Careful Planning Necessary in God's Work

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Careful Planning Necessary in God's Work

Today's Text: Let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; and a letter unto Asaph ... that he may give me timber ... for the wall of the city. Nehemiah 2:7, 8

The Message: As his [Nehemiah's] request to the king had been so favorably received, he was encouraged to ask for such assistance as was necessary to carry out his plans. To give dignity and authority to his mission, as well as to provide protection on the journey, he secured a military escort. He obtained royal letters to the governors of the provinces beyond the Euphrates, the territory through which he must pass on his way to Judea; he obtained also a letter to the keeper of the king's forest in the mountains of Lebanon, directing him to furnish such timber as was needed for the wall of Jerusalem and such buildings as Nehemiah proposed to erect. The example of this holy man should be a lesson to all the people of God, that they are not only to pray in faith but to work with wise diligence and fidelity. How many difficulties we encounter, and how we hinder the working of Providence on our behalf, because prudence, forethought, and painstaking are regarded as having little to do with religion.... Careful consideration and well-matured plans are as essential to the success of sacred enterprises today as in the time of Nehemiah.... Nehemiah does not depend upon uncertainties. The means that he has not he solicits from those who are able to bestow. All the world, with its riches and treasures, belongs to God, although it is now in the possession of wicked people. If His servants take a wise and prudent course, so that the good hand of the Lord may be with them, they can obtain the means that they need to advance His cause. Nehemiah's experience in connection with the rebuilding of Jerusalem teaches lessons that will be needed by God's people as long as time shall last. The times call for men and women of strength and decision of character. Paul says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." The enemy will mingle his evil with every good work that is done if the workers are not on guard. Thus he seeks to spoil God's purposes.-Manuscript 58, 1903.

Commentary: My friend, we are to use the talents that God has given us to advance the work that He has given us to do.  Many times we ask God for things that He has already provide for if we would but exercise and use the talents that He has given us.  Nehemiah used the time, talents, and position that God had given him to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.  He planned and was rewarded for his faith and forethought in this endeavor that ultimately brought honor and glory to God. In the last days the remnant of God are to bring honor and glory to His name by proclaiming the three angels message to the whole world.  The first angels message says "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Revelation 14:7).  The only way that we can give this message to the world so that it has the affect spoken of here is to be filled with the Spirit of Christ. The Seventh-day Adventist church has been proclaiming this message for more than 170 years but it has yet to reach the world.  The reason why this message has not had the effect that is spoken of in the first angels message is because the people that are to proclaim it have not made the preparation needed to be filled with the Spirit of the Lord.  The message says "Fear God, and give glory to him:", but today the church cannot fear God because they are no longer worshiping the One true God.  Satan has artfully supplanted the One true God of the Bible for the god of the trinity, and as such has separated us from the power of God. The SDA church looks to the first angels message as only calling the people back to worship God on the true Sabbath while they miss the larger, more important message of calling the people back to worship the One true God.  Because the SDA church worships the same god as the rest of the Christian world, they miss out on the true significance of this most important message. In order for the people to be benefited by the second and third angels message they must first accept the first angels message.  It makes no sense to call the people out of Babylon just to have them come out and worship the god of Babylon on the true Sabbath.  If we do not have the first angels message right we are preparing the people and ourselves to receive the mark of the beast. The day that we worship on is important, but what is more important is the God that we worship on that day.  If we are worshiping the god of the trinity on the right day of the week, we are as surely worshiping the beast as if we were worshiping on Sunday, for the trinity is the principal doctrine of the Roman Catholic church and all her doctrines flow from this. My friend, it is high time that you took a look at what the Bible says about who God is.  The fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist church must not be placed ahead of the Word of God, for Jesus tell us in John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."  The apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthian church said "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (1 Corinthians 8:6). Now is the time to study to shew ourselves approved of God and come back to worship the One true God and His Son Jesus Christ, that we may be filled with His Spirit and bring the last message of hope to the world. God bless,

Video of the Week One God in Three Persons - Part 1 Dr. Allen Davis and Pastor Daniel Mesa giving a partial response--due to lack of time--to Dr. Norman Gulley's article, "One God in Three Persons" found online at the Adventist World website.