The Unity Of The Brotherhood. Sabbath Afternoon. 02/27/2016

It is of the utmost importance that the unity of the brotherhood amongst us not be broken for any reason, because the adversary of souls persistently seeks to bring in the spirit of disaffection and strife, for he knows all too well that a kingdom divided against itself will not stand. Hence the reason why we should all seek to maintain the bond of unity at all costs, being willing at every point in our Christian experience, to put aside our petty differences, so that we may focus more intently on the work of soul saving, to which we have been called.

There is a nature video entitled “The battle at Kruger” by Jason Schlosberg, which exemplifies the way in which Christians and all church members should stand united as one, both in doctrine, in practice, and in looking out for the best temporal and eternal interests of each other. The reason why it’s so important for us to cultivate a tightly knit community of believers is because the enemy of all righteousness seeks to isolate and discourage as many of us as he can, for whenever our unity is broken up, the vital power of the Holy Ghost then becomes a scarce commodity, as we will observe in one of the references given later in this study.

Thus, the following observations should be made when reviewing the Battle at Kruger, for the video contains very deep spiritual lessons, which we will do well to apply both personally and collectively, for none knows how soon these lessons may need to be implemented in the most literal sense.

[1] It is never advisable for any Christian to wander aimlessly in life, unmindful of the fact that we are in a serious war against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against wicked spirits in high places. This is the reason why the following text is so very important for us to remember. Let’s read:

1st Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 
9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

[2] Evil spirits often hunt for their prey in packs, combining well-coordinated effort and discipline to achieve their goals, very much the way in which a pride of lions, or a pack of hyenas would hunt. It is also to be observed that they often seek to isolate the weakest member of the herd, so as to bring maximum force and terror to bear against the youngest or the weakest. Let’s read: 

Mark 5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 
2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 
3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 
6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 
8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 
9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

[Testimonies vol. 1 pp. 301] Those who depart from the right are in serious danger now. They separate themselves from God and from the watchcare of His angels, and Satan, ever upon the watch to destroy souls, begins to present to them his deceptions. Such are in the utmost peril; and if they see and try to resist the powers of darkness and to free themselves from Satan's snare, it is not an easy matter. Satan and his angels are unwilling to lose their prey. They contend and battle with the holy angels, and the conflict is severe.

[3] Whenever the agencies of evil have succeeded in overthrowing a weak member of the faith, then it is our positive duty to muster our forces in a well- coordinated effort through prayer, and through the power of Christ, to rescue the one who is in grave danger. The enemies of Christ focus on uniformity, whereas we should focus on unity, for here is where our strength in Christ lies, since as the saying goes, “United we stand, divided we fall”. Let’s read:

John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Judges 20:1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man”…. “unto the Lord in Mizpeh.
11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Thus there are very deep and important spiritual lessons to be learned from the following video, and we may soon have to put them into practice, literally. Let’s watch: … “The battle at Kruger”.

In the Bible is exposed the way in which evil angels work in harmony for the accomplishment of one common purpose. Because of sin, fallen angels are often to be found bickering, and fighting amongst themselves, for this is the natural outworking of sin, but when it comes to their main goal and purpose in life, that of seeking out prey and keeping their victims in bondage, they will immediately put aside their differences, and work together in harmony for the accomplishment of their one common purpose. 

The same method of operation is true of the current pontiff, who is studiously seeking to bring the many warring, and often fractured factions of Christianity, secularists, and political leaders to the negotiating table, for the final accomplishment of the long sought dominion over a one world religion, and one world government, under the auspices of Rome, which is referenced several times in the book of Revelation, chapters 13 & 14. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:3 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.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
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.
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.

This is the reason why we see the current leader of the roman church insidiously inserting himself into the political, as well as the religious arena, via such common interests as climate change, ecumenism, global poverty, and the extremely sensitive issue of immigration. There is without a doubt, a concerted, systematic, and deliberate effort now being made to influence all political decisions, and legislations around the globe, in both the secular and spiritual realms, which is what the Bible has so often warned earth’s inhabitants of, especially in the last book of the Bible. 

And for those who may not be cognizant of what is now taking place right before our eyes, the next few following examples will give us some insight into those efforts being made by the current pontiff, to consolidate all political and religious forces, being willing to put aside divides and differences for the accomplishment of the universal religio/political new world order. 

In other words, just as the lions in the video worked deliberately and in concert for the achievement of their one common goal, just so the current pope is dead set on building on the same principle, towards the very same end. But what is really sad, is that the same unity and oneness of purpose is often lacking in the ranks of the soldiers of the cross, hence the reason why the power of God is not manifested in our midst as it could and should be. Let’s read:
 
Mother Jones:  Pope Francis urges Congress to treat immigrants in “humane and just” way.
 In a powerful speech to a joint session of Congress Thursday morning, Pope Francis pushed the United States to confront several political issues that tend to divide Republicans and Democrats, including immigration, climate change, the Iran deal, Cuba, poverty, and the death penalty.

The Guardian: Flying back to Rome from a trip to Mexico, the pope said: “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.”

It’s almost certain that pope Francis has scripture to back up this proposal, for the Bible has lots to say about the treatment of strangers, and the very suggestion seems on the surface to be pregnant with mercy and compassion, but beware, be very aware. Let’s read:

Exodus 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 
22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 
23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 
24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

The Guardian: It is Pope Francis’s penultimate day in Cuba before heading to the US for his first ever visit to the country. Francis is credited with playing a key role in the easing of relations between the two countries”…

(CNN)The leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the President of Iran met Tuesday at the Vatican, a face-to-face encounter that speaks to a changing geopolitical landscape and both men's significant role in it. Cameras captured Pope Francis and Iran President Hassan Rouhani shaking hands and sitting down across from each other. The Vatican later offered a glimpse into what it called" cordial discussions" touching on the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear accord and "problems afflicting the Middle East." 

"The parties highlighted the importance of inter-religious dialogue and the responsibility of religious communities in promoting reconciliation, tolerance and peace," the Vatican said. 
 
(CNN) Pope Francis, who has repeatedly called for an end to the death penalty, on Sunday proposed that Catholic leaders suspend the practice for a year to mark the Holy Year of Mercy. "I make an appeal to the conscience of all rulers, so that we can achieve an international consensus for the abolition of the death penalty," the Pope said in his Sunday address in St. Peter's Square. "And I propose to those among them who are Catholic to make a courageous and exemplary gesture: that no sentence is executed in this Holy Year of Mercy."

Pope: "Thou shalt not kill' has absolute value and applies to both the innocent and the guilty"

It sounds pretty good on the surface, but the only problem is that it is diabolically opposed to what the scriptures teach on the same point. It means that if Hitler and Bin Laden were living today, they would go scotch free after murdering millions of Jews, and thousands of Americans respectively. Hence the reason why the scriptures warn us of a deadly spiritual foe who will surface in the last days of earth’s history, resembling an angel of light in character, but beneath a veneer of supposed piety, will seek to muster and consolidate world powers and agencies thus bringing the people of earth to his knees. 

For anyone to call for the universal abolition of the death penalty under the pretense of mercy, with no regards to the innocent or the guilty, is to destroy the basic principles of justice, as it pertains to the deliberate shedding of innocent blood, and thus the person who makes this suggestion is one who seeks to take the place of God as the ultimate arbitrator of wrongs between earth’s inhabitants. In other words, what is being suggested is that God is unfair in the instructions He has given us on the very same issue, and thus the very authority of Jehovah is now being brought into question. Let’s read:

2nd Thessalonians 2:3 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.

Genesis 9:5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require”… “at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. 
6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Numbers 35:15 These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. 
16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 

Question: What is an example of “An instrument of iron” in our day? Let’s read: Kalamazoo, Michigan (CNN)
The man accused of killing six people and injuring two more in a Saturday evening shooting rampage in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was an Uber driver who picked up and dropped off passengers between shootings, a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN. The source, who is not authorized to speak to media, said investigators believe Jason Dalton was even looking for fares after the final shooting of a nearly seven-hour killing rampage.

Thus according to the pope’s counsel, a person such as this, who manifested no regard for the sanctity of human life, and who had no previous grudges with any of his victims, must be permitted to live, with tax payers footing the bill for his food, clothing, and shelter, for as long as he lives. And all this is being suggested in an effort to coalesce the world around one common purpose, that of the one world form of religion and government embodied in concept of the new world order. Let’s read:

(CNN) Delicately dancing around centuries of theological tensions, Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill met in Cuba on Friday and pleaded for world leaders to protect persecuted Christians. In their joint declaration, the Pope and patriarch touted their historic conclave as an "indispensable" example of civility for a world riven by violence, poverty and sectarian strife. "We are not competitors but brothers, and this concept must guide all our mutual actions as well as those directed to the outside world."

Since his election in 2013, Francis has made concerted efforts to heal the breach between Catholics and Russian Orthodox Christians, telling Kirill in 2014:  "I'll go wherever you want. You call me and I'll go." The meeting is a diplomatic victory for Francis, who has made door-opening dialogue a prominent feature of his foreign policy.

There is a song that we often sing which goes like this, “Blessed be the tie that binds”, and for many years we may have sung that hymn without ever realizing the full meaning of the words. The “Tie that binds” refers to much more than potluck on Sabbaths, or the occasional social activities which many churches involve themselves in. It means looking out for the best temporal and eternal interests of each other, with each one willing to make whatever sacrifice is necessary, whether it be in time, money, or prayers, so that the one who is hurting may be restored, or souls who are in danger within and outside of the community of believers may be delivered. The apostle Paul puts it this way. Let’s read:

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in he spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Philippians 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 

The Bible gives us several literal examples of how the unity of the brotherhood should be cultivated and strengthened in real time, for it is not a mere  theory, to be held aloof, or separately from our everyday experiences, but should be applied in very practical ways. Let’s read:

Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also”…
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon
him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

This is a perfect example of the doctrine of the unity of the brotherhood which is being spoken of today, because the believers were willing to put aside their differences, they laid aside their secular work, just to address a common threat and emergency, which had resulted in one of their number being taken prisoner by Rome. The united states army has special forces who will penetrate deep into enemy territory to rescue one of their own. This is not labeled retaliation, but is rather a code of conduct that is based on the sacred principle of no soldier being left behind. Now isn’t it important then that as Christians we have our own special forces, those who are willing to go deep into enemy territory to retrieve one of our own, when one of us have fallen and “Can’t get up”?

Thus The Lord would have us to understand that if one of our number should be taken in a similar manner, the whole body of believers should go after the perpetrators under the direction of Jesus Christ, praying with all supplication in The Spirit, and with a two edged sword in our hands, until the one who is in danger is rescued. This is not called retaliation, it is just the nature of battle. As was stated before, whenever a soldier or marine in the U.S army is captured by our enemies, the military sends in special forces to rescue the captured soldier, and in like manner, we should have special forces in the spiritual realm, who through the power of Christ will do the same according to His will. It all has to do with strengthening and maintaining the unity of the brotherhood. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 1:1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 
2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 
3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 
4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 
5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 
6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 
7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. 
8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 
9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. 
11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 
12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 
13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 
14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord's anointed? 
15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord's anointed.

Mark 9:14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. 
15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. 
16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? 
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

[The Desire Of Ages pp. 427] As the people on the plain caught sight of Jesus, they ran to meet Him, greeting Him with expressions of reverence and joy. Yet His quick eye discerned that they were in great perplexity. The disciples appeared troubled. A circumstance had just occurred that had caused them bitter disappointment and humiliation. While they were waiting at the foot of the mountain, a father had brought to them his son, to be delivered from a dumb spirit that tormented him.

 Authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, had been conferred on the disciples when Jesus sent out the twelve to preach through Galilee. As they went forth strong in faith, the evil spirits had obeyed their word. Now in the name of Christ they commanded the torturing spirit to leave his victim; but the demon only mocked them by a fresh display of his power. The disciples, unable to account for their defeat, felt that they were bringing dishonor upon themselves and their Master. And in the crowd there were scribes who made the most of this opportunity to humiliate them.

Pressing around the disciples, they plied them with questions, seeking to prove that they and their Master were deceivers. Here, the rabbis triumphantly declared, was an evil spirit that neither the disciples nor Christ Himself could conquer. The people were inclined to side with the scribes, and a feeling of contempt and scorn pervaded the crowd. But suddenly the accusations ceased. Jesus and the three disciples were seen approaching, and with a quick revulsion of feeling the people turned to meet them. 

The night of communion with the heavenly glory had left its trace upon the Savior and His companions. Upon their countenances was a light that awed the beholders. The scribes drew back in fear, while the people welcomed Jesus. As if He had been a witness of all that had occurred, the Savior came to the scene of conflict, and fixing His gaze upon the scribes inquired, “What question ye with them?” But the voices so bold and defiant before were now silent.

Some may be wondering what’s the meaning and purpose behind the study for this afternoon, and how does the issue of the unity of the brotherhood figure prominently into the current issues of the day. The Lord will have us to understand that our salvation is now much nearer than most Christians believe, and thus, because the time is short, Christ is preparing for a massive, final invasion of the kingdom of darkness, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, and to set the captives free.

Therefore, He is now calling all soldiers of the cross to be girded with the whole armor God, from the crown of our heads, to the soles of our feet, and to become a tightly knit community of believers, who would preach the unadulterated word, in season and out of season, so that the last message of God’s salvation can be taken to a dying world. He is now looking for online and offline soldiers, special forces who would pray without ceasing, and true Christian workers who will use the sword of the Spirit both defensively and offensively, and the sure promise is given us, the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

This is absolutely not the time for us to be found bickering amongst ourselves, or tearing one another down, but just like the current pontiff is mustering his forces, putting aside all differences for the soon accomplishment of one common goal, we too must not be coming up short on our side of the fence, in finishing what God has given us to do. We therefore end with both a promise and a caution coming from The Captain of our salvation, even from Jesus Christ, to press the battle relentlessly against the kingdom of darkness, on each and every front, leaving the results of our labors with Him, and being careful to maintain the unity of the brotherhood, in the bond of peace. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 3:8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. 
9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
10 Moreover he said unto me”… “all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears. 
11 And go”… “tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. 
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 
24 Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go!

May God add His blessing to then study, and doing of His every word. God bless!

Avoiding The Sin Of Self-Righteousness. Sabbath Afternoon 02/06/2016

One of the most disturbing examples of the sin of self-righteousness can be found in the prayer of the Pharisee who went up to the temple to pray. This particular individual had apparently spent a lot of time evaluating others, and as he dwelt on the sins and faults of his fellowmen, and church brethren, he finally came to the tragic conclusion that he was quite righteous in comparison, and because of this, his prayer was of the “Trump” variety, recounting all of his good deeds before God, so as to warrant His favor.

Thus there are some critically important lessons for us to take away from his experience, for we should at all cost, avoid emulating his example. And as we study the various aspects of his prayer, we would see clearly that we all are in dire need of the grace of Christ. The following therefore are just a few of the deductions made from his prayer, and it is the will of God that we review them with a humble and teachable spirit, so that wherever in our lives, the same tendencies are mirrored, we can confess and forsake the sin of self-righteousness. Let’s read:

 Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Observations:
[1] Throughout his entire prayer, he never asks for forgiveness, because, as far as he is concerned, he never does anything wrong, and so God’s mercies are not needed. 

The sin of self-righteousness often manifests itself in a brand of thanksgiving that makes oneself the center of attraction, for it seeks to enumerate in great detail all the so-called good deeds that were performed during the week. It goes out of its way to keep a record of these good actions so as to portray oneself in the most favorable light before God and man. In contrast, the truly righteous tend to forget the good deeds they have done, for they are aware that their good deeds were performed through the grace and power of Christ. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

A very interesting and important commentary is written by the servant of The Lord, as it pertains to all our good deeds, and accomplishments, both in
 the church, and wherever we may go. The fact of the matter is that if Christ were removed from the human equation, there won’t be any good deeds, for we do not have it naturally within ourselves to do any good. This solemn fact applies even to those who claim to do good without Christ, for they do not acknowledge His work in their hearts, yet His Spirit continues to strive with men. But when The Holy Ghost is finally removed from the equation, the Bible gives us a glimpse of what our world will rapidly descend into. Let’s read:

Genesis 6:3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh”….
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.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.  
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

[Patriarchs and prophets pp. 717] The Bible has little to say in praise of men. Little space is given to recounting the virtues of even the best men who have ever lived. This silence is not without purpose; it is not without a lesson. All the good qualities that men possess are the gift of God; their good deeds are performed by the grace of God through Christ. Since they owe all to God the glory of whatever they are or do belongs to Him alone; they are but instruments in His hands. More than this—as all the lessons of Bible history teach—it is a perilous thing to praise or exalt men; for if one comes to lose sight of his entire dependence on God, and to trust to his own strength, he is sure to fall.

This leads us to our second observation from the prayer of the Pharisee.
“I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers”
[2] The sin of self-righteousness makes it a duty to keep strict records of the errors and shortcomings of others, for as the Pharisee prays, he seems to have a check list of the sins of the people. Thus a lot of his time is spent closely investigating the sins of fellow church brethren, and because of this he is effectively used by the adversary of souls as a ready conduit for bad news, as is evidenced in his prayer. This second aspect of the sin of self-righteousness is particularly disturbing, for it causes us to do satan’s dirty work of spreading, and exposing the errors of other brethren, instead of diligently seeking to hide a multitude of sins, as the apostle James indicates. Let’s read:

James 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

The “Repetition of a Matter” was indulged by the Pharisee, and some may be inclined to excuse him on the grounds that his prayer may have been done in secret. But the scripture forbids this practice even when it is done privately, for God is a Spirit, and the malice and bitterness and tale-bearing encouraged in secret is just as offensive in His sight as the open-carry variety. Some Christians may not have been aware of this previously, and somehow may have inadvertently done that which is not right in God’s sight. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 10:20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the Lord.

Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

[3] The sin of self-righteousness often brands the entire body of believers as hypocrites, just because of the errors of a few, which incites some to refer to the remnant people of God as “Those guys”. Thus all the good work that the General conference is doing throughout the world, and the many millions of people who have been helped by ADRA, are all tossed out because of the apparent unfaithfulness or real sins of a few. When in his prayer, the poor Pharisee refers to “Other men”, he thus included every church member, and all would-be candidates for heaven, judging the entire church body based on the sins of one person. This tendency often leads to serious divisions in the church, and is frequently the catalyst for establishing off-shoot churches. Let’s read:

Hebrews 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

1st Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

[Christ Object lessons pp. 152] For each of the classes represented by the Pharisee and the publican there is a lesson in the history of the apostle Peter. In his early discipleship Peter thought himself strong. Like the Pharisee, in his own estimation he was “not as other men are.” When Christ on the eve of His betrayal forewarned His disciples, “All ye shall be offended because of Me this night,” Peter confidently declared, “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.” Peter did not know his own danger. Self-confidence misled him. 

He thought himself able to withstand temptation; but in a few short hours the test came, and with cursing and swearing he denied his Lord. When the crowing of the cock reminded him of the words of Christ, surprised and shocked at what he had just done he turned and looked at his Master. At that moment Christ looked at Peter, and beneath that grieved look, in which compassion and love for him were blended, Peter understood himself. 

Let’s take for instance the following ideal given in the scriptures, as to how we should react to the injustice in certain forms against ourselves. Let’s read:

Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

If asked, we may tell others of what we would like to do in such situations, and we can presently quote a number of texts which demonstrate what should be done, but what we will actually do in such and such a situation, no one knows, but God alone, and thus the scriptures teach us not to put any trust or confidence in human performance, but rather to distrust ourselves, by placing our utmost confidence in what God can, and will do through us. Let’s read:

[Christ Object Lessons pp. 152]  He went out and wept bitterly. That look of Christ's broke his heart. Peter had come to the turning point, and bitterly did he repent his sin. He was like the publican in his contrition and repentance, and like the publican he found mercy. The look of Christ assured him of pardon. Now his self-confidence was gone. Never again were the old boastful assertions repeated. Christ after His resurrection thrice tested Peter. “Simon, son of Jonas,” He said, “lovest thou Me more than these?” 

Peter did not now exalt himself above his brethren. He appealed to the One who could read His heart. “Lord,” he said, “Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee.” Then he received his commission. A work broader and more delicate than had heretofore been his was appointed him. Christ bade him feed the sheep and the lambs. In thus committing to his stewardship the souls for whom the Saviour had laid down his own life, Christ gave to Peter the strongest proof of confidence in his restoration. 

The once restless, boastful, self-confident disciple had become subdued and contrite. Henceforth he followed his Lord in self-denial and self-sacrifice. He was a partaker of Christ's sufferings; and when Christ shall sit upon the throne of His glory, Peter will be a partaker in His glory.

The good news is that the sin of self-righteousness is not altogether hopeless, for the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins. Yet there are certain pitfalls and snares to avoid in the Christian journey, so as not to succumb to this sin. The first, and the most important medicine that is required when treating the sin of self-righteousness, is for us to:
 [1] Behold Christ. 
By beholding His perfection, His purity, His flawless righteousness, and His great mercy in dying to save us from our sins, we will avoid falling into the snare of judging ourselves by merely human standards, which are seriously flawed. When we observe the perfection in Christ, our behaviors and actions pale in comparison, and thus we can never conclude that we are not like other men, as the Pharisee did.

[2] Believe the Bible testimony about ourselves.
The scriptural evaluation of all human beings in our natural state is not good and this inconvenient truth has often proved a pretty difficult pill to swallow. The scripture tells us that there is none that doeth good, nor is there anyone who naturally seeks after God, no not one. Thus, to someone who has been born into a Christian household, who, for many years have repeated their memory verses, and has been quite active in the church for as long as they can remember, it is quite a shock to find out that there is none that’s naturally good, no not one. 

As a matter of fact, the Hebrews often referred to their descendancy from the line of Abraham, as proof that they must have been born with some good in themselves naturally. And even in our day, Stevie Wonder has taken up the very same mode of thought and evaluation, as is evidenced in the song “Ebony and Ivory”, in which he declares that there is good and bad in everyone. But what does the scripture say? Let’s read: 

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 
37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God”…

Thus the very crux of the matter is encapsulated in the following verses, and we would do well to read them with a humble and contrite spirit, for they do delineate, in terms that may not seem politically correct, our true nature, our real selves. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 

Psalm 14:2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Isaiah 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

1st Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The question we must answer individually is, do we accept this scriptural evaluation of ourselves in our natural state, or do we much more prefer to go with the Stevie Wonder doctrine, that there is good and bad in everyone? If we desire to avoid the sin of self-righteousness, we will have to first accept the scriptural evaluation, and then proceed onto the next step, by beholding Christ. Thus it is with solemn pathos that we read the following quotation from the servant of The Lord, with the hope that we
harbor right concepts of the frailty of human nature, while at the same time taking hold of Christ, the Eternal and Perfect one, in whom all perfect righteousness and purity is centered. Let’s read:

[Christ Object Lessons pp. 154] The evil that led to Peter's fall and that shut out the Pharisee from communion with God is proving the ruin of thousands today. There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable. Peter's fall was not instantaneous, but gradual. Self-confidence led him to the belief that he was saved, and step after step was taken in the downward path, until he could deny his Master. 

Never can we safely put confidence in self or feel, this side of heaven, that we are secure against temptation. Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved. This is misleading. Everyone should be taught to cherish hope and faith; but even when we give ourselves to Christ and know that He accepts us, we are not beyond the reach of temptation. God's word declares, “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried.” Only he who endures the trial will receive the crown of life. 

Those who accept Christ, and in their first confidence say, I am saved, are in danger of trusting to themselves. They lose sight of their own weakness and their constant need of divine strength. They are unprepared for Satan's devices, and under temptation many, like Peter, fall into the very depths of sin. We are admonished, “Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” Our only safety is in constant distrust of self, and dependence on Christ.

It was necessary for Peter to learn his own defects of character, and his need of the power and grace of Christ. The Lord could not save him from trial, but He could have saved him from defeat. Had Peter been willing to receive Christ's warning, he would have been watching unto prayer. He would have walked with fear and trembling lest his feet should stumble. And he would have received divine help so that Satan could not have gained the victory.

It was through self-sufficiency that Peter fell; and it was through repentance and humiliation that his feet were again established. In the record of his experience every repenting sinner may find encouragement.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should encourage us to put our entire confidence in Christ and His righteousness, not in ours, for Jesus is to be everything to you and me. Let’s read:

Galatians 2:20 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.

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

Pharmaceuticals Versus Godly Methods Of Healing. Sabbath Afternoon. 01/30/2016

Pharmaceuticals have now become a billion-dollar industry, with millions of sub-scribers dependent on drugs and other synthetic products to find the relief they seek, from the many sicknesses, diseases, and   pains, with which the human family is now plagued. And many have become so drug-dependent that it has now become almost impossible to live without a plethora of pills, injections, and pain relievers. In addition to this predicament, our very mentality has also undergone serious changes, in that we often look to drugs as the only way out. 

Thus it is necessary for us to know that there are alternatives, and we owe it to ourselves to take the time to understand and to implement, as far as is possible, godly methods of healing. In order for us to work intelligently, and in harmony with godly methods of restoring health, we should study the way in which God works. Therefore, the following points should be carefully considered as we observe the differences between God’s ideals, and the over-dependence on pharmaceuticals.

[1] Man’s way of tackling health problems is mostly reactionary, meaning that our health-care systems focus intensely on cures, after illness has occurred. God’s method is primarily preventative, with the use of natural medicines as a back-up plan, and direct miracles of healing being the very last resort when all else has failed. In other words, The Lord generally prefers not to perform a direct miracle, if it can be avoided through preemptive measures. (See T.V ad on Tums)

In the days of Christ, we often read where He went about doing good, and healing all the diseases of the people, but those direct interventions of God’s omnipotent power have largely died away, since it was not His preferable method of doing things, but rather became necessary because of the ignorance of the people, pertaining to disease and its causes. Hence the reason why the health message for today focuses primarily on prevention, with cures, and all miracles being second and last resorts respectively.

[2] Even though it is never His ideal will, God does not dispense entirely with a scientific knowledge of good and evil, as it pertains to the use of drugs, for there are many cases where man may not be aware of any other natural alternatives. In other words, if in the treatment of a certain deadly disease such as Ebola or Zika, certain man-made, synthetic drugs are found to be effective, then it is our first duty to go to God in prayer to find out what His will is in such matters. 

[3] There is a very fine line between presumption and faith, and it’s the will of God that we know the difference. While we should not form the habit of drug dependence for every disease, or ache, and pain that occurs, yet we should manifest that wisdom and discretion born from above, that would lead us to take those necessary, unavoidable steps in prolonging a good quality of life, as far as is possible. This advice is to be of real value to those who may be prone to go to extremes on matters pertaining to faith, versus man-made cures.

For instance, if a nurse or health-care worker were inadvertently to become infected with the deadly aids virus in the performance of a blood transfusion, then the first thing to be done is prayer, by sending for the elders, for it was not a deliberate exposure. However, if the condition is not reversed, then the individual may choose to take the available drug treatments to preserve their immune system, even though there may be harmful side-effects. This does not mean that there is a lack of faith on the part of the affected person, it just means that where there are no known, natural alternatives, a person is free to choose to preserve life at a less than ideal level. 

In extreme cases such as this, the Christian is faced with some pretty tough choices, and there are some questions which we will have to confront on these issues sooner or later. For instance, in a situation as was just mentioned, if a direct miracle isn’t granted for whatever reason, should Christians reach for the inhibitors to the disease, which are just within their reach? Or do we make our wills and put our houses in order, preferring to die rather than to take drugs with well-known, bad side effects into our system? Will God be honored by death in such cases? Or is it His will that we try to prolong our lives using drugs with known, adverse side effects?

Take for instance the drug ZIAGEN, which is the brand name for Abacavir sulfate, a synthetic carbocyclic nucleoside analogue with inhibitory activity against HIV-1. Each tablet contains abacavir sulfate equivalent to 300 mg of abacavir as active ingredient and the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium starch glycolate. The tablets are coated with a film that is made of hypromellose, polysorbate 80, synthetic yellow iron oxide, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. 

Question: What are the possible side effects of Ziagen? The caution is given: Stop using abacavir and call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of an allergic reaction from two or more of these specific side effect groups: 
Group 1 - fever;
Group 2 - rash;
Group 3 - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
Group 4 - general ill feeling, extreme tiredness, body aches. 
Group 5 - shortness of breath, cough, sore throat.
Abacavir may increase your risk of a heart attack. Some people may experience worsening of a previous medical condition (such as an old infection) as their immune systems improve, or develop new conditions because their immune systems have become overactive. This reaction may occur at any time (soon after starting HIV treatment or many months later). 

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: unexplained weight loss, persistent muscle aches/weakness, joint pain, numbness/tingling of the hands/feet/arms/legs, severe tiredness, vision changes, severe/persistent headaches, signs of infection (such as fever, chills, trouble breathing, cough, non-healing skin sores), signs of an overactive thyroid (such as irritability, nervousness, heat intolerance, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, bulging eyes, unusual growth in the neck/thyroid known as a goiter), signs of a certain nerve problem known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (such as difficulty breathing/swallowing/moving your eyes, drooping face, paralysis, slurred speech).

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: mental/mood changes (depression, anxiety). Changes in body fat (such as increased fat in the upper back and stomach areas, decreased fat in the arms and legs) may occur while you are taking HIV medication. The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of therapy with your doctor, as well as the possible role of exercise to reduce this side effect.

Thus it is that a person who has contracted the aids virus is faced with pretty tough choices, and this predicament is not only restricted to this particular plague, for there are new diseases coming upon the stage of action, which will force us to address the issue of pharmaceuticals versus godly methods of healing. Let’s read:

 (CNN) The Zika virus "is now spreading explosively" around the Americas, the head of the World Health Organization said Thursday, calling the level of alarm over the disease "extremely high." "The level of concern is high, as is the level of uncertainty," WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan told her organization's executive board members. "We need to get some answers, quickly."
The mosquito-borne disease is now in "23 countries and territories in the region," according to Chan. While it's been around in some form for decades, alarms have been raised only recently about Zika's suspected connection with "birth malformations and neurological symptoms." "Arrival of the virus in some places has been associated with a steep increase in the birth of babies with abnormally small heads and in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome," Chan explained.

After being first detected in 1947 in a monkey in Uganda, Zika was most often found along the equator from Africa into Asia. Nine years ago, new cases popped up in islands in the Pacific Ocean. Last year, it made its way to the Americas -- with already devastating results.

The number of cases there has grown exponentially, prompting significant public health measures aimed at curbing it and protecting those most endangered by it, particularly women who could become pregnant or who already are. Chan called an emergency committee meeting to convene February 1 in Geneva, Switzerland, to talk about what health officials worldwide should do about the Zika virus.

In order for us to understand the very grave nature of the issues now at stake, as it pertains to godly cures versus pharmaceuticals, we would need to extract the sacred principles upon which Christ was victorious, both in the wilderness of temptation, and also at the cross. When satan came to Christ in the wilderness, he ingeniously began with the age- old temptation on appetite, because the work of restoration must of necessity begin where man fell. As was stated before, God is leading us from Eden back to Eden, and thus, the exit door from Eden, in the form of the tree of knowledge, of good, and evil must again passed be through on the return route, meaning that victory must begin where failure first started. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

If Jesus were to turn stones into bread, and partake thereof, like Adam and Eve, He would have suffered the very adverse effects of disobedience, and so He refused this temptation to sin. It is worthy of note that at this time, Christ was extremely hungry, to the point of death, in so much that all His physical features had undergone terrible changes as a result of not fasting. His eyes were sunken deep into their sockets, and His ribs were showing, yet He refused to eat food that was not ordained as God’s will.

Many Christians point to Christ’s experience and we often conclude that He did it, so that we won’t have to pass through the same experience. That’s all well and good, but the very same temptations are often brought to us with very different results, even when they occur on a much smaller scale. Again, on the cross, as Jesus hung between earth and heaven, the temptation on appetite is presented for the very last time. His lips are now parched, His tongue is now dry, for He has had nothing to drink for more than twenty-four hours. And in His humanity, He cries out for liquid to quench His thirst. Let’s read:

John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished”…. “saith, I thirst. 
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 

The potion that was offered to Christ was also taken from the tree of knowledge, of good and evil, for it contained a concentrated amount of fermented alcohol that would undoubtedly act as an effective pain-killer. But with the good that will be done, also comes the evil, for it would impair His judgment and His reasoning powers, thus giving the adversary, the advantage. There are many pain-killers available in the pharmaceutical industry today, which do some good, and some evil, and the question for us to answer is, what do we do in a situation such as this, where like Christ, we may be suffering intense pain, and the only available option, is a pain-killer that contains elements of good and evil? 

A person has had a major operation, after which he begins to suffer severe pain, and it increases to the point where it becomes unbearable. His physician then recommends an epidural injection, which as advertised, does bring relief for several months. But after some time has elapsed, the pain returns with a vengeance, and this time around it has become so acute that, not only is a much higher dose of the pain-killer administered, but it is recommended by his doctor that he be placed on morphine drips.

The question is: What is God’s will in such situations? And the deeper question for us to address, as we consider this sensitive matter is, what are we to do if such a situation comes our way? Do we pray with an open mind, and a submissive spirit for God’s will to be done, even if it means expiration? Or do we cling to life with years of the recurring cycle of pain, medication, and more pain. In some cases, the first option may be the best route to go, however, God never forces His will on anyone, and because of this, the choice is ours. But these are just a few of those disturbing questions which must be addressed more sooner than later, for they are all inextricably linked to the health message which we preach. Let’s read:

[The Desire Of Ages pp. 746] To those who suffered death by the cross, it was permitted to give a stupefying potion, to deaden the sense of pain. This was offered to Jesus; but when He had tasted it, He refused it. He would receive nothing that could becloud His mind. His faith must keep fast hold upon God. This was His only strength. To becloud His senses would give Satan an advantage.

It is quite interesting to note that the temptations on appetite which were brought to Christ, are the very two temptations that we must again face in our journey back to Eden, and even though many of us may not have understood the principles that are at stake, yet we are cautioned that those two will certainly be coming our way in the future, and so, probationary time is granted to all to prepare. Let’s read:

[The great Controversy pp. 621] The assaults of Satan are fierce and determined, his delusions are terrible; but the Lord's eye is upon his people, and his ear listens to their cries. “But it is needful for them to be placed in the furnace fire; their earthliness must be consumed that the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected. The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger,—a faith that will not faint, though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time.

In closing, it is has become necessary to present an inconvenient truth, for although many people may not know it, there are many new diseases that will be coming upon the planet, for which there will be no vaccinations or drugs, for they will be surfacing so fast, and so furiously that there won’t be enough time to do the necessary research to come up with cures. 

Then it will be, that all those who have fallen into the snare of running first to man-made drugs for every little ache, pain, fever, flu, and indigestion, instead of adopting the simple laws of health that have been available to us for so many years, will be tempted to continue running to man for help, since that mode of thought and action which has been cultivated for so long, will have put the essential elements of faith in God, and obedience to the laws of health on the back-burner. The mark of the beast actually represents a man-made mode of thought and action, which will ultimately encompass the three dimensions of our existence as mentioned in the 3rd book of John, including universal health-care. 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.

The material, spiritual, and physical facets of our being are here included; two are already down, with only one more to go, and with the recent repeal of the sacred institution of marriage, there is only one more link in the chain that connects humanity to the heavenly world. When that last link is broken, all hell will break loose.

Learning to trust our health with God actually takes several years of practice in the real world, and thus Christ bids us to now urgently investigate what He has been saying all along on these matters, before the earth be smitten with a host of new diseases for which there will be no man-made remedies. This is not merely a good suggestion, it is a prophecy made according to what is written in the scriptures. Let’s read:

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. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Pes·ti·lence definition:
A fatal epidemic disease, such as bubonic plague.

 And the reason for these fearful visitations is also given, so that Christians may position themselves intelligently, according to what is written.

Deuteronomy 28: 15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.  

Let’s stop right here, for there currently exists great ignorance pertaining to the silent operations of the kingdom of darkness, in the context of the on-going spread of certain diseases. There are only two rulers contending for the supremacy of the human heart, and indeed the world at large, and though they are invisible to mortal eyes, yet our allegiance to one of the two powers determines to a large extent whose jurisdiction we will fall under. For instance if nations institute laws that are in harmony with God’s great rule of righteousness, then by so doing, they will be beneficiaries of God’s promise of protection from a host of dangers.

But if deliberate efforts are made to make His law null and void, then those same countries will by so doing come under the direct jurisdiction of the kingdom of darkness, which now possesses secret laboratories, from which proceed numerous viruses, diseases and afflictions which plague the human family. Thus it is, that when we read in the Bible that The Lord will do such and such, in response to presumptuous sin, it is merely demonstrating the fact that by deliberate rejection of Christ and His laws and institutions, the “other” ruler has taken over, hence the reason why so many adversities follow. In other words, The Lord is often pictured in the Bible as doing that which He allows, and thus we must exercise great caution and understanding when reading the following verses and quotations. Let’s read:  

[The Desire Of Ages pp. 324]  “Unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place.

Deuteronomy 28:27 The Lord will smite”… “with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed. 50 A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:
58 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book”…
59 Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. 61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

Now, it is extremely important that we be clothed with the armor from the crown of our heads to the soles of our feet, because what we are speaking of will take place in a very brutal, and unprecedented form, for as the nations have cast off the restraints of God’s law, including the sacred institution of God ordained marriage, then He is left no other choice but to give the guilty over to the leader they have chosen, a leader whose past-time is dealing in death. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp. 589]. Satan works through the elements also to garner his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature, and he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows. It is God that shields his creatures, and hedges them in from the power of the destroyer. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. 

Although many of us may not have known it, the servant of The Lord, Ellen G. white experienced a serious panic attack, when the deadly outbreak of Diphtheria hit very close to home, even her own children. And urgent decisions needed to be made, lest the children should be consumed in the deadly outbreak that was then sweeping the nation. The reason why we read of the after history of her sons is because she adopted the God-ordained remedy, and so said so done, for God works alongside the cures and remedies of His approval.

 This is the reason why God will be rising to meet the emergency on behalf of all those who have learned by experience to trust in Him. Thus, the following information is written for a particular reason, which we will one day find out the reason why. We close with a bit of history on the issue of pharmaceuticals versus godly cures. Let’s read:

[The Review And Herald Dec. 9, 1862] That fatal scourge, diphtheria, is in our midst, and many are dying of it. Helplessly physicians and parents reached out for means of combating the disease. [Jan 13 1863] The diphtheria has been raging throughout the country to an alarming extent, and seems, to a great extent, to baffle the skill of physicians. It is confined almost exclusively to children, and when once underway, death is almost certain to be the result. It will pass through whole towns, missing scarcely a family, and in some instances whole families of children have been swept away by it.

Across from the page in the Review that carried the reprint from Illinois, an item was published that the editors felt might help some stricken families: Cure for Diphtheria. A lady of Port Byron, Cayuga County, New York, cured six children (five of them her own) of diphtheria by the following remedy: “When the symptoms are first discovered, take Spanish flies, pound and mix with Venice turpentine, spread it on a piece of soft cloth, and bind it over the throat, which will raise a blister, and soon remove the disease from the throat.”

Span·ish fly- noun, plural: Spanish flies:
A bright green European blister beetle. A toxic preparation of the dried bodies of Spanish fly beetles, formerly used in medicine as a counter irritant and sometimes taken as an aphrodisiac.

There was anxiety in every home in Battle Creek. Would the dread disease strike and lay low some of the precious children? And then it happened! In the first week of February, two of James and Ellen White's three boys complained of severe sore throats and high fever, and they could hardly utter a word—undeniable, frightening symptoms. They had diphtheria.

Fortunately—in the providence of God, no doubt—there had come into their hands, an extended article entitled “Diphtheria, Its Causes, Treatment and Cure.” It was written by Dr. James C. Jackson, of Dansville, New York. How eagerly James and Ellen White read it. It made sense, and they immediately put its prescriptions into use, following every detail. The treatment called for was simple—employing only a washtub, towels, sheets, and blankets—but demanded diligent attention and earnest labor. In great detail Dr. Jackson pointed out the procedures that would bring relief and finally a cure. These were attained by the simple means we today call hydrotherapy—with proper baths, packs, rest, and fresh air, and above all, absence of anxiety. Jackson reported that over a period of years, while employing these means in hundreds of cases involving young and old, not one patient had been lost.

Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

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

                                                                      God bless!

Scriptural Methods Of Weight-Loss. Sabbath Afternoon. 01/23/2016

There are now in existence many diets and exercise programs to choose from, and all claim to be ideal, however, God will have us understand that, while some of them may bring us some results, yet it is much more important that we be able to ask His blessing on our efforts, for whatsoever is not in harmony with scriptural doctrine and principle will be doomed to fail in one way or another. Especially is this the case where certain suggestions, coming to us from secular sources may tend to push us to extremes in our dieting, and exercise regimens. 

After a detailed review of some of the more popular diets, we have found that some of the foods, and some of the methods recommended, have indeed been taken from the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil. Therefore, as we examine the various diets we must line them up with the knowledge God has been pleased to reveal through His word, and also from the pen of inspiration. One of the snares for us to avoid at all costs, is that of fad dieting, which as advertised, often promises us incredible results, and quick weight loss in just a few weeks or months.

As a general rule of thumb, the instructions of God pertaining to diet and exercise do not usually work in a hurry, for they are based upon the permanent life-style changes, which call for stern discipline up front, and consistency on an ongoing basis, until our practice becomes second nature. And as we thus endeavor to submit ourselves to the necessary disciplines, then God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves, by bringing about gradual changes in our taste buds, and by also giving us the impetus, energy, and resolve to be consistent in our actions.

The following therefore are just a few of a plethora of diets which are currently popular with many here in America, and we will also observe the God-given knowledge either in favor of, or against them as the case might be. Let’s read:

[1] The south beach Diet:
Designed by a Florida-based cardiologist, Arthur Agatston, MD, who wanted to protect his patients from serious medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes, the South Beach Diet stresses the importance of controlling hunger by eating before it strikes. Dieters are urged to disrupt the typical "hunger-overeat-gain weight" cycle by cutting out carbs and focusing on lean protein, low-fat dairy, and good carbs — whole grains, vegetables, and fruit. While the first phase of the diet is strict, the third "Maintenance" phase is meant to be a lifelong eating plan that allows you to enjoy occasional treats while maintaining a healthy weight.

Now while it is true that the whole grains, fruits and vegetables mentioned in this diet, are in harmony with God’s ideal, yet the “dairy” part is not, for in many persons, the casein protein found in dairy is the cause for severe migraine headaches. Also, the principle of eating before we are hungry, in order to prevent over-eating is never to be adopted, for then we will form the wrong habit of eating before the stomach has completely dispensed with its previous work-load. 

In addition to this, the scriptural method of having appropriate portion sizes will take care of the age old problem over-eating, for the issue here is not primarily one of overindulgence because of being hungry; instead it is one of self-control. The method of fighting an evil habit with another wrong one has no scriptural basis, and should never be adopted by anyone, when facing challenges of weight loss.

Furthermore, it is never good to eat when we are not hungry, for then the digestive organs will be forced to violate the principle of rest which should be incorporated into any long-lasting diet program, and thus, the delicate work of efficiently breaking down any food we have ingested, will be severely impaired. Let’s read:

Exodus 16:16 This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. 
17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. 
18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

[This Day with God pp. 210] It is important that the digestive organs shall not be overtaxed. There are many who keep the stomach continually at work. Indigestion is the result of food taken into the stomach before the digestive organs have had time to dispose of the foregoing meal. Such a habit would produce disease, because the digestive organs would be overtaxed.

Weight Watchers:
Though the Weight Watchers system has evolved over the years, this flexible diet's tenets have remained the same: Eat a balanced diet, eat in moderation, and eat what you want. The diet uses a points system to track what you eat and provides motivation through local support meetings with weigh-ins (or dieters can attend "virtual meetings" online).

This system, like the south beach diet has some good in it, for it espouses the godly principle of
eating a well-balanced diet in moderation, but it also contains some evil, for it gives us permission to eat whatsoever we desire, a principle that is known to be diametrically opposed to the stipulations we have been given in the scriptures, as it pertains to clean and unclean foods. 

The freedom to eat “What we want” will inevitably include forbidden items such as pork, rare steak, oysters, and sushi (raw meat and fish). Even though these articles of food are popular with the masses, yet the word of God forbids them, for they are the cause of many strange and deadly diseases that have come upon the human family. Let’s read:

Leviticus 11:4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat”.. 
6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 
7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is
unclean to you. 
8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: 
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.

The Mediterranean Diet:
If a dinner of fish and veggies with a glass of red wine sounds like an ideal meal to you, you may have found your diet match in the Mediterranean Diet. This diet includes the food staples of people in countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, such as Greece and Italy. With an emphasis on heart-healthy fats, those containing omega-3 fatty acids The diet is rich in seafood, nuts and legumes, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil, as well as red wine in moderation.

One staple of this diet is “Red wine in moderation”, but this again leads us contrary to what the Bible says, for even though the antioxidants found in red wine are often touted as a good reason for drinking it, yet the alcohol, and fermentation does harm to the body and brain. Because something good may be mingled with something evil, does not make it safe, on the contrary, it renders the product all the more dangerous, since it is likely to be consumed by those who are thus mislead. Furthermore, the very same antioxidants can be found in their purest form by ingesting the fruits from which the red wine was derived in the first place. Let’s read:

Proverbs 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Raw Food Diet: 
Advocates of the Raw Food Diet believe that cooking food and breaking down its enzymes leads to losing many of the food's nutritional benefits. Restricting food that is cooked or heated above 116 to 118° Fahrenheit, the plan allows you to eat as much as you want, as often as you want as long as it is raw and vegetarian. Though nutritionists praise the focus on fresh produce and the avoidance of processed foods, many say the diet is lacking in nutrients and is difficult to sustain.

The raw foods diet has become popular with many who are seeking alternatives to the refined foods, and the flesh meats that are known to be the cause of many cholesterol related illnesses. However, the scriptures do not teach us the principle of eating as much as we want, whenever we want, for even the eating of good food, can have adverse effects, if it is done intemperately. A person can do real damage to himself by drinking too much pure water. Thus the Bible teaches us the principle of “All you should eat”, not “All you can eat”. Let’s read:

Proverbs 25:16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

The following therefore is a scriptural, dietary plan
that all may choose from, and it does not seek to stipulate amounts, nor does it restrict anyone who may not be in a position to access the products that are mentioned. There are places in the earth where it is virtually impossible to live on God’s ideal diet, and because of this, allowance has to be made for all those who may be in such situations. Take for instance, the clean meats and fish that are to be found in the 11th chapter of Leviticus, which are permissible; even though they do not represent the very best dietary plan, yet God makes allowances for those who cannot do any better, because of circumstances beyond their control.

It is important for us to remember that on the issue of diet, and weight-loss, different people will have different nutritional needs, and because of prior health conditions and allergies, and the availability of certain articles of food, some may be able to adhere to God’s ideal, whilst others may not be able to. We therefore present God’s ideal, since as was stated before, He is taking us from Eden to Eden, however, the choices are there before us, so that wherever possible, we may have good alternatives. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 4:9 Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and spelt, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof and”… “shalt thou eat thereof.
11 Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of an hin: from time to time shalt thou drink.

Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast”…“eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: 
18 “Thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

Genesis 43:11 “Take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey”… “nuts, and almonds.

Numbers 17:8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

Because of the present condition of our world, organic foods are becoming more and more of a rarity, and even when they are available, may be out of reach to the average John Doe. Thus we should seek out those items that are easy to procure, and trust God’s goodness to take up the slack when we cannot do any better. Hence the reason why we emphasize the scriptural principles such as discipline, faith in God, adequate rest, lots of water, avoiding processed foods as much as is possible, and not eating between meals, nor late at night before going to bed. Whenever and wherever these and other sound godly principles are adopted, and coupled together with, regular exercise weight-loss will take place.  

In closing, it is of critical importance for us to be consistent, for one of the main reasons why many of us try and fail so often, is because of a lack of consistency by which the necessary disciplines pertaining to diet and regular exercise are left up to chance, or are otherwise controlled by the feeling of the moment. Success in anything good will not come without well directed effort coupled together with consistency, and therefore we must settle it in our hearts, that come what may, we will try by the grace of God to be disciplined enough, so that our efforts may not be in vain. We therefore end with a quote from the pen of inspiration, which should encourage us to keep pressing on until we realize our goals as it pertains to diet, exercise, and weight-loss. Let’s read:

[Christ’s Object Lessons pp. 331>332] Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble, all-round character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident. A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. 

We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected. Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. The impossibility lies in your own will. If you will not, then you cannot overcome. 

Remember that you will never reach a higher standard than you yourself set. Then set your mark high, and step by step, even though it be by painful effort, by self-denial and sacrifice, ascend the whole length of the ladder of progress. Let nothing hinder you. Opposing circumstances should create a firm determination to overcome them. The breaking down of one barrier will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be your helpers, not your hindrances.

We close, not with a text, but with a theme song for our exercise program, and which can be our motto for this new year: 

Lord, I looked down the road and I wondered
And I wondered
And I wondered
Yes I looked down the road and I wondered
A long, long way from my home

So I buckled up my shoes and I started to run
I started to run, I started to run.
So I buckled up my shoes and I started to run
I started to run, I started to run.

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

                                   God bless!

The Glorified Body. Sabbath Afternoon. 01/16/2016.

In our study of the scriptures it is imperative that we all cultivate the attitude of a humble learner at the feet of Christ, being willing to be taught of The Lord, and never forcing our own ideas and opinions into the declarations of scripture. This means that the Bible must be studied objectively, and not subjectively, without the common impediments of personal bias, preferences, and even traditional injections of commonly accepted modes of thought. Thus it is, that in our study of the glorified body, great truths will be revealed in the Bible, and from the pen of inspiration, which will shed much light on issues and topics that heretofore were covered in mystery.

To begin with, there are certain specifics that are clearly established in the word of God, pertaining to the brand new glorified body which God will give to those who are saved eternally in His kingdom. There are very marked differences in this new body, when compared with the

mortal body we now have, and it is these differences which account for the permission of certain previously unexplained activities.

Fact [1] The glorified body can withstand extreme heat, friction, and the gravitational pull of earth. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

Matthew 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

In order for Moses and Elijah to make that trip from heaven to earth, and back, they would have to travel at billions of miles per second, or more, hence the reason why Elijah could not take his man-made clothes on his first trip, for they would be consumed by the friction and excessive heat generated by the great speed. This is also the reason why on the first day of the week, when Christ came forth from the tomb, His grave clothes were found neatly folded, for as He was about to ascend to God The Father, the earthly material would be incinerated by the tremendous friction and heat generated by the speed of travel. In addition to this, it is obvious that the glorified body is not subject to gravity as we know it, or else they all would still be down here on this planet. Let’s read:

John 21:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

[The great controversy pp. 677>678]  All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God's redeemed. Unfettered by mortality, they wing their tireless flight to worlds afar, worlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe, and rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul. With unutterable delight the children of earth enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. They share the treasures of knowledge and understanding gained through ages upon ages in contemplation of God's handiwork. With undimmed vision they gaze upon the glory of creation, suns and stars and systems, all in their appointed order circling the throne of Deity.

The space shuttle, of which we so often boast pales in comparison with the speed that the new, glorified body can withstand, for there are no inhibitions, according to the previous passages of scripture. Let’s read:

The three Space Shuttle Main Engines, in conjunction with the Solid Rocket Boosters, provide the thrust to lift the Orbiter off the ground for the initial ascent. After the solid rockets are jettisoned, the main engines provide thrust which accelerates the Shuttle from 3,000 mph to over 17,000 mph in just six minutes to reach orbit. As they push the Shuttle toward orbit, the engines consume liquid fuel at a rate that would drain an average family swimming pool in under 25 seconds generating over 37 million horsepower. This must be one of the biggest jokes in heaven!

Fact [2] The glorified body can adapt to other forms, depending on the needs of the particular situation, and as such, it has the ability to pass through solid matter, with no adverse consequences whatsoever. Let’s read:

Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

1st John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

John 20: 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

Mark 12:24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

1st Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,

 bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

[The Great Controversy pp. 631>632]  In all ages, God has wrought through holy angels for the succor and deliverance of his people. Celestial beings have taken an active part in the affairs of men. They have appeared clothed in garments that shone as the lightning; they have come as men, in the garb of wayfarers. Angels have appeared in human form to men of God. They have rested, as if weary, under the oaks at noon. They have accepted the hospitalities of human homes. They have acted as guides to benighted travelers.

 They have, with their own hands, kindled the fires of the altar. They have opened prison doors, and set free the servants of the Lord. Clothed with the panoply of Heaven, they came to roll away the stone from the Saviour's tomb. In the form of men, angels are often in the assemblies of the righteous, and they visit the assemblies of the wicked, as they went to Sodom, to make a record of their deeds, to determine whether they have passed the boundary of God's forbearance.

Thus it is, that after we have done detailed research of a few specifics regarding the glorified body, we should now be prepared to do the Bible study for this afternoon, for there are some sticking points in certain declarations of scripture which we should now be able to address. One

of these issues is the undeniable fact that Christ ate clean meat, fish, milk, and butter, all of which are well known animal products, and which do not represent God’s ideal for our dietary needs. And it is a fact that this was done in His pre-incarnate, incarnate, and post-incarnate form. This issue has for several years caused a certain amount of disturbance in the minds of many Christians who have tried in vain to reconcile what seems to be an apparent disconnect between what God clearly states in His word, and what Jesus Christ did on several occasions.

 In the beginning, God gave man fruits, nuts, and grain as his ideal diet, and after sin vegetables were added. After the flood however, God permitted man to eat flesh foods which were already being consumed by most, so in fact, what actually took place is that God finally permitted us to do what man was already doing, but He then added stipulations against the eating of blood, and later on He designated some meats, and fish as clean or unclean.

 But the problem which we must now confront is the fact that on several different occasions, when the Hebrews had murmured in the wilderness for both flesh and fish, Christ, who led them through the journeying, obviously became upset, whereas He Himself ate the very things which the Jews had then murmured for. Therefore, the question is, why on the one hand Christ would be upset with His people for their requests, and then on the other hand, He would eat the very things they had murmured for? Let’s read:

Genesis 18:1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Luke 24: 36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, it is evident that Christ ate a number of items that are not consistent with God’s ideal will as far as diet is concerned, because we have seen for ourselves how on different occasions He ate fish, butter, milk, and meat, without experiencing any adverse effects. Some may endeavor to reason these undeniable facts away on the grounds that He, being God, can do whatsoever pleases Him, and then use His supernatural power to reverse, or prevent any of the known side effects of such a course of action. However, the action of the angels on several occasions is another matter entirely, for they are created beings, and from the references given, they too have consumed flesh on many occasions, without suffering any adverse side effects. Why have they done so, and how is it possible? 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.

Question: What’s really going on? Because to many minds it may seem that these contradictory actions would most likely cast a shadow on the issue of health reform, and so, before we reach any wrong conclusions prematurely, it’s necessary for us to observe the various descriptions given to Christ in the following passages. Let’s read:

Matthew 6:8 “Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Matthew 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

We are starting to get the sense that Christ is much more than Our Redeemer and King, for the previous passages also portray Him as a family Man, desiring the intimate fellowship and communion with members of the human family, of whom it was predicted, and who currently is a permanent member. Thus, in order for us to understand some of the actions of Christ and the angels on several different occasions as it pertains to their consumption of foods that are not on the ideal list given in Genesis, we will need to see Jesus in the context of a Father a Friend, a Brother, as made very plain in the foregoing verses, and thus we may put ourselves in His shoes.

Question: Is it true, that as fathers and mothers, as friends, as brothers, and as families, on social occasions, we ourselves have eaten things that we would not have usually eaten, but because of the family atmosphere we were in, we let it pass? And as friends, on social occasions, have we not also eaten when we were not really hungry, but because of the social gathering of friends and family, we made allowance for such occasions?

 Let’s take for instance the Christmas holidays, when friends and family, in-laws and outlaws, including uncle Willie came by, didn’t we consume ice cream, and cake, and candy, and a host of other food items which we would not usually eat under normal circumstances? And is it true that we were even willing to pay the price in the gym, just so that we could have a jolly good time with our family and friends? Well Jesus, is not only our Savior and King, but according to the Bible, He is also our Father, our brother, and our best Friend, and therefore, on social occasions, He does what any sincere father, or brother, or friend would do, by consuming items which are not on the ideal menu given in Genesis, even when he was not hungry, for spirits do not eat food as we do.

 It was the social atmosphere that drove the angels to partake heartily of Lot’s hospitality, for they were not hungry, and it was the social atmosphere with His disciples which caused Christ to partake of what was their common fare. If He were to provide at this time, a meal of fruits, vegetables, and salads, He would by so doing interfered with the social setting, very much the same way if we were to go out with some of our family to Red Lobster, and they were to order sushi or raw oysters. That meal would interfere, or “should” interfere with the social setting, for it’s not a part of our everyday diet.

God’s ideal will for us as far as diet is concerned is one that is free from the use of flesh foods, for as sated before God is taking us from Eden to Eden. However, in our sojourn here on this earth, the fellowship of the brotherhood is of much more importance, and is to be held as a sacred legacy in our interactions with each other, for by so doing, we will be able to help in very meaningful ways, the efforts to aspire to God’s great ideal. This is not merely a suggestion, but it is the explicit will of God, as the scriptures solemnly declare. Let’s read:

Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

God is now taking His people on a journey from Eden to Eden, and as such, it would be well if we could cooperate with Him in the restoration of body soul and spirit. Hence the reason why the first chapter of the Bible contains dietary information for us, and the very last chapter of the Bible reiterates the information given in Genesis.

Let’s read:

Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

[Letters and Manuscripts vol. 1 pp. 85] I saw two long golden rods on which hung silver wires, and on the wires most glorious grapes. One cluster was more than a man here can carry. And I saw Jesus step up and take of the manna, almonds, grapes, and pomegranates, and bear them down to the city, and place them on the supper table. Soon we heard his lovely voice again, saying: Come my people; you have come out of great tribulation, and done my will, suffered for me; come in to supper, for I will gird myself, and serve you. We shouted Hallelujah, glory, and entered into the city, and I saw a table of pure silver, it was many miles in length, yet our eyes could extend over it.

And I saw the fruit of the tree of life, the manna, almonds, figs, pomegranates, grapes, and many other kinds of fruit. We all reclined at the table. I asked Jesus to let me eat of the fruit. He said, not now. Those who eat of the fruit of this land, go back to earth no more. But in a little while if faithful, you shall both eat of the fruit of the tree of life, and drink of the water of the fountain, and he said, you must go back to the earth again, and relate to others, what I have revealed to you.

Whilst we sojourn on this earth, let us therefore follow after those things which make for peace, and although God has given us His ideals in the scriptures, as far as diet is concerned, yet the fellowship of the brotherhood is to have preeminence at all times and in all places. We thus end with a few verses of scripture which confirm this sacred truth, and let us work untiringly towards that end. Let’s read:

1st Peter 2:Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

16 “Not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

                                God bless!

The Fountain Of Youth. Sabbath Afternoon. 01/09/2015

The fountain of youth has been a topic that has fascinated millions for thousands of years, and for good reason, because as far as we know, most of us human beings desire to live for as long as possible, and in the best physical condition that can be had. And there are several statements made in the Bible and written by the pen of inspiration, with which some of us may have been familiar, but have not certified through a thorough investigation of the scriptural concepts, and the principles of healthful living.

 It is never good for us to follow blindly without personal conviction, any plan for living well, for then our practice will be spasmodic at best, being subject to change with the fad and practice of the day. In addition to this, we should exercise great care in not allowing the wisdom of men to usurp the knowledge God has given us in His word, for whatever might be the current scientific research and discoveries, God’s knowledge of the human frame supersedes anything we may come up with, that may be contrary to what the scriptures teach.

Thus, the Bible study for this afternoon represents the first in a series of presentations on healthful living, and the information given out will be based on golden nuggets of truth gleaned from a careful, and very detailed study of scriptural statements, which in many cases may seem to defy logic, and conventional modes of thought and action on the issues of health, diet, and exercise. Not only were several peculiar passages of scripture examined, but we also used ourselves as “guinea pigs” so as to verify and ascertain what God has been saying all along. The following therefore, are just a few of these statements drawn from the Bible, and also

from the pen of inspiration. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

Deuteronomy 32:48 And the Lord spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying,

49 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:

50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people.

Several deductions of interest can be drawn from these few verses, which when understood rightly can enable us to live for as long as possible, and in the best of health throughout our entire lifespan. It is not God’s ideal will that we should be sick, and if that is the case, then we must do all we possibly can to ascertain the causes, and to remedy, or put into practice, whatever instructions, laws, and methods God has been pleased to reveal to us, and then we are to trust His goodness to take up the slack, when and wherever He sees best. The first takeaway from the passage above is:

 [1] Moses, at age 120 years died prematurely. The scripture teaches us that it is appointed unto all men once to die, but it must be understood that by a wrong course of action we often accelerate that appointment. Indeed, most people living on planet earth do die prematurely, this according to the scriptures. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 7:16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou

destroy thyself?

17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

[2] Moses did not die from natural causes, nor from old age, because the Bible gives the specific reason for the cause of his death. Let’s read:

Numbers 20:23 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,

24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.

Deuteronomy 3:23 And I besought the Lord at that time, saying,

25 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good

land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.

26 But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.

27 Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

And lest we draw the wrong conclusion about the character and dealings of God with His earthborn children, He would have us to understand that the wages of sin is still death, and even though the gift of God through Jesus Christ is eternal life, yet in this life, the laws of cause and effect are allowed to run their natural course. And thus it was, on account of that sin at Meribah, that satan showed up for his payment in the form of Moses’ demise. Let’s read:

Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

[Patriarchs and Prophets pp. 478] Had not the life of Moses been marred with that one sin, in failing to give God the glory of bringing water from the rock at Kadesh, he would have entered the promised Land, and would have been translated to heaven without seeing death. But he was not long to remain in the tomb. Christ Himself, with the angels who had buried Moses, came down from heaven to call forth the sleeping saint.

Satan had exulted at his success in causing Moses to sin against God, and thus come under the dominion of death. The great adversary declared that the divine sentence—“Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19)—gave him possession of the dead. The power of the grave had never been broken, and all who were in the tomb he claimed as his captives, never to be released from his dark prison house.

These solemn statements raise additional questions for our consideration, for instance, if Moses had not sinned at Meribah, could it be that he would have lived many more years, without ever experiencing the natural processes of aging? And if so, could it be that those who will be translated to heaven in the last days, when Christ appears, will like Moses, not experience the aging processes which conventional wisdom states must come upon all men?

The real answer to these disturbing questions raises the prospect that many of us may be falling short of God’s glory based on a certain given life expectancy, whereas, an experience much more glorious may be right at our fingertips. 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.

“These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

[Counsels On Diet and Foods. pp.47] If you pursue a wrong course, and indulge in wrong habits of eating, and thereby weaken the intellectual powers, you will not place that high estimate upon salvation and eternal life which will inspire you to conform your life to the life of Christ; you will not make those earnest, self-sacrificing efforts for entire conformity to the will of God, which His word requires and which are necessary to give you a moral fitness for the finishing touch of immortality.

But before we proceed, let’s first revisit the sacred statements made concerning Moses at the time of his death. If Moses is just about to die, and God is now asking him to climb a mountain several miles high, then it means that his natural force had not been diminished, which tells us that conventional wisdom on the natural processes of aging did not apply to Moses for some unknown reason, nor did his bones deteriorate as is commonly understood in the scientific community.

The scriptural statements made, pertaining to the profound absence of the normal aging process in Moses presents a predicament that cannot ever be explained, or rationalized away by using mere logic, because it is immediately obvious that a profound disconnect exists between our current modes of thought on this matter, and the sacred, insightful declarations of scripture. Let’s read:

[National institutes of health. Gov.]  The skeleton provides support and structure to the body. Joints are the areas where bones come together. They allow the skeleton to be flexible for movement. In a joint, bones do not directly contact each other. Instead, they are cushioned by cartilage in the joint, synovial membranes around the joint, and fluid. Muscles provide the force and strength to move the body. Coordination is directed by the brain but is affected by changes in the muscles and joints. Changes in the muscles, joints, and bones affect the posture and walk, and lead to weakness and slowed movement.

People lose bone mass or density as they age, especially women after menopause. The bones lose calcium and other minerals. Vertebrae also lose some of their mineral content, making each bone thinner. The spinal column becomes curved and compressed (packed together). The joints become stiffer and less flexible. Fluid in the joints may decrease. The cartilage may begin to rub together and wear away.

Question: If the foregoing declaration applies to all people without any exception or variables, how is it then, that God is asking Moses to climb a mountain several miles high at the age of 120 years, without any support or helper. And since the average age of Egyptian men at that time was between 30 to 50 years at best, how is it that Moses almost tripled that number, without any known side effects on his physical ability? It is obvious that something is not adding up, and the time has fully come for us to discover why.

 Furthermore, the case of Moses is not isolated,for Caleb, who was one of the only two faithful spies, also makes the same claim in his testimonials, for it is apparent that he too did not suffer at all from the natural aging process, for some unknown reason. Let’s read:

Joshua 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.

7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.

9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.

10 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.

We want to be certain about what we are hearing from the mouth of Caleb. Is he really saying that at the age eighty-five, he is willing to pick a fight with the giants in the land of Canaan, because he has not experienced any deterioration whatever in physical strength, nor in stamina for a period of 45 years? And if so, could it be that our current understanding of the aging process is partially flawed, because it is based on science which does not incorporate the scriptural knowledge, principles and instructions on health, into its analyses and conclusions?

Thus it is that we are confronted with a few basic questions for which we need to find answers. Was Moses and Caleb being sustained supernaturally, solely by the power of God, without any effort or input on their part? Or did they incorporate specific laws of health into their practice, thus cooperating with Divine agencies in the promotion of longevity, well into their most senior years?

And the deeper question for us living today in the 21st century will be, is it possible for us, like Moses, to greatly forestall the aging processes, if we were to discover what Moses and Caleb did? And if not, what is the real purpose of The Lord allowing such information to be written in the Bible. These and many other haunting questions are what drove us to investigate the information given in the Bible, so that if possible, we too can live for 120 years, without our natural force being abated, nor our eyes being dimmed.

 It is worthy of note that in the Bible, both God’s ideal and His circumstantial will pertaining to aging is presented, and it may be that the choice is ours, depending on which route we decide to take. Let’s read:

Psalm 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

If God intended that this statement should apply across the board, with no possibility of alteration through the implementation of laws and principles of health, then we must ask respectfully of those in our midst, who are currently in their nineties, what are you still doing here? It must be that this text applies in a generic format, based not on God’s ideal will, but rather on the results of the course of action taken by the multitudes. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low.

This again is generic information, pertaining to most of us who choose to follow conventional wisdom or instructions for healthful living. However, if by faith, and through cooperation with the Lord, we were to adopt the principles, methods, and instructions He has been pleased to reveal, then it is quite possible for this passage to never apply to us, and like our friend Moses, God may have to ask us to die. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs and Prophets pp. 378] God brought the Israelites from Egypt, that He might establish them in the land of Canaan, a pure, holy, and happy people. In the accomplishment of this object He subjected them to a course of discipline, both for their own good and for the good of their posterity. Had they been willing to deny appetite, in obedience to His wise restrictions, feebleness and disease would have been unknown among them. Their descendants would have possessed both physical and mental strength.

They would have had clear perceptions of truth and duty, keen discrimination, and sound judgment. But their unwillingness to submit to the restrictions and requirements of God, prevented them, to a great extent, from reaching the high standard which He desired them to attain, and from receiving the blessings which He was ready to bestow upon them.

The following therefore begins a detailed account of what God did for Moses, and what he himself did in cooperation with God. And because the path of the righteous is as the shining light that shineth more and more until the perfect day, we will also include additional instructions coming directly from The pen of inspiration, with the hope that we may adopt and practice them in living healthier and longer lives.

[1] The first thing God did for the children of Israel, even before He changed their diet, was to put them on a most vigorous walking program, for God knows that daily exercise is critically important for staving off a host of ailments and diseases. This very simple aerobic activity goes a long way in forestalling many of the ailments and adverse conditions we so often suffer from, and it will do us well if we can start to incorporate this exercise, or something similar into our daily regimen. Let’s read:

Exodus 12:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,

2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover.

Exodus 14:20 And they took their journey from Succoth”….

21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

And they walked and they walked and they walked, with some very conservative estimates putting their entire sojourn in the wilderness at approximately 16 to 23 miles on their days of travel, to accumulate several thousand miles of walking. This aerobic activity as given by God is nothing new, for even before man sinned, and ever after, God ordained that exercise should form a vital part of our daily regimen, so as to promote health and vitality, and also to prevent a number of diseases. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake;

18 “And thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground”….

[Messages to young people pp. 232] Since the mind and the soul find expression through the body, both mental and spiritual vigor are in great degree dependent upon physical strength and activity; whatever promotes physical health promotes the development of a strong mind and a well-balanced character. Without health, no one can as distinctly understand or as completely fulfill his obligations to himself, to his fellow-beings, or to his Creator. Therefore the health should be as faithfully guarded as the character. A knowledge of physiology and hygiene should be the basis of all educational effort.

Article by The Washington post: 12/16/2014

Evidence continues to accumulate that physical activity can help hold off the changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer's Disease, and perhaps the devastating symptoms of the disease itself. The latest information comes from researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, who looked at 317 late-middle aged adults and determined that those who exercised five times a week or more had fewer of the age-related changes in the brain that are associated with the disease, and did better on cognitive tests.

Age remains the single greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's, greater even than having the gene found in many people with the disease, the study confirmed. But "what we have shown here is that physical activity diminishes the deleterious influence of age," said Ozioma Okonkwo, an assistant professor of medicine at the school who led the study.

People who exercised had less accumulation of "beta amyloid plaque," the proteins that build up in the brains of people who suffer from Alzheimer's Disease. They had less shrinkage of the hippocampus and less reduction in use of glucose in the brain, two other symptoms of the disease. And they had fewer neurofibrillary tangles, twisted fibers inside brain cells of people with Alzheimer's. When researchers tested the people who worked out, they did better on memory and visual-spatial tests.

As has been stated again and again on this forum, God is more practical and down to earth in His instructions and methods than many of us realize, and thus it will do us well to begin implementing the simple instructions on healthful exercise given for our best good. These practices coupled together with a living faith in God will ultimately put us on track to work in harmony and in cooperation with the Divine agencies, and if we become diligent and faithful in doing so, we will soon begin to reap the positive results, across the entire spectrum of our life experience.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture for our consideration, which will prepare us for the next round of instruction on healthful living, so that we may begin to drink from the fountain of youth. Let’s read:

Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

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

Learning How To Wait Upon God. Sabbath Afternoon. 01/02/2016

One of our greatest needs as Christians is the trait of patience, as an integral part of our relationship with God, for many of us do stumble on this one point, which leads us into distrust of God, and bad consequences which are almost a sure result of not waiting upon Him. In the time of trouble ahead, this singular, important characteristic is pointed out as being absolutely essential, with the hope that we may now cultivate it throughout all of the many vicissitudes of our Christian experience. Thus it is, that a profound promise is made to all who by faith, choose to wait humbly upon God. Let’s read:

Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

As a general rule of thumb most Christians have two main problems, which sometimes adversely affect our relationship with God, if allowed to run riot. The first is that we sometimes find that God takes too long in answering our prayers. If only we can get a definite time-table when we pray, so that the much needed answers we seek may come at an appointed time, then all may be well. But for us to wait for the answers to come in “The fullness of time”, where God will answer us at a time of His own choosing, hardly ever fits our bill. And from the days of Christ, down to our generation, the same problem has persisted in one form or another.

For instance, when Christ was about to leave this earth for heaven, the disciples asked Him for a specific time for His return, and for the ushering in of the long-awaited kingdom. And even before this, Christ was pressed for a time-table pertaining to the end of the world and His second coming. In the two instances however, Jesus refrained from giving any specific time, for He is too well acquainted with the undesirable results of giving specifics on time, as it pertains to His return, as well as certain other issues we may enquire about. Let’s read:

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.

 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom”..?

7 And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

The fact is that if God were to reveal to us that He was coming next week, many of us may stop doing certain things that we already know we should not be doing anyway, and many of us may start to do the things we should have been doing all along. It is what we refer to as the Santa “Claws” mentality, by which kids are often taught to put on their very best behavior, in anticipation of Santa’s arrival, and after the euphoria of the moment has past, many often return to “Pouting”. In the year 1844, when over half a million Christians across America were expecting Jesus to return in the fall, drunkards suddenly became saints, and curse words were suddenly exchanged for songs of praise. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp. 368>404]

Wherever missionaries had penetrated in all the world, were sent the glad tidings of Christ's speedy return. Professors of religion were roused from their false security. They saw their backslidings, their worldliness and unbelief, their pride and selfishness. Many sought the Lord with repentance and humiliation. The affections that had so long clung to earthly things they now fixed upon Heaven.

Sinners inquired with weeping, “What must I do to be saved?” Those whose lives had been marked with dishonesty were anxious to make restitution. Often was heard the sound of earnest intercession. Everywhere were souls in deep anguish, pleading with God. Many wrestled all night in prayer for the assurance that their sins were pardoned, or for the conversion of their relatives or neighbors. For some weeks preceding the time, worldly business was for the most part laid aside. The sincere believers carefully examined every thought and emotion of their hearts as if upon their death-beds and in a few hours to close their eyes upon earthly scenes.

 After the passing of the time”… “a large class who had professed to believe in the Lord's soon coming, renounced their faith. Those who had based their faith upon the opinions of others, and not upon the Word of God, were now as ready again to change their views. The scoffers won the weak and cowardly to their ranks, and all these united in declaring that there could be no more fears or expectations now.

The same disposition is also prone to be replicated in our experience, if God were to give us a definite time for answers to our prayers. For instance, if a person were to pray to God for deliverance from his or her creditors, and God were to say in response, that deliverance will come on January 15, 2016, it is quite probable that between now and the next two weeks, that person will do all that he or she knows to be right, so as not to upset the answer to prayer. But if God were to say, in the fullness of time He will deliver, without giving any specific time-line, our behavioral patterns may or may not change, as it all depends on the depth of our relationship with God.

The next problem many of us have with The Lord is that He sometimes does not give us many details, as to a certain course of action to pursue, but instead He may choose to guide us on a day by day, pray as you go basis. Most people will prefer a long detailed plan of action, stretching many, many years into the future, but for us to look for the guiding cloud each day, often invokes feelings of restlessness, doubt and impatience. It is worthy of note, that if God were to always give us specific times, and the extensive details we so often crave, then we will not need faith, for we will be walking by fact, not by faith. Hence the reason why the following scripture is so very important for us to apply in our Christian experience. Let’s read:

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.

Thus it is that our first lesson will be taken from the experience of Abraham and Sarah, to whom The Lord had declared that a son of promise would be born. No specific time was given up front and hardly any details describing how it was to take place were related to them. All Abraham knew is that one day, he and his wife Sarah were to have a son, and like the rest of us, he would need to wait for the fullness of time. But as is so often the case, when a period of waiting has passed, we often grow weary of the wait, and then it is that satan’s suggestions of plan “B” seem to be more and more plausible, for satan reasons along strictly logical lines of thought, whilst the Christian is required to hold logic subservient to faith, for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Let’s read:

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless”…

3 “Behold, to me thou hast given no seed”…

4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,…”he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

It’s important for us to observe that this passage is taken from chapter fifteen of Genesis, for the very first verse of the next chapter presents one of the more common errors made by the human agent, after The Lord made a promise to us. After waiting, and waiting, we become frustrated and then seek to fulfill His promises in our own time and way. Thus it is that as a general rule of thumb, we are in danger of making very grave mistakes, which then open the doors for satan to severely tempt us for many years to come, and often the decisions we make under such conditions become the catalysts for greater errors to occur. Let’s read:

Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

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.

This one wrong move, made in desperation, proved to be just the beginning of a series of disturbances brought about by the enemy of souls, for up to this point, Hagar had been quite content to dwell in the tents of Abraham as a maid. But now, in her new role of Abraham’s second wife, she becomes quite assertive and arrogant, traits of character that had never surfaced prior to this close encounter with Abraham. And it is very often the case that certain undesirable character traits become apparent only after the fact, and the person who seems to be our knight in shining armor today, may very well turn out to be our worst nightmare tomorrow, but only after the critical decisions and actions have been taken. Let’s read:

Genesis 16:5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.

6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

[Patriarchs And Prophets pp. 145] Abraham had accepted without question the promise of a son, but he did not wait for God to fulfill His word in His own time and way. A delay was permitted, to test his faith in the power of God but he failed to endure the trial. Thinking it impossible that a child should be given her in her old age, Sarah suggested, as a plan by which the divine purpose might be fulfilled, that one of her handmaidens should be taken by Abraham as a secondary wife. Abraham's marriage with Hagar resulted in evil, not only to his own household, but to future generations.

Flattered with the honor of her new position as Abraham's wife, and hoping to be the mother of the great nation to descend from him, Hagar became proud and boastful, and treated her mistress with contempt. Mutual jealousies disturbed the peace of the once happy home. Forced to listen to the complaints of both, Abraham vainly endeavored to restore harmony. Though it was at Sarah's earnest entreaty that he had married Hagar, she now reproached him as the one at fault. She desired to banish her rival; but Abraham refused to permit this; for Hagar was to be the mother of his child, as he fondly hoped, the son of promise. She was Sarah's servant, however, and he still left her to the control of her mistress. Hagar's haughty spirit would not brook the harshness which her insolence had provoked. “When Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.”

This leads us to the next critical lesson we can take away from this experience: Satan’s counterfeit to God’s promises very often look like God’s will up front! But like the prophecy in Revelation, it may be sweet in the mouth, but bitter in the belly, when the adverse results begin to unravel. If God were to resurrect Abraham today, so that he could behold with his own two eyes, the results of that one fatal move, he may very well choose to go back into the grave, rather than face the music, which is currently laced with avant garde intonations, akin to the music score from a horror movie. Plan B, C, and D are all substitutes for God’s perfect will, and they never produce the desired results, because they emanate from the adversary of God and man.

The last lesson in waiting upon God, which we will discover, is that deliverance is usually just around the corner from a bad decision to go with plan B. for this next important lesson we now turn to king Saul, who fell into the snare of desperation, and made a critical move which was the beginning of his own undoing. At this time, Saul, and the armies of Israel were being threatened with annihilation by the philistines, who had amassed an immense army, to accomplish their goal. And Saul had been instructed by the prophet Samuel to wait for his arrival, so that the necessary sacrifice could be made, in order that God’s power, and presence would go before them, thus guaranteeing them victory over their foes.

Many Christians, in reading the experience of Saul at this time, have concluded that it was indeed a

regrettable move that was made by the king, but Saul actually did better than some of us do, for at least he waited for the specified time before acting. It is often the case that we are not even willing to wait for any specified time, and are thus tempted in desperation, to make decisions that could cost us dearly. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 13:5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

If there was any person who had a so-called valid reason for adopting plan B, it would have been Saul, for he had indeed waited the specified time set by the prophet. The question then is, if God has given a specified time for the fulfillment of a promise, and that time seems to have elapse without the stated fulfillment, are we then at liberty to choose plan B, seeing that, like Saul, we may have fulfilled our end of the bargain by waiting? What was king Saul to do after obeying the instructions to wait? The answer to this very critical question takes us back to the title of the Bible study “Learning to wait upon God”. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 13:9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed”….

12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever.

14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

There are three vital lessons in learning how to wait upon God, that can be deduced from the failures of both Abraham and Saul: [1] Desperation should never be allowed to drive us into disobedience. For instance, if we are dying of starvation, and the only option on the table is pork chops, which The Lord has specifically forbidden for human consumption, then we may pray and ask God for a miracle according to His will, and if He delivers, then that’s all well and good, but if not, it is much better to die doing God’s will, than to live in violation of His word.

[2] Patience must be cultivated through active exercise, for it is not an attribute human beings are

born with. Therefore, when expecting answers from God on a particular issue, we should have an open-ended disposition, so that God may work out things in His own time and way, which as sacred history has shown, is always done with our very best good in mind. 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.

7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him”…

[3] There are no known viable alternatives to God’s ideal will, therefore, as Christians we should avoid the snare of harboring last resort planning in our decision making processes whenever godly principle and human logic may collide. The decision-making processes of the Christian may often seem to the logical thinking mind as being extreme at best, and

quite radical at worst, but if we were to faithfully follow the teachings and instructions of God’s word, we will find sooner or later that they have been given in infinite wisdom, and the end result will always be in our best interest. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to wait, and continue waiting, until the good and perfect purposes of God are fulfilled in their due season. Let’s read:

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

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

Doing The Right Thing For The Wrong Reason. Sabbath afternoon 12/26/2015

It is one of the greatest misconceptions abounding in the world today, both in the secular world, and also in Christendom, that merely doing the right thing will afford us an entrance into God’s kingdom, and for this reason many are dead set on doing what is right so that they may be saved. Now, it is true that God desires us to do right, and we are often encouraged in the scriptures to do good, but this, in and of itself, does not ever constitute the righteousness God desires to be cultivated in us.

As a matter of fact, if our highest motivation for doing right is merely to be saved, we will soon find out that we have run out of right things to do, and when we become thus maxed out, a certain amount of frustration and uneasiness begins to settle into

our Christian experience. In addition to this, there are a number of people who have done right, and have led pretty decent lives when compared with some of us, but who have never submitted to the righteousness of God, the righteousness which is by faith in Christ Jesus.

Now, it is true that in the absence of the knowledge of Christ’s righteousness, God will save many by the law of conscience, yet if the knowledge of Christ’s righteousness is within our reach, and has never been applied to our hearts, all the right, and good that may be done will avail us nothing in the end, an unfortunate situation that is clearly brought to light in the following passages of scripture spoken by Christ Himself. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:22 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”….

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.

If our motivation for doing right, and refusing to do evil, does not stem from a love for Christ and a deep appreciation for what He has done and continues to do in our behalf, then our religion is in vain, and we will find ourselves destitute of eternal life when He appears, if the necessary changes aren’t made. We should never avoid doing evil because of fear of the results, or because of being caught, or even because everybody else may frown upon our wrong course of action. All of these are very poor excuses for us to refrain from doing evil.

Neither should we do the right thing just because everyone else around us are doing it, or because we have read it in the Bible. In other words, if we were to begin keeping the Sabbath merely because we have read about it in the scriptures, and we were to remain at that elementary stage of obedience, we may soon find the day of rest pretty boring, if we do not enter into the spirit of rest, understanding and appreciating the core principles that God intended.

And then our Sabbath-keeping would become quite rigid, and methodical, with us quietly resenting its approach each week, viewing it as a sort of ironclad restriction to our temporal advancement, and then counting down the hours for it to end, so that we can breathe a sigh of relief, after having done the “Right thing”. Anyone who professes to keep the 7th day Sabbath holy, but who eagerly looks forward to its close, has not yet entered into the spirit of the law, and is then stuck in neutral gear of the letter. And the Bible clearly states that the letter killeth, but The Spirit giveth life.

If we were to go out on a date with our spouse to be, and she were to find out that we were eagerly looking forward to ending the time spent together, she will be not only be greatly disturbed, but will most likely reconsider the motive for taking her out, for it may be that we were doing the right thing for the wrong reason. The same concept holds true for many of those who claim to look forward eagerly to “Santa Claws” each year. The mindset of many is captured in the words:

You better watch out

You better not cry

You better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is comin' to town

He's making a list

He's checking it twice

He's gonna find out

Who's naughty or nice

He knows if you've been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake

So you better watch out…..

The same holds true for the returning of our tithes and offerings, merely because it is the right thing to do. Just like it is with the Sabbath, it is good for us to start obedience at some point, but if we were to remain at the elementary stage of just doing right because we have read it in the Bible, then we will inevitably miss the whole purpose of the God-given instruction, and the cheerful gratitude which should accompany all our gifts would be strangely absent.

Thus it is, that if we are not careful in following on to know The Lord, we will inadvertently fall into the snare of doing the right thing for the wrong reason, as many of the Jews did in ancient times. Let’s read:

Malachi 3:13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, what have we spoken so much against thee?

14 Ye have said, it is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?

16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

In these passages we find that some of the Hebrews were doing the right thing, but because it was being done for the wrong reason, the joy of serving and giving was absent from their relationship with God, and thus had become a sort of penance from which they had hoped to derive absolution and the favor of God, a problem which had also plagued the rich young ruler in Christ’s day, and one which has still persisted in many of the protestant and evangelical churches of our time. Let’s read:

Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 “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?

In this young man’s life, which was apparently filled with doing right, scriptural things, an unexplained or strange void had now surfaced, and try as he might to find the root cause of his emptiness, he was at a loss to know why, after faithfully doing that which is right, that he experienced such unfulfilled feelings of spiritual barrenness. Thus it was, in his perplexed state of mind that he posed the question to Christ, “What good, or right thing shall I do in order to inherit eternal life”.

If we find ourselves in a position like the rich young ruler, doing good things so as to inherit eternal life, then we will need to take stock of our lives urgently, for salvation has always been a free gift of God, and the Christian’s obedience to the right things written in the scriptures should ultimately spring from love to God, and love to our fellowmen. Anything short of this will make our religious experience a rigid and formatted exercise in doing many right things with the wrong frame of mind, whereas God can only accept the free service of love, which stems from an intelligent, understanding of His good purposes towards us in Christ Jesus. Hence the reason why Jesus answered the young ruler the way that He did. Let’s read:

Matthew 19:21 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.

The problem here is that the young man did not have God at the top of his priorities, as far as love goes, for his desire for riches had supplanted the love for God in his soul. So what had taken place in consequence is that he had searched in vain to find a balance between the two, by having his foremost energies and interests centered in the here and now, whilst holding onto right deeds for dear life. A very interesting commentary has been written by the servant of The Lord, pertaining to the young ruler’s religious experience, and it will do us well to learn the lessons God will have us derive from it. Let’s read:

[The Desire Of Ages pp. 520]  Christ made the only terms which could place the ruler where he would perfect a Christian character. 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.”

His claim that he had kept the law of God was a deception. He showed that riches were his idol. He could not keep the commandments of God while the world was first in his affections. He loved the gifts of God more than he loved the Giver. Christ had offered the young man fellowship with Himself. “Follow Me,” He said. But the Savior was not so much to him as his own name among men or his possessions. To give up his earthly treasure, that was seen, for the heavenly treasure, that was unseen, was too great a risk. He refused the offer of eternal life, and went away, and ever after the world was to receive his worship.

It is a quite alarming commentary of our time, that the experience of the rich young ruler is too often duplicated in the lives of many Christians, who are endeavoring to do right things, in order to quiet the conscience on the issue of having God first in our affections. If we were to do some soul-searching, we will soon find out where our highest joy comes from, and if it is not in communion with Christ, and serving Him, then the right things that we may do which are written in the scriptures become a dead format without the spirit, and our interest in Christ and spiritual things will gradually wane.

This condition is not hopeless however, for Christ was sent into the world to save us from all our sins and from any condition that puts God in the second place in our order of priorities. And so the question we must answer is, how can we grow to love God in sincerity, to the point where we can look forward in eager anticipation to spending our entire days and nights communing with, and thinking of Him. And how can obedience which springs from love and gratitude to Christ be our highest motivating factor to doing the right thing?

The answers to these important questions must be given careful consideration, if there is to be a revival of true godliness which springs from true love in our souls. The first thing we must realize is that we do not naturally have it within ourselves to love God, and therefore the obedience which works by love must of necessity begin with God. This vital truth, that love to God cannot ever be generated originally by the human agent, is written in the Bible, with the hope that we will not trust to our own good deeds or righteousness as a passport to heaven. Let’s read:

1st John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

This scripture brings us to our next point, because an intelligent appreciation of God’s character can only be had through a study of His word. Thus, to know him means to study His character as it was manifested in the life of Christ, with the motive of submitting to His all-wise rule. There are those who have become obsessed with nature, and who love to view the handiwork of God in the great outdoors. And the Bible also tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God, which means that nature speaks to us clearly about the goodness of God. Let’s read:

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

This is all well and good, and we are encouraged to go out in nature whenever and wherever possible. But nature does not tell us of The God who bled and died on the cross to save us from eternal ruin, who forgives us of our sins, and delivers us when we are in trouble, who spoiled the domain of death so that we might have eternal life. Only the Bible does that, hence the reason why it is impossible to come to a good understanding and appreciation of the loving character of God without the study of His word.

Thus it is, that if we desire our obedience and our service to God to rest squarely upon the merits of His great love towards us in Christ Jesus, we will need to study His character, as manifested in His word, especially the closing scenes of His life on Calvary, by which He set us free. By dwelling on the great sacrifice which Jesus made in our behalf, we will lose all desire to wound Him afresh through any deliberate sin, we will have the highest motivation for doing the right thing, and thus the love of Christ will constrain us, instead of the adverse results of sin being our primary repellent against doing evil.

We close with an inspired quote from the pen of inspiration, with the hope that we all may graduate from an elementary obedience, to a spirit-filled understanding of the God whom we serve, so that love and gratitude may become the spring board for all of our thoughts and actions. Let’s read:

[The Desire Of Ages pp. 83] In our association with one another, we should take heed lest we forget Jesus, and pass along unmindful that He is not with us. When we become absorbed in worldly things so that we have no thought for Him in whom our hope of eternal life is centered, we separate ourselves from Jesus and from the heavenly angels. These holy beings cannot remain where the Savior's presence is not desired, and His absence is not marked. This is why discouragement so often exists among the professed followers of Christ.

Many attend religious services, and are refreshed and comforted by the word of God; but through neglect of meditation, watchfulness, and prayer, they lose the blessing, and find themselves more destitute than before they received it. It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones.

As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.

As we associate together, we may be a blessing to one another. If we are Christ's, our sweetest thoughts will be of Him. We shall love to talk of Him; and as we speak to one another of His love, our hearts will be softened by divine influences. Beholding the beauty of His character, we shall be “changed into the same image from glory to glory.”

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to feed on Christ the Living word and the written word, for if we do, we will continue to grow in grace, and in a knowledge of Him who died to redeem us from sin and its consequences. Let’s read:

John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them”….

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

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

                           God bless!

Harboring Correct Concepts Of God. Sabbath Afternoon 12/19/2015

It is of critical importance that Christians subscribe to correct and Biblically sound views and concepts of The God of the Bible, so that our expectations and understanding of Him may be in harmony with what the Bible teaches and nothing else. Especially is this counsel pertinent in our day, where a great abundance of false teachings and interpretations have been disseminated amongst the people, who have subsequently held their hopes up high, only to be sadly disappointed, when their expectations of God are not met.

One of the ways in which the false prophets have succeeded in leading the multitudes to incorrect views of God is to present a God of human devising, who is held in subjection to the whims and fancies of the human agent, and who must deliver, help, and heal, without any preconditions being met. And therefore, to meet this emergency God has outlined in His word what needs to be done, and the method of scriptural interpretation to be engaged, in order that we may have the clearest views possible, of the God whom we serve, the God that is presented in the scriptures. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

A “Private interpretation” therefore, is one that is not supported by scripture, or one which is taken out of context, or otherwise misinterpreted to suit our personal ideas of what we think the scriptures should mean. Millions of such interpretations and variations now abound, hence the reason why the very next passage of scripture is given so that any sincere seeker for truth may know whether or not, that which he is subscribing to is indeed of God, or whether it proceeds from man’s imagination. Let’s read:

Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Thus it is, that we are going to investigate several warped concepts that are currently being held by millions of people the world over, and then we will bring the scriptural interpretations to bear against them so that the erroneous views may be corrected. It is then of critical importance that when reading the Biblical viewpoint, that we resist the temptation to insert our own ideas, because the Bible is to stand alone on its own two feet, without the encumbrances of human devising, philosophical or politically correct additions, and subtractions.

However, before we begin, it is necessary that we review an incident which took place in the days of old, when the philistines were engaged in a battle with the Hebrew people, and who were ultimately successful in capturing the sacred ark which housed both the law of God, and the shekinah glory of His presence. The apparent capture of Israel’s God by the Philistines, and where they consequently placed the sacred ark containing the Shekinah glory, with the moral law is worthy of observation, for they put it in the most sacred place known to them at that time, in their temple, next to their foremost god, Dagon.

But they did not place the ark of God there because they loved Him, for they hated Him with a passion. The fact that the philistines disdained Israel’s God can be verified in the experiences of Goliath, who had openly defied the God of the Hebrews, making a mockery of Him and His people. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 17:4 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.

Now, since they had no love whatsoever for the God of the Hebrews, then the next logical question is, why would they place Him in their most revered place, and not in the garbage bin, or in the toilet? The answer to this important question can be understood in the light of what is now taking place with Isis, whose members intensely hate the God of Christianity, and therefore, it will be considered one of the most egregious abominations ever, to have an image of Jesus at one of their places of worship.

Therefore, it is evident that the Philistines must have seen some major benefit in the decision to put the ark next to Dagon, for not only did they desire to display the rare trophy of the sacred chest they had captured in battle, but it is apparent that they desired to produce a unique, and quite formidable coalition between Dagon and Jehovah, for in their warped concepts of God, such a joint cooperation would then render them invincible to all their foes. And if that were the case, then they would have no problem worshipping Him according to their own distorted methods. This conclusion is clearly seen because of their own testimony of the God of Israel. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.

7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

1st Samuel 17:1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

There are very many people living today who will have no problem whatsoever worshipping The God of heaven according to their own concepts of God, if, as was the case with the philistines, there is some major national or personal benefit to doing so. And there are many nominal Christians who have taken the name of Christ, not because of any love or deep appreciation of His character, but rather because of the material blessings associated with being called a Christian. Hence the reason why the first scriptural concept of God we will deal with is that of serving God on His terms, and not ours.

[1] The specific promises of God to His people, such as protection, health, material blessings of wealth, and even eternal life, are all given on condition. If all of the conditions are met, then our expectations of favorable results may be warranted. But if some, or all of the preconditions are deliberately disregarded for any reason, then it will be unreasonable for us to expect the desired outcome. This first scriptural concept of humanity’s relationship with God should be thoroughly understood, especially in our day where the health/ wealth gospel on our own terms has become so popular. The Bible is very clear on the teaching of God’s promises and their fulfillment. Let’s read:

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.

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.

However, the converse of these two promises are also true, for if we refuse to hear the law of God, and cherish iniquity, or known sins in our hearts, then the above promises cannot be fulfilled until the stated conditions are met. This constitutes one of the greatest errors of our time, that God will overlook deliberate, recurring sins we commit, and answer our prayers anyway. Let’s just say here, that if we were to pray for a particular material blessing,

whilst practicing known sin, then any answers we may receive are not coming from God, but are the result of counterfeit blessings.

This widespread delusion has driven many millions of Christians to so-called “Faith healers” who offer healing, wealth, and deliverance, on terms that are neither recognized nor endorsed by God. Thus it is, that the multitudes are not called upon to make any changes to our lifestyles and habits, but are rather encouraged to call upon the name of Jesus, whilst we do the very things He has expressly forbidden. This scenario sets us up for major disappointment, for we often find out too late that God has not been listening to our prayers, because the preconditions written in the Bible were never met. Let’s read:

Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Let’s take for instance the issue of security, which has become a hot button topic in the recent rounds of debates. The promise of protection is one of the fundamentals God has promised to those who are called by His name, hence the reason why it has so often been stated that our focus as Christians is not on survival, but rather on surrender to The Lord Jesus Christ. In harmony with this teaching, and the accompanying promises made to true believers, it is not necessary to stock-pile weapons of any kind, for the Bible specifically stipulates what our weapons and ammunitions ought to be. 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.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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.

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.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Thus, when these conditions are fulfilled, and as we seek to cooperate with God in their fulfillment, the literal enemies like Isis, who seek to do us harm will be taken care of by God, for He has also given us mega promises of protection, when the stated preconditions are fulfilled. Let’s read:

Leviticus 26:7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.

8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

9 For I will have respect unto you”….

Numbers 23:19 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, neither is there any divination against Israel”….

Question: Were these promises made only to the Hebrew people, or do they apply evenly across the board to every person living on earth, regardless of ethnic origin, or political affiliation? This question leads us to the very next scriptural concept we will consider, and one that has too often been distorted to make it seem as if God is partial in His dealings with earth’s inhabitants, having favorites on the one hand, and enemies on the other.

[2] There are absolutely no favorites with God, for He loves each person as His very own, and thus, if a pagan or heathen nation or individual were to take the Bible as it reads, the blessings stated there will apply evenly, without bias, without favoritism, and without exclusiveness, for all people are God’s, both by creation and redemption. Let’s read:

 Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine”…

5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

6 And”.. 9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Isaiah 56:2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

4 For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

The next scriptural concept is one that addresses the fatal notion that God is too good to destroy the beings He has created, if we continue in deliberate sin, and that because of His great love and kindness towards us, it is inconsistent with His character to mete out judgments to those who continue living in rebellion against His sovereign authority. This view is the very same one that was held by the ancient antediluvian world, and which, as the after history shows, ultimately caused the demise of billions of people.

[3] God retains the prerogative to save or to destroy according to His discretion, and the delusion that His love prevents Him from executing warranted judgments, is entirely false and is nowhere to be found in the Bible.

It is quite incorrect and even dangerous to draw such a conclusion, for whenever this view is held by humanity, there is to be seen moral abandon, and the practice of iniquity to a fearful extent, hence the reason why the Scriptures are given to correct this widely held view. Now, it is true that God delights in mercy, and indeed He does not take pleasure in the death of the sinner, but He will have us understand that His great love for us does not tie His hands, nor inhibit Him from executing judgment whenever and wherever it becomes necessary.

 In other words, a balanced understanding of this vital point will lead us to appreciate God’s loving kindness towards us, yet at the same time will not lead us to presumptuous sinning against Him, when we know better. This is the correct view of God on this point, and it is ably supported by a plethora of passages that deal with this very issue. Let’s read:

Exodus 33:12 And Moses said unto the Lord”…. 18 “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

Exodus 34:6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

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 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

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.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Deuteronomy 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;

27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day:

28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

1st Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the  temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth  in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

[4] Another warped concept of God that is often put forward to the multitudes, causing us to look upon Him as an arbitrary Ruler, is the false doctrine of generational curses, by which the iniquity of the fathers, together with the penalties, are inflicted upon their offspring, regardless of whether they themselves choose to do good or evil. This false, and erroneous theory has led many to believe that because of generational sins that may have been indulged and cultivated by parents and progenitors for a number of years, that the children are bound in an iron destiny to do evil, and that the children are born with a natural, inevitable curse hanging over their heads. The Bible also gives us the right interpretation of the character of God to correct this erroneous view. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 18:2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb”…

4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.

19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Thus it is, that in these four examples given, we have the testimony of scripture, describing the character of God, as it pertains to His dealing with earth’s inhabitants, and if we were to employ the scriptural format for interpretation given, then our concepts of the God of heaven would be greatly enhanced, and as a result, we will be enabled to pray an commune with Him intelligently, thinking and praying along Biblical modes of thought and action, so we can have the confidence that God will hear and answer our petitions when we pray. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to worship and serve The God of the Bible, and not the god of fable and philosophy, for anyone who chooses to serve and obey Christ will never be ashamed. Let’s read:

Isaiah 65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.

24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

                           God bless!

"Santa Claws" Is Coming To Town. Sabbath Afternoon. 12/12/2015

It’s holiday time again folks, and as the festive spirit of the season approaches, many millions of people will be driven by the frenzy of the moment to spend and to do that which might be regretted, after the euphoria of the season is gone. The reason why the name of this iconic character is spelled the way it is, is because for some unknown reason, whenever he passes through, most folk end up either moderately or severely depleted financially, in addition to this, the interest payments on the many purchases made begin to pile up with the coming of the new year.

Now, although God has no problem whatever with the giving and exchanging of gifts, and even though the Christmas season has absolutely nothing to do with Christ, yet, as the world engages in spending and indulgences, He would have us understand that the principles of His kingdom do not change with the seasons, and therefore the laws of sowing and reaping will apply whether or not “Santa Claws” is coming to town. 

It is one of the most successful, and most common ploys of the devil to infuse our minds with warped concepts of God, and the way He operates, for he knows all too well that as Christians, we will think and pray along those modes of thought that have been incorporated into our understanding of God, and then our expectations of Him will ultimately be based on what we believe. Hence the reason why so many Christians become utterly disappointed, and discouraged when the god of our own devising does not deliver according to our expectations.

For instance, if we were to go on a shopping spree, being driven by the frenzy of the moment, and were to spend other people’s money in the form of agent plastic, purchasing big ticket items which we cannot really afford, then when January 1st comes, and the bills come due, we should not complain to God for deliverance. And if He does not answer us according to our expectations, we should not then conclude that He is treating us unfairly. In addition to this, our freewill offerings should not be made to suffer because of what we have irrationally spent in the heat of the moment. 

Similarly, with our food and drink and the pastries, and ice cream that we plan on devouring over the yule-tide season. If we choose to go that route, God is not going to reverse any of the side effects in a miraculous way come January, for to harbor these concepts of God is to think of Him as being Santa Claws, fulfilling our wish list at our discretion. On the contrary, it will require a slow, hard slug-fest in the gym in order to reverse the after-effects of our course of action, and if God does not answer our petitions for immediate weight loss, we should not then begin to murmur against Him.

Before we begin however, there are some pertinent facts about Santa Claws, and these will shed light on how the Christmas celebration became inculcated into our culture. 
[1] Santa’s real identity is that of a Roman Catholic bishop, commonly referred to as saint Nicholas who lived during the reign of the notorious roman emperor Diocletian, and who was renowned for the giving of gifts to children, helping the less fortunate, and was known to protect sailors, and those who were abused also. 

After he died on December 6th A.D 343, the yearly commemoration of his death became routine, with the giving and exchanging of gifts becoming a part of the celebration, to mimic the benevolence he had been noted for. However, the celebration of what we now know as Christmas, which is really the Mass of Christ or Christ-Mass was officially put in place by pope Julius, not because it was the birthday of Christ, but most likely because the winter solstice, and the birthday of the pagan sun god Mithra took place around the same time. 

Thus it seems, that in an apparently slick move, to incorporate the most festive elements of the pagan celebration with Christianity, pope Julius instituted the Christ-Mass as an official church holiday. After the death and burial of Mr. Nicholas, legend has it that a unique, liquid relic was miraculously formed at his grave site, and it was called “Manna” because of its healing properties, and because of this, his popularity, and people’s devotion to him grew exponentially with the passage of time.

Then when the pilgrims fathers relocated to the new world, Christmas celebration, together with the veneration of Santa Claws was observed more and more, and with the passage of time, merchants saw the festive season as a time to capitalize on the business opportunities which came to be associated with it, hence the reason why most of the big stores see it as a time to get in the black, while the masses of people usually end up in the red. 

It’s interesting to note that the majority of Santa’s attire is red, whilst only a very small portion is black, and thus, when viewed from a financial perspective, the ratio of red to black in his attire, represents the merchants and the people, with the former being made very rich, whilst the latter often become very poor, or otherwise heavily debt-laden. As a matter of fact, “Rudolph”, the red nosed reindeer originally had nothing to do with Santa Claws, until Robert L. May, a copywriter at the large Montgomery Ward department store, came up with the story, with the sole purpose of bring more holiday traffic into the store. 

Montgomery Ward sold almost 2.5 million copies of the story in 1939. And when it was reissued in 1946, over three and half million copies were sold. Several years later, a musician friend of Robert May wrote a short song based on Rudolph’s story. It immediately went viral, and sold over two million copies. Since that time, the story has been translated into twenty five different languages and has been made into a television movie, narrated by Burl Ives, which has charmed audiences every year since.

We can make a bet that in our lifetime we will never see any person looking anything like the caricature portrayed in movies and comic strips as the devil, all grotesque, with two horns and shoveling dead souls with a spade. Instead, he comes to humanity in the form of an angel of light, dressed in garbs of logical reasoning, with philosophical modes of thought and suggestions and traditions that are directly contrary to the word of God. And it should quite alarm every thinking Christian, that the overwhelming majority of this earth’s inhabitants have already bought into his sophistries in one way or another. 

This is because his representations are most often through human agencies, in order to disguise and lure the unwary into his snares. Let’s read:

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. 

Let’s just suppose that the birthday of Christ was December 25th. If that were indeed the case, then we should expect that Jesus would be the reason for the season, Right? Now let’s ask any child who they look forward to seeing most during the Christ- Mass season, whether it is Jesus or Santa, and the human agent is sure to get two thumbs up. Added to this, if as tradition says, it is the actual birthday of Christ, shouldn’t we then be lavishing our gifts on Him, who is supposed to be the center of attraction at this time of year?

 How is it that the majority of our spending is on our friends, family, and ourselves, whilst we sometimes bring a leftover of a pittance as an offering into the courts of God at this time? Thus it is that the human agent is made to usurp the place of Christ, and that’s the reason why the agents of our adversary always come dressed in human garb. Let’s read:

Isaiah 14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this The man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?

The words in this last verse which asks the cryptic question, “Is this the man” means that instead of some hideous looking creature from never-land, the adversary comes to us in the form of human beings, who themselves often do not know that they are being motivated by remote control. This constitutes the reason why when we take a good look at Santa claws, we will see the human agent also aspiring to be like God, a hint that is quietly portrayed in one of the most popular songs that is often played on the airwaves during the Christmas season. The following are just a few of the lyrics, with the passages of scripture which clearly show that some of Santa’s stated attributes really belong to God alone. Let’s read:

“He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake”….

Psalm 139:1 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 

“He knows if you’ve been bad or good”… (and then the instruction is given in the song), “So be good for goodness sake”.

That Sounds Like God To Me. Let’s read:

 Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 

                          Sounds like God to me!
The visual imagery of Santa Claws is one of excess, excess in eating and drinking, and in order to avoid the snare of overindulgence in spending, the word of God issues a few cautions to us, especially since we are now living at such a volatile time in earth’s history, when the financial markets, together with millions of households across the land are struggling for survival. As a matter of fact, since we are at the turning point of another seven year cycle, we are to  be doubly cautious in our spending habits, just in case there is a repeat of 2007-2008 around the corner.

The following are passages of scripture that are to be read and understood objectively, without ever placing our own spin on what we think should be included or interpreted into them. Especially should we be careful with the use of credit cards which, as we are all aware of, allows us to spend money that we do not really have, and thereby wiping out our future earnings even before we get paid. 

Thus, by employing these plastic chains, very many people have been brought into financial bondage, and even though some of us may not be aware of this fact, the devil earnestly seeks to bring as many Christians as he possibly can into financial slavery, in order to set the stage for mandatory negotiations in the very near future according to the scriptures. Let’s read:

Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom”…
8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

All those who refuse to submit to the teachings of God’s word concerning the avoiding of unnecessary debt, will find out too late that it is one of the most formidable agencies that will be used in forcing the mark of the beast upon unwilling hands and minds. Therefore, to forestall such an undesirable situation in any member or in any family, The Lord issues to us the following warning, with the corresponding, corrective measures to be taken, to put our houses in order, before that dreadful time arrives. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp. 607] As the controversy extends into new fields, and the minds of the people are called to God's down-trodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and in this work, papists and Protestants unite. 

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. [ And then the corresponding counsel is given, so that all who will escape this financial snare, may do so while probation still lingers. Let’s read:]

[The Adventist Home pp. 392] All must practice economy. No worker should manage his affairs in a way to incur debt. The practice of drawing money from the treasury before it is earned, is a snare. When one voluntarily becomes involved in debt, he is entangling himself in one of Satan's nets which he sets for souls. Many are poor because they spend their money as soon as they receive it. Abstracting and using money for any purpose, before it is earned, is a snare. The world has a right to expect strict integrity in those who profess to be Bible Christians. By one man's indifference in regard to paying his just dues, all our people are in danger of being regarded as unreliable.

[The Adventist Home pp. 374] Many, very many, have not so educated themselves that they can keep their expenditures within the limit of their income. They do not learn to adapt themselves to circumstances, and they borrow and borrow again and again and become overwhelmed in debt, and consequently they become discouraged and disheartened. Be determined never to incur another debt. Deny yourself a thousand things rather than run in debt. Avoid it as you would the smallpox.

In closing, it’s necessary for us to remember that God will not leave us to perish by the determined efforts of a relentless foe, however, it’s important for us to follow the guidelines given in the Bible for the confessing and relinquishing of sin, and if we humble ourselves, asking God to forgive and heal us, He will respond by helping us in ways we may not have been aware of, and by showing us ways and means by which we can live debt free. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 7:13 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 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there forever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

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

                                                                      God bless!

Why Some Christians Go Broke. Sabbath Afternoon 12/05/2015

       Why Some Christians Go Broke!

                     Sabbath Afternoon

                            12/05/2015

It is not the ideal will of God that His people should be mired in debt, or barely be able to survive from a pecuniary perspective, especially in places where an abundance of means and ample opportunities for a noble existence is available to all. Even though we have read of the faithfulness of the widow with her two mites, yet we are to understand that right here in America, and in other developed countries, her poverty is to be the exception, rather than the rule, whenever, and wherever we have the physical and mental ability to do better.

But we should never conclude that it is God’s ideal will for His people to be broke or impoverished, for the Bible clearly states that if God’s people were to adopt godly principles, instructions, and laws, then success will attend us on our way. Furthermore, if as Christians we are continually broke, then the cause of truth will ultimately suffer, because of a lack of funds, and because of the impressions that will be left on the minds of those who do not fear God, who are likely to draw conclusions based on what they see.

For instance, if a person is an atheist, or secularist, and has been exposed to some limited knowledge of Christianity, of which he would like to do more research on before deciding in favor of the religion of the Bible, then his curiosity and intelligence will lead him to do some investigation as to the pros and cons of the Christian faith. But if in his search he were to discover that the vast majority of God’s people are wallowing in serious debt, and losing their homes and churches at an alarming rate, he will be led to question what is the root cause, and this impression of Christ’s religion may produce a bad taste in his mouth.

And worst yet, if he were to read the following news headlines, he may have serious doubts about whether Christianity makes sense or not, if he is predisposed to reason along strictly logical lines of thought. Let’s read:

Personal Finance | Fri Mar 9, 2012 10:25am EST Related: U.S., MONEY, HOUSING MARKET

Banks foreclosing on churches in record numbers

LOS ANGELES | BY TIM REID

Banks are foreclosing on America's churches in record numbers as lenders increasingly lose patience with religious facilities that have defaulted on their mortgages, according to new data. The surge in church foreclosures represents a new wave of distressed property seizures triggered by the 2008 financial crash, analysts say, with many banks no longer willing to grant struggling religious organizations forbearance. Churches are among the final institutions to get foreclosed upon because banks have not wanted to look like they are being heavy handed with the churches," said Scott Rolfs, managing director of Religious and Education finance at the investment bank Ziegler.

However, this Bible study will not directly address the age old issue of tithes and offerings, for we have already covered those issues on several occasions previously, hence the reason why our focus will be on the practical application, or neglect of Biblical principles as it pertains to financial stability. In the word of God there are formats given to us for both temporal and spiritual success, and since The Lord is more practical than most Christians realize, it will do us well to study the principles and laws that are laid down in His word, so that we may chart straight paths for our feet. This does not mean that every single Christian will be lifted out of poverty, but as a general rule of thumb, great success will attend our way if we were to diligently adopt and implement the instructions given in the scriptures. Let’s read:

Joshua 1:7 “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.

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.

The following issues therefore are some of the most common reasons why some Christians end up being broke, and as we study from root cause to effect we hope that God will grant to us a humble spirit that we may be instructed from His word in these and all

 other matters. First of all, we begin with the most common claim:

[1] We do not earn enough to be financially viable.

 This has often been put forward as the reason why we cannot make ends meet, but in many cases, it’s not how much or little we earn, but rather how we manage the funds that are entrusted to us by God.

 Now it’s important for us to understand that some of the truths presented will be pretty blunt, for as stated previously on this forum, God is much more practical than many Christians realize, and if we are to harbor reasonable expectations of Him, then we will need to follow the guidelines He has given us faithfully, without being motivated by emotionalism or spontaneous decision-making, that often causes us to go into the red. In addition to this, if we were to humble ourselves under His mighty hand, and drink our medicine, God will be more than pleased to guide and deliver according to His good will. But if we refuse and rebel against His plain utterances, we can be assured that satan will absolutely smoke us out, until we are reduced to less than nothing. Let’s read:

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Thus, in accordance with the immutable laws of sowing and reaping, the real issue we must address as pertains to earned income, is that of living within our means, and having the necessary discipline and self-denial to keep our outflows below our inflows.

One of the first instructions given in the Garden of Eden is to “Replenish”, which simply means to put back or restore that which has been expended or used. Therefore if we do not have a plan in place to replenish what we desire to spend, then we should avoid spending in the first place, wherever this is possible.

It is worthy of note that even though we live in the richest country on earth, America, for many years has had to borrow money from poorer countries to pay its debt, and what takes place in high places has all too often produced a trickle-down effect, for just as the rain water falls high up in the mountains and flows all the way down to the valleys, just so we are seeing the adverse effects of the majority of people not being able to meet their obligations without borrowing, just like the federal government cannot meet its financial obligations without going deeper and deeper into debt.

Thus, to cure this monetary madness, we will need to buckle up and take drastic measures to harness our spending, lest satan bind many of us with these financial chains, and thereby compass our ruin. This will call for great sacrifice and self-discipline, but we should here remember that the words disciple and discipline come from the same root, and therefore we should be willing and ready to implement the laws, instructions, and principles that are given in God’s word. Let’s read:

Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

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.

It is worthy of note that some of the world’s richest men are often found to be the most frugal in their spending habits, while the much poorer classes are usually the ones who are quick to spend on things that are not really needed, and who are motivated in many cases by impulse. Let us take for instance two well-known public figures who are billionaires, Donald Trump, and Warren Buffet. For all of his boastful claims, it is surprising that Donald trump has actually spent far less than most of the other candidates, whereas one would expect him to be flaunting his cash in every which way. In other words, he is running a very fiscally conservative campaign, and only spends when he absolutely has to. This contrasts with some other candidates who have already run out of cash, and were forced out of the horse race because of mismanagement, or a lack of funds. Let’s read:

The Washington Post: Donald Trump’s extremely fiscally conservative campaign. By Chris Cillizza December 2 at 7:44 AM.

Donald Trump has spent less than 1 percent as much money as Jeb Bush on ads so far in the 2016 election, according to calculations made by NBC News, even as the real estate mogul continues to lap the former Florida governor in both key early state and national polls. Jeb and his aligned Right to Rise super PAC have dropped $28.9 million on TV ads to Trump's $217,000 on a flight of radio ads.  That spending chasm is almost the inverse of where each man stands in the race -- with Trump alone at the top and Jeb mired in the murky middle.

But Warren Buffet is even more of a case study than Trump, for although the Donald has a plethora of flamboyant homes across America, Buffet bought his house in 1958 for a mere $31,500.00, and has been content to live at the same residence ever since. It may very well be that those who do not know Christ are silently implementing Biblical principles, while those of us who profess to know the Bible are accepting the short end of the stick. Let’s read:

But Warren Buffet is even more of a case study than Trump, for although the Donald has a plethora of flamboyant homes across America, Buffet bought his house in 1958 for a mere $31,500.00, and has been content to live at the same residence ever since. It may very well be that those who do not know Christ are silently implementing Biblical principles, while those of us who profess to know the Bible are accepting the short end of the stick. Let’s read:

                     Article by The Motley Fool.

Warren Buffett's house is the object of endless fascination when people learn about him -- and for good reason. Buffett is one of the richest people in the world; therefore, it's always surprising to learn that he's lived in the same house for most of his adult life. Warren Buffett bought his house in Omaha, Nebraska in 1958 for $31,500. The house is stucco, and has five bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Warren Buffett has called his house "the third best investment" he ever made.

Now, there is a difference between being frugal and being cheap. A mature Christian will, by the grace of God be able to practice fiscal discipline, while at the same time being benevolent, for the two principles are actually inseparably intertwined in the scripture. In other words, those who have to give when there is a call for finances, are usually the ones who have exercised frugality from principle, gathering up the fragments that nothing be lost, whilst at the same time having their hands wide open to help those who are in need, or responding liberally whenever the cause of God requires funds.

This fine balance of frugality and benevolence can be found in Christ who set the example by precept and active exercise of both virtues. In addition to this, the servant of The Lord has written a note-worthy commentary on both principles, one which deserves our consideration. Let’s read:

John 6:11 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.

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

[Counsels on Stewardship pp. 251]  Those whose hands are open to respond to the calls for means to sustain the cause of God and to relieve the suffering and the needy, are not the ones who are found loose and lax and dilatory in their business management. They are always careful to keep their outgoes within their income. They are economical from principle; they feel it their duty to save, that they may have something to give.

[2] The issue of unnecessary upgrades.

The issue of unnecessary upgrades is one of the points we need to observe closely, for it is often the case that we decide to purchase new and upgraded furniture, or a new car with hefty payments, when in fact, the one we have presently works just fine. The Joneses who live next door should not be the motivating factor for any of our new purchases and upgrades, neither should we permit fad or fashion to ultimately drive us to the showroom or the mall. The desire to have the latest model car, or even the newest i-phone, has driven many Christians deep in the red, for the wages of sin is “Debt”.

Very careful consideration of actual needs versus wants should be done before making purchases of any kind, and it will help a great deal to budget first before going window shopping, where certain items that glitter the eye have the potential to suddenly become urgent needs. Especially are we to guard against the abuse of agent plastic, which history has shown is far less painful to use than cold, hard cash. Credit cards do allow us to make our purchases with someone else’s money, and after the euphoria of the moment is gone, then we are left saddled with high interest payments that often cause us to stint the cause of God. In addition to this, our net worth is based not on what we owe, but rather on what we own, and thus it is important that Christians not fall into the snare of unnecessary upgrades. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

[3] Loose spending in times of plenty.

There is a general tendency for many Christians to spend loosely in times of plenty, when we are far less likely to give careful thought to our outflows. When there is an abundance of cash, most people do not think of the rainy days, which according to the Bible will certainly come, and many more are persuaded by satanic agencies dressed in garments of light, to spend wantonly on what may seem to be good, at the time.

The common excuse, that we can afford such an item is often touted as the reason why we should indulge in unwarranted purchases, but the real question is will we be left empty-handed after “Affording” it. The fact that folks do tend to be more lavish and careless in times of plenty is one of the important points mentioned in the Bible, with the hope that the knowledge of this phenomena will ultimately cause a change for the better in our thinking and decision making processes. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 5:11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

This last point is borne out in the experience of the prodigal son who, because of an over-abundance of cash, spent it all on riotous living.

Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

On receiving such a large sum of cash so suddenly, the prodigal son, who did not have the necessary experience to handle so much funds responsibly, immediately embarked upon a wild shopping spree, making his first stop at the local Porsche dealership, where he picked out the priciest automobile that money could buy at the time. And he did not desire to settle for the base model, but added a few extras such as 22 inch rims, low profile tires, and a robust sound system with 18 inch speakers. From there he went to your local mall, where he bought the latest types of bling in abundance, ranging from the new I-phone six to a large 80 inch flat screen TV, so he could view his favorite games and movies in larger than life proportions.

And to make things worse, whilst at the shopping mall he ran into his financial advisor “Santa Claws” who then encouraged him to spend more than he should, with the promise that after the yuletide season, the monetary issues will just vanish into thin air. Then after spending those huge sums without thinking soberly, he decided to pass the evening at south beach, where apparently there are girls, girls everywhere. And so it was, that in one day, he blew the better portion of his father’s hard-earned cash, drinking at earth’s polluted cisterns on things that do not satisfy.

But as the word of God declares, whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap, and thus, swiftly and surely a day of reckoning was coming, in which he would be now forced to ponder in silence, his rash decisions with vain regrets and remorse. And then, to avert total collapse he has no choice but to feed swine, the only job he could get at the time, since his youthful days and energies were not spent in pursuing an education, but was rather expended on the instant gratification of the moment, when he was spending loosely in times of plenty. Let’s read:

Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, for in each and every one of our Christian experiences, there are times when we have made grave mistakes in both the financial and spiritual realms, and God who is faithful, and takes no delight in the poverty of His people sends us words of reproof, caution, and encouragement, with the hope that we will grab the bull by the horns and make the necessary reforms so that we may extricate ourselves from financial slavery.

Then it is, that the results of His gracious overtures will depend on what we do with the instructions and cautions given, for if as stated before, we were to humbly drink our medicine, God will respond in the affirmative by helping us out of the hole we may have dug for ourselves, for as the scriptures declare, He takes no delight in the many adversities we may have brought upon ourselves, but rather seeks earnestly to reinstate us to where we ought to have been in the first place to be.

Therefore, in harmony with His good purposes for His people, and for Christians everywhere, we end with a passage of scripture which ought to trigger sober reflection, and thus be the catalyst for permanent change in our behaviors and decision-making, that we may avoid answering in our own personal lives, that cryptic question “Why some Christians go broke”. 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”….

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

                          God bless!

Prophecy And The Jewish Calendar. Sabbath Afternoon. 11/28/2015

To begin this study, we must state unequivocally that there is no existing calendar known to mortal man which gives us an accurate account of the age of the earth, and even though we can compute with relative accuracy, the events and prophecies given in the Bible, we are to acknowledge that because God has never given us a beginning date for the creation of the world, and because there are some discrepancies in the methods of counting the years from Eden to Abraham, all figures during that time are approximate, and not to be held as set in stone. 

However, there must be a profound disconnect between the prophecies of the scriptures pointing earth’s inhabitants to last day events, and the time frame given in the current Jewish calendar, which has been adopted for the most part by many Bible scholars in tabulating the approximate age of the earth, for if we use that method of reckoning, then we still have 224 years to go before we approach the much anticipated six thousand mark. 

This is the reason why yesterday on the Jewish calendar, black Friday was marked thus:
    Fri, 27 November 2015 = 15th of Kislev, 5776
                      ט״ו בְּכִסְלֵו תשע״ו
The Jewish official calendar is the Hebrew one. And according to Jewish counting, on September 24, of 2014, we entered the Year 5775, that is - the supposed 5775th year since the world was created on Saturday night, October 6, 3761 BCE. 

Now, it is true that we also believe in the Biblical narrative of creation, however, the method used of calculating the age of the earth, refuses to square evenly with apocalyptic prophecies of the Bible, and therefore Joel sounds an urgent alarm in the holy mountain of God, that our salvation is now much nearer than when we first believed. And his solemn trumpet call has also been echoed by several of the other Bible writers, warning the inhabitants of the earth that Christ’s 2nd coming will take the world by storm, and most people, including Christians will be entirely unaware that the proverbial “harvest is past and the summer is ended”. Let’s read:

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand. 
12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. 
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, 
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. 

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

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.

One of the main reasons why we cannot depend on the Jewish calendar for knowing where we are now in the stream of time, is because, after the rejection of Christ by the Jewish nation, they ceased to be God’s peculiar people, and the privileges they had previously enjoyed, of having the sacred oracles and prophecies given them by God, were permanently curtailed after the time prophecy given to Daniel concerning them had elapsed. 

Thus, because of the forfeited, privileged position, of the Hebrew people, we are now forced to revisit the Hebrew tabulations as it pertains to the actual age of the earth, which is off the mark, for as stated before, there is currently a profound disconnect between the prophecies that are being fulfilled as we speak, and the time frame given in the Jewish calendar, when pitted against a few definitive statements written in the scriptures. 

In addition to this, whatever the Jewish calendar, or any other for that matter might read, the Bible tells us that God’s work upon the earth will be cut short, and thus it is imperative for us to investigate the truth pertaining to where we now are in earth’s history. Let’s read:

Romans 9:28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Therefore, we owe it to ourselves to observe what the scriptures say concerning the age of the earth, and also the given time frames of the fulfillment of certain prominent prophecies. According to the prophet Daniel, the birth of Christ into this world was to take place around the time of three to five B.C., and after His crucifixion, three and a half years would elapse to close off their probation, with the destruction of Jerusalem taking place in A.D 70. Then the year 1844 would bring to and end, the longest time prophecy given in the book of Daniel, bringing us to the beginning of Christ’s investigative judgment, which started in the fall of that same year. Let’s read:

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Since seventy weeks, of seven days is equal to 490, then the next passage of scripture must of necessity have a much deeper meaning than what appears on the surface, for Christ was apparently pointing the minds of His Jewish hearers to something ominous in the not too distant future, something cataclysmic of which most of them were unaware. 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? 
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto  a certain king, which would take account of his
 servants.

Full Definition of “THEREFORE” 
a :  for that reason :  consequently
b :  because of that
c :  on that ground

Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the  wall, even in troublous times. 
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Daniel 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and  three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be
 cleansed. 
27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision”…..

The command to rebuild Jerusalem was confirmed  by king Artaxerxes in the year 457 B.C, which would place the beginning of the investigative judgment, or “The cleansing of the sanctuary” in 1844 A.D., or 2300 years later, but if we were to follow the Jewish method of computation, the year 1844 A.D would be 5605, and if we were to use Christ’s birth as the dividing line between the B.C and the A.D time period, there would actually be a deficit of about 239 years, when compared against the six plus one format given in the Old Testament, as it pertains to both days and years.

 Hence the reason why there is a serious disparity between the end time prophecies given in the Bible  which are currently being fulfilled as we speak, and the Jewish calendar, which puts us many years into the future, when the earth, for all intents and purposes, will most likely be already decimated by the coming of Christ. And whilst we are on the issue of six plus one, it will be well for us to observe that God is a God of order, and whatsoever He has set in motion will come to fruition in the fullness of time. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 
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. 
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.

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.

Exodus 21:2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

Exodus 23:10 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: 
11 But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy olive yard.

Leviticus 25:2 “When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a Sabbath unto the Lord. 
3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; 
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.

The math is simple folks, for if God is now giving the Hebrews instruction pertaining to His ideals for the planting and rejuvenation of the earth, and since He has stipulated that the land must rest one year for every six years of planting, then it means that sixty years of cultivation will require ten years of rest, six hundred years of planting will require one hundred years of rest, and six thousand years of tilling the soil must result in one thousand years of Sabbatical rest. 

Furthermore, in delineating His future purposes to the Hebrew people, and in explaining the principle of root cause and effect, whenever violation of the Sabbatical rest occurs over extended periods, God specifically stated that His people would be brought into captivity by a heathen nation, and the reasons are given so that there may be no misgiving on our part as to the seriousness of the six plus one format introduced in Eden, and reiterated and stipulated at Mt. Sinai. Let’s read:

Leviticus 26:31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.
32 And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. 
33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. 
34 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. 
35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.

And then, as sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the western sky, the word of The Lord will come down like a train, to be fulfilled when the measure of the guilt of the Hebrew people is full, for after years of violating the six plus one format, the Sabbatical rest for the land comes due. And so said so done, for a heathen nation comes upon the scene, destroys the city of Jerusalem, and carries very many of the Hebrews captive, leaving the land desolate, so that it may enjoy the Sabbaths of rest that are required. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 36: 18 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.
19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: 
21 To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.

Question: How is it then that the earth will be made entirely desolate for exactly one thousand years in Revelation chapter 20? And how is it that this fact is also confirmed by the prophet Jeremiah, who lived hundreds of years before John was even born? Is it a coincidence, or could it be a repetition of the six plus one format, which God gave to us in Eden, and again confirmed to the Hebrews. And if so, could it be that the earth is approaching six thousand years, hence the reason why all of the last day events we are given in the scriptures seem to be converging in quick succession, as if a final climax is about to take place? 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 I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

In speaking of this very time, the prophet Jeremiah was shown in vision the condition of the earth as it will be during the one thousand years referred to in Revelation, and we should not be surprised to find that it replicates on a much broader, scale the very same desolation experienced by the Hebrews, when their land became due for its Sabbatical rest. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. 
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. 
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. 
26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger. 
27 For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. 
28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it. 
29 The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.

My fellow Christians, this just cannot be a mere coincidence, and since God is not a man that He should lie, then the next question we will need to ask ourselves is “Where are we now in the stream of time, and how close are we to the ushering in of the one 1000 years of Sabbatical rest? It is worthy of note that our current system of education based on the theory of evolution must be seriously flawed, according to the “Six plus one” format given in the scriptures, and very soon that great lie that has been perpetuated by Darwin and his followers will be unmasked for what it really is.

And then it will be that many of earth’s inhabitants will see too late, that the world is not nearly as old as science would have us believe. This then means that current scientific methods of carbon dating, on which we rely securely, must now be brought into question, if as science says, many of the fossils and archaeological discoveries date back to millions and millions of years. The fact is that through the theory of evolution, a very great lie is being peddled to the multitudes, and according to the Bible it is not God who is behind it. Let’s read:

 Numbers 23:19 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?

Very many statements have been made by the servant of The Lord in regards to the age of the earth, and while the Hebrew calendar puts the six thousand year mark two hundred plus years into the future, God has through His prophet stated  otherwise, and thus it behooves every person to study carefully, that which has been revealed, so that the final conflict, which will usher in God’s everlasting kingdom of righteousness, will not find any of us sleeping, as is so often cautioned in the scriptures. Here are just a few samples of what is being spoken about. Let’s read:

[The Desire Of Ages pp. 413] For six thousand years, faith has builded upon Christ. For six thousand years the floods and tempests of satanic wrath have beaten upon the Rock of our salvation; but it stands unmoved.

[The Great Controversy pp. 659>660]  For six thousand years, Satan's work of rebellion has “made the earth to tremble.” He has “made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof.” And “he opened not the house of his prisoners.” For six thousand years his prison-house has received God's people, and he would have held them captive forever, but Christ has broken his bonds, and set the prisoners free.

 Even the wicked are now placed beyond the power of Satan; and alone with his evil angels he remains to realize the effect of the curse which sin has brought. For a thousand years, Satan will wander to and fro in the desolate earth, to behold the results of his rebellion against the law of God. During this time his sufferings are intense.
 Since his fall, his life of unceasing activity has banished reflection; but he is now deprived of his power, and left to contemplate the part which he has acted since first he rebelled against the government of Heaven, and to look forward with trembling and terror to the dreadful future, when he must suffer for all the evil that he has done, and be punished for the sins that he has caused to be committed. 

In closing, we present three prophecies given in the  scriptures pertaining to the last days of earth’s history, and then, if we are honest in heart, we will need to ask ourselves the following two questions: [1] Are those stated prophecies now being fulfilled? 
[2] Are we very close to the six thousand mark, or according to the Jewish calendar, are we two hundred plus years away? Let’s read:

Daniel 12:1 “And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time” 
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.       

     
Matthew 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass”…..
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and  pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

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.

If it took us just twenty years to reach the “Days of  Lot”, as far as gay marriage is concerned, what on earth makes us think that the coming of Jesus will  be 224 years away? We end with a solemn passage of scripture which cautions us not to sleep during these days of upheavals and unrest, days of terror and uncertainty, but rather to watch and be sober, for the coming of The Son of Man is actually very near, even at the doors. Let’s read:

Mark 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

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

Giving According To The Blessing. Sabbath Afternoon. 11/21/2015.

The Bible teaches us that the cycle of life, both before and after sin, centers around the great principle of giving, and in order for us not to be continually catering for ourselves, God has put in place a plan of benevolence, whereby the delicate virtue of giving can find continuous exercise. Most Christians are aware that 10% of our increase is the Lord’s, whilst in addition to that, freewill offerings are required for the ministry of the gospel and for the upkeep of the sanctuary. And while it is true that some people return a faithful tithe, the fact remains that a far lesser number are adequately  involved in the return of freewill offerings, which does more harm than good to those who stint in their giving. The beauty about the sacred system of benevolence thus instituted by God is that it allows the rich as well as the poor to return appropriate amounts, according to the blessing of The lord, so that the free exercise of benevolence is not unduly restricted to those with an abundance of means. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.

In ancient times provisions were made by God so that the offerings were to be staggered, meaning that those who could afford little, could give an amount that would be commensurate with their blessings or earnings, whilst those with much more means could also return amounts that would reflect the large blessings which they enjoyed. Hence the reason why several different types of animals were to be used in the services of the sanctuary, ranging in value from the expensive bullock to turtledoves. And then if a person could not even afford the two turtledoves, provisions were made so that they
could bring an offering of flour and oil. But one thing was made certain, that no one in the Lord’s congregation was exempt for any reason, other than that they just did not have the physical ability or capacity to possess any means. Let’s read:

Leviticus 5:1 And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity. 
2 Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty. 
3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.

4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.
5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:
6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.
7 And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.
11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.

This is the reason why the parents of Jesus, even though they were both dirt poor, and could not afford to stay in the Marriot hotel back then, when they came to dedicate Christ, brought two young pigeons, the very best that they could do at their financial level, as is afforded in the old Testament. Joseph and Mary were god-fearing people, and they understood that financial constraints was no excuse for them being relieved of their privilege and duty to bring an offering unto God. Poverty or hard times should never to be put forward as valid reasons why the Lord’s treasury should suffer in any way, for it all has to do with our order of priorities, and the way we view our relationship with God, and the gratitude we express for the untold blessings of life. Let’s read:

Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

 And this is also the reason why the woman who could only return her last two mites, was not let off the hook by Christ, even though as He Himself had stated, she cast in all her living. As a matter of fact, if anyone had a so-called valid excuse not to return an offering, it would be this woman, for she was much poorer than the parents of Christ, and after she had returned all that she had, she would go home, shut her doors, and hope for the best of God’s providences to provide her next meal. And Christ, knowing her dire situation could certainly have pulled her aside quietly and told her that she should instead by a slice of Pizza, since she was now absolved of her duty because of dire poverty, if at all this would be acceptable in God’s sight. But as the record shows, Jesus accepted the two mites as being the very best that she could do, and for this she is commended by The Master. Let’s read:

Luke 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Many of us as Christians make a critical mistake by giving according to the “Billing” instead of giving according to the “Blessing”. This is a serious error which needs to be corrected, for whenever this is practiced, the sure results that are stipulated in the Bible certainly come to pass without fail. Our bills that we have accumulated should never be the basis for what we return to the treasury, for this will almost certainly result in God’s cause being left for last. And maybe we were not previously aware of this fact, but there is something called a “Generic blessing”, where there is no special interposition of God on our behalf to deliver or to provide. Generic blessings are those that every person enjoys such as sunshine, rain, and the air that we breathe. 

But if a Christian family finds themselves in a very difficult financial situation, where their house is about to go into foreclosure, and eviction looms large on the horizon, they will certainly need more than sunshine and rain, for even though these are immense generic blessings, the banks we know of do not currently accept them as payment, and thus we will need a tailor-made blessing to meet the emergency. This is the kind of promise made to the faithful, who like the woman with her very last two mites, do not swerve or shrink from duty, for even when the outlook is grim and foreboding, the great kindness of God to us through Jesus ought to call forth our deepest gratitude and highest praise, and thus, whenever we give according to the blessing, as opposed to the billing, the sure mercies of God are fulfilled in their due season. Let’s read:

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, 
and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. 
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

 But too often it is the case where as Christians we become weary of well-doing, and our faith in The Living God is encompassed by doubts and fears, and before we know it, the bills and the cares of this life are given first preference in our priorities, whilst the blessings of God are hardly acknowledged, or even mentioned. For instance, let’s say we have a typical family of four, and the parents make a consistent income of about $6,000 per month, it is often quite possible that after the bills are paid, that hardly any remnants would be left over for the cause of God, because of the way in which their priorities may be stacked. There are also real and imaginary needs and wants, and it’s very important for us to know the difference, for often, we go window shopping, and some items which we had never catered for, or even thought about previously have the potential to suddenly become urgent needs, which we cannot live without. 

There is a saying that goes like this “What eye don’t see, heart don’t grieve” meaning that if we never saw it in the first place, the item in question would not have suddenly become a dire necessuity. The following specimen is a list of bills which are often deemed absolutely necessary each month, and the two parents who make about six grand per month are now going to divide up the spoils, not according to the “Blessing”, but according to the “Billing”. Let’s read:

Take home salary: $6,000.00                  
Mortgage: $2400.00                      Balance: $3,600.00
Car note to Ford: $350.00            Balance: $3,250.00
Auto Insurance: $250.00               Balance: $3,000.00  
Health Insurance: $375.00            Balance: $2,625.00
College Tuition: $1200.00             Balance: $1,425.00
Groceries: $600.00                        Balance: $825.00
Cable, cell phone etc: $300.00     Balance: $525.00
Credit cards: $175.00                     Balance: $350.00
Electric Bill: $160.00                       Balance: $190.00
But we still are not finished as yet, for there are also some services that are deemed necessary, which  for some reason we cannot live without, and for this reason we are often tempted to go deeper into the funds that should have been set aside for God. Let’s read:

Manicure: $25.00                            Balance: $165.00
Pedicure: $25.00                             Balance: $140.00
Other “Cures”, including Hair salon visits, the vet, dog food, and make-up: $125.00.  Balance: $15.00. And so we come to church with a few mites jingling in our pockets, to give The Great God of heaven the mere leftovers. And although He is hidden from our view, our names are then placed in the ledger of “Left-over blessings”, which according to the Bible, are subject to the varied and frequent assaults of satan, hence the reason why many Christians often  find it impossible to make ends meet. Let’s read:

 Haggai 1:5 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.

A very important commentary on the returning of tithes and offerings has been written by the pen of inspiration, and it’s worthy of our consideration as we weigh both the issues, and the consequences of giving according to the blessing, as opposed to us giving according to the billing. Let’s read: 

[Acts of The Apostles pp. 75]  All our blessings come from His bountiful hand. In turn, He would have men and women show their gratitude by returning Him a portion in tithes and offerings—in thank offerings, in freewill offerings, in trespass offerings. Should means flow into the treasury in accordance with this divinely appointed plan,—a tenth of all the increase, and liberal offerings,—there would be an abundance for the advancement of the Lord's work.

The way in which we can avoid this common pitfall which currently affects very many Christians, is by giving a stipulated percentage of our income and our increase, as opposed to a fixed, flat figure that remains static, whether or not we are blessed with much or little. The method of percentage giving is to be given due consideration, so that if God blesses us with much, there will be a corresponding return of liberal offerings, and if we bring in little, then the returns will reflect that fact. This method will serve the purpose of bringing us into line with the God of equity, who stipulated the principle, that the rich, and the poor alike should be required to return the
right amounts in their legitimate sphere. Let’s read:

Exodus 30:15 The rich shall not give more, and the  poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.

2nd Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Let us therefore consider what Christ has done for us on the cross, in pouring out His soul unto death, that we might have eternal life, and have it more abundantly, and let us also contemplate on what He continues to do for us in the heavenly sanctuary, for it is the will of God that our giving should always be commensurate with the manifold blessings Christ bestows on us each day. We therefore end with two  passages of scripture which encourage us to always exercise that living faith in God, which prioritizes the interests of His kingdom first, and our various needs, and those of our fellowmen after, because a well-known song says, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way”. Let’s read:

Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek, for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have
need of all these things.  
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.  God bless!

The Conversion Of Brother Nicodemus. Sabbath Afternoon. 11/14/2015

The case study of the conversion of Nicodemus presents a golden opportunity for us to look into our own souls, to see whether or not the truths of God’s word, and our practice are compatible. It is very possible for us to be baptized for many years, taking part in various services of the church, and even holding several offices of responsibility, while the essence of thorough, or ongoing conversion is lacking. This is one of the main characteristics of the contemporary Christian church, hence the reason why the title for our study today includes the words “Brother Nicodemus”, for according to the Bible, we have a lot in common with him, and many of us as Christians are just as in need of conversion, as he then was.

Our study begins with a planned visit to see Jesus by Nicodemus, who after much thought, and careful consideration of the potential consequences of such an action, decided that it was in his best interest for him to visit Christ at night, when no one else would be watching, and where an uninterrupted discourse could take place. To have a personal interview with Christ in broad daylight, would no doubt cause him to be looked upon with scorn and ridicule by his fellow colleagues, who were also professors at the leading universities and theological seminaries of the day. This first aspect of his decision have a one on one interview with Christ, immediately brings to light both the goodness and the kindness of Jesus, for it does not matter what time anyone comes to Him, whether by day or by night, once we keep on coming. 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: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 

Without going into any long preamble about issues and topics that are not of salvific value, Christ goes straight to the point of most concern, which is his conversion, for as an honored theologian, and a well-respected member of the elite Sanhedrin, Jesus was concerned that his profession to know the God of the scriptures was primarily intellectual, and while scriptural knowledge should never be discounted, yet if there is no commensurate change of heart along with a knowledge of the scriptures, then the whole purpose of studying them could be defeated, for the Bible is not to taken merely as any other textbook, to be studied with critical analysis, that does not touch the heart. And even though Nicodemus was a sincere seeker for truth, yet it was necessary that Christ clearly state that the essence of theological knowledge should be conversion. And  as Jesus continues to reiterate His first statement, Nicodemus finds himself in a pretty uncomfortable situation as he correctly assesses what is implied by Christ’s words to him. Let’s read:

John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 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.

This last statement of Christ, “Ye must be born again” must have startled Nicodemus out of his comfort zone, for by implication, it meant that his relationship with God was nowhere near what it should be. The problem with this situation is that Christ was not here speaking to Beyonce or Snoop Lion, nor even to someone who was pagan, or who was an abandoned sinner, loaded with known sins of adultery, thefts, or infractions. Here was a pretty decent person who attended church regularly, was in good and regular standing, both in the church and in the up-scale community where he lived. 

He was not even an ordinary church member, as your average John Doe, but was actually a professor of theology, at one of the most prestigious, world renowned seminaries of the day, and he also had a perfect credit score. This is the professor who had corrected your theology papers, who is versed in several languages such as Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Aramaic, and his exegesis of the Old Testament is unparalleled. And so it was, that when Jesus stated unequivocally that he needed to be baptized, we can understand why Nicodemus was not only taken aback at what that statement implied, but as any of us in a similar situation might also do, he became offended. If for some reason, Christ were to make that same soul-searching statement to any of the prominent, contemporary theologians of the day, or to a well-respected Evangelical such as Joel Osteen or T.D Jakes, many Christians will be up in arms as to His assessment, and many more might be quick to throw out Christ’s evaluation as being ill-advised at best. A very interesting commentary is made by the servant of The Lord pertaining to this very first interview, which, as his later history shows, marked the beginning of Nicodemus’ conversion. Let’s read:
 
[Desire Of Ages pp. 168>171] He greatly desired an interview with Jesus, but shrank from seeking Him openly. It would be too humiliating for a ruler of the Jews to acknowledge himself in sympathy with a teacher as yet so little known. And should his visit come to the knowledge of the Sanhedrin, it would draw upon him their scorn and denunciation. He resolved upon a secret interview, excusing this on the ground that if he were to go openly, others might follow his example. Learning by special inquiry the Savior’s place of retirement in the Mount of Olives, he waited until the city was hushed in slumber, and then sought Him.

In the presence of Christ, Nicodemus felt a strange timidity, which he endeavored to conceal under an air of composure and dignity. “Rabbi,” he said, “we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.” By speaking of Christ’s rare gifts as a teacher, and also of His wonderful power to perform miracles, he hoped to pave the way for his interview. His words were designed to express and to invite confidence; but they really expressed unbelief. He did not acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah, but only a teacher sent from God.
Instead of recognizing this salutation, Jesus bent His eyes upon the speaker, as if reading his very soul. In His infinite wisdom He saw before Him a seeker after truth. He knew the object of this visit, and with a desire to deepen the conviction already resting upon His listener’s mind, He came directly to the point, saying solemnly, yet kindly, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
He was a strict Pharisee, and prided himself on his good works. He was widely esteemed for his benevolence and his liberality in sustaining the temple service, and he felt secure of the favor of God. He was startled at the thought of a kingdom too pure for him to see in his present state.
But by virtue of his birth as an Israelite he regarded himself as sure of a place in the kingdom of God. He felt that he needed no change. Hence his surprise at the Saviour’s words. He was irritated by their close application to himself. The pride of the Pharisee was struggling against the honest desire of the seeker after truth. He wondered that Christ should speak to him as He did, not respecting his position as ruler in Israel. Surprised out of his self-possession, he answered Christ in words full of irony, “How can a man be born when he is old?” Like many others when cutting truth is brought home to the conscience, he revealed the fact that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. There is in him nothing that responds to spiritual things; for spiritual things are spiritually discerned.

This same problem of having an exalted estimation of our own righteousness has affected very many Christians throughout the ages, and as we study the rise and fall of many Bible characters, with their consequent conversion, we ourselves are prodded to do some deep soul-searching as to what our current relationship with The Lord really is. It is easy to feel saved, if there are a lot of good works being engaged in, and if there is an in-depth knowledge of the scriptures, and while all of these are good, and to be encouraged, yet the searching eye of God bids us not to compare ourselves with others, but rather to see ourselves in the mirror of Christ’s perfect righteousness. Peter also thought of himself as being converted, just like Nicodemus, but it was only when his true colors were manifested, that he realized how in need of God’s grace he really was. Let’s read:

[Christ Object Lessons pp. 152>155]  In his early discipleship Peter thought himself strong. Like the Pharisee, in his own estimation he was “not as other men are.” When Christ on the eve of His betrayal forewarned His disciples, “All ye shall be offended because of Me this night,” Peter confidently declared, “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.” Mark 14:27, 29. The evil that led to Peter’s fall and that shut out the Pharisee from communion with God is proving the ruin of thousands today. There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable. Peter’s fall was not instantaneous, but gradual. Self-confidence led him to the belief that he was saved, and step after step was taken in the downward path, until he could deny his Master. 

It is worthy of note in both instances of Peter and Nicodemus, that conversion involves a germination process by which the word of God takes root in the heart, is acknowledged and acted upon, and then The Holy Spirit brings the seed sown to maturity. After the death of Christ on Calvary, when evidence after evidence was presented to his mind by the Holy Spirit, the same Nicodemus came boldly to the front, and cast in his lot with the people of God, and from that time forward, the needed change of heart that Christ previously spoke of took place, and like Peter, his conversion was complete and enduring.  Like the two Bible characters mentioned, some of us as Christians may have been attending church regularly for many years, we may have held various church offices, and we might be highly esteemed amongst the brethren, as well as the secular world. But the question is, could it be that we have much more in common with brother Nicodemus than we know of, and is it possible, that if Christ were to make that same assessment of our relationship with God, that most of us would likely become startled out of our wits. As we ponder on the statement to Nicodemus, and its implications, it becomes more and more apparent that it is not so far-fetched after all, for the statement then made to him, is the very same statement Christ is currently making to the Laodicean church, for we also are apparently in dire need of thorough conversion. Let’s read:

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 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.

As we read and ponder these solemn words, there will be a very strong temptation for us to think of someone who we might know of who is in this exact situation. But God does not desire us to think of anyone else who we know of, but rather to think of ourselves, for the messages thus given are directly addressed to you and me, who are currently in good and regular standing. One of the ways in which we can know for certain if we are currently standing in Nicodemus’ former shoes, is by the ease and speed with which we resolve difficulties arising within the body of believers. The tendency to be united in one heart, mind, and purpose, putting the interests of God’s kingdom first, and self out of the picture, is one of the manifestations of conversion, for it is unity in Christ that forms the foremost identifying mark of the brotherhood of believers. But for us to indulge in back-biting, bickering, fault-finding, or mutual animosities, where we sit on one side of the church to avoid those whom we do not agree with, is a sign that we must be born again. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 3:3 “For whereas there is among you
 envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said”… 3 “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
11 “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.

We may have been saved ten or twenty years ago but the real question for us to answer is whether we have been saved today, because the process of conversion and sanctification is an ongoing work with an upward trajectory, and therefore it is of the utmost importance that we heed the evaluation of Christ given to the Laodiceans, so that like Peter and brother Nicodemus, we can be born again, if need be. We therefore end with a golden treasure of counsel given to us, with the hope that a surrender of ourselves to God each day will ultimately result in the thorough conversion we may stand in need of. Let’s read:

[Testimonies vol. 5 pp. 168>169] No matter how high his profession, he whose heart is not imbued with love for God and for his fellow men is not a disciple of Christ. Though he should possess great faith, and even have power to work miracles, yet without love his faith would be worthless. He might display great liberality, but should he from some other motive than genuine love bestow all his goods to feed the poor, the act would not commend him to the favor of God. In his zeal he might even meet a martyr's death, yet if destitute of the gold of love he would be regarded by God as a deluded enthusiast or an ambitious hypocrite.
Charity “doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” The heart in which love rules will not be filled with passion or revenge, by injuries which pride and self-love would deem unbearable. Love is unsuspecting, ever placing the most favorable construction upon the motives and acts of others. Love will never needlessly expose the faults of others. It does not listen eagerly to unfavorable reports, but rather seeks to bring to mind some good qualities of the one defamed.
Love “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” He whose heart is imbued with love is filled with sorrow at the errors and weaknesses of others; but when truth triumphs, when the cloud that darkened the fair fame of another is removed, or when sins are confessed and wrongs corrected, he rejoices.
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Love not only bears with others’ faults, but cheerfully submits to whatever suffering or inconvenience such forbearance makes necessary. This love “never faileth.” It can never lose its value; it is the attribute of heaven. As a precious treasure it will be carried by its possessor through the portals of the city of God.

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

A Time To Speak. Sabbath Afternoon. 11/07/2015

One of the very first aspects of our daily lives to be affected for the better, after the process of godly conversion has begun, is the aspect of speech, the way in which we speak in all of our conversations, and interactions with friends and foes, in-laws and outlaws. Whatever comes out of our mouths bears testimony either for or against the truth, and thus it is imperative that the most careful consideration, caution, and wisdom be used in speaking, lest we cause the name of Christ to be reproached by an un-Christ-like mode of conduct. What we say, when we say it, and how it is said is deemed of such great importance, and such great eternal consequences that Christ, and several of the Bible writers spoke, and wrote extensively on the matter, with the hope that as Christians we will not only be well-informed as to our manner of speaking, but that we will also put into practice, that which we have seen, heard, and handled of both the spoken word and the Living Word. Let’s read: 

Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 
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.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. 7 “A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.
This last passage in Ecclesiastes tells us with certainty that there is a right time to speak, and there is time to refrain from speaking, and as the disciples of Christ we should know the difference. In all of our discourses with one another, it is the will of God that we deal only in the currency of heaven, meaning that whether we be in friendly territory, or in volatile, tense, or argumentative situations, we should, by the grace and power of God, maintain our cool. Some of us as Christians are in dire need of growth, and development in this area, for many of us are tripped up much too easily, and are prone to blow a fuse whenever we are short-circuited by the enemy of all righteousness, or by those human agents who may despitefully use or persecute us.

The currency of satan on the other hand, consists of slander, gossip, snitching, arguments, all bickering, accusation, anger, rumors and fairy tales. It is one of satan’s main methods to stir up bad feelings, by digging up old grievances and sins from the past, thereby tempting the ones who were thus involved to respond to the said charges, whether they are real or phantom. The political front runners, in both the Democratic, and Republican parties, as well as those who sit at the “Kids” table in the debates are finding this out the hard way, for it is the work of Satan through human agencies, which goads both reporters and investigators to search for any wrong doings in the past, and then to insinuate ulterior motives for the course of action thus pursued. And because there is nothing new under the sun, all we need to do is to look back at the Biblical, historical precedents so that we may understand the issues  currently taking place with Ben Carson, the one who is causing some former, spiritual leaders to literally turn in their graves. Let’s read:

Daniel 6:1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel
was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

What Seventh-day Adventists like Ben Carson believe. By Daniel Burke, CNN Religion Editor Updated 11:52 AM ET, Wed November 4, 2015

Carson, who earnestly committed himself to the church when he was 14, is perhaps the faith's most famous member. Trump later said that he wasn't trying to "send a dog whistle" to religious conservatives who might look askance at Adventist doctrine. "All I said was that I don't know about it," he told ABC. Fair enough. A lot of Americans don't know much about the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Protestant Christian denomination turned 150 years old in 2013, which makes it a relative newcomer on the religious scene. 
Unique Adventist beliefs:
1.    Adventists worship on Saturday, the "seventh day"
2.    Adventists do not believe in an eternal hell
3.    They do believe that Jesus' second coming is imminent.
4.    Adventists believe in the visions and prophecies of Ellen White.
And then, sitting squarely inside of op-ed is the mention of his earlier years:
“Carson's violent past: Bricks, bats, hammers”

This method of digging up old dirt goes directly contrary to the teaching of scripture, for whenever we have given our lives to God, our past sins are not even to be mentioned. Furthermore, the concerns that are being raised about a person’s violent past, when we all know that such an individual has been touched by the grace of God, does not figure into God’s reckoning of that person’s ability to lead, because again, as the Bible clearly says, there is nothing new under the sun. Moses had a much more violent past than any of the currently leading candidates, yet he too was touched by the grace of God, and was enabled to lead the Hebrews out of Egyptian slavery, to the borders of the Promised Land. As a matter of fact, in spite of his violent past, Moses is described in the scriptures as being the meekest man to live on the face of the earth, that being under Christ. Let’s read:

Exodus 2:11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

12 And he looked this way and that way, and when  he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 
13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 
14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. 
15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

James 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Another ploy of the devil is to start an unfounded rumor, then give it to the news media to spin, and churn in the rumor mill, so that the end product is loaded with many additional details that cannot be corroborated. Thus a minor traffic incident such as a fender-bender, can end up being a major accident with several people severely injured and taken to the hospital in very critical condition, and with the poor driver fleeing the scene on foot, into a densely wooded area. The disposition to take the gossip of the day to discuss among other people, or to accuse a person of any wrong-doing behind their backs, instead of directly approaching the one who may be at fault, is one of the ways in which satan manifests himself through human agencies, and the tendency to regurgitate the sins and errors of the past, whilst dwelling upon the juicy tidbits of bad news, is a display of satanic character. These are just some of the reasons why the wise man says there is a time to speak, and a time to refrain from speaking. 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. 
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Zecharia 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 
2 And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and
stood before the angel. 
4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

[Desire Of Ages pp. 353>354]  “Behold,” said Jesus, “I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Christ Himself did not suppress one word of truth, but He spoke it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact, and thoughtful, kind attention in His intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. Every soul was precious in His eyes. While He always bore Himself with divine dignity, He bowed with tenderest regard to every member of the family of God. In all men He saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save. The servants of Christ are not to act out the dictates of the natural heart. They need to have close communion with God, lest, under provocation, self rise up, and they pour forth a torrent of words that are unbefitting, that are not as dew or the still showers that refresh the withering plants. This is what Satan wants them to do; for these are his methods. It is the dragon that is wroth; it is the spirit of Satan that is revealed in anger and accusing. But God’s servants are to be representatives of Him. He desires them to deal only in the currency of heaven, the truth that bears His own image and superscription. The power by which they are to overcome evil is the power of Christ. The glory of Christ is their strength. They are to fix their eyes upon His loveliness. Then they can present the gospel with divine tact and gentleness. And the spirit that is kept gentle under provocation will speak more effectively in favor of the truth than will any argument, however forcible.

Those who are brought in controversy with the enemies of truth have to meet, not only men, but Satan and his agents. Let them remember the Savior’s words, “Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:3. Let them rest in the love of God, and the spirit will be kept calm, even under personal abuse. The Lord will clothe them with a divine panoply. His Holy Spirit will influence the mind and heart, so that their voices shall not catch the notes of the baying of the wolves.

Thus it is, that whenever we are faced with the spirit of accusation, or whenever we find ourselves in a volatile situation, in order for us to understand when is the time to speak, and the time to refrain from speaking, we will need to study the example of Christ, as He was being investigated by those who only sought to malign His perfect character. When brought before Pilate, Christ graciously responded to His direct questioner, for it was then “The time to speak” since Pilate had not crossed the boundary of God’s grace as yet. However, to the Jewish leaders who were bickering and making wild accusations, all the while speaking vehemently over each other, as is often the case on certain news channels, Christ answered not a word, but rather kept completely silent, as the rumors and empty charges flew back and forth. Let’s read:

Matthew 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 
12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 
13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 
14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

However, when Jesus was brought before Herod, and questioned with many words, it was then the time to “Refrain from speaking”, for this was the same Herod who had previously beheaded John the Baptist, and since his probation was already closed, Christ had not a single word for him. Furthermore, Herod’s quest for a miracle to validate the rumors he had been hearing of Christ would have served absolutely no purpose, for miracles do stand alone, if they fail of converting the sinful heart, and thus, no type of response in such a situation would ever be warranted of any Christian. As a matter of fact, this is the reason why we have concluded on several occasions, that whenever a mass-shooter demands of us whether we are Christian or not, the scriptural thing to do is to remain silent, just as Christ did, for this will in no way be a denial of our faith in Him. Let’s read:

Luke 23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 
9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 
10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 
11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

[Desire Of Ages pp. 729]  A large company of the priests and elders had accompanied Christ to Herod. And when the Saviour was brought in, these dignitaries, all speaking excitedly, urged their accusations against Him. Herod questioned Christ in many words, but throughout the Saviour maintained a profound silence. At the command of the king, the decrepit and maimed were then called in, and Christ was ordered to prove His claims by working a miracle. Men say that Thou canst heal the sick, said Herod. I am anxious to see that Thy widespread fame has not been belied. Jesus did not respond, and Herod still continued to urge: If Thou canst work miracles for others, work them now for Thine own good, and it will serve Thee a good purpose. Again he commanded, Show us a sign that Thou hast the power with which rumor hath accredited Thee. But Christ was as one who heard and saw not. The Son of God had taken upon Himself man’s nature. He must do as man must do in like circumstances.

There are two valuable lessons we can deduce from the experiences of Christ as it pertains to the time to speak, and the time to refrain from speaking. These vital lessons must now be practiced by each and every one of us, on an ongoing basis, if we are to correctly represent Christ in our lives in the midst of a perverse generation, among whom we are to shine as lights in the world.

[1] However volatile the situation may be, we need to keep our cool, and determine by the grace of God, not to utter any “Corrupt” communication for any reason.

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.

[2] This leads us to our next important lesson, for if for any reason we find ourselves in an atmosphere of heated argument, we should never speak over the other person, by raising our voices over theirs in a shouting match, for this will only pour gasoline on an already inflamed situation. As a matter of fact, according to the Bible, if we do not have something good to say about others, it would better be left un-said, and even though it is most difficult to bridle our mouths in instances like these, yet it is a sacred Christian duty and must at all times be observed. For us to speak whilst another person is speaking, for any reason, is not a manifestation of Christian courtesy, for this is how arguments usually become very heated and out of control. Let’s read:

James 2:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is
the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

We therefore end with two passages of scripture which clearly delineate the guiding principles to be adopted, in all of our conversations and interactions with others, and wherever we have fallen short, or may be struggling with these issues, let us always remember, that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Let’s read:

1st Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.

Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

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

                                                                        God bless!

Handling The Problem Of "Hypocrites" Sabbath Afternoon 10/31/2015

There has always been an issue of the presence of hypocrites in the church, and this fact has often been cited as the reason why many people have stopped attending, because of the fact that some members live contrary to what the word of God teaches on several points, whilst they actively advocate to the contrary. First of all we must understand that the meaning of the word hypocrite is one   who says something and does another. Even Christ encountered this problem in His earthly ministry, and He cautioned His disciples not to follow the lead of those who practiced hypocrisy. Let’s read:

Matthew 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

There are some facts about hypocrites that are essential for us to understand before we proceed, for after a probing investigation, we discover some startling issues pertaining to those who are often labeled as being hypocrites.

[1] Some of the best saints started off as hypocrites. Let’s read:
John 18:18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.

Mark 14:66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: 
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of
Nazareth. 
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. 
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 
71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. 
72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

[Desire of Ages pp. 712]  Peter tried to show no interest in the trial of his Master, but his heart was wrung with sorrow as he heard the cruel taunts, and saw the abuse He was suffering. More than this, he was surprised and angry that Jesus should humiliate Himself and His followers by submitting to such treatment. 
In order to conceal his true feelings, he endeavored to join with the persecutors of Jesus in their untimely jests. But his appearance was unnatural. He was acting a lie, and while seeking to talk unconcernedly he could not restrain expressions of indignation at the abuse heaped upon his Master.

Galatians 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 

[2] Any church, or any religion which claims to be without hypocrites is a false church. In every religion and in every church there are to be found those who teach or advocate for one thing, and  then do the exact opposite. We clearly remember one of the most particular instances back in the islands, where a certain Rastaman was known to be quite vocal against the eating of all meats, or “deaders” as they are referred to. This was all well and good, until one night he was discovered at a local Kentucky fried chicken restaurant, chomping down on some finger-licking good chicken. When confronted about what he was doing there, he just shook his dreads with a wry smile on his face. The same was true of Bin Laden, who had often referred to America as the great satan, because of the immorality and lewd dressing habits indulged across this country. The same Bin Laden was found with a number of X-rated movies in his possession, whilst he severely chastised the west for similar sins. And the list goes on and on, from Bible characters to secular folk, not one segment of society, nor of any religious establishment is immune from the problem of hypocrisy. And the reason is given in the scriptures. 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: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

[3] Just because a person may have fallen into dreadful sin, does it mean that they are hypocrites. Let’s read:

Proverbs 24:6 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

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?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

[4]Hypocrites can be changed by the grace of God.
Isaiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. 
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

[Conflict and Courage pp. 234]  Isaiah had denounced the sin of others; but now he sees himself exposed to the same condemnation he had pronounced upon them. He had been satisfied with a cold, lifeless ceremony in his worship of God. He had not known this until the vision was given him of the Lord. How little now appeared his wisdom and talents as he looked upon the sacredness and majesty of the sanctuary. How unworthy he was! how unfitted for sacred service! ...
The vision given to Isaiah represents the condition of God’s people in the last days. They are privileged to see by faith the work that is going forward in the heavenly sanctuary. “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” As they look by faith into the holy of holies, and see the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, they perceive that they are a people of unclean lips,—a people whose lips have often spoken vanity, and whose talents have not been sanctified and employed to the glory of God.

[5] The presence of hypocrites is no reason to stop attending church. This last fact about hypocrites is where our study for this afternoon takes up, for it is one of the most common reasons given by dis-affected members for not being willing to attend church anymore. Let’s read:

1st samuel 1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah"..... 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.

At this time in ancient Israel’s history, the services of the sanctuary were riddled with the most heinous sins and hypocrisies, and according to the Bible, most of the Hebrews had become quite discouraged from attending church services, for they abhorred the offering of the Lord, as executed by the sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas. Their blatant sacrilegious practices were apparently used as valid reasons for staying away from the services of the temple, to the point where some members were now actually afraid to go to church. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 2:16  And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.

But there was one family which did not allow the hypocrisy of Eli and his sons to interfere with their faithfulness and their relationship with God, and even though the sacrifices and offerings they took to the temple were most likely being used inappropriately, they still continued to attend on a yearly basis. This aspect of dealing with the problem of hypocrites is worthy of emulation in our day where many sincere Christians have become discouraged and disillusioned by the worldly-mindedness and the double standards practiced and countenanced in many churches. Let’s read:

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. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress. 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".....

If everyone in the church were to stop attending because of a preponderance of hypocrites, then no faithful members will remain to make a difference. And when there are no faithful members in attendance, the administrative services of the sanctuary, and the necessary outreach to the community are left in disrepair, and before we know it, satan has gained a stunning victory, by both severely restricting the usefulness of the church, whilst at the same time, robbing the congregation of spiritual nutrition, which then leads to more and more spiritual declension. 

As Christians, there are times in our experiences when we may not feel enthusiastic about attending church services, because of the abundance of hypocrites, or because of coldness on the part of fellow believers. However, we should always remember that it was Christ who died to save us, and as such, our faithfulness to Him should not be based on existential negatives, but we should rather consider that our sacred commitment is first and foremost, to God, on an individual basis. 
Let us therefore seek to emulate the faithfulness of Elkanah and his entire household in our own experiences, for God honors those who honor Him, and the faithfulness of a few, might very well be the agencies by which The Holy Spirit might institute positive change for the better, and the greater good of all. 

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to stay the course with Christ, even during days of conflict and apostasy, for God is able to turn the tide of evil in favor of righteousness, according to His good pleasure. Let's read:
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. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

                                                                      God bless!

The Right To Bear Arms. Sabbath Afternoon. 10/24/2015

The second amendment of the U.S constitution provides all citizens the freedom and the right to bear arms, so that the issue of personal protection of life, family, and property can be handled and dealt with on an individual basis, with persons taking responsibility for their own safety. In harmony with this right, many millions of citizens have purchased guns, ammunition, and all sorts of protective gear, so that great swaths of our nation are now armed to the tooth. The guns thus purchased, and kept in many homes, offices, or those worn on our persons now run the entire gamut, from the popular Smith and Wesson hand revolvers, to A.k 47s, assault rifles which include long-range shot guns, and the very notorious Bushmaster, used to kill several persons a few years ago. Thus it is, that the issue of personal protection, has become much more than a right in, some cases, but instead has ballooned into a sort ofobsession, with gun ownership in the United States now being estimated at approximately 300 million. Let’s read:

Constitution of United States of America 1789 (rev. 1992) 2nd Amendment:

A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

In addition to these rights and freedoms, we are now facing the very real prospect of nationwide open-carry laws, which provide registered gun owners to publicly display their weapons, and there are now hundreds of thousands of public places and venues which allow for such displays. As a matter of fact, there are only five remaining states across the country, which do not have open-carry laws, thus, if there is any national unrest for any reason, we mustunderstand that millions of guns, ammunition and other types of weaponry are readily available, for they are already in the hands of very many people across the land. Thus, we are becoming more and more prone to arm ourselves, because of very real and existential threats to our personal security, and it may not be long before we find ourselves living in the wild, wild, West. Let’s read:

The Washington Examiner: A bill that would allow the open-carry of a firearm in public got its first hearing before a justice subcommittee in the Florida House of Representatives Tuesday. HB 163 would relax existing Florida law by allowing anyone who is licensed to carry a concealed weapon to be able to do so openly, meaning guns could soon be visible on the hips of Floridians. Owners of private property in Florida, such as owners of malls and movies theaters, could still ban guns regardless of a license. Also under Florida law, there is no carrying guns in schools, government meetings, airports or bars. According to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Florida is one of only five states plus the District of Columbia that prohibits the open carrying of guns altogether. Fifteen states currently allow open carry with some sort of license or permit, while 31 states allow open carry without any sort license or permit. The bill cleared the House sub-committee by an 8-4 vote Tuesday morning. It now heads to four more committees before heading for a full floor vote.

Now, while it is true that this forum does not vouch for or against our individual freedoms and rights, yet it has now become necessary for us to study the sensitive issue of personal protection from a Biblical perspective, for whatsoever we decide to do, and whatsoever choices we may make, should bear the stamp of God’s approval, since, as Christians we are under the direct jurisdiction of our invisible Leader, even The Lord Jesus Christ, who is King of kings, and Lord of Lords. Thus, in harmony with the protection project, which is now before our faces, our case study will be taken from the scriptures, where a devout Christian by the name of Job is living, not in the plains of Judea or Palestine, but in the Lone Star state of Texas, where open-carry laws are now the order of the day. Let’s read:

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

 Job is a rancher, living on the border with Mexico, and he has several herds of long-horn cattle which he often sells to the local supermarkets and other grocery chains, so that he now has a thriving, and profitable business, with several sheep-handlers, and other servants in his employ, and he is a well-respected member of the community in which his ranch is located. And since the laws of his state do provide for open-carry laws, he can now legally buy several Bushmasters, and other long-range rifles to protect himself and his family from bandits, and other ranchers who may wish to do him harm. And so, he has a decision to make, since, on the border with Mexico where he lives, he has often witnessed many immigrants and drug dealers crossing over his property during the day, and also at nights, and so, the issue of personal protection for his family and property is a very real concern that he has do deal with. Question: Should Job, the Christian purchase a plethora of guns and ammunition as provided for by the state of Texas, or should He simply trust in the invisible protection which God bestows on all of His true servants? This question must now be answered not only by Job, but by every believing child of God, because the issues are right at our very doorsteps.

So let’s begin by establishing some undeniable facts from the scriptures, which deal directly with these very sensitive issues. The very first point for us to address is whether or not the protection from God, trumps the personal protection we may engage in personally, and if so, what should be our response to this fact. The scriptures tell us that there was a day when the various heads of other inhabited worlds in the universe had a conference meeting of sorts with God, and satan, now being the de-facto prince of this world was also in attendance, for because of his temptations to our first parents, he had cunningly usurped this right from Adam. And as he took his proverbial “seat” at the table, The Lord was moved to ask him what he was doing there, to which he replied that he came from wandering up and down in the earth. But under further probing by The Lord, satan was forced to acknowledge one of the most sublime truths ever revealed to mortals,

 that The God of heaven takes the protection of His people, their families and their property very seriously, to the point where several invisible agents are sent to watch over us night and day, 24/7. Let’s read:

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Now, if Job had gone ahead anyway, and had armed himself to the tooth, because of the many and very real existential threats to his person and property, then the question for us to answer is whether such actions would have been sufficient or adequate to ward off robbers and bandits, if they had decided to make a brazen raid on Job’s family ranch. To answer this question we again turn to the scriptures, for as Christians we are cautioned to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. As the dogs were let loose, and the guardian angels pulled back their protecting forces from around Job, we observe that mayhem and disaster quickly follow, and all of Job’s well-coordinated efforts to protect his life and property are quickly unraveled, for the scriptures explicitly state that if The Lord does not keep the house, the watchman wakes in vain. Let’s read:

Job 1:12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.

Psalm 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to

eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Psalm 33:16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.

Thus it is, that a very real question, and a very valid concern looms large in the minds of millions of God fearing Christians such as Job, whether we should take up arms, or whether we should trust to the providences of God. Some are at a loss to grasp the reasons why God, who had protected Job in Texas for so long, now permitted such devastation and trouble to come upon him as in a moment. But it was necessary for the curtain to be lifted, so that all of humanity could get a glimpse of the real issues behind our national and personal security, and thus be led to trust in God rather in the many measures we may take to secure ourselves and our families. Although most of us, as citizens of the land of the free and the home of the brave, might not be aware of it, the mercies of God are the only reason why we are not consumed, for as was demonstrated in the foregoing passages, there are many billions of invisible foes which can, and do wreak havoc when permitted, and there is nothing we can do, and no security measures we can take to  to stop them from causing destruction in a moment,  except we trust in the Living God. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp. 589>590] Satan delights in war; for it excites the worst passions of the soul, and then sweeps into eternity its victims steeped in vice and blood. It is his object to incite the nations to war against one another; for he can thus divert the minds of the people from the work of preparation to stand in the day of God.

Satan works through the elements also to garner his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature, and he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows. When he was suffered to afflict Job, how quickly flocks and herds, servants, houses, children, were swept away, one trouble succeeding another as in a moment. It is God that shields his creatures, and hedges them in from the power of the destroyer. Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard. Even now he is at work. In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hail-storms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power.

One of the passages of scripture which many people often stumble over, or misinterpret, have to do with the advice once given by Christ, when the time for

 His crucifixion drew near. In this instance, The Lord advised that the disciples should purchase swords, which were the equivalent of bearing arms back then, in anticipation of the coming conflict with the powers of darkness. The disciples readily responded by saying that they already had two, which means that they too misunderstood the words of Christ as being an endorsement of the right of Christians to bear arms. Let’s read:

Luke 22:36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

But this one, singular instance should never be allowed to override other passages which deal with the very same issue of protection, for if we were to take the admonition given on this one occasion, and were to act upon it by purchasing guns and all sorts of ammunition, we will place ourselves in a position where we will have taken the issue of our personal protection out of the hands of God, and therefore, whatever the result might be in any given situation, we would be responsible if we used deadly force in protecting ourselves. Furthermore, if we were to read further upon the very same instance with the disciples, we will observe that Christ was in no way endorsing the bearing, or use of arms, for He then stated emphatically, the laws of cause and effect that will apply to those who decide to go that route.  Let’s read:

Matthew 26:51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. 52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

It is worthy of note that two important statements are here made by Christ, the first one which says implicitly that they which take the sword will perish by the sword, and then He makes reference to the fact that holy angels are quite capable of protecting Him, if need be. Thus it is, in this particular response Jesus refuted the view that as Christians we should be armed in self-defense, and also confirmed that the angel of The Lord is able to protect us from all foes, whether seen and unseen. But never should we conclude that because of our right to carry guns in self-defense, that we should now arm ourselves to the tooth, in the anticipation of some probable confrontation with robbers, mass-murderers, or even terrorists. Our lives are in God's hands, and as such we should trust His promises to protect those who serve Him according to His will, once we walk in tandem with His laws and institutions. Let's read:

Psalm 91:1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

If a Christian were to adopt the policy of toting guns and ammunition, the possibility of using such items spontaneously goes up exponentially, if a person is confronted with a dangerous situation on the spur of the moment, for it gives us the immediate option to use deadly force, as was the case when Christ and His disciples were rudely apprehended by the mob who came to arrest Jesus at night. The excuse of mental instability that is often put forward when mass-murders shoot many people or many students at random, seems to suggest that their actions were the result of some psychological condition, which does not affect otherwise sober people. But Peter, like most of us, was “Mentally stable”, until he was faced with a sudden danger, and when this threat occurred, the natural instinct of self-preservationkicked in, and he then resorted to the use of deadly force, albeit against God's will. What we need to understand is that it’s not in every situation that it may be God’s will for us to be delivered, for after speaking brilliantly about the heroes of faith, the apostle Paul says “And there were others”. In other words, whilst Daniel and the three Hebrews were delivered by the direct inter-position of God, many martyrs such as Stephen, and many other Christians died at the hands of Rome, however, in the sight of God, both groups were considered conquerors, and will go on to receive the crown of life which God will give to all the faithful. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:23 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.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

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:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment.

It is therefore necessary that The scriptural truths pertaining to preparations, and efforts to defend ourselves, now be made known, for according to the Bible, things are about to get a whole lot worse, and thus, we will have to decide whether to arm ourselves, or to leave our lives in God’s hands; to adopt our rights granted in the 2nd amendment, or to let God decide whether we live or die. The following scriptures clearly outline both God’s will and the nature of the conflict, so that every true Christian may be acquainted with the right course of action to pursue, when faced with dangerous and life-threatening situations, and while it is true that we still retain our rights to choose, the time is now, that we consider whether the laws and provisions of men will take precedence over the teachings of God’s word in these matters. 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.

Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

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

7 And 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.

9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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.

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.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

In closing, there is a detailed account given in the scriptures about how Christians should deal with potential enemies or foes, and it will do us well to carefully consider the effect that following the unique methods of God, has on the minds of the ungodly. God’s ways are not man’s ways, for He deals only in the currency of love, and even though at times He is moved to execute judgments against those who may harm His people, yet His actions are always conducted for the very best good of saints and sinners alike. With this in mind, let us then be humble and willing enough to both implement and learn of Christ’s methods in fending off evils, for the word “Christian” means little Christ. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 6:8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.

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.

20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?

22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them:

wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.

23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

Romans 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.

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.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

May God bless the study and practice of His Word. 

Wet Foot, Dry Foot, And The Law Of Faith. Sabbath Afternoon 10/17/2015

In the year 1995, an informal agreement was made between the United States and Cuba, by which Cuban migrants who made it to U.S soil, would not be repatriated, but would have been eligible for an immigrant visa, permanent residence, and finally U.S citizenship. Those who were thus successful in braving the turbulent and often dangerous waters between the two countries, then reaching shore, were informally referred to as “Dry foot” migrants, meaning that they had reached dry land. On the other hand, those who were not successful, but were otherwise lost, or were intercepted at sea by the U.S coast guard, were then repatriated, and were designated as “Wet foot” migrants, because they were apprehended or lost at sea. But to make that trip, with no certainty of ever reaching land required a big leap of faith, for history shows that very many people who attempted to make the perilous journey have been lost at sea, with some estimates putting the figures at several thousands, if not more. 

Therefore, the mere fact that individuals in Cuba
would take the risk of not arriving in the U.S, thus putting their lives on the line for what they believe would be a better life, teaches us a lot about how the Christian’s faith works, for there are very many similarities, and important lessons to be deduced from these daring experiences. What is worthy of note, is that in deciding to make that dangerous journey over turbulent seas, Cuban immigrants are never guaranteed that the going will be all smooth, and so it is with this understanding that they zip up their boots and take the leap of faith, believing that the “Promised land” will be theirs at the end of the voyage. People who embark upon such a perilous journey in faith are usually successful in life when they arrive in the U.S, for by making that voyage on rafts or small wooden boats, they do display a very rugged mentality that is quite capable of braving, and surmounting the most daunting challenges.

Our personal decisions to obey and believe Christ, should not primarily be based on guarantees that everything will go smoothly without a hitch, for like the Florida straits, it is a perilous journey that the Christian embarks upon, with temptations, and all kinds of hurdles and difficulties to surmount, in addition to which there are disappointments which at times severely test our faith, and our sanity. But faith that is not tested cannot be trusted, for just as the tensile strength of a bridge must be rigorously tested before being available for daily traffic, just so must the Christian be tested in various ways, so that a rugged enduring faith may be developed as a part of the fabric of our characters. This will ultimately require that we trust God in places where we may not be able to trace His movements, or where our human logic, methods, ways and means may fail of affording any solutions.

This is one of the important lessons The Lord taught the Hebrews as they were being prepared to cross the river Jordan, at a time when the waters were at flood stage, overflowing its banks into nearby fields. The instruction from God was that the priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant should stand ready on the banks of the Jordan, and as soon as their feet got wet by touching the waters, the river would then split in two, and the whole congregation would go through on dry land. Thus the “Wet foot, dry foot” method of exercising faith in God was firmly established, meaning that we might never see or experience miraculous results if we are not willing to get our feet “Wet”. In other words, if we wait for the river Jordan to part before we make our move, then the possibilities of dry land on the other side may never be realized. Let’s read:

Joshua 3:10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites”…
11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. 
12 Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 
13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; 
15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 
16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. 
17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

Earlier on in their wanderings, the children of Israel had failed signally, just as God was about to work a mighty deliverance for them, in giving them the land of Canaan. At this time God had repeatedly told them that He was going to bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey, meaning that it was well watered, the soil was rich, and the earth there brought forth fruit and food in abundance. But not being satisfied with what God had declared on several occasions, they suggested to Moses that spies be sent out to search the land, in order to double-check God’s promises, to see if they were indeed true, and since that decision to send spies was a decision based on fear and doubt, it did not fail to produce the evil results that a doubting spirit always produces. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs And Prophet pp. 387] Eleven days after leaving Mount Horeb the Hebrew host encamped at Kadesh, in the wilderness of Paran, which was not far from the borders of the Promised Land. Here it was proposed by the people that spies be sent up to survey the country. The matter was presented before the Lord by Moses, and permission was granted, with the direction that one of the rulers of each tribe should be selected for this purpose. The men were chosen as had been directed, and Moses bade them go and see the country, what it was, its situation and natural advantages; and the people that dwelt therein, whether they were strong or weak, few or many; also to observe the nature of the soil and its productiveness and to bring of the fruit of the land.

But there is something radically wrong with this request as was made by the people, for if God had already stated that the land is flowing with milk and honey, then to send out spies to verify these facts would show unbelief in the words and promises of God, and as the sacred record shows, this mindset is a “Wet foot” mindset, meaning that all those who deliberately indulge a doubting spirit, without true repentance, are never the ones to cross over onto dry land. And in harmony with this sobering truth, we read of the sad results of harboring doubt, in the face of God’s promises and assurances. Let’s read: 
Numbers 13:16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 
18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 
19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 
20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, 
whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes.
27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 
28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 
30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 
31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 
32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

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.

[Christian Service pp. 110] Often the Christian life is beset with dangers, and duty seems hard to perform. The imagination pictures impending ruin before, and bondage and death behind. Yet the voice of God speaks clearly, Go forward. Let us obey the command, even though our sight cannot penetrate the darkness. The obstacles that hinder our progress will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit. Those who defer obedience till every uncertainty disappears, and there remains no risk of failure or defeat, will never obey. Faith looks beyond the difficulties, and lays hold of the unseen, even Omnipotence, therefore it cannot be baffled. Faith is the clasping of the hand of Christ in every emergency.

It is often the case that when we presume to “Spy” out the land, that our worst fears are confirmed, therefore it’s always better to adopt the “Dry foot” mentality leaving the future fulfillment of God’s promises in His hands. Decisions that are based on fear usually cost us dearly, because they are made preemptively, without trusting God. While decisions that are made through faith are usually capable of overcoming unexpected and unforeseen challenges, for faith places its strength and confidence in the omnipotent power of God, whilst fear dwells almost solely on that which is logical and that which can be seen. Hence the reason why the apostle James says that fear has torment, for it is continuously riddled with ever-changing negative possibilities that may, or may not occur, and in most cases fear serves as a deterrent that is centered in phantom dangers, that are usually prefaced with the words, “What if”.

A young man seeks to be married to the girl of his dreams, but then the question arises, “What if”. “What if” she does not turn out to be whom I had expected, and “What if” she cannot cook good food, and “What if” the marriage does not work out. And before we know it the poor young man has so many unanswered questions in his mind that he not only begins to doubt the girl of his dreams, but also goes on a witch hunt for phantom problems which exist solely in his imagination, to the point that finally, on his wedding day, when pressed by his pastor for a positive response to the marriage vow, he answers, not with “I do”, but blurts out “I might”. Thus the marriage which could have been a God-send, starts off on a tenor of enlarging real or unreal difficulties, with plan “B” always sitting in the shadows.

Again, a husband and wife seek to purchase their first home, and after prayer they are led by God to a beautiful home in the Miami suburbs, in a decent neighborhood with good schools. It is located just minutes from where they both work, the mortgage note can be easily afforded, and it’s five minutes away from Publix, where shopping is a pleasure. But then again, that haunting question, “What if” begins to unravel, and to nip away at what God has already done. “What if” it has termites? Guess what, if any one lives in Florida, you will have termites sooner or later! Again, “What if” a sink hole should develop in the future, or “What if” a hurricane comes along? “What if” the neighbors are not friendly? And “What if” we should lose our jobs? Now all these are viable concerns, but if left to run riot unbridled, they can then cause the couple to question God’s leadership, and like the Israelites of old, they too might begin to complain that God led them in a path to kill them and their family. Thus it is quite possible for us to reason and worry ourselves out of the hands of Christ, and whenever this occurs He appears to be more of an enemy than a Friend. 

Therefore, if we are looking for the perfect mate, the perfect house, or the perfect church, with no possibility of there being any hiccups along the way, then we will be disappointed, and we may be left no choice but to join Alice in wonderland. Let’s read:

           [Patriarchs and Prophets, 293, 294]
Though their present needs are supplied, many are unwilling to trust God for the future, and they are in constant anxiety lest poverty shall come upon them, and their children shall be left to suffer. Some are always anticipating evil, or magnifying the difficulties that really exist, so that their eyes are blinded to the many blessings which demand their gratitude. The obstacles they encounter, instead of leading them to seek help from God, the only source of strength, separate them from him because they awaken unrest and repining....

Jesus is our friend; all heaven is interested in our welfare; and our anxiety and fear grieve the Holy Spirit of God. We should not indulge in a solicitude that only frets and wears us but does not help us to bear trials. No place should be given to that distrust of God which leads us to make a preparation against future want the chief pursuit of life, as though our happiness consisted in these earthly things.

Thus it is that in all of our endeavors, whether it be in soul-saving, church-building, or dealing with the many problems that may come our way from time to time, let us therefore manifest that perfect trust in the power of Jehovah to guide us with wisdom
and discretion, and also to fulfill His promises in due season, for whatsoever we have gotten clearance from God to do, He is able to perform, once we do not run ahead of Him, but patiently wait for His word. As Christians we often prefer a long detailed plan stretching way into the future, but if God were to deal thus with us, then we will not need faith, for our obedience will be based on fact, not on trust. Whenever God says go forward, it means for us to proceed full speed ahead until He says stop, for the rivers of Jordan before us usually open up, only as we take that first step in getting our feet wet. Then as we proceed, trusting in God, we are able to walk through on dry land, according as His providence and promises guide us. 

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which cautions us not to fall into the same errors of the ancient Hebrew people by not trusting in God, and harboring unbelief and doubt, for their “Wet foot, dry foot” experiences were written so that we may
make straight paths for our feet. Let’s read:

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. 
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 
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. 
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.

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

Godly Sorrow Versus Human Sorrow. Sabbath Afternoon. 10/10/2015

The lines between godly sorrow for sin, and human sorrow for results have become increasingly blurred in our day, to the point where it is pretty difficult to tell the difference, especially since a popular brand of pseudo repentance has been creeping upon us, through the dissemination of false teachings on this point. As a general rule of thumb, any sorrow for sin which does not lead us to repentance, including a radical, permanent change of lifestyle and habits, is false, and is neither endorsed nor recognized in the scriptures. Godly sorrow can be likened unto an individual making a complete U-turn on the road of life, by which the former sinful habits, and practices are given up, in favor of Christ-like characteristics, virtues, and values, which are rightly described in the Bible, as being commensurate with a person’s claim to be a Christian. Let’s read:

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance”…

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Human sorrow on the other hand, focuses squarely on the tragic results of sin in its different forms, and is often emotionally charged, but does not address the root cause, nor does it come up with permanent solutions. And in the context of sin and its results, it is often found to be blaming circumstances, others, or society, for a wrong course of action, and always seeks to vindicate itself, never accepting any of the responsibility for the end results. And what is even more disturbing about it, as it occurs in our day, is that it is often the catalyst for a multitude of good deeds, which in many instances, are meant to offset the wrongs that are cherished and indulged. Hence the reason why the Bible stipulates for us what true sorrow for sin consists of, and therefore it is of the utmost importance that we be able to know the differences between the two.

Whenever Christ takes possession of an individual’s heart, there must always to be observed, a forward momentum in constant growth and development of the character, for God’s true people are a people on the move, and therefore, when the history of their lives are traced from point A to point B, after they have received the Holy Spirit, there is always to be seen a general upward trajectory. This is not to say that there will not be any low points in our lives or in our experiences, for everyone falls short of God’s glory from time to time, yet the general tendency in those who have truly given their lives to God will be upward, and not retrogressive. This solemn Biblical truth about godly sorrow for sin, and the confession and repentance which attends it, is encapsulated in several passages of scripture, so that we may not be deceived nor swayed by the many counterfeit forms of  repentance that have now become the order of the day. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2nd Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do

 these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The history of Esau’s life presents an interesting case study on the issue of pseudo repentance, and the book of Hebrews cautions us all, not to follow in his footsteps, for although he seemed to be a very emotional person, he never came to the point of total surrender to the requirements of God, and for this reason he is described as being “Profane” in the Bible. Some have erroneously concluded that since he was a hunter, and took pleasure in the chase and the capture of wild beasts, that he was hard and unfeeling in all his ways. But the Bible shows us that this was definitely not the case, because on several different occasions, he was moved to emotionalism and tears, when his heart was obviously touched.

Case in point was when he had decided to avenge himself on Jacob for the birthright that he sold, and which was taken away from him by the cunning of Jacob. As he approached his brother with his family members, wives and little children all in a row, he was moved with human compassion, and instantly forgot about his murderous plots. And as he came even closer, he could not contain himself anymore, but was rather overcome by his emotions, and ran towards his younger brother, who was now in limp mode, and fell on his neck and wept profusely. Thus it is obvious that Esau was not devoid of all human sympathy, but could be touched with human feeling just like anyone else. In addition to these evidences of human pity, Esau never afterward renewed his animosity and hatred towards Jacob, for when it was time to bury their father Isaac, both of them showed up, standing shoulder to shoulder, grieving the loss of their father. Let’s read:

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.

2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and

 Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

Genesis 35:27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Again, when Esau learned of the deception which was practiced upon Isaac by his brother Jacob, he broke down in tears, and pleaded with his dad for a blessing. Here again he is manifesting that human sorrow for bad results, but not godly sorrow for sin, and although he lifted up his voice and wept with an exceedingly bitter cry, yet those outbursts of human emotion were not sufficient to secure him pardon and forgiveness, for at the end of the day, he sorrowed for temporal loss, not for wounding and despising the God who desired to save him. Q: Did he do some good charitable deeds in his life? Absolutely! And was his heart touched by human suffering, and feelings of pity? Certainly! But that was not what God was looking for, because sorrow for sin, which would result in a permanent change of course and action, was conspicuously absent. Let’s read:

Genesis 27:34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding

bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.

35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.

36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?

38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

Hebrews 12: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God”….

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

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.

The current leader of the Vatican has introduced one of the most dangerous forms of repentance ever dispensed to mortals, for it bears a semblance of holiness and piety, which, if not understood for what it really is, can be innocently swallowed like a cold draft of spiritual cool-aid, which when imbibed, will induce a slow, and imperceptible slumber, from which those who are thus deceived, may never ever awaken, except it be by the most vigorous, urgent intervention of The Holy Ghost. This pseudo form of repentance, make allowance for good deeds, and charitable acts of mercy, to atone for wrongs that are never ever given up or repented of, and which does not call for a radical change in previous evil practices and habits. What it also does is to allow us to retain our defects of character and cherished sins with the vain hope that God will somehow lower His standard of righteousness to save us in our sins, and since He is a God of love, will not follow through on His judgments which are to be meted out to those who deliberately continue in sin.

 [BBC news, Europe: 29 July 2013.]

“Speaking to reporters on a flight back from Brazil, he reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church's position that homosexual acts were sinful, but homosexual orientation was not”….

The meaning of the word “Orientation” in context, as is given in the dictionary means:

a :  a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest.

b :  a person's self-identification as heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual.

"If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to

judge?"… His remarks on gay people are being seen as much less judgmental than his predecessor's position on the issue. But Pope Francis said “gay clergymen should be forgiven and their sins forgotten”.

A vital ingredient of godly sorrow for sin is strangely absent from these sentences, for the word change is nowhere to be found, as is clearly required in the scriptures. For us to eliminate the word change from the concept of sorrow for sin, is to undermine and make of none effect, the very essence of the gospel, for the Bible specifically states that faithful war must be waged against cultivated or inherited tendencies to evil, if we are to facilitate the inner working of The Holy Spirit in our hearts. Therefore, if we have tendencies to drink alcohol, or do drugs, or if we have the tendency to overeat, or if our one weakness is a desire for those of the same sex, then as Christians, we obviously cannot be satisfied with the status quo, for the Bible teaches us that those inclinations, those tendencies, and propensities are indeed sinful, and therefore cannot be deliberately practiced or indulged whilst one is claiming to be a Christian. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Furthermore, the charge of being judgmental, when ever the Bible points out sin, is nothing new, for there is nothing new under the sun. When Christ commanded us not to “Judge”, it means not to proscribe any person, excommunicating them from the merits of His grace. But never does it carry the connotation, that the preaching of unadulterated truth from God’s word is to be avoided, because of any political correctness, or because of the popular majority opinion to the contrary. Instead, a solemn and sacred duty devolves upon the shoulders of every true Christian to give the trumpet a “Certain sound”, whether the people will hear, or whether they will forbear, for to do anything less than what is thus commanded in the Bible, will represent a betrayal of sacred trusts, and will cause those who are thus guilty, to pay dearly for the lives of those who might have otherwise been warned, and saved. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 2:1 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

2 And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.

3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee”… “to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they”… “have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.

4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God.

5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear”….

If the passages of scripture pertaining to what we are now witnessing, and studying had ended here, there would not have been any cause for alarm, for we might have concluded that the job description given was only riddled with hurdles that are difficult to surmount, and thus, in the worst case scenario, we could expect stiff opposition from the sin-loving

multitudes. But the passages do not stop here, but rather continue on with dire repercussions for the ones who are found unfaithful to their charge, by either watering down the truth to suit itching ears, or by otherwise withholding those truths that are not palatable or popular, for the sake of avoiding imminent conflict with the powers of darkness, or because of self-preservation reasons. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman”….. “therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

Whenever the servants of God are sent to rebuke sin in the world or in the church, it is quite common for them to be viewed as being judgmental, for the human heart does not naturally take kindly to any reproof, but often sets up an affront to resist the working of The Holy Ghost. For instance, when Lot dared to call sin by its right name, when addressing his fellow-citizens on the topic of gay marriage, the very same charge was brought against him, and were it not for the direct interposition of God, he would have been torn in pieces by those who had their consciences thus disturbed. 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.

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.

6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again,

 This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

Now it is important for us to declare by the sole authority of the scriptures, that God is not the enemy of man, for He sent His Son Jesus into the world, not to condemn, but rather to save. And in harmony with His mission to do so, repentance after the godly sort must of necessity form an integral part of the whole salvation process, if we are ever to be saved in His kingdom. The steps in being reconciled to God are clearly outlined in the Bible, so that no one needs to err, as concerning what is involved. Whatever sinful propensities or evil desires we suffer with must be identified, using God’s great standard of righteousness, and we must confess wherever we have fallen into sin. If this is done with a desire to be reconciled to God on His terms, then He will respond by doing what we cannot do for ourselves, by sending us His Holy Spirit who will implant new desires in our hearts, and will give us His enabling, supernatural power, so that the old habits with which we were shackled, can be permanently uprooted. Anything short of this is the equivalent of cheap grace, and will set up those who fall for it, for very bitter disappointment, when the numbers are finally tallied. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding”….. “saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.

13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast

 scattered thy ways to the strangers “.. “and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord.

14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

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.

In closing, The Lord makes a final appeal to earth’s inhabitants for us to presently avail ourselves of His gracious overtures to save us, by accepting His gift of repentance through Christ, as the only means by which change for the better can be materialized in our lives. Good works are good in their legitimate sphere, but cannot save us, if while claiming to be Christ’s, we continue to cling to sin. Thus it is with words of solemn pathos, in loving entreaties that fail of human comprehension, that the last chapter in the last book of the Bible, tells us of God’s love to save the human family, and it’s His will that we now respond in the affirmative, before our probation, as a nation and as individuals, is forever closed. Let’s read:

Revelation 22:12 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.

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

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

                         God bless!

Three Vital Lessons In Obedience. Sabbath Afternoon. 10/03/2015

There is a familiar hymn which we often sing that goes like this, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way”, and for many years we may not have been aware of the full import of those words. But now the time has come for us to understand three vital lessons pertaining to obeying God’s voice, lessons which are to implemented both now and in the future, if we are to survive the coming final conflict between the powers of good and evil, which have been predicted in the Bible for so long. A mind that is trained to implicitly obey God’s voice, is of more value than intellectual accomplishments and claims of faith, for at the end of the day, it’s not merely the hearers of His word, but the doers who will find an entrance into the pearly gates.

There are many who claim to have received The Holy Ghost, and there are many others who boast of having a knowledge of Christ, but in the final analysis, it is only those who follow through in obeying God, who will be saved, regardless of whatsoever the profession of being a Christian may be. The Lord made this plain to king Saul, after he deliberately refused to carry out God’s commands to the letter, for he thought to himself that good intentions and actions will atone for obedience, a mistake that is being repeated all too often in our day. Hence the reason why the three case studies for this afternoon will focus our attention squarely on different aspects of obedience that we may not have previously considered. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Here in these two verses the Lord is saying that if He has to choose between worship and us obeying His voice, He prefers obedience, because worship without compliance is the equivalent of rebellion. It is therefore important that we train our minds to obey God’s voice implicitly, even before we receive logical reasons for doing so, because in the final conflict against the powers of darkness, nothing but perfect obedience to the voice of God will do, and since practice makes perfect, we may want to begin with those instructions which have been plainly revealed in the scriptures. As a matter of fact, if we are habitually hesitant in obeying the written word, we may never graduate to the spoken word, as it comes through the voice of God. And so the first example we will explore has to do with Joash, king of Israel who had come to visit with Elisha the prophet, just prior to his death.

As Elisha lay on his death bed, the spirit of The Lord came upon him, while Joash was weeping over him, and moved upon the prophet to give the king some tokens of future victories over the Syrians, who had been a sort of menace to the Hebrew people, at times invading their country and putting them to tribute. The prophet then gives the king a series of commands, which as the king obeys implicitly, the explanations do follow. It is now necessary that we keenly observe the commands given, and the action taken by the king in response, for they teach us the first lesson in obeying the voice of God. Let’s read:

2nd kings 13:14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.

16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.

17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.

Now even though the first four instructions coming from The Lord through Elisha, seem to suggest that Joash was being prepared shoot his arrows, he must not be found shooting them before being told to do so, for then he would be running before God, in doing what seems obvious, a very common mistake that is made in the lives of many Christians. When God, through His providence opens up a way for us to procure victories, it’s imperative that we wait patiently for His guidance and leadership all along the way, lest we be tempted with a presumptuous course of action, which did not have the stamp of His approval. This is what took place with Joshua after God had promised the Hebrews the Land of Canaan, and they then moved upon His promises and took it upon themselves to attack the city of Ai, before consulting with Him as to the timing and the method to be implemented in gaining the victory which was already theirs.

Up to this point Joash had done well, in obeying implicitly what The Lord had spoken through the prophet Elisha, but on the next command given, he tripped up, for he stopped doing what he was asked to do, without being told to stop. This brings us to a very important aspect of obedience, for whenever God has given us the green light in a certain course of action, we are to proceed full speed ahead until He bids us stop, and under no circumstances should we conclude that we have done enough to satisfy His requirements. Some Christians are called to serve in different capacities in the church, and it is often the case that we stop midstream, without being told to stop by God, and we allow problems, discouragement, and a lack of cooperation on the part of other members to prevent us from finishing what we once started, under the direction of God. If God has told us to run, we are to keep on running until He bids us stop. If Lot had stopped for any reason, after being told by the angels to run for his life, then we would have read of two pillars of salt instead of one. It’s that serious. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 13:18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.

19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria

but thrice.

The next important lesson in obedience to God’s voice is taken from the experience of Zipporah, Moses’ wife, who had refused to have their son circumcised, according to the plainest command of God in this matter. Zipporah probably thought that the physical pain that circumcision would cause her newborn, was an unfair, and totally unnecessary requirement, and since she could not draw a logical or scientific line between circumcision and salvation she chose to go with plan “B”, which always seems to be the better way, as it is often presented by the adversary of souls. And if we in our day begin to look for excuses for disobeying God’s written word, the devil will be more than happy and willing to supply numerous passages of scripture to support us in a wrong course of action, because for every temptation to disobey God’s voice, he has a whole surplus of Biblical passages, taken out of context, to confirm the disobedient in sin. And in the case of Zipporah, he would have undoubtedly used the following, if it were available back then. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

This same method of pitting scripture against the plain commands of God, is used profusely in our day, where millions of professed Christians excuse disobedience on the premise of love and mercy to our fellowmen. But the word of The Lord to us is “These ought ye to have done, and not to have left the others undone”, for good works never atone for obedience, and deliberate, partial compliance with God’s word is reckoned as full blown disobedience. This second lesson needs to be fully comprehended by all, for it has now become all too common to quote the scriptures out of context in order to justify sin. The false doctrine of “Mercy without compliance”, satisfying the conditions upon which mercy is to be granted, is a satanic message that is concocted in the laboratories of hell, and which will lead millions of unwary Christians to destruction.

Furthermore, in the experience of Zipporah, her husband Moses was to enter satan’s enchanted ground, and the devil would have liked nothing better than for Moses to enter the chamber of magicians, with one act of disobedience hanging over his head, for then Moses would be torn to pieces, and God’s name would have suffered great reproach as a result. This second lesson cannot be emphasized enough, especially now, as God is preparing to send a company of obedient soldiers into enemy territory, to wage spiritual war against the powers of darkness. If for any reason we were to presume to wrest satan’s captives, without our complete compliance with everything we know to be right, the enemy of souls will then maul to death, all those who are in the habit of partial obedience. Let’s read:

Exodus 4:21 And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand”…..

22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn.

23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him.

25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 

26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

[Patriarchs And Prophets pp. 255>256] On the way from Midian, Moses received a startling and terrible warning of the Lord’s displeasure. An angel appeared to him in a threatening manner, as if he would immediately destroy him. No explanation was given; but Moses remembered that he had disregarded one of God’s requirements; yielding to the persuasion of his wife, he had neglected to perform the rite of circumcision upon their youngest son. He had failed to comply with the condition by which his child could be entitled to the blessings of God’s covenant with Israel”… Zipporah, fearing that her husband would be slain, performed the rite herself, and the angel then permitted Moses to pursue his journey.

In his mission to Pharaoh, Moses was to be placed in a position of great peril; his life could be preserved only through the protection of holy angels. But while living in neglect of a known duty, he would not be secure; for he could not be shielded by the angels of God. In the time of trouble just before the coming of Christ, the righteous will be preserved through the ministration of heavenly angels; but there will be no security for the transgressor of God’s law. Angels cannot then protect those who are disregarding one of the divine precepts.

The third and final lesson in obeying God’s voice is taken from the experiences of Paul and Silas, who were imprisoned for preaching the gospel. These men were following the mandate given by Christ to every Christian, and as such were in harmony with what God had commanded. But, as is often the case when the sin-loving multitudes become infuriated by the preaching of the plain utterances of God’s word, Paul and Silas were thrown in jail, in a sort of maximum security prison, with their two feet being shackled with iron chains, so as to prevent their escape. But at midnight, Paul and Silas, instead of complaining with the “Why me syndrome”, they instead prayed and sang praises unto God, for the privilege of suffering for the sake of Christ, a mode of thought and action that is worthy of emulation in our day.

The Lord then responded with a remarkable miracle in a terrible earthquake which followed, which then caused all of the chains which had bound Paul and Silas, and every other prisoner to fall from off their hands and feet, in addition to which all the doors of the prison were thrown wide open, so that whoever desired to escape, could now do so. But strangely enough, Paul and Silas, together with all the other prisoners stayed put, even though it seemed that the providence of God had opened up a way for their escape. And then again, if they so chose, the devil would be standing by with a plethora of texts to sustain them in a wrong course of action. Texts such as,  “Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

The question then is, “Why would Paul and Silas deliberately remain in jail, even though it seemed as if the providence of God had pointed unmistakably to their deliverance? The answer has to do with our third and final lesson in obeying God’s voice, for whenever we are to be brought into straight places on account of preaching the gospel, we are still to wait for the voice of God if deliverance is His will, and unless they had received a directive coming from the mouth of God, implicit obedience will mean that they stay put, even if His providence was to the contrary. If Paul and Silas had opted for the easy way out, then the jailor might never have learned of Christ, and he and his entire family might never have been baptized.

Now some may be wondering why such serious lessons in obedience, and why it is necessary to not make a move without God’s plain directions. The reason is that in the near future, only the obedient will be shielded, and it is only by total compliance with His every word and instruction that we may find safety. The days in which we live are filled with turmoil and distress on every hand, and it is no longer entirely safe to even attend school. Added to all this is the fact that there are millions of sincere Christians who are now sitting in the shadows of Babylon, waiting for the voice of God to make their move, and it is through the preaching of “Moses and Elijah”, that the multitudes will be brought to the point of decision, as is stated in the book of Joel. Let’s read:

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of  mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame

of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:

8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

[Early Writings pp. 271] Said the angel, “Look ye!” My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. I was shown those whom I had before seen weeping and praying in agony of spirit. The company of guardian angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet. They moved in exact order, like a company of soldiers. Their countenances expressed the severe conflict which they had endured, the agonizing struggle they had passed through. Yet their features, marked with severe internal anguish, now shone with the light and glory of heaven. They had obtained the victory, and it called forth from them the deepest gratitude and holy, sacred joy.

The numbers of this company had lessened. Some had been shaken out and left by the way. The careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough to perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and they were left behind in darkness, and their places were immediately filled by others taking hold of the truth and coming into the ranks. Evil angels still pressed around them, but could have no power over them.

I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. It had effect. Many had been bound; some wives by their husbands, and some children by their parents. The honest who had been prevented from hearing the truth now eagerly laid hold upon it. All fear of their relatives was gone, and the truth alone was exalted to them. They had been hungering and thirsting for truth; it was dearer and more precious than life. I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, “It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel.”

No one is to erroneously conclude that satan will stand idly by as his territory is being invaded, for he will put up a desperate struggle, that if possible, this company of soldiers may be overthrown. Thus it is of critical importance that we train our minds to an unquestioning obedience to the written word of God, so that when He begins to utter His voice, we will already be in the habit of trusting and obeying. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which reveals to us the graduation process, from the word of God written in the scriptures, to the word of God spoken by His literal voice, and which emphasizes the importance of implicit obedience to the written word in our day, for it is the will of God that every Christian come on board now, before His voice goes forever silent in our consciences. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

6 And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

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

                       God bless!