Sermon for the Sullivan SDA Church; October 11^th, 2003

To Prepare a People to Meet Their God

19MR - Manuscript Releases Volume Nineteen [Nos. 1360-1419] (1990) Page 264

The talents God has given men and women are not all alike, for He would have one supply the need of the other. He desires His workers to help one another in the discharge of their various duties and the thorough accomplishment of the work to which He calls them. It is only as we follow Christ with fidelity that we can do the work essential to be done to prepare a people to meet their Lord. The more men pray and believe and follow the directions of the Lord, the more perfectly will they use their talents in the accomplishment of His work.

I The Raising up of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

A. The great spiritual awakening of the 1830s here in the USA and across Europe and the entire world.

1. The Rise of William Miller

2. The soon coming of Christ based on the 2300-day prophecy of Daniel 8.

Daniel 8:13-14

13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?”14 And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” [1]

3. The refinement of the understanding of that Prophecy to settle on the date of Oct 22, 1844.

4. The Great Disappointment

B. The experience of the followers of the Millerite Movement.

1. The Christian experience these people was not a false experience.

2. Deep studies into Scripture.

a The Sanctuary Service of Ancient Jewry came into view.

b In the Holiest of Holies of the tabernacle they saw the Mercy Seat, and the Cherubim over the ark of the Testimony.

c In the ark and forming the basis of the throne and the government of God they saw the "Table of 10 Commandments."

d They began to understand the purposes of God in the Sanctuary Service as it related to God's work to provide salvation to all mankind.

i To solve the problem of the rebellion against God started in Heaven by Lucifer, and joined by our own parents in the Garden of Eden.

ii To create a mechanism by which the fallen race of man might be restored. How the Sinner might become a Saint.

(a) Not by some mystical transaction, but by methods that preserved the government of God, and was totally in accord with the requirements of the Law of God, and the basic nature of God in His love for his creation, on this world, and through out the universe.

e They began to see the steps God was taking to bring the situation here on earth of a close.

f They saw that William Miller was not wrong.

II The Purpose of the creation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

A. To prepare a people to meet their Lord

B. The proclamation of the soon coming of Christ.

1. John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. [2]

C. The restoration of the “LAW” as the basis for the Government of the Universe, including the 4^th commandment concerning the Sabbath Day.

Isaiah 58:8-14

8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

“If you take away the yoke from your midst,

The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 If you extend your soul to the hungry

And satisfy the afflicted soul,

Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,

And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

11 The Lord will guide you continually,

And satisfy your soul in drought,

And strengthen your bones;

You shall be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

12 Those from among you

Shall build the old waste places;

You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,

The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,

From doing your pleasure on My holy day,

And call the Sabbath a delight,

The holy day of the Lord honorable,

And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,

Nor finding your own pleasure,

Nor speaking your own words,

14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;

And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,

And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.

The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” [3]

D. The proclamation of the Gospel throughout the world. The good news that God through Jesus Christ has procured for mankind a path by which he can be restored to full fellowship with God.

Revelation 14:6-7 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”[4]

Revelation 10:8-11

8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”10 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” [5]

E. An understanding of what must be done on this earth before that can or will occur.

1. God's "Plan of Salvation" must be work effectively on the earth.

a The "Plan of Salvation" is proceeding.

b God's work is being done on the earth whether we're a part of it, or whether we're totally unaware of its operation.

2. The purpose of "The Plan of Salvation" is to "Prepare a People to Meet Their Lord."

III The Mechanics of “Preparing a people to meet their Lord”

A. People must be made to understand the work that God is doing for them. “The Plan of Salvation”

1. People must understand the situation.

a Present Truth

b The Great Controversy Theme”

B. People must be reached!

1. People must be told!

C. People must respond to the efforts of God in his work of restoration.

1. People must develop a personal relationship with the Living God

2. The work of the Holy Spirit must proceed in the hearts and minds of each person.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O Death, where is your sting?

1 O Hades, where is your victory?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. [6]

D. This work must be done by other people who are themselves being “Prepared to meet their Lord.”

1. We as these people are ourselves at various stages in this preparation.

2. We are equipped with various tools, many of which we have not yet learned of, or of how to use.

Ephesians 4:11-1311 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;[7]

IV The Opposition:

14 Revelation 3:14-22 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.16 “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.17 “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ” [8]

2 Peter 3:11-1411 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;[9]

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[1]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[2]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[3]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[4]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[5]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[6]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[7]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[8]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

[9]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.