There are only two ways to go in this life, to the way of God or to the way of man.
What is the way of man? “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.” Proverbs 21:2. “The way of man is froward and strange.” Proverbs 21:8
If a man is not led by God, he is led by the prince of darkness. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24
Unlike God, the way that unconverted man works i by manipulations, machinations and/or going in circles, because man always keeps making the same mistakes over and over again. When we are talking about man’s power, as compared to God’s power, man’s power is about compromising truth for the sake of pragmatism, as compared to God’ power in uplifting the truth. Man makes Machiavellian rules—to get and keep power. Man says: “The end justifies the means.” Under the influence of satanic agencies, man is capable of anything—lying, cheating, stealing, and murder. Unfortunately, adding to the confusion, this all can be done in the name of God.
C.S. Lewis said, “There is no one so ruthless as someone who says, ‘I’m doing this for your own good.’” We see how this occurs in religion with papal systems and hierarchies, Jesuitism, whose battle cry also was, “the end justifies the means.” How will this end? With the mark of the beast on one side; and on the other side all of those that are willing to follow God’s pure way, focusing on truth and righteousness with pure motivations for doing the right. All of God’s true people who will be united by truth and the sweet spirit of God, stand shoulder to shoulder.
What happens if we say in our heart, “My Lord delayeth His coming”? Jesus said we would begin to smite our fellow servants (Matthew 24:48–51). Instead of being concerned with the kingdom of heaven we get concerned about our own power structures. “Who is the greatest?” will constantly be our concern. But in the Latter Rain, as in the Early Rain, all of this must be laid aside for us to even think about receiving the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
“Only when selfishness is dead, when strife for supremacy is banished, when gratitude fills the heart, and love makes fragrant the life—it is only then that Christ is abiding in the soul, and we are recognized as laborers together with God.
“However trying their labor, the true workers do not regard it as drudgery. They are ready to spend and to be spent; but it is a cheerful work, done with a glad heart. Joy in God is expressed through Jesus Christ. Their joy is the joy set before Christ—‘to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.’ John 4:34. They are in co-operation with the Lord of glory. This thought sweetens all toil, it braces the will, it nerves the spirit for whatever may befall. Working with unselfish heart, ennobled by being partakers of Christ’s sufferings, sharing His sympathies, and co-operating with Him in His labor, they help to swell the tide of His joy and bring honor and praise to His exalted name.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 402
“We have been used to thinking that if there were no pastors, that God could not keep His flock—but in the last days, it will be seen that the Lord is taking the reins into His own hands.
“Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness. Those who are accounted good workers will need to draw nigh to God, they will need the divine touch. They will need to drink more deeply and continuously at the fountain of living water, in order that they may discern God’s work at every point. Workers may make mistakes, but you should give them a chance to correct their errors, give them an opportunity to learn caution, by leaving the work in their hands.” –Testimonies to Ministers, p. 300
In 2 Chronicles 30:6–9 we read of Hezekiah inviting all those that were willing to come and keep the Passover in Judah. The Passover is symbolic of the Lord’s Supper. What this symbolizes is commitment to God, renouncing the world, focusing on God’s will and not man’s will in our lives.
The Lord’s Supper service is a recommitment of ourselves to doing God’s will in our lives. In the true Christian church there are two pillars, one without and one within the church—baptism, as the door of entrance into the church; and, within the church, the Lord’s Supper.
In the verses in 2 Chronicles quoted above, there were precious promises in these verses about not being oppressed any longer by those who had led us captive. Not because of our own strength or power, but with man’s power laid aside, we are to be dependent upon God’s power. What is absolutely necessary for us to do this?
Faith=Forsaking All, I take Him. Launch out into the deep. When anything or anyone hurts us, we must get deeper into the love of God—lean more heavily upon Him. Have you ever come to the place in your life, where all you had was God, and you found that He was all you needed? I am sure that this is the place where He is trying to lead us.
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” 1 Peter 4:12. The way that fallen human nature is, it will always try to go back to the old habit patterns, even when something better has been introduced.
We are used to responding to certain stimuli, and even when it seems something better is there, we must make sure not to revert back to the old thought and behaviour patterns. After the stimuli comes the response, according to the ways of the world, flesh, and the devil. And then there is the satisfaction which is really no satisfaction, but this is what fallen human nature keeps telling itself. In John 3 we are told we must be born again; this is the only way to respond correctly to the stimuli that is bombarding us from the world, flesh, and the devil.
When the Pharisee, Nicodemus, came to Jesus by night, from their conversation we see that he was not a hypocrite; he had something common to every human being. He was self-righteous. He merely did not know any better, but Jesus introduced him to a line of thought and experience that was to be to him, a new life. He ended up giving away all his fortune to the new church established by Jesus and the apostles; and this was one of the main sources of extending the kingdom of God on earth.
We must develop new responses to the same stimuli and show that true satisfaction comes from doing God’s will, having peace in and through doing that will, and not merely from having the things and ways of man, e.g. power, pleasure, convenience, material things, etc.
Why do we come to church? To worship God? Or to have fellowship? “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5–7. As we walk in the light, as He is in the light, then we have fellowship—it is all about light.
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:4. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.” Galatians 6:1–5. We will all bear our own burden, but bear ye one another’s burdens—we are all interconnected.
In 1 Corinthians 12, we see that the church is compared with the human body. What if someone in the church comes up with completely wrong responses to the stimuli? Should we right away excommunicate that person, or persons? No, in keeping with the symbol of the body being the church, what would we do with some member of our body that was out of sync, or hurting? We should do everything in our power to bring healing. It is only the very last resort to perform an amputation—only in the case of sure and certain death to the body, if that hurting part was allowed to stay with the rest of the body.
“Satan well knows that success can only attend order and harmonious action. He well knows that everything connected with Heaven is in perfect order, that subjection and perfect discipline mark the movements of the angelic host. It is his studied effort to lead professed Christians just as far from Heaven’s arrangement as he can; therefore he deceives even the professed people of God, and makes them believe that order and discipline are enemies to spirituality; that the only safety for them is to let each pursue his own course, and to remain especially distinct from bodies of Christians who are united, and are laboring to establish discipline and harmony of action. All the efforts made to establish order are considered dangerous, a restriction of rightful liberty, and hence are feared as popery. These devoted souls consider it a virtue to boast of their freedom to think and act independently. They will not take any man’s say-so. They are amenable to no man. I was shown that it is Satan’s special work to lead men to feel that it is God’s order for them to strike out for themselves, and choose their own course, independent of their brethren.” –Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, p. 201
“The spasmodic, fitful movements of some who claim to be Christians are well represented by the work of strong but untrained horses. When one pulls forward, another pulls back; at the voice of their master one plunges ahead, and
the other stands immovable. If men will not move in concert in the great and grand work for this time, there will be confusion. It is not a good sign when men refuse to unite with their brethren, and prefer to act alone. Let laborers take into their confidence the brethren who are free to point out every departure from right principles. If men wear the yoke of Christ, they cannot pull apart; they will draw with Christ.” –Gospel Workers, p. 487
The purpose and use of organization is not to make man’s will supreme, but rather God’s will supreme, not to make the work harder, but to make it easier.
“Evil does not result because of organization, but because of making organization everything, and vital godliness of little moment. When form and machinery take the pre-eminence, and a laborious task is made of carrying on the work that should be done with simplicity, evil will result, and little will be accomplished in proportion to the effort put forth. The object of organization is just the reverse of this; and should we disorganize, it would be like tearing down that which we have built up. Evil results have been seen, both in the Sabbath-school work and in the missionary society, because of making much of machinery while vital experience was lost sight of. In many of the imagined improvements that have been brought in, the mould of man has been placed upon the work. In the Sabbath-school, men and women have been accepted as officers and teachers, who have not been spiritually minded, and had no live interest in the work committed to their care; but matters can be set in order only through the aid of the Holy Spirit. The same evil has existed for years as now exists in our churches. Formality, pride, and love of display have taken the place of true piety and humble godliness.” –Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, p. 134
Organization is not to be used as a whip or scourge, but to help and heal those who are “out of the way,” discouraged, sick, driven away, etc. (Read Ezekiel 34)
Conclusion: God is a God of love and truth, not punishment and manipulation. His church on earth is empowered to help, heal, and encourage, not excommunicate, or drive away.
If we see anyone that is using the wrong tactics, responding to the stimuli of truth in the wrong way, we have to introduce them to something better by our words and actions, and pray for them. The church is to present a united front to the world and to all the other churches.
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one. I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” John 17:20–23
“A great work is to be done. Who will engage in this work? Who will press the work forward and upward to victory? We have all the world against us; all the churches against us; all the synagogue of Satan against us. And if those of our own faith work against the truth by their own unsanctified habits and practices, the work will go very hard. God help us to pray, ‘O Lord, cleanse the camp of Israel from its defilement.’” –Letter 10, 1897
“History repeats itself. The same masterful mind that plotted against the faithful in ages past is now at work to gain control of the fallen churches, that through them he may condemn and put to death all who will not worship the idol sabbath. We have not to battle with mortals, as it may appear. We war not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places. But if the people of God will put their trust in Him and by faith rely upon His power, the devices of Satan will be defeated in our time as signally as in the days of Mordecai.” –Christ Triumphant, p. 366
Satan would like nothing better than to get Christians hating one another, for this would completely destroy their witness. “But how that law is disregarded! This is a truth-hating, Bible-neglecting, froward generation. Many do not hesitate to sneer at the Word of God; those who believe that Word just as it reads are held up to ridicule. Jesus sees the world filled with ingratitude, formalism, insincerity, pride, and apostasy. He sees His love despised, His law rejected, His ambassadors treated with indifference. Jesus has spoken by mercies, but these mercies have been unacknowledged; He has spoken by warnings, but these warnings have been unheeded. The temple courts of the human soul have been turned into places of unholy traffic. Selfishness, envy, pride, malice—all are cherished.” –The Review and Herald, November 20, 1913
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” 1 John 4:20
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16
May God help us to follow the ways of God and not the ways of man; therefore the unity of the church will grow stronger. Amen.
Jerry Eaton