This is the message given by Pastor Danny Kim at the Vancouver, Washington Seventh-day Adventist church on 22 November 2014. The recorded mp3 file is below the text notes I made.

In 1994, the world experienced one of the greatest matches in football history.

Italy played Brazil at the Rose Bowl stadium in California.

The game had no goals scored after the 2 forty-five minute periods had passed.

When a football match ends in no score, both teams select players to make penalty kicks from about 11 meters from the goal.

Brazil had made 3 goals on penalty kicks and Italy had made 2.

Italy’s star player was the next player to take a free kick and he had to make it for the match to continue. His mission was to make the goal as the whole nation of Italy was watching.

Roberto Baggio shot far over the goal, and the last missed kick of the tournament was what made Brazil World Champion for the 4th time. It was surely the most memorable moment of the match.

Roberto Baggio’s tears are probably more remembered than the Brazilian celebrations, as this great and fair player had missed at the most important moment, although he was also the one to be credited for Italy getting this far.

Jesus Christ was also on a mission. Jesus came to this earth from His Heavenly home 2,000 years ago.

Jesus Christ was crucified on a wooden cross like a common criminal. On the Cross, Jesus had the pressure of the whole world on His shoulders. Jesus was thinking of you. Even though Jesus was experiencing excruciating pain, He made the request of His Brother John to take care of His Mother Mary.

Jesus said everything by His Actions.

Who Are the Victors ?

Zechariah 4:6
So he answered and said to me:
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.

Romans 8:31-39
God’s Everlasting Love
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are not here on this earth for ourselves.

Philippians 1:21
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

We are sons & daughters of God. If your team loses, just remember that it is only a game. We must let our pride & righteousness go. We need Christ & His righteousness.

The next time we are challenged, we should keep our mouth shut just like Jesus did when He was questioned by the Religious leaders and the Roman authorities.

We have to give up our anger and need to get in the last word. Bless those who curse you.

Let us live for Jesus and not for ourselves.

He Spoke Not

If you are struggling to survive in this chaotic world, I have Hope for you. It is a 3 step process that I took myself. I am writing a blog post about it but can share the tips right away so you can chose to get started on the path if you feel called.

1. Surrender Your Heart to God & Believe In His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus came to save all mankind. He wants you with Him when He comes back for the dead who sleep in Jesus & for those who remain alive on the earth.

2. Start Keeping the Bible Sabbath. Jesus is looking for people that worship Him on His Holy Day which is the Seventh-Day ( Saturday ) that was created by God after the six day creation week a little over 6,000 years ago. The Bible teaches us that a day begins at sunset so Friday evening at sunset is the beginning of His Holy Day.

3. Seek our your local Seventh-Day Bible believing church & start returning tithe which is 10 percent of your increase. I can testify that the Lord has blessed me so much that I always end up with plenty & I am just returning what belongs to Him anyway.

If you believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ, you are already an Adventist !

I promise you your life will change so much that you will be sharing this status update. The God who set this earth in motion at 67,000 miles per hour in a galaxy that has billions of stars in a universe that has billions of galaxies can take care of your needs.
You can find your nearest church on the site below:

Adventist

I was born infected with a deadly viral disease. It is known as SIN. There is a wonderful treatment that is all natural & does no harm to our bodies. John the Baptist proclaimed the cure right before Jesus began His earthly ministry.

Repent and be baptized ( full immersion in a body of water ). The disease took its toll on my life & I am still recovering from the effects of my sinful selfish nature. When I asked Jesus to forgive me of all my unrighteousness and to cleanse me, the process began and I know the Lord walks with me on a daily basis. If I get tempted, I just have to think about how painful Jesus’ cross at Calvary must have been and ask the Lord to guide me out of any and all temptation.

My appeal is to the young people that may see this either on social media or in a blog post I make. Don’t put your Salvation off. I missed death by mere inches in 1975 and barely escaped for my life in 1988 in another serious accident. We never know when we take our last breath. Jesus wants to be your best friend.
Read this book:

Great Hope

Here are my sermon notes from Pastor Chad Carlton’s sermon given on 15 November 2014 at Vancouver Seventh-day Adventist Community Church. There is an mp3 link at the bottom of the post if you wish to listen to the message he gave.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Jesus says to walk in the light. Jesus says He is as powerful as the sun!

Jews of Jesus day knew the Scriptures.

Genesis 1:1-5
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

God created Light. Moses at the burning bush is an example of God’s Light. For many years, Moses and his people were guided by the Light of God at night when they were in the wilderness.

Ezekiel 43:2
And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.

Isaiah 6:3
And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

In the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar demanded that all the people bow down to his golden image. The three young Hebrew men did not and Nebuchadnezzar ordered the men be thrown into the fiery furnace. A fourth person, Jesus Christ, was seen walking with them and protected them from the heat and the flames and the men were unharmed.

Are you ready to follow the Light of Jesus? There will be challenges. It will not always be easy. You will experience an incredible transformation in your life. Jesus says to Follow Me. He shows the best way to live this life. Jesus should be our example.

John saw Jesus heal many sick people. Jesus raised dead people back to life.

1 John 1:5-6
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Jesus has eternal life. John is excited about knowing Jesus.

Matthew 17:1-2
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

John was with Jesus. John saw Jesus’ glory. why are people that call themselves Christians a little lacking in the Joy Department? It is impossible to be down when we are walking with Jesus.

It is not enough to know about the Light. We must know about Jesus. It is all about loving Jesus in our hearts. Enoch was described as a man that walked with God. Will you walk with Jesus?

Walking with Jesus

Here are the sermon notes from Pastor Roger Walter’s sermon from 8 November 2014. I will put the mp3 file at the bottom of the post.

Personal Holiness in Times of Temptation Part 2

Ten Temptations

1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Bible Tells Us:
Can’t Fall ? Danger !
Want to Overtake You
Not Unique
God Is Faithful
Won’t Give More Than You Are Able
Always a Way of Escape

Matthew 6:13
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

James 1:13-17
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

The Look
Lust
Lure
Conception
Gives Birth to Sin
The Growth
Leads to Death

Temptation is a downward spiral.

Hardest thing for a Christian to do is to follow Jesus as Satan will attack. Keep our focus on Jesus. Spend time on our relationship with Jesus. Read page 57 from Ellen White’s Book Education.

James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

The woman caught in adultery almost cost her life. Jesus wrote in the sand and all the accusers left.

Jesus writes His Love in Stone. Jesus writes our Sins in Sand. Go and Sin No More ! Jesus breaks the chains of sin. Satan wants to take control of our brain to kill, steal and destroy. Be on Guard !

Pastor Walter’s Sermon

Here are the sermon notes from Pastor Roger Walter’s sermon from 1 November 2014. I will put the mp3 file at the bottom of the post.

Personal Holiness in Times of Temptation Part 1

Holy – Devoted to the Service of God – Set Apart
Secular – Not Concerned with Religious or Spiritual Matters

An example in the Bible of Holiness is Moses being told to take off his shoes at the burning bush as he was in God’s Presence.

1 Corinthians 1:2
To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

The transformation that happens when Jesus takes over a person’s heart is like the change of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

2 Timothy 2:19-22
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Practical Process of Personal Holiness

Jesus Christ Changes Us.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1. Accept the Call of God to a Life of Personal Holiness
2. Read Your Bible Each Day for the Next 30 Days
3. Find An Accountability Partner, Prayer Partner, and a Small Group

Read Herbert Douglass Message “Are We Saved”? Here is a story Mr. Douglass wrote about Living in These Tough Times.

A few weeks ago, Norma and I toured the aircraft carrier, Lexington, now moored in the Corpus Christi harbor. It is the fifth ship in U.S. history to have that brave name. The fourth was lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942) after a brilliant and surprising effort that stopped the advance of the Japanese toward Australia. As soon as this news hit America, the next aircraft carrier being built was named the Lexington, which also soon saw heroic action in the Pacific.

On December 4, 1943, this new Lexington was disabled by a Japanese bomber on a moonlit night off Tarawa. The skipper, Captain Felix Stump went to the ship speaker system so that all aboard could her him: “This is the captain speaking. We have taken a torpedo hit in our stern and the rudder seems badly damaged. Each man must do his job calmly and efficiently. Don’t worry. That’s my job. I got you here and I’ll get you out .and home.” And so he did. Marvelous story in how they did it.

But there’s more to that story. More than 95% of those on board had never been in the open sea before. They were not seasoned sailors and pilots. Citizen sailors and pilots they were. Recently assembled, trained but unsure of themselves. On that moonlit night, they were an easy target but the captain kept maneuvering the ship into the moonlight so that the Lexington would not give the bomber or submarine a silhouette. All the time changing his speed and direction.

On the way back to Pearl Harbor with that disabled rudder, the Admiral of the fleet radioed to Captain Stump, “That was wonderful seamanship, Captain.” The Captain replied, “Thank you, sir, my crew was magnificent!”

Those words swept through the crew. “They were magnificent in the eyes of their captain.” The sailors wrote home about their captain. When they limped back to Pearl, they did not need the serenade of the Navy Band to make them feel like they were heroes. They had already heard the commendation of their captain. Knowing their captain for what he was, kept them unafraid, kept them doing their duty. They could trust their captain, because he got them there and he would get them home.

One of these days, a wonderful group of people will, in a way, limp into the harbor after the worst time of trouble ever to hit people on this earth And they will hear their Captain say: “Well done, good and faithful servants . . . Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matt 25:21. And then He will turn to the unfallen worlds, to the unfallen angels, and wave His hand over the veterans from earth, and say, “My crew was magnificent!”

Quietly, I want each of you to tell yourself, that by the grace of God, you will be there to hear your Captain. You are already on the ship’s manifest, you know. Your name is already in His book. Will you promise Him, right now, by His grace that you will not disappoint Him?

Pastor Walter Sermon

Here are some sermon notes I took from Pastor Roger Walter’s message given during the Prophecies Decoded seminar series at the Vancouver Community Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Three Appeals to Self

1. Lust of the Flesh ( Instant Gratification )
2. Lust of the Eyes ( Desire for What Looks Good )
3. Pride of Life

Selfishness goes all the way back to the Serpent’s Lie in the Book of Genesis.

Genesis 3:3-10
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

Jesus dealt with temptations on a regular basis. Jesus was tempted by appetite, power & glory.

The Bible records Jesus spent 40 days fasting one time. Another time Jesus stood with Satan on a small mountain and looked out over a large region of the known area of the world. Satan offered Jesus Kingship over these lands if Jesus would just bow down to Satan. Jesus always replied by stating: “It Is Written” and would quote a verse from the Old Testament scrolls.

The lesson for us is that we must be in the world as respectful citizens but do not have to be of the world. Spend time in prayer each day to connect with our Heavenly Father.

My own personal faith story is that I am not as selfish as I was in the past. It takes work and the steps are listed below. There is a free online book you can read that will help you also. Just click the image above to go to the Great Hope website.

Galatians 5:16-21

Walking in the Spirit
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Steps to Holiness

1. Recognize Your Problem – Pride
2. Lay It Aside by Denying Self
3. Get Into Your Bible Daily
4. Cultivate a Prayer Life
5. Get Accountability ( Family Member or Friend in the Church )
6. Keep Looking to Jesus

What are we doing with our time?
Love God and Do What He Wants, Not What We Want

Are you feeling stress in your life? Are you experiencing burnout? There is hope for you and me. Below are the Bible texts  from Pastor Roger Walter’s message titled Stress & Burnout. I put a link to the Bible Gateway website so you can easily look up the scriptures yourself. Just click on the Andrews Study Bible. This sermon was given at Vancouver Adventist church on Sabbath, 6 September 2014. The audio recording is here:

Stress and Burnout

John 14:1

Psalms 119:143

Job 22:21

Acts 10:36

1 Corinthians 14:33

Philippians 4:9

Isaiah 40:28-31

Matthew 11:28-30

Jude 20

Oswald Chambers reading for 21 October from his book: My Utmost for His Highest

“Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on the water is easy to impulsive pluck, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is a different thing. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he followed Him afar off on the land. We do not need the grace of God to stand crises, human nature and pride are sufficient, we can face the strain magnificently; but it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours in every day as a saint, to go through drudgery as a disciple, to live an ordinary, unobserved, ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is inbred in us that we have to do exceptional things for God; but we have not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things, to be holy in mean streets, among mean people, and this is not learned in five minutes.”

Ever notice how people have favorite athletes, movie stars, musicians or artists? This comes from the divine nature placed in every single human being. The reason God put it there was for His children ( every one of us ) to worship Him. I admit when I was growing up, I was much more interested in famous golfers as I was a golf fanatic. I still enjoy golf but separate it as just a hobby.

Today when we were singing hymns at Adventist Community Church of Vancouver,  I was moved by the songs of praise and the message given by Dr Ron Clouzet on Sabbath, 30 August 2014.

Albert Schweitzer was a Physician, Medical Missionary, Musician, and a Theologian. Mr. Schweitzer noticed a black woman with large pieces of luggage struggling to get off a train that has arrived in the station.

Mr. Schweitzer was in a crowd that had been welcoming him to the city. He noticed that no one was helping the struggling woman. Mr. Schweitzer stopped what he was doing and went to help the woman with her suitcases.

There are four types of people in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

People who cop out or opt out
People who think it out
People who burn out 20/80 rule 20 percent of the members do 80 percent of the work
People who reach out – These people want to be a blessing to other people.

Paul writes to the church at Corinth at a time that the church was a mess.

2 Corinthians 6:1-11

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:

In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Be Holy
11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.

Paul worked tirelessly for the early Christian church. Paul loved his brother & sister Christians. He traveled extensively and wrote a large portion of the New Testament.

2 Corinthians 5:13-15

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Why Such Joy ? The Love of Christ compels us to share the Good News of the Gospel with other people.

The last revival in Wales began when Evan Roberts prayed for God to use him to share the Gospel message. Revival began in 1905 and went all over the world. Satan stopped the revival with World War I.

Ellen White wrote in her book Testimonies Volume 7 that saving souls has to be our first priority. The Christian should have no desire to live for self. Here is a short prayer to use: God, give me a desire to serve. Help me spend more time thinking more about Jesus and less about me. Our natural inclination is to be focused on ourselves.

The Legend of Johnny Lingo brings out the point that we serve with a smile when we know we are loved.

Paul reflected about how he used to be a persecutor of Christians and how he was changed by God when he was converted.

2 Corinthians 5:16-20

16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

Once again, we serve with a smile when we know we are loved. Albert Schweitzer knew about God’s love as his life was all about service to mankind.

Worshiping God each Sabbath Day is such a moving experience for me and I am excited about being ‘teachable’.

Bible Truth

The following video is Ted Wilson’s Sermon at the Annual Council of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on 30 October 2013.

Communicate God’s Truth

Our Unique Mission as Seventh-day Adventists

1. Christ Is Ministering as High Priest
2. Christ Is Coming Soon
3. Preparing the World for Judgment
4. Sharing the Good News of His Righteousness
5. Accepting His Authority as Creator
6. Accepting the Seventh-Day Sabbath

For thousands of years, people that were in debt to someone were slaves until the debt was paid. In Israel, the maximum time allowed to hold someone as a slave for an unpaid debt was six years. After six years, the slaves were free to go.

These two verses in Deuteronomy 23:15-16 explain the proper way to treat a slave.

“You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you.  He may dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he chooses within one of your gates, where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him.”

Philemon lived in Colosse. He was a man of God. Onesimus was in debt to Philemon. Here is the entire book of Philemon. It is the shortest book in the Bible.

Greeting
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith
4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

The Plea for Onesimus
8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged
17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

Farewell
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Paul reminds Philemon to accept his slave Onesimus as a brother of the Lord.

The above Bible study was given as the sermon by Pastor John Wesslen at Orchards Seventh-day Adventist church on Sabbath, 26 July 2014 in Vancouver, Washington.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior, you also have been set free. For many years, I was a slave to sin. I sought out the Lord and asked Him to come into my heart. My life is radically different now and I give thanks every single day of my life.

Are You Ready?

Sermon Notes from Ed Reid’s message given on 26 June 2014 at Washington Camp Meeting.

Seven Ways to Be Ready for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

2 Peter 3:11-14

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,  12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?  13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Be Steadfast

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.

2 Peter 3:17-18

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;  18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Our Objective Is to Grow in Grace

1. Spend Time Every Day in God’s Word ( Bible )
2. Set Aside Time Every Day for Prayer
3. Be Financially Faithful with God ( Returning Tithe )
4. Share Your Faith ( Witness )
5. Seek the Will of God & Follow It
6. Support God’s Church ( Warts & All ) Jesus Loves His Church
7. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s Power In Your Life
a. To Transform Us & Fit Us for the Kingdom
b. To Equip Us to Better Share the Gospel
c. To Prepare Us for the Days Ahead