"God does not require His people to imitate Baal's prophets, to afflict their bodies and cry out and shout, and throw themselves into almost every attitude, having no regard for order, until their strength fails through sheer exhaustion. Religion does not consist in making a noise; yet when the soul is filled with the Spirit of the Lord, sweet, heartfelt praise to God glorifies Him. Some have professed to have great faith in God, and to have special gifts and special answers to their prayers, although the evidence was lacking. They mistook presumption for faith. The prayer of faith is never lost; but to claim that it will be always answered in the very way and for the particular thing we have expected, is presumption. 1T 231.1"
"And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them."
EGW explicitly contrasts the behavior of her followers with that of Baal's prophets, directly referencing the type of behavior described in 1 Kings 18:28.
"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
The EGW passage emphasizes order and peace in worship, contrasting it with chaotic displays. This aligns with the principle in 1 Corinthians 14:33 that God is not the author of confusion but of peace.
"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."
Both passages address the issue of empty or misguided religious practices. Matthew 6:7 warns against vain repetitions, while the EGW passage criticizes imitating Baal's prophets and mistaking presumption for faith. Both emphasize the importance of genuine, heartfelt worship over outward displays.
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"
Both passages address the issue of people claiming to have special gifts or doing works in God's name without genuine faith or divine approval. Matthew 7:22 speaks of those who prophesied and cast out devils but are ultimately rejected, while the EGW passage criticizes those who profess great faith and special gifts but lack evidence and mistake presumption for faith. The connection is thematic, focusing on the importance of genuine faith over outward displays.
"When the servants of God visited —— and ——, this delusion was sifted. Evidence was given that this work was spurious. But the spirit of fanaticism was stubborn, and would not yield to the light there given. Oh, that those who were in error had been corrected by God's servants whom He sent to them! Then and there God wished them to acknowledge that they had been led by a wrong spirit. Then there would have been virtue in the confession of their wrongs. Then they would have been saved any further following out of Satan's plans, and would have made no further progress in this dreadful delusion. But they would not be convinced. Brother G had sufficient light to take his stand against that fanatical work; but he would not decide from the weight of evidence. His stubborn spirit refused to yield to the light brought him by the servants of God; for he had regarded them with suspicion, and watched them with a jealous eye. 1T 231.2"
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Both passages emphasize the importance of confessing faults. James 5:16 speaks of confessing faults to one another for healing, while the EGW passage discusses the virtue in confessing wrongs and the potential for avoiding further errors.
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."
Both passages emphasize the importance of confessing sins. Proverbs 28:13 highlights the benefits of confession and forsaking sins, while the EGW passage discusses the virtue in confessing wrongs and the potential for avoiding further errors.
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
Both passages deal with correcting those in error. Galatians 6:1 speaks of restoring someone overtaken in a fault, while the EGW passage discusses servants of God attempting to correct those in delusion. The principle of restoration and correction is present in both.