Ontario May 14, 2022
Chuck’s Sermon Notes…
Sermon. By What Authority?
Scripture. Matthew 21:23 NKJV “Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?””
Intro… why am I here?
Judgement is coming
Jesus Seminar…. Who is final authority? Holy Spirit or your mind… wisdom, intelligence, learning…
It will be one or the other. Holy Sprit or your mind.
Is the Bible your final authority?
What part of the Bible do Christians disregard? Genesis ch’s 1-6
Woman caught in adultery.
Turn to these scriptures…
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.” Revelation 1:1-2 NKJV
“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17 NKJV
“And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.””
Revelation 19:10 NKJV
Ellen White’s ministry fulfills this ladt text…. SDA doctrines
BELIEF 18: THE GIFT OF PROPHECY
The Scriptures testify that one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and we believe it was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. Her writings speak with prophetic authority and provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction to the church. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Num. 12:6; 2 Chron. 20:20; Amos 3:7; Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10; 22:8, 9.)
I will close with 4 Rules for studying the SOP.
Evaluating me, any preacher, vs a prophet…
Lets examine what she says about her writings….
Colporteur ministry p125
Influence of These Books—Sister White is not the originator of these books. They contain the instruction that during her lifework God has been giving her. They contain the precious, comforting light that God has graciously given His servant to be given to the world. …
—The Review and Herald, January 20, 1903. . CM 125.1
“When I went to Colorado I was so burdened for you that, in my weakness, I wrote many pages to be read at your camp meeting. Weak and trembling, I arose at three o’clock in the morning to write to you. God was speaking through clay. You might say that this communication was only a letter. Yes, it was a letter, but prompted by the Spirit of God, to bring before your minds things that had been shown me. In these letters which I write, in the testimonies I bear, I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me. I do not write one article in the paper, expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision—the precious rays of light shining from the throne…. . 1SM 27.2
Books, Articles, Letters, All inspired by God. Ellen White does not originate the thoughts and concepts…. Her job is to put them in English for us.
“‘God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs, and strengthening their faith, or He is not. This work is of God, or it is not. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work … bears the stamp of God, or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil.’ TOJ 59.1
TOJ = The Testimony of Jesus . TOJ
The Testimony of Jesus
A Review of the Work and Teachings of Mrs. Ellen Gould White
By Francis McLellan Wilcox . TOJ 4-TOJ 4
It is all from God, or Satan.
Miracles while in vision (early years)
Human, Or. Supernatural (God or Satan)
My work … bears the stamp of God, or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil.
Many times in my experience I have been called upon to meet the attitude of a certain class who acknowledged that the testimonies were from God, but took the position that this matter and that matter were Sister White’s opinion and judgment. This suits those who do not love reproof and correction, and who, if their ideas are crossed, have occasion to explain the difference between the human and the divine. 2MR 87.1. (MR = Manuscript Release)
If the preconceived opinions or particular ideas of some are crossed in being reproved by testimonies, they have a burden at once to make plain their position to discriminate between the testimonies, defining what is Sister White’s human judgment and what is the word of the Lord. Everything that sustains their cherished ideas is divine, and the testimonies to correct their errors are human—Sister White’s opinions. They make of none effect the counsel of God by their tradition.—Manuscript 16, 1889, 1. (“The Discernment of Truth,” circa January 1889. Selected Messages 3:69.) 2MR 87.2
I believe … except….
Coffee, Science, Evolution, Trinity, Etc.,
The Early years are ok…
By what authority?
The Last Deception of Satan
Satan is … constantly pressing in the spurious—to lead away from the truth. The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the true testimony.—Letter 12, 1890. . 1SM 48-1SM 48.3
“Do not by your criticisms take out all the force, all the point and power, from the Testimonies. Do not feel that you can dissect them to suit your own ideas, claiming that God has given you ability to discern what is light from heaven and what is the expression of mere human wisdom. If the Testimonies speak not according to the Word of God, reject them. Christ and Belial cannot be united.”—Testimonies for the Church 5:691.2
In the testimonies sent to Battle Creek, I have given you the light God has given to me. In no case have I given my own judgment or opinion. I have enough to write of what has been shown me, without falling back on my own opinions. You are doing as the children of Israel did again and again. Instead of repenting before God, you reject His words, and attribute all the warnings and reproof to the messenger whom the Lord sends.—Testimony for the Battle Creek Church, 50-58 (1882).
Permit me to express my mind, and yet not my mind, but the word of the Lord.—Letter 89, 1899 (Quoted in Counsels to Writers and Editors, 112.) . 3SM 70.1-3SM 70.2
When There Was No Light:
I have no light on the subject [as to just who would constitute the 144,000]…. Please tell my brethren that I have nothing presented before me regarding the circumstances concerning which they write, and I can set before them only that which has been presented to me.—Quoted in a letter by C. C. Crisler to E. E. Andross, December 8, 1914. (In White Estate Document File, Number 164.) . 3SM 51.2
I am not at liberty to write to our brethren concerning your future work, for the Lord has not given me this to do. I have received no instruction regarding the place where you should locate, or what should be your future course. Neither can I specify to others what is their duty toward you. 24LtMs, Lt 96, 1909, par. 1
At the present time my mind is greatly burdened in regard to several letters that I must write. Messages have been given me for certain of our brethren, and these messages must be borne whether those to whom they are sent will hear or will not hear. But concerning your future labors the Lord has given me no instruction. 24LtMs, Lt 96, 1909, par. 2
I find myself frequently placed where I dare give neither assent nor dissent to propositions that are submitted to me, for there is danger that any words I may speak shall be reported as something that the Lord has given me. It is not always safe for me to express my own judgment, for sometimes when someone wishes to carry out his own purpose, he will regard any favorable word I may speak as special light from the Lord. I shall be cautious in all my movements.—Letter 162, 1907, p. 2. (To W. C. White, May 8, 1907.) . 2MR 151.1
I really do not care about Ellen White!
William Foy
Hazel Foss
This is the issue…. Is the Holy Sprit speaking to us today through a voice today that is our authority?
One of the saddest statements I must share….
I saw the state of some who stood on present truth, but disregarded the visions—the way God had chosen to teach in some cases, those who erred from Bible truth. I saw that in striking against the visions they did not strike against the worm—the feeble instrument that God spake through—but against the Holy Ghost. I saw it was a small thing to speak against the instrument, but it was dangerous to slight the words of God.
I saw if they were in error and God chose to show them their errors through visions, and they disregarded the teachings of God through visions, they would be left to take their own way, and run in the way of error, and think they were right,
until they would find it out too late.
Then in the time of trouble I heard them cry to God in agony, “Why didst Thou not show us our wrong, that we might have got right and been ready for this time?” Then an angel pointed to them and said, “My Father taught, but you would not be taught. He spoke through visions, but you disregarded His voice, and He gave you up to your own ways, to be filled with your own doings.”—Broadside, To Those Who Are Receiving the Seal of the Living God, January 31, 1849. . 1SM 40.1
Tips/rules for studying the SOP.
- Be in the word. You cannot discern where a teacher is right or wrong if you are not grounded in the Bible.
- Understand the mission of Ellen Whites ministry as found in her message of her first vision… “If we keep our eyes on Jesus, we will be safe”
- Be the most familiar with her works called the Conflict of the Ages series , especially the Desire of Ages. In these God’s character is more fully revealed.
- Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you read her writings… He is the authority and inspiration behind both the Bible and her writings.
Additional Resources,
… My mind is carried to the future when the signal will be given, “Behold the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.” But some will have delayed to obtain the oil for replenishing their lamps, and too late they will find that character, which is represented by the oil, is not transferable. That oil is the righteousness of Christ. It represents character, and character is not transferable. No man can secure it for another. Each must obtain for himself a character purified from every stain of sin. …. BEcho May 4, 1896, par. 2
Those who will gratify their appetite, and then suffer because of their intemperance, and take drugs to relieve them, may be assured that God will not interpose to save health and life which is so recklessly periled. The cause has produced the effect. Many, as their last resort, follow the directions in the word of God, and request the prayers of the elders of the church for their restoration to health. God does not see fit to answer prayers offered in behalf of such, for he knows that if they should be restored to health, they would again sacrifice it upon the altar of unhealthy appetite. … 4aSG 145.1-4aSG 145.2
It is impossible for those who indulge the appetite to attain to Christian perfection. You cannot arouse the moral sensibilities of your children while you are not careful in the selection of their food. The tables that parents usually prepare for their children are a snare to them. Their diet is not simple, and is not prepared in a healthful manner. The food is frequently rich and fever-producing, having a tendency to irritate and excite the tender coats of the stomach. The animal propensities are strengthened and bear sway, while the moral and intellectual powers are weakened and become servants to the baser passions. You should study to prepare a simple yet nutritious diet. Flesh meats, and rich cakes and pies prepared with spices of any kind, are not the most healthful and nourishing diet. Eggs should not be placed upon your table. [See Appendix.] They are an injury to your children. Fruits and grains, prepared in the most simple form, are the most healthful, and will impart the greatest amount of nourishment to the body, and, at the same time, not impair the intellect. . 2T 399.3
The controlling power of appetite will prove the ruin of thousands, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have had moral power to gain the victory over every other temptation of Satan. But those who are slaves to appetite will fail in perfecting Christian character. … . Mar 62.5
Tea and coffee, as well as tobacco, have an injurious effect upon the system. Tea is intoxicating; though less in degree, its effect is the same in character as that of spirituous liquors. Coffee has a greater tendency to becloud the intellect and benumb the energies. It is not so powerful as tobacco, but is similar in its effects. The arguments brought against tobacco may also be urged against the use of tea and coffee. . CD 426.1
Got might have provided flesh as easily as manna, but a restriction was placed upon the people for their good. It was His purpose to supply them with food better suited to their wants than the feverish diet to which many of them had been accustomed in Egypt. The perverted appetite was to be brought into a more healthy state, that they might enjoy the food originally provided for man,—the fruits of the earth, which God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden. CD 377.4