Slawomir Gromadzki
1888 Will Win
Some time ago I was invited to Chełm Lubelski to conduct a series of health lectures. Unfortunately, in Warsaw I got stuck in traffic. At one point, however, I noticed a car that had been slowly driving in front of me for some time, and especially its unusual registration number: WIN 1888. In English, those three letters, “WIN,” literally mean “to win” or “to overcome.” I received this as a sign from the Lord and as a promise that the 1888 message—that is, THE TRUTH AS IT IS IN CHRIST—will soon win.
Abilities of Angels to be Invisible
There are many other fascinating mysteries. For instance, we know that angels have physical bodies but in spite of this, they can make themselves visible or invisible for us or appear in any form they wish. How can they do it, we don’t know. But is it true? Yes, it is. I myself once in Poland when I was distributing our books saw my angel in human form who helped physically me and disappeared. Someone once suggested that angels have the ability to make them invisible because the matter they are made of is different than ours. Some scientists believe that there are more than 3 spatial dimensions we don’t know and are not able to use but God and His angels know them. We live in a 3D world with length, width, and height but they may live in a 4D or 5D reality. Time is often considered the additional dimension. String theory suggests the existence of extra dimensions. Ellen G. White stated that angels are not immaterial spirits but beings with a definite form: “The angels of God are not mere incorporeal phantoms, as is generally taught. They are real personal beings, possessing form and substance… There is a very unreasonable prejudice existing against the idea that all created beings must be material.” (Ellen G. White, Angels: Their Nature and Ministry, p. 10). While affirming their substance, other sources quoting the context and related commentary she endorsed describe their form as being finer and less gross than the human body: “To the same intent Zeller’s Bible Dictionary, art. ‘Angels,’ says: ‘They are not without body, as we cannot very easily conceive of any creature without bodily form; but they have a higher, finer, ethereal bodily form, which is according to the heavenly world system to which they belong.'” (Ellen G. White, Angels: Their Nature and Ministry, p. 11, quoting a theological source to support her view of their material nature). “If we conceive of the angels as being ever so spiritual and heavenly, ever so exalted over the obnoxious laws of our bodily form, over the hindrances of our grosser substance, still they are creatures, and must, as such, pay the tribute of bodily form, be this ever so ethereal, fine, and incomprehensible to our senses. Therefore in creation, bodily form is the condition of all existence.” (Ellen G. White, Angels: Their Nature and Ministry, p. 11, quoting a theological source, J. H. Kurtz, to further elaborate on the concept of angels having a body).
Aborigines (identyfying with sins of others)
After we accept the true gospel and are born from the Spirit, let us pray like Daniel who didn’t commit the sins of Israel yet he IDENTIFIED himself with their sins and asked God for forgiveness as if he sinned.
We need to be more like Aborigines in Australia. When you ask them their name they would give you the name of their clan or tribe because they identify themselves with all their people whether good or bad. Without belonging to the tribe they lose their identity. Outside of their tribe they are nothing.
We are Christ’s Church, brothers and sisters in Christ, we are members of the body of Christ. Without belonging to the body of Christ we are nothing!
What did Jesus do when He came here to save us? He emptied Himself of His divine perogatives, identified himself with us, with our nature, He loved to call Himself the Son of men, He became second Adam (HUMAN KIND), He became us, and took the blame for our sins.
Jesus became like Aborigens. He denied Himself, became Human Kind, he can’t live without Human Kind without us.
We are to follow His example and become like Aborygens. We are to identify with one another’s sins and their legalism too and repent for those sins. Even if you are not a legalist you should accept Christ’s words and repent anyway and identify yourself with the legalism and sins of others and repent as if you were one!
Alexander Edolsof
THE STORY AS TOLD BY MORRIS VENDEN:
Richard Wurmbrand in Reaching Toward the Heights gives the name as Alexander Rostovtsev and says he played the main role.
I love to tell the story about a great Russian actor, Alexander Edolsof. When Russia was still under communism, he was a main actor in the play titled, “Christ in tuxedo”, that was presented to the Russian public in one of the biggest theatres in Moscow. The play was supposed to ridicule or mock Christ and Christianity. So, when the theatre was packed with audience, Alexander Edolsof was to appear as Christ and read few verses from the gospel of Matthew chapter 5, from that famous sermon on the mount. On the sage there was a Christian church on the top of which instead of the cross they placed an empty bottle of wine, and in the front of the church there were some drunk orthodox priests playing cards and having fun with nuns. And, after they had gone through that opening scene, Alexander Edolsof appeared on the stage as Jesus, took the Bible and started reading the first few verses of Mathew 5: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Now, he was supposed to stop reading, tell the disciples to bring him a tuxedo and have fun with them, but somehow the great actor didn’t do that and instead he kept on reading: 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Now, they figured out that Edolsof forgot his text so they started waving at him, giving signs and cough to draw his attention and to remind him what he was supposed to say and do but he kept on reading the words of Jesus: 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. And they kept on trying their best to get his attention, but nothing would stop him now. And he managed to read the entire 5th chapter of the gospel of Matthew. And finally, after reading the very last verse of Matthew 5, just before they forced him to stop, he said: “Lord, remember me when You come to your Kingdom!” And, as soon as he repeated the words of penitent thief, they dropped the curtain on him, and someone appeared on the stage and informed the shocked the Russian communist audience that the play “Christ in tuxedo” was called off because Alexander Edolsof got sick by which they meant mentally unstable! Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword”.
THE SAME STORY ACCORDING TO CHATGPT (BASED ON A STORY TOLD BY RICHARD WURMBRAND):
In the early years of Soviet Russia, in the 1920s, when the government was determined to erase faith from the hearts of the people, there stood a great theatre in Moscow. Night after night, it was filled with crowds eager to watch plays that mocked everything sacred. Among the actors was a talented and respected man named Alexander Rostovtsev (Александр Ростовцев).
He was chosen for a leading role in a new production—an anti-religious play titled “Christ in a Tuxedo” («Христос во фраке»). The purpose of the play was clear: to ridicule Jesus Christ before a laughing audience and to prove that religion was nothing more than superstition.
The script was simple. Rostovtsev would come on stage dressed in elegant clothes, symbolising a modern “Christ” adapted to the world. He would open the Bible and read only a few lines from the Sermon on the Mount—just enough to set the scene. Then, according to the script, he was to stop, throw the Bible aside, and deliver a mocking line that would bring laughter and applause from the crowd.
The theatre was full. The audience was ready. The moment came. Rostovtsev stepped onto the stage. The lights fell upon him. In his hands was the Bible. He opened it, And he began to read:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…”
His voice was steady.
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted…”
Something began to change.
He was supposed to stop there.
But he did not stop.
He continued:
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth…”
Behind the curtain, the prompter whispered urgently, reminding him of the script.
But Rostovtsev went on.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness…”
His voice was no longer acting—it was trembling with conviction.
The audience grew silent.
What had begun as a performance was becoming something else.
“…for they shall be filled.”
He turned the page.
Now there was confusion backstage. This was not in the script. This was not supposed to happen.
But the actor no longer followed the script of men.
He was hearing another voice.
“…Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
The theatre was completely silent.
No laughter.
No movement.
Only the living Word of God being read aloud.
Then Rostovtsev lowered the Bible.
He looked out at the crowd—not as an actor, but as a man awakened.
And with deep emotion, he spoke words that were never written in the play:
“Lord… remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
He made the sign of the cross.
And he walked off the stage.
That night, the play did not end as planned.
That night, an actor who had come to mock Christ met Him instead.
And in the presence of a silent audience, the Word of God proved itself stronger than ideology, stronger than fear, and stronger than any script written by man.
A in the Beginning of the Training
Benjamin Zander, musical director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, taught a music interpretation class. He observed the students’ anxiety as they faced the evaluation of their performance. In order to put the students at ease and to open them up to their full potential, he announced on the first day of the class that everybody would get an “A.” This “A” was not an expectation to live up to “but a possibility to live into.” The only requirement was for the students to write a letter within the first two weeks of the semester but dated at the end of the class. The letter explained why they deserved the high grade.
Are You a Teacher? (John 3.10)
Two kids SDA (about 10 years old) came up to me and asked: Uncle, we need to ask you about something. Yes, what do you want to know? First of all, we need to know whether you are a teacher. I thought, why do they ask me whether I am a teacher? I didn’t think that was a trap so I asked them why are you asking me about this? We want to show you something, but you must be a teacher to see it. Please uncle tell us, are you a teacher? So, I thought, well I give health lectures, preach, teach in sabbath school, so finally I said, “I think this time you’ve found a proper person. Yes, I am a teacher”. And as soon as I said that they go very excited and extremely happy. And immediately they asked me another question. Uncle? Yes, I said, what else do you want to know? If you are a teacher, could you tell us please, what is written in John 3.10? Well, I started to feel a bit uncomfortable because tried to remember chapter 3 and remembered what was written in a few verses especially v 16 and 17 but had no idea what was written in v 10. So feeling a bit embarrassed I told them “I don’t know”. And when I said that they got even more excited and happy. And one of them quickly took the Bible, open John 10.3 and read the “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these”. And they burst out laughing… Since that time on I am very careful to never even think about myself as a teacher. There is only one true teacher here on earth it is our Lord Jesus Christ and His representative – HS.
Ark of Covenant Contained the 3 Elements or Stages of the Truth of the Gospel
(1) the tablets containing the Ten Commandments – THE LAW OF GOD THAT IS ETERNAL AND AS HOLY AS GOD IS AND IT REQUIRES PERFECT HOLINESS FROM US TO LET US LIVE FOREVER (2) the rod of Aaron, who was high priest – DRY WODEN ROD – SYMBOL OF CROSS, FLOURS ON THAT ROD – SYMBOL OF ETERNAL LIFE CHRIST PROVIDED FOR ALL SINNERS ON THAT CROSS (JUSTIFICATION) (3) a jar of manna (Exod. 16:33, Heb. 9:4) – SYMBOL OF CHRIST BREAD FROM HEAVEN. AS MANNA WAS EATEN BY ISRAELITES, CHRIST MUST BE ACCEPTED BY FAITH AND LIVE IN US TO GIVE US VICTORY OVER SIN (SANCTIFICATION)
Bread Prayer
The black sister opened window and asked Lord for bread. You said she prayed that we will always have bread and water… 2 young men were passing by and heard her prayer, decided to have some fun so they bought a loath of bread end through it through the window and heard the woman started praising the Lord. So they called her and told her it wasn’t God but them who gave her bread. So the sister said to them. Boys you may be bad but i want you to know it was God who used you to give me what i asked for.
By Beholding Christ We are Changed into the Same Image (Quotes)
2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” “Brothers and sisters, it is by beholding that we become changed. By dwelling upon the love of God and our Saviour, by contemplating the perfection of the divine character and claiming the righteousness of Christ as ours by faith, we are to be transformed into the same image (2 Cor 3:18). Then let us not gather together all the unpleasant pictures—the iniquities and corruptions and disappointments, the evidences of Satan’s power—to hang in the halls of our memory.” (Lift Him Up – Page 251) “The preacher must be a man who is characterised by spirituality in an unusual degree. The preacher’s first, and most important task is to prepare himself, not his sermon.” Martyn Lloyd Jones, quoted in Tony Sargent, The Sacred Anointing, p90
Cancer Cells vs Healthy Cells
Healthy cells in our body always respect and obey the brain and at the some time because they obey the brain they respect and love one another. For instance, they talk to one another and when a neighbouring cell is undernourished other cells absorb less nutrients so that the poor neighbour could get stronger. If a normal cell becomes abnormal due to high levels of toxins or viral invasion, it initiates the apoptosis process and kills itself to prevent multiplying and becoming a tumour and eventually a cancer. So it loves the body and other cells so much that it prefers to die than to harm them. But cancer cells, they don’t respect the brain and other cells, they are very selfish, and live for themselves only, communicate with anyone, they live in darkness, and everything they do is killing stilling and destroying, devouring everything the can growing bigger and bigger and eventually killing the body. And we can be like either healthy cells or the cancer cells… We are already born as cells of darkness, spiritually dead but we can become cells of light by accepting Christ and being born from the Spirit and allowing HS to grow in us with agape!
Charcoal
Is 6:5: In Hebrew language “live (living) coal” literal meaning is: glowing coal, burning coal, hot stone. A burning coal or hot still glowing coal (especially charcoal) can be a good representation of Christ because for us He experienced the fire of temptation in our flesh and was burning for us (especially on the cross) but without yielding to sin. Charcoal is an excellent representation of Christ because charcoal is made by burning dry wood (symbol of our fallen dead nature Christ took) but it is burned without oxygen and therefore unlike regular coal (which is harmful and toxic), charcoal has great healing and cleansing, life-saving properties. In Poland when I was running a health shop, a certain nurse who was a SDA came to me and asked concerning certain patient in her hospital who after a surgery on thyroid had very swollen neck and risk of loosing his life and nothing they used in hospital worked. I suggested charcoal compress on throat and after just one compress the swelling was gone, toxins from his neck area were removed and his life saved. Likewise, our Lord is like that burned on the cross dead wood (symbol of our representative flesh) burned on the cross but without sin (who overcame sin) and took it to the cross and now He as the hot living burning coal He is the only one who can cleanse us from the poison of sin and save our lives.
Christ Emptied Himself
Christ gave up on independent use of his divinity. He was completely dependent on his father for everything.
Christ Turned Beer into Furniture
The Scottish minister John Hutton used to tell a story with enthusiasm. A man who had been a degenerate and a drunkard was captured by Christ. His workmates used to try to shake his convictions and say: “Surely a sensible man like you cannot believe in the miracles that the Bible tells about. You cannot, for instance, believe that this Jesus of yours turned water into wine.’ ‘Whether he turned water into wine or not,’ said the man, ‘I do not know; but in my own house I have seen him turn beer into furniture.” No one can argue against the proof of a changed life. It is our weakness that too often we have tried to talk people into Christianity instead of, in our own lives, showing them Christ. ‘A saint’, as someone said, ‘is someone in whom Christ lives again.’
Clay & Rose
A Persian story tells about a wanderer who one day found a common lump of clay, but it was so redolent of sweetest perfume that he took it and placed in his room. Its wonderful fragrance scented all the room. ‘What are you? was his quick demand, ‘Art you some gem from Samarcand, or spikenard in this rude disguise, or other costly merchandise?’ ‘No: I am but a lump of clay.’ ‘Then whence this wondrous perfume–say!’ ‘Friend, if the secret I disclose, I have been dwelling with the rose. And will not those who love to dwell with Sharon’s rose, distil sweet odours all around, though low and mean themselves are found?’ We all by nature are just a common clay but if ask every day our dear Lord to abide in us then we may draw the sweet perfume of His love from Him. (John 15:5; 2 Cor 3:18; Gal 2:20; Rom 7:4).
Converted not by Holy Spirit (Drunk Christian)
In one of his sermons, Charles Spurgeon told of a drunken man who once accosted him, crying out, “You converted me! You converted me!” Spurgeon tried to avoid engaging him in discussion, but the man continued to cry, “You converted me! You converted me!” Finally, impatient, Spurgeon said, “Yes, you are right. I must have converted you, for if the Holy Spirit had done it, you would not now be drunk.” — Anecdote commonly attributed to Charles H. Spurgeon; exact sermon source not verified in this translation.
Only by the Holy Spirit can true new birth take place. But before that happens, we must know, understand, and accept all that God has accomplished for us in His Son. Whether the good Lord can finally bestow upon His people the great blessing for which we have waited so long—the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—also depends on our proper understanding and acceptance of the truth as it is in Christ.
Conversion of Rebellious Students (Sequeira)
Story as told by Pastor Jack Sequeira in one of his sermons:
“Toward the end of my stay at Andrews University, one of my friends directed my attention to the message of justification by faith which the Lord gave to His people in 1888. That truth made an enormous impression on me, so much so that from that time on I devoted most of my time to everything that could help me understand it better, praying that the Lord would also help me proclaim this wonderful truth. In 1973, shortly after completing my studies at Andrews University, I went to Ethiopia. Only a few days after my arrival, the president of the church in that country telephoned me and told me that Adventists owned a college in Ethiopia, but because of financial difficulties they had been forced to admit students who were not Adventists. This led to the point where non-Adventists made up as much as 75 percent of all the students at that college. The parents of these students were very wealthy. Unfortunately, the young people were especially unruly and rebellious, and at times even dangerous to those around them. For this reason they had previously been expelled from government schools. So their parents sent them to our school in the hope that perhaps Adventists would be able to change them. But these young people had no intention of changing and showed hostility toward everything connected with religion. Because of this, during a Week of Prayer, they even openly rebelled. They overturned two cars belonging to the school and three motorcycles and set them on fire. They did not want anyone to force them to attend worship services or Bible lectures. After this incident, the administration decided to close the school for a time. Shortly afterward, however, the government forced the school leadership to reopen it and even to readmit those rebellious students—the same ones who had burned the cars and motorcycles. The principal and the teachers then wondered whether it might be better to cancel the Week of Prayer. Finally, however, they said, ‘This is an Adventist school, and we cannot give up the Week of Prayer. This time, however, we will ask one of the national ministers to lead the meetings, not a foreigner, since previously the main speaker had been a pastor from Canada. When our own man speaks,’ they said, ‘they certainly will not harm him.’ So a speaker was chosen, but two days before the Week of Prayer began, that man changed his mind because he feared that this time his car would be burned. In this situation the church president desperately looked for someone who would replace him. The rebellious youth were so dangerous that no one wanted to take such a risk. Finally he contacted me, asking me to conduct the meetings. Before I gave him an answer, I prayed: ‘Lord, You said in Romans that the gospel is Your power. Please show now that this is true. You have allowed me to know this wonderful truth; now let me test its power on these rebellious young people.’ Immediately after that telephone conversation I boarded a plane, and shortly afterward I arrived in Addis Ababa. Several missionaries were waiting for me at the airport, and they told me I had acted unwisely by agreeing to do this. I replied, ‘Yes, you are right. It does indeed look like an unwise decision. So I have one request: if you have to bury me, remember that I like gladiolas.’ Finally I reached the college. I did not yet know that five leaders of those unruly young people had prepared a pile of stones in front of the church in order to stone me if they did not like what I said. When the service began, all five sat in the front row directly in front of the pulpit, looking me straight in the eyes. And so I began a series of sermons on the gospel from the book of Romans. But thanks be to God, I was able to speak without interruption. On the third day something extraordinary happened. One of those five leaders came up to me and said, ‘This is the most wonderful news I have ever heard!’ Some time later all five were baptized and joined our church, and the chief leader of those rebellious youth even graduated from Andrews University and now works in the church as a minister.” — Jack Sequeira, lecture testimony, translated from the Polish transcript.
This encouraging experience confirms even more strongly that what the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:16 is true: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” — Romans 1:16, KJV.
Cross of Christ
Upon a hill, so far yet near, A Savior’s love, so pure, sincere. With crown of thorns, He bore our shame, Endured the cross, despised the pain. The Lamb of God, so bruised and torn, For all our sins, bore shame and scorn. In eternal agony, His spirit did break, Bearing the burden for all our sake. His hands and feet, with nails were torn, For every sin, our hearts have borne. In darkest hour, He took our curse, A gift of endless love, God’s amazing grace. It wasn’t the spear nor the cross’s cruel sting, That caused the death of our Heavenly King. The sky grew dark, the earth did quake, When His heart broke for sinner’s sake. Three days He lay within the grave, Then rose again, our souls to save. Death defeated, humanity restored, Eternal life in Christ our Lord. So now we stand beneath that tree, Where mercy flowed to set us free. The cross, once shame, is now our song— The place where weak are made strong. With Christ I was crucified, and live no longer I, But Christ lives in me, and will never die. The life I now live in this body of clay, I live by faith in Him, who showed me the way. There is now no condemnation, no fear, For those in Christ Jesus, who hold Him dear. By Him we are forgiven, He is our peace, His love and grace, they never cease. We are complete in Him, our hearts’ delight, In His presence, we shine so bright. He bore our sins, and set us free, His perfect life and death, our victory. He loved me so deeply, He gave up His life, To save me from sin, and all of its strife. In Him, I find strength, in Him, I find grace, For Christ is my Savior, my heart’s resting place. So let us live, in light of this, A life of love, a heart of bliss. For Christ has died, and risen too, His love endures, forever true.
Dead Sea
Dead sea is dead no life because there are many inlets but no outlets. If we only take but never give we are dead.
Difference Between Preterism, Futurism & Historicism
Futurists (conservative evangelicals) believe that the symbols in prophecies are literal and they will be fulfilled in the future. Preterists (Catholics and liberal Protestantism) claim that symbols are not literal but they were fulfilled in the times the prophecies were written. Historicists believe that symbols are not literal and they are fulfilled over the long period of time reaching the end times. Futurist – popular among conservative Evangelicals, Baptists and Pentecostals. Known as literal interpretation. Israel, the antichrist, the time periods, the temple, and other symbols are all understood literally and they will be fulfilled in the future. They believe that the antichrist will be a specific literal person sitting in a literal temple, in literal Jerusalem, who will build a literal image of himself, will command all to literally bow before the image, will rule for three and a half literal years and will persecute literal Israel. If the fulfilment of Revelation 4-20 is still future with literal Israel in the literal land after the rapture, then the three angels’ messages have no relevance for the church today. The papacy and the United States have nothing to do with the fulfilment of Bible prophecy! If the little horn is not the papacy then the papacy did not change the Sabbath. Futurism destroys every reason for the Seventh-day Adventist church to exist. Preterist – Accepted by Roman Catholics and liberal Protestants. Belief that Daniel and Revelation predicted events that took place in the days of the writers. For example, little horn from Daniel 7 was Antiochus and the beast from Revelation 13 was Nero. Symbols are not literal but have hidden meaning. Days are literal. This method is in direct opposition to our beliefs because if the little horn was Antiochus and the beast was Nero then the Papacy had nothing to do with the change of the Law or persecuting God’s people during 1260 year period of papal dominance or before the return of the Lord. The book of Daniel and Revelation would have no relevance for the world of now. Historicists believe that symbols are not literal and they are fulfilled over the long period of time reaching the end times. Historicist – Only the Seventh-day Adventist church use this method. A belief that prophecies were fulfilled over a long period of time reaching the end of the world. Symbols shouldn’t be taken literally but understood according to their meaning provided by the Bible. Days in the prophecy are symbolic therefore shouldn’t be understood as literal days but years. There is a strong relationship between this method and advent message. Are there Adventists who presently embrace the futurist and preterist methodology? Yes! Desmond Ford.
Diplomacy
The art of letting other people have your own way.
Doll Story
A little girl was late getting home, and the mother was upset and asked why she was late. The little girl said, “My friend broke her dolly.” So, the mother was told by her daughter, “I suppose you stayed to help her fix it?” The little girl said, “No, Mommy, I stayed to help her cry.” I love the story because it shows how we should react when someone suffers. Most important is to suffer and even empathise with those who suffer and cry with them. But very often instead of showing compassion we immediately try to solve the problem. Especially we men are famous for making this mistake and having this tendency due to our pride, because we what to show we are wise. Women are much better in showing compassion when it is needed. But as always, the best example is Lord Jesus who first cried with those who cried and then resurrected Lazarus.
Don’t Pray with Your Eyes Closed When You Drive
Just as it sounds, be aware of your surroundings when driving.
Dr Moskala – Bangladesh
Let me give you an example. It is a true story I’ve heard from Dr. Milan Moskala, a very dedicated to God SDA who used to work as a dentist in Bangladesh. At the same time he was feeding hungry children with bananas and establishing SDA schools. He told us a true story about certain poor woman in a village who accepted Jesus and was baptized into the SDA Church. Unfortunately, not long after that, her son who at that time was about 5 years old, was playing with another boy, and when he jumped into the water he hit something and died. After about four hours the mother of that boy together with other people from her village finally found her son dead lying on the bottom of the pond. When villagers saw the boy dead they told that woman that their gods punished her for becoming a Christian. Soon after that, the SDA pastor came to comfort the poor woman and he was inspired to pray in the presence of all the villagers who were gathered around the dead boy’s body and his crying mother. Initially he didn’t intend to pray for a miracle and resurrection of the boy, but while he was praying the Spirit of God inspired him with faith and courage. And when he prayed in the name of Jesus, suddenly, to the amazement of all the witnesses, the boy moved and came back to life. The first word he said was, „ma, mama”. After that, almost the entire village accepted Jesus as their God and Savior and became members of the SDA Chrurch. They also changed the name of that resurrected boy. Now they call him Lazarus.
Eagle & Snake
Do not try to fight Satan (the snake) and the law of sin, which he injected into us through Adam and Eve, on your own (on his territory). The way eagles deal with venomous snakes is an excellent example of how we should fight our enemy, who is also known in the Bible as the snake. Not all eagles are brave enough to attack venomous snakes, but some do it frequently and successfully. For instance, the Brown Snake Eagle is known to prey on venomous snakes like cobras and black mambas. But how do they prey on very venomous snakes without being harmed? They are successful because they never try to fight snakes on the ground, knowing they would lose the battle. They always quickly catch snakes and immediately lift them into the air. Without touching the ground, snakes can’t move or fight back. In the air, they are much less dangerous because they can’t move properly. This is a great lesson for us. We should never try to fight Satan on the ground, here in his territory, where he is the prince and ruler and very powerful. We can’t fight him on our own with our willpower, as it also belongs to the ground. To overcome Satan and the law of sin he injected into us through Adam and Eve, we must lift ourselves above the ground to heavenly places where Christ is through heartfelt, constant prayers. Only in this way can we make Satan’s law of sin and his temptations powerless. That is why Paul says in Colossians 3:1-3…
Ezekiel 16
In almost entire very long 16th chapter of Ezekiel God is like a fallen in love husband who is expressing his pain and sorrow because of unfaithfulness of his wife – Israel. And he is expressing how unthankful and unfaithful His precious wife was in 59 verses. But in last 4 verses (Ezekiel 16:60-63) He promises that His unfaithful wife will finally understand, remember and be ashamed, be humble because of her shame because He will provide atonement for her sins (v. 63)!!! It reminds me the message to Laodicea in Rev 3, where Christ says about our legalism and pride and self-sufficiency that it is so disgusting to him the he is going to vomit us out of himself. However, also here again we can find the message of love and hope because at the end He states that he is knocking at the door of our hearts waiting for us to let Him in. When I read Ezekiel 16 I saw there a reflection of my own life. And I asked good loving Lord for forgiveness because He found me when I was naked, forsaken, filthy scam, and He forgave me, healed, set me free, covered me with the beautiful spotless robe of Christ righteousness, gave me His Spirit and made me one with Him. But after some time I lost that fist love, fascination, zeal for Him, and I started getting deeper into sin like Israel, becoming unthankful and unfaithful again for a long time. Yet although I had to bear the consequences of my sins and unfaithfulness yet the truth is that like in Ezekiel 16 God never completely forsook Israel, He never forsook me but was extremely patient with me, and as the last verse of Ezekiel 16 says, as He promised, He made me “remember” my sins, “be ashamed”, humble remembering my shame, because He “provided atonement for what I have done”.
Exercise with Head
I remember certain very OBESE WOMAN who went to her Doctor asking what type of exercise she should practice in order to lose weight. Your need to… EXERCISE WITH HEAD…said doctor. But how should I … Turn your head to the left and to the right etc. How often? Every time someone offers you …
Expectation Progress
Einstein: “Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again expecting different results”.
Everlasting Life is a Fact
Read Genesis 3:21–24. What job were the cherubim tasked with—and why? CHERUBIM WERE PREVENTING SINFUL HUMANS FROM EATING FRUITS FROM THE TREE OF LIFE AS EATING THEM COULD MAKE SINNERS IMMORTAL… CANCER CELLS NEVER DIE IN THE LAB AS LONG AS THEY HAVE FOOD AND RIGHT ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE DEPRIVED OF THE APOPTOSIS GENE THAT LEAD TO SELF DESTRUCTION OF ABNORMAL CELLS. p53 gene (a well-known tumour suppressor). SO SCIENTISTS KNOW THAT EVERLASTING LIFE IS A FACT.
Flower Growing from a Dead Seed
We can compare resurrection to a flower growing from a dead seed… What is needed for the seed to germinate after the seed is berried in the soil and dies? The sun must warm up the soil and the seed and the rain must moist the seed with water. But even then, the seed will not germinate. What else is needed? A mysterious life energy from the Lord, described as electricity, must enter the seed and wake up the sleeping genes of flower, leaf, stem, and root. They wake up and cells start multiply and an ugly naked dead seed becomes a beautiful flower, a symbol of resurrection. That energy of life is not just electricity or any other human source of energy because no human made electricity is able to wake up genes. Only the the energy that comes from God can do that. Only he can create life.
Following Good or Bad Examples, Dog Story
I’ve heard a true story about a dog a German shepherd. She was pregnant with poppies and unfortunately, one day when she was crossing the road a car hit the back part of her body and since that time she couldn’t use properly her back legs so whenever she was moving forward she was using only the front legs while dragging the back ones. Soon after that, she had her poppies. They seemed to be healthy and happy and initially they used properly all their legs but guess what happened after a few weeks of living with their mother and following her. After a few weeks, they started following the example of their mother and all of them were dragging their back legs too in spite of the fact that there was nothing wrong with their legs. What’s the conclusion of the story? Let us be careful what example we are following, what kind of people we are surrounded with, what we watch in television, what we read about, who is our spiritual or teacher, leader because sooner or later we will start behaving in a similar way.
Glove and Hand: Complete Surrender
On its own, a glove is completely powerless. It cannot write, play an instrument, cook, clean, and do other things. It cannot do anything on its own. It remains an empty shell until a hand is placed inside it. Just as gloves depend entirely on the hand, our lives depend on the Holy Spirit. The real power does not come from the glove itself, but from the hand operating within it. To truly experience the power of the Holy Spirit, the surrender must be complete. When a hand is only partially in the glove, the fingers cannot move, and the glove remains ineffective. Every part of your life needs to be filled. Giving yourself one hundred percent allows the Holy Spirit to guide your actions. When we hold back even the smallest corner of our lives, we limit the work that God can do through us. But when we surrender completely, the Holy Spirit empowers us to become a light, even in the darkest of times. When we allow God to fill our lives completely, we realize that Jesus is the ultimate victor. As we step aside and let His will take over, we experience that same victory in our own lives.
God Knows Best Poem
by Helen Steiner Rice: Our Father knows what’s best for us, So why should we complain We always want the sunshine, But He knows there must be rain We love the sound of laughter And the merriment of cheer, But our hearts would lose their tenderness If we never shed a tear… Our Father tests us often With suffering and with sorrow, He tests us, not to punish us, But to help us meet tomorrow… For growing trees are strengthened When they withstand the storm, And the sharp cut of a chisel Gives the marble grace and form… God never hurts us needlessly, And He never wastes our pain For every loss He send to us Is followed by rich gain… And when we count the blessings That God has so freely sent, We will find no cause for murmuring And no time to lament… For our Father loves His children, And to Him all things are plain, So He never sends us pleasure When the soul’s deep need is pain… So whenever we are troubled, And when everything goes wrong, It is just God working in us To make our spirit strong.
God Prepares the Way for Answering Prayer Long Before We Ask (Pray)
Pavel Goia: God knows what we need long before we ask and pray for it and he prepared the way for it before hand. The true story was told at AWR Adventist world radio. Long time ago certain lady missionary in Africa and she finished the medication and she was taking care of children there that needed the treatment so she said what am I going to do and there was a group of children around her and they said you told us to pray and she said yes yes but it takes 3 moths for the letter to get there and for them some time to collect the medication and pack it and then 3 months for the ship to bring the medication. But one of the girls said, “But you told us to pray and that God hears and answers every honest prayer in due time and He cares.” Yes we should but it takes 6 months for the whole process to be fulfilled. But the girl said, “Let us pray anyway and she says I’m going to pray and she says Lord you know that we need medication, could you send it today and not in 6 months because you are God and Lord, I’ve never had a toy in my life could you also send a doll with the medication?” And the lady doctor said to herself I don’t want to disappoint her, let her believe. That afternoon the same day she received a little note to go to the post office. And there was a big box with medication and a doll and a letter which said, dated 6 months earlier, we thought it would be a good idea to send you more medication, and someone brought a doll and asked us to include it in the parcel. God new the prayer and the need 6 months in advance because either God can travel in time or He has another way to know what will happen in the future and is able top prepare for answering our future prayers beforehand!
God Wants to Be Understood
Nothing is quite as frustrating as urgently needing to communicate, where you barely speak the language. You know what you need to say, but you do not have an adequate vocabulary to say it… The problem isn’t that God doesn’t have the vocabulary to communicate with us; the problem is that we don’t have the vocabulary or intellectual capacity to understand Him fully. When I first moved from Poland to England I thought I knew English enough to understand and communicate because I was learning it in Poland for some time. But in reality when I moved to England I often couldn’t understand people because they spoke too fast or because of their different accent. I remember one day I was talking to a very nice very talkative Scottish soldier. And no matter how many times I asked him to repeat a sentence I couldn’t understand a word, so I stopped asking him and was pretending I understood. It was very frustrating to me that I didn’t understand people and when others did not understand my English. It also caused problems with painful consequences. How that problem was solved? I had to learn English language properly. I didn’t learn it over night. It took long time but I was reading and listening and praying over it. When I was reading or listening and didn’t understand a word I didn’t continue but used dictionaries to understand the meaning. And finally I learned it, and now I can understand even Scottish people! Well may be not perfectly but a lot :-). Likewise, it must be very frustrating to God when we read or listen to His Word without understanding or with misunderstanding or interpreting it in our own way, or we pretend we do understand, or we understand but don’t believe it it true! How this problem can be solved? The same way I learned English. It takes long time. I must listen to God’s Word daily and talk to Him using His Word (pray with faith). If I don’t understand a verse, I shouldn’t continue until, but I stop, pray, read again, use dictionaries and concordances, and interlinears, and good commentaries and various translations until I understand. And the more the longer I do it, the more I understand, the more I believe, the more spiritual strength I have.
Great Reformation & Minneapolis 1888
As Christians and SD Adventists we should remember not only the biblical history but also the history of Christianity and history of our church to avoid the same mistakes and follow good examples. What can we learn from the modern history of Christian Church? What is today the greatest need of our church? Spiritual revival and reformation. What was the foundation of the great 16th century protestant reformation and spiritual revival? It was the passage of the book of Romans 1:16-17 that delivered Martin Luther from legalism and started tremendous religious revival and the great Protestant Reformation that turned the world upside down. Later on John Wesley was listening to the preface to Luther’s commentary on Romans and felt that his heart was “strangely warmed”. Listen please what he wrote about this very experience: After that, when John Wesley understood and accepted the truth of the gospel revealed in the book of Romans, a tremendous spiritual revival took place in country in the 18th century. What happened in the history of our Church when the same book was studied and understood? And also in our church when over 100 years ago two young preachers started to proclaim the message of righteousness by faith revealed in the book of Romans and Galatians what was the result? The spiritual revival took place and even the beginning of the outpouring of Holy Spirit in the latter rain! Unfortunately, the message was not properly accepted by the leaders and delegates even in spite of the testimony from E. White and repeatedly stated that it was from God. As a result the latter rain was withdrawn and the church has been wandering on the desert of unbelief like Israel. So, what we as Harrow Church can learn from good things and mistakes of the history of Christianity and history of our Church? The key lesson is that if we really want Lord Jesus to come now, if we really want God to start the revival and latter rain, what we are to do? We are to repent for the sin committed in 1888 era (Psalm 106:6). Study Romans and Galatians on our knees until we get it. Accept the glories gospel of freedom with all our hearts and proclaim it. SOP says that spiritual revival will not start without systematic daily heartfelt long fervent prayers.
Grey Matter Getting Out of Printer – Gray Matter Getting Out of a Man Healed by Piotr Nowak (Podkowa L.)
Pavel Goia tells about a printers they tried to use in the church to print leaflets before an evangelistic crusade. They tried to use like 5 new different printers and none of them worked. Finally a pastor from Canada asked them if they prayed over the printer. They answered that they pray for people and not for printers. So the Canadian pastor told them that they should pray not only for people but also for the equipment they use in God’s work. And when they prayed for the printer, something supernatural happened. All of them saw it with their own eyes. When they prayed a strange grey matter came out of the printer and hit the wall and disappeared. Since that time the printer worked perfectly. That story reminded me another similar experience that took place in Polish Adventist Seminary School i Podkowa Lesna near Warsaw. Very close to our seminary school there is a house of a very popular in Poland healer or bioenergotherapist (Piotr Nowak) and after visiting him and being treated by him some people come to our seminary school to stay there over night. And one day, certain man after being treated by that healer booked a room in our seminary school. But in the evening he started behaving in a strange way like possessed. So the seminary students prayed for him and a as a result, the same phenomenon took place. They literally saw a big grey ball coming out of that man. It hit the wall and disappeared. The man got well but an hour or two after that the same thing happened. So the student prayed for him again and this time all of them saw another grey object coming out of that man but this time it was smaller. After that second prayer that man was completely healed and was very thankful. He also understood that that popular healer was not using just ea human energy but demonic powers.
Guess How Many Couples Get Married With Communion Service? Almost None!
Sequeira: In Ethiopia if a couple get married without a communion service they are allowed to divorce each other but if when they get married and have a communion service at the same time, they are bound forever before the Lord and are not allowed to get divorced.
Hearing God’s Voice (Elva)
1 Kings 19: “After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper.” True Christianity means to hear to experience that still small voice or whisper. Isaiah 30:21: “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.” To me an excellent example of this kind of relationship with God is Sister Elva from Telford church. She takes care of the Polish man Stanislaw who is addicted to alcohol and smoking and gives him Polish Steps to Christ. He had a stroke and couldn’t even speak or eat and was fed through a tube placed in his stomach so she visited him in the hospital on a regular basis and prayed for him. And she prayed Lord why he went through this experience? Now he can’t even speak. And while she was praying the voice in her head said but he can’t drink alcohol and smoke now… And now he is doing much better and can eat through his mouth so she can bring him good food. He also started speaking and with God’s blessing is doing better and better. But sister Elva is to me a wonderful example of what my Christianity should be like. Sometimes we discuss in the church whether we should give poor people or addicted ones a few pounds or not but we forget that God expects us to move toward a higher level of Christianity and service and give our hearts to those people, to love them and make friends with them and take care of them. My experience with an alcoholic… Sister Elva has also a living communion with God which means that when she prays it is not only a one-way conversation but the Lord often inspires her with ideas or she hears in her mind the still small voice. For instance, from time to time she visits our shop and buys a wonderful remedy which is charcoal for herself and other people. And she needed 3 big boxes of charcoal and we had only 2. So I told her she should have phoned us before coming and we would order more. And she said when she was praying before coming that was exactly what HS inspired her to do during the prayer but she didn’t phone us. I know some people who hear God’s voice while praying and I had evidence that in some cases the voice they heard was not coming from God. In Poland, I knew a certain brother who after reading one of the books written by Morris Venden was waiting while praying for the still small voice to speak to him. And one day he suddenly heard the voice… But in the case of sister Elva, I have no doubt she has a living communion with God and she is experiencing what Sis White says in one of her writings: “Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue.” Wow! That is a beautiful promise but there is also a condition which is total dedication to God and a truly sanctified life. How can I achieve this level of sanctification? (Quotes Ellen White, “God’s Amazing Grace”, Page 202).
Healers and Healing Methods Based on Spiritism
Today it would be spiritists (spiritualists) as they are controlled by evil spirits, healers like Nowak in Poland (example of man healed by Nowak in Podkowa L. – a grey ball coming out of his head after prayer!), Sister paralysed healed in charismatic church, using foot massage (reflexology, acupressure) – lack of peace, prayer, God showed me through Bill Dull it was based on spiritism, homeopathy, anything based on spiritism, etc.
Hero
Someone commenting the lyrics of the song Hero by Mariah Carey online wrote: “This song brings me to tears every time I hear it. In my town a guy named Nate saved one of his buddies and tried to save another one when their boat capsized in rough freezing water in the harbour. One of them survived with frostbite, the other died of hypothermia. Nate’s body wasn’t found. I always think about him when I hear this song because he helped his buddies get to safety and lost his own life in the process.” Jesus said, “There is no greater love than when someone gives his life for his friends.” Yes, from human point of view there is no greater love but from Gods point of view there is a love which is greater. It was revealed by Jesus because He died not for good people, not for friends but for bad ones, for sinners and enemies. Romans 5:6-7, 9-10; Galatians 3:13.
House with Golden Windows
There is a story that has been told of the boy who searched for the Windows of Gold. The beautiful windows he saw far away When he looked in the valley at sunrise each day. One morning he climbed down the mountainside With the windows of gold as his goal and his guide. He entered the peaceful valley town Just as the golden sun went down. But he seemed to have lost his guiding light, Now the windows were dark that had once been bright. Disappointed, hungry, tired, and cold He kept on asking, “Where are the windows of gold?” Finally his question was answered when he was told, “Look up! There, high on the mountain are the windows of gold.” The truth then struck, as clear as the sun: The beauty he sought was where he’d begun. No need to wander, no need to roam, For the treasure he sought was his very own home. SUDDENLY THE BOY REALISED THAT WHAT HE WAS LOOKING AT WAS HIS OWN HOUSE
TRANSLATED FROM MY POLISH ARTICLE ON 1888
A certain boy grew up in a poor home, and his parents were farmers. Every morning the boy woke while it was still dark and helped his father milk the cows. Then he would go outside, and as the sun rose he would look toward the west, where, in the distance on a hill, he saw a beautiful house with golden windows. The longer he looked at that house, the more he longed one day to live there, or at least to see it up close.
The boy dreamed about it for a long time until one day, when he was twelve years old, his father said to him, “Son, your mother and I appreciate the way you try to help us with the work, and we have decided that you deserve a day of rest. So rest tomorrow, and we will manage somehow by ourselves.”
The next morning the boy got up later than usual. When he went outside, the sun was just rising, and when he looked toward the west, he again saw in the distance the beautiful house with golden windows. After a moment, he knew what he would do.
He took some food with him and set out toward the house with golden windows. But when, after a long walk, he climbed the hill on which the house stood, he was surprised to see that the windows of that house were not golden at all.
He knocked on the door, and when the owner appeared, the boy asked, “Excuse me, ma’am, is this the house with golden windows?”
“I’m sorry, my boy,” the woman replied, “but this is not the house with golden windows. However, if you would like to wait a little, I will show you where such a house is.”
When the sun began to set, the woman led the boy outside and, pointing eastward, said, “Do you see that house down there? That is the house with golden windows.”
When the boy looked eastward, he again saw that house—the house with golden windows. After a moment, however, he realized with astonishment that the house with golden windows was his own family home.
The house with golden windows, the house of God’s truth, the house of God’s blessings, is not found in a different gospel or another church. The house with golden windows was, is, and will be to the end here, in this truth and in this Church, because here, in this “house,” are those “which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ,” which is “the spirit of prophecy.” — Revelation 12:17; 19:10.
Since, then, we have found this house, God’s house of truth, let us not look for another, no matter how attractive it may appear.
Perhaps our house is not yet, in a certain sense, a perfect house, because those who live in it make mistakes. Perhaps this house needs renovation, spiritual and even physical renewal. Perhaps its windows are not yet gold, and love is lacking in it. But this is the house—God’s house with golden windows—because in it are reflected the golden rays of the righteousness and love of Christ connected with truth.
“I am encouraged and blessed as I realize that the God of Israel is still guiding His people, and that He will continue to be with them, even to the end.” — Ellen G. White, Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, pp. 437-438; remarks at the 1913 General Conference session.
“I want every one of you to remember that God has said that He would heal the wounds of His people.” — Ellen G. White, General Conference Bulletin, April 25, 1901, pp. 463-464.
Identifying With Sins of Others in Prayers
When Daniel was praying (Daniel 9:5) he didn’t say, “Oh God, I have been loyal to you, but your people Israel have failed miserably.” He does not do that. Instead, he identifies himself with the mistakes and sins of his church. That is a concept of corporate oneness. When you see mistakes in your church, don’t point your finger at the church without pointing your finger at yourself, because you are a part of that body. In Africa, when you stole with your hands, you were given 40 strokes. The 40 strokes were never given on your hands but on your sitting department. Why should the sitting department suffer because of the mistake of your hands? Because it is one body. Even though Daniel was loyal to God — he was a prophet and a servant to God and was faithful to God — he identified himself with the failures and mistakes of his church. We have sinned; not they. Remember this because one of the greatest objections I have with off-shoot movements is that they always condemn the church but they have a self-righteous attitude about themselves. That is a contradiction of the gospel. It is true that we have made mistakes. It is true that we have problems — theologically, administratively, you name it. We need to go on our knees like Daniel and pray like he did. We will not solve the problem by condemning the president, that’s not where the problem is. The church is one body.
Jewish Sabbath?
Some time ago I found a website about Christian sects. And guess what denomination they included among sects? One of them was the SDA Church. So I asked them why? And they quickly answered that they included our Church among sects because we keep the Jewish Sabbath. So, knowing they didn’t do their homework I asked them to give me one text from the Bible which proves Sabbath to be Jewish day. I was waiting for many months but haven’t received any answer from them. So knowing they would never find such text I sent them texts proving Sabbath is God’s day not Jewish and an article showing Sabbath is so important not because of the day but because of the truth of the gospel – salvation by faith in Jesus and rest in Him it points to. Well, I don’t know what they did with that but our job is not to worry about it but witness, stand for the truth and pray for Holy Spirit to do what we cant.
Knowing Own History
Those who do not remember (do not know) the past (their history) are condemned to repeat it.
KGB Officers
KGB officers were interrogating certain older sister in one of the former Russian republics. And they said to her that the Bible is full of lies. For instance, it says that Jonah was swallowed by a whale but we know that whales have throats that are too small to swallow a human being. So, the sister answered them, I have no idea how it was possible, but I would believe even if it was written that it was Jonah who swallowed the whale, because for God everything is possible.
Legend of Achilles in Reference to Prayer and Abiding in God’s Word
Achilles was born only as half god and his mother knew he was mortal so she decided to immerse him in the Styx river because when a child right after birth was immersed in that rive it made him invicible in battle. But mother knew that if an adult was touched by that water it could kill that adult person so she was cereful to not touch the water and immersed Achilles holding him by one ofr his feet and immersed entire body except one foot. In this way Achilles could be killed only through his foot. And this is a good example and lesson for us. We need to surrender all to God and through prayers and abiding in God’s word we must daily be completely immersed in the power of HS because if we are not completely dependent on God and fully surrendered if we do not constantly pray and have communion with God and abide in His word we cant be invincible against our enemy and sooner or later satan will use that unprotected spot in our life and will get us.
Love Poem
‘Love is like Magic and it always will be, For Love still remains Life’s Sweet Mystery! Love works in ways that are wondrous and strange And there’s Nothing in Life that Love cannot change! Love can transform the most common place Into beauty and splendor and sweetness and grace! Love is unselfish, understanding and kind, For it sees with its Heart and not with its Mind Love gives and forgives, there is nothing too much For Love to heal with its Magic Touch! Love is the language that every heart speaks, For Love is the one thing that every heart seeks!
Lucifer Didn’t Have to Rebel Against God
Lucifer didn’t have to rebel against God even after he developed in Himself the law of sin selfishness, pride and death. This truth has been demonstrated by Christ who took the same fallen human nature Satan infected us all with, and never rebelled against God. When Israelites rebelled against God, and they were bitten by snakes and dying, Moses was told by God to make an image of a snake and place it on a pole. Then he told the rebellious people of God to look at that snake and be saved! The shocking truth, however, is that according to the third chapter of the gospel of John, it was Christ who was represented by that snake on the pole! However, it was a very strange representation of Christ because snake is the symbol of Satan in the Word of God. So, what is the meaning of this surprising symbolism and how to explain it? Well, there is only one way to rational way to justify it. Christ was represented by the symbol of Satan because at the incarnation, in order to save us, He took something that belonged to Satan. He took the same fallen nature that was introduced and developed by Lucifer. However, Christ perfectly overcame it on our behalf of all of us and He never rebelled against His Father in the same nature Lucifer did rebelled. After overcoming the law of sin in His human nature, He also carried it to the cross where according to Romans 8:3, this singular “sin” (referring to the “law of sin and death” from Romans 7:14-23) was “condemned” by God “in the flesh” (in the fallen human nature Christ took) and destroyed in Christ forever!
Martyn Lloyd-Jones Quotes
“Holiness is not something we are called upon to do in order that we may become something; it is something we are to do because of what we already are.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones “Avoid cleverness and smartness. The people will detect this, and they will get the impression that you are more interested in yourself and your cleverness than in the truth of God and their souls.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Mental Health – Rock Music – Possession
Pastor Vinandi (Pierre?) director of Ellen White estate at the Trans European Division was one of the 2 main speakers at the camp meeting in Poland in 1987 or 1988. He told us about certain SDA mother who came to him with his teenage daughter claiming she developed some mental problems. So, pastor Vinandi started preying for that girl in the presence of her mother. But when he was praying something strange happened. While he was praying for her, that teenage girl suddenly started naming the names various popular rock groups like she was in a trans or used as a medium by an evil spirit. So, realising that she was addicted to rock music and somewhat possessed as a result, pastor Vinandi prayed for her even more earnestly until the demon left her. And later on the SDA mother of that girl told pastor Vinandi that after that prayer her daughter was healed, and normal and that she stopped listening to rock music.
Mohammed Ali – Flight Attendant
This verse reminds me a funny story about famous boxer Mohammed Ali. He was in an aeroplane waiting for the plane to start and a flight attendant came to him and asked to put on the safety belt… We believers live in the territory of a very powerful enemy and we none of us is a superman on our own and we can’t fly through satan’s territory on our own without perishing. We can fly only in Christ. In addition, we also need safety belt of HS to keep us in the plane when enemy. Jesus never promised a comfortable flight because Satan is like a terrorist… But Jesus promised that if we stay in his aeroplane the landing will be 100 % safe (Matthew 24:13).
Oliver Cromwell Shortage of Resources
Send to look for silver. Only statues of saints made from silver. Cromwell said, “Melt the saints and put them into circulation.” We are saints but are we in circulation?
Past Sins
On the wall of SDA restaurant: “When the devil reminds you your past you remind him his future.”
People Say I am a Fool
A student came to his spiritual teacher and said, “Master, some people say I am a fool, so I guess I must be one?” “If you know you are a fool then you are not a fool”. “But if people say I am a fool than they must be right”. “If you don’t understand that if you know you are a fool you are not a fool but allow people to brainwash you with the idea that you are a fool, then you are a fool”. The same is with people who brainwash us with the idea that we can’t understand the prophecies or the humanity of Jesus and it is wasting of time to study those subjects… We are to trust God’s word and His prophets instead of those who are not inspired… If I understand and know I am a sinner but accept Christ as my Saviour I am not a condemned sinner anymore. I am a son of God and perfect in Christ (Rom 8:1; 1 Cor 1:30; Rom 7:7). But I am a fool if I don’t understand I am now God’s child by faith and perfect in Christ and not a condemned sinner anymore.
Perfectionism: Charles Spurgeon
Young man looking for a perfect church. Stop complaining and comparing yourself with others but look at Jesus (2 Cor 3:18).
Pigs – Repeating the Same Sin
A certain farmer had a herd of pigs in his sty and every day he brought them food but sometimes the food was too hot and he noticed something interesting. When he put that very hot food into the trough, all pigs immediately rushed toward the trough. And when the first pig reached the trough and put its snout in the trough it jumped off immediately burning its snout and squeaking aloud. And when the farmer watched that he thought that now other pigs should learn something from the painful experience of the first one, but no, every pig had to repeat the same painful experience. Every time in the future he brought hot food all the pigs repeated the same painful experience one by one. They never learned anything from that past painful experience. But we may say, well that’s pigs, they never learn because they are not intelligent. Well we are intelligent, do we learn from our painful experiences? Are we not repeating the same sins over and over again? Now we need to apply this practical example to our own experience and learn something from it. And using that painful experience I would say that if I commit the same mistake or sin over and over again without learning anything, despite suffering every time I commit them, then I must agree that this is a pig-like behaviour. I am even worse because I am intelligent and they are not, I know the Lord loved me and that sister or brother I criticise without their presence and that He died for them and they belong to Him.
Pitcher
A seasoned professor was invited to give a lecture to a group of twelve directors from the largest American corporations. The training was about wise planning and time management. The professor had only one short lecture to present this topic. He decided to explain it in a vivid way. For this purpose, he took out a fairly large pitcher from under the desk and placed it on the table. Then he placed several quite big rocks, the size of tennis balls, into it. When the pitcher was full and not a single rock could be added, the professor asked the directors if the pitcher was full. Upon receiving an affirmative answer, he took out a container with smaller stones from under the desk and poured them into the pitcher, filling the spaces between the larger rocks. Then he asked again if the pitcher was full. This time, no one provided an affirmative answer, and as expected, he poured sand into the pitcher and then filled everything with water. When the pitcher was truly full and nothing more could be added, the professor asked what lesson could be learned from this experience. When no one could find the correct answer to this question, the professor said: The great truth revealed by this experience tells us that if we don’t put the big rocks into the pitcher first, it will no longer be possible later on! In the room, a deep silence fell, and as each participant in this training admired the simplicity and wisdom of this statement, the professor asked again: “What are the big stones in your life? Is it your health, family, work, and career, or perhaps some hobbies or sports? Every day you must pose this question to yourselves and strive to find the right answer. If you do so and find the correct answer to this essential question, and if every day you place these big stones first in the jars of your hearts, then your time will never run out. We too should ask ourselves this immensely important question: Is Jesus Christ the big stones in my life? Is He the greatest value to me? Could I sincerely say today, together with the Apostle Paul (Philippians 1:21): “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Would I be able to say with a clear conscience (Philippians 3:8): “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” However, if I honestly admit that, unfortunately, these words find no resonance in my life, although it is very sad, we don’t need to despair just yet. Not everything is lost! It is not too late to change. Jesus has not yet left the temple; the time of grace has not ended!
Poem
Through faith in Christ, our hearts find peace, A love eternal, that will never cease. From the cross, His grace did flow, A gift of mercy, all should know. In every trial, in joy or strife, He offers hope, He offers life. With open arms, He calls us near, Dispelling doubt, and calming fear. Through faith alone, we are made whole, His love, a balm to every soul. So let us walk this path of grace, With eyes uplifted, seeking His face. For in His love, we find our place, A home eternal, in His embrace.
Poem on Temporary (Passing) Sufferings (Rom 8:18)
Sometimes we come to life’s crossroads And we view what we think is the end. But God has a much wider vision and He knows it’s only a bend. The road will go on and get smoother and after we’ve stopped for a rest, The path that lies hidden beyond us Is often the path that is best. So relax and have faith in a brighter tomorrow. Trust God and with Him face your suffering and sorrow. When you are in troubled and worried and sick at heart And your plans are upset and your world falls apart, Remember God’s ready and waiting to share The burden you find much to heavy to bear.
Prayer
Pray over Bible texts:
2 Chronicles 7:14
2 Chronicles 16:9
Proverbs 3:3-5
Luke 4:18-19
John 10:27
Hebrews 11:24-26
Prayer Poem
“God, teach me to be patient, teach me to go slow, Teach me how to wait on You when my way I do not know. Teach me sweet forbearance when things do not go right So I remain unruffled when others grow uptight. Teach me how to quiet my racing, rising heart So I might hear the answer You are trying to impart. Teach me to let go, dear God, and pray undisturbed until My heart is filled with inner peace and I learn to know your will.” Helen Steiner Rice
Recovered from Infertility After 13 Years!
Some time ago a 42 year old Indian lady by the name Mecklin called me and said that she was infertile or couldn’t get pregnant for 13 years. She and her husband tried everything including hormonal therapies, various medications and numerous alternative therapies, etc. and nothing worked. They couldn’t find the cause of her infertility. Also her husband didn’t seem to have any problems. I encouraged her to stop medication, improve her diet and lifestyle, and start taking some supplements and herbal remedies including: Agnus castus (Vitex) and Vitamins and Minerals to balance her hormones especially progesterone. Serrapeptase 250,000 IU capsules to dissolve any dead or scar tissue that often block Fallopian tubes causing infertility. Vitamin D3 – 5,000IU daily, Magnesium citrate powder (half teaspoon twice daily), and Methylcobalamin B12 (2000mcg daily after breakfast) as their deficiency which is common often contribute to infertility. As always I also told her that there is God who loves her and knows what we don’t know and if she uses His remedies and ask for His blessing then everything is possible. Some time later she whatsapped me again and said that she got pregnant at the age of 43 after 13 years of trying everything. In addition, she also told me she had recovered from her thyroid problems. Few days ago she texted me again and said that together with her husband and healthy son go Goa in India on holiday and she asked me what they could bring from Goa for me. I thanked her and said that I was OK and that everything I need was her prayers. She answered that they always remember me in their prayers. From time to time I share good video sermons with her and pray for her and ask you to remember her, her son and husband in your prayers, please. Her name is Mecklin.
Sabbath
In the army not going to receive new soldiers on Sabbath (for Sabbath sermon). In US 40 percent of evangelical ministers keep Sabbath.
Sabbath Pastor Goia About Addis Ababa (Capital of Ethiopia)
Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is home to 11 million people but remains highly secular. While rural areas are growing, the city’s spiritual growth has been slow. Recognizing this, a group of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) pastors in Addis Ababa came together and prayed fervently for six months. They united in long sessions of prayer, seeking God’s guidance on how to reach the people of this great city with the truth. After six months of persistent prayer, an evangelical pastor called one of those SDA pastors. He said that he had been studying the Bible and felt convicted by God that he and his church should keep the Sabbath. He requested Bible studies on the subject. The SDA pastors provided the studies, and the evangelical pastor taught his own congregation. He then copied the materials and distributed them to 1,500 evangelical pastors at their annual meeting in Addis Ababa, where they gather to share resources. Many of those pastors studied the materials, accepted the Sabbath truth, and taught it to their churches. As a result, thousands of members began keeping the Sabbath and joined the Adventist Church—so many that the churches could no longer accommodate everyone! This is what happens when Christians are sincere and led by the same Holy Spirit. When a message is biblical, they are open and willing to study, investigate, and follow the truth!
Savonarola Hieronim (“Cry my eyes, cry my heart”)
Read article on Savonarola:
SDA – Sect Due to Sabbath & Investigative Judgement (Sanctuary)
The early Christians, the apostolic church, were called a cult by the Roman world, but they had the truth. It is not uncommon for history to repeat itself. So don’t be too ashamed of being called a cult. Shakespeare said, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Truth is truth whatever men call it. And the truth will triumph. Use this for evangelicals calling us cult due to Sabbath or cleansing of the sanctuary that started in 1844 at the end of 2300 years and the investigative judgement.
SDA Golf Player
Wife of a brother who was an elder in SDA and dedicated Christian. One day his friend at work invited him to play golf. As a result, he fell in love with golf. Was playing more and more and stopped attending prayer meetings, etc. She prayed and fasted for him asking God to do anything to save his eternity. He had accident and died. She believed God did it to save his eternity.
SDA Pastor Ryan Bell
Decided to make an experiment and live 1 WHOLE YEAR WITHOUT GOD. Which meant no prayers, no Bible, no worship services, no talking about, a life totally independent. Result of the experiment: He became atheist and now promotes atheism.
SDA Pastors Prayed for a Demon Possessed Woman at a Camp Meeting
But the demon instead of leaving her announced sins of the unfaithful pastors who prayed for her. And when they left ashamed and only the dedicated pastors prayed the woman was healed.
Saving Private Ryan
Based on a true story that took place in WW2. American mother already lost 5 sons in Europe. The last and youngest one was still alive. So, the president gave orders to save him and bring him back home. While saving him 3 soldiers died and finally the captain (Tom Hanks) was shot and while dying said to Private Ryan: “Make it worth it.” And at the end of the movie as the old Ryan came to the graveyard and stood before the grave of that captain who died for him, with tears in his eyes he said that for all his life he did his best to be a good man and he asked his wife to confirm it which she did. Please notice that only after the captain saved Ryan, he asked him to make it worthy. And also Lord Jesus first saves us and then asks us to live a life worthy of His sufferings and death. Apart from that He also gives us power to do it.
Second Coming of Jesus Soon
The following story took place in eighteenth-century England, at a time when the country was afflicted by plague and many people were dying.
A little boy had already lost his father and older sister because of the epidemic, and now his mother was near death. Knowing that his mother was dying, the boy, deeply anxious about his future, said with tears in his eyes:
“Mother, don’t die! Father is dead, and my sister has died too. What will I do? Where will I go if you die too?”
“It is true, my son,” said the mother. “Your father and sister are dead, and I too will soon have to leave. But you must be brave, and even if you are left alone, remember that soon the Lord Jesus will come for you.”
Sadly, not long afterward the woman died and was buried near the house.
The boy was left alone and grieved deeply after his mother’s death. The day after the funeral, very depressed and with eyes full of tears, he went to the meadow, lay down beside his mother’s grave, and fell asleep.
Soon afterward a man passed by that place. When he saw the boy lying by the grave, he woke him and asked what he was doing there.
The boy replied:
“My father and older sister recently died, and yesterday my mother was buried here. I am alone now. But before Mother died, she told me not to worry, because soon the Lord Jesus would come for me.”
When the boy said this, he thought for a moment, then added with a smile:
“Thank you for coming so soon.”
Then the man took the boy home with him and cared for him.
The second coming of Jesus Christ is certainly very near. But on the basis of the history connected with the 1888 message, we may say that how soon our Lord returns depends, in a real sense, on us.
It depends on whether we sufficiently focus our attention on this holy and most important truth: “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” — Jeremiah 33:16.
If this happens, then surely the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will soon take place, and then we too, like that boy, will be able to say, “Thank You, Lord, that You came so soon.”
Sequeira – Resurrection of David
Egyptian SDA who wanted to go to army to fight Israel. David was a seminary student and asked pastor Sequeira if it was OK for him to join Egyptian army to fight Israel. Pastor answered that he shouldn’t carry arms and kill others because he died in Christ and was hidden with Christ in God. But David said, no I am not dead and will join army. OK David, pastor said, but remember you are not opposing me but the word of God. He had a car accident and in the hospital was pronounced dead by two physicians but came back to life after the missionary school students prayed for him. When pastor visited David in the hospital and asked, David, how are you? He answered, David is dead. You are talking to a Christian.
Sister Irene
While I was in US I met Sister Irene, Polish SDA in US. Her husband was addicted to alcohol. She wasn’t getting angry at him when he was returning home drunk, she didn’t leave him or divorce him but prayed every day, loved him, always prepared food, washed and ironed his clothes and prayed, and never said a bad word to him or showed irritation. Prayed and loved remembering that “when we were sinners and enemies God loved us and reconciled himself to us through the sufferings and death of His Son”. One Sabbath morning her husband who was a drunkard for years, just put on a white shirt and suit and without saying anything, he went with her to the church. And since that time never touched alcohol again and always attended church with her every Sabbath. But such behaviour and love can be expressed only by truly born-again believers. And that Sister was one. I had the privilege to stay in her house for some time. And she was like Ellen White, completely surrendered to God, always praising God, singing, praying and her Bible was all marked and colourful. In her house, she and her husband took care of two homeless persons.
Small Foretaste of the Time of Trouble
There is no doubt the time of trouble will come and we are to be prepared for it by being established in the gospel and being filled with HS and agape in which there is no fear. A small foretaste of the time of trouble was covid pandemic when corrupt governments forced people to wear useless masks and useless enforcing lockdowns. Both were not only useless but harmful and they did it although scientists warned the that they will cause more harm than benefit. They didn’t allowed doctors to prescribe effective against covid cheap ivermectin and forced hospitals to use ventilators that killed many. Later on almost entire world was repeatedly forced to be vaccinated with the covid vaccines although it wasn’t tested and it was already known that it will not be effective and very dangerous, some batches were even deadly. Many of those who refused were punished. That was just a small foretaste what they corrupt wicked people are able to do and how easily police, judges, health authorities can obey the corrupt governments and how easily corrupt governments can obey the evil globalists. Now we have a short time of peace and freedom and must use it to prepare ourselves and to proclaim the truth every day.
Sparrows
Grey sparrows kept in completely white environment became white in the third generation (by Dr Sang Lee)
Split Rock
Some time ago I was watching 3abn and listening to a sermon by Pastor Kenneth Cox who said that when he was on a trip to Jerusalem certain Jewish guide took him down to a cave which was exactly below the place where the temple was situated in Jerusalem. Today a Muslim mosque is standing there. And when they were in that cave the guide showed the pastor a long and deep crack going through the whole length of the rock on the top. And, he asked the pastor if he knew what caused that crack. The pastor didn’t know so the guide (who wasn’t Christian but Jewish) told him that the crack was caused by an earthquake. And then he added something very interesting. He said that in Jerusalem there was only one earthquake reported in the history and this earthquake took place in the spring of 31 AD! According to the Word of God, in the spring of 31 AD, while hanging on the cursed cross Jesus Christ cried out, “It is finished!”, and died out of a broken heart. At the same time, the Bible says that an earthquake took place in Jerusalem and that the rocks were split: “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised” (Matthew 27:50-52).
Stage Fear
Jeremiah 1:8 “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.”
Stop to Admire Beauty
A famous violinist named Joshua Bell once played for 45 minutes in a Washington DC Metro station. Though he paid a $3 Million violin and had sold out a Boston theatre just two nights before, only six people stopped to listen to his music. What a great story to illustrate that we should never take people for granted.
Student from Andrews University – Pentagon
I remember a certain student from Andrews University who together with his mother and a group of tourists was visiting the Pentagon in Washington D.C. It was just a few months before the terrorist attacks on Pentagon and WTC towers that took place on September 11, 2001. And, while the whole group of visitors was guided through different sections of the Pentagon by a certain officer the student dared to ask him a silly question: “Sir”, he said, “is this place safe?” Answering that ‘dumb’ question, the officer smiled, and making sure everybody would hear him, said with a loud voice, “Son, we are in the safest place on earth!” This true story reminds me how easily our proud nature deceives us with the false sense of safety and tendencies to forget that in this dark, selfish, full of dangers, cancer, heart attacks, strokes, accidents, calamities, and death world there is no safe place. True peace and a sense of safety can’t be found also in any amount of money, medications, genetic engineering, or any human power or resources, simply because we can’t escape death. Our safety cannot be found in any man-made place nor even in the finest modern nuclear shelters. Instead, it can be found in a person. And the only person who can guarantee true safety, immortality, and inward peace is Jesus Christ who says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6); “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31, 32); “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, GNB).
Super Eyesight and Visual Abilities
In one of the visions, Ellen White saw saved in heaven sitting by a very long silver table that was many miles long but although it was so long their eyes “could extend over it” meaning that those who sat at the end of it could clearly see and most probably hear Christ as if they were sitting close to Him (Early Writings, p. 19; Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 97). Wow! It means that in the new life we will have in our eyes a telescope that will be much more powerful than Hubble space telescope. And if we will have telescope in our eyes we will have an extremally powerful microscope able to see atoms and even electrons and quarks the smallest particles in the universe. If our vision will be so extraordinary then also our hearing and vocal abilities will be super bonus extra special turbo diesel :-)!
Ted Bundy
Killed at least 35 young women (possibly even up to 75). His mother came to the judge and asked him to punish her instead of her condemned son…
Tennis – Excellent in Singles…
Someone said, I am terrible in tennis in singles. But I am excellent in doubles. I’m amazing in doubles if my partner is better than both of our opponents. Jesus is like that. It doesn’t matter how many evil opponents we are playing against if we make Jesus our partner. With Him we always win.
The Law and Cheap Grace
Only the cheap grace Christians who want to be saved without revealing fruit of the Spirit and without Jesus in them the hope of glory draw the conclusion that under the new covenant we are free from keeping 10 commandments. And to justify their point they quote Rom 10.4 or Rom 7.6 but even greatest non-SDA protestant theologians such as Stott, Wescott, Nygren, Torrence etc. clearly stated that Paul never meant we are free from keeping the moral law as a standard of Christian living. According to them Paul only suggested we are now free from the condemnation of the law (punishment). Paul was against legalism or using the law as a way of salvation, but he was never against keeping the law by already saved believers as a demonstration of the power of the gospel and working of Holy Spirit. Any honest and careful student of Paul’s writings will draw this conclusion. The role of the law is not to save us but to increase understanding of our sinfulness and to keep us in cage of fear and condemnation until we accept Jesus as our only way of salvation. And as soon as we truly accept Christs righteousness and death as ours in Him and are saved by grace and free from condemnation of the law, and are no longer under the law but under grace, what does Jesus do now? He takes us saved in Him believers and leads us back to the law and bids us to keep it but not to be saved because we are already saved by Him but to keep the moral law as the fruit of salvation by grace. And to enable us to keep the law the Lord through Holy Spirit dwells in us and repeats the same victory He already accomplished in sinful flesh when He lived here 2000 years ago. In addition, we now can keep the law (by the power of indwelling Christ and HS) not out of fear but out of love because since we accepted Jesus, we are one with Him and therefore the law can’t condemn us any more even though in practice we are not perfect yet. The gospel is indeed a most wonderful truth of amazing freedom in Christ but is not freedom to break the commandments or sin but freedom from sin and breaking the holy law of God.
Toothless Dog Prayer for Bread and Water
Pastor from us told about a boy who was chased by an angry big black dog and fall down expecting the dog to bite him but suddenly the owner appeared and said, boy, don’t be afraid of the dog, he looks scary and makes a lot of noise but he is toothless and cant harm you. That dog was like Satan for those who accepted Jesus, Satan may look scary and try to make big noise but cant bite, cant harm.
Travelling Back in Time
There was a movie about a man who could travel back in time by only few minutes. It allowed him to change events to prevent bad things to happen. Now, in human understanding this is a pure fantasy and fiction. But in God’s reality it is not. God has proved repeatedly through prophecies that either He has ability to travel in time and travel backword and forward in time not by short periods but by as much as He wishes. Or He can know the future and influence it in a right way (shape the history accordingly).
True Prayer – Poem
No answer today I seek, no favor request, No plea to make, no weight on my chest. I come with a heart both contrite and true, To speak of the admiration I have for You. Through quiet devotion, my spirit does sing, Grateful for all the joy You bring. For all that You are, so boundless and pure, My adoration will always endure. For in Your presence, all doubts depart, And I lay before You my grateful heart. For to kneel in Your presence makes me feel blessed, For I know that You know all my needs best. And it fills me with joy just to linger with you, As my soul You replenish and my heart You renew. For prayer is much more than just asking for things— It’s the peace and contentment that quietness brings. So thank You again for Your mercy and love And for making me heir to Your kingdom above.
Truth (Including Law) Always With Love (Salt)
Law and truth must be combined with love and love with the law! It can be compared to kitchen salt (sodium chloride). Kitchen salt or sodium chloride (NaCl) is composed of one atom of Sodium and one atom of Chlorine, hence the formula NaCl. Chlorine alone without sodium is very toxic and can kill. Sodium on the other hand, without chlorine, has tendencies to bind to any chemical forming some even dangerous and explosive compounds. But together they form salt that can be used to improve taste of food or to preserve food. And it is the same with law or truth combined with love. Evangelical Christians, love without law, we have tendencies to focus on law neglecting love revealed in the gospel. Before After 1888 Gen Conf. Ellen White wrote that before 1888 era we were focused so much on the law neglecting the gospel and love revealed in it that we became as dry as the heals of Gilboa. So, what is the effective way to combine love with law? Gal 2:20; Rom 6:6-8; Ephesians 4:15. Jesus told Pharisees they were hypocrites but did it with tears in His eyes.
Vitamin D (Salvation) Requires Magnesium (Faith) for Activation
Salvation of the entire sinful world has been already accomplished. But it is a gift which needs to be accepted by true faith. Faith makes that salvation effective. Faith leads to the new birth, birth from the Spirit. Now HS dwells in the believer making him spiritually alive and makes real in our life what is already ours in Christ. Let me use an example that will help us to grasp this truth. We all know how important for our health and life saving is vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin. For this reason and because in UK we can’t get enough of this vitamin because it is the most cloudy country in the world, we take supplements with vitamin D3. But this supplemental vit d3 will not benefit us unless in our body we have enough magnesium which is required to activate it, to convert D3 into its active D4 form. Without magnesium D3 remains inactive and useless and cant save us from cancer or viral infections. D3 is already made and stored in liver but we cant benefit from it because of the lack of magnesium. And it is exactly the same with salvation without faith. Like vitamin D3 without magnesium remains inactive, likewise salvation of the entire world, although already accomplished, it cant benefit us.
Voice from Belly
A brother from Poland told me how one day he suddenly started hearing a clear voice talking to him from his own belly. And he was scared and started wandering what was that? So, he was thinking about it and trying to answer the question whether it was a mental sickness or a form of demonic possession? And when he was thinking about it the mysterious voice coming from his belly spoke again and said, “It is a sickness.” Finally, he decided to visit a physician who at the same time was a very spiritual person and SDA brother. When he came to that SDA doctor, he explained everything about the strange voice talking to him and asked for the diagnosis with regards to those symptoms and whether it was a mental sickness or a demonic possession? And do you know what the SDA doctor answered? He said, “It is a sickness.” And as soon as he said that the voice from the belly spoke again and said, “You see, I told you it is a sickness.” I know I shouldn’t lough but when he told me the story I just couldn’t resist the temptation as it was funny at the same time and that brother who experience that and who told me about it laughed too when he was sharing the story with me.
Voltaire
Someone once said about the Bible that “never has a book been so loved and hated at the same time”. And excellent example of a man who was famous for hating the Bible was Voltaire, French philosopher known as the prince of philosophers who died in 1778. In fact, he once called sir Isaac Newton “silly man”, because Newton predicted on the bases of Bible prophecy, that a time would come when men would be travelling at a speed of 60 miles an hour. But Voltaire referring to that Newton’s prediction said that it was ridiculous and silly because anyone knows that human body would be incapable of surviving the distress caused by travelling at such a tremendous speed of 60 miles per hour and that it that the Bible is full of lies! Well, how surprised he will be when after his resurrection to condemnation he will learn about speed of the formula 1 cars, air-planes and space crafts? That admired by the world prince of philosophers, Voltaire, always ridiculed the Bible and those who believed in it but when he was dying, he was extremely afraid and repeatedly begged for more light in his room although there was enough light. John 8:12 “I am the light of the world, he who believes in me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of the world!” Voltaire, like all condemned sinners, including all of us, had the opportunity to choose the light but he chose the darkness instead and therefore is regarded by the Word of God as a fool. Why did Voltaire hate God’s Word? Why today people don’t want to read God’s word? (John 3:19-20).
Walking on Wooden Bridge on Ropes (Goia)
Pavel Goia – his father with another brother were doing a colporter evangelist work carrying bags with literature in Romania under communism which was forbidden and were reported by someone to the police. They were surrounded by police and tried to escape turning to the forest and at the end of forest there was an old unused bridge on 2 ropes looking like it could collapse at any time with lacking many wooden planks. Goia’s father decided to go but the other brother was afraid because the bridge was bad and over a deep gorge so he stayed and let Goias father go first. When he was walking the brother shouted “Pavel”, his first name was the same as son, “You are walking on nothing!” Then he looked down and said “Oops” and walked quickly forward until he reached the opposite side. That brother finally also decided to walk but he made sure he was holding the rope all the time.
Wife During Starvation
Long time ago I read about a wife who during the time of hunger and starvation when very little food was left was saving that very tiny amount of food and every day gave her portion for her sick weak and hungry husband pretending that she had her own portion. And she was doing it until she died out of starvation, saving her husband’s life out of self-sacrificing love. But even this beautiful heart-felt example of love, true marriage love is not able to express the everlasting love of God toward us. That wife loved her husband with love stronger than death but she loved someone who loved her. In Romans 5:6-10 we read that God loved us and died for us in his son not when we were loving him but when we were sinners, ungodly and when we were enemies!!! That wife died for her husband she loved not with the second but first death. But in Galatians 3:13 we read that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law (eternal condemnation and second death) having become that curse for us. It means that Christ was willing to die for us when we were enemies for how long? For ever!!! We are told that the sufferings of Christ caused by horrible feeling of being separated from the love of His father were so great that we will never fully understand it even throughout eternity.
Why Daniel was Greatly Beloved?
In Dan 10:11,19 Daniel was told 2 times that he was “greatly beloved by God”! Why? We do not need to guess because the angel himself provided the reason why Daniel was greatly beloved: Daniel 10:12: “Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand (Daniel approach toward the message from God involved love – “heart”), and to humble yourself before your God (Daniel was greatly beloved because he was humble before God out of love), your words were heard; and I have come because of your words (Daniel was greatly beloved by God because he prayed with love and humble attitude). The same triple principle is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people who are called by my name, humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land”. The conclusion therefore is, that we also can be greatly beloved by God, if we study God’s Word and accept it with love, when we are humble before God, and when we constantly humbly pray with love, and submission. There is one more reason why Daniel was greatly beloved. He prayed not for himself but for others and he identified himself with the sins of other Israelites instead of condemning them. We should be more like ABORIGINES in Australia. When you ask them their name they wouldn’t tell you their own name but the name of their tribe! Their own individual name is not important for them but the fact that they are part of their tribe is what matters and that is everything to them. They identify themselves with other members of the clan. Let us be like Aborigines and identify with sins of our brothers and sisters and confess them as ours. Let my sins be yours and yours mine. Does it mean we should avoid telling the truth? No. But even if we have to tell the truth, we must do it with love like Lord Jesus who called His enemies snakes but He did it with tears in His eyes and they knew He loved them.
Why God Decided to Reveal the Truth About Future Events in Bible Prophecies Using Symbolic Language?
For instance, the little horn in Daniel that grew very big and spoke blasphemies against God and tried to change times, is papal Rome. There is no doubt about it. But why God didn’t inspire Daniel to write directly that it papal Rome will do all those things and persecute God’s church?
-
Well, controlled by the dragon papal Rome was doing everything in middle ages to prevent people from reading and understanding God’s Word and prophecies. Therefore if a direct or more clear language was used in the Bible describing papacy as an evil force controlled and used by satan himself, they would do their best to destroy the Bible completely.
-
In addition, the use of the symbolic language involves more prayerful intellectual effort and deeper biblical studies to understand the prophecies.
Why Right Hand Who is Love Allows Good People Like Abel, Stephen, or John the Baptist, or Today Even Innocent Children to Suffer and Die Prematurely?
First, there is no such thing as innocent person in this world because we are all sinners and the wages of sin is death. And that includes babies because although they don’t have their own sins yet they are born with the law of sin and selfishness in them and they are condemned by the law. Second, good people suffer and die prematurely because God allows devil to kill them.
Why We Confess Sins?
Why do truly believing Christians who are saved by grace confess their sins? According to the gospel, true believers should confess their sins as something that was already dealt with and forgiven on the cross 2000 years ago, and because they were crucified with Christ (Rom 6:6; 2 Cor 5:14) 2000 years ago, are constantly free from condemnation of the law in Christ (Rom 7:6; Rom 8:1) who all the time covers them with His perfect righteousness (1 Cor 1:30), and because they are complete in Him (Col 2:10) in spite of imperfections, and because they are married to Him (Rom 7:4), and are one with Him (1 Cor 6:17). They confess their sins and are truly sorry not because they are not forgiven until they confess their sins or out of fear, but because with their sins they increased the sufferings of Christ He experienced on the cross, because their sins disturb their delicate and loving relationship with the Lord, and because through their sins they grieve God who hates sin.
Why, in the Wilderness, Christ Was Tempted 3 Times?
What did Paul mean when he wrote that Jesus was tempted in all points as we are? Well, he didn’t mean that Jesus experienced all the same types of temptations we have. For instance, He was never tempted to get drunk with alcohol or to smoke cigarette, to watch a bad movies or to buy an expensive car. So, what did Paul mean? He meant that the principle that is behind temptations in His case was the same as ours. All temptations are based on three fundamental drives found in 1 John 2:15, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” In the wilderness Jesus was tempted 3 times through those 3 drives. These three basic drives come from the dwelling in us law of sin selfishness and pride we are born with. So, what is the conclusion? The simple conclusion is that in order for Christ to be internally tempted like that He had to take the same nature we have including the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2–3).
Wojtek Karwiel
We were studying to become dental technicians and we lived in a dormitory in the same room. And one day after I prayed, it was my friend who bought GC for him and myself from a SDA colporter. We were both reading at the same time. Both were very excited and accepted the truth with the same faith and enthusiasm and assurance. God gave us the same good soil with the same measure of faith and excitement. We both went home for the weekend to share the discovery with our families. We were both condemned by our parents. When we came back to a dormitory I didn’t give up on the truth but my friend came back a completely different person. His parents persuaded him he was wrong believeing the book and threatened him. He came back with negative attitude toward the truth and he didn’t want to change his mind although I begged him and did my best to persuade him and remind about the undeniable evidence the book and the Bible provided. After some time we were both called to army for 2 years but to different places. After about over 6 months in the army I sent him a letter but it came back with the note that he wasn’t found there. Later on one of my colleges told me that in the army that friend who rejected the truth after receiving it with me, committed suicide. He hanged himself. Now, what kind of soil he had initially? The same as mine, good soil that received the seed of the truth and it germinated but being influenced by inspired by enemy family consciously decided to reject the truth to not loose his parent’s favour. Favour of his parents and the world had greater value for him than Christ and His truth.
Woodworm
Long time ago I read about a type of woodworm that starts eating wood as a small larva damaging wood by making tunnels in it. It eats the wood gradually becoming bigger and bigger while getting deeper into the wood until it is unable to return and the tunnel it creates becomes its own grave. And, the same was true in case of Lucifer and all his followers. Lucifer started feeding himself with tiny portions of love to self, pride and life independent from God instead of self-sacrificing God’s love, humility and life completely dependent on God. Unfortunately, he resisted the voice of HS that prompted him with great strength to stop, and he was growing bigger and bigger until it made him so big and full of pride and love to self that he was unable to return and it became his own spiritual grave. Unfortunately, because of Adam and Eve, we all are born with the nature Lucifer developed, and have natural tendencies to follow his example. For this reason we must be wise and watch and pray constantly to resist the power of the law of sin in us that is forcing us constantly to follow the way of Lucifer and not God’s way of life! In Gethsemane Jesus after praying and resisting the power of the indwelling law of sin, selfishness and pride “to the point of blood”, came to His sleeping disciples and said “Could you not watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation!” When according to Christ, do we enter into temptation to follow Lucifer’s way of self love, pride and life independent from God? When we do not watch and pray or when we pray with short microwave meaningless prayers!
Zakopane
After WW 2 a bag of flour was left by German soldiers. A Sister from the SDA church in Zakopane found that bag and was very happy as there was not enough food there but as she walked with the bag in her hands praising God suddenly a strong wing came and snatched the bag of flour from her hands and blew it away all over the place. And when she saw it she became very discouraged and disappointed and started to ask the Lord why? Lord, why you have allowed this to happen? You know we don’t have food to eat? And while she was talking with God like that expressing her doubts a dog came to that place and ate a bit of the flour but when she was coming back the same way she saw something that made her ashamed of her doubting in God’s love and care. She saw the same dog who ate some of the flour lying by the road dead. And then she realised that before departing Germans added some poison to the flour. So by snatching the flour from her hands using the wind the Lord saved her life.