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God Hates Deception, February 16
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my
people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Isaiah 58:1
.
Hypocrisy is peculiarly offensive to God. A large majority of the men
and women who profess to know the truth prefer smooth messages. They
do not desire to have their sins and defects brought before them. They want
accommodating ministers, who will not arouse conviction by speaking the
truth. They choose men who will flatter them, and in their turn they flatter the
minister who has shown such a “good” spirit, while they revile the faithful
servant of God....
Many praise the minister who dwells on the grace and mercy and love of
Jesus, who is not particular to enforce duties and obligations, who does not
warn of the danger of hypocrisy, or present the terrors of God’s wrath.
The Lord’s work is earnest and decided, above deceit and hypocrisy. His
true shepherds will not praise and exalt man. They will come before the
people with a plain “Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.” They will
bear His message, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. If men
despise God’s Word, and trust in oppression, hypocrisy, and worldliness, they
must declare against them God’s denunciations, that, if possible, they may
be aroused to repentance. If they are too proud to repent and confess their
errors, to turn to God, welcoming His salvation and seeking His favor, the
Lord will remove His light from them and will leave them to walk in the way
they have chosen.
Those who drive the Lord’s faithful messengers into corners, who dis-
courage them, who stand between them and the people, that their message
may not have the influence God designed it should, are answerable for the
deceptions and heresies that come into the church as a result of their course.
They have a fearful account to render to God. After the Lord has repeatedly
warned His people, and they still refuse to hearken to His voice, and will not
be instructed, their guilt becomes peculiarly abhorrent to Him. The record
of their rebellion is written in a book before Him, and will confront them
when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened.—
Manuscript 10,
February 16, 1899
, “Words of Warning.”
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