#20 in Series: "THE SABBATH DAY"

THANKS TO SIGNS OF THE TIMES "WE BELIEVE" ,MAGAZINE SPECIAL OF 3:2016.

THE SABBATH.

 The Sabbath, the Seventh day of the week, is the Biblical day of rest! It IS The Memorial to God's Creative Activity. For our loving Maker created the Heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the Seventh Day!------

      .Genesis 2:1-3  "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."

    The Sabbath is also a sign of our Redemption in Jesus Christ------

      Hebrews 4:8-10 " For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

     Exodus 20:8-11  "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it."

   This Divine Law is indisputable in its requirements. It was fully instituted before the entrance of sin, and it will continue in the earth made new------

    Isaiah 66:23  "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."

A HAPPY DAY.

    When we follow Christ and do our best to obey His will with all our heart, the command to keep the Sabbath will not be a burden {jb I personally look forwards to each Sabbath} Jesus, the Lord, of The Sabbath-----

    Mark 2:27-28  "And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath"

Note: Does this passage not destroy the man-made myth that The Sabbath of for the Jews only?

    The LORD will dwell within us,  ONLY IF WE ALLOW IT, through the Holy Spirit, and thereby write His Holy Law upon our fleshly hearts and minds------

      Ezekiel 36:25-27 " Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

NOTE: Satan just loves to tell us all this: "You want The Father to forgive all your sins, they are too many and far to large"!   Well I've got news, great news for you, your sins ca NOT be as large as God, as He created the entire Universe, and no sin is that large! BUT ONE-----
Turning your back upon the Holy Spirit, time after time, year after year, until your heart is seared, and hard as stone!-----
     Ephesians 4:30-32  "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
     Matthew 12:31-32  "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

  Therefore The Sabbath, far from being a day of restrictions, and sadness,, The Sabbath will be to us a "Delight", and the LORD's Holy Day, as well as a symbol of our freedom in Christ Jesus, rather than being as a prisoner of Satan, with his Sun-god worship on Sundays!-----

    Isaiah 58:13-14 " If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."

Note: Heritage of Jacob?  He "Inherited," the Abrahamic promise, thus becoming also a "child" of the Promise, and YOU will, become a child of the promise, becoming a Spiritual Israelite, the seed of Abraham, in Christ!  Are YOU beginning to see that Christ is the Primary Focal Point? Thus NOT MARY!

    Are YOU beginning to see, that The Sabbath, a Holy Day, blessings of the Lord God, rests upon it? Therefore separating it from the other six COMMON days? It is a day where we can get off this Merry-Go- Round we call life, forget about all things and focus upon The One who can give us salvation? Thus open up self to the manifold blessings that God has before us. We keep the Sabbath bt our coming together for worship, and fellowship and building each other up.-----

   Hebrews 10:24-25  "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

   We then cam minister to each other according to the example Jesus gave us---- [John 5:1-17]  and through missionary work fulfilling Christ's Commission------
     Matthew 28:18-20  "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  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."

A DAY FOR EVERYONE.

      While the Sabbath as a day of rest was repeated to Israel in the Ten Commandments given at Sinai, it is cl;ear that God intends for all of humanity to observe this 7th Day Sabbath, in order for all people to enjoy the REST. [ Shabbath- means intermission- rest in Hebrew]. -----

       Isaiah 56:6  "Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;"

Note: Note the promise given in the very next verse Isa. 56:7.

   It would be wise for us all to take note of God's final warning to earth and its people in----

    

    Revelation 14:6-12  "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, 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. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

Note: To all my catholic brethren---- do you see any mention of the Virgin  Mary in the above passage?  SELAH,[pause and think! ]

     BECAUSE in the time of the end, that Sabbath will STAND OUT [and all those who observe it]  because it IS our TEST OF LOYALTY TO GOD, over the commandments of men, and their Sunday worships! As most of Christendom now is in apostasy----

     Revelation 13:8-9  "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear."

     Revelation 14:15  "And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe."

     Leviticus 23:32 " It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath."

Note: Even to even means from evening to evening, or from Sunset to sunset! Without clocks, or watches, even a Blind man outside knows when the sun sets, by the lack of warmth on the face!  It was Pope Gregory XIII that set the days from mid-night to mid-night that all now observe! But the Sabbath begins at Friday's sunset to Saturday's sunset!. 

   Now how big an ego must man have, think they can change God's Laws? Think you that is wise?

     

   Mark 1:32  "And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils"

    At the Creation, God set aside the Sabbath, and Blessed and made it Holy, by Sanctifying it.

    

    Genesis 2:1-3  "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."

    .Isaiah 45:18  "For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else."

     1 Peter 2:8-10  "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."

   Therefore each week we observe and keep the Holy Sabbath ------

    

    Exodus 31:13-14 " Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify [ make you Holy, over time] you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people."

NOTE: Remember all in Jesus Christ are children of the Promise, thus each is a Spiritual Israelite! 

Further Study: Genesis 1:1-24. Deuteronomy 5:12=15. Ezekiel 20:20. Luke 4:15 {LK.1 tells all the birth time frame of Jesus from the course of Abia being our June 13-19th. if we but do the math with info given and it saint Christmas!]

Thanking Y O U for yoir time

Comments?  Questions?   John at  www.servant@frontier.com

Need more? Visit your Seventh day Adventist church, any Saturday Sabbath at 9-10 AM. just just may find that Jesus can fill that empty spot in your heart!

Other sites:  wwwAFTV.org  www,BLBN.org   www.Amazingdiscoveries.org

 John B

NEXT: #21  STEWARDSHIP.

#19 in Series: THE LAW OF GOD.

Thanks again, to Signs of the Times Special Magazine 3/2016. John B.

   WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF LAWS,

    for without laws, there can NOT be freedom, yet laws of men, without Justice and Righteousness, is only TYRANNY! We can see that is the history of earth's dictatorships! There has not ever been a Christian dictatorship, in the truest Christ centered meaning, ever!

Note: Yes history is filled with those who used the Christian faith, and perverted it to their own gain in power and wealth, but that's more due to Satan's influence than to Jesus Christ!

     The Creator put in place not only the laws that govern the movements of all the heavenly bodies,, and He also established laws that regulate the life and health of  all human beings He created on this planet. The purpose of these, His Laws, is to enhance life that Jesus promised to those who follow Him in loving obedience---

      John 10:10  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

  Life thus lived becomes the abundant life, is a direct result of life lived with our cooperation to His laws of life and health. These laws state the ideal, and they carry with them the promise that, by God's Grace we can grow up to that ideal!

   Jesus came into this world not only to show us all, how to live, in harmony with His Father's laws but to provide the transforming powers of grace that enables us all to submit totally to those laws, because of love being a "Two-Way Street" as it were.. In addition to being the requirements for entry into heaven, for the dedicated Christian these laws are the standard for progress in our relationship with god and a challenge to continue our growth in Grace.

LAWS ARE IMPORTANT.

    It's very obvious that traffic laws, laws regulating commerce, civil and even international laws are very essential for the preservation of society, as are the laws governing the moral and social relationships between people!

    All this is what God's Laws do!

    The great moral principles of god's Laws are found in the T4en commandments, and they were lived out in the life of Jesus. From the moment sin entered the world, Satan tried to convince human beings that it's impossible to live in harmony with this law. But Jesus' life showed us all the error of this idea and that Satan was and is, wrong! Jesus showed us all by His example that we in flesh bodies, and with His help , can live within the law of God!

   Matthew 5:17 " Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill"

     To FULFILL means to live in harmony with the Ten Commandments. Jesus came from Heaven to give us a new understanding of the purpose, the power and the promise of God's laws!..

     Note: (jb) The Ten Laws, are God's Glory, His reflection of His character,  The first 4 are our relationships to Him, and the lat sis is our ideal relationships with each other.

    The TEN PILLARS, express God's love, His desire, and His plan for Human conduct. They are a reliant to people today as when He first gave them to Adam and Eve!. Yes, while most of them are stated as negatives { Thou shalt not...} they are not so much restrictions as they are verbal expressions indicating the kind of character God's people will have when they are choose to live the way He wants them to. After quoting each of the commandments just as they are found in  the Bible, we will restate it principle in a positive form.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

1. "You shalt have no other gods, before me.  Exodus 20:3.

      LOYALTY, God should have FIRST PLACE in our life. IF we are Christ's that our thoughts shall be His thoughts, we shall seek Spiritual rather that worldly, or physical things.We will do our utmost to reflect His will and character, exhibit His attitudes, do His will and seek to please Him in all we do, because of our love for Him! 

2. Exodus 20:4-6  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 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; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

WORSHIP:  we should worship the unseen God, and not bow down to a stone, wood or a metal something god, that neither breathes , nor moves! This includes any visible interpretation anyone may have of Him, or any object in nature as trees, sun, moon or stars.This includes the veneration of any human beings , living or dead, no matter how saintly they are or have lived!  This is not in any Catechism book! Thus # 10 split into two parts to keep the 10!

 3. Exodus 20:7  "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

REVERENCE:  We are not to misuse His name.Prohibits not only the profane but also blaspheme and the profanation of the sacred, but also any false profession. We will give up the vain customs and fashions of the world. Our conversations, our affections and our sympathies will be in harmony with heaven. Our hearts will be sensitive, to and under the control of the Spirit of Christ.

4. Exodus 20:8-11  "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it."

     SANCTIFICATION: We acknowledge and believe that Jesus is The Creator-God, who is both God and Man. We therefore dedicate one seventh of our time to Him on His Holy Day, in song, in Praise and study and in worship.For He is.....
..
      Mark 2:27-28  "And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath."

NOTE: To all who have been taught that the Sabbath is ONLY for the Jews, do YOU spell Jew as MAN? Please think!  When we each accept this as our surrender unto the will of Jesus, then the Sabbath takes on a whole new meaning, from mundane to sublime and our delight! To"know" our Maker and Redeemer!

     Please remember, this is the VERY WORD that the Fourth Commandment begins with, no other does so! It forces us to remember His Creative powers, so as not to fall into Satan's trap of evolution which in itself offers no hope! Which is Satan's exact purpose, and all those who obey him!

5. Exodus 20:12  "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."

RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY.  In our today's law-less world, do we not see a world-wide lack of respect for any level of authority? Little children hurl epitaphs and the "F" bomb, at their parents teachers and school mates, and few even raise an eye brow! Plus this the 5th Commandment is the ONLY one that comes with a promise, that IF one honors Mom and Dad, so that you may live long in the land! Remember our respect for all authority, that is not abusive, only gains us peace and cooperation\!

6. Exodus 20:13  "Thou shalt not kill."

LOVE, most of us are not tempted to murder another human being, but Christ spoke of the Spirit of the Law in-----

      Matthew 5:21-22  "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, [fool] shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

7. Exodus 20:14  "Thou shalt not commit adultery.."

    PURITY: This commandment calls for our dedication of our sexual power to God. Passion, appetite and every other desire we may have, will be in perfect submission to His will. This makes our old lifestyles seem repugnant and sinful In this manner humans will be able to protect the sexual integrity of all humans especially our children. Again Jesus pointed out the Spirit of this law by-------

      Matthew 5:27-28  "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

NOTE:  Why? IF we all look and accept God as our Creator, thus FATHER, we are all His children, then that makes us all brothers and sisters, thus no man should look upon any woman as a sexual object, to lust in his heart/mind after her! Ditto for all you Ladies!
      Fornication, is sexual relations between unmarried couples, and with the same sex. Adultery is sex between married people, who are not married to each other! { IE. Bob with Bill's wife}

8. Exodus 20:15 " Thou shalt not steal"

Honesty:  no this in not "Borrowing" without permission, or Well they are not paying what I am worth ideas. This demands that we HAVE RESPECT for one another and that their property is theirs!.  Plus IF we damage an other's goods, we must make adequate restitution. This is not only for individuals, but also for businesses and governments! But also for out tithes to God------
   
    Malachi 3:8-10  "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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."
Note: Robbin g God is not ever a wise thing, is it?

9. Exodus 20:16  "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

    TRUTHFULNESS: God requires us to not only protect our own reputation but also that of others! We MUST always speak the truth, even if it costs us personally! Yet even our silence, can be a lie, a lie of OMISSION!  IE. If we know Joe did not do this, and we say nothing we share in the guilt of the wrong!

10. Exodus 20:17  "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's."

CONTENTMENT: this covers our Motives! Keeping this law means we will not be jealous of what others may have.We shall be satisfied what god has given us, and not to feel dissatisfied when our neighbor appears to have more than we do.

IS ONE LAW GREATER THAN ANOTHER?

    James 2:10  "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
Note: So what's YOUR answer?

    Matthew 22:36-40  "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

THE LAW AND THE SPIRIT.

     Through the influence of the Holy Spirit, the ten Commandments point out and I.D sin [ 1 John 3:4]  and awaken in us the need of a savior. When we come to Christ, The Holy Spirit continues to work within us to transform us, in our character to be more and more like Jesus. Salvation is by Grace, and not by works alone, but by the fruit of the Holy Spirit's work within us and in our lives. thus the obedience to God's Laws will by not so much by our will, but by our willingness to surrender our will to God, and thereby, His laws!

Note (JB) A Question:  Can you only imagine what life on earth would be like IF, ALL fully obeyed these Ten Laws?

     Revelation 12:17  "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
     Revelation 14:12  "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus"
   
Note: All who have surrendered their will to The Father through Christ, shall have His protection which Satan challenged God to remove from Job, and he Satan will have Job cursing God but too was a total failure on Satan's part-----

   Job 1:9-10  "Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land."

    Job 1:11 " But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face."
Note: Please read the rest of this chapter, and see how Job handled this.

Further study: Exodus 20:1-17. Deuteronomy 8:1-14. Psalm 19:7-13; 119. John 14:15. Romans 8:1-4. Ephesians 2:8. 1 John 5:3.

Thank you for your time,
Questions?  Comments?  John at www.servant@frontier.com

Want/Need more? Visit your seventh-day Adventist church any Saturday/Sabbath at 9-10 AM. You just may be pleasantly  surprised.

Otyher sites: www.AFTV.org  www.BLBN.org www.amazingdiscoveries.org   .

     

#18 In Series: "The GIFT OF PROPHECY."

Taken from Signs of the Times March 2016 special Magazine "WE BELIEVE." with my many Tanks. John B.

IN THE BEGINNING,

     Before sin entered the world via Satan, God spoke face to face with Adam and Eve>>

     Genesis 1:26-31 " 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 creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 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 moveth upon the earth.  And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. [ MEAT = FOOD] And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day".

    With this method He gave them wisdom and knowledge, as well as communicating His will unto them. 

Note: As sin nor sinners, can stand before God in His righteousness, without instantly being destroyed, we know that both Adam and Eve were still pure and without sin.

    Although, however, God did continue to speak to mankind, be it at a far greater distance, and among the verbal He also spoke to them through His revelation of nature, and over time human history, providence and the Leading of His the Holy Spirit.

    Still, a more direct and specific method of communication was needed, especially to increase humanity's understanding of God's Character, and the Plan of salvation Thus God chose certain consecrated people in whose minds the Holy Spirit could work in a special way, so they could receive His truth and pass it on to others.

    In both the Old and the New Testaments times, the gift of Prophecy was given to those so chosen men and women. Among the women, this included Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Anna, and the four (4) daughters of Phillip. [ Exodus 15:20; Judges 4:4; 2 Kings 22:14; Luke 2:36; Acts 21: 8-9] 

WHERE THE BIBLE CAME FROM:

   The Bible says that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit"......

    2 Peter 1:21  "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

   Sometimes these" holy men", or prophets, gave their messages from god orally. At other times wrote out their messages which gave it a greater effect and distribution

    2 Timothy 3:16  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

Note: These verses should allow any thinking person, know that God will not take kindly, to those who change His word, or meanings, agree?  LOOK-------

    Revelation 22:18-19  "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

Note Personally,  I'd very strongly advise ALL the new Translation Bibles, especially the NIV the New International Version [ many call it the NOT INSPIRED VERSION for good cause , the deleted Jesus and His role far to often, why ECUMENICAL ISM?   Try to find Acts 8: 37 in the NIV, it and many others are not there!  WHY?}-----

     Acts 8:37  "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

Here's why..... Under the Vatican's desire to have ALL earth religions honor their Popes, in the TREE OF ECUMENICISM, the world is not in tune about Jesus Christ, not as our Savior, nor as the Son of God. However all of them have a goddess or two thus Mary is brought to forefront and Jesus is pushed into the back!

The overall why, can be traced back to Emperor Constantine and his decree in 321 AD.that by law Sabbath worships made illegal and Sunday Sun god worship encouraged, in fact he wanted the Pagan and the Christian to join in worship, Rome did and and the "Christians," got themselves Paganized, with Idol worship,{Sorry but when a person bows before an statue and prays that's idolatry! read the post, Battles of the Bibles, Secret Societies, The Man Behind the Mask, Hidden Agendas- From Babylon to Today, 

Revolutions, Tyrants, and, Wars. and The Islamic Connection. and lastly The Two Beasts Became friends. All on these two Google blogs. However please remember this is against the leadership not the followers most of whom love Jesus, but are fully deceived, by the DECEIVER and Destroyer, Satan!

   As humans studies the Word, it was the same Holy Spirit that inspired the prophets of old, just as He does today, with anyone willing to open their hearts to God's truth, by asking for help in prayers!  Yet The Creator-God has instilled into each one of us, some level of knowledge of Him-----

     2 Timothy 3:15-17  "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

   Clearly, then. the Bible contains all the wisdom and counsel that a human being needs to find the way to salvation and follow it. Scriptures provide an infallible revelation to the will of God.

THE GIFT OF PROPHECY TODAY.

  God's need to communicate with His human family did not end with the last5 Book of the Bible, in fact Paul spoke this....

   

     1 Corinthians 12:28  "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."  

Thus he puts Prophecy right behind the Scriptures, in importance. as noted____

     Ephesians 4:11  "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"

     The Popular belief that prophecy ended with the New Testament has no Biblical foundation, as Satan's attacks shall become more and more fierce....

    Revelation 12:17  "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ"

And his deception become far more subtle----

    .Matthew 24:24  "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

     It must be obvious, then, the Gifts from the Holy Spirit, including the gift of Prophecy will be increasingly essential.  The "TESTIMONY OF JESUS" is defined as "THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY"......

     Revelation 19:10  "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

     At the very beginnings of the great Advent movement that began in mid 19th  Century, the Lord gave this gift, to Ellen G. Harmon { later became Mrs White]  after two men refused to head His call,  she a devoted young 17 year old from Portland Maine, Her ministry continued some 70 years, till her passing in 1915. Writing under Inspiration, she produced some 4600 articles for church papers, and almost 50 books, included in this was what many consider the greatest book on Jesus ever written, "The Desire of the Ages", and the best book by humans of the overall Bible conflict.. the 5 Volume "Conflict of the Ages" the war between The Forces of Light and Truth, and the forces of Darkness and Evil. It traces the conflict between good and evil from the beginning of sin, in the mind of Lucifer, to the very end of both him and sin and death itself!.

NO, E.R WHITE'S WRITINGS ARE NOT...NOT A PART, NOR A ADDITION TO,THE BIBLE

  THE S.D.A.'S [Seventh day Adventists] accept the Holy Bible as it is written as the Christian's Rule of faith, and practiced. We believe it to be in its entirety the true, and reliable, and authoritative word of God in the language of men.

  We acknowledge the prophetic gift apart from the Sacred Canon as  having operated prior to, during, and since the composition of the Holy Bible, but affirm that the canonical Scriptures constitute the norm by which all other prophetic messages are to be tested against.

    They believe that this gift from the Holy Spirit, has never been permanently withdrawn, but has been manifested, now and then throughout history, and belongs to the the church today! The canon of Scripture is God's message to all men of all ages, as extracanoical revelations belongs to those to whom it is originally addressed. (Seventh-day Adventists Encyclopedia 1413.).

   Ellen G. White herself took the position that her messages cast a spot-light on the greater Light The Holy Bible.She over and over, repeated her admonition for the people to read the Holy Bible first and foremost! Before we accept any understanding, we should pray for wisdom to understand, and hold it up to the eternal standard The Holy Bible, and demand a plain "Thus saith the Lord" in its support or its rejections!.

Further Study:   Isaiah 6:106. Daniel 10:1-11 Acts 21: 10-11. 1 Corinthians 14:3.

Thank Y O U for your time:

Questions?  Comments?     John at servant@frontier.com

What more info? Visit your seventh-Day Adventist church, any Saturday/Sabbath at 9-10  A.M. You will find the peace of mind the world lacks.

Other sites:   AFTV.org   www.BLBN.org   www.amazingdiscoveries.org  

    

# 17 in series: SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND MINISTRIES.

THANKS to: The signs of the Times "We Believe" special 3/2016.   "signs of the Times 1-800- 545- 2449, Nampa Idaho. USA.

OCCASIONALLY,

     CIRCUMSTANCES require that family members be separated for an extended period of time, It may be that the husband and father has to travel in connection with work. He may be gone for several months. If he is a responsible person, he will make arrangements so his family is well cared for during his absence. He will have gone over, perhaps even made a list of things that has been done, and leave instructions such as, if you need more money just dip into our savings. He'll have made sure there's enough fuel for heat and that the car is up to snuff!

 A DIVINE PROVISION.

     NINETEEN centuries ago, after establishing His church on earth, Jesus returned to Heaven. The disciples watched His ascend with anxious hearts>>

     Luke 24:50-51  "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven."

    Acts 1:9  "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."

    We can only imagine the thoughts that ran through their minds, such as "Can we represent Him correctly? Could we successfully carry out the work He had left for us to do? Dis they have the talents necessary to carry the Gospel to all the world?"

    With the very same care and compassion that characterized His entire life, Jesus anticipated these needs and made every provision for them. Just before leaving earth, He told them >>

     Luke 24:49  "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

NOTE: This is among the most important passage in the Bible!

    Through the Holy Spirit, { The Father's direct 'channel' into our minds] Jesus would provide every gift and talent they would need to carry out their task .

   And He kept His promise!>>

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

    Ephesians 4:11-13  "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:"

     Acts 2:1-4  "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

    NOTE: Ephesians describe the gifts but Acts speaks to the How! It is The Third Person of the Godhead and the Bible refers to Him as personal Noun! Thus not a force,but a person whose Spirit like God's is everywhere, all the time!

IS THIS AVAILABLE TO US, ALSO?

    Well just read this by Paul>>>>

    1 Corinthians 12:1-3 " Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.">>>>

Note: Why can this be so?   That's by the powers of the Holy Spirit, God's direct line of communications to each one of us! Think conscience.

>>>1 Corinthians 12:4-12 "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."

Note: Please take note there is but ONE Holy Spirit, but there are many evil spirits, that confuse, deceive and outright lie to humans, always contrary to God's Word!>>>>

    2 Corinthians 11:14" And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

TWO POINTS NEED TO BE MADE:

(1).  The Holy Spirit decides which git to bestow. He alone takes responsibility, because He knows what gifts the church needs, and He knows which person, will best use which gift to the work of sharing Jesus' love with others!

(2). The same gift is not given to everyone. Thus, no one has a right to insist that the Spirit give give him or her, the gift of prophecy, or the gift of healing, or the gift of tongues [to be fully versed into another language not one's "mother-tongue. {Not to be confused with man's glossolalia, the "speaking in tongues many churches use, for this Satanic gibberish, none understand it!

   The TRUE Christ man or Woman, will submit completely to Christ, putting all their talents on the Alter and asking God to give them whatever gifts the the Holy Spirits Himself sees fit to give them!>>>

     Romans 12:4-8 "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness."

    1 Peter 4:10-11 "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

  Now know the why Paul wrote in Corinth what he did......

   1 Corinthians 1:4-7 " I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:"

   In this way, through the Spiritual gifts Christ made complete provisions for His Church--- His Family on earth--- to strengthen it and empower it to carry forward its ministry physically, intellectually, and spiritually, until the day when the family on earth and family in Heaven are once again,united!

Further Study: Matt. 25:31-36. 1 Corinthians 12:27-28. 2 Cor. 5:14-21. Acts 6:1-7. 1Timothy 2:1-3. Colossians 2:19

NEXT: # 18  The gift of Prophecy.

Thanking Y O U for your time,

Questions?  Comments?  John at www.servant@frontier.com

OR: Visit your Seventh-day Adventist Church any Saturday/Sabbath at 9-10 AM. Find what you know has been missing in your life, Peace of Mind the world knoweth not!

Other sites: AFTV.org  BLBN.org  Amzingdiscoveries.org   www.bonesinstone.com

John B

   

    

# 16 In Series: The LORD'S SUPPER----COMMUNION.

CREDIT SIGNS OF THE TIMES SPECIAL we believe" 3/2016. WITH MY THANKS. JOHN B.

THE SERVICES,

in the ancient Israelite Sanctuary pointed forward to the Messiah Who was to come and His Ministry and death. Similarly, The Lord's supper commemorates the death of Jesus and His Resurrection, but also draws our attention to His promise of His return, to bring us, the faithful, with Him, and be together forever!

  This Ordinance, however, goes far beyond the symbolizing pardon for all sins, one may have committed. In addition to confessing one's sins to God The Father through God the son,, as well as to any others against whom we may have transgressed, it involves asking God to help us change, to gain victory over our sins, and become more and more like Jesus in our character. It's a service, solemn, and rich in symbolism that, over all the time, has been helpful way to pass on basic spiritual truths!

    

   Although some churches have put a literal interpretation on Jesus' words, "This is my body," and "this is my blood", but Adventists interpret them figuratively. Jesus often stated other truths symbolically, such as "I am the gate" [John 10:7] , but obviously, He did not mean that HE was literally a gate!. Similarly, the unleavened bread and the unfermented grape juice [wine] are symbols of the broken body and blood. Participation is these symbols is an expression of faith in Him as Savior from our sins and of the union of His life with our own!

    Since the final days of 1840's Seventh day Adventist have celebrated the Lord's supper four times each year, every quarter, and its am open service, membership is not required, but repentance and faith in Christ is.

Note: We allow God to Judge this for all such practitioners!  This is HIS, not our JOB!

   A typical service is conducted in the following manner.

FOOT  WASHING.

    Following a short sermon by the Pastor, the men and woman separate and go to different rooms in the church for the service of foot-washing. This service represent the cleansing from sins, as well as teaching us humility.  [John 13:1-17]

    While there is no particular merit beyond humility, in the act itself, it does give all the perfect opportunity to settle their differences and to confess our faults to each other. It symbolizes cleansing from sins committed during the participants' walk along the Christian pathway. The foot washing service also symbolizes, their renewed dedication to the service of Christ.

    One MUST put away self-pride, in order to kneel before a brother, or spouse, or sister, and to simple wash their feet!  It means that these are willing to serve Jesus and their fellow man, whole-heatedly. As this service emphasizes the Spirit of Christian fellowship, it is an appropriate preparation for participation in the Lord's Supper..

     Following the foot-washing service, the peop-le return to the Sanctuary. The Pastor and the elders come in to the Communion Table, remove the cloth that covers the Implements that contain the grape juice and and bread, and read the flowing....

      1 Corinthians 11:23-24 " For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me"

Followed by a short prayer, the Pastor, Elders, then distribute each to the congregation. and then another prayer is given with the reading of scripture such as..>>>>

    1 Corinthians 11:25-26 "After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."

All should wait until all have been served, and after the scripture reading and prayers are done, all should partake of the Symbols, at the same time. Thus all take of the symbols together The service concludes with a song and a prayer, and then a collection is taken up for the Poor.

SOLEMN JOY.

  One the one hand, the lord's Supper is a solemn occasion, a time when believers remember that Jesus took upon Himself our guilt and died for sins, in our place!>>>

    

    Isaiah 53:5 " But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

   But on the other hand, it's an occasion for great rejoicing, for it looks foreword to the day when god will make all things new:>>>

    1 Corinthians 15:51-52 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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."

Then ALL in Christ, will sit down with Jesus, our Redeemer and older brother at a great supper of the Lamb>>>

Revelation 19:9"  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."

Further Study: Matt. 26:17-30; John 8-63; 13:1-17; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. Revelation 3:20.

Thanking YOU for your time...

Questions? Comments?  john at servant@frontier.com

For more info Visit your Seventh day Adventist church any Saturday/Sabbath at 9-10 AM. You just may be pleasantly surprised and the peace of mind Christ gives to those who ask.

Other sites:  www.benabraham.com www.blbn.org.  www.aftv.org wwwamazingdiscoveries.org

    

# 15 in Series: BAPTISM--THE WAY CHRIST SET THE PATTERN.

MANY THANKS AGAIN TO  Sings of the Times Special Issue "We Relive" of 3/2016.

     BAPTISM, AS CHRISTIANS KNOW IT TODAY----

comes to  us today from John the  Baptist, who was sent by God to "Make straight" {prepare} the way for Jesus Christ, our ONLY SAVIOR!

    John came, baptizing in the country side, and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

   Note: mankind can and should forgive the sins against self, by any human sinners, HOWEVER no MAN, can forgive any sin done not against self, that we MUST ask The Father-God in Christ's name only! So ALL in the "Confession Booths," your sins are still upon you , as men can't forgive them, no matter what your  "Priestly" traditions say!

   Many in the Judea country-side went to him, and many from Jerusalem confessed their sins, and were Baptized, by John, in the River Jordan, by the total submersion, under water.>>>>

    Mark 1:4-5  "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins."

     Yes, there antecedents to baptism in the Old Testament, with which John was surely familiar: ritual washing and purification, and, of course the story of Naaman the Leper. However, John taught a Spiritual Purification that went far beyond the mere physical washing of self. He called on people to make baptism a sign that they recognized their own sins and had repented of them. He made baptism an impressive event in people's lives, a public declaration of faith,, which they could not enter into lightly! John's call to baptism required a definite change in people's lives, thus preparing them for the coming of Jesus The Messiah.

Jesus, without sin, why was Baptism needed?

   Matthew 3:13-15  "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him."

    A Three-fold purpose, ONE: It set the Prophetic beginning right on time for His ministry to begin!

                                        TWO: Is allowed all to see Jesus was sent by The Father-God.

                                     THREE:  He set for us the proper example for Baptism.

Note: Sprinkling is not symbolic of dying to sin, and to "bury" our old self, and coming up to be a new person, in Christ.l. Flower Petals or salt, not by phone nor before a child's "AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY" in order for them to know the meaning of it,Infant baptism is empty and void, and a baby knows nothing about this period! This dates back to the dark ages, when infant mortality rates where very high, and people being taught no Baptism, to hell fires you go, which is none-Biblical!

Yet the PRIMARY REASON: In being Baptized, by men, He showed the world that He understood the feelings of sinfulness and unworthiness that are all too common then and now! By His Baptism HE identified Himself with sinners, in their need of a righteousness from God, and He left an example for those who would become Christians. The repentant sinner can identify Himself or herself, with Jesus as He submitted to the rite of Baptism. His sinless life and His death for all sinful human beings, Jesus by this, made His righteousness available to everyone, who accepts and believes in Him in a loving relationship, which will develop in time.>>

   Acts 16:30-33  "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway"

    Romans 10:9  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved"

     All candidates for Baptism must receive complete instructions in the Christian Faith, of both the theory and the practical, and to put it into practise in daily life. Otherwise they'd be a "Christian in mane only", and the world has far too many of them already!>>>>

     James 1:22 " But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

      Romans 2:13  "(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be                                      justified."

It for just this very reason that it's very inappropriate to baptize infants and children before they have learned and understand the seriousness of the step they are taking! Infant Baptism is a deception to all involved!

   The reason for total submersion under water, is simply that the Books of Romans and Colossians, in the which Paul speaks to Baptism as a death, burial and resurrection of Jesus....

    Romans 6:1-6  "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

   Colossians 2:11-13  "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;"

Note: A Baby nor a younger child, can not understand this, right Thus their Baptism is empty and void! This symbolism would not have meant anything to the early church if they had practiced any other form of Baptism other than total submersion!

Note: Baptismo in the Greek means to dunk to submerse, thus is perfectly fine to say "I am going to Baptismo my cookie in  milk"!  That's NOT "Sprinkling" is it? OH! It;s much less work by dropping a drop or two of water on the forehead, don't you know! I wonder what its adherents would say, if Jesus had said, to allow Myself to be nailed to the Cross is far too much work and painful.... forget it?????

EXAMPLES OF BIBLE BAPTISMS.

      Matthew 3:16-17  "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

      Acts 8:36-39  "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."

  Baptism should come AFTER the person has repented of his sins confessed them in prayer, and SEPARATED themselves from them. This should include the faith/Trust in Jesus' pardoning love and the commitment to a new life in HIM, which, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is the best way for humans to live.

    Baptism is also the point of entry for memberships in your church, and it should not be taken lightly, because it begins a very radical change in one's live.>>>>>

    Matthew 28:18-20  "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  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."

Note: Therefore please be tolerant of those who are trying to share the Love of Christ with you, they are only trying to carry out the wish os Jesus, the very ONE who died for YOUR SINS.

Further Study:  Matt. 28:19-20.  Acts 2:28: 22:16. 1 Corinthians 12:13. Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21.

Thank Y O U for your time. Next  # 16 THE LORD'S SUPPER--COMMUNION.

Questions?    Comments?   John at www.servant@frontier.com

Other Sites: www.AFTV.org  www.BLBN.org  www.amazingdiscoveries.org   www.servantsite@wordpress.com

 

     

                 

# 14 In series. UNITY in the BODY OF CHRIST.

Once MORE thank s TO sign OF THE times SPECIAL magazine OF 3/1216.

Note: (JB) CONTRARY to the modern movement, called Ecumenical-ism, under which ALL earth's religions are equal, thus all need UNITY in love, and fellowship, right? It's all the rage today, with all denominations rushing full speed back to Mother Rome, and her dogmas.
   SORRY, but read the title again and again, we are UNITE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST! 

 HOWEVER, Rome is slowly replacing Jesus Christ with Mary, because all the "MAN-MADE RELIGIONS are very comfortable with a Female goddess, just as in old Babylon whose goddess' name rhymes with Easter,[ Ishtar]but whose FERTILITY SYMBOLS were rabbits and eggs, and Pine cones!

     THE CHOIR DIRECTOR..

    Raises his baton, and the crowd listens expectantly. But the moment the choir begins to sing, the audience shudders at the disharmony they hear. Startled and annoyed by the cacophony, the people cover their ears, and leave the hall. Not withstanding the director seems quite pleased with the performance. He smiles with pleasure at the horrible sounds. Here and there member of the choir try to get those closest to them to sing the same song and on the same key. For a brief moment they seem to succeed, but cooperation is sporadic at best, and the tenor of the concert does not change.

    The problem is that the choir is following the wrong director. As long as he's in charge, harmony will be impossible to achieve.

     THE WRONG SPIRITUAL LEADER.

       It's hardly necessary to continue this silly parable in order to make the pointy that the result of the following the wrong director is evident in all parts of the world. We see it in the chaos between nations, between brothers and sisters, between parents and children, and between Husbands and Wives. Some people, quite exercised over these problems, manage to come up with human solutions that seem to work for a time, but the concert will never really change until Christ rather than Satan is chosen as the Director!  

   The apostle Paul used the metaphor of the body to illustrate unity. Christ is the Head, from whom "''the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds them, that His grace was manifested..

     .Ephesians 4:15-16 " But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

     Ephesians 5:23  "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the body."

      Can we even create the picture in our minds, one in which each part of our body has its own mind? Your feet say "I need a bath," but the rest of your body says, I am hungry , fix dinner now"!  How would, or could such a person ever get anything done? It's only when the "Brian" takes charge, and all the members of our body begins to work as an single unit, can there be progress!

     However as Paul noted in 1 Corinthians 2, the very same thing is true in the Spiritual Realm, church member must work cooperatively together or chaos results.

     1 Corinthians 12:13-14 " For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.   For the body is not one member, but many"

Note: Thus if all members did their "Own Thing", the church would overflow with disharmony!

Note: This post began with the remark that the only unity worth while is that with Christ,.why? Well for one, there's not ONE WORD, not even a hint, nor a read between the lines message, in that THE WORD OF GOD, tells us about Mary's resurrection from the her grave, to be in Heaven with her Son! NOT ONE WORD! Thus its' all only the Traditions of men!  We who want Jesus must accept the fact, that men do lie!

     2 Peter 2:1 " But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.".-------

     Isaiah 8:20 " To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

     Therefore if Satan, the author of chaos, controls the members of the body instead of Christ, there will be no possibility of Christ's Church functioning in unity, UNLESS of course, it's for the wrong purpose! WE have all seen daily, a religion acting within the wrong purpose, by looking at ISIS, but please know Rome operated in this same fashion for 1260 years from 538 to 1798 A.D.  in the way we can say :her motto was {and still is} BELIEVE AS WE SAY OR DIE!"  She to this very day, still claims the only right to determine what and who is heresy and a heretic, then claims the right to kill those so deemed, to "Protect others for their ideas"! Just as the fanatics in ISIS, right? 

QUESTION: is the why of this this verse......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."

Note: Just as today, there's only two choices, Christ or Satan, and those refusing to choose, they have already chosen Satan by default! The Bible has symbolized two women as the church, Christ's Church is the woman in white {Revelation 12] and the apostate church, as the woman in Scarlet and Purple sitting upon the Beast power.of Revelation 13,17 and 18.chapters.Who is the Beast Power, Rome and the Second beast is U S of A. [Rev. 13: 11-12]

NOTE:   (JB) 

   There in not a a way in God's Green earth, that we can take ALL of earth's so-called "RELIGIONS", and put them all together into a pot marked 'Heaven Bound', because it takes only a little error, to spoil and taint the whole as apostasy!Even if they call unity in love and fellowship, or The Ecumenical Movement.No one can mix error with truth and still have 100% truth! What one does get is a Religious STEW! A stew not capable of feeding anyone other than Satan's ego!

IMPORTANCE OD UNITY IN CHRIST, NOT MEN.

     Speaking of unity, The Bible writers stress that differences such as gender, race, wealth, and intellect, should not hinder the body of Christ. Yes, these differences do exist but anyone in Christ is a new being from whom the LORD has removed all such barriers that divide and sow disharmony......

     Ephesians 2:15-16  "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:"

   Colossians 3:11  "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." [ + Gal.3:28]

Note: IF we ALL except the fact that God The Father of us all, then we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, agree?

     John 17:20-23 " Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

Note: John 17 is the longest prayer by Jesus in the Bible, please read it all!

    The unity He prayed for was that His disciples then and now, achieve the response to His prayer will give us the ability to fulfill His purpose of declaring to the world, that Jesus died to save us from our sins.

    As one body, with many members the church brings together people fro m every nation, tribe, and tongue, and people. Through the revelation of Jesus christ in the Holy Bible, we share of the same faith and hope, becoming witnesses to the whole world.

Further Study: Psalm 133:1. John 17: 20-23. Acts 17:26-27. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17. Galatians 3: 27-29. Ephesians 2: 13-22; 4: 1-6. Colossians 3: 10-15. James 2: 2-9. 1 John 5:1

Thanking YOU for your time.
Questions?  Comments?   John at www.servant@frontier.com

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john b.

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