Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Given the very toxic political environment we are now living in, with all of the gory details, and vulgar jests and comments that are flying let, right, and center, it has become necessary for us to address the principles and instructions given in God’s word, as it pertains to what we allow our minds to absorb, and dwell upon. In the passage above, the apostle Paul gives us a breakdown of the method by which we must evaluate all information being permitted to enter our thought processes. Whenever we have a choice, as Christians we must be very deliberate in what we choose to see, read, and hear, for there is always an impact upon the mind, for better, or for worse.
There are several reasons why the Bible instructs to avoid seeing, or hearing evil, and one of the main ones is that we can become tainted imperceptibly, and before you know it, we will start to repeat, and in some cases, act out the very things we have seen or heard. This fact is based upon the principle which says that “By beholding we become changed”. This goes for both good and evil, for if we are constantly exposing our minds to evil, our innermost thoughts will gradually adapt to what we are imbibing. The same is also true of that which is elevating, for our subconscious mind stores whatsoever we feed into it, whether it be good of evil.
For many months now, the news media and news anchors have earnestly sought to dig up all the dirt on the two presidential candidates, and they have made it their duty to highlight the vulgar, and the vilest elements in human nature, repeating, and in many instances, elaborating on the shortcomings and sins of the fallen. This is done under the guise of what is labeled investigative reporting, but what is really taking place is that the multitudes are being initiated into, or reminded of evil constantly.
We have repeatedly stated on this forum that there were millions of evil spirits let loose across the land since that fateful day of June 26th 2015, and we are now beginning to see the effects of their influence upon the hearts and minds of the people. To put it in plain words, we are reaping the harvest we have sown nationally by destabilizing the sacred marriage institution, which is the foundation of society. This is the reason why the presidential election has now taken on a satanic tone, instead of those involved addressing the concerns and needs of the nation.
For those of us who may have missed it, two very important events took place in June of 2015. [1] The Supreme court dealt a deadly blow to God-ordained marriage, by making same-sex marriage legal in all fifty states. [2] In June of that same year, Donald Trump entered the race, and immediately started to spew very disturbing and alarming sentiments much to the chagrin of the GOP. From that time forward, the race for the White House has descended to the bottomless pit, with the most gruesome, vulgar and vile revelations coming from both the left and the right.
What is note-worthy, is that no one in the political realm could explain, or account for the very rare phenomena, where the two front runners are being investigated for criminal activity, and where people are faced with the prospect of voting for the lesser of two evils. In fact, many individuals are not merely voting for the candidate they love, but against the candidate they hate. And as the worst elements in human nature are now being highlighted 24/7 by the news media, national embarrassment, shame and remorse, anger and resentment, outrage and lies, conspiracies and speculations, suspicions and evils of every variety have now caused the entire nation to look tremblingly towards the near future, as if some cataclysmic event is just about to take place.
This is exactly as the devil would have it, for he and his agencies do deal in the currency of accusation, faultfinding, regurgitation of past sins and character assassination, as well as vulgar jests and joking such as are enacted on SNL. Thus, when we have stated unequivocally that millions of evil spirits were let loose last year, we should never expect to see devils with pitchforks and horns, running up and down our streets, but rather their invisible adverse influences in the display of the lowest and the vilest elements in human nature. Let’s read:
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting,
which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
The history of the fall of the city of Jerusalem, after the rejection of Christ provides the needed insights and precedents which will explain what we are now witnessing in our own nation. Let’s read:
[The Great Controversy. pp. 28>29] For forty years after the doom of Jerusalem had been pronounced, the Lord delayed his judgments upon the city and the nation. The command had gone forth, “Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?” But divine mercy had spared it yet a little longer. Through the preaching of the apostles and their associates, God would cause light to shine upon them; they would be permitted to see how prophecy had been fulfilled.
Then God withdrew his protection from them, and removed his restraining power from Satan and his angels, and the nation was left to the control of the leader she had chosen. Her children had spurned the grace of Christ, which would have enabled them to subdue their evil impulses, and now these became the conquerors. Satan aroused the fiercest and most debased passions of the soul.
Men did not reason; they were beyond reason,—controlled by impulse and blind rage. In the family and in the nation, among the highest and the lowest classes alike, there was suspicion, envy, hatred, strife, rebellion, murder. The rulers of the people had no power to rule themselves. The fear of God no longer disturbed them. Satan was at the head of the nation, and the highest civil and religious authorities were under his sway.
Thus, because of the adverse situation we now find ourselves in, we will have to pick and choose what we allow our minds to be bombarded with each day for when the vulgar and the vile are kept constantly before our faces, then the process of initiation into evil spirals out of control. For instance, here’s what the Bible has to say about the “Doctrine of Balaam”, the prophet who had tried repeatedly to curse the Hebrews, by endeavoring to cast a spell on them.
Numbers 23:20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
But when the spell could not work, he resorted to the art of “Beholding”, the same method which is currently being used by the news media to sow and reap evil. In many cases, the news anchors may not be aware of what they are doing, however that fact does not change the downward spiral in morality, as the juicy tidbits which arouse the worst passions of the heart are dwelt upon with eager interest. Let’s read:
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Question: How did Balaam “Teach” the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and also to commit fornication?
Answer: He invited them to look at the rituals, and festivities, and before you know it, the Hebrews had adopted the heathen practices as a way of life. As the song says, “Just one look, that’s all it took” and the Hebrews were enticed by what they heard and saw, and became entangled in the very same sins as the Moabites were indulging. 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 Baalpeor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.
Similarly, if we now allow our minds to dwell on the salacious details of what Mr. Trump, and Bill Clinton did, sooner or later, our thoughts and imaginations can become tainted by the same moral pollution, by the same words and expressions, and before you know it, we may begin to sound, and act like them. The servant of The Lord writes a very interesting, and relevant commentary on the downward spiral of ancient Israel, with a warning for those who are living in the last days of earth’s history, when the worst passions of human nature will be displayed before our eyes on a continual basis.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 459] A long preparatory process, unknown to the world, goes on in the heart before the Christian commits open sin. The mind does not come down at once from purity and holiness to depravity, corruption, and crime. It takes time to degrade those formed in the image of God to the brutal or the satanic. By beholding we become changed. By the indulgence of impure thoughts man can so educate his mind that sin which he once loathed will become pleasant to him.
Satan is using every means to make crime and debasing vice popular. The mind is educated to familiarity with sin. The course pursued by the base and vile is kept before the people in the periodicals of the day, and everything that can excite passion is brought before them in exciting stories. They hear and read so much of debasing crime that the once tender conscience, which would have recoiled with horror from such scenes, becomes hardened, and they dwell upon these things with greedy interest.
It’s worthy of note, that while millions have been glued to their television sets, drinking in the moral filth which is being served up by political priests and priestesses, hundreds, are dying in Haiti, and many more are passing into Christ-less graves in Yemen, Syria, and parts of Africa. Thousands of Americans, and others have been overwhelmed by flooding in various parts of the U.S., but the constant drip of salacious details about Trump’s sexual rendezvous have virtually sucked up all the oxygen in the room, in so much that millions have no time to think about those who are suffering untold hardship.
Hence the reason why the study for this afternoon cautions us to think on those things that are mentioned in our first passage. Let’s read again:
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Thus, it is now necessary for us to extrapolate the pertinent instructions given to us by God, so that we too should not fall a prey to the evil devices of satan. The following passages must be applied in the most literal sense, and on a consistent basis, by the grace and power of God, in order to avoid those old skeletons, and those latent evil desires which lay dormant in human nature, from being resurrected. Let’s read:
Instruction # [1] Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
To “Think upon a maid” means to indulge in porn of any kind. It also means reading about, or listening to the sexual encounters of others. Just because it’s on Fox News or CNN does not make it news-worthy for the Christian, and therefore we should make all efforts at avoiding, seeing, and hearing that which will surely suggest impure thoughts. To do this will require serious and earnest efforts by the grace of God, but Divine power is promised to all who so desire. God’s will is that we live in this world, but not be of the world, meaning that we should not partake of any, and everything that is served up in the public domain. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 460] We have a work to do to resist temptation. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind should not be left to wander at random upon every subject that the adversary of souls may suggest. “Girding up the loins of your mind,” says the apostle Peter, “Be sober, ... not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in ... your ignorance: but like as He which called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living.” 1st Peter 1:13-15.
This will require earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness. We must be aided by the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit, which will attract the mind upward, and habituate it to dwell on pure and holy things.
Instruction # [2] Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
When we repeat what Trump and Clinton did or did not do, then we become conduits of evil-speaking, and the atmosphere surrounding us will become tainted. Hence the reason why the following texts are written for our admonition, so that we will not inadvertently align ourselves with the kingdom of darkness. Let’s read:
Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people.
Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Exodus 23:13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.
Instruction # [3] John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world.
The kingdoms of this world also have to do with the political arena and all that is entailed therein. When God has given a particular Christian a definite call to serve in the political arena, then that person should rise to the occasion and serve faithfully, he or she being guided constantly by the principles, methods and laws that are consistent with Christ’s kingdom. Daniel and Joseph were called to serve in a secular setting, but they did not become vice-presidents by campaigning against rivals and calling them names.
Thus, it is a sad commentary we make of our time, that many Evangelical Christians, Pentecostals, and Catholics, have now become inextricably entangled in the snare of politics, and the separating lines that are drawn between church and state have become severely blurred. If we assay to become involved with the kingdoms of this world, without being bidden to do so by God, then in most cases, we will end up adapting to their, principles, and methods, which, as a rule, always leads to in-fighting of some kind. 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.
Question: What does Mr. Trump, Mrs. Clinton, Dr. Ben Carson, Mike Pence, Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, have in common? They are all Christians. How is it then that there is so much vitriol and infighting and suspicion amongst themselves? It all has to do with their involvement with the kingdoms of this world. Let’s read:
Luke 22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Thus, we close off our study today with an excerpt from the pen of inspiration, showing the dangers that are incident to the many power struggles of the kingdoms of this world, and it is the will of God that as Christians, we live on a higher plane, and operate by higher and nobler, principles and standards than those which motivate those who desperately seek for the highest place.
[The Desire Of Ages pp. 435>436] Lucifer desired God's power, but not His character. He sought for himself the highest place, and every being who is actuated by his spirit will do the same. Thus alienation, discord, and strife will be inevitable. Dominion becomes the prize of the strongest. 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.
[The Desire Of Ages pp. 353] It is the dragon that is wroth; it is the spirit of Satan that is revealed in anger and accusing. But God's servants are to be representatives of Him. He desires them to deal only in the currency of heaven, the truth that bears His own image and superscription. The power by which they are to overcome evil is the power of Christ.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word.
God bless!