BEFORE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS POURED OUT

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Before the Holy Spirit is poured out in latter rain power, what will the Lord do? Can we find a clear answer to this question? The answer is found in the book Selected Messages ,Vol.1,p.410 and 411. In these two pages Mrs. White draws a parallel between the work of John the Baptist and the work of those whom the Lord will call to prepare the way of the Lord in these last days, how they are to give the last message of mercy to the church first, and then to the world.

"John the Baptist was called to do a special work; he was to prepare the way of the Lord, to make straight His paths. God took him away from the assemblies of men to the desert, that he might learn of nature and nature's God. God did not desire him to have the mold of the priests and rulers. He was called to do a special work. The Lord gave him His message. Did he go to the priests and rulers and ask if he might proclaim his message? No, God put him away from them that he might not be influenced by their spirit and teaching. He was the voice crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.'

Immediately after this, we read, "This is the very message that must be given to our people; we are near the end of time, and the message is, Clear the King's highway; gather out the stones; raise up a standard for the people. The people must be awakened. It is no time now to cry peace and safety. We are exhorted to 'cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob theirs sins.' (Isa.5:1)

"The light of the glory of God must fall upon us. We need the holy unction from on high. However intelligent, however learned a man may be, he is not qualified to teach unless he has a firm hold on the God of Israel. He who is connected with Heaven will do the works of Christ. By faith in God he will have power to move upon humanity. He will seek for the lost sheep of Israel. If divine power does not combine with human effort, I would not give a straw for all that the greatest man could do. The Holy Spirit is wanting in our work. Nothing frightens me more than to see the spirit of variance manifested by our brethren. We are on dangerous ground when we cannot meet together like Christians, and courteously examine controverted points. I feel like fleeing from the place lest I receive the mold of those who cannot candidly investigate the doctrines of the Bible. Those who cannot impartially examine the evidences of a position that differs from theirs, are not fit to teach in any department of God's cause. What we need is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Without this we are no more fitted to go forth to the world than were the disciples after the crucifixion of their Lord... When the Spirit of God rests upon you, there will be no feeling of envy or jealousy in examining another's position; there will be no spirit of accusation and criticism, such as Satan inspired in the hearts of the Jewish leaders against Christ... You must have the divine mold before you can discern the sacred claims of the truth. Unless the teacher is a learner in the school of Christ, he is not fitted to teach others." 1 S.M.410-412.

From this it is clear that history will be repeated. First of all, John represents a company of people whom the Lord is calling to do a special work. These individuals are to prepare the way of the Lord, to make straight His paths. Anymore than John was called to call people out of the Jewish church, the message which is present truth today does not consist in calling people out of the church even if we have become so much like the world that no difference can be seen! See 7 B.C.959.

First of all, God takes the men and women He has chosen away from the assemblies of men to the "desert" to teach them His message. True the Lord removes them from assemblies of men but only so that they may "learn of nature and nature's God." 1 S.M.410. When the Lord deems them ready, they will be filled with the Holy Spirit and the people will be drawn to them as they were to John the Baptist!

There in the "desert" (school of Christ) they will learn of nature and of nature's God. Did you ever ask yourself what that meant? What does it mean to learn of nature and of nature's God? The devil knows this truth and when the subject is brought up, he raises the warning flag of Pantheism to prevent the people from receiving the precious light. I do not intend to go into all the details of this study just now but suffice it to say that "Nature is not God, nor was it ever God." 1 S.M.293. However "Those who have a true knowledge of God will not become so infatuated with the laws of matter or the operations of nature as to overlook, or refuse to acknowledge, the continual working of God in nature." 1 S.M.293.

In other words, like John the Baptist, those whom God is preparing to give the last message to the church and to the world, will be made to discern that "Wherever they turn, in the physical, the mental, or the spiritual realm, in whatever they behold, apart from the blight of sin, they are brought in touch with the unseen, mighty Intelligence that is working in and through all. The mind of man is brought into communion with the mind of God, the finite with the Infinite." Education, p.14.

Thus, they are made to understand that "Nature in her work testifies of the intelligent presence and active Agency of a Being who moves in all things according to His will." Ministry of Healing, p.416.

This intelligent presence and active Agency of God that is moving in all things is none other than God's immediate Agency, the Holy Spirit!

Allow me to share an excellent quote on this subject of nature and nature's God which cannot possibly be controverted:

"The Lord puts His own Spirit into the seed, causing it to spring into life. Under His care the germ breaks through the case enclosing it and springs up to develop and bear fruit." Testimonies, Vol.8, p.326.

On the next page, Mrs. White states that "Rightly understood, these lessons lead to the Creator, teaching those simple, holy truths that bring the heart into close touch with God." p.327.

Now we can better appreciate the next two statements: "The only key to understand the mysteries that surround us is to acknowledge in them all the presence and power of God."

Desire of Ages, p.606.

"The divine Spirit is the presence and power of God." Signs of the Times, Nov.23, 1891.

Now, these statements, brothers and sisters, do not represent the spurious theories of a pantheist. Far from it! They are the teachings of the greatest and wisest Teacher there ever was and ever will be and unless we receive these holy truths with the simple faith of a little child we cannot know God because this is the true knowledge of God! Please see Education, p.14.

Much more can be said on this most wonderful subject of nature and nature's God but already there is sufficient evidence to show what it is that God's servants must learn in the school of Christ before the message goes in demonstration of the Spirit and power of God.

TO BE CONTINUED

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Second of all, these men and women of God's own choosing will, to prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths. Everything that is crooked is to be made plain. In other words, the matter of salvation, the way to righteousness and life everlasting, will be shown to be just as simple as ABC. What is crooked will be made plain, simple.

"To a great degree, theology, as studied and taught, is but a record of human speculation, serving only to darken counsel by words without knowledge. Too often the motive for accumulating many books is not so much a desire to obtain food for mind and soul, as it is an ambition to become acquainted with philosophers and theologians, a desire to present Christianity to the people in learned terms and propositions." Ministry of Healing, p.442.

Is it any wonder that the multitudes today cannot appreciate the simple truths of the Gospel? "We do not understand the matter of salvation. It is just as simple as ABC. But we don't understand it." E.G. White, Manuscript 1, 1889.

Earlier, we read that, like John the Baptist, today the bearers of the message will "seek for the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 1 S.M.411. Therefore, the message must go to all professed Seventh-day Adventists before going to the world! It is the rejection of that message that will cause the shaking among the professed people of God today. See Early Writings, p.270,271.

Here, in a few words, is the message of salvation, as God sent it, as He said it, and as He meant it. It is to be repeated with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in large measure:

"Oh, be so full of the message that it is like fire shut up in your bones, that you cannot hold your peace. It is true, men will say, 'You are too excited; you are making too much of this matter, and you do not think enough of the law; now, you are to think more of the law; don't be all the time reaching for this righteousness of Christ, but build up the law.' Let the law take care of itself. We have been at work on the law until we get as dry as the hills of Gilboa, without dew or rain. Let us trust in the merits of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. May God help us that our eyes may be anointed with eyesalve that we may see." E.G. White, 1888 Materials, Vol.2, p.557.

"You want to be like little children, hanging upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, and then you will be fortified. How? The angels of God will be around you as a wall of fire; the righteousness of Christ, which you claim, goes before you, and the glory of the Lord is your rearward." E.G. White, Our Father Cares, p.122.

These two statements are crystal clear. What we need to do in order for the requirements of the law of God to be fulfilled in us, in order to have the angels of God around us as a wall of fire, in order for the righteousness of Christ to go before us and for the glory of the Lord to be our rearward, is to daily hang our helpless souls upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour with the simple faith of a little child.

Could the matter of salvation be more simple than doing just that? We must do something in order to be saved. We must present ourselves before God as we are and hang our helpless souls upon the all-sufficient merits of the Redeemer. This is to be our lifebusiness. When we receive, believe, and act upon this most precious truth, everything else will fall into place. God has promised! He will accomplish everything. He will do for us that which it is not in our power to do for ourselves:

"What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself." Testimonies to Ministers, p.456.

"Some seem to feel that they must be on probation and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they can claim His blessing. But these dear souls may claim the blessing even now. They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot form a Christian character. Jesus loves to have us come to Him, just as we are--sinful, helpless, dependent."

His blessing = His grace = The Spirit of Christ.

"Looking unto Jesus and trusting in His merits, we receive the blessings of light and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Testimonies, Vol.5, p.744.

So "We must daily apply to the merits of Christ that we may become vessels fit for the Master's use." Faith and Works, p.86.

There is much more on this subject of the merits and grace of God but I believe the above is sufficient to show what we must do to become fit vessels for the Master's use, in these last days. To all who make it their lifebusiness to rely solely upon the merits of Christ for their salvation, with meekness receive the word of His grace:

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." Revelation 22:21.

This is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the commandment of the everlasting God for obedience to the faith! Romans 16:24-27.

For "He speaks and it is done; He commands and it stands fast." Psalm 33:9.

Thus "We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:2.

Soon this message will go forth with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in large measure! May the Lord hasten the day for we have come to the fullness of time!

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The bible truth on the subject of "nature and nature's God" is an extremely important one for the people of God in these last days of this earth's history.

In the book Education, p.14, Mrs. White refers to it as the knowledge of God. "In a knowledge of God, all true knowledge and real development have their source. Wherever we turn, in the physical, the mental, or the spiritual realm, this knowledge is revealed. Whatever line of investigation we pursue, with a sincere purpose to arrive at truth, we are brought in touch with the unseen, mighty Intelligence that is working in and through all. The mind of man is brought into communion with the mind of God, the finite with the infinite."

We would do well to read these words again and again until the Holy Spirit impresses the truth of God into our souls. Then we will not let it go easily!

And in the book Selected Messages ,Vol.1, p.293 she refers to it as the true knowledge of God. "Those who have a true knowledge of God will not become so infatuated with the laws of matter or the operations of nature as to overlook or refuse to acknowledge the continual working of God in nature."

Instead of seeing that God, through His Spirit, is working in nature, generally speaking, we talk about the laws of matter or the operations of mother nature! Thus, without even realizing it, we deify nature, as though nature had its own limits and powers with which to work! However, "The laws of nature are not self-acting. Nature in her work testifies of the intelligent presence and active Agency of a Being who moves in all things according to His will." Ministry of Healing, p.416.

This "intelligent presence and active Agency" is "the mind of God," His Spirit!

In Volume 8 of the Testimonies, we read these words: "Those who judge of God from His handiwork, and not from the suppositions of great men, see His presence in everything... The real evidence of a living God is not merely in theory; it is in the conviction that God has written in our hearts, illuminated and explained by His word. It is in the living power in His created works, seen by the eye which the Holy Spirit has enlightened." p.325.

This should help us better appreciate why Mrs. White "was called upon to rebuke those who were presenting the doctrine of an impersonal God pervading all nature." p.293.

She was called upon to rebuke those who presented pantheistic sentiments, who were teaching that the power we see manifested in nature is a mere impersonal essence. They called this impersonal essence, God! The fruit of this false teaching is that there is no personal God, no personal Christ! It sweeps away the whole Christian economy! Pantheists are actually atheists! They do not believe in a personal God. They do not believe that though His throne is in Heaven, the Lord, by His Spirit, is moving in all things according to His will. Therefore they "deify" nature. To them nature is God. The universe is God. But "Nature is not God, nor wast it ever God." 1 S.M.293.

Mrs. White often refers to this pantheistic teaching as false science. It was introduced by Satan in the heavenly courts. "False science is one of the agencies that Satan used in the heavenly courts and it is used by him today. The false assertions that he made to the angels, his subtle scientific theories, seduced many of them from their loyalty... By every device at his command he seeks to prevent men from obtaining that knowledge of God which is salvation... The path of error often appears to lie close to the path of truth. It is hardly distinguishable from the path that leads to holiness and heaven. But the mind enlightened by the Holy Spirit may discern that it is diverging from the right way. After a while the two are seen to be widely separated." Testimonies, Vol.8, p.290,291.

Thus, "God being removed from His position of sovereignty, they place their dependence upon human power, which, without God, is worthless." p.292.

No. The living power working in and through all of God's created works is the mind of God, an unseen, mighty Intelligence that is moving in all things according to His will! "It is through the immediate Agency of God that every tiny seed breaks through the earth and springs into life. Every leaf grows, every flower blooms, by the power of God." 1 S.M.294.

Note this: "Take your children into the garden and explain to them how God causes the seed to grow. The farmer plows his land and sows the seed, but he cannot make the seed grow. He must depend upon God to do that which no human power can do. The Lord puts His own Spirit into the seed, causing it to spring into life. Under His care the germ breaks through the case enclosing it and springs up to develop and bear fruit." Testimonies, Vol.8, p.326.

"The fruit is first seen in the bud, and the Lord develops it in its proper season because it does not resist His working. So the birds fulfill God's purpose as they make their long migrations from land to land, guided through trackless space by the hand of infinite power." p.327.

Now we can better appreciate these words: "Above, beneath, beyond, abides infinite love working out all things to accomplish the good pleasure of His goodness." Education, p.134.

Here is the crux of the whole matter:

"To those who thus acquaint themselves with Christ, the earth will never more be a lonely and desolate place. It will be their Father's house filled with the presence of Him who once dwelt among men." Education, p.120.

This knowledge, brothers and sisters, is the knowledge of God, even the true knowledge of God. We do not know Him aright until we discern His presence in all created things, until we discern that by His Spirit He is continually at work in and through all. For those who receive this light, "nature is again illuminated." 8 T 325.

His name is, "I AM." Christ is not a Saviour afar off but very nigh, at hand. "The Lord is at hand." Phil.4:5. "The Lord is that Spirit." 2 Cor.3;17. If the Lord, "that Spirit," was separated from us even by so much as a moment of time, we would be instantly crushed under the burden of sin. "The heaviest burden we bear is the burden of sin. If we were left to bear this burden, it would crush us." D.A.328,329.

There was a time when men knew God but they did not like to retain Him in their knowledge, so they deified names. Everything known was a god; and there was a god of the wind, a god of the fire, a god of the waves, a god in the tree, etc, etc. Every manifestation of power was a different god. And we have gone on, and the world has gone on, for these hundreds of years, devising names, putting names in the place of God.

Now, what true education is, instead of giving these all names in the place of God, and defying them as if the name did the thing, (cohesion, adhesion, gravity, electricity, magnetism, etc, etc,) it is to put there the Name that is above every name and worship that, and see the Spirit of God there, moving in all things according to His will!

Well, it is wonderful to me, every day I live, and the longer I live the more wonderful it is to me, into how small a space, and how simple a truth, all the truth is resolved. Whoever comes to the recognition of this fact, and holds himself to it, has all the truth there is in the universe. God is, and there is no other. "He who comes to God must believe that He is." Heb.11:6. That is His name. "I AM." Ex.3:12. God is. Where? He is. Go where you will in the universe, and there it can be said, He is. His name means "eternal presence". D.A.469. "Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Where shall I flee from Your presence?" Psalm 139:7.

God is an ever-present God! "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" Jeremiah 23:23,24.

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So far in our study regarding "the relation between nature and nature's God," we have seen the difference between what the Bible teaches and what Pantheism teaches. Pantheism: "Those who present the doctrine of an impersonal God pervading all nature." 8 T 293. This doctrine the Bible does not sanction. It reduces God to an impersonal essence that cannot feel anything, an impersonal essence that cannot have an intimate knowledge of and a personal interest in all created things. But what the Bible teaches is that "By His Spirit God is everywhere present. He has an intimate knowledge of, and a personal interest in all the works of His hands." Education, p.132.

In other words, "The laws of nature are not self-acting." "Nature in her work testifies of an intelligent presence," of an "unseen, mighty Intelligence (Spirit of God) that is working in and through all," "moving in all things according to His will." We have read that just as the Holy Spirit causes the seed that is sown into the ground to spring into life and to develop and bear fruit, so are the birds guided through trackless space by the Holy Spirit, the hand of infinite power. See 8 T 327.

What is falsely called "the operations of nature" or "instinct" in the animals, is the working of the Holy Spirit through whom God is everywhere present!

"The same power that upholds nature is working also in man." Education, 99.

"The mechanism of the human body cannot be fully understood; it presents mysteries that baffle the most intelligent. It is not as the result of a mechanism, which, once set in motion, continues to work, that the pulse beats and breath follows breath. In God we live and move and have our being. The beating heart, the throbbing pulse, every nerve and muscle in the living organism, is kept in order and activity by the power of an ever-present God." Ministry of Healing, p.417.

We have five hundred muscles in the body, and they are all controlled by the will, the mind. When I strike with my hand or beat with my fist, there is a will behind the hand and the fist. My muscles do not act unless there is a command from the will to contract. The thing that is efficient and all essential is the will, it is the commanding power. My arm will contract and cause the fist to beat; but it beats only when my will commands. But here is a muscle in the body that beats when I am asleep. It beats when my will is inactive and I am utterly unconscious. It keeps on beating all the time. What will is it that causes this heart to beat, that causes the blood to circulate? The heart can not beat once without a command!!!

To me it is a wonderful thing that a man's heart goes on beating. It does not beat by means of my will; for I can not stop the heart's beating, or make it beat faster or slower by commanding it by my will. But there is a will that controls the heart. It is the divine will that causes it to beat. "All created beings live by the will and power of God." 1 S.M.301. "In God we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28.

In the beating of the heart that you can feel, as you put your hand upon the breast, or as you put your finger against the pulse, we have the evidence of the divine presence that we have within us, that there is an Intelligence, a power, a will within, that is commanding the functions of our bodies and controlling them! "The Lord is at hand." Phil.4;5.

"The physical organism of man is under the supervision of God; but it is not like a clock, which is set in operation, and must go of itself. The heart beats, pulse succeeds pulse, breath succeeds breath, but the entire being is under the supervision of God." 1 S.M.294.

"Every breath, every pulsation of the heart, is an evidence of the care of Him in whom we live and move and have our being. From the smallest insect to man, every living creature is daily dependent upon His providence." Education, p.131.

Therefore, "Rightly understood, both the revelations of science and the experiences of life are in harmony with the testimony of Scripture to the constant working of God in nature." Education, p.130.

This is true science or true education, even the highest education! See Education, p.14.

It is through the immediate Agency of God, the Holy Spirit, that the stars and the planets are kept in their movements of rotation. False science declares that it is "gravity." Thus an impersonal force is deified! But the laws of nature are not self-acting. The Scriptures declare that "In Christ all things hold together." Col.1:17.

False science says that "cohesion" holds all things together. But what is "cohesion"? The dictionary definition is: "The molecular force between particles within a body or substance that acts to unite them." So we see that the scientists recognize that there is a "force" in nature which "acts" to unite the particles within a body or substance. In other words, scientists have become so infatuated by the "laws of matter" or the "operations of nature" as to overlook or refuse to acknowledge in nature the working of infinite power, the presence and power of God. This is how nature is made a deity as though it possessed its own limits and its own powers. This is false science!

But "The deepest students of science are constrained to recognize in nature the working of infinite power. But to man's unaided reason, nature's teaching cannot but be contradictory and disappointing.. Only in the light of revelation can it be read aright. Through faith we understand." Education, p.134.

"Those who dwell on the laws of matter and the operations of nature, in following their own limited, finite understanding, lose sight of, if they do not deny, the direct Agency of God. Many express themselves in a manner which would convey the idea that nature is distinct from the God of nature, having in and of itself its own limits and its own powers with which to work. There is with many a marked distinction between the natural and the supernatural. The natural is ascribed to natural causes, unconnected with the interference of God. Vital power is attributed to matter, and nature is made a deity. THIS IS FALSE SCIENCE. There is nothing in the Word of God to sustain it. God is perpetually at work in nature." E.G. White, 1897 General Conference Bulletin, p.73.

"Many teach that matter possesses vital power. They hold that certain properties are imparted to matter, and it is then left to act through its own inherent power; and that the operations of nature are carried on in harmony with fixed laws. THIS IS FALSE SCIENCE, and is sustained by nothing in the Word of God." p.73. (emphasis mine)

TRUE SCIENCE says: "The only key to the mysteries that surround us is to acknowledge in them all the presence and power of God." "The Holy Spirit is the presence and power of God." D.A.606; Signs of the Times, Nov.23,1891.

"It is not by inherent power that year by year the earth yields its bounties and continues its march around the sun. The Hand of the Infinite One is perpetually at work guiding this planet. It is God's power continually exercised that keeps the earth in position in its rotation. It is God who causes the sun to rise in the heavens. He opens the windows of heaven and gives rain. It is by His power that vegetation is caused to flourish, that every leaf appears, every flower blooms, every fruit develops." Ministry of Healing, p.416.

We have seen that this power is the Spirit of God. See 8 T 326.

"The greatness of God is to us incomprehensible; His throne is in Heaven; yet by His Spirit He is everywhere present. He has an intimate knowledge of, and a personal interest in all the works of His hand." Education, p.132.

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How many believe the truths which have been presented in the last posts?

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