ENCOURAGEMENT !!!: I Love You...Says God

ENCOURAGEMENT !!!: I Love You...Says God: God says, "I love you with eternal love, pursuing after you with loving kindness. Whoever believes in Me and keeps My Commandments love...

God's Day

Does God have a holy day?

I was in the Spirit on the Lords day.  Revelation 1:10

The Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.  Matthew 12:8

The seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God.  Exodus 20:8-11 (from the Ten Commandments)

If you love Me (Jesus Christ) keep My commandments.  John 14:15, 21, 24. John 15:10

On the seventh day God ended His work, which He had made,; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God created and made.  Genesis 2:2-3

God...created all things by Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 3:9, 11

Regarding Christ's death and resurrection:

And that day was the preparation day (Friday) and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how His body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested on the sabbath day (Saturday) according to the commandment.  Now on the first day (Sunday) of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulcher.  Luke 23:54-56, 24:1

Idols

Do not let anything or anyone become an idol in your life. In the long run people and things will let you down. God Never will!

Your first allegiance is to God. The Father, Son Jesus Christ,  & the Holy Spirit.

Anything can be an idol: shopping, make-up, clothes, shoes, jewelry etc., automobiles, trucks, boats, images, people, etc.

If anything or anybody takes first place in your life it is an idol - a little god who cannot save you!

You must not have any other god but Me..You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for other gods...
. Exodus 20:3, 5 The Ten Commandments, Holy Scriptures

PS: it's okay to have some stuff, but make sure you Love and Serve God First and Foremost!

Not Sanctified

As the crisis approaches a large class who have professed faith in Gods commandments, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition.

 By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side.

Men of talent and pleasing voice and words, who once rejoiced in the truth, use their powers to deceive and mislead souls.  They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren.

Based on
The Great Controversy, 608, E G White

Will This Happen in America?

Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard.  Satan will favor and prosper some in order to further his own designs, and he will bring trouble upon others and lead men to believe that it is God who is afflicting them.

Satan will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation.

Even now Satan is at work.  In accidents and calamities by sea and land, in great fire-storms, in fierce tornadoes, and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes; in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power.

He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow.  He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence.

These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous.

And then the great deceiver will persuade the world that those who serve God are causing these evils.

The nominal religious class that have provoked God's displeasure will charge all their troubles upon those who obey God's commandments.  It will be declared that commandment keepers are offending God by the violation of Sunday; that the calamities will not cease until Sunday-keeping will be strictly enforced.

Those who honor the Bible seventh-day Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption.  Their conscientious scruples will be pronounced obstinacy, stubbornness, and contempt of authority. They will be accused of disaffection toward the government.

And then comes National Sunday laws...

based on The Great Controversy(1888), pp 589-590, 592, e g white

Our Defense Attorney in the Final Judgment

          The Biblical judicial system was not like ours.  The one bringing the charges served as prosecutor.  The judge served as defense attorney.  If the judge realized the charges were serious, he could call for the accused's eldest male relative to sit at his right side to help him with the defense.

          Jesus speaks with the Father, because they are both on the same side defending us against Satan's accusations!!  This is why the Bible speaks of looking forward to God's Judgment.  It means vindication to those who love and obey the Lord!!

          "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ..." 2 Corinthians 5:10.  "The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son."  John 5:22.

           "Who is to judge us?  It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, for He is at the right hand of God, who intercedes for us!"  Romans 8:34.   "And to testify that it is He [Jesus] who was ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and dead."  Acts 10:42.

          Jesus speaks, "My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me."  John 8:16.   "…if anyone sins, we have an Attorney with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous." 1 John 2:1.  "He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man God ordained."  Acts 17:31.

           "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  1 John 1:9.  Jesus says, "But I say to you, that every idle word that people speak, they will give account thereof in the Day of Judgment!"  Matthew 12:36.  

           "As many as have sinned in the Law [Ten Commandments] shall be judged by the Law.  Romans 2:12.   We shall be "judged by the Law of liberty" [the Ten Commandments].  James 2:12.

           "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His Commandments, for this is the whole duty of humanity.  For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil."  Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.

Demonic Miracles & Healings?

Many Christians assume that any supernatural power must come from God. Can Satan actually heal? And if so, how can we tell the working of the devil from the working of God?

Just before Jesus’ coming, demons will work miracles, [see Revelation 16:14]. Genuine miracles from the devil! And these satanic powers perform their wonders in the name of Jesus Christ, [see Matthew 7:22-23.]

So false prophets will use Christ's name to practice evil and lawlessness. Through these deceivers the devil performs all kinds of lying wonders to entrap the unsuspecting. Miracles themselves are not proof of God's presence.

Never forget. Some miracles are the work of the devil done in the spirit of lawlessness – violating God’s law. “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3.

Genuine love for God is the test, and true love for God means obeying His commandments. Love for God means more than a warm fuzzy feeling in our hearts when we worship. The proof of Christian love is not miracles, not speaking in tongues – the proof is keeping God’s commandments. John 14:15.

based on a book by George Vandeman in Comrades in Christ, p 21

Confirmation

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me." John 6:39 [KJV]

In seventh and eighth grade (1967-1969) church catechism class was conducted by Pastor Keith. This class prepared us for the "Rite of Confirmation" when we renewed our baptismal vows spoken for us by our parents and godparents when we were infants.

Catechism was not as expected. A Catechism book was used in our study. We memorized printed answers to printed questions and the Bible seemed to take second place. Being in the last row, where I could not see, did not help my concentration, but "we must sit alphabetically."

Thumbing through the Bible I read a text that was so impressive that I wrote it in large letters in my catechism book, "We ought to obey God rather than man," Acts 5:29.

We were required to memorize the catechism's version of the Ten Commandments.

One day in Catechism we were studying the Sabbath commandment, third in the Catechism, fourth in the Bible, when Kurt asked, "Why are the catechism's Ten Commandments different from the Bible's?"

Pastor Keith asked if anyone had mentioned this to him. Kurt said his grandmother had.

 The pastor said the Bible and Catechism agree on everything, then changed the subject.

Kurt persisted and the class urged him on. As he read the Sabbath commandment from the Bible and then from the Catechism we were amazed they did not agree. Kurt pointed out that the Bible specified the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, not Sunday the first day as the pastor taught.

Pastor Keith angrily snapped, "Do not mention this subject again! You are too young to understand, you do not know anything! You have not even been confirmed! You are to take my word for what the Bible says and accept it!"

He dismissed us early under a veil of fear and confusion.

. Questions were raised such as, “Why does the Bible say one thing and the catechism another? Why does the pastor get upset if we ask Bible questions?”

On Confirmation Sunday the pastor gave each confirmand a personal Bible text. Mine was, "lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world," Matthew 28:20. I had never heard this text before, and it filled me with questions and awe; "the end of the world?"

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

My Horse Friends

A major facet in my youth was horses. Our Lutheran church friends from Germany, two elderly brothers Karl and Ernie Wolff, owned Hillside Stables in Omaha, Nebraska. When I was three years old the family went to see the horses and I rode an older mare.

Hillside Stables had many interesting and impressive horses such as:
Golden Centaur - an elegant palomino with arched neck, large dark eyes; white, wavy tail and mane and a high tail carriage.
 Pepper - the black, classic Morgan;
two thoroughbreds ridden by seventy-year old twin sisters;
Snow King - a white 30-year old retired circus horse;
Private Eye - a handsome, dark chestnut Saddlebred with green-hazel eyes;
and my champion Appaloosa - Spottum Bottum.

Point of interest: at Hillside Stables, in the 1960’s, feed, hay and board in a box stall with use of tack room and all facilities was one dollar a day; and horse rental was $1.25 an hour!

In Omaha, Hillside was located on a huge property bordered by the Papio Creek on the south and west, by Dodge Street on the north, and by the Interstate on the east. There were 3 large pastures to ride in, and a tree nursery too! It was a true pleasure to be at Hillside!

A Jewish friend, Elisse, owned a beautiful palomino named Golden Banner. Since she was Jewish she kept God’s Ten Commandments including keeping holy Saturday - the seventh-day Sabbath. The Fourth Commandment says that cattle (domestic animals) should not work on Sabbath.
Exodus 20:8-11. So on Sabbath Elisse would only turn Banner out to pasture and then give him a good rub-down; she never rode Banner on the seventh-day Sabbath.

Christ will Freely Give

When the law of God and the Spirit of God have made the sinner conscious of his sin, let him come to Christ. The forgiveness that the law could not provide, Christ will freely give.

...The woman taken in adultery Christ did not condemn, for she already felt condemned and ashamed. She needed sympathy and forgiveness, and Christ was ready to grant it to her.

God Speaks to Modern Man, p 386, Arthur E Lickey

Destroy the Law...?

God's law and His character are inseparable. He did not and will not change either. Calvary is God's final and unanswerable argument in favor of His eternal law. Destroy the law and Calvary becomes a meaningless tragedy.

God Speaks to Modern Man, p 372, by Arthur E. Lickey

Early Childhood Training

Respect for God, the Bible, our elders, the United States and the U.S. flag were paramount in my training.

 I was taught proper respect and handling of the Bible and the Church Hymnal. No literature could be placed on top of the Holy Bible; and only the Bible could be placed on top of religious literature.

The Ten Commandments were taught early and my parents required me to be quiet and respectful in church, and to keep my feet off the church pew.

 All this seemed to be the norm for the families of my childhood Lutheran church congregation.

God's Ten Commandments

God's Ten Commandments in the Old Testament of Holy Scripture

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


God's Ten Commandments in the New Testament of Holy Scripture

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 therefore 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. Matt 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