When You Disagree With God. Sabbath afternoon 06/15/2024

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

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

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven and returns not thither, but waters the earth and makes it bring forth, and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.

11 So shall my word be which goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

The above passage makes us to understand that The Lord does not think like we mortals do. Our thought patterns and processes are very limited in scope, for we are finite beings, relegated to natural constraints and boundaries, as we endeavor to make decisions, and reach correct conclusions, and only using about ten percent of our mental capacity.

God is not like us, for He has unique capabilities at His disposal, such as the singular ability to read the future accurately, with all of the fine details, and for this reason, He is able to plan and execute His plans with a surgical accuracy that baffles mortal minds.

That’s why when the decision was made in heaven, for Jesus to come to this earth to die for our sins, He saw in advance that Christ would be victorious, for He would use His freedom of choice to follow the plan of salvation even though at times the going got rough.

Hence the reason why all of the prophecies that are written in the Bible concerning Christ, always paint a picture of victory, and never of failure. From Genesis to Revelation, from bruising of the serpent’s head to the last verse in Revelation, every one, without any exception, portray Christ as a winner, and never as a loser.

This is not because God The Father prevented Christ from doing otherwise; He just saw the end result of Christ’s future decision-making, and made a perfect prediction, based upon what He foresaw. This is one of the reasons why we will have to trust God, even if things might not seem to us, to be going in the right direction.

For example, God knew in advance, that Joseph’s own brothers would sell him as a slave into Egypt. It is not something that took God by surprise, and God also saw that Mrs. Potiphar would try to seduce the young man, and try to force him into a rendezvous.

But God also foresaw that Joseph resist temptation and be victorious. Thus, with all of that foreknowledge before Him, He goes to work, planning with a surgical accuracy, the overthrow of the kingdom of darkness as it meddled in Joseph’s life experience, and thus, turning every negative in Joseph’s experience, into a positive.

Then, according to God’s perfect plan and timing, when He was ready, someway, somehow Joseph got placed in the second highest seat of authority in the land of Egypt, much to the chagrin of Mr. and Mrs. Potiphar. 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.

Now, let us back up a bit and take the same purpose and end result to Joseph’s parents. The end result is that Joseph must end up being the second highest in the land of Egypt and he must do so without ever tarnishing his character. Joseph must also become familiar with politicians and the justice system that governed Egypt.

What therefore do you think will be a right, sensible way of achieving that goal, as per the finite, human perspective? Remember, our very first passage tells us that God does not think like we do!

His parents would most likely send Joseph to Havard or one of those Ivy league schools of the day. They would make certain he was well dressed, with that coat of many bright colors, and they would make sure that he was sufficiently financed, as he could call upon them at any time to pay for study material, meals, and anything that he would need along the way.

Now, let’s look at God’s providences, in causing him to reach the same goal. God permits Joseph to leave his parents’ home with only one shirt on his back. In his pockets there is not a single dime, nor any credit card, that he could use as backup.

He permits slavery, jail time, orange jump suits, and attempted rape, and dreadlocks, for the Scripture says Joseph’s hair grew so long in jail, that he had to shave, before going into pharaoh for his interview. It is most likely that Joseph’s parents would not agree with God’s plan for their beloved son. Let’s read:

Genesis 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

[P&P pp 220] Joseph was immediately sent for; he put off his prison attire, and shaved himself, for his hair had grown long during the period of his disgrace and confinement. He was then conducted to the presence of the king.

Sometimes, God, in His wisdom has to cut some of us down to size, before promoting us, lest we too become exalted above measure, and end up taking to ourselves, the glory, and the credit that is due to God alone.

Our achievements often go to our heads, and before you know it, God is often left out of the picture, and we often give glory to institutions of higher learning,  rather than to God. Let’s read:

Psalms 75: 5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

7 But God is the judge: He puts down one, and sets up another.

2nd Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Again, The Lord shows us that His thoughts are not like ours, for in making the promise of a great nation to Abraham, He permits situations and providences that may not sit well in the minds of mortals. A lot of what God does, or permits, occurs as a result of Him taking into account our freedom of choice.

Thus, God incorporates that human element and He plans around it, all the while not forcing anyone into doing that which they would not otherwise have done. Thus, His providences must be understood in this context, because, if it were not for the obstacles incidental to our freedom of choice, God would, in many instances, have taken a different route.

For instance, it wasn’t His ideal will for the Hebrews to take forty years to enter Canaan, a journey that would normally have taken a few days at the most. But the obstacles presented by the human agents, thus caused Him to work with them on their level, so that His secondary will was accomplished.

The same is true of the nation that would come of Abraham. It was because of their tendency to like idolatry, why they were permitted to go down into Egypt, The Lord by this providence showing them what the worship of idols does to people, so that if they chose to, they might relinquish it.

But to the surface reader, it may appear as if God is taking a circuitous route to achieve what He intends to. Thus, as He makes His prediction to Abraham we are to understand that He incorporated the freedom of choice, to fulfill His purposes. Let’s read:

Genesis 15: 7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

8 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him.

13 And he said unto Abram, know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

Again, God’s methods and ways, together with His thought processes, may seem to make no sense at times, and the human agent often wonders if God really knows what He is doing. In the next instance, we’ll observe that Peter, James and John, who were experienced fishermen, had packed up for the night, after having not caught a single fish.

Like we so often do, they had chalked up their own failures to an absence of fish that night, but as the narrative would disclose, the problem was not with the fish, the problem was one of inverted priorities, for there were actually millions of fishes that night, waiting, hoping, and begging to be caught.

These same disciples had previously left their nets to follow Jesus, after He had personally called them to His ministry, but it seems as if their priorities in life were not as yet rearranged in the right order of priority.

So, they fished all night, putting their best energies and most ardent efforts into working for their daily bread, to make a living to provide for themselves, and their families.

This is good and worthy of every true believer, and it is even commanded in the Scriptures, that he who will not work, will not eat. The problem here is that providing for ourselves and our families is never to be our highest motivation in life because all of these “necessary” things, pale in comparison to the great commission God has called each of us to.

So, here comes Jesus, asking Peter to move his boat a little offshore, so that the multitudes could be fed with the written and Living word of God. It is worthy of note that the very same boat Peter used to make his living is the one that Jesus now uses in bringing souls to God.

This shows in unmistakable terms that the priorities of these disciples were, at the very least, partially inverted at that time, with work and family coming first, and the interests of Christ’s kingdom coming second.

This inversion of priorities is currently to be found in most Christians today, as some become consumed with paying the bills, supporting their families, and fighting off inflation.

Therefore, as Jesus arrives on the scene, He gently seeks to correct their inverted priorities, and He begins to preach to the multitudes, who were then pressing upon Him to hear the word of God.

There were more important matters at hand, other than working for their daily bread, and thus, Jesus rose to the occasion and deals with that which must be of the utmost importance to the you and me, in the here and now.

One of the reasons why some Christians may fish all night and catch nothing, is because of the inverted priorities in their lives, where the interests of God’s kingdom are an afterthought, and working for your daily bread, absorbs your best energies.

So, again, to the casual reader, it may seem as if The Son of God is oblivious to His disciple’s failures, and instead of first dealing with their temporal concerns, He addresses that which is most important in life, the salvation of souls. Remember, our first passage says My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways, my ways. Let’s read:

Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and asked him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Now when he had finished speaking, he said unto Simon, launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: never-the-less at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net broke.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees saying, depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

This leads us to the main subject matter which we’ll try to unpack today. God was just about to deliver Israel from Egyptian slavery, and God was looking for a particular king, with a particular mindset that would fit the bill, without God forcing him to do that which he would not otherwise have done.

In other words, He needs a stupid, stubborn king on the throne, at such a time as this, and lo and behold He finds a knuckle head, who is in the habit of not listening to anybody. This particular pharaoh would not listen to God, he will not listen to Moses, and he does not even listen to his own magicians.

But, believe it or not, this is actually the kind of person God is looking for, to fit the bill, and, even though God would give him, equal opportunity just like anyone else, this pharaoh will use his freedom of choice to resist, and resist, and resist. Egypt will be brought to ruins, the land will be devastated, and yet, he will continue to resist.

In the process, he will bury his own firstborn and he will still resist; his magicians would plead with him, and he will still resist, the entire land will be plunged into mourning and he will still resist, in so much that we had to coin him a name: “Brother Resistance”

Most folks, especially the Hebrews, would be hard pressed to agree with God in His choice of this King, for there would be collateral damage and suffering to God’s people, they will be thrown into a season of great distress, yet, because God’s thoughts aren’t like ours, He chooses this particular pharaoh so as to accomplish His good purposes towards Israel. Let’s read:

Exodus 1:8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.

10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falls out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor.

14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigor.

15 And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

16 And he said, when ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

Exodus 9: 16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?

23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field.

34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses.

Some may be wondering what’s the purpose of this study. The fact is that sacred history teaches us that there are times and there will be times when we too may not agree with God and thus, we are instructed to walk by faith alone, trusting in Him, knowing that he knows what He is doing.

In order for earth’s probation to finally come to a close, and in order for the mark of the beast to be instituted in America, God would be looking for a particular person with a particular mindset who, like pharaoh, would bring great distress to God’s people, and because of this many of us might not agree with what God might permit in the near future.

The issue of worship stands front, and center of the prophecies in Revelation 13 and 14, and therefore, a dear leader who is obsessed with human praise may be the very one God is looking for to fit the bill.

No one knows what will eventuate, but just in case your expectations and hopes are dashed to pieces; just in case your comfort zone gets disrupted, know for a certainty that God’s ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts our thoughts, and who knows, He may just permit some things that we may not agree with.

God has not called us primarily to agree with Him, but rather to obey Him, and obedience, at such a time as this, when things seem to be going off the rails on several fronts, is the time when we need to understand that God is still on His throne.

Whenever it might seem to us that God is going off- script, that is the very time when we’ll need to trust Him most. The Christian walk is a walk by faith, for if we were to understand everything God does, and if we were to agree with every move He makes, then we would not need any faith.

But faith trusts God where we cannot trace Him and obedience to His every word and instruction at such a time when we might not see the future clearly, as He does is a must, for it’s only the mind of faith that will be prepared for what might be coming upon the earth in short order.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will encourage us to walk by faith in God alone, as we trust His every move, for his thoughts and ways are higher than ours, as much as the heavens are higher than the earth. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

                                  God Bless!

How To Interact With Gay Relatives. Sabbath afternoon 06/08/2024

            How To Interact with Gay Family

                            Sabbath afternoon

                                  06/08/2024

1st Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

It’s all around us now, we cannot avoid it any longer, and legislators in high and low places are putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. Whether we like it or not, we will find ourselves having to interact with gay, or LGBTQ family members and friends, some more, some less, in many cases, sooner or later.

And, what we do, what we say, and our approach to such a sensitive issue within the church, and within the family circle, could go a long way in paving the way for redemption in such instances, for the tenor of the Bible, is to try to save to the uttermost. Thus, we will need the Scriptural approach in handling the issue in a Christlike manner.

Not only have gay marriages been legalized by the highest courts of the land, but the clergy in high and low places are coming on board with what could be described as the new normal. The prominent church leaders of the day have all but endorsed it, and now, as the pressure mounts in public, and private places, it becomes even more important that we address it.

It is a very sensitive issue that some pastors, elders, and clergy prefer not to touch, not even with a ten- foot pole, and because of this, the devil has been running around scotch free, putting his own spin on the issue, while very many Christians prefer to stay numb, because of the potential for retribution, as is so often the case.

Thus, many in the Christian arena are at a loss as to how to interact with gay family members or friends, since in many cases there is only one version of the narrative on the table. But now, the time has fully come for God’s will on the issue to be stated clearly, so that persons may have some direction as to how to navigate the matter.

Recently, in a 692-51 vote, the leaders of one of the largest protestant churches in America threw their support behind gay marriage, thus allowing bishops and clergy to marry into same sex marriage thereby following closely in the footsteps of many churches and denominations that have now embraced it.

The United Methodist church had spent many years fussing and fighting over the issue of gay marriages, but as the pressure of gradualism mounted, persons buckled, and the church’s legislative body signaled it was willing to succumb to the sheer force of popular majority opinions.

At first there was much resistance to gay marriage, but with the passage of time, as more and more of their members clamored for acceptance, the waves of change overwhelmed the church leaders, so that when it came to a head, almost all voted in favor of it, as we stated before, a vote of 692-51.

And, it is now in our own backyard, for even though persons many have different persuasions, the fact is that the phenomenon has entered our churches and is forcing individuals and families to confront what is an emerging reality, that close relatives, and friends might be gay, or LGBTQ, and as such, we should be willing to follow Biblical instructions on the matter.

Mothers, and fathers of gay, or LGBTQ children will especially need to pay attention to the Bible study today, because it is a very delicate matter that must be handled with great care and wisdom that is born of God.

The following are just a few of the questions, issues, and situations persons in our day will have to reckon with, as more and more family members and friends will declare their sexual orientation to be out of the ordinary, and not in harmony with the gold standard written in the Bible.

[1] How to interact in a Christlike manner with one who embraces a philosophy on marriage you might not necessarily agree with.

[2] How to respect that person’s freedom of choice, when it differs greatly to yours.

[3] Should parents and family members attend a gay wedding, of a son or daughter?

[4] How to deal with the situation when it is under your own roof.

[5] How should the remnant people of God address the issue as it comes to our doorsteps.

[6] Should gay persons and relatives be accepted as they are into the remnant church?

[7] Should they be expected to remain gay, since, as is stated by some experts some folks were born with alternative tendencies, due to no fault of their own, and if so, should change be urged upon them?

[8] Is being gay or LGBTQ solely the result of learned behaviors, or can it be a scientifically proven reality, that some persons are born with those tendencies.

 [9] Finally, what does The Lord have to say on the matter in question, especially since many segments of our society are currently teeming with gay, and LGBTQ individuals?

These are just a few of the haunting questions, and concerns the remnant people would have to grapple with even as we seek to win souls to God’s kingdom, for there is no doubt that we have reached a sort of crossroads, as it pertains to managing the mission of the church in an increasingly changing world. Let’s read:

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

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

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

The mission of the church is clearly stated by Jesus, even though in our day it’s becoming more of a fine, delicate, balancing act, between our love for souls, while at the same time not watering down the truth in order to be socially, and politically correct.

To begin with, one of the major issues some people and Christians do struggle with, is determining, and understanding whether being gay is the result of a deliberate choice, a learned behavior, or a genetic issue that may be beyond one’s control. These are very sensitive topics, and they must be dealt with prudently.

Thus, as we study the word of God on these issues, with the purpose of the mission in mind, and as we seek the salvation of family, friends, and associates, who may be gay or involved in alternative lifestyles, it becomes clear that we will have to learn from the Scriptures, “How to Interact with Gay Relatives”

In doing so, a few fundamental parameters must be set in order for courtesy, dialogue, counsel and most of all, salvation from God to be possible.

[1] Mutual respect, in the context of courtesy.

Mutual respect is a must, for any conversation, and dialogue to take place. The tendency to look down on gay persons as second-class citizens, or to treat them with contempt and scorn, will effectively close the door to any cordial interaction.

People are not stupid, and if the Christian harbors a cold un-Christlike spirit towards them, persons will sense it, and will most likely respond in like manner. When Christ walked this earth, He manifested a love towards those who were not in harmony with God’s will, and that includes all of us. Jesus’ love could be seen and felt by all who He came in contact with.

Jesus did not sanction wrong in any way, shape, or form, but He always took a genuine interest in their spiritual, and physical wellbeing, and for this reason, harlots, and sinners like Zacchaeus and Mary, were never turned off by His presence, but were rather attracted to Him.

The ways in which gay people are treated will go a long way in opening doors to conversations on the matter, and it may be, that some are having a truly hard and difficult time trying to come to grips with themselves. Thus, the Christian should be ready and willing to treat with mutual respect, everyone who comes into our sphere of influence. 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, believeth all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

[The D.A. pp. 353] Christ Himself did not suppress one word of truth, but He spoke it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact, and thoughtful, kind attention in His intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness.

On the flip side of the coin, gay family members and friends should display mutual respect, if other folks may differ in their persuasions. The word “Mutual” means to have a common understanding, or action between two or more persons, and especially in the context of courtesy.

Therefore, we should respect the views, opinions, and perspectives of those whose actions might not necessarily be in harmony with what the word of God says.

[2] Respecting one’s freedom of choice.

Next, the Christian must always be willing to respect a person’s God- given freedom of choice. The genius of Christianity is that it allows persons of different persuasions to live on the same street.

We are free moral agents, and it is true that persons use that freedom to choose good or evil. Thus, we must be very careful not to encroach upon another person’s choices, if we may choose to do differently.

Both straight and gay, adult family members should respect the God-given freedom of choice, and even though efforts should be made for the salvation of one and all, yet, there’s a red line drawn in the sand over which we must never cross.

God could have forced Eve not to eat of the fruit, or He could have prevented Adam from making that fatal mistake, but He doesn’t deal in the currency of force. That belongs to satan’s kingdom, and thus, if a person is not persuaded, they could be prayed for, at the same time leaving their choice untrammeled. Let’s read:

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

[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.

[3] Attending weddings of family members who are gay.

This particular issue is very delicate, because it has the potential to divide families for life, and thus, it is to be approached with the understanding. If a son or daughter who is gay, invites parents, and family members to their wedding, the families reserve the right to choose to go, or to refrain from doing so.

It goes back to the former issues we discussed, as it pertains to respecting your God-given freedom of choice. However, the question of whether or not God will be pleased with such a course of action, is another matter altogether.

The fact of the matter is that, as a Christian, there are certain things you would not be able to do and participate in and there are certain places, functions or celebrations that you cannot be involved with in a clear conscience. That’s just a fact of Christianity, without any bad feelings.

When Balaam invited the Hebrews to the worship of the Moabites they went, and by their presence they showed their support for what was transpiring, even if they did not actually bow down to idols, for one’s presence can stand as a silent witness, in favor of an action, which, in their innermost souls, they might not necessarily agree with. Let’s read:

Numbers 25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.

2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.

3 And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.

When God gave to the human family, the institution of marriage, He did not stipulate that those who get married will have to be believers. The stipulation is that marriage must be conducted between one man and one woman. That includes the Muslim man, the Hindu man, the Buddhist man the Christian man, or an atheist man. Let’s read:

Genesis 2: 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

God originally ordained marriage between one man and his female wife and thus, even if one were to be unequally yoked in that original format, the parents, and family members can still attend. They might not agree with the union, but because it falls within the Scriptural stipulation of one man to his female wife, your attendance can pass the smell test.

In the instance with Samson, who insisted on being unequally yoked, the parents did attend his wedding after remonstrating against his course of action. And by so doing, they voiced their concerns, yet honored the institution of God-ordained marriage, because it took place within the framework of one man and his wife. Let’s read:

Judges 14:1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.

2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.

3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, get her for me; for she pleases me well.

5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath….

10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.

However, attending a gay marriage is different, for by one’s presence, a silent statement of approval is made as it pertains to same-sex unions and God will be displeased with such a course of action, on the part of the attendees, because by so doing, the very foundation of original marriage, and family life will be greatly undermined.

The invitation to the gay marriage is given to secure your support, not your disfavor and therefore, if you were to accept and attend, it can, and will be taken for granted at face value, that you are in favor of the union that is to take place.

Recently, in the trial of the former president Trump, several senators and the speaker of the house, Mike Johnson, showed up in court to show their support. Even though they did not say a word in court, their presence spoke for itself, and thus, the mere fact that they were present, suggested to the observer that they were backing him.

Similarly, if parents and family members showed up for a same-sex wedding, they would, by their very presence be sending a message of support, and this will put them at odds with the God of heaven, since it goes against the original institution of marriage.

Especially will this issue be thorny for parents of the gay persons, who will now be facing the prospect of having to walk down the aisle, to give their son, or a daughter to a person of the same sex. Parents, and family members who honor God will have to humbly bow out, while explaining kindly that conscience will be violated in the process. Let’s read:

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you.

25 And the land is defiled: therefore, I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomits out her inhabitants.

26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourns among you.

Now, we must be very careful with the word that is used in the above verses where it says abomination, for this does not mean that there is no hope for any such individual. There are other sins that are labeled as abominations too, and therefore, the salvation of God could, and would take care of all abominations wherever the criteria and prerequisites are met. Let’s read:

Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him.

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.

Therefore, family ties do not necessarily have to be severed just because of a same sex marriage; it just means that there are limits to which the Christian parents, and family members can safely go, without incurring the displeasure of God or without violating one’s conscience.

And we will often discover in our sojourn down here on this earth, that there will be times when we will have to choose between our love for God, and love for family members. This is just the plain truth in its unadulterated form.

There are times, and there would be times when definitive choices in favor of God will have to be made, even if doing so might put us at odds with family and friends. Let’s read:

Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me.

The word of God must never be tampered with, for doing so carries the stiffest penalties to those who dare. Persons may be torn by feelings, or conflicting emotions, and Christian parents might shed bitter tears and pray earnest prayers, but the word of God must never be interfered with, for any reason.

The days of that smooth, easy-going Christianity, in which persons went along for the joy ride, without having to make any serious decisions in favor of the truth, that would put them at odds with others, are over.

Everything that the Christian does, and all of our interactions with persons, and family members of different persuasions, and sexual orientations, must be done in love.

But when the sentiments, philosophies, or practices of the popular majorities, put us at cross purposes with the word of God, we will have to defer to the Bible, while at the same time, we hope and we pray earnestly for members of our own family. This leads us to the crux of our study for today.    

In the scriptures we have examples of how we must interact with persons who are dealing with issues of alternative sexual orientations. Because we are all sinners, saved by God’s grace, the same tender love and mercy Christ has manifested towards us, should also characterize our relations.

There was a time when the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were invaded by kings, and the people of the cities were taken captive, together with Lot, and his family, who were at that time residents. Then, as Abraham got wind of it, he chased after the invaders after praying about it, and God granted him a major victory.

It was not merely Lot and his family alone that were then rescued; all the men, women and children who resided in the twin cities were delivered, and since God is the one who granted the victory, He thereby shows us that we are to treat with compassion, and dignity, each member of the human family, whether they be friends or relatives, in alternative lifestyles.

The kings of Sodom were truly grateful and by God’s direct intervention in their behalf, He opened up the door for reconciliation, if they were thus inclined. A Christianity which only treats others well when they agree with us, is not the brand found in the Bible. If God were to deal thus with us, none of us would be saved. Let’s read:

Psalms 103: 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

Mark 2: 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, how is it that he eats and drinks with publicans and sinners?

17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, they that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Thus, Abraham would follow in God’s footsteps, of a uniform and mutual courtesy, manifesting that same Christlike spirit, in all his interactions with the men of Sodom. He didn’t rescue Lot and leave the others to perish, but instead, worked for their benefit, and wellbeing, without bias. Let the unadulterated word of God speak for itself. Let’s read:

Genesis 14:1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;

2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most-high God.

19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most-high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

20 And blessed be the most-high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the Most-high God,  the possessor of heaven and earth,

23 That I will not take from a thread, even to a shoe latchet and that I will not take anything that’s yours.

Again, when the angels came to destroy Sodom, and Gomorrah, it was the Christian, even Abraham who interceded for the twin cities. He did not just leave them to perish without an effort on his part for their salvation. And therefore, we too are instructed by his example, to pray for our relatives, and friends who are dealing with the same issues. Let’s read:

Genesis 18: 20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Will thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes.

28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Again, after it was made manifest that the probation of Sodom was closed, Lot also addressed the men of the city courteously, who were bent on “interfering” with the two angels. Lot didn’t call them names, nor did he call down a curse upon them. He also did not water down the word of God, but at the same time, he also dealt in a courteous manner. Let’s read:

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;

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.

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 do wickedly.

This leads us to our final instruction on how we are to interact with gay relatives or friends. If gay family members, or persons should request baptism, we’re instructed in God’s word to grant equal opportunity, wherever the Scriptural criteria are met, just as we do with straight folk.

Salvation was never made for straight persons only, but also for every member of the human family with all of our various issues. Cultural biases, prejudices, and preferences, are to be laid aside, and we are to see in all persons, the potential for them to become the sons and daughters of God.

As we stated before the word of God must never be watered down nor should it be manipulated to cater to the clamors of the flesh. Yet, the invitation should always be extended to everyone. Let the Scripture speak for itself. Let’s read:

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

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

In our day currently, with the legalization of same sex marriage, we are confronted with the issue of designation, meaning that alternative lifestyles are not being acknowledged as being contrary to God’s word, and thus, if it is not considered as wrong, the need for any repentance goes out of the window.

Yet, this conundrum should not cause the Christian to close the gates of salvation against all who may be thus inclined, for as long as Christ is seated in the sanctuary in heaven, there is hope for humanity.

We are also to bear in mind the issue of the genetic factors, and thus, let us be careful not to turn away any soul who may be earnestly seeking for Christ’s salvation and deliverance.

The grace of Christ is capable, and also structured to handle any given situation, including genetic factors as well as learned behaviors. David’s problem with women could have been both genetic and a learned behavior, yet, at the end of the day he finally got the victory through Christ.

Zaccheaus was suffering with learned behaviors, but salvation came to his house, and he will most likely be saved in God’s kingdom. In fact, most of us who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, come with some type of baggage of learned behaviors, and we too have either cultivated or inherited tendencies to evil.

Therefore, if there are gay families and friends who  have learned behaviors that aren’t condoned in the Bible, that is not something new, it is just a different kind of behavior that needs the grace of God, just as the other behaviors, and genetic factors do.

Therefore, in dealing with the sensitive issue of how to interact with gay relatives and friends, let mercy and grace go before us, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save, that which was lost. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture which reminds us that God is still in the business of doing salvation, and we as His servants should harbor the same perspective as He does. Let’s read:

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

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

                                  God Bless!

Trapped In 666. Sabbath afternoon 06/01/2024

Revelation 13:16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.

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

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.

If after doing this Bible study, persons still decide to follow Jesus, you most likely would not fall when the shaking peaks in intensity. That is because we must come to grips with the ramifications of that which is written in our first passage, and if after doing so, we decide to stay the course with Christ, then we most likely will be saved in God’s kingdom.

Whatever might be our positions in life, we should always keep in mind that we are pilgrims, passing through this world, and headed for the new earth in which dwells righteousness. And as such, the pilgrim mindset should pervade everything we do, with all of our choices, and decisions being guided by that perspective, that we’re just passing through.

As we all know, the mark of the beast, 666, the issue of buying and selling that is mentioned in our first passage, is directly tied to the institution of the false system of worship that is scheduled to be enforced through increasingly severer economic sanctions on those who will refuse to bow down.

And because no one knows what will unfold during the next election, it is of critical importance that we examine very closely, the nuts and bolts of what is being prophesied in Revelation 13, just in case the final movements become be rapid ones in our day.

This ain’t no joke, for according to the Scriptures, it will draw a distinct dividing line between those who serve and worship God, and those who don’t. As of yet the line of demarcation is blurred, but as trouble develops upon the face of the earth, and we may be faced with an ultimatum very strange developments will take place.

Later on, as the heat of the furnace would be turned up several notches, it will move from enforcements of economic sanctions, to an all-out assault on folks who will refuse to succumb to the beast’s system of worship and governance, and then, it will culminate finally in a death decree, for anyone, and everyone who refuses to comply or subscribe.

This will plunge the people of God into that time of Jacob’s trouble, mentioned in the Bible, and which is also described by the prophet Daniel, as being the time of trouble, such as never was, since there was a nation. Everyone living on the planet will be in for some type of trouble, but we’ll focus on the people of God, who should refuse to bow.

The disciples in Christ’s day had questions for Jesus concerning the signs pertaining to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the end of the world, because the two issues needed some clarification in their minds.

Thus, as Jesus responded to the disciples’ questions pertaining to the destruction of Jerusalem anciently, and the end of the world, Jesus addressed the two events at the same time, elaborating on that which will take place just prior to His second coming, and that which was to befall the city of Jerusalem, when Cestius and Titus would invade it. Let’s read:

Matthew 24:3 And as Jesus sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them take heed that no man deceives you.

The reason why Christ began His response with the warning against deception, is because, not only will secular persons be deceived, but the very remnant of God’s people would also be in serious danger of misunderstanding the grave nature of events which are scheduled to take place just before the close of human probation, and thereafter. Let’s read:

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25 Behold, I have told you before.

A failure to fully come to grips with the magnitude of the ordeal that is prophesied could cause folks to be lulled into a false sense of security and therefore, when the gravity of the situation unfolds many of us may not expect things to go downhill so quickly, and others would be forced into serious reckoning as we grapple with the only two options on the table.

These two options are made clear in Revelation 13:

[1] Serve God at the cost of being cut off from every earthly support, with the possibility of forfeiting life and all material possessions.

[2] Subscribe to the beast’s system of worship, and have your economic privileges preserved or in some cases, reinstated, as the case will sadly turn out to be.

Even though Jesus has given us great, and precious promises to live by during that awful time, yet it will be a period of severe anguish and turmoil, for those who choose stay the course with Christ. And there’s serious preparation, as far as us cultivating the right perspectives, as well as character building, to take place.

Hence the reason why persons are encouraged, and warned not to become entangled and overwhelmed with the things of this world so that the time spoken of would come upon us unawares. Let’s read:

Luke 21: 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The warning given in the previous passage raises the prospect that some persons could, and will become trapped in 666, the beast’s system of worship, since in many instances, folks would have failed to count the cost.

The fundamentals of the beast system spoken of are already in place and it is just a matter of time before God would permit the prophecies to come to pass. In fact, when the sealing of God’s servants in their foreheads will have finished, God’s restraining order, which has so far allowed the inhabitants of earth to have some semblance of sanity, will be permanently removed. Let’s read:

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

As Jesus was going through some of the gory details of that time with His disciples, He suddenly made an interjection that seemed to come out of the blue, by inserting these words: “Remember Lot’s wife”.

And since they were given in the context of the last great struggle to take place upon the earth, we owe it to ourselves to investigate what Christ meant why He uttered those words. As we peruse the following passages, pay attention to the sudden placement of the statement in question. Let’s read:

Luke 17: 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

32 Remember Lot's wife.

Some persons hurriedly write off Lot’s wife as being too materialistic without giving her a fair shake as to why she had reacted the way she did, albeit a wrong reaction. But to dismiss her summarily, would be to make a grave mistake, not considering the reasons why Jesus says to “Remember Lot’s wife”

Think about it for a moment folks, of all the faithful people mentioned in the Bible, Jesus bypasses them all, and reaches back into sacred history and focuses on one person only. There are faithful persons who went through great tribulation, such as Job, Daniel, and the three Hebrew boys.

Yet none of these are not mentioned in the context of the last great conflict upon planet earth. It’s Lot’s wife alone who is singled out by Christ, and because of this, we owe it to ourselves to understand why, in the context of being trapped in 666.

If we were to put ourselves in her shoes, many of us might come up short too, because, if Christ saw it fit to make the insertion in the middle of the prophecy, it means then that the prospect is before us of Lot’s wife’s experience being repeated or even duplicated if 666 becomes goes from prophecy to reality in our day.

Lot, and his wife were basically good people, who were practicing the benevolence that is encouraged and endorsed in the Bible. When Lot brought those two strangers to his home, it is stated in the Bible that he prepared a hearty meal for them.

And no doubt, his wife most likely also participated in the kindness thus shown, just like when Abraham asked Sarah to help in the preparing of food for the three strangers, whom he also invited in. Thus, it is a reasonable conclusion to make that both Lot and his wife were good people, actively practicing Christian virtues on a continuum. Let’s read:

Genesis 19: 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, No; 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.

This shows good character on the part of both Lot, and his wife, and they are to be commended for it, but the fact is that habitual kindness is not sufficient to deal with what is being spoken of in Revelation 13. You will need more than just good character, for there are serious, deliberate decisions to be made, prior to that time.

As the narrative goes, Lot only realized afterwards, that the two guests whom he had entertained were angels, and then, in mercy to his family, the angels of God gave them all a golden opportunity to make their escape, whilst they could.

Thus, Lot went out to his family who lived in Sodom, to bring them the breaking news, that they should leave immediately, as per the dire warning given by the angels.

The record tells us that he was met with failure, and scorn, and so, Lot was left no choice, but to turn his back on his daughters together with their husbands, and possibly his sons and grandchildren, for the very last time. It was a very sad day indeed. Let’s read:

Genesis 19: 12 And the men said unto Lot, have you here any besides? sons in law and your sons and thy daughters and whatsoever you have in the city bring them out of this place.

14 And Lot went out, and spoke unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

As Lot returns home on that lonely road, he ponders their fate, he sheds many bitter tears, but finally, he is able to regroup and catch himself as he takes little comfort in the fact that at least he had tried his best to warn them so that although their situation would be greatly regrettable, he did say something.

And now, he approaches his own front door, and as he enters, he relates to the angels the sad story of his abject failure, as his kids were not convinced of his last sermon. The angels also manifest sadness too, but then they utter what was to be a startling command, coming from God, that now it was Lot’s turn to do as he preached.

A bland look of dismay, and shock now envelops the countenances of both Lot and his wife, as they listen in utter disbelief, and try to digest the implication of that command. They now go into a full-blown panic mode, as they try to make sense of what the angels are saying.

They most likely suggested first to the angels that, at the very least they should be allowed to take their basic essentials and personal important documents with them, such as passports, birth certificates and credit cards, and their GPS so that they could then navigate where they were going. But the request is refuted in a passage of Scripture, that we too would do well to ponder. Let’s read:

Mark 13: 14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him who reads understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains.

15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter therein, to take anything out of his house.

Next, they probably asked that they should take at least one change of clothes since the warm weather in that climate will cause them to sweat profusely. But again, that request is refuted by a passage of Scripture, that we too would do well to ponder. Let’s read:

Mark 13: 16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again to take up his garment.

Thus far, the first two very probable requests, being refuted by the scripture, had caused them to scratch their heads in disbelief and had caused Lot to stroke his beard nervously, but after a while, it seems as if both of them reluctantly acquiesce.

But now, Lot, and his wife bring forth the title deed to their home which they had worked so hard to pay for all of their lives and they make what they believe is the final and most reasonable request that should not be denied.

They suggest that they should at least be able to sell their luxurious home first, even if it has to be sold at a deeply discounted price, so that they would have the wherewithal to survive, wherever they might be headed.

The fact that there was very great hesitation on the part of both Lot and his wife, leads us to the logical conclusion, because after husbands and wives have worked hard all their lives to pay off their mortgage, it obviously would be a great struggle to walk away from a home that is owned free and clear.

Furthermore, to remove to a place where there’s no home, not even for rent, will present a conundrum that few persons are prepared to confront and thus, according to Christ’s warning about Lot’s wife, many persons could, and would become trapped in 666.

Think about their conundrum for a moment, for if you have to leave in a hurry, at the bare minimum, you would like to sell your home, even if it is sold at a loss, but again the two angels refuse their request, referring them to a passage of Scripture that we will do well to ponder. That passage is actually the first opening verses to our study for today. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:17 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.

And now, a deep frown develops on the faces of Lot and his wife, for they feel that they should not have to leave their beautiful paid off mansion, to some stranger in Sodom, for they had worked hard all of their lives to pay for it and now it’s theirs.

A feeling of resentment begins to pervade the living room, where there are comfy couches, and chairs, with expensive furniture all around, the fruits of a lifetime’s worth of labor.

And Lot’s wife, in particular is fuming mad, because she believes that the angels are being unreasonable, and giving them a raw deal. In her innermost soul, she complains, and murmurs of them being given the short end of the stick.

And they hate the thought, that they cannot even put up their belongings on Offer-up or on Craigslist. Thus, they hesitate and hesitate, and they dilly dally, and dilly dally, until in desperation, the angels grab them by their arms and start to run, and the rest is history. Let’s read:

Genesis 19: 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain escape to the mountain lest you be consumed.

18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord.

Many individuals who might face a similar scenario would most likely put up a serious fight, for in their minds, no man, or government is going to trample their rights and take their home sweet home, which was paid for with blood, sweat and tears. And, for this reason, some will be in grave danger of being trapped in 666.

It is one thing not to be able to buy, but not to be able to sell, raises the stakes significantly. And thus, when it comes crunch time, when persons will have to face the cold hard facts in the matter, they would be facing the grim prospect of having to walk away from their homes, after having struggled to pay off their mortgage. It is a very grim prospect indeed. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.

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

Many persons who have read these two verses over and over again, probably don’t have a clue as to the terrible ordeal that may be just before us, for many who read these passages often focus on the buying part of the law that would be enforced.

But the selling part, which Lot and his wife had a big problem with, many individuals may not have even considered, and for this reason, some persons are in danger of being trapped in 666, having not counted, or considered the cost. Let’s read:

[Testimonies Vol. 5 pp 712] There is a prospect before us of a continued struggle, at the risk of imprisonment, loss of property, and even of life itself, to defend the law of God, which is made void by the laws of men.

In this situation worldly policy will urge an outward compliance with the laws of the land, for the sake of peace and harmony. And there are some who will even urge such a course from the Scripture: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.... The powers that be are ordained of God.”

There are at least three stark similarities between Lot and his wife, and the remnant people of God, living in Laodicea today. Here they are:

[1] Like Lot and his wife had worked hard to pay off their home, just so many Christians in our day have also worked hard, and some have indeed struggled to pay off their mortgage. And like Lot, many folks now own their homes, free and clear. Let’s read:

Luke 17: 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built.

[Patriarchs & Prophets 160] It was hard to forsake his luxurious home and all the wealth acquired by the labors of his whole life, to go forth a destitute wanderer. Stupefied with sorrow, he lingered, loath to depart.

[2] Lot either did not believe or understand what he was preaching. And in some cases, we ourselves, as the remnant people of God, may not really believe, or understand what we are preaching. Let’s read:

Matthew 24:15 When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whosoever reads, let him understand:)

16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.

17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house.

18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

[3] It was the crisis, of having to suddenly separate from material things, that laid bare where the heart of Lot and his wife was, and it is in the crisis that is, portrayed in Revelation 13 that the truth about our own selves would be made manifest.

There is nowhere written in the Scriptures where it says that the institution of 666 would be something that is gradual in nature. In all of the passages which pertain to this matter there’s an issue of suddenness just as lot and his wife were suddenly faced with the prospect of separating themselves from loved ones and possessions immediately.

And recent history in the likes of Covid has shown us how quickly things can deteriorate across the earth. In that episode, which it is quite possible, was a dry run, normal everyday living was upended on short notice, and we went to zero in a matter of days. So, the sudden aspect of the institution of 666 cannot be overlooked. Let’s read:

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

Mark 13: 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight or at the cockcrowing or in the morning

 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

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

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

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape.

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

As it stands currently, it costs us virtually nothing to follow Jesus, for after singing His praises, we return to our comfy homes, just like Lot and his wife. But if, and when the tables were to turn, and persons are suddenly facing the prospect of leaving it all behind, some may be singing a very different tune.

The issues before us are so great that Peter had to  ask Christ about the commitment to put God first in our affections, and the temporal, material things of earth after. As we read Christ’s response to Peter’s direct question, we’ll observe that Christ pinpoints houses, before He mentions people.

Lot surrendered his family first, albeit he was very sad, but when it came to his home sweet home, he and his wife had a major problem with letting it go. It is worthy of note that the tenth commandment, which deals with covetousness, also has houses at the head of the list of the things that should not be coveted, and it then moves on to people. Let’s read:

Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox nor his ass nor anything that is thy neighbor's.

Matthew 19: 27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

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

What God is teaching us through the experiences of Lot and his wife is that while time still lingers we can go ahead and enjoy, and share with others, the gifts God bestows upon us, in the material things of this life.

But, be very, very careful of becoming too attached to them, so that we cannot separate ourselves from them, whenever the time comes, and the time may be coming, sooner rather than later.

The Lord is also teaching us to be totally dependent on Him, for the final conflict, which will usher in the beast’s system of 666, will entirely sever from us the material things of this life, and the support systems that we have all become so accustomed to, over the years.

Trusting in God for everything that pertains to life is not something that comes to us overnight like those packages from Amazon. It takes time, and real living experiences to learn how to let go, and let God. this is an integral part of the Elijah experience, and the message we preach.

At the brook Cherith, Elijah trusted in God for all of his needs, and God supplied whatever he needed to survive. It was not only food and water that Elijah had to depend on God for. He also trusted God for his security, his well-being, any medical emergency that may have arisen, and the clothes on his back. All without exception were provided by God.

Thus, the instances in our experiences when we are led to trust in God alone, without any human aid, or material props, should be greatly treasured, and not looked upon as a negative, because we would need a living, breathing experience with The Lord to avoid being trapped in 666.

God understands that the home is in most cases our largest investment, and material asset, and He also understands in most cases, that the effort to pay for it could truly be a great struggle, even though doing so should not be our highest aim in life.

Yet when the time comes for us to leave it all behind He would have us understand that we would be in a transitioning phase, from this world to the next, and as such, the material possessions of this life will no longer be needed.

More than this, our love for God should at all times take priority over our love for the gifts He bestows, and thus, when we cultivate this perspective, it will become much easier to surrender all, in the most literal sense, rather than becoming being trapped in 666.

In harmony with this truth, we’ll end with a passage of scripture that should help us to hold all material possessions, including our homes, in a subordinate manner, keeping the fact that we are just pilgrims, always in view, while we are learning to trust in God for everything. Let’s read:

1st John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides forever.

                                    God Bless!

The Final Conflict Between Good And Evil. Sabbath afternoon 04/27/2024

Revelation 12: 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath because he knows that he hath but a short time.

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

As a general rule, we try to avoid doing cute Bible studies, where smooth things are spoken to soothe itching ears. Those watered down truths which are tailormade to suit the masses of people, and those cute doctrines that do not stir the conscience, nor awaken persons to the urgency of the moment, are to be strictly avoided, by persons who are called to preach the everlasting Gospel to our generation.

Our first passage tells us that as the final conflict of the ages looms into view, devils will rage as roaring lions, and because they know their time is short, it is inevitable that the heat of the furnace will soon be turned up several notches, with the remnant people of God being the special targets of attack.

So, if you find that your troubles are increasing quite significantly of late, if you have recently observed a spike in the number of attacks against your person, and if there is an unusual amount of difficulties, and trials heading your way, know for sure that the devil will be targeting the remnant people of God, as his universal rule is challenged.

Especially will this be the case with persons who are preaching the straight unadulterated truths for this generation, which expose and identify error, and in turn point earth’s teeming multitudes to the truths of God’s word.

So, basically in a nutshell, if you are a true remnant currently, you must understand that the devil would be coming after you with a baseball bat, to put it in layman’s terms. This statement is not a figment of our imagination, it’s just the plain old truth, verified via sacred history, through the annals of time.

Our first passage specifies who are the main objects of the dragon’s ire. It’s not the popular majority who are already doing his bidding, it is the few remnants who are keeping alive the knowledge of God on the earth. The presence of God-fearing persons upon the earth presents a persistent nagging problem for the dragon, and this enrages him exceedingly.

Thus, all who make a conscious decision to live in harmony with the law of God, become the objects of his wrath. Basically, that’s what our first passage is saying in a nutshell. The serpent went after Abel for the sole reason that he obeyed God.

He went after Joseph for the same reason, for when it was made manifest that he could not overthrow him with his snares and devices, he employed the use of force as his last resort. He went after Job for the same reason, for the Bible tells us that Job was a just and upright man, who obviously obeyed God by keeping His commandments.

He went after the three Hebrew boys, and Daniel for the very same reason, because he couldn’t get them to bow, or eat forbidden foods. He went after John the Baptist, he went after all of the disciples and last but not least the serpent vented his rage against the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Therefore, our first passage in Revelation does not reveal something new, it’s just a culmination of the historical pattern of angst against all who choose the ways of God. That’s just the raw facts in the matter.

The enemy of souls isn’t too worried about those in his camp already, he is focusing his attention on the few who are resisting his rule, and according to that last verse in Revelation 12, the individuals who keep the commandments of God are to expect a military campaign against them as the final conflict between good and evil intensifies.

This is not meant to scare anyone, because Christ is our hope of eternal salvation, and He has made us a very solemn promise to be with us till the end of the world. And since God is faithful, we can certainly be assured that He who has brought us thus far will not leave us to the mercy of devils.

But He has also put us on notice that we are not to  expect days of wine and roses ahead, because we’re now approaching the final leg of that long running marathon of salvation, and as satan sees he is losing individuals to Christ’s kingdom, he will up the ante, and employ tit for tat strategies against the remnant as per the last verse in Revelation 12. Let’s read:

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

The text is very specific, and it singles out the few, and the minority, who will be found faithful in the final conflict of the ages. The same sentiments, and truths are echoed by other prophets in the Bible, so that we need not be deceived into thinking that the trials will be a breeze. If you are thinking thus, you will be in for a very rude awakening. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 30:5 For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

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

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

The following are just a few snippets of truth which expand upon what we have already read. God will grant grace and power to meet the emerging threat but the saints will have to pray earnestly, like never before, because we are dealing with a determined, and well experienced foe. Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 147] Satan has a thousand masked batteries which will be opened upon the loyal, commandment-keeping people of God to compel them to violate conscience.

Let those who desire to be refreshed in mind and instructed in the truth study the history of the early church during and immediately following the Day of Pentecost.

Study carefully in the book of Acts the experiences of Paul and the other apostles, for God's people in our day must pass through similar experiences.

[Last Day Events pp 148] In the last great conflict in the controversy with Satan those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off. Because they refuse to break His law in obedience to earthly powers they will be forbidden to buy or sell.

Satan says ... “For fear of wanting food and clothing they will join with the world in transgressing God's law. The earth will be wholly under my dominion.”

[Last Day Events pp 173] We are in the shaking time, the time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The Lord will not excuse those who know the truth if they do not in word and deed obey His commands.

Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors. Adversity purges them out of the church. When the law of God is made void, the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.

Now that we have observed the great intensity of the conflict, let’s turn to the nature of the conflict so as to better understand what is at stake. Ever since there was war in heaven, there have been only two opposing forces operating in the universe, one is to be found under God, the other is under satan.

And the battle for the minds of individuals and men has raged back and forth ever since. But much has been done to blur the lines, so that persons would not be aware of the real issues in the conflict.

According to Revelation 12 to 14, the law of God will be front and center to the final conflict, and persons would have their allegiance registered under one of two banners, with Jesus Christ at the head of God’s kingdom of light and righteousness, and satan at the head of the kingdom of darkness and error.

There is no middle ground, no sitting on the fence, and no sitting on the sidelines. Your decisions, and choices are inevitably being baked into a character that will put persons squarely into one camp or the next.

This is the inconvenient truth that has been hidden under a bushel for too long and must now be put on the front burner of the mind. Persons can say what they want and we could claim to believe in whoever we like, but at the end of the day, choices, decisions and actions are all burnished into the character, and these determine who we are, and whose we are.

The warfare that began in heaven has never ceased, it has just shifted to this one planet, which is now at the center of final conflict. In heaven it was the law of God that was at stake, in Eden, it was God’s law that was the focus of the serpent’s foray into Adam, and Eve’s decision-making process.

And in our day, the same issue now rages back and forth on the left on the right and in the center; it all boils down to the law of God, plain and simple. Let’s start with the cause of the war in heaven. No doubt, it was covetousness that drove Lucifer and all of the angels who fell with him, to pick a fight with God.

The 10th commandment, is described as being the basis for all other sins, and it was this one that did Lucifer in, when indulged in his mind, and brought to fruition in commensurate decisions and actions. Let’s read:

Exodus 20: 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.

[Patriarchs And Prophets pp 309] The tenth commandment strikes at the very root of all sins, prohibiting the selfish desire, from which springs the sinful act. He who in obedience to God's law refrains from indulging even a sinful desire for that which belongs to another will not be guilty of an act of wrong toward his fellow creatures.

Isaiah 14: 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.

That’s covetousness in real time, and since it forms the foundation for any other sin you could possibly think of, satan uses it as the template, whenever he strikes the human family. Everything that’s currently wrong in our world today could be traced right back to its roots, which is covetousness.

Then, after being cast out of heaven with the angels who fell with him, the very same foundational sin could be traced in the strike against our first parents as he enticed them to partake of that which was not what their own.

It was not merely about some fruit, it was the law of God, and the allegiance that would be given to God through obedience, or the allegiance that would be given to the devil through disobedience. God told Adam and Eve not to touch this one tree, which He reserved for Himself, as the owner.

They could eat of the hundreds and thousands of other trees, but this one teeny weeny tree God had reserved for Himself, thus giving them the majority, and keeping only this one.

Thus, by touching and eating of it, our first parents stole the fruit, and since stealing is the byproduct of covetousness, they broke two commandments, and killed two birds with one stone, as it were.

The laws of God are always broken in pairs with the sin of covetousness being the foundation, and then satellite sins such as adultery, killing, or stealing, but one thing is certain, all roads lead to covetousness.

Later on they lied about it when approached by God and therefore, the eating of the fruit, and their lying about doing so were satellite strands of the basic sin of covetousness, which manifested itself in the word and deed. And ever since that unfortunate day, the human race has been torn between our allegiance to God, or to the serpent. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden.

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.

5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

After the fall, the same basic issue again resurfaced between Cain and Abel. God had instructed them to bring a lamb, and again, obedience would put them squarely in God’s camp. But disobedience would put Cain in the camp of the serpent, and again the same issue of covetousness resurfaces.

Cain coveted the favor of God that was shown Abel because of His obedience, and therefore, when he was reprimanded for not doing so, covetousness led him to shed innocent blood upon the earth for the very first time. Again, murder was the end resulting sin, but the foundation of Cain’s act was rooted in covetousness. Let’s read:

Genesis 4: 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an  offering unto the Lord.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.

5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7 If you do well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if you do not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Then as time went by, the Antediluvians faced the very same scenario, of whether to obey God or the devil. God’s law says you must not commit adultery, and thou shall not kill, but again, the human family found itself, for the most part on satan’s side of the issue.

Indiscriminate violence and the wanton shedding of blood characterized their era, as were the violations of the 7th commandment. When Lamech introduced polygamy to our planet it was covetousness that led him to do so. And the senseless murders which took place in Noah’s day were the result of covetousness.

And just as it was with Adam and Eve, the world was divided into two distinct camps with Noah, and the likes of Methuselah representing allegiance to God, and His law by obedience to it, and, on the flipside, those who cast aspersions on the commandments through their violations, thus giving their allegiance to satan. 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.

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.

And as we travel through the annals of time, down to our day, you have the same issues now deciding the destiny of millions, and the very same common thread of covetousness, the foundation of all sins is now to be found in all varieties, strains, and flavors.

The war between Russia and Ukraine is the result of covetousness, the drug war is the result of the same basic sin, when any man leaves his wife, and sleeps with a prostitute, it is covetousness that drives him to do so, even if he may pay for it. When one pays to indulge in coveting, it is still recorded as such.

Just because a person could afford to be covetous does not make it any less of a sin. Covetousness is an illegal desire that, when cherished, will cause a man or woman to do some very strange things.

Sam Bankman Fried employed covetousness to steal billions from cryptomaniacs, all Ponzi schemes have the same working principle at their roots, politicians    rail against each other as they covet the votes of the masses of people, and some of them will say and do whatever it takes to win.

Bernie Madoff, made off with fifty billion, from his unsuspecting victims. Unbridled credit card debt is the result of covetousness, in most instances, and the illegal harvesting of human organs from inmates is the result of covetousness.

Fraudulent advertising is the result of covetousness, fad diets abound, because persons covet the bodies of slim souls, and as persons endeavor to be like this one or that one some end up starving themselves in the process, and many throw their metabolism out of whack permanently, in some cases.

And the serpent isn’t finished with us as yet, for he is determined to sow the seeds of covetousness into the fabric of society in high and low places wherever allegiance to God is attempted.

Thus, it becomes obvious that the world has a huge problem on its hands, in the form of those continual violations of God’s law, through the foundational sin of covetousness. This brings us to our study today in which “The final conflict between good and evil” is to be decided in the valley of covetousness, versus obedience to God’s law.

When God gave humanity the Sabbath, He followed the same format as He did as when He gave Adam and Eve every other tree, but reserved this one for Himself. They could eat freely of all, except of this teeny tiny one that God had reserved for Himself.

In other words, in harmony with God’s selfless Spirit He gave them the overwhelming majority of trees to eat from while He reserved only this one as His own as stated in the Bible. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat.

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof thou shalt surely die.

The same format rings true of the Sabbath, for God has given us every other day for ourselves, but He reserves this one alone for Himself. God does not change, because His very character is to give more than He retains for Himself, so here again He gives us the overwhelming majority of days, but reserves just one for Himself.  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.

But just as it was up in heaven, in Eden, in Noah’s day, and in the here and now, humanity covets the time God has reserved for Himself, and in doing so the law of God is broken again and again.

This is the reason why the final conflict between good and evil will of necessity be centered around God’s law, for this is where our allegiance, is, and has always been decided.

The conflict over the Sabbath is centered directly in 4th and 10th commandments because covetousness will lead us to take to ourselves the sacred time that belongs to God alone, and appropriate it for uses that are contrary to the plain instructions of God.

Someway, somehow, the serpent has succeeded in causing the seventh day sabbath to be the busiest of the week, and it has almost become a no brainer for persons to run errands, go shopping, do laundry and catch up on all of the other unfulfilled secular duties over the sacred hours of the Sabbath.

Another point of contention is the perspective put forward that the ten Commandments were for the Jews only, and therefore are not binding upon those who follow Jesus. Some even point to the scriptures saying that God’s law was given at Mt Sinai and thus were for the Hebrews in particular.

There are serious problems with that perspective as we will discover, when reading the Bible, line upon line and precept upon precept. First of all, the 7th day Sabbath was given to the human family in Eden, when there wasn’t a single Jew around.

Adam wasn’t a Jew, neither was Noah, yet they both kept all of God’s commandments including the 7th day Sabbath. Even though the law was hand written by God at Mt. Sinai, that does not necessarily mean that it was nonexistent up until that time.

Just because something isn’t written does not mean to say it does not exist, and therefore, if God’s laws were not binding in Eden, Adam and Cain could not be guilty of any sin for sin is the transgression of the law.

It becomes obvious, from a study of the Bible that the ten commandments were handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. 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.

Genesis 4: 6 And the Lord said unto Cain, why are you wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7 If you do well, shalt you not be accepted? and if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Romans 5:13 For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

1st John 3: 4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

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

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

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

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

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

All of these took place long before Sinai, and thus, it becomes clear from the Scriptures that not only was the law given to all of humanity, but there were and are still valid.

Therefore, the final conflict between good and evil will be settled in the valley of decision as everyone on planet earth will have to make a choice, between allegiance to God, or allegiance to the serpent.

Persons are to understand current world events in this larger context, for it is the serpent’s plan to try to wipe the knowledge of God from the face of the earth so as to make his rule universal. Our Sunday- keeping brethren and friends are to understand the issues in clear distinct lines, so that their decisions in favor of the truth can be made.

Therefore, when we hear those statements such as Christianity is being attacked, when we see the rise of Christian nationalism, and when we hear clamors for America to return back to God, we may know for certain that there will be a very severe final conflict between the Biblical form of worship which includes the 7th day Sabbath, and the alternative form which includes Sunday worship.

In fact, when we read in the Bible of the man of sin sitting in the seat of God showing himself to be God, it is the tendency and habit of the antichrist system to coerce and persuade through economic sanctions a form of worship and obedience that pits all those who subscribe to it, against the God of heaven, and the true worship that is due to Him.

Therefore, the choice is clear, and the question is singular: Will the you and me in the here and now worship God in harmony with the scriptures, thus showing our allegiance to The God of heaven, or will we go with the flow of the popular majorities, and give our allegiance to the serpent?

The answer to this question lies within our freedom of choice, and will ultimately determine our eternal   destiny. We therefore end with two passages from the Scriptures, showing us the gravity of the choices before us. Let’s read:

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

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

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

                                   God Bless!

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!