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The Working of God's Spirit Jesus told His disciples that the Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth.[10] He assured His followers that if He left them, He would send to them this blessed Spirit. The Spirit would be their teacher, and the same Spirit would teach them the truth.
The real test of obedient discipleship comes when God asks us to do something different from the dictates of our natural inclinations or feelings. When that happens, God knows better than we do, for He has been around longer. The very fact that God has given us a Bible with which we are to guide our lives, indicates that God has some things for us to do that are not in accord with our natural understanding, for why would He give us such a Book to follow if we already knew what was best? Tests of faith came upon Joseph who never doubted God when that married woman came to him and offered him a shrunken womanhood for a sterling manhood. Without hesitation he said, "Woman, my decision is on God's side."(Mt. 1:18,19) Or look at Daniel, at the height of his youth with his head up and eyes shining he said, "Thank you very much, gentleman, I do not drink." (Dan. 1:8) According to rabbinical law, the devout worshipper must attend the temple or synagogue service on the Feast of Pentecost. The forenoon devotions of this holy convocation did not terminate till the fifth or sixth hour - at about eleven or twelve in the afternoon. The rabbinical law also demanded that no food or strong drink [100] should be consumed by the worshipper until the close of the morning service. The disciples who were filled with the Spirit were talking in other tongues, that is languages. This in itself was an astounding occurrence, since they were uneducated Galileans; but in the various languages they were using, they spoke of "the wonderful works of God." Acts 2:11. Since these men were speaking to the praise of God, how could they be intoxicated, wicked men? But they were good men, and even under rabbinical law they could not have used strong drink until the close of the morning services. It was only the 3rd hour of the day, and the day's morning worship had not ended. Therefore, these men, Peter said, could not be drunken.[150] Peter then opened the Scriptures to his audience, and assured the multitude that what they saw that day was the fulfillment of prophecy. The apostle quoted from the book of Joel where the people were promised the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The apostle continued his discourse by quoting from the Psalms. Peter referred to the 16th Psalm, and convinced his audience that this particular psalm could not have met its fulfillment in King David; for David's sepulcher was in Jerusalem, not far from the temple. Peter's audience knew the location of the tomb of David. They were able, if they chose to visit it and see for themselves that there had been no resurrection of David's body.[200] Furthermore, the apostle continued, David, because he was among the dead, had not ascended into the heavens. David himself wrote, and Peter quoted it:
Christ, Peter told that interested audience, is the one about whom David was prophesying when the king of Israel wrote those holy writings. What the people were witnessing that day was evidence that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. Jesus assured the disciples before He left them, that if He went away, He would send them the Holy Spirit. Right before them, on that occasion, the people had the witness, that the words of Jesus were then being fulfilled. Jesus now was exalted at the right hand of God, said the apostle. The house of Israel could be assured that the prophecies he quoted had met their fulfillment in Jesus, the Messiah. Therefore, said Peter, this Jesus is the Lord and the Christ. A mighty conviction gripped the great audience as the Spirit of God impressed the congregation that the Spirit of truth was giving them through Simon Peter the true interpretation of those prophecies. But we must ask: Were the inspired messages given to the prophets always intended for the people living at the time the messages were delivered?
The above statement made by the apostle covers a period of more than 19 centuries. Christ suffered for sins at His first advent; Jesus will come in His glory at His Second Advent. The messages of both advents were revealed to the prophets, but their fulfillment would be understood by the people who should live at the time of the second advent. Many scriptures of the prophets did not meet their fulfillment in those long gone days; they met a partial fulfillment at the Saviour's first advent. Still others met their fulfillment within more recent history or are meeting their fulfillment at the present time.
"And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words." Luke 24:4-8. Many of the Old Testament prophecies were not understood by the disciples when the Saviour was with them. The Lord told His disciple followers that after He had risen from the dead they would understand the Scriptures. The disciples of Christ were influenced by the rabbis and the religious schools of their day, just like people today are influenced by all sorts of winds of doctrines. It is evident by the questions they asked the Saviour that they did not know the meaning of many prophecies; that understanding came more fully after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"The disciples had often been perplexed by the teaching of the priests and Pharisees, but they had brought their perplexities to Jesus. He had set before them the truths of Scripture in contrast with tradition. Thus He had strengthened their confidence in God's word, and in a great measure had set them free from their fear of the rabbis and their bondage to tradition." According to the Bible, of whom then did all the prophets, from the beginning of the world, prophecy?
"And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began." Luke 1:69-70. "But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled." Acts 3:18. What an unfortunate experience the Jews passed through at the time of the first advent of Jesus Christ, because the rabbis had covered up the truth of Scripture with the rubbish of human tradition! Many of the traditions have been handed down from generation to generation through the centuries till the present time. Even until this present hour the pious, orthodox Jew cannot discern Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. The apostle Peter declared that God spoke of Christ in all the prophets since the beginning of the world; yet that people to whom were committed the sacred oracles even yet do not see Him in any portion of Moses and the prophets. The writings of those prophets chosen of God to lead that people for more than fifteen centuries have to a large degree been set aside. The rising generation of Jews hold strange and singular views of the purpose and intent of the Sacred Scriptures inspired by the Spirit of God. Christ in the Old Testament writings is nowhere or at least rarely recognized by the present generation. The "modern view" of the scriptures is articulated this way:
While the ancient view of a literal dictation by God must be surrendered, and while the seers and writers of Judea must be regarded as men with human failings, each with his own peculiarity of style and sentiment, the Spirit of God was nevertheless manifested in them. The Holy Scriptures still have the power of inspiration for each devout soul that reads or hears them. They speak to each generation with a divine authority such as no other book or literature possesses. The inspiration of the Bible is different from the inspiration under which the great literary and artistic masterworks of later eras was produced. The religious enthusiasm of the Jewish genius leavens the whole, and the truth uttered therein, whatever be the form of it is clothed in, seizes men now as it did when prophet, psalmist, or lawgiver first uttered it, themselves carried away by the power of the Divine Spirit. This view of modern theology, compatible with Biblical science and modern research, which analyzes the thoughts and the forms of Scripture and traces them to their various sources, finds that prophet and sacred writer were under the influence of the Divine Spirit while revealing by word or pen, the religious ideas. But the human element in them was not extinguished and consequently, in regard to their statements, their knowledge, and the form of their communication, they could only have acted as children of their age."
"Because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation." Luke 19:44. "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Matth. 23:37. In quoting from the writings of Moses, whom does the apostle Paul say Moses had in mind when he wrote:
"But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:6-10. "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." Hebrews 11:24-27. How full are the Scriptures when they are given in their right setting, under the influence of the Spirit of God. The illustration and comparison made by the apostle Paul of the purpose of God as expressed in Deuteronomy 30:11-14, with its fulfillment in Christ, recorded in Romans 10:6-10, is a forceful application of the fulfilling of prophecy in Christ. Of what did the apostle Paul assure the Corinthian Christians?
What did the martyr Stephen tell the Jews the prophets had foretold? "This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us .... Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers." Acts 7:38,52. What effect did the vision which the apostle Paul received on the way to Damascus have upon him, and how did he regard the prophecies of the Old Testament? "And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. ... But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ." Acts 9:20,22. "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." Acts 17:1-3. The apostle Paul was a man of influence when he was a rabbinical Jew. Many volumes have been written of his wonderful life. His own recital of the experience he had while journeying to Damascus to destroy, if possible, the gospel seed planted by Christ, clearly shows the effect of a perverted interpretation of Scripture upon the mind of a bigoted zealot.
"His mind was deeply stirred. In his perplexity he appealed to those in whose wisdom and judgment he had full confidence. The arguments of the priests and rulers finally convinced him that Stephen was a blasphemer, that the Christ whom the martyred disciple had preached was an impostor, and that those ministering in holy office must be right." [500] "A Roman citizen by birth, Saul was nevertheless a Jew by descent and had been educated in Jerusalem by the most eminent of the rabbis." [600]
"Saul understood the words that were spoken, and to him was clearly revealed the One who spoke--even the Son of God.[650] In the glorious Being who stood before him he saw the Crucified One. Upon the soul of the stricken Jew the image of the Saviour's countenance was imprinted forever. The words spoken struck home to his heart with appalling force. Into the darkened chambers of his mind there poured a flood of light, revealing the ignorance and error of his former life and his present need of the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. ..." [700]
What had God promised the prophets in regard to the coming of the Messaih?
The Scriptures in the days of Christ were separated into three or four great divisions: 1. the Pentateuch, the 5 books of Moses,The Pentateuch was divided into 52 sections. Every Sabbath during each year a section of the Pentateuch was read in the synagogue. Each section was subdivided into 7 portions. To seven persons was read a portion during the services on the Sabbath, in the hearing of the congregation. In addition to this reading of the Pentateuch, a portion of the writings of the prophets was read each Sabbath, at the conclusion of the reading of the weekly section. The person to whom was read the last portion of the section on the Sabbath was also granted the privilege of choosing a portion of the prophets and reading this prophetic testimony before the service concluded.
The cantor or minister would read the words of the prophets with the rabbinical chant prescribed by the rabbis. A scholar or school teacher would present the message as explained above by the sages. When the Saviour read those verses of Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth that day, He gave expression to the words in a manner never before listened to by such an audience. His emphasis of the message was different from that of scribe and Pharisee. He caused the people to understand the reading, - that He was the fulfillment of that message.
what a blessing would have come to them! The Spirit of the Lord surely was upon Him, because the Lord had anointed Him to bring to the world the gospel message of freedom from sin and deliverance from the bondage to Satan.
My fears to quell, my hopes to raise; But what I need, the Bible says, Is ever only Jesus. My soul is night, my heart is steel, He died, He lives, He reigns, He pleads; Though some should sneer, and some should blame, The Everlasting Gospel of Christ We should know the heart of the gospel of Christ. Here is a concise account. When Jesus died on the cross, did He make a mere provision whereby something could be done for us if we first do our part? Or did He actually do something for all men? If so, what did He do for them?
The Bible assures us that "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1.John 2:2. Since "all have sinned," so all are "being justified freely by His grace." "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them." Since "the wages of sin is death," Jesus came that He "might taste [that] death for every man." Through His "righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life."In other words, if Christ would not have died on the cross, none of us would be alive today. But since He died that death on the cross, we owe even this, our earthly life to Him . . . Never one saint or sinner, eats his daily food, but he is nourished by the body and the blood of Christ. The cross of Calvary is stamped on every loaf. It is reflected in every water-spring. When the sinner sees this truth and his heart appreciates it, he experiences justification by faith. This is therefore far more than a legal declaration of acquittal - which was made on the cross for `all men.' Justification by faith includes a change of heart. It is the same as the forgiveness that actually takes the sin away from the heart. The Greek word for forgiveness means taking it away, reclaiming from it. In other words, the believer who exercises such faith becomes inwardly and outwardly obedient to all the commandments of God. Such faith, if it is not hindered and confused with Babylon's error, will grow to be so mature and powerful that it will prepare a people for the return of Christ. That is what we mean by saying, "it is the third angel's message in verity."
Not all will be saved. But the reason is deeper than that they were not clever or prompt enough to seize the initiative. That is true, but there is something beyond. They will have actually resisted and rejected the salvation already "freely" given them in Christ. God has taken the initiative to save `all men,' but humans have the ability, the freedom of will, to thwart and veto what Christ has already accomplished for them and has actually placed in their hands. They can repeat what Esau did who `despised' his birthright and `sold' it for `one morsel of food.' As God's people we have priviliges and duties. One of the duties for us is to know that we are engaged in a battle, a battle against the mighty deceiver in this world and a battle against our own inclinations to sin. Since we took sides in this battle in favor of God, we must display His banner. We must not be ashamed of our banner. The Bible says, "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth." Psalm 60:4. [1400] For, how would you react if you were an army general and your soldiers would hide the banner so the enemy wouldn't see it? Would you not be ashamed of your army? 1) What is involved in holding up the banner of God? It says that to those that "fear" the Lord was given a banner. One of the consequences of loving and fearing the Lord is to hate evil and love the good, Ps. 97:10; Prov. 8:13; Amos 5:15. God's prophet answered the first question as follows, "There is to be no compromise with the powers of darkness. Individually we must take our stand. If we are not at enmity with the prince of darkness, the serpent, his folds encircle us and all our powers; his sting is in our hearts. All who range themselves under the blood-stained banner of the Prince of Life will henceforth count Satan as a foe, and will in God's strength oppose him as a deadly enemy. They will take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And what will they do in order to hold vantage ground? `Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.'" Ephesians 6:18. [`In Heavenly Places,' p. 48] 2) If we are going to hold up a banner what must we know? If we are going to hold up the banner, we must break our life of sin. We cannot fight in two armies at the same time and we cannot hold up two banners at same time. We must decide. If we hold up the banner of Prince Immanuel, we must break with the devil's forces. God's servant answers that question as follows: "Everyone who will break from the slavery and service of Satan, and will stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel, will be kept by Christ's intercessions. Christ, as our Mediator, at the right hand of the Father, ever keeps us in view, for it is as necessary that He should keep us by His intercessions as that He should redeem us with His blood. If He lets go His hold of us for one moment, Satan stands ready to destroy." [Manuscript Releases Vol. 15, p. 104.] What is the slavery and service of Satan? Jesus explains it. This is Jesus talking to the leaders of his day and he accuses them to be children of the devil, and why is that? "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:44. These people were lying and contemplating a murder, breaking God's Commandments and because of that they had a character of the devil and Jesus said, `Your spiritual father is the devil.' Even though they were the professed church of God, their spiritual father was the devil. That is still true today. No matter what I profess, if my characher, if my life is a life in sin, breaking God's law, I am in slavery to the devil. I am in Satan's army. Let us read that in 1. John: "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: a) whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, b) neither he that loveth not his brother." 1. John 3:8-10. Read also verses 4-7. This is the biblical test to let us know which are the children of God and which are those of the devil. Being in Satan's camp puts us under the black banner of Satan. In summary to our first question, If we are going to hold the banner up, we have to go to war. The banner shows which side we are on in this spiritual war. In summary to our second question, if we want to uplift the blood stained banner of Jesus, we must renounce the service of sin and Satan. "The laws of God's kingdom are to be honored and obeyed. Its members are to be those who have renounced the service of sin, cut loose from Satan's arbitrary power, and taken their stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. They are to know the meaning of the words, "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.'" John 1:12. [Pacific Union Recorder, December 15, 1904 par. 1] So when I take up my stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel, what must I do? First I must cut loose from Satan's arbitrary power, from the service of sin. And again talking about taking our stand under Christ's banner, Ellen White wrote: "He will cease to transgress the divine law, and will take his stand with those who are loyal to the God of Heaven." [ST, July 6, 1888 par. 2] Therefore, if we take the banner of Prince Emmanuel, we are taking a banner to go to war. We are going to have to fight and we have to keep on fighting. There is a spiritual war going on and we have to be actively involved in it. On the second point, we have to put down the devil's banner. We have to renounce all sin and be delivered from the power of sin in our life. Thirdly, being under Christ's banner, we must develop a character like our leader Jesus Christ. "What is it to serve God? -- It is to resemble Him in character, to imitate Him. To serve God is to obey Him, to keep His commandments, to make an open confession of standing, not under the black banner of the great apostate, but under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. Those who serve God strive earnestly to obey His will. Thus they show to what army they belong." [ST, February 1, 1899 par. 3] On the third point, we must demonstrate the principles of that banner in our lives, we must develop a character that reflects the character of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Fourthly, if we are going to hold high the banner, we must be organized as an army of soldiers. No army can win a war, unless they are organized. The same is true in a spiritual war. The people who win this war are going to be perfectly organized. They are not going to be just a group of independent ministries or a group of historic Adventists in which everybody does what they think is right. We must be organized. God is going to bring us into a perfect organization and unity. But to regain perfect unity, what has first to happen? The first thing that must happen is, someone must stand up and attack the evils taking place. It is not enough to teach the truth, set a good example or be loving and kind. Here are some statements on that topic. "God's people are called upon to rally without delay under the bloodstained banner of Christ Jesus. Unceasingly they are to continue their warfare against the enemy, pressing the battle even to the gates. And everyone who is added to the ranks by conversion is to be assigned his post of duty. Everyone should be willing to be or to do anything in this warfare. When church members put forth earnest efforts to advance the message, they will live in the joy of the Lord and will meet with success. Triumph always follows decided effort." [7T 30.1] We must get organized. What would happen to an army and someone would ask you, where are you in the ranks? ... and you would say, `Well, I don't know ...' What kind of an army would that be. It would be absolute chaos. When a person becomes a member in your church, they must be assigned a post of duty right away. Every member in our churches should know what their post of duty is. Anyone should be willing to do anything with respect to caring for and saving souls in this warfare. "Every part of the service of Christ will be characterized by decorum and reverence. The truth of Christ cannot be confined to a certain range, yet it will be active to create for its environment, manners and habits and practices that will be in harmony with its Author. Everything will be done decently and in order. Wild methods and strange freaks and confusion are not authorized by the God of order. The methods employed by the church of Christ should be such as will win souls from allegiance to the prince of darkness, and cause them to take their stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel." [ST, August 27, 1894 par. 9] "They should make manifest to the world what it is to keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. They should let their light shine forth in clear, strong rays upon the pathway of those who walk in darkness. The soldiers of Christ should stand shoulder to shoulder, loyal to truth, vindicators of the law of Jehovah." [SD 269.2; YI, June 29, 1893 par. 1] "This little flock are babes in Christ, and need to be taught and led along, step by step, into faith and assurance; they need to be educated and trained to do the work of soldiers in the army of the Lord, and to bear hardness, that is, trials and opposition, contempt and scorn, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ." [PC 134.1] Therefore, if we are going to hold that banner high: 1) we must be involved in the war, 2) we must forsake the service of sin and slavery to sin, 3) we must develop a Christ like character, 4) we must be just as organized as a group of soldiers. "Although some may have followed their own way for a time, it is possible for them to return, and get into line. The Lord sees that it is not best for His children to be allowed to do as they please, and refuse to unite with their brethren who view matters somewhat differently from the way in which they may view them." [TDG 35.3] We must check and be sure we are in the right line. Here are some statements to that effect. They are some prophecies as to what Ellen White saw could happen. "To all who would mark out a certain definite course for their brother to pursue, the Lord says, Stand out of the way." [5MR 280.5] Who is it who knows exactly what everyone should do? Read on, "Satan and his emissaries are doing enough of this kind of work. We are altogether too near the close of this earth's history to seek to block the wheels of the chariot of truth. God's workers are to come into line, to pray together, to counsel together. And whenever it is impossible for them to gather for counsel, God will instruct through His Spirit those who sincerely desire to serve Him." [5MR 280,281] The Lord says, do not block the wheel of the chariot of truth as we have proclaimed it since the great awakening. "Men who refuse to be converted and come into line, and use their capabilities to advance the work on Bible principles, will set up their own ideas, follow their own devisings, retain their own erroneous suppositions, and work to create disunion and lead souls from the true path. This we have seen illustrated in the experience of some at Battle Creek." [7MR 194.2] "Many have received all the evidences of truth that God will ever give them. They have permitted and encouraged false sentiments; and they have practiced deception to cover up their apostasy." [7MR 194.1] Have you ever seen that happen? That is why we have to have videos and printed tracts to unmask this. Part of the battle is to unmask these sophistries. We must be weary not to get hypnotized by the enemy to be mislead into pathways we do not really want to be on. We must pray not to fall under the spell of the swaying cobra which captures the senses of its pray just before it strikes. Therefore, we must break loose from the spell of the enemy, lay aside the garment of self-righteousness, humble our heart before the Lord and come into line. We have no time to loose. We must make our salvation sure now. Things are being permitted to occur today which would have sent our forefathers screeming years ago. As time grows, such things wax worse and worse. -- We must cut loose from false doctrines and worship, false living and false works. Here are some suggestions: Things like abominable music and songs. We must ascertain where our music comes from. We must strain our reading material through the sieve of truth. We have no time to read fiction friends. We have no time to watch television, for any reason. All you need is a little DVD player to watch sermons or uplifting material. They cost no monthly fee. That money could go to missions. We must cut loose from all that inordinate amount of time spent on sports on spectator events out in the world. Who cares who wins all those games. Are you building up your body for Jesus or for some game? Come on folks. We are in a spiritual battle, not some football game. Actually anything which takes an inordinate amount of time away from our work for the Lord is suspect, including walking your dog when you, instead, could walk a friend or neighbor to talk to. But we all need to pray, `Lord, open my eye so I can see what I need to do.' Ellen White wrote to Harvey Kellogg, `Unless you have a complete change of heart, you will not be able to discern the error in which you are falling.' `You have listened to the arch deceiver.' [SpM 342.4] What does it mean to come into line? If we want to come in line, we saw already, we need to have a reference point. A marching soldier cannot march in line, unless he has a reference point. And the reference point is what is on the banner. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Ellen White says over and over again, `Unfurl the banner. - Hold it up. - Don't be ashamed of your colors. - Don't hide it.' That is the reference point. The last part of the third angel's message. We must not work haphazardly. We must come into line. "The Lord calls upon us to come into line. He wants us to work for one another. There is a heaven to win, and we cannot afford to be doing haphazard work now. We want to lay hold of every possible advantage that we may be fitted for instructors and missionaries to carry the message of salvation to the world." [Ms 5, 1910, pp. 1-6] We ought to council with those who are led by the Holy Spirit. May God help us to be willing to come into line. We have no idea what God is willing to do for us if we do. Lest anyone think we are to fight what God has established, we must read the following,
"When anyone arises, either among us or outside of us, who is burdened with a message which declares that the people of God are numbered with Babylon, and claims that the loud cry is a call to come out of her, you may know that he is not bearing the message of truth. Receive him not, nor bid him Godspeed; for God has not spoken by him, neither has He given a message to him, but he has run before he was sent." {TM 41} "The Redeemer of the world does not sanction experience and exercise in religious matters independent of His organized and acknowledged church, where He has a church." {3T 432.2} Was the church in the days of Ellen White different then the church today? Have things changed so dramatically that we have reason to reconsider? Is `His organized and acknowledged church' so still today? -- What constitutes the church? Where two or three are gathered in my name, that is a church, Matth. 18:20. The early church consisted of many `home' churches. For a long time they had no fixed synagogue like buildings to meet in. Today it is the same. We need a lot more home churches where truth is presented by the reading and studying of His Word, rather than mega churches. I hope it is still the church through which God leads, but I believe that some in the ranks have left the faith and ought not properly belong to it. We must balance the above quotes with other quotes which indicate a warning. Here are some necessary quotes: "The oneness and unity of God's truth-believing remnant people carries powerful conviction to the world that they have the truth, and are the peculiar, chosen people of God. This oneness and unity disconcerts the enemy, and he is determined that it shall not exist. The present truth, believed in the heart and exemplified in the life, makes God's people one, and gives them a powerful influence." {1T 327.1 Written between 1855-1868} "Already the judgments of God are abroad in the land, as seen in storms, in floods, in tempests, in earthquakes, in perils by land and by sea. The great I AM is speaking to those who make void his law. When God's wrath is poured out upon the earth, who will then be able to stand? Now is the time for God's people to show themselves true to principle. When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when his law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few,--this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason. The nation will be on the side of the great rebel leader." {RH, January 11, 1887 par. 2} Ought we to expect a dramatic change? "In a vision of the night I was shown distinctly that these sentiments have been looked upon by some as the grand truths that are to be brought in and made prominent at the present time. I was shown a platform, braced by solid timbers--the truths of the Word of God. Some one high in responsibility in the medical work was directing this man and that man to loosen the timbers supporting this platform. Then I heard a voice saying, "Where are the watchmen that ought to be standing on the walls of Zion? Are they asleep? This foundation was built by the Master Worker, and will stand storm and tempest. Will they permit this man to present doctrines that deny the past experience of the people of God? The time has come to take decided action." {1SM 204.1} "The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure." {1SM 204.2} "My message to you is: No longer consent to listen without protest to the perversion of truth. Unmask the pretentious sophistries which, if received, will lead ministers and physicians and medical missionary workers to ignore the truth. Every one is now to stand on his guard. God calls upon men and women to take their stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. I have been instructed to warn our people; for many are in danger of receiving theories and sophistries that undermine the foundation pillars of the faith." {1SM 196.4} Who has authority to begin such a movement? We have our Bibles. We have our experience, attested to by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit. We have a truth that admits of no compromise. Shall we not repudiate everything that is not in harmony with this truth?" {1SM 205.1} "I hesitated and delayed about the sending out of that which the Spirit of the Lord impelled me to write. I did not want to be compelled to present the misleading influence of these sophistries. But in the providence of God, the errors that have been coming in must be met." {1SM 205.2} This article appeared in Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2, pp. 52-59, 1904.} Considering the publishing dates, it seems that, indeed, the church visible may not be the same ship today as it was before at least 1904? Therefore, let us be circumspect and not hasty to jump to conclusions or take ill conceived steps but consult with one another and the brethren who have stood by the truth for so long. We are to meet errors. There is no word of abandoning ship is there? `The structure' would be swept away.' All structures or just the highest in rank edifices? The faithful people, however, do not entirely depend on this structure, do they? They can meet without the structure too. Some of the after 1904 published writings include: Ministry of Healing (1905), Acts of the Apostles (1911), Prophets and Kings published in 1917. How far the structure has gone is vividly shown in the *.pdf files here.
[0010] How should a Christian respond to the question, `God, who are you?' Spurgeon said: "The proper study of the Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the highest philosophy, which can engage the attention of a child of God is the name, the nature of the person, the doings and the existence of the great God, which we call Father. It is a subject so vast that all our talks are lost in its immensity, so deep that our pride is drowned in its infinity. Other subjects we can comprehend and grapple with, in them we feel a kind of self-contempt and go on our way with the thought, Behold, I am wise. But when we come to this mastermind in science, finding a plum line cannot sound its depth, our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought, I am but of yesterday and know nothing." - As quoted by Rawi Zacharias.
"During His childhood and youth, Jesus had worshipped among His brethren in the synagogue at Nazareth. Since the opening of His ministry He had been absent from them, but they had not been ignorant of what had befallen Him. As He again appeared among them, their interest and expectation were excited to the highest pitch. Here were the familiar forms and faces of those whom He had known from infancy. Here were His mother, His brothers and sisters, and all eyes were turned upon Him as He entered the synagogue upon the Sabbath day, and took His place among the worshippers. In the regular service for the day, the elder read from the prophets, and exhorted the people still to hope for the Coming One, who would bring in a glorious reign, and banish all oppression. He sought to encourage his hearers by rehearsing the evidence that the Messiah's coming was near. He described the glory of His advent, keeping prominent the thought that He would appear at the head of armies to deliver Israel. When a rabbi was present at the synagogue, he was expected to deliver the sermon, and any Israelite might give the reading from the prophets. Upon this Sabbath Jesus was requested to take part in the service. He "stood up to read. And there was delivered unto Him a roll of the prophet Isaiah." Luke 4:16, 17 (R.V., margin). The scripture which He read was one that was understood as referring to the Messiah (Is. 61:1-2). ... Jesus stood before the people as a living expositor of the prophecies concerning Himself. Explaining the words He had read, He spoke of the Messiah as a reliever of the oppressed, a liberator of captives, a healer of the afflicted, restoring sight to the blind, and revealing to the world the light of truth. His impressive manner and the wonderful import of His words thrilled the hearers with a power they had never felt before. The tide of divine influence broke every barrier down; like Moses, they beheld the Invisible. As their hearts were moved upon by the Holy Spirit, they responded with fervent amens and praises to the Lord. But when Jesus announced, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears," they were suddenly recalled to think of themselves, and of the claims of Him who had been addressing them. They, Israelites, children of Abraham, had been represented as in bondage. They had been addressed as prisoners to be delivered from the power of evil; as in darkness, and needing the light of truth. Their pride was offended, and their fears were roused. The words of Jesus indicated that His work for them was to be altogether different from what they desired. Their deeds might be investigated too closely. Notwithstanding their exactness in outward ceremonies, they shrank from inspection by those clear, searching eyes. Who is this Jesus? they questioned. He who had claimed for Himself the glory of the Messiah was the son of a carpenter, and had worked at His trade with His father Joseph. They had seen Him toiling up and down the hills, they were acquainted with His brothers and sisters, and knew His life and labors. They had seen Him develop from childhood to youth, and from youth to manhood. Although His life had been spotless, they would not believe that He was the Promised One." [Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, Mountain View, 1898, p. 236-237.] [1400] It is the banner which teaches, `the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.' (Click here for covenants explained). This is nothing less than the "everlasting gospel" message of Rev. 14:6. |
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