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Hope & Encouragement for Us-Repentance
Posted by: matt allen | Sat, Jun 23, 2007 4:03 pm | Tag(s): Testimonies | Permalink |
Hope & Encouragement for Laodicea -Repentance
It is our days represented by the seventh candle stick the seventh or last church in the Christian dispensation. We are the Laodicean Church the church that is in a nauseating lukewarm condition-complacent. It is not a perfect church it has its problems, but Christ still loves it, and calls on it to repent before it is to late. “The word Laodicea does not mean Lukewarm but a people judged… (It is this church that is in the last days, during the time of the Investigative Judgement.) “The message applies to the people of God who profess to believe present truth. The greater part (majority) are Lukewarm professors.” 4 Testimonies p.87.
Why, you say then, if the church (the SDA Church - represented by the Church of Laodicea) is the church of God’s, then why are His people in such a poor spiritual condition? “Has God no living church? He has a church, but it is the church militant, not the church triumphant. We are sorry that there are defective members… While the Lord brings into the church those who are truly converted, Satan at the same time brings persons who are not converted into its fellowship. While Christ is sowing the good seed, Satan is sowing the tares. There are two opposing influences continually exerted on the members of the church. One influence is working for the purification of the church, and the other for the corrupting of the people of God.” The Faith I Live By p. 305. Jesus Himself tells us, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18.
“Let every one who is seeking to live a Christian life, remember that the church militant is not the church triumphant. Those who are carnally minded will be found in the church. They are to be pitied more than blamed. The church is not to be judged as sustaining these characters, though they are found within her borders. Should the church expel them, the very ones who found fault with their presence there, would blame the church for sending them adrift in the world; they would claim that they were treated unmercifully. It may be that in the church there are those who are cold, proud, haughty, and un–Christian…. There are many who are warm hearted, who are self–denying, self–sacrificing, Who would, were it required, lay down their lives to save souls. Jesus saw the bad and the good in church relationship, and said, “Let both grow together until the Harvest.” None are under the necessity of becoming tares because every plant in the field is not wheat. If the truth were known, these complainers make their accusations in order to quiet a convicted, condemning conscience.” RH Jan. 16, 1894
“The Savior’s words, “Ye are the light of the world,” point to the fact that He has committed to His followers a world-wide mission. In the days of Christ, selfishness and pride and prejudice had built high the walls of partition between the appointed guardians of the sacred oracles and every other nation on the globe. But the Savior had come to change all this…Christ tears away the wall of partition, the self-love, the dividing prejudice of nationality, and teaches a love for all the human family. He lifts men from the narrow circle that their selfishness prescribes; He abolishes all territorial lines and artificial distinctions of society. He make no difference between neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies . He teaches us to look upon every needy soul as our neighbor and the world as our field… If the church of Christ were fulfilling the purpose of our Lord, light would be shed upon all that sit in darkness and in the region and shadow of death. Instead of congregating together and shunning responsibility and cross bearing, the members of the church would scatter into all lands, letting the light of Christ shine out from them, working as He did for the salvations of souls, and this “gospel of the kingdom” would speedily be carried to all the world.“Mount of Blessing42-43.
Lack of genuine faith that works by love Is the major problem- half-hearted or lukewarm condition of the majority of God’s professed people. The lack of genuine faith. “Whatever is not from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23 “Although there are evils existing in the church, and will be until the end of the world, the church in these last days is to be the light of the world that is polluted and demoralized by sin. The church, enfeebled and defective, needing to be reproved, warned and counseled, is the only object upon earth upon which Christ bestows His supreme regard.” Testimonies To Ministers p.49-51.
We are not to condemn the people of God as lost sinners because we do not think that they are perfect. There is still hope for every sinner, in Christ Righteousness -by faith in Him. No person is beyond redemption thank the Lord.“The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world… and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to “principalities and powers in heavenly places,”( Eph. 3:10) the final and full display of the love of God.” Acts of Apostles, 9.
“Under the showers of the latter rain the inventions of man, the human machinery, will at times be swept away, the boundary of man’s authority will be as broken reeds, and the Holy Spirit will speak through the living, human agent, with convincing power.” 2 SM p. 58,59.”I saw a little company traveling a narrow pathway. All seemed to be firmly united, bound together by the truth, in bundles, or companies. Said the angel, ‘the third angel is binding, or sealing them in bundles for the heavenly garner.” EW. p. 88,89.
“The message to the church of the Laodiceans applies especially to the people of God today. It is a message to professing Christians who have become so much like the world that no difference can be seen.” Review and Herald Aug. 20, 1903. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father in not in him.For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh (sin and selfishness), and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof; but he (all) that do the will of God abide for ever.” 1 John 3:15-17.
And repent: ” The life we live is to be one of continual repentance and humility. We need to repent constantly that we may be constantly victorious. When we have true humility, we have victory. The enemy never can take out of the hand of Christ the one who simply trusting in His promises.” MS. p.92,1901.
“Self – exaltation is a dangerous element. It tarnishes everything it touches, It is the offspring of pride, and works so ingeniously that unless guarded against, it will take possession of the thoughts and control the actions. The Laodicean message must be proclaimed with power, for now it is especially applicable. Now more than ever before, are seen rude, worldly ambition, self exaltation, double dealing, hypocrisy, and deception. Many are speaking great swelling words of vanity, saying ” I am rich, and increased with goods and have need of nothing.” Yet they are miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” R.H. Sept. 25,1900. “Love of self excludes the Love of Christ. Those who live for self are ranged under the head of the Laodicean church who are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. The ardor of the first love has lapsed into a selfish egotism. The Love of Christ in the heart is expressed in the actions. If Love for Christ is dull, the love for those for whom Christ has died will degenerate. There may be a wonderful appearance for zeal and ceremonies, but this in the substance of their self-inflated religion. Christ represents them as nauseating to His taste.”(Rev. 3:17-18,) MS. 61,1898.“He that does not love, does not know God, for God is LOVE!” 1st. John 4:8. “Here in is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as He (Christ) is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in Love; but perfect love cast out fear; because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in Love. We Love Him (Christ) because He first loved us. If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, (any fellow human) he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen how can he love God whom he has not seen. I John 4:16-21.And “Love is the fulfilling of God’s Law…
“Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, (in Love and Faith) and white garments to clothe you and keep (covered) the shame of your nakedness ( sinful- selfish character) from being seen, and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.” Revelation 3:18.“The gold tried in the fire is faith that works by love only this can bring us into harmony with God. We may be active we may do much work; but without the love, such love as dwelt in the heart of Christ, we can never be numbered with the family of God.” Col. p. 158.”Man needs a power out of and above himself to restore him to the likeness of God; But because he needs divine aid, it does not make human activity unessential. Faith on the part of man is required; FOR FAITH WORKS BY LOVE AND PURIFIES THE SOUL.” 1 Selected Messages p.375. Genuine faith always works by love; it supplies a motive power.” Review and Herald- 1-24-1893
“The white raiment is the righteousness of Christ that may be wrought into the character, purity of heart, purity of motive, will characterize everyone who is washing his robe, and making it white in the blood of the Lamb. 7 Bible Commentary page 965.”The eye is the sensitive conscience, the inner light, of the mind. Upon its correct view of things the spiritual healthfulness of the whole soul and being depends. The eye salve, The word of God, makes the conscience smart under its application; For it convicts of sin. ( this is the mind renewed by Christ, the higher level or our natures that should control our desires, passions, and appetites, this is conscience, reason, and will quicken by the Holy Spirit) But the smarting is necessary that the healing may follow, and the eye be single to the glory of God.” 7 SDA. Commentary p.965. And when Jesus says “buy ” from Him. He is saying although I give you all these things that you desperately need–freely, because I Love you. You must have faith and ask and desire them like you would a major investment, put value on it, like you would buy or purchase them at any cost! And He will give all to you freely according to your faith if you truly desire it. “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom and instruction, and understanding. Proverbs 23:23. “The message to the Laodicean church is highly applicable to us as a people. It has been placed before us for a long time, but has not been heeded as it should have been. When the work of repentance is earnest and deep, the individual member of the church will buy the rich goods of heaven. Rev. 3 :18. Oh how many behold things in a perverted light, in the light in which Satan would have them see… “You may manifest great zeal in missionary effort, and yet because it is corrupted with selfishness, and tastes strongly of self, it is nothing in the sight of God; For it is a tainted, corrupt offering. Unless the door of the heart is open to Jesus, unless He occupies the soul temple, unless the heart is imbued with His divine attributes, human actions when weighed in the heavenly balances, will be pronounced “Wanting” The love of Christ would make you rich; but many do not realize the value of His love. Many do not realize that the spirit which they cherish is destitute of the meekness and lowliness of Christ, destitute of the love that would constitute them channels of light.: MS 33,1894.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:19-20
Matthew Allen
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Neferefre | July 8th, 2007 at 10:51 amWilliam_Russell,_1st_Duke_of_Bedford…
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