Unlawful, But Right. Sabbath afternoon 01/21/2023

Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.

2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him;

4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

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

One of the reasons why we took so long to declare some of our personal testimonies is because if some persons are strictly into the letter of the law, some might have had occasion to stumble, and therefore, the truth about the letter, and the spirit of the law must now be made plain.

All of the instructions, commands and laws God has given us are to be carefully kept and observed, with some leeway being given for instances where God may choose to do things differently. Obeying God is not only a strict adherence to the letter of the law, it also includes us being willing to be led by His Spirit, in instances where He may depart from the script.

When God gave His law on Mount Sinai, He spoke it first, before writing it on tables of stone. That order of speaking first and writing later is important for us to understand because His voice could override that which is written, if He so chooses.

 This is the reason why in many instances we would read in the scriptures where Christ would say: You have heard that it had been said by them of old, but I say unto you. In other words, there would be times when a understanding of what true obedience entails, must be made plain.

Very little is heard about this aspect of obedience, yet it must be clearly understood by all who would be preparing and looking forward to the latter rain. There are times when God may give an instruction for a specific circumstance, which may not fully be in line with the letter, as far as finite minds go.

 Yet, if it is ascertained that it is God who is speaking, we must be ready and willing to obey. Under normal circumstances, a Christian is to abide by the laws of the land in which he or she dwells, for it is God who allows rulers to reign, and His people are to render to all their dues. That is what the “letter” of the law says. Let’s read:

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

6 For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

However, that is not the end of the issue, for God is able to override Caesar if He so chooses, in order to get His will accomplished. Persons are never to take it upon themselves to deviate from His instructions, but if God commands a deviation, folks should obey wherever He so leads.

 A very strict interpretation of the letter of the law has the potential to place persons into an iron-clad straight jacket, in which it can become very difficult for even God to work with. Even though we must at all times reverence and practice the principles in the law, we must be careful to leave some wiggle room so that God could do His thing, whenever He has to.

In our first passage, some of the religious leaders of the Jews, openly complained to Christ, that some of His disciples were doing that which was not lawful to be done on the Sabbath day, and if we were to judge from a strictly legal perspective, they might’ve been right.

In the Old Testament when the Hebrew people were sojourning through the desert, they were instructed not to go out and gather Manna on the Sabbath day. Some apparently went out, and their actions drew a swift rebuke from God, for they were commanded to rest from all such activities over the sacred hours. Let’s read:

Exodus 16: 25 And Moses said, Eat that today; for today is a sabbath unto the Lord: today ye shall not find it in the field.

26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. 27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day to gather, and they  found none.

28 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?

29 See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

But this confrontation between Christ, and persons who were strictly into the letter of the law, was not the first, nor was it the last. In fact, throughout His entire sojourn on earth, Jesus had to deal with this issue of the letter versus the spirit, and at times the explanations He gave left individuals furious. Let’s read:

Luke 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Matthew 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Mark 2: 18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

And the list of supposed infractions goes on and on and on. Now it is true that in our day, the pendulum has now swung in a completely opposite direction, because the laws of God have been thrown out in large part by persons who erroneously believe that they were nailed to the cross.

Even though this belief has caused some persons to inadvertently or deliberately violate the letter, and the Remnant people of God are called to correct it, yet in the presentation of the gospel, persons must be careful to leave some wiggle room for The Spirit of God to do His work, for God does not always follow the script, as we know it.

 For instance, after the great disappointment where many persons were preaching, and expecting Jesus to come in the 1800s, William Miller was afterward presented with present truth, pertaining to Sabbath keeping, and the validity of all the commandments of God.

His mind was then adversely affected by his fellow ministers, and brethren who had encouraged him to reject this truth. This went on for a while until Miller himself lifted his voice against Sabbath keeping. Yet, Miller will be saved in God’s kingdom, even though his rejection of sacred truth is off script, as far as the finite mind goes. Let’s read:

[E.W. pp 303] At the time of the disappointment on October 22, 1844, Miller was worn and ill. He had depended largely on his younger associates who stood with him in proclaiming the Advent message. They led him to reject the Sabbath truth as it came to his attention soon after the Disappointment.

 [E.W. pp 258] I saw that William Miller erred as he was soon to enter the heavenly Canaan, in suffering his influence to go against the truth. Others led him to this; others must account for it. But angels watch the precious dust of this servant of God, and he will come forth at the sound of the last trump.

It was the letter of the law that some of the scribes were apparently referring to when they asked Peter whether Christ paid the temple tax. The truth of the matter is that the priests were exempt from such a requirement, but the religious leaders being blinded by zealousness for the letter, overlooked the fact that Christ was indeed greater than any earthly priest who had ever lived.

 Again, it was the letter of the law that was appealed to, when the woman was caught in adultery, in the very act, as they stated, and the matter was brought to Jesus for redress. How on earth folks could catch only one person in adultery is a mystery beyond our fathoming since it would take at least two persons, in order to commit adultery. However, they pointed to the letter of the law which required such to be stoned.

Therefore, in order to lay a proper foundation for the study, we must first seek to understand Christ’s relation to the law. God is the great Law-giver, He is The one who makes not only spiritual law, but also physical law, and therefore, God is not restricted to law as created beings are, but instead, is above all law.

Hence the reason why in certain circumstances, He could instruct His people to do things, which might otherwise be unlawful according to the letter. When the Hebrews were about to leave Egyptian bondage, God told them to “Borrow” jewels of gold and silver from their neighbors.

When God instructed Joshua and his men to march around Jericho for seven days, they doing so would of necessity include a Sabbath day, whichever day of the week one may have started on.

The Hebrews were all commanded to celebrate the Passover, as a memorial of God’s great deliverance from Egyptian bondage, yet when God commanded Elijah to hide at the brook Cherith, there’s no record that the prophet was required to, or did so, for at least three years.

When Saul was commanded to take out Amalek, he did what might seem to some as the humane thing, in sparing that which he felt was good, and getting rid of all that was refuse. The only problem is that it was not what God told him to do in this instance.

 Again, in another instance, a certain prophet by the name of Hosea is commanded by God to go marry a prostitute something that none of us as men should ever presume to do. Yet, when the command came from God Hosea was obligated to render obedience.

 David and his men were given the Shew-bread to eat, something which under normal circumstances could have resulted in very severe consequences. In that instance God overrode that which is written in order for His purposes to be fulfilled.

 Again, David was granted multiple wives by God, in violation of the seventh commandment, as far as we mortals go. Thus, folks are always to render a willing obedience to God’s written word, but if in some rare instances He chooses to override it, then, in His own capacity as God He can absolutely do so. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 12: 8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

Again, the letter of the law states that prophets and priests ordained by God are to be greatly respected. In fact, it was the violation of this instruction which resulted in Miriam contracting leprosy, because of her complaining and murmuring against Moses. Let’s read:

Numbers 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he married an Ethiopian woman.

4 And the Lord spoke suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed.

Yet, in another specific instance, The Spirit of God commands a certain individual to slap one of God’s prophets in the face, an act that could potentially be fatal for anyone who presumed to do so on their own.

 But in this instance, God is the One who had given that command, thereby overriding any previous instruction on this matter in this particular instance. What is worthy of note is that the man in question did not choose to obey that strange command, for it most likely went against his grain, and thus, by him following the strict letter of the law he was found to be disobedient. In this specific instance, doing that which would be otherwise unlawful would actually be the right thing to do, in obedience to the command of God. Let’s read:

1st Kings 20:35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbor in the word of the Lord, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.

36 Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.

37 Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.

38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.

Therefore, even though as Christians we are under a God-given mandate to keep all His laws, commands, and instructions, there might be specific instances where The Spirit might see it fit to deviate from the script. We are not to be annoyed by this fact, for as many as are led by The Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God.

Especially will this be the case when the outpouring of the latter rain begins to pick up steam. There may be deviations from known scripts that we have now become accustomed to, which the Spirit of God may see fit to scrap very much the same way in which He scrapped the rite of circumcision, after the day of Pentecost. Let’s read:

[Test Vol. 4 pp 123] The Son of God came voluntarily to accomplish the work of atonement. There was no obligatory yoke upon Him, for He was independent and above all law.

Thus, in addressing the issue of Sabbath breaking, as per the complaint of those religious leaders regarding Jesus’ disciples plucking ears of corn over the sacred hours, the time had come for Jesus to clarify the bigger issue that is, if He had no problem with what they were doing, then it was right, whatever might be written in the letter of the law.

[The Desire of Ages pp 285] The disciples, in doing the work of Christ, were engaged in God's service, and that which was necessary for the accomplishment of this work it was right to do on the Sabbath day. Christ would teach His disciples and His enemies that the service of God is first of all.

The object of God's work in this world is the redemption of man; therefore, that which is necessary to be done on the Sabbath in the accomplishment of this work is in accord with the Sabbath law. Jesus then crowned His argument by declaring Himself “Lord of the Sabbath”—One above all question and above all law.

Here we go again, as it pertains to what is included in obeying God in entirety. Both the law of God and the law of Caesar forbade the taking of any innocent life, and Abraham, as a follower of God must, under normal circumstances, acquiesce.

But if the God of heaven commands him differently Abraham is to obey God first, instead of Caesar, and that which might be written in the letter of the law. Let’s read:

Genesis 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 148] Satan was at hand to suggest that he must be deceived, for the divine law commands, “Thou shalt not kill,” and God would not require what He had once forbidden.

The rest is history, because God Himself, in speaking of the obedience rendered by Abraham, declared in no uncertain terms that Abraham kept His statutes and laws, as well as obeyed His voice, which in that particular instance, overrode the letter. As we read the following, let us pay very close attention to the order of priority. Let’s read:

Genesis 26: 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

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

Question: Why is it of critical importance for us to understand this aspect of obedience, where God may instruct something that may not seem to line up squarely with what is written?

 Answer: Because the outpouring of the latter rain will produce many instances that may go off script, and if at that time we are found rigidly tethered to that which is written, some may stumble at God’s instructions, when He utters His voice. Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 197] God has jewels in all the churches, and it is not for us to make sweeping denunciation of the professed religious world. These persons have not had the special testing truths for these last days presented to them under circumstances that brought conviction to heart and mind; therefore, they have not, by rejecting light, severed their connection with God.

Among the Catholics there are many who are most conscientious Christians and who walk in all the light that shines upon them, and God will work in their behalf.

[Last Day Events pp 206] The Spirit is poured out upon all who will yield to its promptings and, casting off all man's machinery, his binding rules and cautious methods, they will declare the truth with the might of the Spirit's power.

Deuteronomy 4: 29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice.

Joel 2: 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.

4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war, and they shall march everyone on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks.

9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

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

1st Kings 17:2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

1st Kings 18:1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

Under normal circumstances this command would be the equivalent of Elijah committing suicide, yet it is God who is speaking, and His servants must be in listening mode, being ready to run and obey where ever God might lead the way.

In all of our interactions with our fellowmen, as it pertains to the carrying out of the great commission given us by Christ, let Christians be careful to follow the written script, but not so rigidly that God cannot speak to us, for when He begins to roll through the earth, He may, like after the day of Pentecost ask His soldiers to do some very unorthodox things.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will enable us to tow the line evenly, between that which is written, and that which may be spoken. 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 executes his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

                                 God Bless!

Thinking And Living Like A Conqueror. Sabbath afternoon 01/14/2023

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 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

In order to live like a conqueror, a person will have to think like a conqueror, for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Our thought processes, and specific perspectives we cultivate have a lot to do with our success or failure. Thus, a bright, positive outlook on life is critically important to achieving all that God desires us to become.

A morose, skeptical or even cynical outlook will bear fruit of its own kind, because our thoughts and our attitudes generally tend to affect the outcomes for either good or for evil. This is not to say that we are to make light of the challenges and temptations that may come our way.

We are to take them very seriously, yet we shouldn’t be overwhelmed by them, for if we have built upon The Rock, winds may blow and the floods may come and, yes, the waves of despair may beat upon that house, but according to Christ, it will not fall, for it was built upon a Rock.

Challenges, hurdles, difficulties and adversities must be acknowledged as the raw facts on the ground; however, we are not to stop there and grovel, but we are to place our complete faith and confidence in God’s Omnipotence, and this would make all the difference in the way that adverse situations would generally turn out.

This is what Christ knew, which the twelve disciples apparently did not know, when the storm on the sea of Galilee came sweeping down upon them, out of nowhere, and threatening to sink the ship, in which both they and Christ were sailing.

Experiences like these may seem to occur out of the blue, with the capricious forces of nature at work in an arbitrary manner. But this is not necessarily the case in every situation, because, if we were to step into satan’s shoes for a moment, we may see things differently from his perspective.

Here you have the Messiah, who has come to earth to obliterate your kingdom, and he is rescuing folks by the hundreds and thousands from captivity. And now you have Him, and His disciples all in one boat, at night on the lake all by themselves.

That boat would obviously be a prime target, to try and finish them off in one stroke, or as they say, to kill two birds with one stone. But throughout that ordeal Christ continues to sleep undisturbedly, even as the ship rocks violently back and forth, and waves overflow the vessel.

Christ was sleeping like a conqueror, for whatsoever might eventuate, His life, as well as all of those who trust in God, are under God’s direct jurisdiction and supervision, and because of this, whatsoever devils may throw at Christ, will be seen as an opportunity for another victory. Let’s read:

Mark 4: 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

In other words, whatever we do must be mixed with faith in order to live and think like a conqueror. This was the main problem with the Hebrews; it was not the devil, for in many of their various experiences, a recurring theme of a lack of faith surfaces from time to time.

The Psalmist, David as well as Paul, refer to this as being the real problem why defeat and failure often overtook them. Even though the devil will do what he has to do, he is not really the problem, for Christ has conquered him in our behalf already, and thus, the ball is squarely in our court, to either believe and be victorious, or to doubt and be vanquished.

Persons may often quote that oft repeated phrase: “The devil made me do it” but with the Christian, a saying like that isn’t nearly true. In fact, the phrase itself was actually inspired by satan, for he loves to have persons believe that he is all powerful and that they have no choice in the matter.

If as Christians, the devil could force us to do certain things or bring arbitrary adversities upon us without first getting permission from God, or if he can force us to make decisions against our own will then, we would be defenseless, and would be mere pawns in a game of chicken.

When the legion of devils which had haunted the demoniac man for years, were commanded to leave the man by Christ, they had to ask His permission to go into the herd of swine. If they could have done so without Christ’s permission, they would have done so, but the experience, shows us without any doubt, that God is always in control.

The devil can tempt and annoy, he could solicit, and heckle, he can when permitted, bring adversity of all kinds, but in all and throughout it all, the Christian’s freedom to choose always remains free, clear, and intact at all times.

In addition to this fact is the assurance that God is closely monitoring your situation, to make certain that devils do not overstep their bounds. It all has to do with thinking and living like a conqueror.

If the devil can “Make us do it” then it will be that we have no choice but to sin, and if this be the case, then the whole plan of salvation was a failure, since the Bible specifically says that Christ came to save His people from their sins, and also to rescue folks from satanic tyranny.

The fact of the matter is that with the Christian, God has set boundaries which cannot be crossed, either by men or devils, and whenever a study of this issue is done from a scriptural perspective a very sobering truth will be discovered, that the Bible doesn’t point to satan as the real problem.

This may have been the case in bygone years when persons were not surrendered to God, but now that Christ has died on the cross, and has paid the entire penalty for all of our sins, the devil is no longer the problem.

He can cause problems, but the real problem is with the particular individual in question, and the use of his/ her freedom of choice to do either good or evil, or to believe or doubt as that case might be. That is, and has always been the real problem.

Thus, as far as the human agent is concerned, our faith in God or a lack thereof becomes the ultimate determining factor in whether we would live like a conqueror, or whether we will buckle under a heavy load. Let’s read:

Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Psalms 78: 22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.

11 And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.

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.

[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. But every sinful desire we cherish affords him a foothold.

There are certain established facts, written in the scripture about the way in which God deals with us, which should be indelibly etched into the Christian’s conscience.

 We refer to these facts as the fundamentals of faith in God which are to form the very bedrock of all our experiences, because they would produce fortitude, bravery, resilience, discipline, strength and tenacity, all of which are vital characteristics of a conqueror.

We should never allow the temptations that come our way to bulldoze us into a dark corner, for with Christ in the heart by faith we can stand tall and sing songs of triumph even as darkness may be looming on the horizon. Always remember that the evening and the morning were the first day, and therefore, if it is evening now in our experiences, the morning would be coming in like clockwork, because it is a cycle, set in stone by The God of heaven.

Thus, the following are some of the fundamentals of Faith that the Christian must grasp, understand, and never ever forget.

[1] God does not send persons into battle without first guaranteeing victory. The rules of engagement are to be followed, as instructed by God, and if they are, the person or nation in question will come out as a conqueror. This is absolutely the case, without any room for error, exception, failure, ifs, ands, buts, maybes, or any other outcome. Let’s read:

Numbers 33: 52 Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:

53 And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.

Deuteronomy 2: 24 Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

Joshua 8:1 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.

Joshua 6:2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.

Here come the rules of engagement which we spoke of earlier. If these are followed exactly as God says, there is absolutely no other outcome that can take place other than total victory. The Hebrews would be conquerors, whatever devils may, or may not do. Hence the reason why we must reiterate, that the devil is hardly ever the real problem.

 If as instructed, the Hebrews would march around the city of Jericho each day for six days, and on the seventh day they were to march seven times as God commanded them to, there isn’t any other possible outcome, but to conquer, period. Let’s read:

Joshua 6:3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus, you shall do six days.

4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

So, to set the record straight once and for all, let us rehearse the first fact: [1] God does not send persons into battle without first guaranteeing victory. The rules of engagement must be followed, as instructed by God, and if they are, the person or nation in question will come out as the victor. This is absolutely the case without any room for error on God’s part.

[2] God does not give a Christian more than he/ she can bear. This fact also is a guarantee and therefore, is to be incorporated into our understanding of how stuff works, in the spiritual realm.

 If you’re currently going through the wringer, where the heat of the furnace has been turned up several notches, you can absolutely bear it because God has set boundaries for temptations, and He commands, to evil men and demons, thus far, and no further. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 10:13 There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.

That way of escape does not only apply to spiritual things; it is a principle that is embedded throughout nature, for every animal living on planet earth, has been given a way of escape by God.

Some use speed, others use camouflage, some use force, while others find strength in their numbers, but every creature, without an exception, has been given a way of escape by God.

 For instance, there’s a certain desert dwelling spider that is frequently attacked by a particular wasp, and, because of this known threat to itself, the spider has to live under the desert sands, only venturing out to find its food.

Its nemesis the wasp, knows this and patiently waits for it to surface, and then it pounces on the spider, thereby setting of a deadly battle for survival on the part of the spider. But, that wasp is known to have much better reflexes than the spider, and therefore, when the going gets tough, the spider gets going.

It does this by curling its body up into a wheel, and begins an epic, and frantic journey across the sand dunes cart-wheeling at forty revolutions per second, much to the chagrin of the wasp, and so, the spider is able to use the way of escape God has provided for it.

With the Christian our only way of escape is through Christ for we cannot like the spider, cart wheel away from our arch nemesis. All we can do is to flee into our Refuge, where we are safe from spiritual wasps that may seek to do us in.

To live and think like a conqueror therefore means that we must understand that in all things, Christ is our Refuge, and our only way of escape. Therefore, the following excerpts constitute mandatory reading for all who would live and think like a conqueror. Let’s read:

[Messages To Young People pp 53] If Satan sees he is in danger of losing one soul, he will exert himself to the utmost to keep that one.

 And when the individual is aroused to his danger, and, with distress and fervor, looks to Jesus for strength, Satan fears he shall lose a captive, and he calls a re-enforcement of his angels to hedge in the poor soul, and form a wall of darkness around him, that heaven's light may not reach him.

But, if the one in danger perseveres, and in helplessness and weakness casts himself upon the merits of the blood of Christ, Jesus listens to the earnest prayer of faith, and sends a reinforcement of those angels which excel in strength to deliver him.

Satan cannot endure to have his powerful rival appealed to, for he fears and trembles before Christ's strength and majesty. At the sound of fervent prayer, Satan's whole host trembles.... And when angels, all-powerful, clothed with the armory of heaven, come to the help of the fainting, pursued soul, Satan and his host fall back, well knowing that their battle is lost.

Thus, we must reiterate the second sobering fact: [2] God does not give a Christian more than he/ she can bear. This fact also is a guarantee and therefore, it has to be incorporated into our understanding of how stuff works, in the spiritual realm.

[3] The person who desires to live and think like a conqueror must always be forward looking, because everything on this planet with all of life’s vicissitudes must be interpreted, and understood in the context of the great hereafter.

 This third point of constantly looking forward puts in a correct perspective, any and everything devils may throw at persons. This outlook on life can prevent a host of unnecessary problems and worry, including depression, suicidal thoughts, revenge, arguments, family feuds over real estate, and living a life that is being controlled and dictated by mean green.

Abraham was a forward looking person, because in all that transpired in his life experiences, the fact of the great hereafter figured very prominently into his thinking, and thus, he was able to surmount many of the challenges, temptations, and trials he faced,  and he was able to live aloof of many issues some of us lose sleep over.

For instance, when an issue arose between himself and Lot, over real estate, Abraham quickly diffused the situation by “looking forward”. He understood that whatsoever persons have, or don’t have would eventually burn, and therefore such things are not worth fighting over, and thus he deferred to Lot in the matter and the rest is history. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11: 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

The three Hebrew boys in ancient Babylon were also forward looking persons, for everything that happened to them, whether it was good, evil, or in between was interpreted in the context of the great hereafter. Thus, when Nebuchadnezzar threatened to burn the house down, they were not fazed in the least, for their understanding and perspective on life was that they are conquerors, whether they lived or died.

This is what drove them to utter those now famous words, that have echoed and reechoed throughout the ages. It was that forward looking perspective on life which kept Daniel from fussing, and cussing and fighting, when he was being thrown into the den of lions.

In other words, if those lions ate him, it really would not matter, and if God delivered him, it would not really change the dynamic, because, any which way, he understood that he was safe in the arms Jesus, whether he lived or died. Let’s read:

Daniel 3: 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Job also was a person who lived and thought like a conqueror, for even though the rains descended, or the floods came and the winds blew with relentless fury upon Job, he did not cave, just as Christ stated. Jesus states unequivocally, that Christians who will remain anchored in Him will not buckle even when severely tested. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

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.

Job also cultivated that forward looking mentality, and it is that specific perspective that kept him in the midst of very deep trouble. As he lay on his bed licking his wounds he remembers that in the bigger picture, it will have a good end.

And thus, instead of wallowing in the mire of the here and now, his faith reaches forward, it pierces the future, and he is now strengthened to keep on pressing on. Let’s read:

Job 19: 25 For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

This leads us to the crux of our study, in which we must observe certain issues pertaining to thinking and living like a conqueror, in the episode between Saul, David, and Goliath. At that time, Goliath posed a significant threat to the children of Israel, and Saul was lost for answers on how to address the problem because he left God out of the picture as he often did.

David however, faced the same threat, but he did so from the perspective of a conqueror, for he did not assess the situation without the God factor being “Mixed” into the equation. In fact, both David and Saul uttered words at this time, which warrant our attention. We will begin with Saul’s assessments. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 17: 33 And Saul said to David, you are 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.

On its face that is actually a true statement, because the odds would be stacked against David for obvious reasons. The mindset of a conqueror does not lead him/ her to dismiss any obvious risks or threats, as if they are not worth consideration.

We are warned in the scripture that the devil has come down to the inhabitants of this earth, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time. God did not inspire the prophet John to write those words so that persons would make a mockery of the threat, just because we believe in Jesus.

On the contrary, Christians are to take those threats very seriously, and its because of the gravity of the situation why the God factor presently becomes indispensable. However, one who thinks and lives like a conqueror will not be overwhelmed by the threat, because Christ is bigger and greater than any risk that may obtain.

Faith and presumption are often confused, because on the one hand, it may seem as if faith would drive one to do and dare, things that might seem illogical and unreasonable. On the other hand strictly logical modes of thought are often found to be diabolical enemies of faith, for they restrict the God factor to only that which is scientifically or humanly possible.

 Thus, even though what Saul says to David is true, in and of itself, if David were to think like Saul, Goliath would have them all for lunch. A true conqueror will acknowledge his/ her limitations, while at the same time, leaving the window of opportunity wide open for God to do the seemingly impossible, as He went on to do with David. Let’s read:

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.

37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

In all of their wanderings, trials, and temptations, in the wilderness and beyond, the Bible states that too often, the assessments done by the Hebrews were not mixed with faith. Therefore, we who are living on the very threshold of eternity should learn from their mistakes, while we still can.

Whenever waves of despair sweep over our souls, and whenever temptations and trials, and difficulty pose significant and imminent threats, let us do like David, and take them seriously, but let us never ever allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by them, to the point where the God factor is excluded.

Leaving God out of the picture poses the utmost danger to the Christian, for it is not the devil that is the problem, it is the disposition to view his threats as being too difficult for God to intervene, in a way that would bring victory to the tempted soul.

Let us therefore dwell more on the power of God, and the mega promises He has given us, rather than on the risks and threats served up by devils, for if we do so, we will soon discover that whenever God is included into our reckoning, victory will not be a farfetched theory, held in merely philosophical lines, it will be a living reality in all of our life experiences.

We therefore end with two passages of scripture which should forever cement this sacred truth into our consciences, that we are more than conquerors through Him that loves us. Let’s read:

1st John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

 1st John 3: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

                                  God bless!

The Scriptural Way To Lose Fat Permanently. Sabbath afternoon 01/07/2023

3rd John1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.

Before we do this particular Bible study, we have to issue a disclaimer, so that no one would be led into paths that are contrary to what their doctor or their dietician recommends in specific circumstances. All can, and should consult with their doctors, or other medical professionals, before adopting the habits or practices referred to later on in this study.

 We do understand that there are persons who may not be able to follow the script, as laid out later on, because of ongoing medical, or physical conditions.

However, as a general rule, those who can make the necessary changes will be benefitted greatly, when their efforts are coupled together with faith in God. 

 The Bible is filled with instructions which pertain to every facet of life. In some cases, such knowledge may be apparent, while in other cases it might have to be dug up or excavated in order to find the many jewels hidden beneath the surface.

 In all of the Christian’s efforts to gain knowledge, we should be careful not to leave God out of the picture, for He is the source of all true wisdom and His ways and means have always proven to be the very best for the human family.

 This is also the case when it comes to burning, and losing excess fat in the human body, a problem that has dogged us for millennia, and with the solutions being elusive in so many instances. But the word of God does have multiple instructions, and a wealth of knowledge on this issue, so that we may tackle it and subdue it successfully and permanently.

 There are certain problems that are associated with strictly man-made efforts on this issue. For instance, many of the fad diets are simply not sustainable and because of this, persons might have started to lose the pounds, but then later they became frustrated; and understandably so, since the suggestions given in some diet plans cannot be practically carried out for any length of time.

 Other diets, are just too plain and bland, and thus, for a person to eat their meals is almost like doing penance. Eating food is supposed to be one of the more enjoyable aspects man’s existence, and thus we are to look forward with eager anticipation to having our meals, instead of dreading them as if it were medicine.

 Some years ago, our little family went out to eat at a Vegetarian restaurant, and we ordered what was supposed to be a healthy sandwich. It turned out to be healthy indeed, but there was so much greens in the sandwich, that I had to exclaim in dismay, why was there so much bush on the plate, as if it was a cow that was being fed!

 God desires that our meals not only be healthy, but tasty too, because eating one’s food is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. Then again, some diets are anathema, as far as the Bible is concerned.

 The Atkins, the South-beach, the Keto, and others like unto them are questionable at best, for in some of them are to be found guidelines and instructions which conflict with what is written in the Bible.

Some of these diets and methods could mess up our metabolism, and throw the body’s delicate systems out of whack and the end result is often worse than when persons had first begun.

 Of special concern is the practice of eating six small meals throughout the day. There is nowhere to be found in the scripture, where God either advises, or encourages any person to eat six meals per day.

 Two or three meals at the most is what is necessary in most cases, except persons may be dealing with a specific medical or dietary condition that requires a different intervention. That being said, the scripture gives us the wisdom that comes from God, so that if folks desire to lose fat permanently, it can be done. Let’s read:

Exodus 16:8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.

11 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,

12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At evening ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God.

[Healthful Living pp 84] It is quite a common custom with the people of the world to eat three times a day, besides eating at irregular intervals between meals; and the last meal is generally the most-hearty, and is often taken just before retiring.  

 This is reversing the natural order; a hearty meal should never be taken so late in the day. Should these persons change their practice, and eat but two meals a day, and nothing between meals, not even an apple, a nut, or any kind of fruit, the result would be seen in a good appetite and greatly improved health.

 In order to discover the scriptural knowledge, and wisdom on the issue of losing fat permanently, we would have to study the ancient sanctuary system of the Hebrews, where is to be discovered, a good understanding of the issue we are addressing. Let’s read:

Psalms 77: 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

In the sanctuary system, the priests were given the food that remained from certain sacrifices, and this would be eaten after they had finished doing their due diligence, as per the offering of such sacrifices to God.

 So, to begin with, we must find out from the Bible, when the morning and evening sacrifice took place, and then we would have some guidance as to the approximate time that the priests had their first and second meals.

 To discover this information, we will need to go to the sanctuary, and then to Calvary, because Jesus was typified by the morning and evening sacrifice; and then we will better understand how those two situations are synchronized.

Exodus 29:38 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. 39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at evening.

This instruction, given to the Hebrews, was better known as the morning and evening sacrifice. Jesus Christ was hung upon the cross around 9:00 am, or as the writer, Mark put it, the third hour of the day, and therefore, we could conclude that the morning sacrifice would typically take place around the same time of the morning. Let’s read:

Mark 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, The King Of The Jews.

Question: What hour is the third hour of the day in Hebrew time reckoning?

 Answer: The Jewish daylight time began at 6:00 am and it ended at 6:00 pm for the purpose of counting hours. The first hour is therefore 7:00 am; the second hour is 8:00 am; the third hour is 9:00am, the sixth hour is noon or 12:00 pm; etc.

 The next obvious question would be: When did Jesus actually lay down His life for us, as in Him finally dying?  

Answer: Christ was hung upon the cross at around 9:00 am, He remained there for about six hours, and then He yielded up the ghost at about 3:00 pm the same day.  Let’s read:

Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

Thus, we have it from the scriptural record, that the third and ninth hours of the Jewish day represented the times when the morning and evening sacrifices were administered by the priests and therefore, the elapsed time between those two sacrifices would be approximately six hours.

 As we will show from the scriptures later on, the priests would have their meals at around the time of the morning and evening sacrifices, putting their breakfast in the ballpark of approximately 9:00 am to 10:00 am, give or take varying periods of time, because of their administrative duties. And their second meal would follow suit at approximately 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

 Therefore, the following statement coming from the servant of The Lord cannot be coincidence, because The very same Holy Ghost who inspired all the Bible writers also inspired her too. Let’s read:

[Ministry of healing pp 304] At least five or six hours should intervene between the meals, and most persons who give the plan a trial will find that two meals a day are better than three.

It isn’t a coincidence either that the prophet Elijah was fed only twice a day by the holy angels of God, because he too was being guided by the same script which had guided the priests, as they administered the sanctuary services.

 On a more serious note, for those who would live to pass through the final phases of this earth’s history, the two-meal plan continued after the death decree was issued by Jezebel, and in prophecy, the woman represents a church.

This is a dark utterance, but the wise in heart would understand because those who will be translated to heaven without seeing death, must study intently, the history of Elijah, as detailed in 1st kings, chapters 17> 19. 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 lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

5 So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

1st Kings 18:26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, (from about the 3rd hour to the sixth hour, sounds familiar?) saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleeps, and must be awaked.

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.

41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. (That’s around the ninth hour, after Elijah had offered the evening sacrifice)

1st Kings 19: 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. (Revelation 13:15)

3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life and came to Beersheba which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

6 And he looked and behold there was a cake baked on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

Leviticus 6:24 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,

25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the Lord: it is most holy.

26 The priest that offers it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Leviticus 7:35 This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the Lord in the priest's office;

37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings. (Explain the whole burnt offering).

Now that we have established from the scriptures, that the morning and evening sacrifices, with the accompanying meal times took place between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm approximately, let us calculate the elapsed time from the second meal to  the first, on the following day.

 From 3:00 pm on one day, to 9:00 am the following morning will give us an approximate elapsed time of 17 hours. The human body generally enters its fat-burning mode after about 12>14 hours of fasting, a fact that can be verified from various studies done by prominent universities such as Harvard and some others. This would put us squarely in the fat burning zone.

 Thus, with 17 hours of down time for the stomach, as far as eating goes, persons who adopt this wise strategy would be well within the fat-burning range, and because the wisdom originated with God, there would absolutely be positive and permanent results for the better.

 The problem is that we have challenges and hurdles to surmount, in getting to that desired place. One of the habits we will have to cut out is that of snacking between meals, because it interrupts that delicate balance between eating, and rest for the digestive system.

 Of grave concern for us is the practice of late-night snacking, or eating in the middle of the night. Those who engage in such practices will ultimately have a very hard time losing the pounds, because the body will become confused, as to the cycles of ingestion and rest.

 Even yours truly had to pull up my boots on this matter, for there were times when, because of the extended hours required to prepare Bible studies, I would get hungry in the wee hours of the morning. So, I began eating a little healthy snack, just to keep chugging along and excused myself with the reason that it was because of the Lord’s work.

 But like with any indulgence, it starts off small and gradually morphs into a habit that becomes firmly entrenched in one’s psyche, and thus, those little healthy snacks became bigger and bigger, until one morning my wife got up early, and found my hands filled with the forbidden fruit.

 Therefore, we are preaching to the choir, as well as to the congregation, for most of us have our list of dos and don’ts that we will need to address. To put it plainly, persons would have to fast between their last meal and breakfast for at least 12 hours for the efficient fat-burning to begin to take place.

One’s glycogen level will play a role in this process, for it has to be burned off first before the body will begin to burn fat; but as a general rule, we should be shooting for the sanctuary timeframes of eating and rest, so as to experience the best of health, and there are other factors which contribute positively to our endeavors.

Closely associated with the issue of snacking, is the fact that many of us go to bed too late at night, and this raises the possibility that we might get hungry before we sleep. If the down time for fasting were to occur while we are sleeping, it would make it so much easier to implement, but if we are awake, the temptation to snack goes up significantly.

 If persons were to feel those hunger pangs coming on at those graveyard hours, drinking cold water is the best way to squish those feelings, without folks having to ingest any food. The implementation of the plan will call for stern discipline, and some will find it necessary to put away their cell-phones, in order to have restful sleep.

 The blue light emanating from these gizmos often do a whole lot of damage and interference, and it is true that in some cases, persons may have become addicted to their phones. Good restful sleep does not come naturally for some persons, therefore a deliberate and well -directed effort will have to be made to achieve one’s goals.

 Another issue persons will have to address at some level is that of having regular exercise, whether it be walking, running, cycling, weight lifting, or any other form of aerobic, physical activity. Physical exercise was instituted in Eden, and throughout history, God has always instructed us to incorporate it as a main- stay on our agenda.

 Especially would this be the case for individuals who do sedentary work. Sitting down behind a computer all day long, staring at a screen, will call for definite efforts in the area of regular exercise, because the plan to lose fat permanently has to be holistic in its nature, for it to work.

When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, God immediately set about addressing two main areas of the lives, so as to achieve good health. Diet and exercise were addressed, and they walked a whole lot, as they traversed the deserts. In our day, once the ball gets rolling, it can become a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy, because when good habits begin to be formed, they have the tendency of encouraging other good habits, especially when the desired results begin to come true.

 Great benefit will accrue to those who could adopt the information given and with God’s grace, the sky is the limit. Avoiding processed foods as much as is possible will also help, and adequate hydration each day, will go a long way in sealing the deal. Initially, our bodies might rebel against the changes that are being made but if we were to stick with the plan for a few months, it can become entrenched as a lifestyle habit.

Bowel movements will become regular, the body’s metabolism will become much more efficient, the workload on the digestive organs will diminish, folks would sleep better and deeper, the burning and the losing of fat would continue uninterrupted and with prayer, nothing shall be impossible.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should encourage us, wherever we can, to do that which is instructed by God, for He desires the best for all of His children. Let’s read:

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

3 Who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases;

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

                                    God Bless!

For By Grace Are We saved. Sabbath afternoon 12/24/2022

Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Even though it might be difficult at times for us to remember all the 27 doctrines of our church, there are a few fundamental pillars of truth which should be forever lodged in our consciences so as to render us immovable and unshakeable in our relationship with Christ.

These pillars of truth should often be dwelt upon or rehearsed in our minds, so that they would not slip away with the passage of time, for whenever, and wherever they have sunken deep into our minds, it will become extremely difficult to uproot those who are thereby exercised.

One of the very core foundational truths for us all to grasp is that we are saved by grace through faith. It is what Christ has done for us, that gives the newly born babes in Christ, as well as the battle-hardened Pauls, Jobs, and Daniels an abundant entrance into God’s kingdom of glory.

We should and we must cooperate with God in the work of salvation in our hearts, and day by day we should be ascending the steps on Jacob’s ladder as we seek the renewal of God’s image in us. But in all of our doings and achievements and victories, we’re to never lose sight of this one fact, that we’re saved by God’s grace alone.

Building on this very core foundation are additional truths, that are closely associated by extension, one of them being that it is Christ’s death, just as much as His life that has guaranteed our salvation. We are more than conquerors over the grave, because of His death, but Jesus’s life of righteousness is just as important, for both accomplishments factor in to make our salvation certain and permanent.

If Christ had slipped up just once in His incarnation, His death would have been rendered useless in the restoration of man to the first dominion, and thus, it is His own righteousness that is bequeathed to us as a spotless garment, that makes us fit to be called the sons and daughters of God.

Whenever these aforementioned pillars of truth are understood, believed and appropriated to ourselves it becomes very difficult to shake our relationship in Christ. The floods may come and many winds may blow, and in the heat of the moment we may not be able to remember all of the twenty-seven doctrines of the church, but if we never lose sight of Christ, it is near impossible to shake our foundation.

It was in the context of these foundational truths of our relationship with Christ, that Jesus, on different occasions would speak as if it’s a done deal with any person who believes in Him, and who grasps these very important truths.

When conversing with the woman at the well, Jesus did not dwell very much on the matters of the law; instead, we see Him driving home that all important point, that if a person is grounded in Him, that person becomes a well of water, springing up into everlasting life.

And it is because of these core tenets of truth which we observed earlier, why at times, Jesus and Paul in their sayings, might appear to make our salvation so simple and guaranteed. It has to do with folks never losing sight of Christ, whatever else one may or may not do.

Here are some examples of what is being referred to as it pertains to the simplicity and the assurance of the gospel, as it is in Christ. Let’s read:

Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Acts 16: 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

It is worthy of note that their answer to the jailor’s question did not include matters pertaining to the law, even though those matters are important. First and foremost is one’s belief that Jesus Christ is the one and only way to salvation; and then obedience, love and willing service would follow as the natural outflow of that very fact.

However, there were times when the answer to such a question, as was asked by the jailor, would require a mentioning of the law, depending on the person who is asking the question. That’s because the appropriate answer is not monolithic.

 For instance, when Jesus was asked the same basic question by the rich young ruler, Jesus replied to him “Keep the commandments”. That’s because a very different response might be needed to address the needs of different persons.

But as a general rule, if a person were to ask us that important question: “What must I do to be saved?” the answer should be short, concise, and simple, so as to make the pertinent issues plain and leaving no doubt in the person’s mind as to what is required as may be observed in the following verses. Let’s read:

John 11: 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Acts 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, do you understand what you are reading?

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.

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 you believe with all of 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.

What Philip did, and what the Eunuch requested as per baptism is very important for us to note; but it is also interesting to observe what The Holy Ghost did to Philip, after he was done preaching that one sermon. Let’s read:

Acts 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

At this point we must say that there is now a great concern, that the simplicity of the gospel may have become caught up in a maze of doctrinal morass, so that inquiring persons may experience difficulty in understanding Christ as their only hope of salvation.

Here it is again, with Christ speaking of those who are rooted and grounded in Him, not merely from a doctrinal perspective, but from a relational position. Jesus speaks in the affirmative, as if there is scarcely any possibility of a different outcome. Let’s read:

John 10:24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Now, it is true that in our day, Christianity has for the most part accepted Jesus, but has left His laws behind, and it is for this reason, that the everlasting gospel in Revelation chapter 14, focuses so heavily on the keeping of God’s commandments. While this is important, we must also never lose sight of Jesus, as the hope of salvation, for it is The Person of Christ, not the law that is to grant redemption and salvation.

Therefore, before we begin our study today, there is a statement coming from the servant of The Lord, which we implore you to not only observe carefully, but if you can, put it to memory, for it will serve as a stabilizer to all our efforts in cooperating with God. Let’s read:

[Selected Messages BK. 2 pp 382] When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best service. “And He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit”

Question: What are these deficiencies she is speaking of? And what does it mean when she says that God accepts the disposition and effort to serve Him, as being man’s best effort?

To answer these questions, we will have to observe the assessments of God, regarding persons who are disposed to serving and obeying Him, and their efforts at doing so, even if at times those efforts may reveal “Deficiencies” Let’s read:

Genesis 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

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

In an age of political correctness, and where persons are walking on pins and needles as it were, we must issue a disclaimer up front, to assure you that the commentary which would be given on Abraham’s efforts, are strictly for the purposes of making plain, the statements of the servant of The Lord as it pertains to deficiencies, and as a result, our very dire need for Christ to make up all such deficiencies with His own Divine merits.  Let’s read:

Genesis 12: 11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold, now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon.

12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

13 Say, I pray thee, you are my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Even though God can never approve, or countenance falsehood of any kind, yet, in our frail humanity, we can understand why Abraham and Sarah went that route. They were now entering a foreign country, Sarah was very good looking, and as a stranger, Abraham might become a victim of the malice of the Egyptians.  

This reasoning is along strictly logical modes of thought and premonition, which often squishes faith into playing second fiddle.

Yet, Abraham may be given a pass in this circumstance, because of anticipated or associated risk. However, if it was a one-time occurrence only, some may blink, but if this pattern of behavior emerges over and over again, it cannot be reckoned as an aberration; it will have to be considered as collusion with intent, as observed in the following verses. Let’s read:

Genesis 20:1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.

4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

The reason Abraham gives to Abimelech does not in any way justify his course of action, but when confronted by the king, instead of bowing out, he digs in his heels even deeper, and continues to affirm that Sarah is his sister, which, by the way, is partly true, but a half truth is a full-blown lie in God’s sight. Let’s read:

Genesis 20:12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

And the dissembling goes on and on and on. However, in the greater scheme of things, Abraham and Sarah have a disposition to obey God, and in many other instances, it is to be observed that they do make genuine efforts to do so. Yet, their obedience is riddled with deficiencies, which must be addressed with the perfection of Christ, for God cannot accept any wrinkles as it will pertain to righteousness.

Here is where the life of Christ comes in. Abraham and Sarah will come forth from their graves because Christ has conquered the grave, but the perfect righteousness of Christ is what they need in the here and now, to cover their oft mistakes, whether inadvertent or intentional, as we have previously observed.

The perfection of Christ covers the imperfections of His servants, and it is by virtue of this gift of Christ and His righteousness, given to Abraham and Sarah, why God can state that Abraham kept His laws, His commandments and His statues. Thus, for purposes of riveting this point in the hearts and minds of the hearers, let’s read again, so that we will be forever certain of what we believe:

Genesis 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

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

Selected Messages BK. 2 pp 382] When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best service. “And He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit”

Every member of the human family, without exception, has had their share of deficiencies which Christ has had to make up with His own Divine merit. With Noah, it was the use of alcohol, with Abraham and Sarah it was lying, with David and Solomon it was porn and adultery, with Isaiah it was unclean lips, with all that it entails.

With James and John, it was a violent temper, and the list goes on and on. Not a single person has ever been born without deficiencies of some sort. Hence the reason why God sent not His Son into the world to condemn us, but that we might be saved through His life and death. The servant of The Lord, in addressing our inevitable failures puts it this way. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages. Pp 295] All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His service. Even John, who came into closest association with the meek and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding. He and his brother were called “the sons of thunder.” While they were with Jesus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation and combativeness. Evil temper, revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all in the beloved disciple.

He was proud, and ambitious to be first in the kingdom of God. But day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. He opened his heart to the divine influence, and became not only a hearer but a doer of the Savior's words. Self was hid in Christ. He learned to wear the yoke of Christ and to bear His burden.

Now, we’re not stating these things for us to take shelter in the shadow their failures, we are just highlighting the raw facts in the matter, showing the reasons why Paul is saying that we are saved by God’s grace. Now, it is true that the last generation of Christians are required by God to perfect characters in preparation for translation.

But here again, it is the grace of God which enables them to do so, and even when they have reached the summit of righteousness, they still would not be able to enter the pearly gates without the perfect righteousness of Christ, and His death for us on Calvary. That’s because each of us have had a sinful history in our past lives which would preclude us from ever being accepted by God, in and of ourselves.

In other words, as far as righteousness is concerned, God can only accept perfection, and that perfection is to be found in Christ alone for any other form of righteousness comes tainted, one way or another.

Paul encountered the problem of persons trying in vain to work themselves into God’s favor. Heavy emphasis was being put on the works of the law, while persons were losing sight of Christ as God’s perfect gift to us, and he was moved to address the issue in most note-worthy fashion. Let’s read:

Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

That word: “Bewitched” is pretty strong for it is only used in two other instances in the Bible. And even though the Greek renditions of the words may vary somewhat, the fact remains that persons had been bewitched. Let’s read:

Acts 8: 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which before-time in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one.

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

Bewitch in English: 1. To place under one's power by magic; to cast a spell over.

2. To captivate completely; fascinate.

And the apostle Paul continues:

Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye  the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree.

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Paul was here trying to refocus the attention of the folks in Galatia, on the Gift God has given to us. Yes, it is true that obedience is a must, but obedience is a natural by-product of abiding in Christ, and therefore, the emphasis for the Galatians and ourselves too, is to never lose sight of Christ, as the ways and means of salvation.

In our day, very great emphasis is placed on the Gift of God to us in Christ, whereas the obedience factor of the relationship is conspicuously absent. This has created an imbalance of faith without accompanying works, and it is this problem that John the revelator addresses in those three angel’s messages where the pendulum swings back to obedience of God’s law.

Yet, it is important that we never lose sight of Christ, for at the end of the day, when the dust has settled in the judgement, it will be those who have accepted the Gift of God in Christ, who would then have their sins blotted out forever. Let us therefore be found rooted and grounded in Christ, for He alone is our hope of eternal salvation.

We will end with a passage of scripture which reminds us of this all-important truth, and we hope that it will never ever fade from the forefront of our consciences. Let’s read:

1st John 5: 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

                                         God Bless!

Jesus, The Reason For The Season. Sabbath afternoon 12/17/2022

Matthew 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Even though humanity makes much of the birth of Christ, very little is revealed in the Bible about His early years, for after recounting the historical facts surrounding His birth, the Bible gives us just a few brief statements about His earlier years.

 Apart from Him being subject unto His parents, and the incident that occurred when He remained in the temple, questioning with the theologians, not much is said of the in between years, from 1 to 30.

 This silence is not without purpose, it is not because of any inadvertent omission, for it was deliberately structured like this, because God desires us to focus most of our attention on Christ’s ministry, and His death for us on Calvary, for it is this that makes the most positive difference in the human experience.

In fact, much of what we have come to understand about Christ’s earlier years, comes from the pen of inspiration, for the following verses, together with a brief explanation, constitute most of what is written in the Bible about Christ, from His earliest years to the age of about 30.

[1] He was filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon Him.

Luke 2: 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

[2] He attended church regularly.

Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.

42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

Luke 4:15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 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.

[3] He was subject, or obedient unto His parents.

Luke 2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

[4] He always gave priority to the spiritual aspects of life.

Luke 2:43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

50 And they understood not the saying which he spoke unto them.

[5] Jesus kept His vertical and horizontal relationships with God and man intact.

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

However, as Christ approached the age of thirty the Bible significantly ramps up its documentation of His activities, because His earthly ministry begins around the age of thirty. From that time forward the work of salvation takes off in earnest and what Jesus does during the next 3 and 1/2 years is what makes all the difference for humanity. Let’s read:

Luke 3: 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph…

Thus, in precis form we will feature the highlights of His work in our behalf, so that folks may not only be filled with gratitude and love for Christ, but that our love would translate into willing, loving service with the understanding that everything pertaining to our salvation was done with our very best interests in mind.

First of all, Jesus came to give us more abundant life for the world was careening toward self-destruction very much the same way that we are currently. Men were living on the edge of existence, hope had been all but lost, and the future seemed very bleak and foreboding, because of the proliferation of sin and its consequences. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 32] As the Jews had departed from God, faith had grown dim, and hope had well-nigh ceased to illuminate the future. To the masses of the people, death was a dread mystery; beyond was uncertainty and gloom.

 In “the region and shadow of death,” men sat unsolaced. With longing eyes they looked for the coming of the Deliverer, when the darkness should be dispelled, and the mystery of the future should be made plain.

 The forms of religion were being followed as vain and empty exercises, which did very little for the adherents, and the priests and people had become sticklers for pomp and ceremony, while the very kernels of religious life were conspicuously absent.

 On this point we must declare that there will be an ongoing temptation to focus our attention on the celebration, rather than on the relational aspect of the season. Any celebration of Christ must include the relational aspect for without this, festivities are just a mere husk.

Thus, as His earthly ministry began, Jesus invariably sought to restore humanity’s relationship with God, in ways that would make a difference for the better. He addresses the three dimensions of our being, the spiritual, the physical, and material, because, when Jesus declares that He came to give us abundant life all three dimensions are included. Let’s read:

John 10:10 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.

Thus, we would observe that Jesus often preached, He instructed, He explained, He counseled, and He healed the diseases of the people. All that satan and sin had done to the human family, Jesus sought to undo, and He systematically destroyed the works of the devil on several different levels showing to us all that life with God is well worth the living.

One of the reasons why Jesus addressed the three main aspects of our existence is because one affects the other, especially when there is an imbalance between the three. A Christian who has a noble and generous character, but who is cancer ridden, might most likely go through bouts of discouragement and fear, and this can put severe strain on one’s outlook in life.

 Conversely, a healthy person who is devoid of the spiritual dimension, will live his or her life without a hope, and thus, the efforts and energies would be centered in the here and now, with very little, or no thought about the great hereafter.

 And thus, the question: “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul” would apply in great measure to those who are only earthly-minded.

 Then again, there may be one who is healthy, and spiritual, but who may be embroiled in poverty, and this too could create an imbalance that could be detrimental to a person’s overall wellbeing. Thus, in Christ’s earthly ministry He endeavored to repair all the various imbalances that humanity was saddled with, wherever those imbalances occurred. Let’s read:

Luke 4: 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

1st John 3:8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Matthew 4: 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with different diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Another aspect of Christ’s ministry addressed the issue of the sin offering, which had been instituted by Himself in days of old. The blood of lambs, goats, and other animals often pointed to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and therefore, because of His sacrifice on Calvary, persons can now approach the throne of grace, boldly.

 Paul describes the former law of sacrifices as being awkward but necessary, and it could not remove the sins of the people permanently. Therefore, the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary did what could not be done formerly, and brought to a permanent end the sacrificial system.

In the New Testament, this is what is alluded to by Paul when he correctly declares that the law was nailed to the cross. It was the law of sacrifices that was nailed, not the moral law, which stands as the foundation of God’s government forever. Let’s read:

Colossians 2: 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

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.

This sacred truth must be thoroughly understood by those who celebrate Christ. The free gift of eternal life was made possible by the death of Christ for us on Calvary, and as such, it will always remain a free gift. Our response to the gift is what will matter in the end, but the gift itself in Christ remains entirely free.

 That’s why the pressure to work our way into God’s eternal kingdom has forever been removed, for it is what God has given us in Christ that makes eternal salvation possible. The words from the song: Santa Claws is coming to town, suggest that one’s good behavior is what makes one worthy of Christmas gifts.

 Hence the reason for the insert: “He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake. Not so with Christ, for He knows that we’ve all been bad, very bad; but His goodness, given as a free gift, as He poured out His life for us on Calvary, is now offered to all, whether we’ve been bad or good.

 Thus, the following passage of scripture, treating on the topic of Christ’s gift to the human family should be thoroughly understood, embraced, and it should never ever be forgotten. Let’s read:

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

However, if Jesus were to deal only with the repair of our imbalances, and died for our sins, He would not have solved the age-old problem of the grave. This “grave” reality, no pun intended, has haunted the rich and famous as well as your everyday John Doe, from the least to the greatest and everyone in between.

 The whole end purpose of the plan of salvation is to restore that which was lost through sin, and even though forgiveness and righteousness are excellent things to be sought after, if at the end of the day we would still be dead and buried forever, what sense would it make?

 God will not put a plan of action together, that will involve the slaying of His Son, if it would not make sense after all is said and done. Therefore, when we celebrate Christ, we should always do so with the understanding, that His free gift to us will result in eternal life, as the end product, if we so choose. Paul reasons it this way. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

The appropriate response to God’s Gift to us is to accept Him with open arms so that we may become partakers with Christ of the end product, which is eternal life. If there is any message that we should dwell upon during this Holiday season is that Christ made eternal life possible, by His death for us.

 However, while the earth continues, we’ll have to face some grim realities, because the very same conditions that existed at Christ’s first coming, are being manifested just before His second coming. The forms of religion are devolving into mere husks, and morality is scheduled to tank, even more than it is currently.

Just as how personal feelings drove the masses of people to do the unthinkable in Christ’s day, just so personal feelings are driving legislation on a host of current issues, and feelings would soon be allowed to legislate almost anything, for whenever certain doors are opened, and the horses are let out of the barn, they can become very difficult to rein back in.

 Just recently, a man in Europe sued to have his age changed, because he felt younger, and his argument is that if the courts make allowances for other kinds of “feelings” he too, should be permitted to change his real age into one that is younger. That’s because he “Feels” younger.

 In the days of Christ, there was political upheaval on every side also, for the Pharisees and the Sadducees were at loggerheads on most issues. One sect often railed against the other, and both parties hated the Romans with the most bitter hatred.

Similarly, in our day, on the political front, there is turmoil brewing on the horizon too, because both of our political parties, namely the “Pharisees and Sadducees” can’t seem to get along anymore and as it was in the days of Christ, they’re in disagreement on almost every issue.

 Kevin McCarthy is now facing a trifecta of rebellion, even before he has touched the gavel and while the Democrats were celebrating their huge win in the Georgia senate runoff, Kyrsten Sinema pooped on their party. Thus, we cannot look to mortal man for any meaningful solutions to this earth’s problems.

The earth and its peoples are in a constant state of flux, with the inhabitants thereof not knowing what one day to another may bring. Trade unions would trigger upheavals, both at home and abroad, as is currently the case, and as the servant of the Lord has accurately predicted.

 When nurses go on strike in Great Britain, and when workers from mega corporations, such as Amazon, Starbucks, and Chipotle, turn to unions in order to secure benefits, and better wages, and when our own railroad system is threatened with shutdowns at the most inopportune times, then we know for sure that man does not have the answers or the solutions to this earth’s problems. Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 116] Trades unions will be one of the agencies that will bring upon this earth a time of trouble such as has not been since the world began. A few men will combine to grasp all the means to be obtained in certain lines of business. The time is fast coming when the controlling power of the labor unions will be very oppressive.

Therefore, as we reminisce on what Christ has done for the human family, and as folks fellowship with friends and family over the holiday season, let us be mindful of this one thing, that Jesus is the reason for the season, for it is Christ alone who has made a better way and a better day available to all who so desire.

Let us then give our lives entirely to Him, so that He may do unto us the good He has promised, for it is only those who respond in the positive to God’s gift in Christ, that the abundant life will ever become a reality. We’ll end with a passage of scripture which sums up the matter so that all may understand. Let’s read:

1st John 5: 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

                                    God Bless!

The Snare Of Credit. Sabbath afternoon 12/10/2022

Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Every nation on our planet, is now mired in spiraling debt, with the exception of one. When one is mired in debt, there are several offshoots to the problem that can affect a person adversely. Debt often leads to worry, and much worry could lead to depression, and depression can lead to osteoporosis, by which a person’s bones can become brittle.

When David was continually worrying about the sin he committed with Bathsheba, he went into a bout of depression, which then affected his bones, and this no doubt, contributed to his early death, for he died before his time.

Unbridled debt can also lead to arguments between spouses, friends and family members, as one seeks to blame the other for the unfortunate situation. It is a fact that fellow church members and once upon a time good friends have become alienated because of debt, and in such situations, it can become very difficult to heal the wounds that were made.

Credit is the ability of a person or business to obtain goods and services before payment is made, based upon the trust that payment would be made in the future. It has become a sort of necessary evil in our day, since the exorbitant prices of homes and other big-ticket items, prevent some persons from paying immediately for what they may need or want.

But ideally, one should pay immediately for goods and services if one can afford to. Very much is made of a high credit score, and indeed, it has become a badge of honor in our day, where those who have excellent credit are rewarded, and favored more than those who don’t.

But the scriptural perspective on credit is to avoid it wherever possible, for if persons are not very, very careful, they can become trapped in one of satan’s most successful and favorite snares, which he lays for the feet of the unwary, including governments.

For instance, the debt ceiling right here in the U.S, was originally set at 11.5 billion in 1917, which then limited the government’s ability to burrow, to the set figure. But in 1939 it was increased to forty-five billion, in order to cover the growing expenses of the government.

The fed would have hoped that spending would be constrained and that monies thus burrowed would be paid back as soon as possible, so as to extricate itself from a debt spiral in the wrong direction. That has always been the upfront intention with persons and governments, but in reality, intention does not always synchronize with practice when it comes to the issue of credit.

 In fact, the road to destruction is often paved with good intentions and some have discovered the hard way that merely having good intentions might not prevent an adverse outcome. With inflation doing a number on us, persons who have become used to the snare of credit are finding themselves digging in deeper, just to make ends meet.

 Thus, we have observed over the years that once a person or government becomes ensnared with any one of satan’s traps, it often becomes very difficult to escape, and since that time when the nation first set its feet into the snare of credit, the debt ceiling has been raised about 78 times.

And as a result, we’re firmly in the grips of a never- ending cycle of borrowing, thus having to pay back enormous interest to the tune of 479 billion dollars each year, and counting. And folks can rest assured that the diabolical cycle would continue, until, like the proverbial albatross around our necks, we are forced into a day of grim reckoning.

When the Hebrews were about to pass through the lands that God had given to Esau, as an inheritance, they were specifically instructed to pay promptly for any goods and services that they would need along the way. They were not to distress the inhabitants of the land in any manner, and this was abundantly clear, given the way in which it was worded. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 2: 2 And the Lord spoke unto me, saying,

4 Command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:

5 Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

6 Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.

7 For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand.

In the history of the ancient Hebrews, there were times when persons who for one reason or another, had fallen into the unfortunate situation of needing credit, and thus, they were forced to use it as a last resort. However, even though the practice of borrowing was not to be encouraged, God made provision in the year of release, so that a person would not have revolving debt, hanging over their heads all of their lives.

Whatever our interpretation of scripture might be, one thing is certain: God’s ideal will for folks in this matter is to avoid the use of credit where possible. But if folks choose to go that route, strict discipline should be brought to bear on the use of credit, lest persons gradually get trapped in the snare that has been the downfall of so many.

The use of credit cards on a personal level will often come with a host of enticements and inducements for us to use plastic; enticements such as sky miles, or cash back or discounts at various restaurants and stores, and other perks as encouragement to spend.

While the perks, in and of themselves may be good, one thing persons should always remember is that snares have always come with perks. Always! Eve was offered perks in the Garden of Eden, as was Adam and ever since that time temptations have always come with different incentives and perks, in the overwhelming majority of cases.

Thus, we have to be extremely careful and diligent, lest the inducement to spend, without having to pay back the full balance each month, draws us into the snare that our nation is now embroiled in. There are not majorities who step into the snare of credit who then escape unscathed.

But in our day, credit has become a mainstay of our communities and governments and the practice has now devolved into a sort of death spiral, from which individuals, families, local and federal governments, vainly seek to rid themselves. That is because credit is one of the most important tools in satan’s arsenal which he uses in nefarious ways to take us down.

Contrary to secular understanding of spiritual things the devil is not a fool, for he was once the covering cherub, standing in the direct presence of God, and before he fell, he was the supervisor of the angelic host. He retains much of that giant intellect, and he is more capable and intelligent than mortals would like to admit.

The Bible gives us several examples of how he goes to work, in the destruction of souls, and nations and warnings are given in scripture, against his devices lest persons or nations be deceived concerning his malignity. He invents numerous “good temptations” to keep us from studying the word of God, which strips him naked, and reveals to us all his snares.

The following are just a few examples of his work in the minds of men, and it is truly amazing to see how he inserts himself into our thought processes, with no one being aware of what is taking place, in the overwhelming majority of cases. Let us observe, and then we will return to the topic of credit as a snare. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

If we were to ask David personally if he believed the devil was the author of that thought, David would most likely reply no, for he would almost certainly chalk it up to his own personal ambition, wisdom, military acumen or his own ideas.

 What The Lord is saying to us in no uncertain terms, is that the idea didn’t originate with David, for he was not the author of the thought. He was only the human agent through whom satan worked to bring to pass his purposes in the matter.

 Thus, he remains hidden from view, and the poor human agent takes the credit for the ideas and the genius, all the while not having a clue that they are indeed, doing the bidding of devils. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

3 And Joab answered, The Lord make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed

against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 28:1 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

3 Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:

4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches.

 At this point it is necessary for us to make a pit stop by the servant of The Lord as she elaborates further on the intelligence that is brought to bear against all mortals as devils seek to bring persons to ruin. It’ll require a humble heart and a teachable spirit for us to understand what is said, and how knowledge can be applied in escaping his snares. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 516>517] There is nothing that the great deceiver fears so much as that we shall become acquainted with his devices.

 The better to disguise his real character and purposes, he has caused himself to be so represented as to excite no stronger emotion than ridicule or contempt. He is well pleased to be painted as a ludicrous or loathsome object, misshapen, half animal and half human. He is pleased to hear his name used in sport and mockery by those who think themselves intelligent and well-informed.

 It is because he has masked himself with consummate skill that the question is so widely asked, “Does such a being really exist?” It is evidence of his success, that theories giving the lie to the plainest testimony of Scripture are so generally received in the religious world.

And it is because Satan can most readily control the minds of those who are unconscious of his influence that the Word of God gives us so many examples of his malignant work, unveiling before us his secret forces, and thus placing us on our guard against his assaults.

That skill, intelligence, and understanding, is always employed when presenting to persons the snare of credit and as a general rule the benefits of going the credit route are always touted. His temptations only consist of three categories, namely: [1] The lust of the flesh, [2] the lust of the eyes, and [3] The pride of life.

 These categories are often recycled and presented in various ways that would appeal to different folk, but at their core, they are the same three that were used in the wilderness with Christ. So here are some examples of how satan brings the snare of credit to persons, according to the scriptures. Let us read:

Proverbs 6:1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

In instances such as mentioned in the above verses, a person might be approached to co-sign on a loan application, or the person may be asked to stand as a guarantor, in case there is a default on some line of credit. And in other instances, a person’s good credit might be requested to be used in beefing up an otherwise shaky, questionable loan application.

 While it is true that the Christian should always be disposed to lend a helping hand, there are practical issues that would need due consideration, before a person goes out on a limb to sign in such situations. Good relationships are too often ruined by a default on the part of one who was trusted, and thus, good judgment and prudence are needed before signing on.

Whether such a situation, as standing security for another works out favorably or not, the Bible says it is a snare, and as such, it would not hurt to take the matter to God in prayer before moving forward. It is a fact that some birds do escape from the snare of the fowler, on occasion, but the good outcomes do not change the fact that it was a snare.

 Whenever such a favor is requested by another, the one who is inclined to help should understand that there is the possibility of default, and as such, if the helping one can afford to lose the amount of money in question, then, a deliberate choice in the matter can be made.

In addition to the possibility of default, the one who shows the other person the favor must be prepared to forgive and forget, if it comes to that, should the transaction not work out the way they expected.

It cannot be stressed enough so we must emphasize again: the one who puts his/her name and credit on the line for another, should be prepared to absorb the entire debt if needs be and should also be ready to forgive and forget, if things do not work out as planned.

Especially within the family of God, the possibility of taking a fellow believer or a family member to court for restitution should be taken off the table up front so as not to cause any embarrassment to the cause of God, nor to the one who defaulted. Let’s read:

Leviticus 25: 35 And if thy brother be waxed poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.

36 Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.

Matthew 6: 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Another way in which the snare of credit comes to us, is by indulging the habit to spend money before it is actually earned. By getting accustomed to the habit of borrowing against one’s future earnings, the stage is set for the inordinate use of credit, and after a while, persons can get too comfortable in the snare.

A good and faithful steward of God’s blessings will carefully monitor his/her inflows and outflows, so as to preempt any imbalances that would put one in a situation where such a person had no choice but to resort to dependence on credit.

In certain situations, this may be unavoidable, but wherever a person can do better, we should try to avoid the snare of becoming credit dependent. We are at that time of year when the inducements to splurge without careful thought, are all around us.

The “spirit of the season” often leads persons to a form of recklessness that produces remorse in the first month of the new year. Therefore, the prudent and the wise will bring to bear on all transactions, the wisdom and principles found in the scriptures, so as to avoid being sucked into a vacuum of debt.

While it is good to give gifts to friends and families, be careful lest you give what you really didn’t have. In other words, if one has to borrow from Peter to purchase gifts for Paul, the gift is really coming from Peter, and as such, the one who is passing on the gift is just a middleman for the time being, and will be holding the bag. Let’s read:

Romans 13: 8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

[A.H pp 392] When one becomes involved in debt, he is in one of Satan's nets, which he sets for souls. Abstracting and using money for any purpose, before it is earned, is a snare.

Generosity and charity are noble characteristics, yet they must be exercised with prudence and wisdom, lest adverse, unnecessary outcomes become the end result. Many advertisements include the words hurry, call now, or within the next five minutes, or offer ends soon.

What is being done is that they are appealing to the irrational, impromptu, spontaneous side, and quite often, the way the advertisement is worded, could cause persons to believe that if the purchase is not made immediately the world might come to an end.

The prudent, level-headed Christian will weigh the matter carefully and objectively, avoiding the often clutter of hasty words at the end of advertisements that are rattled off at the speed of lightening.

In most cases, if one cannot clearly understand the words being spoken at the end of an advertisement, it means that a snare is most likely being set for our feet, because an honest advertiser would like you to hear and clearly understand that which is being said and advertised.

 As we close, whenever an individual or a nation has become embroiled in the snares of credit, diligent and well directed effort are to be made, in order to reverse the gravitational pull downwards.

 There are times when even valid needs may have to wait so as not to upset delicate balances between inflow and outflow. Yes, folks may actually need it, but do you need it at this very moment, or could it wait until a more convenient financial season, if we are to avoid taking on more debt?

Again, paying the bare minimum on an outstanding balance is to be avoided wherever possible because these are the kinds of folks, credit card companies and financial institutions love the most. If we look to God for wisdom in managing the temporal affairs of life He will be more than pleased to lead us in the right direction.

The wisdom of this world is often foolishness with God, and the Christian in our day has unnumbered and varying snares being laid for our feet every day. Let us therefore consult with The Living Word, and the written word, for advice, intelligence and good understanding, so that like the character in Pilgrim’s Progress, we may avoid the slough of despond.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that would encourage us to seek the wisdom that comes from God, for it is His ways and His principles that always make the most sense in life. Let’s read:

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

                                    God Bless!

When Science And Scripture Collide. Sabbath afternoon 12/03/2022

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

The above passage of scripture would present an immediate confrontation with the fundamental premises of science as we know it, for the verse is saying unequivocally that God could create matter without using any preexisting materials. In other words, God could call things into existence from nothing.

The Big Bang theory and Evolutionary concepts beg to differ in their conclusions, for they both require something, such as atoms to exist first before any life or material objects can appear. Thus, these two concepts are diametrically opposed to each other, and do set up an ongoing feud between science as we know it and the sacred utterances of scripture.

Now, it is an indisputable fact that God often uses preexistent matter in His work of creation, as was studied from the Bible recently. But this is not the only way God can create, for our first passage says that He is not limited to creating things from things that do exist.

God can begin with a mere thought, and then speak that thought into literal existence, as He has done on numerous occasions. Let us think about that for a moment, because there is a valid reason why God alone is to be worshipped, and the Scripture most often cites His creative power as the main reason why. Let’s read:

Revelation 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 You art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created.

Isaiah 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

19 The workman melts a graven image, and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold, and casts silver chains.

26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one fails.

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

Psalms 104:24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created: and You renew the face of the earth.

33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.

His singular ability to speak His thoughts into virtual reality sets God apart, in an entirely different class by Himself, for there is no one else in the universe that can even come close to achieving this. This also means that creating from scratch, with God, would also include starting with absolutely nothing.

Science finds this particular pill extremely difficult to swallow, and indeed it is a stretch, because finite minds cannot come to grips with such capabilities on their own, hence the reason why the Bible says that he who comes to God “Must Believe”.

Science is baffled and oft dumbfounded by what the Bible says about God’s singular ability to create. As was stated previously, it is true that God often uses preexisting materials to do the work of creating but these very materials had to come from somewhere originally.

 The Bible gives us the answer that has boggled the minds of experts, and indeed has driven some folks to reject the authenticity of scripture, because its sacred utterances do not conform to, nor do they fit the mold that science as we know it specifies.

In everything that pertains to scientific discoveries and inventions, human agents must have something to start with, whether it be the automobile, peanut butter or Bitcoin, they all have one thing in common in that preexisting raw material is a must.

But here comes the Scriptures, saying beyond the shadow of a doubt, that this is not necessarily the case with God’s creative power, for He can, and He has pulled matter into existence by just speaking it into existence.

Thus, there are usually only two main responses to this fact, in that some believe it, while science as we know it utterly rejects it. The fact that God can call solid matter into existence by just speaking it, is a mystery that finite minds will never comprehend, so the only thing one can do is to believe it or reject it. Let’s read:

Psalms 33:6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spoke and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Hence the reason why Paul says in Hebrews, that if anyone desires to come to God, they must believe. It is not an authoritarian statement; it’s basically the only route that persons can take in coming to God, because man’s science cannot explain, nor account for God’s creative power. 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.

Therefore, whenever man’s science and scripture collide, we will find ourselves facing a stark choice of whether to believe God’s word, or whether to go with the deductions, discoveries, or precedents of science.

 Thus, from the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, and continuing throughout, persons are faced with this daunting question of whether to believe, or not, and that against all odds. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

This first statement of fact given in Genesis must be  thoroughly understood by all those who would pass through the final conflict of earth’s history, as the question of God’s creative power looms large.

Question: Did God in this first instance call the earth into existence on the first day of Creation, or was it in a disorganized, preexistent form, from which He then brought order out of chaos? In other words, was the earth in existence before creation week, as many Christians erroneously believe, or did it have its first beginning in Genesis chapter 1 verse 1?

 It is worthy of note that Catholicism embraces the hybrid of Creation and Evolution, synthesizing both into one. And there are others who believe that it is true that God created the earth, but that He took a long period of time to do so, and that our planet, in its chaotic form existed prior to creation week.

It is indeed very important for us to investigate this question thoroughly, especially in light of what is written about the creation of the new earth, which would take place at the end of the 1000 sabbatical years mentioned in Revelation chapter 20, and also in passages of scripture. Let’s read:

Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

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

 2nd Peter 3: 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Malachi 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

[The Great Controversy pp 673] While the earth was wrapped in the fire of destruction, the righteous abode safely in the holy city. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” [Revelation 21:1.] The fire that consumes the wicked purifies the earth.

It becomes obvious, that in creating a new heaven, and a new earth God employs the use of preexisting materials which are then run through the process of metamorphosis via intense heat, to produce a new world. Question: Did God follow this same script when He had originally created the world in Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1?  

Answer: No, He did not. In the original creation of the earth God employed the raw power of His word and spoke solid matter into existence. Let’s read:

Psalms 33: 6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spoke and it was done; he commanded and it stood fast.

Exodus 20: 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Thus, we will discover an ongoing feud between the science of the Bible, and that which is derived from the likes of Darwin and other philosophers who do not believe the word of God. In the days of Noah, science and scripture collided, for there was nothing that one could have pointed to in the natural world, to support or verify what Noah was preaching.

Rain had never fallen upon the earth but was rather watered by a mist that arose during the night. Thus, no then-known science, or precedent could be used in ascertaining the truth of Noah’s prophecy. Folks would have to either believe, or utterly reject what the prophet was saying. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 97] The world before the Flood reasoned that for centuries the laws of nature had been fixed. The recurring seasons had come in their order. Heretofore rain had never fallen; the earth had been watered by a mist or dew. e rivers had never yet passed their boundaries, but had borne their waters safely to the sea. Fixed decrees had kept the waters from overflowing their banks.

They reasoned, as many reason now, that nature is above the God of nature, and that her laws are so firmly established that God Himself could not change them. Reasoning that if the message of Noah were correct, nature would be turned out of her course, they made that message, in the minds of the world, a delusion—a grand deception.

They asserted that if there were any truth in what Noah had said, the men of renown, the wise, the prudent, the great men would understand the matter.

 Again, science as we know it also collides with the scriptures in the experiences of Abraham and Sarah, for after a woman passes menopause any possibility of having children is written off according to science and thus, any such expectation on the part of any woman would relegate her to the insane asylum.

Again, science as we know it would recoil from the command to cross the Red Sea on foot. We could all relate to crossing it in a Carnival cruise ship, like the Princess of the seas, but to walk across would make those who believed the word of God seem insane in the minds of finite man.

Strictly logical modes of thought, based upon our conventional knowledge of science, often puts the Christian at odds with what the secular world may deem reasonable or even possible hence the reason why the foundation upon which everything squarely sits, as it pertains to God, is none other than belief.

And as a result, at every step of advance towards the eternal kingdom, we would be confronted with many logical arguments to the contrary, causing us to have to make a deliberate choice, of whether to believe or not.

Here we go again with the sacred utterances of the scriptures, as it pertains to Moses. The Bible says specifically that Moses did not experience most of the natural aging processes that we have become accustomed to.

Moses’ hair became gray, according to the servant of The Lord, but other than that, Moses did not lose strength as he aged, nor was his sight affected with the passage of time.

According to science, as we know it, one’s vision usually deteriorates with the passage of time, thus, requiring glasses, or contact lenses as the case may be. Age related macular degeneration is the gradual loss of central vision. Objects may seem blurry, and shapes may seem distorted, and most persons lose their ability to see up close.

Also, the conventional wisdom on the natural aging processes is inclusive of cognitive decline, shrinking of muscle tissues, and the gradual waning of one’s life forces in general, together with feebleness, and an innate fear of heights, according to the Bible.

But apparently, most of these changes did not apply to Moses, for he was able to climb Mt Nebo, all by himself at 120 years of age, a feat that many folks in their prime may be hard-pressed to accomplish in our day.  Mt. Nebo rises over 2000 ft, so, for a 120 year old man to climb it all by himself, without assistance might seem to be a stretch for science as we know it, to swallow. Let’s read:

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

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

Deuteronomy 34:1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan.

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

There is nothing in science as we know it, and there isn’t any research done by those in the medical field to even remotely suggest, that the above scriptural statement is possible. In other words, like Abraham and Sarah, and like so many other instances in the Bible, there is no scientific evidence to support such a statement.

 Thus, the only thing we can do is to believe it. But if we are prone to only believe the Bible when science can prove or verify its sacred utterances, we will run into problems sooner or later for as our topic states, there are numerous occasions, where science as we know it, and Scripture do collide.

In fact, most of the heroes of faith mentioned in the book of Hebrews have attached to their record, one or more instances, or experiences which contradict our knowledge of science currently.

With David, for instance, it is humanly, and virtually impossible for anyone to use a slingshot to kill any giant, let alone, causing the stone to sink deep into the giant’s forehead. The bullet from a .222 caliber Remington, which can smash a skull, travels at over 2100 miles per hour, thus, from a strictly scientific perspective, the record of David and Goliath enters the realm of the impossible. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 17: 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.

 Therefore, as the countdown to midnight gathers steam on our planet, God instructs the inhabitants of earth to not only believe Him and worship Him as Redeemer and Savior, but more so, to worship Him in His capacity as The Creator, because it is His sole omnipotent power to do the impossible, that causes many scientists and other persons to stumble.

 Believing that Jesus died for our sins is not a stretch, and us being promised eternal life, virtually has no down sides; but for persons to believe that The God of heaven could bring matter into existence without any raw materials, is much more difficult for science to swallow.

 The Biblical Sabbath stands as the memorial of the great facts of creation as they took place when God created the heaven and the earth. And the Sabbath continues, and will continue throughout eternity, to commemorate the Creative power of God, and it is this fact that the Bible puts forth as the main reason why God is to be worshipped. Let’s read:

Exodus 20: 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

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

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

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

In fact, if this truth is not understood, or is rejected, deliberately in our day it then becomes very difficult if not impossible, to worship God in His capacity as Redeemer, for the plan of salvation hinges squarely on God’s ability to create a new person. If this is not the case then our hope is vain. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Some are baffled by the fact that a calypsonian like the might Sparrow, can give his life to God, and he then comes up out of the watery grave as a brand, new creature. That work of redemption in Sparrow hinges on the basic fact of God’s creative power.

 Thus, in anything, and everything which pertains to creation and redemption, the singular, and creative power of God runs as a golden thread, throughout the various experiences, promises, and fulfillments that the Christian becomes accustomed to.

 Again, with the Christmas holiday season looming on the horizon, many individuals would endeavor to worship Christ in His capacity as Redeemer. That is all well and good, but the worship God is looking for in our day, mainly has to do with His Creatorship.

In closing, science may question the sacred scripts, and in many cases our finite research and discovery would not be able to come up with logical answers, or any reasonable, rational, or scientific proof, so as to verify the statements in scripture.

 Yet we are instructed and encouraged to believe, for it is only those persons who choose to believe, against all odds, that would be able to participate in God’s creative and redemptive power both now and in the great hereafter.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture that encourages us to believe, and to worship Christ, in harmony with that which is written in the scripture, even if its sacred utterances collide with our current knowledge of science. Let’s read:

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

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

                                   God Bless!

From Hero To Zero To Crypto. Sabbath afternoon 11/26/2022

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the Lord.

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

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

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads 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.

The desire to get rich quick is not a noble desire and persons who are thus disposed will be vulnerable to significant financial risks, as different schemes, and devices of men, and devils would cause many to be exposed to unnecessary failure and distress.

Losing all one’s hard-earned money in what should have been a good investment is bad enough, but to lose it all to conmen who will deliberately plot and connive to deprive persons of their earnings is not only discouraging, it can affect one’s spirituality by triggering bouts of depression and buyer’s remorse.

Throughout history, persons who have made it their sole goal to get rich in a hurry, have splattered their history and legacy with infamy, and in the process many have gone from hero to zero, and collateral damage has occurred in others, as individuals were pulled into the financial quagmire.

The Bible tells us of certain individuals who ran into very serious problems who all had as the root cause a desire to get rich quickly. The argument between Abraham and Lot was the result of Lot trying to get rich in a hurry.

The move Lot later made into Sodom, was largely driven by the inordinate desire, and the end result is before our faces, so that persons might chart a different course, for like so many other casualties of greed, Lot went from hero to zero.

Judas was driven to insanity by the desire to get rich and famous in a hurry, and thus, he sold The Lord of glory for thirty pieces of silver. The move to try and force Jesus to be King, was inspired and initiated by Judas, who seemed to be obsessed with riches.

He later did the unthinkable and thus, he sealed his fate for eternity. When Judas had initially joined the disciples, he was looked up to and greatly respected by the others, but Christ Who sees things differently was not that enthused, for reasons that would only surface later.

Out of the little sums that were supposed to be held in trust by himself, for needs that would arise from time to time, Judas would pay himself and he would reason away his actions under various pretenses, as the other disciples admired his so-called wisdom. But later on, He also went from hero to zero, as will many who track the same course.

As individuals and families become priced out of the housing market, investors see an opportunity to put a renter’s noose around the necks of some persons who may not be able to afford to purchase a home.

And with rental property availability tight, and with prices sky high, and climbing, the urge to make a quick buck has driven some corporations to buy up many of the available homes, so as to dominate the rental market for years to come.

Charles Ponzi, from which the term Ponzi scheme is derived, promised his prospective investors a 50% profit within 45 days, and a 100% profit within 90 days. As the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely isn’t true, as many of his clients would find out the hard way, for he also went from hero to zero.

The children of The Most High should avoid as much as possible being caught up in these diabolical evils, for at their core they constitute the devices of devils that are laid for the feet of the needy and greedy.

Gambling, Lotto, Horse racing, and the betting that takes place on major league games all have that one thing in common, namely, to get rich quick. And in our day it has become an oft occurrence for persons to lock themselves away in some basement, surfing the dark web for ways and means to try and phish out credit card numbers, with the collateral damage running into several billion each year.

Crypto was supposed to be a safe way to carry out transactions without the use of a middleman, and it may still turn out to be a tool of the cashless society that is looming, but lo and behold, the hackers have been able to steal, on numerous occasions, billions in crypto currency.

In speaking of satan, we are cautioned in the Bible that we should not be ignorant of his devices, which are numerous and often tailormade to suit the most vulnerable and gullible, in any of the areas where a person’s weakness is made manifest.

And thus, if he observes that persons are prone to  buy lotto tickets, and if he notices that persons are fascinated with Powerball and other quick money ventures, he correctly deduces that such a person will be a prime target for financial schemes, and as such, he goes to work in a deliberate and systematic way to deprive such persons of their earnings.

Especially is this the case with the people of God in our day, who have the word of God at their disposal and who should be on a high alert for any incursions that could potentially upend their finances, which in turn could affect the kingdom of God.

Satan hates to see the kingdom of God built up, and as such, he studies with fiendish intensity, how he can deprive the followers of Jesus of their earnings. He often uses the devices of logic, to cause persons to reason away the sacred utterances of the Bible as being archaic, or not relevant to the here and now.

The schemes he often comes up with are amazing, in that they usually make sense to the unwary. Just   because something is on sale does not mean that it must be purchased right here and now. “Buy one and get one free” is also used in an attempt to get persons to spend, when they may not really need to.

Fifty or sixty percent off, can cause a feeding frenzy on items that one never needed. Liquidation sales, or going out of business markdowns may also entice buyers to purchase stuff that was not previously on their agenda, and Black Friday often puts stores in the black and some customers in the red. And the list goes on and on.

Then again, he uses stars and celebrities to lead the way to perdition because he has discovered, and he has observed over the centuries that most persons play the game of “Follow the leader”.

Thus, those celebrities and stars, who persons look up to and adore are enlisted in promoting the latest “In-Thing” and the multitudes unvaryingly follow in their train.

That’s why one of the first questions persons should ask, when considering the latest this or that, is “Are the popular majorities jumping on the bandwagon? If this is the case, then God’s will is in most cases, in the opposite direction.

Whenever some new moneymaking scheme dawns on the horizon, the prudent Christian should take the matter to The Lord in prayer, before following these fools down a rabbit hole into neverland.

Never should any stars and celebrities be consulted before getting on our knees to ask counsel of God, who knows the end from the beginning, and who’ll be able to alert us to any unforeseen liabilities, and risks that we may otherwise miss. The scripture is mighty clear on this issue. Let’s read:

Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own (Mis) understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

2nd Corinthians 2: 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

When satan was permitted to tempt Job, the very first thing he went after was Job’s finances, for he understands that without income, the fine balance that should exist between inflow and outflow would eventually be disrupted.

And he knows by experience that if such a situation drags on for an extended period of time, some folks will become depressed, raising the possibility that the one who is thus experiencing crunch time might end up cursing God, as we’ve read in the scriptures.

Thus, as the veil is lifted from the unseen world, we see the forces of darkness systematically working to shake down all of Job’s employees, and the wealth Job was holding in his portfolio in the form of herds, and livestock, was literally wiped out in one day.

Now, even though it is true that Job had earned his wealth by employing Godly principles, the basic fact remains the same, namely, the purpose of devils to eradicate most, or all of a Christian’s earnings as a set goal. In this way tithes and offerings that should flow to the treasury would inevitably suffer, and the wider work of the gospel is often impeded. Let’s read:

Job1: 12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

What satan does next must be studied very closely, for it is a script that he often refers to when coming in as a flood against God’s people. Note well that he does not go after Job’s family, or his wife at first.

 Instead, he seeks to obliterate Job’s, income for he understands that Job’s household will be adversely affected by the incoming financial crash. Income affects outcome and inflow affects outflow so that when a person goes broke, suddenly, pretty weird things can start to happen. Let’s read:

Job 1:14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them.

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 2: 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Job was a righteous man, and the scripture tells us that there was no get rich quick scheme, in any of his dealings. We were just observing the strategies of devils as it pertains to their desire in eliminating whatsoever individuals, especially God’s people, may have.

However, with persons who cultivate the desire to get rich quickly, special battlements, and weapons are often employed so as to cause the most amount of financial damage or carnage for the longest time possible.

This is not to say that all investments are bad, some are good, but if the ways and the means do not pass the smell test of the scriptures, then, most likely we are stepping into a trap. And some of the names of these financial “heroes” can raise red flags.

For instance, Bernie Madoff, made off with billions in cash, robbing so many investors of their fortunes and hundreds of retirees watched in dismay as their savings and retirement funds went up in smoke.

Sam Bankman, as his name suggests, came on the scene as a knight in shining armor, to apparently rescue other crypto platforms that were not doing so well. Following the age-old script, celebrities and prominent persons and popular influencers who the multitudes look up to, and adore, were employed in the advertisement or promotion of FTX.

And like the game of follow the leader, many folks jumped on the bandwagon, for in their minds, if the stars are onboard, then it must be okay. Prominent personalities were thus enlisted, because their own magnetic pull on persons, would all but guarantee that many more would follow their lead.

Celebrities such as Tom Brady, N.B.A star, Steph Curry, tennis player Naomi Osaka, the supermodel Gisele Bundchen, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin O’Leary and Mark Cuban from shark tank, just to name a few, led the way, and the multitudes unerringly followed.

But the urge to get rich quickly lay at the foundation of many of the investments thus made, and thus, at its core, the principle that drives the urge is strictly forbidden in the scriptures. The principles, the ways and means God employs and instructs His people to adopt are often vastly different than what the world employs. Let’s read:

Proverbs 28: 22 He that is hasty to be rich hath an evil eye, and considers not that poverty shall come upon him.

Proverbs 13: 11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labor shall increase.

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.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

As the recent Powerball jackpot soared to over two Billion, some persons found it increasingly difficult to resist the urge to jump in, and many Christians succumbed to the frenzy that was taking hold of the nation.

As the prospect of becoming a billionaire overnight loomed larger and larger some persons cast caution to the wind, and bought several tickets, for as one celebrity says in a certain commercial, “You have to be in it to win it.”

The Bible teaches us that sound investments that have been prayed up are ok, for it was Christ who once gave us the parable of the talents. But coupled with sound investments should be the noble efforts and labors of His people to earn an honest living.

Thus, it was with Christ, as day by day, He would get dressed to go to work in the carpenter shop with Joseph. He learned a trade, as every Hebrew boy was expected and encouraged to do, and in our day, we will find that model very helpful.

Even though many occupations in our day require sedentary work, or skill with computers, yet it will not hurt for persons to learn some trade if they can, so that if things suddenly go south with the electric grid, all of one’s eggs would not be in one basket.

Young men, especially can learn some basic skills in the various lines of trade. It’s really not that difficult to do, your girlfriend will appreciate it, and you may potentially save yourself and family a ton of money, by avoiding the “Stealership”.

Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, yet He did not think it below His dignity to get His hands dirty. He would be found working in the shop with Joseph, honing His skills as a carpenter, and thereby leaving an example for us that all honest labor is honorable.

Indeed, as was stated in a recent Bible study, there are severe shortages of skilled workers, especially in areas where the astronomical prices of rentals, and homes have forced the gentrification of persons in middle income brackets.

It is to be observed that the tech industry is leading the way in layoffs. Wouldn’t it be really cute if some Twitterers could fall back on some skill, or trade to take up the slack?

Nothing is wrong with tech, for the industry is very lucrative, and persons who are thus employed will do well in most instances. However, if some crazy billionaire decides overnight, to call it quits with numerous jobs, the person who has a skill or trade to fall back on, would in most cases, be in a better position than the one who is strictly into tech.

The Biblical model given us is to work and preach at the same time, in whatever one’s trade, or skill may be. Paul was a tentmaker by trade, and there were times when in preaching the gospel, Paul found it necessary to work to support himself, so as not to burden the brethren, even though he could have legally done so.

Peter, James, and John were fishermen, Luke was a doctor, and Matthew who did more sedentary work also preached and worked, preached and worked, until the time came when Christ instructed them to go full-time.

Let those who are skilled in different trades among us, seek to pass on their knowledge to the young and restless, so that they could have a two-pronged approach of tech and trade, if they so choose, just in case one or the other might upended suddenly as we find ourselves living in an increasingly unstable world.

Workshops could be organized, to teach the basic skills so that, at the very least, persons could help themselves around the home, instead of having to shell out green backs for every little thing that may need to be done.

That’s what the Amish do; they pass on to the next generation, skills and trades, learned and practiced by their progenitors, so that the up and coming can sustain themselves, wherever in the world they may find themselves.

Persons will not need a horse and buggy to do this; the opportunities are literally at our fingertips, and since God is more practical and down to earth in His instructions to His people, the least we can do is to consider it, lest some unforeseen disruption cause some to panic unnecessarily.

As we close, it is of tremendous importance for the Christian to consult with God in all the affairs of life. Heroes often become zeros, when the fear and the knowledge of God is not before the faces of persons who are not guided by the Spirit of God.

Let us then pay heed to the counsels given to us in the Scriptures, for they are given for our best good, and the well-being of our posterity. Godliness with contentment is a much more valuable aspiration, than chasing the elusive dream of trying to get rich quickly.

Thus, we will end with a passage of scripture that will help us to navigate the difficulties and perils of the day, and may God bless all well-directed efforts to live in harmony with that which is written. Let’s read:

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.

17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

                                     God Bless!

From Creation To The Grave And Back. Part [2] Sabbath afternoon 11/19/2022

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

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

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

In most of the Bible studies which are done on this forum, we try to give practical applications of the truths presented so that the word of God will not be held as a mere theoretical document, but rather as knowledge that could and should be applied in your everyday experiences.

 But, as we get closer to the final conflict of the ages, we will have to address certain truths from a more intellectual perspective, so that we may understand clearly, what we believe, and therefore, we will be enabled to share intelligently with others, the things which belong to our peace.

Indeed, the sealing work of God in our foreheads is both spiritual and intellectual in nature, so that we would not be moved. Thus, part two of the topic we begun earlier will be more intellectual in nature. Let’s read:

[Manuscript 173 par25] Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved—just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come.

In part one of the above topic, we established from the scriptures that God always uses preexisting raw materials, that are then glorified, in the resurrection of the dead, and in the translation of the living.

The process of glorification isn’t disclosed, nor is it explained anywhere in the scriptures, but what is known for certain is that great changes would be made to preexisting material by the power of God alone.

This can also be certified in the scripture if we were to study the creation of the new heaven and earth. It is this very planet that God uses as the preexisting material, which is then transformed by the fires of hell, to produce an entirely different planet.

In the Spirit of prophecy, it is actually referred to as a purifying process by which the fervent heat from the fires of hell will trigger a metamorphosis of the preexistent planet earth, and thereby produce fresh raw material for God to work with.

In fact, the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven, before the destruction of the rest of the earth by fire, and thus, those who will be saved for eternity will be living on this earth, while all hell breaks loose just outside of the city’s walls.

The presence and power of the Eternal God purifies the piece of real estate where the New Jerusalem is to be located on our planet, but all the rest of the earth will remain intact in its then current form until the time of the executive judgement.

There are several passages in the Scriptures which certify that which was just said, for as we’ve stated previously, God very often utterly exhausts material that is readily available, which He then couples with His Divine power, to produce new material. Let’s read:

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

[Great Controversy pp 662>664] Christ descends upon the Mount of Olives, whence, after his resurrection, he ascended, and where angels repeated the promise of his return. Says the prophet, “The Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.”

 “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof, ... and there shall be a very great valley.” “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.” [Zechariah 14:5, 4, 9.]

As the New Jerusalem, in its dazzling splendor, comes down out of Heaven, it rests upon the place purified and made ready to receive it, and Christ with his people and the angels, enters the holy city.

Satan consults with his angels, and then with these kings and conquerors and mighty men. They look upon the strength and numbers on their side, and declare that the army within the city is small in comparison with theirs, and that it can be overcome.

 They lay their plans to take possession of the riches and glory of the New Jerusalem. At last, the order to advance is given, and the countless host moves on, an army such as was never summoned by earthly conquerors, such as the combined forces of all ages since war began on earth could never equal.

Satan, the mightiest of warriors, leads the van, and his angels unite their forces for this final struggle. Kings and warriors are in his train and the multitude follow in vast companies, each under its appointed leader.

 With military precision, the serried ranks advance over the earth's broken and uneven surface to the city of God. By command of Jesus, the gates of the New Jerusalem are closed, and the armies of Satan surround the city, and make ready for the onset.

The above information from the Scriptures and the pen of inspiration has settled forever the issue of God using the preexisting material of our planet to make a new earth, after the purifying processes of hell fire is accomplished. In other words, the earth becomes entirely, and materially different because of the fervent heat. Let’s read:

Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

2nd Peter 3: 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

So now, we turn to the same issue as it pertains to the use of preexisting material in the resurrection of the righteous. Just as our planet would undergo the dramatic metamorphosis because of the intense fire of hell, just so the preexistent dust which comprised our former selves would undergo God’s glorification process to produce a new spiritual body, as Christ’s.

This fact is corroborated both by the Scriptures and the servant of The Lord, as can be observed in the following statements which ought to be read closely and very slowly, in order to grasp what is being said. Let’s read:

[Letters And Manuscripts 15 par. 10] Our personal identity is preserved in the resurrection, though not the same particles of matter or material substance as went into the grave. The same form will come forth, but it will be free from disease and every defect. It lives again bearing the same individuality of features, so that friend will recognize friend. There is no law of God in nature which shows that God gives back the same identical particles of matter which composed the body before death.

Paul illustrates this subject by a kernel of grain sown in the field. The planted kernel decays, but there comes forth a new kernel. The natural substance in the grain that decays is never raised as before, but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him. A much finer material will compose the human body, for it is a new creation, a new birth. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

These statements ought to be read very carefully and slowly, for they harmonize perfectly with that which is written in the Scripture. For instance, when Adam was first made from the dust of the ground at creation, the work of God upon him changed the particular make up of preexistent dust into what we now know as a human being, with flesh and bones.

But although originally made from the dust, there is nothing about the human body currently that even remotely resembles the original raw materials that were used in man’s first creation. I personally have gotten bad cuts on different occasions, and not for once did any dust come out of my veins.

The same is true of the resurrection of the righteous for although former raw materials are used, there is nothing remotely close to the original materials, for God will give us a spiritual body. When seed is sown in the ground, the end product of the regeneration process is nothing like the decayed seed that rotted under the clods of earth.

A brand new tree, complete with leaves, branches and fruit is the end product of that which decayed and decomposed. But it was the former material of seed that was used to generate the latter. Thus, it is with the original particles that all go down into the grave.

At the command of God those former particles are reunited together again, glorified and immortalized to produce a brand new spiritual body, that could pass through solid matter. We should not limit the power of God to do as He has said, for nothing is impossible with God.

Question: Are the people of Sodom going to be raised from their graves, after being turned to ashes in the overthrow that took place in Lot’s time?

According to the scriptures, absolutely yes! God has the power to bring them back from ashes, and thus it will be with every saint who was burned at the stake and whose ashes were cast far and wide; God will absolutely bring them back from the ashes.

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were reduced to ashes, and yet, God will bring back persons from the ashes, complete with flesh and bones and with their particular identity. Over time those ashes may have been scattered far and wide, but God has the power to bring them back together again as an indivisible whole. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 2:6 God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemning them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly.

Matthew 10: 14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Ezekiel 37: 5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

However, there is a huge difference between those who are raised to life, and those who will be raised to damnation. Those who are raised to damnation will be comprised of their original particles, before the died. But those who are raised to life will have new particles, because their former dust has been glorified and made eternal.

These scriptural utterances pertaining to what takes place in the resurrection leads us to the sepulcher of Elisha, who died and was buried, and whose body had undergone a partial process of decomposition, leaving only his bones remaining at the time when an account of a particular incident took place at his grave site.

Before Elijah was translated to heaven, Elisha had asked him for a double portion of the Spirit that was upon him, and so said, so done, for a double portion of The Holy Ghost was then given to him. But after he died, he was buried in a cave, where the natural processes of decomposition were taking place.

However, there were invasions of the land of Israel from time to time, and on this occasion, some folks were just about to bury a man, but when they saw the enemy invaders, they quickly turned aside so as to avoid conflict, and they let down the coffin of the man in question, into the cave where Elisha’s bones lay decomposing.

But lo and behold, as the new coffin, with the dead man inside it, touches the bones of Elisha, the dead man stands up on his two feet, and apparently, he walks out of the gravesite safe and sound. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 13: 20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulcher of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

This particular instance must be studied carefully so as to better understand what took place. There is to be no superstition when studying sacred truth, and the things that are written, are written for a reason. To begin with, there was nothing about the bones of Elisha that gave the stranger life. Let’s read:

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.

God alone is the Life-Giver, and in this instance, He chose to resurrect the dead stranger, through The agency of The Holy Spirit, probably, as a token of hope to the children of Israel who were at that time sweltering under a load of despair.

Yet, it is a fact that those who have been united with God in this life are never severed from Christ, even in death, and it is by virtue of this union with The Holy Ghost that persons are be resurrected to life.

In other words, even though Elisha is very dead, yet The Spirit of God is very alive, and it is because of this sacred truth why we have hope. The Scripture is abundantly clear on this matter, and since The Spirit of God can revive Christ, He can also revive anyone who died in Christ. Let’s read:

Job 33: 4 The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Romans 8: 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Psalms 139: 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

John 11: 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

26 And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

[The Desire of Ages pp 388] Christ became one flesh with us, in order that we might become one spirit with Him. It is by virtue of this union that we are to come forth from the grave, not merely as a manifestation of the power of Christ, but because, through faith, His life has become ours. It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal.

This brings us to the most sobering, and pertinent truth of the study this evening, for whatsoever one might do, or whosoever one may claim to be, if The Spirit of God is not enthroned in the person’s heart that person’s hope of eternal life is vain.

We very often hear of appeals for persons to accept Christ as Lord and Savior, but very often not enough emphasis is put on the importance of the indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Spirit of God is given to every believer as an “Earnest” or down payment on eternal life, and it is by walking by faith, living and abiding in Christ, that the promise is certified for eternity.

In other words, just like how God needed to see the blood on every doorpost, just so, He is also looking for the presence of His Spirit in all those who name the name of Christ because after all is said and done and after all the sermons have been preached, and after all the appeals have been made the crux of the matter basically comes down to this one thing. Let’s read:

Romans 8: 9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if it so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Some persons may have graduated from theological universities with their Doctorate in theology, and others might specialize in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. That is all well and good and worthy of note, but we must never forget that the most important thing is to have Spirit of God living on the inside.

It is not church attendance, it is not the ability to rightly divide the word of truth, nor is it charitable works that are done. While these things are good in and of themselves, and should be encouraged, at the end of the day, all of the above should be as a result of The Holy Spirit abiding in the heart.

Therefore, an earnest appeal goes out to all who may not have fully understood these sacred truths in times past. Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, for it is the indwelling of Christ in the heart, through the medium of His Holy Spirit, that ensures to us eternal life.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which certifies these sacred truths, and it is the will of God that all who so desire, respond in the positive to the gracious overtures of the Holy Ghost. Let’s read:

Romans 8: 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

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

                                God Bless!

Winds Of Change Are Blowing. Sabbath afternoon 11/12/2022

Matthew 7: 24 Therefore whosoever hears 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.

The rains which descend, the floods that come, and the winds that blow, represent a vast, multi-prong assault that is to be unleashed on everyone, across the entire globe, by the forces of darkness that are striving for the control of the world.

God would have us to understand that there are different winds that have begun to blow, beginning with the recent pandemic, continuing with different variants and strains, and a plethora of other issues and problems persons are going to face in the not- too distant future.

There are financial and economic winds that already have begun to blow, for try as persons and nations might, we just seem to be caught in a debt spiral, by which nations and individuals need to borrow more and more, just to survive.

Inflationary pressures are biting a large chunk out of every paycheck and the struggle to make ends meet has become a daunting reality for many families, as they try to stretch every dollar.

Then there are military winds that are blowing, for there is war and rumors of war across the globe, in many countries, some more, some less. The saber rattling by nuclear powers that is ongoing in places that are increasingly unstable, tells us that it is only the grace of God that is holding back the winds of strife, spoken of in Revelation chapter 7.

Then there are the morality winds that are likened unto a category 5 hurricane, by which millions are losing their moral compass, and have exchanged the word of The Living God for philosophies and divergent views that are tethered to relativism.

Wherever there is no absolute truth there will also be absolute chaos, because with the scripture being thrown out the window, folks are losing their ability to discern clearly between truth and error.

Families and individuals will become split on their perspectives of life, as erroneous concepts would become more firmly entrenched in the national psyche.

Then there are political winds that are blowing, by which persons of different political persuasions are viewed in some instances as being mortal enemies. The seeds of doubt, skepticism, and distrust have already been sown, and like the laws of sowing and reaping, they will spring up and bear corresponding fruit in due season.

Then again there are climactic winds that blowing, as can be seen in the depletion of water resources, and the stubbornly persistent drought across the entire globe. In the U.S.A Midwest thousands upon thousands of cattle have to be laid to rest because of the ongoing drought.

And lake Mead, lake Erie, and several others have been steadily dropping at an alarming rate, in so much that the authorities are currently rationing water in certain communities, and the supply chain issues are being exacerbated, because of low water levels on the Mississippi River.

Thus, when Jesus says in our first passage that the winds descended, the floods came, and the winds blew, He is not only referring to that which will take place in the religious world, but rather the holistic approach of many disturbances that will be coming upon the face of the earth in short order.

Then it will be, that when these winds begin to blow with increasing frequency and intensity, Christians who were founded upon The Rock Christ Jesus, will not be moved, while others would be displaced.

Indeed, the winds that are referred to in our first passage are scheduled to affect every person on the planet, whether a person is a Christian or not, and thus, the only difference is that some are anchored, while others are not.

 Next year around this time, the world could be in a very different place than it is currently, and that is because winds of change, which would materially alter life as we know it, have already begun to blow.

And according to Daniel and all the other prophets who wrote about the final conflict, those winds of change would gather momentum, as the coming of Christ draws nearer.

The foundation has already been laid for anarchy of the sort most persons have never seen. For instance it is becoming normal and acceptable for persons to rise up in rebellion against the powers that be, who have been duly elected, this, in contradiction to the scriptural counsels given. Let’s read:

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

One does not have to agree with the entire agenda of those whom God has allowed to rule, for in some instances, oppressive laws have been enacted that hurt the vulnerable.

 When the children of Israel in Egyptian bondage had complained to Moses of the hard dealings they received from their taskmasters, God never advised any of them to rise up in rebellion against pharaoh, for he had become king by God’s own appointment.

Thus, when Moses attempted to resort to violence against the ruling oppressors, he had to flee for his life, for he soon found out that neither God or the Hebrews would be backing his methods, or agenda, for this is not the way God intended for freedom to become a reality for them.

When duly elected officials are regularly made the targets of threats, when attacks on democracy are becoming the norm, and when seeds of doubt are being sown almost daily, it will just be a matter of time before the lamblike beast will begin to speak as a dragon.

Currently, in every nation of the earth, there is to be found some major trouble brewing. If it is not that horrific violence in Ukraine, it is the many murders and kidnappings now taking place in several islands of the Caribbean.

From Iran to Haiti, from Russia to China, and right here across the continental United States, senseless violence and mass shootings are becoming regular occurrences.

And by daily seeing these incidents on the news, we are becoming desensitized to the seriousness of the problem. Then again there is the utter intransigence of political leaders, who seem to be going after each other’s jugular as if they are mortal enemies.

There is no doubt, that the once shining star upon the hill is devolving into a cut-throat culture, by which fellow citizens are pitted against each other and the freedom to vote, and express one’s opinion is becoming riskier with every election cycle.

The forces of darkness are working deliberately and systematically to undermine our established social order, and the structural integrity of many families and of governments alike are daily being torn down.

There is nothing more detrimental to democratic norms as to sow suspicion, and mistrust of others, for when this is the case, anarchy will not be too far behind.

 Again, with the global tightening of monetary policy and the astronomical rise in interest rates, some are sure to succumb to the increasing pressure, as more individuals and families will struggle, to make ends meet.

When increasing numbers of the population find it a necessity to borrow to live, you know that we are in the red zone already.

 Putting food on the table is becoming increasingly challenging for everyday people, and as the heat of the furnace is ratcheted up even more, there would be more individuals and families that will become displaced. It’s just one aspect of the financial winds that have already begun to blow.

Miami recently registered the highest increases in rent and home prices across the entire nation which tells us that more and more persons will be heading North of the border.

In fact, currently in Miami, there is a sort of coerced financial gentrification, by which many families are being forced to relocate, because of sky-high prices for housing and rent. And the inevitable collateral damage will take place, in that many skilled workers would be leaving, being priced out of the areas they once lived in.

There are also looming layoffs, coming from major employers such as Meta and Twitter and others, for whenever a company’s outflow becomes greater than its inflow, employees will inevitably be placed on the chopping block.

When skilled workers are in short supply, the cost of doing business goes up, and cause and effect thereby becomes a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy.

Another aspect of the winds of change that are now blowing is the many and varied shortages across the globe. Whether it is the drought, and a lack of water in several countries, or the lack of computer chips, which most persons have come to depend on.

 I recently ordered a module from the dealership in September, with the understanding that it could take anywhere from one to four weeks. We are now in November, so I thought I would check up on the dealer to see if there was any luck in procuring it.

I was told that it could be next year before it comes through, then they showed me a stack of hundreds of items on backorder, with no ETA attached. Those supply shortages that were triggered by the recent pandemic are having a debilitating and long-lasting effect on trade.

 And with China in lockdown mode in several cities, the light at the end of the tunnel seems even more distant than ever. Thus, when Christ says that the winds will blow and the rain will descend, He was referring to disturbances and challenges that would be arising on several different fronts.

Whenever needed resources become scarce conflict is never far away, as was demonstrated during the siege of Jerusalem. At that time, things in the city had reached an all-time low, and skirmishes, fights and violence erupted over the little food that was scarcely available. History is often repeated, so let’s read:

Deuteronomy 28: 50 A nation of fierce countenance which shall not regard the person of the old or show favor to the young.

51 And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he has destroyed thee.

[The Great Controversy pp 32 > 37] So fierce were the pangs of hunger that men would gnaw the leather of their belts and sandals and the covering of their shields.

Great numbers of the people would steal out at night to gather wild plants growing outside the city walls, though many were seized and put to death with cruel torture, and often those who returned in safety were robbed of what they had gleaned at so great peril.

Thousands perished from famine and pestilence. Natural affection seemed to have been destroyed. Husbands robbed their wives, and wives their husbands. Children would be seen snatching the food from the mouths of their aged parents.

 The Savior's prophecy concerning the visitation of judgments upon Jerusalem is to have another fulfillment, of which that terrible desolation was but a faint shadow. In the fate of the chosen city, we may behold the doom of a world that has rejected God's mercy and trampled upon his law.

 In the several experiences of Job we may observe what Jesus is referring to, when He speaks about being founded upon The Rock, as the rains descend, as the floods come, and as the winds blow.

 Job and his family were then living in relative ease and security, when out of the blue without warning, the winds of change started to blow. First it was the financial winds that wreaked havoc on flocks, herds and shepherds, virtually eliminating Job’s income.

 With no money coming in, Job suddenly faced the prospect of having to dip into his reserves. But at that time, much of a persons’ wealth was living and breathing in the form of vast herds of livestock. So, with all of this now gone, Job is facing a grim future.

Then it was his children, who were suddenly taken away by the icy fingers of death. Ask any parent and they will tell you that to lose one child prematurely could be heart-wrenching to say the least. Job lost ten children in one day! Indeed, the winds blew and the rain descended and the floods came for Job.

But the archenemy of God and man wasn’t finished with him yet, for when Job was smitten with sore boils he needed someone to support and encourage him as he was dealt blow after blow. He is now at his lowest point and the nearest and dearest mortal he can turn to is his wife.

When spouses are at their lowest point, when the waves of despair and discouragement sweep over the soul, the husband and the wife should be nearer and dearer to each other by helping to lift the heavy burdens through prayer and supplication.

Never should the suggestion be made for persons to turn their back on God at their lowest point because when this is the case, it is only God one can turn to for help in due season. It is when we are weak that we are strong, and therefore, an all-hands-on-deck approach will serve to foster faith and courage amid the gloom of despair.

What is worthy of note is that the Bible says Job was a righteous man, so you will not see anywhere in the first few chapters of his experience where Job cursed. He would pray daily for his children, and he would lend a helping hand to those in need, and his words were always seasoned with grace. Always!

 That is, until the heat of the furnace was ratcheted up several notches, and now, with all of his children and employees gone, and now, with his own wife suggesting the unthinkable, Job opens his mouth, and for the very first time in the narrative, Job curses his day. Let’s read:

Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

2 And Job spoke, and said,

3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day.

10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

Before we proceed, let’s read our very first passage so that the full meaning of what Christ said would sink deep into our consciences, for it is of critical importance that we be anchored to the Rock Christ Jesus. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever hears 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.

Very often, there comes a time in the Christian’s experience when there is nothing and no one else to lean on but Christ. The rug was virtually pulled out from under Job’s feet, and the only One who could sustain him was Christ.

Like Paul and those sailors who despaired of life as their ship ran aground, Job had not seen sun nor stars for many days, yet he knows that there is something bigger and better to live for, and it is his relationship with God alone that is key to sustaining him during his trials.

Even his friends, who were supposed to encourage him, instead unleashed a barrage of blistering words and comments that savored more of self-righteousness rather than empathy. That this was the case, can be seen in Job’s own assessment of those who had stopped by to visit. Let’s read:

Job 16: 2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

Thus, even though Job is buffeted on all sides, he is anchored to The Living word, and because of this singular fact, he gradually rises from the dust, he shakes of the blues, and his faith reaches for, and grasps the unseen realities of life, that make all the difference between hope and despair. Let’s read:

Job 19: 25 For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Being anchored in Christ means much more than a mere theoretical knowledge of Him, for while it is good to have the written word, The Living word of God in The Person of Jesus Christ, is what will make all the difference in the world.

Knowing Christ personally gives us energy, hope and resilience so that even though diabolical forces may seem to triumph for a while, yet the relationship with Jesus causes us to have stability and assurance when things start to go downhill.

In the not too distant future this will absolutely be the case for all who name the name of Christ, and thus, the words of Jesus, in our first passage are an appeal to us, to get to know God whilst we still can.

 The days of wine and roses will come to an end in this country, sooner or later, and then it will be that only those would be found in Christ will be enabled to weather the storms as they begin to roll in, fast and furiously.

Those of us who might have taken God’s grace for granted over the years are now encouraged to take the time to renew our relationship with Him. God is still in the business of saving persons, and all who have had the seeds of truth sown in their hearts at some time or another, would be welcomed in with arms opened wide.

 And to persons who may not have had opportunity or time to know God, today is your lucky day, for God will pardon and receive all who will come unto Him by faith.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture that would remind us to make the best of the golden opportunity to be saved. God is willing and ready, the question is, are we? Let’s read:

Isaiah 55: 6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.

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.

                                  God Bless!

From Creation To The Grave And Back. Sabbath afternoon 11/05/2022

John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Before we begin our study today there’s a very grim statement coming from the servant of The Lord that must be read and understood because it will set the stage for us to see the importance of revisiting the Biblical truths that are to be as clear as crystal in our minds, especially as we approach the final conflict of earth’s history. Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 70] When the time of trial shall come there are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason.

 Until thus tested they knew not their great ignorance. And there are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe, but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness.

 When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth.

The topic for today would deal specifically with the creation, the death, and the resurrection of man as is stated in the scriptures. For many years the truths that are written in the Bible upon these topics may have been studied in a manner that did not go deep enough to find the gold that is hidden beneath the surface.

But now, the time has come when the glory of God is to fill the entire earth and certain things that once were blurry to our minds, must be made plain. This is especially the case as we are heading into the last days of earth’s history where the things that we say we believe must be as a highway in our minds, so that we would not be moved.

Amid the numerous and discordant voices that seek to explain the origins of man, the word of God is to stand as a bulwark, making plain and simple, things that have been severely distorted by evolution, and erroneous deductions of scripture.

Thus, we must allow the scripture to speak for itself, explaining with surgical accuracy, that which is to be studied line upon line and precept upon precept.

To begin with, God created the world in six literal days, and according to the scriptures, the seas, the earth, beasts, creeping things, fruiting trees, and sprouting grass were all brought into existence before man. Thus, the very first truth that must be etched into our conscience, and believed is this:

[1] Man was created from preexisting raw materials.

When we refer to God as making man from scratch, we are referring to the scriptural truth, that Adam was made from the dust of the earth, which was in existence before God created him.  

Preexistence is interpreted as existing before, and prior to, and thus, the sacred utterances pertaining to this truth must be understood, swallowed and it must be digested as an indivisible whole. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.

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

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 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

From that first and singular act of forming man from preexisting dust, God has always followed the same pattern, using raw materials that were previously in existence to continue to create, or recreate man as the case might be.

And throughout the entire history of mankind, God has never turned either to the right hand, or to the left, unswervingly using the very same script.

 Eve was not created from scratch, as per dust alone, as it was with Adam. The raw materials used for Eve were preexisting bone and dust, and thus, a woman was created distinctly different than man was. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an

help meet for him.

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

After the fall of man, humanity became subject to deterioration and finally death, because the gift of immortality was only going to be granted to them on the condition of obedience.

 And since they had currently forfeited the golden opportunity, they would gradually slip into decay until the grave would receive them to be retuned to dust. Thus, the second important point in our study is the following grim truth:

[2] Human beings are mortal, because of sin, and as a direct result, will gradually deteriorate back into dust. Let’s read:

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

19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

At this juncture we must take a scientific detour to the grave, to better understand what takes place in the land of night. When a person dies, as most of us will at some point or another, decomposition begins with the tissues, fat and muscles, and finally, bones are also decomposed through chemical processes.

This decomposition takes place at varying rates, in different climates, and depends on such factors as exposure to the elements, temperature variations, and the like. Thus, given the appropriate length of time, all flesh and all bones will eventually return to the dust, according to the scriptures.

This grim truth raises very disturbing questions as to why God would open the grave. What is He looking for, and does He, as was in man’s creation, employ the use of preexisting raw materials, to recreate a new man? If He does, that will follow the previous script that was set forth at creation.

 But if He doesn’t, the logical question arises in our minds: What then is He looking for in the grave. To be certain, there is a whole lot of “dust” scattered across the earth that has never been used in the creation of man, so if God needed to start from scratch, as in the case of Adam, there is enough raw materials available.

 Why then, does He go to a specific place, in order to resurrect the dead? Why not call them from any old location at random? Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 277] Yet a little while, and He that is to come will come and will not tarry. His eyes as a flame of fire penetrate into the fast-closed dungeons and hunt out the hidden ones, for their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. The heirs of God have come from garrets, from hovels, from dungeons, from scaffolds, from mountains, from deserts, from the caves of the earth, from the caverns of the sea.

As we ponder these sacred truths, we are led to the third important point in our study:

[3] God has never ever resurrected a deceased person by forming him or her from scratch from the dust of the earth, as He first did in Eden. Instead, He has always used the person’s own preexisting raw materials. Always!

 Not for once, in the entire canon of scripture do we read of God resurrecting a person using new dust to form him or her. Instead, in every instance, in which a person was resurrected God’s voice is the medium that was employed, but never does the formation of a resurrected person from scratch, using entirely new raw materials occur in the Bible, as it took with Adam.

This format also applies to persons who were, and will be translated to heaven without seeing death. Like Elijah, Enoch, and the 144,000 in the not, too distant future, all translations to heaven involve the use of preexisting raw materials of the human body belonging to the specific person in question, which are then glorified and immortalized by the power of God alone.

 But any conclusion that God will make persons from scratch, using entirely new, or different dust of the earth, like God once did in Eden with Adam, is not correct and is not supported in any way by the word of God. This is a critically important truth for us to grasp, lest we convey erroneous concepts of the resurrection to the multitudes. Let’s read:

John 11: 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.

Luke 8: 51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

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 her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

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

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

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 sepulcher, and departed.

Matthew 28: 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

[The Desire of Ages pp 779] The face they look upon is not the face of mortal warrior; it is the face of the mightiest of the Lord's host. The earth trembles at his approach, the hosts of darkness flee, and as he rolls away the stone, heaven seems to come down to the earth. The soldiers see him removing the stone as he would a pebble, and hear him cry, Son of God, come forth; Thy Father calls Thee.

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

38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

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

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

The displaying of His hands and feet to the disciples was to them an undeniable verification that those wounds that were made when Jesus was crucified, had crossed over into His immortalized and glorified body, and as such Christ’s present body used as the foundation, the preexisting raw material of His own former self.

 Hence the reason why in different parts of the Bible the issues of decomposition, as it pertained to the body of Christ, are addressed and made abundantly plain. The Psalmist David specifies in his writings the fact that Christ’s body was to remain intact in the grave, because the former body was to be used in the glorification of the latter. Let’s read:

Psalms 16: 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Isaiah 26: 19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Matthew 27: 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

However, whether it be total decomposition, as in other saints who died many centuries ago, or no decomposition as with Christ, or even the partial decomposition that will occur with those who will be laid to rest just before Christ’s second coming, the same principle applies, namely, that preexisting raw materials are always used, period. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 4: 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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

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

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

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1st Corinthians 15: 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

The question then is: Why is it important for us to understand these truths? It is critically important to us, because the concepts, methods, the ways and means contained therein will directly affect the way we think and the resulting perspectives would alter the expectations we have of God in our day to day experiences.

 God utterly exhausts available resources when He engages supernatural power, and those who would grasp the concept will do the same. As Jesus Christ was about to feed the five thousand people in His day, He diligently sought out all available resources, with which He then coupled divine power. Let’s read:

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

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew  what he would do.

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

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

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

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

Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Luke 24: 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

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

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

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

And persons who have the fear of God before their faces, and who understand the ways and means of The Almighty, would always seek to follow the very same format. Thus, as a direct result, persons would not harbor unrealistic expectations from God in the many and varied situations one may come across.

 In other words, instead of sitting on one’s lees, and expecting God to work some miracle out of thin air, persons would seek to utterly exhaust all available resources and opportunities, while at the same time they intelligently trust God to take up the slack, by doing what cannot be done by the human agent.

After praying for guidance in seeking a soul mate for his son Isaac, Abraham then engaged in that diligent search which, coupled together with God’s power, produced the desired result in the likes of Rebekah.

 In searching for a job, many resumes and several applications are to be made in scatter-shot form, and as faith in God is coupled together with human efforts and resources, something will eventually stick.

Thus, the use of available preexisting raw materials and resources would lead persons to recycle plastics and other renewables, which use waste to produce new and different products. Many brand-new paper products often come to market, using preexisting materials that would have otherwise been slated for the dump.

 Most cars nowadays use preexisting raw materials, and as those vehicles look so new and shiny with a stunning paint job, we should never forget that it is The God of heaven who first started and introduced the principle of using preexisting raw materials in the creation and redemption of man.

 Let us then follow in God’s footsteps, by availing our selves of every opportunity and every preexisting resource He has given to us, for the furtherance and building up of His kingdom, for the Bible advises us: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

 We end with the first statement that was made this evening, cautioning us by default, to take the time to study carefully those sacred truths we hold so dear. Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 70] When the time of trial shall come there are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason.

 And there are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe, but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness. When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth.

                                   God Bless!

What defiles A Man. Sabbath afternoon 10/29/2022

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…..

One of the easiest ways for the Christian to gauge if his or her heart is in the right place, is to check what they naturally dwell upon when speaking freely, for apart from one’s work, school, or business matters, etcetera, our conversation almost, always naturally reverts back to what we dwell upon internally.

There is a saying that goes like this, garbage in, and garbage out, meaning that if persons allow perverse suggestions to enter, and remain for any length of time in the mind, the person will eventually end up spewing out of the mouth, those things that were cherished in the heart.

 Now, it is true that we are bombarded constantly with a barrage of evil suggestions, which for some reason seem to be proliferating more and more, as the day for Christ’s return looms larger and larger on the horizon.

 Forces of darkness have indeed succeeded in their efforts to penetrate every segment of society with some form of evil, whether it be some suggestions, ideologies, philosophy, or mal-practice.

 Most advertisements carry some trace of evil, as do most political rallies, news paper articles, billboard ads, and the multitude of pop ups that appear when surfing the internet. If it’s not lying, false accusation or character assassination of another, it’s the subtle misrepresentation of truth, or a blatant alternative to facts.

Even when looking for scriptures, there are times when suggestions and imagery that are opposed to what is written, would just appear without warning, and if our minds are not stayed on Christ, those suggestions can change the tenor of our thoughts.

 Again, nature shows and documentaries are for the most part tainted in some way with evil, for if it is not evolution that is peddled, it is the omission of God from nature, as can be observed when animals and plants are credited with genius and wisdom, as though they can do what they do without God.

It's yet a mystery how anyone can do an hour-long presentation on nature, without once mentioning nature’s God. And thus, by the elimination of God from documentaries, which are otherwise good, the forces of evil draw the mind away from the Creator to the creature.

In one particular nature video, the Ibex is featured as a fearless climber on some of the most difficult, and breath-taking heights. As the Ibex families rout the steep cliffs and ledges, thousands of feet into the air, their soft cloven feet are credited with the ability to navigate such mind-boggling terrain.

But the God of heaven is never ever mentioned as being The One who has endowed the Ibex with their singular abilities. Thus, the creature is subtly exalted above the Creator, and in most cases, persons are none the wiser. Let’s read:

Job 39: Do you know the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or can you mark when the hinds do calve?

2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or do you know the time when they bring forth?

Psalms 104: 18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

Again, many video games are overloaded with much violence and criminal practice, and the curse words and mixed-up attitudes and gestures are paraded as something to be admired and emulated. Very much of the crime we now witness in our day, is the result of persons feeding on video games, and movies.

The Bible teaches us that by beholding we become changed, a principle that works for both good and evil. Even though defilement comes from within a man, what we behold can play a major role in what comes out, for if evil is allowed to enter the mind, and is cherished and cultivated, it will inevitably be manifested in what comes out.

 However, for all of the evil with which we are being surrounded, we are not more gullible than persons in former years and the fact of the matter is that we can still live unspotted in an evil world. That is what He was explaining in our first passage as He declares evil defilement to come forth from within, not from without.

 Thus, in our study today, we will dwell in large part on the ways and means that are given in scripture to purify, and keep unsullied the well-springs of our thoughts, for if our mental cogitations are right, the inevitable good actions and words will follow.

One’s purity of heart and mind does not happen by accident; it takes diligent, well directed effort under the auspices of The Holy Ghost, to keep our minds from wandering upon forbidden themes.

 Like with anything else in the spiritual realm, any study of growth in grace, and the maintaining of a person’s equilibrium, as it pertains to keeping one’s mind pure, must begin and must continue with the presence and power of The Holy Spirit.

The presence and power of The Holy Ghost enables persons to sift through the bombardment of evils that keep coming our way every day, and He helps us to distinguish clearly between the pure and true, and those low, trifling thoughts which too are often allowed to occupy valuable real estate space in the “brainosphere”.

God is preparing a people to stand upright, during the most difficult and trying days of earth’s history, and He is seeking to purify our thoughts so that the things which do matter would be foremost on the mind’s agenda. Let’s read:

John 15: 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me.

John 16: 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you, things to come.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 460] This will require earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness. We must be aided by the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit, which will attract the mind upward, and habituate it to dwell on pure and holy things.

 Secular modes of thought are often infused into our minds under the guises of having some benefit, and before you know it, those values, perspectives, and mal-practices follow unerringly, wherever they are dwelt upon for any length of time.

Therefore, we would begin with the counsel that is given in the book of Philippians in which the apostle Paul tells us of the ways and means to be employed as we, through our choices, try to cooperate with God in keeping our minds pure. Let’s read:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

The words Paul uses in the preceding verses would virtually eliminate most of the mental material and the information persons feed on. For instance, Paul uses words such as “Honest” and of “Good report”, words that can potentially eliminate most political rallies.

If politicians and candidates for public office would only speak the truth what a very different world this would be. But truth is so manipulated, and distorted into meaning whatsoever the hearers desire, that the public trust in elected officials has been severely eroded.

Blatant falsehoods from political candidates are not only expected and mandated in too many instances, they have become the norm, and outright lying is now considered fair game in today’s world. When asked about the malpractice of falsehoods in those instances where one is knowingly peddling lies, the response is often “What’s wrong with that”.

As a direct and inevitable result, democracy as we know it will come to an end one day, as the book of Revelation declares will be the case. An autocratic form of government would one day overspread the land, and it will be the result of persons persistently and deliberately manipulating facts and truth, so as to serve their own purposes.

When this is the case, persons will inevitably follow in the footsteps of their invisible leader who has not only perfected the malpractice of deliberate lying, but has now permanently occupied the top echelon of the totem pole, by actually believing falsehoods he peddles, and as a direct result, the permanent state of delusionary thought and action becomes one’s way of life.

Then Paul uses the words “True” and “Pure” which will eliminate most movies, and fictitious materials, since movies are for the most part, actors depicting figments of the imagination of man’s heart. One of the main reasons why folks get hooked on movies is because they do have the tendency to fascinate and fire up the imagination.

Often, the mind is removed from reality, and when the habit is formed of imbibing such performances, persons are led to cultivate perspectives that were based solely on the imagination. And in doing so the mind becomes poisoned after a while, and unfits it to grasp the truths, and realities that are presented in the scriptures.

 Many folks now prefer to watch the movie versions of Biblical renditions such as Noah’s ark, Passion of the Christ, and the Rapture, rather than reading the scriptural versions of these events. That is because the mind, in most instances, has become hooked on drama, and thus, one’s relish for the plain word of God becomes blunted.

 In fact, as a general rule of thumb, any person who habitually visits the movie theater, feeding on the imaginary, will inevitably develop a distaste for the Bible, and spiritual things, some more, some less. It is just another one of those “Good” temptations we keep referring to.

Those high energy actions, and dramatic displays of the theater stand in marked contrast to the tranquil pleasure of the study of the Scriptures, and thus, it’s becoming more and more difficult to keep the mind and the attention of the young and restless focused on the word of God, if there is no drama included. Let’s read:

[Christian Education pp 35] Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school of morality and virtue, and is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality.

Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments. Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes, deprave the imagination, and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle.

There is no influence in our land more powerful to poison the imagination, to destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil pleasures and sober realities of life than theatrical amusements. The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence, as the desire for intoxicating drink strengthens with its use.

Again, Paul uses the phrase: “Whatsoever things are pure” and he lists virtue and praise as determining factors as to what folks should choose to have their minds dwell upon. In other words, what Paul says to us can be summed up in the following words: “If it does not push you up, it will pull you down”.

 Now that we have read and heard that which needs to be avoided, let us turn to the positives, whereby the tenor of our thoughts can be trained to dwell on that which is good and acceptable in God’s sight.

We do not wish to sound like a broken record, but it is a fact that it is very difficult, if not impossible, for us to maintain and cultivate the pure and honorable without a regular study of the word of God, which is acts like an inoculation against the viruses of evils that are now being transmitted at an alarming rate.

During the recent pandemic, and even currently, it was recommended that persons not only receive a shot, against the original strain of the Corona virus, but it was stated that individuals needed to get all additional boosters in order to fend off the variants and strains that keep ever evolving.

The same is true with the study of the word of God, for it is not enough to get a shot once a week during Divine hour; additional boosters would be needed throughout the week, as the different strains, and subvariants of evil keep on evolving each and every day.

 Currently, according to data coming from the world health organization, there are now more than two hundred variants, strains, and subvariants of the original Corona virus. But in the spirit world, there are currently billions of strains of evil, and they keep on evolving and coming at us at a rate that persons could only keep up to speed through the Living and written word.

Evils, which folks in the sixties, and seventies never even dreamed of, have now become the norm, and what one would have recoiled in horror from in the days of yore, is now being gobbled up by persons in the here and now.

 Alternative lifestyles are no longer a subculture; it is a fact that mainstream dynamics have driven such philosophies to the very forefront of societal modes of thought and action, in so much that individuals who might dare to differ are now swiftly becoming an endangered species.

 This is why it is so critically important for everyone who names the name of Christ, existing in such an environment that is increasingly hostile to anything that savors of righteousness, to be updated with the latest booster shots, that are found only in the word of God.

 In fact, if one does not see the importance of study, it is just a matter of time before that persons falls. It is virtually impossible to maintain a level head, and walk the straight and narrow path with a steady and even tread, without regular references to the Bible.

That is why Christ placed so much emphasis on the word, lifting it in order of priority over His necessary food, for if the word of God is not firmly entrenched in one’s heart, persons will certainly succumb to the many distortions and subvariants of evils that are to be found all around us.

The reading and study of God’s word gives to those who are thus exercised, an active reference point in deciphering, and distinguishing good from evil, and with the passage of time, and the indwelling of The Spirit of God, this ability to discern clearly, becomes sharper, clearer, and quicker.

But whenever the word of God is neglected in favor of those light, trifling, sensual, or secular materials, the spirit of discernment becomes severely blunted, and after a while, one can entirely lose their ability to tell what is right from wrong, or to discern truth from error.

This is actually the spiritual plague afflicting persons living in Laodicea; it is not so much the proliferation of evil worldwide, it is the lack of ability to discern between the heavenly and the satanic. And because of this, many individuals are settling in for a form of righteousness that’s neither recognized or endorsed by God. Let’s read:

Revelation 3:17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you art wretched, miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness does not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that you may see.

On this important, and necessary ability of persons being able to tell the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, the Scripture has very much to say, for if one cannot differentiate properly, the battle is lost, even before it is begun.

 When Martha became riled up at Mary, for her not helping with the cooking and preparation, as Christ was sitting in their living room hungry, she thought that she was prioritizing her agenda properly. But lo and behold, when the issue was raised, Jesus stated that her priorities had become temporarily inverted even though she knew it not.

 Again, persons in our day are often presented with agendas that are packaged by the smooth operator in ways that are becoming increasingly difficult for us to recognize the good from the bad. Not so with Christ, who was noted for His quick understanding, and discernment, which in turn, helped Him greatly in fending off disguised temptation. Let’s read:

Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears;

4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth…

Again, it is of critical importance for our minds to be dwelling on that which is of eternal consequence. In our troubled world, where from one day to the next folks might encounter angry, old men, with nuclear weapons who have already lived their lives and who might have nothing to lose, it becomes all the more important that our focus be on God, and not on any mortal man.

 The word of God specifically states that the very last nation to be left standing, before the coming of the Son of Man, is America. It’s not China, Russia, North Korea, nor any of those actors living in the Middle East.

It is America; and thus, the person whose mind is focused on God and His word, would not be left to beat about in a frenzy of uncertainty, as the one who is not thus disposed. Persons can at times be overwhelmed, and discouraged on account of the constant barrage of bad news, and before you know  it, the tenor of their words savors of fear.

 Fear often crystalizes faith, and with the world in an increasingly volatile state, and with heads of nations one edge, the instability and uncertainty could wear down one’s faith, if we were to lose focus, and thus, a person could become defiled through fear. Let’s read:

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

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

Therefore, as we seek to address the issues of inner defilement, let us keep our hearts and minds lifted to the skies, for if we allow our minds to dwell on the good and right, God will grant us the enabling power to make it habitual, and thus persons can be fortified against the internal and external foes that continue to strive for the mastery of the mind.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that is to remind us that the mind is the springboard of all actions, and thus, it must be kept and garrisoned by the Living and written word of God. Let’s read:

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

                                   God Bless!

The Valuation Of A Person. Sabbath afternoon 10/22/2022

1st Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

It’s amazing to see the many and various ways folks are valued in modern society. In some instances, it’s what one has or has accomplished in life that would cause their valuation to go up, in the estimation of the world. In other cases, the color of one’s skin is the measure used to valuate a person.

In other instances, wealth, reputation, education, political standing, and celebrity status all contribute to a person’s value as far as society goes. There are also good deeds that play a role in how a person is valued, for in the world’s measure, heroic acts that are accomplished, including those feats done during the Olympics, all contribute, some more, some less to the esteem placed on individuals.

As a result of the way persons are valued, as far as the world is concerned, inequities are inevitable, for the various valuations would render some persons as being eligible for favoritism, while others would be more vulnerable to mistreatment.

For instance, in some communities, one would have to pay much higher insurance or interest rates than in other well to do neighborhoods. It was found that in the distribution of funds during the pandemic, big businesses were more favored to receive payouts in front of the smaller fledgling Mom and Pops shops.

Wealth and influence were leveraged in such a way as to take care of the so-called more important first, and then, whatever remained would trickle down to those inferiors on the lower echelons of the totem pole.

The same thing took place during the market crash of 2008 as billions of dollars were forked over to the big banks, while persons who had defaulted on their mortgages were left holding the proverbial bag.

At that time, it was the stated hope of officials that the financial institutions who had benefitted greatly from government spending would now show mercy to borrowers.

But lo and behold, after raking in the lion share of government funds, some of those very institutions turned around and choked borrowers with an iron fist, by which millions lost their homes.

There are certain neighborhoods across the country where just to get in, it is almost like applying for an F.B.I clearance, while in other neighborhoods angels and U.F.Os could pay a visit, and no one would even bat an eye. It all has to do with the way individuals are valued by society.

What took place over the years in Flint Michigan with the drinking water, would never have occurred in more affluent neighborhoods like Star Island and Aventura. Even the roads in some communities are actively manifesting these glaring disparities which exist in society, for rough surfaces and potholes are left unaddressed in some, while others are paved and repaved for apparently no reason.

But when it comes to salvation, every person is on a level playing field before God, with no consideration being given to caste, race, wealth, or reputation as it is in the world. In fact, God instructed His people not to indulge in favoritism in any form, for He is a God of equity, and all persons have the same value on account of what Christ has done on Calvary.

Thus, because of the way God values a person, He has given specific instructions in His word so that we too may follow His lead. Several passages in the scripture address the issue of valuating persons on the basis of what God has created and redeemed, and it will do us well to observe some of the verses which treat on the issue. Let’s read:

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

35 But in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him.

Deuteronomy 16:18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow…

Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.

Deuteronomy 1: 17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man….

If anyone living in Liberty city would have dared to take any classified government documents to their home, they would have been handcuffed and would be sitting in jail long ago. But modern society’s way of valuating persons allows certain individuals who might have wealth, and connections to run free for many years, with impunity.

Again, justice is often meted out based on the color of one’s skin, for if it was any different person who had done the unthinkable, in that infamous mass school shooting in Florida it’s quite possible that the death penalty would have been handed down in no uncertain terms.

Therefore, we must address the issue of valuating a person on the basis of what the Bible instructs us to do, for by doing so, we would avoid many of those pitfalls, temptations, and societal burdens which do hang like an Albatross around the necks of many.

Several distinct points on the issue would be made, with the supporting scriptures, so that all may stand free and clear in the liberty that Christ has gotten us on Calvary. A noble self-worth based upon the Bible is not only necessary, but also healthy, if we are to live independently of what the world, and society deems valuable.

We will begin with some of the more common, and state of the art misconceptions which have crept in over the years, that the world makes much of, then we will dwell on the scriptural methods of valuing a person, as it pertains to reality in God’s sight.

[1] The standards of the world, as far as outward appearance goes, does not give a person one iota of value in the sight of God, nor in reality.

 All of the so-called must haves, as pertains to one’s outward appearance, are a nothing burger as far as one’s valuation goes. Tattoos, outward adornment, and the whole nine yards of “blings” and things do not add one percentage of value to a person.

According to the scripture the Christian is to cherish godly principles of decency, cleanliness, and most of all, a charitable, kind spirit, that stands free of those eccentrics that are mandated in the social realm, in order for persons to be accepted.

When persons get bogged down with the latest fashions and societal must haves, they can become slaves of society’s mode of thought and action, and consequently, one can begin to feel inferior, or not accepted and valued, if they are not bowing to the prevailing fashion god.

The problem with the “In Thing” is that it is always going through a metamorphosis, so that what is in today would be out tomorrow. And therefore, if a person feels accepted or valued, based upon their subscription to the in thing, they would soon find themselves in the unfortunate situation of having to constantly succumb to the winds of change. Let’s read:

1st Peter 3: 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves …..

Jeremiah 4: 30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothe thyself with crimson, though thou deck thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rent thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.

[2] Body building, big muscles, six pack abs, body sculpting, and figure eights do not add any value to any person; not in God’s sight, and not in reality.

 Now brethren we will want you to not only consider what is being said, but also by whom it is being said. Exercise is good on several different levels, for it is a known fact that it can stave off many diseases, and ailments, especially as persons approach the golden years.

In addition, it’s actually a part of the health message which includes diets, and foods, water, faith in God, sunshine and yes, regular exercise etc. But in reality, the truth of the matter is that with all of a man’s big muscles and with all of one’s body sculpting a man’s or a woman’s value does not go either up, or down with these things, not in God’s sight.

There is an old saying that goes like this: “Dress to Impress”, but to put it plainly, God is not impressed with outward appearances on any level. He bids us to be chaste and modest in dress, and appearance, as we should be, but in the greater scheme of things we cannot add any value to ourselves, by outward appearance in any form. Let’s read:

Psalms 147: 10 He delights not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

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

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 glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord which exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Unfortunately, some persons have gone to great lengths to adopt a bulimic lifestyle, following some of these Tik Tok stars down a rabbit hole that leads to neverland, in the vain pursuit of what modern culture deems to be the perfect body.

God is not impressed at all. In fact, an overweight believer in The Lord Jesus is of more value in God’s sight than a lean, good-looking, sculptured person who has rejected Christ.

Man’s ways of valuating persons are quite often diabolically, and diametrically opposed to the way God esteems a person. The sacred truth must now be permanently etched into the minds of the many gullible persons, who may think it necessary to be a slave of society’s standards in order to have worth. Let’s read:

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

[3] Diets and foods do not add any intrinsic value to the worth or valuation of a person, in God’s sight, as far as salvation goes.  

Again, very much is sometimes made of the issue of diets and foods, especially among the Remnant. It is an indisputable fact that there are benefits to folks who adopt the principles and instructions thereof, but in reality, eating veggies does not add any more value to a person than folks who do otherwise.

When God’s numbers would have been tallied up in the judgement, many vegans will be weighed in the balances and found wanting, just as anyone else, if the righteousness of Christ wasn’t received into the heart by faith.

That is not to say that we should not seek to lead healthy lives, for there are tremendous benefits to be had, for those who adopt such a lifestyle.

But we are not to overemphasize the issue, to the neglect of those weightier matters pertaining to the valuation of persons, and their salvation, because it is one’s faith in Jesus Christ that matters the most, not merely food and drink.

God has given very clear distinctions in His word as it pertains to clean and unclean foods, and these instructions are to be followed by all who desire to obey God. But beyond that, vegetables, and salads are not to become salvific issues, for Christ died to persons, not veggies.

Faith in God will lead folks to reach for the highest heights, but when it comes down to the wire, food is not the final determining factor, as far as one’s valuation goes. In fact, we are cautioned in the Bible not to cause anyone to stumble in their faith in God, on account of diets and foods. Let’s read:

Romans 14:2 For one believes that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eats herbs.

3 Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him which eats not, judge him who eats, for God hath received him.

4 Who art thou that judges another man's servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yea, he shall be upheld: for God is able to make him stand.

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

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

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

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

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

And now we turn to the true valuation of a person, as God estimates it. A well-worn pair of Levi Jeans from the 1880s recently sold for $76,000.00 at an auction. Being worn and threadbare in some places, it did not, and could not have such a high valuation, in and of itself.

Originally, it did have some worth, but its current value was based solely upon what that person was willing to pay for it. Thus, that pair of Jeans is now very valuable in the sight of the one who had forked over such a large sum of money to procure it.

Similarly, with the valuation of persons; originally, we had value, and that is one of the reasons why God made that decision to purchase us back to Himself. But currently, what gives us such a high valuation is the price that was paid for us.

 The blood of Jesus Christ cannot be measured as far as pricing goes, because there’s nothing to compare it with, and there is nothing more valuable. When it was decided in the courts of heaven, that Jesus will come to this earth to save us, God, The Father was putting everything on the line or as some would say, He was putting all of His eggs into one basket.

Angels also rejoiced greatly at the consummation of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary, and with good reason, for if Christ were to fail here, their security and their existence would also be in very deep trouble. Thus, the very existence and welfare of the universe hung upon that one price that was to be paid by Christ on Calvary. Let’s read:

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

[The Desire of Ages pp 758] To the angels and the unfallen worlds the cry, “It is finished,” had a deep significance. It was for them as well as for us that the great work of redemption had been accomplished. They with us share the fruits of Christ's victory.

And it is because of this, why human beings have now become so much more valuable in the sight of God. When on account of our sins and errors, any question or concern is raised in the heavenly courts Jesus lifts His pierced hands as a reminder of that great price that was paid for the human family, and it's this that has caused the valuation of persons to go up astronomically. Let’s read:

[Special Testimonies July 15] The most perfect and valuable treasure of Heaven was given for man's salvation, and God will receive only the dearest and most precious gift from him in return.

The Father in giving his Son poured out in one gift all the excellence of Heaven for man, and those who prize this gift will make their offerings of the things they most value, and withhold nothing which God has bestowed upon them wherewith to honor and glorify his name.

Therefore, when we look at the ways in which folks are valued by the world, it seems as nonsense when compared to how God values us, and when we see ourselves and all others through the lens of Christ’s sacrifice, it could, and should greatly change our perspectives on life.

One of the immediate benefits of understanding the valuation of persons, as God sees it, is that persons are no longer tethered to secular, worldly methods of esteeming oneself, and as a direct result, we can live untrammeled by all the must haves, and must dos that society bogs persons down with.

The Bible states that if The Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed, and therefore, whenever we understand the real value and worth of persons, we would not become slaves of fashion, or esteem ourselves and others by worldly standards. Instead, we can stand free and clear of the petty valuations that secular society deems essential.

We no longer have to dress to impress, for clothing and outward adorning are vastly inferior methods of measurement when valuating a person’s worth. We would also value human life above that of lower life forms for Christ died to save the former, not the latter.

In addition, we would place the highest premium on human life, and as such, the evangelism which is to form the cornerstone of the Christian’s existence, will be front and center of our efforts and energies, not something that the church has to beg us to do against our will, every now and then.

One of the reasons why individual missionary work has become almost nonexistent within Laodicean circles, is the lack of proper valuation of persons, for whom Christ died. Instead of getting all excited over games and sports icons, we ought to be energized with joy and gladness when one soul is baptized in God’s kingdom. Let’s read:

[Experiences in Australia pp 156] He will open to us the gates of the city of God, and bid us come in, welcoming us with the heavenly benediction, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

The joy of the Lord is the joy of seeing souls saved. In doing this work we shall be partakers in the sufferings of Christ, laborers together with God.

Let us therefore shake of the many shackles which the world has been placing around our necks like an Albatross, for if there is nothing nobler to live for, than the mere esteem of a secular society, then the very essence of Christian life will leak out of the soul like water from a leaking vessel. Let’s read:

[2 MCP pp 784] Truth is an active, working principle, molding heart and life so that there is a constant upward movement.... In every step of climbing the will is obtaining a new spring of action. The moral tone is becoming more like the mind and character of Christ.

The progressive Christian has grace and love which pass knowledge, for divine insight into the character of Christ takes a deep hold upon his affections.

 The glory of God revealed above the ladder can be appreciated only by the progressive climber, who is ever attracted higher, to nobler aims which Christ reveals. All the faculties of mind and body must be enlisted.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that reminds us to value persons as Christ did, for if we were to see the true worth of humanity, we would be moved to unite with Christ in the redemption of His purchased possession. Let’s read:

Matthew 24: 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. Amen.

                                    God Bless!

Must Dos, In order Of Priority. Sabbath afternoon. 10/15/2022

Matthew 6: 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

One of the difficulties we often face as Christians is to manage our priorities in the right order. There is an ongoing effort by unseen forces to disrupt, derail or dismantle the most important items that we will need, in order for us to live victoriously. And sadly, it is too often the case that they are successful in so doing.

 Must dos are the things that need to be done on a regular, daily basis. These range in importance and prioritization from having breakfast, doing laundry, doing dishes, cleaning the house, taking the kids to school to the more, weightier matters that pertain to eternity, such as seeking The Lord, the study of His word and His character, and prayer, which is the breath of the soul.

Thus, from day to day, most persons find ourselves having to juggle these must dos in a manner that is efficient, but doing so often becomes a challenge in many instances. One of the reasons for the ongoing difficulty of prioritization is that there is a limited amount of time available to us each day.

Therefore, the bottom line is that there is only so much that we can get done in any given day, and it often seems that we could use a few more hours each day. Yet, the reality is that persons only have twenty-four hours to do, that which needs to be done, and as such, we must stack our must dos in order of priority.

One thing we should always bear in mind however, is that the temporal pursuits of life are never more important than the spiritual concerns, and for this reason, if we find ourselves running short on time in any given day, we’ll have to scratch off some items from our list of must dos.

Therefore, we must be very careful not to scrub the spiritual in favor of the temporal for doing so would not only cause our priorities to become inverted, it will also put us at risk of succumbing to temptation, which is what our unseen foes desire most of all.

Our jobs, and the work that we do are important, but they are not more important than seeking God’s face. Our studies, in procuring a bachelors, masters, or doctorate are important, but again, they are not more important than the time spent in the audience chamber of the Most-High.

In fact, one of the most common temptations that’ll come our way is to try to make us believe that folks can scrub the spiritual for a while, to get temporal our matters in order, and then resume the spiritual aspects of life when it is convenient to do so.

 This is a very grave mistake, for, if and when we succumb to such temptations, God is then put into second or third place on our list of priorities, and thus, we can make serious mistakes, and errors in judgement or decision making.

The belief that there is little danger in persons being disconnected from God for a short season, in order to fulfill some temporal, social or some educational pursuit, is a very dangerous mode of thought, for it is a fact in the spirit world, that any disconnection from Christ, the source of our power will expose our vulnerabilities in ways that we may regret later on.

Therefore, several examples are given in the Bible, so that we may have our must-dos in the correct order of priority at all times. It is an area of life that is to carefully monitored, lest we be disconnected and know it not. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

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

At this time when His family came for a visit, Jesus was in the middle of a major sermon, and thus, He would have to either scrub the sermon, in favor of His family, or vice versa. His example leaves us no doubt as to which of the two was more important in the greater scheme of things.

When God calls on us to serve, we too may face the grim prospect of having to choose between family, and the work God has given us to do. Especially, if a message of import is to be brought before persons, various circumstances, which seem to demand our immediate attention may arise, and like Jesus, we might have to choose between a sermon, and our family.

It all has to do with must dos, in order of priority, for there is no doubt, Jesus’s mother and His family were absolutely important to Him. The questions is: In this current situation, when souls of men were on the line, was the visit with family more important?

What is worthy of note is the timing of the visit, for it occurs exactly at the point in His sermon when He was pulling back the curtain to reveal to the people sacred truth pertaining to the devices of devils, and what takes place with possession, as it pertains to the souls of men.

Thus, we are left to wonder if the timing was a mere coincidence, or whether it could’ve been surgically orchestrated by unseen agencies to try and disrupt, dismantle, distract, or divert the attention of Jesus from those weightier matters that pertain to eternal life. The context gives us a clue. Let’s read:

Matthew 12: 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then he goes, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

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

Another “must do” that has to be placed in order of priority is sleep. Restful sleep is essential, because our bodies need sleep to recover. In fact, it is one of the pillars of our health message, which folks have espoused over the years, and beyond the shadow of a doubt, sleep has been scientifically, and clinically proven to be a bedrock essential to health.

 But there are times when even sleep would need to be displaced from its position in our priorities, so as to wrestle with God on some grave, important issue that needs resolution. There are times when a cloud of temptation looms large on the horizon, and folks may need to scratch off sleep for a while, so that we can be strengthened to gain the victory.

At such times, sleep remains important, but not as important as seeking God’s face and thus, whenever the situation may warrant it prayer and supplication are more important than sleep.

Whenever we are in a situation, where we are very tired but we might be facing some grave trial which we need to pray about, we should then ask God to strengthen us to fend off the drowsiness that would keep us nodding off.

God often responds to such a prayer for strength by infusing His servants with a boost of supernatural power, so that the priority, or temptation at hand can be adequately addressed. But for persons to try in their own strength to fend off sleep, especially if they are extremely tired, is a recipe for failure.

In the garden of Gethsemane, as Christ was fending off the hosts of darkness, which had come in for His jugular He found it necessary to table sleep from His priorities, to address the more urgent situation as it unfolded. Normally, He would not ask His disciples to surrender their zees, at night, but on this special occasion, prayer was far more important than sleep.

 So, what are the disciples to do in this situation? It is true that some of them were fishermen and some like Dr. Luke, being a physician would be tired from their day’s work. So now, with their eyes heavy, and with some dozing off uncontrollably, what becomes more important? Sleep or prayer? Let’s read:

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.

40 And he cometh unto the disciples and finds them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

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.

43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

[The Desire of Ages pp 713] It was in sleeping when Jesus bade him watch and pray that Peter had prepared the way for his great sin. All of the disciples, by sleeping in that critical hour, sustained a great loss.

 Christ knew the fiery ordeal through which they were to pass. He knew how Satan would work to paralyze their senses that they might be unready for the trial. Therefore, it was that He gave them warning.

 Had those hours in the garden been spent in watching and prayer, Peter would not have been left to depend upon his own feeble strength. He would not have denied his Lord.

Again, there are times when even the work that is given us by God, must be placed in proper order of priority, especially when important decisions are to be made. When God gives to His servants a specific instruction to do such and such, the command does not mean that prayer becomes less important.

In fact, prayer at such times becomes all the more important, lest persons run ahead of God, without His presence and power to guide. When the great commission was given us by Christ, it was never His intent that evangelism is to supersede prayer, as if it is more important.

Prayer before missionary work is what will open the way for God to show folks the ways and means, the methods and approaches that should be used in this or that situation, since the preaching of the gospel is not monolithic in nature.

Sermons that may be effective in western cultures, might not be well received in some middle eastern countries, and evangelism in the Caribbean might not go down well in certain parts of Africa. Thus, even though we are all commanded to preach and teach all nations, we must of necessity seek God’s face to do so effectively.

Again, there was a time when God told Joshua that He would be given victory over the cities and people of Canaan. That then, did not mean that prayer was less important than the work that was to be done in Canaan.

 In the proper order of priority, prayer is even more essential than the actual battles to be fought, for it is through prayer that God would have shown the unforeseen pitfalls and dangers that awaited Israel, and God would have alerted Joshua to what took place secretly with Achan, so that Joshua would not have make such a grave error in judgement, as he did. Let’s read:

Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.

2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spoke unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.

3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few.

4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.

5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

 [Patriarchs & Prophets pp 493] The great victory that God had gained for them had made the Israelites self-confident. Because He had promised them the land of Canaan they felt secure, and failed to realize that divine help alone could give them success. Even Joshua laid his plans for the conquest of Ai without seeking counsel from God.

Again, in the proper order of priority, food is quite important, but when compared with the spiritual aspect of man’s being, it is not more important. As Jesus was led up into the wilderness to be tempted, He knew that the weight of the world rested on His shoulders, and thus, if He should fail here, the plan of salvation would be lost.

Thus, just like it was in the garden of Gethsemane with sleep, His hunger and thirst would need to be foregone for the moment, so that victory over the forces of darkness could take the top spot in His order of priority. Let’s read:

Matthew 4: Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

In other words, if food and drink will interfere with Christ gaining the victory, at that point they become less important than the former. Again, when Jesus met the woman at the well, He was very hungry and He was in fact waiting for food that the disciples went to procure.

But, lo and behold, as the salvation of this one soul loomed large on the horizon, food and hunger are tossed out the window, in favor of the weightier, and more important matter at hand.

This shift in His priority, on the spur of the moment, teaches us that Christ always held the spiritual, and eternal interests of God’s kingdom, to be infinitely more important than food. Let’s read:

John 4: 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy food.)

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

31 In the mean while his disciples asked him, saying, Master, eat.

32 But he said unto them, I have food to eat that ye know not of.

33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

34 Jesus saith unto them, My food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

This particular point, of holding the interests of the kingdom of God in preeminence would be especially important for those of us who might live to see the final conflict of the ages, as it would unfold across the globe, because, at that time, millions of persons will be converted under the latter rain, as promised in the scriptures.

Therefore, if one’s necessary food takes precedence over soul winning, God would have to bring some of us down to the water to test us, as He once did in the days of Gideon. Food is important, but it is not that important to scrub evangelism in favor of some food.

When the mark of the beast will take the world by storm, persons would have to decide which is more important; our three, square meals or obeying all of the commandments of God at a time when it will be extremely difficult to do so.

The bread, and water that is promised in the book of Isaiah, should not be expected up front, without a fight, for all of the stops will then be pulled out to determine who is who, and whether or not persons will buckle under the tremendous pressure that will be exerted against our need for food and drink.

As Christ battled on in the wilderness, He became pale and emaciated, for when the body has entirely exhausted available nutrients, it begins to feed on itself, beginning with fat, and ending with muscle.

Thus, for forty days and nights, His priority remains our salvation, and if it would cause Him to lose all His weight and become utterly dehydrated in the process, then, so let it be, as far as Jesus Christ was concerned.

In the final conflict with the powers of darkness, the remnant will see all earthly support cut off, and the food that we now take for granted, will become out of reach, if we are to remain faithful during the last days.

Like as it was with Jesus, the first few days of the “Mark” may not be that terrible, but if it wears on for several days, weeks, or even months, persons might begin to sing a different tune.

The severity of the conflict is portrayed in scripture so that none may be deluded into thinking that the refusal of the mark of the beast will be a breeze. It  will absolutely not be a breeze by any stretch of the imagination, and thus, our food and drink should be placed in the right order of priority, even now. Let’s read:

Job 23:11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Jeremiah 30: 5 For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

[The Great Controversy pp 621] The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger, a faith that will not faint, though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time.

In the current forty days of prayer that we are doing there will be times when we should be praying, but we will feel very sleepy, just as the disciples felt that overpowering drowsiness in the garden with Christ. At such times we should persevere in prayer, asking God to restrain the forces of darkness, so that our senses would not be paralyzed.

Again, there will be times during the ongoing forty days of prayer, when severe pangs of hunger might prompt us to rearrange our order of priorities, and thus place food over faith. At such times, we would do well to remember Christ in the wilderness, as He determined that the issues of eternal moment are of greater value and importance than His necessary food.

When God tested the soldiers who had volunteered in Gideon’s army the simple test revealed that most of them had their priorities inverted, for there were only three hundred left standing after all was said and done.

Their lackadaisical attitude manifested, in stooping down to drink water, at the time when they should have been on full alert, revealed that they could not be trusted in an emergency, for they would put the valid, temporal concerns of life above the work of God.

Therefore, as we study the history of those who have gone before, and as we too review our lists of priorities, let us make certain, by the grace of God, to put spiritual things first. The relationship with the God of heaven, and the power, and foreknowledge, wisdom, strength and guidance Christ brings to the table, are of more value than the temporal pursuits of life.

Christians should not allow circumstances to dictate their order of priorities, for whenever this floodgate is opened it sets up a precedent that becomes much easier to succumb to the second and third time. For instance, choosing the gym, work, or secular study, instead of our special time with God, will make it so much easier to repeat the same inversion again and again.

 And if for any reason we may run into a jam, where one priority has to be scrubbed in favor of another, never let it be said that we preferred the temporal over the spiritual because whenever this is done the order of priority becomes inverted, and folks could suffer great loss as a result.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will help us to tow the line with a steady and even tread, because keeping things in their correct order of priority is an ongoing battle that must be fought and won by the grace of God. Let’s read:

Matthew 6: 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

                                   God Bless!

As It Was In The Days Of Lot. Sabbath afternoon 10/01/2022

Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built.

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

The passages above teach us a few solemn facts as it pertains to Sodom, and to Lot and his family who were residing in the city. These facts are now worthy of utmost consideration, since according to the passage, history will be repeated.

The last day of Sodom began like every other day with the populace going about their daily rounds of duty. Traders went to the stock market in Sodom as usual, and the city’s financial sector opened up for business, as the hustle and bustle of daily life went on, without a trace, or any hint of incoming danger.

Parents got their children ready for school while the transportation and construction sectors began their hum drum of everyday business. And fruit markets, and groceries flung their doors wide open, as their customers came strolling in to see if there were any new bargains on tap.

God would have us to understand that the demise of Sodom did not take place in a vacuum, for it was a culmination of many years of grace being spurned, and the entire nation, with the exception of Mr. Lot, had dug in their heels in adopting the lifestyles, and practices of a nation gone rogue.

Thus, there are at least seven grim takeaways that should be observed closely, lest persons in our day make the very mistakes which did Sodom in. First up, we should know that destruction from God is never levelled against any nation arbitrarily, for the people are the purchase of Christ’s blood, and as such, all efforts to save are utterly exhausted first.

 This leads us to the first grim fact about Sodom: [1] God had given to that nation unmistakable proof of His care for them, through the ministry of Abraham.

 Earlier, when some of the surrounding nations had invaded Sodom and taken its citizens captive, it was Abraham who had interceded on behalf of Lot and his family, and together with all the captives, they were rescued and brought home safe and sound.

Thus, by this signal providence, and His kindness to the nation, God appealed to their better judgement so that they would, at the very least investigate the godly principles Abraham lived by, and The God he served.

His life was as an open book to them, and they had been given ample opportunity to see and know The only true God. But like so many others, the memory of God’s grace faded, and they dug in, even deeper than before, into the practices, and sins that finally sealed their doom. Let’s read:

Genesis 14: And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;

2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

10 And the vale of Sodom was full of slime-pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.

12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.

Back in those days, when an army vanquished the enemy, as Abraham did, it was customary for the victors to plunder all the spoils of war, hence the reason why the king of Sodom asked Abraham to take the spoils. But he refused, and by doing so he displayed a noble unselfish spirit that should have caused something to click in the mind of the king.

But apparently, it did not make a lasting impression on either the king or his people, and therefore, the golden opportunity to inquire about Abraham’s God was lost, and they returned to their old ways, just as if God’s grace had meant nothing to them.

Similarly in our day, nations and individuals which  follow in the footsteps of Sodom, are granted grace for grace with unmistakable manifestations of God’s love and care, but with many, these overtures don’t make a lasting impression, and before you know it, some sink back into the former errors, even worst, than before, in many instances.

This leads us to the next grim fact about Sodom: [2] The angels did not come to warn Sodom, for their probation had already been closed, though they knew it not. The angels came in to destroy Sodom.

When God sent the two mighty angels into the city, they passed trough the gates without saying a word to the people. It was Lot who started a conversation with them, because he had learned kindness under the influence and example of Abraham.

 But the inhabitants of the city were long past their probationary period, and because of this, any warning from God would be rendered useless. It is worthy of note to whom God gave a heads-up, as to what was going to shortly come to pass.

 The Lord first revealed what He was going to do to Abraham, who then interceded for the inhabitants of Sodom. But when this failed, God sent angels to Lot’s family, including his children, who had gotten married in Sodom. But the general population as a whole was never given a clue, because their day of grace was over. Let’s read:

Genesis 18:17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do.

20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous.

Genesis 19: 12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place.

13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxed great before the face of the Lord and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.

Abraham, together with Lot, and his immediate and extended family were all given a heads-up, but the citizens were not made aware of what was coming their way, and that’s because warning and entreaty at this point would have been redundant.

This leads us to the third grim fact about Sodom: [3] Difficult as it may be, some Christian parents might finally have to be reconciled to the sad possibility, that some of their kids may be lost eternally.

God has promised to fight for our kids, and He does, for He invests time and energy in wooing, calling, entreating, and making it as easy for our kids to be saved. But God does not, and cannot save persons who have come to the age of accountability against their own will, and His efforts do not cross the red line of one’s freedom of choice.

 Many opportunities are granted, many prayers and intercessions are made, with groanings that cannot be uttered, and God gives grace for grace, especially to the children of the righteous, but some may have to be reconciled to this fact, that God cannot save a person if they do not desire to be saved. Let’s read:

Isaiah 49: 24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

25 But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contends with thee, and I will save thy children.

Genesis 19:14 And Lot went out, and spoke unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

There is something quite sobering, in the previous verse we just read. The Bible says that Lot went out and spoke to his “sons in law” for, as the heads of their households, they would naturally have to take the lead in believing and acting upon God’s word.

 But since they were citizens of Sodom, it seems as if they had developed a callous attitude to spiritual things, just as the Bible declares often takes place. Thus, as Lot came to preach his final sermon, they made fun of him, something that must never, ever be done.

 When God sends a preacher to deliver a message to His people, there are persons who may not like the man’s style of preaching, or his accent, if he is from a foreign country, and some others may tend to find fault with his dress, his mannerisms or even with the very message he delivers.

One thing that must never ever be done is to make fun of the preacher, for it isn’t funny at all and who knows, doing so might very well seal one’s doom.

 When Christ was finally taken captive by the Jews, He spoke and pleaded with Pilate, and He prayed for a special interference from heaven, if haply the governor would turn away from the act that was to seal his doom.

But when Jesus was brought before Herod, He had not a single word to say, because Herod had made a mockery of John, by slaying him in prison. Thus, as far as God was concerned, prayers and entreaty for Herod was an absolute non-starter for he had made light of the sacred truths God sent through John. Let’s read:

Luke 23: 8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

Once upon a time, some kids made fun of Elisha on his way back from the translation of Elijah, and they joked about his bald head, and about the fact that he was not raptured like Elijah was. What followed next is history, for The Lord made manifest, in that instance that He is no respecter of persons whether the be young or old.

This is why this third grim fact is so important, for it was the mercy of God that was made fun of, as Lot warned his sons in law of the coming deluge. The scripture specifically says that Lot was mocked by his sons in law, not by his daughters, so it is possible that the daughters might at least, have taken Lot seriously, were it not for the mockery of the men.

It reminds us of those passages written in the Bible which speak against marriages with unbelievers, as the results of such unions can carry eternal risks. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 7:3 Neither shalt you make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

The following is to be understood in the context of the marriage of Lot’s daughters to those men of Sodom, who had apparently been trained from their youth to make light of religion.

That influence, and mindset can deliver one of the most blistering scourges to anything that resembles godliness, and, in retrospect, it would have been a good thing, if Lot’s daughters had read the following counsel first, before tying the knot. Let’s read:

[Testimonies Vol. 4 pp 505 > 506] The plea is sometimes made that the unbeliever is favorable to religion and is all that could be desired in a companion except in one thing—he is not a Christian.

Spiritual declension commences the moment the vow is made at the altar; religious fervor is dampened, and one stronghold after another is broken down, until both stand side by side under the black banner of Satan.

Even in the festivities of the wedding, the spirit of the world triumphs against conscience, faith, and truth. In the new home the hour of prayer is not respected. The bride and bridegroom have chosen each other and dismissed Jesus.

At first the unbelieving one may make no show of opposition in the new relation; but when the subject of Bible truth is presented for attention and consideration, the feeling at once arises: “You married me, knowing that I was what I am; I do not wish to be disturbed.

From henceforth let it be understood that conversation upon your peculiar views is to be interdicted.” If the believer should manifest any special earnestness in regard to his faith, it might seem like unkindness toward the one who has no interest in the Christian experience.

 The believing one reasons that in his new relation he must concede somewhat to the companion of his choice. Social, worldly amusements are patronized.

 At first there is great reluctance of feeling in doing this, but interest in the truth becomes less and less, and faith is exchanged for doubt and unbelief.

 No one would have suspected that the once firm, conscientious believer and devoted follower of Christ could ever become the doubting, vacillating person that he now is. Oh, the change wrought by that unwise marriage!

This leads us to the fourth grim takeaway from the city of Sodom: [4] Husbands and wives are not saved in pairs, nor do they enter the ark by twos.

 Every husband and every wife will have to make up their minds about serving God, for the relationship is not to be tethered to, or through another. The righteousness of one does not atone for the lack thereof in another, and thus, the decision to follow Christ becomes a personal one.

Encouragements are to be often given, the family altar is to be held sacred, and husbands and wives are to do all they can to help each other as they travel the straight and narrow path. But at the end of the day, each spouse must decide for himself or herself.

Before this very sudden encounter with the angels of God, in commanding them to leave immediately, we do not read anywhere in the scriptures of any disconnect in the relationship between Lot and his wife and God.

To the casual observer they were, for all intents and purposes, reading from the same script, for many years, and as such there was nothing done overtly to remotely suggest that the relationship with God was indeed fractured in one spouse.

It was only when crunch time came around, that the disconnect was exposed, and Lot and his wife had to make their own personal decision of whether to move forward on God’s command, or whether to turn back.

 For very many years, some husbands and wives may have been in good and regular standing, attending church together, sitting in the pews, and singing the songs of praise with apparent earnestness. But like Lot, there may be a silent disconnect taking place in the mind of one, or both, of which either might not be cognizant.

 Thus, we say by the grace of God, husbands, check on your wives, and wives, check on your husbands, for it may be that a small fracture in the relationship with God is happening imperceptibly, and as such, it  may rupture in the open, at a time when both wife and husband should be on the same page.  

And if so, your earnest prayers should be lifted up in their behalf, night and day, lest, at a moment when the decisive command from God comes down, one is weighed in the balances and found wanting. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 161] She rebelled against God because His judgments involved her possessions and her children in the ruin. Although so greatly favored in being called out from the wicked city, she felt that she was severely dealt with”…

This leads us to the fifth grim takeaway from Sodom that we all should seriously consider: [5] Attachment to material things will result in the downfall of many persons in the church.

 The material blessings of life are to enjoyed and shared by all who are thus blessed. And it is good to life comfortably in the place that God has lent to us. But it is a fact, that very often we might get more attached to the gifts than the Giver, and when this is the case, material blessings can become an idol to which we bow down, even if the blessings come from God.

Lot had amassed a considerable amount of wealth in Sodom. Several luxurious cars were parked in his garage, and his wife and family had access to all the heart could wish for. After years of toil, and diligent saving and management of material blessings, Lot could now sit back and relax, for he was very rich in silver, gold and sheep, as folks back then counted wealth.

That’s all well and good, but if at any given time, the material blessings begin to become more important than God, and His word, then persons are in serious jeopardy, for the focus is now on the blessing, and not on the Blesser. It was quite difficult for Lot and his wife to uproot from the luxurious life they had enjoyed over the years.

Country living now seemed to them to be so absurd and farfetched that they openly complained about the supposed hardships they would encounter. The devil often employs the slow-boil method, by which he attempts to get persons in a comfortable groove from which many are loathed to be dislocated.

What took place with Lot and his family, will again be repeated when the command of God for us to leave the cities, would once again seem absurd and very farfetched. Over the years we have become so accustomed to our I-phones, computers and other gizmos, that country living will be an absolute non- starter with many.

 And like Lot’s wife very many would look back with deep yearning on the luxurious, comfortable life we once enjoyed. The study for this afternoon is meant to give us a reality check lest like Lot’s family we too become so ingratiated in the comforts, and luxuries of life, that the future command of God to leave the cities may seem absurd or even cruel. Let’s read:

Genesis 19: 17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:

19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take  me, and I die:

20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

[Patriarchs & prophets pp 160] It was hard to forsake his luxurious home and all the wealth acquired by the labors of his whole life, to go forth a destitute wanderer. Stupefied with sorrow, he lingered, loath to depart. But for the angels of God, they would all have perished in the ruin of Sodom.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 161] Though so greatly favored in being called out from the wicked city, she felt that she was severely dealt with, because the wealth that it had taken years to accumulate must be left to destruction.

This leads us to the sixth grim takeaway from the city of Sodom: [6] The lasting effect of Lot’s earlier choice was manifest in his kids, who escaped with him.

By beholding we become changed and this principle applies to both good and evil. As the two daughters of Lot resided in Sodom, the values and immorality of the inhabitants all tended to rub off on them. And before you know it, iniquity became less, and less offensive in their sight, to the point where their ability to distinguish between right and wrong was severely blunted.

In our day, the constant barrage of distortions on gender and marriage is severely blunting the minds of many, and as a result, sin does not seem to be so sinful anymore. Lot’s daughters did not think it a big deal to sleep with their own father, something that would be looked upon as ridiculous in our day.

And the same slow-boil method of devils is actively being applied, and the fine sensibilities that should frown upon evil, have become so blunted, that not only are the distortions looked upon with approval, they are in many instances being incorporated into the modes of thought and action by more and more persons. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

37 And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

This leads us to our final grim takeaway from the city of Sodom: [7] The history of Sodom is going to be repeated. Let’s read:

Luke 17: 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Like it was in the days of Lot, God has given grace for grace to the inhabitants of earth, so that we all could have ample opportunity to know His will. And there are yet many who are to become familiar with God’s requirements, before the final overtures of mercy are withdrawn.

 But, as it was in Sodom, His kindness and mercies do not seem to make a lasting impression on the minds of many, and because of this, the day of His grace will come to a close, with many persons not being aware of what is taking place.

As it was in the days of Lot the final warning will be targeted primarily to those persons who have not a full understanding of the issues at stake, and some, like Lot’s daughters who have a faint knowledge of truth would be granted a final opportunity to cast in their lot with the people of God.

Again, as it was in the days of Lot, the gravitational pull of material possessions will drain the life-blood of many a would-be saint since over the years some have become so accustomed to a life of luxury and ease, that they would be loathed to depart, when it comes time to make their escape.

In our day, those who are watching for the return of Jesus, should often take time to read and study the prophecies which point us to His return, for in this way present truth would be front and center in our thoughts and our lives could be guided accordingly, to what is written.

But if like Lot’s family, we put the truth on the back burner, or worst yet, make fun of those preachers whom God has sent to alert us of the danger, Jesus will come, and probation will close, at a time when we least expect, and because of this, heaven will be a place of surprises.

 Let us therefore awake to the moment, and make the best of the golden opportunity God has granted us to be saved, for at the end of the day this is what will have mattered the most in life. We will end with a passage of scripture that should enable persons to understand the signs of the times, and thus, live in readiness each day. Let’s read:

Romans 13: 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

                                  God Bless!

A Time For Revival And reformation. Sabbath afternoon 09/24/2022

Malachi 4: 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

There are times in the experience of God’s people when revival and reformation become necessary. There are times when a spiritual drought has all but dried up those living springs of water Christ spoke of, and in their place, a dry formality, without heart and without spirit, settles in like a dark cloud upon persons who were once on fire for God.

There are times when a person goes to church, just because it is the right thing to do, but really and truly, their hearts and minds are not enthused nor animated by the presence of God and fellowship of other believers.

Now, it is true that we should always encourage persons to come to church, but if one is doing so, just because it is the right thing to do, then there is something vital that is missing.

The rich, young ruler in Christ’s day was doing the right thing. He was attending church regularly, he was singing in the choir, he could argue the twenty- seven doctrines with anyone who dared to question him, and for all intents and purposes he was one of those members in good and regular standing.

In other words, there was nothing external that one could point to in his life, to conclude that there was a missing link, for all the I’s were dotted, and every T was crossed, as far as external format goes.

 But there was only one problem; his heart and soul were not in it, and because of this the external form of religion was being held near and dear to his heart while the kernel of love, and joyful, eager service to God and to his fellowmen, were lacking greatly.

God wants us to be joyful and happy, serving and worshipping Him, and if this is not the case then we must of necessity take a serious, introspect look at ourselves, to see what might be the missing link, if indeed we are in need of a spiritual revival.

God desires that we worship and serve Him in spirit and in truth, as Christ once declared to the woman at the well. In other words, the relationship with the God of heaven shouldn’t be a dry bones experience. It should be a living, breathing experience, in which we not merely do the right thing, but are eager and excited to do so.

When there is no joy in serving and obeying God at a time when there is no reason for any sadness and gloom, then, it may be that a spiritual revival might be due, because God is a Spirit, and the attitude we serve Him with, might actually be more important in some cases than the many good and right things we may do. Let’s read:

John 4: 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Some worship God in spirit but with very little or no truth, while others may be worshiping with a whole lot of truth, but without any spirit. Both elements are necessary in serving God, and doing so ought to be our highest pleasure. Anything short of this will mean that there are some idols somewhere, lurking in the shadows. Let’s read:

Psalms 100: Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his  presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.

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

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

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

17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.

Then again, there are times in our experience when a reformation is needed. Times, when there must be a change of ideas and perspectives, where there must be some house cleaning as it were for where ever the revival occurs, a reformation must of necessity soon follow.

A revival is more like a resuscitation from spiritual death, as when a paramedic does CPR on a patient who is close to death. But a reformation has to do with concrete steps that are taken to reform certain malpractices which need to be addressed and which if left unattended can cause revival to go in reverse.

As the long 2300-day prophecy of Daniel was now drawing to a close, there was a spiritual revival in those whom The Spirit of God stirred up, and then it was that the great Reformation movement gained a whole lot of steam. As Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, very great changes and reforms were about to take place.

Similarly, in our own experience, when a revival is due, and God performs CPR on His people, through the infusion of new life by His Spirit, great changes are to be made where warranted, especially as we are heading into unchartered territory in the history of this world. Let’s read:

Revelation 3: 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot.

[R.H. February 1902] A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of the mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death.

 Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.

A good example of what is being referred to, took place in the days of Elijah, when the nation of Israel had become withered spiritually, under the reign of Ahab and Jezebel. In those days, God’s people had become blinded by the worship of false gods, and, before a reformation could be instituted a revival in the hearts and minds of the people was needed.

At this point we must reiterate that this is one of the side effects of bowing to idols, for doing so is inevitably going to produce spiritual blindness, by which persons lose the ability to discern between right and wrong, good and evil.

In those days of Elijah, the worship of Baal had now supplanted the worship of the true God, and Baal was being credited with sending the rain in its due season. This is how far and how low, the bowing to idols can take persons.

Thus, the reasons for the needed revival must now be clearly demonstrated by God, as He would point out the root cause of the problem, and by doing so, the follies of idol worship would be exposed.

As the mega-drought in Israel has been taking its toll on man, and beast, Baal was entreated, but for some strange reason, he seemed to be missing in action, refusing to come to the help of worshipers, as does every other idol that is worshipped. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18: 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and 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.

[Prophets & Kings pp 150] At last, their voices hoarse with shouting, their garments stained with blood from self-inflicted wounds, the priests become desperate.

With unabated frenzy they now mingle with their pleading terrible cursing of their sun-god, and Elijah continues to watch intently; for he knows that if by any device the priests should succeed in kindling their altar fire, he would instantly be torn in pieces.

Evening draws on. The prophets of Baal are weary, faint, confused. One suggests one thing and another something else, until finally they cease their efforts. Their shrieks and curses no longer resound over Carmel. In despair they retire from the contest.

 All day long the people have witnessed the demonstrations of the baffled priests. They have beheld their wild leaping round the altar, as if they would grasp the burning rays of the sun to serve their purpose.

They have looked with horror on the frightful, self-inflicted mutilations of the priests, and have had opportunity to reflect on the follies of idol worship. Many in the throng are weary of the exhibitions of demonism, and they now await, with the deepest  interest the movements of Elijah.

Now, that the root cause of the problem has been confirmed and made manifest, it is time for some CPR, by which God is going to infuse new life into His people; a spiritual revival as it were, and when God does this, there will follow a dramatic change in perspectives and practice, and the way would be cleared for reformation to take place. 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.

[Prophets & Kings pp 153] The people on the mount prostrate themselves in awe before the unseen God. At last, the people see how greatly they have dishonored God. The character of Baal worship, in contrast with the reasonable service required by the true God, stands fully revealed.

It is worthy of note, that what follows next on Mt. Carmel, is what must take place whenever revival occurs, through the power of The Holy Spirit. Those idols that were formerly worshiped, must now be resolutely put away, for this is the first work that is to take place when reformation follows revival.

 Now, we are not by any means, advising anyone to slay any of the modern idols in our day; however, the work of reformation must include relinquishing the former worship, adoration and following of the various Baals, that have led us into false paths and concepts.

Whereas before, we would follow the multitude to do that which is contrary to the scriptures, now we must stand up for right, and take concrete steps in an opposite direction, as the word of God directs us to. Thus, reformation will produce results that will be seen in those changes that are made manifest by the work of God’s Spirit in our hearts.

Those idolatrous philosophies and practices which have previously invaded our minds imperceptibly, must now be all ratted out by the word of God, and put away in the most resolute manner. This work is not only necessary for reformation, it is a must if we are to stand in our lot, like Daniel, at the end of the days.

This is what is meant by the following passages, as deep reformation and changes were to follow that revival upon Mt Carmel, by which the energies of the people were presently aroused.  

In other words, reformation must begin by persons identifying the cause of spiritual declension, and the cause must then be put away in no uncertain terms. If this is not done, then the CPR God gave will wane over time, and before you know it we will retrogress even more than before. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18: 40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Those words uttered by the prophet Elijah are also pertinent to those of us who realize the need for a reformation, for as we take an introspect look at the things we have been doing in former years, or might be doing right now, that are contrary to the word of God we must “Let None of Them Escape.” Let’s read:

Philippians 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

[Last Day Events pp 87] Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school of morality and virtue, as is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality. Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments.

Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions and attitudes deprave the imagination and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle.

There is no influence in our land more powerful to poison the imagination, to destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil pleasures and sober realities of life than theatrical amusements. The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence, as the desire for intoxicating drink strengthens with its use.

[Prophets & Kings pp 153] The anger of the people has already been aroused against the leaders in transgression; and when Elijah gives the command, “Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape,” they are ready to obey.

[Prophets & Kings pp 155] With the slaying of the prophets of Baal, the way was opened for carrying forward a mighty spiritual reformation among the ten tribes of the northern kingdom.

[Prophets & Kings pp 169] There was stern work to be done, that all might be given opportunity to take their position on the side of the true God. Elijah himself was to return to Israel, and share with others the burden of bringing about a reformation.

In our own experience there might be a dire need of revival and reformation in several areas of our lives, for the assessments of The True Witness, given in Revelation chapter 3, are pertinent to the remnant church in Laodicea in our day.

Where in some cases folks may have inadvertently adopted practices, methods, and principles of the world, or may have followed some human idol into never land, folks must now put all such things into  reverse gear, and try by the grace of God, never to touch the unclean thing again, ever!

Where some have adopted philosophies that are contrary to sound doctrine, or may have allowed the X-perts to muddy the waters as it pertains to what is acceptable and what is not, the pure word of God must replace those concepts and modes of thought, and in their place, “It is written” must reign supreme.

In other words, whenever some new thing arises, or some question on an issue is posed to us, the first thing we should do is to ask ourselves: What does the word of God have to say on the matter. Then, if the word says it, we believe it, and that settles it. But if not, then we should have no problem with putting it in the garbage, for this is what living by the word of God translates into, in the most literal sense.

To be swayed by the X-perts, just because they are X-perts, will set up a system of belief that is not in harmony with the word of God and any such modes of thought will no doubt lead us into false paths. In the scriptures, we are told of a man of God, to whom very specific instructions were given as he was sent to a certain king with a message from God.

But as he went on his way to do God’s will, he met an X-pert, one who was supposed to be much more knowledgeable and experienced than he was, who then counselled him to do the exact opposite thing of what God had said.

 The reasons given in the scripture are worthy of our utmost consideration, for in our day, the same sort of enticements and diabolical reasonings are often put forward as to why we should deviate from that which is written. Let’s read:

1st Kings 13:7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.

8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:

9 For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou came.

11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.

14 And he went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that came from Judah? And he said, I am.

15 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.

16 And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:

18 He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

19 So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.

20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back:

21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,

22 But came back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulcher of thy fathers.

In our day as we consider the need for reformation, God would have us to understand that there is a plethora of “Old Prophets”, some televangelists and preachers, who claim to have more experience and knowledge in the things of God than some of us do.

And they may be right, for all you know, but if what they are saying is contradictory to the word of God, then reformation would lead us to refuse such even if an angel spoke to them. Many of the current faith healers in our day, claim to have special revelations and connections to God, just like the “Old prophet” we read of.

While they are not to be condemned, we have to be very careful that we do not drink from perverted springs, lest we end up believing and obeying that which is nowhere to be found in God’s word. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 595] God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines, and the basis of all reforms.

The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority,—not one or all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support.

Thus, as revival and reformation come due, let it be our steadfast purpose to resolutely put away, any and everything that will impede the work God is willing and able to do.

 It will call for some soul-searching, some prayer and fasting, some acknowledging and confession of sins, and yes, some turning away from things which the Baals of the day have induced us to engage in. God would help us if we cooperate with Him, so that the work of salvation can continue uninterrupted in our hearts.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will enable us to reach for the kernels, not merely the husks of religion, for God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 1: 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

  God Bless!

Dangers Of Bowing To Idols. Sabbath afternoon 09/17/2022

Exodus 20: 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

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

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them…..

It is imperative that we understand what an idol is before we can know what bowing down to idols is. Back in ancient times, idols were made out of wood, stone and metals, and were originally supposed to be visible representations of deity. The practice and the concept were early on developed by the people known as the Antediluvians.

 They would conceive in their minds what The Deity was supposed to looked like and if their imagination took them to four-footed creatures, and creeping things, they would make idols, based upon concepts that deviated greatly from one idea to another, and soon a plethora of different idols were incorporated into pantheons that continued to spawn new idols. 

The beginning of the book of Romans gives us an idea of how the concept of idolatry came to be. It was founded on rebellion and a hatred of God, and continues to this very day. The Antediluvians back then did not want to retain the knowledge of the true God, and wherever this mindset is found, very many idols would inevitably follow. Let’s read:

Romans 1: 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 95] They claimed that their idols were representations of the Deity, and that through them the people could obtain a clearer conception of the divine Being. This class were foremost in rejecting the preaching of Noah.

As they endeavored to represent God by material objects, their minds were blinded to His majesty and power; they ceased to realize the holiness of His character, or the sacred, unchanging nature of His requirements.

For instance, in one pantheon today there is to be found no less than 330 million gods, and the grim proliferation continues. Idols always spawn other idols, and thus there is set into motion a continuous evolution of concepts and ideologies which are then often swallowed whole by the popular majority who follow in their train.

This is one of the reasons why persons cannot be satisfied with themselves, but rather feel compelled to get the latest this, or the latest that, in order to feel that they are accepted by society. It is better known as fashion mongering.

That noble independence which Christ brings to all who truly accept Him, is often lost in a barrage of must haves that are peddled by humanistic idols. Thus, what one ultimately does is not driven by the word of God, but rather by the dictates of fashion, and the human idols who produce and peddle them to the masses of people. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 32:16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.

17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

The reason why Moses declares that they sacrificed unto devils is because both the idolatrous concepts and the worship originated with devils and thus had nothing to do with God. This is one of the dangers of bowing to modern idols, in that the practices and worship thereof often have nothing to do with God, but are rather the productions of devils.

Thus, when persons bow to the dictates of any idol, whether humanistic, wooden, metallic, stone, or philosophical, the act of worship is done, and devils get the glory, for they’ve succeeded in getting such a person to obey their dictates, contrary to God’s will.

These idols were then given human, animalistic and deity characteristics. Some were designated as the protectors of water, land, seas and skies, as is to be clearly observed in the ancient Egyptian pantheon. In Egypt, when God sent Moses to meet pharaoh at the river Nile, the pagan king had gone to the river’s edge to worship.

One of the gods of the Nile was Sobek the crocodile, of which we have one million in the sunshine state. Another was Hapi who was given the designation as the controller of the annual floods. Later on, there was a fusion of Sobek and Ra, the sun god, to form a new idol called Sobek-Ra. And the list goes on and on.

The fish was worshipped as a god, as was also the frog, by the name Heqa. In fact, one of the reasons why God shook down Dagon in the temple of the philistines is because they had cloned the fish with a human body, to produce what we now know as the little mermaid. And the list goes on and on. Let’s read:

Exodus 7:15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goes out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink as he comes; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

16 And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou would not hear.

17 Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river.

Exodus 8: And the Lord spoke unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus, saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs.

3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading-troughs.

1st Samuel 5: 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 586] The Philistines removed the ark in triumph to Ashdod, one of their five principal cities, and placed it in the house of their god Dagon. They imagined that the power which had hitherto attended the ark would be theirs, and that this, united with the power of Dagon, would render them invincible.

 But upon entering the temple on the following day, they beheld a sight which filled them with consternation. Dagon had fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of Jehovah. The priests reverently lifted the idol and restored it to its place.

But the next morning they found it, strangely mutilated, again lying upon the earth before the ark. The upper part of this idol was like that of a man, and the lower part was in the likeness of a fish.

 Now, every part that resembled the human form had been cut off, and only the body of the fish remained. Priests and people were horror-struck; they looked upon this mysterious event as an evil omen, foreboding destruction to themselves and their idols before the God of the Hebrews.

And the list goes on and on. People would then try to dress, act, and speak like the idols they served and bowed down to, and thus, the idols became the icons people looked up to, and wherever the idols went, in their concepts and ideologies, so went the people.

In fact, some of the styles and fashions in our day are based on idols that are, or were worshipped but persons are none the wiser. Thus, bowing down to idols would literally mean trying to mimic what the idols would do, and obeying what the idols “Say”.

But we must keep in mind that they are always the figments of man’s imagination, driven and inspired by devils. Always!

 Since those days of ancient idolatry, the concepts have morphed into something that is hardly ever recognized for what it is, because the idols in our day are actual human beings for the most part, who the masses of people adore and worship, by doing whatsoever the human idol does, suggests or says, without any regard for what the Bible teaches.

Thus, it is a very grim assessment that is made, that many people are currently bowing down to idols, in some form or fashion, even though many are not aware that they are bowing.

Persons may not make actual obeisance, but if one is blindly following the dictates of another without regards to the revealed word of God, we may know for certain that bowing of some kind is taking place.

 Stars, who in most cases are human idols, do set the stage for what people wear, and how people speak. And their mannerisms, their gestures, lifestyles and preferences are all mimicked blindly by the acolytes who follow in their train.

A fan base is most literally a human idol with many devoted followers, who then follow the dictates of their idol as handed down from time to time. Thus, whenever devils need the multitudes to go down a certain route, they first infuse the human idols with their ideas and concepts, and as a general rule, the multitudes will gulp down all that is spoon fed to them.

The remnant people of God should never be slaves of fashion, neither should we allow any human idol to dictate, influence, or prompt us into certain evil practices even if it might seem on the surface to be harmless or good. To have the latest simply because it is the latest, is to be tethered to a philosophy that reeks of idolatry.

This is another danger of bowing to the dictates of the fashion god, for the latest fashion does not even have to fit persons properly, neither does it need to be comfortable or discreet. Certain low risers are without doubt, contrary to sound doctrine which do teach us the principle of modesty.

 When certain shoes are scheduled for release, the company in question always gets the stars to sport them first, and then, invariably, those shoes end up showing up on basketball courts around the world, in some cases, being purchased by persons who can barely even afford a big mac and fries.

The current proliferation of tattoos of all sorts can be traced right back to the idolizing of human stars in our day, who, by their personal examples, have brought the practice into the mainstream so that it has now become the norm, across wide swaths of American culture.

When persons deliberately become slaves of credit, when it is avoidable, that is a form of bowing, for it goes contrary to the scriptures which says “Owe no man anything”. The practice of racking up avoidable debt has become quite popular in our day, and the urge to splurge have brought many persons into the financial bondage that the Bible warns us of.

 It is a form of bowing, for it gives persons the ways and means to own things they really don’t need and which under normal circumstances they would not be able to afford. This is contrary to the instruction given in the Bible, which teaches us to be content, and because of this, it becomes a form of bowing to the credit god. 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; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

During the recent frenzy in the U.S. housing market, when prices skyrocketed to levels that were beyond reason, some persons succumbed to the syndrome of irrational exuberance, and went out on a limb to take advantage of the equity in their homes, even if they had no prior plans, or need of doing so.

But now, as the payments come due, some persons are having second thoughts as the market cools and as the Feds continue to ratchet up interest rates for several notches, for the foreseeable future. Credit that was taken out when interest rates were really low, would now have to be repaid at a much higher premium. It’s just another danger of bowing.

But devils also employ a multiprong approach, for there are philosophical idols in our day, folks who do set the parameters for what would be deemed acceptable in society, and what will be deemed to be anathema. When persons adopt philosophies that are contrary to the scriptures, that constitutes a form of bowing.

 When Abraham decided to acquiesce to the then prevailing philosophy on marriage, where it was lawful and culturally acceptable for a man to have another wife, if his own wife was barren, that was a form of bowing to a philosophical idol, for it went contrary to God’s will on these matters even though it may have seemed to those philosophers to be a mitigating factor in an otherwise irresolvable issue.

Indeed, when persons are induced to bow to these philosophical idols, some kind of benefit is almost always touted as the rational why bowing so is to be encouraged or practiced, and thus, the floodgates are swung wide open for philosophical idols, which are diabolically opposed to God’s word to take deep root in society.

Indeed, many marriages in our day have ended up on the rocks as a direct result of either one or both spouses bowing to the prevailing philosophical idols which do take the sacred institution of marriage in a completely opposite direction to God’s original ideal on the matter. But the word is explicitly clear on this matter, so that no one be deceived. Let’s read:

Matthew 19: 3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

In our day, philosophical idols have come up with concepts such as prenuptial agreements, as if to say that divorce is to be anticipated. And the bowing to idols continues. If one is catering for the dissolution of a marriage up front, why then get married in the first place?

Thus, our first passage explicitly states “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.” It does not depend on rational or benefit; persons are not to bow, period, for doing so sets up a precedent for future bowing in other matters of conscience. It was God who came to Abraham, after the act with Hagar had been done, and God corrected him, and ourselves on the issue. Let’s read:

Genesis 16: 16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

The words: “Be thou perfect” in the context, shows us that God was displeased with the actions of His servant, Abraham, and whenever, and wherever it has become the norm to do evil, because of some apparent benefit, the same words do apply: “Walk before Me and be thou perfect.”

 Same-sex marriages are also products of a modern philosophical idol, which pits the ideologies of our fallen nature against “It is written”, and so many of the people have bowed down to this idol, that it has become the law of the land, to the point where any who dare to differ are proscribed, and often visited with economic persecution in many instances.

Thus, God’s truth is turned by philosophical idols into something dark and foreboding, while evil is highlighted as being righteousness. Defenders of God-ordained marriage are now labeled as haters. This very sad and very unfortunate situation caused Isaiah to pen the following words, in grief of mind. Let’s read:

Isaiah 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

15 Yea, truth fails; and he that departs from evil makes himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

Isaiah 5: 20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

[The Great Controversy pp 583] It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as to fashion an idol of wood or stone. With many a philosophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah; while the living God, as he is revealed in his Word, in Christ, and in the works of creation, is worshiped by but few.

 Thousands deify nature, while they deny the God of nature. Though in a different form, idolatry exists in the Christian world today as verily as it existed among ancient Israel in the days of Elijah.

The god of many professedly wise men, of philosophers, poets, politicians, journalists, the god of polished fashionable circles, of many colleges and universities, even of some theological institutions, is little better than Baal, the sun-god of Phoenicia.

This leads us to our final dissertation on the dangers of us bowing to idols. It is called “Little Bow Wows.” Little bow wows are the little bows that are done in secret or in private, by which the truth, as revealed in the scripture, is compromised on occasions for a number of so-called “Valid reasons.”

Some have bowed on the issue of body art, in all of its various forms. Some have bowed on the issue of gender, as the barrage of different philosophies on the matter have taken deep root in society. Others have bowed to the fashion god, and pay homage or obeisance to whatsoever the fashion gods offload on society.

But others have also bowed to theological idols, by which the truth of God is rejected and other smooth soul-destroying doctrines are embraced, such as the natural immortality of the soul. This is a theological idol to which many have bowed, and over time, has become so deeply entrenched in the belief systems of millions, that it is almost a given.

What the arch enemy of God and man is doing, is to get persons into the habit of bowing down to idols, in little ways, that most would not fret about. When one begins to compromise on any point of truth and duty, the cascading effects can be established quite quickly, and the gravitational pull of fallen nature all but guarantees that the ball will keep on rolling.

Thus, we must reiterate, to any and everyone who’ll listen: Be very careful of those “Little Bow Wows” Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 717] The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things—the neglect to be true to God and to rely upon Him wholly, the disposition to follow the customs and practices of the world.

When the mark of the beast rears its head across the globe, those who have been accustomed to the habit of bowing will find it very difficult to resist the tsunami of religious, political, and social pressure to bow, because every valid reason, and every benefit for bowing would be put forth as reasons why folks should acquiesce.

Then it will be that those little “Bow Wows” would kick into high gear, as the internal force of habit, as well as the external forces of social pressure will put a stranglehold on conscience and very many people will end up bowing, even if they may not agree with the beast. Let’s read:

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

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

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

As the beast philosophies, with the accompanying mark of the beast begin to be rolled out, satan, will, as in bygone years, begin with the stars, the human idols that folks have worshiped all along. Those little Bow Wows that persons never batted an eye at, will bubble to the surface and tremendous pressure will be brought to bear on persons to follow where the stars, and the popular majority lead the way.

To counteract this hurricane of delusionary bowing we have to be firmly grounded in the truth, which is the written word and The Living Word, so that when the floods come and the winds blow, we would not be swept off our feet.

In the here and now, we must determine, by the grace of God, never to follow the crowd in doing that which we know not to be right. Compromise in the little things paves the way for compromise in the big things, and it is only by forming the habit of not bowing down to idols, and having Christ formed within, that we will escape all these things that will come to pass. Let’s read:

Exodus 23: 2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.

In other words, persons should not allow any idols, whether they be stars, celebrities, politicians, TV personalities, sports icons, religious leaders, or any influencers on Tik-Tok, to pressure us in any way to bow down, or to walk contrary to a plain “Thus saith The Lord”.  Let’s read:

[Early Writings pp 88] A train of cars was shown me, going with the speed of lightning. The angel bade me look carefully. I fixed my eyes upon the train. It seemed that the whole world was on board, that there could not be one left. Said the angel, “They are binding in bundles ready to burn.”

Then he showed me the conductor, who appeared like a stately, fair person, whom all the passengers looked up to and reverenced. I was perplexed and asked my attending angel who it was. He said, “It is Satan. He is the conductor in the form of an angel of light. He has taken the world captive.

They are given over to strong delusions, to believe a lie, that they may be damned. This agent, the next highest in order to him, is the engineer, and other of his agents are employed in different offices as he may need them and they are all going with lightning speed to perdition.”

I asked the angel if there were none left. He bade me look in an opposite direction, and I saw a little company traveling a narrow pathway. All seemed to be firmly united, bound together by the truth, in bundles, or companies. Said the angel, “The third angel is binding, or sealing, them in bundles for the heavenly garner.”

Therefore, we will end with a passage of scripture that should help us on our journey towards God’s kingdom, to stay on the narrow path that leads to life eternal, and refuse any and every thing which savors of bowing, in any way shape or form. Let’s read:

1st John 2: 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides forever.

                                    God Bless!

No Submitting, No Resisting. Sabbath afternoon 09/10/2022

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Our opening passage delivers a straight up truth, by declaring that it is virtually impossible for anyone to resist the devil, except he/she submits daily to God. Each and every day we face challenges, hurdles and temptations of all sorts, and the only way for us to withstand the barrage of inducements to sin, is to become and remain vitally connected to God.

The Christian wins all his battles on his knees, most often, before conflicts and temptations occur, and the reason for this is that, just like in temporal war between nations, no soldier would dare take up a fight without first putting on the necessary armor.

If we could see the devil with our naked eyes, folks might be better prepared to avoid his incursions; but with him being invisible, and being much more prepared and experienced in doing what he does, it is a no-brainer that without submitting ourselves to God, resisting and overcoming will become wishful thinking.

In the wilderness of temptation, Christ laid down the format for preparation for spiritual warfare, for He spent no less than forty days and nights with His Father, being strengthened, and being readied for the onset of the conflict which was going to ensue, and which would ultimately determine the fate of the entire human family.

Christ’s example must then be studied and followed very closely by all who profess to be Christians, for preparation through submitting of ourselves to God must precede battle if persons are to be victorious.

As Jesus prayed and wrestled in the wilderness with God, preparing for the conflict, He got an idea of it’s severity, and also of the self-denial that will always attend any submission to God on the part of human agents.

Submitting ourselves therefore to God is essentially allowing Him to have and work His will in entirety in any given situation that may beset us. Temptations often pit good impulses against evil impulses, and if we are to resist the devil, we will have to give God the freedom to direct and guide us as he sees fit.

When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, “Not My will, but Thy will be done” He was thus allowing The Father to sit in the driver’s seat, even if The Father would take Jesus into situations, which Jesus would much prefer not to have gone. This is what is involved in submitting ourselves to God.

In such instances, when temptations and conflicts loom large, the grace of God is given in sufficient measure to withstand the battalions of hell, if and when we submit fully to God. To resist incursions from without is one thing, but to resist incursions from within takes temptation to another level.

Resisting the devil can become significantly more difficult if his appeals to our fallen nature touches a raw nerve internally. Temptation on food is one of the most brutal, for it appeals to inner cravings and sometimes legitimate desires we may have. Christ once put it this way, so that persons would better understand the nature of the conflict, and thus, the need for us to submit, before resisting. Let’s read:

Matthew 15:10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

11 It is not that which goes into the mouth that defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a 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….

Christ is here pointing to an internal problem that can be taken advantage of by devils, if persons do not submit themselves to God. In addition to these things, we also have legitimate issues such as thirst and hunger which are not bad in and of themselves, but which must be satisfied only in accordance with the word of God.

Thus, very grave and very serious issues were to be decided, as Jesus was going to be severely tested at His weakest physical point. His mind must not be foggy or distracted and the legitimate desires of the flesh must be kept under bit and bridle, throughout the terrible ordeal, even if it may mean dying in the process.

In other words, submitting ourselves fully to God, before resisting temptation, could mean that folks may actually take a hit of some kind in the process, just as Christ collapsed after the temptations in the desert.

But the bottom line in submitting is that it is better to die doing God’s will in resisting, than to live with the flesh having the upper hand.

In our day, many of us take victory for granted, as if resisting the devil were a given just because we may believe in Jesus. Christ believed in His Father totally, but this did not lead Him to assume that victory was His for the taking, without first submitting to God as all of us must do.

Instead, Christ spent as much time as it would take, in His Father’s presence without looking at the clock as some often do, and it was by thus submitting to God that He came forth from the conflict victorious.

Then again there are lessons of great importance as we ponder His temptations and victory, lessons and knowledge that we ourselves must incorporate into our own conflicts with our unseen foe. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Let’s stop right there and get this first lesson while we can. If we are to be tempted, as we would be, it should always be as a result of The Spirit’s leading, not ourselves presuming to enter into temptation. Submitting ourselves therefore to God includes not presuming to enter the enchanted ground, without being bidden by God to do so. In too many cases, the devil was minding his own business, when out of the blue, he got an invitation from some of us to be tempted.

All are to avoid, as much as is humanly possible the places, venues, and situations, where the presence of evil angels is known to be firmly entrenched. We are not left in doubt as to where these situations do obtain, for the Bible gives us many clues that we are to be mindful of.

Wherever liquor is being consumed by friends or by foes, we are to avoid such company if we can, for it is an established fact that drinkers of booze almost always feel compelled to offer alcohol to another, and if one is struggling on this point, the situation will make it all the more difficult for one to refuse.

Christ did not claim God’s promises while daring the devil to tempt Him, and neither should we. Instead, if The Spirit of God ordains that a person should be tempted for whatever good reason God has, let Him lead in the matter, but never should we presume to go out on a limb on our own, expecting that we will have power to resist. This is not how submitting to God really works.  Let’s read:

Proverbs 23: 20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh.

21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

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.

13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity….

The next important point for folks to understand in the issues of submitting and resisting is that in very many cases, we are tempted at our weakest points.  Temptations are rarely one size fits all, but are more often tailormade with a specific individual, and their specific situation, and weak points in mind.

Under normal circumstances, a typical fast would’ve been a breeze for Jesus, but without having food or water for forty days, He would be significantly more weaker, physically, than at other times. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.

If the temptation on food was brought prematurely at the time when Christ had just entered the desert it would not have had the same force as it did, forty days later.

 Thus, all of us should be aware of our weak points, and ask God for grace to live victoriously from day to day. One man’s weakness is often another man’s strength, and those who may not bat an eye at the proverbial Johnny Walker, might have some other issue that easily besets him, and because of this, we must be extra vigilant by the grace of God, on these particular points.

Submitting ourselves daily and moment by moment to God, will give us the grace and strength to resist, especially if devils were to throw a curve ball at the saints, suddenly. If we know we have a temper issue we should not wait until someone ticks us off on the spur of the moment, to pray and ask for grace.

If we were to wait until such situations like these occur suddenly, we would most likely blow a fuse, before we even think about prayer. That is why we must go back again to Jesus’ example, as He prayed with strong crying and tears, before the onset of the wilderness conflict. In other words, no submitting, no resisting.

Another important point for us to take note of on the issue of submitting and resisting is the fact that we are tempted with mostly good things, especially the saints who know the truth. Note well that Christ was not tempted with booze or ganja or shrimp. It was bread that He was tempted on. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, persons are tempted with good things. Especially is this the case with the remnant people of God who may know the truth. There isn’t anything wrong with bread per se, it is just the terms and conditions under which The Lord was tempted to make and eat it, but in and of itself there ain’t nothing wrong with bread.

 As we look back on another wilderness experience in the Bible, we observe that the children of Israel were also tempted with on the issue of bread. At that time God had put them on a diet, to bring to pass those necessary changes that would pave the way for their health and well-being.

 But then, the old devil tempted them with “good things” as he has done on numerous occasions. In going through the following list of food items that they desired, we cannot find a single one that has been blacklisted by the scriptures.

 In fact, almost all of the items they craved are to be found in our health message, some containing the vitamins and minerals and fiber that promote good health. Some of the items also do contain medicinal properties, that foster longevity, and the whole nine yards. So, we repeat again: Folks are often tempted with good things. Let’s read:

Numbers 11: 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic.

In this instance, submitting to God would translate into submitting to the food He ordained, even if the other food they craved was inherently good. In the current circumstance, it was a transitional diet that was meant to achieve certain results for God would not have put them on a diet of Manna forever.

And we are not to become riled up at God for doing so, because in our day, we often permit Jenny Craig or Atkins to put us on very strict diets transitionally so that we can achieve the desired results. No one in their right minds would nor should stay on Atkins forever; it’s just for a time.

The Keto diet is severely restrictive, and the South Beach and Atkins diet all have adverse side effects. Thus, submitting to God in this matter, in order to achieve the good results while resisting the devil at the same time should not be too far of a stretch, for us to come to grips with.

Bread in the wilderness of temptation with Christ, and bread in the wilderness of temptation with the Hebrews, all have one thing in common; they were in both circumstances, tempted with good things.

The problem occurs with the terms and conditions under which these good things are offered. Eating cucumbers and garlic becomes a sin if it is not God’s will in the specific circumstance. And turning stone into bread, even if it is whole wheat bread, is just as bad, if it were to go contrary to God’s revealed will in the particular situation.

Again, the next passages reveal to us that the devil took Jesus into a high place in the mountains, and there he showed Him the kingdoms of this world in all of their glory. But in an instant Jesus refused the temptation, recognizing that the terms and the conditions under which they were being offered are contraindicated to God’s will. Let’s read:

Matthew 4: 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

The problem occurs with the terms and conditions under which those kingdoms were to be given, but the kingdoms, in and of themselves are not really the problem, even though they are flawed because of sin.

Later on in the Bible we read that the very same kingdoms are given to Christ, but at this time they are given under terms and conditions approved by God. Whenever we are tempted with good things, the problem usually occurs with the terms under which they are offered. Let’s read:

Revelation 11: 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Very many years ago, when I had just come to the United States, I needed to get my citizenship, to be able to work and live legally in the country. At that time, I was tempted with the prospect of obtaining legal status through marriage to someone whom I did not love at all.

Both things are good, in and of themselves. To get one’s citizenship is good, and marriage is ordained by God, but the terms and conditions under which they were being offered raised the prospect of me having to use the sacred institution in a subterfuge manner, as a means to achieve the desired end.

This would then make me a liar if I were to take the sacred vow, knowing full well that [1] I did not like the person at all, and [2] I would deliberately, and knowingly intend to disannul the marriage, as soon as I got my papers. The problem is with the terms and conditions, not marriage or citizenship per se, for both of them are good, in and of themselves.

“I, Bro Mac do take you, (blank) to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death does us part.”

 If I had gone through with the temptation, it would be a form of “Bowing”. And as we are on the topic of bowing, let us go to the next and last issue as it pertains to submitting and resisting. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and set him upon a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: because it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

In this instance we see the devil trying to intimidate Christ with his power, for He lifted Jesus bodily and took Him through the air, to the dizzying height of the temple’s pinnacle.

 The use of intimidating force is often the last resort employed, after enticements and subtleties have failed, and this will call for total submission, if we are to resist. Let’s Read:

[The story of Redemption BK2, pp 46] Satan was not willing to cease his efforts until he had tried every means to obtain victory over the world's Redeemer. He knew that with himself all was at stake, whether he or Christ should be victor in the contest.

 And in order to awe Christ with his superior strength he carried him to Jerusalem and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and continued to beset him with temptations.

 He again demanded of Christ that if he was indeed the Son of God to give him evidence by casting himself from the dizzy height upon which he had placed him.

 As a general rule of thumb devils do not use force up front, as the means whereby to get persons to comply with their temptations. Entreaty, persuasion enticements, and subtlety of various sorts are most often used initially.

 Then when these fail to produce the desired results, force is resorted to as the last-ditch effort, and this usually seals the deal, in many cases, with folks who are not fully submitted to Christ.

When the devil tempted Joseph through Potiphar’s wife, he moved her to use entreaty, enticements, and persuasions of all sorts. Day by day, as Joseph went to work, Potiphar’s wife would wear certain seductive, and suggestive wear, with the particular intent to arouse Joseph’s latent desires.

And since Joseph was still in his prime, and he was exercising regularly and eating a lot of protein, she hoped that in the sweet by and by to overthrow his peculiar principles.

 Expensive, seductive perfumes she purchased from Victoria’s secret, and lingerie that leave little to the imagination, were deliberately worn during daytime hours, when her husband was off on military duty.

 But, because Joseph was submitting himself to The Lord, moment by moment her entreaties, and her oft enticements fell on deaf ears, with no hope of her sinking the young man.

 Then, after everything else was tried and failed, the devil, through his emissary reached for the strategy of last resort, and that is when she tried to force Joseph into submission.

 In other words, it was only when she had run out of bullets that force became necessary. Devils rarely use force up front as a tactic much rather preferring to entice persons over the cliff in their efforts to get folks to succumb to temptation. Thus, it will be with all who have not submitted to Christ when the mark of the beast is instituted across the entire globe.

 All that we have been studying so far this evening, as it pertains to us submitting, and then resisting, would come to a head when the mark of the beast rears its head globally.

 Entreaties, promotions, persuasions, enticements, bribes, and every other available means at their disposal would be first implemented to get persons to comply or to bow, as was the case with the three Hebrew worthies in ancient Babylon.

 But if these efforts fail to produce the much-desired results the use of force will be finally employed as it was with Joseph, and then, it will only be individuals who understood by precept, and by practice, what submitting really is, who would be enabled to resist successfully, those last temptations on food, for it began with food and it’ll end with food. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:16 And he causes 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.

Some may think that the above statement might be a dark sentence with a fuzzy meaning, so let us tell the truth in the matter bluntly. Everyone who is not fully submitted to Christ when that time comes, will be beaten over their heads with a baseball bat, and forced into compliance. So says the Bible, and the prophets. Let’s read:

Revelation 13: 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

[The Desire of Ages pp 435] The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force; every individual regards every other as an obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or a steppingstone on which he himself may climb to a higher place.

Thus, it is only by submitting to Christ, in our daily walk with God, that the habit will be formed. Those temptations and situations that might try our faith, and our patience at times, are to be used as golden opportunities for submitting and resisting.

 Instead of whining “Why me” let us ask God to give us grace to resist the devil in the various trials and temptations that may come our way. The study of Christ’s example is a must, and earnest persevering prayer is essential, if we are to live victoriously from day to day.

When Christ fasted and prayed in the wilderness for forty days and nights, He had other pressing things on His agenda that could and would have distracted Him from making full preparation.

 Similarly in our day, there will always be pressing or important things to take care of, and some of these will undoubtedly be “Good things” but if at the end of the day, they would distract us from preparation through submission, then when temptation comes like a whirlwind, we will find ourselves destitute of power to resist, for wherever there is no submitting there will be no resisting.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms this truth, and it is our sincere hope, that someone listening may take heed, lest we fall a prey to the devices of devils. Let’s read:

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

                                     God Bless!

Paganism Enters The Church. Sabbath afternoon 09/03/2022

Acts 17: 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him.

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

23 For as I passed by and beheld your devotions I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

Before we study anything about paganism entering the church, it is imperative that we refer to history, as it pertains to those incremental insinuations that took place over the years. The adversary of God and man employs the principle of gradualism in most of his incursions into the church.

As a general rule, devils avoid startling persons into being alerted, preferring that proverbial slow-boil approach by which the frog becomes acclimated to the increasing heat of the boiling water. Thus, as he gets more and more accustomed, and comfortable to the heat, the frog is slowly cooked to an untimely death and he is never awakened to what exactly did him in. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 717] The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things.

This is what took place, over many years, as pagan philosophies, practices, ideologies, suggestions and proposals and concepts gradually invaded the heart and mind of the Christian church, and before folks knew it, paganism began converting Christianity to itself, instead of the other way around.

When Christ stated in one passage that we are the light of the world, and in another passage, that the gates of hell will not prevail against His kingdom, He was referring to the work, reforms, and conversions that Christianity is supposed to bring to the table.

But, lo and behold, the light has gradually become engulfed by gross darkness, to the point where folks are putting darkness for light, bitter for sweet, evils for righteousness, and wrong for right. Thus, there’s a great work of reformation to take place within the church, before Christ returns, because persons are fast losing the ability to clearly distinguish between good and evil. Let’s read:

Isaiah 60: 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Amos 8: 11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

Bit by bit and ever so deliberately and imperceptibly the purity, and power of the early Christian church has faded, and in very many cases, the church has now become a mere husk of its former self. When persons in times past trembled at the preaching of evangelists who delivered truth in its unadulterated form, reformation and change for the better would often follow.

Acts 24: 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

But in our day, where an over-abundance of smooth words and political correctness have lulled the sin-loving multitudes into a false sense of security, any and everything is now being incorporated under the banner of Christianity.

 And for that reason, the lukewarm condition of the church, mentioned in the book of Revelation, has become the norm. Thus, like Mr. Froggy, some of us would be in danger of succumbing to the slow-boil syndrome, if we are not very careful.  

Therefore, we must revisit history, to observe how and why we have come to this point, for if we don’t know where we have come from, we will not know where we are going. Thus, as we read, let it be our heart’s endeavor, to surrender to the changes God desires to accomplish in our hearts, Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pages 39-44] In vain were Satan's efforts to destroy the church of Christ by violence. The great controversy in which the disciples of Jesus yielded up their lives, did not cease when these faithful standard-bearers fell at their post.

 By defeat they conquered. God's workmen were slain, but his work went steadily forward. The gospel continued to spread, and the number of its adherents to increase. It penetrated into regions that were inaccessible, even to the eagles of Rome.

Said a Christian, expostulating with the heathen rulers who were urging forward the persecution: “You may torment, afflict, and vex us, …but your cruelty is of no avail……The more we are mowed down, the more we spring up again. The blood of the Christians is seed.

 Thousands were imprisoned and slain; but others sprung up to fill their places. And those who were martyred for their faith were secured to Christ, and accounted of him as conquerors. They had fought the good fight, and they were to receive the crown of glory when Christ should come.

Their living example and dying testimony were a constant witness for the truth; and, where least expected, the subjects of Satan were leaving his service, and enlisting under the banner of Christ.

Satan therefore laid his plans to war more successfully against the government of God, by planting his banner in the Christian church. If the followers of Christ could be deceived, and led to displease God, then their strength, fortitude, and firmness would fail, and they would fall an easy prey.

Persecution ceased, and in its stead were substituted the dangerous allurements of temporal prosperity and worldly honor.

 Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Christian faith, while they rejected other essential truths. They professed to accept Jesus as the Son of God, and to believe in his death and resurrection; but they had no conviction of sin, and felt no need of repentance or of a change of heart.

With some concessions on their part, they proposed that Christians should make concessions, that all might unite on the platform of belief in Christ. Now the church was in fearful peril.

 Prison, torture, fire, and sword were blessings in comparison with this. Some of the Christians stood firm, declaring that they could make no compromise.

Others were in favor of yielding or modifying some features of their faith, and uniting with those who had accepted a part of Christianity, urging that this might be the means of their full conversion.

That was a time of deep anguish to the faithful followers of Christ. Under a cloak of pretended Christianity, Satan was insinuating himself into the church, to corrupt their faith, and turn their minds from the Word of truth.

 Most of the Christians at last consented to lower their standard, and a union was formed between Christianity and paganism.

Although the worshipers of idols professed to be converted, and united with the church, they still clung to their idolatry, only changing the objects of their worship to images of Jesus, and even of Mary and the saints.

The foul leaven of idolatry, thus brought into the church, continued its baleful work. Unsound doctrines, superstitious rites, and idolatrous ceremonies were incorporated into her faith, and worship.

As the followers of Christ united with idolaters, the Christian religion became corrupted, and the church lost her purity and power. There were some, however, who were not misled by these delusions. They still maintained their fidelity to the Author of truth, and worshiped God alone.

There have ever been two classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While one class study the Savior's life, and earnestly seek to correct their defects and to conform to the Pattern, the other class shun the plain, practical truths which expose their errors.

Thus, as long as persecution continued, the church remained comparatively pure. But as it ceased, converts were added who were less sincere and devoted, and the way was opened for Satan to obtain a foot-hold.

When God declares that paganism has taken deep root in the churches, He is not only referring to a set of practices, and rituals that have been adopted; He is mostly referring to the philosophies that drive the actions and the thought processes of the multitudes which in turn results in concepts and belief systems that are contrary to the scriptures.

We would observe in our first passage that closely associated with the idolatry of the Ephesians, were the philosophers, whose teachings, and ideologies were the bedrock foundation of all that was being done in Ephesus.

Thus, the pagan belief systems of that city, driven by the many philosophers, ultimately becomes the springboard for all of the idolatrous practices Paul observed.

But the effects of paganism on Christian teaching is far deeper, and is more extensive and far reaching than mere externals. It affects the concepts and the perspectives some now hold to be doctrinal, in the various churches of Christendom, and thus for us to understand the extent of the problem, we must first dig into the philosophies that form the foundation of paganism.

One of the concepts that most pagans hold dear is a deep love and reverence for nature most commonly referred to as Mother Nature. In fact, the majority of pagans will affirm to you that their god is nature, and as such, some have become deeply involved in those environmental efforts to save the planet.

 Another bedrock, foundational belief of paganism is that every person has the right to choose, which is actually true, according to the scriptures, for it was Joshua who once said “Choose you this day whom you will serve”.

But in paganism, everyone chooses what to believe and how to believe it, and thus, morality becomes subjective from person to person, as each pagan is the final arbiter of right and wrong, and will decide for themselves what is truth.

In other words, truth is defined in paganism by the person, and not the scriptures, as it is in Christianity and because of this the philosophy spawns concepts such as everyone is a law unto themselves. What is right is determined by the person and since morality is made subjective, there can be nothing wrong.

The plethora of genders and different variations on marriage are the fruit of pagan philosophies which allow persons to become whatsoever or whosoever they want to be. As it was in Paul’s day, when he was in Athens, the philosophers are never far away from divergent views and practices indulged by the masses of people.

This leads us to another belief within paganism that declares there is no sin because there is no absolute authority to which one can refer. In other words, if every person decides what is right, and acceptable, then there can be no such thing as wrong-doing, for anything one chooses to do becomes the right thing to do.

This does not mean to say that paganism does not produce moralists; it does, but the morality is not based on any written, inspired document, such as the Bible, it’s based on one’s feelings and personal convictions, whether or not they are in sync with the word of God.

Thus, it is that the floodgates are swung wide open for any, and everyone to believe and practice what seems to them as the right thing. In other words, everyone does whatsoever he/she may choose, but at the end of the day it will always be the right thing for persons set the parameters of right and wrong.

A very similar situation had obtained in Israel of old when every person did that which was right in their own eyes. The problem with this philosophy is that what seems right to one person, may not seem right to another, and thus, without an absolute standard of truth to guide our feet, morality, as well as good and evil are placed in a perpetually fluid state. Let’s read:

Judges 17: 5 And the man Micah had a house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

One of the practices that has become mainstream is that of body art by which persons cover their bodies with tattoos. It is true that some persons may have done so in the innocence of their heart, just going with the flow, to be cool and accepted by society. In times of ignorance God winks, and if such persons accept Christ as Lord and Savior, He will forgive.

But for those who might be thinking about getting one, two, or one hundred tattoos, as the case might be, the word of God speaks very plainly against the practice as being of pagan origin, and not at all in harmony with God’s ideals for His people.

Jezebel made body art fashionable in Israel and long after she was gone the practice had taken deep root in the nation. The issue with it is that it morphs into variations with time, and as leaders, parents, stars, mothers, and fathers adopt the practice, the next generations to follow often take it to the next level.

But the word of God is not subject to fashion, nor is it to be modified in any way to suit philosophies, or practices that are of pagan origin. When a majority opinion bears sway, the will of God is usually in the opposite direction and thus, the following verses do represent God’s will in the matter. Let’s read:

Leviticus 19: 28 You shall not make any cuttings in  your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.

Tattoos and body painting of all sorts have entered the church, and the practices are fast becoming the mainstream to the point where it’s being commonly accepted as being the norm. Yet, on this point, we cannot, and should not make any fine distinctions, because paint is paint.

Not long ago we went to Home Depot to purchase a few gallons of paint for work that was being done at home. As we looked at the various offerings we saw several gallons of Benjamin Moore, and Glidden and we also saw Sherwin Williams. And yes, there might be some variations and fine distinctions, but at the end of the day, we found out that paint is paint. 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.

What The God of heaven is looking for in His people is not only character, but a body and mind that have been wholly consecrated to Him. In fact, Laodicea is to set a very high bar, as far as Christianity goes, for The Lord seeks to perfect all aspects of His salvation in those who are looking for His soon return.

 Therefore, it’s not only the preaching, the singing or praying that’s needed; the very lifestyle practices, and health of body and mind are to become center pieces of our day-to-day aspirations, for those who are to give the last message of mercy must speak, and look the part.

 God desires to make us living embodiments of what salvation is all about, for Jesus came to give us life more abundantly. Therefore, truths that are held in a theoretical manner framework only, will not make the grade because the last messengers of mercy are being prepared to be specimens of God grace, in its entirety.

Thus, if we are to present truths in our day that are affecting young and old, like such issues on gender, tattoos, marriage, and diets and foods, we too will have to be living up to what we preach, or else the unbelieving world will observe a stark disconnect in what is said, and what is actually being done.

If we have to deliver the health message, we would have to live the health message, and if we are to be examples to our youth on issues of body art, we too should not ever be found at Home Depot buying the Glidden and the Sherwin Williams, for whenever we open our mouths to speak truth, an anomaly would be present, to lessen the effectiveness of what we are saying. Let’s read:

Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The time has come where the distinction of love, in and of itself does not distinguish between the one in the church and the one in the world, for the devil has made very certain that there is an abundance of love in the churches and institutions that constitute Babylon.

Many churches and denominations in our day have a multitude of charitable organizations, including a whole lot of medical facilities, schools, and outreach ministries that can make our efforts look feeble and Oprah Winfrey personally funds education for many children in South Africa.

 Thus, if the manifestations of loving acts of kindness are the only distinguishing factors, there are now a million and one to be found, any and everywhere. The love of God in the heart is a must, but the work of salvation is a holistic approach that inevitably will affect for the better, every aspect of our being, our body, soul and spirit. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

In other words, Paul’s message to the new Christian church in his day, is now applicable to the remnant people of God, and just as Paul said follow me, even as I follow Christ, we too must be able to say to our neighbors, friends, co-workers, children and anyone with whom we come in contact, “Whatever you see me do you can safely follow me, since I’m a follower of Christ” Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Therefore, in tackling the invasive nature of pagan culture in the churches, there are certain things we would have to put in place, through our deliberate decisions and choices.

 [1] We must individually decide that the word of God will be the final authority in whatsoever we think, do or say.

If an issue isn’t supported by the word of God, and if the principles and methods that are involved are not emanating from God, then it must immediately be thrown in the garbage, with no bad feelings to the contrary whatsoever.

This approach will serve as an effective counter to the pagan philosophies which give free reign to any and every carnal desire of the human heart. There are certain things a Christian cannot do, period, and this is not legalism as some may portray it to be. It is just the raw Biblical facts in the matter.

The multiple and unsanctimonious clamors of our fallen nature would have to be kept under bit and bridle, through the power of the indwelling Christ so that Christin graces, principles and practices can be fostered, and gain the ascendency. Let’s read:

Galatians 5: 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that ye would.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Colossians 3: 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

[2] We will need the abiding and the empowering presence of Christ to fend off multiple incursions against our souls, which occur externally as well as internally, the internal invasions being the more dangerous of the two.

Knowing the scriptures does not keep any person from falling, what it does is to give folks an active reference point to distinguish between right and wrong. But knowing a whole lot of scripture, in and of itself does not keep a person from falling.

The motive power to do right comes from a Person, not from a written document, and thus it becomes even more imperative that we ask God for grace to help us in times of need. Know and understand this for sure, when Jesus quoted scripture in the desert of temptation, He became even more hungry after He had quoted them.

The same is true of me and you, who have all types of legitimate and illegitimate desires and cravings to battle with from day to day. Often, after quoting your memory verse the force of the temptation may become stronger, as desire clamors for the mastery.

Thus, it is God and God alone who can keep us from falling, and even though “It is written” has its place, the written word must always lead us to The living Person, even The Man Christ Jesus, who alone is able to save us from our own selves, all by Himself. Let’s read:

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Jude 23: 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

[The Desire of Ages pp 324] The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin.

We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.

Let us therefore refuse paganistic philosophies and practices, by becoming vitally connected to Christ, for if and when this is accomplished, nothing that is mainstream will faze us to the point where we feel compelled to go with the flow. “The flow” for the Christian must always be upstream.

Thus, we will end with a passage of scripture that will enable us to speak and do that which is written, for it’s not merely the hearers, but the doers of the word, who would ultimately be victorious, in every battle of life. Let’s read:

1st John 5: 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

                                   God Bless!

How To Repent. Sabbath afternoon 08/27/2022

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In many evangelistic efforts persons are instructed and encouraged to be baptized, and to follow on to know The Lord, by trusting and obeying Him. But in some instances, prospective candidates for baptism are not instructed on how to repent. The baptismal pledge to do such and such things by God’s grace is good, but true repentance must always precede the changes that are to be wrought in one’s life.

True repentance does not only involve a confession of one’s sins, it also includes a definitive change of mind and direction, by which one chooses to allow the work and presence of The Holy Ghost to begin and continue for as long as life shall last.

The genuine behavioral changes that are the results of God’s work in the heart then continue non-stop, until the image of God is reflected radiantly in the one who has repented. But first though, we are to understand that repentance is something that we can come up with in and of ourselves.

Repentance is a gift from God to us, to bring us to a realization of sin, and a realization of our dire need of Christ. But mere human efforts, or semblances of repentance fall far short of the ideal. In fact, every single thing which pertains to our salvation is a gift, coming all wrapped up in One Person even The Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s read:

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

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

2nd Timothy 2: 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

2nd Corinthians 7: 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Romans 2:4 Do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Fallen human nature does not have it within itself to repent, according to the Bible’s definition, for it is a gift from God, which is then appropriated to one’s self. Human nature naturally tends to hide faults or sins, and will often seek to lay the responsibility for one’s sin at another’s doorstep.

After Adam and Eve sinned, they hid themselves in the garden; they didn’t repent, up front, not merely because they did not want to, but because, without The Lord they could not. That is why God had to go looking for them, with His sacrifice, repentance, and forgiveness in hand, to initiate the process of true repentance.

But if it was left solely up to them, they would have never repented, because human nature cannot, in any way generate true repentance. We might feel sorrow and remorse for the results of sinful deeds, but for us to repent of those sins in and of ourselves is way beyond our natural ability.

In fact, we often get the two things mixed up where on the one hand there may be regret for the wrong course of action taken, and the adverse results that follow. This is quite different from godly sorrow for sin, which is granted as a gift from God, and which causes a person to be sorry for violating God’s law, which ultimately caused Christ to die on the tree. The two are entirely different.

Sorrow for the mere deed is often manifested in a frenzied interest to have the adverse consequences reversed as quickly as possible. But godly sorrow for sin, which is a gift from God, focuses on the wounds and the damage done to the relationship with God.

In fact, when persons repent after the godly sort, they usually do not seek to avert any of the adverse consequences that accrue; instead, they manifest a willingness to bear them.

When the thief on the cross was experiencing the true repentance that the Bible speaks of, he did not ask Christ to reverse the death sentence that was due. On the contrary, he admitted that justice was being served in his case for the wrongs committed.

Then, he looked forward to the future, asking Christ to remember him when He comes, which of course by implication means an appeal for God’s mercy, since that’s the only way that he could be saved in God’s kingdom, after doing as he had done. Let’s read:

Luke 23: 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into thy kingdom.

Here again is the same manifestation of repentance after the godly sort, for when one admits that he or she is treated fairly when justice for some wrong is served, that demonstrates that they view the law of God as being just and right, which then makes God’s mercy a viable option, for mercy isn’t needed where there is no admission of guilt.

When David sinned by numbering the people, that plague which followed was cause for great concern in David’s mind, for as far as he was concerned, the judgments should have fallen upon himself and his family, for he took full responsibility for his actions, together with any adverse consequences that God would see fit to mete out. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

17 And David said unto God isn’t it I who 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.

As both Adam and Eve reflected upon the deed that was done, bitter recriminations, and bickering took place, as they blamed each other for the errors that brought them down to their present, unfortunate state. But as far as true repentance goes without an intervention by God, that would be furthest thing from their minds. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 57] Adam reproached his companion for her folly in leaving his side, and permitting herself to be deceived by the serpent. Adam could neither deny nor excuse his sin; but instead of manifesting penitence, he endeavored to cast the blame upon his wife, and thus upon God Himself.

 This brings us to the very first instruction on how one is to appropriate God’s gift of repentance, when sins have been committed. The first step in true repentance is to take full responsibility for our actions, even if we were persuaded and encouraged by others to do wrong. Circumstances, and the hereditary factors are not to be blamed, and neither is the devil, for persons often blame him wrongfully for things, which, in some cases, he had nothing to do with directly.

It is true that the maid in question had irritated Peter and it is true, that if he wasn’t pressed on the matter, he may have kept his cool. However, circumstances are not to be blamed for us blowing a fuse, for the short circuit takes place internally, not externally. Therefore, as Peter went out and wept bitterly, there was no one else to point to, but himself.

Again, in David’s repentance, we observe that he takes full responsibility for his actions. He didn’t seek to blame Bathsheba for having a bath outside neither did he blame the heat of the moment, as some of us often do. Any and every contributing factor which led to his downfall is laid aside as he places the full responsibility at his front door.

Even when he mentioned the issues of heredity, he still comes back to the fact that no one had forced him to do what he had done. It was of his own volition and decision why he had fallen. Let’s read:

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

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

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

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that You might be justified when You speak, and be clear when You judge.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Another important aspect of godly repentance is that of confessing our sins. However, there is a huge difference in Biblical confession, and a mere statement of the facts. This aspect of repentance needs to be understood by all, for there may be many instances where a statement of facts is misconstrued as being confessing our sins.

There are three instances given in the Bible that can shed great light on the issue of confession. David, Achan, and Judas all confessed their sins when cornered, but David’s confession was after the godly sort, whereas Achan’s and Judas’ were a mere statement of facts, without any true sorrow for sin accompanying their confession.

In fact, it really matters not if a person is cornered or not; the determining factor is whether the confession and the repentance came from God, or whether it is originating with man. The gift of repentance with confession is given to all, but it rests with the individual to accept or reject it.

This is what determines the outcome. In addition, it’s quite possible for persons to confess their sins under pressure, and yet it can be genuinely after the godly sort. Let’s read:

Joshua 7:10 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore do you lay 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.

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.

Question: Why wait until the morning?

Answer: During the night, God would grant the same gift of repentance to and his household, and what he does with it will determine the outcome. Like the thief on the cross, he may have to suffer the adverse consequences, since thirty-six men had lost their lives on account of his sin. Yet, he and his entire household could still be saved in God’s kingdom.

 Like as it was with David, a special interference from God would disturb Achan’s conscience that night, before he is cornered, and his response to God’s work on his heart is what will ultimately determine his eternal destiny.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 497] Achan acknowledged his guilt, but when it was too late for the confession to benefit himself. He had seen the armies of Israel return from Ai defeated and disheartened; yet he did not come forward and confess his sin.

He had seen Joshua and the elders of Israel bowed to the earth in grief too great for words. Had he then made confession, he would have given some proof of true penitence; but he still kept silence. He had listened to the proclamation that a great crime had been committed, and had even heard its character definitely stated. But his lips were sealed.

Then came the solemn investigation. How his soul thrilled with terror as he saw his tribe pointed out, then his family and his household! But still he uttered no confession, until the finger of God was placed upon him. Then, when his sin could no longer be concealed, he admitted the truth.

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.

21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

Like Achan, David also tried to cover up his sins. Achan hid the Babylonish garment, with the shekels of gold and silver in his tent, and David tries unsuccessfully, to drug Uriah, so that the adulterous deed could remain a secret, or so he thought. A whole year passes by, David marries Bathsheba, and everything seems to be kept under wraps until God sends Nathan to corner David.

When David is confronted by Nathan, he confesses his sin, when Achan is confronted by Joshua he confesses his sin, and thus the obvious looming question is “what’s the difference? Why, in one instance one is forgiven, and in another instance one’s confession is rejected? Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 12:1 And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up…..

4 And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord lives, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus, saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

Before folks get all riled up at what might seem to some as a disconnect in God’s justice and mercy, in sparing and forgiving David, while taking out Achan, we must remember those words God uttered in the case of Achan: “In the Morning”

The same is true of Judas, whose day of grace was extended on numerous occasions, as God’s gift of repentance was offered through Christ. Judas did not appropriate the gift when it would have made all the difference in his after history.

 He delayed and avoided the probing of God which had revealed his true character and he continued to deny the fact that the assessments given by Christ were true or pertained to him. Thus, when he was finally ready to confess his sin it had become a mere statement of facts, rather than the utterances of a truly penitent heart. Let’s read:

 [The Desire of Ages pp 295] In His teaching, Jesus dwelt upon principles of benevolence that struck at the very root of covetousness. He presented before Judas the heinous character of greed, and many a time the disciple realized that his character had been portrayed, and his sin pointed out. But he would not confess and forsake his unrighteousness. Lesson after lesson fell unheeded on the ears of Judas

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…..

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

On this point, let us understand this one thing, that the true repentance that comes from God has never ever led any person to commit suicide. No, not one, throughout the entire history of this earth. When a person accepts the gift of repentance it will always lead to life, because Christ came to give us life much more abundantly.

The final point in understanding in how to repent is the fact that true repentance does not, as a general rule produce repeat offenders, for when one is truly sorry for doing something, they would try to avoid repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Especially is this the case, when God’s enabling power is granted to all who believe.

There is a sin that’s not unto death and even though persons may slip up at times, yet, godly repentance always puts persons on a general upward trajectory. After Peter and the other disciples repented of their sins, there was a dramatic, and a marked change in their deportment, mannerisms, and words.

The former things which defined the old man are to be resolutely put away, and in cooperation with The Holy Spirit a brand, new outlook and perspective on life begins to be manifest. It is not so much about the doing, but about being in Christ, for when one repents after the godly sort, everyone will know.

This message is particularly pertinent to Laodicea, in which is to be found in too many instances a pseudo form of repentance, which incorporates vestiges of the old man with the new, to form a hybrid which God neither recognizes or endorses.

Very often, elements of the old man are brought over into the new life, and this produces a constant chomping at the bits to say and to do things that are contrary to scripture.

What should be of grave concern to us, is the fact that the longer we remain in that state of spiritual limbo, the more comfortable we become in it, and after a while the deep, searching truths of God will make little, to no impression on the mind.

Therefore, an urgent call goes forth from the mouth of the True Witness, for us to consider our ways, for we cannot move forward, by having one foot in the church, and one in the world. Definite changes will have to be made, starting by acknowledging Christ’s assessments in Revelation chapter three, as being correct, and applicable to us personally. Let’s read:

Revelation 3: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be  zealous therefore, and repent.

Our repentance must of necessity be after the godly sort, the one that comes as a gift from God, which, when it is appropriated, will produce those changes that would make persons take knowledge that we have been with Jesus. Several passages of scripture allude to those needed changes, so that everyone may know how to repent. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

James 4:4 “know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”

To be a “friend of the world” is to allow the spirit of the world to govern what folks do, think, and say. It means incorporating its values, its philosophies, and trends into our practice, so that those who have not yet believed, cannot tell the difference between a true Christian, and a worldling.

 Indeed, the line of demarcation between the world, and the believer is becoming increasingly blurred as some adopt the prevailing concepts and practices in the secular realm. But true repentance, that is after the godly sort, produces a very stark difference and great change in those who allow God to do His work in the heart on a continuum. Let’s read:

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

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

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

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

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

[The Desire of Ages pp 821] The apostles and their associates were unlettered men, yet through the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, their speech, whether in their own or a foreign language, became pure, simple, and accurate both in word and in accent.

 Thus, as Laodiceans living in an age where so much is pitted against righteousness, let us take stock of ourselves by the grace of God to see if we may have inadvertently slipped from our first love, into that condition of luke-warmness, by which the essentials of the Christian life have become more of a drab, format rather than a living breathing experience.

Is it still a joy to serve God, or do we go through the motions just because it is the right thing to do? Do we take pleasure in seeking His face, with that same yearning and expectancy, which had characterized our earlier experiences when we were just baptized, or has the Christian experience become devoid of joy and service?

 These are just some of the questions we will have to ask ourselves as we consider the prospect that the True Witness of Revelation chapter 3 might actually be speaking to you and me personally.

Thus, we will end with a passage of scripture which would encourage us to repent wherever necessary, so that an upward trajectory would be our very own experience each day. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                   God Bless!