Within

We have far more to fear from within than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are far greater from the church itself than from the world. Unbelievers have a right to expect that those who profess to be keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, will do more than any other class to promote and honor, by their consistent lives, by their godly example and their active influence, the cause which they represent. But how often have the professed advocates of the truth proved the greatest obstacle to its advancement! The unbelief indulged, the doubts expressed, the darkness cherished, encourage the presence of evil angels, and open the way for the accomplishment of Satan's devices. LDE 156

Choose The Good Part

Luke 10:38-42

Among the most steadfast of Christ's disciples was Lazarus of Bethany. From their first meeting his faith in Christ had been strong; his love for Him was deep, and he was greatly beloved by the Saviour. It was for Lazarus that the greatest of Christ's miracles was performed. The Saviour blessed all who sought His help; He loves all the human family, but to some He is bound by peculiarly tender associations. His heart was knit by a strong bond of affection to the family at Bethany, and for one of them His most wonderful work was wrought. 

At the home of Lazarus, Jesus had often found rest. The Saviour had no home of His own; He was dependent on the hospitality of His friends and disciples, and often, when weary, thirsting for human fellowship, He had been glad to escape to this peaceful household, away from the suspicion and jealousy of the angry Pharisees. Here He found a sincere welcome, and pure, holy friendship. Here He could speak with simplicity and perfect freedom, knowing that His words would be understood and treasured. 

Our Saviour appreciated a quiet home and interested listeners. He longed for human tenderness, courtesy, and affection. Those who received the heavenly instruction He was always ready to impart were greatly blessed. As the multitudes followed Christ through the open fields, He unfolded to them the beauties of the natural world. He sought to open the eyes of their understanding, that they might see how the hand of God upholds the world. In order to call out an appreciation of God's goodness and benevolence, He called the attention of His hearers to the gently falling dew, to the soft showers of rain and the bright sunshine, given alike to good and evil. He desired men to realize more fully the regard that God bestows on the human instrumentalities He has created. But the multitudes were slow of hearing, and in the home at Bethany Christ found rest from the weary conflict of public life. Here He opened to an appreciative audience the volume of Providence. In these private interviews He unfolded to His hearers that which He did not attempt to tell to the mixed multitude. He needed not to speak to His friends in parables. 

As Christ gave His wonderful lessons, Mary sat at His feet, a reverent and devoted listener. On one occasion, Martha, perplexed with the care of preparing the meal, went to Christ, saying, “Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” This was the time of Christ's first visit to Bethany. The Saviour and His disciples had just made the toilsome journey on foot from Jericho. Martha was anxious to provide for their comfort, and in her anxiety she forgot the courtesy due to her Guest. Jesus answered her with mild and patient words, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Mary was storing her mind with the precious words falling from the Saviour's lips, words that were more precious to her than earth's most costly jewels. 

The “one thing” that Martha needed was a calm, devotional spirit, a deeper anxiety for knowledge concerning the future, immortal life, and the graces necessary for spiritual advancement. She needed less anxiety for the things which pass away, and more for those things which endure forever. Jesus would teach His children to seize every opportunity of gaining that knowledge which will make them wise unto salvation. The cause of Christ needs careful, energetic workers. There is a wide field for the Marthas, with their zeal in active religious work. But let them first sit with Mary at the feet of Jesus. Let diligence, promptness, and energy be sanctified by the grace of Christ; then the life will be an unconquerable power for good. DA 524,525

Watch

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Matthew 24:42

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Matthew 25:13

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Mark 13:33-37

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Luke 12:37

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 21:36

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:18

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Colossians 4:2

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 

1 Thessalonians 5:6

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 

1 Peter 4:7

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15

Names of Christ - Friend

They could speak the name of Jesus with assurance; for was He not their Friend and Elder Brother? Brought into close communion with Christ, they sat with Him in heavenly places. With what burning language they clothed their ideas as they bore witness for Him! Their hearts were surcharged with a benevolence so full, so deep, so far-reaching, that it impelled them to go to the ends of the earth, testifying to the power of Christ. They were filled with an intense longing to carry forward the work He had begun. They realized the greatness of their debt to heaven and the responsibility of their work. Strengthened by the endowment of the Holy Spirit, they went forth filled with zeal to extend the triumphs of the cross. The Spirit animated them and spoke through them. The peace of Christ shone from their faces. They had consecrated their lives to Him for service, and their very features bore evidence to the surrender they had made. AA 46

He had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity. They knew that He was before the throne of God, their Friend and Saviour still; that His sympathies were unchanged; that He would forever be identified with suffering humanity. They knew that He was presenting before God the merit of His blood, showing His wounded hands and feet as a remembrance of the price He had paid for His redeemed ones; and this thought strengthened them to endure reproach for His sake. Their union with Him was stronger now than when He was with them in person. The light and love and power of an indwelling Christ shone out through them, so that men, beholding, marveled. AA 65

Works?

Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. John 6:28,29

So, rather than us trying to DO the right thing in our own strength, or trying to DO something to prove that we are Christ’s followers, all we have to DO is “believe on Him whom He hath sent. “, and when we do that He can work the works of God in and through us. Praise the Lord.

Glorious

In the recommended sections of GC Ch 34-38 we find passages like this -

The angel who unites with the third angel is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. The first angel's message was carried to every mission station in the world, and in some countries there was the greatest religious interest witnessed since the Reformation. But these are to be exceeded by the last warning of the third angel. 

The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. The “former rain” was given at the opening of the gospel to cause the upspringing of the precious seed; so the “latter rain” will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest. Hosea 6:3; Joel 2:23. The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close. Here are “the times of refreshing” to which the apostle Peter looked forward. Acts 3:19, 20. 

Servants of God, their faces shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed. Satan also works with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand. R

The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments have been presented, publications have exerted their influence, yet many have been prevented from fully comprehending the truth. Now the truth is seen in its clearness. Family connections, church relations are powerless to stay the honest children of God now. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord's side.

We all know that the book of Acts is going to be repeated in our time so, let us all read or listen to this book also in preparation for what we are about to face. This is the glorious side of the otherwise very distressing scenario that this world is building up to. You can be part of this victory over the forces of evil.

May the LORD be allowed, by our personal choice, to fulfil His will in and through each one of us.

Water?

Several years ago a medical doctor wrote a book that was published under a few different titles -

You Are Not Sick, You are Thirsty

The Body’s Many Cries For Water

being two of them. He has noticed that people are chronically dehydrated, and he simply prescribes water for his patients. Every type of pain is covered in the book and his standard, immediate prescribed dose for pain is 2 glasses/600 ml and the pain will go. If it returns, repeat it. We have used it and recommended it over the ensuing years, and it does not fail. It is after all one of our God-given 8 doctors/natural remedies which we all know from our prophet. As you know it can be used successfully in all of its forms - solid/ice; liquid; vapour/steam, with internal and external applications. Returning to drinking -

If we use one of the Principles of Biblical interpretation - the proof text method; “here a little, there a little”, and follow the word water through the Bible many things are revealed. We could just take the gospel of John alone and follow the word water; it is in almost every chapter in some form or another. e.g. Ch 4 - the woman at the well; and what a result! Such an amazing story! 

Then we look around the world at present and we see a world full of sickness and pain; emotional, physical and spiritual - we know the answer for it all - the 3AMs. So, as we live the 3AMs, the words of John 7:37 come to our minds as we wait on Him to unfold each day for us, leading us to these people who need Him and His healing health message -

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. 

Which Coming?

The Jews at Christ’s first coming were mixing the prophecies of His coming then and His second coming.

Now we see the Protestants of the USA today (which our church has consulted for evangelism, training, etc.) mixing the prophecies of His second coming with those of His third coming; a repeat of the mistakes of the past, due to incorrect interpretation of prophecy, as they do not know, or are unaware, of the rules, or the Principles of Biblical Interpretation. So, they are expecting everything that is to happen in heaven during and after the Biblical millennium to all happen on this earth instead, ushering in a bright new world of the “1000 years of peace”, “the long expected millennium”.

Our prophet compares the Jews at the time of Christ’s first coming to the papacy, and also to our church and its leaders today. We could also compare them to the “Bible Belt” Christians of the USA at present for the same reason as above.

We are so blest to have the insight of the SOP to guide us through this time, when “every wind of doctrine is blowing” in the church and the world.