SDA Fellowship @ Princeton

The Southern Watchman, Dec. 25, 1902

Happy is the man whom God correcteth. . . . He maketh sore, and bindeth up:he wounded, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. Job 5:17-19. {RC 364.1}

When tribulation comes upon us, how many of us are like Jacob! We think it the hand of an enemy; and in the darkness we wrestle blindly until our strength is spent, and we find no comfort or deliverance. To Jacob the divine touch at break of day revealed the One with whom he had been contending--the Angel of the covenant; and, weeping and helpless, he fell upon the breast of Infinite Love, to receive the blessing for which his soul longed. We also need to learn that trials mean benefit, and not to despise the chastening of the Lord nor faint when we are rebuked of Him. . . . {RC 364.2}

God would not have us remain pressed down by dumb sorrow, with sore and breaking hearts. He would have us look up and behold His dear face of love. The blessed Saviour stands by many whose eyes are so blinded by tears that they do not discern Him. He longs to clasp our hands, to have us look to Him in simple faith, permitting Him to guide us. His heart is open to our griefs, our sorrows, and our trials. He has loved us with an everlasting love and with loving-kindness compassed us about. We may keep the heart stayed upon Him and meditate upon His loving-kindness all the day. He will lift the soul above the daily sorrow and perplexity, into a realm of peace. {RC 364.3}

Think of this, children of suffering and sorrow, and rejoice in hope. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4). {RC 364.4}

Blessed are they also who weep with Jesus in sympathy with the world's sorrow and in sorrow for its sin. In such mourning there is intermingled no thought of self. Jesus was the Man of Sorrows, enduring heart anguish such as no language can portray. His spirit was torn and bruised by the transgressions of men. He toiled with self-consuming zeal to relieve the wants and woes of humanity, and His heart was heavy with sorrow as He saw multitudes refuse to come to Him that they might have life. {RC 364.5}

All who are followers of Christ will share in this experience. As they partake of His love they will enter into His travail for the saving of the lost. They share in the sufferings of Christ, and they will share also in the glory that shall be revealed. One with Him in His work, drinking with Him the cup of sorrow, they are partakers also of His joy. . . . The Lord has special grace for the mourner, and its power is to melt hearts, to win souls.--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 11-13. {RC 364.6}

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David's Armor

Have you ever wondered what the thoughts of David were moments before his fight with Goliath? When David set out before Goliath (the first time), he was wearing the armor of Saul. Saul's armor was more than likely,
the most technologically advanced of his day. It was this special "royal" armor that was given to David to
fight Goliath.

But as the story goes, David did an "about face" and took off the armor that Saul had given him. He did
not need the inventions of man nor the strength and wisdom of man to conquer Goliath. He stripped himself
and took with him just a few rocks and a sling.

Life for David is not much different than our own. Each one of us face a "Goliath" in our lives. Life
itself is a behemoth monster that continually sucks us in and spits us out.

Consequently, we seek for security in our jobs, education, wealth and positions. We think building up
our man-made armor will provide us with security. We invest so much time building on the sand just because
we can't see the Rock (the wise man had to "dig deep" to find the Rock). And yet, when the storm comes,
when your security blanket (career, wealth, reputation) is taken from you, you will see that standing in the armor of man will do you no good against the reality of Goliath.

Friends what you wear is extremely important. God is asking us to strip ourselves of our pride, humanism
and worldliness. We cannot "wear" what the world does. Human accomplishments will never give you
enough armor to combat the insecurities, angst and unhappiness that you face in this life.

So many of us live for the sand of the foolish, the armor of "kings." Meanwhile, we call ourselves
"Christian."

There will be a revival and reformation. Ellen White mentions that the work of Adventism will finish with
the same zeal and enthusiasm that sparked Adventism. Our pioneers stripped themselves of everything in
order to start a movement. The movement which turned into a fire has now died down to a spark.

But, a spark is all God needs. He can provide the wind. He surely can. The problem however, is that we
have too much external armor on. Thus, we can't feel anything! Especially not God!

We need to take off our armor.

Friends. God is calling for Revival and Reformation.

Any of you have 3 stones to spare?

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Global World

During my time as a missionary in Korea, I realized that it was customary in that culture for people to be constantly together. Not only the Koreans, but also the Indian and Pakistani immigrants who were there. Since the population is so large and dense, the people are forced to be close quarters with many people. As a result, they compensate their culture and lifestyle to accommodate this. There was no sense of privacy and personal space. Someone was always watching you and you had to be on your wits constantly. This is
accentuated in the city-life.

In the Western world, we find the opposite. There is a high regard for privacy, personal space, and individuality. It is possibly the backbone of Western culture: every man for him/herself. One does not care or even interact with another, unless it is beneficial or even profitable for self. Funny, but this is also accentuated in the city-
life.

Not that I am advocating one or the other, but as Christians we should be bonded in love, a principle higher even than culture and lifestyle. In the Western world and especialy in America, it is easy (at least for city people) to conduct business with people during the day and revert to solitude in the privacy of the home in the
evening. Privacy and personal space have their own place and should be highly regarded. Yet some of us take this to an extreme and sacrifice keeping each other accountable, deny fellowship, abandon evangelism and the burden for souls. As a consequence, the ultimate extreme product is "depression" (in the individual) and "indifference" (for the collective).

Lack for love of those around us is a direct product from the lack of the Saviour's love.

"...[Let us] try daily to have our hearts united in the bonds of Christian love. "I have somewhat against thee," says the True Witness, "because thou hast left thy first love" (Rev. 2:4). And He says, "Except thou repent," "I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place" (Rev. 2:5)."

"Why?"

"Because in our separation from one another we are separated from Christ. We want to press together. Oh, how many times, when I have seemed to be in the presence of God and holy angels, I have heard the angel voice saying, "Press together, press together, press together. Do not let Satan cast his hellish shadow between brethren. Press together; in unity there is strength."

"Irepeat the message to you. As you go to your homes, be determined that you will press together; seek God with the heart, and you will find Him, and the love of Christ, that passeth understanding, will come into your hearts and lives."

- General Conference Daily Bulletin, April 13, 1891

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The Southern Watchman, Dec. 25, 1902

God calls for intelligent Christians, for men and women who are filled with the knowledge of His will. He calls for men and women who by their good works show that the truth has brought about a change in their lives. The religion that consists in professions merely is but a pretense. Those whose union with Christ ends with the writing of their names on the church roll are not channels of light.

God's servants should daily gain more knowledge of Him. Daily they should grow in grace and in spiritual understanding, strengthened with might according to His glorious power. They are to increase in spiritual efficiency, that they may give strength to those for whom they labor.

God does not ask men and women to enter His service with their natural traits of character, to make a failure before the heavenly universe and before the world. He does not ask a man who is unconverted to attempt to serve Him. Christ invites all to come to Him; but when they come, they are to lay aside their sins. All their
vices and follies, all their pride and worldliness, are to be laid at the foot of His cross. This He requires because He loves them and desires to save them, not in their sins, but from their sins.

The recovery of souls from sin is to be a revenue of goodness to men and of glory to God. The Lord is to receive all the praise for the wonderful change wrought. But how many offer praise and thanksgiving to God? How many, by thanking the Giver, show that they appreciate their blessings? How many give thanks to the Father, "Which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light?"

We have redemption through His blood. He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His Son. The heavenly angels are constantly engaged in serving us, bringing to us most wonderful opportunities and blessings. Why, then, should we be so slow to express our thanksgiving? Whoso offereth praise glorifieth God. A fragrant atmosphere surrounds the believing, thankful soul who offers praise to his Heavenly Father. Let all appreciate the blessing of the Lord. We reflect bright beams of light
when, in the home and the church, we express our appreciation of the Lord's goodness.

Through His human instrumentalities, God desires to reveal the power of His grace--to make known the riches of redemption.

In all wisdom people are to be warned and taught. Those who are seeking to win souls to Christ must be guarded in every action, lest hey leave a wrong impression on those for whom they are working. The Lord will give success to those who in spiritual and temporal lines deal faithfully with minds. Let those who work for Christ put on Christ; then there will be a continual advancement in knowledge and understanding, an advancement that will make a strong impression on the world. Those who are daily learning of Christ will become so meek and lowly that Christ can work through them. He will go before them as their righteousness. As they follow in His footsteps, fulfilling His requirements, many will take knowledge of them that they have
been with Christ. Their lives are conformed to the truth; and as they reveal the Saviour's character in their lives, they are doing the work that He did. As they behold Christ, they are changed from glory to glory, from character to character. Such believers will move the world.

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