The Disobedience Delusions. Sabbath Afternoon. 12/02/2017

There are many delusions associated with sin, and disobedience, which have infiltrated Christianity, and which must be exposed for what they are, so that we would not build our hopes of salvation on a false premise. And since we are living in an age of delusions, where more and more people are prone to believe that which is not true, we must exercise due caution lest the same delusional spirit, takes hold of our minds, thus causing as to put a wrong spin on what God has plainly stated in His word.

In the Bible, it is predicted that God will permit very strong delusions to overspread the land, because of a stubborn resistance to truth, and the tendency to explain away undeniable facts. We are now living in that era, and therefore, it is imperative that all who claim to be Christians, love the truth, the truth only, and nothing but the truth. In the Bible, the truth is referred to as being Christ, and the law of God, and wherever both are disregarded, a delusionary spirit is sure to take hold of many minds. Let’s read:

2nd Thessalonians 2:11 And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The following is the meaning of the word Delusion: An idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained, despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational, typically a symptom of mental disorder.

For this reason, we must study the Bible objectively, by letting its authoritative statements pertaining to our salvation, guide our thought processes, and our conclusions, without bias, preferences, and without inserting humanistic ideas, and philosophies into a thus saith The Lord. But first, we should understand that God says what He means, and means what He says. This important fact was distinctly made in the experience of Balaam who erroneously believed the God of heaven is vacillating in nature. Let’s read:

Numbers 23:19 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.

Thus, the scriptures make it abundantly clear, that what God has spoken will be done, in heaven and in earth. In harmony with this sacred truth we must, of necessity highlight several of the popular delusions, pertaining to disobedience, and we will allow God’s word to correct the erroneous conclusions. 

Delusion # [1] God is too good to punish iniquity! 

This popular delusion has emanated directly from the presentation of a one-sided God, by many in the clergy, who present God only as a God of love, and not of justice. And with the false doctrine that God’s law was nailed to the cross, comes the proliferation of iniquity with apparent impunity. Many have been seduced into thinking that sins can remained hidden from view, and that pardons can be purchased with hush money. 

But the Bible tells us that there is nothing hidden, that will not be disclosed, and every unconfessed, and unforsaken sin will meet with retribution. This is one of the main reasons why the unbridled sexual harassments now being uncovered, as well as serial gropers, in places high and low, and of all sorts have contributed to bringing our society to the very brink of moral collapse. The problem can be traced back, in most instances, to that first delusion, “God is too good to punish iniquity”. The Bible however, states the exact opposite. Let’s read:

Exodus 33:12 And Moses said unto the Lord, thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. 
13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee. 
17 And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. 
18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 
19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee ….

In other words, what is about to take place is that The Lord is going to give Moses a balanced view of His righteousness, which is His glory, so that people of the earth may not harbor a lop-sided view of the God of heaven. He is merciful and gracious, and He delights in showing mercy, but He will prosecute all unconfessed, and unforsaken sin, to the full extent of the law. That is the correct, and balanced view He desires us to understand. Let’s read:

Exodus 34:5 And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 
6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.

Ezekiel 18:24 When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. 
25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? 
26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. 
27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 
28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Question: But where did this first delusion come from?
Answer: It came from the father of all delusions, who specializes in telling himself lies, and everyone who follows in his train, will also be prone to cling to error, in the face of undeniable facts, and truths. Case in point was the raising of Lazarus, in which an undeniable miracle was done by Christ. But instead of yielding to the facts in the case, the unreasoning priests sought to slay the evidence, by endeavoring to put both Christ, and Lazarus to death. Thus, the worst form of delusion occurs when one lies to his own self. Let’s read:

John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

[P&P. pp 54>57] The tempter intimated that the divine warning was not to be actually fulfilled; it was designed merely to intimidate them. Such has been Satan's work from the days of Adam to the present, and he has pursued it with great success.

Perceiving no evil results from what she had done, Eve grew bolder. 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. After his transgression Adam at first imagined himself entering upon a higher state of existence. But the great Lawgiver was about to make known to Adam and Eve the consequences of their transgression.
The same delusion occurred just prior to the flood, when in the face of undeniable facts, such as the animals going into the ark, and the birds darkening the heavens as they flew in. Philosophers were then called upon to explain the singular occurrence, but to no avail, yet, the antediluvians chose to believe that God is too good to punish iniquity. Let’s read:

[P&P. pp 96] The world was arrayed against God's justice and His laws, and Noah was regarded as a fanatic. Satan, when tempting Eve to disobey God, said to her, “Ye shall not surely die.” Great men, worldly, honored and wise men, repeated the same. “The threatenings of God are for the purpose of intimidating, and will never be verified. Such an event as the destruction of the world by the God who made it, and the punishment of the beings He has created, will never take place. Be at peace; fear not.

Delusion # [2] That God will always reverse effects of the violation of natural, and spiritual law. 
God is not the reverser in Chief, because more often than not, He permits the violation of natural law, as well as spiritual law to run their natural course. It is often concluded, that because God is omnipotent, and can do any and everything, He is duty-bound to reverse the adverse effects of our wrong courses of action, because of His great love for us. 

This grand delusion is often echoed across the land, in times of national tragedy, where people question the goodness of God by asking “If God is good, how could He allow such, and such to take place?” Thus, the human input, the violation of natural law, the disregard for His wise instructions, the dire effects of green-house gases, and human destruction of the environment, are all bundled together, and hid in a closet, whilst the blaming of The Lord is often loud, and denunciatory. The Bible corrects this popular delusion, by giving us a reality check. Let’s read: 

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

In other words, if I violated physical law through the years, by intemperate eating and drinking, and then as a result, I came down with debilitating diseases, I should not expect God to just miraculously wave His hand, and get rid of years self-indulgence, without stern discipline, relentless effort, and determined, proactive steps on my part. In fact, many Christians become disappointed, and discouraged when such prayers are not answered immediately, forgetting that through our own choices, the laws of cause and effect are often allowed to run their natural course. 

Delusion # [3] A grave misunderstanding of “The times of ignorance”. 
One of the more prominent delusions, pertaining to disobedience, is our own perception of what God considers to be “Ignorance”, for the word is often used quite loosely, and is prone to be taken out of context. Question: Does ignorance mean a genuine lack of knowledge, or does it mean ignoring the facts. 

In our day, the truth and the facts are fast becoming endangered species, to the point where the red line between ignorance, and “Ignore” has become quite blurred. Furthermore, when It’s viewed in its proper context, as written in the book of Acts, something of an entirely different nature surfaces. Let’s read:

Acts 17: 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:
Question: Which specific ignorance is Paul referring to? for he uses the pronoun “This” which means that he isn’t speaking of every type of ignorance out there, but instead, of a specific one. Let’s read: 

Acts 17:29 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.

Therefore, willful ignorance is not included, neither is a deliberate avoiding of the facts, neither is the neglect to know, neither is the force of the majority opinion. All of these, and more, are not included in the word ignorance, as used in Acts, and even as it was used by Paul, all should bear in mind that it was written 2000 years ago, so when he declares “But now God commandeth all men to repent”, he is referring to repentance being due at the time of his writing, namely, in the first century A.D. 

Furthermore, genuine ignorance, or willful ignoring of the facts, does not change the outcome or result in almost all cases. If a person who knew better was to touch a live, electrical power line, after hurricane Irma, that person will most likely be electrocuted. And if a person who really didn’t know was to touch the same wire, he also will likely be electrocuted. In both cases, whether it be deliberate or genuine lack of knowledge, the outcome will most likely be the same.

Delusion # [4] That liberty, or grace is license!
It is often the case, that because disobedience is not punished, or exposed immediately, that the guilty ones may feel emboldened to sin even more. God takes no delight in the demise or embarrassment of sinners, and because of this, He may bear long with those who are sinning against Him. But instead of leading one to repentance, His grace is often viewed as an endorsement of the evil, and men go further, and deeper into sin. But the scripture also corrects this delusion. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 
13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Delusion # [5] That our day of grace is open-ended!
Beware of “Cute” doctrines, which tend to palliate persons into moral complacency. A person’s day of grace is not open-ended, even though there may be preachers who flatter sinners into believing that it is in their own time, when they are ready to accept of God’s grace, that He will be waiting. Even though it is true that God bears long with the sinner, there can come a time in one’s life experience, when the day of grace expires.

If a person persists in doing evil, and refuses God’s overtures to save him/her over and over again, that person’s probation can close permanently, even as they are still living. Indeed, there may be millions of people now living who may have already passed the threshold of God’s grace. One of the symptoms of a person’s day of grace being passed, is the tendency to put darkness for light, and light for darkness. In other words, when we begin to designate error as truth, and vice-versa, we may be certain that our cup of iniquity is full, or almost full.

In addition, it is nowhere found in the Bible where God advises any person to put off their day of grace for tomorrow, or for some future date, when they are ready. “Today” is when God advises, because tomorrow may never come. There are those who are currently going about their daily duties, not knowing that their number has already been called. In other words, some of the people who attended that concert in Las Vegas recently, had no clue that they were attending their very last concert. 

Several examples of this phenomena are given in the Bible, with the intent, that those who may still be trifling with God’s grace, may seize the moment, and choose life whilst there is still opportunity to do so. The following is just a short list of the names of people, and nations, whose probation was closed whilst they were still alive, and well. Esau, Pharaoh, Herod, Judas, the antediluvians, Sodom, king Saul, Achan, Ananias, and Saphira, Pilate, and Jezebel, just to name a few. Let’s read:

Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To
day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; 
15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

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. 

Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the
 powers of the world to come, 
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Therefore, to get a balanced view of God, without any delusions, to get a sense of His love, His justice, and His impartiality, let us study a brief chapter in the life of Moses, who had one of the closest relationships any mortal has ever had with the God of heaven. As we study, let’s remember that Moses was blessed and highly favored by God, yet, in His dealings with Moses, God shows us that favor does not atone for disobedience, and His blessings, and protection do not negate our obligation to obey His every word. Let’s read:

Exodus 4:19 And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt.
20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him.
25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 
26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

Very important lessons should be gleaned from this occurrence, for it has a direct bearing on what may become of professed Christians in the near future. For starters, men are held directly responsible for whatsoever transpires in their homes. Here in this episode, we observe that the Angel sought to slay Moses, even though it was his wife who suggested that the rite of circumcision was offensive. Nothing was said to Zipporah, but Moses was apprehended.

This is a pattern which occurs very often in the Bible where fathers are held responsible for what goes on in their homes. Spouses are never to let each other interfere with their obligations to God, and our love for one another should never cause us to lessen the force of God’s plain instructions to us. But as a rule of thumb, men who have the responsibility of being priest of their households, are responsible for what takes place under their roofs. Let’s read:

Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
Genesis 17: And the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. {Not a word is spoken to Sarah, from whom the suggestion originally came}

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.
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
11 Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? {The man is called first, for he was the priest of his home}

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 255>256] On the way from Midian, Moses received a startling and terrible warning of the Lord's displeasure. No explanation was given; but Moses remembered that he had disregarded one of God's requirements; yielding to the persuasion of his wife, he had neglected to perform the rite of circumcision upon their youngest son. He had failed to comply with the condition by which his child could be entitled to the blessings of God's covenant with Israel.

Zipporah, fearing that her husband would be slain, performed the rite herself, and the angel then permitted Moses to pursue his journey. In his mission to Pharaoh, Moses was to be placed in a position of great peril; his life could be preserved only through the protection of holy angels. But while living in neglect of a known duty, he would not be secure; for he could not be shielded by the angels of God. 

In the time of trouble, just before the coming of Christ, the righteous will be preserved through the ministration of heavenly angels; but there will be no security for the transgressor of God's law. Angels cannot then protect those who are disregarding one of the divine precepts.

In closing, it is important that when we read God’s word, that we do so objectively, not imagining, or deluding ourselves into thinking, or believing that which God has not said. The terrible developments over the past year, that have put America in the spotlight, and the rapid unfolding of events in the western world, as well as in the east, portend a stupendous crisis of unprecedented proportions, which will bring human probation to a permanent close. Therefore, in harmony with the gravity of the situation we must close with the following quotes:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 159] That last night was marked by no greater sins than many others before it; but mercy, so long slighted, had at last ceased its pleading. The inhabitants of Sodom had passed the limits of divine forbearance—“the hidden boundary between God's patience and His wrath.” The fires of His vengeance were about to be kindled in the vale of Siddim. 

[Conflict & Courage pp 120] The love of God will never lead to the belittling of sin; it will never cover or excuse an unconfessed wrong.... It has to do with our acts, and thoughts, and feelings. Many conceal their transgressions from their fellow men, and flatter themselves that God will not be strict to mark iniquity. But His law is the great standard of right, and with it every act of life must be compared in that day when God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 420] The history of Israel was to be placed on record for the instruction, and warning of coming generations. Men of all future time must see the God of heaven as an impartial ruler, in no case justifying sin. Men flatter themselves that God is too good to punish the transgressor. But in the light of Bible history it is evident that God's goodness and His love engage Him to deal with sin as an evil fatal to the peace and happiness of the universe.

[G.C pp 627] The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet he will “by no means clear the guilty.” “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord's reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which he bears long, and which he will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God's account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.

Revelation 22: 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.    
                                                                   God Bless! 
 

The Investigative Judgment. Sabbath Afternoon 11/25/2017

The investigative judgment, which began in the fall of 1844 is drawing to a close, and when it’s finished, the destiny of all who ever took the name of Christ, and God to themselves, will be forever settled. The reason why it is of great importance to those of us who are living in the last days, is that our probation will close, without us knowing that the irrevocable decisions of the courts above, have been handed down. This, then raises the prospect that very many Christians will continue to do what they have been accustomed to doing, whether good or bad, without knowing that their probation has been closed.

The current moral decay, especially in those who’ve espoused the name of Christ, yet continue to live in violation of God’s law, will culminate in their names being removed from the book of life. And thus, in all of the back and forth, in the accusations and denials of sexual misconduct, in the corruptions, and fraud, in the violence, brutality, and the hard-heartedness that has become emblematic of our day, God wants us to remember, and ponder soberly, the following passages, for they will certainly be fulfilled in the very near future. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

One of the reasons why Christ is going to bring our probation to a climax, without us knowing is so that none will be able to play church for a prescheduled date. Playing church is the game whereby the clergy and laity, politicians, and professed Christians, may
preach and advocate Biblical truths, whilst in their private lives they do the exact opposite. 

Case in point was one notable mega-church pastor who died earlier this year, who was known to rant, and rail against homosexual behavior in other men, even leading public marches against the practice of same-sex marriage, whilst he would leave the pulpit to go and do the very same thing he had just spoken so vehemently against. Thus, the cryptic message given in the book of Revelation, is one that basically says, “Continue doing just what you’re accustomed to doing”. Let’s read:

Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Men who vouch for the Ten commandments should never be found deliberately violating its precepts in public, or in their private lives, for it is much better to leave God’s law alone, rather than to preach one thing, whilst doing another. Thus, those who claim to instruct others in the laws, and principles of God, will be judged by a much higher, and stricter standard, than those who may not know any better. Jesus clearly stated this in His teaching, and for good reason. Let’s read:

Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 

Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one
of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 
20 For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:2 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. 
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 
However, in spite of these stern warnings given us, God will try to save as many as He possibly can, and we should never think God’s investigative judgment seeks to exclude as many people as possible, for the Bible does not teach that. There is a reason why the Bible says He is able to save to the uttermost, which means that extreme efforts are made to save every living person on the planet. Let’s read:

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, and made higher than the heavens.

And even though it is necessary for us to cooperate with God in the salvation of our souls, by choosing to obey His every word, yet, our confidence should never be placed in our obedience. Cooperation, in and of itself does not save us; instead, the merits and the righteousness of Christ, coupled together with His sacrifice on Calvary, are what clears the way for any person to be saved. 

There is an obvious imbalance in the understanding of these central truths, for the professedly Christian world may focus squarely on Christ’s merits alone, without obedience, whilst in other instances, some Christians focus solely on the aspect of cooperation. Eternal life through Jesus Christ is a stand-alone gift that is accessed through faith, and is guaranteed on condition of obedience. Let’s read:

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him. 
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

The love of God through Jesus Christ, for the human family is not fickle, or changing; instead it is strong, and measureless, and Christ hates the very thought that even the wicked should perish. This sentiment is clearly expressed in the next passages. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Thus, as we study the investigative judgment, we will not be doing so from a perspective of scaring anyone into obedience. Instead, we will focus more on the confidence and assurance, each person may find in Christ. In harmony with this specific purpose, we turn to the book of Ezekiel, chapter 18, where, under the inspiration of God, the prophet treats extensively on issues pertaining to the judgement, and how God weighs the human agent in His scales.

He begins by eliminating the doctrine of inevitable, generational curses, which have discouraged many from trying, and which may have caused others to think that because of parental wrong-doing, they’re now bound in a firm, iron destiny, from which they cannot escape. The Bible signally rejects such a doctrine, because, through the freedom of choice, the buck can stop with you, and me. 

My Dad died from diabetes, but we do not have to succumb to the same disease, because the grace of God through Jesus Christ can override conventional wisdom on genetic, and hereditary vulnerabilities, freeing us to live more healthy lives, if we were to try to cooperate with The Holy Ghost, by practicing, and applying the principles, and laws of health. The same is true in the spiritual realm. For instance, if one’s progenitors were known to be Serial gropers, it’s not inevitably necessary for the children to now follow in their father’s footsteps. Let’s read:
 
Ezekiel 18:1 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, 
2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? 
3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. 
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. 
5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, 
6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbor's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, 
7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 
8 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, 
9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.

If we were to be judged by this standard, none of us would be saved, because we all have a checkered history, some more, some less, and therefore, God also gives assurance from the point of repentance, and accepting Jesus onward, to all who may choose to turn, and live. In other words, whatever we may have done in times past, the grace of God through Jesus Christ brings us salvation, by giving us a brand, new start. Thus, if by the grace of God, and our own choices, we met the following stipulations from that point forward, without turning back, we will be saved. It’s that simple. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 
22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

Thus, instead of going into the many fine details of the investigative judgment, we will instead hone in on one very important, determining factor. It’s not about whether we have sinned, for the Bible tells us that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Neither is it about the seriousness of the sins we have committed, for the Bible teaches us, that though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow. Neither is it about believing in Jesus, for the devils are believers too. It’s about one word, and one word only… “Remaining”. Let’s read:

[G.C pp 483] As the books of record are opened in the Judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted names rejected. When any have sins “remaining” upon the books of record, un-repented of, and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God's remembrance.

Thus, we must rush to answer the very next obvious question: “What is a “Remaining sin?”
Answer: A “remaining” sin is one that is not covered by the blood of Christ, because it was either never confessed, or was not forsaken.

Question: What’s an example of a “Remaining” sin?
Answer: We find an example in Esau, for although the Bible tells us that he cried with an exceeding, and bitter cry, at the loss of his birthright, if we read the Bible from cover to cover, we will not observe anywhere that Esau ever admitted to doing wrong, nor did he ever say that he was sorry for despising the immortal inheritance. His tears were many, and his regrets many, but those words of sorrow for his sin are no where to be found. Let’s read:

Genesis 27:30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 
31 And he also had made savory meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. 
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. 
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 
36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? 
38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. 
41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

It is worthy of note that the words “Blessing”, and “Bless” came from Esau’s lips repeatedly, showing that his focus was on the blessing, and the material benefits of the birthright, rather than confession for his sins. He never ever said he was sorry, and there was no change in his values, in his esteem of eternal things, in his regard for the law of God, which was the spiritual side of the birthright, and that is why Paul wrote the following passages. Let’s read:

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.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 177>178] The promises made to Abraham and confirmed to his son were held by Isaac and Rebekah as the great object of their desires and hopes. With these promises Esau and Jacob were familiar. They were taught to regard the birthright as a matter of great importance, for it included not only an inheritance of worldly wealth, but spiritual pre-eminence. On the other hand, there were obligations resting upon the possessor of the birthright. He who should inherit its blessings must devote his life to the service of God. 

Like Abraham, he must be obedient to the divine requirements. In marriage, in his family relations, in public life, he must consult the will of God. Isaac made known to his sons these privileges and conditions, and plainly stated that Esau, as the eldest, was the one entitled to the birthright. But Esau had no love for devotion, no inclination to a religious life. 

The requirements that accompanied the spiritual birthright were an unwelcome, and even hateful restraint to him. The law of God, which was the condition of the divine covenant with Abraham, was regarded by Esau as a yoke of bondage. “Thus, Esau despised his birthright.” In disposing of it he felt a sense of relief. Now his way was unobstructed; he could do as he liked.

In our day, the overwhelming majority of Christians focus on the “Blessings”. Sermons preached on the blessings of God are sure to result in applause, or a resounding Amen. In fact, there are many songs, or sayings on blessings, such as “When the praises go up, the blessings come down”, and we do take joy in the fulfillment of God’s material promises. But if one dares to preach on the law of God, like Esau, many Christians become quite uncomfortable, and the preacher has to literally beg for an amen. 

Thus, like Esau, in many minds, the blessings of God have usurped the place that His law should have in our estimation, and is regarded by many, as a yoke of bondage, pertaining to the Jews only, and having no weight with the Christian. From this perspective flows the doctrine that the ten commandments are nailed to the cross, and as a result, those, like Jacob who embrace God’s law as being good are regarded as being Pharisees.

Hear the word of The Lord now! If, as Christians we continue to cling to this error and do not confess, and forsake that specific sin, when names are called in the investigative judgement, there will be found sin “Remaining”, and the names of all such will be forever removed from the Lamb’s book of life. As was stated before, it matters not if we professed to believe in Christ, nor does it matter if every other sin we committed has been confessed and forgiven. If we continue to embrace this error, all our good, righteous deeds will be wiped out of God’s book of remembrance.

Thus, in closing, The Lord gives us a gentle reminder that merely professing to believe in Jesus, is not a be all, end all, as far as our salvation is concerned, for the practical work of salvation is to have God’s law printed in our hearts and minds, where it was originally placed before Adam sinned. We therefore close with two passages of scripture which bear this sacred truth out. Let’s read:

Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
                                                                    God bless! 
 

How To Overcome Adultery. Sabbath Afternoon. 11/18/2017

The sin of adultery, in all of its various forms, has now become widespread, reaching from the highest echelons of society to the lowest on the totem pole, from presidents, to priests, Hollywood stars, clergy, bishops, and laity, to the regular man, and woman, teenager, and child. When you have a ninety-year old in in a wheelchair committing adultery, then we may be certain that the problem has metastasized out of control. In addition, the plague is a symptom of the last days, and is a sure sign that our cup of iniquity is almost full.

After The Spirit of God had strived with the human race in its infancy, it was declared that a flood had become necessary as a result of the violence, the adultery and the polygamy that had overspread the
land. Therefore, it is noteworthy, that in our current environment, the two same sins have become most prevalent and prominent, which should point us to the fact that Christ will return soon. Let’s read:

Genesis 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, 
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 
3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man.
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 
7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth. 
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with
the earth.

The sin of adultery takes on many different forms, and should never be limited to mere actions, for the Bible teaches us that from the adulterous thought, springs the adulterous act, and therefore, the sin is to be reckoned, not only by external violations, but by the choices and decisions made in one’s mind. By this measure the problem is found to be much more pervasive than many people realize, and therefore, the Bible study will focus on addressing the scope of the problem, and the solutions given in scripture. 

To begin with, we must identify the sin in its varied forms, so as not no sweep any variation under the rug. Adultery is manifested in sexual relations that are outside the context of one man and his female wife. This definition includes, incest, rape, groping, sexting, same-sex marriages, flirting, pornography, dressing in a provocative manner, sensualism, and chatting intimately with someone who is not one’s spouse, when such a person is married. Suggestive behaviors of all types are also included.

Furthermore, those who may dress with the specific purpose of ensnaring the opposite, or same sex, are also committing adultery, for the perpetrators, and the violators share equal responsibility for adultery. It has often been cited as an excuse, that we have freedom of expression, and that as a result men and women are at liberty to dress howsoever they may please, without regard to the effect it produces on others. Those who subscribe to this philosophy may often leave home as active agents of sin, inflaming the burning itch, that many persons are already suffering with.

Shacking up is also adultery, for although a man and his female friend may live for years under the same roof, having several kids together, and being faithful to each other, yet they are committing adultery, as far as the Bible is concerned. Thus, we conclude that any sexually intimate relationship, outside of the context of God ordained marriage, is a form of adultery. It may not be viewed as such by society, and it may be argued this way and that by pundits, and preachers alike, but God’s word rejects political correctness, and calls sin by its right name. Let’s read:

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

Matthew 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not
 man put asunder.

Now, let’s take a good look at the problem. It is true that Eve fell for what she heard, and that Adam fell for what he saw, and ever since that day, when the father of our race, permitted Eve’s external beauty to override his judgement, men, much more so than women, have suffered with a very malignant “Eye” problem, driving many to make decisions, and take actions that they have regretted for the rest of their lives, in some cases. The scriptures put it this way, as we are seeing before our eyes currently. Let’s read:

Proverbs 6:32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 
33 A wound and dishonor shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

Abraham, Judah, and Rueben fell, Samson, David, and Solomon fell too, and throughout Bible history, we observe that men of God, as well as those who didn’t know God, fell into the same, old bewitching snare. Men saw, they acted impulsively upon what they saw, and wreck after wreck was strewn along the sands of time. Thus, the phenomena we’re now witnessing is an age-old problem that has virtually become epidemic, and is scheduled to culminate in the rule of pleasure over principle. The word of God describes the extent of the problem. Let’s read:

Proverbs 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so, the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Many people do not understand the seriousness, or the depth of the problem of adultery in men, and because of this some may be looked upon as being great sinners, more than anyone else. Now, while it is true that there is no excuse for sin whatsoever, it is important for us to understand that men often do very stupid things, just to satisfy the burning urge to merge. 

Some men have sold their birthright, by trading the immortal inheritance for a one-night stance, others have been induced to surrender all their cash, some have lost their families, homes have been broken up with the children being alienated, and others have betrayed sacred trusts, just for that one, temporary moment of sinful pleasure. The sterling character of many have been permanently stained, and the good reputations of others, have been ruined for life. This sad fact leads us to a descriptive example of the phenomena, given in the scriptures. Let’s read:

Genesis 34:1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, went out to see the daughters of the land. 
2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. 
3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spoke kindly unto the damsel.

There is a song by this title “What you won’t do for love” by Bobby Caldwell, that adequately describes the conundrum men often find themselves in. Here are just a few of the lyrics: 

My friends wonder what is wrong with me
Well I'm in a daze from your love, you see
In my world, only you
Make me do for love what I would not do.

The words of this song amply describe the stupidity that will follow in Shechem’s trail, for just as Bobby Caldwell sings, lust, not love, will make him do for love, what he would not ordinarily do. In fact, he is now willing to have the entire nation sacrifice their national identity, he is willing to surrender houses and lands, he is willing to sign over the deeds to his own properties, he is willing to open the nation’s stock market to strangers, and finally, he is willing to have all the males, young and old, including his own dad, go through the painful, bloody process of circumcision. 

That’s because, as was stated before, the sting of adultery often causes men to do very stupid things, which women may not understand, because of the nature, and depth of the problem. In fact, in the overwhelming majority of cases, currently on the news, highly gifted, and supposedly intelligent men have succumbed to the same bewitching sin. Thus, as we read Hamor’s experience, let us not indulge in spiritual pride, by thinking to ourselves that we are invulnerable, just because we believe in Christ, for the Bible cautions us, “Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall”. Let’s read:

Genesis 34:4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife. (That’s a hasty, emotionally decision based on impulse, that has not been well thought out.) 
8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. (That “Longing” is not born of love, but of lust.) 
9 And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. (He is willing to sacrifice national identity.) 
10 And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein. (Houses, lands, and property are irrationally, and hastily cast into the fray.) 
11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. (He is willing to put it all on the line, regardless of the cost. If Jacob had called for ten human heads on a platter, Hamor would have hurriedly granted the request.) 
12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife. (A similar open-ended offer was made by king Herod, after he became infatuated with Salome’s Limbo dancing. This resulted in John the Baptist being beheaded. Adultery often causes men to do stupid things.) 
14 And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised for that were a reproach unto us. 
15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised; 
17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. (Here comes trouble.) 
18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. (This verse shows us plainly that the painful rite of circumcision is looked forward to with pleasure, all in the name of adultery. Something is really wrong here!)  
19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honorable than all the house of his father. 
20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, 
21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore, let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; 
22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. 
24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. (Notice, that not one single man in that whole city raised an objection, showing us that the problem of irrational thinking, triggered by the sin of adultery, is a very serious problem for men, in general.) 
25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. 
26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. 
27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city.
28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, 
29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.

We dare not point to Hamor, and Shechem as being “Those guys back then”, because the same problem currently plagues our own society, and is scheduled to spiral out of control if the necessary remedies are not implemented. As of today, adultery in all of its various forms afflicts very many people, especially men, from the highest echelons of society to regular persons on the street, from the political podium to the pulpit, from the clergy to the laity and beyond, as is clearly demonstrated in the next excerpt from CNN. Let’s read: 

(CNN) Be extra careful of the male lawmakers who sleep in their offices -- they can be trouble. Avoid finding yourself alone with a congressman or senator in elevators, late-night meetings or events where alcohol is flowing. These are a few of the unwritten rules that some female lawmakers, staff and interns say they follow on Capitol Hill, where they say harassment and coercion is pervasive on both sides of the rotunda.

There is also the "creep list" -- an informal roster passed along by word-of-mouth, consisting of the male members most notorious for inappropriate behavior, ranging from making sexually suggestive comments or gestures to seeking physical relations with younger employees and interns. CNN spoke with more than 50 lawmakers, current and former Hill aides and political veterans who have worked in Congress.

The majority spoke anonymously to be candid and avoid potential repercussions. With few exceptions, every person said they have personally experienced sexual harassment on the Hill or know of others who have. In an environment with "so many young women," said one ex-House aide, the men "have no self-control." Sometimes, the sexual advances from members of Congress are reciprocated in the hopes of advancing one's career ------ what one political veteran bluntly referred to as "Sex trade on Capitol Hill."

So, now that we have demonstrated the depth, the seriousness, and the extent of the problem, let us now search for the solutions given in the scriptures, for whenever we realize that we cannot remedy a persistent, deep-rooted problem by ourselves, we should turn to Christ for help, if we be willing, and humble enough. 

[1] We begin with what God can do, if we ask. An acknowledgement of the sin in particular, and our utter inability to save ourselves from it, then sets the stage for God to engage His omnipotent, and restraining power in us, so that we can be kept by His power through faith, whilst at the same time He cleanses us from cultivated, or inherited tendencies to adultery. We are not able to keep own ourselves from this bewitching sin, and therefore we must ask Christ for His grace on a continuum. Let’s read:

1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 
25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 460] The heart must be renewed by divine grace, or it will be in vain to seek for purity of life. He who attempts to build up a noble, virtuous character independent of the grace of Christ is building his house upon the shifting sand. In the fierce storms of temptation it will surely be overthrown. 

David's prayer should be the petition of every soul: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. And having become partakers of the heavenly gift, we are to go on unto perfection, being “kept by the power of God through faith.” 1 Peter 1:5.

[2] What men must do:
As in all things, cooperation with God is absolutely essential to victorious living, and for that reason, it’s important for men to put certain guiding principles into action. Married men should not flirt with other women. Inappropriate advances should be met with firm rebuffs, so as not to give the impression of any wavering. Single men should not violate principle, even when dating, because, until one seals the deal through marriage, the prospective spouse is free to become another’s. 

The habit of test driving several women, before making a “purchase” should be firmly avoided. Instead, the maxim adopted by Volkswagen, “Sign then drive” should be the mantra governing every couple seeking to tie the knot. In this way a person’s emotional and physical attachments can be guarded from hurt and disappointment, if things do not work out as expected. 

Wherever possible, men should also avoid those situations, that may tend to fan latent, adulterous tendencies into life. Pornography of all kinds, and venues such as clubs, where predators of all stripes are known to be on the prowl, should be avoided. It is imperative, that while praying for divine help with this malignant sin, that we do not unnecessarily expose ourselves to temptation, for our choices, and actions determine to a large extent, whether the power of God will be engaged in our behalf.

Men who are prone to falter on the sin of adultery, must pray without ceasing, for God will give us the victory, if we seek His face relentlessly. However, it is important to remember that satan’s temptations are often sudden and unprovoked, and therefore, a victory today will not atone for a failure tomorrow. The instruction of Christ is to “Watch and pray”, on a continual basis, lest we enter into temptation. Let us take a few practical passages that will help us in gaining the victory:

1st Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. 

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1st Corinthians 10:11 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. 
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

[3] What women must do: 
Women can play a very major role in not aiding and abetting in the sin of adultery. All inappropriate, or suggestive physical contact should be avoided. The longing stare, the extended embrace, lasting for several minutes, can conjure up thoughts that were not previously there. But some folks may not know what is being referred to, so here are two examples for your consideration:

                   
This is what the Bible has to say of such extended, and intimate hugging, between a married person, and someone of the opposite sex. Let’s read:

Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; 
24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 
26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. 
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 
28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
  
Proverbs 6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

Women should not dress in a manner, as to tempt men. Freedom of expression is not a license to be an agent in the downfall of man. Lustful thoughts and passions are often fanned into life by what men see, and therefore, godly women will dress in such a manner, so as not to tease, excite, or induce sensual thoughts and desires; but on the contrary, they will deter all such sentiments by decency.

Married women should do whatsoever they can to make their husbands happy, and contented, once such actions do not lead her to sin. This will call for sacrifice in certain instances, and reciprocation on the part of the husband will also help. However, as a general rule of thumb, a man who is well pleased with his wife, will be a much more difficult target for temptation, than one who is unhappy, and not pleased with her. 

We are living in an age where men and women are often more concerned with their own rights, than with the happiness, and stability of the marriage. But God is much more practical in His instructions, and solutions than many people realize, and thus, the choice, and the privilege is ours, to make our marriages as bulletproof as possible. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

In closing, there is a pertinent instruction, given us by God, which, if implemented, will go a long way in saving us from the moral pollution with which we are surrounded. As spiritual darkness envelops the land, and as skeletons are coming out of the closets in ever increasing numbers, may all Christians shine as lights in the world, for nothing dispels darkness, as the light radiating from Christ, through everyone who is called by His name. Let’s read:

[Evangelism pp 680] Men who are doing God's work, and who have Christ abiding in their hearts, will not lower the standard of morality, but will ever seek to elevate it. They will not find pleasure in the flattery of women, or in being petted by them. Let both young and married men say, Hands off! I will not give the least occasion to have my good evil spoken of.

                                     God bless!
 

See Something, Say something. Sabbath Afternoon. 11/11/2017

“See something, say something” is a program that was instituted after 9/11, and is currently used and encouraged by federal agencies, in which citizens, and residents of the United States are put under a moral obligation to report any activities that may lead to, or result in a terrorist attack. The program has indeed prevented many tragedies, which might not have otherwise been averted. A case in point is the incident where a resident of New York observed a suspicious looking pressure cooker located on the side walk in Manhattan. 

The prompt action taken, by alerting the relevant authorities, prevented what may have been another tragic day in our nation’s history. And up to this day, citizens are urged to report any behavior, or violent tendencies of individuals, so as to save us from another Texas, or Vegas, if at all possible.

However, the idea of see something, say something did not originate with the department of homeland security, for it was God who first took the initiative, when He asked Cain about his brother Abel, who had recently been slain. In his response, Cain asked an important question, Am I my brother’s keeper? The answer to this question is a resounding yes, for we are bound under moral obligation to humanity, to look out for the well-being of each other. 

This is clearly stated in the following passage, where the Paul urges us to reject the “Me first” philosophy by putting God first, others next, and self, last. The “Me first” philosophy is what got Lot into trouble, causing him to lose his dear wife, his two daughters, and much of his extended family. But Abraham who had adopted the “God first, others next” principles, did not respond in like manner to Lot, but instead pleaded for his deliverance, with the destroying Angel. Thus, the Bible enjoins us to take the welfare of others very seriously. Let’s read:

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

But there are risks associated with “See something, say something”, and for this reason many who may know of what is coming upon the earth have either chosen to remain neutral, or silent. There is the risk that the message will not be well received, and, as a result, adverse consequences to the messengers of truth may ensue, for it will shake folks out of their comfort zone. And thus, rather than put life, and property on the line, some prefer to present fables that are more palatable to itching ears. The Bible explains that phenomenon this way. Let’s read:

Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind, ignorant, they are dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 
11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his quarter.

John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Note well that there are only two categories here mentioned, gatherers, and scatterers. There is no designation such as neutral, non-binding, sitting on the fence, or cheerleaders, for those of us who see something, and do not say something, are, by our silence or neglect, scattering folks away from Christ. Thus, in our day there may be selfserving Christians who choose to minimize personal risk to themselves by remaining silent, in order to protect life, money, reputation, property, jobs, and a plethora of other personal interests.

Not so with the early Christian church, after the day of Pentecost, where believers were willing to put everything on the line for the cause of truth, and its Author, Christ. Like many of us today, they could’ve reasoned that family comes first, or they could even have quoted Christ Himself, when He said, If they persecute you in this city, flee to a next one. Instead they deliberately chose to risk it all for the sake of Christ, and that’s how they cooperated with The Holy Ghost in winning thousands of souls to the cause of Christ. In other words, the believers saw something, and they said something. Let’s read:

Acts 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, were filled with indignation, 
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 
24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 
25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 
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, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 
40 And when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

In our day, there are solemn warnings to be given to the world, to our communities, to our co-workers, and there will be a temptation to minimize personal exposure to risk and ridicule. The message given us by God to proclaim, is by no means smooth, and will ultimately call for the relinquishing of our treasured possessions, if need be. And thus, the question is, will we be numbered with the gatherers, or will we be found with the scatterers. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 2:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. 
4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God. 
6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks.
7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

2nd Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

This exhortation by Paul to the young Timothy leads us to the story of Jonah, and the people of Nineveh, to whom an inconvenient truth was to be preached. Amid the hustle, and bustle of daily life, amid all the investments, and money-making, the racketeering, fraud, fake news, sex scandals, mass shootings, and untold violence across the land, Jonah was sent to preach one short sermon, that would cause national panic, and would cause the rich, and the poor, the high and the low, and people from all walks of life to stop abruptly in their tracks to consider the grave import of that one brief sermon. Let’s read:

Jonah 3:1 And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah, saying, 2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it The preaching that I bid thee. 

There are many different types of sermons Jonah could have preached, soul-stirring truths that were bound to produce a positive response, with many resounding amens, hallelujahs, or praise The Lord. Jonah may have preferred to speak eloquently on the love of God for fallen humanity, or he may have preferred to preach on righteousness by faith, or he may have chosen instead to present the smooth prosperity gospel. 

But “The preaching that I bid thee preach” was not of that order, for it would trigger panic, and for this reason it is needful for us to highlight two relevant, and important truths pertaining to the episode. 

[1] Jonah’s sermon was specially designed to create a national crisis, to startle the citizenry out of their complacency, and to move them to instantaneous action, because of a looming deadline. This was not your run of the mill sermon, where people would go back home to a pot-luck fellowship lunch, complete with dinner roasts, and your favorite veggies. After Jonah’s sermon, the people wouldn’t feel like eating because his sermon would cause sleepless nights, very ominous news headlines, and would move the entire nation to fast, and pray like they had never done before. Let’s read:

Jonah 3:3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. 4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

[2] Jonah’s sermon was much more ominous than a mere ultimatum, which is a threat made, if certain conditions aren’t met. But we observe, that in the short, no frills message, the people are not told of any conditions, requirements, or ways by which the crisis could be averted. All they are told is that they have forty days to prepare for destruction. Strange enough though, they somehow knew exactly what needed to be done, and the specific sins they were to turn away from. 

Likewise, when the third angel’s message is given, the people will know exactly what to do, and the specific sins which need to be relinquished. There are many who now know of God’s will, very many are convicted in their hearts that evolution is fake news, and many more, know that there is a day coming in which God will judge the world. But as the daily round of duty continues, many are prone to either put off, or avoid confronting sacred truth. Let’s read:

Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 
6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 
7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water. 
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 
9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? 
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Now, let us get to the core of the Bible study, “See something, say something”. It was not long ago, on the 1st of October 2017, when Stephen Paddock off loaded thousands of bullets on the Route 91 harvest festival, a concert that had some 22,000 people in attendance. As bullets rained down upon the crowd many tried to flee and in the general pandemonium 58 people were slain, and over 500 injured. And the picture of the hotel room, with its two broken windows, remind us from where the carnage took place.
                        

Now, let us just suppose that some person had seen something suspicious, like the many suitcases going to the room, or maybe had seen the windows being broken; it would now be incumbent upon that person to say something, from a moral obligation to one’s fellow citizens. Thus, the message of warning, regardless of how it is given will be sure to trigger a stampede and general panic, as concert-goers rush for the exits.

On an infinitely larger and international scale is the warning of impending doom, given to the world and its inhabitants, because the ominous events that are unfolding across our nation, and the world in general, portend a crisis of cataclysmic proportions, and thus, those of us who see something, are under moral obligation to say something. Like Jonah, the three angel’s messages, especially the third, given to us in Revelation 14, is “The preaching that God bids us preach”, for like the people of Nineveh, an invisible deadline is looming over our heads. Let’s read very solemnly:

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 
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; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. 
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

The next obvious question is “What is the mark of the beast?”
Answer: The mark of the beast occurs when church and the state unite to enforce Sunday worship, in a concerted effort to deliberately annul the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and with penalties for violators, ranging from to economic persecution, to incarceration, and death in some instances. This is that short sermon that modern day Jonahs must preach, for destructive judgments are just on the horizon. Let’s read from several passages in the Bible which confirm this. 

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. 
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 
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.

Revelation 7:1 And I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Psalms 119:126 It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law.

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

Isaiah 24:5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 
6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

The moral conscience of a nation are its laws, thus, when Sunday legislation is enforced, we will by so doing fully disconnect ourselves from God, for there were only two institutions given in Eden for the well -being of the human family. God-ordained marriage has essentially been upended by the judiciary, and thus, the next, and the last shoe to drop will be the annulling of the Sabbath, which points unmistakably to The Creator. When this occurs, the probation of earth’s inhabitants will be permanently closed, and the time of trouble spoken of by Daniel will begin. 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.
Thus, in association with the brief sermon given to modern-day Nineveh, is a corresponding call to all who are sincere in heart, and who love Christ, and His truth. God will never leave anyone to perish, if there is an earnest desire to be saved, and because of this, His last roll call is specifically addressed to our Sunday-keeping brethren, who may not have previously known, or acted upon God’s will. Let’s read:

Revelation 18:4 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. 

We end with a quote from the pen of inspiration: 
[G.C pp 589] The Christian world have shown contempt for the law of Jehovah; and the Lord will do just what he has declared that he would, he will withdraw his blessings from the earth, and remove his protecting care from those who are rebelling against his law, and teaching and forcing others to do the same.

                He who has ears to hear, let him hear what The Spirit says to the churches.
                                                                     God bless! 
 

Living By Faith. Sabbath Afternoon. 11/04/2017

Many of the grand principles and teachings given to us in God’s word have been manipulated, abridged, changed, modified, or eliminated, all in the name of mainstream Christianity, and therefore, it is needful that Bible believing Christians study and understand truth in its most unadulterated form. The relation of faith, and works is one of the areas in which severe distortions have accrued over the years, because of the introduction of the notion, that believing God is all that is necessary, for one’s salvation. 

Now, it is true that believing is the beginning point, but if the corresponding works, of obedience, and righteousness do not follow, then such faith is vain. In other words, belief minus works is equal to dead faith. This is what the apostle was referring to, and this is why the book of Revelation may seem to be off-balanced in its heavy emphasis on works, since the faith alone doctrine was foreseen by God, as the cause of damaging errors of various kinds in the last days of earth’s history. 

The root cause of this delusion is the teaching which states God’s law was nailed to the cross at Calvary, and therefore is not applicable to the contemporary Christian. Thus, with the presumptive nailing of the law to the cross, the Sabbath commandment is also thrown out, and the floodgates of unbridled iniquity are flung wide open, giving rise to alternative, and unbiblical lifestyles, pedophilia by bishops, priests, and laity in too many instances, and fraud, scandals, and racketeering that has ravaged the modern-day church. 

But God is calling His people, in every denomination to return to the Scriptural teaching of faith, with the corresponding works, for anything short of the ideal set forth in the scriptures, will pave the way for soul destroying errors to take root in the heart, with the inevitable results, unless the needed changes to our understanding, and practice aren’t made. Let’s read:

James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 
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?

2nd Chronicles 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 
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.

Habakkuk 2:24 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

This last passage from Habakkuk then begs a clear explanation of what is meant by “Living by faith”. Living by faith is the process whereby a person who believes in God, is led to obey His every word, being empowered by the Holy Spirit, in cooperation with his/her freedom to choose. Of ourselves we can do nothing, both in the temporal, and spiritual realms, but if we choose to do right, then the power of God is engaged in us to produce the corresponding work of righteousness; but as a general rule of thumb, we will always have something to do in response to our faith in God. Always! Let’s read: 

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

A misunderstanding of this fundamental principle, by which God cooperates with the human agent, is what has contributed to a large extent to the quick- fix brand of Christianity, in which the phenomena of so-called faith healings have become so popular in our day. For instance, if I have been diagnosed with cancer, as a Christian, and I pray to the Lord to heal me, those first steps of faith, and prayer should lead to a deep searching of soul, to see if by any means, my dietary habits have contributed to the problem, and if so, all necessary and corrective measures will, and should be implemented to avert the potentially tragic result. 

Then after I have done my best, and have repented of any wrong habits I may have indulged, The Lord, at His discretion, may cooperate with my efforts, by doing what I cannot do for myself. But, for a person to pray in faith to God, without any corresponding effort in the right direction, is a misnomer, and may very well put such a person on the path to set his or her house in order. Thus, cooperation with God in the temporal, as well as the spiritual, is a law, and is essential for any success on this earth, and in the great hereafter.

Again, if a Christian prays to God in faith, for Mr. or Miss “Right” he/she should not expect the girl of his dreams, or her knight in shining armor, to just walk through their front door, without any well-directed effort on their part. On the contrary, a genuine faith will lead that single to “mingle”, by attending some socials, some camp-meetings, some dinners, some rap sessions, or other social activities where like-minded prospects are known to be in attendance. 

But to lay in one’s bed, “in faith”, will produce no results. This leads us to an important commentary, written by the servant of the Lord on how this very principle of cooperation with God works. Let’s read:

[C.O.L pp 82] In everything that tends to the sustenance of man is seen the concurrence of divine and human effort. There can be no reaping unless the human hand acts its part in the sowing of the seed. But without the agencies which God provides in giving sunshine and showers, dew and clouds, there would be no increase. Thus, it is in every business pursuit, in every department of study and science. Thus, it is in spiritual things, in the formation of the character, and in every line of Christian work. 

We have a part to act, but we must have the power of divinity to unite with us, or our efforts will be in vain. Whenever man accomplishes anything, whether in spiritual or in temporal lines, he should bear in mind that he does it through co-operation with his Maker.

So, let’s take some scriptural examples to see how the rubber meets the road. We begin with faithful Abraham. When Abraham was called by God, and was given the promise of seed, as the sand that is on the seashore, he believed, and according to the Bible, it was counted unto him for righteousness. He also put his faith into practice by going to a foreign country, in obedience to the word of God. He went to the nearest bank, drew out all his savings, rented a U-Haul truck, and hit the I95, because, as far as he understood, faith without works is dead!

Again, when he was old, and desired to see his son Isaac get married to “Miss Right”, he prayed in faith, asking and believing in God, to provide a wife for his son. But after getting off his knees, his next move was to start looking, and therefore he sent Eliezer, his servant on the important mission, believing that as he cooperated with God, his faith would become reality. That’s because faith, without corresponding works is dead, and is counterproductive to positive results. In fact, it is quite possible that Isaac may never have met, or seen Rebekah, had it not been for their faith exercised, in cooperating with God.  Let’s read:

Genesis 24:2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, 
3 I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of
heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell. 
4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. 
7 The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand. 
12 And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. 
13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14 Let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. 
15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out.

The same principle of cooperation with God in the temporal, as well as the spiritual, is also observed in the marked success which attended Joseph in the house of Potiphar. Joseph gave God all the praise, and the glory for his accomplishments, but he well understood, that without any diligent effort on his part, the blessings, and opportunities provided by God would remain in “Idle” mode, because faith without works is dead. Thus, he put forth his utmost efforts, and God crowned his works with success. Let’s read:

Genesis 39:2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 
3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 214>217] The marked prosperity which attended everything placed under Joseph's care was not the result of a direct miracle; but his industry, care, and energy were crowned with the divine blessing. Joseph attributed his success to the favor of God, and even his master accepted this as the secret of his unparalleled prosperity. Without steadfast, well-directed effort, however, success could never have been attained.

And the list goes on and on and on. Rahab’s faith in God resulted in works, when she hid the spies. The faith of David was followed by corresponding works, when he took five stones and a sling to slay Goliath. It was the power of God alone that took down the giant, but David had his part to play, because faith without works is “Very dead”. God shook down the walls of Jericho, but Joshua and the Hebrews had to march around the city on numerous occasions. With Gideon, it was faith, and works again, because the blowing of a trumpet has never killed anyone, it was the power of God alone.

By faith, Peter walked on water, in obedience to the call of Christ. By faith, the multitudes were fed from five barley loaves and two fishes, but the disciples had to distribute the food to the multitude. By faith the disabled man was healed by the power of God alone, but it led him to obey, for he took up his bed and walked, in obedience to the word of Christ. By faith the disciples drew in boat loads of fish, but they had to launch out into the deep and let down their nets.

By faith the crippled man in the temple was healed by the power of God working through Peter, but he had to look steadfastly on the apostle, in obedience to Peter’s word. By faith, the waters gushed forth out of the rock, but Moses had to strike it with his rod. By faith the Hebrews were spared from the wrath of the destroying angel, but they had to put blood on their doorposts. 

Furthermore, in the book of Hebrews, where Paul speaks extensively on the faith of God’s people in ages past, the experiences he cited are frequently preceded by the words, “By Faith”, then he goes on to list what the faithful did in response to their faith in God. Let’s read: 

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

The same principle that applies in the physical, and temporal realm, also applies in the spiritual too, for no one accomplishes anything without cooperation, with God. Furthermore, The Lord does not override our freedom of choice to force His good will upon, us without our consent. Thus, living by faith must of necessity be accompanied with corresponding work for it to be recognized as the scriptural brand. Just believing, does not give us a leg up on satan, for he is also a believer, who spends more time in God’s word, than many of us who profess to believe.  

For instance, if a saint prays to God in faith, asking for deliverance from the one-eyed monster, which keeps him/her up late at night, God will work on the desire level, but the saint will need to use his or her remote to switch off the television. But for us to wait on the angel to turn it off will leave us addicted to watching, just as before. Faith without works is dead, and it is absolutely essential that as Christians we cooperate with God, if we are to live victoriously from day to day. Let’s read:

Zechariah 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 
2 And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 
4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 
5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by. 
6 And the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying, 
7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

The change of raiment given to Joshua represents the robe of Christ’s righteousness, given to every believer as a free gift, and the remitting of sins is also done by Christ, in response to our faith in Him. However, after granting Joshua the gift of salvation, the Lord exhorts him to good works, by “Walking in His ways and keeping His charge. Note well that the exhortation in verse seven begins with the word “If” meaning that the choice is Joshua’s. 

And if he chooses to do right, then the power of The Holy spirit is engaged in him to produce good works of righteousness. It all has to do with cooperation with God, through faith and works, for this is what is meant by the phrase “Living by faith”. Let’s read:

Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord, not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

[Christ’s Object lessons pp 331] Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble, all-round character is not inherited. It is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.

In closing, it is in order to issue a caution pertaining to the multitudinous smooth doctrines which have taken root in our day, for many such fables have been spawned by the singular teaching of God’s law being nailed to the cross. Faith without works, once saved always saved, and presumption, which is the counterfeit of faith, are all offshoots of the same error. Thus, in the very last book, and the very last chapter of the Bible, God reminds us of the great principle or cooperation with Omnipotence, the one and only way for us to live victoriously. Let’s read:

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

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

God's Will Done Wrong. Sabbath Afternoon. 10/28/2017

God’s will is always done on earth as it is in heaven, even when unintended ways of accomplishing His purposes are implemented by the human agent. In fact, there are in most instances, several paths to achieving the same end, and therefore, the issue of import for each of us is that we be aligned with the right side of His will. In addition, a person’s choice, and disobedience are often incorporated into God’s plans, in bringing His purposes to pass, and thus, His will is accomplished, whether we choose to obey, or not. This sobering thought was expressed by Christ Himself, when He uttered what is referred to as The Lord’s prayer, and there’s a reason for this. Let’s read: 

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: 
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For instance, in the parable of the wheat and tares, the servants were gravely concerned for the welfare of the wheat, and as they saw the tares multiplying among them, they were driven by sheer concern to ask whether they should go and uproot them, since
that seemed like the logically correct thing to do. But to their amazement, The Lord of the harvest said let them both grow together, for as far as God was concerned, the tares do not pose an existential threat to the wheat. 

Thus, the servant of the Lord makes an interesting commentary on the vastly superior intelligence of the God whom we serve, and how the machinations of men, and the wiles of satan, are all incorporated into His bigger plan, to get His will done any which way. This sobering fact should cause all to tremble and fear before The Living God, who not only knows exactly what we are going to do, but also knows the thought processes which produce the actions, long before they are even implemented. Let’s read: 

[PK. pp 500] In the annals of human history, the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as if dependent on the will and prowess of man; the shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counter-play of human interest, and power, and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.

Several examples given in the scriptures bear this out. For instance, God’s will was that Jesus would come to this earth, and die for sinners at the exact moment; but in His own time and way, He would have laid our sins upon Christ, and He would have died of a broken heart for you, and me. It was not necessary for Judas to betray Christ, and it wasn’t necessary for Peter to cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, nor was it necessary for Pilate to do the unthinkable.

In God’s own time and way Jesus would have died anyway, without any interference, or disobedience on the part of the human agents, but since they all chose to do what they did, without being forced to do so, God not only permitted them, but catered for their future disobedience in His planning. In fact the disobedience on the part of the human agents was incorporated into the prophecies concerning Christ, without anyone ever being forced to do what they did. Let’s read:

Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

John 13:18 I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 
19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 
28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.

Zechariah 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 
13 And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. 

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, 
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value.

The same thing has occurred in very many instances where, as in the case of Judas, one’s disobedience is incorporated into God’s plan, and prophecy, even if God pleads with the person not to fulfill that which was prophesied concerning them. No one is bound in an iron destiny because of prophecy, for we are given the freedom of choice, and may persist in the path of disobedience, or we can repent, and do the right thing. It’s all up to us in a large measure, and God does not intervene to force the stubborn will.

When an explicit prophecy concerning Nineveh was given, the king, and his people repented on hearing the preaching of Jonah, and the prophecy of coming destruction was entirely reversed. The choices, and the destiny is ours. Again, when God predicted that a stubborn pharaoh would refuse to do the right thing, God did not harden pharaoh’s heart, He just did not prevent him from being very stubborn, but rather incorporated pharaoh’s disobedience into His larger plan to deliver His people. 

Every Hebrew would have left Egypt on the very same night as predicted, even if pharaoh chose to be obedient, because God’s will is accomplished, if we choose to obey, or if we choose otherwise; it matters not. We can choose to obey God, and be saved when Christ comes, or we may choose to walk contrary to His laws, and be lost when Christ comes; but one thing is certain, at the appointed time, Christ will come, even if we do not believe. Christ’s coming is not dependent on whether we believe. We do not have to believe! 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, 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. 
17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go? 
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.

And so said so done, as pharaoh prolonged his own stubbornness, and as plague after plague fell upon Egypt, it seemed as if God’s purposes were being delayed through pharaoh’s disobedience, and some of the Hebrews may have thought that God’s will was being thwarted, and put on hold. But the Bible tells us that in the fullness of time, on the exact day God had previously appointed, all the Hebrews left Egypt with great substance, according to the good will of God. Let’s read:

Genesis 15:12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 
13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 
14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Exodus 12: 35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. 
36 And they spoiled the Egyptians.
51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

These examples, amongst many, lead us to the core of our study, for the same thing took place with the children of Isaac, and Rebekah, Jacob and Esau, of whom it was prophesied that the younger was to have preeminence over the older son. Esau wasn’t bound in an iron destiny, nor was he deprived the freedom of choice. It was because of his own bad decision that the birthright was given to Jacob. And Jacob himself cannot be let off the hook, for it was not necessary for him, or his mother to practice any fraud, in order to fulfill God’s word. In His own time and way, God would have given him the birthright. Let’s read:

Genesis 27:1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. 
2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 
3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; 
4 And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. 
5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 
6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 
7 Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death.
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. 
9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth. 
10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. 
11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, 
Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 
12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. 
13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. 
14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savory meat, such as his father loved. 
15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son. 
16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck. 
17 And she gave the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 
18 And he came unto his father, and said, My
father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? 
19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. 
20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me. 
21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. 
22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 
23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. 
24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. 
25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank. 
26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. 
27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed: 
28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine. 
29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. 
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce
gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 
31 And he also had made savory meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. 
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. 
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and
brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. 
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 
35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. 
36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for
he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? 
38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

A very interesting commentary is written by the servant of The Lord about this incident, for Isaac had steadfastly purposed in his heart, that under all circumstances, Esau was going to get the birthright. God did not force the will of Rebekah, Jacob, Esau or Isaac, but He let them choose whatsoever they wanted to do, and in the process, His will gets done. God’s will is done in heaven and on earth, whether we agree, or whether we disagree, but any which way, through obedience, or disobedience His will is going to be accomplished with 100% certainty. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 178>179] Isaac made known to his sons these privileges and conditions, and plainly stated that Esau, as the eldest, was the one entitled to the birthright. But Esau had no love for devotion, no inclination to a religious life. The requirements that accompanied the spiritual birthright were an unwelcome and even hateful restraint to him. The law of God, which was the condition of the divine covenant with Abraham, was regarded by Esau as a yoke of bondage. 

Bent on self-indulgence, he desired nothing so much as liberty to do as he pleased. To him power and riches, feasting and reveling, were happiness. He gloried in the unrestrained freedom of his wild, roving life. Rebekah remembered the words of the angel, and she read with clearer insight than did her husband the character of their sons. She was convinced that the heritage of divine promise was intended for Jacob.

She repeated to Isaac the angel's words; but the father's affections were centered upon the elder son, and he was unshaken in his purpose. “Thus, Esau despised his birthright.” In disposing of it he felt a sense of relief. Now his way was unobstructed he could do as he liked. Years passed on, until Isaac, old, blind, and expecting soon to die, determined no longer to delay the bestowal of the blessing upon his elder son. But knowing the opposition of Rebekah and Jacob, he decided to perform the solemn ceremony in secret.

And thus, it was, that with all the fraud, deception, lying, impersonation, with all the cooking, and the seasoning used, put together with the perfume and Isaac’s stubbornness, some way, somehow, God’s will gets done at the end of the day. Many of our number are gravely concerned about the events of this past week, and the culmination that is to take place in Sweden on 10/31/2017. We are referring to the apparent end of Protestantism, as supervised by pope Francis, in collaboration with the Lutheran church and other denominations, and evangelicals.

On October 31/2017, the very date that Luther had nailed his 95 Theses to the now infamous door of the church at Wittenberg, Catholics and Lutherans will declare an official end to all protests, and will, from here on out, seek to completely bridge the gap that has divided Christianity for so many years. But just as it was with Jacob, if we were to ask God if that is His preferred will, He will say no, but His will is going to be done any which way, for He does, and can incorporate disobedience or obedience into His greater plan. 

In fact, the ceremony that is to take place on the 10/31, 2017 will backfire, just as it did with Rebekah and Jacob, for it will clear the way for the greatest exodus from Catholicism, and other denominations into the Seventh-Day Adventist church, since it will become the only protestant church remaining on the planet. Sadly though, the ceremony in Sweden will also trigger a mass exodus from S.D.A churches into the mainstream brand of Christianity, just as the servant of the Lord has predicted. This will take some time, but it will certainly occur. Let’s read:

[C.E.T pp 228] In vision I saw two armies in terrible conflict. One army was led by banners bearing the world's insignia; the other was led by the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. Standard after standard was left to trail in the dust, as company after company from the Lord's army joined the foe, and tribe after tribe from the ranks of the enemy united with the commandment-keeping people of God. An angel flying in the midst of heaven put the standard of Emmanuel into many hands, while a mighty general cried with a loud voice: “Come into line. Let those who are loyal to the commandments of God and the testimony of Christ now take their position”….. 

 
NPR news, by Sylvia Poggioli. 
Pope Francis arrived in Sweden on Monday for services marking the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation that split Lutherans and Catholics. He arrived in the southern city of Malmo, and is scheduled to attend an event with leaders of the Lutheran World Federation on Monday afternoon. He will also lead a service at a Lutheran Cathedral in the city of Lund, and a Mass at the arena in Malmo on Tuesday.

Sweden is a secular, majority-Lutheran country. Some 72 million people belong to the Lutheran church worldwide, according to the Lutheran World Federation. The Vatican estimates about 1.2 billion people have been baptized in the Catholic church. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports that the trip is "in keeping with his efforts to reach out to other branches of Christianity — like the Russian Orthodox Church — and other faiths, including Islam and Judaism."

"It was the year 1517 when the German monk Martin Luther pinned his 95 Theses to the door of his Catholic church, denouncing the Catholic sale of indulgences — pardons for sins — and questioning papal authority. That led to his excommunication and the start of the Protestant Reformation. The animosity and resentments left by the Reformation only began to heal after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, with the start of an ecumenical dialogue aimed at promoting Christian unity.

The Catholic Herald. Excerpts from Pope Francis’ Homily:
Here in Lund, at this prayer service, we wish to manifest our shared desire to remain one with Christ. This is also a moment to thank God for the efforts of our many brothers and sisters from different ecclesial communities who refused to be resigned to division, but instead kept alive the hope of reconciliation among all who believe in the one Lord.

As Catholics and Lutherans, we have undertaken a common journey of reconciliation. Now, in the context of the commemoration of the Reformation of 1517, we have a new opportunity to accept a common path, one that has taken shape over the past fifty years in the ecumenical dialogue between the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church. Nor can we be resigned to the division and distance that our separation has created between us. We have the opportunity to mend a critical moment of our history by moving beyond the controversies and disagreements that have often prevented us from understanding one another.

It is of tremendous importance what is to take place on early next week, because, with the official reunification of Catholicism and Protestantism, there will be only two categories remaining within the Christian body worldwide, mainstream Christianity, where any and everything goes, and Biblical Christianity, where the teachings, instructions, and laws God has given to the human family are honored and upheld.

With the mainstream brand of Christianity, where everything is included, comes gay marriage, and gay bishops, the natural immortality of the soul, Sunday sacredness, lawlessness, sprinkling, instead of Bible baptism by immersion, faith without works, the new world order, and the mark of the beast.

In contrast, Biblical Christianity espouses the sacred institution of marriage as given to us by God in Eden between one man, and his female wife, the validity of the Ten commandments, including the 4th, which states that the seventh day is the Sabbath, mortality of the soul, until resurrected by Jesus, a faith that is demonstrated by corresponding works the freedom to worship God, according to the dictates of one’s conscience, and the seal of God’s approval, placed invisibly in the forehead, where decisions are made.

In a nutshell, if a person isn’t in favor with the end of Protestantism, and if he/she desires to follow the biblical brand of Christianity, then such a person will become a Seventh-day Adventist, plain and simple, for very soon, it will be the only protestant church on the planet. Thus, in harmony with these great and momentous truths, we offer an open invitation to people of all faiths, including Catholics, once such persons are willing to subscribe to the biblical brand of Christianity. Two important passages of scripture, pointing to such a time as this must now be given. Let’s read:

Joel 3:13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: for their wickedness is great. 
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 
15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 
16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people.

Revelation 18:4 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.

There are some pretty, disturbing questions for us to consider, and maybe, we will get the answers in eternity:
[1] How is it, that against all odds, and contrary to what the most were predicting, and expecting, Donald Trump won the election?
[2] How is it, that for some reason, Trump and pope Francis couldn’t get along?
[3] How is it, that of all people, a prominent Seventh Day Adventist ends up on his cabinet?
While pondering the import of these questions, we will end with the first quote submitted in our study today. Let’s read:

[PK. pp 500] In the annals of human history, the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as if dependent on the will and prowess of man; the shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counter-play of human interest and power and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.

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

Biblical Versus Mainstream. Sabbath Afternoon. 10/21/2017

Sooner or later, every sincere Christian will have to re-evaluate their commitment, and relationship to God, and the teachings of His word, because we are living in an age that is increasingly hostile, or averse to righteousness, and the great principles laid down in the scriptures. The majority opinion has taken the place of the Bible in most instances, and legislators, religious leaders, and politicians alike are motivated more by applause and popularity than, those truths God has given to guide the human family to greater peace and happiness. 

The word “Mainstream” refers to ideas, attitudes, perspectives, or activities that are regarded as being conventional; it also refers to the dominant trend in opinion, fashion, etc. Synonyms of the word include expressions such as generally accepted, prevailing thought, popular majority, or conformist. Therefore, whenever national polls are done on any particular issue, the emphasis is usually placed on what most Americans think, not on what the Bible, or God has to say on the matter.

And because of this, it will become impossible for us to straddle both sides of the fence, for we must give our allegiance entirely to the God of heaven, or we must serve the gods of this world, but to say we are middle of the road on matters of eternal import is a non-starter for both God and satan. In other words, the true soldiers of the cross should not be seeking to hide their candle under a bushel, so as to avoid criticism, or ostracization. Instead, we should all be ready to stand boldly in defense of truth and duty, as God leads, and strengthens us. Let’s read: 

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

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

Pop-culture is the current standard by which many people draw their conclusions, pertaining to right, and wrong, good, and evil. But whenever our ideas and opinions are allowed to be driven by polls we will inevitably be pitted against the scripture, which makes no provisions for political correctness, polls, or what the popular majority may think. In fact, true Christians will allow the word of God to shape their thinking, decisions, and actions, even when it does not harmonize with what is considered mainstream. Several passages of scripture bear this out. Let’s read:

1st Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

James 4:4 Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Therefore, the great controversy will culminate in the principles, laws, and institutions of the scripture being pitted against mainstream beliefs, concepts philosophies, and vice-versa. It has already begun, and is scheduled to accelerate at an alarming pace in the near future. The following stark differences bear this out.

[1] It is now generally acceptable, for individuals of the same sex to marry, for most folks now believe that the sacred institution needed to be modified, to accommodate pop-culture. God says the exact opposite, for His word is not one opinion amongst many; instead it is the only gold standard by which we are to live, and by which we will be judged. Let’s read:

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

Matthew 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 

[2] Pop-culture believes in evolution, and the theory has become a mainstay of our educational system, to the point where even some Christians have been seduced into believing it’s true. If anyone now dares to question Darwin, they are immediately accosted by the media, and mocked at, for what’s considered archaic, irrelevant, and unscientific. But the Bible is very clear on the issue of origin of species, because it declares the world was created in six literal days, by the Omnipotent God. And Christians should not be afraid of saying so. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and
darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 
4 And God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
2 The same was in the beginning with God. 
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

The Biblical and mainstream modes of thought have also affected the Christian church, for even though some may not know it, there is Biblical Christianity, and there is mainstream Christianity. Mainstream Christianity makes the word of God subjective, and will change, modify, or add to it for convenience, or for tradition purposes. 

Biblical Christianity is that creed whereby adherents believe God’s word must not be tampered with, or abridged to accommodate majority opinions, and contemporary modes of thought and philosophy. All who espouse Biblical Christianity believe that God’s word has the final say, regardless of what personal ideas of feelings may suggest. And because of this, we will discover that some conventional modes of thought have converged irreverently on the first day of the week, in spite of what God has declared, in both the old and new testaments. 

To put it plainly, Sunday keeping is mainstream, a day of convenience. Sabbath keeping is Biblical, and requires sacrifice, and the two opposing views will continue to butt heads, until the issue comes to a national confrontation, and culminates in the mark of the beast. Therefore, every Christian will have to decide whether God’s word will be their standard, or whether mainstream philosophies and concepts will ultimately bear sway over their decision-making processes. 

Whenever God is worshiped out of convenience, His sacred and unique nature is dishonored, for He is treated as One amongst many, not being given any special consideration for who He is. But proper Sabbath keeping requires sacrifice, and is not to be made subject to feelings, or opinions. For instance, with mainstream Christianity, Sunday worship is to be observed regularly, unless the Super-Bowl comes to town on that day. Then, the worship of God may be put on hold, to make allowance for what many may deem more important. 

Biblical Sabbath worship makes no allowance for the Super-Bowl, if it was to fall on a Saturday, and if it does, the true Christian will be found in church, happy, contented, and not chomping at the bits for the pastor to hurry up his sermon before the game begins. There’s a very huge difference between that subjective, mainstream form of Christianity, and the Biblical brand, the one which requires sacrifice, and which puts God first in all situations. Here is what God has to say about the latter. Let’s read:

Psalms 50:5 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. 

[The Great Controversy. pp 639] The starry heavens are seen, unspeakably glorious in contrast with the black firmament on either side. Then there appears against the sky a hand holding two tables of stone folded together. Says the prophet: “The heavens shall declare His righteousness: for God is judge Himself.” That holy law, God's righteousness, that amid thunder and flame was proclaimed from Sinai as the guide of life, is now revealed to men as the rule of judgment. 

The hand opens the tables, and there are seen the precepts of the Decalogue, traced as with a pen of fire. The words are so plain that all can read them. Memory is aroused, the darkness of superstition and heresy is swept from every mind, and God's ten words, brief, comprehensive, and authoritative, are presented to the view of all the inhabitants of the earth.

When God gave to the human family the Sabbath as the official, and only day of rest, He designed that it should be kept worldwide, and even though there have been concerted efforts over the years to make it obsolete, yet there is nothing man can do to make Sunday holy. Even if we were to sit in a church from dawn till dusk on Sunday, and even if we fasted and prayed for the entire day, Sunday will never ever be a holy day, even when it is enforced, and becomes the law of the land. 

When gave His sacred law at Sinai, he prefaced the fourth commandment with the word, “Remember”, thus placing emphasis on this particular command. So, if for some reason He has changed it to the first day of the week, we must expect Him to make such a change with the corresponding emphasis, which means that somewhere in the Bible we must expect to find, “Remember The 1st day to keep it holy”. But when diligent search is made from cover to cover, it is seen that such a change is nowhere to be found. That’s because Sunday keeping is mainstream, and Sabbath keeping is still Biblical and valid. 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.

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.

This brings us to an important period in our history, for we are overwhelmed with various controversies which have engrossed the minds of the people, and which may at times irk us at the very core. There is the Kaepernick controversy, the Puerto Rico, and the Russian interference controversy. Then there is the gay marriage controversy, in which mainstream ideas are pitted against scriptural principles. And as if these were not enough The Lord also has ongoing controversies with the nations of the earth. Let’s read:

Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the Lord, for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. 
2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

Thus, whenever there is a controversy in the public square, the tendency is for mainstream opinions to prevail, and fringe elements to be shut down. Just this past week, a white nationalist who spoke at the university of Florida was almost denied the freedom of speech, because his nationalist views are seen as objectionable to the majority. That is all well and good until we begin to dictate what is objectionable and what is not.

The freedom of speech, with all of its pros and cons, is one of the fundamental institutions which makes America the great nation it is. But inevitably, this freedom will make allowance for speech that may be objectionable to some. However, Christ wants us to look at the bigger picture, for it is very important not to begin clamping down on what the majority may deem "Objectionable" since this will inevitably lead to restrictions on religious liberty. 

Many of the Biblical truths we espouse and teach, as Seventh day Adventists, will no doubt be placed in the "Objectionable" column, and thus, it may be best for us to be patient and tolerant with both the good, and the evil. Therefore, whilst we still have the opportunity to do so, we are encouraged, and instructed in God’s word to preach present truth, in season, and also when it is inconvenient, because the eternal destiny of millions of people depend on it. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

In closing, there is a passage of scripture which must be explained, so we may understand what it means and refers to. Let’s read:

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Walking humbly with God means choosing, and acknowledging His wise instructions and laws to us, as being superior, and being willing to surrender all preconceived ideas in favor of what God designates as best for us. Thus, if for some reason we may have inadvertently adopted mainstream Christianity, God is now calling us to adopt the Biblical brand, which leads us to our final passages for today. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 

Revelation 18:4 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.

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

The Choice Is Yours. Sabbath Afternoon. 10/14/2017

The freedom to choose is one of the greatest gifts God has given to us, and we should understand the responsibilities that go along with it, because our lives, our successes, and failures, depend to a large extent on the decisions made, and actions we take. For instance, even though the Bible has given us a general average of our lifespan, we ourselves can either greatly extend, or greatly shorten that period by what we choose to do. In other words, both Mc Donald’s, and Wholefoods sell burgers, fries, and salad; the choice is ours!

Sometimes we may make the mistake of respecting only the good choices others make, and not the bad ones, but as Christians we should respect both. We may counsel, plead, pray, and exhort, we may shed many bitter tears, in grief at the pursuit of a wrong course of action, but at the end of the day, after all is said, and done, the choice would remain with the person. 

Again, parents, and brethren may be praying for a wayward child, and we may quote several promises from the Bible, pertaining to their recovery by The Lord Jesus. Then, in response, to the petitions, and entreaties made, God’s Holy Ghost may prick their consciences, with special graphic interferences from heaven. All this is well, and good, but if that child insists on doing wrong, their choices made, with the accompanying results must be accepted for what they are. 

The parents of Samson begged him not to marry the philistine, but when he insisted on his choice, they respected his decision, and showed their respect by attending the wedding ceremony, and the banquet,  which followed after, all the while, knowing full well that the path Samson chose would end in disaster, as the immutable word of God has clearly stated.

The tragedies which unfolded later were the results of his own choosing, and although God’s grace, and mercy followed him, yet it did not prevent him from pursuing a ruinous path. God’s grace, and the many prayers of his parents may have contained much of the collateral damage for very many years, but as the Title states, ultimately, “The Choice Is Yours. Let’s read: 

Judges 14:1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 
2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 
3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is
there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. 
4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines. 

Thus, it is a sad, but true commentary of our day, that the majority of us die prematurely, with very few reaching the years God allotted us. In addition, very many of the problems people now face can be fixed through the choices we make. Prayer is very important, and God’s guidance is indispensable, but at the end of the day, our choices can make all the difference, because God’s blessing, and prayer are almost never allowed to override personal choice.

God blessed Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston with the gift of singing, but because of their choices, their lives ended tragically and prematurely. Indeed, when we examine very many of the questions, and complaints that are lodged against God for calamity, failure, and tragedy, the root causes almost always go back to the choices we made, and the actions we took. Therefore, as we proceed with our study, it is important that we view objectively, that which God has to say on the matter, throughout sacred history. 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; 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.

Genesis 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 
9 Is not the whole land before thee? if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord. 
11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

2nd Samuel 11:2 And it came to pass in an evening-tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 
3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 
4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her.

Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

If Abraham didn’t want to sleep with Hagar, nobody could have forced him. He wanted to do so and that is why he did it. Which raises another issue of great importance, pertaining to choice, for if we sincerely desire to do something, we will do it. We will find all the ways, and means to surmount the difficulties in the way, and circumvent every possible obstacle we may encounter, but one thing is certain, we will do it if we really want to. The same is true when we do not want to do something; we will find all the ways, and means, excuses and reasons why we would not. 

It’s amazing the amount of apparently valid excuses we come up with when we really do not want to do something. Excuses such as no motivation, money, no moral support, lack of encouragement, January 1st, tiredness, lack of energy, unjust criticism, family, poor attendance, etc. However, the fact is that if we really want to do something, and it is considered by us to be important enough, we will do it, period. 

There is almost no stopping of the human agent, with a determined will, for if we put a man on the moon, we can certainly do most of the mundane things we view as impossible. Therefore, the real problem is that we do not want to do it, whatever “It” is, and this is what moves our choices into the do, or don’t columns. Let’s read:

Genesis 11:6 And the Lord said, Behold, nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

This leads us to our study for this evening, because when God called Moses to go speak to pharaoh, he too found a whole lot of “Valid” excuses not to go, and even though The Lord proposed to take care of every deficiency, and every obstacle mentioned, he still found more, and more excuses. That’s because whenever we don’t want to do something, that very fact spawns a multitude of apparently valid excuses, and with each additional reason given, the purpose of not doing so becomes more, and more rational in our own eyes which then directly affects our choice. Let’s read:

Exodus 3: 14 And God said unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. 
15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you.
16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: 

Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. 
2 And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 
3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 
4 And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand. 
5 That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. 
6 And the Lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.  
7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again.  And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 
8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 
9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. 
10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 
11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? 
12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 
13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. 
14 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 

There are certain things we will not want to do, but which should be done anyway just because they are good. Most people will love to have a healthy body, as long as they can, but the effort required is often often viewed as an unwelcome guest. In fact, if we could get the desired body without the effort, many millions will immediately sign on. Take again water; some people do not like to drink pure water, but we should because it is good for us, even though it may taste bland, and we may not “feel” like drinking it. 

The same is true of the Christian pathway, for there are many things we will not “feel” to do, which are good for us. To fight the good fight of faith means to war against what we naturally love to do, and to fight against oneself goes contrary to our natural, fallen grain. Thus, sound decisions and choices must be given preeminence over what we feel, if we are to live victoriously in Christ Jesus. Let’s read: 

Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not, but what I hate, that I do.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Then, after explaining our wretched condition, Paul explains how the impossible becomes possible, and how through the power of Christ, the weak become strong. As Christians who believe in the omnipotent Christ, we should try to avoid groveling in our own inabilities, weaknesses, and failures, for by doing so, a dark shadow will overspread all those good things we attempt to do. Unbelief is contagious, and tends to color every noble aspiration with clouds of doubt and uncertainty, which then stifles energy, and any enthusiasm we may have had. Let’s read:

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

That law of sin which Paul is referring to can only be subdued by choice, and the enabling power of God. In our day, a lot of emphasis is placed upon feelings and emotions, and too often these are permitted to affect the choices we make. But self-denial doesn’t “Feel” good, and if we are to be saved eternally, our choices must be guided by the word of God alone, even when there may be conflicting emotions, and feelings tugging us in different directions. Let’s read:

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 
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.

Whenever circumstances are permitted to mold our decisions, and choices, then we will view the word of God in the Bible, as being subjective, and we will become the sport of circumstances. When it comes to doing that which is good, and right, no negative circumstances should be allowed to cast a shadow over our decision-making processes, or enthusiasm. Thus, if anything is worthy of being done, especially when it is written or commanded by The Lord in His word, maximum effort should be exerted until it is accomplished.

A very important exposition is written by the pen of inspiration, pertaining to the way our decisions and choices ought to be made, and if counsel and advice given is adopted, it will make a huge difference in our outlook, our potential to achieve, and the way we view, and approach daunting challenges. Let’s read:

[Christ’s Object Lessons. pp 330] God will accept only those who are determined to aim high. He places every human agent under obligation to do his best. Never should we lower the standard of righteousness in order to accommodate inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrong-doing. All righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a perfect, harmonious whole, and everyone who receives Christ as a personal Savior is privileged to possess these attributes. 

But Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble, all-round character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident. A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.

Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. If you come to this decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life. Many whom God has qualified to do excellent work accomplish very little, because they attempt little. Remember that you will never reach a higher standard than you yourself set. Then set your mark high, and step by step, even though it be by painful effort, by self-denial and sacrifice, ascend the whole length of the ladder of progress.

Let nothing hinder you. Fate has not woven its meshes about any human being so firmly that he need remain helpless and in uncertainty. Opposing circumstances should create a firm determination to overcome them. The breaking down of one barrier will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be your helpers, not your hindrances.

In closing, as we approach that period of earth’s history, when the faithful will need to walk by faith, and faith alone, it is imperative, that we buckle up our shoes, and run with patience, the race that is set before us, being determined, relentless, brave, and resilient, through the power of The Holy Spirit. If we say we believe in Christ, we must begin to live and act like we do, which leads us to our final text for today. Let’s read:

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

                                                          God bless!
 

The Final Conflict. Part [2] Sabbath Afternoon. 10/07/2017

The final conflict to be fought on this planet, involves a whole lot more than truth against error, or good against evil. It also has to do with who is controlling who, which means that every person alive on earth when probation closes, will be either under the direct control of The Holy Ghost, or of the prince of darkness. In this final struggle, there is no such thing as middle ground, or sitting on the fence, for each person would have already made up their minds, as to who will control them. 

One of the issues that should be of grave concern to us is the fact that God’s restraining power is what is ultimately responsible for the perpetuation any peace, and security we may enjoy, because, without The Holy Spirit keeping in check the powers that be, this world will soon descend into irretrievable chaos, the likes of which we have never witnessed. The fact of God’s keeping power is brought to view in the scriptures, and we should be cognizant, and be thankful for it whilst it lasts, for in the not too distant future, it will be withdrawn permanently from the earth. Let’s read: 

Psalms 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

It will be interesting to hear what the "Experts" will say, after that terrible tragedy in Las Vegas unfolded! So far, after every one of these occurrences, psychologists, and experts in behavioral sciences have been called upon to construct a psychological profile, and a motive. But so far, there is no jihadi connection, no KKK affiliation, there is no hate speech, and no apparent reason or motive. All we have so far is a successful multi-millionaire, living in a retirement community, well respected, and no significant running with the law. So maybe, it's time for us to take a second look at what the scriptures have to say about the human condition, without Christ. 

Fellow citizens, brethren, and friends at home, and those in foreign countries, we beseech you in Christ’s stead to listen very carefully! The only reason why you, and I have not blown a fuse, the only reason why Kim Jong Un in the North, and our own country are not yet at war, is solely because Jesus is still in the heavenly sanctuary, and has commissioned His Holy angels to hold back the winds of strife. When human probation closes, we will be facing the prospect of every person who isn’t found in Christ, as well as every nation on the planet, going completely off their rockers, and the time of trouble, the prophet Daniel spoke of, will begin. 

This is because there are invisible forces of good and evil operating on the earth, and according to the Bible, we all are under the control of either one of these forces. Thus, there is coming a time when science, and psychology will not be able to produce logical answers, for the problem is not gun control, it’s mind control. The following verses of scripture must then be read solemnly, objectively, and believed for what they clearly state. Let’s read:

Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
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. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Revelation 7:1  And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud
voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

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.

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

We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the 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. 

The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the temptation to sin. Without a connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.

That’s why it was stated up front that it is God’s restraining Thst's keeping the work of evil agencies at bay, and it is by His mercies and kindness why we all have existence, and continuity. Let’s read:

Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. 
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord. 

Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Psalms 33:16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 A horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear
 him, upon them that hope in his mercy.

As it stands currently, we are in a period of extremes, by which planet earth seems to be bursting at the seams, in expectation of some cataclysmic event. We now have an amazing number of extreme politicians, extreme weather related events, such as hurricanes, and extremes in the geopolitical arena, where citizens and nations are finding it more difficult to get along, and as a result, the earth is titter-tottering on the brink of eternity, where the age- old conflicts between right and wrong, good and evil will forever be settled. There is also the recurrence of acts of extreme violence for no reason, as predicted in the Bible. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, (Truce: an agreement between enemies or opponents to stop fighting or arguing for a certain time. Synonyms: ceasefire, armistice, suspension of hostilities)
false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 
4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.

For example, the recent occurrence of mass shooting is the worst in modern recorded U.S history, and it takes only a cursory reading of the records to discover that the trend is deteriorating, and not getting any better. When the Bible speaks of men becoming incontinent or fierce, these occurrences are some of what is being referred to. Let’s read:

The Harvest Music Festival. 
At least 58 killed. 
October 1, 2017 A gunman, identified as 64-year-old
Stephen Paddock, fired from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, on a crowd of 22,000 gathered on the Las Vegas Strip for the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. At least 58 people were killed and 500 others were injured. 

Pulse night club
49 killed. 
June 12, 2016 - Omar Saddiqui Mateen, 29, opens fire inside Pulse, a gay nightclub, in Orlando. At least 49 people are killed and more than 50 are injured.

Virginia Tech
32 killed.
April 16, 2007 - A gunman, 23-year-old student Seung-Hui Cho, goes on a shooting spree killing 32 people in two locations and wounding an undetermined number of others on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. The shooter then commits suicide.

Sandy Hook
27 killed.
December 14, 2012 - Adam Lanza, 20, guns down 20 children, ages 6 and 7, and six adults, school staff and faculty at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. -- before turning the gun on himself. Investigating police later find Nancy Lanza, Adam's mother, dead from a gunshot wound.

December 2, 2015 - Married couple Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik open fire on an employee gathering taking place at Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, killing 14 people.

Fort Hood
13 killed.
November 5, 2009 - Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan kills 13 people and injures 32 at Fort Hood, Texas, during a shooting rampage. 

April 3, 2009 - In Binghamton, New York, Jiverly Wong kills 13 people and injures four during a shooting at an
immigrant community center. He then kills himself.

And nature also seems to be reflecting the deteriorating state of society, because extremes in weather-behavioral patterns can also be observed. The reason for this is that the spiritual, and the physical world are uniquely, and inseparably intertwined, so that violations in one affects the other, and vice-versa. Thus, we observe that some of the most dangerous, and costliest hurricanes in recent U.S history have occurred during the past thirty years, coinciding with the uptick of violations in the spiritual realm. Let’s read:

The Costliest U.S. Hurricanes:
Rank:    Name:    Year:    Category:    Damage (U.S.)*:
1.    Katrina (LA/MS/AL/SE FL)    2005    3    $105,840,000,000
2.    Andrew (SE FL/SE LA)    1992    5    $45,561,000,000
3.    Ike (TX/LA/MS)    2008    2    $27,790,000,000
4.    Wilma (FL)    2005    3    $20,587,000,000
5.    Ivan (FL/AL)    2004    3    $19,832,000,000
6.    Charley (FL)    2004    4    $15,820,000,000
7.    Irene (NC/VA/MD/DE/NJ/NY/CT/VT/NH/ME)    2011    1    $15,800,000,000

However, the carnage doesn’t stop with the weather, or with mass shootings, for the apostle distinctly declares that one of the characteristics of the last days is that men would be traitors, referring to the various types of fraud, and schemes, by which the unwary will be defrauded of their belongings. 

When asked by a television Anchor about the scope of the problem, one Federal security official, and analyst declares, that as it stands currently, there are only two types of businesses which exist here in the U.S.A, those who know there are being hacked, and those who don’t know they are being hacked. The following report done by CNN’s Sarah Ashley, on the issue of stolen identity, affects one and all in some way shape or form, and bears out the severity of the situation, as it is. 

Giant Equifax data breach: 143 million people could be
affected; by Sara Ashley O'Brien. 
September 8, 2017: 9:23 AM ET.
If you live in the U.S. and breathe oxygen, there's a good chance you may be impacted by the latest security breach. Equifax revealed Thursday that the personal information of as many as 143 million Americans -- or nearly half the country -- has been compromised. Beyond the number of people potentially impacted, the credit reporting firm's cybersecurity breach is significant because of the sensitive information at risk: social security numbers, addresses and the numbers of some driver's licenses.

For that alone, the breach ranks among the worst on record. But Equifax is just the latest in an unfortunately long list of massive security breaches online and offline. Yahoo gets the top two spots on any list of security breaches. Last September, Yahoo announced that data associated with at least 500 million accounts had been stolen. Three months later, it disclosed a second breach affecting more than one billion accounts. 

To put it bluntly, anyone can now purchase your personal information, and mine on the dark web, and there’s no guarantee that the impostors will be recognized for who they are. This raises an issue of very grave concern for all, for it’s obvious that the current methods of identification are insufficient for verifying who persons really are. Thus, there is only one other relatively failsafe method we can turn to, in order to arrest the constant security breaches.

We are speaking of “BIOMETRICS” the only way in which all human beings can be identified with almost 100% accuracy. Take for instance, one branch of the system of biometric identification, Iris scans. Iris recognition is an automated method of biometric identification that uses mathematical pattern-recognition techniques on video images of one or both of the irises of an individual's eyes, whose complex patterns are unique, stable, and can be seen from some distance. 

This takes us into the core of our study, in which we will investigate the physical aspects of the mark of the beast. The scriptures teach us that the issue will center around worship, but that there will also be a physical counter-part, representing the decisions made by each person. It is very similar to the seal of righteousness by faith, which Abraham received in his flesh, representing a spiritual decision, and commitment he had already made. But, in order for us to better understand the ins and outs of the mark of the beast, as it pertains to the final conflict, we must first study the methods and principles employed by the prince of darkness, for they are repetitive in nature. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then
your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 
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.

There are four main principles at work here:
[1] Disguise! Satan never ever shows his true colors, for even when he is scheduled to appear on the earth in the near future, he will be imposing as Christ, but never as himself.
[2] He infers that disobedience produces great benefit. 
[3] He makes it easy, and convenient to sin.
[4] Anyone who falls for his devices, then becomes and active agent in causing the downfall of others.

So, let’s begin with principle # [1] Disguise.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 53] In order to accomplish his work unperceived, Satan chose to employ as his medium the serpent—a disguise well adapted for his purpose of deception. The serpent was then one of the wisest and most beautiful creatures on the earth. It had wings, and while flying through the air presented an appearance of dazzling brightness, having the color and brilliancy of burnished gold. Resting in the rich-laden branches of the forbidden tree and regaling itself with the delicious fruit, it was an object to arrest the attention, and delight the eye of the beholder. Thus, in the garden of peace lurked the destroyer, watching for his prey.

[2] Disobedience produces great benefit: 
Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 54] By partaking of this tree, he declared, they would attain to a more exalted sphere of existence and enter a broader field of knowledge. He himself had eaten of the forbidden fruit, and as a result had acquired the power of speech. And he insinuated that the Lord jealously desired to withhold it from them, lest they should be exalted to equality with Himself. It was because of its wonderful properties, imparting wisdom and power, that He had prohibited them from tasting or even touching it. The tempter intimated that the divine warning was not to be actually fulfilled; it was designed merely to intimidate them.

Opioids, and marijuana were introduced for legislation on the premise that great benefits would be derived from their use. However, today we have a never-ending, and deepening opioid crisis, with marijuana addiction following close on its heels. Isn’t it quite ironic that the symbol for healing, and medicine is a serpent? Quite ironic!

[3] He makes it easy and convenient to sin. 

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.

James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 56] 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.

[4] Anyone who falls for his devices, then becomes an active agent in causing the downfall of others.
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.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 56] Perceiving no evil results from what she had done, Eve grew bolder. Without a fear she plucked and ate. And now, having 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. 

Now, let’s take these four same principles and apply them to the final conflict, as it pertains to the physical aspect of the mark of the beast. 
[1] Disguise. 
The first principle is that of disguise, for the mark of the beast will never be marketed as such. We can literally guarantee that what Revelation chapter 13 &14 speaks of will be given an appealing veneer, so as to conceal its real nature, and because of this, very many individuals, indeed the overwhelming majority of earth’s population will be taken in the snare. However, The God of heaven will intervene to expose it for what it is, so that no one needs to make an uninformed choice. Let’s read: 

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast.
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.

[G.C pp 605] Not one is made to suffer the wrath of God until the truth has been brought home to his mind and conscience, and has been rejected. He who reads every heart and tries every motive will leave none who desire a knowledge of the truth, to be deceived as to the issues of the controversy. The decree is not to be urged upon the people blindly. Everyone is to have sufficient light to make his decision intelligently.

[2] It apparently produces great benefit:
The mark of the beast will be advertised as necessary, and producing great benefit. Because of the almost daily security breaches, biometric technology may be sought after, to address the problem. And many people will tout the tangible benefits to be derived from the use of such a system. For starters, it can almost wipe out the problem of identity theft. It’s extremely difficult, if not impossible, for one to forge another’s D.N.A, fingerprints, or iris scan. 

Voter fraud, and scamming of the I.R.S could be a thing of the past, and the many thousands of dead citizens in Florida, who often show up on election day to cast their ballot, only to disappear into the shadows of night, can be permanently debarred from disturbing their repose. There’s a whole lot of “Benefits” to be derived.

[3] He makes it easy, and convenient to sin. 

We should never believe that the mark of the beast will be painful, or a hassle, for the enemy of righteousness always makes sin easily accessible, and worry free. Just as he placed the forbidden fruit in Eve’s hand, with little effort on her part, just so the mark of the beast will be easy to accept, with very little effort on the part of the receiver, and will be made appealing in every possible way. For example, those who in times past may have loathe smoking marijuana, can now get the same product in lollipops, candies, ice-cream, and milk-shakes! 

[4] Anyone who falls for his devices, then becomes the most efficient, active agent in causing the downfall of others. That is one reason why we are cautioned by the pen of inspiration, that we have more to fear from within than from without. Those who were once proponents of present truth, but who may have never been thoroughly converted, will join ranks with the enemy, and will prove to be of immense value, in encouraging others to follow suit. Let’s read:

[G.C. pp 608] 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 ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. 

Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbath-keepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.

Many folks are making the critical mistake of postponing their salvation for another day or for a more convenient season. But sacred history teaches us that it takes time to develop a sturdy faith in God, one that cannot be moved, when the rains descend, and the floods come, and the winds blow. Thus, it is with urgent pathos that we close with an appeal from Christ, beseeching us to accept Him as Lord and Savior of our lives, before the storm breaks upon our world. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

                                                                 God bless!
 

The Resurrection & The Law Of Inertia. Sabbath Afternoon. 09/30/2017

As was stated before in a previous Bible study, the natural laws we know of are not the only laws that govern our world, for there are also spiritual laws, which have the preeminence over laws of physics. The Bible gives us several examples of spiritual laws, so we may understand clearly what is being spoken of, for our concepts, thoughts, ideas, and potential, should never be limited to science as we know it. 

The laws God gave us on Mount Sinai are spiritual in nature, yet they are superior to the laws of physics, which are under their jurisdiction, and the violation of them will produce natural results in the natural world. 

There are also spiritual laws that are evil, and which are engaged through disobedience, triggering chain reactions, and collateral damage that can affect the lives of others, who had nothing to do with the sin committed. This understanding must be introduced to our knowledge of science, so that it would not be off-balanced, as it currently is. Let’s read:

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

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

Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, 
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Several examples of this chain reaction between the spiritual and the physical are given in the scriptures, even though some people will experience difficulty understanding their correlation. For instance, the shedding of innocent blood across the land, causes the earth to produce less, and inferior fruit. When tithes and offerings are used for any other purpose than that which God designated, the rainy season is disturbed. These are the natural results of the law of sin, which is engaged whenever we disobey. 

And this cause, and effect cycle takes place in most instances without God doing anything per-se. God is often credited with evil acts, just because He didn’t intervene to reverse these cycles, hence the reason why a hurricane is described as an “Act of God” for insurance purposes, when in truth and in fact, this is hardly ever the case. On the contrary, God often seeks to lessen the collateral damage of our sinful activities, for were it not for His intervention in our behalf for His purposes of mercy, the entire human race would have been long consumed, as a natural result of our sins. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

Genesis 4:9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 
12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 

Numbers 35:33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

Matthew 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

This last passage brings us to the law of inertia, and the resurrection, for the law of inertia, is subdued, and brought into subjection by the law of The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Isaac Newton’s law of inertia, states that, unless acted upon by an external force, an object at rest remains at rest. This is all well and good for us mortals, but the Bible does not limit the power of Christ to any of our known laws of physics, because He is the law-giver, and the law Maker, all in One.

The Bible teaches us that there’s nothing impossible with God, and since Christ was involved in creation of all things, animate and inanimate, all the laws of physics and nature are subject to His jurisdiction, as well as His disposal. A truth of grave importance is therefore stated in the Bible concerning Christ, and also by the servant of the Lord, being exemplified in the resurrection of Christ from the grave. Let’s read:

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 
6 Who, being in the form of God,
7 Made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. 

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 anything made that was made. 
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.

[E.G.W Bible commentary Vol 7 pp 904] The Son of God came voluntarily to accomplish the work of atonement. There was no obligatory yoke upon Him; for He was independent and above all law. The angels, as God's intelligent messengers, were under the yoke of obligation. Christ alone was free from the claims of the law to undertake the redemption of the sinful race. He had power to lay down His life and to take it up again.

Isaac Newton’s law of inertia, states that, unless acted upon by an external force, an object at rest remains at rest. However, Christ did not need any external force to act upon Him, in order for Him to come forth from the grave, for He came forth by the divinity that He had within Himself. The scriptures teach us that human nature, and divine nature were blended in the person of Christ, yet the two natures remained distinct, with His power of divinity being made subject to The Father’s will. In other words, in His life here on earth, He did not use omnipotence unless The Father said so. Let’s read:

John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

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. 

John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Matthew 28:1 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, 
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

[Desire of Ages. pp 785] When the voice of the mighty angel was heard at Christ's tomb, saying, Thy Father calls Thee, the Savior came forth from the grave by the life that was in Himself. Now was proved the truth of His words, “I lay down My life, that I might take it again.... I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” Now was fulfilled the prophecy He had spoken to the priests and rulers, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 10:17, 18; 2:19.

Over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, Christ had proclaimed in triumph, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” These words could be spoken only by the Deity. All created beings live by the will and power of God. They are dependent recipients of the life of God. From the highest seraph to the humblest animate being, all are replenished from the Source of life. Only He who is one with God could say, I have power to lay down My life, and I have power to take it again. In His divinity, Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death.

[Selected messages book 1 pp 297] The life of Christ was unborrowed. No one can take this life from Him. “I lay it down of myself” (John 10:18), He said. In Him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man. He can possess it only through Christ. He cannot earn it; it is given him as a free gift if he will believe in Christ as his personal Savior.

[Flb pp 51] He who had said, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again,” came forth from the grave to life that was in Himself. Humanity died: divinity did not die. In His divinity, Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death. He declares that He has life in Himself to quicken whom He will....

This truth is of critical importance to the Christian, for it is the one and only pillar upon which our hope of eternal life is centered. As was stated in previous passages, the dual nature, the Divine and human, is what Christ was comprised of, and thus, any person desiring to have eternal life, must also have that dual nature residing within their persons, because it is through that blend that the resurrection to life will take place. 

Divinity cannot die, and if a Christian truly has Christ dwelling within, like Christ, the body may die, but the divine nature, given us as a gift, remains alive and intact. That is why Christ referred to death as a sleep, to those who believe, and concrete evidence is given in the scriptures to demonstrate this sacred truth. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

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.

2nd Kings 13:20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 
21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

[Maranatha pp 302] Christ became one flesh with us, in order that we might become one spirit with Him. It is by virtue of this union that we are to come forth from the grave, not merely as a manifestation of the power of Christ, but because, through faith, His life has become ours.

Which brings us to the important question: How may each of us become partakers of Christ’s divine nature, thus enabling us to defy the law of inertia? The answer to this question is to be found in our willingness to hear, and obey the voice of God, in the written and spoken word. When Christ came forth from the grave, He did so in obedience to the Father’s will, and so it will be with all who will be raised from the dead to immortality. Let’s read:

John 5: 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life.

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord.

But if we are not in the habit of obeying God’s voice whilst we are alive, it’s highly unlikely that we will obey His voice when we are dead, for hearing, and obeying must be practiced whilst living, for this is what makes all the difference. As was stated before, the dual nature must exist in our person, for the resurrection of life to occur. Thus, any Christian, or any individual who erroneously believes that the teaching of the Bible, including the commandments are irrelevant, will retain only human nature and in consequence, will die forever.

Thus, we close with two appeals, from the Most High God, entreating us to look to Jesus and live, being obedient to His voice, through the power of The Holy Spirit. Let’s read: 

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

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

Defining False Science. Sabbath Afternoon. 09/23/2017

Many note-worthy accomplishments have, and are being made by the scientific community, and this will continue until Jesus comes, because, through the prophet Daniel, God predicted that knowledge shall be increased exponentially, especially as we near the end of earth’s history. We have put a man on the moon, we have drones delivering groceries in our backyard, and with the click of a button, we can now access a multitude of goods, and services, books, information, and friends, which in days gone by, such immediate access was virtually impossible.

However, in the process of scientific research, and development, we have forgotten the God-factor, and by so doing, we eliminated divine intervention in the operations of nature, and have sacrificed our Creator on the altar or Darwin. Therefore, the time has fully come for every type of false science to be exposed, so that our hearts, and minds may return to the only true and living God, who created the heavens and the earth, and who upholds them, as well as ourselves by His omnipotent power alone. Let’s read:

Isaiah 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. 
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

Acts 17:24 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 worshipped 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. 
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.

Thus, before we get into the core of our study for today, there are some fundamentals we should observe, for they will have a direct impact on our salvation.
[1] Worshiping God as Creator is more important than worshiping Him as our Redeemer, for without creation, redemption becomes irrelevant. The focus of the contemporary Christian world is squarely on redemption, but the book of Revelation highlights God’s creative, and recreative work, and activities. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Revelation 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

[2] Theistic evolution is an oxymoron, for it vainly seeks to marry Christ with Baal, and the word of God is very clear in its warnings against any efforts to do so. We cannot believe in God, and at the same time embrace the theory of evolution, for the two are irreconcilable, and diabolically opposed to each other. Those who claim to believe in Christ, and yet subscribe to Darwinian philosophies, are purchasing for themselves, a one-way ticket to Neverland, if no repentance, and change are instituted. Let’s read: 

Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 

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

[3] There is a reason why satan is determined to make of none effect, the 4th commandment, for it points the inhabitants of earth unmistakably to the Creator-God, to our roots, and to the true beginning of all species. In fact, the other nine laws of the ten commandments do not bother satan as much as the fourth, and for that reason, he is willing to make concessions on the other nine. 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.

Therefore, the following red flags are some of the ways in which false science can be identified:
[1] If science conflicts with the word of God, it is false. This broad statement covers those areas in which our scientific research may seem to produce evidence that contradicts the scriptures. Let’s read:

Psalms 33:6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

By Ker Than, Live Science Contributor: 
The theory of evolution by natural selection, first formulated in Darwin's book "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, is the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioral traits. Changes that allow an organism to better adapt to its environment will help it survive and have more offspring. 
                                                     This is false science!

[2] When the natural world, and its operations are divorced from intelligent interference, that science is also false. Nature does not run on automatic, nor does matter have inherent energy apart from God. Therefore, even satan is dependent on God for his existence, and all nature is subject to the will of its Maker. Let’s read:

Psalms 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 
2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 
3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: 
5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever.
13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 
14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth.

[3] If carbon-dating shows the world to be billions of years old, then both the science, and method it uses are seriously flawed. Genesis chapters four through eleven, as well as many other passages of scripture are given for very specific reasons, so that earth’s mathematicians could calculate the approximate age of the earth. When this is done using scripture, no one will end up with figures in the billions. Let’s read:

Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man.
2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam.
3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth: 
4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 7:6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

Genesis 9:18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. 
19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.

Genesis 11:10 These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: 
11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: 
25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 
26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 
32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

[4] The earth was created in six literal days, from scratch, without any pre-existing raw materials. The word “Creation”, as far as the Bible is concerned, does not mean to bring order out of pre-existing chaos. God called this earth into existence on the first day of creation, and then He set in order the other operations and productions of nature, to exist and run on His own inherent energy. The big bang is a big lie, and in the not too distant future we will be forced to remove it from our curriculum, because of rapid, and unexplainable supernatural phenomena, occurring across the globe. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Luke 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? 
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

[5] Any science that limits the operations of nature only to known laws is false science. The notion that the laws of nature are forever fixed, and cannot be interfered with by either God, or satan is a seriously flawed conclusion, and will be signally upended in the near future, when it will be observed that there are unseen, superior intelligences operating on our planet; some good, and some evil. 

There are myriads of unknown laws that have the preeminence over buoyancy, gravity, inertia, etc. Let’s take for example, the known law of buoyancy. Archimedes' principle declares that the upward buoyant force that is exerted on a body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces, and acts in the upward direction at the center of mass of the displaced fluid. 

For example, a ship that is launched sinks into the ocean until the weight of the water it displaces is just equal to its own weight. As the ship is loaded, it sinks deeper, displacing more water, and so the magnitude of the buoyant force continuously matches the weight of the ship and its cargo.

This brings us to the core of our study, for there are higher spiritual laws which can counteract the law of buoyancy as we know it. Elisha, together with the sons of the prophets are cutting down trees near a wooded area when the iron head of an ax falls into the river nearby. The weight of the ax is more than the weight of the water it displaces, and thus, in harmony with the law of buoyancy, it sinks to the bottom of the river bed. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 6:1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. 
2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. 
4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. 
5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. 
6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. 
7 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

It is worthy of note that Elisha employed the use of a stick to retrieve the sunken ax, which was being used to cut down trees. A very great truth is here revealed about a spiritual law, which can obviously transcend the law of buoyancy. When something of value needs to be redeemed, a representation of that which was involved in the loss, is often used in the redemption process. This is one of the primary reasons why Jesus Christ came in the form of a man, to redeem man. It is just one of the many spiritual laws which can take preeminence over natural law as we know it. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Numbers 35:33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

1st Samuel 5:6 But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 
7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god. 
11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. 
11 for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

1st Samuel 6: 3 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed.
4 Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. 
5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

Again, when the Hebrews rebelled against God and His servant, they came to Moses seeking relief from the serpents which had invaded their camp. And again, a representation of that which was involved in the loss, was used in the process of redemption. It’s just another example of spiritual law, which is often used to counteract natural law. Let’s read:

Numbers 21:8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

The minds of thinking men and women everywhere are now greatly disturbed by the increase, and great intensity of natural disasters, and the never-ending threats of nuclear war. And scientists, philosophers, and politicians are being sought for explanations as to what’s going on. But our limited knowledge of science, and our removal of the God-factor, drives us to seek answers from “mother nature”. The Bible specifically states that it is a violation of a superior spiritual law, which has jurisdiction over natural law that is causing these lower laws to be thrown into disarray.

It’s not merely global warming, Kim Jong Un, or Isis that are causing the problems; it’s the constant and blatant violation of God’s law by earth’s inhabitants that produces the inevitable result. Therefore, the God of heaven is calling us to repentance, while we still have opportunity to do so, because, when our human probation is closed, the full repercussions of violations will occur, not being tempered with any mercy. Let’s read:

Isaiah 24:2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. 
3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. 
4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. 
5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 
6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

We close with an appeal from Christ Himself, for He is not willing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Let’s read:

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 
                                   May God add His blessing to the study of His word.
                                                                  God bless!
 

The Ten Virgins. Sabbath Afternoon. 09/16/2017

In the parable of the ten virgins, Christ brought to light what will take place when He comes, and the destiny of those who have truly acknowledged Him as Savior, and Lord. The lessons thus given do not only apply to spiritual issues, but also to temporal concerns, because the destinies of the two classes of virgins represent the result, and culmination of their habits, attitudes, and practices which produce eternal loss, or eternal salvation, depending on the category, and the choices made.

One of the primary lessons learned from hurricane Irma, is that it is never good to procrastinate, when warnings, cautions, and instructions are given for our best good. In fact, what transpired during the course of the hurricane will be repeated on a much larger scale when Jesus comes. Here, are some of the precious lessons we learned, which we should never forget, and which Christ designs we should apply also to spiritual issues.

[1] Whenever we are given ample warning about an impending danger, we should make the necessary preparations in a timely manner, wherever possible, for whatever may eventuate. Even if the predicted storm does not come, the least and the best we can do is be prepared, for no one ever lost anything by being ready. If the antediluvians had heeded Noah’s warning, and had entered the ark, they could have always returned to their homes if the storm did not come. There was absolutely nothing to lose by them being prepared.

[2] The Governor, the director of FEMA, the mayor, the national hurricane center, were the designated ones whose responsibility it was to give us warning, and they did a tremendous job. But as always, some did not take it seriously, while others were hoping, and praying that we would be spared. That’s all well and good, but Noah’s prayers did not stop him from making preparation, neither did the ridicule of the majority, deter him from giving warning.

 
[3] Most of those who were stuck in long gas lines actually had some gas in their tanks; the problem is that they did not have extra. Similarly, with the ten virgins, all had gasoline, and all were expecting the event, but five did not have sufficient for the delay, while five had extra. Some have stated that they did not have enough prior notice, to procure extra gas. But history has shown that the longer the warning is given, the more likely we are to put off preparation. 

If the Governor had told us of Irma’s coming in the month of June, there would still be long gas lines in September. Noah gave ample warning to the people of his generation, in the most graphic terms for 120 years, and yet the flood still found billions of people unprepared. The issue is not so much the length of prior notice, as it is our disposition to put off for the future, that which can, and should be done today.

One phrase that is not to be found in the Bible is “Get ready”, for anyone who is getting ready isn’t ready. Instead, the Lord teaches us to “Be ready”. A husband, and wife have to be at a wedding for 3:00 pm. One is dressed, and waiting impatiently, as the other hurries to get dressed. Finally, the one who is waiting asks, honey, what’s taking you so long? The other replies frantically from the bathroom, “I’m getting ready! That reply implies that the one who is still getting dressed isn’t ready.

When Christ comes, many individuals will be in the process of getting ready, and will be eternally lost, because Jesus comes to save only those who are ready. How about us? After all these years, going to church, sitting in Sabbath school, listening to good sermons, and doing Bible study, are we still “Getting ready?”. Let’s read:

Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Exodus 19:10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people;
11 And be ready against the third day: for the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

[4] The time finally came when all gas stations were closed, and those who went about frantically asking for the precious fuel, were deprived of the option to buy. Similarly, when human probation is closed, it’s then and only then many individuals will realize the golden opportunity Jesus had been granting us, and too late, too late, the choices, and decisions will be made to avail ourselves of His grace. Let’s read:

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

Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

[5] And last but not least, while some were looking for fuel, hurricane Irma came. While the five virgins were out searching for fuel, The Bridegroom came; The entire episode is eerily similar to the parable Christ spoke. Thus, it is important that we learn our lessons well, so that the fate of the five lost virgins, do not become ours. So let’s study the parable very carefully: 

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom
came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

There are a few essentials given in this parable, which must be established and interpreted before we proceed. 
[1] The lamps represent the word of God, for it is described as a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. Therefore, we conclude that both groups had embraced the word of God, and had the Bible at their disposal, and were by so doing, reckoned as believers in God, and are not hypocrites. Let’s read:

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

2nd Timothy 3:15 And 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.

[2] The oil in their lamps represents The Holy Ghost who is given in measure to every believer. Believe it or not folks, the five foolish virgins, were recipients of The Spirit of God, otherwise they would not have been able to come this far in their Christian journey. Every believer is always given a first deposit of The Holy Spirit, when the soul surrenders to Christ, but this down-payment is insufficient to take us through a lifetime of development, and growth in grace. 

Zechariah 4:1 And the angel that talked with me came again, 
2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 
6 Then he spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

1st John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

We must be constantly receiving fresh endowments of The Holy Spirit, so that maturity in Christ may be our experience, or else we will become stagnant, or begin to retrogress, a protracted process which is often imperceptible in nature. Let’s read: 

Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance.

[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 satanic. By beholding we become changed. 

In the parable, all ten virgins were expecting the bridegroom, and all were given a measure of The Holy Spirit, the needed “gasoline” to take them through the emergency, but it was up to them to get extra, whilst the opportunity still lingered. But like it is with so many of us, five of them waited and procrastinated, even though they knew the event was getting closer, and closer. 

Thus, it was with Felix, in the book of Acts. When his golden opportunity came for him to accept Christ as Savior, he made the fatal mistake of putting off for another day, that which should have been seized upon, and the rest is history, for he never made the decision. Let’s read:

Acts 24:24 And after certain days, Felix sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 
25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 

One of the more disturbing aspects of this parable is that the five foolish virgins apparently, were able to purchase some amount of oil, because they couldn’t have returned to the wedding feast empty-handed. The prospect of them finding oil to buy raises three very important questions, since the oil represents The Holy Ghost:
[1] Can The Holy Ghost be purchased?
[2] Who did they purchase it from?
[3] Was it genuine?

Answer: [1] The Holy Ghost cannot be purchased. Let’s read:

[1] Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with
thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Answer: [2] There’s a counterfeit Holy Ghost, which for many Christians, has become quite difficult to differentiate from the true. If televangelists are working genuine miracles, and if folks are able to speak in tongues, does it mean that they have the genuine Holy Ghost? Let’s read:

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.
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.

For those who may not be aware, the words “Go ye out to meet Him” literally occurred in 1844, during which time those Christians represented by the five wise virgins followed Christ into the most holy place of the sanctuary, after which the counterfeit “holy ghost” went on “sale” in most of the churches in Christendom.  After the great disappointment many believers became discouraged, and began searching for evidences that The Holy Spirit was still in their midst, which led some to supplant the work of the Spirit with “Other” manifestations. Let’s read:

[G.C. pp 393] The coming of Christ, as announced by the first angel's message, was understood to be represented by the coming of the bridegroom. The widespread reformation under the proclamation of his soon coming, answered to the going forth of the virgins. In this parable, as in that of Matthew 24, two classes are represented. All had taken their lamps, the Bible, and by its light had gone forth to meet the bridegroom.  But “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” 

By the tarrying of the bridegroom is represented the passing of the time when the Lord was expected the disappointment, and the seeming delay. In this time of uncertainty, the interest of the superficial and half-hearted soon began to waver; but those whose faith was based on a personal knowledge of the Bible had a rock beneath their feet, which the waves of disappointment could not wash away. 

The half-hearted and superficial could no longer lean upon the faith of their brethren. Each must stand or fall for himself. About this time, fanaticism began to appear. Some who had professed to be zealous believers in the message, rejected the Word of God as the one infallible guide, and, claiming to be led by the Spirit, gave themselves up to the control of their own feelings, impressions, and imaginations.

Fanaticism: Noun. 
Wildly excessive or irrational devotion, dedication, or enthusiasm.
Thus, it has become necessary for us to identify the counterfeit holy ghost, in order that we may not be deceived into thinking we have oil, when we don’t. The following four red flags, are the most current manifestations of the counterfeit spirit:

[1] The prosperity gospel, with its focus on health and wealth, and the doctrine of seeding, through which the congregants are milked of their hard-earned cash, to fill the coffers of smooth-talking preachers, who refuse to call sin by its right name, for fear of losing fame and fortune. This is the first evidence that the genuine Spirit of God is absent. Let’s read: 

1st Corinthians 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 
18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 

1st Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
4 He is proud, knowing nothing;
5 Perverse men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself. 
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

[2] Speaking in tongues when it is not necessary, or warranted. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 
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. 
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 
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. 
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.

[3] Miracles of healing, where reformation and a change of lifestyle, and habits are not required, and where miracles are made to have preeminence over truth.

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, Take heed that no man deceive you. 
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 
25 Behold, I have told you before.

Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

[4] Excessive emotionalism where other worshipers are disturbed, or prevented from focusing on Christ, and His word. These manifestations also include all prolonged and uncontrolled beating up on the floor, jumping up and down with incoherent speech, and the touching of the forehead by the bishop, or the
televangelist, which results in the collapse of the individual on the floor. All these are definite red flags, signaling to us that the counterfeit holy ghost is at work. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18:25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 
26 And they called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 
37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 

In closing, we have covered some of the lessons learned from the parable, and we’ve also been able to identify the counterfeit holy ghost from the word of God. Now it’s time to answer the all-important question, how do we get “Extra” of the Holy Ghost?

Answer: The Holy spirit works upon our hearts by our desire and our consent. Our desire for Him is awakened when we see our wretchedness, in the light of God’s broken law, and consent occurs when we invite Him in. Then, in response to our need and request, additional endowments of The Holy Ghost are given, and the following day, the same process starts all over again, and continues every day until we have “Extra”. Let’s read:

Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 
10 For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Zechariah 10:1 Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

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. 
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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

The Other Jesus. Sabbath Afternoon. 09/09/2017

The Bible brings to light the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary, and who the four gospels, and indeed, the entire Bible centers around. But the scriptures also teach us that there is an imposter, masquerading as Jesus, and who is revered, and worshiped, even more than the real Christ. The word “Anti-Christ” means literally, in the place of Christ, and therefore, it’s necessary that we understand the stark differences between the two.

The concept of worship covers much more than lip service, praise, and adoration; in fact, worship has much more to do with whom we obey, than whom we sing praises to. Thus, by this standard, the Jesus of the old, and new testaments, is far less known, and is even less popular than the imposter. So, for starters it’s important to establish from the Bible that there is indeed an active imposter. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 
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.
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.

2nd Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 
11 And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

So here are some of the stark differences between Christ and the imposter, so that everyone may be enabled to make intelligent, well-informed choices. Four main areas of living will be represented in the different approaches offered by both.

[1] The real Jesus requires obedience to all of His commandments, from persons desiring to have any meaningful relationship with Him. But the imposter doesn’t require obedience, for his concepts are not based on law, but on emotions, feelings, unbridled desire, and no restraint. Let’s read:

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

1st John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

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

Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

[2] The real Jesus requires repentance and a turning away from sin, in order for our prayers to be heard, and answered. But with the imposter, repentance isn’t needed, because prayers are answered, whilst persons continue to live in violation God’s laws, and principles. This is where the false prophets of today are raking in millions, for they offer healing to those who continue to violate the laws of health. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 
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.

Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

This passage in Psalms is of critical importance for us today, so that we may know the huge difference between prayers that are answered by Christ, and petitions that are answered by the imposter. If any person is living in deliberate, or conscious rebellion against the God of heaven, and their prayers seem to be answered, then we may know for certain that it was the imposter who responded to their request. The request from the witch of Endor confirms this.

[3] The real Jesus requires self-denial as an essential ingredient to our growth in grace, which means that there are certain activities, and behaviors, the true Christian will not indulge in. With the imposter, any activity, and any behavior is welcome, for with him, liberty is license, and personal desire is the one and only standard for right and wrong. Let’s read:

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Luke 14:27 And 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? 

Someone may be wondering what is the “Cost” that Christ is referring to. The cost refers to those soul-destroying habits, activities, and indulgences which were hallmarks of our previous lives. For instance, the clubbing, the dance-hall, the intemperance, the promiscuous activities, the weed, the liquor and the “Moonshine”; all of these must be renounced, so that our service, and our relation to Christ be not tainted with deliberate sin. Let’s read:

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 
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.

[4] The real Jesus offers eternal life on condition of obedience, but the imposter offers life without it. This is where our first parents fell, and this is where so many continue to fall, as millions of people buy into the doctrine of natural immortality. That’s how Whitney Houston, and Michael Jackson, supposedly ended up in heaven, even though both of them died of a drug overdose. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Thus, because our current educational teaching of evolution, and because our science has essentially eliminated the God-factor from the equation, the way has now been prepared for the multitudes of earth’s inhabitants to receive the imposter as God, and the real Jesus as the false. Therefore, we turn to the scriptures to discover how such a great deception, can be palmed off as genuine. 

Pharaoh is told by Moses, that God says to let His people go, but he refuses time, and time again, for in his mode of thought, God does not exist. And the men of learning in Egypt back then, and pharaoh’s scientists, magicians, and most, if not all his school teachers, believe that an intelligent God is non-existent, and in His place, they have set up idols, teachings, and concepts that are direct derivatives from the imposter. Charles Darwin was not the first, or the only person to introduce evolution, for those atheistic philosophies, and concepts existed back in Egypt, in the days of pharaoh. Let’s read:

Exodus 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. 
2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

Thus, after Moses had pled with Pharaoh to obey God’s commands, and he stubbornly refused, The God of heaven had to bring plagues upon the land, to bring pharaoh to his knees. During the visitations, certain modes of thought, and action by pharaoh begin to emerge; these should be studied carefully, since they are being repeated in our day. Science as we know it, seeks an explanation for everything, so when undeniable, supernatural phenomena arise, for which there is no scientific, logical explanation, or precedent, then the natural thing for man to do, is to credit such occurrences to God.

But pharaoh will not give in so easily, because for him to admit that there is an intelligent quotient behind the plagues, will have serious implications for his belief system, his educational system, and ultimately, his scientific systems. Thus, in order for him to avoid acknowledging the God-factor, he will seek in vain for some sort of explanation to quiet his stubborn conscience. Let’s read:

Exodus 7:20 And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 
21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 
22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the Lord had said. 

The first plague comes and goes without a change in pharaoh’s attitude. But the second plague of frogs forces him to ask for help from the same God he declared to be non-existent. The same thing is repeated in our day, for after teaching our kids the theory of evolution, then when we are in difficulty, we turn to the very same Creator-God we declare to be non-existent, for help. Let’s read: 

Exodus 8:6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. 
7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. 
8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, entreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord. 

The contest has grown closer now, for we observe that although the magicians, to all appearances, have brought up frogs, yet they cannot get rid of them, so when their backs are against a wall, they turn to the God of heaven. But the fourth plague is different in nature, for God introduces the elements of deliberation, purpose, differentiation, specificity, exact timing, and detailed planning, elements which can only point to a Superior intelligent God at work behind the scenes. 

Up until now, Pharaoh had been crediting all the supernatural occurrences to higher science, or to global warming. But now, he cannot do so, for if a swarm of flies begin to pick, and choose whom to bite, then it cannot be global warming anymore. Let’s read:

Exodus 8:20 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 
21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
22 And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. 
23 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: tomorrow shall this sign be.

But the third plague is the one which most concerns us, for it exposes a serious flaw in how conclusions are often drawn, pertaining to the supernatural, for even though, in this case, pharaoh’s conclusion was correct, yet it isn’t always the case that God is to be credited for every type of destruction.  Let’s read:

Exodus 8:16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
17 And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 
19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

If an unexplainable event occurs, for which science has no answers, it does not necessarily mean that the real Jesus is behind it, for God is not the only invisible intelligence at work in the world. When Job was battered with tragedy after tragedy, the events and disasters which unfolded were not because of global warming. It was the direct production of the Imposter. 

The tornado which came from the desert had nothing to do with green-house gases, or warm water temperatures; it was spawned by satan, who is described as the prince of the power of the air. But because we have eliminated the element of superior intelligence from our science, then, like pharaoh, we are continually searching for scientific explanations for supernatural events. Let’s read:

Job 1:12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. 
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 
14 And there came a messenger unto Job and said,
18 Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead. 

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. 

Whenever science is forced to acknowledge the intelligent quotient in supernatural phenomena, the natural human tendency is to credit such actions to the work of God, especially when scientific research or precedent are absent on the matter in question.  If a poor individual was to pray, and ask for financial deliverance, then upon opening his eyes, a being clothed in shining garments of light was to hand him a lotto ticket, that person should not conclude or say that it was doubtless “The finger of God”.

Like pharaoh, many of the institutions of higher, or lower learning have eliminated the God-factor from the human equation, because the multitudes have been educated to believe in evolution. But if we trust in Darwin, then when natural disasters strike, we will have to ask Darwin for help, since according to his theory, The Creator of the heaven and the earth is non-existent. 

And like pharaoh, many philosophers are loathe to acknowledge the involvement of intelligence in the operations of nature, because, to do so will have tremendous ramifications upon all our educational systems. It means that we will have to burn many of our textbooks as rubbish, and it will mean that the earth is not billions of years old, as is currently held by the overwhelming majority. It will also mean that the current methods of carbon dating are flawed to some extent, and deductions and statements of our geologists will have to be revisited.

So rather than do this, we continue to refuse the evidences being given, and like pharaoh of old, we continue to search for answers in science. But the days are coming when no scientific explanations will be acceptable, on account of the supernatural work to be done by the impostor, and when they begin to occur, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest will conclude that it must be “The finger of God”. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 
25 Behold, I have told you before.

[G.C pp 624] 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. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying, This is “the great power of God.” [Acts 8:10.]

Thus, the question for us today is, how can we be shielded from this terrible delusion? And how may we know the difference between the true and the false? It begins with a love for the truth, and the willingness to serve the real Jesus objectively. In other words, accepting Christ as Lord, and Savior includes being obedient to His word, His written and spoken word, His principles, instructions, and laws, because the notion of being a Christian, yet doing whatsoever we desire is a misnomer, and will ultimately lead its adherents into Neverland.

Therefore, in closing, it’s necessary to give a gentle reminder of what’s at stake in the closing scenes of earth’s history, for although Christians should not keep the commandments to be saved, yet, Christ has not saved us to continue in deliberate violation of God’s law, for Jesus came to save us from sin, not in sin. Let’s read: 

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

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

Partial Obedience. Sabbath Afternoon. 09/02/2017

After the fall of Adam and Eve, their first two boys were born, who turned out to be widely different in character, in practice, and ultimately, in destinies. Cain, who was first, introduced a subjective religion, and he stands at the head of every deviation, from a thus saith The Lord. But Abel who came after was of an entirely different character, for he chose to serve God objectively, meaning that his will, his way, and his ideas and opinions gave deference to whatever God said, and required. 

Thus, the various forms of religion today are divided into only two groups, those who serve, and worship God objectively, and those who attempt to worship Him subjectively. However, for the purposes of this Bible study, we will focus primarily on Cain’s brand of religion, since it is by far the most prolific existing today, and which God is seeking to rescue earth’s inhabitants from.

The religion of Cain has at least three fundamental principles, and elements at its core, which must be exposed, and understood for what they are.
[1] Self-righteousness.
The doctrine, and the practice of self-righteousness began with Cain, who contrary to what many folks believe, was quite a religious person. Cain built an altar, he believed in bringing offerings to God, and he showed up for worship service on time, just like his brother Abel.

But there was only one problem, he attempted to serve God according to his own opinions, and as a result, he rendered only partial obedience. When we deliberately omit, or overlook, or disregard any one of God’s requirements in particular, then we are following in the footsteps of Cain, and any deliberate, partial obedience, is equivalent to total disobedience in God’s sight. 

King Saul, Judas, and most of the Hebrews rendered partial obedience deliberately, and most will be lost eternally. Similarly, in our day, there are millions of Christians who vouch for placing in public areas, the Ten commandments, while at the same time some are found to be disregarding some portion of the decalogue. A person who speaks the truth, who is faithful to his/ her one spouse, but who indulges in covetousness will be lost forever just like Bin Laden, if they do not repent. In fact, God prefers that we obey Him in entirety, but if not, He prefers total disobedience. In other words, to straddle both sides of the fence is particularly displeasing to Him. Let’s read:

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

1st Corinthians 10:1Moreover, 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: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Whoever attempts to be righteous, outside of the parameters God has ordained, will find himself, or herself destitute of God’s grace, if repentance isn’t done, for our own goodness, and our sincerity will never atone for conscientious obedience to God’s revealed will. In fact, being zealous, and devout, or being religious does not automatically translate into being righteous, because righteousness cannot, and does not originate with fallen man. Thus, whenever we deliberately omit any stipulation God has given, whilst at the same time we obey others, then the syndrome of self-righteousness becomes evident.   Let’s read:

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

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.

This leads us to the second undergirding principle involved in Cain’s worship:
[2] Substitution.
All false religions have substitution of God’s will as a core element. This substitution may be paraded in sincerity, and the worshipers may feel, that having given God what they think is their very best, then He ought to accept it.  

Substitutes may come in the form of doctrines, or in the form of preachers who may specialize in smooth things, or in the form of a substitute day of rest, and in the form of counterfeit principles for living. But one thing is certain, substitution will be found to be a core principle, around which any false religion will revolve. This is what constitutes one of the primary problems with the contemporary Christianity of our day, because the principle of substitution is to be observed throughout the ranks of many Christian churches, ministries, and organizations. 

When the two brothers came with their offerings to God, Abel brought a lamb, in harmony with what God had specified, but Cain came with the fruit of the ground, something which God had not required nor ordained, and the rest is history, because the Bible states that God had no respect unto Cain’s offering. Similarly, if we bring “Fruit”, instead of a lamb, The Lord cannot accept it, even if it is organic. And if we bring Sunday, instead of Saturday, God cannot accept it, for it is not aligned with His will, nor His specification. Let’s read:

Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

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.

This second point is of critical importance to fellow earthlings, especially as we are already in an era of unprecedented disasters, as predicted by Christ in the gospels, and by the prophets, throughout the old, and new testaments. If we expect God to have “Respect” unto our prayers, and offerings, we can’t not be found deliberately trampling upon one of His precepts, for by so doing, our supplications, and our prayers are rendered null, and void. This is the very inconvenient truth shining in a dark place, and one which will be discovered all too late. Let’s read:

Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. 

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 naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Last, but not least, is the third principle, which is always the result of indulging the two former ones.
[3] The use of force.
Whenever, and wherever, true and false religions exist side by side, the latter will ultimately turn on the true sooner or later, because the truth becomes an annoyance, to those who are averse to Christ’s righteousness. The disposition to eliminate those who are following truth and duty, is the inevitable outflowing from the first great rebel. 

Abel was not interfering with Cain’s worship, for he acknowledged his brother’s freedom to choose. But Cain, on the other hand was not so disposed, for he interpreted Abel’s obedience as a constant reproof of his own evil doings. Therefore, he saw that the only way to quiet his disturbed conscience, was to resort to the use of force, by killing his own brother. The first murder on planet earth took place over the issue of worship, and the very last murder to take place will also be over worship. Let’s read: 

Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 
6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. 
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 
9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 

Revelation 13:12 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. 

Thus, we are constrained to turn to the scriptures, to understand one of the fundamentals principles of our relationship with God. Any relationship with The Lord can only occur on His terms, not ours. In other words, God stipulates the parameters, and we either choose to agree, or renege, as the case might be. When we rebel deliberately, we often forfeit His protection, and our choices can, and will produce a level of collateral damage.

The city of Jericho is about to be taken by the army of The Lord’s hosts, but before this occurs, specific commands and instructions are given to govern the actions of the people, both before, and after the unusual conquest. Now, it’s of critical importance for every particular to be followed exactly as God has instructed. Thus, because God teaches us by repetition, we will choose an unusual text to begin the narrative. 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.

God does not leave the “Remembering” up to us, who are so prone to forget, so at every opportunity, He seeks to remind us of the sacred day. Thus, His instructions to us are tailormade, coupled together with significant experiences that will be etched into our memory. The following passages also include the inevitable results of explicit obedience to God’s will, as well as the dire effects of partial obedience, as both were manifested in Achan. Let’s read:

Joshua 6: Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. 
2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor. 
3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. 
4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. 
5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. 
6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, 
and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord. 
8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. 
10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. 
11 So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. 
13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rearward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. 
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 
16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city. 
18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

So far so good, for Achan, together with the rest of the Hebrews had followed God’s commandments explicitly, and the inevitable results could only be success, and victory. But after such a mountaintop experience, Achan descended into the valley of sin by rendering partial obedience, which resulted in collateral damage through the loss of life, in 36 men who had nothing to do with his sin, and in the loss of his entire family, who had collaborated to some extent in the plot. Let’s read:

Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. 
2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 
3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few. 
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. 
5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. 
6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. 
7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! 
8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? 
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.

In our day, there is also an “Accursed thing” in our midst, which is causing the multitudes to render a partial obedience, and which, as in Achan’s case, will result in catastrophic loss of life. The Sabbath day, the 7th day of the week, is now trampled upon by most of earth’s inhabitants, and instead, a man-made blessing has been pronounced upon the first. 

And even though many sincere Christians have been taught by their spiritual, and political leaders that it is right to revere, and honor Sunday, yet that day of rest is representative of the “fruit” which Cain first brought to worship God, and just as in Cain’s case, The Lord will never have any respect unto such an offering, even if it is organic! 

Thus, in closing, The God of heaven is appealing to our consciences, for us to choose right over wrong, good over evil, and righteousness over sin, while we still have opportunity to do so, for what took place in Texas is just the tip of the iceberg, according to the Bible. Let’s read:  

Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

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.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear what The Spirit of God is saying to the churches. 

                                                                       God bless! 
 

God's Grace made Simple. Sabbath Afternoon 08/26/2017

If the plan of salvation was made by A Perfect God, who alone possesses omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence, and if, in spite of all this, there are loopholes, whereby sinners can fall through the cracks, then folks may well conclude that it is an imperfect plan. But this is absolutely not the case, for God’s plan for our redemption caters to all, and takes into consideration, every variable, and every unexpected circumstance that may arise, so that no one needs be lost, for any reason.

In other words, whatever may be our situation, we are covered by His grace if we believe, and if we are willing to let The Lord reign supremely in our hearts. More than this, even those members of the human family who are mentally disabled, and those who may be physically challenged, or incapacitated, to them too is the grace of God revealed, for the Bible clearly states that whosoever believes on Jesus will be saved. Period!

It is often the case that the grace of God is cluttered by a host of man-made rules and regulations, mired in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and before you know it, the simplicity, and all-encompassing nature of God’s salvation gets buried beneath stipulations, formats, and ceremonies which God never intended. Hence the reason why the Bible study for this afternoon is titled “God’s Grace Made Simple”, for God seeks to remind us of the simplicity of the gospel, especially since He is now on the last leg, of the long running marathon of grace, to save as many who so desire.

Therefore, The Lord desires that we think outside the box, and not limit His power to save, to those rites, ceremonies, symbolic activities, and all ideal circumstances, and requirements which are indeed required by the scriptures, for Jesus has the final say in any person being saved. A person is saved by grace through faith, and not of ourselves, and thus, God’s grace is overarching, and complete, so that no one may feel left out for any reason. Let’s read:

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 10:12 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.

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, and made higher than the heavens.

The following stipulations are therefore given in the Bible, for anyone desiring to accept Christ as his/her Lord and Savior:

[1] Believe.  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.

[2] A willingness to follow Christ wherever He may lead us in the Christian experiences and teaching. A knowledge of the Bible is progressive, and therefore it is not necessary for us to know everything before we accept God’s grace. There are millions who have been baptized for many years, who still do not even know, or understand a whole about the scriptures,
yet, if they continue to believe, and submit to God each day, they will be saved in His kingdom.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. 

[3] Baptism by The Spirit, and by water. Any person who desires to accept of God’s grace through Christ should be baptized by The Spirit, and by water. The baptism by immersion is a symbol representing the new life in Christ, but it is the Spirit of God working upon the heart first, that should lead anyone to the rite of baptism. This could prevent the syndrome
known as “Wet devil”, which so often plagues those evangelizing efforts, where the focus is primarily on numbers, as opposed to quality. Let’s read:

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

However, there are many believers who are wheel-chair bound, many are now in jail, and others live in places where it is dangerous to be called a Christian. Thus, our concepts of God’s grace should transcend every variable, and non-idealistic situation that may or may not arise. There are many examples of such situations given in the scriptures to demonstrate to us that Christ is not restricted by ideal situations, or any stipulation that is written. Human life is of more value in God’s sight than rites, ceremonies, formats, and stipulations.

Therefore, whenever, and wherever it will become necessary to override these essentials, in order to save a person, God will do it. This understanding of God’s grace is of critical importance for those who look forward to, and are preparing their hearts for the outpouring of the “Latter rain”, which is to be given to earth’s inhabitants just prior to the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. Let’s read:

[L.D.E pp 148] Let those who desire to be refreshed in mind and instructed in the truth study the history of the early church during and immediately following the Day of Pentecost. Study carefully in the book of Acts the experiences of Paul and the other apostles, for God's people in our day must pass through similar experiences.

This leads us to the core of our Bible study today, in which we will unpack one situation which unfolded sometime after the day of Pentecost. Paul has now passed through the coasts of Ephesus, and comes across twelve disciples who believe, and he inquires about their reception of The Holy Ghost. Let’s read: 

Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Now, this is very serious stuff, given that one of the stipulations for entry into His kingdom, by Christ, is baptism by The Holy Ghost. So, it is necessary for us to exercise great caution in our understanding of their answer, for their reply does not necessarily mean that they did not have the Holy Ghost. One’s knowledge of who the Holy Spirit is, and His work upon the heart, isn’t an absolute necessity for him, or her to be saved, neither is it a determining factor in whether such a person has a portion of the Holy Ghost. 

Indeed, the Holy Spirit is currently working in the hearts, and minds of many millions of people, who as yet, have no clue about who He is, nor the extent of His work. God’s grace made simple reaches much higher than the formal knowledge of the intricacies we so often dwell upon. Let’s read:

John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him. 
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 

[The Faith I Live By. pp 52] The Holy Spirit is a free, working, independent agency. The God of heaven uses His Spirit as it pleases Him; and human minds, human judgment, and human methods can no more set boundaries to its working, or prescribe the channel through which it shall operate, than they can say to the wind, “I bid you to blow in a certain direction, and to conduct yourself in such and such a manner.”

From the beginning God has been working by His Holy Spirit through human instrumentalities for the accomplishment of His purpose in behalf of the fallen race.... The same power that sustained the patriarchs, that gave Caleb and Joshua faith and courage, and that made the work of the apostolic church effective, has upheld God's faithful children in every succeeding age. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. 

Acts 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 

For these disciples to have come this far by faith, in being baptized unto John, who was the forerunner of Christ, it means then that they were being led by The Holy Ghost in the first place, and as such, were granted a portion of God’s Spirit, without their prior knowledge. John was ordained of God, these folks believed, and were baptized, and if for some reason they had died before Paul had met them with this important bit of information, they would absolutely be saved in God’s kingdom, because salvation is not so much “Knowledge-based” as it is faith-based. So let us read of the unrestricted work of The Spirit:

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.

Numbers 11:25 And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. 
26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. 
27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 
28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 
29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!

Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, 
and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 

In other words, this was only one Bible study, and they were ready for baptism, because The Spirit of God had been working in their hearts, long before Paul and Silas were incarcerated. In fact, if we will receive it, this was the real reason why God caused them to be incarcerated, for there were potential candidates for heaven, working in the Roman prison system. 

This work by The Holy Ghost, on the jailor, and his family was being done in a protracted way, without any fanfare or noise, and the jailor and his family had not a clue as to what was taking place silently in their hearts. Let’s read again very slowly so we may learn our lessons well: 

[Ye Shall Receive Power. pp 15] The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8, RSV. The wind is heard among the branches of the trees, rustling the leaves and flowers; yet it is invisible, and no man knows whence it comes or whither it goes. So with the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. The Spirit can no more be explained than can the movements of the wind. 

A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place, or to trace all the circumstances in the process of conversion; but this does not prove him to be unconverted. By an agency as unseen as the wind, Christ is constantly working upon the heart. Little by little, perhaps unconsciously to the receiver, impressions are made that tend to draw the soul to Christ. 

These may be received through meditating upon Him, through reading the Scriptures, or through hearing the Word from the living preacher. Suddenly, as the Spirit comes with more direct appeal, the soul gladly surrenders itself to Jesus. By many this is called sudden conversion; but it is the result of long wooing by the Spirit of God, a patient, protracted process.

Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 

Let’s be very careful again with their speaking in tongues as first proof of the Holy Ghost’s presence, for the Holy Spirit was given in measure to each of the twelve disciples, long before they had spoken with any tongues on the day of Pentecost. When a person speaks with genuine tongues, that’s not a conclusive evidence that this is the first time they may have received a portion of The Holy Ghost. Let’s read:

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 

Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

In closing, the time has fully come for us to humble our hearts before God, that we may surrender any preconceived ideas about His grace, and let us not be found clinging tenaciously to written formats, if, and when God is ready to move at lightning speed. Thus, in harmony with this counsel, we close with a critically important passage of scripture: 

Romans 9:25 I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. 
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study and, understanding of His word.
                                                                    God Bless! 
 

The Person Of God. Sabbath Afternoon 08/19/2017

Christ seeks to have a personal, and knowledgeable relationship with each of us, that is not restricted to the laws, and instructions given in the scripture, for even though these are important, yet they cannot replace knowing Him as a person. In other words, a knowledge of God’s revealed will, does not always translate into a knowledge of God. There are many Christians living today, who can expound on great themes of the Bible, who can give deep insights in Greek and Latin, but yet, may not know God on a personal level.

Then again, there are many who may love the laws of God, and many others who may appreciate the counsels He has given on diets, and foods, but who may not have known Him on a conversational, or an intimate level. There are thousands of vegans living today who are atheists, and there are many more individuals, and corporations, that return a faithful tithe, yet Jesus is to some of them as a stranger, or as “The unknown God”. 

Therefore, the purpose of the Bible study today, is not to study God through teachings and laws, but to know Him as a person, so that our relationship with Him may not be distant, but intimate. Thus, for this reason there are some fundamentals about God we must address in the bigger picture: 

[1] God is a Person. He is not a set of instructions, or laws, or Bible verses, or a diet; He is a person.

Genesis 5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years.
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Exodus 33:11 And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

These passages we have just read speak to us of a deep relationship with God, on a level that is not based on good, or charitable works, as a means of knowing Him, or as proof that our relationship with God is intact. In fact, the Bible brings to view many charities, and individuals who have done real good, but would be found destitute of salvation at the last day, for their knowledge of God was only through a practice of good instructions, not on any intimate level. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you. 

[2] In the beginning there was no Bible. In fact, the scriptures did not begin to be written until Moses had fled Egypt, which was several millenniums into this earth’s history. This means that any, and all of the instructions, or communications of God to man, came by word of mouth, and as such, were just as valid, if not more, than after the scriptures were written. Let’s read:

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. 
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

[3] The much preferable manner of communication with someone who we hold dear, would be by word of mouth, as opposed to writing or texting. Many, if not most of us will choose a phone call, where we can hear a loved one’s audible voice, instead of a more impersonal form of communication such as writing. This is also true of God as A Person, for He yearns to converse with us throughout the day. In fact, the following passage clearly demonstrates His preferable means of communication. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Exodus 19:9 And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord. 
19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us,
and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

[4] Conviction of conscience does not necessarily depend on what is written. Joseph was convicted of righteousness, and sin long before any written laws. And of Abraham, The Lord declared that he kept His commandments, laws, and statutes, although none of them were in written form at this time. Let’s read:

Genesis 26:2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, 
3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries. 
5 Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Genesis 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 
8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, 
9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

[5] In the beginning, God spoke with man by His voice, and as we draw near the second coming of Christ, when The Holy Ghost is to be poured out in copious measure, His voice will again be heard. If our relationship with God gets restricted to “It is written” alone, then we may not discern His voice when the relationship moves to “It is spoken”. Let’s read: 

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. 
30 When thou art in tribulation, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; 
31 (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee.

Thus, we move into the core of the study, which takes us back to some events which preceded the Jerusalem conference, after the day of Pentecost. Peter goes up to pray, and whilst on the rooftop, a vision is given him, and he hears the voice of God speaking to him, teaching him truths that startles the daylights out of him. Let’s read:

Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. 
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 
21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 
23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he
 had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. 
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did. 
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 
43 That through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
46 Then answered Peter, 
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not
be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. 

This revelation of the grace of God to all men, had greatly startled the circumcised Jews who were with Peter, because through this singular incident, which came via the voice of God, many centuries of their written tradition were signally overturned. This in turn would cause a serious problem with those who had been taught to live solely by “It is written”, for there was no scripture, or prophecy to substantiate what had just taken place, as it pertains to the rite of circumcision, mandated by God Himself. Let’s read:

Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

The believing Pharisees had no problem whatsoever with the baptizing of the Gentiles; the problem they had is that what was written in the scriptures, was being disregarded in a manner that was contrary to what had been taught, and practiced for centuries, with the approval of God. On the other hand, the one thing that is conspicuously absent in Peter’s defense is scripture. In other words, he is basing his action of baptizing the Gentiles, without the rite of circumcision, solely on what was spoken by God’s voice, and nothing else. 

Peter has no scripture to back up his course of action, as it pertains to the rite, which by the way, was given in a very strict, and decided format. The believing Jews on the other hand, had several passages of scripture to validate their point, and therefore, this is what was causing the heated arguments. 

To put it plainly, the issue became a question of what ultimately has more authority, “It is written” or “It is spoken”? The following are just a sample of the scriptures that were brought by the believing Jews to prove that Peter was in error. All of these written references they brought were line upon line. Let’s read:

Genesis 17:3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 
4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 
9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 
13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised.
14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Joshua 5:2 At that time the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 
3 And Joshua circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 
4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: 
5 All the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.

Luke 1:57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child.

Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Question: Now, if all the patriarchs and prophets, including Joshua, David, Abraham, John, and Christ, were all circumcised, according to what is written in the scriptures, how are the Pharisees to believe that by God’s voice alone, such an important rite is to be overthrown, especially since it wasn’t written, nor predicted anywhere previously? Should they agree with Peter’s explanation, or should they stand upon that which is written, since all scripture is given by inspiration of God? It’s a very serious question indeed!

An employee at Walmart does his work faithfully, according to the written protocols that have been put in place, and instituted by the CEO, Carl Douglas Mc-Millon. One day, Mr. Mc-Millon, pays a visit to the store where that employee is working, and after some observations, orders the same employee to perform several of his work-related actions in a different way. Which one do you think will have more weight in the employee’s mind? The written protocols, or Mr. Mc-Millon’s voice? 

And we too, where we work, are to follow those written protocols, and company guidelines, that have been instituted to govern our conduct on the job. But if the boss requested us to do things a bit differently, outside the norm, our employer’s word should obviously take the preeminence over what is written in the company’s employee’s manual. 

Abraham was following protocol, until God asked him to do something differently, something that is nowhere written in the commandments, or laws given to govern our conduct. Therefore, when the command to kill came from the mouth of God, it took Abraham by surprise, yet, he would have been registered as being disobedient, if he had then chosen to stick with what is written in the manual. In fact, you would not believe who was encouraging Abraham to follow the manual. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 148] 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. 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.

One day soon, after The Holy Spirit is poured out on all flesh, we too may have to choose between “It is written” or “It is spoken, and although we try by the grace of God, to give you a scriptural answer for any and everything on this forum, the time is coming, when, in answer to your questions, we may only be able to say, “The Lord has spoken”. A very serious issue indeed! Let’s read: 

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.
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?
23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the
moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. 
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered. 

This passage teaches us in no uncertain terms, that just prior to His 2nd coming, Jesus is going to make a last-ditch effort to save as many people as possible, and as such, He may so choose to overturn some of the written protocols we have observed for many years. Whatsoever we may think about the Bible, or about our relationship to Christ, just remember this one thing, that God is a Person, and as such, His spoken word will take precedence over that which is written, whenever He sees necessary. Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 209>210] There is to be in the Seventh-day Adventist churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of the heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. 

Because the Lord does not work according to their ideas and expectations they will oppose the work. “Why,” they say, “should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?” The third angel's message will not be comprehended, the light which will lighten the earth with its glory will be called a false light, by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory.

As a follow-up to this bible study, we are going to  now submit two passages from the Bible for your consideration, and contemplation in preparation for next week’s Bible study. Let’s read:

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? 
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Acts 19: And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Question: If for some reason these disciples had died before Paul met them, would they be saved when Jesus comes, seeing that they were baptized unto John only?

                                       See you next week, God willing. God bless!
 

Handling Opposing Views. Sabbath Afternoon. 08/12/2017

The willingness, and the ability to deal effectively with opposing views, is of great importance to the stability, and unity of the church, for throughout history, the church of Christ has suffered through schisms, which were often triggered by divergent viewpoints on matters of doctrine and practice, and even today, there are, and continue to be a lot of derivative organizations, splinter groups, off-shoot churches, and ministries, which have come about as the direct result of the inability to handle opposing views in a Christlike manner.

The doctrines of the Bible are given so that our faith may be guided in right paths, so it is important that unity isn’t purchased through compromise. Yet it’s a fact that even within our own borders, our personal opinions may not be in uniform harmony with what the Bible teaches, and thus, the question becomes, at what point do these differences warrant a split in the brotherhood of believers.

For example, some believe that The Holy Spirit is not the third Person of the God-head, and that the doctrine of the trinity is unscriptural. Others believe that women should be ordinated, whereas others may beg to differ. Again, the issue of dealing with the lgbtqrstuvwxyz community, is another point on which different views are held. And we can go on and on, to the role that diet plays in the Christian’s life, the validity and role of Ellen G. White’s writings, the issue of dress, the issue of music, etc.

One thing we must never forget is that satan is not bothered about what issue causes disunity, for if he can bring about a state of disaffection, using wrong ideas, he certainly will, but he is just as content to use right opinions, or interpretations to drive a dividing wedge in the community of believers. So, there are a few principles we should hold dear, as Christians, so that the differences which arise from time to time can hopefully be resolved, in the way Jesus would.

[1] The Spirit of God must be allowed to reign in our hearts supremely, so that God’s presence could be diffused throughout the body of believers. This first, and most important point is where all hope of unity must of necessity begin, for wherever God’s Spirit is absent, the prospect of true unity becomes wishful thinking. Let’s read:

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please
God. 
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 
3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 

[2] Christians who are united in The Spirit, will also be willing to let Christ have the last word. In other words, whenever differences of belief arise, Biblical truths can be sought out to help in the resolution. It’s not so much about our personal opinion, as it is about what God has to say on the matter, because The Holy Ghost gives to Christians the willingness to surrender preconceived ideas, when they are not in line with the scriptures. Let’s read:  

2nd Timothy 3:16 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.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

2nd Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

[3] The unity of the brotherhood in Christ should supersede any differences in understanding, except in cases where false doctrines are deliberately held on to tenaciously and are being disseminated to the other believers. In some instances we will not agree exactly, on every single point, but our love for one another will lead to a forbearance that overrides differences. In the days of Christ, many of the Jews held erroneous views of the Messiah and the nature of His kingdom. Many also held divergent views on the resurrection, while most of them were mired in salvation by works. 

Yet, as far as Christ was concerned, this constituted no grounds for tearing the church apart, for every effort should be made to preserve the unity, while erroneous concepts are corrected in love. When the disciples faced the prospect of returning tithes and offerings to the synagogue, where, as Christ put it, a den of thieves was residing, He instructed them not to leave the church, but to return their dues to the treasury, and thus, make a difference. And so were all His other instructions, on matters with which He did not agree. Let’s read:

Matthew 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

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.

Thus, in His instruction to us through the apostle Paul, The Lord stresses unity, not merely uniformity, which leaves wiggle room for those who may not yet be in a state of mind to receive all of the sacred truths we have embraced, from the Bible. And there are some of us who may take longer than others to understand some of the central themes of scripture, as it pertains to salvation. Until such time, The Lord desires that we be united, be patient, and tolerant with those with whom we may disagree. 

Especially in the remnant church, should the spirit of unity, and forbearance be manifested, for this is what Christ envisioned, and prayed for, as He was preparing for the last great conflict with the powers of darkness on the earth. It is true that unity cannot come at a price of compromise with error, but even when erroneous doctrines do surface, the way we deal with the erring one, decides to a great extent, whether we will foster longevity and stability of the church, or whether we will cultivate division, and anarchy.

In dealing with opposing views, God is much more interested in the godly manner in which the error is supposed to be handled, than who may or may not have a valid point. All of Christ’s disciples, including John the Baptist, had harbored incorrect views and interpretations concerning things that were actually written, and indeed, it took quite a while for Jesus to make the necessary corrections. 

But in doing so, Christ tried to avoid division in His family of believers, esteeming the bond of unity, of far more value, than the corrections which needed to be made. In fact, anyone who claims to have a perfect understanding of everything in the Bible is a liar, plain and simple, for the path of the just is as a shining light, which shines more and more until the perfect day. In other words, the revelation of truth and the understanding of truth is progressive, and takes place at different speeds with each member. 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. 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?

Thus, we enter the core of our study, in which we will observe a serious division arising amongst the newly minted body of believers. This division is of such intensity that it could threaten both the unity and sanity of the early Christian church, and which, if left unchecked, will be used by satan to split the church into different factions. It’s worthy of note that the issue at point is a “Right thing”, based on Scripture, but which can be used by the enemy of righteousness to suit his own goals. Let’s read:

Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 

Instead of signally dismissing the views held by the Pharisees, it will be much better for us to give due consideration to their concerns, for their belief was based on what is written. Similarly, when there are differences of belief, or conviction amongst us, we should be willing to give the opposing views a fair shake, with a humble frame of mind, knowing that we also may be harboring erroneous views.

The Star of this argument, and its resolution is none other but Christ, for as we observe how the matter is handled, we will see that everyone leaves from the negotiating table with a piece of the pie, while the core principle of unity is preserved. Only Christ can do this through His Spirit. If a Gentile believes that he should be free from the rite of circumcision, he is free to do so. However, if for some reason he wants to play it “safe”, according to what is written, he is also left free to follow his convictions. 

But if, on the contrary, the Pharisees decide to cling to their custom, because it is written, they too are free to do so. The same thing goes for the issue of diets and foods in our community, for one believes that he should eat “Herbs”, whereas others may not be so convinced. Christ desires that we preserve the unity of the brotherhood, and allow everyone to be persuaded in his/ her own conscience, because part of the genius of Christianity, is that it allows us all to choose. Let’s read:

Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren,
8 God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely.
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner, 
28 It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and
from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Question: What if there’s no resolution? If after the deliberations by the conference, and the back and forth between valid points, we still cannot come to a consensus, is the next step to form a church of our own, with members who are in agreement? And do the rest of members who are on the opposite side of the issue now become “Babylon”?

Answer: Look at Jesus, and at Martin Luther. We should never take it upon ourselves to sever our connections with the church, because of opposing views. Instead, if it comes to a boiling point, we are to wait until we are excommunicated, for in that way we will be following the instructions Christ gave to all Christians. Let’s read:

John 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues. 
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Oxford University Press:
On January 3, 1521, Pope Leo X issued the papal bull: (“It pleases the Roman Pontiff”), which excommunicated Martin Luther, a German theologian and monk who had been causing the Roman Catholic Church no end of trouble since 1517. With that, the Pope cast Luther out of the Catholic Church—and thereby helped spur the development of the Lutheran church and the Protestant Reformation.

The trouble had begun back on October 31, 1517, when Luther sent his 95 Theses, protesting several Church practices and doctrines, to the Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg. By the next summer, Church authorities began to call Luther’s views heretical, though it took three years before Leo X moved formally against him. On June 15, 1520, he issued the bull stating that 41 sentences in Luther’s 95 Theses were heresy.

1st Corinthians 1:10 "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you".... 

Paul is here hoping for the ideal situation, where all Christians can agree on the fundamental truths, and teachings of the Bible. However, history teaches us that this is not always the case, and because of this, the unity of the brotherhood should be preserved, even when it includes those with opposing views. So, we close with words of timely counsel, coming from the servant of The Lord. Let’s read:

[D.A pp 296]  "The apostles differed widely in habits and disposition. These were brought together, with their different faults, all with inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil; but in and through Christ they were to dwell in the family of God, learning to become one in faith, in doctrine, in spirit.

They would have their tests, their grievances, their differences of opinion; but while Christ was abiding in the heart, there could be no dissension. His love would lead to love for one another; the lessons of the Master would lead to the harmonizing of all differences, bringing the disciples into unity, till they would be of one mind and one judgment. Christ is the great center, and they would approach one another just in proportion as they approached the center".... 

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not, Neither give place to the devil. 

                                                                      God bless! 
 

Righteousness By Faith. Sabbath Afternoon. 08/05/2017

We should be very careful of harboring a protracted view of righteousness by faith, for there are many who stop at the point of belief, without going on to the other important phases. Believing that Christ is our righteousness, and that His sacrifice on Calvary is sufficient for our salvation is important. But those facts must be translated into everyday experiences of life, permeating our decision-making processes, and affecting everything we do, how we think, and how we draw our conclusions, both in the temporal, and spiritual aspects of life.

In other words, righteousness by faith is more a way of life, rather than a mere belief. It’s a perspective which focuses squarely on the merits of Christ, His attributes, His obedience, His righteousness, word, power, and His abilities, to the point where we lose sight of our accomplishments, and credit everything to God alone. This perspective effectively hides the human agent behind the shadow of the cross, so that only Christ is seen and heard. 

It seems as if the disciples had experienced difficulty in understanding this principle, which prompted the questions, and responses, as Jesus conversed with them. The apostle Paul, also repeatedly addressed the same issue, for it is central to the application of the gospel, in real time, and in literal ways, and it affects every aspect of a Christian’s life, to the point where it becomes much more than an intellectual assent, but more like the motif by which we live.  Let’s read:

John 14: 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father,
and it sufficeth us. 
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? 
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

For this reason, we are going to focus more on the practical aspects of righteousness by faith, since, for the most part, the theoretical aspect is accepted by most of Christendom. Thus, it is in order that we do a brief synopsis of the concept, so that the ways in which it is applied can be made more, plain. After Adam sinned, God instituted the plan of salvation, which involved a sacrifice, by which reconciliation to God would be made possible. In addition to the sacrifice, A Substitute Head for the human family was ordained of God, in Christ, who would pick up the broken pieces of our existence, where the first Adam left off.

Christ’s perfect righteousness, His obedience, and His innocence would then be given as a free gift to all who would receive Him as Lord, and Savior. The plan was laid before the foundations of the earth, even in eternity past, before Adam was created, and thus, there was, and is no human input, either to augment, or to improve on the plan of salvation. We may accept it through our freedom of choice, or we may reject it, but it always was, and still remains an entirely free gift. Let’s read:

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
12 Wherefore, as by one man, sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were
made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 
20 But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.

Justification is by faith, and sanctification is also by faith. From the beginning of our Christian journey, to the very end, whatsoever we may do, think, and say, should all come under the umbrella of faith, for righteousness by faith produces literal results, the bulk of which are both manifested, and experienced in the temporal realm. This understanding is what is largely absent from contemporary Christianity, for many Christians view righteousness by faith merely as a theoretical belief, and not as a way of life.

Thus, the practical applications, such as obedience, and trusting in God fully, remain on the backburner, and that is one of the main reasons why the power of God seems to be largely absent in the lives of so many. After dealing with the meaning of faith in the book of Hebrews, Paul immediately delves into the many ways, and experiences which come as a direct result of believing and understanding, the doctrine of righteousness by faith. Let’s read:

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. 
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. 
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. 
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 
28 Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection: 
36 And others had trial of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, of bonds and imprisonment: 
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 
38 They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Therefore, after expounding extensively on the very literal applications of righteousness by faith, Paul then summarizes it all by declaring that whatsoever we do, must of necessity stem from faith, or else it is sin. Let’s read:

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

Question: How then, does righteousness by faith translate into the temporal issues, decisions, and actions of life? There are three basic answers:
[1] By believing in God: 
Believing in God is the beginning point, for nothing take can place without first believing. Last week, a particular Payless shoe store was scheduled to close permanently, and as a result they had a sale with 70 to 80% off. I just happened to be passing by, when a  small voice said go take a look. 

When I went in, I saw shoes that previously sold for $50.00, going for 8 or 10 dollars, so I immediately started to buy those items I’d always needed. After I was done, I went home and related the good news to my wife, and the rest is history, for she too went in the following day, and got a few items that still remained. 

The savings she got began with believing, for if she did not believe, nothing was going to happen. The same thing goes for experiencing righteousness by faith, for the first step is believing, which opens up the gateways of unlimited possibilities, countless blessings, and eternal life, in and through Christ. It is important to note that this first step is not optional, but mandatory, and essential, for anyone to access the Righteousness that comes through Christ alone. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe.

Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

But believing, in and of itself is not sufficient, if we do not allow the work of God’s Holy Spirit to take place in our hearts. This is where so many Christians in our day are stumbling, for millions claim to be of faith, but the corresponding work God desires to do in us is not allowed. In fact, the book of Revelation, which specifies what is the “Everlasting gospel” for our generation, focuses our attention squarely on works, to offset the imbalance that has thus been created by the doctrine of “Only believe”. 

We look in vain, throughout the entire content of the three angel’s messages, to see if those words “Faith” or believe occur even once; but for some reason, they are conspicuously absent. In fact, the word “Faith” occurs only after, in verse 12, where it is directly coupled to works, the work of keeping the commandments of God. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 
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.

The reason why the words “Faith” and “Believe” are nowhere to be found in the three angel’s messages, is because righteousness by faith never leads one to trample on God’s law, as is the case with so many contemporary “Believers” of our day. Therefore, the messages are tailor-made to specifically address the areas in which we are deficient. 

In the pharmaceutical world, Xarelto is used to treat blood clots, but is not recommended for diabetes. Similarly, the “Everlasting gospel” was given to treat the specific deficiency of lawlessness, masquerading under the umbrella of righteousness by faith. Thus, even though nominal Christianity is currently dead focused on faith in Jesus, The Lord is declaring to us unequivocally, that disobedience is never a by-product of righteousness by Faith. Never!

On the contrary, a nominal profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, without allowing Him to do the corresponding work, amounts to righteousness by presumption, the counterfeit of faith, which satan has introduced to the Christian world, and which currently stalks the land unrebuked, to a very great extent. In other words, there are very few pastors, televangelists, and Bible workers who are teaching, or preaching “The everlasting gospel” for our generation. 

Thus, if a contemporary, believing Christian, who has already accepted the righteousness of Christ by faith, was to ask the all-important question, “What lack I yet”, the preferred response will be “Keep the Sabbath day holy”, together with all the other nine commandments, for this constitutes the essence of the messages to be given in our day. Which leads us to our second instruction on how righteousness by faith applies across the board. 

[2] Live in obedience to whatsoever God says. The power of The Holy ghost is given to believers with the specific intention of enabling us to obey, not to trample on God’s precepts as some teach. In other words, The Holy Spirit empowers Christians to feed the poor, to help the homeless, and to tell others of God’s saving grace, but primarily, to obey God’s commandments, not to be saved, but because we are saved. 

This sacred truth is as a light shining in a dark place, for very many sincere persons have been deceived by smooth-talking, money-laundering false “Profits” Let’s read:

Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. 
32 And so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

[3] Consult His revealed will in His word, in every matter, before making any move. It’s important for us to pray in every matter, so that God may guide us with wisdom and discretion. But God will never fault a person for sincerely obeying His word, even if he/she may not have had a full understanding of the truth in question. For instance, some of the early believers had no clue as to who The Holy Ghost was, and the important work He was to do in their hearts. Furthermore, some were not aware of Jesus Christ being their Savior. 

Yet, in their ignorance, they were baptized, thus signifying that they followed truth as best they knew how. However, when greater light came, the same believers were baptized again. This instruction is very important for the many millions of sincere Sunday-keeping Christians, who sincerely love the Lord, but who may have been fed false doctrines inadvertently. 

When the light of the validity of the 7th day Sabbath dawns on one’s conscience, in many instances, it will be appropriate for him, or her to be rebaptized, thus publicly demonstrating his/her faith in one of the central truths in the Bible, which pertains to our worship of God in His capacity as Creator. Let’s read:

Acts 19:1 And, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and the fountains of waters.

In closing, it’s important for us to remember that the overwhelming majority of God’s true people are to be found in Sunday churches, and as such, we should be always ready and willing to lend a helping hand in the understanding of present truth. Thus, we close with a gentle reminder for all. Let’s read:

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 
20 But wilt thou know, that faith without works is dead? 

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

                                                                 God bless! 
 

The Nature Of Christ. Sabbath Afternoon. 07/29/2017

When we come to study the scriptures, we should not approach it with a view of causing the Bible to conform to our own ideas and opinions. Instead we should allow the word to inform our understanding, guiding our thoughts, and concepts, and be willing to give up preconceived ideas as may be warranted. In so doing, we will be searching the scriptures in an objective manner, not subjectively.

Especially must this be the case, when it comes to such a delicate matter as the nature of Christ, for one miniscule error, can open the floodgates to a host of erroneous theories, and speculations. Thus, it is fitting that the counsel of God be heeded as we proceed. Let’s read:

Exodus 3:5 Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

2nd Timothy 3:16 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.

Thus, in our study of the nature of Christ, we will not approach it from a perspective of curiosity, but instead with a purpose of making God’s plan for our salvation as plain as possible, so that we may harbor clear concepts of truth and duty. In the Bible, there are two Adams presented, one was created at the beginning of this world’s history, and the other was born incarnate to the virgin Mary. There are stark similarities, and stark differences between them, of which we must be cognizant. Therefore, we will use the scriptures to inform our understanding.

We begin with the similarities:
[1] Both Adams were made sinless. When the first Adam was created, there was no taint of sin in him, and when the second Adam was made incarnate, there was no taint of sin in Him either. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

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

[2] The First Adam had the freedom of choice, and the second Adam also had the freedom of choice.

Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 
6 Who, 
7 Made Himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

[3] Before the fall, the first Adam did not have any propensity to sin, because he was created sinless, and God was his Father. The second Adam also was made without any inclination to sin, for He had God as His Father, in whom there is no sin. This is where some Christians stumble, by thinking that because Jesus was not predisposed to sin, as we are, that it was easy for Him to overcome. But nothing can be further from the truth, for when Jesus took on the liabilities of human nature, it had already suffered about 4000 years of deterioration, making the force of temptation exponentially greater.

When we speak of the liabilities of fallen human nature, we are referring to those natural biological urges in their most acute form, such as tiredness, hunger, thirst, etc. It is not a sin to get hungry, but the way in which we satisfy our hunger, determines whether we do so in a sinful manner or not. We can satisfy our hunger by working for our daily bread, or we can steal from the grocery to do so. When Christ suffered from excruciating pangs of hunger, He was tempted to satisfy that biological urge in a manner that would be contrary to God’s will. 

But instead of delivering Himself by a miracle, He “Suffered” being tempted, and showed us that it is better to deny ourselves wrong foods, than to be satisfied with that which is forbidden. That is how the full force of satan’s temptations were leveled against Christ, and the Bible tells us that He suffered being tempted. 

But Jesus also set before us the way in which we can overcome like He did, for in every temptation, He trusted God the Father to keep Him, just like we should. But if we were to conclude that temptation exerted no force against Him, then the system He gave us for overcoming becomes useless, and if so, then we will believe that overcoming sin is simply impossible. We should be very careful about the conclusions we draw about the nature of Christ.

The differences:
[1] The first Adam was human, but the 2nd Adam, Jesus Christ was fully God, and fully man at the same time. However, Jesus voluntarily made His divinity subject to the will of His Father, so that He could be a full partaker in our suffering. This point must be clearly understood, for at no time in His life on earth, did Christ ever use His divinity to minimize the force of temptation. Let’s read:

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

[2] After Adam sinned, he was not able to pass on to his posterity, the sinlessness with which he was made, for one cannot give what one doesn’t have. Christ on the other hand was sinless, for God was His Father. This point is of critical importance for us to understand, for being sinless never prevents any person from being tempted, nor does it prevent one from sinning. Furthermore, being sinless does not mean that a person will not need to pray for help in resisting temptation. Let’s read:

Hebrews 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

The question is often asked, “Could Jesus Christ have sinned? The answer is absolutely yes. Adam was sinless before he fell, satan was sinless before he fell, and the evil angels were all sinless before they fell. Christ was no different, for His sinlessness did not place Him beyond the reach of temptation, nor did His holiness inhibit His freedom to choose. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Ezekiel 28: 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

[3] The way in which Jesus was tempted was by way of the five senses, through which we navigate and interact with the outside world. When Adam, and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, all five senses were, opened up as gateways to the soul, and that’s how satan’s temptations asserted their power against human nature. In fact, it will be extremely difficult for any person, who is blind, and deaf, and who is deprived of the senses of touch, taste, and smell, to be tempted, for our five senses are the avenues to the soul. Thus, in all of Christ’s temptations, at least one of the five senses were involved. Let’s read:

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

John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. 
2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, 
3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. 

Matthew 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

[4] The first Adam had his system fine-tuned, with with his natural biological urges well balanced, very unlike the fierce pangs of hunger we experience at times. In the beginning, Adam ate when he knew it was time to eat, and there was always an abundant supply of food at his disposal. But gnawing pangs of hunger, with gas, as we know it was unknown. How do we know this? In the earth made new, the fine balance God created us with, will be restored. Let’s read:

Isaiah 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. 

Christ on the other hand, had to overcome those temptations on appetite, after human nature had suffered over 4000 years of deterioration. This is one of the reasons why Jesus was at a disadvantage, when compared to the first Adam. He also had to restrain Himself from using His divine power to save Himself from difficulties. As finite beings, we do not have that option at our disposal, and that’s why we can never be tempted like Christ was.

John 19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 
11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.

John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. 

Now that we have gone through some of the main similarities, and differences between the 1st and 2nd Adam, it’s important for us to understand how that knowledge translates into a saving relationship with The Lord Jesus. As we stated previously, Adam’s fall rendered him totally incapable of passing on to his posterity, the sinlessness with which he, as the head of humanity, was endowed at creation.

Thus, his sin and his guilt were passed on as a “gift” to all who came after. It is very important for us to grasp this truth, for if our understanding of sin and guilt is that it is action based, then we would be in danger of understanding the righteousness God as being action-based also. There are several passages of scripture which do address the issue of guilt and sin by default, so it’s necessary to let God’s word speak for itself in this matter. Let’s Read:

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

Question: Who is included in the word “All”? All means all, and includes every individual, every child, and every cute baby who is born into this world. It is also inclusive of those who were still-born, and even those who died prematurely during pregnancy. The seeds of rebellion were passed on from Adam to all his posterity, and therefore there is something such as a cute little rebel, for even though babies are not cognizant of the fact, they too share in Adam’s sin and guilt, or else they are innocent, and if so, they are not eligible for salvation. Several passages of scripture bear out this central truth. Let’s read:

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

Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.

One thing is certain, God will never ever “beat” an innocent man. Even though he may be unaware of God’s will, yet he is guilty. In the Bible, guilt is not tied to such variables as the age of reason, or one’s knowledge of right or wrong. It is a state of being we are all born into, which does not necessarily require any action on our part. As descendants of Adam, we are born with all the seeds of rebellion lodged in our genes, and thus, it is not necessary for us to do anything per’ se, for us to sin, and be guilty. 

The basic concept can be extrapolated from the writings of Paul, in which he declares that Levi paid tithes in Abraham whilst as yet Levi was unborn in his father’s loins. It is worthy of note that, in fact, Abraham was not the biological father of Levi, nor were Levi’s parents yet born, let alone dating, when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizidec. So we owe it to ourselves to understand exactly Paul is speaking of, as he writes under the influence of the Holy Ghost? Let’s read: 

Hebrews 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. 
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 

To fully understand what is being revealed here, we must first understand what the word “Loins” mean. “Loins” refer us to Abraham’s D.N.A, his genes, and ultimately, his sperm. All of these definitions are wrapped up in the word, “Loins”. Here are the two critically important definitions of the word, loin and the term D.N.A:
Loin
loin/Submit
noun
The region of the sexual organs, especially when regarded as the source of erotic, or procreative power.

DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information, the fundamental, distinctive characteristics or qualities of someone, especially when regarded as unchangeable.

Thus, the Holy Ghost is hereby declaring that Levi participated in the act of paying tithes by default, a fact that transcends Levi’s choice, or his actions in the matter. The problem is that Abraham did not only do right things, for he did a few wrong things too. Question: Are those wrong things to be equally credited, and transferred from Abraham to Levi, as the right things were? Let’s read:

Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Romans 3: 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 
12 They are all gone out of the way, there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Similarly, we sinned in Adam, and we are guilty by default, for just as Adam gifted us with sin, and its guilt, just so Christ gifted us with righteousness and innocence. One is a good gift, and the other is a bad gift, but one thing is certain, neither of the gifts are to be regarded as being action based. A woman is pregnant with her unborn baby, but she has a habit of drinking alcoholic beverages. Her unborn child is therefore made a participant in her sins by default, by-passing the baby’s freedom to choose in the sin, and thereby rendering her offspring’s awareness, knowledge, and other variables, irrelevant to the fact that she is a drinker.

In fact, if a trooper were to stop her, while she was driving under the influence, the officer will take her down to the county jail, with her baby, and both will be incarcerated. The same thing goes for each of us who were found in Adam, we were all booked, and taken down to the county jail, and when we came before the Judge, we were all found guilty in Adam. 

Thus, the guilt of humanity is based on the fact that our progenitor sinned, not necessarily on actions we may take later when we reach the age of reason, for a lack of knowledge does not absolve a person  of his/her guilt. Let’s read: 

Leviticus 4:13 And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty; 
14 When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin. 
22 When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty; 
23 Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: 
27 And if any one of the common people sin
through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; 
28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, for his sin which he hath sinned.

Leviticus 5:4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these. 
5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: 
17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

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

Genesis 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

[S.G Vol 1 pp 193] I saw that the slave-master would have to answer for the soul of his slave whom he has kept in ignorance; and all the sins of the slave will be visited upon the master. God cannot take the slave to heaven, who has been kept in ignorance and degradation, knowing nothing of God, or the Bible, fearing nothing but his master's lash, and not holding so elevated a position as his master's brute beasts. But he does the best thing for him that a compassionate God can do. He lets him be as though he had not been.

[Faith and works pp 88] Adam sinned, and the children of Adam share his guilt and its consequences; but Jesus bore the guilt of Adam, and all the children of Adam that will flee to Christ, the second Adam, may escape the penalty of transgression.

The understanding of these passages, when taken together as a whole, brings out the beauty, and the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice for us, for if we are not sinners, and if we are not guilty, we do not stand a chance. In other words, there is no legal premise to save an innocent person, because those who are not guilty do not need forgiveness. Here’s why. 

Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

We close with a passage from the book of Galatians, which cautions us not to forget the great, and the complete sacrifice made to save us, and at every step of advance, to remember it is always all about Jesus. Always!

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

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

Living By The Invisible God. Sabbath Afternoon. 07/22/2017

One of the main reasons why we often find it hard to exercise faith, is because we keep looking at the human agent, instead of concentrating our focus on Christ. In all our experiences, whether they be trials or victories, the human agency is always to take a backseat in preeminence, and in all our calculations, and in our understanding, God should be first, and foremost in our minds. Whenever we focus on what man can do, Christ becomes little in our minds, and because of this, every daunting problem, difficulty, challenges, and obstacles, tend to loom larger, and often seem insurmountable.

As a general rule of thumb, our faith in what Christ can and will do should be open-ended, without any limits, and without tethering mere finite solutions,
to the potential outcome. In other words, when we become seriously sick, the power of God to heal and deliver should not be dwarfed by our understanding of medicine. When taking a math examination, our confidence should not rest solely upon how much we can cram, but rather on God’s ability to bring to our remembrance, that which we have studied. 

In our efforts to live a healthy life, to lose weight, or to diet properly, we should not limit the power of God to the mere use of certain ordained foods, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, and grains; for although He instructs us to use them, and great benefits will certainly accrue in obedience to His word, yet when His power is brought into the equation, those same benefits will multiply exponentially. In other words, our primary focus should not be on the veggies, but rather on the God of the veggies.

And the same principle of looking past the human agent, and focusing on Him who is invisible, also applies to soul winning. Success in evangelism is never about the preacher, or his tact, skill, charm, charisma, wittiness, education, experience, talent, energy, or his commanding demeanor. Neither is it about magnificent edifices, expensive pipe organs, or the amount of money spent in advertising. While all of these may have a part to play, the only reason why anyone will surrender to Christ is because of the work of The Holy Ghost, without which, the part that the human agent plays would have no salvific value. 

Even that favorite hymn that we love to sing, which says “I surrender all” is actually a nonstarter in the spiritual realm, without the power of God, because if Christ is absent, we cannot even surrender. Christ grants unto us the gift of repentance, through the agency of His Holy Spirit, without whom, we cannot even feel sorry for sins committed. Esau, and Judas both tried repentance without God, by focusing on the human agent, and the rest is history, for Esau was never able, of himself to repent, and the other committed suicide. Let’s read:

Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; 
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau.
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.

When treating upon the same the issue of living by the power of The Invisible God, the apostle Paul cautioned the new believers to look past the human agent, and thus acknowledged the miniscule part a preacher, or evangelist plays in the bigger picture. He therefore describes the tendency of looking to human agents as being carnally-minded. Let’s read: 

1st Corinthians 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 
7 So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

The servant of the Lord also takes up the strain, by emphasizing our need of looking beyond the human agent, for whenever, and wherever this habit exists, there will be a noticeable lack of God’s miraculous power being displayed on a continual basis. And if the tendency is cultivated over, and over again, the concept of limitless possibilities becomes phantom to our minds, resulting in microscopic views of God, and a creeping fear of facing challenges. When the Bible says that the righteous are as bold as a lion,
it refers to our trust in God, not in man. Let’s read: 

[Christ’s Object lessons. pp. 82] Whenever man accomplishes anything, whether in spiritual or in temporal lines, he should bear in mind that he does it through co-operation with his Maker. There is great necessity for us to realize our dependence on God. Too much confidence is placed in man, too much reliance on human inventions. Immeasurably inferior is the part which the human agent sustains; but if he is linked with the divinity of Christ, he can do all things through the strength that Christ imparts.

Whenever we cultivate the tendency of looking to human agencies, we will apply the same mode of thought on the flipside, when it pertains to trials, and aggravations, conceived, and implemented by our invisible adversary. In other words, the devil often moves upon the human agent to carry out his dictates; but those who have become accustomed to looking on the instrument, will only see a person trying to annoy, while the invisible agency remains hidden.

Thus, we come to the study of certain highlights of Moses’ experiences in Egypt, and beyond. We begin with his birth, which occurred at a time when the morale of the Hebrew people was pretty low, since they were suffering under the hand of pharaoh who was in opposition to God, and who issued the harsh, inhumane edict of commanding every male Hebrew child to be slain. In fact it was satan who was behind that edict, but many Hebrews only saw the human agent, and because of this, their faith had grown quite dim.

Moses was born at this time, but his parents who ever had God before their faces, looked past the pharaoh on his throne, and beheld the Omnipotent God who rules in the affairs of men. Thus it was that their ideas, concepts, decisions and actions became molded by what God could do, not what a pharaoh could do, and that makes all the difference. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. 

There are certain developments, certain decisions and actions currently being taken, which may cause us grave concern, and many have become fearful of the future, and what lies in store for God’s people. God bids us not to look at man, but to look to Him, who rules in the affairs of men. As a matter of fact, whatever is done by the human agent, whether for or against God, is actually incorporated into His will, and produce outcomes that are in line with what he had already planned to do. 

When Christ was being crucified, the priests and elders thought that they finally got revenge for what they viewed as an affront to their authority. But under closer investigation, God’s plan for our rescue was being fulfilled to the letter, and instead of signal defeat, a triumphant victory for the entire universe was accomplished. 

When the mob cried for Jesus to come down from the cross, it was actually satan begging Christ, in a last-ditch effort not to die, for he feared the dead Christ much more than the living Christ. But on that day, throughout all the back and forth, and mocking and scourging, many folks, even of the disciples only beheld the human agent.

[Prophets And kings pp 499>500] In the annals of human history, the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as if dependent on the will and prowess of man; the shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counter-play of human interest and power and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.

Thus it was, when Moses came to the age of reason, he also followed in the footsteps of his parents, by looking past the human agent, and focusing his gaze on Him who is invisible. And this mode of thought ultimately shaped his world view, and every other consequent decision he would make. Some of these decisions may seem downright stupid, in the eyes of a secular mind, but to those who choose to live by the Invisible God, his decisions were intelligent and full of wisdom. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. 

And over, and over again, throughout Moses’ life experiences, we’ll observe the same core principle resurfacing. In times of danger, when threatened by pharaoh’s army, in crossing the Red sea, in tackling the strongholds of Jericho, in dealing with internal insurrection, in the uplifted serpent, in obeying the command of God to be in Mount Sinai for 40 days without any food, in all of these instances, Moses continually looked past the human agent, instead focusing on Him who is invisible. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Exodus 14:10 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. 
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. 
14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
In fact, the major fall which Moses took, in striking the rock, occurred when he focused on the human agent, instead of the Unseen God, as he had been accustomed to. Let’s read:

Numbers 20:7 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 
8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 
11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 
12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

This brings us to a critically important question: “What is entailed in living by the Invisible God?”
Answers:
 [1] We must be willing to do whatsoever He bids us do, even when it is contrary to the popular majority opinion. God has called us to obedience, never to popularity, and thus, our commitment to serve, and to follow His directions must transcend mainstream ideologies, scientific research, or dogmas coming to us from religious or secular authorities. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 12:28 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee forever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God.
32 What thing so-ever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

[2] We must be willing to wait upon God, for His purposes know no haste, nor delay. It is often the case that satan’s temptations assert their power over us, when we are put in the waiting mode. It is during such times we tend to become restless, and uneasy, and a restless frame of mind often becomes fertile ground for doubt, and wherever any doubt is encouraged, our minds become a breeding ground for alternative methods, and plans, which prove to be always contrary to God’s will.

Abraham was severely tempted whilst in waiting mode, and he succumbed. King Saul was severely tempted in waiting mode, and he also succumbed. And in many instances, we too become vulnerable to the assaults of satan, when we are bidden by the Lord to wait. The young, and the restless become impatient while waiting on God to provide Mr./Mrs. Right. 

During the waiting period, satan comes along with an alternative who seems to have the blessing of heaven, and before you know it, your proverbial knight in shining armor turns out to be the devil in disguise. That’s why the following instruction is of critical importance to every Christian living today. 

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

[3] We should never allow human agencies to cause Christ’s power to be dwarfed in our understanding. This is of critical importance as we face tremendous difficulties ahead. When we are bombarded with bad, or fake news, we are not to focus on what man can, or will do, but instead we are instructed by the Lord to “Look up” for our redemption draws nigh. Let’s read:

 Hebrews 13:5 For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. 

[4] Trust His promises. The often murmurings and complaints of the Hebrews, and the sins that were the consequential result, can be summed up in the sacred history recorded by David, whilst he wrote under the influence of Holy Ghost. And very many of our own problems with health, with cherished sin, with discouragement, with the fullfilment of our fondest dreams, with reaching our fullest potential, with our finances, with evangelism, with our church building, programs, with forgiveness, and with a wide range of other temporal, social, and spiritual issues, can also be traced back to the same root cause, which affected the Hebrews in years gone by. Let’s read:

Psalms 78: 10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law.
11 And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. 
12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 
13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an  heap.
14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the Most-High in the wilderness.
19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? 
21 Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth
32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! 
41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 

And there are several vivid examples of those who limited the power of God in various ways, and for various reasons. Those who went out in search of food on the Sabbath, limited the power of God in preserving that which was kept over from Friday. Those who retreated in times of national danger, because of the supposedly superior strength, and size of the enemy, limited the power of God to save by few.

Those who sided with the spies, when God already promised them the goodly land of Canaan, limited the power of God in battle. Those who had withheld their tithes and offerings, limited the power of God to provide. Those who did not believe the second temple could be built, limited the power of God to restrain Tobias and Sanballat.  Those who turned to wizards and magicians in times of health crises, they also limited God’s power to heal and restore. 

Then there are those who limited God’s power to save to the uttermost. Those who trusted to their own strength, and those who stumbled at the food God ordained for them to eat. Those who trembled at the presence of Goliath, who shook his steroid-laden fists at Israel. Saul, who discouraged David from fighting the giant. Those who turned to the witch of Endor for advice, and those like Achan who hid stolen stuff in the earth, under his tent. 

And the list goes on, and on, and on. One root cause keeps resurfacing, “They limited The Holy one of Israel”…. Which leads us to our closing statement coming from the pen of inspiration. Let’s read:

[L.D.E pp 72] In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, “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”…

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