Sermon - 9/18/2010
"Knowing God"
1. Falling in love
a. Learn all you can about the other personb. Spend as much time as possible with that special onec. Do nice things for the love of your life2. Get married
a. Vow to keep ourselves for our spouseb. Do you know everything about your spouse?c. Continue to learn about your mate and his or her habitsd. You draw close to each other3. Marital bliss
a. Unselfish loveb. Protection c. Fidelity4. You really know your spouse after some years
5. It is similar with Jesus
6. We fall in love with truth
a. We study itb. We spend as much time with the Word as possiblec. We sacrifice our time and money for Him7. We are baptized
a. Vow to keep ourselves to God and not become entangled with the worldb. We don’t know everything about Godc. We learn what God likes and doesn’t like and try to please Himd. We draw closer together8. We become one with Christ Eph 5:29-32
a. Love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, strength Mark 12:30b. God protects us Psa 34:7c. We keep ourselves pure James 1:279. As we learn more of Jesus, we draw closer to Him
Hos 6:3, Pro 4:1810. Once we are married is it ok to date around and look at other potential mates?
11. Can we be halfway married?
12. So is it ok to choose worldly values and entertainment
a. Ja 4:4, Mat 6:2413. Think about these verses: Heb 6:4-6
a. 2 thoughts-impossible to renew, crucify afreshi. Crucify afresh1. Every time we choose the world, we crucify Christ afresha. We are given 2 choices Christ/Satan Deu 30:19b. We can’t have it both ways Mat 6:24, Psa 119:2ii. With man it is impossible, but with God, all things are ??? Mark 10:27, (we can’t do it by ourselves, only while probation lasts)1. Heb 7:252. 1Jo 1:93. Sin against the Holy Ghost Mrk 3:28,2914. When we choose the world, we commit spiritual adultery
a. How many of you mind when your spouse looks long at a good looking person of the opposite sex? b. How do you think it makes Jesus feel when we lust after the world and the things of the world?15. When we choose the world, we lose our love for Jesus, we forget Him
a. Jer 2:32 b. Muslim polygamy, Tunisia monogamy16. Jesus is longing to have us get to know Him and draw closer to Him, He is courting us. He desires to be married to us (Eph 5:29-32)(one flesh-Gen 2:24)
a. Jer 31:3, Jo 12:3217. To know Him is to love Him, to love Him is to obey Him, to obey Him is to become like Him, to become like Him is to see Him as He is. (Mark 12:30, John 14:15, 1Jo 3:2)
a. Jo 1:18, 1 Ti 6:1618. What is God like?
a. Ex 15:11 b. Ex 34:5-7 c. Jer 9:23,24 d. 1Jo 4:8 e. 1 Co 13: 4-819. Taste and see that the Lord is Good! Psa 34:8
20. Be faithful, renew your vows daily, follow on to know the Lord Hos 6:3, Jer 29:13
a. We cannot do anything without Him Jo 15:5 b. We are strong in Him Eph 6:10, 2 Co 12:9,10 c. God is faithful 1 Co 1:9 La 3:22,2321. Let’s choose love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control and die to the fleshly lusts that war against the soul Gal 5:22, 1Pe 2:11
22. Will you choose life and signify it by standing with me and singing our closing song 'My Lord and I'
God’s Attributes
1. Knows everything-Psa 139:1-6, psa 147:5
2. All powerful-Ge 18:14, jer 32:17, job 42:2,
3. Present everywhere-Pr 15:3, Jer 23;23,24, Psa 139:7
4. Eternal, no beginning or end-Dt 32:40, Isa 57:15, da 4:34, Dt33:27, Isa 40:28, Psa 90:1, Jud 25
5. Never changes-Psa 102:25-27, Mal 3:6, Ja 1:17, Heb 13:8
6. Beyond our understanding-Dt 29:29, Job 11:7, Rom 11:33
7. Self existent-Ex 3:14, Joh 5:26
8. Self sufficient-Ps 50:12, Acts 17:24,25
9. Infinite-1Ki 8:27, Psa 145:3
10. Above creation-Isa 55:8,9, Isa 40:22, Psa 40:5, Psa 113:4,5
11. In total control-Psa 135:6, Psa 38:8, 33:9-11, Isa 46:9-11, Mt 14:27,Da 4;32
12. Holy-Ex 15:11, Isa 6:3, Lev 19:2,
13. Righteous-Dt 32:4, Psa 119:142
14. Just-Nu 14:18, Psa 89:14,
15. Merciful-Psa 62:12,Psa 85:10, Psa 116:5, Rom 9:14-16
16. Longsuffering-Ex 34:6, 2Pe 3:9
17. Wise-Isa 40:28, Da 2:20, Rom 16:27
18. Loving-Jer 31:3, Rom 5:8, 1 Jo 4:8
19. Good-Psa 25:8, Psa 106:1, Psa 145:9, Nah 1:7
20. Hates evil-Pro 8:13, Psa 145:20
21. Truthful-Jo 14:6, Titus 1:2
22. Faithful-Dt 7:9, La 3:22-23, 2 Ti 2:13, 1Th 5:24, Heb 10:23
23. Jealous-Ex:20:5, Na1:2
Knowing God story
From a missionary story in Guam in the 90s.
In the last days breaking the Sabbath is not so much breaking the commandment but it is rejecting the gift of God. You see, if you break a commandment there is forgiveness but if you reject Christ you are committing the unpardonable sin. So the issue of the Sabbath will be the rejection of the gift of God in Jesus Christ. That will be the issue. And that is what we need to explain to our people.
We had twenty-two students at our university in Halie Selasie in Ethiopia who had an exam on the Sabbath. Twenty-two students who had an exam in zoology. They asked me if I would go and speak to the professor. He was a tough man. He was a German.
I said, “Before I speak I want to ask you a question. If he says ”No” will you take the exam? If you say “Yes” I’m not going to speak to him. I will only speak if you will not take the exam even if the answer is “No.”
They said, “Boy, this is tough.” And I’ll tell you what they did, they said, We’ll spend three days in fasting and prayer.” They spent three days. Now remember that in Africa only the cream of the crop goes to university. To give up university is being the greatest fool in the world. Out of those twenty-two only five said to me, “We are willing to deprive ourselves of a university education but we will not let our God down.” Only five out of the twenty-two. The rest said, “It is too much of a sacrifice.”
So I went to the professor for those five students. I tried to explain to him but he stopped me. He said, “You don’t need to explain. I come from Damstaad where we have lots of Adventists. I know your policy. He went to the drawer and said, “Here are the exams. You give it to them on Sunday. Keep them in your home. No trouble at all.”
So I took the five exams and kept them at home for Sabbath. They were not allowed to leave our home. On Saturday night after sundown I gave them the exam. I don’t know what was behind the professor but all five passed with flying colours. The others failed. Whether he did it deliberately or not I don’t know or if they did poorly, I do not know, but he never penalized them. He told me, “I wish we had students that were as loyal as these five.” Even though he was a Sunday-keeping Christian, he said, “I wish we had Christian students who were loyal to Jesus Christ like these five.”
The loyalty in these last days is to Jesus Christ. And I will come to the relationship of Sabbath to the law in our last study but please folks, the issue in the last days is not giving up Sabbath as a day, it is giving up your faith in Christ.
Knowing God Verses
Jer 31:33,34* But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Ps 91:14* Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
Lu 10:22* All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
Joh 17:3* And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
1Jo 5:20* And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Ex 34:5-7 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Jer 9:23,24* Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Jer 24:7* And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Mt 11:27* All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
2Co 4:6* For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Joh 14:6-9* Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Ro 1:28* And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
1Co 1:21* For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Joh 8:19* Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
Joh 16:3* And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Jer 4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
Titus 1:16* They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
1Jo 2:13* I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
Dan 11:32* And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
1Jo 2:3,3* And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Mat 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 25:1-12 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Knowing God EGW
The condition and evidence of our discipleship is self denial and the cross. Unless these are brought into our experience, we cannot know God{1888 50.4}
The condition and evidence of our discipleship is self denial and the cross. Unless these are brought into our experience, we cannot know God; we cannot worship him in spirit and in truth and in the beauty of holiness. But those who ought to have stood in the clear light, that they might present the attractions of Christ before the people, and lift up Jesus before them as soon as out of the desk, were earnestly preaching of buying and selling real estate, and of investing money in mining stock. Their minds absorbed in business affairs could not distinguish between the sacred and the common; discernment was blunted, the deceptive power of the enemy was exercised over their minds. {1888 50.4}
He only who loves his fellowmen to a purpose can know God. He who loves not those for whom the Father has done so much know not God. This is the reason there is so little genuine vitality in our churches. Theology is valueless unless it is saturated with the love of Christ. {LHU 134.3}
You should conduct yourself with meekness to those who are in error, for were you not recently in blindness in your sins? and because of the patience of Christ should you not be tender and patient to others? The apostle exhorts us to "be pitiful, be courteous." God has given us many admonitions to manifest great kindness toward those who oppose us, lest we balance a soul in the wrong direction. Our life must be hid with Christ in God, we must know Christ personally; for this is eternal life, to know God and Jesus Christ; then only can we rightly represent him to the world. Let the prayer constantly ascend, "Lord, teach me how to do as Jesus would do, were he in my place." Wherever we are, we must let our light shine forth to the glory of God in good works. This is the great, important interest of our life. {RH, July 14, 1891 par. 9}
Why, as professing Christians, are we so mixed and mingled with the world till we lose sight of eternity, till we lose sight of Jesus Christ, and till we lose sight of the Father? Why, I ask you, are there so many families destitute of the Spirit of God? Why are there so many families that have so little of the life and love and likeness of Jesus Christ? It is because they do not know God. If they knew God, and if they would behold Him by faith in Jesus Christ, who came to our world to die for man, they would see such matchless charms in the Son that they by beholding would become changed to the same image. Now you see the wrong of conforming to the world.--MS 12, 1894. {2MCP 560.4}
If men in responsible positions of trust, no matter in what line they may work, would cultivate that faith which works by love, and purifies the soul, they would experience the creating power of the Holy Spirit. What a change would be made in families! What a wonderful change would be made in our churches! It is because there is so great a lack of the purity and righteousness of Christ that there are unhappy families and polluted churches that stand in need of cleansing. Unless this cleansing shall take place, the building can not be fitly framed together, can not grow into an holy temple unto the Lord. Many hold the truth in unrighteousness; they have a theory of the truth, but are not sanctified, soul and body, through the truth. Being destitute of heart purity, they do not discern sin in its true character, and have not correct views of righteousness and of judgment to come. Controlled by the spirit of the world, their hearts are impure, earthly, sensual, and they can not commune with the only true God, can not know God, nor Jesus Christ, whom he has sent. {ST, October 3, 1895 par. 11}
There is hope for a man who is hungering and thirsting after righteousness, who is longing for heart purity, who is desirous of having fellowship with the Spirit of God. Such a man prays, and watches unto prayer. He seeks for strength to keep the heart with all diligence knowing that out of it are the issues of life. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled." Fellowship with God means much, and those who have this fellowship with God, hear the voice of invitation saying "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."
The more lowly the soul in its own estimation, the more distinctly and clearly will God be discerned. He who is in communion with God will recognize the divine excellence of heavenly things, and respond to the invitation, "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." The word of God comes in power to the soul, impressing the mind with the exceeding great and precious promises. Those who learn of Christ, look earnestly unto him that they may catch his Spirit, and perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. Their feelings become pure, their words pure and tender, and the earnest of the inheritance leads them to walk in love, drawing near to God, to listen to the voice of the true Shepherd. {ST, October 3, 1895 par. 12}
This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3. {Mar 76.1}
Only by knowing God here can we prepare to meet Him at His coming. . . . But many of those who profess to believe in Christ do not know God. They have only a surface religion. They do not love God; they do not study His character; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live. They do not know what restful love is, or what it means to walk by faith. . . . They fail of understanding that it is their duty to receive, in order that they may enrich others. {Mar 76.2}
The world by wisdom knows not God. Many have talked eloquently about Him, but their reasoning brings men no nearer to Him, because they themselves are not in vital connection with Him. Professing themselves to be wise, they become fools. Their knowledge of God is imperfect. {Mar 76.3}
We cannot by searching find out God, but He has revealed Himself in His Son, who is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person. If we desire a knowledge of God we must be Christlike. . . . Living a pure life through faith in Christ as a personal Saviour will bring to the believer a clearer, higher conception of God. {Mar 76.4}
Christ is a perfect revelation of God. "No man hath seen God at any time," He says; "the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." Only by knowing Christ can we know God. And as we behold Him, we shall be changed into His image, prepared to meet Him at His coming. . . . {Mar 76.5}
]Now is the time to prepare for the coming of our Lord. Readiness to meet Him cannot be attained in a moment's time. Preparatory to that solemn scene there must be vigilant waiting and watching, combined with earnest work. So God's children glorify Him. Amid the busy scenes of life their voices will be heard speaking words of encouragement, hope, and faith. All they have and are is consecrated to the Master's service. Thus they prepare to meet their Lord; and when He comes, they will say, with joy, "This is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us. . . . We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." {Mar 76.6}
A Law in Intellectual and Spiritual Worlds.--It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature that by beholding we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. It becomes assimilated to that which it is accustomed to love and reverence.--GC 555 (1888). {1MCP 331.1}
Beholding Evil Corrupted Antediluvians.--By beholding evil, men became changed into its image, until God could bear with their wickedness no longer, and they were swept away by the flood.--SpTEd 44, May 11, 1896. (FE 422.) {1MCP 331.2}
Changed for the Better.--Looking unto Jesus we obtain brighter and more distinct views of God, and by beholding we become changed. Goodness, love for our fellowmen, becomes our natural instinct. We develop a character which is the counterpart of the divine character. Growing into His likeness, we enlarge our capacity for knowing God. More and more we enter into fellowship with the heavenly world, and we have continually increasing power to receive the riches of the knowledge and wisdom of eternity.--COL 355 (1900). 332 {1MCP 331.3}
Changed for the Worse.--It is by beholding that we become changed. And as those sacred precepts in which God has opened to men the perfection and holiness of His character are neglected and the minds of the people are attracted to human teachings and theories, what marvel that there has followed a decline of living piety in the church. Saith the Lord, "They have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13).--GC 478 (1911). {1MCP 332.1}
Life Is Changed by Seeing.--The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11). The heart preoccupied with the Word of God is fortified against Satan. Those who make Christ their daily companion and familiar friend will feel that the powers of an unseen world are all around them, and by looking unto Jesus they will become assimilated to His image. By beholding they become changed to the divine pattern; their character is softened, refined, and ennobled for the heavenly kingdom.--4T 616 (1881). {1MCP 332.2}
The model prayer of Christ is in marked contrast to the prayers of the heathen. In all false religions, ceremonies and forms have been substituted for genuine piety and for practical godliness. Dead formalism characterizes the devotion of those who have lost vital godliness. Prayer is made a mockery, and those who engage in it without feeling the spirit of their needs, can receive no reward of God. He who would pray should enter into the meaning of his prayer, putting heart and soul into his request. Let the Lord's prayer be the real expression of your needs. Often to repeat this form of prayer will not be termed vain repetition.
But even the Lord's prayer may become a mere form. Prayer, how misunderstood, how perverted it has been! How few realize how solemn a thing it is to approach the throne of God. Angels bow before that throne with veiled faces, yet men who are stained by sin rush heedlessly into the divine presence. Let us remember that the holy angels approach the throne of God in reverence and holy fear. It is because men do not know God or Jesus Christ whom he has sent, that they take improper attitudes and utter improper words in their petitions. Instead of coming in contrition before God, men come without reverence in the family circle and in the congregation of the people.
How many come to the season of prayer full of self-importance, and their prayers sound more as if they thought they must give the Lord information, than as if they expected to receive something from his hand. They do not approach God as humble suppliants, realizing that they are dependent upon him for life and health, for food and clothing, and for every temporal and spiritual blessing. They misinterpret the apostle's words when he tells us to come boldly to the throne of grace.
Many come into the presence of God without reverence or humility, acting more like bold, forward children than like meek and lowly followers of Christ. This is not the manner of boldness that the Scriptures advocate. The boldness that is here pointed out, is that which is born of faith in the word of Christ when he says, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." It is the boldness that comes when you realize that you do not need to dwell upon your own unworthiness and walk in the shadow that Satan would cast between your soul and God.
It is proper that you should feel your weakness and soul's great need, and it is at this very time that you may come to God in full assurance of faith, claiming the promise that the weary and the heavy laden shall find rest unto their souls. The boldness is confidence in God, not self-confidence. But all rashness, all irreverence, is to be far from those who would offer acceptable prayer. Then we may heed the words of one who speaks for God, when he says, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us." {RH, May 28, 1895 par. 7}
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." To render acceptable service to God, it is essential that we should know God, to whom we belong, in order that we may be thankful and obedient, contemplating and adoring him for his wonderful love to men. We could not rejoice in and praise a being of whom we had no certain knowledge; but God has sent Christ to the world to make manifest his paternal character. {RH, March 9, 1897 par. 8}
Only by knowing God here can we prepare to meet him at his coming. "This is life eternal," said Christ, "that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." But many of those who profess to believe in Christ do not know God. They have only a surface religion. They do not love God; they do not study his character; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live. They do not know what restful love is, or what it means to walk by faith. Opportunities to hear and receive the messages of God's love are unappreciated and unimproved. They fail of understanding that it is their duty to receive, in order that they may enrich others. {RH, February 3, 1903 par. 7}
Many there are who are longing and weeping for light, praying--to whom they know not. Multitudes who think they know God are yet in ignorance of him. There is need for the voice of Christ's messengers to be heard, as Paul's was heard in Athens; "whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." {ST, March 7, 1892 par. 12}
Why, I ask you, are there so many families destitute of the Spirit of God? Why are there so many families that have so little of the life and love and likeness of Jesus Christ? It is because they do not know God. If they knew God, and if they would behold Him by faith in Jesus Christ who came to our world to die for man, they would see such matchless charms in the Son that they by beholding would become changed into the same image. Now you see the wrong of conforming to the world. {1SAT 243.1}
Many have not had that religious experience that is essential for them, that they may stand without fault before the throne of God. The furnace fires of affliction He permits to be kindled upon them to consume the dross, to refine, to purify and cleanse them from the defilement of sin, of self love, and to bring them to know God and to become acquainted with Jesus Christ by walking with Him as did Enoch. {1888 486.2}
Prayer, united with living faith, now sleeps among us. That which is called praying morning and evening, according to custom, is not always fervent, and effectual. It is with many sleepy, dull and heartless repetition of words, and does not reach the ear of the Lord. God does not need or require your ceremonial compliments, but He will respect the broken heart, the confession of sins, the contrition of the soul. The cry of the humble, broken heart He will not despise. {1888 486.3}
I know that very much depends upon every action of ours now, and none of self and all of Jesus will bring us into unity of the faith. We must have such love for Jesus that we will consider it a privilege to suffer and even die for His sake. We may tell the Lord all our trials, tell Him all our weaknesses, tell Him all our dependence upon His might and His power. This is true prayer. If ever there was a time when the Spirit of grace and supplication was needed to be poured out upon us, God Himself indicting our prayers, it is now. And the promise is to be brought before every church and the simplicity of truth dwelt upon. "Ask and ye shall receive." John 16:24. It is faith, living faith that we need, continuing instant in prayer. {1888 487.1}
The Lord will lead His people and guide them. The commandment will go forth from God as to Daniel, to help those making earnest intercession to the throne of His grace in their time of need. Said Christ, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14:12, 13). {1888 487.2}
In the name of the Lord I advise all His people to have trust in God and not begin now to prepare to find an easy position for any emergency in the future, but to let God prepare for the emergency. We have altogether too little faith. {1888 487.3}
Oh, how few really know God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent! He has spoken by prophets and apostles of what will be in the future. He has given living testimonies of himself in these last days when he spake unto us by his Son, and yet it is a truth that pains my soul, that the Lord is grieved with hard hearts and unteachable minds. How few believe and repent! to how few is the arm of the Lord revealed! "And go, get thee. . . unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear." All will come to a decision to declare wholly for God or for Baal. God has sent to his people testimonies of truth and righteousness, and they are called to lift up Jesus, and to exalt his righteousness. {1888 673.4}
With some the knowledge of their true state seems to be hidden from them. They see the truth, but perceive not its importance or its claims. They hear the truth, but do not fully understand it, because they do not conform their lives to it, and therefore are not sanctified through obeying it. And yet they rest as unconcerned and well satisfied as though the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, as token of God's favor, went before them. They profess to know God, but in works deny Him. They reckon themselves His chosen, peculiar people, yet His presence and power to save to the uttermost are seldom manifested among them.
How great is the darkness of such! yet they know it not. The light shines, but they do not comprehend it. No stronger delusion can deceive the human mind than that which makes them believe that they are right, and that God accepts their works, when they are sinning against Him. They mistake the form of godliness for the spirit and power thereof. They suppose that they are rich, and have need of nothing, when they are poor, wretched, blind, and naked, and need all things. {1T 406.2}
Young and old have a conflict, a warfare, before them. They should not sleep for a moment. A wily foe is constantly on the alert to lead them astray and overcome them. Believers in present truth must be as watchful as their enemy and manifest wisdom in resisting Satan. Will they do this? Will they persevere in this warfare? Will they be careful to depart from all iniquity?
Christ is denied in many ways. We may deny Him by speaking contrary to truth, by speaking evil of others, by foolish talking or jesting, or by words that are idle. In these things we manifest but little shrewdness or wisdom. We make ourselves weak; our efforts are feeble to resist our great enemy, and we are conquered. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," and through lack of watchfulness we confess that Christ is not in us.
Those who hesitate to devote themselves unreservedly to God make poor work of following Christ. They follow Him at so great a distance that half the time they do not really know whether they are following His footprints or the footsteps of their great enemy. Why are we so slow to give up our interest in the things of this world and take Christ for our only portion? Why should we wish to keep the friendship of our Lord's enemies, and follow their customs, and be led by their opinions? There must be an entire, unreserved surrender to God, a forsaking and turning away from the love of the world and earthly things, or we cannot be Christ's disciples. {1T 408.1}
They are God's representatives upon the earth. Any sin in them separates them from God and, in a special manner, dishonors His name by giving the enemies of His holy law occasion to reproach His cause and His people, whom He has called "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people," that they should show forth the praises of Him that hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. {2T 452.1}
Faith is not feeling. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. There is a form of religion which is nothing more than selfishness. It takes pleasure in worldly enjoyment. It is satisfied with contemplating the religion of Christ, and knows nothing of its saving power. Those who possess this religion regard sin lightly because they do not know Jesus. While in this condition, they estimate duty very lightly. But a faithful performance of duty goes hand in hand with a right estimate of the character of God. --Review and Herald, February 28, 1907. {MYP 106.2}
Faith is not feeling. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. There is a form of religion which is nothing more than selfishness. It takes pleasure in worldly enjoyment. It is satisfied with contemplating the religion of Christ, and knows nothing of its saving power. Those who possess this religion regard sin lightly because they do not know Jesus. While in this condition, they estimate duty very lightly. But a faithful performance of duty goes hand in hand with a right estimate of the character of God. --Review and Herald, February 28, 1907. {MYP 106.2}
Presque Isle Seventh Day Adventist Church
