For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”(Hebrews4:12,KJV) The claim of Scripture alone which is Sola Scriptura elevated scripture to be the sole standard and decisive source for theology. From the beginning the children of God has considered themselves to be people of the word(the Bible). To affirm this biblical Principle, we acknowledge the uniqueness of the bible. Scripture should be our only ruling norm for our theology and the authority for life and doctrine .We should not go against what is written in the Bible.True christianity and convincing Gospel Preaching depends on the word of God. It was Martin Luther who said”Scripture alone is the true Lord and master of all writings and doctrine on earth.” It is rather mind bogging to know that Writers, even those who dissasociate themselves from christianity always turn to the scripture for guidance when writing their books.This should lead us to the point that the scripture, God’s Holy words are important. The bible in 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that”all Scripture is God breathed and that “no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation,and that men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”(2 Peter1:20-21). We can assume a fundamental unity and harmony among the parts of scripture in regard to the crucial issues it teaches.We ought to understand that the word of God is clear in what it teaches, in that it can be understood by everyone,both adults and children especially in it’s most basic teachings.We should let scripture interpret scripture,as it sheds light on it’s own meaning. We don’t need to go outside of scripture to find the meaning, because it is already there, all we have to do is to find the passages that deals with that specific subject. When we begin to let scripture interpret itself we ought to know that we have to study the bible thoroughly.Any individual that have been inspired by God should use scripture in everything they say. We can safely say that God’s word is imperitive for our daily existence.I Pray that we will study the word of God more dilegently and find the real meaning of scripture .-Elder Micheal Stewart

The Lord has warned each one of us to be careful what we say, because by our words we will be justified and by our words we will be condemned. Every man will have to give an account for every word.The words one would be justified is comforting,encouraging words,words that are pure,words that unite and inspire and also helpful words.The words by which we are in danger of being condemned are hurtful words,discouraging words,words that bring sadness,inappropriate words,words that isolate,words that tell lies and idle words.You can tell a lot about an individual by the words they speak.Jesus tells us.”For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”(Matthew 12:34). In the book of Proverbs the eighteen chapter and verse twenty one we read”Death and life are in the power of the tongue.We ought to understand that a gun is bad-it kills in the same breath words can also kill.According to the word of God there are some sins of the tongue that God does not like, they are the lying,flattering,proud,overused,swift,backbiting,talebearing,cursing,piercing and the silent tongue.God is saying to us to us today that we need to get rid of these tongues. When we practice using these tongues we are hurting Jesus, so please repent and confess. We must replace bad words to the good ones, we should pray to God,praise God,read God’s word,Sing,bless,comfort,encourage and help others. I Pray that we will follow God’s word and obey him today.-Elder Micheal Stewart

The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!… Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

Judges 6:12, 14, NLT

TODAY’S WORD:

There was a man in the Scripture named Gideon whom God wanted to lead the people of Israel against an opposing army. The angel appeared to him and said, “Hello, Gideon, you mighty man of fearless courage,” I can imagine Gideon looking around thinking, Who is he talking to? Gideon was afraid, intimidated, and insecure. But notice that God didn’t call him what he was. God called him what he could become. God sees your potential. God knows what you’re capable of. You may feel weak, but God calls you strong. You may be intimidated today, but God calls you confident. You may feel less than, but God calls you well able. If the Angel of the Lord were to appear to you today, He would say the same thing he said to Gideon. “Hello, you mighty man, you mighty woman of fearless courage.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

“Father, thank You that You see my potential and know what I am capable of. Thank You that You have equipped and are empowering me to be strong where I feel weak and less than. I believe that You are transforming me into a mighty warrior. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

For centuries there have been skeptics who viewed God’s people with contemptuous ridicule and disdain as they spoke of of travelling to and living in the heaven that God hath prepared beyond the sky. They say it is something that is scientifically impossible. Then years later men and women began to take some trips into space,today they are planning for stations and other things in space. The heart leaps with joy when one thinks of leaving this sin-cursed earth and living in a new city build in the sky. Something about that thought would send fire in a person’s soul. When God made man he implanted a desire for us to want to live in space. It is mind bogging to know that Christ tells us in Hebrews 11:16 that he hath created for us a city, we ought to understand that this city is not made by the hands of man but of God. In the third chapter of revelation in the twelfth verse we read that the name of this unique city is the new Jerusalem. One should understand that the new Jerusalem will not come down until after the end of the one thousand(1000) years of Revelation 20, and at that time this collosial space city will land on the mount of olivess which is before Jerusalem. One should understand that God is a God of measurement in that the city will be squared, which the circumference will be 1500 miles, the wall will be 375 miles and it will contain 140,625 square miles which is larger than the ten largest cities of the world.The wall of this city is made of Jasper which is 144 cubits high(216 feet), it also has twelve gates with three on each side, the gates are made of pearl, the city has garnished foundations with each been made of precious stone, the streets are made of gold, and because of that we will not need the sun or moon and night will be a thing of the past.The water that we will recieve from that city will be flowing right from the throne of God. And what a day it will be when the tree that bears twelve manner of fruit will be restored. In that new world there will not be anymore sickness, disease or death, there will be eternal joy and happiness. Do you want to enjoy this amazing city that has been prepared for you? All you have to do is to accept Jesus in your heart and follow what he would have want you to follow. Jesus will freely and lovingly cleanse you if you request it. Will you ask him for a cleansing today? -Elder Micheal Stewart

Bible References-Hebrews11:16,Revelation chapters 1,3, 14,20,21,22,Zechariah 14,Genesis 3, 2 Peter 3, John 14,Philippians 3, Luke 24,Isaiah chapters 11,35,33,60,65 ,1 Corinthians 2,13,psalm 16,1 John 1 &3

It is nearly 3500 years ago when God demonstrated in visual aid his entire plan of salvation. It was God who said in Genesis 25:6 that let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. by reading this text we know quite well that God wants us to worship him in the portable temple. God is so unique in his execution of his plans that he gave moses a pattern of how the sanctuary would be like, the earthly sanctuary would be a replica of the heavenly sanctuary. we ought to know that God ‘s plans for the salvation of mankind are revealed in the sanctuary. In the earthly sanctuary you had a priest who would enter the most holy place annually and this would be on the day of atonement, but at the crusifiction of Jesus the earthly sanctuary services came to an end. He is our true passover, to which the sacrificial system pointed to. The sacrificial laws was only to last until Jesus’ death. From that day the heavenly sanctuary began to serve God’s People and the earthly sanctuary and services was nullified by God. In Daniel 8:14 it says that unto two thosand three hundred days(years) then shall the sancutuary be cleansed, it would be 2300 days into the future the heavenly sanctuary would be cleansed not by man but by God himself, that is the day of atonement woud begin. One would want to ask the question when did the judgement began in heaven , following from when the degree was given to rebuild Jerusalem, to the crusifiction of Jesus, right down through the ages we realize that the judgement began in 1844 A.D when the investigative judgement began with Jesus our high priest leaving the holy place into the most Holy place. So we can see clearly that the judgement has been in place for over 175 years. The end time church must be preaching revelation 14:6-7 and it is to fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgement is come.The church must be preaching that heavenly judgement is now in session, it began in 1844 and will end when when sin will be no more, and for that fact we should say thank you Jesus. May we be found righteous when Jesus Comes the second time.-Elder Micheal stewart

Bible References:Exodus 25-40,hebrews 9:23, Mark 15:37,38, Revelation 1:12,13,Matthew 10:5-6,revelation 11

Advent and Sabbath Tracts. No. 5

THE history of the Advent movement as it stands in the past is well understood. Most are acquainted with the expectations of those who were looking for the Lord at the end of the 2300 days, and their grievous disappointment at the passing of that time in 1844. What was the cause of that disappointment? is the great question which has arisen in the minds of all those who were interested in the Advent faith. And there have been found multitudes, who, not willing to wait patiently the solution of the mystery, not content to rest till God should prove his “own interpreter,” and make all plain, have been ready to deny the hand of God in their past experience, and exclaim, “The days are prolonged and every vision faileth.” But there are others who have lived on, unwilling to deny the Divine Agency in the past movement, in whose minds this question may even yet remain unanswered; who see as yet no good reason why, at that time they did not realize their hope. Let us then examine, briefly, the reasons on which those hopes were based. 

It is well known that the main pillar on which rested the proclamation of time, was the 2300 days, of Daniel 8. In the vision of that chapter, four things were presented to the Prophet: the ram, the he goat, the little horn, and the period of 2300 days. Daniel sought for the meaning of the vision, and Gabriel was commanded to make him understand it. Verses 15, 16. He therefore proceeds to explain the symbols of the ram, he goat and little horn, in plain terms which none could fail to understand; yet, says Daniel, at the end of the chapter, I was astonished at the vision, and none understood it. There was only one point which the Angel had omitted to mention; and that was, Time; hence that was what troubled Daniel, and what none understood. But Gabriel must explain this also; for he had received his commission, “Make this man to understand the vision;” and he must fulfill it. Therefore he says in chap 9:22, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. … Understand the matter and consider the vision. He then commences his explanation upon the very point which he omitted in chap. 8; namely, Time. Seventy weeks, said the Angel, are determined, (literally, cut off – Hebraists all admit that the word rendered determined signifies cut off,) upon thy people and upon thy holy city, etc. Verses 25-27. Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, unto the Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks and three score and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks (from the seven weeks, allowed for the building of Jerusalem) shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself. … And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifices and the oblation to cease, etc. 

The Sabbath was hallowed at the creation. As ordained for man, it had its origin when “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:7. Peace brooded over the world; for earth was in harmony with heaven. “God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good;” and He rested in the joy of His completed work. Genesis 1:31.

Because He had rested upon the Sabbath, “God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it,”—set it apart to a holy use. He gave it to Adam as a day of rest. It was a memorial of the work of creation, and thus a sign of God’s power and His love. The Scripture says, “He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered.” “The things that are made,” declare “the invisible things of Him since the creation of the world,” “even His everlasting power and divinity.” Genesis 2:3; Psalm 111:4; Romans 1:20, R. V.

All things were created by the Son of God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. . . . All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3. And since the Sabbath is a memorial of the work of creation, it is a token of the love and power of Christ.

The Sabbath calls our thoughts to nature, and brings us into communion with the Creator. In the song of the bird, the sighing of the trees, and the music of the sea, we still may hear His voice who talked [282] with Adam in Eden in the cool of the day. And as we behold His power in nature we find comfort, for the word that created all things is that which speaks life to the soul. He “who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6. -Excerpt from Desire of Ages by Ellen G. Whyte.

In today’s Society we find out that a lot of person has a list of what they need or want,for some they want a big house, a nice car, a good paying job, a career, some even go as far to say that they need those things. But there is a problem with that, they are focusing on the minor things of life, though it is important, but one should ensure that his or her need should be Jesus. Having all the things that will make one comfortable in this life without Jesus is like having a car without engine.The question is how can I ensure that this need is been met, the answer to that is by daily communion with him that is by studying the word of God and by praying. We should ensure that we start the day off right by going into the word of God(The Bible) and end the day right by going into the word of God. Paul exhorts us in 2Timothy 3:15 to study to show thyself approved unto God,a workman needeth not ashamed,rightly dividing the word of truth. Paul is here telling us friends that we ought to study to show ourselves approved-we should see ourselves as a workman that needs to have the word of God by his side. So I say unto you ensure that you start and end te day in the word of God.-Elder Micheal Stewart