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People of The Living God |
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October 2020
WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS
SOLD THEMSELVES TO DO EVIL
Alfred King
There is an old adage that states, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” Through the years I have found this to be true in my personal life. Being ignorant in many cases has cost me considerably, not only financially, but also in extra time and labor. Ignorance can even be life-threatening. I remember years ago I was given the job of painting the attic vents on a large church in New Orleans. It was about fifty feet above the ground so I was using a wooden ladder to reach it. I had just begun sanding and scraping the old paint when the ladder rung I was standing on broke. My foot went to the next rung and it broke also. I slipped through the ladder and caught myself by my shoulders. When I looked down to the concrete below, I had this panicky feeling that the rest of the ladder might give way, so I hurriedly pulled myself up and cautiously made my way down the ladder to the ground. I was ignorant of the dangers of old wooden ladders, especially if there was no metal rod under the rung. That ignorance could have cost me my life. There is another common saying, “Ignorance is bliss.” In my case it was certainly not true.
Another maxim often repeated is, “Experience is a good teacher.” I have found this to be true also, because in most cases in which experience has taught me, it wasn’t a very good experience. It is because of some bad experiences I’ve had that I try to learn from other people’s mistakes so I can avoid the hard lesson. However, it seems I never learn all the lessons of life by observation, for I still find myself learning the hard way.
This same fact is seen in nations and governments. While many things are learned from the history of other nations, their strengths and their weaknesses, every nation that has existed since the beginning of time has succumbed to the same fatal mistakes. Leaders and politicians become dictators and tyrants, mismanage the government, overtax and abuse their citizens, make themselves rich at the expense of taxpayers, and eventually the nation falls.
King Ahab
All who have read much in the Bible have read about King Ahab. He was a king in Israel and was married to a woman named Jezebel. King Ahab was an evil king and Jezebel was even more evil than he. Take note what God had to say about Ahab, speaking through Elijah in IKings21:20-21. “And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he (Elijah) answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity.” Like Ahab, most politicians don’t do what they were elected to do and what the constitution states they are to do. They have sold the country out and put their personal gain ahead of their constituents. They have, like Ahab, sold themselves to do evil against the people they vowed to serve.
Yet the problems in government are not the only area of concern. What the people allow and permit is often where the greater problems lie. When moral standards and value for God, country, family, decency, respect (for the flag, police, and one another), and freedom are treasured, they form a society in which unity is created, and that unity establishes strength and resolve. When these foundational pillars are destroyed, that nation is on the path to annihilation.
We have another account in scripture which reveals that not only kings can sell themselves to do evil, but even nations can sell themselves out. In IIKings17, we read about Israel’s continual rejection of God’s ways. In this case it was not only the king but also the people. Verse nine says that the children of Israel “did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God.” And in verse seventeen we read, they “sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.” America’s citizens have followed in the steps of ancient Israel and have for years sold themselves to evil, and many have attempted to secretly sin against God and His commands. While men may not see, God does. They have rejected God’s order and refused His council. They have given themselves over to the lusts of the flesh, and prosperity, pleasures, and riches have become their gods.
Why can men not learn from history? How many times does history have to repeat itself? One thing is certain, when men depart from the standards of God, reject His word, and follow the wisdom of men instead of the wisdom of the Omniscient One, they are doomed to failure. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were founded upon Judeo-Christian principles, and in spite of what skeptics, atheists, agnostics, and scientists say, history proves the basic principles set forth in scripture are the foundation of a free and successful government. And as long as America held to those basic principles, she remained strong and free. America is where she is today because she has rejected God and His word.
One common characteristic of mankind is that we tend to be critical, or we tend to see more of the bad in our society than the good. It is good that we see the evil, for then we have a desire and drive to try to correct it. An example of this is how we in America are always striving to improve things in our lives. By that I mean we purchase a home and over time we feel we have to update it and make it better. We see things we don’t exactly like, so we labor to design it to where we are more satisfied. We are constantly improving our homes, our yards, our vehicles, etc.
As a nation, we tend to be the same way; we see things we don’t like and desire to change them or at least have some positive effect upon them. Racism has been an issue since this country was founded, but racism did not begin with the founding of America. It has always existed, one race against another race, and Jesus said that this would continue to the end. That does not mean that we do not attempt to address the issue and strive to eradicate it in our nation.
Many have recognized the problem racism has created over the centuries and have risen to the occasion and have fought against it. The movements in this country over the past 50 years has brought great progress in the issue of racism, although it still exists in many circles. Most Americans with basic common sense realize that no race is superior to another, we are all of equal value and equally important, especially to God.
I am fully convinced that the liberal side of our government is the greatest problem when it comes to racism. It is liberal politicians who have sold themselves for personal gain, who continually support abortion knowing that more black babies are killed through abortion than by any other means. BLM, if they are actually concerned, need to look at facts, at history and see what is actually happening in the black community. According to “Right to Life of Michigan Statistics,” “Abortion has taken more Black American lives than every other cause of death combined since 1973. More than crime. More than accidents. More than cancer, heart disease, and AIDS.” (Quoted from an article by Sheriff David Clark, Ret. [a black man] in an opinion piece in Townhall.com, May 2019, entitled, “Abortion: The Black Communities Holocaust.”) Is it not the liberal politicians who have for decades pushed for abortion and are never satisfied and now pressing more and more for late term abortion?
This brings me to the point I want to make in this article, and that is concerning the political swamp in Washington D.C. Instead of dealing with the race problem and attempting to resolve it, they continually stoke the flames of racism. They are the most guilty of all. President Trump has set himself to expose and destroy the deep swamp in Washington DC. His desire to make America great is because he sees where this country is heading. He has enough money and wealth that he could live anywhere in the world and not face all the criticism and abuse that he faces every day, but he has desired to attack the swamp instead. Why? Because he loves this nation. He knows by experience that in this nation one can rise to the top, fall into poverty and then, with a little effort, rise to the top again. He loves capitalism and he loves freedom.
Now we can all agree that his demeanor is not the most pleasing and he can be undiplomatic at times, and yet this is exactly the kind of person which is required to take on the D.C. swamp. President Trump is a very thick-skinned person and is able to let the spewings of leftist and progressives roll off his back, and he remains unscathed. He knows this is exactly how the swamp operates, through fear and intimidation, and he also knows that if the swamp is not drained, this country will be destroyed. The left attacked President Trump even before his inauguration. Why? Because they knew exactly why he entered the race. He entered to expose and destroy the swamp. The question then is: Are we going to let his demeanor, his crudeness, and his caustic remarks override the issue of abortion? Overide the issue of immigration? Overide the issue of global warming? Overide tax cuts? Overide making America what it once was and still can be?
In the 2016 GOP Republican Convention, Laura Ingraham made a statement that I think is pertinent to the topic here. She said that she didn’t want to have to sit down with her grandchildren and tell them about how great America used to be; she wants to be able to tell them how great America is. That’s a serious thought. The President is set on draining the swamp, and he has many Christians praying for him, praying America will be saved. If the swamp is able to destroy President Trump, this nation is destined to become another sad story in the history of nations. The swamp hates America, the United States Constitution, and God.
I believe President Trump has been placed in his present position because God set him there. God used the evil king Nebuchadnezzar to fulfil His will and later saved the man. God set Darius on the Persian throne and used him to send Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. God sets up whosoever He will (Dan.4:17,25,32), and God set President Trump in this position to give America time to repent and turn back to God. Most Christians are very concerned about what is coming with the election in November and are seriously praying. If President Trump is re-elected, the left is already preparing to cause havoc throughout the nation. The present riots are merely omens of what is coming. Praying Christians are the only hope America has, so I encourage our readers to be praying seriously over the next month.
Scripture teaches that there will come a time of great tribulation just prior to Jesus’ return. Many believers feel that the time foretold by Jesus is near, and what we see happening in our nation and the turmoil around the world seem to be the harbingers of worldwide change. The riots, the racial chaos, destruction of property, hatred and anger are unbelievable. But what makes this more disturbing is that so many of our city and state officials are accepting this as peaceful protests. Surely the scripture is being fulfilled before our eyes and “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not.” (IICor.4:4).
Consider just a few of the issues to which so many are blind today. Murder of babies in the womb is okay. People can decide what sex they are. Men can marry men and women can marry women and that’s a family. Riots are peaceful protests. Defunding the police is for the good of society. Global warming is caused by humans. Premarital sex is okay. Teenagers should be given contraceptives rather than to be taught to wait for marriage. If you don’t like your spouse or find someone you like better, divorce is an acceptable escape. Teaching (perverted) sex education is good. This list goes on and on.
Today we hear terms like, “cancelled culture” and “The New Normal.” What do these terms mean? It is preparing people to accept a new lifestyle, a new way of living, and you can be sure that this “New Normal” will give politicians power to rule over the people and we will lose our precious freedoms and our world will change rapidly. Maybe we need to begin telling our children and grandchildren how great America used to be so, just possibly, we can hang onto it a little longer as their eyes are opened to truth and they can see through all the propaganda of our media outlets. May God once more graciously and mercifully bless America.
THE VOICE OF GOD
Harry Miller
“God…spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son” (Heb.11:1,2). All Christian men will admit that Christ spoke to His apostles and to the disciples of His day; but not all believe that He still speaks. Oh, yes, many will say that He now speaks through His Word. This, of course, is true; but He also speaks by His Spirit. The New Testament is a covenant, and the most glorious promise of that covenant is the Lord's promise to personally communicate with His people.
Material-minded people are prone to think that God's only manner of communication is in the written Word, the Bible, for they say that today He does not speak orally, or audibly, to anyone. Both of these ideas are without foundation, and cannot be supported either practically or scripturally.
We find, in the Book of Joel, a prophecy of divine utterance for the “last days” (See Acts2:16,17). We are also told, in the New Testament, that the “remnant” of the last days “have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev.12:17), and that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev.19:10). “The spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified” (IPeter1:11).
The above Scriptures should be quite enough to convince an honest seeker of truth of the fact that God did not lose His voice, and that He still speaks, orally, through certain chosen mouthpieces.
Oral communication and written communication, however, are not the only ways to convey ideas from one mind to another. How often we poor mortals silently convey messages one to another! Someone tells a “tall tale,” and we look across the room at a friend, who, with a tolerant look politely and silently waits for the end of the story. Looking at our friend, we too, politely wait, with the ghost of a smile and a wink of the eye. It is all done in a flash, but a message of mutual understanding has been conveyed. We both feel better, and somehow we can wait more patiently for the “wind” to blow itself out. Have you never been nudged under cover of the dinner table when some startling piece of information has been brought out?
The Scriptures tell us that John, at the “last supper,” quietly asked the Saviour who it was that would betray Him. The Master told him to watch the “sop,” for after He had dipped it He would hand it to a certain person, and that person would be the betrayer. This conversation, of course, was very quietly carried on; and it is most probable that some little time elapsed before He made the sign. No name was mentioned, for if it had been, it might have been heard. The matter was still unknown to most of the disciples even as Judas left the table, for some of them thought that he was going out to purchase certain supplies.
Usually, “the still small voice” of the Lord is not a voice at all. It may be but a feeling: an urge; but it can be very distinct and most definite. So much so, that it is possible for one to know that it was from the Spirit of God. “My sheep know my voice” is a statement potent with hidden implications. If God thundered from heaven, every fool would hear His voice; but He rarely speaks by thunder. To those who love Him, His voice (His communication) is as gentle as an evening zephyr.
“As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom.8:14). Being led by the Holy Spirit is one of the signs of godly sonship. The fact that God personally communicates with His saints is a testimony which hundreds of thousands of people could give. The weight of such evidence is hard to discount.
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people; and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest” (Heb.8:10,11).
Take a good look at the word “teach.” The knowledge of God has not been left to the ministry of men. A greater teacher than man has been given the commission of divine instruction. Consider these words of Jesus: “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever…the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things” (John14:16,26).
Those who try to rationalize the promises of the miraculous for this present day usually deny that God speaks to His people NOW; but many of these same people will admit that the devil speaks through evil men. Has Satan more authority and power to communicate than God has? Many scholars contend that when the Bible was completed God ceased to communicate with His people through the Spirit. But does Scripture support such a position?
“But ye have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One, and ye know all things” (IJohn2:20). “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but…the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth” (IJohn2:27). This “anointing” is the testimony of the presence of the Comforter. This is that Spirit without which no man is a child of God: “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Rom.8:9).
The apostle John said: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself…and this (the witness) is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son hath not life” (IJohn5:10-12). God's record, God's testimony, is in the bosom of the true believer. “When the Comforter is come…He shall testify of Me” (John15:26). To the church at Corinth the apostle Paul said: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.” The apostle said that he came to them, instead, “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” speaking the mysteries of God “not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth” (ICor.2:1-13). The apostle further declared: “God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (IICor.6:16).
The prophet Isaiah wrote concerning new covenant Israel: “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children” (chapter54, verse13).
Thank God, the heavenly Teacher is still with us, and those who walk humbly with Him know that He speaks, for they have learned to recognize His voice. Jesus made this dogmatic statement concerning His “sheep”: “My sheep hear my voice” (John10:27). Isaiah stated: “Therefore My people shall know My name: therefore they shall know in that day, that I am He that doth speak: Behold, it is I” (chapter52, verse6). Referring to the prophecy of Isaiah, Jesus said: “It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me” (John6:45). The Father “is a Spirit” (John4:24), and how could these men learn of the Father except by the Spirit?
In summarizing these Scriptures we conclude that there is a knowledge that comes from God only by the Spirit. This peculiar knowledge cannot be dispensed by men. It is not gained by the processes of human reasoning and mental deduction, but is “spiritually discerned” (ICor.2:14). Conversation, or the process of being “born again,” is not the result of logical thinking: it is a distinct spiritual experience which results in the transformation of human nature. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is also a distinct spiritual experience which has no foundation in anything that “eye hath seen, or ear heard,” but is a thing “revealed by the Spirit.”
GOD’S HOLY DAY
Alfred King
Over the years the “Testimony of Truth” has printed quite a few articles concerning the Sabbath. But there are new readers of this magazine that have not been exposed to teaching regarding God’s Sabbath day. Recently, we have received letters requesting literature or information about which day is God’s holy day and so desire to present what scripture proclaims and not what men teach or even what history may seem to indicate. Some Christians go to history to validate their observance of Sunday rather than to scripture. They say that the Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday because the Christian church of the first century changed it. There is, however, no reference in scripture that substantiates that supposition; in fact scripture refutes it. Not only did Jesus always observe the seventh day Sabbath, His disciples continued to do so throughout the book of Acts. There are multiple references of Sabbath services and gatherings in the book of Acts and only one reference to the first day. We will refer to this truth later in this article. No matter what men may say or history implies, scripture is the final authority, and no matter when or who in history changed God’s holy day from the seventh day to the first, they had no right, permission, or authority from God to do so. Let’s then let scripture speak concerning what day is God’s Sabbath.
Jesus Was Resurrected On Sunday
The first supposition we want to address is that which states that Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week. (I recommend that those who are interested should send for our free tract, “Three Days and Three Nights.”) To sum up what this tracts presents: Jesus was not crucified on Friday, He was crucified on Wednesday. How do we know this? First: there are not three days and three nights from Friday afternoon and Sunday morning. This is fundamental math and is absolute no matter how you may endeavor to pervert it. Second: even if He were raised on the first day, that would not in itself change God’s Holy Day. Why would it? He didn’t tell us to observe the day of His resurrection, nor did He tell us that He changed His Holy Day. This idea was brought in by the Catholic Church and Christians don’t follow the pope.
Pentecost Fell On Sunday
The second supposition we are told by men of the cloth is that the day was changed from the seventh to the first because the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which fell on the day of Pentecost, was on the first day of the week. They base this on a false premise. (Again I recommend that you read, “Three Days and Three Nights.”) Scripture clearly teaches that Jesus was crucified, and they were determined to get him from the cross and into the tomb before sundown because the Sabbath was approaching. Men mistakenly figure this was the weekly Sabbath. However, this was not the weekly Sabbath but the Passover Sabbath. This is where many get confused. There were two Sabbaths that week, the Passover Sabbath and the Seventh Day Sabbath.
Scripture nowhere states that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was on the first day of the week. It says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts2:1-4). It does not say which day of the week it was. But what we do know is that Pentecost was fifty days after Passover.
With these facts in mind, we can begin to put the pieces of the puzzle together and come to the truth. Jesus clearly stated that He would be in the grave three days and three nights. We know He did not prophesy something that was false. He knew He would be in the tomb three days and three nights. If this is not true, then how can we believe anything else He said? And it is mathematically impossible to get three days and three nights from Friday evening to Sunday morning. The second problem this prophecy creates is that if Jesus were in the grave three days and three nights, then He would have to be resurrected in the afternoon around the same time He died. It could not possibly be in the morning or His prophecy is false. I think it wise to believe Jesus than men, even men of the cloth.
We know that Jesus was no longer in the tomb Sunday morning so He had to have been raised Saturday afternoon. This is obvious from His prophecy of three days and three nights. If we count backward from Saturday afternoon three days and three nights, we find He was crucified on Wednesday and that Wednesday was the preparation day for the Passover. It is very clear then that Jesus was crucified the day before Passover, and the Passover Sabbath began at sundown on Wednesday.
This brings us to the conclusion of the second supposition mentioned above. If Passover was on Thursday (since Jesus was crucified on Wednesday and Thursday the beginning of Passover) we must count fifty days from Thursday. If we count fifty days from Thursday, we will find that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was on a Thursday, not Sunday as so prominently promoted. But if some would argue that Thursday should not be counted, then Friday would be the day of Pentecost. Either way, the outpouring was clearly not on the first day of the week, and therefore to change the Sabbath is founded upon false premises.
How God Values The Sabbath
It is obvious throughout the Old Testament that God placed a very special importance upon the Sabbath day. It began when He rested from creating the universe, the world, and all that is in the world. Genesis2:2-3: “And 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 that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Notice Who blessed and sanctified it. What does it mean to be sanctified? It means it is set aside for God and it is sacred. It is to be different from the other days of the week. This is what God did, not man nor the church. Why then would man want to alter God’s special day?
Let me just point out one scripture among many of how important the Sabbath was to God in the Old Testament. Jer.17:19-27: “Thus said the Lord unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: Thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction. And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever. And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the Lord. But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.”
Did you notice how God promised to bless the Jews if they would observe the Sabbath, and then how God’s judgment would fall if they did not?
If you are familiar with scripture, you will realize that Jeremiah prophesied just prior to the captivity of the Jews by the Babylonians. Jeremiah spent his life trying to warn the Jews of God’s judgment, but they would not listen nor would they repent and turn back to the Lord. Yet, if Judah would begin to observe the Sabbath, things would turn for their good. They could have escaped the Babylonian captivity and the destruction of Jerusalem. History shows how they refused and, eventually, they were all led into captivity and Jerusalem was completely destroyed.
The Lord’s Day
Another scripture used to promote Sunday worship is found in Revelation the first chapter, verse 10. “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” What does this actually tell us? It does not tell us what day of the week John was in the Spirit, just that it was the Lord’s day. I contend that the Lord’s day is the seventh day. Why do men decide that John was in the Spirit on the first day? Some say the Lord is to receive the firstfruits, therefore Sunday is the first day, so it should be given to the Lord. Who made this decision? God or man? Again, let us turn to scripture.
Isa.58:13a: “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day .” Whose holy day? This is God speaking through Isaiah and the Sabbath is His Holy Day.
But I know that some will say this is Old Testament and God changed His Holy Day. So let’s go to the New Testament and to Jesus Christ our Lord’s words. “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath” (Mark2:27-28) When we read in Revelation about John being in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, it is indisputably obvious that John was in the Spirit on the Sabbath day, the seventh day and not Sunday.
I have read of many ministers, theologians, and bible scholars who state emphatically that the seventh day of the week is the true Sabbath, and yet they refuse to teach it in their churches or promote it in their literature or in their catechism. Some have said they would lose their congregations because Saturday is a day for everything but God. It the day for sports, for school functions, picnics, pleasure, rest, and everything else but to be set apart (sanctified) for God.
First Day Mentioned In New Testament
I stated in the first paragraph that I would mention the events revolving around the gatherings on the first day of the week. There are three times where a gathering is mentioned taking place on the first day of the week. The first one is John20:19. “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” The disciples were gathered, not for a Sabbath gathering, but they were in fear of the Jews. The Jews had just had Jesus crucified and the disciples were fearful that they might be next.
The next place is Acts20:7. “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” We could go into all the different opinions of what day this actually was and waste a lot of time, but the fact that they had a service on the first day of the week proves nothing. This verse does not and cannot dissolve or do away with all that has already been written in this article. It is foolish to attempt to destroy the Sabbath with such a verse as this. Paul was leaving the next day and they had a service. It could have been Tuesday or Wednesday or any other day of the week. Using this scripture is lame at best and is twisting scripture at worst. Peter warns us about mismanaging God’s word in IIPeter3:16b: “which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
The third time a first day gathering is mentioned is in 1Cor.16:1-2: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” The church at Corinth were collecting funds and supplies to help Christians in Jerusalem, because there was a famine in Jerusalem and the disciples were suffering. Paul was admonishing this church to gather their contributions so everything would be completed when he arrived. He is actually showing that he did not want this to be done on the Sabbath because he would be there to minister. Yet this verse is often used to refute the Lord’s Holy Day.
Much more could be written on this topic and has been by many Sabbath observers over the centuries. The question that must be asked at this point is: If the Sabbath was so important to God, why is it not that important to us? Does God really care which day we observe as long as we observe one day? The question that must be asked following the previous is: Do most Sunday keepers actually keep it? Do they set it aside specifically for God? Of course this can be asked of Sabbath observers as well. Do we sanctify the day to God? If not: Why not?
SHUNNING EVIL
Anna L. McDonald
In our modern world, there are many destructive influences and some are very subtle. I believe Satan greatly uses television, contemporary music and computers. He knows that these are powerful tools. He is using these things to corrupt the masses, and mold society to accept and like things that would have been socially unacceptable forty, thirty, and even twenty years ago. Additionally, cell phones and video games have an extremely addictive effect, particularly on teens and early twenties.
In his book The Hidden Side of Rock, George Bruno reveals that even the soft rock of the Beatles have satanic subliminal messages, and many rock rhythms have a hypnotic ability to brainwash the hearers to accept whatever is being sung. Even the beautiful cartoons of Walt Disney are filled with subliminal messages promoting occultism, magic, sexual perversion, and homosexuality.
Studying the effects of rock music and these TV programs, I found that they have similar negative effects and promote rebellion, laziness, lack of self-control, aggression, inability to concentrate, stress, anger, sensuality, perversion, and fears. Today, a surprising number of youth and men are becoming addicted to pornography and developing serious psychological problems.
Even much of contemporary Christian music has been infiltrated with these negative influences. It’s been found, also, that listening to worldly types of music can promote carnality and help lead believers back to their old life. Christian music can be very edifying spiritually, so it’s important that we use discernment in choosing what we listen to. The music we choose should be harmonious, not rhythmically accelerated as in most contemporary music, but best in accordance with musical laws. Sometimes the words sound Christian but the voices sound sensual. The drums should not be dominant and the volume very moderate. Loud music has been found to be very detrimental to the health. One sister told me, “I notice often when the music is very loud, the music doesn’t sound as beautiful and the words become unclear”. Sometimes when hearts are very much for God, God blesses the music even though it’s not in order with what is best. But may we endeavor to listen to the type of music that pleases God and avoid that which is detrimental spiritually.
The evil prophet Balaam was hired to curse God’s people, Israel but God would not allow him to do so. Finally, because he wanted the rewards that King Balak promised him, he exclaimed. “I know how you can curse them. Send beautiful Moabite women to tempt them to sin.” King Balak did so, and thousands of them fell to fornication and also made sacrifices to their idols. Then a curse fell upon them and 24,000 died of a plague.
The devil knows how fornication is a strong temptation for humanity and is a powerful tool to defile and destroy. Even the Nazarite (set apart to God) Samson fell for a whorish woman. He lost all sensibleness, while it was obvious that she was plotting to hand him over to his enemies.
A pastor, realizing the serious danger of today’s computers and seeing the disastrous effects on many men, strongly encourages brothers never to go on the computer without others present. This can be a great safeguard, as normally a person will feel more accountability when there are other believers present. If porn comes on while one is all alone, curiosity alone could cause one to watch things that could be difficult to forget. This could begin opening up demonic influences that can create a harmful addiction. This may seem silly to some, but it is a serious and common problem. Jesus said that if a man just looks on a woman to lust after her he commits fornication (Matt.5:28). I believe that through technology, Satan compounds his forces, mixing sensuality with subliminal power and easy availability, so every male is an easy target and not too mighty to fall, whether he is an unbeliever, a believer, or even a pastor. Women and children are vulnerable as well. Overall, I believe only by being filled with God’s Spirit can one deplore and reject such sensuality which is everywhere, from computers to immodest girls on the streets to magazines at the grocery check-out counters.
Through so much evil influence, our society is rapidly degrading. There is a big increase of violent crimes, drug addiction, prostitution, killings, and homosexuality. It’s alarming to see how most people these days are saturating themselves with evil influences. Many are continually listening to worldly music or watching TV, or using their cell phones or computers going from one thing to another.
When we see our children and even ourselves (?!!) captivated and constantly on cell phones, TV, computers, Ipods, Facebook, etc., take note that it’s not of God. A normal child has a hard time sitting still, but many children can easily spend long hours watching TV, playing computer games or using cell phones. Studies have shown that excess use of these devices causes adults and children to develop antisocial behavior. A few people have told me they have personally seen examples of this. I believe these things are also very destructive to spiritual life. Many people tell me now that they can’t even pray.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t have a cell phone, but it’s good to minimize the use of so much technology.
I recently visited several Christian families from the Amish background, where they either don’t have these modern devices or use them minimally. It was a blessing to see the children noticeably happier, kind, friendly, more helpful, and having esteem for God. However, once movies, TV, and/or video games are introduced even in decent Christian families, often they begin to replace the family altar and devotions. The children and often the entire family begin to focus on these devices, and they become alarmingly glued and addicted to these forms of entertainment.
So even with many believers, they begin to go the way the masses of society are going. Soon many believers find there is no time for Bible reading and no desire to go to Christian assemblies. The TV, in many homes, is turned on first thing in the morning until bedtime, or as soon as one returns to their home. The conscience begins to be dull, the devil is putting more and more sensuality and violence on the screen, and society is liking worse and worse stuff! Lord, help us to recognize the devil’s devices and have the grace and discipline to reject evil. “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Psalm101:3).
Hindrances
Here I want to share about some major hindrances to our spiritual life. These probably affect all of us to some degree.
Unforgiveness
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses” (Matt.6:14-15).
Unforgiveness is a major way that spiritual oppression enters into peoples’ lives. Forgiveness is sometimes very difficult. Author Neil Anderson says that even if we don’t feel like forgiving, we can choose through our wills to forgive. We can direct ourselves to each person who has hurt us, confronting the pain and saying his or her name, and saying, “I forgive you for the offense of what you did, and I will not use it against you.” The offender could be walking about oblivious of the problem, while we carry this burden that can ruin our life, and rob us of joy and peace, and even put our salvation in jeopardy (Matt.18:34,35). Anger, resentment, hatred and envy often result in health issues, such as stress and ulcers. “Looking diligently lest any man fall of the grace of God: lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Heb.12:15). Truly, bitterness and unforgiveness has ruined many lives. So for our own sakes, we need to forgive. If we will do it, God can help bring healing to our hearts.
Even a little resentment or an annoyed spirit can cause us to be depressed and/or have a bad attitude, which can also make others feel very uncomfortable or rejected, and ruin the atmosphere at work or home, or in leisure time with others. Jesus said we should pray for our enemies. I found this also helps us to forgive from the heart. I was shown that this can also help the offender to change. Author Neil Anderson expounds more about forgiveness in his book The Bondage Breaker.
Pride
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (IPeter5:5).
Pride is a sin that we need to recognize and put to death. Sometimes it makes us feel elevated, sometimes it can make us feel down, ashamed to speak, angry if someone demeans us or even just ignores us, upset because we think we deserve a better life, better things, etc. I find the best thing to do when I’m upset is to go and pray. Then the Lord can help me to see what is wrong and help me put the flesh to death (Prov.13:10).
There are many things that we could be proud of: beauty, intelligence, talents, accomplishments, position, possessions, and cleverness. People can even be proud of things that they should be ashamed of. Brother Zac Poonen says, “It’s not a sin to be beautiful but it is a sin to be proud of it.” “A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin” (Prov.21:4).
Pride is what made Lucifer become Satan. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer son of the morning. For thou hast said in thine heart I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God” (Isa.14:12,13). We must fear God and reject this satanic thievery of taking the glory that belongs to God. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James1:17). “For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou hast not received? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (ICor.4:7) “All the sin of man has it’s root in pride, love of one’s self, esteeming oneself and always looking out for one’s self interest” – William Law. Pride is a dangerous and often subtle sin that God hates. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, arrogance, and the evil way, and the forward (perverse) mouth, do I hate” (Prov.8:13). Often there is a lack of humility even amongst Christian leaders. For this reason ITim.3:6 tells us an elder should not be a newer convert. Humility usually comes through being broken, perseverance, and yielding to God’s dealings. In Acts12 King Herod made an impressive speech, “And the people gave a shout, saying, it is a voice of a god and not a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost” (Acts12:22,23). In Acts14:10, Paul healed a crippled man and the people said, “The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men” (Acts14:11). But when Paul and Barnabas heard that they were about to do sacrifice to them, they tore their clothes and cried out, “Sirs, why do you do these things? We also are men of like passions with you” (Acts13:14). I’m afraid most of us are well pleased when people speak well of us, but may we wholeheartedly pray that God’s Spirit will help us follow the example of Paul rather than that of King Herod.
“Another effectual principle for self-denial is to be exceedingly careful not to receive human honors or praise into our hearts” (John5:44). “But if we open our hearts to receive this honor and in our thoughts feed upon it as a social honey, or if we allow human praise to inflate our thoughts, it will instantly breed human self-esteem, and this becomes a hotbed of self-righteous pride!” – George D. Watson. I read an excellent tract a while ago called “Looking unto Jesus” which stated that we should not focus on our failures nor even our accomplishments, but solely on Jesus (Heb.12:2; Psalm16:8).
May God help us to quickly recognize and reject pride, give God all the glory, and be filled instead with thankfulness for His countless blessings.
Humility
Here’s a quote to encourage us to be humble instead of prideful: “humility is the root from where all grace can grow and the indispensable condition of true communion with Jesus. Without it there cannot be the abiding presence of God nor can we experience the power of His spirit” – Andrew Murray.
Here are a few practical things one can do to have humility.
1. Pray to see our pride and put it to death (Rom.8:13), to be cleansed of pride (IJohn1:9), and to be clothed in humility (IPeter5:5).
2. Read the word. Romans10:17 tells us the word gives us faith and helps us to believe. Also, the Greek word for believe, peitho, implies to obey, to put ourselves below, and to submit. We exercise humility as we submit to God in obedience. Also, reading God’s Word humbles us to see how we fall short in many ways. If we are open and humble ourselves, God can work in us a broken and a contrite spirit (Psalm51:17) and sanctification (John17:17) so that we can be the bride of Christ, prepared for His coming.
3. Don’t be vain or conceited or think highly of yourself. “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Prov.3:7).
4. Don’t boast and shun speaking, dressing, or doing things to impress others (Prov.30:32). Paul said, “If I yet pleased men I should no more be the servant of Christ” (Gal.1:10). “That no flesh should glory in his presence” (ICor.1:29).
5. Submit to others, prayerfully consider the counsel of others, put to death bossiness, be submitted to God first but endeavor to practice submissiveness and meekness to others also (for wives, Col.3:18; for children, Eph.6:1; for husbands, Col.3:20; for elders, IPeter5:5). For everyone, “submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Eph.5:21).
6. Realize our neediness and that we can’t accomplish anything of eternal value of ourselves (John15:5).
7. Don’t compare ourselves (ICor.4:7). This can tempt us to think too highly of ourselves, put others down or get discouraged and/or envious if others seem to be doing better than us.
8. Don’t argue. “Only by pride cometh contention; but with the well advised is wisdom” (Prov.13:10).
9. Give all glory to God from whom all good things come and deserving of our praise (James1:17).
10. Give thanks to God. “Giving thanks for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph.5:20).
The Critical Spirit
This is a great hindrance and causes many problems in fellowships between churches and in families. Basilea Shlink says that this is a common sin and it is in our blood. Psalm1:1 tells us that man is blessed when he does not sit in the seat of the scornful. In Isaiah58:9 it says that God will answer us when we stop pointing our finger and speaking vanity. “Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor and love no false oath” (Zach.8:17). We should not accept suspicions that could be false, and we should certainly not spread them. We should strive to reject negative and harsh thoughts towards others, especially thoughts that cause us to have negative “feelings” towards others. We should pray to put these thoughts and feelings to death and then pray for the person of whom we’ve been critical. We can also pray for forgiveness, patience, mercy and love. Often people that seem really bad are people that have been treated badly. Jesus said that He will have mercy and not sacrifice. I’ve been humbled to see God change a hard person that I would have rather stayed away from. Also, Satan is called the accuser of our brethren and loves to feed the critical spirit. It’s a destructive spirit that causes much division, even hatred, and can cause much discouragement and hurt.
The author of The Heavenly Man is a Chinese Christian, brother Yun, who suffered much persecution and imprisonment for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel. However, when he came to the states, certain so-called believers spread doubts and false accusations about him, causing many to reject him. He and his wife said that was even harder than the physical abuse they went through in China. At least amongst the persecuted brethren there was true love.
I think it’s good to prayerfully seek a good sound church that has true love for God. Also, I think it’s important to give room for some character faults. If, at least, the leaders are upright and basically sound, they can help the others grow in the faith. We should be practicing some patience and hope for others. After all, who is perfect and does everything right all the time? Also, I think we should be slow to reject others if they do not believe everything we think or believe. Really, who knows everything, or understands everything perfectly? I have seen this cause some heart breaking problems in fellowships and families.
As we enter an assembly may we not be quick to criticize and condemn everything that does not measure up to our likings. I do believe it is important to have sound judgment and discernment and prayerfully look for good fellowship, but may God give us a Godly balance and also have some hope, love and mercy.
“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (IPeter4:8).
Anger
There is an edifying book put out by Bill Gothard’s Institute of Basic Life Principles called Anger Resolution. They say that anger is an issue that every believer must conquer. In some people, anger may not manifest in yelling or hostility, but a victim of abuse or ill treatment can begin to reject others, even of their own family. Such a person sometimes becomes cold, withdrawn, and can develop a lack of ability to love and even feel joy. Such a person can learn to forgive and receive spiritual and emotional healing through Jesus.
Anger is very destructive to those that are afflicted by it, especially children in the home. One pastor said that even “good” children will turn rebellious if exposed to much anger. The person with the anger problem often develops health problems. A medical doctor discovered that bitterness and anger also was a major factor in serious sickness like heart disease and cancer. “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications out of your mouth” (Col.3:8).
Sometimes people think some anger helps get the point across. However, it more often causes people to get offended, have a harder time receiving what is being said, and can cause deep wounds. “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph.4:31,32). There are many more scriptures that encourage us not to be angry (Prov.37:8; 14:17,29; 15:18; James1:19).
Idols
John tells us to keep ourselves from idols (IJohn5:21). Paul speaks of some whose God is their belly (Phil.3:17-19). Jesus warns us about keeping our eye focused on God instead of other things and riches. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt.6:21).
One brother wrote that whatever we spend a lot of our time and money on is a good indication of where our heart is. Idols can represent whatever we idolize and put first in our lives or before God. May we cry out to God to help us see any idols in our lives and help us be freed from them.
QUESTION FROM THE MAIL BOX
Hi brothers, I need some answers to these questions. First let me tell you that I'm gathering with a few other Christians in a small house to worship God.
Is speaking in tongues biblical or not?
M.E.H.
Dear M.E.H.
I greet you again in the precious and most wonderful name, that name which is above all names, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
The question you asked is concerning tongues: “Is it Biblical or not?” As we examine scripture, we do not see the ministry of tongues or interpretations found in the Old Testament. If there were such spiritual manifestations, they are not recorded. We do find many prophecies and there are several dreams recorded which were interpreted by men of God, such as Joseph’s dreams and dreams given to Pharaoh which Joseph interpreted. Daniel also had several dreams, and he interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s and Belshazzar’s dreams, etc.
However, there were quite a few changes made in the New Covenant when Jesus came and fulfilled many things of which the Old Testament foreshadowed. All the sacrifices and offerings foreshadowed the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. Jesus established a New Covenant with His people. Under this New Covenant, Jesus made the way by which sinful man could be justified and redeemed. This provided a way through which men could have a greater relationship with God. This relationship is through the Holy Spirit.
In John chapters 14,15, and 16, Jesus promised He would be sending the Holy Spirit to be with them. The Holy Spirit would reside within their hearts. He told them in John16:7, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” In this verse, the Holy Spirit is referred to as “the Comforter.” How was the Holy Spirit sent? And: What is His purpose? When Jesus died on the cross, He died bearing man’s transgressions. When anyone believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, he is saved. That means his sins and transgressions are atoned for. Jesus died for our sins and, by believing, our sins are laid on Him because He paid the penalty.
This transferring of our sins to Him makes it possible for believers to come into the presence of God, for we are now clean, cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Union with the Holy Spirit is made possible because of the cleansing agent of Jesus’ blood. This is why Jesus told His disciples, “behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke24:49) In Acts1:8, Jesus expressed it this way, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” The power of God is given to His people through the Holy Spirit.
Throughout the book of Acts, we find believers being baptized in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. This experience was first introduced on the day of Pentecost in Acts2. Acts2:3-4 reads, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” In Acts10 we find some Gentiles upon whom the Spirit fell, and they began speaking in tongues and magnifying God (verse 46). Acts19 records the Holy Spirit coming upon certain disciples in Ephesus, and they began to speak in tongues after the Apostle Paul laid his hands on them and prayed. In that case they also prophesied.
If you look at first and second Corinthians, you see that the church at Corinth had various gifts of the Holy Spirit operating in their midst. I think one of the best chapters to study in regard to the different gifts of the Holy Spirit is ICorinthians4. The Corinthian Church possessed several gifts of the Spirit, but they were not using them properly so Paul gives them instructions relative to tongues, interpretations, and prophecies. It takes some time to grasp and fully understand what Paul is teaching, but it is very important. The condition of the church in Corinth gives us some very important insights into the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. This church, while they had gifts operating in their midst, were a carnal church. They were allowing certain sins to exist and not addressing those sins. This was a serious condition. It may seem strange to us that the Holy Spirit could operate among such a carnal congregation, but it shows that just because people can speak in tongues, interpret tongues, or have the gift of prophecy, those things do not necessarily mean they are following God and walking in truth.
Read ICorinthians13. There Paul tells the Corinthian believers that, though they speak with tongues, it is just a lot of noise if God’s love is not flowing in their hearts. If we go back in the Old Testament to Numbers22, 23, and 24, we find a man named Balaam who had certain spiritual gifts and was able to communicate with God and possessed certain spiritual powers. Yet he was an enemy of God and of God’s people. Scripture tells us that Balaam went astray, for he loved the wages of sin (IIPeter2:15; Jude11).
Some teach that the gifts of the Spirit were only for the Apostles and those who lived at that time. They teach that these gifts were to get the Gospel message out to the world and that, today, they are no longer operating. However, we must allow the scripture to address this issue, and I think one of the best scriptures that refutes this idea is found in Acts2:38-39, which reads, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Peter plainly declared it was for all those whom God calls, even to them that are “afar off,” those in other nations and those in future generations.
The Holy Spirit is the same today as He was yesterday and as He was in the book of Acts. The blessings Jesus provided in His death and resurrection are for His people today just as much as they were for the early church. There are teachings in our schools of theology that say these things are not for today. Those erroneous teachings have contributed to the Church’s lack of power and spiritual reality. Jesus told His disciples that they would do greater miracles than He did. How would they do that? Through the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives. God still speaks today, and those who have ears to hear, they hear. The great enemy of Christianity, the devil, goes about as a roaring lion, and his roaring is too often believed rather than the truths presented in scripture. Tongues and interpretations are for today as well as prophecy and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t mean that one person possesses all the gifts, but different members in the body may possess various gifts. There are other gifts beside tongues, interpretations, and prophecies. There are gifts of discernment, gifts of wisdom, gifts of knowledge, gifts of healing, gifts of helps, gifts of miracles, and others. These all have been provided through Christ’s sacrifice and are for God’s church today just as they were in the days of the Apostles.
In ICorinthians12, Paul writes about the various gifts of the Spirit, and he informs us that these gifts are given to the church for edification and for ministry. They are given to different people as God sees fit, and those gifts must work in unity. He uses the analogy of the human body showing that the body has many members and each member is very important to the function of that body. The gifts of the Spirit must operate in the same manner. Each person has a specific God-given ministry in the church, and the gifts given are to be used in harmony with all the other gifts which exist within the body of believers. It would be well to read over ICorinthians12 to gain a clearer understanding of God’s order.
We must allow the gifts of the Holy Spirit to operate in our midst today and yet, at the same time, they must function in an orderly fashion. All too often men who receive a gift become proud, arrogant, or feel special, just as many of our prosperity preachers. They do as Balaam; they begin to use the gifts given for their own gain. This is extremely dangerous and contrary to the ways of the Lord. A person who receives any such blessing from the Lord must realize that this is a gift and not something they have produced in themselves. Gifts are only for those who are very humble and obedient to the word of God. Their safety is in living in obedience to the law of God, living according to all of God’s commandments. This is most important and must be remembered once God grants anyone to have any gift from God.
I pray this is helpful and that it explains to some extent the necessity of the gifts and also the importance of staying close to God by obedience to His commands. May God richly bless you as you study these things, and I pray God will pour out His Spirit upon you and spiritual growth and maturity will be gained.
Sincerely, the Editor