Catch The Fire

Today’s talk is called “Catch The Fire.” This is going to be a very unusual study, especially for one that I give. All of the listeners today are probably very familiar with the methods that I use to give talks and sermons, utilizing Bible verses to support every significant point that I make. Today, I am just going to talk… without verses. But if you accept me as an inspired speaker, and writer, you will understand why I say what I say today. Furthermore, the things I am going to say this week are going to be so obvious that Bible verses will be unnecessary to convey the intent of my words. I don’t think anyone is going to disagree with what I have been given to share, but I ask that you listen very carefully.

This is also probably going to be a very short talk, certainly much shorter than the last one I gave three weeks ago – although, in a very real sense it is a sequel to that message.

Last time I spoke, it was a message called “Within The Ark,” and it touched on several very vital issues, such as the need to be in a covenant with Yahweh in order to partake of His richest blessings, including eternal life. We have seen independent ministers and ministries finding our material, liking the content, and then using them in their own ways. This has some small blessing to us, but at the same time those who do this do not receive the spiritual blessings. It is as if they are trying to survive the Flood of Noah’s day by standing on the Ark instead of entering it with those who have been called, and chosen, and faithful. I also spoke to those who have been with us for some months and years, and who have not yet made that step to enter the safety of the Covenant, and as time draws rapidly to a close, this is becoming a critical, urgent matter. We do not yet know, because of recent developments, where and IF there will be another united camp meeting, and this will make baptismal examinations, and baptisms themselves, a tricky matter. It would not be pleasant at all for one to say, “I wish now to make myself ready,” when the work has passed on without him or her.

This week, my message is primarily, although not exclusively, for the members.

Last week Giselle and I were in Miami, as I mentioned in our praise and testimony email. We were visiting some of her friends and relatives before she moves further away from them, to South Carolina, at the end of this month. It was a pleasant time, most of it, and more importantly we were able to give a number of Bible studies to her aunt and to the person with whom we were staying. Although the studies went well, with little actual resistance, I could not help but notice that the passive resistance that many put up when our message is spoken in their hearing is in many ways even worse. Those who have an active resistance will at least voice their concerns, and state their disagreements. Passive resistance will say, “That’s a wonderful message,” but then make no effort toward absorbing the truths that are shared.

One of the last nights we were in Miami, I was praying about our evangelism, and also for the efforts of pastor in Rwanda, and I very clearly heard the voice of Yahweh, as the voice of an Angel, giving a very firm caution about those of us who are here in North America. As I prayed for pastor’s labors in Africa, I was told that if the work he is beginning to do there now succeeds, even partially, the CSDA message could take firm hold in that place. This much is good, and a great blessing, however, I was told that if things are not strengthened here, Rwanda will become THE center of the CSDA work.

Now, what does this mean? It means that the probationary period of this country is very close to closing completely, and those of us who have not been actively heeding and obeying the voice of Yahweh will be left without a missionary field when it does. Not all of us are prepared to face that eventuality with out spiritual identities intact, and when the time of trouble breaks upon us in full force, merely having one’s name on the CSDA record books will not help. This is indeed the proper place for the often-repeated but just as often misused statement, “Christ saves, not the Church.”

It is true that Christ saves, not the Church; but the Church is the name we give to that group of people whom Christ has covenanted to save. Yet mere membership is not enough. Ideally, it is enough, for a “member” is one who participates actively in the membership activities, including evangelism, and the walk of sanctification, but we must ask ourselves, which of us would be prepared to hear the voice of Yahweh as the still, small voice that came to Elijah, and change our whole lives, sever many connections, give up most comforts, for the sake of the Gospel work?

We have seen before us pastor McGill, who has been a CSDA longer than anyone else, and his dedication to this message has been unquestionable. Now, I only bring him up – and very carefully – because it is sometimes the case that people appreciate visible examples. This is the reason why Paul could say, without committing any sin, “Be followers of me, as I am a follower of Christ.” It is not that we must look to Paul, or any other man, as our example in any sense other than encouragement, but Yahweh was pleased to set Moses, Aaron and Miriam before the Israelites of the Exodus, and before all Christians He has set Paul, Peter, Silas, John the Beloved, Martin Luther, Ellen White, and more modern examples of dedicated workers as well.

But I saw as I prayed very clearly what is obvious to me now, that our work, apart from pastor McGill’s efforts, have not been enough. In recent emails, he has reported the beginning of some success in Rwanda, and while this is cause to rejoice, and greatly, it must, MUST also be a call to action for those of us who are here. We must remember that the Pharisees, who were secure in their membership as the seed of Abraham, had the kingdom taken from them and given to others, because those others were more willing to bear fruit. If we wish to be spared that eventuality, we must be provoked to action, and give all of ourselves to this work… and I am speaking to myself as much as to any other baptized member of this movement.

I spoke the last time about the Covenant, and the importance of entering into it. Now I say to you that it is time for us to renew our Covenant with Yahweh, for He stands ready to renew His Covenant with us. If we wish to carry forward the CSDA work in North America, we must be prepared to do just that… work… in the spirit of Agape love, and with the realization that what we know, and what we have, is necessary to save the souls of those around us.

It is time to renew our commitment to the work as individuals, and to do it, not to wait for someone to come up with a good idea. We must each be searching ourselves and asking, “What can I do, with my skills and resources, to press the battle to the gates, and increase the Kingdom of Yahweh?”

Now, none of us are doing nothing. I am writing articles, books and studies. Giselle is making videos in Spanish on YouTube. Sister Ye is translating our documents into Korean. Luke is in Canada with Brothers Abraham and Peter, and they are trying to get a revival started. Sister Barb is in Tennessee with X Sister Daphna, and together they have quite a lot to deal with as the Conference’s human strength comes against us. All of us are doing something… what I am saying is, and what I was shown was, with the times being what they are, and the end right upon us, we need to be doing more, and praying fervently that the “more” we need to be doing is shown to us while it is yet day. We must be praying fervently that we all see this greater need that I am talking about. We must be praying for one another, that we see this great need and move to fill it… and pray for me, brothers and sisters, as I work in a university among many people, that I can be an influence for good, as one unspotted by the world.

Now, to those who are still on the outside, I would like to just say a word to supplement and reinforce what I said last time: Church Membership is not something like a club or any human organization. It is a spiritual commitment to represent the unity between the Father and the Son in the bond that you have with them, and with your fellow members. If you would like to know how to go about beginning this process, I will state it as simply and as plainly as I can, and I will emphasize that this is THE way, and there is no other way. The way is to understand these things:

1) This is no time for secrets. Privacy, of course, is the right of any person, but secrets are things that you deliberately try to keep from others, and this is an indication of sin in the life.

2) Confess your errors. If you’ve confessed them in private and haven’t seen healing from it, confess it to someone you trust, and in public if necessary. Become accountable for what you are doing.

a. Are you a bad example to your children? Confess it, forsake it and put that away.

b. Do you have a weak prayer life, or poor Bible study habits? Confess it.

c. Do you have a love of the world? Confess it.

d. Do you have inappropriate feelings (whether “positive” or “negative”) toward other people, Church members or not? Confess it.

e. Do you have a need to look or feel important, or helpful, or intelligent? Confess it.

These things will all prevent you from receiving justification, which is only the first step in the Christian walk, and these are the days of last chances, I tell you that very plainly.

Now for our baptized members, it is the time to get dedicated. We also have things we need to watch for.

1) Are you tempted by Laodicean feelings? That needs to be confessed and dealt with.

2) Are you easily distracted from the Gospel work? Confess that.

3) Are you feeling doubtful about the way that the end time events are playing out? This is something that needs to be discussed openly.

4) Are you feeling discouraged by the events that have taken place, and by the few who are responding to the message? This is Satan’s work on you, and you must vigorously deny his power.

5) Are you feeling fearful about the future? This is something to be resolved by communication. Remember that we as brethren are here to comfort and encourage one another.

6) Are you lacking fervor? This is similar to being tempted by Laodicean feelings, and should be acknowledged and then shed.

Now, I have to confess to being tempted at times, sometimes very strongly, by some of these things. But I remember the life of my Savior, and I remember the work that has been done, and is being done, by those who love humanity, and want to see them saved from destruction. I do not want the work to pass from us to a more willing field – I want us to be that more willing field, and if the work must pass from this continent, let it not be for lack of effort, and let us pass with it. Let us be willing to go where the harvest is ripe and ready. I am not saying we must all move to another country, but we must pray for wisdom to see how we can help those who are laboring where the wheat is prepared for the barn.

I pray that this message will strike a chord with all who hear it. In particular, I pray it will inspire Brothers Abraham and Luke, who share the responsibility with me of these weekly broadcasts. We need to hold the urgency and the importance of these remaining days of peace before our people – whether they are baptized already or working toward it.

Normally, I place my sermon notes on the Binary Angel website, but this talk I have written out almost in full, and I will most likely give an adapted version of it, along with some of the points I made in the Within the Ark talk last time to Luke next month as our Signet article. I truly believe this is the present truth for our time, the message of the day, and the sign of the times.

I pray that all listeners will take away from this talk the things that Yah showed me:

1) None of us individually is important to the work, but together we are the only source of light this planet has.

2) Yahweh must and will have a people to represent His character on the earth as a witness to His love, His patience, and also His judgment and soon return. If we are not committed to being that people, He will take the work elsewhere. I do not want to see that that happen.

3) Those who are not yet baptized should be constantly on their knees in prayer, and then vocal about confessing their faults to Yahweh and, if necessary, to the brethren. Now when I say this I do not mean constantly confessing the same class of faults over and over again, or suddenly seeing the truth every so often. I mean finding those things that have been in you, and then having the glory of the Gospel remove them, so that they will not be there any longer.

4) Those who are baptized should be constantly on their knees in prayer. We are being called now to renew our Covenant with Yahweh, and our commitment to the Gospel work. The days are few, and evil, and we will need all of our fervor, all of our love for our fellow members and those still lost in the world. We will need one-another’s encouragement and prayers.

I truly regret that I cannot be there in person with everyone hearing this message, because I do not want this to be one of a set of sermons that is shipped into our archives and glanced at every now and again. It needs to be eaten, like the scroll Yahweh gave to His prophets, and taken in… made a part of ourselves, so that we can do the work we have been called to do. If there are any questions or comments about what I have said, I welcome frequent, open communication to that end.