Evangelism

Reporting from Papua New Guinea

by

Last year the lay preachers in Papua New Guinea made a resolution to go out to every city, town,and remote area to preach the Three Angels’ Messages.

The following is a brief account of how God has used the lay preachers to accomplish our plans and strategies during the last four months.

January: Five teenagers walked to a remote village in another province and discovered a group of people who worship an old man as their god. They stayed with them for three months. At present, the villagers have accepted Christ and worship on Sabbath.

February: Most of the lay preachers traveled throughout the country to preach the Three Angels’ Messages. One group with twelve members, including four young women, walked to Port Moresby through the jungles, climbing the high mountains. They shared the Three Angels’Messages among the Sunday-keeping churches. One Lutheran church has accepted the Sabbath truth.

More Bibles have been received from Tree of Life Fund, Sydney, Australia. We appreciate the group’s help.

Another group of lay preachers walked the famous Kokoda trail to Port Moresby. It took them three days to reach Port Moresby.

Another group walked from the Madang Province to the Simbu Province. They shared the Sabbath truth with a predominantly Catholic village and the leaders of the Catholic church accepted the Sabbath truth.

One group discovered a nomadic people in the Owen Stanley Rangers. These people have never had any contact with the outside world. After lay preachers discovered them, they stayed with them for three weeks sharing God’s message of love. Three souls were baptized.

Other small groups went out preaching the Three Angels’ Messages and distributing Bibles. Many people are joining the church through the Bibles, and more are requesting Bibles.

March: Two churches stood for the truth in Mt. Hagen and now they are under censorship.

Two pastors from the United church had accepted the Sabbath truth. Three churches in the Madang Province are standing for the present truth.

 

Two churches in the Simbu Province and one church in Lae, Morobe Province are also standing for the present truth.

April: Pastors Colin and Russell Standish held a Loud Cry campmeeting in Kainantu Papua New Ginuea. Over 1,000 people attended the campmeeting and forty-one souls were baptized. Six former hard core criminals had joined the laymen movement.

A big nature campmeeting was hosted in Simbu Province where over fifty new converts were trained. God is calling the common people to give the loud cry. It says in Testimonies to Ministers, 299: “God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hand.”

Please stand firm as prophecies are fulfilling before us and pray for the work in Papua, New Guinea.

The Church Militant Is On the Move

by

This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world and then shall the end come. This is our commission. This is our task. Armed with the power of the Gospel and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the final triumph of the truth is sure. We must press into His grace and be a part of the great and final proclamation of the Loud Cry—this is our destiny and our highest and grandest calling. However, it is often accomplished by the simplest means and most effectively given by the humblest of people.

Reformation Almost Destroyed

As the reformation was almost destroyed by dissension and fanaticism, so God’s remnant is nearly being destroyed by the same weapons. But just as the reformation was not destroyed, so also God’s people at the last day will not be totally destroyed. Silently, like the dawn breaks upon the world, the truth is marching forward. Are we marching with it? Are we faithfully working in our part of the vineyard? Oh Christian, the Lord is calling you to action, to war. We must gird up the loins of our minds and put on the armor of truth and righteousness or we will be deceived and destroyed. Do you hear the Spirit’s call to labor in His vineyard? Working for others is the only way that we will gain the strength to endure through the end times. “As they teach others of the grace of God, God will give them new grace from heaven. The more they try to teach others about the riches of Christ, the better understanding will they have of the plan of salvation, and the more richly will the grace of God abide in their own hearts.” Youth’s Instructor, November 28, 1895.

Faithful Souls Going Forward

As we look around, there is more to see and hear than dissension, gossip, and fanaticism. Many faithful souls are carrying forward the banner of truth whereon is inscribed the commandments of God and faith of Jesus. May you be one of the number! We asked a few of God’s soldiers to write their reports in the July and August issues of Land Marks magazine. There are many others, besides those who are featured on these few pages, who are working for the final triumph of the Three Angels’ Messages. We give you these reports to encourage you to press forward and not be discouraged by apparent difficulties and discouragement. Someday soon, if faithful, we will get to hear many reports of valor in the battle that is now being fought. Today much of it is hidden from our eyes, but soon the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout. The victory will be won and the saints will go home with the Lord. May there be a page in the Book of Life telling of the work you did through God’s grace in warning the world! The faithful will all enjoy reading your page on that glad day!

But we today must march in the battle.

“Like a mighty army, Moves the church of God;

Christians, we are treading where the saints have trod;

We are not divided, All one body we,

One in hope and doctrine, One in charity.

Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus, Going on before.”

The End

Africa, The Soul Winning Gardens of Opportunity

by

The Seventh-day Adventist movement has a tremendous heritage in foreign mission work. J.N. Andrews was the first missionary that went into a foreign land to spread the good news of salvation and a soon coming Savior. Since that time thousands have spent their lives working for the less fortunate in various places of the world. As we grew up, we all knew someone who was a missionary. We listened to their stories from South America, China, India, Africa, and other far-away places. Most of us who grew up within Adventism have probably, at one time or another, dreamed of going to one of these far-away places to be a missionary.

What has that heritage of foreign missionaries left to the movement today? What is the condition of the work in these foreign lands? And what is our responsibility within Historic Adventism to continue the work that has gone before us?

Today there are approximately nine million people in the world professing to be Seventh-day Adventists. North America has not kept up the pace of growth that foreign missions have. In most places of the world today you can find Seventh-day Adventists, and in many, many places you can find Adventist churches, schools, and hospitals. This work was established with tremendous sacrifice. I was told by one missionary that West Africa was considered the white man’s grave. During the 1920s, as families of missionaries went there to establish the work, almost without exception one of the family members would become sick and die within the first six weeks after arrival.

What is the spiritual condition of these churches around the world? It is very much like it is here in the United States. You see worldliness, broken homes, and celebration. The structure is demanding absolute allegiance to the church leadership, as they embrace liberalism and apostasy, and push out those who are trying to hold up the law of God as the great principle of life. So we ask the question, Is there any value today in the work that was established in such sacrifice? The answer is, Absolutely. There are faithful souls around the world who are upholding the great standards of truth that God has given His people. Many of those people are no longer accepted by the structure, even though they are standing faithful to the great principles of truth that so many today want to put down and label unchristian.

What is our responsibility to other faithful souls around the world who are working at tremendous sacrifice to continue the work of spreading the Three Angels’ Messages in their area? We need to hold up their hands so that they can do more. In many places of the world today, God has people who are working for Him who don’t even have enough food to eat. I believe that while we are still in a condition of plenty, we need to share what we have. However, we have a responsibility to do more than just share so that they will have enough food to keep going; we also need to help them with their evangelism. The ground is so fertile. Unlike the United States, where it is getting harder and harder to develop interests, people are responding in these foreign countries.

Let me share with you what is happening in Ghana, West Africa (I could tell you stories about other places also). One year ago, Steps to Life decided to help the Historic Adventists in that area for two main reasons. First, people in that area are interested in learning about the Bible, and the Historic Adventists there are organized. There are over fifty churches in the country that are organized into a group called the Historic Adventist Church. The group has fourteen pastors. They are responsible to an executive council that is elected by the national council. The national council is made up of two delegates from each of the smaller churches and three delegates from each of the bigger churches. It was our opinion that with that kind of organization, outreach could be followed up in an effective manner. We saw that new interests would have church groups to fellowship with and to be nurtured into Christian maturity. Their headquarters have been in the bedroom of a church member’s home, but with money sent by you, the donors, they now have a building for the headquarters and a clinic. We were also enabled to help them with some church buildings. We have been able to send money monthly for the added support of the ministry and for evangelism, and also a Bible correspondence school has been started.

God is blessing these efforts, and we praise Him for the opportunity to be a part of the work. The Bible correspondence school is being managed by Joseph Class Peters in Accra, Ghana. He established an office in the church that was purchased there. He then advertised in two of the national newspapers, with two consecutive ads in each paper. There are now over one thousand students enrolled in the school, all from those four advertisements. You should read the letters from the people enrolling—there are teachers, business people, government workers, bankers, and students who write and say that they would like to learn more about the Bible! When the students complete their fourteenth lesson, their name will be given to a pastor or church elder in their area for a follow-up. It is exciting to watch this happen! This would not be possible without the continued support from the historic Adventists in this country. We are working toward developing programs in other parts of the world also. We want to be faithful to each opportunity that God directs us to help with.

Africa is a garden of opportunity for soul winning. You can sponsor a bible worker for between $75.00 and $100.00 per month. Evangelistic campaigns are conducted for between $400.00 and $500.00. Last year they conducted an evangelistic series in Tema, and now they have a church with 27 people. They are meeting in a rented school house.

Is the movement today benefiting from the strong heritage of foreign missionaries? Absolutely! Does our responsibility for spreading the gospel reach outside the borders of the United States? It certainly does! We are all members of a body, and one part of the body shows care for the other parts. “There should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” 1 Corinthians 12:25–27.

As we respond to our brothers and sisters and develop the fellowship of believers so that we can carry out the campaign of battle and war in the order of heaven, we will be much more successful against the Devil and will actually see more people in heaven. “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7.

God requires that everyone who has been blessed with means here on this earth should give liberally to those who have little. “The time has come for us to take advance steps. We should beware lest a selfish, covetous spirit shut out the blessing of God. The Lord calls upon us to give of our means to support His cause. He requires more of us than merely the payment of the tithe. . . We should come before Him with both thank-offerings and sin-offerings. Our obligation to God is endless. His work must not languish for want of means. His claims must be met first, at whatever cost or sacrifice. It is time for those who have large possessions to cut down the principal, that God’s work may be extended in foreign lands.” Signs of the Times, September 27, 1883.

It is our duty not only to wait and be ready ourselves for the Second Coming, but also to hasten the soon coming of God by warning others. “Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” 2 Peter 3:12. We need to do all we can to get the last great Message of Mercy to the whole world. “Had the church of Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would before this have been warned, and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and great glory.” Desire of Ages, 634.

The Gospel is going to go to the whole world with or without us. May each one of us search our own hearts as to our duty in spreading the Three Angels’ Messages.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20.

The End

Marvelous Stories of Evangelism

by

The duty of taking the Three Angels’ Messages to the whole world rests upon us as Historic Seventh-day Adventists. Evan Sadler has had many years of experience as a street evangelist and has been doing what many more of us should be doing—sharing our faith with others. “We are living in a most solemn time. Important responsibilities are resting upon us. . . Angels of God are preparing ears to hear, and hearts to receive the message of warning. And in our very midst honest souls are living who have never yet heard the reasons of our faith. People are perishing for want of knowledge. Not one-hundredth part is being done that might be done to give the third angel’s message to the world.” Review and Herald, October 22, 1914.

May these stories encourage you in your walk with the Lord and embolden you to be a mighty witness for Him.

– The Editors

The Priest that Wept

I had a priest weep once. In 1982 I was staying with a former Catholic couple who are now Seventh-day Adventists, because I had knocked on their door—at that time I only knew five Bible texts! And now the Sabbath was about to come in, and the phone rang. When I answered, my friend Jimmy said, “I’m in the mental institution, I’ve had a nervous breakdown. Would you come and see me?” I said certainly.

We prayed together before I went that I might help this man. When I arrived Jimmy said, “I’ll tell you, Evan, I’m a bit upset. You tell me that the Catholic church has changed the ten commandments and then we go to the priests and they tell us that you’re a heretic!”

But I said, “They didn’t tell you that they didn’t change it did they?”

His answer was, “I wish that there was a priest here and you and he could sort this thing out.” I prayed, “Lord, I pray that you would open Jimmy’s eyes.”

I was there about half an hour talking to this friend in the big lounge, and who do you think walked in the door? It was a priest! Jimmy and I had been talking things over and I had my Bible out, and after this priest walked around and talked to everybody, he came and sat down next to us. He was an old Irishman, 73 years old. He said, “And what would you be doing boys?”

Jimmy said, “Oh, father. We’re just looking at the Bible.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, “We’re just reading the Bible.”

The priest said, “Oh, that’s wonderful! It’s the rock and the pillar of the faith.”

I replied, “It’s the rock and pillar of my faith, sir.”

He said, “Well, what else would you be talking about?”

I said, “Well, sir, we’re talking about deception.”

He said, “Oh, yes? Why would you be talking about that?”

I said, “Well, it says in Matthew 24:37 that as it was in the days of Noah so it would be in the days of the coming of the Son of man. Doesn’t it say that?”

He answered, “It’s true, it’s there!”

I said, “Do you think, sir, that the world will be deceived by things that look good or by things that look bad?”

He said, “Well, the way you put it, it seems they’ll be deceived by the things that look good.”

I said, “That’s right! How many were saved out of the flood?”

He said, “Well, the way you put it, it was four men and four women.”

I said, “That’s right! And what about all the rest of the people that perished, did they think they were right or did they think they were wrong?”

He said, “Well, the way you put it, they must have thought they were right.”

I said, “That’s right! Come down awhile till Jesus was killed—who was right at that time?”

He said, “Well, the way you put it, it must of been only Him.”

I said, “That’s right! What about the major church at the time?”

He said, “Well, they must have been wrong—the way you put it.”

I said, “Does this mean that Jesus was right and the whole of Israel was wrong?”

He said, “That’s right.” And I said, “Now let’s come down to about the sixteenth century.”

He said, “Wait a minute! What are you getting at?” Because he had been set up all the way, hadn’t he? I’d laid the ground, and I wasn’t trying to be funny. God wanted that man in heaven. But you can rest assured, friends, that anyone that will be there is going to have to go on God’s terms.

So he said, “Well, what are you getting at?”

“What I’m getting at, sir, is that the Catholic church has changed the ten commandments.”

He said, “Now, we-we-we-we’ve never done that! We’ve not done that. We’ve only adjusted them!”

I said, “You have changed them. I’ve got the proof.”

He said, “Well, we only adjusted them in the fourth century, but we’ve never changed them.”

I said, “Jimmy, you rang me up and asked me to pray for you that you might see; because the priests told you one thing and I told you something else and you were confused and didn’t know what to believe. And here, by the grace of God, a priest has come along and sat down here and he’s told us that they’ve never changed the ten commandments, they’ve only adjusted them. Isn’t that double-Dutch?”

Jimmy blinked and said, “Yeah.”

I told the priest, which was only my duty, “I can tell you when they changed them, why they changed them, from what they changed them, to what they changed them.”

He wept. He said, “I’ve given me whole life to the church.”

I said, “Brother, it’s time you gave the rest of your life to Jesus; because bricks and mortar can never save you.”

The Evolutionist

A friend and I were on the street one night giving out tracts outside a university in New Zealand. My friend gave a tract to a student outside a McDonalds restaurant and who came along but the professor. A student had met him on the street and had said, “Look at this sacrilege! These people don’t believe in evolution.”

Terrible isn’t it? “These people don’t believe in evolution.” How sad!

He found my friend, and he said, “Did you give this tract out?”

My friend said, “Yes, I did sir, but my friend Evan up the road, he’s responsible for giving the tract out.”

The professor said, “My name is Professor ‘Whatever-His-Name-Is.’ I’m qualified to tell you you’re wrong.”

My friend said, “How come?”

He said, “Because I have a Ph.D.”

My friend said, “Oh my! Is that right? You have a Ph.D.? Whoa!”

The professor said, “Yes.” He didn’t realize my friend was taking the Mickey out of him.

My friend said, “Wow! I can’t argue with that.” The professor grinned a bit. And then my friend said, “But I have a video at home, and it’s pro-Christianity, and it destroys evolution, and it was made by a man with two Ph.Ds. So your own argument is destroyed!”

So the professor’s head dropped and his tongue came out in exhaustion, because God will make fools out of the wise.

One Theologian

One day I was at the airport in Los Angeles and I had said a prayer that the Lord would protect me. I never take airplane flights for granted, I pray for protection. I also prayed that I might be able to talk to somebody on the plane who might be interested in salvation. We were in the air about 15 minutes. I had my old Bible open reading from Peter. I was sitting by the isle and a man was sitting by the window. He said to me, “I see you’ve been reading your Bible.”

I said, “Yeah! That’s the only real thing you can count on in this world.”

He said, “My name is Dr. ‘Such-and-Such’ from Spokane Presbyterian College and I’ve just been holding an evangelical campaign down in Brazil and I’m heading home. . .” He said, during the course of the conversation, that the ten commandments had been nailed to the cross.

I said to him, “The only thing you can count on is the Bible, and there’s only one other thing you can count on sir.”

He said, “What’s that?”

I said, “Throughout history, theologians have always been on the wrong side.”

And he said, “That’s a bit tuff isn’t it?”

I said, “That’s history friend. You tell me when the theologians have been right. At the time of the crucifixion of Christ? At the time of the Babylonian captivity? At the time of the flood? You show to me in history when the theologians have been right. They’ve never been right, the dead sure thing is that they’ve been wrong. Do you believe there’s going to be a judgment or not?”

He said, “Well, I think so.”

I said, “The Bible says there is going to be a judgment. Who do you think God will hold responsible for all the wickedness in the world in the day of judgment?”

He said, “I don’t know, you tell me.”

I said, “People like you. People like you who have said that the ten commandments were nailed to the cross. My Bible says that babes and fools will understand this truth, so I’m qualified to talk to you about this issue. You correct me if I’m wrong because I don’t want to be deluded and I don’t want to lose eternal life and I don’t want to deceive other people. I thought from what I’m seeing in the world that if ever the world needed the ten commandments it’s today, not tomorrow. I thought that Christians kept the ten commandments and heathens didn’t. And I thought Christians kept them not to be saved, that’s legalism. They keep them because they are saved. They don’t keep them in their own power, that’s not acceptable to God; they keep them through the power of the risen Christ in them.”

He couldn’t fault that reasoning. But then I showed him the time of Moses. He grinned and said to me, “One thing, sir, if the ten commandments still stand, I want you to show me where every single one of them is in the New Testament.” He looked at me with a dead serious look on his face because he knew that he had just trapped me—I could see that little grin behind his serious face. He wasn’t a professor for nothing, because he had been dealing with “legalists” for a long time.

“But you know,” I said to him, “that’s an unfair question, sir. And it’s a difficult question, because you know that not one in 10,000 could answer that.”

He said, “Probably not one in 100,000.”

I said, “But you only asked me that question to make your case right and my case wrong. If I could prove to you where every single one of them were in the New Testament, what would that do to your case?” He had not thought about that. He had only asked the question to destroy our case as Adventists and he didn’t know that I was an Adventist yet.

I said, “I’ll show you where every single one of the ten commandments are in the New Testament.” And I showed him Matthew 4:10: “Then saith Jesus unto him . . . it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” He blinked. I showed him 1 John 5:21: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed.” 1 Timothy 6:1. “For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. And in this place again, If thy shall enter into My rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:4–10. “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day.” Matthew 24:20. “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” Revelation 1:10. “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27, 28. “Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Romans 13:9. “Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 19:18, 19. There’s all your ten commandments.

He was visibly shocked. I didn’t tell him why I knew those ten commandments. Two weeks before I left New Zealand, George Burnside posted me a letter. In it was a copy of all the ten commandments in the New Testament. I had said to myself, “I’m going to memorize everyone of those texts, because some day someone’s going to ask me to show them where they are.” Within two weeks it happened.

Then I said, “Well, friend, you asked me that to destroy my case; but your case is now destroyed.”

He said, “I’m going to have to start keeping them and teaching them.”

I said, “Don’t worry if you lose your $100,000 a year salary and your three cars and your big flashy house and your status in your community. Jesus said in Luke that the foxes have holes, the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

I believe God answered my prayer and sat me there next to that man. Then he looked at me and said, “You’re a Seventh-day Adventist aren’t you?”

I said, “Well, I never used to be; I used to be a Presbyterian, the same as you. But I found that we were sitting closer to Rome than I’d thought when I was a boy.”

And he said to me, “You know, I want to come fishing in New Zealand sometime.”

I said, “Certainly. Friend, this battle is for real. Alot of people are going to be lost.”

He was visibly shaken. He said, “You know I went to college with Billy Graham, he’s a friend of mine.”

I said, “Wow, is that right? I went to college with Jesus Christ, he’s a friend of mine.”

I read to him 1 Corinthians 11, which says all these things happened for an example to us. I asked him this question, “When Moses brought Israel out of Egypt by the miracle of the Red Sea opening, God had thrown back to the Egyptians their false worship. Have you read of the Seven Last Plagues?”

He said, “Well I know a bit about them.”

“Ah, is that right? Do you know where they are found?”

He said, “Well, they’re in the book of Revelation.”

I said, “That’s right, do you know which chapter.”

He said, “No, not off hand.”

I said, “I’m going to read them to you in Revelation 16.”

I read him the first three plagues and he said, “What are you getting at?”

I said, “Well, God threw back in the faces of the Egyptians their false worship with the plagues. In the same way, when Jesus brings spiritual Israel out of spiritual Egypt, He throws back in their faces their false worship by the seven last plagues.” I read the 4th plague to him and he blinked a bit.

I said, “I’ve given you enough facts that you can work out why God threw back the sun in their faces in the fourth plague.” This man happened to be a member of the Lord’s Day Alliance.

I said, “As Seventh-day Adventists, we have reservations about that organization. Why is the fourth plague to be the heating of the sun? And why, under the fifth plague, will darkness fall upon the seat of the beast?”

And so we talked . . .

Conclusion:

We have the responsibility of taking the Three Angels’ Messages to the entire world so that those who are still in Babylon can come out from the midst of her. The seven last plagues are judgments that are poured out against those who make up Babylon (see Revelation 18:4).

We need to earnestly pray that we will be among those who will give the Loud Cry Message that will prepare a people to stand before a holy God without a Mediator.

The End

What Inspiration Says About – Outreach

by

1. What will all true Christians be doing?

“The mission of the church of Christ is to save perishing sinners. It is to make known the love of God to men and to win them to Christ by the efficacy of that love. The truth for this time must be carried into the dark corners of the earth, and this work may begin at home. The followers of Christ should not live selfish lives; but, imbued with the Spirit of Christ, they should work in harmony with Him . . . Christ has said: ‘Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.’ If the joy of angels is to see sinners repent, will it not be the joy of sinners, saved by the blood of Christ, to see others repent and turn to Christ through their instrumentality? In working in harmony with Christ and the holy angels we shall experience a joy that cannot be realized aside from this work.

“The principle of the cross of Christ brings all who believe under heavy obligations to deny self, to impart light to others, and to give of their means to extend the light. If they are in connection with heaven they will be engaged in the work in harmony with the angels.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 381, 382.

“Let everyone have a heart of flesh, a heart of tender sympathy, a heart that, like the heart of Christ, reaches out for the salvation of a lost world.” Prophets and Kings, 189.

2. What do we greatly lack?

“Among God’s people today there is a fearful lack of the sympathy that should be felt for souls unsaved. We talk of Christian missions. The sound of our voices is heard; but do we feel Christ’s tender heart longing for those outside the fold? And unless our hearts beat in union with the heart of Christ, how can we understand the sacredness and importance of the work to which we are called by the words: ‘Watch for . . . souls, as they that must give account’? Hebrews 13:17.

3. Does what you do, or do not do, have an effect?

“My heart is stirred to the very depths. Words are inadequate to express my feelings as I plead for perishing souls. Must I plead in vain? As Christ’s ambassador I would arouse you to labor as you never labored before. Your duty cannot be shifted upon another. No one but yourself can do your work. If you withhold your light, someone must be left in darkness through your neglect.

“Eternity stretches before us. The curtain is about to be lifted. We who occupy this solemn, responsible position, what are we doing, what are we thinking about, that we cling to our selfish love of ease, while souls are perishing around us? Have our hearts become utterly callous? Cannot we feel or understand that we have a work to do for the salvation of others? Brethren, are you of the class who having eyes see not, and having ears hear not? Is it in vain that God has given you a knowledge of His will? Is it in vain that He has sent you warning after warning? Do you believe the declarations of eternal truth concerning what is about to come upon the earth, do you believe that God’s judgments are hanging over the people, and can you still sit at ease, indolent, careless, pleasure loving?” Testimonies, vol. 5, 464.

4. How much of our energy should be put into outreach?

“The westering sun is about sinking forever from your sight. Yet while the blood of Christ is pleading, you may find pardon. Summon every energy of the soul, employ the few remaining hours in earnest labor for God and for your fellow men.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 463.

“Intense earnestness should now take possession of us. Our slumbering energies should be aroused to untiring effort. Consecrated workers should go forth into the field clearing the King’s highway, and gaining victories in new places. My brother, my sister, is it nothing to you to know that every day souls are going down into the grave unwarned and unsaved, ignorant of their need of eternal life and of the atonement made for them by the Saviour? Is it nothing to you that soon the world is to meet Jehovah over His broken law? Heavenly angels marvel that those who for so many years have had the light, have not carried the torch of truth into the dark places of the earth.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 44.

5. Are we to keep light to ourselves?

“The light that God has given His people is not to be shut up within the churches that already know the truth. It is to be shed abroad into the dark places of the earth. Those who walk in the light as Christ is in the light will co-operate with the Saviour by revealing to others what He has revealed to them. It is God’s purpose that the truth for this time shall be made known to every kindred and nation and tongue and people. In the world today men and women are absorbed in the search for worldly gain and worldly pleasure. There are thousands upon thousands who give no time or thought to the salvation of the soul. The time has come when the message of Christ’s soon coming is to sound throughout the world.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 24.

6. What do we really love?

“There is a terrible amount of guilt for which the church is responsible. Why are not those who have the light putting forth earnest efforts to give that light to others? They see that the end is near. They see multitudes daily transgressing God’s law; and they know that these souls cannot be saved in transgression. Yet they have more interest in their trades, their farms, their houses, their merchandise, their dress, their tables, than in the souls of men and women whom they must meet face to face in the judgment. The people who claim to obey the truth are asleep. They could not be at ease as they are if they were awake. The love of the truth is dying out of their hearts. Their example is not such as to convince the world that they have truth in advance of every other people upon the earth. At the very time when they should be strong in God, having a daily, living experience, they are feeble, hesitating, relying upon the preachers for support, when they should be ministering to others with mind and soul and voice and pen and time and money.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 457.

“It is an eternal law of Jehovah that he who accepts the truth that the world needs is to make it his first work to proclaim this truth. But who is there that makes the burden of perishing sinners his own? As I look upon the professed people of God, and see their unwillingness to serve Him, my heart is filled with a pain that I cannot express. How few are heart to heart with God in His solemn, closing work. There are thousands to be warned, yet how few consecrate themselves wholly to the work, willing to be or to do anything if only they may win souls to Christ. Jesus died to save the world. In humility, in lowliness, in unselfishness, He worked and is working for sinners. But many of those who ought to co-operate with Him are self-sufficient and indifferent.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 13.

7. How can Satan best use you?

“He who holds the truth in unrighteousness, who declares his belief in it, and yet wounds it every day by his inconsistent life, is surrendering himself to the service of Satan and leading souls to ruin. This class hold intercourse with fallen angels and are aided by them in gaining the control of minds. When Satan’s bewitching power controls a person, God is forgotten, and man who is filled with corrupt purposes is extolled. Secret licentiousness is practiced by these deceived souls as a virtue. This is a species of witchcraft.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 142.
“When ministers thus take advantage of the confidence the people place in them and lead souls to ruin, they make themselves as much more guilty than the common sinner as their profession is higher. In the day of God, when the great Ledger of Heaven is opened, it will be found to contain the names of many ministers who have made pretensions to purity of heart and life and professed to be entrusted with the gospel of Christ, but who have taken advantage of their position to allure souls to transgress the law of God.

“When men and women fall under the corrupting power of Satan, it is almost impossible to recover them out of the horrible snare so that they will ever again have pure thoughts and clear conceptions of God’s requirements. Sin, to their deluded minds, has been sanctified by the minister, and it is never again regarded in the loathsome light that God looks upon it. After the moral standard has been lowered in the minds of men, their judgment becomes perverted, and they look upon sin as righteousness, and righteousness as sin. By associating with these, whose inclinations and habits are not elevated and pure, others become like them. Their tastes and principles are almost unconsciously adopted.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 143.

8. Are we slothful servants?

“All are to show their fidelity to God by the wise use of His entrusted capital, not in means alone, but in any endowment that will tend to the upbuilding of His kingdom. Satan will employ every possible device to prevent the truth from reaching those who are buried in error; but the voice of warning and entreaty must come to them. And while only a few are engaged in this work, thousands ought to be as much interested as they … Those who have received the light should seek to enlighten those who have it not. If the church members do not individually take hold of this work, then they show that they have no living connection with God. Their names are registered as slothful servants. Can you not discern the reason why there is no more spirituality in our churches? It is because you are not colaborers with Christ.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 462, 463.

“The people whom God has made the depositaries of His law are not to permit their light to be hidden. The truth must be proclaimed in the dark places of the earth. Obstacles must be met and surmounted. A great work is to be done, and this work has been entrusted to those who know the truth. They should make mighty intercession with God for help now. The love of Christ must be diffused in their own hearts. The Spirit of Christ must be poured out upon them, and they must be making ready to stand in the judgment. While they are consecrating themselves to God, a convincing power will attend their efforts to present the truth to others, and its light will find access to many hearts. We must sleep no longer on Satan’s enchanted ground, but call into requisition all our resources and avail ourselves of every facility with which Providence has furnished us. The last warning is to be proclaimed ‘before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings;’ and the promise is given, ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’

“Ten members, who were walking in all humbleness of mind, would have a far greater power upon the world than has the entire church, with its present numbers and lack of unity.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 119.

9. Is it time to advance?

“God is waiting for men and women to awake to their responsibilities. He is waiting for them to link themselves with Him. Let them mark the signal of advance, and no longer be laggards in working out the will of the Lord.

“And through lack of zeal for the promulgation of the third angel’s message, many others, while not apparently living in transgression, are nevertheless as verily lending their influence on the side of Satan as are those who openly sin against God. Multitudes are perishing; but how few are burdened for these souls! There is a stupor, a paralysis, upon many of the people of God, which prevents them from understanding the duty of the hour.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 119.

10. What is the most important work?

“In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import—the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.

“The most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to proclaim to the world. The proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to be warned, and God’s people are to be true to the trust committed to them. They are not to engage in speculation, neither are they to enter into business enterprises with unbelievers; for this would hinder them in their God-given work.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 19.

11. Is there a work for everyone?

“The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to ‘the principalities and powers in heavenly places,’ the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10.” Acts of the Apostles, 9.

“Let everyone who loves God consider that now while it is day is the time to work, not among the sheep already in the fold, but to go out in search of the lost and perishing ones. These need to have special help to bring them back to the fold. Now is the time for the careless to arouse from their slumber. Now is the time to entreat that souls shall not only hear the word of God, but without delay secure oil in their vessels with their lamps. That oil is the righteousness of Christ. It represents character, and character is not transferable. No man can secure it for another. Each must obtain for himself a character purified from every stain of sin.” Testimonies to Ministers, 233, 234.

The End

Outreach Ideas from the Past to the Present – Postal Card Sermon

by

A friend sends a postal card with the following hints on prayer, in order that our prayers may be answered:

Postal Card Sermon

We must ask in the name of Jesus. John 14:13, 14

We must abide in Him, and have His word abiding in us. John 15:7

We must keep the commandments of God. 1 John 3:22

While we pray we must give thanks. Colossians 4:2

We must seek spiritual things first. Matthew 6:33

We must also pray for all saints. Ephesians 6:18

We must pray “in the Spirit” of God, and according to His mind. Jude 20; Ephesians 6:18

We must have no hard feelings toward any one. Mark 11:25

We must not babble, or use vain repetitions. Matthew 6:7

We must not ask for worldly purposes or fleshly desires. James 4:3

We must pray in faith. James 5:15

We must not doubt God will keep His word. Mark 11:24; 1 John 5:15

We must ask according to His will. Matthew 6:10

The Signs of the Times, October 23, 1879.

My Journey for Jesus

by

It was about twelve years after being baptized in 1977 that I heard about our incredible health message. I had become a vegetarian when I joined the church, but did not understand how much more there was to learn. Giving up meat was one thing, but I still used some processed foods, sometimes eating cakes, pies, ice cream, chocolate, cheese and many other “so called” tasty treats. I had no idea about the laws of health.

Accompanied by my husband Peter, we attended some Country Living Seminars run by some dedicated Seventh-day Adventist folk. Some of these people had started up simple health clinics where they were helping people with lifestyle changes and natural remedies. This is when we learned about the Adventist health message. Immediately we became vegan vegetarians. Leaving behind all the little indulgences, we started to eat whole plant foods, avoiding refined foods and all unhealthy fats. Cheese was very hard to let go for my German born husband. I became fascinated with this totally new way of preparing food, reading as much as I could about natural health and healing. There was so much to learn. Choosing to eat only two meals each day and experiencing the benefits, we have done this ever since. Peter encouraged me that if I was really interested in learning about this, I needed to take a course and get some specific training. There being no such training available in the area I live in, Australia, created some difficulty. So, unable to train at an institution, I searched for a correspondence course, which on completion, enabled me to become a Christian natural health instructor.

It was not long after that I rallied some of the members of my small church, and we began to teach the eight laws of health while running vegan vegetarian cooking programs in our community. I have been teaching these for many years now, and they have developed into a program I call Natural Home Remedy classes which have become quite popular. We show how poultices can act in so many different ways by using simple things like potato, charcoal, cabbage, onions, garlic, comfrey and slippery elm, to help heal many of their health problems.

One lady was excited when, after coming to our class, she used a potato poultice to heal a leg ulcer on her neighbour’s elderly mother. Usually leg ulcers are hard to heal, but with persistence, as well as alternating different poultices, it healed in about four months. People love to be shown simple remedies for common ailments like coughs, asthma, bronchitis and earache. One man tried the cayenne poultice on his gout and was healed after three applications. The class is shown how to break up tumours and cysts using castor oil. The poultice session always amazes people. They cannot believe that such simple remedies actually work. I have countless testimonies of people who have used these remedies and have been helped by them.

As these programs were being shared I realized that a newsletter was needed to advise the folk when additional programs would be running. So, the Back to Eden Health Newsletter was started with the aim of sharing this wonderful health message, educating people, sharing healthy recipes (I have published my own recipe book), providing information and suggesting ways to improve their health. The quarterly newsletter is primarily designed for those starting out on their new lifestyle journey.

This program grew and people began to call, asking me to share in their communities. More ideas were sought after and different programs have been developed. With such an interest in poultices, more have been added—bentonite clay, aloe vera, honey, epsom salts, sodium bicarbonate, coconut oil, skin brushing, olive oil and honey and more. Sharing the testimonies of those who have used these remedies makes it easy to interweave into the presentation how God has placed healing properties in many of these simple remedies. As they are used by faith, He blesses them.

Another interest began and I became very interested in the use of herbs, so I enrolled in Dr. Christopher’s School of Health, obtaining the Nutritional Herbologist Certificate. It is such a pleasure to share with others how simple garden weeds can be used to supplement health, taken either internally or used as poultices. God has placed healing properties in many simple garden herbs and others that grow wild. We have shown many how to make green drinks using edible green plants or weeds from their garden, which are simple and inexpensive yet very healthy.

Other classes are conducted for sourdough bread-making, how to make sprouts and kefir, ointments and oils while introducing the health laws from the Bible. This involves how we, as Seventh-day Adventists, have been given a health message, and science is now validating what we have been teaching for over 150 years.

Another program that remains very popular is teaching how to use simple hydrotherapy treatments for conditions such as migraines, pleurisy, period pains and insomnia, to mention just a few. One very impressive treatment is the hot and cold fomentations on the back to relieve severe back pain. We have some incredible experiences of people with debilitating back pain who, after being treated, the pain is either lessened considerably or relieved completely.

What an incredible health message we have. I have a burden to share this with others, because I know many Seventh-day Adventists do not realize or appreciate the wonderful health message we have. It is so much more than just becoming a vegetarian. God has given us this message so that we all can become home medical missionaries and help to relieve pain and suffering in those around us. I want to encourage people to start where they are. God has placed all of us in circumstances that are unique to ourselves. We all need to know and become competent in using these remedies on our families and ourselves and then share them with neighbours and friends. The sick and suffering are everywhere. God calls us to start sharing what we know. I have experienced how He takes us as we are and increases our talents as we use what we have.

Some think that one day a cure will be found for cancer and disease. They are looking for an elusive discovery and think this will end their health problems. They do not realise that God has already given the cure to us—we call them the eight laws of health. I love the counsel God has given our church through Ellen White. Yet some seem to think that keeping these laws of health are optional. The more I study and learn about our health message, the more I am convicted that we will be blessed with good health if we follow it very carefully. God wants those who are waiting for the Lord’s return to be health reformers. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” III John 1:2 NKJV.

I know God has blessed during these years. Currently I am involved in teaching a weekly class for a group of about fifteen, one cooking program a month, plus other special programs when I am invited. Has this been easy? Not always. For many of these programs I must do most of the advertising and organizing as well as speaking. Sometimes a few friends and my husband will help. Why do I continue? I am doing it for Christ, and He has asked us to share what we know with others.

We have all been given a commission. “And we should teach others how to preserve and to recover health. For the sick we should use the remedies, which God has provided in nature, and we should point them to Him who alone can restore. It is our work to present the sick and suffering to Christ in the arms of our faith. We should teach them to believe in the Great Healer. We should lay hold on His promise, and pray for the manifestation of His power. The very essence of the gospel is restoration, and the Saviour would have us bid the sick, the hopeless, and the afflicted take hold upon His strength.” The Desire of Ages, 824.

“The Lord has a work for women as well as for men. They may take their places in His work at this crisis, and He will work through them. If they are imbued with a sense of their duty, and labor under the influence of the Holy Spirit, they will have just the self-possession required for this time. The Saviour will reflect upon these self-sacrificing women the light of His countenance, and will give them a power that exceeds that of men. They can do in families a work that men cannot do, a work that reaches the inner life. They can come close to the hearts of those whom men cannot reach. Their labor is needed.” (Emphasis supplied.) Welfare Ministry, 145.

Kaye Sehm lives with her husband in Albury, NSW Australia. She loves sharing our wonderful health message by running seminars and cooking schools promoting the way to health. She also presents classes on the many simple home remedies God has given us. Visit Kaye’s website www.kayesrecipesandremedies.com or contact her by email at: backtoeden@aapt.net.au.

The Latter Rain

by

The latter rain is a most important topic for our generation, because Jesus Christ must come soon. With so many personal as well as world problems the only answer is the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14. The only thing holding back Christ’s coming is our witness to all nations. I would like to devote my whole life and all that I have to hasten that day.

According to Colossians 1:23, the apostle Paul said that this gospel has been preached to the whole world. That was written 30 or 40 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of persecution, the early Christians had been scattered, and the gospel of the kingdom was preached in the whole world; truth was available for any seeking soul.

A life witness, powered by the unction of the Holy Spirit, is what we need. We live in a very unique generation with technology capable of communicating information worldwide in seconds. Even countries that were previously difficult to evangelize now have the opportunity to hear truthful messages via Internet broadcasting from many ministries.

China is now producing their own programs that are having a tremendous impact on many people in that country. The Lord has convicted my heart to work for the Korean and Chinese-speaking people for whom our ministry is responsible. God has been working tremendous miracles through Light for Life Ministry. It is no human achievement, but purely the work of holy angels and the Spirit. More than 20,000 Sunday church pastors in the United States are regularly receiving materials, including magazines and DVDs. Up to 100,000 DVDs and CDs are being sent to China every month. Most of these are targeting Sunday church people. It is nothing short of a miracle that this amount of literature can be distributed. The last events of this earth are going to happen very rapidly, and this world’s history is not going to last much longer.

With so many of the devil’s sophistries, erroneous doctrines and teachings, many human hearts are becoming depraved. But the power of the Holy Spirit is breaking through the darkness to reach those whose hearts are yearning, and there are many people who are really seeking for the truth.

“To Jesus, who emptied Himself for the salvation of lost humanity, the Holy Spirit was given without measure. So it will be given to every follower of Jesus Christ.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 20.

This promise is for all who claim to be followers of Jesus. But what does it mean to empty ourselves? It is not to become a programmed robot or machine without personal characteristics or personality, but to be willing to dethrone self from our life and allow the Holy Spirit to control our thoughts and feelings in righteousness.

We are born with a sinful, selfish nature, and the only thing we can do is to have the desire to be born again and be willing to respond to God’s Spirit and daily receive new dew from heaven which will imbue with new motivations, new thoughts, new desires and new plans. This is available right now, not tomorrow, not months from now, but today! “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If you do, there is no love of the Father in you.” I John 2:15, literal translation. Pray today to be given new motivation, new desires, and Jesus will answer your prayer.

There is not much time to waste. Our life duty is to hasten the coming of Jesus Christ. The same measure of the Spirit given to Jesus—without measure—is promised to every follower of Christ when the whole heart is surrendered.

To surrender is just an empty expression to many Christians. We talk about it often, but what difference does it make when trials come or when a problem arises? How does it make a difference when we interact with other people in our jobs or businesses? How does being surrendered to Christ affect our plans and conversation when around those who do not know the truth of the Three Angels’ Messages?

God allows us to face the stumbling blocks of troubles and trials to expose the hidden things of the heart. These trials expose the true heart desire and what we are willing to surrender for the cause of God’s work, and whether or not we are willing to pay any cost to follow Jesus Christ all the way. To walk the narrow road surrendering self is not a natural desire, but one that comes only when the heart is purified.

Would you, like the widow who gave her last mite, give your entire savings if the Lord required it? What if Jesus asked you to devote all of your talents to God, even though you could make millions of dollars with them, what would you do? If we had been willing to empty ourselves of pride and surrender all to God to be used as a living testimony, a living vessel and instrument to hasten Jesus Christ’s coming, He could have come a long time ago and we would be in heaven.

In my travels throughout many different parts of the world, I have seen many people suffering. There is much sorrow and sadness. It hurts my heart deeply when I think of some of our leaders who are still locked in jail. Many brothers and sisters in China are working under the pressure of persecution every day. Many people sacrifice themselves and their finances to print and distribute materials and books to people to hasten Jesus’ coming.

The latter rain experience is the anointing of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. “That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.” Acts 10:37, 38.

After Jesus was baptized, He was anointed for His messiahship by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The world, the angels and the whole universe were witness when the Father said: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17. Jesus’ sole mission was to separate humanity from their sins. The latter rain experience is an anointing, it is a commission to a special task, a sealing of the Father to give the final message to the world.

Consider the anointing of John the Baptist. “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.” Luke 1:15. He was filled with the Holy Ghost even when He was in His mother’s womb! He was chosen, delegated, commissioned, anointed for a special task. That is the purpose of the latter rain. Are you ready to receive this anointing and have a special commission, or task, coming down from heaven? Our Father is yearning and heaven is yearning for Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour to return for His people.

Heaven is anxious for a people to be ready for this commission. “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:16, 17.

The Lord gave me a new kind of life after my open-heart surgery. I heard from my doctors that my chance of survival was very dismal, yet the Lord gave me perfect recovery. I knew immediately that I was given this new opportunity and new life to start preaching again. I knew that Light for Life Ministry had a last portion to accomplish by the power and unction of the Holy Spirit to prepare a people to receive the latter rain and to go out and become harvesters.

Friends, it is time to bring in the harvesters. It is time to bring in the eleventh hour workers, so they can be ready to receive the latter rain power that will empower them to go out and give the loud cry so the work can be finished and we can go home.

God has a plan for your life just as John the Baptist was chosen and anointed from his mother’s womb. Your life has been destined; God has called you for a special task. We call ourselves Seventh-day Adventists, and we are a people of prophecy with a special commission to finish the work of the gospel so we can go home.

I make this appeal to you with all my heart. As John the Baptist was called to prepare the way before the Messiah, we are chosen to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us.” Luke 1:76–78.

We are to prepare people for a Most Holy Place cleansing experience by helping them understand and receive righteousness by faith, so they can experience a continuous overcoming of sin. I yearn for the day that God’s people will stand together as a square on the sea of glass with palm branches in their hands praising God. This is the true spiritual Israel, the overcomers. Verse 79 says, “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

“The soul of the prophet [John the Baptist], emptied of self, was filled with the light of the divine. As he witnessed to the Saviour’s glory, his words were almost a counterpart of those that Christ Himself had spoken in His interview with Nicodemus. John said, ‘He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all. … For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him’ (John 3:31).” The Desire of Ages, 181.

Our experience is to be the same as Christ who could say, “I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” John 5:30. To Him it is declared, “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest iniquity: therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” Psalm 45:7. This experience of Jesus Christ should be the experience of all believers. When this experience comes, we will be endowed from heaven with the Spirit of God without measure. That is the latter rain.

Many voices are heard saying that to receive the latter rain we should be kind, merciful and more meek, being careful of our words and actions and do more evangelistic work. Of course this would be the result, but most of all we should behold Jesus, empty ourselves of self and give our all for God for the salvation of humanity. All thoughts and desires must be captivated for that work. That is our work and my desire, to give all to Jesus. Nothing else is important in my life.

“So with the followers of Christ. We can receive of heaven’s light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We cannot discern the character of God, or accept Christ by faith, unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ. To all who do this the Holy Spirit is given without measure.” The Desire of Ages, 181. \

What a promise!

Mary, the mother of Jesus and her cousin, Elizabeth, were two godly mothers who surrendered themselves to God’s service and were given the honor of bearing their two special sons. An angel visited Mary to prepare her for her mission of bringing forth Jesus, and to convince her, she was told that her relative, Elizabeth, who was an old lady, had conceived a child, and it was in its sixth month. After those words, Mary submitted herself and said, “Be it unto me according to Thy word.” Luke 1:38.

Once she accepted God’s will to conceive the Son of God in her own womb, she stood up and went to Elizabeth’s house, and they stayed together there for three months. Their conversation during that time must have been on the miraculous working of God in their lives and the special mission they and their sons were to accomplish. Is this the subject of your conversations now? Are your thoughts on the Lord and what He has done and is about to do in the world?

“I saw that none could share the ‘refreshing’ unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.” Early Writings, 71.

Every besetment, every possible sentiment we still have lingering in our sinful nature is to be overcome. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken. When a glass is shaken, any dirt that has settled on the bottom will muddy the water. Are there any hidden sins in your life that need to be removed? They all must go, with all pride, in order to be ready and prepared to receive the latter rain. It will take a complete emptying of self! Our self-esteem should only be in our confidence in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. We should know our God and have the assurance of salvation and forgiveness.

Pride that desires the admiration of others must go. It is an emotion that blocks the Holy Spirit from flowing into the heart. Pride is a very dangerous enemy and was the cause of Lucifer’s rebellion against God, turning him into the devil.

The gift of righteousness by faith is available daily from Jesus to enable us to overcome sin. The Holy Spirit plants a renewed motivation every day, together with the power to respond to the call. That is the righteousness by faith experience.

In 1844, when the early Adventist believers expected Jesus to come, they prayed every morning. They would not eat their breakfast until they received the assurance that their sins were forgiven. That should be our experience today. We are so in need of the latter rain. It is the most crucial need at this time, for we must be about our Father’s business.

Light for Life Ministry is committed to work for the Chinese-speaking people. Today, one person out of every three in the world speaks Chinese. Please remember the work that we have undertaken and pray for us.

The latter rain is about to fall. If you plan on being part of this great work in the end time, now is the time to give it all; place all you have and all you are on the altar and become a burned offering acceptable to the Lord. Only when we die to self can God use us in a wonderful way. Let’s get ready so we can go home!

Pastor David Kang is the director of Light for Life United States Ministry operating out of Fort Lee, New Jersey. His sermons are broadcast weekly on New York and Virginia Korean television stations. Pastor Kang also frequently travels to Asia where he trains pastors who often work “underground.” Pastor Kang may be contacted by email at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

What’s Up In Ghana?

by

Ron: Joseph, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Joseph: I was born in Ghana and raised as a Catholic. I knew nothing about Adventism until I met a brother who shared with me about the law of God, and the gospel of Jesus whereby I could be saved from the guilt and power of sin freely through the grace of Christ. I decided to obey the law of God, including the seventh-day Sabbath and began looking for a church to go to. I joined a study group in 1979 and got to know a man form America, Brother Bankhead who sent me some books including some Ellen White books. I started to study them. That study group has developed into the Accra church of historic Seventh-day Adventist believers. More recently, I have been in the United States for about four years working to support myself and help the work in Africa. I plan to go back to Africa soon.

Ron: Why do you plan to go back to Africa?

Joseph: First of all two or three people have said to me, “Joseph, what are you doing here? You have to go to Africa and work there.” Secondly as I have been praying, I believe the Holy Spirit has impressed me to go back to Africa. Finally, all I have studied here, coming to the Bible training course here at Steps to Life and many other things, I can use to help the church there. Our goal is to reach not only the entire region of Ghana, but the surrounding countries with the three Angels’ messages. While the Adventists who are faithful to the historic message that God gave to Adventism are attempting in every way to spread the three angels’ messages, they are in need of assistance if they are going to reach the entire population.

Ron: What are the best ways that we can help them?

Joseph: First of all they do not have a place to invite non-Adventists to meetings or church services. You might say, why don’t they just establish home churches as in America and other parts of the world. Well, first of all, most of the members live in small one room houses or apartments. This one room is where the whole family lives. With four to eight people living in a one room apartment sharing a bathroom with the occupants of other apartments and sometimes sharing a public kitchen, inviting people there for a home church is not feasible.

John: So, they need a place to worship and conduct evangelistic services?

Joseph: That is correct. Secondly they need a place to organize and plan their work. They need a place to produce literature, for the world, and also communications for the churches.

Ron: The building that we are helping them to buy will not only satisfy the need for a place for production of materials, preparation and distribution of communications, but also it can function as a church, and one part of it will be used as a sanitarium, and another part for a clothing distribution center.

Joseph: We hope that these new facilities will be used by the Lord and our faithful people to bring a great evangelistic thrust in Ghana. Our people have fasted and prayed for a long time and we see in these developments an answer to our prayers that the three angels’ message may be finished soon in Ghana.

John: In what other areas may we help the work to progress more rapidly in Ghana?

Joseph: As you reported in your News Notes a few months ago, Rose has been operating an orphanage in Ghana. With almost no facilities, as photographed in your News Notes, she has been taking care of 16 orphans (children who are adoptable) and many other poor children, providing them with food and clothing etc. She is working very hard, from early to late to earn the money to support these orphans and poor children. With the help that you are planning to provide for the orphanage, the living conditions for these children will become much more healthful—they will not have the constant exposure to the elements, and also it will be much easier to keep the children clean.

Ron: For a more complete explanation of the situation about the orphanage read our August News Notes. In addition to the orphans being cared for, there are many poor children who would be in a terrible situation if it were not for the self-sacrificing efforts of Rose in caring for them. The orphanage also cares for some mothers and their children who have no means of support. This is a noble work. John Huss was in this same situation once. He was an orphan (no father) but his poor mother thankfully knew how to pray. Read the whole story in Great Controversy page 98.

Joseph: How close are we to being able to build this orphanage and help the brothers in Ghana to purchase the churches that they so desperately need?

Ron: We have raised over 75% of the funds needed to build the orphanage, $30,000. Steps to Life supporters have also sent over $40,000 for the churches. Rod Clark is planning to go to Africa this winter to oversee the construction of the orphanage. However, I want to know, are there other things that we can do to help our brothers in Ghana to speed up the work of giving the three angels’ messages to West Africa.

Joseph: We are in need of literature and materials to give to the people to help them understand present truth. I understand that you are planning to help us with literature too, is that right?

Ron: That’s exactly right. We have received money for literature for Ghana and we are hoping to send a shipment of tracts not only in English but also in Twi. Two people have donated slide projectors to help them in their evangelistic meetings. People have sent in over 200 pounds of clothes.

I have to say that I am so thankful for the way God’s people have supported this project and I believe they will finish giving the necessary funds to complete this very important gospel endeavors. I would like to end this interview by sharing a quote from Christ’s Object Lessons, 351. It says, “Money has great value, because it can do great good. In the hands of God’s children it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, and clothing for the naked. It is a defense for the oppressed, and a means of help to the sick. But money is of no more value than sand, only as it is put to use in providing for the necessities of life, in blessing others, and advancing the cause of Christ.”

The End

Do We Want the World ?

by

John 17 is the great high priestly prayer of Jesus. He prayed this prayer just before He went into dark Gethsemane and just before His great battle with the powers of darkness. He prayed it just before they beat Him and just before the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill. Jesus prayed, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory.” There is something about the glory of Jesus that He longs for us to see. Someday, you are going to see it. Sooner than you think, and with your own eyes, you are going to see the face of God. Can you comprehend that? It is an awesome thought. The Bible teaches that without holiness no man shall see God. (See Hebrews 12:14.)In order that we might be holy, Jesus prayed, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world , but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” Jesus refused to pray for his disciples to be taken out of the world. It must have been very important or He would not have mentioned it. We are going to look at this aspect of Jesus’ prayer. Why did Jesus refuse to pray to take us out of this world? We know that eventually we are going to be taken out of the world, but in A.D. 31, He would not pray that for His disciples.

There are two parts to the answer. Part one is that Jesus would not pray for them to be taken out of the world because the world needed them. If Jesus had taken His disciples out of the world, it would have been lost because that was the beginning of His church. Not only that, at the moment Jesus prayed that prayer, those disciples were not ready to be taken out of this world.

Do We Need the World?

Part two is a surprise—God’s people needed the world! How do God’s people need the world? Look at part one again. The world needs the message of Jesus, His love, His law, His grace, His Sabbath. The world needs the message of the warning against the mark of the beast, against the beast, against the anti-Christ power, against the image of the beast, against the national Sunday law. For all of this, the world needs God’s people.

It is easy to see that the world needs us, yet how do we need the world? First of all, let me state that the disciples needed the world because they needed its discipline, its reproach, and its ridicule. They needed its persecution to develop their characters, to cling to God in total surrender so that they would be ready for God to take them out of the world.

Do we also need the world to pound on us? Someone says, “I don’t need any persecution. I love the Lord. I don’t need to be persecuted, reproached, ridiculed, lied about, put in jail and lose my home.” Do I really need all that?

Jesus said, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” Jesus would not take them out of the world because the world needed God’s people and God’s people needed the world.

The Bible says, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19. If we need to be pounded on, is that part of what God is going to give us before He takes us out of the world? Yes, that is part of what He is going to give us. We do need it.

Does God tell us that nothing can touch us without His permission? Yes He does. “The Father’s presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us. He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. The blow that is aimed at him falls upon the Saviour, who surrounds him with His presence. Whatever comes to him comes from Christ. He has no need to resist evil, for Christ is his defense. Nothing can touch him except by our Lord’s permission.” Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 71. This shows that our mighty God gives permission for evil to come to us.

If God were to take every Seventh-day Adventist out of the world right now, what would happen? The same thing would happen if He had taken the disciples out of the world when He prayed that prayer. Most of us would die. We are not ready. Not only that, but are we willing to go now? That is a hard question, isn’t it?

An Example

“The Hebrews had expected to obtain their freedom without any special trial of their faith or any real suffering or hardship. But they were not yet prepared for deliverance.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 260. Many of us have expected that God would take us to heaven without any special trial, suffering, or hardship. But, like the Hebrews, we are not ready. “They had little faith in God, and were unwilling patiently to endure their afflictions until He should see fit to work for them.” Ibid. It is the same with us. We also have little faith in God and we are basically unwilling to patiently endure our afflictions until God sees fit to work for us. “Many were content to remain in bondage rather than meet the difficulties attending removal to a strange land.” Ibid. We also are content to remain in the bondage of sin “rather than to meet the difficulties attending removal to a strange land. The habits of some had become so much like those of the Egyptians that they [actually] preferred to dwell in Egypt.” Ibid. Could we say that our habits have become so much like the Egyptians that we prefer to dwell in this world?

“Therefore the Lord did not deliver them by the first manifestation of His power before Pharaoh. He overruled events more fully to develop the tyrannical spirit of the Egyptian king and also to reveal Himself to His people. Beholding His justice, His power, and His love, they would choose to leave Egypt and give themselves to His service. The task of Moses would have been much less difficult had not many of the Israelites become so corrupted that they were unwilling to leave Egypt.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 260. Could we say that the task of God would be much less difficult now had not many of us become so corrupted that we are unwilling to leave this world?

If we really wanted to leave this world, we would be doing what God said to do. Not only would we be drawing close to God and have a character like Jesus, but we would be going door to door, reaching people with God’s message. Working for God earns nothing, but those who want to go out of this world and want Jesus to come soon, will be seen working to save souls.

We may say, “Won’t it be wonderful when the Lord comes!” But we like our nice home, car and job, and so we say one thing and live another. That is why God will allow the taskmasters to pound on us. Just as He also allowed the king to say, “I’ll give you no more straw, gather it for yourself.”

Not only did He let the taskmasters pound on them, but God’s prophet says that God did not deliver them by the first, or even after, the first of the plagues. It is the same with us. God is not going to deliver us after the first of the plagues either. After the first plague, we still will not be ready to leave this world. Even though probation is closed, and we are sealed to never sin again, God still has more to do for us. God did not deliver them after just the first plague, but He would manifest all of His power through ten of those plagues. After the tenth terrible plague, then they were ready to leave Egypt. After the seventh plague we too, will be fully ready to leave this world.

You might say, “I never thought of such a thing. I thought we were ready to leave right now.” No, we are not. These things are going to come very rapidly and we are going to have to grow up fast. Many of you reading this will not go through the time of trouble. Your death bed may be your time of trouble, so I am pleading, please make a full, total surrender to God now. We do not know, only God knows.

Finishing the Work

Actions speak louder than words. When you see God’s people ready to be taken out of this world, you will see them going door to door and hear them praying, “Oh God, use me for souls.” However, they will not be taken out of the world until their work is finished. If Jesus came now, millions would be lost that could be saved.

Most people looking at Jesus the day He comes—those that will be God’s faithful Seventh-day Adventists, are now keeping Sunday. That is a shocking thought. Millions of them now keeping Sunday are going to join us soon. It is also true that millions who are sitting in Seventh-day Adventist pews now, will soon be honoring Sunday. There is going to be a big shift, very quickly after persecution comes. But we must not wait until then. We need to pray, “Oh God, give us Your souls. Give us Your tender love, the love that Jesus had. A love that loves the unlovely. Dear Father give us Thy love for souls.”

When you pray like that, God will perfect you in His love. When you are perfected in the love of God, you will be ready to be taken out of this world. And when you are perfected in the love of God you will be seen reaching souls continually, every day. Jesus said, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” That is why God is going to allow us to lose everything and suffer persecution. The lovely Jesus is in control and He knows just what He is doing.

Be careful how you judge and condemn other people. That is what the disciples were doing, trying to see who was the greatest. When you have that attitude you are absolutely unfit for heaven. We think we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, but we are really poor, blind and naked. We need to examine our own heart and not judge or condemn other people. We need to pray, “God be merciful to me the sinner.” When persecution pounds on us, we are going to press together and present to the enemy a united front. We will not then think about who is the greatest.

God’s People in the End

Joel tells what is going to happen. We will study a number of verses from the second chapter. “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain.” Joel 2:1. The trumpet in Zion, where is that? It is in God’s church. If you sound an alarm in the church, wouldn’t you be an alarmist? Yes. If you have been accused of being an alarmist, say, “Thank you, Lord, for helping me to do what You said for me to do in Joel 2:1.” When you do it, be sweet, kind, humble, and loving. We need to blend the beautiful meekness of Jesus with the powerful message of God. It is hard to fight against love.

“Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: [Why?] for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2:1. While the devil is trying to get people to sing, swing, sin and celebrate, God says we need to be trembling because Jesus is coming. The day of the Lord is at hand. Every person will stand or fall individually. It is just you and God.

“Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping . . . Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” Joel 2:12, 13. God is in control. He is going to give victory to His people. You are going to be with God’s people. Or, are you going to be without them? I want to be with Jesus and His people around the world.

Joel 2:21, says, “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field.” It continues on in this language in verse 23, “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately.” You can be like Jesus. You can receive the latter rain. You can be in heaven very soon. Jesus said, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but should deliver them from the evil.” John 17:15. God is going to do it. Whatever it takes, it will be worth it. “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God.”

The End