Dear Doctor Fauci! Sabbath afternoon 08/07/2021

Psalms 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most-High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Dear Dr. Fauci! I am writing to you because we are now almost two years into the pandemic, and the Covid virus and its attendant mutations are showing no signs of slowing down, despite well intentioned efforts on the part of many professionals who have been tasked with mitigating the spread, the severity and the consequent fallout of the pandemic.

On the contrary the Delta variant seems to be much more problematic than the original, and despite the efforts of all who are engaged in administering any available solutions, it seems as if progress is being stalled out for one reason or another.

We have listened often, and very carefully to many of your discourses and interviews on the matter and we firmly believe that you are doing your best in the interest of the nation. And even though there are those who have tried to dissuade or discourage you, we believe that your team is doing its best given the available science and data on the matter.

We would like to encourage you to keep trying, and we will lift you up in prayer, that you may be guided with wisdom and discretion in trying to mitigate the fallout from this disease that has now taken millions of lives, not only here across America but across the entire globe.

However, we would like to draw your attention to something that may warrant research, and it may, be, that with these potential discoveries much light can be shed upon a level of science that has, up to the present, not been explored, and which has for many years been elusive to experts in your field.

Two illustrations from the word of God will be given and then, in the interest of honest good will toward the nation that is still reeling from the virus, we will make three reasonable proposals, if perchance it may be of benefit to you in your ongoing research.

Even though it may not be feasible or possible to try to implement this research, as it pertains to public policy, yet, it may be that the additional research on remedial and preventive actions would allow folks to fend off future incursions of diseases of this sort.

The first illustration is taken from the book of Daniel where three Hebrew boys, together with several others, were taken captive by the king of Babylon, who deliberately sought out the best and brightest minds among the Jews. They were to be tasked with learning and understanding sciences, languages and all the conventional knowledge that was available back then. Let’s read:

Daniel 1:3 And the king spoke unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;

4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

Thus, in harmony with their high calling, they were appointed what was considered back then to be the healthiest food available, even that which the king himself ate. However, contrary to the conventional wisdom on the matter, they requested a simple diet of legumes and water, or, more specifically, fruit, vegetables, nuts and grains which was in harmony with God’s ideal set forth in the book of Genesis.

But their request set off an uneasy back and forth between themselves and the chief cook, who was tasked with providing them, the very best diet. And thus, things escalated to the point where it came to a head. In other words, the Chef was certain he was knowledgeable in diets and foods, and Daniel and his companions were also certain that they knew of the best dietary.

So, what does one do when there may be different opinions on such an important matter, where both parties adamantly believe they are right? To solve this conundrum the three Hebrews made the most reasonable offer that would appeal to everyone’s better judgment.

They would put the matter to the test in real time, and thus let the chips fall where they may. If it was proven that the Chef was right, then they would be happy to acquiesce, but if not, then the resulting data would be able to guide Melzar, the Chef in his culinary decisions moving forward.

There was no need for them to enter into heated arguments, nor was it necessary for one to defame the other, as is currently too often the case. It was such a reasonable proposal, to which both parties could comfortably agree that they decided to put the matter to the test, and the rest is history. Let’s read:

Daniel 1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

Those words: “Your faces worse liking” uttered by the Chef implied that the Hebrews’ proposal would be detrimental to their health, that it would cause them to perform below par, that it would endanger their lives, and make them more susceptible to Babylonian diseases and pandemics, worse yet, it could put the Chef’s own life in jeopardy.

Furthermore, if one were to follow the Chef’s logic to its natural end, the dietary plan proposed by the Hebrews would also adversely affect their ability to excel academically thus placing their careers as well their education on the line.

Dr. Fauci, anyone can easily understand the Chef’s concern, for according to conventional wisdom, it was the very best that he was offering to the three Hebrews. However, from the resulting data, Melzar would be able to draw a rational conclusion. And so said so done. Let’s read:

Daniel 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's food: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore, stood they before the king.

20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

Thus, the resulting data from this research revealed a few startling facts which probably had the Chef scratching his head for many days. [1] The test proved that the Chef had inadvertently been feeding the king inferior food all these years. [2] The diet proposed by the Hebrew boys actually caused them to perform ten times better academically.

[3] They were in a much healthier condition than those who in error, had subscribed to conventional wisdom on the matter in question.

This reminds us of a type of unconventional wisdom on diets and foods which Daniel and his companions had probably researched and had practiced in their earlier years. Let’s read:

[Counsels On health pp 229] Flesh was never the best food; but its use is now doubly objectionable, since disease in animals is so rapidly increasing. Tuberculosis, cancer, and other fatal diseases are thus communicated. The liability to take disease is increased tenfold by meat eating. The animals are diseased, and by partaking of their flesh, we plant the seeds of disease in our own tissue and blood. Then, when we are exposed to prevailing epidemics and contagious diseases, the system is not in a condition to resist the disease.

The next illustration is taken from the 1st book of kings, where the nation of Israel had been led deep into a form of science that taught its adherents that the sun and the moon gave their light, and the snow and rain fell upon the earth, on their own, without any intervention or interference from God.

In consequence, a withering drought, with all of its attendant evils came upon the nation, and disease and destruction took its toll upon man and beast, with fearful mortality, very similar to what we are now witnessing today.

Thus, after the nation of Israel had been ravaged by drought and pestilence, it reached a tipping point, and, like the three Hebrews of Daniel chapter 1, a reasonable proposal was made by Elijah, one that should appeal to the better judgment of the people, and depending on the outcome, they would know what course to pursue. Let’s read:

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.

22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answers by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

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 took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and 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.

29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

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.

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

45 And it came to pass in the mean-while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

Dear Dr. Fauci, in the two previous illustrations the science of the day, and the conventional wisdom of the experts back then was pitted against a different type of science and knowledge which was espoused by the three Hebrews and also Elijah, and when put to the test in public view, the results could not be reasoned away, nor gainsaid.

Therefore, in lieu of this, we are suggesting the following reasonable proposals to you and your team, and when the chips fall where they may, it might be discovered that certain scientific facts that would normally pertain to your everyday John Doe, does not necessarily apply in all instances to those persons who truly believe in God, and who obey His laws, methods, and principles of health.

The proposals are designed to address your specific concerns as pertains to the Delta variant, and the unexpected and the unprecedented spread across all age groups, in the vaccinated and unvaccinated. One of your primary concerns is that unvaccinated people are posing a risk to the population, and by their hesitancy, are actually putting the lives of all others at risk.

Now, while it is true that the current CDC data on this question is incontrovertible in the majority of cases across the land, we are proposing to you that this might not necessarily be the case, with certain persons who have followed the counsels given us by God, and who exercise a living faith in Him.

Another concern of yours Dr, Fauci, is that a person can be an asymptomatic carrier unknowingly, and thus may become an existential threat to persons with whom they interact. Again, whilst this might be true with the majority of people, we propose that this may not necessarily be the case with a true Christian who believes in, and obeys God to the best of his or her knowledge.

In fact, it may be discovered, that a truly believing Christian, who embraces the promises, principles, and dietary laws of the Bible are not a risk to society but are actually an asset, in that the lifestyle, habits and principles practiced could then be shared with the greater populace for their benefit.

Thus, to clear up any misgiving, misunderstanding, or questions on these matters, like the 3 Hebrews, and Elijah, we now make the following reasonable proposals, and let the chips fall where they may, then everyone may come to reasonable conclusions accordingly.

Proposal # [1] We propose that your teams would seek out a Christian who is verified to be trusting in God by obeying all His laws, including dietary, and who has not yet been vaccinated. Ask such a person for God’s permission to be tested, and if permission is granted, place such a person in an environment where the Delta variant is rife.

Keep the person in question in that environment, for several days, without masks or any protective gear, mingling freely with patients who are known to be infected with Covid, and when satisfied, have the person tested for viral load, and check to see if any trace of the virus can be detected in his or her nostrils or elsewhere.

Proposal # [2] We propose that you observe that person for several days, so that if any virus was contracted, symptoms can appear, then place that person in the company of unvaccinated people, to see, if as is currently held, the person in question becomes an asymptomatic carrier.

If and when these two simple proposals are put in place, the results would be made plain for all to see, and the information gathered can then be studied so as to help the general population in building up a rugged immune system, together with faith in God, so that we may be better prepared to fend off any future viruses which would certainly arise.

Sir, in conclusion, we would like you to know that we sincerely wish you all the best in your efforts to mitigate the variants that are upon the land, and we hope and pray that your research and the resulting data may serve as a guide moving forward, just as it was with the chief Chef of Babylon.

To those of us who listened in as we spoke with Dr. Fauci, we would like you to know that The God of heaven has given us promises and mitigations for this very time in which we are now living, and thus, it behooves everyone of us to investigate closely, the means, methods, promises and laws, that have been given to us for our best good. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

Psalms 1:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most-High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely, he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most-High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

God Bless!

Christ's Wilderness experience. Sabbath Afternoon 07/31/2021

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

This first and direct encounter with the adversary of souls, after Christ’s baptism contains very important points for us to consider in our own battles against invisible foes. The history of Christ’s wilderness experience is fraught with instructions, so as to guide us when we too are tempted.

There are also issues for us to consider in gaining the victory, just as Jesus did, because He set us an example so that we can be behave intelligently, as it pertains to the battle for our minds. Foremost in this encounter is the fact that Jesus didn’t presume or volunteer to be tempted. Let’s read:

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

Jesus was led by The Spirit of God to be tempted, as should always be the case if and when we too are to be tempted. Wherever possible Christians are under sacred obligation to strictly avoid every unnecessary encounter with devils, for this is presumption, and consequently, can lead to defeat.

When we knowingly place ourselves on enchanted ground, without God bidding us to do so, where the forces of darkness are firmly entrenched, then our vulnerabilities would certainly be exploited, and the result is most often defeat. Jesus, in His model prayer asked God “to lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil”, which tells us that known, unnecessary temptations are to be shunned under all circumstances, except God bids us, as He did with Christ.

Persons who have drinking problems must avoid all venues where liquor is being served and consumed, because a tremendous gravitational pull would be exerted against such individuals. Again, South Beach on a Saturday night will be a poor choice for those who are struggling with porn, because the fires of lust will be kindled by scenes of nudity and flirting.

And there are also intellectual temptations that are tailormade for deep thinkers. To enter, unbidden by God into debate with a known clairvoyant, or with a philosopher who is a known skeptic, infidel, or who is an avowed atheist or satanist, will open the door for devils to take control of our minds.

Such discourses are generally productive of evil, for we cannot win any argument with devils, since they are much more intelligent, and knowledgeable than we are. It will be much better for us to put our little tails between our legs, by avoiding such encounters, for the Bible warns Christians against getting into a debate that only fosters strife. Let’s read:

2nd Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strife.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

When an earnest seeker for truth asks us questions, we may respond in the positive by bringing to bear those passages of scripture that would shed light on the topic in question. But for us to enter into debate just for argument’s sake would accomplish nothing, for not a single soul was ever saved by argument. However, from time to time, as we grow in grace it becomes necessary for our faith to be tested. In the case of Jesus, it was to gain the victory in behalf of man, why the wilderness experience was necessary. In Job’s case it was to clear up grave misconceptions and insinuations put forth by satan, and also for Job to grow.

In our case it may be to certify our decision to go all the way in obeying Christ through deliberate choice because anyone who enters into a relationship with The Lord must do so willingly, not being pressured or coerced to serve Him. But whatever may be the case, let it always be said that if we are tempted, it was The Spirit who led us.

Another point for us to consider is that the devil is an opportunist, and he will tempt us at our weakest points, just as he did with Christ who was, up to this time, at His weakest point physically. After fasting for forty days and nights, the lack of food had taken its toll and acute pangs of hunger came upon Christ with intensity. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.

Every true Christian should be keenly aware of his or her strengths and weaknesses, nor for bragging rights, nor for buckling under temptation, but so as to have an intelligent understanding of our constant need of Christ. We are often tempted at our weakest point, for the devil doesn’t usually waste time tempting us on the things which have no appeal. If there is no desire existing in the heart, then temptations lose their sting, and any effort on the point in question would most likely be futile. Hence the reason why we must be aware of our weak points.

Devils have an accurate account of each temptation which was brought to us in bygone years, and which ones we succumbed to. And thus, they would often reference this hitlist whenever they are frustrated with a person’s faithfulness, or whenever they are permitted to tempt us.

There are temptations which faze us, which may not faze others. With some food is a biggie, where some may struggle with some dietary indulgence such as ice cream, candy, chocolate, or twinkies. These may not be sinful in and of themselves, but because we may have a sweet tooth, we can be tempted to go overboard in indulgence.

Others, like David are not fazed by ice cream, but girls or sensualism may shake them down. It is the will of God that we guard well the avenues of the soul, especially on those weak points by which the assaults of devils may gain ascendency. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

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

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

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

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

Another important point for our consideration, in Christ’s wilderness experience, is that Jesus did not give a reasonable answer for His current condition, even when pressed by the devil. By those words “If thou be The Son of God” satan insinuated that the God of heaven would not allow His Son to suffer the pangs of hunger Jesus was experiencing.

Even though some may not be aware of it, this is one of the most common temptations brought to Christians especially, and with too great success. In his reasoning satan suggests that a divine being who claims oneness with God could never be brought so low as to be emaciated with hunger.

The servant of The Lord, in writing her exposition on the matter, expounds on the ways and means that were employed to unsettle the faith of Christ in His Father and in Himself. That often-repeated phrase “Where is God” which often comes after tragedies such as 9/11, is an echo of the very same mode of thought, uttered in the wilderness.

The reasoning is that if Jesus is one with God certain experiences and conditions would be off limits. And in our own experience, we may also be tempted to question our relationship with God, as Job did. We may be tempted to think that because we are the children of the Most-High that certain situations should never befall us.

This diabolical reasoning is often peddled in the preaching of the health/wealth gospel, where the adversity that befalls a Christian may be credited to a questionable relationship with God. But Christians and unbelievers do suffer adversity from time to time, just like anyone else.

The difference with Christians is that they are being led by The Spirit, and as such, whatever might come our way, be it good, bad or in between, it should be under the guidance of The Holy Ghost. Jesus was led by The Spirit, and as such whatever befell Him, was under the supervision of God.

But for us to think of ourselves as being above the adversities which affect other folk, just because we believe in God, would be a gross misunderstanding of what the scriptures teach on this point. We do have a refuge in Christ, but at times we would pass through the fire and the flood, in our journey to the kingdom.

The fairytale type of Christianity that is void of any adversity or disappointment is not what the Bible teaches. After listing the stunning victories and acts of the faithful in times past, the book of Hebrews reminds us that there were “others”, meaning that other believers had trials of no ordinary character, yet their faith in God was as solid as a rock. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephtha; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

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

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

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, moreover 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 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Abraham was being led by God when, in obedience to His word, he packed up everything he had and moved to the land of Canaan. But not long after, his entire encampment was threatened with starvation in so much that he was led by The Spirit to relocate temporarily in Egypt to weather the storm. Let’s read:

Genesis 12:9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

Thus, it was with Job, when His friends reasoned that God would never permit a faithful, god-fearing man, to suffer as Job was suffering. And then the very next logical suggestion would be to question the status of his professed relationship with God. This reasoning is an echo of those words “If thou be the Son of God”. Let’s read:

Job 4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

[D.A pp 118>119] Would God treat His own Son thus? Would He leave Him in the desert with wild beasts, without food, without companions, without comfort? He insinuates that God never meant His Son to be in such a state as this. “If Thou be the Son of God,” show Thy power by relieving Thyself of this pressing hunger. A divine being would be able to sustain his claim by working a miracle; “if Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.” Such an act of creative power, urges the tempter, would be conclusive evidence of divinity. It would bring the controversy to an end.

This brings us to one of the issues we will have to grapple with as those prophecies predicted in the Bible are being fulfilled. The demand for conclusive evidence is what satan was clamoring for from Jesus and it is often the case that we will be tempted to provide conclusive evidence for what we believe.

The question is: Should it be necessary for Christ to provide conclusive evidence, and is it necessary for us to also give conclusive evidence for a particular course of action God has instructed us to pursue?

One of the issues the remnant people of God would have to confront in these last days is the prospect of not being able to give a logical, satisfactory answer for the ways and means God has instructed us to employ, in dealing with the various adversities that are scheduled to overspread the world.

Logic is often tailored to be the diabolical enemy of faith and whereas we are instructed to give to every man a reason for the hope that is in us, there is not any guarantee that such reasons will make sense to an unbelieving mind.

Working a miracle just to prove His Divinity in this situation would accomplish nothing, for miracles, in and of themselves do not prove anything, because turning stones into bread is something devils may be able to do, at least apparently.

Thus, as a general rule of thumb, persons who may clamor for a sign before they believe would almost always need more miracles to continue believing, instead of taking the evidence of scripture as final confirmation, that’s why Jesus referred satan to “It is written.”

Furthermore, there are persons who would never believe, no matter how many miracles, signs, and explanations God may give. Some of the people in Christ’s day required a sign, just like satan clamored for miracles, but conclusive evidence did nothing to sway their minds in the direction of believing. Let’s read:

John 6:11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Mark 15:31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

There are some who might be struggling with the issue of the current pandemic, who might desire some sign from God in order to believe. But if God were to send an angel from heaven to heal many persons, there are doubts that could still arise. Thus, some may question whether the word of God, its promises and its assurances are sufficient for us to lean on, at such a time as this, or whether we should have back up, just in case.

Almost two years ago we raised the prospect of mandatory vaccinations across the U.S. as a result of Covid and his brethren stalking the land in high and low places. In those early discussions, the role of the church, and its subsequent actions were then brought into question, since we would be facing the prospect of following the leader, as directives come down from persons in authority.

But now as premonition and reality have converged, we could find ourselves in difficult positions in some cases, for the question will be: Should a Christian be forced to accept something in the name of science, if it has not been fully approved by the appointed agency tasked with such approval? And would the church then be forced to adopt such mandates in harmony with rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s? And consequently, will persons be required to provide conclusive, rational evidence for their course of action if it is contrary to conventional wisdom on the matter in question?

Every one of us would have to make an individual choice in the matter, because we must know God for ourselves, just as Christ had known The Father as He endured the wilderness experience. It is worthy of note in the current situation, that one’s compliance will be tied to economic privilege, and the ability of some to work in certain instances.

Christ did not offer a rational explanation for His condition in the wilderness, and we may not be able to give a reasonable answer for the course of action we may pursue. However, if we are being led by The Spirit, that’s all that really matters, for at the end of the day, living under the guidance of The Spirit will make all the difference when the dust has settled.

Therefore, as our own wilderness experience begins to loom large on the horizon, it is the will of God that the course of action demonstrated by Christ should be adopted and followed by all who believe. Believers are not to place themselves unbidden into temptation and we must be led by The Spirit of God every situation.  

Yet, the words of Christ in the wilderness should be ours as we endeavor to navigate and mitigate those adversities which would certainly be coming our way. In response to that first wilderness temptation Jesus uttered words of immortal truth which should form the basis for all our actions and decisions. Let’s read:

 Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

                                    God bless!

Drugs, Sex, And Marijuana. Sabbath afternoon 07/24/2021

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

The battle that is taking place in the spiritual realm is a battle for the mind because it’s there where our decisions take place. Judgement, discretion, and the abilities to discern between right and wrong, truth and error, all take place in the mind, and therefore, anything that will damage the frontal lobes and the gray matter in our brains is made readily available.

Some might wonder why we keep referring to the X-perts in questionable terms; it is because some of their recommendations and suggestions are often contrary to that which is written, and even though some of them might be quite sincere, they could inadvertently become agents of evils, whenever they are not guided by God.

For clarification, there is nothing wrong with getting a Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate, if one is able to preserve the God factor in the process for according to the sacred record, Daniel and his 3 companions were led by God to higher learning in the schools of Babylon. There is nothing inherently wrong with it.

Yet, for all the science, mythology, arts, languages, math, and philosophy they studied, the God factor was never permitted to be interfered with and thus, their hybrid of secular education, together with the study and embrace of the sacred oracles, did not make the knowledge of God subservient to what they had been taught in the universities of the day.

Instead, whenever their secular education clashed with the scriptures, the wisdom of man was held in subjection, and thus, God could use them in their educated capacity to speak and witness to princes and kings, in a manner that would not compromise truth or duty.

Having said that, God-faring parents in our day are faced with challenges of no ordinary character, for while it is still good for kids to reach for the stars in their educational pursuits, yet, more and more, and ever so often, certain secular modes of thought and some of the philosophies now being disseminated to students, are posing existential threats to faith, and truth.

And therefore, if we are not very careful, the God factor will be threatened existentially, to the point of no return, if one’s faith in God, and belief in His word are not held supreme in one’s mind. Bit by bit and ever so subtly, laws, concepts, suggestions and clamors of the carnal mind are being incorporated into the learning systems of the day.

Parents are now faced with the prospect of children being educated in same-sex relationships, as well as gender neutral philosophies. Thus, whenever any of these concepts are juxtaposed with the legalization of marijuana and wine, we’ll have a toxic mix on our hands because how can parents teach their children properly when the laws of the land, and the secular philosophies are sanctioning evil? Let’s read:

By Ryan Nobles and Clare Foran, CNN Updated 2:08 PM ET, Wed July 14, 2021

The Senate Majority Leader and a group of other Senate Democrats introduced draft legislation on Wednesday that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level by striking it from the federal controlled substances list. It's significant for a Senate majority leader to back such a measure, and the move highlights the evolving politics of cannabis policy. At a news conference, the majority leader vowed to "use my clout to make this a priority in the Senate."

Marijuana is now legal in forty-six states, and if the current proposed legislation passes, parents will be facing the grim prospect of not being able to warn children of the inherent dangers of smoking pot and when this is added to the legislation of certain drugs and readily available, highly addictive pain killers, the battle for the mind can be lost.

The “X-perts” have for very many years suggested the legalization of marijuana, and various lobbying groups have taken up the call for legislators to pass laws that would permit both the medicinal, and the recreational use of the drug even though it’s known to produce hallucinations and many questionable behaviors and dangerous side effects of all sorts. Let’s read:

Schizophrenia: a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation.

Schizophrenia linked to marijuana use disorder is on the rise, study finds. By Katie Hunt, CNN Updated 4:18 AM ET, Thu July 22, 2021.

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling mental disorder. Its symptoms may include delusions, thought disorder and hallucinations. No cure exists, so doctors try to manage the symptoms with medications and therapy.

But, just like all other harmful indulgences coming from the tree of good and evil, its so-called benefits are being paraded up front, and persons fall for the science and research which seem to suggest that it would be positively good for the human family, on many different levels.

May we here say that evil is always advertised and sold under the banner of having some benefit, for it’s very rare that perpetrators of sinful indulgences will come out plainly and say “This thing will kill you for sure”.

Again, as we see how some drugs are advertised it’s usually with persons smiling, and touting the great benefits thereof, whilst in the fine print below, the adverse effects which such companies are forced to reveal, are written in the smallest possible lettering, in so much that folks may have to use a magnifying glass to read the truth in the matter.

Several over the counter drugs affect the mind in very adverse ways, ranging from suicidal thoughts to various hallucinations, delusions, and giddiness. In addition to this, drugs are often sold in the form of liquors, weed, candies, cookies, milkshakes, and the result is basically one and the same in many too instances.

The mind is altered, strange thoughts and desires arise, and individuals are driven to do things they would not do, under normal circumstances. Thus, while marijuana may offer some relief from pain on the one hand, it affects the mind adversely on the other.

spiritous liquors may give a temporary relief from one’s troubles, but when the hangover comes, and reality sets in, persons are in a worse condition than before, and the fallout continues. Therefore, with a little good comes a ton of evil, and before you are aware of it, persons become hooked, often for life.

Therefore, as we address the topics of drugs, sex, and marijuana, we will investigate what effects are produced in the mind, how such indulgences often lead to persons making unwise and sometimes fatal decisions, and how we must avoid becoming swept up in the snares that are being laid for the feet of the unwary, in these last days.

Question: Can unbridled sexual indulgence including pornography, cause a rational thinking person to do something irrational? Answer: Yes. Absolutely!

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 washing herself; 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; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

In this instance, the sting of unbridled lust caused David to put his entire career on the line. His noble deeds of kindness towards Saul, when the king was seeking his life, his heroic deed in slaying Goliath by the power of God, and many of those sacred Psalms he wrote while in the wilderness of Engedi, all these good accomplishments were lost sight of as it were, in a moment of time.

David did not stop to reason, that somebody would know something at some point in time, for the wife of Uriah would have to pass through the royal court on her way to that unfortunate rendezvous. Thus, because someone will always snitch, it wouldn’t be possible to completely cover up the issue.

Furthermore, David didn’t stop to think about what effect his actions would have upon those under his jurisdiction, who looked up to him as a role model, and who trusted his integrity for many years. All of these things went out the window, as the force of unbridled lust took a hold on him.

The same is often true in our day, for there have been instances where certain politicians who had a stellar record previously, were presumably hiking, far up in those Appalachian Mountains. And your everyday John Doe, who has become hooked on porn, can also be made vulnerable to doing some irrational things that could greatly alter his or her after history.

And we must never be deceived into thinking that these problems only belonged to David, Solomon, and Herod, for even God-fearing men can succumb to the same bewitching power, if they are not very careful. Hence the reason why, when Paul wrote to those early Christians, he warned them not to think that just because they believed in Jesus, that they were invulnerable to temptation on this point.

The battle for the mind is not a pagan thing only, it is a Christian thing, and much more so if one tries to fend off foes from without and within. That is why a Christian husband and his wife who are still sexually active, would order their steps with sound wisdom and discretion, not assuming that the other could be invincible. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Satan only needs one weak link in the chain of one’s character or habits, to undo the entire person, and therefore, if inordinate sexual activity of any sort is one’s pet rock, it will inevitably find its way into the mind, and will grip the frontal lobes with fingers of iron, from which it will become very difficult to escape.

This leads us to our second issue of drugs, for after hearing the unwelcome news, David finds himself in a very difficult position, because according to what is written, Uriah could legally take David’s life, a dire prospect from which David would fain turn away.

Thus, because his back is now against a wall, he will resort to strategy, if by any means, he could get the husband of Bathsheba to sleep with her, for if this were the case, then the child would obviously be credited to them, since DNA testing was many years away. But all of his efforts fail miserably, and he is left only one more option, to turn to the use of drugs to try to interfere with Uriah’s rational thought process.

Like so many in the industry in our day, David knew that one’s ability to reason is adversely affected by the use of liquor, and therefore, he reaches into his refrigerator, and pulls out a bottle of Johnny walker if perchance he may win the battle for Uriah’s mind. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 11:6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.

8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord and went not down to his house.

10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?

11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here today also, and tomorrow I will let thee depart. So, Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.

13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord but went not down to his house.

Leviticus 10:9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations:

10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.

Putting difference between holy and the unholy obviously has to do with one’s ability to distinguish and differentiate between right and wrong, good and evil. When one’s mind becomes beclouded by the use of drugs, marijuana and liquor, the sense of discrimination and discernment is greatly impaired, and as a result such persons often do foolish things that they often regret for life.

Case in point was Belshazzar, who because of the use spiritous liquors, made the fatal mistake of blending that which is holy with that which is vile. As the Johnny walker black began to take its toll on his mind, he lost his sense of right and wrong, and he sent for the vessels which had been dedicated to the service of God.

But little would he know that by such an act, while under the influence of wine, that he would close his own probation, with no possibility of forgiveness or repentance. It is a solemn statement that is made, that there are certain lines that must never ever be crossed, for some of them are points of no return. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The writing on the wall was Mene, Mene Tekel Upharsin and it was written in Aramaic, which at that time was in fact one of the everyday languages of Mesopotamia, and therefore, the question is why could not any of Babylon’s translators and linguists, interpret the hand writing?

At this point, the DJ had stopped playing, and that familiar song: red, red, wine faded in the distance, and in its stead, a solemn silence and an ominous foreboding took hold of the party because what had just taken place seemed to foreshadow a grim day of reckoning. Let’s read:

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

25 And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.

26 This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it.

27 Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

28 Peres; Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

That was back then, but in our day there are literally thousands of drugs being made readily available to the young and the old, prominent among which is marijuana, known by other names such as Cannabis, weed, and ganja.

We must be crystal clear concerning this drug, for it is dangerous to the frontal lobes, and because it has been found to produce hallucinations and delusions the minds of those who indulge freely in it cannot be trusted to make sound judgments, let alone to recommend anything to any person in the name of doing good.

Persons will discover in these final days of earth’s history, that we have to be very careful from whom we take advice, and if it is known that one is a user of Cannabis, all the more caution must be exercised, because thoughts and suggestions coming from the mind that is hallucinated, produces evils in others who may be deceived thereby.

One night, whilst playing at a carnival party with Gregory Isaacs, we were contacted to do the band music for him. But before coming onto the stage to the roar of the crowds, the singer virtually set the stage on fire with weed, and those poor musicians were then engulfed in a cloud of smoke, that set the stage for mass hallucinations.

It is worthy of note that when closely observed, the push to legalize marijuana was laced with research touting its benefits as a pain reliever, and because so many individuals suffer with chronic pain, it was seen as benefit to the human family.

But, just as it was in days of old, so it continues to be, for some good is usually marketed with a ton of evil and before you know it ganja moved from being a pain reliever to being a recreational drug, to now being legalized in almost every state in the country.

Satan knows exactly what he is doing, because he understands better than we do, that if something evil has some good laced with it, persons are more likely to morph toward the evil with the passage of time, and thus, he always markets darkness with just enough light to give it plausibility.

But blending 1% poison with 99% orange juice does not render the poison fit for consumption. On the contrary, it is more likely to be taken unawares by those who may not be the wiser.

Thus, with proper marketing, and with the backing of the legislature, a multitude of hallucinated, and deluded minds are set to proliferate across the land, becoming the norm, and like with every other good and evil mixture, we would be paying a very heavy price for many years to come. Thus, saith The Lord.

The following excerpts were taken from studies done by The National Institutes of Health.

“While marijuana use is prevalent among the adolescent population, research has shown that there can be devastating effects on health and well-being. A review of the literature shows that marijuana use can have a negative impact on physical health, psychological well-being, and multiple psycho-social outcomes. Adolescents who used marijuana more frequently and began using marijuana at an earlier age experienced worse outcomes and long-lasting effects.

According to the “Monitoring the Future” 2014 survey results from a large sample of high school students in the United States, marijuana use was found to be the most commonly used illicit substance with 35.1 percent of high school seniors reporting use in the past year.

Roughly two-thirds of high school seniors reported not considering regular marijuana use to be harmful, despite much research that has proven otherwise. About 12 percent of people over 12 years old had reported marijuana use in the past year, with especially high rates of use among youth.

Marijuana has been found to be an addictive substance with increased chances of addiction for those who begin using as teenagers and especially among those who smoke marijuana daily. Undoubtedly, the most concerning issue regarding recreational marijuana use are the numerous adverse effects impacting adolescent youth and those effects that may lead to long-term consequences for development.

Marijuana use has been associated with increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, health problems, psychiatric symptoms, and poorer educational outcomes. Marijuana is also commonly referred to as the ultimate “gateway drug” leading to increased chances of using other illicit substances. These adverse effects can be extremely harmful to the health, safety, and emotional well-being of the nation's youth.”

Thus, because the time is now and the place is here, we are left no choice but to deliver the goods as is written in the Bible. Even though the grace of God is readily available to all persons, the raw fact of the matter is that when one’s mind has been damaged by marijuana, there are after-effects that may linger on for many years.

The natural laws of sowing and reaping are in most cases allowed to run their natural course, and even though repentance and change may be embarked upon, the damage has already been done. Thus, we are to understand that prevention is better always than cure.

However, the Bible does offer hope to anyone who may be caught in the snare of the devil and thus, we would encourage all who may be entangled therein to pray like never before. It is also mandatory in instances of addiction, that the adversely affected persons do not continue to associate with those who are doing weed, because the gravitational pull of friends and habit can lead ultimately, to a relapse.

Therefore, in harmony with the urgency of the time we’ll end our discourse with a grim reminder, that we have been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus, and as such, it is our sacred duty, and moral responsibility to keep our minds and bodies in the best possible condition, while at the same time, not parleying with evil in any way shape or form. Let’s read:

Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee consent thou not.

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path.

1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

God bless!

When Shall These Things be? Sabbath afternoon 07/10/2021

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.

Many persons who once scoffed at those end times events predicted in the scripture are now rethinking their perspectives, because try as we might it seems as if the inevitable is gradually placing a choke-hold on the entire globe, regardless of whether persons will believe or not, for the fulfillment of prophecy is not dependent on whether folks believe.

From the disturbed weather patterns which cause a change in the frequency and severity of storms, to the rapid increase of crime across the land and then to the utter intransigence of the political landscape, all of these problems, converging at the same time, tell us that the coming of Christ is nearer than when we first believed.

Added to the mix, we have the ongoing emerging strains of the virus, which will continue to mutate, and cause additional headaches on a personal and national level. And while it is important for us not to immerse ourselves in the negative news of the day, it is also important for us to be cognizant of what is taking place.

The reason for this is that the Bible tells us when we see these things coming to pass, we should look up, knowing that our redemption draws near. In other words, the increase of irresolvable problems across the earth, are actually heralds of the morning, for it is a fact that the darkest hour of the night comes just before dawn. Let’s read:

Isaiah 21:11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night.

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

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

Luke 21: 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.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

One of the important pointers to remember, as we consider the topic: When Shall These Things Be, is that America is the focal point of the fulfillment of end-time events. It’s not China, nor Russia, nor is it any Muslim country or even Israel; it’s America that will be the last super power upon the earth, prior to the second coming of Christ. Let’s read:

Revelation 13: 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

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

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.

Even though the entire world will be engulfed, yet, it is the land of the free, and the home of the brave that will take center stage, and as such, the adverse developments taking place here are to be studied closely. In other words, the place is here and the time is now.

Another pointer that is given in scripture is that of the increase in frequency and severity, as far as the events foretold will be occurring.

Just as a woman in labor pain groans, because of the increasing labor pains and severe contractions just before she is delivered of her child, just so the earth would be experiencing contractions, cramps, and pains, prior to the end of all things. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

Thus, just as the Bible has predicted, many of those signs given by Jesus and the prophets are now being fulfilled in real time, and some reporters unwittingly make reference to that which is written in the Bible.

But, together with the increase of earth’s problems are the mitigation efforts God has put in place for everyone who believes. Jesus does not predict bad news without providing a way of escape for all who will believe and obey His word.

The flood came, but the ark was provided. Sodom was destroyed, but a way of escape out of the city was provided. Similarly, as we consider events of

the last days, we would observe from the scripture that provision and protection will be granted to any, and every person on the planet who would choose to believe the written and The Living word of God.

God knows the end from the beginning, and He has forewarned us in His word of the very things we are now seeing taking place across America and indeed, the entire world. Therefore, the following facts are just a snapshot of what is currently underway, and it will spiral out of control with the passage of time.

Again, the adverse situations outlined below will be juxtaposed with passages of scripture, containing predictions and mitigation, where applicable so we all could see clearly that God has not left us without any hope, but instead has provided a way of escape for all those who will believe. Let’s read:

[1] Water is disappearing in the West – and not just during the summer. By Hannah Gard, CNN. The West’s historic drought has many impacts, including water shortages, more severe wildfire seasons and unprecedented heat waves, to name a few.

Snow runoff is a critical fresh water source around the world; around a sixth of Earth’s population uses runoff for drinking, farming, power and other uses, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A snow drought in the West appeared early last winter, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System. The paltry snow-pack, paired with well-below normal rainfall and extreme heat, is at the core of the region’s water-supply concerns.

On Thursday, the US Drought Monitor reported 93%

of the West is in drought, the most expansive drought in that region in modern records. Michael Dettinger, a hydrologist for the US Geological Survey, said this year’s snow-melt runoff was bad on several fronts.

The first was the snow drought itself. By April 1, winter precipitation was just 50% of normal, and the snow that did fall contained 40% less water than it normally does. The second problem was that the air in California has been so dry, the runoff evaporated before it reached the reservoirs.

Isaiah 33: 15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

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

[2] Cattle are competing against grasshoppers for food in the West's historic drought.

The bugs are winning. By Rachel Ramirez, CNN Updated 10:43 AM ET, Fri July 2, 2021.

Grasshoppers, which thrive in hot, dry weather, have been defoliating trees and competing with cattle for food, and the bugs are winning. Ranchers are selling cattle "due to poor forage conditions and a lack of feed," according to the latest US drought monitor.

Agriculture officials plan to aerially spray more than 2.6 million acres of Montana grasslands with insecticides in an attempt to kill grasshopper populations. That's an area larger than both the state of Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

"The problem with insecticide treatments is that it could actually worsen grasshopper outbreaks in the future by harming natural enemies or grasshopper competitors which, under natural conditions, serve to limit pest grasshoppers," Selvaggio said.

"Climate change may bring us more grasshoppers in the future in increased frequency, duration or severity," she said.

Joel 1:17 The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.

18 How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

19 O Lord, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.

[3] Unprecedented heat, hundreds dead and a town destroyed. Climate change is frying the Northern Hemisphere. By Angela Dewan, CNN Updated 3:58 AM ET, Sun July 4, 2021

The tiny town of Lytton has come to hold a grim record. On Tuesday, it experienced Canada's highest-ever temperature, in an unprecedented heat wave that has over a week killed hundreds of people and triggered more than 240 wildfires across British Columbia, most of which are still burning.

Lytton hit 49.6 degrees Celsius (121.3 degrees Fahrenheit), astounding for the town of just 250 people nestled in the mountains, where June maximum temperatures are usually around 25 degrees.

This past week, however, its nights have been hotter than its days usually are, in a region where air conditioning is rare and homes are designed to retain heat. Scientists have warned for decades that climate change will make heat waves more frequent and more intense.

That is a reality now playing out in Canada, but also in many other parts of the northern hemisphere that are increasingly becoming uninhabitable.

Roads melted this week in America's northwest, and residents in New York City were told not to use high-energy appliances, like washers and dryers — and painfully, even their air conditioners — for the sake of the power grid. In Russia, Moscow reported its highest-ever June temperature of 34.8/95 degrees on June 23, and Siberian farmers are scrambling to save their crops from dying in an ongoing heat wave.

And in Iraq, authorities announced a public holiday across several provinces for Thursday, including the capital Baghdad, because it was simply too hot to work or study, after temperatures surpassed 50c/ 122 F degrees and its electricity system collapsed.

"So we've seen these unprecedented temperatures — records being broken not just by a few degrees, being absolutely smashed," Bentley said.

Isaiah 4:5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense.

6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Psalms 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

[4] Biden's Fourth of July celebrations clouded by a gnawing concern over the Delta variant of Covid-19.

By Kevin Liptak and Kaitlan Collins, CNN.

Even as a crowded South Lawn represented scenes of celebration across the country, concerns about the continuing spread of the virus remain strong inside the administration. In private meetings, Biden has questioned advisers about the broader impact the highly contagious variant could have on the US, according to people present.

In a sign that the pandemic is far from over, officials also said the administration plans to extend the public health emergency declaration for the pandemic .... and foreign travel to countries where the Delta variant is resurgent, including the United Kingdom, is still on hold as officials hope to avoid new cases coming in to the US.

Global Covid-19 death toll surpasses 4 million. By Deidre McPhillips and Nectar Gan, CNN Updated 11:49 PM ET, Wed July 7, 2021.

More than 4 million people around the world have died of Covid-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. In total, three countries account for more than a third of all global deaths. The United States, which has the highest number of fatalities at 606,000, accounts for 15% of the global total, followed by Brazil and India.

The Delta variant, a more transmissible and possibly more dangerous strain of Corona-virus, is also contributing to an increase in cases in some countries and regions. In the US, the Delta variant now makes up more than half of all new infections, according to estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

[5] At least 150 people fatally shot in more than 400 shootings over the Fourth of July weekend. By Emma Tucker, Omar Jimenez and Kristina Sgueglia, CNN

At least 150 people were killed by gun violence in more than 400 shootings across the country during the 4th of July weekend as major cities nationwide confront a surge in violent crime, according to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive.

The data, which includes the number of shooting incidents and gun violence victims nationally over a 72-hour period from Friday through Sunday, is still evolving and will be updated.

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, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.

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.

Psalms 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

You will notice that for every distress, perplexity or danger, the Bible gives us promises of God to lean on. One thing it does not do is to suggest the use of man-made efforts, such as doomsday bunkers, and hoarding as mitigation strategies. But it does enjoin faith and obedience as the only way to survive.

And we can go on, and on, and on, but it will do us no good to be overwhelmed with prophecies that predict doom, if there’s no way of escape. This leads us to that cryptic statement that we have repeated ever so often on this forum. Here it is:

One day soon, in the not too distant future, all those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior will be mighty glad they did so.

The reason for this statement is that the Christian’s refuge is not to be found in man-made solutions, or in hoarding precious goods and groceries. Our hope is to be centered in Christ, who desires that through believing and loving obedience, we may come to an intelligent understanding of His character, and thus be found in a relationship with Him.

It is not the will of God that any individual should perish, or suffer through the terrors of the last days, for He has made ample provision in Christ so that if any person desires to be saved, they can make their move now, before there’s a rush for the door.

The time will come when there would be a famine in the land, a famine for the unadulterated word of God and many people shall run to and fro searching for answers, but the truth will become a very scarce commodity. Thus, the following steps can and should be taken urgently, by all who earnestly desire the knowledge of God, as it is in Jesus.

[1] If you have been procrastinating and putting off your soul’s salvation for another day, do not delay any longer. No one is promised tomorrow, and your window of opportunity that is opened today can be closed with very short notice, as took place in the collapsed towers on Miami beach. 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.

15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

[2] If persons have been sitting on the fence, in the valley of decision, it is now high time to make your move. In the spiritual realm there is no such thing as middle ground, for everyone is either in God’s camp or in the domain of devils. Therefore God’s call goes out: who is on The Lord’s side, let him or her take a firm, definite stand for Jesus Christ, by believing and obeying His word. Let’s read:

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

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, and the strength of the children of Israel.

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.

[3] If persons have already accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, and for some reason may be thinking of giving up or turning back, think no more, because your ticket and seat to glory will be taken by those who will be coming in at the eleventh hour, if you turn your back on Christ.

This represents the most earnest exhortation for every baptized member of God’s family to stay the course with Jesus, until faith and reality converge. Disappointments, and discouragements must never be allowed to quench our faith, and thus, The Lord says to us, hang in there for just awhile. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

Hebrews 10: 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

26 For if we sin wilfully 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.

Thus, in lieu of the perilous times in which we live, it behooves us to live soberly, and righteously in this generation, not digging ourselves deeper into those systems of earth, but looking forward to that great day when Christ will make all things new.

We therefore end with two passages of scripture which should help us to keep our eyes on Jesus, so that we would not become distracted, and dismayed as we consider when shall these things be. Let’s read:

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

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

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

Luke 21:34 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.

God bless!

Conditions Of Answered Prayer. Sabbath afternoon 07/03/2021

Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Some Christians may often become bewildered as to why their prayers are not being answered, or if they are answered, why does it take so long. We might not be able to give an explanation in every situation, but what we do know is that there are certain conditions for answered prayer which are to be fulfilled in order to expect results.

Prayer is one of the vital lines of communication between God and man, and therefore it’s important that those channels be clear and unobstructed at all times. Our consciences must not be seared with any known or deliberate sin and asking in harmony with God’s will is a must, but, because folks are climbing Jacob’s ladder, we may not get these prerequisites right every time.

So, God has gone ahead and made provision for the situations where we may ask incorrectly by allowing His Holy Spirit to make intercession for us according to His will. This facility clears up the inconsistencies, the misunderstandings, and the inexperience that may plague the believer from time to time, so that we can still ask with confidence.

Thus, whatever may be our situation, and whatever may be our level of spiritual growth, let it be known that we can always ask, because folks would never, know if they never asked. Even king Saul, who was pregnant with deliberate sin asked; it’s true that he did not get an answer, but at the very least he could ask.

Thus, no one can or should be deprived of the bare minimum of asking. Even the devils understand this basic truth, for even though they are the diabolical enemies of Christ, yet from time to time they do ask and believe it or not, they even get answers.

On one such occasion, when they were just about to be evicted from a certain human house in which they were residing, they made a request of Jesus if they could go into the swine. And Christ answered in the positive and gave them leave, and the rest is history.

This leads us to the very first condition of answered prayer, which is the bare minimum:

[1] Asking!

Whatever may be our understanding of God, or of how spiritual things work, it would never hurt to ask anyway, for you can never go wrong with asking, for according to the scriptures, the very first step in us receiving any answer to prayer is to ask.

The same will be true of getting re-employed in our booming economy, because now that it is opening back up and there’s more hiring than firing, the very least persons can do is to apply, because, whether yea or nay, you won’t get an answer, or a job, if you never applied.

Some won’t receive if they never asked, and it is a solemn truth, that many avoidable challenges, and burdens and frustrations abound, because we never asked. Thus, we encourage everyone to ask anyway. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

8 For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Asking calls for humility in the human agent, for it demonstrates our dependence on Jesus to provide. Too often, we hesitate to ask until the last minute, only after becoming frustrated and exasperated. It is God’s will that we ask up front, so that He could guide us through the maze of possibilities that may be before us.

[2] Believing.

The very next condition of answered prayer is to believe. This one is huge, for very often our prayers may go unanswered, because we doubted that God would or could do such and such for us. The gold standard for believing is not to limit God in anyway, by restricting His power to mere finite limitations.

Where in one situation persons may only see a few possibilities, God sees a thousand, for there is never a want or lack on His path for ways and means to do what He determines to accomplish. God is not finite as humans are, and He does not think along human modes of thought, for there is nothing impossible to Him. Therefore, if for some reason there isn’t a way out, He will make a way out.

This is one point that the devil often tempts us on, and sadly, with great success, for he presents to us limitations, restrictions, and doubts so that persons become bogged down with only humanistic ways and means. Thus, we have to declare unequivocally that there is always a way out, while the possibility of any escape exists. This understanding is of critical importance when employing the shield of faith in the day to day experiences of the believer.

At times we have battles to fight and there may be some thorny issues which persist for years. And it’ll seem as if we are caught between the devil and the deep red sea, with old pharaoh in the rear, and the ocean before us. Yet, for the believer there’s always a way out. Let us repeat so that you hear correctly: There is always a way out! Always!

In fact, God was not at a loss for ways and means when He chose to lead His people through the red sea, for this was not the only way of escape. God could have caused those Egyptians to turn back in dismay without doing anything.

But He deliberately chooses to lead all the Hebrews through the red sea for specific reasons, and that is because He had determined kill two birds with one stone as it were; [1] To baptize them all at once and [2] To shake down pharaoh and his army once and for all, that’s all. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Exodus 15:3 The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.

4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil.

10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

Therefore, whatsoever may be our prayer request, it is of critical importance for us to believe, that God is able, and that He will make a way according to His good will. Answers to prayer are contingent upon us believing and greatly affects the outcome according to the scriptures. Let’s read:

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

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

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

Mark 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

[3] Asking in Jesus name.

Question: What does “In Jesus name” really mean?”

This issue must needs be addressed because great confusion over the meaning of the phrase exists. It is true that many things are asked and done in the name of Jesus in our day, yet we must understand that merely mentioning Jesus name after a petition does not necessarily make that request or deed in His name.

According to the scripture, true Christians can make requests and they often do things in Jesus’ name. It is an indisputable fact, demonstrated and certified in the Bible.

But devils and false prophets can also make prayer requests, and they often perform healings in “Jesus’ name.” In fact, there have been answers to prayers on certain occasions, in the most literal sense, that had absolutely nothing to do with Jesus.

Therefore, it is of critical importance that we know the difference between “In Jesus’ name” and those counterfeits that often abound in Christendom. The passages which follow demonstrate that there are litmus tests which must be applied in discerning the good from the evil. We’ll begin with the positives. Let’s read:

Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

The counterfeits

Matthew 24:4 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.

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.

Acts 8: 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one.

10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

Thus, we ask the question again: What does it mean to ask or do something in Jesus name?

To ask in Jesus’ name means to ask in harmony with His will, according to what God has promised, being guided by The Holy Spirit in our requests, walking in harmony with God’s revealed will as best we know how, and being willing to receive any answers God will give.

This fourth of July, as we celebrate the birthday of the nation, friends and families would gather for the barbecue and cookouts, which were in short supply last year due to the pandemic. And in some cases, a blessing, in Jesus’ name will be asked upon the food that is to be consumed.

That’s all well and good. But if the menu contains any forbidden foods that are proscribed in the Bible the prayer will not be answered, for it contravenes God’s revealed will, and as such, His blessing would not rest upon such violations. To put it plainly, such a prayer will not be answered.

Again, when praying in Jesus’ name, any known sin will have to be confessed and forsaken first, so that the prayers will not be hindered. This is just one of the litmus tests that are to be applied in our day, if persons need to know if some preacher or healer is operating in Jesus’ name.

When persons deliberately walk contrary to any of God’s commandments, doing so puts him or her at odds with God, and the lines of communication will be clogged, unless confession is made. This is one of the sacred truths which must be clearly understood in our day, for many prayers are lifted by those who have knowingly disregarded God’s law. Let’s read:

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

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.

Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

1st Kings 22:2 And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?

5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord today.

6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

There’s only one problem, king Ahab had innocent blood on his hands, by colluding with Jezebel to get Naboth’s vineyard. In addition to this, he permitted the grossest idolatry and wickedness to flourish in his kingdom. So now that he is preparing for battle, is he really expecting God to bless him?

It’s worthy of note that Ahab fulfilled at least some of the previous conditions we spoke about earlier, for he did ask, and he did believe, but the important component of not deliberately cherishing a known sin was missing. Therefore, his prayers could never receive a favorable answer. Let’s read:

1st Kings 22:7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?

8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.

This is where the true believer’s prayers and those who fall for presumption part ways. Like king Ahab, there are many people living today who will just like to believe that God will grant a favorable answer to their requests, even though they may know of sins that are being countenanced by themselves.

Then, to quiet disturbed consciences, some will pay the false prophets of the day to speak those smooth words which promise prosperity, health, and God’s favor. Like Ahab, some folks hate the servant of God who calls for repentance and change where needed before God’s favor and blessings are restored.

But God means what He says, and the conditions for answered prayer given in the scriptures have never changed one iota. In other words, if we regard sin in any form, or if known wrongs are not confessed and forsaken then if we pray, we may get an answer but it will not be one that guarantees God’s blessing.

God does not bless deliberate disobedience, and it is an empty and unreasonable expectation to pray for His blessing, if there are known wrongs to be corrected, confessed, and forsaken. Let’s read:

1st Kings 22:14 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.

17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

20 And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.

22 And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

23 Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.

[4] Asking correctly.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

It is God’s will that believers cultivate an intelligent understanding of His will and purposes. Praying for something that will not honor God, or that will be a danger to ourselves and to others is not generally in harmony with God’s will. The apostle lists praying amiss as one of the reasons why prayers are often unanswered.

For example, if a person were to pray for a winning lotto ticket, that request would fall into the “Amiss” category because get rich quick schemes are mostly banned in the Bible. Again, if one prays for anything or anyone, to fulfill an illicit desire or craving which may foster pride, vices or bad habits, those too will fall under the heading, “Amiss”. Let’s read:

Proverbs 28:22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.

1st Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

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

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

[5] Acting upon the request.

After any prayer request is made, persons are to act upon the request, looking for the ways and means in which it may be fulfilled. Persons who only pray and do nothing in harmony with their prayers would soon cease to pray because in every aspect of man’s relationship with God, cooperation with Him is an absolute essential.

After praying for a job or for employment, we are to send in our resumes to numerous companies until we get an answer. After praying for good, health we are to examine our groceries, and our refrigerators to see if there is anything “Amiss” that may hinder our prayers.

After praying for an individual, we are to go looking for that person to see where we can be of help or of benefit to him or her. The gospel commission as it is given by Christ does not start with the word pray, it starts with the word go, and therefore, even though prayers are essential, yet the cooperation aspect is of critical importance to the saving of souls.

Thus, in all of life’s experiences, where our prayer requests are made to God, the eye of faith will be on the lookout for ways and means to facilitate the answers we are seeking. This is not merely a good suggestion, it’s a must. Let’s read:

Mark 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Faith without works is dead, and because of this, there will always be something for us to do in our efforts to cooperate with God in having our prayers answered, no matter how minuscule or insignificant such cooperation may seem to be.

Those Hebrews who were bitten by fiery serpents, and who prayed for healing, were required to look upon the uplifted serpent, and they would live. Naaman was required to dip seven times in Jordan, in response to his request. The ten lepers who had requested healing had to go show themselves to the priests. Let’s read:

Luke 17:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

Therefore, we reiterate that in most instances there will be something for us to do to cooperate with the Lord in having our prayers answered. It may be the confession of sin, obeying some directives He gives, or it may involve addressing lifestyles and habits to deal with the current pandemic.

But whatsoever it may be, let it be known that if prayers are to be answered, there are conditions to be met, and when they are, we may look forward in confidence to God fulfilling His promises to persons in due season.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which will encourage us all to pray, because it is one of the primary means that God has ordained for questions, requests, and answers to be resolved between God and man. Let’s read:

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

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

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

God Bless!

The Spirit Of Unbelief. Sabbath afternoon 06/26/2021

Hebrews 3: 18 And to whom swore 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.

Throughout the history of our world, persons who have truly believed in God have always been in the minority. That is not something new, for from the time sin entered in the garden of Eden, the spirit of unbelief has been passed down to every generation, some more some less.

And as we get closer to the end of earth’s history, a very strong undercurrent of doubt and unbelief will grip persons with iron fingers from which it will be very difficult to escape. Most of the difficulties we experience in surmounting hurdles, challenges and problems in life, are indeed the result of unbelief.

For the record, God has given to His people a very different way of life, in contrast with secular modes of thought and action. The way true Christians are to approach difficulty is quite different to how the secular mind will deal with the same problems, and often with greatly varying results.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal nor are they visible to the naked eye, for they are spiritual in nature. Very many of the challenges we’ll face in the spiritual realm, such as bad habits, illicit desires, self-control, and unbelief, are intangible. Therefore, our approach to subduing these issues will require invisible strategies.

There are several ways to cross the red sea. You can sail across, fly across, or persons can walk across by faith. There are several ways to deal with infectious diseases, financial difficulty, weight-loss, addictions, mental health problems, infertility, and any other issue that may arise from time to time.

Faith in The Living God is the key by which all of the supernatural resources of heaven are unlocked, and for all those who truly believe, we will discover that although we would have problems, just like anyone else, yet the methods that God instructs us to use will move mountains, and defy logic, where secular methods would often fail miserably.

We are facing an invisible foe and if we desire to be conquerors in the battles of life, we will have to use invisible weapons. That’s, why the Bible lists several key weapons in the Christian’s arsenal which cannot be touched, interfered with or hacked. Faith, prayer and belief, together with obedience, and the sword of the spirit are just a few to mention.

But when employed against the visible and invisible forces of darkness, they produce amazing results, in contrast to carnal methods. But, for all intents and purposes history teaches us that the majority of the professedly Christian world prefers to employ those methods that are approved or recommended by the secular mind.

One day when Christ was in His own hometown, He desired to do some mighty work, but He could not, for something prevented Him from doing so. If I told my son to carry out the garbage, and he came back and told me that he did not, that answer suggests that he may have made a deliberate decision not to.

But if he came back and told me that he could not carry out the garbage that would suggest that some issue, some hindrance, or obstacle, prevented him from doing so, and by implication, it means that he tried but failed in his attempts to comply.

In Jesus’ case He wanted to work mighty miracles in the town where He was, but something hindered Him. Therefore, the Bible does not say that He “did not”, it says that He could not, which means that He was restricted in His efforts to do so. Let’s read:

Mark 6:2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4 But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk and healed them.

Jesus is actually itching to bless His people, but our unbelief hinders Him to a great extent, and whereas in certain instances, where miraculous deliverance would have greatly honored His name, our unbelief often throws cold water on His efforts, and golden opportunities to lift up the name of Christ are often lost.

There are several reasons why the majority of folks who name the name of Jesus suffer unnecessarily because of unbelief, and these reasons will need to addressed at the root cause, for great changes in our approach to last day events would need to be incorporated into our thoughts and actions. Some of the more prominent reasons are listed below.

[1] The methods of faith.

One of the sticking points in the exercise of faith is the method that God might employ. Whenever the method of faith contravenes norms, there unbelief often rears its head, for it can be difficult to wrap our heads around something we are not used to, or something that might go contrary to conventional wisdom.

For instance, if in the Hebrew’s attempt to cross the Red sea, God were to park a Carnival cruise line ship near the shore most of them wouldn’t have had any problem with that. But to walk across is an entirely different story, for the mental roadblocks to doing so would be logic, science, and a lack of precedent.

Naaman would gladly have preferred to take one of those pharmaceutical concoctions, with names that cannot be pronounced, rather than dip seven times. It was the sheer simplicity of the method Elisha had given that irritated him, but if he were instructed to undergo some complex intricate medical procedure, he would not have batted an eye.

On this issue of the methods of faith persons should never conclude that God is giving us uncanny ways and means for the sole purpose of humbling human pride. This is an entirely erroneous view, for we are to remember that we have become accustomed to doing things in ways God never originally intended.

God never originally intended that boats should be used for travel. Airplanes and cruise liners, cars and other modes of transport that we’ve now become accustomed to, which pollute the atmosphere were never in God’s plan originally because all travel was meant to be accomplished in a manner that would be environmentally friendly.

There would be no ships, no airplanes, no rockets in heaven, nor cars nor any motorized vehicles, and if we are to ask an holy angel how to cross the Red sea, they would show us entirely different ways that would transcend our current knowledge of travel.

Thus, its not to make us look stupid why God often employs strange methods of faith; it’s just to show us that there are different, better, and easier ways of doing things using the methods of faith which in many instances might seem illogical to us. When it came time for Elijah to cross the Jordan, he took his mantle and smote the water, and he walked across on dry land.

Again, when Jesus determined to cross the sea of Galilee to rescue His disciples from the storm, His preferred method was walking, and therefore, the methods of faith may often cause some Christians to drawback in unbelief, for in many cases those methods are not conventional by any means.

When the multitude became hungry after listening to Christ’s sermon, He asked Phillip how they would get bread to feed the people. This question by Jesus was deliberately meant to test Phillip’s faith, but as is too often the case he resorted to those restrictive methods that only fall within known human norms.

The eye of faith which would grasp unseen realities and thus take hold of Omnipotence, was never even considered and thus, like the Hebrews of old, Phillip unconsciously limited the power of God through his unbelief, and Jesus was grieved in spirit. Let’s read:

John 6: 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Thus, the methods, the ways, and the means God may employ from time to time may seem stupid to the unbelieving mind but when we study the sacred record, we would observe that the heroes of faith apparently did mostly “stupid” things according to the so-called wisdom of man. Let’s read:

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

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.

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.

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.

Joshua 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephtha; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets,

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

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

35 Women received their dead raised to life again.

[2] A lack of Precedent

Precedent meaning: An earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.

Many would-be Christians would stumble and fall when it comes time to believe and act upon certain instructions coming from God, for which there are no precedents. Wherever there has been at least one prior instance we can point to, where God did something great in the past, this fact often gives our faith a boost, and we begin to sing that song: “He’ll Do It Again”.

That is all well and good, but whenever there isn’t any precedent, no historical record to lean on, then unbelief often rears its head again. We are almost certain, that if previously someone had passed their menopause for years and then had had a child, then Sarah would not have laughed when God said she would have a son in her old age.

But, because there wasn’t any precedent, no prior instance of this science baffling occurrence, Sarah thought that what God said sounded funny. It ain’t funny! Again, if it had rained at least once before the flood, those antediluvians might have thought twice about making fun of the predictions of Noah.

But because it had never rained before, what Noah predicted sounded like a big joke, and the spirit of unbelief found fertile ground in most hearts, being backed up by research, data, and a total lack of any known precedent.

Thus, it is a solemn statement we make, that the spirit of unbelief often looms large when there is no historical precedent for us to lean on. 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.

Therefore, according to the raw data given in the Bible, the overwhelming majority of believers are actually prone to unbelief and the root cause of this is our preference for carnal methods. In fact, when we observe the ratios given in the scriptures, we are confronted with bone-chilling figures as it pertains to the spirit of unbelief. Let’s read:

Noah: 8/ approximately 7 billion. Gideon: 300/ 32,000. Joshua and Caleb: 2/ 10. David: 1/ the entire army. Jonathan: 2/ 600. Daniel: 4/ approximately 20,000, and in 1844: 50/ half a million.

But God has given us unmistakable proof that the spiritual ways and means He has instructed us to use do work, and if they are employed a brand, new day will dawn in our relationship with God. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 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.

Numbers 13:17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain.

18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;

20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage and bring of the fruit of the land.

23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

We were just wondering what they are going to focus on when they give their report. Just wondering!

Numbers 13:26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

The ratio of words of unbelief, as opposed to words of faith stands at 26/172. Then the servant of The Lord writes something that should concern all of us, as it pertains to our human nature, and the spirit of unbelief, for it will become evident, that our minds are naturally, heavily tilted towards unbelief, instead of faith. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 390] If only the two men had brought the evil report, and all the ten had encouraged them to possess the land in the name of the Lord they would still have taken the advice of the two in preference to the ten, because of their wicked unbelief.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 293] The history of the wilderness life of Israel was chronicled for the benefit of the Israel of God to the close of time. The record of God's dealings with the wanderers of the desert in all their marching to and fro, in their exposure to hunger, thirst, and weariness, and in the striking manifestations of His power for their relief, is fraught with warning and instruction for His people in all ages.

The varied experience of the Hebrews was a school of preparation for their promised home in Canaan. God would have His people in these days review with a humble heart and teachable spirit the trials through which ancient Israel passed, that they may be instructed in their preparation for the heavenly Canaan.

Thus, in order for us to dispel the spirit of unbelief permanently, we should understand that we must focus on the positives in life. And even though in the scriptures good and evil, victory and defeat are presented, yet, in every situation, God will have us to look on the brighter side.

Doing so would greatly improve both our outlook, and perspectives so that a solid resilience would be our experience. It is a law of human minds, that by beholding we become changed, therefore, if we’re mostly dwelling on negatives, we will become more negative and unbelieving. Let’s read:

Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

The parable was about the sower who sowed good seed, but when the disciples ask for an explanation, their focus is on the tares, and nothing is mentioned of the wheat. Thus, fallen, human nature naturally gravitates towards the negatives, not the positives, and that’s why the overwhelming majority of what the media presents is bad news.

In reporting on Covid, the numbers of the dead are tabulated daily, but scarcely anything is said of the untold millions who have survived. Mass shootings are counted daily, the dire results of climate change are showcased, and the rapid increase of crime is often featured prominently on the news. Thus, when they are finished with you, with all the bad news, some folks may go looking for a condo in some monastery or convent, being too scared to even live or breathe.

A phenomenon that often takes place in the lives of many Christians is that when one prays often about some problem the problem only seems to get larger and you would not believe what is causing this. It is because we’re praying too much about the problem and the more we do, the more it looms large, until doubt and unbelief may take over.

But the real reason why we feel it necessary to put our problems before God very often, is because of unbelief. God does not desire us to have problems ever before our faces, for by beholding we become changed. In other words, focusing on problems is a recipe to breed even more problems.

The instruction of the Bible is for us to be aware of problems, but not to focus on them, for doing so would often cause faith to dwindle, and unbelief to flourish. When Job was passing through his time of trouble, God appeared to him, but God made not a single mention of his problems.

Instead He pointed his mind to the starry heavens, to the great facts of creation, and to His omnipotent power, but not once did God discuss Job’s problems because doing so would only blow the issues out of proportion and foster unbelief.

Until Job learned to remove the focus from himself, and his very real problems he would continue to see more problems, but when his attention is turned to serving others, his problems would be alleviated. It is this pattern that must be followed, if unbelief and doubt are to be dispelled. Let’s read:

Job 42: 10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

There’s no need to worry about our salvation, if we know we have given our lives to Christ. Instead, let us believe those mighty promises He has made to us, not focusing on our failures but rather let’s seek to minister to others and the unbelief and problems would be greatly dispelled. Let’s read:

Philippians 1: 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

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

John 10: 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Thus, if by the grace of God, and by our decisions to trust Him we focus on the positives, we would begin to live victoriously from day to day, and our faith would grow stronger, for when we dwell in victory, doing so often tends to breed more victories. The choice is actually ours, to choose what we would focus on. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;

27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day:

28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

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.

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.

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.

Isaiah 21:11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night.

In our day, we have no reason not to believe, for we are pregnant with precedents, factual evidence, and historical data, together with the many experiences of the faithful, who have gone before, so that there is not a valid reason why we should still indulge the spirit of unbelief.

Again, we are facing momentous times, and it may be that our faith in God will include experiences for which there are no precedents. Yet, through it all, The Lord wants us to cultivate a believing attitude, a cheerful spirit that is cognizant of the dangers, but which focuses much more on God’s power to save, and on the brighter side of the equation.

Let us therefore encourage a living faith that takes hold of omnipotence, and unseen realities, for the just shall live by faith, not by research, and secular philosophies which often tend to limit God. We’ll end with a passage of scripture that should foster a believing spirit in all who so desire. Let’s read:

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

God bless!

What True Humility Is. Sabbath afternoon 06/19/2021

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?

True humility is not what some people think it is. It is not a pious look, or a demeanor, neither is it any attitude or the disposition to bow very often. When one demonstrates respect where warranted that is good, but that does not necessarily denote humility.

Back in the days of yore, when kung fu was the in-thing, Silver Fox and Jackie Chan used to do a whole lot of bowing, even after they had kicked the living daylights out of their opponents, they would take a bow, for what reason we still do not know.

Looking so pious with their long beards they would at first glance exude an aura of humility, but later we would discover that striving for the highest place ran like a common thread throughout and therefore it also falls short of the Biblical definition of what is humility.

And there are some who have lived their entire lives in monasteries and convents, who do not have one thread of humility running throughout the fabric of their characters. Again, humility isn’t the disposition to always accept injustice without a remonstrance on the part of the offended one, for none of these prior descriptions fully grasp the Biblical meaning of humility.

True humility is inextricably linked to obedience. If God gives us instructions and commands and folks either deliberately reject openly or passively, it is a sign that pride still exists in the heart, for humility will lead us to accept whatsoever God says as final, even if we may not agree, or may have questions and concerns.

Therefore, any pious attitude which does not lead a person to ultimately obey God is not humility at all but is rather identified as being proud. As far as God is concerned, humility and obedience are two peas in one pod, and are inseparably interwoven, as can be observed in the following passages of scripture that pertain to the humility of Christ. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

Any so-called humility that does not lead persons to obey God, is a counterfeit, no matter how pious and humble those persons may seem to be. When Christ was in the garden of Gethsemane, with the fate of this world was hanging in the balance, He asked His father if there wasn’t another way for our salvation to be accomplished.

And since there was no other way, He surrendered to the will of His Father. It is worthy of note, that He did so with strong crying and tears which teaches us the sacred truth that there will be times in our own experience when it would be pretty difficult to obey God. Thus, true humility will always lead us to put everything on the line to obey God. Let’s read:

Matthew 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

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

39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt.

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

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

45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest. behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

But before we proceed, there are a few things folks would need to understand about humble obedience if we’re to be prepared for the promised latter rain. God is not accustomed to getting push back when He gives a direct command, because if the universe were to be run that way, there would be a collapse of worlds, systems, and order.

Some folks often ask why God speaks to us through intermediaries such as prophets, pastors, teachers and providence. The short answer to that question is that in most cases it is the only safe way to speak to mortals, for we are often too much in the habit of questioning, delaying, murmuring, or having to think about it before we obey. Then, by the time we are finally ready to move on His word, the very essence of what God was trying to accomplish is often lost.

When God gives a command to any created being, whether they be angels or men, the speed at which they obey is of critical importance, for any delay will present a sort of push-back, and it could potentially have adverse consequences to those involved if the attitude isn’t corrected quickly.

This is one of the reasons why God gave Ezekiel the vision of the wheel within a wheel, to demonstrate the intricate and complex relationship between His commands and required obedience. Therefore, as the Cherubim and Seraphim receive the word of command from The Lord, they dart out like a bolt of lightening and return to their original position to await any other directive.

Questions they may have, and a full understanding of God’s purposes may be presently evasive, yet all of those variables do not hinder them from darting out and returning at the speed of lightening in what is described as humble obedience. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 1:3 The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.

4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

6 And everyone had four faces, and everyone had four wings.

9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went everyone straight forward.

11 Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

12 And they went everyone straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.

14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

17 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.

20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

One of the reasons why such a graphic vision was given to Ezekiel, was so that he himself might be prepared to obey God with humility. The prophet was to be sent to a rebellious people, and he would encounter great danger and difficulty yet, like those mighty angels he saw in vision, he was to go straight forward, and not turn as he went.

In other words, regardless of the obstacles that he would certainly encounter, regardless of the many questions he may have, and regardless of the threat to himself personally he was not to alter, tone down or modify God’s word, but he must rather dart and return, like the proverbial bolt of lightning, to await any further directives from God.

This would call for true humility on his part; at times the message of God would not be received with joy, and yes, he would often encounter push back, but not one or all of these variables were to phase the prophet Ezekiel. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 2:1 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

2 And the spirit entered into me when he spoke unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spoke unto me.

3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.

4 For they are impudent children and stiff-hearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God.

5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

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, though they be a rebellious house.

7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

Ezekiel 3: 16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore, hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Thus, Ezekiel was to exercise true humility, in real time by obeying God’s word, even at times when he would be at great odds with the house of Israel. The word of God was not to be made subject to man’s will, nor was it to be discussed for the purpose of a consensus. True humility would lead the prophet to deliver the goods, obeying God’s word in everything, and then, possibly getting answers and explanations later on.

But with us mortals there is often a twiddling of the thumbs, hesitation, questionings, doubts, and often we subject God’s commands to scientific research before we obey. The Bible gives us a thus saith “The Lord” but it does not give us the findings of research nor does it often give the science behind commands God gives, as reasons why we should obey.

In fact, one of the fatal delusions gripping too many Christians in our day is that of waiting for research to confirm what God has said, before obedience is rendered. And because of this habit, folks who may claim to believe in God are inadvertently becoming members of the church of Scientology.

That humility manifested by Christ which leads us to obey God against all odds, seems to be in very short supply in our day, and in its place, a hybrid form of humbleness which makes obedience subject to the science of the day has taken deep root in the minds of many. And as a direct result, the faith of former years is being literally threatened with extinction.

And thus, because of these attitudes, God finds it necessary to speak to us through intermediaries in general, so as not to place the human agent at risk, because of delay. In training and preparation for the latter rain, persons would need to cultivate habits of speedy, willing obedience, without stopping to question, or debate God’s will.

In fact, many of those who look forward eagerly to the outpouring of The Holy Spirit might not have understood that there can be great risk involved if the habit of immediate, unquestioning obedience has not been cultivated.

When Jesus called eleven of His disciples, He looked for unquestioning obedience to His word, and those who responded, generally obeyed immediately, and this in turn would set the stage for obedience to all future commands that would be coming from Him. The willingness to obey quickly is one characteristic Jesus was specifically looking for.

It isn’t necessary to know or understand everything up front about the Bible, and the Godhead before we obey. Bible studies and explanations often shed increasing light on various truths, but these are not to inhibit any person from manifesting true humility by obeying God, today.

What persons can and should do is to start obeying what they know to be right. The simple truths that have been made plain to our minds ought to be as steppingstones to obedience in greater matters, for it takes time to climb Jacob’s ladder. But for us to wait until we understand the books of Daniel, and the Revelation, would put off salvation for another day, and this can lead to procrastination the favorite tool of demons and devils.

Thus, it’s not necessarily an extensive knowledge of God’s word that makes persons humble; it is one’s willingness to obey God in whatsoever we know to be right currently, no matter how small such issues may be, because any person who is humble in little things will most likely be humble and obedient in greater matters.

When Peter walked on water through the power of God, it was a manifestation of that very same habit of obeying immediately, before he fully understood, which had previously caused him to leave his fishing nets to follow Jesus.

At that time, Peter didn’t stop to make any of those financial and social calculations that we too often indulge in before we obey. Instead, casting aside all valid and invalid concerns, he began to exercise that humility which always leads to obedience. Let’s read:

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

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

20 And they straightway left their nets and followed him.

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

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father and followed him.

Matthew 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

If one’s humility does not ultimately lead to obeying God, then such humility is false and is instead pride. The humbleness which the Bible enjoins always leads to obedience, in every instance, without exception!

As the outpouring of the latter rain begins to gain momentum, our attitudes toward obeying God will need to be corrected where needed, for we will be placed in circumstances that warrant a humility that would move us to obey implicitly, any directive that comes from God.

Several specific examples of what we are speaking of are given in the scriptures at the outpouring of the early rain, with the hope that we would study closely, the humility and obedience God is looking for, and which He desires to develop in us, where there may be a deficiency. Let’s read:

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

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 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

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

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

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

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

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

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

Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Acts 10:19 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?

In so many of these instances, where true humility led persons to obey God’s word, we notice that the explanations and reasons were only found out later, in the process of obeying, and thus, like the mighty Cherubs and Seraphim in Ezekiel’s vision, those who received God’s word were to go “straight forward” not turning as they went.

This is exactly what The Lord is looking for in our day as He prepares His army of spiritual soldiers to take on the behemoth of the beast and its systems that are soon to engulf all of humanity. Quick, and unquestioning obedience is the first, and foremost prerequisite, and in lieu of this, we should now be cultivating habits of ready obedience to any and everything God says.

Those hesitations, questionings, deliberations, and delays of former years, the clamor for explanations before we move on God’s word, and those scientific data, analysis and research that too often preempts obedience, would have to be resolutely put away.

And instead, a primitive kind of godliness which acts quickly on all of God’s commands would need to be the rule rather than the exception, as it currently is in too many cases today. This will require that true humility of former years, the faith, trust, belief, and understanding that God knows what He’s doing, and as such, all we need to do is to trust and obey, for there’s no other way. Let’s read:

[Last day Events pp 204>205] In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. God will work a work in our day that few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions.

These facilities aren’t to be despised or condemned; they are ordained of God, but they can furnish only the exterior qualifications. God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals.

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

Therefore, as the latter rain begins to fall in copious showers all around us, let us cherish and cultivate a willing heart and ready mind to wait on God for His will to be made known, and when it is, let us be like the heavenly ministers, who went straight forward, not turning as they went.

We’ll end with a passage of scripture which should enable us see the importance of making a full and complete surrender to God so that if He so chooses, He can use us to take the final message of mercy to a dying world. Let’s read:

Joel 1:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

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

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

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

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?

God Bless!

Biblical Teaching On Supernatural Phenomena. Sabbath afternoon 06/12/2021

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.

The above passage teaches us that in order for us not to become scared of the unknown, in order for us not to be taken in the snare of mysticism, signs, miracles and wonders that are going to increase and proliferate across the globe in the last days we must receive both the written and the Living word of God into our hearts.

There will come a time when science will run out of both answers and solutions, to the point where it is concluded that there are supernatural experiences, and paranormal occurrences which defy any logical, rational, or scientific explanation.

Therefore, if the teachings of God’s word on these matters are rejected, then persons would be left to beat about upon the rocks of heavy delusions which are scheduled to multiply astronomically.

Hence the reason why we keep saying, that in the not too distant future, individuals who have truly accepted Christ as Lord and Savior would be mighty glad they did so. Let us repeat, as in Verily Verily, if any of us have already accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we will be mighty glad we did so, in the not too distant future.

For the record, there aren’t any such things as little green men and there are no alien lifeforms that visit our planet at anytime. There are other worlds which God has created, and they’re populated with beings of different orders but they are restricted from ever meddling with our planet so that they cannot visit or interfere with the human experience. 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.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

However, there are good and evil angels, and thus, whatsoever manifestations of supernatural beings we might encounter on our planet, are the work of good or evil angels, period. They alone, together with the members of the God-head have access at all times to the human family. Let’s read:

Psalms 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty.

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.

4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.

Hebrews 1: 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Psalms 34: 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Revelation 12: 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

For many years there have been sightings and video of UFOs and other paranormal activity in the skies, and on land, but these occurrences have for years been studiously and secretly hidden from the public view, and this for valid reasons for it can be risky for governments to release information about things that cannot be logically or scientifically explained.

Governments do have a responsibility to keep their citizens from undue panic, and especially in our age where numerous conspiracy theories abound, great care should be taken so as not to set in motion wild speculations that are not based on facts.

Therefore, this first installment of Biblical teaching on Supernatural Phemomena would seek to address some of these concerns with the intent that persons would see their need of Jesus Christ and understand that the scriptures were given for our admonition as well as our instruction, so that we won’t be taken in the snares that are laid for the feet of the unwary.

Clear and concise answers from the word of God will be given, and it will be left up to us to believe. Whatever takes place on our planet falls under the jurisdiction of God, and as such, it is always wise to check in with Him to hear and believe what He has to say on the various matters that come our way.

The question has been asked over and over again: Are we alone? The Short answer is: No! We have never been alone.

Holy angels and evil angels have been permitted to intrude into the human experience ever since the creation of man, and as we draw nearer to the close of this earth’s history, supernatural manifestations are scheduled to increase exponentially to the point where science, as we know it will be lost for words and explanations.

One of the greatest errors of modern science is to exclude the supernatural from its equations, for it assumes that a logical science-based answer can be given for any and everything. Thus, when faced with the prospect of unexplainable manifestations, most scientists would conclude that they are beyond the realm of our current knowledge and understanding.

Then, with no rational explanation, the result will be fear, for nothing scares the daylights out of mortals as not having a logical answer for those paranormal activities that take place on our planet. Thus, God’s word teaches us in no uncertain terms that we have never been alone.

Holy angels, evil angels, satan and God Himself have all walked this earth; God has had communications with mortal man from the days of Eden until now, in the form of holy angels, His Holy Spirit, and Christ, who became incarnated to save the human family.

Angels of God have communicated directly on many different occasions with persons; they have come in undetected to eat food, to rest, and sleep, and they have also intruded into human legislatures, changed the course of history, and have made oral arguments in courts of law. They also attend church regularly, including ours.

This first truth pertaining to the capabilities of holy angels is set in stone, so that we would understand that we have never been alone, and that angels do intrude into the human experience on a daily basis. Let’s read:

Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Daniel 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not Daniel, for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Luke 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.

5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5 And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

From these and other scriptural references we can conclude the following points, as they pertain to the capabilities of holy angels:

[1] They can speak in any known language that man uses, even dialects in rural areas and provinces that have not yet been figured out by linguists.

[2] They can pass through any solid or liquid matter known to man with absolutely no problem.

[3] Angels can single out one or more persons in a room, and speak audibly to those specific persons, without others in the same room hearing or seeing anything abnormal.

[4] Angels can intrude into all of our five senses to communicate on different levels including the sense of touch.

[5] They can remain invisible or visible when in the assemblies of men, at their discretion.

[6] Holy angels can, and do work miracles at the direction of God.

[7] They can assume the form of men and any other known life forms on our planet, including animals.

[8] The speed at which they travel is not measured in miles per hour; speed depends on God’s will with virtually no limits.

[9] They are ministering spirits of fire, sent forth to minister unto those who will be heirs of salvation.

[ G.C. pp 631>632] In all ages, God has wrought through holy angels for the succor and deliverance of his people. Celestial beings have taken an active part in the affairs of men. They have appeared clothed in garments that shone as the lightning; they have come as men, in the garb of wayfarers.

Angels have appeared in human form to men of God. They have rested, as if weary, under the oaks at noon. They have accepted the hospitality of human homes. They have acted as guides to benighted travelers. They have, with their own hands, kindled the fires of the altar.

They have opened prison doors, and set free the servants of the Lord. Clothed with the panoply of Heaven they came to roll away the stone from the Savior's tomb.

In the form of men angels are often in the assemblies of the righteous, and they visit the assemblies of the wicked, as they went to Sodom, to make a record of their deeds, to determine whether they have passed the boundary of God's forbearance.

Though the rulers of this world know it not, yet often in their councils angels have been spokesmen. Human eyes have looked upon them; human ears have listened to their appeals; human lips have opposed their suggestions and ridiculed their counsels.

Human hands have met them with insult and abuse. In the council hall and the court of justice, these heavenly messengers have shown an intimate acquaintance with human history; they have proved themselves better able to plead the cause of the oppressed than were their ablest and most eloquent defenders.

When Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent in the cool of the day, he saw what seemed to him to be three men coming his way, and being disposed to kindness to all, he invited them in to have some refreshment, before going on their way. It was only after they finished eating that he realized that they we not human beings, for they asked for his wife Sarah by name.

That question as to the whereabouts of Sarah, by the strangers had breached cultural norms, for back in those days, strangers were not supposed to know a man’s wife by her first name. So, when this had occurred, Abraham knew that he had inadvertently invited angels and one member of the God-head into his home. Let’s read:

Genesis 18:1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant.

4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

Therefore, the answer to our first question: Are we alone? Is No, we have never been alone. Thus, the very next question we’ll need to answer address is: Can the evil angels do all of those things previously mentioned, which Holy angels have the capability of doing? The answer is: Absolutely! Let’s read:

Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

[D.A pp 129] Placing Jesus upon a high mountain, Satan caused the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, to pass in panoramic view before Him. The sunlight lay on templed cities, marble palaces, fertile fields, and fruit-laden vineyards. The traces of evil were hidden.

The eyes of Jesus, so lately greeted by gloom and desolation, now gazed upon a scene of unsurpassed loveliness and prosperity. Then the tempter's voice was heard: “All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine.”

Panoramic meaning: A wide and unobstructed view, so as to take in an extensive area in all directions.

Evil angels were not always fallen, for they lived in heaven with God, for eons, before they fell. Thus, after they were cast out from heaven, they retained much of their original capabilities, hence the reason why the devil was able to go head to head with the angel Gabriel, as they battled for the mind of the king of Persia.

And as the battle for minds and hearts converges during these last days, various manifestations of a supernatural character will begin to unfold. We are told in the Bible that there’ll be signs and wonders in the heavens, and upon the earth, distress of the nations,because evil angels will make their presence felt, the world over.

Thus, if no rational explanation is found for those manifestations of UFOs, and if there isn’t scientific resolution to the phenomena, then the nations of earth will have to seriously consider what the word of God has been saying all along.

According to the scriptures, those manifestations which will be increasing globally will be devoid of all logical explanations, and therefore, the only way we would be able to discern clearly between the true and the false will be by the scriptures alone through the power and guidance of The Holy Spirit.

All and every manifestation of beings that cannot be accounted for are the result of the presence of good or evil angels, without exception. Evil angels cover areas such as seances, apparitions of persons dead relatives and friends, and miracles through wizards, magicians, and false prophets.

Any intrusion into the human experience by other beings is always the production of either good or evil angels, always! They might appear in different forms, they may appear as fast moving objects that defy the law of gravity, but barring any scientific proof to the contrary, those productions are most likely coming from angels.

For presidents or federal agencies who might not have previously known of these things, and for all those folks who are tasked with investigating those videos that have been kept secret, here is what the Bible says on those matters, and you may want to include this info in your research. 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.

Matthew 24:24 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 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.

As the law of God continues to be thrown out the window, there will be a corresponding withdrawal of the presence of The Holy Ghost, and this in turn will result in disastrous consequences for all those who have not submitted fully to Christ. Diseases, and all kinds of sicknesses, together with turmoil and other natural disasters will grip the human family.

Nations and individuals will begin to get weary and angry at the nonstop problems plaguing the world, but in most cases, they will not be able to trace the source back to the violation of God’s laws. Thus, at the appointed time, when science has run out of answers, God would be protecting only those who obey Him.

This is not the case just yet, but we are getting dangerously close to that time, and thus, it is very important for those true believers, who would be living through the difficult days of earth’s history, to remember all the promises God has given to His people, pertaining to that very time. Let’s read:

Daniel 12: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.

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.

Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Isaiah 4:5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

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

[Early Writings pp 271] Said the angel, “Look ye!” My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. I was shown those whom I had before seen weeping and praying in agony of spirit. The company of guardian angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet.

God does not waste resources, nor does He ever send angels where they are not needed, so when we see Him doubling up on the company of angels surrounding the faithful, it’s because a mortal battle is underway, and, lest satan should snuff out the remaining remnant people of God, the Lord would send angels that excel in strength to protect and deliver them.

True to their history, they would appear in different forms as the occasions may warrant. Some appear as soldiers, others as angels, and others as regular men, such as the two who apparently took refuge in Lot’s house. But whatever form they take, one thing is certain, those who will be found in Christ at that time will be mighty glad they responded to His call.

Therefore, we end with an appeal to persons who have not yet made their calling and election sure, to those who may still be sitting on the fence, to those who are still in the valley of decision and to all those who are still playing church; Today if you will hear His voice harden not your hearts.

Let’s not put off our day of grace for tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come, and let us not wait for the feds to spill the beans on ufos and supernatural phenomena, to be running scared when there may be a rush for the door, but let us rather respond to God’s gracious overtures today while opportunity still lingers. Let’s read:

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

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

God Bless!

Once Upon A Time Isaac. Sabbath afternoon 06/05/2021

Proverbs 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.

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

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

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

It seems as if the direct answers to prayers together with the unusually clear guidance God gave in times past are now more the exception than the rule. We pray long and hard, and often, but it seems as if the answers become stalled for some reason, or there is no definite clarity by which we can conclude a “Thus saith The Lord” was given.

In times past those who truly believed in God would pray, and God would answer in ways that were not fuzzy or shrouded in uncertainty. Joshua prayed for an interference of the sun and moon, so that he and the Hebrews could finish their due diligence and the answer came right away.

Samuel called for thunder and hail, when he sought to impress upon the conscience of the people God’s displeasure in them asking for a king, and he did not have to wait long for it thundered and rained hail all that day.

Gideon prayed for a sign, so that he could be clear in his mind about the grave mission he was about to undertake, and lo and behold, The Lord answered him immediately, not two weeks or one month later as too often occurs with us at times.

This doesn’t mean to say that there were not times when folks had to wait but God usually would come through with an answer in ways that would bring a clarity and certainty to the request, in so much that the petitioner would be quite confident beyond the shadow of a doubt that God had heard them and He answered their prayers.

The reason for this, in many cases, was that in the other areas of their lives, believers back then were in the habit of acknowledging God in all their ways, and in this way He could direct their paths aright. It isn’t genuine faith which claims the promises of God on the one hand, while excluding Him from another area where we choose man’s counsel above God’s.

In the case of Isaac, when he was about to embark upon his life’s journey, with the girl of his dreams, we find His father praying, he himself praying, and the servant Eliezer praying. And lo and behold, the servant was not finished praying, before the direct answer came.

How is it, that when persons pray for similar issues, that in so many cases, there isn’t the clarity, definite guidance, and certainty that was manifested in days of yore? How is it that we might often pray for years and we still do not have an answer; or if any answer comes persons are not certain if it was God or satan who answered? Let’s read:

Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Genesis 24:12 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 And 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, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her.

To better understand why God answered so soon, and with such distinctiveness we will have to back up a bit, to observe the tenor of Isaac’s life, prior to this incident, for his life contains important lessons in faith and obedience which paved the way for God to answer so directly.

Isaac had been trained from childhood to yield that implicit obedience to his God-fearing parents, which the Bible stipulates. Abraham and Sarah had done their due diligence in training Isaac, they both had cooperated with God, and the early years of Isaac’s life incorporated precept and example, principles and methods that are found in the scriptures.

The most striking evidence of this was manifested when Abraham was commanded by God to offer his only son on Mt Moriah. At this time, God did not reveal His purposes to Isaac up front so that he, at the very least would have prior notice. He left the jurisdiction of the father to handle the matter, and his son Isaac to obey.

Lessons of a very serious nature were given in this episode, so that all parents and children who would come after would understand the close relationship between faith, obedience, and answered prayer. It is therefore of critical importance for us to learn of God in a humble frame of mind, so that our prayers and requests won’t hit the ceiling and fall.

It is also very important to remember, that in this single instance, a revelation concerning the Lamb of God, who was to come to save the world, is what God was giving to Abraham in kindergarten form. It wasn’t Abraham who came up with the idea, it was God who gave direction, and as such it was a one-time command, designed to teach a sacred truth.

God-fearing parents are never to teach, or request of their kids anything other than that which is in the scriptures, except God should require something in particular, or in situations where sound judgment and godly discretion are warranted.

Yet, the episode contains crucial lessons in faith and obedience that we should not lightly pass over. The relationship between father and son, as manifested in this experience, demonstrates in several ways the training, obedience, love, respect and the deference that should characterize interactions between kids and their parents. Let’s read:

Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son.

7 And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Lesson [1] It’s not every time that parents will be able to give a scriptural answer to questions that are asked by their kids, pertaining to obedience. In this instance if Abraham were to reference the law it would say “thou shalt not kill” and thus, any other son might have refused to go along with that which the father said God had told him to do.

But Isaac was not so, for he was trained by Abraham to yield an unquestioning obedience from childhood and even though Isaac might have had several valid questions and concerns, and even though he would have known what the law says on this or that point, with him, that was not the most important issue.

God said to obey your parents in The Lord, and his father Abraham was a god-fearing man; thus, as the father revealed to Isaac what God commanded him, in this unique situation, that was all that he needed to obey.

In fact, if Isaac had followed what the letter of the law states on the taking of life, he could’ve possibly been in violation of another law that says Honor thy father and thy mother. Thus, the question is asked: Which one of those two laws carried more weight in Isaac’s case? The one which says “Thou shalt not kill” or the one which says to honor thy father and thy mother?

The issue at hand is not one that deals merely with law, it has more to do with the chain of command, which God has put into place, for whatsoever might be our understanding of God’s written law the chain of command is of great importance, to the smooth running of families, churches, and governments.

Children are instructed to obey their parents in The Lord, for this is right, but this will, at times include gray areas where there isn’t any clear scriptural law pertaining to the issue at hand. Parents are granted the authority to exercise discretion in matters that pertain to the training of children, even though this will at times include issues that are not salvific.

For instance, parents can exercise discretion when it comes to the issue of coming home late at nights. The father in conjunction with the mother, can lay down the time when the kids are to be home. There isn’t any scripture that stipulates any specific time.

Some parents may agree on 10:00 pm, others may say 11:00, while others may stipulate 9:00 pm. The fact is that it is a matter where parental discretion is to be exercised, an area where there is no specific scripture to say there you go!

Again, parents could instruct their children not to wear their pants half-way down their buttocks, and the parents do not have to quote any scripture for such things, for they are granted jurisdiction as well as discretion over their kids by God until they come to the age of maturity.

When God grants jurisdiction to persons, they are to carry out His will, even if there is a question with discretion, for some persons might run the risk of being sticklers for the letter, if and when the God-ordained authority might override something, at God’s direction.

This is the gravely important lesson Christ sought to impress upon the Jews, when the letter of the law was brought into question, pertaining to a violation of the Sabbath. At that time the disciples were on a mission, travelling through the fields on the sabbath day, and being hungry, they began to pluck the ears of corn.

This caused an upset in the minds of the Jews who interpreted this action of the disciples as a flagrant violation of the Sabbath. But Jesus replied to their concerns by stating unequivocally, that He is Lord of the Sabbath, meaning that whatsoever might be the written law, if He was okay with what the disciples were doing, that settles the matter. Let’s read:

Mark 2:23 And it came to pass that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.

24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him?

26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?

28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

It is a matter of maintaining the authority invested in the chain of command which God Himself has put into place. Thus, in Isaac’s case, the most important consideration, after learning from his father what God had commanded, was to honor that chain of command, even if there were valid questions and reservations as per the request.

From the time that sin entered our world, satan has sought to disrupt the chain of command which God saw fit to put in place. Devils have sought to mix up the roles and genders of mothers and fathers, and the children have sought to pry the reins of control from parents in so much that some parents indeed, have become subservient to their kids.

Aaron and Miriam had sought to disrupt the chain of command when they proposed that God had not only spoken through Moses. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram sought to disrupt the chain of command when they accused Moses and Aaron of leading the Hebrews according to their own fancy.

And throughout history, God’s order has been to a large extent disrupted for various reasons too many to mention. If Isaac had refused to obey based upon what is written in the Bible, he would not have been an icon of faith and obedience, and this in turn may have affected the speed with which his prayer was answered.

The question for Isaac would obviously be: “If God has put my parents in charge of me, and they were to ask me to do something that does not have any scriptural backing, should I obey them strictly based on the chain of command God has put in place?”

The answer to this critically important question can be found in the way The Lord has set up His chain of command, for families, churches and governments, very much like that of one of the bedrock American institutions. Let’s read:

[1] President of the United States

[2] Secretary of Defense

[3] Secretary of the Army

[4] Army Chief of Staff

[5] Sergeant Major of the Army

[6] Army Commands

[7] Component Commands

[8] Direct Reporting Units

Now, although the secretary of defense, and army chief of staff, both have the freedom of choice and intelligence, just like everyone else, they fall under the jurisdiction of the president, who can at times, in his capacity as president, override some formats, protocols, and laws that are written in the books.

In capturing the former Bin Laden, the president at that time gave the command to violate Pakistan’s airspace, and carry out the raid on foreign soil even though Pakistan is a sovereign nation. Those under the president could have pointed to international laws on sovereign airspace as reasons why the raid could not legally go forward.

That might be true, but at the end of the day, the pecking order in the chain of command gives to the commander in chief the right to tell his underlings what they must or must not do, even if it may not be written in stone, or, may violate some law on the books.

If any real or phantom violations do occur then the president bears the responsibility, but those under his jurisdiction are, while following written laws, to always bear in mind that there’s authority invested in the chain of command, or else there would be a breakdown in smooth operations.

The same is true with God’s chain of command. The persons to whom God has delegated authority are to follow it is written, unless God gives a different command in a particular instance, for whenever He establishes a given order, it has to be followed, even if individuals under the jurisdiction of those God has put in charge may disagree or may have serious and valid questions. Let’s read:

Exodus 4:14 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 sees thee he will be glad in his heart.

15 And thou shalt speak unto him and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

Exodus 7:1 And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

Numbers 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married, for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

2 And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it.

4 And the Lord spoke suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed.

1st Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

When God originally created Adam and Eve, He did not do so at the same time, for Adam was created first, and after that Eve. When we read the Biblical account we will see where God gave them dominion over the earth, with Adam taking the lead, and Eve at his side, not be above him, nor below him, but at his side; just about where the ribs are located.

But after sin entered, God had to stipulate a specific pecking order, and from that time until now, it has not changed one iota, even though society may beg to differ.

For the record, the Biblical chain of command puts the father at the head of the home, the wife is next, the children come in third place, with grandparents and extended family members in their respective place. This does not make the wife inferior by any means, for in the God-head you have the first, second, and third Persons, yet they are all one. It all has to do with position and role. Let’s read:

[P&P 308] Parents are entitled to a degree of love and respect which is due to no other person. God Himself, who has placed upon them a responsibility for the souls committed to their charge has ordained that during the earlier years of life parents shall stand in the place of God to their children. And he who rejects the rightful authority of his parents is rejecting the authority of God.

After man sinned God did not call Eve first, nor did He even call the devil first because as far as God is concerned, He never put the devil in charge. God referred to His original pecking order in pursuit of accountability, a pattern which He always follows, even to this day. 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?

10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Another stunning example of how God observes the chain of command He established can be observed in the way He called Ahab to account, after Naboth was slain by the devices of Jezebel. Ahab’s wife was the instigator, she hatched the plot, forged Ahab’s signature, and set the diabolical plan into motion to relieve Naboth of his vineyard.

Yet, when it comes to accountability Jezebel’s name is mentioned secondarily by the prophet, because as far as God is concerned, the buck stops at Ahab’s door first, then his wife. Similarly, even though Eli’s sons were profane the Bible does not even mention the name of Eli’s wife. Let’s read:

1st Kings 21:15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money.

17 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.

19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? Thus, saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

21 Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisses against the wall.

23 And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.

[2] The commands parents give to their children do not always have to make sense to them, because if obeying God was to be based on commands making sense, Isaac would never have obeyed. Let’s read:

Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah.

To any logical thinking mind such a command as the one God gave to Abraham could never make sense, for it specified that Isaac was his only son, and since through Isaac the promise of a great nation was to be fulfilled then how could it make sense to take his life, let alone asking Isaac to obey willingly?

Let it be known this day that if we are to obey God only when His commands make sense to us, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven, because man’s relation to God is based on faith not on logic.

In fact, if we were to closely examine those heroes of faith in the Bible, we would discover that obeying God in their particular situation almost never made sense up front.

It was only after obeying implicitly the commands of God that they turned out to be real heroes of faith. In one instance, Peter is told to go to the sea and to catch the first fish that comes up. Then he is told to open its mouth and there he would find a chunk of change.

The feeding of the five thousand in Christ’s day was in obedience to the command which He had given to His disciples, that they should distribute the fish and bread that He would miraculously multiply.

It is worthy of note that the multiplication of the food did not take place all at once, with piles of Sardine sandwiches all over the place. It was as they obeyed that the multiplication took effect.

In another instance, God commands Gideon to go fight against an immense army of several hundred thousand soldiers, with only three hundred men, armed with pitchers and bull horns. In yet another instance God pits David against a giant with only a slingshot and a few stones.

In another instance, The Lord commands Moses to speak to a rock, and fresh water will gush out. And we can go on and on, for there was another episode where God commanded that a church choir should lead the charge in a specific battle, armed only with their hymnals.

Therefore, if children were to obey their parents only when the command makes sense, they would, like so many other persons today, be disrupting that chain of command which God put in place. It is nice to give children explanations where warranted, but obedience to parents cannot be tethered solely to instructions that make sense to them.

Thus, “Once upon a time Isaac” refers to his faith, obedience, and the accompanying quick answers to prayer that are the sure result. This type of faith in God seems to be in short supply in our day, and the secular concepts, and philosophies of the day are threatening to bring the experience of Isaac to near extinction.

Fathers, you will experience push-back at times, but you must stand your ground in the fear and love of God, and in due time He will answer your prayers in behalf of your children. Mothers, you also would be tempted severely because of your tendencies to place your emotions over principle.

Yet your kindness must be balanced with firmness, or else there would be a breakdown in the chain of command. And children, it is your duty to obey your parents in The Lord, giving them the respect and the honor that is due to them, just like faithful Isaac did in days of yore.

We’ll end with a passage that will help us to restore and maintain the pecking order as was manifested in “once upon a time Isaac.” Let’s read:

Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

God Bless!

Overcoming Alcohol Permanently. Sabbath afternoon 05/29/2021

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

Sooner or later every person who has espoused the name of Christ will have to decide whether we will live according to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, or whether we’ll live by a hybrid between God’s will and humanistic philosophies and concepts.

The faith God is looking for in these last days is not the type that believes the Bible, only after scientific discoveries, and research confirms what God has been saying all along. That sort of belief is not faith that is based on scriptural utterances, but rather on science.

The faith God is looking for is that which will believe His word, and act upon His instructions, even before any science may come along to confirm, or deny the teachings of the Bible. When this brand of faith is cultivated and exercised, it renders the doers of the word impregnable to the assaults of devils, who are often engaged in making science to counteract that which is written in the Bible.

In other words, if God says it, we should believe it, and that should settle it for us permanently in our minds, so that when the stormy rain comes and the winds blow, we will not be swept off our feet, since our faith was founded on The Rock, even Jesus, who alone can keep our minds from drifting into the web of concepts and ideologies that often pit the human against the Divine.

As it pertains to the use of alcoholic beverages, the word of God is abundantly clear as to mind of God on this matter. It is not fit for human consumption, for it sets in motion a train of evils that do damage to its users. The habitual use of alcohol triggers a host of other latent tendencies and evil propensities which, if they are not addressed and overcome will cause havoc downstream.

When we take The God of heaven at His word, and when we study with a humble heart and teachable spirit His assessments, knowledge and instructions, then we would not have to depend on, or wait for science to confirm what He has stated. God always knows what He is doing, and He has never made a single mistake in His instructions to us on alcohol.

The following therefore is a detailed analysis of what effects the use of alcoholic beverages has on persons and with these revelations will come warnings, and encouragements for us to choose wisely, and to live soberly and righteously in this generation. Let’s read:

Proverbs 23:20 Be not among wine-bibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh.

[1] We must avoid associating with individuals who are consuming alcohol because in some cases they would exert a gravitational pull on us, especially if we are already prone to such indulgences. We are all social beings and thus, the naturally tendency for one who is drinking is to offer his or her friend a drink.

Proverbs 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

[2] One who indulges freely in the use of alcohol runs the risk of eventually losing all material blessings by becoming addicted to it. Satan only needs one weak link in order to destroy the entire man, and if wrong habits are not overcome they will cause increasing bleeding of funds and resources until one is brought to poverty.

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

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

[3] Unnecessary troubles, sadness, and depressions are just a few of the adverse results of drinking, and these often lead to financial ruin, through the need to spend on rehabilitation and treatment, because alcohol is a gateway to a thousand more evils. It’s a solemn statement of fact that there are some doors which should never be opened because it can be quite difficult to put the genie back in the bottle.

Proverbs 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

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

[4] The true effects of alcohol are not immediately, felt, and because of this it is delusionary in nature, being sweet in the mouth but bitter in the belly just as it was when Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. Those adverse effects upon the human race we read about which came after man sinned were not immediately felt.

As a general rule of thumb, sin in many cases, needs a gestation period of sorts, or an elapsed period of time from when the first commission of the sin took place, to the time when the full, adverse effects will be realized.

Hence the reason why after one’s first indulgence, and the adverse consequences may not kick in right away, persons are drawn further, and further into the net until the bad habit locks them in an iron grip from which it becomes very difficult to escape. Let’s read:

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.

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

[5] The use of alcohol opens the gates to adultery and pornography, and it also leads to cursing and the use of inappropriate language on several fronts. There’s a valid reason why it is referred to as spirits.

Very closely associated with flirting and impromptu adultery is the use of spiritous liquors, for it clouds one’s better judgment and inhibits to a great extent our ability to differentiate between right and wrong, as can be observed at bars, carnivals, clubs and such venues at which alcohol is freely indulged.

Proverbs 23:34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not.

[6] Drinking alcohol adveresly affects the brain and one’s nervous system, and the body itself reaps the fruit thereof in a host of unfortunate side effects ranging from dizzy spells to lethargy, to the lack of morale, and the feeling that other people are trying to harm you.

Proverbs 23: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

[7] Worst of all God says that alcohol is addictive in nature, and causes those who use it to eventually become hooked for life if the habit is not overcome.

After Adam and Eve first ate of the forbidden tree, they had erroneously thought that that would be the last time, but since then, the human family has become hooked, and we continue to eat of the tree of good and evil, even in our day, almost 6000 years later.

The problem is that scientific research done by one of the prominent Ivy league universities suggests to us that God was incorrect in His instructions to us on the issue of drunkenness, and in His assessments of the use of alcohol.

Researchers from Harvard had studied the effects of drinking several glasses of red wine per week, and believe it or not, they found it beneficial because of resveratrol, and therefore, according to finite man, The God of heaven had apparently made a mistake. Let’s read:

From Harvard Men’s Health Watch June 17, 2020

Researchers in Seattle collected information about many factors that might influence the risk of prostate cancer in men between ages 40 and 64, including alcohol consumption.

At first the results for alcohol consumption seemed similar to the findings of many earlier studies. There was no relationship between overall consumption and risk. But the scientists went one step further by evaluating each type of alcoholic beverage independently.

Here the news was surprising—wine drinking was linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. And when white wine was compared with red, red had the most benefit. Even low amounts seemed to help, and for every additional glass of red wine per week, the relative risk declined by 6%.

But as every member of the human family will soon discover, all the instructions, laws, and restrictions God has given to us as it pertains to food and drink, have always been given with our best good in mind. One day, after all of those conspiracy theories have been laid bare, after all of the fake news, parading under the veneer of science has been exposed, it’ll be seen by all, that God was, and is, always right.

By Amy Woodyatt, CNN, Updated 4:54 AM ET, Thursday May 20, 2021

There is no such thing as a "safe" level of drinking, with increased consumption of alcohol associated with poorer brain health, according to a new study.

In an observational study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, researchers from the University of Oxford studied the relationship between the self-reported alcohol intake of some 25,000 people in the UK, and their brain scans.

The researchers noted that drinking had an effect on the brain's gray matter, regions in the brain that make up "important bits where information is processed," according to lead the author Anya Topiwala, a senior clinical researcher at Oxford.

"The more people drank, the less the volume of their gray matter," Topiwala said via email. "Brain volume reduces with age and more severely with dementia. Smaller brain volume also predicts worse performance on memory testing," she explained.

They found that there was no "safe" level of drinking -- meaning that consuming any amount of alcohol was worse than not drinking it. "So many people drink 'moderately,' and think this is either harmless or even protective," Topiwala told CNN via email.

Alcohol was the leading risk factor for disease and premature death in men and women between the ages of 15 and 49 worldwide in 2016, accounting for nearly one in 10 deaths, according to a study published in The Lancet in 2018.

"We also shouldn't forget alcohol affects all parts of the body and there are multiple health risks," said Boniface, who was not associated with the Oxford study.

"Previous research has found that subtle changes which demonstrate damage to the brain can present in ways that aren’t immediately detectable in routine testing of intellectual function and can progress unchecked until they present with more noticeable changes in memory," he said.

"Even at levels of low-risk drinking," he said, "there is evidence that alcohol consumption plays a larger role in damage to the brain than previously thought. The (Oxford) study found that this role was greater than many other modifiable risk factors, such as smoking."

It’s good that science has at least begun to concede that The God of heaven was right all along but there is only one problem remaining: Should we wait for Oxford or Harvard to confirm God’s word before we believe, and if so, would we be following God or the so-called experts?

The following therefore is the scriptural way to kick the habit of drinking alcohol permanently. Persons need to remember, that in all things, there are two ways to accomplish that which needs to be done. There is a God-version of victory and there’s a man- version of victory.

We can include the God factor, and thus make the victory permanent, or we can choose to go with the secular version of victory, and be faced with the real possibility of playing whackamole for life.

[1] We will need to take full responsibility for our actions. Blaming other folks, circumstances, or peer pressure will do us no good, for unless we confront the man in the mirror, we will become the sport of circumstances. No one can force us to drink alcohol. We will have to buy the liquor, or the Bud and then use our own hands to put it to our mouths.

[The Desire Of Ages pp 125] While Satan can solicit, he cannot compel to sin. He said to Jesus, “Cast Thyself down,” knowing that he could not cast Him down; for God would interpose to deliver Him. Nor could Satan force Jesus to cast Himself down. Unless Christ should consent to temptation, He could not be overcome. Not all the power of earth or hell could force Him in the slightest degree to depart from the will of His Father.

The tempter can never compel us to do evil. He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control. The will must consent, faith must let go its hold upon Christ, before Satan can exercise his power upon us. But every sinful desire we cherish affords him a foothold. Every point in which we fail of meeting the divine standard is an open door by which he can enter to tempt and destroy us.

Confession of sin includes taking full responsibility for our actions, and whenever this is done, God can cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But if we offer up excuses, valid or invalid, we take the ball out of our own court and make others or circumstance the reason for our failures. Let’s read:

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

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

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.

[2] An integral aspect of overcoming is self-denial by which persons will be pitted against their ownselves as latent tendencies, and dormant propensities may strive for the mastery. Neither is there any easy way to overcome. It takes time to indulge and it will take time and well-directed effort to reverse many years of such indulgence. 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.

1st Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

[3] Another important aspect of overcoming alcohol is that we need power from God to live victoriously from day to day. But like with everything else, the world offers up a type of victory that excludes the God factor from the efforts made, and some folks, having adopted such a strategy have sometimes kicked the habit.

But whilst any victory is good, the one that Christ approves, and the one that will endure for eternity is the one that includes the God-factor with persons cooperating with God continually being replenished with Holy Ghost power on a daily basis.

God grants to all who desire to overcome the power to resist the urge to drink. This does not mean that the temptations would not present themselves from time to time, but with the urge will come the power from Christ to resist. Every heaven-born victory will involve a fight, for there is no easy way to win the battles of life. Let’s read:

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

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

Deuteronomy 33:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

[4] Cooperation with God is a must, for as with any God-centered victory, there will be things for us to do, and there will be places for us to void. We must never needlessly place ourselves in the way of the temptation and then expect God to deliver. This is presumption and effectively negates the working of The Holy Spirit.

Venues which serve up alcohol, and all such places where drinkers do congregate to indulge should be strictly avoided, because the gravitational pull will pose a greater risk, than if we had avoided such a place. Clubs, bars, and every place where alcohol is consumed regularly, have a convergence of devils present, always.

There are specific reasons for their presence where spiritous liquors are being consumed for they aren’t there merely to ensure folks have a good time; they are present to tempt persons to commit grave sins, after a person’s ability to reason rationally has been

compromised by alcohol. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

Mark 6:21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

23 And he swore unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

[5] Continual prayer is a must for by doing so we are connected to the source of power in Christ. There is no such thing as bad habits that can’t be overcome, for the scriptures teach us that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

Thus, persons are to exercise faith in God, that He is well able to accomplish that which He has promised if the necessary cooperation on our part is put into place. The power to cooperate with God also comes from God, but it is triggered through the prayer of faith, by which we show our total dependence on Him. Let’s read:

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

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

Let us therefore zip up our boots, and shake off the blues and let us rather take hold of the arm of God’s omnipotence, for there is nothing impossible with God. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which reminds us to check in with the only source of life and power daily, for it is by so doing that folks will be enabled to overcome alchol, and every other sin, permanently Let’s read:

Zechariah 4: 6 Then he answered and 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.

God Bless!

Who's On The Lord's Side? Sabbath afternoon 05/22/2021

1st Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

The way that God chooses leaders is quite different to how we as mortals may go about selecting those who are to bear sacred responsibilities. Mortal man often gives consideration to external qualifications, dispositions, intellect, expertise, and seniority. With God, even though those things have their place they are secondary to one’s willingness to obey.

In fact, God would often choose those who may not have great intellectual appeal but who are willing to be taught by Him and He outfits them for their work if they be ready and willing to do His every will.

The Lord will have us understand that education or specialized training in institutions of higher learning may have their place but are not considered as the most important prerequisites for sacred service.

A teachable spirit, one’s willingness to be led, and a disposition to obey God, even when it goes against our own grain, are just a few of the characteristics He looks for. In addition, it is much more important to be imbued with The Spirit of God than to have a long list of titles from literary institutions. These do have their place, but they can only furnish external qualifications. Let’s read:

Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.

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?

Aaron was an eloquent person, and he possessed a loving disposition and dignified mien that appealed to people naturally, but for some reason, The Lord hesitated greatly in making him the spokesperson for Moses, for in such a capacity, he would often be speaking in Moses’ stead.

God had seen him coming to visit his brother, long before He mentioned that fact to Moses, but it was only after Moses kept making all those excuses, that God finally mentioned Aaron, in a last-ditch effort to get His will done. If Moses had readily stepped up to the plate, Aaron would never have been chosen, as the following scriptures disclose. Let’s read:

Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: 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 makes 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 sees thee, he will be glad in his heart.

15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

We keep saying that God is a Spirit, and by this we mean that very often, His pleasure or displeasure is clearly discerned by what He does or what He says or His eagerness or reluctance to go a certain route. In this instance, Aaron was obviously not His first choice, but a sort of plan “B” when His efforts with Moses failed.

When Christ was on earth He walked by the seaside and called to Himself, Peter, James and John, and all three responded readily. But when Judas’ turn came Jesus for some reason became unusually cool in His reception. This obvious reluctance baffled the other disciples, who had great respect for Judas, and his qualifications as a certified accountant.

They saw in him one who would be an asset to the kingdom, but Jesus, who reads the heart, observed quite the opposite in the same person, and to His disciples, Christ’s unexplained coolness to Judas was not only unwarranted, but ill-advised in their minds. But God never makes a mistake in His assessment of persons as Judas’ after history revealed. Let’s read:

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

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

20 And they straightway left their nets and followed him.

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

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father and followed him.

Matthew 8:19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath nowhere to lay his head.

That was definitely not a warm welcoming tone as was the case with those other disciples, to whom Christ made no mention of not having a fixed place of abode. In fact, Christ’s words to Judas may have bordered on discouraging him from his bid to join the inner circle, but because God gives opportunity to all, He permitted Judas to join the group.

Therefore, even though Aaron could speak well, and although he displayed a mild, amicable disposition, yet he had serious flaws in his character that would be of greater liability than an asset, when he would be severely tested in the heat of the furnace. That disposition to please others, and not ruffle feathers, would cause him to compromise truth, and sacred trusts in emergency situations.

Persons who are anointed as elders and deacons of the church ought to be men of sterling worth, men who will not be bought or sold, or be pressured into countenancing wrong, just because the majority of the congregation may clamor for it. God’s form of government is not democratic in nature, where it is government by the people, and for the people.

God’s government is theocratic in nature, with Jesus Christ as the head, and we His servants, to do all His pleasure and biddings even when we may not agree with His directives, or when we may have different, personal opinions as to what is right or wrong in any given situation. Thus, those who are chosen to fill a sacred office should not curry favor with the masses but instead should be found faithful in all things.

Aaron was good when things went smoothly, where there was no backlash, or remonstrance from those whom he served. But when the heat was turned up several notches and he saw the unruly congregation as an existential threat to himself, he capitulated to them and buckled under pressure. This is not good, for in our day it causes preachers to water down the truth to please the popular majority. Let’s read:

Exodus 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Aaron’s response to this clamor should have been “Absolutely not or under no circumstances” and he then should have cautioned and encouraged those under his care to be patient in waiting for Moses, especially since the cloud of glory still hovered over Mt. Sinai.

But the people persisted, and they became more irate when they saw his feeble remonstrance. Thus, they came to believe that if they would push him a bit further, they would eventually break his morale, and they were correct in their assessments, as the following scriptures show. Let’s read:

Exodus 32:2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.

3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears and brought them unto Aaron.

4 And he received them at their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.

When Aaron observed the favor with which the calf was received, he became even more motivated to please and instead of putting on the brakes he went even further by announcing a grand festival in what he advertised as a feast to The Lord.

Thus, he would blend the sacred and the common in order to please, not because it was right, and that grave pattern of conduct that would also bear fruit in the behavior of his sons, who later on would also be found mingling that which is holy with the vile.

Therefore, the people, who now had the sanction of Aaron, would be all too eager to pull out all of the stops, for in their minds, if the spiritual leader is in agreement, and goes so far as to approve idolatry, then they would respond in the positive, and give vent to latent desires, which sought an opportune moment to converge. Let’s read:

Exodus 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

21 And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

22 And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.

23 For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

What followed next was a turning point for many of the people, for there were those who saw their guilt and repented, but there were others who remained defiant, and therefore, the Levites were bidden by God to execute justice impartially, without fear and without favor, even if it came very close to home.

This was obviously something very difficult for them to do but there comes a time when our relationship with friends and families would have to take a back-seat to serving God, if the latter conflicts with the former, as Christ later pointed out when speaking about the seriousness of our commitment to Him. Let’s read:

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

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

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

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

Exodus 32:28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

29 For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

That word “Consecrate” as used in verse 29 raises a lot of serious questions as it pertains to the extent a person is expected to go in demonstrating loyalty to Christ, especially in cases where a definite stand for the right is required.

[1] Would Aaron be protected by God if he braved the consequences and refused to budge on that ungodly request made by the masses?

[2] Does God guaranty protection to those who may defend the truth in volatile situations?

[3] Is our allegiance to God to be based on guaranty of protection, or is it to be based on whatsoever the cost may be?

[4] How would the Levites be viewed from that time forward by the rest of the congregation?

Before we proceed, it’s important for us to read an excerpt from the pen of inspiration as it pertains to this incident, because some of us may not be fully aware of what is involved in serving God.

Over the years self-indulgence and self-preservation and self-serving have imperceptibly eaten away at the fabric of Christianity, thus producing a plethora of fair-weather Christians, who serve and obey God only when it is easy and convenient to do so.

But because the crisis on the horizon will call for us to take a definite stand for the truth, in the face of existential threats from the beast system, and in the face of desertion and discouragements from friends and foes alike, we must read the following excerpts, considering what we would or ought to do in similar circumstances. Let’s read:

[P&P, pp 316] Such a crisis demanded a man of firmness, decision, and unflinching courage; one who held the honor of God above popular favor, personal safety, or life itself. A few who ventured to denounce the proposed image making as idolatry, were set upon and roughly treated, and in the confusion and excitement they finally lost their lives.

God would have His servants prove their loyalty by faithfully rebuking transgression, however painful the act may be. Those who are honored with the divine commission are not to be weak, pliant time-servers. They are not to aim at self-exaltation, nor to shun disagreeable duties, but to perform God's work with unswerving fidelity.

As the outpouring of the latter rain begins to gain momentum the trumpet would need to be given a certain sound by those who will be chosen to give the final warning before the close of probation, with the prospect of economic sanctions, boycotts, and tremendous push back from one’s family members, friends, and associates.

The 144,000 would be giving God’s last message of mercy against the backdrop of deep skepticism, and backlash from the religious and secular segments of society and science will be arrayed against the truth in so much that former church members will join in the fray to discredit the message, just as it was in the days of Noah prior to the worldwide deluge.

Yet they are required by God to stand firm for the right, to deliver the unvarnished truth, and God will strengthen them to tow the line, in spite of them being hedged in with difficulties, scorn and threats on every side. Unlike Aaron, those that are chosen are not to be concerned with consequences or the fallout that will certainly result.

Instead, they must give the trumpet a certain sound so that all who so desire may find refuge in Christ by keeping all of His commandments, before the final verdict is delivered. And therefore, there’s only one question remaining to be answered by each person individually: Who Is on The Lord’s side? Let’s read:

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.

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

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

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

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

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

Those amongst us who have been entrusted with the goods, and have been taught the truths for this generation are called to preach a plain “Thus saith The Lord”. When preparing sermons for the people, we need to be careful that the Aaron syndrome will not taint the presentations.

The desire to please, to palliate, to soothe, or to be funny, must not cause any preacher elder or deacon to water down the truth, even if family members or friends may have their toes stepped on. While every sermon must be given in love, the content must not be altered, just because it may potentially rub some persons the wrong way.

It is the disposition not to ruffle any feathers that has turned many would be preachers into soothe- sayers, a syndrome which has already infected the remnant church of God to a large extent. As a general rule of thumb, when the unadulterated word of God is being delivered, you would scarcely find persons sleeping or yawning, for the presence and power of The Holy Ghost is present to drive the truth home.

But when most of the congregation is nodding away while others are sleeping or snoring during sermons it means that something is not quite right. Thus, we have reached the point in earth’s history where the average sermon won’t do anymore.

If we are really on The Lord’s side let us deliver the goods just as God gives it; let preachers and elders not be afraid to call sin by its right name, and when the masses come clamoring for smooth things, let them be given what they need to hear and not what they want to hear.

In this way The Lord will work with our efforts, and He will send forth His Spirit to prick the conscience, and many conversions to the truth will be seen in places where previously folks were hesitant to make a firm stand for Christ and His righteousness.

In harmony with the urgency of the moment we will end with a passage of scripture which Paul wrote to the young Timothy, at a time when some persons may have been disposed to question his ordination as a preacher. Let’s read:

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.

God Bless!

Living By The Word Of God. Sabbath Afternoon 05/15/2021

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

The word of God is not subject to the changes we so often see legislatures making in our day in response to changes in culture and demographics. When folks clamor for change, based upon personal opinions or preferences, politicians often respond by giving the people what they desire, even though they may not be convinced about the morality of such moves, but because it may be politically expedient to do so.

Thus, amendments and changes are often made not because of principle, but because of those societal pressures which goad lawmakers to change from a right course to wrong, for fear of retribution at the ballot box. Whenever there’s an insatiable desire to cling to power, politicians would often do any, and everything just to retain their standing among the people.

This is what caused Pilate to put Christ to death on Calvary, even though there was no valid accusation against him, and even though he himself was very convinced that a deep-laid plot had been made by the religious leaders who hated Christ. Thus, Pilate violated his own conscience, went against his grain, held his nose and gave the multitude what they had clamored for, even though he knew it was wrong.

God will have us understand that He will not ever be pressured into making changes in His law, just because the popular majorities may clamor for it. Instead, God bids us observe and do everything He has instructed and commanded us to, because the principles of His kingdom never change with the passage of time.

Living by the word of God alone, means bringing all suggestions, all philosophies, all personal opinions, every private interpretation, every preference, and bias and every cultural practice, to be first checked by the Bible. For the Christian if the aforementioned pass the smell test of God’s word, fine, but if not, it must be rejected and thrown out the window.

Thus, living by the word of God, means to have the scriptures in preeminence when evaluating ideas or when making decisions to act. But when persons begin to make changes, additions and amendments which God did not authorize, then we place opinion over truth, and that mode of thought and action will cascade downhill, until we make void His law. Let’s read:

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

Case in point is how as a country, we have allowed societal pressures to do violence to the institution of marriage which God had originally set as the gold standard in Eden for all future generations. Back in those days it was one man for one female woman, and for many years that model was embraced and practiced here in this country.

But gradually, there was a clamor for changes, and the groundswell became so great, and the pressure so intense that the legislature capitulated, and gave the people what the majority clamored for. Some of the legislature were not convinced in their heart of hearts, but because the pressure was mounting on all sides, and because Rome approved it, God’s law on marriage was eventually thrown out.

According to the dictionary, an amendment to the constitution is a change, or an addition designed to improve a text, or a piece of legislation. But, once we start down that path it then becomes a slippery slope, being subjected to the winds of change and societal pressures, that blow in different directions.

Therefore, on June 26, 2013 the Supreme Court of the United States issued its final decision in United States v. Windsor, then ruling that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional on equal protection grounds.

The Court ruled that DOMA, which excludes a same-sex partner from the definition of “spouse”, as that term is used in federal statutes, is unconstitutional, as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. That ruling occurred on June 26, 2013.

But, because the diabolical enemy of God and man often employs the proven principle of gradualism in the implementation of his schemes, it would be just a matter of time before societal pressures pushed the envelope even further.

And on June, 26, 2015 the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the 14th Amendment to the constitution requires states to license marriages between two people of the same sex, and also to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State, thus legalizing same-sex marriage in the United States.

The problem is that from that time to now, many other variations, designations, and identities have emerged, in so much that some are now identifying themselves in the plural such as “They” and others as being non-binary among other identities.

Gender-queer people typically reject any notion of static categories of gender and embrace a fluidity of gender identity and sexual orientation. People who identify as "gender-queer" often see themselves as being both male and female, neither male or female, or as falling completely outside these categories.

Thus, it is just a matter of time before the Supreme court will have to go back to the drawing board, and alter that which has been already amended to cater for the ever emerging clamors of society, which are in direct opposition to God’s written word. And for this reason, we must now explain in graphic detail, what it really means to live by every word of God in our day.

But before we do so, we must let the Bible speak for itself concerning the issues of change, for millennia, culture, lobbying, Bitcoin, or even popular demand can never alter what God has spoken, in any way, form or fashion.

To put it plainly, The God of heaven would never accept gay marriage, alternative lifestyles, or any other substitute day of rest, no matter who or what may clamor for change. Let’s read:

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing so-ever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Psalms 119:89 Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

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.

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 spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The following therefore are some examples of how we are to live by the word of God alone, especially when the winds of unwarranted change are blowing in the opposite direction. It will not be easy, and we may face economic and social media boycotts, but if we desire to live in harmony with “It is written” all other considerations and pressures must be borne down and made subject to the word.

In the days of Nehemiah, there was a great need of reformation because the people of God had strayed very far from His ideal. God’s instructions, His laws, His statutes, and His principles were being violated in high and low places, and thus, when Nehemiah was raised up to bring the people back from their national apostasy, certain critically important areas needed to be addressed.

[1] The issue of ungodly influences.

Nehemiah 13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God forever.

2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

23 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab.

Over a period of time, many idolaters seeped into the congregation, bringing their pagan influences with them, and even though the gospel is given to all people, and should be made applicable to every person, yet, as a general rule of thumb, those who are only half-converted to the truth will inevitably end up exerting a gravitational pull on others.

Through intermarriage with the ammonites and the Moabites, unscriptural practices began to take root, for wherever two persons of different persuasions unite in marriage, there would be compromise on principle on some level, some more, some less.

Those influences will be manifest in their offspring too, who in most instances are exposed to dueling concepts of right and wrong. Children of secular folk are in many instances trained differently than those who are brought up in god-fearing homes and if two individuals from entirely different backgrounds are united in marriage, these differences will begin to appear sooner or later.

Therefore, any proliferation of such influences will ultimately put increasing downward pressure on the righteousness that is stipulated in God’s word, and there would be a gradual watering down of those truths that are essential to the soul.

A person’s faith determines what they will do, and if erroneous concepts and philosophies are co-mingled with truth, the dire effects will be seen in practice. If one lives by the word of God, that mode of thought and action will conflict with secular perspectives for one savors of faith, while the other is controlled by humanistic philosophies and views.

Thus, Nehemiah was moved by God to remove the ungodly influences that were causing His people to countenance and practice things that are contrary to sound doctrine. Similarly, in our day, the issue of influence must be addressed, because over a period of time, many pagan influences have been gradually entering the church.

And because so many have been baptized into the church without proper prior indoctrination, truth has fallen in the street, and pagan practices and its philosophies have been countenanced for years, in so much that if one was to raise these issues, there would be tremendous push-back from those who do not live by the word of God alone.

For instance tattoos have become quite fashionable in Christian circles, whereas in times past this never used to be the case. Not only is it forbidden in the Bible but it is of pagan origin and even though it has become the norm for the most part in society, yet it in an unscriptural practice and God calls on persons to utterly reject it as such.

According to Google, the practice of tattooing came from pagans and was used to appease false gods, to ward off demonic forces, and for a plethora of other reasons, too many to mention. In our day currently, it has been adopted by gangs, by models, by those in the sporting industry, and by many Christians.

But just because it has become popular does not mean that we should ever adopt or countenance it, because living by the word alone, would move us to signally reject any and everything that isn’t Biblically sound. Getting a tattoo of Christ on the cross does not make it acceptable either, for what He prohibits in His word, remains as such. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.

Persons who have been previously tattooed may in some cases be able to remove them after baptism, but in other cases, persons may be scarred for life. Jesus accepts us as we are, but He doesn’t leave us where we are, and therefore, wherever it’s possible, those who desire to live by the word of God alone can, and should make the necessary changes.

[2] Proper Sabbath Keeping.

Nehemiah 13:15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

21 Then I testified against them and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

Many persons among the remnant are now keeping the Sabbath like persons keep Sunday, because the views, and perspectives held by the majority in the Christian world as it pertains to Sunday have indeed invaded our minds and practice.

Many Christians who observe Sunday would attend church service in the morning but in the afternoon, many go to movies, games or do secular work. Thus, Sunday keeping for many persons consists of part church service and part secular activity. That model has also been adopted by some in our churches, for they attend services in the morning, but are missing in action in the evening.

But here’s just a gentle reminder that it’s the entire Sabbath day that is holy, and all secular works and activities should be suspended during the sacred hours. If some churches remain closed because of the pandemic, individual church members can, and should do some missionary work in their neck of the woods.

Some can offer to study the Bible with neighbors or friends, others can distribute religious material to the public, some can do street evangelism with a bull horn, while others can visit the sick and shut in. But whatever is done, secular activities on Sabbath afternoon is nowhere to be found in the scriptures.

When He was on earth, a typical Sabbath day for Jesus would begin with regular, in-person church services in the morning, where He would attend and sometimes preach in the synagogue. Then, He would turn His attention to ministry, where the sick would be healed, or He would pay a visit to some place where the gospel needed to be disseminated.

There was also time for personal prayer and praise which, coupled together with corporate worship, rounded out a typical Sabbath for Christ. But there was nothing on His agenda that savored of secular work or any self-serving interest, which in too many cases have become the norm in our day. Let’s read:

Luke 4:15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.

31 And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

38 And he arose out of the synagogue and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.

39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

Thus, a typical Sabbath day for Christ consisted of good deeds, preaching, teaching, ministering, and healing the sick and suffering. But nowhere do we find Him sitting at home with popcorn, watching some secular movie, or doing anything that would minister to self.

Regularly using the Sabbath day as a time to catch up on much needed sleep is indeed a violation of the fourth commandment because the “rest” which God originally intended over the sabbath hours had never focused on sleep. Instead, it was a time when the relationship between man and His maker was to be nurtured, encouraged, and solidified.

Thus, the restorers of the breach will need to begin the work of restoration in their own homes. We will need to evaluate our concepts of proper Sabbath keeping, to ensure that they are in line with what is written. Self-serving in any form must be put away, and ministering to the needs of fallen humanity is to be front and center of all proper Sabbath keeping, wherever possible. Let’s read:

Isaiah 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

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

Let us then step up to the plate and do what has for too long been neglected. The volatile situations that are occurring across the globe, the devastation from the current virus, and the utter intransigence that has gripped politicians, tell us that we are living on borrowed time.

In addition to this the final conflict between the law of God and the commandments of men looms large on the horizon, and it won’t be long before we will have to take a definite stand, either for truth or for error.

Thus, it is incumbent upon the remnant people of God to implement those much needed reforms, just as it was in the days of Nehemiah, for it’s not what we say, but what we do that will matter in the long run. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will encourage us to make all necessary change where warranted, for God is now calling all persons to repentance. Let’s read:

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

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

God Bless!

The Issue Of Disrespect. Sabbath Afternoon 05/08/2021

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.

The history of disrespect can be traced right back to Cain, who introduced the habit of answering back in an inappropriate manner to the world. Not only did he introduce disrespect, he also introduced murder, rebellion, alienation, jealousy, family feuds between siblings, atheism, city dwelling, and his children who were born unto him stand at the head of alternative marriage, by introducing the practice of polygamy.

Since that time, disrespect to parents, to God, to all governments, preachers, elders, teachers and police and those to whom God has delegated authority is shown, indulged, encouraged and in some instances the disrespect has even gone viral.

Thus, Cain stands at the head of all disrespect that we see taking place today, for like every other sin, it produces a trickle-down effect in all who choose to walk in his footsteps. 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?

Not only did Cain introduce all the aforementioned evils, he is the one who introduced the disposition to accuse God of unfair punishment, of injustice, of malpractice, a disposition which is too often echoed in our day by those who in their heart of hearts may hate God, or, who may otherwise disagree with His assessments and judgments.

Whenever the question is asked, “Where was God in such and such tragedy” there you have echoes of the past in which Cain declared that the results of his actions were unfair and there are reverberations even in our day to that mode of thought. Let’s read:

Genesis 4:12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that finds me shall slay me.

Thus, Cain set into motion a host of evils that have haunted the human family for centuries, and as we approach earth’s final climax, the problems will only become more severe and difficult to deal with, in so much that God saw fit to include the issue of godly training as one of the areas we will need to address, as His coming draws near. Let’s read:

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The following are just a few examples given in the scripture so that folks may understand the nature, and the seriousness of the problem. It’s not an issue pertaining only to the secular and godless, it is one that affects the remnant people of God too because throughout history and even in our day Cain’s ways, words, ideologies and perspectives have permeated all echelons of our society.

The following examples of disrespect will be given in various categories because as we have previously shown, the problem is not only restricted to that of answering back parents in inappropriate ways. The issue includes a blatant disregard for God-ordained authority, including secular governments, school teachers, pastors and elders.

[1] Cursing out God, parents, teachers, pastors, elders, or anyone in authority.

Cursing, and using foul language and expletives are bad enough on their own, but to use them against one’s parents is strictly forbidden, and in the event that it ever takes place, there should be very serious consequences for the child. There are red lines that should never be crossed and if kids cross those lines it is our sacred duty as Christian parents to address the matter seriously.

If cursing at parents goes unpunished, the children will soon lose respect for all God-ordained authority and the practice would morph into situations which cause tremendous embarrassment, and harm, both to themselves and others. Furthermore, any parent who condones such behaviors would find that their prayers for their children would fall on deaf ears, if a definite change in training does not take place.

The commandment which says to honor thy father and thy mother is far reaching in its scope, and also includes the use of courtesy and respect when kids are addressing their parents and seniors. Disrespect has gone viral in our day, but God’s law has not lost its binding force especially for those who may know better. Let’s read:

Leviticus 24:11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses.

12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the Lord might be shewed them.

13 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,

14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head and let all the congregation stone him.

15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curses his God shall bear his sin.

16 And he that blasphemes the name of the Lord, shall surely be put to death and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well as the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemes the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.

Exodus 21: 17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

[2] Blatant disregard for God’s commands.

Any deliberate and blatant disregard of God’s laws and instructions is a form of disrespect. When we understand clearly what God requires, and then we deliberately choose to do otherwise, we manifest a contempt for The Lord, and thereby place ourselves in antagonism against Him.

The words: “Them that honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed” means that the lives of such persons who show a blatant disregard for God and His instructions would have little value in His sight. This is what took place with the sons of Aaron who because of an indulgent father, had gone on from their disrespect of Aaron to disrespecting the clear instructions from God.

But if parents shirk their unpalatable duties when it comes time to correct their children the time comes when God will take the matter in hand and what He did and how He did it with Aaron’s sons, shows us a grave truth, that God will not be trifled with. God is love, but the apostle Paul warns us to observe both the mercy and the severity of God so that we won’t be brainwashed by secular philosophies. Let’s read:

Leviticus 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.

2 And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

5 So they went near and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.

6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled.

7 And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

8 And the Lord spoke unto Aaron, saying,

9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy and between unclean and clean;

11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

Several critically important points must be noted in the above scriptures, for they contain lessons, and instructions the results of which would have eternal consequences. We begin with verse 6, in which God commanded Aaron and his family not to even cry or show sorrow at the demise of his sons. Why would God command them not to cry?

Folks should have clear concepts of what it means to obey God, for in our day, a watered down form of obedience, where persons choose the smooth and the easy over the true and unpalatable is being peddled by false prophets, and teachers, and those philosophies are being imbibed, and practiced even in our churches, to an alarming extent.

For the record, God means exactly what He says, and no modification, alteration, subtraction or any additions would ever be acceptable in His sight. The disposition to change God’s instructions to make them more pleasing to the multitudes is one of the reasons why school teachers are having increasing difficulty in managing the students under their care.

In this instance, Aaron must not even appear to be in sympathy with his sons, nor should he manifest a disapproval at the Divine correction because, as the 2nd prominent leader in Israel he would by so doing convey to the congregation the feeling that God had been unfair in His intervention, and that God went overboard by consuming his two sons during divine hour.

Then the multitudes who would be prone to indulge in false sympathy would join Aaron, and before you know it, the entire congregation will conclude that God was wrong in what He had done. Therefore, by partaking of the spirit of Cain who first accused God of heavy-handedness the congregation would make themselves ripe for destruction.

Parenting children often involves unpalatable duties such as administering correction when it is due. And in some instances, the gravity of the offence would call for a harsher response than in others. Speaking to kids at first is a must, but if over a period of time the desired results are not realized then parents are required to take it up at increasing notches.

Again, one parent should never weaken the hands of the other by undue sympathy to the child, when it is known that the child is in the wrong, because doing so will cause the child to view one parent as Christ and the other as satan.

Some parents are by their very nature more tender and sympathizing than others, and they might not have the guts to administer correction when it may be due. But at the very least, they should act as a cheerleader, meaning that they should confirm the correction and not weaken the hands of the other parent.

Another point that was made in the discourse that followed the demise of Aaron’s sons is that Aaron was not to abandon his post because of resentment or displeasure at what God had done, for doing so would also constitute a passive form of rebellion. In addition, a concise instruction against the free use of intoxicating wine was given to the priests, so that their powers of discernment would not become too severely distorted.

In our day our sense of right and wrong has become very blunted, so like Aaron’s sons, folks keep putting light for darkness, truth for error, bitter for sweet, and right for wrong. This condition of the churches in our day has been highlighted by God Himself with the intent that we would take all necessary steps to correct the stated evils. Let’s read:

Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.

Isaiah 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.

Parents who are indulgent with their children not only do great harm to their kids, but also to future generations which are likely to mimic the ideology. The hope that over a period of time the kids would outgrow evils is a vain and empty hope that is built upon wishful thinking. It would never happen on its own, but will instead deepen even more, with the passage of time.

[3] Making a mockery of parents, or those in God-ordained authority.

There’s another type of disrespect that makes fun of, or mocks the counsels of parents, teachers, and persons in authority. This form is often more subtle than the overt type manifested by Aaron’s and Eli’s sons. Some children think they know better than their parents who have walked this road before and they might actually know more.

However, to make fun of the counsels of parents is a form of disrespect, and mocking them, as if they are fools, produces adverse results, for when such persons pray, there usually is no answer, for at the ground level they have mocked at God indirectly.

This disposition to make fun of parents is what led the sons in law of Lot, and his daughters, to make light of the final warning given to them and because of this, they perished in the fires of Sodom, just like everyone else, because God is no respecter of any persons.

The same issue of disrespect reared its ugly head just after Elisha received his Divine ordination, and the kids who were brought up without restraint and regard for parental authority mocked the servant of God as he passed by.

What followed next was an intervention by the Holy Ghost and it constitutes a very stark warning for our generation, for God shows us again in this instance that He will not be trifled with, by anyone whether they be big or small. Let’s read:

2nd KINGS 2: 23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

[P.K. pp 235>236] Elisha was a man of mild and kindly spirit; but that he could also be stern is shown by his course when, on the way to Bethel, he was mocked by ungodly youth who had come out of the city. At the sound of their mocking words the prophet turned back, and under the inspiration of the Almighty he pronounced a curse upon them. The awful judgment that followed was of God.

Had Elisha allowed the mockery to pass unnoticed, he would have continued to be ridiculed and reviled by the rabble, and his mission to instruct and save in a time of grave national peril might have been defeated. This one instance of terrible severity was sufficient to command respect throughout his life.

For fifty years he went in and out of the gate of Bethel, and to and fro in the land, from city to city, passing through the crowds of idle, rude, dissolute youth, but none mocked him or made light of his qualifications as the prophet of the Most High.

Even kindness should have its limits. Authority must be maintained by firm severity or it will be received by many with mockery and contempt. The so-called tenderness the coaxing and indulgence used toward youth by parents and guardians, is one of the worst evils which can come upon them. In every family, firmness, decision, positive requirements are essential.

Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

[4] Our last example is known as the Caribbean version of Georgie Porgy.

There were three basic problems we ran into one day, as we played that song. [1] I happened to be Georgie Porgy. [2] One of the girls happened to be my Dad’s student. [3] Georgie Porgy couldn’t run away.

Even now, I can clearly recall that day. School was over, we began playing table tennis, and before you know it, “the girl” and myself began playing Georgie Porgy. But after kissing the girl, she didn’t follow the script, and my Dad, who was the school Principal at the time was made aware of what had taken place.

“Then”

I was then called to the Principal’s office and asked a direct question: Is it true that you kissed one of my students? After sweating a ton of bricks I finally said yes, and he then told me to go home and wait until he came home. To make a long story short, the episode that followed was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

My father did his parental duty, even though it was unpalatable, and therefore, when it came time for him and my mom to intercede for me, God heard and answered their prayers, and that’s why I stand before you today, giving Bible studies.

Many people wonder at the phenomenon of mass shootings that have overspread the land, and others are perplexed, and dismayed by the wanton taking of human life, often by young adults and even those in their teens. The reasons for this are simple: “Our chickens are now coming home to roost”.

When through secular philosophies and practices we weaken the hands of parents, when the kids are encouraged to call the cops on their parents, when correction was indeed due, and when parents are found cowering in fear because they prefer to avoid unpalatable duties then we will have a toxic mix on our hands.

Unwarranted leniency, and unbridled evil tendency in kids who should have been corrected when there was opportunity to do so, have contributed greatly to the over 178 mass shootings across the U.S so far for this year alone.

But the phenomena does not stop there, for as the human agent loses respect for parents, man, and all duly appointed leaders, they go a step further in the total disregard for God Himself, and thus, we’ve had many mass shootings in churches, synagogues, and mosques, phenomena that was almost unheard of in the not too distant past.

The seeds of these rebellions and the manifestation of such disrespect can in many cases be traced right back to parents who shirked their duties when they had opportunity to correct the evils in their children which they knew of, but whom like Eli, had turned a blind eye, hoping somehow that the church, or the school or even God Himself would take up the slack.

And now my dear friends, some parents may have a Georgie Porgy at home, and others may have the girls on their hands. Whatever our situation may be and whatsoever might be the issue to be addressed, one thing is certain, if folks expect God to fulfill His promise of saving our children, we will have to roll up our sleeves and do our parental duties.

At times, this won’t be easy, and many tears will be shed in the process, but if we persevere in the right direction, trusting in God and cooperating with Him, He will bless our efforts, because, at the end of life’s journey, nothing else will matter more, than to see ourselves and our children saved eternally in God’s kingdom.

In harmony with the spirit of this presentation, we now exhort every parent to be faithful. Let not our feelings get in the way of doing God’s bidding; let’s not weaken the hands of the other when there are unpalatable issues to be addressed, as Zipporah did when she did not agree with God’s requirements.

Instead, let us ask God for grace and strength to do His good will, for it is the salvation of parents and kids alike that are at stake. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should encourage us, as we continue the bitter/sweet journey of raising our children for God’s kingdom. Let’s read:

Hebrews 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.

6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens and scourges every son whom he receives.

7 If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence. shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous but grievous, nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

God Bless!

Christ, Our Greatest Treasure. Sabbath afternoon 05/01/2021

Isaiah 53: 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

It is true that God has given to the human family the greatest of all gifts through His Son Jesus Christ, and even though some individuals may not be aware of it, that sacrifice on Calvary is what gives us the great value we now enjoy. A jewel, or a work of art is only as valuable as the price paid for it, and therefore, it is because of the price paid for us that we have now become so precious in God’s sight.

This doesn’t mean to say that we were not precious before, in our fallen state, but the entrance of sin into our world had greatly depreciated our original value. Persons should understand that if God were to correctly value us after Adam sinned, we would not be worth much, because a dying Adam could only hold his value for so long.

The new Mercedes s550 bi-turbo is worth north of a hundred grand, as it sits gleaming in the showroom, fresh off of the assembly line. But as it is driven off the lot, depreciation takes a large swipe at it, to the tune of ten to fifteen thousand, and it continues to lose value yearly, until one can purchase it after ten years for around twenty-five thousand, even though the original value stood at around 130,000.

When God had originally created man, he then had tremendous value, and as Adam and Eve then stood in the showroom of Eden, gleaming in the image of God, even The Lord was moved to comment that they were very good. But then we were sold, sold under sin, and from then on out man lost much of his original value.

In other words, when because of sin, Adam and Eve were driven off “the lot” (in this case the garden of Eden) they began to depreciate, and were it not for the intervention of Christ they would’ve continued to lose value, until the cold fingers of death would render them fit for the junkyard, even the grave.

In our day there is a great deal of self-importance manifested in some persons, and others walk and talk in pride, not being aware that were it not for Jesus Christ, the value and importance we place on ourselves would be non-existent. Here is what the Bible says about human beings, and our planet, as put into the right perspective. Let’s read:

Isaiah 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance.

17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

But Christ stepped in, and determined to purchase us back to Himself because of what He knew He can do in us, but in the process of doing so, He would pay the ultimate, and the highest price that could ever be paid. It is this intervention that now gives to the human family its extreme worth, and that’s why the Bible cautions us never to under value the price paid for our redemption, nor the cost of human life. Let’s read:

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?

Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

The book of Hebrews takes on an entirely different tone from all the rest of Paul’s writings. It is a book filled with clear-cut and sobering truths which bring the seriousness and assurance of our salvation into full view and then it exhorts us not to undervalue or take for granted that which was accomplished for us on Calvary.

The book of Hebrews begins with establishing the fact that The Person who was to lay down His life for the human family, was and still is the greatest gift that can be bestowed on us. Jesus Christ who paid the highest price for our redemption is not merely a good man, or a secondary God, He is the fullness of the God-head bodily. Let’s read:

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.

It is important for Paul to establish this fact up-front so that as he proceeds with describing what Jesus went through to save us, we would understand that it is The God of heaven who by His sacrifice has now given to the human family royal status, and because of this, Christ is our greatest treasure. Let’s read:

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.

Thus, after establishing the fact that it is The Person of God who came to purchase us back, the very next chapter of Hebrews begins with the word therefore, a word which means based upon the foregoing facts or, for that reason. Let’s read:

Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;

3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?

That the Son of God should leave the bliss of His heavenly home and come to this earth to die for our sins, that we may have eternal life should cause us to rejoice with trembling, because without Christ’s intervention in our behalf, we would be gazing into a deep abyss, a black hole from which there would be no escape.

Therefore, any and everyone who has been granted that privilege, and the opportunity to be called the sons and daughters of God, should never take such a relationship lightly, for at the end of life’s journey, it makes all the difference between eternal life and death, as we will explain later on in our study.

If all there is to life is to work, pay bills, have some fleeting fun, only to die after a few short years of existence then life would lack purpose and meaning and folks would be driven to despair whenever the transient things of earth do not pan out, as they too often don’t.

But in Christ, we have much more to live for, and to look forward to, and because He has granted to us hope and assurance through His death for us, we’re energized to live with expectancy. Those who live in this world without God and Christ would often have their bubbles popped whenever there is upheaval, disturbance, or when other unsettling events occur.

But the peace of God which passes understanding comes from the knowledge that in Christ, life is now worth the living, and this very fact spawns energy, resilience, and joy, even in the midst of our troubled waters. Hence the reason why the apostle penned the following words, putting into precis form, the two perspectives that face all humanity. Let’s read:

1st John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

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

Thus, in the book of Hebrews, we are told of God’s purposes in sending Jesus to redeem us, and we are reminded of what the incarnation has accomplished permanently for the human family.

Several passages confirm our status as royalty, as a direct result of Christ’s intervention, and there are other passages which show us why we should value ourselves and all other people in harmony with the greatest work that has been accomplished on our behalf.

[1] Through Christ, all those who believe have now become partakers of His own Divine nature. Let’s read:

Hebrews 2: 11 For both he that sanctifies, and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

That word “Brethren” is a very sobering word as it pertains to Christ as our greatest treasure, because it must be understood in the context of what came before in Hebrews chapter 1. Remember what Paul says in the first chapter of Hebrews, that Christ is God indeed. But now, he refers to Jesus, and those who believe in Him as brethren. Let’s read again:

Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.

Hebrews 2:11 For both he that sanctifies, and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.

Therefore, the very next logical question is: How did we become “Brethren”? What on earth could have possibly taken place for the God of the universe to have brethren on this planet. It has to do with Christ being our greatest treasure, for the term “Brethren” was not a fanciful designation given us by God just to make us feel good.

It’s a designation that’s the result of the most literal combination of the two; that’s the only legal way to arrive at that terminology. For instance, when the Bible speaks of Jesus as “God with us” that means much more than God associating with us. God did not merely mingle with us, He actually became one of us, and that is the only reason why that term brethren is justified in the context. Let’s read:

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 behooved 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.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Luke 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

[2] Because of our new status as “Brethren” we can be assured of victory, because our Elder brother, Christ has never lost a battle, and as brethren we should never lose any battle too.

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

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

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

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

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

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

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

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

30 I and my Father are one.

One of the reasons why we often sputter and fail as Christians is because we may not have understood fully the implication of that term brethren, and as a result, our approach to all of life’s difficulties and its problems, often savors of humanistic perspectives.

As Christians we will encounter hurdles, problems, and challenges like everyone else, but the mere fact that we have Christ with us, and in us, should be the game-changer as it pertains to outcomes. Christians are not to handle difficulties the same way that the secular world does, for that term “Brethren” should be ringing in our ears constantly, driving, energizing, and motivating us to trust, obey, believe, and win.

That’s why Paul declares that believers are more than conquerors, for to conquer is one thing, but to be more than a conqueror means that such an one would have the confidence and assurance that the battle is already won. In fact, whenever God would send His people into battle in times past, you would often hear Him say, “Behold, I have given such and such into your hands”.

Thus, being more than a conqueror meant that His people only had to take the victory that was already given to them by cooperating with God and obeying His every word. This understanding of victory tends to develop in us a rugged, bare-knuckled approach to devils and their devices, for in Christ, the battle is not ours, but the Lord’s. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 20:1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation;

15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.

20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.

24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.

Deuteronomy 2:4 Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

25 This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of thee.

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

Joshua 8:1 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:

[3] In Christ, we have the seeds of immortality sown already sown in our mortal bodies, which will spring up into everlasting life if we stay the course with Him.

When we become united to Christ on the brethren level, we become partakers of the immortality that is His, and this fact renders us impregnable to such dissolution that’s permanent in nature. The physical body may be laid in the dust, but then the brethren factor comes into play, for just as the grave couldn’t prevent Jesus, the grave cannot prevent “brethren”.

In an age of Covid where so many have died and are still dying, the “brethren” factor would make all the difference and hence the reason why the urgency of the moment, for persons who have already become brethren to seek to make more brethren. Thus, the following passages must be read and understood from the perspective of “Brethren”. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept.

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.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.

43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

And now “Brethren”let’s fast forward to the future: Christ has come, the world has been decimated by the brightness of His coming, those who in this life have rejected Christ, our greatest treasure, have been slain, the 1000 years of sabbatical rest have expired, and for the very first time in earth’s history, every human being that was ever born on planet earth is alive contemporaneously.

According to the apostle John, the final conflict of the ages when God will finally put an end to sin, is to be accomplished only after those one thousand years have elapsed. The “Brethren” who have been saved eternally have seen with their own two eyes the extensive efforts made by God to save their lost relatives and friends and the tears have been wiped away from their eyes as a result. Let’s read:

Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years.

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city.

As Lot, and Abraham stand upon the walls of the New Jerusalem, there in the distance they see Lot’s wife and daughters, with their husbands, coming to fight against God. Some who for years have known the truth, yet have not permitted themselves to be brethren are on the other side of the fence because they knew not that Christ is our greatest treasure.

Heaven will be a place of surprises, for persons who should be there won’t be there and others who may have seemed to be the most unlikely candidates for heaven would be present. The men of Nineveh, and Nebuchadnezzar, will be there, but some who have preached to others are nowhere to be found. 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: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

1st Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air. 27 But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Close relatives, aunts, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers might make it, while family members may be missing. Persons, who once rejoiced in the truth, behold with remorse and anguish the results of their decisions and choices in this life.

And yes, there would be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, when it is finally realized that our greatest treasure, even The Lord Jesus Christ, was right at our fingertips, but now, is out of reach. And now brethren we beseech you by the mercy of God, to make your calling and election sure.

Those golden opportunities that God has granted us to become brethren, those providences He allows, which speak volumes to our consciences, and the waves of death and despair that have gripped the United States, Brazil, India and Europe, all tell us that it won’t be long before the final irrevocable decisions of the judgement will come down.

Let us then be wise, and not spend our few years on this planet chasing after things which do not satisfy, but let us rather seek to become one with Christ, who indeed is our greatest treasure, for at the end of life’s journey being brethren would have made all the difference.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which exhorts us to choose wisely, live soberly and to walk humbly with God. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

God Bless!

Remember Lot's Kids. Sabbath afternoon 04/24/2021

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.

It is a solemn statement that we make, that many of our kids who have grown up in church, listening to sermons, attending Sabbath school and pathfinders, will be found destitute of salvation, if great changes in their thinking aren’t made. The story of Lot’s kids is another graphic reminder that we are not saved by families, but everyone who has reached the age of accountability would have to answer to God for themselves.

It is true that God has given us promises in the Bible that we can hang on to, even when things may not seem too promising in the children’s spirituality, but as was stated in a previous Bible study, Jesus could only do so much for persons. He does not force the will of any, but He does everything else that can be done, to bring the kids to a realization of their need of Him. Let’s read:

Isaiah 49:24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

25 But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contends with thee, and I will save thy children.

God sets in motion opportunities and experiences that will favor repentance and will bring children to a place where they can appreciate the blessings of salvation. In addition to the well-directed efforts of parents, God often sends His angels on missions of mercy to woo and encourage the wayward child.

God does this proactively for He knows that the kids do not naturally have it within themselves to turn to Him, and therefore He takes steps that will bring to their minds, the value and meaning of what Jesus has done for them on Calvary. But parents have a definite part to play in the matter, for the salvation of the kids, has a lot to do with parents working in harmony with the instructions God has given.

However, it’s a sad fact that too many parents have come up short in one way or another, for different reasons, and even though we know that there is no such thing as a perfect parent, we must do our best by God’s grace to foster spiritual growth in the kids by precept and example.

In this, the father should take the lead in union with the mother because a good example in two is better than a good example in one, and when both parents are on the same page spiritually, they can present a united front, in love, to their kids, without worrying whether each other will give contradictory precepts to the kids. Let’s read:

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Lot was partially responsible for the ultimate loss of his kids because of that one selfish decision to move to the city, which had more economic privileges and opportunities than the hill country which he had left for his uncle Abraham. That one decision became a game-changer, not only for himself, but for his entire household.

When parents make the decision to move from one location to the next, for purely economic reasons, without giving due consideration to what effect the new environment will have on their children a grave mistake could be made, and in some cases it would affect the modes of thought and action that the kids will ultimately adopt for life.

The spiritual advantages of any location should be of paramount importance when planning to make a move, for if the new location is rife with immorality, crime, and drugs, the kids will be exposed to evils of no ordinary character, that they will encounter on a daily basis.

And since it is a law of the mind that by beholding, we become changed, the gravitational pull of evils could eventually suck them into a vacuum and leave them in a very dark place spiritually.

This is exactly what happened to Lot’s kids because as they attended public schools in Sodom, they had to intermingle with the students and teachers, who were teaching and practicing gender neutrality and alternative lifestyles. Day in and day out their young minds were bombarded with philosophies that set off conflicts within their minds, and it became too difficult for them to swim upstream.

We should never be deluded as to the long-lasting effects of educational systems which do incorporate anti-Christ philosophies and teachings into all their curriculums, for the kids are brainwashed with evils on a daily basis and evil is likely to be reproduced in their overall outlook on life. Just as iron sharpeneth iron, the influence of others often rubs off on kids without their knowing or being aware it.

Thus, Lot’s kids gradually came to question all that they had been taught in Sabbath school, at the only church in Sodom where Lot was an elder.

According to the scriptures, many of the children in Sodom and Gomorrah’s schools, from elementary to university, had already adopted the gay lifestyles of the adults of their towns, and over a period of time, Lot’s kids began to view the activities of their peers as being the norm, and thus their consciences became blunted as to the gravity of the evils. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter.

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

Not even the Sabbath school quarterly Lot used for worship could counteract the teachings dispensed in Sodom’s schools, for whereas the family worship in Lot’s home might have lasted for only a few brief moments, the education of his kids in Sodom lasted for several hours, in so much that those lessons in their quarterly were overwhelmed with unscriptural philosophies from their teachers and professors.

It’s worthy of note that satan is a diligent protracted and deliberate worker, who will often employ those tools such as gradualism, peer pressure, seniority, censure, applause, and heckling to achieve his goals and thus, in the environment of Sodom’s schools, it would have been practically insane for Lot’s kids to even mention anything religious, for sheer fear of embarrassment, or even retribution.

When children are brought up in those educational environments where the name of Jesus is anathema they often become too scared to stand up for right, for fear of isolation, and heckling from those other students who are going with the flow. Thus, just as it was in Lot’s day, many of our kids have gradually come to see nothing wrong with those alternative lifestyles peddled in high and low places.

But just because Lot failed to do his job as a father doesn’t mean that such an excuse will hold water when it came time for his kids to give an account to God for after coming to the age of reason they were required like everyone else, to search the scriptures for themselves, to find out whether those things are so.

God made several attempts to reach them in former years, but they had become so ingratiated in Sodom that their mode of thought and action reflected the very fabric of the twin cities. Just as those men of Sodom refused to listen to Lot, when he reproved them for their unnatural behaviors, just so Lot’s kids refused to listen to him when the final warning was given.

The men of Sodom made fun of Lot, and the same attitudes were found in his children, for they also made fun of him. One of the spinoffs of education in unscriptural philosophies is that persons develop an attitude of skepticism, and with the passage of time they too often come to think of themselves as being more knowledgeable than God and also their parents.

When educational systems teach unscriptural things or refute what God has given to the human family, a pride of opinion usually takes root in the heart, and the humble attitudes encouraged in God’s word are often exchanged for a “know it all attitude”, which often tends to look down on religion as something for the uneducated.

Thus, when Lot was sent with the final warning to his kids, he was met with scorn and rebuttal at what they considered as uneducated, unfounded fears. It is true that in our day, some kids who have grown up among the remnant people of God, now come to view the second coming of Christ as something not worth their consideration.

But little did Lot’s children know that this would be the last time they would see their father. Nor did it dawn upon them that mercy’s doors would forever be closed, as they made fun of that lone elder, who preached that last sermon.

One of the reasons for Lot’s utter failure is because his daughters had become unequally yoked with the men of Sodom, and they exerted such an influence upon them that it caused them to make light of any religious matters.

When persons become unequally yoked with folks of different persuasions, the things of eternal value are not usually held in preeminence, and there is a tendency to lessen the importance of those great truths which point to eternal realities. Thus, it was that the husbands of Lot’s children took the lead in unbelief, and the wives followed in their footsteps. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:14 And Lot went out, and spoke unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 160] The strangers whom Lot had endeavored to protect, now promised to protect him, and to save also all the members of his family who would flee with him from the wicked city. Lot went out to warn his children. He repeated the words of the angels, “Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city.”

But he seemed to them as one that mocked. They laughed at what they called his superstitious fears. His daughters were influenced by their husbands. They were well enough off where they were. They could see no evidence of danger. Everything was just as it had been. They had great possessions, and they could not believe it possible that beautiful Sodom would be destroyed.

Another reason for the utter failure of Lot’s sermon is that he did not really believe what he preached as was evidenced by his delay and many excuses when it came time for him leave. One of the reasons why some fail to reach the kids in our day is that some of the parents do not really believe the three angels’ messages.

They may talk it, they preach it, or they may be able to explain those graphic charts, depicting the 2300- day prophecy, but by their lifestyles, behaviors, and choices of entertainment, some parents show that they really do not believe. If parents really desire to impress upon the minds of our kids, the urgency of the moment, we would need to act like it.

The laissez-faire attitudes concerning religion, the worldly-mindedness, and our infatuation with the material things of this life, the latest fashions, and the movies of the day, reveal, that like Lot, many do not really believe. And that hesitancy, and a lack of conviction often spawns an attitude of skepticism, scorn, and ridicule, just as it was with Lot’s kids. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:

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

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

But even though God had succeeded in pulling Lot’s children out of Sodom, He did not succeed in pulling Sodom out of them, for their minds had become so brainwashed by the prevailing immorality in those twin cities, that their consciences were permanently damaged and blunted, so that it was quite difficult for them to distinguish between right and wrong.

Their sad after-history teaches us, in graphic terms, the dangers of becoming too ingratiated in the life, teachings, and philosophies of the godless, for it is a fact that long after we have been removed from the adverse effects of such influences, the fallout could still linger on in the mind, only awaiting the right set of circumstances to converge, and to produce more evil. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth.

32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

37 And the first born bare a son and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

38 And the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

Some parents focus primarily on leaving a material inheritance for their children, however the far more exceeding eternal weight of glory and the immortal inheritance is not given such priority, and thus, in all of the decisions and transactions made, materialism figures prominently, but spirituality and religion is found to be languishing.

We must now speak directly to the kids in our day, who are being inundated with false narratives, as it pertains to sexuality, gender neutrality, alternative lifestyles, neutral bathrooms, and the whole nine yards of distorted immorality which threatens to severely and permanently impair their discernment between right and wrong.

There still remains something such as absolute truth which is to be found in God’s word and even if there has been a dereliction of duty on the part of parents it is your God-given right, and sacred duty to search the scriptures for yourself, so that your relationship with God won’t be tethered through your parents.

Lot was saved, but his kids were lost, and in our day the same could be true, but it does not have to be so. If children were to ask God for a mind to study, understand, and obey His word, He will respond in the positive, and grant such a request, because this movement was started by young people, and God is willing to use them again to finish his work.

Daniel and the three Hebrew boys were quite young when they entered the universities of Babylon, yet they did not allow false teachings to compromise their understanding of truth. Through a study and practice of God’s word, they kept their consciences tender and sensitive, so that they were able to read between the lines when faced with temptation.

Similarly, the children in our day do not have to succumb to prevailing views on morality, where the right and wrong have become subjective. Personal opinion must be made to answer to it is written and relativism, and all the other isms should conform to a thus saith The lord.

Therefore, be not afraid dear youth to stand up for right; be not intimidated by professors who might teach error, and do not be scared to challenge their philosophies on gender neutrality. If we become afraid to stand for something, we’ll fall for anything, but God has promised to give us a strong mind that could both discern and decide, in matters pertaining to truth and duty.

We therefore end with two passages of scripture that should encourage Lot and his kids in our day so that the fatal mistakes made in days of old would not be repeated in our experiences. If parents and children would fortify their minds with the word of God, we would have an active reference point to guide our feet through the maze of unscriptural ideologies that have permeated society. Let’s read:

Titus 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

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

God Bless!

Evolution Versus Creation. Sabbath afternoon 04/17/2021

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.

The theory of evolution began gaining traction just around the same time that the first angel’s message began to sound in the eighteenth century, which is to point the inhabitants of the earth to worship God in His capacity as Creator. At that time, Darwin was chosen as the primary human vector, to spread the theory and its suppositions even though it had been in existence before Darwin.

It was a deliberate and systematic effort by the enemy of God and man to counter the truth about creation, and since that time, many scientists have studied and utterly dismantled, both the big bang theory and evolution yet they continue to be taught in the most prominent universities, and schools of higher learning around the world.

As the first angel’s message began to sound in the 18th century, it would draw the attention of persons to the great facts of creation, and thus, the Sabbath, which is a celebration of God’s creative power, was to be observed in commemoration of what God has done through creation, and continues to do through redemption.

Thus, the atheistic concepts which had found fertile ground in persons for centuries, began to take deep root in Darwin’s mind, and his so-called discoveries and his subsequent theories represent the counter- narrative to what is plainly stated in the scriptures, concerning the origin of species, and the creation of our world.

However, when the core principles of evolutionary theories are observed, it would be discovered that they did not originate with Darwin. Instead, they’re the culmination of centuries of rebellion and hatred against The Most-High, by the most-low.

Some of the core principles that evolution espouses clearly exposes the real author behind the theories, and undoubtedly demonstrate the reasons why the embrace of that school of thought would ultimately mean ruin for the human family.

For instance, one tenet of Darwin's theory supposes that more offspring are born than can survive, and that only the survivors of competition for resources will reproduce. Furthermore, Darwin states that the variations in species ultimately give some members the advantage in their competition to survive, and thus reproduce, and that those advantageous traits are passed on to the next generation.

There are several important points about evolution for us to note, and as we observe the great contrast in creation, we hope that our minds will forever be freed from that delusion which has taken the world captive, for the most part. The following are a few observations coming from The Holy Ghost.

[1] Evolution has inherent selfishness at its core, for it pits persons and species against each other in the mad rush to survive.

The principle of survival of the fittest will ultimately mean that some persons would get crushed in the process, and whereas all individuals are on a level playing field at the foot of the cross, evolutionists state that the less fortunate won’t stand a chance in the battle to survive.

From this principle of survival of the fittest, springs the principle of competition which is what drives all major league sports. The thinking that folks have to beat someone else in order to be the best is entirely contrary to Biblical principles, and anything that is contrary to scripture, is by default, antichrist in its nature, to a greater or lesser degree.

In the Bible, all human beings get a chance to win, and all will receive the prize, if the stated conditions are met. The strongest, the biggest, the richest, the baddest, and the best, are never allowed to bully, or buy their way into God’s kingdom, at the expense of the weaker and, less fortunate, as is too often the case in Darwinian modes of thought.

An insatiable desire for the highest place is what led satan to attempt an overthrow of God’s established order in heaven, and even though he turned out not to be the fittest in that episode, that same mindset has pervaded the human family for the most part. In the mad rush to survive, some will inevitably get hurt, and alienation, discord and strife would be the ultimate result.

Survival of the fittest led us into the cold war where nations scrambled to produce and possess the most dangerous nuclear weapons. As the infamous Cuba missile crisis unfolded in the 1960’s, the two nations came to view the other as an existential threat, and as the showdown gained momentum the concept of survival of the fittest brought us to the brink of war.

But what we are yet to discover is that when folks adopt the survival of the fittest in war, there are no real winners, for the desire to conquer often does more harm to the conqueror than the conquered. That is why we now find it necessary to withdraw from Afghanistan because with thousands of deaths and being more than two trillion dollars in the hole, we do not have any real gains to show for the effort made.

The desire for the best and highest place is actually an outgrowth from survival of the fittest, and even with the twelve disciples, the same principle led the mother of James and John to ask Jesus for the best positions in the kingdom and were it not for Christ’s intervention there could have been a confrontation, a Cuban missile crisis of sorts, on a miniature scale. Let’s read:

Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

In this instance, Christ sought to establish service as the core operating principle of His kingdom, which is diametrically opposed to evolution. In Darwin’s world persons view others as obstacles, or stepping stones, in their mad rush to survive, that is why the other ten disciples became angry. Thus it is that the source of most discord in our world comes from the principle of survival of the fittest.

Many of our activities and purposes, as humans are currently driven by evolutionary principles. From capitalism, to the Superbowl, and from wrestling to boxing, and all major league sports, all of them have at their core, to a lesser or greater degree, the same principle of survival of the fittest.

From the philosophy of survival of the fittest comes outgrowths such as the last man standing, we beat any advertised price, shark tank, inequity in justice systems, gentrification, higher insurance rates for the lower income neighborhoods, hoarding, bidding wars, and quid pro quo, caste systems, and the list goes on and on.

Thus, the advancement of oneself above others and at the expense of others becomes the driving force in whatever is done in most cases. And in Darwinian schools of thought, where the survival of the fittest is the core operating principle, the big fish desire to eat up the smaller fish, superior races emerge, and the ultimate enslavement of any who are deemed inferior becomes inevitable.

When one race is treated with disdain and another is treated with respect, or where one is granted an advantage or favor that is withheld from others, for no other reason than skin color, there you have the same Darwinian principles of survival of the fittest, which continue to spawn deadly tentacles in every nook and cranny of our society.

Hostile takeover bids by large companies are also based on survival of the fittest. Major corporations often flex their financial muscles and scoop up small companies that may lack the resources to thrive in a fiercely competitive environment. Thus, long before Darwin came on the scene, God found it necessary to address the under-girding principle of survival of the fittest.

He gave us laws, and instructions that were meant to prevent persons from thinking of themselves as being superior to others, and in several passages in the Bible God instructs us to track a different course than that of survival of the fittest. Let’s read:

Exodus 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 23:6 Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.

8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blinds the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.

Leviticus 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the Lord.

15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment. thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.

Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, is Lord of heaven and earth.

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.

Then Christ sums it up in a brief statement that we would do well to consider. Let’s read:

Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

[2] As it pertains to the beginning of life, and the origin of species the big bang theory, has no intelligence or planning in it, for it is commonly believed and taught in schools that the world came about by an explosion.

Therefore, when intelligence is excluded from the origin of species it becomes impossible to have any planning, and without a plan you cannot have order purpose, or hope. Furthermore, without intelligence you cannot have compassion, because love must of necessity have a level of intelligence for it to exist.

Hence the reason why the godless, the unbeliever, and the skeptic have an entirely different view of the world, because, as persons are taught in schools and universities, we all came about by an accident. This in itself is one of the main drivers of fear, and hopelessness in our world, because if we came by accident, who knows, we might go by an accident, a pretty scary concept.

In contrast, the Bible teaches us that our world was created by The God who cares. When considered, His creative works show great planning, a depth of thought, purpose, and compassion. That is why the evolutionist and the believer in Christ would always have a different outlook on life because intelligence is not an afterthought in creation, as it is in the theory of evolution. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.

Psalms 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty.

2 Who covers thyself with light as with a garment: who stretches out the heavens like a curtain.

3 Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind.

4 Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.

5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever.

6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

10 He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.

11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.

12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

13 He waters the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth.

16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted.

17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.

18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knows his going down.

20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

21 The young lions roar after their prey and seek their meat from God.

22 The sun arises, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

23 Man goes forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening.

24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.

Psalms 19: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shews his handywork.

2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shews knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices as a strong man to run a race.

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

These passages all bring the question of purpose into sharp focus, for any reasonable person must ask the question: For what purpose was all of this work, this activity, and planning done.

If one were to see his or her neighbor buying tons of materials from Home Depot, and many workmen bustling about with tools, and constructing a host of different things, the question would be, what is the purpose of all this construction, and what is that neighbor trying to accomplish. The same is true of all the many things God has created. The question is: what was His ultimate purpose in doing so? Let’s read:

Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.

Evolution has no purpose whatsoever, for as science supposes, man’s origins start off with an unplanned, unexplained explosion, and things come together by proxy, and somehow morph into being intelligent. It is both the craziest, and the scariest theory to have ever existed, as the Bible clearly states.

Psalms 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

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 fails.

[3] Sadly, Darwinian theories have begun to invade the minds of the remnant, so that many of us have come to think of the age of this world in terms of millions of years, instead of in thousands, as the Bible clearly teaches.

If the Bible teaches six thousand, and the prophet of God for our day says six thousand, then if we refuse the veracity of the sacred statements, then we have been invaded by Darwin. The chronological order of persons in Genesis chapter 5 and 11, together with the 2300-year prophecy, when compiled and added to the genealogies given by Matthew and Luke, can never come even close to a million.

The world was not in existence for millions of years, before God brought order out of chaos. He brought order out of chaos on the first day of the week, the very same day in which the creation of the world took place. Anything that suggests otherwise would destroy the very reason why the commandment on the Sabbath was given. Let’s read:

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

In closing, we must reiterate again, that the theory of evolution and the core principle of survival of the fittest are fundamentally flawed, for they state that a person’s survival is tethered to their fitness. There are some of us listening today who may not be fit.

There was a time when Arnold Scwharzenegger was the fittest in his class, but now he is recovering from multiple surgeries. Once upon a time, Tiger Woods was the fittest in golf, but now, he too is facing the daunting reality that he won’t always be the fittest.

The same holds true for Alexander the great, who conquered many nations and Nebuchadnezzar who ruled Babylon, and then Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome and yes, The United States. Those individuals and nations of former years were the “Fittest” in their class in their day, but they did not remain the fittest, nor will we always remain the fittest.

God is now offering survival on a permanent basis through Christ, for His work for the human family is both creative and redemptive in nature. Thus, any person who may not be fit today could still survive through Christ.

One may not be the best in his or class, persons may not be the strongest, the most talented, the richest or the brightest, yet, in Christ alone there is to be found hope and survival, not merely for the here and now, but most importantly, for eternity.

We beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God, to choose Christ over Darwin for when the dust has finally settled, it will be discovered that it’s not the fittest, but the meekest that will inherit the earth. Let’s read:

Psalms 37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

God Bless!

The Shaking Part [1] Sabbath afternoon 04/10/2021

Haggai 2:6 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

7 And I will shake all nations.

The time is soon coming when there’ll be a terrible shaking among the professed people of God, and it will result in a mass exodus from the church and the truth. This is not a hypothesis nor an idle conjecture for it is the culmination of a plethora of factors that would converge as the end of earth’s history draws near.

Furthermore, it is predicted in the Bible, to result in the overwhelming majority of whom we now know as Christians to join ranks with the enemy of souls. Indeed, the shaking might have already begun, yet some may not be the wiser. It begins gradually and will pick up steam until it reaches a crescendo that topples all who have not built upon The Rock, Christ Jesus.

There isn’t any one single reason why this will take place, but it will take place, and God is now putting us on notice, so that deep soul-searching would be the result, and so that we can make our calling and election sure. To put it plainly, now is a bad time to play church, for we are heading for prime time, the period of earth’s history that will usher in the final conflict of the ages.

During this time, all the stops will be pulled out, and the bare bones, and foundations of our faith will be exposed, and therefore, if we have been superficial in our relationship and walk with God, the time will soon come when all that folks have ever learned in Sabbath or Sunday school, or in Pathfinders, would leak out of our souls, just as if it were a dream. Let’s read:

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

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

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

39 He that finds his life shall lose it and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.

Question: How is it that we can be attending church for many years, praying, singing together, reasoning from the scriptures from week to week, and yet not be grounded in Christ? How is it, that some could be expositors of the scriptures, and yet, when crunch time comes around, so many persons would join the ranks of the enemy?

There are several answers to these questions, which we will address one by one, with the hope that the sincere-hearted, as well as the light and frivolous would be aware of what God desires in His people. This is not the time for the minds of the remnant people of God to be engrossed in movies, money-making or in fashion-mongering.

Instead, it is a time for deep soul-searching, where we examine ourselves closely in the light of God’s word; a time, when, like the Psalmist David, we are to ask God to search us and try us, to see if there be any wicked way in us, and if so, to lead us in those paths of righteousness outlined by God. Let’s read:

Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

Leviticus 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.

29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

We are currently living in the closing scenes of the antitypical day of atonement, when the names of all those who have professed Christ are being put into one of two books, the book of life or the book of death. With all of the ongoing issues to distract our attention from this all-important truth, we should never forget that it is occurring even as we speak.

The following therefore, are some of the reasons why many will be shaken out from among God’s remnant people, and it is our hope and prayer that the needed reforms and changes in our habits and lifestyles would take place in co-partnership with God who stands ready to forgive us, to heal us and restore.

[1] Some will be shaken, because of not being grounded in Christ and the truth.

As the shaking intensifies, there are those who have indulged a sort of tag-along relationship with God, in which their names have been registered on church books, and they have gone through the formalities of religion for years. Yet, some have never brought the eternal truths and principles of the Bible to bear directly on their everyday experiences.

A superficial, intellectual knowledge of the scripture is all that some will allow but when the word of God conflicts with habits and practice, some folks recoil from the self-denial that is necessary in order to facilitate the working of God’s Holy Spirit upon our hearts.

Thus, instead of synthesizing the written word with our everyday experiences, some persons keep the word at bay, not allowing it to sink its roots deep into the conscience to uproot, known and unknown tendencies and propensities to evil. As a result, the syndrome known as “dormant evil” just awaits the right set of circumstances to converge so that it can break out into open sin.

Again, some of us have been content with a sort of parasitic relationship with Jesus Christ, by which our knowledge of Him is threaded through another. In other words, some persons come to church merely because their spouses do, and some children attend church because they are forced to, yet there might not be any real, or earnest desire to give their life over completely to Christ.

Now, while it is good for all husbands and wives to attend church, and while it is so cute to sit together while listening to the word, our relationships with Christ have to go much deeper than that, for when our names come up in the judgment, married folks are not judged in pairs, nor would the spirituality of one, offset the lack thereof in another.

It would be cute if we could be saved by families or married persons could be saved in pairs. However, in reality, this is not the case. Lot and his wife made it ever so far out of Sodom, but after that they both parted ways, and even though they had lived in a God-fearing, monogamous marriage for years, yet, when the dust settles on resurrection morning, one will be found on the other side of the fence.

This brings a very sobering truth to the forefront of our minds, of which we ought to be cognizant as we consider the shaking, that is scheduled to intensify: The righteousness of one never atones for another, and sons and daughters are not permitted to hitch a free ride to glory on the backs of their God-fearing parents. Every person who has reached the age of accountability must answer for themselves. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 14:12 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying,

13 Son of man, when the land sins against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it.

20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

In the days of the antediluvians, God saved Noah and his immediate family from the deluge, and the reason given by God was: “For thee only have I seen righteous before me in this generation”. What folks must never forget in that episode is that all of his children, as well as Noah’s wife, obeyed, by going into the ark as God had commanded.

Thus, they partook of Noah’s salvation, because they partook of his obedience. In other words, if Noah had been married to Lot’s wife at that time, the narrative would have turned out differently. If Lot’s wife had partook of Lot’s obedience, she too would have been saved, just like Noah’s wife.

Even though parental faithfulness is always honored by God, and even though He desires that husbands and wives help each other, in their journey towards the kingdom let none be deceived into thinking that the righteousness of one will atone for the other for it is a solemn statement that is made, that everyone who enters the kingdom of God will enter in single file.

Thus, saith The Holy Ghost and thus, we reiterate again, husbands and wives are not saved in pairs, nor are families saved as complete units, and as the shaking intensifies, our individual relationship with God would be laid bare and severely shaken to the core. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Jeremiah 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

[2] Some will be shaken out of comfort zones.

Some of us will be shaken out of our comfort zones to the point where difficulties and trials will shake our confidence in God. As it stands currently, it does not take much to profess belief in Christ, and those peculiar doctrines and teachings we advocate as the remnant people of God, do not generally trigger a lot of intolerance.

That’s because we still have freedom of speech and freedom of religion as pillars of our democracy, and the laws of The United States still offer protection from those who differ in persuasion. But according to Revelation, all of that will come to an end, and a mandated form of religion will be forced upon the masses of people.

As the laws of the land will certainly change as the Bible says they would, difficulties will surface, and the comforts we have become accustomed to, will become a thing of the past. Serving God when it is comfortable to do so, is quite different from serving Him in the times of relentless hardship and thus, we reiterate again, we’ll be shaken out of our comfort zones which we have become accustomed to.

Lot and his wife were doing quite well, serving God when it was comfortable to do so. In fact, according to the record, they manifested great kindness when they invited the angel strangers to their home to protect and feed them, thus fulfilling the scriptural mandate to entertain strangers unawares.

But manifesting great kindness is only one of the Christian virtues, persons are to develop. Enduring hardness and trial as a good soldier of the cross and that with a cheerful spirit is quite another matter as many of us as believers will discover in the not too distant future.

As Covid began to spread its deadly tentacles across the globe, unforeseen difficulties began to arise and as the hard lock-downs went into effect, persons had to grapple with the new abnormal. But instead of us viewing the situation as an incentive to spread the gospel, some retreated into self-preservation mode, and church attendance literally fell off a cliff.

Even now, as things gradually begin to get back to some sort of normalcy, many are finding it difficult to return to church, because zoom and his brothers have gotten us accustomed to doing church from a distance, where we can lie in bed watching sermons or even catch a snack during Divine hour, things we never did previously, and as a result, some persons may never come back to church.

Back in the days of old, Elkanah and his wife Hannah did continue to attend church at a time when it was very difficult and questionable to do so. At that time it wasn’t an epidemic of diseases, it was a pandemic of sin that had shaken the confidence of the people, and as a result most of them had stopped attending church.

Eli’s two sons had made a mockery of religion, and stop and frisk was daily practiced at the door of the sanctuary as folks would come with their sacrifices and offerings. But finally, it reached a boiling point where even the sincere-hearted had become utterly discouraged. Yet, Elkanah and Hannah still went to church. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 2:15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desires; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

1st Samuel 1: Now there was a certain man of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of an Ephrathite.

3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli Hophni and Phinehas the priests of the Lord were there.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.

25 Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

To face trials, hardships, accusations, persecutions and heckling together with the loss of our economic freedom, while at the same time having to dispense with the comforts of life, is going to put an entirely different spin on life as we know it as Christians.

Thus, the shaking will develop two distinct classes of believers, those who serve God only when things are going smooth, and those who continue to serve Him when the going gets rough. When searching our souls, it is necessary for us to accurately assess if our attitudes and temperaments change and/or fluctuate when we do not have things our way.

There were times when Christ was on earth, when His disciples thought it an honor to be with Him and their striving for the highest place was often the result of high expectation that He would soon take the throne. But when Christ was disdained by the masses of people and proscribed by the authorities it was hard for them to be associated with Him.

Therefore, the difficulties and trials which thickened around them brought out the best in some, and also brought out the worst in others. Some who sang the praises of Jesus Christ, as He rode triumphantly into Jerusalem turned their backs and fled when the tide of popular sentiment turned against Him, and trials and imminent danger began to shake them out of their comfort zones.

If persons are truly grounded in Christ, difficulties or trials should only drive them closer to Him but if our relationship with God is superficial, then, when the going gets rough folks will recoil. Thus, persecutions and difficulties will either make or break persons.

Therefore, whenever true Christians are shaken out of their comfort zone, the result ought to be a much closer walk with God. In fact, true conversion would cause us to look at trials from the perspective which Christ outlines in the scriptures, for trials should energize, and incentivize, not discourage. Let’s read:

Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Acts 5:40 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.

Acts 8:1 And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and hauling men and women committed them to prison.

4 Therefore, they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

[3] Some will be shaken because of such science that conflicts with God’s word.

True science and scriptural teachings are never in disagreement, for as we have stated on numerous occasions, the word “Omniscience” which has to do with God knowing everything, is made up of two words: Omni and Science. But in our day, science has in some instances taken a u-turn from the word and whenever it does, the true Christian must stick with the Bible.

Back in the days of yore, most men thought that the world was flat, and they planned, sailed, and taught their students in school along those lines. In various schools of thought, ranging from the Hellenistic and Egyptian, to the Mesopotamian and Gupta, people believed the world to be a flat disk, and some of the great philosophers taught this theory in universities of the day.

But right there in the book of Isaiah, the scriptures were saying something completely different, and it was only with the passing of the centuries that men came to understand their error. Thus, for very many centuries, what was considered acceptable science, later turned out to be fake news. Let’s read:

Isaiah 40:21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is he that sits upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in.

In our day, modern science has been teaching folks that our world is billions of years old, and that man was slowly developed through evolutionary changes from lower lifeforms. The embrace of the Darwinian theories such as “Survival of the fittest” have also spawned a tsunami of self-centered ideologies, in which only the strongest and the richest, the best and the brightest should have a shot at survival.

It was the mentality of survival of the fittest which had prevented the crippled man in Christ’s day from accessing the pool when the waters were troubled. In the mad rush to survive, the biggest, the baddest and the strongest pushed their way up-front to be the first in line to receive healing, while the weakest and the neediest were left for last.

As Covid vaccines become available to the general public a similar rush for the door is unfolding in that the richest countries of the world have being buying up most of the available supplies, while the poorer, and less fortunate countries have been left behind. Thus the neediest and the greediest are sometimes scrambling to be first in line.

Some of the rich and famous who could’ve afforded to pay $1,000 a pop on the dark web, were in some instances able to get their shots first, while your everyday John Doe had to wait for hours standing in line, and in some instances was turned away. It all hearkens back to the same evolutionary concept of survival of the fittest.

Thus, man, in his efforts to “Survive” tramples the rights of the poor, others view the less fortunate as mere steppingstones to gain a vantage ground, and test-tube and designer babies are being engineered for the best possible chances of surviving in our day.

Evolution is also responsible for the concept of race superiority where some persons are viewed as sub-human and are considered as a threat or liability to others on account of the color of their skin. Those misconceptions are outgrowths from the theory of evolution which has survival of the fittest at its core.

And just as in the days of old, ivy league universities and colleges have hunkered down with evolutionary theory, and research and conclusions are done from that perspective. Thus, there are several questions we would have to confront in our generation, as the shaking comes to a head.

If science says something, and the Bible differs on that very point, which would we believe? Especially, if science purports to bring evidence that is contrary to God’s word, some would find themselves having to choose in principle between Christ and Darwin or between man’s science and the scriptures, as could be observed with evolution versus creation.

According to research done at Harvard university, several glasses of wine are recommended weekly because of the benefits of antioxidants contained in in. The scriptures declare that we can benefit from those antioxidants, but without the alcohol, if folks were to drink the un-fermented juice of the grapes. Let’s read:

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

In addition, the Bible teaches that fermented wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. So, who should folks believe, the researchers at Harvard, or the God of the Bible?

Again, there are well-known doctors who have touted the benefits of marijuana and have pointed to scientific research showing that a medicinal and recreational use of the drug produces great relief from pain and other disorders. That may be true to some extent, but it savors very much of the tree of good and evil.

As a result, we have many states legalizing the use of ganja, which has become a gateway drug, and in reality, would open up the floodgates to different hallucinations, addictions and delusions of all sorts.

The conflict of the ages, as it pertains to the human family basically consists of a battle for the mind and whatsoever will impede, interfere with, and damage the sensitive machinery in the brain, would be best left alone, according to the scriptures. And that will include everything that we might ingest via the five senses.

Therefore, folks are finding themselves in a tenuous situation where science is often being pitted against the word of God. Thus, as the shaking continues to intensify, we would have to make definite choices between that science which is not approved by the Bible, and that which is stated and commanded in God’s word, for our best good. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1st Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.

21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.

1st Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

When we are disposed to put man-made research above what the Bible teaches, that mentality begins to taint all of our perspectives and every other issue downstream of that mode of thought is inevitably affected.

There is no reason for any of us to be shaken to the point where we lose our faith in God, for everything that pertains to life, to godliness, prosperity, health and immortality is to be found in God’s revealed will and are to be accessed through faith in the Lord Jesus.

Thus, as we close off this first segment, we implore everyone to make certain that we know what, and whom we believe in, and we hope that knowledge will translate into a deep, abiding relationship with Christ, so that when the stormy winds blow and the rain descends, we will not be shaken out of Christ. We end with a passage of scripture which echoes the same sentiment. Let’s read:

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

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

26 And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.

God Bless!

God Saves To The Uttermost. Sabbath Afternoon 04/03/2021

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

When the Bibles teaches us that God saves to the uttermost, it basically means that He will not leave any means untried to reach the human agent. God does not give up in despair as man often does nor is His patience worn thin in a hurry. Instead, the Bible teaches us that Jesus is long-suffering, kind, and He takes no pleasure in the death of any.

God engages us in different ways to try and reach us to save us, and He employs various agencies that are set in motion to try to bring man to a realization of our need of Him. Loving-kindness and mercy are His favorite methods of reaching us, but when these fail, He is driven to employ other means that we may respond to.

Then, when all else fails He would initiate extreme measures to save, some of which He much prefers not to use, but which often become necessary, on account of the hardness and stubbornness of our hearts. And finally, if it becomes impossible to save persons, He finally throws in the towel, and leaves us to the choices we have made.

This is what became of the tribe of Ephraim, after every method was employed, with blessings, and entreaties and disciplines. Yet for all this, Ephraim would not hear, but rather entrenched himself even further in the wrong course of action he insisted on pursuing. God tried to save the tribe in every way possible, but His gracious overtures were spurned time and time again. Let’s read:

Hosea 7:8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knows it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knows it not.

10 And the pride of Israel testifies to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.

11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart.

Then, when every possible method God can use had been thoroughly exhausted, the solemn declaration was made. This declaration is not made hastily, nor is it ever uttered spontaneously, on the spur of the moment. It is a culmination of years of resistance to God’s grace which results in the following. Let’s read:

Hosea 4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Even though some may not know it, the human agent can actually choose the methods God uses to reach him or her. If we respond to His overtures via His grace and loving-kindness, then he would not be moved to take it to the next level. In fact, God much prefers that folks respond in the positive, when He speaks kindly to us in our consciences.

This method is productive of the greatest good and sets the stage for an ongoing relationship with God that is not based on fear, but on that Parent/child model that Christ often referenced in His sermons. Several passages of scripture dwell on God’s love in His dealing with us, and it would be well if we didn’t take His kindness for granted. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore, with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

2nd Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long—suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

However, the same hand that is often outstretched in mercy is the same hand that would finally deal to the impenitent sinner, the full measure of justice, if every method God has employed in reaching us has failed. This sacred truth is embosomed in several passages of scripture, so that we may cultivate the correct balance between justice and mercy. Let’s read:

Romans 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

Exodus 34: 6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, 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; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children unto the third and fourth generation.

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference.

23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.

Now that we have a balanced view of the goodness and the justice of God let us examine with a humble heart, the ways in which God saves to the uttermost. The following therefore are three of the primary ways God employs in His efforts to save us. Remember, God does not leave any stone unturned and He exhausts every method in trying to save us from ourselves.

[1] God saves to the uttermost by speaking to us in the language of His love, kindness, grace, and mercy.

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

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

4 Who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies;

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

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him.

17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

That is not to say that God deals in any different currency with those who do not keep His laws, or who may rebel against Him. God is love, and His grace and tender mercies are extended to all men, whether they keep His commandments or not. The undergirding principle in all of God’s dealings with us is always love. Always!

Now, it is true that the laws of cause and effect may often trigger adverse consequences in persons, but that does not in any way take away from the basic fact that God is good to all peoples. Those who are believers today were not always Christians and thus it is God’s goodness that has brought us to where we are. Thus, the scriptures teach us that God tries to reach all persons with His love. Let’s read:

Romans 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

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.

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

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

Mark 2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eats and drinks with publicans and sinners?

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.

Genesis 4:13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that

finds me shall slay me.

15 And the Lord said to him, Therefore, whosoever slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Let no one say or conclude that God is not merciful and kind to those who do not fear Him, for here we have someone who God knows would never repent, and yet He grants Cain special protection, to the extent that if anybody dares to slay Cain, God would personally take vengeance on that person, not once but seven times over.

[2] God saves to the uttermost by dragging some persons to repentance, for with some folks, that’s the only method that works for them.

After exhausting methods of loving-kindness, grace and entreaty, and yet persons still will not respond, then God has to move to the next level in His efforts to save to the uttermost. A firefighter pleads with someone to leave a burning building, but for some reason or another that person refuses to respond. Then, in an act of desperation, the fire fighter leaps into the building and drags the person to safety.

Thus, it has been throughout sacred history, where in some cases, God had to drag some of us to safety because entreaty failed to accomplish the work of saving to the uttermost. After repeatedly rejecting God’s gracious overtures to him, Manasseh had to be dragged to repentance.

Years of grace and mercy had been spurned and the Lord had sent various prophets and different people to speak to Manasseh about the evils he had been indulging, yet for all this he would not hear, but dug himself deeper into the pit. But there was hope for Manasseh, because some persons only respond to dragging, even though God prefers not to employ this method. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 33:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem.

2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them.

4 Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.

5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

10 And the Lord spoke to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.

11 Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.

God also had to drag Nebuchadnezzar after Daniel had shown him the error of his ways. If the king of Babylon had responded appropriately to the dream which God had given him, within the following year, then God would not have had to take His efforts up a notch, but like so many of us, the king of Babylon did not respond to lovingkindness, and the rest is history. Let’s read:

Daniel 4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

20 The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reaches unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most-High, which is come upon my lord the king:

25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.

28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?

31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

God also had to drag Lot and his wife in the process of trying to save them, but the sad truth is that even dragging doesn’t work with some folks, as was seen in the untimely demise of Lot’s wife. The angels of God had pleaded multiple times with Lot and his wife to leave the doomed city, but for reasons that we will discuss later they just wouldn’t leave.

Then when entreaty and pleading had signally failed the angels, like the firefighter we spoke of earlier, had to grab them and drag them to safety, lest they be destroyed in the coming destruction. And it was only because of that last act of desperation on the part of the angels, why Lot was saved. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.

15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord.

[3] God saves to the uttermost by issuing a threat or an ultimatum.

With some persons, loving-kindness does not work, and as we have seen with Mrs. Lot, even dragging failed to accomplish God’s work of saving her to the uttermost. Thus, after these two former methods have been thoroughly exhausted, then God issues a decisive threat or an ultimatum, to shake persons out of their comfort zone, if haply through fear they might repent.

God often reserves this method of salvation for the very last, for it is not His ideal will that persons turn to Him because of a threat. Yet, for all His delay in issuing them, there are times when threats do work and if that’s the only language we understand, then God will finally have to use it in a last-ditch effort to save to the uttermost.

This is what took place with the men of Nineveh who were on the brink of closing their probation, because of sins and violence that were occurring in the city. God had spoken through His providence on numerous occasions previously, but entreaty and dragging did not work. Then in a final, desperate act to save them, God issued an ominous threat, and believe it or not, it worked. Let’s read:

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

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

3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.

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.

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.

Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

In our current generation, God has been using His loving-kindness for a very long time. Blessings have been bestowed, opportunities given, and grace for grace has been granted through His overtures. Yet, for all His goodness, it has not worked, for we have dug in even further by throwing God’s marriage institution out the window.

Persons cannot turn on the news anymore, without seeing those advertisements of gay and alternative lifestyles being showcased to the multitudes. And as if to poke their fingers in God’s eye, more and more corporations and businesses are employing brazen examples of what God has plainly proscribed in the men of Sodom.

Thus, evil is made to strengthen in the minds of the people, the young and restless are becoming more desensitized, the lines of distinction between good and evil are becoming increasingly blurred, and the devil continues to ramp up his indoctrination of the masses in rebellion against God, through the media television, and other agencies.

In response, God had no other choice but to take it up several notches by permitting disasters, diseases and pandemics to bring us to our knees. Economies of the world were severely shaken, and the fallout has yet to be fully assessed as millions of lives are being lost, and the bleeding continues. Yet for all of this, we seem not to be getting the message.

Finally, when everything else has failed, after every means has been utterly exhausted, God will issue a decisive threat to our generation, with the intent that sincere-hearted individuals will respond in the positive. As was demonstrated before, this is not His preferred method, but it is the only one which remains in His arsenal. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; 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 ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

[The Great Controversy pp 449>450] The most fearful threatening ever addressed to mortals is contained in the third angel's message. That must be a terrible sin which calls down the wrath of God unmingled with mercy.

Men are not to be left in darkness concerning this important matter; the warning against this sin is to be given to the world before the visitation of God's judgments, that all may know why they are to be inflicted, and have opportunity to escape them.

The God of heaven much prefers that folks respond to His gracious overtures, rather than employ those methods of dragging and threats we read about in the examples given. Therefore, the appeal to us is quite simple: Let it not be said of us that God had to use dragging and threats to bring us to our knees.

Instead, when Christ comes knocking on the door of our hearts, let us open up readily to Him for He isn’t coming to condemn, but to save. In harmony with His gracious purposes to save us we implore each of us to observe the closing passages of scripture and be ready and willing to follow where God leads the way. 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. 15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

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 Guarantee Of Our Resurrection. Sabbath afternoon 03/13/2021

1st John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Because Covid has now taken the lives of millions of people, and many more will yet be deceased by its deadly sting, it is befitting and well that we set our sights not on the here and now, but on the great hereafter, when Jesus will make all things new.

Indeed, it is a very sad time that we are all passing through, where persons cannot spend their final moments surrounded by loved ones, and where the in-person encouragements, and support of friends and families at the graveside has been replaced by virtual zoom funerals from a distance.

Therefore, because there are other waves of viruses and diseases yet to come The God of heaven desires that we should look beyond that which is seen, to that which is eternal. The promise and guarantee of our resurrection sit at the core of the blessed hope and it is the will of God that we should now turn our attention to Jesus Christ who is the resurrection and the life.

According to what is written in the scriptures, if we believe and obey we should not mourn as do others because Christ has guaranteed our resurrection by His death for us on Calvary. Now, as we get closer to the coming of Christ, the outpouring of The Spirit of God through the latter rain will cause difficulties we encountered previously, to be made plain.

For starters, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus was not an afterthought which God had to scramble together in response to the fall of man. Instead, it is a strategic and highly intelligent move, designed to save souls and baffle devils at the same time. God is not into last minute planning, for all His doings are always well-thought out.

We’re indeed humbled when we think of the extent and depth of thought that went into the planning and fulfillment of Christ’s incarnation and ultimately His resurrection. Thus, as we examine the following important points about the blessed hope, let us all believe, understand, and obey, so that we all may be present at the first resurrection.

Pointer # [1]: The guarantee of our resurrection lies in the unique blend of humanity and divinity which is centered in Christ.

If we find The Lord speaking very confidently in the garden of Eden, after the fall of man, and essentially stating unequivocally that Jesus would be victorious in the conflict against death it’s because God knows what He is doing, and because He always knows the end from the beginning, He could plan strategically with perfect success every time. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

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

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

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

Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

Even though there might be inherent risks involved, the fact that God can see the outcome of those risks means that He can plan, promise, and deliver. Thus, as the first promise was made to Adam and Eve, it was with perfect assurance that God offered hope beyond the grave to fallen man.

Having Divinity blended with humanity guarantees the mitigation of all inherent risks to incarnation of Christ, for although He would retain His freedom of choice like any man, and though He would be sorely tempted to deviate from the plan, and even though men and demons would tempt Him to the core, yet, the basic fact of the blend brings positive outcomes into all seemingly negative situations.

The blending of human and Divine nature is the way in which our salvation, and ultimate resurrection is accomplished. Jesus united His Divinity with fallen humanity so that the humanity could be rendered impregnable to all the assaults of our unseen foes, including death, by choosing, believing and obeying through faith. Let’s read:

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;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

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 has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.

John 5:21 For as the Father raises up the dead and quickens them; even so the Son quickens whom he will.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Pointer # [2] The power in the blend comes from the presence of The Third person of The Godhead, and that is why all who desire to come up at the first resurrection must have partaken of The Holy Ghost during their lifetime.

Whatever a person’s profession of being a Christian might be, if he/she does not have the Holy Spirit on the inside, they cannot be raised to immortality at the first resurrection. That is why it is so important for us not to play church, for doing so sets persons up for the greatest of disappointments.

In other words, the work of The Holy Ghost in our hearts is essentially to produce replicas of the blend which is found in Christ. Through freedom of choice we must invite God to do, and continue this work in our hearts, and if we stay the course with Jesus, the blend will be brought to the point where it cannot be reversed or dismantled. Let’s read:

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

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.

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.

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

Romans 8:9 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 has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Pointer # [3] Divinity cannot die, for immortality is naturally inherent in Divinity.

When we accept Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, we also accept the very source of life, because in Christ there is immortal life, unborrowed and underived. One can’t offer what One does not have, hence the reason why Christ is able to grant us the gift of immortality. Let’s read:

John 17:1 These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.

Hebrews 1:1 God (?) who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds.

7 And of the angels he saith, Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.

1st Timothy 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickens all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto….

Revelation 17:4 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

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.

Therefore, now that the Bible has pinpointed Christ as The Lamb, The Potentate, King of kings, Lord of lords, and now that the scripture certifies that Jesus has naturally inherent immortality, then those who teach the doctrine of natural immortality, are doing violence to the very person of Christ, and they will have to pay a very heavy price if they do not repent.

Not only does the doctrine of natural immortality give to the multitudes a false sense of hope, it robs the gospel of the power of God to save, and places mortal man on the same level with God, essentially rendering us independent of The Life-giver. This is why the proponents of this false doctrine would be overthrown in a signal manner, if repentance is not made. Let’s read:

Pointer # [4] The Divine nature is imparted as a gift through The Lord Christ Jesus.

Just as how the Divine and human were uniquely blended in Christ, Christians who are called little christs will also partake of that unique blend. The promise of eternal life was based on the blend that God was going to do in Christ which was kept secret through eternal ages in times past. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 1:4 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.

Pointer # [5] Even though the Divine and human are blended in the person of Christ, yet the two natures remain distinct.

This is one of the most important points to grasp in the study of the resurrection. How the two natures could be blended in the Person of Christ and yet remain distinct baffles science, angels, and devils.

In fact, when satan began his temptations of Christ by saying “If thou be the Son of God” it was not only to insinuate doubt; he also had some valid concerns as to the science behind the incarnation.

Again, the angel who announced the birth of Christ seemed to be lost for words, for, after telling Mary of what The Holy Ghost was about to do through the incarnation, he concludes by declaring “That Holy Thing” will be called the Son of God, obviously not knowing how else to describe the blend and the distinctiveness that would occur at the same time.

Many years ago, when I was into street-racing I got an antique Jaguar which was to be restored. But the six-cylinder engine it came with could not deliver the horsepower desired, so I removed it and instead built and installed a competition Chevy engine with transmission, complete with a set of flow masters, and a stall converter.

The finished product was a hybrid between a Chevy and a Jaguar, and as the engine rumbled because of the rough idle camshaft, and horsepower, persons would often inquire as to what was under the hood.

I then had to explain that although both products were blended together, yet, the powerful Chevrolet engine remained distinct, even as it sat in the body of the jaguar. After a while the body of the Jaguar began to gather rust, and eventually it was sold to the junk yard, but we before doing so, we removed the Chevy engine, which remained and existed as a distinct, separate, and powerful entity.

On a much more comprehensive and in-depth scale is the blend between divinity and humanity. As we have shown before, Divinity remains distinct, as the perpetual undying powerhouse, yet it sits within the human body, through the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit, delivering tons of horsepower for believers to live, die, and then be resurrected at the call of God. Let’s read:

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

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

1st Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

[Desire of Ages pp 388] 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.

The eleventh chapter of John contains a wealth of valuable information pertaining to the guarantee of our resurrection. Questions are asked, answers are given, and corrections are made so that those of us who are living in the age of Covid, would have our faith in God streamlined with an understanding of what God has promised through Christ.

As we read and study the discourse between Jesus, Martha, and Mary, let us do so with a humble and teachable spirit so that our faith would rest securely on what God has done, and what He has promised to do. Lazarus was sick and Lazarus died, and like so many of us, his sisters thought Jesus had taken too long.

But in reality, Jesus’ delay was deliberate and well thought out, for as we stated before, God does not do anything on the spur of the moment, without first thinking it through, a pattern of thought and action that we mortals would do well to adopt. A few days pass by, decomposition sets in, and Jesus shows up while worms are doing lunch. Let’s read:

John 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou had been here, my brother had not died.

There are certain things which do not take place in the presence of Jesus, for He is the source of life. If Jesus had showed up before Lazarus passed, then the truths and corrections about the resurrection, which needed to be made may not have occurred. If one has electricity in the house, the lights won’t go out because of a lack of current. She continues:

John 11: 22 But I know that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

At this point, Martha’s faith reaches forward to that great day when Christ will call all the righteous dead from their graves. But Jesus is now about to make a clear statement on the foundation of the promise of eternal life, for as yet, many, including Martha, did not fully grasp the true meaning of the incarnation of Christ.

In her previous statement Martha said she believed that whatsoever Jesus asked of The Father would be granted Him. But she didn’t fully grasp that the very fullness of God was standing in front of her, in the person of Jesus, and for this reason Christ sought to give clearer direction to her faith. Let’s read:

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 lives and believeth in me shall never die. Do you believe thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

It is worthy of note that Martha did not answer the question Jesus posed to her and it’s understandable because it was a loaded question. In her answer she says she believes that Jesus is The Son of God, but on the question of those who believe in Him never dying, Martha was silent, as many of us in our day would also be, seeing that there are important facts about the resurrection that we need to understand.

Because the unique blend of Divinity and humanity remains distinct as we explained earlier, when the body of Christ was laid in the tomb, only the human body expired. Divinity, which cannot die, and which is distinct from humanity, hovered over the body of Christ, only awaiting the command from the Father to energize humanity into life once more.

Hence the reason why Christ made that statement of fact to Martha, that “He who believes in me shall never die”. Christ was there referring to His Divine nature of which we have become partakers through faith, and which remains alive, intact, and distinct, even when, like Christ, our mortal bodies are laid in the tomb.

This is the reason why Jesus had made the following statement earlier, declaring that He had power to lay down His life and power to take it again. Thus, it is the mere fact that Divinity cannot die, and that all who believe have become partakers of the Divine nature, which gives us the guarantee that we would conquer the grave, even as Christ did. 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.

1st Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

[That I may Know Him pp 71] 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.

[FHL pp 522] 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. Christ had proclaimed in triumph, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

These words could be spoken only by the Deity. All created beings are dependent recipients of the life of God. 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.

God had also given us this same assurance back in the days of yore, but it was not made as plain as when Jesus gave us those explanations in the book of John. Previously, a singular incident had hinted at the very same truth, but it was probably dismissed as a mystery beyond comprehension. Let’s read:

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 sepulcher of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

As we look out across the landscape of our world today there is a dark cloud of death hanging in the atmosphere. In addition, there are new diseases, viruses, cancers, and sicknesses of all sorts, and to add to the mix, there is turmoil and unrest among nations and governments.

Yet, through it all, God has given us the assurance of immortality in Christ, and whatsoever our situation may be, this one thing we know, that if we stay the course with Christ, and if we’re found faithful to the end, the unique blend of Divinity and humanity that is found in Christ, which guided our steps during this life, will one day fulfill the promise of the gospel, so that the blend would nevermore be dismantled.

Thus, we close our study with a bright ray of hope, that even though there are still many to be laid to rest in this life, yet, one day soon, Jesus will make all things new, and as such, we encourage everyone to not give up, but to have hope. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

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

God Bless!

It Is Spoken. Sabbath Afternoon 03/06/2021

Hebrews 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Christians are to be in a relationship with a Person, not merely a book, for the purpose of the written word is to lead us to the Living Word. God’s written does not have any more authority than His spoken word, because ultimately, if persons become set in a rigid written reference point, then if God speaks something that is not written, we will recoil from it.

It is good that we have the Bible at our fingertips in our day, but there were times when the very same Bible was chained to monasteries, and people were prevented from reading it. Thus, with the onslaught of secularism, and the breaking down of scriptural foundations it becomes all the more important that the written word lead us to The Living Word.

Law does not have to be written for it to be law; in a written format, it becomes a reference point which is to be accessed for purposes of streamlining that which is right, and in that context it is absolute. But our relationship with God must go deeper than it is written, for Jesus must be able to tell us what to do, even if it may not be written in stone.

Thus, it was in the beginning, and just as how the book of Genesis leads us to Revelation, the Bible leads us to a point in our christian experience where A Person, even The Lord Jesus Christ, can take over in directing us what to do. This does not mean that we are now free to walk contrary to what is written, because the law of God and those eternal principles will remain unchanged throughout eternity.

All it means is that our reference point is not to be so rigidly set in stone, that God cannot speak to us through His prophets, or any other means He may choose. In other words, if we restrict God to only what is written in the Bible, then, if He gives us any instruction that we cannot clearly find in His word, it may be rejected on the basis of lacking authority.

Back in the days of yore, there were not any laws written in stone before Mt Sinai, yet God’s spoken word, had just as much force as when it became etched with His finger. In fact, it is written was only meant to certify that which was spoken all along, a fact that can be observed in the way God’s law was given to the Hebrews. Let’s read:

Exodus 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.

8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.

Exodus 20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

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

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

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

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.

12 Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

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

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

Exodus 24:12 And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

So, now that the Hebrews have a written reference point in their hands, they could be instructed from the written law of God, and they could always check the veracity of Moses’ instructions, if there was any doubt or question of authority. That is all well and good.

The problem is that some of the instructions God gave Moses were never written anywhere, and the people were expected to obey just as if God’s words were written. Thus, the question of authority would surface from time to time, and would also ricochet to Jesus’ day, where the question of authority arose after many of His sermons. Let’s read:

Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matthew 21:23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

The same question of authority arose with Moses and Aaron, when instructions were given out, which were not written. The question that would always arise is whether they should obey, as if it came from God, or may be, just may be, Moses is taking it upon himself to give out arbitrary instructions. Let’s read:

Numbers 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

2 And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it.

4 And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

5 And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.

6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed.

The question of authority also arose in the days of the early Christian church, when Paul baptized the gentiles without them being circumcised. In those instances, persons who were rigidly tethered to it is written brought scripture to back up their argument and Paul found himself having to defend what he did with only it is spoken. 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.

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.

The fact of the matter is that it took many centuries for laws to be written, because they were passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, and those who were thus instructed were expected to obey, just as if the laws were written in stone.

Several examples are given in scripture to certify the truthfulness of the former statements, and as we study them closely we will discover that persons back then had come to view it is spoken as a valid reference point, as it pertained to what they would or wouldn’t do, just the same as if it were written in stone. Let’s read:

Genesis 4:6 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.

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

Genesis 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God.

22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth.

20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

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, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

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

Romans 4:15 For where no law is, there is no transgression.

1st John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Why would Joseph call it sin, since there were not written laws anywhere. We are concerned about how he came to that conclusion, based solely on it is spoken, for as was stated before, the law of God was passed down through generations by the word of mouth.

Therefore, is Joseph managing his behaviors and his choices based solely on what his dad told him? And if so, are such instructions sufficient for persons to conclude that certain behaviors are indeed sinful? The answer is to be found in it is spoken, because the law of God in spoken format is just as valid as if it is written.

In fact, if we would receive it, the spoken format is even greater than the written one, for there have been instances where instructions were given that were contrary to law. But because the persons in question were tethered to a Person, and not merely law they did not run the risk of disobeying the voice of God. Let’s read:

Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

Now, it is true that the Bible emphasizes the fact that Abraham obeyed God’s voice. But a closer look at this singular occurrence reveals that Isaac also exercised a radical faith, by agreeing to obey God’s voice, even though The Lord did not speak to Him directly in this matter.

His father told him what God said, and in his young mind, that was sufficient. For himself, there was not much incentive to obey, other than he purposed to obey God’s spoken word for he must have been told of his own miraculous birth, and God’s promise of a great nation to come from his line, let alone the conflict between it is written and it is spoken. Let’s read:

Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 152] At the appointed place they built the altar and laid the wood upon it. Then, with trembling voice, Abraham unfolded to his son the divine message. It was with terror and amazement that Isaac learned his fate, but he offered no resistance.

But Isaac had been trained from childhood to ready, trusting obedience, and as the purpose of God was opened before him, he yielded a willing submission. He was a sharer in Abraham's faith, and he felt that he was honored in being called to give his life as an offering to God. And now the last words of love are spoken, the last tears are shed, the last embrace is given.

Question: If Abraham had decided to go with It is written, instead of it is spoken, would he be guilty of disobedience? Here it is again; the people are in violation of that which is spoken, before the written law of God was given. Let’s read:

Exodus 16:27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.

28 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?

29 See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

There are times when God may choose to grant us additional instructions to meet the needs of some particular situation and in some instances, following the general counsels given in the Bible might not be sufficient to steer us clear of difficulty.

Especially is the instruction of God needed in those gray areas of life, where the Bible may not spell out in clear, distinct lines which course of action we are to pursue, or which specific decision to make in any given situation.

And because of this, we would need the voice of God as we endeavor to navigate the maze of voices coming at us from time to time, from so many directions.

Clear discernment, and wisdom is needed from God if we are to avoid serious errors in judgment, for the Bible gives us general principles and specific laws to cover every phase of our lives. But to have them be applied in our particular situation might be another matter altogether.

For instance, the Bible teaches us that we must not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for there will be a disconnect between the two perspectives both spouses adopt in life. But the Bible does not tell us which particular person to marry and for this reason we will need A Person, to guide us through such an important decision.

Some folks make the mistake of taking the general information and instructions in the Bible, and they run with them, not understanding that the written word is always to lead us to The Living Word. This is one of the reasons why there are many separations in the churches of the land.

Two people, believing that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and that the three angel’s messages are in harmony with the Bible prophecy and who eat their veggies with singleness of heart are not guaranteed to be compatible. Thus, even though they may hold the same beliefs in common, persons will still need the voice of God to guide them to Mr, or Mrs right.

Thus, even as we embrace the written word of God in its entirety, yet we must leave some wiggle room for God to be able to direct us and speak to us on an ongoing basis because the essence of the Christian’s experience is with The Person, not only the book.

Now brethren it is critically important that we listen very carefully to the following, for it’s quite possible that we are beginning to enter the time of the latter rain, when the promise of copious amounts of The Holy Ghost is to be fulfilled across the entire globe, which will bring all the inhabitants of earth to their final decision to seal their eternal destiny.

The very unnatural disasters, the unprecedented diseases spreading across the globe, the infighting among political leaders, the social unrest, the pent up fires of rage and passion, and those irresolvable disputes and conspiracy theories we’re bombarded with every day, tell us that we closing in on the final events written and spoken of by Bible prophets.

To put it plainly, it is just a matter of time before there is that final conflict between the laws of God and the laws of men, because, with God-ordained marriage out the window, there is only one more shoe to drop, and according to the prophets, that final conflict will occur contemporaneously with the latter rain.

Therefore, we reiterate again that it’s quite possible we have already begun to enter the time of latter rain, the time more than ever, when we would need God’s spoken word to guide us through the many difficulties that are scheduled to converge in the not too distant future. If we become too rigidly tethered to an it is written format, then when God is ready to grant additional information and instruction we may resist it on the basis that it cannot be found anywhere in scripture.

This is what took place at the onset of the former rain, and if we do not become tethered to The Person of God, we may inadvertently rise up against His voice when He gives us pertinent instructions through His prophets, that may not be discerned in His word. Let’s read:

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

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

3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

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

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?

The servant of The Lord commenting upon this very time referenced by Joel alludes to unorthodox ways and means that God would employ, when the latter rain is to be poured out. Whenever the gospel, in its simplicity is presented in too technical a manner so that the average John Doe cannot understand, then God will speak to and through those who are willing to listen to His voice. Let’s read:

[Last day events pp 205>206] The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them.

The truth that he speaks under the inspiration of the Spirit is so pure and remarkable and carries with it a power so indisputable that his testimony cannot be gainsaid. The Spirit is poured out upon all who will yield to its promptings and, casting off all man's machinery, his binding rules and cautious methods, they will declare the truth with the might of the Spirit's power.

Thus, the question we now have to settle is: When will the outpouring of the latter rain take place, and when will God’s voice be heard, and obeyed in the context of Joel chapter two and three? 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.

Verse 13 of Joel chapter 3 is of grave importance for it begins by calling for the sickle, an instrument of reaping which is only called for when the harvest is ripe, according to the same verse.

So the question is: At what period in earth’s history is the sickle going to be called for? This question is so weighted that we must let the Bible answer, without any human interference or input. Let’s read:

Revelation 14: 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

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

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine=press of the wrath of God.

Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

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

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

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.

Very pertinent information has been given to the remnant people of God to help us in navigating the myriad snares that are already set for the feet of the unwary. Some of her instructions may actually seem to conflict with some directives given in the Bible.

However, the additional information is tailor-made to address the needs and crises of those of us who are living on the brink of eternity. Therefore, if we become too rigidly set in stone as it pertains to that which is written in the Bible, God might be speaking but we may not be listening, because we may have blocked out anything that is not set in stone.

Therefore, we end with a statement from the pen of inspiration, cautioning us that the manifestations which marked the beginning of the former rain, may not necessarily be repeated during the latter rain, and for this reason, the outpouring of God’s Spirit in the last days may not be recognized, or understood when it does take place. Let’s read:

[Last day Events pp 195>196] Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.

God Bless!