Beware Of The Counterfeit Jesus. Sabbath Afternoon 02/11/2017

The scriptures make plain to us that there is a true Jesus, and there’s a counterfeit, because for every good thing God has provided for humanity, the evil one has produced a counterfeit. For instance, there is a true Sabbath, and a false; there is God-ordained baptism, and then there is sprinkling; there is true repentance, and then there’s counterfeit sorrow for sin, such as Esau’s and Judas’; there is true healing, through the supernatural power of Christ, and then there are counterfeit miracles; there is also a God- given diet, and then there are alternatives which fall short of His ideal for us.

There is true worship, and then there is counterfeit worship that is not acceptable to God. There is the true Holy Ghost, and there is a counterfeit spirit in many churches, who is accepted as the real deal. Then there is speaking in tongues, and there is false speaking in tongues. There is wealth given by God, and then there are riches given by satan. There are true disciples, and there are false disciples. And the list goes on and on and on.

There are true preachers, and then there are many counterfeit preachers who specialize in prophesying smooth things, who can also be identified by their willingness to suppress inconvenient truths that are not palatable to the multitudes, but instead present doctrines, and teachings tailormade for itching ears. The same is also true of Christ, as He is portrayed in the scriptures, for there is a true Jesus, and there is a false Christ brought to view. For every good thing God has given there is a counterfeit. Let us examine several examples of the true and the false. Let’s read:

On repentance:
2nd Corinthians 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Matthew 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. 
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

On worship:
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Psalms 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

On Wealth and prosperity:
Deuteronomy 8:11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments’ and his judgments, and his statutes.
12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses;
13 And when thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 
14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God. 
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 
18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.

Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

On miracles:
John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

On speaking in tongues:
Acts 2:1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

1st Corinthians 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

On ministers and televangelists: 
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

2nd Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

2nd Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 
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. 

This brings us to the core of our study, for it is quite evident that there are counterfeits for every good thing God has given. The same is true with Christ, for very many Christians are now following a Jesus who is not endorsed in the scriptures. Therefore, our narrative begins in the little town of Galilee, by the seaside, where several thousand men, women, and little children, have gathered to hear the words of Christ, as He teaches, and heals the diseases of the people, en-masse. Every known, and unknown type of disease and affliction is brought to Jesus, and He heals them all.

Finally, late in the evening, after hearing the words of Christ, and after witnessing His miracles all day, they are now ready to be dispersed, but Jesus tells them to wait, for they were hungry, and needed to be fed. The multitude is seated in groups of fifty, and before their eyes, a miracle takes place which leaves them dumb-founded, for Jesus takes a few loaves of bread, and two fishes, and now feeds the entire multitude until all are satisfied.

This miracle finally seals the deal in the minds of the multitude, for this is the Jesus they were looking for since He can cure every type of disease, He can also provide unlimited groceries, thus putting Walmart, and Publix out of business, He can cast out demons, He can control the weather bringing global warming to a halt, and He can defeat their foes, such as the Romans, whose rule over them had been deeply resented. In their excitement, they try to seize this Jesus to make a king, but for some unknown reason He refuses. 

Thinking that is was His mild manners which were moving Him to refuse, they presently resort to force to make Jesus their king, but again He refuses, and then, in a demonstration of divine authority He had not exhibited before, He commands the multitude to disperse. From there He departs alone up into a mountain and spends the entire night in prayer and bitter crying, because a great misunderstanding of His primary mission to the human family has taken
deep root in the minds of the people.

This misunderstanding must be signally, and quickly uprooted, lest the Jesus the multitude is expecting, is not the one endorsed in the scriptures. Thus, it is from this point we take up the narrative in the Bible because from here on out, very great changes in the attitudes, commitments, and excitements of many people, are going to disclose their real purpose in desiring the Jesus of their imagination, for it will be discovered that it’s not Jesus, but Santa Claus they were looking for. Let’s read:

John 6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 
27 Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 
30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

It’s funny that the people would ask for additional signs, for they had both experienced, and eaten the signs the previous day. But Christ’s request that they believe on Him raises serious questions as to the nature of His kingdom, whether it is spiritual or temporal in nature, and so the discourse continues.

John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

When the multitude finally realized that Christ’s kingdom was spiritual in nature, and that the health wealth gospel was not His primary reason for His visit to our planet, a disturbing change of attitude began to surface, and soon escalated to the point of total rejection of Christ, for if He would not exercise His power to benefit them materially, then they would have nothing to do with Him. Let’s read: 

John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when
they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Now, it is not that The Lord does not take a deep interest in our temporal affairs, but He is gravely concerned with the way in which many Christians have made the physical, and material concerns of life, all-absorbing, to the point where the work of salvation, and our personal relationship with Him, hinges directly on guaranteed, material blessings. Whenever this is the case, our priorities become reversed, and the loaves and the fishes are the main reason for our commitment to Him. This order of priority must then be signally reversed. Let’s read:

Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? 
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

A very interesting, and important commentary is written by the servant of the Lord, pertaining to this very incident, and it’s ramifications to the close of time, for very many Christians in our day have been taught to expect, and accept, a Jesus of our own desires, and not the One brought to light in the scriptures. This is the reason why, in many minds, the relationship with Christ is tethered to material blessings primarily, whilst the work of salvation, and cleansing us from all unrighteousness, sits idly by on the back-burner. Let’s read: 

"Christ had spoken a sacred, eternal truth regarding the relation between Himself and His followers. He knew the character of those who claimed to be His disciples, and He declared that they were to believe and act upon His teaching. All who received Him would partake of His nature, and be conformed to His character. This involved the relinquishment of their cherished ambitions. It required the complete surrender of themselves to Jesus. The test was too great. The enthusiasm of those who had sought to take Him by force and make Him king grew cold.

In their minds His words were a direct confession that no earthly rewards were to be realized from connection with Him. They had welcomed His miracle-working power; they were eager to be freed from disease and suffering; but they would not come into sympathy with His self-sacrificing life. 

They were greatly displeased, and wishing to wound the Savior, they turned their backs upon Him, and left Him with disdain. They had made their choice,—had taken the form without the spirit, the husk without the kernel. Their decision was never afterward reversed; for they walked no more with Jesus". [D.A pp 391>392].

This brings us to a few soul-searching questions which ought to be addressed by each, and every follower of The Lord Jesus: [1] Is our relationship with Christ primarily based on the material blessings He bestows? And if so, are we too, also in danger of switching sides, if these blessings were removed for any reason? [2] Do we love Jesus because of His character, because of who He is, or because of what we may get from Him? In other words, if the reward of heaven was removed, would it be still worthwhile to follow Christ in the principles displayed in His life. 

If the glories, and riches of heaven were removed, would it then be preferable, and acceptable to lie, steal, and commit adultery? [3] What is our real motivation for accepting Christ as Lord and Savior? To be cleansed and saved, or to be delivered from our financial hardships and diseases? Our answers to these questions, and others like them, determine to a great extent whether we will accept the mark of the beast, or whether we will follow where Christ has led the way.

Thus, in closing there are some passages from the Bible, and from the pen of inspiration, pertaining to these issues, which it will do us well to ponder very seriously, as we look forward to the future. Let’s read: 

Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 
27 Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 

[G.C pp 624>626] As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Savior's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. [Revelation 1:13-15.] 

The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air., “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands, and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed his disciples when he was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody.
 
In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Savior uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed.

By the sifting of temptation, the genuine Christian will be revealed. As the decree issued by the various rulers of Christendom against commandment-keepers shall withdraw the protection of government, and abandon them to those who desire their destruction, the people of God will flee from the cities and villages, and associate together in companies, dwelling in the most desolate and solitary places. Many will find refuge in the strongholds of the mountains. Like the Christians of the Piedmont valleys, they will make the high places of the earth their sanctuaries, and will thank God for the “munitions of rocks.” [Isaiah 33:16.]

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him ….. The mark of the beast is also 666. Think about it! 

                                                                        God bless! 
 

Our Need Of The Savior. Sabbath Afternoon. 02/04/2017

The following blogs are just a sample, out of very many written in 2016 pertaining to distress that would come upon the land. They are lifted directly from our Facebook page.

Bro Mac
July 8, 2016 · 
A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four corners of the earth. Great distress is coming our way, and because man can only offer external solutions to an internal problem, the Bible predicts a deepening of what we are now seeing, not only nationally, but internationally. We will all like to believe that from here on out, we can live happily ever after, but those who speak and preach along those lines, may not be aware that we are living on the brink of eternity.

Bro Mac
July 8, 2016 · 
A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four corners of the earth. Great distress is coming our way soon. We have exchanged creation for evolution, we have exchanged God for Darwin, we have exchanged Christ for Baal, and many have now erroneously concluded that there is not a Supreme God to whom we will have to answer one day. Here's a gentle reminder: It's not necessary for a person to be a Christian, to fall under God's jurisdiction, for all of us are His by creation, and redemption.

Bro Mac
July 14, 2016 · 
A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four corners of the earth. Great changes are coming our way soon. The remedies and solutions that are being administered are not working, because man does not have the answers for the internal problem of sin.

Bro Mac
July 17, 2016 · 
A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four angels standing at the four corners of the earth! Great changes are coming our way soon. Before national healing can occur, national repentance, confession, and a turning away from the evils we know of, must take place.

Bro Mac
October 13, 2016 · 
Short commentary on Ezekiel 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh"... Man's way of dealing with the moral issues plaguing our society, and the political arena, is to offer external solutions to internal problems, and thus man-made systems try to work from the outside in. God's way is exactly the opposite, for He works from the inside out, as is manifested in the above passage. Any permanent solutions to solve our moral barrenness must come from Christ alone, and therefore we conclude that it's not so much a change of political leaders that we need, but rather a change of heart. This leads us to our Bible study for this evening: ....

                                                        Our Need Of The Savior.
                                                            Sabbath Afternoon
                                                                   02/04/2017

The Bible teaches us that after the fall of our first parents, human nature took a natural bias to sin, and ever since that fateful day, all who have ever been born on this planet have had to deal with the issue, which manifests itself in a desire to seek our own interests first. It’s important to note that God does not hold our weaknesses, and frailties against us, but instead shows us the only solution found in, and through Christ. Thus, our need of The Savior is not based upon any particular, or singular act of sin, but rather salvation from our inherent sinful nature.

In other words, as descendants of Adam, we do not have to do anything wrong per se` in order to be in need of Christ, all that’s necessary is to be born. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches us that there isn’t anyone who has ever lived on the earth, without sinning, except Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life from birth to death, and beyond. This statement is confirmed in the Bible, and sets the stage for every individual who accepts him, to become like Him in nature. Several passages thus deal with the issue. Let’s read:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. 

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered
into the world, so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 

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.

One of the main tragedies of popular contemporary Christianity, is that the moral compass God gave to the world has been eroded, and in the process, the absolute truth contained in God’s law has now been made subjective, paving the way for many variable standards of right and wrong which do change from person to person, and from culture to culture, in so much that gay marriage, seems quite repugnant to some, while to others it seems perfectly normal and acceptable. 

Another by-product of the erosion of absolute truth is that the definition of sin has become so blurred that, our need of The Savior is now unwarranted to many minds, for if we believe we have never done anything wrong, then we wouldn’t see our need of God’s forgiveness and salvation. Thus, the stage will be set for our own forms of righteousness to be all– sufficient, and the grace and mercy provided in and through Christ will seem unnecessary.

However, our perceptions of righteousness do not alter the facts in any way, for the Bible states that God only accepts the perfect righteousness found in Christ, which is in turn given as a free gift to every person who believes in Him. But this sacred truth is often disputed in the minds of some, and is specially challenged by the teachings of moral neutrality, in which a person is not designated as a sinner in need of help, until he or she has actually done something wrong. Our need of the savior is not based on doing wrong, but on being born in a state of sin, because of what has been passed down genetically from the father of our race.

Thus, to illustrate this point more clearly, we turn to a chapter in the life of Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, who became pregnant with un-indentical twins. As her pregnancy wore on, she became quite puzzled by a phenomena taking place inside her womb, and in sheer desperation, she seeks an answer from God. As we read and observe, we should keep in mind what the scripture says specifically on the issue in question, for it transcends doing right or wrong, but instead confronts the reality of our sinful nature, even without any specific wrong actions. Let’s read: 

Genesis 25:21 And Isaac entreated the Lord for his  wife, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 
22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord. 
23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. 
24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 
25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob.

Now it is obvious from the passages above that the two fetuses were fighting continually, over what we do not know, and even when they were being born, the fighting continued. For some reason they could not get along in the womb, and their struggles did not cease at birth, but continued through later life, in so much that they had to be separated, the one from the other. Now, let’s listen to what the Bible says about the period of their struggles, inside the womb. Let’s read:

Romans 9:10 When Rebecca also had conceived by our father Isaac; 
11 The children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil,
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

Question: How is it then, that they had not done anything wrong, but yet were fighting all day long? This brings us to a sobering truth about our need of The Savior, for sin does occur through deliberate or ignorant choice, but sinful nature is what, and who we are at the very core, and thus, it is not necessary to commit any particular sin, in order for us to be in need of God’s salvation through Christ. 

Furthermore, Jesus does not save us only from our particular sinful deeds, but from our nature, which produces the sinful thoughts and actions, even at times when we may be unconscious of doing wrong, like Esau and Jacob in the womb. This brings us to the highlight of the Bible study, because Christ has made ample provision for any, and every one to be saved eternally, through the simplest means.

It is not something we have to pay for, work at, or even receive through anything we may do. It is the free gift of Christ’s perfect righteousness, given to all who believe, and which produces an entirely new nature, thus fitting us for eternity, to live and dwell with perfect beings, in a perfect world. Let’s read:

Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith
speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? 
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? 
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
This is the good news of what God has done for all humanity through Christ, and it is the privilege of each person to access the free gift, so that we can be changed from the inside out. Let’s read: 

2nd Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

2nd Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

In the lives of all who have truly accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, very profound changes for the better will be observed. Those things which once motivated and animated us, lose their sting, and the customs, practices, standards, values, and morals which in times past had guided our decisions, and choices, will be changed, not because we stopped doing wrong and started doing right, but because a new nature has been implanted in us, through the power of Christ dwelling within. Let’s read:

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

[The Desire of Ages. pp 324] When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan.

In closing, it is our hope and prayer that everyone will see their need of Christ and His righteousness, and make the appropriate response by accepting the simple provision made for each person to live forever. Man-made forms of righteousness are all tainted with self, in one way or another, and thus, if we desire to be changed at the core, it will become necessary to follow the words of wisdom, found in our last passage. Let’s read:

Philippians 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: 
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection.

                                                                    God bless!

The "Big Bang" Theory. Sabbath Afternoon. 01/28/2017.

The “Big Bang” theory, which is now taught in most schools, seeks to account for the formation, and the expansion of the universe, beginning with a colossal explosion, which then set in motion, the formation of sub-atomic particles, and later on, simple atoms. Now, according to this theory, large clouds of these original elements later combined through the force of gravity in halos of dark matter, forming the stars and galaxies we see today. This, in a nutshell is the Big bang theory, which as stated before, attempts to account for the formation of our world, and the universe.

The Bible however, gives a quite different account of how the universe, and our planet came to be, and sums it up in one short verse given in the first book of Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”. Over the years, many people have sought to explain creation, and the big bang theory using science, but today we will explore the reasoning behind the theory, so that it may be followed to its logical conclusion.

There are certain fundamentals with this school of thought which must be highlighted, for when they are properly observed, will cause us to be gravely concerned, if proven true. [1] According to the big bang theory, the formation of the universe was an accident that just happened, without any intelligent supervision or input. This is the foremost element in the ideology, which scares the daylights out of me, simply because of how it happened, ….. “Bang”. 

Accidents do happen, so if this were true, it is quite possible that another accident could occur at any time, without prior warning, and without planning. The possibility of such an occurrence on this scale makes for a very uncertain and capricious future, because we may wake up one morning, and “Bang” new creatures, or “little green men” can appear out of nowhere, since, as the big bang theory suggests, colossal incidents, which can change the course of history and nature as we know it, can occur without any intelligent input or supervision. 

Thus the idea of an accident is the core concept at the foundation of the big bang theory, and if, as is commonly accepted, we came here by accident, we may die by accident, which leads us to an important second, observation about the theory. 
[2] The absence of intelligence, and intention. If, as is purported, this colossal accident occurred merely by chance, then the conclusion is that there was no intelligent input, or supervision. The idea that there was no intelligence, and intention, is quite contrary to conventional, scientific modes of thought, which always seek a reason for everything. For instance, many parents have told their kids that Santa Claus comes down the chimney at Christmas time, and delivers his gifts in stockings, around the Christmas tree, and then leaves without a trace.

But they will never say, bang the gifts appeared out of nowhere, without intelligent input, or intention. And science will not accept that explanation, for it will conclude that someone must have put the gifts there, intentionally. This issue of a person takes us to our third observation about the big bang theory.

[3] The absence of a Person. The big bang theory, as well as the theory of evolution both stress the non-involvement of a person, but rather the out-working of natural laws without interference from a Person. Now, if we were to go with this line of reasoning it’ll be virtually impossible to account for the intricate working of the human mind, complete with abilities such as critical thinking, judgment, and the ability to differentiate between right, and wrong, as well as the ability to dream. 

It’s very difficult to believe that all of these abilities just happened as a result of an accidental explosion, which was void of intelligence and intention. And in addition to this, we have the recurrence of the four seasons of the year, which run their courses at the scheduled, opportune time, to cause fruit, grain and vegetation to bud in the spring, and produce in the summer. The scripture states unequivocally, that behind all the systematic working of nature, stands a Majestic, Omnipotent, and loving God who orders nature, and the laws of nature intentionally for the good of His people. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 
13 And the evening and the morning were the third day. 
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over all the earth. 
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed. 

Then there is the issue of time which affects every person. Science confirms that our month is a unit of time, based on the revolution of the moon around the earth, a period of about 29.53 days. Science also confirms that our day is a unit of time, based on one complete revolution of the earth around the sun. That’s all well and good!

But where did our seven-day week come from, and how is it that we just “accidentally” ended up with 7? There are no orderly movements in the heavens, or even in the earth which mark off a specific period of seven days, so, if an intelligent Person was never involved, how then did our calendars get to seven days in one week? Why not eight, or twelve, since according to science it’s all by accident? This takes us two investigations on time as narrated by the Bible writers, in which everyone living on the planet at the time, was affected.

Five nations have consulted together, and they have decided to wipe the Hebrew nation off of the map. And Joshua, as Israel’s visible leader is drawn into battle. His army fights against the enemies, but they soon realize that they are running out of daylight hours, and so he petitions the God of heaven to do the unthinkable, by apparently halting the normal rotation of the earth around the sun, so that the daylight hours could be extended, and so that they could take care of unfinished business, and the rest is history. Let’s read:

Joshua 10:12 Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. 
14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man.

2nd Kings 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. 
2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, 
3 I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 
4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out
into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 
5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord. 
6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. 
8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the Lord the third day? 
9 And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? 
10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
 

Some estimates have put the equivalent time of ten degrees, as being approximately forty minutes. Now if such an occurrence was to take place in the 20th century it would produce tremendous ripple effects, for bank employees would have to work extra, thus triggering overtime pay the banks had not intended. We ourselves, usually put our Face-book friends on notice, before doing our weekly Bible starting at  5:00 pm est. Now, if after sending out the notice at 4:20 pm, we arrived twenty minutes later, only to find the church clock reading 4:00 pm, we would be gravely concerned. And so, it was no small miracle which then took place, but something major, which pertained to time here on earth, and which did not pass unnoticed by surrounding nations. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 20:11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. 
12 At that time, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

[Prophets & Kings pp.344] In the fertile valleys of the Tigris and the Euphrates there dwelt an ancient race which, though at that time subject to Assyria, was destined to rule the world. Among its people were wise men who gave much attention to the study of astronomy; and when they noticed that the shadow on the sundial had been turned back ten degrees, they marveled greatly. Their king, upon learning that this miracle had been wrought as a sign to the king of Judah that the God of heaven had granted him a new lease of life, sent ambassadors to Hezekiah to congratulate him on his recovery and to learn, if possible, more of the God who was able to perform so great a wonder.

Therefore, the choices we have as it pertains to the creation of the universe, our planet, and indeed our own selves are one out of only two: We can believe that an accident produced, and set in motion all the things we accept as normal and recurring, or we can believe that intelligence, intention, supervision, and ongoing control of natural laws, is the work of The Supreme God of the universe. If however, we were to choose the latter, the least we can do is to get to know Him, for which child does not desire to know his/her parents?

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which summarizes the creation of the universe, and our world, teaches us that God is much nearer to us than many people know, and also teaches us the appropriate response to Him, since we are held responsible for our choices and actions. Paul is addressing not only the people of ancient Athens, but rather the inhabitants of the entire world, who need to know that a loving God has done, and is doing everything for our best good, through Jesus Christ. Let’s read:

Acts 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 
25 Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: 

We sincerely hope and pray, that as we weigh the evidences of creation, versus the mere theory of evolution, that we will respond appropriately, by at least getting to know more of the God of the Bible, for in Him our eternal future, and our well-being are centered.

                                                                  God bless!

The Call Of Abraham. Sabbath Afternoon. 01/21/2017

Some Christians make the mistake that the call from God involves a smooth path with no serious hurdles or difficulties to surmount. This is one of the by-products of the health/ wealth gospel that has now almost saturated modern Christianity. When God called Abraham, things were going good for him, from a financial, and temporal perspective, for he was well established in his hometown of Chaldea, and he had the support of family and friends, so that if any adverse circumstances were to come his way he would have a social structure to lean upon. 

However, the call of God would take him to a land of strangers, to a people who were averse to God and righteousness, and where, to all appearances, he would have no safety net in the likes of kindred, and acquaintances. Yet it was important for him to leave his hometown, if God’s purposes for his life were to be fulfilled, because it is often the case that family, and friends exert influences over Christians, which could have quite a deleterious effect on our relationship with Jesus Christ, and consequently our spiritual development. 

The reason for this is because true Christians live by a mode of thought and action that is based on faith in God, and obedience to His words, even in times when, to all appearances, it makes no sense to trust God. This mode of thought puts us at great odds with the secular mind, which bases its decisions on logical reasoning, and limitations set by science, and by finite minds. 

For instance, if at the next funeral someone was to pray that God would resurrect the dead one, if it’s His will, most of the congregants would be greatly alarmed by such a request, and may conclude that the petitioner has gone of their rockers. 

But with the true Christian, such a request does not appear to be far-fetched, nor outside the realm of possibility, for he believes that nothing is impossible with God, and therefore, where a secular mind may expect death, defeat, and failure, because of the limits of logic and science, the Christian sees total success and tremendous possibility, because of the omnipotent power of God. Let’s read:

Mark 5:22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 
23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 
24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 
39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 
40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 
41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 
42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

Thus it was with Abraham, for if he were to remain amongst family and friends of an unbelieving mind-set, the exercise and the development of his faith would be corrupted, and inhibited by the influences of those who were subject to finite thresholds. As a matter of fact, this is one of the primary reasons why God instructs His people not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for their mode of thought, and action are diametrically opposed to those who believe. Let’s read:

Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 
4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Now, the logical, human reasoning would expect, that since it was God who called Abraham to leave the comforts, and securities of his hometown, that everything would be smooth sailing. Here is where many Christians stumble for some have been misled into thinking that God’s call to follow Christ includes a guarantee against all adverse circumstances that may arise. It is true that the promises of God do provide shelter from the storms of life, but they absolutely do not guarantee that there won’t be any storms. Let’s read:

Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 
3 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. 

In the Christian’s life, there will be times when the logical reasoning of the serpent will be whispered in our ears, and we would have opportunity to doubt, if we are so inclined. But the fact that Jesus Christ has called us to be His followers should be evidence enough to sustain our faith in times of danger, or adversity, for He has made a solemn promise to never leave us, nor forsake us. 

With Abraham, this solemn truth became a living reality, when after leaving financial stability, and social security, in the obedience of faith, a deadly famine came upon the land, and threatened his entire household with starvation. Now here was so-called logical reason to doubt, and turn back, for at this time, the land of the Chaldees, his native home country was brim full with bread, milk, and honey. 

Thus, the serpent begins his diabolical reasoning: [1] If it is God who called you, how is it that your household, and flocks are now facing starvation? Wouldn’t a loving, intelligent God, who knows the end from the beginning, have made prior provision for you? [2] Abraham, are you sure it was God who called you in the first place, or was it a figment of your imagination that you misinterpreted as the voice of God? 

[3] Since things are not turning out the way you’ve expected, isn’t it time to turn back to your native land, instead of “Waiting in vain”, like Bob Marley, the Canaanite once sang? [4] And what about the kids Abraham? Do you really mean to say that it is God’s will that the kids be also threatened with starvation, especially since the department of children and families can fine you for putting them at risk? 

This is the same type of infernal logic which was presented to Christ as starvation took its toll on Him. Would The Father allow His dear Son to suffer such tremendous pangs of hunger? And if so, isn’t it time to reach for plan B, or better yet, alternatives which will involve disobedience? Let’s read:

[The Desire Of Ages. pp118>119] Would God treat His own Son thus? Would He leave Him in the desert with wild beasts, without food, without companions, without comfort? He insinuates that God never meant His Son to be in such a state as this. “If Thou be the Son of God,” show Thy power by relieving Thyself of this pressing hunger. It was Satan's purpose to cause Him to doubt that word. If Christ's confidence in God could be shaken, Satan knew that the victory in the whole controversy would be his. 

He hoped that under the force of despondency and extreme hunger Christ would lose faith in His Father and work a miracle in His own behalf. One of the most powerful of the angels, he says, has been banished from heaven. The appearance of Jesus indicates that He is that fallen angel, forsaken by God, and deserted by man. A divine being would be able to sustain his claim by working a miracle; “if Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.” 

Such an act of creative power, urges the tempter, would be conclusive evidence of divinity. Not without a struggle could Jesus listen in silence to the arch-deceiver. But the Son of God was not to prove His divinity to Satan, or to explain the reason of His humiliation.

And the reasons, and logic can go on, and on. But the single most important question resting with Abraham, is whether he will stay the course with God, through the good times, and bad, or whether he will serve and obey God, only when he can get a guarantee of uninterrupted material blessings, or at least a reasonable explanation of what in the world is going on. 

This is the burning question which must be settled in the heart of each Christian, as the time of trouble looms large on the horizon, for it is satan’s steadfast purpose, if possible, to starve Christians to death, or at least to force us into disobedience, through our need of food. Thus it was with Abraham. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 128>130] Abraham continued to journey southward, and again his faith was tested. The heavens withheld their rain, the brooks ceased to flow in the valleys, and the grass withered on the plains. The flocks and herds found no pasture, and starvation threatened the whole encampment. Did not the patriarch now question the leadings of Providence? Did he not look back with longing to the plenty of the Chaldean plains?

All were eagerly watching to see what Abraham would do, as trouble after trouble came upon him. So long as his confidence appeared unshaken, they felt that there was hope; they were assured that God was his Friend, and that He was still guiding him. Abraham could not explain the leadings of Providence; he had not realized his expectations; but he held fast the promise, “I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.”

 With earnest prayer he considered how to preserve the life of his people and his flocks, but he would not allow circumstances to shake his faith in God's word. To escape the famine he went down into Egypt. He did not forsake Canaan or in his extremity turn back to the Chaldean land from which he came, where there was no scarcity of bread; but he sought a temporary refuge as near as possible to the Land of Promise, intending shortly to return where God had placed him.

The Lord in His providence had brought this trial upon Abraham to teach him lessons of submission, patience, and faith, lessons that were to be placed on record for the benefit of all who should afterward be called to endure affliction. God leads His children by a way that they know not, but He does not forget or cast off those who put their trust in Him. He permitted affliction to come upon Job, but He did not forsake him. 

He allowed the beloved John to be exiled to lonely Patmos, but the Son of God met him there, and his vision was filled with scenes of immortal glory. God permits trials to assail His people, that by their constancy and obedience they themselves may be spiritually enriched, and that their example may be a source of strength to others. “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil.” Jeremiah 29:11. 

The very trials that task our faith most severely and make it seem that God has forsaken us, are to lead us closer to Christ, that we may lay all our burdens at His feet and experience the peace which He will give us in exchange. God has always tried His people in the furnace of affliction. It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross is separated from the true gold of the Christian character. Jesus watches the test; He knows what is needed to purify the precious metal, that it may reflect the radiance of His love. 

It is by close, testing trials that God disciplines His servants. He sees that some have powers which may be used in the advancement of His work, and He puts these persons upon trial; in His providence He brings them into positions that test their character, and reveal defects and weaknesses that have been hidden from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. 

He shows them their own weakness, and teaches them to lean upon Him; for He is their only help and safeguard. Thus His object is attained. They are educated, trained, and disciplined, prepared to fulfill the grand purpose for which their powers were given them. When God calls them to action, they are ready, and heavenly angels can unite with them in the work to be accomplished on the earth.

Soul searching, when done through the Holy Spirit can potentially dig up some dirt in our characters, which in many instances have been unknown to us. As a matter of fact, our real self is often manifested when trials, and unforeseen difficulties arise. Then it is revealed whether we will serve God because of who He is, or whether we may have predetermined thresholds that God is not permitted to cross. 

With some, the threshold point may be material blessings, for there are many who will serve God faithfully, only if the mortgage note, groceries, and other essential bills are taken care of. Then there are others who will follow Christ, only when their marriage, and family remain intact. With others, some pet peeve, or cherished idol is off-limits to The Holy Ghost, and whenever these are interfered with, for any reason, they draw back, and walk no more with Jesus. 

Thus, with many a Christian, the relationship with Christ may be currently tethered to some preset threshold, which if touched, or shaken by trials, causes the relation between themselves and God to crumble like the proverbial “House of cards”. Hence the reason why the following passage of scripture was penned for our sober consideration, as we now face existential threats to our social security, and peace. 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: 
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. 
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Note well, that the rain, floods and wind came upon both houses, however, the only difference was the foundation upon which each was built. Similarly with our relationship with Christ. If it is built upon a continual, uninterrupted provision of all material blessings, then when our hurricane season begins, and our Katrina start to come ashore, then our faith in God will be signally overturned, because it was tethered to material blessings. It’s because of these realities why a new approach to our commitment to Christ is now warranted. Let’s read:

 I, (Christian), take you, Jesus, to be my lawfully wedded (Savior), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

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

The Use Of Force. Sabbath Afternoon. 01/14/2017

The use of force is an issue that will confront every person in the very near future, so while we have the freedom to do so, it is important that we take the time to understand it’s import, especially because it pertains to the implementation of the mark of the beast. Satan’s kingdom is based on the use of force, and when contrasted with Christ’s modus operandi, a very stark difference can be seen. For instance, Christ is pictured in Bible as standing at our heart’s door, knocking, and hoping for entry. But since the door handle is on the inside, the choice is ours, to let Him in, or to keep Him out. 

But under no circumstances will He ever push down the door and force Himself upon an unwilling heart. This manner of working is characterized in His every
interaction with the human family, and there are several passages of scripture which demonstrate clearly, Christ’s respect for the freedom of choice He has given us; not as a right, but as a freedom. 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.

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. 
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak.

1st Samuel 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 
5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 
6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. 
7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 

9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us. 
20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 
52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 
53 And they did not receive him. 
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? 
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

However, in stark contrast to Christ’s manner of working, are satan’s methods, which are based on the use of force. For instance, satanic agencies will not hesitate to kick down the door of the heart, and force themselves upon one who hates them. He will take up residence in the mind of one who deeply resents his presence, and he is perfectly fine with that sort of arrangement. 

Hence the reason why the mark of the beast has as its core principle, “The use of force”, for he is willing to starve to death, anyone who does not worship according to his dictates, and if millions are forced into a false system of worship they deeply resent, he has no problem with that.

In civil matters in which the actions of one person adversely affects the lives of others, enforcement is warranted. For instance, the statutes made against speeding, drinking and driving, taxation, and orderly conduct, etc., are well and good, and Christians are duly instructed in the Bible to obey the laws of the land in which they dwell. But in those matters of conscience, such as one’s religious persuasions, the eating of kosher meats, and what one does in their bedroom, are matters between the individual and God, and although there are set consequences for our actions, yet God has given to each person, the freedom to choose.

Rape, martyrdom, competition, and abortion, each have as their core, operating principle, the use of force. Therefore, it is of critical importance for us as Christians, to abide by the principles, and methods employed by Christ, and never resort to coercing the conscience of any, who are unwilling to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. The methods employed by devils are summed up in precis form, by the servant of The Lord, and since we are on the very brink of the times spoken of in Revelation chapter 13, it will be good if we can understand the issues that are at stake. Let’s read:

[The Desire Of Ages. pp 435>436] The strife for the highest place was the outworking of that same spirit which was the beginning of the great controversy in the worlds above, and which had brought Christ from heaven to die. Had Lucifer really desired to be like the Most High, he would never have deserted his appointed place in heaven; for the spirit of the Most High is manifested in unselfish ministry. Lucifer desired God's power, but not His character. He sought for himself the highest place, and every being who is actuated by his spirit will do the same. Thus alienation, discord, and strife will be inevitable. Dominion becomes the prize of the strongest. The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force; every individual regards every other as an obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or a steppingstone on which he himself may climb to a higher place.

One of the reasons why we need to be very careful of the use of force, is because it is often paraded under the guise of achieving something good. But, in matters of conscience, something being good, in and of itself, does not warrant the use of force, for the freedom of choice should always be sacredly guarded by those in high and low places. When king Nebuchadnezzar was finally convinced that Christ is King in the heaven and earth, his acknowledgement of the fact was a good gesture. But then to threaten to cut folks in pieces if they spoke anything against God, was to employ satan’s core principle of force, in trying to achieve good. 

For example, as Christians, we would be overjoyed if there was voluntary prayer in schools, especially if those prayers were being made to Jesus Christ. But to try to force everyone to pray to Jesus is contrary to scriptural methods, even as praying is an upright practice. Similarly with worship, for it is good, and acceptable in the sight of God for created beings to worship Him, but to enforce good worship is just as bad as enforcing bad worship, since the use of force is the underlying, motive principle being employed. Let’s read:

During the last eight years of America’s history, it is a well-documented fact that some tried to force the conscience of Christians on alternative marriages, and gender issues, in so much that laws were made pertaining to “Bathrooms”. Now, on the flip side we need to be careful of going to the other extreme, by mandating our interpretation of righteousness, for satan works on both sides of the fence. To force evil or righteousness upon unwilling minds, is a product
satanic agencies, and it should be shunned like the plague. Let’s read:

Daniel 3: 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king,
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. 
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. 
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
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. 
22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, 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. 
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.
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. 
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

Thus, for our study today, we will delve into what many consider a very sensitive issue, as it pertains to the freedom of choice, and the use of force. It is now legal in several states to have abortions, and millions of people guard jealously, a woman’s right to choose. Now, it is true that God has given to man and to woman, the freedom of choice; however, no person, however miniscule, should be preemptively deprived of his, or her God given freedoms by any other individual, without their prior consent. 

However, we do acknowledge there are some gray areas, such as rape, incest, etc., in which God alone is the final arbiter. But what we must address is the overarching principle which now permits persons to use their own discretion in the taking of life.

This raises an important question in the discussion of a woman’s right to choose: “When does a person begin to exist? At the zygote, embryo, or fetal stage of development? And if the Biblical designation of a person begins at the zygote stage, then the real question to be answered is, “should that miniscule person be deprived preemptively of the freedom of choice? In other words, should the use of force, via abortion, be implemented, and by so doing, prevent the unborn person from ever exercising their God given freedom of choice? 

For answers, we turn to the scriptures, because the very essence of this same issue will soon be played out on the wider world stage, but in the context of religious liberty, as the issue of the enforcement of right or wrong worship takes center stage. In other words, if we were to conclude that a person has the freedom to kill another, based upon their personal assessments, or rationale, then we will also come to the very same conclusions when it pertains to the enforcement of a particular brand of worship. Thus, at main issue in this instance, is the moral law of God which says “Thou shalt not kill. Let’s read:

 
Your developing baby

First trimester (week 1-week 12)
 
Your baby's brain and spinal cord have begun to form.
The heart begins to form.
Arm and leg buds appear.
Your baby is now an embryo and one-twenty-fifth inch long.
At eight weeks:
All major organs and external body structures have begun to form.
Your baby's heart beats with a regular rhythm.
The arms and legs grow longer, and fingers and toes have begun to form.
The sex organs begin to form.
The eyes have moved forward on the face and eyelids have formed.
The umbilical cord is clearly visible.
At the end of eight weeks, your baby is a fetus and looks more like a human. Your baby is nearly 1 inch long and weighs less than one-eighth ounce.

Jeremiah 1:4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Luke 1:11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 
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. 
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 
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. 
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 
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: 
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women.
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

However, in some states, abortion is the law, and it is left up to the individual’s rationale to determine the application of God’s law which says “Thou shalt not kill”. But in the larger context, the same type of reasoning will be used, when it comes to another of God’s laws which says, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy”. If our personal or national rationale is made the determining factor in “Thou shalt not kill, then the same mode of thought and action will be implemented with “Remember the Sabbath day”. And thus, the use of force will be employed to enforce our own rationale, as it pertains to worship. Let’s read: 

Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 
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.

In closing, let us remember that when any person presumes to deny the God given freedoms which pertain to conscience, and one’s relationship with God, that person is thereby attempting to make himself a god, for the usurpation of God’s authority is akin to sitting in the seat of God. Thus, we close with a pertinent scripture against all such actions. Let’s read:
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

                                                                          God bless!

Healing Naaman, The Leper. Sabbath Afternoon 01/07/2017.

In His word, God has outlined a holistic approach to the restoration of mind and body, which must of necessity include our health and wellbeing. And the reason for this is because there is a close sympathy between the physical, and spiritual nature of man, and thus, if one aspect is not in a healthy condition, the other can be adversely affected. This past week, the senate voted to repeal Obamacare, and people have become quite concerned, because for some, accessing healthcare may be a daunting task.

Therefore, because we will be directly affected in one way or another by all the decisions of the new legislature, the time has come for us to investigate more closely the evidences and promises pertaining to healthcare, which God has given us in his word.

The four main concerns we have with any proposed health-care plan are: (1) Affordability, (2) Quality, (3) Accessibility, and (4) Coverage for preexisting conditions. These four concerns have already been addressed under the healthcare plan offered by Christ. The good news is that His plan also covers forgiveness of transgressions, and sins, two of the leading causes of diseases in the first place. Disease in most cases, is the result of violating spiritual and natural law, and since it makes no sense to be lost, whilst being healthy, God in His wisdom, and mercy covers both the renewal of mind, and body. Let’s read:

Psalms 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Our case study will focus on Naaman, the Syrian, who, of all people, was deemed a prime candidate for the manifestation of Christ’s miraculous healing power, much to the chagrin of many Hebrews who were suffering from the same deadly disease. The story begins with a little Hebrew slave, who worked in Naaman’s house, and who observed his constant suffering because of this debilitating disease. Thus, instead of focusing on her own plight, she suggests to Naaman, that there was a God-ordained prophet in Israel who could heal his malady. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 5:1Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper. 
2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. 
3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. 
4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

Now, as a preexisting condition, leprosy was always considered as an incurable disease, by the scientific community of the day, but the very designation of “Incurable” put people on a track of disbelief, for nothing is impossible with God. Thus, before we go any further, it’s important for us to at once dismiss the notion of any disease or malady being incurable, for, from the scriptural perspective that statement is simply not true. There is a cure for leprosy, for aids, for cancer, for diabetes, for the flu, and for every known, and every unknown affliction of man.

This leads us to the next chapter in saga of Naaman, for after hearing the incredibly good news of a cure for an incurable disease, the king of Syria sent out a letter to the king of Israel, requesting that his sick servant be healed. But the king of Israel becomes infuriated at the very suggestion, for, in his mind, the king of Syria must be looking to pick a fight with Israel, for as far as he is concerned, the Syrians are requesting something that’s virtually impossible. It all has to do with the designation of “Incurable”, by the scientific community. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 5:5 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. 
6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy. 
7 And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

Thus it was, when Elisha heard of the king’s rant, he sent for Naaman, who came expecting to be healed immediately. But Elisha gave him a remedy that was so simple that Naaman became quite offended by its simplicity. There are several reasons why, to all appearances, and evidences, Naaman should not be a candidate for miraculous healing.

 [1] The Syrians had invaded the land of Israel. [2] Leprosy was designated as incurable. [3] Naaman manifested a bad attitude, when told to go, have a bath in the river Jordan. However, with all of these negatives, he finally obeyed, by dipping in the water seven times, and the rest is history, for his skin became clean and tender as a child’s. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 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. 
11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. 
13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? 
14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

If Elisha had told Naaman to do 1000 push ups, and 500 burpies, he would have willingly done so, but the simplicity of God’s healing wounded Naaman’s pride. The same is true of many cases in our day, for many people prefer to do extensive surgeries, and invasive procedures, and millions of others prefer to purchase expensive drugs such as the following:
Olysio (simeprevir), Janssen: $44,800…. For two bottles of 28 capsules each.
HP Acthar (corticotropin), Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals: $51,600…. For two vials.
Harvoni (ledipasvir and sofosbuvir), Gilead Sciences: $79,200. ... for a course of treatment.
Sovaldi (sofosbuvir), Gilead Sciences: $81,000…. For a one year course, or $1,000.00 per pill. Etc. 

In other words, if the prophet bids us do some great thing, many people will acquiesce, but to go with the simple, God-ordained natural remedies, most, like Naaman will become offended, and walk away in a great rage. Let’s read:

[Selected messages pp. 287] There are many ways of practicing the healing art, but there is only one way that Heaven approves. God's remedies are the simple agencies of nature that will not tax or debilitate the system through their powerful properties. Pure air and water, cleanliness, a proper diet, purity of life, and a firm trust in God are remedies for the want of which thousands are dying; yet these remedies are going out of date because their skillful use requires work that the people do not appreciate. 

Fresh air, exercise, pure water, are within the reach of all with but little expense but drugs are expensive both in the outlay of means and in the effect produced upon the system.

This leads us to the very core of our study, because Christ gave a commentary on the issue of Naaman, together with the widow of Sidon, who, for some reason, ended up being beneficiaries of miracles of Christ, whilst the Hebrews who claimed to know all about God, were left destitute. Thus, the following passages, should be read very slowly, and soberly, for the words of Christ have very deep implications for our day, when we will need to trust God for any, and everything. Let’s read:

Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 
26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. 
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 
29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 
30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

What Christ was implying in His commentary is that the Jews were allowing somebody to eat their lunch whilst they themselves were dying of starvation and hunger, and a host of other “Incurable diseases”. For instance, we read of the devastating effects of the three and a half year drought, which brought the nation of Israel to its knees, and which took a fearful toll on man and beast. But while this is going on, a widow from Sidon is doing three square meals a day, with absolutely nothing to worry about. And thus, Christ’s question to both the Jews back then, and to Christians living today is, “What’s going on?” Let’s read:

[Prophets & Kings. Pp 124>125] Night after night, throughout the doomed land, their cries and entreaties arise. But no clouds appear in the heavens by day to hide the burning rays of the sun. No dew or rain refreshes the thirsty earth. A year passes, and yet there is no rain. The earth is parched as if with fire. The scorching heat of the sun destroys what little vegetation has survived. Streams dry up, and lowing herds and bleating flocks wander hither and thither in distress. 

Once-flourishing fields have become like burning desert sands, a desolate waste. The groves dedicated to idol worship are leafless; the forest trees, gaunt skeletons of nature, afford no shade. The air is dry and suffocating; dust storms blind the eyes and nearly stop the breath. Once-prosperous cities and villages have become places of mourning. Hunger and thirst are telling upon man and beast with fearful mortality. Famine, with all its horror, comes closer and still closer. 

But through all of this, an obscure widow is doing lunch every day, and she has enough to spare for her guest, Elijah! And whilst millions of Hebrews are spending their hard-earned money on man-made healthcare systems, in order to deal with cancers, and diabetes, and heart disease, the flu, and other “Incurable diseases”, Naaman from Syria is enjoying good health, by just dipping seven times in water, one of the cheapest natural remedies known to man. Now, something is absolutely wrong with this picture, and that’s what Christ was saying. But the people became quite offended, and took Christ to the brow of a cliff to throw Him over.

Now, it is true that in some cases, Christ may not choose to heal every preexisting condition, and He may instead give grace to deal with the crisis, but this fact should not prevent us from believing that all things are still possible with God. The times that are just ahead will require a radical faith that can withstand the pressures of society to yield to the powers that be. For instance, the implementation of the mark of the beast will essentially bring to an end, all access to any man-made healthcare system, and when that time comes, what will you and I do, if we have not made it a habit to trust in God fully? Let’s read:

[The great Controversy. pp 621>622] The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger,—a faith that will not faint, though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His victory is an evidence of the power of importunate prayer. 

All who will lay hold of God's promises, as he did, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded. Those who exercise but little faith now, are in the greatest danger of falling under the power of Satanic delusions and the decree to compel the conscience. And even if they endure the test, they will be plunged into deeper distress and anguish in the time of trouble, because they have never made it a habit to trust in God. The lessons of faith which they have neglected, they will be forced to learn under a terrible pressure of discouragement. We should now acquaint ourselves with God by proving his promises.

In closing, we must outline again, in the simplest format, the methods by which God provides for the spiritual, and physical healing of those who trust in Him.
[1] Faith: Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
[2] Obedience: Exodus 15:26 If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
[3] The use of natural remedies: 2nd Kings 20:7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. 

John 9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the
ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

[4] A simple diet of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and grains: Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal. 
2 And on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
[5] Adequate rest: Psalms 127:2 It is vain for you to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
[6] No eating between meals: 1st Kings 19: 5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 
7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.  
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights
unto Horeb the mount of God.
[7] Temperance in all things: 1st Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
[8] Regular exercise: Joshua 5:6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness….

[9] Trusting God to take up the slack in cases of emergencies: Psalms 50:15 Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear…

If these instructions are followed faithfully, we will experience a drastic reduction in healthcare costs, and our strength, and energy will be renewed like the eagle’s. Let’s read:

Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

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

Believing Is Never Enough. Sabbath Afternoon. 12/24/2016

Millions of Christians today truly believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and that He came, and died for our sins, and rose the third day, thus conquering sin and the grave. To believe all of these precious truths is good, but is not sufficient to save a soul from eternal ruin. Our belief must be coupled together with Divine power on a daily basis, for it to have any meaning in our lives. But to merely believe truth for what it is, does not change a person.

Some people try to live the Christian life powered by their belief alone, but without the power of God, and because of this their experience lacks vitality, life, and meaning. In the hour of temptation, what we believe will not save us, for in very many cases when a Christian falls, his or her belief has remained intact. What was lacking was essential power, that comes only through a living connection to Christ.

To be charmed by scenes of the nativity, and to be touched by the humble life of Christ, to celebrate His victory in behalf of all humanity are very noble aspirations, but without a vital connection to Divine power, the Christian’s life will remain void. This is the reason why so many Christians have now turned to human agents for solutions to the moral, ethical, and social problems we face, because the nominal Christianity of our day lacks the vital power to live, and to do according to Christ’s perfect will. 

One of the instructions we should always remember is that at every step of advance in our relationship with Christ, the door of free choice remains open, for He does not rule by force, but must instead be invited in continually, so that His power may be exercised in, and through us. This is the real essence of the Christian’s experience, and anything less will fall far short of God’s ideal. 

A lamp that is plugged into an electrical socket can either be turned off or on, but if it is not connected there’s absolutely no way that it will shine. It’s the same with the Christian’s life, because no amount of doctrines, laws, and prophecies will make us to shine, if we are not connected to the socket, even to Christ. This is why all of satan’s effort against us focuses squarely on getting us disconnected, for any and every reason.

It may be through debt, intemperance, excessive labor, presumption, or one of the more common ploys such as the cares of this life. In fact, good temptations are far more responsible for us being disconnected, than any other snare of the devil. The servant of The Lord writes an important exposition on the relationship which Christ seeks to have with His people. It’s not only knowledge and faith based, nor is it only about believing, for, as was stated before, believing is never enough. Let’s read:

[Desire Of Ages. pp 324] When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. 

It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin.

We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.

It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that we need Divine power, we must be connected daily to be able to withstand foes from within and without. Hence the reason why the scriptures give us information pertaining to fallen human nature, so that we may not be deceived into thinking that a mere knowledge-based Christianity is sufficient for us to live victoriously. Let’s read:

Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

The law being spoken of in verse 21 is the law of sin, which is the foundational principle of self-serving in human nature. What’s pretty disturbing about this passage, is that Paul is writing from the perspective of a born-again Christian, not as a mere unbeliever. Some of us may not have previously considered this aspect of life in Christ, and because of this, we may have thought of ourselves as being safe and secure from the assaults of the evil one. 

The fact of the matter is that the real issue which pertains to living victoriously, is not merely being able to distinguish between right and wrong, nor is it the freedom to choose good over evil; the issue of most importance is us remaining connected to the source of power, for if we are disconnected for any reason, all of our choices will inevitably tend to evil, regardless of how much we may know, or what we believe. When David fell into sin with Uriah’s wife, his belief in God had remained intact, but he was disconnected from the Source of power, and that’s why the law of sin in his members, overcame him. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 717>718] Instead of relying in humility upon the power of Jehovah, he began to trust to his own wisdom and might. As soon as Satan can separate the soul from God, the only Source of strength, he will seek to arouse the unholy desires of man's carnal nature. The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things—the neglect to be true to God and to rely upon Him wholly, the disposition to follow the customs and practices of the world.

That word “Arouse” is an important word in the context in which it is written, for, if something has to be aroused, it first has to be present. Our dog is aroused anytime someone opens the door, but for any arousing to take place, we must first have a dog. Thus, the following question begs an answer: When a person gives their life to Christ, what then happens to the dog inside? Is it put on a leash, is it spayed, so that it doesn’t breed other dogs, or is it permanently euthanized? 

If we have a correct understanding of the answer to this question, it will shed great light on our constant need of Divine power, so that we may be enabled to continue to live victoriously. The carnal elements in human nature lie dormant inside of every Christian, and are restrained and subdued solely by the power of Christ on an ongoing basis. Whenever that power is removed, or lacking for any reason, those latent tendencies can, and will be fanned into life, when the right set of circumstances are presented. This will occur regardless of what we believe.

Thus it was with David, whose devotional life had been waning for some time. His belief in Christ did not change when he saw Bathsheba. He was full of belief, but the vital power of Christ to restrain those latent tendencies was lacking, and therefore he fell a prey to temptation. And thus it will be with any Christian whose life is powered by belief alone. This is the reason why the following caution was written, especially for those of us who live in the last days of earth’s history, when satan is scheduled to redouble his efforts to cause millions to stumble. Let’s read:

Exodus 14:30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day  out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 
31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.

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; 
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased. 
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 
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.

To live by the faith of The Son of God is to believe in Him, and to depend totally upon Him, both for His Righteousness, and salvation, and His supernatural power to access both. And therefore, the following scriptural instructions are given in plain words, so that we may understand how this is done. 

[1] Believe. The beginning point is belief, for any relationship, whether with God or with man, must have this element at its core. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

But believing is never enough, because the scripture tells us that the devils also believe, and tremble. So it’s imperative that we move on to the next level:

[2] Choose. Joshua 24:15 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.

But even after the right choice is made, we would need raw power through the indwelling Christ, so that our choice can be materialized by His grace. In the gym, we’ve observed that oftentimes, there are those persons who may choose to do heavy lifting, and like the fox, with the three little piggies, they huff, and they puff, to blow your house down, but because their choice was not backed up with raw power, the weights did not even budge. And thus we must conclude that mere choice alone, is never sufficient to take us over the finish line. This takes us to the next level:

[3] Prayer. 
James 4:6 God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
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.

Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

1st Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

[4] Beholding. 
By beholding Christ through the study of His word, we are informed of His life, death, resurrection, His principles, methods, laws, and instructions, and His righteousness. And because we do not have the literal, physical Jesus to study, we will have to gain insights into His character from the Bible. Thus, any Christian who deliberately refuses to read and study the Bible will be overcome by temptation, sooner or later, for the knowledge of Christ is to be found in the scriptures, primarily. 

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.

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

2nd Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,  for instruction in righteousness: 
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

During the Christmas season, millions of Christians will confess their belief in The Lord Jesus Christ, and some will be adamant about having scenes of the nativity, displayed in public, as a reminder of what He has done for us. This is all well and good, but the question is: Could it be that the vital power of Christ lacking in our experience? 

We will end with a well-known nursery rhyme that is often sung by younger Christians, but which also pertains to those who are older and mature in the truths of God’s word. And we hope and pray that in the coming new year, our energies will focus more on being and staying connected to the source of Power, rather than battling with a list of do’s and don’ts.
“Read your Bible pray every day and you will grow, grow, grow. Forget your Bible, forget to pray, and you will shrink, shrink, shrink! Think about it long and hard, and may God bless our efforts to seek His face, in the new year”. 

                                                                    God bless!

The Rich Rule Over The Poor. Sabbath Afternoon. 12/17/2016

In the book of James, the apostle speaks clearly of a situation that would materialize during the last days of earth’s history, which will affect all peoples living on the planet, of which Christians comprise about one third, out of approximately seven billion. It has to do with the rich ruling over the poor, and the sad effects which will certainly accrue, as his dire words of warning begin to take shape. Now, it is true, that for the most part, the rich have always ruled over the poor, but now, in a very special sense, it seems just about to take place at our front door. 

The Bible gives us some insight as to the gravity of the situation, and the context, for it points in no uncertain terms to the coming of the Son of Man. Let’s read:
James 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 
2 Your riches are corrupted.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 
4 Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. 
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Isaiah 59:13 In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. 
14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 
15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

Therefore, it now behooves us to position ourselves preemptively, and intelligently, against the snares that are incident to the rich ruling over the poor. It is a fact that satan not only uses spiritual chains of lust, pride, and various other sins to take Christians captive, for he also specializes in financial chains to keep very many of us in bondage, with the intent of cutting a deal with his captives in the future, as we will explain later. Thus, we are cautioned not to be ignorant of his devices, lest we also be taken in the snares that are set for our feet. Let’s read:

[Our High Calling pp. 332] The powers of darkness will open their batteries upon us; and all who are indifferent and careless, who have set their affections on their earthly treasure, and who have not cared to understand God's dealings with His people, will be ready victims. 

Question: How many billionaires, and millionaires have already been nominated to take the reins of control in the next administration?
Answer: [Bloomberg News Dec. 15, 2016] The first billionaire U.S. president has appointed two billionaires, and at least nine millionaires, with a combined net worth of about $5.6 billion to run government departments. 
Now, even though Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, yet we are still living on this planet, and thus, we should avoid being shackled with debt whenever and wherever it can be avoided. Godly prudence urges caution against spontaneous spending that is not thoroughly thought out, especially during the holiday season, when reason, and sound judgment are in danger of being tossed out the window. 

Thus, the study for this afternoon will expose three of the more common snares, that are most often employed by the rich, and we will bring the laws, principles, and instructions from the Bible to bear against them. We begin with the passage which contains the title for our study. Let’s read: 

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

The word “Servant” refers to financial slavery which
infers that the servants must obey whatsoever their master says. But the rich do not hold sway over the poor arbitrarily, because, in our day, several well-laid, deep plots are set in motion, and in most cases it is only because the poorer classes succumb to the snares through choice, or sheer necessity, that they then become monetary slaves. Thus, the following is a list of the three prime suspects utilized by the rich, in bringing Christians, and non-believers alike into financial bondage.

[1] The poor are encouraged to borrow more than they can handle, need, or repay.

In the overwhelming majority of instances, when a person is suddenly given a lot more money than is actually needed, wanton, unnecessary spending is almost certain to take place. This particular snare proved to be both successful, and detrimental at the same time, during the financial meltdown of recent years, for some banking institutions, lenders and hedge-funds, strategically lent money to folks who they knew could not repay the loans. Then they bet against them, knowing that they would default on their mortgages, thus opening the way for evictions and foreclosures to take place. 

Thus, by so doing, the rich were able to pocket the poor’s initial down-payment, together with many months, or years of their mortgage payments, so when the poor defaulted, as was to be expected, the lenders would foreclose, collect the insurance against the home, and then turn around and sell it for a huge profit again. In fact, the situation got so bad that some lenders were actually upset at those who were paying their mortgages on time. Thus, it turned out to be a huge windfall for the rich, but a terrible windstorm for the poor, with many of them being reduced to financial slavery for the rest of their lives. 

The current promise to “Unleash wall-street banks” through deregulation, will again put the rich in the driver’s seat, with little recourse for the poor when they discover all too late that they have been taken captive in financial chains, and therefore must be subservient to the lenders. Let’s read:

[The Wall-Street Journal, Dec, 2007] The subprime-mortgage crisis has been a financial catastrophe for much of Wall Street. At Goldman Sachs Group Inc., thanks to a tiny group of traders, it has generated one of the biggest windfalls the securities industry has seen in years. The group's big bet that securities backed by risky home loans would fall in value generated nearly $4 billion of profits during the year ended Nov. 30, according to people familiar with the firm's finances.

On Tuesday, despite a terrible November and some of the worst market conditions in decades, analysts expect Goldman to report record net annual income of more than $11 billion. Mr. Lloyd Blankfein is set to be paid close to $70 million this year, according to one person familiar with the matter.

The instructions and cautions given in the Bible will serve as an effective bulwark against this snare, for God in His wisdom, has told us how we may avoid these pitfalls, through obedience to His word. 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.
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.

In other words, the attitude of contentment will keep us from getting in over our heads with debt that we may not be able to repay. Before making any purchases, whether it be houses or lands, or gifts or bling, let’s consider carefully whether we will be able to repay in a timely manner. The habit of deliberately spending above our means, and then asking Christ to deliver us, is akin to presumption, and should be avoided like the plague. In addition, we should avoid borrowing just for borrowing sake, for the Bible teaches us to “Owe no man anything” Let’s read:

Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom.
8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 
30 Saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish.

[2] The poor are induced to indulge in impulsive buying.
This snare is particularly effective when there is a frenzy in the air, or when one-day deals, such as Black Friday, or Cyber Monday, or any of the major holidays are imminent. We should be very careful of succumbing to words, and phrases such as “Hurry”, “This sale won’t last”, “This is your last chance”, “Limited time offer”, “The first ten buyers” or “This sale ends at midnight” etc. Even if we purchased spontaneously, and really got a good deal, but did no prior planning to evaluate whether the item was a need, or something which would be profitable, we would have succumbed to the snare of impulsive buying.

Window shopping often makes covetousness legal, and a constant barrage of glittering advertisements often trigger impulsiveness, which then encourage many poor folk to incur unwarranted debt. If we must borrow to buy a gift, then it’s really not a gift, for it was purchased with someone else’s money, and if we do not repay the funds, then the gift was lent, not given, for we cannot give that which is not ours in the first place. 

For instance, when Christ gave to us eternal life He didn’t borrow it from The Father, to then give life to us. Christ gave us what is inherently His, and thus, we all should follow in His footsteps, whenever the issue of giving becomes warranted. Let’s read:

1st John 5:11 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.

[Evangelism pp.616] Christ shows that, although they might reckon His life to be less than fifty years, yet His divine life could not be reckoned by human computation. The existence of Christ before His incarnation is not measured by figures. Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. “He that hath the Son hath life.” The divinity of Christ is the believer's assurance of eternal life.

[3] Fad, fashion, and insatiable desire to have the latest.
Here is where many Christians fall short, for many of us have become slaves to fashion and gadgets, to the point where our financial resources have been consumed by the rich. We have the latest I-Phone, the latest Jordan’s, the latest Samsung T.V., the latest model year vehicle, while our Bibles are ten years old, and in some instances gathering dust. To buy something just because we can afford to is not a good enough reason to make the purchase. 

God is going to call us to account as stewards, not only of the spiritual gifts he has lent us, but also of the temporal blessing of life He bestows. This scriptural teaching is brought to the light in the parable of the unfaithful steward, and in its context, deals primarily with how we dispense with all of the material goods, given to us by God. Let’s read:

Luke 16:1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

Some of us Christians are under the impression that after we have worked, and receive our salaries, 10% belongs to God and the rest is ours to do as we very well pleased. Nothing can be further from the truth, because, after returning 10% plus offerings, the rest in its entirety belongs to Christ, to be used solely in harmony with His revealed will, not to splurge, nor to keep up with the Jones’s. This is one of the ways in which many are brought to financial ruin, since unbridled spending have characterized most of their actions. Let’s read:

Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 
11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

The servant of the Lord has given us very timely counsel, by which we may avoid, or recuperate from the snare of debt. And if these counsels are faithfully adhered to, God is more than willing and able to enable us in our recovery, but we must be determined, deliberate, and consistent in following the guidance thus given. Let’s read:

[A.H pp 393>394] The world has a right to expect strict integrity in those who profess to be Bible Christians. By one man's indifference in regard to paying his just dues all our people are in danger of being regarded as unreliable. Be determined never to incur another debt. Deny yourself a thousand things rather than run in debt. Avoid it as you would the smallpox. Make a solemn covenant with God that by His blessing you will pay your debts and then owe no man anything.

Take care of the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves. Do not falter, be discouraged, or turn back. Deny your taste, deny the indulgence of appetite, save your pence, and pay your debts. Work them off as fast as possible. When you can stand forth a free man again, owing no man anything, you will have achieved a great victory.

We therefore end with a sobering caution from God who is more practical and down-to-earth in all His instructions than many of us may ever realize. After going to such lengths, to warn us, instruct us, and to make us wise, He expects that we will stand up and take notice, by obeying His word, since that is the only appropriate response that will be accepted. Let’s read:

Proverbs 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded; 
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and 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. 
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

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

                                                                God bless!

The Issue Is Obedience. Sabbath Afternoon. 12/10/2016

The Bible teaches us that it’s quite possible for faith to be exercised, without corresponding works, but it would not meet God’s approval. Any, and all claims to be a Christian, without obedience to God’s will is a futile effort in religion, for our relationship with God is premised on our willingness to do whatever He says. There is now a form of Christianity that has been emerging for centuries, and has culminated in a religion that is full of praise, and professed faith in Christ, but permits its subscribers to do whatsoever is right in one’s own eyes. 

This brand of religion has now become so popular with the mainstream, that anyone, doing anything, in anyway at any time can now join the bandwagon. But the Bible teaches us that if God had to choose
praise and obedience, He will undoubtedly choose the latter, since praise minus obedience is equal to flattery. As Christians, we should avoid the snare of flattering God, by telling Him what He likes to hear, without obeying His word, for Christ declares such worship to be utter vanity. Let’s read:

Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

1st Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
In order that genuine faith in God be exercised, it must be followed up by obedience. Even in those mortal struggles against hereditary, and cultivated tendencies to evil, obedience to the word of God is necessary, even if our thoughts and desires conflict with what we know to be right, for at some point in time, Christ will grant us the victory, but we must walk in obedience to His revealed will, until every chain is broken. 

If David, and Samson had steadfastly resisted the unlawful desires of the flesh, they would not have fallen, even though their innermost thoughts were not in harmony with God’s revealed will. In His own time and way, God would have granted to them the complete victory, thus bringing their thoughts and desires into harmony with truth. With our personal experiences, we will find that at times our thoughts and desires are not in sync with “It is written”, but if we continue to obey Christ in spite of those internal conflicts, He will one day grant us complete victory. That is why we conclude that obedience that works by faith, and love, is the final, determining factor, when it comes to our relationship with Christ. But there are some lingering issues in the minds of the multitudes, pertaining to obedience, which need to be addressed, before we take up our case study for this evening.

Issue # [1] There are some who have taken offence to God for Him placing the tree of good, and evil in the midst of the Garden, and thus allowing it to be possible for our first parents to choose to eat from it. They overlook the fact that there may have been thousands upon thousands of other trees, including the tree of life, from which the pair could freely eat. But if God had placed the prohibition on a perfectly good tree, the same result would likely take place, for the issue is not about whether or not the tree was good for food; the issue back then was, and still is obedience.

Issue # [2] There are others who blame God for not revealing much more detailed information about the whereabouts and activities of satan. They argue that if his disguise as a serpent was made known, it would have greatly altered the outcome. However, more information does not always translate into more obedience. The surgeon general has posted the most, dire warnings about the link between so many cancers and cigarette smoking, yet the sale of tobacco continues to go through the roof. 

Indeed, if he were to put a skull, and two crossed bones on every pack, sales might actually increase. Thus, we conclude that obedience is not so much about the information given, but on our willingness to follow that which is good and right. 

Issue # [3] Then there are others who will only obey when it makes logical sense to do so. If science does not view an instruction from God as being feasible, then some may not be willing to step out in faith to
obey. This is especially true in our day where the theory of evolution encourages people to question everything, and believe nothing that cannot be first proved by humanistic theories and research in a lab. This last issue brings us to our case study pertaining to the issue of obedience.

An impotent man has been crippled for thirty-eight years, on account of his own sin, and yet he vainly endeavors to reach the pool at Bethesda, where it is believed that an angel comes down to trouble the waters at certain seasons, so that the first to jump in could be healed. Christ approaches the venue, He sees the man’s plight, and then asks the man a very simple, but straightforward question. Let’s read:

 John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

We observe that no formal introduction is given by Christ, about who He is and the supernatural power He possesses. He does not ask the man about his sin which is the root cause of his illness, nor does Jesus give any rational reason why His command should be obeyed. He does not ask the man to exercise any faith in Him. He just gives a simple instruction, and the result will hinge on whether, or not the crippled man will choose to obey. Now, there is a question pertaining to the issue of obedience which we must address before proceeding. Question: Why should the man obey in this instance?

Answer [1] He has nothing to lose, for he has been crippled for 38 years, so if Someone comes along and gives such an instruction, then, at least, it is
worth a try. Often, when we are at our lowest point the Lord may give us instructions in His word, and we should consider that we have nothing to lose by obeying His word. In many cases, it may not make sense, nor might it be based on scientific research, but if we obey anyway, the good results will accrue. 

Answer [2] It is a good command, in that it does not involve violating any known laws of God, so there is nothing to prevent the crippled man from obeying, with a clear conscience. He does not wait either, for hesitation could squash the blessing, as is often the case when we take too long to obey. He jumps to his feet, reaches for his bed, and in obedience, the strength that he needs is imparted, and the rest is history. But he looks around to thank the One who has healed him, and to his surprise, the Person is gone. Let’s read:

John 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? 
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

The determining factor was, and still is obedience, which leads us to observe carefully the following passage of scripture. 

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

[Patriarchs And Prophets. pp 148>152] In the obedience of faith, Abraham had forsaken his native country—had turned away from the graves of his fathers and the home of his kindred. He had wandered as a stranger in the land of his inheritance. He had waited long for the birth of the promised heir. At the command of God he had sent away his son Ishmael. And now, when the child so long desired was entering upon manhood, and the patriarch seemed able to discern the fruition of his hopes, a trial greater than all others was before him.

The command was expressed in words that must have wrung with anguish that father's heart: “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, ... and offer him there for a burnt offering.” Isaac was the light of his home, the solace of his old age, above all else the inheritor of the promised blessing. The loss of such a son by accident or disease would have been heart rending to the fond father; it would have bowed down his whitened head with grief; but he was commanded to shed the blood of that son with his own hand. 

It seemed to him a fearful impossibility. Satan was at hand to suggest that he must be deceived, for the divine law commands, “Thou shalt not kill,” and God would not require what He had once forbidden. Going outside his tent, Abraham looked up to the calm brightness of the unclouded heavens, and recalled the promise made nearly fifty years before, that his seed should be innumerable as the stars. If this promise was to be fulfilled through Isaac, how could he be put to death? Abraham was tempted to believe that he might be under a delusion. 
In his doubt and anguish he bowed upon the earth, and prayed, as he had never prayed before, for some confirmation of the command if he must perform this terrible duty. Darkness seemed to shut him in; but the command of God was sounding in his ears, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest.” That command must be obeyed, and he dared not delay. Day was approaching, and he must be on his journey.

Returning to his tent, he went to the place where Isaac lay sleeping the deep, untroubled sleep of youth and innocence. For a moment the father looked upon the dear face of his son, then turned tremblingly away. He went to the side of Sarah, who was also sleeping. Should he awaken her, that she might once more embrace her child? Should he tell her of God's requirement? He longed to unburden his heart to her, and share with her this terrible responsibility; but he was restrained by the fear that she might hinder him. 
Isaac was her joy and pride; her life was bound up in him, and the mother's love might refuse the sacrifice. Abraham at last summoned his son, telling him of the command to offer sacrifice upon a distant mountain. Isaac had often gone with his father to worship at some one of the various altars that marked his wanderings, and this summons excited no surprise. The preparations for the journey were quickly completed. The wood was made ready and put upon the ass, and with two menservants they set forth.

Side by side the father and the son journeyed in silence. The patriarch, pondering his heavy secret, had no heart for words. His thoughts were of the proud, fond mother, and the day when he should return to her alone. That day—the longest that Abraham had ever experienced—dragged slowly to its close. While his son and the young men were sleeping, he spent the night in prayer, still hoping that some heavenly messenger might come to say that the trial was enough, that the youth might return unharmed to his mother.

But no relief came to his tortured soul. Another long day, another night of humiliation and prayer, while ever the command that was to leave him childless was ringing in his ears. Satan was near to whisper doubts and unbelief, but Abraham resisted his suggestions. As they were about to begin the journey of the third day, the patriarch, looking northward, saw the promised sign, a cloud of glory hovering over Mount Moriah, and he knew that the voice which had spoken to him was from heaven.

Even now he did not murmur against God, but strengthened his soul by dwelling upon the evidences of the Lord's goodness and faithfulness. This son had been unexpectedly given; and had not He who bestowed the precious gift a right to recall His own? Then faith repeated the promise, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called”—a seed numberless as the grains of sand upon the shore. Isaac was the child of a miracle, and could not the power that gave him life restore it? 

Looking beyond that which was seen, Abraham grasped the divine word, “accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.” Hebrews 11:19. Yet none but God could understand how great was the father's sacrifice in yielding up his son to death; Abraham desired that none but God should witness the parting scene. He bade his servants remain behind, saying, “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” 

The wood was laid upon Isaac, the one to be offered, the father took the knife and the fire, and together they ascended toward the mountain summit, the young man silently wondering whence, so far from folds and flocks, the offering was to come. At last he spoke, “My father,” “behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Oh, what a test was this! How the endearing words, “my father,” pierced Abraham's heart! Not yet—he could not tell him now. “My son,” he said, “God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.”

At the appointed place they built the altar and laid the wood upon it. Then, with trembling voice, Abraham unfolded to his son the divine message. It was with terror and amazement that Isaac learned his fate, but he offered no resistance. He could have escaped his doom, had he chosen to do so; the grief-stricken old man, exhausted with the struggle of those three terrible days, could not have opposed the will of the vigorous youth. But Isaac had been trained from childhood to ready, trusting obedience, and as the purpose of God was opened before him, he yielded a willing submission. 

He was a sharer in Abraham's faith, and he felt that he was honored in being called to give his life as an offering to God. He tenderly seeks to lighten the father's grief, and encourages his nerveless hands to bind the cords that confine him to the altar. And now the last words of love are spoken, the last tears are shed, the last embrace is given. The father lifts the knife to slay his son, when suddenly his arm is stayed. An angel of God calls to the patriarch out of heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” He quickly answers, “Here am I,” And again the voice is heard, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me.”

Some may be wondering why this story has been penned in the Bible, and why Abraham chose to obey, even if it involved a terrible ordeal. The fact is that in our day we hear a whole lot about praise, thanksgiving, and faith, but the issue of obedience is missing in most of today’s versions of Christianity.  A nominal type of faith, without the corresponding works has taken hold of the majority, and the truth has been watered down, so that hardly any sacrifice on our part is called for. 

The Sabbath of the fourth commandment requires that believers exercise their faith in Christ through obedience to His word, and all His commands, but unlike Abraham, and the impotent man, many folks chose not to obey God, even though the Sabbath commandment starts with the word “Remember”. Let’s read:

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

And like the crippled man, there may be questions in our minds which need to be resolved, questions such as “Why should we obey? The same answers given in the crippled man’s experience of faith and obedience, will also apply to us in our day.

[1] We have nothing to lose.

Mark 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

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, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 
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.

[2] It is a good command.

Exodus 20:12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

A whole lot of stress and turbulence may be headed our way soon, and the developments in the spiritual and political realms may drive us to the very brink. It is in times like these, that God invites His people to rest, from worry and care, and labors and stress. If like Abraham, and the crippled man, our faith in God finds true exercise through obeying His word, then every promise in the Bible will be ours because they were given to those, who like Abraham, obey the voice of God. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages to rest by faith, and obedience to every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Let’s read:

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

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

                                                               God bless!

Confronting Issues Of Excess. Sabbath Afternoon. 12/03/2016

It is important for us to understand God’s will for us as it pertains to avoiding the excesses and extremes of the age. Almost every area of human existence is now tainted or corrupted by excess. From marriage to eating, and drinking, from sports to politics, from working to sleeping, and from seeing to texting. And in some cases even speaking in tongues is carried to excess, so that we find ourselves now living in an era of extremes. In most cases, it is the good things God has given to the human family, that are taken to excess, thus bringing upon ourselves, and on our posterity, untold hardship, and avoidable, adverse consequences. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

[Temperance. pp 138] Excessive indulgence in eating, drinking, sleeping, or seeing, is sin. True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful, and to use judiciously that which is healthful. The appetite should ever be in subjection to the moral and intellectual powers. The body should be servant to the mind, and not the mind to the body.

[Mind, Character, Personality pp. 221] There is in itself no sin in eating and drinking or in marrying and giving in marriage. It was lawful to marry in the time of Noah, and it is lawful to marry now, if that which is lawful is properly treated and not carried to sinful excess. In Noah's day it was the inordinate, excessive love of that which in itself was lawful, when properly used, that made marriage sinful before God.

In order to avoid the sins associated with excess we would need to consider the following parameters. 

[1] Something must be lawful, meaning that it must first be approved by the word of God, for man shall live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Excesses are manifested when we presume to take unwarranted liberties in eating or drinking, or in any other activity for that matter. Indeed, the entire spectrum of human words, and actions come under the jurisdiction of temperance, and thus, it is true that a person can be intemperate in eating, as well as in sleeping.

[2] Something must be done in moderation in order for it to harmonize with God’s revealed will. This 2nd parameter also pertains to things which have been approved by the Lord. For instance, drinking pure water to excess is prohibited in the scriptures, even though water is very good for our bodies. Using that which is good in moderation, and avoiding entirely that which is harmful is the motto by which all of us temperance advocates, and practitioners should be guided.

[3] One cannot be temperate in using or doing that which is forbidden in the Bible, for such actions are founded on disobedience. For instance, there is a well-known caution, pertaining to the ingestion of alcoholic beverages which encourages us to “Drink responsibly”. This is nothing but an oxymoron, for we do not know how anyone can drink responsibly, when God has spoken quite decidedly against the practice. Drinking or doing something in moderation does not necessarily equate to license, because one may be tempted to drink cyanide “Responsibly”. In other words, if we do that which is forbidden, “In moderation” it will lead us to sin “In moderation”. Let’s read:

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? 
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

Isaiah 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.

In very many cases, that which is taken to excess is actually permitted under different circumstances in the scriptures. Almost all of the products on store shelves, in restaurants, and in nightclubs, have their origins in God, but have been severely perverted to suit man’s carnal desires. As a matter of fact, those products derived from the grape are now used both at Hooters, and the communion table. It all depends on whether the product is being used in harmony with God’s revealed will. Let’s read:

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.

Among some of these "Good gifts", which pertain to diet are sugar, salt, and fat. None of these products were invented by man, for they all have their source and origins in "The Father". Now, some people may ask why are these good things so often demonized by some in the health industry. It all has to do with being temperate in all things that are good, in and of themselves, and using the products in harmony with God's revealed will. For instance, when honey is used in moderation, it can be a blessing. But if it's use is taken to excess, it will cause very much harm. Let's read: 

Proverbs 24:13 "My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste"... 
Proverbs 25:16 "Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it".

The same is true of the products of the vine, which are rich in antioxidants. The various kinds of grapes which are used in the wine industry can be safely ingested in moderation, without the fermentation. Christ has no problem whatsoever with grapes, and neither should we because it is He who made them. However, He has a problem with the alcohol which is the unscriptural element in wine. The alcohol and fermentation make that which is inherently good to be adverse in it’s effects on the human organism, which is the equivalent of eating from the tree of good and evil. 

If something good gets juxtaposed with something bad, it does not give the bad product credence, but instead, renders the package more dangerous as it is likely to be taken unawares. Pork chops, shrimp, and oysters are often served with salad, but those veggies do not validate the shrimp as an acceptable article of food. Many years ago Tylenol was laced with cyanide, and some folks died as a result. Just because the cyanide was connected to Tylenol did not make it acceptable, as the record clearly shows. 

The same is true of spirituous liquors. Folks will get their antioxidants for sure, but they will also get impaired judgment, slower reaction times, and liver damage because of the fermented alcohol. Yet, if the juice of the grape is ingested along scriptural guidelines, no harm whatsoever will be done. As a matter of fact, even Jesus Christ looked forward to drinking the unfermented juice of the grape, after we have been resettled in heaven. Furthermore, the scriptures plainly state that there is a blessing in the grape. Let’s read:

Matthew 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Isaiah 65:8 Thus saith the Lord, the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it”…

Thus, we owe it to ourselves and our posterity to observe the various ways that the excesses of the day may cause us to violate the laws governing our physical being, with the sole intention of taking the appropriate steps to remedy the situation wherever it may be affecting us adversely. We are going to touch on areas where most people may not think that excesses do occur. The scriptural guidelines will give us the balance we need, so that we can safely partake of, or participate in the following activities.

[1] Excesses in working: The word is clear; working is good, and mandated in the scriptures, for in the New testament, it is written that he who refuses to work, should not eat. However, as with everything good that God has given, our working should not be taken to excess, because the deleterious effects will accrue. Periods of hard work should be followed by periods of sufficient rest in order that God-ordained work may be a blessing, and not a curse. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much.

Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; 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. 

Mark 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 
32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. 

[2] Excesses in sleeping: Like work, sleep can serve a beneficial purpose, and is absolutely necessary for recuperation and rejuvenation. But like excessive work, too much sleep can rob us of valuable time, which can be spent in productive activities. Even the physical rest, which so many Sabbath-keepers look forward to over the sacred hours, should not be taken to excess, since one of Christ’s busiest days while here on earth, was the Sabbath. Planning to sleep in late on Sabbath morning, to come just in time for divine hour, probably contributed to the untimely demise of Sapphira, who should have been in Sabbath school.

Proverbs 6:9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

[The Youth’s Instructor. March 1879] It is a sad failing with many that they are always behind time on Sabbath morning. They are very particular about their own time, they cannot afford to lose an hour of that; but the Lord's time, the only day out of the seven that the Lord claims as his, and requires us to devote to him, quite a portion of this is squandered away by sleeping late in the morning. In this they are robbing God. It causes them to be behind in everything. Have your preparations all made the day before, and come promptly to the Sabbath-school, and you will thereby not only benefit others, but you will reap rich blessings for yourselves.

[4] Excesses in shopping. It’s Christmas time again folks, and “Santa Claws” is coming to town. Now, while it is true that giving to others is a good thing, at any time, we should also bear in mind that our shopping must not be taken to excess. God does not want us to “shop till we drop” even if it is with the intention of doing good to others. It is a fact that, with the onset of the Yuletide season, the spirit of excess seems to permeate the atmosphere, and the items which we previously classified as mere wants, can suddenly become our most urgent needs.

This is especially true when “window shopping”, for the many items which we did without all year, can suddenly morph into “Must haves”, lest we die. So here are three passages of scripture which contain cautions, admonitions, and instructions, which can keep us from “Scratching” our heads come January, when the bills from inordinate spending may begin to come due. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance  with increase: this is also vanity.

Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.

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

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. 
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred rom the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things.

In closing, it is the will of God, that every good and perfect gift given to us, be used with discretion born of an intelligent understanding of the principles and laws of His kingdom, for if we diligently follow the instructions given, our feet may never stumble in the paths of vain regrets. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encapsulates the way in which the excesses of our day may be avoided. Let’s read:

Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 
4 So shalt thou find favor 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.
12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
21 Let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

                                                               God bless!

Learning To Walk By Faith. Sabbath afternoon. 11/19/2016

Because of the tectonic shift in the political and secular world, it has now become necessary for true Christians to learn to walk entirely by faith, without the many props society has now made available. In times past it was quite easy to speak of having faith in Christ, because the secular world offered many “safety nets” to God’s promises, and because of this the Biblical concept of walking by faith had become pretty blurred. But now, as the proverbial carpet is being pulled from under our feet, and the various man-made systems we once trusted in now begin to crumble, we will need an experience with God like never before, trusting Him for everything, on a day to day basis, including our most basic needs. 

A person does not wake up one morning and start to walk by faith in God, for as stated before, on this forum, it takes time, and it takes practice. In other words, Christ being the first, and only Resource we turn to in times of dire need and difficulty, does not happen overnight, but is instead a deep, substantive ongoing development of trusting in God in all of our ways. In fact, there is a world of difference between waiting on God in humble confidence and patience, with a cheerful attitude, and waiting on Him in a nervous anticipation; fretting, murmuring, and impatient at any apparent delay. And there’s a valid reason why we need to learn to walk by faith in God alone. Let’s read: 

The Great Controversy. pp 621>622] The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger,—a faith that will not faint, though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. Those who exercise but little faith now, are in the greatest danger of falling under the power of Satanic delusions and the decree to compel the conscience. And even if they endure the test, they will be plunged into deeper distress and anguish in the time of trouble, because they have never made it a habit to trust in God. The lessons of faith which they have neglected, they will be forced to learn under a terrible pressure of discouragement.

In the days of Samuel, king Saul, was told to wait on God’s presence, and guidance through His servant, and he did wait, but his attitude whilst doing so did not savor of faith, but rather of resentment. This was made clear, when after waiting for the stated seven days, he immediately instituted plan “B”, a sure sign that he had given himself up to frustration and murmuring. Waiting on Christ with the right attitude will enable us to refuse any semblance of  plan “B”, even if God does not come through at the appointed times, or in stipulated ways. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 13:5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. 
6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 
7 As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 
8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 
9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 
10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came.
11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 
12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

Several questions arise out of this episode with Saul, and the answers have direct application and meaning for us, whenever we may be faced with personal, or national emergencies. There were issues that Saul must deal with in the absence of Samuel, such as the many desertions of his infantry, foreboding premonitions on account of the massive army he was facing, the unexplained delay of the prophet, and the utter discouragement of the army because of fear. 

What then was Saul supposed to do in such a dire situation, and what are we to do when we may be facing a serious crisis, which may have devastating consequences? It all has to do with our freedom to choose, for there are some things God cannot do for us. At times like these, we can choose to dwell on God’s goodness towards us in times past, by recounting the numerous occasions when He came through for us. Or, we can choose to dwell on the crisis of the moment, allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed with what we cannot change, and murmuring in our hearts about God’s ways, the whys and the whens. Let’s read: 

[Last day Events pp 72] We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.

The choice is ours, but one thing is certain, God will never force us to have a cheerful spirit. However, if we choose to extol His goodness, and His blessings towards us, then the stage will be set for a marked deliverance of no ordinary character, and therefore, what once seemed to be a defeat, will instead be a learning curve, where our faith in God will become more firmly established.

Thus, we will read an overview of the experiences of the Hebrews, which is to serve as a template for our own experiences in learning to walk by faith with The Lord. As they leave Egypt, and begin their journey through the desert, several opportunities to learn the all-important process of walking by faith are granted them, but sadly, in the overwhelming majority of instances, they fail to trust in The Lord, instead, looking to a mere mortal man to solve their problems, and to supply their most urgent needs. This past election cycle was too reminiscent of the Hebrew experiences, for many in the Christian, and evangelical world turned to a mortal man with their anxiety, and concerns, instead of trusting in Christ, our invisible Leader.

There were two main areas of grave concern, which provided ample opportunity on several occasions for the Hebrews to learn how to walk by faith.

 [1] Personal, and national security.

Exodus 14:9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea.
10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. 
11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

[2] Food.
Exodus 16:2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 
3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. 
4 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

The Hebrews kept reminiscing on their past life in Egyptian bondage, instead of rejoicing over the great deliverance God had wrought for them. When Christ has set us free from the shackles of sin, it is never a good idea to keep referencing our past lives outside of Christ, for the old life pales in comparison with the new life in Jesus. In other words, we should never look backward, but forward, and even though trials may thicken around us, yet the very thought of being made free in Christ, should eclipse any and every challenge which may arise.

Another problem which often arose amongst the Hebrews was their tendency to look to Moses and Aaron, instead of to God. Hence the reason why at every change of fortune, they kept blaming them. If as Christians we become entangled in the snares of looking to mortal man, and secular leaders for the answers to our most pressing problems, then the process of learning to walk by faith will inevitably become severely inhibited. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. 
6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

Learning to walk by faith therefore, involves one of the most fundamental questions pertaining to our survival on this planet in times of national adversity, or extreme personal emergency. And that question is “What do we do when our backs are up against a wall? Do we turn to God with all our hearts and wait patiently, and cheerfully for His deliverance? Or do we take matters into our own hands, looking for man-made solutions, and only turning to God for help when we have no other choice. In other words, is God our first Resource, or our last resort?

Our answers to these questions will make all the difference, and thus, in the following exposition on the wilderness experience of the Hebrews, several pitfalls will be highlighted, which should serve as beacons of warning to us in our own wilderness experiences. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets. pp 292>294] They had not as yet suffered from hunger; their present wants were supplied, but they feared for the future. They could not understand how these vast multitudes were to subsist in their travels through the wilderness, and in imagination they saw their children famishing. The Lord permitted difficulties to surround them, and their supply of food to be cut short, that their hearts might turn to Him who had hitherto been their Deliverer.

If in their want they would call upon Him, He would still grant them manifest tokens of His love and care. He had promised that if they would obey His commandments, no disease should come upon them, and it was sinful unbelief on their part to anticipate that they or their children might die for hunger. God had promised to be their God, to take them to Himself as a people, and to lead them to a large and good land; but they were ready to faint at every obstacle encountered in the way to that land. They were unwilling to trust the Lord any further than they could witness the continual evidences of His power. 

They forgot their bitter service in Egypt. They forgot the goodness and power of God displayed in their behalf in their deliverance from bondage. They forgot how their children had been spared when the destroying angel slew all the first-born of Egypt. They forgot the grand exhibition of divine power at the Red Sea. They forgot that while they had crossed safely in the path that had been opened for them, the armies of their enemies, attempting to follow them, had been overwhelmed by the waters of the sea. 

They saw and felt only their present inconveniences and trials; and instead of saying, “God has done great things for us”, they talked of the hardness of the way and wondered when their weary pilgrimage would end. The history of the wilderness life of Israel was chronicled for the benefit of the Israel of God to the close of time. The record of God's dealings with the wanderers of the desert in all their marchings to and fro, in their exposure to hunger, thirst, and weariness, and in the striking manifestations of His power for their relief, is fraught with warning and instruction for His people in all ages.

The varied experience of the Hebrews was a school of preparation for their promised home in Canaan. God would have His people in these days review with a humble heart and teachable spirit the trials through which ancient Israel passed, that they may be instructed in their preparation for the heavenly Canaan. Many look back to the Israelites, and marvel at their unbelief and murmuring, feeling that they themselves would not have been so ungrateful; but when their faith is tested, even by little trials, they manifest no more faith or patience than did ancient Israel. 

When brought into strait places, they murmur at the process by which God has chosen to purify them. Though their present needs are supplied, many are unwilling to trust God for the future, and they are in constant anxiety lest poverty shall come upon them, and their children shall be left to suffer. Some are always anticipating evil or magnifying the difficulties that really exist, so that their eyes are blinded to the many blessings which demand their gratitude. 

The obstacles they encounter, instead of leading them to seek help from God, the only Source of strength, separate them from Him, because they awaken unrest and repining. Do we well to be thus unbelieving? Why should we be ungrateful and distrustful? Jesus is our friend; all heaven is interested in our welfare; and our anxiety and fear grieve the Holy Spirit of God. We should not indulge in a solicitude that only frets and wears us, but does not help us to bear trials.

No place should be given to that distrust of God which leads us to make a preparation against future want the chief pursuit of life, as though our happiness consisted in these earthly things. It is not the will of God that His people should be weighed down with care.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which can enable us to walk by faith, and it is the will of God, that in every situation, or experience that may test us, that we will turn to Christ first, for faith that is not tested cannot be trusted. Let’s read:

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
                                                                 God bless!

Render Unto Caesar. Sabbath Afternoon. 11/12/2016.

Because of the unprecedented upset which took place on Tuesday, it’s in order that we give an explanation of how we came to our analysis, in predicting a potential landslide win for Hillary Clinton. The Bibles teaches us to study patterns in history, since they are often repeated, a fact that is clearly stated in Ecclesiastes 1:9&10. Thus, after observation of several occurrences in the Bible, together with was obviously taking shape in the political realm, we were moved to raise a note of warning, since the agenda of the now defeated Hillary, tended to greatly exacerbate the moral decline we are in. 

This, put together with the Vatican’s favoring of the democratic agenda, increased our concern that we could be on the brink of a tectonic shift to life, as we know it. Thus, as watchdogs on the walls of Zion, it is our duty to bark if we see two wolves coming. A faithful watchdog will bark, even when friend or foe may be approaching, but he will leave the work of telling the difference to the owner. 

Therefore, if we see someone approaching, who has an agenda that could have greatly accelerated the moral decline of the nation, in addition to the many verses which speak about the interaction between Jezebel and Elijah, we would have been moved to say something. However, because the issue was one in the temporal realm, and had no salvific value, then it was in order for us not to make unequivocal statements, and wherever we did, we apologize for the conclusions reached, and any inconveniences caused. 

Thus it is in order for us to review briefly, what was actually said in the Bible study entitled “Women from beginning to end” in which we then treated extensively on the subject in question. Here is the brief excerpt of which we are speaking: Video. From 55:06>57:15.

And speaking of conclusions, there is not one true student of the scriptures who has been 100% in his or her analysis every time. From Abraham to Moses, from Samuel to Jonah, from John the Baptist to the disciples, and on to William miller, not a single person has always been 100% correct in their Biblical conclusions, however, our faith is not based upon conclusions, but rather on a Person, even Jesus Christ, and even though our conclusions may not materialize every time, yet, it is the will of God that we should keep pressing forward in faith. Let’s read:

The Desire Of Ages. pp 215>216] Like the Savior's disciples, John the Baptist did not understand the nature of Christ's kingdom. He expected Jesus to take the throne of David; and as time passed, and the Savior made no claim to kingly authority, John became perplexed and troubled. And now from his dungeon he watched for the Lion of the tribe of Judah to cast down the pride of the oppressor, and to deliver the poor and him that cried. But Jesus seemed to content Himself with gathering disciples about Him, and healing and teaching the people. 

He was eating at the tables of the publicans, while every day the Roman yoke rested more heavily upon Israel, while King Herod and his vile paramour worked their will, and the cries of the poor and suffering went up to heaven. To the desert prophet all this seemed a mystery beyond his fathoming. There were hours when the whisperings of demons tortured his spirit, and the shadow of a terrible fear crept over him. Could it be that the long-hoped-for Deliverer had not yet appeared? Then what meant the message that he himself had been impelled to bear?

Having said that, there are now issues of grave concern facing the nation, and we will have much more to think about, as the new policies and laws take effect. Christ has taught us not to worry about tomorrow, but He has also stated in the old and new Testaments, that perilous times will come. In Daniel He speaks of a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, and it may be, that the social unrest we have been witnessing is just the tip of the iceberg. However, we must be able to adapt to changing circumstances, which leads us to the Bible study for this afternoon: “Render unto Caesar”.
                             
The last few days have been quite disturbing on several fronts, and it is in order for us to address the obvious concerns that have been raised with the upset victory of Donald Trump. Even though Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, yet we are still living on this planet, and the developments of the past week will directly affect us, in one way or another. Thus, we have a God-ordained duty to re-examine our relation to “Caesar”, since we all must deal with him sooner or later. And because of this, there are certain fundamentals we must clearly understand as it pertains to our civic duties and responsibilities.

[1] God is the final arbitrator in the setting up, and the dismantling of the kingdoms of this world, and as such, we must abide by the choices He makes, or the permissions He grants. Let’s read:

Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings.
Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

[2] Not because God has chosen a person to rule, means that everything he does will be in harmony with God’s will. There are instances in history, when in order to accomplish His good purposes towards His people, He has allowed tyrants to rule. This is one of the more sensitive aspects of God’s choices, which may often baffle some, but from which the Christian is to take courage, knowing that all things work together for the good of His people. Let’s read:

Exodus 9:13 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 
14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. 
16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

1st Samuel 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 
5 And said unto him, make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 
7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 
9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
14 He will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 
15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 
16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 
17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 
18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.

With these two fundamentals in mind, we now turn to address our civic duties, and responsibilities to Caesar, even if he is as stubborn as pharaoh, or as rebellious as Saul. Great changes will be coming our way soon, and we will have to adapt to the varying circumstances as they unfold, whilst still adhering to the instructions of the Bible. We will also discover that obeying the word of God in a less than ideal situation is easier said than done, for it will require great faith as we move forward. Thus, the following is a list, or general overview of what some of those duties will entail. Let’s read:

[1] As Christians, we should pray for those who are in civil authority, who have been duly elected, by the will of God, and by the people. Protesting and rioting will not change the fact, and these activities will also tend to further ignite an already volatile situation. That’s why we should pray for the secular leaders, that God’s will may be done through them, and that they may be restrained from enacting the oppressive laws that will have adverse effects on the nation. Let’s read:
1st Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; 
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

[2] Christians should submit to duly elected leaders in obeying the laws of the land, whenever they do not directly conflict with the law of God. This issue will become very sensitive as we have already seen, because, some of the laws passed recently in 2015 have been catalysts in the moral decay of the fabric of society. Yet, if these laws do not force us to do evil, we should abide by them, even if we personally disagree from a scriptural perspective. Let’s read:
Romans 8:1 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. 
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 
6 For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 
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.

Matthew 23: 1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
[3] When the laws of Caesar may attempt to force us into disobeying God’s express command, then we should obey God rather than men, because we must answer to a higher authority than mortal man. For instance, when we are forbidden to preach certain truths, or when false worship is being urged upon us then, civil disobedience, in a meek and quiet spirit is the only option on the table, for God must at all times, have the preeminence in our thoughts and actions. Let’s read:

Acts 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Daniel 3:4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 
5 That at what time ye hear the sound of all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 
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. 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.
[Selected messages 3 pp. 424] The Lord of heaven permits the world to choose whom they will have as ruler. Let all read carefully the thirteenth chapter of Revelation for it concerns every human agent, great and small. Every human being must take sides, either for the true and living God, who has given to the world the memorial of Creation in the seventh-day Sabbath, or for a false Sabbath, instituted by men who have exalted themselves above all that is called God or that is worshiped, who have taken upon themselves the attributes of Satan, in oppressing the loyal and true who keep the commandments of God. 

It's very important then for us rise to the occasion, by using the few remaining moments of time to finish the work God has given us to do. We are not to fear, nor falter, for God knows what He is doing, and in the end, after the dust settles, it will be seen that His good purposes together with the fulfillment of those prophecies in Daniel and the Revelation are some of the reasons why He permitted such a stunning upset. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should encourage us to be faithful, in a time of upheaval and change. Let’s read:

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

                                                                      God bless!

Houses, Spouses, & Lands. Sabbath Afternoon. 11/05/2016

The three main distractions which usually adversely affect potential candidates for heaven are spouses, houses, and material possessions, all of which are in and of themselves good, yet if not held in subjection to higher eternal interests, often cause Christians to lose focus, by mixing up their priorities. In both the old and new Testaments, these three elements are responsible for the failures of millions, who might have otherwise been saved. For example, we have the rich young ruler, who, because of his wealth and material possessions, turned away from Christ, and salvation even though he demonstrated a very keen interest in God’s kingdom of righteousness.

As the young ruler observed Jesus ministering to the multitudes, and blessing the children, his heart was moved to ask the question that’s so important to every soul, “What must I do to be saved”. But as Christ outlined the terms and conditions, and as the young man weighed the pros and cons, he came to the conclusion that the sacrifice of material wealth, and all that it entails, was too great, and the rest is history for the Bible says he turned away from God, and Christ, and his decision was never afterward reversed. Let’s read:

Matthew 19:13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray. 
15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence. 
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 
17 And he said unto him, if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
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 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Again, in the parable of the gospel invitation we see the same three issues becoming distractions, thus usurping the place Christ alone should have in our priorities. After the gospel invitation is given in the parable, the invitees begin to make excuses, which
demonstrate their esteem of eternal life. Different reasons are given by some, but the bottom line is that houses, spouses and lands mean more to them than what Christ has done for us on Calvary. Let’s read:

Luke 14: 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many. 
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
These three issues can potentially cause so much distraction, that they were actually included as a part of one’s enlistment declarations for war, since in the wisdom and knowledge of God, they could cause even soldiers to lose focus. Therefore, before a Hebrew could be permitted to fight in any war, he must be given an opportunity to withdraw his offer, because of several potential concerns, including the fear of temporal loss, and even of life itself. In other words, if his esteem of temporal things would cause him to prioritize them ahead of God’s work, he will prove to be a source of weakness, not a blessing, in times of national emergency. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 20:1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, 
5 The officers shall speak unto the people, saying, what man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. 
6 And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. 
7 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.

Jesus also cautioned His followers against making houses, spouses and possessions the deciding factor when choosing to follow Him. Though these issues are important, yet they should be held subservient to discipleship, no matter what the cost. This is why Christ had no problem with answering Peter on the very same issues. Let’s read:
 Mark 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

In our case study today, we will review the effect these three issues had on the minds of Gideon and his men, after the call was made throughout Israel, to fight against the invading army. The Midianites had amassed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and chariots, obviously bent on Israel’s destruction, but God had provided deliverance through Gideon, who then sent out an urgent plea for help from all of the twelve tribes. In response 32,000 apparently valiant men enlisted. However, when they saw the size of the army they were going up against, the fear of temporal loss gripped most of them, and thus, a very probing question was posed, in order to find out their true sentiments. Let’s read:

Judges 7:2 And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 
3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 548>550] Those who were unwilling to face danger and hardships, or whose worldly interests would draw their hearts from the work of God, would add no strength to the armies of Israel. Their presence would prove only a cause of weakness. Because his numbers were so few compared with those of the enemy, Gideon had refrained from making the usual proclamation. He was filled with astonishment at the declaration that his army was too large. But the Lord saw the pride and unbelief existing in the hearts of His people. Aroused by the stirring appeals of Gideon, they had readily enlisted, but many were filled with fear when they saw the multitudes of the Midianites. 

Gideon obeyed the Lord's direction, and with a heavy heart he saw twenty-two thousand, or more than two thirds of his entire force, depart for their homes. Again the word of the Lord came to him: “The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.” The people were led down to the waterside, expecting to make an immediate advance upon the enemy.  

A few hastily took a little water in the hand and sucked it up as they went on; but nearly all bowed upon their knees, and leisurely drank from the surface of the stream. Those who took of the water in their hands were but three hundred out of ten thousand; yet these were selected; all the rest were permitted to return to their homes.

By the simplest means character is often tested. Those who in time of peril were intent upon supplying their own wants were not the men to be trusted in an emergency. The Lord has no place in His work for the indolent and self-indulgent. The men of His choice were the few who would not permit their own wants to delay them in the discharge of duty. The three hundred chosen men not only possessed courage and self-control, but they were men of faith. They had not defiled themselves with idolatry. God could direct them, and through them He could work deliverance for Israel.

This takes us back to the original mandate God gave to Gideon, and should cause us to understand the nature of the call. After assuring Gideon that he had been chosen, and that God would be with him, the angel then commands Gideon to do something that most modern-day televangelists would shrink from doing. He instructs Gideon to pledge his allegiance to the King of Kings by signally demonstrating God’s displeasure with the idolatry, and false worship of the day. 

This command to Gideon would obviously put him at great odds with the community in which he lived, and since the local place of worship was owned and operated by his own father, the singular act would put him at risk of losing houses, spouses and lands. Thus, in obedience to the command of God, Gideon is now set to become the “Most wanted”, and the most unpopular in his city. 

There are those who will preach the three angel’s messages, only if they can have some guarantee that their houses, spouses, and lands would remain intact. But if there is the possibility of interference, because of preaching the plain, cutting truths of the Bible, then many choose to present pleasing fables, or truths which will not offend, or step on anyone’s proverbial toes. Let’s read:

Judges 6:25 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: 
26 And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.
27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him.
28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. 
29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing. 
30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.
34 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

Another trumpet is soon to sound, and the bullock of seven years old will be required to demonstrate God’s displeasure at the prevailing idolatry, and the false worship that has gripped most individuals and nations alike. But those Christians whose priorities are centered on houses, spouses, and lands will not bring strength to the cause of God in the last days, for they would esteem the comforts of life, and the approbation of men, of greater value, than putting themselves at risk for the cause of truth. Hence the reason why the following passages must be clearly understood in the context of what is scheduled to take place in 2017. Let’s read:

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 
3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 
4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 
5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 
6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 
10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 
11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

Catholic News Agency: “All Catholic faithful” are invited “to take up, recognize the signs of the times, the way of unity for overcoming divisions among Christians,” the pontiff said during the private audience with Lutheran archbishop Uppsala Antje Jackelen. Division, he said is not only in opposition “to the will of Christ, but is also a scandal to the world and causes damage to the holiest of causes. 

The pontiff also acknowledged the upcoming anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, as well as the joint document “From Conflict to Communion” published by the Lutheran-Catholic commission for unity. He expressed his hope that this initiative would encourage further steps toward unity.

It is good to own houses and lands, and it is good to have one’s spouse, but those temporal concerns of life should in no way cause us to defer the sounding of the trumpet nor should we be watering down the plain truths of God’s word to please the sin-loving multitudes. The time is now, when God is calling for decisive action on the issues which pertain to false worship. Multitudes are in the valley of decision and the time is at hand when those who now claim to be Christians must make their allegiance known in no unmistakable terms.

The issues that have triggered moral decay in our day, and the violence now being done to the sacred institution of marriage, is to be laid out in plainest terms before the people, so that each person may have equal opportunity to make an intelligent, well-informed choice. But the true servants of God must not in any way, cause houses, spouses, and lands to deter them from speaking the truth. Let’s read:

[The Great controversy. pp 606>607] In every generation God has sent his servants to rebuke sin, both in the world and in the church. But the people desire smooth things spoken to them, and the pure, unvarnished truth is not acceptable. Many reformers, in entering upon their work, determined to exercise great prudence in attacking the sins of the church and the nation. They hoped, by the example of a pure Christian life, to lead the people back to the doctrines of the Bible. 

But the Spirit of God came upon them as it came upon Elijah, moving him to rebuke the sins of a wicked king and an apostate people; they could not refrain from preaching the plain utterances of the Bible, doctrines which they had been reluctant to present. They were impelled to zealously declare the truth, and the danger which threatened souls. The words which the Lord gave them they uttered, fearless of consequences, and the people were compelled to hear the warning.
Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to his service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of his Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. 

The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of Spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power, all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from Heaven. 
As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears, and quiet the awakened conscience. But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of men, and demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is questioned will denounce the message as of Satan, and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it.

As the controversy extends into new fields, and the minds of the people are called to God's down-trodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light, lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. 
The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and in this work, papists and Protestants unite. 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.

This urgency calls for the bullock of seven years old, and thus it is fitting for us to end with the very same questions Gideon posed to his men, by the direction of God. The Lord is not stating that those who have houses, spouses, and lands, cannot be used; He is cautioning us against making these issues a priority in contrast to the urgent messages to be given at this time. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 20:1 When thou goest out to battle, 
5 The officers shall speak unto the people, saying,
what man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. 
6 And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. 
7 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart. 

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

Lessons From Election 2016. Sabbath Afternoon. 10/29/2016

It is obvious that the kingdoms of this world cannot be attained to, using current methodologies, and yet leave the candidates guiltless. One candidate has as his slogan “Make America great again” while the other has “Stronger Together”, and even though these may be worthy goals yet the end will never be justified by the means or methods employed. Here is where many politicians and theologians are sadly deluded, for no one can utilize evil methods and principles to achieve upright results. It just does not work that way.

In order to accomplish any real or lasting good, the human agent must use scriptural methodologies, or else the efforts will come apart sooner or later. This is the reason why the apostle James rightly stated that peace initiatives must be sown in peace, not in rivalry, heated debates, finger-pointing, accusation, threats, insults, and character assassinations. For us to employ these satanic methods and principles and then speak of being stronger together, or of making our country great again is a paradoxical phantom of impossibility, which goes against both the spiritual, and natural laws of sowing and reaping.

These truths are borne out clearly in several verses of scripture which present to us both the frailty and futility of these motifs. Hence the reason why those who look to mortal man for solutions to our most pressing problems, will find that their hopes were built upon the shifting sand, and will be subjected to bitter disappointment. Let’s read:
 
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 
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. 
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.

It becomes clear that the presidential candidates have not been utilizing scriptural methods, hence the reason why we should allow for good spiritual lessons to be learned from their mistakes. Several issues were raised during the campaign season, and as we look back in retrospect, we will see where we have fallen short of God’s ideals, and how we may make straight paths for our feet moving forward. The fact that both presidential candidates claim to be Christians, should cause us to consider all of the inherent dangers of trying to blend Christianity with secular policy, a mismatch which always leads to strife, and which takes us to our very first lesson:

[1] It’s always a bad idea to mix politics and religion. The two concepts are antithetical, when divorced from the principles and laws of God’s kingdom, and
that’s why we are advised not to blend Caesar and Christ into one diabolical mix. Satan’s kingdom is a kingdom of force, and everyone who seeks the high office of President will inevitably be drawn into the ring, with many bouts of mudslinging, for that’s just the nature of the beast. Mixing politics and religion is derived from a papal template and should never be adopted by Christians. Let’s read:

John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. 
5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard.
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

All of these worldly kingdoms are represented by predatory animals, thus revealing the very nature and principles upon which they were established. When God called Daniel, and Joseph to serve as statesmen, He did not permit them to run for office employing the principles of competition, for this is contrary to His methods. Instead, they were placed in their high positions of authority solely through the providences of God. Hence the stern warning for us not to voluntarily engage in such aspirations or tactics, for they not endorsed or recognized by God. Let’s read:

Psalms 75:5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. 
6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

[Fundamentals of Christian education. pp 482] The Lord desires all who bear the message for these last days to understand that there is a great difference between professors of religion who are not doers of the word and the children of God who are sanctified through the truth, who have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul. 

The Lord speaks of those who claim to believe the truth for this time, yet see nothing inconsistent in their taking part in politics, mingling with the contending elements of these last days, as the circumcised who mingle with the uncircumcised, and He declares that He will destroy both classes together without distinction. They are doing a work that God has not set them to do. They dishonor God by their party spirit and contention, and He will condemn both alike.

[2] We should stand for principle, not for party. Any person who is willing to overlook the evil traits of character in their party nominee, together with the facts of past, and ongoing transgressions, just for the sake of winning, will prove to be dangerous for the greater good of the country. When any person deliberately blinds themselves to issues which need redress, and when the desire to win causes known sin to be brushed under the rug, then we may know that we are headed for very dark days ahead, with potential social unrest looming just on the horizon.

As a matter of fact, any individual who is willing to sacrifice principle for policy, and righteousness for public favor, will not scruple at anything, no matter how degrading to achieve a desired end. This is the reason why the satanic phrase, “The end justifies the means” has become the motive principle driving this election cycle. In other words, some people will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals, whether it be good or evil. Now, that’s we call a dangerous mentality, as is outlined in the following scriptural examples. Let’s read:

Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.

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. 
3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. 
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.
5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 
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. 
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. 
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. 
9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 
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. 
11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. 
14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. 
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. 
16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

[Education pp 57] The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.

[3] Whatever is done in secret, we may expect it to come out in broad daylight sooner or later. Certain “Emails” were supposed to be secret, and certain raunchy comments, and actions were supposed to remain as skeletons in the closet, but they took on a life of their own and are now scattered far and wide for the world to see and hear. This is because the word of God never fails of accomplishment.

Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

[4] It’s never good to be double-minded, to switch sides and convictions because of peer pressure. Nor should we be swayed by political pressure, or the majority opinion. This lesson is to have very real implications in the near future for all Christians who will be forced to choose between Christ, and the mark of the beast. If something is true and has been ordained of God, we should believe it unto death. In fact, Christ was crucified by pagan Rome for political reasons. By his own admission, Pilate stated that he had found no fault in Christ, yet he authorized His crucifixion. Let’s read:

James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

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

John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
4 And saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
6 Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
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. 
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.
16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

[5] Thou shalt not bear false witness. It has been said that in order to be a good politician, one has to be a good liar, and since most of them tell lies, your vote for one who may seem to be a savior today, may turn out to be a ballot for a wolf in sheep’s clothing tomorrow.

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Psalms 120:2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 
3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? 
4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

[6] We should avoid talking over others, or whilst others are speaking. As we observed the debates, this one, rude element kept resurfacing, where one candidate would begin to speak before the other was finished, and vice-versa. As Christians, Christ instructs us to be kind, courteous, and respectful, even to those who are not of similar persuasion, or who mat otherwise exhibit the characteristic of the dragon in anger and inflammatory speech. Several warnings and counsels are therefore given in the scriptures, so that we may shun this common pitfall. Let’s read: 

Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last
came two false witnesses, 
61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. 
62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 
63 But Jesus held his peace.

1st Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

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

                                                                God bless! 

The Two Mysterious women Of Revelation. Sabbath Afternoon. 10/22/2016

There are two mysterious women mentioned in the book of revelation, one in chapter 12, and the other in chapter 17, and it is very important for each of us to understand what these two represent, so that we may have a clearer picture of what is just about to take place, here at home, and abroad. The reason for the urgent call to understand, is because their activities will have a direct impact on civilization in our day, with consequences reaching into eternity. As was stated on numerous occasions on this forum the prophecies in the Bible often have spiritual and physical aspects, and the fulfillment of prophecies often take place at the point of their convergence.

One of the issues we must consider as we study, is that the fine details of prophecy are sometimes left out until the time for their fulfillment has almost arrived. The reason for this is because it is not only human beings who are studying the scriptures to find out what’s going on. Invisible beings, who live on our planet also study the prophecies diligently so as to have a clear knowledge of when these things are to occur, so that they may position themselves intelligently, unlike so many of us. Let’s read:

[Confrontation. Pp. 34] Satan found easy access to the hearts of men. He is a diligent student of the Bible and is much better acquainted with the prophecies than many religious teachers. He knows that it is for his interest to keep well informed in the revealed purposes of God, that he may defeat the plans of the Infinite.

We begin with the woman mentioned in Revelation twelve, who is figuratively clothe with the sun, and with the moon under her feet. The description must be highly symbolic, since the literal interpretation of the figure is simply impossible. Therefore, the verse which contains the symbolism should not be forced to any irrational conclusion, especially as the clear evidences point in the opposite direction. Thus, as we study, it’s imperative for us to observe diligently the recurrence of the spiritual and physical aspects. Let’s read: 

Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 

Question: Who is the woman being mentioned in these two verses? 
Answer: She is the true church of God, clothed with the sun, because of the new Testament which fully revealed Christ, and with the moon under her feet, because the old Testament pointed forward to the time when the Savior of the world would be fully revealed in the New testament era. In the natural world, the moon reflects the light of the Sun, and so in the spiritual realm, the old Testament, in symbols and types pointed to, and reflected the rays of The Sun of righteousness, who was to appear. 

Let us here remember that, according to the Bible, “The evening and the morning were the first day”, and thus, in the spiritual realm the night, governed by the moon, must precede daylight with the sun. The twelve stars upon her head also represent the twelve apostles, with whom Christ inaugurated the Christian church, symbolized in the scriptures as a woman. 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.

Jeremiah 6:2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.

Jeremiah 3:6 The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. 
7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 
11 And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

But then, in that same chapter of Revelation 12, a literal, physical woman is being referred to, for the verses specifically state that “She brought forth a man-child”. A church cannot give birth to a physical child, and therefore, the woman in the following passages can be none other than the mother of Christ, even Mary. Thus we have the convergence of the spiritual woman, the true church, and the literal woman in the person of Mary. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, 
4 And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 
5 And she brought forth a man child, and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 

These passages point unmistakably to Mary, also to the experiences surrounding Christ’s birth, and soon thereafter, because, as we study the scriptures we’ll discover that satan, the great red dragon, used his physical counterpart in the person of Herod, who answered to pagan Rome, to mount the effort to “Devour” Christ, as it were. Thus we have again, the convergence of the spiritual, and the physical, the spiritual dragon being satan and the physical agent in the person of Herod, of pagan Rome. Let’s read:

Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. 
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Thus, after Jesus Christ had lived and died, and rose
from the tomb, the woman, the Christian church was forced into the “Wilderness” for 1260 years, because of the persecution against her by papal Rome, during the dark ages. It is impossible that Mary would have lived for an additional 1260 years, and so we conclude beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the woman referred to in verse 6 of Revelation chapter 12, must be the spiritual woman, the true Christian church. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

[The Great Controversy. pp. 266] The periods here mentioned—“forty and two months,” and “a thousand two hundred and threescore days”—are the same, alike representing the time in which the church of Christ was to suffer oppression from Rome. The 1260 years of papal supremacy began with the establishment of the papacy in A. D. 538, and would therefore terminate in 1798. At that time a French army entered Rome, and made the pope a prisoner, and he died in exile.

However, there is another mystery woman looming in Revelation 17 of whom we must take cognizance, since she has already spread her tentacles of power over the kings and the presidents of the world. One does not have to be a Christian to pay attention, for even if you are a Muslim, an Atheist, a Mormon, a Buddhist or a Jehovah’s witness, the next passages will, and is already affecting you. Hence the reason why every living person ought to carefully consider the implications of the following information. Let’s read:

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 shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 
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. 
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. 
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

The woman here being described has to be some sort of religious organization wielding tremendous political clout, because her influence affects all the leaders of the nations, together with the majority of people presently. In addition, we are given several specifics in her description, so as to leave no doubt who, and what is being referred to. So let’s list the descriptions one by one:

[1] She sits upon many waters.
Since “Waters” represent the teeming multitudes of earth, under the jurisdiction of their leaders, whom the woman controls, then it means that she is in the driver’s seat, shaping both the political and religious agenda for the nations of earth. Let’s read: 

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 shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

[2] The leaders of the earth are in bed with her, for they have committed spiritual fornication with her, after being made drunk by her doctrines. Therefore, the multitudes that are under the jurisdiction of the leaders here mentioned, are also being affected by her adverse influences. Let’s read:

Revelation 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.

Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. 
9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

Hosea 1:2 The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.

When the Bible states that “All nations” have drank of the wine of Babylon, it is referring to the central doctrines that have been disseminated and adopted by the overwhelming majority of earth’s inhabitants such as the doctrines of Sunday sacredness, and the natural immortality of the soul. Of these two tenets, Sunday sacredness is the one that is now universally accepted by evangelicals, and most protestants, so from the papacy’s point of view, pope Francis must now be querying what the protest is all about. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy. pp. 588] Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul, and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of Spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.

Question: Is it true, or is that statement just a
figment of the prophet’s imagination? Come with us as we visit the Al Smith Dinner this past Thursday night, to which both presidential candidates were invited to speak, and which is hosted by the current Catholic archbishop of New York, cardinal Timothy Dolan. The dinner is organized annually by Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, in honor of Al Smith, the former New York Governor, who was the first Catholic U.S. presidential candidate. The first dinner was in 1945, the year after Al Smith's death, and It is generally the last public event, at which the two U.S. presidential candidates share a stage before the election. 
 
[3] She is arrayed in purple, and scarlet, and has a golden cup in her hand. She is also decked out with gold and precious stones. 

[4] She is drunken with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
During the dark ages, the time mentioned in the Bible as the 1260 year period of papal supremacy, millions upon millions of Christians were martyred for their faith, with some estimates putting the staggering figures at between 50 and 100 million. This is why, in the many identifying marks given in the Bible, the shedding of much blood is mentioned.
 
[5] She is a city.
The Vatican is the only city on earth that fits the bill, for it is both a religious and political power now combined into one entity. Thus, the image of the Beast here in America will include both religious and political powers, uniting under the banner of Rome to enforce Sunday sacredness via the mark the beast. This is why there is such an urgent call to God’s true people now sitting, and worshipping in Babylon, to run for their lives, and come out of the conglomerate, before the plagues mentioned in the same book, be meted against those who adopt her doctrines either ignorantly, or deliberately.

There is one, and only one religious organization which fits the bill, which meets all of the criteria and specifications given by John, and that’s the papacy, now under the jurisdiction of pope Francis. This is the reason why, for the very first time in history, he addressed the both houses of congress, in addition to the united nations general assembly, outlining the agenda for nations, and multitudes, and kings and presidents to follow. 

Thus, since the Bible has identified in no uncertain terms, who the spiritual woman in revelation 17 is, there is one, and only one question remaining to be answered: Does she, and will she have a physical counterpart, just as the pure woman of Revelation 12? Folks, brethren, and fellow citizens of this great nation, we beseech us in Christ’s stead not to bury our heads in the sand anymore, for there must be a valid reason why this election season has been so rife with turbulence, with politicians, and all pundits alike, now stating that what’s currently taking place is unprecedented in U.S history.

 At the beginning of this earth’s history, a physical woman in the person of Eve played a leading role in the fall of humanity. We observe that satan spoke not a single word to Adam, but instead to Eve. Man followed after, but it was the woman who took the lead. Not long after, The Lord God appeared to our first parents, and after questioning them concerning what was done, He began to outline the inevitable consequences of sin, beginning with the serpent and ending with man. Let’s read: 

Genesis 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:
Question: Who is God speaking to in the above passage?
Answer: Two distinct entities are being addressed here, for the curse is to affect both the spiritual and the physical serpents.

[The Story Of Redemption. pp. 32] The serpent was a beautiful creature with wings, and while flying through the air his appearance was bright, resembling burnished gold. He did not go upon the ground but went from place to place through the air and ate fruit like man. Satan entered into the serpent and took his position in the tree of knowledge and commenced leisurely eating of the fruit.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Question: Who is God speaking to in the above passage?
Answer: Again, two distinct entities are here being spoken to. To the spiritual woman, which would be the God’s true church, and to the physical woman in the form of Eve, for He would not refer to the literal Eve as an “It”

Some may now be wondering what do these things mean, and what is the practical purpose and correct application of these revelations. Thus, the following information will be given in the clearest manner, so that even a child could understand. The majority of God’s true people are now sitting in Sunday-keeping churches, and though they may be sincere in their worship, yet it is not in harmony with the day which God has stipulated, and reiterated throughout the sacred history of mankind. 

The seventh day Sabbath of the Bible instructs all of earth’s inhabitants to worship Christ in His capacity of Creator of the heavens and the earth, a mandate which would have effectively stymied the false theory of evolution. But as a direct result of efforts to change the day God has blessed, by the mystery woman of Revelation, many are worshipping Christ as Savior, and not as Creator. Therefore, God’s call in Revelation chapter 18 is specifically addressed to all Catholics, Evangelicals, Protestants, and anyone else from any religion who may be an honest, and sincere seeker for truth, to come out of Babylon’s doctrines and her practices, whilst there remains a small window of opportunity to do so.

We therefore end with four passages of scripture which will enjoin the worship of Christ on His day of rest, even the Sabbath of the fourth commandment which will soon be the identifying mark and dividing line between those who serve the living God, and those who do not. Let’s read: 

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 
 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

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

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

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become he habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul
spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
 
                         May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word.  

                                                                     God bless! 

Think On These Things. Sabbath Afternoon. 10/15/2016

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

Given the very toxic political environment we are now living in, with all of the gory details, and vulgar jests and comments that are flying let, right, and center, it has become necessary for us to address the principles and instructions given in God’s word, as it pertains to what we allow our minds to absorb, and dwell upon. In the passage above, the apostle Paul gives us a breakdown of the method by which we must evaluate all information being permitted to enter our thought processes. Whenever we have a choice, as Christians we must be very deliberate in what we choose to see, read, and hear, for there is always an impact upon the mind, for better, or for worse.

There are several reasons why the Bible instructs to avoid seeing, or hearing evil, and one of the main ones is that we can become tainted imperceptibly, and before you know it, we will start to repeat, and in some cases, act out the very things we have seen or heard. This fact is based upon the principle which says that “By beholding we become changed”. This goes for both good and evil, for if we are constantly exposing our minds to evil, our innermost thoughts will gradually adapt to what we are imbibing. The same is also true of that which is elevating, for our subconscious mind stores whatsoever we feed into it, whether it be good of evil. 

For many months now, the news media and news anchors have earnestly sought to dig up all the dirt on the two presidential candidates, and they have made it their duty to highlight the vulgar, and the vilest elements in human nature, repeating, and in many instances, elaborating on the shortcomings and sins of the fallen. This is done under the guise of what is labeled investigative reporting, but what is really taking place is that the multitudes are being initiated into, or reminded of evil constantly. 

We have repeatedly stated on this forum that there were millions of evil spirits let loose across the land since that fateful day of June 26th 2015, and we are now beginning to see the effects of their influence upon the hearts and minds of the people. To put it in plain words, we are reaping the harvest we have sown nationally by destabilizing the sacred marriage institution, which is the foundation of society. This is the reason why the presidential election has now taken on a satanic tone, instead of those involved addressing the concerns and needs of the nation.

For those of us who may have missed it, two very important events took place in June of 2015. [1] The Supreme court dealt a deadly blow to God-ordained marriage, by making same-sex marriage legal in all fifty states. [2] In June of that same year, Donald Trump entered the race, and immediately started to spew very disturbing and alarming sentiments much to the chagrin of the GOP. From that time forward, the race for the White House has descended to the bottomless pit, with the most gruesome, vulgar and vile revelations coming from both the left and the right. 

What is note-worthy, is that no one in the political realm could explain, or account for the very rare phenomena, where the two front runners are being investigated for criminal activity, and where people are faced with the prospect of voting for the lesser of two evils. In fact, many individuals are not merely voting for the candidate they love, but against the candidate they hate. And as the worst elements in human nature are now being highlighted 24/7 by the news media, national embarrassment, shame and remorse, anger and resentment, outrage and lies, conspiracies and speculations, suspicions and evils of every variety have now caused the entire nation to look tremblingly towards the near future, as if some cataclysmic event is just about to take place. 

This is exactly as the devil would have it, for he and his agencies do deal in the currency of accusation, faultfinding, regurgitation of past sins and character assassination, as well as vulgar jests and joking such as are enacted on SNL. Thus, when we have stated unequivocally that millions of evil spirits were let loose last year, we should never expect to see devils with pitchforks and horns, running up and down our streets, but rather their invisible adverse influences in the display of the lowest and the vilest elements in human nature. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, 
which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
The history of the fall of the city of Jerusalem, after the rejection of Christ provides the needed insights and precedents which will explain what we are now witnessing in our own nation. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy. pp. 28>29] For forty years after the doom of Jerusalem had been pronounced, the Lord delayed his judgments upon the city and the nation. The command had gone forth, “Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?” But divine mercy had spared it yet a little longer. Through the preaching of the apostles and their associates, God would cause light to shine upon them; they would be permitted to see how prophecy had been fulfilled. 

Then God withdrew his protection from them, and removed his restraining power from Satan and his angels, and the nation was left to the control of the leader she had chosen. Her children had spurned the grace of Christ, which would have enabled them to subdue their evil impulses, and now these became the conquerors. Satan aroused the fiercest and most debased passions of the soul.

Men did not reason; they were beyond reason,—controlled by impulse and blind rage. In the family and in the nation, among the highest and the lowest classes alike, there was suspicion, envy, hatred, strife, rebellion, murder. The rulers of the people had no power to rule themselves. The fear of God no longer disturbed them. Satan was at the head of the nation, and the highest civil and religious authorities were under his sway.

Thus, because of the adverse situation we now find ourselves in, we will have to pick and choose what we allow our minds to be bombarded with each day for when the vulgar and the vile are kept constantly before our faces, then the process of initiation into evil spirals out of control. For instance, here’s what the Bible has to say about the “Doctrine of Balaam”, the prophet who had tried repeatedly to curse the Hebrews, by endeavoring to cast a spell on them.

Numbers 23:20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. 
21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. 
22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

 But when the spell could not work, he resorted to the art of “Beholding”, the same method which is currently being used by the news media to sow and reap evil. In many cases, the news anchors may not be aware of what they are doing, however that fact does not change the downward spiral in morality, as the juicy tidbits which arouse the worst passions of the heart are dwelt upon with eager interest. Let’s read:

Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Question: How did Balaam “Teach” the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and also to commit fornication? 
Answer: He invited them to look at the rituals, and festivities, and before you know it, the Hebrews had adopted the heathen practices as a way of life. As the song says, “Just one look, that’s all it took” and the Hebrews were enticed by what they heard and saw, and became entangled in the very same sins as the Moabites were indulging. Let’s read:
Numbers 25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 
2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 
3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.

Similarly, if we now allow our minds to dwell on the salacious details of what Mr. Trump, and Bill Clinton did, sooner or later, our thoughts and imaginations can become tainted by the same moral pollution, by the same words and expressions, and before you know it, we may begin to sound, and act like them. The servant of The Lord writes a very interesting, and relevant commentary on the downward spiral of ancient Israel, with a warning for those who are living in the last days of earth’s history, when the worst passions of human nature will be displayed before our eyes on a continual basis.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 459] A long preparatory process, unknown to the world, goes on in the heart before the Christian commits open sin. The mind does not come down at once from purity and holiness to depravity, corruption, and crime. It takes time to degrade those formed in the image of God to the brutal or the satanic. By beholding we become changed. By the indulgence of impure thoughts man can so educate his mind that sin which he once loathed will become pleasant to him.

Satan is using every means to make crime and debasing vice popular. The mind is educated to familiarity with sin. The course pursued by the base and vile is kept before the people in the periodicals of the day, and everything that can excite passion is brought before them in exciting stories. They hear and read so much of debasing crime that the once tender conscience, which would have recoiled with horror from such scenes, becomes hardened, and they dwell upon these things with greedy interest.

It’s worthy of note, that while millions have been glued to their television sets, drinking in the moral filth which is being served up by political priests and priestesses, hundreds, are dying in Haiti, and many more are passing into Christ-less graves in Yemen, Syria, and parts of Africa. Thousands of Americans, and others have been overwhelmed by flooding in various parts of the U.S., but the constant drip of salacious details about Trump’s sexual rendezvous have virtually sucked up all the oxygen in the room, in so much that millions have no time to think about those who are suffering untold hardship. 

Hence the reason why the study for this afternoon cautions us to think on those things that are mentioned in our first passage. Let’s read again:

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

Thus, it is now necessary for us to extrapolate the pertinent instructions given to us by God, so that we too should not fall a prey to the evil devices of satan. The following passages must be applied in the most literal sense, and on a consistent basis, by the grace and power of God, in order to avoid those old skeletons, and those latent evil desires which lay dormant in human nature, from being resurrected. Let’s read:

Instruction # [1] Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

To “Think upon a maid” means to indulge in porn of any kind. It also means reading about, or listening to the sexual encounters of others. Just because it’s on Fox News or CNN does not make it news-worthy for the Christian, and therefore we should make all efforts at avoiding, seeing, and hearing that which will surely suggest impure thoughts. To do this will require serious and earnest efforts by the grace of God, but Divine power is promised to all who so desire. God’s will is that we live in this world, but not be of the world, meaning that we should not partake of any, and everything that is served up in the public domain. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 460] We have a work to do to resist temptation. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind should not be left to wander at random upon every subject that the adversary of souls may suggest. “Girding up the loins of your mind,” says the apostle Peter, “Be sober, ... not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in ... your ignorance: but like as He which called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living.” 1st Peter 1:13-15.

This will require earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness. We must be aided by the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit, which will attract the mind upward, and habituate it to dwell on pure and holy things.

Instruction # [2] Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

When we repeat what Trump and Clinton did or did not do, then we become conduits of evil-speaking, and the atmosphere surrounding us will become tainted. Hence the reason why the following texts are written for our admonition, so that we will not inadvertently align ourselves with the kingdom of darkness. Let’s read:

Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people.

Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Exodus 23:13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

Instruction # [3] John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world.
The kingdoms of this world also have to do with the political arena and all that is entailed therein. When God has given a particular Christian a definite call to serve in the political arena, then that person should rise to the occasion and serve faithfully, he or she being guided constantly by the principles, methods and laws that are consistent with Christ’s kingdom. Daniel and Joseph were called to serve in a secular setting, but they did not become vice-presidents by campaigning against rivals and calling them names. 

Thus, it is a sad commentary we make of our time, that many Evangelical Christians, Pentecostals, and Catholics, have now become inextricably entangled in the snare of politics, and the separating lines that are drawn between church and state have become severely blurred. If we assay to become involved with the kingdoms of this world, without being bidden to do so by God, then in most cases, we will end up adapting to their, principles, and methods, which, as a rule, always leads to in-fighting of some kind. Let’s read:

John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Question: What does Mr. Trump, Mrs. Clinton, Dr. Ben Carson, Mike Pence, Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, have in common? They are all Christians. How is it then that there is so much vitriol and infighting and suspicion amongst themselves? It all has to do with their involvement with the kingdoms of this world. Let’s read:

Luke 22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.  

Thus, we close off our study today with an excerpt from the pen of inspiration, showing the dangers that are incident to the many power struggles of the kingdoms of this world, and it is the will of God that as Christians, we live on a higher plane, and operate by higher and nobler, principles and standards than those which motivate those who desperately seek for the highest place.

[The Desire Of Ages pp. 435>436] Lucifer desired God's power, but not His character. He sought for himself the highest place, and every being who is actuated by his spirit will do the same. Thus alienation, discord, and strife will be inevitable. Dominion becomes the prize of the strongest. The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force; every individual regards every other as an obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or a steppingstone on which he himself may climb to a higher place. 

[The Desire Of Ages pp. 353] It is the dragon that is wroth; it is the spirit of Satan that is revealed in anger and accusing. But God's servants are to be representatives of Him. He desires them to deal only in the currency of heaven, the truth that bears His own image and superscription. The power by which they are to overcome evil is the power of Christ.

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

                                                                  God bless!

The Difference Between Faith And Presumption. Sabbath Afternoon. 10/08/2016

In our day millions of Christians have succumbed to a counterfeit of faith known as presumption, and because it resembles the real thing very closely, it has become increasingly difficult for people to tell the difference. Presumption, in the spiritual sense is that attitude, and erroneous conclusion that God’s goodness will save or deliver us from the results of wrong choices and actions. It is also manifested in a disposition to make little, or no effort in achieving God’s will. Humanity is often tempted on these two main strains of presumption, and it’s very sad that in the overwhelming majority of cases, satan has been successful.

Presumption leads a person to sin deliberately, believing that they will always be forgiven. It also leads persons to take unnecessary risks, thereby putting themselves deliberately in harm’s way when not warranted, and then expecting God to deliver if trouble comes along. Presumption also leads many people to make no effort in working for their daily bread, expecting The Lord to provide miraculously, without any input from the human agent. 

Faith on the other hand trusts whole-heartedly in the promises, stipulations, and prerequisites of the Bible, making maximum effort in the fulfillment of God’s promises, trusting Him to take up the slack, and giving Him the glory, and the credit for what has been accomplished. Faith without any works is dead, and therefore any doctrine that savors of the phrase “just believe and it will happen” is a form of presumption. Let’s read:

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

[The Desire Of Ages. pp. 126] Faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption. For presumption is Satan's counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God's promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. 
It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures. Often when Satan has failed of exciting distrust, he succeeds in leading us to presumption. If he can cause us to place ourselves unnecessarily in the way of temptation, he knows that the victory is his. God will preserve all who walk in the path of obedience; but to depart from it is to venture on Satan's ground. There we are sure to fall.

The Savior has bidden us, “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Mark 14:38. Meditation and prayer would keep us from rushing unbidden into the way of danger, and thus we should be saved from many a defeat.

This past week we were warned by the national weather service on several occasions to make the necessary preparations for the approach of a deadly hurricane. Some people took the warning seriously, whilst others deliberately chose to put themselves in harm’s way, just for the fun of surfing. When God uses human agencies to warn us of things to come, He expects us to use our available knowledge, and intelligence in a preemptive manner, so as to avoid as far as possible, any adverse or life-threatening circumstances. 

With the Christian, everything that is done or which is accomplished in life is always achieved through the cooperation of the human and the Divine, for it is God who works within us to will and to do of His good pleasure. Thus, as a general rule of thumb, any prospective achievement which allows the human agent to sit back on his or her lees, while God does all the work, is a form of presumption, and should be resolutely resisted and avoided.

To deliberately go surfing when a dangerous storm is brewing nearby is not faith, but presumption, and in such cases, God usually does not hear, or answer the prayers of those who are thus exercised. When sufficient warning had been given to pharaoh about the coming seven years of drought, those who took the Lord seriously made ample preparation, and all those who didn’t placed themselves in very difficult circumstances. 

Again, when the warning was given to pharaoh, and his servants about the hailstorm that was to occur the next day, all who heeded the warning took the necessary steps in protecting life and property, whilst those who did not suffered heavy fatalities, and temporal loss. And God worked no miracle to prevent the natural result of a wrong choice. It is a sin of presumption not to make any preparations in the face of dire warnings from God. Let’s read:

Exodus 9:18 Behold, tomorrow 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. 
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. 
20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses.
21 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field. 
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. 
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. 
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.
25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.

Genesis 41:22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good. 
23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.  24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me. 
25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. 
26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. 
27 And the seven thin and ill-favored 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. 
28 What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. 
29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. 
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; 
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. 
32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of
Egypt. 
34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 
35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 
36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. 
37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

Whenever the national weather service issues us its warnings about coming hurricanes or tornadoes, it always gives us at least three very important pieces of information which are very critical to the survival of those who ought to listen: 
[1] Where the storm, or the tornado is headed. 
[2] The intensity and potential damage that can be done. 
[3] What needs to be done in order to avoid catastrophic human loss, as well as property damage. Let’s read: 
 

Gov. Rick Scott issued an urgent plea to people living in low-lying areas to leave as soon as possible. He also had a warning for thrill seekers looking to take advantage of the increasingly rough seas. It is important to stay away from the coast, which could see swells upward of 10 feet, he said. Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday issued a dire warning to residents living in evacuation zones to leave immediately or risk death because of an impending hurricane set to make landfall in the state. 

Hurricane Matthew is bearing down on the state, and forecasters have predicted forceful winds and a storm surge of 5 to 9 feet starting early Friday. The storm is expected to hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. "If you're watching and you're in an evacuation area, get out," Scott said. "Don't take a chance. Time is running out. 

This is clearly going to either have a direct hit or come right along our coast and we're going to have hurricane-force winds. There are no excuses. You need to leave. Evacuate, evacuate, evacuate." Scott stressed that it could be a matter of life and death. "Are you willing to take a chance to risk your life? Are you willing to take a gamble?" he said. "That's what you're doing. If you're reluctant to evacuate, just think of all the people the storm has already killed. You and your family could be among these numbers if you don't take this seriously." 

There is no reason for anyone to be on the beach, Scott said. "Do not surf, do not be on the beach," Scott said. He told residents to be prepared for power outages, saying that it is a matter of when it happens, not if. "You will lose power. Millions of Floridians are going to lose power," Scott said. "Just remember, this storm can change at a moment's notice."

There is another, far more deadly spiritual storm now approaching, and although the dire warnings, with the same three critical pieces of information have already been given, many are still “Surfing” as it were. The Bible tells us that the second coming of Christ is brewing in the not too distant future, and like the national weather service, God has given us ample time to prepare preemptively, so as to minimize the catastrophic loss of life that has been predicted. Like our own Governor, Rick Scott, the words of solemn entreaty have been echoed by the prophets, but millions of folks are still wandering in darkness incognizant of the imminent danger facing our world. 

When the laws of God are replaced by the laws of men, the probation of the entire human race will be brought to a swift and permanent close, and when that occurs a deadly, terrible spiritual storm, with ramifications, and consequences in the material world will ensue. Trouble is often found greater in anticipation than in reality, as it was in the case of hurricane Matthew hitting Florida, but this cannot be said of the storm that is now brewing just on the Horizon. To understand the magnitude of what is being spoken of, we will need to observe what the scripture says about it, in several different passages, when describing its impact on the human race. 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. 
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.
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. 
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Amos 8:3 And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord God: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.
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.

Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation”… 
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith
of Jesus.

Psalms 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. 
4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 
5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. 
6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.

Isaiah 30:27 Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: 
28 And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. 
29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel. 
30 And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

Daniel 2: 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 
35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 
44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

Some may be wondering, or asking where we are in the stream of time, as it pertains to this cryptic image of Daniel chapter two. Answer: We are living in the toe nails, which means that we are living on the brink of something stupendous, the likes of which the world has never seen. And like governor Rick Scott, the God of heaven has sent his own national weather service to warn the inhabitants of earth of things to come. Thus, we will take just a few excerpts of the warnings and entreaties which were given as hurricane Matthew approached, and we will show the parallel warnings in scripture, so that all who so desire may now find shelter in Christ while the small window of opportunity still remains. Let’s read:

[1] “Leave immediately or risk death because of an impending hurricane”.
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? 
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them”…
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 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.

Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

 [2] “Don't take a chance. Time is running out”.

Revelation 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.

Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

[3] “There are no excuses”.

Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuses. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

[4] “It could be a matter of life and death”.

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

[5] "Are you willing to take a chance to risk your life? Are you willing to take a gamble?" he said. "That's what you're doing. You and your family could be among these numbers if you don't take this seriously." 

Ezekiel 14:12 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, 
13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: 
14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, 
16 they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

We close with a short history of the flood that came upon the antediluvian world, and the lackadaisical, attitude manifested by approximately 7 billion folk. Let’s read: 

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 98>101]
Mercy had ceased its pleadings for the guilty race. The beasts of the field and the birds of the air had entered the place of refuge. Noah and his household were within the ark, “and the Lord shut him in.” A flash of dazzling light was seen, and a cloud of glory more vivid than the lightning descended from heaven and hovered before the entrance of the ark. The massive door, which it was impossible for those within to close, was slowly swung to its place by unseen hands.

 Noah was shut in, and the rejecters of God's mercy were shut out. So when Christ shall cease His intercession for guilty men, before His coming in the clouds of heaven, the door of mercy will be shut. Then divine grace will no longer restrain the wicked, and Satan will have full control of those who have rejected mercy. For seven days after Noah and his family entered the ark, there appeared no sign of the coming storm. It was a time of triumph to the world without. The apparent delay confirmed them in the belief that Noah's message was a delusion, and that the Flood would never come. 

But upon the eighth day dark clouds overspread the heavens. There followed the muttering of thunder and the flash of lightning. Soon large drops of rain began to fall. The world had never witnessed anything like this, and the hearts of men were struck with fear. All were secretly inquiring, “Can it be that Noah was in the right, and that the world is doomed to destruction?” Darker and darker grew the heavens, and faster came the falling rain. The beasts were roaming about in the wildest terror, and their discordant cries seemed to moan out their own destiny and the fate of man. 

Then “the fountains of the great deep” were “broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” Water appeared to come from the clouds in mighty cataracts. Rivers broke away from their boundaries, and overflowed the valleys. Jets of water burst from the earth with indescribable force, throwing massive rocks hundreds of feet into the air, and these, in falling, buried themselves deep in the ground. 

The people first beheld the destruction of the works of their own hands. Their splendid buildings, and the beautiful gardens and groves where they had placed their idols, were destroyed by lightning from heaven, and the ruins were scattered far and wide. The altars on which human sacrifices had been offered were torn down, and the worshipers were 

made to tremble at the power of the living God, and to know that it was their corruption and idolatry which had called down their destruction. 

As the violence of the storm increased, trees, buildings, rocks, and earth were hurled in every direction. The terror of man and beast was beyond description. Above the roar of the tempest was heard the wailing of a people that had despised the authority of God. Satan himself, who was compelled to remain in the midst of the warring elements, feared for his own existence. Others were frantic with fear, stretching their hands toward the ark and pleading for admittance. 

But their entreaties were in vain. Conscience was at last aroused to know that there is a God who ruleth in the heavens. They called upon Him earnestly, but His ear was not open to their cry. In that terrible hour they saw that the transgression of God's law had caused their ruin.
The beasts, exposed to the tempest, rushed toward man, as though expecting help from him. Some of the people bound their children and themselves upon powerful animals, knowing that these were tenacious of life, and would climb to the highest points to escape the rising waters. Some fastened themselves to lofty trees on the summit of hills or mountains; but the trees were uprooted, and with their burden of living beings were hurled into the seething billows. One spot after another that promised safety was abandoned. 

As the waters rose higher and higher, the people fled for refuge to the loftiest mountains. Often man and beast would struggle together for a foothold, until both were swept away. From the highest peaks men looked abroad upon a shoreless ocean. The solemn warnings of God's servant no longer seemed a subject for ridicule and scorning. How those doomed sinners longed for the opportunities which they had slighted! How they pleaded for one hour's probation, one more privilege of mercy, one call from the lips of Noah! 

But the sweet voice of mercy was no more to be heard by them. Love, no less than justice, demanded that God's judgments should put a check on sin. The avenging waters swept over the last retreat, and the despisers of God perished in the black depths.

He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what The Spirit says to the churches, because it is going to “Rain” again.
                                                                      God bless!

The Trickle-Down Effect Of Sin. Sabbath afternoon. 10/01/2016

Ever since the fall of our first parents, there has been a trickle-down effect of sin, which has both spiritual, and physical dimensions. For every sin committed, whether deliberately, or inadvertently, there are consequences which occur, the physical being more obvious than the spiritual. For example, when Adam and Eve sinned, they died immediately, spiritually speaking, because their relationship with God had been broken. This spiritual death was not apparent at the first, however, the physical effects soon began to be observed, and as time went by, the baleful, and ultimate effect of physical death took its toll. Let’s read:

Genesis 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. 
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Genesis 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

[Spirit Of Prophecy vol. 1 pp. 39>41] Eve reasoned that the serpent said they should not surely die, and she felt no signs of God's displeasure, but a pleasant influence, as she imagined the angels felt. Adam regretted that Eve had left his side; but now the deed was done. And in utter discouragement he resolved to share her fate. Eve was before him, just as lovely and beautiful, and apparently as innocent, as before this act of disobedience. He saw in her no signs of death. He seized the fruit and quickly ate it, and, like Eve, felt not immediately its ill effects.

The covering of light about them soon disappeared, and under a sense of guilt, and loss of their divine covering, a shivering seized them, and they tried to cover their exposed forms. The air that had been of a mild and even temperature, seemed to chill them. The guilty pair had a sense of sin. They felt a dread of the future, a sense of want, a nakedness of soul. The sweet love, and peace, and happy, contented bliss, seemed removed from them, and in its place a want of something came over them that they never experienced before. They then for the first turned their attention to the external. They had not been clothed, but were draped in light as were the heavenly angels. This light which had enshrouded them departed. 

[The Story Of Redemption. pp. 55] As Adam witnessed the first signs of decaying nature in the falling leaf and in the drooping flowers, he mourned more deeply than men now mourn over their dead. The drooping flowers were not so deep a cause of grief, because more tender and delicate; but for the tall, noble, sturdy trees to cast off their leaves, to decay, presented before him the general dissolution of beautiful nature, which God had created for the special benefit of man.

Thus, we will study several cases in which the trickle down effect of sin can be clearly seen, and then we will apply the same principle to our day, first, to see why we are, where we are, and then to apply the God-ordained remedies for our restoration. 

[1] We will begin with Eli and his sons, to whom were given the office of the priesthood, and who were the highest earthly authorities in the land of the Hebrews. Eli as a father had a problem in the discipline of his sons, because doing so involved unpleasant duties, such as crossing the will of his children when they chose to do wrong, Thus, as a result of his lack of decisive action in the training of his children, a dire trickle-down effect was observed across the entire nation, in both the spiritual, and physical realms. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.
16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. 
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the
offering of the Lord.
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. 
23 And he said unto them, why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 
24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress.

1st Samuel 3:11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.

[Patriarchs and Prophets. pp. 577>] Many of the people, filled with indignation at the corrupt course of Hophni and Phinehas, ceased to come up to the appointed place of worship. Thus the service which God had ordained was despised and neglected because associated with the sins of wicked men, while those whose hearts were inclined to evil were emboldened in sin. Ungodliness, profligacy, and even idolatry prevailed to a fearful extent.

Those who have too little courage to reprove wrong, or who through indolence or lack of interest make no earnest effort to purify the family or the church of God, are held accountable for the evil that may result from their neglect of duty. We are just as responsible for evils that we might have checked in others by exercise of parental or pastoral authority
as if the acts had been our own. Because of Eli's position, his influence was more extended than if he had been an ordinary man. His family life was imitated throughout Israel. The baleful results of his negligent, ease-loving ways were seen in thousands of homes that were molded by his example.

The adverse effects in the temporal realm: 
1st Samuel 4:2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 583] As the shattered and disheartened force returned to their encampment, “the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us today before the Philistines?” The nation was ripe for the judgments of God, yet they did not see that their own sins had been the cause of this terrible disaster. The Philistines made a fierce assault, which resulted in the defeat of Israel, with great slaughter. Thirty thousand men lay dead upon the field, and the ark of God was taken, the two sons of Eli having fallen while fighting to defend it.

[2] The Elders of Israel in the sexual sins committed with the Moabites, and the adverse effects in the spiritual realm:
Numbers 25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 
2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 
3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 
4 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. 

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 454] At Balaam's suggestion, a grand festival in honor of their gods was appointed by the king of Moab, and it was secretly arranged that Balaam should induce the Israelites to attend. Great numbers of the people joined him in witnessing the festivities. They ventured upon the forbidden ground, and were entangled in the snare of Satan. Beguiled with music and dancing, and allured by the beauty of heathen vestals, they cast off their fealty to Jehovah. As they united in mirth and feasting, indulgence in wine beclouded their senses and broke down the barriers of self-control. 

Passion had full sway; and having defiled their consciences by lewdness, they were persuaded to bow down to idols. They offered sacrifice upon heathen altars and participated in the most degrading rites. It was not long before the poison had spread, like a deadly infection, through the camp of Israel. Those who would have conquered their enemies in battle were overcome by the wiles of heathen women. The rulers and the leading men were among the first to transgress, and so many of the people were guilty that the apostasy became national. “Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor.” 

When Moses was aroused to perceive the evil, the plots of their enemies had been so successful that not only were the Israelites participating in the licentious worship at Mount Peor, but the heathen rites were coming to be observed in the camp of Israel.

And now, the adverse effects in the temporal realm: 
Numbers 25:9 And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.

[3] David, and his sin with Bathsheba, the murder of her husband Uriah, and the adverse effects in the spiritual realm:
2nd Samuel 12:6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 
7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 
11 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 
12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 723] Heretofore God's providence had preserved David against all the plottings of his enemies, and had been directly exercised to restrain Saul. But David's transgression had changed his relation to God. The Lord could not in any wise sanction iniquity. He could not exercise His power to protect David from the results of his sin as he had protected him from the enmity of Saul. There was a great change in David himself. He was broken in spirit by the consciousness of his sin and its far-reaching results. He felt humbled in the eyes of his subjects. His influence was weakened. 

Hitherto his prosperity had been attributed to his conscientious obedience to the commandments of the Lord. But now his subjects, having a knowledge of his sin, would be led to sin more freely. His authority in his own household, his claim to respect and obedience from his sons, was weakened. A sense of his guilt kept him silent when he should have condemned sin; it made his arm feeble to execute justice in his house. His evil example exerted its influence upon his sons, and God would not interpose to prevent the result. He would permit things to take their natural course, and thus David was severely chastised.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 727] “He shall restore fourfold,” had been David's unwitting sentence upon himself, on listening to the prophet Nathan's parable; and according to his own sentence he was to be judged. Four of his sons must fall, and the loss of each would be a result of the father's sin. The shameful crime of Amnon, the first-born, was permitted by David to pass unpunished and unrebuked. The law pronounced death upon the adulterer, and the unnatural crime of Amnon made him doubly guilty. But David, self-condemned for his own sin, failed to bring the offender to justice.

 For two full years Absalom, the natural protector of the sister so foully wronged, concealed his purpose of revenge, but only to strike more surely at the last. At a feast of the king's sons the drunken, incestuous Amnon was slain by his brother's command.

2nd Samuel 15:13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. 
14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. 
16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. 
17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 
18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. 
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. 
25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: 
30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. 

Question: Do the very same trickle-down effects of sin continue to occur in our day, and if so, what are those sins, and what can be done to stop the dire hemorrhaging we’re now experiencing? 
Answer: The very same principle of root cause and
effect takes place, just as it did in years gone by, and it is scheduled to soon escalate to a national emergency, as sin is made the law of the land. In each instance we investigated, the cascading effect began with the leaders, and the adverse results of sin was experienced by the multitudes and leaders alike.

Last year in June, we saw the culmination of a trend towards the acceptance of gay marriage, in the final legalization by the supreme court. Ever since that fateful day of June 26 2015, better known as “Black Friday”, the trickle-down effects of all sexual sins has increased to a large degree, both in the spiritual and physical realms, with national and international consequences, which, as we previously observed, will be allowed to run their natural course. The sacred institution of God-ordained marriage was given to the human family as a bulwark to protect society from untold evils, and therefore, by the act of changing the fundamental dimension, we have signally reversed God’s order, which will result in the destabilization of society. Let’s read:

Whenever a nation or the judiciary makes a law, by that very act they are saying that this is the right thing to do. And thus, the logical reasoning along that very same line is that God was wrong when He restricted the institution to one man and his female wife. And therefore, if God was wrong, then mortal man is apparently more intelligent and wiser than The Lord. This is exactly how the authority of God is now being usurped, and will finally culminate in the legislation of worship, with the judiciary concluding that God also gave us the wrong day to worship on. 

This is one of the main reasons why we are now witnessing an unprecedented uptick in violence, crime, mass shootings, terrorist activity, and general dissolution of society, where suspicion, unrest, and conspiracy theories are flying back and forth. This is also the reason for the highly unusual election cycle which is being branded as a choice for the better of two evils. Many do not know it as yet, but we have been cornered as a nation, and moral declension will continue to escalate to a frightening extent, if we do not put on the emergency brakes real soon. Let’s read:

(CNN) Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are historically unpopular, but large numbers of Americans who can't stand them will likely vote for one of them anyway. They'll do this because, among other reasons, they'll feel forced into choosing the lesser of two evils. 

(The Christian Post- By kevin Porter) Since Franklin Graham knows that many Christians feel that they don't have good options this presidential election season, he's advising that they support the candidate most likely to listen to their concerns. "You have to make that choice," he said. "Now, you might have to hold your nose." He also identified what he felt were currently the biggest threats to the nation, which included crime, racism, secularism, abortion, and gay marriage. During his tour stop in Madison, Wisconsin in June, Graham said the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida -- the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history -- was a "symptom" of the country's spiritual condition.

Therefore, the question is, what do we do? What can now be done to arrest the situation, so that we may experience a reversal of our fortunes? What can we do, to try to prevent the full consequences of our actions from taking effect? We must now turn to the Bible for answers, for it contains the only safe, and workable remedies that can be applied. Let’s read:

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

Humbling ourselves individually and nationally will include first an admission that we have sinned, then asking God to forgive us, and a repeal of that which has caused a serious rupture in our relationship with The God in whom we claim to trust. Then, we must be willing to bear the adverse consequences of our actions, even though it will include actual loss in the temporal realm, including human lives. Then, when these prerequisites are in place, we may ask God to have mercy on us, so that He may again rein in the millions of demons that have been let loose across the land, by our own choices.

These scriptural recommendations are not expected to be popular or politically correct, but they are the only ways by which we can be restored to the divine favor. Thus, we hope and pray that our political and religious leaders may begin to connect the dots, for we have strayed very far from God’s ideal for his earth-born children. We therefore end with a few passages of scripture which encapsulate where we are, and what needs to be urgently done to stay the current, cascading course of evil. Let’s read:

Isaiah 1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed”…
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

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

                                                                God bless!

How To Remedy A Haunted House. Sabbath Afternoon. 09/24/2016

There are many homes across the land in which the devils have already taken up residence; some know of it and others don’t. The manifestation of demons does not only take a gruesome form, with persons frothing at the mouth, or doing other weird things, unthinkable things. Manifestations also occur in the form of paranormal activity, or in constant bickering amongst husbands, and wives, and family members. Whatever the case might be, this study will focus on the root causes, the God-ordained remedies, and how we may avoid a repeat of these phenomena in the future.

To begin with, it’s important for us to understand that God has set certain bounds by which every created intelligence living on the planet are to live and operate, and it’s very comforting to know, that although we live in a sinful world, God has not left us to the arbitrary control of evil spirits. There are several pertinent promises in the scriptures which confirm to us God’s protecting watch-care, and by these we are to live. 

These precious promises are given on condition, and whenever, and wherever the stipulations are fulfilled, God’s Omni-potent hand will be over and about His people as an invisible shield of defense. In other words, if demons or evil men attempt to harm or curse God’s people, they will first have to pass through God. And the sacred record teaches us that whenever, in His own wisdom it becomes necessary to use force in the accomplishment His benevolent purposes, He most definitely will, even though it is not His preferable method of working. Let’s read:

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 
4 Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever. 
18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

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

Proverbs 3:23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

Psalms 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. 
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalms 34:7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round
about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

[Excerpts From The Great Controversy. pp 511>513] The connection of the visible with the invisible world, the ministration of angels of God, and the agency of evil spirits, are plainly revealed in the Scriptures, and inseparably interwoven with human history. There is a growing tendency to disbelief in the existence of evil spirits, while the holy angels that “minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14) are regarded by many as spirits of the dead. But the Scriptures not only teach the existence of angels, both good and evil, but present unquestionable proof that these are not disembodied spirits of dead men.

Angels are in nature superior to men, for the psalmist says that man was made “a little lower than the angels.” Psalm 8:5. We are informed in Scripture as to the number, and the power and glory, of the heavenly beings, of their connection with the government of God, and also of their relation to the work of redemption. Ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, were the heavenly messengers beheld by the prophet Daniel. 

The apostle Paul declared them “an innumerable company.” Daniel 7:10; Hebrews 12:22. As God's messengers they go forth, like “the appearance of a flash of lightning,” (Ezekiel 1:14), so dazzling their glory, and so swift their flight. The angel that appeared at the Savior's tomb, his countenance “like lightning, and his raiment white as snow,” caused the keepers for fear of him to quake, and they “became as dead men.” Matthew 28:3, 4. 

When Sennacherib, the haughty Assyrian, reproached and blasphemed God, and threatened Israel with destruction, “it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand.” There were “cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains,” from the army of Sennacherib. “So he returned with shame of face to his own land.” 2 Kings 19:35; 2 Chronicles 32:21.

Angels are sent on missions of mercy to the children of God. To Abraham, with promises of blessing; to the gates of Sodom, to rescue righteous Lot from its fiery doom; to Elijah, as he was about to perish from weariness and hunger in the desert; to Elisha, with chariots and horses of fire surrounding the little town where he was shut in by his foes; to Daniel, while seeking divine wisdom in the court of a heathen king, or abandoned to become the lions’ prey; to Peter, doomed to death in Herod's dungeon; to the prisoners at Philippi; to Paul and his companions in the night of tempest on the sea. 
Thus holy angels have, in all ages, ministered to God's people. A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one. Said the Savior, speaking of those that believe in Him: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father.” Matthew 18:10. The angels appointed to minister to the children of God have at all times access to His presence.

Thus God's people, exposed to the deceptive power and unsleeping malice of the prince of darkness, and in conflict with all the forces of evil, are assured of the unceasing guardianship of heavenly angels. Nor is such assurance given without need. If God has granted to His children promise of grace and protection, it is because there are mighty agencies of evil to be met—agencies numerous, determined, and untiring, of whose malignity and power none
can safely be ignorant or unheeding.

The following therefore are some fundamentals we must understand pertaining to the spiritual realm.
 [1] It’s important for us to understand that there is generic protection, by which all humanity is brought under the safety net of the Holy Spirit, who is The General running things on the planet, in Christ’s stead. Then there is tailor-made protection through which The Lord commissions His special forces to surround, and watch over His people, and all those who shall be heirs of salvation, night and day. This fact was acknowledged by satan himself, after he observed that Job had an invisible shield of holy angels guarding his family, his property, livestock, and pets night and day. Let’s read:

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 
7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 
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? 
9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 
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.

This leads us to our second basic point:
[2] Demons are banned from making incursions into the homes in which God-fearing believers dwell. 

Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 
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.

[The Adventist Home. pp. 323] When Christ is in the heart, He is brought into the family. The father and mother feel the importance of living in obedience to the Holy Spirit so that the heavenly angels, who minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, will minister to them as teachers in the home, educating and training them for the work of teaching their children.

[The Desire Of Ages pp. 324] When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan.

Let’s take two well-documented examples:

1st Samuel 16:14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit troubled him. 
15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit troubleth thee.

1st Samuel 19:19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. 
20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 
22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. 
23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 
24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

Numbers 23:4 And God met Balaam, 
5 And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. 
7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. 
8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied? 
11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. 
12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth?
16 And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. 
17 And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the Lord spoken? 
18 And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 
20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. 
21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. 
22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. 
23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 449] The great magician had tried his power of enchantment, in accordance with the desire of the Moabites; but concerning this very occasion it should be said of Israel, “What hath God wrought!” While they were under the divine protection, no people or nation, though aided by all the power of Satan, should be able to prevail against them. All the world should wonder at the marvelous work of God in behalf of His people—that a man determined to pursue a sinful course should be so controlled by divine power as to utter, instead of imprecations, the richest and most precious promises, in the language of sublime and impassioned poetry. 

And the favor of God at this time manifested toward Israel was to be an assurance of His protecting care for His obedient, faithful children in all ages. When Satan should inspire evil men to misrepresent, harass, and destroy God's people, this very occurrence would be brought to their remembrance, and would strengthen their courage and their faith in God.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp. 457] When Balaam was called to curse the Hebrews he could not, by all his enchantments, bring evil upon them; for the Lord had not “beheld iniquity in Jacob,” neither had He “seen perverseness in Israel.” Numbers 23:21, 23. But when through yielding to temptation they transgressed God's law, their defense departed from them. 

When the people of God are faithful to His commandments, “there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel.” Hence all the power and wily arts of Satan are exerted to seduce them into sin. If those who profess to be the depositaries of God's law become transgressors of its precepts, they separate themselves from God, and they will be unable to stand before their enemies.

Thus, the question is: “What causes houses to be haunted, and what causes paranormal activity in homes? Is it possible for demons to make arbitrary, or random incursions into the homes where God reigns supreme?” This leads us to our third point.

[3] Forays, disturbances, and paranormal activity which occur in homes, and families are the result of something spiritual being out of place, such as sins, or errors that are being cherished, or wrongs that have not been repented of or forsaken. In addition, if there is anything that is deemed accursed that has been deliberately brought into the house, and kept there, the house can thus become haunted. These forbidden items include, but are not limited to idols, talismans, Ouija boards, mounted jewelry, amulets, genies, pornography, all books on magic, good-luck charms, and horror movies, amongst others. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God. 
26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

Proverbs 26:2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

Thus the remedies for haunted houses must include the removal of the root cause, whatever it may be. As was stated before on numerous occasions, God is much more practical, and down to earth in His instructions, and therefore, in order to fix a haunted house, the following scriptural instructions must be followed precisely. [1] If the root cause involves any accursed thing, it must be immediately searched out, and permanently removed from the dwelling.
Let’s read:

Joshua 7:10 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 
11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. 
12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

Acts 19:18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

[2] If the problem involves any national or personal, cherished sins, they must all be acknowledged, and confessed, and forsaken, or else The Lord will turn a deaf ear to prayers and entreaties for deliverance. It is of critical importance for us to take heed of this second point, for there is a subjective form of the gospel that’s being actively peddled across the land, by which answers to prayers are purportedly given without compliance. This constitutes a doctrine of devils, and will never produce any real or lasting results. Let’s read:

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

1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[3] Sending for the elders in certain situations is highly recommended, for there are times when one saint may not have the faith or the courage, or the spirit to pray, as he or she ought. In such cases, the instructions given by James are to be followed, and God will hear and answer according to His good will when the prerequisites are met. Let’s read:

James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. 
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

In closing, the Bible gives us warning against being repeat offenders, for if God has chosen to deliver us from haunted homes and minds, we should then treasure our deliverance as a most precious gift, with a firm determination not to walk in the paths of evil anymore. This is critically important, because if we were to return to the former ways, or sins, the case with us will be much more difficult to extricate ourselves from. This, according to the word of God. Let’s read:

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

John 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

2nd Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

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

                                                                    God bless!

It Began With Food, It Will End With Food. Sabbath Afternoon. 09/17/2016

The very first temptation which occurred on this planet was on appetite, and the very last one will also be on appetite. The mark of the beast will be tailor-made to directly affect our food source, and because of our need of food, every person will be brought to the point of decision. In the garden of Eden, worship and food were tied together, for as soon as Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, their worship to God was interfered with. Thus it will be when the mark of the beast is implemented across the globe, the issues of worship and food will also be inextricably tied together. Let’s read:

Genesis 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.
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 
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?

Let us just take a moment to seriously reflect on a few statements given from the pen of inspiration, for although may Christians may not be aware of the extensive reach of the mark of the beast, yet the overwhelming majority of Christians will be in danger of falling for the mark, because of the issue of food. One of the main reasons why the mark will be also accepted in “The hand”, is because of the sheer necessity of eating, not merely because many agree with the system. Let’s read:

[Last day Events pp. 173>181] Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors. Adversity purges them out of the church. The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. When the law of God is made void the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. 

Soon God's people will be tested by fiery trials, and the greater proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. This is a terrible ordeal but nevertheless it must take place. As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition.

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

To put it plainly, there will be only two sources of food from which all humanity must choose to eat in the near future, when the mark of the beast starts to be implemented, either from God, or from man. In other words, if any person refuses to subscribe to the counterfeit system of worship enforced by the beast system, they will have to find another source of food, for according to the Bible, the entire food chain, together with all its available resources will soon come under the direct jurisdiction of the beast system, and this will bring home to our doorsteps the very real prospect of standing firmly for right, or starving to death, if we are not found to be in Christ Jesus. 

This is the reason why Bible makes very plain, the magnitude and seriousness of the problem that will be created by the beast in Revelation 13, and this is also the reason why a very blunt warning is to be given to earth’s inhabitants, before the prophecy begins to unfold.

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more. 
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyne wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 
13 And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

And if we intend to be eating from God, it will do us well to now find out how He will be feeding us. The fact that there will be only two food sources in the future, when the last days of earth’s history begin to unfold is distinctly brought to view in the Bible. In the following passages we see The Lord providing food miraculously for His people, and the reason for this is that their unswerving integrity in serving, and obeying Him against all odds, has caused all of their economic privileges, including shopping at Walmart and Publix to be entirely cut off, thus making God’s intervention in their behalf necessary. 

As a matter of fact, the history of Elijah during, and after the contest on Mt Carmel, between the laws of God, and the laws of men, directly mirrors what will befall God’s people in the last days of earth’s history, for it is more of a blueprint, rather than just another historical account of God’s interaction in the affairs of men. Let’s read:

1st Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. 
3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 
7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

Isaiah 33:16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. 

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.

There are lessons which we must take away from the first temptation and fall of Adam and Eve, for the manner in which they fell has been a sort of template which most of people have followed ever since. Both Adam and Eve were not hungry when they ate of the forbidden fruit, and because there is nothing new under the sun, we find today, just as it was throughout history, that millions of people will eat when they are not hungry, for various reasons, some social, some because the food looks tempting and delicious, some because of the taste, and smell, and some because of curiosity. Let’s read:

(The Signs of the Times, April 4, 1900). The plan of salvation was so arranged that when Adam was tested, temptation was removed from him as far as possible. When Adam was tempted, he was not hungry.

This brings us to the issue of how and when God will be providing food for His people during the time of trouble. If we desire to be fed by God, it’s necessary that we study His ways of doing things, because, as we investigate the issue of being fed miraculously, we discover that God never feeds His people if they are not hungry. And thus, if we cultivate the habit of eating when we are not hungry, then we will be preparing ourselves to eat from the beast system, not from God. Let’s read:

Exodus 16:15 And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat. 
16 This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. 
17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. 
18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. 
21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. 

1st Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 
7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

Matthew 14:15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 
18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

Mark 11:12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry.
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon”…

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

The very first temptation to Christ in the wilderness was on food, because the devil has observed that of the three categories of temptations the one on food is much more difficult to overcome, even more than sexual addiction and pride, which fade into oblivion, when compared with temptations on food. Thus, it is necessary that we observe the process of the fall of our first parents, for the Bible points out the two main areas we need to be careful of, when dealing with the temptation to eat in a manner that is not in harmony with God’s will. Let’s read:

[Genesis 3:6] [1] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food.

Just because something may seem as if it’s good to eat doesn’t mean it’s good for human consumption, especially if it has been prohibited by God. Many of the world’s dietitians tout the so-called benefits of several foods that have been banned in the word of God. And even if The Lord has given the all-clear to partake of certain foods, we are not free to do so intemperately. Ackee is good to eat, but there is a right time, and way to eat it, or else the wages of sin will be death. Water is also very good, but water can also kill us when the laws of temperance are disregarded. Let’s read:

By Chris Brooke for the Daily Mail
UPDATED: 01:44 EST, 8 July 2008
Andrew Thornton, 44, ‘ overloaded’ his body after drinking ten litres – more than 17 pints – in eight hours. The divorcee, who played football regularly, thought he was being sensible by refusing to take painkillers for gum disease. He was taken to the hospital last December after collapsing at the home he shared with his mother Alice. Doctors initially thought he was drunk because he was staggering and slurring his words. However, his symptoms were caused by swelling in the brain brought on by excess fluid. Doctors put salt back into his body to counter the effects of his water intake, but the following day he had a fatal heart attack.

[Genesis 3:6] 
[2] And that it was pleasant to the eyes”… 

Just because food may look good, and appetizing, doesn’t mean we should start eating. Millions of people are found to be eating, solely because the food looks good. Especially is this the case when there is a buffet style situation, or when there is the option of all you can eat. If we continue to indulge the habit of eating food based on its appearance, we will be setting the stage for us to eat from the beast, because food items are becoming prettier, and prettier by the day. Even the very names have become quite pretty and enticing: Twinkies, Oreos, Southern Comfort, French fries, Pepperoni, Cookies, Pringles, Candy cane, Kit Kat, and Lollipops. Etc.

The problem with eating foods just because they look good, is that every type of food and fruit to be found in heaven also looks really good. And thus, if our appetites are not brought under the control of reason, we will be eating all day in Eden, a prospect that is not in line with God’s ideal will for us.

[Conflict & Courage pp. 12] In this garden the Lord placed trees of every variety for usefulness and beauty. There were trees laden with luxuriant fruit, of rich fragrance, beautiful to the eye, and pleasant to the taste, designed of God to be food for the holy pair. There were the lovely vines which grew upright, laden with their burden of fruit, unlike anything man has seen since the fall. The fruit was very large and of different colors; some nearly black, some purple, red, pink, and light green. This beautiful and luxuriant growth of fruit upon the branches of the vine was called grapes. They did not trail upon the ground, although not supported by trellises, but the weight of the fruit bowed them down.

There is one more issue remaining for us to reckon with as it pertains to the topic for this evening. In Revelation chapter 13 where John treats extensively on the mark of the beast, widespread ramifications of its implementation, the word “cause” is used. The reason why this is so is because satan can entice, he can solicit, and he may try to bully, but he can never force anyone to take the dreaded mark. And so we must observe how the forbidden fruit ended up in the hands of the unsuspecting Eve. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp.55] The serpent plucked the fruit of the forbidden tree and placed it in the hands of the half-reluctant Eve, then he reminded her of her own words, that God had forbidden them to touch it, lest they die. She would receive no more harm from eating the fruit, he declared, than from touching it. Perceiving no evil results from what she had done, Eve grew bolder. When she “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.” It was grateful to the taste, and as she ate, she seemed to feel a vivifying power and imagined herself entering upon a higher state of existence. 

Without a fear she plucked and ate. And now, having herself transgressed, she became the agent of Satan in working the ruin of her husband. In a state of strange, unnatural excitement, with her hands filled with the forbidden fruit, she sought his presence, and related all that had occurred. An expression of sadness came over the face of Adam. He appeared astonished and alarmed. To the words of Eve he replied that this must be the foe against whom they had been warned; and by the divine sentence she must die. 

In answer she urged him to eat, repeating the words of the serpent, that they should not surely die. She reasoned that this must be true, for she felt no evidence of God's displeasure, but on the contrary realized a delicious, exhilarating influence, thrilling every faculty with new life, such, she imagined, as inspired the heavenly messengers. Adam understood that his companion had transgressed the command of God, disregarded the only prohibition laid upon them as a test of their fidelity and love. 

There was a terrible struggle in his mind. He mourned that he had permitted Eve to wander from his side. But now the deed was done; he must be separated from her whose society had been his joy. How could he have it thus? Adam had enjoyed the companionship of God and of holy angels. He had looked upon the glory of the Creator. He understood the high destiny opened to the human race should they remain faithful to God. Yet all these blessings were lost sight of in the fear of losing that one gift which in his eyes out-valued every other. Love, gratitude, loyalty to the Creator—all were overborne by love to Eve. She was a part of himself, and he could not endure the thought of separation. 

He did not realize that the same Infinite Power who had from the dust of the earth created him, a living, beautiful form, and had in love given him a companion, could supply her place. He resolved to share her fate; if she must die, he would die with her. After all, he reasoned, might not the words of the wise serpent be true? Eve was before him, as beautiful and apparently as innocent as before this act of disobedience. She expressed greater love for him than before. No sign of death appeared in her, and he decided to brave the consequences. He seized the fruit and quickly ate.

Similarly, some will receive the mark because they are deceived into receiving it, while many others will accept it for social reasons, even though their decision is based on a knowledge of the adverse consequences, hence the reason why the mark will be given in either the right hand, or the forehead, signifying intelligent, deliberate decision-making. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which cautions us to bring the desires of the flesh under control whilst we still have opportunity to, for as stated before, it began with food, and it will end with food. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

                                                                      God bless!