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Showing posts from 2016

From Everlasting to Everlasting: Earmarks of Christ's Church

From the beginning of time and specifically creation, Christ has had standards. Morals were to be found, order was not debated but since the Fall, men have tried to distort the words of God to suit their lifestyles instead of conforming to His standards. We have also seen through the ages that even proclaimed Christians have tried to and to even an extent deceive the mass about God's requirements for true worship and his church. But I'm hear to tell you that God's true church has four earmarks which must be evident in their form of worship. How do we identify these four earmarks? We have to take a trip back to Eden prior to The Fall. In the garden we see where God's laws were established especially the institution of the Sabbath, the original diet of man, marriage between man and woman and a dress code. God's words are forever, "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations." (Psalm 145:13). Whatever was ...

I'm Good

'Im not like them," "I am as good as they are," "I'm a moral person," "I haven't committed any crimes so I'm alright." I'm sure we have heard at least one of these statements. I have, on many occasions. By the world's standard, yes, one may be good but in the eyes of God, we are all flawed human beings, born in sin and shaped in iniquity. Through our first parents Adam and Eve we have sinned. Romans 3:23 states, "for ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Yes, we all have sinned and are no good in the sight of God. While education, wealth and experience can shape the outward character of a man, they cannot influence the heart. "Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart," "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? For who can change the heart? Only God knows the heart and only He alone change it. Furthermore, the q...

Right or Wrong?

 Yes, I know everyone's favorite verse in the Bible, "judge not, that you be not judged Matthew 7:1 but it also goes on to say "for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with what measure you use, it will be measured to you" Matthew 7:2. Judging is not wrong but the premise upon which the judging is done is what is wrong. There is a distinction between judging a person's intentions/motives and judging the rightness or wrongness of their actions. That my friend, is where most of us as Christians err; myself included. Judging a person's character is internal and their actions are external. We tend to do the former. Since we cannot discern motive, you are incapable of judging another, in criticizing him, you are passing sentence upon yourself, for you show that you are a participant with Satan, the accuser of our brethren. Desire of Ages p. 314. However, the body of Christ has the right judge a believers' actions. Peter admonishe...

House of Prayer

I recently read the December 2015 edition of Adventist World; North American Division and in one of the articles "When the President Prayed" I came across a statement the president made while he was on a prayer line. " O God, please show us how to make every church in our field a house of prayer!" (bold for emphasis). This president is not Barack Obama. It is the president of the General Conference of Seventh Day Adventists. His name is Ted Wilson. Let our churches be houses of prayers. Sincere prayers. The Lord requires prayers that are sincere, not repetitious. We are followers of Christ and hence we should follow in His footsteps. He prayed every day to His heavenly Father. Daniel prayed 3 times per day. How much more should we  Music, preaching and evangelism, though important in winning souls for the kingdom of God, it is only earnest and sincere prayer can change a person's heart and ultimately conversion. We by our actions cannot convert an individual...