2018

June 30, 2018

Being led by The Spirit does not only refer to doing exactly what is in the Bible, for although we are to live by every word of God, yet we must leave some wiggle room for The Holy Spirit to exercise His own discretion in various circumstances. Those who live by a strict adherence to the letter of the law, with no room for God to make changes, or to give more instructions, run the risk of misunderstanding the work of the Holy Ghost.

When the Bible states that God never changes, it is referring primarily to His character of love, which is the springboard for all His actions. Thus, although He never changes in character, yet at times He may change instructions if situations on the ground are different, or He may choose to exercise discretion in particular circumstances, as His wisdom may see fit.

It’s also important for us to remember that the path of the just is as the shining light that shines more and more until the perfect day, thus, if we were to restrict God only to what is written in the Bible, any other information, or instruction He may see fit to give us may be rejected on non-biblical grounds just as many folks in Christ’s day rejected His teachings.

For instance, we will read on numerous occasions where Christ would use the following words, “You have heard that it was said by them of old time, but I say unto you”. The word “But” involves a change in the way the people had understood certain truths, or it would involve additional light to be shed upon specific issues that had previously been given, but which needed to be elaborated on, or explained.

Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to emphasize that He came not to change the law and prophets, but, for The moral law never changes; He was just broadening the understanding of what was already written. Some may have feared that His teaching would unseat scriptural truths, but Christ made clear that this was not the case. Let’s read:

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.

1st John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Up until the time of Christ, many in Israel may have thought themselves righteous in God’s sight, if they had merely refrained from literally killing someone. But the teaching of Christ reaches into the thoughts and intents, and emotions of the heart, and thereby showing that the evil thought that is harbored, and cherished, only waiting an opportune moment to be expressed, is just as bad as the evil act itself.

But if this additional light was refused on grounds that it was not written in the old testament, then the people would remain in darkness. In fact, when we look at the bulk of complaints against Christ by the religious authorities of His day, they were based on a perceived violation of the law, and that’s the reason why the scribes and pharisees often said to Christ: “Why do your disciples transgress the law”.

Therefore, if we would be willing to be led by The Spirit of God, we will need to leave some room for God’s discretion, additional information, and a mind that is humble enough to let God be God. In other words, if God sees fit to exercise His discretion in a particular way, or in certain matters, we should be willing to follow where He leads the way. Let’s read:

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

This leads us to a well-known story in the scriptures in which the prophet Jonah was sent to the city of Nineveh to preach a specific sermon. After trying to avoid the God-given task he afterward relented and went into the city declaring to the inhabitants that forty days were given before it would be destroyed. No caveats or conditions were given and none were advised as to what needed to be done to avert the crisis.

Forty days meant forty days, but the citizens of that city suddenly knew exactly what they needed to do, so from the king down to the peasant, everyone put on sackcloth and ashes and turned away from their sins. Thus, because the situation on the ground had changed, God responded by using His discretion and mercy, and did not do to them as He had purposed.

This change of plans in response to what the people did would have some ramifications, for Jonah may be seen by some as a false prophet. Not only this, but since God knows the future, why then did He give Jonah such a potent message, knowing that it would not come to pass? Would it cause any future threats of coming judgement to be taken lightly?

But all these questions, and others are beside the point, because, although God had given to Jonah a very direct and specific message, yet, being led by The Spirit would cause Jonah to make allowance for a change in strategy wherever warranted, even if he may be called a false prophet in the process.

In other words, if God has a choice between saving millions of people, and His word being viewed as false, so be it. His character of love did not change, but His word was changed because of the changing circumstances which had obtained. This is one of a number of difficulties people encounter with what may be written in the Bible. Again, we reiterate, we are to follow implicitly God’s word, but at the same time, let God be fully God.

Being led by The Spirit may at times involve changes to specific instructions God gave to us, but at such times the changes are to be the sole prerogative of God, and not of man. His discretion at this particular time may have caused Jonah to be looked upon as a false prophet, and he may have faced some sort of embarrassment, but if so, Jonah must still let God be God. Let’s read:

Jonah 3:1 And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.
4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth,
and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
2 And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country?
3 Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
4 Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?

Again, the discretion of God is made apparent in the experience of some of Israel’s kings. The Lord by His foreknowledge, saw that the Hebrews would ask for a king at some point in time and therefore He’s now going to lay down specific instructions, pertaining to how the king should govern, and behave himself. It was to safeguard both the king and the people that the following specifics were given. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 17:4 When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites.
19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them.
20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

That’s all well and good, being written in the Bible under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as are all the other passages that are written. However, we must leave some wiggle room for the Spirit to exercise His discretion, if He sees fit. We are not to demand an explanation from God, nor should we hold Him accountable if there is a change of strategy in certain circumstances, for we must let God be God.

Two passages in the context clearly show us that God reserves the right to make changes to what is written, at His own discretion, for that which He has spoken can override that which is written whenever He sees fit. Solomon was granted an abundance of riches, to the point where he became the wealthiest king who ever lived. And there were “Others”. Let’s read:

1st Kings 3:11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

2nd Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

The word “Gave” is a pretty disturbing word in the context, for it’s quite different than “Permit” where one might conclude that God allowed David to have several wives. Why God gave these wives to David we cannot tell, but if He so chose, we should all be humble enough to let God be God, allowing Him to use His discretionary prerogatives in the particular circumstance.

The same principle of allowing The Holy Spirit to use His discretionary prerogative is carried over into the New Testament, where there are several examples of it is written, being overridden by what God sees fit to do in given circumstances. Those who believed that it is written was set in stone, with no wiggle room for changes and adjustments, would be hard- pressed to believe that God was indeed leading.

Again, no explanation is given for why such changes were made even though they were directly contrary to what is written in the Bible, yet, it was The Holy Ghost who was leading. It is of critical importance for us to understand this, for as we enter those last, difficult days of earth’s history the same thing will be repeated, and we are warned in advance not to be too rigid, lest haply we be found to fight against God. Let’s read:

Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour.
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and
fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with
them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
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.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ:
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

They of the circumcision are specifically mentioned, because in their minds, a terrible war was brewing, namely, what was written, as opposed to what The Holy Spirit is now directing them to do. This caught everyone by surprise, because the sudden overturn of a long held scriptural teaching has been tossed out the window. However, believe it or not, Peter and his company were being led by The Spirit of God. Let’s read:

Genesis 17:9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised.
14 And the uncircumcised man child who is not circumcised, shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Luke 1:59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

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.

Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas;
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner:
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Again, the same thing is repeated as the apostle is instructing young Timothy in regards to his ministry. Several exhortations, counsels, and instructions are given, among which is one brief word of advice on an issue of great importance and relevance to those living today and written under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit. Let’s read:

1st Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Fast-forward several centuries into the future, when there is an health epidemic raging across the globe, costing the lives of millions, and straining local and federal budgets to the point of exasperation. God now sees fit to give us additional info by His Holy Spirit, because circumstances have changed on the ground. His character is the same, but we must give Him some wiggle room to make adjustments, if His discretion so determines. Let’s read:

[Test. Vol 3 pp 211] Ministers should not neglect physical exercise. The poor health of some of our ministers is because of their neglect of physical exercise in useful labor.

[Ministry of Healing. pp 238] Inactivity is a fruitful cause of disease. Exercise quickens and equalizes the circulation of the blood, but in idleness the blood does not circulate freely, and the changes so necessary to life and health, do not take place. The skin becomes inactive. Impurities are not expelled as they would if the circulation had been quickened by vigorous exercise and the lungs fed with plenty of pure, fresh air.

It is therefore of critical importance for us to be willing to be led by The Spirit of God, for just as the path of the righteous is as the shining light which shines more until the perfect day, just so, God will lead those who are willing, to advancing light, for just as truth is progressive, our knowledge of God should also be increasing.

Therefore, we end with two passages of scripture, and a word of caution coming directly from the Spirit of God let’s read:

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

[Last Day Events pp 209>210] There is to be in the Seventh-day Adventist churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord and opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance.

In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations they will oppose the work. “Why,” they say, “should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?

God Bless!

Love Thy Neighbor. Sabbath Afternoon 06/23/2018

June 23, 2018

The exercise of godly love in practical ways is the sum total of Christianity, and yet, according to what is written in the Bible, it is lacking in Laodicea. The golden rule, forbearance with those who are out of the way, helping the less fortunate, and putting the interests of others first, are just some of the natural outgrowths of the indwelling of The Holy Spirit, and unless these virtues are actively exercised, the love of God in the soul will grow dim.

When Christ died on Calvary He died for all people of the earth, thus, because of His infinite sacrifice paid for our redemption, every person is extremely valuable in God’s sight, and as such they should be treated and regarded with respect, dignity and love. In other words, the way we esteem and treat others is a direct reflection of the way we value human life.

If a knowledge of the Bible does not lead us to love our neighbor, and our enemies, then our profession is vain, and will need to be touched by the grace of Christ. In fact, the destruction of Sodom was much more than a judgment against those abominable practices often referred to. The ill-treatment of the less-fortunate was one of a number of sins that had taken root in the doomed city. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore, I took them away as I saw good.

And the apostle Paul sums up the importance of uniform kindness, by showing us the way it is to be reckoned in heaven and on earth. Faith, miracles, and prophesying are all good, but without the gold of love as an undergirding principle, the former are of no value. Therefore, as we behold the perfection of Christ from day we should be asking God to mold and fashion us according to the great Pattern. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Many good things are mentioned in the passages, above, such as speaking in tongues, the gift of prophecy, martyrdom, faith, Biblical knowledge, and distributing goods to the poor. This last one is of particular interest, for above all others, it seems to be living proof that the love of God is alive and well in the soul.

But according to the apostle, it is quite possible to distribute food to the poor without being motivated by love. Therefore, he goes on to show how the law of love is exercised in real life, how the principle is to be intertwined in our daily experience, and what course of action we are to pursue whenever various situations come our way, which warrant the employ of charity.

1st Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

One day as Jesus was teaching the people, He was asked by a lawyer “who is my neighbor”, and Christ proceeded to relate a true incident that had taken place in the area. The lessons He gave from that experience not only describe who is our neighbor, but the example also demonstrates in real terms, how people who profess Christianity are to relate to others, regardless of religion, creed or race. Let’s read:

Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

There are several important lessons to be derived from this true story, and even though God does not condemn us wherever we have fallen short, yet He is appealing directly to the Christian churches, and individuals to adopt and practice that which He is teaching us.

Point [1] Our “neighbor” does not only include folks who live next door, it has much more to do with us showing kindness to those who are in need. In the story, the man who was stripped of his raiment, and beaten by thieves, was not known by the priest, the Levite, nor the Samaritan, a complete stranger to them all. Yet, because of his dire need, he became their neighbor. Let’s read:

Luke 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.

“A certain man” means that his background, where he may have come from, his race, what church he attends, and all the circumstances surrounding his near death experience become irrelevant in this particular situation. He may have been a mayor, a lawyer, a politician, a bandit, or an immigrant, but one thing is certain, he was “A certain man” in need of help, and because of this, he became a neighbor.

Point [2] The priest and the Levite represent some of the religious people of the day, who may claim to know the Bible and it’s principles. But because faith without works is dead, their passing by on the other side demonstrated a callous disregard for human life. Whatever reason they may have come up with for not helping “A certain man” would not be valid in God’s sight, for their actions violated the Golden rule.

Professed Christians should demonstrate in their persons, a consistent and uniform benevolence that transcends racial biases and preferences. We should also be motivated by a selfless interest, manifested by Christ, and which seeks the benefit of humanity as opposed to those self-preservation modes of thought that put our own interests first. This truth is demonstrated in the next passages. Let’s read:

Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Point [3] Being a good neighbor can involve risk to the one who is thus disposed, for in the story of “A certain man” the good Samaritan could have been robbed and beaten by the very same thieves who had wounded the stranger. But the love of God in the soul does not cause apparent, or real risks to one’s person to deter him or her from doing good.

If we’d only do good when there is no risk involved, then we will need to have a talk with Christ, for the love that is born of God does not retreat in the face of danger, for Paul says, charity endureth all things. This truth was manifested in Jesus Christ, who came to save us from sin, and who was severely beaten in the process. Yet, compassion moved Him to endure all the evil done to His own person. Let’s read:

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Point [4] Being a good neighbor would involve us being willing to pay the price of being a neighbor, whenever, and wherever there may be costs. The good Samaritan not only ministered to the stranger in his immediate need, but he also made provision for his full recovery. Let’s read:

Luke 10:35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

As the richest nation on the planet, we should be more than willing to share the blessings God has so richly bestowed on us. Professing to be a majority Christian nation should have ripple effects both on a united and individual front.

In other words, just as the pilgrim fathers were once strangers, to whom God’s kindness was manifested, we who have now been recipients and beneficiaries should be willing to follow, where God has led the way. Let’s read:

Exodus 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him.
22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

Leviticus 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.
33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land: I am the Lord your God.

Thus, in closing it is important for us to understand that there is a huge difference between profession and actual practice, when it comes to loving those who are less fortunate. Just as there are doctors without borders, there should be Christians without borders, meaning that the principle of love should transcend the nuances of race, origins, caste, social standing, or religion. In harmony with this Biblical mandate, we will close with quote from the servant of The Lord. Let’s read:

[Testimonies Vol. 5] 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.

“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.

God Bless!

The Voice Of God. Sabbath Afternoon. 06/16/2018

June 16, 2018

Before the fall of man Adam and Eve enjoyed direct communion with God, but after the fall, the literal voice of God became a rare occurrence. From that time, one of the ways God spoke to us was through His Holy Spirit in our consciences, enlightening us as to right and wrong, and bidding us choose life. This is referenced to in the book of Genesis, where God through His Spirit had spoken to the antediluvians. Let’s read:

God also speaks to fallen man through His prophets, for His chosen servants are used to convey truths of great importance to persons, warnings, entreaties, exhortations to righteousness, and promises. God’s prophets are also sent by Him to tell His people, and anyone who will listen, events of the future that will have a direct impact on their lives. This fact is also certified in the scriptures. Let’s read:

Genesis 6:12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

It is worthy of note that God did not speak directly to the people; He sent his servant Noah with the message of coming doom, and it was up to the folks back then to believe. However, God’s word through His prophets is just as good as Him speaking to us, for His spoken word carries as much weight as that which comes through the utterances of His chosen servants, the prophets. Let’s read:

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

2nd Chronicles 36:15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

The voice of God can also be heard in His created works, for they testify of His character, and of His ways and methods. In some instances where the earth, and nature has become degraded, His voice may be less distinct, however, as long as the earth remains, there will always be evidences of the voice of God through creation. Thus, His character and His will are often discerned, at least partially, through observing nature.

For instance, when the animals were entering the ark before the flood, they went in two by two and seven by seven, but with every type and breed, the voice of God was made plain, as it pertains to His established order. As the animals walked down the aisle into the ark there was not to be seen any two female cheetahs, and there were no two male dogs. Male and female went in after their kind. Let’s read:

Genesis 6:19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind.

Psalms 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.

God has also spoken to us through Jesus Christ, who is the express image of His Person, and it’s through Christ that the greatest revelation of His voice can be heard. When in the new testament we read of such statements by Christ as “But I say unto you” that is the voice of God speaking distinctly through His Son to earth’s inhabitants. Let’s read:

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

God also speaks to us through the pages of sacred writ, for it is His voice to all humanity, where each individual may learn of God’s will for our lives. The Bible contains more than enough information to get us from earth to heaven, and therefore, it should be the study of every intelligent, sincere person who is seeking for truth. 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.

Last, but not least, the voice of God can also often be heard through His providences or actions, which are designed to appeal to our intelligence. Studying the working of God should occupy very much of our time, because by so doing we become acquainted, and familiar with His ways, to the point where we will be better able to detect the true from the false, and it will become easier to be led by The Spirit.

Often when persons become confused as to what course of action to pursue, is because a diligent and consistent study of the works of God in nature, and through His providence is lacking. There are certain principles and methods God often adopts, and then there are some others which He never uses, and as Christians, we should know the difference between His voice, and the myriad of other voices out there.

God never employs competition, nor does He ever encourage any of His creatures to seek the first and highest place. With God, any person who does their very best by His grace is a winner, for the race is not for the swiftest neither is the prize of eternal life for the strongest. In other words, if by doing our best we end up at the top of our game, so be it, give God the praise, but for anyone to seek merely to be first is not godly.

Thus, wherever the principle of competition is at play, wherever “first come first served” is adopted, there we may be sure that the voice of God has not spoken. When we have public servants vying for a particular position, or office, and tearing each other to pieces in the process, let it not be said that God was behind it. He may have permitted it, but it does not originate through His voice. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

However, on a personal level where we would need God’s guidance in everyday matters, His providence is what we rely on most often. We may not be able to hear His audible literal voice distinctly, and the Holy Spirit might be speaking clearly, but we may not be listening, and therefore what God does often makes our path forward more obvious.

By using the word “Providence” we are referring to the actions God takes, or the circumstances He may permit in certain instances to show us what course of action we should pursue, and how we ought to respond. These actions are described in the Bible as His voice, and thus, cumulatively speaking, all of the above-mentioned methods of God speaking to us mortals, are nestled under the umbrella of the words of Christ when He said “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceedeth from the mouth of God”.

This leads us to the core of our study because God’s providence often makes up the bulk of His voice, in trying to point us in a certain direction. If we were to listen patiently and humbly, we would be able to discern His voice when He speaks. We can draw our conclusions from several examples in the scriptures, where God may not say anything audibly per se, but His voice can still be distinctly heard, if we are keen on listening.

[Example # 1] The world back then is populated by about 7 billion people, according to some estimates, and their probation is about to close. The Lord has spoken to the antediluvians through His prophet Noah for 120 years, the masses of people refuse to listen, and the voice of God via His servant goes
forever silent to them.

Therefore, what He is now about to do through His providence is His voice, making the final appeal to man’s intelligence. This is the first example of what we’re referring to as God speaking clearly through His providences, thus demonstrating what ought to be done by those who care to listen. Let’s read:

Genesis 6:13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;
14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.
16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 97>98] Suddenly a silence fell upon the mocking throng. Beasts of every description, the fiercest as well as the most gentle, were seen coming from mountain and forest and quietly making their way toward the ark. A noise as of a rushing wind was heard, and lo, birds were flocking from all directions, their numbers darkening the heavens, and in perfect order they passed to the ark. Animals obeyed the command of God, while men were disobedient.

[Example #2] Moses is about to be sent into Egypt for the deliverance of the Hebrews, but he raises the prospect that they will not believe God has sent him. Therefore, the following miracles God gives are described as voices, which are His providences to the people designed to convince them of what they ought to do.

Again, God does not speak directly or audibly to the people, but instead employs miracles and the words of His servant. These should be sufficient to appeal to the intelligence of those who would listen. Let’s read:

Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.
2 And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.
4 And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
5 That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
6 And the Lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.
7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

[Example #3] The Hebrews have now left Egypt, but Pharaoh’s army is in hot pursuit. The Hebrews look behind them, and lo, in the distance there is a sight of glittering swords, chariots and an immense army. The courage of the people fail, and they now begin to murmur about what they infer as themselves being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Again, God does not say anything audibly to the people, but what He does next is His voice through His providential working designed to appeal to their intelligence, so that they may be reassured. God’s actions should be studiously observed, for in many instances we will be enabled to put two and two together, to arrive at obvious conclusions. Let’s read:

Exodus 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.
11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.
14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

[Example # 4] The Midianites have been terrified of the Hebrews and because of this they turn to magic to try and fend off what they view as an existential threat to their nation. Balaam is enlisted to curse the Hebrews, but God speaks directly to him in the night, warning him against such a course of action. He refuses to listen and insists that he must go.

God gives him leave, but the next circumstances are referred to as God’s voice through His providences, showing in the most graphic way what Balaam must do. These providences are designed to appeal to his intelligence, so that he could reasonably conclude that his intentions should be aborted.

But as is too often the case, the most undeniable evidences are insufficient to convince the prophet who is bent on doing his own thing. He persists to the point of insanity, even having a conversation with his animal, thus giving evidence of how blinded we can become if we refuse the providences God allows to come our way. Let’s read:

Numbers 22:9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
22 And God's anger was kindled because he went:
and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24 But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26 And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.

The same God of yesterday is still speaking through His providences, but are we listening. Would we like Balaam come out and kick against His providences, if we do not desire to go His route? When God has given unmistakable evidence of His will, would we bow to His sovereignty or will we like Balaam, insist on going in a different direction?

The 2300 day prophecy of Daniel came to an end in 1844, and God had predicted by His prophets that a few years prior to that time, there would be signs in the sun, moon and stars, portending some great event to take place in heaven. And just as it was with His providences in ages past, the essential pieces of the puzzle began to be moved into place. Let’s read:

Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake occurred in the Kingdom of Portugal on Saturday, 1 November 1755, the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day, at around 9:40 am. The first shock was followed by an even more powerful second shock which sent buildings toppling down. According to reports, the tremors and the ground motions from this shock lasted for three-and-one-half minutes.

Gigantic fissures of up to 15 feet wide tore through the centre of Lisbon. Effects from the earthquake were far reaching. Severe shaking was felt in North Africa where the quake caused heavy loss of life in towns of Algeria and Morocco - more than 400 miles south of Lisbon. The town of Algiers was completely destroyed. Tangiers suffered great loss of lives and extensive damage.

The earthquake was particularly destructive in Morocco, where approximately 10,000 people lost their lives. Mosques, synagogues, churches, and many other buildings collapsed in Meknes, where there was heavy loss of life. In Europe the Lisbon earthquake caused considerable damage in Spain - particularly in Madrid and Seville. Shaking was felt in France, Switzerland, and Northern Italy, too.

However, the worst damage occurred in the south-west of Portugal. Lisbon and its inhabitants were particularly badly hit by the earthquake. In 1755, Lisbon was a great city legendary for its wealth, prosperity and sophistication, it was one of the most beautiful cities in Europe with an estimated population of 275,000. When the earthquake arrived, most of Lisbon's population were praying in six magnificent cathedrals. Within minutes, this great thriving city-port of Lisbon, capital of Portugal and of the vast Portuguese empire and seat of learning in Europe, was reduced to rubble.

The destruction caused by the earthquake was beyond description. Lisbon's great cathedrals, all full of worshipers - collapsed, killing thousands. Lisbon's whole quay and the marble-built Cais De Pedra along the Tagus disappeared into the river, burying with it hundreds of people who had sought refuge.

Within minutes fire spread and turned Lisbon into a raging inferno. Unable to run, hundreds of patients in the Hospital burned to death. The public squares filled with people but as the fire approached, these squares were abandoned, and the fire reached catastrophic proportions.
Two thirds of the city were destroyed by the flames that raged for five days. Immediately after the earthquake, many people fled to the waterfront, believing the area safe from fires and from falling debris from aftershocks. Some of them looked for safety on the sea by boarding ships moored on the Tagus River.

But about 40 minutes after the quake, an enormous tsunami wave engulfed the harbor and downtown. People were unaware of the danger and remained around the shoreline to observe the exposed seabed. The first tsunami wave was followed by two more waves which hit the shore, dragging people and debris out to sea and leaving exposed large stretches of the river bottom. Boats overcrowded with refugees capsized and sank.

By Tom de Castella BBC News Magazine
Three centuries ago in parts of North America, a strange event turned morning to night. It remains wreathed in mystery. Halfway through the morning the sky turns yellow. Animals run for cover and darkness descends, causing people to light candles and start to pray. By lunchtime night has fallen.

The Dark Day, as it's become known, took place on May 19, 1780 in New England and parts of eastern Canada. Some lawmakers in Connecticut believed it was the day of judgement. The sense that a decisive moment was afoot would have been bolstered by the fact that during the preceding days, the sun and moon glowed red.

nasa.gov/history
On the night of November 12-13, 1833, a tempest of falling stars broke over the Earth... The sky was scored in every direction with shining tracks and illuminated with majestic fireballs. At Boston, the frequency of meteors was estimated to be about half that of flakes of snow in an average snowstorm. Their numbers were quite beyond counting.

This 3rd phenomena coming just ten years before 1844 was a wakeup call to earth’s inhabitants, to let them know that the great investigative judgment was coming on board shortly. At this time several other pieces of providences were given. In different parts of the earth, several persons, who had no known connection to each other began preaching that God’s kingdom was near.

At this time also a prophet was raised up by God to explain certain truths of the Bible, and to bring to His remnant people, much pertinent information on a wide range of subjects, ranging from health and foods, to family relations and finances, to last day events, so that the remnant would be well prepared to meet God, and to be able to discern the working of antichrist, as the final conflict for our planet is to take center stage.

As in times past, God did not speak audibly to the people, but He gave much providences, and several confirmations which were designed to appeal to our intelligence. These, together with the evidences of truth given are meant to guide our feet in the way we should go, so that we would not stumble in darkness, as so many protestant churches have done.

And now brethren, it is left up to us to choose to believe, and act. God does not coerce the will, but He gives us a body of substantial evidence on which to base our faith. Let us therefore cultivate a heart to believe, for where there is no vision, the people perish.

God bless!

The 144,000. Sabbath Afternoon. 06/09/2018

June 09, 2018

The 144,000 in Revelation 14 are those faithful few who are chosen by God to carry the three angel’s messages to a dying world. But in particular, they are to deliver the third message, since the first two have been given since the autumn of 1844, and thereafter. The third angel’s message is the last, and final one to be given to earth’s inhabitants, and it is designed to permanently close human probation.

The third angel’s message is to be given at the very midnight of earth’s history, at a time when spiritual darkness like a thick cloud has overspread the land, when the evangelical, and protestant believers of our time have become disgusted by the traditions, forms and fables of the churches to the point where many have literally stopped attending church.

The dreaded mark of the beast would then have overspread the land, and the inhabitants of earth would then be called to choose between Christ and satan, truth and error, good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness, the seal of God or the mark of the beast. It is at such a time that the servants of God will deliver to the world, heaven’s last call of mercy. 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.
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These
were redeemed from among men, being the first- fruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation….

The messages given to this group are of very grave import and represents God’s last message of mercy to a dying world. It is represented as the everlasting gospel because it carries eternal consequences for the last generation to live upon the planet. Those who are to give these messages are not to consider family relations, nor are they to be afraid of the face of man.

They are not to seek favor of any, nor should they alter the messages given them because of censure or applause, for the eternal destiny of millions of people depend upon their faithful execution of the commission given them. Indeed, it is never a good policy to alter God’s word to curry favor with the popular majority of the people.

A thus saith The Lord in its purest, unadulterated form is the only thing that will work in this crisis. Thus, we must turn to the scriptures to understand how God works in times of crisis, and what is to be expected from His chosen messengers, at a time when gross darkness has covered the earth, and the multitudes may seem to be engulfed in irretrievable ruin.

We will observe several important pointers, from the three examples given, and we will close with the message given to the 144,000 to give to the world. The following observations will be made from the examples given:

[1] All three instances pertain to a time of national apostasy when idolatry has taken deep root.
[2] The call to service will be given directly by God, for not everyone will be able to deliver such urgent and potent messages. Thus, their marching orders come to them directly from God.
[3] In consequence of the serious nature of their commission, they run the risk of alienating friends, families, and foes, but they must not be distracted
by potential consequences.
[4] The purpose of God’s commission to His chosen is to save as many of those who desire to be saved from irretrievable ruin.

Thus, we begin with Gideon, to whom The Lord appeared directly, at a time when national morale was low, and idolatry had overspread the land of Palestine. The hand of the oppressor was heavy upon Israel on account of their sins and backsliding, to the point where Gideon had to hide his food from the tribes that invaded the land. Let’s read:

Judges 6:1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites,
8 That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus, saith the Lord
God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land;
10 And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.
14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

But before Gideon can be used to deliver Israel, he would have to put his money where his mouth is, by taking a definite stand against false worship, thus, showing in unmistakable terms whose side he is on. One of the problems with the church of Laodicea in our day is that many are not certain which side they are on, and it’s because of this indecision why some are described as being in a lukewarm condition.

Now, Gideon’s commission will have the potential to cause alienation in his own immediate family, in his neighborhood, and nationally, yet he must not in any manner alter what God has told him to do, even though it will stir up trouble. He is to obey implicitly, the voice of God, letting the chips fall where they may, and leaving the consequences in God’s hands.

What one’s family thinks is not to be brought into the equation, when deciding to obey God, because the first and foremost issue of importance is doing God’s will, without turning to the right hand or the left. This will almost certainly put those who are thus called, at odds with friends and family, yet they must pursue their course with unwavering, and firm integrity. Let’s read:

Judges 6:25 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it.
26 And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

The commission given the 144000 will not only put them at odds with friends, family and foes alike, it may actually put their safety in apparent jeopardy, because their commission will involve the tearing down of established religious institutions, traditions and mainstream forms of worship, and because of this, they will have to trust fully, and solely in the providence of God, not considering any inherent or potential risks to their own persons. Let’s read:

Judges 6:27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.
30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.
The same scenario is repeated with Samuel, as he is given a terrible message pertaining to Eli and his house. At this time also there was national apostasy because of the vile actions fostered, and practiced by Eli and his sons. And just as it is in our day, folks began to stay away from church, because they had become discouraged by the greed and materialism exhibited by the spiritual guardians of the people.

1st Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.
13 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand;
14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
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.

Again, just like with Gideon, God speaks directly to Samuel and gives him a message of terrible import. To put it plainly, it’s bad news, for at its core is the close of probation for Eli and his household. After the grave message is given, Samuel cannot sleep, he awakes early the next morning, and does all of the outside chores, for he wants to avoid at all costs, being questioned by Eli, who is as a father to him.

He carries out the garbage, he mows the lawn, he sweeps the exterior of the temple and, he hangs the laundry out to dry, just to avoid any conversation with his “daddy”. But, finally Eli confronts him and asks him what the message is. Samuel trembles in his little boots.

Would he be faithful in telling Eli exactly what God told him, or would he water down the message to lighten the burden that will rest as a shadow on Eli’s brow? Remember, Eli and his sons are like family to young Samuel, and the message given him by God is that their probation will be permanently closed. It’s a ton of pressure resting on young Samuel, for his age.

Could God trust Samuel to deliver, or would he buckle under the terrible pressure resting on his young shoulders. Remember now, that this is his inaugural statement as a prophet, and his entire tenure could be molded or tainted by the way he executes this sacred trust.

Let’s say here, that no Christian person in their right mind, having Christ living within, would be eager to carry such a message; similarly, any person who is eager to deliver the third angel’s message certainly has something seriously wrong with their character. Like the message given to Samuel, the third angel’s message is bad news to those who will receive the mark of the beast regardless of the warnings given. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 3:10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.
15 And Samuel lay until the morning and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17 And he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide anything from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18 And Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.

Again, we have the experience of Elijah, who has been called directly by God to bring about reforms during a time of national apostasy. Idolatry has taken deep root, and the mainstream forms of worship are littered far and wide. The true worship of God, and the keeping of His commandments lie in ruins, and satan is at the head of the nation in the form of Jezebel, leading the inhabitants blindfolded to destruction.

Against this backdrop Elijah is sent with a terrible message from God, that is sure to put him at odds with friends, families and foes. More than this, the message God gives him will threaten the nation’s security, by bring commerce almost to a halt, and because of this, Elijah will become the most wanted man in the country, with a bounty on his head, and with his picture on billboards and fliers.

Will he be faithful, or will he be politically correct as he enters the palace of the then reigning king. Will he dumb down the message, or will he speak forth the words given him by God, without fear or favor. And what about his family and friends who might become the objects of ridicule, contempt, scorn and possibly persecution, as a result of the message.

Will they support Elijah in his course of action, or will they join with satan and Ahab in denouncing what they interpret as an affront to the citizenry? Can God trust Elijah to do His bidding, or will he, like so many pliant Aarons in our day, buckle under the terrible pressure of popular demand? Let’s read:

1st Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

1st Kings 18:7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
9 And he said;
10 As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

1st Kings 17:17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

The first and second angel’s messages are old news, being given around 1844 and increasing thereafter, but the third angel’s message which is to be given is the one that will close off probation for all of earth’s inhabitants. The first message which declares that the hour of His judgment has come referred directly to the investigative judgment which began in 1844, when Christ entered the most holy place.

The second message which declares that “Babylon is fallen is fallen”, refers firstly to the utter rejection of the first angel’s message by protestant churches; and the second fall was completed recently when Protestantism officially came to an end. Therefore, there is only one more shoe to drop, and that’s the third angel’s message, which warns of very severe consequences for those who subscribe to the beast in the near future.

And as it was with Gideon, Samuel, and Elijah, the dire message would be given at a time of national apostasy, when false forms of worship have taken root and the laws and commandments of God are being trampled in the dust.

It is against such a backdrop that God will again speak directly to certain individuals; persons who will not faint under the burden of carrying such a grave message, persons who will not curry favor with politicians or popular preachers, persons who will not be politically correct in delivering their God given message, and who will not allow family, foes, and friends to dissuade them from proclaiming the truth.

Just like it was with those whom God had called in times past, the 144,000 will certainly become the objects of universal execration, they will be put at odds with those whom they love dearly, and during that terrible time they will have to depend on God, and God alone for everything. However, the third angel’s message must be presented in its pure form so as not to leave anyone deceived as to its import. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation….

We will do a disservice if we did not spell out in clear terms what this third message means. Thus, in a simple question and answer format, the goods are laid bare for all to see. Using nothing but scripture, the word of God will explain itself.

Question: What will be the mark of the beast?
Answer: The mark of the beast will be a person’s allegiance given to the power that is pitted against Christ. The sign of allegiance to the Creator is the Sabbath, and therefore the mark of allegiance to the beast will be Sunday, the counterfeit sabbath, when it is enforced. Sunday is an ordinary working day which has no sanctity whatsoever. Let’s read:

Exodus 31:13 Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.
14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you.

Isaiah 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Question: How can one avoid taking the mark of the beast?
Answer: There is one way, and one way only, that is to have Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, because when this is done, the keeping of all of God’s commandments will be a natural by-product.

If we are of the sort who try to avoid stepping on toes because of inconvenient truths given to us by God, we may be laid to rest before the final deluge, because the 144000 must deliver their God-given message without candy-coating it to suit itching ears. The disposition to water down cutting truths will put us at odds with God when He is ready to work in times of grave national peril.

The messages must be delivered in a distinct, and clear-cut manner, even if people might think the messengers judgmental, or pharisaical. None of our cautious methods, and reservations are to interfere with God’s work. If the 144000 are maligned and called names by the sin-loving multitudes, then so let it be.

The honor of God, and the faithful dispatch of duty must be their only watchword. Therefore, we close with a pertinent scripture, given to us to let us know of the urgency of the message, and the seriousness of the moment, if peradventure we may awake out of deep slumber, for now is our salvation much nearer than when we first believed. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 3:18 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.
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.
God Bless!

Swimming Upstream. Sabbath Afternoon 06/02/2018

June 02, 2018

The gospel presented in our day by smooth talking preachers is often designed to candy-coat the real hurdles, challenges, and the battles which must be fought within the domain of the human heart. This is often done by minimizing the real dangers, and threats posed, not only by the adversary of souls, but also the greatest enemy, ourselves, for in too many instances we find that we are in agreement with the enemy of all righteousness.

Several cute sentiments have therefore been coined to make the straight and narrow path seem to be a breeze. For example: “Only believe”, which on the surface may seem to suggest that victory is attained by merely believing. While it is true that believing is the starting point, no one ever came to love their enemies by just believing.

To love one’s enemies will require persons to swim upstream, against the natural current of our fallen nature. It will include experiences where we have been treated wrongfully and despitefully, and then faced with the prospect of forgiving and loving the sinner who did us wrong. This is not natural or easy for any person to do, for it is not a part of who we are at the core, and therefore, must originate from outside of ourselves, even from Christ.

Every step of advance the Christian may attempt to make will be vigorously contested by the evil one. Character building is a work likened unto swimming upstream, for we will find ourselves going against our own natural grain whenever we try to do right. Those who are really desirous of gaining the victory over food will have a food fight on their hands, for it will be much easier to eat candy than salad.

Those who seek victory over impulsiveness, anger, and the urge to retaliate, will have to be patient in tribulation. It is not natural for us to render good for evil, and therefore, we will have to swim upstream through deliberate choice, coupled with the grace of Christ in order that the mind of Christ to be fully formed within.

Again, those who have difficulty in controlling their spending will have to find ways to restrict the habit of window shopping, for it is easier to spend than to save. Those who are addicted to their phones and electronic gadgets, to the point where the hour of prayer has lost its appeal, will have to put away the favorite gadgets for certain periods, so that study of the Bible, and prayer can have room to flourish.

It’s much easier to surf the internet, or watch your favorite game than to pray, for the natural man is not prone to do the right thing on his own. All those who must gain the victory over sexual sins will need to practice stern self-denial, for it’s easier to yield to feelings of euphoria than resist the urge to merge.

And those who are battling pride will have to go through some humiliating circumstances in order to reverse the natural impulse of serving self. But one thing is certain, every noble trait of character must be developed in the heat of the furnace, because a godly character can only be matured by swimming upstream. This is what Christ presented to the folks of His day, and this is what he is saying to us living in Laodicea.

Christianity without stern self-denial is like a bread without flour, for it is a delusion to believe that the easy way offered by the adversary will bring lasting results. When Christ faced the prospect of eating bread in the wilderness of temptation, the craving of natural human nature would have been easier to follow, than to continue languishing for the want of food.
But He set us the example by choosing the path of self-denial, a path that must be decided upon, and deliberately and consistently chosen if one desires to wear the crown of victory. Thus, as He was about to end the sermon on the mount, Christ warned us against accepting a Christianity that’s easy-going or cute, for this is serpent theology at best. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

In other words, there ain’t no easy way to develop a Christlike character. Severe conflicts must be waged against cultivated, and hereditary tendencies to evil which are likened unto a military campaign against oneself. At every step of advance, we not only have satan to fend off, but we have our own selves as our greatest enemy, which is more often than not, in sync with evil. Let’s read:

Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

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.

This leads us to the core of our study, for all of the disciples, just like ourselves had to battle self in a plethora of ways and circumstances, in which they often found themselves agreeing with serpentine philosophies and suggestions. Their seeking for the highest place, the disposition to retaliate when their feelings got hurt, and the tendency to fight fire with fire were all derivatives from the adversary of souls. Let’s read:

Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

At first glance it may seem as if Peter was looking out for Christ’s interests, but when we dig a little deeper we discover that all of the disciples had a longing for a first place in the kingdom, and all that they hoped it would entail. Now if Jesus was to be killed, as He had predicted, that would dash their hopes and dreams of worldly greatness to pieces, and in Peter’s mind, he would have none of it.

It’s worthy of note that satan was the author of the thought, and it was made audible through Peter, for the adversary had found a corresponding chord in his heart. In other words, the thoughts of the devil, and the thoughts of Peter were actually in sync at that moment, and thus, he was able to use Peter as his mouthpiece. Let’s read:

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

In swimming upstream, we will often need to take stock of ourselves to see if our thoughts are in sync with Christ or the serpent. Any thoughts of worldly grandeur and greatness do not emanate from the mind of Christ. In fact, the prosperity gospel that has become so popular in our day is a byproduct of serpentine philosophy and has nothing to do with the kingdom of God or His righteousness. Let’s read:

1st John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

The health/wealth prosperity gospel, which many Christians and evangelicals are subscribing to, will call for firm resistance from true Christians, since there is now a mad rush being made for riches, in high places and low. Health and wealth have been two of the most successful temptations, designed to cause us to lose focus and requires stern self-denial.

The issue of health was presented by satan in the wilderness of temptation to Christ, as His health suffered because of His hunger and long fast. Satan insinuated that a God of love would never leave His son to die of hunger; that there must be a better or more convenient way out of His predicament.

To turn stones into bread would have been easier than to starve, according to serpentine philosophy. But Christ showed us by His example that it is better to starve doing God’s will, than to take the broad road of eating bread, or any forbidden thing for that matter, contrary to God’s will. 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.

However, when this failed, the adversary finally turned to wealth, by presenting the kingdoms of this world in all their grandeur and riches. And just as it was in days gone by, so it is now, for a careful scrutiny will reveal that the bulk of advertisements on TV, radio, and on the internet have to do with health, wealth, and material things. The very same advertisements were also presented to Christ. Let’s read:

Matthew 4: 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

These very two concerns were at the forefront of the minds of the people in Christ’s day, and when it was discovered that Jesus had the power to supply both, multitudes began to follow. Even the disciples themselves were not immune to the health/wealth gospel, because the Messiah which they expected was often portrayed as coming to bless His people with power, wealth, and deliverance. Let’s read:

John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

We don’t know how Andrew, Peter’s brother knew exactly how many loaves and fishes were in the boy’s lunch bag, for to give a correct number one would have to do some counting. But let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Suffice it to say that our focus in the kingdom of God should never be on the loaves and fishes, as is so often the case. 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.
14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

[The Desire of Ages. pp 377] That crowning act is the assurance that the long-looked-for Deliverer is among them. The hopes of the people rise higher and higher. This is He who will make Judea an earthly paradise, a land flowing with milk and honey. He can satisfy every desire. He can break the power of the hated Romans. He can deliver Judah and Jerusalem. He can heal the soldiers who are wounded in battle. He can supply whole armies with food. He can conquer the nations and give to Israel the long-sought dominion.

John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Christians who desire to live victoriously in our day will have deliberate choices to make as it pertains to self-denial, an indispensable crucible incidental to following Christ. To go with the natural flow of human propensity and inclination will be a recipe for disaster and will cause those who subscribe to such teachings to end up in never land.

Grace, as well as supernatural power is promised to all who would seek them earnestly, but we must have a sense of our frailty, and inability to save our own selves. Whenever those inherited or cultivated tendencies to evil begin to tug at our heart strings, or wherever we may see ourselves prone to taking the broad easy way out, let us remember that the way of salvation was paved in self-denial.

It’s not enough for us to accept Christ nominally, for the kingdom of God within our hearts is to produce a new man, woman, boy, and girl. A study of God’s word everyday will give us an active reference point to discern between right and wrong, good and evil, and between truth and error.

But prayer and supplication to God will deliver the much needed grace and strength to help us in time of need and will aid us in the development of those habits, dispositions and attitudes which will become second nature over time. Thus, in closing we exhort everyone to take up his/her cross, following where Christ alone has led the way. Let’s read:

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.

1st Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

God Bless!

Do Unto Others. Sabbath Afternoon 05/26/2018

May 26, 2018

It is a principle of life that what goes around comes around, and the way in which we deal with others, we ourselves will be dealt with. And even though as Christians we should never repay in kind, when we are illtreated, yet for some reason, the very same measure we use in interacting with other folk is the same measure that comes back to our doorstep.

Many of us have made grave mistakes, and errors in judgment in times past, but if we have had Christ in or hearts, being formed within, there must be made manifest, a substantial difference in our characters and habits, with the passage of many years. In other words, walking with Jesus for ten, twenty, or thirty years ought to translate into literal benefits for the kingdom of God, as well as for society.

When God says “Ye are my witnesses”, He is saying to the world that the professed Christian should be an exemplification of the principles, statutes, and laws of the Bible. And therefore, the fundamentals such as truthfulness, paying our bills on time, not writing bounced checks, together with honesty and integrity in our interactions with our fellowmen, are to be part of our everyday experience.

Some of the problems, adverse circumstances and actions which we receive from others, are often a reflection of our own dealing with others, and the root cause can often be traced back to the man in the mirror. Love begets love, friendliness produces friendliness, gossip breeds more gossip, and if we are quick to forgive and forget, others will be quick to forgive and forget, wrongs we have done.

If we have continuous problems collecting money we have worked hard for, it may be that we have a problem with paying our own bills promptly, for if we delay with others, others will delay with us. If we defraud others, we will be defrauded too, and if we are in the habit of not answering our cellphones when people call, we will find it difficult to get folks on the line when we need them most.

Again, if we forgive not men their trespasses, when we stand in need of forgiveness, we will discover it to be a rare commodity. Liars are met with lying lips and honesty is recompensed with honesty. Truthful words and actions tend to reproduce the same kind, and those who may cheat on their spouses will be cheated on themselves. If we gossip about others, the same thing will take place behind our backs. The Bible is pregnant with such teaching. Let’s read:

Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

Proverbs 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.

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.

If we sow corn, we will reap corn; but it is true in some cases, that we may not have done anything to trigger adverse reactions from others, against our own persons, but as a general rule of thumb, the same measure with which we deal with others is the same measure with which we will be dealt. It is not that God sets these actions and reactions in motion, it’s just the working out of the natural, and spiritual laws in the temporal realm. This fact of life is revealed in the scriptures, with the intent that we would reason soberly from cause to effect, and then make straight paths for our feet.

After David sinned by taking Bathsheba and slaying her husband, some other person would also take his wife, and family members dear to him would die as a direct result of his actions. But for David to believe that he would enjoy the pleasures of sin without the consequential reactions was a delusion.

In the old testament, laws were given to govern the human relationships, and the interactions between friends, neighbors, and families. And because God is just, as well as merciful, a tit for tat system was put in place so that those who were wronged could find redress in the judicial system. Thus, many examples were given so that the administration of justice will not be left to chance. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 19:19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
21 But life shall go for life.

Exodus 21:24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

This brings us to the core of our study, for we must assess the Christian’s response to these teachings. In His sermon on the mount Jesus sought to teach the people about the spiritual nature of the Royal law, instead of focusing on the letter, for if we were to adopt the letter as it is written there would be a tendency to crave justice rather than craving mercy.

Therefore, it was necessary for Christ to show forth the far-reaching claims of God’s law of love, and to expound on those Royal principles given to govern the conduct of all who should desire the character, and The Person of Christ. In harmony with His amplified expositions, Jesus sought to show us the Royal way of interacting with others, in order that we may live in harmony with the principles of love, God’s own ideal as it were, which governs all the inhabitants of the unfallen worlds.

Thus, very often we will find these words being repeated: “But I say unto you”, denoting the sharp contrast between the Royal way of doing things, as opposed to what the strict letter of the law would require. Several examples of these contrasts are therefore given, that we may see the big difference between what is strictly just, and what is merciful and Christ-like.

We must remember that God delights in mercy, and as such, He prefers that we do the same. Many folks seem to be obsessed with justice, as is evidenced by the multitude of shows featuring judgment, such as Judge Judy, Judge Alex, Judge Mathis, divorce court, You be the Judge, etc. But God desires instead, that we be obsessed with mercy.

And while it is true that God is also just, He desires that we as Christians deal in the currency of heaven, by preferring mercy over justice. It is important to note in the following passages, that Christ is not doing away with what was written by them of old time, He is just highlighting the royal way of doing things.

Thus, as Christians, we’ll discover that there are two ways to live, and to interact with our friends, family and neighbors, either by adopting that which may be strictly just, or by subscribing to that which is godly and merciful. The choice is ours. 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.
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.

Some theologians have erroneously concluded that Christ was here setting aside the laws of sowing and reaping, or what we refer to as tit for tat laws, given to the Hebrews anciently. However, nothing can be further from the truth, for what Christ did was to show the far-reaching claims of the law, and to establish the much more preferable royal law of love. Let’s read:

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Thus, the principle of repaying evil with good, which Christ is asking us to adopt is not fair, or even just, but it is merciful, it being a reflection of who God really is. If someone was to steal another person’s wallet with $1000.00, the just thing for the offender to do is to restore at least $1000.00. Human nature will crave restitution, while a godly character will be craving the redemption of the offender.

But for the innocent to forgive the debt is merciful, not just. Thus, even though the law of justice is still in place, Christ bids us choose the merciful, Royal route just as He so often does with us. This goes contrary to our fallen human nature, but it can be adopted and practiced through Christ. Let’s read:

Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.

1st Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong?

Christians should not deal retributively in the same currency as they are dealt, when wrongs are done, or committed against their persons. The buck has to stop with the Christian, or else the cycle of evil will continue. But we will often find that to accomplish this, we must go against our own natural grain, for it is not natural, nor easy for us to render good for evil.

Therefore, whenever mercy is to be preferred over justice, we will soon discover that we must pray like never before, so that the sincere spirit of Christ may pervade, and guide our thoughts and actions, or else, we will find ourselves acting the right part, but boiling with rage, enmity, and animosity on the inside.

One of the questions that will certainly arise in this presentation is the administration of justice as it may pertain to the Christian. Do we void justice for mercy’s sake, and are we never to seek recompense for injustices against our persons? We are not to be merciful to the point of stupidity, because kindness is not foolishness, and there is a limit even to God’s forbearance.

The thief on the cross was fully forgiven by Christ, and when Jesus returns the second time, he will be saved in God’s kingdom. However, because fellow citizens, friends, and neighbors had suffered on account of his robberies, he also had to suffer for his crimes, because God’s mercy does not make Him naïve to justice.

In fact, one of the byproducts of walking with Christ is the development of a keen sense of justice. But as a general rule of thumb, we are to defer to God to handle such matters as injustices against ourselves, in His own time and way. And if we truly have a deep relationship with Christ, we will think as He does, by not being obsessed with retribution, but rather being obsessed with redemption. Let’s read:

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.

1st Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.

In closing, it’s important for us to remember that we can choose strict justice, or we may choose the Royal route, but one thing is certain, however we treat others, it will return as the ocean tide to the shores of our own souls. Therefore, we close with a quote from the pen of inspiration, which should be remembered, and practiced by all. Let’s read:

[Test vol. 5] 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.

God bless!

The Investigative Judgment. [3] Sabbath Afternoon. 05/05/2018

May 05, 2018

Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

This passage marks the close of human probation, when every case would have been decided for life eternal, or the second death. The verdicts from the courts above make no allowance for appeal, nor for a second probationary period for us to get our lives in order. Once the irrevocable decisions have been made, persons will continue to do just what they have become accustomed to do, whether good or evil.

Indeed, after the dust has settled, it will be found that heaven is a place of surprises, for there would be persons present on resurrection morning, whom many were not expecting to be present, and there will be persons missing, who were once working enthusiastically for the cause of Christ. This reality of surprises and disappointments was alluded to by Christ when He spoke candidly of the day of final accounts. Let’s read:

Matthew 7: 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there-at:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.

Therefore, it is imperative that we study the reason why very many professed Christians will have their names removed from the book of life. As was stated before, every individual who has taken the name of Christ, has had their names written in the book of life, to await roll call in the investigative judgment. Then, after a careful examination of their character and works, a determination is made either for life or death.

So, the question is “What can possibly cause names to be removed from the book of life, after Christ has died for our sins, and has given to us a new lease on life?” The answer can be found in a well-known text which explains how the sacrifice of Christ is made to be efficacious in a practical way, to those who claim to believe in Jesus. The promise thus made to every believer is conditional, which means that our choice will make all the difference. Let’s read:

1st John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".

For confession and repentance to be acceptable to God it must be accomplished in harmony with The Holy Spirit, which leads us to genuine repentance. Therefore, it must of necessity contain the following three elements for it to be recognized and accepted in the courts above.

[1] An admission of guilt, without making excuses for our wrongs.
[2] A willingness to deal with the consequences of our actions.
[3] An earnest desire to permanently turn away
from our sins.
Without these three necessary components, human confession becomes merely an admission of facts.

The apostle Paul speaks quite candidly about Esau’s repentance, and to the surface reader, it may seem that his tears for what he had done were genuine. But in the courts above they were recorded as being crocodile tears, for they were tears of regret for the outcome, not for any admitted guilt on his part. Let’s read:

Hebrews 12:16 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.

Question: Why was Esau’s confession and apparent repentance not acceptable in God’s sight?
Answer: It was missing the same three components mentioned above, without which, confession is just a mere admission of facts. There’s a huge difference between admitting guilt after one is caught, with no way out, without any compunctions of conscience, and admitting to sin when the Holy Ghost points it out in our conscience privately.

When Achan was found out, it was too late, for he missed the golden opportunity to confess, when he was granted time to do so, as the Holy Spirit spoke vividly in his conscience. True confession by Achan would have included a willingness to suffer the consequences of his actions. In fact, if indeed he had confessed when God would have granted him pardon, he might still have been stoned, for he had caused thirty six men to lose their lives in vain.

Similarly, with Judas, whom Christ pleaded with on numerous occasions, and whose privacy Jesus went to great lengths to protect, since God is not in the business of embarrassing anyone into repentance. The way in which Christ dealt with Judas is worthy of note, for He loathed to mention him by name, leaving the disciples to wonder who exactly He was referring to, when sin was pointed out. Let’s read:

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

Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
7 For ye have the poor with you always, and when-soever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

John 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Why is John writing so blatantly, and exposing Judas as the real culprit by name? It is because Judas was already dead when John wrote, and therefore, John did not need to be concerned about embarrassing his fellow disciple into confessing hidden sins. Thus, as was stated previously, true repentance, and true confession will always include the following, which we will now elaborate on.

[1] An admission of guilt, without making excuses for our wrongs. Excuses such as: I was hungry, or I was tired, I happened to be in the wrong place, at that time I was broken financially, I was thirsty, and the most popular excuse; the devil made me do it. Thus, by making excuses we make ourselves the sport of circumstances, not considering that Christ never once offered any such excuses to depart from God’s will.

A person who habitually excuses his or her failures due to circumstances, cannot be trusted to stand firm for principle in cases of emergency. And faith that is not tested, cannot be trusted.

Thus, when the mark of the beast overspreads the land, the same disposition to make excuses would once again resurface: I took the mark because I was hungry. I had no other choice but to take the mark, because they cut my electricity, and I have children at home, who may die from the extreme humidity in South Florida. And on, and on, and on. Let’s read:

[G.C pp 489] If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with their course, they would make haste to confess their sins and to put them away.

Through defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore, he is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome.

[2] A willingness to deal with the consequences of our actions. Let’s read:
Luke 23: 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in paradise.

[3] An earnest desire to turn from our sins. Let’s read:
Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

Without these three essential elements, confession becomes just a mere admission of the facts. Some have stumbled over David’s confession, after he was confronted by Nathan the prophet, who spoke the words “Thou art the man”. David then and there admitted to the sins which were committed, but the fact is that he was responsive to the Holy Spirit pricking his conscience, long before he met Nathan. Let’s read:

Psalms 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.
5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found.

But with Esau this was not the case, for he blamed everyone but himself for his sin, and he continued to make excuses for his failures. In addition to this, his sorrow was for the loss of the material benefits of the birthright, not for the sin of regarding it too lightly, for his after-history demonstrated that he had no desire to be reconciled to God. Let’s read:

Genesis 25:29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint.
30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus, Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 27:30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac
had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 And he also had made savory meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
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.
41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

When the final verdicts are handed down from the courts above, there will be many, who like Esau, did not rightly esteem what Christ had done for us on Calvary, and like Esau, they bartered away the immortal inheritance for some momentary pleasure or benefit. Thus, like Esau, many crocodile tears will flow, when some realize too late, what they have missed. Let’s read:

Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Therefore, now while we still have opportunity to confess and forsake our sins, now, whilst God’s day of grace is winding down to a close, let us rise to the occasion by leaving off the works of darkness, and putting on the armor of Christ’s righteousness, for now is our salvation much nearer than when we first believed.

David’s type of confession should be our own, for God’s work of grace in the heart is intended to keep us from repetitive sinning. And like David, if persons were to desire an entire change of heart, God will respond by doing what we cannot do for ourselves, by clothing us with the garments of Christ’s own righteousness, which not only covers, but saturates the believer. Let’s read:

Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

We close with a quote from the pen of inspiration, cautioning us not to lull ourselves into a false sense of security, by subscribing to cute doctrines, which portray Jesus as being too loving to dispense justice, for He is both The Lion, and The Lamb! Let’s read:

[G.C pp 491] The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. “So,” says the Savior, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” [Matthew 24:39.]

Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man's destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men. “Watch ye therefore; ... lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.” [Mark 13:35, 36.] Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world.

While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments,—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” [Daniel 5:27.]

God Bless!

The Investigative Judgment. [2] Sabbath Afternoon. 04/28/2018

April 28, 2018

God’s decision to save us eternally is a very serious decision, and it isn’t done lightly as some may seem to make it, for when once the decision is made by Christ, it becomes permanently irreversible. Thus, the utmost care, and most thorough investigation is done, before reaching such a conclusion. Heaven will not be placed in jeopardy anymore, by any who obey today and sin tomorrow, as an ongoing habit.

Thus, it becomes necessary for us to understand the blotting out of sins, for very many Christians may be found living with a false sense of security. There are many persons who were once forgiven, but who will be lost, because forgiveness of itself does not do much for a person, unless the necessary follow up procedure of cleansing from all unrighteousness is put into place, on a continuing basis. Let’s read:

Psalms 78:37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.
38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

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.

A president may grant pardon to a known criminal, but without a change of heart, the person remains just that, a pardoned felon. Former president, Bill Clinton pardoned very many criminals, but whether there was a change of heart is an entirely different question. Thus, it is through John, that The Holy Spirit reveals to us that the plan to rescue humanity is twofold in nature, as it pertains to our side of the equation.

Beginning with confession of sin, with genuine godly repentance, and then the work of cleansing us from all unrighteousness, the twofold work constitutes the original purpose for the plan of salvation. But to merely forgive us does not really accomplish much, and leaves us in the same condition as before. That is why when Jesus came to earth, His mission was clearly stated up front. Let’s read:

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Therefore, in harmony with God’s original purpose, the work of blotting out our sins through the blood of Christ will take place, but only after it has been verified through the investigative judgment, that all who will be saved, have by their continual choices, accepted the atonement, and the life that must be commensurate with the life and teachings of Christ.

The teachings of cheap grace, without obedience, through freedom of choice, sells the plan of God’s salvation short, and will ultimately result in utter disappointment, to those who have subscribed to any such doctrine. Disobedience is what caused our first parents to fall, and therefore, it is by obedience to God that we demonstrate our loyalty.

Christ’s righteousness is a free gift, but it does not demonstrate one’s loyalty. It’s only through willing obedience that our loyalty is confirmed. Hence the reason why the doctrine which states that God’s law was nailed to the cross, strikes not only at the foundation of God’s government, but it effectively removes the means whereby loyalty is verified. Let’s read:

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into
the city.

James 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

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

The previous passage is a qualified statement, for it is only those who do not walk after the flesh, that are covered by the blood of the Lamb, and whose sins will finally be blotted out. Thus, it behooves us to discover what walking after the flesh means. To walk after the flesh means to be governed by those impulses of fallen human nature that drive us in an
opposite direction to Christ.

Christians whose names are currently written in The Lamb’s book of life, but who continue to “walk after the flesh”, will have their names removed, because the blood of Jesus does not blot out cherished sin. In fact, sins are only blotted out when the work of the investigative judgment ends, not before. Sins are now covered, but not blotted out. Let’s read:

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.

The blood of Christ will cleanse persons from all unrighteousness, only as we allow this necessary work to proceed. Hence the reason why our sins are only covered, until such time that our names are called in heaven, and the determination is made to make us eternally secure. Then it is that our sins are slated to be blotted out permanently, when Christ finishes His work of mediation in the sanctuary. Let’s read:

Leviticus 16:20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness.
22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

G.C pp 485] The work of the investigative Judgment and the blotting out of sins is to be accomplished before the second advent of the Lord. Since the dead are to be judged out of the things written in the books, it is impossible that the sins of men should be blotted out until after the Judgment at which their cases are to be investigated.

As was stated previously on several occasions, it is quite easy to know if our sins are blotted out, for if we can remember any sin, it means that it has not been blotted out as yet. It’s that simple. The work of blotting out sins takes place in heaven, it is a deliberate act on God’s part, and has literal effects on earth, for if The Lord does not remember them, then we will not remember them either. Let’s read:

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Hebrews 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

[G.C pp 620] Had not Jacob previously repented of his sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud, God would not have heard his prayer and mercifully preserved his life. So, in the time of trouble, if the people of God had unconfessed sins to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed; despair would cut off their faith, and they could not have confidence to plead with God for deliverance.

But while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins have gone beforehand to judgment and have been blotted out; and they cannot bring them to remembrance.

Psalms 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

This leads us to an important question pertaining to the investigative judgment, for we should be aware of how the blood of Jesus is applied to our account. For an answer we turn to the experience of the king of ancient Babylon, who had for years, set Himself up against the King of heaven.

He ordained counterfeit worship and punished any who did not subscribe to his dictates. But later on, after eating much grass, he sincerely repented by acknowledging the God of heaven, and that he had done wrong. By so doing, his name was recorded in the book of life, his sins were forgiven and covered, and if his choice remained permanent, then his sins would be blotted out permanently when Christ ends the investigative judgment. Let’s read:

Daniel 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar answered and said;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king.
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

However, if after some time the king of Babylon had returned to his old ways, if he returned to his pride, to his boasting, and to his oppression; the grace of Christ which forgave him when he acknowledged his sin and confessed to God, and the blood of Jesus which covered him would then be removed, and his name, his confessions, and all his good deeds would be erased permanently, because God only blots out the sins of those who remain forgiven. Let’s read:

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

2nd Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

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

Everyone who has ever named the name of Christ has had their names entered into the Lamb’s book of life, without exception. This applies equally to the sincere, and the insincere Christian. It is a standard procedure which takes place when one enters by faith into a covenant relationship with The Lord Jesus.

This includes such persons as the thief on the cross, and Judas Iscariot, both of whom were formerly registered in the book of life. In addition, the grace of God which brings salvation to all men, is given to every believer in the most literal sense. It is the gift of Christ’s righteousness, the robe that is not of human devising. What we do with that robe from the point of surrender onwards is what determines our eternal destiny.

It is often the case, that even after accepting the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and being covered by His blood, that there are spots and wrinkles in our lives which need to be addressed. This is done via sanctification, whereby God takes us through some experiences, or trials to show us where change is needed, and if we were to stay the course with Him every defect will be removed.

Often when clothes have been washed and dried, they come out looking and smelling clean, but alas some wrinkles remain. Whenever this is the case, there is one, and only one way to get rid of those wrinkles, and that’s to iron them out! Let’s read:

Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

[TBLJ 246] The furnace fires are not to destroy, but to refine, ennoble, sanctify. Without trial we would not feel so much our need of God and His help; and we would become proud and self-sufficient. In the trials that come to us we should see the evidences that the Lord's eye is upon us, and that He means to draw us to Himself.

God Bless!

The Investigative Judgment [1] Sabbath Afternoon 04/21/2018

April 21, 2018

This afternoon’s Bible study will mark the beginning of a three-part series which will cover some aspects of the investigative judgment, now taking place in the courts above, and which will finally culminate in the exoneration of those who truly believe in Christ. But there are others whose names are now enrolled on church records, who will discover, all to late, that their relationship with Christ was not what it ought to have been.

These latter ones will have their names removed from the Lamb’s book of life, nevermore to be a part of God’s kingdom, and will be judged during the 1000 years between Christ’s second, and third coming. The millennium mentioned above is not an additional probationary period, as some believe, it is the time during which the eternally lost will be judged. 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.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Therefore, we must begin with several important
points to be contemplated, as it pertains to our attitude, and our standing in the judgment.

[1] Every individual who has ever professed to be a Christian will be called by name in the courts above. We are not called by families, nor by churches, but individually. Let’s read:

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

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

[G.C pp 483] As the books of record are opened in the Judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated.

Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God's remembrance.

[2] Every work will be brought into judgment. We are saved by grace, but are judged by our works, for what we do, and how we live makes manifest our response to God’s gracious overtures to us through Christ. However, those sins that are confessed, and forsaken will be blotted out, and will not serve as a determining factor in the final verdict. Let’s read:

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Psalms 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

[3] When there's no wrong to hide, intense scrutiny isn't viewed as a threat. The investigative judgment will only terrify those who have unconfessed, and unforsaken sins, for with nothing wrong to hide, any investigation will be welcomed, since the person in question can confidently look forward to his or her final exoneration.

But where there is “Hidden” guilt, and where there are skeletons in the closet, that person will become nervous, agitated, perturbed, unsettled, disquieted, ill at ease, and “sweating bricks”. A clear conscience before God, and man is something every Christian should strive for, by God’s grace, because it brings a peace that no amount of money can buy, together with tranquility, assurance, and restful sleep. Let’s read:

Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.

Isaiah 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Investigation will be welcome news to those who are walking uprightly, but if there are any concealed wrongs, investigation will be bad news. Thus, the true Christian will be looking forward with a calm confidence to the investigative judgment, while the person who is living a lie, will be cowering in fear. In addition, we should always remember that there is no such thing as a hidden skeleton with God, for He sees and knows all. Let’s read:

Numbers 32:23 Behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.

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.

Daniel 2: 20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his.
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

1st Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.

Even though our confidence is never to be placed in our own righteousness, yet it is important that we have a clear conscience, void of offence before God and man. To put it in plain words, trusting in Christ’s righteousness, does not atone for deliberate guilt, for His robe of righteousness is not used as a cloak for any concealed, or intentional, known sin.

[G.C pp 486] Sin may be concealed, denied, covered up from father, mother, wife, children, and associates. No one but the guilty actors may cherish the least suspicion of the wrong; but it is laid bare before the intelligences of Heaven. The darkness of the darkest night, the secrecy of all deceptive arts, is not sufficient to veil one thought from the knowledge of the Eternal.

God has an exact record of every unjust account and every unfair dealing. He is not deceived by appearances of piety. He makes no mistakes in his estimation of character. Men may be deceived by those who are corrupt in heart, but God pierces all disguises, and reads the inner life.

[4] The “Secret Thing” mentioned in Ecclesiastes, has to do with the thoughts, purposes, and intents of the heart; those abstract, invisible aspects of sin and righteousness that may be hidden from human investigators. It also includes evils some may have planned to do but never got the opportunity to. Sin originates, and is reckoned primarily at the indulged thought, and consent levels, therefore, the overt actions aren’t necessary to incur guilt. Let’s read:

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

Psalms 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Thus, whatsoever we do, think, and say, we should do it as if in the very presence of The Eternal God. If we were to harbor a vivid sense of God’s continual presence, much of what we say and do will change dramatically. In addition, it will help us in living in sincerity and truth.

It is against such a backdrop that we will embark upon our study of an investigative judgment given in miniature form, from a human perspective. The prophet Daniel was called to be the president of Babylon, but as is so often the case with politics, some of his subordinates became jealous of his promotion to the second highest office in the land.

This jealousy spawned an intense investigation, in which they were bent on digging up dirt on Daniel. They searched his credit records to see if as one who professed to be a Christian, he was paying his bills on time, or was living beyond his means. Next, they searched his I-phone to see if there were any graphic, or inappropriate text messages between himself and some of the female interns who worked in his office.

Next, they went for Daniel’s computer, and his hard drive, to see what websites he visited at night. Yes, he might have been prudent enough not to search the internet on the job, but his personal computer, they thought, might be loaded with questionable searches of those websites that are forbidden in the seventh commandment.

Next, they went after Daniel’s bank records to see if any “Hush” money was paid to keep some unknown person silent. They also scrutinized his finances for bank fraud, and wire fraud, for embezzlement, or if for some reason he was misappropriating the funds of Babylon, which fell under his jurisdiction.

Finally, they thought they would certainly get him on tax evasion, so they subpoenaed the Babylonian IRS, [BRS] for all of Daniel’s tax records, dating back to years before he became president. But, through all of this intense investigation and scrutiny, Daniel remained calm, and self-possessed. He didn’t even have to hire any prominent Babylonian lawyer, for as far as Daniel was concerned, there was nothing wrong to hide. Let’s read:

Daniel 6:1 It 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.

Therefore, having become utterly exasperated by their fruitless search, they resorted to the last, and only remaining item on the agenda, Daniel’s God, and Daniel’s religion. Not that there was anything wrong with Daniel’s religion, but it was just very different from the mainstream religions of his day. And thus, if we’re ever to suffer, let it not be as an evildoer, but because of our faith and practice. Let’s read:

Daniel 6:5 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.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live forever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

Here is where Jesus Christ went to work on Daniel’s behalf, to exonerate someone who believed in Him, but who also was very careful to maintain a clear conscience, void of offence before God and man. It would be very difficult for God to vindicate Daniel, if indeed the investigators had dug up “Dirt”, such as bank fraud, or Babylonian income tax evasion.

The mighty angels whom God sent to deliver Daniel would have been hard pressed to do so, if there was deliberate sin, or known guilt with Daniel. And thus, because he honored God by a clear conscience, the lions were bidden to wag their tails, not roar at him, and the reason is given in the scriptures. Let’s read:

Daniel 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

As Christians who are living contemporaneously in the time of the investigative judgment, it is of very critical importance for us to walk circumspectly, in light of the much broader, and much more in-depth nature of God’s scrutiny, because He desires to be able to vindicate, and exonerate all those who are called by His name.

Therefore, now is a bad time to be playing church; instead, we should be seeking for grace, not merely for forgiveness of sins, but so that we may be living embodiments of the character of Christ. In harmony with this, we offer an urgent reminder, that the day of God’s grace is hastening to a close, and as such, it is imperative that we live soberly, righteously, and godly in this generation. Let’s read:

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

God Bless!

The Forbidden Tree. Sabbath Afternoon. 04/14/2018

April 14, 2018

When the scripture states that the mystery of God will be finished, it is specifically referring to a greatly increased revelation of the character of God, as is manifested in His law, and the many other portions of scripture, which hitherto may have been clouded to many minds. The word Revelation simply means to reveal, and therefore an extensive explanation of issues that were once blurred, must now be made plain.

In harmony with this promise given us by God, He has made it plain to His prophets, that great truth is to lighten the earth with the glory of God, meaning that His character of love, and His great wisdom in the plan of salvation, together with all His dealings, and interactions with the human family, would be on full display during the final conflict between God and satanic agencies in the last days. Let’s read:

Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Daniel 12:4 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.

One of the subjects written in the Bible, which was previously clouded to many minds, is the issue of the forbidden tree in Eden, which God planted, and which He cautioned Adam and Eve not to partake of nor touch, for the inevitable result would be death to themselves and their posterity. Now, some have questioned why the God of love would plant such a
tree in the garden.

Others have wondered why satan was permitted to enter the garden, and still others have reasoned, if God knew the end from the beginning, why would He proceed with such a venture. One thing we must remember in all of our questions and deliberations, is that everything God does has at its core good and upright purposes, which would be fulfilled sooner or later.

Finite beings may not be able to see the end from the beginning, but if the curtains were pulled back, and we were made privy to the end results, we will not choose any other way than what God chosen. It is against the backdrop of faith in His perfect works, wisdom and goodness, that we should embark upon the study of the character of God. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 32:1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
3 Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Thus, the issue of the forbidden tree is laden with a host of other pertinent truths that are important for us to understand as we study the beginnings of the great controversy on our planet. There is absolutely nothing wrong with God planting the tree of good and evil in the garden. Obedience to His instructions will guarantee safety, even if there were a hundred other forbidden trees.

It was to develop and test their loyalty that the tree was placed in the garden, because loyalty cannot be developed, nor ascertained when one doesn’t have the option of choosing differently. The loyalty of all husbands and wives is proven only when he or she deliberately chooses not to go with other options. But for a husband to block his wife from being free to choose to love him, will produce a mere robot.

Banning other contrary options is a principle that stems from the use of force, which is directly averse to God’s character of love. In fact, religious persons who seek to proscribe opposing views, will end up persecuting those with whom they disagree, even if their intentions are upright. A true Christian should be able to live peaceably on the same street with an atheist, Buddhist, or Satanist.

The real threat to man’s existence is not that satan lives on our street, or is perched in the forbidden tree, it is disobedience to God’s word that is the real danger. In fact, according to what is written in “His secret” the forbidden tree was located in other worlds, and no one suffered any loss, because they obeyed God’s warning. Let’s read:

[Early Writings pp 39> 40] The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song. The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely.

They bore the express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place. I asked one of them why they were so much more lovely than those on the earth. The reply was, “We have lived in strict obedience to the commandments of God, and have not fallen by disobedience, like those on the earth.”
Then I saw two trees, one looked much like the tree of life in the city. The fruit of both looked beautiful, but of one they could not eat. They had power to eat of both, but were forbidden to eat of one. Then my attending angel said to me, “None in this place have tasted of the forbidden tree; but if they should eat, they would fall.”

In Miami Gardens on North West 19th Avenue, is an electrical substation with several huge transformers carrying megavolts of current. But right next to the substation there are many houses with people living safely for years, and they will continue to do so with no existential threat, once they obey the warning signs which say “Do not touch”. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Verse one of the previous passages, raises another question that has long been clouded to many minds for it says that the serpent spoke to Eve, raising the prospect that he could have had access to our first parents at any time, and at any place in the garden. In fact, the serpent could only have access to them at the place that was off-limits, for satan was not allowed to follow them continually with temptation. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 53] Satan was not to follow them with continual temptations; he could have access to them only at the forbidden tree. Should they attempt to investigate its nature, they would be exposed to his wiles. They were admonished to give careful heed to the warning which God had sent them and to be content with the instruction which He had seen fit to impart.

This critically important piece of information sheds light on the character of God, for even though He can only accept our freedom of choice to serve Him, yet He does not make it easy or incidental for us to sin. Adam and Eve would have to go where no man had gone before, they would have to choose to go onto the enchanted ground, before they would be rendered vulnerable.

This fact leads us to the core of our study, for there are several “forbidden trees” still in existence, and like our first parents, many people, including some Christians, are deliberately choosing to touch, taste, and handle, even though the commands of God’s word against such actions are numerous, explicit, and plain.

For starters, The Lord will have us understand, that like Adam and Eve, satan is not permitted to follow us continually with temptations, for if this was to be the case, most, if not all of us would have given up long ago in discouragement. And even though he is permitted to tempt us at times, yet the bulk of his infernal activities are greatly restricted, monitored, and overseen by God on a personal level. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 10:13 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.

Therefore, according to the previous passage, it is quite possible that very many, if not most of our temptations actually occur as a result of us going to the forbidden trees to be tempted. So, for reason of clarity, we must delineate in clearest terms, where some of these forbidden trees are located. There are literal places where the forces of the enemy are firmly entrenched.

In other words, there are places on this earth where there are many more evil spirits congregated, than in other places, and every Christian living in these last days must know the difference. There are also virtual trees, and online trees, and other places and activities which are described as being satan’s enchanted ground. Let’s read:

[Messages to young people pp 82] Keep yourselves away from the corrupting influences of the world. Do not go unbidden to places where the forces of the enemy are strongly entrenched. Do not go where you will be tempted and led astray.

Question: What types of places, influences, and activities are being here spoken of?

[1] The Movies: The movies provide both initiation and indoctrination into a host of evils, which once our minds are exposed to, the imagery, actions, and the desire to replicate are instilled, and are set in motion. Sexually explicit scenes in movies will incite attendees to adultery; violent scenes at the movies will incite to violence, and magical scenes will open up the desire for witchcraft, because by beholding we become changed.

All satan has to do is to get us thinking about evil, for he knows the scripture which says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. Therefore, once the mental seed has been planted in our thoughts, the actions will most likely follow, when the opportune time arises, or when the right set of circumstances converge. The sex scandals we’re seeing unfolding daily did not occur in a vacuum, they all began with eating from the forbidden tree. Let’s read:

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

[P&P 460] Through the drama he has worked for ages to excite passion and glorify vice. The opera, with its fascinating display and bewildering music, the masquerade, the dance, the card table, Satan employs to break down the barriers of principle and open the door to sensual indulgence. In every gathering for pleasure where pride is fostered, or appetite indulged, where one is led to forget God and lose sight of eternal interests, there Satan is binding his chains about the soul.

[2] Churches that teach error: The doctrines of a church are the keys to its conscience, for whatever one believes is what he will do. Thus, wherever any falsehoods are being taught and practiced, where erroneous theories are advocated, there is where another forbidden tree is located. There the serpent is perched, not in the branches but in the pulpit, to seduce and confuse the unwary into sin.

This is what some may describe as an inconvenient truth, but nevertheless, it must be exposed, since many Christians do not see any danger in hopping from church to church, regardless of the doctrines being taught. 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.

Isaiah 30:9 This is a rebellious people, lying children, that will not hear the law of the Lord.
10 Which say to prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.

Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

[Early Writings pp 274] An innumerable host of evil angels are spreading themselves over the whole land. The churches and religious bodies are crowded with them. And they look upon the religious bodies with exultation; for the cloak of religion covers the greatest crimes and iniquity.

[E.W 125] God is displeased with us when we go to listen to error, without being obliged to go; for unless He sends us to those meetings where error is forced home to the people by the power of the will, He will not keep us. The angels cease their watchful care over us, and we are left to the buffetings of the enemy, to be darkened and weakened by him and the power of his evil angels; and the light around us becomes contaminated with the darkness.

[3] Online trees, and virtual trees: The serpent is often perched in branches of online trees, where it’s usually much more convenient for subscribers to pluck and eat in the privacy of their own homes. In our day, every type of evil is readily available at the click of a button, and because of this, many are now eating of the forbidden fruit online.

The prohibitions God has given against indulging in evil pertains to both literal and virtual trees. The sin of adultery occurs online and offline, for porn, and sexting are recorded as adultery, even though there may never be any physical contact. Adultery occurs, and begins in the mind, and is then manifested in an overt action, but a physical, literal rendezvous is not necessary for it to be recorded as sin. Let’s read:

Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Christians who countenance, or condone adultery for political, or financial benefit are doing a great disservice to the cause of Christ, for by so doing the moral fabric of society, as well as the foundation of the family unit is being essentially destroyed, thus making the claim of “Family values” a misnomer.

Therefore, because we are inundated with several forbidden trees, and because it has become second nature for the small and great, rich and poor to pick and eat, we are instructed by God to give warning to those who desire Christ and heaven, to abstain from indulging any appearance of evil, because the choice to obey God must be deliberate and decisive, just as it should have been in the garden where it all started.

We close with an exhortation from the scriptures, and pertinent counsel from the pen of inspiration, encouraging us to choose good over evil, because our choice to obey God is what will ultimately make all the difference for our eternal destiny in the end. Let’s read:

1st Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 460] Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind should not be left to wander at random upon every subject that the adversary of souls may suggest. “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

God Bless!

A Christian's Priorities. Sabbath Afternoon 04/07/2018

April 07, 2018

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Christ’s promise to be with us is in the context of our fulfilling the commission given us. Therefore, it seems as if our brains would have to be rewired to think, and act along those lines, for very many of us are quite absorbed in the temporal things of life, to the point where active ministry in Christ’s kingdom is often viewed as an encroachment upon one’s time, and personal resources.

But the main priority of a true Christian is not merely to make a living, and pay bills, nor is it to focus on retirement, or wealth management, for even though these things may be good in their legitimate sphere, yet Christ never intended that they should absorb our keenest interest. Thus, a true Christian’s priority will be a burden for souls for whom Christ died, and every other consideration will be held subject to that one great and noble purpose.

Whatsoever sits on our minds continually from day to day, and whatsoever absorbs our utmost interest is where we will ultimately expend our best energy, and resources. In this age of the world, numerous inventions, and distractions are eating up valuable time and resources, which have nothing to do with the commission Christ has given to us as Christians.

This in turn has produced a lukewarm condition in the church, where many members do just enough to get by as Christians, even though a vital interest, and energy in the building up of God’s kingdom may be lacking. The words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” are not addressed to those who did the bare minimum, but rather to those who went over and beyond, sacrificially, in advancing the interests of God’s kingdom upon the earth.

It was against the backdrop of a confused order of priorities that Christ cautioned Christians not to lose focus, for whenever that takes place, the Laodicean syndrome sets in, and a lukewarm form of Christian living is the sure result. Thus, the word “Treasure” in the following passages, not only has to do with literal treasures and possessions, it also refers to whatsoever is consuming our highest interest, and best resources, which does not contribute to the salvation of souls. Let’s read:

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Our treasure refers to what we deeply care about, it refers to what may cause us to lose sleep at nights, it has to do with what we will spend any amount of money to preserve and protect, and it also includes what we will readily sacrifice for, putting the most value on, and esteeming it of greatest importance. If the salvation of souls, for whom Christ died does not fit the above description, then our “Treasure” is in the wrong place. Let’s read:

Matthew 6:31 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.

When the disciples mourned that they had fished all night, and had caught nothing, The Lord showed in graphic terms what was the real problem. It wasn’t that they had bad luck, and it wasn’t because there were no fish to take their bait, neither did they fail because of a lack of skill on their part, for they were very experienced fishermen. The problem was their mixed-up priorities. Let’s read:

Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

[C.O.L. 366] Christ's coming was at a time of intense worldliness. Men were subordinating the eternal to the temporal, the claims of the future to the affairs of the present. They were mistaking phantoms for realities, and realities for phantoms. They did not by faith behold the unseen world. Satan presented before them the things of this life as all-attractive and all-absorbing, and they gave heed to his temptations.

Christ came to change this order of things. He sought to break the spell by which men were infatuated and ensnared. In His teaching He sought to adjust the claims of heaven and earth, to turn men's thoughts from the present to the future. From their pursuit of the things of time, He called them to make provision for eternity.

However, in our day, very great changes have taken place in our order of priorities, for we seem to have lost to a large extent, the burning desire to seek and save the lost, that willingness to forsake all for the sake of the gospel. Many Christians are now heavily focused on their education, their 401ks, the politics of the day, the breaking news, and the numerous scandals which absorb valuable time and interest.

Yet, many of us hardly lose sleep over souls who are going down into Christ-less graves every day, to the point where some have become desensitized to the urgency of the moment, and the great need to help in finishing the work of the gospel to all the world. A certain news network had sent their camera crew to film the rescue of a cat that inadvertently climbed onto a high tension electric wire.

With the cameras rolling, and fire trucks and crew in a frenzy, they watched with baited breath as the rescue unfolded. Then, without a warning, the cat leapt from the electric pole and went his way, thus making the efforts of the rescue team useless. But, according to the statistics, on that same day, about 151,600 people died across the world, and most of them were never even mentioned.

Thus, if our energies and interests are bound up in the mundane things of life, whilst we hardly bat an eye to the needs of humanity, and the salvation of our fellowmen for whom Christ died, then we will need to re-examine where our priorities are, and make the necessary changes through the power of God, and deliberate sensible choices.

In fact, Jesus placed individuals, including Christians into one of two categories, the gatherers, and the scatterers. Those who are not actively gathering souls to Christ, are not merely sitting on the fence, they are scattering away from Him. Let’s read:

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Therefore, as we seek to remedy this lukewarm state of things, let’s turn to the examples given of the early believers, who, after the day of Pentecost had their minds rewired to serve, seek and save the lost. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, their main concern each day was “How can we win more souls to Christ?”

Their education, their retirement, their nest eggs, their entertainment, their work, and everything else was held in subjection to that singular purpose, and because of this, God was able to work tremendously through them, for the upbuilding of His kingdom. Let’s read:

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly.

[A.A. pp 37] The disciples prayed with intense earnestness for a fitness to meet men and in their daily intercourse to speak words that would lead sinners to Christ. Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship.

These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching. The disciples felt their spiritual need and cried to the Lord for the holy unction that was to fit them for the work of soul saving. They did not ask for a blessing for themselves merely. They were weighted with the burden of the salvation of souls. They realized that the gospel was to be carried to the world, and they claimed the power that Christ had promised.

To the church of our day, a Laodicean paralysis has gripped many persons, and we too are absorbed in those things that are eaten and corrupted by moths on different levels. Yet, The Lord is calling as many as are willing to make the necessary changes in our priorities, and to work sacrificially, so that the world may be enlightened by the everlasting gospel given to our generation.

In lieu of the urgency of the moment, and the very short time we have left in which to accomplish the great commission given us, Christ gives us a gentle reminder of the work He has given us to do. And He is saying to us, that if we were to rearrange all our affairs in their proper order of priority, everything else downstream will fall into its rightful place. Let’s read:

Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
God Bless!

A Prophet Among Us. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/31/2018

March 31, 2018

Up until the time of Moses, the prophets of God all spoke by word of mouth, for there was not a Bible written anywhere, for reference, nor confirmation purposes. God sent holy men with very important messages or warnings to the people, and they were expected to believe. In fact, when we study closely we will discover that God never publicly declared to the antediluvians that Noah was a prophet.

Noah was righteous in his generation, but there were also several other righteous persons living in Noah’s day, so the antediluvians were faced with the prospect of believing the words of someone of contemporaneous standing, who declared that life as they knew it would come to a sudden end, with billions of individuals perishing.

Thus, the primary evidences God gave to the people back then was Noah’s righteous life, his faithfulness in setting before them the reasons for their coming destruction, and finally, the phenomenon of birds, and animals entering the ark in perfect formation. These evidences were designed to appeal both to the senses and intelligence of the people, but other than that they were expected to believe. Let’s read:

Genesis 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
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.
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.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

When God gave this message to Noah, it wasn’t in a public setting, but rather in private, but the people were to consider if Noah’s delineation of their sins was true, and if so, they were to believe, confess, and repent. Thus, at the very onset of his prophetic ministry, is the issue of how much evidence should be required before the antediluvians believed, for their salvation would be inevitably linked to belief.

More than this, Noah also declared that heavy rain was to fall, to the point where it would engulf the entire globe, something which had never occurred on the planet, and for which there was no scientific data, no historical precedent, and no evidence.

So, the question is: Why should the antediluvians of Noah’s day believe? Were they to sell their homes, put their education on hold, and go huddle in a boat filled with animals and creeping things solely on the word of the prophet, who had no formal training or education as a scientist. In other words, should the people back then believe Noah instead of Steven Hawking?

Similarly, when Joseph declared to pharaoh that a deadly famine was coming, all that the king had to go with was the singular testimony of his butler. He could choose to believe the butler’s testimony or he could chalk it up to figments of Joseph’s imagination but one thing was certain, the survival of Egypt was dependent on the kings disposition, and willingness to believe.

Thus, in dealing with the issue of a God-ordained prophet, we must first begin with the attitude of believing, for this is the one critical element that will set the stage for us to accept what God has to say through His servants, or conversely, to reject, quibble, or to be skeptical towards any prophetic utterances.

It is extremely important for Christians to cultivate a disposition of faith and belief, instead of an attitude of skepticism, because our eternal destiny can hang in the balance, depending on our disposition to believe, or not. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

2nd Peter 1:21 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.

The question is often asked: “Why the need for the prophetic ministry, not only in those former years, but also in our day? The answer to this important question is to be found in the Bible, for since the fall of man, God has very rarely spoken in public to the masses of people. Instead, He uses chosen human agents as His mouthpiece.

And in so doing, God is able to pass on the critically important information to those who are disposed to believe, information which in many cases would not be readily accepted by the popular majority, even if there was an abundance of additional extra details, explanations, insights, and warnings, that are not to be found anywhere in the Bible. Thus, the attitude of believing His prophets could save us from serious and even grave mistakes. Let’s read:
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish.

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

“His Secret” has to do with additional, and critically important information that is not primarily offered to the masses of people, but is designed for those with a believing mind. Thus, as we study, we would observe a pattern emerging, of which we should be cognizant, in which much meat is put upon “Them dry bones” that are often found in the scriptures. Let’s read:

Dry Bones # [1]: Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
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.

The prophet Isaiah gives us more detail as to why satan and his angels were cast out, for he explains to us the pride that was indulged by lucifer, before he became satan. In addition, Isaiah laments the woes, the evil, the destruction, and death that has come upon humanity, as a result of that first war in heaven. 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.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
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;
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

But even those revelations given to Isaiah and John leave out important, and extensive details treating upon the same subject. The additional “Meat” was given to Ellen G. White to broaden the picture, and to enhance our comprehension of what took place. Thus, the meat we are now going to eat with those bones, could save very many from the fatal error of
misunderstanding the character of God. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 36] In heavenly council the angels pleaded with Lucifer. The Son of God presented before him the greatness, the goodness, and the justice of the Creator, and the sacred, unchanging nature of His law; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker and bring ruin upon himself. But the warning, given in infinite love and mercy, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail and became the more determined.

[Page 37] Leaving his place in the immediate presence of the Father, Lucifer went forth to diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels. He worked with mysterious secrecy, and for a time concealed his real purpose under an appearance of reverence for God.

He began to insinuate doubts concerning the laws that governed heavenly beings, intimating that though laws might be necessary for the inhabitants of the worlds, angels, being more exalted, needed no such restraint, for their own wisdom was a sufficient guide.

[Page 39] In great mercy, according to His divine character, God bore long with Lucifer. The spirit of discontent and disaffection had never before been known in heaven. It was a new element, strange, mysterious, unaccountable. A compassionate Creator, in yearning pity for Lucifer and his followers, was seeking to draw them back from the abyss of ruin into which they were about to plunge. But His mercy was misinterpreted.

[Page 41] God permitted Satan to carry forward his work until the spirit of disaffection ripened into active revolt. It was necessary for his plans to be fully developed, that their true nature and tendency might be seen by all.

[The Story Of redemption pp 26] Satan trembled as he viewed his work. He was alone in meditation upon the past, the present, and his future plans. His mighty frame shook as with a tempest. An angel from heaven was passing. He called him and entreated an interview with Christ. This was granted him.

He then related to the Son of God that he repented of his rebellion and wished again the favor of God. He was willing to take the place God had previously assigned him and be under His wise command. Christ wept at Satan's woe but told him, as the mind of God, that he could never be received into heaven.

Heaven must not be placed in jeopardy. All heaven would be marred should he be received back, for sin and rebellion originated with him. The seeds of rebellion were still within him.

Dry Bones # [2] Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 52] Our first parents were not left without a warning of the danger that threatened them. Heavenly messengers opened to them the history of Satan's fall and his plots for their destruction, unfolding more fully the nature of the divine government, which the prince of evil was trying to overthrow.

[Page 53] The serpent was then one of the wisest and most beautiful creatures on the earth. Resting in the rich-laden branches of the forbidden tree and regaling itself with the delicious fruit, it was an object to arrest the attention and delight the eye of the beholder. Thus, in the garden of peace lurked the destroyer, watching for his prey.

[Page 53>54] The angels had cautioned Eve to beware of separating herself from her husband while occupied in their daily labor in the garden; with him she would be in less danger from temptation than if she were alone. But absorbed in her pleasing task, she unconsciously wandered from his side.

On perceiving that she was alone, she felt an apprehension of danger, but dismissed her fears, deciding that she had sufficient wisdom and strength to discern evil and to withstand it. Unmindful of the angels’ caution, she soon found herself gazing with mingled curiosity and admiration upon the forbidden tree. The fruit was very beautiful, and she questioned with herself why God had withheld it from them.

[Page 55>556] Now was the tempter's opportunity. As if he were able to discern the workings of her mind, he addressed her: “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Eve was surprised and startled as she thus seemed to hear the echo of her thoughts.

But the serpent continued, in a musical voice, with subtle praise of her surpassing loveliness; and his words were not displeasing. Instead of fleeing from the spot she lingered wonderingly to hear a serpent speak.

The serpent plucked the fruit of the forbidden tree and placed it in the hands of the half-reluctant Eve. Then he reminded her of her own words, that God had forbidden them to touch it, lest they die. Perceiving no evil results from what she had done, Eve grew bolder. It was grateful to the taste, and without a fear she plucked and ate.

Having herself transgressed, she became the agent of Satan in working the ruin of her husband. In a state of strange, unnatural excitement, with her hands filled with the forbidden fruit, she sought his presence, and related all that had occurred.

An expression of sadness came over the face of Adam. He appeared astonished and alarmed. To the words of Eve he replied that this must be the foe against whom they had been warned; and by the divine sentence she must die. In answer she urged him to eat, repeating the words of the serpent, that they should not surely die.

If we were to ask any prominent lawyer to analyze the information given in the Bible, pertaining to the fall of our first parents, they will ultimately conclude that many details, and specifics have been omitted from the crime scene, evidences that can greatly alter their conclusions, or findings.

But, through the additional circumstantial evidence given by the prophet, most lawyers would generally conclude that Eve disobeyed God before she saw or heard the serpent, thus placing the responsibility for her sin, squarely on her shoulders.

Dry Bones # [3] Deuteronomy 34:1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab, to the top of Pisgah; And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,
2 And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,
3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
4 And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 472] A panoramic view of the Land of Promise was presented to him. Every part of the country was spread out before him, not faint and uncertain in the dim distance, but standing out clear, distinct, and beautiful to his delighted vision. In this scene it was presented, not as it then appeared, but as it would become, with God's blessing upon it, in the possession of Israel.

[Page 475>476] Moses saw the chosen people established in Canaan, each of the tribes in its own possession. He had a view of their history after the settlement of the Promised Land; the long, sad story of their apostasy and its punishment was spread out before him. He saw them, because of their sins, dispersed among the heathen, the glory departed from Israel, her beautiful city in ruins, and her people captives in strange lands.

He was permitted to look down the stream of time and behold the first advent of our Savior. He saw Jesus as a babe in Bethlehem. He heard the voices of the angelic host break forth in the glad song of praise to God and peace on earth.

He beheld in the heavens the star guiding the Wise Men of the East to Jesus, and a great light flooded his mind as he called those prophetic words, “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17. He beheld Christ's humble life in Nazareth, His ministry of love and sympathy and healing, His rejection by a proud, unbelieving nation.

As Moses beheld the final rejection of that people so highly blessed of Heaven—that people for whom he had toiled and prayed and sacrificed, for whom he had been willing that his own name should be blotted from the book of life; as he listened to those fearful words, “Behold your house is left unto you desolate” (Matthew 23:38), his heart was wrung with anguish, and bitter tears fell from his eyes, in sympathy with the sorrow of the Son of God.

He followed the Savior to Gethsemane, and beheld the agony in the garden, the betrayal, the mockery and scourging—the crucifixion. Moses saw that as he had lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of God must be lifted up, that whosoever would believe on Him “should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:15.

Grief, indignation, and horror filled the heart of Moses as he viewed the hypocrisy and satanic hatred manifested by the Jewish nation against their Redeemer, the mighty Angel who had gone before their fathers. He heard Christ's agonizing cry, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34. He saw Him lying in Joseph's new tomb. The darkness of hopeless despair seemed to enshroud the world.

But he looked again, and beheld Him coming forth a conqueror, and ascending to heaven escorted by adoring angels and leading a multitude of captives. He saw the shining gates open to receive Him, and the host of heaven with songs of triumph welcoming their Commander. And it was there revealed to him that he himself would be one who should attend the Savior, and open to Him the everlasting gates.

[Page 476] Moses beheld the disciples of Jesus as they went forth to carry His gospel to the world. Moses saw the light of the gospel shining out through the disciples of Jesus to them “which sat in darkness” (Matthew 4:16), and thousands from the lands of the Gentiles flocking to the brightness of its rising.

He had heard from the priests and elders the frenzied cry, “Away with Him!” “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” and now he heard from professedly Christian teachers the cry, “Away with the law!” He saw the Sabbath trodden under foot, and a spurious institution established in its place. Again, Moses was filled with astonishment and horror.

How could those who believed in Christ reject the law spoken by His own voice upon the sacred mount? How could any that feared God set aside the law which is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth? He saw the last great struggle of earthly powers to destroy those who keep God's law.

He heard God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law, as He utters His voice from His holy habitation and the heavens and the earth do shake. He saw the second coming of Christ in glory, the righteous dead raised to immortal life, and the living saints translated without seeing death, and together ascending with songs of gladness to the City of God.
Still another scene opens to his view—the earth freed from the curse, lovelier than the fair Land of Promise. With joy unutterable Moses looks upon the scene—the fulfillment of a more glorious deliverance than his brightest hopes have ever pictured. Their earthly wanderings forever past, the Israel of God have at last entered the goodly land.

The vision faded, and his eyes rested upon the land of Canaan as it spread out in the distance. Then, like a tired warrior, he lay down to rest. “So, Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.

The phenomena of dry bones, and additional meat now leads us to the final chapter in the long running marathon of prophets, from the days of Noah, unto our own time, when God has again sent a prophet to warn the world of things to come.

As in former years, The Lord revealed “His Secret” unto His own, so He does now, for He has given us tremendous detail, and invaluable information to prepare us for the cataclysmic end of earth’s history when the great controversy between good and evil is to climax with a world war, between the laws of God and the laws of men.

Again, as in former instances, the Bible gives us the dry bones, the foundational info upon which the meat from God’s chosen prophet must be placed, so that true Christians will understand, and be able to prepare for what is about to engulf the planet. Let’s read:

Dry Bones # [4] Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
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.

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

[The Great Controversy. pp 604] Fearful is the issue to which the world is to be brought. The powers of earth, uniting to war against the commandments of God, will decree that all, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” [Revelation 13:16.] shall conform to the customs of the church by the observance of the false sabbath.

All who refuse compliance will be visited with civil penalties, and it will finally be declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of God enjoining the Creator's rest-day demands obedience and threatens wrath against all who transgress its precepts.

With the issue thus clearly brought before him, whoever shall trample upon God's law to obey a human enactment, receives the mark of the beast; he accepts the sign of allegiance to the power which he chooses to obey instead of God. The warning from Heaven is, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.” [Revelation 14:9, 10.]

In closing, there is one important reminder for us to consider; there is nowhere in the Bible where it is explicitly stated that Sunday worship will become the mark of the beast, and thus, just as it was with Noah and the antediluvians, with Joseph and the king of Egypt, it will be left with each individual to decide whether we will believe “His prophets” and act upon the information given, or whether we will reject, ridicule, or harbor skepticism about her writings.

One thing is certain however, if we desire to be saved from the wrath to come, we must believe while we can, for it is clearly stated in the Bible that the ancient Hebrews entered not in because of their unbelief. Which leads us to our final passage on this subject. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

God Bless!

Confronting Adultery. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/24/2018

March 24, 2018

Because the sin of adultery has now become center stage in high and low places, and because of the serious nature of this sin, and it’s adverse effects on marriages, families, societies, and nations, The Lord desires that we now take an introspect look, to see if the “Breaking news” may strike a corresponding chord in our personal lives, for it will be discovered that adultery is much more prevalent in Christian churches, than many realize.

If it were to be judged solely on external actions, it would be limited in scope, but if adultery was to be assessed at the thought level, it will be found to be a much more extensive and pervasive problem than many Christians would like to admit. For this reason we will do today’s study from the indulgent thought level, just as God sees it.

In addition, we must address several questions that pertain to the issue, either directly or indirectly such as:
[1] When does adultery occur?
[2] To whom should confession be made?
[3] How to deal with the issue of “Sleeping dogs?
[4] When and if one’s spouse should be notified?
[5] Does confession involve risk?
[6] What does true confession look like?
[7] How does God forgive this sin?
[8] What if he/she does it again?

We will use as our case study the sin of David with Bathsheba, because such occurrences are known to be quite prevalent, and the circumstances, results, and ramifications are quite similar to what many of us may have gone through. Therefore, we will begin
by answering the very first question: [1] When does adultery occur? Let’s read:

Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 8 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Proverbs 6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God.
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

When taken together, line upon line, these verses teach us that adultery, like all other sins, takes place in the mind, with the overt actions merely being a by-product of what was thought about previously, and subsequently decided upon. Therefore, it is not necessary for any actions to take place after one’s mind has been made up, for at that point adultery, as an action becomes just a matter of opportunity.

When the scriptures use the word “Consent” it is referring to consent to the sinful thought, not only the sinful act. Thus, it is quite possible that David had committed the sin of adultery long before he saw Bathsheba, because, although he had seen her at an opportune moment, yet indeed, it could have been any other woman who would have fit his own mental profile of lustful desire. In other words, it just happened to be Bathsheba.

If like David, men and women are harboring mental profiles of anyone other than their spouse, then the sin of adultery has already taken root in their minds, and like David, it will just be a matter of time before the opportune moment arises, with anyone who fits that specific profile. Thus, when Christ cautions men against lusting after feminine beauty in the heart, it is against the backdrop of a predetermined profile that is cherished, whatever that profile may be.

If we were to observe closely, we will see a specific physical profile resurfacing over and over again, in the saga of one prominent person today, which tells us that if we ourselves are harboring any personal, or secret profiles, the devil already knows what they are, and he will absolutely match such profiles with the right person, at the opportune moment.

With this description, adultery is apparently more pervasive in Christian, and secular circles, than we may realize. In fact, when Voodoo failed with the Hebrews, Balaam turned to adultery, and the rest is history, for then it was made manifest that several of the elders, deacons, and the leaders of the many conferences back then, were secretly harboring the same sin as David, with their own personal profiles.

Then, when the opportune moment was presented, the sin that had been cherished previously was now acted upon in overt actions. The problem that we’re seeing on the national stage is in fact actively being repeated in many Christian hearts, but some do not have the “Hush” money, or the legal expertise to try to clear themselves. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 459] A long preparatory process, unknown to the world, goes on in the heart before the Christian commits open sin. The mind does not come down at once from purity and holiness to depravity, corruption, and crime. It takes time to degrade those formed in the image of God to the satanic. By the indulgence of impure thoughts man can so educate his mind that sin which he once loathed will become pleasant to him.

Numbers 25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat and bowed down to their gods.
6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Exodus 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to
drink and rose up to play.
25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked;
26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side?

This leads us to our next two questions: [2] To whom should confession be made? And, [3] How to deal with the issue of “Sleeping dogs?

In cases of adultery, confession should first be made to God, for any sin is primarily an infraction against our Maker. David alluded to this when he said in his confessions: “Against thee have I sinned, and done this great wickedness”. However, confession to the other spouse must also be addressed, for whenever a person is wronged or wounded, whether in secret or publicly, the offended one should be notified.

When Zacchaeus made full proof of repentance to Christ, he restored fourfold to those whom he had wronged, even though they may not have been aware that such wrongs had taken place. Infidelity in marriage is similar, for even though the wife may not know, yet a grievous wrong has been done to her person, and though it be quite painful, or even risky, yet the one who has sinned must inform the other party.

A husband or wife can never deal truthfully whilst hiding the knowledge of an act of infidelity, because there will be a constant, unspoken uneasiness on the part of the one who has committed the act. God is a Spirit of truth, and thus, any secret rendezvous being held close to his/her vest, whilst singing God’s praises cannot be acceptable in His sight, for it is a form of living a lie. Let’s read:

Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

[That I May Know Him pp 260] If we would offer acceptable prayer, there is a work to be done in confessing our sins to one another. If I have sinned against my neighbor in word or action I should make confession to him. If he has wronged me he should confess to me. So far as is possible the one who has wronged another is to make restitution. Then in contrition he is to confess the sin to God, whose law has been transgressed.

[A.H. pp 177] There is a sacred circle around every family which should be preserved. No other one has any right in that sacred circle. The husband and wife should be all to each other. The wife should have no secrets to keep from her husband and let others know. And the husband should have no secrets to keep from his wife to relate to others. The heart of his wife should be the grave for the faults of the husband, and the heart of the husband the grave for his wife's faults.

This will call for a willingness to deal with whatever consequences might ensue as a direct result of such a disclosure as adultery, but yet it should be done, since true repentance always includes a willingness on the part of the offender to deal with the fallout of his or her actions.

In some instances, the fallout might even include physical violence against the offender, and it may include an unwillingness to forgive and forget, or it may include a divorce, it may also involve punitive, financial damages.

The question confronting the offender in such cases will involve a choice between being truthful and forthcoming, regardless of the consequences, or whether to let “Sleeping dogs lie” to avoid the risk of separation, a broken home, and/or a damaged reputation, etc.

For Biblical answers on such a difficult subject, let’s turn to the experience of David with Bathsheba. The only 4 persons with knowledge of their rendezvous were [1] God. [2] Satan. [3] David. [4] Bathsheba. If David was to tell Uriah what had happened, it could spill over into the public square, and possibly spark a nationwide riot, with Uriah demanding the head of the king on a platter!

Then, if that were to occur, the whole nation would know, and the Hebrew Enquirer back then might be running back to back coverage of the affair, with all of the juicy details, tailormade to satisfy the hunger of gossip mongers. Then comes the issue of national embarrassment for David’s family, for his children might be taunted at school and church, and certain church folk might be seen grimacing every time he opened his mouth to preach.

Confession in cases of adultery can potentially be risky on several levels, for it is only God who can guarantee forgiveness when confession is made to Him. But this is not always the case with the human agent, for some spouses become so deeply hurt by the betrayal of sacred trust, that it can be quite a difficult challenge to forgive, let alone forget.

Thus, on the issue of risk, the servant of The Lord offers an insightful commentary on the potential for fallout. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 718>719] None could foresee what would be the result should the crime become known. The law of God pronounced the adulterer guilty of death, and the proud-spirited soldier, so shamefully wronged, might avenge himself by taking the life of the king or by exciting the nation to revolt. Every effort which David made to conceal his guilt proved unavailing. He had betrayed himself into the power of Satan; danger surrounded him, dishonor more bitter than death was before him. There appeared but one way of escape and in desperation he was hurried on to add murder to adultery.

Thus, the burning question is asked again: “Should David share this sensitive information with Uriah, or should he keep it quiet between himself, Bathsheba and God? Will God accept his repentance if he kept it private, or must a disclosure be made to Uriah, and potentially the entire nation. For answers we turn again to the scriptures. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 12:1 And the Lord sent Nathan unto
David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, there were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
4 And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because
he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
11 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

Many Christians may be disturbed about why this episode in the life of a great prophet has been made public in the scriptures, and others may not understand why God said David will be exposed before the sun. The truth of the matter is that God is the one who seeks to shield our reputation from smear and scandal, whilst satan is the one who delights in accusing the brethren.

Thus, by stating that David will be entirely exposed, God is saying that He will not intervene to stop the Hebrew Enquirer from running the story, for David’s sin had caused the protection of God to be partially removed, making him vulnerable to the assaults of satan, who takes delight in character assassination, slander, and national embarrassment. Let’s read:

[P&P pp 722>723] Very many, reading the history of David's fall, have inquired, “Why has this record been made public? Why did God see fit to throw open to the world this dark passage in the life of one so highly honored of Heaven?” The prophet, in his reproof to David, had declared concerning his sin, “By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme”.

Heretofore God's providence had preserved David against all the plottings of his enemies, and had been directly exercised to restrain Saul. But David's transgression had changed his relation to God. The Lord could not in any wise sanction iniquity. He could not exercise His power to protect David from the results of his sin as He had protected him from the enmity of Saul.

Those who may be hoping, and praying that the current scandals would just vanish into thin air are either indulging in wishful thinking or are ignorant of how the sacred laws of cause and effect do work, which are often left to run their natural course. The results of one departure from integrity and virtue can make for a lifetime of repentance, which leads us to our next question: How does God forgive the sin of adultery? Let’s read:

John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

This last passage which warns us against blasphemy against The Holy Ghost is of critical importance at this juncture, and leads us to our last and final question: What if he/she does it again? Now, while it is true that God will forgive every single sin that is confessed and truly repented of, yet, it is dangerous to repeat offenses.

The reason for this is that once the dogs have been let loose, it becomes easier the next time to fall into the same error, and if that pattern is not reversed by the grace of God, and through sensible choices, the person in question will eventually be fastened in the iron grip of sin, and will lose both the desire and the will to overcome, for every indulgence weakens resistance, and a pattern of bad behavior can take a permanent toll on character. Let’s read:

Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Matthew 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from
whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

In closing, it’s important for us to think soberly, and live righteously in this generation, for all the stops are being pulled out, and a last-ditch effort is being launched, to overthrow the people of God, even as we stand on the brink of the eternal world. Thus, in lieu of the prospect before us, and for the constant bombardment of evil being spewed, to desensitize the unwary, we must close with a word from the prophet to our own souls. Let’s read:

Patriarchs & Prophets pp 457>458] “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:11, 12. Satan well knows the material with which he has to deal in the human heart. He knows—for he has studied with fiendish intensity for thousands of years—the points most easily assailed in every character; and through successive generations he has wrought to overthrow the strongest men, princes in Israel, by the same temptations that were so successful at Baalpeor.

All along through the ages there are strewn wrecks of character that have been stranded upon the rocks of sensual indulgence. As we approach the close of time, as the people of God stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan, Satan will, as of old, redouble his efforts to prevent them from entering the goodly land. He lays his snares for every soul. It is not the ignorant and uncultured merely that need to be guarded; he will prepare his temptations for those in the highest positions, in the most holy office; if he can lead them to pollute their souls, he can through them destroy many.

And he employs the same agents now as he employed three thousand years ago. By worldly friendships, by the charms of beauty, by pleasure seeking, mirth, feasting, or the wine cup, he tempts to the violation of the seventh commandment.

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
God bless!

The Origin Of Species. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/17/2018

March 17, 2018

In Revelation fourteen, the announcement of the three angel’s messages is presented, with the stipulation that the truths contained therein are to form the pillars of the gospel pertaining specifically to our generation, and as such, God has ordained that they be featured prominently in our preaching. Thus, the reason why this presentation is now being made is simply because God says so. Let’s read:

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

Where humanity has come from, sheds great light on where we are going, and our origin is connected to what our eternal destiny will be. It is impossible to believe Darwin and God at the same time, just as it’s impossible to blend Baal with Jehovah, because Darwinian philosophies and deductions are directly opposed to the sovereignty of God, and therefore, a personal choice must be made for one or the other.

Hence the reason why the first angel’s message to our generation addresses the issue of our origins, at a time when our educational system, pertaining to the origin of species, is diabolically opposed to what the Bible clearly teaches. Evolution eliminates God, but creation introduces us to the One who not only made us, but who died for us on Calvary.

Thus, in these last days of earth’s history, when the earth will be lightened by the glory of God, through the outpouring of His Holy Spirit, it will be disclosed that what we have been teaching in public schools for many years, pertaining to the origin of species, has been deeply flawed, both scientifically, and on a philosophical level.

The big bang theory immediately induces fear, for it is based on a massive unregulated explosion, which had no intelligence behind it. That’s pretty scary, for who can know if another unpredictable explosion is going to happen at any time. Conversely, a belief in creation tends to induce peace, for it shows us that we are not here by mere coincidence, but instead were created by an All-Wise intelligent God, with a specific purpose.

The very concept of a big bang theory sets the stage for erroneous modes of thought and action, for if we came here by accident, we may very well go out by accident, a very scary prospect! This is one of the reasons why the hearts of men are failing them for fear, for if we are teaching that our existence was not planned, or deliberately thought out, then in that same vein of thought, anything can happen tomorrow, capriciously.

Thus, the first angel’s message addresses the issue of the origin of species and introduces us to other immutable truths such as accountability, worship, and the final judgment, all of which are inevitably tethered to that one fundamental truth, that God created the heavens and the earth. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

If we are to have purpose and meaning to our lives, we must have had initial meaning and purpose for existence in the first place, and therefore, creation by intelligent design paves the way for us to have structure, motivation, resilience, and hope. Hence the reason why the book of beginnings introduces us to God, who created us and all things, and shows us the purpose behind the origin of species. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Great truths are brought to bear from these verses because when we read the words “God Said” it tells us that He is starting from scratch, using His word as the means of generating all animate, and inanimate objects. Here is where many stumble, for some find it difficult to wrap their minds around the concept of making something from nothing. Evolution starts with something, God starts with nothing! Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Psalms 33:6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

It’s important for us to understand the concepts espoused by creation and evolution, because they immediately diverge from the onset, never ever to be reconciled. With evolution, the beginning point for animate, and inanimate objects always starts with something. With creation, God starts off with nothing, and because of this, the two concepts are directly involved in our perceptions of salvation.

With an evolutionary mode of thought, one would believe that he must bring something to the table, thus setting the stage for such practices as penance, works, charitable deeds etc, in order for him/her to be good. But with a creationist mode of thought, a person believes through faith, that God can make a somebody out of nobody, because He specializes in making something out of nothing.

One’s belief in evolution or creation is not merely a subscription to theory, it will inevitably impact our world-view, our understanding of science, and will also affect the way we live. In fact, this is the reason why the everlasting gospel referred to in Revelation includes God’s creative power as a fundamental of any teaching pertaining to salvation, for God cannot save what He didn’t make. Let’s read:

Genesis 1: 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The same creative energy and power that was exercised in our creation, is now exercised in our redemption, hence the reason why the inclusion of God’s creative activities is directly linked to the gospel, and therefore, a person who embraces the theory of evolution, in spite of Biblical evidence to the contrary, cannot be saved in God’s kingdom, if he/she does not turn from such erroneous views.

The reason for this is that the creative power of God being denied at the onset, negates any benefits that might have accrued through Christ, because, as was clearly stated before, God cannot save what He did not make. Thus, the seventh day Sabbath is a sign of both God’s creative and redemptive power, and this is the reason why the Sabbath will be the deciding
issue that will bring earth’s inhabitants to the final conflict. Let’s read:

One of the issues we must address is the age of our world, for evolution, and the big bang theory puts it at billions of years, whilst the development of man is taught as being a slow, evolving process coming from a line of germs, mollusks and quadrupeds, that occurred over millions of years. And the current method of carbon dating seems to support such a
theory.

However, when the scriptural record is observed, no such evidence, or deduction is even mentioned or given, for the Bible puts the age of the earth at just about a few thousand years. Thus, the message of Revelation 14:7 exposes a very deep flaw in our understanding of science, for carbon dating will be shown to be grossly inaccurate, as far as specifying the age of human remains, and bones goes.

Carbon dating is the scientific method by which the determination of the age or date of organic matter is derived from the relative proportions of carbon isotopes carbon-12 and carbon-14 that it contains. The ratio between them changes as radioactive carbon-14 decays and is not replaced by exchange with the atmosphere. That’s according to current science.

Thus, in harmony with our deeply flawed method of carbon dating, the following “discovery” was made in Ethiopia, according to a pair of newly published papers in the journal Science. Paleoanthropologists working in Ethiopia have discovered a 2.8-million-year-old jawbone, making it the oldest fossil in the human ancestral line ever found by more than 400,000 years. Mar 11, 2015.

Now let’s see what God has to say on the age of the earth. Because we are now living in the year 2018 A.D. we can indisputably account for the years since Christ was born until now, giving us 2018 years. But up until Christ, the Bible also sheds great light on the prior age of the earth, The Lord going to great lengths to stipulate the age of Adam, Noah, Seth, and so many more of those who lived before and after the flood.

Thus, after close investigation, the Bible does not come even close to millions of years, but just a few thousand, and the prophet for our day gets more specific by clearly stating over and over again, that the world is no more than approximately 6000 years old.

This will inevitably put creation and evolution on a deadly collision course, which as stated before, will culminate in the mark of the beast, the permanent close of earth’s probation, the redemption of those creationists who believed in Jesus Christ, and the consequent total annihilation of Darwin, and all his followers, who continue to cling to his erroneous views. That’s the cryptic message contained in the third angel’s message, of which every person must be cognizant. Let’s read:

Genesis 1: 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
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.

Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:
4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters.

5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.
14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.
17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two
years, and begat a son:
29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.
30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.

Thus, when calculated from the timeline given in the Bible, from Adam to Noah will give us about 1600>1700 years total, but definitely nowhere near the millions of years proposed by carbon dating. It is worthy of note that after the flood, the age of men began to rapidly decrease, and thus, the line of Shem produced Abraham just a few centuries after the flood. Then Matthew gives us the information we need to cover from Abraham to Christ. Let’s read:

Matthew 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

[The Great Controversy. pp 659] For six thousand years, Satan's work of rebellion has “made the earth to tremble.” 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.

Thus, a Bible believing Christian who embraces the creation narrative, and the timelines pertaining to the age of the earth given in scripture, will be led to correctly conclude that carbon dating is a deeply flawed science that has misled millions of students, teachers, philosophers and politicians for very many years.

And conversely, the proponents and subscribers to the Darwinian philosophies, and their derivatives, will ultimately be led to reject the Bible, it’s author, the benefits of Christ’s salvation, and finally, the 7th day Sabbath which commemorates God’s creative work.

Thus, in lieu of the cataclysmic events just on the horizon, a desperate wake-up call is to be given to earth’s inhabitants, alerting us to the stark choices we must make, either to worship God or Darwin. All who have been misled on evolution are now to be granted an opportunity to relinquish that which is obviously flawed, by turning to the true worship of God on His sacred day.

We therefore close this study, not with any pleasing fables designed to soothe itching ears, but with the potent passages of scripture given by The Lord, to stir our consciences to the urgency of the moment, if haply we may turn to Him betimes, with sincere confession and repentance Let’s read:

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

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.
10 The heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
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:
13 And turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
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.

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. God bless!

The Uplifted Serpent. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/11/2018

March 11, 2018

There are precious lessons to be learned from the incident of the uplifted serpent, lessons that apply equally to the Hebrews, as well as to ourselves, for it was in response to the Hebrews being bitten by the poisonous reptiles of the wilderness, that the brazen serpent was made. Then the instruction was given for all who had been stung to look and live.

But before we study the application of the remedy we must first observe why they were bitten in the first place, for we ourselves may be bitten in various ways, even though we may not attribute the bite to the true source. Also, we must realize that there are different kinds of serpents on the prowl, in our own wilderness experience, of which we must be aware.
There are financial serpents, disease serpents, and serpents whose venomous sting often produce an atmosphere in which continual disagreement with God, and with others is the order of the day. In fact, anytime our homes devolve into places of continual argument, where there is strife, name-calling, and a host of angry words being hurled left and right, it is quite possible that a fiery serpent has bitten one or more persons. Let’s read:

Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.
18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

In the case of the Hebrews, it was murmuring, and complaining about God, about Moses, and about everyone, and everything which ultimately caused the protection of God to be removed, and thus, the fiery serpents which were already indigenous to the wilderness environment, were permitted to invade the camp, unrestrained by divine power.

A very important note must be made here before we proceed, lest we misunderstand how things are triggered in the spiritual, and temporal realms. In the Bible, The Lord is often credited with doing that which He did not prevent, and thus, as we read, it’s important to remember that those fiery serpents of the desert were already living in their own natural habitat, but it was the restraining power of Christ alone that had held them at bay.

We too, are also living in serpent country, and it is because of God’s mercies alone why we are not consumed. However, if we were to pursue a similar course as the ancient Hebrews did, we can cause the protective watch-care of Christ to be removed temporarily, and consequently, we too may suffer adverse effects of the serpent’s sting. Let’s read:

Numbers 21:5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Those of us who are prone to find fault with our blessings expose ourselves to unnecessary risks, and often become the objects of varied assaults by the enemy of souls. Hence the reason why the scripture always encourages Christians to cultivate a thankful attitude, for there are always millions of individuals who are much worst off than ourselves. The Hebrews complained about their food, but there are millions of starving people who would have greatly rejoiced to have a few crumbs of the manna that was so despised. In our refrigerators, there may be only leftovers, but at least we can be thankful to have some leftovers. Let’s read:

The Guardian: Rory Carroll in Port-au-Prince. Mon 28 Jul 2008 19.01 EDT First published on Mon 28 Jul 2008 19.01 EDT

"At first sight the business resembles a thriving pottery. In a dusty courtyard women mold clay and water into hundreds of little platters, and lay them out to harden under the Caribbean sun. The craftsmanship is rough, and the finished products are uneven. But customers do not object. This is Cité Soleil, Haiti's most notorious slum, and these platters are not to hold food. They are food. Brittle and gritty - and as revolting as they sound - these are "mud cakes". For years they have been consumed by impoverished pregnant women seeking calcium, a risky and medically unproven supplement, but now the cakes have become a staple for entire families"....

1st Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Thus, it was, according to their own testimony, that the Hebrew people acknowledged it was their sin that had caused the adversarial invasion of fiery serpents, the effects of which were taking a deadly toll on their numbers. When trouble, disease, or sustained afflictions, in various forms come upon Christians, it is in order for us to examine ourselves, to see whether there was any triggering mechanism in our words, or our deeds. This is not to say that sin is always the cause of trouble, but we should be humble enough to see if the sins of murmuring, whining, and complaining might have been the cause.

Thus, because we are now living at a time when the protective watch-care of God is to be permanently removed in the not too distant future, from those who are not sheltered by the blood of Christ, it is necessary for us to dig a bit deeper into how things of an adverse nature are often triggered within the spiritual realm, and then are inevitably transferred into the physical realm. The disciples of Christ had partaken of very large blessings, when Christ had miraculously fed the multitudes from five barley loaves and two fishes. It seemed as if heaven had come down to earth that day, and in their enthusiasm, the people had tried to take Christ by force to make Him King. But He refused, much to the chagrin of the disciples.

They believed that a mistake in Jesus’ judgment had been made, and in response to His command to put off from land immediately, they had left with hearts full of murmuring, and complaining, for no reason. In this state of mind, the atmosphere became ripe for a bite from the “Stormy” serpent, one which still stalks individuals even in our day. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 380] They had left Jesus with dissatisfied hearts, more impatient with Him than ever before since acknowledging Him as their Lord. They murmured because they’d not been permitted to proclaim Him king. They blamed themselves for yielding so readily to His command. They reasoned that if they had been more persistent they might have accomplished their purpose. Unbelief was taking possession of their minds and hearts. Love of honor had blinded them. To be united with a teacher who could work mighty miracles, and yet to be reviled as deceivers, was a trial they could ill endure. Were they always to be accounted followers of a false prophet? Would Christ never assert His authority as king?

Why did not He who possessed such power reveal Himself in His true character, and make their way less painful? Why had He not saved John the Baptist from a violent death? Thus, the disciples reasoned until they brought upon themselves great spiritual darkness. They questioned, Could Jesus be an impostor, as the Pharisees asserted? The disciples had that day witnessed the wonderful works of Christ. Had they, out of the abundance of their hearts, been conversing together in regard to these things, they would not have entered into temptation. But their disappointment had absorbed their thoughts.

Those were hours of large blessing to the disciples, but they had forgotten it all. They were in the midst of troubled waters. Their thoughts were stormy and unreasonable, and the Lord gave them something else to afflict their souls and occupy their minds. God often does this when men create burdens and troubles for themselves.

It is worthy of note, that on this occasion on the stormy lake, it was Christ who came to the disciples’ rescue. Similarly, when the Hebrews were bitten by the fiery serpents in the wilderness, it was Christ who ordained that the brazen serpent be uplifted on a pole, so that everyone who believed may look and live.

This leads us to the core of our study, because the remedy provided by God back then, is the same remedy provided in our day. And the method of accessing the remedy is no different than the simple instruction given to the Hebrews. Let’s read:

Numbers 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

It was Christ who was represented by the uplifted serpent, for He became sin for us, so that we might have eternal life, and forever be freed from the ill effects of the dragon’s poisonous sting. And the same way the Hebrews were to look and live, we too must look to Christ and live. There is nothing we can do of our own selves to reverse or remove the adverse effects of sin, except to choose Christ. It’s that simple!

This central and simple truth of the gospel needs to be embraced, and understood by Christians, and all unbelievers alike today because those humanistic remedies that are recommended to fix our society’s problems only address the symptoms, not the real cause. Thus, our mission here at Omegatruth, and on Facebook, is summed up in one brief statement, “Sharing Bible-based solutions for our spiritual and physical well-being”.

Thus, it will constitute a very serious dereliction of duty if we were to advocate external remedies for internal problems of the soul. Christ, the uplifted serpent is the only answer for broken marriages, for dysfunctional families, for pornographic addiction, for health issues, for mass shootings, for terrorism, for our spiraling national debt, for infidelity in high and low places.

He is the only permanent solution to breaking those habits that have held us in chains for many years, or that argumentative spirit which surfaces in us from time to time. He is the only solution for racism, for fear, for low energy, for positive lifestyle changes, and for every other known, and unknown problem that afflicts humanity. It’s all about Christ alone!

In fact, any solution we can come up with, or may offer, that does not include Christ as the center, is sure to fail sooner or later. The mass shooting in Las Vegas was reportedly one of the worst in the United States’ history. But according to the Bible, the worst one is yet future, and that is why we must advocate for our country to return to God, in the right way. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

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.

Thus, it is a sad statement that we make, that even though the simple solution God has provided us in Christ, is just within reach, millions are going down into Christ-less graves each year, just as very many Hebrews died from the venomous serpents, even though just one look is all it took. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 430] Many had already died, and when Moses raised the serpent upon the pole, some would not believe that merely gazing upon that metallic image would heal them; these perished in their unbelief.

It was the simplicity of the remedy that caused the unbelief, for some would not believe that by simply looking to that brazen object they would be healed. Again, it was the same simplicity of the remedy that caused Naaman to go away in a rage, after Elisha told him to dip seven times in Jordan.

If Elisha had recommended one of those drugs with a long, difficult name, that cannot be pronounced, like Clofazimine, he would have readily taken it, but the simplicity of the remedy of water was offensive to him. The same is true of the gospel, for although we are seeing with our own two eyes, that we don’t have the answers to society’s deepening problems, yet the simplicity of the gospel causes many to be offended.

And thus, we find ourselves looking to intellectuals and professionals for answers, while the medicine God has provided in Christ is well within our reach. As a result, penance seems more appealing to fallen human nature than grace, a regimen of drugs, and daily injections is preferable to the simple diet, and natural remedies God has given in His word, and the ostentatious performances of those so-called faith healers, are more appealing than a simple faith in God.

And whilst we grovel in our national woes, whilst we bemoan the wanton loss of life, and whilst so many millions are dying from starvation, hunger, wars, gun violence, and whilst morale is at an all-time low, and scandals of all sorts haunt our minds on a daily basis, many of us still refuse to look to Christ, the uplifted serpent that we may be healed. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & prophets pp 432] Many Israelites saw no help in the remedy which had been appointed. The dead and dying were all around them, and they knew that, without divine aid, their own fate was certain; but they continued to lament their wounds, their pains, their sure death, until their strength was gone, and their eyes were glazed, when they might have had instant healing.

Thus, as stated before, we present to you Jesus as the One and only answer to the world’s problems, for He brings many literal benefits in His train. Not only does Christ offer to us pardon and peace, and forgiveness of sins with eternal life, He also gives us a deep-down joy and contentment, He brings to us individual, and national stability, and security, and He removes fear of the unknown from the hearts of students and teachers alike.

Christ will also provide guidance and wisdom to our national leaders, so that they will not be deceived into basking in irrational exuberance, nor will they be flattered into thinking all is well, when all is not well. More than this, Christ offers to us peace and quietness that no man can take away, and that’s the reason why America needs to turn back to God, in the right way. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Psalms 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labor 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.

In closing, let us remember that any individual, or national solution that is recommended, which does not have Christ at the center, is certain to fail, and thus, in harmony with this sacred truth, we will do well to look to Jesus, the uplifted serpent that we may be healed. Which leads us to our final passages of meditation for today, and this upcoming week. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, Christ the power, and the wisdom of God.

Romans 10:8 The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

God Bless!

Anger Management. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/03/2018

March 03, 2018

In dealing with the issue of anger management, we should be aware that the principle of numerous assaults is often employed by visible, and invisible foes, to wear our patience thin. Then when we are at our lowest, and most vulnerable point, a sudden assault is often hurled against us, to put as it were the proverbial nail in the coffin. An argumentative spirit, and continual murmuring, and complaining tend to take their toll on the meekest of persons.

Thus, whenever a sustained assault is being made against us as Christians, we must of necessity spend quality time with Jesus contemplating His reactions in volatile situations, His gentleness, His words, His mannerisms, for by beholding we become changed. Then after a season of prayer, for grace to help in times of need, we will be fortified against any unexpected assault, however severe it may be.

From time to time, and on numerous occasions, the devices of satan were engaged against the leaders of God’s appointment, and over, and over again, we will observe that, in response, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before The Lord, meaning that every emergency drove them to the throne of grace, not only for strength, but also for guidance and wisdom in dealing with that turbulent multitude under their care.

Though Moses is described as being the meekest of men that ever lived upon the earth, yet the enemy succeeded in wearing out his patience, until he was heard shouting angrily at the mob who, once more, gathered against his soul. The following are just a few of the many instances in which his patience was severely tested, and which after very numerous and sustained assaults, finally gave way, just upon the borders of Canaan. Let’s read:

Exodus 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid.
11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

Exodus 16:2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Exodus 17:1 And Israel journeyed, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.
2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink.
3 And the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

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 Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt, or in this wilderness!
3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

On this occasion, the ten unfaithful spies had been used as agents in spreading the seeds of doubt and resentment, throwing cold water on the prospect of conquering Canaan. Therefore, when we read in the above reference, that they murmured, and said let us make a captain, and return to Egypt, we should not conclude that their decisions were presented
calmly. The volatility of the situation is more fully described by the pen of inspiration. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 390] The unfaithful spies were loud in denunciation of Caleb and Joshua, and the cry was raised to stone them. The insane mob seized missiles with which to slay those faithful men. They rushed forward with yells of madness, when suddenly the stones dropped from their hands, a hush fell upon them, and they shook with fear. God had interposed to check their murderous design.

The constant murmuring and complaining began to take its toll on Moses, and in the next example, the Hebrews planned a deliberate period of bawling, and lamenting in the doors of their tents, to begin at a certain time, and sustained for quite a period. At this time, Moses became very displeased, and we can almost hear him venting his frustration with the people, by the words he then spoke. Let’s read:

Numbers 11:10 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent.
11 And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden
of all this people upon me?
12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom?
14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

Thus, it is against this backdrop that the final nail in the coffin is prepared by the adversary, for after so many years of dealing with these turbulent spirits, after years of being threatened with missiles, and after many false accusations of deception had been perpetuated, the people were arrayed against him, and the last assault was apparently too great, for even Moses lost it, and consequently blew a fuse, that was years in the making. Let’s read:

Numbers 20:2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!
4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, neither is there any water to drink.
6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.
7 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

Smiting the rock and yelling at the people are two human reactions that are often displayed by some of us when we become frustrated, annoyed, angry, or when we lose our temper. Some folks smite the rock, by kicking at inanimate objects, or by taking a swing at someone who has aggravated us over an extended period, for no reason.

Sometimes when the argument gets heated, we often raise our voices to a feverish pitch, which adds gasoline to an already explosive situation. And some may strike the rock through physical abuse, breaking things, driving erratically, slamming doors, and there are other passive ways, such as smoking cigarettes, to try to soothe frayed nerves.

Whatever our method, or habit, one thing we must always bear in mind is that our initial, spontaneous reaction is where the real you and me will often be manifested; but when Christ is dwelling in the heart continuously, any Christian will be enabled to retain his/her composure, in the midst of the most heated, or turbulent situation.

In Moses’ case, his faith let go of its hold upon God, and the old man of sin inevitably, and consequently took front and center stage. Disturbing situations are not a valid excuse for us to act in an unChristlike manner, neither are we to become the sport of any
circumstances, which may arise suddenly. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 417] The two brothers went on before the multitude, Moses with the rod of God in his hand. They were now aged men. Long had they borne with the rebellion, and obstinacy of Israel; but now, at last, even the patience of Moses gave way. “Hear now, ye rebels,” he cried; “must we fetch you water out of this rock?” and instead of speaking to the rock, as God had commanded him, he smote it twice with the rod.

The water gushed forth in abundance to satisfy the host. But a great wrong had been done. Moses had spoken from irritated feeling; his words were an expression of human passion rather than of holy indignation because God had been dishonored. “Hear now, ye rebels,” he said. This accusation was true, but even truth is not to be spoken in passion or impatience. His lack of patience and self-control was evident. At the time when the water failed, their own faith in the fulfillment of God's promise had been shaken by the murmuring and rebellion of the people.

This leads us to what followed close on the heels of Moses’ outburst of anger, for although many of us may surely understand the reason behind it, yet the reason itself is not an acceptable excuse for sin, for such variables as time place, situation, hunger, and tiredness are not reckoned as factors which warrant uncontrolled reactions. Let’s read:

[Desire of Ages. pp 125] While Satan can solicit, he cannot compel to sin. He said to Jesus, “Cast Thyself down,” knowing that he could not cast Him down; for God would interpose to deliver Him. Nor could Satan force Jesus to cast Himself down. Unless Christ should consent to temptation, He could not be overcome. Not all the power of earth or hell could force Him in the slightest degree to depart from the will of His Father. The tempter can never compel us to do evil. He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control. The will must consent, faith must let go its hold upon Christ, before Satan can exercise his power upon us.

Deuteronomy 3:23 And I besought the Lord at that time, saying,
24 O Lord God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand.
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.
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.

Those Christians who continue to make excuses for any sin, including un-Christlike outbursts of anger, will come up to the final conflict unprepared for the sustained and determined assaults of satan, who is scheduled to pull out all the stops, and will then be permitted to tempt the remnant people of God, as if we were the only persons living on the planet.

Hence the reason why the next passage of scripture is so relevant, coming at the time when the mark of the beast will have overspread the land, and those saints who are alive at that terrible time, must keep their cool, and their faith under some of the most trying circumstances to ever come upon man. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

By making excuses, we may open up the possibility of committing “Reasonable” sins, based solely on certain trying circumstances. Then in this mode of thought, Peter would be justified in his anger and violence, based upon self-defense. And Abraham would be justified in having Hagar, seeing that he had waited patiently on God’s promise for many years. And Saul would then be justified in turning to witchcraft, because of national security issues.

However, we are duly cautioned against making provision for the flesh, by making allowances for a weakness, or flaw in our character, because, the grace of God through The Holy Spirit is able to keep us from falling in any and every situation. Thus, as we read the next quote, we will do well to grab the bull by the horns, and take our deficiencies to Jesus, while probationary time still lingers. Let’s read:

[Great Controversy pp 621] 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. Those who exercise but little faith now, are in the greatest danger of falling under the power of Satanic delusions and the decree to compel the conscience.

And even if they endure the test, they will be plunged into deeper distress and anguish in the time of trouble, because they have never made it a habit to trust in God. The lessons of faith which they have neglected, they will be forced to learn under a terrible pressure of discouragement. We should now acquaint ourselves with God by proving his promises.

In harmony with this counsel, we will close with two passages of scripture, which should both encourage and caution us to keep our eyes on Christ, for by beholding we will be changed. As we stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan, we will find ourselves having to deal with increasing and serious difficulties, but God can, and will give grace to meet every emergency, if we hold onto Him in each, and every situation. Let’s read:

Proverbs 6:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

1st Corinthians 10:11 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 word.
God Bless!

Balaam's Magic Book. Sabbath Afternoon. 02/25/2018

February 25, 2018

The magical arts practiced by Balaam in seducing ancient Israel into sin, have taken on modern garbs, which in many instances, it is difficult to discern for what they are. As far as the scripture is concerned, magic is any art that is used in getting people to sin, or to engage in activities that are proscribed in the Bible. Therefore, the definition covers a very wide swath of activities, practices, and rituals, of which the Christian must be cognizant.

Wherever satanic principles, and methods are used and adopted, to lure the unwary into sin, there it is that magic, in one form or another, to a lesser, or a greater degree, is being practiced. Current forms of magic include, but are not limited to, pornography, seduction, sexting, Voodoo, bribery, Santeria, also flattery, and seances, amongst others.

Horoscopes, violent, and horror movies, and what many Christians refer to as the “Anointing” and certain novels are also included in the mix. These are just some of the “magical” devices used by the enemy of souls to lure individuals into sin. The Bible refers to them as devices, snares, temptations, and wiles, but they all have one thing in common, they always lead to the breaking of God’s law. Always! Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Deuteronomy 13:1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Thus, it is against this backdrop that we’ll now open Balaam’s magic book, so we can discern the devices that are arrayed against the multitudes, and so that we may choose wisely. The Hebrews were just upon the borders of Canaan, and Moses was preparing for the occupation, and subjugation of the land, when the king of Moab decided that it was time to resort to the dark arts, in order to bolster national security.

Balak had heard of the marvelous things Christ had done for them, in emancipating them from Egyptian bondage in a signal manner. He had also heard of the parting of the red sea, and the final overthrow of pharaoh and all his hosts, as they dared to chase God’s chosen people. And now, because of a fear of imminent invasion, the king of Moab turns to magic.

Thus, we will observe, and study several magical principles, and methods, often employed in getting us to sin against God, by adopting those alternative sources of supernatural help, that are forbidden in the scriptures. Let’s read:

Numbers 22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

[1] Fear.
Fear often causes many people to turn to magic, if they believe that there are no other options on the table. Some people turn to magical healers, spiritual healers, holy water, enchanted bracelets, rings, and chains, as last resorts. Thus, it is one of the devices of satan to drive persons to desperation, in thinking that there’s no way out of a certain predicament.

Also, through superstition, some folks are tempted to believe in those supernatural remedies which do not originate with God. However, there are certain passages of scripture which tell us how to deal with fear, what causes it, and how the Christian may live victoriously, like a conqueror. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1st John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Numbers 22:4 And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.
6 Come now therefore, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

[2] Flattery.
The magical art of flattery is quite often employed to accomplish that which might otherwise cause us to recoil in horror. Flattery is often used against a person who is disliked, or not loved, and it was first employed in the garden of Eden, when the serpent praised Eve’s beauty, whilst wanting her dead. And down through the ages, it has been in use by many persons, who have desired certain favors from one who isn’t necessarily liked.

Even in our day it is in use, because many political leaders, many senators, and representatives, many presidents, kings, CEOs, and business leaders find it necessary to flatter certain persons to procure what they desire. Indeed, flattery has become one of the leading magical arts practiced in our day. Even with many Christians, praise is used to try to flatter God into showering down the blessings of health, wealth and material favors, which should really result from obeying God’s word. Let’s read:

Job 32:21 Let me not, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
Proverbs 7:1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

Psalms 78:36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

Numbers 22:7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam.
8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and
I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me.
9 And God came unto Balaam, and said,
12 Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.

[3] Multiple assaults.

A temptation usually consists of multiple assaults, with each succeeding effort being more intense, and desperate than the previous one. In fact, much of what we describe as temptations are not really temptations, but are most often, accidentals which have occurred as a result of our own doing, or the doings of others.

A temptation is a well-planned, a well-timed, and a deeply laid plot that is studied, and then executed with consummate skill, at a time when persons are most vulnerable, and in many cases, individuals may be entirely unaware of what is taking place. When satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number the people, and when David’s sin with Bathsheba occurred, and when Peter denied Christ, the principle of multiple assaults was implemented. Let’s read:

Luke 4:3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge
over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

[Confrontation. pp 24] The rebellion of Satan against God was most determined. He worked, in warring against the kingdom of God, with perseverance and fortitude worthy of a better cause. He is a diligent student of the Bible and is much better acquainted with the prophecies than many religious teachers. He knows that it is for his interest to keep well informed in the revealed purposes of God, that he may defeat the plans of the Infinite.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 37>38] Leaving his place in the immediate presence of the Father, Lucifer went forth to diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels. He worked with mysterious secrecy, and for a time concealed his real purpose under an appearance of reverence for God.

He began to insinuate doubts concerning the laws that governed heavenly beings, intimating that angels, being more exalted, needed no such restraint, for their own wisdom was a sufficient guide. Taking advantage of the loving, loyal trust reposed in him by the holy beings under his command, he had so artfully instilled into their minds his own distrust and discontent that his agency was not discerned.

Numbers 22:16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak, Let nothing, hinder thee from coming unto me,
17 For I will promote thee unto very great honor,
and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.

[4] Bribery
Exodus 23:8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

1st Samuel 8:1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

One of the reasons why there continues to be mass shootings across the United States is because of the taking of bribes, and gifts by those who ought to be guardians of the people. The inevitable result is that a person’s better judgment becomes perverted, to the point where guns become more important than people, for whom Christ died.

Bribes are offered and taken, and the result is that the ones that are bribed then make laws that would promote and protect the gun industry, under the disguise of protecting the 2nd Amendment. Thus, it is that human life which was once held to be sacred, now seems to be of little value, as human sacrifices are now being offered upon the altar of guns.

The magical art of receiving bribes and gifts has the potential to cause individuals to do things that may indeed bother their conscience, it has the potential to foster the use of policy instead of principle, and it often causes judges, and law-makers to look the other way, when grievous crimes, and wrongs are being committed, in high and low places.

In fact, since 2012 approximately 174,000 persons have died in the United States, a direct result of gun violence, yet effort after effort, and proposal after proposal has either stalled, been killed, or has been withdrawn so that the concerns of bribers can be appeased. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 16:18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

[5] Presumption.
This leads us to our last and final magical art we will study today, for after Balaam had indulged bribery, and flattery, after Balak had succumbed to fear, and after Balaam had experienced multiple assaults, he now employed one of the most common of magical arts, that of presumption, by which multitudes are bewitched, and are consequently led to violate God expressed will.

In his first prayer for divine guidance, Balaam had asked God’s will in the matter of cursing His own people, a prayer that was presumptuous to begin with. However, at that time, God condescended to let him know that he should proceed no further. But with the prospect of great material benefits, honor, and wealth before him, Balaam presumes to ask God again for direction, as to what he should do.

It is one of the most common ploys of satan to have Christians asking God’s will about something He has already made plain. And some may presume to go to Him repeatedly, in apparent sincerity, to see if He would change His mind, and go along with our own plans and ideas.

As with the case of Balaam, our merciful God might condescend to address the question, for which He has already given a clear answer, and then if we still persist in asking what is His will, He may attempt to show us the error of our ways, by placing several donkeys, and angels in our path, to try to deter us from taking that one fatal step.

But, if in response to His gracious overtures, we stubbornly hold onto our plans, in spite of all the evidences to the contrary, the Lord may eventually allow us to have our own way, since He honors the freedom of choice He has given us. As we read the next several verses, it is our hope and prayer that everyone who studies this issue will not try to force his or her own will upon God, but that we will be humble, and patient enough to let Him guide us with wisdom and discretion. Let’s read:

Numbers 22:19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.
20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24 But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26 And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
32 And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
35 And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 440>441] Although the will of God had already been definitely made known to him, he urged the messengers to tarry, that he might further inquire of God; as though the Infinite One were a man, to be persuaded. He did not seek to do the will of God, but chose his own course, and then endeavored to secure the sanction of the Lord.

There are thousands at the present day who are pursuing a similar course. They would have no difficulty in understanding their duty if it were in harmony with their inclinations. It is plainly set before them in the Bible or is clearly indicated by circumstances and reason. But because these evidences are contrary to their desires and inclinations they frequently set them aside and presume to go to God to learn their duty. With great apparent conscientiousness they pray long and earnestly for light. But God will not be trifled with. He often permits such persons to follow their own desires and to suffer the result.

“My people would not hearken to My voice.... So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.” Psalm 81:11, 12. When one clearly sees a duty, let him not presume to go to God with the prayer that he may be excused from performing it. He should rather, with a humble, submissive spirit, ask for divine strength and wisdom to meet its claims.

[P&P 441] Annoyed at his delay, and expecting another refusal, they set out on their homeward journey without further consultation with him. Every excuse for complying with the request of Balak had now been removed. But Balaam was determined to secure the reward; and, taking the beast upon which he was accustomed to ride, he set out on the journey, impatient lest he should by some means fail to gain the coveted reward.

In our own life experience, there may be some issue we have clearly read about in God’s word, and His good will may have already been made plain. Let us then approach the throne of grace with the intent of doing God’s will, for He will hear, and answer any such prayer that is made in sincerity and truth.

But lest us never, like Balaam, ask Him repeatedly about what he has specifically commanded, for in doing so, we will place ourselves at great odds with God, and will like Balaam the magician, ultimately incur His displeasure. One of the experiences we want to avoid at all costs, is that of being at odds with the great God of heaven.

In harmony with this statement, we will close with a gentle reminder, that The Lord is ready, and willing to help and guide us, if we choose to be helped and guided. Let’s read:

Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

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

God Bless!

Worship "Him". Sabbath Afternoon. 02/17/2018

February 17, 2018

In the first angel’s message given in Revelation 14, God calls on the inhabitants of earth to “Worship Him”, for the issue of worship will culminate in the mark of the beast, the enforcement of Sunday worship, and ultimately, the close of human probation. However, before we begin, it’s important for us to understand the many ways in which false worship is manifested currently in our day, so that the true worship of God may be made plain from the scriptures.

Worship is not merely about whom we adore, it’s ultimately about whom, or what we will obey, for worship will always lead to obedience of the object of worship. If money is our god, then whatsoever it takes to obtain it will be done, including over-work, lying, stealing, fraud, overwork & false advertising.

The illicit drug trade, and the current epidemic of opioid abuse is a direct result of sellers worshiping money. In fact, drug addiction has more to do with legal drugs, than with illegal, for with big pharma, as well as with drug dealers on the street, worshipping “mean green” and doing whatsoever is necessary to procure a profit, is the main, motivating factor in most cases.

De-regulation is an attempt to make more money, and therefore, if persons get hurt, poisoned, or are overprescribed pain medications in the process, to make a profit, then it will be done. And if consumer protections are removed, so that loan sharks, and financial institutions can prey upon the vulnerable, and the unwary, in their efforts to milk individuals, then, it is worship of the greenback taking place.

If self is our god, then whatsoever it takes to obtain praise and flattery will be done. This includes, but is not limited to slavery to fashion, slavery to cosmetic surgeries, and implants for self-adoration purposes. Self-worship includes all efforts to draw attention to oneself for purposes of enhancing one’s self-image or promoting self-interests and accomplishments.

In fact, the worship of self ultimately leads us to the use of force, which is a satanic principle, born out of the effort to exalt himself. When persons are bent on self-worship, they will stop at nothing to reach at the top of the totem pole, and in the process, many families may be torn apart, and the indiscriminate use of brute force will be manifested, as was seen in Florida this past week.

Adultery is also a form of false worship, for it drives persons to obey the lusts of the flesh, instead of the word of God. When Adam chose Eve over God, and when Abraham obeyed the voice of Sarah, in having Hagar, also, when Solomon chose to be inundated with hundreds of wives and concubines, it was false worship being manifested, for worship always leads one to follow the dictates of the persons, or objects of worship. Always!

The time has come for us to speak bluntly, because candy-coating the everlasting gospel will result in a tremendous loss of life. Christians, and all believers who do not gain the victory over adultery, will end up receiving the mark of the beast, for adultery is a form of false worship, and will ultimately lead folks into every other type of false worship, including the worship of the sun, via the substitute day of rest. Let’s read:

1st Kings 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:
2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely, they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.
7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.

[Prophets & kings. pp 58] From being one of the greatest kings that ever wielded a scepter, Solomon became a profligate, the tool, and slave of others. His character, once noble and manly, became enervated and effeminate. His faith in the living God was supplanted by atheistic doubts. He mistook license for liberty. He tried—but at what cost!—to unite light with darkness, good with evil, purity with impurity, Christ with Belial.

Thus, before we embark upon our study of the true worship, we must first go back to the place, and the time when the issues of false worship first surfaced. Lucifer was not at all content with his God-ordained position, but instead sought the highest place, so that the adoration and praise which belongs to God alone, could be his.

In the process of time, he succeeded in alienating one third of the angelic host, who joined him in his quest for self-praise. This ultimately led to violence in heaven, when it was discovered that self-worship is entirely out of harmony with God’s character.

Then war broke out, he was expelled from heaven, and the rest is history, for the issue of worship came to our own planet, and ever since the fall of our first parents, the question has divided humanity into one of two major categories, those who will deliberately choose forms of alternative worship, and those who will ultimately choose to worship God, according to what He has commanded in His word.

It is true that in times of ignorance, sincere persons have been sucked into erroneous forms of worship, but when the issue finally bubbles to the surface, or when light from God’s word has shone on the issue, the honest in heart have chosen, and will choose to worship God. Thus, here’s a brief history of the very beginning of false worship with its inevitable results down through the ages. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

It is worthy of note that those two, character traits, violence and all types of lying, are predominantly on display now for they are the direct result of invisible forces of darkness, working to unite the world upon the issue of false worship. And that’s the reason for the current insatiable desire for praise, and flattery, approbation, worship, and loyalty, on the part of some individuals.

Here in the sunshine state of Florida, we suffer from the destructive work of termites, that are notorious for causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, and trees, yet, very few persons have seen termites at work, for we are only aware of their presence by their droppings.

The same is true of the infernal work of evil spirits, for although they are invisible, yet their “droppings” such as the desire for praise and flattery, adultery, fraud, continual, and profuse lying, and the use of force are being made manifest in places high, and low, and as is evidenced by the daily reports about ballooning transgressions, cover-ups, and extortion.

In fact, the first murder on this planet was over the issue of worship, and the last will be over the same. Wherever the worship of God, is exchanged for any man-made form of worship, there, violence, murder and every type of evil work is certain to follow. Let’s read:

Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

There was no valid reason for Cain to slay Abel, for Abel was a law-abiding citizen, paying his taxes, and contributing to the welfare of society, and trying to live “peaceably” with all men. Thus, if his brother so chose to worship God in his own way, by bringing a fruit, instead of a lamb, as God had commanded, it would be his own choice.

The problem is that false worship often tends not to tolerate true worship, and thus, religious liberty and the freedom for persons to worship God, according to the dictates of their own conscience, breeds the spirit of discontent, and covetousness in the hearts of those who deliberately choose any false worship, which always, and ultimately leads such persons to the use of force. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
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.

[D.A. pp 435>436] Lucifer desired God's power, but not His character. He sought for himself the highest place, and every being who is actuated by his spirit will do the same. Thus alienation, discord, and strife will be inevitable. Dominion becomes the prize of the strongest. The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force; every individual regards every other as an obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or a steppingstone on which he himself may climb to a higher place.

Thus, because we are inundated with false worship of every type of false god, and since there is blatant self-worship, and an insatiable desire for praise, and applause of men, in high and low places, God is now calling on the inhabitants of earth to worship “Him”. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Proper Sabbath observance is not only about rest, it is more about obedience to God’s specific word, by recognizing Him as The Creator of the heavens, and the earth. Other practical reasons are given in the scriptures for resting over the sacred hours, among which is the fact that the Lord also rested from His work, thereby giving us the example that we should follow.

Furthermore, Christ tells us that the Sabbath was made for all men, meaning that it was given for the benefit humanity. However, worshipping God over the sacred hours of the Sabbath, is never primarily about rest, rejuvenation, and spending quality time with one’s family, because these are the very same reasons given by some on the opposite side of the fence.

Any individual can rest and be rejuvenated and can spend quality time with family and brethren on any day of the week; but the Sabbath has to do with the specific day God ordained for such activities to take place. In fact, the reasons for a cyclical rest might be quite similar on both sides of the issue, however it’s obedience to the word of God which would make all the difference.

Thus, worship is more about obedience, than it is about praise and adoration. That’s why Jesus was moved to raise a remonstrance against the practice of giving much praise, without the corresponding obedience required, for praise minus obedience is equal to flattery, and ultimately leads to rebellion, as was the case with Cain. Let’s read:

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men.

Therefore, Sabbath keeping is first and foremost, an acknowledgement that we are created, and as such we are not autonomous beings, nor do we exist in a vacuum, nor did we begin life by accident. Instead, we were created by an intelligent, all-wise God, and are therefore accountable to Him who made us.

The theory of evolution would not be existence in our school curriculum if we were worshipping God according to the scripture. Here is where millions of Christians have stumbled, for Christ is worshipped in His capacity as Savior, but not as Creator, which is the primary reason given in the Bible. Having Christ and evolution on the same page is the equivalent of trying to have Baal and God sitting in the same seat.

The Sabbath rest also constitutes a rebuke against that materialism, and pursuit of gain, that drives us to extremes in getting and accumulating, and which often causes us to put our health at risk, and which effectively destroys the social, and moral fabric of our existence. Thus, the commonsense reasons, as well as the sacred commandment, were enshrined as permanent institutions for the up-liftment, and benefit of the human family. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 5:13 Six days thou shalt labor, and do all thy work:
14 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, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.

Now, even though Sunday worship incorporates some of the principles of rest enumerated in the fourth commandment, yet it is quite incapable of producing the same good results, for the simple fact that God’s presence is not there, to sanctify it, and make it holy, neither has He ever commanded it, for it is God’s presence which makes all the difference between the seventh day Sabbath, and the other six working days of the week.

Thus, Sunday cannot, and will never be sacred, nor will it ever be accepted as a substitute by the God of heaven, for not only does Sunday-keeping refuse to acknowledge God as Creator, but it would inevitably lead to the final conflict, just as the issue of worship sparked the conflict with Cain.

In closing, it is necessary for all professed Christians, and those beyond, to have a clear knowledge of the issues pertaining to true worship. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is still valid, and pertains to us, just as much as it pertained to the Hebrews. Therefore, in all of the current deliberations behind the scenes, and in all of the efforts being made to bring America back to God, let us always remember to “Worship Him”, The Creator God. Let’s read:

Exodus 20: 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labor, 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.

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

It's All About Christ. Sabbath Afternoon. 02/10/2018

February 10, 2018

One of the foremost truths about salvation is that it is all about Christ. There have been instances where much focus, and attention are placed on the human agent, and the work of God is viewed as a necessary addition to our efforts. Now, while this is true when it is understood correctly, we should remember that all things pertaining to our salvation, originate with, and come from Christ. Thus, what some folks tend to view as prerequisites to service, and relationship with Christ, are actually not necessary, or enjoined.

We must remember that every godly attribute of character originates in God, and as far as salvation and righteousness goes, the development and the implementation of these characteristics, are the work of the Holy Spirit, accomplished through our
choice and consent. But for anyone to believe that these attributes must first be manifested in sinners before coming to Christ, or working for Christ, is an absolute nonstarter, for the Bible does not teach this. Let’s read:

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

[Reflecting Christ pp 35] All righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a perfect, harmonious whole. Everyone who receives Christ as his personal Savior is privileged to possess these attributes. This is the science of holiness.

Therefore, in harmony with these fundamental, and central truths, there are several theories and tenets currently held by many Christians, which must now be addressed, and corrected by the word of God.

[1] An individual does not have to be humble as a prerequisite to accepting Christ, for humility is a by-product of the Holy Spirit dwelling in a person. As the work of salvation is begun, and continues in our hearts, more and greater humility will be seen, but for us to expect humility up front isn’t Biblical.

Mark 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James he surnamed Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder.

Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

By the way, these disciples had been preaching for several months, and had been ordained by Christ Himself, yet from this, and other accounts, it’s quite apparent that they were far from being humble, in the true sense of the word. In the upper room, the unconverted nature of the disciples was displayed, for none of them seemed humble enough to wash the other’s feet. In commenting on that occasion, the servant of God says the following. Let’s read:

D.A. pp 643>644] On this last evening with His disciples, Jesus had much to tell them. But Jesus saw that they could not bear what He had to say. His sorrowful words, pointing to His own suffering, had made little impression. The glances they cast upon each other told of jealousy and contention. There was “a strife among them, which of them
should be accounted the greatest.”

This contention, carried on in the presence of Christ, grieved and wounded Him. The disciples clung to their favorite idea that Christ would assert His power and take His position on the throne of David. And in heart each still longed for the highest place in the kingdom. They had placed their own estimate upon themselves and upon one another, and, instead of regarding their brethren as more, worthy, they had placed themselves first.

The request of James and John to sit on the right and left of Christ's throne had excited the indignation of the others. That the two brothers should presume to ask for the highest position so stirred the ten that alienation threatened. They felt that they were misjudged, that their fidelity and talents were not appreciated.

At a feast it was customary for a servant to wash the feet of the guests, and on this occasion, preparation had been made for the service. The pitcher, the basin, and the towel were there, in readiness for the feet washing; but no servant was present, and it was the disciples’ part to perform it. But each of the disciples, yielding to wounded pride, determined not to act the part of a servant. All manifested a stoical unconcern, seeming unconscious that there was anything for them to do. By their silence they refused to humble themselves.

Humility is not a prerequisite for accepting Christ, nor is it a precondition for working to build up His kingdom. That’s because humility never ever occurs naturally within the human heart, but instead, is the result of God’s grace alone, through the in- dwelling of The Holy Ghost. In fact, what some may view as lethargy, and unwillingness in fellow Christians, is more often a deficit of the Holy Spirit in the heart. Let’s read:

[D.A. pp 295>296] All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His service. Even John, who came into closest association with the meek and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding. He and his brother were called “the sons of thunder.” While they were with Jesus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation, and combativeness.

Evil temper, revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all in the beloved disciple. He was proud and ambitious to be first in the kingdom of God. But day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. He opened his heart to the divine influence and became not only a hearer but a doer of the Savior's words.

Thus, humility is the result of Christ’s work of grace in our hearts and is something that is accomplished in His own time and way. That voluntary humility of which Paul spoke is of human origin and is actually a disguised form of pride. Conversely, Christ brings us into situations, and experiences which develop the true humility in those who so choose, and anything else is nothing short of a counterfeit. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou would keep his commandments, or no.
3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know, that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.

This last passage is of particular interest, for it says that God used food as the means of humbling His people, so the question is: What does food have to do with humility? For us to understand what that passage means we must first remember that the children of Israel ate manna for forty years, a pretty long time to be fed one article of food. It is true that at times they craved variety and God granted it, but their staple every day was manna. Let’s read:

Exodus 16:35 And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

Question: Could one article of food supply all of the necessary nutrients our bodies need, and if not, will we be grossly deficient in certain areas? It’s worthy of note that the Hebrews requested a wider variety, of food, something that is quite consistent with the guidelines given by the National institutes of Health. And almost all professionals in the wellness industry will unanimously agree that a wide variety of food is essential to well-being, strength, and longevity. So, the request of the Hebrews was not as far-fetched as some may think, or was it?. Let’s read:

Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic.
6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

[N.I.H] The 2015-2020 edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasizes eating a variety of foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat and fat-free dairy, and lean meats. The new guidelines, developed by “experts” in the fields of nutrition, health, and medicine, are designed to combat rising rates of chronic, diet-related diseases in a way that is easier for consumers to adopt, the “experts” said. A healthy eating plan includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.

And thus, if any Hebrew was to choose manna over the conventional wisdom on variety, then he would by so doing be choosing God’s method of humbling him, a method that defies logic, and requires faith, belief, trust, and obedience, with the accompanying inevitable results. In fact, faith, and obedience are much, more essential to health than vitamins, and minerals, because, as the topic says, it’s all about Christ. Let’s read:

Psalms 105:37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

Exodus 34:27 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words.
28 And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water.

[2] Conversion is not a prerequisite either, when it comes to working for Christ, or having a relationship with Him. Ongoing conversion is also the by-product of God’s grace in human hearts, and therefore, we must not view one as unqualified, or unprepared to serve, just because he or she may not be an entirely converted Christian. In fact, the disturbing news is that most of us Christians are not converted, as yet. The apostle Paul puts it this way. Let’s read:

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?

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

Matthew 26:4 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise, also said all the disciples.

[3] One does not have to be willing either, as a precondition, to serving or accepting God’s grace. Willingness in spiritual things, like all other godly characteristics is a direct result of God’s work in our hearts. The energy and zeal manifested in doing any righteousness, or in serving faithfully, must never be credited to the Christian, as if his/her willingness originated with themselves, for this characteristic is also a by-product of the indwelling Holy Ghost.

When the first sanctuary in the wilderness was to be built, the record shows us that the Hebrews who responded to Moses’ appeal for contributions, did so willingly, but it was God alone who sent forth His Spirit into their hearts, and the rest is history. Their willingness, and liberality was the direct result of God’s work in their hearts, and He alone must be glorified for what transpired, because it’s all about Christ. Let’s read:

Exodus 35:21 And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

Exodus 31:30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
31 And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
32 And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
33 And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.
34 And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
35 Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

The same experience was repeated, when in David’s day, requests were made for the building of the first temple. The people brought willingly of their goods, but David acknowledged that the attitude of giving did not originate with the people. Like as with the characteristic of humility, it was God alone who had moved upon the hearts of the people, and the rest is history. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
10 Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
11 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12 Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

[B.E. pp 380] It was God alone who had made His people generous. He, not man, must be glorified. His Spirit had made them willing. If His love had not moved on the hearts of the people, the temple would never have been built.

This brings us to one of the most important issues to be addressed, as it pertains to our service, and our relationship with God. Question: What role does the human agent have to play, in the plan of salvation, and all that it entails. The answer is one, “CHOICE”.

Whenever we choose good over evil, or service over selfishness, or humility over pride, and willingness in place of procrastination and excuses, then Christ couples His Holy Spirit with our choice, to bring to pass in our hearts, that which otherwise, would never have occurred, for it’s all about Christ.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

This leads us to a stark reality existing in churches today across the land, for it seems as if members have to be induced by rewards, to serve; rewards such as praise, accolades, and higher positions, and public recognition of one’s efforts or contributions. In some instances, some may even be offended, or discouraged if their names were not mentioned as noteworthy from the pulpit.

Then again, it seems as if some have to be literally begged and pleaded with to do some little service for The Master, albeit with great reluctance and an attitude. The real underlying problem is that God’s Spirit is largely absent from many churches, even though members may not be cognizant of the fact.

Thus, the Bible study for today will center around a parable given by Christ, which demonstrates the way in which our service and our relationship with Christ is implemented and evaluated in the courts of heaven. As we read we will discover in surprise, that it is the one who initially had the bad attitude, who ultimately did God’s will, whatever his or her attitude may have been.

The prospect was laid before each, the choices were made, and then the one who had chosen God’s will was subsequently endowed and fully equipped with everything he needed to accomplish what God had required. Thus, it is in all aspects of our salvation, because the choice is ours, as Joshua rightly put it, “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve”.

But one thing is certain, once we choose Christ, it becomes all about Christ; His work, His enabling, His energy, His Spirit, His willingness, His humility, His righteousness, His steadfastness, His character, His will power, and everything else that is included in the production, and the implementation of all the Christian graces, for it’s all about Christ. Let’s read:

Matthew 21:28 A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father?
They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

The second son had made a spontaneous choice in the heat of the moment, whilst the organist was playing, and the stirring appeals were being made from the pulpit; and thus, his apparent willingness, and humility was of human origin. Thus, when it came time for the rubber to meet the road, when it came time to deliver on his promise, he was found to be recanting, and consequently ran out of steam.

However, the first son, who seemed to be unwilling initially, obviously thought the matter through, and made a deliberate choice to serve, and the rest is history, for after choosing, he was empowered, and given the wherewithal to accomplish the Father’s will. In other words, everything that was needed was provided, and thus He who was once unwilling was enabled to do and dare for The Master.

In the Christian’s life experience, the same is true, for whatsoever is worth accomplishing, whether it be in spiritual or temporal lines, we must remember that it’s all about Christ. We choose, and then the work of the Holy Spirit in enabling us to perform the will of God, is implemented, because it’s all about Christ.

We therefore close with a quote from the pen of inspiration, and a passage of scripture which would remind us of our constant dependence and need of Christ. Let’s read:

[C.O.L. pp 349>350] God desires that His workers in every line shall look to Him as the Giver of all they possess. All right inventions and improvements have their source in Him who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. The skillful touch of the physician's hand, his power over nerve and muscle, his knowledge of the delicate organism of the body, is the wisdom of divine power, to be used in behalf of the suffering.

The skill with which the carpenter uses the hammer, the strength with which the blacksmith makes the anvil ring, comes from God. He has entrusted men with talents, and He expects them to look to Him for counsel. Whatever we do, in whatever department of the work we are placed, He desires to control our minds that we may do perfect work.

Divine and human agencies are to combine in temporal as well as in spiritual achievements. They are to be united in all human pursuits, in mechanical and agricultural labors, in mercantile and scientific enterprises. There must be co-operation in everything embraced in Christian activity.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

God Bless!

Strange Fire! Sabbath Afternoon. 02/03/2018

February 03, 2018

Strange fire, as it pertains to worship, is offering to God something other than that which He has clearly commanded. As fallen human beings, we have to be taught how to worship, because we do not naturally have it within us to worship anyone but ourselves. It is because of this fact why God has given extensive, detailed, and meticulous instructions regarding our worship of Him. Any deliberate deviation from what He has outlined, and approved, is a form of strange fire, of our own kindling.

Strange fires were first kindled by Cain, who sought to force The Lord to accept that which He had not commanded, by offering fruit of the ground instead of a lamb of the flocks. By offering a substitute, Cain had proposed to worship God according to his own finite ideas, and he thereby set the stage for other strange fires to be kindled by self-serving, subjective worshipers down through the ages. Let’s read:

In our day, contemporary Christianity has kindled a host of strange fires, which God neither recognizes or endorses. These fires range from the incoherent speaking in tongues, to Sunday keeping, and from dancehall-style praise, to the free use of alcoholic beverages in some communion services. Strange fires also include the use of the tithes, and offerings for personal gain, and self-aggrandizement.

But God has clearly stated in His word, and by the teaching of His providences, that strange fires will never be accepted, whether those fires be kindled deliberately, or inadvertently. That passage in the book of Acts which says, “At the times of ignorance God winked” is often misunderstood to mean that God accepted substitutes. Winked is not a synonym for accept, and furthermore, God commanded that necessary corrections to be made, two thousand years ago.

In the instance of Aaron’s sons, the strange fire was kindled under the influence of alcohol, and their sin was speedily, and signally dealt with, so that future generations would have on record, the way God will also deal with modern-day strange fires. Very many Christians are being brainwashed by false prophets into accepting a “Cool” Jesus, who sits idly by, while His laws, statutes, and His instructions are trampled upon.

Then again there are others who believe that God’s commands are all optional, and subject to variables such as feelings, emotionalism, and impulse. But in the example of Aaron’s two sons, God showed that He will not be trifled with, and any individual who desires to serve and worship Him, must of necessity do so according to those instructions given in bible, and nothing else. When we as mortals understand this basic fact, we will be prepared to worship God in spirit, and in truth. Let’s read:

Leviticus 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.
3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.
5 So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.
6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled.
7 And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.
8 And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying,
9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.

There are very grave, and important lessons to be learned from this singular experience, lessons that are greatly needed in our day and age, where any, and everything seems to be incorporated under the banner of Christian worship, and lifestyle.

[1] Alcoholic beverages distort a person’s judgment and interferes with one’s ability to distinguish good from evil, and right from wrong. This is the reason given in the scripture for the perversion of the sons of Aaron, for their better judgment was impaired by the use of spiritous liquors; and by the way, there is a reason, why alcoholic beverages are referred to as “spirits”. Let’s read:

Leviticus 10:9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die.
10 That ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.

Proverbs 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color 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.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
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.

When David had sinned against Bathsheba, and her husband Uriah, by their illicit rendezvous, Uriah had displayed excellent morals, by refusing to go home and have intimate relations with his wife. Thus, in sheer desperation, David sought as a last resort, to interfere with Uriah’s rational judgment, by offering him several bottles of Jack Daniels on the rocks, so as to confuse Uriah’s better judgment.

However, in this particular instance, the providence of God overruled David’s ploys, and kept Uriah both sober, and drunk at the same time, so that the small window of opportunity David had been hoping for, to credit Bathsheba’s pregnancy to Uriah now faded into oblivion. But one thing is certain, David knew exactly what he was doing when he reached into his refrigerator for those bottles of alcoholic beverages. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 11:12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here today also, and tomorrow I will let thee depart.
13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord but, went not down to his house.

[2] God does not accept, partial obedience that is deliberate, meaning, that if we know better, He will require better from us.

The idea that we are free to pick, and choose what we desire to obey is a non-starter, and, will lead us to outright rebellion. It is not good enough to keep nine commandments out of ten, because the one thus omitted, puts us in the category of breaking all ten. Spouses should not be faithful to each other 90% of the time, because the other 10% can lead to a permanent fracture in their relationship. Let’s read:

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

[3] Great blessings, great revelations, and privileges should always lead us to greater obedience. Those who are privileged to talk with God in the mountain must render commensurate obedience in the valley, for privilege is not license, and great revelations do not release one from obeying all of God’s word. On the contrary, the more revelations are given us, the more is expected of us. Let’s read:

Luke 12:48 For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 359>360] Next to Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu had stood highest in Israel. They had been especially honored by the Lord, having been permitted with the seventy elders to behold His glory in the mount. But their transgression was not therefore to be excused or lightly regarded. All this rendered their sin more grievous.

Because men have received great light, because they have, like the princes of Israel, ascended to the mount, and been privileged to have communion with God, and to dwell in the light of His glory, let them not flatter themselves that they can afterward sin with impunity, that because they have been thus honored, God will not be strict to punish their iniquity. This is a fatal deception.

The great light and privileges bestowed require returns of virtue and holiness corresponding to the light given. Great blessings or privileges should never lull to security or carelessness. They should never give license to sin or cause the recipients to feel that God will not be exact with them.

[4] False sympathy, which leads us to view God’s corrective judgments as cruel, unwarranted, and unfair, puts us in a position of aiding and abetting in the crimes committed. God is a Spirit, and therefore sympathy given to those who are deserving of God’s correction is a sign that we disagree with His actions and sets the stage for rebellion by contagion.

When Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were destroyed because of their rebellion against Moses and Aaron, the people had fled in terror, but in their hearts was murmuring against God, for what they thought was the unjust treatment of the conspirators, and their families. And the following day, this false sympathy found open expression in their complaints, and accusations against the Lord’s anointed. Let’s read:

Numbers 16:41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord.
42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared.
44 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun.
47 And Aaron ran into the midst of the congregation, and behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.
48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

Leviticus 10:6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people.

In closing, there is a whole lot of foolishness taking place across the land, and liars, fraudsters, and all those who deliberately destroy the land, are found to be multiplying at an unprecedented scale. And for all intents and purposes it may now seem to the casual observer that God has forsaken the earth.

In addition to this, many professed Christians are countenancing the cruelties being done across the land, and no one seems to have the nerve, or the resolve to stand up for truth and righteousness. But when men fail to carry out God’s revealed will, then He will take matters into His own hands, which will result in catastrophic judgments, the likes of which we have never seen, or expected from The God of love. Let’s read:

[P&P pp 578] Those who have too little courage to reprove wrong, are held accountable for the evil that may result from their neglect of duty. We are just as responsible for evils that we might have checked in others by as if the acts had been our own.

Strange fires, which put the human agent at odds with God’s revealed will should be avoided under all circumstances, for God is impartial in His dealings, and if Moses was prevented from entering Canaan, because of striking the rock when God had required him to speak to the rock, then we who are living on the brink of eternity should clearly understand that whatever God requires, that alone will be accepted.

Therefore, we close with two important passages of scripture, so that whosoever will, may understand what is coming upon the earth, as a result of the many forms of strange fires now being offered. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 3:18 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.

Isaiah 28:21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word.
God Bless!

Led By The Spirit. Sabbath Afternoon. 06/30/2018

Love Thy Neighbor. Sabbath Afternoon 06/23/2018

The Voice Of God. Sabbath Afternoon. 06/16/2018

The 144,000. Sabbath Afternoon. 06/09/2018

Swimming Upstream. Sabbath Afternoon 06/02/2018

Do Unto Others. Sabbath Afternoon 05/26/2018

The Investigative Judgment. [3] Sabbath Afternoon. 05/05/2018

The Investigative Judgment. [2] Sabbath Afternoon. 04/28/2018

The Investigative Judgment [1] Sabbath Afternoon 04/21/2018

The Forbidden Tree. Sabbath Afternoon. 04/14/2018

A Christian's Priorities. Sabbath Afternoon 04/07/2018

A Prophet Among Us. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/31/2018

Confronting Adultery. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/24/2018

The Origin Of Species. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/17/2018

The Uplifted Serpent. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/11/2018

Anger Management. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/03/2018

Balaam's Magic Book. Sabbath Afternoon. 02/25/2018

Worship "Him". Sabbath Afternoon. 02/17/2018

It's All About Christ. Sabbath Afternoon. 02/10/2018

Strange Fire! Sabbath Afternoon. 02/03/2018

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