By John Thiel, mp3

Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

When God’s people come close to him they also are to provide a place of quiet rest to all that come near to God. We have contemplated preparation to enter into that place where God dwells where there is perfect peace – heaven. We need to create a heaven on earth to go to heaven in, a heaven in my soul. A heaven in my home and a heaven in the church. As a church, Gods people are being called and fitted to be used by him. Here is a conclusion of the church in the last days as the three angels messages are the people of God proclaiming to the world those messages. There is also a fourth angel.

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

There is to be a people upon this planet who will say those words. Not verbally, but a call, a call for Gods people that are still in the maize of the churches of these last times that are still confused under Babylon but they are God’s people. There is to be a people on earth who will give them that last call, the loud cry, come out of her my people. When the word is come, what does it mean? To come towards that people. Does it not mean that? When I say come, you will come to me won’t you? God is speaking through are his people who are calling the last people out of Babylon to come into the place of quiet rest. What is comprised by that call? What does this call comprise that this church that gives this call can actually say come? Jesus speaks to his church, his disciples.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

When the church says come out of her my people, Gods people in Babylon will see what Jesus has said. A church that loves as he loves. Jesus says the same thing in different words.

Love and Unity

John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

The world will see a unity and love that is beyond human love. It is a love that is what Jesus commanded his church to engage in as he loves.

John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

The love of the Godhead is the love that is to exist in God’s church that the world may know and see. The loud cry is that. This indeed is what constitutes the loud cry.

The love of Christ, the love of our brethren, will testify to the world that we have been with Jesus and learned of Him. Then will the message of the third angel swell to a loud cry, and the whole earth will be lightened with the glory of the Lord. {6T 401.1}

That comprises the loud cry. It’s much easier to conclude that it means a bit public mission. No it won’t be that. Big public missions are not the loud cry. The loud cry is a little company that stands in perfect representation of the love of God. The truth brought into the practical life and thus answering the prayer of Christ. It is only when Gods last design the church has his glory in it.

God calls upon His faithful ones, who believe in Him, to talk courage to those who are unbelieving and hopeless. Turn to the Lord, ye prisoners of hope. Seek strength from God, the living God. Show an unwavering, humble faith in His power and His willingness to save. When in faith we take hold of His strength, He will change, wonderfully change, the most hopeless, discouraging outlook. He will do this for the glory of His name. {PK 260.2}

When he has a people that do just that, then it is true what is written in Acts of the Apostles. The church is God’s fortress, his city of refuge which he holds in a revolted world. What is his church? A fortress. A city in the old days that had a wall around it, a fortress that no intruder could get into. It is a city of refuge that he holds in a revolted world when the church has that love, a city of refuge. Where did that term come from? When Israel settled in Canaan, God directed them to build cities of refuge.

Cities of Refuge

Numbers 35:11 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.

35:12 And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

35:13 And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.

35:14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, [which] shall be cities of refuge.

35:15 These six cities shall be a refuge, [both] for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.

That was the story if anyone killed somebody he would take to his feet and run for his life because the person whom he killed had a relative who had the right to kill him. He ran for his life. The roads to the cities of refuge had to be smooth running paths and he had to run for his life closest to him. When he got into the city the avenger of blood could not touch him. There could be justice that he did not do that deliberately, it was an accident. What is the meaning of this type?

The cities of refuge appointed for God’s ancient people were a symbol of the refuge provided in Christ. The same merciful Saviour who appointed those temporal cities of refuge has by the shedding of His own blood provided for the transgressors of God’s law a sure retreat, into which they may flee for safety from the second death. No power can take out of His hands the souls that go to Him for pardon. {PP 516.3}

Think of all the sins that you have committed that require eternal death. Any one of those commandments that we have broken, the city of refuge is Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour to whom I can flee.

He who fled to the city of refuge could make no delay. Family and employment were left behind. There was no time to say farewell to loved ones. His life was at stake, and every other interest must be sacrificed to the one purpose–to reach the place of safety. Weariness was forgotten, difficulties were unheeded. The fugitive dared not for one moment slacken his pace until he was within the wall of the city. {PP 517.1}

An adrenalin rush took place.

The sinner is exposed to eternal death, until he finds a hiding place in Christ; and as loitering and carelessness might rob the fugitive of his only chance for life, so delays and indifference may prove the ruin of the soul. Satan, the great adversary, is on the track of every transgressor of God’s holy law, and he who is not sensible of his danger, and does not earnestly seek shelter in the eternal refuge, will fall a prey to the destroyer. {PP 517.2}

Any person who went out of the city was abandoned to the avenger of blood. The relatives of the one slain was waiting outside the city and they could avenge their pain upon them. He could not come out of the city, he would stay there until the death of the high priest and then he could come out and not be killed. Satan is the avenger of blood. He does not want any one of us to be released from the consequence of our sins. As we flee to Jesus Christ, we are safe and secure from the attacks and condemnation that Satan lays upon us. He says to Jesus for the sins they committed I am shut out of heaven therefore you are not just letting them live and destroying me but Jesus met the death penalty himself. In Jesus Christ those who truly come to him in true pardon and repentance, he will pardon. This is Jesus and what is the church? It is the body of Christ. Therefore, the body of Christ who has Jesus as its head is the city of refuge. It is a refuge for sinners. What is the manner of its members towards them that come to the city of refuge?

As the sinner comes into the church that is the church of Jesus Christ and he comes with all the sins of the past and flees to the city of refuge, t hat which is the body of Christ, what is the manner of its members towards the sinner in the city of refuge? All the members of the church are refugees are they not? Every member of the church is hiding in Jesus Christ is that right? We remember our own sins that have brought us there. There is none holier than the other. There is none wiser than the other. We are all hiding in Jesus Christ. We are all conditionally engaged in an ongoing patter of experience within that city. What is the pattern of experience that God’s true followers are engaged in?

David, a Man after Gods Own Heart

Psalm 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. 

This is the experience of every member of Christ’s church. My sins, your sins and everyone else’s sins are ever before themselves. Is that what you experience? When there is a new comer into the church, do I feel better than him or her? My sin is ever before me. The righteousness of Jesus has covered me and I’m perfectly alright now and when someone new comes, you better come to where I am. That is non-existent of a true church member.

 He who is truly penitent does not forget his past sins, and grow careless about them as soon as he has obtained forgiveness. On the contrary, the clearer the evidence he has of divine favor, the more he sees to regret in his past life of sin. He loathes, abhors, and condemns himself, {ST, November 26, 1894 par. 7}

 Ezekiel 36:27 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]. 31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that [were] not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

These are the people who have had their sins pardoned. They will feel that way. They will loathe themselves and when you loathe yourself, do you look patronisingly upon others? It’s impossible. The ongoing experience of God’s people is as it continues.

He loathes, abhors, and condemns himself, and is more and more astonished that he should have continued in rebellion so long. He renews his repentance toward God, while he grasps more decidedly the hand of Jesus Christ, and finds that repentance is a daily, continued exercise, lasting until mortality is swallowed up of life. He who thus repents, appreciates the righteousness of Christ as above silver and gold, above every earthly tie and affection. {ST, November 26, 1894 par. 7}

This is the experience of the people in the city of refuge. When new ones comes running in the door there is rejoicing, come in, there is safety here as I’m safe in the Lord Jesus myself. I’m hanging on to him for mercy. That is the mentality. The experience is one of ongoing repentance. The repentance gets deeper. Daily there is a deeper repentance.

The Prayer of the Soul

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, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul. {COL 159.3}

What is the person saying in the heart? I’m totally unchristlike save me.

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}

In the city of refuge you have a whole lot of sinners who are daily continually groaning from the depths of their hearts. Lord, I’m so unchristlike, have mercy upon me. That is the city of refuge. There will never be the slightest patronising of anybody by anybody. Patronising is to say you poor thing, I’ve got to really help you. Is that patronising? It is. I wouldn’t do what you are doing, I have to correct you for what you are saying, that is patronising. I have as hard a job as can be to get myself right. Our communications with one another and with those in the city of refuge will be to convey Jesus our hope and joy. That is our communication, nothing else. I really like your dress today, now you are really doing the right thing, oops, patronising. Keep your mouth shut about the other person because you are patronising. Whether you think so or not, it makes no difference, the other person will feel that. When we talk of one another to one another we are not practising the city of refuge. When a person comes all wounded, any comment about that person is like salt in the wound. How much we do that one to another.

The Communication of Sinners to Sinners Who Are in the City of Refuge

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

People have said to me, aren’t I supposed to give an answer of what I believe? If people come into the church and I’m asked why I’m doing this and that, am I not to answer them why? We are to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts. Jesus becomes more and more precious to me as I loathe myself and when someone asks me why I dress the way I do, what is the answer? Usually we say because we are told to do so.

Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of your hope. What does that mean? That means I have to tell them the detail of why I’m doing this. We dress like this because Jesus has dressed me in his righteous and has covered my sins. We speak with meekness and fear. When you are bleeding over your sins, you will have no desire to speak why you are better than another person. When I am meek, I will help that soul to find his relationship with Jesus. I’m afraid, with fear. If I am coming across in any other way, what will I do? I will push him out the door so the avenger of blood can kill him. That is the fear.

How Jesus Dealt With Me When I Came To Him

How did he deal with to me? How does he deal with those who are sinners?

John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show [it] unto you.

Do you like someone telling you that you should be doing this and that? Eating this and drinking that? Do you like that? If you don’t like it, remember when you do it, you are doing what you don’t like. Jesus said exactly that, I have many things I can show you but you can’t bear it now. I will let the Holy Spirit show you. He comes into your heart and convinces you inside of yourself. No human being can convince me in reality. Not even Jesus was prepared to do it as a man. All he did was show them what the Father showed him. If I showed you anymore, you would crumble so I won’t. I have so many things in my heart but I won’t show you as you couldn’t bear it. This is our tender Jesus, he lets the Holy Spirit warm the heart.

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

He can do it as he can come into human beings and convince them inside. He has a wonderful way of doing it. In our communication with others, this is what Jesus imprints upon our mind in the city of refuge.

Naturally we are self-centered and opinionated. But when we learn the lessons that Christ desires to teach us, we become partakers of His nature; henceforth we live His life. The wonderful example of Christ, the matchless tenderness with which He entered into the feelings of others, weeping with those who wept, rejoicing with those who rejoiced, must have a deep influence upon the character of all who follow Him in sincerity. {MH 157.5}

Someone has tripped, sinned and hurt themselves. What does the natural human being do? We are self-centred and opinionated. For every action there is an equal and opposition reaction. If you had eaten better you wouldn’t be where you are now. You are only suffering the consequences of what you ate. That is wrong. Why? Because Jesus didn’t do that. When someone weeps because of sickness, we weep with them, we say nothing. When someone rejoices because he’s been uplifted by Jesus Christ, I won’t be envious as I’m down in the gutter, rejoice with him. This is the city of refuge experience.

By kindly words and acts they will try to make the path easy for weary feet. {MH 157.5}

We will make our path easy and create a little heaven on earth for my brothers and sisters. This is the manner of the members of the church that is a city of refuge.

How Jesus Did It

When Jesus came into the lives of the people, he did not disrupt their normal way of living, he left them where they were and gently led them along. Isn’t that what Jesus did with you? He didn’t show them everything at once.

Very tenderly Jesus answered them. He did not try to correct their erroneous conception of fasting, but only to set them right in regard to His own mission. {DA 276.5}

The question was asked why did John the Baptists disciples fast yet Jesus disciples didn’t. John the Baptist said the friend of the bridegroom rejoices when he sees the bridegroom. Jesus said how you can make the children of the bridegroom fast when the bridegroom is there. I’m here, you don’t need to fast but the true fast comes when he is not there with us in person. It’s before he comes we fast. How many times we like to correct each other. The moment that you hear someone saying something, don’t correct them. Jesus didn’t. If there is going to be any correction it will be the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart and each person sees himself personally under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

In the Sermon on the Mount He sought to undo the work that had been wrought by false education, and to give His hearers a right conception of His kingdom and of His own character. Yet He did not make a direct attack on the errors of the people. He saw the misery of the world on account of sin, yet He did not present before them a vivid delineation of their wretchedness. He taught them of something infinitely better than they had known. Without combating their ideas of the kingdom of God, He told them the conditions of entrance therein, leaving them to draw their own conclusions as to its nature. {DA 299.3}

This works, it keeps people together and doesn’t shatter them. Jesus is our example and that is what we are copying. Jesus is our city of refuge in which we are hiding. The disciples thought Jesus was going to be a king. He had to tell them something. When I hear someone asking something, the natural impulse is to come straight to the point, Jesus didn’t do that.

He was about to tell them of the suffering that awaited Him. But first He went away alone, and prayed that their hearts might be prepared to receive His words. Upon joining them, He did not at once communicate that which He desired to impart. Before doing this, He gave them an opportunity of confessing their faith in Him that they might be strengthened for the coming trial. He asked, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” {DA 411.2}

They came out with the answer. He had a strategy, he had to tell them something about himself that will shatter them. First he asked who do you say I am? They told him and when they had made their confession of what they believed he tenderly told them what was doing go happen to him. This is how he prepares the heart for unpleasant discoveries. Apostle Paul learnt the lesson well. May we learn as did Apostle Paul.

1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with [you].

He wants to be in the city of refuge himself so he does it for this reason. For those who are without the law I am as them. I meet that person where he is even though I’m submissive to God’s law.

We know that the apostle did not sacrifice one jot of principle. He did not allow himself to be led away by the sophistry and maxims of men. He was not to coincide with the suppositions and assurances of men who were teaching for doctrine the commandments of men; because iniquity and transgression were in the ascendancy and advancing, he did not allow his love to wax cold. All zeal and earnestness are to be retained; but at the same time some features of our faith, if expressed, would, by the elements with which you have to deal, arouse prejudice at once. {6BC 1088.12}

How careful we must be. I’m such a zealous person for the purity of God’s truth in these last days. As people come out of Babylon we are so submissive to God’s ways as Apostle Paul was that we can flood the people who come from Babylon and overwhelm them. But apostle Paul says for those who were in Babylon I became as one in Babylon, I met them where they were.

Paul could be as zealous as any of the most zealous, in his allegiance to the law of God, and show that he was perfectly familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures. He could dwell upon the types and shadows that typified Christ; he could exalt Christ, and tell all about Christ and His special work in behalf of humanity, and what a field he had to explore. He could advance most precious light upon the prophecies, that they had not seen; and yet he would not offend them. {6BC 1089.1}

I had to learn that lesson bitterly. I offended a lot of people and they would say you think you know it all. They came along and challenged me and I gave them answers and I justified myself that I knew I was believing, you don’t have to tell me that. Bad news. I fall into it very quickly. This is not Christ. He would not offend any though he knew it all.

Thus the foundation was laid nicely, that when the time came that their spirits softened, he could say in the language of John, Behold in Jesus Christ, who was made flesh, and dwelt among us, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. {6BC 1089.1}

He had a difficult problem. The Jews hated Jesus Christ and he had to bring them to God so how careful he had to be. This is the function of the people who come to the city of refuge and meet others who come to the city of refuge. Many people think they have knowledge of Revelation and they do opposite of what apostle Paul did. They go along and really ransack Catholics. How do they ransack Catholics? The Catholics really believe that the pope is their father. They follow Jesus as closely as they understand. Then comes Seventh Day Adventists who completely vilify the Catholic Church. You’ve lost hope to reach them. They are benighted. They don’t know and understand really where their error is. Very patiently and carefully communicate the word of God but don’t vilify any authority in this world. The papacy is an authority. Protestant America is an authority and people respect the authorities they are under. If I am going to win them I have to be careful. There will be some who have unhappiness about certain things and if you draw them on that you will scare them away. Come out of her my people not by vilification but by attraction. This is the loud cry.

The Testimony of Jesus to Those Who Are Secure In Him

God is angry with those who pursue a course to make the world hate them. If a Christian is hated because of his good works and for following Christ, he will have a reward; but if he is hated because he does not take a course to be loved, hated because of his uncultivated manners and because he makes the truth a matter of quarrel with his neighbors, and takes a course to make the Sabbath as annoying as possible to them, he is a stumbling block to sinners, a reproach to the sacred truth. {1T 420.1}

God is angry with that. He knows the teetering position of every person. As we make the message that we believe a quarrel, a debate and an unpleasant scene, the people will not want to be drawn to such a people. This is natural. We have some doctrines that are very unpleasant to people out there. We have some features of our faith that are not very comfortable for people out there.

Last night in my sleeping hours I seemed to be in meeting with my brethren, listening to One who spoke as having authority. He said: “Many souls will attend this meeting who are honestly ignorant of the truths which will be presented before them. They will listen and become interested, because Christ is drawing them. Conscience tells them that what they hear is true, for it has the Bible for its foundation. The greatest care is needed in dealing with these souls. {Ev 200.3}

Do not at the outset press before the people the most objectionable features of our faith, lest you close their ears to which these things come as a new revelation. Let such portions of truth be dealt out to them as they may be able to grasp and appreciate; though it should appear strange and startling, many will recognize with joy the new light that is shed on the Word of God, whereas if truth were presented in so large a measure that they could not receive it, some would go away, and never come again. More than this, they would misrepresent the truth.–General Conference Bulletin, Feb. 25, 1895. {Ev 201.1}

This is Jesus speaking. This was Jesus telling the evangelists, don’t hammer the people with things they can’t appreciate. There are many things they have to learn yet. Only give that which they can appreciate and in such a manner they will say yes, I’ve not seen that in the Bible before. When someone asks you about your faith, this is relevant. People are coming out of the fire at the last minute and opportunity that people have that is about to burst upon the world.

Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

We can’t treat everyone the same way. You can’t tell everyone what you think in the same manner as what you tell someone else. This is why my Bible studies are tailor made. When we give people Bible studies they must be tailor made to that persons background. Come right into the fire to pull them out but don’t be attracted to the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. I have had experiences like this where I was in an area of saving someone which could have burnt me and sometimes people still burn me for doing that. As you reach in there and pull them out you hate everything they are connected with but you love the soul and that soul must feel it. Many are bruised souls lonely with baggage of a past life. Of depravity yearning for understanding why is this happening to me? Suffering and bruised and ruined by a life of sin. What are we to do as they come running to the city of refuge?

In all our associations it should be remembered that in the experience of others there are chapters sealed from mortal sight. On the pages of memory are sad histories that are sacredly guarded from curious eyes. There stand registered long, hard battles with trying circumstances, perhaps troubles in the home life, that day by day weaken courage, confidence, and faith. Those who are fighting the battle of life at great odds may be strengthened and encouraged by little attentions that cost only a loving effort. To such the strong, helpful grasp of the hand by a true friend is worth more than gold or silver. Words of kindness are as welcome as the smile of angels. {MH 158.3}

There are multitudes struggling with poverty, compelled to labor hard for small wages, and able to secure but the barest necessities of life. Toil and deprivation, with no hope of better things, make their burden very heavy. When pain and sickness are added, the burden is almost insupportable. Careworn and oppressed, they know not where to turn for relief. Sympathize with them in their trials, their heartaches, and disappointments. This will open the way for you to help them. Speak to them of God’s promises, pray with and for them, inspire them with hope. {MH 158.4}

Words of cheer and encouragement spoken when the soul is sick and the pulse of courage is low–these are regarded by the Saviour as if spoken to Himself. As hearts are cheered, the heavenly angels look on in pleased recognition. {MH 159.1}

I am describing the city of refuge. We are to absorb these thoughts with great hunger if we are to constitute the church triumphant which gives the loud cry.

There are many to whom life is a painful struggle; they feel their deficiencies and are miserable and unbelieving; they think they have nothing for which to be grateful. Kind words, looks of sympathy, expressions of appreciation, would be to many a struggling and lonely one as the cup of cold water to a thirsty soul. A word of sympathy, an act of kindness, would lift burdens that rest heavily upon weary shoulders. And every word or deed of unselfish kindness is an expression of the love of Christ for lost humanity. {MB 23.1}

That is the refuge that Jesus wants in his church.

Of all people in the world, reformers should be the most unselfish, the most kind, the most courteous. {MH 157.3}

We who want to be reformers, this is our responsibility.

In their lives should be seen the true goodness of unselfish deeds. The worker who manifests a lack of courtesy, who shows impatience at the ignorance on waywardness of others, who speaks hastily or acts thoughtlessly, may close the door to hearts so that he can never reach them. {MH 157.3}

If I want to reach souls, then here is what Jesus is telling us to provide a refuge to such souls.

From age to age the Lord has been seeking to awaken in the souls of men a sense of their divine brotherhood. Be co-workers with Him. While distrust and alienation are pervading the world, Christ’s disciples are to reveal the spirit that reigns in heaven. {MH 159.2}

The church must be a heaven on earth.

Speak as He would speak, act as He would act. Constantly reveal the sweetness of His character. Reveal that wealth of love which underlies all His teachings and all His dealings with men. The humblest workers, in co-operation with Christ, may touch chords whose vibrations shall ring to the ends of the earth and make melody throughout eternal ages. {MH 159.3}

What a privilege is ours. As these people we touch are yearning to have what we have to share with them, as they feel touched by the love of Jesus, as they want to return a gift to me, something, and say come and have a meal with us, you are vegetarian and they are meat eaters and they have no idea of the variety of principles that you have advanced in the message of health reform, they want to invite you to a meal, follow carefully what the Bible says. You are touching these souls and you are trying to help them and you are touching them with true courtesy.

1 Corinthians 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you [to a feast], and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all [men] in all [things], not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of many, that they may be saved. 

I will not partake of flesh food but when I’m invited to someone, that is wonderful, thank you I’m fasting, could you avoid giving me meat, not a problem, thank you, you are welcome. There are eggs and milk in there and I will say thank you very much and I will eat. That is what is written. I won’t eat it in my daily life but there is something more important than food, there is a soul and that is what Jesus said, the kingdom of heaven is not food and drink but righteousness and truth. That has to be governed in our communication with those who are coming to the city of refuge. Do not be so uncourteous to enquire what is in that food. I’ve seen it when people come here. Big mistake. If someone comes to give you a gift, say nothing, eat and say thank you. That is God’s Word to us.

Patiently and most inoffensively at the right time and right place when the message is conveniently acceptable, then share. We had an experience like that with a man who came to church in shorts and nothing was said and I was trembling and I was hoping nothing would be said and later he learnt it and he said you never told me. I said that is right you were convinced with what was written there and he rejoiced in the message. This is the way God teaches us to work.

A Manner of Truest Courtesy

What we do in our homes regularly is our health message but what we do on occasions of human activity, nothing is to offend. Vegetarianism is not offensive to people who understand you are fasting. That is far as you go. May we ever remember that God’s final people that give the loud cry are a city of refuge where courtesy and character beauty is nurtured, a fragrance that attracts? It is fragrant here, I can smell love.

2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one [we are] the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who [is] sufficient for these things?

A sweet savour of Christ. The person who hates Jesus, when you reflect Jesus they will hate it and they will be a savour of death unto death but if there are people who are yearning with anguish in their heart, we will be a savour of life unto life. May we have the savour of love in the city of refuge, the very love that God has extended upon me, extend it to others.

Amen.