Summary For Lesson 8 - The Church Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Cor. 1:10) Make Us One - https://youtube/watch?v=WcdsmUPcp18 The message from the Lord this week about UNITY continues to burden my soul. This week the Lord reminded us that unless we are united in Christ our witness to the world will not be positive. Satan understands that United with stand and Divided we fall. He knows that if he can get us to concentrate on our personal differences, the word of God will not be preached with power through our lives. All throughout this week I have been thinking and praying for my church. I have been considering my own actions and how this could contribute to disunity among the brethren. God sometimes allow us to be placed in certain situations so that He can reveal to us the truth about of heart. I pray that we will listen carefully to the instruction of the Lord in this week’s lesson. God wants to harmonize our different opinions and views but He cannot do so until every single one of us in the congregation surrenders ourselves to the total control of the Holy Spirit. It is God and God alone who can unite our church. Sis White said, “Union is strength; division is weakness. When those who believe present truth are united, they exert a telling influence. Satan well understands this. Never was he more determined than now to make of none effect the truth of God by causing bitterness and dissension among the Lords people. The world is against us, the popular churches are against us, the laws of the land will soon be against us. If there was ever a time when the people of God should press together, it is now. God has committed to us the special truths for this time to make known to the world. The last message of mercy is now going forth. We are dealing with men and women who are judgment bound. How careful should we be in every word and act to follow closely the Pattern, that our example may lead men to Christ. With what care should we seek so to present the truth that others by beholding its beauty and simplicity may be led to receive it. If our characters testify of its sanctifying power, we shall be a continual light to others--living epistles, known and read of all men. We cannot afford now to give place to Satan by cherishing disunion, discord, and strife. That union and love might exist among His disciples was the burden of our Saviours last prayer for them prior to His crucifixion. With the agony of the cross before Him, His solicitude was not for Himself, but for those whom He should leave to carry forward His work in the earth. The severest trials awaited them, but Jesus saw that their greatest danger would be from a spirit of bitterness and division. There is nothing selfish or narrow in the religion of Christ. Its principles are diffusive and aggressive. It is represented by Christ as the bright light, as the saving salt, as the transforming leaven. With zeal, earnestness, and devotion the servants of God will seek to spread far and near the knowledge of the truth; yet they will not neglect to labor for the strength and unity of the church. They will watch carefully lest opportunity be given for diversity and division to creep in. There have of late arisen among us men who profess to be the servants of Christ, but whose work is opposed to that unity which our Lord established in the church. They have original plans and methods of labor. They desire to introduce changes into the church to suit their ideas of progress and imagine that grand results are thus to be secured. These men need to be learners rather than teachers in the school of Christ. They are ever restless, aspiring to accomplish some great work, to do something that will bring honor to themselves. They need to learn that most profitable of all lessons, humility and faith in Jesus. Some are watching their fellow laborers and anxiously endeavoring to point out their errors, when they should rather be earnestly seeking to prepare their own souls for the great conflict before them. The Saviour bids them: Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. August 17, 2014 The Gates Of Hell Will Never Prevail Against A Church Whose Foundation Is Built On The Solid Rock Christ Jesus For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 3:11) August 18, 2014 Unless The Church Is United Through The Power Of The Holy Spirit We Will Never Demonstrate To The World That We Are Children Of God And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:22, 23) August 19, 2014 Unless Each Follower Of Christ Abides In Him The Oneness Of Unity Will Never Become A Reality In Our Church I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23) August 20, 2014 When We Become The Judge Of The Character Of Others Disunity Will Flourish In The Congregation And Gods Name Will Be Tarnished Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. (Ps. 34:13) August 21, 2014 Reconciliation With An Offended Brother Or Sister Is A Prerequisite To Restoring Unity And Presenting Acceptable Worship Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Gal 6:1) August 22, 2014 Satan Will Never Be Able To Counteract The Telling Influence Of All Those Who United In Jesus Christ And In The Truth And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (1 John 3:23)
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:11:53 +0000
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