IAUA End Time Ministry
Preparing for the End of Time
The Lord is Coming! Are you ready?
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IAUA End Time Ministry |
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Preparing for the End of Time | |
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in
IAUA
(ee-ah-oo-ah) our Father,
Greetings on this day of preparation for the weekly sabbath. I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and happy in the service of the Lord. My last newsletter struck a chord with one of my readers when I agonized over the need for revival and reformation in our church. ----- I appreciated everything in this email from you. Just a few thoughts: I was blessed to be a part of a large SDA congregation (early-to-middle 70's) where this happened; prayer meetings were vital (as were house meetings) and hearts bringing deep things to God in prayer and for others to lift up. Doctrines were correct, Biblical, and the focus was on the relationship with God. Off-and-on, corporate prayer/worship has come close to that church in the 70's, but only dimly so. Since than, I have found that at times this experience of intimate prayer, confession, etc occurs more in 12-step meetings or similar groups, as well as (recently) among the Native American culture. Many SDA's have criticized these groups, but the truth is people are coming to God and getting right with Him in these movements when they often are unable to do this in most typical churches now. (yes, I also am aware of how Satan also attacks what God is doing in the recovery movement, and of how these attacks are a part of fulfillment of last-day-events related to spiritualism). I have also seen where liberal SDA churches (who appear slightly more responsive--to my experience--to this type of experience with God) want to delegate the laodicean prayer and confession as something needing mental health, counseling, or a 12-step group. They are uncomfortable with (and resist) this type of prayer and experience occuring in church (corporate or house meetings), which is where God wants this to occur; and some limit the personal prayer experience in this area by focusing on forced "accountability" and "church unity" through those in leadership, (as if people can't be trusted to take their sins to God in personal prayer, and determine between their consience and God other steps to take in terms of voluntary accountability--God honors choice). If they can call this experience "mental health" or "recovery" they can distance themselves and their worship experience from it. I have also been shocked by what I found to be a worse experience in conservative SDA churches. There many simply do not have active and spiritual prayer and confession; they may focus on some types of "evangelism" (praise God for that!) that present doctrines, etc...but most conservative SDA churches (I have found) distance themselves from needing this deep work between themselves and God, by feeling and thinking they are "right" because of all the conservative doctrines they teach/live; and there is for many a "holier than thou" attitude towards those who aren't in their camp. For either group (conservative or liberal) I have observed a lack of true spirituality, and as I said in a previous email, a corresponding lack of true desire to reach the lost. Although I must say for myself, I was shocked more by what I observed for this among conservatives (who in theory profess more "truth") than for liberals. This is FYI information for your prayer and consideration. Please do not put what I say today in future emails/newsletters. It is something to pray about deeply. I am grateful, that when I read what you sent in this weeks email, that these things are near and dear to my heart, and that God continues to speak to me to daily take every area to Him for a closer walk and daily confession and cleansing. Life would be so dark without this walk with Him and without His Holy Spirit working conviction and change in my life. And the fact that I see these things occuring among both liberals and conservatives, drives me to deeper prayer: But for the grace of God, there go I also. ----- Why would you object to my including your comments in the newsletter? I quote you anonymously. Some may benefit from considering your thoughts. ----- I really appreciate you sharing my comments the last time. I felt honored by you doing that. I know what I share is about deep things that God has revealed to me (and others) about what is going on. I quess there is some fear about sharing those things too deeply (in a newsletter). I also don't want to be negative. If you feel some of those comments I wrote would be helpful to others, ok, go ahead and share them. I have also shared these things with others and had them react with a "clueless" look on their face; and others with resistance. These are tough times. I have seen much happen on either side of things. It is hard to know who to share things to and who not. It is not that I wish to suppress truth. I do attempt (through the HS and prayer) to share as He indicates the other person is able to hear, and to not share if the HS indicates the person is not able to hear these things. I appreciate you valuing what I shared. The fact that we can share, and listen and search for truth in our walk with God; this is a miracle that neither of us can take credit for. Few truly have a "Come, let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18) attitude or motive, now days. It has also concerned me that I have seen many who do not appear to have that heart walk with God, nor do they have the experience of studying and listening to God speak to them as they study and pray. I have seen some who (trying to make up for this lack in themselves) come back to following whatever they consider to be "traditional" religious values, authority, etc. God knows there heart. But these things concern me, and I think show a pattern of what is occuring in society in these last days. I think there are also paralells between what happened in Europe during World War II and what is occuring now. Well, I will not say more about that now. That subject could take a whole study or too. ----- These are indeed very tought times. I strongly believe that the end is very near. It is sad that there are very few who can share, listen, and search for the truth. I am seeing more and more shocking things occurring in our churches. The pastor constantly laments about the poor attendence at prayer meeting. I have a hard time going myself because there seems to be a strange lack of spirituality. Part of the time is spent in little more than talking and an entertaining presentation. I also hate to criticize but I sense such a great need in the face of what feels like an impending sense of doom for the things that are soon to break out on the earth. I heard these troubling words this morning.
2 Timothy 4
I read these words last night.
Sermons and Talks Volume Two
One brother said to me, "Sister White, do you think the Lord will come in ten years?" [I replied] "What difference does it make to you whether He shall come in two, four, or ten years?" "Why," said he, "I think I would do differently in some things than I now do if I knew the Lord was to come in ten years." "What would you do?" said I. "Why," said he, "I would sell my property and begin to search the Word of God and try to warn the people and get them to prepare for His coming, and I would plead with God that I might be ready to meet Him." "Then," said I, "if you knew that the Lord was not coming for twenty years would you live differently?" {2SAT 28.1} Said he, "I think I would." "Then," said I, "you know your Master's will, and it is your duty to do just as though you knew that He was coming in twenty years." I opened the Scriptures and read to him what we have read this morning, and he was convicted that he should change his course, and he did change his course of action. Well, now, how selfish was that expression that he would live a different life if he knew his Lord was to come in ten years. Why, Enoch walked with God 300 years, and this is a lesson for us, that we shall walk with God every day. We are not safe unless we are waiting and watching; we must have an eye single to God's glory. {2SAT 28.2} If you knew He was coming ... maybe next year, would you be doing things differently? May we strive for peace and unity in truth preparing for the soon coming of IAUShUO (Ee-uh-oo-shoo-oh) Messiah, the Son of God. Shabbat Shalom,
Frank T. Clark
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