Show The World
There are seven things this Church needs to show the world, in order to win souls to Christ. These were always true, from the fall of man in Eden, but more important now in these last days, and most important in the current circumstances facing Creation Seventh Day Adventists. You will see, as we go through these points, that this is the perfect week for this message:
1) The truth as it is in Yahshua does not depend upon any individual human.
· In the original plan for Israel: Deu 11:22, 23
· Of the last days we read a symbol when Israel crossed the red sea, Exo 14:13, 14
· Does not mean we do not work; on the contrary, each must play his or her own part. 1Cor 3:9
· Two applications, first that the Church of Christ Yahshua is not what is commonly called a “cult” by the ignorant and uninformed.
o A “cult” is a religious organization that places the teachings of an individual (the cult leader) above the example and teachings of Yahshua as revealed in the Scriptures. (Acts 20:29, 30; 2Tim 2:16, 18)
o Does not usually last longer than the leaders. (Acts 5:34-39)
o When the prophets were taken away from Israel, chaos reigned. When those who seemed to be leaders were removed, due to death, exile, etc., the people were called to step higher. If the work was of men, it declined; it faded away. If it was of Yahweh, it flourished, as did the apostles. In religious history, this has almost never been done, but now, in these last days when every Christian is to be a priest, it must be done. (Pro 30:27) Among the 144,000, whom we claim to be, it will be done.
· The second application is a testimony against the Mark of The Beast.
o Jer 17:5, Hos 1:7
o By showing that our work does not depend upon any one man, or upon the efforts of humans in general, we testify against those who say they must rely upon human power, human institutions, human ordinances and laws, for success in religious matters.
2) There is a coming judgment.
· The work of the Church is to proclaim the 3 Angels’ Messages, the first of which boils down to the Victory message, as we have discussed several times.
· We read: Rev 14:6, 7
· Although the essence of that message is victory, for only the living can praise Yahweh, (cf. Psa 88:10, Psa 115:17, etc.) what the angel actually declares is a coming judgment – “The hour of His judgment is come.”
· A sense of urgency is needed to demonstrate our sincerity to others (Heb 2:1-4, Titus 2:6-8, Heb 12:28, 29)
· Judgment is to be presented as a good thing. (Psa 26:1-3, Pro 29:4, Isa 59:15) Remember, and remind others, that salvation is by love, and not fear. Most people associate “judgment” with “punishment,” but for the Christian the two are not the same. (1Tim 5:24) Those who are judged while there is yet a willingness to learn are not punished, but put away those things worthy of punishment. The sin is “judged” in the sense of being sentenced and destroyed, but the sinner is redeemed.
3) There is Victory in the Christian life.
· Need for strong, personal testimonies. (Rev 12:9-11, Psa 22:23, Jer 20:13, Titus 2:11-15 [NRSV], 1Pet 4:11)
· Pray for opportunities to witness about our faith, and then make those opportunities. (James 2:14-16)
· Do not await a “convenient season” to discuss and implement your ideas (Acts 24:24-27) This is related to the “urgency” principle we discussed above.
· Personal study: Read the Word, read the documents available on CSDA websites, familiarize yourself with the message. (1John 1:1, 2, 4) If you do not testify of the faith, it is because you have not been filling yourself with it. The religion of Yahshua is not a “personal thing” as so many, who are ashamed of the names they call themselves, would have people think.
4) The Fruit of The Spirit is part of the Christian Life
· (Galatians 5:22-25)
· If your experience does not match up with this description, pray for healing (James 1:5)
· Galatians 5 is not a “checklist,” but a “standard”
o A checklist involves fixing isolated actions (Titus 3:5)
o A standard involves examining the whole (2Cor 13:5)
· When the principles of the standard are firmly implanted in the soul, then the works that come forth will be works of righteousness.
· Ezek 36:25-29; notice He does not cause, or force, them to do good works and then declare them clean. He cleanses them, with water and the Spirit, and then the Spirit within them works out the righteousness. It is this work, done in an already-existing faith, that James talks about when He says that man is known to be just by his works. These acts perfect and refine the faith that began that victorious life.
5) There is Unity in the Christian Church.
· The triumph of spiritual unity: unity is possible and required by Christ of His Bride. (John 17:20-23)
· Need for mutual submission and humility. (1Pet 5:2-7)
· Obstacles to achieving this end:
o Spiritual lethargy (1Th 5:5-8) If some are sleeping others need to labor harder to accomplish the Gospel commission.
o Officiousness (Gal 6:4, 5 vs. Phil 2:3, 4 – we must find the balance between these two ideas). Officiousness wastes the time of the one always offering to help, sours relationships, and denies those who should be receiving instructions from cause-and-effect the opportunity to grow; all these are barriers to true unity
o Doubt and Distractions (These two often go together – Mat 14:28-31). Distractions are not limited, of course, to doubt and obvious obstacles, but worldliness, emotionality, etc. so it is really a separate one, though they are often found in the same place, afflicting the same individuals.
6) There is a “Cause.”
· 1Sam 17:23-29
· The principle of the “Watchman.” (portions of Ezekiel 2, 3, 33, to be dealt with further in upcoming New Moon study) In the interest of time, only reading Ezek 3:17-21; but chapters 2, 3 and 33 apply in particular to CSDAs in this age, and this is why all the world will hate us.
· There is a need for unity in light of the prevailing evil of this world.
· The Trademark, which we understand to be the Mark of The Beast for this age of History, is meant to scatter and destroy the Church, but it instead becomes the rallying cry of protest that will unite the Tribes. (Rev 14:12 immediately follows the statement of the third angel) As SDAs we have in the writings of Ellen White and other pioneers the explicit statement that it will be the third angel, which deals with the Mark, that unites the people of Yahweh in the last days. There is a cause.
7) There is a “Hope.”
· Related to all the above.
· Re-state the first six:
o The work of the Gospel depends upon Yahweh, and not upon any individual person.
o There is a coming judgment, which is not to be feared, but to be respected for its majesty and its infinite significance
o There is Victory over sin for every sincere, willing Christian
o The fruit of the Spirit is manifest in every life that is united with Yahshua
o The Church, the Body of Christ on earth, is one; it is happy, united, and victorious
o There is a cause, a common goal for every member of Christ’s body. It involves teaching the Gospel, and warning the world of its condition as faithful watchmen who care about those who cannot clearly see the dangers ahead.
· These are all privileges, opportunities, and blessings we receive at the hand of our Father in Heaven, and they give us great joy, and great hope.
· There is hope of the rewards awaiting the Christian (Heb 11:6, Mat 6:33, Rom 8:28)
· Gen 15:1 gives true reward, and reveals true motive. The true reward is not prosperity on this earth, not even life in the world to come, but the relationship with Yahweh, our Father, that may lead to the first – success in this world; but will surely lead to the second – everlasting life in the coming re-creation.