Monday, May 25, 2015
SIGNS of Jesus' Second Coming
Do not be afraid, believe in God & Jesus. John 14:1-3
Like a woman’s labor pains, the Frequency & Severity of the Signs Increase until Jesus comes. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; Matthew 24:7-8
INCREASING SIGNS IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD
Earthquakes/Disasters [Violent Weather?] - Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11, 25
Famine, Strange New Diseases/Pestilence - Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11
Signs in the Sun, Moon and heavenly bodies - Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:25
INCREASING SIGNS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
Labor & Money Troubles - James 5:1-6
Increase in Knowledge - Daniel 12:4
INCREASING SIGNS IN THE POLITICAL WORLD
Disregard for Justice - Isaiah 59:12-14; James 5:6
Fear, Distress, Perplexity Everywhere - Luke 21:25-28
Wars & Rumors of War - Matthew 24:6, 7; Luke 21:9, 10
World Leaders/Pastors preach “Peace & Safety” –
1 Thessalonians 5:3; Jeremiah 6:14; Ezekiel 7:25
INCREASING SIGNS IN THE SOCIAL WORLD
Moral Collapse, Increase of Violence & Crime - 2 Timothy 3:1-6, 13
Love pleasure more than God - 2 Timothy 3:4
No Natural Affection - 2 Timothy 3:3
Disobedient to Parents / No Self Control - 2 Timothy 3:1-4
Evil increases, so the love of many grows indifferent - Matthew 24:12
INCREASING SIGNS IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
Form of godliness, but denying God - 2 Timothy 3:5
Disregard for God’s will, but doing “religious” works - Matthew 7:21-23
Ignoring/Rebellion against God’s Truth - 2 Timothy 4:3-4
False christs & prophets - Matthew 24:11, 24
Scoffing at Jesus’ Promise to Return Soon - 2 Peter 3:3-14
Friday, May 22, 2015
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
OLD TESTAMENT - THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. You will have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:3
2. You will not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth, or that is in the water under the earth. You will not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands that love Me and keep My Commandments. Exodus 20:4-6
3. You will not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.
Exodus 20:7
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you may work, and do all your work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, daughter, manservant, maidservant, thy animals, nor the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11
5. Honor your father and mother, that your days be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives to you. Exodus 20:12
6. You will not murder. Exodus 20:13
7. You will not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14
8. You will not steal. Exodus 20:15
9. You will not lie about a neighbor. Exodus 20:16
10. You will not covet your neighbor’s house, wife, servants, animals, or anything that is your neighbor’s. Exodus 20:17
NEW TESTAMENT - THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. You will worship the Lord your God. and Him only will you serve. Matthew 4:10
2. Little children, keep yourselves from idols 1 John 5:21
...abstain from idols... Acts 15:20
Do not be idolaters... 1 Cor. 10:7
3. That the Name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. 1 Timothy 6:1
4. For He spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. There remains a rest [‘keeping of a Sabbath’ margin] to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from His. Hebrews 4:4, 9, 10
5. Honor thy father and thy mother. Matthew 19:19
6. Thou shalt not murder. Matthew 19:18
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Matthew 19:18
8. Thou shalt not steal. Romans 13:9
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Romans 13:9
10. Thou shalt not covet. Romans 7:7
1. You will have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:3
2. You will not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth, or that is in the water under the earth. You will not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands that love Me and keep My Commandments. Exodus 20:4-6
3. You will not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.
Exodus 20:7
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you may work, and do all your work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, daughter, manservant, maidservant, thy animals, nor the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11
5. Honor your father and mother, that your days be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives to you. Exodus 20:12
6. You will not murder. Exodus 20:13
7. You will not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14
8. You will not steal. Exodus 20:15
9. You will not lie about a neighbor. Exodus 20:16
10. You will not covet your neighbor’s house, wife, servants, animals, or anything that is your neighbor’s. Exodus 20:17
NEW TESTAMENT - THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. You will worship the Lord your God. and Him only will you serve. Matthew 4:10
2. Little children, keep yourselves from idols 1 John 5:21
...abstain from idols... Acts 15:20
Do not be idolaters... 1 Cor. 10:7
3. That the Name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. 1 Timothy 6:1
4. For He spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. There remains a rest [‘keeping of a Sabbath’ margin] to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from His. Hebrews 4:4, 9, 10
5. Honor thy father and thy mother. Matthew 19:19
6. Thou shalt not murder. Matthew 19:18
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Matthew 19:18
8. Thou shalt not steal. Romans 13:9
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Romans 13:9
10. Thou shalt not covet. Romans 7:7
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
What is Love?
If I had the gift of speaking in foreign languages without learning them, and even if I could speak every heavenly language, but did not love others, I would only be making noise.
If I had the gift of prophecy and knew the future, but did not love others, what good would it do?
Even if I had the gift of faith and could move mountains, I still would be worth nothing without love.
If I gave all my worldly possessions to the poor, and even if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel, but did not have love, it would be of no value.
Love* is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty, selfish or rude.
Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable or grouchy. Love does not hold grudges, and will not keep score against friend or enemy.
Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. Love is loyal, and has faith in God under all circumstances.
Someday prophecy, foreign languages and special knowledge will disappear, but Love goes on forever.
Now we know so little even with our special gifts, but when Jesus comes and we have been made perfect and complete at His coming, then those special gifts will come to an end, for they are no longer needed.
It is like this: when I was a child, I spoke and thought as a child. But when I reached adulthood my thoughts were far above childish ways.
In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were looking at His reflection in a poor mirror. But someday we are going to see Him as He is, face to Face! What I see now is blurry, but later I will see everything as clearly as God sees now!
There are three great things: FAITH - HOPE - LOVE. And the greatest is LOVE!
*God is Love. In this paragraph substitute your name wherever the word "Love" appears.
Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
If I had the gift of prophecy and knew the future, but did not love others, what good would it do?
Even if I had the gift of faith and could move mountains, I still would be worth nothing without love.
If I gave all my worldly possessions to the poor, and even if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel, but did not have love, it would be of no value.
Love* is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty, selfish or rude.
Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable or grouchy. Love does not hold grudges, and will not keep score against friend or enemy.
Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. Love is loyal, and has faith in God under all circumstances.
Someday prophecy, foreign languages and special knowledge will disappear, but Love goes on forever.
Now we know so little even with our special gifts, but when Jesus comes and we have been made perfect and complete at His coming, then those special gifts will come to an end, for they are no longer needed.
It is like this: when I was a child, I spoke and thought as a child. But when I reached adulthood my thoughts were far above childish ways.
In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were looking at His reflection in a poor mirror. But someday we are going to see Him as He is, face to Face! What I see now is blurry, but later I will see everything as clearly as God sees now!
There are three great things: FAITH - HOPE - LOVE. And the greatest is LOVE!
*God is Love. In this paragraph substitute your name wherever the word "Love" appears.
Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
Monday, May 11, 2015
God's Leading Statesmen
God has His agents among the leading men and women of the nation. With unanswerable arguments statesmen who fear the Lord are influenced by holy angels to oppose measures that would greatly impede the work of God. Thus a few people will hold in check a powerful current of evil.
Based on The Great Controversy, chapter 38-The Final Warning, page 610, E G White
Based on The Great Controversy, chapter 38-The Final Warning, page 610, E G White
Illustration of Jesus' Second Coming - Deb M Dream
Illustration of Jesus’ Second Coming – Deb's Dream
Being chased by killers I ran into the woods and stopped in a small clearing where a beautiful, simple, little, solid church was standing. Climbing roses, vines, and bright flowers were its adornment. I decided to enter the House of Refuge.
A very happy, pleasant man greeted me and seated me on the right hand side of the sanctuary. He used the outside aisle as the center aisle was reserved for the guest. I felt a wedding was to begin.
The man seated me next to a beautiful, young woman: long dark hair, sweet round face, big brown eyes, short. Her attitude immediately impressed me that she was a very God-fearing woman. While we sat, she quietly mentioned her son was soon expected, though she did not know when. I thought, "how nice," and told her I would like to meet him. She said I would and then I realized who her Son was! We sat in the church praying and reading our Bibles.
Suddenly there was much commotion and appalling noise. Brown-robed men, walking two abreast, came down the center aisle each carrying a book and a large, dimly lighted candle. As the men walked down the center aisle they told obscene jokes, pushed and shoved each other, and were very irreverent. Standing in front of the little church they mocked sacred things such as faith, prayer and God. The young woman was clearly upset; I, too, was upset but did not know what to do.
A voice rang out, "He is here!" The men's faces grew pale and anxious. Camera flashes filled the room as reporters huddled by the front door waiting, but no One came.
The men relaxed and continued to create even greater havoc. They said He was late and would never come, that it was all a big hoax. I wanted to speak out about their sacrilegious attitude but the young woman silently bade me not to.
Suddenly bright light illuminated the little church. We turned to see what was going on as a trumpet sounded. The woman's Son had come! The Lord was an awesome sight, majestic and inspiring! I was not frightened by Him, but felt deeply humbled.
His face! I could not take my eyes off His face! It was alight and alive with glory. His eyes burned as living flame, His skin was like polished brass, and His robe was pure white with a gold belt.
The woman and I, never taking our eyes off Him, raised to our feet to honor Him. The men looked away and shrank into oblivion.
I wished upon waking that the dream had been real, for it was very grand and wonderful.
Being chased by killers I ran into the woods and stopped in a small clearing where a beautiful, simple, little, solid church was standing. Climbing roses, vines, and bright flowers were its adornment. I decided to enter the House of Refuge.
A very happy, pleasant man greeted me and seated me on the right hand side of the sanctuary. He used the outside aisle as the center aisle was reserved for the guest. I felt a wedding was to begin.
The man seated me next to a beautiful, young woman: long dark hair, sweet round face, big brown eyes, short. Her attitude immediately impressed me that she was a very God-fearing woman. While we sat, she quietly mentioned her son was soon expected, though she did not know when. I thought, "how nice," and told her I would like to meet him. She said I would and then I realized who her Son was! We sat in the church praying and reading our Bibles.
Suddenly there was much commotion and appalling noise. Brown-robed men, walking two abreast, came down the center aisle each carrying a book and a large, dimly lighted candle. As the men walked down the center aisle they told obscene jokes, pushed and shoved each other, and were very irreverent. Standing in front of the little church they mocked sacred things such as faith, prayer and God. The young woman was clearly upset; I, too, was upset but did not know what to do.
A voice rang out, "He is here!" The men's faces grew pale and anxious. Camera flashes filled the room as reporters huddled by the front door waiting, but no One came.
The men relaxed and continued to create even greater havoc. They said He was late and would never come, that it was all a big hoax. I wanted to speak out about their sacrilegious attitude but the young woman silently bade me not to.
Suddenly bright light illuminated the little church. We turned to see what was going on as a trumpet sounded. The woman's Son had come! The Lord was an awesome sight, majestic and inspiring! I was not frightened by Him, but felt deeply humbled.
His face! I could not take my eyes off His face! It was alight and alive with glory. His eyes burned as living flame, His skin was like polished brass, and His robe was pure white with a gold belt.
The woman and I, never taking our eyes off Him, raised to our feet to honor Him. The men looked away and shrank into oblivion.
I wished upon waking that the dream had been real, for it was very grand and wonderful.
Friday, May 8, 2015
...Even Those who Hate Him
People, God does love you. He loves you so much. Please accept what Jesus has done for you - He died on the cross and provides for you in your daily life.
Even if you do not like God He still provides for you.
God loves everyone - even those who hate Him.
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