The Point
The point we have to meet today as a personal individual that no one can do for us is that when we look around us we do not see much of pure, true Christianity. Even some of the drunks and druggies are claiming to be Christians. The world is so full of its pride of people knowledge that they for the most part have thrown out the knowledge and wisdom of God. The Christianity that we see around us is a profession, a pretending front or mask while the under side is full of “I” and lip service to Jesus to make others think we really do love Jesus and keep on saying it while we hate our brother or sister. I will go to church and my neighbor will know that I am a good person while I just can not forgive that person who did me so much wrong. And I just have to spend this money on this thing I have wanted for so long even when I know the missions need money and the great Controversy books really need to go out also. I think I really do need these things.
The covetousness and idolatry are rampant and many times man is his own god. Are we listening to what Jesus said we must do to have eternal life? Jesus is the Supreme Ruler, and God of the universe, should we not take heed to every word He has spoken. Our Lord said to—“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22 Do we love Ourselves more than we love Jesus? Our actions give everyone the answer to that question we cannot hide anything. The angels have it all written down and we will see every action again before the judgment of God.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15. This verse plainly says that when we love Jesus we will be doing everything he says to do. If we leave one thing out of our life that he says to do, then we are not Christ-like and therefore are not Christians.
So this point that each of us individually has to face is are we going to be a part of this continuing apostasy that we are told will be going on until the end of time or are we willing to be Christ-like and stand out as a light on the top of the mountain shedding its light to the world even though no one else on this world is going to be with you. Be assured that Jesus will certainly stand by your side.
We were warned many years ago in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy that the Alpha Apostasy that had started would continue and grow into the Omega Apostasy, a most startling and seductive procedure. Startling when it first dawns on a person when learning the facts of the matter and seductive because it is the hypnotic deception of the devil himself. Jesus does not want us to be in ignorance, but the mind of man is such that most people like their false front life of living in ignorance and following the crowd. “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil;” Exodus 23:2
“Living Temple contains the Alpha of these theories. The Omega would follow in a little while. I tremble for our people. These beautiful representations are similar to the temptation that the enemy brought to Adam and Eve in Eden.” 1SAT 341
Do we tremble when we face temptations and see sin abounding? Do we stay to watch and see what happens or do we flee from all this sin and abominations to get away as soon and as far as possible from all this apostasy and land on our knees before the throne of God to seek strength and wisdom to be free from every defilement.
It is life and death! Eternity is at stake! We are an influence for those who are around us. Are we going to have blood on our shoulders because we did not warn other souls of their danger in staying with the evil surroundings. Jesus Said, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” 2 Corinthians 6:17
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Ephesians 5:11
God's favor toward Israel had always been conditional on their obedience. PK 293
"One thing it is certain is soon to be realized,--the great apostasy, which is developing and increasing and waxing stronger, and will continue to do so until the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout." Series B #7, p 56 (December 4, 1905).
"The great heart of the work is at (Battle Creek)--; and, as the human heart throws its living current of blood into all parts of the body, so does the management at this place, the headquarters of our church, affect the whole body of believers. If the physical heart is healthy, the blood that is sent from it through the system is also healthy; but if this fountain is impure, the whole organism becomes diseased by the poison of the vital fluid. So it is with us. If the heart of the work becomes corrupt, the whole church, in its various branches and interests, scattered abroad over the face of the earth, suffers in consequence." Testimonies, vol 4, p 210.
"It is impossible for you to unite with those who are corrupt, and still remain pure. 'What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial?' God and Christ and the Heavenly Host would have man know that if he unites with the corrupt, he will become corrupt." Review and Herald, January 2, 1900 (vol 4, p 137, col 2).
"It is impossible for you to unite with those who are corrupt, and still remain pure. 'What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial?' God and Christ and the Heavenly Host would have man know that if he unites with the corrupt, he will become corrupt." Review and Herald, January 2, 1900 (vol 4, p 137, col 2).
"Unless the Minster shall fearlessly declare the whole truth...he will be accounted an unfaithful watchman." Testimonies, vol 5, p 263.
"The church is in the Laodicean state. The presence of God is not in her midst." Notebook Leaflets, p 99.
"These are the true feelings of many of our people. And Satan exults at his success in controlling the minds of so many who profess to be Christians. He has deceived them, benumbed their sensibilities, and planted his hellish banner right in their midst, and they are so completely deceived that they know not that it is he. The people have not erected graven images, yet their sin is no less in the sight of God. They worship mammon. They love worldly gain. Some will make any sacrifice of conscience to obtain their object. God's professed people are selfish and self-caring. They love the things of this world, and have fellowship with the works of darkness. They have pleasure in unrighteousness. They have not love toward God nor love for their neighbors. They are idolaters, and are worse, far worse, in the sight of God than the heathen, graven-image worshipers who have no knowledge of a better way."
2T 440
The world must not be introduced into the church, and married to the church, forming a bond of unity. Through this means the church will become indeed corrupt, and, as stated in Revelation, 'A cage of every unclean and hateful bird'....
"And when men in the highest responsible positions make no difference between those who serve God and those who serve Him not, they evidence that their eyes are not single to the glory of God; therefore their whole body is full of darkness....
"Let us not form unholy bonds of union with the friends of the world; for God has pronounced His curse upon all such unions....Already has the power of darkness placed its mold and superscription upon the work that should stand forth untainted, unpolluted, from Satan's cunning devices....Woe be unto him whose wisdom is not from above but from beneath!" Testimonies to Ministers, p 265, 273, 277.
"We have more to fear from within than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are far greater from the church than from the World." Review and Herald, March 22, 1887 (vol. 2, p 121, col. 2).
Who can truthfully say: "Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted by the world"? I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: "Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? 'How is the faithful city become an harlot!' My Father's house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and strength is lacking." 8T 250
There are some who in the past have had a correct experience, but who have changed leaders. Not all, but many have been beguiled. There are leaders who, before God can own and accept them, must first be converted, and led back to God. The beauty of His holiness is eclipsed by their unsanctified words and acts. They are strangers to God. They have no union with Him. SpTB02 19
Those leaders and teachers who refuse to follow Christ place themselves under the guidance of the evil angels. Some have already done this, and some, without severe chastisement from God, will never break the spell that is upon them. SpTB02 19
The Laodicean message must be given with earnestness and power, as a message from heaven. If it be ignored, the Lord will certainly cast away from Him those whose spiritual condition is so objectionable. Christ declares that pretentious piety is nauseating to Him. To the ones so full of self-sufficiency He says, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot." Their works are opposed to the holy principles of God's word.
SpTB02 20
Let us bear a plain, clear testimony right to the point, that hypnotism is being used by those who have departed from the faith, and that we are not to link up with them. Through those who depart from the faith, the power of the enemy will be exercised to lead others astray.
Letter 237, 1904. 3SM 411
Cut away from yourselves everything that savors of hypnotism, the science by which satanic agencies work.
FLB 320
But there are doctors and ministers who have been influenced by the hypnotism exercised by the father of lies. Notwithstanding the warnings given, Satan's sophistries are being accepted now just as they were accepted in the heavenly courts. The science by which our first parents were deceived is deceiving men today. Ministers and physicians are being drawn into the snare. SpTA12
I have sent warnings to many physicians and ministers, and now I must warn all our churches to beware of men who are being sent out to do the work of spies in our conferences and churches,--a work instigated by the father of falsehood and deception. Let every church-member stand true to principle. We have been told what would come, and it has come. The enemy has been working under a species of scientific devising, even as he worked in Eden. I can not specify all now, but I say to our churches, Beware of the representations coming from Battle Creek that would lead you to disregard the warnings given by the Lord about the effort to make that a great educational center. Let not your sons and daughters be gathered there to receive their education. Powerful agencies have been stealthily working there to sow the seeds of evil.
SpTA12
I must speak plainly. It is presented to me that the condition of things is just what we were warned that it would be, unless the messages of heaven were received by the leaders of the medical work in Battle Creek.
I was shown the necessity of those who believe that we are having the last message of mercy, being separate from those who are daily imbibing new errors. I saw that neither young nor old should attend their meetings; for it is wrong to thus encourage them while they teach error that is a deadly poison to the soul and teach for doctrines the commandments of men. The influence of such gatherings is not good. If God has delivered us from such darkness and error, we should stand fast in the liberty wherewith He has set us free and rejoice in the truth. God is displeased with us when we go to listen to error, without being obliged to go; for unless He sends us to those meetings where error is forced home to the people by the power of the will, He will not keep us. The angels cease their watchful care over us, and we are left to the buffetings of the enemy, to be darkened and weakened by him and the power of his evil angels; and the light around us becomes contaminated with the darkness.
EW 124
"Those temptations are most dangerous which come from the professed servants of God, and from our friends. When persons who are uniting with the world, yet claiming great piety and love, counsel the faithful workers for God to be less zealous and more conservative, our answer must be an appeal to the word of God. When they plead for union with those who have been our determined opposers, we should fear and shun them as decidedly as did Nehemiah. Those who would lead away from the old landmarks to form a connection with the ungodly, cannot be sent of Heaven. Whatever may have been their former position, their present course tends to unsettle the faith of God's people." ST, January 3, 1884
The time was when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which has been so dearly purchased. They taught their children to abhor popery, and held that to seek harmony with Rome would be disloyalty to God. But how widely different are the sentiments now expressed. GC88 563
