The TRUTH book Volume 1 (PDF) - For My People Ministry

Chapter six - Vance Ferrell 193Prophets and great men of the Bible were no different than the rest of us. Thisis covered in greater detail in chapter 2 of volume 2. However, we willsummarize some points as follows.• God still called Abraham a prophet (Genesis 20:7) even after he lied toAbimelech.• Jacob deceived his father (Genesis 27) and God appeared to him in adream not long after this (Genesis 28:10-20) assuring him that he wouldbe blessed.• Nebuchadnezzar received a dream from God (Daniel 2) and yet this kingwas a pagan.• Jonah was called to deliver a message to Ninevah (Jonah 1:2), yet hedisobeyed God and fled in the opposite direction. God did not cast Jonahoff, but continued to work through him.• Peter had walked with Christ for three and half years, but eventuallydenied Him. However God did not reject Peter but used him mightily.• Paul was persecuting the early Christians, yet God gave him a vision thatconverted him (Acts 9). From that time God endowed special blessingsupon him and he became one of the most well known missionaries for theChristian church.In the following account of Ellen White’s first dream, ask yourself if you wouldhave believed it was from God based on the condition she was in.God says:Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 2, pp. 15-17In 1842 I constantly attended the Second Advent meetings in Portland,and fully believed the Lord was coming. I was hungering and thirsting forholiness of heart; day and night it was my study how to obtain thistreasure that all the riches of the world could not purchase. And whilebowed before the Lord, praying for this blessing, the duty to pray in aprayer-meeting was presented before me. I had never prayed vocally, andwas not humble enough to do this, fearing that if I should attempt to pray,I should become confused and be obliged to stop, or my prayer be verybroken. Every time I went before the Lord in secret prayer this unfulfilledduty presented itself, until I ceased to pray, for in this state of mind myprayers seemed like mocking God. I settled down in a melancholy statewhich increased to deep despair.In this state of mind I remained three weeks, with not one ray of lightto pierce the thick clouds of darkness around me. My sufferings werevery great. How precious did the hope of the christian look to me then.And how wretched the state of the sinner without God or hope in theworld. I remained bowed before the Lord nearly all night, groaning, andall I had any confidence to utter was, "Lord, have mercy." Such utterhopelessness would seize me that I would fall upon my face with suchagony of feelings as cannot be described. Like the poor publican, I darednot so much as lift my eyes toward heaven. I became much reduced inflesh. My friends looked upon me as one sinking in a decline. At length adream was given me which sunk me still lower in despair, if possible.