Chapter 40—Asking for a Sign
BIBLE GEM
CWG 96.1
QUESTION
CWG 96.2
ANSWER
Avoid uncertain tests: “The Lord works in no haphazard way. Seek Him most earnestly in prayer. He will impress the mind, and will give tongue and utterance. The people of God are to be educated not to trust in human inventions and uncertain tests as a means of learning God's will concerning them.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 6:1054CWG 96.3
“It is written”: “Jesus met Satan with the words of Scripture. ‘It is written,’ He said.... Satan demanded of Christ a miracle as a sign of His divinity. But that which is greater than all miracles, a firm reliance upon a ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ was a sign that could not be controverted.”—The Desire of Ages, 120CWG 96.4
The Word of God our guide: “The Word of the eternal God is our guide. Through this Word we have been made wise unto salvation. This Word is ever to be in our hearts and on our lips. ‘It is written’ is to be our anchor. Those who make God's Word their counselor realize the weakness of the human heart.... Their hearts are ever prayerful, and they have the guardianship of holy angels.”—Testimonies For The Church 6:160, 161.CWG 96.5
Unsafe guides: “Impressions and feelings are no sure evidence that a person is led by the Lord. Satan will, if he is unsuspected, give feelings and impressions. These are not safe guides. All should thoroughly acquaint themselves with the evidences of our faith, and the great study should be how they can adorn their profession and bear fruit to the glory of God.”—Testimonies For The Church 1:413CWG 96.6
No human device or plan: “There is no chance work with God in the directing of His people. Let us never forget that His providences guide in every circumstance of life, and that in the determination of important questions regarding His work and people there is no uncertainty....CWG 97.1
“Our faith in Christ is not to be exchanged for any human device or plan. Those who have faith in Him ... will never resort to a game of chance for an understanding of their duty. God is not glorified by such experiments.”—Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 17, pp. 38, 39CWG 97.2
Christ was guided by God's will: “Before He came to earth, the plan lay out before Him, perfect in all it details. But as He walked among men, He was guided, step by step, by the Father's will. He did not hesitate to act at the appointed time. With the same submission He waited until the time had come.”—The Desire of Ages, 147CWG 97.3
Warnings: “With some the evil has revealed itself in the form of man-made tests for ascertaining a knowledge of the will of God; and I was shown that this was a delusion which became an infatuation, and that it is contrary to the will of the Lord.”—Selected Messages 2:28CWG 97.4
SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT
CWG 97.5
CWG 97.6
CWG 97.7