The Bible, In An Age Of Artificial Intelligence. Sabbath afternoon 02/18/2023

2nd Peter 1: 19 We have also a more, sure word of prophecy whereunto you do well that you take heed as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arises in your hearts.

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

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

Great changes are coming our way, and they will be coming so fast, and so furiously, that if persons are not grounded in the truths of God’s word, there will be a great risk of being swept off of one’s feet. The principle of gradualism is employed by the kingdom of darkness, to bring the proverbial frog through a slow boil process, and thus cook him to death in his comfort zone.

 For every good thing God has given to us devils have come up with a substitute, and one of the strategies employed with marvelous success is to overload the information highway by flooding the earth with too many variations of anything and everything, so that the honest seeker for truth could become confused, frustrated or bewildered in doing so.

 In the 1990’s supermarkets carried an average of 7000 items that persons could choose from. But as if that isn’t daunting enough that number has grown to between 40,000 and 50,000 items for the regular supermarkets, with Walmart and Costco carrying up to 142,000 articles for sale.

  And so, if you’re not really focused you can become confused and bewildered, and often in that state of mind, persons can make purchases they never ever intended, especially if certain items were on sale. It has to do with the strategy of flooding such stores with an overload of products, so that persons could become dizzy in the buying experience.

 Back in the day when Henry Ford was coming on the scene, there were very few options for customers to purchase. But since that time, over 6300 different models have been made and with the advent of Evs, the stunning array of models available is scheduled to explode even further. And thus, overloading your options can get persons confused.

 The same is true of Bible versions, denominations, and various ministries. Currently there are over 100 versions of the Bible, including the Queen James version.

There are over 45,000 denominations globally and on any given day you can browse through hundreds of thousands of different ministries, and sermons to suit every fancy and yes, one can become confused because of the sheer multitude of interpretations, options and variations found on the information highway.

 The prophets of old therefore pointed forward to a time when the unadulterated word of God would be an increasingly scarce asset, to the point where folks would be running to and fro in search of the word, and would often come up emptyhanded. Let’s read:

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.

This is not to say that there will not be any Biblical information to be found; the problem is that there would be too much Biblical information to be found, so that it could become very difficult to know if, and when you have come across the truth.

 It is an indisputable fact, that with the proliferation of interpretations you’ll also have a proliferation of confusion. In our day, the phenomenon of artificial intelligence is being added to the fray, and if you’re not very careful, a person can miss the mark, as far as finding the truth is concerned.

 With the advent of various chat bots, and with our near total dependence on Google and other search engines, it cannot be ascertained to what extent the truth of God’s word is being modified, and by whom it is being tampered or tinkered with. All we know is that it is gradually being tilted in favor of error, for the most part.

 When in need of information persons now turn to Alexa, Google, Bing, Firefox, and Chatgpt, just to name a few, but the question is: who is supplying the information to these various search engines?

 And could those sources be trusted to deliver truth when asked, or will the information given be tainted with current cultural biases, and preferences which have become all too common in our day?

 As was stated before, these entities are never to be condemned, for they make available both good and evil, and thus, those of us who are on the receiving end will have to sift through the maze of info, so as to decipher truth from error.

 Intelligence is defined as the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. Artificial intelligence on the other hand is defined as a branch of computer science, dealing with the simulation of intelligent behavior in computers.

 However, God will have us understand that behind every artificial intelligence there is real intelligence, and therefore, in the pursuit of truth, one must be mindful of the fact that we are engaged in a battle for our souls and great care must be exercised when seeking for truth.

 This caution will become even more pertinent with the heavy reliance on artificial intelligence to do the research, and draw conclusions, and therefore, the trumpet must be given a certain sound in our day to alert us to present and future dangers, as is clearly referenced in the following passage. Let’s read:

1st Peter 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

As a general rule devils do not care how, and when individuals are devoured, once they are devoured. If they can devour some on the internet they will, and if a more direct approach that appeals to a person’s intelligence will do the trick, then they will go that route, for the end game is to devour, and that at all costs. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 583] With many, a philosophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah…. 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.

However, there are certain things we would need to understand about the Bible in the context of current artificial intelligence. The study of the word of God cannot be approached using the same methods and strategies as persons would employ in the study and investigation of secular material.

 With the study of the Bible persons would need real intelligence, coming from a real person, in the form of The Holy Ghost.

 In the secular realm, persons studying physics can seek out a university or school; they could do their research; they can study authors, and philosophers such as Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Stephen Hawking who specialize in that area of learning, and if such a person is diligent, he/she could graduate as a physicist.

 But when it comes to the study of the Bible, entirely different approaches have to be employed, or else, persons would be studying, and studying and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

 To study, and understand truth, persons will have to pray, and ask God to guide them with His Holy Spirit, so as to arrive at correct conclusions, and persons will have to be willing to obey whatever was studied in the Bible, and understood.

 The Ethiopian eunuch under Candace, was reading his Bible, but he was having difficulty understanding what he was reading. So, The Holy Ghost came upon the scene through the agency of Phillip, to grant the sincere seeker for truth the correct interpretation.

 The rest is history, because after his understanding was opened through study, he immediately sought to obey that which he was studying. That attitude is a key component of the prerequisites needed when approaching a study of the Bible. Let’s read:

Acts 8: 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias and said understandest thou 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?

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.

In addition, the student of the scripture would have to be willing to surrender any preconceived ideas to the contrary, because the word of God should never be tailormade to suit one’s fancy, even if the truth may rub a person the wrong way.

 This will call for humility, with the seeker for truth being willing to be led by God in his or her research. God is a Spirit, and thus, the ways and means which are employed in secular study will never work when it comes to the study of the Bible.

 There were experts of the scriptures in Christ’s day, who would ask of Him questions, and Jesus would be amazed at their ignorance and their utter lack of understanding, even though several certificates and doctoral achievements could be found, hanging in their offices.

 That is because, in many instances they only sought for a theoretical knowledge of the truth, without an intention to obey, and thus, they became pregnant with information but barren with interpretation and that is why Jesus was moved on one such occasion, to answer them, the way that He did. Let’s read:

Matthew 22: 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.

43 He saith unto them Why then does David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

44 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

45 If David then calls him Lord, how is he his son?

46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither did any man from that day forth ask him any  more questions.

The following are important excerpts, and pointers coming from the servant of The Lord, as we prepare to delve into our topic today. Persons would need to exercise great caution with artificial intelligence and various chatbots in their search and investigation of the truth. Let’s read:

[Testimonies Vol.3 pp 703>704] When we come to the Bible, reason must acknowledge an authority superior to itself, and heart and intellect must bow to the great I AM. We shall advance in true spiritual knowledge only as we realize our own littleness and our entire dependence upon God.

 There are many things apparently difficult or obscure which God will make plain and simple to those who thus seek an understanding of them. It is sometimes the case that men of intellectual ability, improved by education and culture, fail to comprehend certain passages of Scripture;

 While others who are uneducated, whose understanding seems weak and whose minds are undisciplined, will grasp the meaning, finding strength and comfort in that which the former declare to be mysterious or pass by as unimportant. Why is this?

 There are mines of truth yet to be discovered by the earnest seeker. But our success in finding it does not depend so much on our intellectual ability as on our humility of heart and the faith which will lay hold upon divine aid.

 Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we shall be continually liable to wrest the Scriptures or to misinterpret them. There is much reading of the Bible that is without profit and in many cases is a positive injury.

 When the word of God is opened without reverence and without prayer; when thoughts and affections are not fixed upon God or in harmony with His will, the mind is clouded with doubt; and in the very study of the Bible, skepticism strengthens.

 The enemy takes control of the thoughts, and he suggests interpretations that are not correct.  Whenever men are not seeking, in word and deed, to be in harmony with God, then, however learned they may be, they are liable to err in their understanding of Scripture, and it is not safe to trust to their explanations.

 Therefore, there are some questions we must ask as it pertains to Artificial intelligence and the multitude of search engines, to demonstrate just a few of the grave concerns and risks to truth that are posed by their use.

 The answers to the questions will be given without bias, so as to ascertain what risks there might be to persons trusting these sources in the verification or pursuit of truth.

Question [1] Is it true that behind all artificial intelligence there is real intelligence?

 Answer: Yes! Artificial intelligence did not come about on its own, it is the product of intelligent minds.

 Question [2] When information, data, algorithms, history, and scriptural information are gathered, and input, who is vetting the sources for correctness and accuracy, or are we leaving the proverbial “fox” to guard the chicken coop?

For instance, when a very straightforward Biblical question is asked of your search engine, could it be trusted to deliver the unadulterated truth on the matter in question, or will it randomly pull all kinds of information treating on the subject?

 Furthermore, will the search results be without bias, unaffected by popular majority opinions? And will priority be given to scriptural truth at the top of the search results, or would the search engine naturally defer to error? To find out, Let’s ask Yahoo:

Question [1] Which day is the Sabbath Day? (Yahoo)

At the top of the search you would find references to Sunday as being the day that Christians worship on as the Sabbath. Then, as you scroll down, you’ll find references to the seventh day of the week as being the Biblical or Jewish Sabbath, but go down further, and you will find this: Got Questions “Your  Questions, Biblical Answers”  

This search result is quite interesting, for it purports to give persons only true, scriptural answers to their questions. So, let’s see what they have to say on our first question: Which day is the Sabbath?

 “It is often claimed that “God instituted the Sabbath in Eden” because of the connection between the Sabbath and creation in Exodus 20:11”

 “Although God’s rest on the seventh day (Genesis 2:3) did foreshadow a future Sabbath law, there is no biblical record of the Sabbath before the children of Israel left the land of Egypt”

 “Nowhere in Scripture is there any hint that Sabbath keeping was practiced from Adam to Moses. God’s intent for giving the Sabbath to Israel was not that they would remember creation but that they would remember their Egyptian slavery and the Lord’s deliverance”

 Now let’s go to the scriptures to verify whether the above statements are true:

“There is no biblical record of the Sabbath before the children of Israel left the land of Egypt”

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: Which commandments and laws could The Lord be referring to?

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

8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master knows not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

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

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

Question: What is this “Rest” pharaoh is referring to? If it is, rest as in sleeping, then pharaoh will have to be an absolute lunatic to expect the workers to work non-stop. Therefore, he must be referring to the Sabbath rest, in his protest to Moses. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 258] In their bondage the Israelites had to some extent lost the knowledge of God's law, and they had departed from its precepts. The Sabbath had been generally disregarded, and the exactions of their taskmasters made its observance apparently impossible.

 But Moses had shown his people that obedience to God was the first condition of deliverance; and the efforts made to restore the observance of the Sabbath had come to the notice of their oppressors.

 Question: What happens when we die?

There we go again with the search engines, for the information coming from the search results would be found to be heavily tilted in favor of error.  You would have to go digging for real, in order to come up with the truth that is written in the Bible on this topic.

 The same is found to be true concerning topics such as Creation and Evolution. Even though a vast array of information is gathered, and dispensed by Chat- Gpt and others, it would be discovered that in the majority of cases those conclusions that are drawn, and the information dispensed on sacred topics are tainted with error, or otherwise favor deductions that are unscriptural.

 Great care has to be taken if persons use the search engines, and artificial intelligence in the preparation of God’s word, especially if it has to be delivered to His people. The preparer must be intimately familiar with the scriptures, so as to detect any diversions to  the contrary.

 Ultimately, real intelligence, coming from the Holy Ghost is a must, because He will never be fettered, or defined by artificial intelligence, or any search engine, for His work in the salvation of souls is a personal intelligent work, never to be defined by apps.

 These resources may be used prudently to let folks know of The Savior, but in doing so, the soldiers of the cross must be careful not to digitize The Spirit of God, especially by allowing the search engines, and artificial intelligence to do the thinking for them. Be very, very careful not to surrender your personal intelligence in favor of some app or Ai.

 If such resources are used, the conclusions drawn and the information dispensed has to be carefully vetted for errors and sentiments that may not be in line with the scriptures, for if this is not done, one would be putting their trust in man, against which the Bible warns us in several passages.

 We are living in momentous and tumultuous times, and final movements will be rapid ones. The things which are happening upon earth, and developments that are taking place would make the Bible prophets turn in their graves, yet the Christian is to be always vigilant, keeping Christ ever before our faces.

 Let us be wary of surrendering the use of our own minds to artificial intelligence, for the kingdom of darkness would love nothing better than to have others, think, conclude, and decide for ourselves. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will enable us to live victoriously in an age of many browsers, search engines and Ai. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 2: 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

                                 God Bless

The Battle For Our Minds. Part [2] Sabbath afternoon 02/11/2023

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

4 Trust in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

In order for the Christian in our day to stave off the multiple and sustained assaults of both internal and external foes, we will have to keep Jesus ever before our faces.

 The battle for our minds as pertains to the invisible forces of good and evil, could be summed up in one short sentence: Get persons to choose the good or the evil. It always comes down to choice so we must be aware of the various agencies that are involved in altering or swaying our decision making, and the ways and means that are employed in doing so.

On the good side of the fence, methods such as the presentation of truth, God’s love for us, persuasions, and promises are used to encourage us to choose to do right.

 God is a God of truth, and therefore He will use only those ways and means that are in harmony with His perfection. Thus, God tries to persuade persons to choose the right through the presentation of the Gospel. Let’s read:

Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, you almost persuade me to be a Christian.

2nd Corinthians 5: 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we  pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God did not send his Son into the world, to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

However, on the dark side of the fence the following techniques, ways and means are employed to get us to choose evil. Deception, disguise, applause, force, censure, intimidation, heckling, persuasion, certain drugs, fear, enticement, certain movies, popularity, and indoctrination through philosophical idols that speak things contrary to the word of God.

 After persuasion did not work with Joseph, our arch nemesis resorted to the use of force to try and get the young man to buckle. Day by day, as Joseph went to work, he had to endure sustained assaults, until in sheer desperation, devils moved upon Mrs. Potiphar to pull out all the stops, and try to force young Joseph into submission.

 Revelation chapter 13, refers to efforts that will be made to try and starve persons into submission, if they, like Joseph, and the three Hebrew boys, refuse to buckle under pressure. But Jesus Christ who has trod this way before us, has already proven that the severe pangs of hunger will not force one saint into doing the unthinkable.

However, for the time being there are several other ways and means that are employed to sway choices, and all these must now be fully unmasked for what they really are. Since the day our first parents ate of the forbidden tree, everything that pertains to the human experience has been tainted with good and evil. That’s an undeniable fact.

 We should understand, that in the overwhelming majority of instances, evil is advertised as having some type of benefit. When in the garden of Eden, the cunning serpent sought to enlist Eve in his ranks, he touted those supposed benefits that will accrue to her and Adam if they would turn aside from the instructions given them by God.

 And thus, it has ever been throughout the history of mankind. A lot of new illnesses have been plaguing humanity of late, and science seems to be at a loss for the ways and means to effectively keep up with the emerging crisis.

 Those mitigation efforts put in place to stave off the use of dangerous drugs in our day, have been met with stiff resistance from our invisible foes. And very often, such efforts deal with the symptoms, and not the main underlying cause of the problems.

Persons get depressed for various reasons, including bereavement, divorce, financial loss, guilt, the loss of one’s job, and inflationary pressures. But in too many instances, the mitigation efforts are made to address symptoms, and not the real cause.

 Issues pertaining to one’s weight could cause some persons to become depressed, but in some cases, a quick fad diet, or temporary fix is sought after while the lifestyle change, with the formation of healthy habits is left off the table.

 Persistent loneliness can also trigger depression, yet in many instances, drugs are employed, to address the depressed state of mind, and not the underlying issue. If one is lonely what they may need is a friend or a spouse, not necessarily a drug to improve the mood.

 There are times, when for some unknown reason a person might suffer from low self-esteem, or mood, and in other cases, some persons may not be able to find joy or pleasure in activities that once perked their interest.

 Now, it is to be understood that science as we know it might do its best to mitigate adverse conditions of the mind, such as depression, but we must also bear in mind that such efforts, through the use of certain drugs, may have adverse, and long-lasting effects on the choices persons may make.

 This is especially true of mind-altering drugs which have the ability to produce suicidal thoughts. As it is with the knowledge of good and evil, some benefits may be realized, but the harmful side effects could steer a person to do things that they otherwise may never choose to do.

 We are not going to recommend this or that for this is not our area of expertise; we’re just going to deal with the ways and means employed that can affect decision making, because that’s where the battle for the mind comes into play.

 Because of the constraints of time, we are going to address two main areas that can directly affect our decision making, as it pertains to the battle for our minds: [1] The use of harmful drugs. [2] What we see.

Let’s begin with [1] The use of harmful drugs.

The opioid epidemic is far from over, because thus far it has taken the lives of about 932,000 people in America, with one death being recorded every five minutes across the land. Many persons do struggle with chronic pain, and to get relief, some turn to the use of opioids in different forms.

It is indeed difficult to live with chronic pain, and by all means the cause of such adverse conditions must be ascertained by professionals in the field. But we should know that certain drugs which are dispensed can play an adverse role in the battle for our minds, especially those drugs which are able to modify and interfere with mood, thoughts, and desires.

These agents often open the floodgates of addiction which can become increasingly difficult to close with each and every additional use. Whatever might be a person’s one’s situation, drugs which trigger suicidal thoughts and those which tend to influence persons to erratic or violent behaviors must be handled with great care.

 We must remember that in the battle for our minds, the goal of evil agencies is to procure the adverse outcome through the choices folks make, and thus, any drug that will compromise the rational thinking processes of a person, must be handled prudently.

One of the problems with drug abuse, as it pertains to the battle for our minds, is that something that might actually produce some level of benefit where warranted is used for recreational purposes in some instances, and once the problem of addiction kicks in, you would have a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy on your hands.

 Persons never plan to get addicted to drugs; they do in many instances, become overly dependent on the use thereof, and with each additional use, it can be very hard to break the cycle. Thus, because chronic pain is one of the main drivers of opioid and weed abuse, we would address this issue squarely.

 Question: Should persons seek for relief from pain at all costs, even if doing so would compromise the decision-making processes of the mind? Or, should there be a threshold point beyond which it is not safe to go?

 When Marijuana was being introduced to the nation it was touted as a blessing for persons suffering with long term pain and certain mental illnesses, and yes, just like in the garden of Eden its benefits were then advertised as valid reasons for the use thereof.

But God would have us understand that satan is not a fool for he has been in business much longer than we have been alive, and he’s learned by experience that, in order to have evil entrenched, it will have to first be introduced with some good benefits.

 And thus, armed with stratagem and many years of experience, he succeeded in getting Ganja to move from an illegal substance, to being medicinal and on to being recreational, and from there, it can now be found in candies, ice creams, drinks, chewables, and basically in any form one can dream or think of.

 How did it make such a quick transition from having medicinal benefit, to being distributed in candies or milk shakes? The answer is to be found in strategies employed by the forces of darkness in the battle for our minds.

 Amongst devils, it is a well-documented and proven fact, that if something has good and evil intertwined in it, the human agent will inevitably, and eventually gravitate more toward the evil, rather than the good and hence the reason why, in order to get his foot in the door the good is most often trumpeted up front.

 This particular strategy is clearly outlined in the holy scriptures, so that none be deceived concerning the multitude of benefits that are advertised in the use of harmful drugs, especially those that produce the adverse effects on the mind, we referred to earlier.

 And persons who become hooked on harmful mind- altering drugs, in different forms will suffer adverse effects sooner or later, because in many instances, the bad effects are not realized immediately. In fact, one of the main problems associated with addiction is that human minds become trained to recognize certain drugs as bringing relief or pleasure.

Thus, the body and mind are trained to recognize or interpret such substances as being something good, not bad, and after a while, the cravings can become so strong that it reaches a tipping point, where it is  extremely difficult to live without them.

And in some unfortunate cases, by the time correct intervention is sought, it is already too late. So, let’s now address squarely, the pros and cons of using marijuana and harmful opioids as pain killers.

As was with the tree of knowledge of good and evil, ganga may have some level of tangible benefit, but it also produces some harmful side effects that can play a definitive role in the battle for our minds, as far as decision-making goes.

One of the adverse side effects of weed is psychosis, which is a severe mental disorder in which persons’ thoughts and emotions could become so impaired, that they can lose touch with reality. So, we ask the question again:

 Should persons seek for relief from pain at all costs, even if it might compromise one’s decision-making process? Or is there a threshold point beyond which it is not safe to go?

 When Jesus was hung upon the cross, He was given a pain-killer, a concentrated mixture of vinegar and gall to deaden the severe pain He was experiencing. He tasted it, but soon recognized that it potentially could compromise clear His thought, and decision- making processes, and thus, to protect His mind, He determined that He would bear the pain instead. Let’s read:

Matthew 27: 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

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

The belief that there are certain problems that only mortals can handle is not grounded in the scriptures for God can handle every problem that plagues the human family. It is true that God often uses human agencies in doing so, but God can handle every, and any problem, all by Himself.

In the scripture we find His proven track record, and even though great advances have been made in the use of various medicines, we must declare the truth that God is able to fix whatsoever goes wrong with the human family. Would He? is another question, but He absolutely can.

 There were persons who dealt with chronic pain for many years, who came to Jesus and found healing through faith in Him. There were others who had a mental disorder, who were healed.

And there were others, who on account of a wrong course of action had brought adverse consequences upon themselves, yet Christ was able to remedy the situations all by Himself. Let’s read:

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.

This is not to say that folks should utterly dispense with the advances made in medicine. We shouldn’t. But if in the treatment of chronic pain, persons find themselves crossing that threshold point where the mind is being affected too adversely, then it may be time to go have a talk with God.

The way in which God usually works with those who trust in Him, is that He requires that wherever it is possible, all God-ordained products, way and means at our disposal be exhausted first, and then, if we hit a brick wall, we ask for Divine intervention as per His will.

But this requires that we not limit Him to only finite ideas and concepts, because God has a thousand different ways at His disposal to solve the very same problem.

The results that accompany prayer are often tied to our capacity to believe and receive and thus, a good perspective is to cultivate a no-limit, or open-ended approach when it comes to believing in what God can do. Let’s read:

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

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

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

Matthew 21: 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

And now we turn to the second factor pertaining to the battle for our minds: [2] What we see.

When Eve found herself at the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden, her five senses were engaged in the following order: Sight, Sound, Touch, Smell, and Taste. The avenues to the soul are our five senses by which we communicate with the outside world, and therefore, what we see can affect the choices folks make.

At Bed, Bath and Beyond as well as at Target, Costco and Walmart, items are arranged and displayed in a strategic manner so as to have the maximum effect in fueling purchases. In fact, the strategy is so time- proven and effective, that in many instances, folks leave the store with things they never intended to buy.

The same is true in the spiritual realm, because the things that we see are arranged, and presented in such a way as to have the maximum magnetic pull on our decision-making processes. It is the purpose of both good and evil angels to have their products so readily available, that they are now literally at our fingertips.

 This is not a new concept, for there is nothing new under the sun. It is just the development of an age old principle that has proven track records. It began in the garden of Eden, and has morphed into one of the most successful strategies that can be employed in swaying minds, this way or that. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs and Prophets pp 55] The serpent plucked the fruit of the forbidden tree and placed it in the hands of the half-reluctant Eve.

In other words satan made it readily available at her fingertips, even though she was initially hesitant. It is a strategy that must be studied closely, for it has been replicated a million times and with remarkable success.

There was a time when persons would have to go to the movies, in order to see their favorite shows. But with the advent of a plethora of streaming services, such as Netflix, Direct TV, Sling and Disney channels the movies are literally at our fingertips for they are just one click away.

 Question: So how does that strategy of readily available content play into the battle for our minds?

 Remember, as was stated before, the single purpose of each and every strategy employed, is to affect our decision-making processes. This fact is emphasized in the scripture, especially in the context of the final conflict which will engage the issue of choice to the maximum. Let’s read:

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

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

We will take one example to illustrate how what we see, coupled together with readily available content can and does affect the mind to produce the desired outcome in one’s decision-making.

In the movies, whether it be in theaters or on Netflix one theme is most often portrayed, and it is done so often, and with such surgical precision that we can conclude that ingesting the concept is equivalent to going to school to be taught by invisible tutors.

Here it is: The good guy hunts down the bad guy and brings him to justice. From Avatar, to Spiderman to Lion King, to Clint Eastwood, to Bruce Lee and the renowned Silver Fox, Starwars, Black Panther, Harry Potter, The last duel, Ghost Busters, The Harder they fall, Lord of the rings, and even Finding Nemo. One theme keeps resurfacing over and over again: The good guy goes after the bad guy and brings him to justice, or wreaks vengeance on him.

And it does not stop at the movies, for as we stated before, the strategy is to make the products readily available at your fingertips, and therefore, it is now to be found in our living rooms and online, just one click away, in the likes of Judge Judy, Judge Alex, You be the judge, Divorce court, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Faith, Judge Hatchet, and the list goes on and on.

It never has and would never be God’s will for family and friends to go into the public square to tear each other apart. Exposing the misdeeds of another for the sake of personal retribution, and compensation, retaliation, and justification, is a strategy that is not endorsed, nor instructed in Christ’s kingdom.

 Somehow, we seem to be obsessed with a sense of strict justice and as persons go to school in the form of movies, theaters, and online streaming, we come away pregnant with justice, and the enemy of souls waits, invisibly in the wings for the inevitable results of his teaching to be made manifest.

 After being thus indoctrinated with justice, it could become quite difficult to appreciate, or implement the concept of mercy, because by imbibing so much justice, mercy seems like a foreign principle to folks, and then inevitably the natural default setting in the mind is one of justice, whenever someone does us wrong.

Thus, strict justice becomes second nature, while a disposition to show mercy is relegated to being an afterthought. But in God’s kingdom, the default setting is mercy, and as such He desires that we think and act along that specific mode of thought.

In the ancient sanctuary system the Mercy seat was strategically and intentionally positioned above the justice that the law calls for, and were it not for this perspective, none of us judges would be alive today.

But when we go to school in the university of the movies, to be infiltrated with such concepts that are foreign to God’s kingdom, it could become very difficult to forgive, because the reflex action when wrong is done to us is to get even. And thus, the decisions along those lines often follow as clockwork. But this mode of thought is contrary to the kingdom of Christ. Let’s read:

Ephesians 4: 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. 

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Matthew 5: 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there you remember that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

Romans 12: 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

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

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

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

The principles and instructions we mentioned above are not exactly what you would find on Netflix, or in the movies, for they are, for the most part foreign to the kingdom of darkness.

In the battle for our minds The Lord seeks to have us think and act like Himself, whereas devils seek to imbue us with the thoughts and sentiments that are entirely contrary to the kingdom of light. When God instructs us to forgive, He is not merely referring to several instances in our life experience where it may become warranted.

He is referring to us adopting forgiveness as a way of life, not something we have to grind our teeth to think about and then hand it over reluctantly. When Christ was on Calvary, He offered to forgive not only those who had trespassed against Him, but those also who did not ask for forgiveness.

 But it is a mortal conflict that we are engaged in, the results of which would tell for time and for eternity, depending on the choices and decisions we make. Therefore, we beseech everyone, by the mercies of God that, we all choose life.

 Let us then submit our minds to Jesus so that right principles, right concepts, ways, and means may be indelibly etched into our consciences, for when this is done by the grace of God, choosing good and the right would become second nature, not merely an afterthought.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages to think and act along godly lines, being careful at all times to guard the avenues to our souls so that in the battle for the mind, we may emerge as conquerors by God’s grace. 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.

                                   God Bless!

The Battle For Our Minds. Sabbath afternoon 02/04/2023

Daniel 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

The story of this battle between the angel Gabriel and satan, for the mind of the king of Persia is really a microcosm of the greater conflict that takes place daily for our hearts and minds. Every major decision and choice we make, from day to day, cumulatively, will contribute to determining our eternal destiny.

And every decision and choice we make, that comes down on the side of righteousness, will further cement the fact that our sins will one day, be transferred to the head of the scape goat, which to him is very bad news.

 We are the arbiters of our own destiny, and when we choose to do right it would matter in the greater scheme of things; not as having any intrinsic, salvific value, but as a determining factor in whom we will ultimately choose to serve and obey.

 Obeying God does not in any way save a person, in and of itself, for we are all saved by grace through faith. What obedience does is, it makes clear where our allegiance lies, and our allegiance to either one of the two great powers in the universe, ultimately determines our eternal destiny.

 Thus, satan goes to work in protracted, ingenious, and systematic ways, to tilt our minds to choosing evil, or doing anything that is contrary to God’s will. The very grave nature of this battle is revealed in our first passages, and should be understood by all who are desirous of living victoriously.

 There are also certain parameters set, as it pertains to the battle for our minds, which persons must be aware of, for God, who has done all that can ever be done to save us, sets the rules of engagement which can be deduced from the episode with Cyrus, king of Persia, and from other scriptures, treating upon the same issue.

 [1] The first rule of engagement in the processes of our decision-making is that the use of any force is forbidden, especially when it comes to issues which pertain to one’s eternal destiny. Both good and evil angels are forbidden to use force to coerce anyone into choosing either this way or that way.

 We are free moral agents, and thus, God guarantees that our freedom to choose is left untrammeled at all times, except in such cases where one gives his/ her will over to devils. Then, at such times satan can take full control of a person’s mind, and force them to do his bidding. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 2: 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.

[The Desire of Ages pp 125] While Satan can solicit, he cannot compel to sin. The tempter can never compel us to do evil. He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control. The will must consent, faith must let go its hold upon Christ, before Satan can exercise his power upon us.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

So now that we have established from the Bible that the use of force by angels is off the table as pertains to decision-making, we must investigate what other tools or avenues angels have at their disposal to try and get us to think and decide along a preferred line of thought.

 In the battle that had unfolded between the angel Gabriel and satan, they had to use other means and methods, to try and sway the mind of the King Cyrus either this way or that way, so, we ask the question: What ways and means do angels use to procure the preferred outcome? This leads us to the second rule of engagement:

 [2] As a general rule, both good and evil angels are barred for the most part from appearing to persons in their true form, as this could cause individuals to make decisions out of fear, and/or intimidation.

 There are rare exceptions to this rule that are found in the scriptures, such as when an angel was given the command by God to appear directly to stubborn Balaam, who had to be forced into saying the things that he would not have otherwise chosen to declare because his actions could have adversely affected God’s people.

Thus, in very rare instances such as this, God would have us mortals to understand that He retains the prerogative at all times to be God, in the fullest and highest sense.

 Yet, for all intents and purposes, on a day-to-day basis, angels are not permitted to appear in their true forms, for if, in the process of decision making, God permitted angels to reveal their true selves, we would be greatly intimidated by their presence, and as such, such manifestations could materially affect our freedom to choose in an untrammeled manner.

 For the time being angels are permitted to influence persons in different ways, especially, through the medium of other persons like ourselves. The good angels move upon the righteous to preach the good news of salvation to other persons, and evil angels move upon folks to offer resistance to any such preaching.

 However, this second rule of engagement would not remain the case for too much longer, since the Bible specifically tells us that as the final conflict between good and evil ramps up to a crescendo, all the stops would be pulled out and folks can expect increasing, direct interventions, from both the good, and evil angels.

 This is of critical importance for us to understand, whilst we can, for if folks were to come up to those days without thorough preparation, persons would be swept off their feet, when the miracle-working power of demons takes center stage, and becomes mainstream across the earth. Let’s read:

Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame.

In every prior instance recorded in the scriptures, it is never stated that devils revealed their real selves to mortal eyes. Not with Eve, not with Job, not with David when he numbered the children of Israel, not with Peter, when he was moved upon by the devil to try and discourage Jesus from going to Calvary.

Again, the devil remained hidden from view as he entered into Judas and took full control of his mind, because through a series of repetitive decisions, the battle for his mind had culminated in Judas handing himself over entirely to the control of demons.

 Just so it will be with every person who persistently forestalls Christ’s gracious overtures until the day of probation comes to a permanent end. However, in, and throughout the entire episode with Judas, satan was never permitted to reveal himself in his true colors.

 The singular, and only recorded instance was when Jesus was being tempted in the deserts, and even then, satan appeared as an angel of light. But as the final conflict gathers steam, things will be changing.

 The enemy of souls will reveal himself as a dazzling, supernatural being, to forever seal the decisions of those who have rejected Christ and His truth. But, for the time being, he is restricted to remaining hidden from view for the most part.

This leads us to the third rule of engagement as it pertains to the battle for our minds. Some way, and somehow, angels need to get their suggestions into our minds. With the angel Gabriel, who was locked  in combat with satan, both of them needed to get their persuasions into the king’s mind, and so, the  next logical question is: How do they do this?

 The answer to this question has two parts, because of sheer necessity. Angels do not necessarily need a human being to infuse the mind of another person with their suggestions and persuasions. They have the ability to do so directly on their own.

 There was not a single other person involved when satan had spoken through Peter. No one influenced Judas to do evil at Christ’s communion table and the Bible does not specifically state that other folks had encouraged David to number Israel.

 We will be dealing with this aspect of direct angelic infusions later on. However, in many instances other human beings are used as vehicles to transfer ideas, thoughts and suggestions to the person in question, and this would constitute part one of the third rule of engagement:

 [3] Human agents are very often used as vehicles to transfer ideas, perspectives, interpretations, views and suggestions from angels to other persons.

 For instance, when satan stood up to tempt Job, he stated to God that if Job was afflicted in his body, he would turn around and curse God and die. So, after getting God’s permission to touch Job, the devil had to find someone, who would repeat to Job, the very same sentiment he uttered to God.

 To accomplish this, he would have to go looking for someone who will share his views on the matter in question, in order for that person who would be the middleman, to convey his sentiments through their utterances. In other words, the human agent to be used as the vehicle of infusion must see eye to eye with satan on the issue in question.

 This should be of grave concern to every soberly-thinking person, for none of us will like to know that we are being used to convey any satanic sentiments views or ideas. Yet it is too often the case that this is actually true in real life. Let’s read:

Job 2: 4 And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

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

8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

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

Here it is again, so no one would conclude that this only happens with women, for it also happens the same with men. We are just observing the method of infusion as it occurs with the human agent. Peter was not a woman, and David was fully male yet they too were used as the vehicles of infusion on certain occasions. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 11: 14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.

17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

1st Kings 22:2 And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?

4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

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

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

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 55] Without a fear she [Eve] plucked and ate. And now, having herself transgressed, she became the agent of Satan in working the ruin of her husband.  In a state of strange, unnatural excitement, with her hands filled with the forbidden fruit, she sought his presence, and related all that had occurred.

 The way to avoid the middleman role is for us to be fully aligned and surrendered to God’s revealed will. For instance, when God teaches us to forgive others, if we accept His instructions with a willing mind, the likelihood of any satanic views on this matter, being in sync with ours goes way down, and as a result, he knows that he must look for a different candidate.

 Also, a good practice for us is to first pass every idea and suggestion, brought to us, through the word of God before we speak. In that way the scriptures can become a sort of check valve, to siphon out every sentiment that does not pass the gold standard. This is not merely a good suggestion; it is an instruction coming from The God of heaven. Let’s read:

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

20 For the wrath of man works not righteousness of God.

When Christ was refused passage through a city of the Samaritans, two of His disciples, who still clung to the principle of revenge, gave voice to views that came from the prince of darkness. At that very time it was revealed to them by Christ that they were in sync with a foreign spirit, and thus gave utterance to the sentiments of that evil spirit. Let’s read:

Luke 9:52 And He sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

However, if we cherished sin in any form or fashion, and if persons harbor unscriptural views, and ideas on any point, they become like sitting ducks for the middle man role, and it will be just a matter of time before we are used as a vehicle of infusion.

[The Desire of Ages pp 125] Every sinful desire we    cherish affords him a foothold. Every point in which we fail of meeting the divine standard is an open door by which he can enter to tempt and destroy us.

 In the battle for our minds, we have to be mindful of the fact that close relatives, and friends can be used as the vehicle of infusion, either for good or evil. In very many instances, human agents are used to say words that are a savor of life unto life, and indeed, it is through human instrumentalities that the bulk of the gospel is disseminated.

 Again, some persons with the best of intentions may suggest good, and others with the best of intentions may suggest evil. The correct way to decipher all of the incoming ideas, and infusions is by applying the sword of The Spirit, which is the word of God, and in addition to prayer for guidance, the Christian will in most cases be able to navigate safely between good and evil.

 God just wants us to be aware of the fact that such agents could be used on either side of the fence, a fact that must be brought into the equation when studying the battle for our minds.

 Now we must turn to the second part of the third method employed in the battle for our minds. This particular one hasn’t yet received its due attention, because of the limitations of science as we know it. Yet, it must be investigated and must be thoroughly understood now, in the context of the battle for our minds.

 It's the method of direct infusion, where the human agent as a vehicle is bypassed, and angels can infuse the mind of any person directly, with their thoughts, ideas, and suggestions.

 In order to understand this one, we must first try to observe how our highways, and our transportation systems work in the temporal realm. Highways such as the I-95 were designed for the transportation of goods, and persons, and other articles.

 They are used to transport food to thousands of our groceries across the land, including Publix, where shopping is a pleasure. They are used to transport roofing materials, hardware, school children, people and almost anything you can think of.

 However, our highways are also used by drug lords in the transportation of Cocaine, fentanyl and other harmful substances. The highways of themselves do not, and cannot prevent the wrongful use thereof, for they are just highways.

 The same is true of the internet, which was made as a superhighway to convey information. And, like the I-95, both, good and evil are transported 24/7, for you can find preaching and Christian music, while at the same time you can find porn. Thus, the internet is just a superhighway that is used to transport the various types of information globally.

 In the spiritual realm there are highways that are for general purpose use, meaning that they can be used in transporting either good or evil. Therefore, as it pertains to the battle for our minds and the method of direct infusion a general-purpose highway is used by good and evil angels.

 It is a highway, which makes accessibility to every person on the planet possible, without exception. It has to do with our atmosphere that we breathe, for like our own super highways, it can be used to carry oxygen, but could also be used in the transportation and transfer of thoughts, suggestions, and concepts from angels to mortals.

 Both The Hebrew word Ruach, and the Greek word Pneuma, point to the air or atmosphere as the only superhighway with direct access to all mortals.

 Hence the reason why in so many instances, angels do not necessarily need the human agent as their middleman; they can get their ideas directly into a person’s mind via the superhighway of atmosphere. Let’s read:

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

In every instance recorded in the Bible, where evil spirits were cast out of any human being, air was involved, without any exception. When Christ cast out the legion of devils from the demoniac man, He used His voice, which obviously involves air to carry His command.

 At that time, as well as in several other instances, Jesus commanded the evil spirits to come out of the person in question. Thus, a fundamental question to this issue has to be asked, and settled once, and for all: If Jesus cast them out, how did they enter in into the person in the first place?

 Air is the superhighway that makes accessibility to every human being possible, a fact that could be observed in the following scriptures, as we study line upon line. Let’s read:

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.

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

Job 27: 3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils.

John 3:8 The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it comes, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 20: 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Mark 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tore him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Matthew 8: 28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

Mark 5: 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him.

8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

[The Story of Redemption BK. 3 pp 87] The words of Jesus penetrated the darkened minds of the men enough for them to dimly realize that One was near who could save them from the demons that tormented them.

They fell at the feet of Jesus, worshiping him. But when they opened their mouths to entreat his mercy, the demon spoke through them and cried vehemently, “What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most-High God, I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not!

Mark 5:12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into  them.

13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

John 13: 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spoke this unto him.

[Christ’s Object Lessons pp 339] Every soul is surrounded by an atmosphere of its own; it may be, charged with the life-giving power of faith, courage, and hope, and sweet with the fragrance of love.

 Or it may be heavy and chill with the gloom of discontent and selfishness, or poisonous with the deadly taint of cherished sin. By the atmosphere surrounding us, every person with whom we come in contact is consciously or unconsciously affected.

There are times when in His capacity as God He may see fit to block the superhighway of atmosphere to a particular person for emergency reasons. Not too long ago I was in West Palm Beach, and was looking for Advanced Auto Parts, and my GPS directed me to drive to a specific street to get there.

 So I went, but as I was approaching it, I saw that there were several police cars, an ambulance and a fire truck, and the road was completely blocked off, so that I could not enter. That is because there was an emergency, and for that reason all access was to be restricted to the relevant authorities only.

There are times when the universal highway has to be blocked by God so that access cannot be granted to anyone else, but Himself. There are times when a prophet is in vision, and God blocks all access to the person so that they cannot breathe in or out, thus, precluding any effort by others to make an infusion. Let’s read:

Daniel 10:4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel.

5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz.

15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.

Some persons may now be wondering why this third point pertaining to atmosphere, is important, as it pertains to the battle for our minds. The reason is, that there are places on this planet where there are higher concentrations of evil spirits, than at other places.

 And if we were to visit those places, without a just cause, the likelihood of direct angelic infusions, go up exponentially. When Saul had visited the witch of Endor, he went to a place where there was a very high concentration of evil spirits in the atmosphere, and he suffered a very severe, and direct infusion, from which he was never able to recover.

 Conversely, when David went to hide out with the prophet Samuel, there was a high concentration of holy angels and God’s presence in the atmosphere, and therefore, when Saul tried to break through the invisible shield, he could not. The reason is that in this instance Saul experienced a direct infusion, in so much that he started to sing praises and prophesy even though he had come for a different, ulterior purpose. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 19: 19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 653>654] Saul then decided that he himself would go, for his fierce enmity had become uncontrollable. He was determined to wait for no further chance to kill David; as soon as he should come within reach of him, he intended with his own hand to slay him, whatever might be the consequences. But an angel of God met him on the way and controlled him. The Spirit of God held him in Its power, and he went forward uttering prayers to God, interspersed with predictions and sacred melodies.

In the battle for our minds, there are certain things we should be cognizant of. We are the sole arbiters of our own destiny through the choices we make. It does not matter if intimidation, applause, heckling, or persuasion are used, because at the end of the day, the choice is ours.

 Again, we must, by the grace of God, surrender our will to His in entirety because if we harbor divergent views that are not supported by the scriptures, we’ll be used as vehicles or agents to spread perspectives and suggestions from devils to other persons.

 Thirdly, we must ask God to imbue us with His Holy Spirit, so that an invisible shield could encompass us round about, thereby guiding and guarding our way in the paths of righteousness and peace.

If we were to cherish any sin like how Saul cherished revenge, it will control us after a while, if confession and repentance is not made, and thus, we can lose the battle for our minds through just one weak link.

 God is able to keep us from falling, but we must first desire and then choose to be kept, for at every step of advance towards God’s eternal kingdom, we will be challenged by humanity’s arch-nemesis.

Therefore, gird up the loins, buckle up the belts, and zip up the shoes, lest we be faint and weary in well- doing for God is well able to make the weakest saint be victorious, in the battle for our minds. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which certifies this sacred truth. Let’s read:

Philippians 2: 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

                                    God Bless!

Byproducts Of Faith And Fear. Sabbath afternoon 01/28/2023

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

There are several characteristics that Christ is trying to develop in His people, as we prepare to launch out into the deep, referring to the final conflict of the ages. On of those qualities that we would need is bravery, for it will require, a deep abiding trust in God to deliver the third angels message, under what would be the most foreboding circumstances.

 Thus, the history of Elijah must be carefully studied and thoroughly understood, so as to get a glimpse of the pitfalls, risks and threats that would multiply against those who are sent to preach the very last message of mercy, and how they are to successfully navigate the minefields that would be set for their feet by the forces of darkness.

 In speaking of that time, both the Scriptures and the servant of The Lord describe it as being beyond our wildest imagination, for according to Daniel, there is no other period of this earth’s history that it can be compared to, making it a one-of-a-kind, and indeed, very severe and dangerous, for folks who would live through that trying time.

 Now, as we stated before in one Bible study, we are not to be overwhelmed by the threats, for we are to keep Christ ever before our faces, yet there cannot be any sugar-coating of this said time, because even God describes it as being a time of deep trouble.

 In words that do not flatter, the prophets describe it as a man travailing with child, and groaning as it is customary for a woman to do when in labor pain. In another instance, the Bible says that satan will then be permitted to pull out all the stops, and will level his entire arsenal against those who refuse to bow. So, yes, that time will require a ton of bravery. Let’s read:

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.

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

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 24: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

[The Great Controversy pp 622] It is often the case that trouble is greater in anticipation than in reality; but this is not true of the crisis before us. The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal. In that time of trial, every soul must stand for himself before God.

Therefore, we must reiterate, that one of the very important characteristics that would be needed at that time is bravery. The bravery that we’re speaking of is not of the man-made kind, where dare-devils or wannabe heroes presume to do the unthinkable.

 It is not the kind that you would find in Hollywood, where Clint Eastwood, chewing on his cigar, smokes out a rival cowboy with his rifle.

This bravery will be rooted and grounded in Christ alone, and will be fortified by the literal experiences of the remnant, which they can then fall back on for renewed courage as they move forward. Thus it was with the prophet Elijah, as he was commissioned by God to go, on what would have otherwise been a fatal mission.

 In days of old, and even currently, no one was allowed to barge into any palace without prior authorization, let alone bring a message of doom to the monarch. The security guards would have swiftly disposed of such a person who presumed to do so. Yet Elijah was sent by God, and thus, his bravery and confidence came from the fact that he was running God’s errand.

 In our day, persons are never to presume to deliver the third angel’s message without being directed by God to do so, because it could trigger a tsunami of persecution, prematurely, and it could potentially open the flood gates of hell before the appointed time.

Let those who are called to preach the third angel’s message be directed by God to do so, just as Elijah was directed by God, to go to king Ahab. 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.

[Prophets and Kings pp 120>121] The prophet set out at once, and traveled night and day until he reached Samaria. At the palace he solicited no admission nor waited to be formally announced.

 Clad in the coarse garments usually worn by the prophets of that time, he passed the guards, apparently unnoticed, and stood for a moment before the astonished king.

 Elijah made no apology for his abrupt appearance. A Greater than the ruler of Israel had commissioned him to speak; and, lifting his hand toward heaven, he solemnly affirmed by the living God that the judgments of the Most-High were about to fall upon Israel.

 It was only by the exercise of strong faith in the unfailing power of God's word that Elijah delivered his message. Had he not possessed implicit confidence in the One whom he served, he would never have appeared before Ahab.

 Like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, the message of impending judgment fell upon the ears of the wicked king; but before Ahab could recover from his astonishment, or frame a reply, Elijah disappeared as abruptly as he had come, without waiting to witness the effect of his message.

Thus, from this experience it becomes quite obvious to all, that one of the byproducts of faith in God is bravery. That is why our first passage states that the righteous are as bold as a lion.

 Another byproduct of faith in God is confidence, for those who trust in God live by the blessed assurance that God would be with them through thick and thin and in every situation where trials may come in as a flood, or where such persons may be called upon to pass through the fire.

A clear conscience, void of offense before God and man is a critically important and indispensable asset to having confidence during turbulent times. A guilty conscience has the tendency to weaken faith, since the person in particular is aware of wrong-doing.

 If this is currently the case with anyone listening to the study, such a person should make haste to seek God’s face in confession and repentance, thereby clearing the way and the conscience so that one’s confidence may be well founded.

 This specific point is to be understood fully by those who are preparing for prime time, because there is a counterfeit confidence, cooked up by devils which savors of presumption. For instance, if a person is knowingly, and deliberately indulging in sin without regret or remorse, that person should not presume to have confidence in God.

 God stands ready to forgive and forget, if we would turn from our sins and seek His face, but until such time, confidence in God for deliverance while one is willfully sinning is an absolute non-starter.

 In other words, wherever there is a deliberate and cherished sin, the appropriate first prayer must be  for repentance and forgiveness, as this would clear the way for renewal of one’s relationship with God, and would reset the stage for such a person to have renewed confidence.

When one is sinning willfully, God may at such times extend mercy in protecting that person, because it is His prerogative to show mercy where He sees fit but this is not to be understood as a format that anyone should reasonably expect to be entitled to. It simply does not work that way. Let’s read:

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

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

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

 [The Great Controversy pp 202] Had not Jacob previously repented of his sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud, God could not have heard his prayer and mercifully preserved his life.

So, in the time of trouble, if the people of God had unconfessed sins to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed; despair would cut off their faith, and they could not have confidence to plead with God for deliverance.

There were instances in David’s experience when he exhibited both bravery and confidence. For instance when he went up against Goliath he manifested that type of confidence that is a natural byproduct of faith in God, that is coupled together with a clear conscience. 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…..

That’s confidence and bravery in real time, born of a childlike trust in God, backed up with experiences in the physical realm, and cemented and confirmed by a clear conscience, void of offense before God, and man.

 But if he were to tackle Goliath, just after sleeping with Bathsheba, he most likely would have entered into a presumptuous mode of thought, because he could not then, reasonably expect to vanquish the giant, with blood on his hands, and with unforgiven sins at his doorstep. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 723] Heretofore God's providence had preserved David against all the plotting of his enemies, and had been directly exercised to restrain Saul.

But David's transgression had changed his relation to God. The Lord could not in any wise sanction iniquity. He could not exercise His power to protect David from the results of his sin as He had protected him from the enmity of Saul.

 However, even when in his innocence, David, like so many of us do at times, allowed fear to overwhelm him, on account of a series of serious threats made by king Saul against his person. And as he became consumed with fear for his life, he was found to be doing some very strange things.

 One of the byproducts of fear is lying, especially in dangerous situations, where one loses sight of God. David had barely escaped with his life from Saul, and in his own words, he concluded that it was just a matter of time before misfortune would catch up with him. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 20: 3 And David swore moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knows that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the Lord lives, and as thy soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.

Thus, with this conclusion that David has drawn, the door is swung wide open as he decides that he must do whatsoever it takes to avoid being slain by Saul. When it comes to the preservation of life, persons can at times do and say things which they might not do and say under more favorable circumstances.

Lying under any circumstance is not encouraged or endorsed by God even though He takes into account the specific situation that may have obtained.

 When Christians who would live through the time of trouble will be shaken inside out, and upside down, only the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth will come out, because the truth would have become dearer than life itself. But in the interim, a fear for one’s life, often produces the byproduct of lying. Let’s read:

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

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

Whenever one has decided to go the route of lying, because of fear, various strains can emerge which to some persons may not seem as a big deal. But God desires that we deal in the currency of heaven at all times, hence the reason why He makes plain His will on the matter, so that persons could cultivate clear concepts of truth and duty. Let’s read:

Psalms 120:1 In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.

2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?

4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

Proverbs 12: 22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 309] False speaking in any matter, every attempt or purpose to deceive our neighbor, is here included. An intention to deceive is what constitutes falsehood.

 By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually as by words.  All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood.

However, as was stated before, lying is one of the by products of fear and poor David, having left God out of picture, finds himself resorting to stratagem, and cunning, tools that are often to be found in arsenals of God’s enemies.

One of the very grave mistakes that David made, on account of his fear of Saul, is that he turned to God’s enemies for help, something that folks should never, ever do, because that will greatly compromise one’s ability to exercise living faith in God, in addition to which, dealing, and speaking truthfully could also become much more difficult, as David soon found out. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 21:10 And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

What the servants of Achish are declaring must be understood in the proper context, because they are directly referring to the slaying of Goliath by David, and the consequent routing of the Philistines, over whom Achish ruled as king. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 18: 6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, {Goliath} that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

Thus, what David is hearing from the philistines as they speak to their king, is not only bad news, it is very bad news, the gravity of which drove David to do the unthinkable, that which he would never ever have thought of doing and that’s because resorting to falsehood is one of the major byproducts of fear. In fact, there is not another instance in the Scripture where any prophet of God, pretended to be a mad man; no, not one. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 21:12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

13 And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

Here it is again as Abraham fears for his life. He too resorts to lying as a way to mitigate the potentially volatile situations he may encounter and as he limits the power of God in his behalf the only other logical option on the table is to lie his way out.

God is not showing us these things just to highlight the weaknesses of His servants; He is revealing to us our dire need of cleansing as Laodiceans so that the byproducts of fear could be permanently removed from our characters, while there is still opportunity to do so, for we cannot come up to the testing times ahead, whilst still being driven by the byproducts of fear. 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, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Another byproduct of fear is the tendency to make excuses. Some persons are afraid of exercise since it carries some level of risk. Others are afraid to get a diagnosis, for fear that some cancer or tumor may be revealed, and still others are afraid to make any investment, for fear of loss, especially with the likes of Sam Bankman and Bernie Madoff on the rise.

In fact, in the parable of the stewards, the man who did not invest His Lord’s goods did not mince words, for he came out and specifically stated that he was afraid of loss, and therefore, his actions and excuses were the byproduct of fear. Let’s read:

Matthew 25: 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord I knew thee, that You are an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed.

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

Again, when Moses was called by God to go down to Egypt for the deliverance of the Hebrews, it was fear for his life that drove him to make the excuses that he kept coming up with. As we review his own episode it’s indeed amazing the amount and varying excuses that we are capable of coming up with. Let’s read:

Exodus 3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.

10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. (In other words, send anybody but me, please)

After his numerous excuses, God addressed Moses’ unspoken fears, for he dreaded going back to Egypt to face the music, after having slain an Egyptian task master. In the heat of the moment, Moses’ anger had gotten the better of him, and he then resorted to a strategy that was not God-ordained. Let’s read:

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

12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore, do you smite thy fellow?

14 And he said, Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely, this thing is known.

15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

If God had given Moses the assurance up front, we most likely would never have heard of any excuses on his part, for he was being driven by fear, which produces a natural byproduct of making excuses. In fact, after God allayed his fears, his excuses come to an abrupt end. Let’s read:

Exodus 4:19 And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

Persons who will be tasked with delivering the third angel’s message would need to be as “bold as a lion” because the import of the message states in no uncertain terms, that life as we know on planet earth will to come to an end permanently, and that against everything which science and philosophy are saying.

Persons will need a ton of bravery and a confidence born of God to stomach the fallout from preaching the third angels’ message, for it essentially predicts that the judgement in heaven is soon to be closed, and as such, it will bring civilization, as we know it to an end.

Not many heads of state in their right minds would be happy to hear this, because this news could only be received in the positive, if it is accompanied by a change of heart, and a radical turn-about to join the ranks of God’s commandment-keeping people.

So yes, it would call for the convergence of all the byproducts of faith in God, including bravery, and confidence on the part of those who will be tasked with delivering the final message.   

The message also states that God will do His act, His strange act, by doing that which the prophets of the day have hardly ever portrayed, or even mentioned to the people as being one of God’s characteristics.

For the most part, God has always been portrayed as a God of love, and He absolutely is. But His love moves Him to administer justice when it becomes overdue. However, for all intents and purposes, God has, in most instances been presented as feeble, or weak when it comes to the administration of justice. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Lamentations 3:22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

However, harboring a one-sided view of God would cause the 3rd angels message to received with great consternation, and alarm, because it would seem so far removed from the God of man’s own making.

Yet, those who will be giving the last message would not be left to depend upon themselves, for they are to immerse themselves in the promises which God has given for this very time. Christ has promised to be with us till the end of the age, and as it’s drawing closer, He would take steps commensurate with the rising emergency. Let’s read:

[Early Writings pp 270] I was shown those whom I had before seen weeping and praying in agony of spirit. The company of guardian angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet.

They moved in exact order, like a company of soldiers. Their countenances expressed the severe conflict which they had endured, the agonizing struggle they had passed through.

 Yet their features, marked with severe internal anguish, now shone with the light and glory of heaven. They had obtained the victory, and it called forth from them the deepest gratitude and holy, sacred joy.

The things that are occurring upon the earth daily tell us that it won’t be long before the third angels’ message would become due. The continuing mass murders, the endless wars, and the relentless, and ever evolving strains of different viruses, signal to us that the prophecies pertaining to the last days are now converging on our doorstep.

 Let us then ask God to develop the byproducts of faith in us, so that we may be readied to meet the coming challenges. As our relationship with Christ deepens, so will our love, confidence and bravery, to the point where we will not panic if and when the carpet is pulled out from under our feet.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which certifies this truth, and it’s our hope and prayer that the soldiers of the cross will be built upon the Rock, for this is what will make all the difference when the winds of strife begin to blow. Let’s read:

1st John 4: 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

                                   God Bless!

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!