THE prediction of the apostle Paul regarding the rise of the power which should usurp the place and prerogatives of God, so that as God he would sit in the church of God, and show himself to be God, was all fulfilled with a most wonderful accuracy. We have seen how the Papacy developed, how it claimed divine authority, and how, according to the prophet Daniel, it made its attack upon the law of the Most High in setting aside the Sabbath of Jehovah and commanding mankind under dire penalty to keep the Sunday instead.
And the same prophetic Word that foretold the terrible havoc to be wrought by this apostasy, also made plain the fact that the whole world would be led to endorse its actions and enter into its "worship." See Rev. 13:8. In other words, the change of the Sabbath day as effected by the Roman Catholic, Roman Empire power, would come to be recognized and endorsed as right by the great body of humanity. This, too, has taken place. Sunday is the great holy day and holiday of all nations.
A Message of Reform
But let it not be forgotten that while these dark things were all so vividly portrayed and have all been literally fulfilled, the blessed Word of God, which can never be broken (John 10:35), has drawn also a bright picture of reformation and healing. It declares in no uncertain language that in the very time when the "man of sin," in his warfare against the Sabbath of Jehovah, seems to have obtained an almost absolute triumph, right then shall rise up a people, small but mighty in God, who will once more raise up the standard of truth, and call upon men of all nations and tongues and tribes to refuse the worship of the Papacy and return to the true Sabbath. This, certainly, the prophecies make very plain.
And why should it not be expected by the children of God? Does not the Bible show that all through the history of the struggle between truth and error, God has never failed to send His messages of light and life to counteract the work of evil? Was it not so in the days of Noah? Was it not exemplified in the time of Elijah and Jeremiah? Think of the message sent Nineveh. Reflect upon the work of John the Baptist, of Paul, of Martin Luther.
If it be true — and it surely is — that in God's great eternal plan of salvation, of universe life, the Sabbath is one of the very masterpieces of righteousness, and fundamental to the kingdom of God, then the only thing which we should normally expect is that our God in this time of Sabbath rejection and apostasy would send to the world a message of reproof, of counsel, of power to turn it back to the path of allegiance and life; and we should expect, too, to see most mighty manifestations of His grace, that His purpose might be accomplished.
Every message of reform must be both negative and positive in its character. It must be negative in that it bears strong testimony against prevailing sins, which are to be renounced and put away; it must be positive in that it brings clearly to view the truth which is to be adopted.
A Great Gospel Message
Turning to the great prophetic announcements of the Revelation, we find that just before the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ a wonderful Gospel message is to be proclaimed to all the world, "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." Rev. 14:6. That this message is due in the closing days of time, is very evident; because one of its prominent features is the proclamation of the judgment hour (Rev. 14:7), and because the very next event is the glory-coming of the Son of Man. Rev. 14:14.
Now let us read the message — threefold in its composition — and see what it comprehends. Under the escort of a mighty angel, the people of God go forth, "saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation. . . . Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:7-12.
First of all, notice carefully that this message calls upon the world to "fear God" and "worship Him." Secondly, be sure to see next that the same people are told not to worship the beast. Lastly, note the conclusion or result of this message — it brings out a people who "keep the commandments of God."
Taking all points together, there is absolutely no doubt as to what the message really contemplates: it is a clear call to return to the Sabbath of the Lord, and to refuse longer to follow the teaching and practise of the beast — the great apostasy, including the Papacy — in its wilful substitution of the sun-day.
"Fear God"—"Worship Him"
A brief analysis of the wording of the message itself will make this plain. "Fear God." This word "fear" signifies awe or reverence, and corresponds to the word of Eccl. 12:13, "Fear God, and keep His commandments." The Scriptures show clearly that true reverence for God is always expressed in willing obedience. Ps. 4:4; 119:161; Heb. 12:28. "And worship HIM." It is evident that mankind are not worshiping Him, hence this strong admonition. The worship is being given to some one other than God. And as true worship, like true fear or reverence, is only another term for faithful obedience (1 Sam. 15:22, 23; Matt. 7:21-23; Luke 6:46), we may see that men are obeying some rule of life foreign to God's commandments. The call is to come back to His law, to His allegiance.
But further, "worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." What does this mean? Ah, it is the heralding of God's creative power. It is a direct appeal to honor Him who spoke the law from Sinai, and who, in the fourth commandment, declared, "In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." And just so surely as God calls upon men to honor Him, to worship Him, as the Creator, just so certainly and at the same time does He call upon them to observe the Sabbath which is the memorial of His creative power. Rev. 14:7 is a ringing message of truth calling to the world in the last days to return to God's commandments in true Sabbath-keeping.
The Results
The message is very forcible in its denunciation of worship of the beast. He who worships the beast, shall suffer the wrath of God. But what can that worship be? Plainly this: The beast is he who opposed himself to God and exalted himself above God by deliberately changing the law and putting into the place of the Sabbath a corrupt heathen substitute. And when man or woman endorses such act of viciousness and fraud by accepting and honoring that heathen substitute he or she thereby worships the beast instead of God. And to let the world know this, is the object of the message.
The great fact that those who come out under the message are declared to be keepers of the commandments (Rev. 14:12), is conclusive evidence that the message itself is concerning those commandments, and specifically concerning the fourth, for that is the one which the Papacy to purposely wrenched from its place.
Rev. 14:6-12 is a grand and glorious Gospel Sabbath message. In it Jehovah again proclaims the sign of sanctification (Eze. 20:12, 20), and calls men, for the last time before the close of earth's history, to have His complete law written upon the heart. Heb. 8:10. He who obeys the message and takes his stand against the world, will be made to suffer by oppressive human laws (Rev. 13:15-17); but having the faith and obedience of the Lord Jesus (Rev. 14:12), he triumphs, and stands at last glorified on the other shore. Rev. 15:2, 3.
This same work of Sabbath reformation7was pointed out by the prophets long before the first advent of our Lord. Speaking of the last days, when God's "salvation is near to come," and His "righteousness to be revealed," God says, "Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil." In this work of Sabbath reform the "eunuchs" and the "sons of the stranger" would have part, and together would take hold of God's everlasting "covenant." The wonderful message closes with the assurance, "The sons of the stranger [the Gentiles] that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant; even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: . . . for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." Isa. 56:1-7.
Only a word of comment is necessary. This is a great Sabbath message for the last days, for "all people," and shows most clearly that the Sabbath is a part of the everlasting covenant of the Gospel of Christ. Like Rev. 14:6-12, it is a world-wide movement, the "everlasting Gospel" to all nations, and kindreds, and tongues, and peoples, and having for its great central, reform truth God's holy Sabbath.
True Sabbath-Keeping
Sabbath reform is brought to view again in Isaiah 58. The servant of God is directed to "cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression." One of the great transgressions pointed out is trampling the Sabbath under foot. Says the Lord, "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Such people, God declares, shall be called "The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." Isa. 58:1, 12-14.
In view of what has been written regarding the attack upon God's law by the papal "man of sin," the "breach" just spoken of will be readily understood. The breach in God's law was made by tearing out the holy Sabbath and putting in its place a foul festival day. Let us thank the Lord, however, that the breach will be restored.
Brother, sister, this message of Sabbath reform is now going to the world. Agitation of the Sabbath question is to be found everywhere. In all parts of the world the message of the everlasting Gospel with its blessed Sabbath-center is sounding, and men are taking their stand against the beast and his worship. Success crowns the work, for God's all-powerful Word is behind the movement. What is your relation to the message?
The Gifts of the Spirit
The Gift to All
1. What gift did Jesus promise His disciples when He went away?
"If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the SPIRIT OF TRUTH; whom the world can not receive." John 14: 15-17.
2. To whom among His followers is the gift of the Spirit vouchsafed?
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized EVERY ONE OF YOU in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto YOU, and to your CHILDREN, and to ALL that are afar off, even as MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL CALL." Acts 2: 38, 39.
NOTE.—The Spirit of God comes to every soul upon earth to convict and convince of sin, of righteousness, of judgment. John 16: 8-11. Into the life of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ comes that Spirit, to cleanse of sin, to quicken conscience, to give new life, to sanctify and save. See the Bible reading of last week. But the student must note the distinction between the gift of the Spirit to every believer, to sanctify and save, and the gifts of the Spirit, or spiritual gifts, bestowed for service.
3. Of what would the apostle not have us ignorant?
"Now CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS, brethren, I would not have you ignorant." 1 Cor. 12: 1.
4. When did Jesus Christ bestow these gifts upon His church?
"Wherefore He saith, WHEN HE ASCENDED UP ON HIGH, He led captivity captive, and GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN." Eph. 4: 8.
5. Through what agency does Christ bestow these gifts?
"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the SAME SPIRIT. And there are differences of administrations, but the SAME LORD. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the SAME GOD which worketh all in all." 1 Cor. 12: 4-6.
6. What are some of these gifts?
"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of WISDOM; to another the word of KNOWLEDGE by the same Spirit; to another FAITH by the same Spirit; to another the GIFTS OF HEALING by the same Spirit; to another the WORKING OF MIRACLES; to another PROPHETS; to another DISCERNING OF SPIRITS; to another divers KINDS OF TONGUES; to another the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES." 1 Cor. 12: 8-10.
"And He gave some, APOSTLES; and some, PROPHETS; and some, EVANGELISTS; and some, PASTORS and TEACHERS." Eph. 4: 11.
7. For what purpose did He bestow these gifts?
"For the PERFECTING of the SAINTS, for the WORK of the MINISTRY, for the EDIFYING of the BODY OF CHRIST." Eph. 4: 12.
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to EVERY MAN TO PROFIT WITHAL." 1 Cor. 12: 7.
8. Does God invest each and all with the same gifts?
"Having then gifts DIFFERING according to the grace that is given to us." Rom. 12: 6.
"And God hath set some in the church, first APOSTLES, secondarily PROPHETS, thirdly TEACHERS, after that MIRACLES, then gifts of HEALINGS, HELPS, GOVERNMENTS, diversities of TONGUES. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" 1 Cor. 12: 28-30.
9. Is it proper for us to desire great gifts?
"But COVET EARNESTLY the BEST GIFTS: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way." 1 Cor. 12: 31.
10. With whom does the bestowal of the gift rest?
"But all these WORKETH that one and the SELFSAME SPIRIT, dividing to every man severally as HE will." 1 Cor. 12: 11.
NOTE.—It is well to covet excellent gifts, gifts which we can use for God; but it is better always to remember that the gift or gifts we can best use are those given by the Spirit. God knows our ability to use, knows our weaknesses, knows our limitations; and He will always bestow the proper gift or gifts if we are prepared to receive it and use it to His glory.
11. For how long are these gifts to be in the church?
"TILL WE ALL COME in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, UNTO A PERFECT MAN, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Eph. 4: 13.
"For we know in PART, and we prophesy in PART. But WHEN THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS COME, then that which is in part shall be done away." 1 Cor. 13: 9, 10.
NOTE.—The perfect man—Christ Jesus "the Head," and His church "the body"—is not yet complete. The Former waits and pleads with all the agony of that prayer recorded in John 17: "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." Verse 21. The body is scattered in hundreds of fragments and units in Babylon, and to them is He calling. "The fulness of Christ" is not yet manifest. "That which is perfect" has not yet come. The gifts are still needed; and he who would teach otherwise is in that teaching setting aside God's plan in Christ Jesus, depriving the church of her power, and is leaving her open to every weakness and deception of the enemy, while he endeavors to supplement her infinite need by human devices and subterfuges. There is no substitute for the Spirit of God.
12. To what are these gifts likened in two parables of Jesus?
"A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten SERVANTS, and delivered them ten POUNDS, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." Luke 19: 12, 13.8
"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his OWN SERVANTS, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five TALENTS, to another two, and to another one; to every man ACCORDING to his several ABILITY; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money." Matt. 25: 14-18.
NOTE.—The pound (the largest denomination in Roman money) and the talent (the largest in Hebrew) are used to illustrate the worth and preciousness and use of spiritual gifts. A study of these parables will show that the pounds and talents are identical with the "gifts." These were bestowed at the same time as the gifts, when Christ ascended; (2) They were given by the same One; (3) They were given to the same ones—"His servants"—"His own servants;" (4) They were given for the same purpose—for profit; (5) They were given for the same time, till the Nobleman returned, till His church was made complete; (6) They are not natural, or fleshly, inherited talents or faculties or natural abilities, but are given to every one "ACCORDING TO his several ability." These scriptures can not be studied too thoroly. In their right understanding and employment lies the usefulness of the church of Christ. Disregarded, the goods of Christ are buried in the world, and he who might have shared Christ's joy is cast out. See the full accounts of the parables.
13. What will be the effect of these gifts upon the church in preserving from deception?
"That we henceforth be NO MORE CHILDREN, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." Eph. 4: 14.
14. What is the design of the positive effect of these gifts?
"But speaking the truth in love, may GROW UP INTO HIM in all things, which is the HEAD, even CHRIST: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh INCREASE OF THE BODY unto the edifying of itself in love." Eph. 4: 15, 16.
15. What effort should each member put forth to improve his gift or gifts?
"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD, which is in thee." 2 Tim. 1: 6.
"As EVERY MAN hath received THE GIFT [literally, "A gift," see A.R.V.], even so MINISTER the same ONE TO ANOTHER, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ; to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4: 10, 11.
NOTE.—Not one of His servants has Christ left giftless, unfitted for service. If there is a single soul who feels he has no talent to work for his Lord, it is either because he does not believe in the abounding assurances of Inspiration, or he has not given himself to be Christ's "own servant."
16. Should we esteem differently those who have different gifts, or seek to measure usefulness thereby?
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." Rom. 12: 3-5.
17. Should we depreciate our own gifts?
"For I KNOW NOTHING BY MYSELF; yet am I not hereby justified: but He that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore JUDGE NOTHING BEFORE THE TIME, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." 1 Cor. 4: 4, 5.
18. Should we exalt man because of the gifts?
"And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us NOT TO THINK OF MEN ABOVE THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and WHAT HAST THOU THAT THOU DIDST NOT RECEIVE? now if thou didst receive it, why dost THOU GLORY, AS IF THOU hadst NOT received it?" 1 Cor. 4: 6, 7.
19. What should be the object of every one?
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness." Rom. 12: 6-8.
NOTE.—There is one gift mentioned in the above scripture which every soul may use, must use, and will possess; namely, the simple gift of "ministering," or service, in the stead of the Master in some one or more of a myriad ways for needy humanity.
20. Will possession of the gifts rightly used lead to fanaticism?
"Stir up the GIFT OF GOD, which is in thee. . . . For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of POWER, and of LOVE, and of a SOUND MIND." 2 Tim. 1: 6, 7.
21. To whom will all the glory be given?
"That NO FLESH should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, HE THAT GLORIETH, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD." 1 Cor. 1: 29-31.
Within the Church
It pleased the Father that in Christ Jesus should all fulness, “all the fulness of the Godhead,” dwell. Col. 1:19; 2:29. In all that pertains to humanity or to human salvation, Jesus Christ is the representative of the Father. Over the desolated rock tomb of Joseph He cries: “All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations: . . . and lo, I am with you all the days, even unto the consummation of the age”—till the time the church militant becomes the church triumphant. Matt. 28:18-20.
Jesus Christ earned—won—the position of power and authority which God bestowed upon Him. He prevailed—overcame—in order to open the seven-sealed book of eternal salvation and a harmonized universe.
But the great drama of soul-saving is not complete. Christ Jesus is on high, yet present by His Holy Spirit. He is the Head of the Body, the Church; and upon the Church has He bestowed all of His fulness, that the Church might rightly represent Him, and be a body through whom He might work for the enlightenment of the nations and the salvation of souls. Read this declaration of His apostle regarding Christ and His church:
“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY, AND, POWER, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET, and gave Him to be THE HEAD over all things to THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY, the FULNESS OF HIM that filleth all in all.” Eph. 1:19-23.
This fulness is manifest in all the various gifts and offices necessary for that church to do its work, such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, prophecy. 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Rom. 12:3-8. We further read:
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues.” 1 Cor. 12:28.
Note the great fact that they are all placed “IN the church.” God provides for no worldly organizations to do His work, for no extra-church organizations. Sometimes when His poor backslidden church has failed to respond to His call, too sleepy with worldly opiates to hear it, too busy to attend to it, God has wrought through individuals, and these individuals have built up human organizations. But God has not worked because of multiplied man-made machinery, but notwithstanding its existence. Men soon9get to giving glory to their own schemes and plans and organizations, and the Spirit departs, and the lauded human machine falls into innocuous desuetude. So it has ever been with all extra-church organizations. So it ever will be. Every society or organization so started comes to naught, falls into dead formalism, or becomes a political cult or party, kept alive by political ambitions.
God's wondrous plan guards against all this. He knew His church would organize for study, for propagation of His truth, for effectiveness; therefore He placed within His own divinely planned, life-connected, Spirit-endowed Body the gift of "governments." But all these are intra-church, not extra-church; they are within the church, not without; they are so guided, if doing His work in His way, by the wisdom, the knowledge, the counsel of His Spirit-endowed church, working in fullest sympathy for the extension of the Master's kingdom. Then not to man, or man's devices, will be given the praise, but as all the power is of God, so all the glory shall be of Him through Jesus Christ; and the church militant will rejoice, even in her tribulation and labors, that she is complete in Him.
God’s Promise of Spirit and Blessing
“I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring.”
Not Noise, but Power
By Editor
It is not a true or just principle of Bible interpretation to take a purely human use of a word for the meaning of the divine use. For instance, Christ declared to His disciples, “Ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you.” Acts 1:8.
Now the word “power” comes from the Greek word dunamis, anglicized into our commercial and destructive “dynamite,” the name of a powerful explosive. It is utterly incongruous to use the action, the noise, the explosiveness, of dynamite, as explanatory of spiritual power.
There are mighty dynamic forces greater than giant powder. The little seed which splits a rock makes no noise, but it is as truly dynamic as the explosion of dynamite. A little tract before us calls for that power in the churches, and then “we will have no difficulty in blowing up a thousand hell gates.”
But the mightiest power of the Spirit is manifest in cleansing souls from sin, in creating obedient hearts, in making men honest, true, sincere, constant, stable. The only power which the Christian should pray for is the life-power of the Spirit which issues in righteousness. The matter of the explosions, the whirlwind, and the earthquake, we can leave with God. We need souls that can hear and are willing to obey the voice of God, howsoever quietly it speaks.
How May We Know?
THERE are prophets false and true. The ages have rung with their messages, and they are still in evidence.
The true prophets have been among the few; the false among the many. God's faithful messengers have ever met the false who endeavor to render ineffective their work, and unsettle souls. Elijah met them, Jeremiah and Ezekiel met them. How may we discern the false from the true?
1. By their fruits. Said our Lord: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. . . . Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matt. 7: 15-20. Do their teachings lead to humility, to devotion to God, to love of souls, to prayer, to obedience, to the Word of God? Such fruit is good, and will endure. But if the teaching lead to the word of men, to faith in the human instead of in God, to faithlessness and carelessness in God's service, to the exaltation of men instead of Christ, to a false peace instead of an earnest seeking of God, the prophet is not God's messenger.
2. By God's Law. Is the teaching of the prophet in harmony with God's law?—Then it is well. If not, it is false. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8: 20. If a prophet predict some remarkable thing, and it come to pass, yet if his teachings lead away to false gods, or to error, he must not be followed. See Deut. 13: 1-4.
Our Lord teaches the same thing in His test of false prophets, a portion of which we have quoted. Continuing from Matt. 7: 20, He says: "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in heaven." God's will is His holy law. Ps. 40: 7, 8. Our Lord continues: "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by Thy name, and by Thy name cast out demons, and by Thy name do many mighty works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity [or who break His law]." This obedience to God's law is the prime test of the genuine. The claim of the prophet or church or messenger, the mighty signs or miracles which may be wrought, are not evidences of a true prophet. Loyalty to God, obedience to His government, fidelity to His message, are God's credentials of His messengers.
God can not pour out His Spirit in its fulness without this test. There is no way by which man can test a spirit save by a true standard. An imperfect square can not be tested or corrected by itself or by another imperfect square. We do not rightly correct one imperfect timepiece by another.
3. Jesus declared that the sheep know the voice of the shepherd. John 10: 4, 16. Preeminently the voice of God (and the Father and Son are one. John 10: 30) is His holy law uttered by His own voice from Sinai, out of such glory as earth never saw before or since. Deut. 5: 22. Those who know that voice have God's law written in the heart by His Holy Spirit; and the law on the tables of stone will witness to the law written on the heart by the Spirit of God. Rom. 3: 21.
Heeding the test, God's children need never be drawn away by the teachings of false prophets. Ignoring God's law, and the soul is left to the vague uncertainties of human reasonings, impressions, imaginations.
Amen
Dr. J. W. Weddell, in the "Examiner" (Baptist), has the following which every lover of the Bible will endorse:
"Set the old Book back where it belongs, on its proper basis, in the reverence and respect of the people, and in the resistless might of the Spirit of the eternal God. You have dealt with it historically, and it is well, for the divine Word must have a human setting; but it is more than history, and it deals with more than time—it deals with the eternities. With what a fine disdain the prophets leap the barriers of the ages! How calmly Jesus says, 'Before Abraham was, I am!' You have treated it scientifically, and a true science will always render accord. Yet who by wisdom can find out God? You have put it through the petty processes of induction, and, like Christ standing in Pilate's court, it has meekly submitted; but there has been something beyond, and from the skies, that induction, as we know it, could not grasp.
"Come, brothers, let the Bible stand on its God-given basis and do its predestined and miraculous work, four rocks of truth that do not move: a revealed Word, to be thankfully received; an inspired Word, to be eagerly listened to; an inerrant Word, to be implicitly trusted; and a living Word, to be daily loved and deeply revered as the voice of God to the soul.
"Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." 1 Sam. 7:12. Up to here—high-water mark, the place of victory."
FOR the first six days our readings are in the Psalms, beginning with the 18th and closing with the 41st, thus also closing the first book of the Psalms. It is impossible to give an analysis of these wonderful songs. What is needed more than all else is to let faith bring them into our own experiences. What courage is given in the 18th, for instance! what a revelation of God's glory in the 19th, the first part of the psalm giving the very primary lessons in His school, to which all have access; and the latter part, the higher, deeper things in His holy law. What an assurance is the 20th Psalm! Psalm 22 expresses the experience in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, as shown by the 1st, 8th, 16th, and 18th verses. Of course it was in a measure David's experience, but it was typical of the experience of David's greater Son, our Lord. It will give us a grand idea of what He passed through for us when the sins of the world were laid upon Him.
The latter part of Psalm 24 is prophetic of the ascension of our Lord and His reception at the gates of heaven after His resurrection. Again in the 40th Psalm, especially verses 6 to 10, we have clear prophecy of the work of our Lord. In fact all these songs of Israel are wonderful songs of human experience, and ought to sing themselves into the experiences of God's children as they meet the daily tasks and trials. How good it is to memorize such ones as 10, 20, 23, 24, 25, 27, 32, and still others.
THE last day of our week begins the book of Joshua, written doubtless in large part by the successor of Moses; the one who led the children of Israel into the promised land. The name Joshua means "Jehovah is salvation;" the kindred term in Greek is "Jesus," and so Joshua was a type of Jesus. As Joshua led the children of Israel through the Jordan from their wilderness wanderings into the typical promised land, so our Lord saves His children from the wanderings in the wilderness of sin, and brings them through the judgment into the heavenly Canaan.
THE book of Joshua was written about 1,427 years before Christ. It is a record of his work among the people of Israel. He leads the people over Jordan, conquers a considerable part of Palestine, divides the country among the tribes, and dies at the age of one hundred and ten. The book takes up the history of the Jewish people where Deuteronomy leaves it, and so much resembles the books of Moses that some scholars count it as one with the Pentateuch, and call the first six books the Hexateuch. The conclusion of the book is a solemn admonition by Joshua to the assembled people.
OUR lesson in Joshua for this week is God's strong charge to His servant, sending out of the two spies, the directions for crossing the Jordan, and the staying of the waters of that river before the ark of God while the people crossed on dry ground.
