Whose Side, of the Great Controversy,
are the Vendens on?
This article is a Bible and Spirit of Prophecy study on important things that we Seventh-day
Adventists need to know. It takes a look at a few of the teachings of the Vendens, and encourages
you to tap into a connection with the Holy Spirit so He will tell you personally whose side they are on,
as compared with each related portion of the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy doctrine just focused on.
Links directly into the Spirit of Prophecy website, have been painstakingly included. You are strongly
encouraged to look up every reference, and carefully, prayerfully, consider the context for yourself,
asking the Lord at every step, “
is this the way of the Lord?
” I try not to make too many of my own
comments, letting our foundation speak for itself.
QR codes & Links at the end
Listen as this is read.
All of this is still under construction.
This Current Build
is 4.1.0058
Refresh or re- download for the latest.
The three
M
ain focuses of the study are:
1.
The importance of, and power of, God's Word.
M
1
Page 6
2.
Our duty in the war against the devil, and sin.
M
2
Page 19
3.
How does the Lord transform our nature, before He returns, and how important is that?
M
3
Page 35
These three
, really are the main objectives in this, and have a far more,
"
eternal weight of glory
,
"
1
than the title suggests. Hearts and minds are
directed toward considerations that have, "
an eternal weight of glory.
"
1
Stand:
Then toward the bottom there are additional references on the importance of taking a stand.
Page 50
Seven Analytical Questions:
These below, are seven questions that will be asked again, and again, as related to what the
Vendens teach on these three main important points shown above. The references to these are the
first group of references below. These are seven questions to prayerfully consider as you compare
their teachings, to messages that are known to be from God:
1. Are these teachings “
according,”
to God’s word?
Isaiah 8:20
2. Does this “
so closely
” “
resemble the true
,” that it is difficult to tell?
GC 593.1
3. Is “
every statement
” in line with “
the doctrine of Christ
?”
GC 593.1
2 John 1:9-11
4. Is this easy to see with God’s “
power to distinguish
?”
SpTB02 8.2
5. Are Christ’s instructions being “
strictly heeded
,” not missing “
one word
?”
9T 266.1
6. Is this a “
lie
?”
9T 266.1
7. Or is this “
truth
?”
9T 266.1
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Emphasis and Reference Comparisons:
Rather than making this filled with
many of my own comments
, the Spirit of God
wanted me to
prayerfully provide emphasis by using
unconventional formatting
including
underlining
,
font
colors
,
font size changes
, and so forth, to help make it easier to call attention to the thoughts
that your attention is being directed toward as related to each concept being considered. In other
words, “
emphasis
is
supplied,” but does
not
indicate the tone or loudness of the voice
intended.
” I will
not
state this every place that it is supplied.
You must
assume
that it is. You are
encouraged to look up each reference for yourself. There, you can compare text that doesn't contain
my added emphasis, with this here that does. Then see if you can
spot these items there
, and
prayerfully consider
everything together, in all its context
. Though these large letters maybe
misunderstood as being intended for loud, unpleasant words, that is not what is intended by them, as
you might normally expect. Instead, they are to simply
quietly
call your attention to certain
concepts that relate to various sections of the study, using fewer words of my own
, so you can more
easily scan the study, and see the related words you have already read, and ones you are about to
read. While loudness, nor feelings of irritation or anger, are not intended by the larger letters. A
slowing down of the speed that the words are read at, maybe appropriate, to
softly
and
gently
provide emphasis in that way, with tones of voice that are at times
filled with sadness
, as our angels
have as they whisper into our ears to try to remind us of these things that we have tendencies to
forget and overlook.
If I got it right, the
Arial
text is mine, and the
Times New Roman
is the original wording from the
Bible and Spirit of Prophecy
.
The little “L”s are links for Libronix, and may work for Logos. They
worked for me with Libronix originally, but may be broken now for you and need fixing. I hope to
check these more carefully, and make them more widely compatible. These will hopefully work for
those who know how to use them, so they can bring up their own books, with their own emphasis,
highlighting and notes to compare concepts, more quickly and easily, there. Additionally, there are
some references that are included more than once. Rather than put in more of my own comments
,
some of the references are included additional times,
to make it easier to compare them to ones
that are nearer them than the first time they were quoted, and for additional emphasis to jog your
memory if you don't remember it exactly word for word from seeing it the first time. I believe that one
of the biggest problems that our church has today, is that there are too many people writing about
what they think it says, and not enough focus on carefully considering and comparing what is being
said, to what it actually says in the original Holy Spirit moved references. An "
idolatrous
exaltation
of human wisdom above divine revelation
,
" that we are warned about in
PK 177
and
178
, is
something I want
no part of
. It is a form of
idolatry
to focus more on what someone of our day says
,
than on what God has told us through His ordained channels in the past. Therefore, I have tried to
keep my comments to a minimum, by using these methods explained in this paragraph, instead of
risking saying to much.
The Seven Analytical Questions References:
This first reference below, is from the Spirit of Prophecy book entitled, “
The Great Controversy,
”
page 593.
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Chap. 37 -
The Scriptures a Safeguard
“"
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not
according to this word
, it is because
there is
no
light
in them
." Isaiah 8:20. The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence
of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness. Satan employs every possible device to prevent
men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances reveal his deceptions. At every revival of
God’s work the prince of evil is aroused to more intense activity; he is now putting forth his utmost efforts for a
final struggle against Christ and His followers. The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to
perform his marvelous works in our sight.
So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true
that it will
be impossible to distinguish between them except by the
Holy Scriptures
. By their testimony
every
statement
and every miracle
must be tested
.
{
GC 593.1
}
L
Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand
only in God.
In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in
His word
; they can honor Him only as they have
a right conception of His character, government, and
purposes, and act in accordance with them.
None
but those who have
fortified the mind
with the
truths of the Bible
will stand through the last great
[BEGIN P.594]
conflict
. To every soul will
come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet
planted on the rock of
God’s immutable word
? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the
commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?”
{
GC 593.2
}
L
1 Corinthians 2:15 and 16
“
15
But he that is spiritual
judgeth all things
, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16
For who hath known the
mind of the Lord
,
that he may instruct him?
But we have the mind of Christ.”
1 Cor 2:15-16
L
Do you have the
“mind of the Lord,”
such that He will instruct you? If not, how is it that we are to
receive the “
mind of the Lord
”, so that He will instruct us? Keep reading.
Hebrews 5:12 - 14
“
12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which
be
the
first
principles
of the
oracles of God
; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13
For
every one that useth
milk
is
unskilful in the
word of righteousness:
for he is a
babe.
14
But
strong meat
belongeth to them that are of full age,
even
those who by
reason of use
have their
senses exercised to discern
both good and evil.
”
Hebrews 5:12-14
L
Isaiah 28:9-11
“
9
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand
doctrine
?
them that are
weaned from the milk
,
and
drawn from the breasts.
10
For
precept
must be
upon
precept,
precept upon
precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little,
and
there a little:
11
For with stammering lips and another
tongue will he speak to this people.
12
To whom he said, This
is
the
rest
wherewith
ye may cause the weary to
rest; and this
is
the refreshing:
yet they would not hear.”
Isaiah 28:9-11
L
1 Corinthians 6:3
“
3
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”
1 Corinthians 6:3
L
Review and Herald, November 14, 1907
“
I am instructed
to bear this message to ministers: Judge not after the desire of your own mind. Do not, in
order to carry out your own plans, bring forward that which will condemn another. Such a work is not a work of
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righteousness, and is one which God forbids.
If
you are under the
sweet influence of Christ's Spirit
, it
is your
privilege
to give counsel to your brother;
but
if
y
ou are
not under
the
direction
of the
Spirit of God,
keep silence
.
It is God's prerogative to judge, not man's. Man is debarred from the seat
of judgment by the words of Christ, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall
be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.'” {
Review and Herald, November
14, 1907 par. 6
}
This was put together under the
direction
of the Spirit of God.
If you can not hear the Holy
Spirit's Voice yourself, now
,
above all other times in the past
, you need to carefully consider all
the references here that the spot light is currently shining on, and everything else that God has told
us, so that you can also have a connection with God, such that you will hear the voice of His Holy
Spirit. God wants all of us to have this type of connection with Him, so He can directly give us
directions, on wrong and right, and what we need to do.
Acts of the Apostles
pages 554 and 555.
“Whosoever transgresseth, and
abideth
not
in the
doctrine of Christ
,
hath
not
God
. He that
abideth
in
the
doctrine of Christ,
he
hath both
the Father and the Son.
10
If there come
any
unto you, and bring not this
doctrine
, receive him
not
into
your
house
,
neither
bid
him God speed
:
11
For he that biddeth him
God speed
is
partaker of his evil deeds
.
”
2 John 1:9-11
L
Also in
the last part of
{
AA 554.2
}
“
We are authorized
to hold in the same estimation as did the beloved disciple those who
claim to abide in
Christ
while living in transgression of God’s law.
There exist in these last days evils similar to those that
threatened the prosperity of the early church;
and the teachings of the apostle John on these points
should be
carefully heeded.
"You must have charity," is the cry heard everywhere,
[BEGIN P.555]
especially from those who profess sanctification. But true charity is too pure to cover an unconfessed sin
. While
we are to love the souls for whom Christ died, we are to make
no
compromise with evil
.
We are
not
to
unite
with the rebellious and call this charity
.
God requires His people in this age of the world to stand for
the right as
unflinchingly
as did John in opposition to
soul-destroying errors
.
{
AA 554.3
}
L
The apostle teaches that while we should manifest Christian courtesy we are authorized to
deal in plain
terms with sin and sinners
;
that this is
not
inconsistent with true charity
. "Whosoever committeth sin," he
writes, "transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested
to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.
Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not:
whosoever sinneth hath
not seen Him,
neither known Him
."”
{
AA 555.1
}
L
Are these references saying that we are supposed to be empowered by the Spirit of God, to tell
whose side teachers claiming to work for Jesus are really on?
This reference below, is from the little Spirit of Prophecy booklet entitled, “
Testimonies for the
Church Containing Letters to Physicians and Ministers Instructions to Seventh-day
Adventists.
” It is found in chapter number one, that is also entitled, “The Great Controversy.” When
finished with this article, carefully consider this entire chapter, only portions of which are included
here.
“Through the
transforming power of the grace of Christ
, men may prevail against the evil that strives for
the victory. They need not become the servants of Satan, the
dupes
of his lies. They need not continue to be his
willing captives. They may rise against the deceiver, whose wily tissue of lies cost our first parents their Eden
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home. They may resist the attacks of Satan.
God can give them power to distinguish
between
falsehood and error, between sincerity and truth
. If they choose, they may stand on vantage ground. But
they can continue to stand there only by placing their hand in the hand of Christ, and
following where He leads
the way
.”
{
SpTB02 8.2
}
L
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 9
,
page 266
"It is always safe to be meek and lowly and tenderhearted,
but at the same time we are to be as firm as a
rock to the teachings of Christ.
His words
of instruction are to be strictly heeded.
Not one
word
is to be lost sight of.
The truth will abide forever.
We are not to place our
trust in
any lie
or pretense.
Those who do this will find that it has been done at
the loss of eternal life.
We are now to make straight paths for our feet, lest the lame be turned out of
the way. When the lame are turned from safe paths, who is accountable but
those who have misled them
?
They have set at nought the counsel of the One whose
words
are life eternal, for the works of deception
originating with the father of lies.” {
9T 266.1
}
L
Evangelism
, page 590
“
Diverging Paths of Truth and Error
—Satan's angels are wise to do evil, and they will create that which
some will claim to be advanced light, and will proclaim it as new and wonderful; yet while in some respects the
message may be truth
, it will be mingled with human inventions, and will teach for doctrine the commandments
of men. If there was ever a time when we should watch and pray in real earnest,
it is now.
Many apparently
good things
will need to
be carefully
considered with much prayer
, for they are specious
devices of the enemy to lead souls in a path which lies so close to the path of truth that it will be scarcely
distinguishable from it.
But the eye of faith may discern that it is diverging, though
almost imperceptibly
,
from the right path
. At first it may be thought positively right, but after a while it is seen to be
widely divergent
from
the way which leads to holiness and heaven
. My brethren, I warn you to make straight paths for your
feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way.” {
Ev 590.1
}
Brief Background and Exhortation:
The cousins, Lee and Gary Venden, currently work for the Arizona Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists. Their web site says they are working together to help people learn about having a real
relationship with Jesus. Lee, is the son of the late Morris Venden, who not only worked as a pastor for
several different Seventh-day Adventist churches during his life time, but also wrote several different
books. Being raised in the house of his father, Lee would no doubt have been taught by him.
Similarly, Gary states this, on the about page, of their “All About Jesus Seminars,” web site. “Gary
carries a special passion for the message of ‘Righteousness by Faith,’ which he learned from his
cousin and
mentor
, Morris Venden.” So what Morris Venden taught, is clearly the foundation of what
they teach, and believe.
Following below, are some quotes from books he has written. They still stand in support of these
statements, because they are on their list of good books about Jesus. The Lord encouraged me to
put these statements, just below selected references from the Bible, and the Spirit of Prophecy, on
the topics of those quotes from their books. This article then asks you the questions shown at the top,
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to encourage you to think about whether or not these are in harmony with God, or out of harmony
with God. Is it almost, but not quite what God told us? Or is it easy to see differences? Is this a lie, or
is it the truth?
1. The Importance of, and Power of, God’s Word:
Section Summary:
Preceding References
Cited Statement #1
Fine Tuning Questions #1
Cited Statement #1
Preceding References
. Carefully read the references below,
then read the “
Cited Statement #1
,” just under them. When finished considering this article, please
look up, and review all the context of all Bible, and Spirit of Prophecy references.
Matthew 4:1-11
“
1
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2
And when he had
fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If
thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4
But he answered and said,
It is written
,
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5
Then the
devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6
And saith unto him, If thou
be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in
their
hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7
Jesus said unto him,
It is
written
again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high
mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9
And saith unto him, All
these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10
Then saith Jesus unto him,
Get thee
hence, Satan: for
it is written
, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11
Then the
devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”
Matthew 4:1-11
L
****
Additional references that are being consider to add in this section can be found here.
****
I got many of them here now, but some are not yet.
John 1:1-4
“
1
In the beginning was
the Word
, and
the Word
was with God, and
the Word was
God
.
2
The same was in the beginning with God.
3
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing
made that was made.
4
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
John 1:1-4
L
John 1:14
“
And the
Word was made flesh
, and dwelled among us,
…..”
John 1:14
Luke 4:31-32
“
31
And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
32
And they were
astonished at his doctrine: for
his word
was
with power
.”
Luke 4:31-32
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Hebrews 4:12
“
12
For the
word of God
is
quick
, and
powerful
, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to
the
dividing asunder
of soul and spirit
, and of the joints and marrow, and
is
a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
L
Strongs 2198 on the word quick.
“
2198 ζάω [zao /dzah·o/]
v. A primary verb; TDNT 2:832; TDNTA 290; GK 2409; 143 occurrences; AV
translates as “
live
” 117 times, “be
alive
” nine times, “
alive
” six times, “
quick
” four times, “
lively
” three
times, not translated once, translated miscellaneously twice, and “vr live” once.
1
to
live
, breathe, be among the
living (not lifeless, not dead).
2
to enjoy real life. 2a to have true life and worthy of the name. 2b active, blessed,
endless in the kingdom of God.
3
to live i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living and acting. 3a of mortals or
character.
4
living
water, having
vital power in itself
and exerting the same upon the soul.
5
metaph. to be in full vigour. 5a to be fresh, strong, efficient,. 5b as adj. active, powerful, efficacious.”
Strong, J.
(1996).
The exhaustive concordance of the Bible.
L
1 Peter 1:22-23
“
22
Seeing
ye
have
purif
ied
your souls in obeying
the truth
through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of
the brethren,
see that ye
love
one another with a
pure
heart fervently:
23
Being born again, not of corruptible
seed, but of incorruptible,
by
the word of God
,
which
liveth
and
abideth
for ever
.
1 Peter 1:22 – 23
L
John 6:63
“
63
It is the spirit that
quickeneth
; the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words
that
I speak unto you,
they
are spirit, and
they
are life.
”
John 6:63
Strongs 2227 on the word quick.
“
2227 ζῳοποιέω
[
zoopoieo
/dzo·op·oy·
eh
·o/] v. From the same as 2226 and 4160; TDNT 2:874; TDNTA
290; GK 2443; 12 occurrences; AV translates as “
quicken
” nine times, “
give life
” twice, and “
make alive
”
once.
1
to produce alive, begat or bear living young.
2
to cause to live, make alive, give life. 2a by spiritual
power to arouse and invigorate. 2b to restore to life. 2c to give increase of life: thus of physical life. 2d of the
spirit, quickening as respects the spirit, endued with new and greater powers of life.
3
metaph., of seeds
quickened into life, i.e. germinating, springing up, growing.”
Strong, J. (1996).
The exhaustive concordance of the Bible.
L
Ezekiel 2:2
"And the
spirit
entered into me when
he spake
unto me, ..."
Ezekiel 2:2
.
L
John 14:26
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all
things, and
bring all things to your
remembrance
, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 14:26
L
Selected Messages
, Book 2, Page 38
“
Much is being said regarding the impartation of the Holy Spirit, and by some this is being so interpreted that
it is an
injury to the churches
.
Eternal life
is the receiving
[BEGIN P.39]
of the
living elements
in the
Scriptures
and doing the will of God.
This is eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God
. To
those who do this, life and immortality are brought to light through the gospel, for
God’s Word
is verity and
truth,
spirit and life
.
It is the privilege of all who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour to feed on
the
Word of God.
The Holy Spirit’s influence renders that
Word, the Bible
, an immortal truth, which to the
prayerful searcher gives
spiritual sinew and muscle
.”
{
2SM 38.4
}
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Selected Messages
, Book 2, Page 39
“
Every true searcher of the
Word
lifts his heart to God, imploring the aid of the Spirit. And he soon
discovers that which carried him above all the fictitious statements of the would-be teacher, whose weak,
tottering theories are not sustained by the Word of the living God. These theories were invented by men who
had not learned the
first great
lesson,
that God’s Spirit and life
are in
His Word
.
If they
had received
in the heart
the
eternal element
contained in the
Word of God
, they would see how tame
and expressionless are all efforts to get something new to create a sensation. They need to learn
the very
first principles
of the
Word of God
; they would then have the
word of life
for the people, who will
soon distinguish the chaff from the wheat, for Jesus left His promise with His disciples.--Letter 132, 1900.”
{
2SM 39.2
}
L
Christ's Object Lessons,
page 38
“
The word of God is the seed. Every seed has in itself a germinating principle. In it the life of the plant is
enfolded. So there is
life
in
God’s word.
Christ says, "The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and
they are life." John 6:63. "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life."
John 5:24. In every command and in every promise of the
word of God is the power,
the very life of
God
,
by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized.
He who by faith receives
the word
is
receiving
the very life and character of God
.
”
{
COL 38.1
}
L
"...
the
word
was God.
...."
John 1:1-4
.
L
"...
the very life of God."
COL 38.1
L
“
And the
Word was made flesh
, ...” John 1:14
Psalms 119:50
“
50
This
is
my comfort in my affliction: for
thy word
hath
quickened
me.”
Psalms 119:50
L
Strongs 2421 on the word quickened.
"
2421
היח
[chayah /khaw·yaw/]
v. A primitive root [compare 2331, 2421]; TWOT 644; GK 2649; 262
occurrences; AV translates as “
live
” 153 times, “alive” 34 times, “save” 13 times, “
quicken
” 14 times,
“revive” 12 times, “surely” 10 times, “life” nine times, “recover” eight times, and translated miscellaneously
nine times.
1
to
live
, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be
alive, be restored to life or health.
1a (Qal).
1a1
to live. 1a1a to have life. 1a1b to continue in life, remain
alive. 1a1c to sustain life, to live on or upon. 1a1d to live (prosperously).
1a2
to revive,
be quickened
.
1a2a from sickness. 1a2b from discouragement. 1a2c from faintness. 1a2d from death. 1b (Piel).
1b1
to preserve
alive, let live.
1b2
to give life.
1b3
to quicken, revive, refresh. 1b3a to restore to life. 1b3b to cause to grow.
1b3c to restore. 1b3d to revive. 1c (Hiphil).
1c1
to preserve alive, let live.
1c2
to quicken, revive. 1c2a to restore
(to health). 1c2b to revive. 1c2c to restore to life." Enhanced Strong's Lexicon
L
Hebrews 1:3
“
Who being the brightness of
his
glory, and
the express image of his person
, and
upholding
all
things
by
the
word
of his power
,
when he had by himself
purg
ed
our sins,
sat down on the right hand of the
Majesty on high;
”
Hebrews 1:3
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2 Peter 1:4
“
Whereby
are given
unto us
exceeding
great
and precious
promises
:
that
by
these
ye might be
partakers
of the
divine nature,
having escap
ed
the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
2
Peter 1:4
L
Proverbs 4:20-22
“
20
My son, attend to my
words
;
incline thine ear unto my
sayings
.
21
Let them not depart
from thine
eyes;
keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22
For
they
are
life
unto those that find them,
and
health
to
all
their flesh.”
Proverbs 4:20-22
L
Mark 10:27
“
27
And Jesus looking upon them saith,
With men
it is
impossible, but not with God: for
with God
all
things are possible.”
Mark 10:27
L
John 17:17
“
17
Sanctify
them through thy truth:
thy word is truth.
” John 17:17
L
Ephesians 5:25-27
“
Husbands, love your wives, even as
Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself for it;
26
That he might
sanctify and cleanse
it
with
the
washing of water
by the word
,
27
That he might
present
it to himself a
glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle
,
or
any such thing
; but that
it should be holy and without
blemish
.
” Ephesians 5:25-27
L
Isaiah 55:7-11
“
7
Let the wicked
forsake his way
, and the unrighteous man
his thoughts
: and let him return unto the LORD,
and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8
For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are
my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10
For as the
rain
cometh down, and the
snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but
watereth
the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that
it may give
seed
to the sower, and
bread
to the eater:
11
So shall
my
word
be
that goeth forth out of
my mouth:
it
shall not
return
unto me void, but
it
shall
accomplish
accomplish
that which I please, and it shall
prosper
in the thing
whereto I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:7-11
L
Is it the second coming of Christ that is to accomplish this?
Can you see that it is the
word of God
, that is to
accomplish
accomplish
this?
Hebrews 5:12-14
“
12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which
be
the
first
principles
of the
oracles of God
; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
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13
For every one that useth milk
is
unskilful in the
word of righteousness:
for he is a
babe.
14
But
strong
meat
belongeth to them that are of full age,
even
those who by
reason of use
have their
senses exercised to
discern both good and evil.
”
Hebrews 5:12-14
L
Selected Messages
, page 39
Repeating this again in brief:
“
...first great
lesson
,
that God’s Spirit and life
are in
His Word. ...
They
need to learn
the very first principles
of the
Word of God
;” {
2SM 39.2
}
L
Why have so many overlooked that all of these references are apart of the “
first
principles?
”
Psalms 33:6
“
6
By
the
word of the LORD
were the heavens made
; and all the host of them by the breath of his
mouth.”
Psalms 33:6
L
2 Peter 3:5-7
“
5
For this they
willingly
are ignorant of
, that
by
the word of God
the
heavens
were
of
old
, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6
Whereby the world that then was, being
overflowed with water, perished:
7
But the heavens and the earth, which
are now
,
by
the same word
are
kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
2 Peter 3:5-7
L
Hebrews 11:3
“
3
Through faith we understand that the worlds
were framed
by
the word of God
,
so that
things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
Hebrews 11:3
L
Psalms 138:2
“
2
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for
thy truth
: for
thou hast
magnified
thy word
above
all thy name.
”
Psalms 138:2
L
Revelation 19:13
“
13
And he
was
clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and
his
name
is
called The Word of
God
.”
Revelation 19:13
L
Revelation 14:1 and 2
“
1
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty
and
four thousand,
having
his Father’s
name
written
in
their foreheads.
2
And I heard a voice from heaven, as the
voice of many waters …..
” Revelation 14:1
-2
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Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God
is
one LORD:
5
And thou shalt
love
the LORD thy God with all
thine heart
,
and with
all thy soul
, and with
all thy might.
6
And these
words
, which I command thee this
day
,
shall be
in
thine heart
:
7
And thou shalt
teach them diligently
unto thy children, and shalt
talk of
them
when thou sittest
in thine house
, and when thou walkest
by the way
, and when thou
liest down
, and
when thou
risest up
.
8
And thou shalt bind them for a
sign upon thine hand
, and they shall be as
frontlets
between thine eyes.
9
And thou shalt
write them upon
the
posts of thy house
, and
on thy gates
.”
Deuteronomy
6:4-9
L
James 1:21
“
21
Wherefore lay apart
all
filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and
receive
with meekness
the
engrafted word
,
which is able to save your souls.”
James 1:21
L
Psalms 119:11
“
11
Thy word have I hid
in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
”
Psalms
119:11
L
John 15:3
“
Now ye are
clean
through
the word
which I have spoken unto you.
”
John 15:3
John 15:7
“
7
If
ye
abide in me
,
and
my words
abide
in
you
,
ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto
you.”
John 15:7
L
Last Day Events
, Page 66
“
Several times each day precious, golden moments should be consecrated to prayer and the study of the
Scriptures,
if it is only to
commit a text to memory
,
that spiritual life may
exist in the soul
.
”
4T 459.1
{
LDE 66.6
}
From the Spirit of Prophecy book entitled, “
Desire of Ages
,
” see these selections
from the chapter entitled, “The Temptation.”
The temptation is mentioned more below.
Carefully note the importance of God’s word as described here. Come back here to see the
emphasis, after you see the cited statement #1 below.
“The
words
from heaven, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (
Matt. 3:17
), were still
sounding in the ears of Satan. But he was determined to make Christ disbelieve this testimony.
The
word of
God
was Christ’s assurance of His divine mission.
He had come to live as a man among men, and it was
the
word
that declared His
connection
with heaven.
It was Satan’s purpose to cause Him to
doubt that word.
[
See DA 121.2 below
] If Christ’s confidence in God could be shaken, Satan knew that
the victory in the whole controversy would be his. He could overcome Jesus. He hoped that under the force of
despondency and extreme hunger, Christ would lose faith in His Father, and work a miracle in His own behalf.
Had He done this, the plan of salvation would have been broken.”
{
DA 119.1
}
L
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“…… Though Jesus recognized Satan from the beginning,
He was not provoked to enter into controversy
with him.
Strengthened with the
memory
of the
voice
[BEGIN P.120]
from heaven
, He rested in His
Father’s love. He would not parley with temptation.
{
DA 119.3
}
L
Jesus met Satan with
the
words of Scripture
.
"It is written,"
He said.
In every temptation
the
weapon
of His warfare was the
word of God
.
Satan demanded of Christ a miracle as a sign
of His divinity. But that which is
greater
than all miracles, a
firm reliance upon a "
Thus saith the
Lord
,"
was a sign that could not be controverted. So long as Christ held to this position, the tempter could
gain no advantage.
{
DA 120.1
}
L
It was in the time of greatest weakness that Christ was assailed by the fiercest temptations. Thus Satan
thought to prevail. By this policy he had gained the victory over men. When strength failed, and the will power
weakened, and faith ceased to repose in God, then those who had stood long and valiantly for the right were
overcome. Moses was wearied with the forty years’ wandering of Israel, when for the moment his faith let go its
hold upon
infinite power
.
He failed just upon the borders of the Promised Land. So with Elijah, who had
stood undaunted before King Ahab, who had faced the whole nation of Israel, with the four hundred and fifty
prophets of Baal at their head. After that terrible day upon Carmel, when the false prophets had been slain, and
the people had declared their allegiance to God, Elijah fled for his life before the threats of the idolatrous
Jezebel. Thus Satan has taken advantage of the weakness of humanity.
And he will still work in the same way.
Whenever one is encompassed with clouds, perplexed by circumstances, or afflicted by poverty or distress,
Satan is at hand to tempt and annoy. He attacks our weak points of character. He seeks to shake our confidence
in God, who suffers such a condition of things to exist. We are tempted to distrust God, to question His love.
Often the tempter comes to us as he came to Christ, arraying before us our
[BEGIN P.121]
weakness and
infirmities. He hopes to discourage the soul, and to break our hold on God. Then he is sure of his prey.
If we
would meet him
as Jesus did
, we should escape many a defeat.
By parleying with the enemy, we
give him an advantage.
{
DA 120.2
}
When Christ said to the tempter, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word
that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God," He repeated
the words
that, more than fourteen hundred years before, He had
spoken to Israel: "The Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness. . . . And He humbled thee, and
suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He
might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by
every word
that proceedeth out of the
mouth of the Lord doth man live." Deut. 8:2, 3. In the wilderness, when all means of sustenance failed, God
sent His people manna from heaven; and a sufficient and constant supply was given. This provision was to
teach them that while they trusted in God and walked in His ways He would not forsake them. The Saviour now
practiced the lesson He had taught to Israel.
By
the word
of God succor had been given to the Hebrew host,
and by
the
same word
it would be given to Jesus. He awaited God’s time to bring relief. He was in the
wilderness in obedience to God, and He would not obtain food by following the suggestions of Satan. In the
presence of the witnessing universe, He testified that it is a less calamity to suffer whatever may befall than to
depart in any manner from the will of God.
{
DA 121.1
}
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word of God
.
" Often the follower of Christ is brought
where he cannot serve God and carry forward his worldly enterprises. Perhaps it appears that obedience to some
plain requirement of God will cut off his means of support. Satan would make him believe that he must sacrifice
his conscientious convictions. But the only thing in our world upon which we can rely is the
word of God
.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt.
6:33. Even in this life it is not for our good to depart from the will of our Father in heaven. When we learn the
power
of
His word
, we shall not follow the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or to save our
lives. Our only questions will be, What is
God’s command
? and what
His promise
? Knowing these, we shall
obey the one, and trust the other
.
{
DA 121.2
}
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Desire of Ages,
Page 671
“
When He [the Spirit of truth] is
come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of
judgment." The preaching of
the word
will be of no avail without the continual presence and aid of the Holy
Spirit. This is the only effectual teacher of divine truth. Only [BEGIN P.672] when
the truth
is accompanied to
the heart by the Spirit will it quicken the conscience or
transform the life
. One might be able to present the
letter of the
word of God
, he might be familiar with all its
commands and promises
; but unless the
Holy
Spirit
sets home the truth
, no souls will fall on the Rock and be broken. No amount of
education, no advantages, however great, can make one a channel of light without the
co-operation
of the
Spirit of God.
The sowing of the
gospel seed
will not be a success unless the seed is quickened into life by the
dew of heaven. Before one book of the
New Testament
was written, before one gospel sermon had been
preached after Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon the praying apostles. Then the testimony of their
enemies was, "Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine." Acts 5:28.” {
DA 671.4
}
L
Please pray with me, that the Holy Spirit “
sets home the truth
” for us, and everyone who reads
this.
Education
, Page 126
“
The
creative energy
that called the worlds into existence is in
the word of God. This
word imparts power
; it begets life.
Every command is a promise; accepted by the will,
received into
the soul
,
it brings with it the life of the Infinite One
.
It transforms the nature
and re-creates the
soul in the image of God.
{
Ed 126.4
}
L
The
life
thus
imparted
is in like manner
sustained
. "
By every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of
God" (Matthew 4:4) shall man live.
{
Ed 126.5
}
The mind, the soul, is built up by that upon which it feeds; and it rests with us to determine upon what it
shall
[BEGIN P.127]
be fed. It is within the power of everyone to choose the topics that shall occupy the
thoughts and shape the character.
Of every human being privileged with access to the Scriptures,
God says,
"I have written to him the great things of My law." "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great
and mighty things, which thou knowest not."
Hosea 8:12
;
Jeremiah 33:3
.”
{
Ed 126.6
}
L
Signs of the Times
,
June 25, 1902 paragraphs 15 and 16
.
“….. As you have opportunity, read it;
fix the texts in your memory
. Even while you are walking the
streets, you may read a passage, and meditate upon it, thus
fixing
it in the mind
.
{
ST, June 25, 1902 par. 15
}
L
The life of Christ, that gives life to the world, is in
His Word
. It was by
His word
that
Jesus healed disease and cast out demons; by
His word
He stilled the sea, and raised the dead; and the people
bore witness that
His word
was
with power
. He spoke the
word of God
,
as He had spoken to all the
prophets and teachers of the Old Testament. The
whole Bible
is a manifestation of Christ.
It is our source
of power.
”
{
ST, June 25, 1902 par. 16
}
L
Church Schools,
Page 15
“
"O, for a clearer perception of what we might accomplish if we would
learn of Jesus
. The
springs
of
heavenly peace and joy, unsealed in the soul of the teacher
by the
magic words
of inspiration
, will
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become a
mighty river
of influence to bless all who connect with Him. …"”
{
PH131 15.1
}
L
Selected Messages, Volume 2, Page 39
“
"Search
the scriptures,
" Christ declared, "for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which
testify of me" (John 5:39). Those who dig beneath the surface discover the
hidden gems of truth.
The Holy
Spirit is present with the earnest searcher. Its illumination shines upon
the Word
,
stamping
the truth
upon the mind
with a new, fresh importance. The searcher is filled with a sense of peace and joy never
before felt. The preciousness of
truth
is realized as never before. A new, heavenly light shines upon
the Word
,
illuminating it as though every letter were
tinged with gold
. God Himself has spoken to the
mind and heart
,
making
the Word
spirit and life
. {
2SM 39.1
}
L
Every true searcher of the
Word
lifts his heart to God, imploring the aid of the Spirit. And he soon discovers
that which carried him above all the fictitious statements of the would-be teacher, whose weak, tottering
theories are not sustained by the Word of the living God. These theories were invented by men who had not
learned the
first great
lesson
,
that God’s Spirit and life
are in
His Word
.
If they had
received
in the heart
the eternal element contained in the
Word of God
, they would see how tame and
expressionless are all efforts to get something new to create a sensation. They need to learn
the very first
principles
of the
Word of God
; they would then have the
word of life
for the people, who will soon
distinguish the chaff from the wheat, for Jesus left His promise with His disciples.--Letter 132, 1900.” [BEGIN
P.40] {
2SM 39.2
}
L
Desire of Ages, Pages 257 and 258
"So it will be in the great final conflict of the controversy between righteousness and sin. While new life and light and power are
descending from on high upon the disciples of Christ, a new life is springing up from beneath, and energizing the agencies of Satan.
Intensity is taking possession of every earthly element. With a subtlety gained through centuries of conflict, the prince of evil works
under a disguise. He appears clothed as an angel of light
, and multitudes are "
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils."
1 Tim. 4:1. {
DA 257.2
}
L
In the days of Christ the leaders and teachers of Israel were powerless to resist the work of Satan. They were neglecting the only
means by which they could have withstood evil spirits. It was by the
word of God
that Christ overcame the wicked one.
The leaders
of Israel professed to be the expositors of
God’s word
, but they had studied it only to sustain their traditions, and enforce their man-
made observances. By their interpretation they made it express sentiments that God had never given. Their mystical construction made
indistinct that which He had made plain. They disputed over insignificant technicalities, and practically denied the most essential
truths. Thus infidelity was sown broadcast.
God’s word
was robbed of its power
, and evil spirits worked their will. {
DA 257.3
}
History is repeating. With the open Bible before them, and professing to reverence its teachings, many of the religious leaders of
our time are
destroying faith
in it as the
word of God
. They busy themselves with dissecting the word, and set their own opinions
above its plainest statements.
In their hands
God’s word
loses its
regenerating
power
. This is why
infidelity runs riot, and iniquity is rife
. {DA 258.1}
L
When Satan has undermined
faith
in
the Bible
, he directs men to
other
sources for light and power
. Thus he insinuates
himself. Those who turn from the plain teaching of Scripture and the convicting power of God’s Holy Spirit are inviting the control of
demons
. Criticism and speculation concerning the Scriptures have opened the way for spiritism and theosophy--those modernized
forms of ancient heathenism--to gain a foothold even in the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ. {DA 258.2}
Side by side with the preaching of the gospel, agencies are at work which are but the medium of lying spirits
. Many a man tampers
with these merely from curiosity, but seeing evidence of the working of a more than human power, he is lured on and on, until he is
controlled by a will stronger than his own. He cannot escape from its mysterious power. {DA 258.3}
The defenses of the soul are broken down. He has no barrier against sin. When once the restraints of
God’s word
and
His Spirit
are rejected, no man knows to what depths of degradation he may sink. Secret sin or master passion may hold him a captive as
helpless as was the demoniac of Capernaum.
Yet his condition is not hopeless
. {
DA 258.4
}
The means by which we can overcome the wicked one
is that by which Christ overcame,--
the
power
of
the word
.
God does not control our minds without our consent; but
if
we desire to know and to do His
will
, His promises are ours:
"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." "If any man willeth
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to do His will, he shall know of the teaching." John 8:32; 7:17, R. V.
Through faith in these promises, every
man may be delivered from the snares of error and the control of sin."
{
DA 258.5
}
L
Romans 10:17
“
So then
faith comes by hearing
,
and hearing by
the word of God
.”
Romans 10:17
1 Peter 1:13-17
“
13
Wherefore
gird up
the
loins of your mind
, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace
that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14
As obedient children, not fashioning
yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15
But
as he
which hath called you
is holy
,
so be
ye holy
in all manner of conversation;
16
Because it is written,
Be ye holy
;
for I am holy
.
17
And if
ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work,
pass the time of
your sojourning
here
in
fear
:
”
1 Peter 1:13-17
L
Revelation 2:16
“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
fight
against them with the
sword
of my
mouth.
”
Revelation 2:16
L
Cited Statement #1
Below, he says, praying, and quoting scripture doesn’t work in the fight
against temptation.
Link back to the top of the Cited Statement #1 Preceding References
“
RECIPES FOR OVERCOMING
Of course, we’ve all heard of various “recipes” for overcoming
temptation. Have you ever tried any of these? I’ve tried them all, but they haven’t worked! I don’t believe
that
praying
when temptation comes is going to give me victory
. I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t work.
I don’t
believe that quoting verses of Scripture when temptation comes is going to help me overcome.
I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t work either.
And I don’t believe singing hymns is effective, because I’ve
sung all sixteen stanzas! Usually when people try such methods they become frustrated and discouraged,
because failure and defeat still follow. You see, the problem is that they’re fighting the battle where the
battle isn’t! Because we haven’t realized that victory can come only through our relationship with Christ,
we’ve devised all sorts
of man-made substitutes
. ……
page 99
“J
ESUS AND
T
EMPTATION
“But,” someone says, “Jesus quoted Scripture when He was being tempted, and that’s how He got the
victory over the devil.” Yes, Jesus
did
quote Scripture -
but that’s not
how
He got the victory.
Let’s take a look at the account of His temptation in the wilderness, found in Matthew 4:1. “Then Jesus
was led
by the Spirit
into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” Notice that Jesus was guided by the Spirit.
He was willing to let God lead His life and actions.
Now some have said that the real issue in the first temptation was appetite, and that Jesus won the
victory over His appetite by quoting Scripture. But is it a sin to be hungry when you haven’t eaten for six
weeks? Hardly. The devil’s first attack with temptation was
not
to get Jesus to eat. The issue was entirely
different. It was to get Jesus to do something
on His own\
to get Him to use His inherent divinity, rather than
to rely completely upon His Father’s power. If Christ had yielded to the devil’s taunts, He would have
ruined the demonstration of how
we
should live, and how we should handle temptation.
(End of Page 100)
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Jesus didn’t fall into the devil’s traps. His constant response was, “It is written...” And so, some have
used this experience to support the idea that we must
memorize
Scripture to get us out of difficulty. But
did Jesus depend on quoting Scripture for victory? Of course not! ….........”
This reference above is found in Morris L. Venden’s books,
“
It's Who You Know
,” page 99, 100, and some
of 101, at least in the electronic versions.
The link is here
. And also found in "How to Make Christianity Real."
Lee and
Gary still support these teachings, just by having them on their list of recommended books,
if by no
other way,
even if they do not say it this way, in their meetings. A link to see their list is
here
,
the link to the page it is found on is
here
,
at least at the time I put this together. The page link
says, “2) Favorite Materials About Jesus -
This is a
way
proven helpful to individuals wishing to
meditate on the life of Jesus.”
But how can this be helpful, when in the minds of to many it blows
away, faith in the very way that we are to tap into the power of God, to have a living faith based
relationship with Jesus? I see no place where he comes back and says that this does work for
those in a true living faith based relationship with Jesus.
Where Venden says this, “
I don’t believe that quoting verses of Scripture when
temptation comes is going to help me overcome. I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t work either.
”
How does that compare to these references?
Psalms 17:4
“
Concerning the works of men,
by
the word
of thy lips
I have kept
me
from
the paths of the destroyer
.”
Psalms 17:4
L
Desire of Ages,
Page 119
“….
The
word of God
was Christ’s assurance of His divine mission.
He had come to live as a man
among men, and it was
the word
that declared His
connection
with heaven.
It was Satan’s
purpose to cause Him to doubt that word
….”
{
DA 119.1
}
L
Desire of Ages,
Page 120
“Jesus met Satan with
the
words of Scripture
.
"It is written,"
He said.
In every temptation
the
weapon
of His warfare
was
the word of God
.
Satan demanded
of Christ a miracle as a sign of His divinity. But that which is
greater
than all miracles, a
firm reliance
upon a "
Thus saith the Lord
,"
was a sign that could not be controverted. So long as Christ held to
this position, the tempter could gain no advantage.”
{
DA 120.1
}
L
This is a link back to the previous
quoting of this that has more context.
Where Venden says this,
“….You see, the problem is that they’re fighting the battle
where the battle isn’t! Because we haven’t realized that victory can come only through
our relationship with Christ, we’ve devised all sorts of man-made substitutes.
”
How does
that compare with these references?
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John 6:63
“
63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words
that I
speak unto you,
they are spirit, and they are life.
”
John 6:63
L
James 1:21
“
21
Wherefore lay apart
all
filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and
receive
with meekness
the
engrafted word
, which is able to save your souls.”
James 1:21
L
Psalms 119:11
“
11
Thy word have I hid
in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
”
Psalms
119:11
L
John 15:7
“
7
If
ye abide in me,
and
my words
abide
in
you
,
ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done
unto you.”
John 15:7
L
Is memorizing God’s Word
, and recognizing that it is the channel through which we gain the most
powerful access to the relationship with Jesus, and power of God through Jesus Christ to resist
temptations that satan directs at us, a “
man-made substitutes
?”
Compare this portion of the statement, with all the references above, and specifically these ones
below.
“
Jesus didn’t fall into the devil’s traps. His constant response was, “It is
written...”
And so, some have used this experience to support the idea that we
must
memorize
Scripture to get us out of difficulty
. But did Jesus depend on
quoting Scripture for victory? Of course not! ….”
Deuteronomy 6:6
“
6
And these
words
, which I command thee this day,
shall be
in thine heart
:
”
Deuteronomy 6:6
L
Can you see that this is still apart of “
the first of all commandments
?” It is the very next verse. See
Mark 12:29
L
and
Deuteronomy 6:5
L
1. Are these teachings “
according,”
to God’s word?
Isaiah 8:20
2. Does this “
so closely
” “
resemble the true
,” that it is difficult to tell?
GC 593.1
3. Is “
every statement
” in line with “
the doctrine of Christ
?”
GC 593.1
2 John 1:9-11
4. Is this easy to see with God’s “
power to distinguish
?”
SpTB02 8.2
5. Are Christ’s instructions being “
strictly heeded
,” not missing “
one word
?”
9T 266.1
6. Is this a “
lie
?”
9T 266.1
7. Or is this “
truth
?”
9T 266.1
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Whose side are the Vendens on?
Fine Tuning Questions #1:
1. Without encouraging you to read his book, for those who have, is there any place in this entire
book that I could not find with computer word searches, where Venden calls attention to the fact
that God’s word is “
our source of power
?”
2. Without encouraging you to read his book, for those who have, is there any place in this entire
book that I overlooked, where Venden points out that, for those of us with all this wonderful
access to the Word of God, with the correct understanding and willingness of heart, so that the
Holy Spirit “
sets home
” the truth in our hearts, having God’s word
memorized in our minds
,
is
the very way that we have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in us
?
3. Is there any place where he says anything even somewhat like this?
4. Without encouraging you to read his book, for those who have, is there any place in this entire
book, that I missed, where Venden points out that taking the time
to memorize God’s Word
,
with the correct reasoning behind it
, knowing that it is what develops our relationship with
Jesus, and is the very way that we have Jesus living in our hearts, transforming us, and giving
us the power to over come through His strength? Does Venden point that out?
5. For those of us with readily available access to God’s word, who have all of these counsels
which include
Last Day Events
, page 66, paragraph 6
shown above, and have had them for
years and years, saying that we need to,
is it even possible
to have a relationship
with
Jesus
,
without valuing
God’s word enough to get it into our mind?
6.
Is - it – even – possible- to have such a relationship with Jesus in which “
spiritual life
,”
exists “
in the soul
,” - - if –we – have - rejected - His -counsel -to -do -so?
7. If you have time, that you don’t feel like there is anything that you really have to do, is studying
God’s word, so that you can strengthen your relationship with Jesus, and get His words more
deeply embedded into your mind, something that you look forward to doing the most?
8. If gaining a deep connection with Jesus, through the receiving of the “
engrafted word
,” is not
something that you take pleasure in, do you really have a connection with Jesus?
9. Have you had any of your friends,
as I have had
, who spent time under the pastoral leadership
of Venden, who have come to believe that it was wrong to encourage people to memorize God’s
word?
10. Have any of your friends,
as some of mine have
, who spent time listening to the teachings of
Venden, ever told you that it was works, to think that you needed to get God’s word into your
mind?
11. Are we to conclude, that because Israelites misunderstood God's intentions, and went so far as
to put God's word literally on their foreheads without having their hearts circumcise, that we
should avoid memorizing the Word of God and therefore fail to receive the “
engrafted word
?
”
12. Is it not the Devil's primary objective to divert our attention from time with Jesus, getting His
words, and therefore His Holy Spirit, more firmly embedded into our minds, so we will “
remain
ignorant of
” his “power and cunning?”
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13. Do you set aside other things that might take up your time, so as not to miss out on time with
God, absorbing, and being changed by the Holy Spirit and the Power of God's word?
14. Do you avoid working to hard trying to
make money
, so that you don't become distracted from
getting God's word into your mind, and praying that the Holy Spirit “
sets home
” His truth
there?
15
.
If
this belief that it is not important to have God’s word in our minds, was left
on
the mind of
even one person
, after reading these things Venden wrote, would it have had an effect that
God was happy with?
16. If you ever spent time considering what the Vendens teach, did Venden leave the impression on
your mind, that it is an important part of getting to know Jesus, to have spent enough Holy Spirit
guided time carefully going over the words of God, so that it “
sets home
” in your heart, and
is deeply embedded into your mind such that the Holy Spirit can easily enable you to remember
the words God gave us?
17
.
Why would God have Moses state for Him, that
"
these
words
,
which I command thee this day,
shall be
in thine heart
,
”
if doing so didn't play any part in getting us "out of difficulty," the
difficulty of being overcome by sin?
2. Our Duty in the War Against the Devil and Sin
Section Summary:
Preceding References
Cited Statement #2
Fine Tuning Questions #2
Cited Statement #2
Preceding References:
These below, are to go along with the section where Venden says that “… God has told us we
cannot,” “fight sin and the devil.”
Ephesians 6:10-20
“
10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11
Put on
the
whole
armour of
God,
that ye may
be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil
.
12
For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood
, but against principalities, against
power
s, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high
places
.
13
Wherefore take unto you
the whole armour of God
,
that ye may
be able
to withstand
in the evil day
, and having done all, to stand.
14
Stand
therefore
,
having
your loins girt about
with truth
, and
having on
the breastplate of
righteousness;
15
And your feet shod
with the preparation of the
gospel
of peace;
16
Above all,
taking
the
shield of faith
,
wherewith ye
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shall be able
to quench
all
the fiery darts of the wicked.
17
And
take
the
helmet of salvation
, and
the sword of the Spirit,
which is the
word of God
:
18
Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the
mystery of the gospel,
20
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to
speak.”
Ephesians 6:10-20
L
James 4:6-10
“
6
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7
Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist
the devil
, and he
will flee
from you.
8
Draw nigh to
God
, and he
will
draw nigh to you.
Cleanse
your
hands,
ye
sinners; and
purify
your
hearts
,
ye
double minded.
9
Be afflicted,
and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and
your
joy to heaviness.
10
Humble yourselves
in the sight of
the Lord
, and he
shall
lift you up.”
James 4:6-10
L
Mark 6:7
“
7
And he called
unto him
the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power
over unclean spirits;”
Mark 6:7
L
Matthew 10:1
“
1
And when he had called unto
him
his twelve disciples,
he gave them power
against
unclean spirits, to cast
them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”
M
atthew 10:1
L
Luke 10:17-20
“
17
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are
subject unto us through
thy name.
18
And he said unto them,
I beheld Satan as lightning
fall from heaven
.
19
Behold, I
give unto
you
power
to tread on serpents and scorpions, and
over all
the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any
means hurt you.
20
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that
the spirits
are subject unto you; but rather rejoice,
because your names are written in heaven.
”
Luke 10:17-20
L
Mark 16:17-18
“
17
And these signs shall follow them that believe;
In my name
shall they cast out devils
; they shall
speak with new tongues;
18
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Mark 16:17-18
L
Romans 16:20
“
20
And the God of peace shall
bruise
Satan
under your feet shortly
. The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ
be
with you. Amen.”
Romans 16:20
L
Acts 19:11-12
“
And
God wrought special miracles
by the hands of Paul
:
12
So that from his body were brought
unto the sick
handkerchiefs
or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the
evil spirits
went
out of them.
” Acts 19:11-12
L
Philippians 4:13
“
I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me
.”
Philippians 4:13
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1 Timothy 6:12
“
Fight
the good
fight
of faith,
lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast
professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6:12
L
2 Timothy 4:7
“I have
fought
a good
fight
, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
2 Timothy 4:7
L
1 Corinthians 9:26-27
“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so
fight
I, not as one that beateth the air:
27
But I keep under my
body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway.”
1 Corinthians 9:26 - 27
L
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“
4
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5
Doth
not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil
;
6
Rejoiceth not
in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7
Beareth all things,
believeth all things
, hopeth all things, endureth
all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
L
Revelation 19:7
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and
his wife
hath made herself ready.
”
Revelation 19:7
L
2
Corinthians
7:1
“
1
Having
therefore these
promises
,
dearly beloved, let us
cleanse
ourselves
from all
filthiness of the
flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God
.”
2 Cor 7:1
L
Review and Herald, November 21, 1882
“Will man take hold of divine power, and with determination and perseverance resist Satan as Christ has
given him example in his conflict with the foe in the wilderness of temptation? God cannot save man,
against
his will
, from the power of Satan’s artifices.
Man must work with his human power
,
aided by the divine power
of Christ
, to resist and to conquer at any cost to himself.
In short, man must overcome as Christ overcame. And
then, through the victory which it is his privilege to gain by the all-powerful name of Jesus, he may become an
heir of God and joint-heir with Christ. {
RH, November 21, 1882 par. 9
}
L
This could not be the case if Christ alone did all the overcoming.
Man must do
his
part.
Man must be victor
on his own account,
through the strength and grace that Jesus gives him.
Man must be a co-worker with
Christ in the labor of overcoming, and then he will be partaker with Christ of his glory. It is a sacred work in
which we are engaged. The apostle Paul exhorts his brethren, "
Having therefore these promises, dearly
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God
." {
RH, November 21, 1882 par. 10
}
L
Philippians 2:12 & 13
“
12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my
absence,
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
.
13
For
it is God
which worketh in you both to
will and to do
of
his
good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12 & 13
L
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing,
Pages 141 – 143.
This reference goes
along with the
Philippians 2:12 & 13
reference just above.
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“
"Strive to enter in at the strait gate."
Luke 13:24
. .
L
The belated traveler, hurrying to reach the city gate by the going down of the sun, could not turn aside for any
attractions by the way. His whole mind was bent on the one purpose of entering the gate. The same intensity of
purpose, said Jesus, is required in the Christian life. I have opened to you the glory of character, which is the
true glory of My kingdom. It offers you no promise of earthly dominion; yet it is worthy of your supreme desire
and effort. I do not call you to battle for the supremacy of the world’s great empire, but do not therefore
conclude that there is no battle to be fought nor victories to be won. I bid you
strive,
agonize
, to enter into My
spiritual kingdom
. {
MB 141.1
}
L
The Christian life is a battle and a march. But the victory to be gained is not won by human power. The field
of conflict is the domain of the heart. The battle which we have to fight--the greatest battle that was ever fought
by man--is the surrender of self to the will of God, the yielding of the heart to the sovereignty of love. The
old
nature
, born of blood and of the will of the flesh,
cannot
inherit the kingdom of God.
The
hereditary tendencies
, the former habits, must be given up
. {
MB 141.2
}
L
He who determines to enter the spiritual kingdom [BEGIN P.142] will find that all the powers and passions
of an unregenerate nature, backed by the forces of the kingdom of darkness, are arrayed against him. Selfishness
and pride will make a stand against anything that would show them to be sinful. We cannot, of ourselves,
conquer the evil desires and habits that strive for the mastery. We cannot overcome the mighty foe who holds us
in his thrall. God alone can give us the victory. He desires us to have the mastery over ourselves, our own will
and ways.
But He cannot work in us without our consent and
co-operation.
The divine Spirit works
through the faculties and powers given to man. Our energies are required
to co-operate
with God.
{
MB
141.3
}
L
The victory is not won without much earnest prayer, without the humbling of self at every step.
Our will
is
not to be forced into co-operation with divine agencies, but it must be voluntarily submitted. Were it possible to
force upon you with a hundredfold greater intensity the influence of the Spirit of God, it would not make you a
Christian, a fit subject for heaven. The stronghold of Satan would not be broken.
The will
must be placed on the
side of
God’s will
. You are not able, of yourself, to bring your purposes and desires and inclinations into
submission to the
will of God
; but if you are "willing to be made
willing
," God will accomplish the work for
you, even "casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and
bringing into captivity
every thought
to the obedience of Christ
."
2 Corinthians 10:5
.
Then you will
"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which [BEGIN P.143] worketh in
you both to will and to do of His good pleasure
."
Philippians 2:12, 13
. {
MB 142.1
}
L
But many are attracted by the beauty of Christ and the glory of heaven, who yet shrink from the conditions
by which alone these can become their own. There are many in the broad way who are not fully satisfied with
the path in which they walk. They long to break from the slavery of sin, and in their own strength they seek to
make a stand against their sinful practices. They look toward the narrow way and the strait gate; but selfish
pleasure, love of the world, pride, unsanctified ambition, place a barrier between them and the Saviour. To
renounce their own
will
, their chosen objects of affection or pursuit, requires a sacrifice at which they hesitate
and falter and turn back. Many "will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
Luke 13:24
. They desire the good,
they make some effort to obtain it; but they do not choose it; they have not a settled purpose to secure it
at the
cost of all things
.
{
MB 143.1
}
L
The only hope for us if we would overcome is
to unite our will to God’s will and work in
co-operation
with Him
, hour by hour and day by day. We cannot retain self and yet enter the kingdom of God. If we ever
attain unto holiness, it will be through the renunciation of self and the reception of
the mind of Christ
.
Pride and self-sufficiency must be crucified. Are we willing to pay the price required of us? Are we willing to
have
our will
brought into perfect conformity to the
will of God
? Until we are willing,
the transforming grace
of God cannot be manifest upon us.
{
MB 143.2
}
L
The warfare which we are to wage is the "good
[BEGIN P.144]
fight of faith." "I also labor," said the apostle
Paul, "
striving according to His working
, which worketh in me mightily." Colossians 1:29.”
{
MB 143.3
}
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Testimonies for the Church, Volume 8,
Page 65.
This reference below, goes
along with the
Luke 13:24
, and MB references just above.
This entire section below is important, but there is just a little of it here.
"....
Man is allotted a part in this great struggle for everlasting life; he must respond to the working of the Holy
Spirit. It will require a struggle to break through the powers of darkness, and the Spirit works in him to
accomplish this. But man is no passive being, to be saved in indolence. He is called upon to strain every muscle
and exercise every faculty in the struggle for immortality
;
yet it is God that supplies the efficiency
. No human
being can be saved in indolence. The Lord bids us: "
Strive to enter in at the strait gate
: for many, I say unto
you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Luke 13:24 ; Matthew 7:13 , 14. {
8T 65.1
}
L
What does indolence mean?
According to Webster it means, inclination to laziness. And the Cambridge Dictionary says it is the
state of showing no real interest or effort.
Christ’s Object Lessons, Page 280
"We can never be saved in indolence and inactivity. There is no such thing as a truly converted person living
a helpless, useless life. It is not possible for us to drift into heaven. No sluggard can enter there.
If we do not
strive
to gain an entrance into the kingdom, if we do not
seek earnestly to learn what constitutes its laws
, we
are not fitted for a part in it. Those who refuse
to co-operate
with God on earth would not co-operate with
Him in heaven. It would not be safe to take them to heaven." {
COL 280.2
}
L
Christ’s Object Lessons,
Page 331 and 332
“But Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble, all-
round character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident.
A noble character is earned by
individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ.
God gives the talents, the
powers of the mind;
we form the character.
It is formed by hard, stern battles with
self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves
closely, and
allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.
{
COL 331.1
}
Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character.
If you come to this
decision, you will
certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life.
The impossibility lies
in your own will. If you will not, then you can not overcome. The real difficulty arises from the corruption of an
unsanctified heart, and an
unwillingness to submit to the control of God.
{
COL 331.2
}
Many whom God has qualified to do excellent work accomplish very little, because they attempt little.
Thousands pass through life as if they had no definite object for which to live,
no standard to reach
. Such
will obtain a reward proportionate to their works.
{
COL 331.3
}
Remember that you will never reach a higher standard than
you yourself set. Then set your
mark high
, and step by step, even though it be by painful effort, by self-denial and sacrifice, ascend the
whole length of the ladder of progress. Let nothing hinder you.
Fate has not woven its meshes about any
human being so firmly that he need remain helpless and in uncertainty. Opposing circumstances should create a
firm determination to overcome them. The breaking down of one barrier will give greater ability and courage to
go forward. Press with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be your helpers, not your
hindrances. {
COL 331.4
}
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Be ambitious, for the Master's glory, to cultivate every grace of character. In every phase of your character
building you are to please God. This you may do; for Enoch pleased Him though living in a degenerate age.
And there are Enochs in this our day.” {
COL 332.1
}
Selected Messages, Volume 1,
Page 381
“But though Christ is everything, we are to inspire every man to unwearied diligence. We are to strive,
wrestle, agonize, watch, pray, lest we shall be overcome by the wily foe. For the power and grace with which
we can do this comes from God, and all the while we are to trust in Him, who is able to save to the uttermost all
who come unto God by Him.
Never
leave the
impression on the mind
that there is little or nothing to do on
the part of man; but rather teach man
to cooperate with God
, that he may be successful in overcoming.
”
{
1SM 381.3
}
L
Look up and carefully read all these references in there context.
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2,
Page 446
“There are hypocrites now who will tremble when they obtain a view of themselves. Their own vileness will
terrify them in that day which is soon to come upon us, a day when “the Lord cometh out of His place to punish
the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.”
Oh, that
terror
might now lay hold upon them
, that they
might have a vivid sense of their condition and
arouse while there is mercy and hope
, confess their
sins, and humble their souls greatly before God,
that He might pardon their transgressions and heal their
backslidings!
The people of God are unready for the fearful, trying scenes before us, unready to stand pure
from evil and lust amid the perils and corruptions of this degenerate age.
They have
not
on the armor of
righteousness, and are unprepared
to
war
against
the prevailing iniquity.
Many are not
obeying the commandments of God, yet they profess so to do. If they would be faithful to obey all the statutes
of God they would have a power which would carry conviction to the hearts of the unbelieving.” {
2T 446.2
}
Cited Statement #2
"One of the probing questions that has frustrated Christians for years is the question of how the
will operates after conversion. There have been debates and questions concerning the will, but most
of the discussions have dealt with the use of the will before conversion. . Very little has been done on
the use of the will after conversion. . One of our problems in trying to live the Christian life is that we
often are found
trying hard to do that which God has told us we cannot do-fight sin and the
devil.
And we do not put forth effort to do that which He has invited us to do, that is, seek
communion with Him. This does not mean that works are unimportant, but we are talking about
method. And the method of knowing God's gifts is by faith alone. As we put forth our effort to come to
Jesus, and to keep coming to Jesus, He will fulfill His promise to work in us, to will and to do of His
good pleasure
." FTW, 194. This is from Morris Venden’s book, entitled,
Faith that Works
.
This is a link to
download a PDF
of the book to see it for yourself.
Please compare this statement of Morris Venden, which says this: “….
trying hard to do that which
God has told us we cannot do-fight sin and the devil;
” with these references:
1 Corinthians 7:1
“
1
Having
therefore these
promises
,
dearly beloved, let us
cleanse
ourselves
from all
filthiness of the
flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God
.”
2 Cor 7:1
L
James 4:7
“
7
Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist
the devil
, and he
will flee
from you.”
James 4:7
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Luke 10:17-20
“
17
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even
the devils
are
subject unto us
through thy name.
18
And he said unto them,
I beheld Satan as lightning
fall from heaven
.
19
Behold,
I
give unto you
power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and
over all
the power of
the enemy
: and
nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you;
but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
”
Luke 10:17-20
L
Mark 16:17
“
And these signs shall follow them that believe;
In my name
shall they
cast
out devils
; they shall
speak with new tongues.”
Mark 16:17
Great Controversy
, Page 508
" ...
All who are not
decided
followers of Christ are
servants of Satan
. In the
unregenerate heart
there is
love of sin and a disposition to cherish and
excuse
it. In the
renewed heart
there is
hatred
of sin
and
determined resistance against it
. When Christians choose the society of the
ungodly and
unbelieving
, they expose themselves to temptation
.
Satan conceals himself from view and stealthily draws his
deceptive covering over their eyes. They cannot see that
such company
is calculated to do them harm; and
while all the time assimilating to the world in character, words, and actions, they are becoming more and more
blinded.
" {
GC 508.2
}
L
Great Controversy
, Page 510
“Satan assailed Christ with his fiercest and most subtle temptations, but he was repulsed in every conflict.
Those battles were fought in our behalf; those victories make it possible for us to conquer. Christ will give
strength to all who seek it. No man without his own consent can be overcome by Satan. The tempter has no
power to control the will or to force the soul to sin. He may distress, but he cannot contaminate. He can cause
agony, but not defilement.
The fact that Christ has conquered should inspire His followers with courage
to
fight manfully
the battle against sin and Satan.
”
{
GC 510.3
} L
It says here, in this Great Controversy page 510 reference that we just heard, that
“
No man
without his own consent can be overcome by Satan.”
So if I just don't give Satan consent, am I safe?
What would one have to do, in order to give Satan consent?
Notice just before that line, it says “
Christ will give strength to all who seek it.”
Also notice that it said
"The fact that Christ has conquered should inspire His followers with courage to fight manfully the
battle against sin and Satan, at the end of that paragraph.
Then consider this next references as related to this.
Desire of Ages
, Page 324
“
When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is
wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element
into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted
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world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the
heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of
Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the
other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world.
It is not necessary for us
deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion.
We
have only to
neglect to ally
ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the
heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place. The only
defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness.
Unless we
become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence,
and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but
without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be
overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a
continual communion
,
we are at the mercy
of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.
”{
DA 324.1
}
Testimonies for the Church Containing Letters to Physicians and Ministers
Instructions to Seventh-day Adventists,
Selections from Pages 5, 7, 8, 9, and 11.
“There is a strife between the forces of good and evil, between the loyal and the disloyal angels. Christ and
Satan are not at an agreement, and they never will be.
In every age
the true church
of God has engaged
in
decided warfare against satanic agencies.
Until the controversy is ended, the
struggle will go on
,
between wicked angels and wicked men on the one side, and
holy angels
and true believers on the other.
” {
SpTB02 5.7
}
…....
“
In His work on this earth, Christ saw how, by a
disregard
of the injunctions of God,
in regard to
righteousness and true doctrines, evil would be made almost indistinguishable from good.
At times He
looked upon the deceiving power of Satan, and
saw that the wrong-doing of evil workers
must be met.
At one such time there fell upon the ears of the multitude the words.”
{
SpTB02 7.2
}
….....
“
The Lord calls upon the one who has been working unrighteousness to put away his sins, and be converted
.
Unless the
transforming grace of Christ
is poured into his soul,
he will refuse to
oppose the works of Satan
.
The human agent who is worked by the power of the enemy,
will close the door of his heart to every appeal made by the Saviour. He will refuse to hear the words, “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.” And the God of heaven will not exercise His power to force man to practise
righteousness, with the heart in
determined resistance
. {
SpTB02 8.4
}
…......
“
When men stand out in defiance against the counsel of God, they are
warring
against God.
Is it right
for those connected with such ones to treat them as if they were in perfect harmony with them, making no
difference between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not?
Though they be
ministers
or
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medical missionaries, they have dishonored Christ before the forces of the loyal and the disloyal.
Open
rebuke is necessary, to prevent others from being ensnared.
{
SpTB02 9.3
}
…........
“
There is to be a
constant
conflict between good and evil.
Those who are
enlightened by the Holy
Spirit's power
are to
strive with every power of their being
to snatch the prey from the seductive
influences of men who refuse to obey the word of God, whether they be
in high places or in low
. Christ's
property is not to pass out of His control into the control of the children of darkness.”
{
SpTB02 11.1
}
And also consider how all the sentences in that cited statement number 2 of Venden, compare to
all the other references shown above. There are more that should be carefully thought about and
compared.
Again:
1. Are these teachings “
according,”
to God’s word?
Isaiah 8:20
2. Does this “
so closely
” “
resemble the true
,” that it is difficult to tell?
GC 593.1
3. Is “
every statement
” in line with “
the doctrine of Christ
?”
GC 593.1
2 John 1:9-11
4. Is this easy to see with God’s “
power to distinguish
?”
SpTB02 8.2
5. Are Christ’s instructions being “
strictly heeded
,” not missing “
one word
?”
9T 266.1
6. Is this a “
lie
?”
9T 266.1
7. Or is this “
truth
?”
9T 266.1
Whose side are the Vendens on?
Fine Tuning Questions #2:
1. In the Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2, page 446 reference we just went over above, it
was called to our attention that to many have not on the “armour of righteousness, and are
unprepared to
war against
the prevailing iniquity
;” so is this cited statement of Venden
going far beyond that, by even taking it to the point of saying that
we can not war
against the
prevailing iniquity?
2. Would his statement that God, Himself, has told us that we can not fight sin or the devil, take it
to a still further point even beyond that, such that being prepared is not important, because it
claims God said we can not fight sin or the devil?
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3. While sadly, this does not seem to be an isolated mistake, but rather an ongoing trend Venden
more than once spells out this way, even if Venden had intended for these statements to only be
considered true within the context of one who is not in a faith based relationship with Jesus,
would it not have made this clear by just simply adding words such as, by ourselves, to the
sentence being focused on above?
4. How hard would it have been to just include words such as, by ourselves, to that sentence?
5. How many of the references, related to this statement #2, would have to be
thrown out
in order
for that sentence to
be true
,
especially
for one
, as he stated, who is using their “
will after
conversion
?”
6. In light of
Deuteronomy 4:2
, and
Revelation 22:19
, that say, respectively, we are not to
“
diminish
,” or “
take away
,” from God’s word, if there is even one place in the Bible, or Spirit of
Prophecy, that must be thrown out in order to believe that statement, whose side is Venden on?
7. Would
James 4:7
, that says clearly, “
resist the Devil
,” have to be thrown out?
8. Would
Luke 10:19
, that says Jesus can give us power over the enemy have to be thrown out?
9. Would
GC 508.2
that says, “
In the
renewed heart
there is
hatred
of sin
and
determined resistance against it
,
”
have to be thrown out?
10. Without encouraging you to read his book, for those you have, is there any place in this book,
that I have overlooked, that he says that through the graciously provided power that God is able
to give us when we are in a true faith based relationship with Jesus, we are to take a firm stand
against sin and the Devil?
11. Why would anyone, who is actually in a faith based relationship with Jesus, want to run any kind
of a risk of being misunderstood,
by anyone
, into thinking that he believes that God has told
us that we can never fight against sin and the devil?
12. Does it not make the Devil happy, to think that some people are being led by these teachings to
believe that we are not to fight against him or sin?
Only Surrender - Fine Tuning Questions:
13. Have you ever had a “friend,”
as I have had
, who spent time listening to Venden, tell you there
is nothing that we can ever do to change ourselves, but only to surrender, and that is all?
14. Have you ever had them pray for you while you are praying together,
as I have had
, that the
Lord would please help you to see, that there is nothing we can ever do, except only surrender?
15. Have you heard, as I have been hearing
from at least 3 or more of our local Seventh-day
Adventist churches
, this idea being pushed, that there is nothing at all that we can ever do to
change ourselves, but only to surrender?
16. Why would studying these things that God has told us with the guidance and help of His Holy
Spirit,
fail to enter the mind of these teachers, as
something that we can do
?
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17. As a friend of mine suggested be asked, what is doing nothing at all, except surrender, really
like; is it emptying your mind of all thought or something?
18.
Did these concepts of not being able to ever do anything at all to change ourselves,
except surrender, perhaps come from statements of Venden that we can not fight sin,
maybe even to the neglect of other statements of Venden?
19. Praying, asking for forgiveness and asking Jesus to finish changing our hearts,
is
something
that we can do; --- --- how – can -it – not - be
?
20. So, then how could it possibly be true, that there is nothing at all that we can ever do except
surrender?
21. Would we not have to rip Philippians 2:12 out of our Bibles, and throw it away in order to be
able to believe this, because it says we are to work out our own “
salvation with fear and
trembling
?”
22. Would we not also likewise have to tear out, and throw away Ephesians 6:11, that says we are
to “
put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil,”
in order to be able to believe these teachings?
23. While it is clear that it can only be done through the strength, power, and guidance of the Holy
Spirit, is not putting on “
the whole armour of God,
” doing something?
24. How could one conclude that, this is not doing something in the war against sin and the devil?
25. How can this concept mentioned in Isaiah 55:7, of forsaking our wicked way, and our
unrighteous thoughts, be neglected as,
something that we can do through God's strength
and the power of His Word?
26. In light of Isaiah 55:7, have you ever asked God to please cause you to instantly reject every
thought, that the Devil puts into your mind, that His Holy Spirit is not happy with, and to instantly
have your mind readjusted so you love the thoughts that are in harmony with Jesus?
27. Have you ever asked God, in the name of Jesus, to please remind you to ask Him to do this for
you, and would this not also be doing something?
28. Why would, this Isaiah 55:7 concept, that the Holy Spirit is well aware of, be something
that
He was not able to bring into their minds
, as,
something that we can
do
,
through the enabling, washing, power of God's Word because of what Jesus Christ did for
us?
29. Forsaking our unrighteous thoughts, through the enabling power of God's word, is fighting
against sin; so why did they not remember to think of this?
30. In 1 John 1:9 where it says that “
if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
;” would it be true to say that -
this – is -
doing – something - to fight against sin
, so that we can be changed, and empowered by the
Holy Spirit of God to resist the Devil?
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31. Would it be true to say that confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness for them, is doing
something to fight against sin?
32. If so, then how could it ever be true to say that we can not do anything to fight sin?
33. While it is true, that the Holy Spirit even makes it possible for us to confess our sins, with
utterances that we are not capable of, how can we ignore the fact that our duty still requires us
to cooperate with Him in this process?
34. Is this teaching of Venden, that says God told us we can not fight sin or the Devil, in agreement
with, or opposed to, this 1SM 381.3 reference, that says “
never leave
the impression on the
mind that there is little or nothing to do on the part of man?”
35. How can it not be opposite to this 1SM 381.3 reference that says, “
never leave the
impression,
” that there is “
nothing to do on the part of man,
” when he says straight out that
God has told us we can not fight sin?
36. Jesus told us in John 15:7, that if we abide in Him, and His “
words,
” abide in us, we shall ask
what we will and it will be done; so have you checked to be certain that is what He said?
37. Why would having Jesus
words
in us, through the power of His Holy Spirit, fail to enter their
minds, as needing to be included as
something that we can do
?
38. In consideration of the 3
rd
analytical question, of the 7 questions being asked again and again
starting at the very top,
is
this statement
, that we can not fight sin and the devil, in agreement
with “
the doctrine of Christ
?”
39. In light of the 5
th
question of the 7, has this “
lost sight
,” of even more than “
one word
” of
Christ?
40. Would the words of Jesus in Luke 10:19 & 20 that say, “
I give you power to tread on
serpents, and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, Notwithstanding in
this rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you....
” have to be “
lost sight
” of, if we
were to believe this statement?
41. Would we have to have “
lost sight,
” of more than “
one word,
” if we believed this?
42. Would we not have to rip Luke 10:19 & 20, right out of our bibles, and throw it away, in order to
try to believe this?
43. Is what Jesus has told us in Matthew 7:13, that we are to enter “
in at the strait gate
,” “
lost
sight
” of as well?
44. How did this concept of entering in at the strait gate, and continuing on along the “narrow” way
become unnoticed as a way that we can fight against sin?
45. If, as is stated, we can not do anything at all against sin, are we to be so totally surrendered to
Jesus and awe struck into doing nothing at all, but just focusing on Jesus, so that we just sit
helplessly at the entrance to the narrow gate, and
never do
something
that God can enable
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us to do
, such as tap into God's power to cause us to
get up, enter at the gate
, and
continue on along the narrow pathway of sanctification toward being more like Jesus?
46. In Matthew 7:24, Jesus says that someone who hears His Sayings, and “
doeth them,
” is like a
wise man who built “
his house upon a rock
;” so shouldn't we also include doing what Jesus
says, and building upon the rock, with the list of references that say
there are things that we
can do
through the enabling power of God and His Holy Word, to resist sin and the Devil?
47. When the storms that the Devil directs at us come our way, the fact that we have built a strong
foundation on the Rock of Christ, in God's word, should be what enables us to take a stand
against the Devil; can it get any clearer that this is something that we can do through the
enabling power of Jesus?
48. If we were to believe that God told us we can not ever fight the Devil, would we be as motivated
to build on the Rock, to be certain that our foundation is strong to resist him?
Special Miracles by Paul - Fine Tuning Questions:
49. When the Holy Spirit and Angels did
“
special miracles
by the hands of Paul
,”
as is
recorded in Acts 19:11,
were Paul, and the “
handkerchiefs or aprons,
” channels through which
the Spirit of God chose to release some of His Power?
50. Why does it say that these miracles were done, “
by the hands of Paul,
when we know it
was actually the Holy Spirit that did the miracle
?
”
51. Did Paul have to physically
do something
such as use his hand to give over the
handkerchiefs to whoever was going to transport it to the one who was to be healed or have evil
spirits driven from them?
52. Were Paul's hands always present, after the handkerchiefs were taken from him, to where ever
the miracles were performed?
53. If the handkerchiefs taken from Paul were no longer with Paul, why does it say these miracles
were done by the hands of Paul?
54. Was this the Holy Spirits' way of calling greater attention to the messages that He was inspiring
Paul to give to the people so that they could be saved?
55. Did the handkerchief from Paul, itself, drive out the evil spirits?
56. Or, did the handkerchief from Paul become a channel through which the Holy Spirit and Angels
of God chose to unveil some of their power, which in turn, drove away the evil spirits?
57. Would Paul's handkerchief have driven away the evil spirits, if Paul had not told his friends to
take the demon harassed individual his handkerchief, so that the devils would be forced leave
him or her alone?
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58. Would the handkerchief from Paul be more likely, or less likely, to become a channel through
which the Holy Spirit manifested His Power, if Paul and his friends did not believe it would work
to take the handkerchief to the harassed individual?
59. Why does the Holy Spirit often wait, until our human cooperation develops into actual actions on
our part, before He manifests His power?
60. Was it important that they believed it would work through God's power that way, in order for a
handkerchief to become a channel for the Holy Spirit's Power to work?
61. Could the Holy Spirit have driven away the evil spirits without Paul's handkerchief being there?
62. Why would the Holy Spirit choose to channel His energy to drive away the evil spirits, only after
Paul's handkerchief had arrived on the scene?
63. Was calling attention to the teachings of God in this way, God's primary objective in doing it like
this?
64. Why would a handkerchief from Paul be in a better relationship with Jesus, and a more effective
channel for the Holy Spirit to flow through, than what we are represented by Venden as being
capable of having with Christ, in what Venden outlines as a “faith relationship?”
65. In Mark 16:17 were Jesus is recorded as telling us how to tell who believes, why did He start
His final list with the words, “
In my name shall they cast out devils,
” just before ascending to
Heaven before their astonished eyes, if this was not important?
66. When Jesus has told us that a sign of believing in Him and knowing Him, is that He is able to
direct the Holy Spirit to channel His power through those who Know Him to cast out devils, why
does Venden not tell people to get to know Jesus well enough for this to take place, when he
claims he is telling people it is all about getting to know Jesus?
67. Would you think knowing Jesus well enough for Him to work through us to cast the devils out,
such that it really demonstrates a
Faith That Works
, should be important enough to call to ones
attention in a book about having a relationship with Jesus, that is entitled
Faith That Works
?
68. Why would Venden only state that God has told us that we can not do this, but then never tell
us that we can through God's Holy Spirit's indwelling power, in such a book?
69. By this statement, and others like it which make it clear this was not a isolated accidental
mistake, did Venden increase faith that God can do this through us, or reduce faith that God can
do this through us?
70. Would you think knowing Jesus well enough for Him to work through us this way, so that His
Holy Spirit could prompt us to utter necessary words of prayer, and to then command the devils
to depart in the name of Jesus, should be just left unsaid, after saying God has said we can't
fight sin, or the devil?
71. If this is not a dangerous mixture of truth and error, why would our relationship with Christ
dwelling in our hearts, never be presented as strong enough to do the thing that Jesus put at
the top of His list in Mark 16:17, as a sign that one believes and has true faith, but rather only
leave it stated that we can not do this?
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72. In this book, entitled
Faith that Works,
that is supposed to be about having a faith relationship
with Jesus, why is this relationship and faith never elevated to be strong enough, for Jesus to be
able to do this through us?
73. Are these teachings that we can not fight sin and the Devil, encouraging people to be following
Christ's instructions so that they are well fortified through God's Superior power to stand on the
Rock against the Devil; or have they led too many to a belief that we cannot do anything?
74. When making these statements that they make,
how have
so many of our people, who
claim to be Seventh-day Adventists,
passed over the fact - that
,-- in addition to focusing on
having a relationship with Him,
Jesus Christ's doctrine
, includes, as part of having the
relationship,
doing
things such as:
a. resisting the Devil,
b. entering in at the strait gate,
c. confessing our sins,
d. forsaking our wicked ways,
e. forsaking our unrighteous thoughts,
f.
having His words abiding in us and
purifying our hearts by so doing,
g. building on the Rock,
h. putting on the whole armour of God,
i. working out our own salvation with fear and trembling,
j. believing His words are Spirit and Life,
k. cooperating with His Spirit to cause us to keep His commandments,
l. receiving with meekness the engrafted word,
m. hiding His words in our hearts and thereby being born again,
n. being washed by the water of His word,
o. cooperating with Him in bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ so
that our obedience can be fulfilled,
p. casting out evil spirits,
q. not adding to or diminishing from His word,
r. receiving a love of the truth which is God's word,
s. arming our self with the Mind of Christ,
t. tapping into the power contained in the promises of God to become partakers of the divine
nature,
u. giving all diligence to add to, - faith - virtue knowledge temperance patience godliness
brotherly kindness love,
v. and so on, and so forth?
75. Why are all of these things that are apart of the “
doctrine of Christ
,” somehow overlooked as
all being essential parts of actually having a relationship with Jesus, and
things that we can do
through His enabling power?
76. According to 2 John 1:10, What are we not supposed to do, when those come to us who “
bring
not the doctrine of Christ
?”
77. If we can not even “
receive him,
” into our “
house, neither bid him God speed
,
” without
being “
partakers with him in his evil deeds
,”
can we recommend and distribute
his literature
for him after he is dead, without being a partaker with him in his evil deeds?
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78. If we can not even “
receive him,
” into our “
house, neither bid him God speed
,
” without
being “
partakers with him in his evil deeds
,”
can we invite one
who has become
“
partaker with him in his evil deeds
,” by recommending what he teaches,
to be a key
speaker in our churches
, without also becoming “
partakers with him in his evil
deeds
?”
79. If we can not even “
receive him,
” into our “
house, neither bid him God speed
,
” without
being “
partakers with him in his evil deeds
,” can we
stand in support of one
who has
become “
partaker with him in his evil deeds
,” by quoting sections from his books as though
they held some great spiritual value, without ourselves becoming “
partakers with him in his
evil deeds
?
”
80. If we can not even
“
receive him,
”
into our
“
house, neither bid him God speed
,
”
without
being
“
partakers with him in his evil deeds
,”
can we send our money
to support
his ministry, without becoming “
partakers with him in his evil deeds
?
”
81. If we can not even
“
receive him,
”
into our
“
house, neither bid him God speed
,
”
without
being
“
partakers with him in his evil deeds
,”
can we encourage other people to
listen
to his Radio, TV, or YouTube broadcasts, without becoming “
partakers with him in
his evil deeds
?
”
82. If we can not even
“
receive him,
”
into our
“
house, neither bid him God speed
,
”
without
being
“
partakers with him in his evil deeds
,”
can we spend our time listening
to
his Radio, TV, or YouTube broadcasts, without becoming “
partakers with him in his evil
deeds
?”
83. Are we inviting him into our house, if we activate our devices, so that his voice is speaking his
thoughts that are opposed to the doctrine of Christ, in our house?
84. Have we received him into our house, if his words are being read that are opposed to the
doctrine of Christ, in our house?
85. As stated in the AA 554 reference close to the top of this study, are we carefully heeding the
counsels of the apostle John on these points, if we invite him into our house?
86. Above all other times in the past, when we are now hanging even more closely right on the very
edge of eternity, and the return of Jesus, can you see more clearly now that we should be
fortifying our minds with God's word like never before----- so that we may be able to stand to
see the coming of our Lord, and be enabled to join Him in the sky ---- such that we even
peacefully question and carefully consider what is being said by those among us who claim that
they are teaching us that it is important to have a relationship with Jesus, and study His word?
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3. How does the Lord transform our nature, before
He returns, and how important is that?
Section Summary:
Preceding References
Cited Statement #3
Fine Tuning Questions #3
Cited Statement #3
Preceding References:
Ephesians 4:15
"But speaking
the truth
in love, may
grow up
into him in all things
, which is the head,
even
Christ:"
Eph
4:15
L
{
SC 74.1
-75.2}
L
John 3:3
"... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born again
, he cannot see the kingdom of God. "
John
3:3
L
Romans 12:2
"And be not conformed to this world: but be
ye
transformed
by
the
renewing
of your mind
, that ye
may
prove
what
is
that good, and acceptable, and
perfect
, will of God."
Romans 12:2
L
Additional references that are being consider to add in this section can be found here.
1 John 1:9
“
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
“
1 John 1:9
L
2 Peter 1:3 & 4
“
3
According as his divine power
hath given
unto
us all things
that
pertain
unto
life and
godliness
,
through
the
knowledge
of him
that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4
Whereby
are given
unto us exceeding great
and precious
promises:
that
by these
ye might be partakers
of
the
divine nature
,
having
escap
ed
the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
2 Peter 1:3-4
L
1 Peter 4:1 & 2
“
1
Forasmuch then as
Christ
hath suffered for us in the flesh,
arm
yourselves likewise
with the same
mind
:
for he that hath suffered in the flesh
hath ceased
from sin;
2
That he no longer should live
the rest
of
his
time in the flesh
to the lusts of men, but
to the will of God
.
”
1 Peter 4:1-2
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Philippians 2:5
“
Let
this
mind
be in you
, which was also in
Christ Jesus
:”
Philippians 2:5
L
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
“
3
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4
(For the weapons of our warfare
are
not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5
Casting down
imaginations
, and
every
high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity
every
thought
to the
obedience of Christ;
6
And having in a readiness to
revenge
all
disobedience,
when your
obedience is fulfilled.
”
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
L
Matthew 5:44-48
“
44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good
to them that hate you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45
That
ye may be
the children of your Father
which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on
the unjust.
46
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more
than others
? do not even the publicans so?
48
Be ye
therefore
perfect
,
even as
your Father
which is in heaven
is perfect
.
” Matthew 5:44-48
L
Revelation 22:10-14
“
10
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the
time is
at hand.
11
He that
is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be
filthy
still: and he that
is
righteous
,
let him
be
righteous
still
:
and he that
is
holy,
let him be
holy
still.
12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward
is
with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
end, the first and the last.
14
Blessed
are
they that
do his commandments,
that they may have right to the tree of
life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Revelation 22:10-14
L
Deuteronomy 5:5-6
“
5
And thou shalt
love
the LORD thy God
with all thine heart
,
and with
all thy soul
, and with
all thy might.
6
And these
words
, which I command thee this day,
shall be
in thine heart
:
”
Deuteronomy 5:5-6
L
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
“
12
And now, Israel,
what doth the LORD thy God require of thee
, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk
in
all
his ways, and
to love him
, and to serve the LORD thy God with
all thy heart
and with all thy
soul,
13
To keep
the commandments
of the LORD, and his
statutes
, which I command thee this day
for thy
good
?”
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
L
Deuteronomy 26:16
“
16
This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt
therefore keep and do them
with all thine heart
, and
with all thy soul.
”
Deuteronomy 26:16
L
Mark 12:29-31
“
29
And Jesus answered him,
The
first
of all the
commandments
is
, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one
Lord:
30
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with
all thy heart
, and with
all
thy soul
,
and
with all
thy mind
, and with
all
thy
strength
: this
is
the
first commandment
.
31
And the second
is
like,
namely
this,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
There is none other commandment greater than these
.” Mark
12:29-31
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Deuteronomy 30:6
“
6
And the LORD thy God
will circumcise thine
heart
, and the heart of thy seed,
to
love
the
LORD thy God
with all thine heart
, and with
all thy soul
,
that thou mayest live
.
”
Deuteronomy 30:6
L
James 1:2-8
“
2
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations
3
Knowing
this
, that the trying of your
faith
worketh
patience.
4
But
let
patience
have
her
perfect work,
that ye may
be perfect
and entire,
wanting nothing.
5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all
men
liberally, and upbraideth
not; and it shall be given him.
6
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that
wavereth
is like a wave of
the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8
A
double minded
man
is
unstable in all his ways.”
James 1:2-8
L
Ezekiel 36:26-29
“
26
A new heart
also will I give you, and
a new spirit
will I put within you: and I will take away the
stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27
And
I will
put
my spirit within you
,
and
cause you
to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do
them
.
28
And ye shall dwell in the
land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
29
I will also save you
from
all your uncleannesses
: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.”
Ezekiel
36:26-29
L
James 1:21
“
21
Wherefore lay apart
all
filthiness
and
superfluity of naughtiness,
and
receive
with
meekness the
engraft
ed
word
, which is able to save your souls
.”
James 1:21
L
Ephesians 5:25-27
“
25
Husbands, love your wives, even as
Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself for it;
26
That he
might
sanctify and cleanse
it
with
the
washing of water
by the word
,
27
That he might
present
it to
himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle
,
or
any such thing
; but that
it should
be holy
and
without blemish.
”
Ephesians 5:25-27
Isaiah 55:10-11
“
For as the
rain
cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but
watereth
the
earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give
seed
to the sower, and
bread
to the eater:
11
So shall
my
word
be
that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it
shall not
return
unto me void, but
it shall accomplish
that which I please, and it shall prosper
in the thing
whereto I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:10-11
L
Romans 8:4-7
“
4
That the
righteousness
of the law might
be fulfill
ed
in us,
who walk
not after the flesh,
but after the
Spirit.
5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the
things of the Spirit.
6
For to be
carnally minded
is
death
; but to be
spiritually minded
is
life
and peace
.
7
Because the
carnal mind
is
enmity
against God:
for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be.
”
Romans 8:4-7
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Romans 12:1-2
“
1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies
a living sacrifice
,
holy, acceptable unto God,
which is
your reasonable service.
2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed
by
the
renewing
of your
mind
, that ye
may prove
what
is
that good, and
acceptable, and
perfect
, will of God
.” Romans 12:1-2
L
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“
16
All
scripture
is
given by inspiration of God, and
is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
17
That the man of God
may be
perfect
,
throughly furnish
ed unto all
good works.
”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
L
Romans 10:17
“
So then
faith comes by hearing
, and hearing by
the word of God
.”
Romans 10:17
Colossians 1:25-29
“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you,
to fulfil
the word of God;
26
Even
the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but
now is
made
manifest to his saints:
27
To whom God would make known
what
is
the riches of the glory
of this mystery
among the Gentiles; which is
Christ in you
,
the hope of glory:
28
Whom we preach,
warning
every man,
and
teaching every man
in all wisdom; that we may
present
every man
perfect
in Christ Jesus:
29
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to
his
working, which worketh in me mightily.”
Colossians 1:25-
29
L
Luke 8:14-15
“
14
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with
cares and riches and pleasures of
this
life, and
bring
no
fruit to perfection.
15
But that on the good
ground are they, which in an
honest and good heart
, having heard
the word
,
keep
it
, and
bring forth
fruit
with
patience
.
” Luke 8:14-15
L
Revelation 14:15
“
15
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in
thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap;
for the harvest of the earth
is ripe
16
And he that
sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.”
Revelation 14:15
L
Christ's Object Lessons
, Page 69
"When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." Christ is
waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church.
When
the
character
of Christ
shall
be
perfectly
reproduced in His people,
then
He will come to claim them as His own. " {
COL 69.1
}
L
God's Amazing Grace,
Page 16
"The works of Christ not only declared Him to be the Messiah, but showed in what manner His kingdom was to be established. . . .
It comes through the gentleness of the inspiration
of His word
, through the inward working of His Spirit, the fellowship of the soul
with Him who is its life. The greatest manifestation of its power is seen in
human nature
brought to the
perfection of the character
of Christ
. . . . {
AG 16.5
}
L
This is from chapter 8, entitled, "God's Kingdom in the Heart
." {
AG 16.1
}
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Review and Herald
, September 1, 1885
"When Christ shall come, our vile bodies are to be changed, and made like his glorious body; but the vile
character
will not
be
made holy then. The
transformation of character
must take place before his coming.
Our
natures
must be pure and holy
;
we must have
the mind of Christ
,
that he may behold with pleasure his image reflected upon our souls. We are none
of us what God would have us, and what we may be, and what his word requires us to be.
It is our unbelief that shuts us away from
God.
...." {
RH, September 1, 1885 par. 6
}
L
See
Mat 25:2
L
,
on the
"
foolish virgins
." and notice t
hey
"....
have not the genuine heart-work
..... " as
pointed out in {
RH, August 19, 1890 par. 8
}
L
We don't have time and space for everything here now. But this one is
important also, with the importance of genuine heart work being focused on.
Desire of Ages,
Page 172
".... The Christian’s life is
not a modification
or improvement of the old, but a
transformation of nature
. There is a
death
to self and sin, and
a new life altogether
. ..." {
DA 172.1
}
L
{
AG 22.4
}
L
Desire of Ages,
Page 175
"...Then the Spirit of God through faith produces
a new life
in the soul. The thoughts and desires are brought into obedience to the
will of Christ. The
heart
, the
mind
, are
created anew in the image of Him
who works in us to subdue all things to Himself. Then the
law of God is written in the mind and heart, and we can say with Christ, "I
delight
to do Thy will, O my God."
Ps. 40:8
. {
DA 175.5
}
L
See this entire chapter
: {
DA 167.1
- 177.2}
L
This is the 17th chapter, entitled:
"Nicodemus."
Redemption,
page 11
".... The power of the Holy Spirit
transforms the entire man
. This change constitutes the new birth. ..." {
4Red 11.3
}
L
{
4Red
8.1
- 23.2}
L
is a section on this.
Manuscript Releases, Volume 2,
Page 338
".... "He that doeth truth cometh to the light." The windows of impulse, of feeling, must be opened up toward heaven, and the dust
of selfishness and earthliness must be expelled. The grace of God must sweep through the chambers of the mind, the imagination must
have heavenly themes for contemplation, and
every element of
the nature
must be purified and vitalized by the Spirit of
God.
" {
2MR 338.2
}
L
This is found at least 8 times in other places, some with a bit different text surrounding it.
Education
, Page 126
"
The
creative energy
that called the worlds into existence
is in
the word of God
.
This word imparts
power; it begets life.
Every command is a promise; accepted by the will,
received into the soul
,
it brings with it the life of the
Infinite One
.
It transforms the nature
and re-creates the soul in the image of God.”
{
Ed 126.4
}
L
Similar,
but different
. {
FLB 20.6
}
L
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5,
Page 242
" ....
It was the pride and ambition cherished in the heart of Satan that banished him from heaven.
These evils are deeply
rooted in
our fallen nature
,
and if not
removed
they will overshadow every good and noble quality and bring
forth envy and strife as their baleful fruits.”
{
5T 242.1}
L
“We should seek for true goodness rather than greatness.
Those who possess the
mind of Christ
will have humble
views of themselves.
They will labor for the
purity
and prosperity of the church, and be ready to sacrifice their own interests and
desires rather than to cause dissension among their brethren.” {
5T 242.2
}
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Testimonies for the Church Containing Letters to Physicians and Ministers
Instruction to Seventh-day Adventists,
Page 6
"...... But when the words were spoken, "I will
put enmity
between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it
shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel," Satan knew that although he had succeeded in making human beings sin,
although he had led them to believe his lie, and to question God, although he had succeeded in depraving
human nature
, some
arrangement had been made whereby the beings who had fallen would be placed on vantage ground,
their
nature
renewed in
godliness
. He saw that his action in tempting them would react upon himself, and that he would be placed where he could not become
conqueror. " {
SpTB02 6.2
}
L
Testimonies for the Church Containing Letters to Physicians and Ministers Instruction to Seventh-
day Adventists
..
[This portion of the paragraph above, is from the
1st chapter entitled, "The Great Controversy
." It appears
to summarize these concepts here, as being the heart of the issues surrounding the "Great Controversy." In short,
because of Jesus sacrifice for us, only with our continued cooperation, God can be justified in transforming our natures, to
be like His.]
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2,
Page 23
" .... Regeneration is the only path by which we can enter the city of God. It is narrow, and the gate by which we enter is strait; but
along it we are to lead men and women and children,
teaching them
that, in order to be saved, they must have a
new heart
and a new
spirit. The old,
hereditary traits
of character must be
overcome.
The
natural
desires
of the soul
must be
changed
. All deception,
all falsifying, all evilspeaking, must be put away. The new life, which makes men and women Christlike, is to be lived. {
9T 23.1
}
L
{9T 19.1- 23.1}
L
Appeal and Suggestions to Conference Officers
,
Page 25
"... The forgiveness of sins and iniquities and transgressions, belongs in a special sense to this time. We are in the anti-typical day
of atonement, and every soul should now be humbling himself before God, seeking pardon for his transgressions and sins, and
accepting the justifying grace of Christ, the sanctifying of the soul by the operations of the Holy Spirit of Christ; thus the
carnal
nature is transformed
, renewed in holiness after the image of Christ’s righteousness and true holiness. .... " {
PH002 25.2
}
L
This pamphlet above, is entitled: "
Appeal and Suggestions to Conference Officers
.
" This portion above is from the
chapter of the pamphlet entitled: "The Need of a Converted Ministry.
"
L
Ephesians 4:22-24
"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed
in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
Eph. 4:22
-
24 .
L
The Faith I Live By,
Page 139
" It is not a small matter to
transform
an earthly, sin-loving mind ...... When he understands these things, his former life appears
disgusting and hateful. He
hates sin
, and, breaking his heart before God, he embraces Christ as the life and joy of the soul. He
renounces his former pleasures. He has a
new mind
, new affections, new interest,
new will
; his sorrows, and desires, and love are
all
new
. . . . " {
FLB 139
}
L
The Faith I Live By,
Page 19
" ......
The Word
destroys
the natural, earthly
nature
, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. ..." {
FLB 19.4
}
L
{
FLB
18
-19}
L
Manuscript Releases, Volume 10
, Page 295
"….
God’s Word
sets forth the will that is to be carried into the recesses of the soul. If the human agent
consents, God can and will so identify His will with all our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds
into conformity to His word, that when obeying His will we are only
carrying out the impulses of our
minds.
...... " {
10MR 295.2
}
L
Similar in
{
DA 668.3
}
L
"....
They must be conformed
to the
nature
of Jesus
Christ, that He may accomplish the good He designs to do for all who
will submit to be molded by yielding their natures to His authority. ... " {
10MR 295.3
}
L
Manuscript Releases, Volume 13
, Page 19
"....
Never
, in any way, leave the
slightest impression
upon human minds that a taint of, or
inclination to corruption
rested upon
Christ, ....." {
13MR 19.1
}
L
{
13MR 18.1
}
L
and on ward. The Baker letter.
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Selected Messages, Volume 1,
Page 122
“There are persons in the church who are not converted, and who will not unite in earnest, prevailing prayer. We must enter upon
the work individually. We must pray more, and talk less. Iniquity abounds, and the people must be taught not to be satisfied with a
form of godliness without the spirit and power
. If we are intent upon searching our own hearts, putting away our sins, and
correcting
our evil tendencies
, our souls will not be lifted up unto vanity; we shall be distrustful of ourselves,
having an abiding
sense that our sufficiency is of God
. {
1SM 122.2
}
L
We have far more to fear from within than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are
far greater from the church
itself
than from the world. Unbelievers have a right to expect that those who profess to be keeping the commandments of God and the
faith of Jesus, will do more than any other class to promote and honor, by their consistent lives, by their godly example and their
active influence, the cause which they represent. But how often have
the professed advocates of the truth proved the greatest
obstacle to its advancement
! The unbelief indulged, the doubts expressed, the darkness cherished, encourage the presence of evil
angels, and open the way for the accomplishment of Satan’s devices." {
1SM 122.3
}
Manuscript Releases, Volume 10
, Page 287 and 288
"Uncorrected Natural Tendencies Contain the Seeds of Moral Death
--
The
law of God is presented in the Scriptures as broad in its requirements. Every principle is holy, just and good. They lay men under
obligation to God: they reach to the thoughts and feelings of the soul; and they will produce conviction of sin in everyone who is
sensible of having transgressed them. If the law extended only to the external conduct, men would not feel guilty over their wrong
thoughts, desires, and designs. But the law 288 requires that the soul itself, the spiritual agent,
be pure
,
the mind holy
, that
all
thoughts
and feelings shall be in accordance with the law of love and righteousness. By its light men see themselves guilty before
God. . . . {
10MR 287.3
}
L
God is seeking to exalt us to His high, pure, heavenly standard. For this purpose His Spirit is constantly striving with us. The
corruptions of the world and all unholy influences will be working through the masterly energies of Satan to drag men down to their
level, blinding their sensibilities, degrading their desires, enfeebling the conscience, and in every way making their religious faculties
weak and inefficient.
Our natural tendencies, unless corrected by the Holy Spirit of God, have in
them the seeds of moral death
.
The flesh with all its prompting "lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the
flesh" (Galatians 5:17). If the higher, holier attributes are not cultivated, if we allow ourselves to deceive, to prevaricate, there is a
false tongue that needs to be treated with the hot "coals of juniper" (Psalm 120:4). . . . "{
10MR 288.1
}
L
This sentences, "Our natural tendencies, unless
corrected
by the Holy Spirit of God, have in them the seeds of moral
death," is also found in these places:
MH 455
,
8T 315.6
-316 ,
RC 311
,
NL 62.7
. There is different wording around this sentence in some places.
Manuscript Releases, Volume 10
, Page 296
" ...
He will
not
take pleasure
in any man who
retains his old nature
, and is not so renewed in
knowledge and grace that he is a new man in Christ Jesus.
..... " {
10MR 296.2
}
L
Last Day Events,
Page 58
" ... With wonderful forbearance and compassion He has disciplined them. If they will heed His instruction He will
cleanse away
their
perverse tendencies
, ..... "{
LDE 58.2
}
L
God's Amazing Grace,
Page 313
".... We are held fast in the snare of Satan, "taken captive by him at his will" (
2 Tim. 2:26
). God desires to heal us, to set us free.
But since this requires an
entire transformation
, a
renewing of our whole nature
, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him. {
AG
313.3
}
L
God's Amazing Grace,
Page 263
"........
Natural and hereditary
traits of character
will be transformed
. The indwelling of His Spirit will enable them to reveal
Christ’s likeness, and
in proportion
to the purity of their piety
will be the success of their work
.” {
AG 263.3
}
L
God's Amazing Grace,
Page 226
" ... The
natural man must die
, and the
new man, Christ Jesus
, take possession of the soul. . . . You may show by your life what
the power and grace of God can do in
transforming the natural
man
into a
spiritual
man in Christ Jesus. {
AG 226.5
}
L
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<p>[null / b (has AS)]</p>
Christ's Object Lessons,
Page 97
"... When the requirements of God are accounted a burden because they
cut across human inclination
, we may know that the life
is
not
a Christian life.
True
obedience is the outworking of a principle within. It springs from
the
love
of righteousness
, the love of
the law of God.
.... " {
COL 97.3
}
L
Christ's Object Lessons,
Page 99
" ... The reason is that they are not converted. They have not
hidden the leaven of
truth
in the heart
. It has not had opportunity to
do its work. Their
natural
and
cultivated tendencies to evil
have not been submitted [BEGIN P.100] to its
transforming
power
.
Their lives reveal the absence of the grace of Christ,
an unbelief in His power to transform the character.
{
COL 99.1
}
L
The Faith I Live By,
Page 23
"We
need not retain
one
sinful propensity
. . . . As we partake of the
divine nature,
hereditary
and
cultivated tendencies
to
wrong
are cut away
from the character, and we are made a living power for good. Ever learning of the divine Teacher, daily
partaking of
His nature
, we cooperate with God in overcoming Satan’s temptations
. " {
FLB 23.4
}
L
How this is accomplished
, Christ has shown us. By what means did He overcome in the conflict with Satan
?
By the
Word of God
. Only by
the Word
could He resist temptation. "It is written," He said. And unto us
are given "exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine
nature
. . . ." Every promise in
God’s Word
is ours. . . . When assailed by temptation, look not to
circumstances or to the weakness of self, but to
the power of the Word
.
All its strength is yours
.
{
FLB
23.5
}
L
The Great Controversy,
Page 508 and 509
"
Satan is continually seeking to overcome the
people of God
by breaking down the barriers which separate
them from the world
. Ancient Israel were enticed into sin when they ventured into
forbidden association
with
the heathen. In a
similar manner
are modern Israel led astray. "The god of this world hath blinded the minds of
them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine
unto them." 2 Corinthians 4:4. All who are not
decided followers of Christ
are
servants of Satan
. In the
unregenerate heart
there is
love of sin
and a disposition to cherish and
excuse
it. In the
renewed heart
there is
hatred of sin
and determined resistance against it
. When Christians
choose the society
of the
ungodly and unbelieving
, they
expose themselves
to temptation. Satan conceals himself from view and
stealthily draws his deceptive covering over their eyes.
They cannot see that such company is calculated to do
them harm; and while all the time assimilating to the world in character, words, and actions, they are becoming
more and more blinded.
{
GC 508.2
}
L
“
Conformity to worldly customs
converts the church to the world; it never converts the world to Christ.
Familiarity with sin will inevitably cause it to appear less repulsive.
He who
chooses
to
associate
with the
servants of Satan
will soon cease to fear their master
.
When in the way of duty we are brought into trial, as
was Daniel in the king’s court, we may be sure that God will protect us; but if we place ourselves under
temptation we shall fall sooner or later.”
{
GC 509.1
}
L
Early Writings,
Page 227
" ..... But if this faith does not provoke to good works, and lead those who profess it to imitate the self-denying life of Christ, Satan
is not disturbed; for they merely assume the Christian name, while their
hearts are still carnal
, and he can use them in his service
even better than if they made no profession. Hiding their deformity under the name of Christian, they pass along with their
unsanctified natures
,
and their evil passions unsubdued. This gives occasion for the unbeliever to reproach Christ with their
imperfections, and causes those who do possess pure and undefiled religion to be brought into disrepute." {
EW 227.2
}
L
The Review and Herald,
January 21, 1890
"The Spirit of truth has a
refining
, elevating, heavenly influence
upon mind
and character.
We are
to study
the
mind of Christ,
and to receive the truth as it is in Jesus. We are to watch and pray, to consult the living oracles of God. When
any lust
takes possession of the mind
in any way
or
to
any degree
, and there is a yielding to fleshly desires
,
we lose
the image of Christ
in spirit and character. The work in the heavenly sanctuary becomes obscure to the minds of those who
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are controlled by the temptations of the evil one, and they engage in side issues to gratify their own selfish purposes, and their true
moral standing is determined by their works " {
RH 01211890.5
}
L
" I appeal to you, my fellow-laborers, to meditate upon the sacred truths imparted unto you. The heavenly Master has intrusted you
with the mine of truth, and you are to work out its treasures, to display its gems, and unveil its attractions, not merely when giving a
discourse, but in your daily life you are to show the constraining,
transforming
power
of the truth
.
Every
faculty
and
power of our nature
must receive the
imprint of Christ’s
signature. We must become partakers of the
divine
nature
. By beholding, we become changed into his image. {
RH 01211890.6
}
L
In Heavenly Places,
Page 335
" The necessity of the Holy Spirit’s working should be realized by all.
Unless
this Spirit is accepted and
cherished
as the
representative of Christ, whose work it is to
renew
and
sanctify
the entire being
,
the momentous truths that have been entrusted
to human beings
will lose
their power on
the
mind
.
It is not enough for us to have a knowledge of the truth. We are to walk and
work in love, conforming our will to the will of God. Of those who do this the Lord declares, "I will put
my laws into their mind
, and
write them in their hearts" (Heb. 8:10 ). . . . Thus divine relationship is renewed between God and man. "’I will be to them a
God
,’"
He says, "’and they shall be to me a people.’
There is no attribute of My nature
that I will not freely give in order that man may
reveal My image.
" ... {
HP 335.4
}
L
Are we seeking for His fullness, ever pressing toward the mark set before us--the perfection of His character?
When the Lord’s
people reach this mark, they will be sealed in their foreheads
.
Filled with the Spirit, they will be complete in Christ, and the
recording angel will declare, "It is finished." " {
HP 335.5
}
L
Patriarchs and Prophets,
Page 421
[Referring
to Moses, it says this.
]
"..... It is to place us on our guard against his devices that God has given
in
His word
so many lessons teaching the danger of
self-
exaltation.
There is not an
impulse
of our
nature
, not a
faculty
of the mind or an
inclination
of the heart, but needs to be, moment by
moment, under the control of the Spirit of God. ... ... Therefore however great one’s spiritual light, however much he may enjoy of the
divine favor and blessing, he should ever walk humbly before the Lord, pleading in faith that God will
direct every thought and
control every impulse
." {
PP 421.1
}
L
Prophets and Kings,
Page 177 and 178
".... The world today has its Ahabs and its Jezebels. The present age is one of idolatry, as verily as was that in which Elijah lived.
No outward shrine may be visible; there may be no image for the eye to rest upon; yet thousands are following after the gods of this
world--after riches, fame, pleasure, and the
pleasing fables that permit man to follow the
inclinations
of the
unregenerate heart
.
Multitude have a wrong conception of God and
His attributes
, and are as truly serving a false god as
were the worshipers of Baal. Many even of those who claim to be Christians have allied themselves with influences that are
unalterably opposed
to God and [BEGIN P.178]
His truth
. Thus they are led to turn away from the divine and to
exalt the human
. "
{
PK 177.1
}
L
" .... There is seen a spirit of opposition to the plain word of God, of
idolatrous exaltation of human wisdom above divine
revelation
. Men have allowed their minds to become so darkened and confused by conformity to worldly customs and influences that
they seem to have lost all power to
discriminate
between
light
and darkness, truth and error. ... " {
PK 178.1
}
L
The Faith I Live By,
Page 140
"......
No one can be omnipotent, but
all can cleanse themselves
from filthiness of the
flesh and spirit
, perfecting holiness in the fear of
the Lord. God requires every soul to be pure and holy. We have
hereditary tendencies
to wrong.
This is a part of
self that no one need carry about
. It is a weakness of humanity to pet selfishness, because it is a
natural
trait of character. But unless
all
selfishness is put away, unless self is crucified, we can never be holy as God is holy. There is in
humanity
a
tendency
to
suspicious imagining
, which circumstances quicken into lively growth. If this trait is
indulged
, it spoils the
character and ruins the soul. {
FLB 140.4
}
L
God requires moral perfection in all. Those who have been given light and opportunities should, as God’s stewards, aim for
perfection, and never,
never lower the standard of righteousness to accommodate
inherited
and
cultivated
tendencies
to wrong
.
Christ took upon Him our human nature, and lived our life, to show us that we may be
like Him. . . . We ought to be holy even as God is holy; and when we comprehend the full significance of this statement, and set our
heart to do the work of God, to be holy as He is holy, we shall approach the standard set for each individual in Christ Jesus. " {
FLB
140.5
}
L
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Desire of Ages,
Page 311
"God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect." This command is a promise. The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the
power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made
provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul,
to keep him from sinning.
{
DA 311.2
}
" .... Satan is jubilant when he hears the professed followers of Christ making
excuses
for their
deformity of character.
It is these
excuses
that lead to sin. There is no excuse for sinning. A holy temper, a Christlike life, is accessible to every repenting, believing
child of God. " {
DA 311.3
}
L
Steps to Christ,
Page 61
"We do not earn salvation by our obedience; for salvation is the free gift of God, to be received by faith. But obedience is the
fruit
of faith. "Ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not:
whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him,
neither known Him
."
1 John 3:5, 6
. Here is the true test. If we abide in Christ, if the love
of God dwells in us, our
feelings
, our
thoughts
, our purposes, our actions,
will be in harmony with the will of God
as expressed in
the precepts of His holy law. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is
righteous." 1 John 3:7. Righteousness is defined by the standard of God’s holy law, as expressed in the ten precepts given on Sinai."
{
SC 61.1
}
L
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing,
Page 60
"When the thought of evil is loved and cherished, however secretly, said Jesus, it shows that sin still reigns in the heart. The soul is
still in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. He who finds pleasure in dwelling upon scenes of impurity, who indulges the
evil thought, the lustful look, may behold in the open sin, with its burden of shame and heart-breaking grief, the
true nature
of the
evil which he has hidden in the chambers of the soul. The season of temptation, under which, it may be, one falls into grievous sin,
does not create the evil that is revealed, but only develops or makes manifest that which was hidden and latent in the heart. As a man
"thinketh in his heart, so is he;" for out of the heart "are the issues of life." Proverbs 23:7; 4:23. " {
MB 60.1
}
L
"... The soul, corrupted and deformed, is to be
purified, transformed
, that it may be clothed in "the beauty of the Lord our God,"
"conformed to the image of His Son." .... " {
MB 60.3
}
L
Matthew 5:29 & 30
"
29
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast
it
from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not
that
thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast
it
from thee: for it
is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not
that
thy whole body should be cast into hell." Mat 5:29-30 .
L
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing,
Page 61 and 62
" .... It is through the will that sin retains its hold upon us. The surrender of the
will
is represented as
plucking out the eye
or
cutting off the hand
. ... " {
MB 61.1
}
L
"If you cling to self,
refusing to yield your will to God
, you are choosing death. ....." {
MB 62.1
}
L
"It will require a sacrifice to give yourself to God; but it is a sacrifice of the lower for the higher, the earthly for the spiritual, the
perishable for the eternal. God does not design that
our will
should be destroyed, for it is only through
its exercise
that we can
accomplish what He would have us do.
Our will
is to be yielded to Him, that we may receive it again,
purified
and
refined
, and so
linked in sympathy with the Divine that He can pour through us the tides of His love and power. However bitter and painful this
surrender may appear to the willful, wayward heart, yet "
it is profitable for thee
." {
MB 62.2
}
L
Carefully consider this entire section, at least:
{
MB 60
-62}
as only parts of it are here.
L
Steps to Christ,
Page 74
"Growing Up Into Christ," Chapter 8 starting at: {
SC 67.1
}
L
" ....
Their union with Him was closer than when He was personally with them.
...." {
SC 74.1
}
L
A similar thought is found
in
{AA 65.1}
L
Steps to Christ,
Page 75
"
All that Christ was to the disciples, He desires to be to His children today;
......"{
SC 75.1
}
L
".... ... Then if Christ is dwelling in our hearts, He will work in us "both
to will
and to do of His good pleasure."
Philippians 2:13
.
We shall work as He worked; we shall manifest the same spirit. And thus, loving Him and abiding in Him, we shall "
grow up
into
Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."
Ephesians 4:15
. {
SC 75.2
}
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Sings of the Times,
September 26, 1892
“
Christ overcame every temptation of the enemy, because in him divinity and humanity were combined; but
there is no safety for any soul who has merely a legal religion, a form of godliness, a round of ceremonial
exactions. To attend services on the Sabbath, to
pray
occasionally
or regularly
,
makes no one a
Christian
.
The
important
thing
is to become united to Christ
, to believe in Christ as a
personal Saviour, to live by faith in the Son of God.
The question to ask the soul is
, "
Am I a
partaker of the divine nature
, represented as being
born again
?
Has a
new
moral taste been created
?
If not
, the soul is in deadly peril
.
He who is born of God is a new man.
"If any man be in Christ, he is a
new creature
; old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become
new
." The old imperious will
is gone
. The pride is cleansed from the soul. Selfishness is uprooted. The quick,
passionate temper no longer masters the man; for Jesus Christ has brought
the thoughts into captivity
to himself.
Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let no arrogancy come out of your mouth; for the Lord is a
God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even
so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree
cannot
bring
forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that saith unto
me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them,
I
never knew you
; depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
{
ST, September 26, 1892 par. 4
}
L
Cited Statement #3
"
We are sinners by nature, and will remain so until Jesus comes again. Please notice that we are
sinners by birth, and that we will continue to be sinners by nature, until Jesus comes again, whether
we're sinning or not."
- FTW, page 162. This is from Morris Venden’s book, entitled, “
Faith that Works
.”
Carefully compare this statement of Venden above, with all these references, those above, and
these repeated again below:
Education,
Page 126
"
The
creative energy
that called the worlds into existence
is in
the word of God
.
This word imparts power; it
begets life.
Every command is a promise; accepted by the will,
received into the soul
,
it brings with it the life of the Infinite One
.
It transforms the nature
and re-creates the soul in the image of God
.
{
Ed 126.4
}
L
Similar, but
different
. {
FLB 20.6
}
L
Desire of Ages,
Page 172
".... The Christian’s life is
not a modification
or improvement of the old, but a
transformation of nature
. There is a
death
to self and sin, and
a new life altogether
. ..." {
DA 172.1
}
L
{
AG 22.4
}
L
And also, once again, consider how both the sentences in that statement of Venden, compare to all
the other references shown above. There are many many other comparisons that can be drawn.
Again, how do these compare with the 7 analytical questions from the beginning of
this study:
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<p>[null / b (has AS)]</p>
1. Are these teachings “
according,”
to God’s word?
Isaiah 8:20
2. Does this “
so closely
” “
resemble the true
,” that it is difficult to tell?
GC 593.1
3. Is “
every statement
” in line with “
the doctrine of Christ
?”
GC 593.1
2 John 1:9-11
4. Is this easy to see with God’s “
power to distinguish
?”
SpTB02 8.2
5. Are Christ’s instructions being “
strictly heeded
,” not missing “
one word
?”
9T 266.1
6. Is this a “
lie
?”
9T 266.1
7. Or is this “
truth
?”
9T 266.1
Whose side are the Vendens on?
I mean really, whose side are they on?
2 Peter 1:3-11
“
3
according as
his divine power
hath given unto us all things that
pertain
unto life and
godliness, through
the knowledge of him
that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4
whereby are given unto us exceeding great and
precious promises:
that
by these
ye might be partakers of
the divine nature
, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust.
5
And beside this, giving all diligence
, add to your faith virtue; and to
virtue knowledge;
6
and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to
patience godliness
;
7
and
to
godliness
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8
For if these things be in you, and abound,
they make
you that ye shall
neither
be
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9
But he
that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old
sins.
10
Wherefore the rather, brethren,
give diligence
to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these
things, ye shall never fall:
11
for
so
an entrance shall be ministered unto you
abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
.” 2 Peter 1:3-11
L
The Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4,
Page 296
“….
In the light of
God’s word
it is not difficult to determine the nature of these religious
movements.
The history of God’s dealings with his people in the past testifies that
his Spirit is
not
poured out
upon those who
neglect
or
oppose
the warnings sent them by his servants.
And
by the rule which Christ himself has given, "
Ye shall know them by their fruits
," it is evident that
these movements are
not
the work of the Spirit of God.”
{
4SP 296.1
}
L
Manuscript Releases, Volume 2,
Page 28 and 29
"
All have not that faith which works by love and purifies the soul
from
all
earthly dross
. The
purification through the Spirit
must
take place in their
own minds and hearts
. Unless this divine
principle is brought into the life and practice,
there can be no such fruit borne
as unfeigned,
fervent
love
for one another. There are in the human heart
hereditary
and
cultivated partialities
so
that this
love
will not be practiced
unless the
divine grace shall
purify
the
natural
tendencies
of the human heart
.
Lust for forbidden things will obtain the mastery, and self
will be glorified. . . .
” {
2MR 28.2
}
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"... Time and time again the Lord has longed to communicate His Spirit in rich measure, but there
was no place for it to rest. It was not recognized or valued. The blindness of mind, the hardness of
hearts, interpreted it as something of which they should be afraid.
Some hidden evil
lurks in
the heart
to hinder the manifestation of the power of God,
and His Spirit cannot descend
...."
{
2MR 29.1
}
Fine Tuning Questions #3:
A friend of mine, who was reviewing and proof reading this for me, put a question on this section
that reads as follows. “So, - - - - - - , How would you characterize the fruit of Morris Venden's ministry
and message? Did he lead people to righteousness or to lawlessness?”
The
Spirit of the Lord
put into my mind these additional
fine tuning questions
to ask, in
response to his questions:
1. Can you see that
2 Peter 1:4-11
and the listed references,
Ed 126.4
and
DA 172.1
, just below
Venden's cited statement #3, say that our natures must be changed by the power of God's word,
so that “an entrance shall be ministered unto” us “into the everlasting kingdom?”
2. Is your mind's eye able to see that this
4SP 296.1
reference shown just above, says that God's
“
Spirit is
not
poured out upon those who
neglect or oppose
the warnings sent them
” by
God's servants?
3. Has God's eyesalve enabled you to discern that this cited statement #3 is in direct opposition to
what God's servants have told us, in 2MR 28.2, where it says that grace must purify the natural
tendencies, and all the other references above, therefore it directly opposes the warnings sent by
God's servants?
How can it
not oppose them?
4. Is it clear, that the first commandment, referred to as such by Jesus himself in
Mark 12:29-30
,
says that we are to
love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength
?
5. Has the enlightening of your mind's eye allowed you to recognize that
Romans 8:7
says that “
the
carnal mind is enmity against God
,
” and therefore that our natures, without the transforming
power of God, are inclined to be in opposition to God, with inclinations, propensities, and
tendencies of our minds that are against God's law?
6. Can you cognitively grasp that all these references are showing that we must tap into God's
transforming power, the power found in God's word, so we become inclined toward God, instead
of having sinful natures with tendencies against Him?
7. If we have even one inclination, propensity, or tendency, that is opposed to God, does
that part of our mind really love God? - - - Does it, - - - or - does - it - not ?
8. If not, then how could we ever be keeping the first commandment, if our natures will not be
changed until Jesus comes?
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<p>[null / b (has AS)]</p>
9. Similarly, if one teaches that our natures will not be changed until Jesus comes, are they not
teaching that we will not be transformed, such that we can keep this commandment, until Jesus
comes?
10. Can the eyesalve applied to your minds eye allow you to see that
James 2:10
says that if we
“
keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point,
” we are “
guilty of all?
”
11. While claiming a
form of godliness
, how can just this
one
teaching not -
deny
- God's -
power
- to really transform our hearts, before Jesus comes?
12. What does the Bible say, in
2 Timothy 3:5
, we should do if one has a “
form of godliness,
” but
denies, “
the power thereof
?
”
13. If we have been
washed, - by the "
washing of water by,
" - - the power of God's word
, - - to the
point where there is only
one
sinful tendency
remaining
within us, but we still have one
sinful
tendency of our fallen human nature remaining in our minds,
would it be true
to say that we
love
God with
all
of our mind
?
Would – that - be -
true?
14. If we do not love God with all of our mind, would it be true to say that we keep the first
commandment that commands that we are to love God with all of our mind?
15.
How can these teachings that
our nature
will not be changed until Jesus comes, be anything
other than
leading to lawlessness
,
even if
they teach that
all
the laws are held up as
important?
16.
If one believes that
their nature
need not be changed before Jesus comes, are they more or
less likely to ask God for forgiveness when they have sinful thoughts, and to ask God to continue
to sanctify their heart by replacing their thoughts with His? Are they
more
likely,
or less
likely,
to ask God these things?
17.
Are they more likely to regularly ask God to - grant- that- promise--
, of bringing into captivity
every one of their thoughts “
to the obedience of Christ
,
” so that their “
obedience is fulfilled
?”
18.
How often, do you ask God
, in the name of Jesus Christ, to so intertwine His will with yours, so
that when obeying Him, you are “
only carrying out the impulses of
” your own mind? How
often do you pray for that, and did you every even think that maybe you should? If so, have you
ever asked God to please remind you to continue to ask Him for this?
19.
Does the eyesalve applied to your cognitive thinking processes allow you to see that
1 John 2:3
– 5
says “
we know that
we know Him
, if we keep his commandments.
4
He that saith,
I know
him
, and keepth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5
But whoso keepeth
his word, in him verily is the
love of God perfected
:
hereby know we that we are in him
?
”
Have you checked to see that - it – does - say that?
20.
Are not these teachings of Morris Venden, that claim to be, and many folk believe are, leading
people into a deeper relationship with Jesus by encouraging them to focus on spending time
getting to know Him,
in reality
teaching that they will never actually be enabled by the
power of
God
,
and of His word
, to keep His commandment to Love God with all their heart, mind, and
soul, and therefore they will never have the “
Love of God perfected
” in them, --- and furthermore
-
never – really -- actually -- get –
– to – know - Him?
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<p>[null / b (has AS)]</p>
<p>[null / b (has AS)]</p>
<p>[null / b (has AS)]</p>
<p>[null / b (has AS)]</p>
I rest my case.
This is more than enough to settle this in my mind. However I know of at
least 10 or more other statements of Venden, that perhaps some might think should also be carefully
considered in the way that these ones listed above have been. I am praying that it has been enough
for you as well. Again, just by recommending these books as good books about Jesus, they still
support these teachings,
if by no other way.
Deuteronomy 30:6
“
6
And the LORD thy God
will circumcise thine
heart
, and the heart of thy seed,
to
love
the
LORD
thy God
with all thine heart
, and with
all thy soul
,
that - thou -
mayest - live
.
”
Deuteronomy 30:6
L
Hebrews 4:12
“
12
For the
word of God
is
quick
, and
powerful
, and
sharper than any twoedged sword
,
piercing
even to the
dividing asunder
of soul and spirit
,
and of the
joints and marrow
, and
is
a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
”
Hebrews 4:12
L
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing,
Pages 93 through 95
“
"No man can serve two masters."
Matthew 6:24
. .
Christ does not say that man will not or shall not serve two masters, but that he
cannot
. The interests of God
and the interests of mammon have no union or sympathy. Just where the conscience of the Christian warns him
to forbear, to deny himself, to stop, just there the worldling steps over the line, to indulge his
selfish
propensities
. On one side of the line is the self-denying follower of Christ; on the other side is the self-indulgent
world lover, pandering to fashion, engaging in frivolity, and pampering himself in forbidden pleasure. On that
side of the line the Christian cannot go
.
[BEGIN P.94]
{
MB 93.2
}
L
No one can occupy a neutral position; there is no middle class, who neither love God nor serve the enemy of
righteousness.
Christ is to live
in
His human agents
and work through their faculties and act through their
capabilities. Their will must be submitted to His will; they must act with His Spirit. Then it is no more they that
live, but Christ that lives in them. He who does not give himself
wholly to God
is under the control of another
power, listening to another voice, whose suggestions are of an entirely different character.
Half-and-half
service places the human agent on the side of the enemy as a successful ally of the hosts of darkness.
When
men who claim to be soldiers of Christ engage with the confederacy of Satan, and help along his side, they
prove themselves enemies of Christ.
They betray sacred trusts. They form a link between Satan and the true
soldiers, so that through these agencies the enemy is constantly working to steal away the hearts of Christ’s
soldiers.
{
MB 94.1
}
L
The strongest bulwark of vice in our world is not the iniquitous life of the abandoned sinner or the degraded
outcast; it is that life which otherwise appears virtuous, honorable, and noble,
but
in which one sin is fostered,
one vice indulged
.
To the soul that is struggling in secret against some giant temptation, trembling upon the
very verge of the precipice, such an example is one of the most powerful enticements to sin. He who, endowed
with high conceptions of life and truth and honor,
does yet willfully transgress one precept of God’s holy
law,
has perverted His noble gifts into a lure to sin.
Genius, talent, sympathy, even
generous and kindly deeds, [BEGIN P.95] may become
decoys of Satan
to entice other souls over the precipice
of ruin for this life and the life to come.
{
MB 94.2
}
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<p>[null / b (has AS)]</p>
<p>[null / b (has AS)]</p>
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"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father
is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not
of the Father, but is of the world."
1 John 2:15
, 16.”
{
MB 95.1
}
L
Review and Herald, December 7, 1897
"Christ shows that without the
controlling power of the Spirit of God
, humanity is a terrible power for evil,
to hurt and destroy humanity. When men banish this Spirit,
unbelief
and
hatred of reproof
stir up
satanic
influence
. Principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high
places, will unite in a desperate companionship. They will
be
leagued against God
in the person
of his saints.
By misrepresentation and falsehood, they will demoralize both men and women
who
, -
to - all
-
appearances
, -
believe
-
the truth
.
False witnesses will not be wanting in this
terrible work. But Christ gives the assurance: "There shall not a hair of your head perish.
In your patience
possess ye your souls.
" Christ will restore the life taken; for he is the Life-giver: he will beautify the righteous
with immortal life." {
RH, December 7, 1897 par. 6
}
L
Stand
I am praying that none of us fall into the sad situations that are described in these references
below, and that we take a
stand
on that which they say we are to take a
stand
on.
While we must
keep in mind all thoughts such as are in
2SM 380.2
, and
MR311 5.1
– 5.2, saying God will have
a remnant
, we must not over look these counsels found below either.
Prayerfully ask, "is this the
way of the Lord".
Christian Service,
Page 41
"
Not One in Twenty Prepared
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. They are professedly serving God, but they are more earnestly
serving mammon. This half-and-half work is a constant denying of Christ, rather than a confessing of Christ. So
many have brought into
the church
their own unsubdued spirit, unrefined; their spiritual taste is perverted by
their own immoral, debasing corruptions,
symbolizing the world in spirit
, in heart, in purpose, confirming
themselves in lustful practices, and are full of deception through and through in their professed Christian life.
Living as sinners, claiming to be Christians!
Those who claim to be Christians and will confess Christ
should
come out from among them
and touch not the unclean thing, and be
separate. . .
.”
{
ChS 41.1
}
L
Christian Service,
Page 43
“
The professed followers of Christ are on trial before the heavenly universe; but the coldness of their zeal
and the feebleness of their efforts in God's service, mark them as unfaithful. If what they are doing were the best
they could do, condemnation would not rest upon them; but were
their hearts
enlisted in the work
, they
could do much more. They know, and the world knows, that they have to a great degree lost the spirit of self-
denial and cross-bearing. Many there are against whose names will be found written in the books of heaven, Not
producers, but consumers. By many who bear Christ's name, His glory is obscured, His beauty veiled, His
honor withheld.
There are many whose names are on the church books
, but who are
not
under Christ's
rule.
They are not heeding His instruction or doing His work. Therefore they are under the control of the
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enemy. They are doing no positive good, therefore they are doing
incalculable harm
. Because their influence is
not a savor of life unto life, it is a savor of death unto death.”
COL 303
,
304
. {
ChS 43.5
}
Manuscript Releases, Volume 7,
Page 389
"
We have little enough of Christ’s character. We need it all through our ranks, We must reveal that love
which dwelt in Jesus. Then we shall keep the commandment [that we love one another], which
not one in a
hundred
of those who claim to believe the truth for this time are keeping
. . . .
” {
7MR 389.3
}
L
See
1 Peter 1:22
L
Review and Herald
May 5, 1885, Paragraph 2
"
The followers of Christ are required to
come out from the world, and be separate
, and touch not the
unclean, and they have the promise of being the sons and daughters of the Most High, members of the royal
family. But if the conditions are not complied with on their part, they will not, cannot realize the fulfillment of
the promise. ....
"{
RH, May 5, 1885 par. 2
}
L
Review and Herald
May 5, 1885, Paragraph 4
".... They have joined with the selfish and world-loving. Pride, the love of pleasure, and sin have been cherished, and
Christ
has departed
.
His Spirit
has been
quenched in the church
. Satan works side by side with professed Christians; yet they
are so destitute of spiritual discernment that they do not detect him. ..... Many who have a
form of godliness
, whose names are
on
church books
, .... {
RH, May 5, 1885 par. 4
}
L
Review and Herald
May 5, 1885, Paragraph 6
" There are hypocrites now who will
tremble
when they obtain a view of themselves. Their own vileness will
terrify
them in that
day which is soon to come upon us,--a day when "the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their
iniquity." Oh that
terror
might
now lay hold upon them
, that they might have a vivid sense of their condition, and arouse while
there is mercy and hope, confess their sins, and humble their souls greatly before God,
that he might pardon their transgressions
and heal their backslidings
!
The people of God
are unready for the fearful, trying scenes before us, unready to stand
pure
from
evil and
lust
amid the perils and corruptions of this degenerate age. They have
not on
the armor of righteousness
, and are
unprepared
to war against
the prevailing iniquity.
Many are not obeying the commandments of God;
yet they
profess so to do
. If they would be faithful to obey
all the statutes
of God, they would have a power which would carry conviction to
the hearts of the unbelieving.” {
RH, May 5, 1885 par. 6
}
L
Review and Herald
September 3, 1889, Paragraph 11
"We are not safe if we neglect to
search
the
Scriptures
daily
for light and knowledge. Earthly blessings cannot be obtained
without toil, and can we expect that spiritual and heavenly blessings will come without
earnest effort
on our part? The mines of
truth
are to be worked. Says the psalmist, "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple
." The
word of
God
must not be kept apart from our life. It must be entertained in the mind, welcomed in the heart, and be cherished, loved, and
obeyed. We need also much more knowledge; we need to be enlightened in regard to the plan of salvation. There is
not one in
one hundred
who understands for himself the Bible truth on this subject that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare.
When light begins to shine forth to make clear the plan of redemption to the people, the enemy works with all diligence that the light
may be shut away from the hearts of men. If we come to the word of God with a teachable, humble spirit, the rubbish of error will be
swept away, and gems of truth, long hidden from our eyes, will be discovered. "{
RH, September 3, 1889 par. 11
}
L
Selected Message, Volume 1,
Page 122
"There are persons
in the church
who are not converted, and who will not unite in earnest, prevailing prayer. We must enter upon
the work individually. We must pray more, and talk less. Iniquity abounds, and the people must be taught not to be satisfied
with a
form of godliness without the spirit and power.
If we are intent upon searching our own hearts, putting away our sins, and
correcting our evil tendencies
, our souls will not be lifted up unto vanity; we shall be distrustful of ourselves,
having an abiding
sense that our sufficiency is of God
. {
1SM 122.2
}
L
We have far more to fear from within than from without.
The hindrances to strength and success are
far greater from the
church itself
than from the world. Unbelievers have a right to expect that those who profess to be keeping the commandments of God
and the faith of Jesus, will do more than any other class to promote and honor, by their consistent lives, by their godly example and
their active influence, the cause which they represent. But how often have the
professed advocates of
the truth proved the greatest
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obstacle to its advancement
! The unbelief indulged, the doubts expressed, the darkness cherished, encourage the presence of evil
angels, and open the way for the accomplishment of Satan’s devices.” {
1SM 122.3
}
L
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 3,
Page 254
“It is not enough to merely profess to believe the truth.
All the soldiers
of the cross of Christ
virtually obligate themselves to enter the crusade against the adversary of souls, to condemn wrong and
sustain righteousness.
But the message of the True Witness reveals the fact that a terrible deception is upon
our people, which makes it necessary to come to them with warnings, to break their spiritual slumber, and
arouse them to decided action.”
{
3T 254.1
}
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 3,
Page 264 through 267
“Joshua and the elders of Israel were in great affliction. They lay before the ark of God in most abject
humility because the Lord was wroth with His people. They prayed and wept before God. The Lord spoke to
Joshua: 'Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also
transgressed My covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have
also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of
Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were
accursed:
neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
' ” {
3T
264.3
}
“Duty to Reprove Sin
I have been shown that God here illustrates how He regards sin among those who profess to be His
commandment-keeping people. Those whom He has specially honored with witnessing the remarkable
exhibitions of His power, as did ancient Israel, and who will even then venture to disregard His express
directions, will be subjects of His wrath. He would teach His people that disobedience and sin are exceedingly
offensive to Him and are not to be lightly regarded. He shows us that when His people are found in sin they
should at once take decided measures to put that sin from them, that His frown may not rest upon them all.
But
if the sins of the people are passed over by those in responsible positions, His frown will be upon them,
and the people of God, as a body, will be held responsible for those sins.
In His dealings with His people in
the past the Lord shows the necessity of purifying the church from wrongs.
One sinner
may diffuse
darkness that will
exclude the light of God from the entire congregation.
When the people
realize that darkness is settling upon them, and they do not know the cause, they should seek God earnestly, in
great humility and self-abasement, until the wrongs which grieve His Spirit are searched out and put away. {
3T
265.1
}
If wrongs are apparent among His people, and
if the servants of God pass on indifferent to them, they
virtually sustain and justify the sinner, and
are alike guilty
and will just as surely receive the
displeasure of God;
for they will be made responsible for the sins of the guilty.
In
vision I have been pointed to many instances where the displeasure of God has been incurred by a neglect on
the part of His servants to deal with the wrongs and sins existing among them. Those who have excused these
wrongs have been thought by the people to be very amiable and lovely in disposition, simply because they
shunned to discharge a plain Scriptural duty. The task was not agreeable to their feelings; therefore they avoided
it. {
3T 265.2
}
The spirit of hatred which has existed with some because the wrongs among God's people have been
reproved has brought blindness and a fearful deception upon their own souls,
making it impossible for them to
discriminate between right and wrong.
They have put out their own spiritual eyesight.
They
may witness wrongs, but they do not feel as did Joshua and humble themselves because the danger of souls is
felt by them.
{
3T 266.1
}
The true people of God
, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation of souls at heart, will
ever view sin in its real, sinful character.
They will always be on the side of faithful and plain dealing with
sins which easily beset the people of God.
Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of
the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel
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most deeply the wrongs of God's professed people. This is forcibly set forth by the prophet's illustration of the
last work under the figure of the men each having a slaughter weapon in his hand. One man among them was
clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. “And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the
city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all
the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” {
3T 266.2
}
Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the
professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin?
Is
it those who take their stand against them and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No, indeed! Unless
they repent, and leave the work of Satan in oppressing those who have the burden of the work and in holding up
the hands of sinners in Zion, they will never receive the mark of God's sealing approval.
They will fall in the
general destruction of the wicked, represented by the work of the five men bearing slaughter weapons. 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
}
Review and Herald
May 9, 1899
".
......
Turn from
the one who has ventured to
present wrong practises
to you.
Resolutely turn
from the tempter, saying, I must
separate
from your influence; for I know you are not walking in the
footsteps of our Saviour.
{RH, May 9, 1899 par. 17}
L
Even though you may not feel able to speak a word to those who are working on wrong principles,
leave
them.
Your withdrawal and silence may do more than words. Nehemiah
refused to associate
with those who
were untrue to principle, and he
would not permit his workmen to associate
with them. The love and fear of
God were his safeguard. He lived and worked as in view of the unseen world. And David said, "I have set the
Lord always before me." {
RH, May 9, 1899 par. 18
}
L
Dare to be a Daniel.
Dare to stand alone
.
Thus, as did Moses, you will endure the seeing of Him who
is invisible.
But a cowardly and silent reserve before evil associates, while you listen to their devices,
makes you one with them
.
"
Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
" {
RH, May 9, 1899 par. 19
}
L
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2,
Page 440 and 441
+++++++
" Some who occupy the position of
watchmen to warn the people of danger
have given up their watch and
recline at ease. They are unfaithful sentinels. They remain inactive, while their
wily foe enters the fort and
works successfully by their side
to tear down what God has commanded to be built up. They see that Satan is
deceiving the inexperienced and unsuspecting; yet they take it all quietly, as though they had no special interest,
as though these things did not concern them. They apprehend no special danger; they see no cause to raise an
alarm. To them everything seems to be going well, and they see no necessity of raising the faithful,
trumpet
notes
of warning which they hear borne by the plain testimonies, to show the people their transgressions and the
house of Israel their sins. These reproofs and warnings disturb the quiet of these sleepy, ease-loving sentinels,
and they are not pleased. They say in heart, if not in words: "This is all uncalled for. It is too severe, too harsh.
These men are unnecessarily disturbed and excited, and seem unwilling to give us any rest or quietude ....... {
2T
440.1
}
L
[
Read the entire section. Only parts of it are here.
]
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.
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They love worldly gain. Some will make any sacrifice of conscience to obtain their object. God’s professed
[BEGIN P.441] 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 440.2
}
L
Christ’s followers are required to
come out
from the world, and
be separate
, and
touch not the unclean
, and they have the promise of being the sons and daughters of
the Most High, members of the royal family.
But if the conditions are not
complied with on their part, they will not, cannot, realize the fulfillment of the
promise
. .....”{
2T 441.2
}
L
Selected Messages, Book 3,
Page 410
“Evil Angels in the Form of Believers Will Work in Our Ranks
I have been shown that
evil angels in the form of believers will work in our ranks
to bring in a strong
spirit of unbelief
.
Let not even this discourage you, but bring a true heart to the help of the Lord against the
powers of satanic agencies.
{
3SM 410.2
}
L
These
powers of evil
will assemble in our meetings, not to receive a blessing, but to counterwork the
influences of the Spirit of God. Take up no remark that they may make, but repeat the rich promises of God,
which are yea and amen in Christ Jesus.”
{
3SM 410.3
}
L
Selected Messages, Book 3,
Page 411
“Let every soul, whatever may be his sphere of action, make sure that
the
truth
is
implanted
in the
heart by the power of the Spirit of God
. Unless this is made certain, those who preach
the Word
will betray
holy trust.”
{
3SM 411.5
}
L
“Apostates Will Use Hypnotism
The time has come when
even in the church
and
in our institutions
, some will depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and
doctrines of devils
.
But God will keep
that which is committed to Him. Let us draw near to Him, that He may draw near to us.
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 411.7
}
L
Selected Messages, Book 3,
Page 412
“We have a testing message to give, and I am instructed to say to our people,
“
Unify, unify.
” But we are
not
to unify
with those who are departing from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and
doctrines of devils
.
With our hearts sweet
and kind and true, we are to go forth to proclaim the message,
giving no heed
to
those who
lead away from the truth
.
—Manuscript 31, 1906.” {
3SM 412.2
}
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Our High Calling
, Page 360
“
Let not false teachers confuse your minds and unsettle your faith by casting reproach upon those whom God
has sent you with messages of warning and instruction. Remember that it is not mere men whom you have to
meet, but “principalities and powers, and wicked spirits in high places.” Now is the very time when Satan is
working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. {
OHC 360.3
}
Many are in reality fighting his battles while they profess to serve under the banner of Christ.
These traitors
in the camp may not be suspected, but they are doing their work to create unbelief, discord, and strife.
Such are the most dangerous of foes.
While they insinuate themselves
into our favor
, and
gain our confidence and sympathy, they are busy suggesting doubts and creating suspicion. They work in the
same manner as did Satan in heaven when he deceived the angels by his artful representations, placing darkness
for light, and making the forbearance and mercy of God to appear as harshness and severity. As he worked at
the beginning, so he works in the end, only concealing himself more perfectly from view....” {
OHC 360.4
}
The Upward Look,
Page 365
“
Satan is working with all his power to hinder the work of God. If God's people occupy a portion of their
time in teaching the
delusive sentiments
of Satan, the kingdom of evil will rejoice. When those having a
knowledge of the path over which God has led us give heed to seducing spirits and depart from the faith, the
time and effort required to correct the evils that follow are so much time and effort taken from the work of
proclaiming the gospel message.
We must warn
our brethren and sisters
not to give heed to false
theories
, and to
beware
of those who have allowed themselves to be ensnared.
” {
UL
365.4
}
Stand - Verify Everything Yourself
I've noticed, that at least where I live, many of our people seem to have overlooked these
statements below. They are included here, to give you further encouragement to carefully consider
anything that anyone says, for yourself.
Selected Messages, Book 1
, page 56
“
Say to the church members that there is need of thorough consecration to God. Let all understand that they
must make a covenant with God by sacrifice. We need the blessings of the gospel every day and every hour.
Every proof of the Lord's power, His presence, and His love, is to be recognized with grateful thanks.
Happiness is to be achieved by the right action of the soul toward God. I thank the Lord for this precious
thought. Let Him be glorified by the sentiments expressed and by the actions performed....
Never have
testimonies been more clearly brought before the people than those that have
recently been traced by my pen. God bids me
urge upon the attention
of our
people the importance of their study. Let this work begin now.
Then, whether I am
permitted to labor or am laid away to rest until Jesus comes, these messages are immortalized
.” {
1SM 56.3
}
Philippians 4:8
“
Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are
true
, whatsoever things are
honest
, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are
pure
, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there
be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think
on these things
.”
Philippians 4:8
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Selected Messages, Book 1
, page 58
“The Publishing of Compilations
I can see plainly that should every one who thinks he is qualified to write books, follow his imagination
and have his productions published, insisting that they be recommended by our publishing houses
,
there
would be plenty of tares
sown broadcast in our world. Many from among our own people are writing to
me, asking with earnest determination the privilege of using my writings to give force to certain subjects which
they wish to present to the people in such a way as to leave a deep impression upon them. {
1SM 58.1
}
It is true that there is a reason why some of these matters should be presented: but I would not venture to
give my approval in using the testimonies in this way, or to sanction the placing of matter which is good in
itself in the way which they propose. {
1SM 58.2
}
The persons who make these propositions, for aught I know, may be able to conduct the enterprise of which
they write in a wise manner; but nevertheles
s
I dare
not give
the
least license
for using my writings
in the manner which they propose.
In taking account of such an enterprise, there are many things that must
come into consideration; for in using the testimonies to bolster up some subject which may impress the mind of
the author, the extracts may give a different impression than that which they would were they read in their
original connection.—The Writing and Sending Out of the Testimonies to the Church, 25, 26.” {
1SM 58.3
}
If Sister White would not even allow people to use portions of her writings in the books that they
were writing, why have so many books been written today, that do that?
Wouldn't it just be best to study what God told her to wright down for us, rather than to read
books that other people wrote who are claiming to be telling us what she said that God told her?
Is it better for me to have the messages from God, first hand, second hand, or third hand?
If I hear a sermon, or read a book, about what was written down about what God told us, is that
third hand information?
Manuscript Releases, Volume 2
, Pages 152 and 153
Mrs. White Being Understood Opposite of What She Intended
“
Why will not men see and live the truth? Many study the Scriptures for the purpose of proving their own
ideas to be correct. They change the meaning of God's Word to suit their own opinions. And thus they do also
with the testimonies that He sends. They quote half a sentence, leaving out the other half, which, if quoted,
would show their reasoning to be false. God has a controversy with those who wrest the Scriptures, making
them conform to their preconceived ideas.—Manuscript 22, 1890, 5, 6. (Diary, January 10, 1890.) {
2MR
152.1
}
It seems impossible for me to be understood by
those who have
had the light
but have not walked in
it.
What I might say in private conversations would be so repeated as to make it mean
exactly opposite
to
what it would have meant had the hearers been sanctified in mind and spirit. I am afraid to speak even to my
friends, for afterwards I hear, Sister White said this, or Sister White said that. My words are so wrested and
misinterpreted that I am coming to the conclusion that the Lord desires me to keep out of large assemblies and
refuse private interviews.
What I say is reported in such a perverted light that it is
new and strange to
me
.
It is mixed with words spoken by men to sustain their own theories.”—Letter 139, 1900, p. 5. (To the
Officers of the General Conference. October 24, 1900.) {
2MR 152.2
}
Why do people who have had the light, but not walked in it, think it says exactly opposite of what
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it was intended to mean?
In light of the message we have from God found in
GC 508.2
, is it because by not valuing
messages from God highly enough and having a “love of sin and a disposition to cherish and excuse
it,” that we open our minds so that the devil can cause us to see things the way he wants us to,
instead of the way God wants us to, so we end up seeing it exactly opposite of what God intended?
How many today, who have had the light, but didn't walk in all of it, do you think might be
teaching others, and writing books about their ideas, some of which are exactly opposite of what God
wants them to believe?
How can we tell, if they are telling us the right thing, or the wrong thing?
Is there any other way, than praying that God will please forgive us, change our hearts, and open
our eyes, so we see things the way He wants us to, while carefully verifying everything for ourselves?
Why would anyone want to have the messages from God, third hand?
Mrs. White Rejects a Brother's Counsel
“Brother Matteson suggests that it would please the people if I speak less about duty and more in regard to
the love of Jesus. But I wish to speak as the Spirit of the Lord shall impress me. The Lord knows best what this
people needs. I spoke in the forenoon [Sabbath, October 17, 1885] from Isaiah 58. I did not round the corners at
all.... My work is to elevate the standard of piety and true Christian life, and urge the people to put away their
sins and be sanctified through the truth.—Manuscript 26, 1885, 5. [Diary, October 15-30, 1885.]” {
2MR 153.2
}
Prophets and Kings
, pages 177 and 178:
"
Chapter 14—'In the Spirit and Power of Elias'
Through the long centuries that have passed since Elijah's time, the record of his lifework has brought
inspiration and courage to those who have been called to stand for the right in the midst of apostasy. And for us,
“upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11), it has special significance. History is being
repeated. The world today has its Ahabs and its Jezebels. The present age is one of
idolatry
, as verily as was
that in which Elijah lived.
No outward shrine may be visible; there may be no image for the eye to rest
upon
;
yet thousands are following after the gods of this world—after riches, fame, pleasure, and the
pleasing fables that permit man to follow the inclinations of the unregenerate heart.
Multitudes have a
wrong conception of God and His attributes,
and are as truly serving a false god as were the
worshipers of Baal.
Many even of those who claim to be Christians have allied themselves with
influences that are unalterably opposed to God and His truth. Thus they are led to turn away from the
divine
and to exalt the human
. {
PK 177.1
}
The prevailing spirit of our time is one of infidelity and apostasy—a spirit of avowed illumination
because of a knowledge of truth, but in reality of the blindest presumption
. Human theories are exalted and
placed where God and His law should be. Satan tempts men and women to disobey, with the promise that in
disobedience they will find liberty and freedom that will make them as gods. There is seen a spirit of opposition
to the plain word of God, of
idolatrous
exaltation of human wisdom above divine revelation.
Men have
allowed their minds to become so darkened and confused by conformity to worldly customs and influences that
they seem to have lost all power to
discriminate
between
light
and darkness,
truth
and error.
So far have
they departed from the right way that they hold the opinions of a few philosophers, so-called, to be more
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trustworthy than the truths of the Bible. The entreaties and promises of God's word, its threatenings against
disobedience and
idolatry
—
these seem powerless to
melt their hearts
.
A faith such as actuated Paul, Peter, and
John they regard as old-fashioned, mystical, and unworthy of the intelligence of modern thinkers. {
PK 178.1
}
(
Back to Emphasis and Comparisons
PK177 link)
What does it mean, when it says “
idolatrous
exaltation of human wisdom above divine
revelation?
”
If I decided to listen to someone else, rather than
carefully verifying everything
for myself from
what God told us in the Bible, and Spirit of Prophecy, would I be guilty of an “
idolatrous
exaltation of human wisdom above divine revelation
?”
If I were to decide to just take our pastor's word for it, instead of
carefully verifying everything
for myself, could I become guilty of an “
idolatrous
exaltation of human wisdom above divine
revelation
?”
What if Pastor Doug, or Pastor Bradshaw, were teaching something opposite of what God
wanted them to, and I just decided that they sound so good, they must be telling the truth; could I
become guilty of an “
idolatrous
exaltation of human wisdom above divine revelation
?”
When it says that it is “
as truly serving a false god as were the worshipers of Baal
,” does
that mean it would be the same as kneeling down and praying to Baal, if I become guilty of an “
idolatrous
exaltation of human wisdom above divine revelation
?”
If I decide that I
like
reading
books
that people have written about what
God told
us
in
the Bible
, more than actually reading what Bible prophets
wrote down for God
, for myself, am I
risking becoming guilty of an “
idolatrous
exaltation of human wisdom above divine
revelation
?”
If I decide that I
like
reading
books
that people have written about what
God told
sister
White to tell us, more than actually reading what
she wrote down for God
, for myself, am I risking
becoming guilty of an “
idolatrous
exaltation of human wisdom above divine revelation
?”
If I
place more
value
upon
books
that people have written about what
God told
sister
White to tell us, more than actually reading what
she wrote down for God
, for myself, am I risking
becoming guilty of an “
idolatrous
exaltation of human wisdom above divine revelation
?”
If I decide to focus more on reading or watching what men have said who I don't know for sure
are telling the truth on every point, am I following the counsel of Philippians 4:8 that says we are to
think on things that
are true
?
If I just decide that what it says in these books is true, without carefully reading what
God told
Mrs. White to write down for us, myself, is it like I was
kneeling down and worshiping Baal
?
When people spend more time reading or listening to any other religious materials, other than
those that are known for sure to be true such as the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy writings, is it like
they are making
Baal into their god
?
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When people spend more time reading or listening to any other religious materials, other than
those that are known for sure to be true such as the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy writings, is it like
they are making,
those things
, into their god
?
Have I heard somewhere that anything that receives undue thought, or admiration, becomes a
god before our God?
Sons and Daughters of God
, page 56.
“
Let men worship and serve the Lord God, and Him only. Let not selfish pride be lifted up
and served as a god. Let not money be made a god. If sensuality is not kept under the control of
the higher powers of the mind, base passion will rule the being.
Anything that is made the
subject of undue thought and admiration,
absorbing the mind
,
is
a God chosen
before the Lord.
Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent, uncreated One, Himself the source and sustainer of all, is
alone entitled to supreme reverence and worship. Man is forbidden to give to any other object
the
first place
in his affections or his service
.
Whatever we
cherish
that tends to lessen
our love for God or to interfere with the service due Him,
of that do we make a god.
{
SD 56.4 -.5
}
If I read or
listen to things
other than the Bible, and Spirit of Prophecy,
more
than the Bible
and Spirit of Prophecy themselves, am I giving undo thought or adoration to those things?
If I read or listen to things other than the Bible, and Spirit of Prophecy, more than the Bible and
Spirit of Prophecy themselves, am I making those things into my god?
Should I find my greatest joy, in reading messages known to be from God, and checking to make
sure I understand them correctly?
Why have so many of our people forgotten about the importance of carefully verifying everything
for themselves?
Is it because they “
have
had the light
but have not walked in it.
?”
If they
have
had the light
but have not walked in it
,
does that mean that they are probably
seeing at least somethings exactly opposite of what God intended?
If I listen to what they say, and believe it is true without checking carefully myself, have I received
a love of the truth?
If I haven't really received a love of the truth, am I following the counsel of Philippians 4:8 to think
on things that are true?
These references in this section above, are why so much emphasis is being put on looking up and
carefully reviewing everything for yourself. This is why significant effort has been put into hooking up
links from each reference, to the original source material, to make it as easy as possible for you to go
to and read each reference in its context for yourself.
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“
Double-minded
men and women are Satan's
best
allies.
Whatever favorable opinion they may have
of themselves, they are
dissemblers
. All who are loyal to God and the truth must stand firmly for the right
because it is right. To
yoke up
with those who are unconsecrated, and yet be loyal to the truth,
is simply
impossible
. We
cannot unite
with those who are serving themselves,
who are working on
worldly
plans
, and
not lose our connection with the heavenly Counselor
. We may recover ourselves from
the snare of the enemy, but we are bruised and wounded, and our experience is dwarfed. 'Know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of
God.'” {RH April 19, 1898.8
}
Is someone who has had all these references available to them for years and years, while claiming
to believe them, and who thinks they are working for Jesus, but still has a carnal mind, “
double-
minded
?” How completely should our double-mindedness be healed, before the situation stated here
above about double-minded people being “
Satan's best allies
,” is no longer true??
Are these teachings of Venden “
worldly plans
?”
Again:
“
10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11
Put on
the whole armour
of
God,
that ye may
be able
to stand against the
wiles of the devil
.
12
For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against
power
s, against the
rulers of the darkness
of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high
places
.
13
Wherefore take unto you
the whole armour of God
,
that ye may
be able
to withstand
in the evil day
, and having done all, to stand.
14
Stand
therefore
,
having
your loins girt about
with truth
, and
having on
the breastplate of
righteousness;
15
And your feet shod
with the preparation of the
gospel
of peace;
16
Above all,
taking
the
shield of faith
,
wherewith ye
shall be able
to quench
all
the fiery darts of the wicked.
17
And
take
the helmet of salvation, and the
sword
of the Spirit
,
which
is
the word of God:
18
Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the
mystery of the gospel,
20
For which I am an ambassador in bonds that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to
speak.”
Ephesians 6:10-20
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The Lord wants us to keep reminding others, to keep these things in mind as well.
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