"All true followers of Jesus will have sacrifices to make. God will prove them and test the genuineness of their faith. I have been shown that the true followers of Jesus will discard picnics, donations, shows, and other gatherings for pleasure. They can find no Jesus there, and no influence which will make them heavenly minded and increase their growth in grace. The word of God obeyed leads us to come out from all these things and be separate. The things of the world are sought for, and considered worthy to be admired and enjoyed, by all those who are not devoted lovers of the cross and spiritual worshipers of a crucified Jesus. 1T 288.1"
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"
EGW directly quotes the phrase 'come out from among them, and be ye separate' from 2 Corinthians 6:17, and applies it to separating from worldly pleasures.
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
The EGW passage echoes the principle of self-denial and sacrifice inherent in following Jesus, as expressed in Matthew 16:24. The call to 'discard picnics, donations, shows, and other gatherings for pleasure' aligns with the idea of denying oneself.
"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
The EGW passage speaks of God proving and testing the genuineness of faith, which aligns with the theme of James 1:3 regarding the trying of faith working patience. While not a direct quote, the concept of testing faith is a clear parallel.
"There is chaff among us, and this is why we are so weak. Some are constantly leaning to the world. Their views and feelings harmonize much better with the spirit of the world than with that of Christ's self-denying followers. It is perfectly natural for them to prefer the company of those whose spirit will best agree with their own. And such have quite too much influence among God's people. They take part with them, and have a name among them, and are a text for unbelievers and the weak and unconsecrated ones in the church. These persons of two minds will ever have objections to the plain, pointed testimony which reproves individual wrongs. In this refining time these persons will either be wholly converted, and sanctified by obeying the truth, or they will be left with the world, where they belong, to receive their reward with them. 1T 288.2"
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."
Both passages address the conflict between worldly desires and devotion to God. EGW's statement about 'leaning to the world' and preferring worldly company directly reflects the sentiment in James 4:4 about friendship with the world being enmity with God.
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
Both passages discuss identifying true followers by their actions and associations. EGW's passage elaborates on the characteristics of those who are not fully committed, aligning with the idea of judging by 'fruits'.
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Both passages discuss those who appear religious but lack genuine commitment. EGW's description of those who 'have a name among them' but are not fully converted echoes the idea of 'having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.'