"The power of love was in all Christ's healing, and only by partaking of that love, through faith, can we be instruments for His work. If we neglect to link ourselves in divine connection with Christ, the current of life- giving energy cannot flow in rich streams from us to the people. There were places where the Saviour Himself could not do many mighty works because of their unbelief. So now unbelief separates the church from her divine Helper. Her hold upon eternal realities is weak. By her lack of faith, God is disappointed, and robbed of His glory. DA 825.1"
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
Both passages emphasize the necessity of connection with Christ for effective ministry and the consequences of unbelief. EGW elaborates on the idea of 'without me ye can do nothing' by explaining how unbelief hinders the flow of life-giving energy and robs God of glory.
"It is in doing Christ's work that the church has the promise of His presence. Go teach all nations, He said; “and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” To take His yoke is one of the first conditions of receiving His power. The very life of the church depends upon her faithfulness in fulfilling the Lord's commission. To neglect this work is surely to invite spiritual feebleness and decay. Where there is no active labor for others, love wanes, and faith grows dim. DA 825.2"
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
EGW directly quotes Matthew 28:19, making it an explicit allusion. She uses the verse to support her point about the church's mission and the promise of Christ's presence.
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
EGW directly quotes Matthew 28:20, making it an explicit allusion. She uses the verse to support her point about the church's mission and the promise of Christ's presence.
"Christ intends that His ministers shall be educators of the church in gospel work. They are to teach the people how to seek and save the lost. But is this the work they are doing? Alas, how many are toiling to fan the spark of life in a church that is ready to die! How many churches are tended like sick lambs by those who ought to be seeking for the lost sheep! And all the time millions upon millions without Christ are perishing. DA 825.3"
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?"
The EGW passage directly echoes the parable of the lost sheep, applying it to the church's mission to seek and save the lost rather than focusing solely on existing members.
"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."
Both passages express concern for those who are lost and without guidance. EGW's description of churches tending to 'sick lambs' while millions perish echoes the sentiment of Jesus' compassion for the multitudes 'as sheep having no shepherd.' While not a direct quote, the thematic resonance is strong.