Flattery

      Quotations from the writings of Ellen G. White with the word . . .

                F l a t t e r y                     (  3  RELATED  PHRASES )                               

                       The  word  'Flattery'  appears  277  times in the published writings of EGW          See page on Original site                                                     Related Phrases:   Flatter  ( 503 )  - -   Flatter  themselves  ( 219 )  - -  flatter ourselves  ( 49 )  - -   Word of Praise  (  )

We need to shun everything that would encourage pride and self-sufficiency; therefore we should beware of giving or receiving flattery or praise. It is Satan's work to flatter.  He deals in flattery as well as in accusing and condemnation. Thus he seeks to work the ruin of the soul. Those who give praise to men are used by Satan as his agents. Let the workers for Christ direct every word of praise away from themselves. Let self be put out of sight. Christ alone is to be exalted. "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood," let every eye be directed, and praise from every heart ascend. (Rev. 1:5.)   {COL 161.2}

 

 
Beware of Flattery -- I am pained when I see men praised, flattered, and petted. God has revealed to me the fact that some who receive these attentions are unworthy to take His name upon their lips; yet they are exalted to heaven in the estimation of finite beings, who read only from outward appearance. My sisters, never pet and flatter poor, fallible, erring men, either young or old, married or unmarried. You know not their weaknesses, and you know not but that these very attentions and this profuse praise may prove their ruin. I am alarmed at the shortsightedness, the want of wisdom, that many manifest in this respect.  {AH 335.1}

 

Many such gatherings have been presented to me. I have seen the gaiety, the display in dress, the personal adornment. All want to be thought brilliant, and give themselves up to hilarity, foolish jesting, cheap, coarse flattery, and uproarious laughter. The eyes sparkle, the cheek is flushed, conscience sleeps. With eating and drinking and merrymaking, they do their best to forget God. The scene of pleasure is their paradise. And Heaven is looking on, seeing and hearing all.  {AH 515.1}
 
We should imprint upon our children's minds that they are not their own, to go, and to come, and dress, and act, as they please. . . . If they possess personal attractions and rare natural abilities, greater care should be taken in their education, lest these endowments be turned to a curse, and are so used as to disqualify them for the sober realities of this life, and, through flattery and vanity and love of display, unfit them for the better life.  {CG 37.3}
 
The mother must keep her mind refreshed and stored with the promises and blessings of God's Word, and also the forbidden things, that when her children do wrong she may present as a reproof the words of God, and show them how they are grieving the Spirit of God. Teach them that the approbation and smiles of Jesus are of greater value than the praise or flattery or approval of the most wealthy, the most exalted, the most learned of the earth. Lead them to Jesus Christ day by day, lovingly, tenderly, earnestly. You must not allow anything to come between you and this great work.  {CG 41.2}

 

Christ warned the disciples who had been first called to follow Him, lest the same evil should be cherished among them. He saw that the weakness, the curse of the church, would be a spirit of self-righteousness. Men would think they could do something toward earning a place in the kingdom of heaven. They would imagine that when they had made certain advancement, the Lord would come in to help them. Thus there would be an abundance of self and little of Jesus. Many who had made a little advancement would be puffed up and think themselves superior to others. They would be eager for flattery, jealous if not thought most important. Against this danger Christ seeks to guard His disciples.  {COL 400.3}
 
Be not satisfied with superficial knowledge. Be not elated by flattery nor depressed by faultfinding. Satan will tempt you to pursue such a course that you may be admired and flattered; but you should turn away from his devices. You are servants of the living God.  {CH 384.1}
 
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                                                                Flattery  and  deceit                                                                     

 

In His dealing with sin, God could employ only righteousness and truth. Satan could use what God could not -- flattery and deceit. He had sought to falsify the word of God and had misrepresented His plan of government before the angels, claiming that God was not just in laying laws and rules upon the inhabitants of heaven; that in requiring submission and obedience from His creatures, He was seeking merely the exaltation of Himself. Therefore it must be demonstrated before the inhabitants of heaven, as well as of all the worlds, that God's government was just, His law  perfect. Satan had made it appear that he himself was seeking to promote the good of the universe. The true character of the usurper, and his real object, must be understood by all. He must have time to manifest himself by his wicked works.  Great Controversy, page 498.1

 

 
In his dealing with sin, God could employ only righteousness and truth. Satan could use what God could not -- flattery and deceit. He had sought to falsify the word of God, and had misrepresented his plan of government before the angels, claiming that God was not just in laying laws and rules upon the inhabitants of Heaven; that in requiring submission and obedience from his creatures, he was seeking merely the exaltation of himself. Therefore it must be demonstrated before the inhabitants of Heaven as well as of all the worlds, that God's government was just, his law perfect. Satan had made it appear that he himself was seeking to promote the good of the universe. The true character of the usurper, and his real object, must be understood by all. He must have time to manifest himself by his wicked works.  {GC88 498.1} 1888 version

 

God could employ only such means as were consistent with truth and righteousness. Satan could use what God could not -- flattery and deceit. He had sought to falsify the word of God and had misrepresented His plan of government, claiming that God was not just in imposing laws upon the angels; that in requiring submission and obedience from His creatures, He was seeking merely the exaltation of Himself. It was therefore necessary to demonstrate before the inhabitants of heaven, and of all the worlds, that God's government is just, His law perfect. Satan had made it appear that he himself was seeking to promote the good of the universe. The true character of the usurper and his real object must be understood by all. He must have time to manifest himself by his wicked works.  {PP 42.1}

 

 

 

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EGW quotes - E-F Earthquake Emboldened in sin Embrace Emergency Encourage End justifies the means Endeavor Endurance Enemy Enrich the mind Enter the strait gate (15) Entering wedge Envy Error (Separate page) Escape Essence (160) Essential ( is essential ) Essential for man Eternal Evangelism Every (separate page) Every person we contact Evidence Evil (Separate page) Example Excommunicate Excuse (2,291) Exercise Experience Experimental religion Eye salve Eyes Fact - Facts (Separate page) Failure Fair chance Faith (Separate page) Fall False (Separate page) Familiar Fanaticism Fasting (418) - Fear (Separate page) Feast of Pentecost Feelings Fidelity (separate page) 989 Fighting Fire (separate page) Follow Jesus Follow their own (359) Foolishness Forbearance of God Forbidden Force Forgive Form of Godliness Formation of small companies Fortification Forward (Go Forward) France ( French Revolution ) Free - Freedom ( Separate section ) Fruits of the Spirit (Separate page) Fulness (Separate page) Fundamental principle Future (Separate page) Flatter ourselves (49) Flatter themselves