Having revealed from Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy that God has promised revival and reformation to the organized Seventh-day Adventist Church, we can be thankful that the trials we experience are part of the reformation process. The division in the church was not created by God, but He warned us that there would be division. In last week's Sabbath School lesson we read from the Book of Luke, verse 12:51: "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division." The truth divides those who believe and live it from those who do not. We are seeing prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes.
We mentioned rebellion in the first part of this series. The rebellion is not because some are wanting to ordain women pastors or even wanting to make women rulers over men as conference presidents. Being
| The rebellion is composed of those who are acting contrary to their bylaws, Scripture, and the World Church's decision to not ordain women. |
in doctrinal error does not rise to rebellion. The rebellion is composed of those who are acting contrary to their bylaws, Scripture, and the World Church's decision to not ordain women. When the General Conference turned down the North American Division's request for a variance so they could make women conference presidents, the division voted by a large majority to go ahead and change their bylaws anyway. This is rebellion. This reveals the separation taking place amongst leaders in God's church.
The division over the ordination of women pastors is only a symptom of the real problem, a Laodicean church. As with the Jews at the time of Christ, many leaders are leading their churches away from seeing their continual need of Jesus to do any good thing. Thankfully, there are faithful pastors and elected conference officials that do understand the power of grace to transform our lives. Amongst them are two General Conference presidents, Robert Folkenberg Sr. and Ted Wilson. They have both been special targets for the arrows from the evil one. Both are of good courage and have been doing an excellent work within the church. Let us pray for Elder Wilson, that he will be re-elected as General Conference president at San Antonio. The thing that impresses me most about the man is not that he is faithful to Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy, but that in every message he delivers, he places Jesus at the center. Praise God for the spiritual discernment of our dear brother, Ted Wilson. We also solicit your prayers for Elder Folkenberg in his illness. As always, he is looking beyond what he sees with his eyes to that which is unseen and eternal.
There has always been a spiritual battle wherein some exalt the Holy Spirit while transgressing the Word of God, while others exalt doctrine and have no connection with the Holy Spirit. When we neglect either, we are in trouble. It is the Spirit of God that opens our minds to understanding Scripture. It is He who comes to live within our hearts when we fully surrender to Jesus. It is His power that is seen in the life with the fruits of His Spirit.
When we presented the promises found in Ezekiel, the promises of God's church coming alive, we read in chapter 36 verse 25, that water would be sprinkled upon the church to cleanse us from our idols and filthiness. "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." What does the water represent? "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:26, 27. Ezekiel 36 reveals a cleansing by the Word. But, Ezekiel 37 presents raising up a dead church by breath. "Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live." What does breath represent? "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7. This is the Spirit of God. Without the Spirit, we ought to be dead, but God granted to sinful man a period o
| The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ. |
f probation that he might learn his need of God, to be reconciled to Him. In Ezekiel 37 we see that we need the Spirit, and in Ezekiel 36 we see we need the Word. God has promised both if we want them.
Let us not neglect either our study of the Word nor asking for the Holy Spirit to indwell our hearts. "The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ. Only those who are thus taught of God, those who possess the inward working of the Spirit, and in whose life the Christ-life is manifested, are to stand as representative men, to minister in behalf of the church." The Desire of Ages; pg 805.
This statement is the truth, yet what is preached from many pulpits and printed on our presses is contrary to it. When we have the Holy Spirit in the soul, then we have the life of Christ. Notice what that means. When we make a full surrender to Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes possession of the heart. When this happens the receiver is imbued with the "attributes of Christ", the character of Christ. His character is not only imputed to repentant man, but it is imparted. When? Not at the end of time, but at conversion. There is a radical transformation of character at the beginning of the Christian walk. Yes, there is much growth that must take place, but do not ignore what happens at a true conversion. The heart is cleansed from
| The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. |
selfishness. The motives are then pure and holy even though the repentant sinner may eat the wrong food, wear the wrong dress, and attend church on the wrong day.
In other words what we have been taught to a great extent is a cause for the Laodicean condition in the church. Here is what inspiration has to say about this: "The minds of many are clouded with unbelief because those who unite with the church as the chosen of God do not reveal the virtues that are the fruits of the Spirit. Joining the church is not a sure evidence that a man has joined himself to Christ. The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ." Manuscript 148, 1897.
It was "rare" to find those who had truly been converted when the prophet was alive in the church. Notice the date, it was after 1888. When we look around at the neglect of our institutions to follow the light given, it would be hard to deny the situation is any better today. In fact, we today are facing the greatest crisis ever to come upon the Seventh-day Adventist Church. By God's grace you and I shall not be sifted out. But, we must turn to Jesus with the whole heart, not part of it. "The great inquiry should be: 'How can I save my own soul and be the means of saving others?' I saw that no halfhearted work in this matter is accepted of God. He wants the whole heart and interest, or He will have none." Adventist Home; pg 355.
Those who are delegates to the General Conference Session in San Antonio have a great responsibility resting upon them. If they are not fully surrendered, if the Holy Spirit is not in their hearts, if they lack spiritual discernment, then what will be the results of the meeting? This brings to mind the General Conference Session in 1990 at Indianapolis. Robert Folkenberg was elected GC president at that session. I was sitting with the Russian delegation when he addressed the church for the first time after his election to that office. As he preached, I was impressed, so much so that I wanted to know if he was reading a prepared text or if the Holy Spirit was leading him. I quickly went up three levels to the GC Communications leader, Shirley Burton and asked for a copy of the sermon which she gladly provided. I sat there and continued listening as I caught up with the sermon's text. Elder Folkenberg was following the text very closely when suddenly he departed from the text. Now, my question was did he know the voice of God? Did he know the Holy Spirit was to be his power and guide? Or was he just following a prepared text which many church pastors are very good at preparing and delivering without any connection to God.
When he departed from the text, his subject was the Holy Spirit. He said that the night before he was attending a small meeting with some pastors. He then said that the Holy Spirit was in that meeting. That was just why I had left the floor of the session and sought a copy of the text. I wanted to know if this new GC president understood that we are dependent upon the Spirit of God in order to do any good thing. My concern was answered in a most remarkable manner. Elder Folkenberg knew the voice of God. He recognized the Holy Spirit.
Do you have the Holy Spirit in your heart? How can we tell? Listen to what Jesus said about this subject: "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matthew 7:17-20. What are these fruits that come when the Spirit is invited into the heart? Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance which is self-control. You can find them in Galatians. It is interesting that not only does Paul identify what we possess when we are in a converted state, he also identifies in Galatians chapter five what things are not in the life of those who are converted. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
Have you discovered why many are not converted, because there are teachings throughout Christianity
| Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the entire surrender of heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven |
that have convinced many that they are converted when self has never died. They do not believe the wages of sin is death. They have been taught that Jesus will cover their unconfessed and unforsaken sins. But, Seventh-day Adventists, the "people of the Bible" ought to understand. We have such clear unmistakable counsel that tell us "No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation. The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct. Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the entire surrender of heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven." The Desire of Ages; pg 555. Paul is also very clear on what it means to be converted: "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Romans 8:5-9.
We need Jesus. We need Him continually, not just now and then. When we have Jesus, when we abide in Him and He in us, then we have life. If we do not have Christ living in the heart through the Spirit, we do not have eternal life. This is the simplicity of the gospel. In 1888 a message was brought before the church in a most remarkable manner. What was this message? It can be summarized simply as "the loveliness of Jesus". If we would behold Christ, we would love Him. If we would spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating His life, we would be changed into His likeness. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18. This is a well kept secret. Satan has worked hard to hide this from the church. Why? Because it is a spiritual and an intellectual truth that by beholding, we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. The mind is malleable. We already know why it is that so many young people are driving their cars so haphazardly and why some can kill without batting and eyelash. What are they doing daily on the computer? They have become what they have been beholding day after day while gaming.
What do we spend our time doing each day? Do we stop morning, noon, and night to strengthen our connection with God as did Daniel, through prayer? This is not some kind of game that we can start over again when the end comes. We are in a drama called "the great controversy". We are acting our part. How are we doing? Are we being faithful witnesses for our Lord? Or are we not reflecting His character? There is still time to choose Jesus, to let Him into our hearts. If we cannot do that today, it is alright. If will go to Him just as we are, and pray this prayer: "Lord take my heart for I cannot give it, I believe, take away my unbelief," Jesus will help us come to Him. Does not the Bible say that He is drawing us to Himself? "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." John 2:32. If we will not resist that drawing, Jesus will finish the work He began in us.
As we look at the world, we see that Jesus' coming is imminent. The pope is going to address for the first time, the Congress of the United States of America. Pope John Paul II had already called for national Sunday laws. Homosexuals have influenced enough in the United States to cause the President of the
| The seventh trumpet is blowing loudly Jesus wants to come and take us home |
United States to promote homosexual marriage. The world economy is headed downhill when it is already devastated. Natural disasters occur on a regular basis. The seventh trumpet is blowing loudly. By these signs we are being warned that time shall not last much longer. Many are already being laid to rest around the world. Jesus wants to come and take us home. If we will give to Jesus our sin sick hearts, He will cleanse them. Then when He comes, He shall wipe away all tears from our eyes. "And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."
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