FACING THE CRISIS
With A Surrendered Will
And Loving People-Part 6
By Lawrence Nelson
Let me begin with a true story told by Pastor Kenneth Oster, the
Seventh-day Adventist in charge of mission work in Ethiopia during
the time when the Communists invaded and overthrew the government.
They were determined to destroy Christianity. Elder Oster tells how
the native pastor of the church in Addis Ababa was faced with
tremendous problems as he tried to shepherd his flock.
Arrested for Christ
Little did he realize the hatred of the Communist invaders
toward Christianity and their determination to crush every person's
belief in God. One day as the pastor prepared to visit his members,
he heard a loud knock. As he opened the door he faced two Soviet
police who commanded him to go with them to the KGB Headquarters.
When they reached the building, he was locked in a room for some four
hours.
Then a KGB officer, together with a medical doctor who carried a
small bag and was leading a dog, entered the room. The doctor opened
the bag and took out a Bible. Then he asked the pastor, "Do you
believe this to be God's Book?"
The pastor answered, "I surely do."
Then he was commanded to read the sixteenth chapter of Mark out
loud. When he got to verse 9, which reads, "Now when Jesus was risen
early the first day of the week..." the doctor said, "Stop!" He then
asked the pastor, "Do you really believe that Jesus, who was
crucified, who died and was buried, was resurrected and is alive
today?"
The pastor answered, "Most assuredly, I do."
Then he was commanded to read on. When he reached verses I7 and
18, which read, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In
My name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new
tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly
thing, it shall not hurt them...."
"Stop," cried the doctor. "Do you actually believe what you
just read?"
"Yes, I do," he replied.
Test of Faith
Then the doctor opened the bag again and took out a small vial.
Calling the dog to him, he sprinkled several drops of the fluid from
the bottle on the dog's tongue. Then he opened the door and told the
dog to get out, but before the dog reached the door, it fell over
dead. Now the doctor turned to the pastor and continued: "Tell me,
do you actually believe that your God can save you from this deadly
poison that I just gave the dog?"
"Yes," the pastor replied, "if God wills."
Now the doctor took a teaspoon and filled it to the brim and
commanded the pastor to open his mouth. He thrust the spoon filled
with the deadly poison into the pastor's mouth, and he and the KGB
officer watched to see the pastor die immediately.
Victory in Jesus
Five seconds passed. Ten seconds, and then the doctor took out
his watch. One minute. Two minutes. Five minutes. In amazement the
doctor turned to the KGB officer, took out his Communist membership
card, tore it to bits and said, "I no longer believe in Communism. I
now believe in Jesus Christ." Oh, what a victory in the power of
Christ! What a God we serve!
I have been reading a new book entitled, Seven Conditions for
Receiving the Latter Rain. The author has graciously granted me
permission to share some of the information with you.
Let us begin with a most important question. What is God's will
for us? Both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy teach that it is
possible, by God's grace, to be totally committed, spirit-filled
Christians, so we may overcome sin completely in this life.
What a glorious design! God's will for us is that we sin not.
Reading in 1 John 2:1 we are told, "My little children, these things
write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Only those
Christians who receive wholeheartedly the straight testimony of Jesus
contained in Revelation 3:14-22 and overcome every besetting sin,
reflecting the image of Jesus fully, will receive the Latter Rain.
The Counsel of the True Witness
"Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and
overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the
True Witness, and they will receive the Latter Rain, and thus be
fitted for translation." Testimonies, vol. 1, 187. Did you notice
the counsel of the True Witness? First: Come up to every point.
Second: Stand every test. Third: Overcome every sin, be the price
what it may.
Of course, this is not all the straight testimony and the
counsel of the True Witness. We need to remember there is also the
gold of faith and love, the white raiment, or the robe of Christ's
righteous character, and the eye salve, which is the spiritual
discernment of the Holy Spirit. The straight testimony calls sin by
its right name and appeals to God's people to repent and to forsake
all sin and to come up to the standard.
As we strive to attain such an achievement, let us ever keep in
mind that victory over sin is to come first. Then the gifts of the
Spirit and the outpouring of the Latter Rain come after. This matter
has been made very plain in Inspiration.
"I was shown that if God's people make no efforts on their part,
but wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs
and correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them
from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in
the Loud Cry of the Third Angel, they will be found wanting. The
refreshing or power of God comes only on those who have prepared
themselves for it by doing the work which God bids them, namely,
cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Ibid. Vol. 1, 619.
The Secret to Attaining Holiness
Did you catch the meaning that we are to perfect holiness?
Please do not be alarmed. You may be surprised to discover there is
a secret to attaining holiness. Such a victory comes by the
continual surrender of the will to Christ. Such surrender of the
will is a continual deepening of self-denying; a surrender today is
not adequate for tomorrow. The surrender of the soul to God must go
deeper and deeper until we come to the point that, like Christ, we
will say, "Not my will, but Thine, be done," (See Luke 22:42.) even
to the point of death.
Often we will have to fall upon our knees in despair
saying, "Father, help my unbelief and make me willing." Christ, our
Example, knew the meaning of total surrender. Many of God's
children, who love the Lord, have not learned the lesson of continual
deepening surrender. It is to be renewed day by day. They will
discover that they do not know victory.
"Some who come to God by repentance and confession, and even
believe that their sins are forgiven, still fail of claiming, as they
should, the promises of God. They do not see that Jesus is an ever-
present Saviour; and they are not ready to commit the keeping of
their souls to Him, relying upon Him to perfect the work of grace
begun in their hearts. While they think they are committing
themselves to God, there is a great deal of self-dependence. There
are conscientious souls that trust partly to God, and partly to
themselves. They do not look to God, to be kept by His power, but
depend upon watchfulness against temptation, and the performance of
certain duties for acceptance with Him. There are no victories in
this kind of faith. Such persons toll to no purpose; their souls are
in continual bondage, and they find no rest until their burdens are
laid at the feet of Jesus." Selected Messages, Book I, 353. [Emphasis
added].
Believing Satan's Lie
Today God is raising up a remnant that keeps the commandments of
God and the faith of Jesus. (See Revelation I4:12). But have we
succumbed to the deceptions of the adversary? Do we, like the great
majority of the professed Christians today, believe Satan's lie that
we cannot overcome? Beware; beware, it is being preached from some of
our pulpits today. It is the father of lies who says that we cannot
overcome.
For, beloved, we can overcome, and we can overcome entirely
through the merits of Him "...who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21. God has the
power to give us victory. "Exact obedience is required, and those who
say that it is not possible to live a perfect life throw upon God the
imputation of injustice and untruth." Manuscript Releases, vol. 1,
369.
If we believe that we cannot overcome, we are then echoing the
voice of the adversary. Christianity is to be a life of overcoming.
To many the thought of victory is as a rope of sand, intellectually
accepted but never experienced. If we do not believe in victory and
have never seen a clear demonstration of God's power to save, then, I
am sorry to say, we will not be able to receive the Latter Rain.
False Theology
Some of God's people believe that at Christ's Second Coming He
will miraculously give us the victory over sin. As I prepared this
article, a pastor of one of our large nearby churches preached that
God would change our characters when He comes so that we would never
sin again. Beloved, this is a false belief! This is a lie! The
miracle of victory over sin is for today, and every day, that we
might be a spectacle both to men and to angels.
"Satan is also watching his chances to lead astray. He will
present attractions that will lead our minds from God. But shall we
not watch his devices, and be constantly seeking the aid of God to
keep us from Satan's allurements? We must not lay off the armor for
one moment. You will hear the cry, 'Only believe.' Satan believed and
trembled. We must have a faith that works by love and purifies the
heart. The idea prevails that Christ has done all for us, and that we
can go on transgressing the commandments and will not be held
accountable for it. This is the greatest deception that the enemy
ever devised. We must take our position that we will not violate the
commandments at any cost, and be in that spiritual condition that we
can educate others in spiritual things." Manuscript Releases, Vol. 3,
97.
Restored to Eden's Perfection in This Lifetime
Such counsel helps us to see our tremendous need. "The work of
overcoming is to be the study of every soul who enters the kingdom of
God." Review and Herald, August 1, 1893. God will never be satisfied
with anything short of perfection. Man was created perfect in the
beginning, and God's plan of redemption is designed to restore His
children to that original perfection where they will once again
reflect His image.
This restoration, which begins with the new birth, is a
purifying, refining process that God can accomplish only when He has
the confidence and the cooperation of the individual. It is possible
to stop sinning, but not without suffering and dying to self, which
is the sinful nature. If we really long to be rid of every trace of
sin, we should welcome suffering if it is the necessary discipline
God must use to set us free and make us perfect in Christ.
"Let the recording angels write the history of the holy
struggles and conflicts of the people of God; let them record their
prayers and tears; but let not God be dishonored by the declaration
from human lips, 'I am sinless; I am holy.' Sanctified lips will
never give utterance to such presumptuous words." Acts of the
apostles, 561, 562.
Growing in Grace Through Trial
So, beloved, never should we forget that God's way is the best.
The trusting Christian does not look upon suffering and sorrow with
an attitude of self-pity or resentment. He faces life's conflicts as
God-given opportunities to grow in grace. I am not suggesting here
that the Christian perfection may be attained merely through sorrow,
and suffering, but because we came into the world with the fallen
sinful nature, the process by which we are restored to an intimate
fellowship with God requires the death of our very nature.
We must never forget that a sinful nature cannot cease sinning;
consequently, God's provision for victory over sin is a
transformation of our nature. In order to possess the divine nature,
we are required to crucify the flesh, and believe me, this is a more
serious and painful process than many of us realize. We need to
recognize that trials are one of God's means in the perfection of our
characters.
These trials are also for God's glory, that He may show to
others the power of the gospel as we respond to these trials with the
same meekness and strength of Jesus. Remember the Ethiopian pastor
who had such a faith experience with Christ that he believed in
witnessing for God even when forced to drink deadly poison? He
remembered that God promised: It will not hurt you.
"Conflicts and trials are the very means ordained or suffered of
God to perfect the Christian character unto eternal life." 1888
Materials, Vol. 2, 489. If we would be ready for any test that God
may send our way, we must prepare for victory by shutting every door
of temptation.
By Beholding, We Become
"It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature
that by beholding we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself
to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. It becomes
assimilated to that which it is accustomed to love and reverence. Man
will never rise higher than his standard of purity or goodness or
truth. If self is his loftiest ideal, he will never attain to
anything more exalted. Rather, he will constantly sink lower and
lower. The grace of God alone has power to exalt man. Left to
himself, his course must inevitably be downward." The Great
Controversy, 555. [Emphasis added].
So you can see, it is an impossibility to live the life of an
overcomer while we participate in watching, reading or listening to
that, which is contrary to the Word and to the principles of God.
Far too many Christians have a double standard and are considered by
God to be double minded. For complete victory, we must rise up to a
newness of life. Once we have done this, then a work for us is as
follows.
We are to seek after God, setting our minds upon themes of
heavenly origin and not only our thoughts, but also our lives, are to
be taken up with God and with the work that He has for us to do. The
admonition for God's people is that we are to experience victory over
sin. How? By beholding "...the Lamb of God, which taketh away the
sin of the world." John 1:29.
Continued Effort with Christ's Power Brings Victory
Here are the facts: Continued effort, combined with Christ's
power, is the means of our victory. Let me try to make this clear.
Inspiration declares that he who truly and fully abides in Christ
does not sin. "'Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever
sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him." 1 John 3:6.
Again, "'whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not.' Here is the true
test." Steps to Christ, 61.
Keep in mind that the words "sinneth not" have to do with a
complete victory over sin. "We know that whosoever is born of God
sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that
wicked one toucheth him not." 1 John 5:18.
Now notice carefully, "The Son of God came to our world in human
form to show man that divinity and humanity combined can obtain the
victory over sin....'Whosoever abideth in Him, sinneth not; whosoever
sinneth hath not seen Him.'...God calls for complete consecration,
and anything short of this He will not accept." Signs of the Times,
February 1, 1899.
Such an experience will make us perfect in Christ. The word
perfect means complete, whole, accomplished, finished, sound, upright
or undefiled. "...that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the
will of God." Colossians 4:12. "That the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2Timothy 3:17.
"The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever
fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God
and being clothed with humility, possessing that love that is pure,
peaceable, and easy to be entreated, full of gentleness and good
fruits, is not an easy attainment. And yet it is his privilege and
his duty to be a perfect overcomer here." Testimonies, Vol. 3, 106,
107.
This means that we are to form characters free from sin.
Note, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the
body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve
sin.... Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye
should obey it in the lusts thereof" Romans 6:6, 12.
"Brothers and sisters, we need the reformation that all who are
redeemed must have, through the cleansing of mind and heart from
every taint of sin....We are to form characters free from sin-
characters made righteous in and by the grace of Christ ....Our
hearts are to be cleansed from all impurity in the blood shed to take
away sin." Counsels on Health, 633, 634.
It is Better to Die than to Sin
This requires a personal decision. "It is better to die than to
sin..."Testimonies, Vol. 4, 495. We must grow spiritually until we
continually have the determination to cease to sin. Does not God's
Word declare, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that
grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin,
live any longer therein?" Romans 6:1, 2.
"As we behold Christ, pierced for our sins, we shall see that we
cannot break the law of God and remain in His favor; we shall feel
that as sinners we must lay hold of the merits of Christ and cease to
sin." Selected Messages, Book 1, 312.
Why No Latter Rain?
Now let me ask you a question, beloved. Why has the Latter Rain
not fallen yet? The reason is because we, the remnant people, are not
ready. We have not totally surrendered ourselves and forsaken all
sin. "When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in
His people, then He will come to claim them as His own." Christ's
Object Lessons, 69.
When will we, as a people, come to the place where we will
believe the clear, explicit Bible and Spirit of Prophecy teaching
concerning perfection and overcoming? When will we put aside our
unbelief and lack of faith? When will we lay aside our half-hearted
dedication and go all the way with God? How much longer is God going
to wait for His people to become the victorious people so that He can
pour out the Latter Rain?
We need to pray about this; for such a glorious day for God's
people will happen very, very soon and then, and only then, will we
receive the Latter Rain and arise to give the Loud Cry and finish the
work. We must not take these things lightly but repent with all of
our hearts and seek most earnestly for the complete unbroken victory
over sin, which it is our privilege to have.
True Christian Love
Soon, very soon, there will be a victorious people spreading the
Loud Cry to every country of the world. Are you going to be one of
them? I hope so. The Latter Rain will be poured out only upon a
victorious people. Now I trust that you have made the decision to be
victorious over sin by surrendering your will to divinity. The next
step to be reached is to become a loving person, for God is love.
The English word "love" is altogether inadequate to express the
depth and meaning expressed by the Greek word agape. Agape is true
Christian love, which is not merely an emotional experience that
comes to us unbidden and unsought; it is a deliberate principle of
the mind and a conquest and achievement of the will. It may be
described as a love bringing into play the higher powers of the mind
and intelligence.
It is this kind of love that the Christian is to exercise, even
toward his enemies. That is, the Christian is to treat his enemies
with proper respect. We are therefore bidden to love our enemies, and
why? So that we should be like God. And what is the typical action of
God that is cited? God sends His rain on the just and the unjust and
on the evil and on the good.
That is to say, no matter what a man is like, God seeks nothing
but his highest good. Agape is the spirit that says, "No matter what
any man does to me, I will never seek to harm him. I will never set
out for revenge. I will always seek nothing but his highest good."
Now to make such a commitment it will take man's all to achieve such
Christian love. It takes not only his heart; it takes his mind and
his will as well.
Today we are living in an age when the real meaning of love is
no longer understood. The type of love that much of the human race
displays is an emotional love based on selfishness. But true love is
seen in good works. "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them,
he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My
Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him." John
14:21.
True Love is a Living, Working Power
This is the only true test of character in doing the will of God
that we give the best evidence that we love God and Jesus Christ whom
He hath sent. The oft-repeated words of love for God are of no value
unless that love is made manifest in the life practice. Love for God
is not a mere sentiment. It is a living, working power.
"The man who does the will of his Father who is in heaven shows
to the world that he loves God. The fruit of his love is seen in good
works." Signs of the Times, May 19, 1898. So the real meaning of love
is a faith that works and is seen in the fruits of a Christian life.
God demonstrates such love for us. "For God so loved the world, that
He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
God's great love for the world is beyond our comprehension. His
love for us is so great that He gave His only Son for our redemption.
Such a love is unsurpassed. Love unexampled, unfathomable, and
immeasurable. The beloved disciple John tells us not to love the
world. (See 1 John 2:15). But he does tell us, in this same chapter,
to "walk, even as He walked." Verse 6.
If we follow closely His example, we, too, must love the people
of this present evil world. Love them to such an extent and in such
a way as to give ourselves for them as He did. It was an unlovable
people whom Christ loved so much. They are no more lovable today
than they were when Christ gave Himself for them.
Who has not walked down skid row of any major city and witnessed
the drunkard and the derelict? Who has not seen these wrecks of
humanity, degraded by drugs and drinking to a level below the brute,
with a complete loss of all moral and physical control? These
wretched souls sit or lie in their own filth. The stench of alcohol
and excrement poison the atmosphere about them.
Loving the Unlovely?
Love them? Did you say, love them? We naturally feel repelled
by them and want to turn from them in disgust. Yet, we thank God
mainly that we are not like other men, while at the same time we are
void of the love that gives a helping hand. The unlovely and the
unlovable qualities of the world show up in many ways. It is found in
religious belief, denominational affiliation, cultural differences,
family background and national disparity. We join the national
tendency to dislike those who are separate from us.
Christ was not unaware of the unlovely characteristics of the
world into which He sent His disciples. He expressly had these
conditions in mind when He commanded His followers, "Go your ways:
behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves." Luke 10:3. Our
mission, then, is to love with agape love. As God loves us, we must
love mankind.
To love the unlovable, though, will take a miracle, and only God
can work that miracle in us. There must be an entire renunciation of
self. Only Christ can accomplish this work for us with our consent.
"Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property.
Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of
myself, my weak, un-Christlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me
into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love
can flow through my soul." Christ's Object Lessons, 159.
We must understand that God uses love to expel sin from the
heart. According to the Scriptures, faith works by love to purify the
soul. It is the love of Christ that constrains and moves the
Christian to a life of self-denial, righteousness and obedience to
God's law.
Ellen White explains this so beautifully. "Love is power.
Intellectual and moral strength are involved in this principle, and
cannot be separated from it....Love cannot live without action, and
every act increases, strengthens, and extends it. Love will gain the
victory...." Testimonies, Vol. 2, 135.
"There can be no perfection of Christian character without that
faith that works by love, and purifies the soul." Review and Herald,
October 18, 1898. Now this faith helps us to walk in love, for it is
love and love alone, finding satisfaction in God, that satisfies the
heart's hunger and prevents all coveting. Love is really not a rule
but a motive. Love does not tell the Christian what to do but how to
do it.
Love must go to the Law of God to learn the divine will. Love is
a principle. We are to become imitators of God as beloved children.
That is to say, we are to walk in love just as Christ loved us and
gave Himself for us. The source of Christian love is the Holy Spirit.
As His control and transforming action increases in the life, the
more clearly is the fruit of love discerned. The implanting of a
loving attitude toward God and man, by the indwelling of the spirit,
is related to the believer's, hungering and thirsting to know God.
Ingredients Within the Spectrum of Love
"Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him...."
The Desire of Ages, 22. The spectrum of love has many ingredients.
As we look at the Bible, you will see this demonstrated.
1. Patience. "...let patience have her perfect work." James 1:4.
2. Kindness to godliness, brotherly kindness, generosity: "...It is
more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35.
3. Humility, "... charity vaunted not itself, is not puffed up." 1
Corinthians 13:4.
4. Courtesy: "doth not behave itself unseemingly...." 1 Corinthians
13:5.
5. Unselfishness: "...love thy neighbor as thyself..." Leviticus
19:18.
6. Good temper: "...is not easily provoked...." 1 Corinthians 13:5.
7. Guilelessness: "...thinketh no evil." 1 Corinthians 13:5.
8. Sincerity: "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the
truth." 1 Corinthians 13:6.
"The divine love emanating from Christ never destroys human
love, but includes it. By it human love is refined and purified,
elevated and ennobled. Human love can never bear its precious fruit
until it is united with the divine nature and trained to grow
heavenward." The Adventist Home, 99. How beautiful! The power of the
gospel is the cross and the power of the cross is love. Herein is
found another key to victory as it is written, "...love is the
fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:10. So you can see that God is
ready to test our love for Him by the way we treat one another.
Take notice. "When the Latter Rain is poured out, the church
will be clothed with power for its work; but the church as a whole
will never receive this until its members shall put away from them,
envy, evil-surmising, and evil-speaking. Those who cherish these sins
know not the blessed experience of love; they are not awake to the
fact that the Lord is testing and proving their love for him by the
attitude they assume toward one another. Christ says to us, 'A new
commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another....'When this
commandment is obeyed, envy, evil-speaking, evil-surmising, and evil-
thinking will not be indulged; they will have no part in the
formation of character." Review and Herald, October 6, 1896.
Such an experience will make the remnant people a loving people
filled with brotherly love and in full unity and harmony. "The Spirit
can never be poured out while variance and bitterness toward one
another are cherished by the members of the church. Envy, jealousy,
evil surmising, [sic] and evil speaking [sic] are of Satan, and they
effectually bar the way against the Holy Spirit's working."
Testimonies, vol. 6, 42. (Emphasis added.)
Let us praise God that His remnant will be a surrendered and a
loving people. To love with Christ's love means to manifest
unselfishness at all times and in all places by kind words and
pleasant looks. These cost those who give them absolutely nothing,
but they leave behind a fragrance that surrounds the soul. Their
effect can never be estimated. Not only are they a blessing to the
receiver but to the giver, for they react upon him. Genuine love is a
precious attribute of heavenly origin, which increases in fragrance
in proportion as it is dispensed to others.
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> > > > > By Lawrence Nelson
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> > > > > "Orion7" <Orion7@>
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