Week of Prayer, December 6–15, 2013 - sdarm.ca

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pull it to pieces, speaking of it scathinglyand contemptuously? The onewho has made mistakes may be doinghis very best. Did Christ treat theimperfect work of His disciples thus? IfHe should treat erring human beings asthey too often treat one another, whatwould become of them? Well may wesay, ‘Let us fall into the hands of theliving God, rather than into the handsof men.’ God is too wise to err, and toogood to do us harm.“Those who are connected withGod’s service should be sanctified, body,soul, and spirit, else they will mar God’swork and put Christ to open shame.What does God’s Word mean when itdeclares that Christ will present to Himselfa church without spot or wrinkleor any such thing? It means that God’speople can and must reach the standardof Christian perfection. But, in order todo this, they must learn of Christ Hismeekness and lowliness.“By the sacrifice of Christ, everyprovision has been made for believersto receive all things that pertain to lifeand godliness. The perfection of Hischaracter makes it possible for us togain perfection.” 5We need to raise the standard ofthe Sabbath“The Sabbath question is to be theissue in the great final conflict in whichall the world will act a part. Men havehonored Satan’s principles above theprinciples that rule in the heavens.They have accepted the spurious sabbath,which Satan has exalted as thesign of his authority. But God has setHis seal upon His royal requirement.Each sabbath institution bears thename of its author, an ineffaceablemark that shows the authority of each.It is our work to lead the people tounderstand this. We are to show themthat it is of vital consequence whetherthey bear the mark of God’s kingdomor the mark of the kingdom of rebellion,for they acknowledge themselvessubjects of the kingdom whose markthey bear. God has called us to upliftthe standard of His downtrodden Sabbath.How important, then, that ourexample in Sabbathkeeping should beright.” 6“We should pursue such a course toward theunbelieving that our souls will be clear of theirblood when we meet them in the great day offinal reckoning.”A selfless and humble ministry isneeded—free from earthly or ecclesiasticalambition and fully consecrated tothe service of God.“There is an element called lovewhich would teach us to praise andflatter our associates and not tofaithfully tell them of their dangersand warn and counsel them for theirgood. This love is not Heaven-born.Our words and actions should beserious and earnest, especially beforethose who are neglecting their soul’ssalvation. If we profess to be sons anddaughters of God, we should pursuesuch a course toward the unbelievingthat our souls will be clear of theirblood when we meet them in the greatday of final reckoning. If we unite withthem in lightness, trifling, pleasureseeking, or in any pursuit which willbanish seriousness from the mind, weare constantly saying to them by ourexample, ‘Peace, peace; be not disturbed.You have no cause for alarm.’This is saying to the sinner, ‘It shall bewell with thee.’ Oh, how many easelovingsouls there are among us, whovirtually unite with sinners, and whilein their society say and do nothing toawaken conviction, nothing to disturbtheir carnal security! Many who professto be sons and daughters of God, andcall themselves the light of the world,reflect no light upon its darkness. Ifthese half-hearted, slothful, pleasurelovingprofessors of Christ were whatthey profess to be, how much goodthey might do! . . .“The message borne to the peopleby the faithful servants of God will notbe calculated to lull them to carnal security.They will have words to speak tostir them to action. We call upon thosewho are imitating Meroz to arouse. Goto work; do something for the salvationof souls, something to advance thecause of God; and do it now.” 7“God requires His servants to standunder the blood-stained banner ofPrince Emmanuel, striving in His powerto keep the principles of truth pureand uncorrupted. They must never stepaside from the path of self-denial andhumility which every true Christianmust travel. As they thus cooperatewith God, Christ is formed within,‘the hope of glory’ (Colossians 1:27).Clad in His meekness and lowlinessthey find their highest joy in doing Hisservice. Earthly ambition gives way to adesire to serve the Master.” 8“God wants men in His service,under His banner, to be strictly honest,unimpeachable in character, that theirtongues shall not utter a semblance ofuntruth. The tongue must be true, theeyes must be true, the actions whollyand entirely such as God can commend.”9“We must have a converted ministry.The efficiency and power attending atruly converted minister would makethe hypocrites in Zion tremble andsinners afraid.” 10God requires His people to be holyand pure“It is the purpose of God that Hispeople shall be a sanctified, purified,holy people, communicating lightto all around them. But only as theykeep the standard uplifted, only asthey reveal that the truth they professto believe is able to influence themfor righteousness and to sustain theirspiritual life; only as they make theprinciples of truth a part of their dailylives, can they be a praise and honor toGod in the earth.” 11“God will have a people separateand distinct from the world. When anycherish a desire to imitate the fashionsof the world, He ceases to acknowledgethem as His children, and theybecome the children of the world and10 The Reformation Herald, Vol. 54, No. 6
of darkness. Those that had professedChrist, virtually put Him off, and showthat they are strangers to grace and tothe meek and lowly Jesus. Had theyacquainted themselves with Him, theywould walk worthy of Him.“Young and old, God is now testingyou. You are deciding your own eternaldestiny. Your pride, your vain andempty conversation, your selfishness,are all put in the scale, and in manycases the weight of evil is fearfullyagainst you. While evil is increasingand taking deep root, it is choking thegood seed which has been sown in theheart. Many are flattering themselvesthat they are good Christians who havenot a single ray of light from Jesus.They know not what it is to have theheart renewed by grace. They have noliving experience for themselves in thethings of God.“God proves His people in thisworld. This is the fitting up place toappear in His presence. Here personsshow what power affects their heartsand controls their actions. If it is thepower of divine truth, it will lead togood works. It will elevate the receiverand make him noble-hearted andgenerous, like his divine Lord. But ifevil angels control the heart, it willbe seen in various ways. The fruit willbe covetousness, selfishness, pride,and evil passions. The heart is deceitfulabove all things and desperatelywicked. Many professors of religionare not willing to examine themselvesclosely to see whether they are in thefaith, and some are leaning of a falsehope. They seem to think a professionof the truth will save them. When theysubdue those sins which God hates,Jesus will come in and sup with themand they with Him. They will thendraw divine strength from Jesus, andwill grow up in Him, and be able tosay with holy triumph. ‘Thanks be toGod, who giveth us the victory throughour Lord Jesus Christ’ (1 Corinthians15:57).“It is the privilege of every Christianto enjoy the deep movings of theSpirit of God. A sweet, heavenly peacemay pervade the mind, and you maymeditate with pleasure upon God andheaven. You may feast upon the gloriouspromises of His word. But knowfirst that you have begun the Christiancourse. Know that the first steps aretaken in the road to everlasting life. Benot deceived here; for eternal interestsare at stake.” 12“When you do not want to be distinctfrom the world, but desire to mixup with it so that no difference is seenbetween you and the world, then youmay know that you are drunken withthe cares of this life. Oh, there are somany selfish interests, so many cordsto bind us to this world! But we mustkeep cutting these cords, and be in acondition of waiting for our Lord.“The world has forced itself inbetween our souls and God. But whatright have we to allow our hearts to becomeovercharged with the cares of thislife? What right have we, through ourdevotion to the world, to neglect theaffairs of the church and the interestsof our fellow men?” 13“Instead of becoming like theworld, we are to become more andmore distinct from the world. Satanhas combined and will continue tocombine with the churches in makinga masterly effort against the truth ofGod. Everything that is done by God’speople to make inroads upon theworld will call forth determined oppositionfrom the powers of darkness.The enemy’s last great conflict will be amost determined one. It will be the lastbattle between the powers of darknessand the powers of light. Every truechild of God will fight bravely on theMay these days be full of heart searchingwith a strong decision to turn over our life, ourfamilies, and everything we have to the lovinghands of God.side of Christ. Those who in this greatcrisis allow themselves to be more onthe side of the world than of God willeventually place themselves wholly onthe side of the world.” 14ConclusionWe would appeal to our ministers,pastors, Bible workers, leaders, and ourpeople in general, that we work withall the strength that God has givenus to maintain our high principles atany cost. By the grace that God hasgranted us, let us close the door toworldliness. Pastors and ministers,let us clearly and strongly condemnany deviation from the truth, howeversmall it may be—and at whatever costto ourselves. Let us not permit anyworldly practice, first in our families,and then by our testimony, thatGod may make a reformation in thechurches where we labor.“May the Lord attract souls to Himselfand impart to them individually asense of their sacred responsibility toform such characters that Christ willnot be ashamed to call them brethren.Elevate the standard, and then theheavenly benediction will be pronouncedupon you in that day whenevery man will receive according to thedeeds done in the body.” 15Let us be watchful and realizethe dangers of the present days; thatwe may accept our solemn duty touphold until the close of probationthe standard of eternal truth which theLord has given us, that we may allowthis eternal truth to shine before theworld. May God bless His people todayand always. Amen. RReferences1Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 11.2Counsels on Health, p. 357.3Ibid., pp. 517, 518.4Evangelism, p. 397.5Pacific Union Recorder, February 9, 1905.6Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 352.7The Review and Herald, January 8, 1884.8That I May Know Him, p. 123.9Child Guidance, p. 152.10Gospel Workers (1892), p. 28.11This Day With God, p. 53.12The Review and Herald, September 9, 1884.13The Signs of the Times, January 7, 1886.14The Kress Collection, p. 105.15Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 602.The Reformation Herald, Vol. 54, No. 6 11
Page 3 and 4: EditorialThe symbolic Elijah, the g
Page 5 and 6: that if they could take back and li
Page 7 and 8: pleased to talk sentimental nonsens
Page 9: shall return, gather His own, and t
Page 13 and 14: God wants to restore our happiness,
Page 15 and 16: feeling it a duty that they owe to
Page 17 and 18: Experiencing doctrineGod loves His
Page 19 and 20: of “caveman-style” clothing, He
Page 21 and 22: what agreement hath the temple ofGo
Page 23 and 24: The real issue is not What you are
Page 25 and 26: and those who bear the sign of thek
Page 27 and 28: esting upon them, and that they mus
Page 29 and 30: Their only hope was for this gloom
Page 31 and 32: and ability to be put to use. When

Week of Prayer, December 6–15, 2013 - sdarm.ca

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