Keys to the Storehouse – Between the Mountain and the Multitude

God does not want any of us to become hermits or monks, but many of us have disappeared from the public eye to hibernate into our own little corners. The reality is that we will suffocate in our own little corners and our prayers will be smothered and die.

“The life must be like Christ’s life—between the mountain and the multitude. He who does nothing but pray will soon cease to pray, or his prayers will become a formal routine. When men take themselves out of social life, away from the sphere of Christian duty and cross bearing; when they cease to work earnestly for the Master, who worked earnestly for them, they lose the subject matter of prayer and have no incentive to devotion. Their prayers become personal and selfish. They cannot pray in regard to the wants of humanity or the upbuilding of Christ’s kingdom, pleading for strength wherewith to work.” Steps to Christ, 101.

How is your prayer life? Are you sustaining a loss?

“We sustain a loss when we neglect the privilege of associating together to strengthen and encourage one another in the service of God. The truths of His word lose their vividness and importance in our minds. Our hearts cease to be enlightened and aroused by their sanctifying influence, and we decline in spirituality. In our association as Christians we lose much by lack of sympathy with one another. He who shuts himself up to himself is not filling the position that God designed he should. The proper cultivation of the social elements in our nature brings us into sympathy with others and is a means of development and strength to us in the service of God.” Ibid.

What has happened to our spirituality? We need to get out of our comfort zone, open our hearts and move our feet and do the Lord’s work.

Following is good advice in order to be refreshed: “If Christians would associate together, speaking to each other of the love of God and of the precious truths of redemption, their own hearts would be refreshed and they would refresh one another. We may be daily learning more of our heavenly Father, gaining a fresh experience of His grace; then we shall desire to speak of His love; and as we do this, our own hearts will be warmed and encouraged. If we thought and talked more of Jesus, and less of self, we should have far more of His presence.” Ibid., 101, 102.

 

Heavenly Father: Get me out of my corner of death where I am smothering. I am not allowing Your light to shine through me onto others who are also perishing. My life is losing that distinctive affection and excitement of reaching out to others. Please Lord forgive me; restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation before others perish because of my lack. Help me to live, as Christ did, “between the mountain and the multitude.” Amen.

 

Children’s Story – A Secret to Tell

Do you know what a secret is?

The dictionary says a secret is something that isn’t known by others or something that is known by only a few people.

One day Jesus was moving through a crowd of people. A woman who had been sick for many years touched the hem of His coat. Right away she was healed.

Just think how happy she must have been. But the strange thing about her healing was that she decided to keep it a secret.

She didn’t get to, though. Jesus knew someone had touched His coat. Turning, He asked,

“Who touched Me?”

The woman answered, “I did.”

If you had been this woman, would you have kept Jesus’ healing a secret?

When we tell others what Jesus has done for us we are “witnessing” for Him. Witnessing about Jesus is always wise.

When the woman told Jesus He had healed her, the people in the crowd heard her, too. This was a good thing because they learned Jesus really could heal diseases.

We should never be afraid to tell others that Jesus has healed us of our sins. We should never be ashamed because we are Christians. There have been many times when children told about their love for Christ and others learned to love Him, too.

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to save everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

“Whoever will confess (tell others about) Me before men, him will I confess before My Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).

Dear Jesus, make us good witnesses for You. Help us always to be ready to tell others that we love You. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. In Thy precious Name. Amen.

Happy Moments With God, Margaret Anderson, ©1962, 112.

Pen of Inspiration – Trust in God

What a sacred trust God has committed to us, in making us His servants to aid in the work of saving souls! He has intrusted to us great truths, a most solemn, testing message for the world. Our duty is not simply to preach, but to minister, to come close to hearts. We should use our intrusted talents with skill and wisdom, that we may present the precious light of truth in the most pleasing manner, the way best adapted to win souls.

Paul thus speaks of the ministry of the new covenant: “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom 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: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians 1:25–29). What a responsibility is this! A work is here brought to view that is more laborious than merely preaching the word; it is to represent Christ in our character, to be living epistles, known and read of all men.

“The love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). We must cherish love; and if those for whom we labor do not appreciate our efforts, we must not allow discontent or wrong feelings to rule in our hearts. Murmuring thoughts, jealousies, and evil surmisings imbitter the life and mar the labors. It is the Lord who has called us to this work, and we should have an eye single to His glory. We cannot trust to our own efforts, as though we could do the work of converting souls. God alone can convict and convert. Jesus invites sinners to come to Him with all their burdens, and He will give them rest and peace.

Let us never forget that Jesus loves us. He died for us, and now He lives to make intercession in our behalf. And the Father also loves us, and desires our happiness. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32)? Brethren, you should set an example of faith, confidence, and love, to the churches over which the Lord has made you overseers. Will you do your work with fidelity, in the fear of God? Will you feel that you must avail yourselves of every opportunity to obtain grace and power from on high, that you may render to God the very best service possible?

If, as laborers in the cause of God, you feel that you have borne greater cares and trials than have fallen to the lot of others, remember that for you there is a peace unknown to those who shun these burdens. But do not force your trials upon others; do not groan over them. There is comfort and joy in the service of Christ. The Christian gives the Lord his entire affections, but he takes as well as gives; and his language is not that of a murmurer or a constant backslider. He makes no effort to appear righteous, but his life shows that he is led by the Holy Spirit. He can speak with assurance of his hope in Christ; for has he not the promise of God? If he has complied with the conditions upon which these promises are based, God’s word is pledged that He will do for him more than he asks.

We honor God most when we trust Him most. Anxiety and worriment in His service, talking fears and doubts as to whether we shall be saved, savors of selfishness and unbelief. True faith is more solicitous to know what can be done to-day. As we take up our duties one by one, each will come in its proper place; and the faithful discharge of these duties, however small, opens a field where all the powers of the mind can be employed in the service of God. We shall know and obey His will.

Brethren in the faith, express no doubts. Follow closely your Guide. You must dispense with Him before you can lose your way; for the Lord has hedged you in on every side. In the darkest hour, Jesus will be our light. “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). It is an exalted privilege to be connected with Jesus. In every condition of trial, we may have the consolation of His presence. We may live in the very atmosphere of heaven. Our enemies may thrust us in prison, but prison walls cannot cut off the communication between Christ and our souls. One who sees our every weakness, who is acquainted with every trial, is above all earthly powers; and angels can come to us in lonely cells, bringing light and peace from heaven. The prison will be as a palace, for the rich in faith dwell there; and the gloomy walls will be lighted up with heavenly light, as when Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight in the Philippian dungeon. Bunyan was confined in Bedford jail; and thence issued a light that has illumined the pathway to the celestial city.

God is the “Rock of our salvation” (Psalms 95:1), a present help in every time of need. Then let us be no longer babes in Christ, but bold and firm soldiers of the cross, rejoicing in suffering for the will of God.

Morning Talks, To the Ministers at the General Conference, Battle Creek, Michigan, November, 1883, 12–15.

Christian Association

“Can two walk together except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3

Association with other members of the human family makes up nearly all of life—friendship, family, society, community, city and nation. Out of it grow churches, schools, business, fraternities, orders, lodges, unions, and governments.

There are two aspects of the matter which will be the chief concern of “Christian Association,” namely,

  1. The influence received from our associates, and
  2. The influence we impart to them

The first concerns the development of our own character and Christian experience and either prepares or disqualifies us to meet our responsibilities in the second.

By the very nature of things the first is of first importance.

The influence of our Associates

Henry Varnum in his book on Character made some helpful observations on this subject which are herewith offered the reader for meditation:

  • “A man’s character and success are greatly affected by his friends. A man is known by the company he keeps.” p. 352.
  • “It is impossible that association with those about you should not produce a powerful influence in the formation of your character.” p. 48.
  • “Companionship is education, good or bad. It develops manhood, high or low; it lifts the soul upward or drags it downward; it ministers to virtue or to vice.” Ibid.
  • “All go to school to one another, and you are constantly learning from your companions. You catch their peculiarities and ways. You get into their habits of thought and action. You set them up as your ideals and what they are you try to become.” p. 49.
  • “You will never forget your companionships nor will you ever be free from the influence and example of your associates.” Ibid.
  • “Let your company be always, where possible, better than yourself; and when you have the misfortune to move amongst your inferiors, bear in mind this seriously, that if you do not seize the apt occasion to draw them up to your level—which requires wisdom as well as love—they will certainly not be slow to drag you down to theirs.” Ibid.
  • “It is easier to sink to the level of evil companions than to raise them; encourage them to better ways, but avoid contamination.” Ibid.
  • “No matter how sly, how secret, no matter if your associates have been in the dark, their image will sooner or later appear in your face and conduct.” Ibid.
  • “More of that which may most properly be called culture, wisdom or unwisdom, morality or immorality, refinement or vulgarity, chastity or unchastity, is absorbed from habitual associates, than in any other way, or all other ways put together.” p. 48.

In as much as nearly all we ever learn in life we gather through association with others, it is most important that our associates be carefully selected. We should shun evil companions and deliberately choose the best people as associates.

Choosing Associates

Common Associates

All association begins at home, and would God that every home were sanctified with heavenly influences so that all who dwell there would become wells of living water flowing forth to quench the thirst of a dying world. A holy home is heaven’s fortress in the world. When it is divided between good and evil, its members who are determined to seek righteousness will have to build their own individual fortresses and find God in secret places and stand steadfast in adverse circumstances. God will never fail such souls and will build them up so that when they meet other struggling souls they will be extra strong to help them. Within the family circle we cannot select our associates, except in the formation of new families; but in all other groups and places we are largely responsible for the kind of people who influence our lives; we can even choose the church or school we wish to attend.

Choosing a life-companion is by far the most important item in life, except that of choosing to serve God. The two people who unite in a life partnership should be of one heart in their service to God and in their views of all the major aspects of life; then their association will be bliss. Thousands of homes have gone down because their members could not endure associating with each other.

As we pass out from the home to all life’s experiences our selection of associates should be guided by this fundamental principle: never by deliberate choice should we continue any affiliation which does not lead to God and holiness.

A divine survey of the world today would reveal that Satan has been exceedingly busy in corralling almost every person into one or many organizations of some kind where God is not in control and which have worldly objects to gain and which do not prepare their members for the kingdom of heaven. Some of them may make false claims to doing so. Jesus fitly described conditions in the last days, saying the people would be “bound into bundles to be burned.” (See Matthew 13:30.) Let the reader beware of holding membership in any group not governed by divine influences.

The Best Associates

We pass from the matter of common associates to consider the possibility of divine companionship.

“God suffered John, the beloved disciple, to be exiled to Patmos, where he was separated from the world’s bustle and strife, shut away from every outside influence, and even from the work that he loved. Then the Lord could commune with him, opening before him the closing scenes of this world’s history. John the Baptist made his home in the wilderness, there to receive from God the message that he was to bear.” Gospel Workers, 77.

Of Enoch it is said: “In the midst of a life of active labor, Enoch steadfastly maintained his communion with God. The greater and more pressing his labors, the more constant and earnest were his prayers. He continued to exclude himself at certain periods from all society. After remaining for a time among the people, laboring to benefit them by instruction and example, he would withdraw, to spend a season in solitude, hungering and thirsting for that divine knowledge which God alone can impart.

“Communing thus with God, Enoch came more and more to reflect the divine image. His face was radiant with a holy light, even the light that shineth in the face of Jesus. As he came forth from these divine communings, even the ungodly beheld with awe the impress of heaven upon his countenance. …

“The men of that generation mocked the folly of him who sought not to gather gold or silver, or to build up possessions here. But Enoch’s heart was upon eternal treasures. He had looked upon the celestial city. He had seen the King in His glory in the midst of Zion. The greater the existing iniquity, the more earnest was his longing for the home of God. While still on earth, he dwelt by faith in the realms of light. …

“For three hundred years Enoch had been seeking purity of heart, that he might be in harmony with heaven. For three centuries he had walked with God. Day by day he had longed for a closer union; nearer and nearer had grown the communion, until God took him to Himself. He had stood at the threshold of the eternal world, only a step between him and the land of the blest; and now the portals opened, the walk with God, so long pursued on earth, continued, and he passed through the gates of the holy city—the first from among men to enter there.

“ ‘By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; … for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God’ (Hebrews 11:5).

“To such communion God is calling us. As was Enoch’s, so must be their holiness of character who shall be redeemed from among men at the Lord’s second coming.” Ibid., 52–54.

God’s Presence

To recognize that we are always in the Living Presence is one of the strongest deterrents to sinning; how could a man want to lie or steal while standing in the very present of God! “Thou, God, sees me!”—has a mighty, holy influence. Such a recognition would change my life.

Although, since man became a sinner he cannot see God face to face, God does not lose contact with any human being who is receptive to heavenly influences. These influences reach man in various ways among which may be named,

  1. The Holy Spirit, His personal representative. The work of the Spirit has been considered in other chapters of this book. …
  2. The word of God, which is explained by the Spirit if we are diligent students of the Word and keep our hearts open to the Spirit and fully surrendered to His pleading voice.
  3. Nature, when interpreted in the light of revelation.
  4. Prayer, which makes all of these influences available to us and makes us subject to them.
  5. Angels, who are actual heavenly visitants whom God has provided to be our associates sent forth to “minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrew 1:14).

All of these means of communion with God exist and wait to be used just as truly as the telephone and radio; but if they are ignored nothing will come through them to us any more than through an unlifted receiver or an unturned dial. If men but knew the educational influences and the uplifting power available through these means, they would take precedence over all other associations in the world and become the guiding, governing forces of every detail of life.

Angel Visitants

“We need to understand better than we do the mission of the angel visitants. It would be well to consider that in all our work we have the co-operation and care of heavenly beings. Invisible armies of light and power attend the meek and lowly ones who believe and claim the promises of God. Cherubim and seraphim and angels that excel in strength—ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands—stand at His right hand, ‘all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation’ (Hebrews 1:14).” Christ’s Object Lessons, 176.

Angel Teachers

“All who engage in ministry are God’s helping hand. They are co-workers with the angels; rather, they are the human agencies through whom the angels accomplish their mission. Angels speak through their voices, and work by their hands. And the human workers, co-operating with heavenly agencies, have the benefit of their education and experience. As a means of education, what ‘university course’ can equal this?” Education, 271.

His Presence

How can I live unworthily, when He is by my side,

My Helper, Comforter to be, my solace, and my Guide?

How can I harbor thoughts of hate, or passions which defile,

When One of spotless purity is near me all the while?

Swiftly, so swiftly, moments go; they make the months—the years;

I’ll reap in harvest what I sow—why should it be in tears?

 

How can I live unworthily when He is always near,

Ready to aid when tempted, tried—ready to banish fear?

Ready to lead up toward the home He is preparing there,

Up where there’s nothing to perplex, up where there is no care?

How can I live unworthily when I have proved Him true?

I will reap in harvest what I’ve sown—so will it be with you.

 

Margaret Locke

Principles of Church Organization

“He [Jesus] who was the foundation of the ritual and economy of Israel would be looked upon as its enemy and destroyer.” The Desire of Ages, 111. The reason for this was that those who were in charge of the system viewed themselves as being the church and they realized that if Jesus were to be accepted, many of them would lose their positions.

There is a similar problem in the professed church of God today. While there are some inspired counsels we are willing to accept, there are many others that we reject. Ellen White wrote many counsels to the church that if they were advocated, would be considered by present church leaders to be dangerous and possibly even capable of destroying the church as it stands today. However, we may never receive God’s blessing until we feed upon every word of Inspiration.

Principles of church organization affect every aspect of the church, from the youngest member on up to the General Conference. In the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, there is a great deal of information dealing with church organization that is written not only to those in leadership positions but to laymen as well.

Throughout history, whenever doctrine becomes corrupted, organization also becomes corrupt. In fact, in Revelation, God is as concerned about false organization as He is about false doctrine. In the writings of Ellen White there is a great deal written about doctrine, but there are also hundreds of pages written about church organization which we are afraid to touch because if we even read the quotation, we will be accused of criticism. It is time, however, that we have the courage of John the Baptist and, with the spirit of love, humbly look at the things God has given to us, praying that He will help us to implement these things so He can pour out His spirit and finish the work He is seeking to do.

We are told in 1 Corinthians 1:2 how the New Testament church was organized. “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.” The church at Corinth, identified by Paul, is not addressed as the church which is registered. It could be, but that is not the point. Nothing is said regarding organization or where they meet. The church here in Corinth represents those people who are sanctified and called to be the saints of God. Now the church was to be organized, but the organization was not the church. The people were the church. These people worked in harmony, because this is possible when God is in the hearts of the members. They would meet and work together, send out missionaries, take up offerings, and do all those things which are necessary for God’s work to progress. But the church itself was the people. This is what the church has always been.

“But you have come to the Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven” (Hebrews 12:22, 23). In a special sense, the church, the true church of God, is composed of those people who are registered in the Book of Life in heaven.

Now this presents a very interesting situation. Who decides who is going to be a church member? Is it the pope who has the keys? If it is not the pope, is it the church board? Can they decide? What about the church body? Can we decide who is saved and who is not, whose name is written in heaven and whose is not?

Well, don’t we have anything to do? Oh, yes, we have something to do. We are called to recognize those whom God has registered in the books in heaven; and those whom He has registered there, we are to register here. He does not, however, follow our suit; we are to follow His, and there is a difference.

Let us suppose that God takes someone’s name off of the books in heaven and they are disfellowshipped. Are they still church members? No. But suppose their names remain in the books on earth. This is an interesting dilemma. The church is purified when the books on earth match the books in heaven. You see, God has given mankind no authority to decide who can be a member and who cannot be a member, but simply to recognize those whom He has accepted or rejected.

God has local congregations here on earth and we have organizations here to help organize the work, but the headquarters of your local church is in heaven, where only the sanctified are registered, not in some office in your state or some office in Washington, D.C. Some people find this rather disconcerting, believing such a policy could lead to all kinds of trouble.

Just suppose that a coup took place in some local church or conference through politicking and some people who were not inspired by the Lord or filled with the Holy Spirit took over through manipulation and because of their prejudices, certain people were unjustly disfellowshiped. Would those who were disfellowshiped cease to be church members? Certainly not. Suppose, on the other hand, people were allowed to come into the church who were never converted. Because their names were in the books on earth, would they, therefore, be automatically registered in the Book of Life? Not in any way, shape, or form. God has never left His church to be manipulated and tampered with by the political whims of mankind. There is coming a time when He is going to turn and overturn the professed church that is called by His name. God’s true church remains the same as it has always been—those people who are registered in the books of heaven.

“God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. ‘Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:20). Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church.” The Upward Look, 315.

When Paul was ordained, he was ordained to baptize and establish churches—the two together. According to Inspiration, the same ordination that gives people the right to baptize gives them the right to establish churches. More and more, however, there are increasing restrictions controlling the starting of new churches.

In 1903, Kansas had one hundred churches. The state has grown by almost a million people in the last fifty years, and during that period of time, we have gone from one hundred churches down to fifty-four.

Not only has God alone reserved the right to start and to recognize a church, but if you and I decide to go out and start a church apart from His will, no matter what conference committee may approve it, it will never be a church. “For the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church.” Ibid. If God’s presence is not the center of His church, it is not recognized by Him as His church, whether or not it is recognized by a conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In New Testament times, the church comprised those who were called and sanctified. Wherever Paul went and converted a few people, he organized them into a church, right there and then, without seeking any other permission. It was not up to the church in Jerusalem to give permission or to decide if they were a church, but to recognize the fact that they were. Now, of course, if a church apostatized or if a local member apostatized, it was also up to the church in Jerusalem to decide that, since these people are no longer keeping the commandments of God, they are no longer recognized by us as being one of God’s churches.

For us individually to receive the Holy Spirit, we must study the Bible, pray, overcome sin and witness. For the church body to receive the Holy spirit, they must, as a body, also have these four things present. Not only is it necessary for us as individuals to be winning others to Christ, but God’s design for his church is that every church should start new churches.

One of the things that must take place before God can pour out His blessing upon the church is not only a revival of primitive doctrine, but a revival of primitive organization. The New Testament churches had the freedom to go out and start new churches; but they were not just started and left to flounder by themselves, they were left with local organization. “And when they had preached the gospel to the city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’ So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (Acts 14:21–23).

Authority in the early church was to be earned because of a godly life and knowledge of the Scriptures and the use of the ability that God had given; but never was it to come just by virtue of office. Today our church is almost being destroyed in some parts of this world because some have assumed the office of minister and decided that because they have that office they are the king of the local church. God never intended that office to be that of a king, but one of service.

“From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church” (Acts 20:17). What elders were these that He called? These were the elders who had been appointed. Notice, it is elders plural, not the elder. “Therefore take heed to yourselves [this is the instruction he is giving to these elders] and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears” (Acts 20:28–31).

So, Paul called the elders to guard the church from wolves. In a correlating passage to this in Testimonies, vol. 5, 77, Ellen White, writing of her own experience, says that she could scarcely keep from weeping when she saw the people who were taking charge of the church who were trained by Satan. Paul had the same concern, and the elders were called to protect the church from these wolves.

Now the question is, suppose that a wolf came from Jerusalem. Were the elders to protect the church from that wolf? “Oh, no,” someone says, “not a local elder!” Look here at one of the most interesting passages in the New Testament in regard to this. “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I [Paul] withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy” (Galatians 2:11–13). Paul stood up and rebuked Peter, but Paul was not happy about this because he was not the one who should have had to do the rebuking.

God had established a local leadership to protect the church, but, surely not from Peter. He was from Jerusalem! He was one of the pillars; he knew Jesus personally. No, not from Peter. They were only Gentiles who had been newly converted to the faith. You do not expect them, these Gentile Galatians who had just come into the Christian church a few years ago, to stand up and rebuke Peter. Peter was from the Jerusalem church. He had been a Jew all his life, one of the pillars in the church, a follower of Jesus—not Peter! I mean, Paul was an apostle. He could do that. But Paul was most unhappy that he had to do that. “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified” (Galatians 3:1)?

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). Someone might say, “That scripture is dealing with circumcision and all those things.” Circumcision was involved, and eating with Gentiles was involved, but that was not the issue! The issue in Galatia was that Peter had caused them to transgress and they were to stand in their freedom, even if it was Peter from Jerusalem who should come down and preach false theology.

“But strange fire has been offered in the use of harsh words, in self-importance, in self-exaltation, in self-righteousness, in arbitrary authority, in domineering, in oppression, in restricting the liberty of God’s people, binding them about by your plans and rules, which God has not framed, neither have they come into His mind. All these things are strange fire, unacknowledged by God, and are a continual misrepresentation of His character.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 357, 358.

The Lord established the church upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, and He alone is to be the head of the church. (See Ephesians 1:22, 23.) The issue in the days of Martin Luther was who was in charge of the church—the Lord or the pope. That was the issue in Wesley’s day and it was also the issue in 1888. It is amazing how little Ellen White deals with doctrine in relationship to 1888. The problem with Jones and Waggoner was that they did not go through the “proper channels.” They were not approved by the “proper people.”

The following statements are from a letter that Ellen White wrote to Elder Butler. “God designs that men shall use their minds and consciences for themselves. He never designed that one man should become the shadow of another, and utter only another’s sentiments. But this error has been coming in among us, that a very few are to be mind, conscience, and judgment for all God’s workers. The foundation of Christianity is ‘Christ our Righteousness.’ ” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 112. Do you want to know what Christ our Righteousness means? She tells us what it means. “Men are individually responsible to God and must act as God acts upon them, not as another human mind acts upon their mind.” Ibid. God is to decide what is right, not some human committee. God makes the rules, not some human rule book. The Bible is our creed. We always used to say: “We do not have a creed book; the Bible is our creed.”

“For if this method of indirect influence is kept up, souls can not be impressed and directed by the great I AM. They will, on the other hand, have their experience blended with another, and will be kept under a moral restraint, which allows no freedom of action or of choice. …

“If we would be wise, and use diligently, prayerfully, and thankfully the means whereby light and blessings are to come to His people, then no voice nor power upon earth would have authority over us to say, ‘This shall not be.’ ” Ibid., 112, 113.

In the book Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, Ellen White wrote a great deal of material to the leadership and ministry in general after 1888. Much of this book is dealing with this very principle of church authority. Among other similar statements, she said, “The high-handed power that has been developed, as though position has made men gods, makes me afraid, and ought to cause fear. It is a curse wherever and by whomsoever it is exercised.” Ibid., 361. “The spirit of domination is extending to the presidents of the conferences. If a man is sanguine of his own powers and seeks to exercise dominion over his brethren, feeling that he is invested with authority to make his will the ruling power, the best and only safe course is to remove him.” Ibid., 362.

In the chapter “Under Which Banner?” she says, “Humanity is hailed as God.” Ibid., 365. She is talking to us, dear friends. She says, “God will not vindicate any device whereby man shall in the slightest degree rule or oppress his fellowmen.” Ibid., 366. A curse is pronounced upon all who do this. (See Jeremiah 17:5.)

“State conferences may depend upon the General Conference for light and knowledge and wisdom; but is it safe for them to do this? Battle Creek is not to be the center of God’s work. God alone can fill this place. When our people in the different places have their special convocations, teach them, for Christ’s sake and for their own soul’s sake, not to make flesh their arm. There is no power in men to read the hearts of their fellowmen. The Lord is the only One upon whom we can with safety depend, and He is accessible in every place and to every church in the Union. To place men where God should be placed does not honor or glorify God. Is the president of the General Conference to be the god of the people?” Ibid., 375. Following the counsel and teaching of these ideas does not make a person very popular, but we are told to do it.

Instead of teaching the truth that God has commissioned to be taught, Ellen White says we have taught otherwise. “For many years an education has been given to the people which places God second, and man first. The people have been taught that everything must be brought before the council of a few men in Battle Creek.” Ibid., 325. I want you to notice that this is a serious matter because it is breaking the first commandment. God says, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). “Let me entreat our state conferences and our churches to cease putting their dependence upon men and making flesh their arm.” Ibid., 380. Today we have gone far beyond where they were in 1888.

“In reference to our conference, it is repeated o’er and o’er and o’er again, that it is the voice of God, and therefore everything must be referred to the Conference and have the conference voice in regard to permission or restriction or what shall be and what shall not be done in the various fields. …

“We have heard enough, abundance, about that ‘everything must go around in the regular way.’…

“He [God] wants every living soul that has a knowledge of the truth to come to their senses.” Spalding and Magan Collection, 163.

“The Lord wants His Spirit to come in. He wants the Holy Ghost king.” Ibid., 166.

Today we have come to the point, in many places, that if you ever invite someone to come and speak in the pulpit, you have to get the permission of the local conference.

God is looking for every one of us, from the General Conference president down, to be broken on the Rock. When Jesus is the King, unity, peace and love pervade. This does not do away with organization. It is the only thing that creates a working organization. We still have offices, but when God’s plan is followed, no one is striving for office because everyone is striving to serve one another. (See Matthew 20:25–28.)

The message of Christ our Righteousness has to become practical. We need to exercise less and less control over one another and do more and more praying for one another. Let us not decide that God has given any one of us authority to tell everyone else how they are to serve God. God is calling for much more freedom in His church than what we have been willing to allow. There is a place for order, a place for leadership, but dear friend, God is calling for us to be broken on the Rock, to be filled with the humility and the love of Jesus. Then we will find that once again Jesus will be King.

 

Pastor Marshall Grosboll, with his wife Lillian, founded Steps to Life. In July 1991, Pastor Marshall and his family met with tragedy as they were returning home from a camp meeting in Washington state, when the airplane he was piloting went down, killing all on board.

Happiness–Salvation or a Curse?

“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the “unalienable rights” which the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their Creator and which governments are created to protect.

Although U.S. citizens are guaranteed the opportunity and privilege to pursue happiness, not many people know how to find it. The secret of happiness is not very well understood today.

For Christians, it should be the simplest, most important topic you need to thoroughly understand.

Is it possible to know the truth and for the truth to be a curse that thwarts our pursuit of happiness? Yes, the Bible is very clear about that. This is a serious subject that deserves study.

How to Be Happy

Asher was the son of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid that she gave to Jacob as a wife because she wanted more children. When he was born, Leah named him Asher, which means happy.

Deuteronomy 33:24–29 records the blessing that Moses pronounced upon the tribe of Asher. In that blessing is revealed the secret of happiness. “Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help and the sword of our majesty” (verse 29)!

One of the common words in the Bible for happy or happiness is the word that is translated blessed or blessing. To be blessed or to receive blessing is to be happy.

In the Psalms it says, “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15)! “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God” (Psalm 146:5).

Solomon also stated it a number of different ways in the book of Proverbs. In Proverbs 3:13, it says, “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.” Wisdom, by the way, is one of the names of Jesus Christ (see Proverbs 8).

In the last part of Proverbs 14:21, it says, “But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.” People often say that as soon as they get rich they will have mercy on the poor. What happens in reality is that they pass through life always intending to have mercy on the poor and unfortunate, but they never find the wealth that they thought they should have and never fulfill their commitment. Don’t make the mistake and wait until you decide you are rich before you decide to help somebody else who is in trouble. It is a deception, nothing but a delusion. Proverbs 16:20, last part, says, “Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.” And in Proverbs 29:18, last part, “Happy is he who keeps the law.”

There are texts in the New Testament about blessedness and happiness. John 13:17 says, “If you know these things, blessed [happy] are you if you do them.” Also in James 5:11 we are told: “We count them blessed [happy] who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” That is a verse which is very difficult for people to understand. It was also difficult for Job to understand this concept while he was going through the trial of his life.

Peter says something similar in 1 Peter 3:14: “If you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed [happy]. Do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” The Bible says that people who are suffering are the people who are happy. In fact, 1 Peter 4:14 says, “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed [or happy] are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”

Let’s summarize all these comments about how a person is going to find the secret of happiness. If you want to be happy, you will need to make a full and complete surrender of yourself to the Lord Jesus and choose to follow Him. The people whose God is the Lord are the happy people. Those who have received salvation are the people who are enjoying happiness. The rest of the world continue to seek for it.

Ellen White describes the secret of happiness this way: “God will accept nothing less than unreserved surrender. Half-hearted, sinful Christians can never enter heaven. There they would find no happiness; for they know nothing of the high, holy principles that govern the members of the royal family.” This Day With God, 145.

God knows that that there are people who would not find happiness in heaven if He took them there. Most people assume that to be taken to heaven means all would find happiness there. Those who find their pleasure in the things of this world would consider heaven torture, for in heaven, all have an unreserved surrender to the Lord. She says, “The true Christian keeps the windows of the soul open heavenward. He lives in fellowship with Christ. His will is conformed to the will of Christ. His highest desire is to become more and more Christlike. …

“Earnestly and untiringly we are to strive to reach God’s ideal for us.” Ibid.

God has an ideal for us and it is important for us to strive to be what God wants us to be. We are told: “Earnestly and untiringly we are to strive to reach God’s ideal for us. Not as a penance are we to do this, but as the only means of gaining true happiness.” Ibid.

The only people who attain true happiness are those who are striving to reach God’s ideal for them—striving to be what God wants them to be. Many think happiness is found in some kind of an amusement or thrill. One of the devices this world offers is county and state fairs with amusements that offer temporary happiness but they are just a distraction from the true aims of life.

The devil has invented many ways to entice people who are seeking pleasure and thrills. People trying to get a thrill or to get a high often turn to recreational drugs. All these things are temporary fixes and after the high they are no happier than they were before.

Until a person has made an unreserved surrender to the Lord Jesus they are never going to find the secret of true lasting happiness. Thrills are always temporary. Amusements always end.

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:24–27: “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

Moses understood that whatever pleasures he might enjoy in a life of sin would be temporary, and the time would come when the pleasure would end. He figured out that there was something more worthwhile than any pleasure he could enjoy in this world. He looked beyond the pleasures in this world for a reward—an eternity of endless bliss.

“Earnestly and untiringly we are to strive to reach God’s ideal for us. Not as a penance are we to do this, but as the only means of gaining true happiness. The only way to gain peace and joy is to have a living connection with Him who gave His life for us.” The Review and Herald, May 16, 1907.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 MEV). The more you love someone, the more pleasure is involved in that person’s company.

Have you found the secret of true happiness? The devil does not want you to find happiness. He is trying to put something in your way so that you are afraid to make an unreserved surrender to the Lord. The devil keeps telling you about something you are going to miss out on, the pleasures of sin. But remember, although sin can provide temporary pleasure, it is always temporary and ends in disappointment and loneliness. It brings with it a feeling of emptiness and worthlessness, a feeling of shame, and a desire to be free from the bondage you are in.

Jesus said that the person living in sin is a slave—he is in bondage. But He said, If the Son sets you free, you will really be free.

“The enemy leads those who do not yield entirely to God to exalt self, to seek for supremacy and power. When the eye is not single to the glory of God, eternity is dropped out of your reckoning. Oh, we need to pray for the vitalizing influence of the Spirit of God. Unless the professed people of God yield themselves to the influence of God’s Holy Spirit, they will be overcome by the temptation of Satan.” The Signs of the Times, July 25, 1892.

If you have not made an unreserved surrender to the Lord, it’s just a matter of time before you will yield to some temptation of Satan that he puts in your way. The result is that your happiness will be destroyed. You may think you are going to be happy, but it doesn’t work out.

How many people have you talked to who have told you that what they thought would work out by the time they were middle aged did not? So many seek for happiness in temporary things that never satisfy while neglecting to first make an unreserved surrender to the sovereignty of Jesus Christ. Are you striving to be what God wants you to be?

Some, especially the young, want an easy religion where they don’t have to work very hard. Ellen White wrote about the work Adventists were doing to try to educate young people. They were finding it very difficult, and she wrote: “We are educating the people here who are not inclined to put brain, bone, and muscles into their work. … We are trying to demonstrate to them that while there is no panoply but truth for us in order to be saved, diligence in business is essential to guard us against temptation. Indolence and idleness, games and parties and holiday picnics are opening many avenues to temptation.” Spalding and Magan Collection, 83.

Be diligent in working for Jesus or the devil will draw you into all kinds of temptations. This is especially true for young people today.

Many wish for lots of money so they do not have to work for their daily bread. The fact of the matter is, if they had to work long hours every day for their daily bread, they would be happier and less liable to fall into all kinds of temptations. The Bible says it is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth. It is good for a person to have to work in order to survive.

Ellen White wrote about the problems they were facing with these students: “Paul had to work laboring with his hands, and felt no dishonor in it. All who would resist temptations that assail them from without and within must make sure that they are on the Lord’s side.” Ibid.

If you have more money than you need so that you don’t have to work hard in order to survive, you still need to be busy doing something that is useful. There are many characters in the Bible, like Joseph, David, Elisha, John the Baptist, the apostle Paul, and Jesus, who all were workers. Consider the story of those who had plenty of money and idle time. Consider what happened to Solomon and to David’s oldest son, Amnon. Remember what happened to the people in Sodom. In Ezekiel 16, it says that they had “fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness” (verse 49 KJV). They had plenty to eat and too much idle time. Consequently, they got into trouble and lost their souls. Sodom became so wicked that God had to destroy it. The world today is becoming like that ancient city. People have too much free time and as a result, they are yielding to all kinds of temptations.

Here are a few sentences from a letter Ellen White wrote to her son: “Dear son Edson: I fear that you do not always wisely regulate your labor. You sometimes do too much, and then allow precious hours to pass unimproved, thus creating a necessity for extra exertion. Temperate, persevering, steady labor will achieve far more than can be accomplished by spasmodic efforts.” The Upward Look, 146.

What was she talking about? He was twenty-seven years old, married, and had not yet learned to manage his time. She continued, “Labor was appointed to man by his Creator. God provided employment for our first parents in holy Eden. And since the Fall, man has been a toiler, eating his bread by the sweat of his brow. Every bone of his body, every feature of his countenance, every muscle of his limbs, evinces the fact that he was made for activity, not for idleness. …

“The faithful discharge of life’s duties, whatever your position, calls for a wise improvement of all the talents and abilities that God has given you. Guard against being always hurried, yet accomplishing nothing worthy of the effort. … Whatever is neglected at the time when it should be performed, whether in secular or in religious things, is rarely done well. Many appear to labor diligently every hour in the day, and yet produce no results to correspond with their efforts. …

“My dear son, be thorough in all you undertake.” Ibid.

Timing is crucial. If something is not done at the proper time, it often causes trouble later.

How to Be Saved

In the gospel of John, how to be saved is reduced to one word. People came to Jesus wanting to know how to be saved. One such incident is described in John 6:28. “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ ” They wanted to be saved and didn’t know how. “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’ ” It is not complicated—just believe in the One whom He sent.

A few verses later in John 6, it says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (verse 47). Notice that is written in present tense. Jesus says, If you believe in Me, you have eternal life. “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die” (verses 48–50). The gospel of John emphasizes that the only thing necessary to be saved is to believe. In John 2:24, we are provided insight into what belief entails. It says, “But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men.” That word commit is the same Greek word which is also translated as faith or belief.

Salvation is not complicated. If you really believe, you will commit. A good example of true belief is illustrated in this story:

Charles Blondin was history’s most famous tightrope walker, the first to cross Niagara Falls on a 1,300 foot hemp rope, two inches in diameter. He asked the crowd that had gathered if they believed if he could push his wheel barrow across the waterfall on the tightrope. When they responded that they did believe, he then said to them, if you believe, get in the wheelbarrow. If you get in the wheelbarrow, you have made a commitment proving you really believe.

Many people think they are Christians. They expect to go to heaven, but they have never made a real commitment. They don’t really believe.

Making a Commitment

In John 14:12, it says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

God wants to work a miracle in each life to fulfill the words of Jesus—that their works will be greater than those that Jesus performed while He was on earth. This will truly take a miracle!

The Truth Becomes a Curse

The truth becomes a curse when a person who has an intellectual knowledge of the truth neglects to commit to it. This is a common condition for thousands of people who claim to be Christians. These people become what is termed “gospel hardened.” The truth for them becomes a curse. For instance, Paul said, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

Sadly, these people have the truth. They know the truth. This is a great deception of our time. They will tell you that they are on the way to heaven because they believe the right theology, but they continue to practice unrighteousness. They are deluded. Truth for them is just an intellectual thing.

It says in 1 Peter 1:22: “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth …” If you really commit to the Lord, then something is going to happen in your life. The Bible says that two people cannot walk together if they are not agreed (Amos 3:3). If you commit to the Lord, the Holy Spirit is going to speak to your mind: Why are you doing this? Should you be thinking that way? If you want to walk with Me, then you have to let that go.

In 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18 we are told: “ ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’ ”

Every commitment requires sacrifices. God asks us to separate from those things that are unclean—sin. Romans 1 elaborates on this subject. The result of those who refused: “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves” (Romans 1:24).

These people weren’t willing to let loose, to get free from what was unclean, so they couldn’t walk with the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 12:21, it says, “Lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness [licentiousness] which they have practiced.”

My dear friend, if you want to commit to the Lord you have to be willing to separate yourself from sin. You cannot receive the gift of salvation if you are not willing to get separated from what’s unclean. God’s kingdom is clean.

Look at 1 Thessalonians 4, starting in verse 3. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness” (verses 3–7).

You see, if you know the truth, but are not willing to separate from everything that is unclean, the truth will become a curse to you. You may know truth, but you are not living in harmony with it.

“The greatest deception of the human mind in Christ’s day was that a mere assent to the truth constitutes righteousness. In all human experience a theoretical knowledge of the truth has been proved to be insufficient for the saving of the soul. It does not bring forth the fruits of righteousness. … The Pharisees claimed to be children of Abraham, and boasted of their possession of the oracles of God; yet these advantages did not preserve them from selfishness, malignity, greed for gain, and the basest hypocrisy. …

“The same danger still exists. Many take it for granted that they are Christians, simply because they subscribe to certain theological tenets. But they have not brought the truth into practical life. They have not believed and loved it; therefore they have not received the power and grace that come through sanctification of the truth. Men may profess faith in the truth; but if it does not make them sincere, kind, patient, forbearing, heavenly-minded, it is a curse to its possessors.” The Desire of Ages, 309, 310.

They believe the truth intellectually, but it hasn’t changed their life. They have all the external forms of religion but have not become patient, kind, and forbearing, and the truth becomes a curse to them. The devil then uses brother against brother to stir up contentions, making it impossible for the Holy Spirit to work in the family or in the church.

Peter said, “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:10, 11).

God longs to pour out His Holy Spirit, not just on individuals, but on whole churches. However, He cannot do it when the church is not in the spiritual condition to receive it.

May the Lord help us to understand what it means to believe so that the truth may not become a curse to anyone. Then the Holy Spirit will work in our hearts and our minds so our life might be in harmony with what we profess to believe.

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

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

Editorial – The Verdict

One morning some years ago a sheriff came to our front door and delivered a sheaf of papers filled with many accusations. These accusations were from a professed Seventh-day Adventist attorney. He indicated that we were being sued for three million dollars. We were not aware that we had performed any criminal action or damaged anybody financially or any other way. The Lord graciously allowed the problem to be solved without going to court, but we felt sorry for those involved in this attempted litigation. Following is what the Lord says about this:

“Brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. … Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived” (1 Corinthians 6:6, 7, 9).

“The world and unconverted church members are in sympathy. Some, when God reproves them for wanting their own way, make the world their confidence, and bring church matters before the world for decision. Then there is collision and strife, and Christ is crucified afresh and put to open shame. 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. How eagerly the world seizes the statements of those who betray sacred trusts!” Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, 415.

“I have written largely in regard to Christians who believe the truth placing their cases in courts of law to obtain redress. In doing this, they are biting and devouring one another in every sense of the word ‘to consume one another’ (Galatians 5:15). Such men may as well stop praying to God, for He will not hear their prayers. They insult Jehovah.” Ibid., 414.

“It is a betrayal of sacred trust to open before unbelievers the working of God’s institutions. In this way false statements are made, and these statements are reported to others. Those who do this counterwork the cause of God. They are adversaries of the truth.” Ibid., 417, 418.