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Pen of Inspiration – The Faith Once Delivered to the Saints

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Erroneous Doctrines Dangerous

Says the apostle Jude, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). The apostles and their co-laborers in the early Christian church were constantly obliged to meet heresies which were brought in by false teachers in the very bosom of the church. These teachers are represented not as coming openly, but creeping in unawares, with the gliding motion of a serpent. They followed their own pernicious ways, but were not satisfied without drawing away others with them. They had no connected chain of truth, but taught a disjointed medley of ideas, supported by a passage of Scripture here and another there. These disconnected scriptures were woven together into a tissue of falsehood that would strike the fancy, and would deceive those who had not, by searching the Scriptures for themselves, become established in the truth for that time.

Satan worked through these false teachers. Under a profession of regard for the truth, they concealed base purposes, for their hearts were corrupt. Had they come disclaiming faith in Christ, they would have been rejected at once; but professing to believe in Him, they gained the confidence of some, and without shame or conscience perverted the truth to suit their own unsanctified hearts. And when once these deluded souls had departed from the old landmarks of faith, they had let go their anchor, and were tossed about like the waves of the sea. These lying prophets are described in the word of God; their deeds are recorded in the register of Heaven. Their hearts and their deceptive, wicked works were not understood by men; but the Lord saw them; He read their hearts as an open book, and knew that their very thoughts and purposes were corrupt.

False teachers are just as active in our day as they were in the days of the apostles. Satan has many agents, and they are ready to present any and every kind of theory to deceive souls—heresies prepared to suit the varied tastes and capacities of those whom he would ruin. There are cheap fallacies for those who are easily led into error, and who desire something new, odd, or fanciful, which they cannot explain intelligently, or even understand themselves. A mysterious, disconnected set of ideas is more in accordance with their minds than the plain truth, which has a “Thus saith the Lord” for its foundation. He has other heresies—intellectual poisons—which he has concocted for another class of minds in this age of skepticism and proud reasoning. These sophistries have a bewitching power over minds, and thousands are deceived by them.

One class have a theory that there is no personal devil, and that Christ had no existence before He came to this earth; and they try to maintain these absurd theories by wresting scriptures from their true meaning. The utter folly of human wisdom in matters of religious faith is thus made manifest. The heart that is not sanctified, and imbued with the spirit of Christ, is perverse in its interpretation of the inspired word, turning the truth of God into senseless falsehood; and some who have not searched the Scriptures with humble hearts allow these wild speculations to unsettle their faith; they accept them in place of the plainly revealed will of God.

Satan assails another class with arguments that present a greater show of plausibility. Science and nature are exalted. Men consider themselves wiser than the word of God, wiser even than God; and instead of planting their feet on the immovable foundation, and bringing everything to the test of God’s word, they test that word by their own ideas of science and nature, and if it seems not to agree with their scientific ideas, it is discarded as unworthy of credence. Thus the great standard by which to test doctrines and character is set aside for human standards. This is as Satan designed it should be. Some say, “It is no matter what we believe, if we are only honest.” But the law and the testimony remain valid, and we are to seek unto them.

The law of God is the great moral standard by which character is to be judged. It is the expression of His will, and must be obeyed from the heart. Its holy principles must underlie our course of action in all our business relations. Those who belittle their profession of faith by conformity to the world, show that they despise the riches of the grace of Christ. They cry, “The grace of Christ! we are not saved by works, but by Christ”; but they continue in sin—continue to transgress the law of God. They act as though they considered it their privilege to live in sin that grace may abound. But every indulgence in sin weakens the soul; it welcomes Satan to come in and control the mind, making the individual his effectual servant.

In these days of delusion, everyone who is established in the truth will have to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Every variety of error will be brought out in the mysterious working of Satan, which would, if it were possible, deceive the very elect, and turn them from the truth. There will be human wisdom to meet—the wisdom of learned men, who, as were the Pharisees, teachers of the law of God, but do not obey the law themselves. There will be human ignorance and folly to meet in disconnected theories arrayed in new and fantastic dress—theories that it will be all the more difficult to meet because there is no reason in them.

There will be false dreams and false visions, which have some truth, but lead away from the original faith. The Lord has given men a rule by which to detect them: “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). If they belittle the law of God, if they pay no heed to His will as revealed in the testimonies of His Spirit, they are deceivers. They are controlled by impulse and impressions, which they believe to be from the Holy Spirit, and consider more reliable than the inspired word. They claim that every thought and feeling is an impression of the Spirit; and when they are reasoned with out of the Scriptures, they declare that they have something more reliable. But while they think that they are led by the Spirit of God, they are in reality following an imagination wrought upon by Satan.

Their character was described and their doom denounced by the ancient prophets. It was ordained of old that those who unsettle faith in the word of God should bear the condemnation of God.

Jude says, “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not” (Jude 5). This will be the sure fate of all the characters described by Jude, who depart from God, and lead others away from the truth. Although the Lord gave Israel the greatest evidences of His favor, and upon condition of obedience, the rich promise that they should be to Him a peculiar people, a royal nation, yet because of their unbelief and disobedience He could not fulfill the promise. Because of their transgressions, He removed His restraining power over their enemies, the ungodly nations around them, and did not protect them as He had done.

Some profess Christianity year after year, and in some things appear to serve God, and yet they are far from Him. They give loose rein to appetite and passion, and follow their own unsanctified inclinations, loving pleasure and the applause of men more than God or His truth. But God reads the secrets of the heart. Base thoughts lead to base actions. Self-righteousness, pride, and licentiousness are far-reaching, deep, and almost universal. These are the sins for which God destroyed the inhabitants of the old world by a flood of water, and they are corrupting the churches in these last days. They are the hidden rocks upon which are wrecked thousands and tens of thousands who profess godliness. Only those who are closely connected with God will escape the devices of Satan and the prevailing moral corruptions of this age.

The character is revealed by the works, not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts. Those who would put God out of their knowledge will show a want of principle. Every man will show which master he is serving with the strength of his intellect, his skill, and his ability. The servant of Christ will watch unto prayer; he will be devoted, humble, meek and lowly in heart, seeking to know and do the will of God. Whereas he was once the servant of sin, he has, through the grace of God, become transformed in mind and character. He will love the day of Christ’s appearing; for he will be able to say with Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

The Signs of the Times, March 27, 1884.

The Awakening

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The message of “the everlasting gospel,” in this generation, is a message of Sabbath reform; for it is in the Sabbath of the fourth commandment that Christendom has in doctrine as well as in practice set aside the commandments of God and followed papal tradition. The call of God, in this threefold message of Revelation 14, opens with the words:

“Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water” (verse 7).

This call to reformation in the worship of God is based on the terms of the fourth commandment. It is an appeal to worship the God who “made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:11).

It is the Creator, the God who made the Sabbath the sign of His creative power, that is to be worshiped. “Hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God” (Ezekiel 20:20).

The Sabbath is a sign, the divinely appointed mark of the living and the true God.

But the Roman Papacy has set up a mark of its own, a badge of the assumed power of the Catholic Church, to speak for God independently of His Holy word. The Papacy points to the existence of the Sunday institution in Christendom as a mark of its power and authority; and so it is.

It was on this very point that the famous Council of Trent based Rome’s answer to the Protestant Reformation, that tradition and not Scripture alone is the guide, with the voice of the Catholic Church the living voice, instead of the Bible, the living word of God. The council had long debated the ground of its answer. The history records:

“Finally, at the last opening on the eighteenth of January, 1562, their last scruple was set aside; the archbishop of Rheggio made a speech in which he openly declared that tradition stood above Scripture. The authority of the church could therefore not be bound to the authority of the Scriptures, because the church had changed Sabbath into Sunday, not by the command of Christ, but by its own authority. With this, to be sure, the last illusion was destroyed, and it was declared that tradition does not signify antiquity, but continual inspiration.” Dr. J. H. Holtzman, Canon and Tradition, page 263.

In this speech of the archbishop of Rheggio, Caspar del Fossa by name, arguing, from the generally accepted change of the Sabbath, that the world had acknowledged that the church has power to change the written word and law of God, it was stated:

“Such is the condition of the heretics to-day that they appeal to no other matter more than that they, under the pretense of the word of God, overthrow the church; as though the church, which is the body of Christ, could be opposed to this Word, or the head to the body. Yea, the authority of the church is most gloriously set forth by the Holy Scriptures; for while on the one hand she recommends the same, declares them divine, offers them to us to be read, explains them faithfully in doubtful passages, and condemns whatever is contrary to them, on the other hand, the legal precepts of the Lord contained in them have ceased by virtue of the same authority. The Sabbath, the most glorious day in the law, has been changed into the Lord’s day … . This and other similar matters have not ceased by virtue of Christ’s teaching (for He says He came to fulfill the law, not to destroy it (Matthew 5:17)), but they have been changed by virtue of the authority of the church. Should this authority cease (which would surely please the heretics), who would then witness for truth, and confound the obstinacy of the heretics?” Mansi, Paris, 1902, pages 526–533, quoted in The History of the Sabbath, page 588, Andrews and Conradi (Review and Herald, Washington, D. C.).

Ever since, the Papacy has been boldly challenging Protestants with inconsistency in holding to the observance of Sunday while rejecting the authority of the Roman Church. One finds it in almost any Roman Catholic catechism. Thus:

Question: Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept?

Answer: Had she not such power, … she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority. Kennan’s Doctrinal Catechism, page 174.

Again, a standard Roman Catholic work written for Protestants, says:

“The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the church.” Plain Talk About Protestantism of To-day.

There can be no question as to the fact that the Bible recognizes no change of the day of the Sabbath. As Cardinal Gibbons says:

“You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify.” Faith of Our Fathers, page 141.

Protestant authorities—men who themselves observe the traditional Sunday—have freely declared that the New Testament nowhere teaches the substitution of the first day of the week for the seventh as the day of rest. Smith and Cheetham’s “Dictionary of Christian Antiquities,” a standard work edited by Church of England clergymen, says:

“The notion of a formal substitution by apostolic authority of the Lord’s day [meaning Sunday] for the Jewish Sabbath, and the transference to it, perhaps in a spiritualized form, of the Sabbatical obligation established by the promulgation of the fourth commandment, has no basis whatever, either in Holy Scripture or in Christian antiquity.” Article Sabbath.

And all the time the fourth command of God’s holy law declares the seventh day to be the Lord’s day, not a “Jewish” sabbath, but “the Sabbath of the Lord thy God” (Exodus 20:10). Whoever takes Jehovah as God and Lord is asked by Him to take His Sabbath also.

Here are statements by another Church of England writer, Dr. Eyton, canon of Westminster:

“There is no word nor hint, in the New Testament, about abstaining from work on Sunday.

“No commandment of God bids us do this or not do that on Sunday; we are absolutely free as far as His law goes.

“The observance of Ash Wednesday or Lent stands on exactly the same footing as the observance of Sunday.

“Into the rest of Sunday no divine law enters.” The Ten Commandments, Trübner & Co. (London).

The late Dr. R. W. Dale, Congregationalist, famous in all the churches as one of England’s foremost writers and scholars, said:

“It is quite clear that however rigidly or devoutly we may spend Sunday, we are not keeping the Sabbath.

“The Sabbath was founded on a specific divine command. We can plead no such command for the observance of Sunday.

“There is not a single sentence in the New Testament to suggest that we incur any penalty by violating the supposed sanctity of Sunday.” The Ten Commandments, Hodder and Stoughton (London).

Christ kept the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment, as He kept all His “Father’s commandments” (John 15:10, last part). He declared Himself “Lord also of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28). It is the only Lord’s day of Holy Scripture, the only day blessed and made holy by the Lord. In keeping it, Jesus left His followers for all time an example that they should walk “even as He walked” (1 John 2:6). He is “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). He never changed the perfect law of God, which is “holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12); He magnified the law in His earthly life and death, and ever lives to bring repentant sinners into the obedience of faith. The new-covenant promise declares the joyful word, “I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people” (Hebrews 8:10). That is the work of Jesus Christ and His gospel.

But the Papacy, that antichristian power brought to view in Daniel’s prophecy that was to “think to change” (Daniel 7:25) the law of God, has set aside the sign, or mark, of the living God, the Sabbath, and set up its own mark, the Sunday institution. This mystic Babylon of the prophecies has “made all nations drink of the wine” (Revelation 14:8) of its errors and perversions. Even some professedly Protestant peoples are found seeking by civil law to compel the observance of the Sunday, the mark of papal authority. Therefore the Lord sends the last message to all nations, crying the warning:

“If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God” (Revelation 14:9, 10).

The whole question of loyalty and allegiance is bound up in this matter. The Lord sets forth His sign, the holy Sabbath, and the Papacy sets forth its sign, the Sunday institution. Whom shall we follow—the living God, or the Roman Papacy that “sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4, last part)?

The age-long controversy between truth and error is brought to the final crisis in this last generation. The issue is clear. There it stands written in the “sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19) for all mankind to read. The Reformation is not ended yet. Every movement of reform in past days has been leading up to this last stand for God and His Holy Word, on the platform of the primitive faith of the New Testament—“the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).

The closing work of the judgment-hour in heaven and this advent movement and message on earth are God’s answer to the great apostasy.

The prophet of old, as he saw the workings of apostacy treading down the sanctuary and the truth of God, heard the cry, “How long shall be the vision” (Daniel 8:13)? How long, O Lord, how long? was the cry of hearts through the dark night of papal error. The Lord’s answer was, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” (verse 14). Interpreted, that answer was, Unto the year 1844, then will the judgment work begin in heaven that is to cut short the reign of sin and apostasy; and then will the Lord lift up on earth the standard of eternal truth against the Papacy in the final gospel message to the world.

Truths obscured by traditions and trampled under the foot of apostasy are to be proclaimed anew. The message of Revelation 14:6–14 is spreading to the world. Every year thousands of new voices join in telling it. Printing-presses are printing this message in many lands. Schools and colleges in every continent are educating thousands of Seventh-day Adventist youth, keeping before them, as the highest aim in life, the hastening of the advent message of Revelation 14 to the world. Sanitariums in many parts are training medical missionary evangelists, ministering at the same time to the sick, and teaching the principles of Bible health and temperance. The movement necessarily emphasizes every principle and every truth of “the everlasting gospel,” while pressing upon all the solemn issue that loyalty to Christ now means to turn from papal tradition to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, from the Sunday of the Roman Papacy to “the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.”

In times past Christian believers have been unwittingly following the Papacy in this matter; the Lord holds no man accountable for light that he did not have. Reformation is a progressive work. Of the past we may say with Paul: “The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:30, 31, first part). And now, with this “hour of God’s judgment” already come, the entire covering of papal tradition is to be torn aside, and true believers will be found keeping the faith and keeping the commandments of God as Jesus comes in glory.

All this was shown to John on the Isle of Patmos—the coming of the judgement-hour, the rise of the advent movement, and the heralding of the last message to the nations.

What John saw in vision nearly two thousand years ago, we see fulfilling before our eyes today. It is not enough to see it. We must have a part in it, and be a part of it.

The Hand of God in History, William A. Spicer, ©1913, 208–216.

 

William A. Spicer (1865-1952) was born into a Seventh-day Baptist home, became a Seventh-day Adventist, and was employed as a call boy at Battle Creek Sanitarium and later as secretary to Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, the medical superintendent there. He later served as secretary to Elder S. N. Haskell, then helped establish the Solusi Mission on 12,000 acres of land obtained from Cecil Rhodes. In 1903 he became secretary of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and was President of the General Conference from 1922–1930. He was General Field Secretary of the General Conference from 1930–1940. He authored several books and many magazine articles also, as he was an editor of several Adventist periodicals, including The Review and Herald.

Deceitful Lusts

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“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”

1 Peter 2:11

During a recent worship service, the following quote was read from Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 114:

“We have the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, which is the spirit of prophecy. Priceless gems are to be found in the word of God. Those who search this word should keep the mind clear. Never should they indulge perverted appetite in eating or drinking.

“If they do this, the brain will be confused; they will be unable to bear the strain of digging deep to find out the meaning of those things which relate to the closing scenes of this earth’s history.”

I had difficulty falling asleep that night, an unusual occurrence for me, as I usually have no trouble sleeping. As I tossed and turned, I remembered how David wrote in the Psalms about meditating on God’s word during the night: “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches” (Psalm 63:6). The thought of being unable to find the meaning of the priceless gems relating to the closing scenes of this earth’s history kept running through my mind. So I decided to get up and see what I could find in inspired writings about the effects of a perverted appetite, which the above quote indicates as the cause for the inability to comprehend God’s word as we should.

Because we are undeniably in the closing scenes of this earth’s history, it is imperative that we dig deep to find the meaning of the priceless gems contained in the word of God. However, the passage quoted above from the testimony of Jesus Christ makes it clear that such digging would be useless if the miner is indulging in a perverted appetite in eating or drinking.

Thus began my search for a deeper understanding of what constitutes a perverted appetite. I had to admit that I occasionally ate things that caused me to feel some degree of guilt, especially when I visited my unbelieving relatives. I never consumed the flesh of dead animals, but I did not always refuse a slice of pie, a piece (or two) of candy, or a scoop of ice cream—all the while knowing that consuming these things is contrary to the counsel we are given in the testimony of Jesus.

I know that there are some—and I was one—who might think that indulging in an occasional “treat” is not all that harmful. After all, the Spirit of Prophecy does indeed say, “While cooking upon the Sabbath should be avoided, it is not necessary to eat cold food. In cold weather let the food prepared the day before be heated. And let the meals, though simple, be palatable and attractive. Provide something that will be regarded as a treat, something the family do not have every day.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 357. [Emphasis supplied.] However, having “something that will be regarded as a treat” on Sabbath is vastly different from the daily consumption of “treats.”

“The apostle Peter understood the relation between the mind and the body, and raised his voice in warning to his brethren: ‘Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul’ (1 Peter 2:11). Many regard this text as a warning against licentiousness only; but it has a broader meaning. It forbids every injurious gratification of appetite or passion.” Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 53, 54.

For a much fuller understanding of this subject, read the entire first chapter of the above cited book (Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene), entitled “Christian Temperance General Principles.” It will provide amazing insight into how intemperance obviates our ability to understand higher truth.

The point is made in the opening chapter quite clearly and quite forcibly that “The violation of physical law, with its consequent suffering and premature death, has so long prevailed that these results are regarded as the appointed lot of humanity; but God did not create the race in such a feeble condition. This state of things is not the work of Providence, but of man. It has been brought about by wrong habits—by violating the laws that God has made to govern man’s existence.” Ibid., 8.

“It is impossible for a man to present his body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, while continuing to indulge habits that are depriving him of physical, mental, and moral vigor.” Ibid., 11.

So, what constitutes a perverted appetite and what are its effects? The following quotes should provide adequate guidance.

“Many separate themselves from God by their indulgence of appetite. He who notices the fall of a sparrow, who numbers the very hairs of the head, marks the sin of those who indulge perverted appetite at the expense of weakening the physical powers, benumbing the intellect, and deadening the moral perceptions.” Christian Education, 184.

“It must be kept before the people that the right balance of the mental and moral powers depends in a great degree on the right condition of the physical system. All narcotics and unnatural stimulants that enfeeble and degrade the physical nature tend to lower the tone of the intellect and morals. Intemperance lies at the foundation of the moral depravity of the world. By the indulgence of perverted appetite, man loses his power to resist temptation.” The Ministry of Healing, 335.

“Some are not impressed with the necessity of eating and drinking to the glory of God. The indulgence of appetite affects them in all the relations of life. It is seen in the family, in the church, in the prayer-meeting, and in the conduct of their children. It is the curse of their lives. It prevents them from understanding the truths for these last days.” Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 151.

“Jesus, seated on the Mount of Olives, gave instruction to His disciples concerning the signs which should precede His coming: ‘As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be’ (Matthew 24:37–39). The same sins that brought judgments upon the world in the days of Noah exist in our day. Men and women now carry their eating and drinking so far that it ends in gluttony and drunkenness. This prevailing sin, the indulgence of perverted appetite, inflamed the passions of men in the days of Noah and led to wide-spread corruption. Violence and sin reached to heaven. This moral pollution was finally swept from the earth by means of the flood. The same sins of gluttony and drunkenness benumbed the moral sensibilities of the inhabitants of Sodom, so that crime seemed to be the delight of the men and women of that wicked city. Christ thus warns the world: ‘Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed’ (Luke 17:28–30.)

“Christ has here left us a most important lesson. He would lay before us the danger of making our eating and drinking paramount. He presents the result of unrestrained indulgence of appetite. The moral powers are enfeebled, so that sin does not appear sinful. Crime is lightly regarded, and passion controls the mind, until good principles and impulses are rooted out, and God is blasphemed. All this is the result of eating and drinking to excess. This is the very condition of things which Christ declares will exist at His second coming.

“The Saviour presents to us something higher to toil for than merely what we shall eat and drink, and wherewithal we shall be clothed. Eating, drinking, and dressing are carried to such excess that they become crimes. They are among the marked sins of the last days, and constitute a sign of Christ’s soon coming. Time, money, and strength, which belong to the Lord, but which He has intrusted to us, are wasted in superfluities of dress and luxuries for the perverted appetite, which lessen vitality, and bring suffering and decay. It is impossible to present our bodies a living sacrifice to God when we continually fill them with corruption and disease by our own sinful indulgence.” Ibid., 11, 12.

“There are many who are educated in the sciences, and are familiar with the theory of the truth, who do not understand the laws that govern their own being. God has given us faculties and talents; and it is our duty, as His sons and daughters, to make the best use of them. If we weaken these powers of mind or body by wrong habits or indulgence of perverted appetite, it will be impossible for us to honor God as we should.” Ibid., 15.

“Temptations to the indulgence of appetite possess a power which can be overcome only by the help that God can impart. But with every temptation we have the promise of God that there shall be a way of escape. Why, then, are so many overcome? It is because they do not put their trust in God. They do not avail themselves of the means provided for their safety. The excuses offered for the gratification of perverted appetite, are therefore of no weight with God.” Ibid., 22.

“When God led the children of Israel out of Egypt, it was His purpose to establish them in the land of Canaan a pure, happy, healthy people. Let us look at the means by which He would accomplish this. He subjected them to a course of discipline, which, had it been cheerfully followed, would have resulted in good, both to themselves and to their posterity. He removed flesh-food from them in a great measure. He had granted them flesh in answer to their clamors, just before reaching Sinai, but it was furnished for only one day. God might have provided flesh as easily as manna, but a restriction was placed upon the people for their good. It was His purpose to supply them with food better suited to their wants than the feverish diet to which many of them had been accustomed in Egypt. The perverted appetite was to be brought into a more healthy state, that they might enjoy the food originally provided for man—the fruits of the earth, which God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden.” Ibid., 118.

“In order to reach excellency of character, we must realize the value which Christ has placed upon the human race. In the beginning, man was invested with dignity; but he fell through indulgence of appetite. Notwithstanding the great gulf thus opened between God and man, Christ loved the hopeless sinner, and came to our world to bridge the gulf, and unite divine power to human weakness, that in His strength and grace man might wrestle for himself against Satan’s temptations, overcome for himself, and stand in his God-given manhood, a victor over perverted appetite and degrading passions.” Ibid., 146.

“Every one of us may know that there is a power working with our efforts to overcome. Why will not men lay hold upon the help that has been provided, that they may become elevated and ennobled? Why do they degrade themselves by the indulgence of perverted appetite? Why do they not rise in the strength of Jesus and be victorious in His name? The very feeblest prayer that we can offer Jesus will hear. He pities the weakness of every soul. Help for everyone has been laid upon Him who is mighty to save. I point you to Jesus Christ, the sinner’s Saviour, who alone can give you power to overcome on every point.” Ibid., 148.

“Providence has been leading the people of God out from the extravagant habits of the world, away from the indulgence of appetite and passion, to take their stand upon the platform of self-denial, and temperance in all things. The people whom God is leading will be peculiar. They will not be like the world. If they follow the leadings of God, they will accomplish His purposes and will yield their will to His will. Christ will dwell in the heart. The temple of God will be holy. Your body, says the apostle, is the temple of the Holy Ghost. God does not require His children to deny themselves to the injury of physical strength. He requires them to obey natural law in order to preserve physical health. Nature’s path is the road He marks out, and it is broad enough for any Christian. With a lavish hand God has provided us with rich and varied bounties for our sustenance and enjoyment. But in order for us to enjoy the natural appetite, which will preserve health and prolong life, He restricts the appetite. He says, Beware! restrain, deny, unnatural appetite. If we create a perverted appetite, we violate the laws of our being, and assume the responsibility of abusing our bodies and of bringing disease upon ourselves.” Ibid., 150, 151.

“Satan gathered the fallen angels together to devise some way of doing the most possible evil to the human family. One proposition after another was made, till finally Satan himself thought of a plan. He would take the fruit of the vine, also wheat and other things given by God as food, and would convert them into poisons, which would ruin man’s physical, mental, and moral powers, and so overcome the senses that Satan should have full control. Under the influence of liquor, men would be led to commit crimes of all kinds. Through perverted appetite the world would be made corrupt. By leading men to drink alcohol, Satan would cause them to descend lower and lower in the scale.

“Satan has succeeded in turning the world from God. The blessings provided in God’s love and mercy he has turned into a deadly curse. He has filled men with a craving for liquor and tobacco. This appetite, which has no foundation in nature, has destroyed its millions.” The Review and Herald, April 16, 1901.

“The only safe course is to touch not, taste not, handle not, tea, coffee, wines, tobacco, opium, and alcoholic drinks. The necessity for the men of this generation to call to their aid the power of the will, strengthened by the grace of God, in order to withstand the temptations of Satan and resist the least indulgence of perverted appetite is twice as great as it was several generations ago. But the present generation have less power of self-control than had those who lived then. Those who have indulged the appetite for these stimulants have transmitted their depraved appetites and passions to their children, and greater moral power is required to resist intemperance in all its forms. The only perfectly safe course to pursue is to stand firmly on the side of temperance and not venture in the path of danger.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 488.

“The strength of the temptation to indulge appetite can be measured only by the inexpressible anguish of our Redeemer in that long fast in the wilderness. He knew that the indulgence of perverted appetite would so deaden man’s perceptions that sacred things could not be discerned. Adam fell by the indulgence of appetite; Christ overcame by the denial of appetite. And our only hope of regaining Eden is through firm self-control. If the power of indulged appetite was so strong upon the race, that, in order to break its hold, the divine Son of God, in man’s behalf, had to endure a fast of nearly six weeks, what a work is before the Christian! Yet, however great the struggle, he may overcome. By the help of that divine power which withstood the fiercest temptations that Satan could invent, he too may be entirely successful in his warfare with evil, and at last may wear the victor’s crown in the kingdom of God.”  Ibid., 54. [Emphasis supplied.]

There is hope, friends. Success in overcoming perverted appetite—and all other sinful indulgences—lies in our complete dependence on “that divine power which withstood the fiercest temptations that Satan could invent.”

All Bible quotes NKJV unless otherwise noted.

John R. Pearson is the office manager and a board member of Steps to Life. He may be contacted by email at: johnpearson@stepstolife.org.

 

Cause

Effect

Reference
Too much, even of simple food Ability to understand truth is lost Testimonies, vol. 2, 602, 603
Failure to eat and drink from principles of health reform Character will not be governed by principle The Health Reformer, August 1, 1866
Too frequently, too much Perverted judgment Testimonies, vol. 1, 618
Rich, unwholesome food Source of most church trials Ibid., 618, 619
Tea, coffee, flesh meats, tobacco, wines, liquor Blunted keener and holier emotions Ibid., vol. 3, 487
Too many kinds of food at one time “… a disturbance is created”; the stomach has too much to do; mental capacity is diminished Spaulding and Magan Collection, 259, 260
Eating between meals Enfeebled religious aspirations; inability to solve difficult problems Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 83
Eating vegetables and fruit at same meal Inability to put forth mental effort; confused mind The Youth’s Instructor, May 31, 1894

 

What Goes Around Comes Around

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We live in a moral universe.

The word moral means relating to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical. It has to do with justice and with equity.

To live in a moral universe means that there are consequences for everything and these consequences cannot be escaped. Jesus dwelt considerably on this subject and it was a major subject of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, “ ‘Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you’ ” (Matthew 7:1, 2). We know that this statement is true because the Majesty of heaven spoke it. Whatever I dish out to you, that is what is going to come back. You may not give it back to me, but whatever I measure out to you is coming back. This principle not only can have some scary consequences, but it can be one of the most exciting things in the world.

Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies.” If I give out love, even to my enemies, that is what is going to come back. Do you want people to bless you or curse you? “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

Here we will examine this subject as it relates to many different situations in which we often find ourselves.

Payback

Consider how you have interacted with people and how many blessings you have passed to somebody today. At some time those blessings are going to come back. The same goes for the curses. If we have passed them out today, be sure they will return. We are told what will happen. “Everyone who has been free to condemn or discourage, will in his own experience be brought over the ground where he has caused others to pass; he will feel what they have suffered because of his want of sympathy and tenderness.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 136.

This ground on which we make others pass may not feel that comfortable when we are brought over it ourselves.

The same way that I treat others is going to come back to me. But are we not justified in correcting those that make so many mistakes? Sure, but there is more than one way to correct somebody. It is the manner in which we deal with people who make mistakes that is going to be dealt back to us. An opportunity always comes, for not one of us is perfect and we all need correction.

Ellen White stated, “Frequently the truth and facts are to be plainly spoken to the erring, to make them see and feel their error that they may reform. But this should ever be done with pitying tenderness, not with harshness or severity, but considering one’s own weakness, lest he also be tempted. When the one at fault sees and acknowledges his error, then, instead of grieving him, and seeking to make him feel more deeply, comfort should be given.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 93.

When somebody recognizes they made a mistake, it is not right to grind it in and add to his burdens. If you have to correct somebody, first figure out how you will comfort them when they realize their mistake. When people have erred and realized their mistake, it is not correction they need but comfort. So think it through before you dish it out as it may have a sour taste when it comes back.

Ellen White once told a woman, “If you could see yourself as God sees you, it would be plain to your mind that without a thorough conversion you can never enter the kingdom of God.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 138. That is a sharp rebuke. She went on to point out that what she was doing to other people was going to come back. She contrasted the way this lady was dealing with other people with the way Jesus dealt with those whom He came in contact while in this world. She said, “Bear in mind that whatever measure you mete to others it shall be meted to you again.” Ibid., 139. She continued, “If you would do this, [three character defects mentioned] you would be more cautious in your speech.” Ibid.

Do we need to be more cautious in our speech? Moses one time spoke unadvisedly with his lips and as a result he was prohibited from entering the Promised Land. James 1:19, 20 says, “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” The first thing Ellen White advised this lady was, “If you would realize that the way you measure out to others is going to come back to you, you would be more cautious in your speech.”

Resentment and Apologies

“Christ came into the world to bring all resistance and authority into subjection to Himself. But He did not claim obedience through the strength of argument or the voice of command; He went about doing good and teaching His followers the things which belonged to their peace. He stirred up no strife, He resented no personal injuries.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 139.

Have you ever wondered how Jesus, when people were spitting on Him, slapping Him, beating Him, cursing at Him, and making base remarks about Him in ridicule and sneer, never responded with one contemptuous or reviling word? That was only possible because He harbored no resentment inside. “He resented no personal injuries, but met with meek submission the insults, the false accusations, and the cruel scourging of those who hated Him and condemned Him to death. Christ is our example. His life is a practical illustration of His divine teachings. His character is a living exhibition of the way to do good and overcome evil.” Ibid.

If we hold onto resentment, sooner or later it is going to come out and we will have to make many apologies. The Lord wants to teach us how to live so that there is no apology to make.

The question remains, how to overcome evil? Jesus knew that what you put out comes back. So He just kept sowing and planting the good seed. Many of our problems are caused because we do not know ourselves very well. Inspiration says, “We know but little of our own hearts and have but little sense of our own need of the mercy of God.” Ibid., vol. 5, 246. We do not understand our dire need of the mercy of God, and “This is why we cherish so little of that sweet compassion which Jesus manifests toward us and which we should manifest toward one another.” Ibid., 246, 247.

When we believe that there is somebody else who has some severe character defect, or has done or said something terrible that needs correcting, we need to always remember that we ourselves are weak, sinful, and erring. We need to be careful that we do not pass judgment on somebody else who may not deserve even what we deserve.

Judging Others

In Matthew 7:3, Jesus talks about judging. He says, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”

This principle is something that can send you and other people toward hell or toward heaven. The devil tempts us to find fault with others. Ellen White had a vision on this very problem, “Last night I was in a sleepless state much of the time. Many representations passed before me. One was a scene in a council meeting where several were present. One man arose and began finding fault with one of his brethren. I looked at the speaker’s garments, and saw that they were very undesirable.

“Another person arose, and began to state his grievance against a fellow laborer. His garments were of another pattern, and they, too, were undesirable. Still another, and another, arose, and uttered words of accusation and condemnation regarding the course of others. Everyone had some trouble to speak of, some fault to find with someone else. All were presenting the defects of Christians who are trying to do something in our world. They declared repeatedly that certain ones were neglecting this or that or the other thing, and so on.

“There was not real order, no polite courtesy, in the meeting. In their anxiety to make others hear, speakers crowded in while others were still talking. Voices were raised, in an effort to make all hear above the din of confusion. …

“After many had spoken, One of authority appeared, and repeated the words: ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged’ (Matthew 7:1). … Christ Himself was present. An expression of painfulness came over His countenance as one after another would come forward, with uncouth dress, to expatiate upon the faults of various members of the church.

“Finally the heavenly Visitant arose. So intent were those present on criticizing their brethren, that it was with reluctance that they gave Him opportunity to speak. He declared that the spirit of criticism, of judging one another, was a source of weakness in the church today. Things are spoken that should never find utterance. Everyone who by word of mouth places an obstruction in the way of a fellow Christian has an account to settle with God.

“With earnest solemnity the Speaker declared: ‘The church is made of many minds, each of whom has an individuality. I gave My life in order that men and women, by divine grace, might blend in revealing a perfect pattern of My character, while at the same time retaining their individuality. No one has the right to destroy or submerge the individuality of any other human mind, by uttering words of criticism and faultfinding and condemnation.’ ” The Upward Look, 216.

Like Jesus

We should ask ourselves how many people we have blessed today with our speech. Guard your conversation and remember that whatever you say today will someday come back. All of our thoughts do not need to be uttered.

Our eternal destiny is determined not by what we profess but by our character. Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me” (Matthew 24:40, literal translation). When I give bread, He will give to me the Bread of Life. When I give water, He will give to me the Water of Life. When I give to others clothing, He will give to me the garment of His own righteousness. When I visit those who are in prison, He promises to set me free from my bondage in the prison house of sin. This is an eternal, divine law that always works, because God has ordained that this is the way the universe is going to operate.

Are you happy to receive what you have measured out? How are you doing in regard to visiting? Never should a whole week pass without reaching out to those less fortunate. There are those who are sick or shut in that would be blessed by a visit. There are those in prison who are often forgotten who would love a letter. The poor are always around us, as are some who are orphans, or widows, or who are destitute, or who are lame, physically or spiritually. There are people all around who are emotionally crippled who will never make it to the kingdom of heaven unless they get help. You may walk up a mountain trail and find a great big boulder in the path. You may be able to go over it, but a person on crutches cannot. Somebody needs to help him. Paul talks about the emotionally and spiritually crippled in Hebrews 12:13. He says, “Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated.”

Reach Out to Others

In addition to those who live in broken homes there are those who come from mixed marriages, where one of the spouses has chosen the narrow way while the other is on the broad road. As a result, there are people who are spiritually and emotionally crippled. One person may not be able to solve the world’s problem of those in need, but you can reach out to those whom Jesus puts in your path.

If every family in your church would make a Christian visit every week, what a difference it would make. Churches would come alive. But, if you come to church once a week and then go home and dissect the sermon, the worshipers, and the preacher, you will not have a living church. To have a living church, you have to have a working church. Even without training you can still get started.

  • Pray
  • Be friendly
  • Express sympathy

To express sympathy means you are sympathetic to the feelings of other people. You do not have to agree with their feelings, but you can be sympathetic. If you know how to express sympathy, if you know how to be friendly, and if you know how to pray, you can make a Christian visit. If you have a Bible and can read, and share some encouraging thought, you can bless others with a Christian visit.

Go the Second Mile

What could happen in Adventist churches if every family, every week, was making at least one Christian visit? Remember, as you measure it will be measured to you again. Sometimes the gospel net is cast out and it gathers in “every kind” (Matthew 13:47). Some of the people who are brought into the church have been the most sinful in the world. That was the way it was in the time of the apostle Paul. (Read 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.) Often those who have been gathered in are judged that they may not be able to hold out and make it. By our passing by on the other side and by our showing coldness and neglect to people who are great sinners, they get discouraged and fall away.

“Often the newly-converted soul has fierce conflicts with established habits or with some special form of temptation and being overcome by some master passion or tendency, he is guilty of indiscretion or actual wrong. … In such cases the instructions of God’s word apply: ‘Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1). …

“Unless we cultivate the precious plant of love, we are in danger of becoming narrow, unsympathetic, bigoted and critical, esteeming ourselves to be righteous when we are far from being approved by Christ. Some are uncourteous, abrupt, harsh. These do incalculable harm by their misrepresentation of the loving Saviour.” The Pacific Union Recorder, April 10, 1902.

So what do you do if somebody comes into the church and they are battling with their old habits and trying to overcome, but they slip and fall?

  • Have you felt a burden for the one you saw venturing into forbidden paths? Are you burdened for his/her soul’s salvation?
  • Have you kindly admonished him?
  • Have you wept for him? Do you really feel for him?
  • Have you prayed with him and for him?
  • Have you, by tender words and kindly acts, shown him that you love him?

Jesus says if we will forgive, then we will be forgiven. Without forgiveness we will be lost. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). If I want to receive a pardon from my heavenly Father, I must have a forgiving spirit.

“We are not forgiven because we forgive, but as we forgive. The ground of all forgiveness is found in the unmerited love of God, but by our attitude toward others we show whether we have made that love our own. Wherefore Christ says, ‘With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again’ (Matthew 7:2).” Christ’s Object Lessons, 251.

In Historic Adventism today, we are in dire need of a forgiving spirit. “This talking against others must be stopped among those who profess to be the children of God.” The Review and Herald, April 26, 1892. What we do to others is going to come back to us again, and therefore, we should be careful how we treat one another.

“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy” (James 2:13). If I want God to be merciful to me, I must show mercy to others. It is not when somebody has done a perfect job that they need to be shown mercy but when they have blown it. That is what mercy is all about. The next time somebody in your family or somebody where you work messes everything up, that is your chance to show mercy. If you are going to develop a merciful character, you are going to do it now before you get to heaven, because in heaven no one will need mercy.

Consider how you would like to be treated in each circumstance and treat others likewise. The most desired behaviors are mercy and love. These attributes may not come back to you immediately, but they will eventually. It is safe to bless people even if they are cursing you. It is safe to love people even if they are your enemies. It is safe to do something good to people, even if they hate you. It is safe to pray for people even if they despitefully use you and persecute you. “He who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:21).

“God will deal with us as we deal with one another.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 6, 93. If you have this sentence memorized, it will help you in your daily life in making decisions.

This principle, “as you measure so it will be measured unto you again,” works in every relationship of life. Especially it works in the home and most especially it works in the marriage relation. If we could learn this principle, the great majority of divorces could be avoided.

Ellen White makes an interesting statement about divorce that has to do with this principle about measuring to others and getting the same thing back. It is about a man named Victor Johnson. “I was shown that Victor Johnson has truly loved his wife. She was dearer to him than any other one upon the earth. When the divorce was in progress, his feelings were intense. He besought his wife to defer the matter. He promised amendment; he promised to not trouble her, but go away and reform. She [his wife] should have eagerly grasped at even that feeble hope that it was possible that he might amend, and even if she had to suffer some time longer, given him another chance. There was an error in still pressing matters forward. Although those who were engaged in the matter thought they were taking the best course, yet, they did not exercise the pitying love toward Victor that Jesus has shown them, and they should have considered that ‘with what measure ye mete’ to others, ‘it shall be measured to you again.’ ” Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, 161.

Ellen White says she should have given him another chance. “You didn’t show him that same pitying love that Jesus has shown toward you. Remember, as you measure so it will be measured to you again. With what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

When you apply this law of forgiveness to your life you are in line to receive a pardon from God. To receive blessing and love and forgiveness in your own life, you must treat others in the same manner. Pray for the Lord to help you measure out what you would want somebody else someday to measure back to you. The Lord has promised to work that miracle in your life.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Editorial – Courage in the Hour of Darkness

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Have you ever been so discouraged that you became depressed? If you were in heaven today, you could meet Elijah, a man who in this world was overwhelmingly discouraged and depressed. After the great victory gained on Mount Carmel, and when he had guided Ahab’s chariot to the gate at Jezreel, his courage was strong. But a reaction frequently follows high faith and wonderful success and Elijah felt a tremendous reaction—he feared that the reformation begun on Mount Carmel would not be lasting. While in this discouragement, he received news of the plotting of Satan through Jezebel and he not only forgot God and fled for his life but finally, resting under a juniper tree he said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4, last part).

Commenting on this Ellen White wrote, “Into the experience of all there come times of disappointment and discouragement, days when sorrow is the portion, and it is hard to believe that God is still the kind benefactor of His earth-born children—days when troubles harass the soul till death seems preferable to life. It is at such times that many lose their hold on God, and are brought into the slavery of doubt, the bondage of unbelief. …

“Hope and courage are essential to perfect service in the work of God. These are the fruit of faith. Despondency is sinful and unreasonable. God is able and willing more abundantly to bestow upon His servants the strength they need for test and trial. The plans of the enemies of His work may seem to be well laid and firmly established; but God can overthrow the strongest of these. …

“For the disheartened there is one remedy—faith, prayer work. Faith and activity will impart assurance and satisfaction that will increase day by day. In the darkest days, when appearances seem most forbidding, fear not. Have faith in God. He knows your every need. He has all power. His infinite love and compassion never weary. Fear not that He will not fulfil His promise. He is eternal truth. Never will He change the covenant He has made with those who love Him. And He will bestow upon His faithful servants the measure of efficiency that their need demands.” The Review and Herald, October 16, 1913.

Two Principles of Faith, Part II

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In this article, we are looking at some basic principles of faith. These are not necessarily anything new, but it is good to review the basics. If we do not understand the basics, as we get farther down the line and start running into bigger problems, we will not have the skill to conquer them.

Ellen White wrote: “Faith is trusting in God—believing that He loves us, and knows what is for our best good.” Gospel Workers (1915), 259. The foundation of faith begins with these two basic principles—believing that God “loves us and knows what is for our best good.”

Character Perfection

We hear about character perfection, and we hear about obedience, which we should. We know that we must have character perfection to enter into heaven, but it seems that we can get into a self-centered attitude of character perfection. We focus on ourselves and take our eyes off Christ. We see the things that we need to change, and we focus on trying to change those things on our own; we end up trying to work out our own salvation instead of letting Christ do it.

A Bible verse that may help us to stay focused and not to get off on different things is John 17:3. It says, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

We can spend our whole lives focusing on different reforms and making sure that everything that we do is just so, but that is what the Pharisees did. We must go beyond that. We must keep our eyes focused on Christ and His character.

Our goal is to know Christ and the Father, and as we focus on this, everything else will come into perspective—we will not be seeking to save ourselves by works or to overcome sins for selfish reasons.

Satan is the accuser of the brethren, and he will do anything he can to keep us from coming to Christ, because he knows when we do, then his power will be broken, so he will throw everything he can at us to discourage us, to make us feel unworthy, or to keep us from coming to Christ.

Consider Joshua

Consider Joshua: “‘Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments.’ [Zechariah 3:3.] Thus sinners appear before the enemy who by his masterly, deceptive power has led them away from allegiance to God. With garments of sin and shame the enemy clothes those who have been overpowered by his temptations, and then he declares that it is unfair for Christ to be their Light, their Defender.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1178.

“The enemy works with all his energy to lead persons into sin. Then he pleads that on account of their past sins, he should be allowed to exercise his hellish cruelty on them as his own subjects.” Ibid.

When the devil comes to us, what has to be our response? We cannot plead anything on our own behalf; we have to claim the blood of Jesus, right? We must put our faith and trust in Christ. Satan first tries to snare us, and when that is unsuccessful, he presents our case before Christ. The good news is that Christ does not enter into a controversy with him. He just answers with, “The Lord rebuke you.” Jude 1:9.

Christ has paid the price for us, and if we come to Him, we have the assurance that our sins will be forgiven, and that is the answer for the devil. We cannot claim anything for ourselves, but Christ has died for us; therefore, we can put our confidence in that.

Promises to Claim

There are several promises that I have memorized and claimed as I have been struggling with discouragement or have felt unworthy to come to the Lord. I would like to share a few of them with you.

“Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 28:29–31. What a wonderful invitation this is that Christ gives to us.

John 6:37 says, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

Another promise we may claim is given in 1 John 2:1, 2: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.”

Surely we all know 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is a good Scripture to memorize and to put into our hearts and minds. Then, when the devil does come to discourage us, to try to keep us away from Christ, we have these words with which to fight against him.

As Little Children

Jesus told His disciples, unless you “become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3. Think through what we can learn from a little child.

In Genesis 18, when the angel came to Abraham and told him that Sarah, his wife, was going to have a son, and Sarah overheard it, the Scripture says that she laughed. She said, “Shall I have a son when I am old, when I am beyond the childbearing age?” (Verse 13.)

Now, if an angel had come to a five-year-old child and told him or her that Sarah was going to have a child, would that have been a big stretch of the imagination to the five-year-old? No. Why was it so hard for Sarah to believe? It was hard for Sarah to believe because she was old. She was old enough to understand that a woman her age did not have children, so it went against what her experience told her. We are products of our environment; we are influenced by our surroundings.

If we are fortunate enough to grow up in a Christian home, we are surrounded with right influences. There are teachings that influence us. “Faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. We filter any new information through all the things we know to be true, through the word of God, and then we choose whether or not we are going to accept the new information.

When our experiences go in opposition to what God’s word says, that tells us that God wants to give us another experience, and the only way He can give that to us is if we believe, if we put our trust in Him, and believe what He says. Sometimes we have to fight against our own natures; God seldom does things the way we expect Him to do them. Sometimes He leads us in ways we do not understand, but “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

No Regrets

A child does not have any regrets, does not have a history of mistakes with which to deal. One of the hardest things with which Christians must deal is their past. But our past should not dictate what our faith is. God says that if we come to Him, He will receive us. If we confess our sins, He will forgive us, and we must focus upon that and let go of the past.

Paul said, “This one thing I do; forgetting those things which are behind, … I press toward the mark.” Philippians 3:13, 14. So, through faith in Christ, we can let go of the past and trust in Him—that He has forgiven us—and we can move forward.

Quite often we take this passage in a negative context—“forgetting those things which are behind.” It is good that we can come to Christ; we can be forgiven, and we can put those things of the past behind us and move forward. But when Paul speaks about forgetting those things which are behind, he is not talking about his sins. He lists a number of good things. The devil will get us into one ditch or another. If he cannot get us discouraged, he will get us to look to ourselves in a way that we should not, thinking that we are better than we are.

Not only are we supposed to forget the things which are past—maybe our past sins, our past mistakes—but we are not to focus on our good works either. We need to put those behind us and keep focused on the mark, because we are easily led into self-righteousness. We must guard ourselves against that.

Our Best Good

We have concentrated mostly on the first principle of faith, “believing that God loves us.” The most fundamental thing we can do in our Christian experience is to have faith that works by love. “We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. If we do not understand that God loves us, then we cannot really love Him as we should, and we will not accept the fact that He “knows what is for our best good.”

Do we really believe that God is able to control our lives, that He is able to do things that are for our good? Do we really believe that? This may be a struggle. We have to lay aside our own plans, desires, and ambitions and trust the Lord that He is able to work things out for our best good.

Speaking of this unwilling spirit, Ellen White wrote: “Though their present needs are supplied, many are unwilling to trust God for the future, and they are in constant anxiety lest poverty shall come upon them, and their children shall be left to suffer. Some are always anticipating evil or magnifying the difficulties that really exist, so that their eyes are blinded to the many blessings which demand their gratitude. The obstacles they encounter, instead of leading them to seek help from God, the only Source of strength, separate them from Him, because they awaken unrest and repining.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 293, 294.

The apostle Paul said: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Philippians 4:11, 12.

How could he be content in all those things? Because he trusted in the Lord that He would do and was able to do that which was for his best good. This is the kind of faith the Lord wants to give to us—that we have perfect confidence and trust in His keeping and that we be content with whatever is our lot in life, whatever challenge we are called to experience.

“Faith in God’s love and overruling providence lightens the burdens of anxiety and care. It fills the heart with joy and contentment in the highest or the lowliest lot. Religion tends directly to promote health, to lengthen life, and to heighten our enjoyment of all its blessings. It opens to the soul a never-failing fountain of happiness. Would that all who have not chosen Christ might realize that He has something vastly better to offer them than they are seeking for themselves. Man is doing the greatest injury and injustice to his own soul when he thinks and acts contrary to the will of God. No real joy can be found in the path forbidden by Him who knows what is best, and who plans for the good of His creatures. The path of transgression leads to misery and destruction; but wisdom’s ‘ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.’ Proverbs 3:17.” Ibid., 600.

“Our plans are not always God’s plans. …. In His loving care and interest for us, often He who understands us better than we understand ourselves refuses to permit us selfishly to seek the gratification of our own ambition. … Many things He asks us to yield to Him, but in doing this we are but giving up that which hinders us in the heavenward way. …

“In the future life the mysteries that here have annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings.” Conflict and Courage, 228.

The Lord has a blessing for each one of us. He has promised that if we put our faith and trust in Him and if we commit our way to Him, He will direct our paths, and He will lead us on that path that takes us to peace. We may be confident that if we are faithful, He who has begun a good work in you is faithful to finish it. (Philippians 1:6.) In that we can put our faith and trust.

Jim Stoeckert is a Steps to Life staff member. He lives in Wichita, Kansas, with his two sons. 

Receiving God’s Blessing, Part II

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In a spiritual sense, the word blessing means God’s approval. How can we receive God’s blessing?

After wronging his brother, Jacob did everything he could to atone for the wrong. (Read Genesis 32:3–5, 13–21.) Jacob also realized that God had directed him thus far in his life and had led him to the point where he was. (Genesis 32:9.) He recognized that he was unworthy of God’s favor and mercies and that God had blessed him with property and possessions. (Genesis 32:10.) He thanked God for what He had done for him, and he asked God for deliverance from the situation and claimed God’s promises. (Genesis 32:11, 9, 12.)

“Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” “What shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” Genesis 32:28; Hebrews 11:32–34. Jacob’s strength was in God, not in himself.

“In surrendering ourselves to God, we reap great advantages; for if we have weaknesses of character, as we all have, we unite ourselves to One who is mighty to save. Our ignorance will be united to infinite wisdom, our frailty to enduring might, and, like Jacob, we may each become a prince with God. Connected with the Lord God of Israel, we shall have power from above which will enable us to be overcomers; and by the impartation of divine love, we shall find access to the hearts of men.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 232.

New Name and Blessing

As we read earlier in Genesis 32:28, Jacob received a new name. His name, Jacob, means heel grabber or supplanter. I dare say he did not appreciate the meaning of his name! The new name he was given represented that his character had now changed. He was no longer the same person that he had been.

The blessing Jacob, now known as Israel, received from God came after the conflict was past. (Genesis 32:29.) Peace comes after or through conflict.

“Jacob specified no particular thing for the Lord to bestow upon him; he sought only a blessing; he knew that the Lord would give him a blessing appropriate to meet the necessities of the case at that time. God blessed him then and there; and on the field of conflict he was made a prince among men. Thus will it be with the agonized ones who prevail with God in the time of Jacob’s trouble.” The Signs of the Times, November 27, 1879.

“Jacob had received the blessing for which his soul had longed. His sin as a supplanter and deceiver had been pardoned. The crisis in his life was past. Doubt, perplexity, and remorse had embittered his existence, but now all was changed; and sweet was the peace of reconciliation with God. Jacob no longer feared to meet his brother. God, who had forgiven his sin, could move the heart of Esau also to accept his humiliation and repentance.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 198.

“The Lord permits conflicts, to prepare the soul for peace.” The Great Controversy, 633.

“Peace comes when the conflict has been met and sustained, through the help and power obtained from Jesus Christ.” Review and Herald, September 11, 1888.

“In this life we must meet fiery trials and make costly sacrifices, but the peace of Christ is the reward.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 215.

After the conflict, God worked on behalf of Jacob and softened Esau’s heart to receive him. (Genesis 33:4.)

How to Receive

We need to ask daily for God’s blessing in our lives above what we wish for or want. God’s blessing in our lives is worth more than our way without His blessing. And just think, when we do not try to tell God what blessing we desire or want for that day, we leave ourselves open to His bountiful blessings—more than we could ever imagine!

Following are statements from the writings of Ellen White that tell us how to receive God’s blessing and what are some possible results from God’s blessing.

“The end of all things is at hand. Are we ready to meet Christ when He shall appear? Will He say to us, ‘Come, ye blessed of My Father; enter into the city’? [Matthew 25:34.] When we see the great reward that is in store for the faithful, how our hearts should reach out after others, that they may receive the light. You know not how many hearts are really thirsting for the waters of life, but here is the Bible to open before them. Will you do it? Will you act like men and women that expect the Lord to come? Will you have living faith, and pray as never before? Will you wrestle with God as Jacob wrestled with Him—‘I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me’? [Genesis 32:26.] And when His blessing rests upon you, you will be anxious to have others receive it.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, 139.

“We can do nothing without the help of God. The Spirit of God must work with our efforts, and if God’s blessing attends us, we shall be channels of light. The Lord is willing to give us all an experience, which, if improved, will bring us from the lowlands of earth into close, heavenly relationship with God, and every fiber of selfishness will be uprooted from our natures.” Reflecting Christ, 205.

“The blessing of God is a precious gift, and it is to be counted of such worth that it will not be surrendered at any cost. The blessing of God maketh rich, and it addeth no sorrow.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 232.

“When difficulties and trials surround us, we should flee to God, and confidently expect help from Him who is mighty to save and strong to deliver. We must ask for God’s blessing if we would receive it. Prayer is a duty and a necessity; but do we not neglect praise? Should we not oftener render thanksgiving to the Giver of all our blessings? We need to cultivate gratitude. We should frequently contemplate and recount the mercies of God, and laud and glorify His holy name, even when we are passing through sorrow and affliction….

“The Lord’s merciful kindness is great toward us. He will never leave nor forsake those who trust in Him. If we would think and talk less of our trials, and more of the mercy and goodness of God, we would find ourselves raised above much of our gloom and perplexity. My brethren and sisters, you who feel that you are entering upon a dark path, and like the captives in Babylon must hang your harps upon the willows, let us make trial of cheerful song. You may say, How can I sing, with this dark prospect before me, with this burden of sorrow and bereavement upon my soul? But have earthly sorrows deprived us of the all-powerful Friend we have in Jesus? Should not the marvelous love of God in the gift of His dear Son be a theme of continual rejoicing? When we bring our petitions to the throne of grace, let us not forget to offer also anthems of thanksgiving. ‘Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.’ Psalm 50:23. As long as our Saviour lives, we have cause for unceasing gratitude and praise.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 268, 269.

“Let us confess our sins, and let us be sure that we go to the bottom, and make thorough work for repentance. Will you do this? Will you prepare the way for God to bless you? Shall we not see of the salvation of God in this meeting? We may see it; we may have it. Let us not do anything that will hinder it from coming to us.” The General Conference Bulletin, April 2, 1903.

“A sense of the gratitude due to God will lead him to improve every opportunity for expressing thanksgiving, which will be accepted as a testimony of loyalty. Faithfulness toward God in the performance of good works will bring God’s blessing. As we show ourselves faithful in fulfilling our trust, our influence leads others to do likewise. They are filled with thanksgiving and praise to God as the one to whom praise is due. Those who are not with us in the faith are given a practical evidence of the power of the truth to sanctify the naturally selfish heart.” Review and Herald, September 19, 1899.

“If we desire to have God’s blessing, we must practice Christ’s self-denial and self-sacrifice. Study the Word of God. Walk and work as Christ walked and worked. Men must put away the ambitious schemes which have puffed them up and exalted them in their own estimation, when they should always keep humble. Let those who desire to follow a course of action which represents the life of Christ, hear His words, ‘He that will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.’ [Luke 9:23.]” Battle Creek Letters, 38.

“The deepest poverty, with God’s blessing, is better than houses and lands, and any amount of earthly treasure, without it. God’s blessing places value on everything we possess; but if we have the whole world without his blessing we are indeed as poor as the beggar, for we can take nothing with us into the next world.” The Signs of the Times, April 1, 1875.

“We have a wise, loving heavenly Father, who hears the prayers of His children. But He does not always give them what they desire. He withholds that which He sees would not be for their good. But He bestows on them all that they need. He gives them that which is necessary for growth in grace. When we pray, we should say, ‘Lord, if what I ask for is for my good, give it to me; but if it is not, withhold it, but give me Thy blessings.’ The Lord hears our petitions; He understands our situation, and He will supply the very thing we need. He will strengthen our faith and increase our spirituality. The Lord is good and merciful, perfect in understanding and infinite in wisdom.

“There are those who pray for temporal blessings which they think will bring them worldly prosperity. God sees that such blessings would spoil their spiritual life. He gives them an understanding mind, showing them that it is not best for them to have riches, and that they must be satisfied with His grace and peace and love.” The Upward Look, 369.

Above all things in this life is to have God’s blessing in our lives that we may do what is pleasing to Him.

[All emphasis added.]

A Network Engineer, Jana Grosboll lives near Derby, Kansas. She may be contacted by e-mail at: janawwjd@yahoo.com

Present Truth for Today—Are the Jewish Feast Days Included? Part II

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There have always been some truths that are applicable in every age and are therefore to be preached and accepted by God’s children at all times—such as love, hope, repentance, obedience, thankfulness, and praise. Such truths are always in season.

But those who persist in keeping the feast days are denying that Christ came to earth and died at the appointed time in a.d. 31 and are not accepting what is given in God’s Word and the Spirit of Prophecy. How can any Seventh-day Adventist today, who claims to have the faith of Jesus as we read in Revelation 14:12, deny our precious Saviour by keeping feast days, which by their very purpose showed that Christ had not yet come the first time?

The Lord’s Supper

The Passover, with its feast of unleavened bread, was fulfilled; for we read in 1 Corinthians 5:7 that Jesus, our Passover, was crucified for us. The unleavened bread was the offering of Christ’s sinless life, for He said, “I am the Bread of life.” John 6:35. The slain lamb, the unleavened bread, the sheaf of the first fruits represented our Saviour’s death, His sinless life, and resurrection.

As Christians, we now celebrate the Lord’s Supper, which Christ instituted in the place of the Passover. Jesus said, “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Corinthians 11:26.

In the Review and Herald, May 31, 1898, we read: “In instituting the sacramental service to take the place of the Passover, Christ left for his church a memorial of his great sacrifice for man. ‘This do,’ he said, ‘in remembrance of me.’ [Luke 22:19.] This was the point of transition between two economies and their two great festivals. The one was to close forever; the other, which he had just established, was to take its place, and to continue through all time as the memorial of his death.”

“This ordinance [feet-washing] does not speak so largely to man’s intellectual capacity as to his heart. His moral and spiritual nature needs it. If His disciples had not needed this, it would not have been left for them as Christ’s last established ordinance in connection with, and including, the last supper. It was Christ’s desire to leave to his disciples an ordinance that would do for them the very thing they needed,—that would serve to disentangle them from the rites and ceremonies which they had hitherto engaged in as essential, and which the reception of the gospel made no longer of any force. To continue these rites would be an insult to Jehovah.” Ibid., June 14, 1898. Nothing could be spoken more clearly.

Other Fulfillments

Now, let us consider the Feast of Weeks called The Pentecost. This was fulfilled 50 days following the Last Supper. It was known as the celebration of the wheat harvest, made possible by the early rains, which provided the harvests at Pentecost. It was at this time that the Holy Spirit descended with mighty power upon the disciples.

Pentecost, called also the Feast of Weeks or Feast of Harvest, was a time of gratitude to God for the harvest. “As an expression of gratitude for the grain prepared as food, two loaves baked with leaven were presented before God.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 540. Pentecost occupied but one day, which was devoted to religious service. The feasts of the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Harvest or Pentecost occurred during the spring of the year. All these feasts pointed forward to events connected with the redemption provided by Christ at the time of the first advent.

After Pentecost came the Feast of Trumpets. This feast took place ten days before the Day of Atonement. The fall feasts represent events before and after the Second Advent. The three fall feasts were the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.

Day of Atonement

Next came the Day of Atonement. Its fulfillment is in progress today. To keep this feast day is to deny that Christ is in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary making atonement for our sins. The keeping of this feast day would make it impossible for us to benefit from His work in the heavenly sanctuary. This is not the time to be concerned with Jewish feast days of the past.

Ellen White clearly emphasized that preparation for the atonement is the present truth of this hour:

“We are in the great day of atonement, and the sacred work of Christ for the people of God that is going on at the present time in the heavenly sanctuary should be our constant study. We should teach our children what the typical Day of Atonement signified and that it was a special season of great humiliation and confession of sins before God. The antitypical day of atonement is to be of the same character. Everyone who teaches the truth by precept and example will give the trumpet a certain sound. You need ever to cultivate spirituality, because it is not natural for you to be heavenly-minded. The great work is before us of leading the people away from worldly customs and practices, up higher and higher, to spirituality, piety, and earnest work for God. It is your work to proclaim the message of the third angel, to sound the last note of warning to the world.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 520.

“Will our churches humble themselves before the Lord in this day of atonement? Will they put away the sins which defile their garments of character, and separate them from God? The present is our day of visitation. Look not to a future, more convenient season, when the cross to be lifted will be less heavy, when the inclinations of the carnal heart will be subdued with less effort. ‘Today,’ saith the Spirit of God, ‘if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart.’ [Hebrews 3:7, 8.] Today go about the work, else you may be one day too late. The impression that you have now may not be as strong tomorrow. Satan’s snare may close about you. The candlestick may be moved out of its place, and you left in darkness. ‘See that you refuse not him that speaketh.’ [Hebrews 12:25.] Says the true Witness, ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock.’ [Revelation 3:20.] Every warning, reproof, and entreaty in the word of God, or through his delegated messengers, is a knock at the door of the heart; it is the voice of Jesus, asking for entrance. With every knock unheeded, your determination to open becomes weaker and weaker. If the voice of Jesus is not heeded at once, it becomes confused in the mind with a multitude of other voices, the world’s care and business engross the attention, and conviction dies away. The heart becomes less impressible, and lapses into a perilous unconsciousness of the shortness of time, and of the great eternity beyond. The heavenly Guest is standing at your door, while you are piling up obstructions to bar his entrance. Jesus is knocking through the prosperity he gives you. He loads you with blessings to test your fidelity, that they may flow out from you to others. Will you permit your selfishness to triumph? Will you squander God’s talents, and lose your soul through idolatrous love of the blessings he has given?” Review and Herald, November 2, 1886.

“This is our washing and ironing time—the time when we are to cleanse our robes of character in the blood of the Lamb. John says, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29). . . . Shall we not let our sin go? . . .

“I entreat you, brethren and sisters, to labor earnestly to secure the crown of everlasting life. The reward will be worth the conflict, worth the effort. . . . In the race in which we are running, everyone may receive the reward offered―a crown of everlasting life. I [Ellen White] want this crown; I mean by God’s help to have it. I mean to hold fast to the truth, that I may see the King in His beauty.” In Heavenly Places, 356.

Feast of Tabernacles

Let us consider the last feast of the Jewish year, which was called the Feast of Tabernacles. Here we must again ask a very important question: Have the prophetic requirements of this Feast of Tabernacles been fulfilled for God’s people today? The answer is, No.

The purpose of this feast for Israel of old was to bring to memory how God had delivered them from the Egyptian bondage and by His loving care had protected and brought them to the Promised Land. This is why they were commanded to go to Jerusalem, at the close of each Jewish year, and abide in temporary shelters made from the branches of trees. During this feast, they were to celebrate. The Day of Atonement had been completed; all of their past sins had been carried away out of the sanctuary into the wilderness by the scapegoat.

For us who are living in the end-time, we cannot celebrate this Feast of Tabernacles, for our Day of Atonement is still in progress. Our past sins have not been blotted out of the heavenly sanctuary, as of yet. Furthermore, we have not reached the Promised Land and entered into the heavenly New Jerusalem where we shall abide in temporary homes until we are finally restored to the earth made new, there to build houses and inhabit them. (Isaiah 65:21.)

Camp Meetings

In reference to these facts, the Spirit of Prophecy encourages the people of God today to hold and to attend camp meetings. At these gatherings, a rehearsing of how God has led in the development of His church is to be given. In addition, studies should be given, as the end draws near, on how to meet the final test and be ready to see Jesus. By such suggestions, Ellen White is not telling us to keep the feast days, but that our camp meetings should become presentations filled with glorious truths of the Second Coming of our Saviour that will bring to an end our wandering in this sin-cursed world.

She further states in the Review and Herald, January 9, 1883, “The opinion is widely held, that the sacrifices and offerings of the Hebrews possess no significance for Christians, and can be of no interest to them. This opinion is without foundation. It is true that the ceremonies of the Mosaic law are not now to be observed; but, when rightly understood, they are seen to be all aglow with sacred and important truths. These rites, appointed by Jehovah himself, were like so many beacons to light up the path of God’s ancient people, and to direct their minds to the great sacrifice to be offered for the sins of men. Viewed in the light of the cross, they contain most precious lessons for the people of God today.”

This is what Ellen White had in mind when she spoke of camp meetings in the Review and Herald, November 17, 1885. “Well would it be for us to have a feast of tabernacles, a joyous commemoration of the blessings of God to us as a people. As the children of Israel celebrated the deliverance that God wrought for their fathers, and his miraculous preservation of them during their journeyings from Egypt to the Promised Land, so should the people of God at the present time gratefully call to mind the various ways He has devised to bring them out from the world, out from the darkness of error, into the precious light of truth. . . . We should gratefully regard the old way-marks, and refresh our souls with memories of the loving-kindness of our gracious Benefactor.”

Several years later, Mrs. White wrote: “The forces of the enemies are strengthening, and as a people we are misrepresented; but shall we not gather our forces together, and come up to the feast of tabernacles? Let us not treat this matter as one of little importance, but let the army of the Lord be on the ground to represent the work and cause of God in Australia. Let no one plead an excuse at such a time. One of the reasons why we have appointed the camp meeting to be held at Melbourne, is that we desire the people of that vicinity to become acquainted with our doctrines and works. We want them to know what we are, and what we believe. Let everyone pray, and make God his trust. Those who are barricaded with prejudice must hear the warning message for this time. We must find our way to the hearts of the people. Therefore, come to the camp meeting, even though you have to make a sacrifice to do so, and the Lord will bless your efforts to honor his cause and advance his work.” The Bible Echo, December 8, 1893.

Present Truth

There is no doubt as to the conclusion as we read from Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, 270: “Will you listen to the voice of Christ? Will you break away from self and respond, ‘We come, Lord, we come. With joy shall we draw water out of the wells of salvation’? Then shall your life henceforth be a continual Feast of Tabernacles, a continual thank offering for unnumbered and unmerited blessings.”

Finally, let us ever keep in mind,

“The people whom God had called to be the pillar and ground of the truth had become representatives of Satan. They were doing the work that he desired them to do, taking a course to misrepresent the character of God, and cause the world to look upon Him as a tyrant. The very priests who ministered in the temple had lost sight of the significance of the service they performed. They had ceased to look beyond the symbol to the thing signified. In presenting the sacrificial offerings they were as actors in a play. The ordinances which God Himself had appointed were made the means of blinding the mind and hardening the heart. God could do no more for man through these channels. The whole system must be swept away.” The Desire of Ages, 36.

So, let us fill our minds with present truth. May we not be ensnared by the great deceiver and become so involved with past Old Testament feast days that we shall fail to meet heaven’s requirements for the final atonement and to give the last warning message of present truth—the Three Angels’ Messages.

For over 60 years Pastor Lawrence Nelson served as an evangelist and minister for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Of that time, he served 13 years as the director of evangelism for youth at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Upon retirement from the General Conference, he continued to pastor, but when, as a result of his stand for truth, he was denied the opportunity to continue his pastorate, he started Keep the Faith Audio Tape Ministry, recording his sermons and making them available to individuals. Before his retirement from this ministry in 2004, over 18,000 audiotapes were being sent around the world each month.

Knowing the Shepherd’s Voice, Part II

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As false winds of doctrine blow about with hurricane force, you better be ready to know what you believe from the Bible. You had better read the texts given in this article, know what they say, and know what they mean.

How are you going to survive? Well, the events of the last few years have shown to us very clearly that the majority of Seventh-day Adventists are not going to survive. John 10:1-5 will show you why they are not going to survive: “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one not entering through the door of the sheepfold of the sheep, but going up another way, that one is a thief and a robber. But the one entering through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To this one, the doorkeeper opens and the sheep hear his voice; and his own sheep he calls by name, and leads them out. And when his own he brings out, he himself goes before them. And his sheep follow him because they know his voice. And to a stranger, they will not at all follow but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Here is the sad fact. The majority of Seventh-day Adventists today cannot tell the difference between the True Shepherd’s voice and the voice of strangers. So when all these winds of doctrine start blowing all over the place, you find people going off after this one or going off after that one. What are you going to do about it? The winds of doctrine are already here. They are going to get stronger. You are going to hear more voices than you are hearing now. The winds of doctrine are going to gain hurricane strength. They are going to blow you off your feet unless you are anchored.

A Matter of Survival

Do you know the True Shepherd’s voice? I am sorry to have to tell you, but from my own observation, the majority of the Christian world, the majority of the Adventist world, cannot distinguish the True Shepherd’s voice from the voice of strangers. It is a terrible, terrible thing, but it is true.

You are not going to survive until the end, you will not be ready for the second coming of Christ unless you can discern the True Shepherd’s voice from every other voice. If you are one of His sheep, He says, “They will not at all follow a stranger. They will flee; they will run from the stranger, because they do not know his voice. But they know My voice.”

Do you know the True Shepherd’s voice? Can you distinguish the True Shepherd’s voice from all other voices? Can you?

A preacher of righteousnessshould be echoing the True Shepherd’s voice, but you should be checking out from your Bible whether or not your preacher is telling you the truth. You need to know for sure whether or not your preacher is echoing the voice of the True Shepherd. That is what the people did in Berea; Paul recommended it and commended them for it.

The question that you need to answer is, Can you discern the True Shepherd’s voice from all the other voices? There are many voices out there now, and the number is going to grow. If you cannot tell the difference, the devil is going to figure out what kind of voice is pleasing to you, and if you do not understand the True Shepherd’s voice from all the other voices, you are going to get snagged by something that will sound wonderful to you. You are going to think you are having a wonderful Christian experience. This will happen to the whole world.

So, I want to give you a few elementary principles about how to distinguish the True Shepherd’s voice from all the other voices.

In Harmony

Point No. 1: The True Shepherd’s voice will always be in harmony with the Law of God. The True Shepherd’s voice will never lead you to break any part of the Law of God. Regarding this, Ellen White wrote, in The Signs of the Times, July 4, 1895: “Those who have heard the voice of God proclaiming His holy law on Mount Sinai, in the hearing of the people, know His voice, and when men claiming to be led by Christ, and professing to be entirely sanctified, assert that the law of God is abolished, and ridicule and make light of the great moral standard, and set at naught the testimony of prophets and apostles, we can confidently say that we hear not in their teachings the voice of the True Shepherd. The True Shepherd’s voice has been heard, bearing a different testimony. Jesus says, ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ [Matthew 5:17–19.]”

Mrs. White is here quoting from Matthew 5, and if you look up the context of this quote, Jesus is giving a sermon about the Law of God, the Ten Commandments. He refers to them by name, and talks about the sixth commandment and the seventh commandment and so forth.

If you are able to recognize the True Shepherd’s voice, you will know immediately that any voice that teaches you to be careless about any part of the Law of God is not the True Shepherd’s voice, and you had better run from it. You better not listen to the sermons; you better not read the books; you better not listen to the tapes; you better run, or you will be deceived; you will be hypnotized by the devil’s snares.

A Special Messenger

Point No. 2: Because God knew how dangerous the end times would be with every wind of doctrine blowing, He promised, in Malachi 4:5, that before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, He would send Elijah, a prophet, a special messenger.

God has sent such a messenger, something He would not do unless a special messenger, a prophet, is needed. Have you ever thought that through? Does God send His people a prophet if they do not need it? No, God knew that every wind of doctrine would be blowing, so He sent to us a special messenger. You need to be reading what that special messenger wrote, because if you do not, you are going to get snagged. But if you are reading the Spirit of Prophecy every day, you will hear the voice of the True Shepherd, and when the other voices come, you will know it is time to run. But you must be reading for yourself; the preachers cannot present it all in church.

While in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ellen White encountered a situation that brought her to write the following: “One brother thinks that Sister White doesn’t understand her own testimonies. Heard that in Minneapolis. Why? Because the brethren did not agree with them. Well, there are some things that I understand. I understand enough to acknowledge the Spirit of God and to follow the voice of the Shepherd. I understand that much.” Sermons and Talks, 149. That was her response to her critics. She understood the voice of the Shepherd, and knew the difference between His voice and the other voices.

Reading Ellen White’s writings will help you recognize the voice of the True Shepherd. There are numerous critics condemning the Spirit of Prophecy, but the most powerful evidence for these writings is that when you read Mrs. White’s books, you hear the voice of the True Shepherd. Those who do not like it do not like the rebuke given from the True Shepherd for their sins.

Be a Berean

Point No. 3: “When errors arise and are taught as Bible truth, those who have a connection with Christ will not trust to what the minister says, but like the noble Bereans, they will search the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so. When they discover what is the word of the Lord, they will take their stand on the side of the truth. They will hear the voice of the True Shepherd saying, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it.’ [Isaiah 30:21.] Thus you will be educated to make the Bible the man of your counsel, and the voice of a stranger you will neither hear nor follow.” Faith and Works, 86.

You can be assured that you will not listen to the voice of a stranger, if you are listening to the voice of the True Shepherd, if you are studying the Book—the Old and New Testaments. You must be on a Bible study program of your own. From what is written in the Spirit of Prophecy, it is absolutely guaranteed that you will be misled if you are not doing these things, because if you are not studying, you will not recognize the voice of the True Shepherd from all the other voices. (See Testimonies, vol. 5, 703–711; The Great Controversy, 625.) But if you are studying the Book, you will recognize when something does not ring True to the Book—it will have a different sound, and you will not listen.

Miracles

Point No. 4: This is a negative point. Watch out for miracles. Miracles do not prove, in the last days, that the performer of the miracles is the True Shepherd. Of this Ellen White wrote:

“ ‘The voice of a stranger’ is the voice of one who neither respects nor obeys God’s holy, just, and good law. Many make great pretensions to holiness, and boast of the wonders they perform in healing the sick, when they do not regard this great standard of righteousness. But through whose power are these cures wrought?

“If those through whom cures are performed are disposed, on account of these manifestations, to excuse their neglect of the law of God, and continue in disobedience, though they have power to any and every extent, it does not follow that they have the great power of God. On the contrary, it is the miracle-working power of the great deceiver. He is a transgressor of the moral law, and employs every device that he can master to blind men to its true character. We are warned that in the last days he will work with signs and lying wonders. And he will continue these wonders until the close of probation, that he may point to them as evidence that he is an angel of light and not of darkness.” Ye Shall Receive Power, 202.

Miracles do not prove that it is the voice of the True Shepherd. Not at all!

Fasting and Praying

Point No. 5: Are you spending any time these days fasting and praying? Ellen White wrote concerning some people who were content with their knowledge. She wrote: “The children of God must know the voice of the True Shepherd. Is not this a time when it would be highly proper to fast and pray before God? We are in danger of variance, in danger of taking sides on a controverted point; and should we not seek God in earnestness, with humiliation of soul, that we may know what is truth?” Selected Messages, Book 1, 413.

That prediction has already been fulfilled. There is variance on controverted points all over the world. The time to fast and pray is now, so we know the voice of the True Shepherd.

Correct Mistake

Point No. 6: If, when you fast and pray and study God’s Word and the Spirit of Prophecy, you find out that you really are mistaken in something, then action must be taken. If a minister learns that he is mistaken in something he has taught and preached, he must go to those whom he has taught and to whom he has preached and tell them. Even if it was just a private opinion, he must still confess and repent to God. This is where it gets tough, because a number of people for one reason or another cannot acknowledge that they have made a mistake.

If you are in that condition, you will never make it to the kingdom of heaven. All the people who go to heaven must confess their sins and repent.

Ellen White wrote this: “With these warnings [referring to warnings in the Bible against heresies in the last days], why is it that the church does not distinguish the false from the genuine? Those who have in any way been thus misled need to humble themselves before God, and sincerely repent, because they have so easily been led astray. They have not distinguished the voice of the True Shepherd from that of a stranger. Let all such review this chapter of their experience.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 393.

She, at the time, was writing to people who were neglecting personal study and were saying they did not believe what the Spirit of Prophecy said. They were among the critics in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who did not believe that Ellen White knew what she was talking about. She cautioned them to repent, saying that if they did not do so, they would lose their way. The same is true today.

Walk In The Light

Point No. 7: If you want to be able to distinguish the voice of the True Shepherd, you have to walk in all the light you know.

“You have been able but a small part of the time to discern the voice of the True Shepherd from that of a stranger. Your neglect to walk in the light has brought darkness upon you, and your conscience, by being often violated, has become benumbed.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 229. What was this brother’s problem? He was not walking in the light. This was and is one of the big problems that creates trouble in someone’s Christian experience.

People say, “My religion does not seem real. I cannot get in touch with the Lord. It seems my prayers are not answered.” If this is your experience, you need to ask yourself, “Am I walking according to all the spiritual light and truth that the Lord has made available to me? Am I walking in all the light that I know?”

If you are walking in all the light that you know, God will give you more light. But why should God give you any more of His joy, light, and peace, if you are not even following what you already have? If you are not following what you already have, you are walking in a different direction than the True Shepherd. It is no wonder that after a while you do not recognize His voice.

Are you living up to the light you have? “Often temptations are cherished as the voice of the True Shepherd because men have separated themselves from Jesus.” Ibid., vol. 5, 428.

Beware of Stubbornness

“Men who ought to know the voice of the True Shepherd will be more ready to accept the voice of the stranger and follow in unsafe, forbidden paths because of the stubbornness of their human nature.

“Dark hours of trial are before the church [they are here right now] because they have not obeyed the warnings and reproofs and counsel of God. What a bewitching power comes upon human minds to do contrary to the oft repeated will of God, and close the eyes and stop the ears, when Jesus is calling to them to hear His voice. He says, ‘My sheep hear my voice.’ [John 10:27.]

“That night in the boat was to the disciples a school where they were to receive their education for the great work which was to be done afterwards. The dark hours of trial are to come to every one as a part of his education for higher work, for more devoted, consecrated effort. The storm was not sent upon the disciples to shipwreck them, but to test and prove them individually. Before the great trouble shall come upon the world such as has never been since there was a nation, those who have faltered and who would ignorantly lead in unsafe paths will reveal this before the real vital test, the last proving, comes, so that whatsoever they may say will not be regarded as voicing the True Shepherd.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 1001, 1002.

This is the reason you see so many leaders, ministers, and other people going off on tangents, causing others to ask, “What in the world is going on?” God is revealing to the whole church that you cannot trust what these people say. It is an awful experience through which we are going. It is time to have your eyes opened. It is time to follow all the instructions in inspired writings. Ask the Lord to help you, to have mercy on you, and to help you distinguish between the voice of the True Shepherd and all the other voices.

[Bible texts quoted are literal translation.]

Pastor John Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Editorial – New Teaching

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Many Christians down through the ages have been highly agitated by the teaching of what they consider to be error or heresy by someone else. Such agitation caused the violent death of millions of martyrs during the Dark Ages. Individuals against teachings that they consider to be heresy or error have produced a multitude of books, booklets, and tracts.

It is the purpose of this editorial to help you not be alarmed by such developments, because they will actually turn out for your good if you are one of God’s children and you follow directions! How can such a sweeping statement possibly be true? Because of the following inspired statement:

“The perversion and misinterpretation of the Scriptures by the Pharisees, and even by those who claimed to believe His words, made it necessary for Christ to speak plainly. It is thought by some to be a misfortune when erroneous theories are advanced, but the Lord has said, ‘All things work together for good to them that love God.’ [Romans 8:28.] The contention among the Corinthians made it necessary for Paul to write his wonderful epistles to them. If the Gentiles had not backslidden from the faith, Paul would not have written, ‘I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you out of the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another.’ [Galatians 1:6, 7, first part.] It was a misapplication of the Scriptures, to prove falsehood and error true. If the Thessalonians had not misinterpreted the instruction they received, they would not have entertained the belief that the Lord was immediately to be revealed in the clouds of heaven, thus making it necessary for Paul to present the truth as it is in Jesus, leaving on record truth important for all time. And so opposition against light and truth called from Christ a clearer definition of the truth. Every time that error is advanced, it will work for good to those who sincerely love God; for when the truth is shadowed by error, those whom the Lord has made His sentinels will make the truth sharper and clearer. They will search the Scriptures for evidence of their faith. The advancement of error is the call for God’s servants to arouse, and place the truth in bold relief.

“There are those who would rather start speculative ideas, and dwell on new themes, so arousing a desire for something new and strange, than learn the precious lessons given by Christ. By some these speculative ideas are made all and in all. And thus they neglect to seek for the qualifications that they must possess if they would win the eternal reward. The one thing for us to know is Christ, ‘the Way, the Truth, and the Life.’ ‘This is life eternal,’ He said, ‘that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.’ [John 14:6; 17:3.]” The Signs of the Times, January 6, 1898.

The next time you are troubled by a “new teaching” that is causing division among God’s professed people, follow the instruction in the above statement: (1) search the Scriptures; (2) look for the evidence; look up all Scriptures pertaining to the teaching.