Matthew 23: 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Currently in our day there is an alarming rise of man worship, where one’s loyalty is given to mortal man, instead of to God, meaning that persons have their allegiance registered, first and foremost with a man, and then God secondarily.
What this translates into in real time is that such a person will obey the man instead of God, wherever there is a conflict of laws or commands between the two. Worship has much more to do with obedience than praise, for it is who we yield ourselves to obey that demonstrates whose servants we are.
Even though some may not know it, to render any blind obedience to a mortal man, regardless of the laws given to us by God is a sin. Wherever this is the case, it demonstrates that folks hold mortal man in higher esteem than the God of heaven, and this is essentially what man worship is all about.
For instance, if a certain man commands a person under his jurisdiction to tell a lie, contrary to the 9th commandment which clearly says: “Thou shall not bear false witness” if that person obeys the dictates of the man instead of God, he will be worshiping his boss, plain and simple.
The Christian in our day must hold the lines of truth in a clear, concise and consistent format, so that the line of demarcation between those who serve God, and those who serve Him not, may be distinct.
The tendency to buckle under pressure from your boss, if and when he instructs you to break God’s law, is a recipe for disaster, and all who take that route will have to repent, or perish, as the word of God plainly states. Let’s read:
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Acts 5: 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men.
It was the worship of the creature, rather than The Creator, that got us into the mess we are in today, for Adam worshipped Eve, when she bid him to eat of the forbidden fruit, and he obeyed, contrary to what God said. In so doing, Adam placed his loyalty with her, instead of God, and the rest is history.
Persons in our day should study the history of the fall of Adam especially, for his sin was decidedly greater than that of Eve, because the Bible says Eve was deceived, but Adam knew exactly what he was doing, and therefore, his decision to partake of the fruit was a conscious and deliberate choice to obey Eve instead of God. Let’s read:
1st Timothy 2: 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
This is something men and women in our day must never ever do, for wherever this is the case calamity and adverse consequences will follow like clockwork in the overwhelming majority of cases.
Therefore, as we study the sacred history of man’s fall, folks should determine never to take that route again, for the habit, and tendency to be loyal to man is the sin that will permanently close the probation of this earth, never ever to be reversed. Let’s read:
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
There are several different routes Adam could have taken so as to avoid plunging the human family into the abyss. [1] He could, and should have sought the Lord’s guidance in the matter. [2] He should have refused to eat of the fruit. [3] Lastly, he could have thought of the other 23 ribs he still had.
But the decision to be loyal to Eve instead of to God caused the downfall of the human race and here we are today still suffering the adverse side effects even though Jesus has died and opened up the possibility of life eternal, to those who so choose.
What Jesus has done for us is a big deal, and should never be trifled with, but the facts on the ground do remain, no doubt. We suffer heartache and care, we succumb to various diseases, and folks have to work like hell to put food on the table.
Therefore, it is important that we study very closely, and observe Adam’s vein of thought, which brought him to that fatal decision, so that we in our lifetime of experiences could avoid repeating the very same mistakes, with those whom we love. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs and Prophets pp 55>57]
In a state of strange, unnatural excitement, with her hands filled with the forbidden fruit, she sought his presence, and related all that had occurred.
An expression of sadness came over the face of Adam. He appeared astonished and alarmed. To the words of Eve he replied that this must be the foe against whom they had been warned; and by the divine sentence she must die.
Adam understood that his companion had transgressed the command of God, disregarded the only prohibition laid upon them as a test of their fidelity and love. There was a terrible struggle in his mind. But now the deed was done; he must be separated from her whose society had been his joy.
He understood the high destiny opened to the human race should they remain faithful to God. Yet all these blessings were lost sight of in the fear of losing that one gift which in his eyes outvalued every other.
Love, gratitude, loyalty to the Creator—all were overborne by love to Eve. She was a part of himself, and he could not endure the thought of separation.
He did not realize that the same Infinite Power who had from the dust of the earth created him, a living, beautiful form, and had in love given him a companion, could supply her place.
Then, believe it or not, Adam did the unthinkable by making a well-informed decision to share the fate of his wife, something that both husbands, and wives must never ever do. The following thought process should never be allowed to leave the gates of one’s conscious mind. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 57] He resolved to share her fate; if she must die, he would die with her.
That vein of thought, in reaching his decision might sound cute, and lovey dovey, but it is a thought and decision that must be avoided at all costs.
Thus, the word of The Lord comes to us with distinct clarity on this matter: Wives, if your husband insists on being lost, pray like you never prayed before for him, that he might have a change of heart.
But if he has made up his mind firmly, that he wants nothing to do with Jesus and heaven, then you will have to respect his freedom of choice, and let him die if he so chooses. But never ever should the wife decide to share the fate of her husband, for doing so will place her loyalty with man, and not in God.
The same is true of husbands. If your wife has made a firm, deliberate decision to reject God’s salvation, then you must pray for her like never before, doing all you can to encourage her to do the right thing.
But if she insists, then let her die, but never, ever should you make the fatal decision to share her fate with her, for by so doing, your loyalty would be with her, and not with God, and both of you will never be saved in God’s kingdom if that’s the case. Let’s read:
Matthew 10: 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother-in-law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 162] We should beware of treating lightly God's gracious provisions for our salvation. There are Christians who say, “I do not care to be saved unless my companion and children are saved with me.”
They feel that heaven would not be heaven to them without the presence of those who are so dear. The redemption of the soul is precious.
Christ has paid an infinite price for our salvation, and no one who appreciates the value of this great sacrifice or the worth of the soul will despise God's offered mercy because others choose to do so.
In fact, we are not saved in groups or by families, for anyone, and everyone who would walk through the pearly gates must do so in single file.
And therefore, if sons or daughters or husbands and wives, or aunts, and uncles, or in-laws, and outlaws refuse to choose life, then so be it, but never ever should you decide to share their fate with them.
Furthermore, wherever you have loyalty to man as a working principle, instead of loyalty to God, you will have major problems coming down the pipe, sooner or later. And God would have us understand that it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
Several cases in point, written in the Scriptures, tell us that serious problems always attend that working principle, where one’s loyalty is given to a man, and not to God. Families, churches, and nations have all been destroyed, or collapsed when loyalty to mortal man bears sway.
That’s what took place with Joab, who for all intents and purposes had sworn allegiance to King David, so that whenever the king would give him a command, contrary to God’s revealed will, he would acquiesce, and curry favor with David.
At times Joab would get really vexed with David, for requiring something that he knew would end in a national tragedy, but because Joab’s loyalty was to David, and not to God, he gave David his worship, for worship at its very core is not merely praise and thanksgiving, it essentially, and always boils down to who you obey. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 15: 22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
2nd Samuel 11:14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
That last statement: “There fell some of the people of the servants of David” tells us that wherever man worship is practiced, where one’s loyalty rests with man, instead of God, there would also be collateral damage taking place, even with persons who might have had absolutely nothing to do with the man worship in question.
Thus, persons who had nothing whatsoever to do with Bathsheba, ended up taking a fatal hit in the process, for as was stated before, if loyalty to man becomes the working principle you will have trouble coming down the pipe. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
Hence the reason why the warning is given, that if any loyalty to man takes place in the near future the people of God may not be entirely immune from the collateral damage and fall out that may take place. It isn’t the best of news, but it is the truth.
The law of God clearly states: “Thou shall not kill” and therefore, when Joab obeyed David instead of God, David became to him, one greater than God, and thus, his obedience to David, contrary to what God says, is classified as worship.
Here it is again, the same modus operandi in action as Joab is called upon by David to do that which he knows is wrong. Like Adam, he is consciously aware that it is a sin.
However, because he has sworn allegiance to king David, he lets it slide, and like clockwork, trouble is coming down the pipe, for loyalty to man, instead of to God inevitably breeds trouble. Let’s read:
1st Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
3 And Joab answered, The Lord make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?
4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
The same thing occurred in the days of Rameses 2, as he brought his country to ruins, because those who were under his jurisdiction adopted the maxim Pharaoh first” and everyone else after.
They would be loyal to him, even though a national funeral is scheduled to take place, after the angel of death passes through. Again, just as it was with Joab and Adam, major national, collateral damage would ensue and young babies would perish in the process but the principle of loyalty to man still holds sway.
And what about the firstborn of beasts, which had nothing to do with pharaoh’s stubbornness? They too will be taking a hit, for there is something which persons might not be aware of as yet.
When folks live under the banner of the “Loyalty to man” principle, in some instances you could sustain heavy losses, or collateral damage, as the case may be.
As far as we know, Covid was the result of handling, and eating forbidden foods, but so many individuals who have never eaten forbidden foods also suffered collateral damage, including those, who, like many others, have been faithfully eating their vegetables, with singleness of heart.
Very many persons who have never even touched a cigarette have died from second hand smoke. That’s because when loyalty is removed from God, strange things can happen, and persons who have not been in conscious violations, could sometimes incur loss.
In stark contrast was Daniel and the three Hebrew boys, as they came face to face with decisions that would test their loyalty to God. Nebuchadnezzar, in the capacity of king, orders their food, which in his ignorance, he thinks is the very best, for it is what he himself partakes of.
But the chef’s menu contains forbidden foods and alcoholic beverages, items which God forbids His people to ingest. Thus, it comes time for decisions, to see where their loyalty will be placed. Let’s read:
Daniel 1: 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as you see, deal with thy servants.
But satan is a relentless and determined foe, and he will not let the servants of God off the hook, until he has tested them on the matter of worship, the very same issue that is scheduled to bring the probation of earth to a permanent, and final close.
The devil insists through Nebuchadnezzar that the Hebrew worthies must subscribe to a false system of worship, or else face the heat of the furnace. As far as the devil is concerned, if persuasion will not work, then he will threaten them with death, and in this dire circumstance, their loyalty to God will again be tested.
It’s worthy of note that the same format used by the devil in testing the loyalty of Daniel and his friends is the same format used he when he tempted Christ in the wilderness. He begins with the issue of food, the issue so many persons struggle with.
And when that doesn’t pan out at all in his favor, he finally moves to the issue worship. In other words, if food does not work with Christ and Daniel, the very last test of loyalty would be bowing down to a false system of worship. Let’s read:
Daniel 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
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.
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.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Many of the remnant people of God have already been tested on food, some have not buckled, some are still struggling, and some have bowed down. So, the next test that is coming our way will be the one on worship, which will forever determine where our loyalty lies.
The mark of the beast has to do with one’s loyalty to man, or conversely, one’s loyalty to God, for it is the number of a man, meaning that the entire beast system is a manmade system of worship, and living that is diametrically opposed to God’s revealed will.
It sets in stone, a counterfeit form of worship which is opposed to the true worship of God, by making a law that will officially legislate Sunday as a National day of rest, thus putting at odds, those who choose to differ, by honoring God in the keeping of the 7th day Sabbath.
When governments attempt to mandate that false system of worship, they would, by so doing, set up the citizens to choose between loyalty to God and loyalty to man. And no one should be deceived into thinking that this scenario is in the distant future.
Instead, we could possibly be dangerously close to seeing this come to pass in our lifetime for there are very troubling signs on the horizon, with the rise of loyalty to man taking center stage, and so becoming the endemic working principle by which nations will operate.
Remember, as was stated earlier, whenever loyalty to mortal man is entrenched in a nation, it will just be a matter of time before the naturally occurring adverse consequences begin to accrue, and as it is stated clearly in the book of Revelation, this will be the pivotal point for the close of earth’s probation. Let’s read:
Revelation 13: 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.
12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
This is the specific decision on loyalty that Joel the prophet is referring to when he declares by The Spirit of God that multitudes have converged in the valley of decision.
To put it bluntly, the Decision to be made is whether one will be loyal to God, His laws and His worship or whether to be loyal to man so that persons can have access to their economic privileges. 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.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Joel 3: 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
The “Sickle” is a reference to the harvests of earth that are just about to be reaped, and the “Decision” is a reference to loyalty to God or man, which every person living at that time must decide upon. Thus, when the sickle is finished doing its work, probation for planet earth will have been permanently closed.
The original God-ordained Sabbath will then be the focal point of this decision-making, for it is the point specially controverted by satan, and the man of sin, working in tandem. Thus, any decision on loyalty to God, must of necessity include a decision to worship God on His 7th day of rest.
The claim to believe in Jesus will then be put to the test, for if one truly believes, he/she will take their resolute stand for God, by casting in their lot with His commandment-keeping people, and they will by so doing, acknowledge Christ as both Creator and Redeemer. Let’s read:
Revelation 14: 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
[The Great Controversy pp 605] The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not.
While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator.
While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God.
God is now calling His people, who currently sit in Sunday churches, with a special sense of urgency, to make your move whilst you can. Yes, you believe in Christ as Lord and Savior, and yes, you believe that He died for you, but a further step is needed, to put the icing on the cake as it were.
Persons who are pricked in their conscience by The Holy Spirit on this issue, must not only accept the 7th day Sabbath as their sign of loyalty to God, they must now leave their Sunday churches to unite with the remnant people of God, in order to worship God in spirit and in truth.
This will be a tough decision to make for many folks who have for years enjoyed the fellowship of their Sunday keeping brethren but it is what God requires at such a time as this, since He is wrapping up the sealing work, which is to differentiate between folks who serve God, and nominal Christians.
Therefore, in closing, we encourage all our Sunday-keeping brethren to worship God on His 7th day of rest, for thus it was ordained in Eden, and thus it will be for eternity.
We therefore end with 3 passages of Scripture that will bring these sacred truths to the forefront of the mind, and it is our hope and prayer that everyone will do right, by obeying with a willing heart, all of His commandments. Let’s read:
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Revelation 7: 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Isaiah 66: 22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.
God Bless!