need for counsel and cooperation

8/7/2019 Need for Counsel and Cooperation

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Need for Counsel and

CooperationDear Brother: You will need in every move you make toknow that you are moving in that way that you will not

follow your own judgment, but the united advice of yourbrethren. You have failed in this work, working too much

independently. . . One man's mind and judgment is not tobe allowed to become an efficiency in any case where the

building of a church is concerned. It takes every member of

the church who can carry responsibilities, and the ministeris not the man to lift this work alone. . . . This is a lessonyou must learn, to seek the mind and judgment of your

brethren, and not advance without their advice, counsel,and cooperation.--Letter 49, 1900.


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3/26

Church Debts Dishonoring to God

It is dishonoring to God for our churches to beburdened with debt. This state of things need

not exist. It shows wrong management from

beginning to end, and it is a dishonor to theGod of heaven.


4/26

Living Within the Income

Many, very many, have not so educated

themselves that they can keep their expenditures

within the limit of their income. They do not learnto adapt themselves to circumstances, and they

borrow and borrow again and again, and become

overwhelmed in debt, and consequently they

become discouraged and disheartened.

CS 249.1


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AA335, 336. {CS 70.3}

It was to this plan for the support of the ministry

that Paul referred when he said, "Even so hath the

Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel

should live of the gospel." And later, in writing to

Timothy, the apostle said, "The laborer is worthy

of his reward." 1 Timothy 5:18


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Economy not to Excess

While we are to be economical, we are not to carry economy

to excess. It is one of the sad, strange things in life that great

mistakes are sometimes made in carrying the virtue of self-

sacrifice to an extreme. It is possible for the Lord's workers to

be presumptuous, and to carry too far the self-sacrifice that

prompts them to go without sufficient food and without

sufficient clothing, in order that they may make every dollar

go as far as possible. Some laborers overwork and do without

things they ought to have, because there is not enoughmoney in the treasury to sustain the number of workers that

ought to be in the field. There would be more money if all

would work in accordance with Christ's injunction:

"Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and

take up his cross, and follow Me."--Letter 49. 1902. {Ev 90.1}


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R. & H., Dec. 19, 1893. {CS 249.3}

We should be on our guard, and not allowourselves to spend money upon that which is

unnecessary, and simply for display. We should

not permit ourselves to indulge tastes that leadus to pattern after the customs of the world,

and rob the treasury of the Lord.

Living Within the Income


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In many testimonies I have stated that wealthy

men, who have their Lord's money, will be

moved by the Spirit of God to open doors for the

advancement of the truth in large cities. They

will use their entrusted means to prepare the

of the Lord, to make straight in the desert a

highway for our God. {Ev 87.4}


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Converted Souls to Provide Means

As men and women are brought into the truth

in the cities, the means will begin to come in.As surely as honest souls will be converted,

their means will be consecrated to the Lord's

service, and we shall see an increase of our

resources.--Manuscript 53, 1909. {Ev 89.1}


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Hair Dye?

One day a little girl was sitting and watching hermother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. Shesuddenly noticed that her mother had severalstrands of white hair sticking out in contrast onher brunette head. She looked at her motherand inquisitively asked, "Why are some of yourhairs white, Mom?" Her mother replied, "Well,every time that you do something wrong and

make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turnswhite." The little girl thought about thisrevelation for a while and then said, "Momma,how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"


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Forethought, Order, and Prayer

.--It is a sin to be heedless, purposeless, and

indifferent in any work in which we may

engage, but especially in the work of God.

Every enterprise connected with His cause

should be carried forward with order,

forethought, and earnest prayer.--Review and

Herald, March 18, 1884. {Ev 94.4}


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Thoroughness and Promptness

It will be easy to make great blunders if the

business is not looked after with clear and

sharp attention. Although the novice or

apprentice may be energetic, if there is not in

the various departments someone to oversee,

someone who is properly qualified for his

work, there will be failure in many respects.Manuscript 24, 1887. {Ev 94.5}


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Satan's Efforts to Divide Workers

.--As we begin active work for the multitudes

in the cities, the enemy will work mightily to

bring in confusion, hoping thus to break up

the working forces. Some who are not

thoroughly converted, are in constant danger

of mistaking the suggestions of the enemy as

the leadings of the Spirit of God. As the Lordhas given us light, let us walk in the light.--

Manuscript 13, 1910. {Ev 100.2}


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Beware of Satan's Plans

Now, unless the living, human agents for Jesus arehumble, meek, and lowly of heart because they havelearned of Jesus, they will just as surely fall undertemptation as they live; for Satan is watching and artful

and subtle, and the workers, if not prayerful, will betaken unawares. He steals upon them as a thief in thenight and makes them captives. Then he works uponthe minds of individuals to pervert their individualideas and frame their plans; and if brethren see danger

and speak of it, they feel that a personal injury is donethem, that someone is trying to weaken theirinfluence. One draws one way, and another in anopposite direction. {Ev 101.1}


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Where One Weak, Another Strong.

The Lord moves upon ministers who have variedcapabilities, that they may feed the flock ofHisheritage with food convenient for them. They will

reveal truth on points that their brother laborer didnot regard as essential. Were the work ofministering to the flock left entirely to one man,there would be deficiency in the results. In His

providence the Lord sends various workmen. One isstrong on some essential point where another isweak.--Manuscript 21, 1894. {Ev 104.3}


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Do Not Block the Wheels

There are some minds which do not grow with

the work but allow the work to grow far beyond

them. . . . Those who do not discern and adaptthemselves to the increasing demands of the

work, should not stand blocking the wheels, and

thus hindering the advancement of others.--

Letter 45, 1889. {Ev 104.4}


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Methods to Be Improved

There must be no fixed rules; our work is a

progressive work, and there must be room left

for methods to be improved upon. But under

the guidance of the Holy Spirit, unity must and

will be preserved.--Review and Herald, July 23,

1895. {Ev 105.1}


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Listen up Kids!

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the

Ten Commandments with her five and six

year olds. After explaining the

commandment to "honour" thy Father and

thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a

commandment that teaches us how to treat

our brothers and sisters?" Without missing abeat one little boy (the oldest of a family)

answered, "Thou shall not kill."


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Different Methods From the Past

Means will be devised to reach hearts. Some

of the methods used in this work will be

different from the methods used in the work

in the past; but let no one, because of this,

block the way by criticism.--Review and

Herald, Sept. 30, 1902. {Ev 105.2}


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New Life in Old Methods

Men are needed who pray to God for wisdom,

and who, under the guidance of God, can put

new life into the old methods of labor and can

invent new plans and new methods of

awakening the interest of church members

and reaching the men and women of the

world.--Manuscript 117, 1907. {Ev 105.3}


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Limiting Power of God by One-Line

Plans

The kind of planning that would make one

man a center and pattern, neither he nor any

other man can carry out. This is not the way in

which the Lord works. . . . When one man

thinks that his mind is to outline the large

moves in the work of God, that his abilities are

to accomplish the greatest work, he limits thepower of God to fulfill His purposes in the

earth. {Ev 105.4}


23/26

No Pulling to Pieces Another's Work

Remember that we are laborers together withGod. God is the all-powerful, effectual mover. Hisservants are His instruments. They are not to pull

apart, everyone laboring in accordance with hisown ideas. They are to labor in harmony, fittingtogether in kindly, courteous, brotherly order, inlove for one another. There is to be no unkind

criticism, no pulling to pieces of another's work.Together they are to carry the work forward.--Review and Herald, Dec. 11, 1900. {Ev 106.4}


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A Warning to Workers of Experience.

I am bidden to say to my aged brethren, walk humblywith God. Be not accusers of the brethren. You are to doyour appointed work under the direction of the God of

Israel. The inclination to criticize is the greatest danger ofmany. The brethren whom you are tempted to criticizeare called to bear responsibilities which you could notpossibly carry; but you can be their helpers. You can dogreat service to the cause if you will, by presenting your

experience in the past in connection with the labors ofothers. . . . . {Ev 106.5}


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(cont)

The Lord has not given to any of you the workof correcting and censuring your brethren. . . .{Ev 106.5}

Follow on with your brethren to know theLord. Sympathize with those who are bearinga heavy load, and encourage them whereveryou can. Your voices are to be heard in unity,and not in dissension.--Letter 204, 1907. {Ev107.1}


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Yalo sa marau sa wai yaga

A little girl was talking to her teacher aboutwhales. The teacher said it was physicallyimpossible for a whale to swallow a humanbecause even though it was a very large mammalits throat was very small. The little girl statedthat Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated,the teacher reiterated that a whale could notswallow a human; it was physically impossible.

The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I willask Jonah". The teacher asked, "What if Jonahwent to hell?" The little girl replied, "Then youask him".

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