The Present Condition of the Church - Part II

Prayer Thought:

The Lord calls upon you . . . to look at these things with eyes enlightened not by worldly advisers, but by His Spirit. Take the Word as it reads. . . . Place yourself where the riches of the glory of heaven shall shine before you and behind you and on every side of you, because you are all light in the Lord.--Letter 110, Aug. 8, 1899 {UL 234.6}

Introduction:

Have you consecrated yourself wholly to the Lord? Can He use you as a vessel unto honor? Are you faithfully acting your part in His cause? To every man God has given his work. He expects every believer to cooperate with Him in the work of soul-saving. When His cause is suffering for means, how can anyone set a price on his services, refusing to take up the cross daily, and practice self-denial for Christ's sake? {UL 235.3}

I. Counsels from Jesus:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matt. 11:29. {UL 235.1}

Those who would at last be received into heaven as members of the royal family must here give themselves, body, soul, and spirit, to the service of Him who paid the price of their redemption. All that we have and are belongs to the Lord. "Ye are not your own," the apostle declares. "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Cor. 6:19, 20). . . . {UL 235.2}

II. Ellen G. White's Comments:

1. Satan is willing that you should be Christians in name, for you can suit his purpose better. If you have a form and not true godliness, he can use you to decoy others into the same self-deceived way. Some poor souls will look to you, instead of looking to the Bible standard, and will come up no higher. They are as good as you, and are satisfied. {1T 162.1}

2. To those who are indifferent at this time Christ's warning is: "Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth." Revelation 3:16. The figure of spewing out of His mouth means that He cannot offer up your prayers or your expressions of love to God. He cannot endorse your teaching of His word or your spiritual work in anywise. He cannot present your religious exercises with the request that grace be given you. {6T 408.2}

3. Many who complacently listen to the truths from God's word are dead spiritually, while they profess to live. For years they have come and gone in our congregations, but they seem only less and less sensible of the value of revealed truth. They do not hunger and thirst after righteousness. They have no relish for spiritual or divine things. They assent to the truth, but are not sanctified through it. Neither the word of God nor the testimonies of His Spirit make any lasting impression upon them. Just according to the light, the privileges, and opportunities which they have slighted will be their condemnation. Many who preach the truth to others are themselves cherishing iniquity. The entreaties of the Spirit of God, like divine melody, the promises of His word so rich and abundant, its threatenings against idolatry and disobedience--all are powerless to melt the world-hardened heart. {5T 76.2}

4. Many of our people are lukewarm. They occupy the position of Meroz, neither for nor against, neither cold nor hot. They hear the words of Christ, but do them not. If they remain in this state, He will reject them with abhorrence. Many of those who have had great light, great opportunities, and every spiritual advantage praise Christ and the world with the same breath. They bow themselves before God and mammon. They make merry with the children of the world, and yet claim to be blessed with the children of God. They wish to have Christ as their Saviour, but will not bear the cross and wear His yoke. May the Lord have mercy upon you; for if you go on in this way, nothing but evil can be prophesied concerning you. {5T 76.3}

5. He who appreciates the love of Christ will be an earnest worker with Christ to bring other souls as sheaves to the Master. Thorough work is always done by all who are connected with Christ. They bear fruit to His glory. But indolence and carelessness and frivolity separate the soul from Christ, and Satan comes in to work his will with the poor worldly subject. We have a great truth, but through careless indifference the truth has lost its force upon us. Satan has come in with his specious temptations, and has led the professed followers of Christ away from their Leader, classing them with the foolish virgins. {TM 130.1}

III. I will spew thee out of My mouth – v. 16

Rev. 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

1. Original Greek means – “He is about to” It is not a prophecy but an admonition, directed not to the whole church but only to those who do not recieve the message and react properly.

2. Two types of people inside the Church

a. It is a pity, though, that a good portion of the church, represented by the parable of the virgins, five virgins will not take the message to heart. They force GOD to cut them from the body of Christ.

b. The rest of the member, the one that go through the revival and reformation, will recieve the outpouring of the Spirit of God in the latter rain and will have the privelege of finishing their task on earth. (a mountain in Daniel 2:45 – a stone was cut out without hands) Note: a. Stone represents God’s people who go where Christ is (obedience to His words and counsels); b. stone was not cut off but cut out “separated” and has its activity “smote the Great image”. They were also be the 5 virgins with their extra oil to let it shine to the world.

3. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will raise up against it and this is what will cause a shaking among God’s people. {EW 270.2}

a. Many of God’s children will mend their ways.

b. Some will look for a real experience with the Lord.

c. And some will partake of the victory of God’s triumphant church

Not in their own power did the apostles accomplish their mission, but in the power of the living God. Their work was not easy. The opening labors of the Christian church were attended by hardship and bitter grief. In their work the disciples constantly encountered privation, calumny, and persecution; but they counted not their lives dear unto themselves and rejoiced that they were called to suffer for Christ. Irresolution, indecision, weakness of purpose, found no place in their efforts. They were willing to spend and be spent. The consciousness of the responsibility resting on them purified and enriched their experience, and the grace of heaven was revealed in the conquests they achieved for Christ. With the might of omnipotence God worked through them to make the gospel triumphant. {AA 595.1}

The message sounds right now. Now we have the opportunity of changing our lukewarmness. Tomorrow maybe too late – not only because none of us has his life assured for one hour.

Individual are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed the counsel of the True Witness (1T 187) – selfishness, pride, and evil passions.

IV. Self-deceit and Spiritual Infatuation – v. 17

Rev. 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

His condition is even worse because he does not know and does it. An Arabic proverb states, “He that does not know and does not know that he does not know is foolish”. Go away from him. The best definition of Justification by faith.

They do not know what it means to be meek and lowly in heart; and they do not mean to know this, if they can avoid it. The whole gospel is comprised in learning of Christ, His meekness and lowliness. {TM 456.2}

What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself.-- Special Testimonies to Ministers and Workers (Series A, No. 9, 1897), pages 61, 62. {TM 456.3}

Some may say, “My church is the Church of God” I have the truth, Hence I am all right, I am saved.

We must never forget that the mere possession of the right doctrines, of membership in the right church, does not save anybody. It is no knowledge but experience, we need not theory, but practice. “

Be zealous therefore, and repent – v. 19

Rev. 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

V. Christ knocking at the Door – vs. 20-22

Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Rev. 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Rev. 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

3 Things men needs in order for Christ to be in

1. Man’s cooperation

2. His active interest

3. His eager willingness

Borne of sense of need, are absolutely indispensable in order for Christ to come into His life transform him.

The Saviour never forces human will. He made man in His own image and provide him with the attribute of responsibility and freedom; free choice, free will.

Daily Lessons of Meekness

1. Surrendering our will to Him.

2. Ready to renounce selfishness.

3. Struggle for supremacy – bitterness

4. Any other sin that cut off from Him. We will discover His power to prepare us for the final victory.

VI. He That Hath an Ear – v. 22

Rev. 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Human Decision

The marvelous plan of restoration has existed from the foundation of the world. God has made provision for us.

The Chaff Separated From the Wheat

Divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest.--2SM 114 (1896). {LDE 172.3}

There will be a shaking of the sieve. The chaff must in time be separated from the wheat. Because iniquity abounds, the love of many waxes cold. It is the very time when the genuine will be the strongest.--Letter 46, 1887. {LDE 173.1}

The history of the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram is being repeated, and will be repeated till the close of time. Who will be on the Lord's side? Who will be deceived, and in their turn become deceivers?--Letter 15, 1892. {LDE 173.2}

We are in the shaking time, the time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The Lord will not excuse those who know the truth if they do not in word and deed obey His commands.--6T 332 (1900). {LDE 173.4}

Today a large part of those who compose our congregations are dead in trespasses and sins. They come and go like the door upon its hinges. For years they have complacently listened to the most solemn, soul-stirring truths, but they have not put them in practice. {6T 426.4}

…a small number of those now professing to believe the truth would eventually be saved--not because they could not be saved, but because they would not be saved in God's own appointed way. {2T 445.2}

…nearly all who profess to believe present truth are unprepared to understand the work of preparation for this time. In their present state of worldly ambition, with their lack of consecration to God, their devotion to self, they are wholly unfitted to receive the latter rain and, having done all, to stand against the wrath of Satan, who by his inventions would cause them to make shipwreck of faith, fastening upon them some pleasing self-deception. They think they are all right when they are all wrong. {1T 466.1}

I saw that many professed Sabbath keepers will come short of everlasting life. They fail to take warning from the course pursued by the children of Israel and fall into some of their evil ways… I saw that many would fall this side of the kingdom. God is testing and proving His people, and many will not endure the test of character, the measurement of God. Many will have close work to overcome their peculiar traits of character and be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, unrebukable before God and man. Many professed Sabbathkeepers will be no special benefit to the cause of God or the church without a thorough reformation on their part. Many Sabbathkeepers are not right before God in their political views. {1T 533.2-3}

Not one in twenty of those who have a good standing with Seventh-day Adventists is living out the self-sacrificing principles of the word of God. {1T 632.2}

I saw that quite a number of the ministers are not awake upon this important subject. They are not all where God would have them. The result is, some can show but little fruit of their labors. Ministers should be ensamples to the flock of God. But they are not safe from Satan's temptations. They are the very ones whom he will seek to ensnare. If he can succeed in lulling one minister to carnal security, and by so doing divert his mind from the work, or deceive him with regard to his own true condition before God, he has accomplished much. {1T 466.2}

I saw that the cause of God was not progressing as it might and as it should. Ministers fail to take hold of the work with that energy, devotion, and decided perseverance which the importance of the work demands… They should be strong and valiant, and wholly devoted to the cause in which they are engaged, having no separate interest. They should not be entangled with the things of this life, that they may please Him who hath chosen them to be soldiers. {1T 467.1}

Conclusion:

The healing, the victory can be ours.

Hear!

Take!

Repent!

Seek!

Experience!

And all the evidence of lukewarmness will be erase; indifference, spiritual neutrality, self-deception and self-righteousness will be done away. God bless you!...

It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the church books are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be as verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner. {ChS 41.1} {LDE 172.1}