promises

What Inspiration Says About – Conditional Promises

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1. Could the SDA Church become corrupted?

“If the church pursue a course similar to that of the world, they will share the same fate. Nay, rather, as they have received greater light, their punishment will be greater than that of the impenitent.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 100.

“Jerusalem is a representation of what the church will be if it refuses to walk in the light that God has given. Jerusalem was favored of God as the depositary of sacred trusts. But her people perverted the truth, and despised all entreaties and warnings. They would not respect His counsels. The temple courts were polluted with merchandise and robbery. Selfishness and love of mammon, envy and strife, were cherished. Everyone sought for gain from his quarter. Christ turned from them, saying: ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how can I give thee up? How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!’ Matthew 23:37.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 67.

“If most earnest vigilance is not manifested at the great heart of the work to protect the interests of the cause, the church will become as corrupt as the churches of other denominations.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 513.

2. What is coming in among God’s people?

“But O, sad picture! those who do not submit to the influence of the Holy Spirit soon lose the blessings received when they acknowledged the truth as from Heaven. They fall into a cold, spiritless formality; they lose their interest in perishing souls: they have ‘left their first love.’ And Christ says unto them, ‘Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.’ He will take his Holy Spirit from the church, and give it to others who will appreciate it.

“There is no greater evidence that those who have received great light do not appreciate that light, than is given by their refusal to let their light shine upon those who are in darkness, and devoting their time and energies in celebrating forms and ceremonies. Thoughts of the inner work, the necessary purity of heart, are not entertained. The absence of harmony with God becomes apparent. The light grows dim, goes out; the candlestick has been removed.” Review and Herald, July 16, 1895.

3. What causes this wickedness?

“I have been shown that the spirit of the world is fast leavening the church. You are following the same path as did ancient Israel. There is the same falling away from your holy calling as God’s peculiar people. You are having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Your concord with unbelievers has provoked the Lord’s displeasure. You know not the things that belong to your peace, and they are fast being hid from your eyes. Your neglect to follow the light will place you in a more unfavorable position than the Jews upon whom Christ pronounced a woe.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 75, 76.

“God gives men the light, but many are filled with a self-sufficient, masterly spirit; and they strive by carrying out their own ideas to reach a height where they will be as God. They place their mind first, as if God must serve with them. Herein lies the danger in this: Unless God shall in some way make these men understand that He is God, and that they are to serve Him, human inventions will be brought in that will lead away from Bible truth, notwithstanding all the cautions that have been given.” The Upward Look, 131.

4. Upon what will we be judged?

“In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges and advantages that she has had. If her spiritual experience does not correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed on her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted to her, on her will be pronounced the sentence: ‘Found wanting.’ By the light bestowed, the opportunities given, will she be judged.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 247.

“The church cannot measure herself by the world nor by the opinion of men nor by what she once was. Her faith and her position in the world as they now are must be compared with what they would have been if her course had been continually onward and upward. The church will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. If her moral character and spiritual state do not correspond with the benefits and blessings God has conferred upon her, she will be found wanting. The light has been shining clear and definite upon her pathway, and the light of 1882 calls her to an account. If her talents are unimproved, if her fruit is not perfect before God, if her light has become darkness, she is indeed found wanting. The knowledge of our state as God views it, seems to be hidden from us. We see, but perceive not; we hear, but do not understand; and we rest as unconcerned as if the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, rested upon our sanctuary. We profess to know God, and to believe the truth, but in works deny Him. Our deeds are directly adverse to the principles of truth and righteousness, by which we profess to be governed.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 83, 84.

5. What will happen if we do not repent?

“The patience of God has an object, but you are defeating it. He is allowing a state of things to come that you would fain see counteracted by and by, but it will be too late. God commanded Elijah to anoint the cruel and deceitful Hazael king over Syria, that he might be a scourge to idolatrous Israel. Who knows whether God will not give you up to the deceptions you love? Who knows but that the preachers who are faithful, firm, and true may be the last who shall offer the gospel of peace to our unthankful churches? It may be that the destroyers are already training under the hand of Satan and only wait the departure of a few more standard-bearers to take their places, and with the voice of the false prophet cry, ‘Peace, peace,’ when the Lord hath not spoken peace. I seldom weep, but now I find my eyes blinded with tears; they are falling upon my paper as I write. It may be that ere long all prophesyings among us will be at an end, and the voice which has stirred the people may no longer disturb their carnal slumbers.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 77.

“Will the churches heed the Laodicean message? Will they repent, or will they, notwithstanding that the most solemn message of truth—the third angel’s message—is being proclaimed to the world, go on in sin? This is the last message of mercy, the last warning to a fallen world. If the church of God becomes lukewarm, it does not stand in favor with God any more than do the churches that are represented as having fallen and become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive of the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of God. Only those that are sanctified through the truth will compose the royal family in the heavenly mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him and keep His commandments.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, 176.

“A sin-hating God calls upon those who claim to keep His law to depart from all iniquity. A neglect to repent and to render willing obedience will bring upon men and women today as serious consequences as came upon ancient Israel. There is a limit beyond which the judgments of Jehovah can no longer be delayed. The desolation of Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning to modern Israel, that the counsels and admonitions given them through chosen instrumentalities cannot be disregarded with impunity.” Prophets and Kings, 416, 417.

“A blessing or a curse is now before the people of God—a blessing if they come out from the world and are separate, and walk in the path of humble obedience; and a curse if they unite with the idolatrous, who trample upon the high claims of heaven. The sins and iniquities of rebellious Israel are recorded and the picture presented before us as a warning that if we imitate their example of transgression and depart from God we shall fall as surely as did they. ‘Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.’” Testimonies, vol. 1, 609.

“These are no idle tales, but truth. Again I ask: On which side are you standing? ‘If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him.’ 1 Kings 18:21.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 68.

6. Could God pass the SDA Church by?

“The Lord says, ‘Shall I not visit for these things?’ Jeremiah 5:9. Because they failed of fulfilling God’s purpose, the children of Israel were set aside, and God’s call was extended to other peoples. If these too prove unfaithful, will they not in like manner be rejected?” Christ’s Object Lessons, 304.

“The words of God to ancient Israel have a solemn warning to the church and its leaders today. Of Israel the Lord said, ‘I have written to him the great things of My law; but they were counted as a strange thing.’ Hosea 8:12. And to the priests and teachers He declared, ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee; . . . seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.’ Hosea 4:6.

“Shall the warnings from God be passed by unheeded? Shall the opportunities for service be unimproved? Shall the world’s scorn, the pride of reason, conformity to human customs and traditions, hold the professed followers of Christ from service to Him? Will they reject God’s word as the Jewish leaders rejected Christ? The result of Israel’s sin is before us. Will the church of today take warning?

“‘If some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not. . . . Because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear; for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee.’ Romans 11:17-21.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 306.

“If the church refuses to hear the voice of the Heavenly Merchant man, refuses to open the door, then Christ will pass on, and it will be left destitute of His presence, destitute of true riches, but saying in self-righteousness, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing’ Revelation 3:17.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 291.

7. Will God always have a faithful people, who will serve Him?

“The Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the Prince of life, He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work. When a church proves unfaithful to the work of the Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities. But, if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action, if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them and, unless they repent, will remove them from their place and make them a reproach.” The Upward Look, 131.

8. Who are God’s true denominated people?

“Who are these? God’s denominated people—those who on this earth have witnessed to their loyalty. Who are they? Those who have kept the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ; those who have owned the Crucified One as their Saviour.” SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 981.

9. Who can we trust to take us through to the end?

“The church is built upon Christ as its foundation; it is to obey Christ as its head. It is not to depend upon man, or be controlled by man. Many claim that a position of trust in the church gives them authority to dictate what other men shall believe and what they shall do. This claim God does not sanction. The Saviour declares, ‘All ye are brethren.’ All are exposed to temptation, and are liable to error. Upon no finite being can we depend for guidance. The Rock of faith is the living presence of Christ in the church. Upon this the weakest may depend, and those who think themselves the strongest will prove to be the weakest, unless they make Christ their efficiency. ‘Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.’ The Lord ‘is the Rock, His work is perfect.’ ‘Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.’ Jeremiah 17:5; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 2:12.” Desire of Ages, 414.

“The word of finite man is fallible. Human laws, that are supposed to take the place of the law of God, are not to be respected. Henceforth the nations are to be in a very uncertain state. Kings and rulers will be involved in greater perplexities than they have ever thought possible, and this because they are disobedient to the word of the Lord, and work entirely contrary to his principles. The question now comes home to all who have their Bibles, Are we prepared to follow the word of God? ‘If any man will come after me,’ says Christ, ‘let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.’ You cannot depend upon priests, rulers, human lawmakers; for, as in Christ’s day, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men. They know not the Scriptures, nor the power of God. Man made theories are placed above a plain ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ But the searching of the soul has come. Are we obedient to the law of God? Will every soul look up in faith, and answer to God, as did Elisha, ‘As the Lord liveth . . . I will not leave thee’? Whatever may come, persecution, reproach, falsehood, or anything that shall arise—will not leave the source of my strength.” The Youth’s Instructor, April 28, 1898.

The End

Promises

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Many of us have heard with terror about the time of trouble, the Sunday laws and that the day will come when we cannot buy or sell and other like things. This constitutes a very small part of what is written in the Bible. The majority of that which is recorded in the Bible are the promises of God. Let’s share some of those promises that are so dear to the people God.

Encouragement is given through the Spirit of Prophecy to know and depend on God’s promises.

“We should store the mind with the precious promises and instructions of God’s word. When Satan seeks to divert the attention to things of no profit, then we should think and talk of these heavenly promises, and the tempter will be vanquished. By thus battling day by day, with earnest prayer and determined faith, all may gain the victory.” Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists (1886), 214.

It is the goal of all Christians awaiting the Second Coming of Jesus to gain the victory over the adversary, the devil, and the way to do that is to memorize the promises, thinking upon them and using them as they are needed.

“As we look at the promises of God we find comfort and hope and joy, for they speak to us the words of the Infinite One.” My Life Today, 338.

Just stop and think about that statement for a minute. The promises of God speak to us words from the Infinite One.

Ellen White continues: “Properly to appreciate these precious promises we should study them carefully, examining them in detail. How much joy we might bring into life, how much goodness into the character, if we would but make these promises our own! As we journey in the upward way, let us talk of the blessings strewn along the path. As we think of the mansions Christ is preparing for us, we forget the petty annoyances which we meet day by day. We seem to breathe the atmosphere of the heavenly country to which we are journeying, and we are soothed and comforted. … Let us honor God by weaving more of Jesus and heaven into our lives.

“The unfailing promises of God will keep your heart in perfect peace.” Ibid.

It is a wonderful experience to have perfect peace. Let us consider a few of the promises that God has made that will help us on our daily journey.

A promise that has been very dear to me throughout my life is found in Hebrews 13:5. I have repeated this to myself many, many times and found it to be very comforting. It says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

That is a wonderful promise. To think that the very God of the universe, the One Who created all things and sustains the universe takes care of each one of us, never leaving us alone. He keeps in order and sustains myriad of stars that with the naked eye seem to float in the heavens, knowing each one by name. We can have confidence in our loving heavenly Father Who said He will be with us always. He says, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” There is not a situation in which we may find ourselves, that we cannot claim that promise, because He will never leave us or forsake us.

Jesus also impressed that upon His disciples. He said, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. We know that we have the presence of One Who is all powerful, all knowledgeable and all love. If it were not for the love He has, all of the power and knowledge He has would be of no avail to us. We are so thankful for that great and loving Father Who has promised to be with us, even unto the end.

So, waste no more time; arm yourselves with the word of God. Search the Scriptures, especially the books of Psalms and Isaiah that are loaded with promises, and start claiming them as you go into battle with the devil, having assurance that One has trod the path before you and won the victory.

Ruth Grosboll, matriarch of Steps to Life, lived a long life in the service of her Master. She served as a missionary nurse in Myanmar, formerly Burma. In her later years she held the position of receptionist and correspondent at Steps to Life Ministry, blessing many people with her heartfelt encouraging letters. She is sadly missed to this day.

Conquering Problems

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There are many interesting things in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy dealing with trouble. When the children of Israel were returning from Babylon and they were commissioned to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, the Bible says, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.” Daniel 9:25.

Jerusalem was desolated with the wall broken down and the city in total ruin. The children of Israel were captives in foreign lands, but the prediction was that a time was coming when the streets and the wall were to be rebuilt, but it would be in times of trouble.

After a period of time in captivity, the children of Israel were given an opportunity to go back home. Out of over a million Israelites that were in Babylon and Medo-Persia at the time, just a handful returned, and because of the small number, they had trouble.

Another Babylonian captivity was predicted, not for 70 years, but for 1260 years. Daniel speaks of this, and in the prophecies of Revelation, John speaks of it six or seven times. Just as when, at the end of the 70-year captivity, the people needed to go back and rebuild the city, the street and the wall, at the end of the 1260-year captivity, the church that had been driven into the desert would also need to do some rebuilding.

Isaiah speaks about it. “Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach.” Isaiah 58:12.

To understand the meaning of the breach you need to understand the meaning of the wall. When God established His people, He put a wall around them for their protection. This wall, the Ten Commandments, hedged His children in to protect them from destroying themselves by sin.

A breach was made in that wall during the Babylonian captivity that lasted from A.D. 538 to A.D.1798. That breach was the fourth commandment. It was torn down so thoroughly that the people were unaware they were disobeying it. But the prophecy predicted that at the end of the captivity, there would come repairers of the breach to raise up the foundation of many generations and build the old waste places.

Isaiah said, “You shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 58:12–14.

Just as Nehemiah’s workers had to deal with trouble when they built the wall and the streets in their day, there has been trouble in the attempt to repair the breach in God’s law today.

The devil has created unbelievable antipathy or hatred against God’s law, particularly the Sabbath. Millions of Christians claim to love Jesus, but mention the Sabbath and you will most often get a vehement response that they want nothing to do with that Jewish Sabbath. The devil has created this hatred to hinder the work of rebuilding. It will be done, but in troublous times.

In the days of Christ people knew all about the justice of God and His law, but they rejected His Son. Today, people want only to hear about the mercy of God and not His justice, which includes His law containing the Sabbath. The wall is to be rebuilt, but it will be in trouble.

The Bible has a lot to say about how to deal with trouble.

Number 1 – You need protection and help that will not fail.

The Bible writers knew that we, as human beings, would need this help and protection, so they address it.

You might believe that the law of God is for our protection, and if all human beings kept it at all times, we would not be in the trouble that we are. This fact is true even in our own personal lives. Often the reason that we find ourselves in trouble is because at some point in the past we have broken one of the Ten Commandments. So, the wall is for our protection, but not everybody in the world keeps the law. What do we do when we are in trouble?

David addresses this: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1. This whole chapter is about the help that God has promised His people.

Isaiah says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.

God has promised help to people that are in trouble. One of my favorite texts in this regard is in Psalm 89:19: “Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one, and said: ‘I have given help to one who is mighty.’ ” It is so encouraging to know that God is bigger than we are. We cannot make bigger trouble than God is able to provide a solution. Nebuchadnezzar thought he could get the three Hebrew worthies into a situation where it would be too much for the Lord. He had the furnace heated up so much that the soldiers fell down dead at the front of it while throwing the men in. But Jesus was there in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo. (See Daniel 3.) There is no situation so severe that God can’t deal with it.

As a child, I often wondered why the Lord allowed the martyrs to be burned at the stake. Read this account of one man who died for his faith:

“Brother Andrews related an instance of a faithful Christian about to suffer martyrdom for his faith. A brother Christian had been conversing with him in regard to the power of the Christian hope—if it would be strong enough to sustain him while his flesh should be consuming with fire. He asked this Christian, about to suffer, to give him a signal if the Christian faith and hope were stronger than the raging, consuming fire. He expected his turn to come next, and this would fortify him for the fire. The former promised that the signal should be given. He was brought to the stake amid the taunts and jeers of the idle and curious crowd assembled to witness the burning of this Christian. The fagots were brought and the fire kindled, and the brother Christian fixed his eyes upon the suffering, dying martyr, feeling that much depended upon the signal. The fire burned, and burned. The flesh was blackened; but the signal came not. His eye was not taken for a moment from the painful sight. The arms were already crisped. There was no appearance of life. All thought that the fire had done its work, and that no life remained; when, lo! amid the flames, up went both arms toward heaven. The brother Christian, whose heart was becoming faint, caught sight of the joyful signal; it sent a thrill through his whole being, and renewed his faith, his hope, his courage. He wept tears of joy.

“As Brother Andrews spoke of the blackened, burned arms raised aloft amid the flames, he, too, wept like a child.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 657, 658.

God is a very present help in trouble; He is more powerful than the fire. The devil and his agents can never put you in a position where God cannot give you all the help you need. “But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.” Psalm 37:39, 40.

Psalm 33:20 says, “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.” In Nahum 1:7 we read, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.” Do you trust Him? God knows how to give you all the help you need, and He is waiting and watching over you, looking for an opportunity to bless you when you are in trouble.

Number 2 – When in trouble we need wise counsel.

People have found themselves in a lot more trouble than they ever should because they would not listen to counsel. This is one of God’s biggest problems. God said, concerning the children of Israel right after He gave the Ten Commandments, “Oh, if there was just a heart in them to listen to Me, then it could be well with them and their children forever.” Deuteronomy 5:29, literal translation.

God says of the wicked, “They would have none of My counsel and despised My every rebuke.” Proverbs 1:30. If you are not willing to take counsel from the Lord, you are getting ready to get into more trouble than you are in already. “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4.

Isaiah called Jesus the wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6). When in trouble, you need counsel from somebody who knows you or you could end up in more trouble. When a colleague of mine faced a problem, he would enquire from his superiors if they knew of any counsel from the Lord on the subject either in the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy.

When in trouble and you need counsel, seek it from somebody who knows and is able to give you wise counsel. There are many people in other churches that scoff at the writings of Ellen White, but I have so much confidence in the Spirit of Prophecy and have personally tested the writings over and over again when I’m in trouble. In it you will find wise counsel every time, and if you follow that counsel, the Lord will show you the way to lead you out of the trouble you are in.

Number 3 – You need direction.

When people get in trouble, they often get bewildered. I remember the story of a man who was a leader of young people. One Sabbath afternoon he led a group on a hike, but they became lost. Finally some people found them and led them back to the camp, and on returning they described seven fences that they had crossed. In fact, there was only one fence there, and the group had been circling. The leader needed direction and guidance.

Proverbs 3:5 and 6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” This is a promise!

The Lord wants to direct you. If you are going to receive His direction and guidance, it would be a good thing to ask for it. Ellen White wrote great encouragement to a widow who had just lost her husband and was in deep trouble because she had children to raise: “There is not a single instance in which God has hidden His face from the supplication of His people. When every other resource failed He was a present help in every emergency.” This Day with God, 194.

Jesus said that if you ask, you will receive. If you seek, you will find. If you knock, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7). God is waiting with myriads of angels that are at His command to help you and to give direction and guidance, even if you think you are in too much trouble and think your case is hopeless. The Bible tells us that David had that experience several times. If you are willing to accept counsel from the Lord, you will be surprised to find that the situation you thought was forever was just temporary because you accepted the counsel.

Number 4 – You need comfort just to get through the day.

I well recognize that even if you come to the Lord there may be some difficulty that is not going to leave you in one day but may take longer than a day, even a week or a month. Immediate help is available.

“At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always at our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer.” The Desire of Ages, 669, 670. That is good news!

In II Corinthians 1:4 Paul says, “God has comforted us. We were in so much trouble in Asia, we despaired of life itself, but God comforted us so we could comfort others that are in trouble.” Literal translation.

Jesus said to His disciples, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:15–18. The comfort provided is through the Holy Spirit.

Number 5 – Do not yield to despondency and give way to mourning.

If you do, your trouble could very easily get a lot worse. I was disturbed for many years, trying to figure out what the Bible meant when Paul said, “Rejoice always.” I Thessalonians 5:16. I wondered had the apostle Paul read the book of Job? No matter what happens, you can refuse to give way to discouragement, despondency or mourning. To go around with a cloud over your head will depress your immune system and things will tend to worsen and look darker.

The person who talks faith will have faith. Recently, at a funeral of a very dear friend, we talked about the good things that we remembered about the person’s life and of the future. His disciples were bound down with despair when Jesus told them He was going to leave, and He told them, “Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many permanent dwellings. If it wasn’t so, I would have told you. I’m going to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” John 4:1–3, literal translation.

The disciples did not know that within the next 24 hours Jesus would be led to the cross, but they couldn’t even bare the thought of Him being gone. Jesus did not dwell upon that thought; He directed their minds to the wonderful future. If you are a Christian, you have a wonderful future, and you must never let the devil get you into such a frame of mind to think only about your troubles. Keep your mind on the future and on what God is going to do for you. The Bible clearly illustrates that any trouble that you find yourself in is only temporary. David understood it. (See Psalm 42.) Paul talked about it over and over again. (See Philippians 4; Colossians 3:15–17.)

Number 6 – Have patience.

If you are in trouble, read Romans 2:7 which says, “Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality.” If you will patiently continue in doing good and in doing what is right, God will lead you through this dark world of sorrow and strife to glory, honor, and eternal life. Do not make your situation worse by using your troubles to excuse wrong behavior.

Number 7 – You are not alone.

We need to remember when we are in trouble, that we are never alone. Guardian angels protect each child of God all the days of his or her life. Not only is your guardian angel with you in this life, but if you should die before Jesus comes, he marks and guards the place where you are buried. God never forgets His own. You are not alone and never will be alone, because you are God’s child. “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ ” Hebrews 13:5. Paul quotes there from Deuteronomy. So, we boldly say: “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6. It is a very comforting thought to know that you are never alone. God has promised to be with you.

An Experience

A man returned home after serving in World War II. He was physically uninjured, but like so many others who have come back from war, he could not free his mind of the death and carnage that he had witnessed in Europe. He became so discouraged that early one morning he decided to get his gun and take his own life, ending his misery. God knew what he was about to do, and suddenly a light appeared that distracted him. He never pulled the trigger. Later, this man became a Seventh-day Adventist minister. Recalling the story, he said he could never figure out what that light was, except that maybe an angel just decided to light up right then to distract him so he would not kill himself. God had a bigger plan for his life.

The Lord will never leave you alone. The apostle Paul told the Athenians, “We need to grope after Him, if perhaps we might find Him, though He is not far from every one of us. In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” Acts 17:27, 28, literal translation. He’s right there. He’s not somewhere else. You are not alone.

Number 8 – The school of life.

The Christian life is one of meaning, including all of the trials and troubles. Life in this world is actually a school of discipline and training, and all of the experiences, including the troubles, form a Christian character.

When trials come, ask yourself what it is that the Lord is trying to teach you through it. Sometimes I’ve been tempted to say to the Lord, “I wish I could learn the lesson I need to learn without going through this.” But the Lord knows; He is out to save you. I used to tell my students, when I taught at Southwestern Adventist College in Keene, Texas, “If the Lord knows that the only way He can save you is to allow you to go through a suffering experience, you might be surprised how much suffering He may allow you to go through, because He wants to save you.” We need to think about that when we are in trouble.

When Jesus got in trouble, He remained courteous. He still told the truth, even when He was going to be crucified because of it. This world is a school. I learned a long time ago, as a teacher, that students do not like tests. But a student cannot achieve and get to where he wants to be without tests. Tests are a necessary part of all education that is worth anything.

God is conducting a school, and He has an objective to reach. How can God expect somebody that is a wretch like me to become “like Christ”? I don’t know; I just say, “Lord, You’ve told me what You are going to do in my life and I’m trusting that You can do it.” But sometimes, God has to allow me to have some trouble, so I will learn the lessons He knows I need. If you pray about it, God might teach you a lot of lessons right in the midst of the troubles that you’re going through.

The Bible says that when Jesus comes, we are going to be like Him, so in order to achieve that we must develop His mind. Paul said that, “We have the mind of Christ.” I Corinthians 2:16. He said to the church in Philippi, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5.

This world is a school of discipline and training, and through all of our experiences, including our troubles, we are to form characters like the character of Christ, and to acquire the habits and the language of the higher life.

Different people have different lessons to learn. But we all are to acquire the habits and the language of the higher life. Enoch learned to do it. Ellen White says that while he was living on this earth he, by faith, dwelt in the abodes of light. He learned how to talk, think, and live the way heavenly beings lived, so God took him. “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. His mind, his heart, his conversation, were in heaven. 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.” Heaven, 99.

Number 9 – Ask for help.

When you are in trouble, one of the things that you should be asking is, Lord, is there a way for me to overcome this problem? Some people wait for somebody else to solve everything. But the Lord is looking for people who will ask Him. In fact, Ellen White says that part of the work of true education is to teach the students to overcome obstacles. (See Manuscript Releases, vol. 8, 199, 200.)

I once knew a conference president who would not allow any pastor to say that he had a problem. He would say, “We do not have problems in this conference; we only have challenges. You are welcome to tell me whatever your challenge is, but we do not have problems here and I don’t want you to use that word, because we do not have them. Any problem we have here, we are going to overcome.”

The Bible talks about people who conquer or overcome. The Lord expects you to call on Him, and say, “Lord, help me. You promised me that I could overcome by Your grace, and I’m depending on You to help me.” Remember the glory that is awaiting the overcomer. The one who overcomes will be clothed in white raiment. Jesus says, in Revelation 3:5, “I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” The Father says, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.” Revelation 21:7.

Allow God to control your mind. Keep Christ always in view, and consider what the Lord would do in your place. Jesus did not just look at the trouble, He worked out a solution. The Devil presented a problem that he thought God Himself could not solve, but the Lord solved it. It required Jesus to go to the cross, but in that act, God was able to solve the sin problem. Because of it, He is able to solve whatever trouble you experience.

Number 10 – God’s promises are for all who receive Him.

“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12.

Disobedience must and will be punished. In Christ your weakest point can become your strongest if only you go to the Lord and ask for help.

Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23. “He that believes on Him has eternal life, but he that is disobedient to the Son does not have life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” John 3:36, literal translation. If you believe, victory is certain, and all of your troubles will be temporary.

(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 Free Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

God’s Promises

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The Bible says that the devil goes out to deceive the whole world. To do this he uses a three-pronged approach. First he attempts to deceive through miracles, false teachings and false doctrine. If that does not work he uses his seductive power, at which he is very successful. Multitudes of people know the truth, but they are seduced by the various forms of sin and held in bondage to them.

If you cannot be deceived or seduced, he still has a powerful weapon to use against you. He will use fear tactics that include threatened death, imprisonment or torture to get you to forsake the Lord. God is going to have a fearless people who cannot be deceived, because they know God will fulfill His promises. God says 366 times in the Bible, “Do not be afraid”—a promise for each day of the year, including the leap year.

God has every experience covered, and you can never be put in a position in which God is not aware and able to help you. Those who know these things will not fear the devil.

Bible Promises

“And of Asher he said, ‘Asher is most blessed of sons; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil. Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; as your days, so shall your strength be.’ ” Deuteronomy 33:24, 25. Remember, the more trouble you find yourself in, the more grace and help is available—“as your days, so will your strength be.” “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, ‘Destroy!’ ” Verses 26 and 27.

“But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:7–10. God is a refuge and help in trouble and does not forsake those that seek Him.

Psalm 46 is a prophecy of the experience of those who live at the very end of the time of trouble. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (verse 1). It goes on to say that God is going to be with them and help them (verses 5 and 7).

Psalm 91, also a prophecy of the final time of trouble, says in verses 1 and 2, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ ”

“You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” Isaiah 25:4. That also applies to the time of trouble coming upon the world at the end.

“Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” Isaiah 32:1, 2.

Isaiah 26:20, 21 is a prophecy about the experience of God’s people right at the beginning of the time of trouble. It says, “Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.”

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. … For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ ” Isaiah 41:10, 13.

Ellen White tells us that the three Hebrew worthies who were thrown into the fiery furnace remembered the promise, in Isaiah 43:1, 2, and it was fulfilled to them. “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.’ ”

When Jesus sent out His disciples to minister, He said: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:28–31.

God knows everything about you, even the number of hairs on your head. He notices your every experience and says you have no need to be afraid. Jesus told His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18. He also said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Verse 20. Paul said, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” I Corinthians 10:12, 13. This verse is so interesting that I have personally checked it in the Greek New Testament to be sure it was translated accurately without taking any liberties.

Only those who have been in severe temptations, trials, troubles, suffering, and pain can totally understand this wonderful promise. We should all have that one memorized.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:7–10.

If you understood the full thrust of this promise, nobody could ever make you upset or dissatisfied or unhappy again no matter what happens, for God has grace that is sufficient for you. This is an instance where Paul prayed for something and the Lord chose not to give him what he had asked for three times, but He said, “I will give you grace, and I’ll give you enough.” His grace is sufficient. Now the word sufficient means you have enough and you are not lacking. Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not lack [want KJV].” God’s grace is limitless!

In Hebrews 13:5, 6, Paul actually quotes from Psalm 118. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ”

Perhaps we underestimate how strong a helper we really do have. Paul said to the Athenians, “In Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28.

There are many recorded incidences of people, being tortured for their faith, who feel no pain when they cry out to the Lord. God knows every feeling, every pain, every suffering that we go through and when we pray to Him, He hears. The Bible says His name “is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10. God’s promises defray all attempts of Satan to terrify, so take the time to store them in your memory so they are always available.

“No soul will be left to perish who asks in faith for the help of Christ. The weakest, the most struggling soul, may live, and find hope and sufficiency in God. When Jesus comes into the storm and the darkness, midnight is as bright as noonday.” The Signs of the Times, May 28, 1896. When the disciples were out in the storm and afraid they would die, Jesus came walking out to them and said, “Don’t be afraid; I’m here.”

He has promised also to be with you, and you can claim it at any time or in any place and it will be fulfilled. He said, “Don’t be afraid, I am with you; I will help you.”

Ellen White describes the help God will give His people in the future. She says, “History will be repeated [referring to the three Hebrew worthies]. False religion will be exalted. The first day of the week, a common working day, possessing no sanctity whatever, will be set up as was the image at Babylon. All nations and tongues and peoples will be commanded to worship this spurious sabbath. This is Satan’s plan to make of no account the day instituted by God, and given to the world as a memorial of creation.

“The decree enforcing the worship of this day is to go forth to all the world. In a limited degree, it has already gone forth. In several places the civil power is speaking with the voice of a dragon, just as the heathen king spoke to the Hebrew captives.

“Trial and persecution will come to all who, in obedience to the word of God, refuse to worship this false sabbath. Force is the last resort of every false religion. At first it tries attraction, as the king of Babylon tried the power of music and outward show. If these attractions, invented by men inspired by Satan, failed to make men worship the image, the hungry flames of the furnace were ready to consume them. So it will be now. The Papacy has exercised her power to compel men to obey her, and she will continue to do so. We need the same spirit that was manifested by God’s servants in the conflict with paganism. Giving an account of the treatment of the Christians by the emperor of Rome, Tertullian [who lived about the close of the second century] says, ‘We are thrown to the wild beasts to make us recant; we are burned in the flames; we are condemned to prisons and to mines; we are banished to islands—such as Patmos—and all have failed.’ So it was in the case of the three Hebrew worthies; their eye was single to the glory of God; their souls were steadfast; the power of the truth held them firmly to their allegiance to God. It is in the power of God alone that we shall be enabled to be loyal to Him.

“ ‘If ye love Me,’ said Christ, ‘keep My commandments’ (John 14:15). ‘He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him’ (John 14:21). And has not Christ manifested Himself to his faithful children? Did He not walk in the furnace with the captives who refused to yield to the golden image one tittle of the reverence which belonged to God? Did He not manifest Himself to John, banished to the Isle of Patmos for his faithfulness? Have not those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, who, tho they have been compelled to suffer, have refused to worship the institution of the Papacy, realized the presence of the divine Comforter in their lonely prisons?” The Signs of the Times, May 6, 1897.

A pastor was thrown into a communist prison and told that he would rot down there. In the complete darkness he had no perspective, nothing by which to gauge time, so he did not know whether it was night or day. He was given food, but in the dark it was impossible to know if he had been in there for an hour, a day, a week, a month or even a year. In a situation like this you become completely disoriented and can go crazy. He was afraid that he would lose his sanity. So, in his desperation he began to pray and cry out to the Lord to keep him sane. He reports it this way: “As I was praying, I saw a light. It was perfectly dark down there. The light came close and I saw that it was a person, a bright shining person who came right up to me and picked me up and just held me for a while, and then everything was all right.” It is impossible for man to put you in a place where God can’t hear your cry for help and find you. Eventually, the guard was changed, and he was taken out after 35 days in total darkness, but throughout that trying time God comforted him.

“The commandments of finite, sinful men are to sink into insignificance beside the word of the eternal God. Truth is to be obeyed at any cost, even tho gaping prisons, chain-gangs, and banishment stare us in the face. If you are loyal and true, that God who walked with the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, who protected Daniel in the lions’ den, Who manifested Himself to John on the lonely island, will go with you wherever you go. His abiding presence will comfort and sustain you; and you will realize the fulfillment of the promise, ‘If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him’ (John 14:23).” Ibid.

“Our victory as believers is obtained through the grace of Christ, which He can and will bestow upon all who will put their trust in Him. This is the good news with which Christ would have us comforted. In all the tribulation which the child of God must receive, whatever his position in the world, he may be of good cheer in contemplation of the truth that Christ has overcome the world.

“It is a great thing to be right with God, the soul in harmony with its Maker. Amid the contagion of evil example, which by its deceitful appearance would lure the soul from duty, angels will be sent to our rescue. But if we invite temptation, we can not have divine aid to keep us from being overcome. The three worthies endured the fiery furnace, for Jesus walked with them amid the flames. If they had, of themselves, walked into the fire, they would have been consumed. Thus it will be with us. If we do not deliberately go into temptation, God will sustain us when the temptation comes.

“But let no one think that an entirely new set of energies are to be communicated when we are brought into trying circumstances. We are to seek daily for the converting power of God. We should daily seek to recover in ourselves the moral image of God. Every affection, every attribute that has been perverted, must be restored by the grace of Christ. Lesser trials nobly borne under the control of God, will purify, refine, and ennoble us for endurance when the time shall come for greater test and greater trials.

“Then let us look the future decidedly in the face, and say, ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’ (Philippians 4:13). We must cherish the presence of Christ, for we need Him in the less as well as the greater trials. By a willingness for His sake to endure shame and reproach, by learning the meekness and lowliness of Christ, we shall prove the sincerity of our Christianity. When we are called to imprisonment and shame, when degraded by our fellow-beings, who are inspired by the spirit of Satan, God will give His grace to sustain us. His promise is, ‘… as thy days, so shall thy strength be’ (Deuteronomy 33:25).

“The righteous have ever obtained help from above. How often have the enemies of God combined to destroy the character and influence of a few simple persons who trusted in God! But because the Lord was for them, none could prevail against them. Only let the followers of Christ be united, and they will prevail. Let them be separated from their idols and from the world, and the world will not separate them from God. Christ is our present, all-sufficient Saviour. In Him all fullness dwells. It is the privilege of Christians to know that Christ is in them of a truth. ‘This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith’ (I John 5:4). ‘All things are possible to him that believeth’ (Mark 9:23); and whatsoever things we desire when we pray, if we believe that we receive them, we shall have them. This faith will penetrate the darkest cloud, and bring hope to the drooping, desponding soul. It is the absence of this faith and trust which brings perplexity, distressing fears, and surmisings of evil. God will do great things for His people when they will put their entire trust in Him. Christ will prove a never-failing source of strength, a present help in every time of trouble.” Ibid.

“ ‘In quietness and confidence shall be your strength’ (Isaiah 30:15). This is the lesson given to every soul. The strength of every soul is in God and not in man. Quietness and confidence is to be the strength of all who give their hearts to God. In all our temporal concerns, in all our cares and anxieties, we need to wait upon the Lord. ‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the sons of men’ (Psalm 146:3 KJV), is the word that comes to us. The Lord has united our hearts with His. If we love Him, and are accepted in His service, we shall bring all our burdens to the Lord, and wait upon Him. Then we shall have an individual experience, a conviction of His presence and His readiness to hear our prayer for wisdom and for instruction, that will give us assurance and confidence in His willingness to succor [to help] in perplexity.

“God would have us rejoice, and praise Him every day for the privilege granted us in the words of Christ: ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28–30). A kind and loving Friend and Father is overruling all things. And if this is true of individuals and nations, how much more of His church, His chosen ones?” The Signs of the Times, October 7, 1897.

Jesus invites all to come to Him as their refuge. Tell Him all of your concerns and what grieves you. Share your heart with Him and trust that He will give you all the answers to work calmly and quietly. He is also interested in how you will pay your bills or how you will get your car fixed when you do not have enough money. What if you lose your job? How will you manage with any health issues? Work as you can for others and the Lord will answer you. (See Isaiah 58.)

“The Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as his Saviour. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are their wants, and where lies the strength of their temptations. The weakness of our human nature will not bar our access to the heavenly Father; for Christ was tempted in all points ‘like as we are, yet without sin’ (Matthew 11:25).

“Christ has not a casual interest in us. His love for us is stronger than that of a mother for her child. Says the prophet, ‘Can a woman forget her sucking child? … yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee’ (Isaiah 49:15). Our Saviour has purchased us by human suffering and sorrow. He suffered insult, reproach, abuse, mockery, rejection, and death. God is near in Christ’s atoning sacrifice, in His intercession, His loving, tender, ruling power over His church. Seated by the eternal throne, He watches His children with intense interest. He is watching over you, trembling child of God. He will make you secure under His protection. His promises are: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee’ (Isaiah 26:3). ‘Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord’ (Psalm 27:14). ‘They that wait on the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which can not be moved, but abideth forever’ (Psalm 125:1).” Ibid.

“The Lord is in active communication with every part of His vast dominions. He is represented as bending toward the earth and its inhabitants. He is listening to every word that is uttered. He hears every groan; He listens to every prayer; He observes the movements of every one; He approves or condemns every action. The hand of Christ draws aside the vail which conceals from our eyes the glory of heaven; and we behold Him in His high and holy place, not in a state of silence and indifference to His subjects in a fallen world, but surrounded by all the heavenly host—ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, all waiting to go at His bidding on errands of mercy and love.

“Christ had such an experience in His humanity that He desires to be close beside every one who passes through suffering for the truth’s sake—those who are tortured, imprisoned in dungeons, and bound in chains. He ministers to all such. He is the friend of all who love and fear Him, and He will punish those who dare to lead them from safe paths, or put them in positions of distress as they conscientiously endeavor to keep the way of the Lord.” The Signs of the Times, November 17, 1898.

Jesus suffered and died to save us. It was only when His disciples saw Him risen from the dead did they understand what He meant when He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19).

Ellen White said, “Shall our faith ever falter again? What stronger evidence could God have given us that Jesus is the Son of God? What greater evidence could be given of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ than that which has been given by those who were eyewitnesses of his Majesty? Will those who claim to believe in Christ as a personal Saviour, dishonor God by doubting that He to whose guardianship they have committed their souls will keep that which has been committed to His trust against that day? Jesus is a risen Saviour. He came forth from the grave to vindicate His previous claims, to confirm the faith of His followers, to establish the truth of His Godhead before men, to make doubly sure the assurance that ‘whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16).” The Signs of the Times, May 30, 1895.

If we could just get a hold by faith and understand how strong a helper we have that is in control of everything, Who knows all about us and will never forsake us, our stress would be eliminated. He has intimate knowledge of every molecule in every body and mind, and He wants to help. His love casts out all fear, no matter the threats of the evil agents or the trials that you face.

God has promised to be a refuge, a strength, a fortress, a help, a deliverance for His people. As our days, so our strength will be. “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you.” Deuteronomy 33:27. He will never leave you or forsake you and whatever happens, He will be your strength.

(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.

God’s Warnings

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God’s warnings serve to remind us of the conditionality of His promises to His church. If one forgets the conditionality of the promises, as the Jews did, he must first reject God’s warnings. God’s warnings often appear to contradict His promises, but properly understood, they are compatible. God always grants to us freedom of choice; and if we fail to comply with the conditions for receiving the promises, His warnings simply reveal His alternate plans.

In warning the people of Battle Creek of the danger of despising warnings and entreaties and of refusing to respect God’s counsels, Ellen White said that “By rejecting God’s warnings in this our day, men are repeating the sin of Jerusalem.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 68. To many of the Battle Creek people, these warnings were confusing and were misunderstood. Being seemingly unconscious of their wrong course, they felt Ellen White was speaking in parables or with idle tales. (See ibid.) Sincerity in believing is no protection against the result of failing to have a love for all of the truth. (See 2 Thessalonians 2.)

Today some are focusing only on God’s promises of prosperity, presenting those promises which reveal God’s optimal plan for His church while refusing to also present His warnings that reveal the conditionality of those promises and the alternative in the face of disobedience, While we all like to hear these messages, we must realize that they reflect a loss of love for part of the truth. In concentrating only on the promises of prosperity, those who present the messages are becoming sincerely deceived into believing that some of the promises for God’s church are not conditional! In seeking to prove their point, some even refer to the very same Old Testament promises which the Jews used, failing to remember that this became their fatal error.

Israel’s forty extra years of wandering was not part of God’s original plan for them. “It was not the will of God that Israel should wander forty years in the wilderness; He desired to lead them directly to the land of Canaan and establish them there, a holy, happy people. But ‘they could not enter in because of unbelief.’ Hebrews 3:19. Because of their backsliding and apostasy they perished in the desert, and others were raised up to enter the Promised Land.” The Great Controversy, 458

It was God’s plan that the Jewish organization and structure would remain pure. According to this plan, Jerusalem would have become the center of the universe; but as a people they rejected the only conditions under which this plan was open to them. Forgetting the conditionality of the prosperity of the church, the leaders, in their apostasy, still expected a future cleansing and triumph. They were thus blinded to the significance of what was taking place among them and the cleansing already going on in the minds of the faithful remnant who recognized the “good old paths” of truth which Jesus taught.

The vast majority of the leaders of the Jewish church and the structure as a whole maintained that they were the true professed church after Christ cleansed the temple. As most of the people did not study for themselves, they chose what seemed to them to be the next most reasonable approach. They followed their blind leaders into the same ditch and were lost. (See Testimonies, vol. 5, 747; Testimonies to Ministers, 109; The Great Controversy 19, 598.) They had concluded that Jesus’ warnings only confused them, so they chose not to listen to Him.

In arriving at truth, it is no less dangerous for us today to overlook God’s warnings. We are in just as great a danger of following in the tracks of the religious leaders of Christ’s day. If we fail to respond to the Laodicean message and its warnings, we, too, will go out into darkness as did the Jews. (See Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 354.) When one is deceived, he is unaware of the fact that he has been spewed from Jesus’ mouth. (See Testimonies, vol. 6, 408; Review and Herald, November 26, 1861.*)

God is merciful; but in allowing this freedom of choice, there is a limit beyond which He cannot go and still respect our freedom of choice. In the book, The Publishing Ministry, 171, Ellen White points out that a cleansing of the temple took place in the Review and Herald fire, during which the alpha of apostasy text book plates were burned. She then states that if the warning was rejected, God’s judgments of mercy would soon become judgments of retribution. “I want to tell you that if after the warnings given in these burnings the leaders of our people go right on, just as they have done in the past, exalting themselves, God will take the bodies next.” Ibid. We need to consider carefully whether or not we as a people have allowed the early rain to remove all of our inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil. Must we not admit that as a group we have employed man-made weapons, such as the Perth Declaration or the Issues book, thereby fighting against the very means that our God of mercy sends to prepare us to receive the latter rain?

While true faith leads God’s children to claim His promises, thereby partaking of godliness and overcoming sin in their lives, another class presumptuously claim the same promises in order to lightly pass over sin. In doing so, they forget God’s warnings and conditions. Inevitably, such are uncomfortable around the true “virgins” with a pure faith, just as was Cain with Abel. In continuing to presume upon God’s promises and sin by choice, they become members of the synagogue of Satan. (See Testimonies to Ministers, 16; Review and Herald, December 4, 1900.) Such can change leaders little by little without even knowing it, until God eventually sends them strong delusions and they believe a lie. (See Testimonies, vol. 7, 219; 2 Thessalonians 2.) Though they still claim to be the church of God and are often sincere in this belief, they are not telling the truth. (See Revelation 2:2,9.) Some maintain that those who comprise this group are tares and should, therefore, be retained in the church. Though this may make them more comfortable, it is failing to carry out the work that God has given us to do.

Very soon, the door of mercy will close. As in the past, it will close first for those of us with the greatest light. We have nothing to fear, however, for we can be a part of the loud cry if we will take full advantage of this present probationary time.

Our most urgent need, and that which will keep us from receiving a delusion, is a love for all of the truth. “Perilous times are before us. Everyone who has a knowledge of the truth should awake and place himself, body, soul, and spirit, under the discipline of God. The enemy is on our track. We must be wide awake, on our guard against him. We must put on the whole armor of God. We must follow the directions given through the spirit of prophecy. We must love and obey the truth for this time. This will save us from accepting strong delusions. God has spoken to us through His Word. He has spoken to us through the testimonies to the church and through the books that have helped to make plain our present duty and the position that we should now occupy. The warnings that have been given, line upon line, precept upon precept, should be heeded. If we disregard them, what excuse can we offer?” Testimonies, vol. 8, 298

It is because of God’s great love that He warns of the alternative to obedience. In mercy and love he lifts the veil from the future, revealing to us the results of a course of sin.

In the parable of the cursed fig tree, the Jewish nation was represented by the fruitless fig tree; but it also stands as a warning to us. The Jews, who did not profit by their increased blessings, were represented by the fruitless fig tree. In the parable, Jesus did not reveal the final outcome for it rested with those of His day to determine their own destiny. “In the rejection of their present mercies and warnings lay the guilt of that generation.” The Desire of Ages, 584

The leaves, representing the profession or form of godliness but which are unaccompanied by fruit, are less than worthless for they do the work of Satan in misleading others by denying God’s power. (See 2 Timothy 3:5.) The new theology which is coming into our midst is as fig leaves without fruit. Not only does it fail to urge men to bring forth the fruits of righteousness, but it actually excuses their sins. (See Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 16.)

“Will the churches heed the Laodicean message? Will they repent, or will they, notwithstanding that the most solemn message of truth—the third angel’s message—is being proclaimed to the world, go on in sin? This is the last message of mercy, the last warning to a fallen world. If the church of God becomes lukewarm, it does not stand in favor with God any more than do the churches that are represented as having fallen and become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive of the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of God. Only those that are sanctified through the truth will compose the royal family in the heavenly mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him and keep His commandments.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, 176

Some are forgetting God’s warnings* and are seeking to downgrade the importance of the issue of who and what the church really is as it applies to Seventh-day Adventists. Let us not forget, however, that this issue had to be understood by God’s people when Jesus taught that it was not mere profession which counted but obedience to the truth.

Though some seek to distance the early Christian church from the papacy, disavowing that the papacy was derived from it, inspiration is very clear that it was through corruption and by a departure from the simplicity of the gospel that the early church found itself in need of the secular power of the state. “The result was the papacy, a church that controlled the power of the State, and employed it to further her own ends, especially for the punishment of ‘heresy.’” The Great Controversy, 443. So today, by ignoring the Spirit of Prophecy counsels and resisting the cleansing of God’s church, currently in progress, we are preparing to receive the mark of the beast. (See Testimonies, vol. 5, 81.)

If it was crucial for the Jews, the early Christians, the churches in 1844, and the eight souls who walked into the ark to know who and what is the church, can we possibly be so naive as to believe it is not significant to God’s people today? Is it possible that we could still be found waiting for what we believe will be our ultimate denominational triumph when, because of disobedience and rebellion, we no longer have any warrant for such expectations?

After pointing out the failure of the Jewish church to fulfill God’s expectations for them and the results that followed, the servant of the Lord poses the question: “Is not the church of today doing the same thing?…Are they less guilty than was the Jewish church?” (See Christ’s Object Lessons, 303-306.) Do we believe that these are merely rhetorical questions, or do we love the truth enough to dig deep to find out answers to these questions?

“Men cannot with impunity reject the warnings that God in mercy sends them. From those who persist in turning from these warnings, God withdraws his spirit, leaving them to the deceptions that they love.” The Acts of the Apostles, 266

Because the Jews allowed God’s Word to be replaced by the Talmud (their church manual) as their guide, they disfellowhiped Christ at Calvary. In reality, this did not remove Christ from His church but secured the fact that corporately they were not a part of God’s church. If John the Baptist was today in our midst calling for our repentance, could he not be disfellowshiped according to our church manual? Would we do so?

In writing to the Thessalonian church, Paul not only admonished them to faithfully adhere to the truth but told them to separate from their fellowship those persisted in disregarding instruction. Because we have failed to follow this counsel, the time has come when church committees and boards have as members such a significant proportion who are Seventh-day Adventists by name and profession only, but who deny in their lives the truths that were given to this church, that there is extreme danger that they cannot be depended on to differentiate between light and darkness. “The minds of many have been so darkened and confused by worldly customs, worldly practices, and worldly customs, worldly practices, and worldly influences that all power to discriminate between light and darkness, truth and error, seems destroyed.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 62

Past history reveals that in times of great apostasy, those who are most involved in apostasy, are most often promoted while those who are standing for truth are put out of the way. Jesus clearly warned us of this when He said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me.” John 16:1-3

We are not left to wonder as to what God’s alternate plan will be if we fail to accept His counsel. “Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan. If doubts and unbelief are cherished, the faithful ministers will be removed from the people who think they know so much.” Testimonies to Ministers, 409-410

Notice that the words to follow this prophetic statement are the same that were pronounced over Jerusalem (see Luke 19:42) when in their deception, they knew not their hour of visitation. “‘If thou hadst known,’ said Christ, ‘even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes.’” Ibid., 410

At this time of crises, when above all other times there is need of faithfully rebuking sin and preparing a people for the latter rain, is the very time when, in the name of preserving the church, the confederacy of evil has brought in its unholy guns for warfare—the Perth Declaration and the Issues book. These are aimed at silencing those who are most faithful in reproving and upholding all of Gods’ truths, including His warnings. Such weapons are turned against the true church militant—those who are most faithful in reproving and upholding all of God’s truths, including His warnings. Such weapons are turned against the true church militant—those who are on God’s side in the great controversy, engaging their energies against the synagogue of Satan. We need to be surprised that this synagogue of Satan profess to be Jews while exalting apostasy over truth. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:14, 15. While professing to be and speaking as the church, they fight against God’s reproofs and corrections; but God does not own them as His.

“I am filled with sadness when I think of our condition as a people….And yet the general opinion is that the church is flourishing and that peace and spiritual prosperity are in all her borders.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 217

In the last analysis, it is not the profession or name but an adherence to God’s Word that draws the line of distinction between the professors and the true church of Christ. The history of the Jewish church is an eloquent testimony to the importance of recognizing this reality and that we not be found in the end with unrealistic expectations.

* “Those who separate from God and lose their spirituality, do not fall back all at once into a state which the True Witness calls lukewarm. They conform to the world little by little. As its influence steals upon them, they fail to resist it and maintain the warfare. After the first step is taken to have friendship with the world, darkness follows and they are prepared for the next. At every step they take in the downward course darkness gathers about them, until they are enshrouded. As they conform to the world they lose the transforming influence of the spirit of God. They do not realize their distance from God. They think themselves in good case because they profess to believe the truth. They grow weaker and weaker, until the Spirit of God is withdrawn, and God bids his angels, ‘Let them alone!’ Jesus spues them out of his mouth. He has borne their names to his Father; he has interceded for them, but he ceases his pleadings. Their names are dropped, and they are left with the world. They realize no change. Their profession is the same. There has not been so glaring a departure from the appearance of right. They had become so assimilated to the world that when heaven’s light was withdrawn they did not miss it.”

The End

God’s Promises

by

Recently I chanced to run across this little bit of expression from some disappointed and disillusioned heart. It had been scrolled in a place where others could read it.

“In the dark I light a match and
watch it fight for existence,

But it will never win

and I again sit in darkness.”

What a picture of hopelessness. As I was thinking about it my mind went to the expression in Isaiah the 8th chapter, one of the chapters dealing especially with our time. The closing lines as translated by Moffatt read: “They shall roam through the land, hard pressed and hungry, hunger driving them to rage, … they shall gaze up to heaven, and look round upon earth, only to see distress and darkness, anguish and utter gloom—poor waifs of men!” Moffatt Translation, 757.

Jesus pictured it: “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26). Looking around us, looking at the darkness, we too might be driven to that hopeless frustration. Thank God we have something better. Jesus says, “When these things begin to come to pass,” then look where? “look up” (verse 28).

The text we will look at in this article is 2 Peter 1:2–4. Instead of hopelessness, this Scripture offers hope. Instead of gloom we are given joy. Instead of worry and frustration, peace. “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord. According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” What a great constellation of truth shines here in these few lines.

Let us notice some of the bright stars. First He says, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you.” God multiplies as we add. Our adding is mentioned in the fifth verse: “add to your faith virtue” and so on. When we add, God multiplies. That is why the Christian grows. “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord.” Peace and grace are multiplied to us through the knowledge of Him. You remember Christ said in His last prayer, “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:3). So to know God is life eternal, to know God is to have grace and peace multiplied to us.

2 Peter 1, verse 3: “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” Notice the tense here. He does not say, these things are coming some day; He says we have them, according as His divine power hath given unto us, all things that pertain unto life and godliness. What a wonderful commissary to go in and help ourselves to. What a great storehouse, filled with all things that pertain unto life and godliness. And how do these come to us? Again, He stresses knowing God, because these things He says come through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises. What is a promise? It is God saying, “I will do this, I will do that; I will give you this, I will give you that.” Peter says that these promises are great promises, but that isn’t enough. He calls them “exceeding great and precious” promises.

When we study the 8th chapter of Daniel we stress the fact that the ram, Medo Persia, is spoken of as great; the rough goat, Greece, is spoken of as very great; but the little horn waxes exceeding great.

Here is something that is a brighter picture than Persia or Greece or Rome. Here are some promises that wax not only exceeding great, but they are precious. Precious means something valuable, something important, something that brings wealth to those who possess what is precious. We don’t find precious stones in the gutter or usually out in the brook or creek. Precious stones are rare. Thank God, in the Bible, we have a treasury of precious promises.

Notice what these things will do for us: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” To be a partaker means to take part. Partaker: take part. When we come to the communion table, each one receiving of the bread and the wine, we are partakers of the Lord’s table. We are partakers of His life, ministered to us through those emblems. That same precious life is ministered to us through His Holy word, through these exceeding great and precious promises. Oh, thank God we don’t have to be malnourished.

We become like that which we feed upon. If we eat heavenly food we will become heavenly minded. As the body is built up from what we put in the stomach, the mind, the character is built up from what we put into our thoughts through what we read and listen to. Oh, I’m glad that God has made it plain how we can be built up. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

How does the world look to you anyway? Does it look like a place to escape from? If you have gotten out of the world, thank God you’ve escaped. The man who knows that does not look upon himself as a captive in jail but he looks upon himself as a ransomed captive out of jail because he has escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Paul says, “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret” (Ephesians 5:12). There is too much parading before the saints the sins of this wicked Sodom world. Those things do not help us. There “are given to us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” [Emphasis added.] Can a person who has been deep down in the mire, the filth, the mess of this cesspool of a world be lifted up and ransomed? Can he be saved? Can he be delivered? Can he escape? Oh, yes. Thank God, friends. That is the glorious news of the gospel.

“We have heard the joyful sound, Jesus saves, Jesus saves;

Spread the tidings all around, Jesus saves, Jesus saves;

Bear the news to every land, Climb the steeps and cross the waves,

Onward, ‘tis our Lord’s command, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.”

Priscilla J. Owens, 1882.

What is it that He saves from? It is sin and all the results of sin. Those who let Jesus in their hearts and receive these exceeding great and precious promises become partakers of His nature and escape the corruption that is in the world. We need to study more and more how to appropriate these promises, how to use them to get the benefit from them, because unless we do that, they are simply words here on the page.

Notice how God wants us to use His promises. Jesus, speaking in Mark 11:24, says, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Now this believing that we receive what we ask for is akin to signing our name on a check. This is the appropriation of the promise. For example, God says, in Philippians 4:19, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

So far that is just a promise in the book. I can carry that around in my pocket printed on a card but it is still just a promise printed. But suppose I run into a situation where I need something, not just material things, but I need help to win the victory over a temptation. We all need deliverance from temptation at times. Well, my need is to get help and here is a promise, “My God shall supply all your need.” I can present that promise to Jesus.

But notice, it isn’t enough to present the promise. “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” That is what it means to sign your name. It means to present the promise to Jesus and say, Lord, I not only want your promise fulfilled but I am accepting it and I believe Your word that it is being fulfilled. I believe it because God says so and He cannot lie. He cannot fail. The bank of heaven, no matter how many checks are presented, no matter how many times there’s a run on the bank, it never runs dry and has plenty for every need “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” The assets of some banks amount to billions and billions of dollars, but the capital of the bank of Heaven is infinite. Therefore there is no limit. However, in order to receive the benefit of these promises, I must bring them to God, and ask Him to fulfill them, meet the conditions, and claim the answer. “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

In the light of these verses, notice three great facts concerning our Lord. The first is brought to us in Isaiah 40:11. Speaking of Jesus, “He shall feed His flock like a shepherd.” As the shepherd feeds his flock, so my Lord feeds me. Sheep graze and are fed every day. And my soul must be fed every day. God loves to feed those who come and let Him give them nourishment. Jesus said, “I am the Bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger” (John 6:35).

Day by day we eat. God sought to teach Israel this lesson by feeding them manna from heaven for 40 years in the desert. Manna from heaven. What food is to the body, God’s promises are to the soul. It is God Who feeds me day by day.

Revelation 7 gives a view of the heavenly land soon to be our eternal home. Here the One Who has fed us day by day on earth will continue to bring us sustenance and nourishment. “For the Lamb Which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them” (verse 17). Jesus Himself is going to feed us in heaven. The prophet wrote: “And I saw a table of pure silver; it was many miles in length, yet our eyes could extend over it. …” Jesus said, “Come, My people, you have come out of great tribulation, and done My will; suffered for Me; come in to supper, for I will gird Myself, and serve you.” Early Writings, 19.

Won’t it be wonderful to have Christ Himself come to the table where you are sitting and put His hand on your shoulder? You look up into His dear face and He says, “What would you like?” Jesus, interested in what you would like to eat? Oh, yes. And you might say, What’s on the menu? Well, we do not know everything that is going to be there, but we do know some of the things. There will be some grapes because He said I will not be eating those until you get here (Matthew 26:29). There will be figs and almonds and manna. I think I’ll ask Him to bring me some manna. Wouldn’t you like to taste some? There will be no shortage. The Lamb shall feed them. But those who eat with Him there will first eat with Him here. Those who sit down at supper with Him there will let Him sit down to sup with them here. That communion and fellowship is to begin here in this life. Those whom God feeds day by day here He will feed there for evermore.

There is something else in verse 17 to notice. Not only will He feed us but He will lead us. “The Lamb Which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them.” He is not only the One Who gives us nourishment, He is the One Who gives us guidance. Will we need it up there? Apparently. Do we need it here? Oh, yes. I suppose we would probably say we need it even more now. There won’t be any way to get lost up there like there is here. There will not be any devil to divert or distract or deceive us up there like there is here. So, if we appreciate the promise that He will lead us in the future, how doubly precious is His promise to lead us now. Compare this with Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” He leads me in the green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He leads me in the paths of righteousness. So feeding and leading, He meets my needs. What a shepherd! And how happy He is for those who follow where He leads, for a leader cannot accomplish much unless there is somebody to lead.

Psalm 25:9 says He will guide the meek, the humble, and those who want help. “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.” Over in the third chapter of Proverbs we have a most wonderful promise of guidance. Remember it is by these exceeding great and precious promises that we become partakers of the divine nature and here we see some of these rich ones. There are conditions to every promise. Sometimes they are clearly stated and sometimes they are implied, but they are always conditional, allowing the opportunity to decide whether we choose to have them fulfilled to us. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). What is the promise? He shall direct thy paths. What is the condition? Acknowledging Him. What does that mean? It means look to Him for His direction. Stop and listen before you take this step. “Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21). But if we rush on, we will not get the guidance.

Often when we are going for a walk with a dog, it will run ahead and veer off onto a trail which is not the one that we are taking. Pretty soon after finding itself alone, it comes running back and catches up again. Some people are like that with the Lord. Before deciding what turn of the road to take, we are admonished to acknowledge Him. Say, “Lord, which way are You going? I want to go with You.” If in all our ways we acknowledge Him, He will direct our paths. But suppose a person says, I already know which way I want to go. Well, then, I may be like the dog; I may find myself all alone, for God has gone along another road. But oh how patiently He waits, how longingly He lingers sometimes, hoping that we will retrace our steps and let Him lead.

Proverbs 4:11: “I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.” Can you say that? Is that what God has done for you? Praise His wonderful name. Now we have already noted that promise in Revelation 7:17 where the Lamb that feeds us will lead us. And in Revelation 14:4 the counterpart of that is the picture of the redeemed: “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” The redeemed will follow Him out through the trackless fields of space, suns, and stars, through Orion and on to the throne of God. We are going to continually follow Him from world to world, but those who follow Him there will first have followed Him here.

There is a third fact to share here which is the most precious promise of all. God feeds me; God leads me; God needs me. In The Signs of the Times of April 22, 1903, the inspired messenger wrote: “We were brought into existence because we were needed.” Are you needed? Oh, somebody says, I think things would be just as well, maybe a little better, if I weren’t around. And if you say that or even think it down in your heart, it shows that you are hungry. The greatest need in the human heart is to be needed. My friend, you are needed. And the reason that God put a longing in your heart to be needed is so that you could understand how He feels about you. You not only need Him, He needs you. He needs you to be His friend, to share with Him the joy of companionship. We were brought into existence because we were needed.

Jesus told a wonderful story to help us to understand just how important we are to Him. “He spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:3–7).

How many sheep were lost? One—the least that can be numbered. What is Jesus seeking to tell us? That one soul that is lost is more precious to Him than all the world beside, that Christ will leave the ninety and nine that went not astray and He will come after one. That’s this world; that’s you; that’s me.

“It was not thought of any gold that hundredth sheep might bring

That sent the keeper of the fold back into weariness and cold when home was beckoning.

It was His love that could not think of that poor willful one unmindful by the canyon’s brink

Or in despair about to sink with strength and courage gone.

It was not any grace of mine that drew my Lord to me;

In heaven spotless angels shine that vie to do His will divine and here was Calvary.

It was His love that could not bear to think of my distress;

He knew the pride of life would wear away and leave me bleating there in utter wretchedness.

Oh if He had not come for me, forever I would roam, alone and lost in misery,

But up and over Calvary the shepherd bears me home.

Why – He needed me; He wanted me; He couldn’t bear to live without me.

I’m not just a sheep, a shepherd loves his sheep, but I’m a man, a human being formed in God’s image.” Author unknown.

Friends, may I say it very simply — He cannot live without me. He would rather die to get me than live without me. That is love, isn’t it? He needs me. The simple message for each of us is this: God feeds me; God leads me; God needs me—here and now and through eternity.

“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Do you need food? Physical, spiritual? He will supply it. Do you need wisdom? “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally” (James 1:5). He will supply it. And do you need to be needed? Oh indeed, and that need He will supply. He needs you. He comes close to assure you of His love, His desire for your love. He says to each one, “My son, [my daughter], give me thine heart” (Proverbs 23:26). Thank God, friends, we can give Him something He needs – our choice, our decision, our response to all He has done for us. Would you like to send Him the word, “Yes, Lord, I will meet Your need”?

“With Christ we shall walk beside the living waters. He will unfold to us the beauty and glory of nature. He will reveal to us what He is to us and what we are to Him.” The Adventist Home, 547. What will it be like to have Jesus take me on a special walk down by the river of life? I look up and see that golden fruit hanging from those lovely boughs. I walk with Him and He begins to explain to me things that I never understood in this life. He begins to show me the things in nature and explain to me. But oh, something more wonderful than that. This says He’s going to tell me what He means to me and what I mean to Him. I must not miss it, not just for my sake, but for His sake.

Elder W.D. Frazee studied the Medical Missionary Course at the College of Medical Evangelists in Loma Linda, California. He was called to Utah as a gospel medical evangelist. During the Great Depression, when the church could not afford to hire any assistants, Elder Frazee began inviting professionals to join him as volunteers. This began a faith ministry that would become the foundation for the establishment of the Wildwood Medical Missionary Institute in 1942. He believed that each person is unique, specially designed by the Lord, of infinite value, and has a special place and mission in this world which only he can fill. His life followed this principle and he encouraged others to do the same.

Standing on the Promises

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“Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:17–20

The above text is like richly laden ore from which precious gems of truth can be obtained if, as we are counseled, we “sink the shaft deep, and bring up the hidden treasures” (Our High Calling, 115).

The first treasure nugget is contained in God’s determination “to show more abundantly.” Clearly His word reveals His unfathomable love for us, even with a cursory reading, but in order to “more abundantly” understand that love, we must search diligently to understand that He is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

The second nugget is found in the next phrase: “to the heirs of promise.” Who are those heirs? Paul makes that clear in his letter to the Galatians. He states it so clearly that it is too plain to be misunderstood. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26–29).

The next gem is contained in the “the immutability of His counsel.” Psalm 89:34 speaks of the immutability of God’s word: “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.” How comforting it is to know that “all His precepts are sure. They stand fast forever and ever” (Psalm 111:7, 8). Thankfully He is not like the unpredictable waffler who condemns an act today that was acceptable yesterday. By study of God’s word, we can know where we stand with Him and be assured that His standard will not change—ever.

He assures us of that with an oath. “Because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,” saying, “ ‘By Myself I have sworn’ ” (Hebrews 6:13, Genesis 22:16).

Then we come to the next gem: the two immutable things that confirm His promises. If we cannot determine from these texts what those are, we can turn to Inspiration for the answer.

“Another compact—called in Scripture the ‘old’ covenant—was formed between God and Israel at Sinai, and was then ratified by the blood of a sacrifice. The Abrahamic covenant was ratified by the blood of Christ, and it is called the ‘second,’ or ‘new,’ covenant, because the blood by which it was sealed was shed after the blood of the first covenant. That the new covenant was valid in the days of Abraham is evident from the fact that it was then confirmed both by the promise and by the oath of God—the ‘two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie’ (Hebrews 6:18).” Patriarchs and Prophets, 371.

Why is it impossible for God to lie? We have already read the inspired promise of Psalm 111:7, 8, but for confirmation, let’s read the inspired words of a prophet who couldn’t lie, even though he wanted to. They were spoken by Balaam and recorded in Numbers 23:19. “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

It is important to realize that whatever God speaks is—simply and unavoidably is: “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9). For that reason, if for no other, we can rely on the promises of His word.

“When the afflicted ones came to Christ, He beheld not only those who asked for help, but all who throughout the ages should come to Him in like need and with like faith. When He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee’ (Matthew 9:2) …, He spoke to other afflicted, sin-burdened ones who should seek His help. So with all the promises of God’s word. In them He is speaking to us individually, speaking as directly as if we could listen to His voice. It is in these promises that Christ communicates to us His grace and power. They are leaves from that tree which is ‘for the healing of the nations’ (Revelation 22:2). Received, assimilated, they are to be the strength of the character, the inspiration and sustenance of the life. Nothing else can have such healing power.

“God loves His creatures with a love that is both tender and strong. He has established the laws of nature, but His laws are not arbitrary exactions. Every ‘thou shalt not,’ whether in physical or moral law, contains or implies a promise. If it is obeyed, blessings will attend our steps; if it is disobeyed, the result is danger and unhappiness. The laws of God are designed to bring His people closer to Himself. He will save them from the evil and lead them to the good if they will be led, but force them He never will.” God’s Amazing Grace, 266.

This passage brings to mind another wonderful promise. In Deuteronomy 5, Moses has recounted the giving of the law and repeats the commandments God had given the people through him on the mountain. Then he begins the next chapter with this wonderful promise:

“Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged …” (Deuteronomy 6:1, 2). [Emphasis added.]

Then Moses concludes a brief recounting of their experience with the reason for claiming the promises that accrue through obedience to His word:

“And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us” (Deuteronomy 6:24, 25). [Emphasis added.]

Let us pray that we might not be like the children of Israel, who repeatedly failed to walk by sight, who repeatedly failed to trust the promises of God.

“We do not realize how many of us walk by sight and not by faith. We believe the things that are seen, but do not appreciate the precious promises given us in His word. And yet we cannot dishonor God more decidedly than by showing that we distrust what He says.” Our High Calling, 85.

As Inspiration tells us, we must “search for the precious promises of God. If Satan thrusts threatenings before your mind, turn from them and cling to the promises, and let your soul be comforted by their brightness. The cloud is dark in itself, but when filled with the light it is turned to the brightness of gold, for the glory of God is upon it.” That I May Know Him, 241.

The most precious of all promises, of course, is John 3:16, the first Scripture that we memorized as children. Couple that uplifting promise with the one in Philippians 1:6, and the Christian has absolutely no reason to question his salvation.

There was a time when even those closest to Him doubted His word. It is recorded in Matthew 19:23–26. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ ”

This same promise is recorded in Mark 9. When Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration, He found a large group of people gathered around a demon-possessed man. The disciples had attempted to cast the demon out, with no success. Then the father of the boy appealed to Christ in desperate, pleading tones: “If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:22).

What did Jesus answer? “Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes’ ” (verse 23).

That is the challenge we face today: to understand and believe the possibilities that lie before us if we claim the promises in God’s word and act on those promises as if our lives depended on them, because, in fact, they do.

All quotes NKJV unless otherwise noted.

John Pearson is the office manager and a board member of Steps to Life. After retiring as chief financial officer for the Grand Canyon Association, Grand Canyon, Arizona, he moved to Wichita, Kansas, to join the Steps team. He may be contacted by email at: johnpearson@stepstolife.org.

Inspiration – Power in the Promises

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“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through

faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Hebrews 6:12

We must keep close to the word of God. We need its warnings and encouragement, its threatenings and promises.

The Scriptures are to be received as God’s word to us, not written merely, but spoken. When the afflicted ones came to Christ, He beheld not only those who asked for help, but all who throughout the ages should come to Him in like need and with like faith. When He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2, last part) … , He spoke to other afflicted, sin-burdened ones who should seek His help. So with all the promises of God’s word. In them He is speaking to us individually, speaking as directly as if we could listen to His voice. It is in these promises that Christ communicates to us His grace and power. They are leaves from that tree which is “for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2). Received, assimilated, they are to be the strength of the character, the inspiration and sustenance of the life. Nothing else can have such healing power.

God loves His creatures with a love that is both tender and strong. He has established the laws of nature, but His laws are not arbitrary exactions. Every “thou shalt not,” whether in physical or moral law, contains or implies a promise. If it is obeyed, blessings will attend our steps; if it is disobeyed, the result is danger and unhappiness. The laws of God are designed to bring His people closer to Himself. He will save them from the evil and lead them to the good if they will be led, but force them He never will.

We are too faithless. Oh, how I wish that I could lead our people to have faith in God! They need not feel that in order to exercise faith they must be wrought up into a high state of excitement. All they have to do is to believe God’s word, just as they believe one another’s word. He hath said it, and He will perform His word. Calmly rely on His promise, because He means all that He says. Say, He has spoken to me in His word, and He will fulfill every promise that He has made. Do not become restless. Be trustful. God’s word is true. Act as if your heavenly Father could be trusted.

God’s Amazing Grace, 266.

Bible Study Guides – Promises Fulfilled

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October 16, 2016 – October 22, 2016

Key Text

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:17).

Study Help: Prophets and Kings, 703–721.

Introduction

“Never has the Lord been without true representatives on this earth who have made His interests their own. These witnesses for God are numbered among the spiritual Israel, and to them will be fulfilled all the covenant promises made by Jehovah to His ancient people.” Prophets and Kings, 714.

1 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

  • Rather than making unconditional promises, what does God expect? Jeremiah 18:7–10.

Note: “There is no safety except in strict obedience to the word of God. All His promises are made upon condition of faith and obedience, and a failure to comply with His commands cuts off the fulfillment to us of the rich provisions of the Scriptures.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 621, 622.

  • What qualities does the Lord look for in people, regardless of their status or privileges? Acts 10:34, 35.

Note: “In the kingdom of God, position is not gained through favoritism. It is not earned, nor is it received through an arbitrary bestowal. It is the result of character. The crown and the throne are the tokens of a condition attained; they are the tokens of self-conquest through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Desire of Ages, 549.

2 TRUE ISRAEL

  • What is promised concerning the future of Israel? Jeremiah 33:16; Romans 11:25–27.

Note: “God is abundantly able to transform the hearts of Jew and Gentile alike, and to grant to every believer in Christ the blessings promised to Israel.” The Acts of the Apostles, 379.

  • What is the only path to salvation, whether one is Jew or Gentile by birth? Acts 4:10–12.

Note: “It is claimed by some that the human race is in need, not of redemption, but of development—that it can refine, elevate, and regenerate itself. … The history of Cain shows what must be the results. It shows what man will become apart from Christ. Humanity has no power to regenerate itself. It does not tend upward, toward the divine, but downward, toward the satanic. Christ is our only hope.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 73.

  • What characterizes the true Israel? Romans 2:28, 29. In light of this, to whom do the promises really apply? Romans 9:6–8.

Note: “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. They thought themselves the greatest religionists of the world, but their so-called orthodoxy led them to crucify the Lord of glory.

“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, and through their influence it is a curse to the world.” The Desire of Ages, 309, 310.

3 ABRAHAM’S SEED

  • What promise was made to Abraham regarding his relationship with the rest of the world? Genesis 22:18.

Note: “It was a high honor to which Abraham was called, that of being the father of the people who for centuries were the guardians and preservers of the truth of God for the world—of that people through whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed in the advent of the promised Messiah.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 140, 141.

  • What was meant by the term “seed” in this promise? Galatians 3:16. What does it take to be a recipient of the blessings? Verses 8, 9.

Note: “The Bible plainly teaches that the promises made to Abraham are to be fulfilled through Christ. All that are Christ’s are ‘Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise’—heirs to ‘an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away’—the earth freed from the curse of sin (Galatians 3:29; 1 Peter 1:4).” Patriarchs and Prophets, 170.

  • Study the conversation recorded in John 8:31–45, then describe the type of character needed in order to participate in the spiritual relationship mentioned there.

Note: “The Pharisees had declared themselves the children of Abraham. Jesus told them that this claim could be established only by doing the works of Abraham. The true children of Abraham would live, as he did, a life of obedience to God. They would not try to kill One Who was speaking the truth that was given Him from God. In plotting against Christ, the rabbis were not doing the works of Abraham. A mere lineal descent from Abraham was of no value. Without a spiritual connection with him, which would be manifested in possessing the same spirit, and doing the same works, they were not his children.” The Desire of Ages, 466, 467.

4 INHERITING THE LAND

  • How were the patriarchs themselves included in the promise of inheriting the land? Exodus 6:8. What must happen in order for this promise to be fulfilled? Luke 20:34–38.

Note: “The heritage that God has promised to His people is not in this world. Abraham had no possession in the earth, ‘no, not so much as to set his foot on’ (Acts 7:5). He possessed great substance, and he used it to the glory of God and the good of his fellow men; but he did not look upon this world as his home. The Lord had called him to leave his idolatrous countrymen, with the promise of the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession; yet neither he nor his son nor his son’s son received it. When Abraham desired a burial place for his dead, he had to buy it of the Canaanites. His sole possession in the Land of Promise was that rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah.

“But the word of God had not failed; neither did it meet its final accomplishment in the occupation of Canaan by the Jewish people. ‘To Abraham and his seed were the promises made’ (Galatians 3:16). Abraham himself was to share the inheritance. The fulfillment of God’s promise may seem to be long delayed—for ‘one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day’ (2 Peter 3:8); it may appear to tarry; but at the appointed time ‘it will surely come, it will not tarry’ (Habakkuk 2:3). The gift to Abraham and his seed included not merely the land of Canaan, but the whole earth.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 169, 170.

  • What shows that the patriarchs understood this? Hebrews 11:13–16.
  • Who are considered to be true descendants of Abraham, and thus the heirs of the promise? Galatians 3:27–29; Matthew 8:11, 12.

Note: “Christ recognized no virtue in lineage. He taught that spiritual connection supersedes all natural connection. … Only those who prove themselves to be spiritually in harmony with Abraham by obeying the voice of God, are reckoned as of true descent.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 268.

5 A GLORIOUS INHERITANCE

  • What state will the earth be in when the promise is fulfilled? Isaiah 65:17–19.

Note: “In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called ‘a country’ (Hebrews 11:14–16). There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the service of the nations. There are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord. There the wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty, and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains, beside those living streams, God’s people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home.” The Great Controversy, 675.

  • How does Scripture describe the spiritual unity of the inherited kingdom? Jeremiah 23:3–6; Ezekiel 37:24–27.

Note: “One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. … From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.” The Great Controversy, 678.

  • When the earth is made new, what will God do with His place of dwelling? Revelation 21:1–3.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 When God makes a promise, how can its fulfillment depend on conditions?

2 What is needed besides a profession of faith in Christ?

3 What makes someone a real child of Abraham?

4 When will the promise of inheriting the land be fulfilled?

5 What will be the attitude of the saved in the New Earth?

Copyright © 2015 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Standing on the Promises

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Peter the aged, in a summing up of what Christ has done for “them that have obtained like precious faith,” says:

“According as His Fdivine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:1, 3, 4).

On these promises the hope of the Christian rests. “Which hope,” says the apostle Paul, “we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil” (Hebrews 6:19). The soul of the servant of God is anchored to the throne above. His hope is as sure and stable as that throne itself.

Heaven’s part in the great plan of redemption has been faithfully performed. God’s purposes in the salvation of men are sure and unalterable. Sometime this earth will be peopled by the redeemed of the Lord. From each generation since the fall will be gathered a remnant of those who have been true to God and the principles of His government. To such the sure promises of God have been as a beacon light, to guide their feet through the gloom and darkness of earth’s error and sin.

While God’s promises are always sure, man must meet them in faith and hold their blessings by prayer. Faith in God and earnest prayer will bring to any human being the sure mercies of the wonderful plan of redemption.

Though we may wander far, and may long reject the overtures of a merciful God, yet the story of the prodigal son teaches how the arms of Infinite Love are ever stretched out to receive the returning wanderer.

The record of God’s dealings with Israel has brought hope and confidence to many a despairing soul. This history is but a rehearsal of the experiences of the human heart. Tempted by Satan we wander from God, but the road is not easy. Afflictions overtake us. As a parent chastens a loved son, so our Father allows difficulties and troubles to overtake us. These are God’s agencies to turn back our feet into right paths. As soon as we turn we find a loving Father with arms stretched out to receive us.

Over and over again did Israel wander from God into sin and idolatry. Then they were delivered into the hand of their enemies. But when these afflictions brought them to seek the Lord, how quickly He returned to them and brought confusion to their enemies. God’s position toward His people during these experiences is well illustrated in the ninth of Isaiah:

“The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still” (verse 12).

At this time Israel had gone into abominable idolatry, hence God had removed His protecting hand, and the heathen had come against them. His anger was strong against His people, yet through it all His hand was stretched out to receive them and protect them at the first indication of repentance and returning.

There is a human side to the plan of redemption. This calls for our co-operation with the efforts of Heaven in our behalf. And although we cannot work out salvation for ourselves, neither can Heaven save us unless we take our stand by the side of holy intelligences, and by earnest faith and humble prayer secure the help we must have.

Heaven listens to the faintest plea from those who come to God in sincerity. No one, however far he may have wandered, need fear to approach the throne of grace. Our Saviour left the promise, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

And the very throne of God is pledged to the protection of those who place themselves in the keeping of Almighty power. Our Lord has left to such the pledge, that “no one shall snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28 R.V.). Only our own action can take us out of the hand of our God.

Guarded well are the true followers of our Lord. David says, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7).

When the armies of Syria surrounded the prophet of God at Dothan, heaven sent a host to protect him. The Lord opened the eyes of the trembling servant of the prophet, “and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17).

About Job was placed a rampart or hedge of angels which the devil could not pass. (See Job 1:10.)

When Jacob was about to meet his brother Esau, who was marching against him, he was allowed to see God’s host which had been sent from heaven to protect him. (See Genesis 32:1, 2.)

All heaven would move to the aid of the weakest child of God if necessary, to protect him from the attacks of the enemy. The hosts of evil are strong, but if the battle wages fiercely, the angel guards will be reinforced by the most powerful beings from the very presence of Jehovah.

When Daniel prayed for the deliverance of Israel, the Lord sent one of the most powerful angels of heaven to the king of Persia to induce him to let Israel go. For full three weeks this mighty angel labored with King Cyrus, but without success. Then came Michael (Christ), and the release of God’s people was assured.

God’s people represent on earth the principles of His government in heaven. Hence injury to God’s people on earth is an insult to God’s throne in heaven. Our Lord Himself would come to earth, if necessary, to carry out His purposes concerning His people.

Our Saviour came to earth for the resurrection of Moses. At the grave of that servant of God He was met by the devil, who has “the power of death.” (See Hebrews 2:14.) In thus invading the territory of the enemy, being withstood by him, Christ did not rely on Himself, but invoked the highest power of heaven in the words, “The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 9).

It is not alone to the mighty deeds in great emergencies that we must look for evidences of heaven’s aid to God’s people. The prayer of the humble saint and of the repentant sinner is as sure of a hearing and an answer as that of the most godly prophet of Bible days.

David said, “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6).

But we must come to God in faith. The prayer of faith commands the most powerful forces of heaven. Jesus said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” But He adds, “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:20, 21).

But our will must be subject to the will of God. The beloved John writes, “If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (I John 5:14, 15).

If we are true followers of Christ, our will is in accord with His will. Then the Holy Spirit leads and directs our prayer, and it is, therefore, in harmony with the will of heaven, and the very throne of God is pledged to the answer.

But if we come with our will unsubdued, and with sins cherished and unrepented of, we are out of harmony, out of touch, with heaven. Then the line of communication is broken, and our prayers cannot reach the throne. We will then ask according to our unsanctified, unsubdued heart, and God can neither hear nor answer such prayers. “If I regard iniquity in my heart,” says the psalmist, “the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18).

But more than this, God cannot accept the prayers of those who disobey His requirements. Solomon says, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Proverbs 28:9). And David speaks of prayers that “become sin,” because of wickedness and deceit. (See Psalm 109:7).

When our prayers go forth in harmony with the mind of the Spirit of God, they will be prayers of faith, and cannot fail to bring their answer. But no doubting, no wavering must be allowed to mingle with them. “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord” (James 1:6, 7).

The waters composing the waves of the sea do not rush on with the waves. The wave is but the upheaval of the waters. The ship upon the billows does not move along with the wave. As the wave rushes along, the vessel rises upon the crest, and then falls into the trough of the sea, but it does not move forward with the wave unless propelled by sail or steam. And so with the life of many vacillating Christians—sometimes on the mountain top, and again in the valley of doubt, but with no visible advancement in spiritual attainments or experience. Their condition is well described in the jubilee melody,

“Sometimes up, and sometimes down, Sometimes almost to the ground.”

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen, slave spiritual, 1867.

God’s promises to His children represent all the power of heaven. They are not promises merely, but they are backed by the oath of Jehovah. Paul, presenting these sure promises, says:

“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it [to Abraham] by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:17, 18).

And to show that this assurance applies to our day, Paul writes, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).

The Christian’s hope is based upon the promises of God. Faith brings the reward. The sincere faith of the humblest suppliant at the throne of grace is more powerful than “all the power of the enemy.” True is the word of the poet,

“Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees.”

What Various Hindrances We Meet, William Cowper, 1779.

Simple faith makes real the promises of God. Paul writes: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Through faith the hope of the child of God becomes very real and tangible. We have a loving heavenly Father. Jesus Christ is our Elder Brother, and our Advocate with the Father. Heavenly angels are our constant attendants. A city with mansions is being prepared for us in heaven. (See John 14:2, 3).

The true and faithful of earth will have homes in that beautiful city. This earth will be made new and glorified, to become the eternal dominion of the saints. Here they will dwell through an endless life of joy and bliss beyond our comprehension.

These are the rewards which the Christian contemplates “with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter 1:8). And these are the promises which become as real and substantial to us as the events of every-day life. Through faith they are the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Past, Present, and Future, James Edson White, 1909, 38–48.