Who Told You You Were Naked?

In our morning family worship we were continuing with the story of Saul and his visitation to the witch of Endor. I didn't expect to read what I am about to share with you in this note. This applies to all those who are ministering for the Lord through the Word, and to parents too. You'll see why in a moment. Let's firstly begin with the quote that started the ball rolling:

Satan impersonating Samuel, when Saul visited the witch of Endor.

'The demon's message to Saul, although it was a denunciation of sin and a prophecy of retribution, was not meant to reform him, but to goad him to despair and ruin.' {Patriachs and Prophets, p.688}

The message that was given to Saul, was one that denounced sin in his life, and also contained prophecy of things to come and the punishment of the wicked, but....BUT IT DID NOT CONVICT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOW GOD COULD EMPOWER HIM TO BE RIGHTEOUS, EVEN AS HE IS RIGHTEOUS. This sounds like the counterfeit of the Holy Spirit's work. The Holy Spirit:

'Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.' {John 16:7, 8}

The work of the Holy Spirit is threefold:

1. Convicts of sin (which can only come through Him opening our eyes to the Law of God: see 1 John 3:4)

2. Judgment

3. Righteousness (The Commandments are righteousness, and Christ our righteousness, meaning that He wants to clothe us with a life of obedience to the Law of God: see Psalms 119:172; Jeremiah 23:6; Deuteronomy 6:25)

Our message as God's people are to be balanced. If I am posting up posts that speak on:

*a 'prophecy of retribution'

* a 'denunciation of sin'

BUT I do not give hope for souls, by pointing them to the Lamb of God Who takes away the very sin that I am denouncing, and teaching men how to, then in the words of the servant of the Lord, it is 'The demon's message'. It is what it is, friends.

Such messages that we have the boldness to call, 'The Three Angel's Messages', bear the signtaure of Satan. Not only is this so because of the fact that Christ and His righteousness is not the theme for contemplation in these posts/messages, but also because the fruit that it bears in the lives of those who take heed to it are such (once again in the words of the servant of the Lord) that it drives to,'despair and ruin'.

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

I have often heard the above Scripture used to say that we can judge whether someone is a Christian or not, by the fruit of character that they bear. Well, people if that is the case, then none of us are Christians because we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory (character). That is no acid test to a person's heart, for they could be struggling just likeyou and I. One needs to couple that with the fruit of their labour. In the Spirit of Prophecy, we see this Scripture placed in its correct context:

Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.

'In these days of peril we are not to accept everything that men bring to us as truth. As professed teachers from God come to us declaring that they have a message from God, it is proper to inquire carefully, How do we know that this is truth? Jesus has told us that "false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many" (Matt. 24:11). But we need not be deceived; for the Word of God gives us a test whereby we may know what is truth. The prophet says, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20). {2SM 99.1}

Ye shall know them by their fruits.' {The Review and Herald, Feb. 23, 1892.}

So, if our message is just a bunch of warnings about the coming judgment, and rebuking sin, without pointing people to Christ, then not only is it the message of Satan, but it will bear the fruit of his message, which is bringing souls to despair and eventually ruin.

The question is, when a truth is presented to you, and your heart is heavy: "WHO told you you were naked?"

This question was asked by God to Adam when Adam and Eve sinned and God called to him. Adam acknowledged that he was naked, but notice that in their knowledge or conviction of sin, they did three things:

*they were afraid

*they hid themselves

*they sewed their own garments of fig leaves in order to hide their shame.

God asked them WHO was it that opened their eyes to their condition? This implies that it surely wasn't God that did so, so it must have been that old serpent, and accuser of the brethren,the devil. Just look at the fruit of when he opens your eyes to your sin, it is the same that we see in Adam and Eve, and similar to what we see in the story of Saul:

*FEAR

*DESPAIR

*HIDING FROM GOD, BECAUSE OF OUR SHAME. THIS IS BECAUSE THE DEVIL HAS INVESTED GOD WITH HIS OWN ATTRIBUTES THAT GOD IS TO BE FEARED, AND IS LOOKING DOWN ON YOU WITH EYEBROWS DOWN AND SHAKING HIS HEAD IN GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. GOD'S WAY IS IN THE SANCTUARY, AND THERE WE SEE THAT THE BROKEN LAW IS COVERED WITH THE MERCY....YES MERCY SEAT! GOD DELIGHTS IN MERCY! HOWEVER, YOU SURE WON'T FEEL THAT WHEN THE MESSAGE OF SATAN COMES TO YOU.

*ESTABLISHING YOUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS: ADHERING TO ALL THE OUTWARD REFORMS, JUST SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOURSELF RIGHT WITH GOD!

We also see such fruit in the story of Judas. He knew his sin, and what did it lead him to do? Hang himself!....WHO told him he was naked?

We see the accuser of the brethren at work in the story of Joshua and the Angel. Jesus was there to interpose, so that Joshua wouldn't be overwhelmed by te accusations of the devil.....WHO told him he was naked?

So how will we know that the message bears the impress of God? You will see denunctiation of sin, and prophecy of coming retribution, but you will see shining in great glory, the 'SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS with HEALING in His wings':

HEALING

It was at this time that Elijah was sent, as God's chosen messenger, to the people of Israel....And while he came to the people as a reprover of sin, his message offered the balm of Gilead to the sin-sick souls of all who desired to be healed. {RH, August 14, 1913 par. 3}

WON'T BE RUNNING FROM GOD, BUT FEEL DRAWN TO HIM

Come unto Me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {Matthew 11:28}

NO FIG LEAVES WILL BE SEWN TO COVER YOUR SHAME, BUT YOU WILL CAST YOUSELF AT HIS FEET, FOR HIM TO LIVE HIS LIFE IN YOU

'Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision('mareh':Christ in the Most Holy Place), and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and [upon] the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel....' {Daniel 10:8, 10-12}

Examples:

*The woman at the well: Jesus told her of her sin, but she didn't feel condemned but filled with joy she left her waterpot and testified to others of the love that she had found from He Who had saved her.

*Nicodemus: Jesus rebuked the fact that Nicodemus, being a ruler, a teacher ought to have known the fundamentals of conversion. Yet we read in 'The Desire of Ages', that he felt no offense by Jesus' words, but instead was led to study the Scriptures in a new light: for life for his soul.

*The woman caught in adultery: In the words, "Go and sin no more", Jesus denounced her sin of adultery, but yet in that very same message, He gave her hope that she aws forgiven and now empowered by Christ Word to live a sinless life. I am sure she was forever grateful, and not fearful.

Also as parents we must remember that we are win our children's hearts to Christ. While we reprove and correct them for the sins that they commit, we must always do so giving them hope of change, as well as doing so in the Spirit of Christ. They are to know that when we are disciplining them that we do sobecause we love them and it is fo their best good that we don't allow negative traits of character to go unnocticed and unchecked. That's not always easy, and even when it is easy, we must ask the Lord how we shall deal with the child, because only He knows how to reach the heart.