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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The Lord is Coming! Are you ready? | |
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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. This is the 4th day of the first month. It is one week and three days until the evening of the first Unleavened Sabbath (Tuesday April 3). It is two weeks and two days until the evening of the second Unleavened Sabbath (Monday April 9). It is eight weeks and four days until the evening of Pentecost Sabbath (Wednesday May 23). We are beginning the season of the spring holy days. The spring holy days are associated with the time of sacrifice of the Saviour for the salvation of mankind. The first Sabbath of Unleavened Bread is the Sabbath that the Saviour rested in the tomb. That was a "High" Sabbath because it was both a weekly and yearly Sabbath. A newsletter reader forwarded to me an interesting article written by Pastor Ivor Myers on the Operation Global Rain website. It is titled "The Third Opening and the Coming Revival". http://operationglobalrain.com/articles-myers-third.php I responded. This is a fascinating teaching. I have some concerns. It is very complicated with some logical gaps and assumptions. In my experience this kind of message sometimes confuses rather than enlightens. I am also concerned when people say that God is holding up his return until we do something. God's plan will happen at the appointed time. We have a part to play but the motivating force is God not us. We certainly are to respond to the Holy Spirit's leading. I am afraid that many are ignoring the influence of the Holy Spirit. I seem to recall a comment by EGW that angels will end up having to participate in the end. _____ I have been noticing a pattern of distractions that Satan uses to get people sidetracked from the major issues of our time. Development of personal righteousness through prayer, study, obedience and fellowship. Preparation for witness of God's truth in these end times. It is important to note that moderation is needed in all things. It is an excessive emphasis that leads one astray. Even an understanding of the law of God must be moderated with an equal understanding of God's grace. The primary distraction is of worldly things to take our interest away from the things of heaven. There is even a distraction in being caught up in world events that relate to the end time and focusing attention on these to the detriment of the study of truth. Even biblical prophecy can be a distraction if we are so caught up in trivia and details that it draw the focus away from God's law. Another distraction is looking at the people and the problems in the church. Sadly, especially those who have seen more of God's law in the statutes forsake the church fellowship because of the failures and resistance to recognizing more light and truth. The saddest distraction and deception of all is the false revival. I can say nothing more or better than these extracts from the chapter "Modern Revivals" in the Great Controversy. _____ Popular revivals are too often carried by appeals to the imagination, by exciting the emotions, by gratifying the love for what is new and startling. Converts thus gained have little desire to listen to Bible truth, little interest in the testimony of prophets and apostles. Unless a religious service has something of a sensational character, it has no attractions for them. A message which appeals to unimpassioned reason, awakens no response. The plain warnings of God's Word, relating directly to their eternal interests, are unheeded. {GC88 463.2} With every truly converted soul the relation to God and to eternal things will be the great topic of life. But where, in the popular churches of today, is the spirit of consecration to God? The converts do not renounce their pride, and love of the world. They are no more willing to deny self, to take up the cross, and follow the meek and lowly Jesus, than before their conversion. Religion has become the sport of infidels and skeptics because so many who bear its name are ignorant of its principles. The power of godliness has well-nigh departed from many of the churches. Picnics, church theatricals, church fairs, fine houses, personal display, have banished thoughts of God. Lands and goods and worldly occupations engross the mind, and things of eternal interest receive hardly a passing notice. {GC88 463.3} Notwithstanding the widespread declension of faith and piety, there are true followers of Christ in these churches. Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth, there will be, among the people of the Lord, such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon his children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and his Word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time, to prepare a people for the Lord's second coming. The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it, by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power, he will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world. {GC88 464.1} In many of the revivals which have occurred during the last half century, the same influences have been at work, to a greater or less degree, that will be manifest in the more extensive movements of the future. There is an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with the false, that is well adapted to mislead. Yet none need be deceived. In the light of God's Word it is not difficult to determine the nature of these movements. Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that God's blessing is not bestowed. And by the rule which Christ himself has given, "Ye shall know them by their fruits," [MATT. 7:16.] it is evident that these movements are not the work of the Spirit of God. {GC88 464.2} _____ Sadly, her words about the "popular churches" all too often apply to the Adventist church. Notice the oft quoted phrase "a revival of primitive godliness". This is given many interpretations but later in the same chapter it is clearly identified. It is the restoration of God's law. _____ "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.... But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." [PS. 1:1-3.] It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival of primitive faith and godliness among his professed people. "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." [JER. 6:16.] {GC88 478.3} _____ Are you restoring all of God's law in your life to prepare for a revival of primitive faith and godliness? I pray that we may all continue to 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
Next: 2007-03-30 The Spring Yearly Sabbaths |
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Revised 2007-03-30 |