3 Medical Missionary Work a Part of the Gospel. Mark 16:17, 18
The rich and wonderful provisions of the gospel embrace the medical missionary work. This work is to be to the third angel's message as the right arm is to the body. Some have endeavored to make it the head, but this is not right.LLM 337.3
The Lord reproves those who do not watch unto prayer, those who forget that they are wholly dependent upon Him and amenable to Him. He reproves those who misrepresent the great Medical Missionary, those who do not keep the way of the Lord, doing their utmost to prepare a people to become members of the family of the redeemed. He is dishonored by those whose course leads away from Christ and the truth for this time. The Lord desires that our medical workers shall proclaim the last warning message of the gospel. When they leave out the principles of present truth, skepticism runs through their work, and God can not endorse it.LLM 337.4
The principles of present truth are to be studied and practiced by our people, that the line of demarcation between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not may be kept unmistakably distinct. A close examination of God's word will reveal the riches of the grace of Christ, which are to be received by God's people, and by them imparted to those in need.—Unpub. MS. (B. 256 ’03).LLM 337.5
Christ, the great Medical Missionary, is our example. Of Him it is written, that He “went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and disease among the people.” He healed the sick, and preached the gospel. In His service, healing and teaching were linked closely together. Today they are not to be separated.LLM 338.1
We are to teach others how to obtain eternal life. And we should ever remember that the efficiency of the medical missionary work is in pointing sin-sick men and women to Jesus. We are to call upon them to “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the World.” Unpub. MS. (MS. 97'03)LLM 338.2
Christ understood the work that needed to be done for suffering humanity. As He was sending out the twelve disciples on their first missionary tour, He said to them, “As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give.” The fulfillment of this commission by the disciples made their message the power of God unto salvation.LLM 338.3
It is the divine plan that we shall work as the disciples worked. Connected with the divine healer, we may do great good in the world. The gospel is the only antidote for sin. As Christ's witnesses we are to bear testimony to its power. We are to bring the afflicted ones to the Saviour. His transforming grace and miracle-working power will win many souls to the truth. His healing power, united with the gospel message, will bring us success in emergencies. The Holy Spirit will work upon hearts, and we shall see the salvation of God.LLM 338.4
In a special sense the healing of the sick is our work. But in order to do this work we must have faith,—that faith which works by love and purifies the soul.—Unpub. MS. (B. 134-'03).LLM 338.5
In ministry to the sick, we have before us the work that Christ would have us do in behalf of our fellow men in every place where we can teach and practice the true principles of healing for both soul and body. Our time for work is short, and we must be more in earnest. There is a great work to be done, and we need means with which to do this work. Said Christ, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Shall we not follow Him in self-denial and sacrifice, laboring with all our power to prepare men and women, physically and spiritually, for the coming of Christ? For the Son of man is coming in His glory, with all the holy angels, and then will He fulfill the promise made to His disciples: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.”—Unpub. MS. dated August 3, 1905. (MS- 144-'05)LLM 338.6