“For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.” Mark 3:35

No one wants to feel left out—separated—not a part of the group.

And the more that we make people feel this way, the less we truly love and understand what Christ was all about.

The more we are into our own power, the love of display or ego (self), the less we can love God’s power.  Let’s say that someone likes me more than you, then I can exult in that power because I am the favorite, right?

But what happens when they like you more than me?  Then, I don’t feel so well.

“And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” 2 Samuel 15:1–6

This is exactly what Absalom did—to try and warp the people’s minds to get to be the people’s favorite, rather than his father.  And this, of course, led to civil war and his own demise.

Remember someone else who did this? In heaven? “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:12–14

How is this done?

You tell the people what they want to hear; sympathize with them, even if they are wrong, and thus, show how much of personal power, not God’s power, we are into.

In Numbers chapter 16 we learn lessons from the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. What did they tell the people? “The people are holy. . . everyone. . .” and, “Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy” (Numbers 16:3), meaning that Moses and Aaron were assuming too much authority, and being too hard on the people, wasn’t it?

“While some under correction will acknowledge that they have been an injury to the cause, there are others who will charge with having an unkind spirit the one who has manifested true friendship by pointing out their wrongs, and will either be impudent or disrespectful to the reprover or will put on the disguise of injured innocence. This martyr-like appearance is a specious hypocrisy and is calculated to deceive those who are easily blinded, who are always ready to sympathize with the wrongdoer. . . .

“[Korah, Dathan, and Abiram] complained and influenced the people to stand with them in rebellion, and even after God stretched forth His hand and swallowed up the wrongdoers and the people fled to their tents in horror, their rebellion was not cured.

“The depth of their disaffection was made manifest even under the judgment of the Lord. The morning after the destruction of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and their confederates, the people came to Moses and Aaron saying, ‘Ye have killed the people of the Lord.’ For this false charge on the servants of God thousands more were killed, for there was in them sin, exultation, and presumptuous wickedness.

“Shall the example presented in the history of the children of Israel have any weight with us? Shall those who claim to believe the truth be influenced to judge from their human feelings as did Israel?   [This is a very important concept- we can’t judge according to our human feelings- don’t consult your emotions. ] When the servants of God are called upon to do the disagreeable duty of correcting the erring, let not those upon whom the Lord has not laid this burden stand between the offender and God. If you cannot see matters in the light in which they have been presented, hold your peace; let the arrows of the Almighty fall just where He has directed they shall fall.” –Christ Triumphant, p.125 (emphasis mine)

I’ll never forget the experience I made in a General Conference Session years ago, when some rival Russian factions were attending the conference at that time. The leading brethren of the General Conference said that “no pictures were to be taken with any of these Russians,” which I thought to be a bit harsh and unfair. It was only later that I found out that some of these factions were using any and all of the photographs made with leading brethren from our church as propaganda to prove that they were with us, and the other faction was not. Thus, only later did I see the balance and practicality of what the leading brothers were saying.

“Reproof and rebuke may, and will, come closer home to individuals than they dream of. God has His work in hand, and declarations will be made that will test the faith and loyalty of the people of God. There are those who have had great light, who are far from God, who in heart are apostates. . . .

“But we may still rejoice in the fact that it is not yet too late for wrongs to be righted. Jesus is a risen, living Saviour, our Advocate in the courts of heaven.  ‘My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.’ 1 John 2:1. As soon as sinners see their sins in the light of God’s Word, repent, and seek pardon with contrition of soul, confessing their sins, the Lord hears and answers. –Letter 12a, 1893.” –Christ Triumphant, p.125

Are we popular when we reprove people for their sins?

How did Moses stand in the eyes of the people?  Or even his brother, Aaron?

But still they were going to stone Aaron, when they wanted to make the golden calf and he mildly remonstrated with them.  His mistake was not in rebuking their sin more sharply, so they felt emboldened in their wrong course.

So, if you are into the love of your own power—watch out.  If you love giving orders but have a hard time taking them—watch out. If you love the approval of man, but have a hard time seeing anything in the approval of God—watch out. When the chips are down and men’s frowns are against you, what is it most likely you will do?  Well, what is it that Peter did in that situation?  He denied his Lord three times, we know that. Because he loved the approval of man more than the approval of God. And when he went out from the judgment hall, he wept bitterly. Did he really mean everything he said to Christ, about how he would go with Him to prison and to death? Yes, the only problem was that he didn’t know himself. So, as the wise man said, “Know yourself.”  What are your weaknesses?  What are your strengths?

How do you respond when you’re tired, fearful or sick?  How do you deal with other people’s needs, when your own needs are not being met?

Do you remember how Jesus met human weakness?  He didn’t condemn the woman, even taken in adultery, but said:  “Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.”  Wait!

Was that possible for her to go and sin no more?  There are many Christians that would say that response was condemnatory.

How did He deal with the disciples weakness?  “And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done. And He came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh He to His disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” Matthew 26:40–45

He was always kind, always gracious, even when His own needs were not being met, when the disciples had the main responsibility to meet them.

How is it with you and I?  How many men I have met in the church that put the human in place of the divine. Let’s be clear. This is very easy for humans to do.

These people were more happy being the people’s favourite, rather than doing God’s will.

“And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him.” Matthew 17:16. At this point, right after the Night of the Transfiguration, when Peter, James and John were up on the mountain with Jesus, the disciples couldn’t cast out that demon. Why?  Because they were jealous of the three that had gone with Jesus into the mount the night before.  They had to come to the work in a different spirit if they expected the Lord to work for them, and to have success in that work.

Was Sister White popular in 1888?  She kept telling them things that they didn’t want to hear, e.g. how their health and education systems were going wrong, amongst other things.  And so, they shipped her off to Australia, where they thought that they would be safe from that voice of reproof, but the letters kept coming, and at exactly the right times, still to reprove them.

“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:1–5

Babylon, the fallen church, who is she committing fornication with here?  Let’s be clear—anything that enhances our political power, or power based upon human things, may just lead us away from God’s power, just as it is happening even now in the fallen churches.

So when you are tempted to compromise truth in order to be the people’s favourite or enhance your own personal power. If you are more concerned about building up your personal empire than the kingdom of God, wait! Aren’t our personal empires and the kingdom of God one and the same thing? At least, so many people get them confused.

“Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” 1 Corinthians 8:1–3. Do you see what knowledge does here?  But in contrast,  what does true love do? Knowlege puffs up, but it is only love that builds up.

Jesus was always including everyone in the kingdom of God; as long as they were willing to repent of sin, they were part of His family.

Repentance is so important in the kingdom of God!!  Regardless of what we know, if we do not repent, how can we expect to approach unto God ?  Even if we may be some person’s or organization’s favourite, we would still be lost.

The one thing that stands in the way of the unity of God’s people more than any other is the spirit of rivalry—wanting to be first, or the favourite.  Remember:  we have to receive the early rain before we can receive the Latter Rain. And what was the main thing that they had to put away before they could receive the early rain?  I’ll give you a hint. What they were always fighting about, when Jesus was with them? Remember? They were always seeking to be the greatest.

May God help us to put this spirit aside, that we may truly be unified.

Jerry Eaton