How do we sigh and cry?

The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God. The Lord commissions His messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands: "Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house."  {5T. 211.1}  

     Here we see that the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus "Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together.  {5T 211.2}  

Our neglect to sigh and cry for the abominations in the church WOULD MEAN OUR ETERNAL LOSS. We dare not allow anything to divert our attention from this great and glorious work for the saints, and the most dreadful and inglorious end for those who receive not the mark. This work must “engross the whole mind, the whole attention.” (EW 118). Nothing should be allowed to interfere with your eternal welfare. No, not a moment, for the day is far spent.

Therefore as the sealing makes its way through the church, ONLY THOSE WHO AWAKE AND REFORM (sigh) and ENDEAVOR TO SHARE WITH OTHERS (cry) THE LIGHT  that is shining upon them, receive the SEAL.Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.  {TM 507.1}

The LATTER RAIN comes in TWO PHASES.  The first phase comes indoctrine or truth, message which prepares the heart or the life for the reception of the second phase which is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in power (Pentecostal power). When it is falling on hearts all around us and yet some fall to discern or receive it, that is when it is in it’s first phase (truth or doctrine). Jesus taught the disciples for three and one half years (former rain) before they had it in the second phase, the Pentecostal power. See Joel 2:23, 28; Acts 2.

“My doctrine shall drop as the RAIN”…” Deut. 32:2

Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those "that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done" in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying. Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel.  {3T 267.1}

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6)

The only way we are going to know what is exceedingly sinful in God’s sight, so as to intelligently know what the abominations are that we are to SIGH AND CRY against, is the study of the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. And yet we are that: “Doubt, and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. Ministers who preach self instead of Christ would have it thus. The testimonies are unread and unappreciated. God has spoken to you. Light has been shining from His word and from the testimonies, and both have been slighted and disregarded. The result is apparent in the lack of purity and devotion and earnest faith among us.”  {5T 217.2}

It is not alone those who openly reject the Testimonies, or who cherish doubt concerning them, that are on dangerous ground. To disregard light is to reject it.  {5T 680.2}

"Many are going directly contrary to the light which God has given to His people, because they do not read the books which contain the light and knowledge in cautions, reproofs, and warnings. The cares of the world, the love of fashion, and the lack of religion have turned the attention from the light God has so graciously given, while books and periodicals containing error are traveling all over the country.{5T 681.1}

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