Digging For Truth : What does it mean (33)

Quotations from the writings of Ellen G. White with the phrase . . .

W H A T d o e s I T M E A N ( 3 RELATED PHRASES )

The phrase 'what does it mean' appears 33 times in the published writings of EGW page not on Original site Related phrase: What does it mean? ( below ) - - what it means to ( ) - - what will it mean ( 625 )

And yet, with the lessons of Christ’s life before them, how many who claim to be his followers, fail to be tender-hearted, forgiving, and full of love and compassion. In the hardness of their own hearts, in the iron-like stubbornness of their own will, they wound and bruise the souls for whom Christ has died. If they think a brother has erred, they are severe toward him, not remembering that they themselves are in constant need of God’s mercy. They pass lightly over things in themselves that are grievous in the sight of God, but censure without mercy those whom they think blamable. How differently does God deal with the sinner; he forgives transgression and sin. He loved us, and gave himself for us. What does it mean that such hardness of heart is manifested among the professed children of God? It is an offense to God; for it misrepresents his character. { RH June 30, 1891, par. 12 } also { PH089 16.1 }

All heaven is filled with amazement, that when this love, so broad, so deep, so rich and full, is presented to men who have known the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, they are so indifferent, so cold and unmoved. What does it mean that such amazing grace does not soften our hard hearts? O! it is because of the power of unbelief; because “thou hast left thy first love.” This is why the word of God has so little influence. It is as a fire, but it cannot penetrate nor warm the ice-bound heart that cherishes unbelief. { RH December 23, 1890, par. 7 }

What does it mean that so many of our large cities are unworked? Have you been learning at the footstool of Jesus? Have the workers in our institutions been doing their duty? Have they been trying to advance the work of the Lord? { GCB April 10, 1901, par. 28 }

What does it mean to receive into the heart the good seed? — It means to receive the words of Christ. This is a remedy for sin. Some give the truth a partial reception, a half-sympathy, wishing at the same time they had never heard it. In such soil Satan sows his seed, and soon there is a growth of thorns, which chokes the good seed. But when the gospel seed is sown in soil that welcomes it, when it is incorporated with the life, direct and glorious results are seen, — results that testify to the infinite love of God and the transforming power of the gospel. { YI August 16, 1900, par. 10 }

Now the great question is, Are we Bible Christians,—doers of the word? I have been astonished beyond measure as light has been presented to me again and again concerning the difficulties and dissensions that exist in our churches. What does it mean? With the teachings of the Bible before them, how dare they be in such disunion, apparently not caring to answer the prayer of Christ that his disciples might be one, as he is one with the Father. How dare they set up their will, and imperil the cause of God in order to carry things on in their own way? { 1888 903.7 }

No one can be written in the books of heaven who is a drunkard. Resist temptation as a man. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth you can lay hold upon divine power. Christ will work in behalf of every one of you. The tobacco appetite is created which hath no foundation in nature. Nevertheless you can have the victory. The curse of God is upon them who pass the bottle to their neighbors’ lips. You say we are in the minority. Is not God a majority? If we are on the side of the God who made the heaven and the earth, are we not on the side of the majority? We have the angels that excel in strength, on our side. Away with the fashions of this degenerate age. Sisters and mothers, you are abusing the bodies which God has given you. What does it mean, young women, this girdling of the waist which does not give your lungs, liver, and vital organs their proper capacity? Your future posterity will testify against you. How could I have spoken as I have, if I would girdle myself as some of you do? You see, nothing is pressing against these vital organs. We sometimes see women who have some records to read, and they cannot speak loudly. They seem to have no voice. They are girdled until they have tiny waists, as though God did not know how to make them. { Temp, 291.2}

My brethren and sisters in America, I make my appeal to you. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7. The lives of many are too delicate and dainty. They know nothing of bearing hardship as good soldiers of Christ. They are hindrances to the work of soul saving. They have many wants; everything must be convenient and easy, to suit their taste. They will not do anything themselves, and those who would do something they hinder by their suppositions and imaginary wants, and their love of idols. They think themselves Christians, but they do not know what practical Christian life signifies. What does it mean to be a Christian? It means to be Christlike. { 8T 52.3}

My brethren and sisters ..., I make my appeal to you.... The lives of many are too delicate and dainty.... They think themselves Christians, but they do not know what practical Christian life signifies. What does it mean to be a Christian? It means to be Christlike.... Co-operate with God by working in harmony with Him. Expel from the soul-temple everything that assumes the form of an idol. Now is God’s time, and His time is your time. Fight the good fight of faith, refusing to think or to talk unbelief. The world is to hear the last warning message. { Mar 137.4}

Does this text mean that the human agent can remove one stain of sin from his soul? No. Then what does it mean to purify himself? It means to look upon the Lord’s great moral standard of righteousness, the holy law of God, and see that he is a sinner in the light of that law. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” 1 John 3:4, 5. It is through faith in Jesus Christ that ... the human agent is purified and cleansed.... “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.” Verse 6. God has power to keep the soul that is in Christ.... A mere profession of godliness is worthless. It is he that abideth in Christ that is a Christian.... { OHC 142.2}

Does this text mean that the human agent can remove one stain of sin from his soul? No. Then what does it mean to purify himself? It means to look upon the Lord’s great moral standard of righteousness, the holy law of God, and see that he is a sinner in the light of that law. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” { 7BC 950.10 }

The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” “And they strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily. I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.... It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The question comes home to us today, Are we eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God? It is by beholding the love of Christ, by drinking it in, by dwelling upon it, that we eat his flesh and drink his blood, becoming partakers of the divine nature. As we meditate upon the truth as it is in Jesus, it becomes more deeply impressed upon the soul. “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” It is through the ministry of the word, that the saints are to be perfected. But what does it mean that there is so low a standard of piety among those who profess to be followers of Christ? Are the people fed upon the words of Christ? Are the messengers satisfied with preaching a discourse, and leaving the work of ministering to whoever may be inclined to do it? There is earnest work to do out of the desk as well as in it. The sermon may arouse the conscience, but the labor will be lost if the soul is left to settle down into the same state of indifference as before the words were spoken. The messenger is to speak as moved by the Spirit of God, and then he must come close to souls through personal labor, and guide the conscience, and fasten the truth in a sure place. The minister has a work to do in the home circle, teaching the members of the family concerning the great love wherewith God hath loved us, that they may know what it is to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. When the heart of the messenger is warmed with the love of Jesus, he will have a message to give that will be as a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death. He will not feel that his responsibility is over when he leaves the desk; there is a God-appointed work for him to do as a careful, tender shepherd of the flock of God. If he is a heaven-sent messenger, the truth will be in him as fire shut up in his bones, and it will be continually shining to enlighten those who are ignorant of what Jesus is to them, and of what they are to Jesus. He will teach them that the only way to reach the heaven above, is to cling to Jesus, day by day, hour by hour, mounting step by step to the heights of Christ. { BEcho April 1, 1892, par. 3 }

Does this text mean that the human agent can remove one stain of sin from his soul?—No. Then what does it mean to purify himself?— It means to look upon the Lord’s great moral standard of righteousness, the holy law of God, and see that he is a sinner in the light of that law. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sin; and in him is no sin.” It is through faith in Jesus Christ that the truth is accepted in the heart and the human agent is purified and cleansed. Jesus was “wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Is it possible to be healed, while knowingly committing sin?— No; it is genuine faith that says, I know that I have committed sin, but that Jesus has pardoned my sin; and hereafter I will resist temptation in and through his might. “Every man that hath this hope in him [abiding in him] purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” He has an abiding principle in the soul, that enables him to overcome temptation. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.” God has power to keep the soul who is in Christ, when that soul is under temptation. “Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” That is, every one who is a true believer is sanctified through the truth, in life and character. “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth [not professeth to do] righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; ... because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.” Now mark where the distinction is made: “Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither is he that loveth not his brother.” “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” { YI February 15, 1894, par. 5 }

I have seen the coming in and increase of selfishness in the working of fields or the non-working of fields. What does it mean, these destitute places left unworked, and so little earnest effort made to put workers into these fields? The Lord Jesus gave His last testimony to John in Revelation: “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter” [Revelation 1:19]. Here message after message is given. { 16MR 203.4 }

Sanctification — What does it mean to be sanctified? It means an unreserved surrender to God, to know and do His will. It means to be heavenly minded, pure, unselfish, without spot or blemish. { 18MR 147.1 }

In her passion she sends word to Elijah saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” ( 1 Kings 19:2). Elijah is awakened roughly from his slumber by a messenger. He hears the startling message; his senses are confused. What does it mean? Is this to be the end of all this burden, the zeal he has had for God in his labors to restore the true worship of Jehovah; is it to end in his disappointment and death? Is this the conversion of apostate Israel? Never could man be more disappointed in his expectations. The reaction has come, but O, how bitter. The Lord suffers obstacles to arise, disappointments to follow on the heels of signal victory that His wisdom and power shall be revealed, and that His name shall be exalted above all rulers and kings. “When Elijah saw that, he fled for his life.” { 1888 488.2 }

W H A T d o e s I T M E A N ?

We rejoice in hope, not in feeling. In the hope of the glory of God we know that tribulation worketh patience and experience hope. What does it mean? If we do not feel just as we want to, are we to fly into impatience, speaking those words that show that we have the attributes of Satan? We cannot afford to speak a harsh word or an unkind word, because we are standing right in view of the heavenly intelligences and we are fighting the battle with all the heavenly universe looking upon us; and how we grieve the heart of God when we deny Him in any way! The marks of the crucifixion in the hands of Christ show that He has graven us upon the palms of His hands.—MS 16, 1894. { 2MCP 803.4 }

No man’s work, no matter what his position may be, can bear any comparison with this great work for fallen man. The subject is so great, so important. Then why is it that so few pay attention to it? Men act as though they had no souls to save, no heaven to win, no hell to shun. What does it mean? { UL 209.3}

What does it mean to be connected with Christ? You must do your best. It may not be much, but do your best and when you have done your best cast your helpless soul upon Jesus Christ as your Saviour, as your Redeemer, and then just have faith. A faith that works by love and purifies the soul. { NIRec August 17, 1909, par. 3 }

I was instructed that destruction hath gone forth upon cities. The word of the Lord will be fulfilled. Isaiah 29:19-24 was repeated. I dared not move, not knowing where I was. I cried unto the Lord, What does it mean? These representations of destruction were repeated. Where am I? “In scenes I have represented that which will be; but warn My people to cease from putting their trust in men who are not obedient to my warnings and who despise My reproof, for the day of the Lord is right upon the world when evidence shall be made sure. Those who have followed the voices that would turn things upside down will themselves be turned where they cannot see, but will be as blind men. { 11MR 361.2 }

Our individual influence is proportionate to the position we occupy and the work we are doing. Those who acted a part in robbing the Southern field had every facility— buildings, machinery, and workers —yet they could take “the one ewe lamb,” and let consequences and results take care of themselves. What does it mean? Were these men controlled by the Holy Spirit? God holds responsible those who by pen or voice acted a part in diverting His means from the field for which it was raised. In heart, mind, and soul they were controlled by covetousness. Covetousness is idolatry, and no idolater will enter the kingdom of heaven. { 21MR 144.2 }

The “joy fulfilled in themselves.” What does it mean? Why, I get up in the morning, [and] I don’t feel any particular joy. When I wake up, I don’t feel that wonderful joy; perhaps some days, sometimes I do. But then what? Looking unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith, I begin to look up to Jesus for His presence, His light, and His love. A very simple thing. I thank God that He has kept me through the night. I am so thankful that He is a living Saviour. I am so grateful that He lives to make intercession for me; that He is not in Joseph’s new tomb. He is a living Saviour and ready to bless me. Well then, I believe that He means I shall be blessed. He died for me that I might be blessed, and that His joy might remain in me, therefore I keep my mind in that channel. I educate it; I train my tongue; I train my thoughts; I train all that there is of me that I may fasten it upon Jesus Christ. { 1SAT 205.2 }

O, I am so sorry and ashamed to have the paper go to others with such articles as this in it. Piece after piece from Fannie’s pen appears in the papers. What does it mean? When I can find them, I will send you copies of some letters written by me to her, and her answers. When she was in my family, it seemed that Satan used her as his agent to invent those things that would make the whole household miserable. She would have her times of confession, and would then say all that one could ask another to say. But she would go over the same ground again and again, each time worse than before, until I decided that Satan’s temptations, working upon her desire for recognition, were so strong that she had no power to escape from the snare. She was one with the enemy, working in his service. { MR926 81.2 }

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What does it mean (33)

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