Why God Created Lucifer. Sabbath afternoon 04/20/2024

Ezekiel 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; you seal up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that you were created. 

14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covers; and I have set thee so: you were upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

15 You were perfect in thy ways from the day that  thou were created, till iniquity was found in thee.

There are many questions swirling around the issue of God’s decision to create Lucifer, even though God knew in advance that this particular being would at some time in the future, use his freedom of choice to cause much trouble in heaven, and later upon the earth. In trying to figure out the reasons why, some folks have stumbled in their understanding of God.

And others have ended up blaming God for all the resulting trouble, because in their minds if this angel was not created in the first place, there would have been different outcomes. Therefore, the study this evening will address squarely the reasons why God went ahead with the decision to create, beings that could, and would make trouble.

Before we delve into the study, there are certified truths and facts about God which we must grasp, as they would lay the foundation for understanding the decisions that were made by the Godhead.

[1] Whatsoever God decides to do, is not only His prerogative to do so, but it is also the best thing and the right thing to do, given the circumstances. God only does that which is just, right and best. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 32: 3 Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

[2] Nothing takes God by surprise, for He knows the end from the beginning, and because He is able to accurately read all of the fine details of the future, He is able to plan and execute His decisions with a surgical accuracy that can at times baffle the minds of created intelligences.

Isaiah 46: 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.

[3] In every decision that God makes, God carefully weighs the pros and cons, and thus, His decisions are always for the better, and greater good of the universe, and the beings He creates. In other words, even though by creating Lucifer, there would be a lot of pain, suffering, and trouble, at the end of the day, the pros will greatly outweigh the cons. Let’s read:

Isaiah 40:27 Why say you, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?

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.

Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

[4] When trying to understand some decisions God has made, created intelligences like ourselves must defer to His omniscient wisdom, by giving Him the benefit of the doubt. In other words, if when folks read the Bible there are things we don’t understand, we should be humble and willing enough to believe that God knows, and does what is best. Let’s read:

Job 42:1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

3 Who is he that hides counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that which I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye sees thee.

6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

[5] Last but not least, God, in His capacity as Creator and owner of everything, reserves the royal right to do whatsoever He pleases. Some may agree, while others may disagree with Him, but the bottom line is that it is His prerogative to do what He deems to be best. Let’s read:

Daniel 4: 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most-High, and I praised and honored him that lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Thus, with these important truths and facts about God in the forefront of our minds, let’s tackle the issue at hand: “Why God Created Lucifer” As God contemplated the issue of creating intelligent life, He saw that there would be certain risks associated with granting the freedom of choice.

Some intelligences would use the freedom of choice to walk contrary to God, and others would use it to walk in harmony with God. Thus, as the issue was mulled over in God’s mind, the issue of risk loomed large. Not only was it a mere possibility, but because God knows the end from the beginning, there were known risks that surfaced.

And thus, God would be faced with the prospect of making a well thought out, and deliberate decision to create a perfect being who He knows for sure will give trouble. And thus, the question before God was would He move forward with the decision, even if there are definite, and known risks.

This issue has plagued the minds of many persons, for they struggle with the idea of moving forward with a deliberate decision, even when God knows there are definite risks. So, let’s put the question up for consideration, so that it would be settled once and for all:

Should God knowingly move forward with a decision that definitely carries risk? And if so, would the pros outweigh the cons at the end of the day?

In seeking for the answers to this question, The Lord revealed to His servants that the very things which persons fault God for, we ourselves often do on a daily basis.

Just because something carries some level of risk, doesn’t mean to say you would have nothing to do with it. Almost everything we do, and anywhere we go, involves some level of known risk.

We travel by plane and car and by rail, others move to Florida where they know for certain that they will encounter hurricanes, and persons bet on the stock market and Bitcoin. All of these activities do carry a level of risk, and yet we deliberately and knowingly do them.

So, for persons to conclude that God did wrong, by deciding to create Lucifer, just because there was a level of known risk, will be to accuse God of the very things we often do.

 Again, parents know that there are definite risks to having children. Like God, parents do know up front, not merely that it is a possibility that they would do evil; we know for sure that they will do evil, and yet, we go ahead and have children.

At least with God, He knew in advance that most of the angels would choose to do good but in our own sphere we know for sure that the kids would do evil. And if you don’t know, now you do. Let’s read:

Genesis 8: 21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth.

Psalms 14: 2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 3: 9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10 As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.

11 There is none that understands, there is none that seek after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips.

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

Why is it then, that we still go ahead and have kids, when we know for sure that they will do evil, not as a mere possibility, but definitely? This raises further questions that must now be addressed: Is it a good thing to have kids, even though we know in advance that they will do evil? And if we answer yes, do the pros outweigh the cons?

We must remember in God’s decision-making about whether to move forward with the plans to create intelligent life with the freedom of choice, He also saw in advance that most of the angels would have chosen good. And since this would be the case, then the issue to be resolved was: will the pros outweigh the cons? Therefore, before we move forward, let us clearly delineate the pros and the cons, as far as God has revealed.

                                     The Pros:

[1] Intelligence with the freedom of choice is a good thing, for one can build sterling character through the medium of choice.

With intelligence, persons can appreciate, decide, love, sympathize, understand, and thus, can make meaningful contributions to the universe and world in general. With intelligence and freedom of choice, persons can also invent, which is how we came up with artificial intelligence, that folks are now singing the praises of.

It was God-given intelligence and freedom of choice that made A.I possible, and thus, even though there are known risks, intelligence and freedom of choice are good things, in and of themselves. What we use them for is what makes all of the difference, but the capabilities, in and of themselves, are all inherently good. Let’s read:

Psalms 139: 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knows right well.

15 My substance was not hidden from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Genesis 11: 4 And they said, go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built.

6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people are one and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 118] Here they decided to build a city, and in it a tower of such stupendous height as should render it the wonder of the world. Thus, their city would become the metropolis of a universal empire. The magnificent tower, reaching to the heavens was intended to stand as a monument of the power and wisdom of its builders, perpetuating their fame to the latest generations.

[2] The overwhelming majority of created intelligences in heaven, with the freedom of choice would use it for good, and not for  evil. Let’s read:

Matthew 18: 12 How think you? if a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine, and go into the mountains, to seek that which is gone astray?

13 And if so be that he finds it, verily I say unto you, he rejoices more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Planet earth is the only one of the very many that has gone astray, because all of the other created worlds with their intelligences and the freedom to choose, have done right. Thus, when Jesus speaks of the “One lost sheep” He is referring to our planet in the most literal sense.

There are numerous inhabited worlds out there in the universe, with intelligent beings who are free to choose just like Lucifer was. They too were granted the freedom of choice, but they all chose to remain faithful to God, of their own free will. Let’s read:

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

Job 38: 4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

These intelligent beings use their freedom of choice in a good way, and now, since they have seen with their own two eyes what is really involved in satan’s way of doing things, now that they have witnessed the “Cons” in human beings biting and chewing off each other’s heads, now that they have seen wars and rumors of wars;

Now that they have seen the “Cons” in the form of epidemics, famines, pandemics, hatred, racism, and fraud, injustice, sickness, death, diseases, suicides, drug addiction, alternative marriages, abortions, tax evasions, global warming, inflation, and genetically modified foods;

Now that they have witnessed the cons in starvation and artificial intelligence, in cyber-crime, sextortion, and pollution of the world’s oceans, their decisions, and choices have now been permanently cemented.

In other words, they will have absolutely nothing at all to do with sin, in any way, shape, or form, since they have seen the dire, and adverse results on this planet, and because of this, God’s gift of intelligent freedom of choice has been a good thing, not a bad thing, as is found in the one percent. Let’s read:

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

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.

[Early Writings pp 39] The Lord has given me a view of other worlds ….. and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song.

The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely. They bore the express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place. I asked one of them why they were so much more lovely than those on the earth.

The reply was, “We have lived in strict obedience to the commandments of God, and have not fallen by disobedience, like those on the earth.” Then I saw two trees, one looked much like the tree of life in the city. The fruit of both looked beautiful, but of one they could not eat. They had power to eat of both, but were forbidden to eat of one. Then my attending angel said to me, “None in this place have tasted of the forbidden tree; but if they should eat, they would fall.”

[3] The third “Pro” of creating intelligent life with the freedom of choice is that, not only would there be tremendous benefit to the universe as a whole, the universe itself would be put on an eternal basis of security through freedom of choice, as opposed to a robotic, preprogrammed stipulation.

One of the major flaws with artificial intelligence is that it cannot think, but must adhere to, and build upon that which has been fed into such systems by another intelligence. And thus, if it were to give us too much trouble, we can always press delete.

But with intelligence and freedom of choice we can think freely, rationalize, draw conclusions, and make deliberate decisions to serve, love, and obey God, in ways that would be permanent. More attention is to be focused on the powers of decision and choice, as it pertains to permanence and security.

It is true, that a person’s choice can be so deliberate and well thought out that it can become permanent to the point where it would never ever be reversed. This applies to both good and evil choices, for over a period of millennia, satan’s decisions to do evil have become set in stone, to the point where he cannot do anything else, even if he tried.

In other words, his deliberate choices become who he is at his very core, so that even though he is still a possessor of freedom of choice, he just will not do otherwise. That’s because deliberate decisions and choices become frozen into character permanently.

The same is true with righteousness, for our choices to do good could be so deliberate and well thought out that over a period of time, they could become second nature without the possibility of us doing otherwise, even though we still retain the freedom of choice.

It is because of this why iniquity would not arise a second time, not because God would permanently prevent us from doing evil, but because folks have deliberately chosen to accept Christ, and all that the decision entails.

This now brings us to a very grave, and important juncture in our study, where we must now confront the issue of responsibility for evil. Many Christians struggle with the thought that because God created Lucifer, God bears the responsibility for sin entering the universe. Thus, we must ask a direct question:

Does God bear responsibility for persons, and angels using freedom of choice to do evil, just because He created them with the freedom to choose?

Answer: He absolutely doesn’t. If they were kids He would be responsible, but if they were created as adults, with all of their intelligence, and reasoning powers up and running, whatever decision, actions, or choices they make are fully their own, and in no way the responsibility of God.

Just in case you didn’t know, Lucifer was not a baby when he was created. He was made as an adult with all of his reasoning and intelligence in tip top shape, and just like how God had doublechecked His work after Adam and Eve were created, persons can rest assured that the same routine was followed when the angels in heaven were brought into existence. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 28: 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created till iniquity was found in thee.

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

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

Then God double checked His work, to make certain that Adam’s adult powers of reasoning and freedom of choice were up and running perfectly. Like Lucifer, Adam and Eve were created as adults, not as kids.

Therefore, when God brought all the animals before Adam, to see what names he would give them, God never suggested any names, nor did He give him any clues, nor did He influence Adam’s mind or choice in any way, shape, or form. Adam’s intelligence went to work, untrammeled by any external influences, and he comes up with the exact names for each animal, and then he makes a deliberate decision to name them as such, and the rest is history. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

As parents, we are responsible for what children do when they are young, but when they reach the age of accountability and reason, with their intelligence in place, they are 100% responsible for the decisions or actions they take, even though we brought them into this world, knowing they would do evil.

O.J Simpson’s parents were never charged in court for whatsoever he did, or did not do. And this week, as the trials of the former president ramp up, folks will observe that his parents are not mentioned in any of the indictments as having any responsibility, even though they are deceased.

He is innocent until proven guilty, and persons are not to rush to any conclusions prematurely, but if the charges were to stick, his father, whose second name is Christ, will not be mentioned, even though he and his wife brought the former president into this world.

The implications of the study today are indeed grim, because the you and me have the opportunity, and the freedom to be the arbiters of our own destiny, through the freedom of intelligent choice.

God does not lock anyone into an inevitable vortex of evil choices, from which they cannot escape, and He does not coerce the conscience into doing either good or evil. Esau and Jacob were twins, growing up in the same church and reading their memory verse from the same Sabbath school quarterly.

Yet, through deliberate freedom of choice they soon parted ways, never ever to be on the same page, in this life, or in the life to come. God did not lock Esau into an iron destiny from which he could not free up himself. His ultimate failure was the result of Esau’s own doing.

Judas, Peter and all of the twelve disciples had their issues, since all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But God being the equal opportunity God that He is, granted each of them the power to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils.

But again, through deliberate choices, Judas parted ways with the other eleven, and his decisions were set in stone, to the point where they would never be reversed, because his choices became baked into his character, so that he is who he is at his very core.

Therefore, as we stand upon the brink of eternity, as we seek a better understanding of why God created Lucifer it behooves us not to make the same mistake he and the fallen angels made, by using freedom of choice, and intelligence, to do evil.

Everything we deliberately decide to do etches itself into our characters and if persons were to habitually choose the good and refuse the evil, there will come a time when all our decisions would be permanently baked into our characters, and then it will be, if we have chosen the right, that God could safely take us to heaven, knowing the we would not give Him any more trouble for eternity.

We therefore end with two passages of Scripture to both encourage us and warn us of the very serious consequences of our choices and decisions. And, we hope and pray that God will enable, and strengthen us to choose in harmony with that which is right. 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.

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.

                                  God Bless!

What True Worship Is. Sabbath afternoon 04/13/2024

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

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

The last issue to be decided on planet earth, before the close of human probation is the issue of worship which is the basis for the three angel’s messages, in Revelation chapter 14. Throughout Revelation 13 & 14 the word occurs no less than eight times and this tells us that the issue must be addressed so that the truth in the matter would be made plain to all.

Webster’s dictionary describes worship as reverence for a deity, or supernatural being, but this definition falls far short of what true worship is. Reverence is no doubt an integral part of true worship, as is your prayers, and praises, but all of these do not capture the essence of true worship.

Obedience is the foundational aspect and the most important part of any worship, for obedience could stand on its own two legs, without prayer or praise, whereas the other aspects can’t. In fact, one of the most reverent churches in our day, where you can hear a pin drop during services, is the church that is farthest from God and the truth.

In many churches, congregants are required and/ or encouraged to turn off their cellphones, as an act of reverence and respect to the unseen God. In other churches there are codes of decorum, and behavior, and speaking while the service is going on is in some churches prohibited.

These efforts are all well and good for they promote respect and reverence to God, but the truth is, that in and of themselves, they do not make a church or the members thereof partakers of true worship. All of these ingredients pertain to the external aspects of worship, but, of themselves, they do not render the worship acceptable to God.

Obedience is the highest and most important aspect of any worship which produces reverence in the one who obeys. When satan had rebelled against God in heaven, he did show up for worship, but there was a strange and fierce war taking place in his heart, and therefore, even though he had bowed in reverence before God, his worship could not be accepted.

Here is where many persons in our day struggle to differentiate reverence and true worship, because the external aspects of worship are misinterpreted to be true manifestations of acceptable worship. A pastor or televangelist, or a priest may dress up in sacerdotal garments.

They may carry their Bibles reverently and they may speak softly and walk quietly in the sanctuary but all of the good outward manifestations are not definite signs that true worship is taking place.

Lucifer participated in worship up in heaven, and as the angelic choir raised their voices in praise to God he actually joined them, because, not only was he the choir, and music director, but it is a known fact that music has the ability to melt stubborn hearts in some instances, even though it may be temporary. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 28: 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him Thus, saith the Lord God; you seal up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets, and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that you were created.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 56] The angels joyfully acknowledged the supremacy of Christ, and prostrating themselves before Him, poured out their love and adoration. Lucifer bowed with them, but in his heart, there was a strange, fierce conflict.

 Truth, justice, and loyalty were struggling against envy and jealousy. The influence of the holy angels seemed for a time to carry him with them. As songs of praise ascended in melodious strains, swelled by thousands of glad voices, the spirit of evil seemed vanquished.

Unutterable love thrilled his entire being; his soul went out, in harmony with the sinless worshippers, in love to the Father and the Son. But again, he was filled with pride in his own glory.

Believe it or not, a person can be reverent without being obedient. When the priests of Dagon went in to worship the fish god, they did so reverently, for in their minds, the reverence that should be rendered to the ark of God, which they had taken in battle, could only be matched by Dagon, and that is why, they placed it next to their fish god. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 5:1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

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

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 586] Dagon had fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of Jehovah. The priests reverently lifted the idol and restored it to its place.

Thus, manifestations of extreme reverence do not always mean that true worship is taking place. As a matter of fact, what devils have succeeded in doing is to invert the order of priorities, as it pertains to the various aspects of worship.

 They’ve succeeded in placing praise first, reverence in second place, prayer in third place and obedience last of all if not nonexistent, through the teaching of the law of God being nailed to the cross. The same is true of praise, for a person’s mouth can be full of praises while at the same time the worship could be vanity. The Scripture warns as against this particular type of worship, because praises without obedience is equivalent to flattery.

In many of the great cathedrals of earth, when the pipe organ begins to play, with the deep bass tones reverberating throughout the building, one is filled with a sense of awe and reverence as the music will thrill every fiber of your being and yet, for all of this, God is nowhere to be found in many such churches.

Having a great choir is good, and having pipe organs or your favorite Hammond B3, could add a whole lot to a worship service, and congregants could sing the praises of God until the roof is blown off, and yet, if there is no obedience, coupled together with praise, the Scriptures say it amounts to nothing. Let’s read:

Matthew 15:8 This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Psalms 78: 35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

1st Samuel 15: 22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Again, prayer for us, as Christians is a must, and we do encourage everyone, both believers and persons who have not yet believed, to pray as never before. But prayer without obedience, or without a person intending to obey God, amounts to minus zero, for as was stated before, obedience to God is the basis of all true worship.

In fact, there are times when one might be praying long and hard about some issue or problem, and for some unknown reason the answer just seems to be evasive, or not forth coming.

The problem could be some cherished sin that may be interfering with a person’s worship, and, unless it is diligently sought out and confessed, true worship wouldn’t be happening. Especially could this be the case if one deliberately tries to hide any known sin which is a violation of God’s law. Let’s read:

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

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

Then the Psalmist David goes on to capture, portray, and make plain, what constitutes true worship, for he makes plain that one’s heart must be in the right place, with a recognition, and practice of God’s law for worship to be acceptable, and if one has fallen short through violations, confession, and a turning away from sin is a must.

In fact, true worship cannot be untethered from the keeping of God’s commandments even if in the time of ignorance, God may wink. In such cases, God will accept the sincerity of the worshipper, but He won’t and cannot accept, error in the place of truth.

This distinction must be made very clear, especially in these last days, when the work of salvation would be wrapping up. In days of old, where persons were in darkness, some sincerely worshipped God to the best of their knowledge and He accepted the person in question, but the errors associated with that form of worship were not accepted.

In our day, where the light of God’s commandments is to shine in a concentrated blaze upon all peoples, true worship will have to incorporate the keeping of all God’s commandments, including the 4th, which distinguishes, and recognizes God as Creator of the heavens and the earth.

Thus, the Psalmist ties obedience to true worship as an inseparable essential and this is what God is now calling all the inhabitants of earth to. Those who are sincere in heart, must now step up to the plate, and be counted, by worshiping God in spirit, and also in truth. Let’s read:

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

2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shews knowledge.

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

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Now that we have seen from the scripture the many variations to true worship that have come upon the earth, let us now turn our attentions to what true worship is. Jesus was conversing with the woman at the well, and somehow, the issue of worship came up.

What is worthy of note is that the conversation had transitioned to worship, right after Jesus asked her to go call her husband. The woman, knowing of her situation as it pertained to marriage, immediately turned to the issue of worship because the question of true worship is inextricably tied to whether or not one’s life is in harmony with God’s law.

Thus, in trying to avoid the question of obedience, she now turns to the issue of the place of worship for refuge. But Christ made plain that true worship is not about any particular location. In our day, millions have been spent on magnificent buildings, focusing one’s attention on the location of worship.

The tendency to expend enormous sums on great, and magnificent buildings, which awe the beholder is often a veiled attempt to atone for the lack of the obedience factor, and thus, congregants are drawn, and attracted to specific locations in question rather than to the true worship of God, which will involve obedience. Let’s read:

Mark 13:1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Mega churches have sprung up far and wide, and have gone over and beyond to try to impress folks that true worship could be found at this, or that location. Great sums are expended on their sound systems, and lighting, with smoke machines, and cameras, which produce an ambience of a concert hall, or a place for shows.

However, in many instances, where extravagance, or outward display of magnificent buildings, paintings, and architectural marvels are to be found at places of worship, true worship is nowhere to be found. It isn’t the grandeur of the place that makes it a place of true worship, it’s the truth and obedience factors which signal that true worship is taking place. Let’s read:

John 4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

Then, Jesus set about to make plain to all who will understand, that true worship is not about buildings and ambience or grandeur, but rather incorporates the elements of obedience as the main ingredients, with reverence and praise coming after. Thus, when a person worships God in spirit and in truth, all of the above must be included. Let’s read:

John 4: 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

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.

In our day, the everlasting gospel to be preached to our generation, focuses the spotlight squarely on the issue of obedience to God’s law, as an integral part of any true worship, especially since the final conflict of the ages will center around obedience to either God, or the opposing forces entrenched in the mark of the beast.

The issue is so serious that worship is scheduled to be tethered to your economic privileges, which in turn will draw a clear line of demarcation between those who worship God, and persons who don’t. so far, many Christians have been willing to sit on the fence or on the sidelines, as far as true worship is concerned.

But the time is now, when persons will be called on to take a definite stand for the true worship of God. Merely taking the name of Jesus nominally doesn’t distinguish one as a true worshipper anymore, for those days are over. Persons will need to address in sincerity, that which God is stating in Revelation 14. 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.

The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is integral and inseparable to the true worship being brought to light in the above passages. This commandment in particular, is the only one of the ten that tells us Who created us, and all things, and thus, it sets the stage for all true worship, by acknowledging that God created the heaven and the earth. 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.

Jesus Christ also set us the perfect example of true worship, by habitually attending church on the 7th day Sabbath, and all who in our day might desire to worship God in sincerity and truth would follow His lead, as the light of present truth is shed upon their pathway.

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.

Mark 1: 21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Luke 6:5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

One of the reasons why the Bible is laser focused on the issue of true worship in the book of Revelation is because the introduction, and the teaching of the theory of evolution has sought to eliminate The God of heaven from His work of creation, and, wherever this is done and accepted, the Sabbath which points us to God is thrown out the window.

Worthy of note is the fact that the Sunday doctrine never points to the Creator of the heavens and the earth. It might speak loftily of Christ coming forth from the grave, and His glorious ascension, but at its core, it does not tell us Who created us, and thus, it falls far short of delineating what true worship must be.

In our day, there are millions of sincere-hearted folk worshipping on the first day of the week, thinking that by so doing they are obeying God. But Jesus is now shedding light on the great facts of His creation and His Creatorship, for it is in His capacity as The  Creator, that true worship can take place.

In fact, this is the main reason given by the twenty- four elders as they worship God; they point to God’s creative work and power as the reason why He is to be worshipped, and thus, Revelation 14, verses 6 &7 is a confirmation of that sacred truth, that all true worship would inevitably lead persons to the 7th day Sabbath. 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 thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Let our fellow Christian believers who are now to be found in many Sunday keeping churches, now arise, and investigate this sacred truth, because the close of human probation, and the final conflicts of the ages are centered squarely around the issue of true worship, no doubt.

And as such, all who desire to worship God in spirit and truth, will have to take a stand on God’s side of the issue. The time is coming soon, where there will be no middle ground, no more sitting on the fences, and no more spectator forms of worship.

Every person living on planet earth would have to make definite choices, and decisions, either for, or against true worship, because the mark of the beast is the counterfeit that will finally seek to coerce the conscience through economic sanctions. 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.

Revelation 13: 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Therefore, let all those who desire to worship God in His capacity as Creator, now take a stand for the truth, for the Sabbath commemorates God’s work in the here and now, and will forever do so in the great hereafter. We’ll therefore end with verses from the pen of Isaiah which certify this sacred truth in stone. Let’s read:

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.

23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

                                     God Bless!

Dangers Of Deliberately Believing Lies. Sabbath afternoon 04/06/2024

2nd Thessalonians 2: 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Deliberate self-deception is the worst of its kind, for it can render one’s mind incapable of receiving the truth, especially if the practice is indulged over long periods of time. With every rejection of the truth or facts, the mind sinks lower and lower into darkness, until it reaches a point of no return, where not even God can reach such persons.

The delusion that God “sends” to those persons in our first passage is not so much God sending them delusion, but it rather refers to the natural results of their self-inflicted wounds, that have been done to the mind, over an extended period of time, by them believing myriads of lies even after the truth or facts have been presented, and thus, their unfortunate situation becomes incurable.

Let no one be deceived into thinking that after one has trained their mind to believe falsehoods, that it would be easy to untether themselves from the grip of error, for, we become what we think, and if there is a deliberate manipulation, and distortion of truth, and facts, the powers of the mind will inevitably be permanently damaged.

So, when we read that God would send them strong delusion, that statement is to be interpreted as the individuals in question, having buried their heads in the sand for so long, that God is speaking, but they have reached a point of no return, where they just cannot listen.

To flatter oneself is to embrace or believe a lie when you know it is patently false. This is not applicable only to the political realm, it also applies to persons in all walks of life, and in your everyday experiences.

 For instance, a man can flatter himself into believing that he can eat any and everything, including foods that are forbidden and yet escape the consequences of doing so. For many years, it has preached even in Christian circles that the laws pertaining to clean and unclean foods in Leviticus were for the Hebrews only.

That’s a delusion, for the laws of sowing and reaping take effect, whether a person chooses to believe so or not. The facts are the facts, regardless of whether persons believe. In fact, one doesn’t have to believe, in order for the natural consequences to come due.

The belief that one can do wrong with impunity is a great delusion and a form of self-flattery, that would shake persons to their core when the bill comes due or when a dose of cold reality sets in, as some folks will soon find out.

Even if there is a delay in the administration of the consequences, on account of God’s mercy, sooner or later we will have to face the music, as it were. In many instances, where it may seem as if persons are getting away scotch free, after doing wrong, it’s not that they are getting of the hook, it’s just the mercy of God calling them to repentance.

In fact, in the overwhelming majority of cases, even when forgiveness, and pardon are granted, persons still have to deal with the fallout of their actions, in the most literal sense. The natural fallout of David’s sin was that four of his sons would die, and even though he was completely forgiven by God, the bill came due, with devastating collateral damage.

The one thief on the cross asked for grace and it was immediately granted by Christ but he had to die just like the other thief, for the sins that were committed against his fellowmen. This dose of reality is actually what we need to come to grips with, as we read the following passages, for there is a whole lot of self- flattery taking place nowadays. Let’s read:

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

12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet, surely, I know that it will be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.

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

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

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

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

Similarly, if you were to adopt the laws of health as delineated in our health message, if you were to do and practice them consistently, you would certainly reap the natural results, even if a person might not believe in God. The facts are the facts and the result is the result, being governed by law.

When Naaman was sick with leprosy, he was told to dip in the Jordan seven times and after he would be healed. He could choose to believe it or not, and he could even dip with doubts, as to whether it would be fulfilled, but the facts are the facts and even if he were to dip kicking and screaming, after the 7thtime he would be healed.

What is worthy of note in that particular episode is that Naaman had displayed a very bad attitude in so much that he became enraged at the prophet, but the facts are the facts, and even if he obeys in anger he would be healed. But if he were to flatter himself that six dips were enough, he would remain leprous for the rest of his life.

Very often there are nuances in obedience, such as hesitation, fear, doubt, dread, sadness, or vexation. Sometimes there are also issues such as hesitation, personal preferences, and instances where one may not necessarily agree with God. All of these do not change the facts on the ground, as far as the truth is concerned.

So, at the end of the day, if a person believes truth, in spite of these nuances, the result will follow. The people of Nineveh feared for their lives, but at the end of the day they believed the truth, and the rest is history, because the truth is the truth, and the facts are the facts.

Phillip, the disciple suffered from doubt, but he too obeyed at the end of the day. Terrible fear had crept over John in jail, yet, when Jesus responded to him, he obeyed, because he believed. Jesus preferred not to go through with the crucifixion, but at the end of the day, he said not my will but thy will.

Many Egyptians in pharaoh’s day believed the words of Moses, concerning the death of the firstborns so they huddled together in the tents of the Jews, and they too were saved. There are nuances to obeying God but the bottom line is that if after all is said and done, you obey, the results will follow. Obedience is not always a lovey-dovey matter.

Naaman was a different breed, for he was vexed in obedience. He gave many excuses for not dipping, as the prophet had said, and he argued and argued until he went away in a rage. But the facts are the facts, and if at the end of the day he believes the truth, he would be healed, even though he’s really vexed. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 5: 10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

11 But Naaman was wroth, and he went away, and said, Behold, I thought He would surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So, he turned and went away in a rage.

13 And his servants came near, and spoke unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldn’t you not have done it? how much rather then, when he said to you, Wash, and be clean?

14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

There is real danger in choosing to believe what you want to believe, regardless of the truth or the facts, for with each deliberate disregard of truth, the mind is being gradually programmed to interpret truth as falsehood.

Thus, over a period of time, when in one instance a person may really need to heed the truth, the mind would have become so blinded by crying wolf, that it is impossible for it to respond in the positive. This is what took place on the Titanic, as the captain was warned on numerous occasions of the icebergs.

But he deliberately chose to believe the lie, that the Titanic was indestructible, and therefore, he plowed ahead with his own version of the facts, until he had sunk the ship, and in doing so he took a whole lot of people down with him. Let’s read:

Operator on La Bretagne Tells How Messages Were Sent in All Directions from Near Cape Race. New York, April 17 Captain Smith of the Titanic had warning of the danger ahead of him, in the giant iceberg that sent his vessel to the bottom of the North Atlantic. As a matter of fact, the Titanic relayed the warning to the shore.

The same thing occurred when the children of Israel were warned not to go up to fight against their foes, the Canaanites, because The Lord would not be with them. This truth was related to them in the clearest terms, but they deliberately chose to believe the lie, and because God honors our freedom of choice, He did not prevent them from going.

The rest is history, for they dug in their heals against the truth, believing with all of their hearts that they would win, when God said they would lose, and so said so done. They could believe whatsoever they want but the facts are the facts, and the truth is the truth. Thus, the natural results of their decision will be coming due regardless of what they choose to believe. Let’s read:

Numbers 14: 40 And they rose early in the morning and got them up to the top of the mountain saying Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned.

41 And Moses said, wherefore now do you transgress the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper.

42 Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.

43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword: because you are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you.

44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.

45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.

There are two words that are written side by side in the Spirit of prophecy, which caught our attention as we were preparing the study for today, and because of the number of times they occurred together we had to take notice, for they are written together no less than 685 times. Here they are:

  Flattered themselves.

It seems that the deliberate choice to believe a lie is not something new, but it has occurred throughout the history of our world. It started out in the garden of Eden, and down through the ages it has morphed into the mindboggling phenomenon we see today, where persons deliberately shutter their eyes to the truth and facts to the point where many are bereft of reason.

Some are actually seeing all the red lights flashing danger, and some are complaining, yet the habit of believing errors has become so deep-seated that in some instances, persons almost cannot escape, for after a while, deliberately believing lies can become addictive, just like cocaine or Fentanyl.

Adam and Eve flattered themselves that God’s word would be reversed, and that His great love for them would preclude Him from enforcing the sentence. In the vain hope that the serpent’s words might yet be true, they huddled together in the valley of wishful thinking, until the voice of God triggered the rude awakening to the raw facts in the matter. Let’s read:

Genesis 3: 8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

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;

18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

[3SG pp 43] Adam censured Eve's folly in leaving his side, and being deceived by the serpent. They both flattered themselves that God, who had given them everything to make them happy, would yet excuse their disobedience because of his great love to them and that their punishment would not be so dreadful after all.

Here again is the same phenomenon taking place in the era of the Antediluvians, where they chose to disregard the facts in the matter, as was manifested in the natural world. At first, they see it as a sign of foreboding, but then they flatter themselves that it is not really what it is. Thus, when Noah preached his final sermon, it fell on deaf ears. Let’s read:

Genesis 7: 8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean and of fowls and of everything that creeps upon the earth,

9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God commanded Noah.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 97] The period of their probation was about to expire. And now the servant of God made his last solemn appeal to the people. With an agony of desire that words cannot express, he entreated them to seek a refuge while it might be found. Again, they rejected his words, and raised their voices in jest and scoffing.

Suddenly, a silence fell upon the mocking throng. Beasts of every description, the fiercest as well as the most-gentle, were seen coming from mountain and forest and quietly making their way toward the ark.

A noise as of a rushing wind was heard, and lo, birds were flocking from all directions, their numbers darkening the heavens, and in perfect order they passed to the ark. Animals obeyed the command of God, while men were disobedient.

 Philosophers were called upon to account for the singular occurrence, but in vain. It was a mystery which they could not fathom. But men had become so hardened by their persistent rejection of light that even this scene produced but a momentary impression.

This leads us to our case study for today, in which a deluded king Ahab is encased in deliberate lies, in so much that he has gone so far as to actually hire 400 of his personal liars to tell him only what he wants to hear. They are on his payroll simply to tell lies, as the main function of their job description.

On their resumes, they have to commit to telling lies whenever and wherever needed and they must also repeat the lies, conjure up, and invent new lies, as the need arises. So, after a time, deliberately telling and believing lies would reach pandemic levels in the kingdom of Ahab, and thus, anyone who dares to speak truth becomes the enemy of the state. Let’s read:

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 Ramoth-Gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day.

Here was a matter of grave national importance, in which persons would be put in danger. The red lights are flashing, but, just as before, the habit of craving and believing lies has become endemic in the nation, so that truth, and facts are shuttered, and those liars on Ahab’s payroll are immediately sent for.

First, they consult with the king to find out what he wants to hear, then the speech writers get to work, and as they come up to the podium to give their so- called advice, they are pregnant with a plethora of premanufactured lies. Let’s read:

1st Kings 22:6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.

12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-Gilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the king's hand.

But something looks fishy to Jehoshaphat, for try as he might, he cannot understand how every single one of the king’s advisors are saying the exact same thing, like if they were scripted.

Not one of them would raise an intelligent counter to Ahab’s wishes, and because of this, Jehoshaphat suspects that, it is a bunch of yes men that Ahab is surrounded with, and he raises his concerns. Let’s read:

1st Kings 22:7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?

8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat there is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, let not the king say so.

9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.

What takes place next is very interesting, because it becomes apparent that the officer who was sent to get Micaiah tries to groom him for his turn at Ahab’s podium, and the prophet is encouraged, instructed, and goaded, to respond in harmony with the other altar boys who have kissed the king’s ring by lying. Let’s read:

1st Kings 22:13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spoke unto him saying, behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let your word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.

14 And Micaiah said, As the Lord lives, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.

It takes courage and real sterling character to speak truth to power, especially when everyone else may seem to be buckling under the pressure to lie. It is at times like these when the servants of God must zip up their boots, and brace for whatsoever fallout may occur as a result of speaking truth. The servant of The Lord puts it this way. Let’s read:

[Education pp 57] The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.

1st Kings 22:15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-Gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?

26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

27 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

Sadly, we are living at a time when those who have the courage to speak truth might be looking at jail time for doing so. In fact, things are predicted to get so bad that the prophet Amos laments that lies and conspiracy theories will flood the land to such great lengths that the truth will have virtually evaporated. 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.

Ahab continued to dig in his heels, even as his mind is troubled by forebodings, but he has so long been training his mind to deliberately believe lies, that he seems trapped in the deadly cycle. What Ahab does next shows that he isn’t fully convinced by his own lies, but having reached thus far, he would push the matter to the brink and try to force his delusion into reality. Let’s read:

1st Kings 22:30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.

31 But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.

32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.

33 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

And that was the end of Ahab. He died encased in a prison of deliberate lies, to await the final judgment when all habitual, unrepentant liars, are scheduled to face the music and the cold, unadulterated truth.  

In fact, in that final episode, the king of lies will be leading his deluded followers to undertake a daring venture something that he knows will fail miserably, yet, he deliberately believes that he can, just like the children of Israel who went up to battle, believing in the lie that they would win. 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.

[The Great Controversy pp669] Satan seems paralyzed as he beholds the glory and majesty of Christ. He who was once a covering cherub remembers where he has fallen. A shining seraph, “son of the morning;” how changed, how degraded!

His accusations, his rebellion, his deceptions to gain the sympathy and support of the angels, his stubborn persistence in making no effort for self-recovery when God would have granted him forgiveness… all come vividly before him. He has led the multitudes to believe that the city of God would be an easy prey; but he knows that this is false.

In our day currently there are many who are nearing the threshold of no return, by deliberately believing numerous lies, and no doubt, the damage is taking a heavy toll on hearts and minds, as some seem more and more unable to come to grips with reality.

If it were just individuals alone involved in the game of deception and falsehoods, we could say they are doing themselves great disservice. But when entire populations are at stake, when the national interest is being threatened, then we may know that we are already in unchartered waters, and if there isn’t any definite reversal of current trends, we are scheduled to lie ourselves into eternal night.

As Christians, we are to stay as far away as possible from any semblance of deliberately believing lies in any way fashion or form. God forbid that we do any wrong, but if we do, we should never try to make it seem right, for doing so interferes and dangerously disrupts our ability to decipher truth from error.

And wherever this becomes the case on a national level, the close of probation isn’t far behind, since God essentially has run out of viable options in His efforts to reach persons in high and low places.

Whatever might be our problems individually, and nationally, we should try to preserve in our minds a clear distinction between right and wrong, truth and error, for doing so sets the stage for The Holy Spirit to reach us, at the most critical juncture of earth’s history.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture, which calls upon everyone to deal in the currency of truth and facts, leaving deliberate falsehoods, conspiracy theories and all lying in the dust, for unrepentant, liars will ultimately share satan’s fate. Let’s read:

Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.

2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your

 tongue hath muttered perverseness.

4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleads for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

10 We grope for the wall like the blind and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

13 In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off: for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter.

15 Yea, truth fails; and he that departs from evil makes himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

                                  God Bless!

Earth's Final Crisis Draws Near. Sabbath afternoon 03/30/2024

Luke 17:24 For as the lightning, that comes out of one part under heaven, shines unto the other part under heaven; so, shall also the Son of man be in his day.

26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

The signs are all around us, there is no denial, even persons in the secular realm are alarmed at the way things are going on planet earth. As Christians, we have heard over and over again, from our youth up, that Jesus is coming soon.

And because of the lapse of time the climactic event might have slipped from our view, and we may have become desensitized by the daily onslaught of bad news. But now, the time has come for us to take a second hard look at those prophecies pointing to His return, since almost everything that has been prophesied is being fulfilled, even as we speak.

There is distress of nations for the nations are angry with each other, and there is much violence across the earth, there is intransigence among members of congress, who seem to be at sword’s point on every issue, and there is corruption in high and low places.

But that’s not all, there is perversion of the marriage institution, there is perversion of the Sabbath, and there is the plague of illegal drugs, taking a daily toll on millions across the world. Then there are famines and pestilences, food and water shortages and wars and rumors of wars.

Indeed, the earth seems to be teetering on the edge of a precipice, that could fall away beneath our feet at any moment. To top it all off, and to make the bad matters worse, there are numerous lies, conspiracy theories, and delusions being gobbled up by many people, so that the truth of the Bible concerning the things that are happening, gets lost in the mix.

In addition to these things, what’s taking place is a dramatic increase of demon possession across the land, but it is not recognized for what it is, because it is taking place in the upper echelons of society in persons who are looked up to as role models, and, who otherwise may seem to be decent intelligent folk.

Just because a person dresses up in a suit and tie, with a briefcase, does not mean to say that he can’t be possessed by devils. In fact, the latest version of the devil is the one that has just emerged from your neighborhood department store, complete with the very latest clothing, a clean-cut shave, and speaking perfect English, as the case might be.

Many, who are at the lower end of the totem pole are also suffering the same fate too. When you have a mother leaving her baby girl alone in a house, and going on vacation for ten days, only to return to find the baby dead, you ought to know that demons are taking control of the minds, and reasoning powers of individuals.

Thus, according to what is written, we haven’t seen anything as yet, because occurrences like these are scheduled to become more frequent, as more folks yield their reasoning powers to the control of devils. The situation will soon become a spiritual epidemic, where it is predicted that most of earth’s population will become infected. 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.

[S.P. Bk 4 pp 432] When Jesus leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent.

The following are just some of the signs given by the prophets of God, pertaining to our present day, and even though we may not like to dwell on negatives, we have to take stock of what’s taking place, lest, as Jesus said, that day should come upon us unawares.

As we read let us be honest with ourselves and ask, is it true? And are the things spoken of happening in the here and now? We all must avoid the tendency, and the temptation to bury our heads in the sand, simply because we may prefer a return to normalcy. There will not be any return to normalcy, according to what is written in the Bible. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Is it true? Can we safely say that “Perilous times have come”

2nd Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.

Is it true that we are living at a time when persons in high and low places are known to be boasters and lovers of their own selves? When folks study sacred, history, we are advised in the Bible, to do so with a double-lensed glasses, with one eyeglass in the rear view mirror, and the other in the here and now.

Is it true that we are living at a time where men in high and low places seem to be lovers of themselves and love to speak of themselves? If you don’t know the answer to this question, we will humbly ask you to put on your double lensed glasses. Let’s read:

Isaiah 14: 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most-High.

[S.P BK 1 pp 20] Concealing his real purposes, he assembled the angelic host. He introduced his subject, which was himself. He told them that henceforth all the sweet liberty the angels had enjoyed was at an end. He promised them a new and better government than they then had, in which all would be freedom. And now they must assert their liberty and gain by force the position and authority which was not willingly accorded to them.

What about the issue of “false accusers” referring to the many lies, and multitude of conspiracy theories folks are now inundated with on a daily basis? Is it true?

Is it true even as we speak? Is it true that we’re now living at a time where more and more women, and more and more men are without natural affection, referring to the plethora of alternative lifestyles to be found across the globe.

The problem is scheduled to get so very bad that it is written in the Bible that seven women would take hold of one man since finding a good man and a real man is getting increasingly difficult by the day. Some interpreters apply that passage in Isaiah to apostate churches, but that is not the primary interpretation. Isiah is speaking about a literal drought of real men.

If you want to get married nowadays and you desire a stable, lifelong relationship, you will have to look pretty long and hard, and you have to fast, and pray, sometimes for many years before you come up with Mister or Misses right. And, when you do find your knight in shining armor, he often has some issue you have to deal with. Let’s read:

Isaiah 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, we will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

2nd Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with different lusts.

But our first introductory passage specifies that the signs preceding earth’s final crisis would be similar to what took place in Noah’s day, just before the flood, so, in order to make a reasonable conclusion about where we are in the stream of time, we must do a deep dive into the state of the world before the Antediluvians’ probation was closed. Let’s read:

Genesis 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

The perversion of the marriage institution, in all of its various forms are here included. Even though the practice of polygamy, and multiple sex partners was introduced early on, the passages are inclusive of all distortions, variations, and deviations of, and from the original God gave us.

These variations have come down to us in our day, and have morphed into myriad strands including gay marriages, transgender issues, alternative lifestyles, shacking up, and packing up, without a just cause.

If you now have the perversion of marriage as being the law of the land then we may know for sure that we have exceeded the Antediluvians by far. Back in Noah’s day, the Antediluvians had their issues with perverted marriages, but as far as we know, they did not go so far as to make it the law of the land.

Even by Sodom and Gomorrah’s standards, we are beating them at their game hands down, for at the very least, they kept the distinctions given by God intact, albeit they indulged freely to the contrary.

In Sodom, when the men of the city tried to break down Lot’s door, they asked for “The men” and by this we can deduce that the plagues of genderism we now confront, hadn’t yet infected them.

But that’s not all, for Christ specifically mentions, of Noah’s day, the amount of violence, and bloodshed that was upon the face of the earth at that time. Is it true, that violence, and bloodshed have overspread the earth currently? Again, if there are any doubts, lets peruse the daily news and the Bible, just for a moment. Let’s read:

Genesis 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Let’s examine what is taking place currently, from a snapshot of the headlines to the frontlines to see if we’re indeed correct in our conclusion, that earth’s final crisis is drawing near, based upon prophetic utterances in the Scriptures.  Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophet pp 91] “Neither the marriage relation nor the rights of property were respected. Whoever coveted the wives or the possessions of his neighbor, took them by force, and men exulted in their deeds of violence, until they came to regard human life with astonishing indifference”

Is it true that the earth is reeling from violence in a multitude of places, even as we speak? Let’s read:

(CNN) “At least 139 dead and dozens are injured after attackers open fire inside Moscow-area concert venue, Russian state media reports.”

(CNN) “Corpses lie on the streets of Port-au-Prince as Haiti teeters toward collapse” Carnage on the streets of Port-au-Prince as the world stalls on a promised intervention for Haiti.

(CNN) “31,923 Palestinians. The latest death toll stands at 31,923 Palestinians and about 1,139 people killed in Israel since October 7”

[CNN) Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine will enter its third year next month. Estimates of those killed in the conflict have been hard to substantiate, with neither side publishing tallies of their losses. U.S. officials said in August that Ukraine and Russia's total deaths and injuries had neared 500,000.

Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in different places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Is it true that millions of people the world over are  now in the throes of severe famine?

(UN News) Recent analysis by the UN agency reveals 41 million people in 43 countries “are teetering on the very edge of famine”, up from 27 million two years ago.

(World Vision) Soaring food prices driven by the war in Ukraine, persistent drought and other extreme weather events, and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have escalated extreme hunger worldwide.

“Today, nearly 45 million people in 37 countries are at risk of starvation. Due to a lack of adequate nutrition, 22 million children are suffering from wasting — severe weight loss that can lead to death if not treated. This number is equal to the combined populations of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, and Philadelphia”

And it is not only wars and famines, perversion of the marriage institution, and violence that point us to the imminent unfolding of earth’s final crisis. The prophet Isaiah adds another sign by signaling to us that excessive heat, with all of its byproducts will be one of signs of the last days. Let’s read:

Isaiah 4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

The order in which Isaiah writes tells us in the most unmistakable terms that he was inspired by God to write these things. He first mentions heat, and then storm and rain, in that specific order, for inevitably, when the surface temperatures of the oceans go up significantly, sever storm and much rain follow like clockwork.

The dramatic increase in global warming would also trigger dangerous wild fires, and these in turn would release toxins into the air so that persons who suffer with asthma, and other breathing or lung issues will find that their situation will generally deteriorate with the passage of time.

The sad truth about all of these signs is that, for the most part they are self-inflicted wounds brought by man upon the planet, so that Isaiah, and the other Bible prophets are simply predicting the inevitable results of wrong doing by the nations of earth. In other words, they are predicting the harm we have done to ourselves, and not necessarily any punishments brought upon us by God. Let’s read:

Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

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

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

[Youth Instructor Nov 13 1906 Par 9] God does not stand toward the sinner as an executor of the sentence against transgression; but he leaves the rejecters of his mercy to themselves, to reap that which they have sown.

           Hottest single days globally on record.

Drawing on multi-source analyses from NOAA of daily global temperature that extend back to 1979, the Climate Re-analyzer website shows that July 3, 2023, was the warmest single day on record, only to be toppled by July 4, tied on July 5 and broken again on July 6.

The Copernicus Climate Change Project, part of the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts, also pegged July 3 as a global record.

All of these signs are currently taking place, and are scheduled to accelerate greatly as earth’s final crisis draws near. But according to the Bible, there is only one more shoe to drop and when it does the history of our planet, as we know it will come to an end. Let’s read:

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

This gospel of the kingdom is not your ordinary run of the mill gospel, neither is it the prosperity gospel which so many of the popular majority subscribe to. The word “This” is a pronoun that is used to identify a specific thing or person such as: “Is this your bag? Or "is this your Bible?"

Therefore, when Jesus speaks of “This gospel of the kingdom, He must be referring to a particular aspect of the Gospel, that would be pertinent to the now generation, for He specifically says that the end will come soon after that aspect of the gospel has been preached in all the world.

It is obvious, that Christ was speaking in the context of earth’s final crisis, thus, the aspect of the gospel which pertains to our generation in particular, is the one that features in a prominent manner, the laws and commandments of God and the true worship of God, for here is where contemporary Christianity is lagging far behind.

This aspect of the gospel is featured in Revelation 14 just around the time when the mark of the beast is to be instituted, and since 666 will trigger the final and irrevocable decisions of every individual on the planet, the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, which brings to light God’s Creatorship and true worship, is “This gospel of the kingdom” that Christ is referring to. 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.

Thus, there is one, and only one more question to ask, since Jesus says that this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come: How far along has “This specific gospel” come, and in how many countries worldwide is it to be found?

At the rate at which Adventist World Radio is going, together with all of the other You-tube, Facebook, satellites, and television broadcasting networks now up and running it wouldn’t be long before the entire world is reached with “This gospel of the kingdom”

The you and I in the here and now are tasked with the responsibility of preaching it in our neck of the woods, by honing in on the specifics of Revelation 14, explaining to neighbors, friends, coworkers and family members what is at stake in those solemn messages, and we are also to be found living what we preach on an ongoing basis.

It is true that not all are granted the same gifts as the elders or pastors, but you can share a link with a friend or coworker, or better yet, offer to study with them at their convenience. The grim urgency of the moment is to be on the front burners of our minds, since, as we have studied earlier, all of the stars are lining up currently.

Therefore, to all who may have been sitting on the fence, and to all who have been in limbo concerning the mission, God is calling us to focus, and be of one heart and mind, as far as prioritizing the preaching of the everlasting gospel for we owe it to those who do not know.

We therefore will end with a passage of Scripture that calls us to the mission, for the purpose of God in saving us, is so that we can reach others. Let’s read:

Matthew 28: 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

                                   God Bless!

The Separation Of Church And State. Sabbath afternoon 03/23/2024

Luke 20:21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that You say and teach rightly, neither do You accept the person of any, but You teach the way of God truly.

22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, why tempt ye me?

24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.

25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marveled at his answer, and held their peace.

The separation of church and state in America is one of the pillars of our democracy and it should be kept this way, if we are to avoid following in the footsteps of Rome. The above passages teach us that we have obligations to duly ordained secular governments, which ought to be recognized by the Christian.

But there are also obligations to God, which must not be interfered with, even by Caesar, who is the serving appointee of God. Thus, Christ would show us that there are always to be distinct lines between church and state, in cases where there isn’t a God-ordained theocracy.

The Christian is instructed by God to render his civil or civic dues to duly appointed governments and for this reason, taxes are paid, the laws of the land are observed, and wherever Christians may be called to serve in government, they are to do so, holding the clear lines of distinction stipulated by Christ.

In other words, the Christian is to be a law-abiding citizen, while at the same time making certain that Caesar’s requirements to not intrude, or overstep in any way shape or form, the principles, and laws of God’s kingdom. And if for some reason there seems to be conflict between the two, the Christian must defer to God as being The Superior. 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 you must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’s sake.

6 For this cause, you pay 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.

America is a secular government, and even though God is mentioned in our constitution, we have not entered into any contract with God, as did the Jews anciently, at Mt Sinai, to keep His commandments, and His laws, and thus, there are to be clear lines between church and state, in order to preserve our democracy.

When the Christian begins to Cozy up to politicians, and when the church enlists civil power, to enforce what she deems to be right, then inevitably, persons who beg to differ would be viewed as enemies of the state, and wherever this perspective is held the next step will be the persecution of dissenters.

Sad to say, lying is a part of politics for the most part and it has almost become a requirement on your resume if you aspire to enter that field, and because of this unfortunate reality, Christians who get into bed with politicians will almost certainly be asked to do something that isn’t right, at some point in time or another, so as to curry favor with the politician in question.

Sooner or later, you will be asked to kiss the ring, or bow down in some form or fashion, meaning that it is just a matter of time before you will be facing the compromise of your faith, and if one isn’t anchored to the Rock Christ Jesus, the sheer force of political pressure can force persons to do what they know is wrong.

The reason why the separation of church and state is vital to a democracy, and also to the survival of the church is because the foundational principles guiding both are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

It is true that in a democracy, principles might bear sway to a certain limited extent, but whenever push comes to shove, principle would almost certainly be subjugated to policy.

For instance, states are governed mainly by worldly policy, while the Christian church is supposed to be guided by principles, and these two are not even distant relatives, for they are often found to be at odds, or even diametrically opposed to each other, in the overwhelming majority of instances.

The word “Policy” means: [a] prudence or wisdom in the management of affairs, [b] management or procedure based primarily on material interest.

That second definition needs additional scrutiny for when you have management or procedures that are based solely on material interest, it’s inevitable that the principles and laws of God’s kingdom would be violated, some more, some less.

The Bible teaches us, that if we are at a crossroads, where we may have to suffer material loss, in order to maintain godly principle, then we should take the hit in the temporal realm in order to stay on course.

But with policy, the material benefits are the main drivers behind what most politicians will say or do, and because of this, some are in a permanent state of flux, and in an alarmingly fluid state, blowing in the wind in any direction that policy may tug them.

For instance, in the Scriptures, we are told of Felix, who had a decision to make concerning Paul, who had been incarcerated for preaching the gospel. Like so many in our day, Felix knew what was the right thing to do, but because policy is guided by material benefit, he was driven to violate principle.

In other words, Paul could be exonerated in one of two ways: one, by a close examination of the facts, or he could walk out of jail a free man, if he were to grease the politician’s hand. That is why we stated before that policy would subjugate one’s principle if the politicians, or the Christians in question are not anchored in Christ. Let’s read:

Acts 24: 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

25 As he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled and answered go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul that he might free him, wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

And so it was, that Paul was not going to shell out any greenbacks, to buy his way out of jail, because he is being governed by principle, but Felix who is driven by policy, and material benefit, will do what he could to wound Paul, for not going along with the bribe.

If and when Christians cozy up to politicians, they’ll in most cases be enticed to violate principle in some form, or fashion, sooner or later, hence the reason why the separation of church and state is a must in order for the Christian church to remain free from the influences of secular governments.

The secular governments that shore up support for the church’s agenda, with funding and enforcement of the church’s proposals, and programs, inevitably will want something in return for the favors that are thus shown. And thus, the church will feel obligated to go hand in hand with the state.

And if the church demurs, there’ll be consequences in most cases, for it was supposed to be a mutual agreement and understanding between church and state, where they scratched each other’s backs as it were. Let’s read:

Acts 24:27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

In the kingdom of policy, the ends justify the means, and therefore, if in a given situation, one is required to tell lies, so as to benefit himself materially, God’s law against lying would go out of the window, in an instant.

Persons who are governed solely by policy would in a heartbeat, sacrifice principle and conscience so as to favor the state. This doesn’t mean that policy is all bad, it isn’t, for there are also good policies that may incorporate some of the principles and laws of God’s kingdom.

The problem is that whenever there may be conflict between the two, policy is favored by governments over principle, and for this reason, the laws of God’s kingdom are held subjectively to policy, a method of governing that will never jive with God’s kingdom.

The concept of governing solely by policy was made plain as encapsulated in the words of the high priest in Christ’s day, when he said that it is expedient that Jesus should die, rather than that the whole nation should perish.

This means that if an innocent person must be put to death, in order to maintain national status, then it is a no brainer as to what course of action will be pursued. This is what is meant when we say that in most cases, when things come to a head, principle will be subjugated by policy, if the government in question is governed primarily by policy.

It is of critical importance for us to follow their line of reasoning, for it is guided strictly by policy, in the interest of material, or temporal benefit. Whenever policy subjugates principle, even for what may seem as a spiritually good reason, persecution, and the violation of God’s law are never far away. Let’s read:

John 11: 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, what do we? for this man does many miracles.

48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

This model of governing, where secular government is in bed with the church was introduced, developed and set in motion by the Roman Constantine, who, in order to get his agenda through, had sought the support of the church and vice versa.

Constantine even went so far as to nominally accept Christianity, and this fusion of the church, and state produced the hybrid now seen in the Vatican. Pagan influencers sought to establish more firmly, the day of the sun, but they lacked the power to enforce it. So, they turned to the secular government for help and the papacy was born. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 679] Constantine's Sunday law, issued A.D. 321, was as follows:

“Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun. But let those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty attend to the business of agriculture; Because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest, the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by heaven.”

Thus, whenever the state needed the influence of the church it stood ready to do its bidding and when the Christian church needed the secular powers of government, it supplied the needed enforcement. Thus, a very close symbioses was formed, between church and state, and as history teaches, wherever such a merger takes place, trouble isn’t far behind.

Christians in our day must be very wary of this type of hybrid, for there are troubling signs in America today which threaten the separation of church and state.

For instance, politicians are often invited to speak to congregants from the pulpits and church leaders are often to be found at the podium of some politician who advances their agenda. The problem lies not so much in their association, as in the tendency for the church to compromise with the state and vice versa.

Thus, as church and state continue to walk hand in glove, it would just be a matter of time before there will be a memorandum of mutual agreement where the two entities will merge, and according to what is written in the Bible, the mark of the beast, with the national enforcement of Sunday worship will be on its way.

When Jezebel and Ahab ruled in Israel, they tried to force their brand of religion upon the people as they merged statecraft with church craft, and the results are before us. In that episode, those who refused to acquiesce were hunted down, and others were put to death, as they were viewed as being enemies of the state. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18:4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.

17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, are you he that troubles Israel?

18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

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.

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.

Again, when Nebuchadnezzar tried to blend politics and religion the inevitable result was made manifest as the perceived dissenters were apprehended, and thrown into the fiery furnace. The problem at that time was twofold, in that the use of state force was engaged to compel the conscience into bowing to his brand of religion.

This is exactly what the Bible warns us of in our day, for although, on the surface, some politicians, and the clergy may seem to have the best of intentions, the issue of enforcing their brand of righteousness is where the problem lies, for when closely scrutinized contemporary Christianity is now found to be very far removed from the gold standard found in the Bible.

Not only have the commandments been made null and void by the teaching which declares they were nailed to the cross, but very much of what Christ and His prophets instructed us to do, has now been turned inside out and upside down.

The issues go much further than the differences in the day of worship. Things like diets and foods, and entertainment, decorum, outward adornment, and marriage, have all been either tampered with, or modified to suit the clamors of the popular majority.

And the cheerleaders in the secular government, as well as the clergy are providing the hybrids that the masses are rooting for. In fact, if Jesus were to enter many of the places of worship today, He would no doubt be moved to drive out the buyers and sellers as He once did in days of old. Let’s read:

Matthew 21: 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

13 And said unto them, it is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

And just as it was in the days of Christ there are now a plethora of buyers, and sellers that have taken up residence in the Christian church. And though they may not be physically thrown out as when Christ did they must be identified for what they are.

There is no Scriptural support for the confessional or for penances; there is no Biblical support for the doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul, and there is nowhere to be found in the Bible, support for the doctrines of the secret rapture, purgatory, or the millennium, where one thousand years of peace will facilitate the conversion of the world.

In addition to these tenets, which have become very popular in contemporary Christianity, there isn’t any support for Sunday sacredness even though it’s now embraced by the majority of Christians.

Those brands of doctrine are nowhere to be found in the Scriptures and therefore if the church and the state were to unite to enforce that brand, it will put every true worshipper at odds with the state, and as in the days of old, all dissenters will find themselves on the receiving end of the state’s wrath. Let’s read:

Revelation 13: 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

The above passage refers to enforcement by state of the church’s dogmas, and it fits the mold which was peddled by Constantine. In other words, the church clamors for religious or moral mandates based upon the sad state of affairs in our society and the secular government steps in to supply the legislative power to do so.

And, the diabolical merger between the church and state has already begun, in what some may consider to be small things. Yes, we are in dire need of God, and yes, the 10 commandments could go a long way in restoring law and order, but to force it upon folks who may be of different persuasions, is where the trouble lies.

We must be very wary of the popular Christianity of today which more and more tends to merge politics with religion. Some may not see where this will lead but the Bible puts folks on notice that contemporary Christianity, for the most part is neither endorsed or recognized by God.

The remnant people of God are tasked with letting the people know of the everlasting gospel, as stated in Revelation 14, for there are sincere persons who do not know better but we must avoid being swayed or influenced, by the blending of church and state.

Let us then as Christians try to keep the clear lines of distinction intact, by rendering unto Caesar that which is his and unto God, the things that are God’s. Let there not be morality police as there are in some middle eastern countries, and let not the use of any force be employed against persons with whom we may not agree spiritually.

The genius of Christianity is that while seeking the conversion of every person, it allows for divergent views in those who are not persuaded, respecting their God-given freedom of choice, to do good or evil with consequences, so that persons of different creeds should be able to live side by side on the same street.

This is the freedom afforded us by the separation of church and state, and all should try to preserve the distinct lines, lest we fall into the unfortunate state of affairs, which took place during the dark ages.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that should help us to keep clear of the blending of the church with the state, for this often produces back- biting, infighting, finger pointing, and inevitably, the persecution of those with whom persons disagree. Let’s read:

John 18: 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

                                    God Bless!

The Trial Of Your Faith. Sabbath afternoon 03/16/2024

   The Trial of Your Faith

                            Sabbath afternoon

                                   03/16/2024

1st Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us that each and every Christian will have his or her cross to bear, in the form of the trial of our faith. None is exempted, and you do not get a pass just because you preach, do Bible studies, or give out steps to Christ at the corner store.

Faith that is not tested cannot be depended upon in times of real danger, and therefore, the Christian in our day must be taken through the various paces so that sterling character, and spiritual maturity might be developed and sealed for eternity on the various levels.

If this isn’t the case then the easy-going Christianity that so many folks have become accustomed to, will buckle under pressure, and at those times when our faith should be shining radiantly, flaws and cracks in our characters would appear, and this could greatly embarrass the kingdom of God.

This is what took place when Peter blurted out his unbecoming words under pressure, for it revealed in the public square, that there was major work still to be done in his character. Jesus was trying to prevent the embarrassing moment when He cautioned Peter to watch and pray, but Jesus’ entreaties fell on deaf ears.

It is not the will of God, that the devil should shake down the saints in public, and bring dishonor to the kingdom of God. Hence the reason why God tries to train His servants day by day, so that when prime time comes around, they would be found ready. If Peter had watched and prayed, as Jesus beckoned him to, he would have been victorious in the public square.

The Christian wins his or her battles on their knees, and thus, are given the victory, before the herd of devils come running your way. Christ fasted and He prayed for forty days, before the temptations in the wilderness, and the strength He received in private prepared Him for whatsoever satan would throw at Him.

The same is true of the you and me in the here and now for it’s by spending quality time in the audience chamber of The Most-High, that we’re prepared for conflict, which at times may seem to come at us out of the blue, from nowhere. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry.

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.

God only allows trials that we can win if we take the necessary steps in preparation, like Jesus did, for it is not God’s will that we be tried arbitrarily, for no reason and thus, it is incumbent upon us to follow Christ’s lead, so that if and when things go downhill out of the blue, the trial of your faith could be met with commensurate strength, resilience and faith in God. Let’s read:

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

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 460] The heart must be renewed by divine grace, or it will be in vain to seek for purity of life. He who attempts to build up a noble, virtuous character independent of the grace of Christ is building his house upon the shifting sand. In the fierce storms of temptation it will surely be overthrown.

In order to stand the test of trial, the Christian must be brought to the place where we can take a series of buffetings by the enemy, and yet remain resilient and calm, knowing that God is working out His good purposes in us. If there is no trial of your faith, then, according to the Bible, something must be wrong.

In most cases, the trial of your faith is not permitted to take place continually, with no letting up, but, at some point in time, or another, the Christian must, and will be tried, for it is only those who are tested, who would eventually enter the pearly gates. Trials reveal one’s loyalty, and can bring out the best, or sometimes the worst in us.

If trials bring out the best in us, God is glorified and devils are defeated, but if they bring out the worst in us, if we end up kicking, and screaming at God in the process, then the trial reveals that there is more work to be done in character building, and it is often the case that the next trial may be more severe than the previous one. Thus, all are encouraged to pass the very first test, the first time around. Let’s read:

Hebrews 12: 5 You have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.”

6 For whom The Lord loves he chastens, and He scourges every son whom he receives.

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you, as with sons; for what son is he whom the father does not correct?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Our case study will center around Job, and how he and his wife handled the trials of their faith. There are important points to note so that as we ourselves prepare for prime time, we too would be instructed from their experiences. The following therefore, are a few observations we should pay attention to.

[1] In order to be prepared for trials, the Christian must form the habit of praying regularly, following Jesus’ lead, for it is only by doing so continually, that victory in adverse circumstances will be realized. Let’s read:

Mark 1: 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Matthew 14: 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

The Chistian’s prayer life must never be haphazard, by only praying when difficulty and trials come our way. When this is the case, it is almost a guarantee that we will be steamrolled by devils, especially if the trial bursts upon us without any prior warning.

Job was in the habit of praying and therefore he was no stranger to the throne of God. But sadly, some of us leave prayer up to feelings while others only seek God when the going gets rough. But, when Job was faced with the unexpected, he had reserve oil in his tank, to meet the emergency.

The five foolish virgins in Christ’s parable were not necessarily bad people, they were good people who believed in God, were baptized, and had apparently accepted the fundamental tenets of Christianity, but they came up to prime time, without having reserve oil in their tank.

In fact, according to the parable, the wise ones did not really have any material, or spiritual advantage over the them, for both groups were found sleeping at the wheel when the midnight cry was announced and because of this, the observable difference was that the wise virgins just had extra oil, to meet the sudden emergency.

Let’s say here that it is of critical importance for two spouses in a marriage to be on the same page as far as having reserve oil in their tanks, for wherever this is not the case, there would be serious differences in the way trials are handled, when trouble comes knocking at the door.

Apparently, Job’s wife wasn’t praying as he was, and therefore, when the storm of trials burst upon them without warning, the one stood firm while the other buckled. One ends up praising, the other one ends up cursing, for these are usually the two reactions that emanate from persons in trial, either praises or curses.

There is such a situation that can obtain in Christian households where only one spouse is in the habit of praying, and wherever this is the case, it is almost a given that there would be split reactions to trial and temptation. Therefore, husbands, and wives should encourage each other to pray, so that if, and when things go downhill, there would not be imbalances in the response.

Wherever possible, spouses must take time to pray, both individually and also collectively, because the Christian only wins his battles on his knees. There is one type of trial that can last for weeks, months, or years, but there is another kind, which might come upon you without warning.

The sudden trials are the ones that can shake you to your core, because you were not expecting it, and thus, if you did not previously cater for such a dire change of fortune, through habitual prayer, when the storm bursts upon you, the suddenness would most likely cause you to buckle. Not so with Job. Let’s read:

Job 1: 5 And it was so, when the days of their feasts were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Mark 14: 37 And he comes, and finds them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? Couldn’t you watch one hour?

38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

This leads us to our second point:

[2] In some instances, you may not know when, or  how your faith will be tested, for if you knew you would most likely take all precautionary measures, to mitigate, or lessen the collateral damage. Let’s read:

Job 3: 25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

If Job was given a heads up by God, about what was about to take place, he no doubt would have beefed up his security, he would have warned his children not to throw that birthday party, and he, no doubt would have taken steps to insulate himself and his family and workers against the marauders who were scheduled by devils, to create havoc, and carnage.

Very often, the Christian is going about his or her daily routine, minding his or her own business, not interfering with anybody, and praying habitually when out of the blue, the trial of your faith comes upon you without warning. This is when reserve oil is needed most.

The suddenness of the trial often tends to produce knee jerk reactions, and as the storm may turn into a blizzard, some could become discombobulated. In Job’s case, his spontaneous reaction was to remain calm and resilient, trusting in The God whom he had visited every day and every morning.

Trouble came upon the disciples quite suddenly, at a time when they least expected it. Not that Jesus had not told them before, He had told them, but their minds had not grasped the full, and true meaning of His words. Had they prayed, as Christ encouraged them to, their reaction to the sudden change would have been very different.

But because they had failed to come onto the same page with Christ, their reaction to the sudden trial produced an imbalance between Christ and them. In other words, Christ would stand His ground very calmly, as devils ran a mock, while the disciples who hadn’t prayed, ran for cover, and were scattered. Let’s read:

Matthew 26: 31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

47 And while he yet spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Mark 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled.

The reason why we are focusing so intently on this issue of preparing for trial through prayer is because most Christians in our day have not a clue as to the urgency of the moment before us. When Daniel says that there would be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, the prophet means exactly what he says.

In other words, the things that are coming upon the earth in short order have no precedents, and this is one of the main reasons why God commanded His prophets to speak of it in such graphic terms. We’re not to take lightly, or for granted, the solemn call to prayer, at such a time as this. Let’s read:

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which 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.

[The Great Controversy pp 622] The “time of trouble such as never was,” is soon to open upon us; and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess, and which many are too indolent to obtain. 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.

When the trial of our faith comes, the spontaneous reactions usually make manifest whether or not we had been seeking God all along, for instead of going into panic mode, Job kneels down and worships. It doesn’t mean that he was not adversely affected by the trial, he was, but he was able to regroup pretty quickly after receiving the very bad news. Let’s read:

Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.

The length of time it takes a Christian to regroup at the onset of severe trial, is one of the factors which must be considered. After being shaken down, and the initial surprise wears off, we should, like Job did, try to get our groove back, as quickly as possible, for the longer persons dwell in defeat mode, the more difficult it will be to surmount the trial.

[3] In most cases, we are not told when the trial will end, so the Christian must adopt the attitude of just hang in there, wait and see, until the trial is lifted.

The trial of your faith does not usually come with an expiration date, and for this reason, it’s necessary to cater for the long haul, wherever applicable. Some saints may have received bad news from the doctor, concerning some dreaded condition, they might not have known of previously, and the recommended treatment may take several years in some instances.

Others like Hezekiah may have some terminal illness to battle with, and the prospect of no recovery can present a severe trial of one’s faith, as the future in the here and now looks pretty grim. The Christian in our day must cultivate an open-ended type of faith, which does not put deadlines or thresholds on one’s trials.

It is not certain how long Job’s trial lasted, but what we do know from the Scriptures is that it was long enough for Job to learn the important lessons that he needed to. When that was accomplished, he was granted a reprieve, and the sacred record says that his latter end was much better than at the first. Let’s read:

Job 42:12 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.

16 After this lived Job a hundred and forty years and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.

[4] Avoiding the urge to murmur when your faith is being tested is critically important, for this could set the stage for defeat, or resilience, depending on the attitude adopted.

Murmuring, complaining, or harboring bad feelings towards God, when the trial of your faith is taking place, does nothing to help the situation. Instead, if murmuring is indulged during trial, it tends to sour one’s demeanor and attitudes, which inevitably will rub off on other persons they come in contact with.

Cultivating a cheerful, hopeful attitude in tribulation inspires courage and resilience in others, and greatly helps us in focusing on the brighter side of things. If we dwell on the darker side, groveling in our trials, and singing the blues, our psyche, and outlook gets negatively affected in ways that can actually impede the purpose of the trial.

Therefore, we are instructed and encouraged not to lick our wounds, nor focus our energies on the trials at hand. Instead, folks can recount their blessings of previous years, dwelling on the sunny side of their life experience, and this in turn will help themselves and others to be faithful in tribulation. Let’s read:

Proverbs 15: 13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer.

This leads us to our final point which we must never ever forget:

[5] The trial of our faith is always for the greater and better good, and only continues for as long as folks need to be cleansed, or matured spiritually, as the case might be.

God does not leave His people in the fires of trials any longer than is needed. He does not arbitrarily allow trial for no good reason. Nor does He allow it to continue to drag on indefinitely, if His purposes have been accomplished.

When the dross has been removed, and when folks have learned the lessons of faith, God removes the trial for the fires of the furnace are to cleanse, never to destroy. After Joseph learned what he needed to learn in prison, God released him and set him on a pinnacle, for at this point God could count on him.

Similarly, with the you and me in the here and now, whenever the purposes of God have been fulfilled in our trials, we can safely trust Him to give us a break, for the work of God in the heart is to prepare each saint for eternity. In cooperation with God, folks are to build sterling, characters that can neither be bought or sold, for this is the essence of salvation in the heart. Let’s read:

Job 23:8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him.

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hides himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.

10 But he knows the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Hebrews 12: 11 Now, no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, it yields afterward the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

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

However, there is something that must be pointed before we close, as it pertains to the trial of faith. It is taken from the pen of inspiration, and it should be given due consideration, at such a time as this. Here it is:

[Early Writings pp 85] I saw that God had children who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They have not rejected the light upon it. And at the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully.

“The commencement of that time of trouble,” here mentioned does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary. At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel.

Could it be that we are on the cusp of the time here mentioned, for all of the stars are lining up, even as we speak. Trouble is indeed coming upon the earth, every day now, from Haiti to Ukraine, from Sudan to Palestine, and Yemen. And the nations are indeed angry, yet held in check.

The Lord does not give us any starting date for this little time of trouble, nor are we given an expiration date. Thus, the question is, are we being prepared for prime time, through the current trials that are coming our way, and if so, would we have enough extra oil in our tank, to run the course?

The answer to this question lies with you and me, and thus, it is incumbent upon us to pray like never before, so that we could remain calm in tribulation, if there is a sudden unexpected turn of events. We therefore will end with a passage of Scripture that should help us to be ready, and stay ready. Let’s read:

Malachi 3: 2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap.

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

                                   God Bless!

Judge Not, That You be Not Judged. Sabbath afternoon 03/09/2024

 Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that you be not judged.

2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why do you behold the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how will you say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

There are a lot of television shows nowadays which focus our attention squarely on the issue of judging, and apparently the issue has lots of curb appeal, for persons are glued to their TVs, and just cannot seem to get enough of the drama. That’s because human beings like to judge, and persons like to see justice served.

This craving for justice has actually spawned a lot of other little judges, in the home, at work, at church, at school, at board meetings, and at the gym, in so much that Planet Fitness was prompted to declare their facilities a “Judgment Free Zone”.

There are times when husbands judge their wives, and often arrive at wrong conclusions and the wives may judge their husbands, wrongfully if things don’t go as expected, or if their gut feeling guides them in one direction.

Husbands and wives should be very careful about drawing conclusions, based solely on gut feeling, for many marriages ended up on the rocks, based solely on gut feeling. Without solid, indisputable proof, we should give the other the benefit of the doubt, even when our gut feelings tug at the heart strings to the contrary.

Gut feelings, hunches, premonitions, intuition, and informed guesses, as well as humble opinions are in most cases, not facts, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt. Humble opinions are just that, humble opinions, for the word opinion refers to a view or judgment formed about something, that is not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

Husbands and wives are often asked to work late at night, or because of some unforeseen circumstance on the job, might be delayed for several hours, thus, just because he, or she does not come home at the usual time does not suggest that there is definitely something suspicious going on.

The spouse in question might come home very late that night several hours after midnight, and because of some emergency, may not have been able to call, or say something. His, or her cellphones could also have been dead; that doesn’t mean he was doing a night shift somewhere he was not supposed to be.

Furthermore, in situations such as these one spouse may be driven to smell the other’s clothes searching for foreign perfume, or one might be driven, by gut feeling to scroll through the list of recent cell-phone calls, trying to identify some ghost of a person from never land.

Now, this is not to say that persons are to entirely dispense with gut feelings, because there are also instances where gut feelings, and premonition did turn out to be right. All we are saying is to get the undisputed facts before drawing your conclusions, because God does not judge anyone on gut feeling, but on facts and motives.

Then again, bosses sometimes judge the employees who called out sick the day after the Super Bowl, or the day after New Year’s. Even though it may look or sound fishy, the gut feeling is not based on facts and as such, must also be taken with a grain of salt. The employees could really have been sick.

Then there are little, budding judges in the form of children, who sometimes wrongfully judge parents. In many cases, animosities and bad feelings settle in the home, based on false assumptions or narratives. Parents are imperfect beings, and sometimes they’ll do things with the best of intentions, which are later impugned by the kids.

Therefore, we seem to be immersed in a judgmental world where people are drawing the wrong or right conclusions every day, and because of this, it is now necessary to address the issue of judging.

The Gospel generally tracks a different course, for in God’s courtroom, the bad actors are set free when they confess to wrongdoing and plead for help. But, for viewers down here on earth, to see the sinner go free would cause the ratings of judgmental shows to go down, for mercy is not a part of our natural grain.

Our first passage warns us against judging others, for whenever, and wherever this is done personally to another, there is almost a guarantee that the one who judges is also at fault, and in some instances, it can disqualify persons from passing judgment since doing so will present a double standard.

However, our first passage is often misinterpreted or conflated, as applying broadly to persons drawing a conclusion based on their intelligence. In most cases we are born with the ability to think intelligently, or rationally, and because of this, we tend to draw our conclusions based on circumstantial evidences.

Gut feeling and whatever information we might pick up through our five senses also play a role as well as the news media and information highways, which in our day are heavily weighted with political, ethical, and Scriptural biases. Thus, it becomes even more difficult to judge correctly.

There are a few points that should be made up front as it pertains to a better understanding of the issue of judging. As we go through various scenarios to try to get a handle on the matter, we must bear in mind that God is the only One who could judge accurately every time since He brings the motives, thoughts, or intentions, and purposes into the mix.

[1] Judging a person, as mentioned in our opening passage is different from drawing conclusions based on circumstantial evidence. Let’s take 3 scenarios.

Scenario [1] You go to the airport on January 25 and there you see a man loaded with ski equipment and gear, and he says he heading to Colorado. Now, the rational, forgone conclusion will most likely be that he is heading there to ski. That’s a conclusion based on intelligent evidence.

But it is also possible that the same man is carrying ski equipment to someone in Colorado. He could also be returning from some other vacation resort to his home town in Colorado, and therefore, even though there might be a preponderance of evidence in favor of the conclusion, you can be wrong.

Scenario [2] This one is not merely a hypothetical, it is a true to life incident because recently, there were about five police cars parked outside of our house, with officers standing outside blocking the driveway. Persons seeing this would likely conclude that there must have been some incident, or arrest, that was taking place.

Some might have been tempted to grab a camera, or an I phone to get the live footage of what was to unfold. The truth of the matter is that the cops were there just to bring a gift to our youngest son, which we greatly appreciated.

Thus, the first and second scenarios tell us that even though individuals might make rational conclusions based on their five senses, intelligent evidence, and gut feeling, they can be dead wrong. The third scenario has to do with your “Gut feeling” where your premonition, coupled together with the circumstantial evidence tugs you in one direction, to draw what you may think is a reasonable conclusion in a given situation.

Many years ago, I was doing work for a young man who had a set of grills, and tattoos. Whilst there, I would see different cars pulling up, and he would be often seen, going to a little patch of bushes, in front of his home, retrieving something, and handing it to the persons in the car. They would then drive off, as another car would pull up sometime later.

Later on, he gave me a down payment of $2500.00 in one dollar, five dollar, and ten-dollar bills. I tried hard not draw any conclusions, but my gut feelings were pulling me hard in one direction, based upon the circumstantial evidences, and thus, because we are created with intelligence, we tend to make our assessments based on what we see and feel in the gut.

But, just as it was with the first two scenarios, folks must leave some wiggle room, just in case we are wrong, for when I went to the bank to make the deposit, I saw the teller also watching me nervously as I placed a large pile of small bills on the counter, for something seemed fishy.

So, just I did with that young man, the tellers most likely had their own gut feelings to grapple with, and thus, judging by drawing conclusions continues. It is not something farfetched we are speaking about; it happens every day, for we’re intelligent beings with the ability to reason, but doing so has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Let’s read:

[Testimonies Vol. 5 pp 168] Love is unsuspecting, ever placing the most favorable construction upon the motives and acts of others.

We do pick up information from our five senses, and we draw what we reckon as reasonable conclusions, but let us always keep this caveat in mind, we could be wrong. One of the most important lessons we, as Christians must learn is to give to others the benefit of the doubt.

The fact that persons do judge doesn’t always mean it will be negative conclusions that may be drawn. In many instances persons might come to very positive conclusions, and still be off kilter. A case in point is when Samuel went to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king of Israel.

 Him being tall and of a commanding presence made a deep, favorable impression upon the prophet, and without waiting for God’s take on the matter Samuel declared that Eliab was The Lord’s anointed. But this turned out to be a wrong conclusion, even though it was a very favorable impression made. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16: 4 And Samuel did that which the Lord spoke, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

5 And he said, peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord sees not as man sees, because man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

This tendency to draw conclusions based on what a person sees, or the evidences of one’s senses is one of the reasons why some marriages are in trouble, because favorable impressions are made, up front to the point where persons may neglect to do their homework, and due diligence, and just like Samuel, what might have seemed as gold initially, turned out to be iron mixed with miry clay.

Therefore, on the issue of drawing conclusions that are based on intelligence, gut feeling, circumstantial evidence, and outward appearance, it is always best for us to be humble, knowing that we can be wrong, and for this reason we should be willing to give God the last word, since He makes evaluations internally.

However, the caution against judging, given in our first passage, primarily has to do with the tendency to judge motive, which in many instances, can only be determined by God, who sees all, and knows all. There are times when mortals could make a precise determination on motive, especially when the hard evidence is coming from the horses’ mouth.

For example, Lot, in one instance had judged motive correctly, based upon what the men of Sodom said, and based upon their commensurate actions, all of which made their inner motives manifest to the eye of the beholder.

At that time, they had accused Lot of judging them, but Lot’s conclusion was actually a no brainer, since the hard evidence could not be misinterpreted. The nefarious purpose was stated, and the actions that followed, pointed to only one logical conclusion. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter.

5 And they called unto Lot and said unto him, where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, this one fellow came in to sojourn and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

However, the issue of judging one’s motive is mostly to be left up to God. When God judges, He does not use gut feeling or premonition, or humble opinions in drawing His conclusions. Instead, The Lord uses the books of record, with live footage so that upon inspection by any intelligent being, they would be able to see clearly, why God concluded the way he did.

God allows a person’s actions to demonstrate inner motives, and thus, when we read in the Bible that the books in heaven were opened, we understand it to mean hard evidences of records, together with the live footage, of both the evil and the good which persons did, or did not have the chance to do, as the case might be.

For instance, the thief on the cross who said “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom” did not have a chance to do the things that most of us as sinners are required to do, to complete the process of repentance. He wasn’t baptized, he did not keep the Sabbath, and he didn’t have a chance to return fourfold, for the things he shoplifted and stole during his entire lifetime.

Yet, God who reads the purposes and motives of the heart, gave him a free pass through the pearly gates because, by the words the thief spoke, it becomes obvious that he would’ve fulfilled all requirements if he had the opportunity to. Thus, by his own words he will be justified, while the other bandit who died next to Christ will be condemned by his words too.

William Miller, Calvin, Martin Luther, John Knox, and most of the martyrs who died during the dark ages, never kept the Sabbath, because the light of truth on the matter had not yet dawned upon their own minds. But God who sees not as man sees will usher them into life eternal because their purposes and motives were always to serve God to the very best of their knowledge and ability. Let’s read:

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

[The Great Controversy pp 481] Said the Savior, “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” The secret purposes and motives appear in the unerring register; for God “will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.”

“Behold, it is written before me, ... your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord.” Every man's work passes in review before God and it is registered for faithfulness, or unfaithfulness.

Opposite each name in the books of Heaven is entered, with terrible exactness, every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel.

The 1000 years of Sabbatical rest, which ensue after Christ’s second coming, will be spent by the saints, mostly looking over and examining all the books of record for those who will be lost, and it is through this process, that God will in large part wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Heaven will be a place of great surprises, because persons who were not expected to make it will be there and some who were expected to be there will not be present. The books of record, complete with words, actions and motives will explain to the saints why and how God came to His correct conclusions, and after the thorough review, the saints will agree with Him.

Therefore, when we are cautioned not to judge, it is a caution against us drawing premature, and faulty conclusions with no evidence of motive and as such, the issues which pertain to judging are best left in God’s hands. In the meantime, we might use our intelligence, we may have our gut feelings, and we might have our humble opinions, but just remember this one thing, we can be wrong.

Let’s give to others the benefit of the doubt, and let us by the grace of God, form the habit of placing the best construction upon the motives, and actions of others because we may save ourselves from making some perilous mistakes, and this world will be made a better place, if we do.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will help us to steer clear of the tendency to judge motive, or external actions only, for the word of God teaches us to approach all situations, and persons in a manner that is free from those cultural biases, and foregone conclusions, which too often drive the way we form opinions. Let’s read:

James 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there  come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3 And you have respect to him that wears the good clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

4 Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

12 So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

                                     God Bless!

A Better Devil. Sabbath afternoon 03/02/2024

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

For the purposes of this Bible study, a better devil is representative of the best choice you can make in a situation where you only have bad options on the table.

The provocation of David, the leader of the nation is now going to extend to those under his jurisdiction. In every nation there is a chain of command and the underlings that do the kings bidding are to be wary, lest they obey dictates that they know would violate the word and the will of God.

Whenever a person violates conscience, in order to please the head of a nation, they put themselves on the fast track to compromise themselves in greater and weightier matters, and if the downward spiral is not arrested, that person will inevitably become the slave of circumstance.

After Joab previously yielded to David’s demand for him to kill Uriah, Joab did violence to his conscience, and by so doing he set himself up to become a slave to leadership, whether the dear leader did wrong or right. The very worst thing that underlings can do is to repeat or promulgate evils they know of, when it comes from the dear leader.

The satanic thought was first infused into the mind of David, the one with the highest authority in the nation, and then from there it flowed downstream to any and every one who would not be guided by principle, truth, and duty. This is a very sorry state for any nation to be in. 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 makes his people a hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then does my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

By describing it as a trespass, Joab is acknowledging the fact that he is fully aware that the king’s request is wrong, and thus, like Pilate, he’ll have a deliberate choice to make in the matter. Will he allow political pressure to cause him to do what he knows is wrong or will he speak truth to power, and refuse David’s request, even if it costs him his job, and retirement benefits?

It is at moments like these when the fate of a nation may hang in the balance, with deadly repercussions for the citizenry. One wrong action taken by those in authority, which they fully know to be wrong, could trigger a chain of circumstances, that could wreak havoc upon persons who may have not been privy, part or parcel to the decision thus made. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand, thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.

6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

That last sentence in the above passage is fraught with consequences both in the physical and spiritual realms, for if the action is “Abominable” to Joab and he still goes ahead and does it anyway, he is yielding his mind to satanic influences, and by so doing he is just about to open the floodgates of trouble upon a nation that hasn’t a clue as to what will soon unfold.

1st Chronicles 21:7 And God was displeased with this thing; therefore, he smote Israel.

There are collateral blessings, and there are also the collateral curses, by which certain persons will suffer or benefit, either directly or indirectly from the acts of those in authority. When the leader of a nation is in error, by knowingly doing evil, it is often the case that persons under their jurisdiction will suffer as a result, some more, some less.

The leaders of Hamas and the fighters are not the only ones who are suffering; thousands of little children are taking a hit, with limbs being broken starvation, disease, trauma and a lot of women, and other elderly citizens have also been recipients of the collateral damage, as shrapnel from the bombs continue to take a toll.

In other words, the leaders made the decision and it is inevitable that those under their jurisdiction will suffer, some more, some less. This fact should serve as a deterrent or warning to leaders the world over, not to knowingly make decisions that could result in carnage and deep distress to those under their care. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:9 And the Lord spoke unto Gad, David's seer, saying, 10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

David is now faced with a dire predicament because of his decision to do evil, even after he was alerted to the fact by the spineless Joab. David went ahead with the suggestion infused into his mind by satan, and now he has to choose the better devil, meaning that out of the three very bad options on the table, he has to pick the best devil.

Whenever the you and me in the here and now are faced with only bad options on the table, like David, we may have to choose the better devil, so that the least amount of collateral damage may result. This is a sorry situation to be in, but sometimes because of decisions, and actions taken by leaders, persons are placed in such an unfortunate position. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee.

12 Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtake thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.

David now weighs the pros and cons, as he assesses the potential damage that will result either way, and in desperation, he gives voice to the seriousness of the predicament that could have been avoided. The first option, of three years of famine, would wreak havoc on the economy, and would most likely push the nation deep into a recession.

Starvation and death would result, many persons would lose their jobs, and as a result, would not be able to pay their mortgages, and as a result, they could lose their homes as a direct result of David’s ill-advised decision.

When the citizens of any nation become financially desperate, all kinds of dangers can unfold, because wherever resources are scarce, conflict is never far away. All of this potential turmoil could have been averted if Joab had stood his ground and refused to drink the Kool aid David gave him.

Then the recovery period might even be longer and the blame, and hand wringing that would dominate every news cycle could trigger a national revolt, and uprising to the point where some desperate persons in the military might plot a coup. So, David scratches this first option off, for he trembles at the thought of the ramifications that could ensue.

The next devil, or option is even worse, for the three months of devastation by David’s foes, could trigger slaughter on a national scale, and could weaken the military to the point where his soldiers might jump ship, for some might conclude if you can’t win them, then join them.

This particular second devil or option came with the guarantee that David would signally lose any battle with whosoever the invader might be. Even though the nations of the earth in our day may not know it, there are times when enemy nations are permitted to invade other countries, on account of cherished sin harbored by leaders and people alike. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 28: 49 The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

50 A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favor to the young.

And this does not only apply to God’s chosen people for it applies to nations who have nothing to do with God, but who are under His jurisdiction, even if they do not acknowledge this fact. When any nation does that which they know to be wrong, the gate is often opened for its enemies to wreak havoc. Let’s read:

Daniel 5: 17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another. yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

18The most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom and majesty, and glory, and honor.

20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.

22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though you knew all this.

24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

26 This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

27 Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

28 Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

If the “Putin” of David’s day was given the green light to invade and destroy, the nation might never recover, and worse yet, they could be subjugated or put to tribute for many years to come. This would potentially destroy national pride, and could break the will of the military to engage national foes in the future. So, David scratches off this 2nd devil too. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.

Finally, David decides that the stakes are too great if he were to choose either number one or two devils, and thus, with his back against a wall, and with only bad options before his face, he decides to choose a better devil, meaning that the third option of falling into The Lord’s hands seemed to be the only viable path forward, since David believed it would produce the least amount of damage.

And even though the number of resulting casualties may seem high, the other two devils, or bad options would have resulted in significantly more fatalities, multiplied many times over, for if God is merciful as David claims, and indeed He is, yet 70,000 men fell dead, one can only imagine what the final death toll would have been if David had chosen differently. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:14 So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

The reason why this Bible study is so grim is because it contains information that greatly disturbs persons, as they consider the fallout, in collateral damage to individuals, and families, who seem to have nothing to do with David’s executive order to Joab, and the decision by the army general to knowingly do that which he himself confessed was wrong.

Even to David who had sinned in his capacity as king it seemed unfathomable, that apparently innocent persons would have to suffer for his misdeeds, but that is what sin does, especially deliberate sin, when it is cheered on by the masses of people.

Many of the folks who perished that day were also partakers of David’s perspective and therefore, even though they were not directly involved in David’s decision, they inwardly agreed, and supported him in his endeavors, and as such were part and parcel of the whole scheme, as far as God was concerned.

Thus, there are some grave questions that must be answered before we move forward, so that we here in the land of the free and the home of the brave do not fall into that unfortunate situation, of having to choose a better devil. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:16 And David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

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

Question: How is it that David and all his household were spared from the carnage while others who had no direct input suffered for David’s sin?

Question: Is it true that the citizenry of a nation may fall victims to the doings, and decisions of their dear leader, and the dear leader can get off scotch free?

Question: Can the citizenry of a nation participate in the spirit, ideologies, and philosophies of the leader without making a direct contribution to the decision -making processes?

Question: What are the implications of the answers to the above questions, to those who are currently drinking Kool aid which they acknowledge, is laced with Cyanide?

Question: Do the underlings in a government have a sacred duty to disobey orders and mandates coming from their superiors, if they know those commands will violate God’s revealed will directly?

We must now address some of these concerns, so that clarity might be brought to the situation. The reason why David’s entire household was spared from carnage, is because he was quick to confess his sins, after his conscience was pricked by the Holy Ghost.

Right after the evil deed was done, David went into prayer, as the gravity of his sin rose before his mind. Thus, in his capacity as head of his household, those family members downstream became beneficiaries of his intercession, which then resulted in collateral blessing to his entire family as they were spared the judgements that came upon the land.

Believe it or not, there was a time when even the pharaoh of Egypt acknowledged his sins, and asked for prayer, and forgiveness. And guess what, Christ, who is rich in mercy, and always eager to forgive us, immediately removed the scourge, and everyone in pharaoh’s family then became beneficiaries of the collateral blessing of removal. Let’s read:

Exodus 10: 16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.

17 Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

18 And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord.

19 And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.

Thus, God who is true to His word, accepted David’s confession, just as God would have done with all of those persons who were participants either directly or indirectly. The problem is that most of them saw nothing wrong with what David did, and as such, it was not necessary to confess or repent of anything as far as they were concerned. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:8 And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 747] The numbering was not finished when David was convicted of his sin. Self-condemned, he “said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech Thee, do away the iniquity of Thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.”

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 746 &748] The prosperity of Israel under David had been due to the blessing of God rather than to the ability of her king or the strength of her armies. The taking of the census had caused disaffection among the people, yet they had themselves cherished the same sins that prompted David's action.

Another question of grave import is that which will pertain to underlings in any government, whether or not to obey commands coming from superiors, if and when they know that the instruction is wrong. Persons who work for governments have a sacred duty to disobey their superiors, when obedience to such will directly violate God’s law.

For instance, if a dear leader instructs his underlings to tell a blatant lie to cover his tracks, as took place when David instructed Joab to practice deception in the issue with Uriah, so as to cover David’s tracks, as the underling, Joab was to step up to the plate by standing up for right, even if his job as chief of staff, and his retirement could be jeopardized by so doing.

Persons are to render unto Caesar that which is his own, only so far as it would not violate God’s law in a direct manner. But if and when it comes down to the wire, when a choice has to be made either for Caesar, or in favor of God’s law, the underling is to humbly bow out, by deferring to God. Let’s read:

Daniel 3: 4 Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, that you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

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.

In other words, they will obey God at all costs, and they will let the chips fall where they may, but under no circumstances were they going to allow political pressure from the “dear leader” to force them into drinking Kool aid. They would not knowingly violate conscience and for this reason they are described in the Bible as being “Certain Jews.”

In our day, some persons in the higher echelons of society have been deliberately drinking Kool aid, for like the infamous Joab, they have declared that they know it to be laced with Cyanide, and yet, in order to curry favor with some dear leader, some persons drink over, and over again.

Others, like Joab are greatly disturbed since the cool aid seems abominable unto them, and yet persons continue to drink and drink. Whenever the you and me in the here and now, know and declare with our own mouths that something is wrong and yet we go ahead and do it anyway, we open the floodgates of trouble upon ourselves, and in the process, we may cause collateral damage to others.

Perilous times are just upon us, the fate of nations, and individuals hang in the balance, as they are torn between two lovers, the dear leader on one hand, and the convicting voice of conscience on the other.

Like Joab, some of us would have to weigh the pros and cons of obedience, especially when careers and promotions are at stake. Taking a stand for the right in our day could catapult persons into the arena of ridicule and scorn, and the temptations to buckle under the heavy load could be really unnerving.

Yet God is calling on persons in high, and low places to stand your ground by sticking to principle instead of policy. In the process you may actually lose your job, or be excommunicated from the society of your former affiliates.

Yet, it would be much better to do the right thing, rather than the wrong, and thus, be forced into the most unfortunate situation of having to choose the better devil. If the heat of the furnace is too great, if like Joab the political pressure is overwhelming, you could always pray to God for grace, and strength in time of need.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will encourage one and all to be faithful to God, to truth and duty, even when tremendous pressure is being exerted to the contrary. Let’s read:

Acts 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.      

                                                                   God Bless!

Strait Gate Versus Broadway. Sabbath afternoon 02/24/2024

Matthew 7:13 Enter you in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be which go in therein. 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

The strait gate, and the broad way represent two of the most divergent views and perspectives adopted by the human family, which did not originate with man. The strait gate comes to us from God, but the broad way is a perspective on life that has its origins with satan.

The word “Strait” refers to restrictions, or self-denial that are integral aspects of the strait, or narrow way. To put it in layman’s terms, the strait way does not allow a person to do as he or she pleases. Instead, everything that is said, done, or chosen, is referred first, and processed through the word of God for an approval.

And if such things are out of line with the word they are shelved, or put in the garbage as the case might be. In other words, persons who walk through the strait gate live by the maxim “If God says it, I believe it, and that settles it for me.” Let none be deceived, about this, for the Bible teaches these sacred truths without any apologies. Let’s read:

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would.

18 But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Colossians 3: 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Mortify meaning: abase, belittle, chasten, control, crush, deny, disappoint, discipline, discomfit, harass, humble, ridicule, bother.

There are numerous smooth-talking, Bible twisting, Scripture misinterpreting, soothsaying, and money grabbing televangelists, who, by practicing financial stop and frisk, have watered down the pure word of God to make it appealing to the masses of people in an effort to soothe itching ears, while, at the same time, they make billions off of poorer congregants.

What they say may sound good, and they may use catchy phrases such as the 3 frogs in Revelation 16 use with their tongues, such as “Name it and claim it” but beneath their outer veneer of cute sayings, lies the desiccated Bible, that has lost its force to do good among men.

The word of God is plain and simple: If you choose the strait, and narrow path that leads to life eternal there are certain things you just cannot do. Period!

In other words, the cravings of the flesh must all be subjugated and killed, through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, and in cooperation with Christ, through our freedom of choice. And the laws, and principles of God’s kingdom must be etched indelibly into the heart. That’s the strait gate given in a nutshell.

The other divergent view, which has its origins with satan is the Broad way in which any and everything goes. This view of life allows persons to do whatever they please whether it’s in line with the Bible or not, and it puts the icing on the cake, by offering eternal life right after death, regardless of who you are, and regardless of what you have done.

On “Broad Way” folks are allowed to smoke weed, to drink alcohol, to eat forbidden foods, to indulge in same-sex marriage, to have multiple wives, and mistresses, to curse out those they may not agree with, to cheat on one’s taxes, to pay hush money to silence the truth, to bribe politicians, and to come out and tell lies every day, with seeming impunity.

It's funny, because on the broad way, you are also permitted to read your Bible and go to church on a regular basis and you can pray to God for blessings and deliverance, just like the one who is striving to subjugate the lusts of the flesh.

So, basically, the Broad way presents an apparent win-win situation, where persons are accorded the best of two worlds, as they do whatever they might please, whenever and howsoever they may choose, and somehow, end up in heaven, with a crown on their heads at the end of the day.

Obviously, this broad way will have much more curb appeal than the strait way, and no doubt, there are many more subscribers, as multitudes fall for a win-win perspective that allows complete freedom with eternal life and heaven as their final destiny. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:13 “For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”

Both paths are guided by instructions, methods, and ways and means that are entirely different, not only in their structure and purposes but also in their final outcomes. The two divergent views are also guided by foundational principles, coming from God on the one hand, and from man’s nemesis on the other.

One pathway leads to eternal life, the other leads to extermination, but along the way, they may seem to have similarities which could cause some persons to become confused, if such persons are not informed by the Scriptures.

These similarities plagued Solomon, as he wandered through the slough of despondency, for in his mind, at that time, there were not much differences. And we too, in our journey towards God’s kingdom may be tempted to believe that there are not any major differences and as such the next logical question will be “Why bother?”

As we read the following passages, we are to bear in mind that the perspectives are coming from a man who tampered with the broad way, in the vain hope of finding true happiness. And as such, his views of life must be taken with a pinch of salt, meaning that they apply mostly when one has tinkered with the broad way. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 2:22 For what has man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath labored under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 8: 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

That is one perspective, coming from king Solomon who sank very deep into depression as the result of seeking joy, happiness and fulfillment in life, in all of the wrong places. Folks should be very careful when reading some of the verses in Ecclesiastes, for they portray life as only doom and gloom, without any sunshine or purpose to living.

Again, we say, exercise great caution in interpreting some of the sayings of Solomon in Ecclesiastes, for although all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, the sincere seeker for truth must at all times retain the good, and utterly refuse the evil.

When a person embarks upon the strait way, as the Bible describes self is lost in service to God and man and it is this that brings joy, meaning and purpose to life, so that whatever frustrations, disappointments, and difficulties folks might endure, at the end of the day, when the dust has settled, as persons look back upon their life’s work, it would have been worth the living.

This is what Jesus diligently set about to do every day, for after communion with His Father, He would set off on His journeys through cities, thoroughfares or market places, preaching the good news, healing, the sick and instructing people in the things of God.

Thus, when He lay down to sleep, and reflected on what was done throughout the day, Jesus could feel fulfilled in His heart, that he had been of benefit to humanity and a blessing to others. When one’s life is centered in service to others, the joys of seeing a person give their life to God, causes the troubles of life to pale into insignificance.

Thus, in comparing and contrasting the strait gate and the broad way, the end purposes of life must be brought into the equation, since great distortions in perspective have been introduced by man’s nemesis in so much that there might be some persons who are in danger of falling for his sophistries.

One of the delusionary views that have been spread abroad in the hearts and minds of men is that God’s ways are only doom and gloom while the broad way is full of fun, happiness and fulfilment. This concept must now be debunked in the clearest terms, and to put it bluntly, it’s simply a big, fat lie! Let’s read:

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

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

15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

The truth of the matter is that in serving God in the strait gate you will encounter problems at times, but walking on the broadway also has its own problems, the main difference being that you will always have more problems on the broad way, than on the strait gate. Let none be deceived on this point.

Following Jesus and the laws, principles, instructions and commandments God has given us to live by, will always elevate a person. Yes, there will be times of trial, and temptation, when hurdles, and challenges beset your feet. Yes, there may be sickness, health issues or problems on the job, but at the end of the day you’re always better off serving God. For sure!

Just because persons choose the broad way doesn’t mean that satan will leave them alone to live a life free of suffering and problems. If you are a Christian you will be tempted, and if you are a non-Christian, you will still be tempted. It’s a myth and a delusion to think that satan only bothers Christians; he also bothers, and harasses some of his most ardent followers.

You think you have problems now? Just make the mistake and go on the Broad way, and you will find out the hard way what real problems are. The time has come for the raw truths in these matters to be made plain, for satan does not deliver anybody. At least, we know that we can turn to Christ in times of difficulty, because He delights in mercy.

But man’s nemesis does not know what the word mercy means for it’s entirely foreign to his kingdom. He will heckle, and criticize the Christian who is on the strait way, and tempt you to forsake Christ and adopt Broadway philosophies, but whenever push comes to shove, and your back is against the wall, satan doesn’t deliver anybody from their problems.

In fact, in most cases when persons turn to him for help, he will add more problems on top of what you already have. At his very core he takes delight in the multiplication of your problems. That is what he did to king Saul, after the ill-fated king had done satan’s bidding faithfully.

In his hour of deep distress, Saul turned to the devil for help, but instead of delivering Saul, he uttered a withering condemnation of the king, and accurately predicted the demise of both Saul, and his sons the following day, thus driving the despairing king much deeper into depression, to the point where the king collapsed on the floor.

The following day he directed the Philistine archers to single out Saul in particular, and thus a fatal dart was hurled at the king, who, upon realizing that he was mortally wounded, was driven by satan to do the unthinkable. Therefore, Saul sank down into the abyss of eternal night, bound in a chain of problems.

So, let’s say it again so that persons might hear and understand correctly: whatever might be your own frustration in the strait gate, whatever might be the seemingly insurmountable problem, remember this one thing, the devil does not deliver you when you are down and out. Instead, he pushes you further down, and further out. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 28: 4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and  they pitched in Gilboa.

5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

7 Then said Saul unto his servants seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

15 And Samuel said to Saul why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore, I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

16 Then said Samuel, wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

17 And the Lord hath done to him, as he spoke by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbor, even to David.

18 Because thou obeyed not the voice of the Lord, nor executed his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day.

19 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

No one who ventures on Broadway gets off scotch free, and from what we are currently seeing on the news if a person adopts the broad way perspective there’ll be a high price to pay when your chickens finally come home to roost. On the contrary, the person who’s walking the strait gate could go to sleep with a clear conscience, not having to worry about whether the Feds may come knocking at the front door at midnight or in the wee hours of the morning.

Psalms 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

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

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

23 Then shalt you walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

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

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

26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Another point of great stumbling, as it pertains to the Strait gate versus Broadway is the assumption that you must subscribe to worldly principles, ways and means, in order to be successful. On this point, the differences might seem fuzzy at times, to the Christian, for it seems as if both paths offer success to its subscribers.

This can cause great misunderstanding amongst the followers of Jesus Christ if the nuts and bolts of true success are not investigated. Believe it or not, God offers success and satan also offers his own version of success, and thus, the believers in Christ have to be aware of the stark differences between the two kinds of success. Let’s read:

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

Genesis 13:1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

The Christian in our day who is reading these verses and comparing them with those dire financial straits he or she might be in, might be driven to conclude that there must be a missing link somewhere, since it might seem as if those passages are farfetched of fulfilment on a personal level.

Then, to make matters worse, the devil also seems to offer success, albeit on very different terms and conditions. In fact, many have been led to believe that there’s more success on Broadway than on the strait way, and for this reason, many Christians have seriously considered jumping ship. Let’s read:

Matthew 4: 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shews him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him “All these things will I give you, if thou will fall down and worship me.

[The Desire of Ages pp 129] Placing Jesus upon a high mountain, Satan caused the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, to pass in panoramic view before Him. The sunlight lay on templed cities, marbled palaces, fertile fields, and fruit-laden vineyards. The traces of evil were hidden.

The eyes of Jesus, so lately greeted by gloom and desolation, now gazed upon a scene of unsurpassed loveliness and prosperity. Then the tempter's voice was heard: “All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine.

These two different types of success do present the sort of conundrum that almost caused Asaph in the Bible to stumble, for he had great difficulty in trying to figure out, why those on Broadway seemed to be making it, while he, as a talented musician seemed to be suffering, playing music in church.

Thus, he reasoned back and forth, and rolled it over in his mind, he scratches his head, weighing the pros and cons carefully, day after day, until his cogitations and reasonings gave utterance in words that were almost a complaint. Let’s read:

Psalms 73: 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride compasses them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me.

The main problem with Asaph was his attitude, for he fell into the snare of trying to compare apples to oranges, and in the process, he almost lost his way. Asaph was evaluating success and prosperity based upon the material things persons have, and for this reason, he fell into complaining mode as is often the case when the Christian in our day follows his lead.

When Christians in 2024 set their faces towards heaven, looking beyond that which is seen, to that which is eternal, estimating Christ and the kingdom of God as being of infinitely higher value than mere material things, then God could safely bless such a person with material things, because their priorities and heart are in the right place, and order.

But if one’s heart is fixated upon earthly treasure, if one’s priorities are inverted to the point where the material things of earth seem more valuable than eternal realities, then God has to think twice when it comes to blessing such individuals materially, for there will be the possibility of a dangerous blessing, where riches and material things may do more harm than good to the person in question.

This leads us to our study for today, because the rich young ruler in Christ’s day did the same sort of thing that Asaph did, in assessing, and weighing the pros and cons of the strait way versus Broadway. As the stipulations were laid bare to him by Christ, he too, like Asaph, began to scratch his head and stroke his beard as he thought the proposal over. Let’s read:

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

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

A very interesting and very important commentary is made on this situation that obtained as Christ laid out the terms, and conditions of discipleship to this particular young man, and it is worth the time, and the effort to unpack the truth in the matter so that we may understand why Christ spoke to Him, the words that He did. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 520] The ruler was quick to discern all that Christ's words involved, and he became sad. If he had realized the value of the offered gift, quickly would he have enrolled himself as one of Christ's followers. He was a member of the honored council of the Jews, and Satan was tempting him with flattering prospects of the future.

He wanted the heavenly treasure, but he wanted also the temporal advantages his riches would bring him. He was sorry that such conditions existed; he desired eternal life, but he was not willing to make the sacrifice. The cost of eternal life seemed too great, and he went away sorrowful; “for he had great possessions.

The Scriptures, and the servant of The Lord make 3 critically important points upon the ways the young man came to his final conclusion and decision. Here they are:

[1] He became sad.  

[2] Satan was tempting him with flattering prospects of the future.

[3] He was sorry that such conditions existed.

Let’s take the first one: “He became sad” Question: Why would he become sad? Answer: He became sad after weighing the pros and cons of the strait gate, just like Asaph did and he concluded that he would be put at a great disadvantage, if he were to accept the terms and conditions Christ laid out.

In other words, he concluded that he was given a raw deal that would greatly impede his progress and success in this life. Therefore, we have to pose this question to the you and me in the here and now:

Is it true, that in choosing to walk the strait gate that one’s progress, success, and overall development or advancement in this life would be greatly impeded?

If we were to conclude yes, then like Asaph, and the rich young ruler we would be in danger of becoming sad. The truth of the matter is that Christ was only asking the young man to rearrange his priorities in the right order, for whenever, and wherever this is done there ain’t no stopping the Christian in this life or in the life to come, as far as progress, success, or advancement goes.

This is one of the greatest falsehoods and delusions let loose by the devil across Christendom, and it has negatively impacted the perspectives, and decisions of some who choose to walk the strait gate.

Nothing can be further than the truth, for according to the Bible, the one who has his, or her priorities in the right order is enabled, and encouraged to shoot for the stars, since with Jesus sitting on the throne of the heart, the sky is the limit. Let’s read:

Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

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

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

Deuteronomy 28: 12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

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

This leads us to the second observation made by the servant of the Lord, and implied in the words of the Bible: Satan was tempting him with flattering prospects of the future.

When tempting Jesus in the wilderness, the devil offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them in exchange for bowing down. Thus, we must again pose this question to the you and me in the here and now:

Is it true, that the only way to reach the pinnacle of success in this life is to “Bow down and worship the devil?” Let the word of God answer this question, because great darkness on these issues have now enveloped the earth. Let’s read:

Daniel 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Psalms 105:17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant.

18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron.

19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.

20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.

21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance.

22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

Psalms 149: 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;

7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;

8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.

This leads us to our third and final observation: He was sorry that such conditions existed.  

Question: Which conditions are being referred to? Answer: The conditions Christ laid down. All of the terms and conditions laid down by God in the Bible, for the Christian to adopt and follow, will ultimately lead a person to the pinnacle of success in this life, and in the life to come.

It all has to do with having the priorities in the right order, and one’s heart in the right place, for when this is the case, God will develop and bless the man or woman to the maximum, since doing so would not prove an existential threat to your salvation.

The restrictions and self-denial you encounter in the strait gate are there for our development, character building, and success. Self-denial opens the door to liberty, and putting God, and others first, paves the way for you to reach the highest round on Jacob’s ladder.

Therefore, let none who have chosen the strait gate complain or murmur nor should we become sad like Asaph and the rich young ruler, for the ways of God are ways of success and triumph, in every aspect of the Christian’s life, if all the stipulations written are diligently followed by His grace, and in cooperation with the presence and power of the Holy Ghost.

We’ll therefore end with two passages of scripture which should permanently debunk any other theory or perspective to the contrary. Let’s read:

James 1: 25 But whosoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

2nd Corinthians 3: 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

                                    God Bless!

Christ Or Barabbas. Sabbath afternoon 02/17/2024

Matthew 27:16 And they had a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

The verses above are taken from one of the darkest chapters of the history of God’s chosen people, who up until this time were His peculiar treasure on the earth. God is long-suffering and merciful in all of His dealings with the human family and especially those who have entered into a covenant relationship with Himself.

Thus, in harmony with His nature of love, God bore long the chosen people, sending various prophets and messengers to speak kindly to them entreating all who would, to take refuge in the Only One who is able to save us from ourselves.

This covenant of peace was extended not merely for a matter of weeks or months but for many years, as God nurtured, instructed, reproved, and taught His people, concerning The Messiah who was to come. In the prophecy of Daniel, it was revealed that a set probationary time was to be granted to the nation, so that they would get their act together.

During the time that was to elapse, great knowledge and understanding of future events were revealed from time to time, so that when Messiah came, the chosen people should be ready to receive Him, as is made plain in the 490- day/ year prophecy given to the prophet Daniel, which is the first portion of the longer 2300 day/ year prophecy. Let’s read:

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

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Sadly, located in that prophecy was the intimation that Jesus would die an unnatural death, which was to bring the daily sacrifices to a permanent end, as it pertained to the earthly sanctuary services. All of the sacrifices executed in the temple, from day to day, and from year to year, pointed squarely to the Messiah.

Therefore, in harmony with the precise fulfillment of the prophecy, the final command to build again the wall was issued by king Artaxerxes in 457 B.C, which was actually issued in three stages, beginning with Cyrus, and thus, brought the chosen people of God down to that prophetic week, referenced in our first passage beginning in A.D. 27 and ending in A.D. 34.

As Jesus began His ministry, there was an immediate animosity manifested towards Him, for as He gave His first sermon, He was met with an apprehension that you would not expect from the chosen people who were supposed to be expecting Him in eager anticipation.

From His first sermon onwards, that animosity from the leaders of the nation only grew worse, because very often, Jesus found Himself having to sidestep questions that were mostly designed to trip Him up into saying, or doing things that would’ve been out of harmony with His mission.

Christ would have to carefully consider the meaning and implications of His answers, lest He be mistaken for One who came to unseat the Roman power, who at that time had taken jurisdiction over the chosen people. In fact, the adverse situations surrounding Christ first sermon, ricocheted throughout His entire sojourn on earth and culminated in our first verses. Let’s read:

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

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.

22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.

25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

Obviously, Christ’s first sermon didn’t go well at all, and from that time forth the leaders of the chosen people would seek to destroy Jesus, until it reached a tipping point at His mock trial. At that time Jesus was accused of all sorts of unsubstantiated crimes, but none of them stuck.

And Pilate, who represented Rome at the time, saw that those who brought Jesus to trial were driven by nefarious, and clandestine purposes, therefore, he sought to try his very best to extricate Jesus from a trial which he knew was a farce. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 724] Pilate looked at the men who had Jesus in charge, and then his gaze rested searchingly on Jesus. He had had to deal with all kinds of criminals; but never before had a man bearing marks of such goodness and nobility been brought before him.

On His face he saw no sign of guilt, no expression of fear, no boldness or defiance. He saw a man of calm and dignified bearing, whose countenance bore not the marks of a criminal, but the signature of heaven. Christ's appearance made a favorable impression on Pilate. His better nature was roused.

In fact, in response to Jesus’ prayer in Pilate’s behalf, angels of God were hastily dispatched to his wife to warn her husband not to have anything to do with that “Just Man”. She sent a messenger suddenly and hurriedly into the courtroom, who then blurted out the terrible dream she was given by God. Let’s read:

Matthew 27: 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

[The Desire of Ages pp 732] Even now Pilate was not left to act blindly. A message from God warned him from the deed he was about to commit. In answer to Christ's prayer, the wife of Pilate had been visited by an angel from heaven, and in a dream, she had beheld the Savior and conversed with Him.

She saw Him on trial in the judgment hall. She saw the hands tightly bound as the hands of a criminal. She saw Herod and his soldiers doing their dreadful work. She heard the priests and rulers, filled with envy and malice, madly accusing.

She saw Pilate give Jesus to the scourging, after he had declared, “I find no fault in Him.” She heard the condemnation pronounced by Pilate, and saw him give Christ up to His murderers. She saw the cross uplifted on Calvary.

 She saw the earth wrapped in darkness, and heard the mysterious cry, “It is finished.” Still another scene met her gaze. She saw Christ seated upon the great white cloud, while the earth reeled in space, and His murderers fled from the presence of His glory. With a cry of horror, she awoke, and at once wrote to Pilate words of warning.

When the leaders of any nation know what is the right thing to do, and for political reasons, refuse to do so, then their guilt becomes much worse, for sin is committed against great light. Pilate knew what was the right thing to do, because not only the raw evidences dictated the truth in the matter, but God Himself got involved, by warning him directly.

Yet, Pilate weighed political considerations against the promptings of conscience, and as he vacillated, the leaders of the chosen people rightly concluded that if they were to turn up the heat of the furnace several notches Pilate would buckle under pressure. And so said so done, for they invoked the name of Caesar, to push Pilate over the edge. Let’s read:

John 19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, if you let this man go you are not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaks against Caesar.

13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

The conscience of a nation is its judiciary, therefore, when it came down to crunch time, we find that the judiciary under Caiaphas, and the spiritual leaders of God’s chosen people, as well as those under their jurisdiction choosing Barabbas, a known felon over Christ.

Several times Pilate put the matter before them and over and over again they deliberately and knowingly chose a convicted felon over Christ. Thus, when this became the case, it demonstrated in real time that righteousness, on the national level had gone out of the window and this triggered the downward spiral that cemented the choices then made.

What is notable about this action taken by both the judiciary and the people is that not long after doing so, their probation was finally, and permanently closed, for in three and a half years, the designation of being God’s chosen people was removed, and as a nation, they became disconnected from God, even though individuals can still be saved if requirements are met.

This close of their probation was actually part of the prophecy in Daniel, by which the prophet predicted that the sun would set for the chosen people, since Messiah was to be cut off by unnatural means in the middle of the last prophetic week of probationary time. And so said so done. Let’s read:

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

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The gospel continued to be preached to them for the next three and a half years, but after that, God pulled the plug, and allowed the natural results of their choices to settle in. That is why we find Paul turning to the Gentiles, as the last prophetic week of their probation came to a close. Let’s read:

Acts 13: 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Matthew 21: 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?

43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

At this juncture, it is imperative that we read two particular passages of scripture, because the demise of God’s chosen people anciently has a warning for us in our day, especially since the Bible predicts that a system of government that is antichrist in nature is going to rear its head in our day. And because of this we would find ourselves having to choose between Christ or “Barabbas” just as the people of God were brought to that point in their experience. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

Persons of conscience are not to turn a blind eye to what is transpiring upon the earth, and this applies particularly, first and foremost to America, where it is stated that man-worship will be institutionalized first, and then its tentacles will ultimately be spread abroad globally.

 The judiciary, as well as the people are to preserve their consciences, as best they can, by not putting darkness for light, bitter for sweet, or darkness for light. This is what Pilate, Caiaphas, and the multitude of people did anciently, when they had perverted judgment in the choice of Barabbas, a known felon.

“Barabbas” in our day represents everything that we know to be wrong. Thus, by deliberately choosing a known wrong, persons would be choosing Barabbas over Christ, just as the people in Christ’s day knew it was a criminal they were choosing over Christ.

Willful blindness does not render persons or nations void of responsibility for the choices made. In every thing that we do, in every choice that is made, clear lines of truth, righteousness, and judgment should bear sway, without bias or favoritism.

We all are now on the cusp of the most momentous scenes that are to transpire upon the earth at a time when the world, and America in particular is volatile on all levels.

Therefore, in every choice that folks have to make, whether it be on the job, at home, in business, or in spiritual things let none be found choosing Barabbas over Christ, for if we do, individually, and nationally, our own probation may close not long after.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should awaken us to the urgency of the moment. It is not the will of God that we remain ignorant of the prophecies that are being fulfilled in our day, for the things that are happening currently, portend those climactic scenes that are just on the horizon. Let’s read:

Isaiah 59:12 For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;

13 In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

15 Yea, truth fails; and he that departs from evil makes himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

                                 God Bless!

What The Bible Says About Suicide. Sabbath afternoon 02/10/2024

 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.

Before we delve into our study, let us take a look at the raw data, for it is a fact that suicide is on the rise in a land of opportunity and privilege. The problem affects a broad spectrum of society, including folks from all walks of life, and since it is on the increase, we must now address it, and find out what the Bible has to say about it.

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in children ages 10>14. The suicide rate among people aged 10–24 increased 62% from 2007 through 2021. The rate of suicide among teen males has increased fivefold from 1950>1990.

The suicide rate for people aged 20–24 increased 63% from 2001 through 2021. In 2021, there were on average 127.2 suicides every day, among U.S. adults. And the problem is also to be found among veterans, because in 2020 there were 6,146 Veteran suicides, which averages to 16.8 Veterans dying by suicide every day.

Question: What could be causing such a dramatic increase in death by suicide and what does the Bible say about it? In doing research it is discovered that there are several contributing factors that may lead a person to take their own life, and the problem also exists in those of religious affiliation, even though a plethora of studies suggest it being lower in people of faith.

The following are just some of the reasons why one considers taking their own life: Discouragement, or depression, PTSD, financial problems, as was found to be the case when the great recession settled like a dark cloud upon the nation, and persons began to lose their jobs, and their homes on a large scale.

During that awful time some people felt defeated, in losing their homes, the single largest investment, or asset for most families, and rather than go through harsh foreclosure proceedings, some people chose to call it quits, and took their own life prematurely.

Then there is drug abuse, cyber bullying, sextortion, loneliness, mental health issues, sexual abuse as a minor, sadness or grief, shame, worthlessness, that life is not worth living, and intense guilt. Let’s read:

CNN:

About two weeks after his oldest son’s funeral, South Carolina state house Rep. Brandon Guffey says he received a private Instagram message with a laughing emoji. Gavin Guffey, 17, had fatally shot himself in a bathroom in July 2022, and the grieving father was searching for clues on what led to his suicide.

Then Guffey and his younger son began to get messages demanding money in exchange for nude photos of his late son. Anyone on Gavin’s Instagram followers list who had the last name Guffey got similar messages, his father says.

The family began piecing together Gavin’s last moments and discovered he had encountered a scammer on Instagram and unwittingly became a victim of sexual extortion, a crime the FBI warns is increasingly targeting underage boys and leading to an alarming increase in suicides nationwide.

CNN

Almost exactly one year ago, 14-year-old Adriana Kuch was attacked by a group of teens in a hallway of Central Regional High School in Berkeley Township, New Jersey. No one expected it to be the last week of her life.

Adriana had been bullied leading up to the assault on February 1, 2023, her family said. The gruesome attack was captured on video and promptly uploaded to social media, where Adriana became the target of more vitriol and cyberbullying.

Less than two days later, Adriana killed herself in her home as “a result of the emotional distress, humiliation, and embarrassment she experienced,” according to a lawsuit filed by her family this week against the Central Regional Board of Education, the school district’s former superintendent and others.

Individuals are also observed to consider suicide in some instances when they feel they are a burden to others, and that they might be trapped in situations where things would never get better.

Other contributing factors include intense physical, or emotional pain, and evolutionary reasons, since evolution teaches that there was not any intelligent, original purpose in man coming into being, as they claim.

And since according to evolution, we came here by accident, some persons don’t see any reason to live if things are not working out for them. When people are led to believe that there was no purpose to their existence, suicide becomes a viable option, if their backs are against a wall, with seemingly no way out.

There’s also the issue of terminal illness and the use of certain potent drugs, which are known to induce suicidal thoughts. In our day, there is the practice of assisted suicide, where people engage the services of persons in the medical field, to bring about their untimely end, due to terminal illness.

Our first passage teaches us that the good news of the gospel, produces a culture of life, and as such, is to be an important part of any study on the issue of suicide. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that the gospel offers hope, which is an increasingly rare commodity in our troubled world.

When individuals have something worthwhile to live for, and something better to look forward to, it gives them the impetus to live, because they are enabled and encouraged to rise above the here and now and focus on the great hereafter.

In scriptural terminology it is better known as the blessed hope, by which persons are energized and animated to reach forward to those things which are before, even though on this planet things might get pretty bleak, which they are scheduled to.

If all there is to life is to work hard and pay bills with no hope of eternal life then the impetus to continue living, when one is at rock bottom, becomes fragile. The apostle Paul sums up this perspective in words that make manifest the secular world view of living. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

32 If after the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.

Therefore, we will address some of the reasons why persons choose suicide as a way out, and then we’ll let the Bible speak for itself, as it pertains to God’s will in the matter, and we will present remedies, and preventive ways and means, so that folks can avoid going that route. We will begin with one of leading causes, or triggers for suicide.  

[1] Depression.

 It is described as a mood disorder that is marked by varying degrees of sadness, despair, and loneliness and that is typically accompanied by inactivity, guilt, loss of concentration, social withdrawal, with sleep disturbances, and sometimes suicidal tendencies.

 Most persons go through some form of depression in their lifetime some more some less. However, the triggering mechanisms often vary from one person to another. For example, king Solomon had become depressed after he sought for fulfillment, and joy in the wrong places.

He had set about to get meaning out of life from the material possessions he owned, but he soon found out that the more things he accumulated, the more frustrated he became. Material things are good and meaningful in their legitimate sphere, but when the higher purposes of life are subjugated by materials, depression will almost certainly set in.

Whenever a person’s ambitions are only centered in the here and now, he/ she will be a prime candidate for depression and that’s because material things do not and cannot satisfy the deep longings, and needs of the human soul.

They may give a false sense of happiness for a while, but sooner or later they will lose all their luster, for the spiritual aspects of man’s existence cannot ever be fulfilled through materials alone. It’ll take much more than our favorite things to find meaning, and joy in living. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 2:3 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

Mirth Meaning: Mirth is the state of being glad or happy, especially with laughter. This includes, but is not limited to Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central, and other such forums which specialize and peddle in jokes and laughter. The fact is that you can only laugh so much, but after laughter, there you’ll still have the realities of life to confront.

Laughter is good to some degree but it could never come even close to the joy that a relationship with Jesus brings, for laughter by itself will lift your spirits for a while, just like how coffee will give you a boost temporarily, but after it wears off, you are left in the same position as before and sometimes even worse.

Solomon also tried getting satisfaction from wealth, and the accumulation of material things. He built several houses, and constructed several pools, and he had thousands of chariots and horses, and all the eye could wish for, he got to himself.

But he soon found out that you could have a house with ten bedrooms and five bathrooms, but you can only sleep in one bed at a time and you can only use one toilet at a time. You can have several chariots or cars, but you can only drive in one at a time. In fact, the Toyota Camry, and the Lamborghini both have one thing in common; they will take you from point A to point B.

The accumulation of a lot of material things, solely for the purpose of having them, could lead to a form of depression and frustration. If they are not put to good use in worthy causes, they just create clutter, as can be seen in some of our wardrobes, where a million and one dresses, suits, and shoes just sit in our closets gathering dust.

And sometimes, it’s only when we have to move to another residence that we realize how many things we had in our possession, but never used. There are some garages which are full to overflowing, with all types of stuff, to the point where persons could be found purchasing things that they already have, but just do not know.

It may be much better to have your spring cleaning, and give the unwanted materials, and unused items to the Salvation army, who will distribute the goods to those who need them most, to the homeless and the less fortunate, who will actually use them. This was Solomon‘s predicament, as he sought out joy in  the abundance of his favorite things. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 2: 4 I made me great works; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards.

5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits.

6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also, I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me.

8 I gathered me also silver and gold and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I got me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do, and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

And so it was, that after all of his effort at procuring things, after all the laughter had subsided, and after all of the wine he had drunk had worn off, Solomon became extremely depressed, for his joy came from the wrong sources.

And wherever this is the case, a person would be in serious danger of suicidal thoughts, since the utter disappointment with materials could drive one into severe despondency. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 2:17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

18 Yea, I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

19 And who knows whether he shall be a wise man

or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labor which I took under the sun.

[2] Depression and suicidal thoughts are sometimes triggered when individuals are overwhelmed with financial problems, with no end or any resolution in sight.

Satan is determined to tighten the financial nooses of never-ending debts around the necks of persons, and if the situation is not corrected, it can cause one to think of suicide as the only way out.

During the financial meltdown of 2008 and beyond, this is what actually took place on several different levels. On man, who had lost his house and his job, terminated his entire family of five including himself for in his mind he could see no viable way out of his dilemma.

Other wall street executives took their own lives, as the cold realities of losing everything they put their money into, was found to be going up in smoke. It is one of the most successful snares of devils to cause persons to be straddled with insurmountable debt, for when this is the case, it could drive individuals to extremes. Let’s read:

Nehemiah 9:1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore, we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.

3 Some also there were that said, we’ve mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

4 There were also that said, we’ve borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

[3] Deep depression, and suicidal thoughts can also be triggered by Cyber-bullying, Sextortion, Incest, or Sexual abuse as a minor, and these particular issues are scheduled to get a whole lot worse, especially with the introduction of artificial intelligence, as can be clearly observed with what recently took place with Taylor Swift.

Sextortion is the practice of putting sexually explicit videos or pictures of a person on the internet by an extortioner, who then seeks a ransom to take them back down.

But with artificial intelligence now being able to add modified bodies of other persons to your face, and with so much of our personal information already in the public square, what we saw with Taylor Swift is just the tip of the iceberg.

Those who once rejoiced and lauded the benefits of A.I. would soon have pause for concern as nefarious cyber bandits, and bad actors, will significantly ramp up their activities, and incursions against persons, in so much that Mark Zuckerberg had to apologize to congress, and to parents who had lost their kids to suicide as a result of cyber bullying.

We are becoming prisoners of our own devices, and since the horses have already left the barn, we must expect to see more and more suicidal thoughts and actions in the near future. A.I. has made an existing problem a lot worse, but in reality, sexual crimes of all stripes have always been around, even in Bible times. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 13:10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

11 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

16 And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of different colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

[4] Depression and suicidal thoughts could also be induced because of terminal illness, where persons might be given only weeks or months to live.

This particular situation has been amplified with the practice of assisted suicide, by which persons could request some potent mix from certain doctors in an effort to call it quits. It’s tough to be told that you’re terminally ill and some individuals, rather than allow the inevitable to be prolonged, they may opt for the quickest way out.

Living with severe perpetual pain and living with the thought that you are terminally ill can drive one into despondency, and therefore, we must now turn to the scriptures to see what the Bible has to say about the issue of suicide, and what can be done about it.

The following points must be understood clearly, so as to certify God’s will on the issue.

[1] Our human body does not belong to us, for we are the property of God both by creation and by redemption. In other words, we are owned twice over by The Lord who made us. Let’s read:

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

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

Psalms 100: 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.

When you hear songs on the radio such as “It’s my life” and “I did it my way” the words are a reflection of the fact that many are ignorant of the fact that all of us, without exception, belong to God.

In spite of what you might hear on radio, on TV, and even on the campaign trail, God owns both of the front runner candidates, both President Biden, and Donald Trump, together with Nikki Haley and all the senators and members of the house.

Taylor Swift, and Beyonce, and Snoop Dog, and Pit Bull are all the property of God. They may or may not choose to acknowledge this fact, but that does not change what the Scriptures solemnly declare about whose we are.

Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are also owned by God, in addition to all Atheists, all Christians, Hindus and Muslims and all satanists, they are, without any exception the sole property of God, whether they believe it or not. A person does not have to believe, nor does one have to be baptized, in order to come under the umbrella of ownership by God. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 18: 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die.

Acts 17: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring.

Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the Most-High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and He sets up over it the basest of men.

This first fact leads us to our second logical point:

[2] Since we belong to God, we cannot legally take that which is not ours. Some persons are ignorant of this fact, and in times of ignorance God might wink, but from a legal perspective, we are not authorized to take our life, which belongs to God.

Not everything that is permitted by governments is, right, for nations often sign into law the very things which God has proscribed and even though assisted suicide may be legal according to Caesar’s law, God who owns us has never given the permission for any person to assist another in taking their own life.

It might be lauded as being humane, and in certain inevitable circumstances, it may seem as the logical thing to do, but there is absolutely no support for that in the Scriptures. When Saul became terminally wounded, because of the injuries he suffered whilst in battle, he requested of his armor bearer to assist him in suicide.

The armor bearer recoiled at Saul’s request for even though Saul was fatally wounded, and would have died anyway, it rubbed the servant as being wrong, and he could not do it, with a clear conscience. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul's sons.

3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore, Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

Later on, an Amalekite came running to David, to bring the “good news” of Saul’s death, and while he was relating the story, he admitted to David that he had assisted Saul in suicide hoping that David would rejoice.

But lo and behold, David’s countenance fell, and he together with his fellows began to mourn greatly, to the chagrin of the Amalekite. Soon after David took the man’s life, by the direction of God, as retribution for assisting Saul in what might have seemed at the time to be the logical and humane thing to do. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 1:2 And it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

4 And David said unto him, how went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5 And David said unto the young man that told him, how knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, here am I.

8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

13 And David said unto the young man that told him, whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

14 And David said unto him, how were you not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?

15 And David called one of the young men, and said, go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

To those who may be considering calling it quits, but who might not be terminal, like Saul was, there are hotlines, and phone numbers, provided by nations and governments to help in such situations, so that there’s no need for you to die prematurely.

Help is most readily available, and there are many outreach ministries by churches, and organizations, so that the one who is suicidal in their thoughts can avoid taking their own life.

This will be particularly applicable to teenagers and young adults who have a lifetime of opportunities before them, and who can, by the grace of God and other remedial actions live a life full of meaning and purpose. Let’s read:

Isaiah 41: 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Psalms 34: 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.

Luke 4: 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.

However, there are times when despondency and discouragement can drive persons into depression, and they might feel as if life is not worth the living anymore. There are times when even the Christian may become frustrated with God, and may desire to call it quits.

Jesus suffered depression as mortal conflict loomed into view in the garden of Gethsemane. And in most cases Christians also go through times of depression where they feel like if God has either forsaken them or has forgotten about them. Frustration with God is one of the aspects of Christian life that can promote growth, and faith in God, if we stay the course with Him.

Several Bible characters became frustrated with God and experienced depression as a result yet they came out stronger on the other side as they hung in there, and as they dug in their heels, holding on by faith to the only One who could save them. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 20:7 O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I’m in derision daily, everyone mocks me.

8 For since I spoke, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.

9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

John, David, Jeremiah and the twelve disciples went through some periods of frustrations, but they were made the better and stronger, by hanging in there. But being frustrated with God is not a good reason to end one’s life prematurely.

If ever, and whenever this may be the case, the Lord would have us to understand that we still should not take it upon ourselves to take our own life. We are to wait on Him, trusting that He knows what’s best, and that He is not only mindful of our affliction, but is actively working out things for our best good.

As the very last resort if you feel that the burden is too heavy, if the pain is too great and relentless, and the depression and frustrations of life are too great, one can ask God to take his/ her life, and if God sees fit, He very well might, but never should we take it upon ourselves to take the life God gave us, for it is not ours. Let’s read:

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.

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.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.

Numbers 11: 11 And Moses said unto the Lord, wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

14 I am not able to bear this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

The culture of the gospel is a culture of life and even if things do not go the way we’d expected, or hoped, and even when the horizons might look bleak, and foreboding, God desires that we wait upon Him and not rush to conclusions, for the trial of our faith will eventually bring us forth like gold.

Whenever suicidal thoughts creep upon you, take it to The Lord in prayer, seek for help that is available, and try to sing songs of praise, for doing so, causes devils to flee. The thought of taking one’s life does not originate with God, for Jesus came to give us a life that’s more abundant.

Therefore, if you find satan sitting on your shoulders and whispering things that ought not to be done, it is then time to seek God for His resolutions to your predicament, but never should we go before Him, to end our life, before the appointed time. We will end with three passages of scripture that will make clear God’s will in this matter. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.

John 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

3 His brethren therefore said unto him, depart from hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that You do.

6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time has not yet come: but your time is always ready.

8 Go you up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come.

Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

                                   God Bless!

Christ In The Shadows. Sabbath afternoon 02/03/2024

 Psalms 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book, it is written of me,

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

When studying the Bible, Jesus Christ must always be at the center and focus of attention, because the purpose of the Bible being written is to point us to Jesus, primarily, and secondarily as sacred history containing His laws and instructions together with prophecies and the experiences of those whom God saw fit to set before our faces as learning curves.

In other words, whatsoever and however we might read and study the Bible, the bottom line is to have a clearer view of Christ, and a deeper relationship with Him. Any other purpose will fall short of God’s glory and will just be an escapade in gathering much information.

Very much of what we read in the Bible points us to Christ, and even though the passages might not say so explicitly, yet, with Him being at the center of our focus, we will see Jesus clearly in the shadows, and types that are written. This is true not only of Moses who wrote the first five books of the Bible, but of all the other writers of Scripture.

Isaiah and David, Jonah and Daniel, and all the rest of the Bible writers point us to Christ, some more, and some less. Thus, every time the Bible is opened in study, we must see Jesus as the focal point, and if this is done continuously, many things that seem to be murky, and riddled with dark sentences would be made very plain. Let’s read:

John 5:46 For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

47 But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?

Almost all of what Moses wrote was about Christ, in some form or fashion and even though Jesus wasn’t mentioned by name, He is present all over Moses’ writings. In fact, our opening passage which says “Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me” is a reference to the Pentateuch which contains tons of information about Christ.

The Manna pointed to Christ, the uplifted serpent pointed to Christ, Joshua pointed to Christ, the sheep and sacrificial offerings pointed to Christ, Aaron also pointed to Christ, the stone which David used in his sling pointed to Christ, and even the goat offering on the day of Atonement, pointed to Christ. In fact, from Genesis to Revelation it’s Jesus from beginning to end. Let’s read:

 John 8: 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Matthew 12: 39 But he answered and said unto them, an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah.

40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so, shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

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

43 He saith unto them, how 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 durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, these are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

Great care should be taken whenever we open the Scriptures, seeking to understand the meanings of passages and therefore, the Biblically recommended ways and means of exegesis must include line upon line, line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little.

Especially is this the case when studying the Psalms, for David goes back and forth between the first and second person as The Spirit gives him utterance, and thus, in one breath he might be speaking of his very own experiences, and in the next breath, he’ll shift directly to Christ, very often, without any notice to the casual reader.

Thus, whenever we study the Bible, we must seek to see Jesus, whether He be in the shadows or types or whether He be in plain sight. In other words, Christ must be our theme and focus, whenever the Bible is opened for study, because this is how Paul, and the other prophets studied the written word. Let’s read:

Hebrews 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, what is man, that You are mindful of him? or the son of man that You visit him?

7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of thy hands.

To the cursory reader, this might seem to hearken back to creation week, when God set Adam over all the things He had created in this world. After Jesus was finished creating, He made Adam, and handed him the keys of dominion over everything, animate and inanimate, to rule over them according to God’s will. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths of the seas.

Psalms 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that You visit him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.

6 Thou made him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field.

To the casual reader, it seems set in stone that David and Paul are definitely referring to Adam. That’s one rendition, but Adam is not the focus of the scripture because he never died to save anyone. Thus, as Paul studies and writes, with Christ as the focal point, he comes up with a different understanding of the very same text. Let’s read:

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Here again is the very same thing occurring as David seems to be blurting out a barrage of curses against some unknown person, who, on the surface, seems to have done him some great wrong. In the next few verses, David seems to be seeking for revenge on his enemies, something which God instructs us against.

In fact, David himself was warned and instructed by God not to seek revenge upon Saul who hunted him like a wild beast for a long time, and David took the correction in stride, as he explained it to his soldiers, that they should not seek vengeance upon Saul.

Furthermore, Saul had been very dead, a few years well, so David could not be referring to him. And it’s not written anywhere in the Scriptures where David had such a bad beef with another person, for him to be uttering these withering curses, and asking God for revenge upon the person’s head.

Therefore, it seems quite strange and odd, that here David would be found drooling over retaliation upon some unknown person, for he had already crossed that bridge, and thus, the question is: Who on earth could David be speaking of, in the following verses?

We must let the Scripture be its own interpreter, for when a Christocentric focus is employed in studying, it seems as if the verses in question have absolutely nothing to do with David. Thus, we will take several passages from Psalms 109, and we will permit the Bible to explain who David is referring to. Let’s read:

Psalms 109: Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

John 15: 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Psalms 109: 5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

Luke 22: 50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, you come out as against a thief, with swords and staves?

53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

Psalms 109:6 Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. 7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.

Luke 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

Psalms 109:8 Let his days be few, (That is because Judas’ days would be cut short by suicide) and let another take his office.

9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. {All references to Judas’ death by suicide}

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

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

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Obviously, an entirely different picture is beginning to emerge, because it is evident that David was not the focus of these passages, nor are his words some off the cuff rant, against some unknown individual, because of him drooling over personal revenge.  

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and thus, whatsoever might be one’s interpretation, we must never forget this: The Holy Spirit inspired David to write these things, and as such it definitely will pass the smell test. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 3: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

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

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

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

Furthermore, the scriptural references in the New Testament point us directly, and unmistakably to the fact that it is the experiences of Christ, with Judas as His betrayer, that David was referring to, and not to David himself venting a personal vendetta against some unknown person.  Let’s read:

Acts 1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take.

24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

Psalms 109:13 Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.

Matthew 26: 14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

15 And said unto them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

23 And he answered and said, He that dips his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

24 The Son of man goes as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

The reason why David, and then Jesus cemented the doom of Judas in such graphic terms is because it is true that it would have been better if Judas had not been born, because, according to the Scriptures and according to the prophet “Hulda”, Judas will have to die three times, in order for justice to be served and his name will be blotted out from the Lamb’s book of life. Let’s read:

Daniel 12: 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

This is a prophecy pointing unmistakably to the first resurrection at which the righteous and some of the notoriously wicked will arise from their graves at the same time, to see Jesus coming in the clouds.

The chief priests, Pilate, Herod, Judas, and the most violent offenders against Christ’s kingdom would be raised to see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven, and then they will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming, only to be resurrected again at Christ’s third coming, to receive their final reward, which is permanent extermination, once and for all. Let’s read:

Revelation 1: 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

[The Great Controversy pp 637] Graves are opened, and “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth ... awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel's message come forth from the tomb glorified to hear God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. “They also which pierced Him” (Revelation 1:7). Those that mocked and derided Christ's dying agony and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient.

Psalms 109:24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh fails of fatness.

25 I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me, they shook their heads.

Matthew 27: 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

40 And saying, Thou that destroys the temple, and builds it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

The reason why it’s important for us to always have Jesus as the focal point of any Bible study is because if one were to read Psalms 109 and were to come to the conclusion that David is referring to himself, the next conclusion would be that it is okay for persons to follow his lead, and since he prayed for revenge, we too can also pray for revenge against offenders.

The fact is that there are things that David and some of the other prophets and Bible writers did, which we must never ever do, even though their deeds are written in the Scriptures.

 In studying the Bible and its writers, we’ll have to choose the good and utterly refuse the evil because many of them did some good things, but many also did some bad things. Noah’s drinking must never be emulated, but you can follow his preaching.

 Moses’ faithfulness can safely be duplicated by the people of God, but his anger management must be avoided. Abraham’s practice of the morning and the evening sacrifice can be mimicked by the saints, but the tendency to tell lies when in difficult situations, must be avoided.

When Christ is the theme and focus of our attention in the study of the Bible, we’ll always have a perfect example of what we can or cannot do, as far as the building of sterling character goes, and as God leads us in the various vicissitudes of life. Thus, when we might read in the Psalms of a call for vengeance, we must also remember the following passage, which justifies the utterances of The Holy Ghost through David, in Psalms 109. Let’s read:

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Let Jesus always be the focus of our study and dark things will be made plain, clarity would be brought to otherwise difficult passages of Scripture, and we will have Christ’s perfect example before our faces so that we need not err. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that should help us to keep our focus on Christ, for the Bible is all about the Person and Character of Jesus, from beginning to the end. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open faces, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

                                    God Bless!

What's Peculiar About You. Sabbath afternoon 01/27/2024

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

Last week we studied some of the peculiar aspects of the Christian’s life, as it pertains to the temporal, and now we must set our sights on the spiritual, so as to cultivate balanced perspectives. One reason why we began with the temporal, is because that is the area most readily seen and observed by those who are not yet believers.

As they observe with keen interest how God’s laws, principles and instructions are lived out in real time to the benefit of the believer, then they are led to inquire after the spiritual components, which drive the temporal.

Daniel and his companions were first tested in the temporal realm, on issues such as diets and foods, and how well they did in college. Then, after they’d passed the smell-test they were ready for inspection in all religious matters, because there is a very close symbioses between the temporal and the spiritual.

Again, the Chaldeans and princes over whom Daniel was promoted as president, had diligently inspected Daniel’s temporal matters first. They took a look at his taxes, his credit rating, and business deals. They took a long hard look at his mortgage payments, to see if he was paying late, and whether he was in arrears. But try as they might, they could not find anything to accuse him of.

Thus, in desperation, after suffering disappointment after disappointment they turned to his religion, the spiritual aspects of Daniel’s life, to see if there was a chink in the armor somewhere that they might have cause to bring some railing accusation against him. Let’s read:

Daniel 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

5 Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

The same is true of the parable Jesus gave about the stewards who were entrusted with temporal issues first, to see how they would handle those; and only afterward, when The Lord did a thorough inspection on them, did He entrust them with greater matters, for the way one manages temporal matters reflects greatly, and directly on their spiritual state. Let’s read:

Matthew 25: 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Luke 16: 9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Therefore, with the temporal matters under our belt let’s see what should be peculiar about you and me, in spiritual things, for as was stated before, the two are always closely intertwined.

[1] Peculiarity in character.

The Bible speaks of a peculiar character that should be greatly different from what we may often see on display in persons who have not yet accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Several integral aspects of the Christian’s character are clearly outlined in the following passages. Let’s read:

[1] 1st Peter 3: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

The Peculiar people of God are to form the habit of taking the high road whenever conflicts, arguments, and volatile situations arise. Even though humility is not stupidity, yet they are to track a different course in situations where wrongs are done to themselves. It all has to do with them cultivating that peculiarity of character as observed in Christ.

The way to overcome evil is by employing the royal laws and principles of God’s kingdom, which work as a counter current to divisiveness, and riot. After the nation of Israel is finished bombing the daylights out of Hamas, they would have to consider what’s next, because the seed sown by both peoples would bear commensurate fruit in the future, for sure.

After unleashing severe fire power on the Taliban in Afghanistan it was hoped that their doings would be curtailed. But lo and behold they are back in power, and we had to leave in a hurry, with the vivid images of desperate persons, clinging to the military aircraft in the sky, as they took off, indelibly etched into our memory.

And right here at home, as political parties go after each other’s throat, the inevitable result will only be more divisiveness, as can be seen in the turmoil and unsettled state of the nation. Things will never get better, because things cannot get better, if the low road is adopted into our psyche.

That’s because two wrongs do not make a right, and when you fight fire with fire, all you get is more fire. It will never work, because the Tit for Tat ways, and means adopted by the world could only produce the never-ending cycle of hatred, discord or retaliation.

For instance, if God had employed the use of deadly force in destroying satan, soon after he had rebelled in heaven, the other angels would have straightened up, but there would have remained that simmering, undercurrent of fear and animosity that would have certainly sprung up and bore fruit in other uprisings in the future.

On the contrary, when the Syrian king invaded Israel and sought to capture Elisha, the prophet chose the peculiar way of resolving tensions and conflicts, and instead of asking God to send fire, and brimstone on the army, he ordered thousands of M.R.E s, meals ready to eat for the invading soldiers.

And the results are before us so that none need err concerning the effectiveness of employing peculiar principles and royal laws as the ways and means of dissolving, or resolving volatile situations. What’s on display currently across the globe, and in our own backyard, are the natural and the inevitable results of taking the low road.

It’s fighting and more fighting, it’s war and more war as nations, individuals, and governments duke it out in retaliation for wrongs done. Israel is now fighting Hamas, America and Britain are fighting the Houthis and Russia, and Ukraine are going for each other’s jugular with no end in sight.

In the meantime, there is saber rattling between the Chinese and Taiwanese, and North Korea continues to threaten South Koreans, while various factions in Sudan are duking it out, and problems continuing to plague Haiti, Nicaragua, and Ecuador. The low road of Tit for Tat methods just isn’t working. It cannot!

In other words, when compared side by side, God’s ways and means, His principles, His instructions, and the laws which God instructs His peculiar people to adopt, are not only much more superior than tit for tat principles, but are also much more effective in bringing about the desired outcomes of peace and tranquility. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 6: 21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?

22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: would you smite those whom you hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.

23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So, the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

In our day, if Israel were to kindly treat their Hamas captives, by feeding them great food, treating their wounds, providing them with water, and medicines as they need, it’s quite possible, that like the Syrians in the days of Elisha, Hamas will come no more into the land of Israel.

That’s because the good seed of God’s kingdom, the peculiar way of resolving conflicts, the Royal way of treating one’s foes would have been employed, with the peculiar strategy of repaying evil with good used and thus, the inevitable results would surely follow, like clockwork. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

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

[D.A. pp 435] The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force; every individual regards every other as an obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or a steppingstone on which he himself may climb to a higher place.

[2] Peculiarity in work ethic.

Peculiarity in character also includes other aspects than repaying evil with good; it also encompasses one’s work ethic, since the bulk of one’s Christianity is manifested during the week, at the work place, in the home, and in one’s interactions with persons of all stripes. Let’s read:

Romans 12: 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

There is a desire or craving that the peculiar people must be very careful of, that of making a quick buck without earnest effort. In our day, the prospects of winning the lotto has had some trickle down effects on many minds, where individuals hope to get rich overnight, without any hard work and well directed effort.

This is a delusion and a fallacy that must now fully be addressed, for there is a greater chance of being struck by lightning than winning the lotto, especially here in the sunshine state. As every new day dawns with fresh opportunities, let the peculiar people of God be found working diligently with their hands or minds to provide for themselves and their families.

Work is honorable, and even if persons may not be where they want to be, they can always start with whatever is available, legal, and right. Joseph began his work career in prisons, managing dangerous and unruly criminals, and as he was found faithful in that which is least, God moved him up the Totem pole of success, until he became the 2nd highest in Egypt. Let’s read:

Psalms 105: 17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant.

18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron.

19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.

20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of  the people, and let him go free.

21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance.

22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

[Christ’s Object Lessons pp 214] The marked prosperity which attended everything placed under Joseph's care was not the result of a direct miracle; but his industry, care, and energy were crowned with the divine blessing.

 Joseph attributed his success to the favor of God, and even his idolatrous master accepted this as the secret of his unparalleled prosperity. But without steadfast, well-directed effort, however, success could never have been attained.

It is not God’s will that His peculiar people stay at home, twiddling thumbs, or counting sheep, while the days pass by without positive productions. God will grant opportunity, but success will depend to a large degree on those earnest efforts made by His people to do their very best wherever possible.

That is what Jesus did, by setting the example for all who will follow in His footsteps, for after doing His devotions early in the morning, He would set out to work in the carpenter’s shop with Joseph, and from there He would sell those products that were made with hammer and nails.

That’s what peculiar people do, for they are known to being diligent, hard workers in whatsoever line of employment they might find themselves. After their devotions they set about diligently to work everyday to work like hell.

In the process, they battle with elements of earth, wind, and fire, going out to work in blazing sun or in blinding rain and at times, like Paul they have fought with beasts at Ephesus so that when the day comes, it can be said of them, they fight like a lion, they eat like a horse, and they sleep like a baby.

Therefore, when the Sabbath comes around, that peculiar day of the week, that odd day that most in Christendom do not recognize, these peculiar folk are happy to be found at Church, because they have weathered the storms of life, and have survived to enter into God’s haven of rest.

Again, peculiar people should be known for reading the tea leaves correctly, for great changes are on the horizon, which should not catch us off guard. At the recent world Economic Forum, it was disclosed that Artificial Intelligence is scheduled to wipe out up to 40 % of jobs globally, and the layoffs have begun.

And especially with inflation taking a huge bite out of the family finances and with rents and mortgages going through the roof, it behooves every peculiar believer to buckle up their shoes, and work like they never worked before, lest persons sink down into despair and oblivion in a land of opportunity.

The temporal concerns of life are never to usurp the spiritual concerns, such as witnessing, and character building, however, God is very practical and down to earth in His instructions to His peculiar people. That is why we would find the apostle Paul working, and preaching, preaching and working to sustain himself in a noble manner.

In fact, as far as the sacred record goes, there is not one of the twelve Disciples, who were called, who were not gainfully employed. Matthew did his taxes, Peter, James, and John were all fishermen, and Luke tinkered with needles and bandages and even Judas had his own practice as an accountant.

But all of them were working, because work ethic is an integral part of any character building in peculiar people. This is set forth not merely as an option, but as a must, in those who are looking for the return of Christ in the near future. Let’s read:

Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.

2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, why stand you here all the day idle?

7 They say unto him, because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, go you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

Proverbs 6: 6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when will thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travels and thy want as an armed man.

[Christ’s Object Lessons pp 359>360] Wherever we may be Christ bids us take up the duty that presents itself. If it is your work to till the soil, or to engage in any other trade or occupation, make a success of the present duty. Put your mind on what you are doing. In all your work represent Christ. Do as He would do in your place.

Let a living faith run like threads of gold through the performance of even the smallest duties. Then all the daily work will promote Christian growth. But many Christians are waiting for some great work to be brought to them.

 Because they cannot find a place large enough to satisfy their ambition, they fail to perform faithfully the common duties of life. Day by day they let slip opportunities for showing their faithfulness to God. While they are waiting for some great work, life passes away, its purposes unfulfilled, its work unaccomplished.

[3] Peculiarity in destiny.

1st Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Peculiarity in destiny regulates, and has jurisdiction over everything downstream in the lives of peculiar people for it permeates all of their interactions with their fellowmen, it resolves conflicts, it grants hope where there would be only a dark abyss, leading to never land, and it gives us something to live for, and much more to look forward to.

When it came time to argue over real estate, as is so often the case with family members, and siblings, it was a no-brainer to Abraham, to surrender the first choice to Lot, in that which The Lord had promised to Abraham. That’s because a peculiarity in destiny makes it not worth the while to fuss and fight over perishables.

Since the peculiar people of God look beyond that which seen, to that which is eternal, it is not worth the time, the effort or the inevitable bad feelings to destroy relationships over houses and lands, for in a few short years we go to our resting place and leave all material things behind.

 Abraham understood this, and since he was correct in his perspectives, and practice, he deferred to Lot, who at that time was obsessed with the things this world has to offer, and in the process, Lot lost all his material things, his wife, and his family. But with the peculiarity of destiny Abraham cultivated God could safely load him up with riches and material things.

Peculiarity in destiny allows God to safely bless His people, because their affections are not centered in this world, and therefore, material blessings would not pose any existential threat to their well being in the here and now, nor for the great hereafter. They do not have to take matters to judge Judy, in order to resolve their temporal conflicts. This is where some persons stumble, because they become so attached to their material things, to the point where letting go could trigger a family feud, if they had to defer to another materialistic relative. Let’s read:

Genesis 13:7 And there was a strife between the herd-men of Abram's cattle and the herd-men of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

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

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

10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the

plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every- where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as you come unto Zoar.

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

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.

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

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from where they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

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

Peculiarity in destiny also affects our words and our actions, for it sits on the front burner of our minds, and as a result, our conversations with others would generally, and inevitably turn to the blessed hope. It is a fact, that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, and thus, our peculiarity in destiny is to color every word and action.

Soon and very soon, all the things of this world will grow strangely dim. There are troubling signs on the horizon, which disturb even the casual observer and the peculiar people of God who should know what’s coming are to lead the charge in carrying the final, everlasting gospel to a dying world.

No need to bury our heads in the sand anymore, for all of the prophecies pointing to the soon coming of Jesus are being fulfilled currently, even as we speak. Therefore, let the peculiar people, the Royal priest-hood, and the chosen generation, have meaning in our lives for the time is now, and the place is here.

We therefore end with passages of Scripture which should help to keep us all focused, doing all we can, whilst we can, to live soberly, and righteously in this generation, for it is by so doing, that persons would show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Let’s read:

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

                                     God Bless!

What's Peculiar About You? Sabbath afternoon 01/20/2024

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

Before we begin to answer this important question, we must have a clear understanding of the meaning of the word Peculiar. A Royal Priesthood refers us to the fact that those who believe in Christ as Lord and Savior, are adopted into God’s Royal family, and as such, they become ministers of His salvation to the unbelieving world.

A Holy Nation refers to the fact that those who are the Royal Priesthood are to live by the laws and the principles as laid out in the Scriptures. In this way, a synthesis of the word of God would take place on an ongoing basis in such persons, refining, purging and cleansing from all unrighteousness.

A chosen generation means that God was deliberate and intentional in choosing all those who would use their freedom of choice to serve, love and obey Him. Persons are never saved by accident, because God sends out both angels and His people to go looking for those who shall be heirs of salvation. The Bible is specific about this fact. Let’s read:

Hebrews 1: 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

John 15: 16 You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

But when it comes to being a Peculiar People, we’re looking at something very different to that which is considered normal by the secular, unbelieving world and for this reason, we must seek for a clearer and a deeper understanding of what “Peculiar” means. So, here it is:

The Greek word, PERIPOIESES, from which the word peculiar is taken, refers to God’s acquisition of His people, or, individuals who are His possession because of, and through the purchase of Christ, and as such, they are in a special sense His own unique people.

The modern dictionary’s rendering of the very same word is as follows:

Peculiar: Characteristic of only one person, group, or thing: DISTINCTIVE: Different from the usual or normal: SPECIAL, PARTICULAR, CURIOUS, RARE, ABNORMAL, EXCEPTIONAL, EXTRAORDINARY, SINGULAR, PHENOMENAL, UNIQUE, ODD.

Thus, the general gist of the interpretation of that word “Peculiar” is that God’s people who have been purchased with the blood of Christ are His unique possession, and this fact should be reflected in their own persons, on all levels, so that clear distinctions can be easily made, even by the casual observer.

Thus, this begs the question: What’s Peculiar About You? In other words, after we’ve become His chosen people, and a royal priesthood, and a holy nation, is there supposed to be a distinct difference between God’s people, and those who have not believed, and if so, what does that translate into, in real time?

It’s interesting that when God’s peculiar people are asked concerning their peculiarity, many often tend to turn to our peculiar beliefs, and doctrines which are for the most part outside of the mainstream of modern Christian theology.

Now, while this is true, the Bible does not speak of a set of peculiar doctrines as being God’s purchased possession; instead, it refers to real people who are supposed to be distinct and unique as a result of us being God’s own possession.

This distinction between doctrines, and real people significantly raises the bar, because persons could hold a set of unique beliefs only intellectually, and yet those beliefs are not incorporated into a living, breathing experience, by which those unique views are demonstrated in real time. The Lord cautions us against a mere intellectual approach to our unusual beliefs. Let’s read:

Matthew 5: 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:1 Then spoke Jesus to the multitude and to his disciples,

2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

3 All therefore whatever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not you after their works: for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Thus, when the Bible speaks of a peculiar people, it not only encompasses our doctrinal elements, but more so, refers to the living persons, through whom there ought to be a real time manifestation of that Royalty spoken of, and as such, it should inevitably translate into stark differences, and significantly elevated ways of doing things, when compared to average norms.

Therefore, for all practical intents and purposes, the study will deal very specifically with what that word “Peculiar” should translate into, as it pertains, both to the true people of God, and to the observer who, might be contemplating joining God’s unique family, so that they too may become partakers of the same peculiarity the Bible speaks of.

Now, God does not desire His people to be peculiar just for peculiar’s sake. It must always be peculiarity for the better, never for the worse, because the one who is seeking to link up with God’s people must be a beneficiary of the ways, and means adopted from the Bible.

In other words, if a person were to give up on their former way of life, to link up with God’s people, and were to espouse the uniqueness of God’s kingdom, he/ she, in most cases should not come up short, in any aspect of life, because the tenor of the Gospel, and the principles, and laws of God’s kingdom are greatly superior to those espoused by the popular, secular majorities.

The Scriptures are clear, and unequivocal in stating that every law, and instruction pertaining to God’s kingdom would put the believer on a significantly higher plane of existence, when the principles laws and statutes are incorporated into our everyday experiences.

If this were not the case, then persons could point to the Gospel as being malicious, for if one were to surrender their former life for the Scriptural ways of doing things and then become worse off than they were before, then the abundant life Christ spoke of would be a mere figment of the imagination.

That this is absolutely not the case, is made clear in the Bible, for the tenor of the Gospel is to elevate, not to depreciate, to build up, not to tear down, to make better, not to make worse. In other words, at the end of the day, the bottom line of the Gospel is that individuals should absolutely be better off, on every level than they were before. 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.

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

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

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

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

Joshua 1: 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand, or to the left that you may prosper withersoever you go.

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

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, you 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.

[8LTMS LT 44 1893 Par 13] 2 Peter 1:1-11. There is no place in the school of Christ where we graduate. We are to work on the plan of addition and the Lord will work on the plan of multiplication. It is through constant diligence that we will, through the grace of Christ live on the plan of addition making our calling and election sure…

To put it plainly, if after 31 years of following God, I were to be in a worse position than when I was first baptized into God’s Royal family, then I might as well go back to playing music on South beach, for all of the good news of the Gospel would’ve been a farce.

On the contrary, whenever I may come across some of the former musicians I used to play with, I should be to them a living testimony, and real time witness of what the Royalty of God could to for a person like me. In this way they will scratch their heads and say, I want to give it a shot too, since it has made such a huge, undeniable difference in your life.

Therefore, the fact that persons are God’s peculiar people has to translate into a living, breathing, you and me who are to become the embodiment of the principles, laws, statutes, and instructions of God’s kingdom. It is only in this way that we could show forth the praises of Him Who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

The following therefore, are just a few of the areas of concern that we will be looking at, to see how the peculiarity referenced in our first passage ought to be manifested in persons in real time. But before we delve into them, let us just be reminded of the word “Peculiar” and its meaning. Here it is again:

Peculiar: Characteristic of only one person, group, or thing: DISTINCTIVE: Different from the usual or normal: SPECIAL, PARTICULAR, CURIOUS, RARE, ABNORMAL, EXCEPTIONAL, EXTRAORDINARY, SINGULAR, PHENOMENAL, UNIQUE, ODD.

[1] Peculiarity in business and finances.

Like as it is with all other aspects of Christianity, the peculiar people are to demonstrate a peculiarity in doing business, because all transactions, both with believers and unbelievers are to bear the stamp of Royalty, for the Bible says we are a Royal priesthood and the very description should be productive of a vastly superior way of doing business.

In other words, the ways and means, the methods and the strategies utilized by the world should be in a great degree, different or unusual when compared with the way the peculiar people do business.

For instance, when doing business transactions, the world usually adopts what is known as “Net 30”, a system of payment by which the receiver of goods and services has thirty days to pay the full invoice of that which was forwarded up front. This practice is considered standard procedure and has become the norm.

However, even though it’s now accepted as the gold standard in business circles there is a “peculiar” way of paying for goods and services, that is quite out of the mainstream, and yet it is quite superior by any measurement, and if adopted, will in most instances be preferred by merchants and suppliers alike. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 2:4 And command you the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir and they shall be afraid of you: take good heed unto yourselves therefore.

6 You 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.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 424] While the Israelites were the chosen and favored people of God, they must heed the restrictions which He placed upon them. They were directed, in all their intercourse with the Edomites, to beware of doing them injustice. They were to trade with them, buying such supplies as were needed, and promptly paying for all they had received. They were not dependent upon the Edomites, for they had a God rich in resources. In all of their intercourse they should exemplify the principles of the divine law, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Don’t take our word for it, try it if you are a business owner, and see if it would make a difference in the prices you would get from the very same supplier you have been doing business with for many years. The supplier will “ALWAYS” prefer prompt payment instead of a thirty-day lapse, and in many cases, will be willing to offer steep discounts as a result.

Again, there is a Royal way for technicians to do the trade they specialize in. One of the principles that is to be incorporated into the portfolio of the peculiar people is that if a job cannot be done correctly, for financial reasons, in most cases it is best not to take the job, rather than take it and be forced to do sub-standard work.

There is a product called Red Angel in the country, and its companion is White Angel in the country. Both products afford the ways and means of doing a quick fix that may seem as a viable option, especially if the customer is cash strapped to pay to do the work in the correct manner.

As the peculiar people, and as a holy nation and the peculiar people, we may have some difficult lessons to learn and some difficult choices to make. In some instances, we may be torn between showing mercy by doing substandard work, or conversely sticking to the Royal way of doing things.

The question is whether or not, in some instances it is warranted to do substandard work because of the financial constraints, or whether it is God’s will that everything we do, be able to pass the smell test of heaven. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither you go.

[The Desire of Ages pp 72] As Jesus worked in childhood and youth, mind and body were developed. He did not use His physical powers recklessly, but in such a way as to keep them in health, that He might do the best work in every line.

He was not willing to be defective, even in the handling of tools. He was perfect as a workman, as He was perfect in character. By His own example He taught that it is our duty to be industrious, that our work should be performed with exactness and thoroughness, and that such labor is honorable.

Therefore, some may find it necessary to throw out all their angels, both red and white, if peculiarity is to characterize whatever we do. The genius of our peculiar ways and means becomes apparent when they are incorporated into our everyday experience.

And even if in times past some might have buckled under pressure to go with plan “B”, it is God’s will that we make every needed change in perspective and practice, where warranted. In other words, the peculiarity of God’s kingdom must be manifested in a real time application of His laws and principles.

[2] Peculiarity in dress.

There is also to be peculiarity in dress and outward adornment, in harmony with the instructions given in the Bible. There was a time in days of yore, when the chosen people of God could be distinguished by the way they presented themselves.

But nowadays, the lines have become very blurred, in so much that it can be said in many instances that there is no difference, or uniqueness to be seen. If persons are governed and driven by what the world deems the latest, without a regard to the Scriptural instructions, then there won’t be any recognizable distinctions between the believer and the secular.

When going shopping or when deciding on anything for that matter, the glory of God, and the instruction He has given on the issues in question, should be at the front and center of our decisions and choices, so that at the end of the day, there will be a higher and nobler standard laid down when observed. Let’s read:

1st John 2: 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides forever.

The world glorifies and peddles nakedness exposure and bling, while the word of God instructs decorum, decency, neatness, and humility. Therefore, in every aspect of outward adornment, let God’s instructions reign supreme and there will not fail to be very stark differences between the world and God’s peculiar people.

[3] Peculiarity in diets and foods.

Daniel 1:3 And the king spoke unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

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

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

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

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

11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

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

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

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

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

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

Question: Did God have to work a miracle in Daniel and his companions, for their faces to appear fairer and healthier than the others within the given ten days?

If God had to work a miracle, then God would be cheating, because the food Daniel and his friends requested, would, in and of itself be inferior, and as such, would put them at a disadvantage, and thus, causing God to pick up the slack through a miracle.

In addition to this, all the other students under the care of the cook didn’t have the benefit of miracles, and therefore, if The Lord were to secretly beef up the faces of His servants, that would constitute an unfair advantage over those who subscribed to the king’s food and drink.

When the issue of diet and food, as specified in our health message, is subjected to the closest scrutiny, it should be able to stand up on its own two feet without any direct miracle from God, for if He has to backstop the diet He gave to us with supernatural interventions, then, the rational conclusion is that, without miracles, the diet would fall flat on its face.

This in turn would call into question God’s wisdom and His intentions, if what He instructs us to eat has to be continually supported by a miracle. In other words, the peculiar diet of the peculiar people must have legs of its own, for either it is inherently good, or it’s not.

God always gives to the human family the very best and this is made manifest when the raw facts in the matter are examined carefully. There were giants in the land of Canaan, in so much that the children of Israel got scared of their immense size. Therefore, we must ask a simple, logical question: “What were they eating” to support such massive bodies on an ongoing basis. Let the word of God speak for itself. Let’s read:

Numbers 13:17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:

18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were.

23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it between two of them upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

31 But the men that went up with him (Caleb) said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Unlike Daniel and his companions, the sons of Anak did not fear The Lord, and thus, we have to rule out any miraculous intervention, as far as diet and food is concerned. The raw facts in the matter point to a greatly superior diet, as was originally given in the garden of Eden, and which, when adopted by the peculiar people would speak for itself. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 378] God brought the Israelites from Egypt, that He might establish them in the land of Canaan, a pure, holy, and happy people. In the accomplishment of this object, He subjected them to a course of discipline, both for their own good and for the good of their posterity.

Had they been willing to deny appetite, in obedience to His wise restrictions, disease and feebleness would have been unknown among them. Their descendants would have possessed both physical and mental strength. They would have had clear perceptions of truth and duty, keen discrimination, and sound judgment.

In our day, we have been given gold, diamonds and pearls in the knowledge that God has caused to be shed upon our pathway, and it behooves everyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, to be the very best that they can be, by adopting, and practicing the Royal way of doing things.

Doing so will often be found to be going against our natural grain, but if we were to persist through our freedom of choice coupled together with the power and presence of the Holy Ghost, we can become the specimens of God’s grace that He intends us to be. We therefore end with passages of scripture which will keep this goal ever before our faces. Let’s read:

Malachi 3:2 But who will abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap.

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

18 Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.

                                    God Bless!

In The Beginning- God. Sabbath afternoon 01/13/2024

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.

The Scripture does not, and has never attempted to prove God. It introduces Him as One beyond proof, and does not say where He came from, where He is going or what He is made of, nor does the Scripture subscribe to all of the other ways and means mortal men, and science as we know it, may try to go about proving a theory, or the existence of something in a laboratory.

Evolution is gobbled up by the masses of people and in doing so, the mind is shrunk quite severely, as per its ability to grasp, and understand greater, unseen realities. Evolution is a theory based on limitations, and wherever it is adopted as settled science, folks will inevitably be subject to the restrictions it would impose.

For instance, evolution declares that you must have raw material for things to be derived, but creation is quite the opposite, declaring that God doesn’t need any raw material, in order to produce animate and inanimate things. Thus, from the get go, evolution and creation part ways as to their understanding of the origin of species.

Persons who go about trying to prove God, usually end up in one out of two situations: They either end up believing, relinquishing all their efforts at proving God, or they utterly reject the sacred utterances of the Bible, because He cannot be figured out. In fact, if persons were to figure out God, God will cease to be God.

Science as we know it generally rejects the things it cannot prove, and for this reason, the Scripture says unequivocally, that whoever desires to come to God “MUST” believe. There isn’t any other way in which a person can come to Him. Faith is the only means by which mortals can take hold of unseen realities.

Thus, in the introduction to the Scriptures, as given in Genesis, we find it very brief, and straight cut so as to avoid any suppositions or assumptions mortal man may try to interject. Evolution is an unfounded theory, but Creation, as given in the book of Genesis is a statement of fact.

In the beginning God did create the heaven and the earth, and that statement of fact, together with the other evidences that are given in the Scriptures, in nature, and in the fulfillment of prophecy are more than enough to furnish mortals with much verifiable information, so as to rationally conclude that there must be a God somewhere.

The Bible furnishes sufficient evidences to appeal to anyone’s intelligence, so that a sincere person, who would evaluate things objectively, will come to the correct conclusion that there has to be a God, who made these things. The created works of God speak eloquently to everyone about the intelligence, and wisdom behind the things we see. Let’s read:

Psalms 19: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shews his handywork.

2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shews knowledge.

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

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

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

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Isaiah 40: 25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

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

The things God created are too intricate, complex, and mind-boggling for anyone to conclude that they came about by accident. For example, if the human brain were to be used to its full capacity, it would immediately, and permanently shut down any need for artificial intelligence, rendering that technology not only irrelevant and obsolete, but also absolutely unnecessary.

The ability to process billions of bytes of information is located in the human brain, so that Apple watches and Google Gizmos would pale in comparison with what the human brain is capable of. And yet it was made from the dust of the earth that we walk upon.

After Adam was created, God took him on a test run to demonstrate the extent of, and the capabilities of his intellectual power. And as God brought each animal before him, which he had never seen before, Adam gave them the correct name, that God had in mind.

And, as of now persons barely scratch the surface of what they are capable of. According to the Bible, the person whose mental capability is being expanded through faith in God, could do almost anything. This includes but is not limited to, dissolving many of the challenges, hurdles, and problems incidental to our everyday experience. Let’s read:

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

20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

When by faith we believe, and understand that God created the heaven, and the earth, that will set the stage for the God-factor to be incorporated into our everyday experiences, and whenever and wherever this is the case, life not only has more meaning, but it opens the door to limitless possibilities that aren’t available to the person who refuses to believe.

Therefore, we are not going to dwell on any effort at proving God; instead, we will examine how the God factor is synthesized in the lives of the persons who choose to believe, and by extension, we invite every person to incorporate the first verse in the scripture into their daily living: In The Beginning-God.

A lot of noise and fanfare was made when the Brits unveiled the Concorde, taking commercial air travel to an unprecedented new level at that time. The jet utilized four Olympus engines, each one capable of producing 36,000 horsepower, for a total of 144,000 horses. It then flew from New York to London in just under three hours, effectively shaving off about five hours of the travel time normally taken by a conventional aircraft.

But this accomplishment, huge though it be pales in comparison, with the time it took Jesus to travel from earth to heaven, which He did in a single day, without any pollution, and without any noise. According to NASA, the extent of our observable galaxy is about 100,000 light years across, and since light travels at 186,282 miles per second we would be looking at a very long time to cover a fraction of that distance.

But Jesus went much further and faster than that in less than a day, and returned safely to earth in one piece. And since the Bible documents that fact, it calls into question man’s understanding of certain aspects of science as it pertains to travel.

NASA says unequivocally that “nothing travels faster than light”, but since the sacred record is true, it will mean that Christ travels much faster than light, for heaven is beyond the most distant known galaxy, of which the estimate number already observed is no less than two trillion.

Therefore, the so-called statement of fact employed by the sciences of the day, comes up short, when it declares that nothing can travel faster than light. In the Bible, the place where God lives is described as the “Third heaven” meaning that it is located much further than any light year measurement currently in use.

In other words, light travels 671 million miles in one hour, and when multiplied by a 24-hour period, you are looking at several billion miles. So, just for light to cross the observable galaxies science knows of would of necessity include many trillions of travel miles.

Therefore, for Christ to have made the journey from earth to heaven and back in less than a day, it would mean that Jesus travels millions of times the speed of light, and He does so without any space suit, and any of the protective measures, we earthlings must use.

After Christ came from the tomb, He told Mary that He had to make a trip to heaven and back and as He lifted off from earth, there was only silence, not any sonic boom that disturbs animals on farms. Nor was there any use of fossil fuels to get Him to and from. In fact, The Lord demonstrated both the superior wisdom of God and the grave inferiority of our ways and means through travel. Let’s read:

John 20: 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

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

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

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

Acts 1: 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.

Therefore, science and evolution, as taught in the schools of the day, severely limit our understanding of things, and distorts realities that would otherwise put us on a much higher plane of knowledge.

That opening phrase in Scripture “In the beginning-God”, sets the stage for a greatly superior level of wisdom which, to this day, remains mostly unknown to persons who just cannot see beyond science as we know it.

Frigate birds have been given the ability by God to sleep while flying, something that is called a power nap, so that they could stay in the air for weeks at a time. Again, Chinstrap penguins do microsleeps, up to 10,000 times a day in short second intervals. And they also sleep while in the water too.

Loggerhead turtles have been documented to travel up to 12,000 kilometers back to their original nests, and they do this without any GPS, compass, or any of the many navigational gizmos we, as humans will need to make such a journey. In fact, some of us cannot even go downtown Miami without a GPS, let alone, going on a trip across the deep ocean for many thousands of nautical miles.

Hence the reason why the Bible correctly states that the wisdom of this world essentially amounts to the foolishness Paul speaks of when compared with that intelligence and wisdom manifested by our Creator.

It is true that men are given the wisdom by God to produce useful inventions but these inventions are of a much lower quality, and capability than given to celestial beings who have never fallen. For instance, all angels, both good and evil, have been given the ability to impersonate all life forms which are lower than themselves.

And they do so with marvelous distinctness so that the human agent cannot, and we emphasize cannot, of themselves figure out what’s going on, whenever such impersonation takes place. This fact is evident from several passages and from the prophet of God, who has alerted us of their capabilities. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die.

5 For God doth know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

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

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

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

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

Genesis 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

1st Samuel 28: 15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore, I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore, then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

[The Great Controversy pp 551>552] The fallen angels who do his bidding appear as messengers from the spirit world. While professing to bring the living into communication with the dead, the prince of evil exercises his bewitching influence upon their minds. He has power to bring before men the appearance of their departed friends. The counterfeit is perfect; the familiar look, the words, the tone, are reproduced with marvelous distinctness.

In other words, we will be living, and dwelling on a considerably lower plane, if we become enraptured with the advances made in science, if God is left out of the picture, for whatever man may invent, that is good, the knowledge can be traced right back to the opening phrase in the Bible: “In the Beginning-God.

Hence the reason why every praise or credit for any worthwhile accomplishment, belongs to God alone, and not to mortal man. The God-factor, whenever it is incorporated into a person’s understanding, and perspective, clears the way for praise to be directed to where it belongs, to God.

Therefore, persons who might become fascinated with the inventions of man, and those who would dwell with admiration and wonder on the so-called capabilities of Artificial Intelligence, will often do to themselves, great harm, if they are not awed, and humbled by the work of the Infinite God. Let’s read:

Isaiah 40: 28 Have you not known? Have you 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.

1st Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

20 And again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

21 Therefore let no man glory in men.

[C.O.L. pp 41] Here too, is the great cause of mental weakness and inefficiency. In turning from God's word to feed on the writings of uninspired men, the mind becomes dwarfed and cheapened. It is not brought into contact with the deep, broad principles of eternal truth. The understanding adapts itself to the comprehension of the things with which it is familiar, and in this devotion to finite things it is weakened, its power is contracted, and after a time it becomes unable to expand. All this is false education.

The wisdom of God often confounds finite minds to the point where it becomes futile to the unbeliever to understand the things He has done through His creative power. In stark contrast are individuals who believe in Him, for it is by us believing first, that our understanding becomes more enlightened. Let’s read:

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

Thus, through faith in the Living and written word of God, things that were once blurry become plain and simpler to grasp, so that creation is a no-brainer, for it takes less faith to believe God created the earth, than it does to believe that the things that are seen came about by accident.

After God finished His creative work He gave to man the memorial that was to ever keep in view the fact that all things were made by Him and whenever and wherever persons acknowledge this memorial, their understanding and outlook on life would be greatly changed for the better, since the God-factor makes all the difference. Let’s read:

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

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

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.

The keeping of the seventh day Sabbath has much more to it than merely resting on the day God has ordained for that purpose. The memorial has to do with us incorporating the God-factor into everyday experiences, so that our perspectives and concepts would be guided by that overarching phrase: In The Beginning-God.

In the beginning-God therefore means that our lives have purpose and meaning, so that suicide is not an option. In the beginning-God means that current interpretation of events by the secular world would differ greatly from those who believe God created the earth, for since He created it, He has jurisdiction over all that takes place on our planet.

In the beginning-God, means that we do not have to lose any sleep over the coming election, since God is the one who sets up kings, and takes them down at His pleasure.

In the beginning-God means that He who formed the earth could accurately predict how and when it will all end, and as such, those who incorporate that 1st phrase of the Bible into their thoughts, decisions, and considerations, will be informed, and hopefully ready for what’s coming next.

This year, 2024, is already shaping up to be a year of several unprecedented events, even as earth’s final conflict, which is predicted to take place looms into view. Therefore, instead of dwelling in the here and now, instead of becoming overwhelmed, distracted, or perturbed by developments, let us keep that 1st phrase ever in view: In the Beginning-God.

It is the will of God that those who are preparing for His soon coming, become intelligent concerning His purposes as revealed in the Scriptures, and thus, it’s imperative that the deep study of His word, as well as a deep personal relationship with Christ, be now sought after as treasure.

In closing, if we choose to dwell on sacred writ, and if we would take some time to commune with God and nature, we will discover that the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. We therefore end with a few passages of scripture that encourage us to do just that. We read:

Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

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

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

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

                                    God Bless!

The Cost Of Forgiveness. Sabbath afternoon 01/06/2024

Isaiah 53: 4 Surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

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

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

Forgive Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster: To forgive is to stop feeling resentment against (an offender) or to give up resentment of or claim to requital for (an insult) or grant relief from payment of (a debt).

In seeking to understand more thoroughly the nuts and bolts of forgiveness, there are some basic things which we must grasp. When the Bible speaks of God granting us grace, and mercy, full, and free, it is free to us, but it costs God a whole lot, because the very concept behind forgiveness is the fact that someone has to pay for it.

In our first passages we see Jesus, who took it upon Himself to voluntarily pay the debt we owed, but in doing so, it cost Him His life, and a whole lot of pain, heartaches, suffering, and shame. Yet, He followed through with His promise to pay our debt, thereby setting us free from the inevitable consequence of sin.

So yes, forgiveness, as it comes to persons from God through Christ is God’s free gift but we should never forget that it had costs associated with it, so that it could be materialized. We are going to amplify this concept, since some might be considering forgiving an individual without having to pay in some form or fashion.

Basically, in a nutshell, not happening, for whenever someone is forgiven, the forgiver takes a hit, either financially, emotionally, socially, mentally, verbally, or even physically, but someway somehow, there is an impact to the forgiver. This fact we must now be permanently reconciled to.

Over the holidays, several gifts were exchanged by friends and families, but all the items had to be paid for at Macy’s, Bloomingdales, or Nordstrom, as the case might be. So, the gifts were free to those who received them, but the individuals who made the purchase had to pay.

Similarly, if we are to forgive someone full and free as God does, we must be prepared to pay, or take a hit, in some form or fashion so that forgiveness can be offered, as it was through the person of Christ.

God did not leave forgiveness up to mere feelings as many of us do, but instead was strategic, deliberate, and intentional in making it available. The reason for this is that if persons were to leave forgiveness up to mere feelings, there will often be times when we do not feel to forgive. In fact, in most instances, feeling to forgive goes quite contrary to our natural grain.

So, the fundamental understanding of forgiveness is that it will cost, some more, some less. Therefore, as the Lord contemplated the huge costs of forgiveness to billions, upon billions of people, it was necessary to create a sort of banking account as it were, so He could store much forgiveness for whenever we may need it.

This account never runs dry because it is centered in Christ, who went over, and beyond to make certain that any amount of forgiveness could be readily and easily deployed to any, and everyone who needs it. This concept of storing forgiveness for whoever may need it, can be found in the book of Exodus, where God says that he “Keeps” mercy for thousands. Let’s read:

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

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

And so said, so done, for as the sanctuary system of sacrificial offerings was instituted, God then made provision so that a constant, and a readily available supply of sheep, lambs, goats, and bullocks was on tap, for whenever and wherever forgiveness would be needed. This is the concept of God creating the “Storehouse” or bank account of forgiveness. Let’s read:

Hebrews 9:2 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid roundabout with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

5 And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the Mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh.

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

God did not wait for the last minute, when sinners would need forgiveness, to then start thinking about how He would pay, but instead furnished a constant supply, so that persons could approach His throne of grace at any given time, whether morning, noon, or night very similar to how God still offers forgiveness.

As sinners, in need of God’s grace, and forgiveness, we could approach His throne of mercy during the heat of the day, or in the wee hours of the morning, or even in the dead of night when most should be sleeping. It matters not, the time, the place, or the situation, there is a storehouse of forgiveness that God can draw on at any given time. Let’s read:

Psalms 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keeps thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Thus, just to reiterate before we proceed, God made provision for forgiveness, so that it could be drawn    upon wherever, and whenever it is requested, and needed. That is a critically important concept for us to grasp as we move forward.

There is a parable given by Christ, which deals with forgiveness specifically, as He responded to Peter’s questions of how often should he forgive. Peter at that time probably thought of himself as being quite generous to suggest seven times.

But to Peter’s surprise, Jesus significantly raised the threshold, by saying seventy times seven. Then, to drive home the point even further, Jesus gets even more specific, by saying that forgiveness might need to be administered to the same person seven times in a single day, which speaks to a forgiving attitude, not to a mere number of times to offer pardon.

And since seven is a number that is representative of perfection, it means that we should be ready and willing to forgive as much as is necessary. Therefore, for all intents and purposes, this kind of forgiveness would require an account, so that just like with God, forgiveness could be drawn upon as needed. Let’s read:

Luke 17: 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

4 And if he trespasses against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Seven times in a single day will obviously bring into question the offender’s sincerity, for no one likes to be taken for granted, or worse yet, abused for their kindness and long-suffering, especially if it seems as if the offender is doing it willfully, or just doing it for spite.

Thus, in order to bring some clarity to the matter in question, Jesus spoke the following parable, which we will use as our springboard to better understand the nature of forgiveness, and issues pertaining to indebtedness. And hopefully, it would help us grasp, the extent to which God forgives us and by example, how we too should also forgive others. Let’s read:

Matthew 18: 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29 And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

When the Bible says that this particular servant was called to account, it refers to an audit of sorts where the King sought to balance out the books as it were. But for some unknown reason, the servant came up short, very short, and apparently the missing money was such an enormous sum, that it would warrant the sale of the man, his wife, and his children.

Before we rush to any conclusions, and write off the unforgiving servant in the parable, we will need to understand a few things about him. And, as we dig deeper, we would see why in certain situations, we ourselves find it hard to forgive, especially when it is money that is involved, as it was in the parable.

We will make a few observations from the parable, and then we will see why it is necessary for persons to follow God’s lead when dealing with the sensitive issue of forgiveness.

[1] In the parable the forgiveness is centered around monetary issues which too often cause bad blood or estrangement between families, friends, coworkers, church members, relatives, and in laws. And in some instances, the situations could get so bad, that it is never resolved, till debt do us part. Let’s read:

Matthew 18: 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

Ten thousand talents would be the equivalent of $142,436,571.48 U.S. Dollars; just about what Rudy Giuliani owes to those election workers in Georgia. That’s a whole lot of debt to be in, and even though the parable does not say what the money had been misappropriated for, it does say that it had become extremely difficult, and nearly impossible, for that servant in the parable to repay.

After the holidays, there often comes a time of very sobering reckoning for persons, who, with the very best of intentions, went overboard in spending. And as the new year turns, and they begin to crunch the numbers some may realize that they got in way over their heads, and will be saddled with debt for a very long time.

The use of credit cards should be monitored closely, and in some cases, must be held in by bit and bridle, lest like the servant in the parable, persons may find themselves owing more than they could repay. It is not the will of Christ, that God’s people be straddled with a burden of heavy debt to the point that it may force persons into insolvency.

If and when this is the case, God is dishonored, for it can cast a dark shadow over His kingdom within the sphere of one’s influence, thus causing onlookers to conclude that Christianity can place the Christian at a disadvantage.

The people God must have something special about them, which would attract, and not dissuade others as per the viability and nobility of God’s kingdom. In this way the secular observer will be led to conclude that it is a good thing to follow Jesus, as manifested in the lives of the you and me, as the principles and laws of God are lived out in real time. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

Especially, with the current interest rates on credit cards hovering around 23%, individuals and families should be wary of racking up debt, for doing so can put persons in a very unfortunate situation, where lenders might have to go after them, sometimes via litigation. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 15: 5 Only if you carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.

6 For the Lord thy God blesses thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.

Wherever we may have fallen short on the issues of outstanding debts, let’s ask God for wisdom to make a turnaround, and when He hears, and answers your earnest prayers in these matters, let us try our very best to turn a new page, so that persons could stand tall in the freedom that the gospel affords.

[2] The unforgiving servant in the parable seems to have had good intentions, for unlike some others he actually promised to pay back his just dues. In other words, he did not seek to shirk his responsibility by trying to avoid his lender. Let’s read:

Matthew 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him saying Lord, have patience with me and I will pay thee all.

Wherever possible, persons, and saints, who have racked up debt, either inadvertently, or by splurging wantonly, should try their very best to reconcile the debt, because avoiding or shunning one’s just dues, brings great dishonor to the kingdom of God, and in some cases can actually cause the casual observer to brand the followers of Jesus as untrustworthy.

The Bible refers to the followers of Jesus as a Royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people, so if the “peculiar” people are found riddled with debt that is irreconcilable, it would raise the question in the mind of the worldling as to what is so peculiar about them.

Legal vehicles that are available in the courts of the land for mitigating debt, such as persons declaring bankruptcy, should be avoided wherever possible, for doing so as a Christian, can cause the worldling to conclude that the followers of Jesus are not that great at managing temporal matters. Let’s read:

Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

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

[3] It was the compassion of the King that led him to forgive the entire debt, not that the servant in the parable deserved the forgiveness. Let’s read:

Matthew 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

There are times when folks who need to be forgiven are not worthy. In fact, none of us is worthy, thus, it must be compassion that drives us to forgive, for if we were to wait until offenders are worthy, we will never forgive.

The Lord of that servant in the parable, was moved by compassion, and, in tender pity, he forgave the entire debt. But we must follow the parable closely, because even though the king felt pity for the one in question, he could only have forgiven the servant if he could afford to.

In other words, after forgiving the servant of almost 150 million, the king did not go broke, because it is apparent that he had sufficient funds put aside to forgive the large debt, and yet, remain solvent. You just do not forgive 150 million, without having back- up to both fund the forgiveness, and yet remain in a liquid state.

Here is where many Christians, some with the best of intentions, often hit a bump in the road, for even if like the king in the parable, they might feel some compassion towards the debtor, they just can’t fund the forgiveness, and yet remain solvent.

Some persons run very tight margins, for one reason or another, and therefore, when any money is owed to us, we may not be able to fund forgiveness, since the funds owed are depended on to pay for the car note, the mortgage, or even groceries. We may feel compassion, and some may actually be yearning to forgive but because some are financially stretched to the limit, it becomes very difficult to let the borrower go free, for fear of going into the red because of unpaid debts to ourselves.

It is not the will of God, that His people should run such very tight margins, wherever possible, so that if forgiving someone of a debt that is owed becomes necessary, persons simply cannot afford to forgive. In fact, it is quite possible that this was one of the reasons why the servant found it necessary to choke the man who owed him 100 pence, for he had not the wherewithal to fund forgiveness. This leads us to our fourth observation:

[4] The forgiven servant goes out and he chokes his fellowman who only owes him 100 pence. We read:

Matthew 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him one hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, pay me what you owe.

Because of the tight margins the servant ran, he in desperation now tries to scrape up every penny he is owed, and thus, he is not in a position financially to fund any forgiveness. Therefore, he goes after his borrower with a baseball bat, and takes him by the throat, and throws him in jail, a process that would inevitably include litigation in the courts of the land.

Some Christians in our day, who are owed by others might not be so graphic, as to physically choke the borrower, as the servant did, but there are subtler ways in which the chokehold might be applied.

Those forever cell phone calls, in the middle of the night, the forever E mails and text messages that are never returned, and in a few cases, the stalking of the borrower at church, at work, and at their home when they are having dinner, all point to a form of chokehold placed upon the necks of the ones who owe.

Some persons may have wondered why the servant went out and choked the man who owed only 100 pence, for he appears to be quite desperate, in his attempts to collect every last cent that he is owed.

We believe we may have finally figured it out. It is quite possible he was trying to scrape up every last dime, so he could pay back the king who he owed formally. If this is the case then it would mean that he did not believe that he was really forgiven. When God in His mercy forgives us, we are not to think that we must do some sort of penance to repay Him for His kind deeds to us.

It seems as if the concept of penance has more curb appeal than accepting God’s free gift of forgiveness. Someway, somehow, persons may feel obligated to do something, in exchange for forgiveness, and if it were the case that salvation was a thing that money could buy, millions more would probably sign on.

When the father forgave the prodigal son, he felt he was obligated to work to pay back the father but the father did not even reply to his son’s overtures, for forgiveness is never to be based on what one can or cannot pay back. In fact, the elder brother in that parable, suffered from the very same syndrome as the prodigal son, for they both believed that the father’s goodness to them was predicated on what they did or didn’t do. Let’s read:

Luke 15: 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

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

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.

Salvation and forgiveness from God are full and free and they come with no strings attached, except the free service of love, through our freedom of choice. When in such a situation that may warrant forgiving someone, and we may experience difficulty in doing so, it would be well for us to contemplate the great debt God has forgiven us, and continues to forgive us, even to this day.

Like The Lord whom we serve, forgiving others is not to be a one-time event, or something that is left up to feeling. Like God, we should have a constant, and readily available supply of sheep, goats and bullocks for whenever and whoever may need forgiveness at any given time, place, or situation.

In other words, forgiveness is an attitude that ought to be carefully cultivated, to the point where we are expecting to forgive someone every day. The reason why God set up a forgiveness account in Christ, and throughout the entire sanctuary system, is because He expects to forgive persons, on an ongoing basis. Let’s read:

Psalms 103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

10 He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor has He rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him.

And even though we are never to abuse His grace, nor take it for granted, yet the fact is that we will all need forgiveness on an ongoing basis and therefore, if God expects to forgive us repeatedly, we who are His disciples should cultivate that same perspective.

In this way forgiveness would not be something that we will have to think long and hard about. It will be something that is the natural outflowing of love and mercy that was first ministered unto us through the person of Christ. In other words, by beholding what Jesus has done, and continues to do for the you and me, forgiveness can, and will become our default setting.

Let us therefore consider what we do, what we say, and how we react to debtors and let us by the grace of God establish in our persons a storehouse of that grace and mercy, as God once instituted. Thus, we’ll end with two passages of scripture that should help us to turn a new page in understanding, and in the administration of the cost of forgiveness. 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 you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

                                   God Bless!

A Day Of New Beginnings. Sabbath afternoon 12/30/2023

John 5: 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, will you be made whole?

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another person steps down before me.

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.

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

In the above passages we discover a man who was granted a day of new beginnings in life, by Jesus. As Jesus was passing by, he observed the man’s plight, and in His characteristic nature of love, offered the man, what he ardently desired in his innermost soul which was a fresh start in life, by being healed.

Even though it is true that persons can serve God in almost any physical condition, the fact is that when folks are not doing too well physically, it puts a sort of damper on one’s overall outlook, because being incapacitated as this man was, meant that certain unavoidable restrictions were placed upon him as a result.

One of the consequent byproducts of being in the condition of paralysis as he was, is that other folks could get to the front of the line before him, simply because they are physically able to. In our day there are many facilities available for physically disabled persons, so that such situations can be mitigated.

Yet, because of the sheer number of folks who were waiting for the opportune moment to get the first shot at the water when it moved it meant that there would be a rush, and trampling of sorts, such as the stampede we often see at Walmart and Brands mart on Black Friday.

His plight was therefore expressed in his mournful words of effort and defeat, effort and defeat, until in utter discouragement he had virtually given up on trying, as some persons in our day have. Let’s read:

John 5:7 The impotent man answered him Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another person steps down before me.

Thus, the man saw opportunity within reach, but he just couldn’t access it on account of his infirmity so, what Jesus offered him was a bridge over troubled waters, so that he could avoid the confusion at the front of the line and be healed.

There are many folks in our day who are struggling with some persistent physical issue, that just won’t go away, and like the man in the narrative, some of us could use a fresh start in life. We are reminded in the passages, that it is because of God’s goodness why such opportunities are granted.

There are times when persons may not ask God for healing, and yet, because of His goodness He might offer it. We are to be thankful in all situations, and especially in those cases where Jesus may do us a good turn, by reversing some physical misfortune.

That being said, there are four main takeaways in the narrative we would do well to ponder, even as we might be yearning in our own souls for a new lease on life. Here they are:

[1] The root cause of the man’s infirmity.

This first point has to do with the root cause of the man’s infirmity, which, according to the story, seems to be the result of a wrong course of action on his part. Let’s read:

John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Although sickness, diseases, and infirmities are not always the result of wrongdoing, or an ill-advised course of action, yet, it is always good to check and see whether there may be any contributing factors on our part, and if there are, all necessary changes are to be made, wherever possible.

Health and well being do not come by accident, but are in most cases, the result of well-directed efforts on our part, to live in harmony with the principles, and laws of health God has given for our own good. Healthful living can be pretty evasive if diligence and consistency are not brought into the equation.

And thus, in cooperation with heavenly agencies the you and me are to stake out a course of action that will best facilitate the preferred outcome. Planning, as well as consistent execution are to be brought to bear in any effort, for this is how success is granted in most cases. Let’s read:

Exodus 15: 26 If thou will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that heals thee.

God is more practical and down to earth in giving us instructions than many people realize and therefore we are not to expect Him to work a miracle where it may be avoided. Supernatural power engaged in any healing via miracles is to be viewed as the last resort and not the first resource, as too many faith healers in our day have brainwashed persons into believing.

Again, in addressing the issue of Root cause, persons are to understand that in the overwhelming majority of cases, modern pharmaceuticals do not address the root causes. Instead, they will generally go for the low hanging fruit of treating symptoms.

For instance, Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound do not address the root causes, and therefore, persons are liable to fall back into a relapse whenever those drugs are halted. In addition to being prohibitively expensive to maintain, they do nothing to address the lifestyle changes that are necessary.

In fact, if persons decide to go that route they would be well advised to incorporate the pertinent lifestyle changes that will facilitate long-term success, since the goal should be to eventually ween oneself off of the drugs, lest persons become addicted, or hooked for life.

We have not seen or heard or read anywhere in the Bible where it is God’s will that His people should be inextricably tethered to any drug for life if and when such a situation can be avoided. Let thorough, and exhaustive investigation be made as to root cause in our varying situations and God would certainly bless any diligent effort at a turnaround, because this is His will. Let’s read:

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

This leads us to our second takeaway from the story of the man with his infirmity:

[2] Personal effort in cooperation with God is needed. Let’s read:

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.

It is true that Christ’s miraculous power was going to be employed, but the man was required to do all that he could do, by cooperating with God. This is one of the critically important points of learning and understanding how God works.

The Lord does not propose to do for us what we can do for ourselves, for this will foster complacency, or presumption. Instead, God desires that folks engage their utmost abilities and efforts, in tandem with His power, and thus, permanent success can and will be achieved, in most cases.

This concept can be derived from several instances that are recorded in Scripture and it’s God’s will that We would learn the nuts and bolts of a living faith in Him, whilst we can. For instance, when it came time to resurrect Lazarus the witnesses were not to stand idly by while Jesus did every single thing, including things that they could do. Let’s read:

John 11: 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

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

Jesus is going to pray, and He is scheduled to use His supernatural power in this instance but that doesn’t mean that the human agencies who are present are to be mere spectators. All that they can do must be done, because God’s miraculous power is generally engaged at the point where the human agents have done all that they can possibly do.

This does not only apply to the physical realm, for it applies equally to the spiritual realm as well. If, for some reason one has and addiction to the one-eyed monster, God does not propose to come down from heaven to personally switch off your remote control. The human agent will have to do this, and then, the prayer for deliverance from the addiction will have weight with God. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 535] “Take ye away the stone.” Christ could have commanded the stone to remove, and it would have obeyed His voice. He could have bidden the angels who were close by His side to do this.

At His bidding, invisible hands would have removed the stone. But it was to be taken away by human hands. Thus, Christ would show that humanity is to co-operate with divinity. What human power can do divine power is not summoned to do. God does not dispense with man's aid. He strengthens him, co-operating with him as he uses the powers and capabilities given him.

Here it is again, because Christ’s miracle could have included setting the captive free from the shackles with which he was bound. But the human agents in the narrative could do this, and therefore, miracles are only engaged where absolutely needed. This is something that the human agent must never ever lose sight of. Let’s read:

John 11: 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that You hear me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

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

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

Therefore, when Jesus said to the man who had the infirmity for thirty-eight years “Take up thy bed and walk”, that instruction is to be interpreted as being pertinent to the you and me in the here and now, in whatsoever predicament we may find ourselves.

In other words, the correct perspectives on the use of miraculous power by God, inevitably, will include us doing the very best that we can do, and leaving no stone unturned, wherever applicable.

The Lord helps those who help themselves, as well as persons who cannot help themselves, but if we can, we must. This leads us to our third takeaway in the narrative:

[3] After Jesus heals persons, they should be found at church. Let’s read:

John 5:14 Afterward Jesus finds him in the temple….

The purpose of God in healing any person, is never only to heal the body, but rather to heal both soul, and body. Salvation is a holistic work which involves the entire person, and therefore, a healthy sinner is no more good to God than an atheist who may have infirmities.

In fact, a very sick saint is of far more value in God’s sight than a healthy rebellious individual who wants nothing to do with God, and for this reason, every time God engages His miraculous power to heal the body, the end purpose thereof is always to heal the soul, if or wherever such healing may be warranted.

The man with the infirmity in this instance headed straight to church, even though he knew not that it was The Savior of the world who had healed him. In other words, he must have felt a natural gratitude to God in his heart, and as a result, he gravitated to the nearest church, not only to thank God but hopefully to continue the journey of complete recovery.

Sadly, in our day, there are wannabe faith healers to be found, who only address the physical aspects of man’s well-being, and as a result the root cause and the spiritual aspects of the person’s problem are not addressed.

Thus, many faith healings are advertised for all who so desire, and persons attend these meetings, with no intention of making things right with God. Once the body is healed, many go right back to those old habits, both physical, and spiritual, which triggered the adverse consequences in the first place.

In other words, persons take the husk, without the kernel and leave Jesus holding the proverbial bag of salvation, with no interest whatsoever in giving their lives entirely to Christ, so that He could do His good work within them, and save the entire person.

Whenever God may heal you and me, and any other person for that matter, the first thing we should do is to follow the infirm man’s lead, and head straight to the nearest true church, so that God could finish the great work He started, when He first healed the physical body. This is enjoined without doubt, in the following passages of Scripture. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 5:1 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

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

[The Desire of Ages pp 823] Christ came to heal the sick, to proclaim deliverance to the captives of Satan. He knew that those who petitioned Him for help had brought disease upon themselves; yet He did not refuse to heal them.

And when virtue from Christ entered into these poor souls, they were convicted of sin, and many were healed of their spiritual disease, as well as of their physical maladies. The gospel still possesses the same power, and why should we not witness the same results today?

This leads us to our fourth and final takeaway from the narrative of the man with the infirmity, who was healed by Jesus:

[4] The warning against a relapse.

The man in the story had brought adversities upon himself, as the natural result of wrong-doing, and it would be critically important for him not to fall into a relapse, by again indulging in the very same things that did him in originally.

Whatever it was, that had caused the infirmity, the Bible does not say, but what it does say is that Christ found it necessary to go looking for the man to issue a personal caution, against relapsing into his former errors. And it came with a specific warning, that the second time around will be very much worse than at the first.

Persons who desire healing, whether it be physical, or spiritual, will really need to understand the grave import of what Christ is saying to the man. Relapse, in and of itself, is never good, ask your doctors, and they will tell you.

But bad as relapse is, it becomes a whole lot worse, if, and when persons voluntarily do the very things which triggered the adverse situations in the first place. The second time around, the problem is more difficult to treat, and in some cases, it can result in a ton of irreversible, unnecessary damage to the one in question. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

In one television ad, a person was featured, exhaling cigarette smoke through a hole in her throat, since the addictive habit, not being overcome, drove her to the point where a Stoma or hole, had to be put in her throat after her larynx had to be removed at the age of 42.

In the TV ad cigarette smoke could be seen billowing from the hole in her throat, and, it was then hoped that some poor souls would see it, and reason from cause to effect if haply they might avoid the adverse consequences that can accrue.

There are instances where a relapse can lead to a lot of devastating results, both to oneself, and to one’s family, if the warning Christ once gave to the infirm man goes unheeded. In the battle to lose weight, it becomes increasingly difficult every time one starts a program, and then stops, if and when, returning to the former ways.

In other words, with each relapse, the hurdles and challenges become greater, and ultimately require considerably more effort to overcome than previous attempts. Now, even though we encourage one and all to keep on trying, the facts on the ground point to increasing difficulty, with every relapse.

This is also true in the spiritual realm, and hence the reason why we must be on full alert, night and day, lest a gradual retrogression imperceptibly takes hold on us, and before you know it, we’re back to square one, or even worse.

Persons who were struggling with latent tendencies, deep in the recesses of the mind, and who, by God’s grace were able to make a turnaround, must greatly treasure their new lease on life, for it is a day of new beginnings that should lead to eternal life.

And, as such, being, and staying connected to your Only source of power should be the top priority at all times. Staying connected to Christ is the key to living victoriously, and therefore, whatsoever might be the urgency of the moment, nothing trumps our time with Christ, who alone is able to keep us from falling back into a relapse. Let’s read:

John 15: 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abides in the vine no more can you, except you abide in me.

5 I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

In the next few hours, if life permits, many of us will be graced with a day of new beginnings, and like the infirm man in the narrative, we too might have to do mortal battle against our internal, and external foes, of which the internal foes are the most dangerous.

Jesus, may also find it necessary to go looking for us personally as He once did with the infirm man, so as to issue a personal caution against relapsing into the former errors. Instead of dwelling on our failures, or licking our wounds, let us instead treasure the new lease on life God may grant us, determining by His grace to stay connected this entire new year.

God is in the business of putting Humpty- Dumpty back together again, and if folks will cooperate with Him, a day of new beginnings could translate into a victory that lasts unto eternal life, for this is the will of God concerning us. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture which should help us to keep our eyes fixed on Christ, and if we do, God, according to His gracious purpose will heal both body and spirit in due time. Let’s read:

Jude 1: 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

                    Happy New Year Everyone!

                                   God Bless!

Peace And Goodwill Towards Men. Sabbath afternoon 12/23/2023

Luke 2: 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

As the angels of God announced the birth of Jesus, the purpose of God towards the human family was enshrined in their song, a singular purpose of peace and goodwill toward men, which has always been God’s will from the beginning, and which could be materialized in our world, if we were to cooperate with the heavenly agencies.

Peace and goodwill do not come by accident in our world; nations do not just stop fighting one another, nor do opposing political parties suddenly come to a peaceful reconciliation, without well directed efforts in harmony with the purposes and power of God.

When Jesus walked this earth, He manifested in His person and in all of His doings what peace and good will look like in real time and He demonstrated all of the ways and means, principles and laws whereby they are to be accomplished.

Both Christ’s character, and the many ways in which He implemented peace and good will, should be the theme and study of all who desire peace, which has become an increasingly scarce commodity on earth.

The study for today will focus squarely on the basic Godly principles whereby peace and goodwill are to be achieved. Several of them would be highlighted in the life of Christ, and then a practical application will be made in our own sphere, if we are to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

[1] The foundational principle of peace and good will is love. Not the kind that seeks one’s benefit but rather seeks the good and well being of others first. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 13: 4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up.

5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Here is where the character of Christ shines forth so radiantly and here is where Lucifer and Christ had to part ways in heaven. Love suffers long only when it is selfless, for the flipside of longsuffering is a short temper. Christ suffered long with Lucifer, even as he went about spreading conspiracy theories, and lies in heaven.

God didn’t destroy him and his followers right away but instead, gave them time, space and room, so as to develop and make manifest, their principles, and methods. Even after Jesus cast them out of heaven, He gave them time, so that they could manifest to the universe what exactly was, and is in their hearts.

And to this day, God still continues to give them the opportunity to make manifest to all, whether their form of government is based on selfless love, and is productive of peace or goodwill, as the government of God is, or whether they are continually seeking their own personal benefit.

When studying the Character of Christ and the good news of His kingdom, this is what persons should be specifically searching for, the selflessness behind all the things God says and does. When the Scriptures are studied from this perspective the student always comes away with fresh glimpses of God’s goodness.

But when the character of Christ, and the principles and laws of the Bible are sought out, merely for the sake of finding faults, the student leaves the study with a paralysis of thought, which becomes more confused, as he struggles to make sense of sacred utterances. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 3: 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Here on this forum, we approach the study of God’s word from the perspective that God is always right, and has never made a single mistake, and with this perspective there is no shortage of Bible studies, for every time the Bible is opened, fresh glimpses of the glory of God shine forth in steady rays.

Therefore, the selflessness and goodness of God will be the theme of our study, as we observe examples of how peace and good will toward men were enacted in our behalf; and by extension, should be adopted as modes of thought and action, in all persons who desire to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

For example, when Christ first came to this earth in His incarnate state, He did not seek out the fanfare, and the red-carpet treatment that earthly royalties and dignitaries so often yearn for. God didn’t send His angels first to the nobility and clergy of the day, nor did He make the grand announcement to those were served in the upper echelons of government.

Instead, the grand revelation was made to humble shepherds, out on the open plains, at night, when most people should be sleeping. In fact, it seems as if the shepherds in Christ’s day stood at the bottom of the social totem pole, because it seems as if their testimony could not be admitted as evidence in the courts of the land.

Instead of the angels attending Him with a fleet of shiny black Cadillacs with tinted windows, and with secret service personnel with dark shades and guns at their waist; Christ was headed to a manger where a fleet of humble farm animals awaited Him. That is a manifestation of the selflessness Paul refers to in Corinthians.

When Paul says that selfless love “Vaunts not itself” he is referring to the tendency of desiring to be seen and admired by persons. Wherever this is the case, the peace and good will Jesus came to give would become evasive.

In reality, Jesus would eventually be seen and heard by everyone, but His driving motive was to save and heal not to lift up Himself in pride as is the case with someone else we know too well. When Jesus said: If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me, it was and is to save us from ourselves, not merely for His own benefit or aggrandizement.

In our day currently, we have persons in the public square who only speak of themselves. Everything is made to revolve around self, and everyone else who might not agree with their agenda is viewed as their mortal enemy.

When the tenor of one’s speech is centered around self, it is a manifestation of satanic presence, for this is who he is at his very core. All the blame for what took place in heaven against God’s kingdom, Lucifer charged upon God, Christ, and the holy angels, but he himself was portrayed as being the victim who suffered wrongfully. Let’s read:

Patriarchs & Prophets pp 40>41] Rejecting with disdain the arguments and entreaties of the loyal angels, he denounced them as deluded slaves. The preference shown to Christ he declared as an act of injustice both to himself and to all the heavenly host. And he announced that he would no longer submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs.

He determined to claim the honor which should have been given him, and take command of all who would become his followers; and he promised those who would enter his ranks a new and better form of government, under which all would enjoy freedom.

Sounds familiar? If it does, then we may know for sure that peace and good will is something we will have to work really hard for. But Jesus on the other hand would only use ways and means that selfless love can employ. He pleaded with Lucifer and those who were withering under his influence, to change course.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 39] In great mercy, according to His divine character, God bore long with Lucifer.

[Desire of Ages pp 759] God could have destroyed Satan and his sympathizers as easily as one can cast a pebble to the earth; but He did not do this. Compelling power is found only under Satan's government. The Lord's principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God's government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power.

God’s hand of mercy was stretched forth to save any and all who would be willing, and therefore, the use of force as a last resort, was an effort to protect the angels who chose to serve God willingly.

If in a certain household, one child keeps bringing home drugs like fentanyl and other opioids, trying to get the other kids to indulge, then the parents will have to act sooner or later, lest all of the kids end up as drug addicts. So, let’s reiterate our first point:

The foundational principle of peace and good will is love, not the kind that seeks one’s own benefit, but rather seeks the good and wellbeing of others first.

In practical ways, this godly principle could only be truly manifested when Christ is in the heart, for the principle itself is foreign to fallen human nature. In situations where a choice has to be made between personal benefit, and the benefit of others, the one who is in Christ will defer to the other without any grudges or bad feelings.

In the Bible there was a man who once interrupted Jesus’ sermon with a request that Christ should use His influence to speak to the man’s brother who had apparently defrauded him of some real estate.

And in our day, there are sibling rivalries and a host of bad feelings that have erupted over perishables. God is not really interested in Christmas trees, and many lights, and cakes, and pastries and rum. What He is looking for is the replication of His character in those who name themselves as disciples of Christ.

When faced with wrongs done to oneself, instead of taking the low road of fighting like hell for our rights we would do well to observe what Christ did, when He was tempted in the wilderness.

In that episode, satan bluntly offered to give Christ what was naturally, and rightfully Christ’s own; this, in exchange for bowing down. Imagine the boldness and contempt involved in offering Christ’s own real estate to Him.

Again, when Herod slew the children in Bethlehem, God directed Joseph and Mary, not to fight for their rights, but to run for their lives, by taking refuge in Egypt. God could have asserted His royal right, and sent a battalion of angels to take care of Herod, but He chose not to do this, even as He had the capacity to do so.

It’s funny, for the place where Christ was born, and the plains over which the angels sang: “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace, goodwill towards men, is now mired in strife and bloodshed. Unless a determined, well-directed effort is made to deal in the heavenly currency, peace and good will would continue to be evasive.

In other words, there is never going to be peace and good will in the Middle East, or between Russia and Ukraine, or in Sudan, or on the streets of our cities, or on our highways and byways, or even in congress where impeachment looms again, if tit for tat laws and principles are adopted as the order of the day. Let’s read:

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

This leads us to our second principle:

[2] In seeking peace and good will, the use of tit for tat principles must be rejected, and instead, persons will have to deal in the currency of heaven, which at its core repays one’s enemies with genuine kindness and respect that is due to all persons. Let’s read:

1st Peter 2: 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for

your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him who judges righteously.

In the life of Christ, we can all clearly see examples of the use of the heavenly currency, in not using tit for tat principles, when dealing with offences. When the woman who was caught in adultery was brought to Jesus for redress, those who brought her referred to tit for tat laws, that were written down by Moses.

Jesus at that time took the high road of grace, and mercy and demonstrated that it is better and always productive of greater good not to repay wrongs with strict justice every time, for wherever you fight fire with fire, you always get more fire. Ask any fireman and they will confirm what we are saying.

Fighting fire with fire is tearing this country apart, and we have not yet seen where it will all lead to, since it takes time for the fruits thereof to become manifest. When Jesus was spat upon, He again took the high road; when the back-stabber Judas kissed Him he replied, “Friend, wherefore art thou come?”

Jesus did not call for battalions of angels against His betrayer, He didn’t utter imprecations against those who were mocking or reviling Him on the cross, and instead of seeking retribution, He instead uttered a word of mercy by saying “Father forgive them”.

The you and me in the here and now would need to have a serious talk with God about the ways and the means adopted, when we are treated badly for no apparent reason by others. Some of us will have to start at home, by forgiving our spouses, others will need to forgive children, and vice-versa, and others will need to forgive in-laws and outlaws.

But if we determine to squeeze strict justice out of the offender, if we determine to repay one bad drive with another bad drive, and if we determine to sue the daylights out of those who have done us wrong, then we will never see peace, and good will, for as was stated before, when you fight fire with fire, all you get is more fire.

Many years ago, I decided to take to court someone who had done me wrong, and who was later caught by the cops, and arrested. With glee, I had looked forward to the day of retribution, when the offender would have to pay a high price for his wrongs.

But as I sat in court, waiting for the trial to begin, I heard a still small voice speaking in my conscience, saying, if the tables were turned, wouldn’t you have liked to be shown mercy? As I pondered the thought it occurred to me that I was taking the low road, by employing tit for tat laws, which are contrary to the peace and good will of God’s kingdom.

Therefore, when I was approached by those who had charge of the trial, and asked if I really wanted to proceed, I said no, because the voice of God had clearly spoken, and as His disciple, we should seek the high road of peace and good will. The offender was indeed grateful for the unexpected break, and that was the end of the matter.

Hear now the word of the Lord. Tit for tat laws are just, but they are not merciful, and if we desire the peace and good will the Bible speaks of, then we’ll need to reconsider and decide upon a different way of resolving grievances and wrongs, when done to ourselves, in harmony with what Jesus would do when in similar situations. Let’s read:

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

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

18 If it be possible, as much as lies 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.

1st Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another.

This leads us to our third and final characteristic and principle that will go a mighty long way in fostering peace and good will toward men. It is taken directly from the word of God:

[3] “Is not easily provoked”

Many of us as Christians do have short tempers. We may be loving and kind in many other respects, and we may have mercy and honesty as strong points in our characters, but with many of us, we blow a fuse too quickly, and as such, in too many instances, we are too “Easily provoked”.

The tendency to take things personally would often set the stage for us to be discombobulated in spirit. Especially is this the case when we refuse to give a person the benefit of the doubt as to their intention and purposes.

One of the highlights of the passages found in 1st Corinthians 13 is that selfless love “Believeth all things” meaning that the intentions and purposes of others are always to be interpreted in the best light, until there may be something else to the contrary.

No, the old lady with the Ford Escort did not really mean to give you a bad drive; she was struggling with her glasses, to try and see the road properly in the rain and her reflexes were not as sharp as when she was younger.

No, your spouse did not really mean to spend that much on groceries and gifts for the holidays. In the heat of the moment, he, or she was overcome by impulse buying, and it was out of the goodness of their hearts that they went overboard, in trying to make others happy. Believe you me, they had originally intended to stay within the budget.

No, the person did not mean to disregard, or evade your call. They were actually on the other line with an emergency call from their doctor, who had given them some bad news about a diagnosis of cancer, and because of the grave nature of the conversation they had really forgotten to call back.

It all has to do with giving persons the benefit of the doubt, and not becoming riled up or easily provoked if, and when things do not go according to script. In our interaction with other folks, and in our efforts to seek and cultivate peace and good will, there would be instances when we might have to bite the bullet, and let things slide, leaving the situation with God.

In other situations, if persons speak or approach us in derogatory or intimidating ways, instead of going the route of self-preservation, we will have to keep our cool, and maintain a Christlike demeanor, even in argumentative situations.

Sorry to say it, but some Christian spouses have the habit of arguing with one another, and in some cases, some are always on edge so that the least ruffling of their feathers, triggers a flurry of un-Christlike words and actions. This is what the Bible has to say in such situations. Let’s read:

Ephesians 4: 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

27 Neither give place to the devil.

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and 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.

[Testimonies Vol. 5 pp 168] Love is unsuspecting, ever placing the most favorable construction upon the motives and acts of others. Love will never needlessly expose the faults of others. It does not listen eagerly to unfavorable reports, but rather seeks to bring to mind some good qualities of the one defamed.

[Testimonies Vol. 5 pp 168] Love not only bears with others’ faults, but cheerfully submits to whatever suffering or inconvenience such forbearance makes necessary. This love “never fails.” It can never lose its value; it is the attribute of heaven. As a precious treasure it will be carried by its possessor through the portals of the city of God.

In closing, we are all aware of the grave turmoil that is gripping the nations, the forever wars and rumors of wars, and the utter intransigence of political foes and “Frenemies” and in many Christian households it is a fact that peace and good seems to be elusive.

Yet, God has called us to peace and good will for it is and was His stated purpose as the angelic choir sang their songs over the plains of Judea. Let us then be willing and ready, so that the presence and power of God may work within us, transforming us, recreating and molding us into the character of Christ.

Enjoy the holidays, have great food with family and friends, and exchange gifts as you would, but always remember this one thing, the kingdom of God is not about bling and things, it’s about righteousness and peace, and joy in The Holy Ghost. Therefore, we will end our discourse with a word of Scripture that will help us to cultivate, and promote peace and good will. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

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

                                  God Bless!

Debunking The Myth Of Perfect Parenthood. Sabbath afternoon 12/16/2023

Luke 2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

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.

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.

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.

We have searched the Bible from cover to cover and we have not found a single perfect parent, who ever lived upon the earth. Perfect parents do not live on our planet, and it’s a myth that has been adopted by some who may be prone to find fault or cast blame.

Every parent who has ever lived, and all who would ever live are scheduled to make some type of mistake, some more, some less. This is a naturally occurring fact as a result of fallen human nature, and even if parents were to try to do their very best, persons will, in most instances be able to find flaws, and mistakes of some kind.

As parents look back in retrospect honestly, they are going to see errors, and mistakes in judgement they have made, and if they were to retrace their steps it is certain that, in most cases, they would have done some things differently. That is because there is no such thing as a perfect parent, at least not on this planet.

In our first passages we read of the parents of Jesus, who themselves weren’t exempt from making some mistakes, for according to the record, they had gone an entire day, not knowing where Jesus was, until in a panic they started to look for Him. Now, let’s think about that for a moment.

The sacred record states that Jesus was just twelve years old when He went missing, which would have made Him a minor in our day, and as such, both His parents would be responsible for His whereabouts. The department of children and families would have taken this mistake very seriously, and no doubt, the parents could be subjected to charges as a result.

It was an error in judgement, on the part of Joseph and Mary, for the Bible says they “Supposed” that He was with His kinsfolk. If one of us parents today were to take the kids out for some festive occasion, and we were to return without one of the children, we would no doubt be questioned closely as to how it is they went missing.

And if the parent in question were to reply, and say that they supposed the kid was with the relatives, it would surely result in one of those heated moments between parents and we could all imagine the panic mode and bitter recriminations that will ensue.

But what is even more note worthy in the narrative is that the Bible says Jesus went down to Nazareth, and was “Subject” unto them, in spite of their error, for as far as Christ was concerned, mistakes parents may make in judgement do not render them being ineligible for the respect and honor that are due to them.

Other Biblical parents made mistakes and errors of their own, for none were exempt. Parents, being the fallen beings that they are do make mistakes and for this reason, it’s not everything that parents do, that the children should follow in their footsteps.

When grown up, the children should study the lives  of their parents, and then, based upon what is written in the scripture, they should make their own informed decisions as to the right course they would pursue, choosing the good that their parents did, and refusing the evil.

In this way, they can reason from cause to effect as they observe the history of their parents, and then, the good their parents did, could be cultivated unto the upcoming generations, whilst the evils or errors in judgement can, and should be utterly refused.

This pattern of conduct, and planning the course of action to pursue, is encouraged in the Scriptures for it is by so doing, that righteousness and goodness can be honed for the better while the evils that may have been cultivated by the parents, can be stripped of their former value and status. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 18:1 The word of the Lord came unto me again saying,

2 What mean you by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have any occasion anymore to use this proverb in Israel.

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

14 Now, if he begets a son that sees all his father's sins which he hath done, and considers and doesn’t do any such thing,

15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbor's wife;

17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

For instance, in studying the history of his parents, there are certain things Isaac could safely emulate, so as to foster the very same tendencies, in future generations. It’s stated of Abraham that everywhere he went, the first thing he would do was to erect an altar to God for worship, and this pattern of conduct resulted in the conversions of hundred, if not many thousands of persons.

This, Isaac could safely emulate, for it has the effect of promoting righteousness, and also diffusing the knowledge of God, and the Bible in the earth every place and everywhere the family goes. So basically, father Abraham gets an A plus for parenting, in this aspect of parenthood. Let’s read:

Genesis 12:7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there built he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.

8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he built an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.

Genesis 13:3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;

4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 141] Abraham's household comprised more than a thousand souls. Those who were led by his teachings to worship the one God, found a home in his encampment; and here, as in a school, they received such instruction as would prepare them to be representatives of the true faith.

Thus, a great responsibility rested upon him. He was training heads of families, and his methods of government would be carried out in the households over which they should preside.

But as with any other parent, Abraham, and Sarah were not perfect, for they had their own share of mistakes and errors to deal with. For instance, when Sarah suggests Hagar as a surrogate wife, Isaac was never to follow her lead, if a similar situation was to unfold later on in his own household. Let’s read:

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

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

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

Ezekiel says “he considers” meaning that he ought to track a different course, if he were wearing Sarah’s shoes, for the errors in judgement should be bucked by the next generations. Furthermore, just because Abraham is the father of the faithful it does not mean that Isaac must follow blindly, everything he would see Abraham do.

Like everyone else, Isaac must study his family tree and wherever there are found any deviations from righteousness, wherever there is found polygamy, and where there are found any white, or black lies, Isaac is to take the good and utterly refuse the evil, for there is no such thing as a perfect parent, even if, and when the parents are God-fearing Christians.

In fact, there are certain things Abraham did, which if Isaac were to emulate, he could get himself into very serious trouble and that’s because, like you and me, and every other parent who has ever lived upon planet earth, there is no such thing as the perfect parent. 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.

Again, we have the history of Noah, who God had declared to be righteous and indeed, Noah did very nobly in preaching righteousness to the antediluvian world. In fact, according to God’s assessments, after examining the doings of every person who had lived at that time, The Lord could only came up with one person, and the other members of his family would then become beneficiaries of Noah’s righteousness. Let’s read:

Genesis 6: 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Genesis 7:1 And the Lord said unto Noah Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 98] Noah's warnings had been rejected by the world, but his influence, and example resulted in blessings to his family. As a reward for his faithfulness and integrity, God saved all the members of his family with him. What encouragement to parental fidelity!

But just like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Noah also had his own set of issues to deal with, for while he had the Bible in one hand, a bottle of Johnny Walker was often found in the other and because of this his sons would also need to “Consider” meaning, that, as they studied the history of their family tree, they too will need to choose the good, and utterly refuse the evil.

In other words, the preaching part of Noah’s history can be emulated with no problem whatsoever, but the part of his history that was tainted with Johnny Walker liquor has to be utterly refused. Parents do make mistakes, even with the best of intentions and therefore, it is a sacred responsibility, resting upon you and me to make wise choices. Let’s read:

Genesis 9:20 And Noah began to be a husbandman, and he planted a vineyard.

21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

Again, we have the God -fearing Jacob who made an error in judgement by preferring one son above the others, a situation that fosters favoritism among the kids. When Jacob made a coat of many bright colors for Joseph alone, it tended to inflame the current hatred harbored by the other eleven children.

This act of love done by Jacob was misguided to say the least, for parents should avoid demonstrating a glaring favoritism, or preference for one child above the next, even if, in their heart of hearts they might prefer one more than the others.

Whenever parents offer preferential treatments to one kid more than the others, it is most likely going to make the others feel left out, and sibling rivalry is almost certain to be the result. And in some cases, it can put the favorite child in grave danger, as it once did with young Joseph. Let’s read:

Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.

4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

And we can go on and on, from Aaron to David and from Samuel to Solomon, from Joseph, to you and me and every parent in between; one thing we will discover is that perfect parenting is a myth.

 And as such, persons must brace themselves for the fallout of what their parents did, or did not do, and should therefore make all the necessary corrections to their own course of action after considering their parent’s history in retrospect.

Philosophy in our day has crept in unawares into the hearts and minds of parents and individuals, and as is most often the case, it is not readily discerned for what it is. For instance, you may have heard it said that parents must earn respect from their children if their kids are to respect them.

It sounds philosophically cute, but there is only one problem with it in that the concept is nowhere to be found in the Bible. Furthermore, if you were to drill down deeper into what that philosophy would really translate into, you would be alarmed and concerned about the ramifications of it.

    Let’s examine the concept in its most basic form:

   “Respect has to be earned”

Now, if respect has to be earned by parents it will of necessity take some time, because the very concept of earning would necessitate an extended period of several years before it is earned, and the children of the parents in question, would have to go through a number of experiences with their parents, before a settled conclusion of due respect is made.

So, the question is: at what point during the earning process is respect to be rendered to the parents? At the beginning of the earning process, at the middle, or at the end, after it has been earned? During the interim period while respect is being earned, are the kids free to disrespect parents, if they so choose?

Let’s take the concept further, for it will be stripped down to bare bones to see where it will lead. In the military, is respect for senior officers earned, or is it to be rendered at the beginning of the new recruit’s training and then would naturally increase with the passage of time?

When persons go to boot camp, does the officer in charge have to wait until respect is earned before it is given, or is it true that the trainees will have to do several thousand pushups if they were to disrespect their appointed Sergeant?

Again, when the philosophy is applied to the heads of government, such as former president Trump and the current president, Joe Biden, are they to “earn” our respect before we respect them, or are folks to honor them initially in the capacity of their office, as required by God, and then later on respect for them may grow?

Again, should we respect them only if we agree with their agenda, or are we to show due respect, based upon the instructions written in the Scriptures? The Bible does not say anywhere that respect for leaders duly appointed or installed by God, must be earned. That is a philosophical myth that must now utterly be debunked.

In fact, if a close examination of some heads of state was to be made, it would be discovered that in fact, they may lose a ton of respect. Rendering unto the president, or to Caesar respect, is not based on kind and loving deeds Caesar may do. In fact, most of the Caesars we know of, have historical records that are riddled with good and evil.

Again, there were many persons who in their heart of hearts did not favor the former president, for like every other person, presidents do have a checkered history to say the least. Is the Christian to disrespect the duly chosen leaders, until they earn respect or is honor due to them at the onset, as with parents? Let 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.

How does pharaoh earn respect, especially if one is a Jew who is working in the sweltering sun with an Egyptian taskmaster making your life miserable at every turn? How does a king like Nebuchadnezzar earn respect, who threatened his own magicians with execution?

How does king Saul earn David’s respect, when Saul hunted David like a wild beast without cause? Yet, in the Bible, we read of David being instructed by God not to disrespect the office or person of Saul, and in one instance, where an Amalekite dishonored Saul, it was David who, by the direction of God, set the record straight, to put it mildly.  Let’s read:

1st Samuel 24: 3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave and Saul went in to cover his feet, and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6 And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

Romans 13:2 Whoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

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

As it pertains to one’s parents, the Bible states that due respect and honor should be rendered to them, even if, like some who went before, they may make some mistakes and errors in judgment. Respect can be earned over a period of time, but it is due at the beginning, even to those parents who might never seem to deserve it. Let’s read:

Exodus 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

You will notice that God doesn’t qualify the parents by saying “Honor thy father and thy mother” if they do right, or if the earn your respect. The children of pagan parents are to show due respect and the kids of righteous parents are to receive honor, because what God is instructing us to do would protect the structural integrity of the family, which is the very foundation of society.

Similarly with marriage, God does not say that only Christian, God-fearing folks are to honor the sacred institution. The institution itself is sacred, yet those to whom it is given may be Buddhists, Atheists and pagan, if they so choose. It’s the institution with its structural integrity that is holy, not necessarily the people to whom it pertains. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The words: “Therefore shall a man” means any man, whether he be a Christian man, a Hindu man, a Trini man, a Muslim man, a Mongolian man, a Republican man, or a Democratic man. It is the institution with its inherent structural integrity that God instructs us to preserve as being sacred.

The very same instruction, and concept also applies to parents and their children, imperfect though the parents may be. They might have committed serious errors in judgement, they may have come from the Caribbean, with all of the inherent cultural baggage that may manifest itself at times, or like Noah, they may have had drinking problems that they struggled with.

At the end of the day, the children are instructed by God to honor and respect their parents, for doing so protects the structural integrity of the family, and by extension, our society as a whole.

When children do dishonor to parents on account of their parent’s imperfections, it will never stop there, for they will most likely go on to disrespect Pastors, Elders, presidents, managers at work, and teachers, as took place, not long ago at Marjorie Stoneman High. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 308] Parents are entitled to a degree of love and respect which is due to no other person. God Himself, who has placed upon them a responsibility for the souls committed to their charge, has ordained that during the earlier years of life, parents shall stand in the place of God to their children.

And he who rejects the rightful authority of his parents, is rejecting the authority of God. The fifth commandment requires children not only to yield respect, submission, and obedience to their parents, but also to give them love and tenderness, to lighten their cares, to guard their reputation. And to succor and comfort them in old age. It also enjoins respect for ministers and rulers and for all others to whom God has delegated authority.

Parents are to do their very best to come as close as possible to being ideal. They are to follow closely in the footsteps of our Great Exemplar, by emulating the ways and means used by Christ.

And they should endeavor to win the confidence, trust, and respect of their kids as time progresses, but they will make mistakes, and when they do the respect and honor shown to them must remain as a constant.

Like everyone else living on our planet, parents are the products of fallen human nature and even when they are being converted by God, mistakes, or errors in judgement will occur. Let us therefore refuse the myth of perfect parenthood, and instead, try to do our very best by God’s grace, because the structural integrity of the family and society is at stake.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture which enjoins upon both parents and their offspring love, respect and honor wherever due, because parents and children are imperfect beings, and errors will at times occur, yet we must not deviate from a “Thus saith The Lord” because of parental imperfections. Let’s read:

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2 Honor your father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4 And, you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

                                   God Bless!

Overcoming Tailor-Made Temptations. Sabbath afternoon 12/09/2023

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.

In most cases, when some people think that they’re being tempted, it is just the natural byproducts of a course of action taken by themselves, or others, and in some cases, the devil was going his merry way, in running his normal errands when folks stopped him and asked him to tempt us.

We do live in an evil world, with fellow fallen beings like ourselves and because of this the natural fallout could result in adversities and trials for the Christian and non-Christian alike, for none are exempt. Thus, it is just a fact of life that trials are a natural part of the package, and this all persons must be reconciled to.

However, when we speak of persons asking devils to tempt them, we’re referring directly to temptations that were unprovoked by the devil, but were rather the result of those inner cravings, as defined in our first passage. These cravings and latent tendencies must be understood for what they are, whether they are cultivated, inherited, or both.

The reason why the nature of these cravings should be thoroughly understood, is because they differ in intensity from person to person, and therefore, one must be aware of the specific issues, pertaining to ourselves, for it’s on these points that the devil goes to work, in the majority of cases.

Therefore, tailormade temptations are structured to fit specific persons, and they come with one’s name, address, zip code, and social security number baked in and already stamped with the devil’s approval for, a lot of time, planning, and effort goes into the mix to make a surgical strike on the person in question.

Several relevant factors are taken into consideration when constructing tailormade temptations, such as the time, the place, the disposition, the ambience of the place, the weather-related events, the influence that would obtain, the physical, social, and spiritual status of the person, and most of all, a list of factual observations, devils have gleaned over an extensive period of time.

Although devils are fallen angels, they do retain a sizeable advantage over human beings as far as the intellectual, physical, and spiritual capabilities go. In fact, were it not for the restraining power of God in the world, they would be capable of bringing to the Christian, temptations of such severity and accuracy as to threaten the Christian’s very existence. Let’s read:

Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind therefore have I hope.

22 It’s because 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.

Psalms 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.

1st Corinthians 10: 12 Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

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

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 has but a short time.

[The Great Controversy pp 517] The power and malice of Satan and his host might justly alarm us, were it not that we may find shelter and deliverance in the superior power of our Redeemer.

We carefully secure our houses with bolts and locks to protect our property and our lives from evil men; but we seldom think of the evil angels who are constantly seeking access to us, and against whose attacks we have, in our own strength, no method of defense.

If permitted, they can distract our minds, disorder, torment our bodies, destroy our possessions and our lives. Their only delight is in our misery, and destruction. Fearful is the condition of those who resist the divine claims, and yield to Satan's temptations, until God gives them up to the control of evil spirits.

 But those who follow Christ are ever safe under his watch-care. Angels that excel in strength are sent from Heaven to protect them. The wicked one cannot break through the guard which God has stationed about his people.

When it comes to resisting tailormade temptations, God would have us to understand that these forays are structured to target our weakest points, at our weakest times, and every chink in our armor would present a favorable opportunity for satan’s success.

Not only should we be aware of our weakest points, we must also be cognizant of triggering mechanisms which could fan latent tendencies and cravings into life. Persons who are struggling on issues pertaining to adultery should avoid South Beach, as much as is possible for the atmosphere down there is pregnant with opportunity for yielding to temptation.

In other words, if persons know that they’re weak in the area of physical lust, by going down to hang out casually on South Beach would be the equivalent of asking the devil to tempt them, and even though he may have been running other errands not related to you, he will have no problem stopping by, to make the most of the opportunity.

Again, if we are struggling on issues related to diets and foods, it will be presumptuous to place oneself in a situation such as an “all you can eat” restaurant, that will encourage us to gorge ourselves to the full. This also is the equivalent of inciting temptation on ourselves, especially if we lack self-control.

In the history of David’s fall we could learn valuable lessons that can translate into victory if we’re willing to be taught by God. Lessons, such as knowing one’s self, knowing what triggers spiritual weakness, and how to beef up security in times of idleness, for this is when devils are most successful in bringing to us, those tailormade temptations.

Thus, for our case study, we will review the history of David’s fall, and the history of Christ’s victory in the wilderness, for both Christ and David were the targets of tailormade temptations, and as such, we are to learn from the fall of David, as well as the success, which Christ accomplished in our behalf.

Let’s start with David, a man who was in the habit of leaning on the everlasting arms when in peril. At the time when David was being hunted down, like a wild beast by king Saul, he was at that time, living on the edge.

And even though his weakness for beautiful women was still present with him, the fact of that he had to be constantly looking over his shoulder, seemed to keep his mind preoccupied for the time being.

Yet, the history of David demonstrates a very clear pattern of choices, and when observed by devils, it would form the basis for David’s own tailormade temptation, for as was stated before, devils do have archives, or binders full of observations, which are drawn upon, when structuring surgical temptations. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 25:3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

42 And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.

2nd Samuel 5:13 And David took more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

1st Chronicles 3:1 Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:

2 The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:

3 The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.

5 And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:

9 These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.

Thus, as satan pulled the files on David’s history, he saw that there was a pattern of behavior in the man that would be most likely to lend itself favorably to temptation, if the right circumstances were to be put into place. And so, he goes to work, planning a diabolic strategy that would ultimately be executed with surgical accuracy.

The window of opportunity for most women to get pregnant in a month is six days, and therefore, the planning of satan must take this into consideration, for it was his purpose that David’s one night stance must result in pregnancy.

Also, the tailormade temptation would have to be executed during daylight hours, in order for David to be able to see Bathsheba, as nightfall would negate the effort. David would also have to be home, on his rooftop at the exact moment, and thus, matters and situations must somehow be made to converge at the precise time, for David to decide to go up on his rooftop, for some unknown reason.

The exact spot where Bathsheba would be located must be at such an angle that David would get the best view of her, and at the same time, the devil has to make certain that her husband would not be at home, for if Uriah were to be present, this would be a spoiler, no doubt.

Also, the weather has to also be conducive to the temptation, since a rainy day would most likely find his targets indoors, and thus, the devil goes to the weather channel to study the precipitation if any for that day. He discovers that it would be a sunny day with clear blue skies and he says bingo.

Let’s reiterate again, that when some persons may complain of being tempted by the devil, in most cases, they have not a clue what they are speaking about, because a real temptation is something that is well studied out, well planned, and well executed.

Considerable research, together with the historical context, and archives of factual evidences, go into the structuring of tailormade temptations, for they are not those fly by night aberrations which might occur spontaneously, on the spur of the moment, as some persons erroneously believe.

In addition to the physical factors mentioned earlier, the spiritual condition of king David at the time will be of critical importance to the success or failure of the assault, and thus, David must first be groomed, or primed for the temptation over extended periods of time.

In other words, David must first stop praying, for he must be brought to the point where he believes that his knowledge of God’s word alone, together with his own will power, would be sufficient to keep him from temptation. This constitutes one of the most fatal mistakes any Christian can make.

The knowledge of God’s word without the power of God is the equivalent of having a v 12 supercharged engine in a Lamborghini, with no gas. The motive power for us to do right is centered in, and comes solely from the presence and person of God alone. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 717] Instead of relying in humility upon the power of Jehovah, he began to trust to his own wisdom and might. As soon as Satan can separate the soul from God, the only Source of strength, he will seek to arouse the unholy desires of man's carnal nature. The work of the enemy is not abrupt.

It is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things—the neglect to be true to God and to rely upon Him wholly, the disposition to follow the customs and practices of the world.

We know the rest of the story, for according to the sacred record, the devil executed his diabolical plan flawlessly, and the rest is history. And since these things are written for our admonition or instruction, upon whom the end of the world is coming, we will do well to take heed lest we fall into the same traps as king David once did.

Now we turn to Jesus, who was also the target of 3 tailormade temptations, only in this instance, satan doesn’t have any historical archives of observations of latent tendencies as he did with David. Therefore, his strategy must of necessity be different, although the temptations will also be tailormade to suit the Person of Christ.

Throughout the ages, the devil correctly observed, and concluded that the way to a person’s mind is often through their stomach, and throughout each successive generation that has come upon the face of action, he has had almost 100 % success, starting with Adam and Eve, continuing with Noah and many of God’s people throughout history.

And since Christ, in His mortal incarnate state has to eat at some point in time, it’s just a matter of satan prepping the time and place, so as to tackle Jesus at His most vulnerable point. To ask Jesus to turn stone into bread, when Jesus was not hungry would have no impact, or appeal whatsoever.

Therefore, satan must wait until such a time would obtain, so as to have maximum impact. Also, Christ would be tempted to use Divine power, in a manner that is contrary to God’s will, and contra indicated to man’s capabilities and thus, will render Jesus as One who is ineligible to save us. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 119] If Christ's confidence in God could be shaken, Satan knew that the victory in the whole controversy would be his. He hoped that under the force of despondency and extreme hunger, Christ would lose faith in His Father, and work a miracle in His own behalf. Had He done this, the plan of salvation would have been broken.

We cannot turn stones into bread, even if we tried, and therefore, if Satan could get Jesus to use Divine power to deliver Himself when faced with hunger as we mortals often face hunger, then Jesus would, by so doing place victory entirely out of reach for the human family.

The reason for this is that Jesus would be using ways and means that are not inherently available to any of us, and if Christ were to go that route it would’ve been a virtual admission on God’s part that it is not possible for human nature to control the impulses and clamors of the flesh.

And then, if this is the case, then there must be an original flaw in God’s creation of man, thus making it virtually impossible for him to overcome, and by extension, placing all the blame for Adam and Eve’s failure, squarely on God.

Thus, the devil waits for the opportune moment to carry out his tailormade plan against Christ. He must time this temptation precisely, at a point when Jesus would be at His weakest physically, with no friends to offer any help, and where the only choice Jesus would have is to work a miracle to save Himself, or to obey God and die, if it came to that. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 118] For forty days He fasted and prayed. Weak and emaciated from hunger, worn and haggard with mental agony, “His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.” Isaiah 52:14. Now was Satan's opportunity. Now he supposed that he could overcome Christ.

Tailormade temptations are made to fit the person who is being targeted, and therefore there would be nuances that become necessary as the situation is scheduled to unfold. As Christians, we will discover that we do have strong urges, which strive to make us say and do things that are not in accordance with God’s will.

Fierce pangs of hunger, to the point of fainting could drive a person to eat things that are forbidden, and extreme thirst could do the same, if we don’t follow Christ’s example. The urge to merge is what drove David over the edge, and in our day, it is still driving men and women to do things that are not right.

Balaam’s plot to overthrow Israel was centered on the urge to merge, because if the leaders of Israel cannot control their feelings, but could be led to let their feelings control them, then the battle for their minds would have been won, for wheresoever the mind goes, the body always follows. Let’s read:

[P&P page 451] Balaam knew that the prosperity of Israel depended upon their obedience to God, and that there was no way to cause their overthrow but by seducing them into sin.

[S.G bk 4 pp 48] He counseled Balak to proclaim an idolatrous feast in honor of their idol gods, and he would persuade the Israelites to attend, that they might be delighted with the music. And then, the most beautiful Midianitish women should entice the Israelites to transgress the law of God, and corrupt themselves, and also influence them to offer sacrifice to idols. This Satanic counsel succeeded too well.

Our victories in overcoming tailormade temptations can only be materialized, by following closely in the footsteps of Christ. Jesus didn’t wait for temptation to come His way, before He prayed. Instead, He took preemptive measures by communing with God in the wilderness, before the approach of devils.

Preemptive preparation almost always guarantees victory, for it is not God’s will that we face the devil without first being prepared, and strengthened for whatsoever he may throw at us. Let’s read:

[D.A. pp 321] When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan.

But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin.

This is what David failed to do, and this is also what we often fail to do, for when we compare situation to situation, we discover that both David and Christ were suffering under extreme clamors of the flesh, in David’s case the clamor was bad, in Christ’s case the clamor was a good one, because there’s nothing wrong with being hungry.

It really does not matter whether the clamor may be good or bad; what matters is how we respond to the temptation. If folks neglect prayer, and the study of the word of God, they will become sitting ducks for tailormade temptations, for the clamors and latent tendencies, indigenous to human nature, will drive us over the edge.

We have no clue when tailormade temptations will come our way, but what we can, and should do is to be fully prepared as Christ did for the timing and the intensity of the temptation becomes irrelevant if we are girded with the panoply of heaven always.

Knowing a whole lot of Scripture is good, but in and of itself it cannot stave off tailormade temptation. In David’s case, he most likely knew more Scriptures than me and you, for he wrote portions of the Bible. Knowledge is good, but knowledge without Christ’s power, will only render us informed victims.

Let those who are preparing for what is coming, lay the groundwork for victory by spending quality time with God, the only source of our strength. Instead of wasting precious hours on things that are of little or no consequence, let us set aside time to seek Christ while we can for the days of earth’s final conflict are soon approaching.

During earth’s final crisis devils will open their entire arsenal upon the Christian, and tailormade devices, which had been previously put on the back burner, because of God’s restraining power, will now be let loose upon those who choose to be faithful.

Many of us are not expecting this, and others have harbored the view that because they trust in Jesus, they will be insulated. While God promises to take care of the righteous during that awful time, they will not be immune to tailormade temptations that will be leveled against the commandment keeping people of God. And for this reason, persons should manage their expectations prudently, to say the very least. Here’s a preview of what we are referring to. Let’s read:

[7 LTMS letter 30A par 15] Satan has a thousand masked batteries which will be opened upon the loyal, commandment-keeping people of God to compel them to violate conscience. The followers of Christ must expect to encounter sneers. They will be reviled; their words and their faith will be misrepresented. Coldness and contempt may be harder to endure than martyrdom.

With some persons it would require more courage to encounter a laugh than to be thrust through with a sword. But we must stand steadfastly for the truth, not returning railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing. Parents will turn harshly against their children who accept unpopular truth. Those who conscientiously serve God will be accused of rebellion.

Property that was willed to children or other relatives who believe the present truth will be given into other hands. Guardians will rob orphans and widows of their just dues. Men will take to themselves property to which they have no right. The words of the apostle will be verified in the near future: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

Tailormade temptations can be likened to precision guided missiles, but they can all be shot down, if the Christian is found fully clad with the armor, found in the book of Ephesians. Christians must, at all times be connected to the Source of our strength, for it is too often the case that some are disconnected and do not know.

In the wee hours of the morning, before the worry and cares of the day begin to take a toll upon us, let us set aside some time alone with God, so that He may strengthen us as He did Jesus, to face all of the unforeseen barrages of temptations that may come our way.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture which delineates the grim nature of the conflicts, and the need for the Christian to be clad in Christlike armor from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet at all times. Let’s read:

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

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

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

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

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

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

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

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

                                   God Bless!