Amen my dear sister and brother! Love is the foundation of our faith. God does not force anyone to do anything. But, He does offer love, joy, and peace in this world and in the world to come!

     The words of Paul reveal the true dignity and honor of the Christian life: "Though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all," "not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 9:19; 10:33.   
     In matters of conscience the soul must be left untrammeled. No one is to control another's mind, to judge for another, or to prescribe his duty. God gives to every soul freedom to think, and to follow his own convictions. "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God." No one has a right to merge his own individuality in that of another. In all matters where principle is involved, "let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Romans 14:12, 5. In Christ's kingdom there is no lordly oppression, no compulsion of manner. The angels of heaven do not come to the earth to rule, and to exact homage, but as messengers of mercy, to co-operate with men in uplifting humanity.   

Religious Liberty Sabbath is this coming Sabbath. Let us hear from the pulpit the freedom we are to have in our church and in America the land of liberty. Not much we can do for America, but we can pray for more time to find those seeking truth. In our churches, we have a structure that gives power to the family and the local church to elect our church leaders and they the leaders of the local conference. If we do not have consecrated churches, we will not have consecrated leaders. The curse causless does not come. Rebellion at the highest level comes from unconsecrated churches. When God pours out His Spirit upon the churches we shall see revival and reformation. I believe He is pouring out His Spirit upon those who want truth in the world and in the church.

"In Jesus day the people were supposed to exist for the benefit of the ruling classes."

"Influence, wealth, education, were so many means of gaining control of the masses for the use of the leaders."

"The higher classes were to think, decide, enjoy, and rule; the lower were to obey and serve."

"Religion, like all things else, was a matter of authority."

"The people were expected to believe and practice as their superiors directed."

"The right of man as man, to think and act for himself, was wholly unrecognized."


"Christ was establishing a kingdom on different principles. He called men, not to authority, but to service, the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak. Power, position, talent, education, placed their possessor under the greater obligation to serve his fellows."

"To even the lowliest of Christ's disciples it is said, "All things are for your sakes." 2 Corinthians 4:15"[/color]

Are "WE" willing to follow the example Jesus laid down for us as His disciples??

===================
1
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
5
Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Lyrics:Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)
Music:Henri Abraham Cesar Malan (1787-
[/color



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Amen Brother Beacon!  Very soon professing Christians will do the same to us as they did to Jesus.

At this council Christ's enemies had been deeply convicted. The Holy Spirit had impressed their minds. But Satan strove to gain control of them. He urged upon their notice the grievances they had suffered on account of Christ. How little He had honored their righteousness. He presented a righteousness far greater, which all who would be children of God must possess. Taking no notice of their forms and ceremonies, He had encouraged sinners to go directly to God as a merciful Father, and make known their wants. Thus, in their opinion, He had set aside the priesthood. He had refused to acknowledge the theology of the rabbinical schools. He had exposed the evil practices of the priests, and had irreparably hurt their influence. He had injured the effect of their maxims and traditions, declaring that though they strictly enforced the ritual law, they made void the law of God. All this Satan now brought to their minds.   

Sadly, by preaching the true gospel of grace many ordained ministers in our churches will rise up against the truth and want to do to us what the Jewish leaders did to Jesus. We too often around the world see the dead   burying the dead, thus leaving the church in a Laodicean condition. In the last 40 years I have seen the spiritual condition worsen. But, today we are seeing the beginning of revival and reformation in God's church as the Laodicean message is being preached from the pulpits.

The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ (Manuscript 148, 1897). { 6BC 1075.7 }