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ssl 2019 first half – the sealing message (more…)
Category Archives: Divine Service Sermons
The Faith of Jesus for Obedience
Scripture reading: Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
We want to delve once more into the application of the distinctive description of God’s people in the words of Revelation: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Why should we spend time enlarging this faith of Jesus? Read the rest of this entry
7. Motive of Love
By John Thiel, Seeking to Please God Series, mp3, pdf
Scripture reading: Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
We are seeking to please God in this time of the hour of God’s judgment, the day of atonement. And we continue to pursue the understanding of the following quote in searching our hearts: Read the rest of this entry
The Faith of Jesus under Condemnation
Scripture reading: Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
This hymn carries with it a certain trembling note:
I watch to shun the miry way,
And staunch the springs of guilty thought;
But, watch and struggle as I may,
Pure I am not, pure I am not.
6. God of the Sabbath
By John Thiel, Seeking to Please God Series, mp3, pdf
Scripture reading: John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
The time in which we are living is the time of the day of atonement; it is the time of Zechariah 3:1-7—Joshua and the Angel. As we saw previously, this scripture applies specifically to our time. Joshua is a representative of God’s people, and as we stand before Christ, our High Priest, in the judgment hour, we are receiving a change of garment as we examine ourselves closely. Read the rest of this entry
The Faith of Jesus
Scripture reading: Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
The apostle prays that he would be found in Christ, “not having mine own righteousness,” he says, “which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” We need righteousness; and it must be found only through one path—the faith, not in Christ, but of Christ. The language of the Bible in reference to the faith that we are to have is repeated time and time again. If you were to do a search in the Bible for “the faith of Christ”, or “the faith of Jesus”, you would find that it comes up several times. Of course, the text that is most relevant to us who are living in these last days is the following: Read the rest of this entry
5. Light on the Levitical Laws
By John Thiel, Seeking to Please God Series, mp3, pdf
We are seeking to please God in reference to the light that shines on Levitical laws. Our meditation in this series continues as we search our hearts in relation to the following statement, which we have delved upon several times in the past:
We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. {GC 489.3} Read the rest of this entry
Christ in Our Sufferings
Scripture reading: Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
I wish to worship God with you by manifesting a comfort by which I am comforted. The work of a minister, of a true servant of God, is described in the following words: Read the rest of this entry
4. God’s Peculiar People
By John Thiel, Seeking to Please God Series, mp3, pdf
Scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
We are seeking to please God as God’s peculiar people. This series we have been pursuing is to reinforce our appreciation of the judgment hour message, and to place before our minds that in the time of the judgment in which we are living, as in the Day of Atonement in the Hebrews’ era, we are to search our hearts. Read the rest of this entry
3. Stay Off the Judgement Seat
By John Thiel, Seeking to Please God Series, mp3, pdf
Scripture reading: Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
In this series we are following the counsel that is given to us in the following quote:
We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. {GC 489.3} Read the rest of this entry
2. Not Holier Than Thou
By John Thiel, Seeking to Please God Series, mp3, pdf
Scripture reading: Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
We are continuing our series to examine ourselves according to the counsel of God’s word applicable to the time of the judgment, which tells us to afflict our souls. Read the rest of this entry
Christ in You, the Hope of Glory
Scripture reading: Colossians 1:26 [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
To be able to say, It is well with my soul, whatever happens. The writer of that hymn lost his only son, his estate, and finally his four daughters, and yet he could compose this song: It is well with my soul. Read the rest of this entry
SSL 2019 (1st) – The Sealing Message
God’s Comfort in Grief
Scripture reading: Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
What is grieving? What does it mean to suffer grief? What actually is it in experience? The dictionary brings forth this definition: an abject depravity of comfort and consolation. This is what grief is. Nothing comforts you because the sensations that come across the chest, across the soul, are connected with something, someone that we have lost. Some internal ideal that gave us motive for living has been shattered in our experience. Your life support, that which has made your life worth living, has been shattered—that creates grief. Read the rest of this entry
A Tribute – Soldier, We Honour Thee
Our beloved sister, Rose Thiel, has passed away this Monday 12th of November, 2018. At such a time, we would want to commemorate her, and let no hands mar the record of such a loving and unselfish life. She has been a mother, a sister, and a friend, but also, and for many years, an untiring companion in labour for the cause of Christ to her beloved and now surviving husband. A pillar in the house of God, a stay to many a wavering soul, she ever stood as a rock to principle, and her kindness often reminded us of the Saviour’s love; she gave to the church a shining, unforgettable example of what it means to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few and many turn traitors to the cause of truth. Heaven shall remember. No effort was lost, and no tear wasted.
1. Seeking to Please God
By John Thiel, Seeking to Please God Series, mp3, pdf
Scripture reading: Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
The time in which we are living is the day of judgment; and in this day of investigative judgment, the Lord is examining our lives. The typical Day of Atonement was a day in which God’s people were to afflict their souls, to fast; and this is the fasting that we are to engage in, ever since the beginning of the hour of God’s judgment which began in the first angel’s message in 1844. From that time onwards, God was calling upon His people to afflict their souls, to fast; and we have learnt that this meant putting away all foods that were unhealthful and stimulating, and eating only that which is wholesome and good for us; because the fasting, in the hand of God, brings us into a more intimate knowledge of Him and a surrendering state of mind. Read the rest of this entry
