Some have said they cannot see how a man can acknowledge himself to be wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, and don't know it and at the same time be rejoicing in the Lord.  Well, I would like to know how anyone else can.  I would like to know how a man is going to rejoice in the Lord when he thinks he is all right himself.  Can you tell?  I can't imagine.  But when a man knows that he is what the Lord says he is, and acknowledges that, and then finds that the Lord is so good that He will take him just as he is and fit him to stand in the presence of God through all eternity, then that man has something to rejoice for.  He can't do anything else.

Why, brethren, the Lord does not save us because we are so good, but because He is so good.  Do not forget that.  He does not save us nor bless us in the work of God at all because we are so good but because He is good and we are bad.  And the blessedness of it is that He will bless us so much when we are so bad.  And the rejoicing of the whole thing is that He saves us and makes us to reflect His own image, as bad as we are. That is where the rejoicing comes in.

Well, about understanding that--I cannot understand it, but I know it is so, and that is all I care for.  It will take eternity to explain it so we can understand it, but as long as I know that it is so, I am not going to trouble myself and worry about how the Lord can do it or whether I can understand it.  Are you?  [Congregation:  "No."]

There is another point right here that we may bear in mind--those who can't see that that is so.  Brethren, you tell the Lord over and over that it is so, and then you will see it.  You will not understand it then, but you will see it.  You can't see how it can be, but you can see that it is a fact, and that is the only way you can.  Can I see it as long as I keep myself from it?  No.  It is a thing that pertains to the heart, and you can't see it with your eyes.  You must see it with your heart, and it is only the Spirit of God who gives the eyesalve that you can see it.  Here is something that will--not explain it, but it will perhaps help you to get the idea a little better.  In "Testimony No. 31," page 44, I read these words:

Are you in Christ?  Not if you do do not acknowledge yourselves erring, helpless, condemned sinners.

That is what some of the brethren say they can't see.  They say, "I can't see how, if I am in Christ, I am to acknowledge myself a helpless, undone sinner.  I thought if I was in Christ, then I could thank the Lord I was good, sinless, entirely perfect, sanctified, and all that."  Why, no.  He is.  When you are in Christ, He is perfect; He is righteous; He is holy and never errs, and His holiness is imputed to you--is given to you.  His faithfulness, His perfection is mine, but I am not that.

Perhaps you can get this thought a little more clearly by that word with which we are all familiar in 1 Cor. 1:30:  "Who [Christ] of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption."  Then where is my righteousness?--In Christ.  Where is my wisdom?  In Christ.  Where is my sanctification?  In Christ.  Where is my redemption?  In Christ.

O yes, but when I come to Him for wisdom and ask Him for wisdom and He gives it to me, then can't I boast and say, "I am wise"?  Why, no. Just the moment that I say that, I'm a bigger fool than I ever was before in this world.  Because by yielding to the Lord He has deigned to stand by me, and so give me His wisdom, that it may lead me and guide me in wisdom's ways and that I should walk in the way that is right.  His having done that, can I then pride myself upon it and say, "Now I am wise"?  Don't you see, in the nature of things, that would be the biggest piece of foolishness that ever struck me.  He did it; He helped me.  He gave me His wisdom; He was my wisdom.  When I did not walk wisely, He gave me His wisdom.  His wisdom guided me.  His wisdom took hold of my mind and heart and led me and kept me in wisdom's ways.  Then He is my wisdom and I have no wisdom at all but His wisdom.  Don't you see?  Now you just get it that way and then you will know that it is a fact.

"I will guide thee with mine eye."  When He says He guides me with His eye, I shall answer, It is His eyes.  Then the only thing to do is to just let ourselves go, utterly, completely, and let ourselves be His, utterly and completely, that He may be all, and in all of us.

Therefore He is our wisdom, our sanctification, our redemption, and our righteousness.  Then He is my satisfaction where I am wretched. He is my comfort where I am miserable.  He is my sight where I am blind. He is my riches where I am poor.  And He is my knowledge where I do not know.

And now about that thought last night--some thought that I was going entirely too far.  They could say, it is well enough when he says, "You are wretched," I say I am wretched.  When He says, "You are poor," I say, I am poor.  When He says, "You are blind," I say, I am blind  And when He says, "You don't know it, then I am to say, "I know it"?  No, no. When He says, "You don't know it," I am to say, "I don't know it."  Do not go to putting constructions upon His way.  When I say I am wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked and on top of it He says that I don't know it, I say, "Lord, I don't know it."  That brings us right to the text we started with that night, "If any man thinketh he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know it."  I do not know yet, as long as I have been acknowledging that thing, yet, I know not how wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked I am, if He should show myself just as I am.  Just as certainly as we take that Laodicean message as He speaks it, we shall receive all He has in it.  Then, brethren, that is what it is intended for.  That is just what the Laodicean message is intended to do.  Let it do its own work in His own way.  Look here.  Let us notice this testimony in Vol. 1, pages 186 and 187.  This was given in 1859:

I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans applies to God's people at the present time, and the reason it has not accomplished a greater work is because of the hardness of their hearts.  But God has given the message time to do its work.  The heart must be purified from sins which have so long shut out Jesus.  This fearful message will do its work.  When it was first presented, it led to close examination of heart.

That is what it is going to do at this time.  Let it do its work then.  But there has been an intervening time since it was first presented.  I read further:

Sins were confessed, and the people of God were stirred everywhere. Nearly all believed that this message would end in the loud cry of the third angel.  But as they failed to see the powerful work accomplished in a short time, many lost the effects of the message.

They gave it up, as this testimony that has not yet been published says:

The sins of Israel must go to judgment before hand.  Every sin must be confessed at the sanctuary. Then the work will move; it must be done now.  The latter rain is coming on lthose that are pure--all, then, will receive it as formerly.  None receive the latter rain but those who do all they can.  Christ will help us.  All could be overcomers by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus.  All heaven is interested in the work. Angels are interested.

God can make them a host against their enemies.  Ye give up too quick. Ye let go too soon, that arm!  The arm of God is mighty.  Satan works in different ways to steal the mind off from God.  Victory, victory!  We must have it over every wrong.  A solemn sinking into God.  Get ready. Set thine house in order.

But when it was first presented, because it didn't do the work "in a short time," they said, "The time hasn't come," and so they gave up and missed it.  Again I read from Testimony, Vol. 1, page 186:

I saw that this message would not accomplish its work in a few short months.  It is designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel.  As this message affected the heart, it led to deep humility before God.  Angels were sent in every direction to prepare unbelieving hearts for the truth.

That is where we are.  While that message is preparing us for the loud cry, God is sending angels everywhere to prepare people for the truth.  And when we go forth from this Conference with this message as it is now, the people will hear it.

The cause of God began to rise, and his people were acquainted with their position.  If the counsel of the True Witness had been fully heeded, God would have wrought for His people in greater power.  Yet the efforts made since the message has been given, have been blessed of God, and many souls have been brought from error and darkness to rejoice in the truth.  God will prove His people.

The particular point I wanted to read is this, that it is to prepare us that we "may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel."  Then what is it that fits us for the loud cry of the third angel?  the Laodicean message.

Now, brethren, that place where I was reading last night gives us the reason why it is so important that we should have this anointing of the eyes with eyesalve just now.  I had merely read the passage last night.  I will read it again now for further use:

If those who have had great light have not corresponding faith and obedience, they soon become leavened with the prevailing apostasy; another spirit controls them.  While they have been exalted to heaven in point of opportunities and privileges, they are in a worse condition that the most zealous advocates of error.  There are many who have thus been preparing themselves for moral inefficiency in the great crisis.

Have you "been preparing" yourself "for moral inefficiency" at this time?  Have I been at that?

They are wavering and undecided.  Others who have not had so great light, who have never identified themselves with the truth, will under the influence of the Spirit respond to the light when it shines upon them.  Truth that has lost its power upon those who have long slighted its precious teaching, appears beautiful and attractive to those who are ready to walk in the light.

What we want to study just now is the point, that many have "been preparing themselves for moral inefficiency in this great crisis."  We want to inquire what that "moral inefficiency" amounts to, what the danger is, and how we got into it, don't we?  If I am in that place, then don't I want to know what that means, that "moral inefficiency," what the danger is that is involved and how I got into it?  The difficulty is, to get the people where they will see what they need.  The Lord will take us out every time.  He shows us the way.  But the first thing we want is to understand the danger, and then how we got into that.  Let us study that. Let us go at it, and we want to go at it in the same spirit that we studied this lesson last night, for it is all one lesson.

In Special Testimonies, "Danger in Adopting Worldly Policy in the Work of God," page 5 [see Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 460-471 --Publisher],  I read these words:

As far back as 1882, testimonies of the deepest interest on points of vital importance, were presented to our people, in regard to the work, and the spirit that should characterize the workers.  Because these warnings have been neglected, the same evils that they pointed out have been cherished by many, hindering the progress of the work, and imperiling many souls.  Those who are self-sufficient, who do not feel the necessity of constant prayer and watchfulness, will be ensnared. Through living faith and earnest prayer the sentinels of God must become partakers of the divine nature, or they will be found professedly working for God, but in reality giving their service to the prince of darkness.

Now that is a fearful position to be in.  For a person to be thinking that he is "working for God" and yet his whole service is for the enemy!  Who will be in that position?  Those who have not earnest faith, who have not surrendered all and have not Christ.  In other words, those who have not heeded the Laodicean message.

Further:

Because their eyes are not anointed with the heavenly eyesalve, their understanding will be blinded, and they will be ignorant of the wonderfully specious devices of the enemy.

Brethren, we are in the time, and we shall be in it from this time to the end of the world, when we may be brought at any hour or any day to a place where if we wait to reason, we are lost.  We will take the wrong side, just as certainly as we wait to reason, we will take the wrong side.  We can discern it only by that heavenly eyesalve by which "Ye shall know the truth," and as soon as the thing is suggested you can see the way all before you.  We will be in places where the cause of God will hang upon what you or I shall say, and advantages that the enemy may have over us, will depend upon what you or I say.  And in these times which are all the time, if you and I do not see and have the heavenly Spirit to give us the right word to say, we shall say the wrong word, and it will throw every one of our brethren on the defensive, and every soul of us will be at a disadvantage, because the enemy is getting to that place where he is scrutinizing every position we take. The enemy is now watching every position we take, for the sole purpose of perverting it and to put us at a disadvantage.  You and I need something more than human wisdom or our own reason to know how to take the right position. We will be in places where the honor of the cause will depend upon us. Questions will be asked that you never heard in your life before.  Before a committee, legislature, or something of that kind--in some place where God has called us and given us an opportunity to spread the light and the truth--a question may be asked that you never heard in your life.  You will have to know at that instant what answer to make, you will not have time to think or reason about it.  Questions will be asked which, if you take time, and pause to reason about it, the probabilities are that the reasonableness of the thing would appear directly the opposite to what the Spirit of God would say about it, because His ways are not our ways.

And, brethren, I am not talking at random. Some of these things have actually been done, and today you and I are at a disadvantage, and there are burdens which have been put upon you and me that we shall have to bear, because of this very blindness of some Seventh-day Adventists. That is where we are.  And when our enemies get hold of these things, if unfortunately, they shall, and bring them against you and me to compromise our position when we stand for the truth as it is in Christ, we shall simply have to repudiate the whole thing and declare that it is not the truth, although it came from a Seventh-day Adventist.  It is a fearful position in which to be placed.  I do not want to place you there, and I do not want you to place me there.  Well, then you and I both need the heavenly anointing that we may know what to say and what to do at a moment's notice.  "Anoint thine eyes that thou mayest see."

Here on page 7, is the word:

Those who believe the truth must be as faithful sentinels on the watchtower, or Satan will suggest specious reasonings to them, and they will give utterance to opinions that will betray sacred, holy trusts.

But what sacred, holy trusts have we?  Is not the cause of God, the work of the third angel's message, is not that the only trust that we have?  Then when you and I betray sacred, holy trusts, what are we betraying?  We are betraying the third angel's message.  And we are betraying every brother that we have, putting him at a disadvantage, selling him into the hands of the enemy.  I would like to know why you and I do not need to walk straight.

A Voice:  Isn't there a passage where it says the Spirit of God will tell us what to say?

Elder Jones:  Exactly, and that is the very point.  This exhortation is that we should depend upon the Spirit of God and be sure we have that, not slight the teachings of the Spirit of God, nor the way of the Spirit of God.  On page 13 a reference is made to Elijah:

Does Elijah weaken before the king?  Does he cringe and cower, and resort to flattery in order to mollify the feelings of the enraged ruler? Israel has perverted her way, and forsaken the path of allegiance to God, and now shall the prophet, to preserve his life, betray sacred, holy trusts?  Does he prophesy smooth things to please the king and to obtain his favor?  Will he evade the issue?  Will he conceal from the king the true reason why the judgments of God are falling upon the land of Israel?

What does that mean to us?  Are not we in the time of Elijah?  Are not we to be driven out as Elijah was?  Is not fire to come down from heaven against the truth as it came down there for the truth of God?  Are not we to be driven out and to be protected by angels as was he?  and to be translated as was he?  Do we not stand as did he?  Then do we not need to have the faith that he had?  There is a very important word for us on this subject in "Testimony No. 32," p. 139:

Is Satan always thus to triumph?  Oh, no!  The light reflected from the cross of Calvary indicates that a greater work is to be done than our eyes have yet witnessed.

The third angel, flying in the midst of heaven, and heralding the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus, represents our work.  The message loses none of its force in the angel's onward flight; for John sees it increasing in strength and power until the whole earth is lighted with its glory.  The course of God's commandment-keeping people is onward, ever onward.  The message of truth that we bear must go to nations, tongues, and peoples.  Soon it will go with a loud voice and the earth will be lighted with its glory.

Now the word comes, not that it is soon to go, but that it is "begun" and "goes" with the loud voice.

Are we preparing for this great outpouring of the Spirit of God? Human agencies are to be employed in this work.  Zeal and energy must be intensified; talents that are rushing from inaction must be pressed into service.  The voice that would say, 'Wait.  Do not allow yourself to have burdens imposed upon you,' is the voice of the cowardly spies.  We want Calebs now, who will press to the front--chieftains in Israel who with courageous words will make a strong report in favor of immediate action.

Who went into the land of Canaan?  [Audience:  Caleb and Joshua.] The men who said they could go in.  And because God was with them they went into the land when all the rest fell in the wilderness.  They went with their perishing brethren, as they wandered because of their unbelief all the thirty-eight years.  But God had promised, "You shall go in." Who will go into the land now?  Has not the testimony been read to us that as Israel was on the borders of Canaan, so are we?  Who shall go in? Those who "make a strong report in favor of immediate action."  They will go in.  God says so.  It may be that the doubting, fearful ones will linger, and cause the cause of God to linger, but do not be afraid.  God has promised that we shall go in; the Calebs shall go in.  That is settled.

When the selfish, ease-loving, panic-stricken people, fearing tall giants and inaccessible walls, clamor for retreat, let the voice of the Calebs be heard, even though the cowardly ones stand with stones in their hands, ready to beat them down for their testimony.

What are we here for?  We have had in our lessons hitherto that we are not to be afraid of all the powers in this world and the powers of the enemies that will stand against us and against the cause of God.  We have seen that in the lessons here.  Now this brings us to the point where we are to stand faithful to the message of God and not be afraid of cowardly Seventh-day Adventists even.  That is where God wants us to stand.  He wants us to know what the message is now.  He wants us to give the message as it is now, and if there are those who would beat you down with stones and clubs in their hands, and revile you or anything of the kind, thank God that now is the time for "immediate action."

Another word or two from this Special Testimony, p. 6:

I was shown that the follies of Israel in the days of Samuel will be repeated among the people of God today, unless there is greater humility, less confidence in self, and more trust in the Lord God of Israel, the ruler of the people.

In the same chapter I read again:

They must be hewed by the prophets with reproof, warning, admonition, and advice, that they may be fashioned after the divine Pattern.

On page 4 I read again:

The world is not to be our criterion.  Let the Lord work; let the Lord's voice be heard.  Those employed in any department of the work whereby the world may be transformed, must not enter into alliance with those who know not the truth.  The world know not the Father or the Son, and they have no spiritual discernment as to the character of our work, as to what we shall do, or shall not do.  We must obey the orders that come from above.  We are not to hear the counsel or follow the plans suggested by unbelievers.  Suggestions made by these who know not the work that God is doing for this time, will be such as to weaken the power of the instrumentalities of God.  By accepting such suggestions, the counsel of Christ is set at naught.

What is that warning for?  Is there any danger of our following worldly ways?  If there were no danger, God would not have told us that there is.  Is there any danger of our allying ourselves with, or taking up the pattern of, worldly organization and get himself or herself at the head of it, and then because they have a little show of success because of "temperance" or "morality" or something of that kind, we think we have to copy after them and take up their plans.

God has something better than that.  He wants us to listen to the plans that come from above.  He has told us long ago that although some of these organizations might have things that were in themselves good enough--temperance he has mentioned as one of them--but as long as they are allied to the mark of the beast, Sunday institutions, working for that, and for laws to compel people, and to force the conscience, we cannot join with them.  That testimony has been there all these eight years that I know of--nine years now nearly.  What the Lord wants is us, and the question now is, at this time, Shall He have us?  Shall He have us to use us?  Shall we be fully submissive to His will?  and listen for orders from above, and obey these orders?

PART TWO