From Creation To The Grave And Back. Part [2] Sabbath afternoon 11/19/2022

1st Corinthians 15: 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

In most of the Bible studies which are done on this forum, we try to give practical applications of the truths presented so that the word of God will not be held as a mere theoretical document, but rather as knowledge that could and should be applied in your everyday experiences.

 But, as we get closer to the final conflict of the ages, we will have to address certain truths from a more intellectual perspective, so that we may understand clearly, what we believe, and therefore, we will be enabled to share intelligently with others, the things which belong to our peace.

Indeed, the sealing work of God in our foreheads is both spiritual and intellectual in nature, so that we would not be moved. Thus, part two of the topic we begun earlier will be more intellectual in nature. Let’s read:

[Manuscript 173 par25] 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.

In part one of the above topic, we established from the scriptures that God always uses preexisting raw materials, that are then glorified, in the resurrection of the dead, and in the translation of the living.

The process of glorification isn’t disclosed, nor is it explained anywhere in the scriptures, but what is known for certain is that great changes would be made to preexisting material by the power of God alone.

This can also be certified in the scripture if we were to study the creation of the new heaven and earth. It is this very planet that God uses as the preexisting material, which is then transformed by the fires of hell, to produce an entirely different planet.

In the Spirit of prophecy, it is actually referred to as a purifying process by which the fervent heat from the fires of hell will trigger a metamorphosis of the preexistent planet earth, and thereby produce fresh raw material for God to work with.

In fact, the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven, before the destruction of the rest of the earth by fire, and thus, those who will be saved for eternity will be living on this earth, while all hell breaks loose just outside of the city’s walls.

The presence and power of the Eternal God purifies the piece of real estate where the New Jerusalem is to be located on our planet, but all the rest of the earth will remain intact in its then current form until the time of the executive judgement.

There are several passages in the Scriptures which certify that which was just said, for as we’ve stated previously, God very often utterly exhausts material that is readily available, which He then couples with His Divine power, to produce new material. Let’s read:

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

[Great Controversy pp 662>664] Christ descends upon the Mount of Olives, whence, after his resurrection, he ascended, and where angels repeated the promise of his return. Says the prophet, “The Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.”

 “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof, ... and there shall be a very great valley.” “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.” [Zechariah 14:5, 4, 9.]

As the New Jerusalem, in its dazzling splendor, comes down out of Heaven, it rests upon the place purified and made ready to receive it, and Christ with his people and the angels, enters the holy city.

Satan consults with his angels, and then with these kings and conquerors and mighty men. They look upon the strength and numbers on their side, and declare that the army within the city is small in comparison with theirs, and that it can be overcome.

 They lay their plans to take possession of the riches and glory of the New Jerusalem. At last, the order to advance is given, and the countless host moves on, an army such as was never summoned by earthly conquerors, such as the combined forces of all ages since war began on earth could never equal.

Satan, the mightiest of warriors, leads the van, and his angels unite their forces for this final struggle. Kings and warriors are in his train and the multitude follow in vast companies, each under its appointed leader.

 With military precision, the serried ranks advance over the earth's broken and uneven surface to the city of God. By command of Jesus, the gates of the New Jerusalem are closed, and the armies of Satan surround the city, and make ready for the onset.

The above information from the Scriptures and the pen of inspiration has settled forever the issue of God using the preexisting material of our planet to make a new earth, after the purifying processes of hell fire is accomplished. In other words, the earth becomes entirely, and materially different because of the fervent heat. Let’s read:

Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

2nd Peter 3: 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.

So now, we turn to the same issue as it pertains to the use of preexisting material in the resurrection of the righteous. Just as our planet would undergo the dramatic metamorphosis because of the intense fire of hell, just so the preexistent dust which comprised our former selves would undergo God’s glorification process to produce a new spiritual body, as Christ’s.

This fact is corroborated both by the Scriptures and the servant of The Lord, as can be observed in the following statements which ought to be read closely and very slowly, in order to grasp what is being said. Let’s read:

[Letters And Manuscripts 15 par. 10] Our personal identity is preserved in the resurrection, though not the same particles of matter or material substance as went into the grave. The same form will come forth, but it will be free from disease and every defect. It lives again bearing the same individuality of features, so that friend will recognize friend. There is no law of God in nature which shows that God gives back the same identical particles of matter which composed the body before death.

Paul illustrates this subject by a kernel of grain sown in the field. The planted kernel decays, but there comes forth a new kernel. The natural substance in the grain that decays is never raised as before, but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him. A much finer material will compose the human body, for it is a new creation, a new birth. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

These statements ought to be read very carefully and slowly, for they harmonize perfectly with that which is written in the Scripture. For instance, when Adam was first made from the dust of the ground at creation, the work of God upon him changed the particular make up of preexistent dust into what we now know as a human being, with flesh and bones.

But although originally made from the dust, there is nothing about the human body currently that even remotely resembles the original raw materials that were used in man’s first creation. I personally have gotten bad cuts on different occasions, and not for once did any dust come out of my veins.

The same is true of the resurrection of the righteous for although former raw materials are used, there is nothing remotely close to the original materials, for God will give us a spiritual body. When seed is sown in the ground, the end product of the regeneration process is nothing like the decayed seed that rotted under the clods of earth.

A brand new tree, complete with leaves, branches and fruit is the end product of that which decayed and decomposed. But it was the former material of seed that was used to generate the latter. Thus, it is with the original particles that all go down into the grave.

At the command of God those former particles are reunited together again, glorified and immortalized to produce a brand new spiritual body, that could pass through solid matter. We should not limit the power of God to do as He has said, for nothing is impossible with God.

Question: Are the people of Sodom going to be raised from their graves, after being turned to ashes in the overthrow that took place in Lot’s time?

According to the scriptures, absolutely yes! God has the power to bring them back from ashes, and thus it will be with every saint who was burned at the stake and whose ashes were cast far and wide; God will absolutely bring them back from the ashes.

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were reduced to ashes, and yet, God will bring back persons from the ashes, complete with flesh and bones and with their particular identity. Over time those ashes may have been scattered far and wide, but God has the power to bring them back together again as an indivisible whole. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 2:6 God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemning them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly.

Matthew 10: 14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Ezekiel 37: 5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

However, there is a huge difference between those who are raised to life, and those who will be raised to damnation. Those who are raised to damnation will be comprised of their original particles, before the died. But those who are raised to life will have new particles, because their former dust has been glorified and made eternal.

These scriptural utterances pertaining to what takes place in the resurrection leads us to the sepulcher of Elisha, who died and was buried, and whose body had undergone a partial process of decomposition, leaving only his bones remaining at the time when an account of a particular incident took place at his grave site.

Before Elijah was translated to heaven, Elisha had asked him for a double portion of the Spirit that was upon him, and so said, so done, for a double portion of The Holy Ghost was then given to him. But after he died, he was buried in a cave, where the natural processes of decomposition were taking place.

However, there were invasions of the land of Israel from time to time, and on this occasion, some folks were just about to bury a man, but when they saw the enemy invaders, they quickly turned aside so as to avoid conflict, and they let down the coffin of the man in question, into the cave where Elisha’s bones lay decomposing.

But lo and behold, as the new coffin, with the dead man inside it, touches the bones of Elisha, the dead man stands up on his two feet, and apparently, he walks out of the gravesite safe and sound. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 13: 20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulcher of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

This particular instance must be studied carefully so as to better understand what took place. There is to be no superstition when studying sacred truth, and the things that are written, are written for a reason. To begin with, there was nothing about the bones of Elisha that gave the stranger life. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 9: 5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

God alone is the Life-Giver, and in this instance, He chose to resurrect the dead stranger, through The agency of The Holy Spirit, probably, as a token of hope to the children of Israel who were at that time sweltering under a load of despair.

Yet, it is a fact that those who have been united with God in this life are never severed from Christ, even in death, and it is by virtue of this union with The Holy Ghost that persons are be resurrected to life.

In other words, even though Elisha is very dead, yet The Spirit of God is very alive, and it is because of this sacred truth why we have hope. The Scripture is abundantly clear on this matter, and since The Spirit of God can revive Christ, He can also revive anyone who died in Christ. Let’s read:

Job 33: 4 The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Romans 8: 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Psalms 139: 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

John 11: 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

26 And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

[The Desire of Ages pp 388] Christ became one flesh with us, in order that we might become one spirit with Him. It is by virtue of this union that we are to come forth from the grave, not merely as a manifestation of the power of Christ, but because, through faith, His life has become ours. It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal.

This brings us to the most sobering, and pertinent truth of the study this evening, for whatsoever one might do, or whosoever one may claim to be, if The Spirit of God is not enthroned in the person’s heart that person’s hope of eternal life is vain.

We very often hear of appeals for persons to accept Christ as Lord and Savior, but very often not enough emphasis is put on the importance of the indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Spirit of God is given to every believer as an “Earnest” or down payment on eternal life, and it is by walking by faith, living and abiding in Christ, that the promise is certified for eternity.

In other words, just like how God needed to see the blood on every doorpost, just so, He is also looking for the presence of His Spirit in all those who name the name of Christ because after all is said and done and after all the sermons have been preached, and after all the appeals have been made the crux of the matter basically comes down to this one thing. Let’s read:

Romans 8: 9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if it so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Some persons may have graduated from theological universities with their Doctorate in theology, and others might specialize in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. That is all well and good and worthy of note, but we must never forget that the most important thing is to have Spirit of God living on the inside.

It is not church attendance, it is not the ability to rightly divide the word of truth, nor is it charitable works that are done. While these things are good in and of themselves, and should be encouraged, at the end of the day, all of the above should be as a result of The Holy Spirit abiding in the heart.

Therefore, an earnest appeal goes out to all who may not have fully understood these sacred truths in times past. Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, for it is the indwelling of Christ in the heart, through the medium of His Holy Spirit, that ensures to us eternal life.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which certifies these sacred truths, and it is the will of God that all who so desire, respond in the positive to the gracious overtures of the Holy Ghost. Let’s read:

Romans 8: 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

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!

Winds Of Change Are Blowing. Sabbath afternoon 11/12/2022

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.

The rains which descend, the floods that come, and the winds that blow, represent a vast, multi-prong assault that is to be unleashed on everyone, across the entire globe, by the forces of darkness that are striving for the control of the world.

God would have us to understand that there are different winds that have begun to blow, beginning with the recent pandemic, continuing with different variants and strains, and a plethora of other issues and problems persons are going to face in the not- too distant future.

There are financial and economic winds that already have begun to blow, for try as persons and nations might, we just seem to be caught in a debt spiral, by which nations and individuals need to borrow more and more, just to survive.

Inflationary pressures are biting a large chunk out of every paycheck and the struggle to make ends meet has become a daunting reality for many families, as they try to stretch every dollar.

Then there are military winds that are blowing, for there is war and rumors of war across the globe, in many countries, some more, some less. The saber rattling by nuclear powers that is ongoing in places that are increasingly unstable, tells us that it is only the grace of God that is holding back the winds of strife, spoken of in Revelation chapter 7.

Then there are the morality winds that are likened unto a category 5 hurricane, by which millions are losing their moral compass, and have exchanged the word of The Living God for philosophies and divergent views that are tethered to relativism.

Wherever there is no absolute truth there will also be absolute chaos, because with the scripture being thrown out the window, folks are losing their ability to discern clearly between truth and error.

Families and individuals will become split on their perspectives of life, as erroneous concepts would become more firmly entrenched in the national psyche.

Then there are political winds that are blowing, by which persons of different political persuasions are viewed in some instances as being mortal enemies. The seeds of doubt, skepticism, and distrust have already been sown, and like the laws of sowing and reaping, they will spring up and bear corresponding fruit in due season.

Then again there are climactic winds that blowing, as can be seen in the depletion of water resources, and the stubbornly persistent drought across the entire globe. In the U.S.A Midwest thousands upon thousands of cattle have to be laid to rest because of the ongoing drought.

And lake Mead, lake Erie, and several others have been steadily dropping at an alarming rate, in so much that the authorities are currently rationing water in certain communities, and the supply chain issues are being exacerbated, because of low water levels on the Mississippi River.

Thus, when Jesus says in our first passage that the winds descended, the floods came, and the winds blew, He is not only referring to that which will take place in the religious world, but rather the holistic approach of many disturbances that will be coming upon the face of the earth in short order.

Then it will be, that when these winds begin to blow with increasing frequency and intensity, Christians who were founded upon The Rock Christ Jesus, will not be moved, while others would be displaced.

Indeed, the winds that are referred to in our first passage are scheduled to affect every person on the planet, whether a person is a Christian or not, and thus, the only difference is that some are anchored, while others are not.

 Next year around this time, the world could be in a very different place than it is currently, and that is because winds of change, which would materially alter life as we know it, have already begun to blow.

And according to Daniel and all the other prophets who wrote about the final conflict, those winds of change would gather momentum, as the coming of Christ draws nearer.

The foundation has already been laid for anarchy of the sort most persons have never seen. For instance it is becoming normal and acceptable for persons to rise up in rebellion against the powers that be, who have been duly elected, this, in contradiction to the scriptural counsels given. Let’s read:

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

One does not have to agree with the entire agenda of those whom God has allowed to rule, for in some instances, oppressive laws have been enacted that hurt the vulnerable.

 When the children of Israel in Egyptian bondage had complained to Moses of the hard dealings they received from their taskmasters, God never advised any of them to rise up in rebellion against pharaoh, for he had become king by God’s own appointment.

Thus, when Moses attempted to resort to violence against the ruling oppressors, he had to flee for his life, for he soon found out that neither God or the Hebrews would be backing his methods, or agenda, for this is not the way God intended for freedom to become a reality for them.

When duly elected officials are regularly made the targets of threats, when attacks on democracy are becoming the norm, and when seeds of doubt are being sown almost daily, it will just be a matter of time before the lamblike beast will begin to speak as a dragon.

Currently, in every nation of the earth, there is to be found some major trouble brewing. If it is not that horrific violence in Ukraine, it is the many murders and kidnappings now taking place in several islands of the Caribbean.

From Iran to Haiti, from Russia to China, and right here across the continental United States, senseless violence and mass shootings are becoming regular occurrences.

And by daily seeing these incidents on the news, we are becoming desensitized to the seriousness of the problem. Then again there is the utter intransigence of political leaders, who seem to be going after each other’s jugular as if they are mortal enemies.

There is no doubt, that the once shining star upon the hill is devolving into a cut-throat culture, by which fellow citizens are pitted against each other and the freedom to vote, and express one’s opinion is becoming riskier with every election cycle.

The forces of darkness are working deliberately and systematically to undermine our established social order, and the structural integrity of many families and of governments alike are daily being torn down.

There is nothing more detrimental to democratic norms as to sow suspicion, and mistrust of others, for when this is the case, anarchy will not be too far behind.

 Again, with the global tightening of monetary policy and the astronomical rise in interest rates, some are sure to succumb to the increasing pressure, as more individuals and families will struggle, to make ends meet.

When increasing numbers of the population find it a necessity to borrow to live, you know that we are in the red zone already.

 Putting food on the table is becoming increasingly challenging for everyday people, and as the heat of the furnace is ratcheted up even more, there would be more individuals and families that will become displaced. It’s just one aspect of the financial winds that have already begun to blow.

Miami recently registered the highest increases in rent and home prices across the entire nation which tells us that more and more persons will be heading North of the border.

In fact, currently in Miami, there is a sort of coerced financial gentrification, by which many families are being forced to relocate, because of sky-high prices for housing and rent. And the inevitable collateral damage will take place, in that many skilled workers would be leaving, being priced out of the areas they once lived in.

There are also looming layoffs, coming from major employers such as Meta and Twitter and others, for whenever a company’s outflow becomes greater than its inflow, employees will inevitably be placed on the chopping block.

When skilled workers are in short supply, the cost of doing business goes up, and cause and effect thereby becomes a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy.

Another aspect of the winds of change that are now blowing is the many and varied shortages across the globe. Whether it is the drought, and a lack of water in several countries, or the lack of computer chips, which most persons have come to depend on.

 I recently ordered a module from the dealership in September, with the understanding that it could take anywhere from one to four weeks. We are now in November, so I thought I would check up on the dealer to see if there was any luck in procuring it.

I was told that it could be next year before it comes through, then they showed me a stack of hundreds of items on backorder, with no ETA attached. Those supply shortages that were triggered by the recent pandemic are having a debilitating and long-lasting effect on trade.

 And with China in lockdown mode in several cities, the light at the end of the tunnel seems even more distant than ever. Thus, when Christ says that the winds will blow and the rain will descend, He was referring to disturbances and challenges that would be arising on several different fronts.

Whenever needed resources become scarce conflict is never far away, as was demonstrated during the siege of Jerusalem. At that time, things in the city had reached an all-time low, and skirmishes, fights and violence erupted over the little food that was scarcely available. History is often repeated, so let’s read:

Deuteronomy 28: 50 A nation of fierce countenance which shall not regard the person of the old or show favor to the young.

51 And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he has destroyed thee.

[The Great Controversy pp 32 > 37] So fierce were the pangs of hunger that men would gnaw the leather of their belts and sandals and the covering of their shields.

Great numbers of the people would steal out at night to gather wild plants growing outside the city walls, though many were seized and put to death with cruel torture, and often those who returned in safety were robbed of what they had gleaned at so great peril.

Thousands perished from famine and pestilence. Natural affection seemed to have been destroyed. Husbands robbed their wives, and wives their husbands. Children would be seen snatching the food from the mouths of their aged parents.

 The Savior's prophecy concerning the visitation of judgments upon Jerusalem is to have another fulfillment, of which that terrible desolation was but a faint shadow. In the fate of the chosen city, we may behold the doom of a world that has rejected God's mercy and trampled upon his law.

 In the several experiences of Job we may observe what Jesus is referring to, when He speaks about being founded upon The Rock, as the rains descend, as the floods come, and as the winds blow.

 Job and his family were then living in relative ease and security, when out of the blue without warning, the winds of change started to blow. First it was the financial winds that wreaked havoc on flocks, herds and shepherds, virtually eliminating Job’s income.

 With no money coming in, Job suddenly faced the prospect of having to dip into his reserves. But at that time, much of a persons’ wealth was living and breathing in the form of vast herds of livestock. So, with all of this now gone, Job is facing a grim future.

Then it was his children, who were suddenly taken away by the icy fingers of death. Ask any parent and they will tell you that to lose one child prematurely could be heart-wrenching to say the least. Job lost ten children in one day! Indeed, the winds blew and the rain descended and the floods came for Job.

But the archenemy of God and man wasn’t finished with him yet, for when Job was smitten with sore boils he needed someone to support and encourage him as he was dealt blow after blow. He is now at his lowest point and the nearest and dearest mortal he can turn to is his wife.

When spouses are at their lowest point, when the waves of despair and discouragement sweep over the soul, the husband and the wife should be nearer and dearer to each other by helping to lift the heavy burdens through prayer and supplication.

Never should the suggestion be made for persons to turn their back on God at their lowest point because when this is the case, it is only God one can turn to for help in due season. It is when we are weak that we are strong, and therefore, an all-hands-on-deck approach will serve to foster faith and courage amid the gloom of despair.

What is worthy of note is that the Bible says Job was a righteous man, so you will not see anywhere in the first few chapters of his experience where Job cursed. He would pray daily for his children, and he would lend a helping hand to those in need, and his words were always seasoned with grace. Always!

 That is, until the heat of the furnace was ratcheted up several notches, and now, with all of his children and employees gone, and now, with his own wife suggesting the unthinkable, Job opens his mouth, and for the very first time in the narrative, Job curses his day. Let’s read:

Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

2 And Job spoke, and said,

3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day.

10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

Before we proceed, let’s read our very first passage so that the full meaning of what Christ said would sink deep into our consciences, for it is of critical importance that we be anchored to the Rock Christ Jesus. Let’s read:

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.

Very often, there comes a time in the Christian’s experience when there is nothing and no one else to lean on but Christ. The rug was virtually pulled out from under Job’s feet, and the only One who could sustain him was Christ.

Like Paul and those sailors who despaired of life as their ship ran aground, Job had not seen sun nor stars for many days, yet he knows that there is something bigger and better to live for, and it is his relationship with God alone that is key to sustaining him during his trials.

Even his friends, who were supposed to encourage him, instead unleashed a barrage of blistering words and comments that savored more of self-righteousness rather than empathy. That this was the case, can be seen in Job’s own assessment of those who had stopped by to visit. Let’s read:

Job 16: 2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

Thus, even though Job is buffeted on all sides, he is anchored to The Living word, and because of this singular fact, he gradually rises from the dust, he shakes of the blues, and his faith reaches for, and grasps the unseen realities of life, that make all the difference between hope and despair. Let’s read:

Job 19: 25 For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Being anchored in Christ means much more than a mere theoretical knowledge of Him, for while it is good to have the written word, The Living word of God in The Person of Jesus Christ, is what will make all the difference in the world.

Knowing Christ personally gives us energy, hope and resilience so that even though diabolical forces may seem to triumph for a while, yet the relationship with Jesus causes us to have stability and assurance when things start to go downhill.

In the not too distant future this will absolutely be the case for all who name the name of Christ, and thus, the words of Jesus, in our first passage are an appeal to us, to get to know God whilst we still can.

 The days of wine and roses will come to an end in this country, sooner or later, and then it will be that only those would be found in Christ will be enabled to weather the storms as they begin to roll in, fast and furiously.

Those of us who might have taken God’s grace for granted over the years are now encouraged to take the time to renew our relationship with Him. God is still in the business of saving persons, and all who have had the seeds of truth sown in their hearts at some time or another, would be welcomed in with arms opened wide.

 And to persons who may not have had opportunity or time to know God, today is your lucky day, for God will pardon and receive all who will come unto Him by faith.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture that would remind us to make the best of the golden opportunity to be saved. God is willing and ready, the question is, are we? Let’s read:

Isaiah 55: 6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

                                  God Bless!

From Creation To The Grave And Back. Sabbath afternoon 11/05/2022

John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Before we begin our study today there’s a very grim statement coming from the servant of The Lord that must be read and understood because it will set the stage for us to see the importance of revisiting the Biblical truths that are to be as clear as crystal in our minds, especially as we approach the final conflict of earth’s history. Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 70] When the time of trial shall come there are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason.

 Until thus tested they knew not their great ignorance. And there are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe, but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness.

 When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth.

The topic for today would deal specifically with the creation, the death, and the resurrection of man as is stated in the scriptures. For many years the truths that are written in the Bible upon these topics may have been studied in a manner that did not go deep enough to find the gold that is hidden beneath the surface.

But now, the time has come when the glory of God is to fill the entire earth and certain things that once were blurry to our minds, must be made plain. This is especially the case as we are heading into the last days of earth’s history where the things that we say we believe must be as a highway in our minds, so that we would not be moved.

Amid the numerous and discordant voices that seek to explain the origins of man, the word of God is to stand as a bulwark, making plain and simple, things that have been severely distorted by evolution, and erroneous deductions of scripture.

Thus, we must allow the scripture to speak for itself, explaining with surgical accuracy, that which is to be studied line upon line and precept upon precept.

To begin with, God created the world in six literal days, and according to the scriptures, the seas, the earth, beasts, creeping things, fruiting trees, and sprouting grass were all brought into existence before man. Thus, the very first truth that must be etched into our conscience, and believed is this:

[1] Man was created from preexisting raw materials.

When we refer to God as making man from scratch, we are referring to the scriptural truth, that Adam was made from the dust of the earth, which was in existence before God created him.  

Preexistence is interpreted as existing before, and prior to, and thus, the sacred utterances pertaining to this truth must be understood, swallowed and it must be digested as an indivisible whole. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

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.

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

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.

From that first and singular act of forming man from preexisting dust, God has always followed the same pattern, using raw materials that were previously in existence to continue to create, or recreate man as the case might be.

And throughout the entire history of mankind, God has never turned either to the right hand, or to the left, unswervingly using the very same script.

 Eve was not created from scratch, as per dust alone, as it was with Adam. The raw materials used for Eve were preexisting bone and dust, and thus, a woman was created distinctly different than man was. 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.

After the fall of man, humanity became subject to deterioration and finally death, because the gift of immortality was only going to be granted to them on the condition of obedience.

 And since they had currently forfeited the golden opportunity, they would gradually slip into decay until the grave would receive them to be retuned to dust. Thus, the second important point in our study is the following grim truth:

[2] Human beings are mortal, because of sin, and as a direct result, will gradually deteriorate back into dust. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

At this juncture we must take a scientific detour to the grave, to better understand what takes place in the land of night. When a person dies, as most of us will at some point or another, decomposition begins with the tissues, fat and muscles, and finally, bones are also decomposed through chemical processes.

This decomposition takes place at varying rates, in different climates, and depends on such factors as exposure to the elements, temperature variations, and the like. Thus, given the appropriate length of time, all flesh and all bones will eventually return to the dust, according to the scriptures.

This grim truth raises very disturbing questions as to why God would open the grave. What is He looking for, and does He, as was in man’s creation, employ the use of preexisting raw materials, to recreate a new man? If He does, that will follow the previous script that was set forth at creation.

 But if He doesn’t, the logical question arises in our minds: What then is He looking for in the grave. To be certain, there is a whole lot of “dust” scattered across the earth that has never been used in the creation of man, so if God needed to start from scratch, as in the case of Adam, there is enough raw materials available.

 Why then, does He go to a specific place, in order to resurrect the dead? Why not call them from any old location at random? Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 277] Yet a little while, and He that is to come will come and will not tarry. His eyes as a flame of fire penetrate into the fast-closed dungeons and hunt out the hidden ones, for their names are written in the Lamb's book of life. The heirs of God have come from garrets, from hovels, from dungeons, from scaffolds, from mountains, from deserts, from the caves of the earth, from the caverns of the sea.

As we ponder these sacred truths, we are led to the third important point in our study:

[3] God has never ever resurrected a deceased person by forming him or her from scratch from the dust of the earth, as He first did in Eden. Instead, He has always used the person’s own preexisting raw materials. Always!

 Not for once, in the entire canon of scripture do we read of God resurrecting a person using new dust to form him or her. Instead, in every instance, in which a person was resurrected God’s voice is the medium that was employed, but never does the formation of a resurrected person from scratch, using entirely new raw materials occur in the Bible, as it took with Adam.

This format also applies to persons who were, and will be translated to heaven without seeing death. Like Elijah, Enoch, and the 144,000 in the not, too distant future, all translations to heaven involve the use of preexisting raw materials of the human body belonging to the specific person in question, which are then glorified and immortalized by the power of God alone.

 But any conclusion that God will make persons from scratch, using entirely new, or different dust of the earth, like God once did in Eden with Adam, is not correct and is not supported in any way by the word of God. This is a critically important truth for us to grasp, lest we convey erroneous concepts of the resurrection to the multitudes. Let’s read:

John 11: 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.

Luke 8: 51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

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 meat.

Jude 1: 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when he was contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, did not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 478] Had not the life of Moses been marred with that one sin, in failing to give God the glory of bringing water from the rock at Kadesh, he would have entered the Promised Land, and would have been translated to heaven without seeing death. But he was not long to remain in the tomb. Christ Himself, with the angels who had buried Moses, came down from heaven to call forth the sleeping saint.

Matthew 27: 57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple.

58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed.

Matthew 28: 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

[The Desire of Ages pp 779] The face they look upon is not the face of mortal warrior; it is the face of the mightiest of the Lord's host. The earth trembles at his approach, the hosts of darkness flee, and as he rolls away the stone, heaven seems to come down to the earth. The soldiers see him removing the stone as he would a pebble, and hear him cry, Son of God, come forth; Thy Father calls Thee.

Luke 24:36 And as they thus spoke, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

The displaying of His hands and feet to the disciples was to them an undeniable verification that those wounds that were made when Jesus was crucified, had crossed over into His immortalized and glorified body, and as such Christ’s present body used as the foundation, the preexisting raw material of His own former self.

 Hence the reason why in different parts of the Bible the issues of decomposition, as it pertained to the body of Christ, are addressed and made abundantly plain. The Psalmist David specifies in his writings the fact that Christ’s body was to remain intact in the grave, because the former body was to be used in the glorification of the latter. Let’s read:

Psalms 16: 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Isaiah 26: 19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Matthew 27: 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

However, whether it be total decomposition, as in other saints who died many centuries ago, or no decomposition as with Christ, or even the partial decomposition that will occur with those who will be laid to rest just before Christ’s second coming, the same principle applies, namely, that preexisting raw materials are always used, period. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 4: 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1st Corinthians 15: 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.

43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1st Corinthians 15: 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

The question then is: Why is it important for us to understand these truths? It is critically important to us, because the concepts, methods, the ways and means contained therein will directly affect the way we think and the resulting perspectives would alter the expectations we have of God in our day to day experiences.

 God utterly exhausts available resources when He engages supernatural power, and those who would grasp the concept will do the same. As Jesus Christ was about to feed the five thousand people in His day, He diligently sought out all available resources, with which He then coupled divine power. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Matthew 2:11 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.

13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Luke 24: 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb.

43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

And persons who have the fear of God before their faces, and who understand the ways and means of The Almighty, would always seek to follow the very same format. Thus, as a direct result, persons would not harbor unrealistic expectations from God in the many and varied situations one may come across.

 In other words, instead of sitting on one’s lees, and expecting God to work some miracle out of thin air, persons would seek to utterly exhaust all available resources and opportunities, while at the same time they intelligently trust God to take up the slack, by doing what cannot be done by the human agent.

After praying for guidance in seeking a soul mate for his son Isaac, Abraham then engaged in that diligent search which, coupled together with God’s power, produced the desired result in the likes of Rebekah.

 In searching for a job, many resumes and several applications are to be made in scatter-shot form, and as faith in God is coupled together with human efforts and resources, something will eventually stick.

Thus, the use of available preexisting raw materials and resources would lead persons to recycle plastics and other renewables, which use waste to produce new and different products. Many brand-new paper products often come to market, using preexisting materials that would have otherwise been slated for the dump.

 Most cars nowadays use preexisting raw materials, and as those vehicles look so new and shiny with a stunning paint job, we should never forget that it is The God of heaven who first started and introduced the principle of using preexisting raw materials in the creation and redemption of man.

 Let us then follow in God’s footsteps, by availing our selves of every opportunity and every preexisting resource He has given to us, for the furtherance and building up of His kingdom, for the Bible advises us: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

 We end with the first statement that was made this evening, cautioning us by default, to take the time to study carefully those sacred truths we hold so dear. Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 70] When the time of trial shall come there are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason.

 And there are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe, but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness. When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth.

                                   God Bless!

What defiles A Man. Sabbath afternoon 10/29/2022

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies;

20 These are the things which defile a man…..

One of the easiest ways for the Christian to gauge if his or her heart is in the right place, is to check what they naturally dwell upon when speaking freely, for apart from one’s work, school, or business matters, etcetera, our conversation almost, always naturally reverts back to what we dwell upon internally.

There is a saying that goes like this, garbage in, and garbage out, meaning that if persons allow perverse suggestions to enter, and remain for any length of time in the mind, the person will eventually end up spewing out of the mouth, those things that were cherished in the heart.

 Now, it is true that we are bombarded constantly with a barrage of evil suggestions, which for some reason seem to be proliferating more and more, as the day for Christ’s return looms larger and larger on the horizon.

 Forces of darkness have indeed succeeded in their efforts to penetrate every segment of society with some form of evil, whether it be some suggestions, ideologies, philosophy, or mal-practice.

 Most advertisements carry some trace of evil, as do most political rallies, news paper articles, billboard ads, and the multitude of pop ups that appear when surfing the internet. If it’s not lying, false accusation or character assassination of another, it’s the subtle misrepresentation of truth, or a blatant alternative to facts.

Even when looking for scriptures, there are times when suggestions and imagery that are opposed to what is written, would just appear without warning, and if our minds are not stayed on Christ, those suggestions can change the tenor of our thoughts.

 Again, nature shows and documentaries are for the most part tainted in some way with evil, for if it is not evolution that is peddled, it is the omission of God from nature, as can be observed when animals and plants are credited with genius and wisdom, as though they can do what they do without God.

It's yet a mystery how anyone can do an hour-long presentation on nature, without once mentioning nature’s God. And thus, by the elimination of God from documentaries, which are otherwise good, the forces of evil draw the mind away from the Creator to the creature.

In one particular nature video, the Ibex is featured as a fearless climber on some of the most difficult, and breath-taking heights. As the Ibex families rout the steep cliffs and ledges, thousands of feet into the air, their soft cloven feet are credited with the ability to navigate such mind-boggling terrain.

But the God of heaven is never ever mentioned as being The One who has endowed the Ibex with their singular abilities. Thus, the creature is subtly exalted above the Creator, and in most cases, persons are none the wiser. Let’s read:

Job 39: Do you know the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or can you mark when the hinds do calve?

2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or do you know the time when they bring forth?

Psalms 104: 18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

Again, many video games are overloaded with much violence and criminal practice, and the curse words and mixed-up attitudes and gestures are paraded as something to be admired and emulated. Very much of the crime we now witness in our day, is the result of persons feeding on video games, and movies.

The Bible teaches us that by beholding we become changed, a principle that works for both good and evil. Even though defilement comes from within a man, what we behold can play a major role in what comes out, for if evil is allowed to enter the mind, and is cherished and cultivated, it will inevitably be manifested in what comes out.

 However, for all of the evil with which we are being surrounded, we are not more gullible than persons in former years and the fact of the matter is that we can still live unspotted in an evil world. That is what He was explaining in our first passage as He declares evil defilement to come forth from within, not from without.

 Thus, in our study today, we will dwell in large part on the ways and means that are given in scripture to purify, and keep unsullied the well-springs of our thoughts, for if our mental cogitations are right, the inevitable good actions and words will follow.

One’s purity of heart and mind does not happen by accident; it takes diligent, well directed effort under the auspices of The Holy Ghost, to keep our minds from wandering upon forbidden themes.

 Like with anything else in the spiritual realm, any study of growth in grace, and the maintaining of a person’s equilibrium, as it pertains to keeping one’s mind pure, must begin and must continue with the presence and power of The Holy Spirit.

The presence and power of The Holy Ghost enables persons to sift through the bombardment of evils that keep coming our way every day, and He helps us to distinguish clearly between the pure and true, and those low, trifling thoughts which too are often allowed to occupy valuable real estate space in the “brainosphere”.

God is preparing a people to stand upright, during the most difficult and trying days of earth’s history, and He is seeking to purify our thoughts so that the things which do matter would be foremost on the mind’s agenda. Let’s read:

John 15: 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me.

John 16: 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you, things to come.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 460] 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.

 Secular modes of thought are often infused into our minds under the guises of having some benefit, and before you know it, those values, perspectives, and mal-practices follow unerringly, wherever they are dwelt upon for any length of time.

Therefore, we would begin with the counsel that is given in the book of Philippians in which the apostle Paul tells us of the ways and means to be employed as we, through our choices, try to cooperate with God in keeping our minds pure. 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.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

The words Paul uses in the preceding verses would virtually eliminate most of the mental material and the information persons feed on. For instance, Paul uses words such as “Honest” and of “Good report”, words that can potentially eliminate most political rallies.

If politicians and candidates for public office would only speak the truth what a very different world this would be. But truth is so manipulated, and distorted into meaning whatsoever the hearers desire, that the public trust in elected officials has been severely eroded.

Blatant falsehoods from political candidates are not only expected and mandated in too many instances, they have become the norm, and outright lying is now considered fair game in today’s world. When asked about the malpractice of falsehoods in those instances where one is knowingly peddling lies, the response is often “What’s wrong with that”.

As a direct and inevitable result, democracy as we know it will come to an end one day, as the book of Revelation declares will be the case. An autocratic form of government would one day overspread the land, and it will be the result of persons persistently and deliberately manipulating facts and truth, so as to serve their own purposes.

When this is the case, persons will inevitably follow in the footsteps of their invisible leader who has not only perfected the malpractice of deliberate lying, but has now permanently occupied the top echelon of the totem pole, by actually believing falsehoods he peddles, and as a direct result, the permanent state of delusionary thought and action becomes one’s way of life.

Then Paul uses the words “True” and “Pure” which will eliminate most movies, and fictitious materials, since movies are for the most part, actors depicting figments of the imagination of man’s heart. One of the main reasons why folks get hooked on movies is because they do have the tendency to fascinate and fire up the imagination.

Often, the mind is removed from reality, and when the habit is formed of imbibing such performances, persons are led to cultivate perspectives that were based solely on the imagination. And in doing so the mind becomes poisoned after a while, and unfits it to grasp the truths, and realities that are presented in the scriptures.

 Many folks now prefer to watch the movie versions of Biblical renditions such as Noah’s ark, Passion of the Christ, and the Rapture, rather than reading the scriptural versions of these events. That is because the mind, in most instances, has become hooked on drama, and thus, one’s relish for the plain word of God becomes blunted.

 In fact, as a general rule of thumb, any person who habitually visits the movie theater, feeding on the imaginary, will inevitably develop a distaste for the Bible, and spiritual things, some more, some less. It is just another one of those “Good” temptations we keep referring to.

Those high energy actions, and dramatic displays of the theater stand in marked contrast to the tranquil pleasure of the study of the Scriptures, and thus, it’s becoming more and more difficult to keep the mind and the attention of the young and restless focused on the word of God, if there is no drama included. Let’s read:

[Christian Education pp 35] Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school of morality and virtue, and is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality.

Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments. Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes, deprave the imagination, and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle.

There is no influence in our land more powerful to poison the imagination, to destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil pleasures and sober realities of life than theatrical amusements. The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence, as the desire for intoxicating drink strengthens with its use.

Again, Paul uses the phrase: “Whatsoever things are pure” and he lists virtue and praise as determining factors as to what folks should choose to have their minds dwell upon. In other words, what Paul says to us can be summed up in the following words: “If it does not push you up, it will pull you down”.

 Now that we have read and heard that which needs to be avoided, let us turn to the positives, whereby the tenor of our thoughts can be trained to dwell on that which is good and acceptable in God’s sight.

We do not wish to sound like a broken record, but it is a fact that it is very difficult, if not impossible, for us to maintain and cultivate the pure and honorable without a regular study of the word of God, which is acts like an inoculation against the viruses of evils that are now being transmitted at an alarming rate.

During the recent pandemic, and even currently, it was recommended that persons not only receive a shot, against the original strain of the Corona virus, but it was stated that individuals needed to get all additional boosters in order to fend off the variants and strains that keep ever evolving.

The same is true with the study of the word of God, for it is not enough to get a shot once a week during Divine hour; additional boosters would be needed throughout the week, as the different strains, and subvariants of evil keep on evolving each and every day.

 Currently, according to data coming from the world health organization, there are now more than two hundred variants, strains, and subvariants of the original Corona virus. But in the spirit world, there are currently billions of strains of evil, and they keep on evolving and coming at us at a rate that persons could only keep up to speed through the Living and written word.

Evils, which folks in the sixties, and seventies never even dreamed of, have now become the norm, and what one would have recoiled in horror from in the days of yore, is now being gobbled up by persons in the here and now.

 Alternative lifestyles are no longer a subculture; it is a fact that mainstream dynamics have driven such philosophies to the very forefront of societal modes of thought and action, in so much that individuals who might dare to differ are now swiftly becoming an endangered species.

 This is why it is so critically important for everyone who names the name of Christ, existing in such an environment that is increasingly hostile to anything that savors of righteousness, to be updated with the latest booster shots, that are found only in the word of God.

 In fact, if one does not see the importance of study, it is just a matter of time before that persons falls. It is virtually impossible to maintain a level head, and walk the straight and narrow path with a steady and even tread, without regular references to the Bible.

That is why Christ placed so much emphasis on the word, lifting it in order of priority over His necessary food, for if the word of God is not firmly entrenched in one’s heart, persons will certainly succumb to the many distortions and subvariants of evils that are to be found all around us.

The reading and study of God’s word gives to those who are thus exercised, an active reference point in deciphering, and distinguishing good from evil, and with the passage of time, and the indwelling of The Spirit of God, this ability to discern clearly, becomes sharper, clearer, and quicker.

But whenever the word of God is neglected in favor of those light, trifling, sensual, or secular materials, the spirit of discernment becomes severely blunted, and after a while, one can entirely lose their ability to tell what is right from wrong, or to discern truth from error.

This is actually the spiritual plague afflicting persons living in Laodicea; it is not so much the proliferation of evil worldwide, it is the lack of ability to discern between the heavenly and the satanic. And because of this, many individuals are settling in for a form of righteousness that’s neither recognized or endorsed by God. Let’s read:

Revelation 3:17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you art wretched, 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 does not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that you may see.

On this important, and necessary ability of persons being able to tell the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, the Scripture has very much to say, for if one cannot differentiate properly, the battle is lost, even before it is begun.

 When Martha became riled up at Mary, for her not helping with the cooking and preparation, as Christ was sitting in their living room hungry, she thought that she was prioritizing her agenda properly. But lo and behold, when the issue was raised, Jesus stated that her priorities had become temporarily inverted even though she knew it not.

 Again, persons in our day are often presented with agendas that are packaged by the smooth operator in ways that are becoming increasingly difficult for us to recognize the good from the bad. Not so with Christ, who was noted for His quick understanding, and discernment, which in turn, helped Him greatly in fending off disguised temptation. Let’s read:

Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears;

4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth…

Again, it is of critical importance for our minds to be dwelling on that which is of eternal consequence. In our troubled world, where from one day to the next folks might encounter angry, old men, with nuclear weapons who have already lived their lives and who might have nothing to lose, it becomes all the more important that our focus be on God, and not on any mortal man.

 The word of God specifically states that the very last nation to be left standing, before the coming of the Son of Man, is America. It’s not China, Russia, North Korea, nor any of those actors living in the Middle East.

It is America; and thus, the person whose mind is focused on God and His word, would not be left to beat about in a frenzy of uncertainty, as the one who is not thus disposed. Persons can at times be overwhelmed, and discouraged on account of the constant barrage of bad news, and before you know  it, the tenor of their words savors of fear.

 Fear often crystalizes faith, and with the world in an increasingly volatile state, and with heads of nations one edge, the instability and uncertainty could wear down one’s faith, if we were to lose focus, and thus, a person could become defiled through fear. Let’s read:

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

1st John 4: 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.

Therefore, as we seek to address the issues of inner defilement, let us keep our hearts and minds lifted to the skies, for if we allow our minds to dwell on the good and right, God will grant us the enabling power to make it habitual, and thus persons can be fortified against the internal and external foes that continue to strive for the mastery of the mind.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that is to remind us that the mind is the springboard of all actions, and thus, it must be kept and garrisoned by the Living and written word of God. Let’s read:

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

                                   God Bless!

The Valuation Of A Person. Sabbath afternoon 10/22/2022

1st Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

It’s amazing to see the many and various ways folks are valued in modern society. In some instances, it’s what one has or has accomplished in life that would cause their valuation to go up, in the estimation of the world. In other cases, the color of one’s skin is the measure used to valuate a person.

In other instances, wealth, reputation, education, political standing, and celebrity status all contribute to a person’s value as far as society goes. There are also good deeds that play a role in how a person is valued, for in the world’s measure, heroic acts that are accomplished, including those feats done during the Olympics, all contribute, some more, some less to the esteem placed on individuals.

As a result of the way persons are valued, as far as the world is concerned, inequities are inevitable, for the various valuations would render some persons as being eligible for favoritism, while others would be more vulnerable to mistreatment.

For instance, in some communities, one would have to pay much higher insurance or interest rates than in other well to do neighborhoods. It was found that in the distribution of funds during the pandemic, big businesses were more favored to receive payouts in front of the smaller fledgling Mom and Pops shops.

Wealth and influence were leveraged in such a way as to take care of the so-called more important first, and then, whatever remained would trickle down to those inferiors on the lower echelons of the totem pole.

The same thing took place during the market crash of 2008 as billions of dollars were forked over to the big banks, while persons who had defaulted on their mortgages were left holding the proverbial bag.

At that time, it was the stated hope of officials that the financial institutions who had benefitted greatly from government spending would now show mercy to borrowers.

But lo and behold, after raking in the lion share of government funds, some of those very institutions turned around and choked borrowers with an iron fist, by which millions lost their homes.

There are certain neighborhoods across the country where just to get in, it is almost like applying for an F.B.I clearance, while in other neighborhoods angels and U.F.Os could pay a visit, and no one would even bat an eye. It all has to do with the way individuals are valued by society.

What took place over the years in Flint Michigan with the drinking water, would never have occurred in more affluent neighborhoods like Star Island and Aventura. Even the roads in some communities are actively manifesting these glaring disparities which exist in society, for rough surfaces and potholes are left unaddressed in some, while others are paved and repaved for apparently no reason.

But when it comes to salvation, every person is on a level playing field before God, with no consideration being given to caste, race, wealth, or reputation as it is in the world. In fact, God instructed His people not to indulge in favoritism in any form, for He is a God of equity, and all persons have the same value on account of what Christ has done on Calvary.

Thus, because of the way God values a person, He has given specific instructions in His word so that we too may follow His lead. Several passages in the scripture address the issue of valuating persons on the basis of what God has created and redeemed, and it will do us well to observe some of the verses which treat on the issue. Let’s read:

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.

35 But in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him.

Deuteronomy 16:18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow…

Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.

Deuteronomy 1: 17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man….

If anyone living in Liberty city would have dared to take any classified government documents to their home, they would have been handcuffed and would be sitting in jail long ago. But modern society’s way of valuating persons allows certain individuals who might have wealth, and connections to run free for many years, with impunity.

Again, justice is often meted out based on the color of one’s skin, for if it was any different person who had done the unthinkable, in that infamous mass school shooting in Florida it’s quite possible that the death penalty would have been handed down in no uncertain terms.

Therefore, we must address the issue of valuating a person on the basis of what the Bible instructs us to do, for by doing so, we would avoid many of those pitfalls, temptations, and societal burdens which do hang like an Albatross around the necks of many.

Several distinct points on the issue would be made, with the supporting scriptures, so that all may stand free and clear in the liberty that Christ has gotten us on Calvary. A noble self-worth based upon the Bible is not only necessary, but also healthy, if we are to live independently of what the world, and society deems valuable.

We will begin with some of the more common, and state of the art misconceptions which have crept in over the years, that the world makes much of, then we will dwell on the scriptural methods of valuing a person, as it pertains to reality in God’s sight.

[1] The standards of the world, as far as outward appearance goes, does not give a person one iota of value in the sight of God, nor in reality.

 All of the so-called must haves, as pertains to one’s outward appearance, are a nothing burger as far as one’s valuation goes. Tattoos, outward adornment, and the whole nine yards of “blings” and things do not add one percentage of value to a person.

According to the scripture the Christian is to cherish godly principles of decency, cleanliness, and most of all, a charitable, kind spirit, that stands free of those eccentrics that are mandated in the social realm, in order for persons to be accepted.

When persons get bogged down with the latest fashions and societal must haves, they can become slaves of society’s mode of thought and action, and consequently, one can begin to feel inferior, or not accepted and valued, if they are not bowing to the prevailing fashion god.

The problem with the “In Thing” is that it is always going through a metamorphosis, so that what is in today would be out tomorrow. And therefore, if a person feels accepted or valued, based upon their subscription to the in thing, they would soon find themselves in the unfortunate situation of having to constantly succumb to the winds of change. Let’s read:

1st Peter 3: 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves …..

Jeremiah 4: 30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothe thyself with crimson, though thou deck thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rent thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.

[2] Body building, big muscles, six pack abs, body sculpting, and figure eights do not add any value to any person; not in God’s sight, and not in reality.

 Now brethren we will want you to not only consider what is being said, but also by whom it is being said. Exercise is good on several different levels, for it is a known fact that it can stave off many diseases, and ailments, especially as persons approach the golden years.

In addition, it’s actually a part of the health message which includes diets, and foods, water, faith in God, sunshine and yes, regular exercise etc. But in reality, the truth of the matter is that with all of a man’s big muscles and with all of one’s body sculpting a man’s or a woman’s value does not go either up, or down with these things, not in God’s sight.

There is an old saying that goes like this: “Dress to Impress”, but to put it plainly, God is not impressed with outward appearances on any level. He bids us to be chaste and modest in dress, and appearance, as we should be, but in the greater scheme of things we cannot add any value to ourselves, by outward appearance in any form. Let’s read:

Psalms 147: 10 He delights not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

 1st Timothy 4: 8 For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Jeremiah 9: 23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

24 But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord which exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Unfortunately, some persons have gone to great lengths to adopt a bulimic lifestyle, following some of these Tik Tok stars down a rabbit hole that leads to neverland, in the vain pursuit of what modern culture deems to be the perfect body.

God is not impressed at all. In fact, an overweight believer in The Lord Jesus is of more value in God’s sight than a lean, good-looking, sculptured person who has rejected Christ.

Man’s ways of valuating persons are quite often diabolically, and diametrically opposed to the way God esteems a person. The sacred truth must now be permanently etched into the minds of the many gullible persons, who may think it necessary to be a slave of society’s standards in order to have worth. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16: 7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

[3] Diets and foods do not add any intrinsic value to the worth or valuation of a person, in God’s sight, as far as salvation goes.  

Again, very much is sometimes made of the issue of diets and foods, especially among the Remnant. It is an indisputable fact that there are benefits to folks who adopt the principles and instructions thereof, but in reality, eating veggies does not add any more value to a person than folks who do otherwise.

When God’s numbers would have been tallied up in the judgement, many vegans will be weighed in the balances and found wanting, just as anyone else, if the righteousness of Christ wasn’t received into the heart by faith.

That is not to say that we should not seek to lead healthy lives, for there are tremendous benefits to be had, for those who adopt such a lifestyle.

But we are not to overemphasize the issue, to the neglect of those weightier matters pertaining to the valuation of persons, and their salvation, because it is one’s faith in Jesus Christ that matters the most, not merely food and drink.

God has given very clear distinctions in His word as it pertains to clean and unclean foods, and these instructions are to be followed by all who desire to obey God. But beyond that, vegetables, and salads are not to become salvific issues, for Christ died to persons, not veggies.

Faith in God will lead folks to reach for the highest heights, but when it comes down to the wire, food is not the final determining factor, as far as one’s valuation goes. In fact, we are cautioned in the Bible not to cause anyone to stumble in their faith in God, on account of diets and foods. Let’s read:

Romans 14:2 For one believes that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eats herbs.

3 Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him which eats not, judge him who eats, for God hath received him.

4 Who art thou that judges another man's servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yea, he shall be upheld: for God is able to make him stand.

15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy food, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy food, for whom Christ died.

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

And now we turn to the true valuation of a person, as God estimates it. A well-worn pair of Levi Jeans from the 1880s recently sold for $76,000.00 at an auction. Being worn and threadbare in some places, it did not, and could not have such a high valuation, in and of itself.

Originally, it did have some worth, but its current value was based solely upon what that person was willing to pay for it. Thus, that pair of Jeans is now very valuable in the sight of the one who had forked over such a large sum of money to procure it.

Similarly, with the valuation of persons; originally, we had value, and that is one of the reasons why God made that decision to purchase us back to Himself. But currently, what gives us such a high valuation is the price that was paid for us.

 The blood of Jesus Christ cannot be measured as far as pricing goes, because there’s nothing to compare it with, and there is nothing more valuable. When it was decided in the courts of heaven, that Jesus will come to this earth to save us, God, The Father was putting everything on the line or as some would say, He was putting all of His eggs into one basket.

Angels also rejoiced greatly at the consummation of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary, and with good reason, for if Christ were to fail here, their security and their existence would also be in very deep trouble. Thus, the very existence and welfare of the universe hung upon that one price that was to be paid by Christ on Calvary. Let’s read:

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

[The Desire of Ages pp 758] To the angels and the unfallen worlds the cry, “It is finished,” had a deep significance. It was for them as well as for us that the great work of redemption had been accomplished. They with us share the fruits of Christ's victory.

And it is because of this, why human beings have now become so much more valuable in the sight of God. When on account of our sins and errors, any question or concern is raised in the heavenly courts Jesus lifts His pierced hands as a reminder of that great price that was paid for the human family, and it's this that has caused the valuation of persons to go up astronomically. Let’s read:

[Special Testimonies July 15] The most perfect and valuable treasure of Heaven was given for man's salvation, and God will receive only the dearest and most precious gift from him in return.

The Father in giving his Son poured out in one gift all the excellence of Heaven for man, and those who prize this gift will make their offerings of the things they most value, and withhold nothing which God has bestowed upon them wherewith to honor and glorify his name.

Therefore, when we look at the ways in which folks are valued by the world, it seems as nonsense when compared to how God values us, and when we see ourselves and all others through the lens of Christ’s sacrifice, it could, and should greatly change our perspectives on life.

One of the immediate benefits of understanding the valuation of persons, as God sees it, is that persons are no longer tethered to secular, worldly methods of esteeming oneself, and as a direct result, we can live untrammeled by all the must haves, and must dos that society bogs persons down with.

The Bible states that if The Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed, and therefore, whenever we understand the real value and worth of persons, we would not become slaves of fashion, or esteem ourselves and others by worldly standards. Instead, we can stand free and clear of the petty valuations that secular society deems essential.

We no longer have to dress to impress, for clothing and outward adorning are vastly inferior methods of measurement when valuating a person’s worth. We would also value human life above that of lower life forms for Christ died to save the former, not the latter.

In addition, we would place the highest premium on human life, and as such, the evangelism which is to form the cornerstone of the Christian’s existence, will be front and center of our efforts and energies, not something that the church has to beg us to do against our will, every now and then.

One of the reasons why individual missionary work has become almost nonexistent within Laodicean circles, is the lack of proper valuation of persons, for whom Christ died. Instead of getting all excited over games and sports icons, we ought to be energized with joy and gladness when one soul is baptized in God’s kingdom. Let’s read:

[Experiences in Australia pp 156] He will open to us the gates of the city of God, and bid us come in, welcoming us with the heavenly benediction, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

The joy of the Lord is the joy of seeing souls saved. In doing this work we shall be partakers in the sufferings of Christ, laborers together with God.

Let us therefore shake of the many shackles which the world has been placing around our necks like an Albatross, for if there is nothing nobler to live for, than the mere esteem of a secular society, then the very essence of Christian life will leak out of the soul like water from a leaking vessel. Let’s read:

[2 MCP pp 784] Truth is an active, working principle, molding heart and life so that there is a constant upward movement.... In every step of climbing the will is obtaining a new spring of action. The moral tone is becoming more like the mind and character of Christ.

The progressive Christian has grace and love which pass knowledge, for divine insight into the character of Christ takes a deep hold upon his affections.

 The glory of God revealed above the ladder can be appreciated only by the progressive climber, who is ever attracted higher, to nobler aims which Christ reveals. All the faculties of mind and body must be enlisted.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that reminds us to value persons as Christ did, for if we were to see the true worth of humanity, we would be moved to unite with Christ in the redemption of His purchased possession. Let’s read:

Matthew 24: 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. Amen.

                                    God Bless!

Must Dos, In order Of Priority. Sabbath afternoon. 10/15/2022

Matthew 6: 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

One of the difficulties we often face as Christians is to manage our priorities in the right order. There is an ongoing effort by unseen forces to disrupt, derail or dismantle the most important items that we will need, in order for us to live victoriously. And sadly, it is too often the case that they are successful in so doing.

 Must dos are the things that need to be done on a regular, daily basis. These range in importance and prioritization from having breakfast, doing laundry, doing dishes, cleaning the house, taking the kids to school to the more, weightier matters that pertain to eternity, such as seeking The Lord, the study of His word and His character, and prayer, which is the breath of the soul.

Thus, from day to day, most persons find ourselves having to juggle these must dos in a manner that is efficient, but doing so often becomes a challenge in many instances. One of the reasons for the ongoing difficulty of prioritization is that there is a limited amount of time available to us each day.

Therefore, the bottom line is that there is only so much that we can get done in any given day, and it often seems that we could use a few more hours each day. Yet, the reality is that persons only have twenty-four hours to do, that which needs to be done, and as such, we must stack our must dos in order of priority.

One thing we should always bear in mind however, is that the temporal pursuits of life are never more important than the spiritual concerns, and for this reason, if we find ourselves running short on time in any given day, we’ll have to scratch off some items from our list of must dos.

Therefore, we must be very careful not to scrub the spiritual in favor of the temporal for doing so would not only cause our priorities to become inverted, it will also put us at risk of succumbing to temptation, which is what our unseen foes desire most of all.

Our jobs, and the work that we do are important, but they are not more important than seeking God’s face. Our studies, in procuring a bachelors, masters, or doctorate are important, but again, they are not more important than the time spent in the audience chamber of the Most-High.

In fact, one of the most common temptations that’ll come our way is to try to make us believe that folks can scrub the spiritual for a while, to get temporal our matters in order, and then resume the spiritual aspects of life when it is convenient to do so.

 This is a very grave mistake, for, if and when we succumb to such temptations, God is then put into second or third place on our list of priorities, and thus, we can make serious mistakes, and errors in judgement or decision making.

The belief that there is little danger in persons being disconnected from God for a short season, in order to fulfill some temporal, social or some educational pursuit, is a very dangerous mode of thought, for it is a fact in the spirit world, that any disconnection from Christ, the source of our power will expose our vulnerabilities in ways that we may regret later on.

Therefore, several examples are given in the Bible, so that we may have our must-dos in the correct order of priority at all times. It is an area of life that is to carefully monitored, lest we be disconnected and know it not. Let’s read:

Matthew 12: 46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

At this time when His family came for a visit, Jesus was in the middle of a major sermon, and thus, He would have to either scrub the sermon, in favor of His family, or vice versa. His example leaves us no doubt as to which of the two was more important in the greater scheme of things.

When God calls on us to serve, we too may face the grim prospect of having to choose between family, and the work God has given us to do. Especially, if a message of import is to be brought before persons, various circumstances, which seem to demand our immediate attention may arise, and like Jesus, we might have to choose between a sermon, and our family.

It all has to do with must dos, in order of priority, for there is no doubt, Jesus’s mother and His family were absolutely important to Him. The questions is: In this current situation, when souls of men were on the line, was the visit with family more important?

What is worthy of note is the timing of the visit, for it occurs exactly at the point in His sermon when He was pulling back the curtain to reveal to the people sacred truth pertaining to the devices of devils, and what takes place with possession, as it pertains to the souls of men.

Thus, we are left to wonder if the timing was a mere coincidence, or whether it could’ve been surgically orchestrated by unseen agencies to try and disrupt, dismantle, distract, or divert the attention of Jesus from those weightier matters that pertain to eternal life. The context gives us a clue. Let’s read:

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

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

45 Then he goes, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Another “must do” that has to be placed in order of priority is sleep. Restful sleep is essential, because our bodies need sleep to recover. In fact, it is one of the pillars of our health message, which folks have espoused over the years, and beyond the shadow of a doubt, sleep has been scientifically, and clinically proven to be a bedrock essential to health.

 But there are times when even sleep would need to be displaced from its position in our priorities, so as to wrestle with God on some grave, important issue that needs resolution. There are times when a cloud of temptation looms large on the horizon, and folks may need to scratch off sleep for a while, so that we can be strengthened to gain the victory.

At such times, sleep remains important, but not as important as seeking God’s face and thus, whenever the situation may warrant it prayer and supplication are more important than sleep.

Whenever we are in a situation, where we are very tired but we might be facing some grave trial which we need to pray about, we should then ask God to strengthen us to fend off the drowsiness that would keep us nodding off.

God often responds to such a prayer for strength by infusing His servants with a boost of supernatural power, so that the priority, or temptation at hand can be adequately addressed. But for persons to try in their own strength to fend off sleep, especially if they are extremely tired, is a recipe for failure.

In the garden of Gethsemane, as Christ was fending off the hosts of darkness, which had come in for His jugular He found it necessary to table sleep from His priorities, to address the more urgent situation as it unfolded. Normally, He would not ask His disciples to surrender their zees, at night, but on this special occasion, prayer was far more important than sleep.

 So, what are the disciples to do in this situation? It is true that some of them were fishermen and some like Dr. Luke, being a physician would be tired from their day’s work. So now, with their eyes heavy, and with some dozing off uncontrollably, what becomes more important? Sleep or prayer? Let’s read:

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

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

40 And he cometh unto the disciples and finds them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

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

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

43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

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

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

[The Desire of Ages pp 713] It was in sleeping when Jesus bade him watch and pray that Peter had prepared the way for his great sin. All of the disciples, by sleeping in that critical hour, sustained a great loss.

 Christ knew the fiery ordeal through which they were to pass. He knew how Satan would work to paralyze their senses that they might be unready for the trial. Therefore, it was that He gave them warning.

 Had those hours in the garden been spent in watching and prayer, Peter would not have been left to depend upon his own feeble strength. He would not have denied his Lord.

Again, there are times when even the work that is given us by God, must be placed in proper order of priority, especially when important decisions are to be made. When God gives to His servants a specific instruction to do such and such, the command does not mean that prayer becomes less important.

In fact, prayer at such times becomes all the more important, lest persons run ahead of God, without His presence and power to guide. When the great commission was given us by Christ, it was never His intent that evangelism is to supersede prayer, as if it is more important.

Prayer before missionary work is what will open the way for God to show folks the ways and means, the methods and approaches that should be used in this or that situation, since the preaching of the gospel is not monolithic in nature.

Sermons that may be effective in western cultures, might not be well received in some middle eastern countries, and evangelism in the Caribbean might not go down well in certain parts of Africa. Thus, even though we are all commanded to preach and teach all nations, we must of necessity seek God’s face to do so effectively.

Again, there was a time when God told Joshua that He would be given victory over the cities and people of Canaan. That then, did not mean that prayer was less important than the work that was to be done in Canaan.

 In the proper order of priority, prayer is even more essential than the actual battles to be fought, for it is through prayer that God would have shown the unforeseen pitfalls and dangers that awaited Israel, and God would have alerted Joshua to what took place secretly with Achan, so that Joshua would not have make such a grave error in judgement, as he did. Let’s read:

Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.

2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spoke unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.

3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few.

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

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

 [Patriarchs & Prophets pp 493] The great victory that God had gained for them had made the Israelites self-confident. Because He had promised them the land of Canaan they felt secure, and failed to realize that divine help alone could give them success. Even Joshua laid his plans for the conquest of Ai without seeking counsel from God.

Again, in the proper order of priority, food is quite important, but when compared with the spiritual aspect of man’s being, it is not more important. As Jesus was led up into the wilderness to be tempted, He knew that the weight of the world rested on His shoulders, and thus, if He should fail here, the plan of salvation would be lost.

Thus, just like it was in the garden of Gethsemane with sleep, His hunger and thirst would need to be foregone for the moment, so that victory over the forces of darkness could take the top spot in His order of priority. Let’s read:

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

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

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

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

In other words, if food and drink will interfere with Christ gaining the victory, at that point they become less important than the former. Again, when Jesus met the woman at the well, He was very hungry and He was in fact waiting for food that the disciples went to procure.

But, lo and behold, as the salvation of this one soul loomed large on the horizon, food and hunger are tossed out the window, in favor of the weightier, and more important matter at hand.

This shift in His priority, on the spur of the moment, teaches us that Christ always held the spiritual, and eternal interests of God’s kingdom, to be infinitely more important than food. Let’s read:

John 4: 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy food.)

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

31 In the mean while his disciples asked him, saying, Master, eat.

32 But he said unto them, I have food to eat that ye know not of.

33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

34 Jesus saith unto them, My food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

This particular point, of holding the interests of the kingdom of God in preeminence would be especially important for those of us who might live to see the final conflict of the ages, as it would unfold across the globe, because, at that time, millions of persons will be converted under the latter rain, as promised in the scriptures.

Therefore, if one’s necessary food takes precedence over soul winning, God would have to bring some of us down to the water to test us, as He once did in the days of Gideon. Food is important, but it is not that important to scrub evangelism in favor of some food.

When the mark of the beast will take the world by storm, persons would have to decide which is more important; our three, square meals or obeying all of the commandments of God at a time when it will be extremely difficult to do so.

The bread, and water that is promised in the book of Isaiah, should not be expected up front, without a fight, for all of the stops will then be pulled out to determine who is who, and whether or not persons will buckle under the tremendous pressure that will be exerted against our need for food and drink.

As Christ battled on in the wilderness, He became pale and emaciated, for when the body has entirely exhausted available nutrients, it begins to feed on itself, beginning with fat, and ending with muscle.

Thus, for forty days and nights, His priority remains our salvation, and if it would cause Him to lose all His weight and become utterly dehydrated in the process, then, so let it be, as far as Jesus Christ was concerned.

In the final conflict with the powers of darkness, the remnant will see all earthly support cut off, and the food that we now take for granted, will become out of reach, if we are to remain faithful during the last days.

Like as it was with Jesus, the first few days of the “Mark” may not be that terrible, but if it wears on for several days, weeks, or even months, persons might begin to sing a different tune.

The severity of the conflict is portrayed in scripture so that none may be deluded into thinking that the refusal of the mark of the beast will be a breeze. It  will absolutely not be a breeze by any stretch of the imagination, and thus, our food and drink should be placed in the right order of priority, even now. Let’s read:

Job 23:11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

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

In the current forty days of prayer that we are doing there will be times when we should be praying, but we will feel very sleepy, just as the disciples felt that overpowering drowsiness in the garden with Christ. At such times we should persevere in prayer, asking God to restrain the forces of darkness, so that our senses would not be paralyzed.

Again, there will be times during the ongoing forty days of prayer, when severe pangs of hunger might prompt us to rearrange our order of priorities, and thus place food over faith. At such times, we would do well to remember Christ in the wilderness, as He determined that the issues of eternal moment are of greater value and importance than His necessary food.

When God tested the soldiers who had volunteered in Gideon’s army the simple test revealed that most of them had their priorities inverted, for there were only three hundred left standing after all was said and done.

Their lackadaisical attitude manifested, in stooping down to drink water, at the time when they should have been on full alert, revealed that they could not be trusted in an emergency, for they would put the valid, temporal concerns of life above the work of God.

Therefore, as we study the history of those who have gone before, and as we too review our lists of priorities, let us make certain, by the grace of God, to put spiritual things first. The relationship with the God of heaven, and the power, and foreknowledge, wisdom, strength and guidance Christ brings to the table, are of more value than the temporal pursuits of life.

Christians should not allow circumstances to dictate their order of priorities, for whenever this floodgate is opened it sets up a precedent that becomes much easier to succumb to the second and third time. For instance, choosing the gym, work, or secular study, instead of our special time with God, will make it so much easier to repeat the same inversion again and again.

 And if for any reason we may run into a jam, where one priority has to be scrubbed in favor of another, never let it be said that we preferred the temporal over the spiritual because whenever this is done the order of priority becomes inverted, and folks could suffer great loss as a result.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will help us to tow the line with a steady and even tread, because keeping things in their correct order of priority is an ongoing battle that must be fought and won by the grace of God. Let’s read:

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

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

                                   God Bless!

As It Was In The Days Of Lot. Sabbath afternoon 10/01/2022

Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built.

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 passages above teach us a few solemn facts as it pertains to Sodom, and to Lot and his family who were residing in the city. These facts are now worthy of utmost consideration, since according to the passage, history will be repeated.

The last day of Sodom began like every other day with the populace going about their daily rounds of duty. Traders went to the stock market in Sodom as usual, and the city’s financial sector opened up for business, as the hustle and bustle of daily life went on, without a trace, or any hint of incoming danger.

Parents got their children ready for school while the transportation and construction sectors began their hum drum of everyday business. And fruit markets, and groceries flung their doors wide open, as their customers came strolling in to see if there were any new bargains on tap.

God would have us to understand that the demise of Sodom did not take place in a vacuum, for it was a culmination of many years of grace being spurned, and the entire nation, with the exception of Mr. Lot, had dug in their heels in adopting the lifestyles, and practices of a nation gone rogue.

Thus, there are at least seven grim takeaways that should be observed closely, lest persons in our day make the very mistakes which did Sodom in. First up, we should know that destruction from God is never levelled against any nation arbitrarily, for the people are the purchase of Christ’s blood, and as such, all efforts to save are utterly exhausted first.

 This leads us to the first grim fact about Sodom: [1] God had given to that nation unmistakable proof of His care for them, through the ministry of Abraham.

 Earlier, when some of the surrounding nations had invaded Sodom and taken its citizens captive, it was Abraham who had interceded on behalf of Lot and his family, and together with all the captives, they were rescued and brought home safe and sound.

Thus, by this signal providence, and His kindness to the nation, God appealed to their better judgement so that they would, at the very least investigate the godly principles Abraham lived by, and The God he served.

His life was as an open book to them, and they had been given ample opportunity to see and know The only true God. But like so many others, the memory of God’s grace faded, and they dug in, even deeper than before, into the practices, and sins that finally sealed their doom. Let’s read:

Genesis 14: And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;

2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

10 And the vale of Sodom was full of slime-pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.

12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.

Back in those days, when an army vanquished the enemy, as Abraham did, it was customary for the victors to plunder all the spoils of war, hence the reason why the king of Sodom asked Abraham to take the spoils. But he refused, and by doing so he displayed a noble unselfish spirit that should have caused something to click in the mind of the king.

But apparently, it did not make a lasting impression on either the king or his people, and therefore, the golden opportunity to inquire about Abraham’s God was lost, and they returned to their old ways, just as if God’s grace had meant nothing to them.

Similarly in our day, nations and individuals which  follow in the footsteps of Sodom, are granted grace for grace with unmistakable manifestations of God’s love and care, but with many, these overtures don’t make a lasting impression, and before you know it, some sink back into the former errors, even worst, than before, in many instances.

This leads us to the next grim fact about Sodom: [2] The angels did not come to warn Sodom, for their probation had already been closed, though they knew it not. The angels came in to destroy Sodom.

When God sent the two mighty angels into the city, they passed trough the gates without saying a word to the people. It was Lot who started a conversation with them, because he had learned kindness under the influence and example of Abraham.

 But the inhabitants of the city were long past their probationary period, and because of this, any warning from God would be rendered useless. It is worthy of note to whom God gave a heads-up, as to what was going to shortly come to pass.

 The Lord first revealed what He was going to do to Abraham, who then interceded for the inhabitants of Sodom. But when this failed, God sent angels to Lot’s family, including his children, who had gotten married in Sodom. But the general population as a whole was never given a clue, because their day of grace was over. Let’s read:

Genesis 18:17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do.

20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous.

Genesis 19: 12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place.

13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxed great before the face of the Lord and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.

Abraham, together with Lot, and his immediate and extended family were all given a heads-up, but the citizens were not made aware of what was coming their way, and that’s because warning and entreaty at this point would have been redundant.

This leads us to the third grim fact about Sodom: [3] Difficult as it may be, some Christian parents might finally have to be reconciled to the sad possibility, that some of their kids may be lost eternally.

God has promised to fight for our kids, and He does, for He invests time and energy in wooing, calling, entreating, and making it as easy for our kids to be saved. But God does not, and cannot save persons who have come to the age of accountability against their own will, and His efforts do not cross the red line of one’s freedom of choice.

 Many opportunities are granted, many prayers and intercessions are made, with groanings that cannot be uttered, and God gives grace for grace, especially to the children of the righteous, but some may have to be reconciled to this fact, that God cannot save a person if they do not desire to be saved. Let’s read:

Isaiah 49: 24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

25 But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contends with thee, and I will save thy children.

Genesis 19:14 And Lot went out, and spoke unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

There is something quite sobering, in the previous verse we just read. The Bible says that Lot went out and spoke to his “sons in law” for, as the heads of their households, they would naturally have to take the lead in believing and acting upon God’s word.

 But since they were citizens of Sodom, it seems as if they had developed a callous attitude to spiritual things, just as the Bible declares often takes place. Thus, as Lot came to preach his final sermon, they made fun of him, something that must never, ever be done.

 When God sends a preacher to deliver a message to His people, there are persons who may not like the man’s style of preaching, or his accent, if he is from a foreign country, and some others may tend to find fault with his dress, his mannerisms or even with the very message he delivers.

One thing that must never ever be done is to make fun of the preacher, for it isn’t funny at all and who knows, doing so might very well seal one’s doom.

 When Christ was finally taken captive by the Jews, He spoke and pleaded with Pilate, and He prayed for a special interference from heaven, if haply the governor would turn away from the act that was to seal his doom.

But when Jesus was brought before Herod, He had not a single word to say, because Herod had made a mockery of John, by slaying him in prison. Thus, as far as God was concerned, prayers and entreaty for Herod was an absolute non-starter for he had made light of the sacred truths God sent through John. Let’s read:

Luke 23: 8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

Once upon a time, some kids made fun of Elisha on his way back from the translation of Elijah, and they joked about his bald head, and about the fact that he was not raptured like Elijah was. What followed next is history, for The Lord made manifest, in that instance that He is no respecter of persons whether the be young or old.

This is why this third grim fact is so important, for it was the mercy of God that was made fun of, as Lot warned his sons in law of the coming deluge. The scripture specifically says that Lot was mocked by his sons in law, not by his daughters, so it is possible that the daughters might at least, have taken Lot seriously, were it not for the mockery of the men.

It reminds us of those passages written in the Bible which speak against marriages with unbelievers, as the results of such unions can carry eternal risks. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 7:3 Neither shalt you make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

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

The following is to be understood in the context of the marriage of Lot’s daughters to those men of Sodom, who had apparently been trained from their youth to make light of religion.

That influence, and mindset can deliver one of the most blistering scourges to anything that resembles godliness, and, in retrospect, it would have been a good thing, if Lot’s daughters had read the following counsel first, before tying the knot. Let’s read:

[Testimonies Vol. 4 pp 505 > 506] The plea is sometimes made that the unbeliever is favorable to religion and is all that could be desired in a companion except in one thing—he is not a Christian.

Spiritual declension commences the moment the vow is made at the altar; religious fervor is dampened, and one stronghold after another is broken down, until both stand side by side under the black banner of Satan.

Even in the festivities of the wedding, the spirit of the world triumphs against conscience, faith, and truth. In the new home the hour of prayer is not respected. The bride and bridegroom have chosen each other and dismissed Jesus.

At first the unbelieving one may make no show of opposition in the new relation; but when the subject of Bible truth is presented for attention and consideration, the feeling at once arises: “You married me, knowing that I was what I am; I do not wish to be disturbed.

From henceforth let it be understood that conversation upon your peculiar views is to be interdicted.” If the believer should manifest any special earnestness in regard to his faith, it might seem like unkindness toward the one who has no interest in the Christian experience.

 The believing one reasons that in his new relation he must concede somewhat to the companion of his choice. Social, worldly amusements are patronized.

 At first there is great reluctance of feeling in doing this, but interest in the truth becomes less and less, and faith is exchanged for doubt and unbelief.

 No one would have suspected that the once firm, conscientious believer and devoted follower of Christ could ever become the doubting, vacillating person that he now is. Oh, the change wrought by that unwise marriage!

This leads us to the fourth grim takeaway from the city of Sodom: [4] Husbands and wives are not saved in pairs, nor do they enter the ark by twos.

 Every husband and every wife will have to make up their minds about serving God, for the relationship is not to be tethered to, or through another. The righteousness of one does not atone for the lack thereof in another, and thus, the decision to follow Christ becomes a personal one.

Encouragements are to be often given, the family altar is to be held sacred, and husbands and wives are to do all they can to help each other as they travel the straight and narrow path. But at the end of the day, each spouse must decide for himself or herself.

Before this very sudden encounter with the angels of God, in commanding them to leave immediately, we do not read anywhere in the scriptures of any disconnect in the relationship between Lot and his wife and God.

To the casual observer they were, for all intents and purposes, reading from the same script, for many years, and as such there was nothing done overtly to remotely suggest that the relationship with God was indeed fractured in one spouse.

It was only when crunch time came around, that the disconnect was exposed, and Lot and his wife had to make their own personal decision of whether to move forward on God’s command, or whether to turn back.

 For very many years, some husbands and wives may have been in good and regular standing, attending church together, sitting in the pews, and singing the songs of praise with apparent earnestness. But like Lot, there may be a silent disconnect taking place in the mind of one, or both, of which either might not be cognizant.

 Thus, we say by the grace of God, husbands, check on your wives, and wives, check on your husbands, for it may be that a small fracture in the relationship with God is happening imperceptibly, and as such, it  may rupture in the open, at a time when both wife and husband should be on the same page.  

And if so, your earnest prayers should be lifted up in their behalf, night and day, lest, at a moment when the decisive command from God comes down, one is weighed in the balances and found wanting. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 161] She rebelled against God because His judgments involved her possessions and her children in the ruin. Although so greatly favored in being called out from the wicked city, she felt that she was severely dealt with”…

This leads us to the fifth grim takeaway from Sodom that we all should seriously consider: [5] Attachment to material things will result in the downfall of many persons in the church.

 The material blessings of life are to enjoyed and shared by all who are thus blessed. And it is good to life comfortably in the place that God has lent to us. But it is a fact, that very often we might get more attached to the gifts than the Giver, and when this is the case, material blessings can become an idol to which we bow down, even if the blessings come from God.

Lot had amassed a considerable amount of wealth in Sodom. Several luxurious cars were parked in his garage, and his wife and family had access to all the heart could wish for. After years of toil, and diligent saving and management of material blessings, Lot could now sit back and relax, for he was very rich in silver, gold and sheep, as folks back then counted wealth.

That’s all well and good, but if at any given time, the material blessings begin to become more important than God, and His word, then persons are in serious jeopardy, for the focus is now on the blessing, and not on the Blesser. It was quite difficult for Lot and his wife to uproot from the luxurious life they had enjoyed over the years.

Country living now seemed to them to be so absurd and farfetched that they openly complained about the supposed hardships they would encounter. The devil often employs the slow-boil method, by which he attempts to get persons in a comfortable groove from which many are loathed to be dislocated.

What took place with Lot and his family, will again be repeated when the command of God for us to leave the cities, would once again seem absurd and very farfetched. Over the years we have become so accustomed to our I-phones, computers and other gizmos, that country living will be an absolute non- starter with many.

 And like Lot’s wife very many would look back with deep yearning on the luxurious, comfortable life we once enjoyed. The study for this afternoon is meant to give us a reality check lest like Lot’s family we too become so ingratiated in the comforts, and luxuries of life, that the future command of God to leave the cities may seem absurd or even cruel. Let’s read:

Genesis 19: 17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:

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

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

[Patriarchs & prophets pp 160] It was hard to forsake his luxurious home and all the wealth acquired by the labors of his whole life, to go forth a destitute wanderer. Stupefied with sorrow, he lingered, loath to depart. But for the angels of God, they would all have perished in the ruin of Sodom.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 161] Though so greatly favored in being called out from the wicked city, she felt that she was severely dealt with, because the wealth that it had taken years to accumulate must be left to destruction.

This leads us to the sixth grim takeaway from the city of Sodom: [6] The lasting effect of Lot’s earlier choice was manifest in his kids, who escaped with him.

By beholding we become changed and this principle applies to both good and evil. As the two daughters of Lot resided in Sodom, the values and immorality of the inhabitants all tended to rub off on them. And before you know it, iniquity became less, and less offensive in their sight, to the point where their ability to distinguish between right and wrong was severely blunted.

In our day, the constant barrage of distortions on gender and marriage is severely blunting the minds of many, and as a result, sin does not seem to be so sinful anymore. Lot’s daughters did not think it a big deal to sleep with their own father, something that would be looked upon as ridiculous in our day.

And the same slow-boil method of devils is actively being applied, and the fine sensibilities that should frown upon evil, have become so blunted, that not only are the distortions looked upon with approval, they are in many instances being incorporated into the modes of thought and action by more and more persons. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

37 And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

This leads us to our final grim takeaway from the city of Sodom: [7] The history of Sodom is going to be repeated. Let’s read:

Luke 17: 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

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.

Like it was in the days of Lot, God has given grace for grace to the inhabitants of earth, so that we all could have ample opportunity to know His will. And there are yet many who are to become familiar with God’s requirements, before the final overtures of mercy are withdrawn.

 But, as it was in Sodom, His kindness and mercies do not seem to make a lasting impression on the minds of many, and because of this, the day of His grace will come to a close, with many persons not being aware of what is taking place.

As it was in the days of Lot the final warning will be targeted primarily to those persons who have not a full understanding of the issues at stake, and some, like Lot’s daughters who have a faint knowledge of truth would be granted a final opportunity to cast in their lot with the people of God.

Again, as it was in the days of Lot, the gravitational pull of material possessions will drain the life-blood of many a would-be saint since over the years some have become so accustomed to a life of luxury and ease, that they would be loathed to depart, when it comes time to make their escape.

In our day, those who are watching for the return of Jesus, should often take time to read and study the prophecies which point us to His return, for in this way present truth would be front and center in our thoughts and our lives could be guided accordingly, to what is written.

But if like Lot’s family, we put the truth on the back burner, or worst yet, make fun of those preachers whom God has sent to alert us of the danger, Jesus will come, and probation will close, at a time when we least expect, and because of this, heaven will be a place of surprises.

 Let us therefore awake to the moment, and make the best of the golden opportunity God has granted us to be saved, for at the end of the day this is what will have mattered the most in life. We will end with a passage of scripture that should enable persons to understand the signs of the times, and thus, live in readiness each day. 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!

A Time For Revival And reformation. Sabbath afternoon 09/24/2022

Malachi 4: 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

There are times in the experience of God’s people when revival and reformation become necessary. There are times when a spiritual drought has all but dried up those living springs of water Christ spoke of, and in their place, a dry formality, without heart and without spirit, settles in like a dark cloud upon persons who were once on fire for God.

There are times when a person goes to church, just because it is the right thing to do, but really and truly, their hearts and minds are not enthused nor animated by the presence of God and fellowship of other believers.

Now, it is true that we should always encourage persons to come to church, but if one is doing so, just because it is the right thing to do, then there is something vital that is missing.

The rich, young ruler in Christ’s day was doing the right thing. He was attending church regularly, he was singing in the choir, he could argue the twenty- seven doctrines with anyone who dared to question him, and for all intents and purposes he was one of those members in good and regular standing.

In other words, there was nothing external that one could point to in his life, to conclude that there was a missing link, for all the I’s were dotted, and every T was crossed, as far as external format goes.

 But there was only one problem; his heart and soul were not in it, and because of this the external form of religion was being held near and dear to his heart while the kernel of love, and joyful, eager service to God and to his fellowmen, were lacking greatly.

God wants us to be joyful and happy, serving and worshipping Him, and if this is not the case then we must of necessity take a serious, introspect look at ourselves, to see what might be the missing link, if indeed we are in need of a spiritual revival.

God desires that we worship and serve Him in spirit and in truth, as Christ once declared to the woman at the well. In other words, the relationship with the God of heaven shouldn’t be a dry bones experience. It should be a living, breathing experience, in which we not merely do the right thing, but are eager and excited to do so.

When there is no joy in serving and obeying God at a time when there is no reason for any sadness and gloom, then, it may be that a spiritual revival might be due, because God is a Spirit, and the attitude we serve Him with, might actually be more important in some cases than the many good and right things we may do. Let’s read:

John 4: 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Some worship God in spirit but with very little or no truth, while others may be worshiping with a whole lot of truth, but without any spirit. Both elements are necessary in serving God, and doing so ought to be our highest pleasure. Anything short of this will mean that there are some idols somewhere, lurking in the shadows. Let’s read:

Psalms 100: Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his  presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.

Malachi 3: 13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet you say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?

16 Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.

Then again, there are times in our experience when a reformation is needed. Times, when there must be a change of ideas and perspectives, where there must be some house cleaning as it were for where ever the revival occurs, a reformation must of necessity soon follow.

A revival is more like a resuscitation from spiritual death, as when a paramedic does CPR on a patient who is close to death. But a reformation has to do with concrete steps that are taken to reform certain malpractices which need to be addressed and which if left unattended can cause revival to go in reverse.

As the long 2300-day prophecy of Daniel was now drawing to a close, there was a spiritual revival in those whom The Spirit of God stirred up, and then it was that the great Reformation movement gained a whole lot of steam. As Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, very great changes and reforms were about to take place.

Similarly, in our own experience, when a revival is due, and God performs CPR on His people, through the infusion of new life by His Spirit, great changes are to be made where warranted, especially as we are heading into unchartered territory in the history of this world. 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 were cold or hot.

[R.H. February 1902] A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of the mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death.

 Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.

A good example of what is being referred to, took place in the days of Elijah, when the nation of Israel had become withered spiritually, under the reign of Ahab and Jezebel. In those days, God’s people had become blinded by the worship of false gods, and, before a reformation could be instituted a revival in the hearts and minds of the people was needed.

At this point we must reiterate that this is one of the side effects of bowing to idols, for doing so is inevitably going to produce spiritual blindness, by which persons lose the ability to discern between right and wrong, good and evil.

In those days of Elijah, the worship of Baal had now supplanted the worship of the true God, and Baal was being credited with sending the rain in its due season. This is how far and how low, the bowing to idols can take persons.

Thus, the reasons for the needed revival must now be clearly demonstrated by God, as He would point out the root cause of the problem, and by doing so, the follies of idol worship would be exposed.

As the mega-drought in Israel has been taking its toll on man, and beast, Baal was entreated, but for some strange reason, he seemed to be missing in action, refusing to come to the help of worshipers, as does every other idol that is worshipped. Let’s read:

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

25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

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.

[Prophets & Kings pp 150] At last, their voices hoarse with shouting, their garments stained with blood from self-inflicted wounds, the priests become desperate.

With unabated frenzy they now mingle with their pleading terrible cursing of their sun-god, and Elijah continues to watch intently; for he knows that if by any device the priests should succeed in kindling their altar fire, he would instantly be torn in pieces.

Evening draws on. The prophets of Baal are weary, faint, confused. One suggests one thing and another something else, until finally they cease their efforts. Their shrieks and curses no longer resound over Carmel. In despair they retire from the contest.

 All day long the people have witnessed the demonstrations of the baffled priests. They have beheld their wild leaping round the altar, as if they would grasp the burning rays of the sun to serve their purpose.

They have looked with horror on the frightful, self-inflicted mutilations of the priests, and have had opportunity to reflect on the follies of idol worship. Many in the throng are weary of the exhibitions of demonism, and they now await, with the deepest  interest the movements of Elijah.

Now, that the root cause of the problem has been confirmed and made manifest, it is time for some CPR, by which God is going to infuse new life into His people; a spiritual revival as it were, and when God does this, there will follow a dramatic change in perspectives and practice, and the way would be cleared for reformation to take place. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18: 36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

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

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

[Prophets & Kings pp 153] The people on the mount prostrate themselves in awe before the unseen God. At last, the people see how greatly they have dishonored God. The character of Baal worship, in contrast with the reasonable service required by the true God, stands fully revealed.

It is worthy of note, that what follows next on Mt. Carmel, is what must take place whenever revival occurs, through the power of The Holy Spirit. Those idols that were formerly worshiped, must now be resolutely put away, for this is the first work that is to take place when reformation follows revival.

 Now, we are not by any means, advising anyone to slay any of the modern idols in our day; however, the work of reformation must include relinquishing the former worship, adoration and following of the various Baals, that have led us into false paths and concepts.

Whereas before, we would follow the multitude to do that which is contrary to the scriptures, now we must stand up for right, and take concrete steps in an opposite direction, as the word of God directs us to. Thus, reformation will produce results that will be seen in those changes that are made manifest by the work of God’s Spirit in our hearts.

Those idolatrous philosophies and practices which have previously invaded our minds imperceptibly, must now be all ratted out by the word of God, and put away in the most resolute manner. This work is not only necessary for reformation, it is a must if we are to stand in our lot, like Daniel, at the end of the days.

This is what is meant by the following passages, as deep reformation and changes were to follow that revival upon Mt Carmel, by which the energies of the people were presently aroused.  

In other words, reformation must begin by persons identifying the cause of spiritual declension, and the cause must then be put away in no uncertain terms. If this is not done, then the CPR God gave will wane over time, and before you know it we will retrogress even more than before. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18: 40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Those words uttered by the prophet Elijah are also pertinent to those of us who realize the need for a reformation, for as we take an introspect look at the things we have been doing in former years, or might be doing right now, that are contrary to the word of God we must “Let None of Them Escape.” 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.

[Last Day Events pp 87] Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school of morality and virtue, as is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality. Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments.

Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions and attitudes deprave the imagination and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle.

There is no influence in our land more powerful to poison the imagination, to destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil pleasures and sober realities of life than theatrical amusements. The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence, as the desire for intoxicating drink strengthens with its use.

[Prophets & Kings pp 153] The anger of the people has already been aroused against the leaders in transgression; and when Elijah gives the command, “Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape,” they are ready to obey.

[Prophets & Kings pp 155] With the slaying of the prophets of Baal, the way was opened for carrying forward a mighty spiritual reformation among the ten tribes of the northern kingdom.

[Prophets & Kings pp 169] There was stern work to be done, that all might be given opportunity to take their position on the side of the true God. Elijah himself was to return to Israel, and share with others the burden of bringing about a reformation.

In our own experience there might be a dire need of revival and reformation in several areas of our lives, for the assessments of The True Witness, given in Revelation chapter 3, are pertinent to the remnant church in Laodicea in our day.

Where in some cases folks may have inadvertently adopted practices, methods, and principles of the world, or may have followed some human idol into never land, folks must now put all such things into  reverse gear, and try by the grace of God, never to touch the unclean thing again, ever!

Where some have adopted philosophies that are contrary to sound doctrine, or may have allowed the X-perts to muddy the waters as it pertains to what is acceptable and what is not, the pure word of God must replace those concepts and modes of thought, and in their place, “It is written” must reign supreme.

In other words, whenever some new thing arises, or some question on an issue is posed to us, the first thing we should do is to ask ourselves: What does the word of God have to say on the matter. Then, if the word says it, we believe it, and that settles it. But if not, then we should have no problem with putting it in the garbage, for this is what living by the word of God translates into, in the most literal sense.

To be swayed by the X-perts, just because they are X-perts, will set up a system of belief that is not in harmony with the word of God and any such modes of thought will no doubt lead us into false paths. In the scriptures, we are told of a man of God, to whom very specific instructions were given as he was sent to a certain king with a message from God.

But as he went on his way to do God’s will, he met an X-pert, one who was supposed to be much more knowledgeable and experienced than he was, who then counselled him to do the exact opposite thing of what God had said.

 The reasons given in the scripture are worthy of our utmost consideration, for in our day, the same sort of enticements and diabolical reasonings are often put forward as to why we should deviate from that which is written. Let’s read:

1st Kings 13:7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.

8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:

9 For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou came.

11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.

14 And he went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that came from Judah? And he said, I am.

15 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.

16 And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:

18 He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

19 So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.

20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back:

21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,

22 But came back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulcher of thy fathers.

In our day as we consider the need for reformation, God would have us to understand that there is a plethora of “Old Prophets”, some televangelists and preachers, who claim to have more experience and knowledge in the things of God than some of us do.

And they may be right, for all you know, but if what they are saying is contradictory to the word of God, then reformation would lead us to refuse such even if an angel spoke to them. Many of the current faith healers in our day, claim to have special revelations and connections to God, just like the “Old prophet” we read of.

While they are not to be condemned, we have to be very careful that we do not drink from perverted springs, lest we end up believing and obeying that which is nowhere to be found in God’s word. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 595] God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines, and the basis of all reforms.

The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority,—not one or all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support.

Thus, as revival and reformation come due, let it be our steadfast purpose to resolutely put away, any and everything that will impede the work God is willing and able to do.

 It will call for some soul-searching, some prayer and fasting, some acknowledging and confession of sins, and yes, some turning away from things which the Baals of the day have induced us to engage in. God would help us if we cooperate with Him, so that the work of salvation can continue uninterrupted in our hearts.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will enable us to reach for the kernels, not merely the husks of religion, for God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth. Let’s read:

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

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

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.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

  God Bless!

Dangers Of Bowing To Idols. Sabbath afternoon 09/17/2022

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

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them…..

It is imperative that we understand what an idol is before we can know what bowing down to idols is. Back in ancient times, idols were made out of wood, stone and metals, and were originally supposed to be visible representations of deity. The practice and the concept were early on developed by the people known as the Antediluvians.

 They would conceive in their minds what The Deity was supposed to looked like and if their imagination took them to four-footed creatures, and creeping things, they would make idols, based upon concepts that deviated greatly from one idea to another, and soon a plethora of different idols were incorporated into pantheons that continued to spawn new idols. 

The beginning of the book of Romans gives us an idea of how the concept of idolatry came to be. It was founded on rebellion and a hatred of God, and continues to this very day. The Antediluvians back then did not want to retain the knowledge of the true God, and wherever this mindset is found, very many idols would inevitably follow. 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 incorruptible 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.

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

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 95] 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.

For instance, in one pantheon today there is to be found no less than 330 million gods, and the grim proliferation continues. Idols always spawn other idols, and thus there is set into motion a continuous evolution of concepts and ideologies which are then often swallowed whole by the popular majority who follow in their train.

This is one of the reasons why persons cannot be satisfied with themselves, but rather feel compelled to get the latest this, or the latest that, in order to feel that they are accepted by society. It is better known as fashion mongering.

That noble independence which Christ brings to all who truly accept Him, is often lost in a barrage of must haves that are peddled by humanistic idols. Thus, what one ultimately does is not driven by the word of God, but rather by the dictates of fashion, and the human idols who produce and peddle them to the masses of people. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 32:16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.

17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

The reason why Moses declares that they sacrificed unto devils is because both the idolatrous concepts and the worship originated with devils and thus had nothing to do with God. This is one of the dangers of bowing to modern idols, in that the practices and worship thereof often have nothing to do with God, but are rather the productions of devils.

Thus, when persons bow to the dictates of any idol, whether humanistic, wooden, metallic, stone, or philosophical, the act of worship is done, and devils get the glory, for they’ve succeeded in getting such a person to obey their dictates, contrary to God’s will.

These idols were then given human, animalistic and deity characteristics. Some were designated as the protectors of water, land, seas and skies, as is to be clearly observed in the ancient Egyptian pantheon. In Egypt, when God sent Moses to meet pharaoh at the river Nile, the pagan king had gone to the river’s edge to worship.

One of the gods of the Nile was Sobek the crocodile, of which we have one million in the sunshine state. Another was Hapi who was given the designation as the controller of the annual floods. Later on, there was a fusion of Sobek and Ra, the sun god, to form a new idol called Sobek-Ra. And the list goes on and on.

The fish was worshipped as a god, as was also the frog, by the name Heqa. In fact, one of the reasons why God shook down Dagon in the temple of the philistines is because they had cloned the fish with a human body, to produce what we now know as the little mermaid. And the list goes on and on. Let’s read:

Exodus 7:15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goes out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink as he comes; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

16 And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou would not hear.

17 Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river.

Exodus 8: And the Lord spoke unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus, saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs.

3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading-troughs.

1st Samuel 5: 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 586] The Philistines removed the ark in triumph to Ashdod, one of their five principal cities, and placed it in the house of their god Dagon. They imagined that the power which had hitherto attended the ark would be theirs, and that this, united with the power of Dagon, would render them invincible.

 But upon entering the temple on the following day, they beheld a sight which filled them with consternation. Dagon had fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of Jehovah. The priests reverently lifted the idol and restored it to its place.

But the next morning they found it, strangely mutilated, again lying upon the earth before the ark. The upper part of this idol was like that of a man, and the lower part was in the likeness of a fish.

 Now, every part that resembled the human form had been cut off, and only the body of the fish remained. Priests and people were horror-struck; they looked upon this mysterious event as an evil omen, foreboding destruction to themselves and their idols before the God of the Hebrews.

And the list goes on and on. People would then try to dress, act, and speak like the idols they served and bowed down to, and thus, the idols became the icons people looked up to, and wherever the idols went, in their concepts and ideologies, so went the people.

In fact, some of the styles and fashions in our day are based on idols that are, or were worshipped but persons are none the wiser. Thus, bowing down to idols would literally mean trying to mimic what the idols would do, and obeying what the idols “Say”.

But we must keep in mind that they are always the figments of man’s imagination, driven and inspired by devils. Always!

 Since those days of ancient idolatry, the concepts have morphed into something that is hardly ever recognized for what it is, because the idols in our day are actual human beings for the most part, who the masses of people adore and worship, by doing whatsoever the human idol does, suggests or says, without any regard for what the Bible teaches.

Thus, it is a very grim assessment that is made, that many people are currently bowing down to idols, in some form or fashion, even though many are not aware that they are bowing.

Persons may not make actual obeisance, but if one is blindly following the dictates of another without regards to the revealed word of God, we may know for certain that bowing of some kind is taking place.

 Stars, who in most cases are human idols, do set the stage for what people wear, and how people speak. And their mannerisms, their gestures, lifestyles and preferences are all mimicked blindly by the acolytes who follow in their train.

A fan base is most literally a human idol with many devoted followers, who then follow the dictates of their idol as handed down from time to time. Thus, whenever devils need the multitudes to go down a certain route, they first infuse the human idols with their ideas and concepts, and as a general rule, the multitudes will gulp down all that is spoon fed to them.

The remnant people of God should never be slaves of fashion, neither should we allow any human idol to dictate, influence, or prompt us into certain evil practices even if it might seem on the surface to be harmless or good. To have the latest simply because it is the latest, is to be tethered to a philosophy that reeks of idolatry.

This is another danger of bowing to the dictates of the fashion god, for the latest fashion does not even have to fit persons properly, neither does it need to be comfortable or discreet. Certain low risers are without doubt, contrary to sound doctrine which do teach us the principle of modesty.

 When certain shoes are scheduled for release, the company in question always gets the stars to sport them first, and then, invariably, those shoes end up showing up on basketball courts around the world, in some cases, being purchased by persons who can barely even afford a big mac and fries.

The current proliferation of tattoos of all sorts can be traced right back to the idolizing of human stars in our day, who, by their personal examples, have brought the practice into the mainstream so that it has now become the norm, across wide swaths of American culture.

When persons deliberately become slaves of credit, when it is avoidable, that is a form of bowing, for it goes contrary to the scriptures which says “Owe no man anything”. The practice of racking up avoidable debt has become quite popular in our day, and the urge to splurge have brought many persons into the financial bondage that the Bible warns us of.

 It is a form of bowing, for it gives persons the ways and means to own things they really don’t need and which under normal circumstances they would not be able to afford. This is contrary to the instruction given in the Bible, which teaches us to be content, and because of this, it becomes a form of bowing to the credit god. Let’s read:

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

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

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

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

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

During the recent frenzy in the U.S. housing market, when prices skyrocketed to levels that were beyond reason, some persons succumbed to the syndrome of irrational exuberance, and went out on a limb to take advantage of the equity in their homes, even if they had no prior plans, or need of doing so.

But now, as the payments come due, some persons are having second thoughts as the market cools and as the Feds continue to ratchet up interest rates for several notches, for the foreseeable future. Credit that was taken out when interest rates were really low, would now have to be repaid at a much higher premium. It’s just another danger of bowing.

But devils also employ a multiprong approach, for there are philosophical idols in our day, folks who do set the parameters for what would be deemed acceptable in society, and what will be deemed to be anathema. When persons adopt philosophies that are contrary to the scriptures, that constitutes a form of bowing.

 When Abraham decided to acquiesce to the then prevailing philosophy on marriage, where it was lawful and culturally acceptable for a man to have another wife, if his own wife was barren, that was a form of bowing to a philosophical idol, for it went contrary to God’s will on these matters even though it may have seemed to those philosophers to be a mitigating factor in an otherwise irresolvable issue.

Indeed, when persons are induced to bow to these philosophical idols, some kind of benefit is almost always touted as the rational why bowing so is to be encouraged or practiced, and thus, the floodgates are swung wide open for philosophical idols, which are diabolically opposed to God’s word to take deep root in society.

Indeed, many marriages in our day have ended up on the rocks as a direct result of either one or both spouses bowing to the prevailing philosophical idols which do take the sacred institution of marriage in a completely opposite direction to God’s original ideal on the matter. But the word is explicitly clear on this matter, so that no one be deceived. Let’s read:

Matthew 19: 3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

In our day, philosophical idols have come up with concepts such as prenuptial agreements, as if to say that divorce is to be anticipated. And the bowing to idols continues. If one is catering for the dissolution of a marriage up front, why then get married in the first place?

Thus, our first passage explicitly states “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.” It does not depend on rational or benefit; persons are not to bow, period, for doing so sets up a precedent for future bowing in other matters of conscience. It was God who came to Abraham, after the act with Hagar had been done, and God corrected him, and ourselves on the issue. Let’s read:

Genesis 16: 16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

The words: “Be thou perfect” in the context, shows us that God was displeased with the actions of His servant, Abraham, and whenever, and wherever it has become the norm to do evil, because of some apparent benefit, the same words do apply: “Walk before Me and be thou perfect.”

 Same-sex marriages are also products of a modern philosophical idol, which pits the ideologies of our fallen nature against “It is written”, and so many of the people have bowed down to this idol, that it has become the law of the land, to the point where any who dare to differ are proscribed, and often visited with economic persecution in many instances.

Thus, God’s truth is turned by philosophical idols into something dark and foreboding, while evil is highlighted as being righteousness. Defenders of God-ordained marriage are now labeled as haters. This very sad and very unfortunate situation caused Isaiah to pen the following words, in grief of mind. Let’s read:

Isaiah 59:14 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.

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!

[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.

This leads us to our final dissertation on the dangers of us bowing to idols. It is called “Little Bow Wows.” Little bow wows are the little bows that are done in secret or in private, by which the truth, as revealed in the scripture, is compromised on occasions for a number of so-called “Valid reasons.”

Some have bowed on the issue of body art, in all of its various forms. Some have bowed on the issue of gender, as the barrage of different philosophies on the matter have taken deep root in society. Others have bowed to the fashion god, and pay homage or obeisance to whatsoever the fashion gods offload on society.

But others have also bowed to theological idols, by which the truth of God is rejected and other smooth soul-destroying doctrines are embraced, such as the natural immortality of the soul. This is a theological idol to which many have bowed, and over time, has become so deeply entrenched in the belief systems of millions, that it is almost a given.

What the arch enemy of God and man is doing, is to get persons into the habit of bowing down to idols, in little ways, that most would not fret about. When one begins to compromise on any point of truth and duty, the cascading effects can be established quite quickly, and the gravitational pull of fallen nature all but guarantees that the ball will keep on rolling.

Thus, we must reiterate, to any and everyone who’ll listen: Be very careful of those “Little Bow Wows” Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 717] The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things—the neglect to be true to God and to rely upon Him wholly, the disposition to follow the customs and practices of the world.

When the mark of the beast rears its head across the globe, those who have been accustomed to the habit of bowing will find it very difficult to resist the tsunami of religious, political, and social pressure to bow, because every valid reason, and every benefit for bowing would be put forth as reasons why folks should acquiesce.

Then it will be that those little “Bow Wows” would kick into high gear, as the internal force of habit, as well as the external forces of social pressure will put a stranglehold on conscience and very many people will end up bowing, even if they may not agree with the beast. Let’s read:

Revelation 13: 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.

As the beast philosophies, with the accompanying mark of the beast begin to be rolled out, satan, will, as in bygone years, begin with the stars, the human idols that folks have worshiped all along. Those little Bow Wows that persons never batted an eye at, will bubble to the surface and tremendous pressure will be brought to bear on persons to follow where the stars, and the popular majority lead the way.

To counteract this hurricane of delusionary bowing we have to be firmly grounded in the truth, which is the written word and The Living Word, so that when the floods come and the winds blow, we would not be swept off our feet.

In the here and now, we must determine, by the grace of God, never to follow the crowd in doing that which we know not to be right. Compromise in the little things paves the way for compromise in the big things, and it is only by forming the habit of not bowing down to idols, and having Christ formed within, that we will escape all these things that will come to pass. Let’s read:

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

In other words, persons should not allow any idols, whether they be stars, celebrities, politicians, TV personalities, sports icons, religious leaders, or any influencers on Tik-Tok, to pressure us in any way to bow down, or to walk contrary to a plain “Thus saith The Lord”.  Let’s read:

[Early Writings pp 88] A train of cars was shown me, going with the speed of lightning. The angel bade me look carefully. I fixed my eyes upon the train. It seemed that the whole world was on board, that there could not be one left. Said the angel, “They are binding in bundles ready to burn.”

Then he showed me the conductor, who appeared like a stately, fair person, whom all the passengers looked up to and reverenced. I was perplexed and asked my attending angel who it was. He said, “It is Satan. He is the conductor in the form of an angel of light. He has taken the world captive.

They are given over to strong delusions, to believe a lie, that they may be damned. This agent, the next highest in order to him, is the engineer, and other of his agents are employed in different offices as he may need them and they are all going with lightning speed to perdition.”

I asked the angel if there were none left. He bade me look in an opposite direction, and I saw a little company traveling a narrow pathway. All seemed to be firmly united, bound together by the truth, in bundles, or companies. Said the angel, “The third angel is binding, or sealing, them in bundles for the heavenly garner.”

Therefore, we will end with a passage of scripture that should help us on our journey towards God’s kingdom, to stay on the narrow path that leads to life eternal, and refuse any and every thing which savors of bowing, in any way shape or form. Let’s read:

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

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

17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides forever.

                                    God Bless!

No Submitting, No Resisting. Sabbath afternoon 09/10/2022

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Our opening passage delivers a straight up truth, by declaring that it is virtually impossible for anyone to resist the devil, except he/she submits daily to God. Each and every day we face challenges, hurdles and temptations of all sorts, and the only way for us to withstand the barrage of inducements to sin, is to become and remain vitally connected to God.

The Christian wins all his battles on his knees, most often, before conflicts and temptations occur, and the reason for this is that, just like in temporal war between nations, no soldier would dare take up a fight without first putting on the necessary armor.

If we could see the devil with our naked eyes, folks might be better prepared to avoid his incursions; but with him being invisible, and being much more prepared and experienced in doing what he does, it is a no-brainer that without submitting ourselves to God, resisting and overcoming will become wishful thinking.

In the wilderness of temptation, Christ laid down the format for preparation for spiritual warfare, for He spent no less than forty days and nights with His Father, being strengthened, and being readied for the onset of the conflict which was going to ensue, and which would ultimately determine the fate of the entire human family.

Christ’s example must then be studied and followed very closely by all who profess to be Christians, for preparation through submitting of ourselves to God must precede battle if persons are to be victorious.

As Jesus prayed and wrestled in the wilderness with God, preparing for the conflict, He got an idea of it’s severity, and also of the self-denial that will always attend any submission to God on the part of human agents.

Submitting ourselves therefore to God is essentially allowing Him to have and work His will in entirety in any given situation that may beset us. Temptations often pit good impulses against evil impulses, and if we are to resist the devil, we will have to give God the freedom to direct and guide us as he sees fit.

When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, “Not My will, but Thy will be done” He was thus allowing The Father to sit in the driver’s seat, even if The Father would take Jesus into situations, which Jesus would much prefer not to have gone. This is what is involved in submitting ourselves to God.

In such instances, when temptations and conflicts loom large, the grace of God is given in sufficient measure to withstand the battalions of hell, if and when we submit fully to God. To resist incursions from without is one thing, but to resist incursions from within takes temptation to another level.

Resisting the devil can become significantly more difficult if his appeals to our fallen nature touches a raw nerve internally. Temptation on food is one of the most brutal, for it appeals to inner cravings and sometimes legitimate desires we may have. Christ once put it this way, so that persons would better understand the nature of the conflict, and thus, the need for us to submit, before resisting. Let’s read:

Matthew 15:10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

11 It is not that which goes into the mouth that defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

20 These are the things which defile a man….

Christ is here pointing to an internal problem that can be taken advantage of by devils, if persons do not submit themselves to God. In addition to these things, we also have legitimate issues such as thirst and hunger which are not bad in and of themselves, but which must be satisfied only in accordance with the word of God.

Thus, very grave and very serious issues were to be decided, as Jesus was going to be severely tested at His weakest physical point. His mind must not be foggy or distracted and the legitimate desires of the flesh must be kept under bit and bridle, throughout the terrible ordeal, even if it may mean dying in the process.

In other words, submitting ourselves fully to God, before resisting temptation, could mean that folks may actually take a hit of some kind in the process, just as Christ collapsed after the temptations in the desert.

But the bottom line in submitting is that it is better to die doing God’s will in resisting, than to live with the flesh having the upper hand.

In our day, many of us take victory for granted, as if resisting the devil were a given just because we may believe in Jesus. Christ believed in His Father totally, but this did not lead Him to assume that victory was His for the taking, without first submitting to God as all of us must do.

Instead, Christ spent as much time as it would take, in His Father’s presence without looking at the clock as some often do, and it was by thus submitting to God that He came forth from the conflict victorious.

Then again there are lessons of great importance as we ponder His temptations and victory, lessons and knowledge that we ourselves must incorporate into our own conflicts with our unseen foe. Let’s read:

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

Let’s stop right there and get this first lesson while we can. If we are to be tempted, as we would be, it should always be as a result of The Spirit’s leading, not ourselves presuming to enter into temptation. Submitting ourselves therefore to God includes not presuming to enter the enchanted ground, without being bidden by God to do so. In too many cases, the devil was minding his own business, when out of the blue, he got an invitation from some of us to be tempted.

All are to avoid, as much as is humanly possible the places, venues, and situations, where the presence of evil angels is known to be firmly entrenched. We are not left in doubt as to where these situations do obtain, for the Bible gives us many clues that we are to be mindful of.

Wherever liquor is being consumed by friends or by foes, we are to avoid such company if we can, for it is an established fact that drinkers of booze almost always feel compelled to offer alcohol to another, and if one is struggling on this point, the situation will make it all the more difficult for one to refuse.

Christ did not claim God’s promises while daring the devil to tempt Him, and neither should we. Instead, if The Spirit of God ordains that a person should be tempted for whatever good reason God has, let Him lead in the matter, but never should we presume to go out on a limb on our own, expecting that we will have power to resist. This is not how submitting to God really works.  Let’s read:

Proverbs 23: 20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh.

21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Isaiah 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine are in their feasts: but they regard not the

work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.

13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity….

The next important point for folks to understand in the issues of submitting and resisting is that in very many cases, we are tempted at our weakest points.  Temptations are rarely one size fits all, but are more often tailormade with a specific individual, and their specific situation, and weak points in mind.

Under normal circumstances, a typical fast would’ve been a breeze for Jesus, but without having food or water for forty days, He would be significantly more weaker, physically, than at other times. Let’s read:

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

If the temptation on food was brought prematurely at the time when Christ had just entered the desert it would not have had the same force as it did, forty days later.

 Thus, all of us should be aware of our weak points, and ask God for grace to live victoriously from day to day. One man’s weakness is often another man’s strength, and those who may not bat an eye at the proverbial Johnny Walker, might have some other issue that easily besets him, and because of this, we must be extra vigilant by the grace of God, on these particular points.

Submitting ourselves daily and moment by moment to God, will give us the grace and strength to resist, especially if devils were to throw a curve ball at the saints, suddenly. If we know we have a temper issue we should not wait until someone ticks us off on the spur of the moment, to pray and ask for grace.

If we were to wait until such situations like these occur suddenly, we would most likely blow a fuse, before we even think about prayer. That is why we must go back again to Jesus’ example, as He prayed with strong crying and tears, before the onset of the wilderness conflict. In other words, no submitting, no resisting.

Another important point for us to take note of on the issue of submitting and resisting is the fact that we are tempted with mostly good things, especially the saints who know the truth. Note well that Christ was not tempted with booze or ganja or shrimp. It was bread that He was tempted on. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

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

In the overwhelming majority of cases, persons are tempted with good things. Especially is this the case with the remnant people of God who may know the truth. There isn’t anything wrong with bread per se, it is just the terms and conditions under which The Lord was tempted to make and eat it, but in and of itself there ain’t nothing wrong with bread.

 As we look back on another wilderness experience in the Bible, we observe that the children of Israel were also tempted with on the issue of bread. At that time God had put them on a diet, to bring to pass those necessary changes that would pave the way for their health and well-being.

 But then, the old devil tempted them with “good things” as he has done on numerous occasions. In going through the following list of food items that they desired, we cannot find a single one that has been blacklisted by the scriptures.

 In fact, almost all of the items they craved are to be found in our health message, some containing the vitamins and minerals and fiber that promote good health. Some of the items also do contain medicinal properties, that foster longevity, and the whole nine yards. So, we repeat again: Folks are often tempted with good things. Let’s read:

Numbers 11: 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic.

In this instance, submitting to God would translate into submitting to the food He ordained, even if the other food they craved was inherently good. In the current circumstance, it was a transitional diet that was meant to achieve certain results for God would not have put them on a diet of Manna forever.

And we are not to become riled up at God for doing so, because in our day, we often permit Jenny Craig or Atkins to put us on very strict diets transitionally so that we can achieve the desired results. No one in their right minds would nor should stay on Atkins forever; it’s just for a time.

The Keto diet is severely restrictive, and the South Beach and Atkins diet all have adverse side effects. Thus, submitting to God in this matter, in order to achieve the good results while resisting the devil at the same time should not be too far of a stretch, for us to come to grips with.

Bread in the wilderness of temptation with Christ, and bread in the wilderness of temptation with the Hebrews, all have one thing in common; they were in both circumstances, tempted with good things.

The problem occurs with the terms and conditions under which these good things are offered. Eating cucumbers and garlic becomes a sin if it is not God’s will in the specific circumstance. And turning stone into bread, even if it is whole wheat bread, is just as bad, if it were to go contrary to God’s revealed will in the particular situation.

Again, the next passages reveal to us that the devil took Jesus into a high place in the mountains, and there he showed Him the kingdoms of this world in all of their glory. But in an instant Jesus refused the temptation, recognizing that the terms and the conditions under which they were being offered are contraindicated to God’s will. Let’s read:

Matthew 4: 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

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

The problem occurs with the terms and conditions under which those kingdoms were to be given, but the kingdoms, in and of themselves are not really the problem, even though they are flawed because of sin.

Later on in the Bible we read that the very same kingdoms are given to Christ, but at this time they are given under terms and conditions approved by God. Whenever we are tempted with good things, the problem usually occurs with the terms under which they are offered. Let’s read:

Revelation 11: 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Very many years ago, when I had just come to the United States, I needed to get my citizenship, to be able to work and live legally in the country. At that time, I was tempted with the prospect of obtaining legal status through marriage to someone whom I did not love at all.

Both things are good, in and of themselves. To get one’s citizenship is good, and marriage is ordained by God, but the terms and conditions under which they were being offered raised the prospect of me having to use the sacred institution in a subterfuge manner, as a means to achieve the desired end.

This would then make me a liar if I were to take the sacred vow, knowing full well that [1] I did not like the person at all, and [2] I would deliberately, and knowingly intend to disannul the marriage, as soon as I got my papers. The problem is with the terms and conditions, not marriage or citizenship per se, for both of them are good, in and of themselves.

“I, Bro Mac do take you, (blank) to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death does us part.”

 If I had gone through with the temptation, it would be a form of “Bowing”. And as we are on the topic of bowing, let us go to the next and last issue as it pertains to submitting and resisting. Let’s read:

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

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

In this instance we see the devil trying to intimidate Christ with his power, for He lifted Jesus bodily and took Him through the air, to the dizzying height of the temple’s pinnacle.

 The use of intimidating force is often the last resort employed, after enticements and subtleties have failed, and this will call for total submission, if we are to resist. Let’s Read:

[The story of Redemption BK2, pp 46] Satan was not willing to cease his efforts until he had tried every means to obtain victory over the world's Redeemer. He knew that with himself all was at stake, whether he or Christ should be victor in the contest.

 And in order to awe Christ with his superior strength he carried him to Jerusalem and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and continued to beset him with temptations.

 He again demanded of Christ that if he was indeed the Son of God to give him evidence by casting himself from the dizzy height upon which he had placed him.

 As a general rule of thumb devils do not use force up front, as the means whereby to get persons to comply with their temptations. Entreaty, persuasion enticements, and subtlety of various sorts are most often used initially.

 Then when these fail to produce the desired results, force is resorted to as the last-ditch effort, and this usually seals the deal, in many cases, with folks who are not fully submitted to Christ.

When the devil tempted Joseph through Potiphar’s wife, he moved her to use entreaty, enticements, and persuasions of all sorts. Day by day, as Joseph went to work, Potiphar’s wife would wear certain seductive, and suggestive wear, with the particular intent to arouse Joseph’s latent desires.

And since Joseph was still in his prime, and he was exercising regularly and eating a lot of protein, she hoped that in the sweet by and by to overthrow his peculiar principles.

 Expensive, seductive perfumes she purchased from Victoria’s secret, and lingerie that leave little to the imagination, were deliberately worn during daytime hours, when her husband was off on military duty.

 But, because Joseph was submitting himself to The Lord, moment by moment her entreaties, and her oft enticements fell on deaf ears, with no hope of her sinking the young man.

 Then, after everything else was tried and failed, the devil, through his emissary reached for the strategy of last resort, and that is when she tried to force Joseph into submission.

 In other words, it was only when she had run out of bullets that force became necessary. Devils rarely use force up front as a tactic much rather preferring to entice persons over the cliff in their efforts to get folks to succumb to temptation. Thus, it will be with all who have not submitted to Christ when the mark of the beast is instituted across the entire globe.

 All that we have been studying so far this evening, as it pertains to us submitting, and then resisting, would come to a head when the mark of the beast rears its head globally.

 Entreaties, promotions, persuasions, enticements, bribes, and every other available means at their disposal would be first implemented to get persons to comply or to bow, as was the case with the three Hebrew worthies in ancient Babylon.

 But if these efforts fail to produce the much-desired results the use of force will be finally employed as it was with Joseph, and then, it will only be individuals who understood by precept, and by practice, what submitting really is, who would be enabled to resist successfully, those last temptations on food, for it began with food and it’ll end with food. 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.

Some may think that the above statement might be a dark sentence with a fuzzy meaning, so let us tell the truth in the matter bluntly. Everyone who is not fully submitted to Christ when that time comes, will be beaten over their heads with a baseball bat, and forced into compliance. So says the Bible, and the prophets. 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.

[The Desire of Ages pp 435] 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.

Thus, it is only by submitting to Christ, in our daily walk with God, that the habit will be formed. Those temptations and situations that might try our faith, and our patience at times, are to be used as golden opportunities for submitting and resisting.

 Instead of whining “Why me” let us ask God to give us grace to resist the devil in the various trials and temptations that may come our way. The study of Christ’s example is a must, and earnest persevering prayer is essential, if we are to live victoriously from day to day.

When Christ fasted and prayed in the wilderness for forty days and nights, He had other pressing things on His agenda that could and would have distracted Him from making full preparation.

 Similarly in our day, there will always be pressing or important things to take care of, and some of these will undoubtedly be “Good things” but if at the end of the day, they would distract us from preparation through submission, then when temptation comes like a whirlwind, we will find ourselves destitute of power to resist, for wherever there is no submitting there will be no resisting.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms this truth, and it is our sincere hope, that someone listening may take heed, lest we fall a prey to the devices of devils. Let’s read:

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 that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

                                     God Bless!

Paganism Enters The Church. Sabbath afternoon 09/03/2022

Acts 17: 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him.

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

23 For as I passed by and beheld your devotions I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

Before we study anything about paganism entering the church, it is imperative that we refer to history, as it pertains to those incremental insinuations that took place over the years. The adversary of God and man employs the principle of gradualism in most of his incursions into the church.

As a general rule, devils avoid startling persons into being alerted, preferring that proverbial slow-boil approach by which the frog becomes acclimated to the increasing heat of the boiling water. Thus, as he gets more and more accustomed, and comfortable to the heat, the frog is slowly cooked to an untimely death and he is never awakened to what exactly did him in. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 717] The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things.

This is what took place, over many years, as pagan philosophies, practices, ideologies, suggestions and proposals and concepts gradually invaded the heart and mind of the Christian church, and before folks knew it, paganism began converting Christianity to itself, instead of the other way around.

When Christ stated in one passage that we are the light of the world, and in another passage, that the gates of hell will not prevail against His kingdom, He was referring to the work, reforms, and conversions that Christianity is supposed to bring to the table.

But, lo and behold, the light has gradually become engulfed by gross darkness, to the point where folks are putting darkness for light, bitter for sweet, evils for righteousness, and wrong for right. Thus, there’s a great work of reformation to take place within the church, before Christ returns, because persons are fast losing the ability to clearly distinguish between good and evil. Let’s read:

Isaiah 60: 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Amos 8: 11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

Bit by bit and ever so deliberately and imperceptibly the purity, and power of the early Christian church has faded, and in very many cases, the church has now become a mere husk of its former self. When persons in times past trembled at the preaching of evangelists who delivered truth in its unadulterated form, reformation and change for the better would often follow.

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.

But in our day, where an over-abundance of smooth words and political correctness have lulled the sin-loving multitudes into a false sense of security, any and everything is now being incorporated under the banner of Christianity.

 And for that reason, the lukewarm condition of the church, mentioned in the book of Revelation, has become the norm. Thus, like Mr. Froggy, some of us would be in danger of succumbing to the slow-boil syndrome, if we are not very careful.  

Therefore, we must revisit history, to observe how and why we have come to this point, for if we don’t know where we have come from, we will not know where we are going. Thus, as we read, let it be our heart’s endeavor, to surrender to the changes God desires to accomplish in our hearts, Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pages 39-44] In vain were Satan's efforts to destroy the church of Christ by violence. The great controversy in which the disciples of Jesus yielded up their lives, did not cease when these faithful standard-bearers fell at their post.

 By defeat they conquered. God's workmen were slain, but his work went steadily forward. The gospel continued to spread, and the number of its adherents to increase. It penetrated into regions that were inaccessible, even to the eagles of Rome.

Said a Christian, expostulating with the heathen rulers who were urging forward the persecution: “You may torment, afflict, and vex us, …but your cruelty is of no avail……The more we are mowed down, the more we spring up again. The blood of the Christians is seed.

 Thousands were imprisoned and slain; but others sprung up to fill their places. And those who were martyred for their faith were secured to Christ, and accounted of him as conquerors. They had fought the good fight, and they were to receive the crown of glory when Christ should come.

Their living example and dying testimony were a constant witness for the truth; and, where least expected, the subjects of Satan were leaving his service, and enlisting under the banner of Christ.

Satan therefore laid his plans to war more successfully against the government of God, by planting his banner in the Christian church. If the followers of Christ could be deceived, and led to displease God, then their strength, fortitude, and firmness would fail, and they would fall an easy prey.

Persecution ceased, and in its stead were substituted the dangerous allurements of temporal prosperity and worldly honor.

 Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Christian faith, while they rejected other essential truths. They professed to accept Jesus as the Son of God, and to believe in his death and resurrection; but they had no conviction of sin, and felt no need of repentance or of a change of heart.

With some concessions on their part, they proposed that Christians should make concessions, that all might unite on the platform of belief in Christ. Now the church was in fearful peril.

 Prison, torture, fire, and sword were blessings in comparison with this. Some of the Christians stood firm, declaring that they could make no compromise.

Others were in favor of yielding or modifying some features of their faith, and uniting with those who had accepted a part of Christianity, urging that this might be the means of their full conversion.

That was a time of deep anguish to the faithful followers of Christ. Under a cloak of pretended Christianity, Satan was insinuating himself into the church, to corrupt their faith, and turn their minds from the Word of truth.

 Most of the Christians at last consented to lower their standard, and a union was formed between Christianity and paganism.

Although the worshipers of idols professed to be converted, and united with the church, they still clung to their idolatry, only changing the objects of their worship to images of Jesus, and even of Mary and the saints.

The foul leaven of idolatry, thus brought into the church, continued its baleful work. Unsound doctrines, superstitious rites, and idolatrous ceremonies were incorporated into her faith, and worship.

As the followers of Christ united with idolaters, the Christian religion became corrupted, and the church lost her purity and power. There were some, however, who were not misled by these delusions. They still maintained their fidelity to the Author of truth, and worshiped God alone.

There have ever been two classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While one class study the Savior's life, and earnestly seek to correct their defects and to conform to the Pattern, the other class shun the plain, practical truths which expose their errors.

Thus, as long as persecution continued, the church remained comparatively pure. But as it ceased, converts were added who were less sincere and devoted, and the way was opened for Satan to obtain a foot-hold.

When God declares that paganism has taken deep root in the churches, He is not only referring to a set of practices, and rituals that have been adopted; He is mostly referring to the philosophies that drive the actions and the thought processes of the multitudes which in turn results in concepts and belief systems that are contrary to the scriptures.

We would observe in our first passage that closely associated with the idolatry of the Ephesians, were the philosophers, whose teachings, and ideologies were the bedrock foundation of all that was being done in Ephesus.

Thus, the pagan belief systems of that city, driven by the many philosophers, ultimately becomes the springboard for all of the idolatrous practices Paul observed.

But the effects of paganism on Christian teaching is far deeper, and is more extensive and far reaching than mere externals. It affects the concepts and the perspectives some now hold to be doctrinal, in the various churches of Christendom, and thus for us to understand the extent of the problem, we must first dig into the philosophies that form the foundation of paganism.

One of the concepts that most pagans hold dear is a deep love and reverence for nature most commonly referred to as Mother Nature. In fact, the majority of pagans will affirm to you that their god is nature, and as such, some have become deeply involved in those environmental efforts to save the planet.

 Another bedrock, foundational belief of paganism is that every person has the right to choose, which is actually true, according to the scriptures, for it was Joshua who once said “Choose you this day whom you will serve”.

But in paganism, everyone chooses what to believe and how to believe it, and thus, morality becomes subjective from person to person, as each pagan is the final arbiter of right and wrong, and will decide for themselves what is truth.

In other words, truth is defined in paganism by the person, and not the scriptures, as it is in Christianity and because of this the philosophy spawns concepts such as everyone is a law unto themselves. What is right is determined by the person and since morality is made subjective, there can be nothing wrong.

The plethora of genders and different variations on marriage are the fruit of pagan philosophies which allow persons to become whatsoever or whosoever they want to be. As it was in Paul’s day, when he was in Athens, the philosophers are never far away from divergent views and practices indulged by the masses of people.

This leads us to another belief within paganism that declares there is no sin because there is no absolute authority to which one can refer. In other words, if every person decides what is right, and acceptable, then there can be no such thing as wrong-doing, for anything one chooses to do becomes the right thing to do.

This does not mean to say that paganism does not produce moralists; it does, but the morality is not based on any written, inspired document, such as the Bible, it’s based on one’s feelings and personal convictions, whether or not they are in sync with the word of God.

Thus, it is that the floodgates are swung wide open for any, and everyone to believe and practice what seems to them as the right thing. In other words, everyone does whatsoever he/she may choose, but at the end of the day it will always be the right thing for persons set the parameters of right and wrong.

A very similar situation had obtained in Israel of old when every person did that which was right in their own eyes. The problem with this philosophy is that what seems right to one person, may not seem right to another, and thus, without an absolute standard of truth to guide our feet, morality, as well as good and evil are placed in a perpetually fluid state. Let’s read:

Judges 17: 5 And the man Micah had a house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

One of the practices that has become mainstream is that of body art by which persons cover their bodies with tattoos. It is true that some persons may have done so in the innocence of their heart, just going with the flow, to be cool and accepted by society. In times of ignorance God winks, and if such persons accept Christ as Lord and Savior, He will forgive.

But for those who might be thinking about getting one, two, or one hundred tattoos, as the case might be, the word of God speaks very plainly against the practice as being of pagan origin, and not at all in harmony with God’s ideals for His people.

Jezebel made body art fashionable in Israel and long after she was gone the practice had taken deep root in the nation. The issue with it is that it morphs into variations with time, and as leaders, parents, stars, mothers, and fathers adopt the practice, the next generations to follow often take it to the next level.

But the word of God is not subject to fashion, nor is it to be modified in any way to suit philosophies, or practices that are of pagan origin. When a majority opinion bears sway, the will of God is usually in the opposite direction and thus, the following verses do represent God’s will in the matter. Let’s read:

Leviticus 19: 28 You shall not make any cuttings in  your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.

Tattoos and body painting of all sorts have entered the church, and the practices are fast becoming the mainstream to the point where it’s being commonly accepted as being the norm. Yet, on this point, we cannot, and should not make any fine distinctions, because paint is paint.

Not long ago we went to Home Depot to purchase a few gallons of paint for work that was being done at home. As we looked at the various offerings we saw several gallons of Benjamin Moore, and Glidden and we also saw Sherwin Williams. And yes, there might be some variations and fine distinctions, but at the end of the day, we found out that paint is paint. Let’s read:

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

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

What The God of heaven is looking for in His people is not only character, but a body and mind that have been wholly consecrated to Him. In fact, Laodicea is to set a very high bar, as far as Christianity goes, for The Lord seeks to perfect all aspects of His salvation in those who are looking for His soon return.

 Therefore, it’s not only the preaching, the singing or praying that’s needed; the very lifestyle practices, and health of body and mind are to become center pieces of our day-to-day aspirations, for those who are to give the last message of mercy must speak, and look the part.

 God desires to make us living embodiments of what salvation is all about, for Jesus came to give us life more abundantly. Therefore, truths that are held in a theoretical manner framework only, will not make the grade because the last messengers of mercy are being prepared to be specimens of God grace, in its entirety.

Thus, if we are to present truths in our day that are affecting young and old, like such issues on gender, tattoos, marriage, and diets and foods, we too will have to be living up to what we preach, or else the unbelieving world will observe a stark disconnect in what is said, and what is actually being done.

If we have to deliver the health message, we would have to live the health message, and if we are to be examples to our youth on issues of body art, we too should not ever be found at Home Depot buying the Glidden and the Sherwin Williams, for whenever we open our mouths to speak truth, an anomaly would be present, to lessen the effectiveness of what we are saying. Let’s read:

Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The time has come where the distinction of love, in and of itself does not distinguish between the one in the church and the one in the world, for the devil has made very certain that there is an abundance of love in the churches and institutions that constitute Babylon.

Many churches and denominations in our day have a multitude of charitable organizations, including a whole lot of medical facilities, schools, and outreach ministries that can make our efforts look feeble and Oprah Winfrey personally funds education for many children in South Africa.

 Thus, if the manifestations of loving acts of kindness are the only distinguishing factors, there are now a million and one to be found, any and everywhere. The love of God in the heart is a must, but the work of salvation is a holistic approach that inevitably will affect for the better, every aspect of our being, our body, soul and spirit. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

In other words, Paul’s message to the new Christian church in his day, is now applicable to the remnant people of God, and just as Paul said follow me, even as I follow Christ, we too must be able to say to our neighbors, friends, co-workers, children and anyone with whom we come in contact, “Whatever you see me do you can safely follow me, since I’m a follower of Christ” Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Therefore, in tackling the invasive nature of pagan culture in the churches, there are certain things we would have to put in place, through our deliberate decisions and choices.

 [1] We must individually decide that the word of God will be the final authority in whatsoever we think, do or say.

If an issue isn’t supported by the word of God, and if the principles and methods that are involved are not emanating from God, then it must immediately be thrown in the garbage, with no bad feelings to the contrary whatsoever.

This approach will serve as an effective counter to the pagan philosophies which give free reign to any and every carnal desire of the human heart. There are certain things a Christian cannot do, period, and this is not legalism as some may portray it to be. It is just the raw Biblical facts in the matter.

The multiple and unsanctimonious clamors of our fallen nature would have to be kept under bit and bridle, through the power of the indwelling Christ so that Christin graces, principles and practices can be fostered, and gain the ascendency. Let’s read:

Galatians 5: 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that ye would.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Colossians 3: 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

[2] We will need the abiding and the empowering presence of Christ to fend off multiple incursions against our souls, which occur externally as well as internally, the internal invasions being the more dangerous of the two.

Knowing the scriptures does not keep any person from falling, what it does is to give folks an active reference point to distinguish between right and wrong. But knowing a whole lot of scripture, in and of itself does not keep a person from falling.

The motive power to do right comes from a Person, not from a written document, and thus it becomes even more imperative that we ask God for grace to help us in times of need. Know and understand this for sure, when Jesus quoted scripture in the desert of temptation, He became even more hungry after He had quoted them.

The same is true of me and you, who have all types of legitimate and illegitimate desires and cravings to battle with from day to day. Often, after quoting your memory verse the force of the temptation may become stronger, as desire clamors for the mastery.

Thus, it is God and God alone who can keep us from falling, and even though “It is written” has its place, the written word must always lead us to The living Person, even The Man Christ Jesus, who alone is able to save us from our own selves, all by Himself. Let’s read:

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 that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Jude 23: 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

[The Desire of Ages pp 324] The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin.

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

Let us therefore refuse paganistic philosophies and practices, by becoming vitally connected to Christ, for if and when this is accomplished, nothing that is mainstream will faze us to the point where we feel compelled to go with the flow. “The flow” for the Christian must always be upstream.

Thus, we will end with a passage of scripture that will enable us to speak and do that which is written, for it’s not merely the hearers, but the doers of the word, who would ultimately be victorious, in every battle of life. Let’s read:

1st John 5: 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

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

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

                                   God Bless!

How To Repent. Sabbath afternoon 08/27/2022

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

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

In many evangelistic efforts persons are instructed and encouraged to be baptized, and to follow on to know The Lord, by trusting and obeying Him. But in some instances, prospective candidates for baptism are not instructed on how to repent. The baptismal pledge to do such and such things by God’s grace is good, but true repentance must always precede the changes that are to be wrought in one’s life.

True repentance does not only involve a confession of one’s sins, it also includes a definitive change of mind and direction, by which one chooses to allow the work and presence of The Holy Ghost to begin and continue for as long as life shall last.

The genuine behavioral changes that are the results of God’s work in the heart then continue non-stop, until the image of God is reflected radiantly in the one who has repented. But first though, we are to understand that repentance is something that we can come up with in and of ourselves.

Repentance is a gift from God to us, to bring us to a realization of sin, and a realization of our dire need of Christ. But mere human efforts, or semblances of repentance fall far short of the ideal. In fact, every single thing which pertains to our salvation is a gift, coming all wrapped up in One Person even The Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s read:

Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

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.

2nd Corinthians 7: 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Romans 2:4 Do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Fallen human nature does not have it within itself to repent, according to the Bible’s definition, for it is a gift from God, which is then appropriated to one’s self. Human nature naturally tends to hide faults or sins, and will often seek to lay the responsibility for one’s sin at another’s doorstep.

After Adam and Eve sinned, they hid themselves in the garden; they didn’t repent, up front, not merely because they did not want to, but because, without The Lord they could not. That is why God had to go looking for them, with His sacrifice, repentance, and forgiveness in hand, to initiate the process of true repentance.

But if it was left solely up to them, they would have never repented, because human nature cannot, in any way generate true repentance. We might feel sorrow and remorse for the results of sinful deeds, but for us to repent of those sins in and of ourselves is way beyond our natural ability.

In fact, we often get the two things mixed up where on the one hand there may be regret for the wrong course of action taken, and the adverse results that follow. This is quite different from godly sorrow for sin, which is granted as a gift from God, and which causes a person to be sorry for violating God’s law, which ultimately caused Christ to die on the tree. The two are entirely different.

Sorrow for the mere deed is often manifested in a frenzied interest to have the adverse consequences reversed as quickly as possible. But godly sorrow for sin, which is a gift from God, focuses on the wounds and the damage done to the relationship with God.

In fact, when persons repent after the godly sort, they usually do not seek to avert any of the adverse consequences that accrue; instead, they manifest a willingness to bear them.

When the thief on the cross was experiencing the true repentance that the Bible speaks of, he did not ask Christ to reverse the death sentence that was due. On the contrary, he admitted that justice was being served in his case for the wrongs committed.

Then, he looked forward to the future, asking Christ to remember him when He comes, which of course by implication means an appeal for God’s mercy, since that’s the only way that he could be saved in God’s kingdom, after doing as he had done. Let’s read:

Luke 23: 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into thy kingdom.

Here again is the same manifestation of repentance after the godly sort, for when one admits that he or she is treated fairly when justice for some wrong is served, that demonstrates that they view the law of God as being just and right, which then makes God’s mercy a viable option, for mercy isn’t needed where there is no admission of guilt.

When David sinned by numbering the people, that plague which followed was cause for great concern in David’s mind, for as far as he was concerned, the judgments should have fallen upon himself and his family, for he took full responsibility for his actions, together with any adverse consequences that God would see fit to mete out. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

17 And David said unto God isn’t it I who commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

As both Adam and Eve reflected upon the deed that was done, bitter recriminations, and bickering took place, as they blamed each other for the errors that brought them down to their present, unfortunate state. But as far as true repentance goes without an intervention by God, that would be furthest thing from their minds. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 57] Adam reproached his companion for her folly in leaving his side, and permitting herself to be deceived by the serpent. Adam could neither deny nor excuse his sin; but instead of manifesting penitence, he endeavored to cast the blame upon his wife, and thus upon God Himself.

 This brings us to the very first instruction on how one is to appropriate God’s gift of repentance, when sins have been committed. The first step in true repentance is to take full responsibility for our actions, even if we were persuaded and encouraged by others to do wrong. Circumstances, and the hereditary factors are not to be blamed, and neither is the devil, for persons often blame him wrongfully for things, which, in some cases, he had nothing to do with directly.

It is true that the maid in question had irritated Peter and it is true, that if he wasn’t pressed on the matter, he may have kept his cool. However, circumstances are not to be blamed for us blowing a fuse, for the short circuit takes place internally, not externally. Therefore, as Peter went out and wept bitterly, there was no one else to point to, but himself.

Again, in David’s repentance, we observe that he takes full responsibility for his actions. He didn’t seek to blame Bathsheba for having a bath outside neither did he blame the heat of the moment, as some of us often do. Any and every contributing factor which led to his downfall is laid aside as he places the full responsibility at his front door.

Even when he mentioned the issues of heredity, he still comes back to the fact that no one had forced him to do what he had done. It was of his own volition and decision why he had fallen. Let’s read:

Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that You might be justified when You speak, and be clear when You judge.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Another important aspect of godly repentance is that of confessing our sins. However, there is a huge difference in Biblical confession, and a mere statement of the facts. This aspect of repentance needs to be understood by all, for there may be many instances where a statement of facts is misconstrued as being confessing our sins.

There are three instances given in the Bible that can shed great light on the issue of confession. David, Achan, and Judas all confessed their sins when cornered, but David’s confession was after the godly sort, whereas Achan’s and Judas’ were a mere statement of facts, without any true sorrow for sin accompanying their confession.

In fact, it really matters not if a person is cornered or not; the determining factor is whether the confession and the repentance came from God, or whether it is originating with man. The gift of repentance with confession is given to all, but it rests with the individual to accept or reject it.

This is what determines the outcome. In addition, it’s quite possible for persons to confess their sins under pressure, and yet it can be genuinely after the godly sort. Let’s read:

Joshua 7:10 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore do you lay thus upon thy face?

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

14 In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the Lord taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the Lord shall take shall come by households; and the household which the Lord shall take shall come man by man.

Question: Why wait until the morning?

Answer: During the night, God would grant the same gift of repentance to and his household, and what he does with it will determine the outcome. Like the thief on the cross, he may have to suffer the adverse consequences, since thirty-six men had lost their lives on account of his sin. Yet, he and his entire household could still be saved in God’s kingdom.

 Like as it was with David, a special interference from God would disturb Achan’s conscience that night, before he is cornered, and his response to God’s work on his heart is what will ultimately determine his eternal destiny.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 497] Achan acknowledged his guilt, but when it was too late for the confession to benefit himself. He had seen the armies of Israel return from Ai defeated and disheartened; yet he did not come forward and confess his sin.

He had seen Joshua and the elders of Israel bowed to the earth in grief too great for words. Had he then made confession, he would have given some proof of true penitence; but he still kept silence. He had listened to the proclamation that a great crime had been committed, and had even heard its character definitely stated. But his lips were sealed.

Then came the solemn investigation. How his soul thrilled with terror as he saw his tribe pointed out, then his family and his household! But still he uttered no confession, until the finger of God was placed upon him. Then, when his sin could no longer be concealed, he admitted the truth.

Joshua 7:16 So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:

17 And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:

18 And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.

20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done.

21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

Like Achan, David also tried to cover up his sins. Achan hid the Babylonish garment, with the shekels of gold and silver in his tent, and David tries unsuccessfully, to drug Uriah, so that the adulterous deed could remain a secret, or so he thought. A whole year passes by, David marries Bathsheba, and everything seems to be kept under wraps until God sends Nathan to corner David.

When David is confronted by Nathan, he confesses his sin, when Achan is confronted by Joshua he confesses his sin, and thus the obvious looming question is “what’s the difference? Why, in one instance one is forgiven, and in another instance one’s confession is rejected? Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 12:1 And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up…..

4 And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord lives, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus, saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

Before folks get all riled up at what might seem to some as a disconnect in God’s justice and mercy, in sparing and forgiving David, while taking out Achan, we must remember those words God uttered in the case of Achan: “In the Morning”

The same is true of Judas, whose day of grace was extended on numerous occasions, as God’s gift of repentance was offered through Christ. Judas did not appropriate the gift when it would have made all the difference in his after history.

 He delayed and avoided the probing of God which had revealed his true character and he continued to deny the fact that the assessments given by Christ were true or pertained to him. Thus, when he was finally ready to confess his sin it had become a mere statement of facts, rather than the utterances of a truly penitent heart. Let’s read:

 [The Desire of Ages pp 295] In His teaching, Jesus dwelt upon principles of benevolence that struck at the very root of covetousness. He presented before Judas the heinous character of greed, and many a time the disciple realized that his character had been portrayed, and his sin pointed out. But he would not confess and forsake his unrighteousness. Lesson after lesson fell unheeded on the ears of Judas

Matthew 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood…..

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

On this point, let us understand this one thing, that the true repentance that comes from God has never ever led any person to commit suicide. No, not one, throughout the entire history of this earth. When a person accepts the gift of repentance it will always lead to life, because Christ came to give us life much more abundantly.

The final point in understanding in how to repent is the fact that true repentance does not, as a general rule produce repeat offenders, for when one is truly sorry for doing something, they would try to avoid repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Especially is this the case, when God’s enabling power is granted to all who believe.

There is a sin that’s not unto death and even though persons may slip up at times, yet, godly repentance always puts persons on a general upward trajectory. After Peter and the other disciples repented of their sins, there was a dramatic, and a marked change in their deportment, mannerisms, and words.

The former things which defined the old man are to be resolutely put away, and in cooperation with The Holy Spirit a brand, new outlook and perspective on life begins to be manifest. It is not so much about the doing, but about being in Christ, for when one repents after the godly sort, everyone will know.

This message is particularly pertinent to Laodicea, in which is to be found in too many instances a pseudo form of repentance, which incorporates vestiges of the old man with the new, to form a hybrid which God neither recognizes or endorses.

Very often, elements of the old man are brought over into the new life, and this produces a constant chomping at the bits to say and to do things that are contrary to scripture.

What should be of grave concern to us, is the fact that the longer we remain in that state of spiritual limbo, the more comfortable we become in it, and after a while the deep, searching truths of God will make little, to no impression on the mind.

Therefore, an urgent call goes forth from the mouth of the True Witness, for us to consider our ways, for we cannot move forward, by having one foot in the church, and one in the world. Definite changes will have to be made, starting by acknowledging Christ’s assessments in Revelation chapter three, as being correct, and applicable to us personally. Let’s read:

Revelation 3: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.

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

Our repentance must of necessity be after the godly sort, the one that comes as a gift from God, which, when it is appropriated, will produce those changes that would make persons take knowledge that we have been with Jesus. Several passages of scripture allude to those needed changes, so that everyone may know how to repent. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

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

To be a “friend of the world” is to allow the spirit of the world to govern what folks do, think, and say. It means incorporating its values, its philosophies, and trends into our practice, so that those who have not yet believed, cannot tell the difference between a true Christian, and a worldling.

 Indeed, the line of demarcation between the world, and the believer is becoming increasingly blurred as some adopt the prevailing concepts and practices in the secular realm. But true repentance, that is after the godly sort, produces a very stark difference and great change in those who allow God to do His work in the heart on a continuum. Let’s read:

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

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

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

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.

[The Desire of Ages pp 821] The apostles and their associates were unlettered men, yet through the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, their speech, whether in their own or a foreign language, became pure, simple, and accurate both in word and in accent.

 Thus, as Laodiceans living in an age where so much is pitted against righteousness, let us take stock of ourselves by the grace of God to see if we may have inadvertently slipped from our first love, into that condition of luke-warmness, by which the essentials of the Christian life have become more of a drab, format rather than a living breathing experience.

Is it still a joy to serve God, or do we go through the motions just because it is the right thing to do? Do we take pleasure in seeking His face, with that same yearning and expectancy, which had characterized our earlier experiences when we were just baptized, or has the Christian experience become devoid of joy and service?

 These are just some of the questions we will have to ask ourselves as we consider the prospect that the True Witness of Revelation chapter 3 might actually be speaking to you and me personally.

Thus, we will end with a passage of scripture which would encourage us to repent wherever necessary, so that an upward trajectory would be our very own experience each day. Let’s read:

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

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

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!

Beware Of Desperation. Sabbath afternoon 08/20/2022

Psalms 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

One of the issues people have with God is that most of us find He takes too long to do what promised He will do. Even though God is fully cognizant of time constraints the fact is that we dwell in time whereas God dwells in eternity and because of this, the lapse of time between God’s promises, and their ultimate fulfillment may seem a bit hard to bear.

God’s purposes know no haste or delay and after He has promised to do something for His people we are to wait in expectant hope for the fulfillment thereof even if it takes much longer than we had previously anticipated. Whenever we indulge impatience with God, the temptation to go contrary to His revealed will seems more and more feasible with the passage of time.

In considering the pros and cons of obedience, and trusting in God, persons should understand this one basic fact in the spiritual realm, it’s that desperation always makes alternatives look more attractive. If things are going smoothly, the way we expect, then we are more prone to follow the script. But if our backs are put against a wall as in desperation, other alternatives suddenly seem more feasible.

As persons succumbed to panic buying during the last recent housing boom some folks were willing to buy homes without inspection, and one went so far as to purchase a home that was advertised as “the house from hell.” This particular home was listed in Colorado Springs, and promptly received multiple cash offers.

Under normal circumstances such properties would be immediately frowned upon, but as the housing crunch tightened its grasp around the necks of the prospective buyers, people became willing to settle for homes that were way below par. That’s because desperation drives persons to do, what they would not normally do under favorable circumstances.

As individuals became panic stricken at the thought that the former president could potentially win the most recent general election, some persons became increasingly desperate to oust him, even if it meant holding their noses and voting for the alternative on the ballot. With some persons, it came right down to the wire where their decision was “Anybody but Trump”

That’s because desperation often drives persons to consider alternatives which seem more attractive as persons go into panic mode. Satan understands this quite well, and he often tailors temptations to meet and cater to desperation in persons, where the right thing seems too farfetched, and wrong alternatives seem much more feasible in the given situation.

When Saul and his army became faint and hungry in battle, the Hebrews became desperate for food and they then did what they would not do under normal circumstances for they ate the meat with the blood, something that is strictly forbidden in the scripture, yet because of the gnawing pangs of hunger, blood suddenly seemed attractive. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 14:31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took

sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.

As we consider the plight of the Hebrews, we have to wonder if we ourselves would be driven to eat of forbidden foods, if we got extremely hungry, to the point of desperation, and if there was not anything else available.

As Christ became so emaciated with hunger, in the wilderness of temptation, satan attempted to take advantage of the situation as he had so successfully done with many human beings on several previous occasions. There is a saying that a hungry man is an angry man, but anger can result in irrational actions.

Again, Job’s wife more than likely was a God-fearing person, up to that point when satan was allowed to shake down everything they’d worked for over the years. As the heat of the furnace was ratcheted up for several notches, Job’s wife became increasingly desperate, and made a suggestion, which she would not have made under normal circumstances.

Again, the two women who had birthed children in the same location in Solomons day, brought their case before the king for resolution, after one of the women became so desperate, that she resorted to stealing the other’s baby, something she would not have done under normal circumstances.

Again, some individuals can become so desperate to get married that they will settle for someone who may not fit the bill. And as loneliness and aging take a toll, some go into a panic mode, only to suffer the proverbial buyer’s remorse after tying the knot. This is what took place with Samson, who believed that it was now or never, do or die, in marrying someone whom God did not approve of.

Under normal circumstances, Abraham most likely would not have succumbed to the suggestion that he should have a child by Sarah’s handmaid, Hagar, for he was a righteous man. But as they both grew increasingly impatient with the fulfillment of God’s promise, the alternative on the table looked more and more feasible.

If Sarah was not barren, and if she had not passed the age of child bearing, it is quite likely that there would be a stellar record of faithfulness to his wife, for there would be no logical or plausible reason to have Hagar, and Sarah would be furious with him if she got wind of even a thought in Abraham’s mind of such a rendezvous.

But as time passed by, and the stated promises of God began to fade into oblivion in their minds, the alternatives began to take on a life of their own and what would have once seemed as unthinkable and ludicrous, now seemed viable, and the only possible route for them to take.

What is amazing is that the alternative now began to be incorporated into God’s plans, in their minds, as if God had originally intended for them to go that route. That’s how far persons can go and that’s how deluded persons can become, when placed into a desperate situation. Let’s read:

Genesis 15: 2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

It’s not to say that Sarah and Abraham did not wait at all, they had waited, but the question is how long is reasonable for them to wait? One year, ten years, twenty years? And should we, in our experience put a threshold on patience, when waiting for a promise of God to be fulfilled in our lives?

Thus, impatience will often breed desperation, and desperation often drives persons to do that which, under normal circumstances, they would not even consider. A wife has to become pretty desperate for her to offer another woman to her husband; yet in this instance, the sheer length of time it was taking for the promise to be materialized, made polygamy seem as a viable option. Let’s read:

Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

Our first passage stated that we should wait on The Lord, but the passage does not include a stipulated time frame for waiting and as a result persons often would get impatient, and desperate, and do things which should never be done.

What should be observed, as we study the issue of desperation, is that there is always some adverse fallout when, in desperation, folks would reach for alternatives that are contrary to scripture. Always! 

Sarah and Abraham did not cater for the possibility of Hagar getting an attitude, because the deal was supposed to be restricted only to the issue of child- bearing.

But Hagar became proud, as she came to believe in her mind, that she was carrying the son of promise thus, the changes in her attitude produced a lot of bickering and arguments in Abraham’s home where peace and tranquility had previously reigned. Let’s read:

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

5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.

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

[Patriarchs And prophets pp 145] Flattered with the honor of her new position as Abraham's wife, and hoping to be the mother of the great nation to descend from him, Hagar became proud and boastful, and treated her mistress with contempt.

Mutual jealousies disturbed the peace of the once happy home. Forced to listen to the complaints of both, Abraham vainly endeavored to restore harmony. Though it was at Sarah's earnest entreaty that he had married Hagar, she now reproached him as the one at fault.

She desired to banish her rival but Abraham refused to permit this; for Hagar was to be the mother of his child as he fondly hoped the son of promise. Hagar's haughty spirit would not brook the harshness which her insolence had provoked. “When Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.”

This leads us to another instance in the scriptures in which desperation drove some wives to do similarly strange things. As Rachel wrestled with the fact that she couldn’t have children, she became increasingly frustrated, and she vented her exasperation with an unreasonable request that caused Jacob to question the viability of her petition. Let’ read:

Genesis 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

Then as time went by, without any light at the end of the tunnel, Rachel became desperate to the point of suggesting that which she would otherwise have recoiled from. It is usually at such a breaking point, when devils would suggest things that would set in motion a chain of negative circumstances, which in themselves could become a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. Let’s read

Genesis 30:3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore, called she his name Dan.

7 And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

10 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.

11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

12 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.

Note well, how increasing desperation becomes the channel through which polygamy then becomes the norm in Jacob’s household. At first, it was awkward, but by repetition, the evil becomes deeply etched in their consciences to the point where it doesn’t even disturb Jacob anymore.

But it does not stop here, as desperation continues to fuel all kinds of actions in the home that would have been unthinkable under normal circumstances as will always be the case when persons succumb to feelings of exasperation. Let’s read:

Genesis 30:14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.

15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and would you take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.

In our own life experiences, we too would come up against situations that would put our patience to the test, and yes, like those who have gone before, we may become increasingly desperate, especially if we have been praying to God, but haven’t received any answer as yet.

There are important takeaways from the very many instances we observed earlier; lessons which should now be incorporated into our life experiences. First up is that we should never permit desperation to force us to do that which is unscriptural, because desperation does not make the wrong right.

When David resorted to lying, by pretending he was a mad man, he was spared the supposed wrath of the pagan king, who was presently alerted to the fact that David had slain their champion, even the ignoble Goliath. Fear had caused David to do what he did, but fear does not justify the use of falsehood in any way shape or form.

The maxim that the end justifies the means is one of satanic origin, for it proposes that the tail wag the dog’s head, if nothing else can be done. There is always something else that can be done, and it is to be found in the scriptures, by which man must live.

It ought to be a settled decision in our minds as we move forward, that whatever the situation may be, and no matter how grave and urgent, we would tow the line of following God’s instructions, even at the times when we need to hear from Him urgently and it may seem as if He isn’t answering.

It took a while for God to answer Job, in a situation when Job was really searching for answers. Yet God permitted days on end to pass by, without saying a word. At such times God’s ways and methods seem unfathomable to mortal minds, yet He still remains The On-time God that He is.

Joseph spent no less than ten full years in Jail, as he waited and hoped for deliverance. Yet, the scripture states clearly that The Lord was with Joseph, which means that the dross which needed to be removed from his character must be accomplished, before he could be trusted with the weighty responsibilities of being the second head of state.

Another lesson we can extract from the experiences of those who have gone before, is that desperation should not allow our faith in God to be shaken. This one is huge, for human frailty and unbelief can loom pretty large in the face of exasperation about the unknown.

As John sat in prison, he expected Jesus to at least come and visit him, for two very valid reasons, as far as John was concerned. [1] Because Jesus was his relative. [2] Because he, John was the stipulated forerunner of Christ.

Thus, as the days turned into weeks, and as weeks turned into months, John’s faith was severely tested to the point where he agreed to send some of his disciples to find out if Christ was the promised One Israel was to look for. These things are written in the scriptures so that we who study them may learn the important lessons of trusting in God against all odds.

Again, another important lesson we must take away from the scriptural examples of desperation, is that we must be very careful of becoming unreasonable when we are at our wits end. This is what Rachel did as she demanded of Jacob that he give her children.

Now it is true that we do understand her frustration but frustration should never be permitted to push a Christian into saying and doing irrational things. It’s at such times that we need to be very careful of any words that escape our lips, because in the heat of the moment, we might utter things we may deeply regret later on.

Waiting on God in faith has to be something that is open-ended, leaving the fulfillment of promises, or some intervention on His part, solely up to Him. It is one of the most difficult lessons we will all need to learn, as difficulties continue to multiply across the globe.

A few weeks ago, we raised the prospect from the scriptures, that a water fight is looming large on the horizon, and since that time things have only taken a turn for the worse, not only here in the U.S., but also in Europe and China, where manufacturing was forced into shutdown in two major production hubs because of the excessive heat and because of a dire lack of rain.

With the world, desperate times require desperate measures, but with the Christian, desperate times will require more faith in God especially as the book of Revelation points to a major crunch time coming in the not-too-distant future.

Let us therefore treasure those precious lessons of walking by faith, which God gives us from time to time, and let desperation be held subservient to truth and duty, for this is what will see us through any and every frustration we may find ourselves in.

 We therefore end with a passage of scripture that should enable us to cultivate a calm, trusting spirit instead of desperation, in a world where everyone seems to be increasingly on edge. Let’s read:

Psalms 46: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

                                     God Bless!

Reversing Generational Curses. Sabbath afternoon 08/13/2022

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

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

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

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

Generational curses are described as those adverse consequences for sin, passed down from generation to generation, because certain sinful practices by a person’s family have become deeply rooted in one’s family tree. Children, who are born to parents who have fostered, and practiced certain evils are prone to follow in the footsteps of their progenitors.

Generational curses are not generally what The God of heaven does to persons. The curse is located in the sinful act which, when cultivated and practiced for many years, can become etched in one’s DNA. It is just the natural law of sowing, and reaping that is allowed to run its natural course.

A gene is a unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring determines some of the characteristics of the offspring. The first five letters of Genesis spells the word Genes and indeed it is a book of beginnings, the beginning of good and evil, as it pertains to the history of our world.

God made Adam and Eve free moral agents to obey God, or to choose to do evil. Sadly, they chose the latter, and ever since that fatal day, our first parents lost the ability to transmit to their future offspring a disposition to naturally do righteousness, as per the working, undergirding principle in man’s nature.

The image of God wasn’t entirely effaced but it was severely distorted and as a result some persons may exhibit some semblance of right-doing in their life experience, but as a general rule, the tendency is to head downstream, some more, some less. Thus, for us to better understand the issues of generational curses we must get a grasp on the real gravity of the problem.

All children who are born, come with evil tendency and propensities built into their DNA, without any exception. The belief that a baby is born in a neutral state, with no inherent bias to any evil, is nowhere supported in the scriptures. It’s true, that as a child grows into maturity, choices ultimately determine their destiny but the issue goes deeper than choice.

Even though no one is coerced to do evil, The Bible would have us understand that sin became deeply ingrained at the fall, to the point that it can bypass choice and run along all by itself in automatic mode.

This sacred truth is to be understood by Laodicea in particular, if we are to come to grips with our dire need of Christ. If folks were to conclude that sin can only occur through conscious choice then we would most likely lean heavily on good behavior as a form of righteousness.

But if we were to understand, as the Bible says, that a DNA problem is also involved, then we would see our utter hopelessness, except we are redeemed in and through Christ. The rich young ruler in Christ’s day relied heavily on behaviors, for he asked what good thing he could do to inherit eternal life.

 In response, Jesus told the young man to keep the commandments, the answer that he was actually looking for, since good behavior was right up his alley. Thus, he responded with these words: “What lack I yet” meaning, that in addition to what I have been doing, is there something I could add to the list?

What he really meant is that if Christ was to tell him what to do, he could choose to do it on his own. Yet when Christ told him what needed to be done, the scripture says he went away sorrowful.

Some persons shudder as they pass those Brownies and Twinkies on the store shelf at Publix, and those Chocolates and Ice creams beckon others with their tantalizing flavors. And even though we know what is the right healthy thing to do, somehow our deep, inner cravings are often allowed to gain ascendency over conscious choice.

Thus, some children are born with a propensity for a sweet tooth and as they reach for candy, lollipops and sweets we may be wondering why they would gravitate to such foods. Often, that sweet tooth was handed down, as a legacy from one generation to the next that then culminated in a high probability of diabetes in kids.

In fact, many persons chafe at Adam for eating the forbidden fruit, which he knew would eventually kill him. Yet, throughout history, the human family has followed his lead in eating that which we know will eventually take its toll on us. Are we doing so only by choice, or are there genetic factors at play?

DNA is a self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes, and it is the carrier of genetic information. That the sin problem occurs on a DNA level, and not alone by conscious choice, could be observed in those experiences which had unfolded during Rebekah’s pregnancy.

As her future children fought against each other in her womb, they were not doing so by choice, for they had not been born as yet. There was not any conscious decision made to fight against each other. That was indeed a DNA problem that was occurring in the womb, before the other factors like choice, or evil example had effect.

And thus, a grave theological question arises as to whether the human agent is born with an inherent goodness or in a neutral state without bias to evil. Let us ask a hypothetical question, to address this issue:

If a set of quadruplets were to become stranded on  an uninhabited island just after they were born, will those children naturally gravitate to righteousness, or would they have fights and squabbles, just as we who have evil examples before our eyes every day do?

Do they necessarily have to come into contact with other evil persons in order to learn evil by example? Or would they do wrong without seeing or hearing it? Is sin a second nature problem, or is it solely the result of learned behaviors? This question must be answered from the scriptures, before we proceed. 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.

Prior to this, there had not been any murder of any human being on the planet, for us to conclude that Cain was playing follow the leader. This was an act that came to life not only by choice, but because of the fallen nature inherited from Adam. Suicide, by choice was also transmitted to future generations, since, when Adam deliberately ate of the forbidden fruit, he knew that he would die.

Similarly in our day there are many things that we eat which we know will kill us eventually, but like Adam we still go ahead and eat them. In fact, if the surgeon general were to put a coffin, with a skull and two crossed bones on packs of cigarettes, folks would still smoke them, even though they know of lung cancers and a host of other debilitating effects.

Again, let’s go back to that scenario with Rebekah. The children had not yet seen or heard any evil, and they had not watched call of duty, or any one of the movies that promulgate violence, and yet, here they were, fist fighting in the womb, before they were even born.

Were those ongoing fights the result of a conscious choice on their part, or was it the result of our fallen human nature manifesting itself in capricious, and often random ways? Let’s read:

Genesis 25:21 And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.

23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

What is worthy of note is that they never stopped fighting up to the point of delivery, for even as the mother was experiencing labor pains, the continued fighting never abated. Let’s read:

Genesis 25: 25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob.

That’s the reason why, when studying the issues of generational curses we must look deeper than mere choice, for genetic factors are also to be brought to bear on the issue. As David reflected on what he did with Bathsheba he was greatly surprised and greatly dismayed that he, who had written so many verses of scripture, could descend so low as to kill a man to hide his rendezvous.

In his repentance, he brings to light the fact that he was responsible for the deed via his own decision, but he also mentions the fact that he was born with evil propensities and as such, he appeals to the God of heaven to have mercy not only on his sin but also on his natural fallen condition. Let’s read:

Psalms 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that You may be justified when You speak, and be clear when You judge.

5 Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

And the prophet Isaiah, who writes extensively on the redemption that was to be wrought out by God through Jesus Christ, brings to light the depth of the sin problem. He alludes to the fact that it’s not only our choices, but it is a fallen condition we are born with, that makes the grace of God in Christ, all the more necessary. Let’s read:

Isaiah 1:5 Why should ye be stricken anymore? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Jeremiah 17: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Some persons struggle with alcohol, and try as they might on their own, the habit seems very difficult to overcome. Now it is true that their own choices can put the responsibility squarely at their doorstep but can it be that the tendency to drink booze has been transmitted to them genetically via DNA. Let’s read:

[Manuscript 108] The Bible declares that no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Tobacco and liquor stupefy the user. But the evil does not end here. Intemperate parents leave maladies as a legacy to their children.

 Legacy: The long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, that took place in the past, or in a person’s life.

[Manuscript 108] As a rule every intemperate man who rears children transmits his inclination and evil tendencies to his offspring; he gives them disease from his own inflamed, corrupted blood.

 Licentiousness and imbecility are transmitted as an inheritance of woe from father to son, and from generation to generation. This brings anguish and suffering into the world and is no less than a repetition of the fall of man.

Very many persons within the Christian community may not have understood the conundrum that sin brings from generation to generation, and because of this, their approach to salvation only touches the surface. When Christ said to Peter “Ye must be born again” He was not referring to a mere change in his behaviors.

Without true conversion which the indwelling Christ brings, not only Peter, but every other human being for that matter, would use their freedom of choice to foster and indulge evil tendencies and propensity that are lodged in our DNA, and therefore it is not a matter of merely changing behaviors; a new heart and mind must be installed into our persons by God Himself.

There are very well-behaved persons out there, in the secular world, who are Atheists, and who, as far as track record goes will beat many Christians hands down. Yet, vestiges of our fallen human nature will be manifest at some level and in different ways and situations, in those persons, sometimes without any warning whenever the right set of circumstances do converge.

The Bible states this truth unequivocally, so that no one be deceived as to the gravity, and depth of the sin problem in us. Yes, we can and must choose, but the problem goes much deeper than merely choice. Let’s read:

Romans 7: 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

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 3: 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.

13 Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips.

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

8 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Thus, as we seek to find out how to reverse those generational curses that have plagued us, it will do us well to read what the servant of The Lord has to say on the matter. One cannot put into reverse the problem, if it is not understood how one must move forward, in freeing ourselves from the generational shackles with which we’ve been bound. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs And Prophets pp 306] “Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me.” It is inevitable that children should suffer from the consequences of parental wrongdoing, but they are not punished for the parents’ guilt, except as they participate in their sins.

 It is usually the case, however, that children walk in the steps of their parents. By inheritance and example, the sons become partakers of the father's sin.

Wrong tendencies, perverted appetites, and debased morals, as well as physical disease and degeneracy, are transmitted as a legacy from father to son, to the third and fourth generation. This fearful truth should have a solemn power to restrain men from following a course of sin.

Thus, the question looms large: How does a person reverse generational curses? The answers will be given distinctively and with clarity, so that we could live victoriously from day to day. First though, folks should never ever succumb to the doctrine of devils which says we have fallen too low, so that changes for the better cannot occur. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 18: The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,

2 What mean you by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

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

14 Now, lo, if a man begets a son, that sees all his father's sins which he hath done, and considers and does not such like,

15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbor's wife,

17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

19 Yet you ask, does not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

20 The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

In other words, the first step in generational curses being reversed is to use our God-given freedom to chose the good over evil. Choosing righteousness is not going to enable us to do righteousness on our own, but our choice opens the door for God to come in and do what only God can do; and that is to make us a new creature. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

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

Generational curses do not bind anyone in an iron destiny from which persons cannot escape. We can absolutely escape, because the grace of God in, and through Christ has been given to force generational curses into reverse gear permanently.

In other words, the buck stops with anyone of us who will access the motive power to will and to do, which is found in Christ alone. Just because our two parents had diabetes, does not mean to say that we must inevitably be diabetic. Through Christ, we can, and should grab the bull by the horns, and do that which enable us to live victoriously.

Just because one’s parents loved ice cream does not mean that the children must inevitably be servants of Ben and Jerrys. If a lack of physical exercise was a contributing factor, then all the kids who come after should be exercise fanatics, watching their diets and foods closely, so as not to aggravate or facilitate the onset of generational diseases.

Breast cancer in one’s family tree does not mean a woman from that family has no other choice but to get breast cancer. Living victoriously would involve studying the history of one’s family, and looking for those red flags of behavioral patterns that fostered the growth, and development of cancer, and then, with Christ abiding in the heart, victory could be realized in very many cases.

The same thing goes for tendency and propensities which have become deeply etched into a person’s DNA because of generations of indulgence by one’s progenitors. As David’s son, Solomon should have studied the failings, and the missteps of his father, especially since he was the son of Bathsheba.

Then as he traced from cause to effect, the downfall of his father, he should have made a resolute, and a deliberate choice, never to walk in David’s footsteps on that point, ever. This leads us to the next pointer in reversing generational curses. We would have to cooperate with God for it to work. 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.

Victory never falls into a person’s lap by accident. It takes diligence, stick-to it-iveness, and well directed efforts on a continuum, for any palpable results to be realized. As Joseph studied the history of Jacob, his father, with his four wives, and the multitude of troubles, arguments, fussing, and fighting that took place in his home, Joseph decided that the buck will absolutely stop at his front door.

Then, as he trusted in the power of God to do what only God could do, he also did all that he could do in order to facilitate the victory, and that is one reason why he ran like Hussein Bolt, when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him into sin. Sometimes, as men, we will have to be humble enough to run, in order to reverse a generational curse. Let’s read:

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

8 But he refused….

10 And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph, day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

The next step in reversing generational curses is to study the word of God on a daily basis, so that the mind will be preoccupied with righteousness and victory, instead of evil tendencies and failure. The daily study of God’s word gives an active reference point in discerning between right and wrong.

Therefore, individuals who may endeavor to reverse generational curses without a study of the scripture on their agenda, will find out sooner or later that a deeply rooted tendency to evil can come back with a vengeance, after the routing process had begun.

A victory today does not necessarily mean a victory tomorrow, and what we may have overcome in the few months after baptism, does not atone for the conflicts that lie ahead. As thy days, so shall thy strength be, and therefore, we would need to be inoculated daily with the word, in order to vanquish some variant or strain of a generational curse. Let’s read:

Psalms 119: 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

[Patriarchs And Prophets pp 460] “Keep thy heart with all diligence,” is the counsel of the wise man; “for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23. As man “thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7.

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.

This leads us to our final pointer in reversing those generational curses that plagued us in former years. We will need to guard well the avenues of the soul.

 As we have stated time and time again, God is more down to earth and practical in His instructions to us than many persons realize. When endeavoring, by the grace of God to reverse a generational curse we should do all we can to avoid situations, and places that tend to fan those latent tendencies into life.

Persons who are struggling to overcome porn, are to try their best to stay as far away as possible from South Beach. The sights and sounds down there are only going to conjure up memories and propensities that would be contrary to victory.

Again, persons who are struggling on the point of diets and foods, are to be very careful with places that offer buffet style menus. It’s not all you can eat, it’s all you should eat. If one has difficulty with self-control and discipline, then, going to such a place that offers unlimited food, might prove too great a temptation.

 Again, persons who are struggling with anger issues or temper tantrums, should avoid places, or movies that would agitate such feelings. The wisdom that’s born of God, coupled together with our intelligence, purposefulness and deliberate decisions would pave the way for victory over most inherited or cultivated tendencies to evil.

 And if we were to cooperate with God, we will soon discover that most generational curses, can be put into reverse gear permanently. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that confirms this sacred truth, and it’s the will of God that victory over every besetting sin be a reality, and not a mere theory in the lives of all who will trust and obey. Let’s read:

Romans 8: 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

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

                                    God Bless!

Render Unto Gender Its Due. Sabbath afternoon 08/06/2022

2nd Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

It has been the policy of some in former years not to touch any hot-button issues of the day, for fear of backlash. That’s all well and good, but when we have issues of eternal consequence sitting right at our doorsteps, we are prodded by God, to give the trumpet a certain sound, lest the young and restless be swept into the ranks of the ungodly and thereby be irretrievably lost if they aren’t alerted to the evil.

That is what Paul was saying to young Timothy, who would soon be facing a barrage of oppositions, and suppositions, and who, because of his tender age, might be tempted to mince words, to soothe itching ears. While the truth is to be spoken in love, we are cautioned against watering it down to avoid conflict for by doing so we would do great disservice to the kingdom of God.

This is also an issue for us in our day, where we are observing that a precipitous downward spiral is on the move as far as morality and gender goes, yet it’s almost like if one has to walk on pins and needles to let the truth be known. But for those of us who may be overly concerned about reactions, the word of God has some pertinent advice for us. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and you do not give him warning, nor do you speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

The Sunday law will be a hot button issue, when it rears its head nationwide, and if our policy remains avoiding controversial topics, we will sink into what is described as oblivion and irrelevance, at the very time when God will need foot soldiers, to finish up the work of the gospel in all the world.

Very much confusion concerning gender now exists in the world today, much more than in former years and the issue has taken on a life of its own, and has metastasized into philosophies, indoctrinations and teachings that have done, and continue to do great damage to the minds of old and young alike.

Persons are being taught that it’s alright to be in a perpetually fluid state of gender ranging from male to female, and everything else in between, and the philosophy has taken deep root in our educational systems, by precept and example, so that the now generation is faced with a plethora of options that never existed in days of yore.

Added to this, on a national level, the perpetration of erroneous views on gender, is adding fuel to the fire, in so much that we currently have on our hands an epidemic of confusion which threatens the fabric of life, and society. Kids are not sure who they are anymore, and are being taught that the assumption of any designation on gender is theirs for the taking.

It is of particular concern that kids as young as five years old are being targeted with these philosophies for their young minds are like a sponge, and if these errors become etched into their consciences at such a young age, we are looking at a future generation that would make the people of Sodom turn in their graves.

Some time ago, one who identified as “They” was being treated at a hospital, and because of “their” chosen designation, the nurses could have become confused when it was time to bring “them” food. If it’s “They” then that could require the poor nurses to bring at least two lunches at noon.

That is how far we have fallen, where the English language has virtually run out of words to describe the multitude of genders that keep coming our way. One of the most successful devices of devils is to flood the earth with a dizzying number of options in everything from Bibles to gender, so that the people of earth would become utterly confused and totally disoriented.

For instance, there are currently more than 80,000 versions of the Bible available, from the King James version to the Queen James, and everything else in between. Then there are literally a million different tattoos now available, in so much that persons can become very confused as to which one to choose.

The same is true for gender designations, for after it morphed into what was then a four-letter acronym, it has now evolved into any and every variation one can think of, and it is not only limited to humanistic descriptions, because folks can now opt to be called a dog, or a cat or any other deviation that exists, or will come into existence.

“Otherkin” are persons who believe they are not entirely human, and therefore, identify as wolves, dragons or cartoon characters. Such persons are religious in their belief that they are trans-species, and as such can adopt a perpetually fluid state of identification, from one day to the next.

What is even more disturbing is that the philosophy has infiltrated the ranks of the remnant people of God, and pastors, and elders are now being forced to confront an inconvenient truth, that increasing numbers of young and old alike are now subscribing to the tsunami of erroneous views on gender.

Thus, the time has fully come for us to Render Unto Gender Its Due, meaning that the word of God is to be presented as the final authority on the matter so that persons can make informed decisions. It should never be said that we followed the multitude down a rabbit hole, in search of fantasy and delusion, and because of this we must allow the scripture to be its own interpreter.

When God created the human race, there were only two genders, male and female, and thus, from our first parents came all who lived after the fall, which is all of us. This sacred truth is stated unequivocally in the scriptures, so that none may be ignorant on this point.

We will deal with situations that developed later in the human family, after sin entered our world, but we must let the unadulterated truth be known up front. God created Adam and Eve as the progenitors of the human family that was to come and everyone who has ever lived, is and was a result of that stated fact in Genesis.

Like with marriage, diets and foods, the inhabitants of earth have made very difficult, and complicated, that which God has made very plain and simple and by doing so, we will discover that there is no end to the multiple deviations, as it pertains to genders or sexes. 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.

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.

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

22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the 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, God set in motion up front a process whereby the earth was to be populated, and the foundations of all society were laid according to His perfect will. Thus, whatever deviations may have come after the great fact of our creation violence must not be done to that which is written because God will never ever change that which He has spoken.

A male, as defined by the scriptures is one who has been born with reproductive organs pertaining to a man, and typically under normal circumstances, has the ability to fertilize female eggs. Thus, whatsoever a person may, or may not feel, should not alter that basic fact in any way shape or form.

How one feels, even if those feelings may be real or undeniable, should never be permitted to alter the great facts of distinction, given in the Bible. Feelings may be in flux, and erroneous indoctrination might take its toll, but the very least we can and should do is to allow the distinction as given by God to remain intact.

A woman is defined as one who is born with female organs, and the natural capabilities of bearing, and nursing children, under normal circumstances. It is not that complicated as modern philosophies would have us believe. There were times when women of the Bible were barren, and could not produce any children, but that did not change the fact that they were female.

Even in pagan cultures such as ancient Egypt, it was abundantly clear who a male person was, and thus, the process of identifying such was always along the scriptural lines stipulated from the beginning. Even in Sodom and Gomorrah those who had succumbed to their unnatural feelings did not allow their minds to distort in any way the first designations given by God.

When, in the heat of the moment they had banged on Lot’s door, they specifically asked that Lot should bring out the “Men” who had come in to visit. Then, when Lot offered them his daughters as a substitute they refused, but never in their wildest dreams did they mix up the two. They had made their choices, but in their minds, the differentiation was stark and as clear as day. Let’s read:

Genesis 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter.

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

6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

Thus, even those men of Sodom, if they were alive today, would not recognize the plethora of genders and sexes available, and it is quite possible that they would issue a very stern rebuke to those who have interfered with the two designations given by God.

Whatever contrary feelings the men of Sodom may have had, the clear distinction between a male and female was never distorted in their minds and that’s the reason why they blatantly refused Lot’s offer of his daughters, for they had desired men. But as far as the definition and identification goes, they were absolutely not confused on matters of gender and sexes.

Similarly, in the land of Egypt, which was a pagan nation, even pharaoh recognized those distinctions given by God at creation. He may have been quite stubborn, and he may have been cruel, but not for once did he ever mix up the distinctions between a male and a female, as the following verses reveal. Let’s read:

Exodus 1:15 And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

How would the midwives distinguish between a son or a daughter? And how would pharaoh know the difference? It inevitably points us back to creation, when God made such distinctions as plain as day.

However, because of the fall of our first parents, all who have come after are riddled with imperfections both spiritual and physical, and as time went by, the effects of sin in the natural world, caused deviations which God never originally intended.

These imperfections include imperfect feelings and desires, which conflict with God’s stated order, and thus, we must decide whether or not, we will allow imperfection to dictate morality, or whether we will allow the word of God to be our moral compass.

Of grave importance is the fact that persons often state that they were born this or that way, and that may be true, but being born a certain way, with an unnatural tendency, or desire does not mean that we must remain that way, for the grace of God has appeared to all individuals, enabling us all, if we so choose to align ourselves with His will.

What modern philosophy on this issue is attempting to do is to make the issue of gender subservient to feelings, with no regard to the distinctions made at creation. Yes, there are instances, where persons, due to no fault of theirs, are born with tendencies, and physical deviations from the norm, but if we let such instances dictate the issue on the majority of people, we will run into conflict with what’s written.

Furthermore, for institutions of learning to go a step further and write books, and teach their students at a very young age, that the distinctions made by God are irrelevant, or even discriminatory, is to take the scepter of authority out of God’s hands and this will set the stage for the rapid deterioration of society as a whole.

Some persons are born with a natural gravitation to multiple women, but the Bible states that those are contrary feelings, to what God has stipulated. David and Solomon, who couldn’t seem to get enough, fell on that point over and over again for it was a deeply rooted craving which was embedded in their nature to the point where they would do stupid things.

Yet, if they succumbed to the fatal philosophy, that because they were born that way, then they would have to go with their natural flow, then they would by so doing, allow cravings and desires to dictate a morality that will inevitably make the word of God subservient to feeling.

The depth of the problem they suffered with could be observed by what Solomon himself wrote about the issue, and without a doubt, as the king reviewed his own checkered history, he must have included himself in the statement of fact, that showcases the conflicts within, that men must confront. Let’s read:

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

Alexander the great also had a problem with craving for he was an unbridled alcoholic, giving free reign to what he actually craved. But in doing so, he cast the revealed will of God to the wind, and allowed his unnatural desire to dictate what he would do. In fact, like so many others who allowed their feelings to drive their actions, Alexander died prematurely.

So, what does one do when what they feel is real, if the word of God conflicts with their feelings? It is to be often heard that such and such person was born this way, and because of this, they should not be expected to make changes, which the Bible calls for.

If we were to follow that line of reasoning, not one of us would be saved, for the plan of salvation was laid to address all of the imperfections that resulted from Adam’s fall. To put it plainly, the grace of God has been given to correct all imperfections, if we so choose, even if they be deeply rooted and really felt in the real world. Let’s read:

Titus 2: 11 For the grace of God that brings 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.

One of the issues, current in our day, as it pertains to gender, is that of persons being born a certain way, with physical, and emotional elements which are not according to the script. This issue must be addressed with surgical precision so as to make a clear distinction between what imperfections we were born with, and what can be done about them.

One day, as Jesus was passing by, He came across a man who was born blind, and like any other of the many imperfections, persons are born with, it raised the question in the disciple’s minds as to why such a person was born blind. What Jesus said, and what Jesus did in response must be studied very closely. Let’s read:

John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3 Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

We must of necessity pause here for a moment to understand an issue that seems not to be resolved in some minds, as to how and why they were born a certain way. Most persons believe that God made them, but this presents a theological question as to whether or not God directly and deliberately makes imperfection.

 Before we delve into this matter, we’ll have to read a few verses of scripture, about what God does and doesn’t do, as it pertains to how we are born. In the beginning God set in motion the processes by which human life was to be perpetuated, and since that time the process has been allowed to run its natural course, even as imperfections multiplied across the entire earth.

The Bible states that God directly formed Adam of the dust of the ground, and then He made Eve from a rib of Adam’s, after which God set into motion the rhythm of life, by breathing into both their nostrils, the breath of life, and so they became living souls. It is worthy of note, that after finishing the process He declared that it was very good. Let’s read:

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.

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.

Genesis 1:31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Deuteronomy 32: 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.

Since that time, God has allowed the processes of procreation to continue, with the liabilities and the imperfections that accrue. But, since that first week in Eden God hasn’t as a general rule of thumb made anyone directly, whether they be straight, queer or gay.

God initiated the process of procreation, and God sustains the process, but the direct formation of any person by God is generally a misnomer.

There are very few, and very rare exceptions to the rule, as in the cases of the prophets Jeremiah, John, and Christ; but in the overwhelming majority cases, when persons say that God made me, they must be referring to the process of procreation, and not to any direct intervention by God.

Therefore, before we proceed, we must seek to understand some delicate passages of scripture that may seem to suggest otherwise. Caution: Be very, very, very, very, very careful with the following passages. Let’s read:

Psalms 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knows right well.

Is David suggesting that we are products of God’s direct intervention, as it was in the beginning with Adam and Eve, or is he saying that we are products of the process that was set in motion by God? The following verse from the same chapter gives us the unequivocal answer. Let’s read:

Psalms 139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Since David himself was not personally made from dust by God, he could only be referring to himself as being a product of the process of procreation which God set into motion at the beginning.

Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

11 And the Lord said unto him, who has made man's mouth? or who makes the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?

We sincerely hope and pray that no one would even think that this verse suggests that God deliberately makes any person dumb, blind, or deaf, from their mother’s womb. Some persons are born with some disabilities from their mother’s womb, as a result of adverse factors that are beyond their control.

God sustains the process of procreation, with all of its liabilities and imperfections, and as a result of our fallen physical and spiritual natures persons can be born with inherent disability. But for anyone to conclude that God personally makes persons dumb from birth is to do violence to the passage, because Deuteronomy already makes clear that “His work is perfect”.

Similarly, if one is born with a bias that is contrary to their physical characteristics of male or female, that fact should be understood as a product of the process within the context of man’s fallen nature, not as something God deliberately does to anyone personally. Let’s read:

Luke 4: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Matthew 4: 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

This leads us to the latter part of the intervention recorded in the book of John, where Christ dealt with the issue of the man that was born blind. After setting the record straight to His disciples, about no one to be blamed in this instance, Christ then went on to do what God has always done, He fixes the problem with the man’s sight and the rest is history. Let’s read:

John 9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Thus, without getting too complicated with science, philosophies, recessive genes, and all of the various adverse factors that may, or may not occur in the human experience, Christ healed the man, and the same is true for any other variant of imperfection that is to be found in humanity.

The current philosophy which teaches us to accept ourselves as we are, without the possibility of any change or intervention by God for the better is one of those teachings that are diabolically opposed to salvation. Salvage and salvation do come from the same root, and thus the very essence of salvation is to produce changes for the better, wherever such changes are warranted.

We should never limit the power of God to heal, fix, restore, or purify, because, just as Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, we too will have our own issues of imperfections to deal with, on one level or another. But the good news is that Jesus could put Humpty, Dumpty back together again because this is the very essence of God’s salvation.

Let us not then limit His power, and ability to heal, and let us never permit our issues to make the clear distinctions on gender blurry to the point where the clarity given in the Bible on the matter will become subservient to our feelings and imperfections.

 If men have a problem with adultery, the solution is not to make adultery legal, for legalizing polygamy to fix the sinful desire for multiple women will only sink us lower in the moral scale.

When Alexander the great had an unnatural craving for alcoholic beverages, the solution couldn’t have been to make booze legal, for by doing so he would be making God’s revealed will, subservient to his cravings and desires. In addition, by legalizing booze he would literally be saying to those under him, that this course of action is right.

 Similarly, if one has contrary feelings in his or her person, as it pertains to gender and sex issues, the solution is not to make laws that would make such feelings legal.

 Doing so would only cement us in a course of action that would make salvation unnecessarily difficult. It is the will of God that any and every deviation, issue and imperfection in ourselves be addressed through the power of the written and Living word, for this is how man is to live, not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

We’ll therefore end with two passages of scripture which confirm to us the sacred truth, that change for the better, is always the foundation and working principle in the salvation wrought out through Jesus Christ, and as such, we are not to grovel in miseries, but rejoice in hope, for with God, nothing shall be impossible. Let’s read:

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

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

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

                                    God Bless!

That Rock Was Christ. Sabbath afternoon 07/29/2022

Deuteronomy 32: 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.

The Rock spoken of in the above passage has always been Christ, who is very God. The Rock represents a permanence, stability, longevity, dependability, and unwavering which is not to be found in mortals. It is also representative of His Kingship, Creatorship, and His power to legally redeem those who have been born under the law.

In our first passage, one of the descriptions of The Rock is that His work is perfect which would literally preclude any interpretation of a mortal man being The Rock. Everyone of us who were born to Adam is riddled with imperfections, the only Perfect One, in whom there was no sin, being Christ.

Again, the passage specifies that The Rock is A God, and therefore, using the process of elimination, any person resembling Peter must of necessity be now scratched off the list, for frail humanity cannot rise to the level of The God-head.

The passage also ends with these words: “Just and right is He”. How on earth can any person reach the conclusion that a mere mortal man could be The Rock being spoken of, is a mystery beyond rational fathoming.

Christ, as The Rock is also figuratively referred to in the scriptures, for He is written of by all writers of the Old Testament, and the New Testament, even though at times those representations may not be readily apparent to the cursory reader. Moses, and David wrote extensively of The Rock, and in other books of the Bible Christ is represented by the same symbol.

For instance, we find in the New Testament, Christ stating emphatically that Moses wrote of Him, yet, when the scriptures are studied closely, Christ is seen mostly in shadows and symbols, and for this reason, many persons who read the Bible, may be entirely missing the point, whenever Christ is to be found in otherwise dark sentences. Let’s read:

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?

When Moses smote the rock, and the water gushed forth, it was Christ who was being prefigured, as He would be smitten on the cross for our sins, and out of His side would flow not only blood, but water, as per the soldier thrusting his spear into His side.

But to an individual who was only focused on the human agent, it was Moses who stole the show. Hence the reason why in the book of John, the Jews referred to Moses as the one who had supplied the manna in the desert.

In fact, the main reason why the Hebrews took up stones to slay Moses on many occasions, is because they were dead focused on the mortal man, whilst the Rock, who was responsible for their well-being was often left out of the picture.

Similarly in our day, the icons of Mary and Peter and the other saints, are made the focus of attention to many minds, and as a result, persons would pray to various dead saints asking for forgiveness, while the living Rock is barely seen or heard. In fact, the dead saints are often given more weight, and importance than Christ, who is the only Rock.

The problem with this form of interpretation, is that it venerates imperfection, which is an integral part of fallen humanity, and as a result, the floodgates are opened wide for a plethora of imperfections to be incorporated into one’s faith and practice, just as it was with the Jews, who had looked to Moses for everything, as if he were The Rock. Let’s read:

John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign do You show then, that we may see, and believe You? what do You work?

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

32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is he which cometh

down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

John 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

Again, when David slew the Philistine Goliath, that rock which he used represented Christ, but many persons only see David with his sling, as if someone can use a slingshot to shoot a stone that would then penetrate a helmet of brass and sink deep into the forehead of some giant.

For this to occur, the stone David used would have to be travelling faster than the speed of a bullet, in order to shatter the brass helmet, and fracture the giant’s skull, and no slingshot, whether from the Caribbean, or any other place for that matter, can ever come close to doing so. It was Christ, The Rock who killed Goliath, and David was only the visible human agent.

Yet most songs and nursery rhymes, which treat on the incident in question, put the focus on David and The Rock is hardly, if ever mentioned. But when the Scripture is studied line upon line, and precept upon precept we would discover the real, and only Rock, working in the shadows, to defeat satan’s purposes, as represented in the giant. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 17: 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

1st Samuel 17: 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

But we are not done yet with the interpretation, for the scriptures should be studied line upon line and precept upon precept, and therefore we must focus on where the Rock that David used, did the damage that took down Goliath. 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.

Obviously, That Rock was Christ!

In the New Testament it is worthy of note that even Peter acknowledged the fact that the only Rock to have ever existed was Christ. And therefore, we are to hear from the proverbial horse’s mouth what the same Peter, who millions of Christians now worship, has to say concerning Christ. Let’s read:

Acts 4: 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel;

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.

Again, in writing to the Hebrews Paul had to remind them that it was The Rock who had guided, shielded and protected them, during their wanderings in the desert. The tendency to focus on mere mortal man, instead of Christ triggers gross misunderstandings, and divergent interpretations of what God is saying to us in His word. Let’s read:

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

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they

drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

When Moses was commanded by God to smite The Rock the first time, that signified the death of Christ on Calvary, when He would be smitten for our sins. Thus, He was to be smitten once, and not twice, for He was to die only once, to make the atonement for  us certain.

After Jesus died, the way was opened up for all of humanity to simply speak to Him, and thus, when in anger, Moses struck The Rock twice, the symbolism was greatly distorted. That this single act of Moses caused the revelation of God to humanity as it was to pertain to The Rock, to be damaged, can be seen in the reaction of God to the double smiting. Let’s read:

Numbers 20: 7 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,

8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice …..

12 And the Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron, Because, ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

God commanded Moses in this instance to speak to The Rock, and it would bring forth water, but again, the scriptures must be studied line upon line so that the true meaning may be made manifest.

 When The Rock, even Christ, was speaking with the woman of Samaria at the well, it’s worthy of note that He used the very same symbolism, which God had formerly instructed Moses to use. Let’s read:

(John 4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, asks drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again.

14 But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

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

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

However, for some unknown reason, The Rock who represents to us permanence, security, salvation, and indeed eternal life, was as a general rule, not recognized or accepted as such by the world, or the overwhelming majority of the people back then. It is evident from the scriptures, that The Rock was seen more as a cause for stumbling, rather than a cause for great rejoicing. Let’s read:

Isaiah 8: 13 Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

Romans 9: 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone;

33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

The reason for this perspective of offense is given in the Bible for it was and would always be, those who refuse to listen and obey the voice of God, who will ultimately become offended at The Rock. When one surrenders to Christ and His word, there is no more any animosity and bad feelings against God, for the former things are all passed away and The smitten Rock provides atonement {AT-One-Ment}. Let’s read:

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

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

Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

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

Because of the very grave nature of venerating frail and faulty mortals it has become necessary for us to address one of the most serious errors pertaining to Peter, and his supposed role in the Christian church, regarding authority. When Christ spoke the words: “Upon this rock will I build my church” He was not referring to Peter, but to Himself, for as we have seen before, The Rock is A God.

Furthermore, it could never be Peter, for when one reads further down in the narrative, we discover a man subject to passions like as we are; one who can get riled up in a moment when interfered with, one who, before conversion, would curse out persons in public, and one who would resort to violence, when threatened. Thus, The Rock could never be Peter. Let’s read:

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

In the passage above we discovered that Christ gave to Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven, so, we must of necessity find out what are those keys. The passage gives us a clue, for it specifically states that the keys would enable the binding or the loosing of things in heaven and earth. So, we ask the question again: What are those keys? Let’s read:

Luke 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

The next obvious question is: Where are the keys of knowledge to be found? Beyond the shadow of any doubt, in the word of God. Thus, if Christ is giving to Peter “The keys” of heaven, and if the Keys refer to knowledge, and since true knowledge is to be found in God’s word, then the keys are literally the word of God, as written in the Bible. Let’s read:

Proverbs 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.

 Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 Psalms 119: 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

[The Desire of Ages pp 413] The keys of the kingdom of heaven” are the words of Christ. All the words of Holy Scripture are His, and are here included. These words have power to open and to shut heaven. They declare the conditions upon which men are received or rejected.  Thus, the work of those who preach God's word is a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Theirs is a mission weighted with eternal results.

Of critical importance is the fact that it wasn’t only Peter, to whom was given the keys of the kingdom, for everyone who is called by God, and who accepts The Rock as Savior and Lord, are also given a set of “Keys”. Thus, it is an absolute misnomer for anyone to place Peter on a pedestal of authority, because of one misunderstood, and misinterpreted passage. Let’s read:

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

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

John 20: 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

23 Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Again, if we were to read further down in Matthew chapter 16 it becomes all the more obvious that the Rock referenced by Christ could never be Peter. In one of the sternest rebukes to any disciple, Christ said to Peter: “Get thee behind me satan”, thereby addressing the invisible foe who had temporarily taken control of Peter’s mind.

Therefore, if in one breath Jesus refers to Peter as The Rock, and in the next breath He says get thee behind me satan, there is an absolute disconnect in interpretation, in those who espouse the erroneous view of Peter being the Rock. It can simply make no sense whatsoever. Let’s read:

Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Let’s fast forward to our day, when The Rock is once again going to visit this earth; not now as a Man of sorrows, but as The Supreme Divine Royalty, to not only set the record straight, but also to establish His Kingdom on a permanent basis of security once and for all.

 God is speaking directly to you and me, that we stay as far away as possible from the dangerous error of venerating any mortal man, whether they be Peter, Mary, Paul, or even Musk. Let the glory, the praise, and thanksgiving ascend to God alone, and let poor mortals put their little tails between their legs, so that the correct relationship between God and man can be established.

The habit of Making God subject to a mere mortal is never good, for doing so robs us of the majesty and grandeur, power and salvation that belongs to God alone. Furthermore, neither Peter or Mary died to save anyone, and as such, it is high time that these errors be relinquished, in favor of The Rock. Let’s read:

Matthew 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

This leads us to the last, and final manifestation of The Rock, before His eternal kingdom is ushered in, as stated in the scriptures, and since we are now living on the very brink of eternity, it would do us well to consider with a humble heart, what God is saying to all of earth’s inhabitants in the following cryptic verses. Let’s read:

Daniel 2:31 Thou, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,

33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

34 You saw till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.

35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

The interpretation as given by Daniel indicates to us that there are vestiges of each kingdom, referenced in the image. In our day there are remnants of the pride, affluence, and arrogance of ancient Babylon, which was represented by the head of Gold.

There is also the looming threat of coerced worship, on the horizon, just as when the three Hebrew boys were thrown to the flames, because of their refusal to bow to the image. In fact, Revelation chapters 13 and 14, depict a duplication of the use of force in a mandated form of false worship, contrary to what is written in scripture just as it was in ancient Babylon.

There is also to be found in our day, the cruelty and ferocity manifested in the second kingdom of silver, Medo-Persia to be exact. Violence of every kind can be found everywhere on our planet. Even the once serene islands of the Caribbean are not so serene anymore, because the influx of drugs and arms have turned many streets, cities, and towns into virtual war zones.

Then there is the debauchery of the third kingdom of brass, just as when Alexander the great became addicted to drinking alcohol at a young age. The indiscriminate, unbridled use of alcohol, and other addictive drugs in our day, mirrors all to accurately the characteristics of the third kingdom of brass.

Then there are the ghosts of the dark ages, where pagan, and then papal Rome, the kingdoms of iron and clay ruled the world with a tyranny that caused nations to shudder. During that time when the Bible was chained to monasteries, folks could not read or study the word of God for themselves, but instead had to depend on priests and prelates to render the interpretation, which in most cases was private.

 And although we now have the Bible at our disposal it is seen that an era of great light can lend itself to an era of great darkness, because of the multitude of versions and perversions of the scriptures, which now exist. Added to the toxic mix are the plethora of false prophets with their smooth words, which give to the people a false sense of security, even as the crises on earth deepen daily.

Therefore, The Rock, even Christ Jesus, is saying to all who would listen, that His everlasting kingdom of righteousness is soon to be established, in the not too distant future and because of this an urgent call is going forth to all of earth’s inhabitants to believe, repent, and be saved whilst the opportunities still linger.

 The upheavals in nature, and the intransigence of leaders around the world, together with the rapid uptick of infectious diseases, and the soaring temps are all harbingers of Christ’s soon coming kingdom, and as such, we should avoid the snare of burying our heads in the sand, as if things will go on just the way they are forever.

Hence the reason why we will end with the passage from Daniel, which declares with certainty, that the stone represented in the dream will do as is stated, for He is fully God, and that Rock was, and still is Christ. Let’s read:

Daniel 2:45 Forasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

                                    God Bless!

Signs Of The Times. Sabbath afternoon 07/22/2022

1st Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord will come 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.

When the Bible likens the signs of Christ’s second coming to the labor pains a woman feels just before childbirth we’re to understand and remember that those cramps and contractions take place in stages. The uterus is a muscular organ which contracts in a powerful way to push the baby out and it is these contractions which are primarily the source, and cause of labor pains.

 Labor pain Typically comes on gradually, and then builds up as the various phases of labor ensue. The early labor pain experienced is often quite different to the severe contractions and pressures which will occur at later stages.

And for this reason, the passage in 1st Thessalonians pertaining to the birth pangs, which are to precede Christ’s second coming, should be understood as occurring with increasing severity and frequency for in most cases, travail in birth occurs in stages.

           [1] Early Labor Pain

 Early labor pain in a pregnant mother can last up to six hours or longer, and that’s because of the cervix, which dilates, and begins to thin out. These early pains will usually last about thirty to sixty seconds, and would occur approximately every five to twenty minutes, gradually becoming stronger, and taking place more frequently.

          [2] Active Labor Pain

The next stage of birth pangs is what experts refer to as being active labor pain, which would typically last for about 2 to 8 hours. At this later stage, the contractions become longer, stronger, and closer together, and the cervix would dilate to about 7 centimeters.

      [3] Transitional Labor Pain

Transitional labor pain tends to be strongest as the cervix is dilating to 10 centimeters. In addition to the intense, closely spaced contractions, a woman might experience nausea, and may feel pain in the back area, and thighs.

         [4] Pushing Labor Pain

These can last for a few minutes, or up to about 3 hours. The intense pain is overshadowed by major pressure, as she experiences a great urge to push the baby out. This is the final and the most intense stage of birth pangs which is referred to as “Travail” in 1st Thessalonians.  

The question on the table, that needs to be urgently answered is: What stage of the labor pains are we now in? The early labor pain, the active, that transitional, or the pushing labor pain?

One of the signs of childbirth is that the labor pains keep coming with increasing frequency and severity and therefore, the only thing we will have to do is to study from God’s word, what are the signs of the “Travail” that is spoken of in 1st Thessalonians, and then we need to compare them with the raw data, to see if the stated signs are indeed occurring with increasing frequency and severity. It is not rocket science!

 The Bible speaks clearly about some of the signs that will characterize the last days of earth’s history and they include such statements as: Perilous times shall come, Disobedience to parents, A proliferation of miracles, Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, False Christs and false prophets, A lack of self-control, senseless violence, and the preaching of the Gospel in every inhabitable place on the globe.

 But there are other important signs of the times in which we now live that should grab our attention, and because of this, the following is a list of the more prominent signs of labor pain or “Travail” given in the scriptures:

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.

The signs in the sun moon and stars have occurred already, a couple hundred years ago, even though we cannot rule out increased activity from these celestial bodies as the 2nd coming of Christ draws near. The falling of the stars occurred in November of 1833, the moon turning to blood red took place on May 19, 1780, and the sun withdrew its shining around the same time. Let’s read:

These were the beginning of the birth pangs spoken of in Thessalonians, and they were given just about the time that the investigative judgement would be starting in heaven. At that time, the attention of the inhabitants of earth, was pointed to The Creator, in Revelation 14, and the seventh day Sabbath of the 4th commandment was brought prominently into view. 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.

 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;

10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.

These events took place more than two hundred years ago, and thus, they can be associated with the early labor pains we spoke of earlier. But we should keep in mind that there are 4 stages of labor pains, so we must of necessity look for any later or current events pointing to the later stages of travail.

Luke mentions the perplexities of nations as one of the signs and no doubt, the world is becoming more and more unstable by the day. The nations of the earth cannot seem to get along anymore, and even though there have been many wars, and upheavals in former years, the very volatile nature of our day calls into question, whether we might have already entered the 2nd or 3rd stage of labor pains.

The perplexities {Plural} of nations, spoken of in the Bible by Luke does not necessarily refer only to wars and rumors of wars, it also refers to difficulties and problems that will occur, with increasing frequency and severity, the answers for which nations would not have.

Thus, because scripture must be studied line upon line and precept upon precept, we will need to find out what some of these stated perplexities are, for the Bible does not leave us guessing.

As we have studied before, God does not work a miracle if it is not needed, and thus, if we were to see Him doing something out of the ordinary, it will be because a dire need has arisen somewhere. Let’s read:

Exodus 13:21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Here in this passage, we see The Lord providing not some arbitrary miracle for no reason, but shielding the people from the extremes of heat and cold that are characteristic of desert climates.

 Wild swings in temperature do take place in the desert, from well over one hundred degrees during the day to the low 30s or 40s at night, and thus, God was miraculously protecting His people from excessive heat and cold.

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.

Here again, we observe God working a miracle to provide that which would have become necessary for His people, who refuse to bow to the beast and his image.

 Because of the then existing mandate to worship the beast, or face the severest economic sanctions, the faithful would be entirely cut off from buying and selling, and thus, the miracles to provide bread and water would have become necessary.

There were other times in the Bible, when God had provided bread and water miraculously, such as the forty years of wandering, and during that severe drought which had occurred during the days of the prophet Elijah.

At that time water had become quite scarce, for the streams, rivers, and reservoirs of the day had dried up, to the point where thirst and starvation, with all of its horrors was taking a fearful toll on the people. 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.

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.

11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

12 And she said, As the Lord thy God lives, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

1st Kings 18: 5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

But one of the provisions of God, mentioned in the Bible, pertaining to the last days of earth’s history, hints at something we are currently experiencing. And since it is occurring with increasing frequency and intensity, it must be included in the signs of the times, the labor pains we read of earlier. 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.

Question: What is being defended against, that will require “A cloud of smoke by day” and “A flaming fire by night?”

It seems to suggest that extremes in temperatures would have become the norm thus requiring God to protect or “Defend” His people from the elements. There is a looming, and an ever-growing threat from the rapid increase in temperatures across the entire globe and therefore, the prophet Isaiah seemed to have understood the provision of God at this time in that context. Let’s read:

Isaiah 4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Isaiah specifically mentions “Heat” “Storms” and “Rain” as the elements which the righteous would need to be protected against, and thus, we might safely conclude that excessive and life-threatening heat, together with heavy rain, flooding, hurricanes, and tornadoes, would be a part of the “travail” that would be occurring just prior to the second coming of Jesus.

Isaiah was then speaking in the context of the last days, and because of this, all we will have to do is to observe whether these things are occurring with an increasing frequency and severity just as a woman in travail with child. The following excerpts are the here and now of increasing temperatures around the world, as reported by CNN.

(CNN) New records have been set as temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) across much of Spain and Portugal Wednesday amid a persistent heat wave across western Europe.

 In northwest Spain, the city of Ourense set its all-time temperature record of 43.2 degrees Celsius (109.76 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, according to Spain's meteorological agency, AEMET.

On Wednesday, Zamora set its own record after reaching 41.1 degrees Celsius (105.98 degrees Fahrenheit), according to climate statistician Max Herrera. Soria set a record of 38.7 degrees Celsius (101.66 degrees Fahrenheit) that same day.

The central Portuguese town of Lousã set an all-time record of 46.3 degrees Celsius (115.34 degrees Fahrenheit) and Lisbon set a July record of 41.4 degrees Celsius (106.52 degrees Fahrenheit). But the worst is yet to come.

Temperatures are set to reach around 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of western and southern Spain, according to AEMET. In its afternoon update, AEMET warned that Spain is set to experience its hottest day of the heat wave on Thursday.

(CNN) The increase in the frequency, duration and intensity of extreme heat events over recent decades is clearly linked to the observed warming of the planet and can be attributed to human activity, the Met Office wrote. The warning comes as records for high temperatures are far outpacing cool records so far this year around the world.

 (CNN) In the US, 79 all-time record high temperatures had been set through July 12, compared with only five all-time record low temperatures, according to data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Globally, 150 all-time heat records were broken.

(CNN) The kinds of extreme weather the world has experienced last summer — from the wildfires in the US and Greece to the flooding in China and Germany — will only become more severe and more frequent.

(CNN) While extreme heat events would still occur without climate change, the increasing intensity and frequency of these events in recent decades has been linked to the rise of fossil fuel emissions and observed global warming.

Raging wildfires have scorched thousands of hectares of forest in France and Spain, while Britain is set to face its hottest day on record amid a searing heat wave.

The southwestern region of Gironde in France has seen the worst of the blazes so far. A total 14,300 hectares (35,000 acres) of land have been burned as of Monday, with 24,000 people evacuated from the region, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Gironde prefecture said on Twitter.

(CNN) Sweltering temperatures in Portugal have exacerbated a drought that started before the heat wave, according to data from the national meteorological institute. About 96% of the mainland was already suffering severe or extreme drought at the end of June.

(CNN) One of the United Kingdom's largest airports suspended flights on Monday after high temperatures damaged a runway.

(CNN) In the US, 92 all-time record high temperatures had been set through July 16, compared with only five all-time record low temperatures, according to data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Globally, 188 all-time heat records were broken versus 18 cool records.

 (CNN) Studies have showed that extreme heat will increase in frequency, intensity and duration because of the climate crisis.

(CNN) More than 40 million people are under heat alerts across the Plains and Central California today and Tuesday as temperatures surge 10 to 15 degrees above normal.

China endures summer of extreme weather as record rainfall and scorching heat wave cause havoc. Why are heat waves around the world getting more intense?

 (CNN) Hong Kong: Towns and farmlands inundated by floods, homes and roads buried by landslides, crops withering under scorching heat, hazmat-suited Covid workers collapsing from heatstroke.

Since summer began, scenes of devastation and misery have been playing out across China as the world's most populous nation grapples with an unrelenting torrent of extreme weather emergencies.

(CNN) Several days of unusually warm weather in northern Greenland have triggered rapid melting, made visible by the rivers of meltwater rushing into the ocean. Temperatures have been running around 60 degrees Fahrenheit -- 10 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year, scientists told CNN.

The amount of ice that melted in Greenland between July 15 and 17 alone -- 6 billion tons of water per day -- would be enough to fill 7.2 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Here are some of the record highs for July 19 that were set in Texas and Oklahoma:

• Wichita Falls, Texas: 115, breaking a record of 112 set in 2018.

• Borger, Texas: 111, breaking a record of 109 set in 2018.

• Abilene, Texas: 110, breaking a record of 108 set in 1936.

• Oklahoma City: 110, breaking a record of 109 set in 1936.

• Amarillo, Texas: 108, breaking a record of 105 set in 2018.

• San Angelo, Texas: 108, tying a record set in 2018.

• El Paso, Texas: 107, breaking a record of 105 set in 1980.

• Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas: 106, breaking a record of 105 from 1914, 1923 and 1951.

• Midland International Air & Space Port in Midland, Texas: 105, tying a record from 1981 and 2018.

• Houston: 100, tying a record set in 2000.

But Isaiah mentions water as one of the necessary commodities, God will provide for His people. And in the days of Elijah, we have already observed that a severe water crisis had come upon the land, as a result of that blistering drought which had virtually brought economic activity to a standstill.

Could it then be, that there is a looming water fight on the horizon, as reservoirs, dams, rivers and lakes begin to run dangerously low, just as it was in the days of Elijah. Remember, the Bible says that there is nothing new under the sun, and the thing which has been, is the thing which shall be. Let’s read:

 (CNN) More extreme water cuts are all but certain in the Southwest starting next year -- including new water cuts for California -- according to the latest government forecast for the Colorado River and Lake Mead, the country's largest reservoir.

Lake Mead which provides water to roughly 25 million people in Arizona, Nevada, California and Mexico, is losing water at an alarming rate amid an extraordinary, multi-year drought, made worse by the climate crisis.

Because of the reservoir's plummeting level states that rely on water from the lower Colorado River were already subject to the cuts that accompany a Tier 1 shortage beginning in January 2022, which have mainly impacted agricultural water use.

But this year did not bring much-needed precipitation to the river basin. The latest report from the US Bureau of Reclamation shows Lake Mead at just over 1,040 feet above sea level, having dropped nearly 10 feet in just two months and currently at just 27% of its maximum capacity.

There should be no doubt in our minds, after having read the above information, that the signs that are to point to the second coming of Christ, are indeed happening in the here and now, with the increasing frequency and severity, spoken of in Thessalonians, as being travail.

 The question for us earthlings is: what should our appropriate response be, to knowing these things? Christ gives us the answer, for after enumerating the various signs that would precede His 2nd coming He then bids us to “Look up”. 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.

Looking up entails a change in perspective, outlook, priorities, and anticipation, for whereas in former years, persons would be consumed with planning for, and focusing heavily on retirement, the signs of the times taking place currently, raise the prospect that some may never need to retire, because the possibility exists that some who are now living may never pass through the portals of the tomb.

It is a mind-boggling possibility yet, according to the Scriptures, it will become a reality at some point in this earth’s history, in the not too distant, future; so let us repeat again, so that you may be certain that you are hearing correctly: The scripture raises the prospect that some Christians living today might never pass through the portals of the tomb. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 15: 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1st Thessalonians 4: 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Currently, in our world, and even with many who are called Christians, there seems to be an intense focus on survival for the here and now. Some are trying to save the planet, while others are obsessed with materialism.

And there are others who are being consumed with trying to make ends meet, in an increasingly hostile economic environment, all the while, the signs of the times are being fulfilled right before our very eyes, yet some seem to be none the wiser, in most cases.

Again, there is a complacency, and a lack of drive, as it pertains to seeking the interests of God’s kingdom and with many persons in the Christian community, missionary work, on an individual level is not even a consideration since many of us are being consumed with the here and now. Indeed, very few persons in the church are actively involved in the work of the great commission, given us by Christ.

 But as Christ’s coming draws nearer each day, He cautions us against participating in the spirit of the world, by being enveloped with consumerism, and having our priorities inverted. God has given to us something much better to live for, than the mere transient, temporal things of this world, and it is our privilege and duty, to make the most opportunity to be saved, and to help save others in His kingdom.

This is why Jesus says to look up, when the signs of the times, spoken of in scripture will begin to be fulfilled with increasing frequency and severity, for as pilgrims heading to a better world, the baggage we once carried would have to be surrendered in exchange for the immortal inheritance that looms ever larger on the horizon.

Thus, we will end with a passage of scripture which calls on every believer to consider our ways, and if for some reason our priorities have become mixed up along the way, The God of heaven is calling on us to repent, believe, and be ready, for Jesus will come at a time when most of us are not expecting. Let’s read:

[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. “Watch ye therefore; ... lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.” [Mark 13:35, 36.]

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 the earth will pronounce the sentence, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”

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!

God Is Still In Control. Sabbath afternoon 07/16/2022

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

The above passages reveal several very important facts about God which would lay the foundation for the study this evening. These stated facts are things that we must come to grips with, if we are to walk by faith, not questioning or arguing with God about things we may not yet understand.

One of the fundamentals to exercising an intelligent faith is for us to understand that God is always right in everything that He does and plans to do. He is the only One who has never made a mistake, and never will.

 Some of His plans may seem strange to finite minds, and even angels may at times be befuddled at what God does, but at the end of the day, after the dust has settled, it’s always the best thing that could be done. Always!

 In other words, finite minds can never improve on what God does, we cannot come up with any better suggestions, or solutions nor do us mortals have the capacity to plan, and to execute in a more efficient manner than God, that which needs to be done.

But there are many productions and inventions of mortals that seem to suggest that there are better ways of doing things, and as such, the Bible, with its sacred utterances is viewed by many persons, as an inferior document filled with irrelevant principles, and methods.

But the passage in Isaiah reveals the fact that God is in control at all times, and His good and perfect will gets done one way or the next. At times, the world may appear to be a runaway train, with no guide or Ruler, and there are other times when what God permits may seem to take us off the rails, but in all and through all, God’s intelligence, foreknowledge, and wisdom are displayed.

 The following therefore, are the fundamentals that are mentioned in our first passage: [1] God does not think like us. The way we may come to our conclusions, and our finite modes of thought are no way close to His, and are indeed, greatly inferior.

 [2] The way we choose to do things are often quite different than the way God chooses. In other words, when God is seeking to accomplish His perfect will, the way He does so, is often so strange and divergent to mortal minds that some persons are tempted to question whether or not God knows what He is doing.

This fact is evident by some of the statements and questions that have come from the lips of even the righteous. As God-fearing men and women in days of old brainstormed God’s providences they were at times baffled, and expressed their dismay in various ways. The following are just a few examples of what we’re speaking of. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 20: 7 O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, everyone mocks me.

Exodus 5: 22 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore have you so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

2 And Job spoke, and said,

3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

Matthew 11: 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

[3] God’s perfect will always gets done. It may seem like a long time in coming, and at times it may seem as if men and demons have defeated His purposes; but according to Isaiah the word which goes forth out of His mouth ultimately wins the day. Men may not agree with God, and others might not believe, but His will, would be done, in heaven and earth.

Indeed, the bottom line for us is whether we will be on The Lord’s side or not, but His side is always the winning side, and therefore, His ways and purposes are eventually, and inevitably going to rule the day.

When Judas betrayed Christ, it seemed to some as if evil had triumphed, but here again even the devices of devils were incorporated into God’s planning and what they did actually facilitated God’s will.

In fact, when the curtain that divides the invisible world from the visible, we will discover that devils were much more afraid of the dead Jesus than the living Christ before he died.

Thus, while poor ignorant human beings were there mocking, scorning, and laughing at Christ, satan was not laughing at all, for he understood better than any person did, that the dead Jesus posed a serious threat to his kingdom.

Some may not have been aware of this fact, but if there was one person on the planet who sincerely desired to save Christ from the cross, it was satan. In fact, he literally begged Christ not to die, but it was only when Christ insisted on dying that satan pulled out all the stops, and made Christ’s death as bitter, as horrible and as miserable as it could be.

But if it were up to him alone, he would have taken vengeance on anyone who would dare to threaten Christ’s life. Thus, he was put in the most miserable position of having to play his part, against his own will. God had predicted it in scripture, satan studied it, and now, without the use of force on God’s part, he is backed into a corner and left no choice but to fulfill God’s word to the letter.

Everything that persons and demons could do was incorporated into God’s planning, from the priests to Pilate, from the mob to Judas, even the Roman guards who were stationed at Christ’s tomb, with the hosts of evil angels gathered around, everyone and everything was incorporated into God’s plans, and inevitably facilitated His good will. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 782] When Jesus was laid in the grave, Satan triumphed. He dared to hope that the Savior would not take up His life again. He claimed the Lord's body, and set his guard about the tomb, seeking to hold Christ a prisoner.

 He was bitterly angry when his angels fled at the approach of the heavenly messenger. When he saw Christ come forth in triumph, he knew that his kingdom would have an end, and that he must finally die.

The same is true of nations and persons who may at times seem to be doing things of their own volition, especially leaders of nations who may appear to be exercising unbridled authority over those who are under their jurisdiction. When such leaders wreak havoc and brutalities on innocents, as is the case currently in Ukraine, it may seem as if God has lost control of situations, but this is not the case.

 For example, when pharaoh of old commanded that the boy children of the Hebrews be thrown into the river and drowned, it seemed cruel to finite minds, and indeed it was, and the folks back then probably questioned in their minds if God was still in control.

 But God who reads the future so accurately, knew where that command of pharaoh was headed, for the natural response of the Hebrew women would be to hide their male babies from pharaoh.

 But, lo and behold, that is exactly what God wanted them to do, to hide their male children, for in doing so God’s intelligence would turn pharaoh’s so-called plots into total foolishness, and the king would end up financially supporting a Hebrew in his own back yard. Thus, while on the one hand his mandate may seem cruel, God’s plan was silently being done, and fulfilled in pharaoh’s own house. Let’s read:

Exodus 2:1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

3 And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.

4 And his sister stood afar off, to see what would be done to him.

5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and behold the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.

9 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it.

10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses.

At this point we must say that some may too often dwell on the writings and sayings of secular writers and by doing so we do a great disservice to our own souls. The study of God’s word gives breadth and a deep understanding of the wisdom and purposes of God, for the mind has to wrestle and figure out the difficult passages, prophecies, and laws that are in His word.

But with secular writers and worldly-wise men, the mind can become very cramped and blunted, if we choose their sayings and doings over what’s written in the Bible. By beholding we become changed, and if our mental energies are channeled into the carnal and secular, those thoughts and philosophies would be reflected in our depleted capacity to understand spiritual things. Let’s read:

[Christ’s Object Lessons pp 41] And here, too, is the great cause of mental weakness and inefficiency. In turning from God's word to feed on the writings of uninspired men, the mind becomes dwarfed and cheapened. It is not brought in contact with deep, broad principles of eternal truth.

The understanding adapts itself to the comprehension of the things with which it is familiar, and in this devotion to finite things it is weakened, its power is contracted, and after a time it becomes unable to expand.

In the situation with Joseph, what transpired with his brothers, and the consequent sale of Joseph to the Midianites may seem to baffle the mind, for it looked as if his envious brothers were having their own way. But here again, God was in control in the background, silently working out His own good purposes for not only Joseph, but for his brothers and for all of Egypt too.

 It will be discovered that God could work with any hand that is dealt Him, because what may seem to thwart His purposes, is often incorporated into His planning, and in many cases, actually facilitates the outcome. Thus, we can agree or disagree with God, but at the end of the day, His will would get done. That is what the prophet Isaiah is actually saying in our first passage. To be frank, it can be pretty scary!

Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.

4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them….

5 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field, and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.

17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

There is no such thing as arbitrary providences with God, as it pertains to the trials His servants may go through. Some persons have erroneously concluded that God permits capricious trials to come our way for no reason, and that at times we may be tempted and tried for no reason.

This is absolutely not the case, because in every instance where like Joseph, Job, Abraham, and any other believer for that matter, one is taken through the wringer, it has always been for a valid reason and purpose. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.

Joseph had some character flaws which needed to be corrected in order for him to fill the position God intended for him to fill. His parents had spoiled him to some degree, through favoritism, and because of his many dreams, and God’s favor, he was in danger of becoming self-righteous.

This is the reason, and the only reason why God had permitted Joseph to pass through the fire as it were but as soon as the dross was removed, he would be released from prison, and the experiences of former years would no longer be necessary. The pruning of God is for the sole purpose of producing more fruit, and when that goal is accomplished, pruning stops. Let’s read:

Malachi 3: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 213] Joseph with his captors was on the way to Egypt. Bitterly he wept at thought of that loving father in his loneliness and affliction. Again, the scene at Dothan came up before him. He saw his angry brothers and felt their fierce glances bent upon him.

The stinging, insulting words that had met his agonized entreaties were ringing in his ears. With a trembling heart he looked forward to the future. What a change in situation—from the tenderly cherished son to the despised and helpless slave!

For a time, Joseph gave himself up to uncontrolled grief and terror. But, in the providence of God, even this experience was to be a blessing to him. He had learned in a few hours that which years might not otherwise have taught him. His father, strong and tender as his love had been, had done him wrong by his partiality and indulgence.

 This unwise preference had angered his brothers, and provoked them to the cruel deed that had separated him from his home. Its effects were manifest also in his own character. Faults had been encouraged that were now to be corrected. He was becoming self-sufficient and exacting.

Thus, through all of the ups and downs, the trials and grief, the jail time, and the false accusation of Mrs. Potiphar, God was still in control. To the finite mind some of those experiences may have seemed to be directed by mortals, with no input or guidance from God, but in all and through it all, God was in control. Let’s read:

Genesis 39:1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

Psalms 105: 17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant;

18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:

19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.

20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.

21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:

22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

Fast forward to our day when it seems as if nations and individuals are going off the rails. Covid wipes out millions, churches are shuttered, economies are collapsing, there’s serious bottle neck in supply and demand, Crypto is tanking, mass shootings are now multiplying, and all the while Putin, is adding more headache to the toxic brew, and it may seem as if God is missing in action, and nowhere to be found.

To mortal minds, it may seem as if no one is at the helm, and things are looking so fragile, and haywire that many persons deny the very existence of God. But just as the prophet Ezekiel beheld the wheels within a wheel, just so the complicated providences of God may seem to be spinning out of control, but at the end of the day it would be seen that God was always in the driver’s seat.

Out of chaos God brought order at the beginning of this world’s history, and at the end of time, God will again bring order out of chaos. Things will seem to be getting out of control, and even nature might be in a tailspin in different parts of the earth, but in the end, everyone who is to be saved, will be saved and God will finally usher in His everlasting kingdom of righteousness.

Men and demons may not agree, some may doubt, and others may become riled up at what they may perceive as injustice, unbridled violence and crime, but in the fullness of time, The Great God of heaven will wrap things up, and this earth, together with all who have chosen to serve Him would be placed in a position permanent peace and security.

The kingdoms of this world are soon to become the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and thus, we are not to be shortsighted, in groveling in the here and now, but rather, believers should look forward to that final day, when prophecies will converge with reality, for God is still in control.

We will end with several passages of scripture taken from the book of Daniel, which confirm to us that, not only is God still in control, He will also land the proverbial plane, that has been subject to so much turbulence in the rise and fall of nations throughout history. Let’s read:

Daniel 2: 31 Thou, O king, saw, and beheld a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,

33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

34 You saw till a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.

35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floor and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

45 Forasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

                                     God Bless!

Good Behavior Versus Conversion. Sabbath afternoon 07/09/2022

There is a huge difference between good behavior, and conversion, and the two should never be mixed up by those who desire sanctification, according to the will of God. A person can behave well, by doing what is morally right, by abiding by the laws of the land, by paying their taxes on time, and maintaining a good credit score.

 There are good citizens who manifest courtesy, and respect for others, who may speak perfect English, and are achievers, as they pursue stellar careers in different fields, who make meaningful contributions to society, who never use foul language, and they’re looked up to by others as role models.

 There are very many Christians in our day, who fall into these categories, and to all appearances, some are in good and regular standing, according to what can be seen externally. These qualities ought to be commended, for a good Christian should also be a good citizen who tries his or her best to behave well and stay out of trouble. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.

15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

And Christians are encouraged, in both the old and new Testaments to behave ourselves in a becoming manner, for we are a spectacle unto the world, unto Angels and unto men, and therefore, it is a sacred and moral duty to do our best to live as though we are representatives of the kingdom. Let’s read:

1st Timothy 3: 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 For if a man knows not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

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

2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

However, true conversion goes much deeper than mere good behavior, for the work that God desires to do in our hearts, is to entirely uproot the old man with all of its baggage, and then replace it with an entirely new heart and mind that’s aligned with God so that The Spirit of God may dwell on the throne of our hearts continually.

The problem with persons behaving well without being converted is that they can flip in an instant when the right set of circumstances converge. Even though the Bible repeatedly states that David was well- behaved, there were times when persons would touch a raw nerve, and a different individual would emerge from the shadows.

 Latent tendencies David probably was not aware of and, and dormant characteristics would bubble up to the surface from time to time which revealed his need of conversion, but between all these contrary exhibitions, David was generally known to behave himself well.

The word “Latent” refers to something that is real and present, yet not generally visible for any person to see and this should concern us, for like David, we too may be inadvertently harboring latent tendency that we may not be aware of, until it bubbles up to the surface and shocks the daylights out of the one in question, as well as onlookers.

For instance, when Nabal refused to help out David with the food which he had requested, a switch that had lain dormant was flipped on internally, and the composure of such a well-behaved person, was reversed in an instant. It is usually the case that we may only realize we have dormant evil tendencies, when one treads on our proverbial toes. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 25:9 And when David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.

22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisses against the wall.

Just for some context, here are some of the psalms David wrote about dealing with others in situations that may not be favorable. We are observing them because when we put ourselves into David’s shoes, we too may discover a disconnect between what we preach and what we do, when others violate our rights or may tick us off for some reason. Let’s read:

Psalms 15:1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.

3 He that backbites not with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor.

Apparently, good behavior versus conversion also was an issue with the disciples of Christ, for as a general rule of thumb, they would try to behave themselves when Christ was around, but at times when He was absent, different moods and attitudes would bubble up to the surface, when the right set of circumstances would converge.

 Now it is often claimed that persons are in different stages of spiritual growth, and another maxim that is often touted is that “The Lord isn’t finished with me yet.” It is worthy of note that the disciples may not have been doing this deliberately, but it’s just a fact of life that the presence of a superior can cause or motivate a person to behave well.

 Not long ago on my way to Orlando Florida, persons were driving well over the speed limit at a section of the I-75 where state troopers would most likely not be present. But suddenly, all the drivers seemed to slowing down, and driving at the speed limit, for no apparent reason so I wanted to know the reason for such good behavior, on the part of so many drivers, including myself.

 It so happened that in one lane there was a trooper driving at the speed limit, and guess what, all of the other drivers immediately fell into line, even though some were not convicted in heart and mind.

 Again, there’s a huge difference between driving through a school speed zone, fussing and fuming because one is late for work, and one driving at the stated speed limit, with the understanding that kids would be crossing at any given time.

 Even though the two types of drivers may adhere to the rules and may actually behave well, one does so from the heart while the other does so because of the likely presence of cops with radar guns. It is too often the case with some Christians, that we might display a Sabbath persona, whilst during the week when no Elder or pastor is around, a completely different person might emerge.

In the case with the disciples, a storm was brewing over who should be accounted the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and from what the scriptures reveal, it had caused a division amongst them, as all strove to have the highest place, next to Christ.

 But lo and behold, when Jesus was present, and had asked them about the situation, they all put on their best behavior, and remained silent. The presence of Christ put a different perspective on the matter and Jesus could have addressed the behavioral aspect of His disciple’s contention. But doing so would just be putting a temporary bandage on a problem, which would rupture at some future point.

 Very often in the Christian church, the focus is put on behaviors which are indeed symptoms of a much deeper problem. Therefore, if folks focus too much on behavioral patterns, we would entirely miss the main point, for doing so is the equivalent of playing whack-a mole with behaviors.

 In other words, what is addressed presently in some outburst of latent tendency, is the same as trying to fix this or that issue in one’s character, whereas an entire change of heart, would usually take care of the problem, for as was stated before in a previous study, there are certain things a converted person just does not do.

 A truly converted person would never seek for the highest place, for such an one would gladly prefer a lower position, so that someone else could get the promotion in question, if there happened to be any dispute over the matter.

 Furthermore, a converted person will genuinely be happy, and merry for the person who got promoted and the converted one will do all they can to make life easier, not miserable for the promoted person. It all has to do with “Good behavior versus true conversion.

 In the plan of salvation, God does not desire to deal merely with the symptoms of some underlying issue in our hearts; He instead seeks to perform an entire transformation that will fundamentally change who we are at the core for it’s only by so doing that folks would be rendered safe for the kingdom, where it is stated that sin would not arise a second time. Let’s read:

Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up into a high mountain apart by themselves, and he was transfigured before them.

The other disciples who were not made privy to the experience on the mount were probably wondering, and grumbling about why they were left out of the loop. If inside information was going to be disclosed why would Jesus leave them out, and apparently only favor these three?

Thus, they reasoned until great darkness came over their minds, for they made their personal grievance the main point of concern, while the interests of the kingdom were subordinated. Therefore, when Jesus addresses the issue, He would not deal as we too often do with the periphery, with mixed up moods and attitudes.

Christ will go for the jugular, the issue of conversion which if and when accomplished in His disciples, will take care of not only the current issue but any other problem that may or may not arise. But if He was to only address the behavioral aspects, the same issue would certainly flare up again, under favorable, or under trying circumstances, as the case might be. Let’s read:

Mark 9:14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

18 And wheresoever he takes him, he tears him, and he foams, and gnashes with his teeth, and pines away: and I spoke to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

Note well, that the disagreement amongst the other disciples hamstrung their efforts to cast out demons for God is A Spirit, and wherever our minds may be consumed with fussing and fighting over a plethora none-essentials, Christ’s vital power, to engage and conquer hosts of darkness will be eerily absent in us. Let’s read:

Mark 9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that you disputed among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

Matthew 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

[The Desire of Ages pp 435>437] The Savior gathered His disciples about Him, and said to them, “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” There was in these words a solemnity and impressiveness which the disciples were far from comprehending.

They did not understand the nature of Christ's kingdom, and this ignorance was the apparent cause of their contention. But the real cause lay deeper. By explaining the nature of the kingdom, Christ might for the time have quelled their strife; but this would not have touched the underlying cause.

 Even after they had received the fullest knowledge, any question of precedence might have renewed the trouble. Thus, disaster would’ve been brought to the church after Christ's departure.

The strife for the highest place was the outworking of that same spirit which was the beginning of the great controversy in the worlds above, and which had brought Christ from heaven to die. 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 stepping- stone on which he himself may climb to a higher place.

 Very tenderly, yet with solemn emphasis, Jesus tried to correct the evil. He showed what is the principle that bears sway in the kingdom of heaven, and in what true greatness consists, as estimated by the standard of the courts above.

 It was not enough for the disciples of Jesus to be instructed as to the nature of His kingdom. What they needed was a change of heart that would bring them into harmony with its principles.

 In the third chapter of Revelation, Laodicea seems to suffer with the same problem of “Good Behavior Versus True Conversion” for the right things are being done, and for all intents and purposes, it may seem to the casual observer that the church is on a roll to glory.

 But when The True Witness drills down a bit deeper He discovers something disturbing happening with many church members, for like the disciples of old, some are behaving really well, others have become contended with the status quo, and stagnation has taken a toll on growth, because our good behaviors have usurped the place that true conversion should have. 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 were 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, poor, 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.

Some may now be wondering if those words might pertain to me and you personally, and rightly so, for The Lord is addressing the church, not only as the corporate body, but he is speaking to me and you in the present tense, and on an individual level.

To answer our unspoken questions, there are some basic tendencies, which if we see in ourselves, are to raise a red flag, as far as the issue of behaviors versus conversion is concerned. If we know we have the tendency to seek strict justice from those who may offend us, then it’s time to go have a talk with God.

 If we feel good when our enemies are punished for the wrongs they have done, then it is time for us to go have a talk with God. the truly converted person takes delight in pardoning those who may trespass against us, and thus seeks his or her restoration as quickly as possible.

 The tendency to rupture relationships with those who may despitefully use and persecute us, is not in harmony with the mind of God for there are several very important passages of scripture which do show the mind of God in such situations. Let’s read:

Proverbs 24: 17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falls, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbles.

18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retains not his anger forever, because he delights in mercy.

1st Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.

4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;

7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Charity never fails.

The only reason why it can never fail in a Christian is because it has become an integral part of a person’s character through conversion and thus, if and when such a person is shaken inside up and upside down, nothing but charity will bubble to the surface.

Like the disciples in days of yore, there is hope for us, for when we read the last verses of Revelation 13, the Lord invites us to change. It’s not merely the of behavior that is too often touted, but a deep and enduring change that would convert us from the inside out.

 Let us therefore not be discouraged by what we may see in ourselves from time to time, but let us rather seek The Lord while He may be found so that He can take us from one level of spiritual growth to the next, for this is His good and perfect will for us, even our conversion.

We will end with two passages of scripture which would confirm this sacred truth, and may God’s grace and mercy enable and sustain us through the process. Let’s read:

Revelation 3: 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

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

21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

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

1st Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.

                            God Bless!

Bible Teaching On Inflation And Famine. Sabbath afternoon 07/02/2022

There are some difficult lessons many of us would have to learn for some have not yet been reconciled to the fact that God is practical, and down to earth in the instructions He gives us. All those, who with a humble heart, follow the word of God, will find out that wisdom, intelligence and foreknowledge are all wrapped up in what He commands us to do.

 But those who despise His word, to follow on in the footsteps of worldly-wise men, will find out sooner or later that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. When the Bible is held in a subordinate position to what economists and soothsayers may predict and advise, then, when the carpet is pulled out from under our feet, many persons will be left holding an empty bag, much to their chagrin.

Many persons fell for what was being touted for a long time as a safe investment, with the infamous Bernie Madoff, who was interviewed on multiple occasions on business news outlets, and whose aura and advice was sought out as priceless treasure.

  lo and behold, after running the now defunct Ponzi scheme for many years, and after ensnaring unwary investors, swindling them of billions in cash he finally lived up to his name, for he Made-Off with the life savings and investments of thousands upon thousands of folks, some of whom were left holding the proverbial empty bag.

 The worldly wise do not, as a general rule of thumb, bring to bear, on their decisions and planning, the sacred utterances of the scriptures, for God’s word is neither consulted, nor even considered in their calculations and prognostications and thus, if, and when any unforeseeable events occur suddenly without warning, persons are left scrambling to try and figure out what to do in such and such adverse situation.

 The same is true in our day, for if one were to speak to the majority of financial planners, and advisors in active practice, the overwhelming majority will not even consider the utterances of the Bible as either being relevant or of consequence to the advice they give, and thus, when Putin suddenly upends energy, and globalism as we knew it, there is a mad rush for the door, as the unforeseen becomes reality.

 There is nothing worse than an angry old man with nukes, who has already lived his life, and who has nothing to lose. The world is becoming increasingly unstable, because of multiple disturbances on many different fronts, both nationally and internationally, as can be observed by perusing the daily news.

 And, to add to the toxic mix is the uncertainty of whether Putin might do the unthinkable, which he very well might, if driven into a corner, and isolated. As world leaders continue to ramp up their efforts to choke off Russia, very strange developments can ensue, for rational thought can be tossed out the window in an instant, if one’s back is forced against the wall.

But financial planners seem to be oblivious of the growing threats spoken about in God’s word, that are scheduled to characterize the last days, in which we are now living. The very same attitude was true of the Antediluvians in Noah’s day, who, in spite of listening to his sermons, went right ahead with their financial plans for the future, just as if he had not spoken.

 Even when they saw with their own two eyes, the unexplainable phenomena of the animals walking quietly into the ark, two by two and seven by seven, there was no change whatsoever in their planning, advice, or outlook.

 With Noah’s prophecy fresh in their minds and with lower lifeforms heading into the vessel, seemingly unprovoked, the Antediluvians continued to look forward to, and plan for a brighter day. Let’s read:

 [Patriarchs And Prophets pp 97] They manifested their contempt for the warning of God by doing just as they had done before the warning was given. They ate and drank, planted and built, laying their plans in reference to advantages they hoped to gain in the future.

 Similarly, in our day, where there are troubles with perplexities multiplying on several different fronts, persons continue to lay their plans, with reference to profits they expect to reap in the future, and the word of God, pregnant with its prophecies and very valuable instruction, is not even considered, but is rather brow-beaten as being archaic and irrelevant.

 However, God is merciful and in the current adverse situations we now find ourselves, He bids us all to consider our ways, to study, and believe His word, and thereby put in place, methods, strategies and wisdom that are based on His instructions.

 The current wave of inflation and famine is taking a serious toll on millions of individuals, and the single-parent families on fixed incomes are being hit very hard by inflationary pressures, together with the increase in grocery prices, and pain at the pump.

 In addition to these dire circumstances, the ongoing displacement of families, with the accompanying gentrification in many places, threatens the sanity, and livelihood of many persons, who are now living on the brink, as some are just one paycheck away from being homeless, or bankrupt.

 Many are now forced to live off of credit, in order to cope with the deepening crisis, and that snare will become a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy, by which many will be sucked in even deeper into the abyss of financial bondage. Let no one be deceived by the soothsayers, for we will not be able to print our way out of this crisis by any means.

 Thus, it may just be about time that we take a look at the word of God, to see what advice He gives for such a time as this, if haply there might be Biblical wisdom that can be applied to ease the frustrations and concerns so many are now experiencing.

 In the days of Joseph, God gave ample warning that a severe famine and drought would be coming upon the land, and He bid the king of Egypt, through His prophet Joseph, to make the necessary preparation so that the inhabitants of the land would be able to weather the grievous event.

 As we read and study that incident, there would be valuable lessons for us to take away, for there can, and should be adjustments made, wherever they may be warranted. Our new normal would call for a change in some cases, in the way we spend, and the way we differentiate between that which is viewed as being important, and that which is not.

 As the crisis in Egypt deepened, the citizens of that land discovered that they would need to regroup, as it pertained to their daily living and they soon found themselves having to tighten their seatbelts, so as not to become casualties of the famine. Let’s read:

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

2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favored cows and fat-fleshed; and they fed in a meadow.

3 And behold seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other cows upon the brink of the river.

4 And the ill-favored and lean-fleshed cows did eat up the seven well favored and fat ones. So, Pharaoh awoke.

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

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

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

8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

26 The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.

27 And the seven thin and ill-favored cows that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind will be seven years of famine.

28 What God is about to do he is now shewing unto Pharaoh.

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

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

31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

Thus, in lieu of the dire warning given by God, what pharaoh decides to do next will determine whether the Egyptian economy will survive or collapse, and the inhabitants thereof would live or die, depending on the course of action they will choose to pursue.

 Obviously, the impending crisis upon the land would call for the exercise of wisdom, guided, not by those in the secular unbelieving world, but Joseph, who has the fear of God before his face. Similarly in our day, if things go deep south in a hurry, the wisdom that will meet the emergency would be that which is written, not that which comes from mere mortals. Let’s read:

Genesis 41:33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

The urgency of the moment would obviously call for one who exercises discretion, one who respects the word of God, and who will not turn to the financial soothsayers who would beg to differ on what God has revealed. To often in our day, the wisdom that is found in the scriptures is supplanted by that type of knowledge that is devoid of God.

 Thus, as a direct result grievous errors in judgement are made with the repercussions and consequences which always accompany any such moves. Now that we are in an era of sustained turmoil and instability, the word of God, with its sacred utterances should be guiding our every move. Let’s read:

Proverbs 1: 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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

25 But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof.

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

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

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

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

Genesis 41:34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

The fifth part is a specific percentage of the bounty they would enjoy for the seven plenteous years. In our day we may not have fields with wheat, corn or grain, but many of us do work, and have some sort of income. Thus, after returning the tithe, offering, and something for the less fortunate, it is wise to put aside a “Fifth” for the rainy day.

 The habit of spending everything that is earned is a recipe for disaster, and any person or nation that is thus disposed, is headed for a financial cliff, sooner or later. The math is simple, for if our outflows are greater than our inflows, the well will run dry. It is not rocket science, it’s just a matter of time. Let’s read:

Proverbs 6: 6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

Genesis 41:35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

We are not speaking of hoarding in one of those underground doomsday bunkers that are on sale. We are speaking the words of truth and soberness by the grace of God, so that the wise and discreet may make provision for the rainy day. Because, if we would receive it, is going to rain.

 Now, it is true, that as earth’s crisis deepens, God has promised to provide for His people. However, His word must be studied very carefully, lest some persons inadvertently tread presumptuously. In the days of yore, God provided food miraculously for His people, because it was necessary, for they were sojourning through the wilderness for forty years.

 But as soon as God’s miracles became unnecessary, the manna stopped, because God generally will not work a miracle if He does not absolutely have to. In other words, direct miracles as the manna falling from heaven are to be understood as a last resort, but if there are other resources available, those are to be utterly exhausted first. Let’s read:

Joshua 5: 11 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.

12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna anymore; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

[Last Day Events pp 99] 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.

Genesis 41:47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.

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

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

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

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

What goes up must inevitably come down, and even though we’ve experienced tremendous growth and prosperity as a nation, the cyclical realities of boom and bust will produce casualties, if the wisdom of God is not implemented. Dow industrials averages, Crypto, and the phenomenal rise of housing in the last few years aren’t immune to the laws of gravity.

Therefore, if ample provisions are not made for the downturn, some folks will be forced into doing what the Egyptians had to do in order to survive. At that time, they turned to their government for help, for the economic downturn was severe indeed, and lest starvation take a deadly toll, food rationing by those in authority had become the order of the day, while the famine wore on. Let’s read:

Genesis 41:55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

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

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

 Genesis 47: 13 And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.

15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money fails.

16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.

Now that their flocks herds and livelihoods have all gone up in smoke, the government of Egypt is in a position of strength, as far as bargaining chips go, and the prospect now rises before the multitudes, that if they are to survive they will only have to sell their lands and properties to the state, but they will have to sell their own souls, in order to have bread.

 A very similar situation took place in the days of Nehemiah when the Hebrew economy took a hit, and went into reverse gear. At that time, the people became so dependent on the government that their houses, their lands and their souls became tethered to the state, for they found themselves in the very unfortunate situation of having to turn to credit, or borrowing heavily, in order to survive. Let’s read:

Nehemiah 5:3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses that we might buy corn because  of the dearth.

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

5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

Inflation is one of the results of a disparity in supply and demand, because whenever goods are in short supply, or scarce, their value ultimately goes up. We are now experiencing pain at the pump, because of supply shortages, and therefore, when we read in the Bible that there was a famine or dearth, all of the accompanying woes we are now experiencing were most likely present back then. Let’s read:

Genesis 41:18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands.

19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.

20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's.

During the economic downturn in Egypt which was brought about as the result of the famine the folks down there soon discovered that they had to make certain adjustments, in order to deal survive.

 All of the unnecessary trimmings, bells and whistles, and the extra items they would normally pick up at the grocery stores, which they really did not need were eliminated, and a bare bones approach to the realities on the ground, drove them to have a more practical outlook on life. Indeed, it was a humbling experience for the nation.

Similarly, in our day, where families and individuals might be facing crunch time, as a result of looming layoffs, inflationary pressures and pain at the pump, we too may find ourselves having to make some of those necessary adjustments that the Egyptians had to make, for as it was in days of old, persons would discover that God is more practical, and down to earth in the instructions He gives than many realize.

Especially persons who may be cash-strapped, who may find themselves in a position similar to those in the days of Nehemiah, where the people had to rely heavily on credit, adjustments may have to be made in order to weather the deteriorating conditions on the ground for at the end of the day the greenbacks can only stretch so far, and no further.

 However, on a more serious note, there is another famine of which the Bible speaks which is scheduled to take an even greater toll on persons, if the word of God isn’t heeded. This particular famine is the one that would produce barrenness in hearing the word of God, for in the days of plenty, when Biblical teaching was available, many did not see the need to avail themselves of the truth.

And as a result, the little that some persons had will evaporate into thin air, when the truth will become quite difficult to find. This is what took place with the five foolish virgins, who found themselves void of the necessary preparation, at the midnight hour.  

We are in a countdown to midnight in the history of our world, and opportunities to hear and know the truth will be dwindling at an alarming rate, as forces of evil both visible and invisible, will flood the earth with errors and woes that will consume the minds of many, and as a result, the multitudes will focus on survival instead of surrender to Christ, The Only One who can deliver in these last days. Let’s read:

Amos 8: 11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

[Last Day Events pp 178] Men whom He has greatly honored will, in the closing scenes of this earth's history, pattern after ancient Israel....

 A departure from the great principles Christ has laid down in His teachings, a working out of human projects, using the Scriptures to justify a wrong course of action under the perverse working of Lucifer, will confirm men in misunderstanding, and the truth that they need to keep them from wrong practices will leak out of the soul like water from a leaky vessel.

This is the reason why an urgent call to the study, and practice of the truth is even more relevant in our day, for as we stand upon the brink of eternity, we will face dangers and perplexities that can cause us to lose focus on that which is most important in life.

Whatever Putin and the rest of the world may, or may not do, one thing we should ever keep in mind, is that the coming of Christ hastens greatly, and as such, we should not let survival consume our best energies to the neglect of our relationship with God for it is Christ and Christ alone that would be able to see us through the final conflict of the ages.

 Let us then like Joseph, exercise discretion and the wisdom that is born from above, in managing and in balancing the temporal concerns of this life with the more important spiritual considerations, for when this is done, the anxiety of surviving inflation, and famine would be held subordinate to higher eternal interests.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that would help us to keep in mind that this world is not our home, we are just passing through, headed for a better world, and as such, the blessed hope can, and should put the turmoil we are experiencing on a personal and national level in its right perspective. Let’s read:

Romans 13: 1 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!