Archives: Articles

IssueM Articles

Bible Study Guides – The Grace of Christ, Part I

by

April 30, 2006 – May 6, 2006

Key Text

“For the Lord God [is] a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11.

Study Help: The Acts of the Apostles, 557–562.

Introduction

“The word of God must be interwoven with the living character of those who believe it. The only vital faith is that faith which receives and assimilates the truth till it is a part of the being and the motive power of the life and action. Jesus is called the Word of God. He accepted His Father’s law, wrought out its principles in His life, manifested its spirit, and showed its beneficent power in the heart. [John 1:14 quoted.] The followers of Christ must be partakers of His experience. They must assimilate the word of God. They must be changed into its likeness by the power of Christ and reflect the divine attributes. . . .

“It is not enough to preach the truth; it must be carried out in the life. Christ must be abiding in us, and we in Him, in order to do the work of God. Each must have an individual experience and put forth personal efforts to reach souls. God requires each to put all his powers into the work and, through continual effort, educate himself to do that work acceptably. He expects everyone to bring the grace of Christ into his heart, that he may be a bright and shining light to the world. If God’s workers train all their powers thoroughly, then they may work understandingly, in all wisdom, and God will surely respond to their efforts to uplift, refine, and save their fellow men.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 576, 577.

1 What importance is placed on having a living connection with Christ? John 15:4–6.

note: “In the matchless gift of His Son, God has encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe. All who choose to breathe this life-giving atmosphere will live and grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. . . .

“You are just as dependent upon Christ, in order to live a holy life, as is the branch upon the parent stock for growth and fruitfulness. Apart from Him you have no life. You have no power to resist temptation or to grow in grace and holiness. Abiding in Him, you may flourish. Drawing your life from Him, you will not wither nor be fruitless. You will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.” Steps to Christ, 68, 69.

“O that all might realize that without Christ they can do nothing! Those who do not gather with Him scatter abroad. Their thoughts and actions will not bear the right character, and their influence will be destructive of good. Our actions have a twofold influence; for they affect others as well as ourselves. This influence will either be a blessing or a curse to those with whom we associate. How little we appreciate this fact. Actions make habits, and habits, character, and if we do not guard our habits, we shall not be qualified to unite with heavenly agencies in the work of salvation, nor be prepared to enter the heavenly mansions that Jesus has gone to prepare; for no one will be there except those who have surrendered their will and way to God’s will and way. He whose character is proved, who has stood the test of trial, who is a partaker of the divine nature, will be among those whom Christ pronounces blessed.

“Without Christ we can do nothing. The pure principles of uprightness, virtue, and goodness are all from God. A conscientious discharge of duty, Christlike sympathy, love for souls and love for your own soul, because you belong to God, and have been bought with the precious blood of Christ, will make you a laborer together with God, and endow you with persuasive, drawing power. . . . Terrible are the consequences of not having a constant connection with God.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 194, 195.

2 By what are men saved? Ephesians 2:8.

note: “We must learn in the school of Christ. Nothing but His righteousness can entitle us to one of the blessings of the covenant of grace. We have long desired and tried to obtain these blessings, but have not received them because we have cherished the idea that we could do something to make ourselves worthy of them. We have not looked away from ourselves, believing that Jesus is a living Saviour. We must not think that our own grace and merits will save us; the grace of Christ is our only hope of salvation. Through His prophet the Lord promises, ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon’ (Isaiah 55:7). We must believe the naked promise, and not accept feeling for faith. When we trust God fully, when we rely upon the merits of Jesus as a sin-pardoning Saviour, we shall receive all the help that we can desire.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 351.

3 How was grace revealed in Christ’s first advent? John 1:14.

note: “The deep necessity of man for a divine teacher was known in heaven. The pity and sympathy of God were exercised in behalf of man, fallen and bound to Satan’s chariot-car; and when the fullness of time was come, He sent forth His Son. The One appointed in the counsels of heaven came to the earth as an instructor. He was no less a being than the Creator of the world, the Son of the Infinite God. The rich benevolence of God gave Him to our world; and to meet the necessities of humanity, He took on Him human nature. To the astonishment of the heavenly host, He walked this earth as the Eternal Word. Fully prepared, He left the royal courts to come to a world marred and polluted with sin. Mysteriously He allied Himself to human nature. ‘The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.’ [John 1:14.] God’s excess of goodness, benevolence, and love was a surprise to the world, of grace which could be realized, but not told.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 399, 400.

“Taking humanity upon Him, Christ came to be one with humanity and at the same time to reveal our heavenly Father to sinful human beings. He was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of men, and yet He was the blameless Son of God. He was a stranger and sojourner on the earth—in the world, but not of the world; tempted and tried as men and women today are tempted and tried, yet living a life free from sin.

“Tender, compassionate, sympathetic, ever considerate of others, He represented the character of God, and was constantly engaged in service for God and man.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 286.

4 Unto how many has this grace appeared? Titus 2:11.

note: “The Lord saw our fallen condition; He saw our need of grace, and because He loved our souls, He has given us grace and peace. Grace means favor to one who is undeserving, to one who is lost. The fact that we are sinners, instead of shutting us away from the mercy and love of God, makes the exercise of His love to us a positive necessity in order that we may be saved.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 347.

5 What does this grace teach men? Titus 2:12, 13.

note: “In the precepts of His holy law, God has given a perfect rule of life; and He has declared that until the close of time this law, unchanged in a single jot or tittle, is to maintain its claim upon human beings. Christ came to magnify the law and make it honorable. He showed that it is based upon the broad foundation of love to God and love to man, and that obedience to its precepts comprises the whole duty of man. In His own life He gave an example of obedience to the law of God. In the Sermon on the Mount He showed how its requirements extend beyond the outward acts and take cognizance of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

“The law, obeyed, leads men to deny ‘ungodliness and worldly lusts,’ and to ‘live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.’ Titus 2:12. But the enemy of all righteousness has taken the world captive and has led men and women to disobey the law. As Paul foresaw, multitudes have turned from the plain, searching truths of God’s word and have chosen teachers who present to them the fables they desire. Many among both ministers and people are trampling under their feet the commandments of God. Thus the Creator of the world is insulted, and Satan laughs in triumph at the success of his devices.” The Acts of the Apostles, 505.

6 How extensively is this grace bestowed? Psalm 84:11.

note: “Many who profess to be Christ’s followers have an anxious, troubled heart because they are afraid to trust themselves with God. They do not make a complete surrender to Him, for they shrink from the consequences that such a surrender may involve. Unless they do make this surrender they cannot find peace.

“There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world’s standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus their character is marred and their life made a weariness. The continual worry is wearing out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. . . .

“Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet.

“The faithful discharge of today’s duties is the best preparation for tomorrow’s trials. Do not gather together all tomorrow’s liabilities and cares and add them to the burden of today.” The Ministry of Healing, 480, 481.

7 What condition of mind must men be in to profit by grace? James 4:6.

note: “Over and over again in his teaching, Christ presented the value of true humility, showing how necessary it is that we exercise helpfulness, compassion, and love toward one another. . . .

“Christ can do nothing for the recovery of man until, convinced of his own weakness and stripped of all self-sufficiency and pride, he puts himself under the control of God. Then and then only can he be a true subject of God. No confidence can be placed in human greatness, human intellect, or human plans. We must place ourselves under the guidance of an infinite mind, acknowledging that without Jesus we can do nothing.” Review and Herald, August 18, 1896.

8 What sustained the apostle Paul in his trials? 11 Corinthians 12:9.

note: “Satan is busily working with all who will give him encouragement. Those who have the light, but refuse to walk in it, will become confused, until darkness pervades their souls, and shapes their whole course of action. But the spirit of wisdom and goodness of God as revealed in His Word, will become brighter and brighter as they follow on in the path of true obedience. All the righteous demands of God will be met through sanctification of the Holy Spirit. . . .

“There are great privileges and blessings for all who will humble themselves and fully consecrate their hearts to God. Great light will be given to them. When men are willing to be transformed, then they will be exercised unto godliness.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 166.

9 What will enable us to serve God acceptably? Hebrews 12:28.

note: “Those who profess the name of Christ should not neglect to establish the family altar, where they can seek God daily with all the earnestness with which they would seek him in a religious assembly. They should make the season of family prayer a season of special interest, and in this way they will be obtaining an education that will fit them to become a benefit to the church. You may obtain a knowledge of how to serve God acceptably in the home. You may learn how to pray, you may learn how to believe in God; and those who neglect this means of grace in their families, are not preparing themselves for usefulness in the church.” Review and Herald, October 22, 1889.

“Our bodies are composed of that upon which we feed, so our spiritual life will be composed of that upon which we feed. If we feed on Christ by thinking of Him, by obeying His words, we are built up in Him, and grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth unto the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus.” Sermons and Talks, vol. 1, 274, 275.

Food for Life – Carob Cream Pie

by

This month we will look at a principle regarding sweetness in our diets. Although this will not be an exhaustive study, a broad principle will be included. Please know that it is important for you to study this subject in detail for yourself. Be a Berean.

In the Bible, we find what is often called the “honey principle.” The Bible records three statements regarding the eating of honey that should be considered for an overall temperance principle. “My son, eat thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste.” “Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.” “[It is] not good to eat much honey.” Proverbs 24:13; 25:16, 27.

Using these verses, we can identify a temperance principle that is applicable to many areas of life besides the eating of honey. The principle is this: Even good things should be taken in moderation. In other words, honey is good for us, but we should consume it in moderation—only as much as is sufficient for us, and never in excess, as that is not good.

Temperance Principle: If the item is bad for you, abstain from it. If it is good, partake to sufficiency and in moderation, not excess.

Carob Cream Pie

3 cups soy or almond milk

1 Tablespoon vanilla

2 Tablespoons Emes Kosher-Jel (unflavored)

1 teaspoon cereal coffee substitute such as Roma or Postum

1 cup pitted dates or 5 Tablespoons honey

2 drops mint flavoring (optional)

3 Tablespoons carob powder

1 Tablespoon molasses

1 pre-baked pie shell

Heat 1 cup of the milk with Emes Kosher-Jel and stir until the jel is dissolved. Combine with remaining filling ingredients and process in a blender until very smooth. Pour into a bowl and chill until firm. When firm, stir with wire whip or spoon (add more milk if necessary), and then pour into pre-baked pie shell. Chill again until firm. If desired, garnish with lightly toasted coconut.

Nature Nugget – The American Eel

by

The life of the American Eel is very complex and involves the broadest diversity of habitats of any fish species in the world. Also known as the Freshwater Eel, it occurs in freshwater rivers and lakes, estuaries, coastal areas, and open ocean from Greenland south along the Atlantic coast of North America, throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, and inland throughout the eastern half of North and Central America and parts of northern South America.

American Eels are nocturnal carnivores, feeding on insects, mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and other fish. They hunt their prey by smell, since they have very poor eyesight. During the day, they hide in rock crevices or dig under the mud or sand to avoid predators. In the more northern latitudes, they spend the winter buried in the mud in a state of dormancy. They are well-known for their ability to maneuver around and over seemingly impassable obstacles such as spillways, dams, and waterfalls. They are even capable of leaving the water and traveling overland for short distances. Their slippery, slimy bodies make it difficult for predators to grasp them.

American Eels are catadromous, spending most of their lives in freshwater and estuaries and migrating to the ocean to spawn. This is the opposite of anadromous species such as the Pacific salmons, which spend most of their lives in the ocean and migrate to freshwater rivers and streams to spawn. American Eels begin and end their lives in an area of the Atlantic Ocean near Bermuda called the Sargasso Sea. After hatching, the pelagic larvae, called leptocephalus, drift with the ocean currents for 9 to 12 months before entering coastal waters. When they reach approximately 2.4 inches in length, the larvae metamorphoses into a transparent “glass” eel. In autumn, the glass eels migrate into estuaries where they become pigmented and are then known as elvers. Some elvers, mainly males, remain in the estuaries and lower river stretches while the females migrate upstream, often for several hundred miles.

The eels, now in their “yellow” color phase, will remain in these fresh and brackish water habitats for the next 5 to 20 years. During this time, the females may reach a length of four to five feet and weigh up to 15 pounds, while the males attain a length of only about two feet.

Before beginning their migration back to the Sargasso Sea to spawn and die, the eels must undergo profound physical changes. Just prior to beginning their journey, the eels stop feeding, their eyes and pectoral fins enlarge, and their body color and pattern changes. The now sexually mature eels have a gray back, a pure white belly, and a silvery bronze sheen on their flanks. The migration occurs on autumn nights with the now transformed adults descending rivers and streams for a mid-winter to spring spawning in the warm Sargasso Sea. Females lay between two to four million eggs, depending on their size, and the eggs soon hatch to start the cycle over again.

Just as the American Eel must undergo a transformation before it can begin its final migration home to the Sargasso Sea, so Christians must undergo a transformation into the image of Christ before they can travel home to heaven. “Christ is sitting for His portrait in every disciple. Every one God has predestinated to be ‘conformed to the image of His Son.’ Romans 8:29. In every one Christ’s long-suffering love, His holiness, meekness, mercy, and truth are to be manifested to the world.” The Desire of Ages, 827. “If this transformation has not been experienced by you, rest not. Seek the Lord with all your hearts. Make this the all-important business of your lives.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 179.

David Arbour writes from his home in DeQueen, Arkansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Restoring the Temple – No Flesh Foods

by

It is not the chief end of man to gratify his appetite. There are physical wants to be supplied; but because of this is it necessary that man shall be controlled by appetite? Will the people who are seeking to become holy, pure, refined, that they may be introduced into the society of heavenly angels, continue to take the life of God’s creatures, and enjoy their flesh as a luxury? From what the Lord has shown me, this order of things will be changed, and God’s peculiar people will exercise temperance in all things.

“Those who have received instruction regarding the evils of the use of flesh foods, tea, and coffee, and rich and unhealthful food preparations, and who are determined to make a covenant with God by sacrifice, will not continue to indulge their appetite for food that they know to be unhealthful. God demands that the appetite be cleansed, and that self-denial be practiced in regard to those things which are not good. This is a work that will have to be done before His people can stand before Him a perfected people.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 381.

Perfecting Holiness

“Health reform is to do among our people a work which it has not yet done. There are those who ought to be awake to the danger of meat eating, who are still eating the flesh of animals, thus endangering the physical, mental, and spiritual health. Many who are now only half converted on the question of meat eating will go from God’s people to walk no more with them. . . .

“If, while proclaiming the most solemn and important message God has ever given, men war against the truth by indulging wrong habits of eating and drinking, they take all the force from the message they bear.

“Those who indulge in meat eating, tea drinking, and gluttony are sowing seeds for a harvest of pain and death. The unhealthful food placed in the stomach strengthens the appetites that war against the soul, developing the lower propensities. A diet of flesh meat tends to develop animalism. A development of animalism lessens spirituality, rendering the mind incapable of understanding truth.

“The word of God plainly warns us that unless we abstain from fleshly lusts, the physical nature will be brought into conflict with the spiritual nature. Lustful eating wars against health and peace. Thus a warfare is instituted between the higher and the lower attributes of the man. The lower propensities, strong and active, oppress the soul. The highest interests of the being are imperiled by the indulgence of appetites unsanctioned by Heaven.” Ibid., 382.

Firm Stand Against Meat Eating

“Those who claim to believe the truth are to guard carefully the powers of body and mind, so that God and His cause will not be in any way dishonored by their words or actions. The habits and practices are to be brought into subjection to the will of God. We are to give careful attention to our diet. It has been clearly presented to me that God’s people are to take a firm stand against meat eating. Would God . . . give His people the message that if they desire to have pure blood and clear minds, they must give up the use of flesh meat, if He did not want them to heed this message? By the use of flesh meats the animal nature is strengthened and the spiritual nature weakened.” Ibid., 383.

“Those who use flesh meat disregard all the warnings that God has given concerning this question. They have no evidence that they are walking in safe paths. They have not the slightest excuse for eating the flesh of dead animals. God’s curse is resting upon the animal creation. Many times when meat is eaten, it decays in the stomach, and creates disease. Cancers, tumors, and pulmonary diseases are largely caused by meat eating.” Ibid.

“The intellectual, the moral, and the physical powers are depreciated by the habitual use of flesh meats. Meat eating deranges the system, beclouds the intellect, and blunts the moral sensibilities. We say to you, dear brother and sister, your safest course is to let meat alone.” Ibid., 391.

Strength to Resist

“If our appetites clamor for the flesh of dead animals, it is a necessity to fast and pray for the Lord to give His grace to deny fleshly lusts which war against the soul.

When Prayer for Healing is Inconsistent

“There are those among Seventh-day Adventists who will not heed the light given them in regard to this matter. They make flesh meat a part of their diet. Disease comes upon them. Sick and suffering as a result of their own wrong course, they ask for the prayers of the servants of God. But how can the Lord work in their behalf when they are not willing to do His will, when they refuse to heed His instruction in regard to health reform? . . .

“The light on health reform has been coming to the people of God, but many have made it a subject of jest. They have continued to use tea, coffee, spices, and flesh meat. Their bodies are full of disease. How can we, I ask, present such ones to the Lord for healing?” Ibid., 400.

Benefit of Self-Denial

“If we could be benefited by indulging the desire for flesh foods, I would not make this appeal to you; but I know we cannot. Flesh foods are injurious to the physical well-being, and we should learn to do without them. Those who are in a position where it is possible to secure a vegetarian diet, but who choose to follow their own preferences in this matter, eating and drinking as they please, will gradually grow careless of the instruction the Lord has given regarding other phases of the present truth, and will lose their perception of what is truth; they will surely reap as they have sown. . . .

“We need ever to bear in mind that in these days of probation we are on trial before the Lord of the universe. Will you not give up indulgences that are doing you injury? Words of profession are cheap; let your acts of self-denial testify that you will be obedient to the demands that God makes of His peculiar people. Then put into the treasury a portion of the means you save by your acts of self-denial, and there will be that with which to carry on the work of God.

“There are many who feel that they cannot get along without flesh foods; but if these would place themselves on the Lord’s side, resolutely resolved to walk in the way of His guidance, they would receive strength and wisdom as did Daniel and his fellows. They would find that the Lord would give them sound judgment. Many would be surprised to see how much could be saved for the cause of God by acts of self-denial. The small sums saved by deeds of sacrifice will do more for the up-building of the cause of God than larger gifts will accomplish that have not called for denial of self.” Ibid., 402–404.

Meat Eating a Curse

“The Lord would bring His people into a position where they will not touch or taste the flesh of dead animals. Then let not these things be prescribed by any physicians who have a knowledge of the truth for this time. There is no safety in the eating of the flesh of dead animals, and in a short time the milk of the cows will also be excluded from the diet of God’s commandment-keeping people. In a short time it will not be safe to use anything that comes from the animal creation. Those who take God at His word, and obey His commandments with the whole heart, will be blessed. He will be their shield of protection. But the Lord will not be trifled with. Distrust, disobedience, alienation from God’s will and way, will place the sinner in a position where the Lord cannot give him His divine favor. . . .

“Again I will refer to the diet question. We cannot now do as we have ventured to do in the past in regard to meat eating. It has always been a curse to the human family, but now it is made particularly so in the curse which God has pronounced upon the herds of the field, because of man’s transgression and sin. The disease upon animals is becoming more and more common, and our only safety now is in leaving meat entirely alone.” Ibid., 411, 412.

True to Principle

“We are determined to live out the principles of health reform, to walk in the way of truth and righteousness. We shall not, for fear of losing patronage, be half-and-half reformers. We have taken our position, and by God’s help we shall stand by it. The food provided for the patients is wholesome and palatable. The diet is composed of fruits and grains and nuts.” Ibid., 414, 415.

Ask the Pastor – Manasseh’s Rule

by

Question:

Why did the Lord allow wicked Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, to reign over God’s people for so long a period?

Answer:

Manasseh was the fourteenth ruler of the kingdom of Judah. He reigned for 55 years, which is the longest reign in the history of Judah or Israel. During part of this long reign, he was a co-ruler with his father Hezekiah. During this period of time, the Bible tells us that he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. (11 Chronicles 33:2.) While we cannot totally explain the length of time of his reign or why he did what he did, the story of Manasseh is recorded to show God’s long-suffering for those who can eventually be saved in the kingdom of heaven.

Many times, if it were up to us as human beings, we would write off numerous potential saints, because they do not shape up to our expectations. There is a tendency to judge ourselves among ourselves, and those who do things differently from us or think differently than us are consigned to the trash heap to be burned up at the end of the world. But God does not see as we see. In spite of the terrible sins that some people commit, God forbears with them and works with them, sometimes through affliction, to save them for the kingdom of heaven. This is what happened to Manasseh. He was disobedient to the Lord. He was disobedient to those who had conquered the land of Judah and placed him as king, and he was not protective of his own family. (See 11 Chronicles 33:6.) In our thinking, this man should never be allowed to enter into heaven. But the plan of salvation is so encompassing and so extensive in its scope, that God was able to save this king for heaven. (See 11 Chronicles 33:11–13.)

Even though this story reveals gruesome insights into the life of this man, it also unfolds the truth that where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. (Romans 5:20.) Because of God’s grace, we can be in heaven with all the saints regardless of what we have done—if we repent of those sins and accept Jesus as our Saviour. We may not begin to equal the terrible acts of Manasseh, but one sin, unconfessed, will close us out of the kingdom of heaven. It is grace, and grace only, which opens the gates to any who will enter. God allowed Manasseh to reign for so long a period because, at the end, he participated in reforms and eventually developed a desire for heaven.

Time is in God’s hands, not in our own. Our whole duty is to fear God and keep His commandments. (Ecclesiastes 12:13.) If we do these things, while Jesus is our Saviour, we will one day understand more clearly things that now are only seen dimly.

Pastor Mike Baugher is a retired minister of the gospel. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: Land Marks, Steps to Life, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

The Pen of Inspiration – A Call to the Watchmen

by

I have a special message to bear. The Lord is to be our Light, and we are to reflect the light He gives us. We must be sanctified, soul, body, and spirit. Every moment we must be on our guard lest we be overcome by our adversaries.

We have been made to feel very sad as we have seen some who were formerly fellow-laborers yielding to the deceptions of Satan, and turning away from the truth. But we must be of good courage. God will help us if we put our trust in Him. We must look to Him for wisdom, and not become confused.

The brethren and sisters who know the truth are not to draw largely upon the ministers for help. Let the messengers of God be left as free as possible to labor for the multitudes who are unwarned.

Needs of the Cities

To my brethren in positions of responsibility I would say, the needs of the large cities have been kept before you. You have had message after message concerning your duty. And now what will you do that the charge of the Lord may be obeyed? Upon all the Lord is calling: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we (first) believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light”; “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” [Romans 13:11, 12; Ephesians 5:16.]

As we begin active work for the multitudes in the cities, the enemy will work mightily to bring in confusion, hoping thus to break up the working forces. Some who are not thoroughly converted, are in constant danger of mistaking the suggestions of the enemy for leadings of the Spirit of God. As the Lord has given us light, let us walk in the light. We are not to be satisfied with a cheap experience. We need to examine ourselves to see where we fail, that on these points we may gain precious victories.

Put Away Self

All boasting is sinful. Let us put away all self-exaltation, and heed the invitation of Christ. He says, Come unto Me; copy My character; take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [Matthew 11:28, first part, 29.] When professed Christians manifest Christ-likeness by revealing his meekness, then they will give evidence that they are born into the kingdom of Christ.

The workers in the harvest field are the Lord’s messengers, they are to help one another. May the Lord help us that we may obtain great victories. Then, knowing the source of our strength, let us hold fast, looking unto Jesus the Author and the Finisher of our faith.

Ensnare and Deceive

Satan is at work with vehement power to divert the minds of the multitudes, so that they shall not understand and obey the truth. He will entangle them with every snare that he can devise. The picture of his deceptive work has been presented to me again and again for many years.

But his supreme effort is to ensnare and deceive church members who have had long experience, and ministers of the gospel of Christ. With all their ingenuity, Satan and the armies under him are working with their superior knowledge to deceive, if possible, the very elect. By self-exaltation we become weak, and invite the temptations of the enemy. Our safety is to practice heartily the truths of the Bible. By humbling ourselves before God we invite His saving power.

Christ’s Direction

Let every minister standing in defense of the truth realize that he is to do his work under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must remember that though they have lost their first state, the fallen angels are wise above the wisdom of earth; for they have been in the councils of heaven.

I have felt a heavy burden that our leading ministers shall be found faithful to their trust, wise, and discriminating. If a wrong spirit is cherished by those who are appointed to be light bearers, the carrying of the soul-saving messages to the multitude will be hindered, and souls will be lost. What is needed now is thorough conversion and whole-hearted consecration. He who is closely connected with Christ will be strengthened to withstand human and satanic devisings. We are living in perilous times, and it is not in the order of the Lord that our ministers shall dwell upon questions about which there is known to be a serious difference of opinion among themselves.

Let nothing be done rashly, in a manner that will arouse prejudice. Let no one act on impulse, putting forth publications of such a nature as to weaken the hand of God’s messengers, and close doors to the entrance of the truth.

Submit

Christ was the majesty of heaven, the only begotten Son of God. Yet “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.]

Christ clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might encircle humanity. Cannot his followers be willing to submit to some things that they cannot clearly understand, in order to be able to help those who need help?

Wake up the Watchmen

Our cities are to be worked. To devote our efforts to other worthy enterprises, and leave unworked our cities, in which are large numbers of all nationalities, is not wise. A beginning is now to be made, and means must be raised that the work may go forward. With mighty power the cry is again to be sounded in our large centers of population. “Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him.” [Matthew 25:6.]

Money is needed for the prosecution of the work. . . . It seems difficult to make our people feel a special burden for the work in the large cities.

I appeal to our brethren who have heard the message for many years. It is time to wake up the watchmen. I have expended my strength in giving the message the Lord has given me. The burden of the needs of our cities has rested so heavily upon me that it has sometimes seemed that I should die. May the Lord give wisdom to our brethren, that they may know how to carry forward the work in harmony with the will of the Lord.

Pamphlet 020 (1910), 2–5.

Ellen G. White (1827–1915) wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books during her lifetime. Today, including compilations from her 50,000 pages of manuscript, more than 100 titles are available in English. She is the most translated woman writer in the entire history of literature, and the most translated American author of either gender.

Children’s Story – The Lord Will Provide, Part I

by

It was the last week of the month. As I was getting ready to prepare our Sabbath meal, I stood in front of my pantry, looking at the empty shelves. I wondered what I could do. The small ration that the Communist government of Cuba allowed per family per month was gone. Only two cups of rice and a small bit of oil and part of a loaf of bread were left. From my summer garden I had a green plantain (a banana that you cook), two tomatoes, and a small head of lettuce. That was all the food I had to feed my family for Friday night, Sabbath, and Sunday. The first day of the next month was on Monday, and I could not go to the store to buy more food until then. For my family of three—my husband, Hugo, our daughter, Lena, and me—there was not enough food. We usually had visitors come to our home for Sabbath dinner, but not on this Sabbath!

I put the rice to cook in a little pot. With one of the tomatoes, I made a little salsa, and I cooked six small “meatballs” made out of the single plantain. There it was—all of our food for two days! When Hugo arrived home that afternoon, I explained our food situation to him.

“Please do not invite anyone home for dinner tomorrow,” I implored. He understood.

When I heard our doorbell ring a little later, I went to see who was at the door. It was a young man who had come from a distant city. We knew he was interested in one of the young ladies in our church, so we had told him that whenever he wanted to visit our church, he was welcome to stay in our home. But why today? He was here, however, and I knew that we would have to share what little food we had with him.

While the young man showered, I quickly prepared a glass of water with sugar and a slice of bread for each member of my family. That was our supper. When our visitor came out of the bathroom, I served him a little rice, two of the plantain balls, and one leaf of lettuce made into a salad. “We have already had our supper, because we have to go to the church for a meeting,” I explained to him.

When we arrived at the church that evening, I learned that the girl our friend had come to visit was out of town. “Oh, no!” I thought. “Now we will have to feed him lunch tomorrow!”

My husband gave me the solution the next morning. “Let’s tell him that we are fasting today, so you can then give the food to him and Lena.” I agreed.

While sitting in church that Sabbath morning, I noticed a man from a neighboring church attending with his young son. He had brought his older son to a nearby hospital and had decided to stay at our church for the church service. My thought was, “Two more for lunch today!”

Later in the morning, Hugo whispered to me, “There is a couple visiting from Havana. When I was in the seminary, I was assigned to the church where they are members. Many times they had me to their house for Sabbath dinner. We have to take them home.”

My immediate reaction was desperation, but in a flash, Bible stories passed through my mind—the manna in the wilderness, the widow’s oil and flour, the little boy’s lunch that the Lord used to feed thousands. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8), I remembered. Trusting only the Lord, my Provider, I answered my husband with a confident, “Sure, invite them home. The Lord will provide.”

To be continued . . .

The Ten Commandments, Part X – New Testament Sabbath Observance

by

The New Testament theology concerning the Sabbath does not talk about God’s rest, but it deals with His Sabbath work. That may take us off guard as Seventh-day Adventists.

Most Christians reading the New Testament theology about the Sabbath say to themselves, “God’s idea of Sabbath rest is completely left out of the New Testament; therefore, the Sabbath rest is unimportant to New Testament believers. We can go out and work and do as we please on the Sabbath.” Is that the way it is?

When we are called to stand before legislative assemblies, in halls of justice, or in royal courts, as a witness for the King of kings, the questioners will have great skill and expertise in fashioning questions to confuse us. They may ask a question such as, Can you show me in the New Testament where God rests? What are we going to say?

In this study, we will see that the Sabbath is set on a firm foundation, because the authority of God does not only establish it in the Old Testament, but the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ also establishes it in the New Testament.

Jesus and the Sabbath go together. From Nehemiah 9, we know that it was actually the Lord Jesus Christ who came down on Mount Sinai and gave the Ten Commandments. So Jesus and the commandments are like a hand and glove. They go together.

Lessons from Jesus

John 5 reveals what Jesus has to teach us relative to New Testament Sabbath theology. He teaches it in a very distinct way.

“Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.” Verses 2–5. He had been sick for a long, long time.

I have been preaching for over 30 years. The time seems to have gone by in a flash, but as I contemplatively look back on all those years, it has actually been a long time! I cannot imagine what it would have been like to have lain in an impotent condition, having had someone else look after me for those 30 years plus 8 more. But that was this man’s portion.

“When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?” Verse 6.

The impotent man, with great faith and belief in Jesus, appealed to Him to be healed. Is that what it says? No! It was not that way at all. There is a reason why we find this healing miracle take place without one mention of faith being exercised. There is a reason for everything in Scripture, and through this story, Jesus wanted to teach something about the validity of the seventh-day Sabbath.

What would your response have been if you had been lying in a condition such as this man had for 38 years? If your vocal cords could have moved at all, you would most certainly have said, “You better believe it! Yes, indeed!”

“The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.” Verse 7.

The man never made it into the pool in time. Now, I ask you: Where was this man placing his faith, in the One that was talking to him or in the pool of water? He was placing his trust and his faith in the pool of water. He thought that if he could just get down into that water, he would be healed. Jesus did not even seem to blink an eye or hesitate at his answer. He simply commanded, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” Verse 8.

“And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.” Verse 9. Ah, here it is! Here is what Jesus wants to teach us about the Sabbath!

The Plot Sickens

You have probably heard the saying, “The plot thickens.” Well, in this case the plot kind of sickens. Notice the reaction to this man’s healing.

What do you suppose would be the reaction if someone came into your church that you knew to have been suffering a physical malady for years and told the story of how he or she was made whole? There would be jumping up and down and rejoicing; there would be smiles on everyone’s faces. You would rejoice with the person. Not so in those days. Not under those conditions. There were spies all around.

“The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry [thy] bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?” Verses 10–12. Oh, how they wanted to know who this man was. What was His name? Was He registered at the local synagogue?

When I was in the Philippines, the leaders of the organized Seventh-day Adventist Church learned that my travel companions and I were there. They broadcast a daily radio program, and when they learned that we were holding meetings, they announced on their radio program that we were fakes. They warned the people that we were not registered with the General Conference, so we were fakes, and the people should not attend our meetings. I was so glad they made that announcement! Do you know what happened to the attendance at our meetings? The people came! They wanted to know why we were there.

The Pharisees wanted to know who this man was and whether or not He had any authorization for telling this man to break the Sabbath by taking up his bed. Verse 13 says, “And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in [that] place.”

“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.” Verses 14–16.

Some of these Pharisees and others found this man walking with his bed on the Sabbath. They were distressed that such a thing should happen on the Sabbath day! They were delighted to learn that Jesus had commanded him to do this, because now they had an excuse to kill Him. They had been watching Him for a long time, but they had not been sure that He was the One that had performed the miracle. Now they had verification. They had heard what had happened, and now they had all that they needed to stop Him and to silence Him permanently. They wanted to slay Him.

So they sought Jesus out with that “we caught you this time” expression on their faces and accusations on their lips, “But Jesus answered them, My Father worked hitherto, and I work.” Verse 17.

You would think that would be enough to stop them somehow, but interestingly they did not just seek to slay Him now, they “sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but had also said that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” Verse 18.

Our Example

It is interesting to note that in the ministry of Jesus, the start of all of His troubles and the pretext that was used against Him concerned His Sabbath instruction and His example. The Jews sought to persecute Jesus because they thought that He did not properly regard the Sabbath.

We need to know and to understand the setting and the application of these truths because we are going to face them again in the end of time. We need to have an understanding of New Testament theology regarding Sabbath keeping because, in the end of time, the pretext that will be used against God’s people will be their Sabbath keeping. If we follow Jesus and keep the Sabbath, the devil and his followers will come after us just like the Jews of old came after Jesus. They will seek to slay us. If we foil their plans on one account, they will seek all the more to slay.

When confronted with the Jews’ accusations of, “Why are You working? Why are You teaching people to work on the Sabbath?” Jesus could have said, “It was not really work at all. What I did was legal. After all, this man had to take his bed home, and how did you expect him to get it there? His actions were excusable, under the circumstances.”

But Jesus did not answer them in that way. He just said, “My Father worked hitherto, and I work.” Verse 17. He did not make any excuses.

Many Christians have used this verse in an attempt to justify their actions, to excuse their working on the Sabbath. Does this make Sabbath work acceptable? No, it does not, because there is another dynamic in this passage. If we try to take something out of its context to make it say what we want it to say, we are in serious trouble. The context here is establishing New Testament teaching relative to Sabbath observance. The works performed by the Father and Son on the Sabbath are not justification for us to work on the Sabbath.

Verse 18 continues this story with, “The Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath [in their estimation], but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” Jesus knew what He was saying, and the Jews knew what He was saying. That made them hate Him all the more. You see, we can never use this argument, ever, that the Father works; the Son works; therefore I am going to work also. If we use that argument, it is tantamount to saying that we are equal with God. Jesus understood that. The Jews understood that. It simply would not be true for you or me, but for Jesus it was true, and the Jews hated Him for it. They could not accept a Messiah that was Divine. They did not want that kind of Messiah.

Jesus’ Sabbath Work

If Jesus worked on the Sabbath, what kind of work did He do? What do His acts teach us about the Sabbath that we do not learn from the Old Testament? The gospels give us a few occasions of Jesus’ Sabbath work.

We will first look at an event given in Matthew 12: “At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw [it], they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.” Verses 1, 2. The word corn applied to wheat, rye, oats and barley. This explains the circumstance that they rubbed it in their hands to separate the grain from the chaff. (Luke 6:1.)

We find here the same issue all over again. In John 5, the situation involved the healing of a man who had been in that condition for 38 years. It was not lawful for him to pick up his bed and carry it home on the Sabbath, according to the Jews. Here the disciples are in the grain fields, plucking grain to eat, and the Jews say that this is not lawful for them to do either. Why did the Jews make this charge? Is it wrong to eat on the Sabbath? No, this is not the issue.

The disciples broke two laws, as far as the Pharisees were concerned, by harvesting and threshing on the Sabbath. The harvesting was the picking of the grains, and the threshing was the rubbing of the grains between the hands and the blowing away of the chaff so that the kernels could be eaten. The Jews felt that a double sin had been committed. Now they had the disciples right where they wanted them!

They came to Jesus with this accusation, and He said to them, “Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungered, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?” Verses 3–5. The word profane means “to make common.” As used in verse 5, profane means to treat the Sabbath as another working day; this is what the priests were doing; yet they were found blameless.

Jesus brings into focus the crux of this whole issue in verse 6: “But I say unto you, That in this place is [one] greater than the temple.”

Jesus is using His Sabbath work to establish His authority. We cannot use the Sabbath to prove our authority. The Sabbath proves our subservience, and we are to relate to the Sabbath in that way. The Sabbath establishes the authority of God. It proves that we are creatures and that He is the Creator. The Sabbath, when rightly understood, always proves and elevates the authority of Jesus, which He was never able to establish with His people in Old Testament times.

Recognized Authority

In the Old Testament, Jesus wanted to establish His authority over His people, and the Sabbath was the mark or distinction of recognized authority. This was only accomplished by a few small revivals that took place.

As we read this passage in Matthew 12, one thing comes through very loud and clear: Jesus is saying that He is greater than the temple. The Jews loved the temple. They adored the temple. They worshipped the temple. The temple was where the Ten Commandments were kept, and right in the middle of all that was the Sabbath commandment. But Jesus says that there is Someone greater here than the temple.

If the temple can be served without blame by work that is done on the Sabbath, then Who can be served on the Sabbath without blame? Jesus is teaching that He can be served on the Sabbath without blame. His work must go on, and His work can be done on the Sabbath without blame. This is what He is teaching through this story.

Verse 7 continues, “But if ye had known what [this] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.” In other words, “My disciples are innocent of the charges you are making. They are not guilty. You do not understand what the Scriptures are trying to teach you, or you would not be making these kinds of charges in this case.”

And then, in verse 8, Jesus says, “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.” What He is really saying is, “I have authority.”

Use of the Sabbath

Another passage similar to this is Mark 2:27, 28: “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.”

Can we use the Sabbath, according to these verses? If so, for what purpose? We can use the Sabbath to lift up the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is how Jesus used it throughout the New Testament.

There were spies watching the disciples walking through the grain field, ready to accuse them. Jesus gave the disciples permission to pick and to eat the grain, and He defended them fully in what they were doing against the spies’ accusations. What kind of Sabbath work is Jesus doing here?

What does eating accomplish? It accomplishes several things. If we look at this from a spiritual standpoint, we see that eating nourishes and sustains the body. This becomes more impressive when we realize that Jesus taught in parables. “Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6.

So two uses of the Sabbath are the establishing of the authority of Jesus and the nourishing of the body of Christ. Jesus is teaching about His work on the Sabbath.

The Bible tells us, in Colossians 1:17, that in Jesus everything consists or is sustained. It is His authority to sustain, and the Sabbath work of Jesus lifts up His authority to sustain all of His creation. The New Testament theology of the Sabbath then points to Jesus as the sustainer of all that is in this world.

Half-Whole

Immediately following the report of the disciples harvesting grain on the Sabbath is another example of Jesus’ works on the Sabbath. In this next story, we find Jesus in church. He has gone through the cornfield and is now in the synagogue. Matthew 12:9, 10 reads, “And when he [Jesus] was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: And, behold, there was a man which had [his] hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.” In Mark 3:1, 2, this same report is recorded, and that passage tells us very specifically that this occurs on the Sabbath day.

What would you expect Jesus to do when confronted with the situation of the man with a withered hand—ignore it? Or would you expect Jesus to do something to help this man? There were people in the synagogue that knew enough about Jesus to know that He would do something about it. They knew His character well enough that they were certain He would relieve this man’s affliction. Of course, they hoped that He would do something, because they then could accuse Him yet again of breaking the Sabbath. These people were waiting to accuse Jesus of doing something that was good, so they could do something bad to Him, or at least have the authorities do something bad to Him. According to the traditions the Jews had developed and heaped around the Sabbath day, it was wrong to practice the healing arts on the Sabbath day.

“And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift [it] out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched [it] forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.” Matthew 12:11–13.

Imagine that man being confronted by Jesus, having heard the stories about Him. He was perhaps thinking, “If I stretch forth my hand, Jesus will reach out and touch it, and it is going to be changed.” But he did not have to wait for Jesus to touch his hand. He stretched forth his hand, and as it stretched, it kept straightening, because it was healed in the process. He acted out his faith. The hand that had been withered became as strong and healthy as his other hand that was not withered.

Jesus gave physical wholeness to this man. He took this man who had the use of only one-half of his capacity, and He made him whole. He made him complete.

What a wonderful work it was that Jesus did here.

The work of Jesus on the Sabbath day is a wonderful thing. The Sabbath is a wonderful time to experience what God has in store for us. Jesus loves to take half-whole people, on the Sabbath, and make them whole. Do you feel that you are only half a person? Is there part of you that is nice and another part that is not so nice? This story tells us that Jesus uses the Sabbath day to bring wholeness. It marks Him as the Creator, because the Sabbath is a memorial of creation, and it marks Him as a memorial of re-creation.

To be continued. . .

A retired minister of the gospel, Pastor Mike Baugher may be contacted by e-mail at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

A Finished Work—The March

by

In previous articles of this series, we have studied about “The Challenge” that a finished work is for us today [December 2005], and “The Method” of finishing the work [January 2006]. Each of God’s people around the world must be involved in the finishing of the work, doing their part through personal testimony and personal witness to those around them. In this article, we will consider “The March” in the Christian’s life.

Jesus said, in John 4:34, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” If Jesus’ food was to do the will of the One that sent Him and to finish the work, is that our food and drink today—to do the will of Him that has sent us and to finish His work? God is calling us today to partake of this food and drink and to make it our purpose for living.

The first chapters of the Book of Joshua record the experience of the children of Israel as they entered the Promised Land. Uncertainty, fear, and trepidation gripped many of them, because they had been told about the giants in the land. God had given Joshua direction to cross over the Jordan to Canaan, and it was only through explicit obedience to His direction that Canaan was conquered.

Triumphant March

In Joshua 6, very specific directions from the Lord for embattling with and conquering Jericho are recorded. This city was a formidable obstacle in the conquest of the rest of Canaan. In verses 6, 7, and 10, we read: “And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord. And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord.” “And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall [any] word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.”

What interesting battle plans! Not since this time have battle plans ever been laid like this. The directions were for a small, armed group to go first, followed by seven priests blowing on seven trumpets. The Ark of the Covenant was to follow the priests, with the entire armed host marching after it. As they marched, they could not be laughing and talking or conversing in any way. The instruction was, “You shall not shout, nor shall you make any noise.” They were to march in silence together for six days.

Then, we know the rest of the story: “And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.” Verse 16. On the seventh day, as they finished that seventh circuit, they were to shout! Oh to have heard that shout!

Obey the Orders

For six days, the entire armed host was silent as it marched around the city, but on the seventh day, the seventh time marching around the city, when the priests blew the trumpets with a loud blast, every person gave a loud shout. The walls of the city came down, and Jericho was conquered without a fight.

Think this through for a moment. Suppose they had decided that it was not that important whether or not they were quiet during the first six days of marching around the city, and they engaged in talking and conversing with their friends. Do you think the victory would have been won? No. What if some were growing weary of the silent marching, so they decided to shout on the fifth lap or the sixth lap around the city? Would the victory have been won? No. Without united effort, without marching in unity, without explicitly following the instruction of God, Jericho would never have been conquered.

In the finishing of our work today, unless we learn as they did to march in unity, the work will not be finished by us. God will use others who will march in unity. A disunited army could not conquer Canaan, and a disunited army is not going to finish the work today.

Imagine how the situation would have unfolded if they had taken the orders from Joshua, which came directly from the Captain of the host of the Lord, and said, “All right, we will march around the city.” And then Ephraim had begun marching around the city clockwise as Judah had begun marching around it counterclockwise. Or perhaps Dan had started at the West Gate while Naphtali had started at the East Gate. Another tribe had started marching at 7:00 a.m., but another group had not gotten started until noon. Perhaps they had greeted one another or had waved to the curious onlookers as they marched. Would the plan have worked? Definitely not.

An army that fights like that is not ready to face any foe. It is very easy for us, as we stand up against sin and against apostasy, to begin standing up against our brethren too, and not march in unity.

Smiting Fellowservants

In Matthew 24, Jesus concludes His message on the signs of the times—what is to precede His coming and what His coming will be like. He tells a parable of two servants—a faithful servant and a wicked servant. Jesus brings, at the end of this discourse of last day events, a very interesting conclusion. Note verses 48 and 49: “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken.” Is there anything absolutely terrible, any grave sin, we might say, with which this evil servant is condemned? He does not even verbalize it; He just says in his heart, “My Lord is delaying His coming.” And that leads him to smite his fellowservants.

Can we be guilty of this? Is it possible to smite our fellowservants with more than just a fist? A tongue can smite our fellowservants too, can it not? The Lord says, of those who are smiting their fellowservants and of those who are not marching in unity, that their portion is going to be with the hypocrites when He comes. Their portion is going to be weeping and gnashing of teeth, because they did not join the army that was marching shoulder-to-shoulder in conquest of Canaan.

We need to forget our silly differences and pray that the Lord will help us to not be smiting our fellowservants, because anyone that is smiting his fellowservants will not be in the army that is going to finish the work. We need to realize who the enemy really is. The enemy is not one another. The enemy is not those who disagree with us or have different ideas; the enemy is the prince of the unconquered and unwarned world.

One Mind

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5, 6.

What an amazing passage! It directs that we are to have one mind and one mouth. What do we do with our minds? We think. Our ideas, our thought processes, come from our minds, and here Paul says that we are to have one mind. The church is to have one mind, one purpose, one goal, one mouth. What do we do with our mouths? We speak. We are not to be saying multiple different things. We are to have one mouth, and we are to be speaking one thing.

How can that happen? Philip-pians 2:2 tells us,” Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.” Paul says that we are to “fulfill my joy, be likeminded.” And then he tells us how that is possible. We are to have the same love. We are not going to have the same mind, the same mouth, or march shoulder-to-shoulder until we have the same love. Do we have the same love today?

Brotherly Love

On the first night of one of my trips to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, my travel companions and I discovered that the people whom we were visiting had been preparing a mud hut for us. It was actually quite large. They had gone out of their way to make what we would call a mud mansion. But they were not completely finished with it by the time we arrived. There were not yet any doors on the hut, but we were very tired, only wanting a place to sleep, as we had been traveling for many, many hours by multiple conveyances.

During the night, we were awakened by sounds outside of the hut. Peering outside, we noticed that the kerosene lantern was burning, and there beside it was a brother who had not yet been baptized. He wanted to make sure that we were safe, so he stayed awake the entire night to be a guard for us. When I learned that he had stayed sitting upright in a chair all night just to make sure no one harmed us, I felt so badly for him, but he had love.

This man was baptized while we were there. He had been a member of the Baptist Church. He had discovered a little bit about the Advent message from a sign along the road, and he had received Bible studies. He took the studies back to his church and other Baptist churches, and the members accepted what they learned from the lessons and wanted to know more about the Seventh-day Adventist message. They accepted the Sabbath. He was there at our location as their representative. We were never able to visit the other members, as they were 160 kilometers—about 100 miles—away. We did not have time to walk there, but 15 Baptist churches had sent him to learn more of the Adventist message. One reason God could work in their hearts, I believe, was because they had a love in their hearts for the brethren and for the message.

God is going to work in our churches; the more love and the more unity we have, the more He is going to work with us. Ellen White wrote: “The success of our work depends upon our love to God and our love to our fellowmen. When there is harmonious action among the individual members of the church, when there is love and confidence manifested by brother to brother, there will be proportionate force and power in our work for the salvation of men.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 188.

March Shoulder-to-Shoulder

We need to march in unity. We need to march shoulder-to-shoulder if we are going to conquer Canaan. So often, though, we think that the method to which God has called us is the only method, and everybody must use that method. We think that anybody who is not doing what we are doing is just not quite as sanctified as we are.

My friends, we need to all march in unity. There is a work to be done in literature work, but literature work alone is not going to finish the work. There is a work to be done in medical missionary lines, but that alone is not going to finish the work, even though it was given for evangelism. It was not just given to educate our churches; it was not just given so we could treat those among our number that become sick.

Do you remember that Loma Linda University used to be called the College of Medical Evangelists? Medical missionary work was given as a part of finishing the work and of evangelism. Ellen White often used an interesting phrase: “gospel medical missionary evangelist.” (See, for instance, Medical Ministry, 56.) The purpose of medical missionary work is to do evangelism. The purpose of literature work is to do evangelism, public evangelism, personal work among the members of the church.

We have to march shoulder-to-shoulder and work together to finish the work, because there are those who will respond to literature work but who will not respond to other work. There are those who will respond to medical missionary work who will not respond to something else. There are those who will respond to public evangelism and personal testimony who will not respond to other methods. God has called us, just as He called the army that was to conquer Canaan. He has called us to march shoulder-to-shoulder.

Achieving Unity

How can we march shoulder-to-shoulder? How can we work together in unity? My favorite sermon titles are the ones that begin with “How”! I like practical things, and we are given some practical counsel regarding unity.

“The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. In mind, in purpose, in character, they are one, but not in person. By partaking of the Spirit of God, conforming to the law of God, man becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ brings His disciples into a living union with Himself and with the Father. Through the working of the Holy Spirit upon the human mind, man is made complete in Christ Jesus. Unity with Christ establishes a bond of unity with one another.” Sons and Daughters of God, 286.

We can be united with one another by striving to be united with Christ.

“The cause of division and discord in families and in the church is separation from Christ. To come near to Christ is to come near to one another. The secret of true unity in the church and in the family is not diplomacy, not management, not a superhuman effort to overcome difficulties—though there will be much of this to do—but union with Christ.” The Adventist Home, 179.

When there is a lack of unity, when there is division, when there is discord, we have to examine our hearts. We individually must ask, “Lord, am I in union with You? Am I the cause of this disharmony? Am I marching in a direction different from the rest of my brethren, or am I marching shoulder-to-shoulder? Am I in union with Christ?”

Another interesting area that we are told will affect unity is also given: “Those who would be overcomers must be drawn out of themselves.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 207. Do you want to be an overcomer? If we are not overcomers, we are not going to finish the work. If we are not overcomers, we are not going to enter into the Holy City.

Be Overcomers

How can we overcome? How can we be drawn out of ourselves? She says, “The only thing which will accomplish this great work, is to become intensely interested in the salvation of others.” And then she says, “This does not mean that you are to convert men to your way of doing, or to compel them to view things in the same light as you do; but you are to seek to present the truth as it is in Jesus.” Ibid.

Continuing, Ellen White says, “Missionary effort will become more general, and the example of one zealous worker, working in the right direction, will influence others, and they also will go forth to preach the gospel. The missionary spirit will pass from house to house, and the brethren will find something to talk about of more interest than their grievances.” Ibid., 208.

Have you ever been in a church where there are discussions about grievances? If so, it means that there is not enough missionary work being done, because she says that if we had greater missionary work being done, we would not find time to talk about our grievances. We would have more important things to discuss.

She goes on: “They will be interested in displaying the jewels of truth which the Bible contains, and churches will be established, meetinghouses erected, and many will come to the help of the Lord.” And notice what the result will be: “The brethren will be united in bonds of love, and will realize their unity with experienced Christians in all parts of the world, as they are one in their plans, one in the object of their interest.” Ibid. [Emphasis supplied.]

What brings about this unity? It is brought about by union with Christ and an intense interest in the salvation of others and by missionary effort that leads us to forget about talking about grievances and problems in the church. These different things become nothing when we have the goal of a finished work before our eyes.

I am always amazed how this works! Every time a church is involved in active evangelism, there is greater unity than at previous times. I have noticed this played out every year with the youth class at camp meeting. Each time we have gone out door-to-door in the community, the spirit is always different when the young people get back into the van than when they got out. When they return, they are talking about the person they met at one door, and the person that signed up for Bible studies at another, and the literature they gave away. There is a common spirit and more of a unity, just in that van.

That is what we need in our churches. We have to look those giants in the face, and we have to march forward shoulder-to-shoulder, being as aggressive in our work as possible. We have to look at the giants in our hearts and ask the Lord to bring those giants in our hearts down, that we might have a closer unity with Christ and that we, as a church, can march in unity—because God’s work will be finished by His church marching in unity, shoulder-to-shoulder around Jericho.

Cody Francis is currently engaged in public evangelism for Mission Projects International. He also pastors the Remnant Church of Seventh-day Adventist Believers in Renton, Washington. He may be contacted by e-mail at: cody@missionspro.org.