SPECIAL MESSAGE TO WGM TEAM PARTNERS:
March 24, 2024
Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans – Part 24
THIS SPIRITUAL DISEASE IS NOT HOPELESS (No. 6)
From the beginning it is in His mysterious long-suffering love that God sends humble, faithful and courageous messengers to give unflattering rebukes to save from certain ruin those afflicted with and guilty of specific spiritual maladies. Such are the messages addressing the conditions specific to each of the seven stages of the church, revealed in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
It is the reaction to these messengers bearing their messages that reveal whether they truly love, honor, and worship God or merely “have the form of godliness and deny its power. Such are “fair weather” disciples who will choose convenience over conviction in the time of test.
To such this truism especially applies in the coming “hour of temptation that will try all that dwell on the earth” (Rev. 3:10). It states: “He who is willing to give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserves neither.”
Note carefully the following:
“Those who are reproved by the Spirit of God should not rise up against the humble instrument. It is God, and not an erring mortal, who has spoken to save them from ruin.” E. G. White, 3T 257 (1873).
“It is NOT PLEASING to human nature to receive reproof; nor is it possible for the heart of man, UNENLIGHTENED by the Spirit of God, to realize the NECESSITY of reproof or the BLESSING it is designed to bring. As man yields to temptation, and indulges in sin, his MIND becomes darkened. The moral sense is PERVERTED. The warnings of CONSCIENCE is disregarded, and its voice is LESS CLEARLY heard. He gradually LOSES to a power to DISTINGUISH between right and wrong, until he has NO TRUE SENSE of his standing before God. He may observe the FORMS of religion and ZEALOUSLY maintain its doctrines, while DESTITUTE of its spirit. His condition is described by the True Witness: ‘Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. . . . “
“When the Spirit of God, by message of REPROOF, declares this to his condition, he CANNOT SEE that the message is true. Is he therefore to reject the warning? NO. God has given sufficient evidence, so that all who DESIRE to do so may satisfy themselves as to the CHARACTER of the Testimonies; and, having acknowledged them to be FROM GOD, if is their DUTY to accept reproof, even though they themselves DO NOT SEE the sinfulness of their course. If they fully realized their condition, what would be the need of reproof? Because THEY KNEW IT NOT, God mercifully sets it before them, so that they may REPENT AND REFORM before it shall be too late.
“Those who despise the warning will be left in BLINDNESS to become SELF-DECEIVED: but those who heed it, and zealously go about the work of SEPARATING THEIR SINS FROM THEM in order to have the needed graces, will be OPENING the door of their hearts that the dear Savior may come in and dwell with them.” Ibid, 3T 257 (1873).” To be continued, God willing. Bless all, NMF.