The Close Of Probation. Sabbath Afternoon. 02/02/2019

Come when it may, the close of human probation will occur when most of earth’s inhabitants are not looking for it, and by default, will not be ready for it either. For one reason or another, many who have professed faith in Jesus and have gone along for the ride, have allowed their faith to grow dim, and as a result the love of many has waxed cold. This is a sad condition which does not occur in a vacuum but is the result of a long, protracted process.

Over a period of time, the first love which animated our zeal to serve Jesus in all things, wanes, and very many have permitted the things of earthly value to usurp the first place in our affections. Then again, some of us may have allowed the cares of this life to choke out the word, by having our priorities mixed up, to the point where our best energies, and the main focus of our thoughts center on the temporal, to the neglect of the spiritual.

Another reason why the close of probation will be a complete surprise to others, is because the smooth sermons which lull the unwary into a false sense of security, have replaced those cutting truths which call for repentance and self-denial. The multitudes generally prefer to listen to those cute, comfortable sermons, which do not disturb the conscience, and which often contain jokes which may seem “funny”.

Thus, many who present a generic, watered-down form of the gospel, sound more like Saturday night live, than the preaching of John the Baptist, who in his sermons called for real and permanent change. This regrettable state of affairs has also affected the remnant people of God, for many are choosing their place of worship based solely on positive vibrations, good music, or the personality of the preacher.

For many different reasons, and under one pretext or another, the diabolical purpose of the enemy is being fulfilled, for most of earth’s inhabitants are now in a deep slumber from which many will awake only when it is too late. Therefore, in the parable of the sower, The Lord shows us the dangers some will encounter, even when our interest has been peaked at times on themes of salvation. Let’s read:

Matthew 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth.

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them.

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and quickly with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

In addition, the scriptures also clearly state that the close of probation will occur suddenly, beginning at the house of God, and then extending to the masses of people who reject God’s call. Even the five wise virgins were asleep when the Bridegroom came at midnight, thus demonstrating again, that things will come to an end when we least expect. Several texts confirm this to us, and we will do well to take heed, whilst we can. Let’s read:

1st Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Mark 13:34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

1st Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Those folks who are waiting until the last minute to repent, when there is to be a rush for the door, will be sadly disappointed, because a deep relationship with Christ is not born overnight. It takes time to trust in God, to become familiar with His ways, and His word, and it takes a lifetime for the work of The Holy Spirit in us to produce mature, well-balanced Christians. As a general rule of thumb, this does not take place suddenly. Hence the reason why the next passage is so important. Let’s read:

Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;

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

Thus, the close of probation for many will take place in pretty much the same way as it did for Achan, for just as the issues of his sin, concealment, and finally a forced confession from unwilling lips caused him to be eternally separated from God, just so will the many millions who have made excuses, or who have postponed the day of grace, end in separation from God.

In our study today, we will not delve into the time factors for the close of probation, because only God knows when that will be. In addition, the focus on time may lead some to put off their day of grace for a convenient season in the future. Instead, we will deal with the reason why probation closes for some persons, even whilst they are still alive, the various situations which unfold during probationary time, and the lessons we should learn from persons who were separated from God.

Therefore, as we study Achan’s experience, let us pay close attention to how his sad end unfolded, so that we in our day would not repeat the same fatal errors. A clear command was given by God that the spoils from the campaign against Jericho, shouldn’t be appropriated for personal use. In the clearest, and simplest words the instruction had been given, for the city, its inhabitants, and all their belongings were accursed. Let’s read:

Joshua 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.

Whenever God gives such a clear instruction in His word, those who disregard it do so at the peril of their own souls, because, even though God is quick to forgive, and delights in mercy, yet, the fact that we deliberately went against His word, casts a cloud on our consciences, and may cause us to hesitate in the important work of confession and repentance.

After Achan committed his sin, God gave him time for due consideration and reflection if by any means his disturbed conscience would drive him to repent, because according to the story, several days must have elapsed since the sin was committed, during which time Achan was given ample opportunity to confess in private.

Had Achan done so, he might very well have been spared the agony and humiliation which occurred later in the public square. But instead of doing this, he dug his heels in and conspired with his family to conceal the wrong, a fact that is borne out in the statement that says he hid the “stuff” in his tent.

The mere fact that we have sinned does not make us ineligible for the grace of God. Instead, it should drive us to the throne of grace, with a realization of our need of help. The problem occurs when we try to cover our sins or try to make excuses for them, or worse yet, to blame others or circumstances for our failures.

Whenever we take this route, those sins remain unforgiven in the books of record, and if they are never addressed, they will finally be exposed in the public square, because it must be made manifest to the universe why certain persons are excluded from heaven. During our probationary period, sins that are confessed and forsaken are hidden from view by the blood of Christ, but sins that aren’t confessed are laid bare to the eyes of heavenly intelligences. 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.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

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.

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Again, the “Stuff” Achan refers to was not merely one item but several items, and as such, would have required cooperation, and knowledge of the wrong on the part of his family members. His entire family became implicated with his sin, because they were made privy to it, and said nothing. Their silence, and inaction was an act of cooperation by default, as far as God is concerned, for those who have knowledge of wrong-doing and do nothing about it, do become participators by default.

Some Christians, in reading of the history of God’s dealings with ancient Israel, have concluded that the God of the old testament was severe, and that Jesus Christ of the new testament was a much more loving and lenient God. Nothing can be further from the truth, because the God of the old testament was Jesus.

Furthermore, these persons may overlook the fact that God gave ample opportunity for Achan and his family to confess their sins in private. In our own Miami Dade county, if one is travelling with others in a car filled with drugs, and knew it not, that fact will not be sufficient to avoid them being arrested.

The fact that Achan’s family knew of the crime, put the close of their probation on the line too, for if confession was made when forgiveness would have been granted, the thirty-six men who lost their lives later on, would be alive with their families. It wasn’t necessary for the situation to reach a crisis, if only he had confessed when he had opportunity to.

In our day of probation, whenever we may become aware that we have committed sin, we also should avoid waiting to confess, because with the passage of time, it always become more and more difficult to do so, since human nature generally always seeks to justify a wrong course of action.

It is not necessary to wait until the end of the day to confess our sins, for if our conscience is pricked at 11:00 am, because of some misdeed on our part, 11:00 am is the best time to confess and forsake. But for known sin to rest in our conscience for any length of time, will most likely cause it to seem less sinful, and before you know it we may either excuse it, or forget about it altogether.

In our day of probation that’s exactly what is taking place in the lives of many, including some professed Christians who once were disturbed by certain sins. There was a time when “alternative” lifestyles were frowned upon by the clergy, and certain skeletons were confined to the closet. But with the passage of time, and because of a refusal to confess our sins, it has now become politically incorrect, and at times even dangerous to say a word against such sins.

Thus, like Achan and his family our day of probation is swiftly drawing to a close, and those, who for fear of ridicule, or financial persecution, continue to say nothing; those who prefer to sit in silence, as goods are being hidden in Achan’s proverbial tent, will find out sooner or later, that probation will close at such a time, and manner when we least expect. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged;

13 It shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Days pass by, and God waits in vain for Achan to confess, but to no avail, and because of his sin, the military campaign which the Hebrews had ventured upon without prayer, fails miserably. In utter defeat they return to the camp, with thirty-six men of their number missing, and the obvious question is raised: “If God be with us, why then did we suffer such a terrible loss?” Let’s read:

Joshua 7:7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!

8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!

9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?

10 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?

11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded

them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

14 In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the Lord taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the Lord shall take shall come by households; and the household which the Lord shall take shall come man by man.

The fact that God told Joshua to bring the tribes in the “Morning” means that there was yet time for Achan to come forward voluntarily, for it was still possible for his repentance and confession to take place. True, at this point, like the thief on the cross, he may have permitted the matter to go too far to avoid the physical consequences, but if he was to take the initiative, like the thief on the cross, he might be saved eternally.

During our probationary period, there may be sins that we may have to suffer the literal consequences for in this life, yet if we confess and forsake them, they will not debar us from being saved eternally in God’s kingdom. But if we wait, and wait, and wait until it is too late, then like Achan, things will reach a point of no return, and the door of mercy will be forever shut. Let’s read:

Joshua 7:16 So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken.

17 And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken.

18 And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.

20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done.

This confession was of the Judas, and Esau variety, for it consisted of a regret for unfortunate results, rather than regret for sinning against God and man. Godly sorrow for sin does not generally wait until exposure to confess, nor does it focus merely on the consequences of sin. Instead, like the thief on the cross, it manifests a willingness to suffer the justice that is due in the temporal realm, while at the same time appealing to God’s mercy. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

Matthew 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

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.

In our day of probation, some err by waiting too long, until emails and phone records are exposed to public view, before confession is made. Others, like Achan remain silent as “Joshua” investigates wrongs which they may be fully aware of, and which family members and friends may be privy to.

It is of critical importance then, for us to come clean and upfront with God, acknowledging any known sin and asking for pardon while grace is still granted. For years, we may have known of some cherished sin of ours, hidden from human view, but known only to God and ourselves. Day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year, the Spirt of God may plead with us to confess and forsake.

But like Achan, we too sometimes choose to bury the sin in the midst of our tents, to try to quiet our consciences, all the while, the days of our probation drag on until the golden opportunity is passed, and we are left without shelter.

Because of the rapid developments taking place all around us, on several different fronts, it is quite likely that our day of probation is closer to closing than many realize, and thus, it is important that we do not put off for any future time, that which we know should be done to day.

In lieu of this prospect, we urge each and everyone to make the best of God’s grace, while it still lingers, for as stated before in several passages, it will end when we least expect it to. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should encourage us to make our move today. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 6:2 For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

God bless!

Good Conflict Resolution. Sabbath Afternoon 01/26/2019

One of the difficulties we face in our fallen human nature is that of how to resolve conflicts, without becoming alienated. Conflicts have often arisen in the church, at home, on the job, in religious circles, and in political environments. Even among the disciples of Christ, there were times when they had to grapple with the age-old problem, for they found themselves sometimes, brooding, and venting their displeasure at one another.

And accusations, whether true or false often drives us apart, and because we often prefer to justify our opinions and actions, it becomes even harder for a breakthrough to occur. Again, when tempers flare, and harsh words fly left and right, the stage is often set for even more conflict, while the devil stirs the bitter brew in the background, hidden from human view.

Retaliations and acts of revenge do not help either, for they add toxic ingredients to already simmering tempers, which are like time bombs, only waiting, and ready to explode at the least provocation. This tit for tat tendency is particularly dangerous, for it can often escalate into irreconcilable differences in which former friends, associates, and even brethren may choose to go their own separate ways.

Whenever the lines of communication are broken down strange things begin to happen, for wounded pride often drives us into our corner, where we may huff and puff at each other, whilst the issues which have caused alienation, remain untouched on the back burner. Estrangement is the by-product of the work of evil spirits, for it’s one of the main signature characteristics manifested whenever, and wherever God’s Holy Spirit is absent.

Thus, because The Spirit of God is being gradually withdrawn from the earth, we will observe within our ranks, and even in the public square, the utter inability of man to resolve differences on his own, and that is because true, and lasting unity can only come from Christ, through the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit, a fact which applies across the board, including marriage.

If persons are led to merely “Tolerate” each other, then the conflict has not been truly resolved. When quarrels are truly healed by The Spirit of God, both parties embrace each other with open hearts, with the best of intentions, and with a willingness to help each other in any way they can, coupled with a firm resolve not to cause hurt anymore. Thus, toleration is the counterfeit of true, godly resolution.

Again, wherever, and whenever conflicts are not resolved speedily, and according to the scriptural methods, people will get hurt; some emotionally, some financially, some physically and some socially. The very nature of the principles of satan’s kingdom is to cause hurt in some form or another. This truth is clearly set forth in the scriptures. Let’s read:

James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Once husbands and wives stop speaking, the lines of communication are broken down, and the longer the impasse lasts, the more difficult it becomes for a resolution to occur, because human pride balks at the prospect of being humbled. Thus, some people who are currently married, and live under the same roof, are actually leading single lives, all because of a lack of communication.

It is important then for us, who are living in these turbulent times, to embrace and practice the Lord’s instructions on “Good Conflict Resolution” so that the estrangement that is taking place all around us will not produce a trickle-down effect. One of the shining examples given in the scriptures, of good conflict resolution, has to do with a dispute which arose between Abraham and Lot, concerning real estate.

Somehow, when in poverty and adversity folks tend to get along more, but when riches increase, there’s a tendency for alienation. That is because both the rich and the poor often suffer from covetousness, a problem that can trigger animosity, if not dealt with in a godly manner.

Abraham had been abundantly blessed by God, and Lot, who had traveled with him, became a partaker of the blessings. But after a while, their flocks and herds increased to the point where available grass and pasture was becoming an issue, for there were insufficient resources to support both households in the same area.

As a result, the herdsmen of both Abraham and Lot often found themselves squabbling over grass, and the situation reached a boiling point, where the two parties had to confront the issue, lest it turned into violence. As we read of the incident, there would be several important lessons, and instructions, on how we too may peacefully resolve our differences, with no lingering animosity or bad feelings. Let’s read:

Genesis 13:1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.

2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

7 And there was a strife between the herd-men of Abram's cattle and the herd-men of Lot's cattle.

Lesson # [1]

Being a Christian does not mean that we will never have any conflicts, for we are all born with a fallen human nature that exerts great gravitational pull on persons even after we may have begun the process of conversion. This is what Paul was referring to as he correctly described the internal struggles facing us, between right and wrong, good and evil, which every Christian would experience on some level or another. 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.

For Abraham to do the right thing, he would have to make a deliberate decision in favor of righteousness because it’s easier to go with the natural flow of my rights, rather than to surrender to the other person, the benefit. We would often find that in pursuit of conflict resolution, we will have to go against our natural grain.

Genesis 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herd-men and thy herd-men; for we be brethren.

Lesson # [2]

In resolving conflict, we should value our friendship and harmony more than material or pecuniary gain. In other words, if friendship, and peace would cost Abraham financially, then he will bear it cheerfully. Reconciliation, as a general rule of thumb, usually involves loss to one, or either party, and therefore, God instructs us as His people, to be willing to bear the cost, because this is what Christ exemplified, as He bore the cost of our reconciliation to God, bodily in 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.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Lesson # [3]

In resolving some conflicts, we may need to give up our rights for the sake of peace and friendship. The prevailing disposition to stake out our position, and entitlements, and to rigidly stand our ground, is not the way Abraham saw fit to deal with the delicate issue. The promise of the land of Canaan was made to Abraham, not to lot, and therefore, by right, the first preference should be deferred to him.

But if he were to exercise his right in the matter, by taking the best and most fertile of the land, it would almost certainly spawn a new round of bad feelings since lot could view the action as being selfish. Thus Abraham did the Christlike thing by surrendering his rights for the sake of the brotherhood, and the rest is history, because the results of that one, singular experience produced ripple effects for centuries to come.

And in the resurrection, all of lot’s family with the exception of himself, will be found on the other side of the wall, with Hitler, Judas, and Bin Laden, for as many will realize, the way we handle, or mishandle conflicts, can trigger repercussions that may vibrate to eternity. Hence the reason why the following set of instructions on good conflict resolution is of great importance to those who desire to reflect Christ. Let’s read:

Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

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

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

We are often tempted to “Go low”, especially when our “Rights” are interfered with, and the prevailing tendency is to stand our ground in defense of what may be rightfully ours. But if we were to deal in the same currency as those who attempt to trample our rights, if we were to deal in the currency of “Tit for tat”, we would have adopted satanic principles, and methods, and by so doing we will virtually hand him the victory.

The children of The most High are to adopt royal principles and methods, thereby demonstrating in our persons, the loveliness, and the glory of God’s character, but too often we fail of giving the world a shining example of what the grace of God can do in the heart. Revenge, retaliation, grudges, tit for tat, argumentative spirits, and alienation, all proceed from one and the same source, and therefore, we will have to make deliberate decisions, about which course of action we will pursue when thus tempted.

A truly forgiving spirit is not incident specific, by which we pick and choose who or what to forgive. It is an ever-present attitude, implanted by The Holy Spirit, being diffused as bright beams of light, and dispelling the darkness, whenever, and wherever the need to forgive may arise. But some Christians have sadly put a threshold on who and what we are willing to forgive. These things should not be, for it is the will of God that we adopt the principles, and methods of royalty. Let’s read:

Luke 6:35 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.

1st Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile

Genesis 13:14 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.

16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

Lesson # [4]

It is worthy of note that God waited until after the matter was resolved to say something. As the effort at reconciliation was taking place, The Lord listened silently in the background, taking note of the words, attitudes, and decisions of both parties. Abraham in his words and actions sought to diffuse the volatile situation, even if it involved personal loss. Lot on the other hand sought to take advantage of the old man, by which his materialism and greed were exposed.

Then after Abraham submitted to God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s methods, God opens His mouth to speak, and the rest is history, for he then reiterated to Abraham that all the land of Canaan would surely be his. There is a great lesson in the timing of God’s words to Abraham, after the matter was resolved, for we often expect God to intervene in our behalf, right there and then, to deliver, or vindicate us in a signal manner.

In other instances, we believe that God is taking too long to execute justice, and we may become quite impatient and even upset at God in delaying justice, forgetting all the while that God delights in mercy, and therefore, we as His children should also take delight in being merciful too. The following passage should inform our oft impatience with God. Let’s read:

Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

After the passing of this incident between Abraham and Lot, it became manifest that the reconciliation initiated by Abraham was of the heavenly kind, for it was he who prayed that Lot’s family be spared the fiery deluge that was soon to engulf Sodom, and it was the very same Abraham who went after the invaders who had taken Lot’s family hostage, with the other citizens of the city.

Too often, our forgiveness and reconciliation savors of merely tolerating the person who infringed on our so-called rights, and too often there remains an unspoken uneasiness, every time we encounter the individual. God is in the business of full restoration, and as His children, we should rejoice greatly when tensions among brethren, family, communities, or governments are resolved.

Thus, we will close with two important passages of scripture, which should help us on the issue of good conflict resolution, for it is the will of God that we both adopt and practice them by His grace, for you never know, we might be the only Jesus that those with whom we associate, may see. Let’s read:

Proverbs 24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

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

God Bless!

The Secret Of success. Sabbath Afternoon 01/19/2019

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, God intends that to anyone who obeys and follows Jesus, success in the true sense of the word will be the inevitable result. The secular world views success as primarily being rich and famous, but the Bible tells us that is a one-sided view, for if a person is wealthy and famous, yet loses his/her soul at the end of the day, such a life would be a catastrophic loss. To be rich, famous, and sick is not ideal either. Let’s read:

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

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

Therefore, true success according to the scriptures, incorporates several features, with each one being important, and contributing to an indivisible whole, according to the grace and will of God. For instance, the spiritual, and moral nature of man come first, with health, and the temporal aspects coming after, for if one is in an unhealthy condition always, it will be difficult to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor.

However, if for reasons beyond a person’s control, or because of unavoidable circumstances, one was not able to succeed in the health and the temporal aspects of life, but was enabled by the grace God to maintain the spiritual, then at the end of the day, it will be said of such persons, that they lived life to the best of their ability, with immortal life, and the eternal inheritance as the end result.

Thus, it is important that we understand the right balance, as set forth in the scriptures, for The Lord is greatly honored in our lives when that balance is made manifest. Several passages in the Bible, in the old and new testaments confirm this. Let’s read:

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

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Psalms 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

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

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

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

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

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

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

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

Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.

10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.

It becomes obvious, even to the casual reader, that true success is directly linked to the keeping of all of God’s commandments. Someway, somehow, God’s laws are inextricably tethered to success, and thus, the question becomes, “What is our problem, why it seems as if the perfect balance evades the majority of professed Christians? Why is it that so many are in a state of imbalance, when The God of the Bible has clearly set forth the inevitable result of living by His word?

The answer, to a large extent, lies in the common practice of partial obedience, where persons adopt some of the instructions and laws given in the Bible, while at the same time disregarding, or avoiding the others. As a general rule of thumb this leads to one-sided success where the spiritual may be flourishing but the health and temporal aspects are lagging. Or otherwise, some may become healthy and wealthy, but like the rich young ruler in the scriptures, a true relationship with God is lacking.

Whatever may be our understanding of the Bible, it is evident that partial obedience is the root cause of most of our inadequacies. This problem is also to be seen in the way governments and counties operate, for it is a problem that runs the entire spectrum of our experiences, on a private and public level. For instance, in all states across America, it is a crime to steal and to kill, and these laws did not originate with man, but are derivatives coming from the great moral law of ten commandments. Let’s read:

Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. 15 Thou shalt not steal.

But in the same law we are told not to bear false witness. However, as it currently stands, the law against lying is adopted in most instances only when it is convenient or when a person may be facing dire consequences for not telling the truth. For instance, it is a serious crime to lie to the F.B.I or to congress, as some unfortunate persons have been finding out lately, but to lie to one’s spouse, or to make several false statements in advertisements, is not generally looked upon as being wrong.

Again, the latter six of the ten commandments may be adopted to a greater or lesser extent, but the first four which govern our relationship to God, are often left on the back-burner. For instance, the 4th commandment delineates in no uncertain terms, that the earth was created in six working days, and then God instituted the Sabbath as a day of rest for man.

However, for all intents and purposes, that law has been thrown out by most Christians, and we have instead adopted the first day of the week, and in consequence, evolutionary tales have now become standard in our curriculum. Thus, on the one hand we are big on “Thou shalt not kill”, but we are small on “Remember the Sabbath day” and creation, and as a direct result, success on all fronts are evading us. Let’s read:

Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, 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.

However, because it is not within the domain of any man to coerce the conscience, the needed reforms, as it pertains to the spiritual aspects especially, will have to begin with the individual. This is what the apostle James was referring to, as he wrote about partial obedience, because when persons or nations espouse some godly laws and despise the others, it will not, and cannot go well. Let’s read:

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

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

This conundrum will inevitably lead to a one-sided form of success where the nation may be financially viable, but the moral and spiritual aspects are in the dust. Wherever the commandments of God are only adopted partially, partial success will follow, and if on a personal or national level the Biblical principles are espoused in entirety, balanced success on every front will be the result; it cannot be otherwise, for the mouth of The Lord has spoken it. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the

nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

Many persons are now perplexed at what is taking place nationally, and many more are alarmed at the inability of leaders to resolve what may seem as a simple problem. And it may seem to many more, as if God is not listening to the prayers and concerns of those who may be falling into dire straits because of the national impasse. The solution is quite simple, if it is adopted on a personal level; and if it is done on a national scale, the clouds will be lifted. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

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

Thus, it is against this backdrop that we will proceed to our study for today. It has been stated over, and over again on this forum, that the moral law of God takes preeminence over natural law, for the laws in the natural world are subject to the moral law, and they fall under its jurisdiction. Thus, whenever the moral law is disregarded, either individually or on a national scale, the other laws which are operating downstream become discombobulated.

This is what took place during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel, who had led the nation of Israel deep into idolatry. The moral laws of God lay in the dust, idols and atheistic theories had overspread the land, and in direct consequence, the natural laws governing the yearly seasons were interfered with. Many folks view this as something God “Did” unto Israel, as opposed to the natural consequence that always follows deliberate disregard of God’s moral law.

Because the prophet Elijah was sent to deliver the startling message, some have concluded that it must be something God “Did”. It is true that God controls all laws, whether moral or natural, for they are all subservient unto Him, and they do not run on automatic. Yet we must remember that there are also laws of sowing and reaping, so that if a person or a nation sows “Corn” they will reap corn.

Jezebel and Ahab had led ancient Israel into callous disregard of the commandments, and the inevitable results followed. Their economy took a hit, and dust storms appeared out of nowhere, and the lack of rain, together with the unrelenting heat waves took a fearful toll on man and beast. The poor animals, and beasts of burden, who looked to man for help were sadly disappointed as they saw their grass and grain wither into nothingness.

Then, when Elijah was sent to confront Ahab, the real cause of the national disaster was disclosed, as it will be, sooner or later in the land of the free and the home of the brave. One of the delusions of the last days is the erroneous conclusion held by some, that the spiritual and the temporal aspects of life are disconnected. Nothing can be further from the truth as we have read previously in the scriptures. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18:17 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.

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Isaiah 24:3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word.

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

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

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

Just as soon as Israel saw, and acknowledged their errors, and turned from the prevailing idolatry, the other laws downstream of the great moral law were marshalled back into line, and the seasons, which had come and gone reliably in former years, began to resume their regular cycles. The laws of gravity, and the laws of ten commandments have One and the same source, for God is the Author both, and the lesser is affected by the greater. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may

know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

45 And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.

There are great lessons of success in the history of the rise and fall of nations, some of whom obeyed the moral law, and were blessed, and others who disregarded and thereby incurred a curse. In these times of uncertainty, where everything seems to be out of whack, where health seems to be evading millions, and where imbalanced success threatens the fabric of society; isn’t it high time that we take a second look at Christ who gave us the great moral law?

One cannot espouse Christ, and at the same time reject His law for the two are inextricably combined as a complete whole. To claim to believe in Jesus must mean something tangible, for our love to Him is never measured by praise, but by obedience. Let us then take an introspect look at ourselves, and if we discover that we have come up short in some areas, let us do the right thing, and surrender our hearts to Christ, so that the spiritual, health, and temporal aspects of life may be well-balanced and fine-tuned.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which will help us to see the importance of obedience to all of God’s commandments, and the results which will naturally accrue to those who thus subscribe to His wise instructions. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

God Bless!

Preparing For The latter Rain. Sabbath Afternoon. 01/12/2019

It is obvious, even to the casual observer, that we are now living in those turbulent last days of which Christ and the bible prophets spoke so much of, for it seems as if every evil trait of character in man is being pushed to the extreme. But at the same time there is to be an outpouring of latter rain, to bring every noble characteristic in believing Christians to maturity.

Thus, good and evil, truth and error are to be fully developed in those who subscribe to either Christ or satan. To put it plainly, the latter rain is given to bring God’s work of salvation in the hearts of men to a close. Therefore, as we approach the final hour in which the destiny of all people will be decided, it will be seen that extremes in everything are going to be the order of the day, from extreme evil to extreme righteousness. And the same extremes will be observed in nature too. Let’s read:

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

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.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

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

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.

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people.

Thus, in preparation for that which is just upon the horizon, it will become necessary for us to study the outpouring of the early rain which took place on the day of Pentecost, and the events, the preaching and the rapid conversions to the truth which occurred under the auspices of the Holy Spirit. Much of that which then transpired is to be repeated, but with a much greater intensity than many anticipate.

As the followers of Christ waited in expectation, the minds of all who were willing were refocused from prioritizing the temporal pursuits of life, to ministry, and through prayer, fasting, and unity, a singleness of purpose was developed, by which The Holy Spirit was able to use the believers for the spread of the gospel in all the world. And as a result, the scripture record shows that the salvation through Christ was taken to every inhabitable place on the planet.

Similarly, through prayer, fasting and unity, the very same singleness of heart and purpose should be the goal of those who are really interested in the saving of souls, for whom Christ died. However, as it’s now the case, large portions of our time, and resources are devoted to temporal pursuits, and therefore, we will need to be refocused on the mission Christ gave

to us.

In addition to being refocused, there is a whole lot of bickering, and infighting that must be put away. The seeking for the highest place, and the back and forth between those who may not agree on certain truths, must be ironed out, so as to pave the way for working of The Holy Spirit, for as the scripture says, two cannot walk together, unless they agree. Let’s read:

Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.

Acts 2: 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.

But there are some essential truths we should keep in mind, as preparation for the latter rain is being made. The conversion of persons to Christ and the truth is never accomplished by mere preaching, or teaching only, although these are necessary. The work of The Holy Spirit on the heart is of very much greater importance, than any scriptural argument we may present.

There are those who are not presently familiar with the specific truths for our time, but who are sincere in heart. Thus, when the latter rain is given, many of those who now sit in darkness will arise and shine in the darkest hour of human history. But at the same time, we should be aware of the fact that there are many persons who will never ever choose to obey God.

Evidence upon evidence may be given and line upon line, and precept upon precept, yet, if persons are disposed to doubt, and cavil, nothing that God can do in heaven, or in earth will convince them to turn their lives over to Christ, that they may be saved. It is of critical importance that we understand that the outworking of the latter rain, will result primarily in leading the honest in heart to Jesus.

It is against this very backdrop that we’ll study the issue of Divine appointments, in the context of the latter rain. Even though God desires that all persons come to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, it isn’t realistic to expect that everyone who hears will acquiesce, a fact that is reflected in the intelligent prayer of Christ, as He prayed for the disciples who would be sent out as laborers in His vineyard. Let’s read:

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee.

Cornelius was such a person, who feared God, who prayed regularly, who gave alms, who manifested much Christ-like traits of character, but who sat in darkness, as it pertains to the essential truth of the gospel. The work of character-building took place in his heart steadily, as he acted upon those truths he became aware of. And bit by bit, over a period of time, Cornelius came to be born of The Spirit, with only one essential element missing, that of being born of water.

Thus, under the outpouring of the early rain, those whose hearts were open to the promptings of God’s Spirit, and who were willing to obey, were led to the foot of the cross and were baptized. There was no need for argument, for no soul was ever won by an argument. There was no need for long Bible studies on doctrinal beliefs with Cornelius, all that was missing was that one piece of the puzzle, that of baptism.

Therefore, as we study the experience of Peter and Cornelius, great light will be shed on our pathway as it pertains to the work that will take place under the outpouring of the latter rain. As we study the Bible, several important pointers will be highlighted, as it pertains to divine appointments, to the end that we may pray, and act in accordance with God’s will, as Jesus did. Let’s read:

Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and

prayed to God always.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

Point # [1] Specific instructions are given to link the one who is being saved to one who knows the truth. This is not a hit or miss job, where scatter-shots are fired at random from the Bible in a generic fashion, to multitudes who couldn’t care less about obeying God, for the Bible specifically states that The Lord added to the church, “Such as should be saved”. So, here again is the instruction on divine appointment, for the sake of line upon line. Let’s read:

Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 Was returning and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

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.

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.

Point # [2] Under the latter rain, very many persons will be cleansed already, who only need one piece of the jigsaw puzzle to be put into place. They have already accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, and they have already been cleansed through obedience to all the truths they have known. Yet, the issue of the 7th day Sabbath was dark to their understanding. To such, who did not have clarity on the matter in their experience previously, the light of present truth will shine radiantly.

Acts 10:30 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;

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.

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

[3] God’s last message of mercy to the world in our generation will not be carried by argument or back and forth on controversial points. The Spirit of God is not into argument, but into submission. Thus, it is to those who are willing to obey God, that His Spirit will be given. When the prophet Joel says that God will pour out His Holy Spirit upon all flesh, it never meant that all flesh will accept God’s offer of grace.

Some will only allow The Holy Ghost externally, but not internally, where He seeks to reside, and in this the true children of God will be made manifest. It is of critical importance that religious prejudices, and biases be now put away, for God has many persons in different religious organizations who are willing to obey Him but are currently in darkness. Thus, the Holy Ghost will be given to bring to maturity, souls who are willing to obey God. Let’s read:

Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

[4] It’s God who will give the increase. The seed has been sown, the work of The Holy Spirit in the heart has been going on silently and protractedly, all the arguments in favor of Bible truth have been made, and now, as the latter rain is being given the honest in heart will respond in the positive. Let’s all keep in mind, that the human agent must never take credit for any soul that is converted to Christ, for we are just instruments in His hands, doing what He gives us power to do. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

It is worthy of notice, that on the issues of Divine appointment, we’ve read over and over again that “The Spirit said”: To Peter, to Cornelius, to Paul, to Ananias, to Phillip, and to so many others. The voice of God was obviously distinguishable to those who were active partakers of the early rain, because it was specific instructions, and directions that were being given out by The Holy Ghost.

The same will be true under the latter rain, because in our day, God will speak to those who are willing to listen and obey. This fact about the latter rain is clearly stated by the prophet Joel. Let’s read:

Joel 2:11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word.

There are many in the church who do not have the salvation of souls as their primary objective in life, who may be witnesses for Jesus only when it may be convenient, or when it does not involve personal loss. Unless such persons become fully surrendered to God they will be shaken out and left by the way.

Then again, there are many other voices we allow in our minds, which obscure, and confuse the voice of God, so that very often when He speaks, we end up going to Eli, instead of to Christ. Numerous projects, inventions and aspirations, originated by the enemy of souls have been allowed by us to occupy valuable space and time which should have been devoted to God, and to a humble, prayerful study of His word.

The Lord is now calling the soldiers of the cross to take up the mantle of service in earnest. Let quality time be set aside each day for communion with God in the stillness of the night, or morning. Then, as we go forth to our labors, to interact with others, our lives will be a savor of life unto life and The Lord will add to the church daily, such as should be saved.

With these objectives in mind, let the preparation for the latter rain continue undisturbed, because it is high time for us to awake out of slumber, and the time is at hand. We will end with an exhortation to help us in achieving these goals. 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 fulfill the lusts thereof.

God Bless!

Avoiding Private Interpretations. Sabbath Afternoon 01/05/2019

It’s pretty amazing, that among the many Christian denominations, evangelical churches and protestant organizations, everyone without exception claims to use the Bible as the basis for their faith and practice and yet there are thousands of different beliefs and interpretations abounding today, which may seem to emanate from the very same source. The Bible is referenced as the basis for good practices as well as bad. And doctrines that are diabolically opposed are said to come from the same scriptural source.

Passages of scripture are used in support of a wide-ranging list of practices, which run the entire gamut from eating and drinking anything, to believing that Christ died to set us free from the law, so that there is no restriction or self-denial now required by them who believe in Jesus. Thus, we have a toxic mix of liberal views, as well as stringent interpretations, which go from one extreme to the other, and any place in-between.

For instance, one prominent theologian from a well-known seminary in the United states, wrote not too long ago, that under the new covenant, the dietary restrictions given in the old testament forbidding the use of pork and other unclean foods, has been lifted, setting believers free to eat everything their hearts desire. What’s amazing is that several biblical texts were referenced in support of such a view. Let’s read:

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

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

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

14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

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

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of.

Taken at face value, these passages will make our health message a farce, for if we were to go with a cursory reading of the Bible alone, it seems to any logical thinking person that the scholar from that seminary has presented scriptural and conclusive evidence. And thus, the subscribers to that form of interpretation can now apparently safely ask God’s blessing on “Anything” from oysters to cockroaches and cannibals may also say grace before meals since anything means anything.

Again, the same Bible is used to justify the keeping of the Sabbath, as well as Sunday-keeping, with the references of support coming from the very same source. Thus, many Christians are referred to the Bible, both to obey, and to disobey God, depending on the scriptural passages used. As we study today, we will realize that the phenomena will only deepen unless the honest in heart can settle on the Biblical methods of interpretation.

As a matter of fact, the unity that is so much sought after by the ecumenical movement will of necessity have to exclude the remnant people of God, for two cannot walk together unless they be agreed and the unity which Christ spoke so much of, must never be purchased through compromise, for unity, in and of itself is often achieved through collaboration with good, as it can be with evil, therefore we ought to know the difference. Let’s read:

Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Then again, the same Bible is used in support of the Ten Commandments, and it is used in nullifying the same. On the one hand, a sincere seeker for truth may be led by pastors and televangelists to believe that God’s law was nailed to the cross, and as such, is no longer binding upon men. Others, at the other end of the spectrum point to the very same source as concrete evidence that the Ten commandments are still in force today. Let’s read:

Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

1st Corinthians 16: Now, concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Acts 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

The phenomena continue into the area of life after death, for some Christians point to the scriptures in support of the natural immortality of the soul, while others are adamant that all persons remain in their graves until the first or second resurrection. Thus, the Bible is often used to refute or sustain opposing doctrines, depending on which passages are used. It is now a common belief among so many Christians, that the body, and soul are to distinct entities that are separated at death. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: more-over the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Ecclesiastes 12:5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

And we can go on and on and on, for depending on what we’re looking for, and according to our heart’s desire, there seems to be scriptural support in favor of it, or otherwise in refuting the same issue to the contrary. But one thing is certain, the problem of private interpretation is a nagging one, and if it isn’t addressed head on, it will wreak havoc on millions of unsuspecting Christians, as it has in ages past. Let’s read:

On ALCOHOL

Deuteronomy 14:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household.

1st Chronicles 16:2 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.

3 And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.

2nd Samuel 11:12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here today also, and tomorrow I will let thee depart. So, Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.

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 he went not down to his house.

By the way, modern science, and dietary research strongly suggest that the first interpretation that’s in favor of wine and other alcoholic beverages is the correct one, for several glasses of wine per week are now recommended as essential to health. Thus, it is increasingly difficult, and well-nigh impossible for Christians, or politicians to kick the habit, since they have scripture and science as back up. But, as have happened earlier on in our study, the Biblical pendulum swings once again in an entirely opposite direction. Let’s read:

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

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.

Isaiah 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts. but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.

22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.

What many persons may not know, is that satan is a diligent student of the scripture and is much better acquainted with the correct interpretation than are many theologians, and scholars. Thus, he seeks to mask God’s will behind disconnected utterances, or to quote only those passages which on the surface, may seem to favor his designs, when, if the correct, Biblical methods were employed under the auspices of The Holy Ghost, an entirely different picture will emerge.

Therefore, for the purposes of this Bible study, we’ll take the most common “Private interpretation” that deals with the natural immortality of the soul; we’ll break it down, and analyze it using scripture, logic, and sheer common sense, so that the perfidy of the false doctrine may be exposed for what it is. Then we will examine the Biblical truth pertaining to the same matter, so that the honest in heart may draw reasonable conclusions.

The passages of scripture most commonly used in support of the natural immortality of the soul, is to be found in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, in which Lazarus is purportedly transported by the holy angels at death to heaven, whilst the rich man is taken to hell, where he receives his just dues. As we read, let’s consider the following passages, lest we fail of drawing right conclusions. 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.

Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.

Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: more-over the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Parable | Definition of Parable by Merriam-Webster

Parable noun:

par·a·ble | \ˈper-ə-bəl, ˈpa-rə-\

Definition of parable: a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle.

According to Merriam/Webster, a parable is an allegorical story with a point, and thus, it should not be pressed to a strictly literal interpretation in all of its points, especially where some features seem to be logically, or reasonably suspect, and in some of the instances, to be insane. Thus, we will begin by breaking it down along strictly logical lines so that the incredible features may be sniffed out. Then we will break it down along scriptural lines so that the truth of the matter may shine forth radiantly.

I personally have been to the homes of some of the rich and famous, and in every instance, I have never ever seen any wealthy person, allowing a beggar to live at their doorstep, let alone a beggar with oozing sores, with dogs licking his wounds. The sight would be too revolting for residents and guests alike, and it’s highly unlikely, that a person in such a condition will ever have free access to rich neighborhood.

And across America, from the homes of Pit Bull and Dwayne Wade in Miami, from Snoop Dogg to the wealthy Warren Buffet, and from Bill Gates to Mark Zuckerberg, there is not a single instance in which a wealthy person will allow a beggar full of sores, with stray dogs licking his wounds, to be at their front gate continuously. No not one!

For instance, we were once invited to play music at the home of Julio Iglesias, in that wealthy part of Miami beach, where the rich and famous, including Oprah Winfrey, have residences. To begin with, we had to first get past the guard gate and Julio Iglesias had to be on the phone personally, to grant access, and we had to present verifiable I.Ds to the guard, before we could enter. It is highly improbable that a rich man would have a beggar full of sores at his front door.

Again, in the parable, the rich man is purportedly able to have a conversation with Abraham, which brings into question the sheer proximity of heaven to hell. Are the two so close, so that two persons may converse, especially since a normal person’s intelligible voice begins to fade around 180 m (590 ft 6.6 in). Now, if heaven and hell are just merely a few hundred feet apart, wouldn’t Abraham, and Lazarus also get burned?

Again, according to what Abraham says during the exchange, “between us and you there is a great gulf fixed”. Now if Abraham describes it as a great gulf, then how can the two be speaking, especially when one is being burnt to death? Is it true, reasonable, normal, or even logical, that a wicked person will be conversing casually with another whilst he is being burned? It makes no sense whatsoever, and thus, along strictly logical lines, the parable cannot be construed to be literal in every aspect.

Now, we will break it down along scriptural lines. There was another literal Lazarus, one who was a friend of Jesus, and who died because of some issue he was suffering with. And if there was any Lazarus who would be a prime candidate for transport to the pearly gates at death, it would be this one, for it is stated in the Bible that Jesus loved him. Jesus gets the bad news that his friend Lazarus has died, thus, after two days He sets out on the journey, to bring him back to life. Let’s read:

John 11:1Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Obviously, if the body and soul are separated at death, as the doctrine of natural immortality says, then Jesus would have called down Lazarus’s spirit from heaven to be rejoined to his dead body. But none of this took place, for everything pertaining to his resurrection took place on the earth. And Christ Himself also remained in the grave, until the order for resurrection was issued. Nothing, and no entity from heaven was called down to rejoin body and soul. Let’s read:

Matthew 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.

Now brethren, if Jesus did not ascend to heaven at death, neither could poor Lazarus in the parable, for Lazarus could never be greater, or more important than Jesus, and therefore, the doctrine of natural immortality is a big hoax, designed specifically by satan, to offer a false sense of security, and to deceive folks into believing there’s no judgement.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus was given by Christ to illustrate the spiritual truth, that there is a day of rewards coming, a day in which the evil and the good will receive their just dues and as such we ought to live with the consciousness, that what ever we sow, we are going to reap. Let us therefore live soberly, and righteously in this generation, for the judgment day is fast approaching, in which each individual will receive the results of their doings, whether it be good or evil.

We therefore end with two passages of scripture which portray these sobering truths. 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.

Revelation 20:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

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

God Bless

A New Year's Outlook. Sabbath Afternoon 12/29/2018

This past year has been one of unprecedented acts, incidents and developments which have sent signals that the coming of Jesus draws near, for the nations of the world cannot continue much longer on their current trajectory. Several developments took place which point us to the soon return of Jesus Christ in the heavens, and ought to guide our outlook for this coming year. Europe seems to be fracturing, thus bringing many years of mutual cooperation to an end, if the Brexit initiative goes through.

There has also been a rattling of the nations, where former friends have become foes, and instability in the world at large is now your everyday experience. Political gridlock is the order of the day, and crimes of hate and crimes against humanity have now risen to levels not previously seen. The unending opioid epidemic continues to wreak havoc across America and the deadly Ebola virus is again on the rise in the democratic republic of Congo.

Sex scandals continue to rock church congregations, and skeletons once thought safely buried, are now falling out of closets at an alarming rate. The faith, and confidence of many church-bound folks is being severely shaken anew, with revelations of scandals of no ordinary character. Clergymen who were once confessed to by parishioners, are now in dire need of confession themselves, and the roles of the two in the confessional box now seem to be reversed.

Hurricanes have intensified with increasing ferocity, and abnormally heavy rainfall has now added to the toxic mix, displacing millions, and draining needed resources to dangerously low levels. Wild fires also increased, with the worst and costliest taking place this year in California. All the while, millions across the land seem to bask in irrational exuberance, as if things must continue as they have in years gone by.

Stock markets around the world are in turmoil too, for after coming off an unprecedented, rapid rise to 26,828.39 set on October 3, 2018 the Dow Jones industrial has since then plummeted precipitously falling nearly 4000 points in less than three months; and the wild swings in financial markets reflect the instability and uncertainty being experienced by the nations.

Financial delusions have gripped millions, for many folks have not yet considered that the spiritual and temporal are uniquely and inseparably combined, with one affecting the other. Jezebel and Ahab had erroneously concluded that their sins, and idolatry would not affect the economy adversely, but sacred history shows us that disobedience to God’s moral law inevitably results in famines, pestilences, and disasters of all sorts. Let’s read:

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

16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.

Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

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

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

And the carnage continues, for what goes up must come down and the higher the climb, the lower will be the fall, because throughout the history of every nation, there has been cyclical highs and lows, and times of plenty have often been followed by times of empty.

Investigations into fraud and malpractice continue, with many more on the horizon, as the baton, and hammer are passed on to a new congress. Political impasse, and grandstanding have taken a national toll on the populace this past year, with no end in sight. Thus, we are opening this new year, not on a high note of peace and prosperity, but with a sense of uncertainty and instability brewing at our doors.

It is against this backdrop that our outlook for the new year must be shaped, because, as Christians, who look forward to the coming of a better world, governed by a stable, reasonable, and merciful king, we are not to be found groveling in our political or financial woes; instead we are to look up, knowing that our redemption draws nigh, and as such, every person who has espoused Christ should plan to take proactive steps in hastening His kingdom.

Do not be deceived, no man has the answers to our most pressing problems, for try as we might to free ourselves from one problem, a greater one appears, and instead of digging ourselves out of the rut we’re digging ourselves further into the mire. This is why Christians are under the most solemn obligation to impact our dying world for the better, for the Bible holds the key to man’s restoration, and it is found only in Christ. Let’s read:

Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.

12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.

Isaiah 45:21 There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.

22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Therefore, seeing that God has given to us believers the ministry of reconciliation, it will be well for us to take an introspect look at our plans, purposes, and aspirations, to see if we are fulfilling the purpose for which we have been called by Jesus. If we are only consumers, expecting great sermons, great concerts and a flurry of church activities which cater only to ourselves, then we will fall far short of God’s ideal will for us.

Instead we should be asking God to show us where we can make a marked difference in our world, for the upliftment of His kingdom, and for the benefit of humanity. This is the perspective that should run pervasively in our thoughts, producing concrete and commensurate actions to the glory of God. Inactive Christians do more harm than good according to the words of Christ, for satan will always find work for idle hands to do. Always! Let’s read:

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

Matthew 28:19 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.

Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.

In harmony with this mandate given to us by Jesus Himself it is high time that we take up the mantle of faithful and willing service in the Lord’s vineyard. This is not to be done in a half-hearted, or slipshod manner, as is to often the case, neither should it be done impulsively, without well-directed effort, after one of those soul-stirring sermons.

Instead, our work should be the result of prayerful surrender to God, for use in His service as He sees best. It must be a well-thought out sustainable plan, under the direction and guidance of God, so that we can help to advance the interests of His kingdom, by reaching out to those who are in darkness. In other words, every true Christian, facing the headwinds described above, and looking for the soon return of Jesus, should be involved in ministry of some sort.

The following passages, therefore, are the scriptural instructions on how this may be accomplished, for through prayer, a united front, and well-directed effort on the part of believers, there is nothing that God cannot do, for the salvation of souls. Christ is calling on us to use the resources, talents, and gifts He has given us, for in-reach and outreach, but for more of the latter, for it is God’s will that all men should come to a knowledge of the truth.

Everyone is not called to do the exact same thing, for the gifts of The Spirit are diversified in nature, so as to minister to the several needs of those in need. Bible workers, elders, and preachers are not more important than those who have been given the gift of prayer; and deacons and administrators have an equal responsibility according to their several ability as was the case in the early church. In other words, Dorcas used her gift of sewing to reach people, just as much as Paul used his gift of preaching to save souls.

But whether by preaching, by sewing, or by tent-making, one main purpose and goal pervaded the minds of the believers, just as it should in our day, that the gospel is to be taken into all the world, in our neck of the woods, and to every inhabitable place on the planet. Thus, with this far-reaching scope of Christ’s mandate to us, let no one conclude that there is nothing that I can do. Let’s read:

Ephesians 4:8 When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

Now, some of us might be prone to say that the above list does not include me personally, for I’m not a prophet, pastor, teacher or an evangelist. It is not necessary for us to be any of those things, for the Bible goes on to mention several other areas in which we can serve effectively, thus contributing to the advancement of God’s cause in the earth. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

One of the main problems associated with the fulfillment of Christ’s mandate is that only a few people try to do everything in the church, making inefficiency and inconsistency a hallmark of too many congregations. On the other hand, some of us often succumb to the temptation, that if no one wants to do it, then I must, and before you know it, elders have become seamstresses, prayer warriors, janitors, cooks, and board members, all in one incoherent, jumbled mix.

This will inevitably lead to premature fatigue, with some members often going to the other extreme by taking no responsibilities whatsoever. Therefore, in order for there to be a smooth, cohesive running of all the wheels, we should inquire of God: “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” And then, with a firm purpose, trusting in the power and energy of God, we should set our minds and our hearts to do God’s will consistently, for the long haul.

This will then cause us to show up faithfully at the prayer meeting if only two or three people attend, without becoming down-couraged. Our service is not to be based on accolades, or how many people attend, even though we should encourage others to do so. In other words, our motivations and energies will come from a different source, other than praise and numbers.

Again, many become idle because they have not yet figured out their gift. That’s not a problem, because we can start with what we naturally like to do best, without having to be prodded to do so. Some have a natural gift of cooking, then cook for Christ’s sake, and win souls to His kingdom via pots and spoons. Others have a knack for visiting the less fortunate, or for prayer, as the case might be. Then, do it for Christ’s sake.

All God asks of us is that we commit to a consistent, dependable service and He will bring us into contact with everyone whom He seeks to save through our ministry. But if our service is left up to spontaneity, when we feel to do it, then it becomes difficult for God to use us in an efficient manner.

Therefore, the call of duty goes out to all who have become idle, to those who are missing in action, to those who are sitting on the fence and also to those who are consumers only. The place is here, and the time is now, that we engage the world proactively in our several capacities so that the coming of Christ may be hastened.

As was stated before, there is no such thing as a Christian without a gift; thus, we are to take up the mantle of duty, doing faithfully what God wants us to do, and the Lord will add to the church daily, such as should be saved. With this outlook for the new year in mind, let us be encouraged with these passages of scripture which should prompt us all to immediate action. 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.

Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

God Bless!

How To Lose Weight. Sabbath Afternoon 12/22/2018

As the holiday season takes shape, and people are wondering what to give, it will be in order for us to consider that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost, and it’s the best gift we can offer to God, for He is not satisfied merely with material gifts. Those wise men who brought frankincense and Myrrh to Jesus at His birth, also gave Him their lives, without which the material gifts would have meant nothing.

Thus, to give Jesus our entire lives, fulfills the true essence of the gospel, and this truth is borne out in several passages of scripture, where God requires a more complete sacrifice than mere externals, which includes the entire person. Furthermore, the Bible teaches us that we are bought with a price, and as such, we ought to glorify God both in our body and mind. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1st Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

The purpose for healthy living, for exercising and for dieting and being fit, is not to display our bodies at south beach to receive the accolades of people, but rather to render God and to our fellow men, quality service for as long as possible. The “long life” which God promises to those who obey was not meant to be a life of ease, pleasure and inaction; instead, the example of Jesus should be our model, as He went about doing good, using His physical powers for the upliftment, and benefit of the human family.

Thus, the health message we espouse ought to be the means whereby people are helped in practical ways, and our service is not to be hindered by the common diseases the average John Doe may suffer from. As was stated previously, a peculiar people should have something peculiar about them, and therefore, we are under solemn obligation to live, and make manifest to the world, what we preach.

It is God’s will that His people should prosper and be in health, even as our souls prosper, because the redemption purchased for us on Calvary, addresses the restoration of the entire man, not only the area that deals with the spiritual. In addition to this, it is important for all to remember that whatever affects the physical body, ultimately affects the mind, for the two are an indivisible whole. This fact is clearly demonstrated in the following passages. Let’s read:

Psalms 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

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

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

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

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.

A close sympathy exists between the physical and moral nature of man, the one affecting the other. Therefore, the study on how to lose weight is just as much a part of the gospel as any other part, for it is the will of God that our bodies and minds be always consecrated to Him in entirety. Thus, the Christian should seek to honor God at the pulpit and at the table. With this in mind we will delve into several important pointers which will enable us to lose the extra weight and remain in a healthy condition.

[1] Prayer.

With the Christian, the first step in losing weight is not to study diets and foods, nor to turn to weight watchers for counsel, because God has given us the mighty Counselor in Christ Jesus. While the wisdom of this world may at times be helpful, in weight-loss, yet it is important for us at the outset to have Jesus in the driver’s seat, if our purpose is to maintain a successful regimen.

There are valid reasons why prayer must be the first step, for whenever people place themselves under the guidance of God, everything else downstream will usually fall into place. One of the most nagging problems we encounter is that of being consistent, for according to recent studies, 80% of those who start an exercise regimen at the new year, lose their steam by February. Some of the reasons given are a lack of continued motivation, or a lack of will power or it may be a change in one’s life circumstances.

That’s why prayer is the first and ongoing step, for will power, consistency, drive, and motivation to do the right thing all comes from God, for the Christian. It is Christ who imparts that indomitable spirit that does not take defeat for an answer, but instead is able to surmount hurdles, challenges, and varying circumstances that will certainly be a part of our experience.

To maintain a weight-loss program is quite difficult to do without Christ because we will often find that the on again/off again syndrome takes a toll. Thus, the more this occurs, is the more our morale will be weakened, to the point that we lose the confidence to achieve our goals. Especially does the difficulty to be steadfast increase when we are in social settings, where the temptation to indulge appetite might be stronger because of the gravitational pull of friends.

Principle does not take holidays, so, whether in a social environment, or on the couch watching TV, we will be given both the strength, and motivation to resist. Christians aren’t supposed to be creatures of circumstances, for God can enable persons to be consistent and motivated, whether we live in the sunshine state, or whether we live in the Rockies.

God’s power is not regional in nature but is rather available to all who will persist in prayer, bringing every challenge, and difficulty to Him for resolution, and following His guiding cloud wherever He leads the way. Again, this is why we reiterate, that the very first step in weight-loss for the Christian must be prayer. Let’s read:

Isaiah 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall.

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

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every-thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The Problem of Feelings.

If we depend on our feelings for motivation, we are destined to fail, guaranteed. There are those days when we wouldn’t feel good, there are days when it’s cold and rainy outside, and there are oftentimes when workout partners will not show up. The Spirit of God who works within us to will and to do of His good pleasure will give us both the strength and will to carry on with a steady even tread, in spite of the vicissitudes we may face.

Let it be known that anything good that is worth us accomplishing, will be met with stiff resistance from our own bodies, for it is always easier to go with the flow downstream than to swim upstream towards a worthy goal. Again, a change in our diet may trigger withdrawal symptoms, and the first days of exercise may cause us pain. But we should press on, trusting in Christ and doing the right thing, for in due season we will reap if we faint not. Let’s read:

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Patience.

One of the challenges some will encounter likes in being impatient, for we currently live in the “Now” generation, where the desire for quick results has become the norm. Most popular diet plans now on the market have that one element of quick results as a selling point. And very many people have been deceived into believing that there’s a magic wand out there that can undo years of weight gain.

Thus, many people become discouraged in the food fight, because the fad diets didn’t deliver on their promise. Small increments add up to great gains, for Rome wasn’t built in one day, and climbing Jacob’s ladder takes place round by round. If we are looking for some magic pill to lose weight, it’s not going to happen. For the Christian, it takes continued prayer, sweat, appropriate diet, and well-directed sustained efforts to achieve worthy goals.

Thus, those advertisements on TV which promise rapid and unrealistic weight-loss are to be avoided, because of dire side effects both to body and mind. In fact, losing weight, by itself is not a worthy goal; instead we should all aim for a permanent lifestyle change that can be sustained over the long haul. It takes time to put on weight, and it will take time to lose it all, let no one be deceived about this. Let’s read:

Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Responsibility through choice.

The laws of sowing and reaping apply equally to diet and weight-loss, for we will get out of diet what we put into it. We consist of what we eat and whatever is taken into the stomach, of that will our blood, and flesh consist. Good food makes good blood, and bad food makes bad blood.; it’s that simple.

It was proven in Daniel’s day, and again through studies done in our day, that a diet of fruit, grains, vegetables, and nuts are superior in making good blood. That’s one of the main lessons taught after his companions and himself were put to the test. Let’s read:

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

Genesis 3:18 And thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

The choices we do make are our own responsibility and the accompanying results are also ours. The same God who created fruits, and grains, created oysters and crabs but there is to be a differentiation in what is best suited for food, and what is not. Now that we have the knowledge before us and the facts upon which we can make rational conclusions, the choice is ours, because God honors our freedom of choice, even when it goes against His ideal will. This truth is clearly stated in His word. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 12: 20 When the Lord thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.

21 Thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the Lord hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.

22 Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat them: the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike.

23 Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.

The truth is that because of the freedom of choice we may also eat the blood too, for there will be no angel to prevent anyone by force, from eating what they choose. Crabs, oysters, and blood all fall in the forbidden category, yet God permits folks to eat of these freely, even though it’s not His will. However, the laws of actions and consequences do follow their natural course, often with little, or no interference from God, especially when the light from His word is streaming live on the matter in question.

No one can force anyone to eat anything that will exacerbate the problem and there’s no valid excuse to deviate from our goals. The choice is completely ours. Fast food chains can advertise, they can solicit, or they may entice us with mouth-watering images of such foods that cause us to drool uncontrollably; but they cannot force one item of junk food down our throats. With our own hands, and mouths we’ll either succumb or resist, because the choice is ours. 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.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Why does Peter continue to resist the voice of God, even after he was advised not to call anything from the sheet unclean, and why after three times he still refuses to eat? It is because the choice is ours, for the kingdom of God does not have the use of force as a core principle, and thus, the choices we’ll make are our own personal responsibility.

Daily exercise.

When God took the children of Israel out of Egypt, He caused them to do a whole lot of walking, for it was a part of His plan in getting them to maintain a healthy way of life. Moses was a mountain climber, and everyone, both old and young were caused to do significant amounts of aerobic activity by walking thousands of miles over a forty-year period. This in turn helped to produce the inevitable results. 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.

Nehemiah 9:20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. 21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.

Therefore, in our day when so many of us are now logged in behind the computer for most of the day, and where sedentary work has for the most part led many to sit for hours on end behind the desk; in our day, where online shopping has caused very many to stop going to the mall, thus avoiding a whole lot of walking; in our day where grocery chains are now delivering goods inside our homes, and drones are dropping purchased items in our backyards;

In our day, where the existence of Uber Eats and Grub Hub has resulted in many thousands being couch-bound, and where elevators, and escalators have taken over from stairs; in our day, more than ever before, we will need to revisit the exercise plan God put the ancient Hebrews on, for it is warranted now more than ever.

Every little bit counts, and even if we may not be able to do forty-five or thirty minutes per day, as the case might be, it’s been shown by studies done recently, that even fifteen minutes would make a big difference.

Daily exercise is necessary for a number of reasons; for weight-loss, for blood circulation, in preventing clogged arteries, in avoiding muscle deterioration, and immobility, in avoiding arthritis, in building our immune system, in keeping our blood sugar down, in burning fat, in being able to enjoy a restful sleep, and in a host of other beneficial ways, daily exercise was, and is a part of God’s plan for weight-loss and well-being.

There are literally no down sides to exercising, if it is done appropriately and regularly, because it formed a fundamental part of God’s original plan for man, even before weight-loss was an issue. Then after sin entered our world, it became even more important in removing poisons, and impurities through sweat, and keeping our minds from evil. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:15 And the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken.

Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much.

Therefore, if we’ll purpose in our hearts to put into place a reasonable, sustainable, and achievable goal of weight-loss and well-being, the aforementioned points will need to be prayerfully considered, and by the grace of God, success will be the inevitable result. As Christians we are to glorify God in body as well as in mind, and therefore, as we seek to do so, it’s fitting that we should encouraged in The Lord, with words expressing His best ideal for us. Let’s read:

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

God Bless!

Dare To Be A Daniel. Sabbath Afternoon 12/15/2018

Daniel is one of those Bible heroes who manifested a profound level of faith in God, in experiences that ran the entire gamut of God’s providences. He was faithful in spiritual as well as temporal matters, and in issues pertaining to the well-being of his soul and body he not only depended on God, but the choices he made were in harmony with the grand principles written in the scriptures, for he understood that it is cooperation with God in all things which enables us as followers of Christ to grow in grace.

There were occasions where his faith caused him to be placed in life-threatening conditions and at other times, his unwavering trust in God resulted in him being placed at the pinnacle of success. However, his steadfastness did not occur in a vacuum, nor did it happen by accident, for as we observe his life we see where he was constant in prayer, taking every matter and every challenge to God for resolution.

We observe him always acting upon sound Biblical principles, in every aspect of life, not just in some areas, as is too often the case in our day. The good news of the gospel, and the religion of Christ, reach into the spiritual and the temporal experiences of our lives. The gospel opens up closets, and exposes skeletons to us that were previously thought to be buried.

Then, through the mighty power of The Holy Spirit, it empowers the sincere-hearted to rise above past failures, it ennobles, and refines the tastes, it gives wisdom knowledge and strength to surmount every difficulty, and thereby causes believers to walk with a steady and even tread. It was thus that Daniel was taken from one stage of development to the next, until he could handle lions and spies.

But we should not once believe that it occurred by accident. Daniel was not your average politician, for as it was stated on several occasions, God has not called us as Christians to be just average. A peculiar people should have something peculiar about them, something unique, as far as character is concerned, whereby godly principles, upright traits, and habits run like golden threads throughout the fabric of our experience.

Dorcas was not your average seamstress, because in the community where she lived, she made such an indelible impression through her humble faith and works, that her neighbors, and friends missed her to the point where God saw fit to refill the void, by resurrecting her. Dorcas combined benevolence, accuracy, and innovation in her work. She was also enabled by The Holy Spirit to produce clothing for people of all classes.

Her work bore witness to the fact that she was being instructed and guided by grander principles than the average tailor or seamstress worked upon. If Walmart, or Bloomingdales were around at that time, they would be hard-pressed not to carry the Dorcas line of clothing, for her unique work and her benevolence placed her in a different category, and by the grace of God a permanent mark was made in her county, and on the pages of sacred history. God has not called Christians just to be average. Let’s read:

Acts 9:39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

In Daniel’s case, in his handling of all temporal and mundane issues, he was found to be without fault. In other words, he was found to be the head, and not the tail, just as God had promised to those who keep His commandments, statutes, principles, and laws.

When put side by side, true believers should show a marked contrast in every aspect of living so that the observers, spies, and dirt diggers will be convinced as to the veracity of the gospel, or otherwise would return home with shamefacedness, as was the case with Daniel’s enemies. This is one of the many ways in which God is glorified, and as a result He can use believers in very marked ways for the benefit, and upliftment of the human family.

But throughout all of his life experiences, the focus is not to be on Daniel, but on Daniel’s God, for it is not the human agent that is to be glorified, praised, or exalted, but God alone. Therefore, as we observe Daniel’s life, great things pertaining to God will be revealed. His ways, His methods, and the inevitable results which follow those who commit themselves fully to God will be manifested before the world, for we are a spectacle unto the world, unto angels, and unto men, as the scriptures teach.

Very early on in his tenure in Babylon, Daniel was to be tested on issues that have spiritual, and physical ramifications for the Christian. Those Hebrews who were to be chosen for the king’s court were granted a portion of food that was reserved for royalty only, and it was commanded by the king to the chef, that no deviation from the provisions stipulated was to be made, on pain of death.

This command was given with the best of intentions on the part of those who were in ignorance, for it is specifically inferred in the narrative, that such a diet was superior, as far as all conventional wisdom back then had concluded. But this would pose a problem for Daniel and his friends who were instructed upon different principles by their parents.

Thus, at the very onset of his experience in Babylon, his faith in God would be tested, and in the process great truths about God would be displayed. But we aren’t going to focus on the food aspect, but rather on the method, by which God seeks to convince the unbelieving world of the truth.

Coercion, and force are not foundational principles of Christ’s kingdom, therefore, He gives us sufficient evidence on which to build faith. What we do with the evidence from that point onward is up to us, for we can be either submissive, or dismissive of it. In the narrative, a few words would be highlighted, for they give us meaningful insights as to the thinking and evaluations taking place in the mind of Daniel and the Chef. Let’s read:

Daniel 1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

If we were to follow the line of reasoning here, on the part of the head chef, we will observe that the phrase “Worst liking” suggested that Daniel’s diet would have the effect of compromising the health and well-being of the faithful Hebrews, and thus, by default, the insinuation is made that the king’s diet is ultimately the best. For the chef, this is a settled conclusion, but for Daniel and his friends who have known much better by experience, the conclusion is false.

Therefore, God who is rich in mercy, and who is just and right in all His ways, does not seek an argument with the chef; instead, He calls for a practical test, in which the facts of the matter can be established in the minds of the honest-hearted. There is no such thing as blind faith, because faith must rest squarely upon clearly established facts which cannot then be controverted. The Bible does not seek to prove God, it assumes that sufficient evidence appealing to our intelligence will cause us to draw right conclusions.

Thus, God calls for witnesses; those who subscribe to the wisdom of the world, and those who espouse godly principles. God calls for them to be observed, side by side so that any rational being may be able to examine for himself the end product of each set of principles. In other words, the chef’s conclusions should not rest merely on “Hear-say” but upon the concrete evidences presented in living form. Let’s read:

Daniel 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar;

12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

14 So he consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

The case was closed as far as their physical aspects were concerned, for the evidence before the chef could not be controverted. But could it be that they only looked good, but had been compromised in their intelligence quotient, as some may suggest? Would they be found inferior when it came time to do their examinations, mandated personally by the king? Let’s read:

Daniel 1:18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

Not many Christians have a correct concept of the nature of the battle in which we are engaged. God is glorified in His people when, by His grace, and the faithful obedience to His commandments, they can stand forth, not as average John Does, but as being products of the superior wisdom and understanding found in God’s word for this is what convinces those in darkness of the truthfulness of the Bible.

This is what Isaiah is referring to when he writes by inspiration, let the nations of the earth bring their witnesses. As the end-products of worldly wisdom and practice are observed, side by side with those who espouse godly wisdom, and practices, a great, and noticeable contrast will be seen, the difference being as night and day, or as apples and oranges. Let’s read:

Isaiah 43:9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled. let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

In fact, this pattern of bringing respective witnesses is not new or unique to Daniel and his friends, for it has been employed by God throughout history as a means whereby the truths of the Bible would be firmly established. The end-products of the various religions and systems of the world, in the form of witnesses, are brought next to God’s true witnesses and they are to be tested in public for all to see, so that the honest in heart may make sound, sensible, rational conclusions. Let’s read:

Exodus 7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God.

1st Samuel 17: 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, whom thou hast defied.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

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.

19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.

20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

22 Then said Elijah unto the people;

23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answers by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

26 And they called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob.

32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

This is the one and only instance in the Bible where the fire of God burned down the altar together with the stones, the sacrifice, and the water which was poured upon it. The Lord went over and beyond to establish beyond the shadow of a doubt the truth in the matter so that any honest-hearted person could come to a reasonable, sensible conclusion, for faith is to rest squarely upon incontrovertible facts.

Therefore, the following passages in Revelation and in the book of Joel are of very grave importance to those living in the last days, when all professed Christians, as well as unbelievers will be brought to the test once again. At that time, just as in days of yore, The Lord will again call for His witnesses to be tested in public, so that the truths of His word may be firmly established in the minds of the people, and thereby, all honest-hearted persons who had previously sat in darkness will be able to make rational, sensible decisions. Let’s read:

Joel 3:11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.

12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

Joel 1:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

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 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

These passages lead us to the main course of our study, because Daniel was tested in public too. In their jealousy and rage, the politicians of the day had sought to dig up dirt on him and they probably hired the Babylonian version of Wikileaks to do the dirty work. As they tried to find faults and errors in Daniel they began with all temporal matters which pertained to Daniel, for if he was unfaithful in the temporal, he would certainly fail in the spiritual. Let’s read:

Daniel 6:4 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.

They began with his taxes to see if he had for some reason robbed the Babylonian IRS. Next came his credit, to see if what Daniel was preaching was in harmony with what he was doing. Then they went after Daniel’s cell-phone and personal computer to see if there were any deleted text messages to any questionable shady characters in the porn industry. Then, having found not a single instance on which to build a case against Daniel, they went after his religion.

The investigations began in the temporal matters of life, and when these were utterly exhausted, to no avail, then they turned to the spiritual. Those of us who will come up to the testing times would also be scrutinized in the same order, with all the temporal matters taking precedence, and if no incriminating evidence is found, then the beast of Revelation 13 will turn to the spiritual. 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.

It is of critical importance then, for those of us who believe the testing truths for this time, to be not only hearers, but doers of the word. Our freedom of choice must be engaged proactively, in order that the work of The Holy Spirit can continue to bring us to full maturity in Christ on all levels.

The 144000 of Revelation are to be living specimens of the fullness of God’s grace through Christ, and as a direct result, will have every aspect of their lives in tip top shape. They will not be found to be excellent in some areas, whilst deficient in others, but instead will be well balanced and fine-tuned in all aspects of Christian living, to the glory and praise of God. Let us therefore follow the exhortations given by Paul, so that this goal may become a reality in our lives. Let’s read:

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.

God Bless!

Standing On The Promises. Sabbath Afternoon 12/08/2018

God, in the Bible, has given us mighty promises to live by, so that those who believe in Him should not have to live an average life, for if the sum total of Christianity results in average living, or below par, then it loses its uniqueness, relevance and appeal to those who have not yet surrendered to God. When the Bible says that we are His witnesses, or that we are a chosen generation, and a peculiar people, this means that through Christians, God expects to bring something of much value to the table.

Jesus Christ was sent to this earth as God’s greatest gift to man, and therefore, those who accept Him as Lord and Savior ought to demonstrate by His grace, the literal benefits of believing. In our neighborhood and community, on the job, or on the field, in local and federal governments, Christians are to make a marked and positive impact for the better, in those who have not yet believed.

But for us to accept Christ, and enjoy the benefits of His grace, His laws, and the truths of His word for us and our children alone, will deprive the world of the wisdom, and knowledge of God. In other words, the one who has accepted the teachings of God’s word, and who Has The Living word in the heart, will make a big difference, wherever his/her station in life may be, for God often places His people strategically in certain areas so that the practical knowledge of God and His word may be made known.

On any, and every front, the people of God are to display a superiority in intellect, understanding and workmanship. Believing Christians should also be on the cutting edge of healthful living, for it is Christ’s will that His people prosper and be in health. In the solving of difficult problems on the job, in bringing much needed innovation, Christians ought to be leading the charge.

The gospel is called “The Good News” for a reason, meaning that when one believes in God, his or her belief ought to translate into something concrete, with benefits to humanity and praises to God as the direct result. But if we claim to believe in Jesus, and our lives are constantly below average, then there is nothing to convince others that the religion of the Bible is superior in nature, and much to be desired.

Hence the reason why God expects us by His grace to be maximum on every front and issue that would pertain to the upliftment and benefit of humanity. If we harbor small or protracted views of God’s power and grace, that will be directly reflected in our aims, aspirations and accomplishments. But if we were to think big, then the sky is the limit, for there will be nothing impossible to those who believe, and God will be greatly honored.

God was greatly honored in Joseph, for he brought something unique to the table, by the wisdom and power of God working in and through Him, to will and to do of His good pleasure. The intelligence and wisdom to preserve much food for fourteen years, not only saved many people from starvation, but he benefitted the state to a great extent.

The current IRS could now use a man like Joseph, for he would, through the wisdom of God, make a tremendous impact by cutting the federal deficit to zero, working as he did in Egypt. Through his work, all the land became pharaoh’s, and the vast amount of revenues brought in from the sale of corn put the country on a solid financial footing for many years.

The same was true of Daniel and the three Hebrews whom God used to solve difficult problems within the kingdom of Babylon. Therefore, as we prepare to study the mega promises God has given us to live by, let’s always remember that they are meant, and designed to place believers above average and thus, we should always bear in mind that we are to aspire and work towards that end. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely, this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

Isaiah 43:9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled; let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified.

10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

A striking example of the breadth of wisdom God is willing to impart to believers was manifested at the time of the building of the first sanctuary. When one is filled with The Holy Spirit, the spiritual as well as the temporal aspects of life will improve quite dramatically. But those who relegate the Christian experience to only the spiritual, lose much, for the gospel is to be all-inclusive, as far as the entire man is concerned.

It addresses the restoration, and development of God’s character in man, but it also reaches into the temporal realm, with The Holy Ghost giving wisdom and great understanding in handling the mundane and temporal issues as well. In fact, the bulk of our Christian experience actually takes place in the way temporal matters are handled. Let’s read:

Exodus 31:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

1st Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

And David, through the Holy Spirit, affirms beyond a doubt that the commandments, statutes, principles, laws, and judgments found in the Bible, are superior in nature, placing the doers and hearers of the word above average. Thus, the religion of God is found to be an indivisible whole, reaching into every aspect of our experience, and bringing forth fruit which are commensurate with the wisdom of The God whom we serve. Let’s read:

Psalms 119:96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

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

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

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

This prompts us to ask an important and introspect question: “If the promises in the Bible were never meant for us, then why would God cause them to be written? Why would He dangle fruit that cannot be picked or eaten, before the eyes of the faithful if He knew that it was impossible to be accomplished? It makes no sense whatsoever to do so, and God in His wisdom has declared through His servants that the promises are for us and our children, and to all who would believe in His name. Let’s read:

Psalms 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children.

In order for the promises to be accessed by us, two essential elements or keys are needed to unlock the vast treasures of heaven available to anyone who is willing. They are faith and obedience. The beginning point is belief, and the ongoing method of accessing the promises is obedience, always believing that our God is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we can ask or think. But through the indulgence of unbelief many Christians become stagnant and thus rob God of the glory which will come from a proper representation of Him. Let’s read:

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Thus, the scriptures teach, in both the old and new testaments, that God is glorified when His people allow The Holy Ghost to live and work freely within our hearts, faithfully following His every word with joy and eagerness, and choosing the principles and laws given to us in the Bible over the wisdom of the world. Whenever this is accomplished the life of the true believer would stand in marked contrast to the world, and it is thus that the earth is lightened with the glory (Character) of God.

But if as believers in The Great King, we are found to be always under-performing in those areas that folks can relate to; if in the mundane things of life we’re continually coming up short, then we’ll rob God of the glory and praise that should ascend to Him, for what He is able to do in and through us.

If a mechanic was called to fix someone’s radiator, and he pulled up in a van puffing smoke, and steam through the exhaust, with coolant spewing out from his engine, the person in question will obviously be hard-pressed to believe that such a mechanic could fix their problem, seeing that his own vehicle is not working properly, but overheating.

And though such a mechanic may produce several certificates, and may be able to explain the cooling system of myriad vehicles, yet the customer would most likely be not convinced, and in disappointment may call 911.

Therefore, if we are to represent Christ properly to the world, our “engines” should be fine-tuned, and running well; our “radiators” should not be leaking, and when we pull up to the doors of non-Christians, they will be convinced of the superiority of the good news that we say we espouse. It is thus that God is able to say with confidence, “Ye are my witnesses”.

Therefore, the mighty promises God has given us to live by will work in us for His glory, and people will be convinced that it is worthwhile, and wise to be a Christian. Thus, the following are just samples of the promises God has given us to live by, and if we trust and obey, the sky will be the limit.

[1] Promises for peace.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

166 Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Christians are not to manifest unwarranted fear of the future, nor should we ever be found worrying ourselves over things we cannot change. Whatever takes place in the spiritual or temporal realm, does not occur without Christ knowing in advance, and thus, it should put our minds at ease to know that God is still in control.

The peace that the Bible is referring to in the above passages does not come from external sources, nor is it based on the shallow empty promises of man. It comes from knowing God personally and having an experimental knowledge of His ability to guide all of our affairs in the right direction. Whether they are good, bad, or in-between experiences, we have the assurance that all things work together for the good of those who love God, and this will produce peace that passes understanding. Let’s read:

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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

[2] Promises for restful sleep.

Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

Psalms 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalms 127:2 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.

Insomnia has a stranglehold on many people, and in many instances, folks struggle to get a good night’s rest. Very many have difficulty shutting their minds down, and even though they may be in their beds, under the covers, yet for some reason, sleep seems to evade them. Believing in God affects one’s sleep, and should help us avoid having to take pills to get a good night’s rest. This was never God’s ideal will.

[3] Promises for safety.

Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.

Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

With all of the gun violence taking place across the land, and with the rise of terrorism at home and in foreign countries, many have resorted to taking up arms to protect themselves and their property. But the Bible teaches us that safety is dependent on a relationship with God, because the efforts of man are futile against the assaults of the enemy.

Many have had cameras installed, and sophisticated security systems are often put into place but yet the robber and the hacker often find ingenious ways to infiltrate and cause harm. This is the reason why the following reality check was written for those who believe, for even though efforts are made to secure lives and property, yet the scriptures teach us that our safety rests with God alone. Let’s read:

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.

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

[4] Temporal promises

Deuteronomy 28: And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.

10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.

12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure,

the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.

14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

After reading these passages it becomes difficult to conclude that those who espouse and keep all the commandments by the grace of God, will yet live below average. The Bible does not teach, either in the old or new testaments, that true believers are to be below par, for if the bottom line effect of us believing in Jesus is to minimize, then the gospel will leave much to be desired.

It is now a fact that because of the distortions of the health/ wealth gospels of our day, some have come to view the temporal promises of God as being very dangerous to Christianity, when indeed this isn’t the case. And because of this, some scriptural passages have been misunderstood, misinterpreted, or taken out of context. Case in point is the verse in Matthew five which says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit”.

To be “Poor in spirit” is quite different to being poor in pocket because Jesus is speaking of a humble and contrite attitude, someone that does not lift himself up against The Living, or the written word. There is no virtue whatsoever in being poor or rich, because neither condition recommends us to God. Again, in the experience of the widow who gave her last two mites, Jesus then commended her generosity, not her poverty, because God’s ideal will for His people is expressed in the following passage. Let’s read:

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

This leads us to our last and final promise:

[5] The promise of forgiveness.

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.

Some may be wondering why this promise has been chosen to end the presentation; it is because we all may need to confess the sin of unbelief, which has caused the promises of God to be unfulfilled in too many instances. Some have suffered unnecessarily from lack of sleep, from poverty, from restlessness, from health issues, and from a multitude of other problems, when in fact, such situations could have been avoided in very many instances.

Thus, as we stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan, and as the earth is about to be lightened with the glory of God, let it not be said that because of our unbelief, we failed to give to the unbelieving world, living examples of what the gospel produces in the lives of those who have laid hold on Jesus. Let it not be said that we were great preachers but are sloppy debtors. Let it not be said that we have the greatest health message but are short on healthful living.

Ye are my witnesses saith The Lord, meaning that in our neck of the woods, we are to demonstrate in a real and tangible way, the benefits of serving God, so that others may be convinced that it is worth the while to serve Jesus too. We will end our discourse with a passage which should encourage us to take stock of ourselves, and the depth of our belief in the mega promises of God. Let’s read:

Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

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

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

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

19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

God Bless!

The Prayer Of Faith. Sabbath Afternoon 12/01/2018

The prayer of faith should be understood by every believer who seeks to have an intelligent knowledge of how to petition God. Jesus has given to us mighty promises by which to live, and wherever any sincere or valid petition is made along the stipulations given in the Bible, results and answers will surely come. In many instances, where an answer to prayer seems not to be forthcoming, the problem is most often with human agent.

At such times, instead of murmuring against God, we should take an introspect look at ourselves to see if the problem lies at our door, and if so, all the remedial actions should be taken. But one thing is certain, whenever and wherever the prayer of faith is made, something is going to happen, for there’s no such thing as a prayer of faith without concrete answers and results. Let’s read:

James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

First of all, we would need to dismantle some of the delusions which abound, as pertaining to the prayer of faith because for every good and perfect gift God has given us, there is one, or more counterfeits that are designed to throw us off-balance. And after the careful observation of what many call the prayer of faith, it would be discovered that the counterfeit of presumption is what actually occurred.

Therefore, the following are just a sample of some of the delusions that abound, as it pertains to the prayer of faith.

Delusion # [1]

Mixing up deference and preference.

There is a huge difference between preference and deference. Preference is what we prefer, in answer to prayer; deference is allowing God the prerogative of the last word, even if, and when it may cross with our preferences. If some insist on what they prefer, regardless of God’s input, then it’s not the prayer of faith, it is a prayer of preference.

A striking example of this type of prayer occurred as Balaam prayed on more than one occasion, in what may seem as apparent sincerity, asking God’s will in a certain matter. But after The Lord plainly revealed to Him His will, Balaam insisted on taking the route he personally preferred, and the rest is history. We too may sometimes be following Balaam’s lead, by insisting on what we prefer, and often in such cases God permits our own choices to run their course.

Our freedom of choice is always respected by God, and thus, a humble deference to the sovereignty, and wisdom of God is of critical importance when the prayer of faith is being offered. Balaam chose to do otherwise, and the results are recorded for our instruction so that we do not follow in his footsteps. Let’s read:

Numbers 23:4 Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam to call him, saying;

6 Come now, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me.

8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me.

12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak, Let nothing, hinder thee from coming unto me.

18 And Balaam answered and said, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.

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.

[Delusion # [2]

Mistaking information for submission.

There’s a huge difference between information and submission. Information is when we inform God of what we plan to do anyway. It is at such times when every providence God may send us to the contrary is usually interpreted incorrectly.

Submission is when the information we present to God is rendered with the intention of submitting to whatsoever He may think is best. Us acknowledging God in all our ways is not merely giving Him a heads up of what we have already decided we will do. For us to present to God our own plans for His approval is one way many Christians pray, but to ask of God His plans for us in a situation is entirely different.

The prayer of faith always leaves room for God to exercise His discretion in matters we may present to Him. The current practice some of have of trying to bully God into blessing them does not savor of faith. Of this sort is the attitude to hold God accountable for His promises, if they are not fulfilled in the way we deem appropriate or best. Submission is thus an entirely different attitude, one to which God grants very high esteem. Let’s read:

Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.

2 But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.

Whenever an architect submits to the county board his plans for some building project it’s with the clear understanding that the plan may be accepted, or it might be rejected, or he may have to accept several significant changes, according to the laws and codes of the county in question. Thus, he will understand that his submission to what the county says, takes precedence over whatsoever information he may submit.

But for us to plan and make concrete rigid decisions that we expect God to somehow endorse is not how submission is accomplished on our part. Giving God the last word in every area of our lives is what true submission looks like, for as many as are led by The Spirit of God, they are the sons, and daughters of God. It is God who should be permitted to take the lead, not the human agent. 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.

Isaiah 28:26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.

Delusion # [3]

Mistaking bad decisions which produce a good outcome, as being God’s will.

God often takes bad decisions and actions we make and turns them into good. This fact may often lead us to conclude that the bad decisions were indeed God’s will.

But nothing can be further from the truth, and great care should always be exercised when reflecting on certain choices we have made in times past, so that we do not erroneously conclude that bad decisions were ever God’s will. Nor should we make the error of believing that what we chose to do, independent of God’s revealed will, was the only way that a good result could have been accomplished.

God does not need us to make bad, hasty decisions, for Him to then turn them around for good. In other words, there is a right way to do good, which Christ always prefers, as should the human agent.

For example, when Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, God then took their bad decisions, actions, and intentions, and turned it into something good, so that many millions of people the world over were saved from starvation. But Joseph’s brothers, when reflecting on their actions should never erroneously conclude that their evil actions were God’s will. It is not necessary for us to do evil for God to do good.

God does not need anyone to do evil in order that good might be accomplished, for there were several other ways God could have gotten Joseph down to Egypt without the trauma he and his dad suffered. The same is true of Abraham, after God revealed to him that all nations of the earth would be blessed in and through him.

Abraham need not have slept with Hagar for this to take place, for all nations would be blessed in many different ways in God’s own time and way, without Abraham taking the route of adultery. Samson slew more philistines at his death than during his entire lifetime. But it was not necessary for him to sleep with Delilah, and have his two eyes gouged out, for God to deliver the philistines into his hands. That could have been accomplished, with his two eyes intact, and a nice God-fearing wife at his side.

Now we move on to the elements involved in the prayer of faith.

[1] Obedience to God’s revealed will in His word, according to the light that has been shed abroad on our pathway. Christians the world over are often in different stages of spiritual growth, however, it is of great importance, when offering the prayer of faith, that we do so with a clear conscience, knowing that we have been following the revealed will of God as best we can, by His grace.

Genuine faith fulfills the conditions upon which the promises of God are given. Presumption, which is the counterfeit, expects great results, and answers without complying with the conditions laid down. It is for this reason that the current phenomena of so many fake healings by certain televangelists have taken deep root in Christianity. Folks have come to expect the blessings of health without following the instructions given in the scriptures. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, to do them.

12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers.

13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee.

15 And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee.

[2] Genuine effort on the part of the human agent. God does not dispense with our efforts, because all things which pertain to our well-being, whether it is spiritual, or in the temporal realm are accomplished in cooperation with the human agent. God takes our 2%, couples it with His 100%, and together we get 100%. That’s why faith without works is dead. Let’s read:

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

[3] Praying in accordance with God’s revealed will, and in harmony with His promises. We should not form the habit of asking God for that which He has not promised, or asking blessings upon conditions other than what He has set forth in His word. To do so will set us up for major disappointment. We can be expectant and confident when our petitions are in harmony with His promises. Let’s read:

John 16:23 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

[4] We must believe that God will hear and answer the prayer of faith in His best time and way. He that cometh to God must believe, for it is the only way that the promises of God can be accessed. Unbelief is diabolically opposed to faith and will essentially prevent hope from becoming a reality. Let’s read:

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Matthew 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief.

[5] We must be persistent in prayer. It’s not every time that the prayer of faith will get results the first time around. If God was to deal thus with us we will erroneously conclude that He is subservient to His creatures, and as a sure result, we would be led to presume on His goodness. Therefore, the prayer of the faithful may be answered immediately, or after several such prayers are made, although this does not pertain to prayers for forgiveness, which always receive answers immediately.

Elijah prayed once for fire, but he had to pray seven times for rain, and thus, the scriptures teach us to be both instant, and persistent in prayer. Praying without ceasing should be our goal. Let’s read:

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Therefore, with the stage thus set, we will turn to the main course of our study. That passage in James chapter five, which deals with the prayer of faith, is not meant to be restricted to healing of the sick, for the apostle, in giving us an example of the prayer of faith mentions the experience of Elijah, who prayed for rain, as a scriptural response to the dark clouds of idolatry which had overspread Israel. Let’s read:

James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Jezebel, and Ahab were running riot with the false worship of baal, and the priests and diviners were cheer-leading the fray, whilst the ordinary people were being led deeper and yet deeper into idolatry, with all of its attendant evils. The true worship of God was in shambles, His commandments lay in the dust, and the people had come to believe that the sun and rain were regulated by forces other than by Jehovah. So, it was against this backdrop that Elijah prayed the prayer of faith. 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.

Question: Why does James describe this as a prayer of faith?

Answer: Because the petition was in harmony with what God had promised, and what was written in His word, so it was not a request that was conjured up from Elijah’s own imagination. There are positive and negative promises in the Bible, and this prayer was for a negative promise in response to the deeds of priest, prelate and king. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 11: 13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

15 And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.

16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

17 And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you.

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

23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

24 The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee.

The famine starts to take hold of the land and the people, fires are ignited by igneous rocks, and the places that were once fruitful become desolate as the absence of rain takes its toll. Dust storms come from nowhere, and the people are now driven to desperation, as the beasts of the field die off, and the grass and trees wither. Then, the same Elijah is sent to bring the people to their senses.

Upon Mt. Carmel, he shows the people their sins, he calls them back to the worship of the true God, and he prays that God will respond by granting to them the spirit of confession, repentance and the much-needed reformation. The people comply, and respond in the positive, God sees their contrition, and Elijah is once again moved to offer the prayer of faith. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

42 And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, there is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.

45 And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.

Question: Why does James refer to this second round of prayer as a prayer of faith?

Answer: Because it was done according to what is written, not some wishy-washy idea that Elijah had cherished. When we pray the prayer of faith, like Elijah, we too should pray intelligently, along lines that have been stipulated in the scriptures, and God will respond by sending rain, latter rain, because it is written. Let’s read:

1st Kings 8:35 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflict them;

36 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.

In our prayers and in our petitions, whether it be for healing or for deliverance from sin, or for latter rain, as ought to be a priority, let our expectation always be based on promises that are written; let there be persistence manifested; let there be obedience to all of God’s commands, and let His revealed will be followed in sincerity.

Let us be believing, making all commensurate effort and the blessing will surely come, for God is faithful who has promised. In view of the devastations and evils that are rampant across the land, and in view of the idolatry that has overspread us like a thick cloud, let us pray the prayer of faith, and God will respond favorably, as in the days of Elijah.

We end with a promise, which should encourage us to press our petitions to the throne of grace. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

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

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

God Bless!

Lessons From The 2008 Crash. Sabbath Afternoon 11/24/2018

God often allows experiences to come our way so that we may learn sacred truths and be better able to understand why certain principles of His kingdom are given to us. And it is only as we thus learn those lessons well that we are able to glorify God on such and such points. This is the reason why Solomon wrote that reproofs of instruction are the way of life, meaning that we are to be constantly learning the ways and will of God, throughout our lifetime.

This is with the intention, and purpose of us not repeating the same mistakes, but instead living with an intelligent understanding of God’s revealed will, for it is thus that His name is glorified in our lives. At such times, and experiences where we pass through a learning curve, it is His will that we learn the first time around, because repeat offenders will discover that additional lessons on the same point become more difficult to bear with every passing round.

Hence the reason why the easiest and best way to learn is not by experience, but from the rise and fall of those who have gone before, so that we may not have to pass through bitter experiences ourselves in order to learn the hard way. In learning lessons on managing credit, it isn’t best to run up cards in the red; instead, we can learn of the good and the evils by studying closely the experiences of those who have gone before, while applying right principles in our own experiences.

It was not necessary for Adam and Eve to learn to obey by first disobeying, for it was never the will of God that they should have never experienced evil first hand. Therefore, the instructions, principles, and laws written in the scriptures, together with the experiences of God’s people in times past, are the beacons of light, shed abroad on our pathway, so that we who are living in the last days may make straight paths for our feet, the first time around. Let’s read:

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.

Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep thy father's commandment.

21 Bind them continually upon thine heart and tie them about thy neck.

22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

This leads us to study one such lesson which took place not too long ago, and which is to be repeated in a much more severe manner, sometime in the future. Great, and important biblical principles were taught us during the great crash of 2008, and those of us who lived through that terrible crisis were to learn our lessons well. But before we dig further in our search, we must first study the lessons given to God’s people in times past.

A terrible dream is given to pharaoh, it is doubled twice to him as a confirmation, and he awakes from slumber sweating bricks, having no clue as to what such a dream might mean, nor the interpretation of what he had seen. Finally, in his search for answers, Joseph is brought before him to give him the good, and the bad news.

The bad news is that a terrible famine, with all of the adverse consequences will be coming soon. The good news is that proper preparation can be made to avert the coming crisis if pharaoh believes God, and takes the necessary proactive steps to avert the catastrophic event. Let’s read:

Genesis 41:1 And it came to pass, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favored kine and fat-fleshed; and they fed in a meadow.

3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.

4 And the ill-favored and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.

5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.

6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.

7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

Genesis 41:25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.

27 And the seven thin and ill-favored kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.

30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

The dream which God gave to pharaoh was not an entirely unique occurrence, for throughout history there have been times of plenty when some nations basked in the sunshine of much surplus, followed by a period of steep decline where the excess was then wiped out, essentially putting millions on the bread line. This is because of the fact that what goes up must come down, and the higher the climb, the lower will be the fall.

Even in the history of the Hebrew people, whom are described as God’s chosen, there were times when the very same phenomena occurred, with famine, drought and dearth taking a deadly toll on man and beast. Thus, the records show that even a Christian nation is not immune to catastrophic failures, and this is most often a result of the violation of spiritual and natural laws, in places high and low, since the laws of sowing, and reaping are quite often allowed to run their natural course.

During those times of plenty, people splurged, and indulged in buying and selling, with little regard to the cyclical highs and lows, and therefore, when the times of famine came most were caught off-guard. From the days of Joseph and pharaoh, to the times of Nehemiah, from the days of Elijah, to the days of Claudius Caesar, peoples and nations have suffered the catastrophic cyclical effects of much surplus and then famine. So, let’s certify these deductions from the Bible before we move on. Let’s read:

1st Kings 17:1And 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.

1st kings 18:2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

Nehemiah 5:1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore, we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.

3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

2nd Kings 4:38 And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him.

39 And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.

Jeremiah 14:1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.

2 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.

3 And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded and covered their heads.

4 Because the ground is parched, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.

5 Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.

6 And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.

7 O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.

Acts 11:27 And in those days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Therefore, because as we have stated several times before, that God is very practical and down to earth in His instructions, He guided Joseph to do the wise and sensible thing in the land of Egypt, by making provision for the rainy day, thus teaching all those who would follow after, that good stewardship isn’t merely optional, it’s a must.

Joseph did what was right, because he feared The Lord, meaning that he reverenced the prophecy and then took the necessary steps to avoid the coming catastrophe, and the rest is history. The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and will translate into practical, sensible actions on the part of those who receive and believe His word. Let’s read:

Genesis 41:33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.

48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.

49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

But apparently, many of the Egyptian people did not take the word of God seriously. They must have seen all those new warehouses being built across the land, and they must have observed that corn, and food was being stored at alarming rates, thus, if they did not have the facility to store food for many years, they could at least have saved, to be able to purchase groceries when the well ran dry. But sadly, this was not the case. Let’s read:

Genesis 41:53 And the seven years of plenty, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.

54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

Genesis 47:13 And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.

14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.

16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.

18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:

19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.

20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's.

The fear of the Lord has to do with our regard for His word, and ultimately, leads us to take concrete steps and actions, commensurate with revelations given, especially when God warns us of things to come. This is what He did just before the blistering plague of fire and hail was let loose. There were those who believed, and those who mocked, as it will always be when God sends warning. Let’s read:

Exodus 9:18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.

20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses.

21 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.

Even here in America, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, it has been seen that we too are not immune from those cyclical phenomena of ups and downs, highs and lows. In 2006>2007 when cracks in our economy were beginning to appear, it was the premonition of several analysts that a turn for the worse was on the horizon, but many chose to indulge in what Fed-chairman Allan Greenspan described as irrational exuberance.

Buying and selling continued frantically, with little or no regards to the warning signs, and many folks across the land continued to bury their heads in the sand, as if all things must continue as they were in times of plenty. Then came 2008, when the market sputtered and crashed with a big bang, and many in almost every state began losing their houses, jobs, and lives in several instances. Let’s read:

“About 8 million people lost their jobs in 2008, and 4 million homes were foreclosed on every year for about six years, bringing the total to about twenty-four million homes repossessed. And the crash also took a human toll, because more than ten thousand people committed suicide, since they saw no way of getting out of their predicament. And even as we’re speaking today, many folks are still recovering from the adverse effects of those dark days”.

We came too dangerously close to the brink of an international meltdown from which we may have never recovered, but for the mercies of God. Here we are once again, reveling in irrational exuberance and hoping against hope that what goes up will stay up. Financial delusions have gripped the hearts of many, while others continue to hope against hope that things will continue as they were.

Therefore, it is essential for us to learn our lessons well, in lieu of the fact that history often repeats itself, and even though many Christians may not be entirely immune from the adverse fallout of such a crisis, yet God states that He will satisfy our souls in times of drought. But that does not mean we may spend without thought in times of plenty, but like a faithful steward, should make some provisions for those cyclical phenomena of Plenty and Empty.

Lesson # [1]: Wherever possible or warranted, try to avoid buying items just because they are on sale. If we do not really need them, let us exercise caution and godly wisdom. Let’s read:

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

1st Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Let’s read:

Lesson # [2] Try to avoid buying on credit, if we do not have the reserves to repay that which we have borrowed. Indulgences in December often result in depressions in January. Let’s read:

Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Deuteronomy 15:5 If thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.

6 For the Lord thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow.

Lesson # [3] Pray before spending. Don’t be afraid to invite Jesus with you to the shopping mall. When the Bible says “In all thy ways acknowledge Him” it means that no area of our life should be off-limits to God’s wise instructions. 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.

Lesson # [4] Every Christian who fears God should be a faithful steward, returning to God His own, being of help to those in need, and managing wisely the blessings and resources God has lent to us, for the unfaithful steward was removed out of the kingdom because of his mismanagement of The Lord’s goods. Saving from principle is wise, and to be encouraged, for God is greatly dishonored when His chosen people face financial embarrassment unnecessarily. Let’s read:

Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

As we enter the holiday shopping season, and as the spirit of excess and indulgences take hole of the multitudes, let the people who fear God have their heads on, thinking soberly, reasoning from cause to effect, and like Joseph of old, taking proactive steps to avoid embarrassment to God’s cause, when the times of empty begin to take root. We’ll therefore close with a passage of scripture, encouraging us to have the fear of The Lord ever before our faces. Let’s read:

Psalms 112:1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, who delights greatly in his commandments.

3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endures forever.

5 A good man shows favor and lends; he will guide his affairs with discretion.

6 Surely, he shall not be moved forever.

7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid.

10 The wicked shall see it and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away.

God Bless!

Trusting God Partially. Sabbath Afternoon. 11/17/2018

No area of our lives, and none of our decisions are to be off-limits to God’s jurisdiction. Trusting Him in a partial manner and in only certain areas where we may have no other choice, is far from ideal. We are to trust God in our finances, in righteousness, for the forgiveness of sins, for health purposes, for any reconciliation that may be warranted, in handling the delicate issues which arise between husbands and wives.

Trusting in God should rather be viewed as a way of life, rather than an occasional, or incidental resort when we may have no other choice. In every part of our lives, that trust should be made manifest, by us allowing God’s revealed will to take preeminence in our decision-making processes, and by obeying His word, and incorporating scriptural principles when, and wherever they apply.

It is thus that the passage: “The just shall live by his faith” has any meaning. Living by faith in God grants to Him the jurisdiction over everything we do. But with too many Christians, there is contentment with trusting God only in some issues while reserving our own personal judgment, biases, and preferences in others.

In fact, with many who claim to believe in Jesus, there is a decided reserve about Him meddling in our personal affairs, while we trust him for abstract things such as forgiveness of sins, spiritual blessings and eternal life. Others trust Him to bless us in the temporal areas, such as health and finances, but the other issues of diets and foods are held off-limits.

Thus, a one-sided approach to trusting God, results in a Christianity that is off-balanced, and shudders on the brink when emergencies arise in any of the off-limit areas. It is thus that medical, financial and marital emergencies find many in a conundrum, and cause us to question God’s goodness when all along we may have taken such personal matters into our own hands, with no regard to His input, His laws or His instructions.

Therefore, the following Bible passages should be understood, with the determination that trusting in God fully would be our own experience from here on out. Explanations will be given at the end of each passage, so that we may have clearer concepts of God’s will, and His ideals for Christian living. Let’s read:

Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Pride of opinion and lifting our personal ideas above what is written in the Bible is what causes our souls to become “Lifted up”. Living by faith therefore, will move us to surrender every area of our lives to the knowledge that God has revealed. Worldly principle and ideologies, and philosophies will be subservient to what God says, and where genuine ignorance has led us astray in times past, the ongoing revelation of truth and duty should be eagerly adopted.

Romans 14:23 For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

This means that any and everything we may do that does not willingly conform to God’s revealed will is a sin. This can also and often does include very good things, but without a deliberate submission to God’s will, those works become meaningless, and are then opposed to God. Of this sort are those good works mentioned in Matthew 7, where many good things are claimed by many, to be done in Jesus name.

But after a thorough examination of the way those things were done, the motivation for doing so, and the necessary compliance with God’s principles and laws, a deficit of righteousness emerged, for it was ultimately discovered that those who made such a claim had trusted God only partially, doing the right thing in some areas, while denying His leadership in others. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

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

Giving a loaf of bread to a needy neighbor, while we deliberately violate one, or more of God’s precepts can be a form of partially trusting God. And helping those who are in tragedies, and distributing goods to the poor, while at the same time some cling to evolutionary philosophies, regardless of what the Bible teaches, manifests that they may be trusting God only partially, and have not yet made a full and complete surrender to Him.

Numbers 14:24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land where-into he went; and his seed shall possess it.

Caleb followed God fully because all of his ways and doings, all of his decisions and his modes of thought and action came under the umbrella of the revealed will of God. Caleb did not let God lead in some areas and then deny Him access in others. Even when he suffered tremendous disappointment, after being found faithful, when with the other unfaithful men of Israel, he had to return to the desert, to wander for forty years he continued to trust God fully.

Whenever Caleb’s personal ideas and preferences clashed with God’s revealed will, as is so often the case with us, he humbly submitted to God’s ways. Not a mumbling word or murmur of being treated unfairly escaped his lips when he learned that he must wander for forty additional years, for the sins of his brethren. He also allowed God the jurisdiction over his food, as he ate his manna with singleness of heart each and every day, for forty years without complaint.

This is the condition in which those will be found, who will stand through the last days of this earth’s history, when every earthly support will be cut off, when the medical, financial, and social systems of earth will be declined to those walk by faith. It is in those coming days, that trusting God partially will break the resolve of those who are thus exercised, while those who have practiced trusting God fully will survive, for the just shall live by faith, alone. Let’s read:

Psalms 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore, will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

The area of finances is one of the main areas where some of us often fail to trust God fully, for we obey and trust Him in some issues, yet we take matters into our own hands in others. In other words, we may be faithful with the ten percent, but the other ninety percent we may view as coming under our personal purview, and discretion. Do we ask God how to spend the other 90%, or is it off-limits?

Whenever we receive our wages we should always remember that it’s not only 10+10, or 10+5 which belongs to God. All 100% belongs to Him, and thus, a truly faithful steward will allow all 100% to come under the jurisdiction of God’s revealed will. When in the book of Malachi, God stated that the whole nation had robbed Him, we must understand that in fact, there were many Jews who might have been returning a faithful 10% at that time.

But with the other 90% God’s leadership was no where to be seen, for they trusted God only in the tithe, but the rest, many of them had decided to manage for themselves. Therefore, we will address this important area of our lives, with the intention of bringing all our financial decisions and actions under the umbrella of God’s revealed will, so that we may trust Him “Fully”, like faithful Caleb did. Let’s read:

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.

Deliberate provision should be made to help supply the needs of the less fortunate from our salaries. It should not wait for last after the mortgage and car-note are paid either. Sacrificial, and willing giving is not to be restricted to tithes and offerings, it should also be exercised in our discretionary spending for the needy. Some give God the first fruits of their increase, but they leave the leftovers for the poor.

But according to what is written, the needs of the less-fortunate are to be a priority when we get paid, for if we were to leave such issues for last, in many cases, nothing will remain, especially if it’s around Black Friday, or Christmas. Therefore, after being paid our wages, thoughts of helping someone in need should be a primary concern.

Now as the Thanks-giving season is underway, and the holiday shopping season, with the temptations to splurge is right upon us, God reminds us of the less fortunate. There is a tendency across the land to get, get, get, but there is a tendency in heaven to give, give, give. Our charities should be more than merely spontaneous, but deliberate, for so the Lord instructed us in the Bible. This is what the righteous Boaz did, when reaping his field.

He did not reap the very best and the very last, thus leaving only unwanted leftovers for strangers. He deliberately decided to let Ruth have some of the best, as we should also too whenever we reap our vineyards. In other words, when we receive wages, a thoughtful consideration of the less fortunate is to be made, and corresponding acts of generosity are to be implemented, for Jesus Christ is well pleased with such actions. Let’s read:

Ruth 2:15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not.

16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.

Another issue in which many professed Christians trust God only partially, is the area of lending to our fellow brethren. This particular issue can be quite sensitive, and many consider themselves “burned” from past experiences. Us being burned in the past should not cause us to become tight-fisted, being on alert lest we get burned again. This often reveals an unforgiving spirit.

In this area, many often forget to forgive and forget, and past experiences are allowed to mold the way we handle present requests. Yet, we must always remember that the other 90% of our earnings also fall under God’s wise instructions, and as such, we should be willing to trust in Him when it comes to the issues of borrowing, and lending. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother.

8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

Let’s just say for reference purposes, that this year, 2018 was the seventh year, the year of release. We are now at November 17th, and a poor member of our church comes to borrow some funds, to supply his/her needs. But in just over a month he will be free of his obligation.

God is saying that our hearts should not be grieved because of the prospect of soon release, but should open our hands wide, not prejudging him that it is a deliberate ploy on the part of that member to avoid repayment. Instead, we should give liberally, over and beyond. That’s one example of trusting in God fully, to instruct us on ways to use the other 90%. But to balk at the instruction would be to trust Him partially.

Certainly, there might be some of the Hebrews who would try to abuse the privilege and the kindness of their fellows, and there would be some “intelligent” ones who would time their requests strategically. But if the premonitions of our hearts were to savor, or indulge such a sentiment, God describes it as a “Wicked thought”. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 15: 9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Another issue to be addressed in the area of our finances, is the proportion of returns that should be made, over and beyond the 10% which is stipulated. The Bible does not teach any specified amount for freewill offerings, but it does teach us appropriate ratios, commensurate with the blessings of God.

If we pledge to give a set figure of $100.00 from our paycheck, then if God blesses us with a million, the rigid figure we had set would create an imbalance. It’s much better to give by percentages, so that our giving would reflect the magnitude and scope of the blessings God bestows. Let’s read:

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

2nd Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Another area of our finances where we may need to trust God “Fully” is that of investments. As faithful stewards, it is important that we give God the right to direct us in our financial planning, for God is as much interested in our salvation as He is with the temporal interests of life. As such, trusting Him fully will lead us to make certain investments, while we avoid others.

Of the latter is the Lotto, by which many Christians believe they could enhance the kingdom of God by large, generous financial gifts. The motives may be upright, but God clearly states that not all income is acceptable in His sight. The investments and income from questionable, or forbidden sources are not to be brought into the treasury, nor should Christians seek to engage in such activities. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 23:18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow, for even both of these are abomination unto the Lord thy God.

19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of anything that is lent upon usury.

Some Christians may argue that the lotto is a form of investment which does not stem from pimping or sodomy, nor does it violate those laws against usury between brethren. And unlike the “Slothful servant” in the parable, some may reason that they do not want to be found guilty of hiding their Lord’s goods in the ground, but instead should invest it with the “Exchangers”.

That may be true, but there are certain investments which God forbids, even if they are profitable, and do not involve much risk. A faithful steward would trust God also in his investments. This means that he or she will allow Christ to have the last word in offering plate, on Wall street, or in the long lines at Publix. Let’s read:

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labor shall increase.

Proverbs 23:4 Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Lastly, there is a tendency across the land to hoard, where so many are consumed with retirement, and having too much wealth in their golden years. At the same time, the Bible instructs us to save for the rainy day, for those times when financial famines would envelope the land. The question then is, how do we save without hoarding?

First of all, here is a huge difference between saving and hoarding. To save means to put aside a set sum from our earnings, from principle. For emergencies, for rainy days, for the golden years, for the children, and for college, cars, furniture etc, whenever such needs would arise. This is scriptural, and should be practiced by every God-fearing person, for it would prevent financial embarrassment to a great extent. Let’s read:

Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Hoarding is the practice of us stock-piling enormous amounts of cash or other material wealth, over and beyond what we or our offspring will ever need, or use and guarding it too jealously to the point where the needs of our fellowmen fall on deaf ears. Of this sort were the actions taken by the rich man in the parable, whose only goal in life was to retire in ease and contentment, with very much room to spare. Let’s read:

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

God had no problem whatsoever with him building bigger barns, for that represented wisdom in the management of surplus. This is what Joseph did in times of plenty, to make provision for the rainy day. So, it wasn’t sin to build massive warehouses for the rich man to store his goods. The problem was that his attitude to life, his priorities, and his actions, all pointed to self, with no regard, or provision for the cause of God, nor the less fortunate. Let’s read:

Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

God counsels us in the scriptures to exercise sound judgment and wisdom in the handling, management and dispersing of material wealth, but we ought to be very careful, lest the love of money, and material things, cause us to trust in treasures instead of God and thereby, we lose sight of eternal interests. God first, others next, self last, is a mantra we can safely live by, for it tends to put material wealth in its right perspective.

In harmony with the instructions thus given, we will end with a passage of scripture which cautions us as Christians, against a materialistic mindset that has come to engulf the thoughts and actions of many. Contentment, habitual kindness, generosity, and the eagerness to help others, are of more value in the sight of God than wise financial planning, and expertise without benevolence.

Therefore, let the needy and the greedy be always instructed from the pages of Holy writ, for God is to honored in all spiritual, as well as temporal matters. Let’s read:

1st Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil:

which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things.

God Bless!

Signs Of The Times. Sabbath Afternoon 11/10/2018

The signs of Jesus’ second coming are not restricted to the gospels, Daniel and Revelation, but are to be found in many other books of the Bible. Thus, as we study line upon line, observing the signs given to us in the Bible, a fuller picture of where we are in the stream of time emerges, putting us squarely in the crosshairs of the last days. One sign given is that the gospel will be preached in all the world, before the end comes.

Another is that there will be very much worldwide unrest among the nations, as disagreements would escalate, and resolutions fail of bringing peace, and reconciliation. The fact that people are becoming more divisive, and we are now finding it increasingly difficult to get along with folks of other persuasions is another sign that the end is drawing near.

There are also signs now taking place in the spiritual realm, because, with the demise of Protestantism, and the uncovering of unthinkable sexual crimes by members of the clergy, people are becoming more disoriented towards anything called Christian, and the watered-down brand of Christianity that stalks the land unrebuked is adding to a toxic mix that is scheduled to morph into a clone between all of the conflicting elements, which will produce the mark of the beast.

But an even stranger phenomena is also emerging contemporaneously, for it seems as if many of us as Christians are not really eager for Jesus to come so soon; instead, many seem to prefer a delay to enjoy the pleasures, and luxuries of earth for a season. It is for this reason why many Christians are fighting for temporal benefits. Others may want to vacation first, or to get married first, or to live it up to some degree before Christ returns.

Whatever may be the reason, many seem prone to burying their heads in the sand, while the signs and pointers given in the Bible pass by unnoticed. Thus, for the sake of reminding us of where we are, it is necessary for us to take a look at some of the signs, with the hope that we will be awakened as it were, out of slumber. 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.

Several phrases in the previous passage should raise our eyebrows, for instance when is “High time”? or when will “The day be at hand”? These questions find their corresponding answers in the 2nd book of Timothy, in which Paul delineates some of the signs that would be symptomatic of the last days of earth just prior to the 2nd coming of Christ.

These signs may have occurred to a lesser extent in ages past, but in the last days preceding the second coming of Jesus, there will be a major proliferation, much multiplication and a significant, concentrated convergence of those specific signs given in the 2nd book of Timothy. Therefore, we solemnly declare to you that the time is “now”. In other words, to put it bluntly, we are now living in the last days of earth’s history, plain and simple.

The following therefore is a short list of some of the signs given in the Bible, which unmistakably point to the soon return of Christ. As we read, we will put a few excerpts of some of the current headlines next to the predictions given, so that we may draw right conclusions. Let’s read:

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

We are living in an age of great peril, where safety seems to be an illusive dream, where politicians are being threatened with bombs, where hate crimes are spiking, and where intolerance for certain types of religion are on the rise. Churches used to be safe havens from the vile and violent; but now, many of them have, or are considering having armed guards to fend off potential massacres. Universities, and schools are no longer off-limits for carnage either.

In the scripture we are told that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual. Therefore, if we find ourselves having to exchange the sword of The Spirit for carnal weapons then we may all be certain that “Perilous times” have come. Worshipers have been gunned down during services several times in the last few years, and months.

And instead of congregations being concerned with conversion, safety concerns are taking precedence more and more, with some preachers now carrying loaded guns in their waist to church. Think about it for a moment; a preacher goes up to preach, and he gently rests his Bible and his pistol on the pulpit. It must be the last days Paul, and the prophets were referring to.

The latest mass shooting in the state of California is just another example of those perilous times Paul is referring to. According to the national statistics, the massacre was the 307th over a 311/day span, which averaging about one mass shooting every day, puts our nation in the midst of an epidemic of violence.

At no time previously in American history, could it ever have been said that a massacre will take place almost every day. This isn’t normal! And yet, many Christians, and secular folk are still prone to burying their heads in the sand, as if this is normal. It isn’t! But Paul does not stop there, for he goes on to list a host of other signs which would be indicative of the last days. Let’s read:

Sign [2]: 2nd Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud.

No one reading this sign can reasonably doubt that the end is near, for almost on a daily basis, we are seeing with our own two eyes, and hearing with our own two ears, proud boasting of accomplishments, as if the glory belonged to mortals. A craving for the accolades and praises of men, together with all “Me first” philosophies, and their derivatives, tell us that evil spirits have taken up residence in high and low places.

It was lucifer who first suffered with an “I” problem, and those who follow in his train will cherish his me first philosophies. While in heaven, he coveted the praise and adoration which belonged to The Most-High, and in those who follow his lead, there would often be manifest an insatiable desire for praise and applause. This feeds both the ego, and pride of the one who is thus exercised, bringing the character of devils and mortals into closer alignment. 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.

1st Samuel 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

Like lucifer, Saul clamored for adoration and praise, and he was deeply offended when it was bestowed upon another. Thus, he lost sight of the true source of his strength and as he continued to indulge in the craving for praise, his mind, and character morphed into the person, whose footsteps he was following in. That’s why the following statement about Saul is written in the Bible. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16:14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed

from Saul, and an evil spirit troubled him.

15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit troubles thee.

Sign [3]: 2nd Timothy 3:2 For men would be blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.

In no other age of the world was disobedience to parents more striking, than in our day, the last days. Disrespect and disregard of parental authority is the new norm, with children, not only usurping the role of parents, but becoming quite violent, if, and when the parents cross their paths. Such phenomena is pretty recent and is being fueled by the laws which virtually tie the hands of parents and teachers.

Parents, and teachers are now in danger of being reported to the authorities if disciplinary action is taken towards an erring child. Therefore, our own chickens are now coming home to roost, and the seeds of rebellion we have sown are now being harvested. Because of this, the following report is symptomatic of the last days, the times just prior to the 2nd coming of Christ. Let’s read:

(CNN) 11/05/2018. An 11-year-old boy shot and killed his grandmother before turning the gun on himself Saturday. The Litchfield Park man told detectives that he and his 65-year-old wife "asked their grandson to clean his room and pick up after himself throughout the day, as he was being stubborn about it."

The couple then sat down on their living room couch to watch television, the grandfather told investigators. "While doing so, the grandson came up behind them and shot the grandmother in the back of the head, with a handgun.

Sign [4]: 2nd Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection…

The sacred institution of marriage is under attack by secular forces, and the sanctity of the institution is being dragged in the dust. With the legalizing of gay marriages, the conscience of the nation, which is its judiciary have opened the floodgates for every, and any variation of marriage to thrive. Thus, speaking in defense of biblical God-ordained marriage is now construed as being hate speech.

And because the gay trend is going viral, smooth-talking preachers loathe to say anything, lest their coffers and popularity take a hit. The sins of Sodom, and Gomorrah are being replicated, vindicated, and multiplied and at an alarming rate, just as the Bible declared they would be in the last days just prior to Jesus’ 2nd coming. Therefore, we solemnly declare to you that the time being referenced is here and now. Let’s read:

(CNN) 11/07/2018 In one of election night's many firsts, Colorado elected Jared Polis, who will be the country's first openly gay governor. Not only is Polis open about his sexuality, he has a long-term partner named Marlon Reis. The realization that there wouldn't just be a barrier-breaking gay man in the governor's mansion, but a gay couple, was not lost on Polis' supporters.

They went nuts when Polis introduced Reis as the state's "first, first man" during his victory speech. "I want to thank ... my personal support network -- first and foremost, of course, my amazing partner, and the first 'first man' in the history of Colorado, Marlon Reis," Polis said to a cheering crowd.

Sign [5]: 2nd Timothy 3:4 Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.

In no other age of the world has entertainment, and sports become a mainstay of society, as it is today. Many billions are spent on various games, players are paid millions to play ball, and “happy hour” has replaced the evening sacrifice. Often, when church service schedules conflict with the major games, the former is sacrificed for the latter. Thus, the things of eternal value have been made subservient to those mundane pleasures and interests, that are endemic of the last days.

Sign [6]: 2nd Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

This sign is particularly disturbing, for there used to be a time when the phrase “The Truth” carried the connotation of something to do with the gospels or the Bible. But when folks speak of the truth today, it is most often within a political context, having not a single reference to Christ or His word. Thus, satan has succeeded to a very great extent, in turning the phrase on its head, to mean anything other than God’s word. Let’s read:

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Psalms 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Some may be wondering why we are focusing so intently on the predictions pertaining to the last days; why not dwell in the positive, of a brighter tomorrow, here in the land of the free, and the home of the brave. Why not rather discuss I.R.As, and investments so that we can retire in prosperity, and ease, complete with vacations, poodles, yachts and golf?

Why? Because the coming of Christ draws near, and what transpired at His first coming, will be repeated at His second coming, in the attitudes and in actions manifested by the clergy and people alike. When it was time for the first coming of Jesus, the religious leaders, as well as the people, were not expecting Him, nor would they even stoop to investigate the tidings of the men from the east.

Spiritual pride prevented them from checking out thoroughly the report of the wise men, and social biases closed the door to an investigation of the news, for in their minds, those supposed pagans from the east should not even dare to believe that they knew more than the learned expositors of the scriptures, and so they dismissed the report as a form of fanaticism. Let’s read:

Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

In Herod’s mind, these tidings portended something very sinister, and his premonitions suggested to him that a deeply laid plot to overthrow his government was being orchestrated by both priests and people. Recently, we had our elections here in Florida, and a recount for senator and governor will most likely be underway shortly. But, if after the dust has settled, Andrew Gillum, or Ron DeSantis was to emerge as the winner, we would have had the assurance of a duly elected leader.

But the wise men are not asking about someone who is subject to normal electoral processes, they are asking for someone who is born King, meaning that His station is without question inevitable. And if so, it follows that an impending overthrow of his, (Herod’s government), must be imminent. This does not bode well with Herod at all, and he immediately begins to frantically dig down deeper. Let’s read:

Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

[Desire of ages pp 61>62] The arrival of the magi was quickly noised throughout Jerusalem. Their strange errand created an excitement among the people, which penetrated to the palace of King Herod. The wily Edomite was aroused at the intimation of a possible rival. His only security was the favor of Rome. But this new Prince had a higher claim. He was born to the kingdom.

Herod suspected the priests of plotting with the strangers to excite a popular tumult and unseat him from the throne. Summoning the chief priests and the scribes, he questioned them as to the teaching of their sacred books in regard to the place of the Messiah's birth. This inquiry from the usurper of the throne, and made at the request of strangers, stung the pride of the Jewish teachers.

The indifference with which they turned to the rolls of prophecy enraged the jealous tyrant. He thought them trying to conceal their knowledge of the matter. With an authority they dared not disregard, he commanded them to make close search, and to declare the birthplace of their expected King.

“And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, “And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in nowise least among the princes of Judah. For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Which shall be shepherd of My people.”

Herod now invited the magi to a private interview. A tempest of wrath and fear was raging in his heart, but he preserved a calm exterior, and received the strangers courteously. He inquired at what time the star had appeared, and professed to hail with joy the intimation of the birth of Christ. He bade his visitors, “Search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also.”

So saying, he dismissed them to go on their way to Bethlehem. The priests and elders of Jerusalem were not as ignorant concerning the birth of Christ as they pretended. The report of the angels’ visit to the shepherds had been brought to Jerusalem, but the rabbis had treated it as unworthy of their notice.

Now pride and envy closed the door against the light. If the reports brought by the shepherds and the wise men were credited, they would place the priests and rabbis in a most unenviable position, disproving their claim to be the exponents of the truth of God. These learned teachers would not stoop to be instructed by those whom they termed heathen.

It could not be, they said, that God had passed them by, to communicate with ignorant shepherds or uncircumcised Gentiles. They determined to show their contempt for the reports that were exciting King Herod and all Jerusalem. They would not even go to Bethlehem to see whether these things were so. And they led the people to regard the interest in Jesus as a fanatical excitement.

Some people may be prone to dismiss the study this afternoon as not worthy of notice. And others may prefer to hide behind the scripture which says “No man knows the day nor the hour”. Yet others may be tempted to believe that because we have heard for so many years that Jesus is coming, that it would occur in the distant future.

Thus, in addressing these questions and concerns, we must remember that of the times referred to as “The last days”, the Bible is very specific about the scenes which will transpire.

Even though the day, nor the hour is revealed, yet the times at which Christ’s coming will occur will be littered with the signs and pointers, declaring to the believing mind that His coming is near, even at the doors. Therefore, in closing, we are reminded of this sacred truth by Jesus Himself, as He cautions the last generation against lethargy and indolence, as it pertains to His soon return. Let’s read:

Mark 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.

29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

God Bless!

The Measure Of Faith. Sabbath Afternoon 11/03/2018

In the Bible God declares that He has dealt to every man the measure of faith, but the exercise thereof, and the results which accrue are largely left up to the individual, because God never coerces the free exercise of either choice or faith; that rests with the individual. Thus, persons who have been dealt the measure of faith often experience vastly different results, depending on their ability and willingness to believe.

This phenomena has occurred hundreds of times in scripture, from Saul to David, from the ten spies to the two faithful, from the woman with the issue of blood to those who rubbed shoulders with Christ, yet nothing happened. Everyone of them, without exception, were dealt a measure faith by God, but the free exercise thereof is what ended up making the difference. Let’s read:

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

The magnitude of our requests to God are directly linked to what we believe He is able to do. Some of us receive very little, because we expect little, while others receive much, because they believe much, and expect much. In most cases the results of our petitions are in our own hands, depending on our exercise of faith in God. My personal advice is to go big!

Case in point is the account of two blind men in the book of Matthew, who came to Jesus, requesting that their sight be given them. The reason why they followed Christ is because they were convinced that He could, and He would. Therefore, because faith is dead without works, they press on persistently with their expectation, that something good is going to happen.

But they would need to exercise the faith that God has given to “Every man”. As we read, let’s observe the question Jesus asks them in response to their request, because the results we receive often hinge upon our answer to this very same question. Let’s read:

Matthew 9:27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

30 And their eyes were opened.

As was stated several times before on this forum, the vast treasures, the reserves, and resources of heaven remain largely untouched and untapped, all because of our hesitation to exercise a living faith in God. Christ, through His sacrifice, has made more than ample provision for our every need, but we’ll need to take hold of the arm of omnipotence, not permitting our humanistic restrictions, and finite limitations to tarnish our ability to believe.

This leads us to the main course of our Bible study, in which we will investigate a typical situation which has obtained in the temporal realm; one with which so many of us are all too familiar. A widow woman’s husband has died and he, being the bread-winner in the house, has left a gaping hole in her income and resources, and before long she is riddled with debt, and her credit card companies, and her mortgagers are putting a stranglehold on her.

She does her best to stave them off, but alas, that dreaded knock on the door, that notice of intent to evict, with the local sheriff on hand, looms large. It is a desperate situation, and because her creditors are loan-sharks, as is so often the case in our day, they threaten to take her two sons, to sell them into slavery. There are several critical lessons to learn from this true story, lessons that can, and should be applied in our own experience. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

Lesson # [1] She is a Christian, and there are times when even Christians who fear The Lord, and try to do what is right, run into financial troubles. Being a Christian does not guarantee that we will not have trouble, it guarantees that we will have help in our never-failing Refuge, which should remind us of that favorite Psalm: “God is our Refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble, therefore will not we fear”.

2nd Kings 4:2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.

Lesson # [2] The exercise of living faith must at all times include the use of any available resources, wherever and whenever this is possible. Some try to exercise faith, whilst the ways and means that are at their fingertips are left untapped. When she was asked by Elisha “What do you have in your house” it was a reflection of the very same question that was asked in similar situations. And as we read, we will observe a pattern emerging. 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.

Exodus 15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

25 And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them.

Matthew 14:15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

18 He said, Bring them hither to me.

1st Kings 17:8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.

John 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

All that human power could do in the exercise of faith must be done. The removal of the stone, and the loosing of Lazarus could all have been included in the miracle, but supernatural power is never to be summoned to do what we have the ability to do. It is of critical importance for us to remember this in the exercise of our measure of faith.

2nd Kings 4:3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

Lesson # [3] Elisha did not tell her how many bottles to borrow, he just cautioned her about limiting God by only borrowing a few. The size and the extent of the blessing rests entirely with the woman, for the measure of her faith will inspire her to borrow ten, twenty, one hundred, or ten thousand bottles; it’s all up to her, because God is waiting in the wings to respond according to the measure of her faith.

The magnitude and size of our requests to God are often directly tethered to what we believe He is able to accomplish. If we cherish small concepts of God, those modes of thought will be reflected in the blessings we receive. But if we cultivate a mindset of not limiting Him, nothing will be impossible.

The good news is that God is able to work with any level of faith in His people, but He prefers that we think big, for He specializes in impossibilities, and He often goes where no man has gone before. May the force be with you, The Holy Ghost, that is.

2nd Kings 4:4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

Lesson # [4] When Jesus is about to bless you, in a response to the exercise of faith, it is preferable in most cases to keep it quiet until the blessings are realized. To expose the would-be blessings to all our friends, family and in-laws, will often open the door to unbelief, and skepticism, in those who might be prone to doubt. Far better to keep it quiet until the blessings are brought safely home.

Logic is often introduced by those of little faith, and their suggestions tend to cast doubt on God’s ability to do and dare. Therefore, it is often much better to keep the potential blessing quiet, and better to shut your doors, until such time that faith becomes the reality. In this way you can come on Wednesday night and give your testimony safely.

2nd Kings 4:6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet another vessel. And he said unto her, there is not another vessel more. And the oil stayed.

7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

Lesson # [5] Emancipation from financial slavery should be the goal of every Christian, especially in our day when our indebtedness may be used as a bargaining chip to entice folks over the precipice to take the mark of the beast. Freedom from debt, will put us in a position of independence, so that we be not subservient to the lender. If the Son shall make you free you shall be free indeed, which includes a noble independence which should characterize the followers of Christ, wherever possible.

What takes place in the temporal realm often also takes place in the spiritual realm, and vice-versa. We are heading into a time when we will need a double portion of the Holy Spirit, yet, in too many instances we ask in a haphazard manner, not really expecting God to deliver, or in other instances we may cherish the thought that certain aspects of the gospel commission are out of reach to Christians in our day.

Case in point is the healing of diseases, which has now been taken up by many false prophets and is being misused and abused for pecuniary gain. Just because this is the case does not mean that God’s hand is shortened to save, because a proliferation of counterfeits does not restrict The Lord in any way from accomplishing the genuine.

Therefore, as we pray for the latter rain, let us think big, expecting God to do abundantly more than we can ask or think, because His purpose is to invade the gates of hell, to set the captives free, and save to the guttermost, as many as would be saved. The nature, and extent of the gospel commission for our generation is clearly expressed in the following few passages. Let’s read:

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

7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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

John 16:23 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

10 For everyone that asks receives, and he who seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

[In heavenly places. pp 335] It is not because of any restriction on God's part that the riches of His grace do not flow to men.... If all were willing to receive, all would be filled with the Spirit. By resting content with small blessings, we disqualify ourselves for receiving the Spirit in its unlimited fullness. Expecting little, we receive little.

Therefore, let us ask, expecting great things, let us petition God’s throne of grace, not with the usual predetermined restrictions and limitations, but let us go big, expecting the whole nine yards, and God will respond in kind, commensurate with our requests and our expectations. We therefore end with two gentle reminders of the main purpose for which The Lord has called us. Let’s read:

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke 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.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

God Bless!

Jesus Is Coming Soon. Part [1] Sabbath Afternoon 10/27/2018

One aspect of Christ’s second coming is that it will happen suddenly, taking most of us by surprise. If Jesus has repeatedly cautioned us to watch, and if the apostles take up the same strain, it is because it will take place at a time when most people are not looking for it, and this will include the impenitent as well as the remnant. One thing is certain though, it is undisputable that it will occur suddenly. Let’s read:

Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at

midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

1st Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

43 But know this, that if the man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

The servant of The Lord even makes a much more disturbing discovery to us, in that probation will be closed when no one knows, for life will continue on in its normal round, with buying and selling taking place, all unaware that the final decision in heaven has been reached. Therefore, church will continue as normal, and members who have no real interest, or relationship with Christ, will be following norms, just as usual. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy 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. 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.

However, the second coming of Jesus need not take us by surprise, for Christ has made ample provisions and predictions, so that we need not be caught off-guard. The apostle alluded to this when he stated that the remnant are not in ignorance, concerning that great day. Thus, even though in the parable of the ten virgins, the wise ones, as well as the foolish were sleeping, yet the five wise were at least ready. Let’s read:

1st Thess 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Matthew 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Thus, it is a fact that God has not left us in darkness concerning that great day, for all we have to do is to study carefully that which has been revealed in the scriptures. The prophecy of Daniel, specifically the 2300-year prophecy is of particular importance, for it bridges the B.C and A.D time periods, bringing us well into the 18th century. And even though no man knows the day nor the hour, we certainly can know the time. Let’s read:

Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender and puts forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

The phrase all these things means a conglomeration of all the signs given. This phrase makes a very clear distinction between times gone by, and the time at which Christ will appear. There are signs occurring now, even as we speak, which did not occur in times past, and in the near future “all these things” would form a bottleneck, which will herald the dawn of a new day. Things such as the following. Let’s read:

Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.

There were times in years gone by, when America was racked with great violence, such as during the civil war, and the civil rights movement, but there has never been a time in American history when lying has become the order of the day, from the highest echelons of society, to the humble John Doe on the street.

A constant barrage of lying lips signals the increased presence of evil spirits, because lying is a signature characteristic of satan, who is described in the Bible as the father of lies. There were times in years gone by when we would have dangerous hurricanes, but there has never been a time when the intensity and frequency of storms has ramped up significantly, to the point where federal agencies, resources, and funds are being stretched to the limit.

Then again, there has never been a time in history when the lotto has reached one and a half billion, tempting even the most fiscally conservative to cast of all restraints, and jump right into the fray. People seem to be dazzled with money as if it can purchase happiness, and security. The irrational exuberance displayed by many hearkens back to those passages which warn us of trusting to riches at any time, but especially in the last days. Let’s read:

James 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted;

3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

1st Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Pride, and boasting stalks the land unrebuked, and unnatural affection has now become a mainstay of society, whereas in times past, such activities, and lifestyles were frowned upon. Thus, the paradigm has now shifted positively in favor of iniquity on all levels, to the point where most Americans now accept “All these things” as the norm.

It isn’t normal for downtown Miami to be flooding when there is no rain; it is not normal for more than 72,000 people to die of drug overdoses in one year in America. No, it is not normal. Neither is it normal for approximately 90% of our food to be G.M.Os. This isn’t normal by any means.

Therefore, the phrase “All these things” refer to a time when every and anything that could go wrong, will go wrong, and the practice of iniquity, with it’s inevitable results upon man and beast and upon the natural world would be peaking. Nine out of the ten costliest hurricanes to hit America have occurred in the last 14 years.

So, whatever may be our views or the deductions of scientists, one thing is certain, we are now living in very abnormal times. And according to the Bible, we haven’t seen nothing yet, because as the coming of Christ draws closer, “All these things” will converge within a very short period of time and with little up- front notice, if any. 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.

Therefore, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the Bible declares that those who are looking for the coming of Christ, should know the times in which it would be fulfilled. Which brings us to the crux of our study “Jesus Is Coming Soon” Part [1]. The 2300 day/year prophecy of Daniel 8 and Revelation 11 are of very critical importance for they bridge the gap between the B.C and A.D time periods.

The question is: What was the Calendar being used and referenced when the prophecy was given both to Daniel and to John? The Jewish, the Julian, or the 360-day Calendar? because God would not give us a prophecy of so very great importance without any reference to measured time calculation, as we know it. Thus, to understand the measurement of time from the Bible’s perspective, we will need to go to the very beginning of time when days, months, and years began to be measured. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.

15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.

17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness.

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 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

These passages, when put together, firmly establish our weekly cycle, with the Sabbath being the cut-off point. The seven days which comprise one week are to continue as long as the earth remains. {See Lev. 12:2&5}

Thus far the Bible establishes one week as being a period of seven days. But how long is a month? So that we may safely move on to settling on what one year means. The floods of water have overwhelmed the entire planet, and only Noah, and his immediate family are saved. But, the Bible gives us important information pertaining to the time that has elapsed from when the rain started, to when the ark rested on Mt. Ararat. Let’s read:

Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

Genesis 8:4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

Genesis 7:24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

The Bible confirms that from the 17th day of the 2nd month, to the 17th day of the 7th month five months have elapsed, for 2-7=5. And since during those five months 150 days elapsed, then five months would contain 150 days, according to the scriptural record. Ten months will be equal to 300 days, and thus, 12 months will contain 360 days, giving us one full year, this is according to the scriptures. Let’s read:

Esther 2:12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purifying of the women. [Explain]

Daniel 4:28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?

[P.K 509] A year from the time he had received the warning, Nebuchadnezzar, walking in his palace and thinking with pride of his power as a ruler and of his success as a builder, exclaimed, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?”

The prophecies in Daniel, and given to John in the Revelation, were given in prophetic days and weeks, one month being calculated at 30 days, and one prophetic day being equal to one year; and just as in the days of Noah, five months would contain 150 days. Let’s read:

Daniel 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

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

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.

Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Revelation 11:2 And the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Forty-two months multiplied by thirty days will give us 1260, the number referenced in the two previous passages, and therefore, the calculation of the 2300 day/year prophecy of Daniel, which ended in 1844 is correct, using the Biblical standard of measuring prophetic time. Thus, the question is: Where are we in the stream of time since the judgment began in 1844?

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, the 1000 years in Revelation 20 are Sabbatical years of rest, due to the earth since the fall of man; and since after sin, we were commanded to plant six years, and let the earth rest one, then it means that Adam and Eve fell into sin pretty early on in their existence, for if that was not the case, then the earth would not need a thousand year rest. It would have only required 999 or 998 as the case might have been. Let’s read:

Exodus 23:10 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:

11 But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat.

Leviticus 26:34 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.

35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.

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

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

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

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

It is very important for us to note what comes just before Revelation 20, for in chapter 19, the second coming of Christ is revealed, which reduces planet earth to rubble. It is right after, in chapter 20 that we read of the commencement of the Sabbatical rest of 1000 years. Let’s read:

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image.

21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse.

Most people in the western world currently use the Gregorian calendar, which is a derivative of the old Julian/Roman methods of measuring time. But the Jewish calendar is the one which comes even closer to mirroring the age of our world, which according to the Bible, is about 6000 years old. And according to the Jewish measurement of time, we have about 21 years remaining before 6000 years elapse.

The current (2018/2019) Hebrew year is 5779. This leaves us with just about 21 years to elapse before the 6000/year threshold is reached. Next week we will take up from where we leave off this evening, but all pointers, in the political, judicial, financial, and natural worlds, indicate that we are heading for climactic, and cataclysmic events in the very near future.

If any of us are getting ready when Christ comes we will be lost forever, for Jesus is not coming for those who getting ready. Only believers who are found in readiness will be saved, according to the parable of the ten virgins, because the five foolish were getting ready when the Bridegroom showed up.

Therefore, we submit to you that the 2nd Coming of Christ is much nearer than most Christians believe, and as such, we should now make our calling and election sure. Those who have been sitting on the fence, those who have been wandering in the valley of decision, and those who have back-slidden from Christ and His church, especially S.D. A’s who have known the truth, the Holy Spirit speaks expressly to you, not to procrastinate any longer, because the time is short.

In harmony with God’s urgent appeal, we will end this segment with a word of exhortation which is commensurate with the seriousness of the times in which we now live. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 5:19 God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

God Bless!

Think No Evil. Sabbath Afternoon 10/20/2018

One of the challenges most of us face is that of how to stop thinking evil thoughts. They seem to appear out of nowhere, sometimes they stop by briefly, or at other times may linger on for many days, weeks, and sometimes years. At times, they are the result of some evil cherished in the heart, or at times they may be triggered by something someone said or has done. But whatever the source, many of us seem to be plagued by evil thoughts from time to time.

Grudges and biases held over a period of time seem to foment to the point where a settled premonition of evil to someone is always on the table. In other instances, we may not feel comfortable with the “Vibrations” of another individual, and as a result we may erroneously judge their actions, motives, and intentions.

Racial biases, cultural prejudices often cause some to draw wrong conclusions of others, whilst other individuals may be suspected of bad motives just by their manner of dress. However, good people often live in bad neighborhoods and bad people often do live in good neighborhoods. God requires that we refrain from thinking evil of others, just because of time, place, culture, or race.

A person who pays for a $2000.00 job with one and five-dollar bills is not necessarily a drug dealer, for he could also have owned many vending machines. There are people who may be covered with tattoos, who are quite gentle and respectful to others whilst persons who are dressed decently might be robbers in sheep’s clothing. As Christians, God desires that we give the benefit of the doubt, and not judge our fellowmen on mere “Gut” feeling.

So, the practice of evil surmising is by far the most common form of evil thinking, by which we assume that our assessment of someone is correct; thus, we pass judgments in our minds, which then spill over into our actions, and before you know it, the person is being fed with a long spoon at arm’s length, from the pot of suspicion. Then again, we may even go so far as to settle on a certain course of antagonism, if our premonitions come true.

All of these variations of evil thinking ought to be uprooted from our hearts by the grace of God, for the general tenor of the Christian’s mindset, should always be to give the benefit of the doubt, always seeking to place the most favorable construction on the motives and actions of others. In other words, to think no evil should be the aspiration of everyone who has Christ as Savior and Lord, knowing that we ourselves exist only by His grace.

In addition, there are several passages of scripture which deal with the recurrence of evil thoughts and desires, since out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and actions usually follow thoughts like clockwork. To look on the brighter side, to dwell on the positive aspects of someone’s character, and to refrain from drawing negative conclusions with no conclusive evidence should be the motif of every Christian. Let’s read:

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man….

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.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

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.

Sometimes the tenor of our thoughts can take on a very dark hue, with our suspicion always seeking to justify our premonition. Records of wrongs done to ourselves, or slights shown to our persons, and the disposition to argue a point until we prevail, are all productive of evil thoughts, which once indulged, often resurface at random from our memory bank.

Therefore, we will focus our attention on the most common form of evil thinking, which is described in the Bible as “Evil surmising”.

Surmise: To suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it.

"he surmised that something must be wrong"

Synonyms: to guess, conjecture, suspect, deduce, infer, conclude, theorize, speculate, etc.

This particular trait of character became evident in the life of Saul, who indulged in suspicion of David, suspicion of his own son Jonathan, and frequently was disposed to interpret everything and everyone as being against him. His own generals were often accused by him in his mind, and he saw in everyone, and in everything, an adversary rather than a friend.

He was constantly searching for faults in others, and if there were none, he would conjecture as to what this, or that individual was capable of doing, or was intending to do, all without having any hard facts to substantiate his conclusions. For this reason, an evil attitude tarnished all of his interactions with family, friends, and foes. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

1st Samuel 20:30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?

1st Samuel 22:7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;

8 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 650] Saul had not learned, while ruling the kingdom of Israel, that he should rule his own spirit. He allowed his impulses to control his judgment, until he was plunged into a fury of passion. He had paroxysms of rage, when he was ready to take the life of any who dared oppose his will. From this frenzy he would pass into a state of despondency and self-contempt, and remorse would take possession of his soul.

The same evil of surmising lay at the root of those arguments between the disciples. Some thought that James and John were secretly trying to gain the highest place in the kingdom. Others thought that the best offices in the church were being sought by some, and before you know it, there was a settled uneasiness between the brethren. Thus suspicion, conjecture, and premonition gave birth to jealousy faultfinding, and arrogance. Let’s read:

[The Desire Of Ages pp 643>644] There was “a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.” 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.

When the disciples entered the supper room, their hearts were full of resentful feelings. The pitcher, the basin, and the towel were there, in readiness for the feet washing; 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.

Therefore, there are several lessons we can learn from the bad experiences of those who have gone before. Especially is this the case now in our day, when the same spirit of evil surmising, erroneous conjecturing, fault-finding, suspicion, speculation, conspiracy, and every evil premonition, have now invaded the higher, and lower echelons of society, and sadly is also a problem in the church.

[1] If positive, or negative vibrations may seem to emanate from a person, we should avoid judging, based solely on vibrations, for two main reasons: God does not judge by vibrations, and we can be dead wrong in our conclusions. There are sinners who can speak well and make an outward show of piety. And then there are genuine Christians, who because of past experiences, may not reflect the radiance of those who have not known much evil.

Let us make certain not to draw our conclusions by mere premonition, because human intuition can be faulty at times. Instead, let us hope all things, and believe all things, with the sunshine of God’s love radiating freely to all with whom we may come in contact. Let’s read:

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

1st Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

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

[Test vol 5, pp 168>169] Love is unsuspecting, ever placing the most favorable construction upon the motives and acts of others. Love never needlessly exposes 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.

[2] Do not keep a record of wrongs, and grudges. If someone has said, or done something wrong, the Christlike reaction should be to cover a multitude of sins, instead of storing the record of his/ her failures to use at some future time, when we believe our premonitions will become reality. As Christians we should interpret everything, and everyone in the positive, and if for some reason we are wrong, then we should hope for the best. Let’s read:

1st Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

[Christian Service pp 49] There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. But, it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the daytime we look toward heaven, but do not see stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster.

[3] Often the faults we see in others are a reflection of our own struggles, and therefore, it is important that we be humble enough to forgive and forget. It is by beholding the perfection of Christ that we are changed from one stage of development to another if we would only refrain from dwelling on what we think may be the evil intentions of others. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

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

[4] The elimination of evil thoughts, and surmising can only be accomplished through the grace, and the power of Christ, in harmony with our freedom of choice, because it is an abstract problem, that is often cherished without any visible manifestation. We must ask God to cleanse us from harboring evil thoughts about others whether we are in the wrong or in the right, in our premonitions. Let’s read:

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

It is of critical importance now, as the final effort to save a lost world is being ramped up in heaven and on earth, that we reflect the image of Christ, both internally and externally. Evil surmising, with all of its attendant evils such as prejudging persons, will hamper us in our efforts to save kings, priests, John Does and harlots, for whom Jesus Christ has shed His blood.

Let us therefore live in the sunshine of His presence while we seek to eliminate evil thoughts from our minds, for it is the work of The Holy Spirit to implant the mind of Christ in each and every believer. We end with a quotation, that should encourage us all in the accomplishment of that purpose. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 622>623] Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Savior be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foot-hold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power.

But Christ declared of himself, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.

God Bless!

Grace For Grace. Sabbath Afternoon 10/13/2018

The history of the ancient Hebrews was one fraught with misunderstanding of God on several different fronts, in so much that His character and ways were to a very large extent veiled from their minds. As a direct consequence, those sacrifices, which were to point them to Christ, The Lamb of God, became one means whereby sin was committed deliberately and ultimately lost its meaning. Thus, instead of being a deterrent, the sacrifices were used, and viewed as an option on the table to facilitate sin.

In rehearsing their history, the apostle Paul writes under inspiration that they entered not in because of unbelief, referring to the earthly Canaan, but also to the heavenly for very many. And the Lord Himself lodged a complaint, that after all those years in the wilderness, and after investing so much time, and resources in His people, they still had not known His ways. Let’s read:

Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, today if ye will hear his voice,

8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness.

9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.

19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

From these passages, and others, we can conclude that most of the Hebrews were probably familiar with the written word of God, but were strangers to the ways of God, so for this reason, beginning with this study, we are going to introduce what will be titled “Latter Rain Sabbaths” during which we will focus more intently on the ways of God, as written in His word.

How God does what He does, and His movements in the great controversy between good and evil should form an integral part of our studies, especially as we stand upon the brink of eternity, when we’ll need to have a much better understanding of Christ in order to pass through the great time of trouble, in the not too distant future. Knowing God and knowing about God are two distinctly, different things, the former being of much greater importance than the latter.

To know God includes being intimately familiar with the Living Word primarily, and the written word of God secondarily, for “It is spoken” came before “It is written”. God desires that we not have a superficial knowledge of Him, but a deep understanding of His revealed will and purposes for our lives, and several passages of scripture do echo this sentiment. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 9:23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches.

24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Psalms 111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is his name.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding have all they that do his commandments.

This last passage mentions the fact that redemption was sent unto earth’s inhabitants, which leads us to our study of “Grace For Grace” wherein we ought to observe how God’s grace, was, and is manifested to all. Lest we fall into the same error as the ancients did, we will begin by highlighting several aspects of God’s grace, why it became necessary, how it was manifested, and some of the erroneous concepts that have been adopted and peddled by the popular gospels of our day.

[1] God's grace should never be taken for granted; it should not be viewed as an option on the table, but rather as an inevitable necessity only because of our sins. Let’s read:

Isaiah 53:5 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.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Matthew 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (In other words, if this is the one and only way grace can be granted, then I’ll go through with it. We should be very careful when presenting the mysteries of God’s grace).

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

[2] The love of God could have been, and actually was manifested throughout the entire universe long before sin entered. In other words, God didn’t need man to sin, in order for His character to be revealed, because it was known to all of the unfallen worlds in ages past. Let’s read:

Psalms 103:20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

Job 38:1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?

7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

[3] The phrase “Three strikes and you’re out” sends the absolute wrong message, for it would inevitably encourage all would-be offenders to utilize the first two strikes. God’s grace should not be understood as having loop holes for sinning. Let’s read:

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

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

[4] When grace became necessary, it was intended to be administered abundantly but with stipulations which were to bring balance to the equation. In our day, God’s grace is being offered without caveats, thus leading many to sin presumptuously. Let’s read:

Romans 6: 1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

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

[5] The grace of God, when rightly understood and accepted, will always produce a person in harmony with the character of God. This process begins with conversion, and continues throughout our lifetime, but it always, inevitably leads to the reproduction of the image of God in those who are thus exercised. Always! Let’s read:

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1st John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Therefore, with these passages of scripture given to broaden our understanding of God’s grace, let’s go to the time when grace became necessary. And as we study, let’s keep in mind that we are focusing on learning God’s ways, not only His word, for this is the first installment of “Latter Rain Sabbaths”. God has created the earth, and all things therein, and He then creates Adam and Eve to dress and keep it.

They are given dominion over everything, they are given access to everything, with one exception. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is to be off-limits as the only one of many thousands which God has reserved for Himself. In harmony with this only restriction, a command, and a warning of the dire consequences of disobedience is issued. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat.

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Something is conspicuously absent from this dire warning, because it makes absolutely no mention of grace. It is delivered to Adam as an unequivocal and terse statement of cause and effect, with no escape route being offered. No grace, no second chance is here mentioned, only the inevitable result of death. Question: Why would God do this? Why not inform Adam up front that a safety net had already been planned, just in case sin took place?

Why not give him the guarantee of grace with the command? Instead, the words suggest a one-way street to destruction with no hope of pardon. This is not to say that grace was an afterthought, because the Bible explicitly states that grace was planned long before it was needed. Let’s read:

Romans 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.

Colossians 1:25 I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

[The Desire of Ages pp 22] The plan of redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of “the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal.” From the beginning, God and Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man through the deceptive power of the apostate. God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency.

Here we go again, with a close observation of His ways not only His word. The Hebrews are promised the land of Canaan on condition of obedience to God’s command, and just like with Adam, the word of God comes to them distinctly, with no mention that grace will be provided. Let’s read:

Exodus 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.

Question: Is this statement true?

Answer: Yes, 100%! God is referring to certain types of transgression, but He does not spell them out in this instance specifically. In issuing commands, it is necessary for them to be given up front without any wiggle room for disobedience, otherwise they lose their force, and in most instances, the grace of God would be taken for granted.

If parents were to inform their children that if they stole cookies from the jar, they will be forgiven, the most likely outcome is that fallen human nature will naturally try to steal as many cookies as possible, it knowing that mercy will negate the force of the law. Thus, grace can, as a result have the opposite effect of producing repeat offenders.

Therefore, no mention of a second chance is made to Adam and Eve, even though God had grace in His back pocket. It was never originally intended to be an option, but rather a necessity. The sacrifices of animals in ages past was not meant to be incentive to sin but rather as a deterrent.

In our generation, where the preaching of grace has been watered down to encourage sin, we will need a fresh infusion of God’s Holy Spirit for us to rightly appreciate God’s grace to us through Christ. Every sin will be forgiven, if it is confessed and forsaken, and even if we have fallen again, and again in our experience, God encourages us to be encouraged, for He anticipates a maximum return for the blood that was shed by Christ for you and me.

In harmony with the magnitude of the sacrifice, His grace is to be freely offered to all, in the preaching of the everlasting gospel, with the stated intention of leading all men and women, all boys and girls to obedience to all of His commandments. No one is to be excluded, and no one is to questioned as to their sincerity, for God who is rich in mercy will deal with all the variables we may not see.

No matter how grievous the sin may have been, and how often repeated, God is still offering us grace for grace. In fact, according to the Bible, He puts grace where it is needed most, and the more prolific the sin, the more His grace will be revealed. But let us always remember not to take His grace for granted for it His will that the original image, and character of God be recreated in every believer. Let’s read:

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

20 But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

1st John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.

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

As the period of earth’s probation is winding down to a final close, and as we see the natural results of the violation of God’s law, let us be faithful in giving to the last generation, a correct understanding of God’s grace, so that an abundant harvest of souls may be gathered into His Kingdom.

We close with a passage of scripture which should encourage and motivate every true Christian to shake off the spell of lethargy and complacency, by fulfilling the great commission of God’s grace in our neck of the woods. Let’s read:

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

God Bless!

Faith Versus Logic. Sabbath Afternoon. 10/06/2018

As we near the close of probation, when we will be required to walk by faith alone, it is important for us to know that faith in Christ should not be viewed as an option, only to be engaged only when we are in difficulty; rather it is a way of life that God has given us to exist by. All our thoughts, and actions ought to be molded by faith, our decisions and choices are to be directed by faith in God and in His word, for it is only by so doing that we may serve Him in spirit and in truth.

In other words, genuine faith in God dispenses with plan “B” wherever it is opposed to the revealed will of God. Too often the tenets of modern Christianity allow for several options on the table, with different substitutes to what God has already plainly stated.

Faith in God allows for no negotiation as it pertains to a plain “Thus saith The Lord” even though “logic” may reason otherwise.

Thus, we will often find that logic is the diabolical enemy of faith, for satan has mastered the art of logical reasoning, which often appeals to that which is seen, heard or felt. Faith on the other hand makes logic subjective to God’s revealed will, even though doing so may at times tug at our heart strings. Logic demands a clear path forward before obeying God’s commands, and insists on detailed explanations and back-up plans, and guaranties, just in case.

Faith, in contrast, urges an advance forward, once God’s will has been revealed. Faith does not wait to see the end from the beginning, obeying God only when there is no risk of failure. Instead, it moves on courageously forward, trusting that The same God who promised is able to do over and above what we may ask or think.

That is why faith and logic often butt heads, the one appealing to our reason, and the other appealing to belief in God. The two modes of thought and action have indeed proven to be diametrically opposed to each other, and as we near the close of probation, it will be seen that they are too often also diabolically opposed. Indeed, the two modes of thought cannot work together except one be subject to the other.

The following passages are of critical importance to us as we move forward. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Romans 14:23 For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Therefore, as Christians living in a world that is for the most part antithetical to the teachings of God’s word, we should be extremely careful about using logical reasoning as a spring board for our decisions and actions, especially when God says differently. Some of the diabolical logic was used by Lucifer, in the heavenly courts to throw one third of the angels into doubt and confusion.

For instance, he reasoned that because angels were created perfect they should be left to their own way which would always guide them aright. This logic is what was used in Eden as the serpent reasoned so cunningly to the unsuspecting Eve. God had said to them that they should not touch, nor eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree. Satan then comes along and touches it, showing Eve, that if by touching, nothing happened, then by eating one would also be safe.

Faith in God would have led Eve to believe in the words of God, even though her senses suggested otherwise. Again, Sarah and Abraham were both tempted on logic, because Sarah had long past her menopause, in addition to being childless her whole life. So, it was difficult for them to believe after time had elapsed, that the promises of God could ever be fulfilled. Let’s read:

Genesis 18:9 And they said unto him, where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, wherefore did Sarah laugh?

14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

It is important for us to understand why Abraham laughed in context, for he and Sarah had waited so many years for the promise of a son to be realized with no sign of a son, and she was now 90 years of age. Thus, as they waited, satan presented logic to them, urging plan “B” as the only possible way God could fulfill His promise. In our experience too, our faith is often riddled with plan “B” as a backup plan, just in case God does not come through for us as we expected.

As a general rule of thumb, this mode of thought always leads us into contrary paths, which, as was the case with Abraham and Sarah, often triggers adverse repercussions which extend for many years and generations. Again, Abraham’s faith was to be severely tested with the sacrifice of his son Isaac. It would seem, by the very nature and wording of the command, that all hope was lost. Let’s read:

Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah.

Here again comes the false prophet logic, to reason from a strictly rational point of view, for if Abraham is to take his “Only” son, then it must mean that he isn’t to expect any more. Then how will the promise of God be fulfilled, that Abraham’s offspring would be as the sands of the sea? In addition, God’s law plainly states “Thou shalt not kill”, and it wouldn’t seem logical that God would require that which He has expressly forbidden.

Thus, satan tempted him with temptations to walk contrary to what God had plainly required. As the issue rolled over and over in his mind, it seemed as if he might have misunderstood the voice of God, but he decides to brave the consequences and trust in God. This time, Abraham decides to walk by faith alone, with no plan “B” and the rest is history.

Brethren, the time is coming very soon, when we will have to trust God, with no backup plan, and it will be revealed whether or not our professed faith in Him was superficial, or whether it was genuine. In many of the accounts in the scriptures, where God’s faithful people demonstrated genuine faith, we can observe that they had to swim upstream against the gravitational pull of logic; but by so doing they were able to cross the invisible threshold between faith and logic, and the rest is history. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephtha; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.

This brings us to the core of our study, in which the exercise of living faith in God, resulted in a miracle that continued to run for about two years. Elijah is sent by God to warn of a coming famine, and when it occurs, all the horrors of starvation, and mortality are to be seen across the land. After one year, the famine deepens to the point where one woman and her son are down to their last meal.

And now, God sends Elijah to this woman with a proposal, and a promise, that if she was to hand over her last meal, she would be fed miraculously by God, whom she had never seen. Logic clamors for her to protect her scant supplies of food, but faith encourages her to let it go. Would she yield to reason or to logic? Let’s read:

1st Kings 17:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.

Let us just hypothesize that the woman had a husband, for she did have a son. And let’s suppose that he was a man of logic, while she was a woman of faith. As she listens to Elijah’s proposal, it seems quite rational and reasonable to surrender their last meal, for in her mode of thought and action it is the only sensible thing to do.

Her husband on the other hand is sitting inside the house in the darkness crunching the numbers to see how far they could stretch the last morsel. He is also writing up his will, for certain death is staring them in the face, according to the woman’s testimony. So here comes his wife, all belated, and excited, with what she considers to be great news. In his anxiety, he asks his wife about the good news.

She then relates the proposal to him, stating that they must first give up their last meal and then God, whom they have never seen has promised to supply food miraculously for as long as the famine lasts. He being a man of logical reasoning, would most likely view the proposal as being unreasonable, ludicrous and mean, for how can God ask for their last morsel without first providing groceries which he could see? Thus without hesitation he calls, 911, and 411.

His wife on the other hand, views the same issue with optimism, for in her mind it is the only sensible thing to do. Those two modes of thought and action are diametrically and diabolically opposed, making reconciliation in such emergencies as this, virtually impossible. Two cannot walk together except they be agreed, and if someone of faith and someone of logic are faced with problems of any sort, the stark difference in resolution will be made manifest.

However, just for the record, it’s important for us to see how the woman’s faith in the proposal turned out, for too often we are tempted to believe that if we were to take the faith route, we will be sorely disappointed, as if God’s hands are tied, so that He cannot fulfill His promises. Let’s read:

1st Kings 17:15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.

Another food crisis looms just on the horizon, in the form of the mark of the beast, in which very tough economic sanctions will be issued to try to coerce the conscience into a false system of worship. And in this emergency, faith, and logic will play a major role, as individuals, and families grapple with the grim realities.

Logic would argue “what shall we eat and drink and wherewithal shall we be clothed?” Faith will urge an advance forward, trusting in the very same God of Elijah, and the widow woman, who had provided sufficient food for months and years, while those who trust in logic will see no other way out than to yield to the powers that be. Let’s read:

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

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

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

Thus, as we stand upon the borders of the eternal world, as the enemy of souls comes in for the final conflict between faith and logic, we will be required to walk by faith alone. When economic sanctions are instituted to coerce the conscience, and when we will have no plan “B” to fall back on, like those faithful in ages past, we will need to let go and let God.

Let us therefore, in our decision-making processes, always incorporate the faith factor, for by choosing to do so continually, we will be enabled to develop a very rugged faith relationship with God, that will withstand a hurricane, when the winds of strife, as predicted by the prophet John, begin to blow across the earth. We therefore close with two passages of scripture which we do well to ponder as we move forward, for the time is closer than we believe, and practice makes perfect. Let’s read:

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

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 the people were astonished at his doctrine.

God Bless!

Being Born Blind. Sabbath Afternoon 09/29/2018

The brand of gospel that has become popular in our day focuses much on grace with very little emphasis on obedience to the laws and principles of God, and because of this, the power of God to save, and heal is to a large extent discounted. What God does for the physical body, He can also do for the soul, and therefore, He desires that we understand that true salvation is holistic in nature.

If at the outset, we believe that there are certain types of healing which cannot occur because of the limitations of finite science, then what we believe stymies the possibility of such healing ever taking place in our lives, except there is a radical change in our views. On the other hand, a belief that God can do anything, opens up the door to a million and one possibilities.

This is the main reason why the power of God is not manifest in our day as it used to be in days of yore, because a spirit of doubt, skepticism, and unbelief has taken hold on the minds of many, replacing that simple, childlike faith that was manifested in many of God’s people in ages past. Limiting God in issues temporal and spiritual, puts a cap on what He can do for us in our minds, and corresponding actions, and expectations will reflect the limits we have thus embraced.

The existence of spurious miracles of healing should not cause us to be skeptical about the genuine, for in doing so we may be in danger of throwing out the baby with the bath water, as it were. Just because it is written in the Bible, that in the last days there will be a proliferation of miracles by false prophets does not mean that God’s hand is tied in working for the well-being of His people.

As a general rule of thumb, the genuine can readily be distinguished from the false in many cases, just by following closely the ways, and means in which God has worked in times past. Healing en masse, where health reform is warranted and possible, but where necessary change in one’s habits and lifestyle is not required or encouraged is false.

Again, wherever people are taught to disregard the commandments of God, but are called to scheduled healing meetings, there we may be certain that the Spirit of God is absent, because God never blesses deliberate disobedience. That said, the miraculous healing power of God will not be as prominent as it was in years gone by.

Question: Why? Because God has now caused an abundance of light and knowledge to be shed upon our pathway, as it pertains to root cause and effect, so that we may make wise choices, and avoid many of the afflictions with which we are now saddled.

Again, the Lord teaches us that prevention is much better than cure, and thus, His supernatural power is reserved for cases where no better can be done.

In other words, available, and current knowledge on the human physiology should be exhausted and also practiced wherever possible, using proven, natural remedies, proper diet and foods, exercise, sufficient rest, and faith in God as our primary source of good healthcare, with miracles from God as a last resort. Let’s read:

John 5: 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me.

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole.

14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee.

If we believe that there are certain diseases which cannot be cured through the power of God, we will also believe that there are certain sinful habits that are impossible to overcome by His power, because the tendency to limit God in one area, will inevitably spread to other areas in our modes of thought; and deliverance that is well within reach, will seem quite impossible to occur.

Thus, as we review the history of the Hebrews and their experiences with God, we would observe one recurring theme, that they stumbled time and time again because of their tendency to place limits on what God can do. And as we study their history, we should take a different route, if we are to be healed of both physical, and spiritual diseases in our day. We will examine several instances where the same problem surfaced over and over again. Let’s read:

Psalms 78:40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness and grieve him in the desert!

41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.

43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.

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?

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 16:3 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, when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

16 This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.

19 And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.

20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

Numbers 13:25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

32 And all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Numbers 11:21 And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen;

22 Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?

23 And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

1st Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

Luke 8:49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

55 And she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her food.

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

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

Hebrews 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned?

18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Thus, it was, by limiting the power of God to deliver, to provide, to heal, and to forgive, and cleanse, the Hebrews to a large extent forfeited the blessings of salvation which were right within their reach. Many were rubbing shoulders with Jesus as the multitude thronged Him, but it was the woman who touched the hem of His garment in faith, who was healed.

This leads us to our main case study, in which we’ll address the issue of so-called incurable diseases or issues, which, according to man’s finite knowledge, cannot be resolved. As we study, we will observe that there is also a spiritual counterpart to the same issue, because the same God who heals diseases, is the one who heals us from all our sins.

Whether our situation be hereditary, or cultivated, or whether persons were born with such and such a situation, the power of God should never be limited because He specializes in what we perceive as being impossible. Let’s read:

John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. [Go wash represents all manner of cooperation with God in the restoration of mind and body.]

8 The neighbors therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

This is not the only instance in which Christ made it manifest that He can deal with so-called incurable diseases. With the ten lepers, He demonstrated that it does not have to be an isolated incident, but that He can heal en-masse, diseases for which there is no known cure. What science deems to be incurable cancers, can, in many cases be overcome or avoided through the power of God. Let’s read:

Luke 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

Some people have been born with homosexual tendencies, a condition which, to all intents and purposes may seem irreversible, and instead of us focusing on God’s power to save, and cleanse, we have made provision for the flesh, by making laws that accommodate the issue, instead of availing ourselves of the cure that is just within reach. Like the blind man being born blind is not a sin, and if a person is born with such tendencies, that is not a sin either.

The problem comes when the tendency is indulged, very much the same as when offspring of parents who were addicted to alcohol, take up the strain, by indulging in those tendencies they might have been born with. Some people have tremendous difficulty with certain tendencies, whilst others may not be fazed at all by the same problem.

But the grace of God, which bringeth salvation has appeared to all men, and therefore, there is nothing too hard for God to accomplish, in the physical or spiritual realm. The Bible is abundantly clear on the issue of salvation from sin, for whatsoever might be the problem, God can heal, if we would believe. The Bible also states unequivocally that God’s salvation is holistic in nature, and therefore, the restoration of mind, and body must be inextricably linked as a complete and harmonious whole. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Psalms 103: 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

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

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

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

In closing, let us never repeat the errors ancient Israel made, that of limiting God to the confines of modern science, for His knowledge and power to heal and save, far surpasses anything mortal man can ever imagine. Let us therefore, with a childlike faith, and willing obedience, take hold on eternal life through Jesus, for He has called us to live on a much higher and nobler plain, than what science and conventional wisdom deems possible.

We therefore close with the blessed assurance that comes with knowing God. Let’s read:

1st John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

God bless!

The Choice Is Ours. Sabbath Afternoon 09/22/2018

The Bible places great emphasis on the freedom of choice God has granted to us, for by it our eternal destiny is decided, and the chapters of our lives are shaped to a great extent, for good, or for evil by the choices we make, even if there are negative factors to contend with. Too often, our sinfulness is blown out of proportion to the point where we lose sight of the grace and power of God, which is given as an antivenin against the stings of the serpent.

We also need to be very careful with the teaching of generational curses, for even though our parents and grandparents may have set a sinful course of action in motion, yet we should never downplay or underestimate the power of God to stop sin dead in its track and reverse course in very many instances.

The Bible teaches us that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, and as was stated before, all means all.

But if we believe that generational curses are the inevitable, and that we do not have any choices in the matter, then what we believe will soon become reality, because what we believe affects what we’ll expect, and what we expect then becomes possible. Thus, if we believe our progenitors have set us in an irreversible course, we will find ourselves drifting downstream in their footsteps in whatsoever sins or habits they indulged or cultivated.

Every succeeding generation should do better than the previous one, reasoning soberly from cause to effect, learning from the mistakes of parents, while improving, and retaining the good they did, but at the same time, rejecting the evil. In other words, it is the will of God that children should be more God-fearing than their parents were, not less.

Cultivated and inherited tendencies to evil can and should be overcome by the grace of Christ. In other words, if my parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, in-laws, and outlaws were alcoholics, I do not have to be an alcoholic, because through Christ the buck can, and should stop at my doorstep. Then again, if my daddy was a player, and had a plethora of wives and concubines, there is absolutely no doctrine, or commandment which states that I am duty bound to walk in his shoes.

In fact, a great part of the instruction, and counsels given to children should include our own faults and mistakes, showing them where we went wrong, and the inevitable results which followed; at the same time bidding them to depart from evil by choosing wisely. In this way we would not appear to be self-righteous in their eyes; instead we would be able to empathize with them in their infirmities, they being encouraged and strengthened by the victories God gave us.

In fact, through the grace and power of God, and the freedom of choice given, coupled together with faithful parental instruction, Solomon the son of David could have had one female wife, and could have lived with her happily ever after. Absolutely! The problem is that a knowledge of his own failures kept David silent, when he should have been talking to, and instructing his sons. Past guilt should never cause parents to be muted in their instruction to their children. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 723] There was a great change in David himself. He was broken in spirit by the consciousness of his sin, and its far-reaching results. He felt humbled in the eyes of his subjects. In his own house his claim to respect and obedience from his sons, was weakened. A sense of his guilt kept him silent when he should have condemned sin; it made his arm feeble to execute justice in his house.

The scripture unequivocally rejects the notion that we are born this or that way, with no way out of our sinful predicament, and with no recourse of action, because the freedom of choice is one of the most powerful tools, given to us by God to shape our own destiny. When we begin to excuse our choices using hereditary factors, we often lose sight of the power of God which can surmount every difficulty, large or small, and we will inevitably shift the responsibility of failure to others, God, or to present conditions, and thus, we become the sport of circumstances.

This is not to say that as believing Christians we are naïve to the difficulties or obstacles in the way, but we should never allow these adverse circumstances to blunt our potential, or to dampen our energies to succeed. Thinking like a conqueror means believing that with God, all things are possible. In fact, if we cultivate a skeptical, unbelieving mind, we actually prevent Jesus from doing miracles in our behalf. Let’s read:

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

In this passage, a person’s willingness to believe is directly tethered to the opening up of possibilities, and herein lies our main weakness, for we too often allow conventional wisdom, scientific research, and logical reasoning to dictate the limits of what God can do. When Jesus used the “if”, He was directing the man to his freedom of choice to believe or not.

In our own personal experiences, we will need a no holds barred kind of faith to withstand the forces of logic against our souls, for satan specializes in logic, while Christ specializes in faith. Believing is not only based upon a preponderance of evidence, for it was Christ who once said, “Blessed are they who have not seen, yet still believe”. Believing is a deliberate choice we must make individually, especially when it comes to overcoming inherited tendencies to evil. Let’s read:

Mark 6:2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

The people of this district did not have a problem with the authenticity of Christ’s miracles, they were upset that an “ordinary” carpenter, who had built their cupboards and furniture could do them. But if a Rabbi dressed in sacerdotal garments who had his degree from one of the Ivy league universities, was to perform the same miracles, they might believe. Thus, social biases, and norms fed into their belief system, and before you know it, they were choosing not to believe, with the inevitable result. Let’s read:

Mark 6:5 And he could not there, do any mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

6 And he marveled because of their unbelief.

On the contrary, the Bible opens up to us the world of opportunity, in overcoming every challenge, and difficulty, through the merits and power of Christ. Now while it is true that parental wrong-doing often sets the stage for children to sin more easily, and in some cases may affect genetic factors, yet, in very many cases, the choices we make, together with the power of God can decidedly move the needle in the opposite direction. This is the genius of Christianity, given to all who believe. Let’s read:

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than

conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1st John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Joseph began adult life as a slave in a foreign land, having to learn a new language in a culture that was by no means favorable to his ethnicity. In addition, he did jail time, but that did not prevent him from becoming the manager of the prison where he was locked up. The grace and power of God which had always attended him, turned every difficulty into an opportunity, and thus he was victorious, in and out of prison.

Joseph could have chosen to grovel in the “Why me pit” of depression. He could have chosen to blame God for not protecting him from Potiphar’s wrath when he had stood firmly for the truth. Then again, he could have blamed his brothers for his present circumstance. Instead he chose to make the best of his situation by seeking to help and serve fellow his inmates, as evidenced by the following inquiry. Let’s read:

Genesis 40:1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.

2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night.

6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly today?

8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

The same issue of individual choice is brought to bear in circumstances where one’s grandparents or parents may have indulged in evil. Just because the progenitors did wrong does not mean that the kids are duty bound to do wrong too, regardless of their own choice. The genius of salvation is that through Christ every evil tendency, and practice can be put into reverse gear permanently. There will be sore conflicts, but it can absolutely be done. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 18:1 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,

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

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

14 Now lo, if he beget a son that sees all his father's sins which he hath done, and considers, and doeth not such like,

15 And hath not lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbor's wife,

17 He shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

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

God, is in these passages making direct reference to our freedom of choice, for if the son chooses not to follow in the evil ways of the father, the buck will absolutely stop at the son. This principle of personal choice applies across the board, not only for iniquity that was practiced by one’s parents, but also to the addictions that one may have inherited. To a great extent, these tendencies and evils can be uprooted and reversed by the power and grace of God.

Whether it be drug addiction, alcohol addiction, sex addiction, and the predispositions to such problems like diabetes, obesity, and cancer, the grace of God when engaged through faith and obedience can and will accomplish the impossible in many instances. It was God who inspired the words “I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health”, therefore we cannot conclude that the same God would not enable us to accomplish that which he Himself has wished for.

This issue of choice must be understood thoroughly because whatever we decide to do can affect the outcome at the end of life’s journey. Thus, we must embark on our main case study from the Bible, in which one father had practiced untold evil for very many years. After he died, his son came and did the exact same thing, and for all intents and purposes it would seem as if an irreversible course of action for the offspring had been set in motion. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 21:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem.

2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the

Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.

3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.

4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.

5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

The scriptures tell us that after years of cultivating iniquity of the darkest hue, Manasseh repented and made great changes, but the collateral damage had already been done. In fact, the bulk of his years on this earth were spent doing evil, and as they often say, “Like father like son”, that is, if the sons choose to walk in their father’s evil footsteps. Evil example, and genetic predisposition do not coerce anyone to sin, for every propensity can be stopped at the gate of choice. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 21:18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

19 Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.

20 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh did.

21 And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:

25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

But then, Amon has a son who “Considers” just like the Lord stated in Ezekiel. He considers the evil his progenitors did, and he reasons soberly from cause to effect, and then his decision is made: “Whatever my daddy, grandpa and grandma may have done in times past, I personally will not be following in their footsteps. He decides to serve the Lord through the freedom of choice, and the rest is history. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 21:25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

26 And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.

2nd Kings 22:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem.

2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

10 And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

11 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.

12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,

13 Go ye, enquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.

14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, and they communed with her.

15 And she said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,

16 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:

17 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.

18 But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;

19 Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord.

20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

Our progenitors too may have walked contrary to the will of God in times past. They may have eaten and drunken that which is forbidden by God, and as a result the offspring may be predisposed to obesity and diabetes and cancers of all sorts. Sexual sins, or predispositions may have taken root, and may have affected us genetically. But just as the young Josiah grabbed the bull by the horns, and put in place radical changes, just so, we too may grab our own bull by the horns through our freedom of choice.

If lollipops, candies, twinkies, and Haagen dazs ice-cream used to be an integral part of Manasseh’s daily menu, Josiah as his son must institute radical changes if he wants to cooperate with Christ in the restoration of health. He would need to clean out his refrigerator of all those items which caused the unhealthy state in his dad, for unless he does this, his prayers for health will go unanswered.

Then Josiah will have to do some much-needed research to see what lifestyle changes should be implemented. And as he studies the history of his fore-parents, and as he reasons soberly from cause to effect, he will have to put into practice the things which God will show him, for if he doesn’t, the text in James which says “I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers” will become an elusive dream.

Whatever the problem, or the issue might be, and whatever may be the latent tendency that has been transferred from father to son, the grace of God is given to break every chain, and every cycle of evil, so that the image of God may be reflected in our persons, internally and externally. But the choice is ours. It’s not satan’s, nor the voice of the popular majority, nor the church, nor our parents, uncles and in-laws. The choice is ours! We therefore close with a quote from the pen of inspiration. Let’s read:

[The 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.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith The Lord.

God bless!