1907年10月11日写于加利福尼亚州疗养院
工作因缺乏信心而受阻
我们如何才能为我们的疗养院获得资金，是一个必须解决的问题。我们的一些机构正在蓬勃发展;一些似乎已陷入停顿;另一些则落后了。我将我们的困惑呈现给主的时候，这些经文相当有力地来到我的脑海中：“虽然无花果树不发旺，葡萄树不结果，橄榄树也不效力，田地不出粮食，圈中绝了羊，棚内也没有牛;然而，我要因耶和华欢欣，因救我的上帝喜乐”(哈3:17,18)。{PC 293.3}
在上帝的话语中，我发现这些应许：“耶和华说：日子将到，我要与以色列家和犹大家另立新约，不像我拉着他们祖宗的手，领他们出埃及地的时候，与他们所立的约。我虽作他们的丈夫，他们却背了我的约。这是耶和华说的。耶和华说：那些日子以后，我与以色列家所立的约乃是这样：我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上。我要作他们的上帝，他们要作我的子民。他们各人不再教导自己的邻舍和自己的弟兄说：‘你该认识耶和华’，因为他们从最小的到至大的，都必认识我。我要赦免他们的罪孽，不再记念他们的罪恶。这是耶和华说的”(耶31:31-34)。我为这些这安慰和鼓励的话而感谢主。我要倚赖耶和华，我要耐心等候祂。祂必为我们行事，并使我们因祂的仁慈怜悯而欢喜快乐。祂必帮助祂的子民。{PC 293.4}
不信正在我们的各教会、在我们的疗养院和我们的出版社找到一个入口。有些人已经犯了错误，他们转离他们的力量之源，去随从人的策略和计划，那些计划不符合主的命令;因此，他们在应当强壮的时候却成了软弱的。这就是上帝没有更有力地为祂的子民行事的原因。要是祂为我们做了更多的事，人们就会将本应归于上帝的荣耀归于自己。{PC 294.1}
当人们转离上帝，去随从人意的吩咐时，祂就将他们留在他们的软弱中，祂这么做是有一个目的的。祂想让他们认识到，真正的光明和智慧惟独住在哪里。主怜悯我们的软弱;祂感到忧伤，因为错误已经进来，因为信徒已经受教育去指望从人得智慧和帮助。祂希望祂的子民学会信靠祂的功课，并靠以色列的上帝的力量站立。{PC 294.2}
我们的疗养院都应该正常运转，这样他们就可以发挥自己的作用，影响那些只能靠疗养院工作才能接触到的人。我们的医生要坚决地斥责那些导致疾病和弊病的罪过。我们需要这样的人，他们会在圣灵的启示下，斥责赌博和饮酒，因为在这些末后的日子里，赌博和饮酒是如此普遍的罪恶。我们需要这样的人，他们会传达自己的信息，反对自私，自私正在吞噬敬虔的生命。上帝需要有信心和祷告的人。“所以，你们当求庄稼的主打发工人出去收祂的庄稼”(太9:38)。{PC 294.3}
我们有巨大的责任;需要这样的人，他们不会误解自己的责任，而会本着谦卑的精神和敬畏上帝的心从事指定给他们的工作。我们应该始终害怕一种会使我们限制别人工作的精神，以免我们阻碍真理信息的进展。那些在过去允许这种精神控制了他们的人，已经可悲地损害了圣工。他们需要悔改归正;因为圣灵不能在他们拒绝承认祂的忠告和控制时与他们同工。祂不能使用这样的人，他们利用祂加给他们的信任，作为一种欺压的权势，使祂已开了口的人住口。{PC 294.4}
这个时代要求上帝仆人是有信心和祈祷的人，他们认识到自己作为向一个将亡世界传扬最后怜悯信息之人的责任。基督宣布：“你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父”(太5:16)。要是为他们付出聪明的努力，就会使许许多多的人认识真理。{PC 294.5}
Sanitarium, California October 11, 1907
The Work Hindered by Lack of Faith
How shall we obtain means for our sanitariums, is a question that must be solved. Some of our institutions are prospering; some seem to have come to a standstill; and others are running behind. As I present our perplexities to the Lord, there comes to my mind with considerable force this scripture, “Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither fruit be in the vine; and the labor of the olive shall fail, and the flock shall be cut off from the fold; and there shall be no herd in the stall; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of my salvation.”?{PC 293.3}
In the word of God I find these promises, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord of Hosts, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah. Not according to that which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them even unto the greatest, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”?I thank the Lord for these words of comfort and encouragement. I will put my trust in the Lord, and will wait patiently for Him. He will work in our behalf, and make us to rejoice in His mercies. He will surely be the help of His people.?{PC 293.4}
Unbelief is finding an entrance in our churches, in our sanitariums, and in our publishing houses. There are some who have committed the error of turning away from the source of their strength to follow devices and plans of men, plans that are not after the order of the Lord; and because of this, they are weak when they should be strong. This is the reason that God has not wrought more mightily for His people. Had he done more for us, human beings would have taken to themselves the glory that should be given to God.?{PC 294.1}
God has a purpose in leaving men in their weakness when they turn from Him to follow the dictation of human minds. He wants them to learn where only true light and wisdom dwells. The Lord pities our weakness; he is grieved because of the error that has come in, because of the education that has been given to believers to look to men for wisdom and help. He wants his people to learn lessons of faith and trust in Him, and to stand in the strength of Israel’s God. -?{PC 294.2}
Our sanitariums should all be in running order, so that they may act their part in influencing that class of people who can be reached in no other way than by the work of the sanitarium. Our physicians are to rebuke in decided terms the sins which are the cause of sickness and disease. We have need of men who, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, will rebuke gambling and liquor drinking, which are such prevalent evils in these last days. We need men who will bear their message against the selfishness that is eating out the very vitals of godliness. God calls for men of faith and prayer. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.”?{PC 294.3}
Tremendous responsibilities are ours; and men are called for who will not misinterpret their responsibilities, but will do their appointed work in a spirit of humility and in the fear of God. We should ever be afraid of a spirit that would lead us to place restrictions on the work of others, lest we hinder the advance of the message of truth. Those who have in the past allowed such a spirit to control them have sadly hurt the work. They need to repent and be converted; for the Holy Spirit can not work with them while they refuse to acknowledge His counsel and control. He cannot use the men who employ the trust He has imposed upon them as an oppressive power to close the lips that He has opened.?{PC 294.4}
This age demands that the servants of God be men of faith and prayer, who realize the responsibilities that rest upon them as bearers of the last message of mercy to a perishing?world. “Ye are the light of the world,” Christ declared. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Many, many souls will be brought to a knowledge of the truth if intelligent labor is put forth in their behalf.?{PC 294.5}
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