By John Thiel, mp3

At this time we want to fine tune into the voice of God as it comes from His church.

The voice of Christ’s body. At the very outset, it is absolutely imperative that we have a correct understanding of Christ’s church. To define His church is my first purpose. When we see clearly what is Christ’s church, then we can be correctly be affected by the authority of that church.

The Definition of His Church

The headquarters of Gods church; where is that?

Hebrews 12:22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

The church that is written in heaven. Our name on the church books on earth is necessary however the real issue is, are they written in the church of Christ in the heavenly Jerusalem? This congregation, this general assembly is the church of the first born the church of Christ. It is no different. That church is identifiable and defined not only by location but by condition.

1 Timothy 3:15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

There are many Christian churches today. How can you find your way through them all? Find the church that stands on the truth.

A very important question was asked by Pilate who said, “What is truth?” and he walked out. This is the same problem today, what is truth? It the word as it is written in God’s word. This church sits with its headquarters in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

When we come into the household of God, we are able to identify it by the foundation of the apostles and prophets of old. Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone of them and we see a building growing to the very end, one church of this nature.

Ephesians 4:11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Here we have a ministry, multiple gifts of the Holy Spirit. Apostles, prophets, evangelists and teachers. They are constituted by Jesus Christ as being responsible for the edifying as the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Are we reading about a church just today? Are we not reading about a church that is recognisable as a body of people from the beginning to the time right now? This is Gods church.

When the Apostle Paul who was a very high ranking official in the Jewish church was questioned, “You are not loyal to the church,” what did he answer?

Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

He was challenged; you are not loyal to the church, you are preaching heresy and what does he appeal to in regards to his belief and teaching? Was it his? He said,”I believe the things written in the law and the prophets. ”

Acts 3:18 But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

God has a church which has apostles and prophets. Those prophets have been active in Gods church from what time? From the time that the world began. That is His church. I marvel when people read this statement and apply it to their organisation. It’s not talking about their organisation. Who is it talking about? How many churches have you joined and not found as a city of refuge? God’s church is a city of refuge for the slayer, the sinner to be restored, not to be clobbered.

The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind with the blood of His only-begotten Son. From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth. In every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to the generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay off their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people. {AA 11. 2}

As you have seen churches rise and fall who have claimed we are Gods church, Gods church has not fallen, it is continually on the rise.

During ages of spiritual darkness the church of God has been as a city set on a hill. From age to age, through successive generations, the pure doctrines of heaven have been unfolding within its borders. Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His supreme regard. It is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts. {AA 12. 1}

The church is where the truth is presented in love.

God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church. {UL 315. 5}

Is the Seventh Day Adventist church a denomination? You don’t need any man’s words here. I don’t need to enlarge this do I. It is so simple for a child to understand. Here is a church that says come we are Gods church and you must join us. A little childlike faith says huh? First tell me what you believe and secondly are you representing the love of God and the commandments of God? Do you represent all that and are you using man’s authority among yourselves? Are you in tune with all the church of the past as it is not a great number in every generation? It is two and three here and there but they are a body. They are in connection.

In our quest to tune into Gods voice in His church, we must be a people ourselves as individuals who will subject themselves to Jesus and hear Him speaking via all the others that do exactly the same. Only those who are following Jesus faithfully are Gods church and they carry authority as Gods church.

Jesus showed his disciples that only as they should partake of his Spirit, and be assimilated to his merciful character, would they be endowed with spiritual discernment and miraculous power. All their strength and wisdom must come from him. When dealing with obstinately offending members, the holy men of the church were to follow the directions laid down by Christ; this, the only course of safety for the church, has been traced step by step by the apostles with the pen of inspiration. {3SP 246. 1}

Who are the people who have authority over anyone? Those who partake of His Spirit and are assimilated to His merciful character and have spiritual endowment, discernment and miraculous power.

Jesus has said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst. ” With Christ to preside over the counsel of the church, how cautiously should each man speak and act. {3SP 246. 3}

This we need to understand in regards to the authority of Gods church.

To hear His voice speaking through a body of people there is a criteria. They must be filled with the Spirit. When it comes to dealing with church matters which we will have to meet many times, how careful and astute we must be to hear Gods voice and deal in Jesus’ manner. Great care lest we destroy and break that little bowed over bruised reed in the heart of someone that really wants to follow Jesus but is confused.

How did Jesus connect the voice of the church to that which is found in heaven? The manner in which Jesus does things is profoundly inspiring. I have been suffering with the human in side of myself and the human in church experiences. Jesus manner is totally different. Jesus said, whom do people say I am? Peter was very quick to answer when he said you are the Son of the living God. Then Jesus talked with him this way.

Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Did you notice how He brought Peter out to express something the Holy Spirit gave him? There you have the important line-up of what He is going to say next.

Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

When Peter spoke, did he speak the voice of God? Indeed. Because he spoke what the Father revealed.

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Did you notice what Jesus just gave to the church? He made the church the avenue of Gods voice to direct, but how did he do it? He just identified what Peter spoke about Jesus came from the Father to him. He ventured and said, “You are Peter but what the Lord has just shown you that I am, Christ the Son of the living God. That is the foundation on which I build my church. ” I give to you who submits himself to the voice of God, the keys of the kingdom of heaven and then whatever is bound on earth is bound in heaven. Why? When you speak like that, I can put my blessing on it. That is the churches voice not flesh and blood. No man’s rules in the church. Only the rules that were inspired by God Himself into the minds of those who may be as faulty as Peter who might express things that are totally out of character, but when it comes to the decisions of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, they are very humble and careful to speak only what the Lord says.

This statement holds its force in all ages. On the church has been conferred the power to act in Christ’s stead. It is God’s instrumentality for the preservation of order and discipline among His people. To it the Lord has delegated the power to settle all questions respecting its prosperity, purity, and order. Upon it rests the responsibility of excluding from its fellowship those who are unworthy, who by their un-Christlike conduct would bring dishonor on the truth. Whatever the church does that is in accordance with the directions given in God’s word will be ratified in heaven. {7T 263. 3}

I will expound on this so I will fine tune the voice of God in the church.

In the record of the conversion of Saul important principles are given us, which we should ever bear in mind. Saul was brought directly into the presence of Christ. He was one whom Christ intended for a most important work, one who was to be a “chosen vessel” unto Him; yet the Lord did not at once tell him of the work that had been assigned him. He arrested him in his course and convicted him of sin; but when Saul asked, “What wilt Thou have me to do?” the Saviour placed the inquiring Jew in connection with His church, there to obtain a knowledge of God’s will concerning him. {AA 120. 3}

How humiliating to this proud Pharisee. Yes I will do whatever you say but man, no. He had to learn that.

The marvelous light that illumined the darkness of Saul was the work of the Lord; but there was also a work that was to be done for him by the disciples. Christ had performed the work of revelation and conviction; and now the penitent was in a condition to learn from those whom God had ordained to teach His truth. {AA 121. 1}

When he was humiliated by the revelation of Jesus, when the proud Pharisee was there trembling and blind, the Lord said go to my church the very ones you persecuted and they will tell you what to do. Do you like that? To be told by any authority like to be told what to do? Do you like to hear the authority of those in the church who are speaking to you? Do I have to do what I’m told by you? This is the problem with the natural man but God brings the natural man in to humility and then says, now you go to the penitent. These are the principles we should ever bear in mind.

Thus Jesus gave sanction to the authority of His organized church and placed Saul in connection with His appointed agencies on earth. Christ had now a church as His representative on earth, and to it belonged the work of directing the repentant sinner in the way of life. {AA 122. 2}

When, in the midst of his blind error and prejudice, Saul was given a revelation of the Christ whom he was persecuting, he was placed in direct communication with the church, which is the light of the world. In this case Ananias represents Christ, and also represents Christ’s ministers upon the earth, who are appointed to act in His stead. {AA 122. 4}

Did Ananias call for a committee meeting? Was he a trusted servant of God? He was the only one that went to Paul and he acted in the place of Jesus towards Paul.

In Christ’s stead Ananias touches the eyes of Saul, that they may receive sight. In Christ’s stead he places his hands upon him, and, as he prays in Christ’s name, Saul receives the Holy Ghost. All is done in the name and by the authority of Christ. Christ is the fountain; the church is the channel of communication. {AA 122. 4}

Some have asked when they haven’t done what the authority of the church said, if they are in the right place. When Peter responded to the voice of God in him, Jesus said on that church I give authority to bind and loose in heaven what is done on earth.

In matters of doctrine and belief, the church is the pillar and ground of the truth. It is the voice of God that indicates to us the pure doctrines we are meant to follow and believe. How can we discern that? Here comes a church with all its doctrines. Am I sure that’s it? It’s not the cathedral or the various denominations so, Lord show me. From the very beginning of the world, Gods church.  When God organised His little company in the time of Christ, they were the faithful ones. What are we to safeguard in regards to the doctrines and beliefs of Gods church?

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.

For what? The doctrines of the church. What church are you going to rely upon? The church that was based upon the prophets and apostles from the beginning onwards? You are to contend for that. That is God’s church and the foundations of the doctrines are an amazing battle that we are to engage in defending and contending the truth once delivered to the saints.

From age to age, through successive generations, the pure doctrines of heaven have been unfolding within its borders. {AA 12. 1}

When it comes to doctrine and belief, it is the doctrines that have been unfolding and established through the development of Gods church. There is an unfolding of the doctrines and beliefs that have been unfolding for us to rely on.

The world’s Redeemer has invested great power with His church. He states the rules to be applied in cases of trial with its members. After He has given explicit directions as to the course to be pursued, He says: “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever [in church discipline] ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ” Thus even the heavenly authority ratifies the discipline of the church in regard to its members when the Bible rule has been followed. {3T 428. 1}

The word of God does not give license for one man to set up his judgment in opposition to the judgment of the church, neither is he allowed to urge his opinions against the opinions of the church. If there were no church discipline and government, the church would go to fragments; it could not hold together as a body. There have ever been individuals of independent minds who have claimed that they were right, that God had especially taught, impressed, and led them. Each has a theory of his own, views peculiar to himself, and each claims that his views are in accordance with the word of God. Each one has a different theory and faith, yet each claims special light from God. These draw away from the body, and each one is a separate church of himself. All these cannot be right, yet they all claim to be led of the Lord. The word of Inspiration is not Yea and Nay, but Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. {3T 428. 2}

Can you see the reason why there are so many churches today? Threescore queens and fourscore concubines and virgins without number. Why? Because in each generation there were people that didn’t harmonise with the church and the established doctrines that were already established by God in his body. They have come up with some advanced light that they think they understood but it contradicted certain aspects of the original faith. That is where the numerous organisations and companies come from. Here it binds together not just individuals but ecclesiastical gatherings.

The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical counsels, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority–not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support. {GENERAL CONFERENCE 595. 1}

What is an ecclesiastical gathering? The General Conference, that is a church counsel. You can be assured that if a General Conference comes up with a decision that is not in harmony with the decisions made before that the counsel had agreed upon as it was evidenced upon God’s word, then you don’t want to accept the decision of the majority, it is not the voice of God.

The decision of the majority is those who have already been working and counselling under inspiration as Peter did received the voice of God. They have established points of faith that can’t be controverted, we must contend for them. Any alteration is not Gods voice. Any majority in its discordant denominations is to be ignored if it does not harmonise with that which has already been established.

Rely on a Multitude of Counsellors

Then comes this problem. Rely upon the multitude of counsellors. I believe in God’s word, I must not rely upon my own opinion in any doctrines in any faith.

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

We sit and counsel but are we a multitude? No we are not. We must be submissive to the multitude of counsellors that have come together over the years in counsel. Was there a multitude of counsellors in the early church? How many were there? Twelve. Was that a multitude? In the early church? How many were there? Twelve; was that a multitude? In the dark ages, was there a multitude? In each successive generation, was there a multitude? Could they have their conferences? The catholic church did and later on the protestant churches did but those who were persecuted did they? Not at all.

Paul said I was being ostracised by the recognised church is saying, I believe everything that the prophets and the law has said. He is hailing back to that which has been established beforehand and that is where his safety was. In the multitude of counsellors? Where are they then? This is very important to me as I don’t want to rely upon my opinion anymore. My opinion amounts to nothing but here I rely for safety. All the ones through from the beginning till now, we have what?

Hebrews 11:39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

How are we made perfect? By Gods church and ministry. We are to be under the unity of the faith together with those before us that we would be perfect to the end.

Hebrews 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Where is the multitude of counsellors where there is safety? There they are. This was healing balm to my soul as I don’t want to rely on John Thiel. I don’t want to rely only our little company. I want to rely on the church of God which has a multitude of counsellors.

An Accumulated Infobase

During ages of spiritual darkness the church of God has been as a city set on a hill. From age to age, through successive generations, the pure doctrines of heaven have been unfolding within its borders. {AA 12. 1}

The doctrines have been unfolding so what has been established is established and it unfolds and it gets more beautiful as time goes on but what has been established is not contravened by a new discovery, it must all blend together in a multitude of counsellors in God’s word.

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}

Doesn’t that thrill your soul? If you are bewildered as to where the authority of the churches is and where are the doctrines and how can we sort ourselves through all the confusing teachings of today? It is all accumulated to the point of 1905 where this statement was written what the Lord has been giving us over the last fifty years. That is the InfoBase.

If Jesus could have come in the 1890’s, was there any need of any more information? Not at all, we’ve got it all but it is not what we generate, it is the Lord that brought it together in His body. The doctrines that the church holds is bound in heaven and is the authority of our belief. It is gathered there under the multitude of counsellors.

Church Matters

Problems that exist in that generation. There are individuals causing problems in the church.

Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

We spoke of the doctrine before now we are talking of faulty personalities. What is the first principle? Love is to be in the church. We are trying to win those people but if that can’t be won and prove to be like Judas then what is written is followed through and look how long Jesus bore with Judas.

Jesus showed his disciples that only as they should partake of his Spirit, and be assimilated to his merciful character, would they be endowed with spiritual discernment and miraculous power. All their strength and wisdom must come from him. When dealing with obstinately offending members, the holy men of the church were to follow the directions laid down by Christ; this, the only course of safety for the church, has been traced step by step by the apostles with the pen of inspiration. {3SP 246. 1}

When the church takes up the case of an offender, the prayer of faith will bring Christ into the midst as an all-wise counselor. {3SP 246. 2}

What do we need to deal with offending obstinate people? Do you ever get frustrated with people who are obstinate and think we have to deal with that? I’ve told them already and they still go on doing it. Is that an obstinate behaviour in front of you? Are they obstinate or are they confused? You’ve got to find out. People go to counsellors today and they rely on their counsel but Jesus is the all wise counsellor.

Men are in danger of being controlled by prejudice or the reports and opinions of others. Their own unsanctified judgment may balance their decisions. Therefore, where important decisions are to be made in reference to individuals in the church, the judgment of one man, however wise and experienced he may be, is not to be regarded as sufficient to act upon. {3SP 246. 2}

Jesus has said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst. ” With Christ to preside over the counsel of the church, how cautiously should each man speak and act. Prayer should be offered for the erring, and every means be used to restore him to the favor of God and the church; but if the voice of the church is disregarded, and his individual will is set up above it, then the offender must be promptly dealt with, and the decision of the brethren, made with prayer and faith, and according to the wisdom given them of God, is ratified by Heaven. {3SP 246. 3}

If that is used, the obstinate will be revealed as obstinate not as confused. What is ratified in heaven? The wisdom they exercise from God to deal with the offending brethren. How many people have been dealt with in the churches when the church claims they have authority and power and they destroy souls as they use flesh and blood to make decisions? We have this in the example of Apostle Paul. The church was commissioned to deal with apostle Paul. Was he an offending person?

By all means. Apostle Paul with his offensive nature was brought face to face and it is all written in 3T 429. 4 to 430. 2. On 431. 2.

It delineates how this offending Paul had to be so humiliated that he would have to rely on the decision of the church that he was persecuting because he thought they were so wrong and he humbled himself because that which they bound was bound in heaven and he recognised it. That is how we have to come across to people who don’t agree to Gods church especially when they are offending.

The church is a body and who is the head? Jesus Christ.

As all the different members of the human system unite to form the body, and each performs its office in obedience to the intelligence that governs the whole, so the members of the church of Christ should be united in one symmetrical whole. If the world sees a perfect harmony existing in the church, it will be a powerful evidence to them in favor of the Christian religion. Dissensions, unhappy differences, and petty church trials dishonor our Redeemer. All these may be avoided, if self is surrendered to God, and the voice of the church is obeyed. Unbelief suggests that individual independence increases our importance, that it is weak to yield to the verdict of the church our ideas of what is right and proper; but to cherish such views and feelings will bring anarchy into the church and confusion to ourselves. Christ has delegated to his church the right of decision in the words, “Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained unto them. ” God has made his church a channel of light, and through it he communicates his purpose and his will; and individual judgment should yield to the authority of the church. {BEcho, September 1, 1888 par. 6}

Are you fining tuning into the voice of God in his church?

Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Is the voice of the church the voice of Jesus? If they despise of the voice of the church listening to him, they are despising Jesus.

When Christ was upon the earth, there were men who had no respect or reverence for God’s messengers and no more regard for their warning than for their own judgment; also in this age of the world there are those who do not respect the testimony of God’s chosen servants so highly as their own opinions. Such cannot be benefited by the labors of God’s servants, and time should not be lost in degrading the work of God to meet such minds. Christ said to the servants whom He sent forth: “He that heareth you heareth Me; and he that despiseth you despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me. “{3T 450. 2}

Christ gives power to the voice of the church. “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ” No such thing is countenanced as one man’s starting out upon his own individual responsibility and advocating what views he chooses, irrespective of the judgment of the church. God has bestowed the highest power under heaven upon His church. It is the voice of God in His united people in church capacity which is to be respected. {3T 450. 3}

The church is the united church from the beginning. That is the voice of God in his united people in church capacity. This is to be respected. But there is a proviso there, it is the voice of God in His united people.

I have often been instructed by the Lord that no man’s judgment should be surrendered to the judgment of any other one man. Never should the mind of one man or the minds of a few men be regarded as sufficient in wisdom and power to control the work and to say what plans shall be followed. But when, in a General Conference, the judgment of the brethren assembled from all parts of the field is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be stubbornly maintained, but surrendered. Never should a laborer regard as a virtue the persistent maintenance of his position of independence, contrary to the decision of the general body. {9T 260. 1}

Where is our safety? In the multitude of counsellors when they are together in General Conference. Do we have a General Conference? Yes we do. The early Adventist General Conference and the early reform General Conference where they made decisions under the inspiration of the Lord and if the younger generation have new modelled the cause.

Don’t worry, it’s the General Conference decisions of the past that is our safety. The dealing with many problems that have accumulated over the years can be found in the General Conference decisions of the past where the Lord was presiding as Sr White is pointing to that we submit to those. This is our safety.

God has made His church on the earth a channel of light, and through it He communicates His purposes and His will. He does not give to one of His servants an experience independent of and contrary to the experience of the church itself. Neither does He give one man a knowledge of His will for the entire church while the church–Christ’s body –is left in darkness. In His providence He places His servants in close connection with His church in order that they may have less confidence in themselves and greater confidence in others whom He is leading out to advance His work. {AA 163. 1}

There have ever been in the church those who are constantly inclined toward individual independence. They seem unable to realize that independence of spirit is liable to lead the human agent to have too much confidence in himself and to trust in his own judgment rather than to respect the counsel and highly esteem the judgment of his brethren, especially of those in the offices that God has appointed for the leadership of His people. God has invested His church with special authority and power which no one can be justified in disregarding and despising, for he who does this despises the voice of God. {AA 163. 2}

Understand that today we have general conference decisions from early Seventh Day Adventists and reformers that we can submit to. Rejoice that the voice of God is still audible and discernible in his church today. May God help us to submit and be humble like Apostle Paul. He can use that little body of faithful people today as he used Paul.

Amen.