Inquiry and Question Meetings
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your hearers, urging them to present their difficulties to you, that you
may explain the Scriptures which they do not comprehend.—
Letter 8,
1895
.
A Point to Guard Well—Whenever the Lord has a special work
to do among His people, when He would arouse their minds to con-
template vital truth, Satan will work to divert the mind by introducing
minor points of difference, in order that he may create an issue con-
cerning doctrines that are not essential to the understanding of the
point in hand, and thus bring about disunion, and distract attention
from the essential point. When this occurs, the Lord is at work making
impressions upon the hearts of men, concerning that which is neces-
sary to their salvation. Then if Satan can draw the mind away to some
unimportant issue, and cause the people to divide on some minor point,
so that their hearts are barricaded against light and truth, he exults in
malicious triumph.—
The Review and Herald, October 18, 1892
.
Combativeness Raised; Conviction Quenched—Satan is con-
stantly at work to divert the mind with earthly things, that the truth
may lose its force upon the heart; and then there will be no progress, no
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advancement from light and knowledge, to greater light and knowledge.
Unless the followers of Christ are constantly stirred up to practice the
truth, they will not be sanctified through it. Questions, speculations,
and matters of no vital importance will occupy the mind, and become
the subject of conversation, and then there will be caviling and striving
about words, and presenting of different opinions, concerning points
that are not vital or essential....
The laborer for God must be wise enough to see the design of the
enemy, and to refuse to be misled and diverted. The conversion of the
souls of his hearers must be the burden of his work, and he must keep
out of controversy, and preach the Word of God....
The special, deceptive work of Satan has been to provoke con-
troversies, that there might be strivings about words to no profit. He
well knows that this will occupy the mind and the time. It raises the
combativeness, and quenches the spirit of conviction, in the minds of
many, drawing them into diversity of opinions, accusation, and prej-
udice, which closes the door to the truth.—
The Review and Herald,
September 11, 1888
.
Praying With Those Under Conviction—Let ministers and evan-
gelists have more seasons of earnest prayer with those who are con-