My dream for Sunday-keepers
“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” (Hos. 6:1-3).
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 3:10-12).
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2:28,29).
“And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” (Ez. 34:25,26).
Yesterday I visited my friend’s Baptist church. I was there just for the bible class because after that I had to meet with friends at some driving distance to have lunch together.
But before getting to my usual class room, I saw another friend from that church. She invited me in to her classroom and we conversed together with her friend. She accidentally called my by a wrong name, which I corrected, and she felt ashamed and apologetic and blamed into her lack of sleep.
She explained that lately she had been tossing and turning in bed and not getting sound sleep. So I gave her some scriptures that could help—promises, precious promises that might bring her peace of mind—Jeremiah 31:26, Isaiah 26:3, 2 Peter 1:4, and Matthew 4:4.
I recommended she read the contexts of these precious promises because the contest is what applies to our loves today. I reminded her that Jesus lived by every word that proceeded from his father’s mouth and he had such sound, peaceful sleep that thunder and lightning couldn’t disturb his slumber. She got really excited about all this.
The word of God is so powerful in the hands of the Holy Spirit. He and the angels crowd around all who are seeking God’s help through his chosen agency—the law of his mouth, the firm, holy wisdom of our wonderful counselor. He inhabits his words and he inhabits the praises of all who partake of his word and praise hi for it. As David said it, “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” (Ps. 119:7).
Next was my class of all men. Our topic of study was on trusting God. But the questions the class facilitator laid out for discussion were vague and not pointed. In other words, the discussion wasn’t designed to get to the root of the cause of unbelief and doubts that plague us, and the solution for it. So I tried to inject practical things that I’ve experienced that equip us with the tools to get faith. I compared the fight for faith to things people do that build trust and friendship between themselves—time invested talking in conversation and doing things together. With God we need to lift up our voice in prayer and song, listen for His voice from His holy word, work together with Him inletting others learn of Him and the law of His mouth.
These are practical helps that neglected, end in lack of faith and constant defeat in the Christian life, and unending harassment by the devil. We have no protection by the enemy without the precious, powerful promises and precepts give to us by God. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.
God speaks to us in His word. Here we have in clearer lines the revelation of His character, of His dealings with men, and the great work of redemption. Here is open before us the history of patriarchs and prophets and other holy men of old. They were men “subject to like passions as we are.” James 5:17. We see how they struggled through discouragements like our own, how they fell under temptation as we have done, and yet took heart again and conquered through the grace of God; and, beholding, we are encouraged in our striving after righteousness. As we read of the precious experiences granted them, of the light and love and blessing it was theirs to enjoy, and of the work they wrought through the grace given them, the spirit that inspired them kindles a flame of holy emulation in our hearts and a desire to be like them in character—like them to walk with God.
Jesus said of the Old Testament Scriptures, —and how much more is it true of the New, —”They are they which testify of Me,” the Redeemer, Him in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered. John 5:39. Yes, the whole Bible tells of Christ. From the first record of creation—for “without Him was not anything made that was made”—to the closing promise, “Behold, I come quickly,” we are reading of His works and listening to His voice. John 1:3; Revelation 22:12. If you would become acquainted with the Saviour, study the Holy Scriptures.
Fill the whole heart with the words of God. They are the living water, quenching your burning thirst. They are the living bread from heaven. Jesus declares, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.” And He explains Himself by saying, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:53, 63. Our bodies are built up from what we eat and drink; and as in the natural economy, so in the spiritual economy: it is what we meditate upon that will give tone and strength to our spiritual nature
The theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? The infinite mercy and love of Jesus, the sacrifice made in our behalf, call for the most serious and solemn reflection. We should dwell upon the character of our dear Redeemer and Intercessor. We should meditate upon the mission of Him who came to save His people from their sins. As we thus contemplate heavenly themes, our faith and love will grow stronger, and our prayers will be more and more acceptable to God, because they will be more and more mixed with faith and love. They will be intelligent and fervent. There will be more constant confidence in Jesus, and a daily, living experience in His power to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. Steps to Christ, p. 87,88.
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20. The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness. Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances reveal his deceptions. At every revival of God’s work the prince of evil is aroused to more intense activity; he is now putting forth his utmost efforts for a final struggle against Christ and His followers. The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.
Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus? Great Controversy, p. 593.
“God speaks to us in His word.” “None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.”
Finally we closed on the note that we need to keep our relationship with God strong and avoid unbelief. Again, vague and not very helpful—the requirement without the guidance to attain its high demands. So, I interjected after the facilitator ended and offered a powerful force that counteracts the relationship we want with Jesus—“idolatry. Idolatry is in constant competition with our efforts to know God and to trust him.”
There was a moment of silence as that idea sunk in. They knew what idolatry in the new dispensation meant. They knew in our day idols and gods were our life of luxury and affluence—that even food could be an idol. The problem was that during class they had been eating a dish brought by one of the men. It had eggs and meat and much cheese. It was so tempting they could hardly restrain themselves from it. One classmate offered it to me, but the facilitator, knowing I was a vegan said, “No he can’t have that, its got meat in it.” To which I added, “…and lots of cheese.”
The facilitator complimented my thin body and apparent health, to which I remarked, “I want to have a bod for God.” They laughed because that was a catch phrase in their church which their pastor invented for his efforts to promote health and exercise and weight loss top his flock and many other congregations around the country. They saw that I was standing behind their pastor’s program and loyal to his ideals in that.
My hope and dream and prayers have been for an acceptance of the three angels’ message in that Baptist church. It is to see a great revival of faith and spirituality and to have victory over the power of sin and Satan running rampant through that congregation of somewhat well-off, career-bent people, and to see the joy in every victorious face. I would love to see that church become known by the whole of northern Virginia and then by the whole metropolitan D.C. area as the place where God actually comes down and meets with sinners and is actively turning them into saints. And there shall be showers of blessings.
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.
And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.” (Jer. 31:23-26).
After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” (Hos. 6:1-3).
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 3:10-12).
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2:28,29).
“And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” (Ez. 34:25,26).
Yesterday I visited my friend’s Baptist church. I was there just for the bible class because after that I had to meet with friends at some driving distance to have lunch together.
But before getting to my usual class room, I saw another friend from that church. She invited me in to her classroom and we conversed together with her friend. She accidentally called my by a wrong name, which I corrected, and she felt ashamed and apologetic and blamed into her lack of sleep.
She explained that lately she had been tossing and turning in bed and not getting sound sleep. So I gave her some scriptures that could help—promises, precious promises that might bring her peace of mind—Jeremiah 31:26, Isaiah 26:3, 2 Peter 1:4, and Matthew 4:4.
I recommended she read the contexts of these precious promises because the contest is what applies to our loves today. I reminded her that Jesus lived by every word that proceeded from his father’s mouth and he had such sound, peaceful sleep that thunder and lightning couldn’t disturb his slumber. She got really excited about all this.
The word of God is so powerful in the hands of the Holy Spirit. He and the angels crowd around all who are seeking God’s help through his chosen agency—the law of his mouth, the firm, holy wisdom of our wonderful counselor. He inhabits his words and he inhabits the praises of all who partake of his word and praise hi for it. As David said it, “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” (Ps. 119:7).
Next was my class of all men. Our topic of study was on trusting God. But the questions the class facilitator laid out for discussion were vague and not pointed. In other words, the discussion wasn’t designed to get to the root of the cause of unbelief and doubts that plague us, and the solution for it. So I tried to inject practical things that I’ve experienced that equip us with the tools to get faith. I compared the fight for faith to things people do that build trust and friendship between themselves—time invested talking in conversation and doing things together. With God we need to lift up our voice in prayer and song, listen for His voice from His holy word, work together with Him inletting others learn of Him and the law of His mouth.
These are practical helps that neglected, end in lack of faith and constant defeat in the Christian life, and unending harassment by the devil. We have no protection by the enemy without the precious, powerful promises and precepts give to us by God. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.
God speaks to us in His word. Here we have in clearer lines the revelation of His character, of His dealings with men, and the great work of redemption. Here is open before us the history of patriarchs and prophets and other holy men of old. They were men “subject to like passions as we are.” James 5:17. We see how they struggled through discouragements like our own, how they fell under temptation as we have done, and yet took heart again and conquered through the grace of God; and, beholding, we are encouraged in our striving after righteousness. As we read of the precious experiences granted them, of the light and love and blessing it was theirs to enjoy, and of the work they wrought through the grace given them, the spirit that inspired them kindles a flame of holy emulation in our hearts and a desire to be like them in character—like them to walk with God.
Jesus said of the Old Testament Scriptures, —and how much more is it true of the New, —”They are they which testify of Me,” the Redeemer, Him in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered. John 5:39. Yes, the whole Bible tells of Christ. From the first record of creation—for “without Him was not anything made that was made”—to the closing promise, “Behold, I come quickly,” we are reading of His works and listening to His voice. John 1:3; Revelation 22:12. If you would become acquainted with the Saviour, study the Holy Scriptures.
Fill the whole heart with the words of God. They are the living water, quenching your burning thirst. They are the living bread from heaven. Jesus declares, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.” And He explains Himself by saying, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:53, 63. Our bodies are built up from what we eat and drink; and as in the natural economy, so in the spiritual economy: it is what we meditate upon that will give tone and strength to our spiritual nature
The theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? The infinite mercy and love of Jesus, the sacrifice made in our behalf, call for the most serious and solemn reflection. We should dwell upon the character of our dear Redeemer and Intercessor. We should meditate upon the mission of Him who came to save His people from their sins. As we thus contemplate heavenly themes, our faith and love will grow stronger, and our prayers will be more and more acceptable to God, because they will be more and more mixed with faith and love. They will be intelligent and fervent. There will be more constant confidence in Jesus, and a daily, living experience in His power to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. Steps to Christ, p. 87,88.
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20. The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness. Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances reveal his deceptions. At every revival of God’s work the prince of evil is aroused to more intense activity; he is now putting forth his utmost efforts for a final struggle against Christ and His followers. The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.
Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus? Great Controversy, p. 593.
“God speaks to us in His word.” “None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.”
Finally we closed on the note that we need to keep our relationship with God strong and avoid unbelief. Again, vague and not very helpful—the requirement without the guidance to attain its high demands. So, I interjected after the facilitator ended and offered a powerful force that counteracts the relationship we want with Jesus—“idolatry. Idolatry is in constant competition with our efforts to know God and to trust him.”
There was a moment of silence as that idea sunk in. They knew what idolatry in the new dispensation meant. They knew in our day idols and gods were our life of luxury and affluence—that even food could be an idol. The problem was that during class they had been eating a dish brought by one of the men. It had eggs and meat and much cheese. It was so tempting they could hardly restrain themselves from it. One classmate offered it to me, but the facilitator, knowing I was a vegan said, “No he can’t have that, its got meat in it.” To which I added, “…and lots of cheese.”
The facilitator complimented my thin body and apparent health, to which I remarked, “I want to have a bod for God.” They laughed because that was a catch phrase in their church which their pastor invented for his efforts to promote health and exercise and weight loss top his flock and many other congregations around the country. They saw that I was standing behind their pastor’s program and loyal to his ideals in that.
My hope and dream and prayers have been for an acceptance of the three angels’ message in that Baptist church. It is to see a great revival of faith and spirituality and to have victory over the power of sin and Satan running rampant through that congregation of somewhat well-off, career-bent people, and to see the joy in every victorious face. I would love to see that church become known by the whole of northern Virginia and then by the whole metropolitan D.C. area as the place where God actually comes down and meets with sinners and is actively turning them into saints. And there shall be showers of blessings.
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.
And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.” (Jer. 31:23-26).
posted by David | 7:12 PM
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