The New Abnormal. Sabbath afternoon 01/22/2022

2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Even though many of us are hoping to get back to a sense of normalcy, it is quite possible, that in just a few months we could be looking at a very different world. The collateral damage from the pandemic is not going anywhere anytime soon and the political and economic fallout could continue to rattle many already frayed nerves.

 In addition, there is much saber-rattling taking place in different places so that the nations of earth could have their hands full while some have already bitten off more than they can chew. The utter inability of political parties to get along, and reach a consensus for the betterment of the country, and the myriad of conspiracy theories that multitudes have bought into, only adds instability to the toxic brew.

 Yet, God did not leave us to figure out things on our own, for He has forewarned us that “Perilous times will come”. That statement actually pertains to the here and now, for it is obvious, even to the casual observer, that the condition of our world is now in a much more fragile and unstable state, than it was, just two decades ago.

 What is even more disturbing is the willingness of persons to deliberately believe a lie, even though the undisputable facts are on full display. When one refuses to be reconciled to truth, when the facts are exchanged for fictions, and when a cult-like mindset has upended rational thought, then we may know that we have already entered the new abnormal.

 Permanent, and nearly irreversible damage will be done to the minds of millions of people, when they deliberately choose erroneous theories over truth, for wherever this occurs, there remains very little that God can do for such persons, since the mind is where the Holy Spirit does the work of conviction. This, above all things is cause for great alarm.

 And if one knowingly chooses falsehoods over facts, conviction of truth cannot take place, for whenever truth or facts are presented, the minds of such folks relegate the truth to the null and void column. Thus, the problem we’re now experiencing was predicted in the Bible, with the intent that all those who wish to escape the errors of the last days, might track a different course.  

In other words, the preservation of a sound mind is contingent upon our willingness to be reconciled to truth, even if such truths may not be palatable. The prophets warned us that such a time as this would come, and now that it is here, it would do us well to revisit those passages in the Bible which deal with the current phenomena. Let’s read:

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

2nd Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness

in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

However, the current situation is nothing new, for it has occurred throughout history, but it is scheduled to metastasize as we get closer to Christ’s second coming. At such a time as this, the remnant people of God should be especially careful not to get sucked into the vacuum of lies and conspiracy theories which abound, for they will certainly distract us from our mission, and will inevitably lead us into false paths, and thus cause us to make erroneous decisions.

A striking example of the damage, currently being done to many minds, is written in the scriptures. In the experiences of the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, we see on full display, the deliberate hardening of one’s mind against the truth and the facts.

 At that time, a covert operation was concocted to undermine the God-ordained authority granted to Moses and Aaron. The rebels talked and rummaged over errors and lies, until they actually came to the point of really believing what they said even though it was not rooted in fact or truth.

 One of the strategies of devils is to repeat an error over and over again, for when this is done, without any remonstrance from the hearers, the falsehoods finally take deep root in one’s conscience, and it can become so firmly entrenched in the mind, that not even The Holy Spirit could appeal to one’s reason.

 As the conspirators rehashed their errors, more and more people joined in, for it is a weakness of human nature that as a general rule of thumb, we prefer to hear lies than the truth. This tendency was handed down by our first parents, and from one generation to the next, until in our day presently, it has driven some persons to the point of no return.  

As we read of the rebels, deliberately setting aside truth for alternate facts which suit what they desire, we will observe the downward progression of lies, which take on a life of their own, for whenever folks decide to imbibe error it can become a self-fulfilling   prophecy which produces more falsehoods with the passage of time. Let’s read:

Numbers 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men.

2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown.

3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, You take too much upon you seeing all the congregation are holy every one of them and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?

2 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up.

13 Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land that flows with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

Question: Are the allegations made by the rebels in the above verses true? Did Moses and Aaron really appoint themselves over the people? Is it true that all the congregation was holy, everyone of them? And is it true that Moses brought them up out of a land that flows with milk and honey, namely Egypt? Let’s examine the facts in the case! Let’s read:

 Exodus 5: 10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus, saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfill your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore, have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as heretofore?

Exodus 3:7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.

10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Exodus 4:14 And the Lord 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.

Exodus 32: 7 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which you brought out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.

8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

9 And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people.

10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 396] Korah and his fellow conspirators were men who had been favored with special manifestations of God's power and greatness. They were of the number who went up with Moses into the mount and beheld the divine glory. But since that time a change had come. A temptation, slight at first, had been harbored, and had strengthened as it was encouraged, until their minds were controlled by Satan, and they ventured upon their work of disaffection.

 Professing great interest in the prosperity of the people, they first whispered their discontent to one another and then to leading men of Israel. Their insinuations were so readily received that they ventured still further, and at last they really believed themselves to be actuated by zeal for God. In this work of disaffection there was greater union and harmony among the discordant elements of the congregation than had ever before existed.

 Korah's success with the people increased his confidence, and confirmed him in his belief that the usurpation of authority by Moses, if unchecked, would be fatal to the liberties of Israel. He also claimed that God had opened the matter to him, and had authorized him to make a change in the government before it should be too late.

 Thus, it became necessary for God to set the record straight, if perchance, the deceived ones would turn from their falsehoods and repent. What The Lord did next was to remove entirely, any questions and any doubt, so that the truth in the matter would be established upon irrefutable facts. Let’s read:

Numbers 16:16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow.

17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.

19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.

20 And the Lord spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 And he spoke unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of their's lest you be consumed in all their sins.

27 So they got up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

28 And Moses said, Hereby, ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of my own mind.

29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me.

30 But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then you shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord.

31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground parted asunder under them.

32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the congregation.

34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

Here, God gave unmistakable proof that the rebels were in the wrong, and that their fabrication of lies were unfounded. But God didn’t stop there, for He is merciful; therefore, He gave the 250 princes time to see their error clearly, if haply they might repent.

 But they had become so firmly entrenched in their lies, together with the embarrassment of having to admit they were wrong, that they dug in deeper in their falsehoods, and thus they became ripe for the destruction that followed, for whenever the human agent becomes so deeply rooted in lies that his/her rational reasoning is distorted, there is very little, if anything, God can do to save them. Let’s read:

Numbers 16:35 And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

To any rational thinking individual, the allegations posed by the leaders in the rebellion should have been settled unequivocally, since God showed by His intervention, that the insurrection was not in good faith. Any reasonable mind would conclude in no uncertain terms that the facts and the truth had been clearly established by God Himself.

 But, as was stated earlier, any deliberate decision to choose erroneous, conspiracy theories over truth, will eventually render the adherents incapable of being reached by God with appeals to one’s better judgment. Wherever persons exchange light for darkness, or put bitter for sweet, the mind can suffer permanent irreparable damage, as was evident by the reaction of such persons on the following day. Let’s read:

Numbers 16:41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, You have killed the people of the Lord.

44 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,

45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun.

48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

The same disposition to embrace lies, instead of an acknowledgement of the truth, could be observed in pharaoh, who had repeatedly hardened his heart against the facts and the truth, until, like the rebels we just read of, his mind became incapable of any positive response to conviction, and as a result of his course of action, he went completely insane, his mind being damaged beyond repair. Let’s read:

Exodus 10:3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, I will bring the locusts into thy coast tomorrow.

5 And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remains unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the field.

7 And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: don’t you know yet, that Egypt is destroyed?

Exodus 8:16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

17 And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.

19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

Exodus 9:3 Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.

4 And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of

Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall  nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.

5 And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land.

6 And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.

7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

The very same phenomenon of persons deliberately resisting the truth and the facts, occurred in Christ’s day, when He raised Lazarus from the dead. After Jesus was informed of Lazarus’ death, He remained where He was, so as to give time for decomposition to set in.

 This would remove the earlier falsehood that was disseminated by those who were bent on resisting the truth and facts. Earlier, when Christ has brought back a maid to life, the Pharisees had used Jesus’ own words against him, and declared that the girl was not really dead, only in a coma. Let’s read:

Luke 8:49 While he yet spoke, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but Jesus said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleeps.

53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her food.

John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he remained two days still in the same place where he was.

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinks, for he hath been dead four days.

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Their response to the truth and the facts, in the face of an undeniable miracle? We were Just wondering if the minds of the priests would be any different to pharaoh’s, as pertains to their reaction to the truth. Let’s read:

John 11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

53 Then from that day forth they took counsel to put him to death.

John 12: 9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death.

The same self-inflicted wounds were done to the minds of so many who witnessed the stoning of Stephen. They, just like pharaoh, and the priests with Christ and Lazarus, and the rebels in Moses’ day, all had one thing in common: They refused to accept the truth and facts even when they were presented with undeniable evidence. Let’s read:

Acts 6: 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke.

11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.

12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law.

15 And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

We were just wondering again what their response would be, as they saw with their own two eyes, his face glowing radiantly with the glory of God. Would they change their minds, or would they walk in the footsteps of pharaoh, the priests, and the rebels? Let’s read:

Acts 7: 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

In our day currently, it is of grave concern that the tendency to deliberately believe lies and conspiracy theories, is damaging the minds of millions beyond repair, and if we think that such a situation will not affect us in adverse ways, we’ll need to think again, for that spirit of unbelief never remains dormant for too long.

 As it was in days of old, the disposition to embrace falsehood morphs into something more ominous, taking more people into the snare, until, at some opportune moment, it spills over, and does great, irreparable harm, not only to the adherents, but it also often produces collateral damage in persons who may not have been directly involved.

 If persons continue to deny the truth and the facts, it will inevitably lead to a grave national disturbance the likes of which we have never seen. And those of us who are not rooted in Christ and the truth could be swept away, with the incoming tsunami of error.

 The national intransigence which we are currently witnessing will not remain at this level forever, for we are headed for a downward spiral that would cause a national upheaval, if we are not pulled back from the brink, by folks tracking a different course.

 The problem is that the very same mind that is thus hardened against truth and facts in temporal things will most likely be also hardened against the truth in the spiritual realm and therefore, the urgency of the everlasting gospel, as given in Revelation 14 could fall on deaf ears.

 Now, while it is true that the latter rain is promised to mitigate the situation, we must understand that the outpouring of The Holy Spirit does not force a person to believe truth. God brings the truth home to the mind in clear, steady, and irrefutable ways, but the choice to believe is always left with persons.

 Thus, in lieu of what is transpiring, we’ll have very limited time to fulfill the great commission in our neck of the woods, because we are looking at the prospect of having to deliver the everlasting gospel at a time when it will become increasingly difficult to do so.

 With this prospect before us, we should individually and collectively, be doing all we can to spread the everlasting gospel, both locally and internationally via social media and every other avenue, now at our disposal. As the spirit of insurrection or intolerance gains steam, the freedoms we now enjoy would be increasingly curtailed.

Therefore, God is calling on us to do our very best to finish the work of the gospel in all the world. In the capacities, and talents God has given us, let us then be found faithful, because the time is at hand. We therefore end with two passage of scripture which are to call us to the urgency of the moment, and by the grace of God, let everyone in whom the seeds of truth have been sown, rise to the occasion in earnest, as we readapt to the new abnormal.

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.

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

                                    God Bless!

Anatomy Of God's Promises. Sabbath afternoon 01/15/2022

2nd Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

 We are living at a time in earth’s history when it will become even more important for us to trust in the mighty promises God has given us to live by. At such a time as this, when morale is low, when death and diseases have overspread the land, and when there is a stoical intransigence among political leaders the promises of God should be looming ever larger in our minds as we transition to living by faith alone.

 As the passage above teaches us, all of the promises of God, in Christ Jesus are yes, and Amen; meaning, that God’s promises are certain, and can absolutely be depended upon, in those who believe and obey, according to the light and knowledge shed upon our pathway.

 But what we need to understand is that there are factors which affect the fulfilment of the promises, and there are elements contained in them that are to be studied very carefully, so that our faith would not be shaken, if and when God’s promises may not always be fulfilled as some expect.

 Again, there are promises which address every need of man, ranging in scope from man’s protection and provisions for all that pertains to life, onto salvation, and eternal life; and yes, the promises do also cover diseases, cures, prosperity and health. They are all to be found in the scriptures, and the reason why they are written is so that we should believe, for they apply across the board to all who will believe. Let’s read:

 3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.

Psalms 34:6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.

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.

 Isaiah 40: 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases 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.

 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.

 However, there is an anatomy of the promises, that would shed great light on the where, when and how of fulfillment. When this anatomy is understood our faith in God will be greatly strengthened and we will serve Him intelligently, knowing that God does what He does in perfection, always!

 Thus, we will use as our case-study the certain Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who, through faith in God’s promises had been delivered from the fiery flames, which was kindled seven times hotter, in response to their utter refusal to bow down to the golden image, that had been set up in the plain of Dura.

 Nebuchadnezzar had at that time issued a mandate for the false worship of his golden image, which was actually a form of rebellion against what The Lord of heaven had plainly revealed to him earlier. Babylon was never to stand forever, just as any other earthly kingdom which will inevitably meet with demise.

 But the king insisted on doing the exact opposite of what God showed him, and in his stubbornness, he issued a mandate for forced worship, a decree that had cut right across the path, and convictions of the Hebrew young men, and in response, they uttered  sacred truths that are based upon the anatomy of God’s promises. Let’s read:

 Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which the king had set up.

4 Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded O people, nations, and languages,

5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.

6 And whosoever falls not down and worships shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

9 They spoke, and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever.

10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.

11 And whoso falls not down and worships, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

 There are three critically important phrases in the above verses which highlight the anatomy of God’s promises, and if we were to grasp the sacred truths that are contained therein, we could become very firmly entrenched in our relationship with God, and in the mighty promises He has given us to live by.

 Here are those three phrases juxtaposed together and highlighted: [1] God is able. [2] He will deliver. [3] But if not.

 Let’s start with the first element in the anatomy of God’s promises: [1] “God is able”

 Before claiming any promises of God, we will need to be reconciled to the fact that “God is able”. The very same God who healed Hezekiah and Naaman, the same Jesus who in His day healed multitudes of people who came to Him is still alive and well today.

 And, His hand is not shortened that it cannot save, for God is quite able to do abundantly more than we can ask or think. Thus, the fact that God is able, will give structural integrity to the anatomy of His promises, for whatsoever He has promised, He is well able to perform. Let’s read:

 Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages.

 Luke 6:17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

 However, in most cases, the fulfillment of a promise is contingent upon one’s ability, and our willingness to believe, because faith in God’s ability to do what He has promised is the very first step in accessing the promises. In other words, the belief that “God is able” would determine to a great extent, whether the fulfillment of His promise will apply in our particular situation. 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.

 It is to be observed, that in the current crisis, the overwhelming majority of experts leave God out of the picture, hence the reason why you would often hear the following statement spoken on radio and television: “Science will save us”. Thus, in all of the ongoing efforts to mitigate the pandemic, the name and the power of God is hardly, if ever, mentioned.

 Now, although God has gifted men and women with an increase of knowledge and understanding in the sciences, it is not His will that we tackle crises such as the current one, without consulting with Him, for the exercise of knowledge, independent of God will often lead to perplexity, which is one of the results that are scheduled to occur more and more, as we move forward into unchartered territory.

 This leads us to the second element in the anatomy of God’s promises, for now that we’ve established beyond the shadow of a doubt, from the scriptures, that He is able to deliver, the next obvious question is “Will He deliver? The answer to this question as it pertains to the believer, is an absolute yes.

 The three Hebrew worthies exhibited a clear and an unambiguous understanding of God’s promises, for in their reply to Nebuchadnezzar, they manifested no wavering, uncertainty, or doubt, as to whether God will come through for them. Their answer was in the definite positive, as it must always be for all those who trust In God. Let’s read:

Daniel 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

 The certain Jews were not speaking like this from a perspective of arrogance, or overconfidence. They were basing their conclusions on promises which were written in the scriptures, and as such we must be very careful when evaluating the motivations of persons who trust implicitly in God.

 Unshakeable confidence in God should never, ever be misconstrued for arrogance, if such confidence is based upon what is written. God wants everyone of us to believe unto death, the promises that are in His word, for this is what is included when the Bible states unequivocally: “Man shall live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

It was the prophet Isaiah, who was moved upon by The Holy Spirit, to write promises for such a time as this, as the three Hebrews were currently enduring, and therefore, wherever the situation warrants the claiming of God’s promises, we too must manifest unshakeable confidence in God’s word. Let’s read:

 Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior.

This leads us to the third, and extremely important element in the anatomy of God’s promises: “But if not”.

This one right here is the one that often causes folks to stumble, for if God is able, and we have exhibited an unshakeable confidence in Him based upon what He has promised, then the question is: How does the phrase “But if not” figure into the equation?

 It is worthy of note that there were other believers who did not fare as well, and they too must have rehearsed the promises written in Isaiah, yet, just like the three Hebrew worthies, they manifested unshakeable confidence in God, even unto death.

 In fact, the those who died by the stake were just as much heroes of faith like the Hebrew worthies who walked through the fire without being burned. All of them without exception remembered the promises. However, they left the fulfilment up to The Lord, who would always do what is best and right in their particular circumstance, and because of this, their faith was not shaken, even though it was severely tried. Let’s read:

 Hebrews 11:36 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 They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these obtained a good report through faith.

Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 Like all those who would follow in their footsteps, our understanding of the anatomy of promises must include the three basic, fundamental, and structural elements namely: [1] God is able. [2] He will deliver. [3] But if not. When these fundamentals are understood, it leaves in God’s hand the exercise of discretionary power to do or to permit whatsoever will be best in any given situation.

 Therefore, as we confront Omicron, Delta, Beta, and every other variant found in the Greek alphabet, we too must have clear understanding of the anatomy of God’s promises. And like those who in times past, had trial of faith and stood unshaken, we absolutely must include the three fundamental elements: [1] God is able. [2] He will deliver. [3] But if not.

 It is imperative in the exercise of faith, that we seek to employ all of the principles, and laws which God has given us to live by. In addition to these we must remember that, as the time for Christ’s 2nd coming draws near, final movements would be rapid ones, and as such we should be prepared to adapt to any situation which God would deem best for us.

 The health message, which is the right arm of the gospel, must be adopted diligently, for it would go a long way in building robust immune systems which, in tandem with God’s restorative power would then enable us to confront and surmount, many of those diseases that are scheduled to arise during the last days of earth’s history.

Our lives and our salvation are secure in Christ, so whether we live or die, we are The Lord’s, and the same victory that was granted to the three Hebrews in the city of Babylon, will be granted one day to all who believe in Christ. Not one will be lost, and not one will be disappointed, if we stay the course with Him.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles, and if like those who went before, our faith in God remains unmovable, regardless of the vicissitudes of life, then when Jesus comes, we’ll hear the words: “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Let’s read:

 John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own….

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

                                 God Bless!

What Matters Most In Life. Sabbath afternoon 12/25/2021

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.

 One of the results of the current pandemic is that it has caused many people to reassess, and reconsider what is, and what is not important in life. As the toll numbers keep rising, and as country after country is battling the virus, individuals have been moved to regroup, and restructure their priorities.

 Persons, who had in times past, lived without any thought of the great hereafter, are now seeking a better understanding of the meaning of life, and in doing so, some have discovered that the things they cared about greatly in former years, are not really the things which matter most in life.

 The holiday season is usually one of joy, celebration and gladness, but instead persons find themselves overshadowed by thick clouds of uncertainty and an ominous foreboding about what the future could hold, and when, if ever, we would be returning to normal.

 Folks are indeed weary and tired from the endless restrictions, testing, lockdowns, social distancing, and the other difficulties by which we are hedged in. In addition to which, many nurses are leaving the medical profession in droves, because of the stress, death, and suffering they must endure every day.

 Yet, as the holiday season wears on, and as people are earnestly seeking for a brief reprieve from the constant barrage of bad news, we should take good cheer in the thought that God did not leave us alone to do battle with the hosts of darkness that are now arrayed against the human family.

 Even though some persons may not understand His Providence in the current issue, yet, God has made ample provision so that what matters most in life can be realized and obtained by any who would see the value in what God is offering to us.

God took several proactive measures to solve all of our problems permanently, and Jesus Christ is the embodiment of the solution to our perplexities. This sacred truth has been recorded quite often in the Bible, and yet very few persons have taken the time to investigate what God has done, and is currently doing to give us eternal life.

 Just recently, Jamie Dimon, chairman of JP Morgan Chase made a skeptical statement regarding Bitcoin by saying “It’s got no intrinsic value”. The fact is that many of the things, persons hold dear, do not have any intrinsic value, because, in most cases, value is a relative word, being fluid, because of market forces that often pull values in either direction.

 Homes that are valued at sky high prices now, were not doing very well in 2008, when the stock market crash had rattled the markets and had shaken down so-called value from off its high horse. This teaches us that values do fluctuate, and that what matters most in life today can be worthless tomorrow.

 Hence the reason why our opening passage gives us the bottom line when assessing what matters most: “He that has The Son has life.” Life and all that could pertain to living, should be assessed in the context of having Jesus enshrined in our hearts, for it is He who gives to our lives both value and any meaning.

In other words, to live without The Son of God is to live an empty and hopeless life, regardless of one’s achievements, for what shall it profit a person, if he or she would gain the whole world and lose their souls?

 Thus, the truth about what matters most in life will come vividly to the forefront when, as the scripture states, the final day of reckoning comes to a head. As persons, and merchants alike, would assess what they have been scrambling and fighting for all their lives, they then see that it was all worthless, if they never included the God-factor in their assessments. Let’s read:

 Revelation 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more.

12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

13 And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

 Therefore, if one’s happiness, contentment, joy and hopes are tethered to material things, then, when such things lose all their value, then the purpose for living is lost, and life can become a dead-end, when there is nothing else to lean upon.

 Therefore, the following parable must be given due consideration, especially in the context of the many perplexities which are now knocking on our doors. God is beckoning us to take some time to consider where our energies and focus are centered, for if this is done, many will discover that what we think is important isn’t really that important. Let’s read:

 Luke 12:16 And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully.

17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

 There are several fundamental problems with this man’s perspective on life, and when his views are observed carefully, we would see that they are all centered in the here and now. Not only does he not acknowledge God as the Giver of his goods, but he seems to be consumed about retirement.

 Now, it is wise to plan for your retirement, because the grim reality is that if Christ does not come soon, then folks would have to count the cost of living in the latter years, with inflationary pressures tugging at one’s savings and investments.

 But while this is true, it is not what matters most in life for there are higher interests and things of much greater value to be considered. Just recently, about thirty tornadoes touched down in the Midwest, and utterly demolished hundreds of businesses, homes and vehicles. In a few moments of time, everything that some persons worked and saved for, vanished without a trace.

 Thus, if we find ourselves in such an unfortunate situation, and we do not “Have the Son”, then our our world could go up in smoke, and it can become very difficult and challenging to pick up the pieces, especially if one is a senior citizen, living on social security.

 But when one “Has The Son of God” though he/she may very well lose everything this life has to offer, yet, because of the blessed hope of eternal life, and the earth made new, such losses can then be taken in stride, for we know that God would create a new heaven and a new earth, where tornadoes, wildfires and viruses will be things of the past, and would be no more.

 But, if like the man in the parable, all our hopes and dreams are only centered in the here and now, and if what matters most to folks is the accumulation of material things that are perishable, then, when the carpet is pulled out from under our feet, we will be left holding a bag of nothing burgers, that will send us into panic mode. Let’s read: 

 Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

 Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

 This takes us to our study for today: What Matters Most in life”. Christ was soon to be born, and in the east, the minds of some wise men were astir as they pondered and anticipated the arrival of King Jesus, who was predicted to enter the human experience to save us.

 As they studied the scrolls of scripture, and some of the prophecies handed down though generations, they became convinced that the time of Jesus’ birth was near, and as such, they dedicated time, energy, and resources, to avail themselves of the heavenly gift, for as far as they were concerned, this is what mattered most in life.

 It’s no coincidence that they are referred to as wise men for even though they had come from the upper echelons of society, and were well learned, yet they were humble and willing enough to search in the scriptures for what they understood as the greatest treasure, and, in this sense they were wise indeed. Let’s read:

 Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

 The reason why all of Jerusalem were troubled by the inquiry of the wise men is that they were at that time consumed with other things that had absorbed their best energies and resources. They were busy with buying and selling and laying up their treasure where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves do break through and steal.

 In addition, their religion had devolved into a cold formalism devoid of the life-giving energies of The Spirit, and as an inevitable result, they had become sticklers for rites and ceremonies and celebrations, the husk without the kernel, the letter without The Spirit, very similar to our current situation today.

 The inordinate pursuit of temporal interests often tends to put the higher eternal values on the back-burner and whereas the chosen people should have been at the forefront the announcement of Christ’s birth, they were overtaken by others who held the kingdom of God in preeminence.

 And now, the chosen people are sent into full panic mode, because, what had been prophesied for so long, and the information they had at their disposal had already been fulfilled, yet, they were none the wiser. Thus, a mad scramble to establish the truth in the matter ensued much to the embarrassment and chagrin of the elders. Let’s read:

 Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

 Before we proceed to the next verse, two preceding phrases must be juxtaposed together in order for us to understand why Herod is now on full alert, for it seems as if a deep-laid conspiracy to overthrow his government is underway. Here are the two phrases together: “Herod the king” …. “A Governor that shall rule my people”

 Matthew 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

[The Desire of Ages pp 60] As these magi studied the starry heavens, and sought to fathom the mystery hidden in their bright paths, they beheld the glory of the Creator. Seeking clearer knowledge, they turned to the Hebrew Scriptures.

 In their own land were treasured prophetic writings that predicted the coming of a divine teacher. But in the Old Testament the Savior's advent was more clearly revealed. The magi learned with joy that His coming was near, and that the whole world was to be filled with a knowledge of the glory of the Lord.

 The wise men had seen a mysterious light in the heavens upon that night when the glory of God flooded the hills of Bethlehem. As the light faded, a luminous star appeared, and lingered in the sky.

 It was not a fixed star, nor was it a planet, and the phenomenon excited their keenest interest. That star was a distant company of shining angels, but of this the wise men were ignorant. Yet, they were impressed that the star was of special import to them.

 They consulted priests and philosophers, and searched the scrolls of the ancient records. The prophecy of Balaam had declared, “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17.

 Could this strange star have been sent as a harbinger of the Promised One? The magi had welcomed the light of heaven-sent truth; now it was shed upon them in brighter rays. Through dreams they were instructed to go in search of the newborn Prince.

 Again, the pronouncement of Christ’s birth is not given to the general public, nor are the angels sent to the Jewish headquarters to meet with the high-priest, executives and religious leaders, for God is a Spirit, and angels won’t usually go where they are not welcomed.

 In other words, if business and temporal interests are absorbing our best energies, to the neglect of what matters most in life, then, when it’s time to give a heads-up on the fulfillment of prophecies, it will be to “shepherds” and wise men who correctly value God’s greatest gift, that angels will be sent.

 God declares: “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.” And “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness.” Thus, it is to those who are seeking for light, and who will accept it with gladness, that the bright rays coming from the throne of God will shine. Let’s read:

 [The Desire of Ages. pp 47] In the fields where the boy David had led his flock, shepherds were still keeping watch by night. Through the silent hours they talked together of the promised Savior, and prayed for the coming of the King to David's throne. “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them.

 We are gravely concerned about the chosen people of God in our day, for like the Hebrews in the days of Herod, many seem to be consumed with rites, celebrations and ceremonies, while God’s greatest treasure to us, in the person of Jesus, who should matter most to us in life, is too often relegated to a second fiddle position.

 Anything, and everything except Christ is earnestly sought after, and celebrations and ceremonies take the place of that deep, abiding relationship with The only One who could make life worth the living.

Thus, when it comes time for the announcement of the fulfillment of those prophecies which herald the second coming of Jesus, many persons, like those in Herod’s day will be going into panic mode and many will be found scrambling at the last minute, to find out that which would have already taken place.

 It is in this life that our priorities are to be made manifest by the choices we’ll make. Throughout the pandemic, God has been urgently seeking to call our attention to that which matters most in life. Yet, for all of His efforts, many seem to be consumed with temporal interests, just as it was, when Christ first came to this earth.

 Amid all the hustle and bustle of life, the shepherds and the wise men never lost sight of that which matters most in life, and even though they too had to work, and pay their mortgage, and send their kids to college, just like everyone else, they never lost sight of what matters most in life, God’s great gift to us in Jesus.

Let us therefore take a page out of their experience, and try to refocus our attention on Christ, on what God is now doing for us in the heavenly sanctuary, and let us seek to understand the prophecies which pertain to the last days of earth’s history, so that we would not be “Troubled” like Herod, and all those who lived in Jerusalem at the time of Christ’s first advent.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which cautions us against having our priorities mixed up, for at the end of the day after the dust has settled, it will be those who earnestly sought out God’s gift to us, who will be saved eternally. Let’s read:

 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.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

                                   God Bless!

Why Some People Hate God. Sabbath afternoon 12/18/2021

There are several reasons why some persons hate God, not that any of these reasons are valid, but the fact is that the overwhelming majority of the earth’s inhabitants harbor a very deep resentment against our Creator. Even though He has died to save the human family, and even though He loads us with so many gifts, mercies, protections and blessings, yet, for one reason or another, some people hate God.

 The Bible speaks extensively of The Triune God who constantly works in behalf of all the creatures that have been created by Him. From the little sparrows singing in the trees, to the mountains adorned with trees and flowers, to the food on our tables, and to the rain and sunshine coming in due season; all of them without exception, testify to God’s goodness.

Were it not for the tender mercies of God, devils would long ago have wiped the entire human race from off the face of the earth; and they would not have stopped there, for they would also have slain all the animals, birds, fish, and insects which share the planet with ourselves. It is nothing other than God’s grace and mercies why we are not consumed. 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.

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 walks 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 He covers it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

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 He makes 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.

33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.

 Yet, for all of His blessings and mercies, some folks still hate God. This animosity toward our Creator is indeed a naturally occurring phenomena, as it was handed down from generation to generation after the fall of our first parents. At that time God had to do something specific, in order to save the human family from eternal ruin. 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.

 This enmity between ourselves and the serpent is something that God had to “Put” because without it every person would see eye to eye with the devil, in his rebellion against the government of God, and as a direct result, everything that would be done by us would have been, to a greater or a lesser extent, a reflection of the war which was started in heaven by the devil.

 But the Bible is unequivocal in its declarations, that there is no good reason to hate God. Folks may, and do have their issues with Him, and His word, but at the end of the day, there exists no valid reason for anyone to hate God. Let’s read:

 John 15:23 He that hates me hates my Father also.

24 If I had not done among them the works which no other man did they had not sinned, but now they have both seen and hated both me, and my Father.

25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law: They hated me without a cause.

 The following may be difficult to come to grips with or to acknowledge, but it is the truth, about why some people hate God. The three main reasons will be delineated with clarity, so that if any person so chooses, he/she may ask God for grace to correct any erroneous views that may have been harbored over the years.

[1] Some people hate God because of His commands pertaining to the sexes. Let’s read:

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

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

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

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

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

25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

 This was, and still is God’s original order for all the human family, but over the years, conflicting views and philosophies on gender have greatly distorted God’s original plan. Thus, we have a multitude of genders in existence and a host of varying marriage situations which He neither recognizes or endorses.

 It will be observed, that one of the first things folks usually do after deciding to embark upon any of the current alternative lifestyles, is to entirely disavow their relationship with God. This is usually because they view God’s laws on the matter as an affront to their personal desires, which directly conflict with what is written.

And therefore, rather than humble themselves, and ask God for grace to help in time of need, they take the other route, of having nothing to do with God or the Bible. This phenomenon has occurred so often that it can now almost be expected. Let’s read:

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

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

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

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

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

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

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

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

[2] Some people hate God because they view His laws as being too restrictive.

There are those who view God’s commands as being too restrictive on their so-called liberties, not considering that the liberty they claim to have was originally given them by God. God could have made us like robots, to do His bidding like Rhumba or like Alexa, but in His wisdom and love, He chose not to do this.

Instead, He endowed us with the freedom of choice to obey or rebel, with consequences. Thus, in most areas of our lives, persons often choose to live in a contrary manner to what God has commanded for our best good. From diets and foods, to issues on gender, to entertainment, and to the original day of rest, the majority of earth’s inhabitants view God’s laws as being too stringent.

 The current virus which continues to wreak so much havoc across nations, and which has many brethren waiting in the wings is the inevitable result of eating forbidden foods. But most folk prefer not to reason from cause to effect, and rather than adopt the diet that’s in harmony with the scriptures, some balk at having to give up ingestion of forbidden foods.

 The fact of the matter is that laws are the means by which true liberty is protected, for wherever God’s law is made void in the hearts and minds of people, the inevitable result will be social chaos and unrest, such as took place in France, after that nation had burned the Bible publicly and instead, installed the goddess of reason.

 Every law and every commandment that’s given in the Bible was given with our best interest in mind, and every departure from it is written will inevitably work ruin to those who choose to go that route. The God-given freedom of choice is actually the fulcrum upon which our destiny swings towards eternal life, or eternal death. The choice is ours. Let’s read:

 Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law does he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

 Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, forever.

 Conversely, those who use their freedom of choice to take unwarranted liberties will soon discover that the way of the transgressor is hard. Every spiritual law of sowing and reaping, that is found in the Bible comes down like clockwork, and sooner or later the natural consequences of us choosing either good or evil will come to fruition. Let’s read:

 Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.

46 And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed forever.

47 Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;

59 Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.

60 Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou was afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.

61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

62 Because thou would not obey the voice of the Lord thy God.

66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life.

67 In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were evening! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

[3] Some people hate God because of His discretionary corrections.

 Whenever God sees fit to administer corrections that are in most cases overdue, the human agent often finds fault with God, and resentment builds as in their view, His corrections were too harsh. Thus, a finite measuring stick is used to determine if God has gone too far in correcting this or that person.

Concerning God’s discretionary corrections, we are not to pass any judgment on God for doing what, in His wisdom He sees fit. The sole, determining factor which is to be taken into consideration, when trying to determine whether God’s actions were just is the mere fact that God did it.

 This is what makes it appropriate and right, not our protracted views on what correction and justice is to be. In other words, even if we may not agree, or understand His actions in administering corrective measures in some situation, the very fact that God did it, makes it right.

 When Joshua was just about to hand over the baton of leadership, he implored the Hebrews to serve the Lord in sincerity and truth. And at that time he laid before the people the fact that they were left free to choose whom they would serve, with the natural consequences. Let’s read:

 Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

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

 What is of great concern in this instance is that the people at this time, renewed their pledges to serve God. But lo and behold, Joshua uttered a statement that would cause even the casual observer to ask: “Why would Joshua give such a reply to the pledges made by the people to serve The Lord? Why not encourage them to do as they had promised? Let’s read:

 Joshua 24:16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;

17 For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed.

18 And the Lord drove out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore, will we also serve the Lord; for he is our God.

19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

20 If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, after that he hath done you good.

              The Bible study.

Some people hate God because of His discretionary corrections. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 6:2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baal of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubim.

3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.

5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

8 And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah.

9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?

10 So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

11 And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household.

12 And it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.

 There absolutely has to be some differentiating factor, why Uzzah is slain while apparently trying to do something good, and Obededom is prospering because of the presence of the ark. How is it that in one instance it brings death and in another instance it brings prosperity? Something isn’t adding up! For answers we must address this haunting question:

   Why was David displeased? Answers: David was displeased for several reasons.

 [1] He thought that God had dealt too harshly with Uzzah for doing something that was apparently good. The ark had seemed as if about to fall, and if Uzzah tried to prevent it from falling, then God was unfair and unjust in His response. This is according to David’s line of reasoning.

 [2] Other persons had touched the ark previously, and nothing had happened to them immediately. In fact, these “Other persons” were vile, and were the sworn enemies of Israel, and therefore, if they had touched the ark, with no immediate response from God, then how is it that Uzzah is struck dead for trying to keep it from falling?

 [3] David was displeased because it was a joyous occasion, and even if God had found some fault with Uzzah’s actions, He could have at least waited until the ark was returned to the city. But to stop the procession and celebration in such a manner, was, in the mind of David, in bad taste.

 Like David, many persons, after reading this story, and others like it in the Bible, are “displeased with God, for many are at a loss to explain or understand why God administered such a serious correction, at such a time as this. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 4: 2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it comes among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What means the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.

7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

10 And the Philistines fought and Israel was smitten and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

1st Samuel 5:1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

 Again, the question is asked: Why was David displeased? For it seems as if there is a missing link in the chain of circumstances. In other words, to the person looking from the outside, it does not add up! Yes, the ark was holy, and only the priests should touch it, but the shew bread was also holy too, and only the priests were supposed to touch and eat it.

 So, if in one instance, David and his regular men did eat of the shew bread which was strictly designated for the priests alone, then how is it that in another Instance, Uzzah is slain for trying to prevent the ark from falling? David was displeased. Let’s read:

 Luke 6:3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was hungry, and they which were with him;

4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?

 1st Samuel 21:2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know anything of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

4 And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy….

6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread.

[Patriarchs And Prophets pp 705>706] David was astonished and greatly alarmed, and in his heart, he questioned the justice of God.  He had been seeking to honor the ark as the symbol of the divine presence. Why, then, had that fearful judgment been sent to turn the season of gladness into an occasion of grief and mourning? The fate of Uzzah was a divine judgment upon the violation of a most explicit command.

 Transgression of God's law had lessened his sense of its sacredness, and with unconfessed sins upon him he had, in face of the divine prohibition presumed to touch the symbol of God's presence. God can accept no partial obedience, no lax way of treating His commandments.

 Most Christians and believers living today have not a clue as to what God would do when probation is over, and many will be at a loss for words to explain His actions. That is why, in describing God’s work in the closing scenes of earth’s history Isaiah call it His strange act. Let’s read:

Isaiah 28:21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

 Some individuals may be on the verge of hating God for things they do not understand. Persons question His goodness, since He has all the power to restrain Covid and his brethren, but yet it seems to many, as if God is missing in action, and like David, many are “Displeased”.

 The fact is that God has long been trying to get our attention, but we seem not to get the message. He is permitting adverse things to transpire across the earth so that its inhabitants would be awakened as it were, out of slumber, because the great day of  final accounts is just over the horizon.

 Therefore, instead of us questioning and hating God let us humble ourselves under His mighty hand, to see if like Uzzah, we may be walking contrary to any of the truths He has given us to live by; and if so, let us then confess and forsake sin, and all unscriptural philosophies, which would lead us to presumption, as was the case with the one who touched the ark.

 God’s presence will be a blessing to all who love and obey Him, but God is also a consuming fire to those who deliberately reject His offers of mercy. Thus, in all of His providences and dealings with persons, let us not find fault with Him, for faults only dwell with created beings, not with God.

 We’ll therefore end with two passages of scripture which should help to dispel the darkness and errors that have enveloped the minds of many persons as it pertains to God’s dealings with the human family. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 18:2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion anymore to use this proverb.

4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die.

5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right;

9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.

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

25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live.

Deuteronomy 32:1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.

3 Because I will publish the name of the Lord; ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

                                     God Bless!

The Sealing Process. Sabbath afternoon 12/11/2021

The sealing process as described in different parts of the Bible should be understood by all, especially those who desire to spend eternity with Christ. The truth about this most important matter should be made more and more plain, as we get closer to the time when probation will close, for at that time the process will come to a permanent end.

 There are some who may not have fully grasped the truth about the sealing and for this reason they may be unduly anxious about being left out. There is no reason to worry about being left out, because The God of our salvation has left no stone unturned in His far-reaching efforts to save to the uttermost.

 Everything that pertains to our salvation has been thoroughly thought out, and in His planning, God has catered for the obvious, the odd, and what we may view as being the unexpected. They are taken care of in the great plan of salvation, so that no one needs to worry themselves about being sealed, if in fact they have given themselves to God in sincerity.

 Therefore, before we get into the process of itself, there are some important truths about the sealing that must be clearly understood by all, and they are enumerated below so that often asked questions on the matter would be resolved from the revelations given us by God.

 [1] The seal of God is His stamp of approval which designates the receiver as being His, and this stamp, or seal is actually The Holy Ghost Himself, who enables the receiver to obey God.

 Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

 Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

[2] Any, and everyone who would pass through the pearly gates must first be sealed.

 This includes the living, who would be translated without seeing death, the dead in Christ, and every person those who has died in Jesus during the dark ages, without a complete knowledge of God’s will, as it pertains to Sabbath observance. All, without exception must be sealed. Let’s read:

 2nd Corinthians 1:21 Now, He which establishes us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

22 Who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

 [3] The word “Earnest” is likened to a security deposit. A person can receive “The earnest of The Spirit” and still be lost, because the initial down-payment does not coerce individuals to remain in their covenant relationship with God. Day by day the covenant is to be renewed.

 Anyone can walk into Auto Nation Ford, right down the street, and put a down-payment on a Mustang, or one of the hybrids that the dealer sells. But the down-payment of itself does not always guarantee that the vehicle will be theirs, except the rest of the money due has been received by the dealer.

 Similarly, the “Earnest/Down-payment” of The Spirit does not always guarantee that folks will be sealed for eternity, except we continue to abide in Christ. This is one of the very important truths which need to be understood by all. Let’s read:

 Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 There are several examples of persons in the Bible who had received a security deposit, or “Earnest” but who will not be saved. Cases in point are those such as Eli, Saul, Judas and the disobedient prophet, Balaam, and the infamous Ananias and Sapphira, who partook of the former rain when The Holy Ghost was given at the time of Pentecost. Let’s read:

 [Acts Of the Apostles pp 72>73] In sharp contrast to the example of benevolence shown by the believers was the conduct of Ananias and Sapphira, whose experience, traced by the pen of Inspiration, has left a dark stain upon the history of the early church.

 With others, these professed disciples had shared the privilege of hearing the gospel preached by the apostles. They had been present with other believers when, after the apostles had prayed, “the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 4:31.

 Deep conviction had rested upon all present, and under the direct influence of the Spirit of God, Ananias and Sapphira had made a pledge to give to the Lord the proceeds from the sale of a certain property. Afterward, Ananias and Sapphira grieved the Holy Spirit by yielding to feelings of covetousness.

 [4] Sabbath Keeping in and of itself does not constitute the seal of God, for there are many Sabbath keepers who will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. The seal is actually the Holy Spirit of God, who is to reside permanently in one’s heart, and thereby to empower us to keep the Sabbath together with all of God’s other commandments.

 The reason why we emphasize the Sabbath as being critically important to the sealing process in our day is because of the gross imbalances which do exist in Christendom, where grace is often used to render God’s law as of non-effect.

 Thus, the remnant may at times seem to present a gospel that is off-balanced, or heavily tilted towards the commandments of God. This does not mean to say that they are ignorant of God’s grace, or of the importance of The Holy Ghost.

 In fact, when studied carefully, the scriptures teach us that the primary reason for God giving us grace, together with His Holy Spirit, is not merely to speak in tongues; it is first and foremost to empower us to obey God. Let’s read:

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

 Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

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

 [5] It is not necessary for one to be a part of the 144,000 in order to be sealed. The 144,000 would be anointed by God to do a specific work during the closing scenes of earth’s history but they represent a very miniscule number of all those who will ultimately be sealed. Let’s read:

 Revelation 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

 Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

[6] Those who will be sealed in the last days, under the loud cry, must be found keeping the Sabbath for it is the one distinctive sign that would distinguish those who are loyal to God from those who are not. Let’s read:

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

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

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

 Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.

14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you.

[Last Day Events pp 221] Those who would have the seal of God in their foreheads must keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. True observance of the Sabbath is the sign of loyalty to God.

 The fourth commandment alone of all the ten contains the seal of the great Lawgiver, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The observance of the Lord's memorial, the Sabbath instituted in Eden, the seventh-day Sabbath, is the test of our loyalty to God.

 [7] There are persons now currently living who have already been sealed for it isn’t absolutely necessary for The Lord to wait until the mark of the beast comes about, before sealing some of His servants. In fact, the 144,000 of Revelation 14 will actually be sealed sometime before the mark of the beast is instituted. Let’s read:

 [Last day Events pp 219>221] Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved-just as soon as God's people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already.

 The remnant are never to wait for the mark of the beast to take center stage, before they settle into the truth both intellectually and spiritually, for if they do they may not make it into God’s kingdom. That work of bringing us to spiritual maturity is to be accomplished before the storm breaks. No one in their right mind waits for a battle to begin, before they make ample preparation.

        “The Sealing Process”

As was stated before, the sealing is not an event, but a process by which the believer willingly gives his /her heart to Christ to be molded into the image of Christ, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and in cooperation with the person who so chooses.

 When persons are found abiding in Christ from day to day, the sealing process continues uninterrupted, and for this reason such persons are secure in Jesus so that if they were to die prematurely because of Covid, or for any other reason, they would be saved in God’s kingdom.

 However, whilst life continues, the sealing process is also to continue, meaning that as we surrender to God daily, spiritual growth, maturity, advancement, and an increase of knowledge and understanding of spiritual things is to continually take place. In other words, even though we may experience ups and downs, yet, our general trajectory must be headed to the skies.

 Therefore, one who is being sealed cannot remain in stagnation, for this is a sign that the process has either slowed or paused, by the choices we make. The lukewarm condition mentioned in Revelation chapter 3 is a condition of stagnation in which there is no forward movement, where spiritual growth has become frozen for one reason or another. Let’s read:

Revelation 3: 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

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.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

 In stark contrast with this lukewarm condition is the constant growth in grace, where, over time, persons are brought to a point where they can serve God intellectually, meaning that their obedience is not formal but is laced with an intelligent understanding of God’ revealed will to which they whole-heartedly agree with joy.

 In other words, persons who are in the process of continual sealing do not merely serve God because it is the right thing to do, they serve Him because it is a joy to do so and the laws and principles of God’s kingdom make sense to their minds.

 There is a huge difference between doing the right thing just because it’s the right thing, and doing it because one understands, agrees and enjoys doing it. Huge difference! Thus, Christ has given us several instructions on how the sealing process should, and must be facilitated, because whatsoever progress is made, must be accomplished in cooperation with the human agent. Always!

 The following stipulations therefore constitute the ongoing work of the sealing process, and they are subdivided between the human agent and the Holy Spirit, who supervises, and empowers the entire process from kindergarten to maturity, while life goes on. Let’s begin with the human agent’s part in the sealing process. Let’s read:

 Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 1st Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 Psalms 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

 Hiding God’s word in our hearts, girding up the loins of our minds, and keeping the heart and mind with all diligence requires much more than a knowledge of God’s will.

 It is true that we must study the scripture daily, but whatever we study must also be synchronized, and interfaced with our everyday experience, because a knowledge of God’s will without active participation produces stagnation, and luke-warmness.

As we study God’s revealed will, and become more knowledgeable in spiritual truths, we are then to ask God for grace, not to argue with Him, but rather to obey Him, for it is only as we obey that God’s will makes any sense. Initially, one might begin keeping the Sabbath because they may have read, or heard that it is the right thing to do.

 But it is only as they obey on an ongoing basis that the command to keep the Sabbath makes sense and thus, by obedience and surrender, they are brought to the point where the Sabbath becomes a real joy to the person who keeps it.

 In other words, the Sabbath becomes something that is eagerly looked forward to, instead of being a cold, formal day, with persons checking the clock to see when the sun would set. It’s a huge difference!

 Then again, the human agent has to pray always, and must exercise a living faith in God, so that the promises of salvation would be realized in the most literal sense. The Bible teaches us that without faith it is not possible to please God, for everything that pertains to the sealing process, is accomplished via faith.

 The Christian wins His battles on his knees and thus, as faith takes a firm grasp on unseen realities, the human agent is empowered with divine energy to live victoriously, and thereby facilitate the sealing process. Our energy should never be generated by applause, popularity, man’s favor.

 Instead, as persons wait upon God, in the audience chamber of The Most-High, God then imparts to the one who is being sealed, both physical and spiritual strength, so that we can run the Christian race with a steady, even tread, without becoming burned out.

 Not always, but very often when one complains of being burned out, it is because their energy is not coming from the right source, for God gives grace and strength to do His will. The same is true for the sealing process, for we must cooperate with God in this work, but even the power to cooperate also comes from God, and thus, we must pray. Let’s read:

 Isaiah 40: 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall.

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.

 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.

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

 We now move to the work that The Holy Spirit does in the sealing process, which persons cannot do for themselves. The law of God was originally imprinted in the minds of Adam and Eve, but after man sinned it became severely blurred and distorted, so that we cannot of ourselves, discern clearly between right and wrong, without God enabling us to do so.

Thus, the work of The Holy Spirit in our hearts is to renew the image of God in us by writing His law into our consciences. The frontal lobes of the human brain deal with judgement, discretion and decision, and therefore, the Holy Spirit seals God’s law in our consciences, so that we would have an intelligent understanding of God’s will. Let’s read:

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

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.

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

Not only does The Holy Spirit seal the law of God in our minds, He also empowers us to put into practice that which He imprints upon our consciences. Thus, there must be a very close symbiosis between doing and knowing God’s will. A clear indicator of whether one is being sealed is the presence, or the absence of a blend of knowledge and obedience. Let’s read:

 Philippians 2: 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

 1st John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the  truth is not in him.

5 But whosoever keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

[Patriarchs And Prophets pp 460] Yet we have a work to do to resist temptation. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts.

 The mind should not be left to wander at random upon every subject that the adversary of souls may suggest. This will require earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness. We must be aided by the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit, which will attract the mind upward, and habituate it to dwell on pure and holy things.

We end with a passage of scripture that should help and encourage us to surrender ourselves daily to the sealing process, so that in cooperation with God we can be brought to full spiritual maturity, while the opportunity still lingers. Let’s read:

 2nd Peter 1:3 According as his divine power has  given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                    God Bless!

The Train has Left The Station. Sabbath afternoon 12/04/2021

Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

42 Saying, If thou had known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knew not the time of thy visitation.

The last sentence of the above passage teaches us of the utter blindness that had gripped those who had lived in Jerusalem, a few years before it became a heap of ruins. As Christ passed through the gates of the temple for the last time, He wept over it, for the majority of its inhabitants had no clue that their day of grace was almost ended.

 That same blindness is referred to in Revelation 3, where Christ mentions His last day church, Laodicea as not being able to see clearly nor correctly discern the signs of the times that are upon us.  Not only do we have difficulty in ascertaining what’s transpiring, we also seem to have a problem with self-evaluation, which inevitably leads to spiritual complacency.

 The fact is, that by the time the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem figured out what was upon them, in the siege by the Romans, the train had already left the station, for although their empty religious rituals continued uninterrupted, The Spirit of God had long left the people, and they were now being controlled by devils, though they knew it not. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 24] The shekinah no longer abode between the cherubim in the most holy place; the ark, the mercy-seat, and the tables of the testimony were not to be found therein. No voice sounded from Heaven to make known to the inquiring priest the will of Jehovah.

 For forty years after Jesus Christ had predicted the overthrow of Jerusalem, God’s grace and mercy had continued to shield them from themselves. God had delayed the coming destruction so that those who desired to be saved from it could find their refuge in Jesus.

 But as is so often the case, many had mistaken His grace for weakness and most of them continued in sin, just as if Christ had never spoken. The grace and longsuffering of God is very often misunderstood to mean that Christ would not fulfill that which He has warned us about. This misinterpretation of grace is explained in the scriptures. Let’s read:

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

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

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

2nd Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Noah preached the same sermon for 120 years until it began to sound like a broken record, and for all intents and purposes, it seemed as if he was under a serious delusion, for the evidences of history, and the evidences of science suggested that his message could be completely off the rails.

 Noah could have preached some of those positive sounding sermons, given by motivational speakers, to have their congregants pumped and fired up with the promise of a bright future. The only problem is, God had not commanded him to deliver any such sermon.

 The day of grace for the Antediluvians was drawing to a close, and every person then living was to be made aware of what was coming, so that they could make a clear choice, either for or against God. Thus, because there is nothing new under the sun, those messages given in Revelation 13 and 14 would have to be repeated, until earth’s inhabitants make their choice on the matter in question.

 In Noah’s day the sun had risen and set in the east and west respectively for hundreds of years and the earth was watered by a mist that arose from the ground in the wee hours of the morning; added to which no rain had ever fallen upon the earth. So, both science and nature literally debunked Noah’s sermons, until the train left the station, and they knew it not.

 Those who deliver the three angel’s messages may not always find support in nature or in science, yet they must persevere in delivering the truth, so that all who will may find shelter in Christ, before there is a rush for the door as it was in the days of Noah.

It is because of the mercies of God why we are not consumed, and it’s because of His restraining power upon the human heart, why our planet has not yet convulsed into chaos and self-destruction. It is all due to the power of God alone, and nothing else.

 But there comes a time when His mercies become exhausted, and because of our persistent refusal to accept His gracious overtures, He has to let go, for He has given us the freedom of choice, and He will honor our decisions, either for good or for evil.

 Now folks, we do not mean to sound like a broken record, but we must speak forth the words of truth and soberness, as God has commanded us to do in these last days of earth’s history, for if we do not, many who could have heard the message, wouldn’t have a clue as to why our world, and our nation are currently in such an unsettled state.

 At no other time in our history have so many flight attendants been assaulted, both in the air, and on the ground. Persons feel free to punch and attack those who are tasked with assisting travelers in flight. It just seems as if there is a profound lack of self-control where there may be disagreement on some issue.

 At no other time in history has civility, decency, courtesy and forbearance seemed to be relics of the past, and in their place a blind, unreasoning attitude has taken hold of many persons. And authorities, as well as observers cannot rationally account for this tectonic shift towards insurrection, intransigence, and violence.

 Then we have the latest phenomenon of smash and grab, where out of the blue, many individuals would rush into stores and snatch all they can, scaring the shoppers and store owners alike. There was a time when seasonal shopping would be pleasant, as folks would take joy in buying gifts for friends and family.

 But shoppers cannot feel safe anymore, for no one knows when and where looters may strike, and for this reason, what used to be an exciting experience, previously, is now fraught with an uncertainty, and danger that befuddles the most intellectual minds.

 At no other time in American history have sitting members of congress been threatened with such violence openly, and the perpetrators been cheered on as if they were heroes. When persons are willing to go to the capitol, and threaten openly to hang a person who has been duly elected, then we know that our train has left the station.

 Again, at no other time in history have our scientists been scrambling to play catch up with a virus which shows no sign of slowing down, and which has now mutated in so many ways that we are firing scatter shots, hoping that some antiviral would stick. It is true that former pandemics did wreak havoc on populations, but the speed at which new viruses, and diseases are emerging causes great concern.

 The global economy was shuttered for a long while, bringing us to our knees, and yet we do not seem to grasp what is taking place. Our supply chains have become so clogged up that, merchants, and buyers alike are scrambling to fill the void whereas in times past, such situations scarcely existed.

 Thus, with the convergence of all of these problems two important questions are now being asked: Are these things a passing, temporary blip, and will we be going back to normal? The short answer is that we have now entered into a permanently unsettled state, that will not be going back to “normal” as we know it.

 That’s because the four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding back the winds of strife have already begun to loosen their grip, which is the reason why the problems of earth are intensifying as they are, and that’s why the Bible study is titled: “The Train Has Left the Station”.

 In other words, unleashing the winds of strife does not refer to a specific event, but to a process which will culminate in the restraining power of God being completely removed from the multitudes of people who reject Christ. The four angels will not suddenly release their grip.

 Instead, they will gradually remove restraint from members of the human family who reject Christ, and the forces of nature would increasingly be let loose, in tandem with the rejection of truth, until a crescendo has been reached and then an unbridled, cascading effect will envelope the entire world in irretrievable ruin.

According to the scriptures, and according to light given to God’s remnant people, this is where we are currently, in the stream of time, and that is why the good old days of wine and roses are fast becoming relics of the past. Let’s read:

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

[Last Day Events pp 143] At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble would be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel.

There are two very important points for everyone to understand, as it pertains to the climactic events referred to in the scriptures, and in the writings of God’s servant. [1] The reason why such strife would come to pass. [2] The Remnant’s response to the rising emergency.

[1] The reason why the winds of strife will come to pass.

Without God, human beings don’t have any means by which to control themselves. Let’s repeat, so that all may hear clearly: Without God human beings have no means whereby to control themselves.

Some persons may dispute this fact, and others may endeavor to debunk this truth by pointing to efforts made by human agents in drug rehabilitation, and a myriad of other ways and means employed by the professionals in solving deep-rooted societal issues.

This year alone, more than 100,000 persons died in this country from drug overdoses, and governments and certain states have taken measures to address, and hopefully curb the dilemma. Counselling, and medicines, crackdowns on dealers, and bathrooms specifically designed as safe for drug users, are now being implemented, with some measure of success, no doubt.

 But God will have us to understand that whatever success is thus achieved, occurs only because Christ is still in the heavenly sanctuary and because of this sacred truth, His restraining power is still exercised even in persons who may not be aware that this is indeed the case.

 There is a phrase coined by atheists: “Good without God.” This phrase is a misnomer, and is absolutely a non-starter in the spiritual realm, for what we often describe as following our own dictates, is really the dictates of another mind. Eve did not eat of the fruit all by herself; she was following the thoughts of another mind through her freedom of choice. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 55>56] Whatsoever contradicts God's word, we may be sure proceeds from Satan. The serpent plucked the fruit of the forbidden tree and placed it in the hands of the half-reluctant Eve.

 Then he reminded her of her own words, that God had forbidden them to touch it, lest they die. She would receive no more harm from eating the fruit, he declared, than from touching it. Perceiving no evil results from what she had done, Eve grew bolder.

Thus, the evil thoughts and intentions coming from the prince of darkness are then infused, embedded and embodied into our own consciences through our freedom of choice, becoming our own because of our embrace of them, but at the end of the day, the author is absolutely another. Thus, without the restraining power of God to hold us in check, we would be at the mercy of another master, who in fact does not know what the word mercy means. Let’s read:

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

2nd Timothy 2:24 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.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

John 15: 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He who abides in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

[The Great Controversy pp 28>29] The long-suffering of God toward Jerusalem only confirmed the Jews in their stubborn impenitence. In their hatred and cruelty toward the disciples of Jesus, they rejected the last offer of mercy.

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

 Satan aroused the fiercest and most debased passions of the soul. Men did not reason; they were beyond reason, controlled by impulse and blind rage. They became Satanic in their cruelty. In the family and in the nation, among the highest and the lowest classes alike, there was suspicion, envy, hatred, strife, rebellion, murder. There was no safety anywhere.

 The rulers of the people had no power to rule themselves. By their actions they had long been saying, “Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” [Isaiah 30:11.] Now their desire was granted. The fear of God no longer disturbed them. Satan was at the head of the nation, and the highest civil and religious authorities were under his sway.

[Desire Of Ages pp 337>338] With authority He bade the unclean spirits come out of them. His words penetrated the darkened minds of the unfortunate men. They realized dimly that One was near who could save them from the tormenting demons.

 They fell at the Savior's feet to worship Him; but when their lips were opened to entreat His mercy, the demons spoke through them, crying vehemently, “What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God most high? I beseech Thee, torment me not.”

 This is where we are now heading with lightening speed, and that’s why it’s important for us to know that January 6 was a very faint inkling of what is to engulf nations and states, when God’s restraining power has been removed, when the train has left the station.

[2] The Remnant’s response to the rising emergency.

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.

29 And he spoke to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

The phrase “Lift up your heads” refers to the mental attitude that we are to cultivate during these times in which we are living. Whilst faith, courage, hope and anticipation of Christ’s soon return are to move us to greater godliness, we must at the same time be careful not to become influenced and inundated by the barrage of bad news engulfing the airwaves.

 At no other time in earth’s history have so many, in high and low places, succumbed to a multitude of conspiracy theories, and never before have so many been willing to believe a lie. Therefore, the remnant are to shun, and avoid as much as possible, hearing and reading of these things, for as the Bible says “By beholding we become changed.” Let’s read:

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

The other pressing issue that is to grasp our utmost attention and energies, is the fulfilling of the great commission in our neck of the woods, and wherever possible, worldwide.  Just as Noah invested time, energy, and money into what he believed, and preached, just so should the Remnant people of God be busy with advancing the interests of God’s kingdom throughout the world.

 On this point, it is worthy of note that as the rise of instability increases, there is also a corresponding rise of a flurry of business activity. And because of this, we are to be very careful lest we get sucked in to that mindset which places our temporal interests first, and God second. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

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

There is work in God’s kingdom for everyone to do. Not all are called to preach or teach, for some are given other gifts whereby the kingdom of God and His righteousness can be advanced in our sphere of influence.

 In other words, there are homeless people to be sheltered, there are hungry mouths to feed, there are sick and dying persons who are to be given the opportunity of knowing that Jesus still saves. Let not it be said that there is nothing for us to do, because we are all called to serve in one capacity or another.

 Therefore, we’ll end with two passages of scripture which remind, and encourage us to do our part, in lieu of the times in which we now live. And if we were to ask God He would show us ways and means whereby the gospel commission can be applied and implemented in our interaction with our fellowmen. Let’s read:

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

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

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

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

                                    God Bless!

The Problem Of Favoritism. Sabbath afternoon 11/27/2021

James 2:9 But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Showing favoritism is a cancer that is eating out the very fabric of society, bringing about imbalances in social order, and it is a serious problem within many churches. In the secular square politicians and those who are well positioned financially are treated quite differently than your ordinary John Doe who might not have such resources.

 Special favors are very often shown to those in the higher echelons of society, while the ordinary man on the street is treated as inferior. Just recently the United States Congress issued subpoenas for some former Whitehouse aids, and many defied for a long time the requests that were thus made without any arrests taking place.

 But if the same subpoenas were issued to the man on the street and he didn’t readily comply he would certainly be sitting in jail many moons ago. Respect of persons and favoritism can also be found in the courts of law across the land, in which some races are sometimes treated differently than others in the administration of justice.

 It is an undisputed fact that throughout society this problem of favoritism is pervasive, and according to the prophet Isaiah, it constitutes one of the signs of the last days, and it is scheduled to cascade into an irreversible fact of life that will call for God’s direct intervention. Let’s read:

Isaiah 59: 4 None calls for justice, nor any pleads for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths.

9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither does justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

13 In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

15 Yea, truth fails; and he that departs from evil makes himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

In the scriptures, we are counselled never to show favoritism, especially when it comes to issues which pertain to God’s kingdom. When administering that sound judgement which the Bible calls for, we must not manifest preference or bias. In other words, sin is to be treated as such, regardless of who may be involved.

 Priests and members of the clergy should not be treated for sexual crimes any differently than the pedophiles who walk our streets. No hush money payments should be allowed to cover any wrongs in those who should be brought to justice.

 And when reproof is warranted by God, the laity and a person’s familiar friends or family should be treated with the same measure, as strangers and those who may not be close associates or relatives. In other words the truth must not be watered down for some, and made acute and piercing for others.

 Even though wisdom is to be exercised in dealing with transgressions, no bias of any sort should be allowed to taint the work of reformation when it is due, for this would have the undesirable effect of weakening God’s requirements in the minds of the very ones who are in danger of parleying with sin.

 Moses, Aaron, David, Abraham and Jacob were men who were close to God, yet whenever they became entangled in sin, God sent reproof and correction to arrest the evils that were being indulged. God didn’t deal differently with those who were in authority as opposed to those who were subordinate.

 Grace was never granted to one, and then withheld from another, for wherever the prerequisites of real confession and repentance occurred, the persons in question were forgiven just like anyone else. Folks were never allowed to pay their way to forgiveness, for this would also foster partiality.

 Several examples of the exercise of impartiality, or not showing favoritism are given in the scripture for us to study carefully, so that all would be aware of what The Lord expects of those who are to give the final message of mercy to earth’s inhabitants.

 Thus, the following story brings into clear focus the issue of not showing favoritism or biases, in cases where corrections are warranted, and in situations where it could be pretty difficult for us refrain from showing respect of persons.

 The children of Israel had departed from God in the institution of idolatry, and as a result their defenses were severely weakened, to the point where they became subservient to their enemies. So, God sent an angel to Gideon, with the message that he was chosen as the agent of deliverance for his people.

 But before he could be used in such a mighty way, he would have to demonstrate in real time, that he could be trusted to bring about the much-needed reform, and God’s instructions to him would test his mettle, as it pertained to being impartial, for he was not to show favoritism at a time when it could have been very difficult.  Let’s read:

Judges 6:11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

25 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by It.

26 And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.

29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.

As Gideon considered the command of God in his mind and as he weighed the terrible ramifications of obeying, he shuddered in his boots, because, for him to obey would almost certainly trigger a bitter family feud that could potentially end in bloodshed.

 Worst yet, if his father were to react in a revengeful way by attacking him, Gideon would be forced into the most uncomfortable position of fighting his own dad for the sake of truth and duty, and he being the man of valor that he was, the whole episode could end in a manner that wasn’t cute at all.

 Furthermore, The Lord had specified that he use his father’s bullock to do the terrible work. Now, under normal circumstances, any other bullock could have been used, since the first work to be accomplished was to throw down the altar. But God had stipulated that Gideon should use his father’s own bullock, which would cost his dad a lot of money because of its value.  

Reformation would have to begin at Gideon’s own house, because the very reason why the Hebrews were being harassed by the Midianites was because the idolatry that had overspread the land was being practiced in his own home.

 His own father had instituted a form of idolatry that had led the men of his town into very, gross errors. Therefore, the cancer must be cut out at its roots, and in doing so Gideon would be required to start at his own front door, which would put him in one of the most precarious situations that can arise in families.

 When God calls upon one person in a household to take a definite stand for the right, those who live in the same house could become riled up against such a person, especially if they are of different religious persuasions.

 The problem can also affect churches in the same way for there are times when some are tempted to show bias or favoritism when there’s inconvenient truth to be delivered. There are times when the performance of Christian duty may put us at odds with those whom we love, and if our immediate family members are involved, it could be quite difficult, because of the potential pushback and opposition that we might encounter.

 Christians who are called by God to do any specific work are never to show any favoritism or bias when carrying out God’s commands, for when this is done the work of God is compromised, and great evils do often result.

 Especially is this the case when elders are called to deal with some difficult church matter involving one of their own. In such instances, The Lord may give a certain elder a specific message to correct some evil that has occurred.

 But because he sits on the board, and he might be privy to some sensitive, inside information, he may be tempted to alter, or to water down the message God gave him, in order not to make it appear that he is targeting the individual in question, based on what he knows. Thus, favoritism can become a problem if and when it is allowed to change God’s message into one that savors of smooth words, such as are currently used by the myriad of Sooth-Sayers in our day.

 At this juncture, it is in order that we rehearse the words of Paul, because, as the scripture rightly says knowledge increases sorrow. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Thus, the method which God commanded Gideon to employ should be of grave concern to us because Gideon would be dealing with his family, especially his father who is the head of the household.  

Question: Couldn’t entreaty be used?

 Couldn’t persuasion, or reasoning be employed, as when, in times past, Gideon would sit, and talk and deliberate with his father over some pressing issue? Why would The Lord choose such a seemingly harsh method, that could potentially ignite a firestorm in Gideon’s family? Let’s read again:

Judges 6:25 Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by It.

The fact is that all of the previously mentioned ways and means had been used by God in times past with Gideon’s father but none of them worked. God had used entreaty, He had used loving-kindness, He had employed long-suffering, and He had used grace for grace but for some unknown reason, idolatry wasn’t purged from Israel.

 And thus, after none of those measures had worked God is left no choice but to use a blunt method that will bring the issue to a head. This method, chosen by God, as a last resort, to bring about reform, leads us to a fundamental problem with human nature: As a general rule of thumb, human beings do not listen!

Parents can speak to their children over and over again about some addiction or other vice that they are indulging. Then they might use entreaties, and loving-kindness in various ways, praying, hoping and supplicating for change. And the problem does not only pertain to the youth, for it also affects the old.

 There are times when a cellphone would ring during Divine hour and the sound may distract the speaker and the congregants. Now, even though the notice is put up on the screen, and some elders may make an announcement from week to week, that phones should be silenced during service, the fact is that it continues ever so often, for one reason or another. That’s because of the basic fact that in a majority of cases human beings whether young or old, do not listen. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 36:15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place.

16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.

19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.

20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia.

As a general rule of thumb, human beings do not listen!

2nd Chronicles 33:9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.

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.

Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

The same problem of whether or not to indulge in favoritism, arose after God revealed to Samuel that Eli’s probation was permanently closed, without any possibility of repentance or pardon. At that time Eli was like a father to young Samuel; he was his only mentor, and being a child, he looked up to the prophet and priest as the one person with whom his life was entrusted.

 Now, even though God did not command Samuel to deliver the terrible message, the fact is that Eli must have sensed that something had gone very wrong. Therefore, because of the voice Samuel had heard in his bed, it would mean that no sooner than the morning comes, he would obviously be pressed by Eli for the information given him by God.

 Thus, as Samuel arose from his bed that morning, he would do all he can to avoid Eli, for he would be tempted sorely, to show favoritism and thus dilute the info God gave him. He takes out the garbage, he mows the lawn, he trims the trees, and every other outside duty that he could or couldn’t find, he did.

 But sooner or later Eli would confront him, and then it would be made manifest if God could trust him to deliver the goods, or whether he would allow bias and favoritism to cause him to buckle under a load of pressure, and thereby water down the truth and speak smooth words that will palliate itching ears.  

Would Samuel, like the 400 hundred prophets who were on Ahab’s payroll, speak what Eli preferred to hear or would he like Micaiah, speak forth the word of truth and soberness, even if he would be fed with bread of affliction. Indeed, it was the most terrible ordeal to date that Samuel had to endure. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 3:10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone that hears it shall tingle.

12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knows of; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.

15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

[Patriarchs And Prophets pp 582] Samuel was filled with fear and amazement at the thought of having so terrible a message committed to him. In the morning he went about his duties as usual, but with a heavy burden upon his young heart.

 The Lord had not commanded him to reveal the fearful denunciation, hence he remained silent, avoiding, as far as possible, the presence of Eli. He trembled, lest some question should compel him to declare the divine judgments against one whom he loved and reverenced.

 Eli was confident that the message foretold some great calamity to him and his house. He called Samuel, and charged him to relate faithfully what the Lord had revealed. The youth obeyed, and the aged man bowed in humble submission to the appalling sentence. “It is the Lord,” he said: “let Him do what seems good to Him.”

Let us just say here that the messages that Samuel was given by God were very bad news for Eli and his household, for there is nothing worse than for one to know that his or her probation is permanently closed. The work of the 144,000 is similar in nature in some respects to the messages God revealed to Samuel.

The 144,000 would have to inform the world that the judgement in heaven will be closing shortly, and any person who has not received the seal of God would forever be debarred from heaven, with no chance of recourse, repentance, or change, once Jesus has declared “It is done”.

Therefore, like Samuel, and any other prophet who God had called in times past, the 144,000 must not be in the habit of showing favoritism. Practice often makes perfect, and therefore, to whomever it may concern, if The Lord gives you a specific message to deliver, let him or her be found faithful in doing so.

 Very few persons have any correct concept of the nature of the work of reformation to be done in our day. It is spoken about, referenced in sermons, and in Bible studies, but the seriousness of the message and its import has not yet fully dawned on most minds. For years God has been using entreaties, and He has used grace for grace hoping that earth’s inhabitants would listen. But as a general rule of thumb, human beings do not listen.

 God has sent His prophets in different ways and on different occasions to speak against the false forms of worship that have overspread the land. Again, He has sent others to speak up against philosophies on gender neutrality and alternative marriages that are eating at the fabric of society, from the inside out. But, as a general rule of thumb, human beings do not listen!

Therefore, those who are called to deliver the three angel’s messages of Revelation 14, and those who will comprise the 144,000 will, like Gideon, be given a terrible message to deliver and very difficult work to do, which would certainly put them at great odds with friends, families, and close associates.  

Hence, the reason why the following inclusion was made by Christ as He described, and warned of the terrors of the last days. Jesus discerned in prophetic vision that the preaching of the straight truth, when delivered without bias and favoritism, would cause divisions to spring up, and in lieu of this fact He put us on notice. Let’s read:

Matthew 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

It is worthy of note that Gideon was commanded to not only throw down the altar of Baal, he was also instructed to restore the true worship of Jehovah, a work very similar in nature, to what Brother Elijah did back in the days of yore, for after he had utterly demolished, by exposure, the false worship of Baal, the Bible says he then repaired the altar of God. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18: 27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he is sleeping, and must be awaked.

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.

30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

Thus, the work of reformation to be done in our day must be entirely free from the shackles of respect of persons, favoritism, or bias. According to what is written God is scheduled to destroy by exposure the false systems of worship in our day. The things that are written in Revelation chapters 13 and 14 would also be made plain.

 And like it was with all true reformers, like Gideon, Elijah, and John the Baptist, the 144,000 will go in the strength and power of The Holy Ghost to speak forth the word of truth without fear or favor, even if some family members, and friends might be irked at their course of action. Let’s read:

[The great controversy pp 606] Thus, the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to his service.

 The laborers will be qualified by the unction of His Spirit rather than the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of Spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power; all will be unmasked.

 By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from Heaven. As the people go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so? the ministers present fables, prophesy smooth things, to soothe their fears, and quiet the awakened conscience.

 But since many refuse to be satisfied with the mere authority of men, and demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” the popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is questioned will denounce the message as of Satan, and stir up the sin-loving multitudes to revile and persecute those who proclaim it.

 Thus, we must reiterate again as we close, let none whom God has called to preach, or speak be found using favoritism, but let them be found as faithful stewards of the riches of His grace, for error never saved anyone, but the truth shall make you free. We will end with a passage of scripture that should encourage us to be faithful to truth and duty, thus avoiding the deadly snare of favoritism. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 2:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they 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, says 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.

                                    God Bless!

The Coming Tsunami Of Unbelief. Sabbath afternoon 11/20/2021

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 which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

 It is a true and time-proven statement, that in the spiritual realm, unbelief is infectious, and it often causes those who once believed in Jesus to recant their former positions. This is not a figment of our imagination; it is supported by factual evidences given in the scriptures.

Truths of God’s word that were once held dear and sacred are often surrendered by individuals, if and when the right set of circumstances converge. The devil knows this, and he works ingeniously to bring about a strong atmosphere of unbelief which in its turn produces a tsunami of opposition to the truth, which is then endorsed by the masses of people.

 Indeed, after the dust has settled in the judgment, it will be discovered that the overwhelming majority of persons were at some point convicted in their consciences of specific truths, but for one reason or another the truth faded, conviction waned, and the result is a mind that became hardened in unbelief.

 When we read the Bible, and correct interpretation is gleaned and we are convinced in our minds of the truth, we should believe it unto death. Sacred truth should be held onto tenaciously, for only thus can our minds be anchored on the Rock, and not on the shifting sand.

 Not fear or favor, popular sentiment or dissent, not the gravitational pull of the masses, not seducers who may use philosophy, not persuasion, economic threats, or intimidation, not ostracization, not the forsaking of family, friends and brethren, and not even persuasion by former pastors or clergy must ever be allowed to shake our convictions of truth.

 To put it plainly, persons must be prepared, if needs be to die for what we believe, for if we cannot stand for something we will fall for anything. Saying no to temptations on unbelief should not be a one-time occurrence. Ten, twenty, or thirty years from now the answer should still be no, for the Bible teaches us that our saying should be yea, yea or nay, nay. Let’s read:

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

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

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

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

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever hears 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.

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.

[Last Day Events pp 173>181] We are in the shaking time, the time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. Soon God's people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal.

As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.

The Bible gives us several examples of how unbelief can spread like a plague, even in those who are not fully convinced one way or another. One device the devil uses, and often with great success, is to corral multitudes into some course of action, by bringing the sheer numbers of people, or popular sentiment to bear against the truth.

 When such devices are implemented, he doesn’t really care if persons do not understand the facts or truth in the matter. The primary concern is to get persons to go with the general flow, suggesting that if everybody is doing it, then it must be right.

 That diabolical reasoning should raise red flags, for the very fact that everyone is subscribing to a belief means that something is most likely wrong with it in the overwhelming majority of cases. Therefore, the fact that something is popular is no grounds for it to be endorsed, or practiced by the peculiar people of God.

 In most cases, where the multitudes of people are headed in one direction, God’s way is usually in the opposite direction. Sacred history has borne this out over and over again, hence the reason why the true Christian must never ever follow the crowd, just for the sake of going with the flow.

 God’s ways are almost never with the flow, added to which the very nature of true Christianity causes its adherents to be swimming upstream. Therefore, the premise of going with the flow should always be an absolute non-starter for the Christian. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction and many there be which go in there at.

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

Acts 19:29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

John 6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

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.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Again, in the instance of the golden calf at Mt Sinai, there were multitudes on the side of evil while very few were on the side of right. Standing up for right would almost always put the true Christian at odds with the general flow, and that’s the reason why we are referred to as a peculiar people.

 Just to sidetrack a bit into what we have beseeched you to study carefully in the book of Esther, we will discover in the days of Mordecai and Esther, even the secular folk understood that God’s people were not your average, run of the mill persons. We read:

Esther 3:8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people….

 Thus, as the popular sentiment in favor of idolatry gained momentum at Mt Sinai, even those who had previously had good conviction of conscience, then reasoned away the truth on one pretext or another, and at the end of the day as the tsunami of unbelief swept over the multitudes, most of them ended up going with the flow. 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 don’t know what is become of him.

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.

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.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 316>317] Aaron feebly remonstrated with the people, but his wavering and timidity at the critical moment only rendered them the more determined. The tumult increased. A blind, unreasoning frenzy seemed to take possession of the multitude.

 There were some who remained true to their covenant with God, but the greater part of the people joined in the apostasy. 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.

 There are several different reasons why the tsunami of unbelief sweeps so many individuals into the net, some of which we will address later, but the most prominent one by far is the gravitational pull of the masses of people, contrary to the truth.

 There are persons who originally had no intention of not believing, but when they were bombarded with the sheer numbers of unbelievers, a magnetic pull was exerted, which often bypasses reason and sound judgement in favor of popular sentiment and the rest is history.

 The same wave of unbelief gripped the multitudes in Noah’s day as he preached of a coming flood. It is true that rain had never fallen upon the earth up to  that time. But, even when the unexplainable mystery of the animals going meekly into the ark, in exact order, occurred, popular sentiment against the evidence of their senses led most of them to reason away what they were actually seeing and a tsunami of unbelief swept about seven billion people into an eternity of eternal night. Let’s read:

Genesis 7: 8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean and of fowls and of everything that creeps upon the earth.

9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.

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

The following are snippets of what transpired at the time of Noah’s preaching and the highlighted words are to be given special consideration, since they will both warn and encourage us not to succumb to the tide of unbelief that is soon going to overspread the land. Let’s read:

 [Patriarchs And prophets pp 95] While Noah was giving his warning message to the world, his works testified of his sincerity. It was thus that his faith was perfected and made evident. He gave the world an example of believing just what God says. All that he possessed, he invested in the ark.

 As he began to construct that immense boat on dry ground, multitudes came from every direction to see the strange sight and to hear the earnest, fervent words of the singular preacher. Many at first appeared to receive the warning; yet they did not turn to God with true repentance. They were unwilling to renounce their sins.

 Overcome by the prevailing unbelief, they finally joined their former associates in rejecting the solemn message. Some were deeply convicted, and would have heeded the words of warning; but there were so many to jest and ridicule, that they partook of the same spirit.

They resisted the invitations of mercy, and were soon among the boldest and most defiant scoffers; for none are so reckless and go to such lengths in sin as do those who have once had light, but have resisted the convicting Spirit of God. Many professed to be worshipers of God. They claimed that their idols were representations of the Deity, and that through them the people could obtain a clearer conception of the divine Being.

 This class were foremost in rejecting the preaching of Noah. As they endeavored to represent God by material objects, their minds were blinded to His majesty and power. They ceased to realize the holiness of His character, or the sacred, unchanging nature of His requirements. As sin became general, it appeared less and less sinful, and they finally declared that the divine law was no longer in force; that it was contrary to the character of God to punish transgression.

 And they denied that His judgments were to be visited upon the earth. their minds had become so blinded by rejection of light that they really believed Noah's message to be a delusion. It was not multitudes or majorities that were on the side of right. The world was arrayed against God's justice and His laws, and Noah was regarded as a fanatic.

 The world made merry at the folly of the deluded old man. Instead of humbling the heart before God, they continued their disobedience and wickedness, the same as though God had not spoken to them through His servant.

 The book of Revelation warns us that a tsunami of unbelief, of epic proportions, is coming soon. In the thirteenth chapter of Revelation, we are warned of a coming one world religion that would begin in The United States and that will overspread, and engulf all countries and territories.

 And as a direct result, every living person on earth will be forced to make a clear choice in the matter on pain of losing their economic freedoms on all levels. Comments that were made recently in the public square should alarm everyone, for although swift rebuke was made, it will be discovered that many are actually in agreement. Let’s read:

 CNN, Paul LeBlanc, 11/15 21: Michael Flynn, former National Security adviser, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and was later pardoned…wants to make it clear that in the United States, "If we are going to have one nation under God -- which we must -- we have to have one religion."

 Flynn triggered a wave of backlash with his suggestion America should have one singular religion. "One nation under God, and one religion under God," he said. "I don't care what your ecumenical service is or what you are."  The former national security advisor was most likely referring to Christianity as being the “one religion.”

There are several issues with that mode of thought which suggests that every American should become a Christian. The most immediate, and most pressing question would be: Which brand of Christianity will be chosen to take the lead? The Christianity which goes with the flow, or the peculiar Christianity of the Bible?

 The next concern would be the issue of freedom of choice, and what measures will be taken to coerce persons who may beg to differ. The genius of true Christianity is that it allows persons of all different religious persuasions to live on the same street for it honors and preserves our God-given freedom to choose. Let’s read:

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

Therefore, even though on the surface some folks seemed to be outraged at his statement, when we dig into the scriptures, we will find that many of the same persons who now appear to be angered by his suggestions may actually be drooling for such a plan to be implemented, especially some in Italy.

 The mark of the beast as mentioned in the scripture is referring to a one world religion that will seek to force all persons to subscribe to a certain brand of Christianity that is anti-Christ in nature. And believe it or not this brand of Christianity is actually mostly popular among Christians of all denominations.

 That’s the reason why Mr. Flynn’s statement is not so farfetched, for it is actually a reflection of what the Bible has predicted will certainly come to pass, right here in America, and will inevitably pan out to other countries worldwide. Indeed, there are many in high places who would love nothing more than to help in putting such a mandate in place right now.

 However, we are cautioned in the scriptures not to play with fire, for those who presume to do so will get burned very badly, according to what is written. And if you will receive it, at least one of the plagues would be targeting a critical piece of infrastructure, which will essentially pull the carpet out from under our feet.

 Thus, God is issuing the sternest warning against a move to mandate religion. We are already seeing how the issue of mandates is roiling many people, and if there is such great pushback against what is touted as being good for the nation, imagine what kind of national upheaval will occur when mandated religion takes center stage.

 We are not left to wonder or guess what will be the result of such a move, for whereas Covid brought us to the edge of the cliff, this one will absolutely take us over the cliff, into an abyss from which there will be no return, this, according to the scriptures. Let’s read:

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

[The Great Controversy pp 614] When he (Jesus) leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent.

 The Spirit of God persistently resisted has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble.

 As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.

 The same destructive power exercised by holy angels when God commands, will be exercised by evil angels when he permits. There are forces now ready, and only waiting the divine permission, to spread desolation everywhere.

 Beware of succumbing to the tsunami of unbelief that is coming, which will seek to persuade people that God’s word will never come to pass. The same reasoning was put forth by the antediluvians until prophecy converged with reality, in the waters of the flood, which according to the Bible, swallowed the earth whole, to the tune of more than five miles high.

 The truths and predictions of God’s word are sacred utterances given under the direct inspiration of God and cannot be neglected or dismissed by any except at great peril to our souls. Thus, the word of God to us this evening is as simple and straight forward as it gets:

 Do not, under any circumstances let that genie out of the bottle, for it will take the world to a point of no return. In other words, mandated religion in America will be its downfall, and will result in its permanent undoing.

 And to those who still sit in darkness as to the issue mentioned above, now is high time to make your move, in accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, for the close of human probation will come suddenly and unexpectedly, at a time when most people will not be looking for it.

 We will end our study with passages of scripture, and words from the pen of inspiration that would encourage us to stand firm in what we believe, so as not to be swept away with the tsunami of unbelief that is scheduled to take the world by storm. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

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

[The Great Controversy pp 491] The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above.

 Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man's destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men. Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world.

 While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments, it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” [Daniel 5:27.]

Mark 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning. 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

                                     God Bless!

The Epidemic Of Loneliness. Sabbath afternoon 11/13/2021

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

 There’s no doubt that an epidemic of loneliness that is even greater than Covid, has overspread the land, but unlike the current pandemic, it must be handled differently, because it can be quite difficult to live with. Over the past two years many persons who were already dealing with loneliness were further isolated when the lock downs were instituted.

 Then, being isolated from friends and fellow church members, many fell into depression, for nothing so weighs on the human spirit as being alone. We are social beings, for God created us that way, and it’s essential to have close friends and associates that one can interact with on some level regularly.

 But even more than the isolation brought about by Covid, at no other period in the history of earth has there been so many single-parent families, and at no other period has it been so difficult to find the right spouse.

 Good men and women of sterling character seem to be in short supply, and even though there is nothing wrong with being single, yet it is a fact that many do yearn for companionship, which is becoming harder to come by.

 And Covid complicated, and exacerbated the matter when lockdowns were put into place and folks were prevented from interacting with others as they used to. We are social beings by nature and wherever the need or desire for companionship is not fulfilled, a person can be adversely affected.

 There used to be a time when the marriage vow was held sacred, and lifelong companionship was looked forward to eagerly. But as various cultural movements and philosophies began to take deep root in society, people found themselves now more alone than ever before, even though we are more connected via phones and social media, than at any previous time.

 According to the experts, single parent families are increasing and much more so in North America than anywhere else in the world. Researchers have also discovered that there isn’t any difference between Christian and Non- Christian households, since the problem affects both groups equally. Let’s read:

 Pew Research Center: BY STEPHANIE KRAMER : For decades, the share of U.S. children living with a single parent has been rising, accompanied by a decline in marriage rates and a rise in births outside of marriage.

 A new Pew Research Center study of 130 countries and territories shows that the U.S. has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households. Almost a quarter of U.S. children under the age of 18 live with one parent and no other adults (23%), more than three times the share of children around the world who do so (7%).

 The study, which analyzed how people’s living arrangements differ by religion, also found that U.S. children from Christian and religiously unaffiliated families are about equally likely to live in this type of arrangement.

 The issue of loneliness does not only apply to single- parent families, it also includes persons who find it difficult to meet Mr. or Miss right, a fact that can be observed by the proliferation of dating sites all over the world, and especially here in the United States, where about 1000 dating sites are launched every year.

 If unaddressed, loneliness could sap the joy of living from a person, to the point where desperation and depression can be an ongoing issue. And if such an one is not vitally connected with God, the problem can become quite exacerbated.

 Now, it is true that Jesus is to be our all in all, but human nature does crave companionship that we can see, touch, hear, and converse with. These are just some of the reasons why God said it is not good for the man to be alone.

 As Adam named all the animals that were brought before him, he observed that all of them did have companions, a fact that was eerily absent in his own world. Pets cannot take the place of the human face because Adam had buckets full of pets of all sorts.

 There before him were a bunch of cuties and many loveable fuzzballs in the form of dogs, cats, and any other pet you can think of, and yet, Adam felt an unknown void within himself which only Eve could fill.

 Now, this does not minimize the part pets and other animals can play in the human experience, but at the end of the day, they do not adequately fill that void of human companionship that may be missing, because, just as human beings were made a little lower than the angels, animals were made a little lower than us, and whereas we were endowed with intelligence, they were given instinct to guide them.

Instinct: noun: an innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior in animals in response to certain stimuli.

Thus, only a woman could fill that void in Adam, and after Eve would be brought upon the stage of action she too would feel that longing for the human touch and companionship which only a male man would be able to fill. Any other gender philosophy, to the contrary, is a production of man, and would inevitably fall flat on its face, sooner or later. Let’s read:

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

19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

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

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

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

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

 Thus, as the epidemic of loneliness continues to deepen across the globe, many persons would find themselves having to deal with that void, in ways that can be quite challenging. In such situations, we are advised to befriend others; also, service to God and our fellowmen will serve to keep the mind from being consumed by the issue.

 Now, it is true that some persons may be loners by nature, and therefore, living by themselves may not faze them as do others. Indeed, according to what is written in the scriptures, there are persons who are better off by themselves, than with a companion of the opposite sex, for some are not bothered by the urge to merge as others, as is usually the case. Let’s read:

 Matthew 19:11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

 There are several factors which contribute to the issue of loneliness, and there are causes and many triggers which bring such a situation about. When interviewed by the Pew Research Center, the most common reason given by the heads of single parent households was financial independence.

 In other words, those who become financially viable may not feel the weight of obligation to live with a person with whom they may not be compatible.

 But there are other social factors such as women’s and men’s liberation movements. Marriage with a person of different religious persuasion. Infidelity, the philosophies of the day, difficulty in finding the right spouse, the death of a parent, and separations which result from dissolved unions.

 In addition to these factors, the servant of The Lord informs us that marriages will become increasingly harder to sustain and for this reason, advice is given for individuals to tread very softly and consider very carefully before becoming married.

 This is not meant to discourage anyone, but the raw facts in the matter bear out the truth, for after the euphoria of the marriage moment has passed, and after the ceremonies, flowers, and limousines have faded, and the rubber meets the road, the realities of living together for life set in.

 And over a period of time, if the relationship is not nurtured and cared for, folks at times begin to have second thoughts, which, if left to run riot without being addressed, can morph into loneliness.

In fact, one of the signs of Christ’s second coming is that persons would be marrying, and being given in marriage, which means that lifelong commitment to one person alone will become rarer as the days go by. This will result in more persons becoming lonely, hence the reason for the following statement. Let’s read:

 [Last Day Events pp 37] In this age of the world, as the scenes of earth's history are soon to close and we are about to enter upon the time of trouble such as never was, the fewer marriages contracted the better for all, both men and women.

 However, like with any other aspect of living, the scriptures give us ways and means of navigating the epidemic of loneliness, so that it should not take a heavy toll on the Christian, just as it would on those who do not know God. Sol let’s dig into a few of the main causes, and find solutions in the scriptures.

   [1] Financial Independence.

 The problem with the above phrase is that second word: Independence. It is good for persons to be able to stand on their own two feet as it pertains to dinero. However, in marriage, things are to be done differently.

 Mutual agreement, consultation, and a disposition to share are characteristics that will go a long way in preventing separations, and consequent loneliness. When there is a disproportionate use of funds by one spouse, the other can feel left out.

Husbands and wives are both to be sharers in the blessings of God, and as such, both should ideally be involved in the planning and spending, wherever it’s warranted. If one spouse earns more than the other as is usually the case, that fact should not cause any person to become proud, tightfisted, or dogmatic in their attitudes.

 There is something such as one being humble while carrying a big stick, meaning, that if one spouse is loaded with cash, that fact does not have to move him or her to become independent in their thought or decision-making process. Let humility pervade a relationship, and many other rough edges will soon be smoothed out. Let’s read:

 Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 He that handles a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

Proverbs 18:22 Whosoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the Lord.

23 The poor uses entreaties; but the rich answers roughly.

 [The Adventist Home pp 378] You must help each other. Do not look upon it as a virtue to hold fast the purse strings, refusing to give your wife money.

 You should allow your wife a certain sum weekly and should let her do what she pleases with this money. Give your wife a share of the money that you receive. Let her have this as her own, and let her use it as she desires.

 She should have been allowed to use the means…. as she in her judgment deemed best. If she had had a certain sum to use as her own, without being criticized, a great weight would have been lifted from her mind.

 We can almost hear many complaints coming from some spouses concerning the above statement, but remember, it was written under the inspiration of God who knows best. The above counsel will almost certainly open the door for mistakes in judgment to be made, but believe it or not, that is actually a part of the plan.

 Let’s repeat again so that we would hear clearly; the occurrence of mistakes in judgment is an integral part of one’s growth, because that is how judgment is developed and refined. We do live in an imperfect world, married, where applicable, to imperfect folks and thus, allowances must be made for spouses to fall and get back up again.

With this understanding, criticisms would cease and encouragement in right paths would be the order of the day, and when this aura pervades the marriage, persons would be far less likely to leave, and thus, become lonely.

[2] Difficulty finding the “Right” spouse.

Who is the “Right” spouse? The right spouse is not what Hollywood may make him or her to be. The right spouse is a fallen human being, with some good and some bad characteristics, and who would need mutual help in navigating life’s journey.

 Some persons are lonely because the bar has been set too high, and as a result any and everyone who they may come across would have some feature or characteristic that might fall short of expectations. In fact, if God Himself were to choose a spouse for another, some persons may find some fault with the blessing.

Mr. Perfect and Miss Right are two peas in one pod who live in heaven, and are nowhere to be found on this planet, and because of this, some who are now lonely and single might have to stomach one or two objectionable features, with the hope of growth in grace.

 Jacob was a hardworking man, which is very good, for the Bible plainly states that providing for one’s family is one of the most basic duties of married life. But Jacob had some flaws in his character that needed to be addressed. Rebekah was pretty, but she had some issues when it came to dissembling.

 And we can go through all of the Bible characters, and we will find some good and some objectionable features, some more some less. Therefore, if one is single and lonely it will be best to pray, but let it be known that in the real world a perfect fit is more of a fantasy than a reality.

On this point, it must be said that one will always be better off uniting with a real Christian than with one who isn’t a believer in God. In other words, for the purpose of being united a real Christian, with some flaws would always be better for another Christian with some flaws.

 When we mention real Christians, we are referring to persons who have a covenant relationship with Christ, one who is willing to live by the word of God, as the absolute truth and guide of life.

 The reason for this is that a real Christian could be spoken to, and be reasoned with, and because he or she has surrendered to Christ they can be instructed by God, if errors in their judgement and practice do occur. Also, when there are differences of opinion on some matter, the word of God can become the stabilizing force, if both have committed to live by the word.

When David became revengeful after the rebuttals of Nabal, he girded on his sword in anger, after he’d vowed to do the unthinkable. But when Abigail met him with words of wisdom born of God and pointed out his error, he became subdued, and changed his purposes to be aligned with the great principles of right.

 Observe the attitude of a real Christian in the real world, for folks must remember, that, just like any other human being, David had faults, but the fact that Christ was seated on the throne of his heart, meant that he could be reasoned with and spoken to. Let’s read:

 1st Samuel 25:32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me.

33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood and from avenging myself with my own hand.

Still dealing with the difficulty of finding the right spouse, there are certain things, and certain actions that would go a long way in facilitating such a find. Faith without works is dead, and therefore, when a person is praying to God constantly for a spouse, it is also necessary for such persons to make diligent search, in cooperation with God.

 A single must mingle with like minded persons, and should attend functions and church services where others of like persuasions are likely to be present.

 In most cases where prayers are being made for a spouse by one who is lonely, an angel will not bring Miss or Mr. right and rest him or her in your lap. Interaction with other people on a regular basis will certainly provide much more opportunity for being connected. Let’s read:

 Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

[3] When separation becomes inevitable.  

There are times when loneliness may loom on the horizon because separation becomes inevitable. In cases where well directed efforts have been made to save the day but without success, persons may decide that dissolution of the relationship is the only way to go.

 If there is no viable alternative, then persons should earnestly seek God in prayer so as to make the right move going forward. Separation would always bring sadness, since it was never a part of God’s original ideal, yet, there are times when it is inevitable.

 In such instances, persons can be rendered quite vulnerable as they may make haste to fill the void. It is therefore necessary for persons to take it to The Lord in prayer, while at the same time continuing to associate with fellow believers and friends, so that loneliness will not consume one’s thoughts.

 In addition, if counselling and therapy is sought, let a wise choice be made as to who would be the best to address such matters, because there are some counsellors nowadays who give advice contrary to what the Bible teaches.

 But whatsoever might be done, isolating oneself in loneliness would only make the burdens harder to bear. Physical activities of some sort, and regular social interaction will help in alleviating loneliness to a great degree.

 This is what Christ did, for He was single, just like many persons today. But Jesus busied Himself with ministering to others to the point where he had no time to even think about loneliness. We often read of Him helping folks from morning until dusk, and because of this, any potential lonely feelings were ultimately swallowed up in service. Let’s read:

 Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

 Mark 1:32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.

34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

 God is able to sustain those who trust in Him, and it is quite often the case that when separation occurs, or when folks are single, such situations can actually bring persons closer to God so that loneliness loses its sting.

After Moses became separated from his brethren in Egypt because of what he had done, he went on to experience a much deeper, and a more meaningful relationship with God, as can be observed from the next passages. Let’s read:

 Hebrews 11: 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

 To those who are still single, keep looking and keep on knocking, and keep on ministering, for God is not short on resources, even if there may be a famine in the land. Just as God provided Elijah with food and drink during times of drought, He can still supply all your needs at a time when a good spouse may seem hard to come by.

And to those who may still be married, let not your hearts be troubled by the ups and downs of married life. Those defects in character, in habit and practice that may be seen in your spouse, are opportunities for growth and both should pray to God for wisdom to help each other make it into His kingdom.

 Do not think of leaving and take dissolution off the table where it might still be possible to salvage the relationship. It’s better to work with what you have than to work with what you do not have, for God’s specialty often is in working with what one already has. That is why He asked Moses: What is that in your hand?”

 As we close, let us look beyond that which is seen to that which is eternal, because the deterioration of our society on account of the violence done to the marriage institution, together with those divergent philosophies on gender, would only make finding a good spouse more difficult.

 We will have to live one day at a time, trusting in God for wisdom, guidance, and discretion, and who knows, it may be that something good will happen to someone today. We therefore end with two passages of scripture which encourage us not only to trust God, but also to live contentedly from day to day. Let’s read:

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

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

                                  God Bless!

Moses Wrote Of Me. Sabbath Afternoon 11/06/2021

John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

 Persons who reject the Old Testament in favor of the New Testament are making a terrible mistake, for the Old Testament points forward to the New, and explains prophecies that would otherwise be virtually impossible to understand, by reading the New Testament alone.

 Furthermore, according to the words of Jesus, if the Old Testament is deliberately rejected, an individual cannot truly believe in Jesus, because his or her belief system would lack the structural integrity of the Decalogue, which is nowhere to be found in its entirety as a complete document in the New Testament.

 In addition to this declaration, we must remember that the overwhelming bulk of the Bible consists of the Old Testament, having 66 books, whereas the New Testament has only 27. That’s less than half of the Old Testament, and because of this, those who claim to be New Testament believers only, would be in danger of being seduced by devils.

 In many of His discourses Christ quoted from the Old Testament. He often referred to the law of Ten Commandments, and He referred to Daniel, Elijah, Moses, David and many of the prophets who wrote directly under the inspiration of The Holy Ghost.

 Therefore, if one rejects the Old Testament, it is The Holy Ghost, and by default, Jesus, who are actually being rejected, for by so doing, persons will render His utterances in the Old Testament as being either irrelevant or worthless. Those utterances, written in the Old Testament are immutable facts, certified by The Holy Spirit, and which cannot be gainsaid, except at a great peril to those who choose to go that route. Let’s read:

 2nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

1st 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.

 For instance, after the resurrection of Christ, two of His disciples were walking to a certain place, and as they talked together, their utter discouragement with what had recently transpired at Jerusalem was palpable, for they all but gave up on Jesus being the Messiah.

 Thus, to address this problem, Christ joined them unannounced, and spoke to them extensively from the Old Testament, beginning with Moses’ writings, and then on to the other prophets, showing that the things which had just taken place was actually predicted in the scriptures. When passages of scripture pertaining to Jesus are correctly tied together as an indivisible whole, then a completely different picture emerges, and things which previously seemed vague become plain. Let’s read:

 Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher;

23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

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

 According to the previous verse above, not only did Moses write extensively concerning Christ; but all of the other major, and minor prophets wrote about some aspect of His life, His ministry, His death, and His second and third coming.

In the Old Testament these references aren’t always readily apparent, for some are written into laws, as can be observed in the sacrifices ordained for the priesthood and the people. Other references are written in dark sentences or shadows, where the experience of some person foreshadows another aspect of Christ’s experience.

 This is one of the reasons why when reading the Psalms, some persons may become confused as to who is being spoken about in a particular passage, because David moves between the first and second person very often in his writings, in which he would foreshadow Christ in his own experience.

 Therefore, when reading or studying the Bible, we must be careful to remember that the entire word of God directs our minds to Christ, who should be the center of our focus. Many of the Levitical laws given to Moses, actually have Christ in the shadows, but we would only know what is being referenced if we see Jesus as the fulcrum of the scriptures.

 Take for instance the laws pertaining to redemption by which persons who were sold into servitude may be reinstated to their former freedoms. While on the surface it seems to pertain to dealings between the Hebrews, the laws are a foreshadowing of what Jesus was to accomplish for the human family. Let’s read:

Leviticus 25:47 And if a sojourner or stranger waxes rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family.

48 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him.

49 Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem

him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.

When Adam and Eve succumbed to the treachery of the devil, the human family was sold under sin, and we lost the original dominion that was given to our first parents at creation. Hence the reason why the prophet Isaiah refers to folks as being lawful captives of satan, that is, until Christ would come and break every chain with the human family was thus bound.

Therefore, in order for our redemption to take place someone would have to purchase us back from the one to whom we were sold. Thus, the law pertaining to redemption is actually a foreshadowing of what Christ would do, and thus, the New Testament reinforces the same truth that was written by Moses at the direction of God. This is the reason why Christ stated on many different occasions, that Moses wrote of Him. Let’s read:

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

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

 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.

Again, the Psalmist writes about Christ’s mission and His incarnation, but he does so in ways that are not readily apparent to the cursory reader. On the surface, David seems to be referring to the creation week, and while that is true in one sense, the real object and subject of the matter is Jesus Christ. Let’s read:

 Psalms 8: 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.

6 Thou made him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Those declarations are true as it pertains to man, to whom God gave the dominion, and Genesis chapter one no doubt confirms this sacred truth. 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.

 However, if Jesus is not our focal point as we study, we will absolutely miss the point, because the Bible was not written by Moses and the other prophets to merely highlight what Adam and Eve did or didn’t  do; the scripture is a revelation of Jesus, and thus, He must be sought for as gold, in all of the sacred writings, for they ultimately point to Him. Lets’ read:

Hebrews 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

7 Thou made him a little lower than the angels; thou crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of thy hands.

8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Again, the law of redemption written by Moses in Leviticus, stipulates who is authorized to make the redemption. It has to be one of the person’s family and it should be a male. Let’s read:

 Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats.

6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

Leviticus 1: 10 And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.

 That’s the reason why Christ became one of us, so as to fulfill the requirement of the Levitical law in order to save us. If one surface reads the Bible in a manner that is not Christ-centered, essential truths would be hidden from view, and the law in Leviticus may then seem to have no relevance for us today. Let’s read:

 Leviticus 25:48 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him.

 Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

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.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

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.

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.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

Thus, without the writings of Moses, in which he makes the stipulation of blood-line redemption as law, the reason for Christ’s incarnation in the New Testament would be vague, for the question would be asked: “Why couldn’t He save us in His former self as a Spirit?”

 Thus, Moses and the other Old Testament writers show that humanity needed Divinity for redemption to be accomplished, but that Divinity also needed humanity as the vehicle by which the redemption price was to be paid. The Old Testament affirms the Divinity of Christ, and the New Testament certifies both His divinity and humanity. Therefore, in everything pertaining to our salvation, there must of necessity be the same concurrence of divinity and humanity, Old Testament and the New Testament.

 By rejecting the Old Testament, several doctrines are fanned into life, which are antichrist in nature, of which we must be careful not to succumb to. In some instances, Christ is relegated only to humanity and is never elevated to His rightful original position in The God-head.

 By rejecting the Old Testament, and the writings of Moses, others have removed far from their belief system, the need for obedience, for in their minds the grace of God is adequate for our salvation all by itself. Thus, the necessary concurrence between the Divine and the human is rejected in favor of the Divine alone.

 From this view springs the doctrine of just believe, without any corresponding works. Just believe is a doctrine of devils, since it leaves the humanity side out of the equation, and because of this a one-sided Christianity that’s void of obedience is the inevitable result. Let’s read:

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

 Therefore, wherever the writings of Moses and the Old Testament prophets are rejected, a profound imbalance in one’s Christianity would be seen, for whereas the Old Testament may focus heavily on one’s obedience, New Testament writers focus our attention heavily on grace, something that is much more palatable for most persons to swallow.

 The truth is that both are essential to our salvation, for as was stated before there must be concurrence between the Old and New testaments, between our humanity and God’s Divinity if the work of The Holy Spirit is to be accomplished in our lives. God caused the sun to stand still by His miraculous power so that Joshua and his brethren could route their enemies. But they had to fight as if the victory depended on them alone.

 It was God who fought against Amalek as the Jews were on their way in the wilderness, but Aaron had to help Moses’ keep his two hands lifted to the skies because concurrence between the Divine and the human is an indispensable necessity of life for the Christian. God healed Naaman by His power alone, but the human agent had to dip seven times. Jericho was shaken down from off its high horse, but the Jews had to march around the city and blow their horns like little boy blue, as if there was no tomorrow.

 It all has to do with concurrence between the Divine and the human, the obedience and works of the Old Testament and the grace and power that is focused on in the New Testament. This is a basic necessity of life for every Christian who will desire to live like a conqueror. And it is not only in the spiritual things where this concurrence is to be incorporated. It must also pervade the temporal aspects of life through which the bulk of our growth and development will often take place. Let’s read:

[Christ’s Object Lessons pp 82] In everything that tends to the sustenance of man is seen the concurrence of divine and human effort. There can be no reaping unless the human hand acts its part in the sowing of the seed. But without the agencies which God provides in giving sunshine and showers, dew and clouds, there would be no increase. Thus, it is in every business pursuit, in every department of study and science.

 Thus, it is in spiritual things, in the formation of the character, and in every line of Christian work. We have a part to act, but we must have the power of divinity to unite with us, or our efforts will be in vain. Whenever man accomplishes anything, whether in spiritual or in temporal lines, he should bear in mind that he does this through co-operation with his Maker.”

 In order for us to have a balanced view of God, we must therefore study the writings of Moses and the other Old Testament prophets, as well as the New Testament writers, or else we will only see Jesus as being cute, but without the authority and character to administer judgements when they come due.

 Let us therefore be careful not to subscribe to the New Testament only, for the seduction of devils is often accomplished through the imbalances and the many half-truths lifted from the scriptures in ways that appeal to carnal nature.

 We therefore end with the last written words of the Old Testament, as the baton was being handed over to the New Testament writers, as they prepared to take up from where Moses and the other prophets had left off. Let’s read:

Malachi 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

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.

                                    God Bless!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                        God Bless!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s start with the first one.

                 [1] The Object of worship.

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

thy gods, O Israel”

                  [2] The place of worship.

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

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

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

                   [3] The time of worship.

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

                [4] The minsters of worship.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                  The riddle.

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

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

Joel 2: 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                   God Bless!

The Identity Crisis. Sabbath afternoon 10/02/2021

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

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

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

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

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

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

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

made me free from the law of sin and death.

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

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

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

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

God Bless!

Building Robust Immune Systems. Sabbath Afternoon 09/25/2021

3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.

The current methods of dealing with diseases must be researched and addressed by all who desire to prosper and be in good health. Treating symptoms, instead of ratting out the root cause, makes persons reach for quick fixes that are sold over the counter, or recommended by pharmacists or by physicians as the case may be.

If the tables were turned, and we were to approach the issues from the perspective of root cause, then great suffering, unnecessary expenditure and death would be averted to a very great extent. But since we’ve become the now generation, where any and everything from food, to medicine is delivered by a click, hardly anyone wants to take the time to see what is the root causes of most of our afflictions.

There are habits and lifestyle changes to be made, if we would enjoy great health and longevity, and the complete surrender to Jesus Christ in everything we do will also go a long way in fending off a plethora of sicknesses, if we are disposed to believe in Him.

As was stated before, miracles from God for healing are usually to be the last resort when human effort has done all its best along God-ordained means and methods. God much prefers not to work a miracle if it can be avoided by us doing that which we know to be right and sensible.

But if after doing all we can, we still fall short of accomplishing such healing, God can take up the slack according to His good will. It is not an absolute guarantee in every situation, but the human agent can confidently trust God, knowing that their best was done to cooperate with Him in the particular matter.

God has indeed given us gold in the health message but it contains information and statements that are in some instances, at odds with the mainstream of current modes of thought and action. But it will be discovered that the information given to us was not multiple choice, but rather instructions that would enable us to live way above par.

For starters, we must be reconciled to the fact that most diseases are preventable and avoidable when the right course of action is pursued diligently. The common cold and flu, many cancers, and tumors of all sorts can be avoided if the information given to us were to be appropriated and practiced.

Disease in most cases, is the result of a violation of either physical or spiritual law. Whether it’s done in ignorance or deliberately against what we know to be right, diseases of many sorts can be traced right back to what we did or didn’t do. There are known exceptions, as the Bible teaches, but for the most part it’s a matter of sowing and reaping at play.

The habit of pill-popping drugs is also to be avoided wherever possible for it will be much better to have nature do her work using God-ordained means and methods.

It is true, that in certain instances, recovery would take longer than the over- the counter quick fix, but here is the patience of the saints, meaning that we would derive much greater benefit in the long term, if we were to stay the course with God’s ways and means, wherever possible. Let’s read:

[Ministry Of Healing pp 126] It is true that they (Drugs) sometimes afford present relief, and the patient appears to recover as the result of their use. But in most cases the drug only changes the form and location of the disease. Often the effect of the poison seems to be overcome for a time, but the results remain in the system and work great harm at some later period.

Many of the popular nostrums called patent medicines, and even some of the drugs dispensed by physicians, act a part in laying the foundation of the liquor habit, the opium habit, the morphine habit….

What is a patent medicine, and what is a nostrum?

“Let physicians teach the people that restorative power is not in drugs, but in nature. Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health. In the case of sickness, the cause should be ascertained. Unhealthful conditions should be changed, wrong habits corrected. Then nature is to be assisted in her effort to expel impurities and to re-establish right conditions in the system.”

Covid is not the last pandemic, and it would be wise to couple together with scientific efforts, courses of action that would mitigate disease at the front end, rather than after the fact, as is too often the case. In other words, the hospital serves a good purpose but it would be better not to have to visit, wherever it can be avoided.

Thus, the following is a short list of what we can and should do to build robust immune systems that will enable us to stave off the many diseases that would be coming upon the world. The list would be given in order of priority, so that we can build from the ground up, a sure foundation that would stand the test of plague, pandemic, and pestilence alike.

[1] Having Christ at the center of our lives.

The first and most important factor in building a robust immune system is to accept Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives. This singular action will do far, more, good than all the salad and exercise one may indulge in. The reason for this is that faith can take up the slack in certain situations where diets and foods may fail.

Whatever a person’s situation might be, whether in sickness or in health, for better or worse, we would always be better off having Christ in our lives, since our relationship with God has ramifications in the spiritual as well as the physical realm. This sacred truth is enshrined in the Bible, so that all who read may become partakers. 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.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Especially will this be the case as we move forward into unchartered waters, where many diseases of all sorts are scheduled to inundate our world. It is true that one who deliberately refuses to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior can reap benefits of His instructions in matters of health. If an atheist were to adopt the health message, he/ she would absolutely be better off.

That’s because the laws and instructions He gives us are good to the very core, for they are based upon eternal principles, and according to the Bible, were ordained to life, and therefore, if an atheist were to make the changes embodied in our health message, he/she would benefit greatly, any which way.

But there are plagues looming on the horizon which even vegans will not be able to survive, and that is why we say that having Christ as Lord and Savior is the very first and most important factor in building a robust immune system. Let’s read:

Psalms 103:1 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.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

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

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

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Psalms 43: 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Eating healthy foods, getting sufficient rest and also exercising regularly will only go so far, because the various diseases that are coming upon the earth will require more than diets and foods for persons to be enabled to withstand in the evil day.

Now, it is true that good diets and foods have their rightful place in the greater scheme of things, but when crunch time comes around, diets and foods will fall flat if they’re not coupled together with a living faith in God. It is a fact that many vegans will be lost, for eating good food is not the sole way to withstand disease.

[2] Obedience to all of God’s commandments to the best of our knowledge and ability.

Here is another area of great importance, for it is a fact that there are some who may attempt to take the husk without the kernel, the loaves and the fishes, by rigorously following the laws of health, while disregarding what The Lord has commanded in other areas.

Faith, coupled with obedience constitutes the all-inclusive package, which was designed to strengthen our relationship with God. Thus, if folks were to embrace God in one area, and then exclude Him from the next, an imbalance would be created, through which disease and pandemics will poke many holes.

In other words, as Christ once said, these ought ye to have done, and not left the other undone, for faithfulness in the laws of health would not atone for Sabbath breaking, and conversely, the keeping of the Sabbath would not take up the slack where diets and foods are disregarded.

It is conscientious obedience to all that God has commanded, in every area of our lives, that will render us impregnable to the assaults of satan. This does not mean that we won’t be tempted, it means that we’ll survive the fires and floods that come our way.

In other words, every weak, or missing link in the chain of faith and obedience becomes and open door through which devils can, and would afflict us. There’s something called unnecessary temptations, meaning that we left something on the table that may have invoked temptation. Let’s read:

Exodus 15:25 And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.

[The Desire of Ages pp 324] When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature.

The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan.

Impregnable meaning: a fortified position, unable to be captured or broken into. Unable to be defeated or destroyed; unassailable.

Synonyms include: Bulletproof, indomitable, insurmountable, invincible, invulnerable, unbeatable, unconquerable, unstoppable.

“But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world.

It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place.”

We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome.

[3] Having a clear conscience void of offense to God and man.

A seared conscience does much more harm to our immune system than many realize. This is not usually taken into consideration by some in the medical field, but the Bible teaches us that guilt can weaken our ability to stave off disease that would otherwise not have affected us so adversely.

That’s why Jesus included the forgiveness of our sins in the health message given in Psalms 103, for God knows that the burden of sin will ultimately take a toll on one’s health, if those sins are not repented of and forgiven. Let us observe very carefully, the order in which God’s work of healing takes place, because the work delineated was not written in a vacuum, it was given by inspiration of The Most-High God. 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 crown 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 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputes not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgave the iniquity of my sin.

[4] Cultivating a forgiving spirit.

Regurgitating grudges, and failing to let go of evils done to us is a recipe that often wreaks havoc on our immune systems. Some folks get sick solely from an unforgiving spirit. That old bone that was picked with this or that person, and a refusal to forgive, takes a fearful toll on one’s body, and can literally inhibit folks from fighting off some sickness or disease.

In the most literal sense, forgiving a person often does more for the one who forgives, than the one who is forgiven, as far as one’s health and well-being are concerned. The scripture describes one particular instance where one suffered a heart attack, solely because of an unforgiving spirit. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 25: 35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

2nd Kings 5:20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord lives, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed forever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

[5] Diets and foods

On the issue of diets and foods, the remnant people of God already know what to do, it is just a matter of doing it. The light that has been shed upon our pathway concerning healthful living is not merely a good suggestion, it is what God has instructed for all who will survive the terrors of the last days.

If we will receive it the plain truth of the matter is that if we are not living in harmony with the instructions given for our day, we will come up to the time of trouble in a very compromised position, that will not permit us to exist during those trying days of earth’s history.

And because of this, many will be laid to rest so as to be saved after the deluge hits. Adequate rest, pure water, plenty of sunshine, a regular exercise regimen, the use of natural remedies, fresh air, temperance, sound nutrition that is in harmony with God’s ideals, coupled together with trust in God make up the whole nine yards of what is to be accomplished in our persons.

Wherever possible, we should make concerted and well-directed efforts along those lines so as to facilitate what God seeks to accomplish in us to prepare us to stand in the time of trouble. It will call for self-denial and sacrifice, but it can absolutely be accomplished, wherever the will is surrendered to God.

This is not an Adventist thing, nor even an Ellen G. White proposal, it is what is written in the Bible, so that no one would misunderstand the plain utterances thereof. To put it plainly, meat of any kind will not be served to God’s people during the time of trouble, so says the Bible. Let’s read:

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.

1st Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.

3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, (country living) and came and sat down under a juniper tree….

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baked on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. (“The Munition of rocks”)

[Christian Temperance pp 118>119] When God led the children of Israel out of Egypt, it was His purpose to establish them in the land of Canaan a pure, happy, healthy people. Had they been willing to deny appetite in obedience to His restrictions, feebleness and disease would have been unknown among them. Their descendants would have possessed physical and mental strength.

They would have had clear perceptions of truth and duty, keen discrimination, and sound judgment. But they were unwilling to submit to God's requirements, and they failed to reach the standard He had set for them, and to receive the blessings that might have been theirs.

It is therefore up to us to choose to make those necessary changes, and God will grant us grace and power to do so. Whenever we read the plain utterances of scripture, we should avoid trying to reason away what we have read, but should instead ask God for grace to put it into practice.

If the instructions given today are followed, let it be known that it is God alone who gave the information, and it is dispensed to all who are desirous of living in harmony with His revealed will. We will end with a passage of scripture to help us remember that all these things are written especially for us who are living in the last days of earth’s history. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he stands take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

God Bless!

Differences Between Faith And Presumption. Sabbath afternoon 09/18/2021

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.

It’s very important, in these days in which we are now living, that we know the difference between faith and presumption, because the two modes of thought and action often resemble each other very closely. Many professed Christians mistake the one for the other, and in doing so, some persons have placed themselves in a compromised position.

By mistaking faith for presumption some folks have brought unexpected harm to themselves and others who in turn have stumbled on the very concept of faith and in some families sharp a divide has opened up as to what constitutes faith or presumption. The current pandemic is a practical example in the here and now, of what we are speaking about.

Some claim that their faith in God will protect them from the pandemic, yet the Delta version has taken a toll where least expected. Others believe that our faith should never lead us to take unnecessary risks, and as a result, the current scientific discoveries are to be incorporated in our practice as being a God-send, since faith without works is dead.

Now, it is true that God at times will work through human agencies to bring relief to suffering humans and even though some may not know it, God is The One who, in some instances is working behind the scenes to bring about His good purposes for us all.

Thus, the question arises very often in the current environment: Is it God’s will that faith in Him alone should sustain us at this time, or should Christians incorporate current science in collaboration with their faith to make the package complete?

We do not propose to have all the answers to these haunting, questions, however, we must make clear from the study of God’s word what is faith and what is presumption. Faith in God always leads a person to obey God to the best of their knowledge, and to the best of their ability.

Faith claims the promises of God, but it complies with the conditions laid down for the fulfillment of those promises. Presumption also claims promises, but it refuses to abide by the Biblical stipulations on which fulfillment is promised.

There are many whose expectations will be severely shaken when it is discovered that God would not be intervening as they expected, and there are others who will defy all odds, and demonstrate in real time that God can certainly be depended upon, to fulfill His word, in unconventional ways and means.

In the book of Hebrews, we find the faith of those in days gone by being exemplified through obedience, such as in the case of Noah, who believed the word of God that a flood was coming. Noah’s faith did not stop at a mere profession; he obeyed, by going to the nearest Home Depot, and buying up all gopher wood he could find.

Thus, when it came time for his faith and reality to converge, his entire household was saved because he believed and acted upon his belief, in accordance with what God had commanded. Thus, obedience is and integral element in anything called faith, which is why the Bible says faith without works is dead.

The works there being referred to is not what man may stipulate in all instances; the works are to be in harmony with what God has commanded, or given us the clearance to do. Abraham also believed God, but his faith took him to the nearest U-Haul outlet, so that he could comply with God’s command that he must leave his native country.

In fact, we would discover in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, that after mentioning those shining examples of faith, the Bible goes on to mention the obedience to God’s word which followed very close on the heels of the exercise of faith. 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.

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

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

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

13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

5 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

Very specific measurements were given to Noah for the building of the ark, and not one of those details could be left out or disregarded, for then, Noah’s expectation of protection from the flood would be dashed in pieces. Three hundred cubits means three cubits and three stories means three stories, and nothing else.

Thus, Noah’s faith in the promises of God converge with his obedience to what God had told him, and the rest is history. As he sat within the ark with his entire family, he could be confident that God would fulfill His part, for he did everything God told him to do, all his ducks were in a neat row, and therefore, he would be sheltered when the storm comes.

In our day, many persons may claim the promises of God, and may look forward with an anticipation and expectation for deliverance, that is not tethered to obedience and because of this, serious difficulties make manifest that they may not have built upon The Rock, but upon the sand.

This is not always the case when troubles arise, but it is a fact that contemporary Christianity may often claim promises in the Bible without complying with the conditions laid down, and for this reason, many instances of dashed hopes do occur.

Some have deliberately presumed to build an ark of their own choosing, utilizing measurements and building materials which God neither recognizes or endorses, and for this reason, the hopes of many will meet with signal disappointment, when faith is tested as it were by fire.

Therefore, in all of the back and forth concerning faith and presumption, and whatsoever one’s ideas may be on these issues, there is one passage in the Bible pertaining to Noah that we must never forget because it puts the icing on the cake, as it were. Let’s read:

Genesis 6:22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Again, we have the shining example of Abraham, who is often referred to as the father of the faithful. When it was his turn to lead us by example, he also incorporated obedience with God’s promises and commands, and it was based on the fusion of the two that faith and reality converged. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

In both instances with Noah and then Abraham, we find these critically important words: “And God said unto Noah”. “And God said unto Abraham”

It is worthy of note that God did not say anything to Noah’s wife, nor to Sarah, for it was left up to them to believe and to participate in their husband’s faith and obedience. In order for both these spouses to benefit from the blessings and promises, they must believe God had indeed spoken to their god-fearing husbands.

And if the spouses had difficulty believing that God gave their husbands such outlandish directives, they could have taken the matter to God in prayer, and He would confirm, wherever He sees fit. As we get closer to the final conflict of the ages, husbands and wives should try to be on the same page, so as not to tear their family apart when crunch time comes.

In addition, we observe that in Abraham’s case, he took Lot, his brother’s son and all the souls they had gotten in Haran, everyone who was free to believe and obey, or to disbelieve and remain.

God had not spoken to any of them directly, but if they knew and believed that the head of the home was a God-fearing man, then they are free to make their own choices. They could obey by faith, and thereby be beneficiaries of the promises fulfilled, or they refuse to obey, and thus forfeit the promise of collateral blessings.

The true faith in God that the Bible recognizes will never lead persons to deliberately disobey God, for this causes a short-circuit of God’s promises. This is clearly exemplified in the case of Eli to whom many great promises were made, on the same conditions of obedience, but when Eli deliberately chose not to comply his professed faith was turned to fake news. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 2:27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering which I have commanded in my habitation?

30 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said Indeed, that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me forever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed forever.

These examples bring us to a very important aspect of faith, which has to do with the confidence factor. How does one, against all odds, and against all logic and conventional wisdom have confidence to take a certain course of action, even though it may seem quite perilous and even nonsensical to do so?

What makes Noah and Abraham confident, and is such an attitude built upon mere figments of their imagination, or is it built upon concrete evidences? In order to act upon God’s commands and promises folks must be sure of what they are doing, so how does the certainty factor figure into the equation?

And as we move forward into unchartered territory, with many diseases, pandemics, droughts, storms, hurricanes, water shortages, and crimes of all sorts on the horizon, what must be a Christian’s basis for confidence and certainty in an increasingly troubled world?

For the answers to these questions, we now turn to the Bible, for it instructs us on how confidence and certainty become a living reality in those who walk by faith. David was as the Bible describes a stripling, meaning that he was probable just out of his teens, and had known nothing else but tending to sheep.

He was cute at that age, and after he learned from his brothers of the existential threat posed to the nation because of Goliath, David made King Saul an offer that would make any battle-hardened general recoil with unbelief. David confidently stated that he would be willing to fight the giant singlehandedly and that he was certain that he would win.

Again, we ask the question: “What makes David so confident, and that against all odds?” He has to be making that offer based upon something he knows for sure, and if so, then it is not presumption as king Saul suggested, but faith in real time.

We could almost guarantee, that if it was someone like Mike Tyson who made the offer King Saul would not think twice; but for this cute youth, who had no battle scars or tattoos on his face, to offer to fight the giant seemed to be an absolute, and a foolish mismatch. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 17:2 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

33 And Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

In the above passages we will observe two distinct attitudes and perspectives being manifested, one savors of certainty and confidence, while the other savors of fear, and unbelief. Therefore, before we get into the minds of David and Saul, we must see what the dictionary says presumption is:

Presumption: a belief that something is true even though it has not been proven.

Thus, based upon the above definition, we must get into the mind of king Saul, and observe why he is so fearful. Given the circumstances of his life in times past, he has all right to be fearful. Because of Saul’s many refusals to obey the clear instructions of God in times past, he is now void of any assurances that God will be with him in the present emergency.

His fear is justified, for he has no reasonable ground to believe that God would defeat the giant through him, for he is disposed to disobedience, and for this reason, if he dares to face Goliath, believing that he would be protected by God, he would be believing something that isn’t true, and that would constitute an act of presumption.

God never blesses deliberate disobedience. There are times, when a person is in genuine ignorance God may wink, but the Bible clearly states that if I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me. Which means that if one knows something is wrong, and chooses to continue doing so, then it becomes vanity to quote promises confidently. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 15:10 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,

11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.

17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?

20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Faith on the other hand is quite different for it has confidence and substantive elements, which drive away all fear. Therefore, true faith in God will be a concrete foundation under the feet of those who are disposed to walking in obedience to all that God says, according to the light shed on their pathway.

Fear has torment and uncertainty, while faith has solid foundations of factual evidences, manifested in a person’s experiences with God, and upon which one’s decisions are made with confidence.

Thus, the positive assurance David is manifesting is based upon two things: [1] He obeys God’s voice, and [2] He has many literal experiences with God which he can point to as undeniable evidence of God’s presence with him. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

It’s worthy of note that if anyone else had dared to make such an offer, such a decision could be placed in the “presumption” column, if they did not have substance and evidence to back up such an offer. If a person claims the promises of God with apparent confidence, he/she had better have substance and evidence to make such claims, or their consequent actions can be presumption.

In fact, when we study the narrative closely, we’ll observe that Saul was cowering in fear, and we are not to criticize him for his feelings, because they are the natural outworking of deliberate disobedience, and a seared conscience.

Thus, we have a dire situation where an existential threat is facing the nation, and some are rightfully afraid and running for cover, while at the same time David is confident about taking on Goliath, for in his mind, he does not view the situation as being risky, but rather as being an opportunity to magnify The name of God.

Thus, we are pressed to ask the haunting question again: What makes David so confident in an obviously dangerous situation? Look closely at the two completely different attitudes in the face of a great risk to the nation. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 17:23 And as he (David) talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words: and David heard them.

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

1st Samuel 17: 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

It has to do with the song of his experience, for his confidence is based upon literal experiences that he had gone through previously with God, and that is why we see him speaking as he did.

His offer is not a boastful, presumptuous proposal, but rather a fact- based one that is the fruit of faith and obedience to all God has commanded, to the best of his ability and knowledge. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock.

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

At this juncture, we should pause for a moment of silence ae we read with humble hearts and minds, a passage from the scriptures, which deals directly with faith in God, and the confidence factor. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

Hear the word of The Lord now. It is high time that we begin singing a new song. For too many years a great many Christians may have been walking in the presumption lane claiming the promises of God and expecting deliverance only to be disappointed over and over again.

Some have prayed in apparent earnestness, and in sincerity, yet for all the effort made, it may seem as if faith has suffered defeat. Presumption claims the same promises that faith claims, but it walks in the opposite direction to what God has commanded in His word.

Therefore, as we search our souls, it is imperative to see if there’s any command, or any instruction God gave us, that we know of, yet might have, like king Saul, knowingly chosen to differ on the matter. We are in crunch time mode and if we want confidence at such a time as this, we will need to begin singing a new song.

In every age, and before every cataclysmic event, God has sent His servants to prepare His people for what is to come. Very grave occurrences would be transpiring across the entire globe, with increasing frequency and intensity, and we will need a living faith in God, not presumption to see us through.

We should often recall to mind those many literal deliverances and experiences God has brought us through. These instances should then be used as stepping stones for greater trust and obedience, through which our confidence and certainty in troublous times will be as firm as The Rock upon Whom it is built.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should encourage us to trust and obey, for there’s no other way to escape the many snares, delusions, presumptions, and difficulties that will be engulfing our planet, as we move forward into unchartered waters. 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!

God Versus Beast Principles. Sabbath afternoon 09/11/2021

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

 It is of critical importance that as persons move into unchartered waters at home and abroad, the basic principles of God’s kingdom, versus the kingdom of the beast be understood. There is a battle currently being waged in every heart for control of the mind, and God’s kingdom utilizes methods that are quite opposite to what the beast uses.

 God’s kingdom has at its core the ultimate good of all humanity, and encourages willing obedience to the commandments of God, based upon love, and an intelligent understanding of God’s purposes for us. It allows us the freedom of choice, and employs methods of resolving difficulties between persons using different currencies than what devils use.

 God’s kingdom repays ingratitude with kindness, it quells violence through peace and reconciliation, it seeks the good of those who hate it, and it provides food and drink, and all the basic necessities of life to all, whether they agree or disagree with God.

 God takes no delight in the misfortunes and demise of His enemies, for He died to save us all. Now, it is true that in certain instances, God has to employ justice, for where mercy and grace may fail, justice must be served, and in His capacity as The Creator of all, it is His prerogative to dispense mercy as well as justice as He sees fit.

 Yet, when God’s track record is closely investigated, we discover that His mercy rules the day, and in all of His dealings with human beings, His actions are heavily tilted towards leniency and kindness. If this were not the case, and if God dealt with us as we deserved, not one of us would be alive today. Let’s read:

Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

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

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

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

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

Thus, when we observe the general tenor in all of the scriptures, we discover that even though there are times when God had no choice but to exercise justice, yet, these instances are the exception rather than the rule, for His grace and mercies towards us greatly outweigh His jurisprudence, for as the Bible teaches us, God delights in mercy.

 The beast system on the other hand is a kingdom of darkness, which has as its core, operating principle, the use of force, even if persons may be reluctant to subscribe to its agenda. The so-called overtures to subscribe to the beast under a veneer of seeking the greater good are just an initial charade, because noncompliance will be ultimately put down with a heavy hand.

 Satan, who stands at the head of the beast system has no problem with starving folks into submission, if persons do not willingly submit to his bidding, and he won’t hesitate to beat the praise out of unwilling lips. This is because his kingdom is the one that has force as its backbone and any person who disagrees will ultimately feel the ire of the dragon.

 In contrast, we observe in the scriptures where God continued to feed and sustain those antediluvians right up until the day of the flood, for God did not withdraw His blessing and kindness from the earth, just because the overwhelming majority of people had forsaken, and rebelled against Him.

 The basic necessities of food and drink were always supplied on a regular daily basis, and even folks like Cain, and Lamech who introduced the gross practice of polygamy, continued to be beneficiaries of God’s mercies and blessings. God does not starve persons into submission, for all who choose to serve Him are to do so of their own free will.

 Not so with the beast principles, for we have sacred history before us, that when Job refused to yield to temptation, his entire household, together with his animals, pets and servants, suffered from the brute force of devils, and when all these failed of breaking Job, he was afflicted with sore boils from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet.

 Thus, we must be clear as crystal when deciphering the beast principles, so as not to subscribe to them under the various veneers by which they are sold.  It is a fact that intimidations, hecklings, and other forms of nefarious inducements such as bribes are going to be exhausted first whenever the beast may seek to carry out its agenda, but we should always remember this, that at the end of the day, the beast principles would ultimately lead to the use of force. Always! 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 spoke as a dragon.

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

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

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

16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.

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

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

[The Desire of Ages pp 435] Lucifer desired God's power, but not His character. He sought for himself the highest place, and every being who is actuated by his spirit will do the same. Thus alienation, discord, and strife will be inevitable.

 Dominion becomes the prize of the strongest. The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force; every individual regards every other as an obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or a steppingstone on which he himself may climb to a higher place.

 Several instances in the Bible clearly demonstrate the development of beast principles as they were implemented by those under influence of devils. In the area of worship, the use of force reared its ugly head. And at other times, when the faithful would not buckle under pressure, they were fed with the bread of affliction.

In the case of those “Certain Jews” who had refused to bow to the golden image in Nebuchadezzar’s day they were first solicited to do so initially, but when solicitations failed, the use of force was resorted to, as will always be the case when beast principles are espoused. Let’s read:

Daniel 3:9 They spoke and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever.

10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.

11 And whoso falls not down and worships, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore, he spoke and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

20 And he commanded the most, mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

1st Kings 22:3 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?  

4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

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

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. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.

13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.

14 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.

16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?

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.

26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

27 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

The disposition to starve, threaten, or harm persons with whom we do not agree is the same outworking of the beast principles. The kingdom of God grants to all individuals the freedom of choice, with natural consequences, but the kingdom of the beast uses coercion to exact compliance from unwilling minds.

 The use of force by the beast is a principle that has been long in development for centuries, and which will culminate in what Revelation 13 describes as a theocracy, that will begin to enforce its dogmas in ways and means that many thought impossible. As was stated before, it will begin to take shape under the cover of darkness.

 Man-made theocracies and democracies are two systems which are, for the most part, essentially at odds in their perspectives and in their operations. In man-made democracies persons enjoy the freedom of speech, and the freedom to worship according to the dictates of one’s conscience.

 But in man-made theocracies, persons are forced to live and worship according to all the dictates of the state. Morality is mandated and the government’s concepts of right and wrong are urged upon the people on pain of various punishments, and in some cases, even death.

 In some such countries, persons are forced to smile when their dear leader is present. Emotions as well as their organic feelings, and convictions of one’s conscience are put under bit and bridle, and those who dare to differ are often ostracized, punished, beaten, and sometimes go missing without a trace.

 The images we saw recently of some women being beaten into compliance in Afghanistan are the same outworking of man-made theocracies, and even if there may be some variations and different levels of force, it’s the same spirit of Revelation 13 at work.

 Here in the land of the free, and the home of the brave we have enjoyed those freedoms which our democracy brings. Folks enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of religion, or freedom from religion if we so choose, and the basic freedom to work for our daily bread is essentially available to all, some more, some less.

But, the scriptures warn us in Revelation 13 of a coming theocracy that will seek to impose its own views and perspectives on its citizens. Morality will be enforced, the dictates of one’s conscience would be trampled upon, and the freedoms we now enjoy will literally go up in smoke.

 Under this new order, mandated worship of the beast would be touted as something that is for the greater good of the citizenry and ultimately, those economic sanctions mentioned in Revelation 13 will be leveled against all those who dare to differ.

 These cryptic statements may seem implausible to some at the moment, but if we were to drill down in to what is looming on the horizon, we would clearly see the use of force as a core operating principle, beginning to take shape.

 To put it plainly, a looming theocracy with several autocratic tentacles is just over the horizon, and as those beast principles begin to pervade every social, religious and economic sector we will find ourselves in a bind that will force persons to make some very difficult choices and decisions.

 In other words, it is coming down to the basics of bread and butter, according to what is written in Revelation. 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 spoke as a dragon.

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

 The first beast mentioned in Revelation 13 was a persecuting power, which enforced its dogmas on those under its jurisdiction, and which ultimately resulted in the horrors of the dark ages. The state’s interpretation of the Bible was made the standard of godliness for all, and dissenters found themselves having to hide in caves and dens of the earth.

 But since that time, the very same beast principle has dressed itself in new sacerdotal garments, it has gone to department stores, and purchased modern suits and ties, and it has now taken up residence in philosophies, ideologies, and concepts that seem on the surface to have the greater good of the people in mind.

 Whenever, and wherever persons are being denied the basic necessities of life for no other reason than not sharing the same convictions of conscience as do others, there the beast principle will be raising its ugly head, as the book of Revelation declares will be the case in the not too distant future, Let’s read:

 Revelation 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.

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

 The word “Cause” has very interesting definitions, according to the dictionary!

[1] Something that brings about an effect or a result.

[2] To compel by command, authority, or force.

[3] A person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition.

[4] To make (something, especially something bad) happen.

 Thus, as we move into unchartered waters in the history of our world, all those who desire or intend to survive the coming theocracy, will have to have other ways and means by which they will live, and according to the scriptures, these ways and means cannot be tethered in any way to the conventional systems we have come to depend on.

 Believing, trusting, and obeying Jesus Christ is the only system that would be able to withstand the onslaught of economic and religious pressures that will be brought to bear on those certain Jews who will dare to differ in their convictions.

 Hence the reason why it cannot be stated enough that we must learn to trust in God now, while there is opportunity to do so, for trusting in Him who is invisible does not happen overnight. It takes time, and an experimental knowledge of The God whom we serve, to confidently relinquish earthly systems.

 To trust in God for everything that pertains to life does not happen quickly, and thus, at every step of advance towards God’s kingdom, our faith would be given opportunity to grow and become strong and durable, because faith that is not tested cannot be trusted.

 Those mighty promise God has given us to live by must be experienced in real time on an ongoing basis, so that whenever the rug is pulled out from beneath our feet, it will be seen that we had built upon The Rock, and not upon the stand.

 The following therefore are the promises that are given in the Bible, to mitigate as much as possible the beast principles, whenever and wherever they will come into play. Let’s read:

 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 flies 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.

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.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Isaiah 33:15 He that walketh righteously and speaks uprightly; he that despises the gain of oppressions, that shakes his hands from holding of bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil; 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. 17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.

 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.

 Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

 [The great Controversy pp 631] The heavenly sentinels, faithful to their trust, continue their watch. Though a general decree has fixed the time when commandment-keepers may be put to death, their enemies will in some cases anticipate the decree, and, before the time specified, will endeavor to take their lives.

 But none can pass the mighty guardians stationed about every faithful soul. Some are assailed in their flight from the cities and villages; but the swords raised against them break and fall as powerless as a straw. Others are defended by angels in the form of men of war.

 It's about time that we believe God for those days mentioned previously are not in the distant future. In fact, in certain instances the time is here and the place is now. Thus, we will end with a passage of scripture that would enable the true Christian to withstand, and survive the beast principles, when they begin to overspread the land. Let’s read:

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

                                     God Bless!

By Grace Are We Saved. Sabbath afternoon 09/04/2021

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

This passage is a gentle reminder of a basic fact of salvation that we must never ever forget. It is quite possible that with the passage of time, and the very routine of doing church, we may forget that it is the grace of God that saves us, and not any good thing we may have done.

Everyone who would pass through the pearly gates when Christ comes would have been saved by grace through faith, without exception. There are those in the Bible, who because of their experience and their understanding at the time, focused heavily on what they did or did not do.

Others have touted their good deeds as the reason why grace and mercy should be granted, and some have enumerated their righteous works in appeals for mercy. As our brethren in Christ, they did so in harmony with their understanding of salvation at the time, and God heard their appeals. Let’s read:

Nehemiah 13:11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

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.

2nd Kings 20:1In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying,

3 I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

These were very noble and righteous deeds that are in no way to be despised or minimized, for it was their zealousness for righteousness and their love for God that prompted the good works. That’s all well and good, but at the end of the day it is God’s goodness and grace to us why His favor is granted and not merely as a reward for good deeds.

There are preachers who have worked untiringly to save souls and some have gone into areas that were hostile to Christianity, and they laid it all on the line for the sake of Christ, and because of this, they will be rewarded for their faithfulness in times to come.

But again, it’s not the good that we have done that warrants us God’s grace and mercy, it is His great love for us, manifested through Jesus, why anyone will be saved eternally.

In fact, when the dust has settled in the earth made new, and we are able to witness in real time, what has been transpiring on this planet, there would be none to boast or claim that they were saved by the works of righteousness.

Everyone, without exception will give the praise and the credit for their salvation to God. This basic truth must never be lost sight of by us, even as we busy ourselves with doing good and right deeds. It is the work of The Holy Ghost in our hearts as we submit to God daily, that produces any good work that will be accepted.

But even then, such works are tainted because they come through human channels. God accepts sincere efforts to do right, but the bottom line is that in and of themselves, they fall way short of perfection, and God can only accept perfection as the way to access eternal life.

This perfection is found alone in Christ, and God has offered it as a free gift to all who will believe. When a person accepts Christ as Lord and Savior, it is not the combination of His righteousness with ours that guarantees us an entry into heaven.

It is His righteousness and perfection alone, even though believers are to grow in His grace and live victoriously by His power. The righteousness of the law must be fulfilled in us also, as it was in Christ, but its fulfilment in us is not our ticket to glory. It’s Jesus alone, from beginning to end, for by grace are we saved.

Hence the reason why the following passages must never be forgotten by those who believe in Jesus for salvation is never something earned, it is something that is received as a gift from God through Christ. Let’s read:

Psalms 14:2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.

11 There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ. nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Then John delivers the goods in a nutshell so that a child could understand. Goodness without Jesus is not going to get anyone past the pearly gates, for it matters not how many good deeds have been done. An atheist or unbeliever can give his poor neighbor a loaf of bread.

That’s a good thing and we would encourage folks to do so where needed. But the deed in and of itself does not make such a person eligible for eternal life without Christ. This is one of the sacred truths that needs to be dispensed in our day, where so many charities and humanitarian agencies are converged.

Now, there are persons who have done righteously, but who were not aware that it was God working in and through them. These are different to those who deliberately exclude God from the equation and try to enter heaven by their own merits. Not happening under any circumstances. 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.

God accepts our understanding of things as much as it may be sincere but after great light has been shed on the issues pertaining to salvation, He desires that we should have an intelligent understanding of the matter in question.

Now some may be wondering why our first passage explicitly states: “For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

There are several reasons why the two verses were written in such an explicit manner, and other verses which we will explore will bring to light the truth in the matter.

[1] Persons who earnestly desire to do right are not able to do so on their own without God.

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.

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

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

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

A thorough understanding of what Paul is saying is of critical importance if we are not to be fazed by those severe battles that are to be fought against internal and external foes. On this point about foes, it is worthy of note that the internal foes are the more dangerous of the two.

In other words, it’s not so much those temptations that satan will bring that causes us to stumble, it is the latent desires and clamors of the flesh that are the more dangerous, if they are not kept under bit and bridle at all times, through the power and the presence of The Holy Ghost.

There have been many righteous in the days of yore who lived victoriously, and who escaped the snares of the evil one. While this is true, let none of us be deceived into thinking that such victories were a breeze, without severe internal or external conflict.

Case in point was Joseph, who was harassed daily by his boss’ wife. Day in and day out as Joseph came to work, there she was, with various enchantments to seduce, if possible, the young man. But being the righteous person that he was does not mean that Joseph did not experience struggles with the flesh.

What do you do when you know temptations are waiting for you, on the job, and you have no choice but to enter the enchanted ground? There are some of us currently who may go to work, and as the door is opened there is Mr. or Mrs. Potiphar waiting for the right circumstances to converge.

The problem for Joseph was that, as a young man, he had feelings just like anyone else, which occur naturally, being given by God. So how does he say no to his natural feelings, which are clamoring for satisfaction from time to time, especially when the offer on the table is at his fingertips?

Now, we must ask our female audience to take a little timeout so we can reason with our brothers. Do not be offended by this request, because it is a “man thing” we are going to let loose. There are times when as men, we will have to say no in our minds, even though the flesh is saying yes.

The conflicts of Romans 7 have to do with the mind saying no to what we know is wrong, whilst at the same time the flesh is saying a definite yes. On this point it is worthy of note that the cravings of fallen human nature have absolutely no respect for Bible studies, sermons or memory verses.

It is quite possible, that as Joseph fled out of the room from Potiphar’s wife, that his flesh was saying yes. Joseph was in his prime, his engine was firing on all cylinders, and the physical urge to merge can run riot at times resulting physical reactions and the like, even without formal consent from one’s mind.

The flesh is unruly and its clamors can become so strong that desires and truth are pulled in opposite directions. This conundrum is especially severe with men, as it pertains to lust, since Adam fell for what he saw, while Eve fell for what she heard.

That’s also one of the reasons why Paul stated that he finds it a law, that whenever he wants to do the right thing, evil is present with him. In other words, Paul discovered that when confronted with temptation, his mind would be quoting the scriptures whilst the unruly flesh would be pulling him in an entirely different direction.

Doing right isn’t always a breeze, for there are times when mortal battles against our internal foes must be waged, and whenever this is the case, it is only the grace of God that can keep us from falling; that is, if we desire to be kept.

When Jesus was in the wilderness of temptation, He became hungry, and thus the temptations of satan asserted themselves against what Jesus was really feeling on the inside. Pangs of hunger, with belching and gas, clamored to be satisfied, and Jesus had to say no to what His flesh was actually craving for on the inside.

Christ suffered severe hunger before He quoted the scripture which says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God”. But after quoting those memorable words, the pangs of hunger did not retreat or abate in any way form or fashion.

In fact, there are times when after quoting several scriptures in the hour of temptation, that the force of the temptation could actually increase, hence the reason why we had stated earlier, that the clamors of the flesh have no respect for scriptures, and that is why the battles have to be fought and won within our minds.

Fighting against the flesh with fleshly weapons is a recipe for catastrophic loss, for carnal weapons will only go so far and only last so long. There have been members of “Promise Keepers” who were not able to keep their promises when the heat of the furnace was turned up several notches.

Persons can only resist for so long, without power and grace from God, before the clamors of the flesh drive persons to insanity in the heat of the moment. Like Christ, we will need a living connection with the God of heaven, or else we will buckle under stress.

Thus, if we who are not even close to Christ as far as perfection goes, even dare to overcome on our own we will absolutely be steamrolled by devils, who will tempt us on what the flesh naturally clamors for. In the S.D.A commentary upon this point the clamor of the flesh is described as a military campaign against one’s mind.

As it was with Jesus, the conflict can be very severe at times, but God can keep us from falling, “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

This leads us to the battle for our minds because a temptation seeks to cause the clamors of the flesh to override the law of God in the mind, so that the person in question is brought into bondage through their decision to do wrong.

In other words, if devils can succeed in getting us to satisfy real clamors, contrary to what we may know is right, then the battle in question for the mind will be lost. The following readings would shed light on how this battle unfolds in real time. Let’s read:

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

[The story of redemption pp 36] Adam regretted that Eve had left his side, but now the deed was done. His love for Eve was strong. And in utter discouragement he resolved to share her fate.

After all, might not the words of this wise serpent be correct? Eve was before him, just as lovely and beautiful, and apparently as innocent, as before this act of disobedience ….. he decided to brave the consequences. He seized the fruit and quickly ate it, and like Eve, felt not immediately its ill effects.

As we close off this first segment with men, before turning to the ladies, it is important to remember that the grace of God is more than sufficient for any emergency. Men, when the sting of lust bombards us, and what we see might prompt us to surrender decision to desire, let it be known that it’s the battle for the mind that is taking place. Let’s read:

1 Corinthians 10:11, 12. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 457] Satan well knows the material with which he has to deal in the human heart. He knows—for he has studied with fiendish intensity for thousands of years—the points most easily assailed in every character.

And through successive generations he has wrought to overthrow the strongest men, princes in Israel, by the same temptations that were so successful at Baalpeor. All along through the ages there are strewn wrecks of character that have been stranded upon the rocks of sensual indulgence.

As we approach the close of time, as the people of God stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan, Satan will, as of old, redouble his efforts to prevent them from entering the goodly land. He lays his snares for every soul.

It is not the ignorant and uncultured merely that need to be guarded; he will prepare his temptations for those in the highest positions, in the most holy office; if he can lead them to pollute their souls, he can through them destroy many.

And he employs the same agents now as he employed three thousand years ago. By worldly friendships, by the charms of beauty, by pleasure seeking, mirth, feasting, or the wine cup, he tempts to the violation of the seventh commandment.

Brothers, go ahead and quote scripture and if in the heat of the moment we can repeat those memory verses, that is all well and good, but let us always remember that it is the grace of God that sustains us, if we desire and pray to be sustained.

Such prayers for the victory are to be made in the secret audience chamber of The Most-High, in the wee hours of the morning preferably, before the humdrum of work and duty begin to take their daily toll on us. Note well, that Jesus did not pray when He was in being tempted, the time for that had passed. Jesus prayed before the temptations, and therefore, He was strengthened to resist them when they came.

Men, there are times when temptations come so suddenly upon us that there is no time to pray. It is of critical importance for us to be fully loaded with The Holy Spirit before leaving home, because the Christian wins his battles on His knees, long before Mrs. Potiphar arrives on the scene.

We now turn our attention to the ladies. Ladies, we can’t let you off the hook, because the temptations often come to you in a different format from men. Your weakness is generally centered on what you hear, which may arouse your feelings and emotions.

In the garden of Eden, Eve fell for what she heard, and ever since that time, Words and Women have been closely associated. In fact, according to the experts, women use an average of 20,000 words a day, compared to the mere 7,000 that men utter.

Thus, the temptation to overthrow a woman’s mind and her decision making, often comes through the medium of words, as the song says, “tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Whatever righteousness is accomplished in persons through the power of God, is being achieved in our fallen state, and because human channels are faulty and we all have a sinful history of yielding, the only perfect righteousness that will grant us a ticket to eternity is that which comes through Christ.

Women, just as much as the men are also saved by God’s grace, through faith, for the passage pertains to all, male and female. There are several critically important lessons to be learned from the episode in Eden, and there are red flags that we must look out for, to avoid entering into temptation, unbidden.

Some of these pointers will be enumerated as we study the exposition on the episode in Eden, and as we do so, let us all with humble hearts and minds, understand that the presentation today is meant to enable persons to do wisely and ultimately, to live victoriously, for this is the will of God for us. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 53>54] The angels had cautioned Eve to beware of separating herself from her husband while occupied in their daily labor in the garden; with him she would be in less danger from temptation than if she were alone.

Now was the tempter's opportunity. As if he were able to discern the workings of her mind, he addressed her: “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

But the serpent continued, in a musical voice, with subtle praise of her surpassing loveliness; and his words were not displeasing. Had she been addressed by a being like the angels, her fears would have been excited; but she had no thought that the fascinating serpent could become the medium of the fallen foe.

To the tempter's ensnaring question, she replied: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

By partaking of this tree, he declared, they would attain to a more exalted sphere of existence and enter a broader field of knowledge. He himself had eaten of the forbidden fruit, and as a result had acquired the power of speech. Such has been Satan's work from the days of Adam to the present, and he has pursued it with great success.

It’s because of God’s mercy, and not because of any inherent goodness on our part, why anyone would be saved. God only permits us to be tempted to the extent that we could resist by His grace, but even in such instances of victory, we should never lose sight of the fact that it is the gift of God through Christ that grants an abundant entrance into His kingdom.

Thus, as we end, let’s keep our heads lifted to the skies, let us seek the presence and power of God always, and let us with humble and grateful hearts, make the most of the opportunities God grants to us in Jesus, for it is His grace that enables, provides, and sustains, all those who put their trust in Him.

Therefore, we will end with the very same passage we began with, for we must never ever forget what God has done, and is doing for us in the heavens through Christ. Let’s read:

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

God bless!

The Freedom Of Choice. Sabbath afternoon 08/28/2021

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

One of the greatest gifts God has given to man is the freedom of choice by which we are free moral agents, to make choices, either good or bad, with consequences. Everything that pertains to this life, our health and wellbeing is centered in the freedom to choose, and even our eternal destiny would also be determined by the choices we make.

We must never lose sight of this fact, for we are not creatures of circumstances, and at the end of the day the choices we make greatly affect what would transpire in our lives. And even though it is true that there are choices that are made by others that will affect us, yet, the freedom to choose and decide is a God given gift, and as such it should be preserved as much as possible.

Our salvation through Jesus, the work of character building, the battles fought and the victories won, and even the work of The Holy Spirit in our hearts, are all accomplished, while leaving our freedom of choice intact, for Christ never forces His grace upon unwilling hearts, and at every step of our advance or retreat, the buck stops with persons.

There are certain situations where a curtailment of our freedom to choose might seem warranted, but we should be very careful in following God’s lead in such matters because the restricting of our freedom to choose, even for seemingly good reasons, would ultimately produce by-products and consequences downstream that are antichrist in nature.

Case in point is the situation which transpired with Cain, when he chose to bring fruit instead of a lamb, as God had required. God lay before Adam’s family what He required as a sacrifice for sin, but He left them free to choose to comply or not, with natural consequences to follow.

The use of force in coercing the conscience, even if it is for something good, is an antichrist principle, and even though it may be introduced under cover of darkness, as something for the greater good of the human family, yet it will produce repercussions downstream, which will then become quite difficult to reverse.

Several very important points are to be observed in the episode with Cain, for there are very important lessons for governments, nations, and families as it pertains to safeguarding that God-given freedom of choice because when The Son makes us free, choice is always left uninhibited. 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 do well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou do not well, sin lieth at the door.

[1] First and foremost is the fact that God left every member of Adam’s family to make their individual choices.

He would encourage, exhort, warn and counsel, but God never tampers with the freedom of choice, for it is a sacred right He has given to each member of the human family, and as such it must be jealously guarded.

Some persons may accuse Cain of being foolish in his decisions, and that might very well be the case, but God has granted us the right to be foolish, if we so choose. And therefore, just because Cain insists on doing some nonsensical thing, it does not mean that his freedom to choose must be curtailed.

Parents often encounter this conundrum with their offspring who have reached an age of accountability and who might track a different course other than that which is sensible.

Persons might, like the prodigal son, waste their substance on riotous living, and the son or daughter may burn cash on such things that do not satisfy, much to the chagrin of the parents.

Yet, because they are free moral agents just like the parents in question, if they are not living under the parent’s roof, their freedom of choice should not be interfered with for any reason, even though parents may be grieved at their wayward course in life.

This is a red line that must never be crossed, even if the temptation to do so may be very strong. When parents have jurisdiction over their kids, they are responsible for their training and upbringing, as The Lord clearly demonstrated in the episode with Eli.

But when the children have reached adulthood, and are no more under the watch-care of parents, their right to choose must be honored, even if they may do some stupid things. God has granted to all men and women the freedom to be wise or stupid as one may so choose, with consequences.

God respects the choices of the righteous and the vile, and we should too. Like God, in His overtures to Cain, we may counsel, exhort, encourage, and we may even urge a change of direction.

But at the end of the day, their choice must be left untrammeled, for we are never authorized to step ahead of God in such matters of conscience. Some parents would be grieved and others may have a righteous indignation, but the choices of persons are to be respected. Let’s read:

If a Christian and a Buddhist decide to get married, contrary to the directives given in the scriptures, God respects their choices thus made, and in the books of heaven they are recorded as husband and wife. The gospel never compels anyone to serve or obey God. Never! Let’s read:

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

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

Hebrews 11: 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Being loaded with The Holy Ghost does not prevent anyone from choosing either good or bad. If we are inclined to choose good, The Holy Spirit will enable us to do so. But if we deliberately choose to do evil, God does not prevent us from doing so.

There is a passage in the Bible which goes like this: “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling”. This passage must never be understood to mean that God keeps persons from sinning against their will, for if He were to do this, like Balaam, when the restraining power of God left him, persons will just go back to doing what they had purposed originally, and in certain instances, they may even go deeper into sin.

God keeps us if we choose to be kept, but in most cases, He does not put a righteous bridle on us so that if we decide to sin, an angel would stand in the way with flaming sword drawn in his hand, to block or prevent us from doing so. This isn’t how it works!

When David fell for Bathsheba, God did not stop him from having that rendezvous, even though he was alerted to the dangers through some of his advisors. Jesus also did not prevent Peter from cursing out the maid in the courtyard.

Jesus warned, He encouraged, and He prayed for Peter that his faith would fail not, but to actually prevent Peter from using bad words is an absolute non-starter for everyone who serves and obeys God must do so from their own free will. Any forced, or robotic obedience is absolutely rejected. 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, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

This leads us to a very important consideration as it pertains to the freedom of choice for it is a fact that that the choices of some can adversely affect others in ways that can be quite difficult to reconcile.

[2] Freedom of choice also brings the risk of collateral damage.

In the current environment in which we are living, there are some persons who have chosen not to be vaccinated, and by so doing it is stated that they are endangering the lives of others by their choices. So, what should be the next move in such a situation.

Should such persons be cut off from society, from goods and services in an effort to “Cause” them to buckle? Should mandates be instituted against such since as the experts say, they are a risk to society?

And what about their basic needs, such as food and drink? Should they be deprived in different ways of their jobs, access to the amenities of life, and goods and services, that are readily available to all others who may choose differently? Let’s read:

Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

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.

Who is the “US” being referred to in the previous passage? Is it only God-fearing Christians who are trying their best to serve and obey God, or does the passage include the Taliban and Vladimir Putin?

Now, it is truly understandable why those in high places are under pressure to take mitigation efforts since our backs are against a wall, and even though we are trying to beat the virus, it keeps lingering on and on. We understand this.

But there is another follow-up question: If society decides on a particular course of action as pertains to a religious matter that is touted as being for the greater good, should the conscience of those who beg to differ be coerced into compliance through very stringent economic sanctions?

Freedom of choice produces the risk of collateral damage, and as we move forward decisions would have to be made as to how far we are willing to go in the mitigation of such circumstances. Just for your information, sin produces collateral damage in both man and beast, because of the bad choices some may make, and it continues to do so to this very day.

Therefore, the issue of our freedom of choice, with all of its inherent risks of collateral damage and the appropriate mitigation efforts would be a matter of grave concern for all, sooner or later, according to the scriptures. Let’s read:

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

But even this adverse consequence must not move persons to restrict the freedom of choice. Justice is to be meted out where warranted, and the rights of others ought to be respected but as we observe the model given in Genesis, we see that God refrained from making make Cain a robot of obedience, after killing Abel.

Not only does God leave Cain’s freedom of choice intact, He also does not level economic sanctions against him by cutting off his access to resources and services, enjoyed by other human beings. God lets Cain know of the natural results of his sin, but He permits sunshine and rain to fall on Cain’s land.

We ought to be wary of anything that savors of the forcing of one’s conscience, even if it be something that is good. Salvation has been made free to all on our planet, and it is an indisputable fact that society will greatly benefit if all were to follow Jesus.

But just because this is the case, believers should not compel anyone else to serve Christ. Let every person be persuaded in their own minds, but never should the practice of coercing the conscience be made a part of any evangelizing efforts, for this will ultimately lead to persecution of some sort. Let’s read:

Daniel 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

The tendency to level economic sanctions against a person in the attempt to coerce their freedom of choice is a tactic that savors too much of the beast system of Revelation 13. Even though such action may be touted as being for the greater good of the people, yet at its core is the use of force, a principle that is mostly opposed to Christ’s kingdom.

Sin by its very nature will cause collateral damage, some more some less, for as the Bible states, death came upon us all as a result of Adam’s choice. Yet, it is a sacred right, and even Adam would make some mistakes later on in life, but his freedom to choose was never revoked. Let’s read:

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

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

This is one of the downside risks to our freedom of choice, because, either knowingly or inadvertently, the bad choices we make, do take a toll on others.

For many years second hand smoke from cigarettes has caused untold damages to both the living and the unborn, to the tune of approximately forty- something thousand deaths each year. Persons who never touched a cigarette have been laid to rest as a result of the habits and choices of others.

Like Abel, some innocents have died in the process, and many more will succumb for years to come, yet the smoking of cigarettes has never been absolutely prohibited in this country, and even though it is well documented that such a practice is harmful to one’s self and others, it remains a free choice for persons.

In the current environment where the issue of some putting others at risk, is the reason why economic privileges are being restricted and persons are being fired from their jobs, it is important for us to have some context, so as to better understand the issues at hand. Let’s take a look:

CDC: Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. Cigarette smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year.

In addition, the United States spends more than $300 billion a year on smoking-related illness, including more than $225 billion in direct medical care for adults and $156 billion in lost productivity.

Question: Should smokers then be sanctioned, lose their jobs, and be deprived of certain privileges that are available to all Americans because they do harm to themselves, to others, and to the economy?

Now, the surgeon general might choose to put the image of a coffin on each box of cigarettes, and the health experts may lecture to persons until they are blue in the face, yet, while tobacco remains legal, persons do retain the freedom to choose to smoke or not.

Thus, we must ascertain why God does not inhibit our freedom of choice, even though at times it may cause real grief to ourselves and others. The reason is that choice is the key that opens the door for man to depart from God, but it is also the same key that reopens the door, if man chooses to return to God.

The same David who deliberately chose to do what he did with Uriah’s wife, also used that freedom of choice to request a clean heart and the renewal of a right spirit within himself.

Nebuchadnezzar chose to defy the God of heaven, by building an image of gold, but he used the same freedom of choice when he acknowledged that God was right, and that his way was perverse. It was the very same freedom of choice at work in both cases.

Saul, before he became preacher and prophet had deliberately chosen to persecute the newly formed Christian churches, but when he was accosted on the road to Damascus, he used the same freedom of choice to utter those memorable words: “Lord what will thou have me to do?”

Therefore, even though the freedom of choice given us by God as a sacred gift, carries with it the risk of potential evil, it could, and is often used to restore our relationship with God and man, and for this one reason, our freedom to choose should be jealously guarded under all circumstances.

Thus, it is a solemn statement that we make, that our freedom to choose will come under increasing pressure from various forces and entities, claiming to be working for the greater good of humanity.

This might actually be true, for no one is to judge the motives and intentions of another, but those verses of scripture, written in Revelation 13 warn of a time, in the not too distant future, when freedom of choice will be upended, for all those who desire to retain access to goods, foods, and services.

This is not the case just yet, but we are seeing the sprinkling of what has been predicted, that would surely metastasize into heavy showers as mandates for the greater good, become the springboard for restricting our freedom of choice.

Such actions will then put the true Christian in a predicament where he or she will have to decide whether the freedom of choice given us by God is worth surrendering in exchange for our economic privileges, or whether it is worth it to retain our freedom of choice at all costs. Let’s read:

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

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

Momentous scenes are at hand, and the battle for the mind continues, and in various ways and in very ingenious methods, and for seemingly good reasons it is predicted that our freedom of choice will be at stake in the final conflict just before Jesus puts in His appearing.

Let us therefore be wise, understanding what the will of The Lord is, and let us hold fast to the faith in Christ that is to sustain us during these difficult days of earth’s history. We will close with a passage of scripture which should alert us to the urgency of the moment, because the days are coming soon, when the just shall live by faith alone. 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.

God Bless!

Apocalyptic Prophecies. Sabbath afternoon 08/21/2021

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.

Those graphic images and videos we saw this past week, of persons clinging to that military aircraft as it taxied down the runway, will forever be etched in our minds, just like those vivid images of 9/11 will always haunt the memories of our nation. As people jumped out from the ill-fated twin towers in New York city, and as persons fell from the airplane this week, we got a glimpse of what our first scripture is saying to us.

Those cryptic words, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear” are being literally fulfilled in real time, even as we speak. Even though we are taught in scripture to always cultivate a cheerful outlook on life, yet, no one in their right mind could deny that things have gotten decidedly worse for our planet, over the last two decades.

National debt is skyrocketing, Covid is shaking down millions, healthcare workers are getting weary of a retrogression in virus cases, wildfires are raging out of control in so many places, severe drought takes its toll on man and beast, politicians are threatening economic sanctions against vaccine hesitant people, and suicide rates are climbing substantially higher in young and hold, than in former years.

Added to this we are facing the prospect of national unrest, because of the sharp divide in perspectives as it pertains to the handling of the many variants that are wreaking havoc across the nation. Could it be just a coincidence, that so many distresses are converging at the same time? Or is it a harbinger of something very ominous on the horizon?

Sooner or later persons will have to conclude that the troubles that are coming upon the world are not mere temporary aberrations, but are the fulfillment of that which is written in the Bible. Even though many in the secular realm may hate to admit it, yet it’s a fact that the frequency and intensity of events over the past two decades are very abnormal, even for our world, which has seen its share of wars and calamities.

Like the Philistines, who were at a loss for reasons, why adversities and destructions piled upon them, some experts in our day have unwittingly tried to explain current events along strictly scientific lines, without referencing those apocalyptic prophecies given in the Bible, which plainly state that current events do portend a cataclysmic end to normalcy, as we know it.

Back then the Philistines had set their own personal parameters to verify whether the devastation which had ravaged their country was a capricious blip, that just happened out of the blue by chance or whether it was the God of heaven trying to reach them. They then put the matter to the test to ascertain the real cause of their troubles, and they did receive a clear confirmation, according to their own standard that they had set. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 6:2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the Lord? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.

3 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.

4 Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.

7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them.

8 And take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.

9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast

to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us.

12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.

However, unlike the situation with the Philistines of old, the adversities that are coming upon the world are not of God’s doing, for He has given us grace for grace through the merits of Christ, and as the direct result each member of the human family is become a recipient and beneficiary of God’s love some more some less.

At the same time we should also note that God’s grace would not always reverse the laws of cause and effect, which in many cases, are permitted to run their natural course, and as a result, many of the apocalyptic prophecies written in the Bible are just a concise delineation of what man has done or is doing to himself.

Case in point is the issue of devastating droughts all over the world, from Greece to Russia, and from the Midwest to Africa. All over the world, the same cry for water is being made, because the reservoirs and dams which were formerly fed by snow packs, year- round, have now become so severely depleted that hydropower plants had to shut down, and water is currently being trucked into California as a result.

Question: Is it God that is doing these things to the human family? Or are we just reaping the fruits of our own doing? The correct answer to these two questions will shed great light on why apocalyptic prophecies were written the way they were. Let’s read:

Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

In the above passage the prophet Isaiah, in pointing out the reasons for what comes next in the chapter, says that the reason for the distress is that we have “transgressed the laws”. Question: Which laws is the prophet referring to?

Answer: Not only is the prophet referencing the Ten commandments, written with the finger of God, he is also referring to dietary laws, agricultural laws, environmental laws, social laws and godly principles that were given to make the world run efficiently as possible.

But we have cast out as archaic and irrelevant many of the statutes and instructions given to the human family by God, and as a result the Bible predicts that our chickens will be coming home to roost, sooner or later.

Those soothsayers, and smooth-talking preachers who declare peace and safety, will have a very rude awakening, when they realize too late that every word in the Bible was given to guide our feet in the ways of righteousness and peace. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 5:3 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.

Jeremiah 6:14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

And conversely, any departure from it is written will eventually be visited with the natural consequences if there isn’t a change of direction in persons. Thus, the prophet Isaiah alludes to these consequences in the apocalyptic prophecies, and because there will always be a remnant who choose to serve and obey God, mitigations are included, so that all who will, may find a refuge, while the opportunity still lingers. Let’s read:

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.

Thus, the overwhelming majority of the apocalyptic prophecies given in the scriptures do not delineate anything that God is doing to us. In most cases, the prophets are just stating the natural results of our departures from that which is written for our own good.

Now, it is true that in Revelation 16, God will act in a decisive manner in the seven last plagues that are to be poured out upon the earth, but until that time when human probation will be permanently closed, the bulk of troubles will be the inevitable results of what we have done to ourselves, in departing from God’s ideals that are written.

Climate change and global warming are the direct results of a constant violation of the agricultural and environmental laws given us by The God of heaven, which, if they were followed, would have staved off very much of the drought, wildfires, heat, storms, and the resulting devastation we are seeing today.

Hurricane Harvey, which devastated Texas dumped about thirty three trillion gallons of water in just a matter of days, and in the last two decades we have broken records for tornadoes, hurricanes, and rain, in so much that, that some are proposing that we add a category 6 to the Sapphire Simson scale.

The Lord would have us to understand that after He created the earth, He put in place the principles of replenishing, by which man, beast, and the entire environment we live in could be rejuvenated on an ongoing basis. Therefore, any earthly system which does not include the principle of replenishing would certainly be doomed to fail.

Re·plen·ish: To fill something up again. To put back, refill, fill up, recharge, reload, top up, restore a stock or to supply to a former level or condition.

Antonyms: Empty, deplete, drain, eliminate, bleed, exhaust, void.

This overarching principle of replenishing applies to the entire spectrum of human activity, from our physical bodies to farming, from the use of water, to eating, from breathing, to sabbath keeping and it applies to financial resources where putting back or saving for the rainy day are offshoots of the same principle.

The reason why our national debt will continue to skyrocket is not because God is doing something to us, it is because the principles of replenishing have for all intents and purposes been disregarded, and, as a natural result, the well would run dry sooner or later, for we will not be able to print our way out of the disaster that has been in the making for years.

As we read, we’ll observe in the following passages that closely intertwined with the laws of God is the principle of replenishing, for it is an undergirding necessity for continuity to be guaranteed. Without it, resources will be depleted and famines, droughts and distresses of all sorts will ensue. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Proverbs 11:24 There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters, shall be watered also himself.

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work,

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

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

Leviticus 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.

10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.

Now, as it pertains to the issue of climate change, and the horrible droughts and the wildfires we are currently witnessing, some of us may be wondering which specific laws are we referring to, which have resulted in the tragedies of nature. We do not have to look very far, for they are written right there in the scriptures. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

Allowing the earth to replenish itself via a one-year sabbatical rest, would make way for the trees, earth and vegetation to be rejuvenated, and would put a one year pause on lumbering. This in turn would allow the greenhouse gases trapped in the earth’s upper atmosphere to be removed, because trees remove carbon dioxide from the air, they store it in the soil and in themselves, and then release oxygen back into the air.

But with the insatiable demand for lumber and farm land for cattle, forests the world over have been cut down with little regard for God’s laws and the earth has not been allowed to rest, and the profit coming from many such industries has driven companies to use earth’s resources indiscriminately.

Also, with the onset of the industrial revolution, and our consequent heavy dependence on fossil fuels, greenhouse gases have skyrocketed and as a result, the thinning of earth’s upper shield has been greatly accelerated. Therefore, the apocalyptic prophecies pertaining to our day were written in the context of what man has mostly done to himself, and not what God is doing to man. Let’s read:

Isaiah 24:6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Another of the apocalyptic prophecies pertaining to the last days is the proliferation of false prophets in Christendom and beyond. Back in the days of old, heathenism was at swords points against anything that savored of Christianity. But after the heinous persecution of the dark ages subsided, heathenism dressed itself in sacerdotal garments, walked right into the church, and took a front row seat.

Then, with the diabolical blend of Christianity and heathenism, the way was paved for false prophets to arise as it were from obscurity, armed with many smooth doctrines and teachings that contradict the word of God. Morality was made subservient to the clamors of the flesh, and absolute truth was made a relic of the ancients.

In addition, these false preachers and televangelists discovered that if they told persons what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear, a thriving business which brings in billions annually would be the result, and thus, church has all but become a business enterprise, rather than the Christ centered mission to save souls which God originally intended it should be.

Thus, it’s not because of anything that God does or has done why the multitudes are being led astray in false paths by would-be business men who have embraced theology. God ordains some to preach, and He permits others to preach, but as a general rule of thumb, those who are ordained of God are always in the minority. Always! Let’s read:

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.

The fake healers, who for many years were shaking down their congregations across America, using stop and frisk methods, were somehow nowhere to be seen or found as the current pandemic spread its deadly tentacles across the nations of earth.

At this time above all others, Americans could have really used their services, if they were genuine, but we did not hear a single word from them, since they were missing in action, for some strange reason.

As thousands lay dying in hospitals, nursing homes, and in various makeshift medical facilities that had sprung up in various locations because of the sheer volume of patients, the false healers in Christendom should have been present to perform miracles, just as the purported to do in former years.

And if they could blow on persons, and cause them to collapse on the ground, certainly they could blow again and cause Covid to disappear. But ironically, they too were running for cover, and some had to close up shop as Covid and Delta revealed that they are no respecter of persons.

Again, it’s not The Lord that is doing something to us, it’s the apocalyptic prophecies being fulfilled, as the principles of cause and effect take their natural course. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 2:21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

Jeremiah 27:14 Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you …. for they prophesy a lie unto you.

15 For I have not sent them, saith the Lord, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.

Another of the apocalyptic prophecies given in the scriptures has to do with the turmoil and unrest that will be gripping the nations of earth. We are in a volatile state, both at home and abroad, and even though efforts are being made to right the ship, it is still taking on lots of water, for the nations are on edge, and the folly of some is being made manifest in decisions that cause much more problems than are solved. Let’s read:

Matthew 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

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

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

The Taliban is now on the move in Afghanistan, and much adversity, and bloodletting would result, the likes of which will make the most hardened criminal cringe. Obviously, mortal man does not have the solutions to this earth’s problems, and sooner or later persons would have to confront a stark realty, that maybe, just maybe, the end of all things is drawing near.

Therefore, in lieu of what is certainly taking place as it pertains to the fulfillment of apocalyptic prophecy in our day, God desires that a certain mindset will pervade the believer because looking at and hearing all of the bad news could really take a toll on one’s outlook, if there are not promises of hope to bring balance to the equation.

God does not desire that His people should panic, nor is it His will that we should be lumped together with everyone else, some of which do not live with the lively hope of the resurrection and the earth made new. In fact, what may seem to the secular mind as a harbinger of doom, should be to the remnant, heralds of the morning, for both light and gross darkness are on the horizon. 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.

Thus, the outlook for the believer should not ever be centered on a mad rush to survive, because it’s not survival but surrender that is required. Neither should we be consumed with doomsday bunkers in neverland, or hoarding precious goods to last many years into the future.

The focus and the outlook for the remnant should consist of fulfilling the great commission as best we can, living godly and exemplary lives, and seeking to save as many as so desire, while the door of mercy is still open. Loaded with The Holy Ghost and with the health message, the remnant should be leading the charge on several fronts, to let persons know that the gospel offers spiritual and physical well-being.

Seminars and webinars on healthful cooking as well as healthful practices, including a regular exercise regimen should be set in motion since the right arm of the gospel ought to be employed as an entering wedge to reach hearts and minds.

These efforts on our part are not be theoretical in nature; instead, the remnant are to lead by example so that deep a conviction of the facts may rest upon the gainsayers while the Holy Spirit etches the truth deep and indelibly into the conscience. Thus, as we end, instead of us focusing on the fulfillment of the apocalyptic prophecies, let us instead cultivate a positive outlook, for prophecy and promise would soon converge.

We’ll end with several passages of scripture which teach us what our current duty and practice should be, and if we ask God to keep our minds stayed on Him, we would not be sucked into the vacuum of fear that is now gripping persons, the world over. Let’s read:

Luke 21;28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.

31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

2nd Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

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

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

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

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.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

God bless!

The Gold You Don't Know You Have. Sabbath afternoon 08/14/2021

Hebrews 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

Let us begin with a true story. Recently, someone called me to find out if I could change the oil on a 2020 Lamborghini Urus. Without stopping to think about it carefully, I said yes, absolutely, and it was only afterward that I realized what I had gotten into because this was no ordinary vehicle.

But because God has taught us to think along “Yes” veins of thought, I spontaneously answered in the affirmative. This mode of thought stems from the study of certain passages of scripture which teach us that there is nothing impossible with God, and another says that all the promises of God in Christ Jesus are “Yes”.

Thus, I began to search for the relevant information on my program which delivers the most recent data on almost all vehicles sold in the United States. But lo and behold, Lamborghinis were nowhere to be found, since they are high-performance specialty vehicles.

This conundrum I found myself in seemed to be a call to prayer, for whenever the Christian is faced with challenges and difficulties, there goes another opportunity to seek out The God of the impossible. And so, I prayed and asked God for wisdom to deal with the situation, since the customer was pressing me to do the work.

The Lord then led me to research the matter on the internet to see if perchance, anyone had posted a video of how to perform the work, but it was like wandering in the wilderness for forty days, because not a single video could be found.

In fact, some of the information and the tidbits that were posted about the vehicle in question, actually contained stories of individuals who had taken their Lamborghini to the dealer for an oil change and who were hit with a pretty hefty price tag. Finally, I decided to call the dealer, since they would at least be able to give me some guidance on pricing.

But yet again I hit a brick wall, because the dealer never divulged any pertinent information, since, as far as they are concerned, owners of Lamborghinis should never ask how much an oil change costs. So, I had to pray again for wisdom, and this time The Lord led me to investigate what type of engine the Urus came with, if perchance I may be able to cross reference it.

And bingo, there it was, it carried a 671-horsepower dual turbo engine, which also comes in the Audi RS Q8, and which was referenced in my program as can be observed in the following information:

2020 Audi SQ8 Quattro V8-4.0L Turbo

Service Tables, TSBs, Diagrams, Parts and Labor, Maintenance, INFORMATION SYSTEMS & COMPONENTS, Accessories and Optional Equipment, ALL Diagnostic Trouble Codes, Body and Frame, Brakes and Traction Control, Cruise Control Engine, Cooling and Exhaust, Cooling System, engine, Exhaust System, etc.

Thus, armed with the information I needed, I went to the auto parts store that sells German parts, only to be told, after they searched diligently, that they do not sell any parts for Lamborghinis. So, The Lord put it in my mind to ask them if they sold parts for the Audi SQ8, and lo and behold they did, so I was finally able to get the parts I needed, which were the exact parts as the vehicle in question.

But the difficulties were not finished yet, because the actual work had to be done. And because it was a challenge, I saw the present situation as another call to prayer. Thus, I will just share with you a text message exchange with a good friend of mine, who I asked to pray for me as I worked.

Me: Hello ….! Pray for me! I’m working on a 2020 Lamborghini Urus. Reply: Bro what is your problem? That is presumption, no prayers for you! However, God directed my steps, the work was completed, the auto parts store is now selling the Lamborghini parts as a result, and the rest is history.

The Bible study this evening is not about my friend, nor is it about the Lamborghini, nor is it about the prayers that were made to God about the situation at hand; it’s about the parts store, that actually had in their inventory the parts for the Lamborghini but which they did not know that they had.

Like the parts store in question, many of us do have gold in our possession, yet, we may not know what we have. It is a solemn statement of fact, that the resources, gifts, and treasures given to us in Christ, and which are at our disposal, have in many cases, scarcely been tapped, and for this reason, many of us have come to accept as the norm, a relationship with God that is way below par.

The Gold that we have in our possession, and yet may not know that we have is power. Whatever is read in the Bible, such as the methods, principles, laws, and statutes are all a dead letter without the power to activate and put into practice. Knowledge without power becomes a vanity that may relish and drool for things that are essentially out of one’s reach.

For instance, if one is struggling with addictions, he or she may read the Bible from cover to cover about what should or should not be done. And there are a plethora of dos and don’ts to be found, but without power to activate the knowledge thus gleaned, the person will be relegated to wishful thinking.

This predicament is referenced by the apostle Paul, who struggled with latent tendencies that strove for the mastery. Let’s read:

Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not but what I hate that I do.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

18 For to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

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

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

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

Most of our youth who have gone astray actually know what is the right thing to do, because the seeds of truth have been already sown in their hearts, since they were young. The prodigal son did not need a Bible study on what to do in desperate times, for that knowledge he already had, and thus he knew his way back home.

What is needed in the case of the young and the restless, as well as the older, is the realization of the power that is available, and which has already been dispensed to every individual who has, or has had a relationship with God, for if persons do not know that they have power, they would not access it.

Therefore, as we examine the gold that is already in our possession, and which we may not have known we had, let’s endeavor by the grace of God to put it to use, in overcoming foes from within and without.

This power comes through the presence of The Holy Spirit, who brings all the energy, will, and resources needed for us to live victoriously. The power to deal with any, and every situation will be highlighted, so that we may be aware of what God has granted to us through the third Person of The God-head. Let’s read:

[1] The Power to live a Christian life.

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.

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.

Christians have been given power to stop bad habits dead in their tracks. Like Paul, some of us will often experience the gravitational pull of fallen human nature in our persons, but the power to stop desire from germinating into harbored thought and action is readily available at our fingertips.

The secular philosophy which teaches that in every situation, time must be allotted for persons to wean themselves off of this or that bad habit, is a virtual admission of a lack of awareness of the power that has been given to us through The Holy Ghost.

Even though there are situations where elapsed time might be necessary between addictions and victory, yet we should never believe that this is the only way to overcome.

The scripture teaches us unequivocally that power has been given to us in Jesus to pull the plug on bad habits, at short notice, as in today for tomorrow. This is absolutely possible if we access the “Gold” we may not know we have. Let’s read:

Matthew 5:30 And if thy right hand offends thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee.

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.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

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

[2] The power to witness to others.

No need to get cold feet when speaking to someone about Jesus, and no reason to be afraid, or nervous about the possibility of being rebuffed when we are witnessing. The presence of The Holy Ghost grants us power and boldness to speak forth the words of truth and soberness regardless of the consequences or outcomes.

Those preachers who might choose the easy path of least resistance, by using smooth words to palliate the sinner, when it’s fitting that a person be made aware of their danger, are not powerful preachers as they may seem to be. They may scream, shout, and perform a whole lot of antics, but at their core they are in most cases weak time-servers.

In fact, it is because of a virtual lack of Holy Ghost power, why some professed preachers often find it necessary to resort to the external manifestation of miracles, to make up for the shortfall in substantive teaching. A proliferation of miracles in any ministry that is devoid of those vital truths of the Bible, is a sign of weakness, not of power.

When persons are loaded with the power of The Holy Spirit, all of the antics, rebuffs, resistance from itching ears, and persecutions, are actually turned into incentives for witnessing, for, as Jesus Himself said of the gospel, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. Let’s read:

Acts 1:8 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 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Acts 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

[3] The power over all diseases.

This one is huge, because not only does God desire that we should prosper and be in health, it is His will that His peculiar people should be depositaries, and dispensaries of great health and well-being across the entire globe. Especially is this the case now and into the future, where diseases and sicknesses of all sorts are scheduled to afflict the human family.

The good news of the gospel is all encompassing in its scope, and must of necessity include power to fend off most, if not all types of diseases in those who believe. Where human effort and research may fail, Holy-Ghost power is given to take up the slack according to God’s will, so that there is no need for persons to suffer unnecessarily, as if there is no God in heaven. Let’s read:

Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

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

As was stated several times before on this forum, Covid has many brothers, and family members that would be emerging from the shadows from time to time, and sooner or later the increase of pestilences across the entire globe will cause science to run out of bullets.

This will then create dire need and will set the stage for what the prophetic word has declared will most certainly come to pass. Devils will literally take the stage in real time, to presumably combat the onset of diseases of all sorts, and because peoples’ backs will be against a wall, it would seem as the only and logical way to go. Let’s read:

[The Great controversy pp 624] As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Savior's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come.

In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation.

The shout of triumph rings out upon the air., “Christ has come! Christ has come!” He heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed.

For many years the remnant people of God have for all intents and purposes gotten accustomed to a system of health and well-being that is mostly man-made in its structure and purposes. The free use of drugs, instead of natural, God-ordained remedies have for the most part become a mainstay of our concepts and practice of health.

And the tendency to treat symptoms, instead of us going to the root cause of diseases has set the stage for drug dependence, without which, many of us are not able to live. But we have turned a corner, and our practice will need to be more aligned with our faith so that God’s will and not man’s will would rule the day, as it pertains to health and well-being.

God has given us “Gold” in the health message, in that the use and practice thereof will stave of many diseases and adverse conditions that afflict persons. Also, the natural remedies God has provided, would in many cases not produce the harmful side effects that are too often associated with the use of drugs.

God has put within the body mechanisms for it to heal itself in many cases, and even though nature’s workers might be a bit slower than over the counter drugs, yet the final products will be much more in harmony with God’s will for us.

God’s ideal diet of fruit, vegetables, nuts and grains, coupled together with faith, clean water, sunshine, regular exercise, restful sleep, fresh air, and a clear conscience would go much further in fostering great health, than most quick fixes that are sold in a drug store.

God’s power to heal is often coupled together with what He recommends, very much the same as when human doctors would prescribe their medicines, in conjunction with their expertise in healing the body. Let us therefore reach for the gold, that we may not know we have, so that we may, like the parts store in our testimony, be able to share it with the world.

In harmony with the presentation, we will end with a passage of scripture that should prompt us to duly consider our mitigation strategies moving forward, as we face the prospect of ongoing disease that will multiply in frequency and intensity. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 8:21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

God Bless!