From the President

The words of this EG White quote disturb me:

“The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth, because of church members who have never been converted and those who were once converted but have backslidden. What influence would un-consecrated members have on new converts?”

Are you and I the reason why so few at this time come to know the blessed truths of Scripture?

Ellen writes, “The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self, did not die and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ.”

This is an indictment of our condition. Could it be one reason why people don’t feel safe when they come to our facilities? We should be striving to make our churches, schools and Aged Care communities, places of refuge. A harbour from the terrible storms of life. All should feel safe and at home when they enter the doors of our facilities. Unjudged, cared for empathically, irrespective of what their lives are encountering; poor health, sexual orientation, mental health, financial matters, marital strife, worry and fear, to name just a few.

Jesus said in John 3:5 that “Unless one is born of water and the spirit, they cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Clearly the need for the sanctifying Holy Spirit in my life and yours is vital to sharing the Good News in love which creates a place of refuge!

In this time of earth’s history when people are crying out for hope because of the fear they’re

experiencing we have comfort, peace and hope and we have it in abundance. What are we to do? Hoard it and keep it for ourselves? Tragically that is exactly what we’re doing, if we are being completely honest with ourselves.

Jesus said, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have trouble and suffering, but have courage, I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33) God is in control of the destiny of this planet and He foretold it in Scripture. He invites us, “Come unto me, all you who are burdened and loaded down and I will give you rest.”

Whatever our anxieties, worries and trials, spread them out before the Lord. We need to be pleading for the in-filling of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis, renewing our dependence on Him, replenishing the power we need for the pressures and trails of that day and asking that He give us the boldness to share in faith. I believe that as we grow in Christ, we will be more humble, gentle and dependent on Him and then our churches will become places of refuge for a sin-sick, worried world to find rest from their heavy loads.

I conclude with this: “If you will seek the Lord and be converted every day…all your murmurings will be stilled, all your difficulties will be removed, all the perplexing problems that now confront you will be solved. I want us in Greater Sydney to become churches of Holy Spirit filled, sanctified people that God can send seeking souls to find Him and be delivered from their oppression.

Ellen G White texts:EGW Testimonies to the church vol 6, (1901) p. 370.3EGW Testimonies to the church vol 6, (1901) p. 189.4EGW Thoughts on the Mount of Blessings p. 101

Terry Johnson