Monday - April 15, 2024
Savage Wolves - The Compromise /Transigence of the Church
Acts 20:27-32; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12.
“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30).
A Sheep in the Midst of Wolves
Notwithstanding, as Christ's representatives, you are as sheep in the midst of wolves, you have One with you who can help you under all circumstances, and you will not be devoured by these wolves if you keep close to Jesus. How careful you should be to represent Jesus in every word and action! You should feel when you arise in the morning, and when you go out upon the street, and when you come in, that Jesus loves you, that He is by your side, and that you must not cherish a thought that will grieve your Saviour. . . . {TMK 183.4}
The evil angels may be all around you to press their darkness upon you, but the will of God is greater than their power. And if you do not in word or action, or in any way, make Christ ashamed of you, the sweet blessing and peace of God will be in your heart every day you live. {TMK 183.5}
The Good Shepherd Cares for the Sheep
Christ says, "The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine." Verses 11-14. {PP 191.1}
Need Not Meet the Wolves in the Same Spirit that They Possess
Jesus says, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves." But you need not meet the wolves in the same spirit that they themselves possess. You are to be "as harmless as doves." In meeting those who are fierce of spirit, you must manifest meekness and love, and the manifestation of this spirit will frequently change the spirit of the wolf, and a wonderful transformation will take place. "But beware of men." Do not open to men all your counsels. Do not put implicit confidence in those who know not God, and open to them the whole of the sacred treasure of the truth. "For they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues." This does not mean simply that you will be scourged in the synagogues with the tongue, as many of you are today in the pulpits of the land, but that men making high professions will treat you with violence. "And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles." The light is to be brought before kings and before the great men of the earth, although they may receive it in the same manner in which Pharaoh received the testimony of the servants of the Lord, and ask, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice?" {RH, April 26, 1892 par. 7}
To the Law and to the Testimony
There are many who claim to be sanctified. They are not slow to declare before the people that they have not committed sin for years. But this profession does not constitute proof of their statement. If they were holy, their conversation would be holy, their testimony would be in accordance with the divine will, their prayers would be modeled after the prayers of Christ. They would pray, "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." We are living in days when deception is on every hand. We are warned to "beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." We are to know them by their fruits. The Lord said, "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." {ST, January 31, 1895 par. 1}
Consider the Following
— Paul expressed his concern for the external and internal problems that must be faced in the future (Acts 20:29-30).
(1) Predatory wolves. From the year 64 to 311 (Serdica edict of tolerance), the Church suffered fierce persecution from the Roman Empire.
(2) Perverse men. Starting in the 4th century, unconverted men were introduced into the Church who mixed their paganism with the truth.
— Satan used his “internal” strategy to corrupt the truth and introduce idolatry and Sunday observance into the Church.
— As Paul prophesied, these errors were accepted, and will remain to the end among those who do not want to know the truth (2 Thes. 2:7-12). The final battle will be based on compromise with the Sabbath.
