The Conditions for Fulfilled Promises
by Ellen White
The course of God's people should be upward and onward to victory.... One is in our
midst, even the Captain of our salvation, who has said for our encouragement, `Lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world' [Mat. 28:20]. He will lead us on to
certain victory. What God promises, he is able at any time to perform. And the work he
gives his people to do, he is able to accomplish by them. If we live a life of perfect
obedience, his promises will be fulfilled toward us. 2T 122F (1868)
The body, which God calls his temple, should be preserved in as healthy a condition as
possible. Many act as though they had a right to treat their own bodies as they please.
They do not realise that God has claims upon them. They are required to glorify him in
their bodies and spirits, which are his. While they give themselves up to the
gratification of unhealthy appetites, and thus bring disease upon themselves, they cannot
render to God acceptable service. None should remain in ignorance of God's claims. All his
promises are on conditions of obedience. All should work for themselves. They should do
that which God requires them to do, and not leave God to do for them that which he has
left for them to do. It is a sacred duty which God has enjoined upon reasonable beings,
formed in his image, to keep that image in as perfect a state as possible. Those who bring
disease upon themselves, by self-gratification, have not healthy bodies and minds. They
cannot weigh the evidences of truth, and comprehend the requirements of God. Our Saviour
will not reach his arm low enough to raise such from their degraded state, while they
persist in pursuing a course to sink themselves still lower. 4ASG 148
Many have expected that God would keep them from sickness merely because they have
asked Him to do so. But God did not regard their prayers, because their faith was not made
perfect by works. God will not work a miracle to keep those from sickness who have no care
for themselves, but are continually violating the laws of health, and make no efforts to
prevent disease. When we do all we can on our part to have health, then may we expect that
the blessed results will follow, and we can ask God in faith to bless our efforts for the
preservation of health. He will then answer our prayer, if His name can be glorified
thereby. But let all understand that they have a work to do. God will not work in a
miraculous manner to preserve the health of persons who are taking a sure course to make
themselves sick, by their careless inattention to the laws of health.
Those who will gratify their appetite, and then suffer because of their intemperance,
and take drugs to relieve them, may be assured that God will not interpose to save health
and life which is so recklessly periled. The cause has produced the effect. Many, as their
last resort, follow the directions in the word of God, and request the prayers of the
elders of the church for their restoration to health. God does not see fit to answer
prayers offered in behalf of such, for He knows that if they should be restored to health,
they would again sacrifice it upon the altar of unhealthy appetite. 4SG 144
The Creator of man has arranged the living machinery of our bodies. Every function is
wonderfully and wisely made. And God pledged Himself to keep this human machinery in
healthful action if the human agent will obey His laws and co-operate with God. Every law
governing the human machinery is to be considered just as truly divine in origin, in
character, and in importance as the word of God. Every careless, inattentive action, any
abuse put upon the Lord's wonderful mechanism, by disregarding His specified laws in the
human habitation, is a violation of God's law. We may behold and admire the work of God in
the natural world, but the human habitation is the most wonderful. MS 3, 1897 CD 17
But it is not always safe to ask for unconditional healing. Let your prayer include
this thought: "Lord, Thou knowest every secret of the soul. Thou art acquainted with
these persons; for Jesus, their advocate, gave His life for them. He loves them better
than we possibly can. If, therefore, it is for Thy glory and the good of these afflicted
ones to raise them up to health, we ask Thee in the name of Jesus, that health may be
given them at this time." In a petition of this kind, no lack of faith is manifested.
The Lord "doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men."
Lamentations 3:33. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them
that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." Psalm
103:13, 14. He knows our heart, for He reads every secret of the soul. He knows whether or
not those for whom petitions are offered would be able to endure the trial and test that
would come upon them if they lived. He knows the end from the beginning. Many will be laid
away to sleep before the fiery ordeal of the time of trouble shall come upon our world.
This is another reason why we should say after our earnest petition; "Nevertheless
not my will, but Thine, be done." Luke 22:42. Such a petition will never be
registered in heaven as a faithless prayer. CH 375
One reason why we do not enjoy more of the blessing of the Lord is, we do not heed the
light which He has been pleased to give us in regard to the laws of life and health. RH
MAY 08,1883
Christ has promised the gift of the Spirit to his church, and the promise belongs to us
as much as to the first disciples. But like every other promise, it is given on
conditions. There are many who believe, and profess to claim the Lord's promise; they talk
about Christ and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit. They do not surrender the
soul to be guided and controlled by the divine agencies. RH MAY 19,1904
[Eph. 1:1f quoted.] `Grace be to you.' We owe everything to God's free grace. Grace in
the covenant ordained our adoption. Grace in the Saviour effected our redemption, our
regeneration, and our exaltation to heirship with Christ....
We should never have learned the meaning of this word, `grace,' had we not fallen. God
loves the sinless angels ... but he does not give them grace.... Grace is an attribute of
God shown to undeserving human beings. We ourselves did not seek after it, but it was sent
out in search of us.
God rejoices to bestow this grace upon all who hunger for it, not because we are
worthy, but because we are so utterly unworthy....
The condition on which we receive an increase of grace is that we improve upon the
light we already have. RH OCT.15,1908
God waits for the co-operation of his church. He does not design to add a new element
of efficiency to his Word; he has done his great work in giving his inspiration to the
Word. The blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the divine Word, are ours.... It depends upon
us to lay hold of the promises God has given, and become labourers together with him. RH
OCT.15,1908
We should educate the mind so that we can hold communion with God constantly. We must
learn to glance upward in sincere desire, sending a prayer to Heaven in all places and
under all circumstances. You may have that faith that will place your hand in the hand of
Jesus, and by faith you may keep hold of him. You should keep your mind filled with the
precious promises of God. As Christians we do not make half enough of the promises, for
God will never fail in any good thing which he has promised. We should take these promises
singly, view them critically in all their richness, meditate upon them until the soul is
burdened with their greatness, and delighted with their strength and power. I am so sorry
that we deprive ourselves of the blessing we might have, and it is simply because we do
not cherish the thought that the promises of God are for us. God has left them in this
word for us, and we should dig for them as for hidden treasures. Why are we so easily
satisfied with little flashes of light when there is a heaven of illumination for us? We
drink at shallow streams, when there is a great fountain just above us, if we will only
rise a little higher in the pathway of faith. Our natures must be raised from their
earthliness, they must be kindled and purified in the upper brightness of God's divine
presence. But you must remember that only those who obey the commandments of God through
his grace have a right to appropriate the promises written for the consolation of the
children of God. The psalmist says: "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts;
and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom." ST APR.14,1890
Do not dishonour Jesus by doubting His precious promises. He wants us to believe in Him
with unwavering faith. There is a class who say, "I believe, I believe," and
claim all the promises which are given on condition of obedience. While they claim
everything in the promises of God, they do not the works of Christ. God is not honoured by
any such faith, it is a spurious faith. Then we see a people trying to keep all of God's
commandments, but there are many of these who do not come up to their exalted privileges
and claim nothing. God's promises are to those who keep His commandments and do those
things that are pleasing in His sight. . . . TDG 9
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