Walking in the Spirit – Two
Quote; “So how do we know if and when we are “Spirit Walking?” Repentance from self-righteousness is terribly painful because we have to swallow our pride – our spiritual pride. The things we have looked to as evidence of our goodness, we have to see as monuments to self. It was hard for Peter to repent of his own opinion. It was hard for Paul to give up his righteousness of the law. But each of these realized that God was right and that He was their only hope. Are we prepared to take that hard step?” Laodicea P93.
Repentance is simply “a change of mind.” The Greek word means – a change of mind or direction. Quote; “The eyesalve is that wisdom and grace which enables us to discern between the evil and the good, and to detect sin under any guise. God has given His church eyes which He requires them to anoint with wisdom, that they may see clearly; but many would put out the eyes of the church if they could; for they would not have their deeds come to the light, lest they should be reproved. The divine eyesalve will impart clearness to the understanding. Christ is the depositary of all graces. He says: “Buy of Me.” {4T 88}
Quote; “Again and again has the voice from heaven addressed you? Will you obey this voice? Will you heed the counsel of the True Witness to seek the gold tried in the fire, the white raiment, and the eyesalve? The gold is faith and love, the white raiment is the righteousness of Christ, the eyesalve is that spiritual discernment which will enable you to see the wiles of Satan and shun them, to detect sin and abhor it, to see truth and obey it.” {5T 233}
Quote; “Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within–when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the countenance.” {COL 384}
Paul admonishes us, that there can be no mixture of self-righteousness and Christ our Righteousness. It is either one or the other. The moment you accept Christ’s Righteousness, you must give up your own self-righteousness. The moment you uphold self-righteousness, Christ’s Righteousness becomes an offence to you. Romans 9:33b “and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
Quote; “The gold tried in the fire is faith that works by love. Only this can bring us into harmony with God. We may be active, we may do much work; but without love [Agape], such love as dwelt in the heart of Christ, we can never be numbered with the family of heaven.” {COL 158}
Quote; “The people of God are represented in the message to the Laodiceans as in a position of carnal security. They are at ease, believing themselves to be in an exalted condition of spiritual attainments. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right, when they are all wrong?” {3T 252}
Quote; “He declared that there would surely come a day of judgment when all would be rewarded according to the deeds done in the body, and when it would be plainly revealed that wealth, position, or titles are powerless to gain for man the favour of God or to deliver him from the results of sin. He showed that this life is man’s time of preparation for the future life. Should he neglect present privileges and opportunities he would suffer an eternal loss; no new probation would be given him.” {AA 423}
Quote; “There will be no future probation in which to prepare for eternity. It is in this life that we are to put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness. This is our only opportunity to form characters for the home which Christ has made ready for those who obey His commandments. The days of our probation are fast closing. The end is near. To us the warning is given, “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34. Beware lest it find you unready. Take heed lest you be found at the King’s feast without a wedding garment.” {COL 319}
Quote; “The Lord is calling upon us to come into line. The day is far spent. The night is at hand. The judgments of God are already seen, both on land and on sea. No second probation will be granted us. This is no time for making false moves. Let everyone thank God that we still have an opportunity to form characters for the future eternal life.” {CD 40}
The last church in this worlds history is us, we are the last in the chain of history, and as Laodiceans, we are either “Hot” [walking after the spirit] or we are somewhat cooler than that, all the way down to stone cold [all of which is walking in the flesh]. There is no future “Other Chance” or “God’s fairy wand and poof, I am perfect,” we all perfect or corrupt our characters here and now, either fitting us for the “Purity of Heaven” or unfitting us for Eternal Life. Luke 11:23 “He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)”
