The Spirit of a man or woman…Is it humble teachable, loving?
There are certain people over time that really stand out. One of these people for me was what I would call a Christian english gentleman, happy smiling, always polite and a pleasure to speak to and he loved and taught spiritual things. All the while being a leader, yet humble I thought he was a pastor but he wasn’t, God’s love was just part of his life. There is pleasure and acceptance in such company, that has meaning; that is a friendship and influence that can potentially last forever.
Knowledge without practicing love.
In the church of God many have failed the practice of love but are acknowledging ‘truth.’
The attributes of love is what God asks His people to practice. The framework for these attributes are the 10 commandments for these are the keys to eternal life and the presence of God in this life. 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 22:14
Commandments and testimony of Jesus
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22 -23 The attributes of love need to be accessed daily to see if the heart is right with God. In other words these are they that keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17. How many have the testimony or have the proof that God’s love has made a difference in their life? Testimony means proof or evidence.
Think of the family life, our attitude or arguments with others.
The Bible in 1 Corinthians 13 uses the word love as charity and this give us a better understanding of what love is. The 10 commandments all involve charity and if it’s from the heart then we have come a long way toward God’s kingdom. It says though I know all prophecy and do all things in the God’s name and have not charity or love I am nothing. Paul elsewhere said put on charity which is the bond of perfectness but how so many hate that word perfection. Colossians 3:14. Some take up that word perfection but miss out on the love being the key and meaning.
So many believe they keep the commandments of God but they love self more than others and this is revealed in selfish behaviour, not seeing wrongs made right, not going out of one’s way to be reconciled, not alleviating the situation of others, not protecting the privacy and interests of brethren and so it goes on. This is how churches becomes so cold and loses so many people.
A teachable, humble Spirit makes us candidates for heaven. Gentleness and politeness are those things that heaven values. “Few will humble themselves as a little child, that they may enter the kingdom of heaven.” {5T 50.2} Opinionated and not easy to be entreated how then shall they accept the school of Christ in heaven.
A love response….
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Love works…
It is not the amount of work that we have done for God but the Spirit in which the work is done that heaven counts as great value.
Some fail to work in God’s vineyard at all…How many would go out of their way in God’s service or even do a job for God when they are asked to do so and even when they are to be paid for it, they can’t seem to be able to follow through. A church without a practicing congregation is dead. Leadership and the order of things in society have strangled the work of the congregation in which it was the ministry’s place to assist the members in their outreach but rather leaders are preventing the ministry of the lay people, a situation that ever exists as man tries to control the work of God. Ministry should be following the pattern of Jesus in healing and less sermonising. Leaders think they are leading a church but most are dead in the pews as they are being preached to and leaving them nothing to do.
Love presents truth and warns…
Many appear to practice love and are church going people that are social and friendly but when coming to the weightier issues of truth they side step serious issues. Love is also warning someone of a disaster that may befall them and where possible helping them to avoid the fall. Therefore the three angel’s message are in steps. Love and the gospel should be understood first and Babylon and a warning to not accept its practices and teachings should come next. It’s a balancing act.
Many in the church will brace themselves against the truth. Though there is to be in the churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. –RH Extra, Dec. 23, 1890. {LDE 209.3}
Wages
In Jesus’ parable 11th hour workers are paid the same as those who worked throughout the day? Why so? Because there is no righteousness of ourselves, only Christ’s righteousness. This is really good news for you and me if we accept it. It’s a different way of thinking.
But many come not having on the wedding garment. They do not accept Christ’s righteousness. They have not repented and made peace with God. They have not received his free gift. {RH, May 8, 1900 par. 18} There is no righteousness of our selves and how easily we can forget this.
They have not that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. They think they are entitled to large wages because of their service. They claim to have served God all their lives, as did the Jews; but they reveal a spirit that is querulous and faultfinding. Thus they show that there is no connection between God and their souls. The indulgence of this spirit of exaltation makes those who might have been first last. They will be placed last because self has not been hid with Christ in God. We are not to esteem our work as worthy of large recognition. God will reward us in accordance with the spirit that has characterized our work. {RH, July 31, 1900 par. 8} So again we are reminded of Christ’s teaching except you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Living in a false reality
The mind is so sick that many live in a false reality and see and hear things that do not exist yes that persist in what is a reality to them, which is the work of sin. Something has traumatised the person like an abortion or sexual sins and so we literally need the eyesalve (Rev 3:18) of God to see our mistakes and be healed.
‘There is no surer way of weakening spirituality than by cherishing envy, suspicion, faultfinding, and evil surmising. On the other hand, the strongest witness that God has sent His Son into the world is the existence of harmony and union among men of varied dispositions who form His church.’
Evil surmising means someone supposes that something is true about a person that is wrong, without having evidence to confirm it. People believe such things because the mind has been damaged by their own sin and guilt and insecurity and go beyond truth and fact in character assassination of others.
What is real ministry?
‘You will never be ministers after the gospel order till you show a decided interest in medical missionary work, the gospel of healing and blessing and strengthening.’
How many ministers are incorporating healing in their work? I’m not talking about praying for others for healing cause often such is presumption but prayer with real hands on therapy and instruction in hygienic principles for those in need.
The church of Christ is organized for service. It’s watchword is ministry. Its members are soldiers, to be trained for conflict under the Captain of their salvation. Christian ministers, physicians, teachers, have a broader work than many have recognized. They are not only to minister to the people, but to teach them to minister. They should not only give instruction in right principles, but educate their hearers to impart these principles. Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power… Every church should be a training school for Christian workers. Its members should be taught how to give Bible readings, how to conduct and teach Sabbath school classes, how best to help the poor and to care for the sick, how to work for the unconverted. There should be schools of health, cooking schools, and classes in various lines of Christian help work. There should not only be teaching, but actual work under experienced instructors. Ministry of Healing, pp. 148, 149. {CME 18.1}
From the throne of God
The sanctuary of God is the place of His throne and in our day, prophetic utterance tells us that the judgment is taking place in which all who profess the name of God will be judged as worthy or lost for eternity. God on such an important time in history has warned us of the events of history that will determine man’s destiny. What maybe of greatest worth is the character of the person (as witness by heaven) as they negotiate life’s events and the Spirit in which they face such events. Satan attacks this simple truth that love may not find root in the heart and many are lost on the simple graces of life that all had opportunity to practice.
1 Corinthians Chapter 13
13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 13:2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 13:4 Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.
What might have been.
We were assembled in the auditorium of the Tabernacle. Prayer was offered, a hymn was sung, and prayer was again offered. Most earnest supplication was made to God. The meeting was marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The work went deep, and some present were weeping aloud. {8T 104.3}
One arose from his bowed position and said that in the past he had not been in union with certain ones and had felt no love for them, but that now he saw himself as he was. With great solemnity he repeated the message to the Laodicean church: “‘Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.’ In my self-sufficiency this is just the way I felt,” he said. “‘And knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.’ I now see that this is my condition. My eyes are opened. My spirit has been hard and unjust. I thought myself righteous, but my heart is broken, and I see my need of the precious counsel of the One who has searched me through and through. Oh, how gracious and compassionate and loving are the words, ‘I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.'” Revelation 3:17, 18. {8T 104.4}
The speaker turned to those who had been praying, and said: “We have something to do. We must confess our sins, and humble our hearts before God.” He made heartbroken confessions and then stepped up to several of the brethren, one after another, and extended his hand, asking forgiveness. Those to whom he spoke sprang to their feet, making confession and asking forgiveness, and they fell upon one another’s necks, weeping. The spirit of confession spread through the entire congregation. It was a Pentecostal season. God’s praises were sung, and far into the night, until nearly morning, the work was carried on. {8T 105.1}
The following words were often repeated, with clear distinctness: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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.” Verses 19, 20. {8T 105.2}
No one seemed to be too proud to make heartfelt confession, and those who led in this work were the ones who had influence, but had not before had courage to confess their sins. {8T 105.3}
There was rejoicing such as never before had been heard in the Tabernacle. {8T 105.4}