Prayer for the Sick

Today's Devotion Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Prayer for the Sick

Today's Text Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

Christ is the same compassionate physician now that He was during His earthly ministry. In Him there is healing balm for every disease. The Ministry of Healing, 226. Why is it that men are so unwilling to trust Him who created man, and who can, by a touch, a word, a look, heal all manner of disease? Who is more worthy of our confidence than the One who has made so great a sacrifice for our redemption? Our Lord has given us definite instruction, through the apostle James, as to our duty in case of sickness. When human help fails, God will be the helper of His people. “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” James 5:14, 15. Counsels on Health, 457. But the offering of such prayer is a most solemn act, and should not be entered upon without careful consideration.... To those who desire prayer for their restoration to health, it should be made plain that the violation of God's law, either natural or spiritual, is sin, and that in order for them to receive His blessing, sin must be confessed and forsaken.... We know that God hears us if we ask according to His will. But to press our petitions without a submissive spirit is not right; our prayers must take the form, not of command, but of intercession. There are cases where God works decidedly by His divine power in the restoration of health. But not all the sick are healed. Many are laid away to sleep in Jesus.... Our desires and interests should be lost in His will. These experiences that test faith are for our benefit.... Faith is strengthened by exercise. We must let patience have its perfect work, remembering that there are precious promises in the Scriptures for those who wait upon the Lord. The Ministry of Healing, 227-231. 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, all the sickness and diseases that are in the world today are in one form or another a result of sin. In most cases the lifestyle that we live contributes to the degradation of the human body and the entrance of sickness and disease. Thus, one of the ways that God heals us is through the use of natural remedies, the partaking of a healthful diet along with good exercise. We should do all that is within our power to bring our mind, body, and soul into harmony with the will of God. If we are partaking of things that are injurious to the body, we should lay them aside.  Intercession and prayer for the sick is a necessary part of the healing process, and should be done in the submission to the will of God. Many times God uses the circumstances of sickness to try the faith of His people and to bring about a trust in God that was not possible unless they saw their need. The apostle Paul prayed that his infirmity was taken away, but the answer from God was “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Unless we see our need of God we tend to trust in our own strength to see us through. Ultimately, we are stricken with the sickness of sin within our hearts. It is a most fatal sickness that has no human cure. This condition passes to us from our parents and we in turn pass it on to our children. The only remedy for this condition is to receive a new life; a life that is altogether different from our own. We must receive the life of God given to us through His Son. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (1 John 5:11). When we receive Jesus as our Savior we receive the very life of God through the indwelling of Jesus within our hearts. “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;” (John 5:26). When Jesus was on this earth, He healed all manner of sickness and disease, and even raised some from the dead, yet where are these people today? Though they were restored to perfect health they still succumbed to death. The true healing that Jesus brought to mankind was not a physical healing as much as a spiritual healing of the soul. Though we live a healthy life we are still subject to death. What Jesus came to impart to us was what we needed the most, everlasting life. My friend, Jesus is offering to you and to me the gift of everlasting life, and that life is found only in Jesus Christ the Son of the living God. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3). Won’t you surrender your life to Him today? God bless,

I encourage your comments: wtaitague@gmail.com or directly in the blog (Click Here)

The Mark of Antichrist with Nadar Mansour The Mark of Antichrist deals with the core doctrine of Antichrist. In this study Nader Mansour examines all the scriptural mentions of Antichrist and what we learn about this entity. Contrary to popular thought, there is more than just one Antichrist. What does Antichrist say about the Father and Son? This study looks at the answer. RESOURCES: Archive of Daily Devotions Melodies of Prayer Free Bible & Commentary Bible Study Resources The Truth About God The Final Protest Revelation1412.org Recommended YouTube Channels (New) The Advent Bible Fellowship YouTube channel Open Face Fellowship Revelation 14:12 Pro-life Andrew Smyrna Gospel Ministry Line of Truth Ministries

Thursday: The Spirit of True Heroism

Testing the Voice of the Shepherds

Today's Devotion Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Testing the Voice of the Shepherds

Today's Text I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:14

Every one of us will be sorely tempted; our faith will be tried to the uttermost. The Review and Herald, November 17, 1885. We need to be anchored in Christ, rooted and grounded in the faith. Satan works through agents. He selects those who have not been drinking of the living waters, whose souls are athirst for something new and strange, and who are ever ready to drink at any fountain that may present itself. Voices will be heard, saying, “Lo, here is Christ,” or “Lo, there;” but we must believe them not. We have unmistakable evidence of the voice of the True Shepherd, and He is calling upon us to follow Him. He says, “I have kept my Father's commandments.” He leads His sheep in the path of humble obedience to the law of God.... “The voice of a stranger” is the voice of one who neither respects nor obeys God's holy, just, and good law. Many make great pretensions to holiness, and boast of the wonders they perform in healing the sick, when they do not regard this great standard of righteousness. But through whose power are these cures wrought? Are the eyes of either party opened to their transgressions of the law? and do they take their stand as humble, obedient children, ready to obey all of God's requirements? John testifies of the professed children of God: “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4.... If those through whom cures are performed, are disposed, on account of these manifestations, to excuse their neglect of the law of God, and continue in disobedience, though they have power to any and every extent, it does not follow that they have the great power of God. On the contrary, it is the miracle-working power of the great deceiver.... We must beware of the pretended holiness that permits transgression of the law of God. Those cannot be sanctified who trample that law under their feet, and judge themselves by a standard of their own devising. SDA Bible Commentary 5:1099. 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, My friend, we are called to try every spirit whether they be of God; for there are many false prophets that have come into the world. The first thing that Jesus warned His disciples about when speaking of the last days was about false Christs. Notice what He said. “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4, 5). We have been warned that there would be a move to introduce to us a false Christ that shall deceive many. The church today is looking to the fulfilment of this prophecy at some future time when in reality it has already been fulfilled today. While the remnant people of God have been focusing their eyes upon the seventh-day Sabbath, the arch-deceiver has supplanted the worship of the One true God through His Son Jesus Christ with the counterfeit god of the trinity. By teaching that the Son of God, in order to be equal with God, must have always existed, it has introduced in His place a being called “God the Son” who is God first and son second, meaning that his divinity comes from the fact that he is God rather than because he is the Son of God. In doing this it denies the sonship of Christ and turns the relationship between the Father and the Son into a metaphor, meaning not literally true. This is the great deception that is spoken of by Jesus in the last days. It is no wonder that the church is in the condition that it is, “… wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17). It is in this condition because it has been deceived into accepting a false Christ in place of the true Son of God. Of this the apostle John warned saying “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” (1 Joh 2:22, 23). But though in this most terrible condition the hand of mercy is still offered to those within the church saying “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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 3:19, 20). My friend, if you have been deceived into worship the false god of the trinity, there is still time for you to heed the warning of Jesus, the Faithful and True Witness of God, and turn unto Him. Won’t you open your heart to the true Son of God today? God bless,

I encourage your comments: wtaitague@gmail.com or directly in the blog (Click Here)

The Mark of Antichrist with Nadar Mansour The Mark of Antichrist deals with the core doctrine of Antichrist. In this study Nader Mansour examines all the scriptural mentions of Antichrist and what we learn about this entity. Contrary to popular thought, there is more than just one Antichrist. What does Antichrist say about the Father and Son? This study looks at the answer. RESOURCES: Archive of Daily Devotions Melodies of Prayer Free Bible & Commentary Bible Study Resources The Truth About God The Final Protest Revelation1412.org Recommended YouTube Channels (New) The Advent Bible Fellowship YouTube channel Open Face Fellowship Revelation 14:12 Pro-life Andrew Smyrna Gospel Ministry Line of Truth Ministries

Wednesday: Prayer for the Sick

The Device of Worldliness

Today's Devotion Monday, March 2, 2020

The Device of Worldliness

Today's Text Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11

Solomon says, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26); and there are hundreds of such to be found among professors of godliness. Says the apostle: “We are not ignorant of his [Satan's] devices.” Oh, what art, what skill, what cunning, is exercised to lead the professed followers of Christ to a union with the world by seeking for happiness in the amusements of the world, under the delusion that some good is to be gained! And thus the unguarded walk right into the net, flattering themselves that there is no evil in the way.... How can I endure the thought that most of the youth in this age will come short of everlasting life! Oh, that the sound of instrumental music might cease and they no more while away so much precious time in pleasing their own fancy. Oh, that they would devote less time to dress and vain conversation, and send forth their earnest, agonizing prayers to God for a sound experience. There is great necessity for close self-examination in the light of God's Word; let each one raise the inquiry: “Am I sound, or am I rotten at heart? Am I renewed in Christ, or am I still carnal at heart, with a new dress put on the outside?” Rein yourself up to the great tribunal, and in the light of God examine to see if there be any secret sin that you are cherishing, any idol that you have not sacrificed. Pray, yes, pray as you have never prayed before, that you may not be deluded by Satan's devices.... Surely the foundation of your hope of everlasting life cannot be laid too sure.... While those around us may be vain and engaged in pleasure seeking and folly, our conversation is in heaven, whence we look for the Saviour; the soul is reaching out after God for pardon and peace, for righteousness and true holiness. Testimonies for the Church 2:143-145. Expel sin from your hearts, for sin caused the death of the Son of God. The Review and Herald, July 22, 1884. Jesus died, dear youth, not to save you in your sins, but from your sins. The Youth's Instructor, July 15, 1897. 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, for many in the church today worldliness has become a part of regular life, but while this is certainly a device of Satan, it is not the most deadly. Worldliness is simply the outworking of a heart that has not been truly surrendered to God through His Son Jesus Christ. The condition of the church today is spoken of in the message to the Church of Laodicea. Yet while the church acknowledges this, they are blind to its true meaning, limiting it to a condition of worldliness that pervades the members but not the church as a whole. The true message is to the church as a whole, telling them that their condition is so nauseating to Jesus that unless the church heeds the warning He will spew (vomit) them out of His mouth. Notice "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15, 16). What is it about their condition that sickens the Lord? Notice "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" (Revelation 3:17). They believe that they are righteous when in fact they are not. The church has a false experience of righteousness by faith. How is it that they have this false experience of righteousness by faith? The answer is found in the remedy given to them by Jesus, the Faithful and True Witness of God saying, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." (Revelation 3:18). They need gold tried in the fire which is a genuine faith. They need white raiment because they do not have the righteousness of Christ, and because of this they are spiritually naked before God. They need eyesalve that their eyes may be opened to the great deception that has led them into their current condition. This great deception is that they have been deceived into accepting the false god of the trinity in place of the One true God and His Son Jesus Christ. As such they have received the false Christ called "God the Son", who is not in reality the Son of God, but is only a metaphor, meaning not literally true. This false Christ has the outward appearance of the Son of God but is not. My friend, our whole salvation is based upon receiving everlasting life through Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5:11, 12). The trinity presents to us a counterfeit Christ who is not truly the Son of God, and as such it cannot give us true righteousness of heart. If you are worshiping God as a trinity then you are in the Laodicean condition and as such the message of the Faithful and True Witness of God is to you. Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart today saying "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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 3:19, 20). Won't you open the door of your heart to the true Son of God today? God bless,

I encourage your comments: wtaitague@gmail.com or directly in the blog (Click Here)

The Mark of Antichrist with Nadar Mansour The Mark of Antichrist deals with the core doctrine of Antichrist. In this study Nader Mansour examines all the scriptural mentions of Antichrist and what we learn about this entity. Contrary to popular thought, there is more than just one Antichrist. What does Antichrist say about the Father and Son? This study looks at the answer. RESOURCES: Archive of Daily Devotions Melodies of Prayer Free Bible & Commentary Bible Study Resources The Truth About God The Final Protest Revelation1412.org Recommended YouTube Channels (New) The Advent Bible Fellowship YouTube channel Open Face Fellowship Revelation 14:12 Pro-life Andrew Smyrna Gospel Ministry Line of Truth Ministries

Tuesday: Testing the Voice of the Shepherds