For Lack Of Knowledge By Paul Godfrey Audio: http://www.godslastwarning.com/SabbathSermons/2011/2011-01-08%20%20Paul%20Godfrey%20-%20For%20Lack%20of%20Knowledge.mp3 Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/18563265
Israel [is] an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. Hosea 10:1-2 In the book of Revelation the Bible is bringing to light a group of people and I don't believe there is any other group of people so identified in the Bible as the group of people here in Revelation. This group of people are those that will be living when Jesus comes in the clouds. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. Revelation 14:1 It then explains a description of them and then it goes into the three celestial messages given by the angels which represent the people who proclaim these messages. Then in verse 12 it is like an exciting beginning. Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 The language here explains these things and then exclaims that here they are, this group
Page 1 of 10 http://scribd.com/sabbathsermons
of people, the ones that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Revelation 7:4 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14 The language exclaims again that here they are. The Bible describes excitement at this group of people at the end. All heaven is watching saying, there they are look at them. I love how the Bible has been culminated over the years. Every Old Testament story and experiences are ensamples showing lessons for the people who are living at the end. They were written for our learning. Often when we read the Bible we think it wouldn’t be good to live in the days of such and such to be able to see the crossing of the Red sea and all these experiences. Yet if you look what the Bible is pointing to, these people longed to see our day and to be living in our time. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God Revelation 14:4-5 The book of Daniel talks about a time when the saints were to be judged, that the thrones were set up and the Ancient of days did sit and the books of heaven were open. People came up in review before these books and God was judging the people. As the books were reviewed, here is a class of people living at the end that are without fault before the throne of God. We need to consider how we can be without fault before the throne of God. It is also said that these people are unified. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 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. John 17:20-21 Here are the people that will take the scriptures and will believe on the words of the apostles and the prophets. They will become one, perfect in oneness that the world will believe. We seldom find two persons exactly alike. Among human beings as well as among the things of the natural world, there is diversity. Unity in diversity among God's children--the manifestation of love and forbearance in spite of difference of disposition--this is the testimony that God sent His Son into the world to save sinners. {SD 286.2} The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. In mind, in purpose, in character, they are one, but not in person. By partaking of the Spirit of God, conforming to the law of God, man becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ brings His disciples into a living Page 2 of 10 http://scribd.com/sabbathsermons
union with Himself and with the Father. Through the working of the Holy Spirit upon the human mind, man is made complete in Christ Jesus. Unity with Christ establishes a bond of unity with one another. This unity is the most convincing proof to the world of the majesty and virtue of Christ, and of His power to take away sin. {SD 286.3} Sons and Daughters of God We notice that the 144,000 came out of each tribe of the children of Israel. The names of the tribes were always based on character. No two sons were alike. The testimony is that people with different dispositions are diverse yet they forbear, have toleration and love despite the way people do things. The unity we are to have together is the most convincing proof. Do you like proving things? If you like to prove something to somebody, this is the most convincing proof to the world of the majesty and virtue of Christ. The powers of darkness stand a poor chance against believers who love one another as Christ has loved them. Ibid Satan is afraid of unity. The kingdom of Satan trembles when he sees a group of people pressing together in the truth that bear each other’s dispositions but yet still become one in purpose, one in character, but different in personality. What do you think he is going to do? He wants to divide and conquer. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. Hosea 10:2 These people at the end of the world stand before the throne of God having no fault. When the heart is divided then there is fault. Therefore, the people at the end must be bound together in the truth so much so that Satan can't get them. He stands a poor chance of disturbing these people. Often we love people that are nice back to us. Did Christ love us because we were nice to Him? Believers will love one another as Christ has loved them. The powers of darkness stand a poor chance against believers who love one another as Christ has loved them, who refuse to create alienation and strife, who stand together, who are kind, courteous, and tender-hearted, cherishing the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. We must have the Spirit of Christ, or we are none of His. {SD 286.4} In unity there is strength; in division there is weakness. {SD 286.5} The closer our union with Christ, the closer will be our union with one another. Variance and disaffection, selfishness and conceit, are striving for supremacy. These are the fruits of a divided heart, open to the suggestions of the enemy of souls. Satan exults when he can sow seeds of dissension. {SD 286.6} In unity there is a life, a power, that can be obtained in no other way. {SD 286.7} Disaffection means you are not affectionate towards another person. You have a take it or leave it attitude, they are just part of the furniture. All it needs is ten members. Ten members, who were walking in all humbleness of mind, would have a far greater power upon the world than has the entire church, with its present numbers and lack of unity. The more there is of the divided, inharmonious element, the less power will the church have for good in the world. {5T 119.1}
Page 3 of 10 http://scribd.com/sabbathsermons
In Christ's day there were twelve who had different opinions and different dispositions. The lives of the disciples show that they were bickering and fighting amongst each other. They were under an apprenticeship. They came to the point of humiliation. As they were there together after the suffering of the cross and the loss of Jesus in the upper room, they sorted out their differences and were pressing together. They apologised to one another of their reactions to each other's way of doing things. Ten days of pressing together caused Satan to be scared. He wanted to make war against these people to kill them. This is what we read that he went to make war with this last group of people because they are without fault before the throne of God. The last group of people are perfectly united which causes Satan to be scared. In his fear he comes to make war with them. Do you realise where he wants to make war? There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. 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 [that] looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, [and] terrible as [an army] with banners? Song of Solomon 6:8-10 Here is the description of the bride of Christ a delicate dove yet she is terrible as an army and something to be afraid of in her unity. And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Mark 3:24-25 The kingdom is the unification of families, households, states and provinces. If the kingdom is divided against itself it cannot stand. Yet the home, the house that is divided against itself, it also cannot stand. Satan knows the best way to get to a nation is to get to the family. If the family is divided then everything else will be divided. The smaller unit is what Satan is trying to get at. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. Mark 3:26-27 Satan wants to bind the strong part of society to divide the strong element. Once that is bound he can get the rest. So it is also when Christ came into the world He had to bind Satan, then He can save the rest. In relation to the nation of Israel we read of division. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. Hosea 10:2 It's one thing to try to force churches into unity to adopt the same system or creed despite what each one thinks. If the heart is divided the house will be divided. If the house is divided the kingdom will be divided. Satan is scared of a united people so he is going to come to the hearts of the individuals and divide the heart. From that divided heart he will
Page 4 of 10 http://scribd.com/sabbathsermons
get into the group. Out of the twelve disciples Judas was divided whom Satan used to divide the group. Are you a Judas? Do you get annoyed at how others react and carry that offence? From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members? James 4:1 War comes from inside individuals. There is no success in being a peace activist. The only place peace needs to act is in the individual heart of the person. That is what Christ came to do, not to make national reforms or bring new policies into the Jewish economy. He came to make the heart undivided. What does it mean to be a Christian; to have the name of Christ. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make [them] the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1Corinthians 6:15-20 Is that the same as a marriage? When you are married you take the name of your husband. This is what it means to be a Christian. We are bought with a price. Our body, mind, spirit and soul are paid for. Do you know what it cost? All of heaven was sacrificed in Jesus Christ so He could purchase you. Christians put on make-up. Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost? That house you live in isn't yours, it has been paid for, it doesn't belong to you. If it belongs to you, don't call yourself a Christian. If you want to be a Christian, you have to name the name of Christ, you have to be joined to Christ. If you want to have a religious life on Saturday then on Saturday night turn on the TV or watch movies, don't you know that you brain belongs to God? How would you feel if you purchased a house and as the settlement date came, you came to get your house and the owner said, thank you for the gift of the money you have given me, I'll give you two rooms of the house and the rest is still mine. Often we treat our bodies as if we own them by piercing our ears or putting tattoos on our body. Don't you know that your body belongs to God? Everything we have belongs to God. If we have a divided heart thinking only half of our time and life are for religion and the other half is for however I want to engage my time or money, we are like the Corinthians. We do not know fully of the price of the cross on Calvary and that we need to give Him what He has paid for – everything, not just one day. The people that don't observe this day are even worse because they don't give God the day that He asks for. God has said that everything you have is mine. God isn't an austere being really because
Page 5 of 10 http://scribd.com/sabbathsermons
He says all the money is His, but He only wants one tenth and allows us to have nine tenths. Do we hold back the tithe? He claims that as His, we don't have a choice of what to do with it. There are many trees in the garden from which we can eat. He gives us freedom except for one thing. Whether it's a tree or one tenth of our income, a seventh of the time and we don't give God His due, essentially we are divided hearted. If we are like that wanting to live a worldly life, can we ever be without fault before the throne of God? Can we ever press together in unity? If I am divided I can't expect to be in unity with my brothers and sisters. This is what Satan is trying to do. A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways. James 1:8 There are some signs of being double-minded or half-hearted. Inconsistency is a fruit of being double-minded. If we have to prepare our home to cover up what is in our home when someone from church comes to visit not wanting them to see how we really live, that is inconsistency or being variable. Some get really enthused about something. It may be missionary work. All they think about and put all their effort into missionary work until something else grabs their attention. It may be politics that they then become enthused about which occupies their whole mind. They go from one mind focus to another and another which is variableness. There is no anchor. Double-minded people also tend to be formalistic. They hang onto the frame of religion but put away the power that is contained in that religion. Frivolity especially in the youth wanting a good laugh is another sign of double-mindedness. Often this is in relation to laughing at Bible texts but these same texts are forgotten when we are in trouble. The cares of this life causing stress to feed and clothe ourselves and cause us to forget about the Lord. Satan is trying to divide the heart with all these things. He is trying to divide the individuals in order to divide the body of Christ. Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. Psalm 86:11-12 Does half of your heart want to follow the Lord all the way and the other half you are too scared to do so? Here the prayer is to bring me together in one purpose. We need to slim down our visions and goals to one thing only. When we can lock into that one thing then our heart is united. We have to give some things to the Lord, everything that occupies the brain. This belongs to God. The thoughts that run around our head belong to God. The time and energy that our brain uses to think belong to God. Therefore we need to come to the point of wanting only to dwell in His house to be part of the company that will be ministers in His temple, the 144,000. As for my bread, my business, and everything else that I must do to live, I give the stress of it to God. When the Lord buys you, He buys all your problems and cares too. Will you take that from Him also? The transaction that Jesus did on Calvary is quite amazing. The problem is our divided heart leads us away from contemplation on such things. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 Our mind exercise can run off in two seconds flat onto something un-associated with godliness. We need to keep our heart with all diligence. Where our mind dwells the most that is where our treasure is. What we keep dwelling on is our god. If we profess to be
Page 6 of 10 http://scribd.com/sabbathsermons
Christ's but we dwell on worldly things that absorb our attention and not give God those stresses, then you are an adulterer. This is where Satan will attack. Out of this little fountain flows all the water that affects this world. If we want to have mouldy and muddy water, we will occupy ourselves in this world. If we desire a heart and that which comes out of it to be pure, we will feed on the living water of Jesus Christ. A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain. [It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:1-2 It's hard to keep your heart in warfare. It's like soldiers keeping a fort from the enemies invading as in the town of Mansoul. Diabolis only wanted the citadel not caring what else he had to give up in order to obtain that. Unless the Lord keep your heart, you will keep it in vain. You can be stressed all day long knowing we are thinking about the wrong things here and there and we will lose our sleep over it. If the Lord keeps the city it is kept. If He doesn't, you can make the watch as long as you want even to midnight, it will be in vain, Satan will get you. As He has purchased me including my heart and everything that is associated with my daily life, then I can sleep at night because the Person who has paid it is the all-powerful almighty Creator. Our Creator has a thousand ways to deliver our needs but He is waiting for us to allow Him to have possession of what He has paid for. Would you like the Lord to be ripped off? He has paid for it and yet He waits patiently for us to give Him what He has already paid for. If we are holding on to what He has paid for, Satan will get it. Would you like the Lord to lose out? He's a businessman yet He respects your decision even though He has paid you. You can go back into bondage, into debt after you have been set free but if you come to Him, then you really belong to Him. Will you say to the Lord, here is everything I have a problem with, everything is open before you, you have it. We are to keep our heart, yet the Lord is to keep it because if He doesn't keep it, we will labour in vain. Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 This world is going to plunge into insanity. Even the people that diagnose the insane are insane. Here is one way you can keep yourself from becoming double-hearted, unstable and a mess. Allow God to keep your heart for you. How do you allow God to keep your heart? The Lord says in the prayer 'forgive me as I forgive others', here is a relationship. I want something from the Lord but I must display the same outward again. It also says, if you don't confess me before men I won't confess you before your Father. What sort of relationship is that? It is conditional. This is a true relationship because if you enter a relationship and it doesn't matter what you do, where your mind is, they just hang on your back leg, it almost becomes like one idolising the other in a human relationship. What Page 7 of 10 http://scribd.com/sabbathsermons
normally happens is that whatever one does the other follows around and bows down and kisses the ground they walk upon and do everything and the other person loses respect for the person doing that, then the relationship breaks up. Relationships must be two-way. I will give and you will give. Anything short of that is not a relationship, it's humiliation. In our relationship with Jesus, He is wanting a relationship with you but if you don't want Him, He will walk the other way. He loves you enough to let you alone. God will keep our heart, but we have to do something. The relationship didn't start like that because God wasn't expecting anything of us to begin the relationship. He did everything but once we enter into the covenant He wants interaction. He created intelligent beings so He could relate with them. In this relating He says that He will keep our heart but we have to do something. Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; [Specially] the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and [that] they may teach their children. And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only [ye heard] a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, [even] ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. Deuteronomy 4:9-13 There were only ten laws in this covenant which we are to keep. And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. Deuteronomy 4:9:14 The Lord is saying only take heed to yourself and keep thy soul diligently lest thou forget the way the Lord has led. This is what we are to do, to remember what He has said to us in the law, especially the Ten Commandments. These Ten Commandments are not just to be recited all day long. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Proverbs 3:1-2 Do the commandments add peace to your life? If your heart is divided it won't give you peace. If you have a hard heart, those Ten Commandments will condemn you all day long. If you are half worldly and half spiritual, those laws will be a plague to you. There are two options. Get rid of your divided heart and serve God fully, or get rid of the law. If you get rid
Page 8 of 10 http://scribd.com/sabbathsermons
of the law you have to forget it and then God can't keep your mind, you will go insane. You won't have peace or sleep at night. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Proverbs 4:4 To retain God's words, God's promises, everything that He said and all the kind actions He has done, is the same as to keep them. God is asking you to remember that. In remembering that, God will do the rest, keeping your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. In the book Desire of Ages it says He remembered the Father's love heretofore given him. He remembered the way the Lord had led him in the past, He remembered the words. That is what kept His mind. John the Baptist was in prison being tormented by demons, yet he remembered the manifestation of God upon Jesus at His baptism. In remembering that, it was his only stay through the trials of life. When we get perplexed with our life and burdens pile up in front of our eyes, do we remember the way the Lord has lead us or do we soon forget? If you want God to keep your heart, you need to keep His words. This is the relationship. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:21-22 The big killer today is stress, anxiety of life. Brethren, Jesus has paid for that stress, give it to Him, let Him keep your heart and mind, but you have to keep His words in your heart. Do you remember the day you found your partner? Every word they said you cherished. If they wrote you a letter, you would read that letter ten times. This is what we are to do if we love Jesus Christ. We will dwell upon His love, His overtures to us. We will keep reading them and love them. We will remember what He said in His word. It's all about Him not about you. [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Proverbs 31:4-5 Should Christians drink wine? No, lest they forget. Wine beclouds the mind and then you forget. The 144,000 are to be priests and kings in heaven. It is not for the last generation to have any alcoholic beverages regardless of what happened in the past. If we are in war with Satan and he is trying to divide a company of people to get at the heart of the individuals, and we become engaged in worldly affairs, alcohol or overeating or overindulgence of sexual appetite that benumb the spiritual senses, we will be destroyed. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Hosea 4:6 When we forget God's law then He will forget us. The world has forgotten God's law, especially the one that we are told to remember, the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Out of all the laws this is the easiest one to keep. Because the world has forgotten God's law, God will forget the children. Do we remember the Sabbath including the edges of the Sabbath Page 9 of 10 http://scribd.com/sabbathsermons
from sunset to sunset? People of the world want to carry burdens, so not carrying a burden on the Sabbath day is a burden. Do you want to carry your own sins? If you forget God's law and you can carry it, but if you remember the Sabbath day then before sunset of Friday you need to cast everything off your mind, not just to sweep the mess under the carpet. He knows we build up burdens and stress, but He says there comes a time every week when we must unload. He commands us to have a rest. Should we carry a relationship problem into the Sabbath day? If we are at variance, before the Sabbath day there needs to be peace made. God has ordained many backstops to make us de-stress He doesn't wait for four weeks annual leave to de-stress God has ordained means. ‌let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Ephesian 4:26 At every sunset you should not carry a burden. Each night you should rest when the sun goes down. Give it to God. If we obey God, we will be a mentally sound people, through Jacob's trouble experience. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Revelation 3:10 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word. Salvation [is] far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. Psalm 119:153-154 If we want the Lord to aid us we must remember His words. Spend mental exercise on what He has said. When you go to work don't be perplexed with all the stresses that come, remember what He has said. When you have read it, God will keep your brains ticking aright. Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3 Give God everything that He has purchased, sin and all and be at rest, peace and mentally sound that we may be able to press together. This is the only way God's people can come together in peace. As we keep this unity in the bond of peace, then only we won't fight or argue but hold up God's word and Satan will have no chance at all. Amen.
Page 10 of 10 http://scribd.com/sabbathsermons