By John Thiel

It’s important that we stand capable when the ungodly surround us by knowing our faith by studying for ourselves without having to rely upon another human being.  For some that is a frightening thought as they don’t feel they are prepared when they are to be tested.

We will look at the dilemmas that surround us at the present time here in Perth.  We feel vulnerable. How do we know what we are doing is right?  We are living in times that Jesus foretold in Matthew 24.

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

How do you feel about that?  That it is of such a nature that the deceptions come about and that these false Christs and prophets call themselves Christians.  It says Satan will transform himself into an angel of light and even his ministers will be false.  These false Christs are so rampant today that even the very elect, the faithful people of Jesus Christ can find it difficult to find their way through.  With that situation;

Proverbs 14:12   There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

As you look back at your past life, have there been times where you thought you were really right then after you discovered you were wrong?  Youth are in that danger as they really believe they are right but as they get older they realise, oh I’m so wrong.

This is a problem that every human suffers under.  To his senses everything seems right whereas it’s leading to downward destruction.  This sense of fear, leads me to think is there I can base my dependence on?  This has been my experience from my youth up, Lord how do I know I’m going the right way when there are so many people and societies all proposing to provide for the human mind, the right path.

We read that a woman in prophetic symbolism refers to a church;

Song of Solomon 6:8   There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.  6:9   My dove, my undefiled is [but] one; she [is] the [only] one of her mother, she [is] the choice [one] of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; [yea], the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

Who is she?  Who is this pure virgin?  This pure church?

Song of Solomon 6:10   Who [is] she [that] looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, [and] terrible as [an army] with banners?

Here we observe that there are countless churches and little groups and as they are all claiming to be followers of Jesus Christ as we read in Isaiah 4:1 seven women claiming to be Christs husband, all doing their own thing.  As you live in this period time, where is she?  Where are the true faithful people?  Where are they?

As you travel along you see things in a church go wrong, you see them not standing on the true principles and you think they are wrong.  How do you know you’re not wrong?  These are the problems facing Christianity today.  When Christianity commenced, there was only one Jesus and 12 disciples and that was Christianity.  Today there are virgins (churches) without number. Did you notice this pure virgin is the only of her mother?  The Bible portrays the giving of birth form one church organisation to another.  That has happened from early Christendom where the Catholic church gave birth to the reformation churches and one to another.  In Revelation you see the picture of the woman, the seed and the remnant.  There you see the one only of her mother.  As we try to see our way through the morass, how do I know where is my safety as an individual?  The Bible gives the path of safety;

Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel [is], the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.

Here the Bible tells you don’t rely on your own sight, don’t rely on your own opinion.  Refer to a multitude of counsellors.  Well you have a problem because are there not a multitude of counsellors in all the churches?

Proverbs 19:20   Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 19:21   [There are] many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

Remember in Daniel how only the wise will understand?  So far we are observing that the Bible is indicating to us that we must follow counsel of more than one mind, many counsels that is our safety.  It must be the counsel of the Lord.  Here is another perplexing problem that still leaves you a little vulnerable because many read the Bible to support many different ideas.  Where is the counsel of the Lord?  These have been my experiences for many years as I tried to find my way through the many perplexing experiences of many Christian affiliations until I was guided to test the prophets and to test the writings of Ellen White.  There were some very powerful tests in the Bible that I tested if it was a prophet of God or not.  As I tested that prophet, the prophet’s tests are whether they speak according to the 10 commandments or not and whether the prophets agree with Bible already.  What their life is like, whether they are living in obedience to God’s will, the fruits of the spirit.  Also when a prophet has a vision in the Bible it’s a supernatural event where they stop breathing.  When a prophet has a vision, it’s not just a vision of a clairvoyant.  In fact clairvoyants flee when a prophet of God has a vision.  Prophets don’t breath.  You try to talk when you’re not breathing.  There is no air coming out and the prophet speaks in vision.  This is where EG White passes that text perfectly.  So when I satisfied my mind in the vulnerable position I’m in, I have an assurance that lo I’m with you always until the end of the world Jesus says.  As I checked out how I’m going to find my way through the different conflicting thoughts and teachings of the churches of today, I found a very beautiful principle;

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.

When it reads as I quoted from Proverbs that you must not rely on your own opinion but from a multitude of counsellors, here is a guideline in the Bible that which the multitude of counsellors are not only to derive from this generation, your multitude counsellors must derive from the time of earliest Christianity the time of the apostles.  You must accumulate from all the counsellors that are  harmonious together right through to now.  In the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy, we are told where our safety lies, where our security is.  When I first came across this statement I was relieved of such confusion.

Here we read of the powerful inspiration of Ellen Whites visions.  We are looking for the multitude of counsels we are to rely on;

As a people we are to stand firm on the platform of eternal truth that has withstood test and trial. We are to hold to the sure pillars of our faith. The principles of truth that God has revealed to us are our only true foundation. They have made us what we are. The lapse of time had not lessened their value.– Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2, p. 51. (1904.)  {CW 52.2}

Here she is pointing to us, that we should rely on that which has already passed the test.  What has already been established.

No line of truth that has made the Seventh-day Adventist people what they are, is to be weakened. We have the old landmarks of truth, experience, and duty, and we are to stand firmly in defense of principles, in full view of the world.–Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 17.  {CW 52.3}

It’s not just truth, but experience.

I was again brought down through these messages, and saw how dearly the people of God had purchased their experience. It had been obtained through much suffering and severe conflict. God had led them along step by step, until He had placed them upon a solid, immovable platform. –Early Writings, pp. 258, 259. (1858.)  {CW 53.1}

Do you want to be absolutely sure that what you are standing on, what you believe and what you are practising is absolutely foundationally sure and relied on the multitude of counsellors?  Those who have gone before us and contended for the faith delivered to the saints?

In the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith. Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?– Review and Herald, May 25, 1905.  {CW 53.2}

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

Where shall we find safety?  Here under inspiration.  The prophet of God has said that your own safety has only been established from 1854 to 1904.  There is your security because it’s been established in the multitude of counsellors.  From the apostles time to their time.  There is the multitude of counsellors, their security.  If you are feeling vulnerable today, go back and study it out.  That is what I’ve done.  I know for sure what I’m standing on.  No one can move me as I don’t rely on my own opinion as I can only stand on what has been established.   If there are counsellors today that want to take me off that platform I’m sorry I’m not part of them.  That’s why I have moved from different counsellors.  This is what I propose to all of us that as we are in a vulnerable company in a church, little company in  a church, in Australia, where are the multitude of counsellors?  You don’t have to rely on many people that you see with your eyes today.  You can rely on those who have stood on the counsellors of the last 2000 years and has been actuated powerfully under the three angels message people.  This is my assurance.  If you want to study for yourself, you already have the lead.  Not only to study the bible for yourself, but to study what has been written down in books by those who have built the firm foundation for us.  Then on any questions, you can be sure how to find your own way through.

To re-emphasise on this principle of what we learnt in the recent divine service that Jesus is with those people.  Christ makes up the church and where Jesus is among his people in these last days, people who are standing on a firm platform, they are the ones Jesus says I am with you even unto the end of the world with those people.

Matthew 28:18   And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Not unto you, unto me.

28:19   Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

28:20   Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

You don’t have to rely on any minister, you don’t have to rely on anyone human being, you rely on Jesus.  With who is all power and who says I’m going to be with you who rely entirely on my directions?  That constitutes the church as we quote the writings of Ellen G White. Let us be comforted that whether you are an individual or a tiny little company feeling very venerable.

You know what is being said about us, they are following a man.  They are a small little company, who are they?  Isn’t that the way it was with the disciples?  Who are they?  The big ministers and doctors of philosophy and theology that were alive in the time of Christ, they pushed him aside he was only a carpenter.  And of His followers they’ll say the same, can you see the same mind set today?  Here is our security, the faith that is being once delivered to the saints.  There were Jesus is. That’s his church.

Amen.