Archive for December, 2011

Sighing and Crying

December 31, 2011

Recently many are discovering within the church that not only the keeping of the Holy 10 Commandments are important for God’s approving seal, but we must “sigh and cry” for sins done in our midst and in the church. But what is really meant by sighing and crying? Let us look deeper into this area of extreme importance.

In a recent post, we discovered that Ellen White revealed that the end time seal (Rev.7:3-4) was the same as Ezekiel saw in vision (Ezek.9:4) In that vision, we are told that the Lord commands His marking angel to go forth through the “city” (Church) and mark the men who sigh and cry for abominations done in the midst thereof. So we see clearly that in order to be counted worthy of God’s seal in the last days, we must sigh and cry.

The Hebrew word for sighing is “anach”, which means to mourn, groan or sigh. The Hebrew word for cry is “anaq”, which means to cry or groan. So the words mean a literal feeling of despondency. You feel bad about something, hence you may cry or sigh about it.(I have found the software called esword (http://www.e-sword.net/) invaluable in helping to find the correct meaning of certain words. I highly recommend it, and it’s free. But if you get good use out of it, please find it in your heart to donate a little something.)

Our beloved sister White sums up the sighing and crying in her typical beautifully worded message (Testimonies for the Church, Vol 5, page 210-211) “In the time when His wrath shall go forth in judgements, these humble, devoted followers of Christ will be distinguished from the rest of the world by their soul anguish, which is expressed in lamentations and weeping REPROOFS AND WARNINGS.  While others try to throw a cloak of the existing evil, and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent, those who have a zeal for God’s honor and a love for souls, will not hold their peace to obtain favor of any.”

Let me give you a personal recent example of a sighing and crying issue occured in my presence. Awhile back a high leader in our church and I were chatting after service. The subject of proper keeping of the Sabbath came up. I mentioned that we should have a sermon in our church to help explain the meaning of keeping the Sabbath “holy”. l told him it’s not right that some of our members go to eat out on the Sabbath. He acted as if he was offended! He started rationalizng about how Jesus and the disciples went through the corn fields on the Sabbath. This justified (in his mind )  the  eating out as acceptable.

We can see from the above,  the perfect example EGW’s word “others try to throw a cloak of the existing evil.” What do you think God would have thought of me if I just nodded in agreement, or say “Yeah I see your point.” ?  Oh, woe to me,  I would become a NON sigher and cryer! This my friends, is an example of what will seperate us for the sealing or lack of.

Let’s not kid ourselves, God does not change ESPECIALLY His unchanging stance towards His Holy 10 Commandments. If  He wanted His people in Old Testament to obey them then, He certainly wants them obeyed today.

Let’s now look at some real concrete ways we can be on the look out for our fellow members, and sigh and cry in reaching out to them. But  one important thing to always remember is the  necessity to be a Commandment keeper FIRST. Those who sigh and cry and continually break the Commandments, are fooling themselves. Kinda like a guy with a megaphone standing atop a  ship that is going down saying “hey everybody be careful this ship is not safe”. The sigher is going down just as well as the others. Jesus made it so clear when he said in (Luke 6:42)”…cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shall thou see clearly to pull out the twig that is in thy brother’s eye.”

One of the prime areas of the  abominations are found  in God’s Sanctuary (church building). Jesus gave us a most profound example of not tolerating abominations   in God’s House or courts,in the example of whipping the money changers and over turning the cages of merchandise (Matt21:12).

Example number 1.  You are in the foyer of the church, you notice a man talking on his cell phone. After he is done you kindly walk over and let him know it’s better if he goes outside to talk on the phone. Most will accept this kind reproof, however if someone takes offense don’t argue, you’ve done your job. You sighing has been done, it is now between him and God.

Example number 2. You arrive at church and you see a brother ( NOT a first timer but who’s been there many times before) wearing shorts and sandals. You kindly approach him and say “you know brother, maybe it’s better if you can wear some more respectful clothes in God’s house, next time for Sabbath service.”  I know this takes a certain degree of courage and fortitude, but who are you trying to please God or man? If you need to be strengthened in the area of courage , pray and ask for it, you’ll receive it.

Example number 3. The church is having the church lunch. You sit at a table in the room next to the sanctuary. The guys at your table start talking about the football game and other sports. You kindly say “don’t forget guys it’s the Sabbath, anybody got a good bible story or question?”  This one will be sure to make them stop and think for sure just what the Sabbath is all about!

Admittingly, example 3 is difficult for some as you are kindly admonishing a group or at least more than one person. At the  minimum, we should at least excuse ourselves from that table, as to show the Lord we don’t agree with such world conversation on the Sabbath.

The above examples are but a few of the wrongs we see through out our churches. There will be something before you that the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, will call you to reprove.  We must ever be remindful that the Lord will “sprew out” the lukewarm among us. Lukewarm means to be kind of for Him but not totally. You “throw a cloak over the evils” you see in your midst, thinking “that’s his or her problem, not mine.”. The Lord will not be fooled. He is watching who are standing up for Him and not merely saying good words, but DOING good deeds.

It is not my words that point out that the ones who will be sealed are those who “sigh and cry for the abominations done in the midst.” IT IS THE LORD’S WORDS. So let us do as the Lord has said and call out the sins in our midst. Our silence or looking the other way does NOT go un noticed.

Let’s close with the prophetic words of sister White on the subject of sighing and crying. (Test. for the Church, vol.5, p.212) “The day of God’s vegeance is just upon us. The seal of God will be placed upon the foreheads of those ONLY who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. Those who link sympathy with the world are eating and drinking with the drunken (spiritually) and will surely be destroyed with the workers of iniquity…our own course of action will determine whether we shall receive the seal of the living God or be cut down by the destroying weapons.”

He loves each and every one of us and because of this,  He has guided His last day prophets to warn us and to set our course straight, to know how we can stay on the “straight and narrow”.

In Christ, Rob

Posted in Sighing and Crying | 4 Comments »

Looking For Signs and Wonders

December 24, 2011

There can be no doubt that to a Christian, one of the most exciting parts of this life is the interacting with our Lord through signs and wonders. Our walk takes on a whole new level when we actually see such signs and wonders and know beyond doubt HE SENT THEM! In (John 14:21) we read “He that has my Commandments and KEEPS THEM, he it is that loves me and shall be loved by the Father, and I will love him, and WILL REVEAL MYSELF TO HIM.”

In the above quote we find a great promise. That is once you show God you are sincere and “love” Him as He has asked, He then in return shows you Himself  by  revealings. These revealings certainly include His signs and wonders. They are given us to see Him through them, to know He is with us, to strengthen us.

You see our Lord likes to be held accountable, He wants so much to answer us  but He is stopped cold, because we don’t believe He will, or fail to “look” for them. We remember when He went down to Nazareth, His hometown, He was unable to do miracles because of their unbelief (Mark 6:5). So my question is –Why do so few Christians experience direct signs and wonders from our Lord? Is it because they are just like the people of Nazareth, they don’t believe? He is just as willing and able to give them TODAY as He was yesterday. Only believe.

While it is true that the Lord is holding back right now, to release His power collectively through the church, due to the sinners among His professed people(His church), He still hears His Commandment keepers and  as such they can call upon Him and receive His revealings for “refreshings and guiding” in our walk.

Now I shall do as Nebuchadnezzar did and say “I thought it good to show the signs and wonders, that the High God has done towards me”.(Dan. 4:2) Recently God has been gracious enough to answer some prayers of mine, that may strengthen your belief that HE DOES communicate through signs.

Awhile back I had planned on going on a long trip overseas but decided to go before the Lord in prayer, asking for His blessings. Let me stop here and say that in many of our more important plans (getting married, moving out of town, big trip, new job, etc.) we should ALWAYS go before the Lord  for His ok. Otherwise you’re on your own and good or bad will befall you without any warning from Him. You’re like the sea captain charting your own course, and maybe that big bad iceberg will be hit head on, due to your own planning.

Anyway back to the story. So I prayed, “Lord I am about to make plans to go overseas, please let me know if it is ok, give me a sign to know whether I should go.” I don’t remember if it was the very next day or the second day, but a good friend of mine called me in the morning. I had told him a few weeks earlier of my plans. As we start talking, soon he says OUT OF THE BLUE–“Hey, I got a real bad feeling about your trip, I just wanted to tell you that.”  Wow. I immediately looked up and said quitely “Thank you”.

As some of you know (who have been following this blog for the last 2 years) I have posted this year about the “Shepherd’s Rod”. After being led by God to delve into these teachings after listening to the sermon called “144,000, who are they?” I have made some posts about what I now know to be the “Elijah to come” end time message. But this was quite a revelation, as it generally has  NOT been the teachings of mainstream Adventism. So I was going into unchartered waters, but convinced by God’s leadings it was true.

Neverthe less, I doubted and struggled. I now know as propheticly shown by EGW (Early Writings, page 269), that the last day messengers of the Davidian truths will be attacked spiritually as the devils know that this last message must not be spread to the people. So as I was discovering these truths, serious doubts came. I needed God’s assurance on this big time! My readers were used to me teaching straight line SDA doctrines and teachings. Would I be committing “blog suicide”? Looked at as a “way out there” guy? God’s power was to come through and remove all doubt through His signs! (The Blog is on pace to more than double the readership from last year, praise the Lord, who divinely guides it!)

So I prayed earnestly to the Lord, “Lord I want to know without doubt that these new teachings are for real, please guide  me, I need your help here”. He KNEW how important this was, I didn’t need to tell Him. I received several signs, let me share the 3 important ones.

After I had made the post on the 144,000. I received  a dream shortly after. In it I am helping a person find a key, as I scroll this large book with much writings I quickly spot a number which I poin t out to the person  that this is the number which holds the key. He is amazed because there were so many pages and I found it quickly. Now, we know dreams are not always completely understood, but I received from it that the “new teachings” I had were a “key” for the people to have. I was real happy to have gotten this dream from the Lord as confirmation.

But even after that I wanted more confirmation. I often tease the Lord and tell Him ” I’m like a  weak friend who needs support all the time” lol. But He smiles and says ” I’m right there for you, don’t worry.” So I continued to pray for more signs as doubts still would creep in. Then soon after another prayer asking for confirmation on Shepherd’s Rod teachings, a direct sign came, that thrilled me.

I went out that morning to go to work, as I pull out of the driveway and drive onto the road, a van pulls up next to me at the light. I look over and it has SHEPHERD’S plumbing. I had never seen this van before. Immediately I recall my recent prayer of asking for more confirmation. This I felt was a sign but it was to get even stronger. I drive on ahead and pull into the shopping center parking lot, and this van follows me and pulls up right next to me!  That was a clincher that it was a sign! God was saying that these teachings are true and they will stay close to you, amazing!

But this last one was the final clincher, and I have never doubted after this. The Lord kind of “cemeted” this issue for me. Let me say here that this spiritual battle was from the dark forces exerting their pressure on me, hence the severe beginning doubts on these teachings. After once again praying for strength and leadings in these new teachings, I got a ‘big” sign. I had been listening to the video called “Daniel’s vision” by brother  Glenroy Matthews on the computer (based on the Shepherd’s Rod teaching of the Daniel 2 vision).

After I had watched a portion of it, I had to stop it, as I was late for work. So I put it on pause thinking I would watch later. Later, after work I came home and walked into the house. As I come in, I hear this man speaking from my back office room. I was a little perplexed. I continued cautiously to walk into the room, I peak in and it is that same video of brother Matthews playing right where I left it on pause! I am in mild amazement as I knew it was the Lord’s doing. I was thrilled to know He had sent His angel to turn back on the video when I got home, confirming it was to be LISTENED TO.

As you can see from the above,  3 important steps are involved in this  “sign”  communication from the Lord. First, I  request HIS GUIDANCE in some important matters. Second, I look for them knowing He WILL respond. Third, I believe that they are FROM Him and I act accordingly.

In these last days many are saying “Oh the Lord doesn’t work like this anymore, that was back in the old Apostle days, you needn’t look for these signs now.”  Let us read what Ellen White said on this matter. (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5 , page 211) “They (the teachers and leaders) had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the MARKED MANIFESTATION of God’s power as in former days. Times have changed.  These words strengthen their unbelief and they say, ‘The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil.”  So the people think then, that God doesn’t move about anymore in this regard, He’s asleep at the wheel! Let that not be YOUR belief.

In speaking of the last days  (2 Tim 3:2-5) we read ” for men shall be lovers of their own selves ….having a form of godliness, but denying the  power thereof, from such turn away.” He we read that the unbelief (denying) of God’s manifested power shall be prevalent among the professed people of God. They do not look for or even want God’s signs and wonders, they care not to know it!

In the very near future God will call upon His elect, the 144,000 to do His mighty powerful work. This will include signs and wonders and amazing miracles. He has longed for the time that the “world” will know and see His power. As His servants let us get in the habit NOW of calling upon Him for guidance in our walk, your walk will take on a whole new exciting level when you know He is able to show you His signs and wonders. Let us ONLY BELIEVE.

Lastly, let us keep in mind that when we do receive such revealings  from the Lord, we should SPREAD them. The Lord  said in (Luke 8:39) after performing a great sign “Return to your home, and show how God has done great things for you.”  We must also be ready to speak of His signs and share them to bring glory and honor to Him who is worthy! Amen.

In Christ, Rob

Posted in God's signs, Prayer's answered | 5 Comments »

The “Game Changer”

December 17, 2011

Earlier this year the Lord decided it was time for His end time truths to enlighten my soul. One of the most startling truths I learned happened to be written from His faithful prophetess, Ellen G. White. I was familar with her many books, but knew very little about the “Testimonies for the Church” series or Testimonies to Ministers. I was about to be “bowled over” and completely turned 180% around in my understanding of God’s end time events. It came in Testimonies to Ministers, page 445.

Before I learned what was said on that page, I was your typical SDA member who followed Doug Batchelor and his views on end time events. I also enjoyed Daniel and the Revelation, by Uriah Smith. But I was soon to see those views as vastly inferior, even error filled, compared to the obvious clear writings of Ellen and a man who many ,including myself, believe as the prophesised “Elijah” to come–Victor Houteff. Let me show you plainly from Ellen’s inspired writings what really is the “game changer” in our understanding of end time events.

In Testimonies to Ministers, page 445, it reads ” This sealing (Rev.7:3-4) of God’s servants IS THE SAME that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. John also had been a witness to this most startling revelation.”  Ezekiel’s vision of sealing and marking is found in ONLY one place, that is chapter 9. If you want to know why  this revelation is “startling” read the 9th chapter! This is very solemn and opens to us a different path of events soon to take place. The 3 ABN teachers and pastors, Doug, and Uriah completely leave out this important information. Why? There really is no logical reason, other than ignorance, or  maybe even purposeful worldly objectives(tithes, financial support, entertainment etc).

It seems very clear to many that today, the SDA churches are out to “bring em in” regardless of their converted postition or not. The attitude is–“bring em in, we’ll deal with their spiritual condition later, if ever, it’s not important.” Before I was made aware of God’s soon to come judgements in His church, I was out to win “babylon.” We put up a big billboard in town, ran newspaper ads, all to “bring em in”.

Ellen White said the following that really should shake us to our roots, as Seventh Day Adventists. In Christian Service, Page 41, Ellen says ” It is a solemn statement that I make TO THE CHURCH(SDA), that NOT ONE IN TWENTY whose names are registered upon the books are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner.” –Wow! Now if that doesn’t awake us nothing will!

Look at it like this, let’s say you are on a ship and there are two other ships close by, one with your own family members on it, the other with strangers on it. Both are going down. Do you go and try to help the “stranger boat” or do you try to save your family boat? Obviously most all of us would pursue the family boat for obvious reasons. It is the same with our members in OUR CHURCH as opposed to the church members in the outside churches or those in the world at large. They NEED our most immediate help NOW!

They need God’s end time truths and warnings of His surprising judgements  “in” His church. (Mal.3:1)  “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me, and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple….” Then it goes on to describe the Lord ” purifying and purging” His people. This IS THE GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY. Notice it’s in His TEMPLE(church) not in the world (as in the last day).

We must sound the warnings,  blow the trumpet among our own. They are being led astray by the leaders who preach “smooth and comforting” sermons week after week. Instead we need “warning and pleading” sermons, for the ship  is about to go down and preparations MUST be made.

With this last day understanding  on the sealing being the same as Ezekiel saw, we must therefore tell the people straight out–the following. You CANNOT be right with God unless you hate sin and do all in your power to remove yourself from sin and unrighteous ways, calling upon God’s Holy Spirit to help you. Those who get the sealing mark of approval (as per Ezekiel vsion) are those who “sigh and cry” for the abominations (sins) done in the church, and of course their own lives as well. All others will NOT get the seal, rather God’s wrath in judgement.

We are to walk DAILY in the 10 Commandments, not professing them only but LIVING them. We are to warn our brothers and sisters, if we see their sinning. We are not to hold back our careful warnings and excuse their sinning, saying things like ” It’s ok, God loves you, He understands your weaknesses”.  This only sympathizes with the sinner and sin. How can they ever turn away from sin, if you give them such support? Can God count this as “sighing and crying” on your part for sins done in your midst? Is it real love and caring on your part, to let them continue on the wrong road that leads to destruction?

Look at the prophetess’ clear word on this subject (Testimonies for the church, vol.3, page 266) ” In vision I have been pointed to many instances where the displeasure of God has been incurred by an neglect on the part of His servants to DEAL WITH the wrongs and sins existing among them”.

The following really clarifies the  point. Same book (page 267) “Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmer in their hearts, if not openly against those WHO WOULD REPROVE SIN ? Is it those who take their stand against them (the reprovers) and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No indeed! Unless they repent …they will fall in the general destruction of the wicked, represented by the work of the five men(angels) bearing slaughter weapons. MARK THIS POINT WITH CARE. Those who receive the pure mark of truth (Rev.sealing) wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen (marking angel), are those who ‘sigh snd cry for all the abominations that be done’ in the church.”  It cannot get any clearer or plainer than this.

Dear fellow members of the our church, God has plans He will execute, and many of us are not aware of them today because our leaders , purposeful or not, ignore the “game changing” words of our prophetess-Ellen G. White on page 445 of Testimonies to Ministers. Please don’t be led by our shepherds of the flock, who keep you asleep, thinking you’re rich and wealthy, and have need of nothing (Rev.3:16-17).

Instead listen to those  who are not afraid to steer you in the right path, regardless if it is popular or not. Their warnings are God’s last call before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord.” And that day is not  Jesus coming in the clouds on the last day, it is His solemn judgement day in His church BEFORE the seven last plaques begin.

In Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, page 211, Ellen writes describing Ezekiel 9, then says “Here we see that the church – The Lord’s Sanctuary – was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God.” So the judgement of the living begins in our church, and results in the execution of judgement as well! Hence it will be “great” for the faithful elect of God, and dreadful for the many lukewarm among us.

We are told in the very last part of the last book in the Old Testament in Malachi 4:5, “Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” The message of “Elijah” is to be a warning and a preparation for the people, lest the Lord comes and strikes the earth with a curse.

Let each of us examine our lives , and if we are cherishing sin, make a speedy riddance of it, so we will be ready to receive God’s soon to be issued mark of salvation, the Revelation SEAL.

In Christ, your servant, Rob

Posted in Ezekiel | 10 Comments »

Christmas — A Christian’s Perpective

December 10, 2011

Note: This post is addressed to Seventh day Adventists and Davidian Seventh Day Adventists. If you are not a  member, the references made will most likely be confusing to you. Additionally, those who believe that we should not take part in the celebration or season of Christmas, cannot be blamed for their stance. If your conviction is that no Christmas celebrating should be had, I feel the Lord will certainly hold you blameless.

The whole Christmas season has been so commercialized, to the point that the vast majority around the world, find in it a reason for carnal celebrations. Most definitely leaving out the namesake–CHRISTmas. No wonder many Christians cannot in good conscious take part in this vast heathen experience!

This subject is indeed a very controversial subject among many in Christendom. After earnest prayer and very careful study I would like to shed the light that I have been given on this subject.

What I am going to translate into this post, in the following story, is the combining of Scripture, S.O.P (Spirit of Prophecy) and Shepherd’s Rod teachings on “Christmas”. So we may see a more encompassing “big picture” of this important subject.  This post is compiled with the vision of the Lord’s Glory and honor upmost in mind.

We  can never believe God gives His prophets or prophetesses light (truth) in which to guide the people, and then later another prophet comes and contradicts such light, teaching something totally opposite of what a prior prophetess  of God has written in their inspired writings. Confusion would be the obvious result if such were the case. Instead of such confusion, can it be that Ellen White and Victor Houteff **, God’s last two prophets,  together do indeed , shine  light on a “honoring” Christmas, in a clear and undertstanding way?

Let us look at the  story of the “Smith family”. This is a story of how they “celebrate” Christmas. Before we look at it, let us look at two scripture verses to keep in mind as you read their story.

1) (Mark 9:40) “For he who is not against us, is for us”  Ask yourself after hearing the Smith Family story, are they against Christ during this season, or for Him?”

2)(1 Samuel 16:7) “..The Lord judges the heart.”  Is the Smith Family wrong in their heart to completely “turn around” the heathen customs, and bring GLORY and HONOR  to our Lord?

It is the day after thanksgiving, the famous “black Friday”. The heathen around the world are busy buying their gifts, most NEVER even dwelling on the “Christ” in Christmas. The Smiths are also out buying, however they are looking for nativity sets. You see they, as always,  put up a nativity set in place of a Christmas tree. Their two small children love to help put up the display, remembering afresh, just what “Christmas” is all about–The Lord Jesus Christ.

Their buying also includes gifts for their KIDS ONLY. For they are well aware of God’s last prophet’s word about “gift exchanging”. (Christ’s greetings-tract 13). They are not exchanging, only “giving” to their own kids. They will take no part in reveling with the heathen or exchanging gifts.

During the season, they have lights around the nativity set, among the small presents. They frequently play “Christmas music” but it is all about Christ. Songs such as Jesus Is King, Ring Christmas Bells, The First Noel, O Holy Night, O Come All Ye faithful, Joy To The World, etc.  They shun the “Santa” songs and other heathen songs.

They are ever mindful that although Mr. and Mrs. Smith would not by themselves celebrate “Christmas”, it is for their kids sake, they have this Christmas. Raising them to feel even closer to our Lord during this season. They have remembered God’s word (Prov.22:6) “Raise up a child in the way he should go and when he is older, he shall not depart from it”. They also remember how Ellen White said glory and honor can be given Christ for Christmas.

On Christmas morning, they gather around the nativity scene, with the holy music playing, the kids open the presents. After, the parents read the story of Christ’s birth from the book of Luke. The young ones listen attentively as their young minds imagine the baby Jesus story.

So we can see from the above, that the Smiths have found a way to bring glory to our Lord, despite the heathen customs. While it is true that Decemebr 25th, most likely is not Christ’s birthday, they know that it is before them, and as such, an opportunity to bring honor and glory to our Lord. Their kids could very well be scarred, being left out of this season, instead they can win all around.

Now, after seeing and understanding this, who among us will be the first to throw a stone at the Smiths? No, we must say all honor and praise to You, our most wonderful and powerful Lord- Jesus Christ. We are FOR you , not against you. May we be a good example in this Christmas season to all the heathen around us.

Questions and answers:

1) Why shouldn’t we have Christmas tree’s?

We are told in many inspired writings not to partake in heathen customs and practices. The “tree” for Christmas nowadays,  is certainly symbolic of a heathen type of Christmas. Additionally ,(Jer. 10:1-5) clearly says that decorating a tree is a heathen custom. It is ALWAYS safer to be on the side of caution, than  presumption.

2) What about going to church on Christmas?

If you are led by the Holy Spirit to go and praise Him among others, then by all means go. Again, this is each one’s own decision.

3) What about the brothers and sisters sending out warnings against celebrating Christmas?

They CANNOT be faulted for this. Their motive most likely is one of warning the people not to DO as the heathen are doing all around, with all their customs. This post provides an additonal perspective for those who choose to decide to honor and glorify our Lord during this season.

4) What about Christmas lights on the home and yard?

Again, this has symbolically become a symbol of the “heathen” Christmas. It should be avoided.

5) What about brother Houteff’s warning  message to us on “Christmas observance?”

In “Christ’s greetings” book  (tract 13) I find no direct warning against Christmas observance, only the “involvement” of it (the heathen type). Mr. Houteff explains “…The fact that Christmas is not, in reality, observed to the honor of the Saviour, but to the glorification of a heathen custom and to gratification of the carnal heart. Consequently, “altogether -Christians” cannot therefore consistently participate in celebrating the Christmas myth. ” Obviously the Smith family are not those who brother Houteff is speaking of, because they honor the Lord ONLY during the season, by shunning any and all heathen customs of the season.

Here is the clear message,   that because those that celebrate Christmas, leaving out “honor of the Saviour” are practicing carnal gratification, THIS type of Christmas must not  be participated in. If we leave that out and PUT IN the honor of our Saviour during this season, our LORD can be glorifed and honored. The “exchanging” of gifts is to be avoided. He says “..The Lord’s servants will invariably shun the exchanging of Christmas gifts.”

6) We have read that Ellen White has written many things about how Christmas can be kept per the White Estate references  http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/christmas.html#To Glorify God, Not Man . Yet, Victor Houteff seems to say –stay away from it. How do you reconcile these contradictions?

Perhaps the best way is to  read again the “Smith story”.  If Christmas is celebrated as shown by them, it does indeed honor and bring glory to our Lord. And keeping the true intentions of the Lord’s message through His prophets. In (1 Cor.10:31) we read “..whatsoever you do, do ALL to the glory of God.” Christmas certainly can be included in “all”.

7) What kind of gifts should we give our children?

Ellen White suggests practical and beneficial gifts, such as God centered books. She also says, ” Our children have been educated to expect gifts from parents and friends upon Christmas. Christmas is celebrated to commemorate Christ’s birth. If we celebrate it only in seeking to give pleasure to our children and one another, our offerings are diverted from the true object. We should bring our thank offerings to the Lord, laying our gifts at the feet of Him who has opened the treasures of heaven to us.

While we can give some Christ centered gifts to the young ones, we need to also encourage them to make some gifts themselves, to bring to the Lord on Christmas. They can do a painting, make a poem, make their own small nativity set or whatever their imaginations can stir up.

Once again we know as adult Christians, this Christmas observance is strictly for the young kids. If we participate in this season we can do as the prophetess said —

“Turn the Current Heavenward”

In closing, may we ever bring to the heathen our good example of  being Christ’s representatives, in all things, even in Christmas observance.

In Christ,  Rob

** For those of you who are not aware of who Victor Houteff was, see our post  “Has Elijah Come?”  and “Who as Victor T. Houteff?”  under the heading–Elijah.

Posted in Christmas | 8 Comments »

Ellen White’s Moving Prayer

December 3, 2011

As many are aware Ellen G. White’s life was an exemplary Christian life. No doubt prayer was a big key to her knowing God. I received this article from “Adventist world” which shows a glimpse into her special prayer life.  Let me share this moving testimony.

“Ellen White’s prayers were also clearly remembered by people who heard her pray. H.M.S. Richards Sr, voice of prophecy radio program founder, was a teenager in 1909 when he heard Ellen White pray at a camp meeting in Boulder, Colorado. Richards recalled that he sat on the front row,right in front of the pulpit  where Ellen white spoke.

After finishing her sermon, she said ” I want to pray before I sit down.” Richards was impressed by the fact that she started by saying, “O my Father…” not “our Father”, but “my Father.”  He said it was as though she was talking with a personal friend. Infact, he recalled that her prayer was so intimate, and so moving, that he was afraid to open his eyes for fear of seeing God standing right there by Ellen White. Soon, Richards said, quiet sobs were heard in the audience:men and women repenting of their sins.

A great revival spread over the audience as a result of Ellen White’s prayer. As Richards summed up the story, he said that when Ellen White spoke, she was just a dear, sweet grandmother talking to the people. But when she prayed, God honored her as His prophet.”

In the above story, can we not see and feel how powerful and moving were Ellen’s word’s to “her” Father? We can gain some insight here.  Ellen was on a one to One basis. In other words she felt connected as she prayed. I believe this connection resulted from her firm conviction in believing and LIVING His Commandments. Everyday she devoutly practiced the Law of God. She did indeed “know Him”.

In (1 John 2:3-4) we read a clear passage of God’s word “how to” know Him. “For this is how we know we know Him, IF we keep His Commandments, those who say ‘I know Him’ and do not keep His Commandments, are a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

Once we know Him, it just naturally flows, as we kneel in prayers. Our connection is as one. We come before Him with our hands clean, we’ve done our best that day in avoiding temptation. We’ve kept His Law firmly in our heart and mind. God’s Holy Spirit has been with us and given us strength. Prayer seems the same as speaking intimately to a loved one, just as Ellen White has shown.

But sadly, the opposite is just as true. (Isaiah 59:2) “But your iniquities have seperated you from your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, so that He will not hear you.” Unfortunately, this case is so prevalent worldwide. We come before the Lord repentless and sinful. Can we then expect Him to hear and act? His word says no.

Our God is a searching God,  carefully watching whether we really love Him as His word has clearly shown us  –(John 14:15) “If you love me, keep my Commandments”. Once He see’s we really do, He’s all ears for us, ready to communion with us through prayer.

Here’s one more eye witness account of  Ellen’s moving prayer, showing her very close connection to God through prayer.

“Another who was profoundly moved by hearing Ellen White pray was Alma McKibbin, one of Adventism’s first church school teachers in California, and author of the denomination’s first Bible textbooks for use by elementary teachers. At the time Mckibbin was living in Healdburg, California. In fact, she was renting Ellen White’s old home from her. But on this occasion McKibbin was ill. Consequently, she decided to go to the St. Helena sanitarium for treatments.

But when she arrived, the sanitarium was full. So McKibbin ended up having to stay for a few days with Sarah Peck, a friend of hers who was working as a secretary for Ellen White.

Peck lived in a small cottage just opposite Ellen White’s “Elmshaven”home.  Because of her illness, McKibbin couldn’t sleep.When in the early morning hours a light came on in Ellen White’s writing room, McKibbin recalled it being a comfort just knowing that someone else was awake.

Before Ellen White began to write, she prayed out loud. McKibbin later recalled that she never had heard such a prayer in her life.This was not a public prayer being said for the benefit of an audience.  Quite the opposite: Ellen White had no idea that anyone else was listening. But through the clear night air McKibbin heard almost every word.

As Ellen White prayed that morning, she prayed for the leaders of our church, that they would always be faithful and true in their roles as leaders. Ellen White also prayed for the pastors and teachers, that they would always uphold the truth.And before closing, she prayed for the young people of our church. McKibbin recalled how earnestly Ellen White implored God on behalf of the young people, that they would accept Jesus as their personal Savior and never let go of Him.

McKibbin said that after hearing Ellen White pray, for the first time in her life she began to understand the deep burden a prophet bears for an entire people. Although she’d read about the burden of Isaiah or the burden of Jeremiah for the people of Israel, hearing Ellen White pray that early morning gave McKibbin a glimpse into just what that means.”

In closing, Let us learn from our blessed sister Ellen White, that as we fully commit our life to Him we also can come to the point in our life where, just like Ellen White, we’ll kneel and pray — “O  MY  FATHER”  and we will know He clearly hears us.

In Christ, Rob

Posted in Prayer | 4 Comments »