Fear God

continued

Maintaining the Perception of God’s Glory

“Give glory to Him.” Revelation 14:7.

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.

Making God Into Man’s Image

Years ago, in the time frame in which I was attending the seminary, I had the opportunity to talk for hours with one of the men from the GC Biblical Research Institute about the issue of forming one’s conceptions of God directly out of the presuppositions of God’s Word, with no countervailing interference from man. He was young and very intelligent, and had an excellent grasp of the problem of making God into man’s image. He was addressing this issue to the professed people of God he held around the world It was guite apparent that he believed that this was the biggest problem theologically that the professed people of God faced. That was over twenty-five ago. Today that problem has metastasized into a fatal cancer.

 

The Word Must Shape Our Preconceptions

In the course of our discussions, I mentioned that we must have even our preconceptions about truth, our conceptions about God, shaped by the Word itself. He was quite astounded at this, and wondered where I had discovered this. I responded that I had discovered this from my deep personal study of the Word for years. Later, this excellent man was released from the employ of the Biblical Research Institute under the pretext that he was taking too long to get his doctorate.

Bearing the Image of the Glory of the Great God

God’s people must be done with every effort at the idolatry of weakening the soul’s perception of God’s power, glory, holiness and might. God’s name must not be taken in vain. We must be worthy characters which bear the image of the glory of the great God Who sits on the throne of the universe. The First Angel calls upon us to give glory to God.

 

Soul Filled With the Heavenly Vision

John the Baptist did not allow anyone or anything at any time to weaken his soul’s vision of the glory of God. He lived in his retreat in the wilderness for many years, studying the scrolls of the Old Testament until his soul was filled with the heavenly vision.

“Isaiah’s rapt portrayals of the Messiah’s glory were his study by day and by night, the Branch from the root of Jesse; a King to reign in righteousness, judging “with equity for the meek of the earth,” “a covert from the tempest…the shadow of a great rock in a weary land;” Israel no longer to be termed “Forsaken,” nor her land “Desolate,” but to be called of the Lord, “My Delight,” and her land “Beulah.” Isaiah 11: 4; 32: 2; 62: 4, margin. The heart of the lonely exile was filled with the glorious vision.” DA 103.

Likewise with us. Every day is an exciting, wonderful new day in which our constant vision and conceptions of the Living God are to increase in depth, breadth, and height. Then we will begin to see other things, just as John did at the baptism of Jesus.

 

At Jesus’ Baptism Only a Few Saw the Heavenly Vision

At the Jordan River, when John baptized Jesus, John was one of only a few, other than Christ Himself, who saw the heavenly vision: “The Father Himself will answer the petition of His Son. Direct from the throne issue the beams of His glory. The heavens are opened, and upon the Savior’s head descends a dovelike form of purest light, fit emblem of Him, the meek and lowly One.

“Of the vast throng at the Jordan, few except John discerned the heavenly vision.  Yet, the solemnity of the Divine presence rested upon the assembly. The people stood silently gazing upon Christ. His form was bathed in light that ever surrounds the throne of God. His upturned face was glorified, as they had never before seen the face of man. From the open heavens a voice was heard saying, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” DA 112.

Realizing By Faith What the Physical Eye Can Not See

At the time of trouble, those who have caught the heavenly vision will realize things that they cannot see with their physical eyes.

“Could men see with heavenly vision, they would behold companies of angels that excel in strength stationed about those who have kept the word of Christ’s patience. With sympathizing tenderness, angels have witnessed their distress and have heard their prayers. They are waiting the word of their Commander to snatch them from their peril. However, they must wait yet a little longer. The people of God must drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism.

The very delay, so painful to them, is the best answer to their petitions. As they endeavor to wait trustingly for the Lord to work, they are lead to exercise faith, hope, and patience, which have been to little exercised during their religious experience. Yet, for the elect’s sake the seven last plagues will be shortened. “Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him? … I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” Luke 18: 7,8. The end will come more quickly than men expect. The wheat will be gathered and bound in sheaves for the garner of God; the tares will be bound as fagots for the fires of destruction.” GC 630, 631.

 

Be Not Disobedient to the Heavenly Vision

“If you have caught a glimpse of Heaven’s truth, turn not away. Be not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Walk in the light you have received, and your pathway will grow brighter and brighter.” ST 5-27-03.

John Took Radical Measures to Preserve His Soul From the Collateral Damage of Apostasy

At all times we must maintain and increase the depth of our perception of God’s glory. No person, no experience, nothing must be allowed to damage the full perception of God’s glory. We are the antitype of Elijah and John, two of the mightiest men who ever trod the earth. The antitype is to be greater than the type. If John took radical measures to preserve his soul from the ravages and collateral damage of apostasy, today, in time of far greater apostasy we must likewise take action.

 

Under the Control of Christ Alone

The gospel of Jesus Christ is designed, is calculated, to lift the person out of the controlling influence of man and place him directly under the control of Christ Himself.

 

Lifted Above the Controlling Power of One’s Own Psyche

The gospel of Jesus Christ lifts a person above the controlling influence of the closest relatives, and even the controlling influence of his own psyche-of his own self.  “If any come to Me, and does not hate the father of himself, and the mother and the wife and the children and the brothers and sisters, yet and also the psyche of himself, he is not able to be a disciple of Me.” Luke 14:26. [Greek]

 

Self-surrender Absolutely Necessary For Freedom and Transformation

This absolute self-surrender to Christ alone, free from all control of man and submission to Christ alone, is not only fundamental to freedom of conscience, but also is absolutely necessary for there to be any change, any transformation, in the soul by the Spirit of God, by the Christ Who came to cast fire on the earth.

Nothing happens in the soul to transform it into the image of the divine, to place it under the control of God Himself, to mold it under the vivifying influence of the mighty Third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, until this break with the control of man, including the person’s own psyche, takes place. Only then can the fire of God be unleashed in the soul-lifting it above satanic control, and putting it in union with the infinite Christ.

 

Baptism With Fire

“I myself, indeed, certainly, baptize you with water into metanoian – a complete change of mind and heart-repentance, but the One coming after me is stronger, mightier, more powerful, more firm, more fortified, more resolute, more violent, than I, of Whom I am not worthy, qualified, the scandals to touch, to pick up and carry [the work of a slave in Judea, Greece, and Rome]. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11.

Jesus declared, “Fire I came to cast upon the earth, and why, wherefore, how-I will, if already it be kindled, set on fire.” Luke 12:49.

Jesus came to cast fire on the earth, to set the earth on fire, with an utterly transforming power unleashed from the heart, will and soul of God Himself.

Only Those Who Submit to God’s Consuming Fire, Purging Away All Sin, Will Enter Heaven

“The prophet Isaiah had declared that the Lord would cleanse His people from their iniquities “by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.” The word of the Lord to Israel was, “I will turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away the dross, and take away all thy sin.” Isaiah 4:4; 1:25. To sin, wherever found, our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29. In all who submit to His power, the Spirit of God will consume sin.

However, if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them.” DA 107.

 

God Will Not Permit Anyone Into Heaven Who Would Turn Heaven Into Hell

God cannot allow any soul that refuses the consuming fire of Christ into heaven, for they would immediately turn heaven into hell. Only those with every sin repented of, confessed, and purged away with the fire of Christ will pass the gate that is guarded by divine Justice.

 

A Fire Consuming Completely

The Greek in Hebrews 12:29 reads, “For our God is a fire consuming completely.”

So powerful is this fire of the presence and control of Christ, so radical is this fire of Christ that a person cannot even believe in Jesus if he receives honor from men and not from God only. The Sanhedrin, as well as the mass of people, could not believe in Jesus because they received honor from men: “And the Word of Him you do not have remaining in you, because Whom That One sent, This One you do not believe.

“Search the Scriptures, because you think in them to have life eternal. However, they are the ones testifying concerning Me. And you do not will to come to Me in order that you might have life.

“Honor, glory, splendor, opinion, notion, expectation, judgment, reputation, report, estimation, from men I do not receive.

“But I know you that the agape (love) of God you do not have in you.

Why the Followers Of Self Are Accepted By Man, and the One Coming In the Name of the Father is Rejected

“I Myself have come in the name of My Father, and you do not receive Me. If another should come in the name of himself, that one you will receive.

It is Impossible For a Man to Believe if He Receives Honor From Men and Not From God Only

“How are you able to believe, glory from one another receiving, and the glory (honor, splendor, opinion, judgment, estimation) from the God only you do not seek”? John 5: 38-44. Greek literal translation.

In these words, Jesus depicts the problem of a life oriented to the approval of man, the judgment of man, the estimation of man. The problem is that man seeks the approval of man and does not seek the honor, the glory, the splendor, the judgment, the estimation and approval, from God only, from God alone.

Break Every Yoke

“Brethren and sisters, break every yoke that man would fasten upon you. Take upon you the yoke of Christ.” SM 249.

The point Jesus is making is that until man can break free from the chains of the subtle controlling power of man that comes from man seeking the approval of man, until those chains of controlling influence are broken, and a man seeks the approval, honor, and glory of God alone, he cannot believe. The Jews thought they would find eternal life studying the scriptures. However, while they studied the scriptures day and night, the Word of God did not remain in them, the love of God was not in them, because there was no way that they could be believers in the very one the scriptures testified of – Christ, Who alone can give life- because they were seeking the approval of each other, and not the approval of God alone.

 

While One Seeks the Honor of Men Heaven Has No Influence Upon Them

Thus, though the Jewish religious leaders studied the Word day and night, it had no effect on them, because they could not come to Christ to have life while the real motivation of life was the approval of man instead of the approval of God alone.

 

A Church That Receives Honor One From Another

Why would they receive anything in his own name, instead of receiving the Christ? Because the one coming in his own name operated on the same principle that motivated them-seeking the approval of each other, complimenting each other, having their egos flattered by each other, feeling good because each of the other ones thought they were great because they bowed to the controlling influence of man seeking the approval of man.

 

Christ Reigns Supreme Or He Reigns Not At All

“He can admit no rival in the soul, nor accept of partial service…” AA 541.

Only when those chains are broken, Jesus declared, with a true discipleship that comes to Him hating father, mother, brother, sister, wife, children, and even one’s own psyche, and Christ has absolute control-only then can a person be a disciple and be baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire-being transformed by the mighty renewing power of the Holy Spirit and being transformed by the fire of Christ’s presence.

Christ’s soul was in agony until He could see the entire earth caught on fire with the all-consuming fire He came to cast on the earth.

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