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  • DON'T TURN AWAY YOUR EARS.

    DON'T TURN AWAY YOUR EARS.
    2024/11/19
    DON'T TURN AWAY YOUR EARS

    "4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

    4:4 And THEY SHALL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, and shall be turned unto fables."

    (2 Timothy 4:3, 4)My dear Brother or Sister in Christ, send a pastor into any Church at this end of the world who shall "declare all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27), and "keep back nothing that is profitable" (Acts 20:20). Let him be one who shall proclaim boldly justification by faith, regeneration by the Spirit (John 3:3-5), and holiness of life (Hebrews 12:14). Let him be one who shall draw the line clearly between the converted and the unconverted, and give both to sinners and to the righteous their portion (John 5:28, 29). Let him continually produce out of THE BIBLE a plain, undeniable description of the true character of the Christian (Exodus 20:1-17). Let him show that anyone who does not have that character cannot have any reasonable hope of being saved. Let him continually press that description upon the consciences of his hearers, and urge upon them repeatedly that anyone who dies without the character of Christ (Romans 12:9-21) will be lost. Let him do this, ably and affectionately, and after all, WHAT WILL THE RESULT BE? The result will be that while some few may repent and are saved, THE GREAT MAJORITY OF HIS HEARERS (Matthew 7:13, 14) will not receive and believe his doctrine (John 6:63-66). They may not oppose him openly. They may even esteem him highly, and respect him as an earnest, sincere, kind-hearted man, who wants their good. But they will not go any further. He may show them the express words of Christ and His apostles. He may quote text upon text, and passage upon passage. It will not be to any purpose. The great majority of his hearers will consider him "TOO STRICT," and "TOO CLOSE," and "TOO PARTICULAR" (Matthew 19:25). They will say among themselves that the world is not so bad as the pastor considers it to be and that people cannot be so good as the pastor wants them to be and that after all, they hope they shall all be saved at the last! I appeal to any pastor who has been any length of time in preaching the Gospel at this end of the world whether I am not saying the truth. Are not these things so?
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    15 分
  • HE KNOWS!

    HE KNOWS!
    2024/11/19
    HE KNOWS!

    Once upon a time, there was a man in the Land of Uz, whose name was Job. His life account as revealed in the Bible stipulates that he was a God fearing man who was upright, blameless, and shunned evil. Job was very rich and full of possessions. The Bible in Job 1:1-3 concludes that, this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.

    Things were going on smoothly and as expected for Job until one day, things started turning around. He started losing everything including his flocks, herdsmen, children and all his possession. His health started failing him and at the climax of his affliction, his wife also deserted him. What nobody sought for Job was what he was experiencing. He wondered and could not comprehend. His friends and relatives could not fathom this havoc and accused him of a misdeed. Nobody knew that Job’s suffering was a direct result of the great controversy battle between Christ and Satan. The great enemy of mankind was the one who had brought up Job before the throne of God. Satan sought to destroy Job through diverse forms of affliction.

    Just as Satan set out to destroy Job, so is he on our tracks today. The Bible makes it clear that the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8), and his main objective is to steal, to kill and to destroy (John 10:10). He always bombard the human race with all kinds of atrocities, chaos, misfortunes, pestilences and every evil thing that will cause distress to mankind. Like Job, when it happens this way, we ask why?, we begin to think whether the causative agent is God, ourselves, families, or even our genes. When our cries seem unhearkened, we wonder if our God knows the worries of His children. Most often, men question the existence of God when it seems that He is silent in their time of distress.

    But the nature of God itself reveals that, nothing in man’s life catches Him off-guard. As an omniscient Being, the secret things belong to Him. He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Concerning Job’s issue, God was on the wheel. He knew how the challenge will start, and the extent to which it should go. In this vein, we should know that God has not promised us with a problem free world. Living in a sin sick world, trials, tribulation, and challenges will come. This may emerge in the form of poverty, hatred, scorn, famine, natural disasters, pestilences like the Coronavirus pandemic we are experiencing or even death. But whatever may betide us, we should understand that God knows.

    To the church in Smyrna, He promised; "9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:9, 10).

    Are you in a dilemma? Are you perplexed? Do you fear for the future? Do you feel like God is absent? Never worry! Oh God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). He knows the beginning from the end and knows how to deliver his own from their trials (2 Peter 2:9). In your difficult times, just believe that your Redeemer lives and that He shall stand at the later day upon the earth. God cares and He knows. Keep on trusting in Him.
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    15 分
  • HE NEVER CHANGES.

    HE NEVER CHANGES.
    2024/11/18
    HE NEVER CHANGES.

    ("I AM WHO I AM")

    People age, flowers fade, kingdoms rise and fall, governments rise to power and fall aside, wastes decay, seasons change but God forever remains the same. He is immutable and unchangeable. God is not a newborn—He neither grows up nor grows old. God Himself said; "For I am the Lord, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6). Before the world was formed He was God, after the world had been formed He was God, He is God now, and will be God for eternity.

    There was never a time God did not exist, neither will there be a time He'll not exist—He is the Rock of Ages. The beauty of Eve grew old but God remained the same. The strength of Samson was lost, but God remained the same. The wisdom of Solomon wavered, but God remained the same. The King of Pop came and is gone, but the King of Kings lives forever. Alexander the Great lived and died, but the years of the Almighty God have no end. He neither faints nor grows weary. He never suffers from mood swings—God will not be kind to you today and be indifferent to you tomorrow.

    He's forever faithful, trustworthy, good, and compassionate. No wonder Thomas Chisholm wrote; "Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been thou forever wilt be." Don't worry about what the future holds when God holds your hand. He is your Stronghold in the time of trouble. He shall comfort you and His peace shall overtake you! No matter how uncertain your life seems, what is certain is that God loves you. "God [Jesus Christ] is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). He is always good and kind. Your happiness and exaltation is guaranteed with Him (Isaiah 40:31; James 1:17). God loves you!
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    15 分
  • MAKE SALVATION YOUR PRIORITY.

    MAKE SALVATION YOUR PRIORITY.
    2024/11/18
    MAKE SALVATION YOUR PRIORITY.

    "MANY PASTORS HAVE DESTROYED MY VINEYARD, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness." (Jeremiah 12:10; Capital Emphasis Added)

    "Woe be unto the PASTORS THAT DESTROY and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:1; Capital Emphasis Added)

    My dear Brother or Sister in Christ, the salvation of souls must be the priority of your pastor at this end of the world. I lay it down as a fact that your pastor is no true minister of Christ if he does not seek the salvation of souls at this end of the world. Don't tell me of your pastor's ordination! All may have been done correctly! All may have been done according to rule! He may wear a black suit, and be called a "REVEREND" man or a "MAN OF GOD." But if the salvation of souls is not his grand interest, if the salvation of souls is not his ruling passion, if the salvation of souls is not the absorbing thought of his heart, your pastor is no true minister of the Gospel (Matthew 7:15). He is a hireling. He is not a shepherd (John 10:12, 13). The members of your Church may have called him, but he is not called by the Holy Spirit. Bishops may have ordained him, but he is not ordained by Christ!

    For what purpose do you suppose that your pastor has been ordained? Is it merely to wear his ecclesiastical attire? Is it merely to read the Bible and preach a certain number of sermons at Church? Is it merely to administer the Communion, and officiate at weddings and funerals? Is it merely to be in a respectable profession and get a handsome salary? NO! He is sent forth for other ends than these. He is sent forth to turn people from darkness to light (Matthew 4:16), and from the power of Satan unto God (Acts 26:18). He is sent forth to persuade people to flee from the wrath to come (Matthew 3:7). He is sent forth to draw people from the service of the world to the service of God (Matthew 6:24). He is sent forth to awaken the sleeping (Ephesians 5:14). He is sent forth to arouse the careless — and to "by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22).

    All is not done when your pastor conducts regular Church services and persuades people to attend them. All is not done, when your pastor fills the Church and people takes their Communion. There must show the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23) among the members of your Church. There must be an evident hatred for sin. There must be a lively faith in Christ. There must be a decided change of heart (Ezekiel 36:26). There must be a separation from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). There must be a holy walk with God. There must be souls saved! Your pastor is an impostor, a blind leader of the blind (Matthew 15:12-14), if he rests satisfied with anything less than the salvation of your soul at this end of the world!
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    15 分
  • MIND YOUR WORDS.

    MIND YOUR WORDS.
    2024/11/18
    MIND YOUR WORDS

    "Let no one despise your youth, but BE AN EXAMPLE to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12; Capital Emphasis Added)"12:36 But I say to you that for EVERY IDLE WORD men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

    12:37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

    (Matthew 12:36, 37; Capital Emphasis Added)My dear Brother or Sister in Christ, a popular pastor in a town was once sent for by a man at the hour of his death. On entering the room, he saw one whose face he did not recognize. "You do not remember me," said the dying man. The pastor confessed that he did not. "Well," said the man, "I heard of you as a famous preacher some years ago, and I resolved to go to your church and judge for myself. I went, and was exceedingly struck by your sermon. It produced a powerful effect upon my conscience. I never rested until I got an opportunity of being in your company. I desired to have some communion with one whose sermon had so much impressed me. I met you at a house where many others were assembled, and hoped to have derived some good from your company. But, to my surprise, you hardly ever spoke of God, or Christ, or the Bible, or the soul, or eternal things, all the night long. YOU TOLD STORIES. YOU JOKED. YOU LAUGHED. You were courteous. You were friendly. But you were not like the pastor I had heard. I went away convinced that you did not believe what you preached, and that Christianity was all a delusion. I shook off my feelings. I hardened my conscience. I went back to the world. And now I have sent for you to say, that I have lost my soul!"

    Our Lord Jesus plainly tells us that "for every idle word men speak they shall give account in the day of judgment" and that "by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned" (Matthew 12:36). By conversation and speech, sin first came into the world. It began by the passage of words between Satan and Eve (Genesis 3:1-7). In your WORDS, as well as in your ACTS, be an example at this end of the world!
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    15 分
  • NOTE THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

    NOTE THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
    2024/11/18
    NOTE THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. "22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 22:4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And HE WAS SPEECHLESS." (Matthew 22:2-12; Capital Emphasis Added)My dear Brother or Sister in Christ, we are nearing the end of the world. The decisions of eternity are upon us. Jesus stands at the door (Revelation 3:20). The second coming of Christ is no longer in the dim and distant future. It is, to every one of us who studies carefully the pages of HISTORY and PROPHECY, a clear reality which even now is throwing the beams of its approaching glory and the light of its consuming fires upon a SLEEPING WORLD. The second coming of Christ has many signs to warn us of its approach; yet it will come SUDDENLY and UNEXPECTEDLY to many people living at this end of the world (Luke 21:35). How surprised will multitudes of people awake in their unprepared condition, as the terrible reality of the second coming of Christ bursts open upon them. It will be so different from what they expected! It will be so contrary to all their plans! It will be so different from all that they had hoped for or believed! What astonishment, what amazement, what terror, will seize them! At once they will find themselves in the unrelaxing grasp of eternity. Its irrevocable decisions would be upon them, and they would find themselves AMONG THE LOST! Many people, in the agony of their hopelessness, will ask themselves the question, "Why have I been caught in this UNPREPARED CONDITION?" My dear Brother or Sister in Christ, should Christ ask YOU on that day why you have not made preparation for His second coming, what answer would you give? What excuse would you render? If you should tell Christ on that day that, "Lord, this day of all days, this day which forever ends all human history, this decisive day for all the human race, SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEARLY REVEALED IN THE SCRIPTURES" Christ will answer you that it was thus clearly revealed in the Scriptures. Christ will tell you that From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures were full of it and that that solemn moment which should close probation and bring its terrible punishment to the ungodly, and its glorious reward to the righteous, was everywhere kept in view, with warnings and exhortations to everyone to PREPARE for its solemn scenes. Bibles were in your hands, and WHY DID YOU NOT READ THEM FOR YOURSELF? Would you not thus stand speechless and condemned? If you should say to Christ on that day that SIGNS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN to warn you of so terrible an event, some strange natural occurrences should have occurred to mark the approach of the end of the world, Christ would answer you that such signs were given. Christ would tell you that the sun was darkened, the moon withdrew her brightness, the stars fell from heaven (Matthew 24:29), and strange sights appeared above, and strange convulsions were felt below and that before probation closed, you could have escaped the coming wrath, the whole world was full of Bibles containing these predictions, and full of histories recording their fulfillment. DID YOU TAKE THE TROUBLE TO COMPARE THE TWO? Again would you not stand speechless and condemned? If you should tell Christ on that day that THE MORAL AND THE POLITICAL CONDITION OF THE WORLD, which was to indicate that we are in the last days, should have been clearly described in the Scriptures, Christ would answer you that it was so described. Christ would answer you that it was declared in the Word of God that iniquity would abound (Mathew 24:12), that evil men and seducers would wax worse and worse (2 Timothy 3:13), that the nations would be angry (Revelation 11:18), that there would be wars and rumours of wars (Matthew 24:6), and that there would be distress of nations, with perplexity (Luke 21:25). Christ ...
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    15 分
  • THE MIXED MULTITUDE.

    THE MIXED MULTITUDE.
    2024/11/18
    THE MIXED MULTITUDE

    Assessing the ardent and passionate statement of God on Human formation in Genesis 2:18, it becomes axiomatic that humans by nature are social beings. We were made with the instinctive characteristic of relating with others. In the state where individualism and singularity are heralded, people lose the opportunity of enjoying human love and affection. In such a case, friendship and socialization become needful. A friend is seen as a person with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted. A friend is also someone whose company one enjoys, and towards whom one feels affection.

    Due to the enormous benefits and supports humans derived from each other, associating with others always become natural immediately people get to know each other. But, in all things, we should not forget that, associating with people can also demoralize our spirituality. There are negative effects also in relating with others. Whiles some people relate with others and impact their lives positively, other people form associations, and they impact negatively on them. After forming new associations, some people realise that their way of dressing, speaking, thinking and even their stand on faith issues become affected negatively. This experience is analogous to the life of the ancient Israelites.

    Among the many theological insights we derive from Numbers 11 is the influence of a wrong company on the people of God, and the need to be sober minded when associating with others. Because of the miracles that God wrought within the Israelites and the benevolence He showed them, many of the heathen in the land of Egypt joined the Israelites and became their allies. In this sense, they became the mixed multitude who were not Israelites but has naturalized to be Israelites. In other words, their friends or associates. These allies though experienced the acceptance and goodness of God, they were oblivious to the explicit commandments of God.

    As these people came and lived with the Israelites, both parties influenced each other in one way or the other. This validates the meaning of the African proverb; "show me your friend and I tell you your character". In their journey through the wilderness and their stay in the Promised Land, this mixed multitude, since they were idolaters and worldly, thirsted for their past life and meals. These people could not train their taste, and lusted for the Egyptian meat and idolatry at the expense of the heavenly manna and the worship of Jehovah. In their quest for these past life, the Israelites also got influenced and cried out for things which have no power to save. Thus, the influence of the mixed multitude made the Israelites to sin against God. The holy people of God got their morals corrupted and their conscience defiled by the life of the mixed multitude.

    Living in this sin-sick world, we also face the temptation of yielding to the influence of the mixed multitude among us. It could be a corrupt friend or fiancé, an evil environment or a negative business venture you are engaged in. The life of these associates (mixed multitude) may have great influence on your salvation. Be sober minded, and do not sell your birthright for a pot of lintel as Esau did. The admonitions do not mean you must associate only with the 'righteous'. However, in your associations with people who do not keep the law of God be very intentional about being a reformer to them instead of them swaying you from the path of righteousness. To be able to stand, remember to keep the whole armour of God. Moreover, do not follow the multitude to pursue evils and always be circumspect about whom you associate with so that you will flee the temptation of the mixed multitude.

    (Numbers 11:1-10; Ephesians 6:11; Exodus 23:2; 2 Corinthians 6:14).
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    15 分
  • WALKING WITH THE LORD.

    WALKING WITH THE LORD.
    2024/11/18
    WALKING WITH THE LORD

    After the fall of Adam and Eve, it has been the ardent desire of our loving father to reunite with humanity but Satan, the arc enemy of human souls always thwart the harmonious union man enjoys with his Creator. Because of sin, when mankind heard the voice of the loving Saviour in the garden, they run into hiding. Sin caused separation between man and God. In this note, whenever man sins, it creates a vacuum between the culprit and God and his or her ways are overshadowed with a complete spiritual darkness.

    In the life of all the biblical characters, this consistently happened where their sins caused a separation between them and their God. In their sinful states, the presence of the Holy God was never felt within them. This affirms the saying that God is always the God of the sinner but He always abhor their sins. On the other hand, those who always align themselves with God seeking to do well and walk justly with Him enjoy a constant harmonious union with him.

    Whiles many people chose the other way of life, enjoying worldliness and picnicking with the devil in the same bowl, the faithful few walked with God and were counted as faithful. Among these is Enoch. According to the biblical account of Genesis chapter 6, the life of the antediluvians was exceedingly wicked and that, every intent of the thoughts of their heart was only evil continually. But amidst this avarice and unscrupulous generation emerged one of the most effulgent character; Enoch. The outstanding avowal on his life states that; "And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him".

    To walk with God, Enoch needed to forsake the evils of his days; he needed to deny the disdainful acts and malevolent practices of his days. He also needed to separate himself from the wrong crowd in order to train his taste and acquaint himself with the holy principles of God. Though he was a family man and a mere mortal like all of us, he was able to walk with God and was counted as faithful. Because he passed the test of faithfulness to the end, God took Him to heaven without seeing death.

    What did Enoch do that made him pass the test? He was not a superhuman, he was a mere mortal like us but his convictions to follow God and his zeal to live a righteous life led him to victory. He separated himself from the evil and became a reformer to his generation. He punctuated his whole life with fervent consistent prayers. The word of the Lord became his daily bread, and sharing the good news of salvation through the coming Redeemer became his habit. He purposed to do good and we are to emulate him.

    If Enoch was able, we also can be able through the same grace of God. We are to walk with God if only we want to be saved. But before we can walk with the Lord, we must agree with Him. Denying our taste for His, and sacrificing our wills for His will. To walk with Him like Enoch did, then we need to follow the blueprint the Lord has shown us; that which is good and what He requires from us. First, we are to do justly. To do justly means to walk faithfully with the Lord by abstaining from every form of evil. Secondly, we need to love mercy because the religion counted as pure and undefiled before God is to help the orphans and widows in their trouble. Lastly, is to walk humbly with our God. As we walk with Jesus Christ, we need to learn from Him for He is meek and lowly in heart.

    (Genesis 3:8-10; Genesis 6; Genesis 5:20-24; Amos 3:3; Micah 6:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; Jeremiah 1:27; Matthew 11:29)
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    15 分