Judy Rebarchek

Even Demons Know

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Demons know who Jesus is and believe His word. Can we say the same thing?

“When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, ‘What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’ ” Matthew 8:28, 29

“Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

“Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, ‘Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!’

“But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet, and come out of him!’ And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.” Mark 1:21–26

“Satan is the god of the world; his influence is to pervert the senses, control the human mind for evil, and drive his victims to violence and crime. He sows discord and darkens the intellect. The work of Christ is to break his power over the children of men. Yet how many in every department of life, in the home, in business transactions, and in the church, turn Jesus from their doors but let the hateful monster in.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 2, 317

“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” James 2:19

We are sinful, evil by nature. Alone, we have no desire to put Satan out of our lives. But if we study the word of God and pray for Him to give us the willingness to believe and the power to act upon that belief, then we will come off more than conquerors, with Satan thrown out of our lives as surely as his minions were from those the Bible tells us about.

“Jesus knows the circumstances of every soul. He turns no weeping, contrite one away. He does not tell to anyone all that He might reveal, but He bids every trembling soul take courage. Freely will He pardon all who come to Him for forgiveness and restoration.” The Signs of the Times, October 25, 1905

“It is faith that connects us with heaven and brings us strength for coping with the powers of darkness. In Christ, God has provided means for subduing every sinful trait and resisting every temptation, however strong. But many feel that they lack faith, and therefore they remain away from Christ. Let these souls, in their helpless unworthiness, cast themselves upon the mercy of their compassionate Saviour. Look not to self, but to Christ. He who healed the sick and cast out demons when He walked among men is the same mighty Redeemer today. Faith comes by the word of God. Then grasp His promise, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in nowise cast out.’ Cast yourself at His feet with the cry, ‘Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.’ ” Ibid., January 20, 1904

Let this be our prayer:

Dear Lord, I come to You with a humbled heart to ask for Your transforming power to change my life.

Obedience or Sacrifice?

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“I wish I had lived in those times,” exclaimed Henry Sharp, a rather enthusiastic boy, as he finished reading the account of the death of Latimer and Ridley.

“Why?” inquired Mr. Severn, his tutor.

“Because I should like to have been a martyr,” replied Henry slowly; “it seems such a glorious thing to die for what you believe to be right.”

The opinion did not seem to be in the least shared by his school fellows, who showed their astonishment and dissent by various gestures; some were ready to laugh, and looked towards the master, with faces expressive of their ideas of their own superior wisdom, and anticipating the rebuke that was to fall upon their comrade.

But Mr. Severn was not a man to judge things hastily, or to pronounce a remark silly, so he said quietly: “Do you really think so, Henry? Do you believe that you would have courage and firmness to submit to the severe and often lingering agonies which those persecuted men endured?”

“Of course I can’t be sure that I should, sir,” replied Henry; “but it seems to me that the thought of gaining heaven must be enough to sustain anyone in ever so much pain.”

“I can sympathize with your feelings,” continued Mr. Severn, “for I remember that as a boy I, too, had the same idea; but as I grew older and was able to better understand the state of my own heart, I came to the conclusion that I was deceiving myself.

“I found out, in examining myself, that in longing for martyrdom as a means of gaining heaven, I was unconsciously looking upon that pain and suffering as more easy to bear than the yoke which Christ has laid upon us. Or to express myself more simply, I was really thinking that I would rather submit to a cruel death than struggle daily and hourly to live as Jesus would have me live. While I was wishing to give the strongest proof of my love to God, I was really shrinking from the service He had appointed to me, and trying to find an easier way for myself.

“I cannot of course tell what you feel,” continued Mr. Severn; “I only give you my own experience to guide you; but I must add further caution—martyrdom is not a certain means of entering heaven.”

“Not certain!” exclaimed several of his hearers, and Henry looked particularly astonished.

“I admit,” answered Mr. Severn, “that it is difficult to imagine a man, who did not have a firm and saving faith in his Saviour, would be willing to die for his religion; but we have Paul’s own testimony to guide us: ‘Though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.’ ”

“Many have tried to find out paths that please them better than God’s narrow way. You remember the history of Naaman the Syrian. He went to Elisha to be cured of his leprosy, and was willing, as subsequent events proved, to do a great deal to be cured of his fearful and loathsome malady; but when the prophet sent out the message to him to go and dip seven times in the river Jordan, the very simplicity of the means to be employed offended him. If he had been told to undertake some weary pilgrimage, to go through some painful sufferings, no doubt he would have submitted cheerfully; but his pride rebelled against washing in the river Jordan. Nay, even if he must be cured by washing, why not let it be the mightier streams of his own land, Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus! Thus he argued; anything rather than what God’s prophet appointed. And we are very much like Naaman. Sin is like leprosy, and when we ask to be cured of it, we are told that there is but one means—to wash in the fountain that is opened for all sin and for all uncleanness, to rely for cleansing upon the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Human pride revolts against this, and would prefer a salvation which left man to ‘do some great thing’ for himself, and did not merely place him in the purifying stream humbly and confidingly like a little child.

“We must not deceive ourselves but try and forget such fancies for doing some great thing, and endeavor instead to do the everyday duties that are before us. So many more are called upon to perform such deeds, than to do great things, that I believe they are fully pleasing in the sight of God, when done from a simple desire to His glory. We do His will in striving to perform our daily duties, however trivial and simple, as He would have them done; and in believing that, let them be what they will, it is noble work, because it is what He has given us to do. In the Bible, how many instances we have of those who have employed their talents well, receiving more; of men called to greater honors, or more extensive labor, when they were simply employed in attending to their everyday concerns.

“A shepherd guarding his father-in-law’s flock upon Mount Horeb; a voice comes to him, and he is called to confront a powerful king—to free, by signs and wonders, an enslaved people from his unwillingly relaxed grasp—to become the leader and lawgiver of this rescued nation, and to be a favored servant of God.

“Another youth, also employed in keeping sheep; the prophet sent to his father’s house, sees all his brothers, but does not find among them the chosen of the Lord. This youngest is then sent for from his humble occupation, and upon his head is poured the anointing oil, and into his heart the sanctifying grace, which gains for him that glorious title, ‘The man after God’s own heart.’

“Another man plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; Israel’s great prophet passes by and casts his mantle upon him, calling him to be his successor; yes, even to receive a double portion of the Spirit which rested upon him, and he had stood fearless and alone on the side of God among the multitudes of Baal’s prophets and the prophets of the groves.

“Where was Matthew when Jesus called him? At the receipt of custom. Where were Peter, James, and John? Fishing. Where was Gideon when he was called to be a judge of Israel? Threshing wheat. But I need not repeat any more examples; those I have quoted are sufficient to point out what I mean.”

“I suppose my wish was a very foolish one,” said Henry, “and I

have been deceiving myself as you suspected. I have not looked at things in the light you represent them. The view you have would make us more contented with our lot, however humble. It certainly would cause us to feel more interest in our daily duties to think that they are a part of God’s work upon earth.”

“It does indeed” answered Mr. Severn. “Omitting the obvious duties we have been given to do, in the hope of being given a grander duty is a poor way of showing obedience to God. You might think it a greater merit, but it would not be what He has given you to do. The continual sense of our being about God’s work, and of His eye seeing us, gives importance and worth to all we have to do.”

Do you feel, like Henry, that it would be a more glorious thing to make some great sacrifice, rather than to yield your will in very trivial matters, or to submit to the discipline of parents and teachers? Do not forget that “to obey is better than sacrifice.”

Source: Sabbath Readings for the Home Circle, Vol. 1, ©1877, 239–245.

The Reward of Holiness

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We believe without a doubt that Christ is soon coming. This is not a fable to us; it is a reality. We have no doubt, neither have we had a doubt for years, that the doctrines we hold today are present truth, and that we are nearing the judgment. We are preparing to meet Him who, escorted by a retinue of holy angels, is to appear in the clouds of heaven to give the faithful and the just the finishing touch of immortality.

When He comes, He is not to cleanse us of our sins, to remove from us the defects in our character, or to cure us of the infirmities of our tempers and dispositions. If wrought for us at all, this work will all be accomplished before that time.

When the Lord comes, those who are holy will be holy still. Those who have preserved their bodies and spirits in holiness, in sanctification and honor, will then receive the finishing touch of immortality. But those who are unjust, unsanctified, and filthy will remain so forever. No work will then be done for them to remove their defects and give them holy characters. The Refiner does not then sit to pursue His refining process and remove their sins and their corruption. This is all to be done in these hours of probation. It is now that this work is to be accomplished for us. …

We are now in God’s workshop. Many of us are rough stones from the quarry. But as we lay hold upon the truth of God, its influence affects us. It elevates us and removes from us every imperfection and sin, of whatever nature. Thus we are prepared to see the King in His beauty and finally to unite with the pure and heavenly angels in the kingdom of glory. It is here that this work is to be accomplished for us, here that our bodies and spirits are to be fitted for immortality. Counsels on Health, 43, 44

Diabolical Deception

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Many argued that belief in God would wane with the progress of modernity, becoming merely a memory. Since the Enlightenment in Europe, there was a strong conviction, especially among philosophers and sociologists, that the demise of religion in the face of modernity was inevitable.

Today, in the 21st century, religion is exploding with remarkable strength in areas around the world, particularly on the streets of European cities, both metaphorically and literally. It is impossible not to notice that the rise of faith in a globalized world will have a powerful impact on the shape of politics, economics, and religion itself in the present age. It is inevitable.

However, it is not just about the revival of religion per se. We are witnessing various mutations and hybrids of religiosity. This is evident in the fusion of faith with magic, science with parapsychology, philosophy with astrology, Christianity with Eastern religions—it’s the New Age, a form of contemporary spirituality that is a manifestation of occultism. The foundation of spirituality, in turn, is the belief in the immortality of the human soul. From the Catholic Church (the heir to pagan mysteries and cults) through mass culture, and ending with Protestantism, it is clear that occultism has dominated our religious and socio-cultural reality.

The Sanctity of Life

It is worth noting that the Bible, when it comes to matters of life and death, focuses with incredible passion on life. According to the Bible, death is considered an evil, and its surroundings, such as human corpses, as well as menstrual blood or mourning bread, pose a threat to life and its sanctity. The prevalent belief among people in spiritualism—that is, the belief in the spirits of the deceased and the possibility of establishing contact with them by the living—is practically absent in the Bible. When it is mentioned, it is strongly condemned. This is because the faith in Yahweh is irreconcilable with the belief in the spirits of the deceased; the Hebrew faith is fundamentally intolerant of any forms of ancestor worship. God is the Living God and is for the living.1 Indeed, the Hebrews never developed a cult of the dead, categorically rejecting all forms of ancestor worship as well as cults related to fertility. Any contact with the so-called “afterlife” was strictly forbidden under the threat of the death penalty.

Spiritualism in the Catholic Church

The situation looks quite different in Roman Catholicism. I remember being surprised, despite the awareness that the Catholic Church is considered apostate according to the Bible, at how profound this apostasy is. Certainly, there are many sincere individuals in the Catholic Church who believe in Jesus Christ, but they should be especially aware of the true nature of Catholicism. Catholicism involves the veneration of saints, their relics (such as the head, a piece of a hand, dried blood, bones, hair, nails), masses for the dead, and the Holy Mass, which involves the offering of—as they believe it—the real body and blood of Jesus Christ, constituting an obvious heresy. The Bible clearly states, “… when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God” and “For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:12, 14 ESV

It is worth noting that a Catholic mass cannot take place unless the altar has been consecrated, meaning it must contain a fragment of a dead body—a relic of a saint.2 In the Constitution of the Second Vatican Council, this is unequivocal: “… there exists a real communion between the living and the dead, which finds specific expression in the exchange of spiritual goods.”3 If you think about it more deeply, you will come to a rather frightening conclusion: Roman Catholicism is a real, mysterious cult of the dead. From the Catholic perspective, after death, a person as an immortal soul joins the world of spirits, a world divided into hell, purgatory, and heaven.

Catholic Hell

The lie of the theory of the immortality of the soul has become the basis of the Catholic doctrine of hell and purgatory. The image of eternal torment for sinners in hell is quite popular among Catholics and most Protestants. It is complete nonsense that cannot be reconciled with the character of a merciful and just God. The Catholic dogma of hell and its Protestant versions are perhaps among the most repulsive teachings that fallen Christianity can present to the world. What purpose would eternal, hellish torment serve, or even eternal separation from God, when such punishment cannot change the fate of the suffering individual? If there were such a hell, God would be a perverse sadist.

Indeed, Jesus stated that hell is a real place where sinners will end up at the end of the world (Matthew 13:40, 49). According to the Apocalypse, on the day of judgment, the surface of the earth will become a lake of fire—hell, where all sinners, including Satan and his angels, will be destroyed for eternity. What if the term “for eternity” is used in the Bible in the Apocalypse? This should also be explained through the Bible. In the book of Jude, we read that Sodom and Gomorrah serve as an example of eternal fire’s punishment (Jude 7). The “eternal fire” that consumed these cities has long since gone out. Therefore, the word eternal does not refer to the duration of the fire, but to its eternal consequences. The Bible presents only two options: eternal life with God for the saved or eternal death for the condemned, who will ultimately be annihilated in the lake of fire.

Purgatory—or how to buy salvation

The Catholic cult of the dead would be incomplete without the doctrine of purgatory. The doctrine of purgatory is not found anywhere in the Bible, but the idea of purgatory was inspired by demons and well-developed in pagan religions. According to Catholic doctrine, purgatory is a place where the souls of the dead suffer, atoning for unforgiven sins. Souls in purgatory can be redeemed by the living who offer sacrifices for the deceased, such as purchasing a so-called Holy Mass for the soul in purgatory. The living can also make offerings for the dead, such as prayer, indulgences, or other religious rituals.4 It is evident that the doctrine of purgatory is a demonic teaching, a fiction, a grand lie that the Catholic Church uses to enrich itself, capitalizing on the fear of its believers who never have certainty of salvation and do not believe in the certainty of the salvation of their loved ones. If salvation can be achieved through suffering in purgatory and the offering of sacrifices, then purgatory invalidates, cancels, mocks, and blasphemes the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is entirely sufficient to save every sinner who, repenting of their sins, accepts the salvation offered freely by Jesus, as clearly stated in the Bible: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The freedom from fear is good news because indeed, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Catholic Heaven

Based on the belief in the immortal soul, if a person, after death, goes to heaven as a reward:

  • Why the resurrection?
  • Why the second coming of Jesus Christ if the saved are already in heaven?
  • Why the final judgment if people have already gone to hell, purgatory, or heaven immediately after death?
  • Why the sacrifice of the Son of God on Golgotha, who died to give people eternal life, if humans possess immortality inherently?

Mass culture shapes reality

German sociologist Max Weber—a classic in sociology at the turn of the 19th century—was deeply convinced of the ongoing rationalization in Western culture, associated with the process of the “disenchantment of the world.” The world becomes increasingly explainable and less mystical. It is a process of moving away from a magical view of reality. In the culture of the Western world, we can indeed observe such a process, which has accelerated significantly since the time of the Reformation and the Enlightenment.  Paradoxically, today we can observe something exactly the opposite. It is a process of enchanting reality through the invasion of occultism into popular and mass culture. Occultism and its forms, such as spiritualism, are now commonplace for the average consumer of culture, more like fast food. Occultism is no longer something mysterious reserved for the initiated but a widely accessible form of entertainment served by popular music, cinema, or streaming platforms such as Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, or Disney+. Mass culture, through its content, influences the way its audience thinks about the surrounding reality, thus affecting their language, beliefs, and value system. The language used, in turn, influences the perception of reality. And the cycle repeats.

Mechanisms of cultural industry

Theodor W. Adorno—a German philosopher, sociologist, psychologist, musicologist and composer in the early to mid 1900s—presented an interesting observation on how the mechanisms of the cultural industry work. He believed that popular culture imposes its products on the masses, who are unaware of this fact. According to the researcher, popular culture promotes emptiness, banality, and conformity, and its ideology is false and manipulative. Human masses are entirely defenseless in the face of these products of the cultural industry.5 If Adorno is right, the average consumer of occult media content becomes an easy prey for Satan.

What is Netflix serving today?

Saturated with occult and spiritual symbolism, the latest season of the popular series Stranger Things, created by the Duffer Brothers, is being advertised as even more brutal and terrifying. The series Brand New Cherry Flavor promotes the occult teachings of the Ordo Templi Orientis. The protagonist is an ambitious director seeking revenge on an unscrupulous producer by utilizing supernatural powers. The main themes of the series include witchcraft and cannibalism. Another series is Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in which the protagonist sells her soul to the devil. The main themes of this series are cannibalism and pedophilia. The next item on Netflix’s menu is The Order, shamelessly promoting Satanism. These are just a few productions inspired by demonic forces on an unprecedented scale, as it is now a global, mass phenomenon, and these series are incredibly popular. It seems we have reached a point in history where Satan’s deception of the world through various forms of occultism is complete.

New Age—doors wide open to another dimension

A lot has been written about New Age ideology from a Christian perspective. Therefore, just a brief definition is in order. New Age ideology is a contemporary form of spiritualism, a syncretic hybrid combining occult practices, magic, parapsychology, science, philosophy, Gnosticism, Eastern religions, shamanism, and astrology.

The cornerstone of New Age ideology is Satan’s lie from the garden of Eden. The serpent, serving as a medium through which Satan speaks, says: “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4, 5

The New Age movement proclaims the same message as Satan’s original lie: You will certainly not die; you will attain enlightenment—your eyes will be opened, you will be like God, deciding for yourself what is good and what is evil. A person engaging in any practice popular in the New Age movement stands at the threshold of widely open doors to another dimension filled with beings who hate and despise humanity. One might say that New Age doesn’t concern us Christians. So what’s the problem then?

New Age Church

The problem is that the “ideas and practices of the New Age movement reflect those propagated by the new charismatics.”6 The charismatic movement is a global religious movement that includes around 700 million charismatic Christians today—Protestants, Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and Messianic Jews—who have experienced the so-called “baptism in the Holy Spirit.” It is the most dynamically-growing segment of Christianity. How is it possible that such different Christian churches with mutually-exclusive belief systems are united by one “spirit,” one movement, one revival? It is only possible because what binds all these charismatic Christians together is occultism—supra-rational and supernatural phenomena attributed to the Holy Spirit. The phenomena present in the charismatic movement are not the work of the Holy Spirit but of the satanic spirit introducing a false “gospel of unity” based on “shared spirit experience” above the teachings of the word of God. Its aim is to create a “spiritual unity” that connects all Christians, essentially embracing and unifying people of all denominations and religions under one “syncretic spirit.”7

Beliefs and practices of charismatic churches

If we examine the teachings of leaders in some parts of the charismatic movement, they proclaim the same as leaders in the New Age movement:

  1. Higher consciousness—the belief that people are “enlightened” through meditation, mystical experiences, revelations, visions, and speaking in tongues.
  2. Guidance by higher intelligences—angels, extraterrestrial beings, spirits of the deceased—and the belief that they can bring hidden knowledge to people.
  3. Spiritual revelations aimed at renewing the world and uniting people.
  4. Media—every individual can become a spiritual medium or prophet to receive messages from God.
  5. Techniques leading to altered states of consciousness that subject the mind to the influence of higher intelligence—visualization, meditation, self-hypnosis, mantra, speaking in tongues, chanting the same phrases in a loop.
  6. Golden age of the Earth—preparing the world with its political and religious structures to welcome “Christ,” who will rule on Earth.8

During charismatic services in some churches, there are manifestations that cannot be explained by the work of the Holy Spirit. People imitating monkeys or chickens, barking like dogs, falling into convulsions on the ground, and bursting into uncontrollable laughter are just a few examples. Just turn on YouTube to see similarities between charismatic phenomena and the practices of Hindu gurus. For instance, when a guru touches the forehead of their followers, they may fall to the ground, laugh, shake, or experience ecstatic revelations. A similar power was wielded over his patients by the French physician Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815), the father of modern hypnosis and spiritualism. It is not a coincidence that such behaviors are typically the result of involvement in occultism and, at the same time, symptoms of possession, especially when spiritual manifestations are accompanied by convulsions, seizures, screams, uncoordinated movements, and the imitation of animals.9

Unity in diversity

Ellen G. White predicted with remarkable accuracy over 100 years ago this improbable religious syncretism, which is a characteristic sign of the contemporary era, in the final times:

“The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience. As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive and ensnare. Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.”

References:

  1. Scherer, Filozofia śmierci od Anaksymandra do Adorno, tłum. W. Szymona, published by WAM, Kraków 2008, p. 109
  2. ordo.pallotyni.pl/index.php/dokumenty-o-liturgii/wprowadzenia-do-ksiag-liturgicznych/318-obrzedy-poswiecenia-kosciola-i-oltarza, accessibility: 09.10.2023
  3. Pastoral note of the Episcopal Conference of Emilia-Romagna, document published in a book: P.J. Śliwiński, A. Zwoliński, H. Cisowski, A. Regiewicz, Kościół a spirytyzm, published by M, Kraków 2001, pp. 247–272
  4. katechizm.opoka.org.pl/rkkkI-2-3.htm, accessibility: 13.11.2023
  5. Łagosz, Ezoteryka a popkultura — przenikanie symboliki ezoterycznej do strefy kultury masowej (zarys problematyki), publisher Ośrodek Badawczy Facta Ficta 2018, p. 222
  6. Michael G. Moriarty, The New Charismatics, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan 1992, pp. 270, 271
  7. poslaniecsadu.pl/wydalismy,2.html, accessibility: 14.11.2023
  8. Dunkel, Apokalipsa, Orion plus 2001, pp. 134, 135
  9. Ibiden, p. 135
  10. G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 588

Marcin Watras lives in Katowice, Poland. He is interested in the philosophy of religion and trends in society. He works for the European Union.

More Than One Road to Hell

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“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
1 Corinthians 10:12

The church is being sifted. As the winds of persecution and heresy unite to purge God’s threshing floor and all the chaff is blown out, the wheat remains. Regarding this time of shaking and sifting, Mrs. White writes, “As trials thicken around us, both separation and unity will be seen in our ranks. Some who are now ready to take up weapons of warfare will in times of real peril make it manifest that they have not built upon the solid Rock; they will yield to temptation. Those who have had great light and precious privileges, but have not improved them, will, under one pretext or another, go out from us.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 400

Generally, there are two reasons for doing something—the reason given and the real reason. The reason given is pretext. Say a person is offended or hurt by something someone says or does, and this is the reason given for the person to stop coming to church. But if we were to look much deeper, we would find that the real reason is an unconverted heart. However, many will convince themselves to believe the pretext, and as a result, they will depart—go out—from God’s people.

“The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. … Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work, few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. …

“The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time, the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. …

“The deeper the night for God’s people, the more brilliant the stars. Satan will sorely harass the faithful; but, in the name of Jesus, they will come off more than conquerors. Then will the church of Christ appear ‘fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.’ ” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 80–82

That terrible description of the awful sifting time just ahead speaks of the test over the mark of the beast and the time when people will be unable to buy or sell unless they are willing to receive that sign of apostasy and rebellion. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us and if we have not yielded to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we will find ourselves unable to stay true to God.

Let’s look at some of those downward steps, the various ways through which men arrive at last at the final jump from the church of God into Babylon.

In Line with the World

It is suggested that men take the journey to follow the world step by step—little by little—by yielding to worldly demands and conforming to worldly customs.

Inspiration tells us that our people are in constant danger of conforming to the world. “There is constant danger among our people that those who engage in labor in our schools and sanitariums will entertain the idea that they must get in line with the world, study the things which the world studies, and become familiar with the things that the world becomes familiar with. This is one of the greatest mistakes that could be made.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 534

Our danger is being influenced by what we read, look at, and listen to. The longer we look to and listen to the world we will eventually come to many of their conclusions.

“Those who seek the education that the world esteems so highly are gradually led further and further from the principles of truth until they become educated worldlings. At what a price have they gained their education!” Ibid., 535, 536. Is it possible then that someone can be a man or woman of God at the start of their education, but end up a child of the devil? Yes, it is. And he need only, at each point, to take one step. “And there are some who, having secured this worldly education, think that they can introduce it into our schools. But let me tell you that you must not take what the world calls the higher education and bring it into our schools and sanitariums and churches. … I speak to you definitely. This must not be done.” Ibid., 536. It is dangerous, and it is one of the ways leading downward.

Now during the shaking, all those who have been thus influenced by the world will go out, unless they have had their hearts brought back like Paul’s experience in Arabia or Moses’ experience in the desert of Midian.

“Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness.

“God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions. … God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 81, 82

Being Good, but Good for Nothing

Now we will look at something that ought to come very close to each one of us as we examine ourselves. “Every selfish, covetous person will fall out by the way.” Early Writings, 269. You don’t have to go to a worldly university to learn to be selfish and covetous, for we are born that way and will stay that way unless we are born again (John 3:3).

“Like Judas, who sold his Lord, they [selfish, covetous persons] will sell good principles and a noble, generous disposition for a little of earth’s gain. All such will be sifted out from God’s people.” Early Writings, 269. Judas was part of Jesus’ inner circle, but he fell out because he was selfish and covetous—he wanted his own way and what others had—and this is another way that many people will be sifted out.

Is there any hope for me if I am selfish? Yes, but all the selfishness must be sifted out of me or else it will sift me out of God’s church. If I cling to my selfishness, I will be sifted out, but if I am willing to let the grace of God sift me, then I have hope.

Continual giving starves covetousness to death. The devil doesn’t like that, but Jesus does. He so loved that He gave Himself; the Father so loved that He gave His Son. And as we unite with Jesus in unselfish ministry for others and unselfish giving for God’s work to help the poor and needy, it helps to sift out our selfishness and covetousness.

Related to selfishness and covetousness is an idol that looks so sweet that many people think that it will never do much harm: the love of ease. “I know that many think far too favorably of the present time. These ease-loving souls will be engulfed in the general ruin.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 80. Ease-loving souls are people who don’t want to do anything bad, they just don’t want to do anything at all. We are studying various roads to hell and one of them is the road of just being good—good for nothing, ease-loving, avoiding responsibility.

It is represented by the man in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The master had given one servant five talents, another servant two talents, and a third one talent. This third servant wrapped it in a napkin and put it in the earth. When the master came back, the servant thought he had played it safe, but the master didn’t commend him. He was not willing to exert himself to go beyond what had been imparted to him. I pray that God will deliver us from the ease-loving spirit that dodges and evades responsibilities.

Ease loving often masquerades as perfectionism—the idea that I am so conscientious that I don’t want to do anything unless I could do it the very best. The only way I can do anything very good is to have practically nothing to do. If I can’t do it perfectly, then I really shouldn’t do it at all. I warn you, this is one of the devil’s most subtle deceptions. And when men and women get to the judgment, some will be surprised how sanctimonious was the guise under which the enemy led them away. Fear can also cause people to spurn responsibility. “I just can’t do it because I might do it wrong.” Each of these is a ditch on opposite sides of the same road.

“The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. These are Satan’s snares, set for unwary feet. But these slavish bands must be broken. … God’s watchmen will not cry, ‘Peace, peace,’ when God has not spoken peace.” Ibid., 83. So I’m not going to speak peace to people who desire to be good, but are largely good for nothing. My soul longs that God shall arouse every lackadaisical, half-hearted, ease-loving soul with the spirit to do more and more and more.

Too Much

There are also people who try to do too much and botch the job. But that is no reason why others should take any one of the talents God has given them and wrap it up nicely in a napkin and put it on a shelf. Sometimes pride is wrapped up with the talent. “What if I can’t do it perfectly?” “What if I fail?” God may allow failure for the express purpose of removing pride from the heart.

Dwight L. Moody was not an educated man, as the world counts it. He had been a shoe clerk before his conversion. He wasn’t a preacher, just a man who wanted to work to save souls. Ira Sankey was a cultured and well-educated man, known for the composition of many well-known hymns such as The Ninety and Nine, and for his strong baritone voice. Moody and Sankey had been invited to London to preach in a large theater before the royal family of England as well as lords and ladies from all around. Sankey led out with a song service. Moody, the simple shoe clerk, rose to speak to the thousands of people before him. As he started to read the Bible text he fumbled with it. He couldn’t get through it. He felt humiliated and started to read it again. Sankey tried to help him. Again and again he tried to read the text, but was unable to get through it. He broke down and wept. In silence, he reached out in prayer, “Oh Lord, if You can help a poor ignorant man like me to say something to these people that will help them, then, Lord, help me.” And with that, he began to talk to them. For 20 minutes all over that theater the Spirit of God was at work. The king and queen of England were weeping in their box. The human vessel had been broken and the light shone out.

If we would get away from our own ideas of how things should be done, God is willing and ready to do great things through us. But God works no miracle for the soul who, for whatever the reason, hugs the shore and loves the life of ease and freedom from responsibility. All such will eventually be sifted out.

Esau’s Problem

I am always saddened when I read about the life of Esau. Esau had a big problem—himself. “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.” Hebrews 12:16. Esau’s attention was focused to that spot just below the ribs, and to satisfy his appetite, he was willing to sacrifice his birthright for a bowlful of stew. Esau couldn’t control his appetite, so it controlled him.

“The controlling power of appetite will prove the ruin of thousands, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have had moral power to gain the victory over every other temptation of Satan. But those who are slaves to appetite will fail in perfecting Christian character.” Testimonies, Vol. 3, 491, 492. The people who receive the latter rain and give the loud cry will be those who have gotten the victory over pride, selfishness, love of the world, every wrong word and action, and over appetite.

“Health reform is to do among our people a work which it has not yet done. … Many who are now only half converted on the question of meat eating will go from God’s people, to walk no more with them.” Counsels on Health, 575. This speaks directly to the effects uncontrolled appetite has on loyalty to God and His church. Only half converted regarding health reform, these people will be sifted out. This mentions specifically the question of meat eating and is linked definitely with the approaching sifting from God’s church. If anyone still hungers for the fleshpots of Egypt (sin), you must ask God to sanctify your appetite. He accomplishes this only after we turn away from eating meat and any other food that is eaten against counsel—anything that we cherish more than God. We must be watchful regarding good food for even it can become an idol. Our appetite must be converted here if we are to sit at the Lord’s table there.

Jesus went into the desert and fasted for 40 days, for me. He broke the power of appetite and He will enable me to do the battle on my own account. Yes, I can have—and so can you—victory over appetite.

A Fire and a World of Iniquity

James tells us that if a man can control the tongue, he is a perfect man who will be able to bridle the whole body (James 3:2). But the danger of the tongue is not what goes in, but what comes out of the mouth. You can disarm a man by taking his sword away, but you cannot get rid of the sword which pierces—the faultfinding, gossiping, and accusing tongue. Isaiah understood this, for when he caught a view of the Lord, he said, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips.” Isaiah 6:5, first part. In response, an angel came and took a live coal from off the altar and put it on his lips. Imagine, if that had been a literal thing, it would have been very painful. Are you and I willing to have this radical treatment applied to us so that we can be cured of faultfinding, accusation, and criticism? People who may have no interest in the world, who are not controlled by their appetite, may be especially prone to the temptation to criticize.

Remember the prayer of the Pharisee? “God, I thank You that I am not like other men.” Luke 18:11. He went on to list all the things he didn’t do. He was a pretty good Pharisee, as Pharisees go, but he used his tongue to find fault and criticize even in prayer. It was a fixed habit with him. The publican on the other hand prayed, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Which of these men went down to his house justified? In this time, of all times, we need to be delivered from this spirit of criticism and faultfinding.

This is God’s church, His movement. We should view with suspicion anyone who comes with what they call light, new light, old light, any kind of light, all the while accusing and condemning those upon whom God has laid the burden of the work. No matter how it might try to conceal with the sheep’s clothing of longing for the latter rain and the loud cry in an effort to hide the wolf that would tear and divide the flock, we must not be misled by the sheep’s clothing when the growl of the wolf is still occasionally heard. The dragon cannot forever masquerade as a lamb.

“But men are to be condemned who start out with a proclamation of wonderful light, and yet draw away from the agents whom God is leading. This was the way in which Korah, Dathan, and Abiram did, and their action is recorded as a warning to all others. We are not to do as they have done—accuse and condemn those upon whom God has laid the burden of the work.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 56

As we have looked over some of the various ways of being sifted out, we see that one side of the road to heaven is worldliness—conformity, a drifting away from God’s standards—while on the other side of the road is pharisaical conformity to the standards of reform, yet with the spirit of criticism and self-righteousness.

Can the Blind Lead the Blind?

“And He spoke a parable unto them: ‘Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?’ ” Luke 6:39. If we follow anyone other than Jesus Christ, then we might find that we have fallen into the ditch, and the only question is, in which ditch will you land?

How horrible it would be to be so loyal to a church or doctrine that I would be willing to follow it even if it embraced worldly trends and participated in the wickedness of the world, then to discover that in the crisis hour when the mark of the beast is enforced, that I have lost heaven? Equally as tragic, if, in the name of reform and standing for standards, I become so pharisaical that I pull away from my brothers and sisters who may not agree with me and find myself outside the church of God. Do you think it will matter in the Day of Judgment if you followed a preacher or an elder or a teacher? If you are not following the testimonies of the Holy Spirit and the Bible, you eventually will find yourself not only disloyal to God’s standards, but disloyal to His church as well.

Friend, the devil doesn’t care which of these downward steps you take. His only interest is that you take one, and that you do it so committedly that you ultimately leave God’s church and take up residence in Babylon. He wants you to believe that you are a good Pharisee, all while you criticize and find fault. He wants you to think that food is just something that you need to survive and not something that can control your life, until the decisions you make are no longer those that would lead you to heaven. He wants you to be afraid to fail or too proud to try, instead sitting back in ease, satisfied to have no responsibility at all. The devil wants us to look at, listen to, and see the things of this world until our sinful hearts become so much a part of it, that they no longer yearn for heaven.

There is only one thing that will take us through.

“ ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.’ ” Revelation 3:15–17

This is Jesus’ message to the Laodicean church, to the church of the judgment hour—to you and me. No matter what we think of ourselves, our true condition is pathetic—wretched, miserable, blind, and naked. But Jesus has the answer for us.

“ ‘I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.’ ” Verses 18, 19

That gold is faith and love. If we love Jesus, we will in love cling to His standards no matter who goes against them. Love is the answer—love for God and love toward our fellow man.

“We must come up to a higher plane of action. Let the spirit of Jesus vitalize the souls of the workers. … Do not allow all your strength and energy to be given to worldly, temporal things … . We have not a moment’s time to use selfishly. Let all we do be done with an eye single to the glory of God.” Sabbath-School Worker, July 1, 1885

“In the instruction that Christ gave to His disciples, and to the people of all classes who came to hear His words, there was that which lifted them to a high plane of thought and action. If the words of Christ, instead of the words of men, were given to the learner today, we would see evidences of higher intelligence, a clearer comprehension of heavenly things, a deeper knowledge of God, a purer and more vigorous Christian life.” The Review and Herald, November 7, 1907

“Those who are looking for the Lord soon to come, looking for that wondrous change, when ‘this corruptible shall put on incorruption,’ should in this probationary time be standing upon a higher plane of action.” Counsels to the Church, 169

We must not be satisfied with doing only the minimum requirements in our work of developing perfection of character. God has an infinite purpose for us. He will show the points on which we must improve in order that we may measure up more perfectly with heaven’s high ideals. With a glad heart, we must endeavor to grow every day in grace and in the knowledge of heavenly things. Let us set a quiet example of Christian living that others may follow and let us be ever loyal to God and His church. With one hand we must cling to what our Lord has said through His word and the Spirit of Prophecy, and with the other cling to His true church which He has placed here in this world to carry on His work.

Pastor W. D. Frazee studied the Medical Missionary Course at the College of Medical Evangelists in Loma Linda, California. In 1942, he began a faith ministry that would become the foundation for the establishment of the Wildwood Medical Missionary Institute. Pastor Frazee passed to his rest in 1996.

The Hidden Ingredient that Brings Peace

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“ ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’ ”  Matthew 11:28–30

Why are people troubled, heavy-laden? Why is there no rest for their spirit? The Bible tells us very clearly what the problem is.

“ ‘There is no peace,’ says the Lord, ‘for the wicked.’ ” Isaiah 48:22

“But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” Isaiah 57:20

“The way of peace they have not known.” Romans 3:17

The wicked live like a troubled sea and they are unable to find peace and rest. They may search for it, but they do not find it.

Someone might say, “Oh, I’m not wicked; this doesn’t apply to me.” But are we sure? How can we be sure? We may think we are not wicked, but how does the Bible define wickedness?

David tells us that: “Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.” Psalm 119:53 Forsaking or breaking the law of God is sin. “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 3:4. So those who break the law of God are called the wicked.

To those who have forsaken His law, the Lord Himself says, “If a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.” Ezekiel 18:21

On the other hand, if a person does not turn from His sins, if he continues to forsake and break the law, the Bible says he is a wicked person and he practices wickedness or lawlessness.

So, just how much of the world is wicked?

“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” 1 John 5:19

“There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10

If the Lord does not come—because of the wickedness in this world—to redeem His children, the world would eventually self-destruct. The Bible says very clearly that wickedness will ultimately destroy itself and all sinners. “Wickedness overthrows the sinner.” Proverbs 13:6

All pagan religions teach that man must, in some way, pay a price for his wickedness to finally have peace in his spirit. This is the reason people lie on beds of spikes or walk on hot coals, climb stairs on their knees or beat themselves with whips, sacrifice animals and even children in the name of the gods of wood and stone who cannot see nor hear.

Perfect Peace

The Bible tells me something completely different regarding how the price for my wickedness is to be paid. “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Verses 23, 24

Justification is a gift from God. I might think that I can pay the price for my sins, but that price is eternal death. So, if I want to live, then someone else must pay the price for me—and that is what Jesus did on the cross. “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Verses 27, 28

This does not mean the law is done away with. “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” Verse 31. “If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works. ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven. And whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.’ ” Romans 4:2–8

Contrary to what all the false religions in the world teach—that is all the pagan and non-Christian religions in the world—the Bible and the Christian religion teaches that having the wickedness and sin taken out of our lives, is by a gift—a miracle—of God. That gift is through the God-man, Christ Jesus, who offered Himself as a sacrifice to purify me from my sins, to take them completely out of my life (1 Corinthians 15:3).

What happens when I put my faith and trust in Him, and surrender my life to Him? “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1. Friends, God wants to give you peace.

God’s peace will give you rest in your spirit. So many people cannot sleep at night. They are restless and fatigued because the wicked are like a troubled sea. They simply cannot rest because there is no real peace in their lives. They search. They try. They fill their lives with all sorts of exciting pleasures. They immerse themselves in the many different things that the world has to offer, but as long as they are breaking the law of God, they will not find the peace and rest for their soul that every human being in his or her deepest consciousness really wants. Do you want peace and rest in your mind and soul? There is only one Person who can give it to you.

The book of Acts tells us that Peter had that perfect peace:

“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.

“Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying ‘Arise quickly!’ and his chains fell off his hands.

“Then the angel said to him, ‘Gird yourself and tie on your sandals’; and so he did. And he said to him, ‘Put on your garment and follow me.’

“So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

“When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

“And when Peter had come to himself, he said, ‘Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.’ ” Acts 12:5–11

If you were sentenced to be executed tomorrow, would you peacefully sleep all night tonight? Peter had, in his mind and heart, the perfect peace and rest that God gives, even if it meant dying tomorrow. If you surrender your life and everything you have to Him, you can have that same peace. Just as God delivered Peter from prison and his jailers, God will deliver you from the prison house of sin; He will remove your guilt, and give you His peace.

But more than justification, more than giving you peace and rest from the guilt of your past sins, God wants to change your life. He wants to give you the power, through the Holy Spirit, to live a new life. This is the process of being born again—the receiving of the Holy Spirit inside to change our sinful desires and replace them with the desire to only do the will of God. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Romans 6:1, 2

“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Verse 6. In giving your life to Christ, surrendering completely to Him, you are set free from the bondage of sin.

“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. … For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Verses 11, 12, 14

Not under the law? Sin has no dominion over you? A person might think that they do not need to keep the law. But is that what Paul is saying?

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourself slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. …

“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Verses 15–18; 22, 23

If I am walking after the Spirit, then I am no longer under condemnation because the Holy Spirit works a miracle of righteousness in my life, enabling me to keep God’s law. “The righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:4

However, there are people who say they cannot keep God’s law, and Paul tells us why. “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Verses 5, 6

If I am spiritually minded, if the Holy Spirit has come into my life, if I have been born again, if I walk after the Spirit and not after the lusts and desires of my sinful nature, then I will have peace. In fact, it is the only way to have peace. But if I am not converted, if I am carnally minded, if I am living according to the flesh, then I am breaking the law of God and will never find peace unless I determine to allow the Holy Spirit into my life. That is what the Bible says. Why?

“The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Verse 7. The carnal mind is unconverted and is not subject to the law of God. It cannot obey because it does not want to obey. So if someone says, “I cannot obey the law of God,” they are telling the truth, and it is pointless to argue with them.

When the Holy Spirit comes into your life, He will make it possible for you to do what you were not able to do before you were born again. In fact, this is the acid test as to whether or not a person is truly converted or not.

Am I a Christian—Christlike—in my life or is it just a name I claim? Have I really been born again? Do I live according to the law of God? Is God’s peace and His gift of eternal life really mine? If the Holy Spirit is in my life, I cannot go on living a life of sin, because as soon as I break the law of God, I quench the Spirit’s voice in my conscience. The Holy Spirit cannot lead and direct and guide my life anymore if I continue in sin, because I have gone directly contrary to what He is impressing upon my mind. I will have no peace because, as long as I remain unconverted, I have no hope for salvation. (Read carefully Romans 8:1–14.)

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “ ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’ ” John 3:5

When you are born of the Holy Spirit, Paul says the Spirit gives you the power to keep the law of God. “That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:4

He continues, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die [you will not have eternal life]; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Verses 8–13

Notice that the Holy Spirit gives me the power to turn away from my sinful nature and to live according to the law of God.

False Peace

There are millions of people in the world today who believe that they are going to heaven. Because they have a form of godliness—they call themselves Christians, go to church, do good deeds, make donations, pay tithe—they believe that they have met the requirements for heaven. And surely, the Scriptures tell us that all these things will be part of the life fully surrendered to the in-working of the Holy Spirit. But friends, a checklist of tasks will not see us through to heaven. While they may outwardly appear to be Christians, it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, giving them the power to put to death the deeds of the body and to live according to the law of God, that they, and we, have the hope of eternal life with Jesus Christ, the Father, and all the host of heaven. If we are not living according to the law of God, then we have proof that the Holy Spirit is not in control of our lives. The power of godliness is the power to change lives, and only the Holy Spirit can do this for us.

Paul said that a person who receives the Holy Spirit will find peace. The Bible predicts that in the last days there will be multitudes of people who will have a false peace. They will think that they are saved when they are not. They will have a form of godliness, but will deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5).

A Movement for Peace

In the last days, there will be a great international peace movement that will be based on false promises.

“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it.

“Many nations shall come and say, ‘Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

“But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.” Micah 4:1–5

“… Everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree,” walking in the name of his god—not in the name of the God of Jacob.

Other scriptures regarding this false religious peace movement can be found in Isaiah and Revelation. Paul says, “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3

Why will they not escape? They are spreading a peace and safety message, but this message is not based on obedience to the law of God, but rather on a lie of the antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2). The antichrist spreads the idea that you can be saved while you are breaking the law of God. But remember, breaking the law of God is sin (1 John 3:4).

God Will Have a People

The Bible also predicts that God will have a people. They are clearly defined in the book of Revelation as being those who keep His commandments—those who are obedient to His law. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12

There is no true, lasting peace without the power that the Holy Spirit gives you to keep God’s law in your life. Do you want peace? Do you want to be part of God’s faithful remnant people, to be a part of the saints who in the last days will join with those who have gone before, to be taken out of this world when Jesus returns?

The choice is yours, friend. The world lies in wickedness and becomes more wicked with each passing day. But there will be a people who keep God’s commandments, and He is returning to take them out of this world to live with Him forever. To be among that people, you must, today, surrender your life, heart, and soul to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and accept the Holy Spirit into your heart to be transformed into the image of Christ.

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.

The Christian Struggle

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One day, perhaps much sooner than most people realize, we will stand face to face with our Creator. Paul talks about the personal nature of our accountability.

“Each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12

“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10

“They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” 1 Peter 4:5

Ellen White gives us a graphic description of the judgment.

“Each has a case pending at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every individual must stand in his lot, at the end of the days.” The Great Controversy, 488

“The Judge of all the earth will render a just decision. He will not be bribed; He cannot be deceived. He who made man, and whose are the worlds and all the treasures they contain—He it is who weighs character in the balance of eternal justice. … Every individual has a soul to save or to lose.” In Heavenly Places, 360

“We are on the great battlefield of life, and let it never be forgotten that we are individually responsible for the issue of the struggle; that though Noah, Job, and Daniel were in the land, yet should they deliver neither son nor daughter by their righteousness. … But you have justified your own course because you thought that your brethren did not do right. Sometimes you have acted like a petted, spoiled child and have talked unbelief and doubt to spite others; but will it pay?” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 337, 338

“Those who do not become saints here can never be saints in heaven. God will accept in His service nothing less than the entire being—body, soul, and spirit. At the coming of Christ, many who now pass for Christians will be found wanting. … They will see their true condition. In the light of the law of God, they will see the destitution of their souls.” The Review and Herald, February 26, 1901

Jehovah’s Modern City of Refuge

by

March 24 – 30, 2024

Key Text

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’ ” Psalm 91:1, 2

Study Help: The Acts of the Apostles, 9–16

Introduction

“The cities of refuge appointed for God’s ancient people were a symbol of the refuge provided in Christ.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 516

Sunday

1 CONSTANT REFUGE

1.a. Whom do we desperately need as we flee from the evil avenger? Deuteronomy 33:27, 28; 2 Samuel 22:1–4. How did David recognize this after his own personal deliverance? Psalm 9:10

Note: “The sinner is exposed to eternal death, until he finds a hiding place in Christ; and as loitering and carelessness might rob the fugitive of his only chance for life, so delays and indifference may prove the ruin of the soul. Satan, the great adversary, is on the track of every transgressor of God’s holy law, and he who is not sensible of his danger, and does not earnestly seek shelter in the eternal refuge, will fall a prey to the destroyer.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 517

1.b.        When we truly realize the faithfulness and surety of our refuge in Christ, what situations will cause us to be afraid? Psalms 46:1–3; 62:1–8. What kind of relationship with Him is needed? Psalm 91:1, 2

1.c. Why does the understanding of the sanctuary truth enable us to have a deeper connection with Jesus as our refuge? Hebrews 6:18, 19

Monday

2 PURE, UNADULTERATED TRUTH

2.a. In what kind of refuge have those who believe lies placed their trust, and what is the result? Isaiah 28:14–21; 34:1–4, 8

Note: “To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. Yet He will ‘by no means clear the guilty.’ … The very fact of His reluctance to execute justice, testifies to the enormity of the sins that call forth His judgments, and to the severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor.

“All the inhabitants of earth are soon to meet the great Lawgiver over His broken law. There are many, many in the popular churches who know little of the real meaning of the message for this time.” The Signs of the Times, January 25, 1910

2.b.        Do truth and a lie have anything in common? 1 John 2:21. What steps should be taken when truth is neglected?

Note: “As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience.” The Desire of Ages, 232

2.c. What is pure truth, and why must it be unadulterated and preserved? John 14:6; 17:3; 1 Timothy 3:15; Isaiah 28:9–13

Note: “We are to stand upon the platform of eternal truth, pure, unadulterated truth. In this we may be considered singular, but this is the lot of all who make Christ their portion.” Medical Ministry, 161

Tuesday

3 IN NAME ONLY

3.a. What prophecy shows that the majority of churches will not accept the pure, unadulterated truth in these last days? Isaiah 4:1

Note: “Many feel that they must make some concessions to please their irreligious relatives and friends. As it is not always easy to draw the line, one concession prepares the way for another, until those who were once true followers of Christ, are in life and character conformed to the customs of the world. The connection with God is broken. They are Christians in name only. When the test hour comes, then their hope is seen to be without foundation. They have sold themselves and their children to the enemy.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, 1001

3.b.        How do we know that this prophecy refers to the time of the investigative judgment? Isaiah 4:2–4

3.c. How will those be treated who only want the name of Christ but not His character? Matthew 7:21–23

Note: “There are those in the church who, unless thoroughly converted, will crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame. I appeal to every church member to inquire, Am I doing all I can to honor my Redeemer? Truth held in unrighteousness is the greatest curse that can come to our world. But the truth as it is in Jesus is a savor of life unto life. It is worth possessing, worth living, worth defending. Christ calls upon us to enter the narrow pathway, where every step means a denial of self. He calls upon us to stand upon the platform of eternal truth, and contend, yes, contend earnestly, for the faith once delivered to the saints.” The Review and Herald, December 4, 1900

3.d.        In light of this, how dangerous is willful sin? Hebrews 10:26, 27

Note: “If Christians are such in name only, they are like the salt that has lost its savor. They have no influence for good in the world. Through their misrepresentation of God they are worse than unbelievers.” The Desire of Ages, 306

Wednesday

4 THE CITY OF REFUGE ON EARTH

4.a. What is the result of walking with Jesus in pure truth? 1 John 1:7

Note: “A union of believers with Christ will as a natural result lead to a union with one another, which bond of union is the most enduring upon earth.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 47

4.b.        What relationship does the church of God on earth have with heaven, and what hope does this bring us? Ephesians 3:15; Hebrews 12:22, 23

Note: “In order that the church may be an educating power in the world, she must cooperate with the church in heaven. Her members must represent Christ. Their hearts must be open to receive every ray of light that God may see fit to impart.” The Review and Herald, December 4, 1900

4.c. Why do we need to join the church? Ephesians 4:4, 11–16; 5:23; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; Acts 2:46, 47

Note: “The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind with the blood of His only begotten Son. From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth. In every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to the generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay off their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people.” The Acts of the Apostles, 11

“[An] obligation, too often lightly regarded—one that the youth awakened to the claims of Christ needs to be made plain—is the obligation of church relationship.

“Very close and sacred is the relation between Christ and His church—He the bridegroom, and the church the bride; He the head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ, then, involves connection with His church.” Education, 268

Thursday

5 RESIDING IN THE CITY OF REFUGE

5.a. How does God intend to reveal His love to the world? John 13:34, 35; 17:20, 21. What is our privilege in relationship with the church? Hebrews 10:25; Psalm 27:4

Note: “The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, … the final and full display of the love of God.” The Acts of the Apostles, 9

“The church of Christ, enfeebled, defective as she may appear, is the one object on earth upon which He bestows in a special sense His love and His regard. The church is the theater of His grace, in which He delights in making experiments of His mercy on human hearts. The Holy Spirit is His representative, and it works to effect transformations so wonderful that angels look upon them with astonishment and joy. Heaven is full of rejoicing when the members of the human family are seen to be full of compassion for one another, loving one another as Christ has loved them. The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of her sacred trust is treachery to Him who has bought her with the precious blood of His only begotten Son.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 1554

5.b.        Since the church is to represent Christ on earth, what must we reveal to all? 2 Corinthians 5:20; 1 Peter 2:9

Note: “The church today needs men who, like Enoch, walk with God, revealing Christ to the world. Church members need to reach a higher standard. Heavenly messengers are waiting to communicate with those who have sunk self out of sight. … Christ is crucified afresh by many who through self-indulgence allow Satan to gain control over them. The church needs men of devotion to bear to the world the message of salvation, pointing sinners to the Lamb of God—men who, by their works of righteousness and their pure, true words, can lift their fellow men out of the pit of degradation.” The Review and Herald, December 4, 1900

“It is Satan’s work to mingle evil with good, and to remove the distinction between good and evil. Christ would have a church that labors to separate the evil from the good, whose members will not willingly tolerate wrongdoing, but will expel it from the heart and life.” Ibid.

“Sin may be called by false names, and glossed over by plausible excuses and pretended good motives, but this does not lessen its guilt in the sight of God.” The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1881

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1     Where does the sin-sick soul find true lasting refuge?

2     Why is it so important to seek after and find pure, unadulterated truth?

3     In what dangers does willful sin place us?

4     What has God instituted on earth to provide peace and safety for the believer?

5     Through His church, what is God trying to reveal to the entire world?

Copyright 2008, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

Old Testament Cities of Refuge

by

March 17 – 23, 2024

Key Text

“Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty.” Numbers 35:30

Study Help: Patriarchs and Prophets, 515–517

Introduction

“In a trial for murder the accused was not to be condemned on the testimony of one witness, even though circumstantial evidence might be strong against him.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 516

Sunday

1 RETALIATION

1.a. After Adam and Eve were expelled from the beautiful garden, what controversy erupted between two brothers? Genesis 4:3–7

1.b. How did Cain decide to resolve the issue between them, and what curse was placed upon him? Genesis 4:8–15

Note: “In sparing the life of the first murderer, God presented before the whole universe a lesson bearing upon the great controversy. The dark history of Cain and his descendants was an illustration of what would have been the result of permitting the sinner to live on forever, to carry out his rebellion against God.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 78

1.c. How was the next murder viewed? Genesis 4:16–18, 23, 24

Note: “To the crime of murder, in which Cain had led the way, Lamech, the fifth in descent, added polygamy, and, boastfully defiant, he acknowledged God, only to draw from the avenging of Cain an assurance of his own safety.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 81

1.d. After the Flood, what principle was established? Genesis 9:6

Monday

2 A SAFETY PRECAUTION

2.a. What unique provision did God give Israel for those who were innocent of intentional killing? Joshua 20:1–3

Note: “This merciful provision [of appointing cities of refuge] was rendered necessary by the ancient custom of private vengeance, by which the punishment of the murderer devolved on the nearest relative or the next heir of the deceased. In cases where guilt was clearly evident it was not necessary to wait for a trial by the magistrates. The avenger might pursue the criminal anywhere and put him to death wherever he should be found. The Lord did not see fit to abolish this custom at that time, but He made provision to ensure the safety of those who should take life unintentionally.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 515

2.b. When a person’s body was found and there was no suspect, what steps were promptly taken to find the slayer? Deuteronomy 21:1–9

Note: “To increase the horrors of murder, and aid in the detection of the criminal, the Lord ordained that when the body of a murdered person was found in the land, the most solemn and public ceremony should be held, under the direction of the magistrates and elders in connection with the priests.” The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1881

2.c. How many cities in Israel were set aside for this purpose, and how were they distributed? Numbers 35:6, 9–14; Joshua 20:7–9

Note: “The cities of refuge were so distributed as to be within a half day’s journey of every part of the land. The roads leading to them were always to be kept in good repair; all along the way signposts were to be erected bearing the word ‘Refuge’ in plain, bold characters, that the fleeing one might not be delayed for a moment. Any person—Hebrew, stranger, or sojourner—might avail himself of this provision. But while the guiltless were not to be rashly slain, neither were the guilty to escape punishment. The case of the fugitive was to be fairly tried by the proper authorities, and only when found innocent of intentional murder was he to be protected in the city of refuge. The guilty were given up to the avenger. And those who were entitled to protection could receive it only on condition of remaining within the appointed refuge.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 515, 516

Tuesday

3 DECLARED INTENT

3.a. Who was able to make use of these cities of refuge, and how urgent was their arrival there? Numbers 35:15, 22–24; Deuteronomy 19:4, 5. If the fugitive would escape with his life, what must he do?

Note: “He who fled to the city of refuge could make no delay. Family and employment were left behind. There was no time to say farewell to loved ones. His life was at stake, and every other interest must be sacrificed to the one purpose—to reach the place of safety. Weariness was forgotten, difficulties were unheeded. The fugitive dared not for one moment slacken his pace until he was within the wall of the city.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 517

3.b.  What were those who had fled required to publicly declare upon entrance into a city of refuge? Joshua 20:4, 5; Numbers 35:12

3.c. Once a person found shelter, how long was he or she to remain in that city of refuge? Numbers 35:25, 32; Joshua 20:6

3.d.  What if the prisoner decided to leave his place of security before he was legally released? Numbers 35:26–28

Note: “The prisoner who at any time went outside the city of refuge was abandoned to the avenger of blood. Thus the people were taught to adhere to the methods which infinite wisdom appointed for their security.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 517

3.e.  Since the cities of refuge were provided only for those who had accidentally killed a person, what happened to an individual who was convicted for deliberate murder? Numbers 35:16, 21, 31

Note: “If the one tried for murder were proved guilty, no atonement or ransom could rescue him.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 516

Wednesday

4 THE JUST PENALTY

4.a. Why were the Israelites required to put the murderer to death? Exodus 21:14; Numbers 35:33, 34

Note: “The safety and purity of the nation demanded that the sin of murder be severely punished. Human life, which God alone could give, must be sacredly guarded.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 516

“God regards as His enemies those who will by any act of negligence shield the guilty. They are in His sight partakers in the evil deeds of the sinner.” The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1881

4.b.  In symbolic language, for what does the blood of a murdered victim cry? Who was to execute the judgment on the convicted murderer? Genesis 4:10; Revelation 6:9, 10; Numbers 35:19

Note: “Whosoever—be it individual or city—will excuse the crime of the murderer, when convinced of his guilt, is a partaker of his sin, and will surely suffer the wrath of God.” The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1881

4.c. What was one of the main crimes of the antediluvian world, and why is this bringing modern society to the same point of destruction? Genesis 6:11; Luke 17:26; Isaiah 59:14

Note: “Licentiousness, robbery, and murder, continually on the increase, are deluging our world, and preparing it to receive the unmingled wrath of God.” The Signs of the Times, January 20, 188

4.d. What are some of the strict guidelines in determining innocence or guilt, and why? Numbers 35:30; Matthew 18:16

Note: “The provision that none should be condemned on the testimony of one witness. was both just and necessary. One man might be controlled by prejudice, selfishness, or malice. But it was not likely that two or more persons would be so perverted as to unite in bearing false witness; and even should they do so, a separate examination would lead to a discovery of the truth.” The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1881

Thursday

5 PERFECT WISDOM AND BALANCE

  1. Explain how God’s judicial system was based on mercy and justice. Psalm 89:14

Note: “While the Lord would have the crime of murder regarded with great abhorrence, He would carefully guard the innocent. Hence, without entirely destroying the custom of private vengeance, He makes the most thorough provision that the guiltless be not rashly slain without trial, nor the guilty escape punishment.” The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1881

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1     How did the concept of retaliation find an early foothold on earth?

2     To protect those who accidentally killed someone, what unique plan did God introduce among His people?

3     How long was a person, found innocent of intentional murder, to remain in his or her city of refuge?

4     How does toleration of intentional murders affect the entire land?

5     Why were two or more witnesses required in order to convict a person of intentional murder?

Copyright 2008, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

Settling Divisions in the Church

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March 10 – 16, 2024

Key Text

“Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter [the Gentile converts and circumcision].” Acts 15:6

Study Help: The Acts of the Apostles, 187–200

Introduction

“Not until you feel that you could sacrifice your own self-dignity, and even lay down your life in order to save an erring brother, have you cast the beam out of your own eye so that you are prepared to help your brother.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 128

Sunday

1 RESOLVING PERSONAL OFFENSES

1.a. How are personal conflicts or private offenses between church members to be settled? Matthew 18:15, 20

Note: “No church officer should advise, no committee should recommend, nor should any church vote, that the name of a wrongdoer shall be removed from the church books, until the instruction given by Christ has been faithfully followed. When this has been done, the church has cleared herself before God. The evil must then be made to appear as it is, and must be removed, that it may not become more and more widespread. The health and purity of the church must be preserved, that she may stand before God unsullied, clad in the robes of Christ’s righteousness.” Gospel Workers, 501

1.b.        How does God view those who resolve difficulties by His method? James 5:19, 20

Note: “No one has ever been reclaimed from a wrong position by censure and reproach; but many have thus been driven from Christ and led to seal their hearts against conviction. A tender spirit, a gentle, winning deportment, may save the erring and hide a multitude of sins.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 12

Monday

2 OPEN SIN AND DOUBT

2.a. How may a private sin become open and require church discipline? Matthew 18:16–18. What action may be needed on special occasions? 1 Timothy 5:20

Note: “In dealing with erring church members, God’s people are carefully to follow the instruction given by the Saviour in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew.” Gospel Workers, 498

2.b.        How are church members to resolve personal issues that do not require disciplinary action? 1 Corinthians 6:1–4

Note: “Christians should not appeal to civil tribunals to settle differences that may arise among church members. Such differences should be settled among themselves, or by the church, in harmony with Christ’s instruction. Even though injustice may have been done, the follower of the meek and lowly Jesus will suffer himself ‘to be defrauded’ rather than open before the world the sins of his brethren in the church.

“Lawsuits between brethren are a reproach to the cause of truth. Christians who go to law with one another expose the church to the ridicule of her enemies and cause the powers of darkness to triumph. They are wounding Christ afresh and putting Him to open shame. By ignoring the authority of the church, they show contempt for God, who gave to the church its authority.” The Acts of the Apostles, 305, 306

“Those church members who appeal to the courts of the world show that they have chosen the world as their judge, and their names are registered in heaven as one with unbelievers.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 302, 303

2.c. As we near the end of the great controversy, what can we often expect to see? Matthew 15:14; Acts 20:28–31; 2 Timothy 4:3, 4

Note: “It has been the continual endeavor of the enemy to introduce into the church persons who assent to much that is truth, but who are not converted. Professed Christians who are false to their trust are channels through whom Satan works. He can use unconverted church members to advance his own ideas and retard the work of God. Their influence is always on the side of wrong. They place criticism and doubt as stumbling blocks in the way of reform.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 159

“Evil angels in the form of believers will work in our ranks to bring in a strong spirit of unbelief.” Ibid., Book 3, 410

Tuesday

3 DIVISIONS

3.a. What is one of the greatest evidences that Jesus is the one and only true Messiah? John 17:17–21; 13:34, 35; 1 Corinthians 1:13

Note: “Jesus knew that [the jealous priests and rabbis] would spare no effort to create a division between His own disciples and those of John [the Baptist]. … Wishing to avoid all occasion for misunderstanding or dissension, He quietly ceased His labors, and withdrew to Galilee. We also, while loyal to truth, should try to avoid all that may lead to discord and misapprehension. For whenever these arise, they result in the loss of souls. Whenever circumstances occur that threaten to cause division, we should follow the example of Jesus and of John the Baptist.” The Desire of Ages, 181

“The followers of Christ … should take every proper precaution to avoid disagreement; for in every division of interest, resulting in disputation and unhappy differences in the church, souls are lost that might have been saved in the kingdom of Heaven. In the occurrence of a religious crisis, leading men who profess to be God’s instruments should follow the example of the great Master and that of the noble prophet John. They should stand firm and united in defense of the truth, while they carefully labor to avoid all injurious dissensions.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 2, 139, 140

3.b.        What creates divisions in the church? 1 Corinthians 11:18, 19

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

“Picture a large circle, from the edge of which are many lines all running to the center. The nearer these lines approach the center, the nearer they are to one another.

“Thus it is in the Christian life. The closer we come to Christ, the nearer we shall be to one another. God is glorified as His people unite in harmonious action.” The Adventist Home, 179

3.c. What should be done with the one who creates such divisions? Romans 16:17, 18

Wednesday

4 THREATENED DIVISION IN ANTIOCH

4.a. What serious problem developed in the church at Antioch that could have hurt the church as a whole? Acts 15:1, 5

Note: “They [certain Jews from Judea] asserted, with great assurance, that none could be saved without being circumcised, and keeping the entire ceremonial law.

“This was an important question, and one which affected the church in a very great degree. Paul and Barnabas met it with promptness, and opposed introducing the subject to the Gentiles. They were opposed in this by the believing Jews of Antioch, who favored the position of those from Judea. The matter resulted in much discussion and want of harmony in the church, until finally the church at Antioch, apprehending that a division among them would occur from any further discussion of the question, decided to send Paul and Barnabas, together with some responsible men of Antioch, to Jerusalem, and lay the matter before the apostles and elders.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 3, 369

4.b. What resolution was proposed to settle the division in the church? Who attended this general council? Acts 15:2, 6–20

Note: “The council which decided this case [of the new Gentile believers] was composed of the founders of the Jewish and Gentile Christian churches. Elders from Jerusalem and deputies from Antioch were present, and the most influential churches were represented. The council did not claim infallibility in their deliberations, but moved from the dictates of enlightened judgment, and with the dignity of a church established by the divine will. They saw that God Himself had decided this question by favoring the Gentiles with the Holy Ghost; and it was left for them to follow the guidance of the Spirit.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 3, 376

“There [at Jerusalem] they [Paul and Barnabas and other responsible men of Antioch] were to meet delegates from the different churches, and those who had come to attend the approaching annual festivals. Meanwhile all controversy was to cease, until a final decision should be made by the responsible men of the church. This decision was then to be universally accepted by the various churches throughout the country.” Ibid., 369

4.c. Why did this conference also inspire great rejoicing? Acts 15:3, 4

Thursday

5 SETTLING DOCTRINAL ISSUES

5.a. How did the early Christians settle matters that threatened to create divisions? Acts 15:22

Note: “When dissension arose in a local church, as later it did arise in Antioch and elsewhere, and the believers were unable to come to an agreement among themselves, such matters were not permitted to create a division in the church, but were referred to a general council of the entire body of believers, made up of appointed delegates from the various local churches, with the apostles and elders in positions of leading responsibility.” The Acts of the Apostles, 96

“At times, when a small group of men entrusted with the general management of the work have, in the name of the General Conference, sought to carry out unwise plans and to restrict God’s work, I have said that I could no longer regard the voice of the General Conference, represented by these few men, as the voice of God. But this is not saying that the decisions of a General Conference composed of an assembly of duly appointed, representative men from all parts of the field, should not be respected. God has ordained that the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority.” Gospel Workers, 490

5.b.        How was the whole body informed about the decision of the general council? Acts 15:19–23. Who heeded the resolution? Acts 15:30–33

Note: “The entire body of Christians were not called to vote upon the question [that had been raised at Antioch]. The apostles and elders—men of influence and judgment—framed and issued the decree, which was thereupon generally accepted by the Christian churches. All were not pleased, however, with this decision; there was a faction of false brethren who assumed to engage in a work on their own responsibility. They indulged in murmuring and faultfinding, proposing new plans and seeking to pull down the work of the experienced men whom God had ordained to teach the doctrine of Christ. The church has had such obstacles to meet from the first and will ever have them to the close of time.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 3, 376

“Unless the advice and counsel of the church can be respected, it is indeed powerless. God has placed a voice in the church which must control its members.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 108

5.c. What results followed this method? Acts 15:24–28, 34, 35; 16:4, 5

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1     How are we to deal with problems among members of the church?

2     What type of influence is Satan trying to exert in our churches? How can we be sure not to be sidetracked from the message given us?

3     What is the major cause of divisions among God’s professed people?

4     In the early church, who was sent to Jerusalem from different parts of the world to settle divisive issues?

5     What type of authority has God given to this type of worldwide representative body?

Copyright 2008, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.