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Some Thoughts on OGR Last Day 7-7-07
Posted by: matt allen | Sat, Jul 14, 2007 7:10 pm | Tag(s): Testimonies | Permalink |
Thoughts On OGR Last Day 7-7-07
and Unity, Love & Forgiveness.
If you were to know me years ago before I had the privelege to know Christ as I do now.You would know that I did not talk about love or show much love, even in my own family, we men thought that we were too masculine to show or talk about love and I came from a long line of masculine men, and grew up hard, cold and unemotional. I am still A masculine man, and still not emotional, but I love to talk about love, but not emotional love, but agape -Christlike Love! And now I cannot talk about anything else as much as I do the Love of God the Father and our Elder Brother Jesus has for us, and the love we need to have for every brother and sister on earth, we are a family adopted by God the Father. To me this genuine love is only a gift of God, and is evidence of God’s existence and gives real credibility that the Bible is not just a book written by men, it has to be inspired of God. Mankind has never loved like the Lord Jesus, and in our human-sinful fallen natures we cannot love like Christ whom even loved His enemies. So this is more evidence that the Bible is of Divine origin and not just put together by men. How could selfish, self centered unloving humans invent a book about a loving God. They did not, it is of God!!! God is Love! “The evil thoughts, the evil words, the evil deeds of every son and daughter of Adam, called for retribution upon Himself; for He had become man’s substitute. Though the guilt of sin was not His , His spirit was torn and bruised by the transgressions of man, and He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 1 Selected Messages, p.322 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. That though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9
“Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His.” Desire Of Ages, p.25.
“Such love is without a parallel. Children of the heavenly King! Precious promise! Theme for the most profound meditation! The matchless love of God for a world that did not love Him! The thought has a subduing power upon the soul and brings the mind into captivity to the will of God, the more we study the divine character in light of the cross, the more we see mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness blended with equity and justice, and more clearly we discern innumerable evidence of a love that is infinite and a tender pity surpassing a mother’s yearning sympathy for her wayward child.” Steps To Christ pg 6.
It was a Blessing to participate in the OGR and I especially enjoyed the remarks by all the pastors on 7-7-07 as they answered question and shared there thoughts on the latter Rain experience. I especially enjoyed Pastor Ivor Myer’s closing message and even before he finished the message or defined what he meant by the death will bring… and the cross… my mind kept ringing with the thoughts that our death (spiritual death of course) will bring Christ glory in us and it is when we take up our cross daily and allow Christ to crucify our-selves, then His glory-love will be seen in us more abundantly and we will become more unified in that genuine love.. Our greatest battle is with self, we want to be right, we do not want to be offended and we want to be recognized and justify our actions, defend our self’s! But it is self we must die to, it is this spiritual death that will bring spiritual life in 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 church. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they are buried alive, self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of Life in Christ.” 6–SDA. Bible Commentary p. 1075.
I use to think that I only need to forgive someone if they apologized to me and asked for forgiveness, even as an Adventist I thought that. But the Lord is helping me to grow in His love and His word says: “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke (correct) him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” Luke 17:3,4. “If a brother errs, forgive him if he asks you. If he is not humble enough to ask, forgive him in your heart, and express your forgiveness in word and action. Then the weight of his sin will not in any degree rest on you. ‘Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.’…And we are not only to forgive seven times, but seventy times seven. Just as often as God forgives us, we are to forgive another…”One man is never to say to another, ‘When I see that you have reformed, then I will forgive you.’ This is not God’s plan…By showing that you do not desire fellowship with your brother, you not only hurt his soul and your own, but you also wound and bruise the heart of Christ.” Review and Herald 4-8-1902.
CHRIST LIKENESS NEEDED
“I saw that the lord has given you light and experience, that you might see the sinfulness of a hasty spirit and control your passions. So surely as you fail to do this, just so surely you will fail of everlasting life… “You have repeatedly said: I can’t keep my temper. I have to speak.’ You lack a meek, humble spirit. Self is all alive, and you stand guard continually to preserve it from mortification or insult. Says the apostle: For we are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.’ Those who are dead to self will not feel so readily and will not be prepared to resist that which may irrate. Dead men cannot feel. You are dead. IF you were and your life hid in Christ, a thousand things which you now notice, and which afflict you, would be passed by as unworthy of notice, you would then be grasping the eternal and would be above the petty trials of this life… Jesus, when reviled, abused, and insulted, did not retaliate… but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously… We dishonor Him when we become jealous of every slight, and are ready to resent every injury, supposed or real. It is not an evidence of a noble mind to be prepared to defend self, to preserve our own dignity. We would better suffer wrongfully a hundred times than wound the soul by a spirt of retaliation, or by giving vent to wrath.” 2 Testimonies, p. 424-427. “Jesus did not contend for his rights. Often His work was made unnecessarily severe because He was willing and uncomplaining. Yet He did not fail nor become discourage. He lived above these difficulties as in the light of God’s countenance. He did not retaliate when roughly used, but bore insult patiently.” Desire of Age 89
It is because of His never failing love for you that Christ would endure all things for you. He reveals His love toward us and give us an example of how to reveal love one for another and if He so loves us should we also show this same example of love to all? By His Spirit His mind His character can abide in you, pray for it, desire it above all other things and you will by faith receive it! “For this is commendable if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.”… For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving anexample, that you should follow His Steps..Who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously…” 1Peter 2: 19,21,23. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,..He humbled Himself and became obedient…Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” Philippians 2:5,-9.
“Wearing Nerves on the Outside.–Those who criticize and condemn one another are breaking God’s commandments and are an offense to Him. They neither love God nor their fellow beings. Brethren and sisters, let us clear away the rubbish of criticism and suspicion and complaint, and do not wear your nerves on the outside. Some are so sensitive that they cannot be reasoned with. Be very sensitive in regard to what it means to keep the law of God and in regard to whether you are keeping or breaking the law. It is this that God wants us to be sensitive about.”–GCB, Apr 1, 1903 (7 Bible Commentary - 937.) {2MCP 637.4}
“The manner in which truth is presented often has much to do in determining whether it will be accept or rejected. It is to be regretted that many do not realize that the manner in which Bible truth is presented has much to do with the impressions made upon minds, and with the Christian character afterward developed by those who receive the truth. Instead of imitating Christ in His manner of labor, many are severe, critical and dictatorial. They repulse instead of winning souls. Such will never know how many weak ones their harsh words have wounded and discouraged.” Evangelism p. 168.
“Jesus has given us an His life and example of pity and love for the erring. While He fearlessly reproves sin, he regards the sinner with compassion… Let us recall His words, ‘Love one another as I have loved you.” Review and Herald Vol. 1, p. 304.
“Jesus did not suppress one word of truth, but, He uttered it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact and thoughtful kind attention in, His intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness, He spoke the truth, but always in love, He denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity; but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes… Such is the character of Christ as revealed in His life. This is the character of God. It is from the Father’s heart that the streams of divine compassion, manifest in Christ, flow out to the children of men. Jesus the tender, pitying Savior, was God manifest in the flesh.” 1Tim 3;16, Step To Christ. p.4.
“Though all these evidences have been given, the enemy of good blinded the minds of men, so that they looked upon God with fear; they thought of Him as severe and unforgiving, Satan led men to conceive of God as a being whose chief attribute is stern justice-one who is a severe judge, a harsh, exercising creditor, He pictured the Creator as a being who is watching with jealous eye to discern the errors and mistakes of men, that He may visit judgements upon them. It was to remove this dark shadow, by revealing to the world the infinite love of God, that Jesus came to live among men.” .- Steps To Christ p.2
“Self– righteousness not only leads men to misrepresent God, but makes them cold hearted and critical toward their brethren. The elder son,( In Luke 11: story of the prodigal son) in his selfishness and jealously, stood ready to watch his brother, to criticize every action and to accuse him for the least deficiency. He would detect every mistake and make the most of every wrong act. Thus he would seek to justify his own unforgiving spirit. Many today are doing the very same thing. While the soul is making its very first struggles against a flood of temptations, they stand by, stubborn, self–willed, complaining, accusing. They may claim to be children of God, but they are acting out the spirit of Satan. By their attitude toward their brethren, these accusers place themselves where God cannot give them the light of His countenance.”
“When you see yourselves as sinners saved only by the love of your heavenly Father, you will have tender pity for others who are suffering in sin. You will no longer meet misery and repentance with jealousy and censure. When the ice of selfishness is melted from your hearts, you will be in sympathy with God and will share His joy in the saving of the lost.” COL. p. 86. 1st John 4:8. “
…And the very ones who claim sanctification, have in their hearts insubordination, pride, envy, jealousy, and evil surmising of their brethren. They sit as judges upon the life and character of their brethren. These are the fruits generally to be found growing upon the tree of false sanctification. This class have graduated. They suppose they have come to the knowledge of the truth. If they attend camp-meetings, they will think they are so far ahead of the servants of God who labor in the meetings that they cannot learn anything, therefore the word or message of instruction God gives his servants for the people is not for them. They will generally be found drawing one or two away, holding them in conversation, imparting to them the great light they suppose they have; and thus some are deprived of hearing the message of God to the people… As children in the family of God we need the wisdom and experience of matured Christians to direct, to encourage, and to defend us in times of danger, and to lead on to constant growth in grace, and to seek daily attainments in the knowledge of the truth and true holiness. {ST, October 23, 1879 par.8}
Powerful Statements
“There is no hope for the success of any religious organization where criticism is cherished as a fine art, and called spiritual discernment. Men might far better be blind to others’ faults than to be inspired by that keen, detective spirit that will watch for defects in those whom the Lord loves, and through whom He works. We all need to humble ourselves, not to have an exalted idea of self . .” {Upward Look 28.2}
” Lose sight of all others except Christ. We want Christ in our humanity, and Christ wants to abide in us. We are human and fallible, every one of us, and unless Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, we shall make wonderful blunders in estimating our fellow workers according to our pattern and measurement. God sees beneath the surface. He sees all the good, and He marks all the evil. Leave to Him the work of passing judgment on your brethren.” {Upwood Look 28.3}
“Respect and Love One Another.–If we keep uppermost in our minds the unkind and unjust acts of others, we shall find it impossible to love them as Christ has loved us; but if our thoughts dwell upon the wondrous love and pity of Christ for us, the same spirit will flow out to others. We should love and respect one another, notwithstanding the faults and imperfections that we cannot help seeing. Humility and self-distrust should be cultivated, and a patient tenderness with the faults of others. This will kill out all narrowing selfishness and make us largehearted and generous.”–Steps To Christ 121 (1892). {2 MCP 635.3}”Forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:35 (every male is your brother and every female your sister) “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31,32 Maybe even church members have wounded you or neglected to show you love when you needed it. This has happen to me too! Forgive them, and pray for them, God is teaching you not even to depend on church members for love, forgive them. But only in Him is there never failing love, your dependence must only be in Christ. “He who refuses to forgive is thereby casting away his own hope of pardon.” (COL 247), Christ Object Lessons, p.247. “It is true that he may once have received forgiveness; but his unmerciful spirit shows that he now rejects God’s pardoning love. He has separated himself from God, and is in the same condition as before he was forgiven…” COL p.251. “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. Colossians 3:12-15. May this be our experience: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20.
…”Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shines. He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and knows not whither he goes, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” 1 John 2:2-11. “…Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; love does not exalt itself, is not puffed up, Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, does not think evil about others; Rejoices not in wrong doing, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away… For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1st Corinthians 13:2-13.
Blessings, Matthew
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One Response to “Some Thoughts on OGR Last Day 7-7-07”
hart1 | August 11th, 2007 at 9:17 pmReally appreciate these verses and quotes. I think they will be very important as we press on from Operation Global Rain. We need to accept the selfless experience of forgiveness which will contribute to true unity!
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