Category Archives: The Church of God
How to Have Church Unity
John Thiel
Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!
The subject of unity is a very important subject, a subject that we all love to imagine to have. Perfect unity, it lies in our imagination but living on this planet with all its experiences and circumstances, it seems to be evading and elusive. Every now and then we get a taste of what it could be when we break those barriers. There is that bliss and joy and then again it diffuses with the experiences of this sinful planet. It is my prayer that we will look to a unity that will come from God alone. It is a unity that exists in the universe God’s banner of true unity is what we are craving for. Read the rest of this entry
The Principle of Identifying God’s Church
By John Thiel
John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Read the rest of this entry
16 God’s Way of Organisation in the Sanctuary
John Thiel
Audio: God’s Way of Organisation
Psalms 63:1 O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
63:2 To see thy power and thy glory, so [as] I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
63:3 Because thy lovingkindness [is] better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Read the rest of this entry
Our Credentials
By John Thiel
The church was launched by Jesus Christ himself.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
This is our mandate from that time on through to our time. The spirit of prophecy makes a meaningful proposition;
Christ gave this commission to His disciples as His chief ministers, the architects who were to lay the foundation of His church. He laid upon them, and upon all who should succeed them as His ministers, the charge of handing His gospel down from generation to generation, from age to age. {8T 14.3} Read the rest of this entry
In Spirit and In Truth
By John Thiel
The way of worshiping God in a manner that we think is worshiping him correctly but is not is addressed by Jesus. Here is a dialogue that Jesus had with the woman at the well. She recognised he was a prophet and she came directly to the point of the problem amongst the worshipers who claimed to be worshippers of God. Read the rest of this entry
The Church of God
By John Thiel
Throughout the ages God’s church has always remained the same. Unconquerable and one day it will stand as strong as a mountain. Although the Church of God is pressing steadily towards the mark of becoming the church triumphant, the Bible warns us that the church faces great perils at this time because we are now living in the most perilous time of the earth’s history. The reason why the perils of our time are so great is because they have an unconscious effect upon mind that unless revealed to us through God’s appointed agents in His church, the perils will deceive even the very elect. It is for this reason that the Laodicean message is given as you say you are rich and increased with goods because you have it all and yet you do not know how wretched, blind, miserable poor and naked you really are. Read the rest of this entry
The Church of God and its Role in Our Lives
By John Thiel
Why you are attending church today? What is your reason for being here and for being a member of this church? In Christianity in general there are many reasons why people want to become part of a church but the main reason is for social interaction. The human race is a web of human interaction and this is the predominant reason for church fellowship. In this respect, the reason for church is for a sense of well being. We like to have a lovely sense that we are Christians. But there is also another reason why people attend church. It is so that they can teach someone else something – they can teach others and this activity in itself becomes a missionary motivation. People also attend church because they want to provide a certain environment for their children or because they want to stand different to other people. Very few people are conscious of the real purpose for being part of God’s church. In Ephesians we find the real reason for attending church and being part of it. I place it before you carefully to see if this is the reason why you want to attend; Read the rest of this entry
The Requisites to Join the Church Triumphant
By John Thiel
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
To become a member of Gods church there is a preparation and an attainment of standards and an agreement with the faith. Then upon profession of faith and baptism there is an acceptance by the church and then we join. But joining that church we are told;
He has a church, but it is the church militant, not the church triumphant. TM 45.
Our studies of the past have shown that the church triumphant is that of the remnant. Read the rest of this entry
Recognising God’s Church
By John Thiel
Audio: Recognising God’s Church
Song of Solomon 1:7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest [thy flock] to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? Read the rest of this entry
The Theatre of His Grace
By John Thiel
We are to remind ourselves why we are in the church and why we should be part of a church. Why we are going through the experiences we are going through in all our various circumstances? What is happening to me? What is happening to us? Before we became connected with the church many of us had a carefree life of enjoyment. We didn’t pay so much attention to the things we did wrong because we didn’t even know how wrong we were. Read the rest of this entry
Out of the Common Order of Things
By John Thiel
Scripture Reading: 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: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut [it] short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
To no man has been appointed the work of being a rule over his fellow men. The man ruling power that has been coming into our ranks has no sanction in the word. CHL 28.2.
The message of this hour is to be focused on these words spoken out of inspiration;
Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. {TM 299.2} Read the rest of this entry
What About a Sister?
There is but one church in the world who are at the present time (Sr Whites time NOT our time) standing in the breach, and making up the hedge, building up the old waste places; and for any man to call the attention of the world and other churches to this church, denouncing her as Babylon, is to do a work in harmony with him who is the accuser of the brethren. Is it possible that men will arise from among us, who speak perverse things, and give voice to the very sentiments that Satan would have disseminated in the worldling regard to those who keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus? {TM 50.2} Read the rest of this entry
Obey Them That Have the Rule Over You
By John Thiel
Audio: Obey them that have the Rule Over You
Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
6:2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Read the rest of this entry
God’s Help for the Remnant
By John Thiel
Video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6628162641979643621#
We will meditate on Gods wonderful help to the remnant. It’s fascinating to observe the words of Jesus when he was with his little church on earth as he spoke these words to this little company. Read the rest of this entry
Are You A Protestant?
By John Thiel
I ask the question, are you a Protestant? If we want to know what it means to be a Protestant, study Protestantism. As you look this subject, there are some very pertinent messages in Revelation. In the study of the seven churches Jesus speaks to his faithful children. You will notice that the messages that were given in the successive generations can be applicable to us now as they were given to churches of the past. There are some points I’d like to touch on in Revelation. Balam thought the best way to get the booty from the king was to corrupt Israel and he did that. He brought in the women from outside. He brought in sacrificing to idols to accept the ways around them. This is what the Christian church in the time of Pergamos was falling into. A worldly flood was coming into the church. This is as much as important for us to understand it so won’t happen to us and also so that there won’t be a cause for us to fall. Read the rest of this entry
The Nature of the Remnant Church
By John Thiel
Audio: The Nature of the Remnant Church
We are considering among the many different aspects the nature of the remnant church, the nature of the people, the type of personalities and qualities they are to have. This nature is beautifully expressed;
Zephaniah 3:13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid. Read the rest of this entry
The Closing Scenes of the Remnant Church
By John Thiel
Zephaniah 3:12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
Do you sense within yourself that this is the end? That we are living on the final stages of this world? Do you sense this because true children of God rely not on their senses but on every word that proceeds from God? It is my purpose to search Gods word, his revelation regarding his remnant people.
Zephaniah 3:11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. Read the rest of this entry
5. Summary of Old and New Testament Prophecies
By John Thiel
Audio: Summary of Old Testament Prophecies
Our purpose is to scan the Old Testament and New Testament prophecies and interface them. Also to look at the important points of Gods remnant people in history. We have observed the over arching prophetic sketch of Genesis 3:15 which Apostle Paul spoke of in Romans.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Read the rest of this entry
The True Witness Testifies
By John Thiel
We all acknowledge that JESUS is the head of His visible church. As we live at a time of unprecedented confusion of church organizations who claim to be God’s visible church; does it do us well if we really enter the arena of contestants with that claim? How does the head of the church teach us to think?
“If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.” John 5:31, 32. Read the rest of this entry
How Many Shall Be Saved?
By Paul Godfrey
Audio: How Many Shall be Saved?
A question was posed to Jesus.
Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves] thrust out. Read the rest of this entry
The Loud Cry Via the Church Triumphant
By John Thiel
Audio: The Loud Cry Via the Church Triumphant
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Read the rest of this entry
Light in a Dark Place of the Church Militant
By John Thiel
Audio: Light in a Dark Place of the Church Militant
Scripture Reading: Zephaniah 3:1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
We are living in dark trying times for Gods genuine people. We need that God illumes our pathway. Also the light that shines in a dark place to illuminate our pathway. In our previous study we saw there is a personal dark spot in our human heart where God brings Jesus into close inward proximity so that the dark place in our heart can have the light of Jesus shine there. In this study we want to examine the dark place in the church militant. This may sound strange. In Gods church is there a dark place in the church militant? How does scripture that we have been quoting relate to the church militant? Read the rest of this entry
Loyalty to the Church of God
By John Thiel
Isaiah 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
49:9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that [are] in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures [shall be] in all high places. Read the rest of this entry
Is the Church Infallible?
Regarding the testimonies, nothing is ignored; nothing is cast aside; but time and place must be considered. Nothing must be done untimely. {1SM 57.2}
Seventh Day Adventists say it does not matter how far they go in apostasy, they are still the church of God. Sr White said the SDA church is not Babylon. At the time when Sr White said that, the Adventist church was still teaching correct messages. She made it clear that it was the commandment keeping people that made the church the church of God.
Again I say, The Lord hath not spoken by any messenger who calls the church that keeps the commandments of God, Babylon. {2SM 68.3}
God has a church upon the earth who are His chosen people, who keep His Commandments. TM page 61. Read the rest of this entry
The Disciples Had a Problem… The Selfless Entity of Gods Church
By John Thiel
Scripture Reading: John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.
7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Read the rest of this entry
Oil In Their Vessels
By John Thiel
The experience of Gods people just prior to the coming of Jesus has been given a parable. A parable we are familiar with. Dealing with the subject of his imminent coming of this period we read Matthew. Read the rest of this entry
Five Celestial Messengers
By John Thiel
As Gods people have cried through out the ages, how long oh Lord, just prior to his coming there are very few who cry that. Those who claim to be preaching the coming of Jesus are saying the Lord delays his coming. No one wants to say that if they are longing for his coming. We live in the closing scenes. We live in the time of the voice – Revelation 18:4. The Revelation 18 angel has been sounding since 1888 and the powerful conveyance of pure truth has taken place ever since that time and it is swelling to aloud cry. The final loud cry is verse 4.
Are you a Candidate of the Church Triumphant or Rich and Increased with Goods?
By John Thiel
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Here are the candidates. If any man open the door I will come in and sup with him. Who will He sup with? Who is to be encouraged here? Not the people who are already self encouraged – I’m part of the church I’m a member of Gods church, I’m increased with goods I have need of nothing. The message to the church of Laodecia is for those living in our time today. God is speaking to the leadership of the church. Read the rest of this entry
