Latter Rain Obedience. Sabbath afternoon 02/26/2022

Joel 2: 11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Some of us are yet to learn what true obedience to God’s word really entails, for some have cultivated strange, weird, fuzzy, and distorted variants of what God requires when He speaks to us. That type of obedience currently done by many Christians would not even come near to cutting it, at the time of the latter rain, which is to fall just prior to the close of human probation.

 Currently, some persons question God before they obey, some require logical answers before moving upon His word, others require a detailed outline of future events, others have to agree first before they obey, while some even presume to argue with God, about the right or more rational course of action to pursue, before obeying His word.

 There are others, who must obtain permission first from family members and friends before they obey, for in their minds the approval of loved ones is most essential to obedience. Jesus took care of this last view on obedience, when He called His disciples, so that some of them who responded by saying they had this or that to do first before they obeyed, were corrected in love, on the matter.

 Some whom Jesus called claimed that they had a few necessary duties to fulfill before they obeyed, and indeed, when we study the calls then made and some of the reasons, and excuses given, they might seem to be important. But as it pertains to obeying God, those reasons ae not that important.

 In fact, in the life of Christ on earth we are informed in the scriptures that He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, which means that even if obedience to God might involve losing one’s life in the process, it is the first and most important thing, to obey implicitly, what God commands. Let’s read:

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which

are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

 In a nutshell, nothing is of more importance than obedience, for if God has to choose between praise and obedience, He would take obedience any day, hands-down. This is the critically important lesson Saul failed to learn, and many persons in our day are yet to learn. Let’s read:

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

Again, nothing is of more importance, when the call to obedience is given directly by God, and this is especially the case when it comes to the fulfilling of the gospel commission. The many, various reasons and excuses some folks currently put forth, for not obeying God’s revealed will, would fall flat when the books of record are examined.

 As it pertains to Latter Rain Obedience, we are now looking at a completely different animal, as pertains to our attitudes towards obeying God’s voice. It is absolutely not essential to first get details upfront. before we obey God. The Bible teaches us that.

 In fact, when it comes to folks obeying God, the fine details are often filled in, or revealed along the way as persons proceed to obey. But to wait for, or even to a demand fine print before acting upon His word would be an absolute non-starter when it comes to latter rain obedience.

 We have such an example of obedience in Abraham   the father of the faithful, who, when he was called by God to go out into a foreign land, obeyed and he went forth, without waiting for details or maps. At that time God did not even tell him which direction to go in; all God said was go, and I will direct you as you go.

 In response, Abraham went to the nearest U-Haul, and rented a one-way truck to nowhere, packed up all his belongings, took his wife (Mercy!), and with others who were willing to make the journey, they set out in obedience to the voice of God. Let’s read:

Genesis 12: Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Hebrews 11: 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

In our opening passage, we observe that God refers to those who would be called to preach during the time of the latter rain, as being soldiers in His army. These are not your average soldiers, for they would have already learned by experience not to question, argue, or even agree with God, for it’s not necessary for us to agree with God before obeying Him.

 Ananias, the disciple, had a few serious questions about the command God gave him, to go and anoint Saul, who was recently hunting down the Christians of the early church like wild beasts. He raised these valid concerns when the call came to him but he did not allow his logical reasoning, nor his premonitions to get in the way of swift obedience, for logic would often be found to be the diabolical enemy of faith.

 Often, what God commands us to do does not make any sense up front, but as persons obey, they can see clearly why God directed us in such and such a path. It is the disposition to obey God in spite of our human logic, forebodings, and valid concerns, that God is now looking for, as he prepares His army of soldiers for the outpouring of the latter rain. Let’s read:

Acts 9: And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prays,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he  might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.

14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as you came, hath sent me, that you might receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Thus, it is of critical importance for us to train our minds to a ready obedience, in spite of what some may or may not think about God’s direct command. A ready and obedient mind is of far more value to God, in the finishing work of the gospel, than one that is prone to question and hesitate on so called intellectual, or philosophical grounds. 

 At the time of the former rain, the Holy Ghost was on the ground to do a major work of reformation and transformation in the minds of those who had previously been deceived or hesitant to accept the sacred truth about Christ being our Savior.

 Therefore, when, as promised the early rain fell, the hearts of those who were called to preach would’ve previously been trained to obey implicitly, the word and directives coming from God. This is very clearly outlined in our case study, and it should serve as a sort of template for those who are expecting, and who will receive the latter rain.

 The purpose of the latter rain is to accomplish two main objectives: [1] To prepare The Lord’s chosen people to stand during earth’s final conflict. [2] To deliver the everlasting gospel in unmistakable ways to those who may still be sitting in darkness.

 Some persons have had the seeds of truth already sown in their hearts, but the latter rain would bring them to maturity where they would make a decided choice in favor of God, and all His commandments. Others have been sitting on the fence, in the valley of decision, but were prevented by circumstances from boldly taking their stand for Jesus.

 But now, as The Holy Spirit will be convicting hearts and minds, the sacred truth about the three angel’s messages will be brought home to the mind in clear steady rays, and the deep, convincing power of God will “Prick” persons in their consciences to make their move.

Therefore, at such a time of grave national peril and worldwide emergency, God would not have time to explain every move and action He will require from His soldiers. The days for lengthy explanations will be over, and now is time for raw obedience to His voice; obedience that is freed from the shackles of human logic, questionings, hesitations and personal forebodings. Let’s read:

Joel 2: Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

3 A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame burns, yea, and nothing shall escape them.

4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks.

8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk everyone in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

This is what transpired after the day of Pentecost in the days of yore, when God’s Holy Spirit was giving directives to those who had been called to preach in the time of the early rain. The time for asking many questions was over, and now, the foot soldiers are doing their appointed work, without requiring any explanations and detailed fine print upfront.

 The Holy Spirit doesn’t have time for explanations at this juncture, for He was dead focused on getting as many persons into God’s kingdom as possible, in the shortest amount of time possible, before men and demons would think to thwart the sacred work. He speaks the word authoritatively, and He expects the soldiers of the cross to yield an unquestioning obedience. Let’s read:

Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went.

The early rain soldier, Phillip, does not ask why he is being sent towards the south; he does not ask how long it will take to get there, nor does he ask about food, raiment and shelter. “Go towards Gaza means go towards Gaza, and thus, implied in the command from God, is everything that Phillip would need, as he goes.

Acts 8:27 And, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

It shouldn’t be necessary for The Holy Ghost to give Phillip a reason for joining himself to the Ethiopian’s chariot, for it should have been understood by all of the early rain soldiers, that their sole focus was the great commission, and as such, the preaching, and disseminating of the gospel should be understood as being a given.

 In our day, when God calls on His soldiers to go join themselves to “this chariot” or any other chariot for that matter, it’s not to talk about the big games, or the latest release in the theatres, or on Netflix. The soldiers of the cross must have understood by now that their sole focus is the mission, and as such, any opportunity granted us by God must be to preach, as Phillip did.

 In our daily interaction with our fellowmen, there are many chariots, with Ethiopians sitting in them, waiting and hoping that someone would explain the scriptures to them. These are not primarily business opportunities, as some have erroneously believed; they are in most cases an opportunity that The Holy Spirit is giving, and He expects us to step up to the plate. Let’s read:

Acts 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaks the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Stop right there! The soldiers of the cross in our day should be able to start at any scripture, and preach Jesus unto persons. This would call for our thorough understanding of the meaning and the import of the three angels’ messages including the very important aspect of obeying all of God’s commandments.

But too often, when brought into contact with our fellowmen, our conversations savor of the temporal and carnal, rather than the spiritual, and issues that pertain to the building up of God’s kingdom. Thus, it may be necessary in most cases, for our minds to be rewired or reprogrammed to focus on ministry, not as an afterthought but as the focal point of our very existence. Let’s read:

Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If you believe with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away

Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

After completing the crux of the mission, Phillip is not left to socialize as we often do. During the time of latter rain obedience, some of the norms we’ve become accustomed to would become relics of the past, as The Holy Ghost would strip away all of the nonessentials to a bare-bones, all hands on deck, approach, to save the lost at all cost.

 Phillip was sent to preach and baptize, and thus, if it’s mission accomplished, The Holy Spirit moves on to the next opportunity and Phillip, whose mind has been trained to yield an unquestioning obedience to anything God says, is ready to be transported via unconventional methods we know nothing of, the same as would take place when the latter rain falls. Let’s read:

Joel 2: 7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march everyone on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks.

8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk everyone in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

With latter rain obedience already in place, these soldiers of God are not going to be dependent on such modes of transportation such as we have been accustomed to, such as Uber, Lyft, and any public transportation. God will make it evident that He is not dependent on self-important mortals to get His work done.

 And thus, all who are called to latter rain obedience must be prepared for whatsoever methods, or ways and means, The Holy Ghost will employ, as He sees fit. Current modes of transportation will most likely be thrown out the window by God, for those who would use Lyft and Uber at that time must first have succumbed to the mark mentioned in Revelation 13 and 14.

 [Maranatha pp 63] It is discipline of spirit, cleanness of heart and thought that is needed. This is of more value than brilliant talent, tact, or knowledge. An ordinary mind, trained to obey a “Thus saith the Lord,” is better qualified for God's work than are those who have capabilities, but do not employ them rightly.

As new challenges will arise worldwide, and as the drumbeat of war and new viruses and variants get louder, isn’t it high time that we regroup as pertains to our understanding of what obeying God’s voice really means?

 Those attitudes and dispositions that have been indulged for to long will have to change, where necessary, and instead, the following mantra will have to be adopted: God says it, I believe it, and that settles it for me, period.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which reflects the urgency of the moment, and wherever any adjustments and changes in our perspectives on latter rain obedience is needed, let’s ask God to give us the heart and mind to submit fully to Him so that a ready, willing, and obedient disposition will be our own personal experience. Let’s read:

Romans 13: 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

                                     God Bless!

Diseases, Causes, And Cures. Sabbath afternoon 02/19/2022

3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.

During the last two years, as the covid pandemic in America and elsewhere took the lives of millions, and sent millions more to the hospital, it was found that certain groups of people were more adversely affected than others, and the reasons for this must be addressed, understood, and where necessary, a change in outlook and practice should ensue.

 Among those who were deeply affected by the virus were the immunocompromised, the elderly and the segment of the population who had any preexisting conditions. As it pertains to the elderly, there is only so much one can do to stave off disease, for as folks grow older the conventional wisdom states that the body’s ability to fight off infectious disease is greatly diminished.

 That wisdom, though true in most cases, has to be taken with a pinch of salt, because there are things that one can do to live a quality life well into one’s golden years. In fact, a study done in Europe, which followed the health and wellbeing of older athletes, found that aging cyclists who rode regularly, in their seventies and eighties, had the same ability to fend off infections, as those in their twenties and thirties.

 Testosterone levels in older men who exercise, are also found to be significantly higher than those who lead a strictly, sedentary lifestyle void of meaningful physical activity. This truth is borne out in the Bible where we will observe that many physically, active individuals such as Caleb, and Abraham were still “Busy” well into, what folks describe as retirement age. Let’s read:

Genesis 21: 5 And Abraham was one hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

 Genesis 23:1 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.

Sarah was actually 91 years of age when Isaac was born, and since Abraham was 100 years old at that time, then the simple math would tell us that there were 36 years which elapsed, between Isaac’s birth and Sarah’s death. That would then put Abraham squarely on the other side of the hill as it pertains to the evening of his days.

 At this age we would be expecting him to be frail or weak, and at the very least his days of busyness had long been over. According to the X-Perts, he would be crunching numbers as it pertains to his will, with only an occasional bout of golf.

 But not according to the wisdom of God, for we discover that he was still fired up and ready to go, at 136 years of age, and he wasn’t infertile as some would be prone to believe. In fact, according to the scriptures, Abraham continued to have children for several years after Sarah died. Let’s read:

Genesis 25:1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

That is six children after the age of 136, and that is why we caution persons who read and quote from the X-Perts, who often leave God out of the picture. Caleb was not slack, as some men count slackness either, for he too conflicted with the conventional wisdom on aging. Let’s read:

Joshua 14: 6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, you know the thing that the Lord said unto Moses concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea.

7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.

8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.

9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's forever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.

10 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as

he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spoke this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

Again, we have the historical facts on Gideon, who was a full-grown man when the angel of The Lord, said unto him: “Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?”

 But lo and behold, we discover that Gideon went on to have a multitude of children, well into his golden years, hence the reason why we stated earlier, that the conventional wisdom on the elderly and aging must be taken with a pinch of salt. Let’s read:

Judges 8:28 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten.

32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

 Thus, in addressing the issue of Diseases, Causes, and Cures, we must distinguish clearly between the causes which trigger diseases in the first place, and the cures that are endorsed by God. The causes will be divided up into two main categories:

 [1] Physical or natural causes, which deal with the laws of cause and effect in the physical realm.

 [2] Spiritual causes, which will deal with diseases and sickness which are caused by strictly spiritual factors, which have nothing to do with viruses or infections.

 Let’s begin with those diseases which are caused by physical or natural factors. There is such a thing as cause and effect, or, as described in the scriptures as sowing and reaping. There are things which folks do that will produce adverse effects on their person if such things are in violation of natural law.

 God does not generally interfere with the laws of sowing and reaping, for if He were to do this, He would essentially make His own laws of none effect. Therefore, what many persons think God is doing to them is in fact what they have done to themselves, without any interference or input from God. Let’s read:

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

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

As the Wet Markets in Wuhan China sold various exotic meats, and so-called delicacies, the laws of God pertaining to diets and foods were disregarded. In many instances, that word “Exotic” really means forbidden, as it pertains to foods. Civets, Mice, Pork, Snakes, Crabs, Oysters, Monkeys, Shrimp, and yes, man’s best friend, “brother Dog”, were all to be found on the menu.

 And it is not China alone that regularly indulges in these violations, they have become a worldwide phenomenon, crossing all borders and all countries where forbidden foods are consumed. And thus, we have the seeds of death already sown in the bodies of billions of people, so that when viruses like covid and his brethren arise, we are already at a serious disadvantage, as far as fighting them is concerned.

 These forbidden foods were never intended for the human family to consume; they were black-listed by God, Who created them, and Who best knows their consistency, and the adverse effects they will have on any person who consumes them.

 The seeds of death would absolutely be sown in the bodies of those who consume forbidden foods, and even if one works out regularly, and seems to be fit externally, the dirty work of breaking down systems vital organs, and a person’s immunity will continue uninterrupted, while the violations continue. This is a statement of fact that individuals can take to the bank, and cash.

 In the New Testament, where we see Christ letting demons go into the herd of swine which was being raised for human consumption, Jesus was not then merely attempting to deprive those farmers of their livestock.  He was doing them a great favor in the eventual destruction of the swine, for it was one of the causes of leprosy and other fatal diseases that had plagued folks in that era. Let’s read:

Leviticus 11:4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

5 And the coney, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

6 And the hare, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

7 And the swine, though he divides the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he chews not the cud; he is unclean to you.

8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you.

11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.

12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the osprey,

14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;

15 Every raven after his kind;

16 And the owl, and the night hawk and the cuckoo,

and the hawk after his kind,

17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,

18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,

19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,

30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.

31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.

46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps upon the earth.

47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten  and the beast that may not be eaten.

But it’s not only diets and foods that are forbidden which contribute to diseases that are proliferating, for the culture of drug dependence, which has now become the norm in so many countries, adds to the toxic mix. When we speak of drugs we aren’t merely referring to heroin, cocaine, and weed.

We are primarily referring to the taking of drugs for any and every reason, without due consideration of counting the cost that would be leveled against the body. There are certain drugs taken which cause the body’s immune system to be compromised, so that when infections occur, the body is already in such a state that would make it difficult to defend itself.

 Organ transplant recipients in particular, are given certain types of drugs, so that the body would not reject the organ that was transplanted. The reason for this is that the body views transplanted organs as foreign entities, and begins to attack them as such. Thus, in order to prevent this, certain drugs are prescribed.

 But one of the adverse side effects of such drugs is that the body’s immune system is weakened in the process, so that such persons become particularly susceptible to infections of all sorts. In addition to organ transplant recipients, persons who are given drugs to treat psoriasis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, will have the same effect of a weakened immune system.

 We are not here advising any person to stop taking their medications; we are just stating the bare facts as they are, so that we may be aware of root cause and effect as it pertains to an immunocompromised condition, as a direct result of taking certain drugs.

 Wherever possible, the use of any drugs should be avoided, for just like trees in the natural world, God made our bodies with the wherewithal to heal, and regenerate in most cases, together with those God-ordained remedies and treatments as necessary.

 If a person’s current medication includes the names of any of the drugs listed below then you can know for certain that adverse effects of a compromised immune system are already at play. Here is a list of the names those drugs, which we will not presume to pronounce:

Corticosteroids: prednisone (Deltasone,

Orasone), budesonide, (Entocort EC) prednisolone (Millipred), Janus kinase inhibitors, tofacitinib (Xeljanz)

Calcineurin inhibitors: cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, SangCya), tacrolimus (Astagraf XL, Envarsus XR, Prograf),

mTOR inhibitors: sirolimus (Rapamune)

everolimus (Afinitor, Zortress)

IMDH inhibitors: azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran), leflunomide (Arava), mycophenolate (CellCept, Myfortic)

Biologics: abatacept (Orencia), adalimumab (Humira), anakinra (Kineret), certolizumab (Cimzia)

etanercept (Enbrel), golimumab (Simponi)

infliximab (Remicade), ixekizumab (Taltz),

natalizumab (Tysabri), rituximab (Rituxan), secukinumab (Cosentyx)

tocilizumab (Actemra), ustekinumab (Stelara)

vedolizumab (Entyvio),

 Monoclonal antibodies: basiliximab (Simulect), daclizumab (Zinbryta)

Now we will move to the spiritual causes, for there are other issues that can affect the immune system, which are not in the physical realm, and yet, could cause persons to be prone to succumb to diseases. Selfishness and a unforgiving spirit, greed, unbelief, depression, remorse, grief, loneliness, lust, laziness, and other adverse conditions of the mind, just to name a few.

 Several examples of the spiritual causes for various diseases are given in the scriptures. For instance, a man by the name of Nabal suffered a heart attack, and died as a direct result of selfishness. Gehazi was Elisha’s servant, but he was diagnosed with leprosy because of unbridled greed.

 David suffered from osteoporosis, because of deep remorse and regret for his sin with Bathsheba. And Daniel fainted and became sick “certain days” after erroneously believing that the Jewish exile would last very much longer than the 70 years prophesied. Michal, Saul’s daughter became barren for the sole reason of trying to shut down David’s praise.

 Miriam came down with leprosy after she coveted Moses’ position, and because of her racial profiling of Moses’ wife. And the list goes on and on, for in the New Testament we have several examples of diseases cause by spiritual factors, which persons suffered from and, in some instances, died.

 Ananias and Sapphira succumbed to sudden death syndrome for withholding tithes and offerings. One man became crippled because of sin, whom Jesus healed, and later warned him against retrogressing into the same error, and old Judas became severely depressed, and committed suicide, because of his inordinate love of money.

 Some persons died and others became sick because they partook of the holy communion, without the prerequisite preparation. All of these are spiritual causes, issues of the mind, which if left unaddressed often cause very serious illness, disease, and death and in many cases, the body’s ability to heal itself is severely compromised. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 11: 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29 For he who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

30 For this cause, many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

But one of the causes of diseases, which hardly gets any attention is disease that is caused by a person’s imagination, where folks became sick after believing they were sick, when they actually weren’t. A spirit of unbelief can weaken our immune systems to the point where negative, foreboding thoughts sap our vital forces, and our health becomes compromised.

 As a general rule of thumb, if one dwells in the light of God’s promises, the promises tend to be fulfilled. And the converse is true, for when persons adopt a spirit of fear, and unbelief, the after- effects in the physical world often savors of those negatives they were dwelling on. This is one of the reasons given in the scriptures, why Job’s ordeal materialized. Let’s read:

Job 3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. 26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

 In fact, God was watching over Job night and day for so many years and His providence protected him for all of his life, together with all that Job owned, and thus, the belief, and the statement that he was not in safety was unfounded, and it savored of unbelief. And guess what, so said, so done. Let’s read:

Job 1: 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nothing?

10 Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

During the course of the pandemic, the constant barrage of bad news, together with covid numbers and daily deaths, caused many persons to go into depression, and as a result, in some cases the bad news actually became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 As some persons crunched the numbers daily, and as some chose to dwell upon the darker side of the crisis, the prospect of coming down with the virus, and the accompanying adverse side effects, scared the living daylights out of some people, and fear in turn, weakened their body’s ability to fight off the dreaded infection.

 It is quite possible that some who may just have had a regular cough, or flu, were prone to believe that it must be the virus, and the resulting worry and fear may have driven them to get tested, and retested until they actually came down with it.

 Now while it is true that folks simply believing may not prevent disease, harboring a positive outlook of belief in God will often go a long way in setting the stage for resisting disease. And we will discover that our immune systems will be much better prepared to deal with diseases as they arise, for again, as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

 As we confront a new variant, (Stealth Omicron) it is of critical importance for persons to believe God’s promises, even if He may not deliver in your own, particular circumstance, for believing paves the way for health, wellness and recovery, whereas unbelief casts a dark shadow over the body’s efforts to heal and recover. Let’s read:

Matthew 9:27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

There is a valid reason why persons are encouraged in the scriptures to cultivate a believing mind, for although this aspect of the human experience may not get the attention it deserves, it could and often affects outcomes.

Therefore, we must pay very close attention to the following statements coming from the servant of The Lord, for they reveal what persons may need to take into consideration, as we consider the prospect of many other diseases, viruses and variants arising as we get closer to Christ’s 2nd coming. Let’s read:

 [Ministry Of healing pp 241] The relation that exists between the mind and the body is very intimate. When one is affected, the other sympathizes. The condition of the mind affects the health to a far greater degree than many realize. Many of the diseases from which men suffer are the result of mental depression.

 Grief, anxiety discontent, remorse, guilt, distrust, all tend to break down the life forces and tend to invite decay and death. Disease is sometimes produced, and is often greatly aggravated, by imagination. Many are lifelong invalids who might be well if they only thought so.

 Many imagine that every slight exposure will cause illness, and the evil effect is produced because it is expected. Many die from disease, the cause of which is wholly imaginary. Courage, hope, faith, sympathy, love, promote health and prolong life. A contented mind, a cheerful spirit, is health to the body and strength to the soul. “A merry [rejoicing] heart doeth good like a medicine.” Proverbs 17:22.

 In addressing diseases, causes, and cures our efforts should run the entire gamut from diets and foods to regular exercise, faith in God, and a believing mind, because when these factors are juxtaposed one to another, positive outcomes would become far more frequent, than if we were to take the other beaten path of drugs, inactivity, poor diet, and unbelief.

 The health message that God has granted to all who would believe and practice, will become more and more relevant, as new diseases, and variants arise. This knowledge is not to be held only theoretically, it is to be applied across the board, in our everyday experiences, wherever possible, because it’s not the hearers, but the doers of the word who will be most benefitted thereby.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which would encourage us to cooperate with God in living healthy lives and fending off disease where possible for it is the will of God, that His people be blessed with long quality of life, to serve to the best of our ability, for as long as possible. Let’s read:

Psalms 103: 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

3 Who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases;

4 Who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

                                   God Bless!

Overcoming Phantom Temptations. Sabbath afternoon 02/12/2022

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

20 These are the things which defile a man.

The human family is tempted in two main ways: [1] Via our five senses, through which we communicate with the outside world. [2] Through temptations or cravings that are cultivated internally, in the mind.

 And while temptation in and of itself is not a sin, the much more dangerous of the two previous methods mentioned, is the temptation which often occurs internally, without any provocation from devils, for while it is true that they continue to do their dirty work relentlessly, the fact is that if left alone, folks can run on automatic, without any external input.

 This issue must be addressed head-on, for far too long folks have blamed devils wrongfully, when in very many instances, devils did not interfere nor did they trigger the evil thoughts that set into motion the temptation with which one was tempted in his or her mind.

 Individuals do not necessarily need to be tempted externally in order for sinful thought to be triggered or for any sinful suggestions to reach maturity into actions. The human mind will run involuntarily in a downward trajectory so that without Christ, no one has to be tempted, provoked or encouraged to sin.

 Thus, because of our fallen nature, and all the latent tendencies it comes with, persons naturally follow the lead of carnal cravings and desires, unless they are constrained by the presence and power of God continually.

 In other words, if God were to destroy devils in the morning, and if God were to put them permanently out of commission, or consign them to never-land, phantom temptations would continue to exist, and would continue to morph into evil words and deeds, just the same as if the devil was alive and well.

 This means that the problem with temptation is not so much external as it is internal as the first passage makes plain. Jesus pointed poignantly to this issue of the human experience, as the cause of the sinful action in most instances, and then He further makes mention of the fact that persons often sin in their minds, without any follow-up overt actions.

 This fact above all else should cause each one of us to engage in deep and thorough soul-searching, to determine and know whether the temptations we are afflicted with are being engineered externally, or if perchance, they are being churned out in our own private factory.

 In the case of Christ’s temptations, we would read in the scriptures that “the devil came to him”. But in our situation, the devil does not necessarily have to come to us; he can leave us all by ourselves, and if we are not rooted in Christ, the sinful outcome will become inevitable. Two deeply troubling passages on this point are worthy of our consideration. Let’s read:

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

20 These are the things which defile a man.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man.

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Both of these passages point to internal temptation as the main driver, and producer of most external evils and, James states unequivocally that there is also a gestation period of sorts where evil thoughts, temptations, and decisions do converge, before the entire process ruptures into open sin.

 It almost never occurs in a vacuum as many persons claim as a cop-out that “the devil made me do it”. Thus, before we proceed, we must understand the meaning of the word “Phantom”: Something that is not real and exists only in a person's mind.

This definition, as given by the dictionary, does not capture the full scope or the severity of the problem because, although temptations in the mind may not produce tangible effects, they are indeed palpable, and they are as real as if they literally existed in the physical world.

 Both men and women do suffer from this syndrome  and the honest in heart will be first to admit that it is real, for it was the reason why God had to bring a flood upon the antediluvian world. In that episode, the internal problem of the mind loomed large, and it prompted God to make the following declaration. Let’s read:

Genesis 6: 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

David recognized the seriousness of the problem, after he fell on the issue of fatal attraction, and as we stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan, internal and external foes will endeavor to get our minds bent in a downward trajectory, by indulging or cultivating phantom temptations.

 As David considered the extent, and the depths to which he fell, he penned words that all who would live victoriously in these last days, would do well to consider, and appropriate to ourselves, wherever the situation may warrant such consideration. Let’s read:  

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.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts. and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

It’s very worthy of note, that throughout the entire chapter of Palms 51 not a single mention is made of the devil. That is because, like Christ later stated, it isn’t really a “devil” problem as such, it is a latent, internal problem of the mind, phantom temptations if you will, and unless it’s addressed and understood as such, our mitigation efforts would certainly lead to failure and ruin.

 However, Jesus does not teach us to grovel in our human weakness, because dwelling on our failures and errors does not strengthen us to face problems within the mind. In fact, the opposite is true, for if we dwell on our weaknesses, they would loom even larger, and before you know it, our fears would then crystalize our faith, which is an outlook on life which God never endorses. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

This leads us to our study for this evening:       “Overcoming Phantom Temptations”

 There are certain facts in the spiritual realm that are to be clearly understood by all, especially those who are a part of the remnant people of God, for these facts will greatly strengthen our resolve to keep on fighting the good fight of faith and would ultimately empower us to live victoriously from day to day.

 [1] A mind that is constantly stayed on God is kept by His power from dwelling on, and cultivating external or internal temptations which occur, for they could, and should be signally dismissed by the word of God, and by the power of His Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

 The gospel of Jesus Christ is never a make-believe gospel; it is a living, breathing power which enables all who so desire to live victoriously on an ongoing basis. Some persons become frustrated, and others become disappointed with themselves because the desired outcome, after accepting the gospel might seem to have not been materialized.

 On this point, we must state unequivocally that God does not work and plan as we do. He brings His own omnipotent and creative power to the table, so that all who are found in Christ will become partakers of His victory. This point is clearly stated in the Bible. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.

The real problem is never with the true gospel; it is always with the human agent because every person who truly believes in Jesus, who would follow all the rules of engagement by God’s grace, as written in the Bible, will be victorious on all levels. Christ did not die to grant us a spurious victory as a figment of our imagination; He died so that we could live like conquerors. Let’s read:

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

[2] Phantom temptations would be signally dismissed and overcome through a constant connection to the power of Christ, who will work in collaboration with our freedom of choice to rat out every real, or imaginary temptation.

 No need to worry or grovel in our weaknesses, for if we look to Jesus throughout the day, it will become very difficult, if not nearly impossible for individuals to be overthrown by either external or internal foes. This fact about Christ’s salvation needs to be given due consideration, for some people dwell too much upon what devils can do, and not upon what Christ has done, and will continue to do. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Jude 1: 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.

[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.

Impregnable: (Cambridge English dictionary) A building or place that is impregnable is so strongly built and defended that it cannot be entered by force. Powerful and impossible to beat.

The previous statement of fact begs the question: why then had David fallen so low, when he had had so many mountaintop experiences. David fell and all others will fall, whenever persons allow themselves to become unhinged from the source of power.

 Just two weeks ago, we were forced to cancel our broadcast because we were disconnected from the cable company, through no fault of our own, and as a result we lost the power to perform. A few weeks ago, we had a power outage in our neighborhood, and it temporarily took all of our computers out of commission.

 Then, when power was restored, we had to reboot our equipment, so that they could function again at full capacity. But while they were down, because of a lack of vital power, we could do no surfing or work because being disconnected from the power source rendered them incapable of doing what they would normally be able to do.

 The same is true for any light bulb, or floodlight or any electrical equipment, including this little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine; if it gets disconnected from the source of its power it will inevitably lose its ability to function, and thereby resist the incursions coming from without and within.

 This is exactly what took place with David, when he temporarily got disconnected from God. He lost the power to resist the phantom temptations that were lurking in his mind, which were only waiting for the opportune moment to become unhinged, and thus, to converge into actions that caused his downfall.

 The next obvious and logical question is: What then causes God fearing persons to become temporarily disconnected from the source of their power? This question and the two answers that would be given must be clearly understood by all.

 Answer: [1] Anything or anyone that is allowed the first place in our affections, will ultimately engage our utmost attentions and energies, and if it is not Christ or the interests of His kingdom, we may know for certain that separation has already begun. Let’s read:

John 14:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He who abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 717] As soon as Satan can separate the soul from God, the only Source of strength, he will seek to arouse the unholy desires of man's carnal nature.

The word “arouse” must be given due consideration at this time, because something cannot be aroused except it be present and/or dormant. For example: “The pit-bull was “aroused” when it heard the mail-man at the front door”. The pit-bull in question would first have to be present, in order for it to be “aroused”

 As it pertains to phantom temptations, every sinful tendency and craving that is cherished, which then remains in a latent state within our minds, can and will absolutely be aroused into action whenever the right set of circumstances converge.

 And that’s why the Bible study today is so critically important for us to grasp, for some of us might be walking around, thinking that we’re ok when we’re not, just because there may not be any overt sinful action.

 [Patriarchs & Prophets pp 717] The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things—the neglect to be true to God and to rely upon Him wholly, the disposition to follow the customs and practices of the world.

 This temporary separation is often accomplished by devils using what we refer to as good temptations. For clarity, a “Good temptation” is one that is not inherently bad, in and of itself, but at the end of the day, it ultimately serves the purpose of drawing us away from Christ, sometimes almost imperceptibly.

 Case in point is the situation which obtained when Jesus became very hungry, and went to the home of Mary and Martha to do lunch. At this time Martha became quite busy with preparing the meal because there was an important need to be addressed, for The Creator of the universe was very hungry, and was and was sitting in her living room.

 But although her cooking was important, it was not that important in the bigger picture, because, as the Lord soon pointed out if one has to choose between cooking a meal for The Creator, and listening to the words of life coming from His lips, cooking becomes less of a priority, even though it is something good. Let’s read:

Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she helps me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.

Another example of a good temptation, occurred just as Christ was delivering a sermon to the people. He was in the middle of speaking important truths when His family showed up, and instead of joining the throng to listen in, they waited on the outside, and sent messengers to ask Jesus to come to them.

 But doing so would have cut short His sermon, and even though, seeing His mother, and His brethren was important, again, it wasn’t that important, for whenever the work of the gospel is interrupted for reasons, other than those ordained by God, there we will have a good temptation sitting at our door. Let’s read:

Matthew 12: 46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

It is worthy of note that the timing of this particular interruption occurred just as Jesus was making such a revelation about the work of devils on the human heart, that would warrant from them an immediate response to try if possible, to divert the attention of the multitudes from truths that would be critically important to their understanding of the invisible world.

 So, let’s observe in context and timing, what’s really taking place, when out of the blue, the request to stop speaking, and attend to some family matters took place. If we’ll receive it, it’s just another good temptation coming from the enemy of souls. Let’s read:

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

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

45 Then goeth 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.

46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Disturbances and temptations such as these often take place at a critical moment when the pastor or an elder may be delivering some sacred truths that would make a difference in some person’s life. It is most often a good temptation that’s occurring even though some may be none the wiser.

[2] The soul can also be separated from God by what we choose to feed upon mentally.

 If persons desire to live victoriously over phantom temptations, we must be very careful about what we choose to see or hear, because the five senses are the avenues to the soul, and because of this, the information and images coming into the mind could exert a deleterious effect on those who are careless upon this aspect of spiritual warfare.

 To put it bluntly, if phantom temptations are to be held at bay and uprooted, there are certain things one cannot do. For example, deliberately looking at pornography in any form will effectually render the work of the Holy Spirit null and void, for situations such as this sets up an antagonistic atmosphere in the mind that pits the carnal against the spiritual.

 And wherever this takes place, the soul will become separated from God; temporarily at first, and then, permanently if the practice is never surrendered. It must be stated here that porn is a cancer that’s now eating out the soul of millions of persons, including members of the clergy. Thus, it creates a tug of war between good and bad impulses within one’s soul. Let’s read:

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other, so that you cannot do the things that you would.

As knowledge and inventions increase over time, evil will become more readily available, even at our fingertips, and thus, the Christian living in today’s world will have to follow God’s instructions on how to avoid the many pitfalls and snares that are being laid for the feet of the unwary.

 Phantom temptations in particular will need to be addressed, and overcome, by the grace of God, in preparation for the latter rain. We are told in the Bible that “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” which means that the thoughts and imaginations would need to be cleansed from the stains of sin, whether real or phantom. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 622] Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Savior be brought to yield to the power of temptation.

 Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foot-hold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of himself, “The prince of this world comes, and has nothing in me.” [John 14:30.]

 Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept his Father's commandments, and there was no sin in him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.

The path to victory, as it pertains to overcoming phantom temptations, is by the word, and through the indwelling Spirit of God. Those who do not see the necessity of prayer will find out sooner or later that cherished, latent tendencies would eventually place the mind in an iron grip, from which it will be very difficult to escape.

 But God has made available to every believer, the power to overcome on a daily basis, if persons will only watch and pray. Having one’s mind stayed on God throughout the day is the equivalent of living in the Spirit, and all who will submit themselves to the instructions given on this point, would not be made the sport of temptations, whether they be internal or external.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture that calls on us to throw in our two cents, together with God’s 100 %, for it is by cooperating, and laying the framework for an atmosphere that will be favorable to spiritual growth, that we would live victoriously over phantom temptations. Let’s read:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

                                    God Bless!

Living With Covid, And Christ. Sabbath afternoon 02/05/2022

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

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

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

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

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

What many persons are discovering is that there is something such as long covid, whereby some of the after effects of the virus continue long after persons have tested negative, and were supposed to have been recovered. Lingering symptoms such as brain fog, headache, fatigue, and issues with taste and smell, can last in some cases for up to 22 months.

 In addition, we find ourselves having to deal with the collateral damage, such as supply chain issues, worker shortages, fatigue of many in the medical community, and the fact that many nurses are now ditching their profession, because of the constant stress of work overload that they are facing day in and day out.

 The after-effects have also taken a toll on the food chain, for in some places, processing plants have as much as 50 percent of their workforce out, because of the virus, and as a result, some food companies do not have the labor resources to process chickens into wings, legs and thighs, so they are selling them whole, and Mc-Donald’s has had to ration its French fries in some areas.

 In addition to these disruptions, some businesses and churches have been forced to close temporarily because of the virulence of the omicron variant. The constant washing of hands, the disinfecting of many surfaces and the wearing of masks are adding to the inconveniences that are affecting persons, so that in one way or another, we all have had to make some adjustments on some level, to living with covid.

 Therefore, for the foreseeable future, we will have to deal with covid over the long haul, but as we’ve stated before, and will continue to emphasize, it is critically important for us not leave God out of the picture, for throughout all of the vicissitudes of life, whether in good times or in bad, Christ must be the center, and the One stabilizing force to preserve our souls and our sanity.

This is not the last pandemic, and omicron is not the last variant, and thus, our mitigation efforts would have to go over, and beyond what the experts are advising. The new abnormal will have to include The God of heaven who has told us that these things are going to be taking place more frequently, and with greater intensity, because this is what the phrase “As a woman travails with child” really means.

 Therefore, while the nations are trying their best to weather the storm Christians are to incorporate the God factor in all of our planning, because the just shall live by faith. Conversely, fear crystalizes trust in God and if we were to follow all of the guidelines, restrictions, and precautions being handed down, we’ll find ourselves in very unfortunate situations.

 The Bible study for this evening will therefore focus on bringing Christ into the experiences we are now faced with. Whatever the Christian does, it must of necessity include faith in God, because we fight and win our battles using different strategies than what the world uses.

 In other words, in addition to the many mitigation efforts that are being advised, in the secular realm, faith in Jesus, and a childlike trust in Him, will help us to deal with any collateral damage brought about as a result of covid. The Bible teaches us of the ways and means whereby we may address the current dilemma. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 10: 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to obedience of Christ.

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

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

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

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

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith,

wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 Whenever seemingly insurmountable difficulties arise, whether in the temporal, social, marital or spiritual realm, the Christian is to incorporate the foundational element of faith in God, if victory is to be achieved. This is where the secular and spiritual would often part ways, for one is antithetical to the other.

In other words, by using strictly carnal methods and strategies, our problems will often loom larger than they really are, and it is very often the case, that by dwelling on the daunting issues in life, the God of heaven is left out.

 The Bible does not teach us that we would not have difficulties; it teaches us several ways and means to navigate such difficulties. However, in every single instance, without exception, faith and trust in God must of necessity be included, for faith is the door through which new opportunities, strategies, and mitigation efforts are to be accessed. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians trying to do were drowned.

 As was stated before, there are only so many ways that the secular mind will find to cross the red sea. Without faith, finite limitations would restrict man-made efforts to only sailing, flying or swimming. But faith in Jesus introduces new possibilities, which, in many instances would scare the living daylights out of those who only use “Carnal weapons”.

 Faith in God announces that folks can walk across the Red sea. The Egyptians tried to follow the Jews, through the waters; they saw them walking on dry land in the middle of the ocean, and they believed that they could do the same. The only problem is that the Hebrews were walking by faith whereas the Egyptians were walking strictly by sight.

 Wherever individuals make decisions and actions based strictly upon what they see or hear, without incorporating the God factor into the equation, it becomes inevitable that defeat, failure, and much perplexity would be the result.

Therefore, wherever this is the case, where God is left out of the picture, the waves that persons face, whether they be waves of despair or waves of some new virus, using carnal, man-made strategies alone would never be sufficient. Some new variant of the problem will arise to frustrate, annoy, or, as was the case with the Egyptians, “Drown”. Let’s read:

 Exodus 14:28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

 And we can go on and on, and we can give several examples of trials, difficulties, problems and hurdles being confronted and surmounted by the faithful in ages past, and we will discover that they all had one thing in common; they did not leave God out of the picture, but rather exercised a living faith in Christ, who has promised. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephtha; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight, the armies of the aliens.

It is worthy of note that in the passages given above, every difficulty, every hurdle, and every perplexity, was handled by the faithful, using that one common denominator of faith. Yes, it is true that at times the weapons employed included the temporal, such as swords, stones and the other items commonly used by those who didn’t know God.

 However, with the Christian, our faith in God has to run as a common thread, throughout the fabric of our everyday experiences, for without it, we will be using what the Bible describes as being carnal weapons. David used five smooth stones and a sling, but the main ingredient interwoven throughout his close encounter with Goliath was faith.

 Gideon used trumpets and torches, but the main element in bringing him success was his faith in the living God. Similarly, the Hebrews used horns and they marched around Jericho for several days, but here again, the fundamental element that brought them victory was their faith in God.

 The same is true of covid, for some persons might choose to use vaccines, while others may opt to try natural remedies, such as garlic, ginger and other bitter herbs, but at the end of the day, it is our faith in the living God that will sustain us over the “covid long haul”, a fact that we must never lose sight of. Let’s read:

1st John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

 Romans 14: 23 “For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

This leads us to the case study for this evening, for the apostle Paul had to live with a thorn in the flesh for many years. Even though the Bible does not say exactly what the thorn was, it obviously presented an ongoing challenge to the apostle, and he found out that he would have to live with it, just like many are discovering that we will have to live with covid.

 Yet, Paul did not leave God out of the picture, for he like so many who had walked that road before, saw the necessity, and the value of living with the thorn, and Christ at the same time, and by his attitude and example, he left on the record, the ways and means whereby all who should encounter ongoing physical or spiritual difficulties, are to live victoriously. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 12: 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

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

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 As we face daunting challenges, and as we sail into unchartered territory, Christians will be tempted to use and employ only man-made strategies, without that fundament element of the God-factor. This is what is sorely lacking in the public square, as the X-Perts are now discovering that covid would become endemic, and there is a new variant that has just emerged.

 As a direct response, big pharma is now working on variant specific vaccines to stave off what is now on the front burner, namely omicron. The problem is that several shots and many boosters have not been able to prevent the viral spread across nations and individuals, and so the question is: Will we look for only man-made strategies, or will we like Paul, seek to include Christ in all of our mitigation efforts?

The Bible does not leave us without answers, for it is an imperative that we walk by faith, if we are to live like conquerors. When decisions and actions are taken in times of difficulty and emergency, without a living faith in Christ, we would certainly err in our conclusions, for whatsoever is not of faith, will lead us into undesirable paths.

 [Testimonies vol. 4 pp 26] The Hebrews were weary and terrified; yet if they had held back when Moses bade them advance, if they had refused to move nearer to the Red Sea, God would never have opened the path for them.

 In marching down to the very water, they showed that they had faith in the word of God as spoken by Moses. They did all that it was in their power to do, and then the Mighty One of Israel performed His part, and divided the waters to make a path for their feet.

 The clouds that gather about our way will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit. Unbelief says: “We can never surmount these obstructions; let us wait until they are removed, and we can see our way clearly.” But faith courageously urges an advance, hoping all things, believing all things. Obedience to God is sure to bring the victory. It is only through faith that we can reach heaven.

 Let us therefore be reconciled to the prospect of having to live with covid and Christ, for the work of the gospel was never intended to be impeded by a plethora of daunting challenges. The preaching of the word and the ultimate fulfillment of the gospel commission would always involve risk at some level, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood.

 Let us therefore buckle up our shoes, and gird on the full armor of God, that we may be able to live, and still do God’s work, at a time when many are running for cover. God will grant us grace to deal with, and navigate the arising emergencies, but we also must step up to the plate, and learn to endure hardness as good soldiers of the cross.

We will end with three passages of scripture which would encourage us to keep the gospel commission at the fore-front of our minds, and God will grant us grace to do exploits for Him at a time when morale is low. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 2: 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

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

 Matthew 16: 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

                                God Bless!