Blog Archives - WELCOME TO THE JOY OF TROY

June 10, 2020

6/10/2020

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

        Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.--Luke 21:34-35

    While the false prophets are crying, Peace and safety, and are seeking to soothe the consciences of men, saying to the sinner, Don't be alarmed, it shall be well with thee, the voice of God's faithful servants must be heard to arouse them that are asleep, crying, Sudden destruction cometh upon every soul of man who is not watching, awake and watching and waiting for the appearing of their Lord in the clouds of heaven. The third angel's message in power will go forth and the earth will be lightened with his glory....

    The message of warning must be carried to every nation upon the globe....Satan is always astir to hedge up the way. We must be wise or he will prevail. (Letter 34, October 12, 1875)

    Today iniquity prevails, not only in the world, polluting it as in Noah's day, but it exists in the church. As a counter influence, the cross of Calvary must be lifted up, the atoning sacrifice must be kept before the people, that men may behold sin in its true hateful character and may lay hold upon the righteousness of Christ, which alone can subdue sin and restore the moral image of God in man.

    Many in the church allow things of an earthly nature to interpose between the soul and heaven. They have not a right conception of the character of God They do not perceive His matchless love, and faith and love die out of their hearts. Many minds are confused. They cannot discern spiritual things, and they are unable to distinguish the voice of the true Shepherd from that of a stranger. How necessary it is that such should study the message that God has given. Lest they be swept away by the overwhelming delusions of the enemy. (Letter 31, 1890)

REFLECTION: No one likes to hear or think of "sudden destruction" as a promise from God, but if you read 1 Thessalonians 5:4, God tells us, "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief." God has given His people ample warning to avoid "destruction." What a great promise to those who are faithful and studying His Word.

June 9, 2020

6/9/2020

BE READY TO BE A HUMBLE WITNESS

        Let your speech be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.--Colossians 4:6

    The power which stirred the people so mightily in the 1844 movement will again be revealed. The third angel's message will go forth, not in whispered tones, but with a loud voice. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, 252)

    It is with an earnest longing that I look forward to the time when the events of the day of Pentecost shall be repeated with even greater power than on that occasion. John says, "I saw another angel come down form heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory." Then, as at the Pentecostal season, the people will hear the truth spoken to them, every man in his own tongue. (The Review and Herald, July 20, 1886)

    It does not seem possible to us now that any should have to stand alone; but if God has ever spoken by me, the time will come when we shall be brought before councils and before thousands for his name's sake, and each one will have to give the reason of his faith. Then will come the severest criticism upon every position that has been taken for the truth. We need, then, to study the word of God, that we may know why we believe the doctrines we advocate. (The Review and Herald, December 18, 1888)

REFLECTION: We are not required to defy authorities. Our words, whether spoken or written, should be carefully considered, lest we place ourselves on record as uttering that which would make us appear antagonistic to law and order. We are not to say or do anything that would unnecessarily close up our way. We are to go forward in Christ's name advocating the truths committed to us. (The Acts of the Apostles, 69)

June 8, 2020

6/8/2020

WEAVING IN OF ERROR

        You must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.--2 Timothy 3:14-15

    Sometimes that which men teach as "special light" is in reality specious error, which, as tares sown among the wheat, will spring up and produce a baleful harvest. And errors of this sort will be entertained by some until the close of this earth's history....

    Truth is sustained by a plain "Thus saith the Lord." But there has been a weaving in of error, and the use of Scriptures out of their natural connection, in order to substantiate fallacies, which would deceive, if possible, the very elect....

    Confession must come sooner or later--if not voluntarily now, then finally before the universe of heaven and the multitude that shall compose Satan's vast army encircling the city of God in the vain supposition that numbers will prevail. Those who persist in refusing to confess now will then be forced to confess their errors, their unfaithful, underhanded dealing, and all their transgression of the law of God.

    Oh, how much better to confess errors now, than to leave them until the opening of the records in the books of heaven, when every act shall be revealed, and even the motives that led to the action! God reads the secrets of every heart. And the day draws near when all who have united in calling the actions of the unrighteous man just and righteous will see that they have acted a part in deceiving the man and that have been partakers of his unrighteous deeds. They will then understand that, because they have strengthened his evil propensities by passing them by without reproof, they are united with him in the sin; and as surely as the Lord has spoken, they will share the punishment when it will be administered in the presence of an assembled universe. (Letter 136, April 27, 1906)

REFLECTION: Let not the days pass by and precious opportunities be lost of seeking the Lord with all the heart and mind and soul. If we accept not the truth in the love of it, we may be among the number who will see the miracles wrought by Satan in these last days and believe them. (Letter 136, April 27, 1906)

June 7, 2020

6/7/2020

I NEVER KNEW YOU

        Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.--Matthew 7:21

    In my books, the truth is stated, barricaded by a "Thus saith the Lord." The Holy Spirit traced these truths upon my heart and mind as indelibly as the law was traced by the finger of God upon the tables of stone, which are now in the ark, to be brought forth in that great day when sentence will be pronounced against every evil, seducing science produced by the father of lies....

    Some may make light of these messages, misinterpret them, and say untruthful things, which lead other minds astray. Our only hope is in the God of truth. Our Mediator understands every phase of the matter. The more plainly the testing truth is brought before the people, the more bitter will be the hatred manifested by those who have departed from the faith and given their attention to sentiments of Satan's presentation. (Letter 90, March 6, 1906)

    In the day of judgment some will plead this good deed and that as a reason why they should receive consideration. They will say, I set young men up in business. I gave money to found hospitals. I received the necessities of widows and took the poor into my home. Yes, but your motives were so defiled by selfishness that the deed was not acceptable in the sight of the Lord. In all that you did, self was brought prominently to view. (Manuscript 53, 1906)

REFLECTION: The test of sincerity is not in words, but in deeds. Christ does not say to any man, What say ye more than others? but "What do ye more than others?" Matthew 5:47. Full of meaning are His words, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." John 13:17. Words are of no value unless they are accompanied with appropriate deeds. This is the lesson taught in the parable of the two sons. (Christ Object Lessons, 272)

June 6, 2020

6/6/2020

GOLDEN OBEDIENCE

        This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.--2 John 6

    Thus it is in our time. A departure from the right principles will blind the understanding as to what it truth. The holy Law of ten commandments, written on tables of stone by the finger of God, and placed in the ark, is the standard of righteousness. Before the obedient and the disobedient it will appear in the last great day, and all the wicked will be convicted. They will see that their actions proceeded from a depraved character. They will see that the part they acted served to carry on the rebellion begun in the heavenly courts. They will see all the cruelty and all the wickedness that have dishonored their Creator and brought about the wretchedness that fills the world.

    The law that they disobeyed was their life. Obedience to it would have made their characters as fine gold, their principles as the golden wedge of Ophir. The law that they chose to disregard and trample under foot would, if obeyed, have kept them in happiness and peace, and obedience would have borne fruit in sanctified love and beauty of character. The world would have been filled with holiness and purity....

    Those who refuse the testimonies God has sent them are not eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. The character developed tells its history to the end. Through the refusal to receive correct principles, and the corruption of human nature, Satan works by his sophistry to deceive if possible the very elect....

    Unless man is given the converting grace of heaven, he will have no disposition to oppose Satan's counsels and will become the enemy's willing dupe. (Manuscript 5, January 20, 1904)

REFLECTION: Who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath. (Romans 2:6-8)

June 5, 2020

6/5/2020

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

        Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.--1 Thessalonians 5:11

    "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness; when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known My ways. So I sware in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

    Bear this in mind. History is being repeated. The perils that God's people encountered in past ages, they will encounter again, intensified. Satan has obtained influence over men whom God has honored above all human intelligence as He honored Solomon.

    "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things, which we have heard. lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken unto us by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him?" (Manuscript 5, January 20, 1904)

REFLECTION: Christ spent His life on earth comforting and building up those who had been broken down. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 we are told to comfort and build up one another. We should do this with every chance we get because if we are not building each other up, we will be tearing each other down.

June 4, 2020

6/4/2020

ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

        If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!--Luke 11:13

    To His Son the Father has committed all judgment. To prepare Himself to be the Judge of all the world, Christ endured the hardships and trials of mankind, suffering in all points like as we suffer, thus familiarizing Himself with the power of Satan's temptations....

    Accurately recorded in the books of heaven are the sneers and trivial remarks made by sinners who pay no heed to the call of mercy when Christ is represented to them by a servant of God. As the artist takes on the polished glass a true picture of the human face, so God daily places upon the books of heaven an exact representation of the character of every individual. (Manuscript 105, September 28, 1901)

    Church members need to fast and pray, striving earnestly to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Not one particle of Sodomitish impurity will escape the wrath of God at the execution of the judgment. Those who do not repent and forsake all uncleanness will fall with the wicked. Those who become members of the royal family and [who] form God's kingdom in the earth made new, will be saints, not sinners. Isaiah 30:1-3, 8-16.

    Those who have had great light and have disregarded it stand in a worse position than those who have not been given so many advantages. They exalt themselves but not the Lord. The punishment inflicted on human beings will in every case be proportionate to the dishonor they have brought on God. Many by a course of self-indulgence have put Christ to open shame. (Letter 159, November 3, 1901)

REFLECTION: We all need the Holy Spirit. "He will guide us into all truth" and repentance. (See Acts 2:38; John 16:13.) When we as a church fast and pray, asking for the Holy Spirit, God has promised to send Him to us. (See Luke 11:13.)

June 3, 2020

6/3/2020

REJECTED BLESSINGS

        He who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask more.--Luke 12:48

    We have been given great light in regard to God's law. This law is the standard of character. To it man is now required to conform, and by it he will be judged in the last great day. In that day men will be dealt with according to the light they have received. He who knew his Lord's will, and did it not, will be beaten with many stripes; he who knew it it not, yet committed things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. The number of talents expected...will determine the returns expected. The sinner's guilt will be measured by the opportunities and privileges which he failed to improve. He will not be punished merely for his own rejection of the offer of salvation. He will be called to account for the influence he has exerted in encouraging others in sin....

    The punishment of the sinner will be measured by the extent to which he has influenced others in impenitence. (Letter 2, December 29, 1900)

    We cannot now enter into the many transactions which have made up the life record of church members. These transactions are registered in God's book of records. How will this record appear in the great day when every one shall receive according as his works have been?...

    "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." [Revelation 20:12.] Then men will have a clear, sharp remembrance of all their transactions in this life. Not a word or deed will escape their memory. (Letter 22, February 3, 1901)

REFLECTION: We shall individually be held responsible for doing one jot less than we have ability to do. The Lord measures with exactness every possibility for service. The unused capabilities are as much brought into account as are those that are improved. For all that we might become through the right use of our talents God holds us responsible. We shall be judged according to what we ought to have done, but did not accomplish because we did not use our powers to glorify God. (Christ's Object Lessons, 363)

June 2, 2020

6/2/2020

HOLY, JUST, AND GOOD

        Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.--Romans 7:12

    In that great day all will see that their course of action decided their destiny. They will be rewarded or punished as they have obeyed or violated the law of God. In that great day the character of each individual will be plainly and distinctly revealed. God will look into all the feelings and motives. No none can then occupy middle ground. Men and women are either saints of sinners, either entitled to a glorious life of eternity, or doomed to eternal death.

    What a scene that will be!...The aggravated guilt of the world will be laid bare, and the voice of the eternal Judge will be heard saying, "Depart from Me; I never knew you." The judgment will be conducted in accordance with the rules given in order that man might have eternal life. The law of God, which men are now called upon to obey and make their rule of life, but which many refuse to accept, is the law by which they will be judged. We are judged by our works. Obedience or disobedience means everything to us.

    The last great day will witness the triumph of the law of Jehovah. As the impenitent look upon the cross of Calvary, the scales fall from their eyes, and they see that which before they would not see. The law, God's standard of righteousness, is exalted even as His throne is exalted. God Himself gives reverence to His law. (Letter 131, October 14, 1900)

REFLECTION: Today, more than ever before, we are doing our best as a nation to do away with God's law. At the very time we need it most, we turn our backs on it. Romans 7:1-2 describes God's law as holy, just, and good. Why would anyone want to do away with "holy, just, and good"?

June 1, 2020

6/1/2020

HIDING FROM THE LAMB

        [They] said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!"--Revelation 6:16

    When sinners are compelled to look upon Him who clothed His divinity in the garb of humanity and who still wears that garb, their confusion is indescribable. They remember how His love was slighted and His compassion abused. They think of how Barabbas, a murderer and a robber, was chosen in His stead; how Jesus was crowned with thorns, and scourged and crucified; how in the hours of His agony on the cross the priests and rulers taunted Him saying, "let him come down from the cross, and we will believe hm. He saved others; himself he cannot save." [Matthew 27:42.]

    All the insults and despite offered to Christ, all the suffering caused to His disciples, will be as fresh in their recollection as when the satanic deeds were done. The voice which they heard so often in entreaty and persuasion will again sound in their ears....as when the Savior spoke in the synagogue or on the street.

    Then those who pierced Him will call on the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of His wrath has come, and who shall be able to stand" "The wrath of the Lamb" [Revelation 6:16]--One who ever showed Himself full of infinite tenderness, patience, and long-suffering, who having given Himself up as the sacrificial victim was led as a lamb to the slaughter, to save sinners from the doom now falling upon them...

    The scene upon which the impenitent look makes them realize what they might have been had they received Christ and improved the opportunities granted them. (Letter 131, October 14, 1900)

REFLECTION: Money was power among the foolish of earth, and money was their god; but their very prosperity has destroyed them. They became fools in the eyes of God and His heavenly angels, while men of worldly ambition thought them wise. Now their supposed wisdom in all foolishness, and their prosperity their destruction. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, 42)