General

Spiritual Vertigo

Here are the sermon notes from 24 May 2014 in the message given by Pastor John Wesslen. He is the Pastor at Orchards Seventh-day Adventist Christian Church in Vancouver, Washington.
Have you ever experienced vertigo? Vertigo is having the sensation of moving around in space or of having objects move about the person. It is sometimes confused with dizziness, lightheadedness, or giddiness.
It is easy to see that there is much confusion in the world today. Turn to Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
Spiritual Vertigo is a common problem in the world. Turn to Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
James 1:14 
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
There are many deceptions and half truths in the minds of man today. This spiritual confusion about the nature of God allows man to justify about anything. A common statement prevalent is: “I know what God says but it doesn’t work for me. I’ve got my own plans.”
We need to watch for spiritual vertigo in our lives. If we experience spiritual confusion, we should take the cure for spiritual vertigo found in the following verses.
Psalms 19:11-13
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Isaiah 30:18-21
God Will Be Gracious
18 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem;
You shall weep no more.
He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry;
When He hears it, He will answer you.
20 And though the Lord gives you
The bread of adversity and the water of affliction,
Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,
But your eyes shall see your teachers.
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
Jeremiah 6:16
Thus says the Lord:
“Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

One Thing


One Thing


Women are excellent multi taskers. Men tend to focus in on one thing at a time.


Mark 10:17-22
Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler


17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”


18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”[a]


20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”


21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”


22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.


Notice that the Rich Young Ruler came running to interact with Jesus. Religion to the Rich Young Ruler was all about doing God’s Law and treated it like a checklist. Rich Young Ruler was an expert in Religion based Law but was ignorant about Love and how to apply God’s Law with Grace shown to others.


Jesus instructed the Rich Young Ruler to give away your things and then said: “Come and Follow Me.”


Rich Young Ruler had followed the Law legally but not morally. Jesus knew possessions blocked Rich Young Ruler’s relationships with other people.


Jesus doesn’t condemn the wealthy but points out how we use our wealth. Do we use our wealth to help others? Jesus left everything, even His place in Heaven, to reach people.


When we give to others, God blesses us in several ways. An example is Abraham. He was very wealthy with many animals. Jesus asked Abraham for his son – that is where Abraham’s heart was as he did not have a son until late in life.


God expects to be the top priority in our life, and then family should be the next priority. Abraham passed the test.


Can God tell me that I am lacking something? We need to surrender our own soul and lives to Jesus so He can fully use us.


Luke 10:38-42
Mary and Martha Worship and Serve


38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”


41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”


Martha is preparing lunch for many people. Mary is just sitting there relaxed as she listens to Jesus. Martha then put stress on Jesus: “You do not care?”


There are no barriers in this family. Jesus tells Martha that she is worried about putting on a good image but she is missing the fact that Jesus wants to be number 1 in Martha’s heart.


This message is so appropriate for all of us living in the 21st century. How do you spend your time? Invest some time each day at Jesus’ feet. Jesus will give you the strength you need for dealing with life.


Sermon notes from the message given by Pastor Velino Salazar on Sabbath, 05 April 2014 at the Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Why Study the Bible

Bible Prophecy has been in existence for thousands of years. World History was foretold in the Book of Daniel over 500 years before events took place. The Dead Sea Scrolls discovery validated the authenticity of scriptures.
There are five main principles man should understand about the Bible and its prophetic nature.
1. God has used the Bible to Communicate to man through His Prophets for thousands of years.
2. The Bible Interprets itself.
Isaiah 28:9-11
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 “Whom will he teach knowledge?
And whom will he make to understand the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just drawn from the breasts?
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.”
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue
He will speak to this people.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
3. The Bible is Predictive.
4. The Bible Is Moral and Redemptive. God desires to save all mankind.
John 3:17:
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
5. The Bible Strengthens Our Faith. The Bible is Life Changing.
My source for the above principles can be found on the website below:
Have You Swallowed the Hook

Evolution or Creation and Amoral or Moral

The Law & Love

From the very beginning of the great controversy in Heaven, it has been Satan’s purpose to overthrow the law of God.”
Why? Because the law, as the foundation of God’s government, expresses the moral integrity of the cosmos, and to overthrow that law would be to overthrow the moral order of the creation itself.
Think about it. If no god existed, and no life either, the universe would be amoral. Not immoral as in having bad morals, but amoral, as in having no morals, because nothing it it-such as lifeless rocks hurling through a godless cosmos-could manifest moral qualities.
However, God exists, and humans do as well, and we have been created as moral beings with the capacity to give and to receive love. For this love to exist, however, freedom, moral freedom, must exist, too, because love is a moral concept that couldn’t arise in an amoral universe ( such as one composed of only rocks and cold space ).
Morality, though, means the ability to choose right or wrong, good or evil—and the only way for the universe to be moral, to allow the potential for good or evil, for right or wrong, would be for it to have a law that defines them.
And, of course, it does have such a law.
“What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘Do not covet,’ ” (Rom. 7:7).
Is it sinful to have red hair? Why not? Because God’s law doesn’t forbid red hair. If it did, as the law forbids covetousness, then having red hair would be a sin. But it cannot be sin if no divine law defines it as such.
Morality without law is as impossible as is thought without mind. Our universe is moral because God created free beings answerable to His law. If there were no law against coveting, there would be no sin of covetousness: if there were no law against red hair, there would be no sin of red headedness-no matter how many red-haired coveters populated the cosmos.
Indeed, God created humans as creatures who can love. Love, though, can’t exist without freedom, moral freedom. And moral freedom can’t exist without law, moral law. Love rests on freedom, and freedom rests on law. Hence, the core of God’s government, the foundation of that government-a government of love-has to be His law. That’s why Ellen G. White wrote what she did about Satan’s desire “to overthrow the law of God.” The attack on the law is an attack not just on Christ’s character but on the moral order of the creation itself.
Hence, the topic for our quarter: Christ and His law.  We will study the law, especially the question of why so many Christians—misunderstanding the relationship between law and grace—have fallen in the trap of denying the continued validity of the Ten Commandments and thus, unwittingly, helping the attempt to “overthrow” God’s law.
The Bible, though, is clear: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3). The link between our loving God and keeping His commandments is stronger than we realize, until we realize that we can love God because we live in a universe where love can exist.  And it can exist because the universe is moral, and that morality is based, at least for us as created beings, on God’s moral law—the subject we will now pursue.
Keith Burton Ph.D
Professor of Religion
Oakwood University
Author of Second Quarter 2014 Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide
 

Resetting the Focus

This is the sermon preached by Elder John Bettis on Sabbath, 22 February 2014 at Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Christian church.



Israel was in Egypt for 400 years. It took 40 years in the desert to reset Israel’s focus. Picture yourself amongst the people there.



You enter the Sanctuary. There is the altar of sacrifice. A lamb is there brought by someone who had sinned against God. The priest lays his hands on the lamb and the sins of the person are placed on the lamb before the lamb is sacrificed.



Put yourself in the place of the sinner. Your sin caused Jesus to be sacrificed at the Cross of Calvary.



Exodus 19:1-2

Israel at Mount Sinai



In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.



God is resetting the focus for Israel.



Leviticus 23:15-16



The Feast of Weeks



And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord.



Jesus died for us on Passover.



In Acts 2, Jesus resets the focus of the Christian church at Pentecost. This is 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.



Coming of the Holy Spirit



Acts 2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.



We learn from Hebrews 8 where Jesus went and what He is doing after Pentecost.



Hebrews 8



The New Priestly Service



Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.



For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.



Do we need to be refocused? We need to have our focus on Jesus. We need to remember we are sinners in need of a Savior. We are living in the Day of Atonement and Judgment has begun.



We need to be sounding the trumpet to the world right now. The Feast of Trumpets happened 10 days before the Day of Atonement every year in Israel. The purpose was to warn the people of Israel about the importance of confessing their sins. If someone did not confess their sins, they would be sent out from the camp forever.



Revelation 14:6-7 contains the Three Angels Message warning people of what is coming on the earth.



The Proclamations of Three Angels



6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”



The Good News is the Gospel Message that Jesus saved us. Worship the Creator message is contained in these verses. Our world today says that there is no creator and you find evolution theory in the textbooks in our schools.



What is the present truth message? We need to take this message through our lives, what we do and say. 



When Judgment is finished, Christ role changes ! HE is our KING !

Are You All In

Here are the highlights of the message given by Pastor James Lee on Sabbath, 1 February 2014 at the Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist church. Pastor Lee is a VP of the Southern California Conference and is in charge of Evangelism.

Ezekiel 47:1-5
The Healing Waters and Trees

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.

3 And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. 4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. 5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed.

Looking at our world today convinces many that the world is not getting better. God is withdrawing His Grace. Jesus is coming soon!

We need to find ourselves more like Jesus at the end of each day and month this year! No matter how much we already know about being a Christian-God is not finished with us yet. Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

In time, our bodies, our clothes and our homes deteriorate. Even movie stars fade from public memory. Our Christian walk should grow stronger as we age. Our faith should grow stronger. We should not be struggling with the same issues we had difficulty  with 10 years ago. We need to look at ourselves. Examine where we are right now with God!

In the above verses that the Prophet Ezekiel wrote, Ezekiel dreamed that he we was ankle deep, then knee deep, then waist deep and finally in waters that he could not cross.

Ankle deep water or religion does not last. Some people jump in and out of church according to the person’s desires. No heart change or repentance has happened.

Knee deep water or religion requires walking a little slower. It is a little inconvenient as the person experiences being led by the Spirit some of the time but their religion does not hold fast.

Waist deep water has some depth. Some change has happened. It is easy to be a member of the church but not have a spiritual walk with Jesus. Many Christians experience waist deep religion. These people look good on the outside but are dead in the water.

Ezekiel was directed by God to surrender totally to the power of God. Once the river got so deep, it could not be crossed. Surrender requires a personal encounter with Jesus.

How much trust do you have in God? We won’t be driven away from the church when we are surrendered totally.

Religion that is deep enough to swim in will take us home to Jesus. Does your religion focus on God’s word? Is it deep enough when life gets tough?

Family Problems

Job Loss

Sickness

I want to be saved! We all have a choice. We can be in ankle deep or knee deep or waist deep religion or we can go all in and swim in deep water when we let Jesus take our lives and our hearts.

When that spirit comes, our lives are changed. We need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. If you want Christ or a closer walk with Him, He is inviting you to come. Just Ask!

Why Public Evangelism is Often Ineffective

Pastor Mark Finley wrote this article recently on his blog.


Public Evangelism has gotten some pretty low marks recently. Many church administrators and pastors believe it is too expensive, too intense, and too confrontational. They are convinced that the effort and energy, the time and money spent could be better expended on other forms of outreach.


One of the challenges, of course, is that there are not many other forms of evangelism that are producing any significant results in the Western world. Here are my thoughts on why public evangelism is often ineffective: Public evangelism is ineffective when it is viewed as an event and not as a process.

If the sum of outreach in a local congregation is a traditional “three week” evangelistic prophecy meeting, we should not expect very many results at all. Successful evangelistic meetings are part of a continual cycle of the church’s witness.

When a local congregation is actively involved in community based outreach seminars, personal contacts, and interest generating events throughout the year, an interest base will be developed. Then the Holy Spirit will powerfully use public evangelism to reap an abundant harvest. To paraphrase a Biblical principle “Whatever the church sows that it will also reap.”

Public evangelism is ineffective when church members stand by as spectators, invite few friends, sporadically attend the meetings and casually pray for their city. Soul-winning is not a spectator sport. When the church is actively involved, passionately praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the public meetings, inviting their friends, neighbors and relatives that do not know Christ or the Adventist message, miracles happen.

I am reminded of Ellen White’s clear statement in Desire of Ages page 535, “What human power can do divine power is not summoned to do.” Public Evangelism is ineffective when the emphasis is on numbers and not people. When the focus of public evangelism is on the number of people baptized rather than individuals transformed by the grace of Christ and won to God’s kingdom, God’s power is limited. There may be an illusion of success—but rapid baptisms for numbers’ sake or manipulating people for one’s own self-glory may be “sweet in the mouth but it will certainly be bitter in the belly.”

Competition among administrators, pastors and evangelists to baptize the largest numbers stifles the genuine working of the Holy Spirit. God honors a life totally dedicated to loving people for Jesus sake, meeting their needs, sharing His message and inviting them to make the most important decision of their lives.

God has promised when the church is actively involved in an ongoing cycle of evangelism and administrators, pastors and lay people reach out to their communities unselfishly with the genuine desire to share His love with others there will be an abundant harvest.

Early Writings Chapter 10

Chapter 10 End of the 2300 Days



 

I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus’ countenance and admired His lovely person. The Father’s person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious light covered Him. I asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He said He had, but I could not behold it, for said He, “If you should once behold the glory of His person, you would cease to exist.”

Before the throne I saw the Advent people–the church and the world. I saw two companies, one bowed down before the throne, deeply interested, while the other stood uninterested and careless. Those who were bowed before the throne would offer up their prayers and look to Jesus; then He would look to His Father, and appear to be pleading with Him. A light would come from the Father to the Son and from the Son to the praying company.
 
Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from the Father to the Son, and from the Son it waved over the people before the throne. But few would receive this great light. Many came out from under it and immediately resisted it; others were careless and did not cherish the light, and it moved off from them. Some cherished it, and went and bowed down with the little praying company. This company all received the light and rejoiced in it, and their countenances shone with its glory. 

I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with Him. I did not see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after He arose, and they were left in perfect darkness. Those who arose when Jesus did, kept their eyes fixed on Him as He left the throne and led them out a little way.

Then He raised His right arm, and we heard His lovely voice saying, “Wait here; I am going to My Father to receive the kingdom; keep your garments spotless, and in a little while I will return from the wedding and receive you to Myself.”

Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. On the hem of His garment was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, “My Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace. 
 

I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, “Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan’s object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God’s children.


by Ellen G. White

Today


Ben Franklin may have said it best: “One today is worth two tomorrows.” That is because today is the only day we have. Yesterday is gone. We cannot call yesterday back to do what we failed to do. Nor can we reuse yesterday to undo what we may have messed up really bad or to repeat what we may have done well. All we have is today. Tomorrow is not here yet, and we are not even promised a tomorrow. So what are we going to do today? How will I spend its precious gift of time?


What is time, anyway? Clearly it is not a thing that you can touch, save up, or store. You can measure it and mark it off as it passes, but, as long as you keep your feet on mother earth, you can not speed it up or stop it, because it keeps marching on, second by second. Some describe it as being a dimension of the universe, a way to characterize things or events. Others prefer to think of time as an abstract, nothing more than an intellectual way to compare and sequence events.


As your time passes today, will you use it to build up or to tear down? Will you employ it to promote yourself and your cause or God and His kingdom? Each moment in time is a gift from God. The psalmist said: “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” ( Psalms 118:24, NKJV ). And the Lord Himself declared: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” ( John 9:4, NJKV ).


Lord, my commitment is to follow Your example in doing the work of Your Father today. Let my every decision instantly turn toward You now. Keep my heart open to the Holy Spirit.


God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7, NIV.

This meditation is from God of Wonders – A Daily Devotional written by David Steen, Ph.D. He is the Chair of the Biology Department at Andrews University.

Do People Have a Mind?

Do you have a mind? Even though none of us has ever seen a mind, we all believe in our minds. Same principle applies to faith.

Atheism requires much more faith than Christianity or belief in God. Atheism believes in just matter. Interesting issue is that when an atheist loses a loved one to a horrible crime, they will want justice.

By desiring justice, the atheist has internalized their grief and loss and now is touching on the spiritual component inside themselves that was put there by guess who? GOD.

What Does God Want from Me?

Micah was a prophet that stood up for the downtrodden. He taught that honesty, justice and fairness were critical facets for all humanity. Micah complained about dishonest people that cheated.

Micah 6:1-8
Hear now what the Lord says:

“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
And let the hills hear your voice.
2 Hear, O you mountains, the Lord’s complaint,
And you strong foundations of the earth;
For the Lord has a complaint against His people,
And He will contend with Israel.
3 “O My people, what have I done to you?
And how have I wearied you?
Testify against Me.
4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
I redeemed you from the house of bondage;
And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5 O My people, remember now
What Balak king of Moab counseled,
And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
From Acacia Grove to Gilgal,
That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.”
6 With what shall I come before the Lord,
And bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

We desire truth from people.

Psalms 51:6
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Society has quickly moved away from honesty and truthfulness.

Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.

We have turned into a nation of corrupt Enron’s. Here is a dialogue from Jesus that will help us.

Matthew 22:35-40
Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

We have been created by God to be honest and love our neighbors. We were made to show mercy to each other. It is God’s Grace and unexpected kindness. Examples in the Bible include the stories of the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the Thief on the Cross, and the Woman caught in Adultery. All these examples show human mercy and compassion!

The display of God’s Mercy is the death of Jesus on the Cross at Calvary!

Be gentle with other people!

Self-Righteousness is reflecting Satan not Christ!

As the Prophet Micah stated we are to love mercy, show kindness and have mercy on other people!

Please contact me if you want to discuss how to establish and grow a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! I have many resources to share!

This is the message that was given by Pastor Taylor at Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Christian church in November 2013.

Probability

Probability

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. John 6:47

Contrary to what you may have heard in advertising or political debate or what you may believe about science, real scientists don’t “prove” anything. Rather they hypothesize and test and develop theories and models that best explain data. And throughout all this activity, they work with probabilities, demonstrating that, given the conditions X, there is a high probability that Y is likely to happen ( or little probability, whatever the case may be ). OK, if nothing else, perhaps scientists have “proved” that everything in science is open for debate. Take gravity for example. All of us experience it every day.

Isaac Newton presented the universal law of gravitation to the Royal Society in 1686, a model that has worked wonderfully to describe attractions between bodies, so much so that we use his laws to calculate the orbits of space objects even today. So it’s settled….right? Wrong. Physicists are still trying to figure out exactly how gravitation works. So even the universal law of gravitation is still being debated.

A French mathematician and philosopher who did much to refine and mature probability theory was Blaise Pascal, a child prodigy and inventor of the mechanical calculator. In his Pensées, a collection of notes published after his death, Pascal wrote about the existence of God and how to think about it. He believed that God is incomprehensible-that we simply cannot know much about Him. Reason, he wrote, was not adequate to determine whether God does or does not exist. So in note 233 of his Pensées, he suggested the following logic to make a decision.

There are only two possibilities. God either exists or He does not. You must make a choice to believe or not believe-you don’t have an option. If you choose to believe in Him, that leads to only two outcomes. If He does exist, then you have won it all. But if He doesn’t exist, you have lost nothing. Think of the alternative now. Say you choose not to believe in God. Again there are two-and only two-outcomes. If God does exist, you lose it all, but if He does not, you lose nothing. Given the possibility  then of losing all if you don’t believe and gaining all if you do believe, Pascal decided that it was a philosophical no-brainer. One should choose to believe in God. This logic about the existence of God is known as Pascal’s Wager.

Fortunately, we have words from Jesus Himself. “Most assuredly” means “without doubt”. It is not a gamble or a game of probability, but a sure thing.
Lord, I choose to believe in You as my God.

This passage is the thought for 20 October 2013 from the daily devotional book titled:”God Of Wonders” by David Steen. He is a professor of Biology and the chair of the Biology Department at Andrews University.

A Prayer of Confession

Let us pray,
Lord God, we come to You to say that we are sorry,
Because we do not always behave
Like those who belong to You.

We set our hearts and minds on things in the world,
Instaed of putting pleasing You first.

Help us to put You first, always. Amen

Witnessing

Witnessing

How am I growing my abilities to serve God?
How am I reaching out to other people that don’t know God?
Am I fearful of witnessing?
Am I accomplishing God’s will for my life?

John 4:14
Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

We are called to Step Out-Step Up-Drink Living Water!

Are we spiritually dead? Complacency in the church defines the problem.

Revelation 3:13-20
13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

The Lukewarm Church

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,[b] I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

As soon as we reach out, God blesses our efforts. Going out into the community strengthens our witness.

Luke 11:33
No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lamp stand, that those who come in may see the light.

Matthew 28:16-20
The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

God expects our personal service to share the Gospel ( Good News ).

2 Timothy 1:7-10
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

God Is Love, not Fear!

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Focus on God and not self brings a deep love for souls!

Isaiah 6:8
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Acts 1:12-14
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

2 Timothy 3:12-17
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

These are the scriptures that Elder Matt Ward preached on in his message at Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Christian church on Sabbath,  2 November 2013.

It Has Only Just Begun

This is the message given by Pastor Robert Taylor on the Sabbath Day 12 October 2013 at the Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Christian church in Santa Barbara, CA.

Pastor Taylor received a bill for $149 from Santa Barbara County for a Safety Code permit. The bill must be paid or the church will no longer be able to meet. The Southern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists also alerted Pastor Taylor that all churches in the Conference are being reviewed about tax exempt status.

Today we are in a paid for building under the control of God. Earthly forces are getting more and more involved in what we can do and how we operate. There are more intrusions coming.

Do a search on an internet search engine for your name and see what is displayed. Do you need to make a return at a store? Don’t even ask about the lack of privacy. Intelligence agencies know everything about everyone. Recent headlines in the news include stories about how friendly nations are spying on each other.

Jesus said: “Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Whether you realize it or not, we are in what is known as the time of the end. America is under attack.

Matthew 24:5-14

For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

We either belong to God or the Devil. Revelation 13 describes a Religious Super Power. Nearly all will worship it. The Political Super Power will tell us: “Do what we tell you or DIE.”

How can we survive? This crises is here now. How will you survive? Right now believers in Jesus Christ in some countries are being treated poorly. Some are jailed, beaten and even killed.

Pray daily for the end of persecution of our fellow believers. Think about this: If people did not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, persecution would eventually end. NO Faith, NO Witness, NO Persecution.

For us, we should pray that the persecuted would stay true during their mistreatment.

Here we are free to share Jesus Christ with people. Every believer in every place is free to make a choice. Will I be obedient? My relationship with Jesus is more important than all else. We are free to obey.

A real battle continues. Look at Ephesians 6:12-18

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Are we being obedient to Christ’s command? Share Jesus where ever you go! If He is our Lord, we will want to obey. We make a decision each morning. Always remember God Loves You and He will stay with you always!
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