By Markus Dammasch, Audio: mp3

All Christians and many non-Christians consider the idea of going to heaven at the end of their lives a good thing. We will consider what happens when mortal man comes into contact with God. We want to live eternally with Him. To all men the options of heaven or hell is given. The scripture says God is holy. And what is man, man is but dust of the ground. In the book of Romans it says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Romans 8:7 because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

This is serious. It shows the lack of harmony between man and God. There is nothing about the human race that is naturally agreeable to the things of God. Spiritually speaking we are naturally at enmity to God. It is because we are not subject to the Law of God. Even the king of heaven needs subjects. Many Christians claim to be subject to God but the Bible says naturally all humanity is not subject to the law of God.

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

How is it possible that God and man can live together harmoniously when God’s thoughts and our thoughts don’t agree? Isn’t the very concept a mystery? Paul writes in regard to Jesus second coming that His glory will consume the wicked. They will be destroyed at the brightness of His coming. God is a consuming fire. What does God delight in? There is no unity between the human race and the beings of heaven therefore the large majority of humanity will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming.

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live:turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

I’m glad He put that last little bit there, the house of Israel. If He didn’t everyone would think it referred to the wicked and say they have to depart from their wicked ways, and of course they do. But God is talking about the house of Israel. Why will ye die? He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. We consider an example in the life of Jesus. When Nicodemus came to Jesus, what did he tell him?

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

There is a fundamental element, which is required for reconciliation to take place. Man must be born again. Without being born again. We cannot see the kingdom of God let alone see God and dwell in His presence and live.

This is our stark reality. But the concept of being born again is so widely miss applied. It has become no more than a Christian cliché. I was born again what a lovely emotional feeling I had. What does it really mean to be born again! Ezekiel tells us.

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].

A new heart God promises to those who receive Him and the outcome of receiving the new heart would be that they would walk in his statues and judgments and do them, which is the opposite of what we read before.

This brings our mind to the extent of the change that is required. But how do we receive a new heart. How is it possible to be born again?

Ezekiel 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

Is it talking about infant baptism, sprinkling water on the forehead. It is not talking about baptism. God said I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you will be clean.

Deuteronomy 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 [He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he.

We contemplated this morning about Jesus the rock of ages that does not change. That rock says he will sprinkle his doctrine upon us, his word, his speech and his word will come upon us and will cleanse us. How does the doctrine cleanse us? The entrance of thy word is light they give understanding to the simple. We understand when the word comes but there is more required. Jesus admonishes:

John 5:39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:and they are they, which testify of me.

Do the scriptures testify of Jesus? The old pointed forward to Jesus and the new expands on his life. Why does it say search the scriptures for in them ye THINK ye have eternal life. Why doesn’t it say that in them is eternal life? What is the difference? Ye think ye do and we are to search the scriptures. Although the scriptures testify of Jesus even the Word studied in a philosophical way is not sufficient it cannot avail any change in the heart. We can know all the doctrine and know the scripture off by heart and give wonderful Bible studies and sermons, but is not what God wants. We are still to search the scriptures because they do something in the heart.

A nominal acceptance of truth is good as far as it goes, and the ability to give a reason for our faith is a good accomplishment, but if the truth does not go deeper than this, the soul will never be saved. The heart must be purified from all moral defilement. BC7 951.

That is what is required. The heart must be purified. It is good to study the Bible and to have a vast array of knowledge and be able to give an answer for our faith. But the truth must go deeper from our intellect into our heart so it can practiced in or lives. There is another agency, which testifies of Jesus.

John 15:26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

The Holy Spirit will be given to aid the word of God to reveal Jesus in our lives. We need the Holy Spirit to bring it deeper into our heart. What sort of power can there be in the word? What sort of power is revealed when the Spirit of God accompanies the Word?

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

What are the secret thoughts of your hearts that you ponder upon when no one is around, the secret intentions of the heart? The word of God accompanied by the word of can divide between good intentions and unrighteousness.

Every secret thing is revealed through the Word of God. I have heard people say the Bible is old fashioned and not applicable today. The Bible can bring truth to every aspect of our lives.

We must have a knowledge of ourselves, a knowledge that will result in contrition, before we can find pardon and peace. COL p 158. 1

Many study the word of God including atheists and the devil. For what reason do people study the Bible. Here is a beautiful poem entitled ‘How Readest Thou’

‘How Readest Thou’

It is one thing to read the Bible through,

Another thing to read to learn and do.

Some read it with design to learn to read,

but to the subject pay but little heed,

Some read it as a duty once a week,

But no instruction from the Bible seek;

While others read it with but little care

With no regard to how they read, nor where,

Some read it as a history, to know,

How people lived three thousand years ago

Some read to bring themselves into repute,

By showing others how they can dispute;

While others read because their neighbors do,

To see how long ’twill take to read it through.

Some read it for the wonders that are there,

How David killed a lion and a bear;

While others read it with uncommon care,

Hoping to find some contradictions there.

Some read as though it did not speak them,

But to the people at Jerusalem,

One reads it as a book of mysteries,

And wont believe the very thing he sees,

One reads with father’s specs upon his head,

And sees the thing just as his father said.

Some read to prove a pre-adopted creed,

Hence understand but little that they read;

For every passage in the Book they bend,

To make it suit that all-important end.

Some people read, as I have often thought,

To teach the Bible instead of being taught;

And some there are who read it out of spite;

I fear there but few who read it right.

So many people in the latter days,

Have read the Bible in so many ways,

That few can tell which system is the best,

For every part contradicts the rest.

But read it prayerfully, and you will see,

Although men contradict, God’s words agree;

For what the early Bible prophets wrote,

We find that Christ and His apostle’s quote,

So trust no creed that trembles to recall

What has been penned by one and verified by all!

Many study to understand God and a philosophical comprehension of things outside of our environment. But we should study the Bible to understand ourselves.

We must know our real condition, or we shall not feel our need of Christ’s help. We must understand our danger, or we shall not flee to the refuge. We must feel the pain of our wounds, or we should not desire healing. {COL 158.1}

What is the reason we study the Bible? Apostle Paul said ‘examine your selves and see if you are in the faith’. Not examine God to see if you agree with God. Some people go from church to church looking for a place they can fit in. What about God’s plan instead of wanting God to fit in with me. We know it is very difficult especially in this generation to see ourselves in the true light. A warning is given to Laodicea in Revelation 3: It is a warning to the church in the last days. God knows us but we don’t.

Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Do we still want to study the word of God when God tell us that? Many study, and then decide they don’t like it. They don’t continue in it. There are joys and rebukes in the word of God. He knows our works we are not zealous like the reformers of old like Martin Luther and those in his generation. How powerfully they preached. They would lay down their life for one scripture.

Now we have the whole Bible in printed form and how quickly even Christians pass it by and go and do something on the computer, face book, YouTube, watch TV or the news or read other books. What about the Word of God so it can reveal to us what is in our hearts?

1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

They all received the same blessings and all partook of the spiritual rock and the bread of heaven and the manner but with most of them. (2 men out of millions – not good odds) with most of them God was not well pleased because although they drank of the spiritual rock they didn’t allow it to enter their heart and they refused to allow it to happen.

Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

Spiritual Israel today without a doubt lies within Adventism. Adventists say yes we know there are problems in the church but a remnant will be saved out of Adventism. Reformers say yes we are the remnant we have been saved out of Adventism. Sorry that is not a correct understanding. When you claim to God’s church you become spiritual Israel not the remnant and once again a remnant needs to be saved out of the reformers. This principle must apply again and again and again until God will have a people who allow Him to work on their heart.

The heart must be purified from all moral defilement. Does God do that irrespective of us? Many have a fanciful idea that we will be changed at the second coming. All the corruption in my mind will be taken away just like that. Obviously we understand God will not overlook a murderer or someone who truly desecrates the commandments of God in a major way. What about the little things in our lives the small things we hope go unnoticed, but do they? The word of God will come in if we let it and reveal these things to us for cleansing.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The Lord says, “Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.” “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you.” 1 John 1:9; Jeremiah 3:13; Ezekiel 36:25. {COL 157.3}

What does God require from us? He requires from confession and to acknowledge our iniquity. Confession is for two purposes, first for forgiveness and second cleansing from within.

Consider David when he sinned with Bathsheba. We see His spirit in Psalms 51. Often when people make mistakes it is very easy to give excuses. But next time it will happen easier. Do we make excuses for our sin or do we respond as did David in Psalms 51?

Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before me.

People will say don’t dwell on your sin it is very bad. It can be and is but we have to acknowledge our sin first before we can be forgiven and cleansed. Once forgive we can forget about it but we still have to come to God with a contrite heart.

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

This is the reality of David’s experience. The genuine confession needs to be manifested by all as the word reveals to us our wrongdoing. We need to come before the LORD and plead with Him to forgive us even for the small things that no one else knows about and that we think God will forget about in time, because I won’t do it again. Let us realize the seriousness of sin. How does God create a clean heart in us?

Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Who was the stone? It was Jesus.

Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

The fruit of repentance and confession and as a result the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

There is a text in Romans that says every knee shall bow before God. The verse we just read describes how it happens. The stone will fall on the image, the idol worship in our heart and will grind us to powder. The only difference is whether we go through it voluntarily now or whether we wait and wait thinking I will do it tomorrow, but we don’t have the time. Jesus is coming soon we need to give our heart wholly to Him for cleansing. Falling on the rock is not a once in a lifetime experience. Apostle Paul says I die daily. Every day he went through the experience of being nothing, being broken everything about himself he wanted to totally lay at Jesus feet.

It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that this renunciation of self is to be made. At every advance step heavenward it is to be renewed. All our good works are dependent on a power outside of ourselves. Therefore there needs to be a continual reaching out of the heart after God, a continual, earnest, heartbreaking confession of sin and humbling of the soul before Him. Only by constant renunciation of self and dependence on Christ can we walk safely. {COL 159.4}

How often? Today, tomorrow or a year or two until we are established in the truth. No every day we need to be renewed in this experience. The experience of Baptism for every sincere Christian is a very precious experience and it is this experience that is embodied here, willingness to lay myself down in order to uplift Jesus. The problem with humanity is that pride often rules supreme. There is a saying “Pride goes before a fall”. Proverbs says “Pride goes before destruction and an haughty sprit before a fall”. Pride destroys the work of Christ in us. The following passage show how dependent we are on God:

No man can of himself understand his errors. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9. The lips may express a poverty of soul that the heart does not acknowledge. Col P 159. 1

Who would admit they are proud. We all think we are humble. But in Revelation it says we don’t know our works only God knows.

While speaking to God of poverty of spirit, the heart may be swelling with the conceit of its own superior humility and exalted righteousness. {COL 159.1}

How can we have superior humility? We are proud of being humble. I’m more humble than him. They are proud. No man of himself can understand his errors. So often pride is disguised as humility. Consider someone climbing up a ladder. If the person at the top says don’t look down. What is the first thing we often want to do? Yes we look down. What happens when we look down? We get dizzy. If you keep looking down you are very likely to fall.

When the scriptures ask us to fall on the rock, how can we fall on the rock if we are not above the rock to begin with? How is that possible? Wasn’t the issue of pride the beginning of Lucifer’s downfall? Didn’t he say I will exalt my throne above the Most High above the Rock? I’m not happy with the Rock. I am going to climb the ladder. I’m going to go up higher.

There is opportunity for those who are full of pride to look down and get dizzy and fall. When you are high up on your ladder, to look down means to look to Christ.

As we come nearer to God we shall be conscious of our own nothingness and learn to depend more upon Jesus Christ TDG p 173

We need to be conscious of our nothingness. Even Jesus in his life on earth said I can of mine own self do nothing. I cannot do anything I am dependant on the Father. How much more dependant are we on Him.

No outward observances can take the place of simple faith and entire renunciation of self. COL p 159

No intellectual knowledge or understanding of the doctrine no matter how great can substitute for falling on the rock. We need simple faith and entire renunciation of self. There is a problem. It continues. No man can empty himself of self.’ We can only consent for Christ to accomplish the work.

Then the language of the soul will be, Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, un-Christ-like self.
COL p 159

We cannot empty ourselves of self. This is to be our prayer daily. I can’t give my heart. It is there I want to give it but I can’t it is against my nature to give up self. But we do have to consent for Christ to take our heart.

The Bible gives a powerful example of the life of John the Baptist. It is said of him that he is was the greatest man ever born of woman. Why was that? He said he must increase and I must decrease. He was talking about Jesus. Jesus must increase.

Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen to the height of self-abnegation. DA 179

By falling upon the Rock he was esteemed great.

He sought not to attract men to himself, but to lift their thoughts higher and still higher, until they should rest upon the Lamb of God. He himself had been only a voice, a cry in the wilderness. Now with joy he accepted silence and obscurity, that the eyes of all might be turned to the Light of life. DA 179

John the Baptist was a powerful preacher the people flocked to him. He had a very short ministry. Everyone in Israel knew of Him. He spoke the truth of God. Although people flocked to him he said he was happy to disappear in silence and obscurity so that all eyes might turn to the light of life.

Those who are true to their calling as messengers for God will not seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love for Christ. No rivalry will mar the precious cause of the gospel. They will recognize that it is their work to proclaim, as did John the Baptist. DA 180

How often do you see rivalry among ministers, Bible workers, and leading men? Who will get the top job? The kind of rivalry that exists today is no different to the spirit that existed in the time of Jesus. The position of High Priest was so highly coveted they would murder to get that position. There is no rivalry in the religion of Jesus Christ.

They will recognize that it is their work to proclaim, as did John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. They will lift up Jesus, and with Him humanity will be lifted up. “Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15. {DA 179.5}

It is our privilege to lift up Christ to ensure that we are leading men only to Christ never to fellow men.

Let us put far from us every feeling of self-exaltation. TDG 125.

What are feelings they come from our emotions the chemicals that run through our hormones. The feeling of self-exaltation exists there as well. We must put that far from us. When the Israelites were in the wilderness they beheld the serpent on the pole in order to receive healing. Jesus says

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.

He was speaking about his self-denial and self-sacrifice and self-abnegation. Is it our desire to uplift Jesus? We wouldn’t look to any man or woman and lift them up in the place of Jesus but what about ourselves. Is there something in our heart that we hold higher than Jesus? Is Jesus second in any aspect? If He is, let us fall upon the rock and be broken.

A deadly spiritual malady is upon the church. Its members are wounded by Satan; but they will not look to the cross of Christ, as the Israelites looked to the brazen serpent, that they may live. The world has so many claims upon them that they have not time to look to the cross of Calvary long enough to see its glory or to feel its power. 5T 202

How long do we desire to look to the cross of Calvary? Long enough to see its glory? What does its glory do to us? The word is the light and it comes into our heart and with the aid of the Holy Spirit it reproves, rebukes and convicts of sin. Do we want that? Do we want to look long enough to see its glory and feel its power? What is the power of God? It is the Gospel -the ability to change humanity from sinful creatures that live in sin and hate God to righteous beings that are fit to live in the presence of God. This mystery is one that cannot be understood. It can only be experienced.

Look unto Jesus in simplicity and faith. Gaze upon Jesus until the spirit faints under the excess of light. We do not half pray. We do not half believe. “Ask, and it shall be given you.” Luke 11:9. Pray, believe, strengthen one another. Pray as you never before prayed that the Lord will lay His hand upon you, that you may be able to comprehend the length and breadth and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 7T 214

The concept of God’s love passes knowledge. It is not something that can only be retained in the intellect. It needs to go deeper into the heart. And as it does it will fill us with the fullness of God.

Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1 And [Jesus] entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, [there was] a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that [way]. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

Zacchaeus especially wanted to see Jesus. It was his only desire. He thought he would sit up in the tree and observe Him. That was all he wanted. Jesus wanted more that. Zacchaeus wanted see Jesus intellectually but Jesus wanted more. Jesus said Zacchaeus I want to abide at your house. But Jesus needs permission. Zacchaeus made hast and came down and received Jesus joyfully. Jesus is not content with half a sacrifice. He wants a whole sacrifice. He is not content with us merely admiring him seeing him for his good qualities. He wants to come in and abide with us. What was the result?

Luke 19:7 And when they saw [it], they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore [him] fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

What happened as Jesus came into his house? Did Jesus preach to him about the wrongs of extorting his fellow men? No! Was it necessary? No! the Holy Spirit worked in his heart and convicted him in his wrongdoing. That is how the Holy Spirit works, dividing the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Holy Spirit new Zacchaeus’ intents and Zacchaeus rectified his wrong. Maybe his experience is ours.

‘I stand at the door and knock’. Where is that written? It’s written in Revelation 3:at the end of the message to the Laodicean’s because they are cold and lukewarm and do not know Jesus is standing outside knocking and waiting. Let us look long enough to the cross of Christ to be broken. Let us fall on the Rock and be broken.

Amen.