12:131 Corinthians 12:13

By one Spirit all believers are baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles and whether bond or free, so that all ranks and races and classes stand equal in one common brotherhood without caste.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+2 All have been made to drink into one Spirit, sharing the same spiritual life and supply, and the more fully they drink the more they are filled with love and patience and harmony.5MR 361.4–362.1+2 That one body is Christ's church, with Christ Himself as its head on whom every member centers and depends for life and strength and direction.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+2 By the same Spirit there is diversity of gifts and abilities given as God pleases, so no member is self-sufficient and no member can say to another that he is not needed.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+4 God therefore joined the members to prevent division and to foster mutual care, so that if one suffers all suffer and if one is honored all rejoice, with each supplying what another lacks in harmonious action under the Holy Spirit.5MR 368.2–3+4

By one Spirit all believers are baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles and whether bond or free.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+4 The one body is Christ's church, with Jesus Christ as its head and believers as its many members having different gifts and roles.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+2 In Christ the division between Jew and Gentile is broken down and both are included in the gospel, so Christ's religion joins all in one common brotherhood equal before God without caste.Ms 111, 1906, par. 9–13+2 That brotherhood embraces people of every rank and class, with all ranks, classes, races, backgrounds, temperaments and social positions joined together and with varied talents forming a complete whole.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+2 Because all belong to one body, no member is to be self-sufficient, to reject another, to judge one gift by another, or to say another whose work differs is not needed, and no member or contribution is to be despised, excluded or undervalued, since every member is needed and the gifts are to be exercised together in unity.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+2 God arranged the members to prevent division and to foster mutual care, so that when one suffers all suffer with it and when one is honored all rejoice, and the church's many members are to work together as one body under sanctified direction, each serving a distinct role with common interests and sympathy, because pride and division damage the unity God ordained.AA 317.2+2

All have been made to drink into one Spirit, meaning all share in, receive and drink in of the same Spirit and the same spiritual life and supply.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+4 All are born of God by the same Spirit and worked by the same Spirit, all drink from the same Source and feed on the flesh and blood of the Son of God, the Word which is Spirit and life, and the same blood that purchased one brother purchased every brother.Lt 53, 1900, par. 13–17+2 The more believers drink in of the Spirit the more they are animated and united by His surpassing love, animated with Christ's love and helped to show His tender, compassionate patience.5MR 361.4–362.1+2 Drinking in the Spirit brings those who differ closer together and enables harmony in harmonious action, with variety from eyes to feet yet all members depending on one another to make a perfect whole, without requiring identical thoughts or ways of thinking and expressing truth.5MR 361.4–362.1+2 Therefore dissimilarity in habits and character does not excuse division and it is no virtue to differ, for when the same vitalizing current flows through minds and hearts all act in harmony, and failing to do so denies the Source of all spiritual life.Lt 53, 1900, par. 13–17+1 Hearts full of unbelief do not receive this blessing but resist the Spirit's working and remain bitter, while its reception brings conviction and surrender of selfish purposes, as seen in the outpouring of the Spirit in Battle Creek which some rejected as mere excitement rather than the Holy Spirit's work.STMW6 19.1

From the beginning to the end of time God's people are one body.ST Dec 20, 1883 Christ's promise to send the Holy Spirit as Comforter and guide to lead into all truth is fulfilled to the church, and 1 Corinthians 12 presents a formal declaration that certain gifts of the Spirit have been placed in the church for its edification and instruction to the end of time.PP xiii.2–xiv.2 All who are brought together in church capacity are to be united, understandingly and intelligently, baptized by one Spirit into one body, and the figure of the members which compose the body represents the church of God and the relation its members should sustain to one another.Ms 82, 1898, par. 31–33+1 The teaching of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 about this membership in the body is to be committed to memory, written in mind and heart, studied, digested and applied rather than ignored by professed people of God.Ms 82, 1898, par. 31–33+1 That instruction in Corinthians about membership in the body, together with the instruction in Ephesians, should be studied carefully, since God has associated together people of different minds so they counsel with and assist one another and the lack in the experience and abilities of one is supplied by the experience and abilities of another, and no one is qualified to bear the burden of the work alone.Ms 82, 1898, par. 31–33+1

The one body into which all are baptized by one Spirit is Christ's church, with Jesus Christ Himself as its head and believers as its many members with different gifts, offices, stations, places and roles.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+3 All, whether Jews or Gentiles and whether bond or free, are brought into that one body and made to share in the same Spirit, centering in Christ, depending on Him, and drawing strength and life from the same stock.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+3 All are to act under His authority rather than under human guidance or self-exaltation, working in harmonious, well-regulated action with every other part for the benefit and strengthening of the whole, exercising every gift together in sympathy with the whole.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+2 Because all belong to one body there is to be no division or contention and no more reason for strife over who shall be greatest than among members of the human body, but one common interest and cooperation with Christ in restoring in man the moral image of God.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+2 No member is self-sufficient and no member may say to another that he is not needed or reject one whose work differs, with no crowding out, no judging of one gift by another and no measuring of one gift against another, since every member is needed and many gifts must be actively used together in unity.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+1 This diversity is purposeful to meet varied organizations and minds in the world, since the strength of one servant is not the strength of another and one worker has traits to gain access to a class others could not touch, so no one should govern others too much, bend other minds to his own ideas, mold judgment and character after himself, or destroy will, identity and individuality, but each must be left free for God to convict the heart, give a personal experience founded in God, and develop individual powers for a special work, while each bears God-given responsibility to work out his own salvation and that of family and associates.Lt 49, 1875, par. 2–4+2

Connection with Christ involves connection with His church in a very close and sacred relation, like head to body and bridegroom to bride, so that connection with the church is one of the first steps in service to Christ and loyalty to Christ demands faithful performance of church duties.RH Aug 29, 1907+1 The church as organized for service is the Lord's body with Christ as the great Head and divine Shepherd, gospel ministers as undershepherds under Him, and members as His working agencies, and with all its working forces the body must become one with Christ as Head in unity of action and stand out prominently as His continued incarnation.Lt 121, 1900, par. 9+1 Members are branches of the living vine and of one root, limbs of the body, many different stones forming one breastplate, and parts of one temple and one family, bound heart to heart in pure, permanent love rather than impulse or spasmodic feeling, imbibing fresh divine principle from the love flowing from the heart of God.RH Aug 29, 1907+2 This union is the only ground where true friendship can be kept without partiality and without hypocrisy, loving God supremely and one another truly, sincerely, unaffectedly and fervently with pure hearts, respecting and loving one another, accepting mutual responsibility and natural obligation, and using sanctified talents and influence for one another's good rather than to hurt and injure.Lt 28, 1896, par. 9–11 Differences in characteristics, experience, thoughts, words and actions remain, so members will not be exact duplicates of one another, yet as every branch and leaf of the vine acts its part so each member is to act its part, maintaining constant union with Christ as essential to growth and preparation for His coming, that God may seek much fruit from the united body and lead a church imbued with His life directly to effort for the world without.RH Aug 29, 1907+2

Profession of faith admits a person to visible membership, but merely joining the church does not make a person a Christian or secure salvation, and membership without a heart devoted to Christ gives no title to heaven.ST May 24, 1883+1 True membership depends on spiritual connection with Christ the Head and on receiving life from Him, with faith and love forming a character that bears fruit, shows allegiance to Christ, and works to unite and harmonize the members of His body.Ms 46, 1894, par. 3+1 A person connected to the body only in name, without drawing life from Christ, is like a paralyzed member, whereas drinking the living water of God's grace quickens the whole being with the life of the Son of God unto growth and fruit, which passing feelings or brief impulses are not.ST May 24, 1883+1

As the human body of flesh is a complete structure with every part united to and dependent upon the other for life, each member having its special office and connected with the other to form a complete whole, so the Word of God is a complete body pervaded by one divine life.Lt 3, 1898, par. 13–16 Every portion of Scripture and every book of the Bible has its use and is adapted to human beings in every phase of life to secure a special result, to make the human family complete in Christ.Lt 3, 1898, par. 13–16

By the same Spirit there is diversity of gifts, operations, minds, talents, experience and abilities within the one body into which all are baptized.11MR 277.2–4+3 God gives one gift to one person and another to another as He pleases, appointing some to serve in one line of work and others in other lines, for the good of the whole.5MR 368.2–3+4 This is illustrated by the human body from head to feet and from eyes to feet, where different members have different offices yet are all of the body and all center in Christ as Head.11MR 277.2–4+2 All gifts are valuable in their proper places and are to be actively used together, each developed without despising or envying the gifts and achievements of others.GW 481.1–2+1

This diversity is God's plan to meet the varied organizations, make-up and minds in the world.11MR 277.2–4+2 The strength of one servant is not the strength of another, and one worker has natural traits to gain access to a class that others could not touch.11MR 277.2–4+2 In God's providence people of different temperaments are brought together so they may unite in work, supplying what each lacks, with diverse elements blended one adapted to the other and each doing its special work in the filling up of one great plan bearing the stamp of Christ's image.4T 127.4–128.1+3 Distinct qualities can complement one another and strengthen shared work, as illustrated by the partnership of Luther and Melancthon.GC88 134.2

Individual identity and liberty of expression remain within unity.11MR 277.2–4+2 Each is to cultivate and develop the powers and qualities God has given, obtain a personal experience founded in God, and be left free for God to convict and operate upon the heart and call forth individual powers and strength for a special work.11MR 277.2–4+2 No one is to govern others too much or try to make other minds bend to his own ideas and mold their judgment and character after himself, for that destroys will, identity and individuality and spoils them for the work God would have them do.Lt 49, 1875, par. 2–4 Oneness allows difference without contradiction, as God impresses different minds with the same thought and each expresses it in a different way according to constitution, education and development, dwelling on particular points fitted to appreciate, with many minds joined under one Mind and all drawing spiritual supplies from the same storehouse in entire dependence on God.Lt 53, 1900, par. 9–12

No teacher, physician or minister can ever be a complete whole alone, for God has ordained that all be joined together so the varied talents of many minds are blended, with contact of mind with mind quickening thought and increasing capabilities.Ms 89, 1908, par. 25–26+2 This requires constant courtesy, growing refinement through association, overlooking little points of difference on questions of no vital consequence, denying self and yielding personal opinions on matters of minor importance to cooperate heartily with brotherly kindness, yet speaking plainly and firmly when occasion demands with kindly courtesy that gives no offense.Ms 89, 1908, par. 25–26 Those in trust must modestly regard the opinions of others as worthy of respect and as likely to be correct as their own, remembering God has made other men just as valuable and is willing to teach and guide them, and helpers are needed whose minds do not run in exactly the same lines.9MR 151.4–152.1+1 No one is to be molded to another mind, pressed into one pattern, ruled as conscience, regarded as the voice for the people, or built into a party of followers who only think and approve as one man thinks.Lt 49, 1875, par. 2–4+2

Recognizing that gifts come from the same Spirit and are dispensed by God for the good of the whole body removes cause for rivalry, pride, envy, contempt, emulation, judging and measuring one gift by another, and strengthens unity and mutual love.STB 553.2+3 All serve under the self-same Spirit in different lines of service, including calling some to teach others to fit them for service, which those called should do cheerfully following God's leading.11MR 275.2–3 Gifts must never be used to separate believers into parties under different heads, and where contention and party spirit appear they must be investigated and called by their right names, because all dissension comes from the narrow ideas of unsanctified minds.Lt 39, 1902, par. 6

Every member of the household has work to do and no member baptized into Christ's body can be inactive or live aimlessly with gifts unused.4T 454.1+2 Different lines of work are committed to different people according to their several ability, whether five talents or two or one, in sacred and secular duties, business, trades and ministry, with all work done for the Master connected with the great whole.Ms 83, 1899, par. 7+2 Responsibility for laboring for the salvation of souls does not belong to ministers alone, for God appoints and educates every member to take part in converting souls, with men, women and youth of all grades high and low, rich and poor, and of various temperaments, callings and positions given work suited to ability.SBAWP 26.1–27.1+2 Each has individual responsibility to the whole body and individual power to devise and execute what is best, using and improving talents in proportion to capabilities and employing the treasure of God's Word to God's glory in every circumstance of life, organizing every talent into solemn service, arousing dormant energies, watching for and caring for souls, and gaining deep insight through daily connection with God as channels of light and co-workers with Christ, so that hearts blend and move like well-adjusted machinery, each part dependent on the other yet distinct in action, and the whole life becomes consecrated with Holiness unto the Lord as the motto.Ms 83, 1899, par. 7+2

No one is qualified to bear the burden of the work alone, and no single gift, talent, method, mind or judgment is sufficient to make a complete whole or to mold and direct important interests.5MR 368.2–3+4 God has not appointed any one person to carry the work alone and has not given all wisdom to any one man, so one man cannot bear the responsibilities of sacred office by himself.IRCUP 30.1+2 Members must counsel with and assist one another, uniting human weakness to Christ's strength, dying to self and living to Christ so strong unchristlike traits are softened, subdued and purified, with each laborer doing God-given work in his appropriate position and supplying the deficiency of another.5MR 368.2–3+2 Varied gifts, experience, abilities and agencies linked together in perfect harmony are essential to build the work strong, symmetrical and complete, giving opportunity to consult, pray and cooperate together, while refusing to link with brethren because they do not work in exactly the same line, leaving assigned work to interfere with and spoil a fellow laborer's different work, or insisting on one-man rule shows need for converting power on heart and character.RCOC 74.2+2

By one Spirit all are baptized into one body in which no member is self-sufficient or a complete whole in himself.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+2 No member may say to another that he is not needed, reject another whose work differs, crowd out another, or judge and measure one gift by another, for every member is needed and all gifts are to be exercised together in unity.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+2 From head, eye and ear to arms, limbs, hands and feet, every part is indispensable and is only one part of the great whole, each with its place and function under Christ as head.Ms 128, 1901, par. 8–9+2 To consider oneself unnecessary or another dispensable, or to separate from God's chosen people and declare His work undenominational, violates this oneness which requires joining heart and spirit to come into unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man.AA 317.2+1

God so arranged the members to prevent schism and division and to foster mutual care and shared interests that bind closely together.AA 317.2+1 If one member suffers all suffer with it, and if one is honored or blessed all rejoice with it, with no member indifferent to the work of carrying forward the Lord's cause.AA 317.2+3 Separation is felt like members torn away, for each small part affects the usefulness of the whole and misuse of one part weakens the whole body.ST Feb 24, 1904 A truly converted, unified church sanctified body, soul and spirit gives life and manifests power for truth and holiness, while a sickly one spreads a deathly influence, and a discouraging influence hinders healthy action in the body.Ms 79, 1908, par. 20–22+1 This sympathy, kindly interest in fellow workers and rejoicing in helping them produces fruits of righteousness, lets light shine, magnifies truth, keeps the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and by the union of human and divine convicts the world and makes known manifold wisdom.Ms 79, 1908, par. 20–22+1

The deficiency of one is supplied by the strength of another, for no one is qualified to bear the burden alone and no one man has all wisdom to mold and direct important interests.5MR 368.2–3+2 God joined men of different minds, talents, experience and abilities so that when linked together each supplies the other's deficiency and thus they become a complete whole, building the work strong, symmetrical and complete.9MR 151.4–152.1+2 This requires each worker to consider the relation he sustains to fellow workers, blend mind with mind and plans with other minds, counsel with and assist one another, cherish confidence in brethren, not bar the mind against counsel, and receive advice and caution as safety and strength.5MR 368.2–3+2 Talents must be combined in evangelism with more prayer and humility, refusing frivolous diversion and refusing to lay one's own cross of self-denial on another, while careful thought checks exaggerated action without falling into slowness that loses precious time.Ms 1b, 1874, par. 23+1 Helpers whose minds do not run in exactly the same lines are needed, opinions of others are to be modestly respected as likely correct as one's own, and one-man rule is rejected as a great evil.9MR 151.4–152.1+1

As eyes to feet show variety yet dependence to make a perfect whole in harmonious action, so believers keep variety while depending on one another, drinking in of the same Spirit, and the more they drink the more they are animated and united by surpassing love.5MR 361.4–362.1+1 Diversity of gifts, experiences and expression remains with liberty, but all are moved by the same Spirit, joined to the whole in appointed roles, and blended in perfect harmony, unity and love with equal interest, earnest prayer and no selfishness.ST Feb 7, 1900+2 All must act in well-regulated action under sanctified intelligence, speaking truth in love without fitful movements, envy, evil thinking, speaking or acting, but with respect, encouragement, sympathy, forbearance and holy emulation.4T 16.1+2 Union is strength and variance is weakness, so variances are to be settled at once by going together, consulting, praying and conversing together and cooperating in labor until heart is cemented to heart and self-will dies, lest personal peculiarities hinder salvation of souls.RCOC 74.2+1

Like the different members of the human system uniting to form the entire body, and like different parts of a machine, all are closely related to one another and dependent upon one great Center, with unity in diversity.4T 16.1+1 Each has its own office to perform in obedience to the intelligence governing the whole, each is entrusted with talents to be used under divine supervision in unselfish service to minister to the perfection of the whole, and talents are improved by such service.4T 16.1+1 No one can be dropped without affecting the whole, nothing is independent, and no one can work successfully in independence.RH May 13, 1909 In creating humanity God made human beings necessary to one another as part of the web of humanity with mutual obligation, members of one common body joined in bonds that cannot be broken even when ignored, so there is to be no schism or partition wall.RCOC 98.4–99.1+2

Simple organization and church order are ordained for the unity and perfection of the church, with all baptized by one Spirit into one body.Lt 178, 1909, par. 14–16+2 Every agency is subordinate to the Holy Spirit, so that human instrumentality cooperates with the divine in organized and well-directed effort to give the world the glad tidings of grace, with one part working as connected with another part joined by golden links and with united converted agencies combining in vast influential plans where the divine cooperates with the human.Ms 43c, 1901, par. 10–11+2 A man holding office stands as a leader, adviser, counselor and helper in bearing burdens and offering thanksgiving, but he is not appointed to order and command laborers or to control and rule fellow workers, for position gives no kingly authority and there are to be no kings in the midst.Lt 178, 1909, par. 14–16+2 No one man has all wisdom or is the voice for the people, no one has right to forbid another worker his field or to control whether he is supported, and no branch of the work is to act as a kingdom of itself or perpetuate kingly power, with the same principles governing general affairs, publishing work and sanitarium work and no branch esteemed vastly more important than others.Ms 43c, 1901, par. 10–11+2 To regard individual judgment as supreme and to neglect or despise those appointed to bear responsibilities of leadership is to reject the means provided for help, encouragement and strength and to separate from the channels of light through which the work is built up and extended, leaving the worker where deception and overthrow are possible.GW92 266.4+1

Every member is to be united to the body, serving in his own capacity rather than living independently or only for self, and every member, church, conference, sanitarium and branch must remain united to the body and to appointed agencies, each working in its respective capacity.RCOC 70.2+3 No one can disconnect to work on an independent line in his own supposed wisdom and still be successful, for though he may flatter himself that he is doing God's work he will not prosper in the end, and separating from the body to follow private judgment brings spiritual ruin.2MR 158.2+1 God's people are not to act independently but are to draw together in their work as a united church that God leads and teaches, remaining receptive to counsel rather than separating for supposed efficiency.9T 258.2+2 Each person works in a distinct capacity and is to cooperate with the others rather than live for self, since the Holy Spirit joins believers into one body with shared interests and a sacred chain of dependence.Lt 33a, 1888, par. 13–14+1

Workers of different minds, experience and abilities are joined together so that no one bears the burden alone, and the deficiency in experience and ability of one is supplied by that of another, with each supplying the other's lack so that together they are a complete whole.9MR 151.4–152.1+1 No one mind and judgment can mold and direct important interests alone, no position makes a person infallible or independent, and unwillingness to learn unfits a man for the cause.9MR 151.4–152.1+2 Those in trust must modestly respect the opinions of others as likely to be as correct as their own, cherish confidence in the wisdom of brethren, consider the relation sustained to fellow workers, blend mind and plans with other minds, and not bar the mind against counsel but receive advice and caution as safety and strength.9MR 151.4–152.1+1 Each worker should value the abilities and counsel of fellow workers, share abilities and knowledge and take interest in every line of the work, binding heart to heart through love, humility, comfort and encouragement rather than allowing suspicion and restraint to destroy brotherly love.RCOC 97.2+2 This requires submission to one another and submission of mind and will to the Holy Spirit in order to learn together, without claiming infallibility, dictating conscience, glorifying self, keeping others inferior, or insisting on one's own way from impulse or bitter spirit.RCOC 97.2+2

The center of the work is like the heart of the body, and vigorous healthy heartbeats from the center should be felt in all parts of the body of believers.Lt 21a, 1888, par. 7–8 If the heart is sickly and weak in its action its inefficiency affects all branches, so a sound healthy working power at the center is positively essential in order that truth may be carried to the world and diffused through families and communities.Ms 97, 1901, par. 31–33+1 This requires wise planning, training powers of mind, discerning talents, and educating and encouraging persons of ability, including young men and home laborers, to find place according to capabilities given them, so the heart stays healthy and the whole body is kept in healthy condition with reciprocal dependence building one another up in most holy faith.Ms 97, 1901, par. 31–33+1 Evil thinking and evil speaking that cause disunion and strife let the enemy enter to cause discord and separation, to rob families of happiness and the church of usefulness, and to prevent the great work of reformation, whereas seeking the impartation of the Spirit causes light to be reflected in clear bright rays.Ms 97, 1901, par. 31–33

The verse calls for continuous humbling of individual self, beginning with self-examination, with the very first step denying self and taking up the cross, each person bearing his own cross of self-denial, self-humiliation and self-sacrifice instead of laying it on another to carry.Lt 354, 1905, par. 14 It requires stern dealing with self, closest examination of one's own temperament, weaknesses of character and perverse disposition dealt with decidedly and bravely, so that God is not dishonored.Lt 67, 1903, par. 16 Among members of the one body there is to be no criticizing, crowding, judging or measuring of one gift by another, but uniting human weakness to Christ's strength, dying to self and living to Christ, so that strong unchristlike traits are softened, subdued and purified and believers unite with one another in order to be one with Christ in God.5MR 368.2–3+1 Union with the body requires letting truth carry on its purifying process in heart and life, overcoming selfish disposition and love of earthly possessions, valuing heavenly treasure above earthly attraction, being guarded by the Spirit against idolatry of riches, and imparting freely of substance to aid the cause without shrinking from duty.15MR 327.2–3

By one Spirit the gospel ministry and the medical missionary work are baptized into the same one body as different members with appointed places.8T 160.1–161.1+4 The ministry is the body and the head, and the medical missionary work including health reform is the arm and hand and right hand joined to the body.8T 160.1–161.1+4 The gospel ministry preaches the gospel while medical missionary work practices it and illustrates it, opening doors, breaking down prejudice, and preparing the way so present truth can enter with power and be received.CH 557.2+4 That body image forbids separation or replacement, for treating either work as independent leaves the work unbalanced with parts undone.CH 557.2+4

Neither line is complete alone and none may stand alone, be dropped, or supersede another, for every feature is complete only when occupying its proper place.5MR 136.1–3+4 The two must blend in perfect Christian unity, go hand in hand, and move solidly together in inseparable union as the hand is joined to the body, with publications containing present truth also united as agencies of the same body.5MR 136.1–3+4 All are made effectual by faith as the Holy Spirit sends truth home to those who hear and read with earnest desire to know what is right.13MR 303.1+1 School and sanitarium are likewise to help one another rather than draw apart.Lt 50, 1908, par. 9+2

Medical work must not be made the whole body, the head, the center, or all and in all, nor eclipse the ministry, the warning message, the instruction of the churches, or the third angel's message.8T 160.1–161.1+4 Making the arm the body, letting all the strength of the cause go into the right hand, or letting the arm work and direct the body reverses right order, creates imbalance, leaves parts undone, and becomes a barrier to the true work.8T 166.4+4 The body needs the arm for active, aggressive service, and honor given to the body must also be given to the helping hands, for a body without hands is useless and can do nothing, and a body treating the right hand indifferently and refusing its aid can accomplish nothing.6T 288.2+2 Yet no part of the body, including the ministry, can be ignored without ignoring God, and to feel no interest in medical missionary work and speak against it is to treat the right hand disrespectfully.8T 160.1–161.1+2

In practice preaching first establishes the church and then health work and cooking schools come in to create confidence and interest, leaving the work solid behind as tithe-paying churches that supply means to send ministers elsewhere.Ms 103a, 1899, par. 23–25 Every minister of the gospel is to do practical medical missionary work, and in large cities medical missionary work must go hand in hand with gospel ministry to open doors for truth, with preaching the Word and caring for the sick kept as parts of the same undivided work as Christ joined them.Ms 117, 1901, par. 4+2 Tithes from workers in medical lines are not to go to a separate medical treasury but with all other tithes to one treasury, so ministers can be freely supplied to work in connection with the medical work.Ms 103a, 1899, par. 33 So kept in proportion and symmetry every feature occupies its proper place for a worldwide message, with labor for the degraded and fallen combined with giving the warning message and with no line of faith weakened.8T 160.1–161.1+3

When God's true converting power circulates like the healthful current of blood it brings great changes, producing mutual respect and removing disunion.Ms 130, 1905, par. 12–13+3 Then workers wear Christ's yoke in humility, use varied gifts to bless humanity as His helping hand, draw together without friction, jealousy, quarreling, or party feeling over Paul or Apollos or Cephas, give room to fellow laborers, and refuse to measure others by their own ideas or fasten souls to a human leader.Ms 130, 1905, par. 12–13+2 Blame for division over health reform is not altogether on one side, for resisting light against tea and Java coffee and flesh meats injures and divides, while bearing down on ministers as a body in an unjustifiable manner because of it is also wrong.Ms 197, 1899, par. 19

By one Spirit all are made one, and that oneness requires unceasing tenderness toward one another rather than standing apart in self-confidence to watch, criticize and condemn in counsel.Ms 141, 1902, par. 18–19 Genuine faithfulness speaks good words that help and strengthen, guards the interests of fellow believers even when mistakes are made, and unites in service.Ms 141, 1902, par. 18–19 Joined as members of the body to Christ, believers are to show Christlike sympathy, take kindly interest in fellow workers, and rejoice in helping them, and such care bears fruits of righteousness, lets light shine to others, and brings sanctifying benefit to the church.ST Nov 13, 1901

Even one who feels insignificant belongs together with the rest through Christ as a member of His body, with duty given not for personal advantage but that each influence may strengthen the whole.7T 296.1 All are formed into one body, one Christian family, where each is upheld by the courage and faith of the others, and even the weakest saint, through humble dependence on God, can become strong and share the privileges of a child of God, unto blessing for members and world and preparation for the family above.Ms 157, 1899, par. 2 As organs of the body must serve and impart life to others, so Christians depend on one another in giving, and the member that refuses to give and share the love of Christ as life-blood to every part will perish.ST Feb 3, 1904+1 All baptized by one Spirit into one body are only a part of a great whole where no worker stands alone or rules over others but is set to be a help, so selfishness, love of supremacy and desire for mastery must be conquered and a clean unselfish character wrought out, since each one's course determines the value of many others set in the church.Lt 416, 1907, par. 16–17

Through the Holy Spirit believers are joined into one body to be a living, active missionary agency, moved and controlled by the Spirit, in which each new member by conversion receives place, duty and work as another worker in redemption.RH Apr 29, 1909+1 The church is a living, breathing, spiritual body where each has something to do and must do his individual duty to manifest its life, with life and carefully preserved order under spiritually minded leaders, expressed in organized lines of work for prayer and help to the lame, sick and dependent and in every needed line, with all who have received light imparting it to neighbors rather than leaving them in sin.Ms 100, 1900, par. 1–3 Amid the perils of the last days this body is to represent the wisdom and character of God as a perfect whole, with every mental and physical power essential and every talent and power of mind cultivated and used in right relation, God giving talents while man forms character by cultivating the mind as the Lord's garden after the divine similitude.2MR 341.2 In Greater New York the time had come to work with the many workers and many kinds of work, great and small, uniting to make a perfect whole.Lt 1, 1902, par. 5 Baptized into one body and united through sanctification with dependence on Christ, believers are drawn by sanctifying, unifying truth to work with no indifferent member, suffering together and rejoicing together, and Christ identifying Himself with His members convicts the world, magnifies truth, keeps the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, labors with God for souls, and makes known through the church to principalities and powers the manifold wisdom of God.Ms 79, 1908, par. 20–22

Efficiency of the work on earth depends on stewards of means being true and not robbing God, with assured divine help in working together, and membership in the one body means blessing and comforting those of like precious faith, looking up and believing in Jesus, being a light by example, and answering His giving of His precious life with cheerful service.Lt 24, 1895, par. 18+1 Laborers in ministry and medical missionary work, in sanitariums and gospel ministry, are united in one body under Christ as Head and Leader with different offices, to wear His yoke in humility, use varied gifts as His helping hand to bless humanity and restore His moral image, with every part controlled by God-given wisdom in harmony without friction, jealousy, quarreling, division or party feeling over Paul or Apollos or Cephas.Ms 130, 1905, par. 12–13+1 Ministers must give room to fellow laborers and not measure them by their own ideas, fasten souls to a human leader, or follow human devising, but stand together under Christ's standard and directions.Lt 233, 1899, par. 13–14

Drinking of the Spirit pictures receiving and sharing in the Holy Spirit, and only believing hearts receive it, while hearts full of unbelief resist His working and remain bitter.STMW6 19.1 So the outpouring at Battle Creek brought conviction and led many to surrender selfish purposes, though some rejected it as mere excitement rather than the Spirit's work.STMW6 19.1 No leader is to strive for first place and mastery, keep associates inferior to protect influence, or receive and discard fellow laborers by hereditary and cultivated traits, but each member is to be respected in individual work under Christ until selfishness disappears in Christlikeness.Lt 136, 1900, par. 14–16 Unity in every church does not mean consolidation, for each worker keeps individuality and personal responsibility under the divine leadership of Jesus, as workers counsel together, bring ideas into harmony with truth, and refuse arbitrary man-ruling power in God's place.Lt 136, 1900, par. 14–16+1