Avoiding The Point Of No Return. Sabbath afternoon 04/29/2023

Hebrews 10: 26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.

Even though God is merciful and even though where sin abounds grace did much more abound, there is a limit to God’s forbearance, and there is such a thing as a point of no return.

 This means that there could come a tipping point in a one’s life, where, because of the deliberate and persistent bad choices one makes the eternal destiny of that person can become fixed forever.

Decisions which are made over an extended period during a person’s life time become sealed, or set in stone, and that’s because choices and decisions make habits, and habits form the character. And the character defines who a person is at their very core.

With the Christian believer, who has his or her own sets of faults and besetting sins to confront, and to overcome, character building is supposed to be on a continuous and upward trajectory, as Christ does His work on the heart, minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day.

After many years of one’s decision making in a right direction, the character reflects the image of God, and becomes sealed for eternity, not because God prevents them from turning back, but because by their own decisions they have chosen good over evil and right over wrong, and truth over error.

Thus, when we read of the angels of God holding back the winds of strife so that His servants can be sealed in their foreheads, we should understand it to mean that the sealing is a process, not an event, which takes place over a period of many years, in most cases. Let’s read:

Isaiah 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

Psalms 19:7 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 commandment of the Lord is 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.

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.

Conversely, with persons who will reject God’s offer of salvation in Christ; their characters are usually on a downward trajectory where the latent tendencies, cravings, and clamors of fallen human nature would become more deeply rooted with every indulgence.

Then, after an extended period of time, individuals become firmly gripped in a never-ending vacuum of sin, and after a while the mind would be completely overrun by demons.

With those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives, the Holy Spirit is given incrementally, in proportion to desire, capacity, and a willingness to obey increasing light that is shed upon our pathway.

The disciples of Christ were not all at once filled up front with the Holy Ghost, as took place on the day of Pentecost. Instead, they were gradually imbued with God’s Spirit, until the process culminated in the outpouring of the early rain. Let’s read:

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

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

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

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

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

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Like the sealing work of God in the heart, complete demon possession takes place in stages and is never the result of any one-time action or decision by any person. The principle of gradualism applies equally, both to the sealing process, and to demon possession, and thus, the point of no return for persons who reject Christ comes when their minds become controlled entirely by evil spirits.

To this time, we are now hastening with lightening speed, and therefore, we must make an urgent call at this time, to any person who might be sitting on the fence; the time is coming soon when there isn’t going to have any fence to sit on, for we will either become fully God’s or fully satan’s. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Matthew 12: 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he finds it  empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then goes he, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

At this juncture we must declare that the devil has a stronger will power than human beings and because of this fact, if persons deliberately, and persistently make their choices and decisions on his turf, there is going to come a time where he could force them to do his bidding, even if they might recoil from doing so. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

This is what took place with Judas, who was at one point in his experience, partially possessed by devils as Jesus alluded to on multiple occasions. Judas did not at once come under their full sway, because he was still sitting on the fence, and therefore, he had not crossed the threshold of no return.

 Jesus continued to plead with Him, and offer ample opportunity for him to make right choices, but with every entreaty, Judas steeled his heart against God’s grace, and the tipping point finally occurred at the communion table, after Jesus washed his feet, and singled him out as the one with diabolic intention.

It was at this point where the Bible states that satan entered into him, and took full control of his mind, and from that point onward, Judas had no say, and no choice in what he would do next.

In other words, he would have to do satan’s bidding, regardless of whether he might have wanted to, or not. From this point forward Judas will be remotely controlled, robotically following all the dictates of the adversary. Observe carefully, the next verses. Let’s read:

John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spoke.

24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spoke.

26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, what you do, do quickly.

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

The point of no return, as took place with Judas was just a microcosm of what took place with the Jewish nation when they finally, and permanently rejected Christ. Ever so gradually, their decisions became set in stone, and as they continued to persecute Christ’s servants, their decisions became sealed forever.

Then, after the nation had fully disconnected itself from God, the invisible leader she had chosen took the reins of control, and from that time forward, the nation was under the direct influence of evil spirits, who then forced them to do that which we will read of in upcoming paragraphs.

If America, and the world at large does not change course, if we persist in enacting laws that are known to be contrary to what God has stipulated, then the time will come when God will have no choice but to give those who persist in rebellion against Him, over to the control of the invisible leader they will have chosen. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 36:15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

[The Great Controversy pp 28] The long-suffering of God toward Jerusalem only confirmed the Jews in their stubborn impenitence. In their hatred and cruelty toward the disciples of Jesus, they rejected the last offer of mercy.

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.

Observe carefully what satan does next, for history Is scheduled to be repeated in the not-too-distant future. Indeed, the early tremors and the harbingers of what is being described can already be seen, and heard across the land. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 28] 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.

They became Satanic in their cruelty. In the family and in the nation, among the highest and the lowest classes alike, there was suspicion, envy, hatred, and strife, rebellion, and murder. There was no safety anywhere. The rulers of the people had no power to rule themselves.

Uncontrolled passions made them tyrants. By their actions they had long been saying, “Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” Now, their desire was granted. 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.

The only way for nations, and individuals to avoid the point of no return is to surrender to God’s work of grace in the heart, for according to the scriptures, wherever there is no submitting, there would be no resisting. Let’s read:

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

The grace of Christ and the power of God is freely offered and given to those who accept Jesus, so that the fallen impulses of human nature will be reined in. But without Jesus Christ in the heart, the devil isn’t going anywhere.

In fact, he will remain, until the time comes when, because of the choices folks make he could become so deeply seated that he cannot be evicted. Devils do not, and never voluntarily leave a person. They must be evicted by force, and the only One who can do this is Christ. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 324] When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature.

The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan.

 But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world.

It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light.

If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and he will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness.

Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome.

Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.

Four important pointers pertaining to the point of no return will be made from the scriptures, before we delve into our case study for today.

[1] The point of no return is a culmination of choices made by individuals, which are then confirmed, and sealed by God forever. Once the point of no return is crossed, there can be no turning back or reversal.

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 an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.

Proverbs 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

[2] The point of no return will culminate in the close of probation for all of earth’s inhabitants. All of the righteous will be sealed forever and those who have rejected God’s grace would have passed the point of no return. Let’s read:

Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

[3] Persons could pass the point of no return while still living. Death is not necessary for an individual’s probation to be closed.

Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Hosea 7:8 Ephraim, hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knows not.

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

[The Desire of Ages pp 392] They were greatly displeased, and wishing to wound the Savior and gratify the malice of the Pharisees, they turned their backs upon Him, and left Him with disdain. They had made their choice, had taken the form without the spirit, the husk without the kernel. Their decision was never afterward reversed; for they walked no more with Jesus.

Daniel 5:24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

25 And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.

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.

[4] Repentance becomes impossible after the point of no return is crossed, and prayers for the persons in question, become redundant.

Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Genesis 18:32 And he (Abraham) said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

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

Our case study for today would be about Eli, and his sons, who, while still living, crossed the point of no return. We will observe the successive steps in their deteriorating relationship with God, and then we’ll draw from their experiences, the pertinent lessons, so as to avoid making the same fatal mistakes.

God had spoken on numerous occasions to Eli, and his sons, about their ill-conduct, but especially to the father, under whose jurisdiction the sons were. Time and time again, and over the course of many years, God entreated, warned, and counseled them to change course, but they would not listen.

On Eli’s part, he took no concrete action to stem the tide of evils, which had become so repugnant, that the congregation loathed to attend the sanctuary services. What do you do on Sabbath mornings, if you know Hophni and Phineas would be preaching, knowing full well the blatant hypocrisy that exuded from them?

Yet God bore long, over an extended period of time with the waywardness and the stubbornness of the priests. Then, after God exhausted every possible avenue to reach them, He sent a startling message by young Samuel, informing Eli and his household that their day of grace had expired, and that they had reached the point of no return. Let’s read:  

1st Samuel 3:11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knows; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.

The following lessons should be deducted from the verses we just read, so that folks may avoid crossing that same threshold of God’s forbearance, into the point of no return.

 [1] When God points out sin in our lives, and we are made fully aware of them, concrete steps should be taken to correct the evils, or else, continued delay can lead to a rupture in one’s relationship with God.

It was not enough for Eli to remonstrate against his sons, they should have been removed entirely from the priesthood, especially since the sanctuary, and its services were being abhorred by the people. But this would obviously involve crossing the will of his sons, something some parents would loathe to do. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 2:29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?

[2] Confession of one’s sin is never enough, in and of itself to trigger a change of heart. There must be a turning away from the sins which are causing the relationship with God to become frayed. Let’s read:

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.

There is a big difference between a mere admission of facts, and the godly repentance spoken of in the Bible. Achan, Judas and Saul all confessed their sins, but there was no real turning away from the sin, nor any material change of heart.

In Eli’s case, a turning away from the sins that were causing the ruptured relationship with God, would lead him to not only remove his sons from sacred office; it would also lead him to make the necessary reforms, by instituting what God had commanded for any and every priest, moving forward.

[3] A very grave responsibility rests upon parents who have children under their roof. Note well, that God called Eli to account for his sons, even though they were adults.

They most likely were not living at Eli’s home at the moment in question, but in their capacity as priests, they were under Eli’s jurisdiction directly. When we have children living at home, whether kids or adults, parents are responsible for maintaining the Biblical principles and standards at all times.

At times this might be difficult, and there might be some pulling and tugging especially where there are differences of opinion on certain matters. However, the parents should exercise both steadfastness, and kindness in the administration of their parental duty so as to facilitate the work of God’s grace on the hearts of the children.

The way to avoid crossing the point of no return, as it pertains to the close of one’s probation is to allow and facilitate the work God endeavors to do in the heart. There would be some struggling, some self- denial, as fallen human nature strives to gain the preeminence over the spiritual.

Yet God who is rich in grace and mercy has provided all that we need so that folks might live victoriously. In other words, we may struggle without yielding to sin, and there are other times when we may be in a difficult or awkward situation with family or friends, yet the true Christian can, and should walk with a steady and even tread. Let’s read:

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

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

Let us therefore be steadfast in Christ, looking to Him for grace to help in time of need, and most of all, let us cherish the new lease on life that He has given us. We therefore end with a few passages that should help us to be faithful until the end. Let’s read:

Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

                                  God Bless!

Does Go Take Too Long? Sabbath afternoon 04/22/2023

Psalms 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

One of the problems people have with God is that it is thought that He takes too long, to do what He has to do, or what He has promised to do. In almost all of the examples we will study we will see similarities and disturbing patterns emerging, which must be as beacons of warning in our own experiences.

Very many of the temptations which come our way are tailormade to cater to that innate hastiness that we too often suffer from. And as we are living in the “Now” generation, with fast foods, fast cars, drive through laundries, and marriages, and with every thing we need at our fingertips, it may seem archaic to wait upon God for any length of time.

Thus, the enemy of souls goes to work in protracted and ingenious ways, to take advantage of our fallen human nature, which is too often in a rush to do the things we deem important. Hastiness in any matter is a recipe for disaster, and especially when it comes to the fulfillment of God’s promises, we should not set any deadlines for God, “Or else”.

When dealing with God, we must avoid giving Him deadlines, ultimatums, or specific time frames that we stipulate He should work within. God is Superior and we are His subordinates as far as rank goes, and thus, we are to defer to His timings, His judgements, and His assessments in all matters, for The Lord is never early, and He is never late.

Even though God dwells in eternity, He is able to make intrusions into the human experience with surgical accuracy, to the milli second if needs be. So then, we are not to buy into the doctrines of devils that says God takes too long to do this or that.

Waiting upon God should be an open-ended wait, giving Him deference to do that which He will do in His own time and way. For instance, when Jesus bids us knock and it shall be opened, He does not specify how many times we should knock. In fact, the form of the verb strongly suggests that folks should keep on knocking until it’s a Yes, a No, or a Wait.

But for us to stipulate by 3:00 pm on Thursday this week or else, will not only set the stage for a variety of temptations, it could also set persons up for the oft disappointments that shake our faith in God. The following three examples are to be studied carefully, with the intention of learning from the mistakes of those who have gone before.

[1] The impatience of the saints at Mt. Sinai.

Exodus 24:12 And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will you tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

That phrase: “And be there” refers to an open-ended time frame, as far as the human agent Moses is concerned. He is not to rush God in any way, he is not to carry his watch, or Fitbit with him, checking the time ever so often as some persons might do during divine hour.

Moses must “Be there” for as long as it takes, as he waits upon God to determine his length of stay on the mount. Some of us have very difficult lessons to learn, before the time of trial comes upon the world because, in Revelation 14, it speaks of the patience of the saints.

But in some instances, our own experiences may be described as “here is the impatience of the saints”. Moses and Joshua then depart for the Mount, and the people are left under the jurisdiction of Aaron and Hur, if any matters of concern should arise, and need redress. Let’s read:

Exodus 24:14 And he said unto the elders, wait here for us until we come again to you and behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.

15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

And the people wait, and they wait and they wait. One day passes, two days, three days, and four days elapse, with no sign of Moses. Yet they all continue waiting, the fifth day, the sixth day, and finally the seventh day comes around, and still no sign or word from either God or Moses.

The sermon for that first Sabbath without Moses would have to be done by Aaron, and after vespers the people hang around, questioning when Moses will be back for duty. The second week passes and still not a word or a sign from either God or Moses.

At this point, persons are beginning to get jittery, and some are wondering if the glory of God might have consumed him in the mount, and yet, against all odds they continue waiting.

Three weeks elapse, and the people are questioning with Aaron about Moses’ whereabouts, but Aaron himself is lost for words, or explanations, nor can he give them a specific time frame, or even an E.T.A

The people begin to get impatient, for they are not hearing from God, they are not getting any answers from Aaron, and the suggestion begins to surface that it might be that Moses has abandoned them all in the wilderness. In this frame of mind, the people are now ripe for one of satan’s favorite temptations, for he suggests to them that God is taking too long.

And thus, if they cannot hear from God or Moses in what they deem to be a reasonable period of time, then they would look for alternative leadership. The idolatry which then followed was satan’s version of an alternative, which will always involve some form of disobedience.

Whenever we may find ourselves becoming upset or impatient with God we must then be on the lookout for alternative suggestions coming from devils, and/ or men, which invariably would include a sinful act.

Impatience and hastiness are a breeding ground for temptations and sins which would not seem feasible under more favorable circumstances. A counterfeit worship as that which took place at the base of Mt. Sinai, is always satan’s suggested alternative when there is a perceived vacuum of godly leadership.

 Question: How long is too long? To strictly rational thinking minds, three to four weeks at the most, are more than sufficient, for the people to at least have some guidance as to time frame.

 But with no end in sight to their weeks long waiting, the suggestions of the enemy begin to make sense, and what follows next is just a microcosm of what has been repeated all too often in the experiences of many persons.

Exodus 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not  know what is become of him.

The multitude in this instance demonstrated clearly that they were looking to mere mortal man as their leader, which is one of the gravest mistakes that any Christian could make. If Moses is not present for any length of time, that fact should not in any way be a cause for stumbling, if one’s personal relationship with God is intact. Let’s read:

Exodus 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

The time is coming, when general conferences, and church leadership as we have known it for years will be dissolved. Your local church will be shuttered and the nurturing, caring pastoral roles would absolutely be evaporated, and then, when the carpet is pulled from under our feet how shall we stand in that great day?

The recent pandemic, even Covid, with his relatives was just a wake-up call, or a test run as it were, for during those days, many persons found themselves destitute of that deep, meaningful relationship with Christ which is necessary to carry persons through, when the going gets rough.

And as members waited and waited for guidance on the matter at hand, faith, and enthusiasm began to wane, and in some cases, some churches and some church members haven’t yet been able to find back their groove. In fact, during those long months of waiting, over 7000 churches closed permanently in the U.S.

During Covid, when church activities had virtually ground to a halt, where there were no longer those Sabbath school classes with individual teachers who you knew, where concerts were eliminated, and the Pathfinders club couldn’t meet, or go camping as in normal times, the faith of some persons was then severely shaken, and some have not yet recovered.

 The truth of the matter is that if Moses were never to return from the mountain, that fact should not be a catalyst for deteriorating change in one’s personal relationship with God, because our relationship with Him should never be tethered through mortal man.

And so, we see that because the Hebrews thought that God was taking too long with Moses, the minds of the people became ripe for the floodgates of sin and temptation to bear sway in that episode.

[2] The impatience of the saints in Abraham and Sarah.

In the instance with Abraham and Sarah, God had promised them a son, but He did not specify a time frame so that their expectation could converge with reality. They were to wait on God, and in the fulness of time, the promise would be materialized.

And like the Hebrews at Mt. Sinai, they begin to wait and they wait and they wait and they wait. One year passes, two years and then three, and still no sign of a son. Four years elapse, five years, six years, and still nothing is happening.

Sometimes we may think that God has forgotten His promise because it may seem to us that after He has given His word He should follow through right away. And with this finite frame of mind, we cannot see or understand what the delay is about.

The fact of the matter is that there really wasn’t any delay. God wasn’t deliberately pushing their faith to the limits to prove any point, because he does not need to. In God’s planning, everything is done and is executed with surgical precision, but we may not be able to discern all the pieces of the jig saw puzzle up front.

Isaac, who would be the son of a miracle, was to be one of the progenitors of Christ, and therefore, the timing of his birth would have serious consequences downstream. In other words, Isaac’s birth would not only affect the time Christ’s birth, it would also have a direct impact on the future prophecies of Daniel.

And all of the subsequent progenitors in between would be also directly affected in the stream of time if Isaac was to be born one day earlier, or one day later. The timing of his birth brought a multitude of other factors into play, for it would affect the 2300- day prophecy we so often like to refer to. It would also affect the date of the exodus from Egypt.

Rebekah, who was to be Isaac’s future wife must be in place, so that when Abraham and Isaac prayed to God for a wife, she would just happen to be there at the well in the nick of time.

If Isaac was to be brought upon the stage of action some years ahead of his time, the perfect wife God was preparing for him would only be a little girl at the time he would be looking for a wife.

All of these factors are brought into the equation in God’s planning, and therefore, for us mortals to be in a haste, or try to hurry up God, will actually be an attempt to alter His perfect planning. After all was said and done, after all the supposed delay, Isaac’s birth was to culminate in the following verses. Let’s read:

Exodus 12:41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.

51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

The birth of Jesus Christ was executed with surgical precision, even to the millisecond. But in the interim Abraham and Sarah are losing patience, and like the Hebrews at the mount, they are tired of waiting and in this frame of mind, they become ripe candidates for temptation, which as we stated earlier, invariably would include suggestions to indulge in some sort of transgression. Let’s read:

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

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

Observe her conclusions, that God has prevented her from bearing children. Which suggests that God changed His mind after making a promise to them. And thus, we must follow her line of reasoning to its logical end: If God has changed His mind, over what He has promised, then it is time for Sarah to take things into her own hands.

Brethren, believe it or not, this particular line of reasoning is very often adopted by us in our own experiences, and if persons were to look back in retrospect, we may see where we may have made very grave and regrettable mistakes by succumbing to the erroneous belief that God is taking too long.

What Sarah did next, triggered a tsunami of adverse circumstances, the repercussions of which are still being felt today, for by taking matters into their own hands, they actually messed up God’s perfect plan, and brought upon themselves untold, unnecessary misery which they lived to regret.

How often in our own experiences have we messed up God’s plan, by thinking that He takes too long? A male saint prays long and hard for a female wife. He fasts and he prays for months and years on end, he asks the elders to pray with and for him.

But somehow his dream girl just keeps eluding him. He visits other churches, he gets involved in singles ministries, and finally, in desperation, he asks for an anointing with oil, so that he may shake the blues of persistent loneliness, all the while he prays and he prays and he waits and waits.

One year passes, two years pass, three, four years. He is beginning to get desperate, because he has a strong urge to merge, but some way, somehow, it just seems as if God is not listening. So now, what is he supposed to do, because he has indeed followed the script, he has dotted the Is and crossed all of the Ts, but still no spouse.

He begins to think that it might be time for him to take matters into his own hands, for in his mind God is taking too long. Whenever the person in question reaches that threshold, he will become vulnerable to the devices of satan, who will undoubtedly begin to bring a plethora of alternatives that may seem to be the one.

But if he goes out on a limb like Sarah once did, and he integrates himself with someone of a different persuasion, he is almost certain to mess up God’s perfect plans for him. It is always best to wait it out, and in doing so, a firm concrete decision would have to be made, that come what may he would not read from a different script, no matter how long it takes.

That is what Abraham did when his servant Eliezer asked the following valid question as they mulled searching for a wife for Isaac: Let’s suppose I do find the perfect wife, but she is not willing to leave her hometown to marry Isaac, should I then bring Isaac back to meet her, or should I drop the prospect like a big stone? Let’s read:

Genesis 24: 5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence you came?

6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware, that you bring not my son thither again.

8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

In Sarah’s and Abraham’s case, God’s perfect plan did not originally include any cussing and fighting between two desperate housewives. Neither was it ever God’s intention, that Hagar and Ishmael should evicted and be put out on the street. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs And Prophets pp 145] Flattered with her new position as Abraham's wife and hoping to be the mother of the great nation to descend from him, Hagar became proud. Mutual jealousies disturbed the peace of the once happy home. Forced to listen to the complaints of both, Abraham vainly endeavored to restore harmony. Though it was at Sarah's entreaty that he had married Hagar, she now reproached him as the one at fault. She desired to banish her rival. Hagar's haughty spirit wouldn’t brook the harshness which her insolence had provoked. “When Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.”

But as God so often does, in His foreknowledge, He incorporates into His planning the mistakes that the human agents insert into His plans because we think He takes too long, and He tries to make the best of a bad situation, or hasty decision. It all has to do with that age old question that has to be reconciled in each and every mind: “Does God Take Too Long? Let’s read:

Genesis 16:3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

And the rest is history, for we are still witnessing the after effects of that one hasty decision, thousands of years after it was made!

[3] Impatience when looking to God for healing.

This one is huge, and it might touch a raw nerve in the human experience, for no one likes to wait for healing. When we are sick or bed ridden, our prayer to Jesus is usually: “Lord, get me out of here right now”. None of us in our right minds will like healing to be postponed, especially if it can be done right away.

 And The God of heaven absolutely understands, for it is He who once caused to be written in His word “I wish above all things that you would prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”

Yet, there are times when we may have to wait on God, even as we are sick and tired of being sick. It is a fact that most of us would much rather prefer to be up and running, instead of being bed ridden, and in our expectations from God, we may be tempted to think that He is taking too long.

The fact of the matter is that even though we open up the floor for questions each Sabbath afternoon, there are times when we do not and cannot answer certain questions, because, we just do not know the answers for certain questions and situations. If any person tells you that they can figure out the reason why God does this or that every time, they are lying to you, plain and simple.

This is what transpired when Mary and Martha had sent an urgent message to Jesus, informing Him that His good friend Lazarus their brother was sick. What happens next should be studied closely, for it seems reasonable that Jesus should at once, set out on His journey to Martha’s house, to prevent Lazarus from dying.

But believe it or not, in God’s perfect plan, it was His will, that in this instance, Lazarus should die, and in all that Jesus would do next, and in all His empathy for Martha’s family, He must not mess up His own Father’s plan, by arriving on the scene too early.

In other words, if Christ arrived on the scene before the appointed time, Lazarus would not have died in His presence, and yes, Lazarus would be healed, but in doing so Jesus would have messed up God’s plan.

The following passages should be read prayerfully, with the understanding that God is never late, and never early. He plans and executes His plans with a surgical precision, that baffles intelligent minds, but in all and through it all, what He does, and how He does it is always the best way. Always! Let’s read:

John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he remained two days still in the same place where he was.

That deliberate delay would seem counterintuitive to the disciples, to Mary, and to any other person. In Lazarus’ mind, as he suffered on what turned out to be his death bed, he couldn’t fathom why on earth that urgent message given to Christ would not lead to a rapid response.

Then after two days Jesus decides to head out to Bethany, where Lazarus has already died. To mortal minds, going, after he died would make no sense, except to console the bereaved. But why the wait?

Thoughts begin to take shape in Mary and Martha’s minds, that if Jesus had not delayed, their brother would have been alive, and thus, as they mull over the whole situation over, they, like so many others are beginning to think that God takes too long. Let’s read:

John 11:7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleeps, he shall do well.

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless, let us go unto him.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou had been here, my brother had not died.

In other words, if you didn’t delay, if you had shown up on time, Lazarus would never have passed away. Like the Hebrews at the mount, and like Abraham and Sarah, we were waiting and waiting and waiting but we don’t like to wait in vain, as the Rastafarian once said. We are just wondering what Mary would say when she comes on the scene. Let’s read:

John 11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou had been here, my brother had not died.

Whenever persons come to the conclusion that God takes too long, satan is never far away, lurking in the shadows, seeking to strike at an opportune moment to do the most amount of damage to one’s faith.

In their frustration over Jesus’ supposed delay, their minds becomes ripe for a surgical strike of logical reasoning, which satan would now employ, to try if possible to throw a monkey wrench into the whole mix, and dissuade Christ from performing the most important miracle of His life on earth. Let’s read:

John 11: 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he is stinking, for he hath been dead four days.

[ The Desire of Ages pp 535] When the Lord is about to do a work, Satan moves upon someone to object. “Take ye away the stone,” Christ said. As far as possible, prepare the way for My work. But Martha's positive and ambitious nature asserts itself. She was unwilling that the decomposing body should be brought to view.

In all of the three examples given during our study the persons in question did wait for some length of time. The Hebrews waited, Abraham and Sarah also waited, and Mary and Martha also waited. The problem is that their waiting was premised on reasonable or specific time frames that they themselves had predetermined, or in Saul’s case, the stipulated time frame given by God had come and gone.

Since we were little children, we have been hearing for years that Jesus is coming soon. Doug Bachelor has preached it, E.E Cleveland has preached it, most of our pastors have preached it, and we ourselves have preached it. Some have come and gone, others are aging, and yet, for some reason it might seem to persons that there is a delay, and so, the question arises in many minds: “How soon is soon?”

Brethren, let us learn our lessons whilst we still can, as we study the mistakes of those who have gone before, who thought that God takes too long. As in former years, if we draw that conclusion, we would set ourselves up for a plethora of temptations of no ordinary character, especially as we’re approaching midnight in our earth’s history.

Many of us who believe in Jesus might not be ready for prime time, because when the issue of worship takes centerstage across the land, we will need one of the most important characteristics of our entire Christian experience to take us through, and that characteristic is patience. Let’s read:

Revelation 14: 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

[The Great controversy pp 621] The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger,—a faith that will not faint, though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time.

Let us therefore learn to wait upon God, because His ways, His timing, and His interventions in behalf of His people are always the best and always in the fullness of time. Thus, we will end with a passage of scripture that should help us to grasp the concept of waiting upon God, and at His appointed time, He’ll do whatsoever is best for us. Let’s read:

Hebrews 10: 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

                                     God Bless!

Dealing Prudently With Gender Issues. Sabbath afternoon 04/15/2023

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.

Younger people in our generation have to deal with issues that persons in years gone by never dreamed of, nor ever had to contend with. Indeed, it is a true statement that our world today is being plagued on an unprecedented scale, with problems that would make the people of Sodom and Gomorrah look like saints.

 There are sensitive issues coming to the forefront of our conversations and deliberations, in high and low places, that persons might much prefer to avoid. But because those issues have now entered the church, and are quickly becoming so deeply entrenched, the trumpet will have to be given a certain sound.

In the presentation of truth, political correctness, or social biases and preferences, and popular majority opinions, should never be allowed to taint, alter, or pervert the written word, for God has not called us to popularity, but rather to faithfulness.

When the servants of God are sent to deliver a very unpopular message, they are to pray and ask God for grace to do so without watering it down, for if they are found diluting the truth because of social pressures, the blood of those souls who are lost as a result would be upon their shoulders.

In other words, watering down the truth carries the heftiest price and the stiffest penalties, when done to appease the clamors of the popular majority.

While it is true, that when dealing with any sensitive issue great care must be taken, the servants of God must at the same time be very careful not to dilute His word, for fear of backlash, or economic boycott and persecution, as is so often the case whenever a person or individuals may stand up for right.

Issues pertaining to gender identity is one of those hot button issues that almost always breeds anger, and animosity when it is being discussed by persons with opposing views. There is no need to be riled up or get all out of whack because of differing opinions on the matter, for personal opinions do not trump a single sacred truth.

Thus, any disagreement on such matters should be taken to God in prayer, whilst at the same time we are careful to observe the principle of free choice as is stated in our first passage.

As Joshua then viewed and observed the tendency of the Hebrews to go after false gods, The Spirit of God moved upon him to pen the words, protecting a person’s right to choose.

The genius of Christianity is that it allows persons of different persuasions to live on the same street, and in our interactions with our fellowmen persons are to keep in mind that it is God who has granted free choice, with consequences, to all of earth’s peoples, and this freedom must not be taken away, even if a person may be at the opposite end of the spectrum in, their beliefs, philosophies and convictions.

Muslims, Buddhists, satanists and Christians are all granted the freedom of choice by God, and because of this, they can, and should be allowed to converge in the same zip-code, if they so choose. The same is true of adult persons who might choose a different path as it pertains to gender issues.

Such persons have been granted God-given freedom that must be respected. Differences of opinions are not to lead to coercion of one’s conscience, for if we were to take that route it would inevitably lead us to Daniel chapter 3 and Revelation chapter thirteen.

Therefore, the principle of “Live and let live” is to be a guiding rule, when dealing with conflicting views. In other words, just like Elijah laid before the people their choice between Baal and the true God, we too are to acknowledge the freedom of choice that God has given to each person. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Deuteronomy 11: 26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;

27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day.

28 And a curse if ye won’t obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

The curse here mentioned is not to be understood as something that God does to a person, in revenge for their not following the good and right. The curse is in the evil deed, just as the devil is in the details, so that the blessing or the curse is the natural result of either course of action.

For instance, if Buddhists were to eat healthily, and exercise regularly they will reap the natural benefits thereof, even if they may have utterly rejected Jesus as Lord and Savior. And atheists, who unwittingly do follow the laws of health, by refraining from eating forbidden foods, will be at lower risk for cancers, in the overwhelming majority of cases.

And companies, corporations, and businesses which return a faithful tithe are blessed indigenously, even if they have no affiliations with The Lord Jesus.

The blessings, or the curses are integrated with the choices a person makes, and is not so much God doing this or that in response to our choices, even though He is known to directly bless those persons who are in a covenant relation with Him.

 That’s because there are natural consequences for choosing to do either wrong or right, and in many cases, God simply allows the laws of sowing, and reaping to run their natural course. Thus, whatever may be a person’s choice on gender issues, let it be known that a person’s conscience on all such matters is to be left free to choose.

That said, there are satellite issues springing from a discussion of gender issues, for those parents, who still have children under their roof, will have to take a stand either this way or that, because until the son or daughter comes to the age of accountability, and reason, the parents are responsible for whatsoever goes on under their roof.

And churches, and religious institutions would also have to take a stand either this way or that, sooner or later, for there will be no middle ground by which we would be able to avoid making our conviction on such matters clear. Already, many athletes are facing a conundrum, by being urged against their will to wear rainbow-pride uniforms and arm bands.

Thus, in cases where the issue has come home to a family, definitive decisions, and choices on the path moving forward would have to be made by parents or guardians who have jurisdiction over the children under their care.

This is not a mere suggestion, it is the unadulterated word of God in such matters, because parents are to be responsible for their kids, until the children reach the age of accountability.

And, if there is a father in the home, he is the first person called to account by God, in answering for the actions, and decisions of not only his children, but also of his wife, in some instances.

When Adam and Eve sinned, God called Adam first, then Eve, and last of all satan, in that specific order, because as far as God is concerned, the serpent was the least in the chain of command, as stipulated in Genesis chapter one.

In other words, God gave our first parents dominion over the earth, and as such, He must call them to account first. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

11 And he said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou should not eat?

13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

Similarly, when Abraham was urged on to have that rendezvous with Hagar, God called Abraham first to account. In fact, in that episode, God did not even call Sarah, even though it was at her suggestion that Abraham did what he did.

Therefore, when dealing with gender issues under our roofs, parents would have to take the lead by stating clearly what is God’s revealed will on such matters.

 And even though it is now a sensitive topic that is fraught with potential differences of opinion, yet, the parents in the home will have to take the lead in establishing the relevant parameters.

 The word prudent means “being clever and careful in action and judgment” as we must be with those issues of gender that are knocking at our doors.

We probably would not have had to do any Bible study on these matters, were it not for the fact that more and more families, and churches are being affected, one way or the next, by the accelerated expansion of philosophical teachings and the use of indoctrination on these issues.

Therefore, we have no choice but to stake out the Biblical positions clearly, from the word of God, and yet at the same time, we must be prudent in doing so. Thus three questions would be addressed, so as to bring clarity to certain issues in question and we will let God’s word speak for itself.

Question [1]: If your child comes home from school, and because of some philosophical indoctrination he or she was given, requires a name change or may request gender affirming therapy, what should godly parents do, and should they comply?

Question [2]: Should Christian parents be attendees of a transgender/gay marriage, if one of their kids decides to marry someone of a similar persuasion, or should the parents desist?

Question [3]: If the laws of a particular state offer the freedom of choice to underage children on gender issues, should Godly parents comply with Caesar’s law, or are they to affirm an “It is written” in their households, even if there are penalties or adverse consequences including losing custody of a child?

Believe it or not, these are just a few of the grim or urgent predicaments some families would have to confront now, and because of this, the word of God will outline to us the right and the prudent thing to do in any such circumstance.

Let’s begin with question [1] If a child comes home from school, and because of some philosophical indoctrination he or she was given, requires a name change, or may request gender affirming therapy, what should Christian parents do, and should they comply?

Parents are free to do whatsoever they choose, with natural consequences, but if they desire to follow “It is written” they would have to direct their kids, and explain to them as best they could what the word of God says about the issue. Sadly, there are situations, now obtaining in our world that not even the many prophets of old could have seen coming.

Fathers will have to do some mansplaining, as they endeavor to teach their kids what the Bible says. Ever so gently, and with wisdom born of God, the parents will need to explain the following passages of scripture, which set the record straight in simple format. Let’s read:

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.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.

Genesis 2: 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

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

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

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

Then the parents may have to address the issue of contrary feelings that the child in question may be experiencing. Fathers and mothers would have to explain in real time, that most of our feelings, as human beings, are contrary to the word of God.

It’s not just on gender issues, for it applies to every facet of our existence. God does not condemn any person for experiencing contrary feelings, for if this were the case, none of us would be saved.

Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight that You might be justified when You speak, and be clear when thou judge.

5 Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

When the Calypsonian Shadow sings about “Feeling the feelings” he is referring to contrary feelings he is experiencing, which come down upon him in heavy torrents, and which also plague the unrighteous, the righteous, and even those sitting on the fence. Every human being that has ever lived has had to confront a plethora of contrary feelings.

From Mrs. Potiphar, to David, from Solomon to the father of the faithful, even Abraham, from the men of Sodom, to the people of Nineveh, and every one of the disciples without exception.

All have had to deal with, and confront the contrary feelings, but never should these feelings drive us to manipulate God’s word in order to cater for fallen, human nature.

What God is saying to us is: under no circumstances is anyone permitted to alter His word, so as to cater to contrary feelings, whether naturally occurring, or whether cultivated.

We would have our share of struggles with feelings, and we may have to pray long and hard, in earnest for victory, but we are never to tamper with what God has said. Anytime anyone attempts to remove or alter the truths given in the Bible, they embark on a slippery slope which ultimately leads to never- land. Let’s read:

Psalms 89: 34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

 Deuteronomy 12: 32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

 Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

What philosophy is doing in our day is attempting to alter the designations given in Genesis chapters one and two, and when persons choose to subscribe to such teachings God can’t help them recover, if they have been previously convicted by the Holy Ghost, and yet there is no change of perspectives, for they turn their backs on His word, the final authority on all matters.

There are many smooth-talking, politically correct, and financially motivated speakers who concoct a litany of philosophies to suit itching ears. But the word of God is abundantly clear, when it comes to tampering with what He has stipulated.

Thus, we must repeat so that persons would hear precisely, what is being said: Jesus cannot help any individual who has previously been convicted by The Holy Ghost, yet deliberately, and permanently turns their backs on His written word granted such a person has come to the age of reason. Let’s read:

Proverbs 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded.

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof.

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge and didn’t choose the fear of the Lord.

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

We do sincerely encourage everyone to choose the truths written in God’s word, while there is yet the opportunity for salvation to occur in the heart, but the truth of the matter is that there is a point of no return, where a person’s decision becomes fixed for eternity, and the pleading voice of conscience will cease forever. Let’s read:

Hebrews 6: 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Question [2]: Should Christian parents be attendees of a transgender/gay marriage, if one of their kids decides to marry someone of similar persuasion, or should the parents desist?

Again, as it was with our first question, parents are free to choose whatsoever they decide to do in such situations yet there are pitfalls and temptations that would beset their feet, if they were to attend. One’s presence at any wedding is most often viewed as an endorsement of the union of those getting married.

Especially if the person in question who is doing the marriage vows, asks if there are any objections to the consummation of the marriage. The parents in such instances would naturally recoil from raising their hands in a public objection, for doing so would almost certainly cast a dark shadow over the entire ceremony.

This in turn could potentially trigger a very bitter backlash from the persons at the altar, and it could create deep wounds that might never heal with the passage of time.

In addition, if the parents in their heart of hearts are decidedly against any such union, yet may choose to attend, just to show support for their kids, they will open the door for severe temptation to compromise their conscientious objections.

They would be invited to take pictures with those who are getting married, the parents would have to walk up the aisle to give the engaged persons away, and throughout the entire festivity, their hearts will be bleeding internally, as they witness that which they know is contrary to God’s will, and favor.

These are just a few of the potential results if God-fearing parents decided to attend. In the spiritual realm, we are counseled against placing ourselves knowingly in the way of temptation, for we would almost certainly be taken advantage of by invisible foes.

This is what occurred when Peter presumed to mix in with the crowds that were reviling Christ in the judgment hall. He entered onto satan’s enchanted ground, and the enemy absolutely abused him, or as Christ once put it, he sifted Peter like wheat.

John, who’d made his inner convictions clear as day, chose rather to be as close to Jesus as possible, but Peter, who courted popularity, chose to blend in with the crowd, so as to disguise his real feelings, and as such, when the crowd poked fun at Christ, he felt obligated to laugh too, lest his true feelings be known.

Thus, Peter fell a prey to the devices of devils, and they turned up the heat several notches, until in his frustration and anger, he let loose a number of four- letter words, denying any connection with Jesus. In other words, satan pressured him into siding with the crowd, against his personal inner convictions. Let’s read:

Exodus 23: 2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.

Romans 14: 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemns not himself in the thing which he allows.

23 And he that doubts is damned if he eat, because he eats not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is a sin.

The Desire of Ages pp 711>712] The disciple John, upon entering the judgment hall, did not try to conceal the fact that he was a follower of Jesus. He did not mingle with the rough company who were reviling his Master.

He was not questioned, for he did not assume a false character, and thus lay himself liable to suspicion. He sought a retired corner secure from the notice of the mob, but as near Jesus as it was possible for him to be.

Peter had not designed that his real character should be known. In assuming an air of indifference he had placed himself on the enemy's ground, and he became an easy prey to temptation.

 Many who do not shrink from active warfare for their Lord are driven by ridicule to deny their faith. By associating with those whom they should avoid, they place themselves in the way of temptation.

They invite the enemy to tempt them, and are led to say and do that of which under other circumstances they would never have been guilty. The disciple of Christ who in our day disguises his faith through dread of suffering or reproach denies his Lord as really as did Peter in the judgment hall.

Peter tried to show no interest in the trial of his Master, but his heart was wrung with sorrow as he heard the cruel taunts, and saw the abuse He was suffering. In order to conceal his true feelings, he endeavored to join with the persecutors of Jesus in their untimely jests.

But his appearance was unnatural. He was acting a lie and while seeking to talk unconcernedly he could not restrain expressions of indignation at the abuse heaped upon his Master.

Question [3]: If the laws of a particular state offer the freedom of choice to underage children on gender issues, should Godly parents comply with Caesar’s law, or are they to affirm an “It is written” in their households, even if there are penalties or adverse consequences including losing custody of a child?

As was clearly stated in response to the two former questions parents and guardians retain the freedom of choice in any matter of conscience, and they are free to choose either the good or the evil, if they so choose.

However, sooner or later, persons who genuinely believe in The Lord Jesus, would discover that in all matters which pertain to salvation, the conscience, worship, and truth, very clear lines of distinction will have to made so that it would be unmistakably clear where we stand on this or that issue.

In instances where the state, or Caesar commands parents to do that which is directly contrary to the word of God and sound doctrine, parents have the sacred duty to disobey Caesar, in deference to God.

There are many things which have become “Legal” with the support of law, but that does not mean to say that we must surrender truth to comply in every instance.

Serving and obeying God will at times involve actual loss, of property, relationships, commercial privilege and family members, in some instances. Those cute doctrines which teach a Christianity without a cross, or salvation without self-denial, are categorized in the Bible as being smooth things, specially designed for itching ears.

There are times, when on account of the incursions of men and demons, persons will have to stand up and be counted the same as took place when Moses asked the question: “Who is on the Lord’s side?”

If Caesar attempts to force unscriptural practices on the saints, whether it be worship or morals, we will have to make decided choices in favor of the right, even though we might suffer serious consequences.

The final conflict of the end time affords no middle ground, in so much that the easy-going Christianity of former years, where individuals sat on the fence without any hard commitment to obey God or satan is quickly coming to an end, and when it does, there will only be two classes, or two camps that remain.

Therefore, if persons decide to remain true to God during these difficult days, we should read the next passages of scripture slowly and prayerfully with the understanding that the days of playing “In the river on the bank” are now almost over. Let’s read:

Matthew 10: 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother-in-law.

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.

39 He that finds his life shall lose it and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.

Throughout our very troubled, world there is one word that keeps recurring over and over again, and that’s Decision, Decision, Decision. 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.

All of the decisions that persons now make would be culminating and converging during the times of Revelation chapter 13, because every time persons deliberately choose to do the right or wrong, those decisions serve to deepen and cement conviction of conscience, in either the good or bad direction.

Let us then form the habit by the grace of God, of making firm concrete decisions in favor of right, and one day soon, The God of heaven would lock in the pattern of choosing right permanently for eternity, during the sealing process.

We therefore strongly advise, and encourage every saint, who names the name of Christ, to stand firm for the right under the most daunting circumstances because he that is faithful in that which is least will also be faithful in much. We end with a quote from the pen of inspiration, as we think on these things. 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.

                                    God Bless!

Offensive And Defensive Positions In The Spirit World. Sabbath afternoon 04/08/2023

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The passages above tell us beyond the shadow of a doubt that we are all involved in a war; not merely against fellow mortals like ourselves, but more so against principalities and powers, and the forces of darkness which do strive for the supremacy in our minds.

 Too often we find ourselves focusing our attention upon the human agent, when indeed, it is the many invisible forces we wrestle against, that are causing the problems and challenges we encounter on our journey towards God’s kingdom.

In fact, this reality is something that persons must be reconciled to, in that each step of advance in the right direction would be challenged by the forces of darkness, and therefore, a person should not expect only smooth sailing in his/her Christian experience.

There will be times when we will have to do mortal battle against internal and external foes, of whom the internal foes are the most dangerous. However, Christ has promised us grace that will rise with the emergency, so that folks need not fear, nor buckle under the heavy load of discouragement whenever the enemy comes in like a flood.

Jesus, who has trod this way before, had to endure multiple assaults by the enemy of souls, who was a relentless, and a determined foe that Christ had to meet, and conquer each day, during His sojourn on this earth.

The word Christian means little Christ and therefore, we who believe in Jesus, and follow Him, must also expect to encounter malice, revenge, oppositions, turmoil, and hardships of various sorts, intertwined with the sunny days, and mountaintop experiences that the straight and narrow path affords. Let’s read:

John 16: 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

2nd Timothy 3: 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

[LTSM 7, MS 24, 1892 Par. 22] Remember that every soul striving to advance in the divine life, finds every inch of ground disputed by an antagonistic force and he must gird himself for the conflict by earnest prayer, and fight the good fight of faith.

 [LTSM 17, Lt 67, 1902 Par. 53] The Christian warfare is an individual warfare. Satan will contest every inch of the way, but press forward. The strength and courage necessary for the conflict will be given you.

   Our interpretation of adverse events.

One of the issues that we will be lazar focused on in this presentation, is how to interpret adverse events as they occur in our life experience for we’ll discover that whenever the adversary of souls goes on the offensive against the Christian, we often make the mistake of misinterpreting events as they unfold.

At such times we will discover that the Christian is often tempted to believe that God has forsaken him or her, and it’s at these moments when our faith can be severely shaken. But, the truth about the matter is that if one is sincerely trying to walk in harmony with all the light given, adverse circumstances are often a harbinger of good things to come.

In other words, whenever God determines to bless His people, we should expect the forces of darkness to launch an offensive, and if and when it ensues, it is to be interpreted as a herald of something bigger, and better, that is already on the way.

In the spirit world there are those who stake out an offensive position, while on the other hand, we will find that God often plays defense. This is a fact that we must understand moving forward, for very often we might expect God to go on the offensive, against the forces of darkness that are arrayed against our souls.

There are times when God goes on the offensive but this is more the exception than the rule, because His nature of loving-kindness does not generally move Him to offer offense. Whenever God does go on the offensive, it is usually in response to continued, and prolonged provocation, or determined resistance or persecution against His own people.

Therefore, when we pray, we should do so with the understanding, that God, as a general rule, is not in the business of walking around with a baseball bat, seeking to pick a fight with men or demons. His own nature consists of love, peace, harmony, kindness, and every good, and upright characteristic that can be found, written of Him in His word. Let’s read:

1st John 5: 8 He that loveth not knows not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind therefore have I hope.

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

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

Psalms 103: 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor 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.

So, let’s repeat so that this sacred truth may sink in deep into our consciousness: God is love, and He is not in the business of going on the offensive under normal conditions.

 On the contrary, the forces of darkness often go on the offensive, always seeking to pick a fight with God, holy angels or with the Christian. Unprovoked, man’s nemesis will target an unsuspecting believer, and if granted permission, he will cause distresses and hardships, difficulties and a host of problems the saint in question may not be catering for.

Thus, the Bible teaches us, in no uncertain terms, that in the spirit world it is the adversary of God and man who stakes out offensive positions, for this is who he is at his very core. His nature drives him to take offensive actions against the good, the bad and the in between.

Persons are never to be deceived into thinking that if they were to cozy up to the devil that he will leave them alone. This is an absolute misunderstanding, for he will target even his most ardent followers, the same way he goes after the Christian. The reason is that going on the offensive is a natural byproduct of his nature as the Bible declares. Let’s read:

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

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.

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

After David was anointed as king of Israel, and satan got wind of it, he then went on the offensive to try if possible, to thwart the good God had intended to do for his people. Numerous assaults were launched from strategic positions, and in each and every case God adopted a defensive position, protecting David from the malice of the prince of darkness.

One day, as David was singing his songs of praise in the king’s court, the prince of darkness moved upon Saul to hurl a javelin at the musician, with the hope that it would pin him to the wall. This happened on more than one occasion, but in each instance, God played defense in behalf of his servant. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16: 7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.

Again, Saul was moved upon by invisible forces to go on the offensive after David, for the king had spent many sleepless days and nights, hunting down David like a wild beast in the forests and wilderness. Saul refused to let go of his purpose to strangle David with his own hands. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 24:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

1st Samuel 26: 2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

We observed that God’s actions against Saul are all defensive in nature, for it is not the nature of God to go on the offensive against human beings. Christ has come to save men’s lives, not to destroy, and thus, if and whenever He can, God avoids resorting to brute force to compel persons to comply with His will.

These determined attacks against David continued to weigh on his mind, for at every turn, he found himself having to look over his shoulder, lest some sudden attack from the spirit world, through human agencies, should snuff out his life prematurely, as he then thought.

According to the scripture, the prolonged incursions against his soul and his person, finally took a toll on David, for he began to interpret the events as being a harbinger of bad things to come, instead of being heralds of the good God that was going to do. His interpretations and conclusions are expressed in David’s own words of anguish and despair. Let’s read:

       David’s Interpretation of Events.

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

Again, after God revealed the fact that He was going to do great things through young Joseph, the forces of darkness staked out an offensive position, and as usual, they chose the medium of human agencies to carry out their diabolical plans.

Joseph was first cast into the pit, and then sold as a slave into a foreign country, where he would now be tasked with learning a new language in a hurry. And as he saw his father’s tents fading in the distance he shed many bitter tears, thinking that this has to be the end of his dreams.

  His interpretation of events.

[Patriarchs and prophets pp 213] With a trembling heart he looked forward to the future. What a change in situation—from the tenderly cherished son to the despised and helpless slave! Alone and friendless, what would be his lot in the strange land to which he was going? For a time Joseph gave himself up to uncontrolled grief and terror.

But throughout that entire episode, we do not find God going on the offensive to prevent the malice of his brothers. Instead, The Lord takes up a defensive stance, and protects Joseph through all the ups and downs of his experiences in Egypt, until The Lord’s purposes for him would be fulfilled in due season.

In his own words, Joseph later informed his brothers in retrospect, about the correct understanding, and interpretation of the events that had transpired. He attributed his success to the defensive role God had played in his capture, and consequent exaltation in Egypt, in so much that Joseph didn’t even credit his brothers with the chain of circumstances. Let’s read:

Genesis 45:3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.

4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

7And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

When God placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, the forces of darkness went on the offensive, for the conversation of that fateful day was begun by man’s nemesis, not Eve. It’s true that their power of choice was used for the wrong reason by our first parents, but the offensive came from the serpent.

When God had determined to free His people from Egyptian bondage, He spoke to pharaoh first, to let His people go. Many of us, if we had been in God’s shoes, would not have condescended to speak to a poor mortal like pharaoh, especially, if we were to consider the omnipotence God has at His disposal.

Yet God addresses pharaoh in a non-confrontational manner, that he should let the people go. And, even after the multiple requests had been made by God, and denied by that stubborn king, God did not at once bring upon the Egyptians the last plague that did them in.

He waited and waited, He pleaded and pleaded, and each successive plague was mingled with mercy, for God takes no pleasure in the destruction of human life. But stubbornness on the part of the king caused The Lord to tighten down the screws with increasing pressure, until He had no choice but to turn up the heat several notches so that pharaoh would listen.

But, had it not been for the fool-hardiness of the king, we would never have read of a single plague upon Egypt. That is because God, as a general rule, does not stake out offensive positions when dealing with the human family.

God is not confrontational or offensive in nature for He much rather prefers those peaceable and kindly solutions to problems that are in harmony with His word, when dealing with humanity. In other words, He is not a bully God, but instead always seeks out the most peaceable route at first, as He did with old pharaoh. Let’s read:

Exodus 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus, saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

Instead of acquiescing to God’s word, pharaoh, who was under the direct influence of demons stakes out an offensive position in the narrative for in response to God’s overtures he increases the burdens of the people, and, like the invisible master under whose control he now is, he proceeds to harass and torture the Hebrews as he goes on the offensive. Let’s read:

Exodus 5:6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

7 Ye shall no more, give the people straw to make

brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore, have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as heretofore?

  Their interpretation of events?

Exodus 5:20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

21 And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

22 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

Several judgments against Egypt ensued, with each one becoming severer, until the episode culminated in the demise of every firstborn of man and beast in the kingdom. One would think that pharaoh would have learned his lessons well, but again, urged on by the prince of darkness, the king again goes on the offensive. Let’s read:

Exodus 14: 9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea ….

10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.

Their Interpretation of Events?

Exodus 14: 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

There are critically important lessons for us to take away from the experiences of those who have gone before. Their interpretations of adverse events are pregnant with instruction, for those of us who are living in an environment where things are becoming more and more volatile by the day.

 [1] For starters, in our interaction with our fellow mortals like ourselves, we too should follow God’s lead in avoiding going on the offensive, nor should we expect The Lord to always take offensive actions in the protection His people.

Too often, we find ourselves following the dictates of fallen human nature, in clamoring for revenge or justice as the case might be. But those who spend time beholding the character of Christ, would avoid confrontation as much as possible, and would rather prefer peaceable solutions to any volatile situations, if, and whenever this is possible. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

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

[2] Another important lesson for us to consider and learn from the experiences of God’s people in times past, is that whenever we may attempt to do things that are good or right, we should expect some level of resistance from the prince of darkness.

But his offensives are not to be viewed as negatives to the good purposes intended, because, as we have discovered in the several examples given, God’s own defensive actions in our behalf often uses the ploys of demons to facilitate the outworking of His grand purposes in behalf of His people.

Thus, whenever we may experience offensives, and oppositions from the spirit world, when trying to do that which is good and upright, these events should be understood and interpreted as harbingers of the good that is to follow, and we would be encouraged greatly in thus bearing patiently, the assaults of our invisible foes. Let’s read:

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.

 [3] There is a book called “Last Day Events” which outlines in graphic detail the perils of the last days. The information that is found therein is not to be understood as scaremongering. Instead, the info is a herald of the morning, and therefore, when we read it we must look beyond what is seen to that which is eternal.

In other words, some of the bad news that is found therein is actually good news for the Christian, for  God’s word certifies that all offensives coming from men and demons will soon come crashing down and persons who at that time remain faithful will see in real time The Day Star arising in their hearts.

And, we have the assurance that God would be with us, mostly in a defensive position, so that whenever we pass through the fire or the flood, His presence will always be there to guide, encourage, strengthen and cheer, so that persons would not be engulfed by the forces of darkness who are on the prowl.

Thus, in all of the vicissitudes of life, in all of those adverse circumstances and offensives that come our way from time to time, let it be settled once and for all in our hearts, that God often turns the negatives into positives, and if we were to hang in there by His grace, we will often discover that our latter end will be better than at the first.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should help us to understand and interpret events in our lives correctly, and may God grant us grace to bear, the various offensives coming from the spirit world in the interim. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him …..

                                   God Bless!

When Michael Stands Up. Sabbath afternoon 04/01/2023

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

The times spoken of in the above passage are not to be understood as being in the distant future, for the world is now in a perpetually precarious state where uncertainty, and turmoil rule the day.

The sunshine state could possibly be on the brink of becoming the wild, wild, west, where persons could be traveling on a bus going to school or work, and it is conceivable, that every person on that bus could be fully loaded.

Indeed, the time has now come where individuals and families will have to make some hard decisions as to how to proceed in an environment where it is no longer required to have a concealed firearm. In many cases you would find persons responding by taking matters of security into their own hands so as to protect themselves and their families.

We often sing the songs “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way” and there is another one “Only trust Him” but we declare the truth to you, that the times that are coming upon our world will really test our willingness to trust God for everything that pertains to life, including security.

Even though our hearts go out to the latest victims in Tennessee, we have observed that in recent years the term “Our thoughts and Prayers” is beginning to sound like a broken record, for currently we have a lot more mass shootings recorded for this year, than days which have elapsed thus far, 131 versus 90.

The lamblike beast is the only nation on earth that allows its young school aged children to be targeted by persons, who for one reason or another, might decide to do the unthinkable.

Not even the Taliban permits what is being done in America, and according to scripture, it will continue spiraling downward until our troubles culminate in the time of trouble such as never was, since there was a nation.

All of the major gauges do suggest that the world is now caught in a multiprong vortex from which it is becoming increasingly difficult to escape. The storm clouds are gathering both at home and abroad. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs And Prophets pp 101] The issues of the press teem with records of murder—crimes so cold-blooded and causeless that it seems as though every instinct of humanity were blotted out. The spirit of anarchy is permeating all nations, and the outbreaks that from time to time excite the horror of the world are but indications of the pent-up fires of passion and lawlessness that, having once escaped control, will fill the earth with woe and desolation. Even now, in the present century, and in professedly Christian lands, there are crimes daily perpetrated as black and terrible as those for which old-world sinners were destroyed.

Again, earth’s inhabitants are currently bombarded on multiple fronts, with problems and disasters, for which we don’t have the answers, the resources, or the solutions to solve them. Deadly tornadoes are taking their toll, hurricanes are yearly increasing in intensity and frequency, and drug resistant viruses and bacteria are becoming more common.

In addition to this, we have major upheavals taking place with Trade Unions, both at home and abroad as can be seen currently in France, and Israel of all places. Chipotle, Amazon and Starbucks have begun to see their share of trade union woes, and it is just the tip of the iceberg, as the servant of the Lord has accurately predicted. Let’s read:

[ Letters And Manuscripts 1903, Volume 18, par. 9] “Trade unions will be one of the agencies that will bring upon this earth a time of trouble such as has not been since the world began.”

These are not mere aberrations, but are instead the symptoms of deeper spiritual problems which have become endemic in society. Spiritual law always has preeminence over natural or physical law, meaning that the former absolutely has jurisdiction over the latter.

To put it bluntly, whenever spiritual law is interfered with, it would throw off physical laws into increasing discombobulation, downstream until an appropriate remedy is adopted. And if necessary corrections are not made in a timely manner, the severity, and cost of the collateral damage goes up exponentially.

In the days of Elijah, it was the violation of spiritual laws in the worship of false gods, that had triggered that devastating famine which took a deadly toll on man and beast. When the corrections were adopted on Mt. Carmel, the heavens released great torrents of water, and the earth was refreshed. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18:38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

45 And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

Again, in the days of Joshua, spiritual law was being violated by Achan, who had stolen things that were specifically stipulated as being accursed. Thus, when Joshua’s soldiers went into battle against Ai without prayer, they suffered the destabilizing defeat which caused them to question whether or not God was with them.

The reason for their failure was specifically pointed out by God, so that coming generations of mortals would not be deceived as to cause and effect, as it pertains to collateral damages, wherever spiritual law is violated. God is merciful, but His mercy would only go thus far and no further, if persons insist and persist in the violation of spiritual law. Let’s read:

Joshua 7: 10 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore do you lie thus upon thy face?

11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

Therefore, that phrase in our first passage: “Stand Up” refers to the exercise of Divine authority at a time when forces of evil would have tried to coerce the violation of conscience, by trying to force all of earth’s inhabitants, to worship the image of the beast.

The worship of the image of the beast would then constitute a violation of the fourth commandment, and thus, would bring upon earth’s inhabitants, the wrath of The Lamb, after our probationary time has expired, as spoken of in the book of Revelation. 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.

Michael, in our first passage refers to Christ, who at that appointed time will rise up to take the reins of control out of the hands of mortal man, not that they were ever in man’s hands, but He will be doing some very strange things, which folks may not have seen or heard Him do before.

Let’s repeat, so that you would hear correctly: Jesus will be doing some strange things at the appointed time, that we may not have heard or seen Him do before.

To those who may have been brainwashed by those smooth-talking, truth denying, or politically correct preachers of the day, when Michael stands up, He is going to do things that you’re not expecting to come from the meek, loving God He is known to be.

That little cute baby that has been worshipped for centuries on Christmas day will turn heads, and will be a cause of great concern when He begins to roll through the earth. In fact, many of the saints of God at that time would have difficulty understanding the extent of His work, in defense of His people, and in defense of His downtrodden law.

The prophets predicted that persons will be caught off guard as to extent of His intrusions at that time, for even the very saints who would be saved, might experience difficulty in coming to grips with Jesus’ movements, as at that time He will be wrapping up the history of planet earth, as we have known it. Let’s read:

Isaiah 28: 21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

Revelation 19: 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

Currently, all the nations of earth seem to be taking one step forward and two steps backward for if one were to take a look at where we are, we seem to be either stuck in neutral, or going in reverse.

The war between Russia and Ukraine is taking a very heavy toll on resources globally, and has triggered a mad stampede into electric vehicles, and everything electric, as if that would solve our problems forever.

There are unforeseen problems associated with the near complete dependence on the electric grid, as is laid out in the green new deal, and such challenges would be manifested only after the switch over has been made.

With oil-based sources of energy, you would have more pollution, but the chances of a catastrophic shut down will not be not as high as when there is total dependence on the electric grid. If, for some reason we were to run into a major problem with our electric grid, the consequences could then be absolutely devastating and catastrophic.

Without back-up generators, and batteries, it could result in shuttering of banking systems, computers will lack the power to operate, satellites would not be able to communicate information efficiently, and those vital services we have come to depend on can suddenly be upended, and the “everything electric” mindset could abruptly be rendered null and void. Let’s read:

                       HURRICANE CENTRAL

Hurricane Ian In Florida: Millions In The Dark, By Ron Brackett and Jan Wesner Childs, October 05, 2022.

M​ore than 2 million power outages are being reported in more than 20 counties from Southwest Florida where Ian came ashore, up and across the state to areas around Daytona Beach on the state's Atlantic Coast, according to PowerOutage.us. Each outage can represent several people in a household or building, or a business or shared utility account.

 One of the issues arising from the power outages is that persons with a Tesla, and other electric vehicles were not able to recharge their batteries, and many got stuck, not being able to make an escape as their fuel burning neighbors could.

The issues that are now plaguing earth’s inhabitants are much deeper, and entrenched than the passing disturbances taking place with geopolitical forces or the capricious outbreaks of nature, whereby storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards are becoming more frequent and intense.

The real problem from which all of the other issues stem is a spiritual problem, and it would require a spiritual solution to solve it. It will ultimately, and be finally decided by heads of states that unless earth’s inhabitants turn back to God, there will be no letting up of those adverse circumstances that keep piling up at our doorstep.

 But our first passage cautions, that in our efforts to turn back to God, very grave mistakes in judgement will be made that will culminate in Michael standing up for His people, who will remain faithful at a time of unprecedented, global turmoil. Any turning back to God will have to take place on His terms, not ours as we are cautioned of in Revelation 13.

As we studied last week, any universal mandate to coerce the conscience on matters of worship would trigger a swift response from Christ, causing Him to make direct intrusions into the affairs of men so as to protect the faithful during those perilous days.

However, this will not be the first time that Michael will have to “Stand up” or intervene, in the religious affairs of men because there were instances in times past when He was moved to do so, albeit on a more miniature scale.

For instance, when the three Hebrew boys faced the mandated false worship in Babylon, The Son of God made a direct intrusion, and delivered them out of the hand of king Nebuchadnezzar.  Some preachers, in trying to describe that intrusion in language that we can understand, might say that God asked one angel and then another, how fast they could reach Babylon.

Then, finally, according to their rendition, God came to Michael and asked the same question, to which He responded: I am there already. Well, we have some news for you; the truth of the matter is that Christ was always there, they just were not seeing Him, but He had always been there. Always!

Michael has never ever left any of His people at any time or at any place, whether it be in good times or bad times; and He has very valid reasons for never leaving us. When He had pulled back His restraining orders from the devil just for a few days we observe what took place with Job and all that had pertained to him.

Thus, Christ’s presence has always been there, but persons were probably not seeing Him. At certain times He may reveal Himself through the presence of angels, or in other instances, He may take it on a personal level, as He did with the Hebrew boys, but Michael has always been there for His people.

When Jacob was fleeing from Laban, and was in dire straits because of the looming threat from Esau, the angels of God made themselves visible to him, and he was thus encouraged on his way, but Christ had always been with him. Let’s read:

Genesis 32:1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

The same fact of Christ’s continual presence with us was again made manifest in Joseph’s experience. At that time Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers, false accusations were made against him by the seducer, and finally he was incarcerated for standing up for right. But in all and through it all the presence of God never left him. Let’s read:

Genesis 39:2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

When Elisha was surrounded by the immense Syrian army, Michael stood up again to protect him and his servant from the malice of the king. In that instance, the servant wasn’t aware that Michael’s hosts were already on the ground, and so it seemed to the poor servant that they were cornered, and were about to be consumed. But again, Michael was always there. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 6:15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

And with you and I, and with everyone who believes in Jesus, Michael has always been there, and He will always be there, even though folks may not see Him with their naked eyes, but Jesus’ presence is always with there with us. Always! Let’s read:

Psalms 139:1 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 You know my down sitting and mine uprising, You understand my thoughts afar off.

3 You compass my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

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

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

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

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

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.

As it pertains to Daniel 12:1, when Michael will be standing up for all those who remain faithful during the darkest hours of earth’s history, as they refuse to bow to the image of the beast, Jesus will again be doing some very strange things that persons haven’t catered for.

Last week the question was asked: How did the king of Babylon recognize the 4th Person in the furnace as being The Son of God? This will take us into very deep waters, as it pertains to Michael/Christ, who is never short on resources, methods, ways or means when it comes to standing up in the defense of His people.

Here are just three of the many ways that God can inject Himself into the equation as it pertains to Him standing up in defense of His people:

Direct revelation. Tailormade revelation. And the issue of facial recognition.

Direct revelation is when God makes Himself known to a person directly, via a dream or a personal, or a physical encounter. For instance, when Jacob was at the brook Jabbok, he had a direct encounter, as he wrestled with Christ. God also made himself known to him via dreams, which he had on a few occasions.

So yes, there are times when, in defense of His own, God could, and will make a direct intrusion, and the individual in question would be made to understand beyond the shadow of doubt that it is The Almighty God in the house. Let’s read:

Genesis 20: 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.

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

6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore, suffered I thee not to touch her.

7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

Daniel 3: 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spoke, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Tailormade revelation: Tailormade revelations occur when Jesus decides to single out one person out of a group of many people, and reveals Himself to that  individual only, while all the others who are present cannot see or hear anything. Let’s read:

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

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

6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

Acts 9: 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

Facial recognition: Facial recognition is where God can cause a situation of mistaken identity, where the enemies of His people are rendered confused, on account of their utter inability to correctly read, identify, or recognize another person’s face.

This He has done time and time again, but persons were none the wiser, and therefore, this last issue about facial recognition is particularly troubling for it could trigger confusion and mayhem, or in other situations it could be employed for the good of His people as God sees fit.

Let no one be deceived into thinking that Jesus is limited to finite modes of thought and action, for as we have stated before, when Michael stands up in Daniel 12:1 He would be doing some very strange things. Before we deal with the bad part, let us deal with the good part.

Pay very close attention to the following narrative, being careful to observe the nature of the intrusion, how the issue of facial recognition is employed, the conversations that ensue, and the total inability of mortal man to figure out what exactly is going on. Let’s read:

Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done.

This same capability is also employed in defense of His people, for as we have stated before, when in Daniel chapter 12 Michael the Great Prince stands up in defense of His people, He will be doing some very strange things. Now is the time to get ready for whatsoever might ensue. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 6: 13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and  compassed the city about.

18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

 [They then embark on an 11-mile journey through mountainous terrain]

20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

2nd Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.

20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.

24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.

Let us repeat again, so that you will hear correctly: When the mark of the beast would have been set up, and coerced worship would have taken center stage at home and abroad, Michael will stand up, and He will be doing some very strange things.

Our willingness and ability to trust God is directly tied to our understanding of His limitless capability, which when understood as being open-ended, will render all of man’s devices, ways, and means which are used against God’s people, as being far less than foolishness.

 Each and every device, gizmo, and tracking device is considered by God as total foolishness, when they are contrasted with what Michael will do whenever the threshold of coerced worship is crossed.

 The time spent drooling over the latest this and the latest that would be much better spent studying and communing with God for if and when this is done our comprehension of things will take one a whole new different meaning, and the clever inventions of man will pale into insignificance, before the God of Daniel 12:1. Let’s read:

[C.O.L pp 41] In turning from God's word to feed on the writings of uninspired men, the mind becomes dwarfed and cheapened. It is not brought in contact with 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.

Let us therefore trust in Jesus, for the beast will do what he is scheduled to do, satan will do what he is scheduled to do, but Michael will do whatsoever He wants to do, for as the scripture says: There is no searching of His understanding; and the information with the interpretation given out today is sure and certain.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should keep us pondering upon these sacred truths throughout this coming week. Let’s read:

Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most-High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely, he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

                                     God Bless