R - Quotes
Casting down imaginations, & every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, & bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5
More precious than the golden wedge of Ophir is the power of right thought. …It is necessary for our peace & happiness in this life that our thoughts center in Christ. As a man thinketh, so is he.
Evil thoughts destroy the soul. The converting power of God changes the heart, refining & purifying the thoughts. Unless a determined effort is made to keep the thoughts centered on Christ, grace can not reveal itself in the life. The mind must engage in the spiritual warfare. Every thought must be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. All the habits must be brought under God’s control.
We need a constant sense of the ennobling power of pure thoughts & the damaging influence of evil thoughts. Let us place our thoughts upon holy things. Let them be pure & true; for the only security for any soul is right-thinking. We are to bring our minds into harmony with Christ’s mind. “The prince of this world cometh,” said Jesus, “& hath nothing in Me.” There was in Him nothing that responded to Satan’s sophistry. He did not consent to sin. Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation.
...So may it be with us. Christ’s humanity was united with divinity; He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. ST Aug. 23, 1905
Each should set a guard over his own heart, not permitting himself to think evil of his brethren, but giving them credit for all the good qualities they possess. We should store the mind with the precious promises & instructions of God’s word. When Satan seeks to divert the attention to things of no profit, then we should think & talk of these heavenly promises, & the tempter will be vanquished. By thus battling day by day, with earnest prayer & determined faith, all may gain the victory. Those who have most to overcome will be like the sinner to whom Christ forgave much, & who loved much; & they will at last stand nearest to the throne. HS 214
The Christian’s life is now but just begun. He must, as exhorted by the apostle, “go on unto perfection.” He must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. If we believe in Jesus, we will love to think of him, love to talk of him, love to pray to him. He is supreme in our affections. RH May 30, 1882
Few realize that it is a duty to exercise control over their thoughts & imaginations. It is difficult to keep the undisciplined mind fixed upon profitable subjects. …The mind must be preoccupied with sacred & eternal things, or it will cherish trifling & superficial thoughts. OHC 111
We are under obligation to control our thoughts, & to bring them into subjection to the law of God. RH Jun. 12, 1888
Moral purity depends on right thinking & right acting. GW 126
When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness… COL 311
“And,” declared John, “the Father giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.” So with the followers of Christ. We can receive of heaven's light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. 8T 334
None of us can occupy a neutral position; our influence will tell for or against. We are active agents for Christ or for the enemy. We either gather with Jesus or scatter abroad. True conversion is a radical change. The very drift of the mind & bent of the heart should be turned & life become new again in Christ. 4T 16
The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints & angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Shall we not then exalt the cross of Christ? The angels ascribe honor & glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God. The plan of salvation, making manifest the justice & love of God, provides an eternal safeguard against defection in unfallen worlds, as well as among those who shall be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Our only hope is perfect trust in the blood of Him who can save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. The death of Christ on the cross of Calvary is our only hope in this world, & it will be our theme in the world to come. Oh, we do not comprehend the value of the atonement! If we did, we would talk more about it. The gift of God in his beloved Son was the expression of an incomprehensible love. …Why should man not study the theme of redemption? It is the greatest subject that can engage the human mind. If men would contemplate the love of Christ, displayed in the cross, their faith would be strengthened to appropriate the merits of his shed blood, & they would be cleansed & saved from sin. There are many who will be lost, because they depend on legal religion, or mere repentance for sin. But repentance for sin alone cannot work the salvation of any soul. Man cannot be saved by his own works. Without Christ it is impossible for him to render perfect obedience to the law of God; & heaven can never be gained by an imperfect obedience; for this would place all heaven in jeopardy, & make possible a second rebellion.
...It is no marvel to angels that the infinite sacrifice made by the Son of God was ample enough to bring salvation to a fallen race, but that this atoning sacrifice should have been made is a wonder to the universe. It is a mystery which angels desire to look into. The angels are amazed at the indifference & coldness manifested by those for whom so great a salvation has been provided. They look with grief & holy indignation upon those who do not seek to appreciate the unspeakable gift of God. Instead of offering adoration to God, finite men think themselves capable, without divine unction, of determining what is worthy of praise or blame in their fellow-men. But to be glorified by man is no glory. We should learn to value the praise of man at what it is worth. The Lord says, “Them that honor me I will honor.” Let every breath of praise, every word of exaltation, flow to him who is worthy, flow to Jesus, the Prince of life, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Elevate the cross of Christ. Elevate the Mediator. Lift up Jesus. In him is everything noble. Contemplate God in Christ. He is surrounded with angels, cherubim & seraphim continually behold him. Angelic voices day & night cry before him: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, & is, & is to come.... ST Dec. 30, 1889
However dark his prospects, let him cherish a spirit to hope for good. … While cheerfulness & a calm resignation & peace will make others happy & healthy, it will be of the greatest benefit to one's self. Sadness & talking of disagreeable things is encouraging the disagreeable scenes, bringing back upon one's self the disagreeable effect. God wants us to forget all these—not look down but up, up! UL 102
Let praise & thanksgiving be expressed in song. When tempted, instead of giving utterance to our feelings, let us by faith lift up a song of thanksgiving to God.
Song is a weapon that we can always use against discouragement. As we thus open the heart to the sunlight of the Saviour’s presence, we shall have health & His blessing. MH 254
When in conversion the sinner finds peace with God through the blood of the atonement, the Christian life has but just begun. Now he is to “go on unto perfection;” to grow up “unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Says the apostle Paul: “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, & reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. GC 470
The heavenly intelligences will work with the human agent who seeks with determined faith that perfection of character which will reach out to perfection in action. To every one engaged in this work Christ says, I am at your right hand to help you. As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command, may be accomplished in His strength.
Beginning in the morning of life, controlled by the laws of nature & of God, the Christian moves steadily onward & upward, daily drawing nearer his heavenly home, where await for him a crown of life, & a new name, “which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Constantly he grows in happiness, in holiness, in usefulness. The progress of each year exceeds that of the past year. WGD 170
Continual advancement is the way of holiness, rising higher & higher in the knowledge & love of God.... God is unchangeable—the same yesterday, today, & forever. UL 102
Paul allowed nothing to divert him from the one great purpose of his life.... In the busy activities of life, he never lost sight of his one great purpose—to press on toward the prize of his high calling....
Let the great purposes that constrained Paul to press forward in the face of hardship & difficulty lead you to consecrate yourselves wholly to God's service. Whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might. Make your work pleasant with songs of praise. TDG 374
What we need is to cleanse us from earthliness, to perfect our Christian character, that the robe of Christ's righteousness shall be put upon us…. UL 102
In the heavenly race we can all run & all receive the prize. There is no uncertainty, no risk, in the matter. We must put on the heavenly graces, & with the eye directed upward to the crown of immortality, keep the Pattern ever before us.... The humble, self-denying life of our divine Lord we are to keep constantly in view. And then as we seek to imitate Him, keeping our eye upon the mark of the prize, we can run this race with certainty, knowing that if we do the very best we can we shall certainly secure the prize....
In order to fight successfully the battle against sin, you must keep close to Jesus. HP 276
The conflict will be hard & wearisome, but Jesus is our helper; in Him & through Him we must conquer, however severe the process. God requires no less of you than this. Every one of His children must be like Christ, who lived not to please Himself. Symmetry of character we must have in order to stand before the Son of man. The grace of God is waiting your demand upon it. If you ask Him, He will give you grace & strength as you need it. DG 169
Jesus consents to bear our burdens only when we trust Him. …Let us trust Him. Worry is blind & cannot discern the future. But Jesus sees the end from the beginning, & in every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. Abiding in Christ, we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. AG 113
The omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit is the defense of every contrite soul. Not one that in penitence & faith has claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy’s power. The Saviour is by the side of His tempted & tried ones. With Him there can be no such thing as failure, loss, impossibility, or defeat; we can do all things through Him who strengtheneth, us. DA 490
Whenever man accomplishes anything, whether in spiritual or in temporal lines, he should bear in mind that he does it through co-operation with his Maker. There is great necessity for us to realize our dependence on God. … There is too little confidence in the power which God stands ready to give. …Immeasurably inferior is the part which the human agent sustains; but if he is linked with the divinity of Christ, he can do all things through the strength that Christ imparts.
We have a part to act, but we must have the power of divinity to unite with us, or our efforts will be in vain. COL 82
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalms 127:1
The disciples of Christ had a deep sense of their own inefficiency, & with humiliation & prayer they joined their weakness to His strength, their ignorance to His wisdom, their unworthiness to His righteousness, their poverty to His exhaustless wealth. Thus strengthened & equipped, they hesitated not to press forward in the service of the Master. AG 113
We should realize in our inmost soul that all our efforts in & of ourselves will be utterly worthless; for it is only in the name & strength of the Conqueror that we shall be overcomers. RH Feb. 5, 1895
The Lord has in readiness the most precious exhibitions of His grace to strengthen & encourage the sincere, humble worker.
All that man has, God has given him, & he who improves his abilities to God’s glory will be an instrument to do good; but we can no more live a religious life without constant prayer & the performance of religious duties than we can have physical strength without partaking of temporal food.
Let His power be your dependence, His grace your strength. …It is essential that you cultivate faithfulness in little things, & in so doing you will acquire habits of integrity in greater responsibilities.... Every event of life is great for good or for evil. The mind needs to be trained by daily tests, that it may acquire power to stand in any difficult position. AG 113
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Here is a principle that is to underlie every motive, thought, & act. Unholy passions must be crucified. They will clamor for indulgence, but God has implanted in the heart high & holy purposes & desires, & these need not be debased. It is only when we refuse to submit to the control of reason & conscience that we are dragged down. GW 127
The Divine power combined with human effort will give to all perfect & entire victory. Every believing mind will be filled with conscious power. The language of the soul will be: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. ST Feb. 14, 1878
Remember that in working with Christ as your personal Saviour lies your strength & your victory. This is the part all are to act. Christ is the way, the truth, & the life. He declares: “Without Me ye can do nothing.” And the repentant, believing soul responds: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Constantly he keeps Christ before him. Praying, believing, receiving the blessings he needs, he comes nearer & nearer to God’s standard for him.
The miracle-working power of Christ’s grace is revealed in the creation in man of a new heart, a higher life, a holier enthusiasm. 9T 151-152
Let divinity & humanity cooperate, & fallen man may be more than conqueror through Christ Jesus. ST Apr. 24, 1893
This world is but an atom in the vast dominions over which God presides, yet this little fallen world—the one lost sheep—is more precious in His sight than are the ninety & nine that went not astray from the fold. Christ, the loved Commander in the heavenly courts, stooped from His high estate, laid aside the glory that He had with the Father, in order to save the one lost world. For this He left the sinless worlds on high, the ninety & nine that loved Him, & came to this earth, to be “wounded for our transgressions” & “bruised for our iniquities.” God gave Himself in His Son that He might have the joy of receiving back the sheep that was lost. COL 190
In the plan of redemption, a way of escape is provided for all who will avail themselves of it. God knew that it was impossible for man to overcome in his own strength, & He has provided help for him.
Jesus says, He “hath nothing in Me.” His victory is an assurance that we too may come off victors in our conflicts with the enemy.
Christ has resisted the power of him who would hold us in bondage; though weakened by His long fast of forty days, He withstood temptation, & proved, by this act, that our cases are not hopeless. I know that we cannot obtain the victory alone; & how thankful we should be that we have a living Saviour, who is ready & willing to aid us!
I recall the case of a man in a congregation that I was once addressing. He was almost wrecked in body & mind by the use of liquor & tobacco. He was bowed down from the effects of dissipation, & his dress was in keeping with his shattered condition. To all appearance, he had gone too far to be reclaimed. But as I appealed to him to resist temptation in the strength of a risen Saviour, he rose tremblingly, & said, “You have an interest for me, & I will have an interest for myself.”
Six months afterward, he came to my house. I did not recognize him. With a countenance beaming with joy, & eyes overflowing with tears, he grasped my hand, & said, “You do not know my name, but you remember the man in an old blue coat, who rose in your congregation, & said that he would try to reform.” I was astonished. He stood erect, & looked ten years younger. He had gone home from the meeting, & passed the long hours in prayer till the sun arose. It was a night of conflict; but, thank God, he came off the victor. This man could tell, by sad experience, of the bondage of those evil habits. He knew how to warn the youth of the dangers of contamination; & those who, like himself, had been overcome, he could point to Christ as the only source of help.
With every facility which has been placed within reach, he who does not resist temptation, is not registered in the books of heaven as a man. The Lord never places men in positions so trying that it is beyond their power to withstand evil. Divine power is ever ready to protect & strengthen him who has been made a partaker of the divine nature.
Temptations to the indulgence of appetite possess a power which can be overcome only by the help that God can impart. But with every temptation, we have the promise of God that there shall be a way of escape. Why, then, are so many overcome?—It is because they do not put their trust in God. They do not avail themselves of the means provided for their safety. The excuses offered for the gratification of perverted appetite are therefore of no weight with God. ST Aug. 10, 1915
Man is Satan's captive & is naturally inclined to follow his suggestions & do his bidding. He has in himself no power to oppose effectual resistance to evil. It is only as Christ abides in him by living faith, influencing his desires & strengthening him with strength from above, that man may venture to face so terrible a foe. Every other means of defense is utterly vain. T5 294
Satan has great advantages. He possessed the wonderful intellectual power of an angel, of which few form any just idea. Satan was conscious of his power, or he would not have engaged in a conflict with the mighty God, the everlasting Father, & the Prince of Peace. …He holds mortals in his snare at the present time. During his experience of nearly six thousand years he has lost none of his skill & shrewdness. We have a powerful, deceptive foe with whom to contend, & our only safety is in Him who is to come, who will consume this archdeceiver with the spirit of His mouth, & destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2T 172
We may become more than conquerors through him that loved us. RH Sept. 14, 1897
When you rise in the morning, do you feel your helplessness & your need of strength from God? And do you humbly, heartily make known your wants to your heavenly Father? If so, angels mark your prayers, & if these prayers have not gone forth out of feigned lips, when you are in danger of unconsciously doing wrong & exerting an influence which will lead others to do wrong, your guardian angel will be by your side, prompting you to a better course, choosing your words for you, & influencing your actions....
He has made it possible for them to perfect Christian character through His name & to overcome on their own account as He overcame in their behalf. He has given them an example in His own life, showing them how they may overcome. BLJ 27
A mere profession of godliness is worthless. It is he that abideth in Christ that is a Christian.... Unless the mind of God becomes the mind of men, every effort to purify himself will be useless; for it is impossible to elevate man except through a knowledge of God. FLB 130
There were many in Christ’s day, as there are today, over whom the control of Satan for the time seemed broken; through the grace of God they were set free from the evil spirits that had held dominion over the soul. They rejoiced in the love of God; but, like the stony-ground hearers of the parable, they did not abide in His love. They did not surrender themselves to God daily, that Christ might dwell in the heart; & when the evil spirit returned, with “seven other spirits more wicked than himself,” they were wholly dominated by the power of evil.
When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, & He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, & will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, & temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, & a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, & shall do his bidding in the end. DA 323-324
God's great object in the working out of His providences is to try men, to give them opportunity to develop character. Thus He proves whether they are obedient or disobedient to His commands.
There are only two classes in the world today, & only two classes will be recognized in the judgment—those who violate God's law & those who obey it. Christ gives the test by which we prove our loyalty or disloyalty.
Before us is held out the wonderful possibility of being like Christ—obedient to all the principles of the law of God. But of ourselves we are utterly powerless to attain to this condition. All that is good in man comes to him through Christ.
The part of the Christian is to persevere in overcoming every fault. Constantly he is to pray to the Saviour to heal the disorders of his diseased soul. He has not the wisdom & strength without which he cannot overcome. They belong to the Lord, & He bestows them on those who in humiliation & contrition seek Him for help.
The work of transformation from unholiness to holiness is a continuous work...
God will more than fulfill the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him….He is honored when we set apart the seventh day as sacred & holy. To those who do this, the Sabbath is a sign, ... God declares, “that I am the Lord that sanctify them”. Sanctification means habitual communion with God. There is nothing so great & powerful as God's love for those who are His children. HP 128-129
The professing follower of Christ is to overcome every selfish trait of character. By well-doing he is to form a correct pattern, & testify in his life to the character of Christ, & to God’s unselfish love for the human race. In works of mercy & love & sympathy, by showing kindness on the right hand & on the left, he is to repeat the works of Christ. Christ came to the earth to give to men the pattern of the perfect character that all must obtain who would be welcomed to the future heavenly world. He found His pleasure in unwearied works for the good of men. His object in coming to our world was to leave an example of what the human character must become in order to be fitted for the society of heaven.
The Holy Spirit leaves no member of the church to develop a character that is without comeliness. He claims for every man & woman the privilege of becoming a child of light, an influence for righteousness, an example of a Christlike life. This is God’s way of helping the church. UL 184
Thus we become every day better prepared to be overcomers, examples of the power that heavenly grace has to uplift & ennoble human beings. Christ was tempted in all points like as we are, yet He overcame. And today He waits to hear & answer the earnest requests of His children for the grace that will enable them to overcome.
Be polite to those with whom you come in contact; thus you will be polite to God. Praise Him for His goodness; thus you are witnesses for Him, & you are preparing for the society of the angels. You are learning in this world how to conduct yourselves in the family of Christ in heaven.
We are here to copy the character of Christ, to become familiar with His gentleness, His lowliness. By patience, kindness, forbearance, we are to show that we are not of the world, that day by day we are learning the lessons that will fit us to enter the higher school.
When God’s redeemed ones are called to heaven, they will not leave behind the advancement they have made in this life by beholding Christ. They will go on, learning more & still more of God. They will carry their spiritual attainments into the courts above, leaving nothing of heavenly origin in this world. As the books of heaven are opened, each overcomer is assigned his lot & place in heaven, in accordance with the advancement he has made in this life.
The sons & daughters of God are led to persevere in the work of overcoming by the daily realization that they need to be taught by the Holy Spirit the good & righteous way. … No one is to feel that his position is so exalted that he need not acknowledge his faults, lest others place a low estimate upon him....
Never should a man ... be too proud to make the acknowledgment, “I have erred.” The least he can do, after he has sinned, is to show his sorrow & repentance. Men who do this will be honored by God, even though they make mistakes. UL 248
“To him that overcometh,” Christ declares, “will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, & am set down with My Father in His throne.” Almost but not wholly saved, means to be not almost but wholly lost. COL 118
The reward, the glories of heaven, bestowed upon the overcomers, will be proportionate to the degree in which they have represented the character of Christ to the world. RH Jan. 29, 1895
It depends upon ourselves as to whether we shall form such characters as will constitute us members of God’s royal family above. RH Apr. 9, 1895
In order to gain the victory over every besetment of the enemy, we must lay hold on a power that is out of & beyond ourselves. We must maintain a constant, living connection with Christ, who has power to give victory to every soul that will maintain an attitude of faith & humility. RH Jul. 9, 1908
To be converted one day under the Holy Spirit’s working is not enough. Let the Spirit of God cleanse the soul temple day by day. Let Jesus in. He invites you to receive Him. 14LtMs, Lt 101, 1899
He who could not see human beings exposed to eternal ruin without pouring our his soul unto death in their behalf, will look with pity & compassion upon every one who realizes that he can not save himself. RH Oct. 30, 1900
He will give us strength to overcome every defect in our character… ST May 7, 1896
Let us have more confidence in our Redeemer. … Have faith in God. Trustful dependence on Jesus makes victory not only possible, but certain. …we may have full assurance in our Leader; for “I am God,” he declares, “& there is none else.” He is infinite in power, & able to save all who come to him. There is no other in whom we can safely trust. SW Apr. 28, 1908
We shall be judged according to the character we have formed. It is by the daily transactions of life, by the spirit we manifest, that we determine our eternal destiny. RH Sept. 17, 1895
…He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Revelation 2:11
There is a heaven before us, a crown of life to win. But to the overcomer only is the reward given. 4LtMs, Ms 28, 1886