Elijah Goes Off The Grid. Sabbath afternoon 10/30/2021

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

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

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

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

 Sooner or later, the Bible teaches us that those who honor and keep the commandments of God during the last days of earth’s history, would be ostracized from society via the institution of the mark of the beast. As satan would seek total dominion over the world, there will be a remnant people of God who will steadfastly resist his incursions.

 And for this reason, many will have to flee for their lives, just as Elijah did in times past. But just like it is with every other aspect of godly living, the faithful who would come up to that time must have already made it a habit to trust and obey God in all things, and therefore, living off the grid is not something they would initiate on their own.

 Living off the grid during those very difficult days of earth’s history would require a faith that has been severely tested and tried in the furnace of affliction, and thus, when it comes to crunch time, those who have had an experimental knowledge of God would have understood that it would come down to a total dependence on God for everything that pertains to life. This is no light statement that is made, for there’s a valid reason why Christ said of that time “Whoso readeth, let him understand”.

 Our humble guess is that many persons do not as yet understand, because those cryptic statements from Christ are coming to us fully loaded with very serious implications, which run the entire gamut, from food and drink to health-care and security. In other words, living off the grid during those days will mean a total disconnect from every man-made system we currently know of and conversely, entire dependence on God alone will be needed.

 This will include dispensing with luxuries, services, comforts, accessories, and all the other electronic gizmos we have come to depend on for daily living. It would also include a total disconnect from every Every credit and debit card, bitcoin, cash, and every type of cryptocurrency; every savings, and checking account, every cell-phone, laptops, and all driver’s licenses together with any form of identification.

 All health-care and insurance cards from Blue cross and Blue Shield, Amazon prime, Rhumba and Alexa will have to be surrendered, and all retirement and investment funds, together with our homes and the beautiful furnishings accumulated over a number of years; all of these will have to be left behind, when that time comes.

 No type of vehicle, that uses electricity, gasoline, or diesel fuel will be permitted; the use of any type of public transportation, all personal computers and weapons of any sort would have become relics of the past for all who will live through the last days.

 In addition to these things, every type of snack that could be purchased from Publix, where shopping is a pleasure, including the beloved Oreos, twinkies, and other favorites will have to be left in the dust.

 Just in case some may be thinking that we are going off the rails with the extensive list of things that we must leave behind, we will just rehearse the words of Jesus in our hearing, to make certain that we are hearing correctly, for it is the one and only place in the scriptures where those words are to be found. Let’s read:

 Matthew 24:15 (Whosoever reads, let him understand)

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

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

 All of the previous enumerations are involved in the singular command which came from God to Elijah when he began to live off the grid. It had nothing to do with his personal decisions, and preferences for we will observe over and over again where the Bible says that “the word of The Lord came to him.”

 Therefore, it is of critical importance that we study how in Elijah’s experience, he was led to depend on God for everything that pertains to life. It is worthy of note that he did not presume to decide or choose courses of action on his own but was rather obeying those directives which came to him, directly from God.

 The highlighted words in the following passages are the keys to living off the grid when that time comes. Let’s read:

 1st Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward,

and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

5 So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

 1st Kings 18:1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

The gravity of the situation, as it pertained to Elijah being hunted down, is observed by those thorough searches made for him night and day. In fact, if we study the situation closely the search for him began to consume valuable time and resources, but, even though he was not far removed, he just could not be found for any reason. Let’s read:

 1st Kings 18:7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

9 And he said, What have I sinned, that you would deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

10 As the Lord thy God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

 The fact is that from the brook Cherith to Zidon, or Zarephath as it is referred to, is just about 85 to 100 miles, and being the marked man at the top of the most wanted list, with many bounty hunters hot on his heels, Elijah had better be obeying God’s voice alone.

Country living, as it has been encouraged Biblically, and in the writings of the servant of The Lord, and living off the grid are thus two completely different things, and must never be mixed up, taking the one for the other. Country living is to be encouraged, because of the spiritual and physical benefits that will accrue, but God would have us understand that living off the grid, as Elijah did, is a completely different animal.

 In the case of country living, it would take planning and well thought out decisions by us, under God’s guidance to make it a wise and worthwhile move. But living off the grid during the days of Elijah must be devoid of any previous planning whatsoever by the human agent. Let’s read:

 [Last day events pp 99] The Lord desires His people to move into the country, where they can settle on the land, and raise their own fruit and vegetables, and where their children can be brought in direct contact with the works of God in nature.

 Again, and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions, for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one.

We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again. Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies.

 But living off the grid, as Elijah did will require a raw faith, with no additional trappings of human inputs, which too often result in hybrids, that tend to leave God in the passenger seat. In our daily walk with God, extensive plans are often made by the human agent and then submitted to God for His signature. This is what we refer to as a hybrid form of faith.

 But this here which is happening with Elijah, is God driving the vehicle alone, taking routes that Elijah is not familiar with, and Elijah is riding humbly along, not uttering a single word, even when God seems to be doing dangerous and risky moves on the road. It’s what we refer to as a rugged faith. Let’s read:

 1st Kings 18:1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab.

 As the bounty hunters are drooling for Elijah, God commands him to deliberately go and show himself to Ahab openly, a move that may seem to most of us as being suicidal in nature. In fact, this here is so serious that when Jezebel could not locate him, she took out all the other prophets of God, except the 100 that Obadiah hid in a cave by fifties. Let’s read:

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

  Many of us have some very important and difficult lessons to learn in the spiritual realm, as it pertains to believing and obeying God. We might often take our concerns to God in prayer, but to leave burdens at His feet is another matter.

 Others have yet to learn how to surrender their driver’s seat, with the steering wheel fully to God. And even if we let Him drive, some are often found applying brakes from the passenger seat when we believe He is not following the script, as it pertains to what we may consider as reasonable driving.

Thus, when it comes our turn to live off the grid, in the last days of earth’s history, the valuable lessons of trusting God fully would pay great dividends, as it pertains to assurance, and confidence during that time. Let’s read:

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

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

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

 [The Great Controversy pp 621] Those who exercise but little faith now, are in the greatest danger of falling under the power of Satanic delusions and the decree to compel the conscience.

And even if they endure the test, they will be plunged into deeper distress and anguish in the time of trouble, because they have never made it a habit to trust in God. The lessons of faith which they have neglected, they will be forced to learn under a terrible pressure of discouragement.

 However, there are a few things we should know about Elijah, before he went missing in action, for he was a person just like us. He was a homeowner just like many of us, he had at least one employee, and he was a working man, since God usually calls working people to ministry, those who are engaged in some trade or profession.

 But to those who might be unemployed for some reason, or who may choose not to work because of supplemental income from governments, Christ says to such: “Why stand ye here idle all the day?” There are a few things we must know about Elijah.  Let’s read:

1st Kings 19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

 Matthew 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

 Matthew 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

 Again, some of the same issues that bother us also bothered Elijah, and because of this, we are never to believe that those experiences he had with God, are far removed from the remnant in our day. He struggled with self-righteousness, discouragement and fear, as some of us often do. Let’s read:

 James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

 Up until the time when God embarked him on his mission, Elijah was living and working like many of us, but he always kept in the forefront of his mind that this world is not our home, and that we’re just passing through, and as such, the temporal things of life are at all times to be held subservient to eternal interests, and God’s work in the earth.

 Thus, when it came time to suddenly drop, all of his previous engagements and preoccupations, he was not phased in the least, for the pilgrim mindset was always his perspective on life, just as it ought to be with those who are standing on the brink of eternity in our day.

 Recently, there’s been a flurry of economic activity across the nations of earth, as the post-pandemic surge of business comes roaring back to life. And as a consequence, prices of homes have gone through the roof, and some may be thinking of cashing in on the windfall before the frenzy abates, and the laws of financial gravity begin to take their inevitable toll.

That’s all well and good, as God may direct, but let us never forget this one thing, that we are pilgrims here on this earth, like Elijah, Abraham and all of the faithful who went before, we’re passing through heading for a better world.

 And as such, it is important that we do not become too ingratiated with the prosperity of today that we forget the fact that God may call us quite suddenly, as He did with Elijah, to relinquish those temporal interests of life, which too often absorb our best energies and interests.

 We should never lose sight of the fact that one day our turn may come, when for the sake of the gospel and the salvation of souls, including our very own, we may be called to deliver the Elijah message, and to consequently live off the grid as he did, trusting in God alone for all that pertains to life.

 Even though the Lord says “Occupy till I come” that does not mean that every waking moment should be spent chasing after mean green. Quality time is to be spent in the audience chamber of the Most- High, having our minds and thoughts focused on the work He has given us to do, and on eternal realities.

 Doing so regularly will serve the purpose of keeping our temporal concerns in check, so that they do not overwhelm us to the point where ministry becomes something foreign to us. Like Elijah, in his day, our priorities are to reflect the kingdom of God and His righteousness as being of primary concern.

 In this way, whenever the call of God may come to us, we would have already had temporal concerns as being subservient to our higher calling, and thus, living off the grid will just be an extension of that pilgrim mindset that was being cultivated all along.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which cautions us not to sink our roots too deep in this world, for the more we dig in, the more difficult it will be to uproot when the Elijah message is due for delivery. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

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

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

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

                                        God Bless!

A Bit Of bad news. Sabbath Afternoon 10/23/2021

Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

When studying the Bible, we must of necessity take into consideration what God does, when He does it, why He does it, and how He does it, for when this approach is used, it gives us a window into the mind of God and better prepares us to understand His purposes.

In addition, the study of what persons refer to as His providences, will shed great light on things to come, and whereas, under normal circumstances, we may overlook some sacred truths, when God’s ways are studied in an in-depth manner, things that were hidden in darkness, suddenly become plain.

Gems of truth must be dug for like hidden treasure, and they usually do not lie on the surface, therefore as we may study line upon line, and precept upon precept, let us never forget that the study of God’s movements via His providences, would give us deep insights into His character, His ways, and His means. Let’s read:

Hebrews 5:13 For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1st Corinthians 2: 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things yea, the deep things of God.

Having said that, let us turn to deep thoughts in the Bible. It should concern us, that of all the people available back then in the days of Elijah, that God would send His servant to reside with a widowed woman, who was poor as you can get, and living in a heathen nation. This providence of God is of particular concern, not only because she wasn’t a Hebrew, but because at that time, there were other faithful persons among the remnant who had not bowed the knee to Baal.

 Even though the apostasy of Israel had reached epic proportions, yet there were still a few thousand folk who had not subscribed to the prevailing apostasy, and being in the minority, as they always would be, God took notice, and made mention of them when Elijah mistakenly thought he was the only remaining faithful person. Let’s read:

1st Kings 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Therefore, the question of concern is, “Why didn’t God send His servant Elijah to stay with any one of the other faithful remnant people, but instead sent him to a foreign land, to a woman who was not a blood descendant of Jacob? Could it be just a mere coincidence, or is The Lord, through this singular providence, seeking to teach us some solemn truth? Let’s read:

1st Kings 17:7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

It is worthy of note, that Elijah was at this very time, preparing for the contest on Mt, Carmel which was to take place between the commandments of God and the commandments of men and thus, he would be sustained by the providences of God through the woman of Zidon, who would take care of all Elijah’s food, and shelter. Very interesting! In fact, this strange providence of God did not go unnoticed by Jesus, as He delivered one of His earlier sermons given in the temple at Jerusalem.

At that time, He referenced the fact that a prophet of God is not usually accepted by his or her kindred, and because of the unwarranted animosities manifested towards them they are at times instructed to “turn to the gentiles.” Let’s read:

Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

Before we proceed it is necessary to have some historical context, so as to fully grasp the meaning of that move on the part of God. At that time, the Hebrew people were divided into the northern and southern kingdoms.

 The northern kingdom under the rule of Ahab and the notorious Jezebel, had descended deep into an abyss of idolatry of the darkest hue, while the tribes of Judah and Benjamin had comprised the southern kingdom, in which was to be found the written law of God, and the ark of His testimony. Let’s read:

1st Kings 12:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.

2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)

3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spoke unto Rehoboam, saying,

4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.

6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?

7 And they spoke unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants forever.

8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him.

9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?

10 And the young men that were grown up with him spoke unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spoke unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.

11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.

13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him.

16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

 Thus, it was, that the twelve tribes of Israel were divided into two distinct entities, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin under Rehoboam to the south, and the other ten tribes under Jeroboam, to the north, which gradually departed from the true worship of Jehovah, and who then set up an alternative system and times of worship, to try to dissuade their members from ever joining ranks with the southern tribes.

 It is worthy of note, that this move on the part of Jeroboam was made for self-preservation reasons, and as a result, he set in motion a train of adverse circumstances that paved the way for the likes of Jezebel and Ahab to take substitute worship to the next level. Let’s read:

1st Kings 12:26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David.

27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.

28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

31 And he made a house of high places and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel.

There are four, critically important areas of worship that were targeted by the king Jeroboam: [1] The object of worship. [2] The place of worship. [3] The time of worship. [4] The minsters of worship.

Let’s start with the first one.

                 [1] The Object of worship.

1st Kings12:28 “The king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, behold

thy gods, O Israel”

                  [2] The place of worship.

1st Kings 12:28 “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem.”

29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

                   [3] The time of worship.

1st Kings 12:33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart.

                [4] The minsters of worship.

1st Kings 12:31 And he made a house of high places and made priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sons of Levi.

Whenever the four areas mentioned are interfered with or altered, contrary to God’s instructions it will be just a matter of time before there’s total collapse and apostasy as was seen in the northern kingdom under the auspices of Ahab and Jezebel.

Do you know, that in our day, those same four areas have been targeted, because the object of worship has been changed from being the God of heaven, to images, to relics, and to idols, real and phantom, as can be observed in how the concepts and practices of worship have evolved over the years.

[The Great Controversy pp 583] It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as to fashion an idol of wood or stone. With many, a philosophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah; while the living God, as He is revealed in His word, in Christ, and in the works of creation, is worshiped by but few.

Thousands deify nature while they deny the God of nature. Though in a different form, idolatry exists in the Christian world today as verily as it existed among ancient Israel in the days of Elijah. The God of many professedly wise men, of philosophers, poets, politicians, journalists—the God of polished fashionable circles, of many colleges and universities, even of some theological institutions—is little better than Baal, the sun-god of Phoenicia.

The place of worship has also been changed in our day, for when persons ask about the house of God, it is not clear what is being referred to. Let’s take for example the following passages: Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer, for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Deuteronomy 12:13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that you see.

14 But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.

 The time of worship has also been changed for it is an undisputed fact that the overwhelming majority of earth’s Christians now worship on the first day of the week, instead of the seventh day, as The Lord has ordained for time and for eternity. Let’s read:

Daniel 7: 25 And he shall speak great words against the Most-High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Revelation 13: 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

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

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

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

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

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.

11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.

And last but not least is the change that has taken place with the ministers of worship, for just as the king made minsters and priests of the lowest of the people, just so, known pedophiles, and persons who are leading alternative lifestyles are now delivering the word from the pulpit.

2nd Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Therefore, just as it was in the days of the southern and northern kingdoms, there are really only two remaining branches of Christianity today. There’s a southern kingdom, represented by those who have, and are supposed to be following the law of God.

The northern kingdom in our day is represented by apostate Christianity, who like Ahab, have forsaken the commandments of The Lord, and have instead instituted the laws of men. Thus, Elijah was sent to the northern kingdom, and not to the southern. To put it bluntly, the Elijah message in our day will be primarily heading north, not south! Let’s read:

1st Kings 18: 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubles Israel?

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

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.

36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

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.

This brings us to the title of our Bible study today:  “A Bit of Bad News” Those to whom Elijah is sent represent two main groups of people: [1] The woman of Zidon, who is a representative of those persons who are following God to the best of their ability, but do not have a distinct knowledge of God’s laws, and His truths. Let’s read:

1st Kings 17:24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.

[Prophets And Kings pp 129] This woman was not an Israelite. She had never had the privileges and blessings that the chosen people of God had enjoyed; but she was a believer in the true God and had walked in all the light that was shining on her pathway. And now, when there was no safety for Elijah in the land of Israel, God sent him to this woman to find an asylum in her home.

The Elijah message, which the remnant, Sabbath- keeping people of God claim to have, is not to be given primarily to the Southern kingdom; it is meant and intended primarily for the Northern kingdom, which means that the loud cry, which we read of in Revelation 14, is not primarily for SDA’s who should already have God’s law enshrined into their hearts and doctrines. It is Sunday-keeping Christians that the message is primarily intended for, to bring them back to the knowledge and obedience of God’s law.

Therefore, many of us who are now sitting on the fence, and who may be waiting for the loud cry to make a last-minute rush for the door, when the mark of the beast is instituted, might find out too late that the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

 In fact, if we will receive it, by the time Revelation 14 swells to a loud cry, the probation of most of us would have already been closed, for as the scripture clearly states, judgment must begin at the house of God. In other words, it starts with those who know better and it ends with those who were in darkness. Let’s read:

1st Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Ezekiel 9:3 And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;

4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite.

6 …But come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

The “Ancient men” referenced in the previous verse are those who had a knowledge of God’s will, such as the elders, deacons, bishops, preachers and the teachers. Next in line came the congregation who had been instructed in the laws and principles of God’s kingdom, and who knew God’s will.

 Therefore, to put it as plainly as possible, the Bible predicts a mass exodus of God’s people from the truth, just around the same time that the loud cry of Elijah’s message will begin to inundate the entire world. This is the bad news! It does not have to be that way, but the Bible predicts it will take place.

                  The riddle.

Numbers 14:31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.

Those of us who have been playing church for many years, could find ourselves destitute of The Holy Ghost, who alone is able to enable us to survive the time of the latte rain. Elijah survived on Mt Carmel because he was loaded, and those who will survive spiritual Mt Camel in our day must of necessity also be fully loaded. Let’s read:

Joel 2: 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.

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

[L.D.E. pp 182] The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented by Christ as coming in at the eleventh hour. The time of God's destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who now have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched, and His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time.

{C.E.T pp 228} Standard after standard was left to trail in the dust, as company after company from the Lord's army joined the foe, and tribe after tribe from the ranks of the enemy united with the commandment-keeping people of God.

(C.E.T pp177) My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. I was shown those whom I had before seen weeping and praying in agony of spirit. The company of guardian angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet. They moved in exact order, like a company of soldiers.

Joel 2:1 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.

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.

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?

[C.E.T pp 177] I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, “It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel.”

 Now is a time of deep soul-searching, a time above all others when we must, as the Bible instructs, work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for God stands ready to work within us to will, and to do His good pleasure.

 It does not have to be all bad news, for the gospel brings hope and present opportunity for all those who would shake off the shackles of materialism, sensualism, and all the other isms, and schisms that seek to inundate our minds, and cause us to focus on things which do not satisfy.

 Let us therefore zip up our boots, and do that which has too long been neglected. Let all the families and individuals seek God earnestly each day for grace to help in time of need, so that we can live victoriously on a continuum.

 Those things which consume valuable amounts of time, while our devotions to God, and the hour of prayer sit on the back burner, are to be routed to a subservient place on our totem poles, so that our relationship with God, which is what matters most, may not suffer violence and neglect because of our mixed-up priorities.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture that should keep us in step, and in tune with the urgency of the moment, and may God help all of those who will take up the mantle of service and godliness in every area of our lives. 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.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

                                   God Bless!

The Identity Crisis. Sabbath afternoon 10/02/2021

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.

We are now living at a time in earth’s history where much confusion concerning one’s identity has been introduced. Questions about one’s gender, which in times past were never questioned, have now been permanently inserted into the national conversation and because of the trickle-down effects many of the young and old alike are not sure anymore of who they really are.

The identity crisis is being fueled by several factors, including, but not limited to education in alternative lifestyle philosophies, legislation, precedent coming from stars and persons that are held in high esteem, advertisements, and support from certain members of the clergy, in an effort to foster inclusion.

And whereas, freedom of choice is to be respected, yet the issue is now at a tipping point where it has been introduced in some of the curriculums across the land. In some places children are being forced to study, learn and engage issue.

Thus, when the young, whose minds have not yet been fully developed to discern between right and wrong, and are taught by teachers, who are forced to present these issues, we will be looking at a new generation on the horizon, who would be pregnant with fluid concepts of identity, and society will be adversely affected, to the point of no return.

Gender neutral bathrooms and gender-neutral lines of clothing are now becoming the norm, and it does not stop here because the crisis deepens even more when certain prominent members of society adopt lifestyles and practices that are contrary to what the scriptures teach.

Nothing can be more destabilizing to society if folks are not sure about who they are, for if folks are not certain about their identity, such uncertainty would keep a person in a continuously fluid state, and that sets up them up to try to become whosoever they may choose to be.

As it stands currently, the choices on the menu are endless, for persons can now choose from a wide variety of designations, and some even choose to remain undesignated, so that every day can bring new and different identities, as persons may, or may not choose.

Thus, it is a solemn statement that is made, that we indeed have an identity crisis on our hands which must needs be addressed.

The purpose of the Bible study today is to help folks who have been affected, or who are struggling with their identity, to be certain about who they are, and it will clear up some of the associated issues, since some children are being adversely affected more, and more.

In the spiritual realm, actions are always preceded by our thoughts, and because of this, questions are often posed to different minds, just to get persons thinking or questioning a sacred truth. Before the legalization of alternative marriage occurred across the land the issue was agitated in the public square, and as individuals thought about it, some began to question their own identity.

The tempter will often set a train of thoughts into motion in our minds by simply making a suggestion contrary to what God has plainly stated. God would have us to understand that these suggestions are made via our five senses, which are referred to as the avenues to the soul.

And that’s why we are instructed to guard vigilantly these avenues, by dwelling upon that which is good and right, for once he succeeds in getting persons to even consider the matter in question, it is usually only a matter of time before the suggestion goes through a gestation period.

And then, if it is not signally repulsed and rejected, it blossoms into actions that are contrary to what is written in the Bible, and the end thereof are the ways of death. Evolution began as an idea, then it morphed into a theory, and finally it became the mainstay of science in most public schools and universities.

It all began with a thought and a suggestion being infused into the minds of persons by the tempter, and then it took on a life of its own as it was dwelt upon and regurgitated over and over again.

The same is true of the identity crises we are facing; it began with the imagination of some being infused with alternative ideas to sexual orientation from the tempter in times past, and it has now infiltrated and infected the minds of millions of persons. Let’s read:

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.

Therefore, because there is nothing new under the sun, we must trace the beginnings of the identity crisis, and how it has evolved with the passage of time. In the garden of Eden, the suggestion was infused into the mind of Eve by the tempter, that they could be different to what God said were.

God created both of them as human beings, but it was suggested that they could become gods, if they were to choose an alternative path to what God had instructed. And as Eve dwelt upon the suggestion, it took on a life of its own, and she decided to try and re-designate her identity. 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.

Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

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

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

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.

Here comes the suggestion, being asserted in such unequivocal terms that Eve is led to question, not only her identity but the truthfulness and intentions of God. Becoming a god would significantly change her identity, “For a spirit hath not flesh and bones”, and according to the tempter, great benefits to all society would accrue as a direct result. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die, 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Their God-given identity was questioned, and thus the prospect that somehow, they were beings other than what God had stipulated, began to take root. Again, in the wilderness of temptation, the identity of Christ was questioned in the tempter’s opening statement, in direct opposition to what God said.

God had revealed unequivocally through The Holy Spirit at Christ’s baptism, that Jesus was indeed The Son of God, but lo and behold, not long after, His identity was questioned as the first temptation of the tempter ensued.

If the devil could just shake Christ’s confidence in His identity, the battle would be lost because being uncertain about who He is, would then place Jesus in a fluid state of mind, and would then render Him vulnerable to temptation, Let’s read:

Matthew 3: 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 4: 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God….

Thus, in our day, one’s identity is being tethered to how one feels from one day to the next, not what God has stipulated in His word and because feelings fluctuate, the result is a continuously fluid situation, that has spawned many variations, to the original model set forth in Eden.

There is also the legal factor, by which legislatures have given legal status to variations, and because the identity issue is now prominently in the public square, in high and low places, even some persons who had never even thought to question their own identity, aren’t sure anymore of who they are.

And the issue is coming into our homes, churches, schools, and universities, at an alarming rate and on several different fronts so as to threaten the fabric of society. The minds of young and old are being bombarded with questions and philosophies that spawn a whole lot of confusion, whereas God has made the issue plain.

Therefore, we are going to address some the more important questions pertaining to identity, so that those who are struggling with the issue could have some clarity on the matter.

Question [1] How is one’s Sex to be determined?

A person’s sex is determined at conception, by the genes we inherit from our parents. Chromosomes which hold genes, are the pieces of DNA which tell our cells what to do. In human beings there are 23 pairs of chromosomes, and one pair consists of sex chromosomes. They come in two forms: X’s and Y’s.

Women have two X’s, so that when they share half of each pair of chromosomes with their offspring, the sex chromosome they offer will always be an X. Men have an X and a Y, so that if the father shares an X chromosome with his child, it will make a girl (XX). If he shares a Y chromosome, the child will be usually be a male (XY).

But there are some variations which do occur such as when you have to X’s mingled with fragments of a Y, which could result in a natural imbalance in the individual. This particular situation is not the result of one’s choice, it’s just a happenstance of nature which has occurred in some persons, some more, some less.

We are not going to deal with these variations, we will leave such gray areas in God’s hands, for they are the exception rather than the rule, even though these occurrences are happening more frequently. However, if one is conformed to the natural norms at conception, his/ her sexual identity is medically confirmed to be either male or female.

But because of societal, trends, and popular modes of thought and philosophies, individuals who were born very male or female are now given the option of deciding which sex they want to be. When God created man, He did not create variations, but after man fell these occurrences began to take place both on a scientific level and by deliberate choice against one’s natural grain.

Here is where a great problem can occur, for if after establishing a person’s sex scientifically, beyond the shadow of a doubt, they are then allowed to choose another orientation, the inevitable result would be sexual definition by choice, not by science.

This is where we are headed, since personal choice is made to rule the day, even when it conflicts with established fact and designation from conception. In other words, folks are now permitted to choose their sex, for the process of designation is being taken out of the hands of science.

This leads us to our next point on the issue, for it is a fact that some persons, through no choice of their own, struggle with contrary feelings in their souls. If any person has been the recipient of a verified, and scientific variation, as mentioned earlier, a decision would have to be made on their part.

In such a situation, we strongly advise that persons who are experiencing contrary feelings, through no deliberate choice of their own, should take all such matters to God in prayer, for He alone understands the depth of despair one experiences, as well as the scientific variations which produce such feelings.

But for those who were born very male or female at birth, and who, because of popular sentiment, or an indulgence in extremes have now developed a taste and desire for that which is forbidden, the question that comes next will require straight answers from the word of God.

Question [2] How should persons deal with all natural, or deliberately induced contrary feelings?

It is an indisputable fact that because of our fallen nature, everyone would have to deal with contrary feelings at some point or another, some more some less, and in varying degrees with different desires. Contrary desires striving for the mastery is nothing new, because addictions, and natural and unnatural inclinations are mostly contrary in all persons.

Human nature naturally craves forbidden things and that’s why most kids will choose candy over salad. It is therefore a fact of life, that most of our struggles, even as Christians, will be centered on that which is contrary to God’s revealed will and as such we must avoid changing His designations to suit our cravings.

In other words, if God says a certain desire is wrong, whether it be sexual, drug, or diet related, the first step in overcoming would be to acknowledge it as sin, and then ask God for grace and strength to live victoriously.

But what is taking place currently, with the identity crisis, is that many individuals have concluded that contrary feelings are not wrong because that’s what they feel. And in some instances, the legislature has indeed given the thumbs up to such conclusions, by making our personal feelings the determining factor in deciding whether one is male or female.

Thus, we must be very careful, lest the reasoning of the wily serpent imperceptibly invades our thought processes, because, according to the Bible, there is something such as wrong feelings, even if they may occur naturally. The desire for revenge is a wrong feeling, and joy at the demise of one’s enemies is also a wrong feeling.

The same is true as it pertains to the identity crisis. Persons can experience wrong feelings from time to time, but that does not make those feelings kosha or acceptable just because they might be real. The human family experiences real, wrong feelings on a daily basis, so to make them legal just because they are real would do violence to what the scripture teaches.

In other words, to make the word of God subject to one’s feelings will open the floodgates of vices, and it will be near impossible to put that genie back into the bottle, once it is let loose. The identity crisis can morph into a tsunami of epic proportions if person’s feelings are made to dictate morality. Let’s read:

Ephesians 4:4 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

19 Who being past feelings have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.

Contrary desires which have been cultivated, as it pertains to sexual orientation are included in the above categories. If a person’s feelings and desires are conflicted against God’s revealed will, then the right course of action will be to acknowledge sin for what it is, according to what is written, and then ask God for grace to overcome.

But for persons to claim the freedom of choice as a license to give free reign to one’s contrary feelings and desires is a recipe for disaster, for the entire plan of salvation was engineered to counteract, and to uproot contrary feelings wherever and whenever they may occur. Let’s read:

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

God does not condemn anyone for having contrary feelings, what He does is to offer grace and power to deliver us from such desires, if we so choose. The act of David in taking a next man’s wife, constituted his surrender to contrary feelings, and these must be resolutely suppressed by the grace of God, even if the desire is very real and very strong.

No one should question whether contrary feelings are real or strong, for even Paul who wrote several books of the Bible struggled with contrary feelings of his own. This is an ongoing human conundrum, but it must be kept under bit and bridle, lest feeling gain the ascendency over reason and the word of God, as is too often the case. Let’s read:

Romans 7: 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Romans 13:12 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.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Question [3] How does the grace of God figure into the equation?

The grace of God brings power to the equation so that anyone who desires to overcome may do so through the power of Christ. Different people have different struggles, but the good news of the gospel is that every struggle can be turned to victory when we are connected to the source of power, even The Lord Jesus Christ.

God knows all about our struggles, but He is more concerned about what we do with the remedy that is provided, for there is no battle against the flesh that cannot be won through the power and merits of Christ. To deny this sacred truth would be to deny the efficacy of the gospel, and would render the Christian religion as vanity. Let’s read:

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Persons who are struggling with porn will have to pray. Those who are struggling with drug addiction will have to pray. Those who are struggling with diets and foods will have to pray, and those who are struggling with their identity will have to pray, just like everyone else.

To put it in a nutshell, if you’re struggling for any reason, you will have to pray. Being connected with God means being connected with power, and since there is nothing impossible with God, the identity crisis can be overcome, wherever it may affect us adversely.

We therefore end with passages of scripture that will remind us of this sacred truth, that whatsoever might be our issue, we can be victorious, if we trust in the power of Christ, for this has always been the very essence of the gospel. The passages would be juxtaposed so as to make plain their relevance to each other. Let’s read:

Romans 7: 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Romans 8: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath

made me free from the law of sin and death.

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

God Bless!