Sunday, October 13, 2019

Established in the Present Truth

Today's Devotion
Friday, October 18, 2019
Established in the Present Truth
Today's Text
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

2 Peter 1:12
We believe without a doubt that Christ is soon coming. This is not a fable to us; it is a reality. We have no doubt, neither have we had a doubt for years, that the doctrines we hold today are present truth, and that we are nearing the judgment. We are preparing to meet Him who, escorted by a retinue of holy angels, is to appear in the clouds of heaven to give the faithful and the just the finishing touch of immortality. When He comes He is not to cleanse us of our sins, to remove from us the defects in our characters, or to cure us of the infirmities of our tempers and dispositions. If wrought for us at all, this work will all be accomplished before that time.

When the Lord comes, those who are holy will be holy still. Those who have preserved their bodies and spirits in holiness, in sanctification and honor, will then receive the finishing touch of immortality. But those who are unjust, unsanctified, and filthy will remain so forever. No work will then be done for them to remove their defects and give them holy characters. The Refiner does not then sit to pursue His refining process and remove their sins and their corruption.... It is now that this work is to be accomplished for us. Testimonies for the Church 2:355.

God is now testing and proving His people. Character is being developed. Angels are weighing moral worth, and keeping a faithful record of all the acts of the children of men.... That God who reads the hearts of everyone, will bring to light hidden things of darkness where they are often least suspected, that stumbling blocks which have hindered the progress of truth may be removed. Testimonies for the Church 1:332, 333.

There will be no future probation in which to prepare for eternity. It is in this life that we are to put on the robe of Christ's righteousness. This is our only opportunity to form characters for the home which Christ has made ready for those who obey His commandments. Christ's Object Lessons, 319.

Note: In some areas phrases have been omitted by the compilers for whatever reason. I have restored them as underlined text, that the full intent of the author may be given.
My Thoughts:
My friend, there are many truths in the Bible that are beneficial to our walk with the Lord, but the most important truth is the present truth. Present truth is the truth that God has given in the time that God has given it. In the old testament it was the law; today it is the grace of God through the mediatorial work of Jesus within the heart.

The work that Jesus is doing in the heavenly sanctuary above is only a representation of the work that is to be going on within the sanctuary of our hearts. If we neglect to receive Jesus as our High Priest within our hearts, then the sanctifying work cannot be accomplished.

Jesus is pleading with His people saying "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20). "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." (Revelation 3:19).

God bless,
I encourage your comments: wtaitague@gmail.com or directly in the blog (Click Here)
Unity or Uniformity? - Nader Mansour
Unity or Uniformity - Nadar Mansour

Which is better, unity or uniformity? Is there a difference between the two? In this study, Nader Mansour examines the biblical basis for unity and God's plan for his church. Current issues among us are addressed honestly and openly.
Monday: Jesus Our Perfect Pattern

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Schemes of Satan

Today's Devotion
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Schemes of Satan
Today's Text
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:8
It is unsafe to trust to feelings or impressions; these are unreliable guides. God's law is the only correct standard of holiness. It is by this law that character is to be judged. If an inquirer after salvation were to ask, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” the modern teachers of sanctification would answer, “Only believe that Jesus saves you.” But when Christ was asked this question He said, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” And when the questioner replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, ... and thy neighbour as thyself,” Jesus said, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” Luke 10:26-28. The Review and Herald, October 5, 1886.

No value is attached to a mere profession of faith in Christ; only the love which is shown by works is counted genuine. Yet it is love alone which in the sight of Heaven makes any act of value....

The hidden selfishness of men stands revealed in the books of heaven.... Sad is the record which angels bear to heaven. Intelligent beings, professed followers of Christ, are absorbed in the acquirement of worldly possessions or the enjoyment of earthly pleasures. Money, time, and strength are sacrificed for display and self-indulgence; but few are the moments devoted to prayer, to the searching of the Scriptures, to humiliation of soul and confession of sin.

Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they may not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. The archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful Mediator. He knows that with him everything depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth.

Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour's mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God. The Great Controversy, 487, 488.

Note: In some areas phrases have been omitted by the compilers for whatever reason. I have restored them as underlined text, that the full intent of the author may be given.
My Thoughts:
My friend, our salvation is not based upon our performance, but upon the merits of Jesus Christ alone. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

Many have taken this as a license to sin, but this is refuted by the same apostle saying "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31). Then what place does works play in our salvation? The answer is none. Works is simply a manifestation of the heart. If we have been saved by grace; if the Spirit of God lives within us, we will bear the fruits of the Spirit which are "... love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22, 23).

My friend, our true problem with sin is not that we have sinned, but that we are sinful by nature. The acts of sin that we commit stem from our carnal heart. Thus the remedy for our sin is not to control our behavior, but to receive a new heart. The true salvation of man is in the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ within us.

God bless,
I encourage your comments: wtaitague@gmail.com or directly in the blog (Click Here)
Unity or Uniformity? - Nader Mansour
Unity or Uniformity - Nadar Mansour

Which is better, unity or uniformity? Is there a difference between the two? In this study, Nader Mansour examines the biblical basis for unity and God's plan for his church. Current issues among us are addressed honestly and openly.
Friday: Established in the Present Truth

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The Saints Shall Judge the World

Today's Devotion
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
The Saints Shall Judge the World
Today's Text
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

1 Corinthians 4:5
During the thousand years between the first and the second resurrection, the judgment of the wicked takes place. The apostle Paul points to this judgment as an event that follows the Second Advent. “Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come....” Daniel declares that when the Ancient of days came, “judgment was given to the saints of the most High.” Daniel 7:22.

At this time the righteous reign as kings and priests unto God. John in the Revelation says: “I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them.” Revelation 20:4.... It is at this time that, as foretold by Paul, “the saints shall judge the world.” 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3. In union with Christ they judge the wicked, comparing their acts with the statute book, the Bible, and deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then the portion which the wicked must suffer is meted out, according to their works; and it is recorded against their names in the book of death. The Great Controversy, 660, 661.

We shall not hear a charge against us on the ground of the outbreaking sins we have committed, but the charge will be made against us for the neglect of good and noble duties enjoined upon us by the God of love. The deficiencies of our characters will be held up to view. It will then be known that all who are so condemned had light and knowledge, were entrusted with their Lord's goods, and were found unfaithful to their trust. The Youth's Instructor, June 8, 1893.

Satan also and evil angels are judged by Christ and His people. Says Paul, “Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” 1 Corinthians 6:3. The Great Controversy, 661.

When the Judge of all the earth shall demand of Satan, “Why hast thou rebelled against Me, and robbed Me of the subjects of My kingdom?” the originator of evil can render no excuse. Every mouth will be stopped, and all the hosts of rebellion will be speechless. The Great Controversy, 503.

Note: In some areas phrases have been omitted by the compilers for whatever reason. I have restored them as underlined text, that the full intent of the author may be given.
My Thoughts:
My friend, the redeemed of the earth will spend a thousand years in heaven. There will be many questions that each will have: primarily will be the reason why many of their loved ones and friends are not there with them. To each is given the record of God's dealing with them. All is to be revealed in this time. Not just the record of their sins, but the whole effort of God to save them. The seen and unseen struggle is presented in its exactness.

In the end all will see that all that could be done had been done for the salvation of their loved ones has been done. The choice that had been made was in rejecting the salvation of God offered to them by the life of His Son. Each will be satisfied that all that could have been done had been done, and that there was nothing more that God could have done to bring them to a point where they would have chose life.

Sin will not rise a second time, because the character of God will be fully vindicated. The charges of Satan will be proven false, and the great love of God has been manifested in His dealing with sin and sinners.

In the end, the righteous will declare that God is just in His dealings with sin; their friends, and their loved ones. They will declare that God is love.

God bless,
I encourage your comments: wtaitague@gmail.com or directly in the blog (Click Here)
Unity or Uniformity? - Nader Mansour
Unity or Uniformity - Nadar Mansour

Which is better, unity or uniformity? Is there a difference between the two? In this study, Nader Mansour examines the biblical basis for unity and God's plan for his church. Current issues among us are addressed honestly and openly.
Thursday: Schemes of Satan

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