Issue: 2013 June

Keys to the Storehouse – Spot of a Hypocrite

by

There are so many distractions to lead us from that quiet time with God. Many times when our prayer season begins, we are immediately disturbed by empty thoughts of the world which have nothing to do with our time with the Lord. Much quality time is lost when distractions of mind and heart are allowed to replace the time with God.

We are told to “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Be concerned! A wandering uncontrolled heart can cause the loss of your soul and may cause the spot of a hypocrite to appear on your soul. How you respond to a wandering heart is a reflection of carefulness or carelessness and gives evidence of either sincerity or hypocrisy. You see, a hypocrite can perform a round of duties never regarding the condition of his heart or its wanderings. Never be satisfied with an empty round of duties, including prayer.

“Christians should be careful that they keep the heart with all diligence. They should cultivate a love for meditation, and cherish a spirit of devotion. Many seem to begrudge moments spent in meditation, and the searching of the Scriptures, and prayer, as though the time thus occupied was lost. … To keep your heart in Heaven, will give vigor to all your graces, and put life into all your duties. To discipline the mind to dwell upon heavenly things, will put life and earnestness into all our endeavors.” The Review and Herald, March 29, 1870.

“The noble powers of the mind have been given to us by the Lord, that we may employ them in contemplating heavenly things.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, 1145.

The first thing you need to do when you find your heart under the powers of distraction is to humble yourself before God right then and call for assistance from heaven.

  • Each wandering thought should bring sorrow to your heart.
  • Lift your voice to God and ask Him to forgive you and to help you.
  • Tell Him you came to spend time with Him, but all of these thoughts are bombarding you.

Never consider this a small matter when something takes you away from communing with God. Plead for the Lord to never let you leave His presence until your heart is one with Him.

Our prayer should always be, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14.

Father, I come to spend time with You. I am so sorry all of these thoughts are bombarding me; please forgive me. Lord, how can I claim the promise, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31) while these distractions will not let me wait peacefully in Thy presence? I would so enjoy this time of communion with You without any distractions of mind or heart. Grant me peace of mind and heart that I may sit with You in that secret place and find that fullness of joy in Thy presence. Amen.

Current Events – Christian Discrimination

by

“The enemy stirs up persons whose hearts are not stayed upon God, who are admitting into their hearts unpleasant and disagreeable things to ponder over, and then pass along the unsavoury dish as a repast for other minds and hearts. This is feeding upon Satan’s garbage, and makes the soul impoverished.”

Australasian Union Conference Record, August 1, 1900.

“Today, we face incredibly well-funded gangs of fundamentalist Christian monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans by forcing their weaponized and twisted version of Christianity upon their helpless subordinates in our nation’s armed forces.”

Those words were recently written by Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), in a column he wrote for the Huffington Post. Weinstein will be a consultant to the United States Pentagon to develop new policies on religious tolerance, including a policy for court-martialing military chaplains who share the Christian Gospel during spiritual counseling of American troops. www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/04/28.

Is the Pentagon discriminating against Christians?

A representative said he’s been monitoring a steady stream of religious discrimination complaints over the past four years from Christian soldiers.

“It’s been a steady attack on faith and religious freedom that we’ve seen in our military like we’ve never seen before. We are getting a lot of calls from soldiers saying ‘we’re afraid of going to church, we’re afraid to be seen praying, we’re afraid that would hurt our careers, our promotions.’ ”

Instances of the Christian faith coming under attack in the military include:

  • Commanders barred from disclosing any programs that are tied to the Chaplaincy or any programs involving religion;
  • The Air Force banning the word ‘God’ from an Air force patch logo – even though the reference had no religious connotation;
  • A Navy directive that banned Bibles at Walter Reed Hospital;
  • An Army Reserve training program that listed Evangelical Christians and Catholics as examples of religious extremism;
  • An Army email that listed prominent Christian ministries like the Family Research Council and American Family Association as “domestic hate groups.”

The question has been asked whether the military is enforcing section 533 of the National Defense Authorization Act. The Act, signed into law last year [2012], includes a conscience provision clause protecting the religious rights of troops.

The section reads, “No member of the Armed Forces may — require a chaplain to perform any rite, ritual, or ceremony that is contrary to the conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the chaplain; or discriminate or take any adverse personnel action against a chaplain.”

A United States Army officer sent an email to dozens of subordinates listing the American Family Association and Family Research Council as “domestic hate groups” because they oppose homosexuality—and warned officers to monitor soldiers who might be supporters of the groups.

An Army training instructor told a Reserve unit based in Pennsylvania that Evangelical Christianity and Catholicism were examples of religious extremism. The Army categorized that episode as an isolated incident.

“Several in the military have this belief that evangelicals and people who hold to traditional values seem to be a problem and need to be monitored.” http://radio.foxnews.com

True Success

by

“Success in any line demands a definite aim. He who would achieve true success in life must keep steadily in view the aim worthy of his endeavor.”

Education, 262

Based on this quotation, we see that true success must have a definite aim. Whether it is in the realm of studying to be a physician, mechanic, engineer, pastor, or a chef, if you are going to succeed, you must have a definite aim.

“Those who feel the constraining love of God ask not how little may be given, in order to obtain the heavenly reward; they ask not for the lowest standard, but aim at a perfect conformity to the will of their Redeemer. With ardent desire they will yield all, and manifest zeal proportionate to the value of the object they are in pursuit of. What is the object? Immortality, eternal life.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, 260.

The highest aim of the Christian is, “Perfect conformity to the will of God.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 745. Remember, success in any line requires a definite aim. Those who are in perfect harmony, or perfect conformity to the will of God, and aim for perfection of character are promised victory, even though many Christians believe that is impossible.

Consider these Scriptures:

“Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments, as at this day.” I Kings 8:61. Be perfect!

Jesus Himself said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. Be perfect!

It is required that we are to reach moral perfection, even in this world. Ellen White states, “The Lord requires perfection from His redeemed family. He calls for perfection in character-building.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1085. If we are to ever enter the Kingdom of God, it must be with perfect characters, not having spot or wrinkle. It is a requirement to be ready to go with Jesus when He returns. However, while in this spiritual battle on earth that strives against sin and the world, it is only by God’s grace that this state is possible.

“God requires moral perfection in all. Those who have been given light and opportunities should, as God’s stewards, aim for perfection.” This Day with God, 32.

Is this your aim? Never insult our Saviour by lowering the standard of righteousness to which we are called to accommodate any of our inherited or cultivated tendencies to do wrong. We are invited to behold Jesus and reflect His beautiful image of moral perfection in this world.

The Obstacles

We live in a sinful world, and as we set our goal and aim for moral perfection, we are sure to meet with obstacles or barriers that must be overcome. These obstacles are sin and self. A woman, caught in the act of adultery, was brought to Jesus. “When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:10, 11. The words of Jesus to her were not a suggestion but a command. He said, “Go, and sin no more.”

Look at John 5:14. Coming upon a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years, Jesus told him to rise, take up his bed and walk. “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” John 5:14. Several times Jesus said to “sin no more.” Why would He say that if it were impossible?

With such high expectation, it is encouraging to know that we have a compassionate friend who understands the weakness of human flesh. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” I John 2:1. John, under Inspiration, says, “I write to you that you may not sin, but if you do fall, get back up. My Son, Jesus Christ the righteous, is ever pleading for His Spirit to help you to overcome that you may not sin.”

John continues, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” I John 3:9. This is referring to the deliberate continual practice of sin. The born again Christian experiences the constraining love of Christ that changes his desires and purposes that he cannot sin without going against his conscience, because he is born of God.

In contrast, he says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil.” This verse requires each to search his or her own heart and be honest with himself or herself. If it is found that one is walking repeatedly in sin, it is the enemy of souls who inspires those actions. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil [destroy sin].” Verse 8.

In the book of John there are other Scriptures concerning the obstacles that each one faces. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34. This is a question for each to ask himself or herself, “Whom do you serve?” A person’s lifestyle portrays whom they serve, either sin, self, the world and the devil, or Christ and His righteousness.

It comes naturally to be a slave of sin

Why is it so hard to break the chain of sin? “Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble all-round character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident.” Messages to Young People, 99.

By nature, because of our first parents’ sin, we inherit their lean toward sin—our natures are fallen. The perfection of moral character required by God is not inherited, nor does it come by chance. How then do we reach that goal? “A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.” Ibid. It is clear that in the strength of Jesus Christ we are to battle against our own natural tendencies to win the victory over our inner self.

While this battle rages within, other battles rage from without. Peter warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8.

We definitely have an adversary, someone who is continually against us, opposing every good decision. He is a wily foe and he walks about seeking whom he may devour. He never sleeps, so we must be sober and vigilant and in the right state of mind, ever watchful.

Paul tells us a little bit more about our “wiley foe.” He says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. This is a fierce conflict that we are in. Everything that comes naturally to us, as well as all the forces of darkness, oppress us from every direction, and man is no match for the evil one without Divine assistance.

“Satan and his angels are unwilling to lose their prey. They contend and battle with the holy angels, and the conflict is severe. And if those who have erred continue to plead, and in deep humility confess their wrongs, angels who excel in strength will prevail and wrench them from the power of the evil angels.” Messages to Young People, 60.

What a word picture this gives! If the curtains could be pulled up and we could see into the spiritual realm, what a fierce shock would come upon us as we witness the spirits engaging in fierce battle over each and every soul. It is severe and worse than any war in which this earth has been involved. The Bible gives a little view of these battles.

“And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit. … And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if Thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.” Mark 9:17, 22.

This also should be our prayer when we find ourselves struggling with some habit. “Lord, have compassion on me and help me.”

“When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, he is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.” Verses 25–27. It took a struggle for the demon trying to destroy him to let him go.

That is just a little glimpse into the conflict that goes on for each and every soul. The man’s son was possessed of a demon that the disciples of Jesus could not cast out. We are no match for the devil and his evil angels. Only Jesus can deliver us from sin and from the chains of the enemy.

We have been given our marching orders in our personal battle with Satan. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resists the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. Resist the devil, stand fast in the name of the Lord and do not give in and he will flee. In fact, this is the only way to be victorious; submit to God, surrender to Him and all power is given to resist the devil, not just one time, but every time, to live a continual life of victory.

In the sad history of Israel is seen a people who, after all the favors bestowed on them, missed the very person, Christ, Who was the fulfillment of their whole history. When it comes to submitting to God, Paul says, “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:3, 4.

“Man is naturally inclined to follow Satan’s suggestions, and he cannot of himself successfully resist so terrible a foe, unless Christ, the mighty conqueror, dwells in him, guiding his desires, and giving him strength.” Messages to Young People, 51. To successfully resist this foe, Christ must dwell within. This is a must. The concerns and affections of the heart, whatever triggers the emotions and the thoughts dwell on, are an indication of who controls the person. When Christ dwells within, He guides our desires and teaches us to make righteous choices. When recognizing a thought or desire not to be of God, the only safe choice is to recognize the author, let it go and resist the devil in the strength of Jesus Christ.

Weapons of War

We are in a spiritual battle and need weapons to conquer the obstacles. Knowing the weakness of the enemy is a great advantage. James 2:19 says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” Devils know that God exists. These fallen angels have been in His presence and know, without a doubt, that His word is sure and whatever He says is going to come to pass. They actually tremble before God.

“And when He was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God? art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?” Matthew 8:28, 29.

They were afraid. They knew Jesus as the commander of heaven, and when He came upon the scene, they thought they were about to be tormented before the time. Satan’s whole host of angels tremble before the presence of the mighty King. “Satan cannot endure to have his powerful rival appealed to, for he fears and trembles before His [Christ’s] strength and majesty. At the sound of fervent prayer, Satan’s whole host trembles. … And when angels, all-powerful, clothed with the armory of heaven, come to the help of the fainting, pursued soul, Satan and his host fall back, well knowing that their battle is lost.” Messages to Young People, 53.

That being the case, how important is it to refuse or neglect fervent prayer? Without prayer we remain the prey of demons. “Beware how you neglect secret prayer and a study of God’s word. These are your weapons against him who is striving to hinder your progress heavenward.” Ibid., 96.

Secret prayer and study—the big guns of spiritual war! Do not forget to read the Word, get understanding and apply what you learn to your life; these are the only weapons against demonic forces. If you are struggling or being continually defeated, check your inventory to see if you are spending time in secret prayer and a study of God’s word.

It is so easy, even with good intentions, to slip backwards. “The first neglect of prayer and Bible study makes easier the second neglect. The first resistance to the Spirit’s pleading prepares the way for the second resistance. Thus the heart is hardened, and the conscience seared.” Ibid.

A perfect example of this is given to us in the history of Pharaoh in Egypt at the time of the Exodus. He resisted nine times to respond to the Spirit’s pleading, but the tenth time was the last. At each rejection his heart was hardened a little more until he crossed the line and his probation was closed. Day by day this same thing happens in many lives as they continue to resist the pleadings of the Holy Spirit, refusing to study the Bible and pray. They become hardened at each refusal not realizing their time is running out, and without their knowledge, the Spirit will cease to draw them, and too late they will find out they have committed the unpardonable sin for which there is no forgiveness.

Good News

Progress to perfection can become easier. We are told that each resistance to temptation strengthens our resistance to the next temptation. “Every denial of self makes self-denial easier. Every victory gained prepares the way for a fresh victory.” Ibid. Each victory strengthens faith, causing no concern about what may come your way because you have proved your weapons. You can be confident of victory at whatever temptation the enemy may throw, or even that which may come from within, because Christ dwells within.

What to do if we do fall

The wise man gives instruction if we fall: “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.” He does not remain down. He does not stay there on the ground, but he gets right back up. That is what we are encouraged to do, not wallow in the mud. If we fall into sin, get right back up. Don’t be discouraged, because it goes on to say, “but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 24:16.

Remember what 1 John 2:1, 2 says: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

If we fall into sin, we know that we have a great high priest; we have an Intercessor, a Mediator, a Saviour, a Redeemer, a Deliverer, a Forgiver, and we can go to Him in prayer. He stands at the right hand of the Father, in the most holy sacred place of heaven, pleading on our behalf. We do not have to remain in that sin. We can get right back up and keep going. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice, and His blood was shed for that sin.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9. That is the hope that we have as children of God. Lay hold of that hope!

“The Lord will recognize every effort you make to reach His ideal for you. When you make a failure, when you are betrayed into sin, do not feel that you cannot pray, that you are not worthy to come before the Lord. … With outstretched arms He waits to welcome the prodigal. Go to Him, and tell Him about your mistakes and failures. Ask Him to strengthen you for fresh endeavor. He will never disappoint you, never abuse your confidence.” Messages to Young People, 97. Do not allow your feelings to keep you from coming to Christ for He loves you.

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:4, 5.

We must accustom ourselves to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ. We must guard what we think and meditate upon. Cast down imaginations, or pretenses, high things, things that exalt itself against the truth, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. “We should accustom ourselves to often lift the thoughts to God in prayer.” Daughters of God, 81. This is what it means to pray without ceasing. Meditate upon the things of God, always try to lift your thoughts up to God as much as possible; fight hard to keep your mind stayed on heavenly things.

We are told: “If the mind wanders, we must bring it back; by persevering effort, habit will finally make it easy.” Ibid. Lift the thoughts to God in prayer, and if the mind wanders, earnestly bring it back to focus on Jesus Christ, because we are aiming for perfection. The secret of success is found in John 15:4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.”

“The secret of success is the union of divine power with human effort. Those who achieve the greatest results are those who rely most implicitly upon the Almighty Arm.” Colporteur Ministry, 106.

“The Christian life is a warfare. … In this conflict of righteousness against unrighteousness we can be successful only by divine aid. Our finite will must be brought into submission to the will of the infinite; the human will must be blended with the divine. This will bring the Holy Spirit to our aid.” Messages to Young People, 55. The secret of success is Christ’s divinity united with our humanity.

It is important that our thoughts and feelings are constantly under the control of God. Messages to Young People states, “Even your thoughts must be brought into subjection to the will of God, and your feelings under the control of reason and religion. … If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong; and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.” Ibid., 92.

The goal of the Christian is perfection of character. It is so important to guard all thoughts, feelings and actions for “God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27.

Jesus says to us today, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Demario Carter is currently a Bible worker for Steps to Life. 

More Reasons for Unanswered Prayers

by

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

Luke 22:31, 32

We have been counseled time and time again concerning Satan’s machination—crafty schemes, his malignity—malice against the Christian; he will not abate his efforts to overthrow you and me. The following two statements should begin to help us to understand how our archenemy feels about us:

“It is Satan’s studied plan to make the workers weak in prayer, weak in power, and weak in influence, because of their defects of character.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 592.

Also, “As soon as Satan can separate the soul from God, the only Source of strength, he will seek to arouse the unholy desires of man’s carnal nature. The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle.” Conflict and Courage, 177.

The devil is so desperate to destroy the Christian that he leads us to do things that are offensive to God, whereby our connection with Jesus is totally severed. Such life practices make it difficult for God to answer the Christian’s prayers.

We have previously looked at eight reasons (“Why Some Prayers are Not Answered,” Landmarks, May 2013) that certainly prevent the Christian’s prayers from being answered, namely: 1. Lack of faith; 2. Deliberate disobedience; 3. Form or lip service prayer; 4. If home relationship is not right; 5. An unforgiving spirit or an unwilling attitude to reconcile; 6. Failure to humble ourselves; 7. A disregard for the health laws; 8. Failure to pray in the name of Jesus.

We will now look at eleven more reasons why God will not answer prayers, especially if they are uttered by Christians. As a reminder, it is Satan’s effort to lead us to commit these offenses so that our communication with God may be severed. Consequently we will be completely powerless to resist his assaults.

  1. Selfish Prayer – The prayer of the Pharisee was not only based on pride, but it was also rooted in selfishness. “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” Luke 18:11, 12. In the book Our High Calling, 147, the following is recorded: “There are selfish prayers, proceeding from a heart that is cherishing idols.”
  2. Petulant or Impatient, Fretful Prayer – The servant of the Lord states, “There are petulant, fretful prayers, murmuring because of the burdens and cares of life, instead of humbly seeking grace to lighten them. Those who offer such petitions are not abiding in Christ. They have not submitted their will to the will of God. They do not comply with the condition of the promise, and it is not fulfilled to them.” Ibid.
  3. Presumptuous Prayer – “And saith unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Matthew 4:6. “Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption. For presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God’s promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.” The Desire of Ages, 126.
  4. Abominable Prayers – “I [Ellen White] saw that since Jesus left the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary and entered within the second veil, the churches have been filling up with every unclean and hateful bird. I saw great iniquity and vileness in the churches; yet their members profess to be Christians. Their profession, their prayers, and their exhortations are an abomination in the sight of God. Said the angel, ‘God will not smell in their assemblies. Selfishness, fraud, and deceit are practiced by them without the reprovings of conscience. And over all these evil traits they throw the cloak of religion.’ ” Early Writings, 274.

“Selfishness, pride, envy, malice, evil surmising, backbiting, gossiping, and tattling have been cherished among them, until the Spirit of God has but little to do with them. While some who profess to know God remain in their present state, their prayers are an abomination in His sight.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 52.

  1. Prayer not According to God’s Will – “Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.” Luke 22:42. “And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39.

“We know that God hears us if we ask according to His will. But to press our petitions without a submissive spirit is not right; our prayers must take the form, not of command, but of intercession.” The Faith I Live By, 315.

  1. God Does not Hear the Prayers of Those Who Take Their Brothers and Sisters to Worldly Court – We are taught and instructed from the word of God that we are not to take each other to civil courts; such actions will prevent our prayers from being answered. The apostle Paul told the Corinthian Christians, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?” I Corinthians 6:1.

In an address given to some brethren, Ellen White reminded them of the principle the apostle Paul established and told that if they disobeyed, their names would be recorded in heaven as unbelievers. Furthermore, she stated, “Let these men know that God does not hear their prayers. They insult His holy name, and He will leave them to the buffetings of Satan until they shall see their folly and seek the Lord by confession of their sin.

“Matters connected with the church are to be kept within its own borders. If a Christian is abused, he is to take it patiently; if defrauded, he is not to appeal to courts of justice. Rather let him suffer loss and wrong.

“God will deal with the unworthy church member who defrauds his brother or the cause of God; the Christian need not contend for his rights.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 299. Satan has been very successful with this point of attack because so many Christians have disregarded this injunction and are now Christians only in name.

  1. God Will Never Answer the Prayers of Those Who Oppress the Poor, the Hireling and the Needy – The Prophet Isaiah confronts God’s people with their existing conditions as to why their prayers are not answered: “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and Thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and Thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.” Isaiah 58:3.

The servant of the Lord, speaking to a church brother, explains to him how his actions are causing his prayers from being answered: “God has given reasons why your prayers were not answered. … You have oppressed the destitute and have benefited yourself by taking advantage of their necessities. In regard to means, you have been close and dealt unjustly. You have not possessed that kind, noble, and generous spirit which should ever characterize the life of a follower of Christ. You have oppressed the hireling in her wages.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 156, 157.

  1. Prayers Without Praise and Thanksgiving Will Not be Answered – The Psalmist mingles his request to God with much praise and thanksgiving: “I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name. In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.” Psalm 138: 2, 3.

“But as for me, my prayer is unto Thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of Thy mercy hear me, in the truth of Thy salvation.” Psalm 69:13.

“You who complain that God does not hear your prayers, change your present order and mingle praise with your petitions. When you consider His goodness and mercies you will find that He will consider your wants.

“Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget to praise.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 317.

  1. God Will Not Acknowledge the Prayer of the Indifferent – “To those who are indifferent at this time Christ’s warning is: ‘Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth’ (Revelation 3:16). The figure of spewing out of His mouth means that He cannot offer up your prayers or your expressions of love to God.” Ibid., vol. 6, 408.
  2. Those Who Rob God’s Tithes and Offerings will not Have Their Prayers Answered – Reading from the prophet the words of the Lord, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:8–10.

The servant of the Lord, commenting on this matter, states: “Some who profess to be Christians need a genuine conversion. They desire to be accepted of God; they pray in a casual way that they may be accepted, and yet through their desire for gain, their worldliness and selfishness, their robbery of God, they shut themselves away from Him. His curse is hanging over them for their selfishness and worldly lusts. Their prayers will be wholly in vain unless they comply with the condition specified in the Word of God.” The Upward Look, 22.

Also, Ellen White further points out: “There is another matter too often neglected by those who seek the Lord in prayer. Have you been honest with God? …

“As the Giver of every blessing, God claims a certain portion of all we possess. This is His provision to sustain the preaching of the gospel. And by making this return to God, we are to show our appreciation of His gifts. … It may be that here is the secret of unanswered prayer.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 144.

  1. The Use of Unsanctified Words Prevent Prayers From Being Answered – Jesus shows the importance of our words in our Christian experience, for He clearly taught, “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:37. From the book, The Voice In Speech and Song, 127, we see this most sobering statement: “The counterworking power of unsanctified, faithless, cheap words is the great hindrance to our prayers. God will draw nigh to every soul that will draw nigh to Him. But the Spirit of God will depart from those who leave the presence of God, and enter into vain conversation, speaking many words that are of no weight or purpose. The spiritual experience of such will stop abruptly.” This is exactly what Satan wants for you and me, that we become comfortable practicing and rationalizing away these sins until we are totally defeated by him!

It is therefore critical that we heed the counsel of one who speaks by experience, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8.

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:31, 32.

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-882-3900.

Old and New Testament Eras of Prophecy

by

In the history of the great controversy, from the fall of Adam to the close of probation, there have been three eras of prophetic manifestations.

  1. First Era: The Old Testament Era. The manifestation of the spirit of prophecy during Old Testament times began when Moses wrote the first books of the Bible around 1500 B.C. The book of Malachi was written about 400 B.C. The most important purpose of the Old Testament prophecies was to prepare a people to receive Jesus as the Lamb of God, who was to shed His blood to ratify the covenant made with the Father before the foundation of the earth (Revelation 13:8) to redeem the fallen race.
  2. Second Era: The New Testament Era. This era of biblical prophecy began about A.D. 50 when the first books of the New Testament were written by Paul. The book of Revelation, written by the apostle John, was completed in about A.D. 95. The purpose of this era of prophecy was to introduce a people to the heavenly sanctuary and Jesus’ ministry from A.D. 31 to the close of probation. This era revealed the apostasy that would take place in the Christian church, the opening of the investigative judgment and the closing scenes of the great controversy.
  3. Third Era: The Second Advent Movement. These prophecies came from about A.D. 1845 to about A.D. 1915. One purpose of this prophecy was to prepare the world for the close of the investigative phase of the judgment, the close of probation. Another purpose of this era of prophecy was to prepare a people for the restoration of the kingdom of glory. These are the purposes of the Spirit of Prophecy during the Second Advent Movement.

Each era of prophecy has equal inspiration; all are equal in their level of importance. We will see how each of these eras fulfilled its purpose. Each succeeding era adds more light to our understanding of the new covenant—the great plan of redemption. In the third era of prophecy our understanding of the new covenant and the ministry of Jesus in the sanctuary of the new covenant reaches the full light of day.

  1. Old Testament Era of Prophecy

This era of prophecy pointed forward to the death of Jesus on the cross, the crowning trial and final test of the disciples, the ratification and establishment of the new covenant and the opening of the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven in A.D. 31, three days after Jesus was crucified. We will gain an understanding of what happened to the disciples and how they learned this truth, because they certainly did not know it when Jesus died on the cross.

“To man the first intimation of redemption was communicated in the sentence pronounced upon Satan in the garden.”

“Adam and his companion were assured that notwithstanding their great sin, they were not to be abandoned to the control of Satan. The Son of God had offered to atone, with His own life, for their transgression.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 65, 66.

“Heavenly angels more fully opened to our first parents the plan that had been devised for their salvation.” Ibid. It was revealed to them that “the law of Jehovah is the foundation of His government in heaven as well as upon the earth. … Not one of its precepts could be abrogated or changed to meet man in his fallen condition; but the Son of God, Who had created man, could make an atonement for him. As Adam’s transgression had brought wretchedness and death, so the sacrifice of Christ would bring life and immortality.” Ibid., 66, 67.

From the beginning of the Old Testament, God assured them that Jesus would come to pay the penalty for their sins. To help them keep focused on this covenant, the system of sacrifices was given to Adam. The sacrificial system did not start with the sanctuary on earth—it began outside the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were instructed that the sacrifice represented Jesus Christ who was going to come to this earth and ratify the covenant for them.

“The sacrificial offerings were ordained by God to be to man a perpetual reminder and a penitential acknowledgment of his sin and a confession of his faith in the promised Redeemer. … To Adam, the offering of the first sacrifice was a most painful ceremony. His hand must be raised to take life, which only God could give. It was the first time he had ever witnessed death, and he knew that had he been obedient to God, there would have been no death of man or beast. As he slew the innocent victim, he trembled at the thought that his sin must shed the blood of the spotless Lamb of God.” Ibid., 68.

Right at the beginning of the Old Testament, we see the sacrificial system pointing to the cross. That was a daily witness to them through all of the Old Testament.

The sacrifice of Christ, to establish and ratify the new covenant, became the focal point of God’s people from Adam to the death of Jesus on the cross. The book of Genesis gives us a record of the faithfulness of the patriarchs to the sacrificial system. We see it after the flood with Noah. With Abraham the covenant was renewed in a special way. Isaac and Jacob continued the sacrificial system.

At the time of the Exodus, the sacrificial offerings were expanded into a sanctuary with daily and yearly services and other special days of worship. The books of Exodus and Leviticus are almost wholly devoted to the instruction of these services.

Again we find in Isaiah 53 a clear picture of the purpose of Christ’s first advent, the covenant and Christ’s sacrifice.

“But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. …

“He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth” (Isaiah 53:5, 6).

This is a clear picture of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.

“After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great … because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:5–7, 11, 12.

The 70-week prophecy foretold Christ’s death. The book of Daniel gives a clear picture of Christ’s trial and crucifixion.

“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. … He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.” Daniel 9:24, 27. (Emphasis added.)

Here we find in these prophecies of the Old Testament that Jesus was going to come as the Lamb of God to give His life to ratify the covenant.

With all of this prophetic information, why didn’t God’s people recognize Jesus when He came? History tells us that the church stepped off the true foundation and the leaders established another set of fundamental beliefs that were not in harmony with the Scriptures. Instead of looking for the Lamb of God to ratify the covenant and deliver them from their sins, they replaced Him with a Messiah that they hoped would deliver them from the control of the Romans. This change of emphasis replaced the true foundation with a false one and led the whole church astray. Thus they did not recognize the Lamb of God when He came to ratify the new covenant.

Even the disciples did not know what was happening. During His ministry, Jesus tried to help them understand that He had come to be a sacrifice, the Lamb of God, that would pay the penalty for their sins, but the false foundation prevented them from getting the message straight. This misapplication of Scripture brought the disciples to their crowning trial and final test.

“Compassionate Redeemer, who in the full knowledge of the doom that awaited Him, tenderly smoothed the way for the disciples, prepared them for their crowning trial, and strengthened them for the final test!” The Desire of Ages, 394.

When Jesus went through His trying experience in Gethsemane, His trial and death upon the cross, the disciples were scattered, confused and discouraged. Peter even denied Him. Why? Because they did not understand what was taking place. They had misinterpreted the Old Testament Scriptures that had clearly revealed the plan of redemption. Jesus understood their situation, but He continued to go about His work to fulfill the terms of the new covenant and open the holy place of the sanctuary in heaven.

By His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus ratified and established the new covenant. The third day after His crucifixion He ascended to heaven to open the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven. The disciples, grieving and confused, did not know what was happening. When the body of Jesus was gone from the tomb, they still did not understand. When Jesus spoke to Mary after His resurrection, and she recognized Him, she moved forward as if to embrace His feet to worship Him. Notice what happened:

“Christ raised His hand, saying, Detain Me not; ‘for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.’ …

“Jesus refused to receive the homage of His people until He had the assurance that His sacrifice was accepted by the Father. He ascended to the heavenly courts, and from God Himself heard the assurance that His atonement for the sins of men had been ample, that through His blood all might gain eternal life. The Father ratified the covenant made with Christ, that He would receive repentant and obedient men.” (Emphasis added.) Ibid., 790.

Immediately, Jesus came back to this earth to give the news to the disciples, who should have known what was happening, and to reveal to them the true foundation of their faith. When He talked with two of the disciples on the way to Emmaus, the first thing He did was to rebuke them for not knowing the truth.

“He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” Luke 24:25–27.

The Old Testament contained all the information they needed to know about the cross and about Christ’s ratification of the new covenant, but because they listened to the leaders who had stepped off the true foundation, they did not know what was going on. That was the cause of their crowning trial and final test.

When Jesus finished explaining the Scriptures to them, they understood the plan of salvation and why Christ had come. Their whole experience was turned upside down. Instead of being sad, they now had a message of hope to give to the world. When they understood that the covenant was ratified, they went to the world with the message of Christ’s ministry as their high priest in the daily service in the heavenly sanctuary. It was so powerful that a few years later a Gentile commented that this message was “turning the world upside down.”

When this message of the new covenant is correctly understood it will turn the world upside down.

  1. New Testament Era of Prophecy

This era of prophecy began with the ascension of Jesus in A.D. 31. It was to point the people to the holy place and later to the most holy place of the sanctuary in heaven where Christ was ministering in their behalf.

Forty days after His resurrection, when Jesus ascended the second time, God wanted the world to know that Jesus had paid the price on Calvary. Acts 1:9–11 gives us a clear picture of this ascension. The disciples, with many others, were there watching.

The New Testament also tells us about His arrival to the holy place of the sanctuary in heaven. Revelation chapters 4 and 5 give us a picture of the celebration prepared to receive Jesus when He entered the heavenly courts upon His arrival from this earth. In vision, John was watching this celebration. All of a sudden, he “saw a Lamb as if it had been slain standing in the center of the throne.” Revelation 5:6. Ellen White describes the same scene. She portrays how the angels sang and escorted Him into the sanctuary. All the hosts of heaven are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to glorify their beloved Commander.

“But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now receive the coronet of glory and the royal robe. … He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents; who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. … The compact had been fully carried out.” The Desire of Ages, 834.

From His ascension in A.D. 31 to October 22, 1844, Jesus served in the holy place of the sanctuary in heaven.

If this message was turning the world upside down, why didn’t the people in the second advent movement know where the sanctuary was? An apostasy had taken place in the church. During the Dark Ages, the knowledge of the ministry of Christ in the daily service of the heavenly sanctuary was wiped out. The leaders in the church again changed the foundation of faith and established a false gospel in its place. Jesus and the New Testament writers warned the people about the “man of sin” who would oppose the daily ministry of Jesus in heaven.

The disciples asked Jesus what would be the sign of His coming. Jesus answered, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:4, 5.

John the revelator tells us, “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” I John 2:18.

The New Testament writers called the time they lived in the last hour, or the time of the end. Peter refers to the apostasy that would come before the time of the end when he says, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.” II Peter 2:1.

Paul also had much to say about this. He says, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” Galatians 1:6, 7.

Stepping off the foundation of the sanctuary and the covenant, they were introducing a different gospel. Paul continues in verse 7, “which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.”

The gospel we know is the new covenant—the plan Jesus and the Father made to restore us to the kingdom of glory. Paul says these people are deserting that very gospel. This apostasy was putting aside the sanctuary message of Christ’s ministry in the holy place. This apostasy spread and deepened and the New Testament continues to warn us.

The messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 explain this apostasy from the loss of the first love in the Ephesus church to the Thyatira church. God wanted the people to know that they should not drift from the foundation of truth—the sanctuary message—but they did not heed the warning.

Revelation 6:1–8 about the four horses is a graphic description of the apostasy and Satan’s attack against that early Christian church, and they could not withstand his attack. They should have been able to resist it because God promised the disciples, “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations” (II Peter 2:9). The sanctuary message was lost so that in the 1840s nobody even knew where the sanctuary was.

When it reached the depths of apostasy in A.D. 538, Satan was in control of the church (Revelation 13:2), and he introduced the pope as head of the church. The Christians should have kept in mind that Jesus Christ, ministering in the holy place of the sanctuary in heaven, was the head of the church. However, they gave in to Satan’s deception and looked to the pope instead.

“Faith was transferred from Christ, the true foundation, to the pope of Rome. Instead of trusting in the Son of God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation, the people looked to the pope, and to the priests and prelates to whom he delegated authority. They were taught that the pope was their earthly mediator and that none could approach God except through him; and, further, that he stood in the place of God to them and was therefore to be implicitly obeyed.” The Great Controversy, 55.

By the time of the second advent movement in the 1840s, the church had lost all knowledge of the sanctuary in heaven and began to teach that the earth was the sanctuary. Daniel 8:9–15 says that the little horn would be successful, would throw truth to the ground and would prosper in everything it did. He succeeded in wiping out the knowledge of the ministry of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary.

This brought on the great disappointment in 1844. These people should have known the truth; it was all available to them, but they allowed the church to distract them and take them on a different path.

“Like the first disciples, William Miller and his associates did not, themselves, fully comprehend the import of the message which they bore. Errors that had been long established in the church prevented them from arriving at a correct interpretation of an important point in the prophecy. Therefore, though they proclaimed the message which God had committed to them to be given to the world, yet through a misapprehension of its meaning they suffered disappointment.” Ibid., 351, 352.

In 1844 when the first angel’s message came to give the gospel of the sanctuary message and to proclaim the judgment hour message to begin, which would take place in the most holy place, the whole Protestant world rejected it. What a warning that is to us!

The New Testament prophecy, with the help of a few references from the Old Testament, was to prepare the world for the opening of the judgment in the most holy place on October 22, 1844. In these references, we find the information that restores the knowledge of the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven.

Daniel 8:14 set the date for the most holy place to open. They should have known what was to take place at the end of the 2300 years.

Revelation 14:6 announced the proclamation of the eternal gospel—the message of the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven. They did not know the meaning of the true gospel.

Revelation 14:7 announced the judgment to begin and the transition of Jesus from the holy place to the most holy place. They did not have a clue about the heavenly sanctuary, but they should have known. It was revealed in the New Testament.

They could have gone back to Daniel 7:9 and 10, which pointed forward to this judgment. It says, “The court was seated and the books were opened.” The Ancient of Days is the Father—the Judge. Christ enters as the Mediator. All of the heavenly angels are witnesses. It could not have been any clearer, but they had been led off the platform of eternal truth.

The announcement to the Philadelphia church (Revelation 3:7, 8) very clearly pointed out that Christ was moving from the holy place to the most holy place. He closed the door to the holy place and opened the door to the most holy place. The people did not know what that meant because they had been deceived.

Not only that, Paul wrote the whole book of Hebrews to explain that Christ had gone to the sanctuary of the new covenant in heaven to be their high priest—their mediator. Even though the information was there, the people could not understand what was going on.

The parable of the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1–12) tells specifically about God’s invitation to the wedding banquet. To prepare for this event, they were to put on a wedding garment—a robe of righteousness, the character of Christ—and they were to understand that it was through His ministry in the most holy place that they were to obtain that robe of character. But they had lost sight of Christ and His ministry in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary.

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1–12 is a description of the attitudes of the people toward the gospel—the new covenant. Some were wise and accepted the warning. The rest were foolish and allowed the leaders of the church to direct them to false fundamental beliefs. Had they studied and known the Scriptures as it was their privilege to do, they would not have been disappointed on October 22, 1844, when they expected Christ to come to this earth. It was their privilege to know the truth just like it was the privilege of the disciples to know about the sacrifice of Christ in the first advent. Because the leaders of the church had led them off the foundation, they were disappointed.

So we see that the New Testament era of prophecy was not received any better than was the Old Testament era of prophecy. Fortunately, in both of these situations they had an opportunity to get back on the platform of eternal truth after their test.

In the third era, we are going to notice something that is frightening.

To be continued …

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

Maurice Hoppe is Director of the Steps to Life training programs and a member of the Steps to Life Board. The Training Program for Ministers and Church Leaders is a correspondence course that prepares individuals to serve as pastors or Bible workers. Preparing for the Final Conflict is a correspondence course for the laity. Both of these courses teach present truth that will be an anchor for the soul during the storm of opposition and persecution just ahead. He and his wife also have a correspondence course offered through Revelation Ministry. He can be contacted at: mauricehoppe@stepstolife.org.

Alienation and Reconciliation

by

There are many famous battlefields in the eastern United States of America from the days of the Civil War. But perhaps the most famous battlefield of all was fought in a little city in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg that lasted about three days. Four months later, President Abraham Lincoln dedicated the Soldiers’ National Cemetery honoring the fallen, redefining the purpose of the war, and delivering one of the most famous speeches ever given by any American politician—The Gettysburg Address. The main address at the dedication ceremony was delivered by the best-known orator of the time who spoke for two hours. In the wake of such a performance, President Lincoln’s brief speech of three minutes would hardly seem to have drawn notice. However, it has been recognized as one of the classic utterances of all time while most do not even know the name of the first speaker.

Visiting the cemetery you will see rows and rows of white crosses. I have visited military cemeteries in Manila and the Philippines where thousands of United States servicemen are buried and the Punchbowl Cemetery in Hawaii where tens of thousands of servicemen are buried. There are other military cemeteries in England and the European continent where others are buried, but there is something about the Civil War that is worse than all of the other wars involving the United States. Actually, the Civil War is the worst kind of war that can be fought, because documented evidence proves that members from the same family, blood brothers, took opposing sides, one dressed in gray while another dressed in blue, shooting at each other and killing each other.

At the memorial in New Market, Virginia, it is recorded that America suffered from the Civil War far more than from World War I and World War II combined. Why? How could we get into a condition where people who are brothers could take up guns and start shooting at each other?

The answer is found in the New Testament. The reason, it says, is because we are alienated, and as long as people are alienated it is possible for war to break out in the family. People can be at war with each other in the same institution, in the same school, even in the same church because of alienation. Alienation is a terrible thing that causes people to eventually fight with each other. This first started in heaven between angels who had close association and companionship as friends for an undisclosed number of years, which could have been millions of years, but when one group alienated themselves they began to fight.

Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city [or a fortified city]” KJV. It is true. When two people are alienated from each other, there is a very serious problem that no human being can solve. I have seen situations where people in the very same family have not talked to each other for fifteen or twenty years, and when one dies, the other person refuses to attend the funeral.

The whole world today is infected by alienation. It is in homes, in the church, in schools, in institutions, among the nations and among the different races of people. In almost any nation that you can go to in the world there is at least one group of people present that is despised by the others. It was evident to me as a small child in Myanmar (then Burma), when my parents were there as missionaries, that there was a despised race of people there. The European Correns, a relatively little known minority race, are a completely different race from the Burmese people that can easily be recognized on the street. They are a very wise, intelligent and industrious people but hated by the Burmese. This same dynamic is repeated in almost every country, resulting in intolerance to some despised race. Alienation also seeps into religion where those connected to one religion hate people of other religions. Because we are all alienated from each other and alienated from God, the human race is fractured and alienated from each other because of its separation from God. To remedy this situation, Jesus came to this world and had to die on the cross.

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:6–10.

Notice the timing: We were reconciled to God “when we were enemies,” enemies of God and enemies with each other. Jesus came to this world to put an end to the rebellion. Imagine that assignment! One person, sent into the world by His Father, to put down the rebellion and to reconcile the whole world. If that was your assignment, how would you do it?

From a human perspective Jesus had enough power to force the people to stop fighting for, after all, both the Father and the Son are described as being omnipotent. If He could do all those things, why didn’t He?

The answer is not complicated. If Jesus had come down from the cross, or destroyed Caiaphas or the Roman soldiers or any of His tormenters, this world would have been doomed and without hope. It was through the death of Christ on the cross of Calvary that any can have forgiveness of sin. Paul says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:14.

Be Reconciled to God

Paul told the Romans that it is through the death of Christ that not just the world, but the whole universe is to be reconciled to God. “If we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us [or forces us], because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” II Corinthians 5:13–20. Notice, the apostle is pleading with the people. He said, “We are imploring, we are pleading with you on God’s behalf to please be reconciled to Him.”

The first thing we need to understand is that we can never become reconciled to each other unless we first become reconciled to God. Many homes are fractured today with couples, going through all kinds of traumatic experiences, wondering how their home could possibly be saved. If both parties are willing to be reconciled to God, that home can be saved, but it takes two; one won’t make it. Paul says, “We are imploring you, we are beseeching you”; in other words, “We are begging you, be reconciled to God.”

Ask yourself the question, Am I reconciled to God? Baptism is a public demonstration that the candidate has been reconciled to God. They have decided to die to the flesh and be raised up to walk in newness of life. If you have a whole group of people, in the church, who have been baptized, how could there be any friction or estrangement? How could it be possible for any members to alienate themselves from their brethren?

Ellen White explained it; she says, “They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 12, 51. Paul says, “You’ve been buried into Christ’s death.” Ellen White says, “They were buried alive.”

If you have been baptized, are you reconciled, or is the old man that is supposed to have died still alive? The means provided to solve all discord, all variance in the family, in the church, among the nations, among the races, all strife, all alienation, to bring reconciliation to the whole universe, is just one thing—it is the cross of Christ. If the cross does not bring reconciliation into your family, something is desperately wrong, and you are not experiencing its benefits.

In 1899, Ellen White wrote, “The cross of Calvary is the great center. This truth acted upon will make Christ’s sacrifice effectual. This is that which Gabriel revealed to Daniel in answer to fervent prayer (Daniel 9:24). It was of this that Moses and Elijah and Christ talked at His transfiguration. By the humiliation of the cross He was to bring everlasting deliverance to all who would walk after Him, giving positive evidence that they are separated from the world.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 101.

This is the method, the means, the instrument that the Father in heaven intends for us to bring reconciliation to the whole universe. “The Father looks upon the cross, upon the suffering He has given His Son to endure in order to save the race from hopeless misery and to draw man to Himself. He looks upon it with the relenting compassion of a Father’s love. The cross has been almost lost sight of, but without the cross there is no connection with the Father, no unity with the Lamb in the midst of the throne in heaven, no welcome reception of the wandering who would return to the forsaken path of righteousness and truth, no hope for the transgressor in the day of judgment. Without the cross there is no means provided for overcoming the power of our strong foe. Every hope of the race hangs upon the cross.” (Emphasis supplied.) Our High Calling, 46.

There are churches all over the United States with crosses on top. People adorn their necks with crosses, and some have a cross hanging from the rear-view mirror in their car while others have it posted on the wall of their home, yet they are still alienated, still getting divorced and still angry. The problem is that even though the means has been provided for the whole universe to be reconciled, most of the world, including the church, is not taking advantage of its benefits. How can this be with the cross displayed everywhere? We are not experiencing it. The Jews had the same problem. They displayed the Ten Commandments everywhere, and Jesus told them, “None of you are keeping the law.”

If we are going to be reconciled with each other, the first thing that has to happen is to be reconciled to God. After a person is reconciled to God, he or she will become reconciled to other human beings, not all human beings, but other human beings that are also reconciled to God. If both a husband and wife are reconciled to God, they will not get a divorce. If a group of people in a church, school, institution, county or city is reconciled to God, there will be no fights. They may still have differences of opinion, but when they see what is happening in the world and in the church, it should be as plain as the nose on their face that people are not reconciled with God, because if they were, relationships between them would be much different.

How to Get Reconciled

In order for two people who are alienated to become reconciled to each other, at least one of them has to change. If alienated from God, at least one is going to have to change. Which person do you think that ought to be? The Lord says, “I don’t change” (Malachi 3:6).

Some ask why Jesus had to die in the manner He did. He died in agony in view of the public assembly, not as a hero, but He died the most shameful death that could be afflicted. The apostle Paul said, “that Christ died for our sins” (I Corinthians 15:3). Sin is a lot more terrible than many think.

What made Him do it?

Jesus was not forced to do this. His Father did not require Him to do it. The angels did not require Him to do it. Nobody required Him to do this. He did it of His own voluntary free will to save sinful man. The more somebody loves you, the greater happiness and pleasure you derive from their companionship. No one in the universe—not the angels of heaven or the beings who have never fallen that dwell on other worlds—understood how great was the love of God, nobody! What happened at the cross changed the minds of the angels of heaven and all the people in the unfallen universe. Ellen White said, “This love was manifested, but it cannot be comprehended by mortal man. It is a mystery too deep for the human mind to fathom.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 17, 26.

Paul said, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. He said that there are some people who might dare to say that they would give their life for a good person. But Christ didn’t give His life for us when we were good people; He gave His life for us when we were bad and were haters of God doing wicked works. It would be impossible for any intelligence in the universe to say that God could have done more. God did the most that it was possible to do; He poured out all of heaven in one gift to reconcile a fallen world back to Himself.

There is no spare tire in the plan of salvation. If what was done at the cross doesn’t appeal to the heart of man, he will be lost, for there is no other way to reach him. Jesus wants you to come to the cross and realize that it was your sins that caused His death and say, “Lord, I am sorry I am the way I am.” The Lord will respond, “I came to die on the cross to forgive you for all of your past sins. Are you now willing to be reconciled to Me?” He wants you to acknowledge Him as Lord and sovereign of your life. If you are willing for your heart to be changed and to be born again, He will send you the Holy Spirit to give you a new heart and a new mind. You will be reconciled to God.

God does not change, but when reconciled to God, those things that were once a burden now become a delight. With a penitent heart you see the wisdom in God’s law and keeping it will be your desire. As each person grows closer to God they become reconciled with each other.

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Colossians 1:19–23.

Notice, it is God’s purpose, through the cross, to reconcile everything in earth and in heaven unto Himself. That is quite a transformation to take people—who were enemies, hating one another, fighting, divorcing another and quarreling—and to reconcile them to God and, as a result, they will be reconciled to each other.

It troubles me to see that there is more division in families and churches than there has ever been, yet this is the gospel that we are preaching. Jesus is coming for a reconciled people, and those who may still be in the church but have failed to reconcile their differences are not going to heaven at all. Those who reconcile with God will show evidence in their relationships with others.

“The religion of Christ will unite in close brotherhood all who accept its teachings. It was the mission of Jesus to reconcile men to God, and thus to one another.” (Emphasis supplied.) The Great Controversy, 47.

The time is coming when, in the church, there will be no more titles, but we will refer to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and have the same care and regard for one another as brothers and sisters do in a wholesome family relationship.

To an Adventist physician, in 1903 Ellen White wrote, “Schism and division are not the fruit of righteousness; they are of the wicked one. The great hindrance to our advancement at this time is the selfishness that prevents believers from having true fellowship with one another. The last prayer that Christ offered for His disciples before His trial was that they might be one in Him. Satan is determined that this oneness shall not be, for it is the strongest witness that can be borne that God did indeed send His Son to reconcile the world to heaven.” The Upward Look, 69.

When I study these things, I just drop down on my knees and say, “Lord, reconcile me to You so I can be reconciled with other people.” Friends, it has to happen, or we will never lift off this planet. “When you bring an offering to God, ask yourself, Am I cherishing wrong feelings toward any of my brethren in the faith? If you are, do all in your power to be reconciled to the one with whom you are at variance.

“It is a sin to cherish anger against a brother or a sister in the Church. Christ treats anger as murder. He declares, ‘I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause’—O, how much there is of this in the Church today!—‘shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire’ (Matthew 5:22). [Raca denotes a certain looseness of life and manners, while “fool,” in the same passage, means a downright wicked and reprobate person.] God has a controversy with that man. He thinks he has occasion for feeling angry, for calling his brother raca, ‘vain fellow;’ but these passionate words are a savor of death unto death. He who utters them is not co-operating with God, but with Satan. In heaven his wicked railing is placed in the same list as swearing.” The Review and Herald, April 1, 1902.

Paul says to put away all anger and wrath (Ephesians 4:31); you don’t want that kind of a record on your page in heaven. The Bible says, vengeance belongs to Me (Romans 12:19). The cross has demonstrated that sin will be punished. All who refuse to accept Christ, and the benefit of the punishment that has already been paid, will suffer for their own sins in the judgment. In heaven there will be only one church, and there will be no one there who cannot go because of other certain people that are there.

On earth there are many different churches that cannot be reconciled because of their unwillingness to keep God’s commandments. Read your Bible and you will see that the people who go to heaven are all going to be reconciled. There will be no avoiding someone in heaven as there is here.

“If those who claim to be His followers draw apart, showing no affectionate or compassionate interest in one another, they are not sanctified to God. They have not His love in their hearts.” The Review and Herald, March 17, 1910.

“Church-Members are to help one another. Christ has given directions for their guidance, declaring that they are to show an unselfish interest in one another.” The Southern Watchman, January 1, 1903.

This is what the cross is about. It would be in vain for those who do not see this transformation in their lives. Paul wrote in the books of Ephesians, Colossians and Romans that the purpose of the cross was to reconcile the whole universe back to God so we would no longer be in rebellion and alienated.

Praise God! A way has been made for us to be reconciled to Him, and this is going to happen to a group of people before Jesus comes. I cannot bear the thought of not being part of that group. I pray, “Lord, I’m just surrendering all; please help me that I may not have any root of bitterness or alienation toward any other of Your creatures.” The purpose of Christ’s death on the cross has to be effected in my life if I’m going to leave this world, and it has to be effected in your life, too.

Ellen White wrote, “There must be no alienation among brethren. If our brethren have ought against us, the first missionary work to be done is to be reconciled to our brother or brethren. God has pointed out the path we must follow. He has shown us that we must love one another. When the love of Jesus Christ pervades the soul, many words that you now speak to those who love God and keep His commandments just as conscientiously as you do, you will not speak. They are not in a position where they can be honored and exalted as you are. Let not this be a snare to you; for as the Lord has presented matters to me [Ellen White], the spirit you have manifested toward your brethren must be different from what it has been in the past. Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Christ died to save your brethren as surely as He died to save you.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 48.

She said that you have to have a different spirit toward your brothers, a spirit that is not alienated or estranged, but a spirit that is reconciled with God. Do you want to have that experience where the cross of Christ is not just a story, but it’s something that you actually experience?

Over twenty years ago I began to pray about this subject and said, “Lord, I do not want to have a pretend religion.” I am more and more afraid of a pretend religion that can bring you right up to the end and then find your religion isn’t worth anything. There are many people in the church today who think they are very religious, but the Pharisees also thought they were very religious, and Jesus said they were lost. It is not enough to be religious; we have to be reconciled to God. Only then will we be reconciled to our fellow men.

The religion of Christ involves dealing with things that are wrong and then, in the right spirit, correcting them. Pray in your heart and cry out to the Lord today for reconciliation to take place in your life.

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

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

Editorial – Who Will Be Ready?

by

Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8. This refers to His second coming when He will avenge His elect of the wrongs they have suffered at the hands of the devil’s agents. The implication that maybe He will not find significant faith on the earth makes the statement more poignant. Peter said that the last days would be a time of scoffing and unbelief (II Peter 3:3–7), and Paul says that it will be a perilous time in which people will have a form of Godliness but deny its power (II Timothy 3:1–5). Jesus also said that because lawlessness would abound, the love of many would become cold (Matthew 24:12).

Because of the described developments, many of God’s children today are in situations where there is nobody around who shares like precious faith with whom to fellowship and worship. Some people report that of the many churches in their area, they still cannot find anyone who shares the same beliefs that they hold so dear, more precious than life itself. If you are in such a situation, you might take courage from the many prophecies about the little companies all over the world when Jesus comes. Below are a few of these prophecies. You might consider organizing a prayer group to study and pray each week with a few people who, more than anything in this world, want to be ready for Jesus to come. “The Lord has promised that where two or three are met together in His name, there will He be in the midst. Those who meet together for prayer will receive an unction from the Holy One. There is great need of secret prayer, but there is also need that several Christians meet together, and unite with earnestness their petitions to God. In these small companies Jesus is present, the love of souls is deepened in the heart, and the Spirit puts forth its mighty energies, that human agents may be exercised in regard to saving those who are lost. Jesus ever … strove to impress upon His disciples that the Holy Spirit must enlighten, renew, and sanctify the soul.” The Review and Herald, June 30, 1896.

“Christ would have given His life, even if He had known that only the little company before whom I [Ellen White] am standing today would be saved at last. Yes; if there had been but one member of our little company that could have been saved, He would have given His life as a ransom for that one. How incomprehensible is His infinite love!” Ibid., September 3, 1903.