![]() ![]() A Few Faithful Ones in Sardis-The church of Sardis is represented as having in it a few faithful ones among the many who had become, as it were, careless and insensible of their obligations to God. He knows all about our religious experience He knows whom we love and serve ( Manuscript 81, 1900). He is acquainted with the thoughts and intents of the heart, as well as with every word and act. Weighing the Character- The discrimination revealed by Christ in weighing the characters of those who have taken to themselves His name, as Christians, leads us to realize more fully that every individual is under His supervision. Never are they to spend their time in accusing and condemning one another ( The Review and Herald, August 10, 1905). God's people are to be firmly united in the bonds of Christian fellowship, and are to be strengthened in the faith by speaking often to one another about the precious truths entrusted to them. There are many ready to die spiritually, and the Lord calls upon us to strengthen them. “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.” This is our work. The outward forms of religion, without the love of God in the soul, are utterly worthless. “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” With God outward show weighs nothing. They quibbled about matters of no special importance, not given by the Lord as tests, till these matters became as mountains, separating them from Christ and from one another. They had a form of godliness without the power. They had a name to live, but as far as exerting a saving influence is concerned, they were dead. They had not held the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end. There were others who had received the truth from Christ's teaching, and who were once ardent believers, but who had lost their first love, and were without spiritual strength. ( 2 Timothy 2:23-26.) Hazards of Quibbling- Among the people to whom this message was sent, there were those who had heard and been convinced by the preaching of John the Baptist, but who had lost the faith in which they once rejoiced. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief” ( Manuscript 34, 1905). ![]() Through John He sent them the warning, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. 7BC 958.7īut the Lord Jesus could see the end from the beginning. They thought they needed a wonderful change, and in their spiritual blindness did not discern that their sophistries would uproot all the experiences of the past. They desired a new phase of doctrine, more pleasing to many minds. One after another of the old standard-bearers had fallen, and some had become wearied of the oft-repeated truths. But some had forgotten the wonderful manner in which they had received the truth, and Jesus found it necessary to send reproof. The truth had been received as a bright and shining light. In Sardis many had been converted through the preaching of the apostles. ![]() Remember How Thou Hast Received-A warning is given of a time when errors would come in as a thief to steal away the faith of God's people, when they must watch diligently and be constantly guarded against the delusions of the enemy. One may go through the whole round of religious activity, and yet, unless Christ is woven into all that he says and does, he will work for his own glory ( Letter 48, 1903). All the work done, however excellent it may appear to be, is worthless if not done in the love of Jesus. Let us be faithful stewards over ourselves. He who lives in the fear that others do not appreciate his value is losing sight of Him who alone makes us worthy of glorifying God. Often his great effort will be to maintain his reputation. Oh, how many have fallen because they trusted in their profession for salvation! How many are lost by their effort to keep up a name! If one has the reputation of being a successful evangelist, a gifted preacher, a man of prayer, a man of faith, a man of special devotion, there is positive danger that he will make shipwreck of faith when tried by the little tests that God suffers to come. They had a name to live, but their works were destitute of the love of Jesus. Faithful Stewards Over Ourselves- God calls upon this church to make a change. ![]()
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