devotional – Page 13 – Light In The Clouds

The Secret Rapture Is Not So Secret

Post Views: 520

Reading Time: 16 minutes

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:23-26)

Last week, we began exploring some basics about what has been called by many Christians as “the secret rapture” in an article called “Christianity’s Biggest Lie EVER.”

This article will do a little more digging to explore the topic of the not so “secret rapture” in much more depth.

Christians who insist on a secret rapture rarely relate this great secret to the cross. And this is one of the fundamental failures of the makers of such false doctrines. There is a brief paragraph, along with some scripture, that will help us to begin bringing the cross to bear on this urgent topic. The cross of Christ must be central to EVERY doctrine or it is not a Christian doctrine no matter how many Bible verses one quotes to cover up this kind of mistake. In fact it is not even a mistake. It is a lie. By The father of lies. (John 8:44) Many Christians, knowingly, unknowingly assist the father of lies in this confusing belief held by many to be “prophecy.” Here is some brief explanation on how the cross of Christ is central the the true, Biblical version of THE resurrection.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8. {FLB 50.1}

There is one great central truth to be kept ever before the mind in the searching of the Scriptures–Christ and Him crucified. Every other truth is invested with influence and power corresponding to its relation to this theme. . . . The soul palsied by sin can be endowed with life only through the work wrought out upon the cross by the Author of our salvation. {FLB 50.2}

Gal 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (NIV)

The world is full of enticements. Daily we are confronted with subtle cultural pressures and overt propaganda. Especially un-Biblical ideas about the second coming. The only way to escape these destructive influences is to ask God to help crucify our interest in them, just as Paul did. How much do the interests of this world matter to you? See Gal 2:20 and Gal 5:24 for more on this idea. The Bible also tells us

“remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:12-13)

The popular belief on The Secret Rapture fails to follow the Pattern set before us in Christ’s own experience with the cross. Jesus Himself did not go away secretly, and our experience will be like His. Our birth. Our life. Our resurrection. And our Heavenly home. The secret rapture, so called, creates two second comings. One partial. The other one, essentially a third coming, is just plain mixed up.

Rapture and the Bible

Jesus promised that He would return to Earth to take His people to be with Him. He said

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:1-3, NKJV).

Did Jesus mean that He would return secretly and “rapture” His people from Earth, leaving behind those who are lost to wonder where their raptured friends and relatives have gone? This is the belief of those who hold to the idea of the “secret” rapture. In these verses, Jesus doesn’t say how He will return—secretly or otherwise. But other Bible texts make it plain what will happen when Jesus returns.

Is the “SECRET” Rapture Biblical?

After His resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven, and the disciples watched as He rose into the sky. The Bible says, “While they [the disciples] watched, He [Jesus] was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men [angels] stood by them in white apparel, who also said

‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven’ ” (Acts 1:9-11, NKJV).

Two points stand out in these verses. First, the Jesus who returns to Earth the second time is the very same Jesus who lived here on Earth with us and went back to heaven following His resurrection. And second, He will return to Earth the same way—“in like manner”—as He went back to heaven that day. How did Jesus go to heaven following His resurrection? Did He go secretly? No. The disciples watched Him rise, literally, bodily, into the air until a cloud hid Him from their sight. So these verses tell us that Jesus will return to earth the same way—not secretly.

Is Jesus’ Second Coming Secret?

Another Bible text makes it even more clear that Jesus will not return secretly.

“Behold, He [Jesus] is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him” (Revelation 1:7, NKJV).

This text says that when Jesus comes, every eye—everyone on earth—will see Him come. That doesn’t sound like He is coming secretly! Matthew says that Jesus’ coming will be as visible as the lightning that flashes from one end of the sky to the other.

“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27, NKJV).

The Bible says that Jesus will come in glory with the angels (see Matthew 16:27); that He will come with the shout of the archangel and a blast from the trumpet of God (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17); that the wicked will see Him coming and cry out for the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from His face (see Revelation 6:14-17); and that He will return as King of kings, leading the armies of heavenly angels (see Revelation 19:11-16). All these texts make it very clear that Jesus’ second coming is anything but secret!

Will Jesus come like a thief in the night?

The Bible says, “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10, NKJV; see also 1 Thessalonians 5:2). But does this mean that He will come secretly and snatch away the saved, leaving the wicked behind? No. This very text that says Jesus will come like a thief in the night, also says that the heavens will pass away with a great noise. That won’t be secret!

So what does it mean for Jesus to come “like a thief in the night?” The apostle Paul says

“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6, NKJV).

Jesus’ coming will be unexpected by those who are not watching and waiting for Him. It will come upon them like a thief in the night. But His people—who are not of the night nor of darkness—will be looking for Him. They will be aware of the signs of His coming and will know that it is near. Jesus’ coming will not overtake them like the unexpected appearance of a thief. That’s what the Bible means by saying that Jesus’ coming will be like a thief in the night—it will be unexpected to those who are not watching for Him.

The “Day” of the Lord comes as a thief in the night

Both 2 Peter 3:10 and 1 Thessalonians 5:2 do not speak about the “Lord” coming as a thief in the night, but rather the “day” of the Lord coming as a thief. This completely changes the meaning of the verse. In fact, the subject of the sentence is “day,” while the phrase modifying the subject is “of the Lord.” Christians are to watch and be ready for the “day” of the Lord to come suddenly, but once the event is at hand it cannot be hidden. It will be very obvious when Jesus comes again!

Raptured or Left Behind? Really?

But doesn’t Matthew 24:37-42 say that when Jesus comes, some people will be snatched away and others will be left behind? Let’s see what Matthew says.

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:37-42, NKJV).

Matthew says that when Jesus comes it will be like it was in the time of Noah—some people will be saved (left) and other people will be destroyed (taken). Looking more in-depth at Matthew’s wording, those who are “taken” when Jesus comes are those who are lost, taken away, and destroyed by the brightness of His coming (see 2 Thessalonians 2:8).

You can think of it like this, imagine a flood swept through your town. Those who escaped, were left behind by the waters of the flood, while those who lost their lives were taken away by the water. Additionally, in the parallel passage of Luke 17:37, Jesus’ 12 apostles ask the question

“Where Lord?”

They were referring to those who are taken. Jesus responds by saying, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.” Thus Jesus again explains that those who are taken will be destroyed as is symbolized by the gathering of vultures seeking to consume the dead. Therefore, we can see that the Bible does not support the idea of the secret rapture for the saved. Biblically, the question “where” only applies to those who are taken, because the location of those who are left would be the exact same location as before the event occurred.

Those who hold to the idea of a secret rapture also believe that there will be seven years of tribulation following the rapture and that during this time individuals who were left on earth will have another opportunity to accept Jesus and be saved. Is there any Bible evidence for this belief? My son’s question from last week’s article can now be addressed:

“When will all the days be over so that Jesus can come?”

Seven Year Tribulation?

First, there is no biblical evidence for a seven-year period of tribulation following Jesus’ return to Earth. And the Bible is clear that when Jesus returns, every person’s eternal fate has already been decided. Individuals who are lost will not have a second chance to be saved. Jesus says

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to their work” (Revelation 22:12, NKJV).

The Bible presents Jesus’ second coming as the great climactic event of the ages when men and women are either saved or lost for eternity. There is no seven-year period to reconsider our lives and change our destiny. Jesus pictured the separation that will take place at His coming between the righteous and the wicked—the saved and the lost—in these words:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ . . . Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ ” (Matthew 25:31-34,41, NKJV).

That is not to say there will not be a tribulation. The Bible does certainly foretell of a soon coming “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time” before Jesus’ return (Daniel 12:1, Rev 3:10). But the Bible always describes God’s people as going through the trouble not avoiding it. Why would we even need faith in Christ during final events if we were supposed to avoid all the trouble that is coming? No need for the cross if thats how it will be. Does Scripture really support the interpretation that Christian believers will be secretly raptured, and taken away from the tribulation, leaving only the wicked?

No it doesn’t. Jesus doesn’t leave us in the dark and sheds light on the event that will be like none other before it.

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

Its Impossible The The Elect Are Secretly Raptured Before the Tribulation

One must question, if the “elect,” or God’s people, are raptured before “the great tribulation,” why would they need the days “shortened?” Throughout the Bible, we are given examples of God’s people being saved in the middle of tribulations, and trials. Not being saved before it.

When the Israelites were captive in Egypt, God preserved them in the midst of the plagues that devastated Egypt. Just as Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage after the plagues, so too will God’s church will be protected through the plagues and be delivered from the hand of the oppressor (1 Corinthians 10:11; Psalm 91; Psalm 46).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego entered the flames when they refused to yield to the universal death decree of Babylon’s King. Their death-defying faith forced them to face the flames of tribulation, and in those flames God miraculously delivered them (Daniel 3:16-28).

Daniel’s decision to be faithful in his daily prayers caused him to be tossed into the lion’s den. God saved Daniel while he was going through tribulation, not before it came (Daniel 6).

Similarly, right before Christ returns, the faithfulness of the elect will cause them to be the target of the ungodly, bringing about a time of persecution and great tribulation. However, just as throughout all of Biblical history, God preserves His elect. The same Jesus that was with the Hebrew men in the fire and lion’s den, will go with us through our fiery trials. When the last day judgments are poured out on the world, God will shield those who follow Him with all their heart and mind. (Jer 17:10, Mark 12:30)

How old is the rapture theory?

Historically, the belief in the secret rapture is relatively new. Many of the notable Christian leaders of the faith understood from the Bible that Christ’s coming would be a literal, audible, glorious event for God’s persecuted people who would be raptured after they endured the great tribulation brought about by the antichrist including: John Bunyan, John Calvin, Adam Clarke, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, Matthew Henry, John Huss, John Knox, Hugh Latimer, C.S. Lewis, Martin Luther, D.L. Moody, George Mueller, Sir Isaac Newton, John Newton, Charles Spurgeon, William Tyndale, Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, John Wesley, George Whitefield, William Wilberforce, John Wycliffe, Ulrich Zwingli, and many others.

Of course, the truth of a teaching is not dependent upon who believes it, but whether or not it is in line with all of the Scriptures. Secret Rapture adherents are stuck with using one text out of context to dismiss many other texts that say different. Its essential to reconcile such paradoxes by scripture, not by fanciful ideas that “seem to fit.”

There are other points to consider when seeing if the “secret rapture” and pre-tribulation understanding fits into the last day events of earth’s history as outlined in the Bible:

The notion that the tribulation will occur after Christ comes for the church is glaringly inconsistent with 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, which makes it plain that the antichrist is revealed before Jesus comes and is destroyed by the brightness of His coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

As we have now seen, the teaching of the secret rapture is not found to be in harmony with what the Bible teaches about the Second Coming of Jesus.

“Every eye shall see Him” (Rev 1:7) is NOT secret by any stretch.

Bible verses about the rapture

John 14:1-3 (NKJV), “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Acts 1:9-11 (NKJV), “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ ”

Revelation 1:7 (NKJV), “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”

Matthew 24:27 (NKJV), “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

Matthew 24:37-42 (NKJV), “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”

Luke 17:35-37 (NKJV), ” ‘Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.’ And they answered and said to Him, ‘Where, Lord?’ So He said to them, ‘Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.’ ”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV), “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

Revelation 6:14-17 (NKJV), “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV), “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV), “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NKJV), “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”

Revelation 22:12 (NKJV), “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

Matthew 25:31-34, 41 (NKJV), “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:’ … Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Be Ready at All Times

The Bible repeatedly assures us that Jesus will return. But will He come a year from now? Five years? Ten years? Twenty years? No one knows for sure. Jesus Himself declared, “‘Of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only'” (Mat 24:36).

At the end of His earthly ministry Christ told the parable of the ten virgins to illustrate the experience of the church of the last days. The two classes of virgins represent the two kinds of believers who profess to be waiting for their Lord. They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith. Their lamps represent the Word of God, the oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

Superficially, these two groups appear alike; both go out to meet the Bridegroom, both have oil in their lamps, and their behavior doesn’t seem to differ. They have all heard the message of Christ’s soon coming and are looking forward to it. But then comes an apparent delay-their faith is to be tested. Suddenly, at midnight-in the darkest hour of earth’s history-they hear the cry,

“Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” (Mat 25:6).

Now the difference between the two groups becomes very apparent: some are not ready to meet the Bridegroom. These “foolish” virgins are not hypocrites; they respect the truth, they treasure what they know of the Word of God. But they lack the oil-they have not been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Rev 7:1-3). They have been content with a superficial work and have not fallen on Jesus Christ the Rock. They have a form of godliness but are destitute of God’s power. (2 Tim 3:5)

When the Bridegroom comes, only those who are READY NOW to go in with Him to the marriage celebration, and have the door shut will go in.

Eventually the foolish virgins, who had gone to purchase more will, return and call

“Lord, Lord, open to us!”

But the Bridegroom answers

“I do not know you”(Mat 25:11-12, John 17:3)

How sad that when Christ returns to this earth, He will have to speak these words to some whom He loves. He warned

“‘Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”(Mat 7:22-23).

Before the Flood, God sent Noah to alert the antediluvian world to the coming destruction. In a similar way, God is sending a threefold message of warning to prepare the world for Christ’s return (see Rev 14:6-16).

All who accept God’s message of mercy will rejoice at the prospect of the Second Advent. Theirs is the assurance

“Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”(Rev 19:9).

Indeed, “to those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Heb 9:28).

The Redeemer’s return brings to a glorious climax the history of God’s people. It is the moment of their deliverance, and with joy and adoration they cry out

‘Behold this is our God; we have waited for Him. . . we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation’ (Isa 25:9).

God’s Purpose For His Church

Post Views: 830

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Eph 3:14-21)

God's Purpose For His Church — God’s Purpose For His Church

The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of humanity. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to “the principalities and powers in heavenly places,” the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10. {AA 9.1}

Many and wonderful are the promises recorded in the Scriptures regarding the church. “Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Isaiah 56:7. “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.” “And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are My people, saith the Lord God. And ye My flock, the flock of My pasture, are PEOPLE, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.” Ezekiel 34:26, 29-31. {AA 9.2}

“You are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen: that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no Savior. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore you are My witnesses.” “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” Isaiah 43:10-12; 42:6, 7. {AA 10.1}

The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind with the blood of His only-begotten Son. From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth. In every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to the generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay off their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people. {AA 11.2}

Through centuries of persecution, conflict, and darkness, God has sustained His church. Not one cloud has fallen upon it that He has not prepared for; not one opposing force has risen to counterwork His work, that He has not foreseen. All has taken place as He predicted. He has not left His church forsaken, but has traced in prophetic declarations what would occur, and that which His Spirit inspired the prophets to foretell has been brought about. All His purposes will be fulfilled. His law is linked with His throne, and no power of evil can destroy it. Truth is inspired and guarded by God; and it will triumph over all opposition. {AA 11.3}

During ages of spiritual darkness the church of God has been as a city set on a hill. From age to age, through successive generations, the pure doctrines of heaven have been unfolding within its borders. Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His supreme regard. It is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts. {AA 12.1}

“Whereunto,” asked Christ, “shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?” Mark 4:30. He could not employ the kingdoms of the world as a similitude. In society He found nothing with which to compare it. Earthly kingdoms rule by the ascendancy of physical power; but from Christ’s kingdom every carnal weapon, every instrument of coercion, is banished. This kingdom is to uplift and ennoble humanity. God’s church is the court of holy life, filled with varied gifts and endowed with the Holy Spirit. The members are to find their happiness in the happiness of those whom they help and bless. {AA 12.2}

Wonderful is the work which the Lord designs to accomplish through His church, that His name may be glorified. A picture of this work is given in Ezekiel’s vision of the river of healing: “These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that everything that lives, which moves , whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: . . . and by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” Ezekiel 47:8-12. {AA 13.1}

From the beginning God has wrought through His people to bring blessing to the world. To the ancient Egyptian nation God made Joseph a fountain of life. Through the integrity of Joseph the life of that whole people was preserved. Through Daniel God saved the life of all the wise men of Babylon. And these deliverances are as object lessons; they illustrate the spiritual blessings offered to the world through connection with the God whom Joseph and Daniel worshiped. Everyone in whose heart Christ abides, everyone who will show forth His love to the world, is a worker together with God for the blessing of humanity. As he receives from the Savior grace to impart to others, from his whole being flows forth the tide of spiritual life. {AA 13.2}

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God. Isa 43:10-12)

Israel’s [the Church’s] task was to be a witness (Isa 44:8), telling the world who God is and what he had done. Believers today share the responsibility of being God’s witnesses. Do people know what God is like through your words and example? They cannot see God directly, but they can see him reflected in you.

The chosen people of God have become witnesses for Christ that he, and he alone, is the true God; that he, and he alone has truly foretold the future. Let the unbelievers prove that their gods have done the same if they can; we know that they cannot.

Even though you may not feel able to speak a word to those who are working on wrong principles, leave them. Your withdrawal and silence may do more than words. Nehemiah refused to associate with those who were untrue to principle, and he would not permit his workmen to associate with them. The love and fear of God were his safeguard. He lived and worked as in view of the unseen world. And David said, “I have set the Lord always before me.” {3BC 1155.4}

Dare to be a Daniel. Dare to stand alone. Thus, as did Moses, you will endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. But a cowardly and silent reserve before evil associates, while you listen to their devices, makes you one with them.

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor 6:16-18)

As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)

“You are my witnesses, saith the Lord”

Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col 1:27)

Christianity’s Biggest Lie EVER

Post Views: 593

Reading Time: 11 minutes

Christianity’s Biggest Lie EVER

And just as it is appointed for people to die once, and after that comes judgment. Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Heb 9:27-28, ESV)

These days one hardly ever hears a solid Biblical explanation on the second coming of Jesus. It is a rare thing to hear coming from most pulpits. We could spend a long time wondering why this is so, but that is not going to be within the scope of this article. The purpose of this article is to investigate what the Bible tells us about the second coming of Jesus. Over the next few weeks or so Light in The Clouds will be posting several articles on this vital subject.

Contrary to the Biblical message on the second coming, we do find one theory that has garnered a lot of serious attention over the years. I am sure most people have heard about what certain “highly respected scholars of Bible prophecy” have coined as “THE SECRET RAPTURE.”

I took the trouble to listen to Dr David Jeremiah’s video where he preaches that The Secret Rapture will happen “at any moment.” This is a video that he posted called “The Rapture of the Church.” Posted March 25th, 2022. 2.7 million views.

Here is a portion of that sermon:

The Bible tells us that there is coming a day when millions of people will be evacuated from this world. In a moment. It will be a time of chaos never experienced on this earth.

Those of us who are watching what is happening in the world today believe that the time for that event is drawing near. The event that I’m describing is what the Bible calls the rapture.

The next event is the church age. That’s where we are right now. We’re living in the church age, the age between the coming of Christ the first time and the coming of Christ the second time. How many of you know what the next thing is? Right after the church age what’s going to change everything forever, is this event we call rapture. Notice, the rapture shows Jesus coming from heaven, but he doesn’t come all the way to the earth. The Bible says, we’re going to be caught up into the heavens to be with him, and then we’re going to go back to heaven with him. In the rapture.

After the rapture, a period of great tribulation will take place on this earth for seven years. At the end of the seven-year tribulation, the second coming of Christ takes place. Now here’s where the disconnect is. For most people who get confused about the future, the rapture and the second coming of Christ are not the same thing. The rapture is when Jesus comes back to take his people back to heaven with him. Then tribulation on the earth takes place. And then the second coming is when Jesus comes back. And the Bible says, he comes with all the people of God and with all the angels and sets up his kingdom on this earth.

To those who know their Bibles, this kind of message about a so-called Secret Rapture will be recognized as the biggest lie being told by Christians today. I have listened to this sermon of Dr Jeremiah’s several times now, trying to make some sense out of it. Each time it just ends in a lot of disappointment. Major confusions. It contains a general neglect of sound Biblical explanation and is filled with many claims mostly unsubstantiated by Scripture.

There Is No Such Thing as A Secret Rapture

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. (Rev 1:7, NKJV)

A Brief Summary Reveals a not so secret “rapture.”

The Second Coming of Christ

The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the grand climax of the gospel. The Savior’s coming will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. When He returns, the righteous dead will be resurrected, and together with the righteous living will be glorified and taken to heaven, but the unrighteous will die. The almost complete fulfillment of most lines of prophecy, together with the present condition of the world, indicates that Christ’s coming is nearby. The time of that event has not been revealed, and we are therefore exhorted to be always ready.

(Mat 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:1-38; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor 15:51-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18; 1 Thes 5:1-6; 2 Thes 1:7-10; 2 Thes 2:8; 2 Tim 3:1-5; Titus 2:13; Heb 9:28; Rev 1:7; Rev 14:14-20; Rev 19:11-21.) – Adventist Fundamental Belief #25

Just a few simple questions answered straight from the Bible will show how the secret is not so secret after all.

What wonderful promise did Jesus make concerning His Second Advent?

“Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3.

What will follow the signs of Christ’s coming?

“And then shall they see the son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 1:27.

At His ascension, how was Christ’s return promised?

“And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:10, Acts 1:11.

With what words does Paul express the blessed hope of Christ’s Second Advent for His people?

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13.

What does Peter say about this awaited event?

“We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” 2 Pet 1:16.

When He returns, will most of the inhabitants of earth be prepared to meet Him?

“Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Mat 24:30. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” Rev 1:7.

Why will so many people not be prepared for this important event?

“But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayed His coming,” and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looked not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Mat 24:48-51.

What will most of the world be doing when Christ returns in the clouds of heaven for His own?

“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so, shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.” Verses 37-39. “Likewise, also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built” but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:28-30.

These texts do not teach that it is wrong to eat, drink, marry, buy, sell, plant, or build, but that in many people’s minds they will be so taken up with these things that they will give little or no thought to the future life, and make no plans or preparations to meet Jesus when He comes.

Who is it that blinds people to the message about salvation through Jesus Christ?

“In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Cor 4:4.

DL MOODY once said the following about the second coming of Jesus:

“To my mind this precious doctrine -— for such I must call it -— of the return of the Lord to this earth is taught in the New Testament as clearly as any other doctrine in it; yet I was in the Church fifteen or sixteen years before I ever heard a sermon on it. There is hardly any church that doesn’t make a great deal of baptism, but in all of Paul’s epistles I believe baptism is only spoken of thirteen times, while it speaks about the return of our Lord fifty times; and yet the Church has had very little to say about it. Now, I can see a reason for this; the devil does not want us to see this truth, for nothing would wake up the Church so much. The moment a man takes hold of the truth that Jesus Christ is coming back again to receive His followers to Himself, this world loses its hold upon him. Gas stocks and water stocks and stocks in banks and railroads are of very much less consequence to him then. His heart is free, and he looks for the blessed appearing of his Lord, who, at His coming, will take him into His blessed Kingdom.”—D. L Moody, The Second Coming of Christ (Revell), pp 67.

Another preacher once wrote:

“‘This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven,’ is the parting promise of Jesus to His disciples, communicated through the two men in white apparel, as a cloud received Him out of their sight. When after more than fifty years in glory He breaks the silence and speaks once more in the Revelation which He gave to His servant John, the post-ascension Gospel which he sends opens with, ‘Behold, He cometh with clouds,’ and closes with ‘Surely I come quickly.’ Considering the solemn emphasis thus laid upon this doctrine, and considering the great prominence given to it throughout the teaching of our Lord and of His apostles, how was It that for the first five years of my pastoral life it had absolutely no place in my preaching? Undoubtedly the reason lay in the lack of early instruction. Of all the sermons heard from childhood on, I do not remember listening to a single one upon this subject.” -— A. J. Gordon, How Christ Came to Church, pp. 44-45.

How important is it that we are now prepared in our lives to meet Christ when He returns?

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2.

Will the return of Christ be a time of reward?

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every person according, to their works.” Mat 16:27. “And behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every person according as their work shall be.” Rev 22:12.

Who will receive the promised salvation when Christ returns?

“So, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb 9:28.

What strong motivation should His return have on our lives right now?

“We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every person that hath this hope in them purifies themselves, even as Jesus is pure.” 1 John 3:2, 3.

To whom are these crowns of life promised?

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight and finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that ay: and not to me only, but unto all of them also that love His appearing.” 2 Tim 4:6-8.

What will the waiting ones say when Jesus comes the second time?

“And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isa 25:9

Has the exact time of Christ’s coming been revealed?

“But of that day and hour knows no one, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Mat 24:36.

In view of this fact, how does Christ tell us to prepare for that glorious event?

“Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord will come.” Mat 24: 42.

What warning has Christ given that we might not be taken by surprise when He returns?

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all of them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34-36.

What special attribute should the waiting ones develop?

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Jam 5:7-8.

Turning to the disciples, Christ said, “Take heed that no man deceives you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Many false messiahs will appear, claiming to work miracles, and declaring that the time of the deliverance of the Jewish nation has come. These will mislead many. Christ’s words were fulfilled. Between His death and the siege of Jerusalem many false messiahs appeared. But this warning was given also to those who live in this age of the world. The same deceptions practiced prior to the destruction of Jerusalem have been practiced through the ages and will be practiced again. {DA 628.2}

When one of my sons was little, I tucked him into bed one night and he asked me the most interesting question that an eight-year-old boy could possibly ask their dad. This is what he asked me:

“Dad. When will all the days be over so that we can see Jesus?”

I was a little shocked. I did not dream that an eight-year-old boy could have such views or questions on the second coming of Jesus.

But the answer to my son’s questions is the perfect proof that the second coming of Jesus will be the opposite of “secret.” There is no such thing as a “secret rapture.” Jesus has nothing to hide. No secrets to keep in His second coming. Every eye will see Him.

In unmistakable language, our Lord speaks of His second coming, and He gives warning of dangers to precede His advent to the world.

Some Will Depart from the Faith

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

“If anyone shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so, shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

As one of the signs of Jerusalem’s destruction, Christ had said.

“Many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many.” False prophets did rise, deceiving the people, and leading great numbers into the desert. Magicians and sorcerers, claiming miraculous power, drew the people after them into the mountain solitudes. But this prophecy was spoken also for the last days. This sign is given as a sign of the second advent. Even now false Christs and false prophets are showing signs and wonders to seduce His disciples.

Do we not [today] still hear the clamor?

“Behold, He is in the desert”? Have not thousands gone forth into the desert, hoping to find Christ? And from thousands of gatherings where people profess to hold communion with departed spirits is not the call now heard, “Behold, He is in the secret chambers”? This is the very claim that spiritism puts forth.

But what says Christ?

“Believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so, shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

Next week we will look at how the Bible answers my son’s question on the second coming of Jesus. The Bible declares in both Old and New Testament that it is anything but secret.

Dad, when will all the days be over so that Jesus can come?”

Running With The Horses

Post Views: 432

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“If you have run with footmen, and they wore you out, then how can you compete with horses? And if you feel secure in the land of peace, how then will you do in the thick brush of the Jordan? (Jer 12:5, AFV)

We must realize that we ourselves would be in big trouble if God gave each of us what we truly deserve as Jeremiah was saying here that God should do to certain people.

Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. “With His stripes we are healed.” {DA 25.2}

Life was extremely difficult for Jeremiah despite his love for and obedience to God. When he called to God for relief, God’s reply in effect was, “If you think this is bad, how are you going to cope when it gets really tough?” God’s answers to our most fervent prayers are not always nice or easy to handle. Any Christian who has experienced war, bereavement, or a serious illness knows this.

But because we love Jesus, we will be committed to God even when the going gets tough and when our prayers for relief are not immediately answered. We will still rejoice that all things work together for good if we love Jesus. (Rom 8:28)

Yes. Likewise, the smaller trials that Jeremiah faced then were to prepare Jeremiah for what was coming.

Rev 3:10 reminds us of the impending turmoil during earth’s final events that all Christians will have to face and find the way be prepared.

How would it change your life today if you were to think along the lines of what God is saying to Jeremiah about running with the horses?

STOP For The Night

Post Views: 525

Reading Time: 6 minutes

“At sunset he stopped for the night and went to sleep, resting his head on a large rock.” (Gen 28:11, C.E.V.)

A reflection on the present always reflects something of our past and often looks forward to our future, at the same time.

As we prepare to celebrate a new day each morning, we can reflect upon what we have done and where we have been.

What was our yesterday like?

We wonder why we see no method to the fast-paced troubles and trials that happen to us. I have looked back and thought, “Why on earth did I have to suffer so much these last few months? Why did this, or why did that ever happen? It doesn’t even make sense, let alone seem fair.

I noticed in this text how Jacob came to “a certain place;” and stayed there all night because the sun had set.”

Now Jacob had no mattress, no covers, and a rock for a pillow. Jacob must have wondered what on earth was going on too; and why God had led him there, and apparently “left” him in such a place to sleep for the night. Sound uncomfortable at the very least.

It is quite likely that Jacob had intended to try to reach the city of Luz that day, but because the sun had set, he ran out of time, and had to stay put for the night. With the dark of night coming on, it could have been quite dangerous for him to try to reach the city then. I can imagine how that Jacob was worried about the big city being too dangerous at night.

Like Jacob’s experience, I walked into a few places recently where I was thinking maybe I had run out of time, that some issues had gone unanswered, and had left me in tatters; yet, when I saw this sunset tonight, the thought crossed my mind that another day is promised.

This day, like the setting sun is indeed ebbing away, yet reflected in the beauty and colors of this sunset, the new tomorrow will arise, with a chance to do things differently; and maybe even better.

I find myself wanting to praise the Lord for the Light, and the color that He puts into my life. Sometimes it is through the people He sets in my path, sometimes He communicates the assurance I need through what He has created, like this sunset.

I intend to enter today, this new day, praising God for the answers He has given me, and for the moments of Light, and colors He has gifted me with, and for

“when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:19)

God’s covenant promise to Abraham and Isaac was also offered to Jacob. But it was not enough for Jacob to be Abraham’s grandson; Jacob had to also establish his own personal relationship with God.

God has no grandchildren; each person must have a personal relationship with him. It is not enough to hear wonderful stories about Christians in your family. You need to become part of the story yourself. (Ezekiel 14:14,20, 1 John 5:11-12, 1 John 1:1-3)

Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, [as conformity to God’s will and purpose so it is with you also]. [Gen 15:6]
Gal 3:7 So understand that it is the people who live by faith [with confidence in the power and goodness of God] who are [the true] sons of Abraham. (Gal 3:6-7, AMP)

Then Abram believed in (affirmed, trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the LORD; and He counted (credited) it to him as righteousness (doing right in regard to God and man). (Gen 15:6, AMP)

Jacob had a very uncomfortable place to sleep that night, not unlike many of us at various points in our life. Things are uncomfortable. Maybe even dangerous. As the text reveals, God had Jacob stay there for a good reason.

Jacob had the stones for his pillows and the heavens for his canopy; no heat, very much exposed to the elements; and yet, the hardship of this night seemed to make him forget that he was fleeing for his life from his own brother. The dream he had in verse 12 reflects the amazing assurance Jacob had in this divine protection. (Rom 4:1-5)

I can see myself, climbing Jacob’s ladder. Each promise of God that I claim seems to be one more step up that ladder. Each promise is one step closer to Heaven, (2 Pet 1:3-4)

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

I believe God has good reason for whatever I have experienced, for all the pain, the frustration and where I have had to be in recent days. I do not really know what that reason is right now that my suffering intensifies, but it does not matter. The “times of refreshing” have helped me through it all. They tell me that Jesus is here. He will never leave me nor forsake me. (Heb 13:5)

Partakers of the Divine Nature simply means for us today that we must learn of Christ. We must know what He is to those He has ransomed. We must realize that through belief in Him it is our privilege to be partakers of the divine nature, and so escape the corruption that is in the world through wrong desires. Then we are cleansed from all sin, all defects of character. We need not retain one sinful desire or evil propensity. Eph 2:1-6. {7BC 943.1}

Great and precious promises refers to the numerous offers of divine provision found throughout Scripture. These promises offer us the glory and virtue of Christ as the basis for our growing participation in the divine nature. (2 Pet 3:18).

We have Christ within us, as He promised (John 14:23), to enable us to become increasingly Christlike (2 Cor 3:18). Because we have become new creatures in Christ, (2 Cor 5:17), we have already escaped the corruption (the moral ruin) that is in the world through perverted desire.

“In Christ,” through His precious promises, shows how we can make our escape from this world’s ways evident to all by our godly behavior (Acts 4:13), and by the renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2). These promises are the fourth resource (compare also 2 Pet 1:1,2 Pet 1:3) upon which believers today may draw for sustaining help. (Isa 12:3)

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isa 12:2-3)

Although Abram had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, it was his belief in the Lord, not his actions, that made Abram right with God (Rom 4:1-5). We, too, can have a right relationship with God by going to Jesus just as we are, and by trusting Him.

Our outward actions, such as church attendance, prayer, good deeds, none of that will ever in or of themselves make us right with God.

A right relationship for me to have with God is based on the shed blood of Christ,(Gal 6:14, Eph 2:13),accessed by our exercised faith. Faith — the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do. (Isa 28:12, Acts 3:19)

The God who began a good work within us continues it throughout our lifetime and will finish it when we meet him face to face. God’s work for us began when Christ died on the cross in our place.

His work within us began when we first believed. Now the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day. Paul is describing the process of Christian growth and maturity that began when we accepted Jesus and continues until Christ returns.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank God every time I remember you. And I always pray for all of you with joy. I thank God for the help you gave me while I told people the Good News. You helped from the first day you believed until now. I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until he completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again. I know I am right to think like this about all of you because you are so close to my heart. This is because you have all played such an important part in God’s grace to me (Phil 1:2-7, ERV)

No matter where you end up having to lay your head for the night, it is my prayer that you also experience this inner confidence that “…He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Phil 1:6)

Prayer:

Father In Heaven, draw me close to You, never let me go. I lay it all down again before You. To hear you say that I am your friend

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

Look At The Birds!

Post Views: 645

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Mat 6:26, NIV)

Christ disappointed the hope of worldly greatness. In the Sermon on the Mount He sought to undo the work that had been wrought by false education, and to give His hearers a right conception of His kingdom and of His own character. Yet He did not make a direct attack on the errors of the people.

Jesus saw the misery of the world on account of sin, yet He did not present before them a vivid delineation of their wretchedness.

Jesus taught them of something infinitely better than they had known. Without combating their ideas of the kingdom of God, He told them the conditions of entrance therein, leaving them to draw their own conclusions as to its nature.

The truths He taught are no less important to us than to the multitude that followed Him. We no less than they need to learn the foundation principles of the kingdom of God. {DA 299.3}

The proud heart strives to earn salvation; but both our title to heaven and our fitness for it are found in the righteousness of Christ. The Lord can do nothing toward the recovery of man until, convinced of his own weakness, and stripped of all self-sufficiency, he yields himself to the control of God. Then he can receive the gift that God is waiting to bestow. From the soul that feels his need, nothing is withheld. He has unrestricted access to Him in whom all fullness dwells. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isa 57:15. {DA 300.1}

God’s word for the sorrowing is, “I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.” “I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.” Isa 57:18; Jer 31:13. {DA 301.2}

Unexpected Storms: Moral Purpose of Final Events

Post Views: 577

Reading Time: 8 minutes

Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm (Job 40:6)

Some think that the whirlwind ceased while the Lord spoke the words in Job 40:2; which encouraged Job to give the answer he did; but others are of opinion that it continued, and now increased, and was more boisterous than before.

Our opening text shows, among other things how Job was greatly humbled for what God had already said, but not sufficiently. Job was brought low, but not low enough. God herein proceeded to reason with Job in the same manner and to the same purpose as before. (Job 40:6).

NOW, notice what God said to Job from out of the storm:

“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his? Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. (Job 40:8-10)

Friend. Its time to believe it. Jesus is there. Right in the center of your storm.

Today. For you. Jesus still speaks peace be still. (Mark 4:39)

This passage from the book of Job teaches us how that the new life of a believer proceeds in the same way of conviction, humbling, and watchfulness against remaining sin, as did Job do here. And likewise, today when convinced of many shortcomings in our conduct, we still need convincing of many more.

Friend, have you received The Holy Spirit since you first believed? (Acts 19:2)

Your unexpected storm has not caught Jesus by surprise. Jesus will carry you. (Isa 46:4) He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb 13:5) Jesus is watching over you. Jesus will bring you through. The Garden. The jail. The hammer. The nail. The long night. And then the morning. Jesus is not here. He is risen. (Mat 1:21)

And you will rise again too as His adopted child. (2 Pet 3:18. John 1:12)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (1 Pet 3:18)

The true light that gives light to everyone has come into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right and the power to become children of God (John 1:9-12)

All who welcome Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord of their lives are reborn spiritually. (John 3:3) Receiving new life from God. Through faith in Christ, this new birth changes us from the inside out rearranging our attitudes, desires, and motives. Being born makes you physically alive and places you in your parents’ family (John 1:13). Being born of God makes you spiritually alive and puts you in God’s family (John 1:12).

Jesus will take care of you. No matter how horrible you think you are. Jesus will take your case. Jesus knows that your broken heart just needs love. When you give your heart to Jesus, you are literally a new creation. (2 Cor 5:17).

The Holy Educating Spirit of God gives you in verity, a wonderful new life. You will never be the same again. (Eph 2:10) A true Christian is not just reformed, rehabilitated, or re-educated. They are re-created (new creations), living in vital union with Christ (Col 2:6-7).

You accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, so continue to live following him. You must depend on Christ only, drawing life and strength from him. Just as you were taught the truth, continue to grow stronger in your understanding of it. And never stop giving thanks to God. (Col 2:6-7)

At conversion we do not merely turn over a new leaf; we begin a new life under a new Master. Under a Higher Authority.

The old nature, born of blood and the will of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The old ways, the hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given up. Grace is not inherited. The new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, new tendencies. Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature. In all their habits and practices, they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ.

When people who claim to be Christians retain all their natural defects of character and disposition, in what does their position differ from that of the non-believer? They do not appreciate the truth as a Sanctifier, a refiner.

They have not been born again.

now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:13, NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Cor 5:17)

Receiving Christ as Lord of your life is the beginning of life with Christ. But you must continue to follow his leadership by being rooted, built up, and strengthened in the faith. Christ wants to guide you and help you with your daily problems. You can live for Christ by

(1) committing your life and submitting your will to him

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Rom 12:1-2).

(2) seeking to learn from him, his life, and his teachings

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Col 3:15-16).

(3) recognizing the Holy Spirit’s power in you

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8.

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23).

Have you asked Christ to make you a new person?

Maybe you are already a Christian and your walk with God has gone stale? You don’t feel connected to His heart of infinite love?

Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed? (Acts 19:2)

Let the prayer ascend from contrite hearts, “Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” [Psalm 51:6-13.] {CE 230.3}

What a prayer is this! How evident it is that sinners in the household are not to be treated with indifference, but that the Lord looks upon them as the purchase of his blood. (Eph 2:13)

John’s baptism was a sign of repentance from sin only, not really a sign of new life in Christ. Like Job, or Apollos (Job 40:1-9 Acts 18:24-26), many believers today still need further instruction about the message and ministry of Jesus Christ. They believe in Jesus as the Messiah, but so many of us do not understand the significance of the work of the God’s Holy Educating Spirit. For so many of us, our walk with God has grown cold.

God’s holy, educating Spirit is in His word. A light, a new and precious light, shines forth from every page. Truth is there revealed, and words and sentences are made bright and appropriate for the occasion, as the voice of God speaking to the soul. {COL 132.2}

In his last moments with his disciples, Jesus

(1) warned them about further persecution

(2) told them where, when, and why he was going

(3) assured them that they would not be left alone, but that the Spirit would come.

Jesus knew what lay ahead, Jesus did not want the disciples’ faith shaken or destroyed.

The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s control—we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without his help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our life to his Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (see John 15:4-5).

We must know him, love him, remember him, and imitate him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law—to love God and our neighbors.

Which of these qualities do you want the Spirit to produce in you?

Friends, God wants you to know you are not alone. You have the Holy Spirit to comfort you, teach you truth, and help you.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. (John 16:13-14)

God’s holy, educating Spirit is in His word. A light, a new and precious light, shines forth from every page. Truth is there revealed, and words and sentences are made bright and appropriate for the occasion, as the voice of God speaking to the soul. {COL 132.2}

The greatest wisdom, and most essential, is the knowledge of God. (John 17:3) Self sinks into insignificance as it contemplates God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. The Bible must be made the foundation for all study. Individually we must learn from this lesson-book that which God has given us, the condition of the salvation of our souls; for it is the only book that tells us what we must do to be saved. Becoming a Christian involves turning from sin (repentance) and turning to Christ (faith).

This fresh start in life is available to all who believe in Christ. And it can come right out of whatever dark cloud you are in now.

As He spoke the words of promise, the dark cloud that seemed to enshroud the cross was pierced by a bright and living light. To the penitent thief came the perfect peace of acceptance with God. Christ in His humiliation was glorified. He who in all other eyes appeared to be conquered was a Conqueror. He was acknowledged as the Sin Bearer. Men may exercise power over His human body. They may pierce the holy temples with the crown of thorns. They may strip from Him His raiment, and quarrel over its division. But they cannot rob Him of His power to forgive sins. In dying He bears testimony to His own divinity and to the glory of the Father. His ear is not heavy that it cannot hear, neither His arm shortened that it cannot save. It is His royal right to save unto the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. {DA 751.2}

God Invites Us To Pray

Post Views: 497

Reading Time: 13 minutes

LINKED WITH GOD THROUGH PRAYER

All of them made evil plans to come and fight against Jerusalem. They wanted to stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God. We put guards on duty day and night to watch out for danger. (Neh 4:8-9)

We shall meet with opposition of every description, as did the builders of the walls of Jerusalem; but if we watch and pray, and work as they did, God will fight our battles for us, and give us precious victories.{3BC 1138.2}

It is a wonderful thing that we can pray effectually; that unworthy, erring mortals possess the power of offering their requests to God. What higher power can man desire than this,—to be linked with the infinite God? Feeble, sinful man has the privilege of speaking to his Maker. We may utter words that reach the throne of the Monarch of the universe. We may speak with Jesus as we walk by the way, and He says, I am at thy right hand.

We may commune with God in our hearts; we may walk in companionship with Christ. When engaged in our daily labor, we may breathe out our heart’s desire, inaudible to any human ear; but that word cannot die away into silence, nor can it be lost. Nothing can drown the soul’s desire. It rises above the din of the street, above the noise of machinery. It is God to whom we are speaking, and our prayer is heard.

Ask, then; ask, and ye shall receive. Ask for humility, wisdom, courage, increase of faith. To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need. The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good.

JESUS INVITES US TO PRAY

The Lord gives us the privilege of seeking Him individually in earnest prayer, of unburdening our souls to Him, keeping nothing from Him who has invited us, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28) Oh, how grateful we should be that Jesus is willing and able to bear all our infirmities and strengthen and heal all our diseases if it will be for our good and for His glory.

“Come unto Me,” is His invitation. Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord.

TELL JESUS ALL YOUR NEEDS

There are few who rightly appreciate or improve the precious privilege of prayer. We should go to Jesus and tell Him all our needs. We may bring Him our little cares and perplexities as well as our greater troubles. Whatever arises to disturb or distress us, we should take it to the Lord in prayer. When we feel that we need the presence of Christ at every step, Satan will have little opportunity to intrude his temptations. It is his studied effort to keep us away from our best and most sympathizing friend. We should make no one our confidant but Jesus. We can safely commune with Him of all that is in our hearts.

OPENING THE HEART TO A FRIEND

Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.

When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us

GOD WELCOMES US TO HIS AUDIENCE CHAMBER

We come to God by special invitation, and He waits to welcome us to His audience chamber. The first disciples who followed Jesus were not satisfied with a hurried conversation with Him by the way; they said, “Rabbi, . . . where dwellest Thou? They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day.” John 1:38, 39. So we may be admitted into closest intimacy and communion with God. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1. Let those who desire the blessing of God knock and wait at the door of mercy with firm assurance, saying, For Thou, O Lord, hast said, “Everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

AN EXALTED PRIVILEGE

When in trouble, when assailed by fierce temptations, they [God’s children] have the privilege of prayer. What an exalted privilege! Finite beings, of dust and ashes, admitted through the mediation of Christ, into the audience chamber of the Most High. In such exercises the soul is brought into a sacred nearness with God, and is renewed in knowledge, and true holiness, and fortified against the assaults of the enemy.

PRAYER IS BOTH A SPIRITUAL NECESSITY AND A PRIVILEGE

Those who have professed to love Christ, have not comprehended the relation which exists between them and God, . . . They do not realize what a great privilege and necessity are prayer, repentance, and the doing of the words of Christ.

PRAYER ENABLES US TO LIVE IN THE SUNSHINE OF HIS PRESENCE.

It is our privilege to open our hearts, and let the sunshine of Christ’s presence in. My brother, my sister, face the light. Come into actual, personal contact with Christ, that you may exert an influence that is uplifting and reviving. Let your faith be strong and pure and steadfast. Let gratitude to God fill your hearts. When you rise in the morning, kneel at your bedside, and ask God to give you strength to fulfill the duties of the day, and to meet its temptations. Ask Him to help you to bring into your work Christ’s sweetness of character. Ask Him to help you to speak words that will inspire those around you with hope and courage, and draw you nearer to the Savior.

OUR PRAYERS NEVER BURDEN OR WEARY GOD

There is no time or place in which it is inappropriate to offer up a petition to God. There is nothing that can prevent us from lifting up our hearts in the spirit of earnest prayer. In the crowds of the street, in the midst of a business engagement, we may send up a petition to God and plead for divine guidance, as did Nehemiah when he made his request before King Artaxerxes. A closet of communion may be found wherever we are. We should have the door of the heart open continually and our invitation going up that Jesus may come and abide as a heavenly guest in the soul.

Although there may be a tainted, corrupted atmosphere around us, we need not breathe its miasma, but may live in the pure air of heaven. We may close every door to impure imaginings and unholy thoughts by lifting the soul into the presence of God through sincere prayer. Those whose hearts are open to receive the support and blessing of God will walk in a holier atmosphere than that of earth and will have constant communion with heaven.

We need to have more distinct views of Jesus and a fuller comprehension of the value of eternal realities. The beauty of holiness is to fill the hearts of God’s children; and that this may be accomplished, we should seek for divine disclosures of heavenly things.

Let the soul be drawn out and upward, that God may grant us a breath of the heavenly atmosphere. We may keep so near to God that in every unexpected trial our thoughts will turn to Him as naturally as the flower turns to the sun.

Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. “The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (James 5:11). His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds. He rules over all the affairs of the universe. {Pr 11.1}
Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. . . . The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watch care, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.

A FORETASTE OF HEAVEN.

Rest yourself wholly in the hands of Jesus. Contemplate His great love, and while you meditate upon His self-denial, His infinite sacrifice made in our behalf in order that we should believe in Him, your heart will be filled with holy joy, calm peace, and indescribable love. As we talk of Jesus, as we call upon Him in prayer, our confidence that He is our personal, loving Savior will strengthen and His character will appear more and more lovely. We may enjoy rich feasts of love, and as we fully believe that we are His by adoption, we may have a foretaste of heaven. Wait upon the Lord in faith. The Lord draws out the soul in prayer, and gives us to feel His precious love. We have a nearness to Him, and can hold sweet communion with Him. We obtain distinct views of His tenderness and compassion, and our hearts are broken and melted with contemplation of the love that is given to us. We feel indeed an abiding Christ in the soul. We abide in Him, and feel at home with Jesus. The promises flow into the soul. Our peace is like a river, wave after wave of glory rolls into the heart, and indeed we sup with Jesus and He with us. We have a realizing sense of the love of God, and we rest in His love.

No language can describe it, it is beyond knowledge. We are one with Christ, our life is hid with Christ in God. We have the assurance that when He who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory. With strong confidence, we can call God our Father.

PRAYER BRINGS FRESHNESS TO SPIRITUAL LIFE

Our life is to be bound up with the life of Christ; we are to draw constantly from Him, partaking of Him, the living Bread that came down from heaven, drawing from a fountain ever fresh, ever giving forth its abundant treasures. If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us a sweet joyful sense of the presence of Jesus. Often our hearts will burn within us as He draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. When this is in truth the experience of the Christian, there is seen in his life a simplicity, a humility, meekness, and lowliness of heart, that show to all with whom he associates that he has been with Jesus and learned of Him.

A PLACE TO FLEE THAT IS ALWAYS OPEN.

The way to the throne of God is always open. You cannot always be on your knees in prayer, but your silent petitions may constantly ascend to God for strength and guidance. When tempted, as you will be, you may flee to the secret place of the Most High. His everlasting arms will be underneath you.

THE SECRET OF SPIRITUAL POWER

Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual power. No other means of grace can be substituted and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate contact with the Wellspring of life, and strengthens the sinew and muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties lose their vitality, the religious experience lacks health and vigor.

It is a wonderful thing that we can pray effectually, that unworthy, erring mortals possess the power of offering their requests to God. What higher power can man desire than this,—to be linked with the infinite God? Feeble, sinful man has the privilege of speaking to his Maker. We may utter words that reach the throne of the Monarch of the universe. We may speak with Jesus as we walk by the way, and He says, I am at thy right hand.—

SECRET PRAYER THE SOUL OF RELIGION

Do not neglect secret prayer, for it is the soul of religion. With earnest, fervent prayer plead for purity of soul. Plead as earnestly, as eagerly, as you would for your mortal life, were it at stake. Remain before God until unutterable longings are begotten within you for salvation, and the sweet evidence is obtained of pardoned sin.

EVERY SINCERE PRAYER IS HEARD.

As yet the disciples were unacquainted with the Savior’s unlimited resources and power. He said to them, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name.” John 16:24. He explained that the secret of their success would be in asking for strength and grace in His name. He would be present before the Father to make request for them. The prayer of the humble suppliant He presents as His own desire in that soul’s behalf. Every sincere prayer is heard in heaven. It may not be fluently expressed; but if the heart is in it, it will ascend to the sanctuary where Jesus ministers, and He will present it to the Father without one awkward, stammering word, beautiful and fragrant with the incense of His own perfection.

The path of sincerity and integrity is not a path free from obstruction, but in every difficulty we are to see a call to prayer. There is no one living who has any power that he has not received from God, and the source whence it comes is open to the weakest human being. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name,” said Jesus, “that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

“In My name,” Christ bade His disciples pray. In Christ’s name His followers are to stand before God. Through the value of the sacrifice made for them, they are of value in the Lord’s sight. Because of the imputed righteousness of Christ they are accounted precious. For Christ’s sake the Lord pardons those that fear Him. He does not see in them the vileness of the sinner. He recognizes in them the likeness of His Son, in whom they believe.

ANGELS MARK OUR PRAYERS AND INFLUENCE US FOR GOOD

When you rise in the morning, do you feel your helplessness and your need of strength from God? and do you humbly, heartily make known your wants to your heavenly Father? If so, angels mark your prayers, and if these prayers have not gone forth out of feigned lips, when you are in danger of unconsciously doing wrong and exerting an influence which will lead others to do wrong, your guardian angel will be by your side, prompting you to a better course, choosing your words for you, and influencing your actions.

If you feel in no danger, and if you offer no prayer for help and strength to resist temptations, you will be sure to go astray; your neglect of duty will be marked in the book of God in heaven, and you will be found wanting in the trying day.

LIKE MOSES, WE MAY ENJOY INTIMATE COMMUNION WITH GOD

That hand that made the world, that holds the mountains in their places, takes this man of dust,—this man of mighty faith,—and mercifully covers him in a cleft of the rock, while the glory of God and all His goodness pass before him. Can we marvel that the “excellent glory” reflected from Omnipotence shone in the face of Moses with such brightness that the people could not look upon it? The impress of God was upon him, making him appear as one of the shining angels from the throne.

This experience, above all else the assurance that God would hear his prayer, and that the divine presence would attend him, was of more value to Moses as a leader than the learning of Egypt, or all his attainments in military science. No earthly power or skill or learning can supply the place of God’s immediate presence. In the history of Moses we may see what intimate communion with God it is man’s privilege to enjoy. To the transgressor it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But Moses was not afraid to be alone with the Author of that law which had been spoken with such awful grandeur from Mount Sinai; for his soul was in harmony with the will of his Maker.

Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. The eye of faith will discern God very near, and the suppliant may obtain precious evidence of the divine love and care for him.

PRAY WITH HOLY BOLDNESS

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” When you pray, present this promise. It is our privilege to come to Him with holy boldness. As in sincerity we ask Him to let His light shine upon us, He will hear and answer us. {Pr 15.3} Heaven is open to our petitions, and we are invited to come “boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” We are to come in faith, believing that we shall obtain the very things we ask of him.

ASK FOR OUR NEEDS

Every promise in the word of God furnishes us with subject matter for prayer, presenting the pledged word of Jehovah as our assurance. Whatever spiritual blessing we need, it is our privilege to claim through Jesus. We may tell the Lord, with the simplicity of a child, exactly what we need. We may state to Him our temporal matters, asking Him for bread and raiment as well as for the bread of life and the robe of Christ’s righteousness. Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things, and you are invited to ask Him concerning them. It is through the name of Jesus that every favor is received. God will honor that name, and will supply your necessities from the riches of His liberality.

ASK AND BELIEVE

As you ask the Lord to help you, honor your Savior by believing that you do receive His blessing. All power, all wisdom, are at our command. We have only to ask.

Walk continually in the light of God. Meditate day and night upon His character. Then you will see His beauty and rejoice in His goodness. Your heart will glow with a sense of His love. You will be uplifted as if borne by everlasting arms. With the power and light that God imparts, you can comprehend more and accomplish more than you ever before deemed possible.

GO FORWARD, TRUSTING GOD

We are to encourage in one another that living faith which Christ has made it possible for every believer to have. The work is to be carried forward as the Lord prepares the way. When He brings His people into strait places, then it is their privilege to assemble together for prayer, remembering that all things come of God. Those who have not yet shared in the trying experiences that attend the work in these last days will soon have to pass through scenes that will severely test their confidence in God. It is at the time His people see no way to advance, when the Red Sea is before them and the pursuing army behind, that God bids them: “Go forward.” Thus He is working to test their faith. When such experiences come to you, go forward, trusting in Christ. Walk step by step in the path He marks out. Trials will come, but go forward. This will give you an experience that will strengthen your faith in God and fit you for truest service.

much of this article is taken from the book called Prayer, Chapter One (2002) by EG White

The Still Water Love That Is Stronger Than Death

Post Views: 1,629

Reading Time: 6 minutes

I “looked and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud” (Exodus 16:10).

"by the still waters" — “by the still waters”

I wondered why I felt strange this morning when I first got up. And then I realized that today is the fourth anniversary of my late wife’s death.

I started this post with a verse that tells us God is in the thick dark clouds of our experiences, even today. Now I would like to relate how I saw God in some of our darkest clouds, and share with you a small piece of our amazing story.

I have realized that somehow, no matter how bad things got, I never doubted her love for me, nor did she ever doubt my love for her. Because we always reminded one another of our love for each other. Every day.

I remember one time, in my typical humorous manner, I asked her:

“Hon, do you ever get sick of me saying I love you?”

To which she replied with a smile:

“No. Please tell me again hon.”

Later, when she could no longer respond, it was just me reminding her. I made a point of telling her each time I went into the room to do some aspect of her care. Or sometimes when I was just sitting with her, she would smile when I said it.

Exactly four years ago today she died in my arms, thus helping me to keep my promise to stay with her until the very end. I know many people who have serious regrets now because they did not say certain things to their lost loved ones. I have immense gratitude in my heart for our love story. Our experience. And how that love carried us both through all the way to the end. We wrote our own love story. No one else wrote it for us. Although there are a couple things I am sure we would both do a little differently, there are no regrets. Not one.

Enclosed is a picture of a pond where we used to go and watch the ducks. I even took her there sometimes in a wheel chair. Those were the most loving moments of our relationship. I would have great fun teasing her that she was interfering with my photography because she would always wrap her arms around me when we went there and it was impossible to take photographs of ducks or anything else when that was going on!

This pond was very important to us for it symbolized the kind of true love that is possible if people would choose it. It reminded us of the still mountain lake, where I often hiked, that runs so deep. In fact I called our love “still water love” because unlike the shallow rocky rivers that never stayed the same, the still mountain lake was steady, faithful, always there. Never failing or flowing away from us. We sometimes thought of how there are these two kinds of love. One, the shallow rocky river, undependable, fast moving, shallow, and hard to walk in, and flowing away from us. But, the still water kind of love, that runs so deep, well, nothing could interfere with it. I am guessing this is why the Bible says “God is love” and “Love never fails.” (1 John 4:8, 1 Cor 13:8)

I appreciate very much how the Book Of Heaven describes what I am talking about:

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. (Psalms 23:2)

Any disturbance or intruder scares sheep. Especially something like fast moving water. They are very fearful animals and cannot lie down unless all is quiet, and calm. But they are always totally secure by “still waters.” God’s provision of “still waters” has a soothing effect and calms the sheep. According to my experience in being a caregiver for 5 years with my late wife, Still Water Love runs deeper than death itself.

Our still water love ran so deep that even death could not erase it. And this is the “unspeakable gift” (2 Cor 9:15) that God has given to us all,in His Son Jesus Christ. I can imagine that it is called “unspeakable” because very few human words or thoughts could adequately describe this kind of love.

One small part of our love story happened during the last Christmas we had together. She was in hospital and so I made a full Christmas dinner for two with all the trimming and brought it to her in the hospital. Try as she might, she was unable to eat or drink any of it. But we toasted anyways and she seemed happy to watch me enjoy the dinner. I was starving after all that cooking! But at the end of it all, as I was putting things away into the coolers, she held my arm for a minute and said

“Hon, thank you. That was such a good dinner.”

That is how my human words would describe the kind of still water love I am talking about here.

In the 23rd Psalm we are lovingly reminded that God Himself desires to lead us to the still waters that are always available to us all.

“He leads me beside the still waters,” (Psalms 23:2)

As I said earlier, I can think of no regrets. I am happy that I chose God to shepherd my late wife and I to the green pastures, and the still waters where all can find true rest for the soul. The resurrection promise where we would see each other again was our “little light in every cloud.”

In my experiences, I have been finding new ways with each passing year to realize how our great Shepherd leads us to the green meadows and to the still water love where we know we are loved and where we find restoration by going the Shepherds way.

Never before was there such a general knowledge of Jesus as when He hung upon the cross. He was lifted up from the earth, to draw everyone to Him. Into the hearts of many who beheld that crucifixion scene, and who heard Christ’s words, was the light of truth to shine. With John they would proclaim:

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Present there at the gruesome scene on Calvary were those who never rested until, searching the Scriptures and comparing passage with passage, they saw the meaning of Christ’s mission. They saw that free forgiveness was provided by Him whose tender mercy embraced the whole world. They read the prophecies regarding Christ, and the promises so free and full, pointing to the still water love that runs so deep.

In everyone who seeks for Still Water Love, we may behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us that we might be called the sons and daughters of God. This love, like the sacred fire on altars of old, burns on the altar of the heart today. It was on the earth that the love of God was revealed through Jesus.

It is on the earth that His children are invited and enabled to choose, then reflect this still water love in their own, personal, lived experience. Thus all can be led to the cross to behold the Lamb of God in all His glory. I saw Him there the day she died in my arms. When I put her down on the bed, she was white, still, quiet. She looked peaceful. After not being opened for weeks before she died, her eyes were wide open, and looking right at me. It seemed as though the very Light from Heaven was in that room then. It was so light that I couldn’t cry or react. I just stood there in amazement. Was this the last thing she did? To look at me? That would definitely be another example of “Still Water Love.”

Today, I can only exclaim:

“Amazing! The height and depth of the love of Christ. The deep mountain lake of His love stronger than death itself!”

My friends: still water love isn’t going anywhere. Unlike the shallow rocky rivers here in the mountains that flow away from us, the still waters of the deep mountain lake are always there, and even for the next relationships that we form later on.

Jesus said once “I, if I be lifted up will draw all people unto Me.” (John 12:32) Jesus, The Good Shepherd wants to lead us through all the dark clouds to the amazing heights and depths of His love. “herein is love, not that we loved God but that He first loved us and sent His Son to be our Still Water place. And I found that that “place” is actually a Person.

Behold what manner of love the father has given unto me and my late wife that we should not only be called but also treated like the children of God.(1 John 4:10, 1 John 3:1)

This concludes my personal story about the “unspeakable gift.” I have never doubted God’s love the whole time that I was her caregiver. Because in many ways similar to the above, God reminded me every day.

The Easter Message In A Nutshell

Post Views: 564

Reading Time: 4 minutes

JESUS came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, (Eph 2:17-20)

This Easter, our Canadian Government has created a very bad situation for almost everyone, except of course the rich. There is a lot of anger, fear, frustration across the entire country.

Jesus was born that we might live. Jesus was born that we might be born again. And our life is bound up in the scarlet cords of Calvary where He died for you and me. Some will scoff at this idea but Jesus provides a solution that no government or big business can ever take from us. In His own words, Jesus puts it like this:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are worked in God. (John 3:14-21)

And the Bible promises that

“You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

We can be FREE INDEED (John 8:36) by Him who lived and died for us to have what He calls “Life more abundant,” (John 10:10) and this abundance is not affected by the political or economic climate imposed upon us now. In contrast to the thief who takes life, Jesus gives life. The life he gives right now is abundantly rich and full. (John 10:10) It is eternal, yet it begins immediately. Life in Christ is lived on a higher plane because of his overflowing forgiveness, love, and guidance in all things.

Have you taken Christ’s offer of life? This is why Jesus died on the cross and why Jesus was resurrected to the same new life (2 Cor 5:17) that we may NOW have in Him.

Paul says it like this. He is trying to teach us that no matter what is happening, there is a response that will always bring glory to God.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom 12:1-2)

The path of sincerity and integrity is not a path free from obstruction, but in every difficulty we are to see a call to prayer. There is no one living who has any power that they have not received from God, and the source whence it comes is open to the weakest human being. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name,” said Jesus, “that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.” {DA 667.4}

Those who desire to preach the gospel even in troublous times like Canadians face today have the best solution available in the following promise:

By this shall all people know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.(Jo.13:35)

What a glorious message to put forth in times like these.

The Holy Spirit through Ezekiel has declared:

“I will set up one Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them.” “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick.” “And I will make with them a covenant of peace.” “And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.” Ezekiel 34:23, Ezekiel 34:16, Ezekiel 34:25, Ezekiel 34:28.
{DA 476.3}

Because of the cross, the day will soon be here when we can echo the words from the prophet of old:

“And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen…they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.” (see Ezekiel 34:28, Jer 23:6)

The Promises Of “Easter”

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb 13:20-21)

These verses include two significant results of Christ’s death and resurrection. God works in us to make us the kind of people that would please him, and he equips us to do the kind of work that would please him. Let God change you from within and then use you to help others.

By this shall all people know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.(Jo.13:35)

When people love people; THEN Jesus will be seen.