Those who are inclined to regard their individual judgment as supreme are in grave peril. It is Satan's studied effort to separate such ones from those who are channels of light, through whom God has wrought to build up and extend His work in the earth. To neglect or despise those whom God has appointed to bear the responsibilities of leadership in connection with the advancement of the truth, is to reject the means that He has ordained for the help, encouragement, and strength of His people. For any worker in the Lord's cause to pass these by, and to think that his light must come through no other channel than directly from God, is to place himself in a position where he is liable to be deceived by the enemy and overthrown. The Lord in His wisdom has arranged that by means of the close relationship that should be maintained by all believers, Christian shall be united to Christian and church to church. Thus the human instrumentality will be enabled to co-operate with the divine. Every …
"And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."
Both passages address the importance of submitting to the church and the dangers of disregarding its authority. Matthew 18:17 outlines the process of addressing sin within the church, while EGW warns against rejecting those in leadership.
"Paul regarded the occasion of his formal ordination as marking the beginning of a new and important epoch in his lifework. It was from this time that he afterward dated the beginning of his apostleship in the Christian church. AA 164.2"
"And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."
Both passages refer to the ordination of Paul and Barnabas. EGW interprets this event as a significant turning point in Paul's ministry, while Acts 13:3 describes the act of laying hands on them and sending them away.