Yesterday was the best Sabbath School I have ever seen. Pastor Finley set it up for the church. Nothing could have been better to awaken a sleeping church to its condition. There is never enough time to cover the lesson completely in depth. But, knowing that we would not be able to address all points in the lesson, we got to the main point of the lesson. Pastor Finley wanted to open to the church that to be in a Laodicean condition is to be in a lost condition. Asking the church if this is true, all agreed. None disagreed that there are those teaching that we are saved in our sins, thus we are being told that all is well, when all is not well. When looking into the faces of the class, it was so very encouraging that most were seeing the truth about the serious nature of the subject. None, not one, disagreed with the lesson. It was my joy to be able to then share why I see this as so encouraging. When Pastor Wilson was elected GC president, he began calling for revival and reformation in his first sermon to the world church. He has continued for the last three years. He has Pastor Finley working full time in this area. Now, the world church hears the Laodicean message as it was inspired by Jesus. His Words with a correct interpretation. Looking into the faces of the class I could say "Jesus is coming soon!" That we are here today listening to this message, is evidence that the last thing that needed to be done so that Jesus can come, is for the church to repent of her backsliding and to do the work appointed to her. Thus, the very hard rebuke, having been acknowledged, opened the way for the Words of Jesus to encourage the church. I shared the promise in One Testimonies where Ellen White said this message will accomplish its work. "I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans applies to God's people at the present time, and the reason it has not accomplished a greater work is because of the hardness of their hearts. But God has given the message time to do its work. The heart must be purified from sins which have so long shut out Jesus. This fearful message will do its work. When it was first presented, it led to close examination of heart. Sins were confessed, and the people of God were stirred everywhere. Nearly all believed that this message would end in the loud cry of the third angel. But as they failed to see the powerful work accomplished in a short time, many lost the effect of the message. I saw that this message would not accomplish its work in a few short months. It is designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel. As this message affected the heart, it led to deep humility before God. Angels were sent in every direction to prepare unbelieving hearts for the truth. The cause of God began to rise, and His people were acquainted with their position. If the counsel of the True Witness had been fully heeded, God would have wrought for His people in greater power. Yet the efforts made since the message has been given, have been blessed of God, and many souls have been brought from error and darkness to rejoice in the truth."
Some will reject this message as just too strong. Pride will not be given up. But, the message will be given, is being given, and will do its work. The message is given so that we may see what shuts Jesus out of our hearts. Such a strong rebuke to say this. But, if we love God and want to glorify Him in our lives, we will fall on our faces and repent of our unloveliness. Then will the church be on fire for Jesus. Al asked, what does it mean to be "hot" instead of "lukewarm"? What will we see in the church as this message does its work in the hearts of church members? Is this going to cause a shaking in the church?
Mimi, said that we have an example throughout the Bible of what "hot" is. Will we see a revival of this kind of character in the church today? It is interesting that her comment as to what they had in common was not what we generally would think of, obedient strong men who often faced great trials because of their refusal to yield up the truth. She pointed out their strong love of and dependence upon God. Is this what we are about to see in the Seventh-day Adventist Church?