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“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt
It is said that, “In His life and lessons Christ has given a perfect exemplification of the unselfish ministry which has its origin in God. God does not live for Himself. By creating the world, and by upholding all things, He is constantly ministering to others. "He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:45. This ideal of ministry the Father committed to His Son. Jesus was given to stand at the head of humanity, by His example to teach what it means to minister. His whole life was under a law of service. He served all, ministered to all.
“Again and again Jesus tried to establish his principle among His disciples. When James and John made their request for pre-eminence, He said, "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:26-28.
“Since His ascension Christ has carried forward His work on the earth by chosen ambassadors, through whom He speaks to the children of men and ministers to their needs. The great Head of the church superintends His work through the instrumentality of men ordained by God to act as His representatives. The position of those who have been called of God to labor in word and doctrine for the upbuilding of His church, is one of grave responsibility. In Christ's stead they are to beseech men and women to be reconciled to God, and they can fulfill their mission only as they receive wisdom and power from above.
“Christ's ministers are the spiritual guardians of the people entrusted to their care. Their work has been likened to that of watchmen. In ancient times sentinels were often stationed on the walls of cities, where, from points of vantage, they could overlook important posts to be guarded, and give warning of the approach of an enemy. Upon their faithfulness depended the safety of all within. At stated intervals they were required to call to one another, to make sure that all were awake and that no harm had befallen any. The cry of good cheer or of warning was borne from one to another, each repeating the call till it echoed round the city.” (The Acts of the Apostles, Page 360)
Notice that Christ Jesus has revealed to His disciples, the lessons of the Perfect Example of His Life of unselfish ministry, which has its origin in GOD, WHO constantly ministers to all. To HIS Son, Who now stands at the head of humanity, The Father committed the same law of service to all. And He sought to establish again and again this principle of service among His disciples, who were contending among themselves to see who among them would be the greatest.
Although Christ Jesus has ascended to The Right Hand of His Father’s throne, He has carried forward and continued His work of ministering to His church on the earth by chosen ambassadors, through whom He speaks to the children of men, and ministers to their needs. His representatives are called of God to labor in Word and doctrine for the up-building of Christ church. These representatives can fulfill their mission only, as they receive The Wisdom and Power from above. For it is written that, “…God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:19, 20).
As Christ’s representatives, who are dependent upon Christ Jesus--The Head of the church for His Guidance, He leads His people in the same manner in which He led Moses, who was a visible guardian of the people, who were entrusted to his care. As spiritual guardians of the people, Christ’s representatives are to be as watchmen, to guard and give warning of the approach of an enemy. Upon their faithfulness in their watch depended the safety of all within His house. It is said that, “At stated intervals they were required to call to one another, to make sure that all were awake and that no harm had befallen any, The cry of good cheer or of warning was borne from one to another, each repeating the call till it echoed round the city.”
What if everything was not all of good cheer, and some had been off their guard in the keeping of their watch? Should a watchman keep quite when no echo is heard at the stated interval? And do we as ministers of GOD’S Word continue to watch as if nothing is wrong when the echo of the message is changed? What do we do when a different message, a different sound is given from the echo that should be heard?
Today we know all to well the problems that can accrue when a virus gains entrance into a computer. Like a watchman on the wall, a good anti-virus program stands watch to catch any intruder that seeks to gain entrance into the computer. But this program must be kept up to date of the viruses to watch for in order to be effective in its’ watch care over the system. This keeping up to date of the viruses to watch for requires that the anti-virus program connect daily to the source of the program to be updated of new treats to the system that is being protected. And at intervals, there must be internal examinations to catch any threats that may have gained an entrance undetected into the system, before it became aware of that threat.
GOD has given to the church HIS Word of reconciliation, to reconcile, to put right, to resolve and restore us unto HIMSELF, WHO is Most Holy, Pure and without darkness at all. We cannot gain an entrance with HIM, to be one with HIM if we remain defiled of sin. The purpose in giving to us HIS Word is to cleanse us from sin that we might be restored to HIM without being rejected. For it is written that, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:6-10).
The Word of GOD is GOD’S cleansing Agent to cleanse us from all sin. It is written that, “…the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin” (Hebrews 4:12-15).
By receiving The Word of GOD into our hearts, His work in us, has been to cleanse us from all defilement that we might stand before a HOLY GOD in purity without sin. And as He works through His representatives, who minister His Words of reconciliation, GOD by HIS Word in Christ representatives will purify unto HIMSELF a people, who will be holy unto The LORD GOD by The Power of HIS Word.
It is revealed, “…that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). This is a condition to watch for, or to be guarded against is the seducing spirits, which would present doctrines of devils, to cause the members to depart from The Faith, which is given to reconcile us to GOD. But what about the doctrines that have already been presented to the church by those, who have been called to stand as watchmen, to be the spiritual guardians of the people? Christ’s representatives are to be faithful in their watch, to guard against and give warning of the approach of an enemy. At one point, we all were enemies against GOD. But it is written that, “…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:8-10). Yet, as we have seen that Christ has given to us His Life as an Example that all might follow Him to be in fellowship with Him.
In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he said, “…the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Notice that the servant of The Lord, who ministers The Word of GOD must be gentle unto all, as he instructs those, who are opposed to themselves by being enemies of The Holy One, Who has given them Life. They must acknowledge The Truth to repent and be reconciled to GOD, WHO by HIS Word is The Source of Life to all. The Truth of GOD’S Word is given to sanctify and make us Holy unto GOD. But if the ministers are not representing The Word of Truth, then the people, who are being ministered by them are not being sanctified, because they are not receiving The Word of Truth.
Paul presented a list of defilements that The Word of GOD is given to address in the hearts of those, who are defiled by them. But if the minister of The Word does not present The Word of Truth to the hearts of men that they might know the condition of their hearts, how then would a member know of his, or her heart condition, to seek The Power of GOD, to repent and overcome the defiling condition and to be ready for the coming of The Lord?
Paul said, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all [men], as theirs also was” (2 Timothy 3:1-9).
Concerning The Faith, Paul said that, “All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). Because Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, to cause the influence of GOD Word through him, to not work upon the heart of Pharaoh, to let GOD’S people go from their bondage of slavery, many false ministers, who preach The Word of GOD, they do not represent The Word of GOD in Spirit and in Truth, to rightly reveal The Truth of GOD’S Word that HIS people might be convicted of their sin and repent to be saved in the kingdom of GOD. They are not faithful guardians of the people. They are ever learning, but are never able to come to The Knowledge of The Truth, because they are denying The Power of GOD in HIS Word, to have a form of godliness, but they love not The Truth enough to follow GOD’S Way to Life.
Paul said to Timothy, “I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
As a faithful guardian in giving warning to the church at Corinth, Paul said, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:5-8).
As ministers, who are called to be the spiritual guardians of the people, we are called to receive The Wisdom and Power of GOD’S Word, to reconcile the hearts of men and women, who are naturally enemies of GOD against themselves. The Word of GOD is given to bring sound doctrine to the hearers of HIS Word that the people might understand and respond to the call by HIS Word; The Spirit of Whom is reechoed in the hearts of all, who have received GOD’S Word. Yet, many profess Christians, who make the claim to love Christ Jesus, they sing songs of their profession of being followers of Christ, but the spiritual guardians of the people, like Jannes and Jambres are working against The Word of GOD, to influence the hearts of the people to respond not to The High Calling of GOD’S Word.
Christ Jesus The Head of His church has clearly said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love” (John 14:15; 16:10). And according to The Example of His Life that He has revealed for His sheep to follow faithfully, to bring us into fellowship with Himself and The Father, His Father’s Commandments, which He has written with His Own finger on stone, His Law of Love for GOD and for His fellowmen is not based on just nine precepts to come up short of what He has revealed in His Law.
The one command that joins The Divine in fellowship with His Creation is the Sabbath commandment, which He has written in His Law for us to remember. GOD did not say to remember the first day, because all that HE had created by HIS Word were not created on the first day. And HE did not say the sixth day, because man was HIS crowning work of creation on that day. For it is written that, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made” (Genesis 2:1-3).
The Sabbath is one of the commands that the enemy has attacked to make void the whole Law of Life in the hearts of all who would claim The Name of Christ Jesus, to be Christians. Not only is the enemy against The Commandments of GOD, he is also against The Spirit of Prophecy, which is Christ Witness to His people through His prophets. Notice what is written of those, who are being seduced by the enemy, to listen to his voice through his agents.
It is written in the counsel given to Timothy that, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devil”(1 Timothy 4:1). In His counsel by His servant Ellen G. White, she was led to say, "After the passing of the time in 1844, we had fanaticism of every kind to meet. . . . The experience of the past will be repeated. In the future Satan's superstitions will assume new forms. Errors will be presented in a pleasing and flattering manner. False theories, clothed with garments of light, will be presented to God's people. Thus Satan will try to deceive, if possible, the very elect. Most seducing influences will be exerted; minds will be hypnotized.
"Corruptions of every type, similar to those existing among the antediluvians, will be brought in to take minds captive. The exaltation of nature as God, the unrestrained license of the human will, the counsel of the ungodly--these Satan uses as his agencies to bring about certain ends. He will employ the power of mind over mind to carry out his designs. The most sorrowful thought of all is that under his deceptive influence men will have a form of godliness, without having a real connection with God. Like Adam and Eve, who ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, many are even now feeding upon the deceptive morsels of error.
"Satanic agencies are clothing false theories in an attractive garb, even as Satan in the Garden of Eden concealed his identity from our first parents by speaking through the serpent. These agencies are instilling into human minds that which in reality is deadly error. The hypnotic influence of Satan will rest upon those who turn from the plain word of God to pleasing fables.
"It is those who have had the most light that Satan most assiduously seeks to ensnare. He knows that if he can deceive them, they will, under his control, clothe sin with garments of righteousness, and lead many astray. I say to all: Be on your guard; for as an angel of light Satan is walking in every assembly of Christian workers, and in every church, trying to win the members to his side. I am bidden to give to the people of God the warning: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked." Gal. 6:7. (Maranatha, Page 59)
Notice the statement that says, “Satan is walking in every assembly of Christian workers, and in every church, trying to win the members to his side.” If we as ministers of GOD’S Word are not faithfully re-presenting GOD’S Word to the people, to give that certain sound upon the wall, then by man’s reinterpretations of GOD’S Word, the adversary can present his seducing views to those, who have ears to hear his errors to rebel against the reconciliation of GOD’S Word upon the hearts of men to repent and return to GOD.
It is written that, “The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of heaven.--GC 624 (1911). The Spirit of God is gradually withdrawing from the world. Satan is also mustering his forces of evil, going forth "unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world," to gather them under his banner, to be trained for "the battle of that great day of God Almighty" [Rev. 16:14].--7BC 983 (1890).
“After John's description in Revelation 16 of that miracle-working power which was to gather the world to the last great conflict, the symbols are dropped and the trumpet voice once more gives a certain sound: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" [Rev. 16:15]. After the transgression of Adam and Eve they were naked, for the garment of light and security had departed from them.
“The world will have forgotten the admonition and warnings of God as did the inhabitants of the Noatic world, as did also the dwellers in Sodom. They awoke with all their plans and inventions of iniquity, but suddenly the shower of fire came from heaven and consumed the godless inhabitants. "Thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed" [Luke 17:30].--14MR 96, 97 (1896). (Last Day Events, Page 248, 249)
Notice carefully, or pay close attention to what was said in those words. It was not said that Satan is walking in some of the assemblies of Christian workers, or in some of the churches to try and win the members to his side. No. It is said that he is walking in every assembly and in every church, trying to win the members to his side. The thing that we must acknowledge is that the adversary is not going to now start walking into the assemblies of our Christian workers, or start trying to win the members, to be gather under his banner, because the churches are now made aware of his plans. No. The adversary has been doing his deceptive work for along time while men were unaware and were not able to detect his deceptive plans, which were presented as being beneficial.
Satan may work through men, who seek to be the leaders over the people of GOD for their gain, but The True Head of the Christian church is Christ Jesus--The Divine Man, Who now sits at The Right Hand of the throne of GOD, and He can read with accuracy the thoughts of every heart, who is working against Him, because He can discern the thoughts and intents of the heart, because all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. When these men, who are the agents of the adversary awake to the work they are doing against themselves, like the dwellers in Sodom, Ellen G. White wrote of them and said, “They awoke with all their plans and inventions of iniquity, but suddenly the shower of fire came from heaven and consumed the godless inhabitants.” We are to take heed to GOD’S Word and repent for the saving of our souls.
As Paul said to Timothy, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4). If they have turned from The Truth of GOD’S Word, Who is given to sanctify and make Holy those, who have receive GOD’S Word, then if they reject The Truth, they are choosing to become reprobates, or in the case of those, who rejected Christ Jesus, Who came to save men from sin; He said, they were desolate, which is without GOD’S abiding Presence by HIS Word.
It is written that, “Those who seek to compel men to observe an institution of the papacy, and trample upon God's authority, are doing a work similar to that of the Jewish leaders in the days of the apostles. When the laws of earthly rulers are brought into opposition to the laws of the Supreme Ruler of the universe, then those who are God's loyal subjects will be true to Him.
“We as a people have not accomplished the work which God has committed to us. We are not ready for the issue to which the enforcement of the Sunday law will bring us. It is our duty, as we see the signs of approaching peril, to arouse to action. Let none sit in calm expectation of the evil, comforting themselves with the belief that this work must go on because prophecy has foretold it, and that the Lord will shelter His people. We are not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude, doing nothing to preserve liberty of conscience. Fervent, effectual prayer should be ascending to heaven that this calamity may be deferred until we can accomplish the work which has so long been neglected. Let there be most earnest prayer, and then let us work in harmony with our prayers. It may appear that Satan is triumphant and that truth is overborne with falsehood and error; the people over whom God has spread His shield, and the country which has been an asylum for the conscience-oppressed servants of God and defenders of His truth, may be placed in jeopardy. But God would have us recall His dealings with His people in the past to save them from their enemies. He has always chosen extremities, when there seemed no possible chance for deliverance from Satan's workings, for the manifestation of His power. Man's necessity is God's opportunity. It may be that a respite may yet be granted for God's people to awake and let their light shine. If the presence of ten righteous persons would have saved the wicked cities of the plain, is it not possible that God will yet, in answer to the prayers of His people, hold in check the workings of those who are making void His law? Shall we not humble our hearts greatly before God, flee to the mercy seat, and plead with Him to reveal His mighty power?
“If our people continue in the listless attitude in which they have been, God cannot pour upon them His Spirit. They are unprepared to co-operate with Him. They are not awake to the situation and do not realize the threatened danger. They should feel now, as never before, their need of vigilance and concerted action.
“The peculiar work of the third angel has not been seen in its importance. God meant that His people should be far in advance of the position which they occupy today. But now, when the time has come for them to spring into action, they have the preparation to make. When the National Reformers began to urge measures to restrict religious liberty, our leading men should have been alive to the situation and should have labored earnestly to counteract these efforts. It is not in the order of God that light has been kept from our people--the very present truth which they needed for this time. Not all our ministers who are giving the third angel's message really understand what constitutes that message. The National Reform movement has been regarded by some as of so little importance that they have not thought it necessary to give much attention to it and have even felt that in so doing they would be giving time to questions distinct from the third angel's message. May the Lord forgive our brethren for thus interpreting the very message for this time.
“The people need to be aroused in regard to the dangers of the present time. The watchmen are asleep. We are years behind. Let the chief watchmen feel the urgent necessity of taking heed to themselves, lest they lose the opportunities given them to see the dangers.
“If the leading men in our conferences do not now accept the message sent them by God, and fall into line for action, the churches will suffer great loss. When the watchman, seeing the sword coming, gives the trumpet a certain sound, the people along the line will echo the warning, and all will have opportunity to make ready for the conflict. But too often the leader has stood hesitating, seeming to say: "Let us not be in too great haste. There may be a mistake. We must be careful not to raise a false alarm." The very hesitancy and uncertainty on his part is crying: "'Peace and safety.' Do not get excited. Be not alarmed. There is a great deal more made of this religious amendment question than is demanded. This agitation will all die down." Thus he virtually denies the message sent from God, and the warning which was designed to stir the churches fails to do its work. The trumpet of the watchman gives no certain sound, and the people do not prepare for the battle. Let the watchman beware lest, through his hesitancy and delay, souls shall be left to perish, and their blood shall be required at his hand.
“We have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted in our land; and, now that the movement is right upon us, we ask: Will our people do their duty in the matter? Can we not assist in lifting the standard and in calling to the front those who have a regard for their religious rights and privileges? The time is fast approaching when those who choose to obey God rather than man will be made to feel the hand of oppression. Shall we then dishonor God by keeping silent while His holy commandments are trodden underfoot?
“While the Protestant world is by her attitude making concessions to Rome, let us arouse to comprehend the situation and view the contest before us in its true bearings. Let the watchmen now lift up their voice and give the message which is present truth for this time. Let us show the people where we are in prophetic history and seek to arouse the spirit of true Protestantism, awaking the world to a sense of the value of the privileges of religious liberty so long enjoyed. God calls upon us to awake, for the end is near. Every passing hour is one of activity in the heavenly courts to make ready a people upon the earth to act a part in the great scenes that are soon to open upon us. These passing moments, that seem of so little value to us, are weighty with eternal interests. They are molding the destiny of souls for everlasting life or eternal death. The words we utter today in the ears of the people, the works we are doing, the spirit of the message we are bearing, will be a savor of life unto life or of death unto death.” (Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5 1882-89, The Impending Conflict, Page 713-716)
"For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men" (Lamentations 3:33). "Our heavenly Father does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men. He has His purpose in the whirlwind and the storm, in the fire and in the flood. The Lord permits calamities to come to His people to save them from greater dangers. He desires everyone to examine his own heart closely and carefully, and then draw near to God, that God may draw near to him. Our life is in the hands of God. He sees dangers threatening us that we cannot see. He is the Giver of all our blessings; the Provider of all our mercies; the Orderer of all our experiences. He sees the perils that we cannot see. He may permit to come upon His people that which fills their hearts with sadness, because He sees that they need to make straight paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. He knows our frame, and remembers that we are dust. Even the very hairs of our head are numbered. He works through natural causes to lead His people to remember that He has not forgotten them, but that He desires them to forsake the way which, if they were permitted to follow unchecked and unreproved, would lead them into great peril.
“Trials come to us all to lead us to investigate our hearts, to see if they are purified from all that defiles. Constantly the Lord is working for our present and eternal good. Things occur which seem inexplainable, but if we trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him, humbling our hearts before Him, He will not permit the enemy to triumph.
“The Lord will save His people in His own way, by such means and instrumentalities that the glory will be returned to Him. To Him alone belongs the praise. . . . Every soul that is saved must be a partaker with Christ of His sufferings, that he may be a partaker with Him of His glory. How few understand why God subjects them to trial. It is by the trial of our faith that we gain spiritual strength. The Lord seeks to educate His people to lean wholly upon Him. He desires them, through the lessons that He teaches them, to become more and more spiritualized. If His Word is not followed in all humility and meekness, He brings to them experiences which, if rightly received, will help to prepare them for the work to be done in His name. God desires to reveal His power in a marked manner through the lives of His people.--Manuscript 76, 1903, Feb. 20, 1902, "The Burning of the Sanitarium." (The Upward Look, Page 65)
In his counsel to the elders at Ephesus, Paul said to them, "I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29, 30).
And through the Counsel of GOD’S Word to the church by His servant Ellen G. White, she said, "God has not passed His people by and chosen one solitary man here and another there as the only ones worthy to be entrusted with His truth. He does not give one man new light contrary to the established faith of the body. In every reform men have arisen making this claim. . . . One accepts some new and original idea which does not seem to conflict with the truth. He . . . dwells upon it until it seems to him to be clothed with beauty and importance, for Satan has power to give this false appearance. At last it becomes the all-absorbing theme, the one great point around which everything centers; and the truth is uprooted from the heart. . . .
"I warn you to beware of these side issues, whose tendency is to divert the mind from the truth. Error is never harmless. It never sanctifies, but always brings confusion and dissension. . . .
There are a thousand temptations in disguise prepared for those who have the light of truth; and the only safety for any of us is in receiving no new doctrine, no new interpretation of the Scriptures, without first submitting it to brethren of experience. Lay it before them in a humble, teachable spirit, with earnest prayer; and if they see no light in it, yield to their judgment. . . .
"Satan is constantly at work; but few have any idea of his activity and subtlety. The people of God must be prepared to withstand the wily foe. It is this resistance that Satan dreads. He knows better than we do the limit of his power and how easily he can be overcome if we resist and face him. Through divine strength the weakest saint is more than a match for him and all his angels, and if brought to the test he would be able to prove his superior power. Therefore Satan's step is noiseless, his movements stealthy, and his batteries masked. He does not venture to show himself openly, lest he arouse the Christian's dormant energies and send him to God in prayer.” (Maranatha, Page 60)
Notice that the weakest saint is more than a match for Satan and all his angels. And if brought to the test, the weakest saint would be able to prove his superior power against him and his angels. It is for this reason that his movements are stealthy and noiseless, to arouse not the Christian's dormant energies, by sending him to God in prayer, for The Strength of HIS Word to resist his deceptions. It is because our Strength is in GOD through HIS Word, we are to abide in Him that He might abide in us.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me" (John 15:4). "We need to pray for the impartation of the divine Spirit as the remedy for sin-sick souls. The surface truths of revelation, made plain and easy to be understood, are accepted by many as supplying all that is essential; but the Holy Spirit, working upon the mind, awakens an earnest desire for truth uncorrupted by error. He who is really desirous to know what is truth cannot remain in ignorance; for precious truth rewards the diligent seeker. We need to feel the converting power of God's grace, and I urge all who have closed their heart against God's Spirit to unlock the door, and plead earnestly, Abide with me. Why should we not prostrate ourselves at the throne of divine grace, praying that God's Spirit may be poured out upon us as He was upon the disciples? His presence will soften our hard hearts, and fill us with joy and rejoicing, transforming us into channels of blessing.
"The Lord would have every one of His children rich in faith, and this faith is the fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit upon the mind. He dwells with each soul who will receive Him, speaking to the impenitent in words of warning, and pointing them to Jesus, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. He causes light to shine into the minds of those who are seeking to cooperate with God, giving them efficiency and wisdom to do His work.
"The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted a soul who is looking to Jesus. It takes of the things of Christ, and shows them to the seeker. And if the eye is kept fixed upon Jesus, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image. Through the gracious influence of the Spirit the sinner is changed in spirit and purpose, till he becomes one with Christ. His affection for God increases; he hungers and thirsts for righteousness, and by beholding Christ he is changed from glory to glory, from character to character, and becomes more and more like his Master.--Signs of the Times, Sept. 27, 1899. (Ye Shall Receive Power, Page 59)
"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:22). "In order to meet the requirement of the law, our faith must grasp the righteousness of Christ, accepting it as our righteousness. Through union with Christ, through acceptance of His righteousness by faith, we may be qualified to work the works of God, to be colaborers with Christ. If you are willing to drift along with the current of evil, and do not cooperate with the heavenly agencies in restraining transgression in your family, and in the church, in order that everlasting righteousness may be brought in, you do not have faith.
"Faith works by love and purifies the soul. Through faith the Holy Spirit works in the heart to create holiness therein; but this cannot be done unless the human agent will work with Christ. We can be fitted for heaven only through the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart; for we must have Christ's righteousness as our credentials if we would find access to the Father. In order that we may have the righteousness of Christ, we need daily to be transformed by the influence of the Spirit, to be a partaker of the divine nature. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to elevate the taste, to sanctify the heart, to ennoble the whole man.
"Let the soul look to Jesus. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). No one will be forced to look to Christ; but the voice of invitation is sounding in yearning entreaty, "Look and live." In looking to Christ, we shall see that His love is without a parallel, that He has taken the place of the guilty sinner, and has imputed unto him His spotless righteousness.
"When the sinner sees his Saviour dying upon the cross under the curse of sin in his stead, beholding His pardoning love, love awakes in his heart. The sinner loves Christ, because Christ has first loved him, and love is the fulfilling of the law. The repenting soul realizes that God "is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). The Spirit of God works in the believer's soul, enabling him to advance from one line of obedience to another, reaching on from strength to greater strength, from grace to grace in Christ Jesus.--Review and Herald, Nov. 1, 1892. (Ye Shall Receive Power, Page 60)
"I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me" (John 17:23). "It seems almost too good to believe that the Father can and does love any member of the human family as He loves His Son. But we have the assurance that He does, and this assurance should bring joy to every heart, awakening the highest reverence and calling forth unspeakable gratitude. God's love is not uncertain and unreal, but a living reality.
"The Creator of all worlds proposes to love those who believe in His only-begotten Son as their personal Saviour, even as He loves His Son. Even here and now His gracious favor is bestowed upon us to this marvelous extent. . . . Much as He has promised us for the life to come, He also bestows princely gifts upon us in this life, and as subjects of His grace, He would have us enjoy everything that will ennoble, expand, and elevate our characters. It is His design to fit us for the heavenly courts above.
"Those who live in close fellowship with Christ will be promoted by Him to positions of trust. The servant who does the best he can for his master is admitted to familiar intercourse with one whose commands he loves to obey. In the faithful discharge of duty we may become one with Christ, for those who are obeying God's commands may speak to Him freely. The one who talks most familiarly with his divine Leader has the most exalted conception of His greatness and is the most obedient to His commands.
"In the life of man things sacred and secular are to be done, some in business lines, some in the ministry of the Word, and some in various trades; but when a man gives himself to Christ and loves God with the whole heart, mind, soul, and strength, he serves with a devotion that takes his whole being.... He recognizes the ownership of his powers and the ownership of himself. This consecration invests his whole life with a sacredness which makes him gentle, kind, and courteous. His every act is a consecrated act.... He is under Christ, being trained for the higher grade above. (In Heavenly Places, Page 58)
By Carron Lake @ www.thelightoftheword.org
be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words
of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attaine."
(1 Timothy 4:6)
