Understanding The Issue Of Forgiveness. Sabbath Afternoon. 09/26/2015

There are many different views and teachings on issue of forgiveness, especially as it pertains to the role of Christ in His High-Priestly ministry in the heavens, and the current earthly ministry of priests and bishops who have claimed to have the power and authority to forgive sins. Now, while there may be conflicting views on this issue, the Bible makes it crystal clear that pardon and forgiveness of sins can only be granted by Jesus Christ, because His death for us on Calvary effectually removed the need for any human intermediary. And thus we can now go boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy. In addition to this statement of fact, we should also be aware that one of the most important subjects directly addressed in the first angel’s message of Revelation 14, is that of the investigative judgment now taking place as we speak.

And since this judgment has to do with the eternal destiny of all people, it must of necessity include the forgiveness and blotting out of sins, an essential prerequisite for entrance into the pearly gates. Thus it behooves every individual living on planet earth, regardless of what religion, denomination, caste, creed, or cult we belong to, to fully understand the import and ramifications of this central truth, for our future depends on it. To begin with, there are some fundamental truths about forgiveness that we should understand from a scriptural standpoint, in order that we may proceed rationally, with further investigation on this matter, in a manner that will make us aware of the solemnity of the first angel’s message.

The first important point to observe is that the old system of using an earthly intermediary as a priest has been permanently nailed to the cross, and as such there is no need for us to confess our sins to a mortal man, just like ourselves. In other words, the death of Christ on the cross opened up a new and living way for all, so that we can go directly to Christ through the Holy Spirit, and confess our sins to Him. Let’s read:

1st Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

1st John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

These verses tell us with certainty that there is no need for penance, and the repetition of numerous prayers in an effort to secure the forgiveness and favor of God, for by His death, Christ has reconciled the entire human family back to God, if we accept Him, and were to follow His rules of engagement. This sacred truth, when it is adopted, lifts the heavy burdens of sin from off our shoulders, for now we can cast all our cares upon Jesus, who shed His blood to set us free. No more need to go through a bishop or priest with our most personal besetting sins, for no human being is to be made privy to our shortcomings, unless there is an issue involving someone who has been hurt by a wrong course of action. And even then, we are cautioned by Christ not to take the matter to a priest, bishop, pastor or elders, for Jesus gives us pertinent instruction on how all such matters should be handled, as pertains to forgiveness and reconciliation. Let’s read:

 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 an heathen man and a publican.

The next very important point for us to understand is that Christ has by His death, opened a door that no man can shut, and He has shut a door which no man can, nor should attempt to open. The door that has been opened up is the one that leads us to the most Holy place, where Christ is now interceding on behalf of those who walk through that specific door, by faith, and where forgiveness and blotting out of sins take place. Now brethren, we are constrained by God to break some disturbing news to the world at large, for if any individual were to go through any other door for any reason, after having come to a knowledge of this sacred truth, forgiveness of sins will be nowhere to be found. The seriousness of the first angel’s message is not nearly comprehended as it ought to be, so we are obliged to put it bluntly, so that what is about to be stated from the Bible will be understood in clear and unmistakable terms.

If any person has read, and understood from the Bible that there is only One Mediator between God and man, which is Christ Jesus, and then continues to take his or her sins to a priest, or bishop seeking absolution and forgiveness, all such sins will remain untouched in the books of heaven, and will stand to witness against that person in the judgment, for the simple fact that they continued to go through the wrong door. A deliberate decision to enter through the wrong door will end in sins not being forgiven, and thus our transgressions which remain, cannot ever be blotted out. This is one of the important, solemn truths, shining in a dark place, in the context of the first angel’s message, waiting to be heralded by the remnant who are supposedto give the trumpet a certain sound. Let’s read:

John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he  goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

6 This”….. “spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.  

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

During the dark ages, comprising the 1260 years of papal supremacy, the Bible was kept away from the multitudes, and it was chained to monasteries, so that the people were left in spiritual darkness. And in addition to this, it was predetermined by bishops, priests, prelates and popes, that the scripture could only be understood, and rightly interpreted by the clergy, and because of this, whatever the spiritual leaders back then presented to the people, was thus received as a God-send, not to be investigated, or even queried. However, since that time, the Bible has been made widely available to the masses, so that right here in America, most Christian homes now have at least one Bible at their disposal, so that we are without excuse.  

In our homes we have different doors for gaining access to various amenities. We have the garage door if we need to reach our cars, and we have the bathroom door if we want to have a shower. Then again we have bedroom doors for if we need to have a good night’s rest. Thus, if we need to use our cars to make an emergency trip to the doctor, we would not use the bathroom door, for as far as we know, there are no vehicles parked there. And if we need restful sleep, then the correct door to use will be the bedroom door, for there our souls may find rest. But for us to believe that Christ will park an S.U.V in the bedroom just because we believe that transportation can be found there, will not change the dynamic, because the garage is for vehicles, the bathroom is for showers, the kitchen for food, and the bedroom door is used so that we may find rest.

Therefore, if any individual goes through the wrong door of priests and bishops, seeking forgiveness of sins through their mediation, after having learned of the truth which clearly designates Christ as our own High Priest, they too, will find no forgiveness of sins whatsoever, and all of the transgressions that were ever confessed under such a system, by those Christians who have known better, will remain in the records of heaven untouched, and unpardoned, if the right changes and corrections are never made. This sacred truth, and the eternal consequences of our choices and decisions in this matter, should be thoroughly understood in the context of the first angel’s message, which brings to light the solemnity of the investigative judgment, now taking place at this very moment, as we speak. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;

3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.

Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

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.

There is not a single mention in any of these verses, of even a hint or suggestion, that we must confess our private sins and weaknesses to any mortal man, for as we read these verses, it becomes very clear, that forgiveness of sins is all about Christ, who is to be the center of our focus, our faith and our utmost admiration. But when our focus is removed from Jesus’ ministry of forgiveness, and the blotting out of sins in the Most Holy place, and we instead place our attentions on a sinful mortal like ourselves, we put ourselves in a position where the mediation of Christ in our behalf becomes of no avail, and thus the entire gospel becomes a dead letter, not being able to produce the fruit of the Spirit in us, nor the cleansing from all unrighteousness that is essential to us being granted an entrance into God’s eternal kingdom of glory.

 These sacred truths are urgently to be dispensed, for there is about to be a very rude awakening, in which millions of Christians will realize too late, that pinning our hope of salvation on the forgiveness of a mere mortal man, has cost us eternity, hence the reason why the following instructions, and the dire warnings are coming to us from God today. Under a veneer of pseudo piety and humbleness, millions are succumbing to the beast, whose deadly wound was healed, and just as Christ stated in His words of warning, the popular majority are all now following blindly, where the beast leads the way.

When the Bible teaches us to walk humbly with God, it is not referring to the habit of driving around in little cars, instead it has to do with the complete surrender of our persons to Christ, His institutions, and His laws, by which He alone is exalted, and we follow wherever He may lead. This type of godly humility will lead us to surrender our preconceived ideas of truth and duty, in favor of “It is written”. Thus the following prophecies and warnings given in the Bible, are addressed squarely to our generation, which is on the verge of those climactic events that are scheduled to shake the very foundations of our society as we know it, in the very near future. Let’s read:

2nd Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea”… “and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

2 “And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of

 life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

Now brethren, in lieu of these prophecies which are now being fulfilled before our very eyes, even as we speak, it becomes necessary for us to present in the clearest terms, and in three simple steps, what the process of forgiveness is, and how remission, and the blotting out of our sins must be accomplished, according to the scriptures. The Bible does not only point out problems, but it also gives us the solution, and thus, the following verses of scripture, when adopted, will grant us not only forgiveness of sins, full and free, but will also grant to us an abundant entrance into the eternal abodes of bliss, when The Lord comes to claim His own.

[1] We must first confess our sins directly to Christ, not to man, and we must do so with the intention of forsaking our sins, through the enabling power of the Holy Ghost, who is granted to all who believe. Let’s read:

1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight”…..

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

[2] We must be willing to walk in obedience to all of God’s commandments, including the fourth, for God sent Jesus Christ into the world to save us from our sins, not in our sins. Thus, The Holy Spirit takes up residence in the hearts of all those Christians, whose purpose it is obey God. This aspect of God’s ongoing forgiveness through Christ cannot be emphasized enough, especially in our day when a cheap form of grace which countenances grave sins, is now being peddled across the land. Let’s read:

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

1st John 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the

love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance”… “and forgiveness of sins.

32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

[3] If we continue on in the first two steps outlined, all of our sins will finally be blotted out, when Christ is finished with the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. As the ancient sanctuary was cleansed on the Day of Atonement, when the earthly high priest took all the confessed and forsaken sins of the people, and placed them upon the head of the scapegoat, just so, when our sins are finally blotted out, Christ will take them and place them upon the head of satan, the antitypical scapegoat. And here is a sure method of knowing whether our sins have been blotted out as yet; if we can remember any of our sins, it means that they have not been blotted out as yet. It’s that simple! Let’s read:

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.

(The Great Controversy. Pp. 620) Had not Jacob previously repented of his sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud, God would not have heard his prayer and mercifully preserved his life. So, in the time of trouble, if the people of God had unconfessed sins to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed; despair would cut off their faith, and they could not have confidence to plead with God for deliverance. But while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins have gone beforehand to Judgment, and have been blotted out; and they cannot bring them to remembrance.

The last important point for our consideration is that when we forgive those who have trespassed against us, and when the Bible says that whatever sins are remitted on earth, are remitted in heaven, The Lord would have us understand that He always retains the last word, and ultimately decides who is to be a recipient of forgiveness, because the final word always remains with God, and never with man. For instance, when Jesus was dying on the cross, He spoke those timeless words to those who pierced, and mocked Him saying, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”. But under close investigation, we find that the prayer was never answered for many of the same people, because some of them refused to follow through on the other scriptural stipulations, which would have caused that prayer to become a living reality. Some did not confess, and others did not repent, and thus many of them prevented God from fulfilling Christ’s petition on their behalf. Let’s read:

Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him”….

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

In closing, there is a very interesting commentary on this very point, written by the servant of The Lord in the book Great Controversy. Pp. 666 and 667. The multitudes of the lost are now gathered for the last great final conflict, and every human being that has ever lived upon the earth is alive for the first time together. Let’s read:

As soon as the books of record are opened, and the  eye of Jesus looks upon the wicked, they are conscious of every sin which they have ever committed. They see just where their feet diverged from the path of purity and holiness, just how far pride and rebellion have carried them in the violation of the law of God. Above the throne is revealed the cross; and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam’s temptation and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan of redemption…. “The awful, mysterious agony in Gethsemane, beneath the crushing weight of the sins of the whole world; his betrayal into the hands of the murderous mob; the fearful events of that night of horror,—the unresisting prisoner, forsaken by his best-loved disciples, rudely hurried through the streets of Jerusalem; the Son of God exultingly displayed before Annas, arraigned in the high priest’s palace, in the judgment hall of Pilate, before the cowardly and cruel Herod, mocked, insulted, tortured, and condemned to die,—all are vividly portrayed.

And now before the swaying multitude are revealed the final scenes,—the patient Sufferer treading the path to Calvary; the Prince of Heaven hanging upon the cross; the haughty priests and the jeering rabble deriding his expiring agony; the supernatural darkness; the heaving earth, the rent rocks, the open graves, marking the moment when the world’s Redeemer yielded up his life.

The awful spectacle appears just as it was. Satan, his angels, and his subjects have no power to turn from the picture of their own work. Each actor recalls the part which he performed”….. “The weak, time-serving Pilate; the mocking soldiers; the priests and rulers and the maddened throng who cried, “His blood be on us, and our children!”—all behold the enormity of their guilt. They vainly seek to hide from the divine majesty of His countenance, outshining the glory of the sun, while the redeemed cast their crowns at the Saviour’s feet, exclaiming, “He died for me!”

Now brethren, if Jesus, as our One and only High Priest and Mediator, forgave those soldiers who pierced Him, and yet their sins still remained in the books of heaven to condemn them in the judgment, how is it that we are now expected to believe that a mere mortal priest or bishop can absolve anyone of their guilt and sins, through the administration of confessionals and absolution. There is absolutely a profound disconnect between what we have just read, and what we are now seeing in the current beatification of men and women, and in the age old practice of presuming to exalt mortals to sainthood. God is now calling His people out of that system of worship and forgiveness which is not productive of any good, and it’s His will that as we study and learn of these important truths, that we may step up to the plate, by following the instructions given in His word on these issues.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to look to Jesus alone, for He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Let’s read:

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore 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,

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.

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau”….

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

22 But ye are come unto”… “the city of the living God”… “and to an innumerable company of angels.

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.

                       God bless!

The Snare Of Outward Appearance. Sabbath Afternoon 09/19/2015

The Bible has much to say about the snare of outward appearance, especially as it pertains to the tendency it has to affect the processes of decision-making. Beginning with our first parents, Adam and Eve, who succumbed to the deceptive arts of the evil one, because of his dazzling beauty and smooth sounding speeches, the habit of making decisions based on what appeals to our eyes has come down to us through history, causing the ruin of some of the world’s greatest leaders, from Jacob’s firstborn, Rueben, to Samson, to David, and from the ancient Hebrews to the Jewish leaders in Christ’s’ day. And now, as we’re standing upon the brink of eternity, the arch- enemy of God and man is scheduled to redouble his efforts, using the time-proven snare of outward appearance, to which millions have already succumbed, and will continue to fall for, if we do not reset the parameters by which we make our choices.

Our case study for today begins with Samuel and the children of Israel who demanded a king, instead of Jehovah, who had carried them on eagle’s wings from days of old. Having observed the customs and practices of other nations, they finally came to the aged Samuel with the proposal that he make them a king, even though they were keenly aware that it was not the will of God. This rude request greatly troubled the prophet, and he did what should be done whenever we are faced with unforeseen or dire circumstances, he took the matter to The Lord in prayer, asking for guidance in moving forward. To his inquiry God gave the answer that he should then acquiesce with the wishes of the people in making them a king, an ill-fated duty that he immediately set out upon. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.

7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Now, it is very important that we understand the dealings of God with us, His earth-born children, for when He tells Samuel to show them the manner of king that would reign over them, The Lord hoped that when it was revealed to them how the new  king will grind their faces in oppression, and how he would take advantage of their sons, daughters, and resources, that they would think twice, and reason soberly from cause to effect, and hopefully retract their ill-advised request. But, as is so often the case when we insist on having our own way, in spite of God’s revealed will to the contrary, they stubbornly insisted that the request go through, even though severe suffering and remorse would be their lot. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 8:11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive yards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.

19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

Thus it was, with great sorrow and forebodings of coming evils, that Samuel set out on his errand, to anoint the very first king of Israel. Now it’s critically important for us to understand that it was not any type of king they were looking for, because they had already formed an image in their minds of what their new king should look like. He should be a very tall, and handsome looking person, preferably a big muscular bodybuilder on steroids like Goliath, who would naturally instill fear in his foes, by his very person. His character would not matter that much, and even if they were to see serious flaws from the start, they were willing to overlook these traits in favor of having their own desire.

The same problem is now occurring in the political arena, where deep concerns about character and vitriol exist in the minds of many, as it pertains to certain candidates, but because of financial stature, or social standing, or an unprecedented popularity, many are now willing to overlook serious errors in judgment, in the one who fits in with their external imagery and desires. And the very same situation obtains when a man’s own preconceived idea of beauty, governs his decision- making processes. So that when sees an extremely good looking woman who fits the bill, in many instances, he will be willing to overlook very serious flaws in her character, by allowing her fatal beauty to override good common sense. And it’s only after they have tied the knot that he begins to go nuts, when he realizes too late that he just married an extremely, pretty fool. Let’s read:

Proverbs 11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

1st Samuel 9:1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

1st Samuel 10:20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken”…..

23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

No inquiry as to his credentials or qualifications were made, and no question about his character surfaces, so in the minds of the Hebrews, the deal is signed, sealed, and settled, all because of Saul’s commanding presence and because of his rare external features. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches us that this was one of the main reasons why most of the Jews rejected Christ as being the Messiah, for He did not fit the bill as far as externals go, and for this reason, the majority of the nation rejected Him, and would have nothing to do with His claim to be the Messiah. Let’s read:

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

John 7:40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

But apparently, not even the holy prophets were immune to the snare of outward appearance, for after Saul had passed off the stage of action, a new king was in the making, and Samuel was again sent to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to take over from the place where Saul had left off. Jesse’s sons were now called to the sacrifice, or anointing, and in harmony with the snare of outward appearance, Samuel is quick to announce that the first son to pass before him is undoubtedly The Lord’s anointed. Eliab’s presence makes a deep impression on the prophet’s mind and the same two features, his countenance, and stature are mentioned as reasons why Samuel jumps to a hasty conclusion. In this first hasty statement, Samuel utters something that is not at all true, and his words cause a temporary, spiritual embarrassment for him, which probably caused his credibility to come into question, in the minds of those assembled. In this instance he does not even wait for The Lord to make an input, since Eliab’s stunning appearance is made to override rational, deliberate thought. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16:4 And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of  the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.

The reason why these ten sons were passed before Samuel, beginning with the eldest, is because there is another aspect of “outward appearance” which is often allowed to bear sway over reason, and it has to do with seniority, by which those who are more advanced in years are deemed better suited to hold certain positions of national trust. While this may be true in some situations, we should understand that age is no barrier to service with God, and does not influence His decisions in any way, as far as a person’s suitability for office is concerned. The spiritual factors such as a willingness to serve, being humble and teachable, and a total dependence on omnipotent power and guidance are the credentials God looks for, whilst externals, such as intellectual accomplishments, social standing, and a person’s financial status, have no weight whatsoever in His decision-making processes.

Thus it was, that after Jesse’s ten sons had passed before Samuel, and The Lord had not chosen any of them, that Samuel was in a quandary as to who will be The Lord’s anointed, prompting him to ask Jesse if these were all his sons. It was then, and only then that the father remembered that he had another son, the youngest, who was out in the fields taking care of his sheep. This youngest son did not have the skills in war as the elder brothers had, and he did not have the benefit of association with the nation’s leading men, but he did have The Holy Ghost, which, in the sight of God was the most important credential of all, and it was this singular qualification that sealed the deal in the mind of God. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

A personage is scheduled to visit the United States of America soon, and he carries with him an aura of holiness and some of the same external features, which had caused the ancient Hebrews, and even Samuel to make wrong choices. His spiritual stature is like Saul’s, “From the shoulders up, higher than all the people”, and his countenance is like Eliab’s, of the sort to cause the multitudes to make hasty ill-advised decisions. And like the Hebrews of old, we are in grave danger of repeating the same words then spoken “God save the king”. Hence the reason why the explicit warning from God concerning him is to be found in the very same rebuke which was spoken to Samuel, when he inadvertently stated of Eliab, that The Lord’s anointed was before him. This dire warning coming from the Almighty God must be understood in the context of what will soon take the world by storm. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16:7 “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Some may be questioning in their minds, why such a serious warning about an apparently meek person who has the adoration of millions across the globe, and others may be hard pressed to see through the messages of love, forgiveness, and mercy, someone who is diabolically opposed to the God of heaven. It is therefore important that the following scriptures which explain the reasons why, be understood with clarity in our minds, lest like Samuel, we also reach the conclusion that “The Lord’s anointed is before Him”. Let’s read:

Mark 2:7  Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

2nd Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter”… “as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Not because a person, or a spiritual leader may visit the poor and less fortunate, or visit prisoners in jail, or take in refugees, does it mean to say that he or she has the stamp of God’s approval, for all of these good and charitable deeds can be externals which are used to validate one’s spiritual credibility. To usurp the position and authority of God, and to

speak blasphemies, is to claim the power to forgive sins, something which only the God of heaven can do, and thus any person who makes such a claim is directly undermining the High Priestly ministry of Christ, who alone has both the power and authority to forgive, and to blot out all sins. These truths then leads us to the next verses of scripture God is calling our attention to, and it is His will that we decide and choose according to what is written in His word alone. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25 Behold, I have told you before.

26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.

2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him”…

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts”…

1st John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Revelation 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? ....

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

And now brethren and sisters and people across the nation and across the globe, the time has now come for certain truths to be finally exposed, since they have been hidden under a bushel for way too long. The ancient Hebrews hid the light of truth and duty, contained in the commandments of God, from the world, holding it as a peculiar national treasure, all the while the world sat in moral darkness as to what God requires. A similar situation has now obtained in many churches, by which the dire warnings and loving entreaties of God have similarly been hid under a maze of protectionism, and by so doing, millions in our day are left to follow blindly where satan leads the way. But the time is now, when the inhabitants of the earth must be made aware of  what is to transpire in the near future, and the necessary preparations and decisions which will be incident to those eventful days. Let’s read:

(The Great Controversy pp. 623 and 624) Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of Heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing, and will profess to have revelations from Heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures.  As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ.

The church has long professed to look to the Savior’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. [Revelation 1:13-15.] The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air, “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands, and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed his disciples when he was upon the earth.

His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying, This is “the great power of God.”

Now brethren and listeners, in lieu of these things which will certainly come to pass, it behooves every sober, thinking person to beware of the ploy to use the messages of forgiveness and mercy to woo millions of unsuspecting victims, into the web of lies and falsehoods which has been disseminated by Babylon and its agents, for if we make decisions based on popularity and other external outward appearances, we are certain to fall into the snare which will engulf the overwhelming majority of the world. We therefore end with a plea coming from The Most High, that we be not deceived by outward appearances, for God looketh on the heart. Let’s read:

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His word.

                   God bless!

The Rule Of Law. Sabbath Afternoon. 09/12/2015

The Bible teaches us that the law of God has been given as the rule and guide of life for all individuals, and as the various issues on morality and spirituality begin to take center stage, there are some very soul searching, and fundamental questions we will have to ask ourselves, as it pertains to the prioritization of our loyalties, whether God will come first, or man will bear sway. One of the issues that is brought to bear in the first angel’s message, is that of everyone being held accountable for the deeds done in the body, a topic which is scarcely ever mentioned from the prominent pulpits of the day, but one which will ultimately determine the eternal destiny of millions. In defending the actions of the courts over the past two weeks, many have argued that it is now the law of the land, and as such must be obeyed without question.

Another point that has often been raised is that we are a nation of laws, and therefore are duty bound to obey the dictates of the courts, even if we differ on the moral substance and validity of its decisions. Now while it is true that Christians are cautioned in the Bible to render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, God will have us understand that there are times when Caesar’s requirements will conflict with His law, and then we will have to choose to obey either God or man. The term “Caesar”, refers to any earthly government that God has brought upon the stage of action, or that has been permitted to rule over the people under its jurisdiction. Any which way, the Bible makes it clear that kings, presidents, and all earthly rulers come into power either by the permissive, or providential will of God. This is a very fundamental and important fact which needs to be thoroughly understood before we proceed, because there is a general tendency in most secular leaders, to forget that it’s because of God why they are in power, even if in some cases the rulers may choose to do evil. Let’s read:

Exodus 9:13 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God”… “Let my people go, that they may serve me.

16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

Psalm 75:5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Isaiah 40:1 Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.

Now, it is important for us to understand that the statement which is often made, that says “We are a nation of laws” is quite commendable, for it clearly suggests that we live by the rule of law. Whenever a new president is sworn into office, the Bible is used, and in the pledge of allegiance to the state, we use the words “One nation under God”, and again, on our dollar bills are printed the words, “In God we trust”, suggesting that the moral law of God should be the template used in issuing court decisions and reaching conclusions. If this ceases to be the case, then we would be no different to other nations, for under closer examination, we will find that everynation under heaven can claim to be a nation of laws, for they each have their specific institutions and codes which govern their peoples, even though in many cases their laws may vary from ours. North Korea, Saudi Arabia, China, India, Pakistan, Jamaica and Trinidad all fall under that very same category. Even the Taliban can claim to be a nation of law, so the real question to be answered is whether or not we are a nation of “Just” laws, and whether or not our laws are in harmony with the greater moral law of God, thus making us uniquely distinct from other nations which do not profess Christianity as their foremost religion.

For instance, under a strict interpretation of Sharia law, some of the behaviors that are permitted and some which are forbidden, will make those of us who live in the west cringe with rage, but whatever might be our reaction, in some parts of the world it is the law of the land, and therefore, if we are to pick up on the same trend of thought that is now obtaining here in the national debate on marriage, then whatever the law of the land is in other parts of the world, we must not become incensed if it does not bode well with our modes of thought and action. Let’s read:

Under a strict interpretation of Sharia law, theft is punishable by amputation of the right hand, and criticizing or denying any part of the Quran is punishable by death.

• A Muslim who becomes a non-Muslim is punishable by death.

• A man can marry an infant girl and consummate the marriage when she is 9 years old.

• A woman can have 1 husband, but a man can have up to 4 wives.

 A man can unilaterally divorce his wife but a woman needs her husband's consent to divorce.

• A man can beat his wife for insubordination.

• A woman who has been raped cannot testify in court against her rapist(s).

• A woman cannot drive a car, as it leads to fitnah (upheaval).

• A woman cannot speak alone to a man who is not her husband or relative.

Then if we were to travel to North Korea, we will come across a completely different set of national laws, some of which may seem very cruel in nature, because the freedoms and liberties we now enjoy here, are largely forbidden by the current “Caesar” of that country. Again, if we were to take a flight to Haiti, Jamaica, or Italy, or Russia, we will find other constitutions or laws, some of which we strongly disagree or agree with. So if we were to go with the current view, that whatever it is, it’s the law of the land, and must therefore be implicitly obeyed, then we would have to keep quiet, when women and girls are prevented from getting an education in some countries, for it is the “law of the land”.

It becomes evident that the real issue at stake is not whether or not we are a nation of laws, but rather, whether our laws are just, and in harmony with the great principles of the righteousness laid down in the Bible, but to merely claim that we are a nation of laws is an abstract and subjective statement at best, if left to stand on its own merit. When God tells us to render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, He was not thereby giving “Caesar” the freedom to do whatsoever he pleased, regardless of what the great moral law states, for the Bible shows us time and time again, that Jehovah at times calls Caesar to account for deeds that are committed and legislated, contrary to His statutes, even if “Caesar” has never entered into any formal relationship with God.

When Nebuchadnezzar of ancient Babylon defied

 the God of heaven on different occasions, The Lord finally gave him an ultimatum which would result in him eating grass for seven years, if no changes were made, so that he could understand that The Most High rules in the kingdom of men. What is worthy of note in this and other similar instances, is that the king never claimed to be a Christian, and this fact was not taken into account by God either, because as far as The Lord is concerned, there is absolutely no difference between a Christian or a pagan when it comes to the issue of accountability, hence the reason why He intruded into Nebuchadnezzar’s thoughts with a reality check that would resonate with kings and secular leaders for many generations to come. Let’s read:

Daniel 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar”…. “and before him I told

the dream, saying,

10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.

Thus we have the clearest evidence in the previous verses, that Nebuchadnezzar was held to account by a much higher standard than the law of the land in Babylon, for if he were to be judged by the laws and statutes of his realm, he would have gotten off free, but when he was judged by the higher law of God, which is the gold standard for every created being, he was found guilty, and as such, was made to eat grass for seven long years. Thus, the issues that will be decided in the final conflict, within the domain of every heart, and also within the national arena is whether to hold the great moral law of God as the ultimate standard of conduct, or whether the laws of men, which in some instances are in direct opposition to the Bible will be allowed to bear sway. No one living in the last days of this earth’s history will be able to avoid the coming diabolical conflict, for according to the book of Revelation, everyone living on the planet must of necessity take sides, for there will be no such thing as sitting on the fence as mere spectators. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the

midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

The issue of accountability figures prominently in the first angel’s message, and states that the hour of God’s judgment has come, not “Will come”. This then means that currently as we are speaking here today, names of individuals are being called in the heavenly courts, and their eternal destiny is being decided, based on the rule of God’s immutable law. This is what the prophets, and even Christ Himself cautioned us about, for earth’s inhabitants are to be held to a much higher standard than whatsoever might be the current laws of the land. The gravity of this situation is not nearly understood, even by many Christians, and it is for this reason why some people have gone overboard, and taken iniquity to another level. But the word of God will stand, even if we do not believe it, for its fulfillment has never been tethered to the philosophies and opinions of mortal man. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow”….

10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books

were opened.

2nd Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men”….

Revelation 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 “And they were judged every man according to their works.

For very many years, Jesus Christ has been looked upon as One who waits in subjection as the human agent passes laws and modifies behaviors, based upon the desires of the carnal heart, and One who is too loving and kind to judge, because of His great love for humanity. But the first angel’s message begins with the words “Fear God”, because the very same Jesus who humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, so that He might save us from our sins, is the very same Jesus who is now judging us in the heavenly courts, and the decisions of that court will never, ever be reversed. Thus it behooves us to make those choices and decisions that are in harmony with the greater moral law, so that our practice, and expectations of eternal life can both be aligned and realized, as the hour of judgment draws to a close. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms this sacred truth, and it is the will of God that everyone be advised by what is written in His word, pertaining to the rule of law. Let’s read:

Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                        God bless!

The Kentucky Clerk, And The Mark Of The Beast. Sabbath Afternoon. 09/05/2015

This past week was filled with some very disturbing developments which every thinking person will be wise to carefully consider, for the implications are much more far-reaching than the state of Kentucky, and point us unmistakably to the institution of the mark of the beast. The very concept of the mark is embodied in the experiences and decisions which took place, and therefore, what we have before our faces in miniature form, is what the implementation of the mark of the beast will look like in the very near future. We will like to take this opportunity to advise and caution our Sunday-keeping brethren and friends, and also those who keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, that the many fanciful interpretations of the mark of the beast, which are proposed by the overwhelming majority of Christian theologians, is not what the Bible defines it as.

 As a matter of fact, the issue is centered around obedience to either God, or the laws of the state, whenever there is a conflict between the two, and thus the issue of worship figures prominently in the mark of the beast, being an integral part of serving God or man. As Christians, the Bible tells us that we have a moral obligation to obey the laws of state, if they do not force us to violate the higher, and much more important commandments of God, whenever and wherever this is possible, for all Christians are to be found faithful as citizens of earth and heaven. But when man-made laws presume to overreach into the arena of our sacred duty to obey God, then we are counseled in the Bible to obey God rather than men, for this very issue will decide the eternal destiny of millions across the globe.

It is imperative therefore that we have a very clear understanding of the issues at stake, so that we may be prepared preemptively to withstand the forces of evil that are arrayed against our souls.

There is no precedent, command, or instruction in the word of God which authorizes any mortal man or woman to unite two people of the same gender in unholy matrimony, for not only does the Lord forbid such brazen actions, but He also commanded in ancient times, that whoever presumes to indulge in such activities, as well as other specific sexual prohibitions, should be put to death. Therefore the attempt to characterize this current, diabolical conflict between truth and error, as a person’s civil rights, is not in harmony with sound doctrine. God ordained in His word that all men and women be treated equally, once it is done in accordance with that which He has commanded, but to try to include same-sex marriage under the same umbrella, is an act of rebellion against the King of Kings. Let’s read:

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Now while it is true that we are not living under a theocracy anymore as a nation, yet our individual accountability to God still stands, and whereas we are not to prevent any person from making their own individual choices, yet we must be aware that no one is authorized to force us to subscribe to a course of action that is clearly forbidden in the Bible. If the Kentucky clerk was just required to put the state’s stamp of approval on the gay marriage licenses, then the onus would be on the state, but to require her to put her personal signature on such documents, will make her a participant in the evil, and under no circumstances should she comply. The problem is what does she do next? Should she able to continue working under such conditions, where a conscientious violation of God’s law, and her own conscience is a part of her job description? Or does she relinquish her position, and thereby risk the possibility financial difficulties. These choices are what will be included in the mark of the beast when it bursts upon the stage of action. Let’s read:

Kim Davis stands firm on same-sex marriage; the Kentucky clerk stays in jail.

By Eliott C. McLaughlin and Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN

(CNN) Rowan County, Kentucky, clerk Kim Davis was given a second chance: She didn't have to issue same-sex marriage licenses herself; she merely had to agree not to interfere with five deputy clerks who had told the federal judge they'd issue them in her stead. Staver later told CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper" that Davis would issue licenses if her name and title were not on them. "Because that in her understanding and mind, is authorizing something that is contrary to her Christian values and convictions," he said. "That's where the conscience rub is."

To put one’s own signature on a document will be to essentially endorse what that document says, and therefore the Kentucky clerk is absolutely right in refusing to bow to the powers that be. If a man was to put his signature on a stolen check, he will be found guilty of endorsing fraudulent activity, even if he did not want to sign it. And we are not to be deceived into thinking that this issue will go away anytime soon, for according to the book of Revelation, the issue of whom we obey and whom we worship will metastasize from the public arena to the private sector, to include pastors, laity, public and private organizations, atheists and Christians, families and individuals, and every person who will be living on the planet when the apocalyptic beast rears its head. Absolutely no one will be exempt, and therefore, what is taking place in Kentucky is what will soon be coming our way in the very near future. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

The beasts here referred to are not those cryptic looking creatures that are often depicted in places where the prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation are investigated. These beasts represent specific world powers and nations of the earth, which are the focus of the prophecies dealing with their varied activities. Thus the “First beast” whose deadly wound was healed represents papal Rome, which received a deadly wound in A.D 1798, when the then ruling pope was taken prisoner by the French, and died in captivity. Since that time, there has been a revival of the same dogmatic principles by which the papacy had ruled by fiat during the dark ages, and these same policies and practices have been gradually adopted by the lamb-like beast in the passage.

 Thus, in accordance with the principle of coercion, the lamb-like beast is scheduled to use any means to try to force all Christians and secular folk to do its bidding, on pain of financial persecution and other economic sanctions, and finally death, for all who resolutely refuse to comply. This is the essence of what we are now witnessing in a nutshell with the Kentucky clerk who was jailed for non-compliance with the laws of state, which are in opposition to the law of God. And even though at present, it may seem as if the issue is relegated to the issue of marriage, yet the lamb-like beast is scheduled to spread its tentacles to the area of worship, where a specific, man-made day of worship, together with a set of religious dogmas will be enforced, with all dissenters having their economic privileges being denied and finally permanently cut off, to the point where literal starvation, or trust in God will be the only two remaining options on the table. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

The separation of church and state is critical to the maintenance of our religious liberty, and thus, our freedom to disagree on matters of conscience and the law of God, should never be tied to a person’s credit cards or bank accounts. But according to the prophecies in Revelation, and in harmony with what is now taking place with the Kentucky clerk, the lamb-like beast of Revelation 13 is scheduled to change what many have taken for granted for so long, and the issues of worship and obedience will be inseparably linked to one’s economic activities, so that non-compliance will result in material loss, and finally life itself, in some cases. This is the issue before our faces, and this is the reason why all Christians everywhere, together with all secular folk should now understand the ramifications of the decisions and current actions of the courts. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

In the third book of John is outlined the three fundamental aspects of our existence as human beings, as it pertains to God’s good will for us, for we are multifaceted in our being, and it is the will of God that all three aspects of our existence be well balanced and fine-tuned, in harmony with His will and purposes for us. The passage in question deals with prosperity, health, and spiritual well-being, all which contribute to our happiness in the here and now, and pertain directly to our destiny in the great hereafter. These three aspects of our existence are thus represented in the mark of the beast, whose numerical value is 666. But one by one, we are seeing each aspect being brought under the direct control of the state, to the point where many Christians are now being forced to adopt principles, practices, and guidelines that can all have adverse effects in the temporal and spiritual realm. Let’s read:

3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Prosperity, which is the first aspect mentioned, is already being governed and mandated to a large extent by the states, so that if corporations, and firms do not adhere to state guidelines in certain matters of conscience, they are prevented from doing any business, and are thus forced out of the market, or are otherwise squeezed into buckling under severe pressure from news media and social groups, who have adopted the popular opinion. A case in point is the incident in which a bakery was forced to make a wedding cake for a gay couple expecting to tie the knot shortly. Just as with the Kentucky clerk, the state used the principle of coercion mentioned in Revelation, in order to get the bakery to comply with its wishes, even though they conflicted with the owner’s religious beliefs. Thus their economic privileges would be cut off, just as Revelation states, if they refused, and the dire prospect of jail time would loom large. Let’s read:

Court Rules Baker Can’t Refuse to Make Wedding Cake for Gay Couple.

Decision is latest to limit the rights of religious business owners involved in wedding services

DENVER (AP) — A discrimination complaint over a Colorado bakery's refusal to make a wedding cake for a gay couple is being heard in a Denver court. At issue in the complaint from David Mullins and Charlie Craig against Masterpiece Cakeshop in suburban Denver is whether religious freedom can protect a business from discrimination allegations from gay couples. The bakery owner faces up to a year in prison if the court rules against him and he continues to refuse to make wedding cakes for gay couples.

Appeals court rules Colorado bakery can't refuse service to gay couple.

By Nick Gass. 08/13/15, 12:27 PM EDT

The Colorado Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that a dessert shop could not refuse service to a same-sex couple that wanted to order a wedding cake, affirming previous rulings. “Masterpiece remains free to continue espousing its religious beliefs, including its opposition to same-sex marriage. However, if it wishes to operate as a public accommodation and conduct business within the State of Colorado, CADA prohibits it from picking and choosing customers based on their sexual orientation,” Judge Daniel Taubman wrote.

The next aspect of our being mentioned by John is that of health, for he specifically says that God’s will for us is that we “Prosper and be in health”. But in this second “6”, here again too, the lamb-like beast is observed to be enforcing healthcare, to the point where our mandatory subscription is now the law of the land, and those who choose to differ on those standards, methods, and practices prescribed, are now penalized with heavy fines. In addition to these coercive policies, all who adopt the new law will be the subjects of man-made methods of healing and maintaining good health, systems that are known to be riddled with drugs, which in some cases do more harm than good. And thus, God’s methods of using natural remedies as a first resource, is now being exchanged for a system based on pharmaceuticals, and the effects are there before our faces, so that we can reason from cause to effect. Let’s observe the following samples of recalled drugs that have been taken off the shelves in recent months.

    Accutane     Actos     Celexa

    Chantix     Clomid     

    Crestor     Darvocet     Darvon     Depakote        

    Lamisil     Levaquin     Levitra

    Lexapro     

    Pradaxa     Prevacid

    Prilosec     Yasmin. Etc, etc.

Then according to Revelation 13, there is only one more shoe to drop, and that’s the institution of the national Sunday law, which is already on the books, just waiting to be enforced when the same lamb-like beast follows in the footsteps of the papacy. We are already experiencing the headwinds of such an action, which will also be addressed by the judiciary, just as the two previous aspects, prosperity and health care, were mandated. And similarly, just as the principle of coercion against one’s conscience was adopted in the cases of the baker and the now jailed Kentucky clerk, just so will a national form of worship be made the law of the land.

The mark of the beast, represented by the number 666, is just a man-made system of enforcing laws, which are fundamentally flawed, and that are in direct opposition to the revealed will of God. Man was created on the sixth day of the week, hence the triple sixes are representative of man-made efforts and alternatives to God’s perfect will for the human family.

In his visit to the United states later this month, pope Francais is scheduled to push for the adoption of Sunday, not only as the official day of rest, but also as a general family day, when the working classes, who have labored, and suffered extreme fear and stress from the recent upheavals in the stock market, can find peace and rest for one day out of the week. The concept is not bad in and of itself, the only problem is that Jehovah has already stipulated which day it should be, and therefore, to coerce one’s conscience to the contrary, with the threats of jail time, pecuniary fines, and cancelled economic privileges, will be akin to what we are now seeing in embryo form with the clerk from Kentucky.

It is therefore of critical importance for all of us as Christians, whether we be Sabbath-keeping or Sunday worshipers, to now fully understand the important issues that are at stake, so that we may be enabled to make informed decisions and choices as we move forward. The example of Peter and the other apostles are set forth in the scriptures as a template we should follow, when we are faced with similar circumstances, for obedience to the God of heaven is our foremost and highest duty, and after that, the laws of men, if they do not conflict with what God has specifically stated in His word. We therefore end with two passages of scripture which confirm both the certainty of the predictions made in God’s word, and the course of action prescribed, so that we may stand firmly for righteousness, amidst the storm that is about to envelope the entire globe. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”…..

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of”…..

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is  profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Acts 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council”….

28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? ….

29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what The Spirit saith unto the churches.    

                      God bless!

A Bishop Must! Sabbath Afternoon. 08/29/2015

The office of a bishop is one of the most sacred to devolve upon the shoulders of men, for it is fraught with eternal consequences for those who are under their care, and thus the spiritual qualifications and stipulations that are given in the scriptures must be closely followed and adhered to, in order that the cause of Christ may not suffer loss, and so that the sacred office might be a conduit for God’s saving grace to all the church and to the world at large. Furthermore, the Biblical instructions given are not only restricted to bishops and pastors, but they also extend out to all those who have been ordained as preachers and elders, deacons and televangelists, and everyone who is called by God, or otherwise assumes the sacred role of leader in one form or another, for it makes no difference whatsoever.

There are those who are ordained to preach, and then there are those who are permitted to preach, but any which way, the stipulations remain the same, because the eternal destiny of souls depend on the faithful administration of truth and duty in the one who is serving in such a sacred capacity. It is worthy of note that none of the twelve disciples of Christ were ever formally ordained by the religious leaders back then, for they received their calling directly from Christ, and as such they were to also fulfill the recommendations given in the scriptures. As Jesus walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw some fishermen mending their nets, and to them He addressed the words, “Follow me”.

 Then in another instance He saw a man working with the IRS, and again He called on him to leave his accounting work to follow where He would lead the way. Yet again, on another occasion, a particular person is not called by Christ, but intrudes himself into the inner circle of disciples, and as with any of the other disciples, he is permitted to preach. And the specific calls continued until there were twelve men from the common walks of life, whom Christ ordained and then sent out to preach.  Let’s read:

Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying”….

7 “As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of  heaven is at hand.

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Formal ordination by the church, as Christians are instructed to do in the scriptures, is good, and any person graduating from one of the most prestigious theological seminaries in the land, is quite a great  achievement, and should be encouraged whenever, and wherever possible. But The Lord will have us to understand that these certifications, in and of them selves, do not guarantee that the students are now ordained of God, for it is often the case that persons may graduate with a doctorate in theology, whilst they may have a failing grade in the Holy Ghost, yet the requirements as mentioned in the Bible must still apply. A very interesting commentary on this issue is penned by the servant of the Lord, and is worthy of our observation as we move forward with the presentation for today. Let’s read:

(Last day events pp. 204) The Comforter is to reveal Himself, not in any specified, precise way that man may mark out, but in the order of God—in unexpected times and ways that will honor His own name. He will raise up from among the common people men and women to do His work, even as of old He called fishermen to be His disciples. There will soon be an awakening that will surprise many. Those who do not realize the necessity of what is to be done will be passed by, and the heavenly messengers will work with those who are called the common people, fitting them to carry the truth to many places.

Laborers Qualified by the Holy Spirit.

In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged.... God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions. These facilities are not to be despised or condemned; they are ordained of God, but they can furnish only the exterior qualifications. God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals”.

Thus it is, that to all who assay to handle the sacred truths of God’s word, whether they are formally ordained, or are “Permitted” to preach, the sacred instructions and requirements will apply, and as we read, let us then consider where we are currently in our day, where a plethora of genuinely ordained, and self-proclaimed preachers and televangelists have overspread the land, some of whom specialize in a wide variety of smooth-sounding, tailor-made gospels that are being dispensed to the multitudes. Let’s read:

1st Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given

to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

A perusal reading of the previous verses tell us that we are in very serious trouble as it is currently, for not only have the sacred instructions been blatantly disregarded in many instances, but many bishops have gone a step further by incorporating political correctness, and secular agendas into the pulpit, and as a result, we have a greatly compromised gospel that has surfaced in our day, in which the sacred truths of God’s word have been substituted for a host of motivational speeches, by which those who sit in darkness are being flattered into a carnal sense of security, and heaven is being offered on terms that are not recognized nor endorsed by God.

In addition to all these discrepancies, we are also being faced with several instances of sexual abuse by prominent religious leaders, to the point where there are now thousands of cases locally and world-wide, where pedophiles and preachers are found to be wearing the same shoes, and the stipulation of “One female wife” as given in the scriptures, has now been interpreted to include two of the same gender. Thus, the sacred truths of God’s word are being handled, or mishandled by those who are walking directly contrary to what the Bible teaches.

 It cannot be emphasized enough, that it is of critical importance that the dissemination of God’s word be not mixed with spiritual cool-aid, which will then inevitably cause the spiritual demise of those who espouse and endorse such creeds. Most prominent among these teachings is the doctrine which states that God’s law was nailed to the cross when Jesus died on Calvary. This singular doctrine, more than any other has opened the floodgates of moral

abandon upon our world, for wherever there is no absolute moral standard, we become a law unto ourselves, with variable standards of right and wrong being espoused and cultivated from person to person. Thus, the argument often cited by many Christians, that the L.G.b.T community is harboring unscriptural views, is being signally overturned by the fact that we too have endorsed a day of rest that has no Biblical foundation.

Thus, Christians and gays are often found to be sailing in the same boat, by stating that God’s law is no longer valid. But the same God who wrote with His own finger, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” is the same God who said “Remember The Sabbath day to keep it holy”, and if we are found to be in violation of one of the commandments of God, we will by so doing disqualify ourselves from speaking up against other violations that occur in our society. This odd situation was addressed by Christ, with the hope that all who take the name of Christ may live in harmony with what is written, so that as bishops, elders, deacons, and spiritual leaders, we may be “Blameless”, as is written in the instructions given.   Let’s read:

Matthew 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 “First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Similarly, as Christians we can condemn the act of killing, of the two reporters who were shot dead on live T.V recently, by the deranged gunman, yet if we are found to be in violation of another of the same law, then we are in the same boat, for the apostle James addressed this issue directly, by stating that he who offends in one, offends in all, for God is the Author of all Ten commandments. The law against adultery, stealing, covetousness, and murder, also contains the Sabbath commandment, and therefore one cannot be surrendered in favor of the other, without us being held liable. Let’s read:

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

And now ladies and gentlemen, Christians, and fellow believers, straights and gays, seculars and pagans, friends and neighbors, we now present to you the honorable, sacred, and eternal law of Ten commandments, as written by the finger of God, and as we go through them, let us consider that they are given for our best good, and were written down in stone to show their permanence, and will be written in the hearts of all those who choose to be partakers of God’s saving grace, for this is the whole purpose and essence of the plan of salvation, as is written in the book of Hebrews. Let’s read:

Exodus 20:1 And God spake all these words, saying, 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

It is the will of God that every Christian, and every person who desires to be active partakers of God’s mercy and saving grace through Christ, now submit themselves to God, so that the principles of His law be indelibly etched into our consciences. God did not send His Son into the world, to die for our sins, so that we could continue in sin, so that grace may abound, for if that were the case, then it would have been better for us to die in our sins. We therefore end with four passages of scripture which show the purposes, uses, and validity of God’s law of Ten commandments, and it is the will of God that every sincere-hearted person now step up to the plate, and be counted, for God is now wrapping up the process of making up the citizens for His eternal kingdom of glory. Let’s read:

Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make”… “saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments,

that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

May the Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                        God bless!

Wrong, But Not Guilty! Sabbath Afternoon. 08/22/2015

The study for this afternoon has very far-reaching implications, for it presents a sort of paradox, in which a person may actually have done something wrong, but are not considered guilty in the sight of God. These situations occur more often than many realize, and if the law and will of God are not very clear in our minds, we will be driven to extremes, in either the letter or the spirit of the law. The law of God defines what sin is, and it will do us well to study very carefully when sin actually occurs, so that we may avoid it at all costs. There are instances where God has commanded individuals to do that which in and of itself is not lawful, but because they carried out His mandate they are not held as guilty.

And then there are other instances when the human agent has taken the initiative in doing or saying that which is wrong, but they are not regarded by God as being guilty. And it’s because this issue of being wrong and not guiltless is so sensitive and far reaching in nature, that we must approach this study with a humble and teachable spirit, willing to learn of Christ, and being willing to follow where He leads the way. Furthermore, it is critically important that we know the difference of the sin that is unto death, and that which is not, especially at a time when a knowledge of God’s law and His will is of supreme importance, both on a personal level, and also globally.

In the days of Christ, there was an incident in which His disciples were found plucking the ears of corn upon the Sabbath day, and the Pharisees became very upset at what they deemed a blatant violation of the fourth commandment, being condoned also by Christ. And thus after bringing it to His attention, Jesus was moved to address the issue, since it had to do with a fine balance between the letter and the spirit of the law, something which was seriously lacking in the understanding and interpretation of the scriptures by many of the Jewish leaders. The reason why it is therefore necessary for us to study this issue closely, is so that the letter is not made to cancel the spirit, and vice-versa. Let’s read:

Luke 6:1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;

4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?

5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

In this instance, David was being hunted as the nation’s most wanted man by king Saul, and being hungry and starving, he went into the house of God and asked for any bread that was available, but there was only the shewbread, which was strictly forbidden for anyone, other than the priests to partake of. But because David could not even go to the grocery to buy food for fear of being killed by Saul, he took the last resort and ate of the shewbread, which under different or normal circumstances, would be considered sin. Thus, in his explanation of this incident, Jesus declared that David did that which was wrong, but was not held guilty, because human life is of greater value than the shewbread which could easily be replaced. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 21:1 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

4 And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.

6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the Lord, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

Now, if there had been common bread available, and David still went ahead, and insisted on having the shewbread, then he would have been guilty of the sin of presumption, but because of the current circumstance, in which he had no other choice, he did that which was unlawful, but was guiltless. The question then is whether in similar dire situations, we too may do that which is unlawful, and yet be guiltless. This is a very sensitive topic, and must be approached reverently, lest we be destabilized in our concepts and practice, as is commonly the case with many Christians who may not understand the difference.

 Yet again, on the same occasion, the explanation or precedents cited by Christ deserve our undivided attention, for He again makes reference of the priests, who baked bread over the Sabbath hours, in harmony with the direct instructions of God, for them to put in fresh-baked bread every day, for the services and purposes of the sanctuary. It’s of great importance for us to note, that in both instances, Jesus does not say that what was done is right, for He uses the words “Not lawful” and “Profane”, words which imply that the deeds were wrong. The same words “Not lawful” are also used to describe Herod’s illicit sexual relationship with his brother’s wife, a sin that John the Baptist was moved upon to rebuke, albeit at the cost of his life. Let’s read:

Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for

 thee to have thy brother's wife.

19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man”…

Thus, in His explanations, Christ makes use of the same word, and declares that the priests profaned the Sabbath by baking bread over the sacred hours, but were guiltless in the sight of God. This raises the question of what constitutes sin in the sight of God, for in one instance, a man was stoned for gathering sticks upon the Sabbath day, whereas in another instance, the disciples are plucking corn and eating freely in the presence of Christ, and He declares them to be guiltless. Question: Where is the line of demarcation between doing wrong and being guiltless, and doing wrong and being guilty? This is a very serious question indeed, and must therefore be thoroughly investigated and understood by all who desire a knowledge of God’s law and His will. Let’s read:

Matthew 12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

The case study for this afternoon will center around Rahab, who was a known prostitute in her town, yet she had a faint knowledge of the true God, through the historical experiences of the Hebrew people. On one occasion, two spies were sent to search out the city where she lived, and in order to conceal their real intent, they gave the impression that they were going to have a rendezvous with her, in order to  conceal their real motives. So before we move on to Rahab, let’s begin first with the spies, who obviously deliberately gave the wrong impression to the men of that town, by going to the house of a harlot, and so the question is, were they wrong in deliberately planning this move? Was it deception? And if so, were they held guilty?

But Rahab also joined in with them, for news had come to the king that two spies were in town, and therefore he sent to her house to make inquiry as to their whereabouts, upon which Rahab proceeded to give a long story, complete with specific details on how they had come and left her premises, with the additional advice that the kings soldiers should pursue after them quickly, lest they should escape. All this time, the spies were hiding on her roof top, amongst the stalks of flax, and so both the spies and Rahab had studiously cooperated in giving a false impression, to those sought them. Again, the same question is asked: Is Rahab’s story defined as being a deception, and if so, was she guilty of wrong-doing? Before we address this question, let us read a detailed exposition on what actually constitutes deception, so that our conclusions may be in line with what is written. Let’s read:

(Patriarchs and Prophets. Pp 309)  “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”

False speaking in any matter, every attempt or purpose to deceive our neighbor, is here included. An intention to deceive is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually as by words. All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood. This precept forbids every effort to injure our neighbor’s reputation by misrepresentation or evil surmising, by slander or tale bearing. Even the intentional suppression of truth, by which injury may result to others, is a violation of the ninth commandment.

Joshua 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither tonight of the children of Israel to search out the country.

3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

Similar scenarios have actually been repeated so many times in the scripture, that it is now time to investigate what is God's view’ of the matter. In the days before the Exodus, pharaoh had commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill all the male children, and to save the girls alive. This mandate was then utterly disregarded by the midwives, for the law of God says “Thou shalt not kill”, and so the male children were being birthed, in violation of theking’s word. When he got wind of what was taking place, he sent to find out why the Hebrew midwives were violating the law of the land, and the reason they gave fall into the same category as Rahab’s experience. Let’s read:

Exodus 1:15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

Question: Was the response of the midwives wrong and was it considered a falsehood, and if so were they held guilty by God? Again, a similar situation unfolds as a large company of soldiers surround the house of the prophet Elisha, for he had warned the king of Israel on several different occasions, of the plots of the Syrian king to invade their territory. As the servant of the prophet sees the size of the army, and realizes that they are both outnumbered and cornered, he exclaims in dismay, “What shall we do”. Elisha then turns to the army and speaks to them, telling them that he is not the person they are looking for, and that they are in the wrong place, and he proceeds to lead them directly to the king of Israel. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 6:10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?

12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and

 compassed the city about.

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

Again the question is asked: Was it a falsehood that was uttered? Was Elisha wrong in saying what he said, and if so, was he guilty in God’s sight? To be guilty means to be held accountable for something wrong. So was he held accountable by God? And the much larger question to be answered is, what would Jesus have done, if He were placed in similar situations? Would He use short “Stories”, and what is His ideal for His children? Let’s read:

John 18:3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

Let us just make two observations here: (1) That God is leading us to a stage of spiritual maturity, in which we will speak only the perfect truth at all times and in all places, in spite of the consequences. Rahab, Elisha, and the midwives could have chosen to speak the perfect truth, but the only issue with that option is that deliverance is not guaranteed in every instance, and thus, a deliberate decision to be truthful under all circumstances, must be made by every Christian, and God will give us the enabling power to stand firm as a rock, but we must decide.  In other words, if we are squeezed on every side, or if we are shaken upside down, only the truth, and nothing but the truth will come out. God is a God of truth, and He desires nothing more than His people deal only in the currency of heaven.

 (2) It requires a very radical kind of faith to speak the perfect truth, when faced with dire, or life-threatening circumstances, when if we were to go with plan “B”, we may save ourselves and others from certain death. The condition of “No guile” as is described in the book of Revelation, in reference to the 144000, is not easily attained, and it brings to light our dire need of God’s grace and mercy, for as we review our lives with introspect lenses, we see where like Rahab, we too have made up “Stories”, from time to time, and probably with the best of intentions, and like her we have been placed in situations where plan “B” seemed as the only viable alternative on the table.

But God is guiding us into all truth, and as such He may permit certain circumstances to come our way, in which we may have opportunity to practice being truthful, and speaking nothing but the perfect truth. This is the preparation that is now needed by all, so that no guile may be found in our mouths. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:1 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.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

(Excerpts from The Great Controversy pp 622 & 623).  The “time of trouble such as never was,” is soon to open upon us; and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess”… Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. He had kept his Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.

Let us therefore earnestly seek to cultivate an atmosphere of truthfulness and frankness, putting away all petty lies and various types of fraud, so that our faces and our hearts may be radiant and resplendent with the spirit of truth. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to be truthful, and even though we may have been wrong, but not guilty in the past, let us endeavor by the grace of God, to be like Jesus in thought, word, and deed, for this is God’s ideal for all Christians. Let’s read:

Psalm 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me”….

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                       God bless!

The Third Angel's Message Personalized. Sabbath Afternoon. 08/15/2015

The third angel’s message given in Revelation chapter 14, represents one of the most serious warnings ever given to mortals, for it states that if any person were to accept the mark of the beast for any reason, that individual’s probation will be immediately closed forever, with no possibility whatsoever of that person ever being saved. In other words, to accept the mark in one’s right hand or in the forehead, would be essentially to sign on to a death sentence, from which not even Christ could rescue us. This is the reason why it is given in such stern language, so that all the inhabitants of the earth may understand what is at stake, and also the eternal consequences of the decisions then made, pertaining to the issue. It is therefore necessary for this message not to be watered down or made pretty and appealing, lest we lessen its force, and thereby cause the inhabitants of earth to regard it lightly. Let’s read:

 Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them,  saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.

Now it is true that the main issue at stake here is worship and by accepting the mark, individuals will be giving their allegiance to the prince of this world, whilst those who receive the seal of God’s approbation, and who refuse the mark, will thereby signal their commitment to serve The Living God alone. In this decision there is no such thing as straddling the fence, by which we hold onto Christ with one hand, whilst we cling to the world and our economic freedoms with the other. There are only two camps that can be developed in the last great final conflict, and it’s those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith and testimony of Jesus Christ; and those, who by accepting the mark of the beast in their

Right hand or forehead, will deliberately choose the only other option on the table, that of serving satan. This is the reason why in the previous chapter, only two groups are focused on, for there will not be any neutral ground when it comes time to decide on this momentous issue. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast”….

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the

means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a

 man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Now, it is true that because the final conflict centers on worship, it follows logically that the issues at stake must pertain to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, for the spurious Sabbath that is held as a sacred legacy by most Christians, stands in direct opposition to that of the Bible, and since most evangelicals and protestants have no problem with the other nine, the issue of worship will be determined by the most controverted and forgotten one, of the laws contained in the Decalogue. As it stands, there are millions of sincere Christians across the globe, who really do not know that the seventh day Sabbath is still valid, and that it is the only day held sacred by The God of the universe.

 Sunday sacredness has been handed down from generation to generation as a sacred legacy, and many have followed in its train, without investigating its origins or whether there is any scriptural basis for keeping it. But the time has now fully come for the spurious day to be unmasked, and that’s why God is now making an urgent appeal to the citizens of earth, to be very careful what we do, and who we worship, lest we be found putting darkness for light, and light for darkness, thus following blindly where only tradition leads the way. To set the record straight, God has never instituted any change in the day of worship sanctified at creation, and there is no scripture which teaches us of another day. The decision to hold an ordinary day (Sunday) as being sacred is a child of the Roman papacy, and has behind it none other authority than that of mortal man.

 God did not institute the Sabbath at Creation, to get rid of it at the cross, only to reinstitute it again in the earth made new, for this is directly contrary to His manner of working, in which consistency and unchangeableness, are visible, active attributes of His character. Furthermore, God has singled out the Sabbath commandment, as the one we should be especially careful not to violate or disregard, for it contains both His name and office, and also the territory which He governs. Let’s read:

 Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the

 old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

However, as stated before, the purpose of the study is not mainly to determine from the scriptures which day is the correct day of worship, but rather to bring the issue of the mark of the beast to the home-front on a much more personal level. Currently, there are thousands of Sabbath-keepers who have great intellectual knowledge pertaining to the warning given in Revelation, and there are many others who can probably rattle off from the top of their heads, all of the pertinent, historical data, in regard to Sunday worship, yet in heart and practice many of us may be actively preparing ourselves to receive the very same mark, we have warned others of. This very sad scenario was alluded to by the prophet Jeremiah, as he wrote with solemn pathos of the last days of earth’s history. Then again, the very same issue was raised by Christ, as with prophetic vision, He saw many Christians in earth’s final hours, clinging to tradition instead of the Holy Scriptures, hanging on for dear life to a hope that was built in castles made of sand. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 8:19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country

20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt”.. “astonishment hath taken hold on me.

Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west,

 and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Thus it is, that God will have us to understand that, even though the mark of the beast centers around the issue of worship, on a personal level it will be the culmination of a series of little and large decisions that were previously made, in what some may consider the simple things of life, which then ballooned into that one final decision, to forever part ways with Christ. Whenever truth and duty conflict, and there is a decision to be made one way or the other, then the fundamental issue of “Cost” rises to the surface, and the choice is made whether to move forward with truth and duty, or whether to forbear. Thus the issue of the mark of the beast is not merely an issue of Sunday or Sabbath observance, but rather a deliberate choice to bear, or not to bear the cost of truth.

Therefore, it is very easy for us to know whether we are preparing ourselves to receive the mark of the beast, or whether we are preparing to stand firm for the truth, for our decisions all have to do with our willingness to bear the cost of living by every word of God, or conversely, buckling under pressure when the heat of the furnace is turned up several notches. When all of our economic privileges are on the line, together with all the creature comforts we can’t seem to do without, then the question will be, are we willing to bear the cost of remaining true to God, when friends and family forsake us.

 A Christian who habitually makes excuses for dipping into his or her tithes and offerings whenever Malachi Chapter 3, and their mortgage note collide, is thereby preparing him or herself to receive the mark of the beast when it does come around, for if we are not willing to fore-go our rent or mortgage in order to be faithful, then we will not be willing to forego our economic privileges when the beast threatens to take them away, if we do not relinquish Sabbath worship. This is essentially what took place with the rich young ruler, who was faced with the decision of relinquishing his earthly possessions, in favor of the immortal inheritance. On the one hand, he ardently desired to be a Christian, and to partake of the joys of service, while on the other hand were his mega millions, which afforded him the luxuries of this life.

 To his wondering mind arose the question of whether a balance could be struck between the two, for if he could embrace Christ and mammon at the same time, then he could have the best of two worlds, or so he thought. But God has specifically stated that one must be surrendered in favor of the other, meaning that our priorities must give truth and righteousness the leeway at all times, in order that God may have the first place in our hearts. And it was this solemn choice that was being pondered by the rich young ruler, when he decided the sacrifice was too great, and so he went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions. Thus, if this young man was living in the last days of earth’s history, he would have indeed taken the mark of the beast, albeit with great sorrow and remorse, but he would have taken it. Let’s read:

Matthew 19:15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him”…. if thou wilt enter into life,

 keep the commandments.

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

The following is an excerpt taken from the book Desire of Ages, as the servant of The Lord treats upon the same incident. Let’s read:

(Desire of Ages pp. 520)

 Christ’s words were verily to the ruler the invitation, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15. His exalted position and his possessions were exerting a subtle influence for evil upon his character. If cherished, they would supplant God in his affections. To keep back little or much from God was to retain that which would lessen his moral strength and efficiency; for if the things of this world are cherished, however uncertain and unworthy they may be, they will become all-absorbing.

The ruler was quick to discern all that Christ’s words involved, and he became sad. He was a member of the honored council of the Jews, and Satan was tempting him with flattering prospects of the future. He wanted the heavenly treasure, but he wanted also the temporal advantages his riches would bring him. He was sorry that such conditions existed; he desired eternal life, but he was not willing to make the sacrifice. The cost of eternal life seemed too great, and he went away sorrowful; “for he had great possessions.” He refused the offer of eternal life, and went away, and ever after the world was to receive his worship.

The same scenario of worship was again played out on the stage of action when the multitudes in Christ day were found to be following Him because of the “Loaves and fishes” He provided for them from time to time. The term “Loaves and fishes” must not be restricted to literal food, for they also include the “loaves” of health and wealth, and also the “fishes” of material blessings and all earthly possessions, mixed together in a deadly potion of spiritual Cool aid, that is laced with false doctrines and empty promises, which are then sold to the multitudes via motivational speeches, as being the true gospel. This was the prospect and the desire most prominent in the minds of many of Christ’s disciples, when The Lord decided to bring the whole issue to a head. Let’s read:

John 6:5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles,

 but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

(Desire of Ages pp. 392)  By the public rebuke of their unbelief these disciples were still further alienated from Jesus. They were greatly displeased, and wishing to wound the Saviour and gratify the malice of the Pharisees, they turned their backs upon Him, and left Him with disdain. They had made their choice,—had taken the form without the spirit, the husk without the kernel. Their decision was never afterward reversed; for they walked no more with Jesus.

Praise and flattery would be pleasing to their ears; but the truth is unwelcome; they cannot hear it. When the crowds follow, and the multitudes are fed, and the shouts of triumph are heard, their voices are loud in praise; but when the searching of God’s Spirit reveals their sin, and bids them leave it, they turn their backs upon the truth, and walk no more with Jesus.

As those disaffected disciples turned away from Christ, a different spirit took control of them. They could see nothing attractive in Him whom they had once found so interesting.

What is worthy of note, is that the point of no return as chosen by these false disciples, ends with John 6:66. Now, whether this is a mere coincidence, or whether it was deliberately orchestrated by The Holy Ghost when the scriptures were being translated, is anyone's guess, but it does remind us of that dire warning as given by the third angel of Revelation 14, which delineates the fate of all those who choose mammon over God. By the simple decisions that are made every day, we too are setting ourselves up to either receive the seal of God's approval, or conversely, the mark of the beast, for whenever the gospel calls for sacrifice of any kind on our part, there the issue of the mark of the beast is present in miniature form, and the choices we then make will shape the larger decisions in the very near future.

If we are only willing to serve God when there is no cost involved, then we are preparing ourselves to receive the mark of the beast, whether we keep the Sabbath or not, for as stated before, the mark will impact every person on the planet in a very personal manner. It is therefore very important, that as we live from day to day, that our choices be in harmony with the principles of Christ’s righteousness, even when sacrifice, self-denial, or other costs are involved, for the pathway to heaven was paved in self-denial, and thus all who will be found in Christ, must cultivate this principle, both in theory and in practice. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encapsulates the very essence of discipleship, and it is the will of God that all who take the name of Christ, be thus exercised, in theory and in practice. Let’s read:

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

                          God bless!

God's Law From Eternity To Eternity. Sabbath Afternoon. 08/08/2015

The Bible teaches us about the sacred nature of God’s law of Ten Commandments, as given at Mt Sinai and written upon two tables of stone, which were to be given to the world as a precious legacy, and to be observed from generation to generation. But it is important for us to understand there was not a time when the sacred law was not in existence, for it is everlasting in nature, being the foundation principles of heaven, of the universe, and also of God’s character. Theologians have tried in vain to propose that the law was first given at Sinai, but the Bible debunks such theories as being totally without merit, and in many instances, are just the means used to get around our obligation to keep it.

 Furthermore, The Lord would have us understand that whenever we presume to interfere with, or alter His sacred precepts, we are thus endeavoring to change the core operational principles of the entire universe, and as such will run into very serious problems in the natural and spiritual realms. The Law of God has always been in existence from time immemorial, long before this world was created, and will continue to exist throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity, for wherever God is, there His law is always to be found. Let’s read:

Psalm 93:1 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty”…

2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

Psalm 111:7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

Psalm 119:151 Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth.

152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

There is a theology which teaches its adherents that the law of Ten Commandments is divided into two parts, with the first four regulating our vertical relationship with God, and the last six pertaining to our relationship with our fellowmen. Now, while this is true, we must also be aware that the last six also pertain to angels and to all created beings, for the same core principles apply evenly across the board, to every inhabitable world in the entire universe, without exception. This point is of very critical importance for us to understand, for it will shed great light on the gravity of our crimes in attempting to alter the law of the universe. For instance, when satan sinned in heaven, he broke all of the laws contained in the ten commandments, including the last six. When he desired to have the highest place in heaven, and tried to usurp God’s authority and His throne, he was thus guilty of breaking the law which says “Thou shalt not covet. Let’s read:

Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's

house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Isaiah 14: 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Ezekiel 28:11 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned”…

(Great Controversy pp. 499.)  To the very close of the controversy in heaven the great usurper continued to justify himself. When it was announced that with all his sympathizers he must be expelled from the abodes of bliss, then the rebel leader boldly avowed his contempt for the Creator’s law. He reiterated his claim that angels needed no control, but should be left to follow their own will, which would ever guide them right. He denounced the divine statutes as a restriction of their liberty and declared that it was his purpose to secure the abolition of law; that, freed from this restraint, the hosts of heaven might enter upon a more exalted, more glorious state of existence.

But covetousness was not the only violation committed in the heavenly courts by the enemy of all righteousness, for the Bible teaches us that he was a murderer from the beginning and also the father of all lies. As Lucifer went from angel to angel in heaven, he spread a series of well concocted falsehoods about the law of God, stating that it is too restrictive in nature, and that if angels, who were created perfect were left to do as they well pleased, they could not do anything but right, since righteousness was ingrained in their very being. This infernal reasoning has often been repeated down here on earth, with many popular theologians and politicians echoing the same sentiments, and as a result millions of people are being misled into thinking that the abolition of God’s law will bring us more freedom.

 This is one of the most terrible calculations to make, for there is not a single verse in the entire scripture that promises blessings as a result for disobedience. Thus it was, by the introduction of these falsehoods, that the

 devil sealed the fate of one third of the angelic host, and lied, and stole, and killed in the process. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon”….

4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

Exodus 1:15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and

said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

John 8:44 “The devil”..... “was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The first five commandments were also broken in heaven, for the first which says “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” was violated when the enemy assayed to be like God. Then again, he and the angels who followed in his train could not keep the set hour of worship in heaven, for they had introduced a false form of self-worship which prevented them from rendering unto God His just due. And the apostle James sums up the whole matter by stating unequivocally, that whoever breaks one of the commandments is guilty of all, for God is The Author of the entire universal law. Let’s read:

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Thus we have unmistakable proof from the scriptures, that God’s law was in existence from the earliest times, and has continued uninterrupted down to our present generation. However, there are some issues that need to be clarified before we continue, for it has often been stated by theologians and laity alike, that the law was given to the Jews, and not intended for other nations. Nothing can be further from the truth, because, as was stated before, God’s law was in existence before any of the nations came upon the scene of action, hence the reason why Adam and Eve, together with Cain were all concluded under sin, because of the transgression of the ten commandments, even though at that time they had not been written down in stone. Whether God’s law is written or spoken makes no difference, for it is just as valid in any form.

 It is not necessary for laws to be written in order for them to have force, because in most of our homes across America, we have rules and laws that are to be implicitly obeyed by the children, yet in almost every single case, those stipulations are never written down anywhere. For instance, if a teenager or child violates a given curfew of 11:00pm, and the father of the home calls him or her to account, the teen does not try to justify the act by saying the curfew is not written, for the parent’s voice carries as much weight as any rule that may be in written form. Thus it was from the creation of the earth, up to the time when God saw fit to have His law written down in stone, it had been passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, and was obeyed and respected by the faithful until Mount Sinai. Let’s read:

Genesis 26:2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said”

4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Genesis 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

8 But he refused, and said”….

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law”….

20 “For by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Furthermore, the command given by God through Moses for the children of Israel to do “Sacrifice unto Him” was indeed a stipulation for the reinstitution of the Sabbath, observance, for whilst living in Egyptian bondage, many of the Hebrews had either forgotten, or could not keep it as they should. Thus when Moses and Aaron appeared before pharaoh with the mandate coming from God, he responded by complaining openly to them that they were encouraging the people to “Rest” from their labors. Pharaoh could not possibly be speaking of the rest as in sleep, for the children of Israel must have sufficient rest in order for them to do manual labor in the blazing sun. So the “Rest” that Pharaoh is referring to is the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, even though at this time it was not written down anywhere, since the giving of the law in written form at Sinai was still yet future. Let’s read:

Exodus 5:4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry,

 saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

(Patriarchs and prophets pp. 258.)   In their bondage the

Israelites had to some extent lost the knowledge of God’s law, and they had departed from its precepts. The Sabbath had been generally disregarded, and the exactions of their taskmasters made its observance apparently impossible. But Moses had shown his people that obedience to God was the first condition of deliverance; and the efforts made to restore the observance of the Sabbath had come to the notice of their oppressors.

The reason why it is so very important for the inhabitants of the earth to understand these issues, is because in our day, as we are standing upon the brink of eternity, there is renewed animosity and open rebellion against the Ten Commandments, and according to the scriptures, it is the avowed purpose of satan to abolish all law, leaving all the  inhabitants of earth to be guided by their own individual consciences, and thus abandoning the godly principles of absolute truth. This action will inevitably set up a variable standard of righteousness that changes from person to person, with the comedian Bill Cosby justifying himself in multiple illicit, sexual relationships, and with Bin Laden endeavoring to enter the pearly gates after doing 9/11.

 The recent decisions of the Supreme court are just the headwinds of satan’s efforts to abolish God’s law from the hearts and minds of men, hence the reason why the greatest threat to our national security has never been terrorists, but the abandonment of the eternal principles embodied in God’s law, which as stated before, governs not only this planet, but the entire universe, and thus, the annulling of the sacred precepts, will be the signal for national ruin, this according to the scriptures. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of

 Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:126 It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law.

Isaiah 24:1 Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. 

4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. 5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof;  because they have transgressed the laws, changed the  ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Let us therefore not be carried away by any whimsical notions of supposed freedom as a result of abolishing the sacred law, for it was given to us so that peace, harmony, and prosperity, which seems so evasive in our day, could once more become a living reality. Wherever the sacred statutes are observed and cherished, crime goes down significantly, families are raised to honor both God and man, the earth brings forth fruit, grain, and harvests in abundance, adultery and sexual fornication is unheard of, rain falls in its due season, and withering droughts and wildfires cease, terrorists are kept at bay, and riches, prosperity and stability are the sure results, for the Bible states that the law of God is ordained to life, and if by the grace of God, and through the power of His Holy Spirit, we will submit ourselves for the sacred principles to be etched in our consciences, the sure benefits will certainly be made manifest, for they were given with our best interest in mind.

We therefore end with three passages of scripture which show that the universal law of Ten Commandments are given to us for our longevity, prosperity, and our benefit so that we and our children may live happily ever after. Let’s read:

Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:

 the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of  water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of

thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9 “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                                       God bless!

Dispensing With Erroneous Views. Sabbath Afternoon. 08/01/2015

The Bible teaches us that the word of God is given for instruction and admonition, and sound doctrine, so that the Christian may be furnished unto all good works. But these are not the only purposes for which they are given, for the scriptures state that the word is also written for correction, meaning that it must be consulted when we endeavor to correct erroneous views which may have been harbored either ignorantly or deliberately. As it is used by Paul in the book of Timothy, the word correction presupposes that some or all of the views we may have previously harbored about God and spiritual things could possibly be wrong, and thus the Bible is given to either eradicate the preconceived ideas, or to clarify certain controverted points of doctrine. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

One such correction had to be administered in the case of Job’s friends who had cultivated erroneous views of God, and the reasons for human suffering. After Job had been hit by one calamity after another, the enemy of souls brought upon him a very loathsome disease, very painful in nature, and abhorrent to the sight, in so much that his friends and family had to stay at some distance when visiting or speaking to him. When his friends first saw him in his distress, they became greatly troubled in spirit, that a godly man could have fallen on such bad times so suddenly, and because of the severity of the disease inflicted by the enemy, they lifted up their voices and wept aloud for their friend, throwing dust upon their heads in a show of abandoned grief. Let’s read:

 Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal;

and he sat down among the ashes.

11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place”….. “for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

But after the seven days of mourning had passed, Job’s friend, Eliphaz, could not hold his peace anymore, and he was moved to utter the abundance of his heart in a series of scathing rebukes for the wrongs he supposed had been committed, and which he thought had triggered Job’s terrible disease and misfortunes. And the more he reasoned and spoke, the more it became evident that his views of God and spiritual things were pretty distorted, and thus were in need of urgent correction. Using his line of reasoning, which had become quite common in his day, Eliphaz had concluded that Job’s many and sudden tragedies must have been a direct result of something wrong he had done, and without asking or verifying the facts in the case, he blurted out what was to become the cause for a stern rebuke from God.

In his view, the laws of cause and effect followed their natural course without wavering, and therefore the presumption of Job’s guilt was a foregone conclusion, resulting in the untimely demise of almost his entire family, together with thousands of sheep, and oxen, and menservants in the whole process. Furthermore, Eliphaz lay the blame squarely at God’s feet, painting Him as being very angry at Job for his supposed wrong-doing, whilst he let the real culprit in the matter go entirely free. These preconceived, but erroneous ideas and conclusions must of necessity be addressed, lest we poor mortals view our great Redeemer as our enemy, and the conversely, the devil as our dearest friend. Let’s read:

Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.

10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

The purpose of the Bible study for this afternoon is not to clarify who is to blame or who is to be responsible for the tragedies in Job’s case; instead we must of necessity seek to clarify or correct Eliphaz’s views, using the scriptures, which as stated in 2nd Timothy, are given for correction.

Question: Can a straight line be drawn between sin and calamity, and if a person or a nation is in deliberate

 violation of known truth and duty, does that have a direct negative impact on their misfortunes? It is very important for us as Christians to understand this question, and the scriptural answer, because in our day, the song of Eliphaz is often repeated, albeit in much more subtle ways. For example, in many of our insurance policies, hurricanes and deadly tornadoes are described as being “Acts of God”. In other words, let us just say that Job had actually committed some grave iniquity, without repenting, would Eliphaz then be justified in drawing his conclusion, as it pertains to evil cause and calamitous effects? Or would his line of reasoning still be deemed unwarranted and entirely unreasonable?

Answer: Whenever deliberate, high-handed iniquity or sin is committed by individuals or nations, a direct line can reasonably be drawn between sinful cause and adverse effect, if the cause and results are what the Bible says it would be. Under no circumstances is the human agent to presume to make any such connections of his or her own volition, but if the word of God states clearly that such and such would be the result of a certain evil course of action, then we should believe it, and that settles it period. To reason thus can not be categorized as being judgmental, as is often claimed by those in the media, but is simply stating or reiterating what the word of God says. And as far as cause and effect goes, in both the spiritual and temporal realms, God always has the last word.

A perfect example of what the scripture is here referring to, occurred when the Jews had neglected to build the sanctuary of the Lord, but had instead lavished all their means and earnings upon themselves. This constituted the sin of idolatry in one of its most insidious forms, for anything and anyone who we place before God, in order of priority, then becomes a graven image, of the which God has already stated that He will not share His glory with, under any circumstances. The Jews had left God for last, in their order of priorities, and as a direct result, the land refused to produce fruit and grain in abundance, for their own stubbornness was being duplicated by the soil, which was under their jurisdiction, with God being the overseer in chief.

The Hebrews had renovated their own homes, they had

bought stainless steel furniture, some had upgraded the kitchen and bathrooms to granite, and some others had decided to redo their floors with modern artistic tiles, since at that time, home depot back then had them on sale. Still others of the more affluent had chosen to add swimming pools to their back yards, in order to increase the resale value, and a whole lot of other upgrades and additions were being made, whilst shrubs and nettles were growing in and around the house of God, without anyone batting an eye. Now, it’s important for us to understand that God had no problem whatsoever with the addition of swimming pools and other up-grades, for the Bible says nothing against any Christian who desires, and can afford a swimming pool. We must be very careful in harboring erroneous concepts of God, for He delights in giving the very best gifts to His children. Let’s read:

 Ecclesiastes 2:4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood

 that bringeth forth trees:

7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:

8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

The Lord has no problem whatsoever with all these creature comforts, once they do not interfere with the service that is due to Him. The problem was that He was being left for last, and that order of priority is now going to draw a straight and direct line, to the impoverished productions of the earth, because this law of cause and negative effect is not a figment of man’s imagination, but is instead the plain utterances of Jehovah, regarding the relation of a sinful course of action, to resulting adverse circumstances. Let’s read:

Haggai 1:2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the

Lord's house should be built.

3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,

4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?

5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

9 Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

Now brethren, no one is here to lobby for any church –building fund, neither is it the intended purpose to place a burden on the conscience of anyone. All the Bible is stating, is that whenever there is known iniquity being committed, whether it be by a nation or individuals, a direct line is drawn in the scriptures as to root cause and adverse effect, for the Bible explicitly says that whatever man soweth, that shall he also reap. The question then for us to answer, is whether anything has changed from the days of Haggai till now, and have the same laws of cause and effect become extinct in our era?

In other words, if we pass laws legalizing iniquity in high and low places, can the same direct line be safely drawn between root cause and adverse effect, just as it was in the days of the prophet Haggai?  The Bible explicitly states what will be the result of indulging same-sex marriage, as is currently the case, so the question then is, what should we as a nation reasonably expect, without anyone being judgmental or condemnatory? Should we now expect smooth, easily sailing, as it pertains to the forces of nature, or as it relates to the financial sector, or are we to expect what God says will be the sure result? To answer this very important question we now turn to the word. Let’s read:

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:

25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: 

27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)

28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.

29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.

Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Now, based upon what we have just read, God has no doubt drawn a direct line between this particular type of  abomination and the negative circumstances that will inevitably accrue, and since the decision to legalize gay marriage in all fifty states was made on the 26th of June 2015, therefore, as an investor, I must expect the Dow Industrials to take a hit, and based solely on what the Bible says, I must now place my bets for the following business day on the down side. And because the word of

 God does not, and cannot fail in any single particular, I can confidently expect my investment to the down side to reap millions. Let’s read:

Friday, June 26th 2015: In a landmark decision for gay rights, the Supreme Court on Friday ruled 5-4 that the Constitution gives same-sex couples the right to marry.

Monday June 29, 2015. 10:14 a.m:

Stocks Sink as Greece Crisis Sparks Global Selloff. Dow Tumbles 350 Points on Greek Debt Crisis:

NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Monday's stock selloff picked up speed in the final hour of trading, a warning sign that investors can expect more turmoil from Greece's debt crisis”… “Adding to global fears was Puerto Rico's debt crisis following Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla's comments that the island's $72 billion in debt is "not payable."

In the U.S., banks were hit the hardest. JPMorgan Chase (JPM - Get Report) shares closed lower by 2.4%, while shares of Citigroup (C) fell 2.5% and Bank of America

(BAC - Get Report) slipped 2.9%.

The very grave mistake that is being made, and repeated so often is that the spiritual factors which are affecting our everyday lives are not brought into the equation, for they are held and viewed as separate entities. The Bible utterly debunks any such theory or conclusion, because as stated previously, the potent spiritual law, regulates all natural and economic laws under its jurisdiction, and therefore, whenever it is interfered with for any reason, it throws the other laws under its domain out of balance. This is what the scriptures teach, and sooner or later, every member of the human family will have to come to grips with this sacred truth. Let’s read:

Isaiah 24:2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.

3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word.

4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate”…..

The doctrine which teaches its adherents that blessings are in store for those who deliberately commit iniquity is nowhere to be found in the scriptures, and as such it constitutes an erroneous view that must be corrected by the word. However, because this nation is a great nation, and the mercies of God are extended to us, it is our positive duty to let everyone know what course of action must be pursued, if we are to return to a state of peace and tranquility. God takes no delight in the hardships and perplexities of the sinner, but He does stipulate what must be done, if a reversal of our misfortunes is to be realized.

 We will first need to confess that we have done wrong, by abandoning God’s order on marriage, and the laws which support the evil will need to be reversed. If this is done with a contrite and humble spirit, we will see a dramatic drop in the senseless killings across the land, mass shootings will drop significantly, the severe drought in California and other places will be erased by torrential rains, and the economic activity of the country will begin to increase exponentially. In addition to these, the oft-repeated standoffs between police and citizens will be reduced significantly, for all of these increased negatives are just spinoffs of the word “Spue”, as it is used in the passage in Leviticus. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 7:12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him”….

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

16 “And mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

It is therefore incumbent upon us to do what we know to  be right, by making speedy work of repentance, and if we do, God will respond in the positive by blessing our efforts to walk in harmony with His revealed will. Even though what is stated in the Bible concerning these matters may not bode well with the popular majority, nevertheless it is the word of God, and as such will ultimately find fulfilment in due season, one way or another, for His word is settled forever in the heavens. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms the sacred nature of the word of God, and it is His will that the right proactive measures be now taken, to institute the appropriate, and much needed reforms. Let’s read:

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit of God is saying.

                          God bless!

The Investigative Judgment. Sabbath Afternoon. 07/25/2015

The scriptures teach us that there is an investigative judgment now taking place in the heavenly courts, which will ultimately decide the eternal destiny of all those who have ever taken the name of Jesus. The serious nature of this judgment must be understood by all for it represents the very final decision to be made as to whether we will be granted the gift of immortality, or whether eternal damnation will be our lot. Although there are some who do not take kindly to the truth that we all will be held accountable for our deeds, yet it is for our own good that we should take the time to understand the import of the judgment, hence the reason why this afternoon’s study will address specific points which need to be clarified in our minds. We start first by establishing beyond all doubt that there is an investigative judgment now taking place in heaven. Let’s read:

Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and

 the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

 Point # (1) In this first judgment here mentioned by the prophet Daniel, only the names of those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, and who have entered into a covenant relationship with God, will be admitted for consideration, for the rest of earth’s inhabitants will be judged at a later time, and because of this the names of those who have refused to appropriate God’s grace to themselves through Jesus Christ, would not even be considered. In other words, a person who has had the opportunity to see and understand the truths of God’s word, and who deliberately turns away, cannot stand a chance, because once the books in the first investigative judgment have been closed, the opportunity to be saved will have forever been removed. This is why it is so very important that every member of the human family see and understand this first point. Let’s read:

Exodus 32:31 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

33 And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

In order for a person’s name to be blotted out of God’s book, their names would first have to be written, hence the reason why we conclude that there must be two separate judgments which take place. When the disciples were given power over the enemy, they were cautioned not to rejoice because the evil spirits were subject unto to them, but rather to be glad because their names were written in heaven. When Christ made this statement in reference to names being written, which is also similar to the one made in Exodus, He was referring to the faithful as well as unfaithful believers, because at this time the, disciples included Judas who betrayed Him, yet he was an evangelist who had taken the name of Jesus, and because of this, his name too was also written in the very same book as was Moses and Daniel, and therefore he must come up for consideration in the first investigative judgment. Let’s read:

John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

The reason why the first angel’s message in Revelation Chapter 14 is so important and urgent, is because all the inhabitants of the earth need to know that they must at least have their names registered in the books of the investigative judgment, for without them being written, they will not be brought into the equation. Hence the reason why the first message as given by the angel is included in the “Everlasting gospel”, for it plays a very critical role in the eternal salvation of those who are registered in Christ. This is not to say that our motive for accepting Jesus as Lord and savior should be based solely on being registered, but what we must be aware of is the fact that the investigative judgment represents the only opportunity to be forever linked to Christ, and as such we should make the most of it. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Point # (2) The judgment of the finally impenitent takes place during the one thousand years which transpire between Christ’s second and third coming, and the records of their deeds are not considered with the intention of saving them, but rather to mete out due recompenses for the sins that have been committed. In this aspect, the investigative judgment differs greatly, for its purpose is to save as many people as possible, who desire to be saved, whereas with the second judgment, the sole purpose is to assess penalties for sinful deeds done in the body. The records of sins committed by those who are included in the second executive judgment, are not, and cannot be covered with the blood of Christ, for the Day of Atonement will have long been gone. Let’s read:

 Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and

judgment was given unto them”….. “and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

1st Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Point # (3) We are judged not only by our sins and good deeds, but more so by the only remedy that has been provided in Christ. God is not so much concerned with the spiritual deficiencies we are born with, as with what we do with the provisions for our healing that have been made available through Christ. Now it is true that those of us who claim to be Christians must be found walking in harmony with the light that has been diffused upon our pathway, yet in the final analysis, it is the righteousness of Christ and His good deeds that are to be credited to our names, which will then be the determining factor in whether we are saved or lost eternally. There is a tendency to go to one of two extremes on this very important point, and of these two views we must be wary, because the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

The good works that we are commanded in the Bible to do are absolutely essential, and must never, ever be downplayed in significance, because of the superiority of Christ’s righteousness. Believing is just as important as doing, and these two aspects of salvation are members of the same spiritual family that cannot exist apart from each other. In other words, faith in Christ’s righteousness in no way eclipses our sacred duty to walk in newness of life, for at the end of the day it is not what we say nor profess, but rather what we do which will determine whether Christ’s righteousness will cover for us in the heavenly courts. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matthew 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.

29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, the first”…..

The “Doing” part is critically important, however we must be careful not to place excessive emphasis on our doing, to the point where Christ’s perfect righteousness in our behalf is lost sight of, because this represents the other extreme we should be mindful of. Some Christians focus so intently and solely on Christ’s righteousness, that they disregard the doing part, and thus put the onus on Christ alone, without the necessary and accompanying work of self-denial. The fact of the matter is that although as Christians we strive for perfection in Christ, yet we often fall short of His glory, in addition to which we have sinful history that we just cannot shake, except it be through the blood of Christ. Hence the reason why it is important for us to not lose sight of the fact that it is both the blood and the righteousness of Christ that will secure for us a seat at the welcome table, and this sacred truth should ever be uppermost in our contemplation and views of the investigative judgment.  Let’s read:

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,  and gave himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

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.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained

Point # (4) The doctrine of “Once saved, always saved” attempts to preclude the doctrine of the judgment, for it presumes to confer perpetual forgiveness on those who are most in need of pardon. The Bible teaches us that it is quite possible for those who were once saved by God’s grace, to turn back to the former life of sin, because our salvation is a deliberate free choice that is made by each individual on an ongoing basis. Therefore, at any given point in our Christian experience, we are free to return to our old ways if we so choose, because God only accepts the free service of love, and as such, will never prevent anyone from retrogressing back to a life of sin, if they so choose.

 This sad scenario has actually taken place many times in the experiences of those who once walked with the Lord, and the Bible itself confirms the possibility, therefore we conclude that the doctrine of “Once saved, always saved” must be a doctrine of devils, designed to lull the unwary into a false sense of security, to which there will be a very rude awakening, albeit too late. If our decisions to follow Christ were immediately locked down for eternity after accepting Him, then one of two results will begin to unfold. The first one is a robotic obedience, by which the Christian has no choice but to obey God, and the second is the freedom to sin at great lengths, since the first and final decision to follow Christ can never be reversed. In both cases these erroneous theories are debunked in the scriptures. Let’s read:

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

1st Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in  the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.

Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

2nd Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Ezekiel 33:3 When I shall say to the righteous, that he

shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

1st Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Matthew 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Ezekiel 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write”….

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.

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Point # (4) Every thought, word, and action must of necessity be recorded, because all decisions made in the heavenly courts must rest squarely upon verifiable facts, with no exceptions whatsoever. This is one of the aspects of the investigative judgment that scarcely gets any due attention, and because it isn’t presented as it ought to, there is a resulting tendency to live loosely, without any concern about accountability. God does not judge us on just mere hear-say, or what He believes is right. The facts in every case must be presented from the records, and then the final determination is made as to whether the blood of Jesus will permanently cover our sins, a very solemn thought indeed.

We live in an era when many people think that they are accountable to no one but themselves, and thus, the sins and decisions that can forever alter our destiny are not given due consideration, and it is for this reason why our righteousness has now become relative to many, with unstable, shifting moral standards, varying from person to person. But the Bible teaches us that our thoughts and actions are carefully weighed in the judgment, and if sins are not confessed and forsaken during our probationary time, then they will stand against us when the books of record are revealed. Let’s read:

 Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Isaiah 65:6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,

7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

Point # (5) Our sins are not yet blotted out, for this action only takes place after our lives have come up for review in the heavenly courts, and the holy sanctuary has been cleansed. Our confessed sins are currently covered, but not yet blotted out, and they can be uncovered if we were to choose to go back to our former way of life. In the earthly sanctuary the Day of Atonement represented the antitypical day of investigative judgment, and the sins of the people were removed from the sanctuary only after the high priest had presented the Lord’s goat as a sacrifice for sin, and the iniquities of the people were transferred from the sanctuary to the head of the scape goat. Until this process was completed, the record of sin remained. Let’s read:

Leviticus 16:15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within

the vail”…… “and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins”….

17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place”…..

20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:

21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the  wilderness.

22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

In lieu of these solemn truths that are transpiring now in heaven, what manner of persons ought we to be, living as those who will be judged by the perfect law of liberty as spoken of by the apostle James. The rapid declension of morality and righteousness in our generation, and by the introduction of many sacrilegious, satanic versions of the Bible, it is obvious, even to the casual onlooker, that the end of all things is at hand, and thus as Christians, we should be at the forefront of not only warning the world of what is to come, but also to be living in harmony with the solemn truths we preach, for soon and very soon, the investigative judgment will close, after which no decision for Christ, no prayers for the sinner, and no intercession for those who do not know God will ever again be accepted. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which calls us to the urgency of the moment, and it is the will of God that all who have ears to hear, take heed and be counted, for the time is at hand. Let’s read:

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill,

 thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

                         God bless!  

Understanding God's Promises Of Success. Sabbath Afternoon 07/18/2015

In the Bible there are written many promises made to those who enter into a covenant relationship with God, and these promises are not given to us as rewards for good behavior, but rather because God is good and takes great delight in giving good gifts to His children. There is nothing we may do to deserve any of the good promises God has made to us, because they are made not because we are good, but because The Lord is good. In addition to the promises given, there are instructions on how they must be facilitated, because it always takes cooperation between the human agent and the Divine for success to become a reality in our lives. Furthermore the promises of success thus given are conditional, meaning that there are certain stipulated steps which must be put in place, before the promises can be materialized. Let’s read:

Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law”…. “turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Because this promise is heavily loaded, it is therefore necessary for us to understand first what is the Bible definition of “Good success” because what the world defines as being successful, is often described in the word as a miserable failure. For instance, this past week a prominent candidate for the presidency released his earnings, and to many he is seen as the epitome of good success, because with the secular world, money, fame, fortune, and higher education are all manifestations of one being very successful, hence the reason why many may look to such individuals as those who should be emulated.

But with the Christian, being successful must inevitably result in being saved in God’s kingdom, or else our lives would not be worth the living. And although there are many undeniable instances in the Bible, where certain individuals who played by the rules, became very rich and famous, yet these elements are not what finally decided whether or not they were successful, because as was stated before, true success must of necessity include a saving relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ.

Hence the reason why we will find many instances in the Bible where individuals were martyred for their faith in God, but were deemed extremely successful in life by the heavenly standards, whilst other characters were very wealthy, and yet their lives were not estimated as being a success, because that one singular element of a vital connection with God was missing. This is the reason why in the scriptures we will find many paradoxes on the issue of success and prosperity, for there are those who were rich in this world’s good, yet were poor, and there were those who were very poor by worldly standards yet were extremely rich. Thus we must be very, very careful when defining what true success is. Let’s read:

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Psalm 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain”…

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8 They are corrupt, and”… “they speak loftily.

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

However, there are some important issues we should be aware of when trying to understand God’s promises of success and prosperity, for many Christians erroneously conclude that the blessings of God in this area come with no adverse conditions, and because of this many of us

 often become dismayed at what we see as unwarranted difficulty and hardship in the fulfillment of His promises. We should therefore settle this matter once and for all in our hearts, that prosperity and good success as given by God, often includes major disappointments, obstacles, and hurdles, which will severely challenge our faith in His power to deliver on what He has promised.

 Furthermore, it has been observed on several occasions that playing by the rules is never an absolute guarantee that everything will then go smoothly without a hitch, for there are other nocturnal forces of evil that are hell-bent on forestalling God’s promises to us, and though these unseen, and human agents do not have the power within themselves to overturn one iota of God’s word, yet they will certainly mount an orchestrated and determined challenge, to cause us to buckle under temptation, and thus yield to feelings of despair and discouragement. This fact is critically important for us to understand, so that we may not succumb to doubt and murmuring against God, when it may occur. Let’s read:

Genesis 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed

the saying.

These dreams were not figments of Joseph’s imagination, neither did they occur because he had eaten split peas late at night, but were rather the direct interpositions of God, revealing to him the fact that there was a bright future ahead of him, complete with fame and fortune of no ordinary character, in addition to a position of great authority. However, as sacred history reveals to us, the road to Joseph’s future success would be marked with severe trial and manifold temptations which would try to threaten both his faith and his sanity, and these daunting challenges would come after he had played by the rules.

The reason for this is that whenever it is revealed that God is going to bless his people and make us a great success, the old devil goes to work, and sets a series of challenges in motion, if by any means he could cause us to forget about God and turn our backs on His promises. This he has done time and time again, and in some instances, with great success. It is unrealistic then for us to think that good success will come our way without a hitch, because as stated before, every step of advance

made by the Christian in any line will be subject to the ire of the dragon, who will work both through supernatural and human agencies to try to overthrow our faith in God.

This sobering fact we must always as a rule bring into the equation, so that we may not harbor any unrealistic ideas of how success is accomplished, and thereby become very discouraged and disheartened, when things did not go the way we had planned or expected. In the case of Joseph, his road to success would be marked with a series of impediments, ranging from being sold by his own family into slavery, to attempted rape by his own master’s wife, and then to cap it all off, several years in jail, all because he chose to play by the rules. Yet in and through all the vicissitudes of his life, the Bible tells us that God was with Joseph, and thus we may know for certain, that in the fullness of time, every promise made to him by God, will be fulfilled to the letter in their due season. Let’s read:

Genesis 37:13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again”…

19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Genesis 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Psalm 105:17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:

18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:

19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.

20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.

21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:

22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

23 Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

24 And he increased his people greatly; and made them

stronger than their enemies.

(Excerpts from Early writings pp 266)  I saw that Satan bade his angels lay their snares especially for those who were looking for Christ’s second appearing and keeping all the commandments of God. Satan told his angels that the churches were asleep. “But,” he said, “the sect of Sabbath-keepers we hate. Be very vigilant then. Cause disturbance and confusion if possible. Battle every inch of ground. Crowd every attraction around them, and they will be surely ours. I saw that Satan carries out his plans well. He is constantly putting suggestions into the minds of God’s people. He leads some in one way and some in another, always taking advantage of evil traits”… exciting and stirring up their natural besetments.

The same thing took place after God had promised to bless the Hebrews with a land flowing with milk and honey. At this time the children of Israel were playing by the rules, and as far as God was concerned, they were actually doing that which was right and pleasing in His sight. And so, true to his form, the devil goes to work again, to try if by any means he could present manifold temptations to cause them to stumble, and thus forestall in some measure, God’s promises of good success and prosperity to His people.

We should observe in this next instance that the very same temptation of sexual immorality was used as that which was brought to Joseph, because there are only three categories of temptations the devil can choose from, and whatsoever may be our issue that we are tempted with, we may know for certain that it is just an old temptation in recycled form. However, unlike Joseph, this time he had a measure of success, and although many were thus thrown off course on account of their sins, yet again, the promises of God were fulfilled to His people in the fullness of time, because as stated before, God’s word will be fulfilled one way or another, even if there be distractions and challenges along the way. Let’s read:

Numbers 22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they

were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor”… “saying”… 

6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed

16 And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

19 God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him,

and the shout of a king is among them.

23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob”…

Now brethren, in lieu of the challenges that will certainly be mounted by the enemy to overthrow our faith in the promises of God, there are certain preemptive points we must of necessity take into consideration, in order for us to avoid falling into the snares of discouragement, doubt, and murmuring, which have the potential to derail our faith and resilience in God.

Point # 1: Continue to play by all the rules of engagement that are written as preconditions to the fulfillment of God’s promises of success, for these must be followed diligently, without turning to the right hand or the left. It is of critical importance for us to maintain this first step, for a deliberate departure from the path of rectitude can trigger adverse and unnecessary hardships along the way.

Exodus 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place

which I have prepared.

21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not”.. “for my name is in him.

22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Point # 2: Maintain an unwavering faith in God that trusts Him even when we cannot trace Him. Sometimes it may seem as if the road to success is shrouded in much darkness and uncertainty, but in and through all of the ups and downs, God is silently working out His own good purposes, and we will reap in due season if we faint not.

Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Point # 3: Avoid the temptation to doubt and murmur, for these have the ability to obscure the providences of God, and if left to run their natural course, could actually cause us to interpret blessings as curses and vice versa. Whenever the spirit of complaining is indulged over a period of time, God is seen to be an enemy instead of a Friend, Father, and Redeemer, and whatsoever good He may do for us will often come across as an omen of evil. Doubt and murmuring are the diabolical enemies of faith and trust, and if we suffer with these two maladies, we should now ask God to forgive us, and to grant us a ready and believing mind that dwells in the positive, instead of negative territory. Let’s read:

 Numbers 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and

 honey.

9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones”….

1st Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured”

11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Let us therefore zip up our boots and cultivate a cheerful spirit, in the good times and bad, because all things work together for the good of those who love God. All things may not necessarily be good in and of themselves, but when lumped together as an indivisible whole, it will be seen that God has led us in the very best paths to success and prosperity. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to continue hoping and trusting in God for the future, because He knows and does only what is best for His people. Let’s read:

Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                                    God bless!

The Final Conflict Between Faith And Science. Sabbath Afternoon 07/11/2015

The Bible teaches us that in order for our relationship with God to be normalized, it must be faith-based, for trust is an indispensable essential to any relationship, whether horizontal or vertical. In the book of Hebrews the fundamentals are laid out in the clearest language, because no other premise for reinstatement with our Creator is admissible or workable. The reason for this is because there will always be issues that go beyond the realm of rational or logical modes of thought by man, or any created being for that matter, hence the reason why the relationship between God and any created being must rest squarely upon faith and trust. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The word “Must” is used in the above passage, meaning that there is no other way of building a relationship with God. But modern science is predicated on the belief that statements and theories must be proven first before we can accept them as fact. This mode of thought is directly opposed to the mindset of faith, which believes God’s word first, and acts upon it first before any scientific data or research, experimentation or analysis, is available. But under no circumstances does a lack of scientific data on a particular subject, cause the true Christian to postpone obedience or their belief in what God has plainly said.

These two modes of thought were early introduced in the history of the human race, when God explicitly said that eating of the forbidden tree, or even touching its fruit will result in death. But not long after, a scientific approach to the same subject matter was introduced to Eve by the devil, who attempted to prove that what God said was false. As a matter of fact, according to his own infernal research and analysis, quite the opposite was true, for by touching and eating of the fruit, he showed that he had apparently graduated to a higher state of existence than previously, for not only did he not die, but he instead had acquired the power of speech, something

that was unknown to the animal kingdom.

And thus Adam and Eve were faced with the dilemma of choosing between two modes of thought that were to shape their after history. On the one hand they had the clear instructions of God, with the stated results before them, but with no proof or scientific research to verify that this would indeed be the case. On the other hand, they had living evidence before them which they could not deny, in that the serpent had both touched and eaten of the forbidden fruit, yet there seemed to be no sign of death either in him or in Eve, who was the first to venture outside the perimeter of God’s will.

Question: Which mode of thought and action were they to go with, with God’s word that required faith without first having proof? Or with the undeniable evidence of scientific proof and analysis before them? Thus it is, that on these two modes of thought and consequent action, the eternal destiny of all the inhabitants of the earth will forever be decided, and the final conflict between faith and science will be fought out on the battlefield of the human mind.

From that fatal moment onward, when Adam and Eve chose to go the secondary route suggested by satan, the very same issue has arisen again and again within the context of the human experience, and the very same questions have surfaced on numerous occasions, with the very same results. Furthermore, other serious issues have arisen as by-products of the same two modes of thought, which have perplexed millions for thousands of years. For instance, after Cain had slain his brother Abel, The Lord then told him that the shedding of blood would cause the ground not to produce as bountifully as it did before, because the shedding of blood directly affects the production of fruit and grain. Let’s read:

Genesis 4:9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength”…..

Question: Was the curse that was uttered in the above verses a direct act of God against Cain, or would it be the natural result of his wrong-doing? In other words, is this something that God is now going to do to Cain, or will the stubbornness of the earth be a natural consequence of his wrong-doing? And if so, what are the implications for us in our day when the same or a similar courses of action are pursued? There is an electrical substation with a distinct warning sign that says danger lurks on the inside.  

If a person then presumes to scale the fence and gets electrocuted in the process, can we reasonably conclude that FPL did something to him, or was his untimely death the natural result of his wrong course of action. We must be very careful when answering this question, for if we concluded that FPL did something to the man, then we would be agreeing with satan that there are no natural negative consequences for scaling the fence, and that the man’s death was a direct and deliberate act of revenge by FPL against the offender. This is the core concept ingrained in the cryptic words, “Ye shall not surely die”, for here the devil proposes that sin does not naturally carry any negative consequences, and that any adverse side effects are the result of a God seeking revenge.

Now there are instances in the scriptures, where God, in His capacity of Sovereign Ruler of the universe, saw it fit to intervene in the human experience, and He executed direct judgments against nations and individuals, since He retains this right as creator and judge of all the earth. But this is not the question under consideration here. The real issue at stake is whether sin of itself carries with it any natural, adverse consequences or not.

One thing is certain, and has been established beyond any reasonable doubt, that there is no known science that links bloodshed directly to the production of fruit and grain, and so the question arises again, would we believe God when He states that shedding of innocent blood across the land will severely compromise the farming industry, and this without any scientific data or evidence, or do we submit to our finite modes of thought, research, and analysis to the contrary? 

Again, in the days of the antediluvians before the flood, Noah preached for 120 years that torrential rain was on its way, but up to that time, and during the entire period of his sermons, not one drop of rain had fallen, and there was no scientific evidence, or historical precedent to now justify any rational belief of Noah’s singular message of coming rain. Furthermore, there is no known science that can possibly make a direct link between sin and rain.

 And so, the very same question arises again to haunt our minds, should the antediluvians submit to Noah’s mode of thought, which believes God’s word first, and takes proactive steps in that direction without any scientific data, analysis, or research to confirm what he is saying, or should they go with the undeniable evidences of their senses, backed up by historical precedents which clearly show that rain had never once fallen upon the earth? Now, even though there was no known science to back up Noah’s claims, yet the fact remains that it did rain, and it rained in torrential down pours, to the point where about seven billion people drowned in the deluge, for which there was no previous scientific proof.

Then several centuries later, when the Hebrews had been brought into the land of Canaan through the great providences of God, they were like Adam and Eve, given clear instructions on certain courses of action to avoid at all costs, because very detrimental results would accrue, if for any reason the forbidden practices were indulged. The indulgences of pagan nations were then given as the reasons why they were uprooted from their native lands, and were destroyed from the inside out by their own sins and wrong-doings. Let’s read:

Leviticus 18:1 And the Lord spake”…. 2 “Unto them, I am the Lord your God.

3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God.

5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord.

22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:

25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any

stranger that sojourneth among you:

27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)

28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.

29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.

30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God.

Now, there is again no known scientific data, analysis, or research that links same-sex marriage and other similar indulgences to the defiling of the land, nor can any man connect the two through any known secular formula of cause and effect. In other words, we are faced with the very same modes of thought that were at first introduced in the Garden of Eden, and thus the same questions are before our faces. Should we believe God’s word, without any scientific proof linking the forbidden activities to the deterioration of the earth, or do we submit to current evidences of science and research, which state that great social progress has been recently made in our modern society?

Now let’s probe the first mode of thought and action a little more deeply to see what are the benefits that will  accrue to the believer. The Bible states that if a person or nation desires to enter into a covenant relationship with God, believing Him is a fundamental essential. This belief is not based on what we can see or prove in a laboratory, but instead takes God at His word and runs with it. When this mode of thought is adopted, it throws wide open the door for countless possibilities that are not available to the skeptic, because faith in God is not constrained by finite research and experimentations.

In other words, a person who adopts this first God-given way of thinking can experience miraculous occurrences in their lives that are simply not possible to those who  limit their belief to what can be seen, heard, proven or felt, hence the reason why the scripture teaches us that “Anything” is possible to those who believe, and that is a

 pretty strong word. Let’s read:

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Hebrews 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.

1st Samuel 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle”…

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled

 from him, and were sore afraid.

32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul

said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

In our day there is a dark cloud of unbelief and spiritual darkness that has overspread the land like the shades of night, and because there isn’t any known scientific proof for the prophecies that are to be fulfilled in the very near future, many skeptics and doubters have now adopted the scientific mode of thought, and there are now to be found millions of people across the globe with whom proving is believing. Even the historical precedents set forth in the scriptures are reasoned away on scientific grounds, and as a result we are at a loss to make a direct link between sin, and the many troubles and perplexities that have now become the order of the day.

But the Bible teaches us that the prophecies pertaining to the last days of earth’s history will be fulfilled in their due season, whether we believe them or not, because of the basic fact that scripture has never, ever been subject to our finite science. Furthermore, we will soon have to grapple with the fact that there are indeed supernatural forces of good and evil at work in the 21st century, and therefore the mode of thought and action we now adopt will decide which camp we will be identified with.

 There is not one single instance in the Bible where a nation or an individual was rewarded with blessings for doing evil, not one, and that’s why our expectations as Christians should be based upon the word of God alone, and nothing else to the contrary. In the very final conflict between faith and science those questions that were first introduced in the Garden of Eden will have to be settled once and forever within the domain of our minds, and because we are perilously close to the close of probation, it is now necessary that the mind of Christ be found in us, so that the faith He exercised may become our own daily experience.

The Bible speaks of a time of trouble that will envelope the world, and the mode of thought and action we adopt will determine our eternal destiny. If we now choose to believe science, and the modern philosophers of the day, we will be swept into the ranks of those who cannot ever please God, but if we chose the faith-based mode of thought and action, we will be more than conquerors in the final conflict, because as Jesus said, all things are possible to them that believe. Let’s read:

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

The time here spoken of is just ahead of us, and we are already experiencing the headwinds of the coming storm. It is therefore incumbent upon us to make decisions that are commensurate with the teachings of scripture, rather than with the evidences of our finite science, for at the end of the day, those who have believed in God and acted on their belief will never be ashamed, but we will be mighty glad that we followed God’s instruction to believe. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which prepares us to stand in that great day, and it is the will of God that what we have studied this afternoon, will translate into faith in action, because the time is at hand. Let’s read:

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                                       God bless!

Lessons From The Last Great Recession. Sabbath Afternoon. 07/04/2015

The sacred teachings of the scriptures, coupled together with the practical lessons of history, are to be used as guides in making sound decisions to avoid repeating the grave mistakes of the past. And the Bible also teaches us that the history of individuals and nations was chronicled for the benefit of future generations, so that we too may  reason soberly from cause to effect, and thus make straight paths for our own feet. There are some very basic and important lessons to be derived from the last great recession, which took the world to the brink of financial collapse, spiritual and temporal lessons that should be applied by us as Christians, so that we do not fall a prey to one of satan’s favorite devices, debt.

Now more than ever, is the time for us to get our houses in order, being governed by scriptural principles alone, and not touching the unclean thing as it pertains to us implementing the customs, practices, methods, and

 principles of those who do not fear God.

 As a matter of fact, if for any reason we put these vital lessons on hold, we will become mired in debt, from which it may be very difficult to extricate ourselves, for as stated over and over again, God is more practical in His instructions to us than many people realize, and whenever the sacred instructions contained in the scripture are deliberately disregarded, then the laws of cause and effect are often left to run their natural course, and it is often the case that no supernatural intervention is engaged to save us from the results of a wrong course of action that could have otherwise been avoided.

The financial problems of this world, and what we are seeing taking place in Greece, are omens of what will be coming to our shores in the near future, if changes in methods and principles are not vigorously implemented. One of the crucial lessons, which if adopted could have forestalled the last great recession, is that of cultivating the spirit of contentment by living within one’s means. The Bible is full of instruction on this point, and it is high time that we take heed, because any financial system that is based on borrowing, will collapse sooner or later, for there comes a time when the lender himself runs out of funds to lend.

Furthermore, The Lord teaches us that we can make advances in life whilst at the same time practicing the principle of contentment, because prosperity and contentment are members of the same spiritual family, and should never be divorced one from the other. But to live in constant indebtedness results in huge amounts of unnecessary waste, which in our nation’s case, runs into the hundreds of billions in interest each and every year that goes by. Let’s read:

Available Historical Data For Fiscal Year End

Interest payments only:

2014       $430,812,121,372.05

2013       $415,688,781,248.40

2012       $359,796,008,919.49

2011       $454,393,280,417.03

2010       $413,954,825,362.17

2009       $383,071,060,815.42

2008       $451,154,049,950.63

2007       $429,977,998,108.20

2006       $405,872,109,315.83

2005       $352,350,252,507.90

2004       $321,566,323,971.29

2003       $318,148,529,151.51

2002       $332,536,958,599.42

2001       $359,507,635,242.41

2000       $361,997,734,302.36

1999       $353,511,471,722.87

1998       $363,823,722,920.26

1997       $355,795,834,214.66

1996       $343,955,076,695.15

1995       $332,413,555,030.62

1994       $296,277,764,246.26

1993       $292,502,219,484.25

1992       $292,361,073,070.74

1991       $286,021,921,181.04

1990       $264,852,544,615.90

1989       $240,863,231,535.71

1988       $214,145,028,847.73

So let’s study from the word of God, how this unfortunate situation can be avoided or corrected, using Biblical principles. Let’s read:

Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

1st Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.  7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

The Bible therefore gives us the only workable methods for living contentedly and prosperously at the same time, and it will be well if our families would adopt the wise counsels of an All-wise God. The Bible therefore outlines in great detail, the necessary steps to be taken by us as Christians in implementing the lessons gleaned from the recent great recession, and the failures of those who have gone before.

Lesson (1) Whenever money is earned, the very first deduction to be made should be our tithes and offerings, and this system should be put in place without wavering for any reason, for it demonstrates the manner in which we esteem God and sacred things. No mortgage, or car note, and no electric bill or tuition should cause us to put God’s cause in second place, because our current bills and payments should not even be brought into the equation when deducting our tithes and offerings, no matter how urgent or important they may seem.

When this is done on a consistent basis with a willing and cheerful spirit, God promises to replenish our stores with manifold blessings too numerous to mention, and what takes place literally is that some way somehow, The Lord causes a little to go a very long way, because of the blessing He commands on all that we do. There are what we call “Generic blessings” that are bestowed upon the general public, regardless of whether they acknowledge God or not. For instance, Christians and satanists will both receive sunlight and rain on a regular basis, and when the earth is planted it will bring forth fruit for the righteous and the rebellious also, for God has promised these benefits to the good and the evil alike. Let’s read:

Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Matthew 5:45 “Your Father which is in heaven”.... “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.

These are not the blessings God is referring to when He bids us return that which is His due. He is speaking of special, tailor-made blessings that are reserved alone for the faithful, who give with a cheerful spirit, that which belongs to God. These blessings are not your average, everyday benefits, but are specifically designed to make the remainder of our income, multiply in ways we know not of, and often causes us to avoid spending money on things which are indispensable to other people. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against

 thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Proverbs 3:9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Lesson (2) After God’s due is taken out first, a set portion of our income should be put aside for the rainy day that will certainly come, and these funds should not be touched or interfered with for any trivial reason, but should be left for cases of real emergencies only. There are many man-made “Emergencies” which arise whilst window shopping, and things we never needed nor thought of having previously, suddenly become urgent needs on the spur of the moment, when the “Shine eye” syndrome kicks in. Rainy day funds should be left for rainy days, and we should avoid the temptation to spend recklessly, even if large reserves are available.

One of the reasons why we found ourselves on the verge of financial collapse during the last great recession, is because many of our banking institutions were too highly leveraged, meaning that reserve capital for emergencies were all but nonexistent in many cases. Thus, when the cold realities of the housing bubble hit, many banks, and governments, and individuals, and families were caught without sufficient cushion to weather the storm, and as a direct result, many went under, or out of business, never to resurface again.

 When Joseph was brought into power through the providences of God, the first thing he did was to build storehouses to store food for the rainy day, and though the Bible tells us that there was an overabundance of food during the seven fat years, yet Joseph was prudent and disciplined enough to resist the temptation to use rainy day supplies prematurely, just because there was plenty. There is a tendency for nations, individuals, and families, and churches to spend wantonly simply because there is an abundant supply of funds, and thus many wants are converted to urgent needs on the spur of the moment, with no thought that a rainy day will certainly come. Hence the reason why the scriptural instructions on this point should be given due attention. Let’s read:

Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant”…. “consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Genesis 41:46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt”…..

47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.

48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.

49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

53 And the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.

54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

It is worthy of note that at this time, God worked no special miracle to deliver those countries and individuals who had not learned the important lesson of saving for the rainy day, because as stated before, God is much more practical in His instructions to us than many people realize, and as far as He was concerned, sufficient warning had been given so that whosoever would take heed, could make the necessary preparations for the predicted famine. This leads us to our next lesson.

Lesson (3) The unrestrained use of credit cards and other debt instruments, is one of the means by which we are brought into financial slavery, therefore godly wisdom and prudence need to be exercised by the Christian in every area of life, so that we may not fall a prey to the  many devices of the enemy, and thus plunge ourselves and our families into financial ruin unnecessarily. Those Nike shoes that cost hundreds of dollars, and those numerous dresses and hats which fill our closets, that are hardly ever worn, and the many trinkets, indulgences and “Bling” which keep us double-dipping into our rainy day fund, must all be laid to rest, because, as was stated before, The Lord is very practical in His instructions, and the laws of cause and effect are often left to run their natural course, especially if we persist in a wrong course of action. Let’s read:

Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Deuteronomy 15:6 For the Lord thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.

“Many poor families are poor because they spend their money as soon as they receive it. When one becomes involved in debt, he is in one of Satan’s nets, which he sets for souls. Abstracting and using money for any purpose, before it is earned, is a snare”. You ought not to allow yourself to become financially embarrassed, for the fact that you are in debt weakens your faith and tends to discourage you. You need to cut down your expenses and strive to supply this deficiency in your character”. [The Adventist home. Pp 392 & 393.]

Lesson (4) Borrowing money to make loan payments is a snare and a deadly cycle that will spiral out of control sooner than later. If a loan or debt cannot be repaid with earned income, then we may know for certain that we are in a death trap that will gradually bind us in shackles from which we will not be able to free ourselves. Greece is currently seeking a loan to make a payment on another loan, a cycle that has become all too common in the developed world, and sadly has had a trickledown effect on families and households.

It’s worthy of note that with all of the previous efforts to pay down our national debt right here in America, that somehow it keeps on growing, and try as we might to make our escape, we seem to be sinking still deeper and deeper in the mire, until such time as the Chinese lender will run out of funds to lend. This cycle however is nothing new, for there is nothing new under the sun, and if the sacred lessons of the past had been adopted and implemented, we would never be in the situation we are in currently. Let’s read:

Nehemiah 5:1 And there was a great cry of the people

and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

5 “And lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

The godly principle of being content, coupled together with living within our means, will prevent us to a large degree from following in the footsteps of Greece and other developed nations that are currently riddled with mounting debt, and if America does not awake out of slumber to correct these errors, then we ourselves, together with Greece and Puerto Rico will be singing from the same page in the very same choir, with the very same conductor, because the principle of contentment applies equally across the board, to individuals and nations alike.

In addition to these cautions and instructions given in the scriptures, we have the additional information pertaining to the mark of the beast, which will be instituted when the financial systems of earth will have taken a turn for the worse. Then it will be, that all who would be found owing numerous debts will be offered concessions by the adversary of souls, in return for signing on to the powers that be, and if for any reason this course of action is taken in the future, our eternal doom will be forever sealed. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding

 count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment-keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. [G.C pp 607]

It is therefore important that we implement the godly principles that are written in the scriptures, so that all unnecessary hardship and financial persecution can be averted as far as possible. Let us then ask God for the wisdom and discipline necessary to rein in and pay off our debts wherever possible, and let us now seek to free ourselves from the many shackles that bind us to this present world. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to do so, and if we ask God He will show us ways and means to “Write Fifty”. Let’s read:

Romans 13:7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us

 therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what The Spirit saith unto the churches.

                                        God bless!

To Shack Up Or To Pack Up. Sabbath Afternoon. 06/27/2015

Because of the gravity of the situation we currently find ourselves in, it is imperative that the word of God be now made plain, as it pertains to our present condition, and it’s for this reason why several passages in the scriptures must now be made to speak for themselves, without any personal opinions or human input.  Even though many may not know it, the real unseen tragedy of yesterday’s decision, is that millions of evil spirits were let loose across the globe, and the restraining power of God has been lifted to a large degree. Here are just a few samples of the more prominent tweets that were exchanged yesterday, and may God have mercy upon us. Let’s read:

President Obama ✔ @POTUS

Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins  10:10 AM - 26 Jun 2015

Martin O'Malley

Reminded of Will and his moms on the day we passed marriage equality in MD. There’s no greater human right than love. #LoveWins

10:10 AM - 26 Jun 2015

Joaquin Castro ✔

Today, love prevailed. A historic ruling from #SCOTUS in favor of justice and equality.

Follow Target

✔ @Target

Here's to having, holding and marrying who you love.

It is now imperative that all true Christians be now clad with the whole armor of God, from the crown of our heads to the soles of our feet, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. The following words of Holy writ are therefore sent to us directly from God that we may understand the import of what has recently taken place in this country. Let’s read:

1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.

2nd Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old”…

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Proverbs 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Zephaniah 1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time,  that I will search”… “and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.

13 Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

Isaiah 13:3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.

4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.

5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

6 Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:

8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of

 hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves

 in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Isaiah 2:10 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty.

11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

12 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

1st Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman

 with child; and they shall not escape.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

The standards, customs and practices of those who do  not fear God should never be the criteria for Christians, for it is often the case that what is permitted by society, is diabolically opposed to the instructions of God. The true Christian is to be guided by the teachings of the scriptures alone, without any additions, amendments, or variations based on custom and culture. Furthermore, what is often legally permissible in a state or country, may not necessarily be in line with what the scriptures teach on the very same point, and thus it is important that we order our steps according to what is written.

The family unit, which is the God-ordained foundation of all society, has come under increasing attack by both human and satanic agencies, and the sacred marriage institution which God has given to safeguard the families of earth, is now being dragged in the dust. But whatever laws or manmade institutions to the contrary may be legislated, we must remember that God never blesses disobedience, even if it is thus presented by politicians, judges and religious leaders.

The wages of sin always carry negative consequences, and although Jesus Christ has died to redeem us from sin, yet in the real world, the suffering and the estrangement which result from all unscriptural relationships will be the experience of those who continue to live in violation of God’s order. In the beginning when God created Adam and Eve, He ordained that a man should leave his father and mother to cleave unto his one “Female” wife, and whenever this order is disturbed for any reason, the blessing of God cannot rest upon such unions. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

However, in our day there are many pastors and clergy who often presume to ask God’s blessing on same-sex marriage, in direct violation of His plainest commands in these matters, but try as we might, blessings will not come down, nor invoked upon that which God has already proscribed in His word. Similarly with those who choose to “Shack up” instead of entering into a lifelong  commitment with the one who they claim to love, for according to the Bible, “leaving” should always lead to “cleaving”, and not the other way around.

In other words, if a man claims to love a woman, and is desirous of living with her, he should put his money

where his mouth is and get married to the woman of his dreams, so that the blessing of God can rest upon the relationship, and the children who may be born to them. But never are we to think that God will bless the relations of those who “Shack up”, for in so doing, we would place ourselves in a condition of continuing sin, in which God’s favor can never be invoked, even if we have the best of intentions.

Furthermore, history and statistical records have shown that the longer a man lives with a “female” woman, the less likely he is to marry her, because the question always arises, why should we commit ourselves after all these years, when we knowingly entered into such and such an agreement in the first place. Thus it is in such a situation, the man is left free to take a hike whenever the going gets rough, or when another person of interest comes along. And the woman, not having the security of a lifelong commitment, may feel at liberty to walk away if she finds another who tells her sweet little lies.

If a man is not willing to tie the knot with the woman he claims to love, then he is lying, because true love always

leads to a commitment. It is not the will of God that the relationship between a man and woman be left in limbo, nor is it His will that they two be kept in sexual purgatory for any length of time, without the security of a marital commitment before God and man, for if God were to sanction such relationships, then the very foundation of society will crumble, and the children of such unions will lack the stability and security of knowing that mom and dad are in it for the long haul.

Furthermore the relationship between a man and woman are likened in the Bible to our relationship with Christ, and in our union with Him, a deliberate decision to be committed for life must be made upfront, or else we cannot partake of the special blessings He bestows on those whom He knows. Hence the reason why several strong statements pertaining to the Christian’s relation  to God are made in the scripture, thereby showing the permanence and indivisibility God originally intended for a man and his female wife. Let’s read:

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God”….

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

The current, prevalent practice of having intimate sexual relations with someone of the opposite sex, when there is no legally binding commitment in marriage before God and man is a sin, and must not be indulged by any true Christian for any reason. Before my wife and I were baptized into Christ, and before we were married, we lived for a brief period in a common law relationship without a commitment, but the immediate advice of our parents was to get married if we loved one another, because it is a sin and a snare to live with someone of the opposite sex in any type of intimate relationship, and thus we began to make plans towards that end.

This we did in obedience to the word of God, and ever since that time we have been extremely married, and are happily serving God with a clear conscience in this matter, knowing that His blessing rests upon all such unions. Our children who were born into such a union have always seen their mom and dad go through the ups and downs of life as one, and although it hasn’t always been easy, at the end of the day they see that God is well able to reconcile any problem and to bring that stability, consistency, and longevity to any marriage that is under His care, and which is performed in harmony with the counsels given in scripture.

And so it is with candor that we will address the issue of Cohabiting, without cleaving in marriage. There are now virtually millions of households across the land, in which this situation has obtained, some for financial reasons, and others for the opportunity to second guess one’s first choice as a mate. Women are not as shoes that are purchased from Payless, in which men can try them on for a while, and then return them for a full refund. And men are not as cars that can be test driven or taken for a ride, with the hope that the “Lemon law” will be an option, just in case things do not work out.

When two of the opposite sex are desirous of sharing intimate and friendly relationships with one another, they should refrain from all sexual interactions until such time that a formal, God-ordained commitment is made, for in this way the children that are produced from such unions can have stability, security, and longevity in the family. However, those Christians who have already gone the other route are now faced with a sobering choice, of whether to continue “shacking” or to start “packing”.

Decisions such as these are especially difficult in those situations where children are already born into the relationship, for then one has to decide whether to continue living in sin for the sake of the children, or whether to call the intimate part of the relationship quits, so that the blessing of God can rest upon them.

If any of us as Christians are presently in such a situation it is very important that we pay close attention to the following suggestions, for whatever may be the current situation, earnest efforts will have to be made to correct the evil, if we are to be brought into harmony with God’s revealed will for the family.

Step (1) Pray as never before, for wisdom, guidance and discretion, so that in trying to resolve the issue, it will be done in the spirit of loving kindness, so that cohesiveness may be fostered. But under no circumstances should any coercion be used, for to love is a free choice stemming from a deep appreciation of one’s character, and Jesus is able to touch hearts and minds, bringing them into harmony with His revealed will. Let’s read:

Proverbs 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

Step (2) Have a candid discussion of the matter with the other person in question, with a determination to seal the relationship through the God-ordained method of marriage. If it is observed that the other party becomes upset, or is avoiding the commitment under various pretexts, then that is a signal that true love probably never existed in the first place, and if the person persists in refusing to tie the knot, then go on to step three.

Step (3) If children are involved, then extreme care must be taken so that the family bonds that have already been established may not be broken. But in such situations where one person refuses to seal the relationship for life through marriage, all intimate, sexual relations should cease, until such time that the person is ready to commit, because as stated before in the example of Christ and the church, no commitment translates into no relationship with those who are undecided. Let’s read:

Romans 8: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Step (4) In certain irresolvable situations, one may have to “Pack up” instead of shacking up, if the desire is to serve God with a clear conscience. There are times in life when very difficult decisions must be made, not only for one’s sanity, but also for one’s personal salvation. In such situations we should remember the words of Christ concerning our priorities, for Jesus must be front and center of all our experiences, and therefore, if one must pack up in order to serve God, then so let it be. Let’s read:

Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

As we live in an ever increasing evil world, there will be a strong temptation to judge ourselves based on the evils that others do, and thus we may inadvertently think of our lesser sins as being of no consequence when they are compared with others. This snare we must avoid at all costs, so that at every step of the way, we may be found living in harmony with the word. May God help us to resolve these issues wherever they may apply, for He has promised to give us grace to help in times of need. Let’s read:

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.

May God bless the study and practice of His word.

Remember Lot's Wife! Sabbath Afternoon. 06/20/2015

The sacred history of those who have gone before was recorded for future generations, with the intent that we should study very closely the lessons contained in their experiences, so that we in our day can choose wisely, and thus avoid the blunders and errors of the past. In the instance of Lot and his entire family, there are indeed very important lessons to be deduced and applied so that our own families might be spared the unfortunate end of his. It is here worthy of note that it is quite possible that not a single member of Lot’s family would be saved, except himself, and the Lord bids us investigate the reasons why.

In His discourse upon the issues of the last days, Christ cautions us to remember Lot’s wife, and we may well ask why does He bid us remember the one that is lost, and not the one who was saved. The reason is because Christ observed some of the very same characteristics and behavioral patterns of Lot’s wife in many of His people, and so, to forestall an unnecessary repeat of the same mistakes that were then made, He cautions us to remember Lot’s wife.

The failures of Lot’s family did not occur in a vacuum, or in a moment, but was rather the final pieces of a puzzle that began many years earlier, when there arose a disturbance between Lot’s herdsmen, and those of Abraham’s. As the rhetoric escalated into arguments and feuds, Abraham then took a proactive step in the pursuit of peace, by inviting lot to a reconciliatory meeting, at which He offered the first and best choice of the land to his younger nephew. But instead of relinquishing that privilege to the more senior Abraham, Lot selfishly chose the most fertile part of the land that was closest to the cities, and there he made his abode. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:5  And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Those who allow strictly economic factors to drive their decision making processes, and who esteem the financial and material benefits of life of more value than their

spiritual well-being, run the risk of putting themselves and their families in harm’s way, and worst yet, expose themselves to adverse situations and influences which could endanger their eternal destiny.

The decision to move into the crowded, bustling cities, where corruption and ungodliness bear sway, but where there are many economic opportunities, is a mode of thought we should be wary of, for such a move can precipitate catastrophic loss, both in the temporal and spiritual realms.

From this point forward it was a cascading effect that took hold of Lot’s family, for before he realized what was taking place, his wife and daughters had become deeply acclimatized to the luxuries, indulgences, and creature comforts of the twin cities. There, surrounded by all the temporal wealth and secular philosophies that abounded in their hometown, Lot’s wife and his daughters fell a prey to the materialism and worldly-mindedness that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah had become famous for.

They soon found themselves not being able to live without manicures and pedicures, and a whole list of other “Cures” and creature comforts that were not considered necessary in the country setting where Abraham and Sarah had remained in, for there in the countryside, surrounded by wooded hills, bright flowers, and running brooks, no one needed a pedicure to ride a camel. And because of the nature of the environment in which Sarah lived, what seemed to Lot’s wife and family as absolutely necessary and indispensable in the city where they then resided, seemed as inconsequential and trifling in the country setting.

When our families are surrounded by nature and the created works of God, we generally tend to think more about God, and to be more natural and simple in our tastes, choices, and habits. And the same principle holds true for those of us who choose to live in the bustling, crowded cities, where crime and vice and mass murders are the order of the day. There, surrounded by man-made objects, inventions, and philosophies, we tend to gravitate more towards earthly things, and many become so accustomed to city life, that even the very thought of country living causes us to retreat.

 Hence the reason why the Bible teaches us to cultivate a spirit of contentment wherever we may live, for even though most of us now reside in the cities, yet it is still possible to avoid the materialism and worldly-minded  indulgences, which eat up valuable time and resources, whilst the work of God and the salvation of men scarcely get our attention Let’s read:

 1st Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,

 meekness. 

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

As Christians we must be very careful of the subtle influences exerted over us whilst dwelling in the cities, where the things of this world are given precedence of spiritual things, and where the pride of life and the lusts and indulgences of vanities, cause us to be imperceptibly assimilated into the world, and before long we begin to think, behave, dress, and speak like those whose names are written in the earth. This specific snare, that is scheduled to become predominant in the last days of earth’s history, we are warned against. Let’s read:

1st John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Thus it was that the eternal ruin of Lot’s family began with that one fatal choice, to choose city dwelling over country living, because of the material advantages and business opportunities afforded there in Sodom and Gomorrah. However, it is a fact that with plenty money comes plenty vices, for both are often found to be walking hand in hand, and thus it was that the vilest passions had inflamed both young and old, to the point where traditional marriage had all but become obsolete, and almost every person had gone south, as far as sexual orientations go. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:1  And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 

2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

These mighty ministers of God’s judgment came to the city appearing as ordinary wayfarers, in their Levi jeans and Nike sneakers, but no one knew that they were angels sent on a mission of destruction. Thus after the altercation at Lot’s door, they revealed to Lot who they really were, and sent him to warn his daughters and their husbands of the impending doom. Lot obeyed the urgent  command of the angels, but his mission proved to be a total failure, for his daughters and their husbands had laughed him to scorn.

Up to this point, Lot had had no problem with the angels’ message, for he himself was utterly disgusted with the prevailing iniquity of the twin cities. The Bible tells us that his righteous soul was vexed day and night, because of the sins being practiced there, but he never left when he had ample opportunity to. Now, we are not left in doubt as to what his soul was “Vexed” about, for the sacred record delineates the specific sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, so that we who are living in the 21st century may not be blinded to the developments that are now taking center stage in our communities. Let’s read:

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

2nd Peter 2: 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy

 conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Thus it was, when the angels told Lot of the impending destruction that night, he understood exactly what sins the angels were referring to, which had brought upon the twin cities the judgments of God, and he immediately went into high gear, planning an escape route that would allow him to avoid the coming catastrophe, whilst at the same time trying to retain as much of his material wealth and possessions as possible.

Thus he and Mrs. Lot began to prepare feverishly for their escape. That night they could not sleep but stayed up late into the wee hours of the morning, making last minute plans. He would go to Home Depot early, at 7:00 o’clock in the morning to get a tool kit and a “For sale” sign for their house, which they planned to sell at a hurried open house showing the following day. Then he would run over to Pep Boys quickly, to get two cans of “Fix-a-flat” for their journey, and he would fill up two of his luxury cars with gas so that they would not have to stop along the way.

Mrs. Lot on the other hand had her work cut out for her, for she would run to the nearest bank in the morning to pull out as much cash as she could possibly get, then she would briefly stop by the pawn shop to get rid of most of her jewelry. The kids meanwhile would be packing their belongings into only two of their four vehicles, because since they were only fourteen and fifteen years of age, and had not gotten their drivers licenses as yet, they would be too young to drive, and they would hate to get a traffic ticket on their way out of Sodom.

And pack and pack they did all night, trying to squeeze as much of their belongings into the trunk space available. They tried to take everything, from toothpaste, to cans of Campbell’s soup, from their make-up kit, to the many dresses and high heels they hardly ever wore. Then finally, with just a few square inches remaining, they squeezed in two packs of Oreos, as snacks for their long journey. Finally, after a night of frantic packing and planning, they fell into a deep slumber, hoping to get

some much needed rest before daybreak.

But in the morning, the angels had a startling message for Lot and his family, they were not going to take any of those things they had packed, for they were going to make their escape on foot, and those Oreos, which had been included at the last minute, would also have to be left behind, for they were not a part of the health message. This instruction from the angels stunned Lot and his wife, for they began to feel that they were being treated unfairly, and they could not understand what was the big rush.

From this point forward Lot’s wife began to murmur in her thoughts, because she felt that a loving God should have given them sufficient notice so that at least they could sell their belongings, or even put them in storage. Thus it was that when the angels saw that Lot and his family were lingering and deliberating, they grabbed them by the hand, and started to run with them, for they were not to be involved in the coming conflagration.

 This action by the angels shows us how very difficult it is to separate ourselves from the creature comforts of life, and we are never to be deceived into thinking that it will happen overnight. The sudden adjustment to country living will prove to be too much for many Christians, and like Lot’s wife many will turn back, to gaze on the life of ease and luxury which they once enjoyed, hence the reason why Jesus warns us to “Remember Lot’s wife”.

It is here worthy of note that Abraham did not have to worry as did Lot, for he was already living in the country, and because of his literal location, would be spared the coming judgments. It is also to be observed that Lot could not make the sudden change to country living, hence the reason why he requested of the angels that he be permitted to go to a smaller city, where at least the transition could take place. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Here we see that he had to leave the larger cities for the smaller ones, in preparation for country living, a pattern that is eerily reminiscent of instructions we have long been given in the scriptures. The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is nothing new under the sun, and from this we deduce the principle that God teaches by repetition, meaning that certain vital instructions to His chose people are often repeated over and over again. Let’s read:

Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the

prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:

18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

This is not the only instance in which the very same instruction is repeated, for as stated before, God usually teaches us His will by repetition, so that we may “Remember Lot’s wife”. Let’s read:

          The Signal for Fleeing.

It is no time now for God’s people to be fixing their affections or laying up their treasure in the world. The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places. As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation, in the decree enforcing the papal Sabbath, will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains. And now, instead of seeking expensive dwellings here, we should be preparing to move to a better country, even a heavenly. Instead of spending our means in self-gratification, we should be studying to economize.—Testimonies for the Church 5:464, 465 (1885).

In our day, the very same sins that triggered the final destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, are once again on the rise, and they have gone a step further by becoming the law of the land in many states and countries. The inhabitants of Sodom practiced heinous vices by going after strange flesh, but they never presumed to make it law. But we are now taking iniquity to the next level by giving it our stamp of approval, and teaching it to our kids, who will become confused on “Fathers day”.

The Lord is not instructing anyone to make any ill-advised move to the country without first seeking His guidance and direction, but what He is saying is that we should at least begin to enquire of plan “B”, just in case any such move should become necessary at short notice. Prayer, and the humility to submit ourselves to be guided by God’s providence will place us in a position to listen when He speaks, and thus the errors of Lot and his wife may be successfully avoided.

The question then for us to answer is, are we prepared to make a sudden transition from city life, with all of its present creature comforts, to a place in the country, so as to avoid the moral pollution, and the consequent  judgments that will inevitably accrue? Would we like Lot and his wife hesitate greatly at the command of God, and will we begin to murmur against the angel, if we are instructed to uproot from our current comfort zone?

If for any reason, our family members refuse to leave with us, as did the daughters and sons in law of Lot, will we make that move anyway, or will we like Lot’s wife become fretful with God because of the loss of close family and relatives? The disposition to place family ahead of the plain instructions of God constitutes a form of idolatry, and the true Christian will not allow anything or anyone to come between him and his God, for any reason. This order of priority as far as relationships go is clearly stated by Christ, and we will find that as we draw nearer to the close of earth’s history, that it will become a living reality in many instances. Let’s read:

Matthew 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

The answers to these probing issues lie with us, and thus it behooves us to study the sacred history of those who have gone before, but howsoever we choose or decide, let us always pay heed to those solemn words of Christ saying, “Remember Lot’s wife”.  God bless! 

Conquering Genetic Sin Through Christ. Sabbath Afternoon. 06/13/2015

The Bible teaches us one of the most important and sublime truths ever revealed to mortals, that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, and thus any person who truly believes in God can conquer any sin, whether it be cultivated or genetically predisposed. It makes no difference whatsoever, for sin is naturally intimidated by the presence of Christ, and if we so choose, Jesus will obliterate every evil propensity in us, through the omnipotent power of The Holy Ghost. This solemn truth must always be held as a sacred treasure by all who name the name of Christ.

Never should we buy into the devil’s fatal sophistry that because we are born with powerful propensities to evil, that are passed down from generation to generation via our genes, that we cannot live victoriously through the power of Christ, for if we draw this conclusion, we will literally hand the victory to our arch-enemy, and thus we will always be looking for ways and means to evade the sacred requirements and lofty standards set forth in the scriptures.

When the Bible speaks of being genetically predisposed to evil, it is referring to the fact that we all are born with unnatural tendencies that are inherited, and then almost always cultivated by the children who have the genetic codes for a certain course of action stamped upon us at birth. And although all unnatural actions and decisions must pass through the gate of choice as we grow and gain intelligence, yet the sacred record shows that it is usually the case that children walk in the footsteps of their parents, even though we retain the freedom to choose for ourselves. Let’s read:

1st kings 15:1  Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.

2 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. and his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him”….

 8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.

9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

And the Bible gives us several other graphic examples of the same problem, for it is the same with every living person born under the sun, without exception. Many people wonder at Solomon, who at the onset of his reign, dedicated himself to God, and asked not for riches, but for wisdom to rule, and prayed that the laws and principles that are written in the scriptures, be implemented both on a personal and national level, how could he then fall so low as to take to himself seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines.

These actions were not only his free choice, but they were motivated by a much deeper genetic problem he knew not of, and until he himself came to this realization, he would continue to fall a prey to the very unnatural cravings of his carnal heart. The problem did not even originate with David his father, but went much further back into his family tree, where it is found upon investigation, that most of his progenitors suffered with the same problem to a greater or lesser degree.

And for those of us who might be suffering with the similar urge to merge, and who may be wondering why the problem seems to be so deep-seated, we may well look at our own family history, to better understand our own issues. Solomon’s grandfather was Jesse, from whom David descended, and so we must do a little digging to see why Solomon did what he did. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16:4 And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

Now folks, we are looking at a pretty “Busy” man, and the probing question that Samuel continued to ask, haunted the mind of Jesse. That question, “Are these all thy children” must have got him thinking, for Samuel had only asked for the sons of Jesse to come to the solemn ceremony, but the daughters of Jesse were never called, not because he did not have daughters too, but because Samuel was sent specifically to anoint a new king for the kingdom of Israel.

And now we turn one more page in Solomon’s family tree to his father David, in order to trace the root of his problem with polygamy, and that seemingly insatiable desire to “merge”. Unless we understand where we came from, we will not know where we are going, or what steps to take to forestall the cascading effects of genetic predisposal to unnatural tendencies. Solomon’s unusually strong sexual desire is not merely the result of his own doing, for there are genetic and hereditary forces at play, forces that must be brought into the equation when evaluating our dire need of Christ. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

2nd Samuel 5:13 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

What we are looking at again is a pretty “Busy” man, and as we trace from root cause to effect, we see a definite pattern developing genetically, and being passed down from father to son, and from generation to generation as a legacy. Thus the next logical question is what do we do in our predicament, if we are predisposed by inherited, sinful tendencies? Do we then make laws to accommodate our unnatural propensities, or do we take the bull by its horns, and seek after Christ, who alone can put these tendencies to evil into permanent reverse gear?

What we do from this point forward is of very critical importance, for there are forces that have now been set in motion to confirm sinful desires and activities under the pretext that we are naturally predisposed to act a certain way. Thus, instead of seeking for the abundant solutions and remedies afforded in Christ, through the omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit to exterminate sin, many are bent on wallowing in the mire of inherited tendencies, and thus the work of God’s salvation is being made of none effect to those who need it most.

In dealing with these inherent problems in our nature, there are certain courses of action we should never ever pursue, for if we take any other route that is contrary to the path outlined in the scriptures, we will place ourselves on the wrong side of the fence as it pertains to God’s saving grace, and thus, instead of being liberated from spiritual bondage, we will be permanently incarcerated by evil spirits, who will then take full possession of our minds, if positive decisions for the better aren’t made.

The first thing we must never do is to destroy the God-given diagnostic tools that are to be found in His law, for if the proper diagnosis is not made, then the appropriate remedies cannot be applied. The Ten Commandments are what stipulate what sin is, and if they are interfered with for any reason, or removed from our consciences as being irrelevant, the solutions to be found only in Christ will be of no avail, for God cannot help us in any way, if we determine that nothing is wrong with ourselves. Let’s read:

1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then?”…. “I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

In Jackson Memorial hospital there are x-ray machines and magnetic resonance imaging devices which reveal internal defects and problems that are hidden from the view of the naked eye, and were it not for these devices, which probe deep within our bodies, doctors and physicians would be at a loss to properly diagnose and treat, many of the ailments with which we suffer. Now, no one in their right mind will think of destroying an MRI machine, simply because it is used to detect defects and cancers in us. So how is it that we now endeavor to do away with the spiritual MRI that God uses to properly diagnose and treat the many spiritual cancers we are born with?

We would think that the wise and beneficial thing to do would be to protect the spiritual MRI, but instead we are now making laws to remove it from the hospital, so that no cures for our spiritual maladies can be prescribed by Doctor Jesus, and this is the reason why we are rapidly descending into moral anarchy which will take us into “Never land”, where sinful propensities, evil thoughts, and actions are considered normal, and no remedy is ever needed or prescribed.

 X-ray machines and similar devices are never used by doctors to condemn their patients, neither does Doctor Jesus use His MRI of Ten Commandments to condemn any of His patients, for it is one of the indispensable diagnostic tools God must use, in order to begin the rehabilitation process, and all who submit to the initial stages of diagnostic work, will live victoriously as the appropriate medicines are applied from day to day. Let’s read:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

In our day we are faced with a philosophy which teaches us to tolerate those evil tendencies we are born with, and for this reason it is stated that gays, lesbians and bisexuals have no choice but to go with their unnatural flow. This form of reasoning or conclusion does not come from God, for at its core it infers that we have no choice but to remain in our sins, and thus it strikes at the very root of God’s purposes to save us from all sin. Jesus Christ was manifested to destroy all the works of satan, and therefore we should never sell His grace short, by saying that we must go with our natural flow.

There are those of us who have a natural tendency to tell lies, and it has become deeply embedded in our nature, to the point where we do not even have to think about it, before it is done. Then there are those of us whose parents and grandparents were heavy smokers and drinkers, and the mere sight of a cold-sweating Budweiser or Johnny walker black sends shivers down our spines. Then again there are those whose inherited and genetic problem might be “girls” or boys, as the case might be. Are we then to go with our unnatural flow, which is diagnosed as sin by the spiritual MRI? God forbid! Let’s read:

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

There is absolutely no sinful tendency, thought, or action that cannot be resolutely overcome through the blood and power of Jesus, for this is the very essence of the work of  salvation, and it must never be belittled, short-changed, or underestimated, because it is the power of God working in and through us. Thus all gays and lesbians can become as straight as a pin, and liars can be made to be truthful and sincere, and those who suffer with adulterous thoughts and inordinate sexual desires, can live victoriously each day, and be more than conquerors through Christ. But never are we to throw in the towel and surrender to satan, through his specious sophistries which are presented under the pretext of love and tolerance. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.

Let us therefore be very careful not to subscribe to the many fatal deceptions that are scheduled to proliferate in these last days of earth’s history, for we will find more and more that the world at large is becoming more averse to truth and righteousness, and it will require tremendous focus and a deep relationship with The Lord Jesus, to stay the course with Him. We therefore end with several  statements of facts from the apostle John, which should be treasured by every true believer, for victorious living is well within our reach, and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Let’s read:

1st John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!

When Tradition And Righteousness Collide. Sabbath Afternoon 06/06/2015.

There is a world of difference between tradition and Christianity, and the two must be understood in their respective contexts, in order that they may not collide. Tradition must at all times, and in all situations, be held subservient to the laws of God, and never in reverse, for it is often the case that what culture stipulates as being good and right, is often reckoned as being sinful or evil in the courts of heaven. In other words, what our traditions and culture may permit in many instances, can also be definitely prohibited by God, and therefore it is our most sacred duty to know and understand the differences.

For instance if a survey were to be done in different denominations of Christianity, and folks were asked for their views of what recreation and entertainment are supposed to be, we will find different interpretations and varying applications, even though the very same King

James Bible may be used. Some may countenance any and all types of entertainments, with no regard to any Biblical principles, for in some minds the word of God is held distinctly separate from their everyday activities.

Other Christians may frown upon activities that our culture and traditions allow, for they believe in a very practical application of Biblical principles governing our behaviors and actions. This disconnect between faith and practice in some members, which occurs in every church without exception, goes a long way in confusing the minds of the young and unwary, for they see double standards being adopted by different Christians, and are thus led to query what indeed is the truth.

However, in all of our experiences we should remember that we are held individually accountable to God for the deeds done in the body, for when our names are called in heaven, we must stand in single file, because God does not ask us what our culture dictated, but rather what His word stipulated, and so it is of the utmost importance

that whatsoever we do, be done in accordance with what is written.

A person who is considered as a law-abiding citizen of earth by man’s standards, who has a perfect credit score, no indictments, and has always paid his taxes on time, could be assessed as a rebellious individual in the sight of God, if his motives and actions do not bear the signet of heaven. State and federal laws do not always translate into righteousness, for there are many instances where the cultural heritage of nations and individuals puts them at odds with what the Bible teaches. This fact and its implications should be clearly understood by all, for we are living in an age where customs and cultures are becoming more and more tolerant of evil.

In the days of Christ there was a practice known as “Corban”, by which individuals were free to relieve themselves of their responsibility to their aging parents, by stipulating in their will that the proceeds from their possessions would be given to the church. Whilst this action was applauded as a gesture of goodwill by church members and leadership alike, the recording angel wrote sin against that person’s name, because they allowed the laws and traditions of men, and their cultural heritage to trump the direct command of God on this point. Let’s read:

 Mark 7:8   For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men”….. “and many other such like things ye do. 

  7:9   And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 

  7:10   For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother”…..

  7:11   But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, [It is] Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; [he shall be free]. 

  7:12   And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 

  7:13   Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. 

The same is true of many business practices that are countenanced as being acceptable in the courts of human opinion. Some of these practices we actually benefit from as consumers, yet the recording angel writes sin against the names of those who foster and implement them. There is what we call “Minimum wage” where individuals cannot be paid below a certain rate in various states. Now whilst this safety net may serve a good purpose by partially regulating exploitation of the poorer classes, yet the Christian will be held to a much higher standard, than that set by mortal man.

Again, the practice of beating the lowest advertised price may be of tremendous benefit to consumers, yet it is a satanic concept at its core, and has no scriptural basis whatsoever, for its foremost purpose is to squeeze the competition out of their market share, so that the business in question can then be the greatest. Thus the biggest fish eat up the small fish, and other people and businesses are used as stepping stones for other more affluent ones to climb to the top of the economic totem pole.

Hostile takeover bids, and short-selling in stock markets are all concepts and principles that are concocted in the laboratories of evil angels, and their adverse results are seen in market monopolies and consequent domineering tactics which severely limit the purchasing options of consumers. Thus a whole plethora of cultural practices and traditions which are widely accepted in secular and even religious circles, are indeed foreign to the government of God, and those who harbor and practice them will have to give an account one day, if permanent changes are not made.

In the previous financial meltdown which took the world to the brink of financial collapse, many hedge-funds and other banking institutions knowingly gave loans to the

people, with the understanding and the hope that they  would not be able to repay. Then after bundling these mortgages into very complex financial packages and derivatives, the same institutions bought insurance and placed bets against the very loans they issued, with the desire that the borrowers will fail in their payments.

Thus when the financial crisis hit, many of the financial institutions made billions of dollars, collecting on the mortgages they bet against, and so they made money both ways, while millions of borrowers went under. Now, even though these practices may be legal from a mere human standpoint, yet in the records of heaven they are recorded as grave sin, and that’s why the Christian in our day needs to be very careful, lest the customs, traditions and cultures of the day, imperceptibly invade our minds and thoughts, and we act legally according to the laws and permissions of men, whilst living in violation of the laws and principles of God.

This issue of tradition colliding with righteousness is what

 took place with Abraham and Sarah when they were trying to have the son of promise, but were prevented for the time by Sarah being barren. After many years had elapsed, and there seemed no other way out of their plight, they resorted to a sort of loop-hole that the law and culture of the day afforded, by which the maid of the wife in question, could then be legally given to the husband, so that the children born to such a union would be considered the legal children of the husband and wife.

This provision may have been instituted with the best of intentions, but it did not bear the signet of heaven, for it included the sin of adultery, which disturbs the sanctity and stability of the family. There is never a good reason for doing evil, and good intentions never justify a wrong course of action, thus whenever we venture on satan’s enchanted ground, the adverse results of a departure from righteousness will certainly accrue. What seemed to be a favorable plan “B” to Abraham and Sarah back then, turned out to be plan “F”, because we are still witnessing the results of that one tradition even to this day. Let’s read:

Genesis 16:4   And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 

    16:6   But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid [is] in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. 

  16:7   And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 

    16:10   And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. 

  16:11   And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou [art] with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. 

  16:12   And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. 

The same occurrence of tradition colliding with the laws of God is true of the issue of worship in our day, where millions of Christians have inadvertently settled for the substitute day of rest, simply because it came down to us through the centuries as a tradition of men and as a sort of cultural heritage. When Sunday worship was first introduced and instituted by the Roman emperor, it was probably done with the best of intentions, to bridge the divide between pagan sun worship and Sabbath worship. And even though there is not a single scripture which  gives us the authority to do so, yet the majority of Christians in our day follow that which has come down to us as tradition.

The apostle Paul had a vague premonition of what was to transpire after he passed, and he thus warned Christians of future generations to beware of the subtle influences that the traditions and culture of men would exert against the plainest teachings of the word of God. He alluded to this as he wrote, not long before he was executed by Rome. Let’s read:

Acts 20:29   For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 

  20:30   Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 

  20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 

And so it is, that with the issue of tradition and culture colliding with righteousness, that as Christians we should trace the history of Sabbath-keeping, as one of only two institutions given in the Garden of Eden as a precious legacy for all generations. The two institutions given at creation are marriage between one man and one female woman, which forms the basic building blocks of all society, and the seventh day Sabbath, given as the universal day of rest, which if it was kept as it ought to be, would have prevented the spread of the theory of evolution, which has now been incorporated into the culture and educational systems of the earth. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:1   Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 

  2:2   And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 

  2:3   And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

  2:21   And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 

  2:22   And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 

  2:23   And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 

  2:24   Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 

However, a substitute form of worship was introduced by Cain, by which he sought to gain God’s favor through disobedience, and the principle of substituting our own institutions instead of God’s was thereby established. But there were always a faithful few who differed with Cain, and those who did, worshiped God according to His plainly revealed will. Thus we have the testimony of scripture as it pertains to those who chose righteousness over culture and tradition. Let’s read:

Genesis 5:19   And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 

  5:20   And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. 

  5:24   And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him.

Genesis 6:5  And God saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. 

  6:6   And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 

  6:7   And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 

  6:8   But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 

  6:9   These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.

Genesis  7:1   And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

After the flood there were also generations of the righteous who kept God’s law which was always in existence, even though before Mt Sinai it was handed down from father to son by word of mouth. At Sinai it was written down in stone to show permanence, but it

has always existed. In our homes we have rules that must be honored by those who live under our roof, but none of those laws are written down anywhere. This does not then mean that they are not binding, for they are just as valid in spoken form, as in a written format.

Thus Joseph, Isaac, Jacob, and Abraham, together with their offspring were all Sabbath-keepers, because the Bible states that they kept God’s commandments and His laws, for they had an intimate knowledge of them. When Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife to commit adultery, he refused by stating that such and act would constitute sin. It’s only the law of God that could designate adultery as a sin, for the moral codes of man then permitted polygamy. Let’s read:

Genesis 39:7   And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 

  39:8   But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what [is] with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 

  39:9   [There is] none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou [art] his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Romans  7:7   “I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Genesis 26:4   And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 

  26:5   Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. 

The fourth commandment of the Decalogue begins with

the word “Remember” because God saw that members of the human family were prone to forget, and as people across the globe lost sight of the original seventh day Sabbath, God began to give us a multitude of reminders at every opportunity, and in thousands of ways, so that the number seven, of all the days of the week could be remembered as the God-ordained, universal day of rest. Let’s read:

Exodus 20:8   Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.   20:9   Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 

  20:10   But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: 

  20:11   For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 

 Hence the reason why we read in so many experiences of the Hebrews and other pagan nations, that the number seven surfaces over and over again, it is not by coincidence, but it’s all by the providence of God, reminding us of the sacred day of rest, the Sabbath, which falls on the seventh day of the weekly cycle. Let’s read:

Genesis 7:4   For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. 

7:10   And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.

Genesis 21:28   And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 

  21:29   And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What [mean]

these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? 

  21:30   And he said, For [these] seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me”….

Genesis 29:18   And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 

    29:20   And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her. 

Genesis 33:1   And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 

    33:3   And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 

 Genesis  41:1   And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by

the river. 

  41:2   And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. 

  41:3   And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the [other] kine upon the brink of the river. 

  41:4   And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 

  41:5   And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. 

  41:6   And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. 

  41:7   And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, [it was] a dream.

Genesis   41:25   And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The

dream of Pharaoh [is] one: God hath showed Pharaoh what he [is] about to do. 

  41:26   The seven good kine [are] seven years; and the seven good ears [are] seven years: the dream [is] one. 

  41:27   And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them [are] seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. 

  41:28   This [is] the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God [is] about to do he showeth unto Pharaoh. 

  41:29   Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 

  41:30   And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

  Genesis 50:10   And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which [is] beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a

mourning for his father seven days. 

Exodus  12:15   Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 

  Exodus 29:30   [And] that son that is priest in his stead shall put them on seven days, when he cometh into the tabernacle of the congregation to minister in the holy [place]. 

  29:35   And thus shalt thou do unto Aaron, and to his sons, according to all [things] which I have commanded thee: seven days shalt thou consecrate them. 

    29:37   Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy. 

Leviticus 4:6   And the priest shall dip his finger in the

blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary.

Leviticus 8:33   And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation [in] seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.   

  8:35   Therefore shall ye abide [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded. 

Leviticus 12:2   Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 

Leviticus 13:4   If the bright spot [be] white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight [be] not deeper than the skin, and

the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up [him that hath] the plague seven days: 

  13:5   And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, [if] the plague in his sight be at a stay, [and] the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more.

  Leviticus 25:2   Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. 

  25:3   Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; 

  25:4   But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. 

  25:5   That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: [for] it is a year of rest unto the land.

25:8   And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. 

  25:9   Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth [day] of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. 

Joshua 6:1   Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. 

  6:2   And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, [and] the mighty men of valour.   

  6:4   And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. 

2nd kings 5:9   So Naaman came with his horses and with

his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 

  5:10   And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.  

And then we cross over from the B.C time period to the A.D time period, and the same continual mention of the number seven continues, because the word “Remember” in the fourth commandment, referring to the seventh day, is not something that God has left up to mortal man, but instead He Himself takes the initiative to remind us over and over again that the seventh day is still the one and only sacred day of the weekly cycle. Let’s read:

Matthew 18:21   Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 

  18:22   Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 

Matthew 12:43   When the unclean spirit is gone out of a  man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 

  12:44   Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth [it] empty, swept, and garnished. 

  12:45   Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there.

Matthew 15:34   And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 

  15:35   And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 

  15:36   And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake [them], and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 

  15:37   And they did all eat, and were filled: and they  took up of the broken [meat] that was left seven baskets

full. 

Acts 6:2   Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples [unto them], and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 

  6:3   Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

And finally we come to the last book of the Bible, in which the God of heaven makes His last and final appeal to the human family, bidding us to “Remember” the number seven as it pertains to the seventh day Sabbath of rest, and as if He were in desperate straits to have us remember, He starts off in the first chapter of Revelation with an abnormal amount of sevens. Let’s read:

Revelation 1:4   John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the

seven Spirits which are before his throne; 

1:11   Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 

  1:12   And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

1:13   And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man”….

  1:16   And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength. 

1:17   And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying”…

1:20   The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. 

Revelation 5:1   And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

5:6   And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 

Revelation 15:5   And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 

  15:6   And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 

  15:7   And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 

  15:8   And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

There can be no doubt that the number seven is being deliberately repeated in scripture from Genesis to Revelation, and the question we now have to settle within ourselves is why? Why is it that at almost every turn, God mentions the number seven, and is it coincidence that He has told us to “Remember” the seventh day?

There is a collision between traditional Sunday worship, and the original seventh day Sabbath, and therefore the God of heaven is bidding us choose whom we will serve. The final issue in the battle between truth and error, between good and evil, and between light and darkness, is the issue of worship, and it can be no coincidence that the first message of the three given in Revelation 14:7 refers us back directly to the Seventh day Sabbath of the fourth commandment, from which half of the verse is actually taken. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:7   Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 

Exodus 20:11   For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day”….

If we continue to allow Sunday tradition and culture to take precedence over the seventh day Sabbath, then we will be aligned with the beast of Revelation 13, but if we step out in faith, and accept the sign of God’s approval, then the promises to the faithful will be ours. We thus end with a promise to all who by faith, obey the plain commands of God in this an all other matters. Let’s read:

Isaiah 58:13   If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words: 

  58:14   Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]. 

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                                       God bless!

"Ye Shall Not Surely Die" Sabbath Afternoon 05/30/2015

The doctrine which teaches its adherents that the soul of man has natural immortality, had its beginning in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve chose to listen to the specious reasoning of the serpent, instead of the plain utterances of Jehovah. After the earth had been clad in Edenic beauty The Lord gave to both of them the clearest instructions against eating or touching the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for if they were to do so, they would surely die.

This first and very important instruction then meant that immortality was not something inherent in man’s nature, but was rather to be granted on condition of obedience. However, the devil, who was at this time debarred from heaven on account of the rebellion and ensuing war, by

which he was cast out, suggested otherwise to the curious mind of Eve, who bought into his fatal sophistries and thereby became his active agent in facilitating Adam’s downfall.

As Eve wandered from her husband’s side, she soon found herself gazing in wonder at the beautiful fruit, laden on the forbidden tree, and since she was alone, with no one to offer a remonstrance, the serpent seized the opportunity to tempt her into disbelieving God. The method he used is one that is often used in commercials, where the confirmation of a certain course of action is concluded as beneficial, before individuals have the opportunity to reason rationally for themselves. Hence the reason why the first word out of the serpent’s mouth is the word “YES”, a confirmation of the falsehoods which were to follow.

The Ouija board, one of the means by which human beings are directly connected to evil spirits, is so named because it consists of two words, “Oui”, the French word

 meaning yes, and the German word “Ja” which also means yes, and when put together into one word mean Yes, Yes. The first word in the introduction to the false doctrine of natural immortality was therefore inserted by no coincidence, but was well structured to confirm that which was to follow. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:1   Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 

  3:2   And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 

  3:3   But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 

  3:4   And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 

  3:5   For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 

  3:6   And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 

The implications of those words, “Ye shall not surely die” suggest that there are no negative or adverse results for wrong-doing, a theory that has come down to our day, and one which has grown and blossomed into a plethora of philosophies and beliefs which have no scriptural basis whatsoever, and which will soon be exposed for what they really are. However, the study for this afternoon is not going to focus primarily on the issues of death and immortality, but rather on the very concept that is now espoused by millions, that there are no negative results or consequences for sin.

One of the offshoots of the concept then unveiled by satan to humanity, is the doctrine which teaches that there is no absolute truth, and therefore the standard of right and wrong is relative, varying from person to person based on their own convictions and consciences. That familiar saying, “Let conscience be your guide” is a satanic statement, for the consciences of Bernie Madoff and Bin Laden differ greatly from that of Abraham and Isaac, and therefore the fluidity that is inherent in the very concept will allow for the most  gruesome and brutal of crimes, all being committed under the guise of individual conscience.

According to the Bible and all pertinent historical records, sin, as described in the Bible, always carries with it negative consequences, that are never restricted to the individual person, but rather extends to others, very much the same as when a pebble is thrown into water and the ripple effects reach the furthest shores. A person does not necessarily have to be guilty of a particular sin in order for him or her to suffer the direct or indirect consequences of someone else’s wrongdoing. This is a fundamental fact that must be taken into account when dealing with the false doctrine, “Ye shall not surely die”. Let’s read:

Romans 5:12   Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

   5:14   Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 

Proverbs 9:18   Wisdom [is] better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. 

Proverbs 29:2   When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Two young men were returning home one afternoon in their vehicle, when suddenly, without warning, a semi being driven by a drunk driver, jumped the median and hit them head on, killing both of them instantly. These teenagers had absolutely nothing to do with the truck driver’s sin of consuming large amounts of alcohol, yet they suffered the direct consequences of the man’s wrongdoing. Let’s never be deceived with satan’s fatal sophistry that sin does not come at a cost, for any and every violation of God’s law carries negative results of some kind.

When Achan sinned by stealing the goodly Babylonian garment and the shekels of gold and silver, in direct violation of the instructions given, thirty six men who had nothing to do with his crime, and who did not even know that sin was committed, suffered the direct results of his misdeeds, and by his singular act, caused several families to be bereft of husbands and fathers. There is no such thing as sin being committed and everyone or anyone getting off scotch free, this is why the Bible states the laws of cause and effect over and over again so that we will get the message. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 8:12   Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his [days] be prolonged, yet surely I know that

it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 

  8:13   But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong [his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Joshua 7:1  But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi”.. “took of the accursed thing.

7:4   So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. 

  7:5   And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them [from] before the gate [even] unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

7:10   And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 

  7:11   Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put [it] even among their own stuff. 

  7:12   Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, [but] turned [their] backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. 

The reason why the study is focusing so heavily on the consequences of sin, is because in our day the same lie that was told in the garden of Eden is being repeated under different headings and is being taught in schools and universities through philosophies that draw our attention away from the true cause of many of the difficulties and dangers that are multiplying upon the earth in quick succession. And because we are not placing our fingers on the real problem, we cannot access the real solution.

Any voice which says “Ye shall not surely die”, meaning

that sin does not produce adverse effects for the guilty and innocent, is the voice of satan, and until we become convinced of this sacred truth, there will be no lasting solutions to the many problems plaguing nations and individuals. We will find ourselves spending billions and trillions of dollars, chasing an elusive, phantom enemy, that will keep on metastasizing, all because of the self-righteous tendency to justify ourselves in a sinful course of action. This sacred truth of cause and effect in the spiritual realm is written for our instruction so that all may take heed.

In the days of Haggai the prophet, the people of God were stealing the tithes and offerings that were specially designated for the work and maintenance of the sacred sanctuary, and instead of setting aside from their weekly earnings that which was due to God, they spent lavishly upon themselves, with no thought for the cause of truth. This practice is described in the Bible as being robbery, the equivalent of sticking up God in broad daylight, and the sure results followed, because wherever any sin is committed, adverse effects are sure to follow. Let’s read:

Haggai 1:5   Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 

  1:6   Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages [to put it] into a bag with holes. 

And just as it is with individuals, so it is with nations, for the principle does not change from country to country, nor does it respect persons of high or low degree. The words, “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” are still valid and will remain as such until probation closes. Belshazzar found this out the hard way, but by the time he realized what was going on, it was too late, for he had crossed the threshold of God’s mercy, and had entered the sphere of judgment, from which there would be no escape.

After knowing what his father had passed through, and the forbearance of God towards the king’s folly, the

son,  who had the sacred history before him took the same route, and went even further by making a mockery of God, and the sacred institutions he had established for His worship. And it was while he was in the heat of the moment, celebrating the so-called victory of sin over righteousness, that a bloodless hand was sent from God, writing out the doom of the entire nation, for God is no respecter of persons. Let’s read:

Daniel 5:1   Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 

  5:2   Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which [was] in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 

  5:3   Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which [was] at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 

  5:4   They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 

  5:5   In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 

5:6   Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 

  5:7   The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spake, and said to the wise [men] of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 

  5:8   Then came in all the king's wise [men]: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 

  5:9   Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were

astonied. 

This sudden interference from heaven brought the party to a premature halt. The DJ stopped playing, and the bartenders stopped pouring, the clowns stopped joking, and the guests stopped speaking. All was now an eerie silence with the omens of some unknown, impending judgment hanging in the air. It was in this paralyzed state of consternation that the prophet Daniel was sent for, to give what was to be the final explanation to the nation that once dazzled its admirers. And since history is soon to be repeated, the God of heaven bids us take heed to Daniel’s speech, from this point forward. Let’s read:

Daniel 5:13   Then was Daniel brought in before the king. [And] the king spake and said unto Daniel, [Art] thou that Daniel, which [art] of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? 

  5:14   I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods [is] in thee, and [that] light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. 

5:17   Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 

  5:18   O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 

  5:19   And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 

  5:20   But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

  5:21   And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling [was] with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and [that] he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. 

  5:22   And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 

  5:23   But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: 

  5:24   Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 

  5:25   And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 

5:26   This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 

  5:27   TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 

  5:28   PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

5:30   In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 

  5:31   And Darius the Median took the kingdom, [being] about threescore and two years old.

In our day a million and one different reasons are being given for the apparent capricious outbreaks of nature, and the many disturbance that keep arising in different parts of the earth. And just as it was in the garden of Eden, satan has deceived millions into believing that the sacred institutions of God can be trampled upon and violated with impunity, and so the same cryptic words are being repeated, “Ye shall not surely die”. Science has also jumped on the same bandwagon in many instances, chalking it all up to green house gases, climate change and global warming.

Now while it is true to some extent that these are also

contributing factors, the fact remains that the basic problem of high handed sin lies at the core of most of our troubles, and will escalate until there is no remedy. The only solution that will bring positive changes for the better is Christ, but until we acknowledge what the problem is, the remedy provided will be of no avail.

In other words, if we keep seeking scientific explanations for a spiritual problem, then the solution which is right at our doorsteps won’t be of any use, and thus the laws of cause and effect will be permitted to run their natural course. This will then result in unprecedented natural and manmade disasters, which will increase both in cost and severity until an explanation of the writing on the wall is given.

The bloodless hand that wrote on the banquet hall of Belshazzar is soon to write again on the walls of modern Babylon, hence the reason why the following verses of scripture should be studied very carefully, for they contain the answers and methods necessary to avert the

evils that are now being determined. Let’s read:

Jonah 3:1   And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 

  3:2   Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 

  3:3   So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh”…

  3:4   “And he cried, and said”…. “Nineveh shall be overthrown. 

  3:5   So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 

3:6   For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered [him] with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 

  3:7   And he caused [it] to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 

  3:8   But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that [is] in their hands. 

  3:10   And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did [it] not.

2nd Chronicles 7:14   If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

  7:15   Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place. 

He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying.

                                    God bless!

Reasons Why Some People Leave Christ. Sabbath Afternoon. 05/23/2015

There are many reasons why some Christians turn their backs on Christ, and there are many more reasons given why others stop attending church services. At times in the Christian experience it may become difficult to stay focused on Christ, because of situations that may develop within the brotherhood of believers, but we should never forget who saved us and who died for us on Calvary. Even though we are social beings and we need the support of like-minded believers, yet it is Christ who has called us to Himself individually, and therefore we must take His invitation very personally.

It is a sad fact that in a predominantly Christian nation, church attendance is actually on the decline, for many denominations and congregations are struggling to add members, and others are bleeding many more believers through the back door, than those coming through the front, and so the question is asked “Why are so many Christians leaving their congregations, and what can be done to retain a healthy membership?

One of the more prominent reasons given for persons turning back to the broken cisterns of earth is that there are many “Hypocrites” in the church, a fact that cannot be denied. But if a person is looking for the right church, and they have come across a church with no hypocrites, then they have found the wrong church. According to the Webster’s definition, “A hypocrite is one who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right, but who behaves in a way that is contrary to such beliefs”. This type of person is to be found in every denomination, in every religion, and even amongst members of God’s remnant people.

Whenever our focus is on what others are doing or not doing, and whenever we become intolerant of those who may genuinely be struggling with weaknesses and sins, then the problem of hypocrites looms large, and if not

 managed properly, could cause us to stumble. In the days of Eli this was certainly the case, for his two sons were found to be doing the exact opposite of what any faithful priest should be doing.

This then caused many of the Hebrews to stop going to church, and as a result, the spirituality of the people took a hit, and every man started doing what was right in their own eyes. However, the Bible tells us of two faithful worshippers who were not deterred by the evils that were then taking place in the sanctuary services, and it must here be acknowledged that it must have required great faith on the part of Elkanah and his family to keep attending the yearly service. It means that their focus was not on what the priests were doing, but rather on what God was doing, and what He was about to do. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 1:1   Now there was a certain man of mount Ephraim, and his name [was] Elkanah”…  1:3   And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were] there. 

1:21   And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

1st Samuel 2:22   Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 

  2:23   And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 

  2:24   Nay, my sons; for [it is] no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress. 

  2:25   If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father”…

It is of critical importance then, for us not to allow any

hypocrites to steal our joy in The Holy Ghost, nor should we expend our energies policing others who may have a lesser understanding of the truths we hold dear. We are all in different stages of spiritual growth, and thus there is great need for tolerance and forbearance, so that growth in grace can take place according to God’s will. God is able to save even hypocrites, therefore we should see the potential for better in everyone, even though their actions may speak to the contrary. Let’s read:

  Colossians 3:12   Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 

  3:13   Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye. 

  3:14   And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 

  3:15   And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 

3:16   Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

This leads us to another reason why some people turn their backs on God or stop attending church, because of the music, which may not appeal to their specific tastes. This reason is one of the more prominent ones, and must be understood in its proper context. Here in America we have a melting pot of believers coming in from different backgrounds, and different cultures, and because of this there are great variances in preference of music. Some like it hot, and some like it cold, and some like it in the pot nine days old.

In other words, we have believers from some Sunday churches who are accustomed to a high energy form of worship, in which rythm and contemporary music in their church services are the order of the day. These particular kinds of services are emotionally charged, with heart and soul being poured into their song. And then there are those of a completely different orientation, in which a very subdued form of worship and music is what is preferred, where the feelings and emotions are bridled so as not to cause any distractions.

This is all well and good, and both types of worshippers may be sincere in their praises, but according to the Bible, music should not be a determining factor in us leaving the church or turning our backs on Christ. Those who have truly accepted Christ as Lord and Savior will not permit music to be a stumbling block in our blood relationship with The Lord, for according to the Bible the true sheep listen to the Master’s voice, not to music, and so they will not forsake the assembly of the saints if the music is not to their preference. Let’s read:

John 10:27   My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 

  10:28   And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall  never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of

my hand. 

  10:29   My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. 

  10:30   I and [my] Father are one. 

Another reason why some folk desert Christ and the assembly of the saints is because church is “Boring” to them, especially if a plethora of unceasing activity is not abundantly provided. Hence we have in our day a multitude of concerts, bazaars, excursions, dinners, and other such occasions to make the Christian life “Interesting”. And whenever these additional activities are removed, there goes the membership of many who had built their relationship with Christ upon the shaky foundation of excitement and entertainment. If we do not enjoy the presence and companionship of Christ as being the center of our joy, then something is seriously lacking and needs to be addressed urgently.

Our highest and most intimate joy should be with Christ, and then the horizontal aspect of our relationship with others will find its rightful place. But never should the presence of God with us be substituted or supplemented with other activities in order for it to have meaning. This is one of the more prominent reasons why church attendance is on the decline, and the issue is addressed in the scriptures, from the right perspective. Let’s read:

Psalms 16:11   Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore. 

Psalm 42:1  “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 

  42:2   My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 

Psalm 98:4   Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 

  98:5   Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 

  98:6   With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 

  98:7   Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 

  98:8   Let the floods clap [their] hands: let the hills be joyful together 

  98:9   Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. 

In order for us to understand the real reasons why some Christians lose their way, and why some folk turn their backs on Christ and religion as a whole, we will need to study the parable of the sower, as related by Christ. In this parable the Lord reveals to us that the gospel seed falls on different minds, and the results vary from person to person, depending on the reasons why we accepted Him in the first place, and the personal choices we made thereafter. The first type of hearer brought to view is the “wayside hearer”, who hears the good news “By the way” and who then loses what he has seen and heard of Christ.

In His exposition on this first type of hearer, Christ says that a lack of understanding the gospel is what causes the wayside hearer to lose that which as sown in his heart. In other words, the gospel presented is not internalized, but is understood only in a casual manner. Let’s read:

Matthew 13:3   And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 

  13:4   And when he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.

13:18   Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 

  13:19   When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

The next set of hearers described by Jesus are those who receive the word of God readily, because the good news sounds good. As this type of hearer listens to the gospel it seems as if it’s a win, win situation, for the death of Jesus covers all our sins, and then we are given eternal life, and so, when the rubber meets the road, and trials, temptations, and disappointments come along, the stony ground hearers begin to reason that they had never catered for such experiences in the Christian life, and after a while they are offended. Let’s read:

Matthew 13:20   But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 

  13:21   Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 

Yet another type of hearer is brought to view in those who actually understand and accept Christ and the gospel, but then the transient things of earth, together with material wealth and the cares of this life are allowed to take precedence over God, and as a result the word of truth loses its meaning and value to them, and thus they become unfruitful. Whenever Christ is put in second place in our affections for any reason, then we may know that we are in danger of losing our way. Let’s read:

Matthew 13:22   He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Then there is the last set of hearers brought to view by Christ, those who hear the word, understand, and digest it, and who make a deliberate, intentional, and intelligent choice to accept Christ as Lord and savior. This last group indeed received the word with joy, and they received it readily, but their decision for Christ was not based on emotions which are here today and gone tomorrow. This group weighed carefully the import of the gospel, and they realized that the Christian will have sunny days and rainy days.

They understood that following Christ is not a bed of roses, in which all financial, social, and health problems will vanish into thin air. This group sat down and counted the cost, and then they did the wise thing by giving their lives entirely to God, with no reservations or conditions on their part, and with no upfront guarantees or any prenuptial agreements of prosperity and popularity.

When decisions like these are made, neither music, or hypocrites will be able to shatter their relation with Christ, for they built upon the sure foundation of the Rock, Christ Jesus. Those who thus decide to follow Christ are then made impregnable to the assaults of the enemy, and will live victoriously each day. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:24   Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 

  7:25   And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Romans 8:35   Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

  8:36   As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

  8:37   Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

  8:38   For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

  8:39   Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

It is therefore incumbent upon us to search our souls to see what are our real reasons for following Christ. If Christ is just a side order to our main menu, then we need to address the situation by praying to God for a new heart and mind, so that we may serve The Lord in sincerity and joy. If Jesus is not the center of our joy, and if we find ourselves requiring boosters in order to make the Christian life pleasurable, then we may know for certain that something integral is missing, and again, the Lord calls on us to invite Him in for real.

Whatever might be the million and one reasons for turning back, it is not necessary, nor does it have to be  this way, because God has promised to His children grace every day, and strength according to our varied needs. Let us then hold fast the profession of our faith, looking unto Jesus, The Author and Finisher of our faith.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to stay the course with Christ, through all of the ups and downs of the Christian life. Let’s read:

Romans 12:1   Wherefore 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, 

  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. 

  12:3   For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                                         God bless!

Freedom Of Religion And Freedom Of Speech. Sabbath Afternoon. 05/16/2015

There are certain aspects to America’s constitution which make this country exceptionally great, and the freedom of religion and freedom of speech that we all currently enjoy, play a critically important role in maintaining the genius of its government over a potpourri of peoples. It is indeed a great blessing and privilege to be able to speak freely, without the threat of intimidation or censure on the part of those who may differ from us in their ideas and opinions. This unique legacy must be carefully guarded at all times from being eroded by existential threats to our democracy.

When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them the inalienable freedom to choose to do good or evil, and this freedom of choice should be carefully protected, especially when it come to religious beliefs. The tendency to persecute those who are of different religious beliefs and persuasions, began with Cain, who hated and killed

 his brother, simply because He was jealous of the favor shown by God to Abel, who had faithfully followed His instructions in bringing a lamb as a sacrifice for sin. Let’s read:

Genesis 4:3   And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 

  4:4   And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 

  4:5   But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 

  4:6   And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 

  4:7   If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 

  4:8   And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 

If Cain was willing to comply as his younger brother did, he would then be accepted of God, but his disobedience put him at odds with the requirements of God, and for this reason he took his brother’s life. This habit and practice was then further developed into a principle of religious intolerance that has come down to us through the ages, and is what is being currently witnessed in the Middle east, certain parts of Africa, and in other distant lands where a national religion has been established and rigorously enforced by the reigning authorities, with penalties and even death being administered to those who dare to be different.

The author of the principle of religious intolerance is none other than satan, who hates the divine precepts and the very name of Christ, and thus those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior in some foreign

countries, have come under increasing attack for their faith. But here in America we still enjoy the freedom to practice our various religions, with the freedom to speak our convictions in private and in some public places. We hope and pray that these religious liberties will be kept in place for as long as time shall last, for our very existence and prosperity as a nation depend on them.

It is therefore necessary for us to study the nature of the principle of religious intolerance that is gaining steam in certain parts of the world, because we are in danger of importing the very same philosophies under the name of Christ. In Iraq and Syria, and in certain parts of Africa, Christians are being forced to adopt Islam as the national religion, and in many cases the death penalty is the result for non-compliance. What is worthy of note in this phenomena is that there are various strains of Islam emanating from the same common text of the Quran.

For instance there are moderate interpretations to the religious text, where those who understand the Quran a

certain way are very tolerant of other religions, and do not subscribe to the philosophy that teaches all other religious sects to be infidels. Then there is a much more extreme version of interpretation of the very same Quran, in which all who do not subscribe to Sharia law are deemed unfit to live, and as a result mass executions of both Christians and Muslims has ensued, resulting in violence and bloodshed of no ordinary character.

This more radical interpretation of the same Quran text, with the accompanying religious intolerance, is what has bred deep divisions within the general community of Muslim believers, and that’s why we now have Saudi Arabian Muslims fighting against Houthi and Iranian Muslims, all of whom read the same religious text, the Quran. The system of intolerance thus spawned is found to be diabolically opposed to what the Bible teaches on this point.

In ancient days, the Hebrews were sometimes instructed by God to eliminate certain nations, not because they were of different religious persuasions, but rather because their cup of iniquity was full, a fact that was always decided by God alone, since He reserves the singular right to execute judgment when He deems necessary, as was the case with Sodom and Gomorrah.

It is here worthy of note that ancient Israel was a theocracy, being governed directly by The God of heaven, and as such, all military expeditions against other nations on account of unbridled iniquity were to be ordered at His own discretion, and not by mortal man. In one instance for example, when the Hebrews had come across the descendants of the godless Esau, they were tempted to think that God would automatically eliminate them, since they were averse to His government and His laws. But instead, The Lord issued a stern warning to the Hebrews not to even think of meddling with them, for He had made provision for their existence, even though they would have nothing to do with Him. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 2:2   And the LORD spake unto me, saying,

  2:3   Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward. 

  2:4   And command thou the people, saying, Ye [are] to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: 

  2:5   Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau [for] a possession. 

  2:6   Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink. 

Again, the principle that bears sway in the government of God, as it pertains to religious freedom, is that of free choice, with no coercion of the conscience against one’s own will being entertained. Hence the reason why Christ is represented in the book of Revelation as standing at our heart’s door knocking, seeking entrance only by invitation, for He is never to be found kicking down the door, as someone who we know often does. Let’s read:

Revelation 3:20   Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Joshua 24:15   And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. 

1st Kings 18:21   And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

  Luke 9:49   And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 

  9:50   And Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not: for he

that is not against us is for us.

Thus we as Christians who follow in the footsteps of The Master are supposed to foster the same principles of freedom of religion and freedom of speech that is enjoined upon us by God Himself. In other words, Hindus Buddhists, Mormons, Catholics, Baptists, Seventh day Adventists, Atheists, Methodists and Evangelicals are all supposed to be able to live peaceably on the same street, here in America, with no bad feelings or ill-will towards one’s neighbors being cherished, because of stark differences in religious persuasion and practice.

And even though there may be very real or imaginary  diversities as to beliefs and the validity of the various religions being represented in the same community, yet the due respect for our God-given freedoms should be the restraining force which prevents unwarranted antagonism and persecution, because of fundamental differences of opinions and practice. In other words, an atheist neighbor who does not believe in “Santa Claws” should not be forced to listen to Christmas carols, and similarly, a Muslim should not be forced to pray to the Christian’s God, through mandatory prayer in schools.

Freedom of religion and practice should be the watch words for all, once the violations of such freedom is not exercised by some who hold very deep convictions of their faith. In other words, even though we may speak passionately about The Lord Jesus Christ, and may even exercise our religious freedom in encouraging others to accept of His grace, yet no compulsion of conscience, or no heated, angry arguments in favor of our convictions should characterize our interactions with those of opposing beliefs.

However, there are growing calls for the establishment of a universal form of Christianity, where all the different denominations and evangelical institutions are given an equal seat at the negotiating table, with deliberate and concerted efforts being made to galvanize the different Christian creeds into one big universal conglomerate, with the common beliefs and interpretations that are most widely held, being the basis for the united order. This is increasingly being suggested in Christian circles, as a viable means to combat the growing threat of global terrorism.

But the same problems that Muslims have run into, with the many different strands of interpretation, will be inevitably duplicated in any universal conglomerate of Christianity, because within the world of Christendom, there are also vastly different interpretations of the same common text used. For instance, if someone were to ask a Sunday-keeping Baptist to substantiate his beliefs and views, he will reach for the Bible in order to give a reason for his faith. But if we were to ask a Jehovah’s witness to give us a reason for the hope he has within him, he too will also reach for the Bible. Thus the forced coalescing of various interpretations of the same sacred text is certain to breed religious intolerance between those who would acquiesce, and those who won’t. 

And therefore, just as there are many variations of interpretation in the world of Islam, ranging from the moderate to the more extreme versions, just so there are many different adopted strands to Christianity which exist today, and even though the same sacred text is being used, the differences of interpretations are sometimes as far as the east is from the west. Hence the reason why we should never endeavor to import the principle of universal Christianity into our culture, lest the same spirit of intolerance bear sway on our very shores.

In lieu of the inevitable results of religious intolerance that has been manifested over the centuries, God has given to Bible believing Christians pertinent instructions as to how to navigate the potential minefields that are incident to religious bigotry, and these commands should be carefully followed by true Christians everywhere, especially given the volatile environment in which we now find ourselves living. We are called upon by God to exercise good judgment and sound discretion in our interaction with those of other faiths, and even though we are never to be found watering down the truth to please the clamors of sin-loving multitudes, yet the words of wisdom, given us by God should be adhered to.

(1) We are instructed to avoid the use of any and all inflammatory language, in regards to other religions, and especially as it pertains to the many gods that are now revered and worshiped by those who may not know better. This first instruction, which is repeated in several passages of scripture is of great relevance to the times in which we now live, and will go a very long way in diffusing the tensions and animosities which have developed between Christians and Muslims. Let’s read:

Exodus 22:28   Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Titus 2:1   But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

  2:8   Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he

that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 

James 3:13   Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

  3:14   But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

  3:15   This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish. 

  3:16   For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work. 

  3:17   But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

  3:18   And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 

There is a growing tendency to respond in like currency

whenever incendiary speech or even acts of violence are committed against Christians in our day, but the Bible teaches us to take a different route, following in the footsteps of Christ. In other words, the proliferation of evil and religious extremism should not then cause us to adopt the very same principles in combating these elements, because the laws and principles of Christianity do not allow for such exercises, neither by precept nor in the example of Christ Himself.

If we were to ask any experienced fireman, he will tell us that fighting fire with fire will only breed more fire, for we have never seen any of them spraying flames from their hoses upon a burning building. What the Bible instead teaches us is that we should fight fire with water, because this is what God does, for when the fires of unbridled sin and iniquity are raging within our souls, He bids us be baptized and converted. Christ Himself set us the example for us to follow, and thus it is important that we adopt both His methods and principles as we move forward. Let’s read:

Matthew 27:39   And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 

  27:40   And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 

  27:41   Likewise also the chief priests mocking [him], with the scribes and elders, said, 

  27:42   He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the

cross, and we will believe him. 

The response of Christ to this verbal abuse and heckling was not to respond with similar inflammatory speech, but rather to seek the best interest of His persecutors, thus setting us the example we are to follow when faced with such abusive situations. Let’s read:

Luke 23:34   Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 

1st Peter 2:19   For this [is] thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 

  2:20   For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God. 

  2:21   For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 

  2:22   Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 

  2:23   Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously.

Luke 9:51   And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 

  9:52   And sent messengers before his face: and they

 went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 

  9:53   And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 

  9:54   And when his disciples James and John saw [this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 

  9:55   But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 

  9:56   For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save [them]. And they went to another village. 

 This then brings us to the second instruction given us by God in dealing with those who manifest deep animosity towards Christians. We are never to indulge the spirit of retaliation, for this principle does not originate with God. Now while it is true that Christians are to do all within their power to protect ourselves from harm and danger, yet we should never indulge a thirst for revenge, for if we do, we will place ourselves on the same spiritual side of the aggressor, and thus we will be found to be partaking of the very same spirit. Let’s read:

 Deuteronomy 32:35   To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

Romans 12:17   Recompense to no man evil for evil”….

  12:18   If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 

  12:19   Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but

[rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 

  12:20   Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he  thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap

 coals of fire on his head. 

  12:21   Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with

good.

In our day and in our own experiences, we will be faced with challenges to our faith, and forces that are opposed to true Christianity will be pitted against us for various reasons. This will be found to be especially true of those who keep all of the commandments of God, in a world of lawlessness, and therefore the necessary steps and preparations for the coming, final conflict, should now be made, not with the force of arms or other carnal weapons, but rather through prayer and supplication, while we behold the perfection of character exemplified in The Lord Jesus Christ.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which teaches us both the nature of the warfare, and the means whereby we may be victorious, and it is the will of God that in all situations and in all places, that we live according to what is written, rather than be driven by the devil to adopt principles and methods that are foreign to the kingdom of God. Let’s read:

 Ephesians 6:10   Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

  6:11   Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

  6:12   For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. 

  6:13   Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

  6:14   Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

  6:15   And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

  6:16   Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

  6:17   And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

  6:18   Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                                        God bless!