p. 11 | God’s Words or Man’s by C. D. M. WILLIAMS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 19, 1907

God’s Words or Man’s

By C. D. M. WILLIAMS

C. D. M. WILLIAMS

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.”

Too frequently we read these words, and do not think of the origin of them. When we look at the prophecies, we say this is the prophecy of Daniel or Isaiah or Jeremiah or of some other man; but this is not the way that we should look upon the words that these men uttered. God spoke to the fathers by the prophets. What a difference in the thought when we look at prophecy not as the words of man, but as the words of God to men.

“The Revelation” is called the revelation of “St. John,” but we find it to be “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.” Here we see that it is not from John at all, but it is something that God has given to Christ to send by the angel to his servants.

Again, we read, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Here is the same thought: God is speaking to men. It is God’s message, not man’s. “Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Every thought expressed in the Word of God should be carefully pondered, and every sentence seriously considered. We need to follow the example of Cornelius and his followers. Speaking to Peter, Cornelius said: “Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.” They were there to hear God’s message, not the message of Peter. And when Peter opened his mouth and began to speak to them, they understood that the message was from God to them. Speaking of the Thessalonians, Paul says: “For this cause also we thank God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” When we separate these words from men, and receive them as the words of God, which they are, then they begin to work. When Cornelius and his company were gathered there to receive the words of God, then there came the outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon them to such an extent that Peter was compelled to say, “As I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.”

Here was fulfilled in them just what we wish to be fulfilled in us, just what we have been praying for for years. Have we been listening to the prophet and saying these are just the words of man, and many times criticizing them, and rejecting them because we could not harmonize them with our life?

We should come into our assemblies, not to criticize the minister, not like the Athenians to hear what “this babbler” will say, not filled with curiosity to see what kind of man has been sent among us, not to see whether we like the new minister or not, but to hear what God has for us. Many a sermon has been a failure because it received the criticism of the hearers instead of their prayers. Many a battle has been lost to God’s people because there were no Aarons and Hurs to hold up the hands of the servant of God. Let us come into line, stand shoulder to shoulder, a solid phalanx, each one bearing his burden for souls, each one considering his brother and helping him. Let every one say, Let me hear what God has for me.

We are living in a time when God has promised to speak to his people most abundantly. “It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.”

Now as it is positive that God is to speak to you and me through the spirit of prophecy, it is most important that you and I be in a position where we can say, Here we are before God; speak, for thy servant heareth. “To-day, after so long a time; as it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” We are on the borders of the promised land, just ready to cross over. Let us carefully listen to the still, small voice that says, “This is the way, walk ye in it.”

Honolulu, H. I.