"The believers at Antioch realized that God was willing to work in their lives “both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 . Living, as they were, in the midst of a people who seemed to care but little for the things of eternal value, they sought to arrest the attention of the honest in heart, and to bear positive testimony concerning Him whom they loved and served. In their humble ministry they learned to depend upon the power of the Holy Spirit to make effective the word of life. And so, in the various walks of life, they daily bore testimony of their faith in Christ. AA 158.1"
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
Ellen White directly references Philippians 2:13 in this passage.
"The cause of God in the earth today is in need of living representatives of Bible truth. The ordained ministers alone are not equal to the task of warning the great cities. God is calling not only upon ministers, but also upon physicians, nurses, colporteurs, Bible workers, and other consecrated laymen of varied talent who have a knowledge of the word of God and who know the power of His grace, to consider the needs of the unwarned cities. Time is rapidly passing, and there is much to be done. Every agency must be set in operation, that present opportunities may be wisely improved. AA 158.3"
"Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;"
Both passages emphasize the need for more workers to spread the message. Matthew 9:37 highlights the scarcity of laborers, and EGW echoes this sentiment by stating that ordained ministers alone are not sufficient and calls for more people to be involved.
"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
The EGW passage emphasizes the need for diverse talents and roles in spreading the gospel, mirroring the concept of diverse spiritual gifts outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Both passages highlight that different people with different abilities are needed to fulfill God's work.