Lessons From The Last Great Recession. Sabbath Afternoon. 07/04/2015

The sacred teachings of the scriptures, coupled together with the practical lessons of history, are to be used as guides in making sound decisions to avoid repeating the grave mistakes of the past. And the Bible also teaches us that the history of individuals and nations was chronicled for the benefit of future generations, so that we too may  reason soberly from cause to effect, and thus make straight paths for our own feet. There are some very basic and important lessons to be derived from the last great recession, which took the world to the brink of financial collapse, spiritual and temporal lessons that should be applied by us as Christians, so that we do not fall a prey to one of satan’s favorite devices, debt.

Now more than ever, is the time for us to get our houses in order, being governed by scriptural principles alone, and not touching the unclean thing as it pertains to us implementing the customs, practices, methods, and

 principles of those who do not fear God.

 As a matter of fact, if for any reason we put these vital lessons on hold, we will become mired in debt, from which it may be very difficult to extricate ourselves, for as stated over and over again, God is more practical in His instructions to us than many people realize, and whenever the sacred instructions contained in the scripture are deliberately disregarded, then the laws of cause and effect are often left to run their natural course, and it is often the case that no supernatural intervention is engaged to save us from the results of a wrong course of action that could have otherwise been avoided.

The financial problems of this world, and what we are seeing taking place in Greece, are omens of what will be coming to our shores in the near future, if changes in methods and principles are not vigorously implemented. One of the crucial lessons, which if adopted could have forestalled the last great recession, is that of cultivating the spirit of contentment by living within one’s means. The Bible is full of instruction on this point, and it is high time that we take heed, because any financial system that is based on borrowing, will collapse sooner or later, for there comes a time when the lender himself runs out of funds to lend.

Furthermore, The Lord teaches us that we can make advances in life whilst at the same time practicing the principle of contentment, because prosperity and contentment are members of the same spiritual family, and should never be divorced one from the other. But to live in constant indebtedness results in huge amounts of unnecessary waste, which in our nation’s case, runs into the hundreds of billions in interest each and every year that goes by. Let’s read:

Available Historical Data For Fiscal Year End

Interest payments only:

2014       $430,812,121,372.05

2013       $415,688,781,248.40

2012       $359,796,008,919.49

2011       $454,393,280,417.03

2010       $413,954,825,362.17

2009       $383,071,060,815.42

2008       $451,154,049,950.63

2007       $429,977,998,108.20

2006       $405,872,109,315.83

2005       $352,350,252,507.90

2004       $321,566,323,971.29

2003       $318,148,529,151.51

2002       $332,536,958,599.42

2001       $359,507,635,242.41

2000       $361,997,734,302.36

1999       $353,511,471,722.87

1998       $363,823,722,920.26

1997       $355,795,834,214.66

1996       $343,955,076,695.15

1995       $332,413,555,030.62

1994       $296,277,764,246.26

1993       $292,502,219,484.25

1992       $292,361,073,070.74

1991       $286,021,921,181.04

1990       $264,852,544,615.90

1989       $240,863,231,535.71

1988       $214,145,028,847.73

So let’s study from the word of God, how this unfortunate situation can be avoided or corrected, using Biblical principles. Let’s read:

Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

1st Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.  7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

The Bible therefore gives us the only workable methods for living contentedly and prosperously at the same time, and it will be well if our families would adopt the wise counsels of an All-wise God. The Bible therefore outlines in great detail, the necessary steps to be taken by us as Christians in implementing the lessons gleaned from the recent great recession, and the failures of those who have gone before.

Lesson (1) Whenever money is earned, the very first deduction to be made should be our tithes and offerings, and this system should be put in place without wavering for any reason, for it demonstrates the manner in which we esteem God and sacred things. No mortgage, or car note, and no electric bill or tuition should cause us to put God’s cause in second place, because our current bills and payments should not even be brought into the equation when deducting our tithes and offerings, no matter how urgent or important they may seem.

When this is done on a consistent basis with a willing and cheerful spirit, God promises to replenish our stores with manifold blessings too numerous to mention, and what takes place literally is that some way somehow, The Lord causes a little to go a very long way, because of the blessing He commands on all that we do. There are what we call “Generic blessings” that are bestowed upon the general public, regardless of whether they acknowledge God or not. For instance, Christians and satanists will both receive sunlight and rain on a regular basis, and when the earth is planted it will bring forth fruit for the righteous and the rebellious also, for God has promised these benefits to the good and the evil alike. Let’s read:

Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Matthew 5:45 “Your Father which is in heaven”.... “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.

These are not the blessings God is referring to when He bids us return that which is His due. He is speaking of special, tailor-made blessings that are reserved alone for the faithful, who give with a cheerful spirit, that which belongs to God. These blessings are not your average, everyday benefits, but are specifically designed to make the remainder of our income, multiply in ways we know not of, and often causes us to avoid spending money on things which are indispensable to other people. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against

 thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Proverbs 3:9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Lesson (2) After God’s due is taken out first, a set portion of our income should be put aside for the rainy day that will certainly come, and these funds should not be touched or interfered with for any trivial reason, but should be left for cases of real emergencies only. There are many man-made “Emergencies” which arise whilst window shopping, and things we never needed nor thought of having previously, suddenly become urgent needs on the spur of the moment, when the “Shine eye” syndrome kicks in. Rainy day funds should be left for rainy days, and we should avoid the temptation to spend recklessly, even if large reserves are available.

One of the reasons why we found ourselves on the verge of financial collapse during the last great recession, is because many of our banking institutions were too highly leveraged, meaning that reserve capital for emergencies were all but nonexistent in many cases. Thus, when the cold realities of the housing bubble hit, many banks, and governments, and individuals, and families were caught without sufficient cushion to weather the storm, and as a direct result, many went under, or out of business, never to resurface again.

 When Joseph was brought into power through the providences of God, the first thing he did was to build storehouses to store food for the rainy day, and though the Bible tells us that there was an overabundance of food during the seven fat years, yet Joseph was prudent and disciplined enough to resist the temptation to use rainy day supplies prematurely, just because there was plenty. There is a tendency for nations, individuals, and families, and churches to spend wantonly simply because there is an abundant supply of funds, and thus many wants are converted to urgent needs on the spur of the moment, with no thought that a rainy day will certainly come. Hence the reason why the scriptural instructions on this point should be given due attention. Let’s read:

Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant”…. “consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Genesis 41:46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt”…..

47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.

48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.

49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

53 And the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.

54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

It is worthy of note that at this time, God worked no special miracle to deliver those countries and individuals who had not learned the important lesson of saving for the rainy day, because as stated before, God is much more practical in His instructions to us than many people realize, and as far as He was concerned, sufficient warning had been given so that whosoever would take heed, could make the necessary preparations for the predicted famine. This leads us to our next lesson.

Lesson (3) The unrestrained use of credit cards and other debt instruments, is one of the means by which we are brought into financial slavery, therefore godly wisdom and prudence need to be exercised by the Christian in every area of life, so that we may not fall a prey to the  many devices of the enemy, and thus plunge ourselves and our families into financial ruin unnecessarily. Those Nike shoes that cost hundreds of dollars, and those numerous dresses and hats which fill our closets, that are hardly ever worn, and the many trinkets, indulgences and “Bling” which keep us double-dipping into our rainy day fund, must all be laid to rest, because, as was stated before, The Lord is very practical in His instructions, and the laws of cause and effect are often left to run their natural course, especially if we persist in a wrong course of action. Let’s read:

Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Deuteronomy 15:6 For the Lord thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.

“Many poor families are poor because they spend their money as soon as they receive it. When one becomes involved in debt, he is in one of Satan’s nets, which he sets for souls. Abstracting and using money for any purpose, before it is earned, is a snare”. You ought not to allow yourself to become financially embarrassed, for the fact that you are in debt weakens your faith and tends to discourage you. You need to cut down your expenses and strive to supply this deficiency in your character”. [The Adventist home. Pp 392 & 393.]

Lesson (4) Borrowing money to make loan payments is a snare and a deadly cycle that will spiral out of control sooner than later. If a loan or debt cannot be repaid with earned income, then we may know for certain that we are in a death trap that will gradually bind us in shackles from which we will not be able to free ourselves. Greece is currently seeking a loan to make a payment on another loan, a cycle that has become all too common in the developed world, and sadly has had a trickledown effect on families and households.

It’s worthy of note that with all of the previous efforts to pay down our national debt right here in America, that somehow it keeps on growing, and try as we might to make our escape, we seem to be sinking still deeper and deeper in the mire, until such time as the Chinese lender will run out of funds to lend. This cycle however is nothing new, for there is nothing new under the sun, and if the sacred lessons of the past had been adopted and implemented, we would never be in the situation we are in currently. Let’s read:

Nehemiah 5:1 And there was a great cry of the people

and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

5 “And lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

The godly principle of being content, coupled together with living within our means, will prevent us to a large degree from following in the footsteps of Greece and other developed nations that are currently riddled with mounting debt, and if America does not awake out of slumber to correct these errors, then we ourselves, together with Greece and Puerto Rico will be singing from the same page in the very same choir, with the very same conductor, because the principle of contentment applies equally across the board, to individuals and nations alike.

In addition to these cautions and instructions given in the scriptures, we have the additional information pertaining to the mark of the beast, which will be instituted when the financial systems of earth will have taken a turn for the worse. Then it will be, that all who would be found owing numerous debts will be offered concessions by the adversary of souls, in return for signing on to the powers that be, and if for any reason this course of action is taken in the future, our eternal doom will be forever sealed. Let’s read:

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

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

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding

 count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment-keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. [G.C pp 607]

It is therefore important that we implement the godly principles that are written in the scriptures, so that all unnecessary hardship and financial persecution can be averted as far as possible. Let us then ask God for the wisdom and discipline necessary to rein in and pay off our debts wherever possible, and let us now seek to free ourselves from the many shackles that bind us to this present world. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to do so, and if we ask God He will show us ways and means to “Write Fifty”. Let’s read:

Romans 13:7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

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 armour 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.

He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what The Spirit saith unto the churches.

                                        God bless!

To Shack Up Or To Pack Up. Sabbath Afternoon. 06/27/2015

Because of the gravity of the situation we currently find ourselves in, it is imperative that the word of God be now made plain, as it pertains to our present condition, and it’s for this reason why several passages in the scriptures must now be made to speak for themselves, without any personal opinions or human input.  Even though many may not know it, the real unseen tragedy of yesterday’s decision, is that millions of evil spirits were let loose across the globe, and the restraining power of God has been lifted to a large degree. Here are just a few samples of the more prominent tweets that were exchanged yesterday, and may God have mercy upon us. Let’s read:

President Obama ✔ @POTUS

Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins  10:10 AM - 26 Jun 2015

Martin O'Malley

Reminded of Will and his moms on the day we passed marriage equality in MD. There’s no greater human right than love. #LoveWins

10:10 AM - 26 Jun 2015

Joaquin Castro ✔

Today, love prevailed. A historic ruling from #SCOTUS in favor of justice and equality.

Follow Target

✔ @Target

Here's to having, holding and marrying who you love.

It is now imperative that all true Christians be now clad with the whole armor of God, from the crown of our heads to the soles of our feet, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. The following words of Holy writ are therefore sent to us directly from God that we may understand the import of what has recently taken place in this country. Let’s read:

1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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

Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

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

2nd Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old”…

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

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

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

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

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

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

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

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

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

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Zephaniah 1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time,  that I will search”… “and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.

13 Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.

Isaiah 13:3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.

4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.

5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

6 Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:

8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of

 hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves

 in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Isaiah 2:10 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty.

11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

12 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

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

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

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman

 with child; and they shall not escape.

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

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

The standards, customs and practices of those who do  not fear God should never be the criteria for Christians, for it is often the case that what is permitted by society, is diabolically opposed to the instructions of God. The true Christian is to be guided by the teachings of the scriptures alone, without any additions, amendments, or variations based on custom and culture. Furthermore, what is often legally permissible in a state or country, may not necessarily be in line with what the scriptures teach on the very same point, and thus it is important that we order our steps according to what is written.

The family unit, which is the God-ordained foundation of all society, has come under increasing attack by both human and satanic agencies, and the sacred marriage institution which God has given to safeguard the families of earth, is now being dragged in the dust. But whatever laws or manmade institutions to the contrary may be legislated, we must remember that God never blesses disobedience, even if it is thus presented by politicians, judges and religious leaders.

The wages of sin always carry negative consequences, and although Jesus Christ has died to redeem us from sin, yet in the real world, the suffering and the estrangement which result from all unscriptural relationships will be the experience of those who continue to live in violation of God’s order. In the beginning when God created Adam and Eve, He ordained that a man should leave his father and mother to cleave unto his one “Female” wife, and whenever this order is disturbed for any reason, the blessing of God cannot rest upon such unions. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

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.

However, in our day there are many pastors and clergy who often presume to ask God’s blessing on same-sex marriage, in direct violation of His plainest commands in these matters, but try as we might, blessings will not come down, nor invoked upon that which God has already proscribed in His word. Similarly with those who choose to “Shack up” instead of entering into a lifelong  commitment with the one who they claim to love, for according to the Bible, “leaving” should always lead to “cleaving”, and not the other way around.

In other words, if a man claims to love a woman, and is desirous of living with her, he should put his money

where his mouth is and get married to the woman of his dreams, so that the blessing of God can rest upon the relationship, and the children who may be born to them. But never are we to think that God will bless the relations of those who “Shack up”, for in so doing, we would place ourselves in a condition of continuing sin, in which God’s favor can never be invoked, even if we have the best of intentions.

Furthermore, history and statistical records have shown that the longer a man lives with a “female” woman, the less likely he is to marry her, because the question always arises, why should we commit ourselves after all these years, when we knowingly entered into such and such an agreement in the first place. Thus it is in such a situation, the man is left free to take a hike whenever the going gets rough, or when another person of interest comes along. And the woman, not having the security of a lifelong commitment, may feel at liberty to walk away if she finds another who tells her sweet little lies.

If a man is not willing to tie the knot with the woman he claims to love, then he is lying, because true love always

leads to a commitment. It is not the will of God that the relationship between a man and woman be left in limbo, nor is it His will that they two be kept in sexual purgatory for any length of time, without the security of a marital commitment before God and man, for if God were to sanction such relationships, then the very foundation of society will crumble, and the children of such unions will lack the stability and security of knowing that mom and dad are in it for the long haul.

Furthermore the relationship between a man and woman are likened in the Bible to our relationship with Christ, and in our union with Him, a deliberate decision to be committed for life must be made upfront, or else we cannot partake of the special blessings He bestows on those whom He knows. Hence the reason why several strong statements pertaining to the Christian’s relation  to God are made in the scripture, thereby showing the permanence and indivisibility God originally intended for a man and his female wife. Let’s read:

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God”….

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

The current, prevalent practice of having intimate sexual relations with someone of the opposite sex, when there is no legally binding commitment in marriage before God and man is a sin, and must not be indulged by any true Christian for any reason. Before my wife and I were baptized into Christ, and before we were married, we lived for a brief period in a common law relationship without a commitment, but the immediate advice of our parents was to get married if we loved one another, because it is a sin and a snare to live with someone of the opposite sex in any type of intimate relationship, and thus we began to make plans towards that end.

This we did in obedience to the word of God, and ever since that time we have been extremely married, and are happily serving God with a clear conscience in this matter, knowing that His blessing rests upon all such unions. Our children who were born into such a union have always seen their mom and dad go through the ups and downs of life as one, and although it hasn’t always been easy, at the end of the day they see that God is well able to reconcile any problem and to bring that stability, consistency, and longevity to any marriage that is under His care, and which is performed in harmony with the counsels given in scripture.

And so it is with candor that we will address the issue of Cohabiting, without cleaving in marriage. There are now virtually millions of households across the land, in which this situation has obtained, some for financial reasons, and others for the opportunity to second guess one’s first choice as a mate. Women are not as shoes that are purchased from Payless, in which men can try them on for a while, and then return them for a full refund. And men are not as cars that can be test driven or taken for a ride, with the hope that the “Lemon law” will be an option, just in case things do not work out.

When two of the opposite sex are desirous of sharing intimate and friendly relationships with one another, they should refrain from all sexual interactions until such time that a formal, God-ordained commitment is made, for in this way the children that are produced from such unions can have stability, security, and longevity in the family. However, those Christians who have already gone the other route are now faced with a sobering choice, of whether to continue “shacking” or to start “packing”.

Decisions such as these are especially difficult in those situations where children are already born into the relationship, for then one has to decide whether to continue living in sin for the sake of the children, or whether to call the intimate part of the relationship quits, so that the blessing of God can rest upon them.

If any of us as Christians are presently in such a situation it is very important that we pay close attention to the following suggestions, for whatever may be the current situation, earnest efforts will have to be made to correct the evil, if we are to be brought into harmony with God’s revealed will for the family.

Step (1) Pray as never before, for wisdom, guidance and discretion, so that in trying to resolve the issue, it will be done in the spirit of loving kindness, so that cohesiveness may be fostered. But under no circumstances should any coercion be used, for to love is a free choice stemming from a deep appreciation of one’s character, and Jesus is able to touch hearts and minds, bringing them into harmony with His revealed will. Let’s read:

Proverbs 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

Step (2) Have a candid discussion of the matter with the other person in question, with a determination to seal the relationship through the God-ordained method of marriage. If it is observed that the other party becomes upset, or is avoiding the commitment under various pretexts, then that is a signal that true love probably never existed in the first place, and if the person persists in refusing to tie the knot, then go on to step three.

Step (3) If children are involved, then extreme care must be taken so that the family bonds that have already been established may not be broken. But in such situations where one person refuses to seal the relationship for life through marriage, all intimate, sexual relations should cease, until such time that the person is ready to commit, because as stated before in the example of Christ and the church, no commitment translates into no relationship with those who are undecided. Let’s read:

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.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Step (4) In certain irresolvable situations, one may have to “Pack up” instead of shacking up, if the desire is to serve God with a clear conscience. There are times in life when very difficult decisions must be made, not only for one’s sanity, but also for one’s personal salvation. In such situations we should remember the words of Christ concerning our priorities, for Jesus must be front and center of all our experiences, and therefore, if one must pack up in order to serve God, then so let it be. Let’s read:

Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

As we live in an ever increasing evil world, there will be a strong temptation to judge ourselves based on the evils that others do, and thus we may inadvertently think of our lesser sins as being of no consequence when they are compared with others. This snare we must avoid at all costs, so that at every step of the way, we may be found living in harmony with the word. May God help us to resolve these issues wherever they may apply, for He has promised to give us grace to help in times of need. Let’s read:

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

May God bless the study and practice of His word.

Remember Lot's Wife! Sabbath Afternoon. 06/20/2015

The sacred history of those who have gone before was recorded for future generations, with the intent that we should study very closely the lessons contained in their experiences, so that we in our day can choose wisely, and thus avoid the blunders and errors of the past. In the instance of Lot and his entire family, there are indeed very important lessons to be deduced and applied so that our own families might be spared the unfortunate end of his. It is here worthy of note that it is quite possible that not a single member of Lot’s family would be saved, except himself, and the Lord bids us investigate the reasons why.

In His discourse upon the issues of the last days, Christ cautions us to remember Lot’s wife, and we may well ask why does He bid us remember the one that is lost, and not the one who was saved. The reason is because Christ observed some of the very same characteristics and behavioral patterns of Lot’s wife in many of His people, and so, to forestall an unnecessary repeat of the same mistakes that were then made, He cautions us to remember Lot’s wife.

The failures of Lot’s family did not occur in a vacuum, or in a moment, but was rather the final pieces of a puzzle that began many years earlier, when there arose a disturbance between Lot’s herdsmen, and those of Abraham’s. As the rhetoric escalated into arguments and feuds, Abraham then took a proactive step in the pursuit of peace, by inviting lot to a reconciliatory meeting, at which He offered the first and best choice of the land to his younger nephew. But instead of relinquishing that privilege to the more senior Abraham, Lot selfishly chose the most fertile part of the land that was closest to the cities, and there he made his abode. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:5  And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Those who allow strictly economic factors to drive their decision making processes, and who esteem the financial and material benefits of life of more value than their

spiritual well-being, run the risk of putting themselves and their families in harm’s way, and worst yet, expose themselves to adverse situations and influences which could endanger their eternal destiny.

The decision to move into the crowded, bustling cities, where corruption and ungodliness bear sway, but where there are many economic opportunities, is a mode of thought we should be wary of, for such a move can precipitate catastrophic loss, both in the temporal and spiritual realms.

From this point forward it was a cascading effect that took hold of Lot’s family, for before he realized what was taking place, his wife and daughters had become deeply acclimatized to the luxuries, indulgences, and creature comforts of the twin cities. There, surrounded by all the temporal wealth and secular philosophies that abounded in their hometown, Lot’s wife and his daughters fell a prey to the materialism and worldly-mindedness that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah had become famous for.

They soon found themselves not being able to live without manicures and pedicures, and a whole list of other “Cures” and creature comforts that were not considered necessary in the country setting where Abraham and Sarah had remained in, for there in the countryside, surrounded by wooded hills, bright flowers, and running brooks, no one needed a pedicure to ride a camel. And because of the nature of the environment in which Sarah lived, what seemed to Lot’s wife and family as absolutely necessary and indispensable in the city where they then resided, seemed as inconsequential and trifling in the country setting.

When our families are surrounded by nature and the created works of God, we generally tend to think more about God, and to be more natural and simple in our tastes, choices, and habits. And the same principle holds true for those of us who choose to live in the bustling, crowded cities, where crime and vice and mass murders are the order of the day. There, surrounded by man-made objects, inventions, and philosophies, we tend to gravitate more towards earthly things, and many become so accustomed to city life, that even the very thought of country living causes us to retreat.

 Hence the reason why the Bible teaches us to cultivate a spirit of contentment wherever we may live, for even though most of us now reside in the cities, yet it is still possible to avoid the materialism and worldly-minded  indulgences, which eat up valuable time and resources, whilst the work of God and the salvation of men scarcely get our attention Let’s read:

 1st Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,

 meekness. 

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

As Christians we must be very careful of the subtle influences exerted over us whilst dwelling in the cities, where the things of this world are given precedence of spiritual things, and where the pride of life and the lusts and indulgences of vanities, cause us to be imperceptibly assimilated into the world, and before long we begin to think, behave, dress, and speak like those whose names are written in the earth. This specific snare, that is scheduled to become predominant in the last days of earth’s history, we are warned against. Let’s read:

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

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

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Thus it was that the eternal ruin of Lot’s family began with that one fatal choice, to choose city dwelling over country living, because of the material advantages and business opportunities afforded there in Sodom and Gomorrah. However, it is a fact that with plenty money comes plenty vices, for both are often found to be walking hand in hand, and thus it was that the vilest passions had inflamed both young and old, to the point where traditional marriage had all but become obsolete, and almost every person had gone south, as far as sexual orientations go. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:1  And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 

2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

These mighty ministers of God’s judgment came to the city appearing as ordinary wayfarers, in their Levi jeans and Nike sneakers, but no one knew that they were angels sent on a mission of destruction. Thus after the altercation at Lot’s door, they revealed to Lot who they really were, and sent him to warn his daughters and their husbands of the impending doom. Lot obeyed the urgent  command of the angels, but his mission proved to be a total failure, for his daughters and their husbands had laughed him to scorn.

Up to this point, Lot had had no problem with the angels’ message, for he himself was utterly disgusted with the prevailing iniquity of the twin cities. The Bible tells us that his righteous soul was vexed day and night, because of the sins being practiced there, but he never left when he had ample opportunity to. Now, we are not left in doubt as to what his soul was “Vexed” about, for the sacred record delineates the specific sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, so that we who are living in the 21st century may not be blinded to the developments that are now taking center stage in our communities. Let’s read:

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

2nd Peter 2: 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy

 conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Thus it was, when the angels told Lot of the impending destruction that night, he understood exactly what sins the angels were referring to, which had brought upon the twin cities the judgments of God, and he immediately went into high gear, planning an escape route that would allow him to avoid the coming catastrophe, whilst at the same time trying to retain as much of his material wealth and possessions as possible.

Thus he and Mrs. Lot began to prepare feverishly for their escape. That night they could not sleep but stayed up late into the wee hours of the morning, making last minute plans. He would go to Home Depot early, at 7:00 o’clock in the morning to get a tool kit and a “For sale” sign for their house, which they planned to sell at a hurried open house showing the following day. Then he would run over to Pep Boys quickly, to get two cans of “Fix-a-flat” for their journey, and he would fill up two of his luxury cars with gas so that they would not have to stop along the way.

Mrs. Lot on the other hand had her work cut out for her, for she would run to the nearest bank in the morning to pull out as much cash as she could possibly get, then she would briefly stop by the pawn shop to get rid of most of her jewelry. The kids meanwhile would be packing their belongings into only two of their four vehicles, because since they were only fourteen and fifteen years of age, and had not gotten their drivers licenses as yet, they would be too young to drive, and they would hate to get a traffic ticket on their way out of Sodom.

And pack and pack they did all night, trying to squeeze as much of their belongings into the trunk space available. They tried to take everything, from toothpaste, to cans of Campbell’s soup, from their make-up kit, to the many dresses and high heels they hardly ever wore. Then finally, with just a few square inches remaining, they squeezed in two packs of Oreos, as snacks for their long journey. Finally, after a night of frantic packing and planning, they fell into a deep slumber, hoping to get

some much needed rest before daybreak.

But in the morning, the angels had a startling message for Lot and his family, they were not going to take any of those things they had packed, for they were going to make their escape on foot, and those Oreos, which had been included at the last minute, would also have to be left behind, for they were not a part of the health message. This instruction from the angels stunned Lot and his wife, for they began to feel that they were being treated unfairly, and they could not understand what was the big rush.

From this point forward Lot’s wife began to murmur in her thoughts, because she felt that a loving God should have given them sufficient notice so that at least they could sell their belongings, or even put them in storage. Thus it was that when the angels saw that Lot and his family were lingering and deliberating, they grabbed them by the hand, and started to run with them, for they were not to be involved in the coming conflagration.

 This action by the angels shows us how very difficult it is to separate ourselves from the creature comforts of life, and we are never to be deceived into thinking that it will happen overnight. The sudden adjustment to country living will prove to be too much for many Christians, and like Lot’s wife many will turn back, to gaze on the life of ease and luxury which they once enjoyed, hence the reason why Jesus warns us to “Remember Lot’s wife”.

It is here worthy of note that Abraham did not have to worry as did Lot, for he was already living in the country, and because of his literal location, would be spared the coming judgments. It is also to be observed that Lot could not make the sudden change to country living, hence the reason why he requested of the angels that he be permitted to go to a smaller city, where at least the transition could take place. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Here we see that he had to leave the larger cities for the smaller ones, in preparation for country living, a pattern that is eerily reminiscent of instructions we have long been given in the scriptures. The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is nothing new under the sun, and from this we deduce the principle that God teaches by repetition, meaning that certain vital instructions to His chose people are often repeated over and over again. Let’s read:

Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the

prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, 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.

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

This is not the only instance in which the very same instruction is repeated, for as stated before, God usually teaches us His will by repetition, so that we may “Remember Lot’s wife”. Let’s read:

          The Signal for Fleeing.

It is no time now for God’s people to be fixing their affections or laying up their treasure in the world. The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places. As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation, in the decree enforcing the papal Sabbath, will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains. And now, instead of seeking expensive dwellings here, we should be preparing to move to a better country, even a heavenly. Instead of spending our means in self-gratification, we should be studying to economize.—Testimonies for the Church 5:464, 465 (1885).

In our day, the very same sins that triggered the final destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, are once again on the rise, and they have gone a step further by becoming the law of the land in many states and countries. The inhabitants of Sodom practiced heinous vices by going after strange flesh, but they never presumed to make it law. But we are now taking iniquity to the next level by giving it our stamp of approval, and teaching it to our kids, who will become confused on “Fathers day”.

The Lord is not instructing anyone to make any ill-advised move to the country without first seeking His guidance and direction, but what He is saying is that we should at least begin to enquire of plan “B”, just in case any such move should become necessary at short notice. Prayer, and the humility to submit ourselves to be guided by God’s providence will place us in a position to listen when He speaks, and thus the errors of Lot and his wife may be successfully avoided.

The question then for us to answer is, are we prepared to make a sudden transition from city life, with all of its present creature comforts, to a place in the country, so as to avoid the moral pollution, and the consequent  judgments that will inevitably accrue? Would we like Lot and his wife hesitate greatly at the command of God, and will we begin to murmur against the angel, if we are instructed to uproot from our current comfort zone?

If for any reason, our family members refuse to leave with us, as did the daughters and sons in law of Lot, will we make that move anyway, or will we like Lot’s wife become fretful with God because of the loss of close family and relatives? The disposition to place family ahead of the plain instructions of God constitutes a form of idolatry, and the true Christian will not allow anything or anyone to come between him and his God, for any reason. This order of priority as far as relationships go is clearly stated by Christ, and we will find that as we draw nearer to the close of earth’s history, that it will become a living reality in many instances. Let’s read:

Matthew 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

The answers to these probing issues lie with us, and thus it behooves us to study the sacred history of those who have gone before, but howsoever we choose or decide, let us always pay heed to those solemn words of Christ saying, “Remember Lot’s wife”.  God bless! 

Conquering Genetic Sin Through Christ. Sabbath Afternoon. 06/13/2015

The Bible teaches us one of the most important and sublime truths ever revealed to mortals, that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, and thus any person who truly believes in God can conquer any sin, whether it be cultivated or genetically predisposed. It makes no difference whatsoever, for sin is naturally intimidated by the presence of Christ, and if we so choose, Jesus will obliterate every evil propensity in us, through the omnipotent power of The Holy Ghost. This solemn truth must always be held as a sacred treasure by all who name the name of Christ.

Never should we buy into the devil’s fatal sophistry that because we are born with powerful propensities to evil, that are passed down from generation to generation via our genes, that we cannot live victoriously through the power of Christ, for if we draw this conclusion, we will literally hand the victory to our arch-enemy, and thus we will always be looking for ways and means to evade the sacred requirements and lofty standards set forth in the scriptures.

When the Bible speaks of being genetically predisposed to evil, it is referring to the fact that we all are born with unnatural tendencies that are inherited, and then almost always cultivated by the children who have the genetic codes for a certain course of action stamped upon us at birth. And although all unnatural actions and decisions must pass through the gate of choice as we grow and gain intelligence, yet the sacred record shows that it is usually the case that children walk in the footsteps of their parents, even though we retain the freedom to choose for ourselves. Let’s read:

1st kings 15:1  Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.

2 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. and his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him”….

 8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.

9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

And the Bible gives us several other graphic examples of the same problem, for it is the same with every living person born under the sun, without exception. Many people wonder at Solomon, who at the onset of his reign, dedicated himself to God, and asked not for riches, but for wisdom to rule, and prayed that the laws and principles that are written in the scriptures, be implemented both on a personal and national level, how could he then fall so low as to take to himself seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines.

These actions were not only his free choice, but they were motivated by a much deeper genetic problem he knew not of, and until he himself came to this realization, he would continue to fall a prey to the very unnatural cravings of his carnal heart. The problem did not even originate with David his father, but went much further back into his family tree, where it is found upon investigation, that most of his progenitors suffered with the same problem to a greater or lesser degree.

And for those of us who might be suffering with the similar urge to merge, and who may be wondering why the problem seems to be so deep-seated, we may well look at our own family history, to better understand our own issues. Solomon’s grandfather was Jesse, from whom David descended, and so we must do a little digging to see why Solomon did what he did. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16:4 And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

Now folks, we are looking at a pretty “Busy” man, and the probing question that Samuel continued to ask, haunted the mind of Jesse. That question, “Are these all thy children” must have got him thinking, for Samuel had only asked for the sons of Jesse to come to the solemn ceremony, but the daughters of Jesse were never called, not because he did not have daughters too, but because Samuel was sent specifically to anoint a new king for the kingdom of Israel.

And now we turn one more page in Solomon’s family tree to his father David, in order to trace the root of his problem with polygamy, and that seemingly insatiable desire to “merge”. Unless we understand where we came from, we will not know where we are going, or what steps to take to forestall the cascading effects of genetic predisposal to unnatural tendencies. Solomon’s unusually strong sexual desire is not merely the result of his own doing, for there are genetic and hereditary forces at play, forces that must be brought into the equation when evaluating our dire need of Christ. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

2nd Samuel 5:13 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

What we are looking at again is a pretty “Busy” man, and as we trace from root cause to effect, we see a definite pattern developing genetically, and being passed down from father to son, and from generation to generation as a legacy. Thus the next logical question is what do we do in our predicament, if we are predisposed by inherited, sinful tendencies? Do we then make laws to accommodate our unnatural propensities, or do we take the bull by its horns, and seek after Christ, who alone can put these tendencies to evil into permanent reverse gear?

What we do from this point forward is of very critical importance, for there are forces that have now been set in motion to confirm sinful desires and activities under the pretext that we are naturally predisposed to act a certain way. Thus, instead of seeking for the abundant solutions and remedies afforded in Christ, through the omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit to exterminate sin, many are bent on wallowing in the mire of inherited tendencies, and thus the work of God’s salvation is being made of none effect to those who need it most.

In dealing with these inherent problems in our nature, there are certain courses of action we should never ever pursue, for if we take any other route that is contrary to the path outlined in the scriptures, we will place ourselves on the wrong side of the fence as it pertains to God’s saving grace, and thus, instead of being liberated from spiritual bondage, we will be permanently incarcerated by evil spirits, who will then take full possession of our minds, if positive decisions for the better aren’t made.

The first thing we must never do is to destroy the God-given diagnostic tools that are to be found in His law, for if the proper diagnosis is not made, then the appropriate remedies cannot be applied. The Ten Commandments are what stipulate what sin is, and if they are interfered with for any reason, or removed from our consciences as being irrelevant, the solutions to be found only in Christ will be of no avail, for God cannot help us in any way, if we determine that nothing is wrong with ourselves. Let’s read:

1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then?”…. “I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

In Jackson Memorial hospital there are x-ray machines and magnetic resonance imaging devices which reveal internal defects and problems that are hidden from the view of the naked eye, and were it not for these devices, which probe deep within our bodies, doctors and physicians would be at a loss to properly diagnose and treat, many of the ailments with which we suffer. Now, no one in their right mind will think of destroying an MRI machine, simply because it is used to detect defects and cancers in us. So how is it that we now endeavor to do away with the spiritual MRI that God uses to properly diagnose and treat the many spiritual cancers we are born with?

We would think that the wise and beneficial thing to do would be to protect the spiritual MRI, but instead we are now making laws to remove it from the hospital, so that no cures for our spiritual maladies can be prescribed by Doctor Jesus, and this is the reason why we are rapidly descending into moral anarchy which will take us into “Never land”, where sinful propensities, evil thoughts, and actions are considered normal, and no remedy is ever needed or prescribed.

 X-ray machines and similar devices are never used by doctors to condemn their patients, neither does Doctor Jesus use His MRI of Ten Commandments to condemn any of His patients, for it is one of the indispensable diagnostic tools God must use, in order to begin the rehabilitation process, and all who submit to the initial stages of diagnostic work, will live victoriously as the appropriate medicines are applied from day to day. Let’s read:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

In our day we are faced with a philosophy which teaches us to tolerate those evil tendencies we are born with, and for this reason it is stated that gays, lesbians and bisexuals have no choice but to go with their unnatural flow. This form of reasoning or conclusion does not come from God, for at its core it infers that we have no choice but to remain in our sins, and thus it strikes at the very root of God’s purposes to save us from all sin. Jesus Christ was manifested to destroy all the works of satan, and therefore we should never sell His grace short, by saying that we must go with our natural flow.

There are those of us who have a natural tendency to tell lies, and it has become deeply embedded in our nature, to the point where we do not even have to think about it, before it is done. Then there are those of us whose parents and grandparents were heavy smokers and drinkers, and the mere sight of a cold-sweating Budweiser or Johnny walker black sends shivers down our spines. Then again there are those whose inherited and genetic problem might be “girls” or boys, as the case might be. Are we then to go with our unnatural flow, which is diagnosed as sin by the spiritual MRI? God forbid! Let’s read:

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

There is absolutely no sinful tendency, thought, or action that cannot be resolutely overcome through the blood and power of Jesus, for this is the very essence of the work of  salvation, and it must never be belittled, short-changed, or underestimated, because it is the power of God working in and through us. Thus all gays and lesbians can become as straight as a pin, and liars can be made to be truthful and sincere, and those who suffer with adulterous thoughts and inordinate sexual desires, can live victoriously each day, and be more than conquerors through Christ. But never are we to throw in the towel and surrender to satan, through his specious sophistries which are presented under the pretext of love and tolerance. 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 exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.

Let us therefore be very careful not to subscribe to the many fatal deceptions that are scheduled to proliferate in these last days of earth’s history, for we will find more and more that the world at large is becoming more averse to truth and righteousness, and it will require tremendous focus and a deep relationship with The Lord Jesus, to stay the course with Him. We therefore end with several  statements of facts from the apostle John, which should be treasured by every true believer, for victorious living is well within our reach, and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Let’s read:

1st John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!

When Tradition And Righteousness Collide. Sabbath Afternoon 06/06/2015.

There is a world of difference between tradition and Christianity, and the two must be understood in their respective contexts, in order that they may not collide. Tradition must at all times, and in all situations, be held subservient to the laws of God, and never in reverse, for it is often the case that what culture stipulates as being good and right, is often reckoned as being sinful or evil in the courts of heaven. In other words, what our traditions and culture may permit in many instances, can also be definitely prohibited by God, and therefore it is our most sacred duty to know and understand the differences.

For instance if a survey were to be done in different denominations of Christianity, and folks were asked for their views of what recreation and entertainment are supposed to be, we will find different interpretations and varying applications, even though the very same King

James Bible may be used. Some may countenance any and all types of entertainments, with no regard to any Biblical principles, for in some minds the word of God is held distinctly separate from their everyday activities.

Other Christians may frown upon activities that our culture and traditions allow, for they believe in a very practical application of Biblical principles governing our behaviors and actions. This disconnect between faith and practice in some members, which occurs in every church without exception, goes a long way in confusing the minds of the young and unwary, for they see double standards being adopted by different Christians, and are thus led to query what indeed is the truth.

However, in all of our experiences we should remember that we are held individually accountable to God for the deeds done in the body, for when our names are called in heaven, we must stand in single file, because God does not ask us what our culture dictated, but rather what His word stipulated, and so it is of the utmost importance

that whatsoever we do, be done in accordance with what is written.

A person who is considered as a law-abiding citizen of earth by man’s standards, who has a perfect credit score, no indictments, and has always paid his taxes on time, could be assessed as a rebellious individual in the sight of God, if his motives and actions do not bear the signet of heaven. State and federal laws do not always translate into righteousness, for there are many instances where the cultural heritage of nations and individuals puts them at odds with what the Bible teaches. This fact and its implications should be clearly understood by all, for we are living in an age where customs and cultures are becoming more and more tolerant of evil.

In the days of Christ there was a practice known as “Corban”, by which individuals were free to relieve themselves of their responsibility to their aging parents, by stipulating in their will that the proceeds from their possessions would be given to the church. Whilst this action was applauded as a gesture of goodwill by church members and leadership alike, the recording angel wrote sin against that person’s name, because they allowed the laws and traditions of men, and their cultural heritage to trump the direct command of God on this point. Let’s read:

 Mark 7:8   For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men”….. “and many other such like things ye do. 

  7:9   And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 

  7:10   For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother”…..

  7:11   But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, [It is] Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; [he shall be free]. 

  7:12   And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 

  7:13   Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. 

The same is true of many business practices that are countenanced as being acceptable in the courts of human opinion. Some of these practices we actually benefit from as consumers, yet the recording angel writes sin against the names of those who foster and implement them. There is what we call “Minimum wage” where individuals cannot be paid below a certain rate in various states. Now whilst this safety net may serve a good purpose by partially regulating exploitation of the poorer classes, yet the Christian will be held to a much higher standard, than that set by mortal man.

Again, the practice of beating the lowest advertised price may be of tremendous benefit to consumers, yet it is a satanic concept at its core, and has no scriptural basis whatsoever, for its foremost purpose is to squeeze the competition out of their market share, so that the business in question can then be the greatest. Thus the biggest fish eat up the small fish, and other people and businesses are used as stepping stones for other more affluent ones to climb to the top of the economic totem pole.

Hostile takeover bids, and short-selling in stock markets are all concepts and principles that are concocted in the laboratories of evil angels, and their adverse results are seen in market monopolies and consequent domineering tactics which severely limit the purchasing options of consumers. Thus a whole plethora of cultural practices and traditions which are widely accepted in secular and even religious circles, are indeed foreign to the government of God, and those who harbor and practice them will have to give an account one day, if permanent changes are not made.

In the previous financial meltdown which took the world to the brink of financial collapse, many hedge-funds and other banking institutions knowingly gave loans to the

people, with the understanding and the hope that they  would not be able to repay. Then after bundling these mortgages into very complex financial packages and derivatives, the same institutions bought insurance and placed bets against the very loans they issued, with the desire that the borrowers will fail in their payments.

Thus when the financial crisis hit, many of the financial institutions made billions of dollars, collecting on the mortgages they bet against, and so they made money both ways, while millions of borrowers went under. Now, even though these practices may be legal from a mere human standpoint, yet in the records of heaven they are recorded as grave sin, and that’s why the Christian in our day needs to be very careful, lest the customs, traditions and cultures of the day, imperceptibly invade our minds and thoughts, and we act legally according to the laws and permissions of men, whilst living in violation of the laws and principles of God.

This issue of tradition colliding with righteousness is what

 took place with Abraham and Sarah when they were trying to have the son of promise, but were prevented for the time by Sarah being barren. After many years had elapsed, and there seemed no other way out of their plight, they resorted to a sort of loop-hole that the law and culture of the day afforded, by which the maid of the wife in question, could then be legally given to the husband, so that the children born to such a union would be considered the legal children of the husband and wife.

This provision may have been instituted with the best of intentions, but it did not bear the signet of heaven, for it included the sin of adultery, which disturbs the sanctity and stability of the family. There is never a good reason for doing evil, and good intentions never justify a wrong course of action, thus whenever we venture on satan’s enchanted ground, the adverse results of a departure from righteousness will certainly accrue. What seemed to be a favorable plan “B” to Abraham and Sarah back then, turned out to be plan “F”, because we are still witnessing the results of that one tradition even to this day. Let’s read:

Genesis 16:4   And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 

    16:6   But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid [is] in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. 

  16:7   And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 

    16:10   And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. 

  16:11   And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou [art] with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. 

  16:12   And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. 

The same occurrence of tradition colliding with the laws of God is true of the issue of worship in our day, where millions of Christians have inadvertently settled for the substitute day of rest, simply because it came down to us through the centuries as a tradition of men and as a sort of cultural heritage. When Sunday worship was first introduced and instituted by the Roman emperor, it was probably done with the best of intentions, to bridge the divide between pagan sun worship and Sabbath worship. And even though there is not a single scripture which  gives us the authority to do so, yet the majority of Christians in our day follow that which has come down to us as tradition.

The apostle Paul had a vague premonition of what was to transpire after he passed, and he thus warned Christians of future generations to beware of the subtle influences that the traditions and culture of men would exert against the plainest teachings of the word of God. He alluded to this as he wrote, not long before he was executed by Rome. Let’s read:

Acts 20:29   For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 

  20:30   Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 

  20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 

And so it is, that with the issue of tradition and culture colliding with righteousness, that as Christians we should trace the history of Sabbath-keeping, as one of only two institutions given in the Garden of Eden as a precious legacy for all generations. The two institutions given at creation are marriage between one man and one female woman, which forms the basic building blocks of all society, and the seventh day Sabbath, given as the universal day of rest, which if it was kept as it ought to be, would have prevented the spread of the theory of evolution, which has now been incorporated into the culture and educational systems of the earth. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:1   Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 

  2:2   And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 

  2:3   And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

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

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

  2:23   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. 

  2:24   Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 

However, a substitute form of worship was introduced by Cain, by which he sought to gain God’s favor through disobedience, and the principle of substituting our own institutions instead of God’s was thereby established. But there were always a faithful few who differed with Cain, and those who did, worshiped God according to His plainly revealed will. Thus we have the testimony of scripture as it pertains to those who chose righteousness over culture and tradition. Let’s read:

Genesis 5:19   And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 

  5:20   And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. 

  5:24   And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him.

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. 

  6:6   And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 

  6:7   And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 

  6:8   But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 

  6:9   These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.

Genesis  7:1   And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

After the flood there were also generations of the righteous who kept God’s law which was always in existence, even though before Mt Sinai it was handed down from father to son by word of mouth. At Sinai it was written down in stone to show permanence, but it

has always existed. In our homes we have rules that must be honored by those who live under our roof, but none of those laws are written down anywhere. This does not then mean that they are not binding, for they are just as valid in spoken form, as in a written format.

Thus Joseph, Isaac, Jacob, and Abraham, together with their offspring were all Sabbath-keepers, because the Bible states that they kept God’s commandments and His laws, for they had an intimate knowledge of them. When Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife to commit adultery, he refused by stating that such and act would constitute sin. It’s only the law of God that could designate adultery as a sin, for the moral codes of man then permitted polygamy. Let’s read:

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

  39:8   But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what [is] with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 

  39:9   [There is] none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou [art] his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Romans  7:7   “I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

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

  26:5   Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. 

The fourth commandment of the Decalogue begins with

the word “Remember” because God saw that members of the human family were prone to forget, and as people across the globe lost sight of the original seventh day Sabbath, God began to give us a multitude of reminders at every opportunity, and in thousands of ways, so that the number seven, of all the days of the week could be remembered as the God-ordained, universal day of rest. Let’s read:

Exodus 20:8   Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.   20:9   Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 

  20:10   But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: 

  20:11   For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 

 Hence the reason why we read in so many experiences of the Hebrews and other pagan nations, that the number seven surfaces over and over again, it is not by coincidence, but it’s all by the providence of God, reminding us of the sacred day of rest, the Sabbath, which falls on the seventh day of the weekly cycle. Let’s read:

Genesis 7:4   For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. 

7:10   And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.

Genesis 21:28   And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 

  21:29   And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What [mean]

these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? 

  21:30   And he said, For [these] seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me”….

Genesis 29:18   And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 

    29:20   And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her. 

Genesis 33:1   And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 

    33:3   And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 

 Genesis  41:1   And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by

the river. 

  41:2   And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. 

  41:3   And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the [other] kine upon the brink of the river. 

  41:4   And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 

  41:5   And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. 

  41:6   And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. 

  41:7   And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, [it was] a dream.

Genesis   41:25   And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The

dream of Pharaoh [is] one: God hath showed Pharaoh what he [is] about to do. 

  41:26   The seven good kine [are] seven years; and the seven good ears [are] seven years: the dream [is] one. 

  41:27   And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them [are] seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. 

  41:28   This [is] the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God [is] about to do he showeth unto Pharaoh. 

  41:29   Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 

  41:30   And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

  Genesis 50:10   And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which [is] beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a

mourning for his father seven days. 

Exodus  12:15   Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 

  Exodus 29:30   [And] that son that is priest in his stead shall put them on seven days, when he cometh into the tabernacle of the congregation to minister in the holy [place]. 

  29:35   And thus shalt thou do unto Aaron, and to his sons, according to all [things] which I have commanded thee: seven days shalt thou consecrate them. 

    29:37   Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy. 

Leviticus 4:6   And the priest shall dip his finger in the

blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary.

Leviticus 8:33   And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation [in] seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.   

  8:35   Therefore shall ye abide [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded. 

Leviticus 12:2   Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 

Leviticus 13:4   If the bright spot [be] white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight [be] not deeper than the skin, and

the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up [him that hath] the plague seven days: 

  13:5   And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, [if] the plague in his sight be at a stay, [and] the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more.

  Leviticus 25:2   Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. 

  25:3   Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; 

  25:4   But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. 

  25:5   That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: [for] it is a year of rest unto the land.

25:8   And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. 

  25:9   Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth [day] of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. 

Joshua 6:1   Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. 

  6:2   And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, [and] the mighty men of valour.   

  6:4   And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. 

2nd kings 5:9   So Naaman came with his horses and with

his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 

  5:10   And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.  

And then we cross over from the B.C time period to the A.D time period, and the same continual mention of the number seven continues, because the word “Remember” in the fourth commandment, referring to the seventh day, is not something that God has left up to mortal man, but instead He Himself takes the initiative to remind us over and over again that the seventh day is still the one and only sacred day of the weekly cycle. Let’s read:

Matthew 18:21   Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 

  18:22   Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 

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

  12:44   Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth [it] empty, swept, and garnished. 

  12:45   Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there.

Matthew 15:34   And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 

  15:35   And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 

  15:36   And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake [them], and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 

  15:37   And they did all eat, and were filled: and they  took up of the broken [meat] that was left seven baskets

full. 

Acts 6:2   Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples [unto them], and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 

  6:3   Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

And finally we come to the last book of the Bible, in which the God of heaven makes His last and final appeal to the human family, bidding us to “Remember” the number seven as it pertains to the seventh day Sabbath of rest, and as if He were in desperate straits to have us remember, He starts off in the first chapter of Revelation with an abnormal amount of sevens. Let’s read:

Revelation 1:4   John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the

seven Spirits which are before his throne; 

1:11   Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 

  1:12   And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

1:13   And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man”….

  1:16   And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength. 

1:17   And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying”…

1:20   The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. 

Revelation 5:1   And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

5:6   And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 

Revelation 15:5   And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 

  15:6   And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 

  15:7   And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 

  15:8   And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

There can be no doubt that the number seven is being deliberately repeated in scripture from Genesis to Revelation, and the question we now have to settle within ourselves is why? Why is it that at almost every turn, God mentions the number seven, and is it coincidence that He has told us to “Remember” the seventh day?

There is a collision between traditional Sunday worship, and the original seventh day Sabbath, and therefore the God of heaven is bidding us choose whom we will serve. The final issue in the battle between truth and error, between good and evil, and between light and darkness, is the issue of worship, and it can be no coincidence that the first message of the three given in Revelation 14:7 refers us back directly to the Seventh day Sabbath of the fourth commandment, from which half of the verse is actually taken. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:7   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. 

Exodus 20:11   For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day”….

If we continue to allow Sunday tradition and culture to take precedence over the seventh day Sabbath, then we will be aligned with the beast of Revelation 13, but if we step out in faith, and accept the sign of God’s approval, then the promises to the faithful will be ours. We thus end with a promise to all who by faith, obey the plain commands of God in this an all other matters. Let’s read:

Isaiah 58:13   If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words: 

  58:14   Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]. 

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                                       God bless!

"Ye Shall Not Surely Die" Sabbath Afternoon 05/30/2015

The doctrine which teaches its adherents that the soul of man has natural immortality, had its beginning in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve chose to listen to the specious reasoning of the serpent, instead of the plain utterances of Jehovah. After the earth had been clad in Edenic beauty The Lord gave to both of them the clearest instructions against eating or touching the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for if they were to do so, they would surely die.

This first and very important instruction then meant that immortality was not something inherent in man’s nature, but was rather to be granted on condition of obedience. However, the devil, who was at this time debarred from heaven on account of the rebellion and ensuing war, by

which he was cast out, suggested otherwise to the curious mind of Eve, who bought into his fatal sophistries and thereby became his active agent in facilitating Adam’s downfall.

As Eve wandered from her husband’s side, she soon found herself gazing in wonder at the beautiful fruit, laden on the forbidden tree, and since she was alone, with no one to offer a remonstrance, the serpent seized the opportunity to tempt her into disbelieving God. The method he used is one that is often used in commercials, where the confirmation of a certain course of action is concluded as beneficial, before individuals have the opportunity to reason rationally for themselves. Hence the reason why the first word out of the serpent’s mouth is the word “YES”, a confirmation of the falsehoods which were to follow.

The Ouija board, one of the means by which human beings are directly connected to evil spirits, is so named because it consists of two words, “Oui”, the French word

 meaning yes, and the German word “Ja” which also means yes, and when put together into one word mean Yes, Yes. The first word in the introduction to the false doctrine of natural immortality was therefore inserted by no coincidence, but was well structured to confirm that which was to follow. Let’s read:

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

  3:2   And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 

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

  3:4   And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 

  3:5   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. 

  3:6   And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 

The implications of those words, “Ye shall not surely die” suggest that there are no negative or adverse results for wrong-doing, a theory that has come down to our day, and one which has grown and blossomed into a plethora of philosophies and beliefs which have no scriptural basis whatsoever, and which will soon be exposed for what they really are. However, the study for this afternoon is not going to focus primarily on the issues of death and immortality, but rather on the very concept that is now espoused by millions, that there are no negative results or consequences for sin.

One of the offshoots of the concept then unveiled by satan to humanity, is the doctrine which teaches that there is no absolute truth, and therefore the standard of right and wrong is relative, varying from person to person based on their own convictions and consciences. That familiar saying, “Let conscience be your guide” is a satanic statement, for the consciences of Bernie Madoff and Bin Laden differ greatly from that of Abraham and Isaac, and therefore the fluidity that is inherent in the very concept will allow for the most  gruesome and brutal of crimes, all being committed under the guise of individual conscience.

According to the Bible and all pertinent historical records, sin, as described in the Bible, always carries with it negative consequences, that are never restricted to the individual person, but rather extends to others, very much the same as when a pebble is thrown into water and the ripple effects reach the furthest shores. A person does not necessarily have to be guilty of a particular sin in order for him or her to suffer the direct or indirect consequences of someone else’s wrongdoing. This is a fundamental fact that must be taken into account when dealing with the false doctrine, “Ye shall not surely die”. Let’s read:

Romans 5:12   Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

   5:14   Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 

Proverbs 9:18   Wisdom [is] better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. 

Proverbs 29:2   When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Two young men were returning home one afternoon in their vehicle, when suddenly, without warning, a semi being driven by a drunk driver, jumped the median and hit them head on, killing both of them instantly. These teenagers had absolutely nothing to do with the truck driver’s sin of consuming large amounts of alcohol, yet they suffered the direct consequences of the man’s wrongdoing. Let’s never be deceived with satan’s fatal sophistry that sin does not come at a cost, for any and every violation of God’s law carries negative results of some kind.

When Achan sinned by stealing the goodly Babylonian garment and the shekels of gold and silver, in direct violation of the instructions given, thirty six men who had nothing to do with his crime, and who did not even know that sin was committed, suffered the direct results of his misdeeds, and by his singular act, caused several families to be bereft of husbands and fathers. There is no such thing as sin being committed and everyone or anyone getting off scotch free, this is why the Bible states the laws of cause and effect over and over again so that we will get the message. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 8:12   Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his [days] be prolonged, yet surely I know that

it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 

  8:13   But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong [his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Joshua 7:1  But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi”.. “took of the accursed thing.

7:4   So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. 

  7:5   And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them [from] before the gate [even] unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

7:10   And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 

  7:11   Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put [it] even among their own stuff. 

  7:12   Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, [but] turned [their] backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. 

The reason why the study is focusing so heavily on the consequences of sin, is because in our day the same lie that was told in the garden of Eden is being repeated under different headings and is being taught in schools and universities through philosophies that draw our attention away from the true cause of many of the difficulties and dangers that are multiplying upon the earth in quick succession. And because we are not placing our fingers on the real problem, we cannot access the real solution.

Any voice which says “Ye shall not surely die”, meaning

that sin does not produce adverse effects for the guilty and innocent, is the voice of satan, and until we become convinced of this sacred truth, there will be no lasting solutions to the many problems plaguing nations and individuals. We will find ourselves spending billions and trillions of dollars, chasing an elusive, phantom enemy, that will keep on metastasizing, all because of the self-righteous tendency to justify ourselves in a sinful course of action. This sacred truth of cause and effect in the spiritual realm is written for our instruction so that all may take heed.

In the days of Haggai the prophet, the people of God were stealing the tithes and offerings that were specially designated for the work and maintenance of the sacred sanctuary, and instead of setting aside from their weekly earnings that which was due to God, they spent lavishly upon themselves, with no thought for the cause of truth. This practice is described in the Bible as being robbery, the equivalent of sticking up God in broad daylight, and the sure results followed, because wherever any sin is committed, adverse effects are sure to follow. Let’s read:

Haggai 1:5   Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 

  1:6   Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages [to put it] into a bag with holes. 

And just as it is with individuals, so it is with nations, for the principle does not change from country to country, nor does it respect persons of high or low degree. The words, “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” are still valid and will remain as such until probation closes. Belshazzar found this out the hard way, but by the time he realized what was going on, it was too late, for he had crossed the threshold of God’s mercy, and had entered the sphere of judgment, from which there would be no escape.

After knowing what his father had passed through, and the forbearance of God towards the king’s folly, the

son,  who had the sacred history before him took the same route, and went even further by making a mockery of God, and the sacred institutions he had established for His worship. And it was while he was in the heat of the moment, celebrating the so-called victory of sin over righteousness, that a bloodless hand was sent from God, writing out the doom of the entire nation, for God is no respecter of persons. Let’s read:

Daniel 5:1   Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 

  5:2   Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which [was] in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 

  5:3   Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which [was] at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 

  5:4   They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 

  5:5   In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 

5:6   Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 

  5:7   The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spake, and said to the wise [men] of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 

  5:8   Then came in all the king's wise [men]: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 

  5:9   Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were

astonied. 

This sudden interference from heaven brought the party to a premature halt. The DJ stopped playing, and the bartenders stopped pouring, the clowns stopped joking, and the guests stopped speaking. All was now an eerie silence with the omens of some unknown, impending judgment hanging in the air. It was in this paralyzed state of consternation that the prophet Daniel was sent for, to give what was to be the final explanation to the nation that once dazzled its admirers. And since history is soon to be repeated, the God of heaven bids us take heed to Daniel’s speech, from this point forward. Let’s read:

Daniel 5:13   Then was Daniel brought in before the king. [And] the king spake and said unto Daniel, [Art] thou that Daniel, which [art] of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? 

  5:14   I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods [is] in thee, and [that] light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. 

5:17   Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 

  5:18   O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 

  5:19   And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 

  5:20   But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

  5:21   And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling [was] with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and [that] he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. 

  5:22   And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 

  5:23   But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: 

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

  5:25   And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 

5:26   This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 

  5:27   TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 

  5:28   PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

5:30   In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 

  5:31   And Darius the Median took the kingdom, [being] about threescore and two years old.

In our day a million and one different reasons are being given for the apparent capricious outbreaks of nature, and the many disturbance that keep arising in different parts of the earth. And just as it was in the garden of Eden, satan has deceived millions into believing that the sacred institutions of God can be trampled upon and violated with impunity, and so the same cryptic words are being repeated, “Ye shall not surely die”. Science has also jumped on the same bandwagon in many instances, chalking it all up to green house gases, climate change and global warming.

Now while it is true to some extent that these are also

contributing factors, the fact remains that the basic problem of high handed sin lies at the core of most of our troubles, and will escalate until there is no remedy. The only solution that will bring positive changes for the better is Christ, but until we acknowledge what the problem is, the remedy provided will be of no avail.

In other words, if we keep seeking scientific explanations for a spiritual problem, then the solution which is right at our doorsteps won’t be of any use, and thus the laws of cause and effect will be permitted to run their natural course. This will then result in unprecedented natural and manmade disasters, which will increase both in cost and severity until an explanation of the writing on the wall is given.

The bloodless hand that wrote on the banquet hall of Belshazzar is soon to write again on the walls of modern Babylon, hence the reason why the following verses of scripture should be studied very carefully, for they contain the answers and methods necessary to avert the

evils that are now being determined. Let’s read:

Jonah 3:1   And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 

  3:2   Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 

  3:3   So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh”…

  3:4   “And he cried, and said”…. “Nineveh shall be overthrown. 

  3:5   So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 

3:6   For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered [him] with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 

  3:7   And he caused [it] to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 

  3:8   But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that [is] in their hands. 

  3:10   And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did [it] not.

2nd Chronicles 7:14   If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

  7:15   Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place. 

He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying.

                                    God bless!

Reasons Why Some People Leave Christ. Sabbath Afternoon. 05/23/2015

There are many reasons why some Christians turn their backs on Christ, and there are many more reasons given why others stop attending church services. At times in the Christian experience it may become difficult to stay focused on Christ, because of situations that may develop within the brotherhood of believers, but we should never forget who saved us and who died for us on Calvary. Even though we are social beings and we need the support of like-minded believers, yet it is Christ who has called us to Himself individually, and therefore we must take His invitation very personally.

It is a sad fact that in a predominantly Christian nation, church attendance is actually on the decline, for many denominations and congregations are struggling to add members, and others are bleeding many more believers through the back door, than those coming through the front, and so the question is asked “Why are so many Christians leaving their congregations, and what can be done to retain a healthy membership?

One of the more prominent reasons given for persons turning back to the broken cisterns of earth is that there are many “Hypocrites” in the church, a fact that cannot be denied. But if a person is looking for the right church, and they have come across a church with no hypocrites, then they have found the wrong church. According to the Webster’s definition, “A hypocrite is one who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right, but who behaves in a way that is contrary to such beliefs”. This type of person is to be found in every denomination, in every religion, and even amongst members of God’s remnant people.

Whenever our focus is on what others are doing or not doing, and whenever we become intolerant of those who may genuinely be struggling with weaknesses and sins, then the problem of hypocrites looms large, and if not

 managed properly, could cause us to stumble. In the days of Eli this was certainly the case, for his two sons were found to be doing the exact opposite of what any faithful priest should be doing.

This then caused many of the Hebrews to stop going to church, and as a result, the spirituality of the people took a hit, and every man started doing what was right in their own eyes. However, the Bible tells us of two faithful worshippers who were not deterred by the evils that were then taking place in the sanctuary services, and it must here be acknowledged that it must have required great faith on the part of Elkanah and his family to keep attending the yearly service. It means that their focus was not on what the priests were doing, but rather on what God was doing, and what He was about to do. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 1:1   Now there was a certain man of mount Ephraim, and his name [was] Elkanah”…  1:3   And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were] there. 

1:21   And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

1st Samuel 2:22   Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 

  2:23   And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 

  2:24   Nay, my sons; for [it is] no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress. 

  2:25   If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father”…

It is of critical importance then, for us not to allow any

hypocrites to steal our joy in The Holy Ghost, nor should we expend our energies policing others who may have a lesser understanding of the truths we hold dear. We are all in different stages of spiritual growth, and thus there is great need for tolerance and forbearance, so that growth in grace can take place according to God’s will. God is able to save even hypocrites, therefore we should see the potential for better in everyone, even though their actions may speak to the contrary. Let’s read:

  Colossians 3:12   Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 

  3:13   Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye. 

  3:14   And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 

  3:15   And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 

3:16   Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

This leads us to another reason why some people turn their backs on God or stop attending church, because of the music, which may not appeal to their specific tastes. This reason is one of the more prominent ones, and must be understood in its proper context. Here in America we have a melting pot of believers coming in from different backgrounds, and different cultures, and because of this there are great variances in preference of music. Some like it hot, and some like it cold, and some like it in the pot nine days old.

In other words, we have believers from some Sunday churches who are accustomed to a high energy form of worship, in which rythm and contemporary music in their church services are the order of the day. These particular kinds of services are emotionally charged, with heart and soul being poured into their song. And then there are those of a completely different orientation, in which a very subdued form of worship and music is what is preferred, where the feelings and emotions are bridled so as not to cause any distractions.

This is all well and good, and both types of worshippers may be sincere in their praises, but according to the Bible, music should not be a determining factor in us leaving the church or turning our backs on Christ. Those who have truly accepted Christ as Lord and Savior will not permit music to be a stumbling block in our blood relationship with The Lord, for according to the Bible the true sheep listen to the Master’s voice, not to music, and so they will not forsake the assembly of the saints if the music is not to their preference. Let’s read:

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

  10:28   And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall  never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of

my hand. 

  10:29   My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. 

  10:30   I and [my] Father are one. 

Another reason why some folk desert Christ and the assembly of the saints is because church is “Boring” to them, especially if a plethora of unceasing activity is not abundantly provided. Hence we have in our day a multitude of concerts, bazaars, excursions, dinners, and other such occasions to make the Christian life “Interesting”. And whenever these additional activities are removed, there goes the membership of many who had built their relationship with Christ upon the shaky foundation of excitement and entertainment. If we do not enjoy the presence and companionship of Christ as being the center of our joy, then something is seriously lacking and needs to be addressed urgently.

Our highest and most intimate joy should be with Christ, and then the horizontal aspect of our relationship with others will find its rightful place. But never should the presence of God with us be substituted or supplemented with other activities in order for it to have meaning. This is one of the more prominent reasons why church attendance is on the decline, and the issue is addressed in the scriptures, from the right perspective. Let’s read:

Psalms 16:11   Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore. 

Psalm 42:1  “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 

  42:2   My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 

Psalm 98:4   Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 

  98:5   Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 

  98:6   With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 

  98:7   Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 

  98:8   Let the floods clap [their] hands: let the hills be joyful together 

  98:9   Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. 

In order for us to understand the real reasons why some Christians lose their way, and why some folk turn their backs on Christ and religion as a whole, we will need to study the parable of the sower, as related by Christ. In this parable the Lord reveals to us that the gospel seed falls on different minds, and the results vary from person to person, depending on the reasons why we accepted Him in the first place, and the personal choices we made thereafter. The first type of hearer brought to view is the “wayside hearer”, who hears the good news “By the way” and who then loses what he has seen and heard of Christ.

In His exposition on this first type of hearer, Christ says that a lack of understanding the gospel is what causes the wayside hearer to lose that which as sown in his heart. In other words, the gospel presented is not internalized, but is understood only in a casual manner. Let’s read:

Matthew 13:3   And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 

  13:4   And when he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.

13:18   Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 

  13:19   When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

The next set of hearers described by Jesus are those who receive the word of God readily, because the good news sounds good. As this type of hearer listens to the gospel it seems as if it’s a win, win situation, for the death of Jesus covers all our sins, and then we are given eternal life, and so, when the rubber meets the road, and trials, temptations, and disappointments come along, the stony ground hearers begin to reason that they had never catered for such experiences in the Christian life, and after a while they are offended. Let’s read:

Matthew 13:20   But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 

  13:21   Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 

Yet another type of hearer is brought to view in those who actually understand and accept Christ and the gospel, but then the transient things of earth, together with material wealth and the cares of this life are allowed to take precedence over God, and as a result the word of truth loses its meaning and value to them, and thus they become unfruitful. Whenever Christ is put in second place in our affections for any reason, then we may know that we are in danger of losing our way. Let’s read:

Matthew 13:22   He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Then there is the last set of hearers brought to view by Christ, those who hear the word, understand, and digest it, and who make a deliberate, intentional, and intelligent choice to accept Christ as Lord and savior. This last group indeed received the word with joy, and they received it readily, but their decision for Christ was not based on emotions which are here today and gone tomorrow. This group weighed carefully the import of the gospel, and they realized that the Christian will have sunny days and rainy days.

They understood that following Christ is not a bed of roses, in which all financial, social, and health problems will vanish into thin air. This group sat down and counted the cost, and then they did the wise thing by giving their lives entirely to God, with no reservations or conditions on their part, and with no upfront guarantees or any prenuptial agreements of prosperity and popularity.

When decisions like these are made, neither music, or hypocrites will be able to shatter their relation with Christ, for they built upon the sure foundation of the Rock, Christ Jesus. Those who thus decide to follow Christ are then made impregnable to the assaults of the enemy, and will live victoriously each day. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:24   Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 

  7:25   And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Romans 8:35   Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

  8:36   As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

  8:37   Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

  8:38   For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

  8:39   Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

It is therefore incumbent upon us to search our souls to see what are our real reasons for following Christ. If Christ is just a side order to our main menu, then we need to address the situation by praying to God for a new heart and mind, so that we may serve The Lord in sincerity and joy. If Jesus is not the center of our joy, and if we find ourselves requiring boosters in order to make the Christian life pleasurable, then we may know for certain that something integral is missing, and again, the Lord calls on us to invite Him in for real.

Whatever might be the million and one reasons for turning back, it is not necessary, nor does it have to be  this way, because God has promised to His children grace every day, and strength according to our varied needs. Let us then hold fast the profession of our faith, looking unto Jesus, The Author and Finisher of our faith.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to stay the course with Christ, through all of the ups and downs of the Christian life. Let’s read:

Romans 12:1   Wherefore seeing we also are compassed

about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

  12:2   Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

  12:3   For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                                         God bless!

Freedom Of Religion And Freedom Of Speech. Sabbath Afternoon. 05/16/2015

There are certain aspects to America’s constitution which make this country exceptionally great, and the freedom of religion and freedom of speech that we all currently enjoy, play a critically important role in maintaining the genius of its government over a potpourri of peoples. It is indeed a great blessing and privilege to be able to speak freely, without the threat of intimidation or censure on the part of those who may differ from us in their ideas and opinions. This unique legacy must be carefully guarded at all times from being eroded by existential threats to our democracy.

When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them the inalienable freedom to choose to do good or evil, and this freedom of choice should be carefully protected, especially when it come to religious beliefs. The tendency to persecute those who are of different religious beliefs and persuasions, began with Cain, who hated and killed

 his brother, simply because He was jealous of the favor shown by God to Abel, who had faithfully followed His instructions in bringing a lamb as a sacrifice for sin. Let’s read:

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

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

  4:5   But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 

  4:6   And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 

  4:7   If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 

  4:8   And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 

If Cain was willing to comply as his younger brother did, he would then be accepted of God, but his disobedience put him at odds with the requirements of God, and for this reason he took his brother’s life. This habit and practice was then further developed into a principle of religious intolerance that has come down to us through the ages, and is what is being currently witnessed in the Middle east, certain parts of Africa, and in other distant lands where a national religion has been established and rigorously enforced by the reigning authorities, with penalties and even death being administered to those who dare to be different.

The author of the principle of religious intolerance is none other than satan, who hates the divine precepts and the very name of Christ, and thus those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior in some foreign

countries, have come under increasing attack for their faith. But here in America we still enjoy the freedom to practice our various religions, with the freedom to speak our convictions in private and in some public places. We hope and pray that these religious liberties will be kept in place for as long as time shall last, for our very existence and prosperity as a nation depend on them.

It is therefore necessary for us to study the nature of the principle of religious intolerance that is gaining steam in certain parts of the world, because we are in danger of importing the very same philosophies under the name of Christ. In Iraq and Syria, and in certain parts of Africa, Christians are being forced to adopt Islam as the national religion, and in many cases the death penalty is the result for non-compliance. What is worthy of note in this phenomena is that there are various strains of Islam emanating from the same common text of the Quran.

For instance there are moderate interpretations to the religious text, where those who understand the Quran a

certain way are very tolerant of other religions, and do not subscribe to the philosophy that teaches all other religious sects to be infidels. Then there is a much more extreme version of interpretation of the very same Quran, in which all who do not subscribe to Sharia law are deemed unfit to live, and as a result mass executions of both Christians and Muslims has ensued, resulting in violence and bloodshed of no ordinary character.

This more radical interpretation of the same Quran text, with the accompanying religious intolerance, is what has bred deep divisions within the general community of Muslim believers, and that’s why we now have Saudi Arabian Muslims fighting against Houthi and Iranian Muslims, all of whom read the same religious text, the Quran. The system of intolerance thus spawned is found to be diabolically opposed to what the Bible teaches on this point.

In ancient days, the Hebrews were sometimes instructed by God to eliminate certain nations, not because they were of different religious persuasions, but rather because their cup of iniquity was full, a fact that was always decided by God alone, since He reserves the singular right to execute judgment when He deems necessary, as was the case with Sodom and Gomorrah.

It is here worthy of note that ancient Israel was a theocracy, being governed directly by The God of heaven, and as such, all military expeditions against other nations on account of unbridled iniquity were to be ordered at His own discretion, and not by mortal man. In one instance for example, when the Hebrews had come across the descendants of the godless Esau, they were tempted to think that God would automatically eliminate them, since they were averse to His government and His laws. But instead, The Lord issued a stern warning to the Hebrews not to even think of meddling with them, for He had made provision for their existence, even though they would have nothing to do with Him. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 2:2   And the LORD spake unto me, saying,

  2:3   Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward. 

  2:4   And command thou the people, saying, Ye [are] to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: 

  2:5   Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau [for] a possession. 

  2:6   Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink. 

Again, the principle that bears sway in the government of God, as it pertains to religious freedom, is that of free choice, with no coercion of the conscience against one’s own will being entertained. Hence the reason why Christ is represented in the book of Revelation as standing at our heart’s door knocking, seeking entrance only by invitation, for He is never to be found kicking down the door, as someone who we know often does. Let’s read:

Revelation 3:20   Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

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

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

  Luke 9:49   And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 

  9:50   And Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not: for he

that is not against us is for us.

Thus we as Christians who follow in the footsteps of The Master are supposed to foster the same principles of freedom of religion and freedom of speech that is enjoined upon us by God Himself. In other words, Hindus Buddhists, Mormons, Catholics, Baptists, Seventh day Adventists, Atheists, Methodists and Evangelicals are all supposed to be able to live peaceably on the same street, here in America, with no bad feelings or ill-will towards one’s neighbors being cherished, because of stark differences in religious persuasion and practice.

And even though there may be very real or imaginary  diversities as to beliefs and the validity of the various religions being represented in the same community, yet the due respect for our God-given freedoms should be the restraining force which prevents unwarranted antagonism and persecution, because of fundamental differences of opinions and practice. In other words, an atheist neighbor who does not believe in “Santa Claws” should not be forced to listen to Christmas carols, and similarly, a Muslim should not be forced to pray to the Christian’s God, through mandatory prayer in schools.

Freedom of religion and practice should be the watch words for all, once the violations of such freedom is not exercised by some who hold very deep convictions of their faith. In other words, even though we may speak passionately about The Lord Jesus Christ, and may even exercise our religious freedom in encouraging others to accept of His grace, yet no compulsion of conscience, or no heated, angry arguments in favor of our convictions should characterize our interactions with those of opposing beliefs.

However, there are growing calls for the establishment of a universal form of Christianity, where all the different denominations and evangelical institutions are given an equal seat at the negotiating table, with deliberate and concerted efforts being made to galvanize the different Christian creeds into one big universal conglomerate, with the common beliefs and interpretations that are most widely held, being the basis for the united order. This is increasingly being suggested in Christian circles, as a viable means to combat the growing threat of global terrorism.

But the same problems that Muslims have run into, with the many different strands of interpretation, will be inevitably duplicated in any universal conglomerate of Christianity, because within the world of Christendom, there are also vastly different interpretations of the same common text used. For instance, if someone were to ask a Sunday-keeping Baptist to substantiate his beliefs and views, he will reach for the Bible in order to give a reason for his faith. But if we were to ask a Jehovah’s witness to give us a reason for the hope he has within him, he too will also reach for the Bible. Thus the forced coalescing of various interpretations of the same sacred text is certain to breed religious intolerance between those who would acquiesce, and those who won’t. 

And therefore, just as there are many variations of interpretation in the world of Islam, ranging from the moderate to the more extreme versions, just so there are many different adopted strands to Christianity which exist today, and even though the same sacred text is being used, the differences of interpretations are sometimes as far as the east is from the west. Hence the reason why we should never endeavor to import the principle of universal Christianity into our culture, lest the same spirit of intolerance bear sway on our very shores.

In lieu of the inevitable results of religious intolerance that has been manifested over the centuries, God has given to Bible believing Christians pertinent instructions as to how to navigate the potential minefields that are incident to religious bigotry, and these commands should be carefully followed by true Christians everywhere, especially given the volatile environment in which we now find ourselves living. We are called upon by God to exercise good judgment and sound discretion in our interaction with those of other faiths, and even though we are never to be found watering down the truth to please the clamors of sin-loving multitudes, yet the words of wisdom, given us by God should be adhered to.

(1) We are instructed to avoid the use of any and all inflammatory language, in regards to other religions, and especially as it pertains to the many gods that are now revered and worshiped by those who may not know better. This first instruction, which is repeated in several passages of scripture is of great relevance to the times in which we now live, and will go a very long way in diffusing the tensions and animosities which have developed between Christians and Muslims. Let’s read:

Exodus 22:28   Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Titus 2:1   But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

  2:8   Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he

that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 

James 3:13   Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

  3:14   But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

  3:15   This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish. 

  3:16   For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work. 

  3:17   But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

  3:18   And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 

There is a growing tendency to respond in like currency

whenever incendiary speech or even acts of violence are committed against Christians in our day, but the Bible teaches us to take a different route, following in the footsteps of Christ. In other words, the proliferation of evil and religious extremism should not then cause us to adopt the very same principles in combating these elements, because the laws and principles of Christianity do not allow for such exercises, neither by precept nor in the example of Christ Himself.

If we were to ask any experienced fireman, he will tell us that fighting fire with fire will only breed more fire, for we have never seen any of them spraying flames from their hoses upon a burning building. What the Bible instead teaches us is that we should fight fire with water, because this is what God does, for when the fires of unbridled sin and iniquity are raging within our souls, He bids us be baptized and converted. Christ Himself set us the example for us to follow, and thus it is important that we adopt both His methods and principles as we move forward. Let’s read:

Matthew 27:39   And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 

  27:40   And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 

  27:41   Likewise also the chief priests mocking [him], with the scribes and elders, said, 

  27:42   He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the

cross, and we will believe him. 

The response of Christ to this verbal abuse and heckling was not to respond with similar inflammatory speech, but rather to seek the best interest of His persecutors, thus setting us the example we are to follow when faced with such abusive situations. Let’s read:

Luke 23:34   Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 

1st Peter 2:19   For this [is] thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 

  2:20   For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God. 

  2:21   For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 

  2:22   Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 

  2:23   Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously.

Luke 9:51   And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 

  9:52   And sent messengers before his face: and they

 went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 

  9:53   And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 

  9:54   And when his disciples James and John saw [this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 

  9:55   But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 

  9:56   For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save [them]. And they went to another village. 

 This then brings us to the second instruction given us by God in dealing with those who manifest deep animosity towards Christians. We are never to indulge the spirit of retaliation, for this principle does not originate with God. Now while it is true that Christians are to do all within their power to protect ourselves from harm and danger, yet we should never indulge a thirst for revenge, for if we do, we will place ourselves on the same spiritual side of the aggressor, and thus we will be found to be partaking of the very same spirit. Let’s read:

 Deuteronomy 32:35   To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

Romans 12:17   Recompense to no man evil for evil”….

  12:18   If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 

  12:19   Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but

[rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 

  12:20   Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he  thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap

 coals of fire on his head. 

  12:21   Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with

good.

In our day and in our own experiences, we will be faced with challenges to our faith, and forces that are opposed to true Christianity will be pitted against us for various reasons. This will be found to be especially true of those who keep all of the commandments of God, in a world of lawlessness, and therefore the necessary steps and preparations for the coming, final conflict, should now be made, not with the force of arms or other carnal weapons, but rather through prayer and supplication, while we behold the perfection of character exemplified in The Lord Jesus Christ.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which teaches us both the nature of the warfare, and the means whereby we may be victorious, and it is the will of God that in all situations and in all places, that we live according to what is written, rather than be driven by the devil to adopt principles and methods that are foreign to the kingdom of God. Let’s read:

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

  6:11   Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

  6:12   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]. 

  6:13   Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

  6:14   Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

  6:15   And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

  6:16   Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

  6:17   And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

  6:18   Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                                        God bless!

Lessons From The Story Of Mordecai And Esther. Sabbath Afternoon. 05/09/2015

Lessons From The Story Of Mordecai And Esther.

 Sabbath Afternoon

                        05/09/2015

The Bible is full of instruction for any and everyone who is willing to learn in the school of Christ, for God teaches us both spiritual and temporal lessons in the experiences of patriarchs, prophets, and the various characters in the Bible. Two of the more prominent God-faring people ever recorded are Queen Esther and Mordecai, by whom The Lord wrought great deliverance in behalf of His people, and it is with great interest we should carefully observe the various developments which finally led to the people of God being delivered from a single blow that was designed to wipe out the entire nation of Jews in a single day.

The story begins not with Esther, but with the previous queen Vashti, who was removed from her office and position because she refused to follow the king’s order to parade her beauty before the nobles and princes of his realm. King Ahaseurus had given this command to the queen after he had been drinking alcohol for sometime, and through indulgence, his better judgment had been greatly impaired.

It is often the case that under the influence of alcoholic beverages, that men and women say and do things that they would not otherwise say nor do, and because this undeniable fact has been substantiated throughout history, in the likes of Herod, who made  a pledge to Salome because of the way she danced, resulting in the beheading of John the Baptist, the first lesson to be deduced from the book of Esther is that it is not good to consume alcoholic beverages, especially if one is in a position of authority, for then the possibility of perverted judgment becomes all the more a reality.

Thus the Bible strictly forbids kings, rulers, and princes to consume intoxicating wine, lest they say and do that which could result in adverse or evil consequences. Let’s read:

Proverbs 31:4   [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not

for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 

  31:5   Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. 

Proverbs 20:1   Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 23:29   Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 

  23:30   They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 

 23:32   At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 

  23:33   Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 

Thus it was that king Ahaseurus determined that day to remove his wife Vashti from being Queen, after he had consulted with the nobles and princes of his realm. But the next move made by the king, and one which was accessed by both Mordecai and Esther, is a process that deserves serious attention, for it brings to light the fact that as Christians we should cultivate the disposition to follow where God leads the way, even if His ways may involve very unconventional methods, ways and means.

When the prophet Micah speaks of “Walking humbly with God”, he is not referring to a mere outward piety, nor is he speaking of only being willing to follow God in that which is written. He is speaking of an attitude that lives by the word of God alone, without turning to the right hand or to the left, but one which is also willing to follow God outside the box, where He sometimes leads the way.

In this instance, king Ahaseurus’ main focus in finding a new wife and queen was that she should be “Fair”, meaning that she should be extremely good looking, for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, and the former queen Vashti, was removed from her position for refusing to display her beauty.

Now who in their right mind would think that God would have anything to do with such a proposal, but the Bible teaches us that God often works through the normal, and widely accepted operations and methods of man to get His will done. In this instance it was a sort of beauty pageant, from which the king was determined to choose his new bride, and Mordecai and Esther, both faithful Christians, were moved upon by the Lord to apply for the position through the normal vetting process.

Was this move by God in harmony with what is clearly written? Absolutely not! Does the buck stop with Him? Absolutely, for whatsoever might be written in the scriptures must be followed to the letter, unless He states or shows us otherwise, because in the final analysis, God has the last word. To begin with, Ahaseurus was not a Christian by any means, and this fact would of necessity put the whole proposal at odds with what the Bible teaches. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 7:2   And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee”…”thou shalt make no covenant with them”…

  7:3   Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy

daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 

  7:4   For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. 

2nd Corinthians 6:14   Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 

  6:15   And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 

  6:16   And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

  6:17   Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you.

  6:18   And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 

This leads us to our second very important lesson, the fact that God can countermand His own instruction at His discretion, and we who follow in His train should at all times be willing to make the necessary adjustments as He sees fit, once we have ascertained that it is indeed the voice of God that has spoken, even if it goes against what is clearly written in the instructions given in His word. This aspect of walking humbly with God will play a pivotal role in the near future, when according to the Bible, He will begin to utter His literal voice to His chosen people. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 4:29   But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. 

  4:30   When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, [even] in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

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; 

  2:2   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. 

2:10   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: 

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

This leads us to our third and very important lesson of following the voice of God, as is written in His word, in instances where matters of principle and law are at stake. Under no circumstances are we to bow to the popular majority in doing evil, even if it comes down to us as an imperial mandate, for the Christian is to be found standing firmly for the right, even in the midst of the fiercest opposition from the enemies of God and all righteousness.

The vast majority of the populace doing evil does not make it right in the sight of God, and sin does not become righteousness with the passage of time. In other words, holiness is not a fad or fashion that changes in tandem with pop culture, for it is based on the eternal principles and laws of the kingdom of God. In the above-  mentioned instance of Mordecai being urged by his fellows to “Bow” to the proud Haman, he steadfastly refused, even if it meant that he might possibly lose his job as a public figure.

 The Bible specifically states that bowing in reverential worship to a mere mortal man, is a great sin, and as such should never be practiced by those who name the name of Christ. Furthermore, reverence as an act of worship, such as bowing belongs to God alone, for according to the scriptures, His very name is Reverend. Let’s read:

Psalm 111:9   He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend [is] his name. 

  111:10   The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do [his commandments”….

  Exodus 20:3   Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

  20:5   Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; 

  20:6   And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 

When the king Ahaseurus required of his subjects that they should bow the knee to Haman, he had overstepped his bounds, and Mordecai’s sacred duty was to refuse the royal edict. In our day we have many Christians in public office who are “Bowing” to the clamors of the popular majority, since tremendous political and financial pressure is being brought to bear against their persons. As Christians living in the 21st century, we must expect satan to turn up the heat of the furnace several notches, in order to try to force compliance from unwilling hearts, yet like the faithful Mordecai, we should stand for the right though the heavens fall. Let’s read:

Esther 3:1   After these things did king Ahasuerus

promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that [were] with him. 

  3:2   And all the king's servants, that [were] in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did [him] reverence. 

3:3   Then the king's servants, which [were] in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? 

  3:4   Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he [was] a Jew. 

  3:5   And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 

  3:6   And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had showed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that [were] throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, [even] the people of Mordecai. 

This action to be taken by Haman is representative of an age old principle coming from the enemy of souls, for whenever true Christians refuse to buckle to the various pressures that are exerted against them to depart from the path integrity, the death penalty is sooner or later sought. Thus it was with Cain and Abel, with Daniel, with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, with Christ, with the apostles, with the millions of faithful martyrs throughout the dark ages, and thus it is with the various terrorist groups in our day.

There is always a threat of some sort, associated with not bowing, however it is often when the situation comes to a crisis, that God begins to take steps to overthrow the evils that are determined against His people, just as it was with Mordecai and Esther. Let’s read:

Esther 6:1   On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 

  6:2   And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of”…”two of the king's chamberlains”… “who sought to lay hand on the king”…

  6:3   And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 

  6:4   And the king said, Who [is] in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 

6:5   And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 

  6:6   So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 

  6:7   And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 

  6:8   Let the royal apparel be brought which the king

[useth] to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 

  6:9   And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man [withal] whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 

  6:10   Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, [and] take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 

  6:11   Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 

This dramatic turn of events and change of fortune for

Haman represents the beginning of his overthrow by the omnipotent God, who obviously was speaking directly to Haman through the king. The snares that are often laid for the feet of faithful Christians are often the very ones God uses in the overthrow of their enemies. Thus it was with Daniel in the lion’s den, with the three faithful Hebrews in the fiery furnace, and now with Haman and the gallows he had built, on which to hang Mordecai.

Haman’s period of probation now being closed, he will be shuttered in with a series of dire circumstances that will put his back against a wall, an omen of impending doom, from which he will not be able to extricate himself. In the banquet that was being prepared for the king and Haman by queen Esther, the enemy of God’s people had thought only of promotion, fame and fortune, but now he sees in the circumstances that are unfolding, the very ominous shadows of death settling in upon his soul. Let’s read:

Esther 7:1   So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 

  7:2   And the king said again unto Esther”… “what [is] thy request? and it shall be performed, [even] to the half

of the kingdom. 

  7:3   Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: 

  7:4   For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish”…

  7:5   Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? 

7:6   And Esther said, The adversary and enemy [is] this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. 

  7:7   And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath [went] into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 

  7:8   Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther [was]. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. 

  7:9   And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 

Some may be wondering what is the import of these lessons from the story of Mordecai and Esther for us Christians living in the 21st century. The book of Esther actually contains certain blueprints that will repeated in our day, when the same agencies of evil will rise up against true Christians and endeavor to force submission to a form of religion that God neither recognizes nor endorses.

 And just as it was in the days of old, with the deliverance that was wrought on behalf of the Hebrews, God will work in very unconventional ways to bring about the complete overthrow of the conglomerate of evil arrayed against the principles and laws of His kingdom. Thus, of that time we read:

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

  12:2   And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt. 

  12:3   And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 

Revelation 17:1   And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 

  17:2   With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 

  17:3   So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 

  17:4   And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 

  17:5   And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

  17:6   And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus”..

 17:12   And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings”…

  17:13   These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 

  17:14   These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful. 

  17:15   And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 

  17:16   And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 

  17:17   For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 

  17:18   And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. 

When any adverse pressure, including the threat of death, is exerted against true Christians, when the heat of the furnace shall be turned up several notches in order to force compliance or to compel our consciences in violating matters pertaining to the sacred institutions of God , then let the people of God look up to heaven, from whence cometh our help, for the same God of Mordecai and queen Esther is just about ready to begin His strange work in the earth, by which He will bring to naught, all of the machinations of evil men, for the deliverance of His people.

 This will be accomplished in ways and means that may surprise many of us, nevertheless it will certainly come to pass, for the prophecies that are written for our day must be fulfilled in their due season. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to be faithful, for it shows that the snares that are laid for the feet of the righteous, will be used in the final overthrow of those who are averse to God and His righteousness. Let’s read:

Psalms 9:15   The heathen are sunk down in the pit [that] they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.  

  9:16   The LORD is known [by] the judgment [which] he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.

                                 God bless!

Christian Persecution In The 21st Century. Sabbath Afternoon. 04/25/2015

Persecution of Christians is an age old principle by which the devil through human agencies, tries to bully the followers of God into doing that which is contrary to His will. Various methods are adopted to achieve this end, and it is one of the crosses which we will have to learn to bear, even in the 21st century. One of the very great deceptions Christ warns us of in our modern era, is the introduction and promulgation of a cross-less religion, by which the followers of Jesus are exempted from any kind of persecution or self denial, and it is with very grave concern that Christ speaks to us, since this brand of Christianity has become so popular in our day.

The Bible tells us that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer some kind of persecution, in one form or another, and therefore we should not be surprised or dismayed if it were to come our way, even though we are

advised in the scriptures to do all we can to avert it, without compromising the laws and principles we for which we are to stand. But before we get into the core of the presentation there are some important points for us to remember as it pertains to bearing this type of cross.

There is no such thing as a pleasant cross, although we are encouraged to bear ours willingly, because the very concept of a cross denotes a burden that is not a person’s first preference, as was manifested in the example of Christ. When the cross of Calvary was before The Lord, as He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, He then requested of God The Father, that if another way could be found to avoid bearing it, He would be more than willing to go that route, but if not, then He would bear it for our sakes. Let’s read:

Matthew 26:38   Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 

  26:39   And he went a little farther, and fell on his face,

and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt]. 

26:42   He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 

    26:44   And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 

And later on, when the actual cross was strapped upon His shoulders, He literally collapsed under its weight, for it was obviously very heavy to bear. Now it is true that we will never be called upon to bear a cross like Christ bore for us, however, the Bible makes it clear that we will have to bear our own personal crosses, in the form of self denial or actual persecution, for the same satanic agencies that have promulgated the principles and methods  of oppression for right doing, are still at work in our day, and according to the scriptures, are scheduled to ramp up their activities in an unprecedented manner, just prior to the return of Christ in the clouds of heaven.

Hence the reason why the smooth sermons of health and wealth that have become so popular in the Christian pulpits of the day, not only do a great disservice to the very religion of Christ, but also lead millions of people down to perdition, by offering them salvation on terms that God neither recognizes or endorses. In other words, Christianity without self-denial or persecution of some kind is a farce, and can thus be described as a whimsical theology that will ultimately lead its adherents into never land, where both the concept and its subscribers will meet with the same fate as those who were outspoken opponents of God and His law.

The Lord Jesus puts it this way, that if there is no cross or persecution, or self-denial of some kind in the Christian’s life, then the person in question is not a true believer, for the Bible makes it plain that this is the norm, for all who name the name of Christ. Let’s read:

Luke 9:23   And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up  his

cross daily, and follow me.

9:26   For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and [in his] Father's, and of the holy angels. 

2nd Timothy 3:12   Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

  3:13   But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

1st Peter 4:12   Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

  4:13   But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

  4:14   If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 

    4:16   Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 

And then, that there may be no misunderstanding as to the source of all persecution of Christians, the Bible makes it clear who is the real culprit behind all of the beheadings in the Middle east, in Africa, around the globe and right here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. It is none other than satan himself, who is taking possession of the minds of people at an alarming rate, and driving them to do his bidding, while at the same time he remains hidden from view, and is relegated to the realm of the phantom, by many people who consider themselves intelligent. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:3   And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 

  12:4   And his tail drew the third part of the stars of

heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 

12:7   And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 

  12:8   And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 

  12:9   And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 

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

  12:13   And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child]. 

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

This is the reason why Christians living in the 21st century should never harbor unrealistic expectations, for as we just read, the forces of evil are ramping up their activity significantly and because of this, persecution of all kinds are scheduled to proliferate exponentially, as we draw nearer to Christ second coming. But what is worthy of note, and especially to be observed, is the fact that certain types of persecution are masqueraded under disguises that are not readily apparent, as the kinds that are practiced by certain terrorist groups.

The mass beheading of Christians as we now see on the news almost daily, is just persecution in its most brutal and gruesome form, but here in the west, Christians are suffering from a different kind of persecution, which is not readily recognizable for what it really is. Those Christians who dare to stand up for the original, God-ordained marriage institution, are often made the objects of financial and economic persecution, by which their business interests and opportunities are severely restricted, by the sudden and deliberate withdrawal of support. It is becoming more and more difficult for those who choose to live according to the word of God, to hold firm to principle and profits at the same time, and according to the book of Revelation, one will have to be let go in favor of the other, sooner or later, for it will soon be found that as Christians, we cannot serve God and Mammon. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:1   And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 

  13:2   And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 

13:6   And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 

  13:7   And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 

  13:8   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. 

  13:9   If any man have an ear, let him hear. 

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

  13:17   And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 

But financial persecution is not the only type we are suffering from in the west, for there is also ballot-box persecution, through which those leaders or politicians who embrace right principles are voted out of office, after the masses of people are incited to denigrate their stand for the right, and instead, those who choose to rail against God’s will and His law for political gain or popular support, are installed in positions of trust, and thus the devil gets his will done through the popular vote.

It was a similar circumstance which caused Pilate to sentence Christ to the most degrading and inhumane death, even though he himself confessed that Christ was indeed innocent. It was strictly for political gain and public support that Jesus was finally condemned to die. Let’s read:

John 19:4   Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

19:12   And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. 

  19:13   When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 

19:14   And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! 

  19:15   But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. 

  19:16   Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led [him] away. 

Here a direct link was made between the popular opinion and political office, for the mention of Pilate not being Caesar’s friend, if he were to release Christ, struck a very sensitive chord in Pilate, for it implied that he would be removed from his prestigious political office, if the will of the popular majority was not done. And thus, because with Pilate policy trumped principle, he went with the popular vote and sentenced Jesus to die.

Similarly in our day, the same process and method is being repeated, for there are many prominent Christians in public office, who once dared to stand up in defense of marriage, but who afterward buckled under the weight of public pressure to the contrary, and when threatened with persecution through the forfeiture of large financial contributions and votes, have decided to adopt principles and laws which they know are not right.

But The God of heaven would have us understand that we are not to be made the sport of circumstances, even if our economic privileges or public support are removed, for it is better to die doing the right, rather than to live for the moment, doing the wrong. This is what took place with the three faithful Hebrew boys, who had held public office in the ancient kingdom of Babylon, against whom tremendous political and peer pressure was brought to bear, when they decided to stand firm for principle, instead of caving in to the requests of the then popular majority.

God had throughout history warned His people of the evils of bowing down to graven images, and had made known His will in such matters so plain, that even a child could understand. Under no circumstances were the followers of God to be found bowing down to idols of wood and stone, for the practice was strictly forbidden by God’s holy law, since it had the tendency to interfere with a person’s intelligence. Let’s read:

Psalm 115:4   Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 

  115:5   They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 

  115:6   They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 

  115:7   They have hands, but they handle not: feet have

they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their

throat. 

  115:8   They that make them are like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them. 

 But in the kingdom of ancient Babylon, idolatry was incorporated into all public worship, and when the King mandated that everyone under his jurisdiction should bow to the golden image he had set up, the royal command put the Hebrew boys in a difficult position, for the mandate conflicted with what the scriptures teach, and thus they made the decision to stand firm for principle, no matter what the cost. Let’s read:

Daniel 3:1   Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 

  3:2   Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 

3:4   Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 

  3:5   [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 

  3:6   And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 

3:8   Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

3:9   They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

3:12   There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 

  3:13   Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

3:16   Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and

said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter. 

  3:17  If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. 

  3:18   But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

The timing of God’s miraculous intervention is of critical importance, for it only occurred after the three Hebrews had decided to stand firm for the right, regardless of any adverse consequences, because it is often the case that the intensity of God’s intervention in behalf of His people, is directly linked to their willingness to put all on the line in defense of truth and principle. Not until they had manifested a willingness to endure any, and all kinds of persecution for the sake of God’s law, did God intrude into the affair in a marked and mind-boggling way that arrested the plots of satanic agencies, and stopped them dead in their tracks. Let’s read:

Daniel  3:21   Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

  3:22   Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 

  3:23   And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

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

  3:25   He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 

3:26   Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 

  3:27   And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 

  3:28   [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 

3:30   Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and

Abednego,  in the province of Babylon.

The same God who delivered the three faithful Hebrews who stood firmly in defense of truth, is soon to make another terrible intrusion into the affairs of men, for it seems that we have taken His grace and mercies for granted, and have mistaken His self-restraint as license or weakness, and because of this we are digging in, in our determination to legislate evil, just as Nebuchadnezzar did in days of old. In the words of the wise man, we are headed for a spiritual cliff at lightning speed, and have erroneously thought that God is in favor of it, because He has not yet made any signal intervention. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 8:11   Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 

  8:12   Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his [days] be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 

  8:13   But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong [his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. 

But soon, God is going to take matters into His own hands, and the evils that we are now harboring and fostering on an individual and international level, will meet with severe judgments of no ordinary kind, for His intrusion will not be mixed with any mercy as in days gone by. This is the alarm bell that is now sounding in the ears of all Christians, and it is high time that we take heed. Let’s read:

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

  12:2   And many of them that sleep in the dust of the

earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to

shame [and] everlasting contempt. 

  12:3   And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 

 Psalm  50:3   Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. 

  50:4   He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 

  50:5   Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. 

  50:6   And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God [is] judge himself.

In our day, we may not be coerced to bow down to graven images of wood and stone, but there are other abstract idols that have taken center stage, and to which Christians are now being forced to bow down to, on pain of persecution. Satanic concepts, philosophies, and the institution of evils of all sorts are idols that are graven in the forge of man’s carnal nature, and when as Christians we are urged to bow down, we should resolutely resist, even though it be at great political or financial cost, for the word of God should be held in supreme and sacred regard at all times and in all places.

If as individuals and as a nation we were to return to the sound Biblical principles which governed the faithful in ages past, then God will respond in the affirmative by removing the scourge of terrorism and other evils that are costing us billions daily, and which are driving us to both spiritual and financial bankruptcy, from which we may never recover. The indiscriminate loss of life, taking place across the globe, is directly linked to the trampling of God’s laws, and thus it is with solemn pathos that the presentation ends today, with the hope that someone will hear and take note of the passages we are about to close with. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 7:13   If I shut up heaven that there be no

rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 

  7:14   If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

  7:15   Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place. 

  7:16   For now”… “mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                           God bless!

Our Continual Need Of Christ's Righteousness. Sabbath Afternoon. 04/18/2015

After the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, the wages of sin was passed on by default to all of his offspring, and thereby we were rendered incapable of pleasing God, in and of ourselves. In treating upon the subject of our continual need of Christ’s righteousness, it is necessary that we begin at this point, to clearly understand the ramifications of what took place when Adam sinned, and also what took place when Christ lived and died, in order that we might be saved from the natural results of sin.

Sin is a problem which affects us genetically, meaning that when Adam sinned all that pertained to Adam also sinned together with him, which includes his genes, his blood, his cells and all of his internal organs, thus when the natural result of sin affected him, it also affected all that pertained unto him, and in the process tainted all who would thereafter descend from him. The same principle of genetic carry over also pertains to good deeds done by the righteous, for the Bible makes this sacred truth abundantly clear. Let’s read:

Hebrews 7:9   And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 

  7:10   For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 

This past week Aaron Hernandez, the now defamed former player of the New England Patriots, was found guilty of first degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole. All that pertains to Mr. Hernandez will be taken to jail as a result, for he is an indivisible whole, and therefore his decisions and the results thereof have adversely affected everything he is comprised of.

Similarly, with a woman who is one week pregnant, but who has committed a crime worthy of death. If she is sentenced to die at that point, she will be administered the death penalty, but she will also take down her unborn child in the process, for the wages of sin affects all that pertains to her as a living, indivisible person. This is why the Bible repeatedly makes the statement that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, meaning that all of us living downstream of Adam have by default participated in His sin, and there’s nothing we can do of ourselves to fix the problem. Let’s read:

Romans 5:12   Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

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

  5:14   Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression”….

However, Christ entered our world to permanently change the imbalance created by Adam, and He did this by living a perfect life, and then offered Himself as a perfect offering for sin, so that by these two mighty accomplishments, we all can be reinstated to the favor of God in perfection, through the freedom of choice, just as though we had never sinned. This is the genius of the gospel, for it is inclusive of everyone on the planet, regardless of past history, or heinous crimes that may have been committed by persons.

 In Other words, Aaron Hernandez can choose to accept Christ as he sits in prison, and although he may never be released from the earthly jail, yet he can be freed from spiritual bondage, and be fully reinstated to God’s favor, just as if he had committed no crime. The reason for this is because by choosing Christ, we all live downstream of Him, and therefore we all participate in His perfect righteousness by default, just as we participated in Adam’s sin by default, because we lived downstream of him.

This is the grand, central truth of righteousness by faith in Christ Jesus, which to a great extent has been lost upon the Christian world for one or more reasons. In order that we might be saved eternally in God’s kingdom, we will have to continue to live downstream of Christ and His righteousness, so that it can be continually imputed and imparted to those who are found in Him.

However, it is very important for us to remember that when Christ is accepted into our lives, the process and progress of change takes place throughout our lifetime, and it is true that because of our naturally fallen natures, we do continue to grapple with latent tendencies and desires that are lodged in the very fibers of our being. In the book of Romans the apostle Paul describes some of the internal struggles we have to deal with, both before  and after conversion. Let’s read:

Romans 7:15   For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 

  7:16   If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good. 

  7:17   Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

  7:18   For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. 

  7:19   For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 

  7:20   Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

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

Controversy over this passage of scripture has raged for years, with some theologians arguing that Paul must be speaking of an unconverted person, whilst others believe he is referring to the ongoing struggles of the Christian. The fact is that it matters not, for we need Christ and His righteousness, both before and after conversion, on an ongoing basis for the rest of our lives. The Bible refers to this need as an integral part of our Christian experience, meaning that at every stage of development and growth, Christ and His righteousness must be essentially involved.

In several passages of scripture we are described as sheep or as plants, and sometimes as branches, all of which need the essentials of water, sunshine, and other nutrients gleaned from the soil, in order that continual growth may take place. There is no point in the life of a tree in which these essentials can be dispensed with, for death and decay will ultimately take place.

Similarly with all of our modern electronic gadgets, light bulbs, or appliances, which must all remain plugged in to their respective source of power, whether it be batteries or ac outlets, in order for them to operate on a continual basis. The same is true of our Christian experience, for we must remain plugged in to the source of our power, which is Christ, in order that continual growth and operation can take place.

However, there are certain issues that should be clearly understood when studying the ongoing need of Christ’s

 righteousness in our lives. The Bible tells us that there is none that doeth good, no not one. This passage is sometimes taken to extremes to mean that no acts of kindness or goodness can be performed by those who are not directly attached to Christ through a covenant relationship with Him. But this is not the case, for there are many people of other religions who practice habitual hospitality as a part of their culture, and atheists have also been known to give their neighbors a loaf of bread, or have otherwise helped in significant ways, when man-made or natural disasters strike.

What the scriptures teach is that these acts of kindness and goodness cannot stand before God on their own merit, to recommend us to His favor, for they all come tainted with sin on account of our fallen nature, and therefore it is impossible for them to be acceptable to God apart from Christ, for God can only accept works that are entirely perfect, hence the reason why we are accepted in the Beloved, and not on any other terms, whether they be sincere or not. Let’s read:

Ephesians 1:3   Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: 

  1:4   According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

    1:6   To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

  1:7   In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

The same theme of our continued dependence on Christ and His righteousness, is again reiterated in the book of Romans, in which Paul certifies that a person who is carnal in nature, meaning that he or she is still living downstream of Adam, cannot please God. But the issue is expanded, and also applies to those of us as Christians who have sincerely accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, but who try to do good independent of His power and perfect righteousness.

Romans 8:5   For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the

things of the Spirit. 

  8:6   For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 

  8:7   Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

  8:8   So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

This message of the necessity of Christ’s righteousness on an ongoing basis is particularly relevant to the church of Laodicea, the last Christian church to exist on the earth before Christ comes. In the book of revelation, a very serious warning is given to Christians living in our generation, because of the tendency to live apart from Christ and His righteousness, on account of the spiritual advantages, and knowledge of the scriptures which is often boasted of. Our knowledge of the scriptures cannot save us, without a vital connection to Jesus, and there is no point in our Christian experience at which we can dispense with His righteousness. As a matter of fact, one of the worst and most frustrating things Christians can do is to try to do the right thing without depending on the indwelling power of God. Let’s read:

Revelation 3:14   And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 

  3:15   I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 

    3:17   Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

  3:18   I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

  3:19   As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

This assessment as coming from Christ Himself, speaks to a church that has become self-sufficient in nature, because of the spiritual advantages granted it. But The Lord would have us understand that without the ongoing presence and power of Jesus in our lives from day to day, the old man of sin will resurface at some opportune moment, with a vengeance, and cause us to say and do things that will surprise even ourselves.

This is what took place with David who walked closely with God during the earlier years of his life experiences, but after a while began to slack off in his daily seeking after God when he became comfortable and complacent. As Christians we cannot run on automatic without Jesus, and David found this out the hard way, when the old man of sin resurfaced with carnal desires and evil thoughts, which David had supposed he had gotten rid of in times past. But yesterday’s victories will not atone for today’s failures, and when satan presented the dazzling allure of temptation, David’s defense was gone, even though he was not aware of it.

It was afterward that David realized that in order for him to be victorious each day, he must remain plugged in to the source of Power every moment of the day, and it was in his deeply reflective and remorseful state of mind that he penned the following verses. Let’s read:

Psalms 19:12   Who can understand [his] errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults]. 

  19:13   Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 

  19:14   Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 51:1   A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 

  51:2   Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 

  51:3   For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before me. 

    51:5   Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 

  51:10   Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

It is therefore of critical importance that we avoid the two most common extremes in our understanding of the need of Christ’s righteousness. One extreme teaches its adherents that because Christ is the second Adam, and we live downstream of Him, then it does not matter what we do or say for we are accepted in the Beloved. This is one of the most detrimental sophistries of satan that was ever introduced to mortals, for Adam fell through the freedom of choice, and even though we as Christians participate in the perfect righteousness of Christ, yet we can also choose to live outside of His revealed will, for salvation is not based on coercion, but rather on our free will.

This first extreme manifests itself in a callous disregard for the commandments of God, with the false doctrine of the moral law being nailed to the Cross, now in wide circulation in Christian circles. The righteousness of Christ which God gives to us as a free gift, requires compliance to His law of ten commandments, which form the basis of His government, and therefore any claim that a person lives downstream of Christ, whilst deliberately trampling upon His law, is a fatal deception, and will be bitterly disappointed when the glory of Christ will be revealed. This sacred truth is confirmed in the scriptures, with the intent that there may be no delusion as to what Christ’s righteousness really covers. Let’s read:

Matthew 19:16   And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 

  19:17   And he said unto him”… “ if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 

  19:18   He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 

  19:19   Honour thy father and [thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  John 14:15   If ye love me, keep my commandments.

 Acts  5:30   The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 

  5:31   Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 

  5:32   And we are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 

1st John 2:3   And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 

  2:4   He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 

  2:5   But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 

  2:6   He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 

Question: How did Jesus walk? The scriptures tell us in no uncertain terms. Let’s read:

15:10   If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

And in the very last chapter in the last book of the Bible, as Christ is wrapping up the entire canon of scripture, He again reiterates the need for compliance with His law of Ten Commandments, for as stated before, Christ’s righteousness is never to be used as a cloak or umbrella to cover deliberate sin. This extreme concept is nowhere rooted in the scriptures, and should be utterly forsaken and dispensed with, by those of us who truly desire participation in God’s saving grace. Let’s read:

Revelation 22:12   And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 

    22:14   Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 

  22:15   For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 

The next extreme in thought which must also be avoided, is the tendency to believe that compliance with God’s law warrants us a place in His kingdom, and that good works are in and of themselves meritorious. While we are enjoined in the scriptures to keep God’s sacred law, yet we should never be deceived into thinking that they can earn us a place in God’s kingdom. Adam’s sin, together with the accompanying results and dire penalties were bequeathed to us as a gift, albeit a bad one, and similarly, the perfect righteousness of Christ is bequeathed to us as a free gift, never to be earned or merited, even by the most pious saint. Let’s read:

Romans 5:17   For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 

  5:18   Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life. 

  5:19   For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 

Thus the message to the Laodicean church comes down to us in our day, and cautions us not to put our focus or our confidence in good works and charitable deeds, even though they form a part of God’s greater plan to save us. In the final analysis, there are millions of apparently good people who will be lost, simply because they trusted to their own good works as a means of salvation. Amongst those will be very good citizens who may have made great contributions to science and society as a whole, and who may have served their country honorably in the military. Then there will be those who maintained a perfect credit score, and always paid their bills on time.

Then there will be some others who were animal rights activists, and who spent their entire lives protecting the rights and lives of pets, and who saved hundreds of abandoned puppies and kittens. Then there will be those who spent all their energies protecting the environment from companies that polluted God’s air, and who, because of their relentless efforts have succeeded in reducing the world’s green house gases, from the dangerous levels they are currently at.

While all of these and other charitable works are good in their legitimate sphere, yet they cannot change the genetic problem of carryover sin, and without the perfect righteousness of Christ to take up the slack, they would signally fail to earn those who depend on them, a place

in the kingdom of God.

A good, balanced understanding of our continual need of Christ’s perfect righteousness will move us to comply with His moral law, and the sacred principles for which it stands, while at the same time focusing our hopes and aspirations in Christ’s righteousness, with the clear understanding that it is His perfection which renders us eternally acceptable to God. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms this very point, and it is the will of God that Christ be ever kept before our faces, as the be all, and end all of anything pertaining to perfect righteousness. Let’s read:

 Philippians 3:7   But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

  3:8   Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, 

  3:9   And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

  3:10   That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings”….

  3:11   If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. 

                          God bless!

The Intelligent Third Person Of The God-head. sabbath Afternoon 04/11/2015

In all of our studies of scriptural doctrines, formats and correct methods of doing things, it is very important for us to remember that the Third Person of the God-head is not a doctrine or a teaching, but a Living and Intelligent Person who makes His decisions based on what is necessary to fulfill God’s will in the salvation of men. The loud cry of Revelation chapter 14, represents God’s last great effort to save as many as would be saved, and with this mandate in mind, The Holy Spirit will do whatsoever it takes to maximize the sacred investment in human beings, made at the Cross through Jesus Christ.

This is what motivates The Third Person of The God-Head and therefore whatsoever He deems necessary to have this mission accomplished, that He will do, whether we are prepared to understand His working or not. It is therefore of critical importance for us to study closely,

His manner of doing things, especially as it pertains to the last great outpouring of the latter rain, for we need to be in line with His methods, which are not governed by set guidelines in some manual somewhere, but are rather based on the Intelligence of the moment, and nothing else.

After the outpouring of the early rain on the day of Pentecost, certain developments began to take place within the newly formed body of believers, and these issues should be of grave concern to any student of the Bible who follows the movements of The Holy Ghost. A disturbance arose which threatened the new church with division over the doctrine of circumcision, which was given as a command directly by God to His people, the Hebrews, and to any male who desired to be affiliated with the covenant relationship with God.

The stipulation to be circumcised was given with such clarity and sternness that a violation of the rite was deemed serious enough to carry the death penalty, and

as such was regarded as most sacred by the Hebrew people. The injunction included all male Jews, and any male gentile stranger that was home born, or birthed outside of the Hebrew economy, for it made no difference and absolutely no exceptions, to any male who desired a covenant relationship with God. Let’s read:

Genesis 17:9   And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 

  17:10   This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 

  17:11   And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. 

  17:12   And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which [is] not of thy seed. 

  17:13   He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 

  17:14   And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

That there may be no misgivings as to the seriousness of this rite, God made it known in no uncertain terms, what He meant when He says  “That soul shall be cut off” who has broken my covenant. When Moses avoided the rite of circumcision on his son, the angel of God appeared to him with a sword drawn in his hand and threatened to slay him, who then realized the gravity of what he had done, and then his wife made haste to fulfill that which was due.

The rite of circumcision was so serious that even John the Baptist who was preloaded with The Holy Ghost before he was born, had to have the procedure completed on the eighth day, just as it took place with all Hebrew males hundreds of years before, for nothing had changed. And even Jesus, who was also filled with The Holy Ghost before he was born, had to have the rite of circumcision administered, just as stipulated when God first introduced it to Abraham. Let’s read:

Luke 1:11   And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 

    1:13   But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 

    1:15   For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

1:41   And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 

  1:42   And she spake out with a loud voice, and said,

 Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the

fruit of thy womb. 

  1:43   And whence [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

  1:44   For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for

joy. 

1:57   Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 

    1:59   And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child”…

Luke 2:21   And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Now, after the outpouring of The Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, Peter was instructed by God to start baptizing the gentiles without administering the rite of circumcision, and this instruction was given to Peter privately, long before the greater body of believers had come together to discuss the matter, and had come to a general decision on such an important issue.

What is worthy of note is that Saul, who later became Paul, was actively hunting down Christians, and bringing them to be slaughtered, when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, gave him a new charge, and sent him away into the deserts of Arabia where he received specific instructions from God, which also included the removal of the rite of circumcision as a prerequisite when baptizing the gentiles, and this revelation took place privately between Christ and Paul, before the church body gets wind of what was taking place.

This movement by The Holy Ghost should disturb any serious student of the Bible, for it shows that He is willing and able to operate outside the boundaries of human expectations, which may be based on very real scriptural stipulations, for in the final analysis, The third Person of The God-head, is not a doctrine or a belief, but rather an intelligent Person who is vested with singular authority to correctly interpret the scriptures which were written under His direct inspiration. In other words, what He was saying to Peter, Paul, and the other Jewish converts, is that whatever might have been their interpretation of scriptural guidelines, the buck stops with The Holy Ghost, and He will indeed have the last word. Let’s read:

  Acts 10:9   On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 

  10:10   And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 

  10:11   And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 

  10:12   Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 

  10:13   And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 

  10:14   But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 

  10:15   And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common. 

  10:16   This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 

  10:17   Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 

10:19   While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 

  10:20   Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 

10:24   And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 

    10:27   And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 

  10:28   And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 

  10:29   Therefore came I [unto you] without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 

The very same thing The Holy Ghost cautioned Peter about is the very same issue he raises in his first words to Cornelius, and the large gathering of friends and family, who were ready to be baptized, even though Peter had not yet understood the full import of The Spirit’s words, “What God hath cleansed” and so he proceeds with the church format that he has studied for years, and begins preaching. Now The Intelligent Third Person of The God head is standing by waiting, but He cannot wait forever for Peter and his fellows to get it, so He moves ahead and does what He would not normally do under different circumstances, and He falls upon Cornelius and the entire assembly and they begin to speak in tongues. Note the next few verses of scripture, for they sound alarm bells down to our generation. Let’s read:

Acts 10:44   While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 

  10:45   And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

  10:46   For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

The obvious reason for their astonishment is that the rite of circumcision which had formerly carried the death penalty for violation was now done away with, and what is even more disturbing is that there is not one single verse or prophecy in the old Testament which says implicitly that it would be done away with, especially since both Jesus and John the Baptist were circumcised. And so, Peter and Paul start baptizing the gentiles into the newly formed Christian church, long before the general assembly of believers hear of any such tectonic change, a very disturbing occurrence indeed. Let’s read:

Acts 15:1   And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 

  15:2   When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 

  15:3   And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 

  15:4   And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and [of] the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 

  15:5   But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses. 

  15:6   And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 

  15:7   And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men [and] brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 

  15:8   And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as [he did] unto us; 

The reason why there was much argument is because Peter and Paul were doing that for which in the minds of the church leaders, they had no scriptural authority, but when the argument gets really heated, James then remembers that there is actually a scriptural basis for the movements of The Holy Ghost, and he now quotes the scripture which is brought to his mind by the Intelligent Third Person of The God-Head. Let’s read:

Acts 15:15   And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 

  15:16   After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 

  15:17   That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Now there is nothing in these verses which explicitly state that the rite of circumcision as a prerequisite will be abolished, and since The Holy Ghost is always right, then it behooves every serious student of the Bible to take note and understand the grave import of what had taken place. This must be done in the context of the verdict given, which includes the supreme intelligence of The Spirit of God, which trumps all other interpretations and ideas of scriptural formats, even those that are held dear to us for many years. Let’s read:

Acts 15:28   For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 

  15:29   That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 

And that’s the end of the story folks, with The Intelligent Third Person of The God-Head having the last and final word on the matter. Last week there was intense debate about the ordination of women in various capacities, which indeed has caused much back and forth between those who agree and those who differ. Whilst we are not going to belabor that scriptural teaching, yet it is very important for us to make allowance for the intelligence of The Holy Ghost, who as clearly shown, is willing and able to operate outside the box of what we have

believed and followed diligently for many, many years.

In response to the valid concerns raised last week by sincere  believers, we went into prayer concerning the matter, and the answer from God consists of two simple words, be careful, be very careful. Furthermore, because statements coming from the servant of the Lord were cited by some, we are instructed to do what we would not normally do, for God in His wisdom has led us to take all of our references from the scriptures alone. But for the benefit of our online listeners and friends, some of whom are living in war torn countries, where it is quite dangerous to be called a Christian, we will now put up on the screen, pertinent statements from the servant of The Lord, which directly address the second outpouring of The Holy Ghost in the last days of earth’s history, which is better known as the latter rain. Let’s read:

Laborers Qualified by the Holy Spirit

 In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. .. God will work a work in our day that but few

 anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions. These facilities are not to be despised or condemned; they are ordained of God, but they can furnish only the exterior qualifications. God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals.--5T 80, 82 (1882).  {LDE 204.3}

Children are impelled by the Spirit to go forth and declare the message from heaven. The Spirit is poured out upon all who will yield to its promptings and, casting off all man's machinery, his binding rules and cautious methods, they will declare the truth with the might of the Spirit's power.--Ev 700 (1895).  {LDE 206.2}

     When the heavenly intelligences see that men will no longer present the truth in simplicity as did Jesus, the very children will be moved upon by the Spirit of

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God and will go forth proclaiming the truth for this time.--SW 66 (1895).

     To souls that are earnestly seeking for light and that accept with gladness every ray of divine illumination from His holy Word, to such alone light will be given. It is through these souls that God will reveal that light and power which will lighten the whole earth with His glory.--5T 729 (1889).  {LDE 205.1}

There is to be in the [Seventh-day Adventist] churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance. In the

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manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations they will oppose the work. "Why," they say, "should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?"--RH

Extra, Dec. 23, 1890.  {LDE 209.3}

And the last caution we will end with, addresses the various valid concerns that we may have, and directs us to study very carefully, the movements of The Spirit of God on the day of Pentecost and thereafter, so that we too may be instructed and prepared for the last great outpouring of the latter rain. Let’s read:

 Let those who desire to be refreshed in mind and instructed in the truth study the history of the early church during and immediately following the Day of Pentecost. Study carefully in the book of Acts the experiences of Paul and the other apostles, for God's people in our day must pass through similar experiences.--PC 118 (1907).  {LDE 148.1}

May God add His blessing to the study of His word!

God's Established Order For The Family. Sabbath Afternoon. 04/04/2015

In the beginning when God created man upon the earth, He established an order, or a set pattern for all future families of earth to follow, a godly pattern, which when adopted and followed closely, would form the building blocks of a strong, durable, and well balanced society, once the first two parents should walk in obedience to the stipulated order. Adam was created first, and after God brought all of the lower animals to be named by him, he intelligently observed that something was missing in his life, because he saw that all of the animals had a help meet, but he had none.

Thus after God caused intelligent desire to be awakened in Adam’s mind, He put him to sleep and performed the world’s first surgery, by making an incision in his body and removing one of his ribs, and from this single bone, woman was made. But even though Eve was created after Adam had been on the scene, The Lord ordained

that they both should stand shoulder to shoulder in the administration of the dominion that was given them as stewards of the entire earth, meaning that collaboration and joint decision making should characterize their relationship with one another. 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. 

  1:28   And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

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

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

  2:23   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. 

Genesis 5:1   This [is] the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 

  5:2   Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. 

However, there are certain things that must be observed in the rapid fall of the human race, because the situation which developed in the garden of Eden, between the cunning serpent and our first parents, prepare the stage for what was to follow next, for in the wisdom of God He saw it necessary to make certain adjustments that He deemed necessary for the continual cohesiveness of the family unit. It is worthy of note that the serpent never ever addressed Adam directly, for he would have most likely been detected in his guise, and therefore the devil

awaited an opportune moment when Eve would be isolated from her husband, so that he could introduce his temptations to her with the least possible resistance.

From the sacred record we learn the sad truth that he was indeed successful, and then used Eve as the human agency in taking down Adam. This pattern satan has followed ever since, and with alarming success, for he often operates covertly through wives to destabilize their husbands, a sobering truth that can be traced in the history of patriarchs and prophets alike. It was Sarah who came up with the “brilliant” idea to have her handmaid have sex with her husband, and Abraham succumbed to the temptation, since he thought it wasn’t a bad idea after all. From this one, singular act we have the never-ending disturbances in the Middle East today, where both Jews and Arabs claim Abraham as their father. Let’s read:

  Genesis 16:2   And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now,the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray

thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 

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

  16:4   And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 

  16:5   And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong [be] upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee. 

Then we have Rachel, who suggested to her son Jacob, that he deceive his father Isaac, in order to obtain the promised birthright, which would have been given him anyway, at the appointed time of God’s choosing. She then went about to practice fraud behind her husband’s back, and sewed the skins of sheep and goats together in order to carry out the scheme. However, the result of her suggestion almost cost Jacob his life, and it was the cause of their permanent separation, for she saw the face of her favorite son no more until the day that she died. Let’s read:

Genesis 27:6   And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 

  27:7   Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. 

  27:8   Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. 

  27:9   Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: 

  27:10   And thou shalt bring [it] to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. 

  27:11   And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother [is] a hairy man, and I [am] a smooth man: 

  27:12   My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. 

  27:13   And his mother said unto him, Upon me [be] thy

curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me [them]. 

  27:14   And he went, and fetched, and brought [them] to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. 

27:15   And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which [were] with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: 

  27:16   And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: 

  27:17   And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 

Then we have Jezebel, who acted as a double agent on behalf of satan, and who stirred up her husband Ahab to commit evil and gross idolatry and outright murder in the sight of God and man, by suggesting that there were alternative methods for obtaining the coveted vineyard of Naboth. It was Jezebel who took the lead in this crime, and who used the imperial stamp of the king behind his back, in order to authorize the slaying of Naboth. Let’s read:

1st Kings 21:2   And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it [is] near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; [or], if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. 

  21:3   And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. 

  21:4   And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. 

  21:5   But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 

  21:6   And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee [another] vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. 

  21:7   And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, [and] eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. 

21:8   So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed [them] with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that [were] in his city, dwelling with Naboth. 

  21:9   And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 

  21:10   And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And [then] carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 

21:15   And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.

Moses too almost suffered a premature death, because his wife did not agree with the rite of circumcision, for in her mind, and in the mind of the “humane” society back then, it was an unreasonable and bloody requirement by the God of heaven, and so she also was instrumental in getting Moses to disregard what The Lord had specifically enjoined upon all Hebrew males. The decision to go along with his wife in disobeying God’s commands almost cost him is life, and it was only when faced with imminent danger that she unwillingly submitted to the requirement of God, albeit with a verbal remonstrance on her part. Let’s read:

Exodus 4:19   And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. 

4:24   And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 

  4:25   Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast [it] at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband [art] thou to me. 

  4:26   So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband [thou art], because of the circumcision. 

It was for all of these foreseeable reasons why The Lord saw fit to appoint the man as the head of the household after our first parents fell, for someone would have to take the lead in administrating the family, which forms the essential building blocks of society. It is worthy of note that after Adam and Eve fell into sin, The Lord did not call Eve first, and as a matter of fact, the order in which He addressed all those who were involved in the first transgression, says much about the order that was to be implemented from this point onward. Let’s read:

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

  3:10   And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I [was] naked; and I hid myself. 

  3:11   And he said, Who told thee that thou [wast] naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 

  3:12   And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 

  3:13   And the LORD God said unto the woman, What [is] this [that] thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 

  3:14   And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou [art] cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 

Genesis 3:16   Unto the woman he said”….. “in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 

This passage of scripture given in verse sixteen of Genesis chapter three has been a point of contention by both men and women alike, and there are millions of women who have deeply resented the order God saw fit to establish after the fall of man. And throughout the history of the world there has been a steady effort on the part of satan to reverse this order, and to a great extent he has been successful, for man now sits at the bottom of the social food chain, with animals taking precedence over man, children next, women in third position, and men at the very bottom of the social totem pole. This is a complete and direct reversal of God’s established order where the man was placed at the head, women next, children in third position, and dumb animals last.

However, it is a well-documented fact that in many cases, the actions of men have been catalysts in bringing about the reversal of God’s established order, for the position of authority has indeed been abused in very many cases, thus leading women to resent the God-ordained position of man. Therefore there are some urgent issues that must be addressed objectively in order to remedy the situation of increased divorces and separations that have now become the order of the day.

One of the more prominent sticking points in the order of the family is that of arbitrary rule, a matter that has inherent problems in different societies of the world. The order that God has established was designed for an imperfect world, and by default will of necessity come with both pluses and minuses. But even in these not so ideal situations, God has ordained that certain vital principles be followed. For instance, in the setting up of governments, God has clearly stipulated that we as Christians should abide by the laws of the land, whether we agree with them or not, once they do not force us to violate the direct commandments of God.

This command to obey secular authorities will obviously sometimes put us at odds with what the government thinks is reasonable, and what we ourselves think is reasonable. For instance there are what some would describe as pretty dumb laws on the books, and yet the secular, God ordained authorities expect us to comply, and as Christians we should, even though we may not agree with them in our minds. Let’s read:

Since the 1960s, the city has banned people from parking their pickup trucks in their driveways or on city streets from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

After Aug. 8, 2011 Coral Gables will start issuing tickets to people who violate the parking ban. The first violation will cost $100.

 (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, or give away in the city baby chickens, ducklings or other fowl under four (4) weeks of age, or rabbits under eight (8) weeks of age, to be used as pets, toys or retail.

It is also illegal in some places to hang clothes out to dry in the open air, for this constitutes a violation of state law where applicable.

Now the Bible is crystal clear as it pertains to the duty of Christians who are living within the jurisdiction of the county or state where laws that we do not agree with are in force. We are to abide by them if the county insists, and we are not to have an attitude whilst doing so, because the requirement of obedience does not come merely from man, it comes from God Himself. Let’s read:

Romans 13:1   Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 

  13:2   Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 

    13:4   For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil. 

  13:5   Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 

  13:6   For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 

  13:7   Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 

In like manner, there will be times in the administration of the family where the wife or the children do not agree with the requests of the father, for in their judgment the laws of the household may seem arbitrary. For instance, in some Christian homes there is a 10 o’clock curfew for kids and teenagers, and some of them might deeply resent this, while in other homes the threshold may be 11 or twelve o’clock as the parents see fit. Now while it is true that the safety and wellbeing of our children should be the guiding principle in matters such as these, yet the main issue of concern is obedience to the God ordained authority of both parents, and if for any reason there is a disagreement between the Christian husband and his wife, as to the time when the children should come home, then the father should have the last word, if a compromise cannot be reached.

This format and principle is set forth in the Bible that there may be no misunderstanding of what God’s will is, as it relates to such matters. Let’s read:

Ephesians 5:22   Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 

  5:23   For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 

  5:24   Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing. 

And husbands are not to be let off the hook either, for we are commanded to love our wives, just as Christ loves His church, meaning that we should be willing to die doing the right thing, in order to save our wives. The eternal salvation of one’s wife has a lot to do with the husband, and therefore no means should be spared in making the necessary reasonable adjustments to facilitate a good working relationship between the two. Let’s read:

Ephesians 5:25   Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 

  5:26   That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

  5:27   That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

  5:28   So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 

  5:29   For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.

The warmth and affection that should exist between husbands and wives, and their respective families is greatly compromised whenever the God-ordained order is disturbed. Husbands are to love their wives, but never to the point where they will be led to surrender their position as head of the household, and wives are to submit themselves to their husbands in the Lord, but never to the point where they are forced to surrender the truth or godly principles, just to be in harmony with the head of the home. And Children are required to render obedience to both parents, even if their own ideas conflict with the parent’s wishes. When most of us were younger, some of the rules of our parent’s home seemed unreasonable, but this was never permitted as an excuse to disregard their God ordained authority. Let’s read:

Ephesians 6:1   Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 

  6:2   Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 

  6:3   That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

The same principle holds true when we become married, when we may deem some requirements of the household head to be arbitrary; this also is no excuse for turning our backs on the scriptural order, for the issue of obedience carries with it, far more weighty consequences than many Christians realize. In the very near future when we are hedged in with dangers on every side, the disposition to obey will play a very crucial role in our survival, for if we have cultivated the disposition to disregard God ordained authority, we will also disobey His voice at a critical time when implicit obedience is needed to shield us from the onslaughts of the enemy, in order to save us from certain death.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which enjoins Christians to submit ourselves in humility to God’s ordained order, for it will go a long way in promoting the health, peace, and happiness, which seems to evade so many households. Let’s read:

Ephesians  5:30   For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

  5:31   For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 

  5:32   This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 

  5:33   Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife [see] that she reverence [her] husband. 

May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.

                                          God bless!

Supernatural Forces At work In The 21st Century. Sabbath Afternoon 03/28/2015

Since the fall of man there have been two opposing forces at work on our planet, one originates with God, and the other originates with satan, and throughout the history of the world, with the rise and fall of kingdoms and nations, these two supernatural forces have been at war over the domain of the human heart, a conflict in which every person is of necessity involved. Many of this world’s intellectuals have dismissed with disdain the thought that there are good and evil angels interacting with us daily, even though the Bible specifically states that this is indeed the case. Let’s read:

Hebrews 1:6   And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 

  1:7   And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels

 spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

1:14   Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? 

Luke 2:9   And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

  2:10   And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people

2:13   And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 

  2:14   Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

These holy angels, as stated in the book of Hebrews are the invisible agents of God upon the earth, and they do interact with real people on a daily basis, guiding persons to Christ, and protecting the children of God from the malice of the evil one. Even though many people do not know it, holy angels have been present in the common assemblies of men, at political rallies, at amusement parks, and in the courts across the land, but we are not aware of their presence for they are masked as regular folk. This sacred truth is stated hundreds of times in the scriptures. Let’s read:

Genesis 18:1   And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 

  18:2   And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 

  18:3   And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 

  18:4   Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 

  18:5   And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. 

  18:6   And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead [it], and make cakes upon the hearth. 

  18:7   And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave [it] unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. 

  18:8   And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set [it] before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Genesis 19:1   And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing [them] rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 

  19:2   And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. 

  19:3   And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. 

  19:4   But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 

  19:5   And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where [are] the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

As the children of God go about their daily duties, these mighty angels attend us on our way, and they keep their watch over us 24/7, so that if we were to fall into any difficulty suddenly, or if we were about to stumble into one of the many snares laid for our feet, they are right there to deliver and guide us into safe paths. When the Bible states that angels of God encamp around His people continually, it must be taken literally, for were it not for their unceasing ministry, every human being would have long since been destroyed, including those

who are avowed followers of the enemy. Let’s read:

Psalm 34:6   This poor man cried, and the LORD heard [him], and saved him out of all his troubles. 

  34:7   The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 

  34:8   O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him. 

However, the Bible also brings to light the sobering truth that there are millions of evil angels also roaming the planet, searching for opportune moments to destroy the lives and properties of anyone who is not especially guarded by God, hence the reason why as we get closer to the end of time, and unexplainable calamities begin to escalate dramatically, those skeptics who had formerly mocked at the idea of a devil, will be forced to rethink their philosophies, for things of a supernatural character will force them to the negotiating table.

The fact that a very real devil often makes forays into the human experience, is well documented in the scriptures, and before we search for answers to the many problems that are now arising out of apparently nowhere, we will need to take a closer look at the real agencies behind many of the unexplainable events that are happening in quick succession. First of all, let’s establish a few of the pertinent facts about the notorious work of evil angels in the world. (1) They can cause destruction when permitted. Let’s read:

Job 1:8   And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 

  1:9   Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 

  1:10   Hast not thou made an 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. 

  1:11   But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 

  1:12   And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 

1:13   And there was a day when his sons and his daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 

  1:14   And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 

  1:15   And the Sabeans fell [upon them], and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

(2) They can, and do cause sickness and diseases, a fact that is generally thrown out as fictitious, but one which is currently impacting our world in very negative ways, and which in the not too distant future, is scheduled to escalate at an alarming rate. Even now their work is being made manifest in dramatic ways, but the secular world generally attributes it to scientific causes, whilst the real unseen agencies mock at our so-called analysis and discoveries.

The Bible teaches us that the devil is the prince of the power of the air, and therefore he can, and does initiate hurricanes and deadly tornadoes, whenever he is given permission to do as he pleases. But we chalk it all up to global warming or other scientific factors, while the devil and his evil angels laugh at our touted intelligence. Let’s read:

Ephesians 2:1  And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins: 

  2:2   Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

 Job 1:18   While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 

  1:19   And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 

(3) Evil angels can bring a person’s will under their direct control and force them to do the unthinkable by remote control. This often takes place when an individual or a nation deliberately chooses to do evil over an extended period of time, and thus with every indulgence and every decision in their favor, the evil angels bring their power to bear more directly and forcefully upon the person’s mind, until finally they automatically do satan’s bidding, even if they disagree with what he has stipulated. The fact that the enemy of souls can override a person’s will, intelligence, and choice is no laughing matter, for it will explain what recently took place in France. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 2:24   And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, 

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

  2:26   And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 

One of the great misconceptions harbored, especially in our day is the erroneous idea that a person can maintain complete control of their minds, apart from, and totally independent of Christ. Another error that abounds in philosophical circles is that every manifestation of mass murderers, and terrorist groups is the direct result of a theological belief, a medical condition, or the abuse of drugs and other banned substances.

Whilst it is true that these factors can play a role in influencing persons to do great harm to themselves and others, yet we must not forget that a completely normal person, outside of Christ, is capable of doing the very same things, when driven to do so at the beck and call of the enemy. This cold truth raises the bar much higher, for it takes the problem out of the hands of the medical and scientific communities, and rests it squarely in the arena of the spiritual.

 Judas did not do any drugs, neither was he suffering from any known medical condition. He was not drunk, or schizophrenic as is often claimed when a person seeks to harm others and themselves. Judas was what most of us  would refer to as a completely normal person, with an executive job as the treasurer of a thriving organization, complete with his briefcase, suit and tie. The only known problem, and one that is almost never brought into the equation, is that he wanted to have his own way, and was motivated by an inordinate craving for money, a very common occurrence in the world of capitalism. This is all that was needed for satan to take full control of his mind, and drive him by remote control to sell Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, and then to commit suicide. Let’s read:

John 13:27   And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 

  13:28   Now no man at the table knew for what intent

he spake this unto him.

  13:29   For some [of them] thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy [those things] that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. 

13:30   He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

When The Bible says that Judas went out “Immediately” after being fully taken over by the devil, it means that from this point forward, the enemy will have full control of his mind, and Judas will be forced to do his bidding, whether he likes it or not. This sobering truth raises the prospect that currently, there are millions of apparently normal people who are fully possessed by satan and they know it not, and so it is only a matter of time, and at an opportune moment that he will bring the full force of his power to bear directly upon them, thus driving them to commit unimaginable acts of violence or depravity, out of the apparent blue.

Many people choose to laugh or scoff at what the Bible explicitly states on these matters, but their laughter will soon come to a halt when it is finally realized that we are under the control of one of two masters, and that our individual choices determine who that master will be. The same spirit that possesses the minds of terrorists and suicide bombers to do the unthinkable, is the same spirit that drove the copilot to do what he did, the difference is that one happens in the air, whilst the other happens on the earth. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 18:10   And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit”.. “came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and [there was] a javelin in Saul's hand. 

  18:11   And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall [with it]. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

1st Samuel 19:9   And the evil spirit”… “was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with [his] hand. 

  19:10   And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. 

  19:11   Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning”

The thought to slay other people or oneself, originates with satan, and the act is just the end product of what they were moved to do. The co-pilot on the German wings flight may have had medical issues or may have been suffering with depression, but the idea, and the decision to deliberately accelerate the jet at full throttle, to slam it into the mountains, originated with satan, and then the human agent just carried out his bidding. Sooner or later the world will have to face this stern, cold truth, and the remedies that are given in the scriptures will need to be closely investigated. Let’s read:

  John 8:38   I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 

  8:39   They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 

  8:40   But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 

  8:41   Ye do the deeds of your father.

8:44 “And the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

(4) Evil angels can, and do override instinct, the formula by which the lower animals operate. All animals and creeping things instinctively avoid danger and their very nature recoils at the prospect of imminent death. Thus every effort to avert calamity will be naturally made on

 their part when they realize they are in harm’s way.

 We see it demonstrated on the news whenever there is a wild fire, for the untamed animals of the forest do not at this time prey on each other, because their instincts tell them that there is something much more urgent to be addressed, other than seeking for food, and so the wildest as well as the most docile of creatures will stand shoulder to shoulder together with one another when facing imminent danger, for instinct drives them to act in this way. But according to the scriptures, evil angels can also override their instinctive nature by taking full possession of them, and can drive dumb animals to do the unthinkable, just as occurs with human beings.  Let’s read:

Mark 5:1   And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 

  5:2   And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 

  5:3   Who had [his] dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 

  5:4   Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any [man] tame him. 

  5:5   And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 

  5:6   But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and

worshipped him, 

  5:7   And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 

  5:8   For he said unto him, Come out of the man, [thou] unclean spirit. 

  5:9   And he asked him, What [is] thy name? And he answered, saying, My name [is] Legion: for we are many. 

  5:10   And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 

5:11   Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 

  5:12   And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 

  5:13   And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

This Bible study seeks to highlight the enormity of the problem the world is now facing, and it will also show the only means whereby the power of satan can ever be contained. In the previous verses we see where the legion of evil spirits, numbering anywhere from six to twelve thousand had to ask Christ’s permission first, before causing havoc and loss to the swine and their owners respectively.

This then tells us that there is only one Being in the universe that they must respect and fear, and that’s none other than The Lord Jesus Christ, hence the reason why Daniel describes those who have The Son, as being wise, for accepting Jesus as Lord and savior of our lives is not only the right thing to do, it is also the most and best intelligent choice we can ever make.

But of particular interest is the next example of your average Jane Doe, someone who like the co-pilot of the doomed flight of German wings seems to be pretty decent, and has her ducks all in a row. This woman of whom we speak seemed to be deeply interested in spiritual things, and when the good news of the kingdom of God was being preached in her area she came out in full support. This person apparently had no criminal background, and unlike the demoniac who haunted the tombs and frothed at the mouth, seemed to be unusually intelligent and was in good and regular standing in her community.

She was well dressed in the latest fashions with her hair and nails well done, and when she saw Paul and his fellows preaching the kingdom of God, she began to advertise their meetings, encouraging everyone within the hearing of her voice to attend. But there was one problem, she too, like the demoniac of Gadara was also possessed by the devil, and those seemingly good words she uttered came directly from satan. Let’s read:

Acts 16:16   And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 

  16:17   The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. 

  16:18   And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 

One of the reasons why Christ came to die for the human family, is so that we would be freed from the spiritual bondage that has enveloped us for so long, and even though atheists and secularists may deny the fact, or may deliberately choose to ignore the teachings of the Bible, yet they too are beneficiaries of God grace through Christ who died to redeem not only saints, but also sinners. The minds of mortal man must inevitably be controlled by one or the other of the two diabolically opposed forces now operating in the universe, and our destiny is directly linked to the choices we make from day to day. Let’s read:

Matthew 6:24   No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other”…

Matthew 12:25   And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 

  12:26   And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 

  12:28   But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 

  12:29   Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

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

  12:44   Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth [it] empty, swept, and garnished. 

  12:45   Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. 

Christ has for many centuries been calling on earth’s inhabitants to turn to Him and live. In words of solemn entreaty He has pleaded with us to accept of His grace, and so be delivered from the cruel oppression of the devil and his angels. As a longing parent yearns after the wayward child, whilst hoping, and praying, and searching desperately for ways and means whereby the self-willed one may change course, just so The Lord of heaven has been beckoning to humanity to change course, by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, for He is the only solution and remedy for this sin-sick world of ours. This sacred truth has been written in words of solemn pathos, with the hope that earth’s inhabitants will finally get the message. Let’s read:

John 3:16   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

  3:17   For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

Ezekiel 33:11   Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn

ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die”….

Romans 5:6   For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

  5:7   For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

  5:8   But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

    5:10   For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

God is now making a direct appeal to the inhabitants of earth, for us to reason soberly from cause to effect, and to acknowledge that we do not have the solutions for the plethora of problems we now face, for every so-called solution we come up with is certain to have loop holes that the enemy can circumvent and use to his advantage. Having two people in the cockpit at all times is a good move, but what happens if the devil suddenly takes control of both?

As individuals it is necessary that our minds be girded with the Holy Spirit at all times and in all places, so that the evil thoughts and desires that lurk in phantom form in our minds, will be subdued and uprooted before they find expression in senseless deeds of violence, or moral abandon. Hence the reason why the appeal from God to this generation is so urgent and heartfelt, for God sees what is coming upon the world in the very near future, and He is actively seeking to shield us from the sudden onslaughts of the enemy of souls, who as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:10   And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 

  12:11   And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony”…

  12:12   .. “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

2nd Peter 3:9   The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

Those of us who have been trifling with God’s gracious overtures to save us for many years, and to those who now sit in darkness, and in the region of the shadow of death, Jesus Christ is now speaking, making the last final calls to find shelter in Him whilst we can. The door of mercy is still open for anyone who will enter, and thus it behooves us to choose Christ, not only for the glory of God, but also because it is in our best interest, both in the temporal and eternal sense. We therefore end with a promise to those who are willing to accept of God’s salvation, for He is well able to harness the forces of evil that threaten to do us harm. Let’s read:

Psalm 91:1   He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

  91:2   I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 

  91:3   Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence. 

  91:4   He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler. 

  91:5   Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day; 

  91:6   [Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday. 

  91:7   A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee. 

  91:8   Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 

  91:9   Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation; 

91:10   There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 

  91:11   For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 

  91:12   They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 

91:14   Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 

  91:15   He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 

  91:16   With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. 

                                         God bless!

The Last Crossing Of Jordan. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/21 2015

The past experiences of the Hebrew people are full of instructions for Christians living in the 21st century, and their history was chronicled for the benefit of those of us, who like themselves, hope to cross spiritual Jordan for the very last time, before entering the heavenly Canaan. Throughout their entire sojourn in the wilderness, the devil had been successful on different occasions, in getting them to stumble, and the forty years spent wandering to and fro in the desert was a direct result of satan’s efforts to fore-stall God’s plans for His people.

And now, once again, as they prepare to cross Jordan for the very last time, the devil is in a frenzy, knowing that if he fails here, he must suffer severe loss. Just across the Jordan the Hebrews can see the rich cities that were to be theirs, and as their eyes behold distinctly, the verdure and tropical fruit of the plain, they are buzzing with much enthusiasm and anticipation, knowing that just over the border lies the promised land. And so the devil goes to work in what can aptly be described as a last ditch effort to overthrow as many as he can, and thus prevent them from entering the goodly land.

The previous time when the Hebrews had reached this close to the Promised Land, temptations on appetite had been brought to them and they had then murmured and complained, thus placing them in the wrong frame of mind to deal with the challenges of the giants that were in the land. There is a direct relation of disposition to diet, and the spiritual graces and strengths that are so urgently needed to penetrate by faith into new and unconquered territories, are severely compromised by that which is not in harmony with God’s ideal will. Let’s read:

Numbers 11:1   And [when] the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard [it]

11:4 ...“And the children of Israel also wept again, and said,

11:6…“Now our soul [is] dried away: [there is] nothing at all, beside this manna, [before] our eyes.

In other words, what they were implying is that the food provided them  by God was inferior to what they had been accustomed to in Egypt, and therefore the logical reasoning is that since adopting the new diet, they had suffered loss, and were actually being malnourished by God, a very serious charge indeed, for if God had taken away something superior to now give them something inferior, or of less nutirtional value, thus causing them to be malnourished, then their charge against God by default would be maliciousness.

 If a dietician were to take away our well rounded diet of proteins, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and grains, and were to put us on a regimen of French fries and sodas, then we can charge that person with deliberate maliciousness, for introducing us to foods that are greatly inferior to our previous diet, thus causing us to be weak and severely malnourished, and thereby putting our health and our longevity at risk. So the real question that needs to be answered, as it pertains to the Hebrews’ charge is, did they actually suffer loss as a result of the change in diet that God had instituted? Did they become weaker and more malnourished as a result, or did they become much

stronger and healthy since the switch was made. It’s a very simple and direct question, and it deserves a very simple and direct answer. Let’s read:

Psalm 105:37   He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and [there was] not one feeble [person] among their tribes.

The above passage makes a very serious claim, one that defies both logic and modern scientific discoveries on food and nutrition, and so the question is, can it be true, or was God feeding the Hebrews with something that was detrimental to their health? Here at omega truth we decided to put the original God-given diet to the test, a diet that consists of no meat, no fish, no cheese, no milk, and no eggs, and over a period of time we have made some amazing discoveries, in which a diet of fruit, nuts, vegetables, and grains, coupled to together with prayer,  faith in God, regular exercise, and appropriate rest,  has proven to be not only vastly superior to what current, conventional knowledge teaches, but literally confirms what we just read in Psalm 105.

The following is just a tidbit of a documentary we are currently working on, and it will be released worldwide when it is completed. It will be jam packed with simple  information on methods, diet, exercise, foods, and the highly debatable issue of not eating between meals. In the next three exhibits we are not far from our goal of 2000 lbs.

Let’s read:

Numbers 14:1   And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 

  14:2   And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! 

14:3   “Were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 

  14:4   And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. 

The children of Israel first fell at the borders of Canaan on the issue of appetite, and now that they are just about to cross over Jordan for the last time, satan brings back the same temptation, repackaged in another form. There are only three categories of temptations he can choose from, and although many people, even amongst Christians, may not be aware of it, these three temptations are recycled, modified, and tailor-made to suit our various weaknesses, and thus, as we ourselves stand on the borders of the heavenly Canaan, we need to make certain that by the grace of God all sinful desires, whether in reality or in phantom form are uprooted from our hearts, lest there be a repeat of ancient history in our lives.

Christ was tempted with only three temptations in the wilderness, and the very first one was on appetite. But the temptations on appetite assume different many forms, ranging from forbidden diets and foods, to forbidden pleasures and practices. And any area of these, in which we come up short, we are thereby rendered vulnerable to the assaults of the enemy of souls, who lurks in the shadows, awaiting for an opportune moment to take us down at our weakest point. Let’s read:

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

  2:16   For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

  2:17   And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

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

  25:2   And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 

25:3   And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. 

25:6   And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who [were] weeping [before] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 

25:15   And the name of the Midianitish woman”.. “was … Cozbi”… “of a chief house in Midian.

  What is worthy of note is that many of the people who now fell on the banks of the Jordan river at this time, were also looking forward with eager anticipation to entering the promised land, but there were some evil thoughts and desires that were still harbored in the dark recesses of their minds, which had not been fully overcome. Thus when the enemy came, dangling his temptations before their eyes through the human agencies he so often uses, he found a responding chord in un-renewed hearts, and the rest is history.

The problem with the Hebrews who fell on the banks of the Jordan is that their eager hope of the Promised Land did not translate into victorious living, and because of this,  their faith was not found to be commensurate with their works, a very serious problem indeed, for it cost them the earthly Canaan, and quite possibly, also the heavenly. Thus the following passage which closes off the episode is pregnant with both instruction and warning for us who are living on the brink of eternity, with the real Promised land in full view. Let’s read:

Numbers 26:1   And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, 

  26:2   Take the sum of all the congregation of the

children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward,

throughout their fathers' house”…

  26:3   And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho, saying, 

  26:4   [Take the sum of the people], from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt. 

26:63   These [are] they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho. 

  26:64   But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 

  26:65   For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 

God never sugar coats the truth to suit the carnal desires and cravings of the natural man, neither does He promise heaven to those who deliberately choose to continue on living contrary to His revealed will. That’s why, as we stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan, we should study carefully the points on which the Hebrews fell, so that we too may be instructed as to what will certainly come our way, and how the various pitfalls of satan can successfully be avoided. The Bible specifically warns us to be careful of repeating particular sins that the Hebrews fell a prey to, and the cautions listed in the following verses constitute a sort of blueprint of what we can expect, just before Christ puts in His appearing. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 10:1   Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 

  10:2   And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 

  10:3   And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 

  10:4   And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 

  10:5   But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 

  10:6   Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 

  10:7   Neither be ye idolaters, as [were] some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 

10:10   Neither murmur ye, as some of them also

murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 

  10:11   Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 

  10:12   Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 

  10:13   There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]. 

  10:14   Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 

  10:8   Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 

  10:9   Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 

The various fanciful interpretations of scripture which now abound in modern Christendom offer heavenly rewards without effort or sacrifice, and they may sound pleasing to itching ears that are bent on self pleasing. But these doctrines and teachings which promise eternal life to the deliberate sinner, fail of producing victories in the lives of those subscribe to such teachings, and as such, produce a false hope that is built upon the shifting sands of mere human interpretations, human ideologies and philosophies, whilst the plain cutting truths of the word of God, that are a savor of life unto life, sit on the back burner, and are cast out as being archaic and irrelevant.

Hence the reason why The Lord through His servants and prophets makes the truth as plain as plain can be, so that no one may have any misgivings about the terms and conditions of obtaining immortal life. The following passages of scripture should be taken at face value, and should never be altered, misinterpreted, or reasoned away, if we are to have a clear compass to guide us to the pearly gates. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 6:9   Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 

  6:10   Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:16   [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 

  5:17   For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

  5:18   But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 

  5:19   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 

  5:20   Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 

  5:21   Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

  5:22   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

  5:23   Meekness, temperance”….

  5:24   And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

  5:25   If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

In closing, The Lord would have us understand clearly, that His grace can enable us to overcome the most deeply seated, inherited or cultivated tendencies to evil, if we will seek Him every day for a renewal of grace to help us in times of need. None of us need be intimidated by the sin that so easily beset us, for by looking to Jesus, even the weakest saint can live victoriously.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to shoot for the gold of Christ’s imputed and imparted character, and God will give us the grace and strength through His Spirit dwelling within us, to bring it to pass. Let’s read:

Revelation 3:18   I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

  3:19   As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 

  3:20   Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,

and will sup with him, and he with me. 

  3:21   To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 

  3:22   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 

May god add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.  God bless!

Every Sacrifice Must Be Perfect. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/14/2015.

The doctrine of a perfect sacrifice begins with Christ who was the embodiment of the sacrificial system, which began in the days of Moses and the Hebrews, and which was climaxed at the Cross in the perfect offering of The Son of God. All of the sacrificial lambs used in the sanctuary system pointed to Christ, and as such were required to also be perfect, being representative of the perfection of Christ’s life and death. Thus the instruction on perfection in sacrifices was given to the Hebrews, with no margin of error to be tolerated for any reason, for God requires the highest and best service, and we are to bring only the choicest offerings that are indeed commensurate with His exalted state. Let’s read:

Leviticus 22:17   And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 

  22:18   Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever [he be] of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering; 

  22:19   [Ye shall offer] at your own will a male without blemish” …..  22:20   [But] whatsoever hath a blemish, [that] shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you. 

  22:21   And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish [his] vow” …. it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. 

  22:22   Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD. 

    22:24   Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make [any offering thereof] in your land.

Now it’s important in our exegesis that we do not restrict these instructions to mere literal offerings and sacrifices, for spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and as such we should seek to extrapolate the principles involved in the instructions given, rather than confine them to any animal or vow. For instance, a blemished, bruised, or broken sacrifice would then represent any vow, service, or offering that is of a sub-standard or inferior quality, or any financial contribution which was derived from illegal or forbidden sources, such as gambling, prostitution, or extortion.

 In other words, a person was not to return an offering to God after he or she had won the lotto, or had gambled and won big in Las Vegas. These methods of obtaining money, and subsequent offerings, are contrary to the God-ordained methods in the scriptures, and therefore the proceeds or winnings from such enterprises are never to be brought into the sanctuary as an offering or sacrifice to God, for He will signally reject it. Let’s read:

Proverbs  28:22   He that hasteth to be rich [hath] an

evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come

upon him.

Genesis 3:19   In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast

thou taken” ….

Proverbs 13:11   Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. 

Deuteronomy 23:18   Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both of these [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God. 

The reason given for these instructions is because the greatness, majesty, and perfection of God demands the best of the very best, and all leftovers, and compromised products, animals, sacrifices, and services were to be left for inferior creatures, but definitely not for the God-Head: Let’s read:

Malachi 1:14   But cursed [be] the deceiver, which hath in

his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen. 

Many of us may not have understood the principle involved here, and for that reason we may have given to God a lame offering in the form of financial gifts, goods, or services, or worst yet, we may have offered to Him leftovers, after we ourselves were well taken care of. The Lord would have us know that no such offering has ever been, or will ever be accepted by Him under any circumstances, for it belittles the greatness and majesty of His exalted office and Person. But in order to get a better idea of the high esteem in which we should always hold our services, sacrifices, or offerings to God, we will need to examine some statements from Christ, as it pertains to the priority, and the importance of services and sacrifices He expects from us. Let’s read:

Luke 9:59   And he said unto another, Follow me. But he

said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

In this instance a person was called to active duty in the army of Christ, to preach the gospel, one of the most prominent and important sacrifices one can render to God, but he offered what would be considered by many a valid excuse, the burial of his father. Theological debate has raged for years over whether the man’s father was terminally ill, or whether he was actually deceased, but it matters not, because the issue at question is one of his priority. In his estimation of things, will he put intimate family concerns in front of his sacrifice of service, and if so, will his service to God be always held in subjection to other important issues that will arise from time to time.

Right here in America we have often seen on the news where soldiers are going off to war, and we watch with aching hearts as they leave their kids, their spouses, their loved ones, their in-laws and their out-laws behind, in order to serve their country with undivided attention and honor. But often when it comes to our sacrifices of

service to God in things of eternal consequence, we often bring a host of excuses which we would never even think of bringing to the armed forces. This is the reason why Christ sought to correct the man’s order of priorities so that he could offer his sacrifice of service without blemish, or “Scurvy”. Let’s read:

  Luke 9:60   Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 

  9:61   And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 

  9:62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. 

Whenever we have pledged to serve in God’s kingdom, in one capacity or another, we should always deliver the very highest quality of service possible, and this should be done on a consistent basis, without the many so-called valid excuses we are prone to offer, when we do not desire to continue fulfilling the covenant we may have pledged to perform. The very concept ingrained in the word sacrifice, speaks to us eloquently of cost in some form or another, and beyond the shadow of a doubt, serving God will cost us something; some more or some less, but no one serves God without incurring cost.

After David had sinned by numbering the children of Israel, he was instructed to go offer a sacrifice so that the plague upon the people might be stayed, and as he arrived at Aruanah’s threshing floor, he was offered oxen and sheep, and instruments for the sacrificial service free of charge, by the owner of the property. But if David had accepted Aruanah’s offer, he would have been guilty of  offering a lame, blemished sacrifice that could not be accepted by God, and the plague would not have been stayed, and as a result, many more lives would have been lost. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 24:21   And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people. 

  24:22   And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what [seemeth] good unto him: behold, [here be] oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and [other] instruments of the oxen for wood. 

  24:23   All these [things] did Araunah”… “give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. 

  24:24   And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 

Now there are different types of sacrifices that we offer from time to time, and the very same principles which were enjoined in days of old pertaining to perfection in sacrifices, also need to be applied today in our own experiences. It is true that we ourselves are imperfect beings, but the instructions given deal with bringing our very best to the Master, whatever our best may be. The woman who offered her two mites in Christ’s day, gave more than everyone else in the eyes of God, for she gave her entire living, which was the best that she could do at the time.

But the excuses that are commonly given such as the wife, the kids, the weather, transportation, a lack of funds, hypocrites, snitching, tiredness, forgetfulness, business, homework, lack of cooperation, lack of ideas, poor attendance, and a host of other so-called valid reasons that are often given, should be avoided if our sacrifices, offerings and services to God are to be offered without blemish. For this reason we will examine some of the more common factors that cause our sacrifices to be blemished, and we will study from the word of God, how these can be corrected.

(1) Financial sacrifices: When offerings are being brought to the altar, prayer is usually made first, and there are some familiar words which most of us have heard for many years. Some of the words used go like this: “Bless those who give, and bless those who have not to give”, and for years it has probably boggled our minds what those words really mean. According to the Bible, we should always have something to give, for the very fact that we are alive means that there must be something we can offer to God.

No person was ever exempt from giving an offering to the Lord on account of poverty or financial constraints, for as far as God is concerned, we find money to do other things so therefore we must be able to find something of worth to give, be it little or much. The sacrifices of old were staggered in order of monetary value so that even the poorest of the poor could participate in bringing an unblemished, perfect offering to God, thus showing us by precept and example that there are no valid excuses in this area. Let’s read:

Exodus 30:14   Every one that passeth among them that

are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. 

  30:15   The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when [they] give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. 

Deuteronomy 16:16   Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose” … “and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: 

  16:17   Every man [shall give] as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee. 

Leviticus 5:6   And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. 

  5:7   And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one

for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. 

5:11   But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put [any] frankincense thereon: for it [is] a sin offering.

Luke 2:21   And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 

  2:22   And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present [him] to the Lord; 

  2:23   (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 

  2:24   And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 

Mark 12:41   And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 

  12:42   And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 

  12:43   And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 

  12:44   For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living. 

According to the sacred record, there is no such thing as having nothing to give, for an offering may be small, but yet perfect and without blemish in the sight of God, if it is the best we can do.

(2) Oratory sacrifices: Whenever we are called upon to serve by reading, singing, praying, or preaching, our sacrifices or services must also be perfect, meaning that they should be done and executed to the best of our ability. We should not be found fumbling words and sentences, if it can be avoided, nor should we read in an incoherent manner by which the meaning of the words spoken, or those passages of scripture read, are lost upon the minds of the hearers, for this also constitutes a lame or blemished sacrifice. If there is a problem with reading or diction, the one who is to serve in that capacity should practice the material at home before entering the pulpit, so that the very best service can be rendered to God. Let’s read:

Nehemiah 8:6   And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with [their] faces to the ground. 

  8:7   Also Jeshua” …. “and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place. 

  8:8   So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading. 

8:12   And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions” ….. “because they had understood the words that were declared unto them. 

There is another aspect of oratory sacrifices that should be guarded against by all Christians, and that is the tendency to fall asleep whilst praying to God. Whenever we approach the throne of grace, it should be with alert minds wherever possible, but to deliberately leave our communion with God for last, after we are wearied and tired and drowsy, does a great disservice to the King of Kings, and should be avoided, for as the principle of perfection dictates, only the best of the very best should be offered.

(1) Living Sacrifices: Last but not least is the offering of our bodies as living sacrifices to God, which should be free from blemishes, disease and kept in pristine health wherever and whenever possible. Many Christians do not realize the great importance of this sacrifice, and for this reason there is a disconnect between the spiritual and the physical, a concept that is utterly refuted in both the old and new testaments. It was the will of God that all diseases be removed from amongst His people, so that they could bear witness to the world in their persons, about the benefits of serving Him. This sacred truth is written in several passages of scripture. Let’s read:

Romans 12:1   I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. 

  12:2   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Deuteronomy 7:14   Thou shalt be blessed above all people”…  7:15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee” ….

3rd John 1:2   Beloved, I wish above all things that thou

mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

As Christians, we cannot treat our bodies in a careless manner, whilst at the same time endeavoring to offer a perfect, living sacrifice to God, hence the reason why the principles of health that God has been pleased to give us should be adopted and implemented in collaboration with the power of the Holy Spirit. Though this may be a tall order in some cases, yet God has solemnly promised to strengthen and enable us to do His will, and if we set our minds to the task, we will soon find that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Whatever our sacrifices may be, let us always remember that God requires the best of our time, talents, and our resources, for God is honored and glorified in our lives, only when we give Him the best, because, as stated before in the scriptures, any sacrifice that is offered must be perfect, for it to be accepted. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to do so, for God never asks us to give, or to do that which He will not empower us to perform. Let’s read:

Ephesians 4:7   But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 

  4:8   Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 

    4:11   And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

  4:12   For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

  4:13   Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

                                    God Bless!

To Him That Overcometh. Sabbath Afternoon. 03/07/2015

It is important that as Christians living on the brink of eternity, that we do not buy into the other gospel and the other Jesus that is being peddled today under the garb of Christianity. The purity of the faith once delivered to us has been watered down to the point where there is almost no distinction between the secular world and the Christian, except in name only. And because of this more and more people do not see the need to be converted, for Christians are now found to be living and doing the very same things the secular world does, and in some instances even worse, hence the reason why the apostle Paul warns us of another gospel with another Jesus who will appeal to the popular majority. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 11:3   But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

  11:4   For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him]. 

The popular gospel that is being preached today in many Christian circles is one that is void of the basic essentials God has laid down, and teaches its adherents to accept the Lord on man-made terms and conditions, where only a profession of godliness is made, but no overcoming of inherited and cultivated tendencies is required. This other gospel gives Jesus all the praise for His own victories, while we ourselves are exempt from the work of overcoming, and thus a truce between good and evil is accommodated in the lives of many Christians.

But the Bible tells us that no one passes through the pearly gates without overcoming, and therefore it is high time that we awake out of slumber and address the work that has been sitting on the back burner of our own

consciences for too long. In the first three chapters of the book of Revelation, Christ addresses targeted messages to the seven Christian churches, spanning the period beginning from His day, down to our present time, in which the last of the seven churches, Laodicea by name, is found to be living.

At the end of each message to the individual churches, Jesus attaches this brief, candid statement: “To him that overcometh”, meaning that He expects the individual members of the Christian churches to live victoriously, and not form an agreement with the devil and his agencies, by harboring and practicing any known sin in our lives. The whole purpose of the plan of salvation is to bring the entire human family, as many as are willing, back into harmony with our Creator, and therefore the work of overcoming forms an integral and necessary part of our lives, if it is our intention and desire to be saved. That’s why Jesus makes the promise of eternal salvation, not merely to those who are Christian in name only, but rather to those who overcome, not to any other group. Let’s read:

Revelation 2:1   Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 

  2:2   I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 

  2:3   And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 

  2:4   Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 

What Christ is here saying is that He understands and knows that serious efforts have been made by the Christian church of the Ephesus period, and He commends them for their patience, labor of love, and their intolerance for the pseudo form of discipleship that was now entering the churches. But then Christ points out the areas in which they needed to come up to speed, meaning that He will not be satisfied with a partial form of victory, in which the devil and satanic agencies are given an equal seat at the negotiating table, so that the  principles and forces of evil become firmly entrenched in the church. This Christ says will not be accepted by Him under any circumstances. Let’s read:

  Revelation 2:5   Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 

    2:7   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 

This same pattern of close observation by Christ, and the accompanying promise to those who overcome is repeated to each successive church of the Christian dispensation, and the reason why He continues to make that solemn statement at the end of each message, is so that we may understand that the standard of God’s righteousness will not be lowered with the passage of time for any reason, and thus He implies that we should fall in line with the admonition and warning He is giving. Let’s read:

Revelation 2:8   And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 

  2:9   I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan. 

  2:10   Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 

  2:11   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 2:12   And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 

  2:13   I know thy works and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan's seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 

  2:14   But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 

  2:15   So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. 

  2:16   Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 

  2:17   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it]. 

And Christ continues on with the very same pattern of commendation of the things which are right, and also His disapproval of those which are not, after which He adds that solemn statement: “To him that overcometh”. Finally He reaches the last Christian church of our day, Laodicea by name, and as He looks and inspects it with His all-seeing eye, He has nothing good to say about it, for He observes a lukewarm church that has one foot in the world and the other in the church, and this situation is so nauseating to Him, that according to His own testimony, He is on the verge of vomiting it out. But true to His earlier pattern He encourages rigorous reform and radical changes where needed, then He closes with that same solemn statement: “To him that overcometh”. Let’s read:

Revelation 3:14   And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the

 faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 

  3:15   I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 

  3:16   So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 

  3:17   Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

  3:18   I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

  3:19   As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 

  3:20   Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 

  3:21   To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 

  3:22   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The theological concept that has become so popular in today’s Christian church, that it is impossible for us to overcome inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil, is one of the doctrines of devils that has been concocted in spiritual Babylon, and has proven to be one of the most deadly and spiritually debilitating doctrines ever introduced to mortals. What is alarming is that so many Christians have now bought into it that we have become comfortable with sins that Christ died to save us from, and for this reason many of us are found to be straddling both sides of the fence, by which we hope to gain entrance to God’s kingdom, whilst harboring, practicing, or countenancing the very sins that caused Christ’s death in the first place. But anything short of overcoming amounts to cheap grace, and will meet with signal disappointment when the Son of man is revealed. Let’s read:

1st John 3:7   Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 

  3:8   He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

  3:9   Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 

  3:10   In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil” ….

1st John 1:6   If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 

  1:7   But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

Another poisonous draft from the wine of Babylon is the excuse that “the devil made me do it”, as if we have no choice in the matter of deciding. Resisting temptation by the grace of God is not merely a suggestion, it is a positive command coming from the Lord Jesus to those of us who are His followers, for if we were to buy into this falsehood, we would thereby be literally handing the victory to the devil, for if he cannot be resisted, the next logical question will, be what’s the use of trying anyway? The Bible signally rejects this notion by stating unequivocally that the devil must be resisted if we are to overcome, thus teaching us that we are not to cower in fear of our own faults, but that we should stand firm in the strength of God. Let’s read:

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

  4:8   Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded. 

Christ Himself set the template for us who follow in His footsteps, and therefore the work of subduing those tendencies which strive for the mastery can be entirely routed through the grace and power of God. When we give ourselves entirely to Christ, trusting in His promises and trusting in His righteousness, God then makes us impregnable to the assaults of satan, who has no time to waste in futile efforts. This is what Christ did in the war against sin in the desert of temptation, and this is what all true Christians are expected to do by the grace and power of God. Let’s read:

Luke 4:1   And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

  4:2   Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those

days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he

afterward hungered. 

  4:3   And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 

  4:4   And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 

4:13   And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. 

However, the work of overcoming is just as important as the way in which we overcome, for many sincere Christians really desire to live victoriously, but the method by which we attempt to do so will ultimately determine whether will fail or succeed. God has given us clear guidelines in this matter so that none of us need be vanquished in the battles of life. One of the most common mistakes made in the work of overcoming is that of fighting against sin. God’s ordained method for us fighting sin is not with will-power, or by avoiding the appearance of evil, even though these are incorporated into the process.

 The main method is by looking unto Jesus, and studying His life, His teachings, and His character on a daily basis, for when this is done consistently every day, an imperceptible change will gradually take hold of us. This sacred truth is alluded to by Christ with the hope that we will finally get the message. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 3:18   But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

John 3:8   The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 

3:14   And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 

  3:15   That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 

  3:16   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

One of the very worst things we can do is to try to be good without God. There are latent tendencies to evil that are lodged in the dark recesses of our minds which only await the opportune moment or the right triggering mechanism to surface in actions and deeds that will alarm even ourselves. This is why Christ states that without Him we can do nothing. As David pondered his sin with Bathsheba, he was surprised and disappointed that he, who walked so close to God, could commit so horrible a crime. The fact is that David had stopped looking unto Jesus for a while, and then the propensities to evil with which we are all born were fanned into life when the right conditions were orchestrated. Let’s read:

Psalms 51:1   “A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 

  51:2   Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 

  51:3   For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before me. 

  51:4   Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest. 

  51:5   Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 

  51:6   Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 

  51:10   Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

  51:11   Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 

  51:12   Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit. 

  51:13   [Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 

  51:14   Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou

God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of

thy righteousness. 

This is why we must of necessity study very closely the history of the Hebrews in the experience of the uplifted serpent, so that we too may be instructed in the work of overcoming. The Jews in Moses’ day had been stung by fiery, poisonous serpents on account of their own sin, and now it was time to “Overcome” and live. The instruction from God at this time was direct and as simple as it gets, for they were not to try to do anything with the poisonous bite. They were not bidden to put any ointment, or to take any anti-venom injections or man-made solutions. All they were asked to do is to look up at the uplifted serpent and they would live. Let’s read:

Numbers 21:7   Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 

  21:8   And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 

  21:9   And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. 

It is of critical importance for Christians to understand the deep significance of this instruction, for it applies directly to us in the work of overcoming. All have been bitten by the serpent in one way or another. Some of us have been bitten with anger and a hot temper, where we often lose our cool and blurt out sentiments that are withering in nature. Others have been bitten by drug addiction in which the bottle and the needle have exerted their power over us. And some of us have been bitten sexually, where the urge to merge overpowers us to the point where we have done really senseless things.

The recent experience of a local police chief is a prime example, for many people wonder how a married man, with children, and a good paying job, with bright prospects for the future, could do something so non-sensical. The problem is not with intelligence, but rather with those powerful propensities to evil, which when left to run riot without the intervention of God, will lead us to do and say things that will shock our own selves, hence the reason why the work of overcoming is centered squarely in the command to look and live.

As we spend quality time with Christ each day through a study of His word and character, we will partake of His life-giving Spirit, and as we continue to do so, the forces of evil within and without are held in subjection and finally uprooted entirely from our hearts, so that the sins which had previously bulldozed us, fall powerless at the feet of Him who paved the way for us. This sacred truth is embedded in the scriptures with the hope that all who read it may live victoriously from this point forward. Let’s read:

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

  10:4   (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 

  10:5   Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

  10:6   And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 

In our own personal struggles with sinful desires and

divers lusts, let us always remember the instruction of Christ to look and live, for everything else that is involved with the work of overcoming will never be accomplished without this one, singular element. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms this sacred truth to our hearts, and it is the will and purpose of God that every sincere and honest hearted Christian live victoriously each day, for Christ was manifested to save us from our sins, not in our sins. Let’s read:

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

  6:11   Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

  6:12   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]. 

  6:13   Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

  6:14   Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

  6:15   And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

  6:16   Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

  6:17   And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

  6:18   Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!

The Sacred Nature Of Vows. Sabbath Afternoon. 02/2/28

Many Christians who believe in God do not understand the very sacred nature of vows that are made to God and man, and for this reason the oaths uttered before God do not carry much weight, and are often held in a subjective manner, being fluid and subject to change, to alteration, to feelings, and in some instances, signal dismissal. When this attitude is left to run its course, it ultimately affects our character and the way we deal with our fellowmen, because the same way we treat God is the very same way we will treat others, if not worse. When vows of any kind are made to God, careful consideration should be prayerfully made, and once we have received clearance from God, then we should do all we can to honor our word, even though it may be at great inconvenience or cost, for all vows are sacred in God’s sight.

After it became necessary for God to destroy the entire

earth by the flood, because of the multitude of man’s transgressions which had enveloped the whole earth, God then made a solemn vow between Himself and all living creatures, both man and beast, that the earth will never again be destroyed by a flood. And even though in our day we are doing just as the antediluvians did, and in some instances worse, yet the earth will never ever again be overspread by a flood of waters, because of the sacred nature of the vow God has made. Let’s read:

Genesis 9:12   And God said, This [is] the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that [is] with you, for perpetual generations: 

  9:13   I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 

  9:14   And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 

  9:15   And I will remember my covenant, which [is] between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 

  9:16   And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that [is] upon the earth. 

  9:17   And God said unto Noah, This [is] the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that [is] upon the earth. 

The same sacred nature of His covenant is seen in the way His mercies are dispersed to those who believe in Him, and who comprise the spiritual descendants of Abraham. Even though some of us have done the unthinkable, sins that will cause even the heathen to shudder, yet God remembers the sacred covenant He has made to His people, and refuses to deal with us as we deserve. The sacred nature of His promise to forgive is manifested in several passages of scripture, one of the most notable being 1st John 1:9. Let’s read:

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

This is a very serious and sacred vow for God to make to the human family. To get an idea of the weightiness of this vow, we need to read another passage of scripture to find out the extent and far-reaching implications of the pledge.  Peter once asked Christ how often should forgiveness be extended to a person who might be a repeat offender. Many of us do not even practice two strikes and you’re out; we sometimes only tolerate one strike, but according to the forgiveness that God as solemnly pledged to us, we would need to at least start with 490 strikes before a person is considered “out”. At this level it requires raw faith to keep coming back to God for pardon, for at such a stage we may not see any valid reason why we should come. Let’s read:

Matthew 18:21   Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 

  18:22   Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 

The sacred nature of vows made to God need to be addressed in the lives of all Christians, for the same way God holds Himself accountable to His word, is the same way we should hold ourselves accountable for ours. Let’s read:

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

  15:8   And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? 

  15:9   And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. 

  15:10   And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

15:13   And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 

  15:14   And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Several solemn promises are here made in this sacred vow: (1) He promises that the affliction of the Hebrews will not last for more than four hundred years. (2) That the nation that afflicted them will be judged before their emancipation. And (3) Abraham’s seed will leave that land with great substance. So let’s fast-forward to the future to see how God regards the sacred obligation He has committed to. Let’s read:

Exodus 2:23   And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 

  2:24   And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 

  2:25   And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto [them].

Exodus 3:6   Moreover he said, I [am] the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. 

  3:7   And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.

The reason why God now mentions Abraham’s name first

and then his offspring, in the form of Isaac, Jacob, and their descendents is because the original vow then made to Abraham was given in the same order, and therefore He is reminding Moses that the fulfillment of the pledge He made four hundred years ago has not been forgotten with the passage of time, as is often the case when we seem to forget the vows we have made to God. And now the time for their emancipation is drawing near, so God rolls up His sleeves and goes to work, in order to fulfill what He himself has solemnly promised to do. Let’s read:

Exodus 3:20   And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. 

  3:21   And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: 

  3:22   But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put [them] upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

Exodus 11:1   And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague [more] upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let [you] go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. 

  11:2   Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 

  11:3   And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses [was] very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people. 

Exodus 12:29   And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that [was] in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 

  12:30   And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for [there was] not a house where [there was] not one dead. 

  12:31   And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, [and] get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. 

  12:32   Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 

  12:33   And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We [be] all dead [men]. 

12:51   And it came to pass the selfsame day, [that] the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies. 

The Hebrews also understood the sacred nature of vows made to God and man, for the perfect example of God was before their faces, and therefore they were expected to follow in the footsteps of God, in all of their pledges made to The Lord, and to fellow human beings. A striking example of this took place when the Gibeonites practiced fraud and deception upon the Israelites, in order to avoid being destroyed in battle. Upon learning of the stunning, and miraculous victories God had been giving His people, they became afraid, and thus resorted to stratagem in order to save their lives and their cities from certain ruin. And the sacred record shows that they were successful in getting the Israelites to make a solemn vow before God, a pledge that could not afterward be overturned with impunity on the part of Israel. Let’s read:

Joshua 9:3   And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, 

  9:4   They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; 

  9:5   And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry [and] mouldy. 

  9:6   And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us. 

  9:7   And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? 

  9:8   And they said unto Joshua, We [are] thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who [are] ye? and from whence come ye? 

  9:9   And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 

9:11   Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We [are] your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. 

  9:12   This our bread we took hot [for] our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you;

but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: 

  9:13   And these bottles of wine, which we filled, [were] new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. 

  9:15   And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the  congregation sware unto them. 

This incident which took place here is what is known as premeditated and deliberate fraud on the part of the Gibeonites, a well-planned and coordinated effort to deceive the Hebrews, and based on those blatant lies that were uttered with a straight face, the Hebrews inadvertently, and ignorantly entered into a solemn covenant with the Gibeonites to let them live amongst them. To many minds this was a valid reason to void all that was solemnly pledged, since they were deliberately deceived as to what they were getting themselves into.

This is the equivalent of a stranger coming to our front door, and uttering a series of well thought out lies and fabrications, stating that they are poor and miserable, and blind and naked, and they need food, raiment, and shelter for themselves and their kids. And then after we believe their story and our hearts are touched by the feelings of their infirmities, we solemnly pledge to let them live at our house for a number of years, only to discover three days later that they are indeed rich and increased with goods. The burning question is what do we do next? Let’s read:

Joshua 9:16   And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they [were] their neighbours, and [that] they dwelt among them. 

  9:17   And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities [were] Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim. 

  9:18   And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. 

  9:19   But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. 

  9:20   This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them. 

9:22   And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We [are] very far from you; when ye dwell among us? 

  9:23   Now therefore ye [are] cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

There are some very serious and disturbing lessons for us to learn from this singular experience, as it pertains to the inviolability of vows made before God and man. The very first lesson, and one that should resonate in our consciousness whenever serious decisions or pledges are to be made, whether it be in material goods, finances, or services to God and man, is to pray without ceasing. It is imperative that we take our pledges that are under consideration to The Lord in prayer first, before they are uttered in His presence or sealed with a verbal or written note. This first lesson is of very critical importance in order to avoid making vows that can be extremely costly and difficult to fulfill. Let’s read:

Joshua 9:14   And the men took of their victuals, and asked not [counsel] at the mouth of the LORD. 

Ecclesiastes 5:2   Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter [any] thing before God: for God [is] in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 

  5:3   For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice [is known] by multitude of words. 

5:6   Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it [was] an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 

  5:7   For in the multitude of dreams and many words [there are] also [divers] vanities: but fear thou God. 

Proverbs 3:5   Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

  3:6   In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

  3:7   Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Praying first, and waiting on God for clearance in matters of consequence will save us many a heartache, and when coupled together with a proper understanding of the sacred nature of vows, will help greatly in decreasing the rates of separations that are increasing exponentially across the land, and sometimes for some of the most trivial reasons. The marriage institution is very sacred, and the vows attached to it are to be held as being most sacred, and therefore the various clauses, prenuptial agreements, addendums, and modifications that are often brought in to accommodate the nullifying of the sacred vow made before God and man, should be dispensed with, by all who desire to walk in the footsteps of God in the keeping of solemn pledges. Let’s read:

I, Christian, take you Princess, to be my lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.

Lesson (2) Vows that are made without consulting God first are not to be viewed as non-binding, for Joshua and the elders did not pray first, yet they understood that it would be a sin for them to recant what they had pledged, even though it was done in a fraudulent manner on the part of the Gibeonites. Fraud, ignorance, or unforeseen circumstances are no excuse to default on vows and pledges made, and even though resentment , anger  and great inconvenience are involved, yet we should always do our very best to meet our sacred obligations, for those who go against their own grain to keep their word, will develop characters of sterling worth, and by so doing will be enabled to penetrate into unchartered territories of faith and experience with God. Let’s read:

Psalm 15:1   LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 

  15:2   He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 

    15:4 ….  “He that sweareth to [his own] hurt, and changeth not. 

  15:5  … “He that doeth these [things] shall never be moved. 

Lesson (3) The serious and sacred nature of vows should

not prevent or intimidate us from making vows to God and man where warranted, for the Christian walks by faith in God, and anything God gives us clearance to do, comes with the guaranteed wherewithal to do it. This last point is not understood by many Christians, and because of this, some hesitate greatly in stepping out in faith. But God’s promises are enablings, and He always gives us the needed strength and resources to perform that which He gave us clearance to do. The unfaithful steward hid his Lord’s money in the sand and kept it in pristine condition, but was debarred from the gates of heaven because he did not step out in faith.

And we are never to assume that just because God gave us clearance to move forward in the making of a pledge, that we will therefore encounter no difficulty in the fulfillment of those vows. Moses accepted the covenant of God to be used in the deliverance of His people, but on several occasions the Hebrews tried to stone him. Even this is no excuse to turn back from our sacred vows, for their sacredness stands totally independent of all extenuating circumstances. In the performance of duties we have pledged to do we might be criticized, heckled, applauded, or ostracized, but none of these constitute valid excuses for annulling sacred vows. Let’s read:

Numbers 11:11   And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? 

    11:14   I am not able to bear all this people alone, because [it is] too heavy for me. 

  11:15   And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. 

Exodus 17:2   Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? 

  17:3   And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore [is] this [that] thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? 

  17:4   And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. 

In closing, it is necessary for us to know that if by the grace of God we change and reform our attitudes toward vows made to God and man, a positive ripple effect will be seen throughout the entire spectrum of our lives. It will impact our devotional times which we have set aside for communion with God, it will affect the church offices we may hold, especially when we become discouraged and everyone seems to be against us. It will cause us to go to the gym on those days when we are not feeling to exercise, when the temperature plummets.

It will affect the way we pay our mortgage and rent, and the many other bills that come due. It will positively affect our marriages, by enabling us to lock the door and throw away the key. It will affect our diet and the necessary discipline required to lose those stubborn pounds. And we can go on and on and on, but the truth is that without a sacred regard for vows, nothing that is worth accomplishing will ever get done. We end with a passage of scripture which sets the tone, the actions and results as it pertains to the making of vows before God and man. Let’s read:

Psalms 50:14   Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: 

  50:15   And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.  

May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. God bless!

Global Warming Or Global Sinning? Sabbath Afternoon. 02/21/2015

Some of the science that is being taught in our schools today is incomplete and seriously flawed at best, for it deliberately dispenses with the God factor, without which right analyses and concise conclusions can never be drawn, nor can we find permanent solutions to the emerging problems we’re facing, if God is eliminated from the human equation. The Bible makes reference to a type of science that is falsely so-called, and it finds an answering chord in the theory of evolution which removes God entirely from any scientific theories and conclusions, and as a result we are left without answers to some very fundamental questions of life, and related experiences on this planet. Let’s read:

1st Timothy 6:20   O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane [and] vain

babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:  6:21   Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.

Unless we humble ourselves by zipping up our boots and returning to our roots, which are seated in the Person and the creative power of The omnipotent God, then our efforts at finding answers to some of life’s most urgent and perplexing problems will be futile, and consequently we will not be able to trace accurately the causes and effects to many of the serious issues we find ourselves grappling with today. Science without God is equal to foolishness according to the Bible, and cannot solve the many environmental and social threats we now face. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 1:19   For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 

  1:20   Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish

the wisdom of this world? 

1:27   But God hath chosen the foolish things of the

world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 

  1:28   And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 

  1:29   That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

For instance, the issue of global warming is taking center stage more and more in the scientific community, as it is well documented that the glaciers up north are melting at an increasingly alarming rate, which in turn is found to be triggering the deadly snowstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes, like the super storm Sandy which brought tremendous destruction to very many states, the likes of which have not been witnessed for many generations.

Science chalks it all up to global warming, but the Bible teaches us that the real problem stems from global sinning, because whenever the much more potent spiritual law is deliberately and constantly violated, then it throws out of balance the lesser physical and natural laws which are subject to it, and because of this, all of the scientific laws we know of can be adversely affected, derailed, or even reversed, if the potent spiritual law is interfered with or deliberately violated. For this reason the Bible study for this afternoon will focus squarely on Root cause, Resulting effects, and Real solutions. We must of necessity include the God-factor into our scientific analysis, or else it will remain seriously flawed.

It is clearly stated and documented in the word of God that disobedience to God’s commands and laws affect the planet and weather systems in very negative ways, and because this sacred truth has now been eliminated from our educational system, we are left to figure out the symptoms, not the real cause of the many weather related and social problems we are facing. Beginning with the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, the Bible states that the ground wherever Cain lived would thereafter become stubborn in the production of fruit and grain, and thus he would find it necessary to coax the ground much more than other farmers, in order for it to produce. Let’s read:

Agriculture:

Genesis 4:8   And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 

  4:9   And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother's keeper? 

  4:10   And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 

  4:11   And now [art] thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 

  4:12   When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 

This statement of fact stipulating cause and effect pertaining to the shedding of innocent blood is not incorporated into our educational system, nor is it even considered in the scientific community, and as a result, our answer to the increasing stubbornness of the earth to produce fruit and grain, is to plant genetically modified foods that are increasingly lesser in nutritional value, whereas the real cause lies in the wanton murders and executions that are now taking place globally. The sacred truths and scientific fact relating to the root cause of sin, and its accompanying adverse results are clearly stated by God, so that we would reason accurately from cause to effect. Let’s read:

Numbers 35:33   So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye [are]: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

Earthquakes:

But the issue of global sinning as it pertains to global warming, is not restricted to the weather alone, for it is a well-documented fact in the Bible that sin can result in massive earthquakes. Again, our so-called science restricts the cause of all earthquakes to the erratic shift of tectonic plates deep within the earth, or other natural factors, but according to the Bible, earthquakes can be caused by a number of other different factors which have absolutely nothing to do with any shifting of tectonic plates. Let’s read:

Numbers 16:1   Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took [men]: 

  16:2   And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 

  16:3   And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, [Ye take] too much upon you, seeing all the congregation [are] holy, every one of them, and the LORD [is] among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? 

  16:4   And when Moses heard [it], he fell upon his face: 

  16:5   And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will show who [are] his, and [who is] holy; and will cause [him] to come near unto him: even [him] whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. 

  16:23   And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 

  16:24   Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 

    16:26   And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. 

16:28   And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for [I have] not [done them] of mine own mind. 

  16:29   If these men die the common death of all

men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all

 men; [then] the LORD hath not sent me. 

  16:30   But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that [appertain] unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 

  16:31   And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that [was] under them: 

  16:32   And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that [appertained] unto Korah, and all [their] goods. 

  16:33   They, and all that [appertained] to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. 

  16:34   And all Israel that [were] round about them

fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth

swallow us up [also]. 

It matters not whether God brought about the earthquake or whether satan was permitted to bring it about, the basic fact is that the triggering mechanism was sin on the part of Korah and his cohorts, and the end result was an earthquake. The questions that are often raised, about who brought about the judgments when instances like these are spoken of in the scriptures are irrelevant, for the main issues we need to consider is root cause and end result, regardless of whether it is heavenly agencies, satanic agencies, or human agencies that are employed in the resulting casualties. As stated before in previous Bible studies, God is the Supreme Ruler in the universe, and everything which takes place on the planet is by direct intervention, or by permission. Let’s read:

Isaiah  29:5   Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones [shall be] as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. 

  29:6   Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. 

Amos 1:1   The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 

  1:2   And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither. 

  1:3   Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof: 

But earthquakes are not always the result of sin, for they can also be triggered when angels put on their brakes. As the angel Gabriel sped on his way, faster than the speed of light, to call forth the Son of God from the tomb on resurrection morning, he needed to slow down, but in his eagerness he apparently didn’t, and landed on the earth with such force that a mighty earthquake was produced. And again, our modern science does not take these facts into account when analyzing upheavals of the earth such as these. Let’s read:

Matthew 28:1   In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary

Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 

  28:2   And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 

  28:3   His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 

  28:4   And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead [men]. 

Acts 16:25   And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 

  16:26   And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

 Revelation  6:12   And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 

  6:13   And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 

  6:14   And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.   

Note well what takes place when the potent and powerful spiritual law of God is opened and revealed in the heavens. Let’s read:

Revelation 11:19   And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

 Revelation 16:16   And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 

  16:17   And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 

  16:18   And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great. 

  16:19   And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God”

 16:20   And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 

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

24:4   And Jesus answered and said”….

24:6   Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars”..  24:7   For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 

  24:8   All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.

  Hail and Snow:

Global sinning also can result in much snow and hail, for as stated before, whenever the potent spiritual law of God is trampled upon, or deliberately violated, it then throws out of balance the lesser physical laws that are under its jurisdiction, and the results can be manifested in different adverse ways, including deadly snowstorms and hail. Let’s read:

Exodus  9:18   Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until

now. 

  9:19   Send therefore now, [and] gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; [for upon] every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die. 

  9:20   He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: 

  9:21   And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field. 

  9:22   And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. 

  9:23   And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 

  9:24   So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 

Job 38:22   Hast thou entered into the treasures of the

snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 

  38:23   Which I have reserved against the time of

trouble, against the day of battle and war?

Psalms 148:7   Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 

  148:8   Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: 

Storms, Hurricanes, and Tornadoes:

Psalms 107:23   They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 

  107:24   These see the works of the LORD, and his

wonders in the deep. 

  107:25   For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 

  107:26   They mount up to the heaven, they go down

again to the depths: their soul is melted because of

trouble. 

  107:27   They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. 

  107:28   Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 

  107:29   He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 

  107:30   Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 

  107:31   Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men! 

Isaiah 4:5   And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory [shall be] a defence. 

  4:6   And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

 Isaiah  29:5   Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones [shall be] as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. 

  29:6   Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

Nahum 1:3   The LORD [is] slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit [the wicked]: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds [are] the dust of his feet. 

Mark  4:37   And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 

  4:38   And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 

  4:39   And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said

unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

    4:41   And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? 

 Jonah 1:1   Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 

  1:2   Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 

  1:3   But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. 

  1:4   But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. 

  1:5   Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that [were] in the ship into the sea, to lighten [it] of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. 

  1:6   So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. 

  1:7   And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil [is] upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. 

  1:8   Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil [is] upon us; What [is] thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what [is] thy country? and of what people [art] thou? 

  1:9   And he said unto them, I [am] an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry [land]. 

  1:10   Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. 

  1:11   Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. 

  1:12   And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest [is] upon you. 

  1:13   Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring [it] to

the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. 

  1:15   So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. 

  1:16   Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. 

The following occurrence, which is the last one we will examine is of critical importance as it pertains to the issue of global sinning, and consequent global warming, for we are now treading on very dangerous ground by attempting to alter and interfere with the potent and spiritual law of God. God gives each person the freedom to choose to do good or evil, with the stated results for each course of action, but for us to presume to change His sacred law, or to alter it in any way to suit the clamors of the popular majority, will then open up the floodgates of woe and trouble on many nations, and we will be drawn into a long, protracted, and unending battle with forces of evil that will never be overcome with the force or arms, and  very much blood will be shed as a result. Hence the reason why it is necessary for us to pay close attention to the following verses.

1st Samuel 5:1   And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. 

  5:2   When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 

  5:3   And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon [was] fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 

  5:4   And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon [was] fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands [were] cut off upon the threshold; only [the stump of] Dagon was left to him. 

Here in these verses we see where the potent spiritual law of God contained in the ark adversely affected the Physical law of gravity, and pulled down the idol of Dagon from its pedestal because of the Philistine’s efforts to blend the sacred and the vile into one. This effort to forge a coerced partnership between the God of heaven and idols is strictly forbidden in the very law which stood next to Dagon, and as a direct result the graven image was dismembered, an evil omen of things to come. Let’s read:

Exodus 20:3   Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

  20:4   Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth: 

  20:5   Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; 

  20:6   And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 

This commandment means that we are not to have any false gods, in front of God, neither behind Him, nor next to Him, nor in collaboration with Him, neither are we to try to forge a friendship between God and any idols, for this will result in throwing out of balance all the physical and natural laws that sit squarely under the very potent spiritual law. For this reason the following text must be given due consideration. Let’s read:

Isaiah 42:8   I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 

What took place next after these two warning bells were sounded in the temple of Dagon, is important for us to consider, for similar occurrences, and much more deadly will take place, if we interfere with the potent spiritual law for any reason. God takes no delight in the death or destruction of those He has made, but if we presume to poke our fingers in His eye by altering His laws, then the peace and tranquility we have enjoyed for many years will suddenly be reversed, and a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation will ensue. The history of the philistines daring actions, with the adverse accompanying results are written for admonition, upon whom the end of world is approaching. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 5:6   But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, [even] Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 

  5:7   And when the men of Ashdod saw that [it was] so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god. 

  5:8   They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about [thither]. 

  5:9   And it was [so], that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts. 

  5:10   Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

    5:11   So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. 

  It is of critical importance for us to pay attention to the analysis and the advice of the Philistine magicians, for in certain desperate situations, when stubborn persons and nations will not listen to the voice of God, He then permits the magicians in the land to speak sense to the people. Very, very important:

1st Samuel  6:2   And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place. 

  6:3   And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. 

  6:4   Then said they, What [shall be] the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, [according to] the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague [was] on you all, and on your lords. 

  6:5   Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. 

  6:6   Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed? 

  6:7   Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them: 

  6:8   And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him [for] a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go. 

  6:9   And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, [then] he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that [it is] not his hand [that] smote us: it [was] a chance [that] happened to us. 

  6:10   And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home: 

  6:11   And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods. 

  6:12   And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, [and] went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside [to] the right hand or [to] the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh. 

In June of 2015, a very weighty decision is to be made pertaining to the sacred institution of marriage, and the laws pertaining to it. The warning bells that once sounded in the temple of Dagon are again sounding loud in our ears, with the hope that we will reason soberly from cause to effect, and do not take that fatal step of attempting to alter in any way, the law of God, because of the clamor of the popular majority. What is worthy of note is that the decision will be handed down just before hurricane season, and therefore God is pleading with us to carefully consider the results that accrued to the philistines, who refused to listen when the alarm bells sounded.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which provides the solution to the deepening social, global, and weather related problems that are overshadowing the land, for the door of mercy is still open, and if we repent of and forsake our personal and national sins, we may yet receive a reversal of ill-fortune, which if left to run riot will cost us tremendously, both in lives lost and in insurmountable financial burdens. Let’s read:

2nd chronicles 7:13   If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 

  7:14   If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

  7:15   Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place. 

He that hath an ear, let him hear what The Spirit of God is saying to the churches and to secular leaders. God bless! 

The Death Of Moses. Sabbath Afternoon. 02/14/2015

There are some very precious and sobering lessons for us to learn from the death of Moses, as it pertains directly to those of us who are living on the brink of eternity, and the lessons thus gleaned should be applied to our own personal experiences in the process of overcoming and living victoriously. The reason why the death of Moses should concern every Christian is because the prospect of us not ever dying is before our faces, and this sacred truth is stated in several passages of scripture, with the hope that we would give them due consideration. But before we investigate the death of Moses let us take a brief look at the mindset of a pilgrim, who is living in earnest expectancy of Christ’s imminent return.

Abraham was very rich in silver and gold and cattle, some of the means whereby the ancients measured wealth, yet his focus was never set on the mundane and material things of this earth. Whilst sojourning on this planet he was a faithful steward in the many blessings God bestowed upon him, but he never once lost sight of his eternal, and ultimate home, and for this reason he apparently made no serious provision for death as so many of us often do.

Now, while it is good to plan for the future, and the golden years when we may retire, yet we should avoid the current snare and obsession of laying up for ourselves much treasure upon the earth, for where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also. And so it is very important for us to observe the following passages of scripture, and contemplate soberly what is implied, for it has direct meaning for every Christian living in this generation, where the evening shadows of this earth’s history are drawing nigh. Let’s read:

Genesis 13:1   And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 

  13:2   And Abram [was] very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

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

  23:2   And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same [is] Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 

  23:3   And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 

  23:4   I [am] a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. 

  23:5   And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, 

  23:6   Hear us, my lord: thou [art] a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.

 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. 

  11:9   By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 

  11:10   For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God. 

11:16  “Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

So let’s begin by establishing from the word of God, the fact that many thousands of human beings living in the last generation may never die, for like Abraham, we are just pilgrims passing through this earth, on a brief probationary period, and headed for a better world. Many of us have lost sight of the sacred truths we are about to study, and because of this we have now become obsessed with retirement savings accounts, 401k’s, and the like, as if the focus of our lives is to retire in ease and contentment. But the fact is that very many Christians will be alive when Jesus comes and they will be translated to heaven without ever passing through the portals of the tomb. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 4:16   For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

  4:17   Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

  4:18   Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

1st Corinthians 15:51   Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 

  15:52   In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Moses, like all of us was, born in sin and shapen in iniquity, and although the Bible gives us just a few highlights of his stay in Egypt, yet the sacred record says that he had problems and weaknesses just like any other human being, and he sinned many times in his life, and he also needed to be forgiven just like any other person. But the scriptures reveal that Moses had a nagging problem with his temper, a problem that surfaced from time to time when he was pushed to the edge by the murmuring and complaining of the Hebrews. Also when grievous and blatant sins were committed by them, he sometimes got angry, and did things which he would not otherwise have done under different circumstances. Let’s read:

Exodus 2:11   And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 

  2:12   And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that [there was] no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 

  2:13   And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 

  2:14   And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. 

Exodus 32:17   And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, [There is] a noise of war in the camp. 

  32:18   And he said, [It is] not the voice of [them that] shout for mastery, neither [is it] the voice of [them that] cry for being overcome: [but] the noise of [them that] sing do I hear. 

  32:19   And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. 

This problem with anger, if not controlled in every volatile situation, is that it could cause Christians to say and do things that can do great harm to the cause of God, and cause the religion of Christ to be brought into disrepute. In all situations and under all circumstances the Christian must maintain his cool, for the devil will push us to the very limits of sanity if we let him. This is exactly what took place with Moses, when after many long years of dealing with the turbulent minds of the people under his care, he finally gave way, and in a burst of rage, publicly disobeyed what God had instructed him to do, in speaking to the rock to bring forth water for the clamoring multitudes. Let’s read:

Numbers 20:7   And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 

  20:8   Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 

  20:9   And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 

  20:10   And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 

  20:11   And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also]. 

What follows next is of great importance to every Christian living in this generation, upon whom the end of the world is fast approaching, for it speaks volumes to the sins which easily beset us from time to time, which if not permanently overcome, will cause us to come under the domain of death, just like Moses. What is worthy of note is that none of the previous outbursts of anger which led Moses to sin, would have prevented him from withstanding the advance of death, for all his prior sins had been completely forgiven and washed away. But this one specific instance did him in, and for that reason he was laid to rest. Let’s read:

  Numbers 20:12   And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 

Deuteronomy 32:48   And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, 

  32:49   Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, [unto] mount Nebo, which [is] in the land of Moab, that [is] over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: 

  32:50   And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: 

  32:51   Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. 

It’s very important for us to know that Moses did not die of old age or of natural causes, for the Bible specifically states that his natural force was not abated, meaning that he was just as strong at 120 years as when he was much younger. Furthermore, the Bible tells us that Christ came down to resurrect Moses not long after his death, where He had an exchange of words with satan who was guarding Moses’ tomb. And therefore, there are two very important questions which need to be urgently answered as they pertain to the death of Moses: (1) Why was satan guarding his tomb? And (2) What caused his death? If these two questions are answered correctly, they will shed much light on whether many of us will pass under the domain of death, or whether we will never die. Let’s read line upon line with an understanding heart, and a teachable spirit:

  Deuteronomy 34:5  So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.    34:6   And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. 

  34:7   And Moses [was] an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. 

Isaiah 49:24   Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? 

  49:25   But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered” ….

  Isaiah 14:12   How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 

14:16   They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee, [saying, Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 

  14:17   [That] made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; [that] opened not the house of his prisoners? 

Jude 1:9   Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 

Romans 6:23   For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Matthew  17:1   And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 

17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 

  17:3   And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 

  17:4   Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 

Some of us Christians, like Moses, have some nagging problems that surface from time to time in our experiences, yet we too have been completely forgiven, and our sins washed away by the blood of The Lamb. But as we draw closer to the throne of God, and are granted greater revelations of God’s perfect character, it becomes necessary that a corresponding growth in grace also take place, so that our faith and practice may be in sync. Like Moses too, we have the prospect of living eternally without ever dying, but we will need to live by the grace and power of God, victoriously each day, until the character of Christ is fully formed within us.

The 144,000 who will be translated from this earth without ever seeing death will have some mortal battles with sin and self to fight and overcome, and like it was with Moses, the devil is sure to turn up the heat several notches in order to cause us to slip. Not everyone has the same problem to battle with, for the 144,000 will be made up of those of us who have had various, serious weaknesses, yet were victorious through the grace and strength of The Living Christ.

For instance, some Christians who will comprise that number will like Moses, have had a problem with anger management, by which they had been tempted to say and do things that are contrary to the character of God, yet by earnest prayer and severe self-denial, will have gotten the victory over sin and self. Let’s read:

Revelation 7:2   And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 

  7:3   Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our

God in their foreheads. 

 Revelation 7:7   Of the tribe of Simeon [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi [were] sealed twelve thousand” …..

Did we hear correctly when the Bible says that

some Christians who had characteristics similar to Simeon and Levi would be translated without seeing death? These two brothers were renowned for their anger and violence, in so much that Jacob, when uttering his final blessings to his sons, was moved to also include a curse upon their anger. Let’s read:

Genesis 49:5   Simeon and Levi [are] brethren; instruments of cruelty [are in] their habitations. 

  49:6   O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. 

  49:7   Cursed [be] their anger, for [it was] fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. 

Genesis 34:2   And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

  34:5   And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come. 

  34:7   And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard [it]: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done. 

34:25   And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. 

  34:26   And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of

Shechem's house, and went out. 

34:30   And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I [being] few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. 

Before we continue, let’s take a little detour to observe something deep in the Bible as it pertains to these two brothers who were prone to anger and violence. In the book of Revelation, twelve thousand of their spiritual descendents, or people with similar characteristics are said to have gotten the victory over their tempers, and therefore will be translated to heaven without seeing death. But this victory came the hard way, through severe internal conflicts and trusting wholly to the power of God and the merits of Christ. The Bible says that it must be studied line upon line, and for good reason. Let’s read:

Genesis 29:33   And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I [was] hated, he hath therefore given me this [son] also: and she called his name Simeon. 

  29:34   And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 

Genesis 42:6   And Joseph [was] the governor over the land, [and] he [it was] that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him [with] their faces to the earth. 

  42:7   And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. 

  42:8   And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

42:13   And they said, Thy servants [are] twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest [is] this day with our father, and one [is] not.

  42:24   And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. 

Numbers 25:6   And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who [were] weeping [before] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 

  25:7   And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw [it], he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; 

  25:8   And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.

Question: How many sons did Jacob have?

Amswer: Twelve.

Question: How many of those brothers were noted for their anger management problems:

Answer: Two

Question: How many apostles did Christ choose for himself?

Answer: Twelve.

Question: Of the twelve apostle of Christ, were there two brothers who were noted for their fiery tempers, who had a problem with anger too?

Answer: Yes. They were James and John. Let’s read:

Mark 3:14   And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 

  3:15   And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: 

  3:16   And Simon he surnamed Peter; 

  3:17   And James the [son] of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder.

Luke  9:49   And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 

  9:50   And Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not: for he that is not against us is for us. 

  9:51   And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 

  9:52   And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 

  9:53   And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 

  9:54   And when his disciples James and John saw [this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 

  9:55   But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 

  9:56   For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save [them]. And they went to another village.

Question: In Revelation chapter seven, how many Christians will be sealed and translated to heaven without seeing death?

Answer: 144,000.

Question: is that number divisible by twelve?

Answer: Yes.

Question: How many of that number would have had the same characteristics like those two re-occurring brothers?

Answer: Twelve thousand.

Last question: How is it that the number Twelve keeps on recurring throughout the history of God’s people, even down to our day when twelve thousand of each spiritual tribe will be sealed? Let’s read:

Matthew 19:28   And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

But anger management is not the only problem that some Christians have, for others can control their tempers while others may have a problem with sexual sins and desires that are entirely contrary to God’s revealed will, yet many of them will overcome and live victoriously in the last days, and for that reason they too will be translated to heaven without seeing death. Satan does not as a general rule of thumb waste time tempting us on sins which do not faze us, for it’s usually one, or maybe two weaknesses that keep tripping us up. Let’s read:

Revelation  7:5   “Of the tribe of Reuben [were] sealed twelve thousand”.

Did we hear correctly when the Bible says that some people with characteristics such as Reuben, will never see death? Rueben was not perfect by any means, for he too had to do severe battle with internal and external sexual sins, lusts, and evil thoughts and desires which carried on a military campaign against his soul. Yet, through the grace and the power of Christ, overcame and lived victoriously on a continual basis. Let’s read:

Genesis 30:14   And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes. 

    30:16   And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night. 

Genesis 49:1   And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you [that] which shall befall you in the last days. 

  49:2   Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. 

  49:3   Reuben, thou [art] my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: 

  49:4   Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou [it]: he went up to my couch. 

In our day, those who will be translated to heaven without seeing death will have very specific sins that they must overcome if they would not pass under the domain of death, hence the reason why the death of Moses should be studied closely, so that we too do not make similar mistakes. The habit of only confessing the sins we have committed is grossly insufficient for the days in which we live, for now is the time when we should be confessing and forsaking those sins which we did not actually do, but were harbored and pondered in the dark recesses of our minds. And it’s for this reason why the following scriptures are given, so that we will not be misled as to what constitutes real victory in the spiritual realm. Let’s read:

Hebrews 12:1   Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

  12:2   Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

  12:3   For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 

Revelation 3:21   To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 

  3:22   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 

May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word, for the time is at hand. God bless!