written. Every word is truth.” Manuscript Releases, vol 4, p 239, from Letter 95, 1905, p. 8, To Dr. and Mrs. D. H. Kress, March 14, 1905.

These inspired passages reveal that the author of the Spirit of Prophecy is the “Holy Ghost”. This means that what sister White has written is “the word of the Lord”, because she wrote “just as God bids me write” and thus “every word is truth” from God.

“Many times in my experience I have been called upon to meet the attitude of a certain class, who acknowledged that the testimonies were from God, but took the position that this matter and that matter were Sister White's opinion and judgment. This suits those who do not love reproof and correction, and who, if their ideas are crossed, have occasion to explain the difference between the human and the divine.

“If the preconceived opinions or particular ideas of some are crossed in being reproved by testimonies, they have a burden at once to make plain their position to discriminate between the testimonies, defining what is Sister White's human judgment, and what is the word of the Lord. Everything that sustains their cherished ideas is divine, and the testimonies to correct their errors are human--Sister White's opinions. They make of none effect the counsel of God by their tradition.-- Manuscript 16, 1889.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 68.

“What a battle I am obliged to fight! My brethren seem to judge me as taking positions that are not necessary. They do not see that God in His own wisdom has made revelations to me which cannot successfully be contradicted or disputed. Nothing can rub out that which has been presented to me and imprinted on the tablets of my soul. All the oppositions or gain-saying to make my testimony of none effect only compels from me, by the urgency of the Spirit of God, a more decided repetition, and to stand on the light revealed with all the force of the strength God has given me.-- Manuscript 25, 1890.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 73.

These inspired passages reveal that when some, who believe that Ellen White is God's prophet and messenger for these last days, come across Testimonies which do not agree with their “preconceived opinions or particular ideas”, they are led to “discriminate between the testimonies, defining what is Sister White’s human judgment, and what is the word of the Lord”. To them whatever agrees with their “cherished ideas is divine”, but those testimonies which “correct their errors are human” and “are not necessary”. They then judge the Spirit of Prophecy based upon their own made-up standard of tradition and then pick and choose what they want to believe in her writings.

But the real reason they pick and choose is because they “do not love reproof and correction”, and they rebel against the reproof and refuse to be corrected. Yet all these testimonies “cannot successfully be contradicted or disputed”.

“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....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 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.--Letter 109, 1890.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 83.

"Satan has ability to suggest doubts and to devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue, a mark of intelligence in them, to be unbelieving and to question and quibble. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence." Testimonies, vol 5, p 675.

“These who will not accept of the message the Lord sends will soon begin a tirade against it. They see evidence enough to balance the mind in the right direction but they are too proud to submit. They are not willing to say that which they decided was all wrong is right and then the mind begins to seek some excuse, some subterfuge to evade the issue. They are resolved not to obey God in this urgent call for the will to be yielded. They will make a mountain of some minor question and seek to get up a controversy on minor points. The longer he remains as he is the more is he puzzled and perplexed. Questions arise against the testimonies for Satan will bring every doubter and unbeliever over this ground. The work is before him to give himself up to God; His will be no longer arrayed against God's will.” 1888 Materials, p 499.

“Men may get up scheme after scheme, and the enemy will seek to seduce souls from the truth, but all who believe that the Lord has spoken through Sister White, and has given her a message, will be safe from the many delusions that will come in these last days.--Letter 50, 1906.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 83-84.

These inspired passages reveal that Satan himself masterly suggests doubts and devises objections against the Spirit of Prophecy, trying every avenue to cause people to doubt, disbelieve, ignore, and reject the writings of sister White so that he can then lead them directly into darkness and destruction. One way he achieves this is to lead people to pick and choose what to believe and what to disbelieve in the testimonies. Since they only reject some, but not all her writings, they are not very concerned or worried over what they are doing, and feel comforted that God will accept them as His faithful and obedient followers. They are securely hooked in the Devil’s snare and he is then able to easily deceive them, while believing that they are following God’s will.

“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 Sister White's opinion, and it is no better than my opinion or that of anyone else."--Letter 3, 1889.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 81.

“You have talked over matters as you viewed them, that the communications from Sister White are not all from the Lord, but a portion is her own mind, her own judgment, which is no better than anybody else's judgment and ideas. This is one of Satan's hooks to hang your doubts upon to deceive your soul and the souls of others who will dare to draw the line in this matter and say, this portion which pleases me is from God, but that portion which points out and condemns my course of conduct is from Sister White alone, and bears not the holy signet. You have in this way virtually rejected the whole of the messages, which God in His tender, pitying love has sent to you to save you from moral ruin....

“There is One back of me which is the Lord, who has prompted the message which you now reject and disregard and dishonor. By tempting God you have unnerved yourselves, and confusion and blindness of mind has been the result.--Letter 16, 1888.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 68-69.

“Those who seek to lessen the faith of God's people in these testimonies, which have been in the church for the last thirty-six years, are fighting against God. It is not the instrument whom you slight and insult, but God, who has spoken to you in these warnings and reproofs.” Testimonies, vol 5, p 234-235.

These inspired passages reveal that when you pick and choose from the writings of sister White what you want to believe and what to disbelieve, you “dishonor God’s work”, you “are fighting against God”, “you slight and insult...God”, you are “tempting God”, which “grieves His Spirit”, and you are accepting “one of Satan’s hooks to hang your doubts upon” because he wants to “deceive your soul and the souls of others”. The effect of this picking and choosing is that “you have unnerved yourselves, and confusion and blindness of mind has been the result”.

“There are some professed believers who accept certain portions of the testimonies as the message of God, while they reject those portions which condemn their favorite indulgences. Such persons are working contrary to their own welfare and the welfare of the church. It is essential that we walk in the light while we have the light.--Manuscript 71, 1908.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 80-81.

This inspired passage reveals that when individuals pick and choose what to believe in the writings of sister White, they “are working contrary to their own welfare and the welfare of the church”. So it is not just themselves that is adversely affected, but also their fellow brothers and sisters!

“I have my work to do, to meet the misconceptions of those who suppose themselves able to say what is testimony from God and what is human production. If those who have done this work continue in this course, satanic agencies will choose for them....

“Those who have helped souls to feel at liberty to specify what is of God in the Testimonies and what are the uninspired words of Sister White, will find that they were helping the devil in his work of deception....--Letter 28, 1906.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 70.

“What voice will you acknowledge as the voice of God? What power has the Lord in reserve to correct your errors, and show you your course as it is? What power to work in the church? You have, by your own course, closed every avenue whereby the Lord would reach you.

“In the testimonies sent to Battle Creek, I have given you the light God has given to me. In no case have I given my own judgment or opinion. I have enough to write of what has been shown me, without falling back on my own opinions. You are doing as the children of Israel did again and again. Instead of repenting before God, you reject His words, and attribute all the warnings and reproof to the messenger whom the Lord sends.--Testimony for the Battle Creek Church, pp. 50-58 (1882).” Selected Messages, book 3, p 69-70.

“What reserve power has the Lord with which to reach those who have cast aside His warnings and reproofs, and have accredited the testimonies of the Spirit of God to no higher source than human wisdom? In the judgment, what can you who have done this, offer to God as an excuse for turning from the evidences He has given you that God was in the work?” Testimonies to Ministers, p 466.

"If you lose confidence in the Testimonies you will drift away from Bible truth. I have been fearful that many would take a questioning, doubting position, and in my distress for your souls I would warn you. How many will heed the warning? As you now hold the Testimonies, should one be given crossing your track, correcting your errors, would you feel at perfect liberty to accept or reject any part or the whole? That which you will be least inclined to receive is the very part most needed....

"God gives sufficient evidence for the candid mind to believe; but he who turns from the weight of evidence because there are a few things which he cannot make plain to his finite understanding will be left in the cold, chilling atmosphere of unbelief and questioning doubts, and will make shipwreck of faith." Testimonies, vol 5, p 674-676.

“One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan's banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God's Spirit....--Letter 156, 1903.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 84.

9) “God has given sufficient evidence, so that all who desire to do so may satisfy themselves as to the character of the Testimonies; and, having acknowledged them to be from God, it is their duty to accept reproof, even though they do not themselves see the sinfulness of their course. If they fully realized their condition, what would be the need of reproof? Because they know it not, God mercifully sets it before them, so that they may repent and reform before it shall be too late.” Testimonies, vol 5, p 682.

"I have been shown that unbelief in the testimonies of warning, encouragement, and reproof is shutting away the light from God's people. Unbelief is closing their eyes so that they are ignorant of their true condition."...

"The question now is: Will they yield their idol which God condemns, or will they continue in their wrong course of indulgence and reject the light God has given them reproving the very things in which they delight? The question to be settled with them is: Shall I deny myself and receive as of God the Testimonies which reprove my sins, or shall I reject the Testimonies because they reprove my sins?” Testimonies, vol 5, p 674-675.

"Those who despise the warning will be left in blindness to become self-deceived; but those who heed it, and zealously go about the work of separating their sins from them in order to have the needed graces, will be opening the door of their hearts that the dear Saviour may come in and dwell with them." Testimonies, vol 3, p. 257.

“Those who are most closely connected with God are the ones who know His voice when He speaks to them. Those who are spiritual discern spiritual things. Such will feel grateful that the Lord has pointed out their errors." Testimonies, vol 5, p. 134.

“Whatever wrong construction may be placed upon my testimony by those who profess righteousness, yet know not God, I shall in humility go forward with my work. I will speak the words which God gives me to speak in encouragement, reproof, and warning. There remains but a little remnant of my life on earth. The work that my Father hath given me, I will, by His grace, perform with fidelity, knowing that all my deeds must pass the scrutiny of Jehovah.--Manuscript 4, 1883.” Selected Messages, book 1, p 73.

“There are many, many who are not studying the testimonies as they should. Some read them casually, or make some reference to them, but they are not presented in the spirit of assurance of the Spirit of truth. Many of those who profess the truth for this time turn from the messages and accept their own opinions and ideas as verity and truth.” Loma Linda Messages, p 331.

This inspired passage reveals that the writings of sister White are being kept in the background, treated with disrespect and believed to be of no greater importance than personal opinions are regarding what is truth. This shows that Satan has been very successful against the Testimonies.

Since Satan and his deceived agents are so active in downgrading the Spirit of Prophecy and fighting against God’s chosen last day messenger and prophet, then what should God’s true followers be doing?

God’s followers should be uplifting the writings of sister White as being the sure inspired word of God, presenting them to people in the full assurance of every word being inspired by the Holy Spirit, encouraging people not to read her causally, or to doubt what she writes, but to study her writings as they study the Bible, and allow the Spirit of Prophecy to be greater than their own personal opinions and ideas on what is truth.

“The Bible must be your counselor. Study it and the testimonies God has given; for they never contradict His Word.--Letter 106, 1907.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 32.

“So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands [were] heavy; and they took a stone, and put [it] under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” Exodus 17:10-13.

Moses was God’s chosen messenger and prophet to lead the children of Israel safely to the promised land. But enemies were determined to stop their forward progress. These inspired verses reveal that Moses alone could not ensure their victory over the enemy, but he needed the continual help and uplifting support of God’s followers in order for their victory to be gained and the promised land to be theirs. It is the same today regarding Ellen White.

Dear ones, I pray when this very issue faces you square on, that you will choose to support and uphold God's chosen messenger and prophet for the Remnant in these last days, because your salvation in the promised land of heaven depends upon it!

12) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7.