When we pick up a flower we see the absolute minute details, the perfect designs, the lines, the colors, the smells, etc. This is our God, one of great detail. In the Word we read–
“And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Luke 12:7)
But what are some of the “details” that we as God’s final remnant church should concern ourselves with today? Let us look at some appropriate details that should very much be our focus today.
1) Our time
Each day we are to put in between approximately 15 to 18 hours of productive work, whether it be for the world , for ourselves, for our family or friends, or for God. We as SDA members know that the Lord has given a responsibility to the “recording angels” to watch our every word and deed.
“All of us will have to give an account of ourselves to God.” (Romans 14:12)
“Every man’s work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel.” (Great Controversy, p.482)
So if we are being recorded, why not make sure that each day we put in our time to do some work in His vineyard. The ability to “work” in His vineyard is made so much easier and seamless today with the advent of electronics. We really have no excuse to be coach potatoes, or worldly entertainments lovers. Time is almost up for us SDA members, our time is way too valuable now to throw away.
2) Our Sabbath adherence
We know that the Lord has always be particular in Sabbath observance. This day above all other days is the one He blessed and hallowed. But all too often we can get sloppy in our observance of this day unless we keep regular check on our routine. Some areas to watch-
- Keep a close eye on the start (sunset) of the Sabbath and the end (sundown) of Sabbath. These 24 hours are God’s blessed time and we should make the most of it and keep it–holy.
- Keep an eye on our “worldly conversation”. Too often we can get careless and drift off into worldly matters and this is displeasing to the Lord.
“If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in the LORD, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 58:14)
3. Be prepared. If we need gas for the travel to church, we get it Friday. If we need some foods for Sabbath we buy it Friday.
4. Have your Bible with you for Sabbath. This seems one of the most basic rules of the Sabbath yet far too many seem to carelessly heed this simple rule.
5. Show up to church on time. This is a must. This is so disrespectful to the Lord and even to some others in the church. How many in the boy scouts are allowed to show up late in their meetings? How much more important is it to show up in God’s house at the proper appointment time!
“Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake today, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.” “And the people went about, and gathered it [the manna], and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it.” Exodus 16:23; Numbers 11:8. There was something to be done in preparing the heaven-sent bread for the children of Israel. The Lord told them that this work must be done on Friday, the preparation day. This was a test to them. God desired to see whether or not they would keep the Sabbath holy.” (Testimonies, vol. 6, p.355)
3) Our dress
This goes along with number 2. The house of God is a special house and requires us to show honor and respect for our Creator. Women’s dress should be modest and not flashy with all kinds of jewelry or worldly fashion. In fact the last message of Elijah , from the Lord, says that proper attire includes head covering for the ladies.
We’ve done a post on this topic —
https://godsloveandlaw.com/2015/01/24/little-things-mean-a-lot/
The guys should also have a respectful suit or apparel. If you look like you could fit in at the ball game, then you may want to re-adjust your attire in front of the King of the Universe. Are those shoes shined?
“Many need instruction as to how they should appear in the assembly for worship on the Sabbath. They are not to enter the presence of God in the common clothing worn during the week. All should have a special Sabbath suit, to be worn when attending service in God’s house. While we should not conform to worldly fashions, we are not to be indifferent in regard to our outward appearance. We are to be neat and trim, though without adornment. The children of God should be pure within and without.” (Testimonies, vol. 6, p.355)
4) Our Commandment keeping
We should all remember that the Lord’s word says we have TWO DUTIES. But these are all encompassing and really cover the vast elements of our life.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecc. 12:13)
One of the big surprises that I have learned over my years in the SDA church is how few actually know the 10 Commandments! When you say , “sister Julie, what is the 8th Commandment?” They are often stumped! Wow, now this is not good. This is so basic in our Christian walk, it is mind-boggling that ANY have not learned these primary building blocks of our faith.
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”(Psalm 119:11)
“If you love Me keep my Commandments” (John 14:15)
Did you know that in all the Bible there is only one place where the Lord Himself told us how to “love” Him? Yes, it is that reference– John 14:15. This is powerful my brothers and sisters. Let us know them first so that we can walk in them and then show we love Him, it’s all elementary.
5) Tithe duty
Another simple yet often ignored and misunderstood word and command of God. There are three aspects to this subject– where to pay, how often and why pay it there?
Before we address these questions let’s look at our Scriptural basis for paying Tithes.
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal. 3:8-10)
Obviously it must be a “storehouse” of the Lord. The Elijah messages says –
“The tithes and the offerings are of the Lord’s substance, and those who think that they can so manipulate them as to accomplish whatever end is desired, are deceiving themselves, not God, for His command is, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house. “Mal. 3:10. The storehouse is the only place designated where one may bring the tithes and offerings and unload from his shoulders the heavy responsibility which a faithful stewardship imposes.
To do otherwise with them, is to leave one’s account in the heavenly ledger standing in the red, even though one may appropriate them to some meritorious work of charity. While it is yet today, therefore, flee from this sin of Achan before it is forever too late! “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Ezek. 33:11. (Tract 4, p.43-44)
But we as SDA members should know that God’s voice is no longer coming from our church leaders.
“It has been some years since I have considered the General Conference as the voice of God.”—Manuscript Releases 17:216 (1898).
“That these men should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God to the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be—that is past.”—The General Conference Bulletin, April 3, 1901, p. 25.
“As for the voice of the General Conference, there is no voice from God through that body that is reliable.”(Manuscript Releases, vol. 17, p.178)
So what to do? We know that “meat” in His house must mean present truth, the truth of the scroll up to our time. The Truth that is able to guide instruct and ultimately save. And where do we find in the Scriptures of His final message of truth coming? Again in Malachi.
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD”(Mal. 4:5)
So we have our answer. The meat that must be paid for, the present truth, is the Lord’s final message of Elijah. And as we have shown time and again, our SDA church has largely rejected this message. So in order to pay our Tithes for His meat that must be dispensed to His people, we must turn to those who are doing that. They are part of the SDA yet identify themselves as Davidian Seventh-day Adventists.
The word Tithes means 10% as many of us know, and this is just the Tithes. In Malachi we are accused of robbing God with not only paying Tithes but offerings (above and beyond the 10%). So there should be more than 10% given. As far as how often, Scripture points out something done weekly–
“Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”(1 Cor. 16:1-2)
The message tells us more specifics in paying our Tithes —
WHAT IS SUBJECT TO TITHING?
Question No. 99:
Deuteronomy 14:22 says: “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.” How shall I tithe my crop?
Answer:
To facilitate answering this question, let us consider for example the case of a potato grower. Say that he is without expense for hired labor, irrigation, rent, etc. If free from such overhead and if his gross returns are $50 an acre, then the whole amount would be subject to tithe, which of course would be $5 an acre. If, however, he must operate with an overhead expense to produce his crop, then obviously such expense should be deducted from the gross value of the produce, and only the remainder tithed. For instance, if the gross value of the crop be $50 an acre, and the overhead expense $10 an acre, then the net increase, the amount subject to tithe, would be $40 an acre, and the tithe only $4 instead of $5 an acre.
If, on the other hand, one is a wage earner, sustaining the expense of social security, transportation to and from work, etc., then he deducts the amount of such expenses from his wages before tithing them. For example, if he receives $100 a month wages, and if he must spend 10 cents a day, or about $2.60 a month, for transportation, he then deducts $2.60 from $100, which leaves $97.40 to tithe.
If one’s income is from rentals, then he deducts the amount spent on upkeep of the property from his untithed gross income. Thus figuring one’s income, one tithes all his increase. (Answerer vol. 4, p.47-48)
In closing all these details are very important. And if we neglect to adhere to them we can take the real chance of offending our King. SOP gave us a good warning to consider, so that we would not be “careless and stupid”.
“Men and women are in the last hours of probation, and yet are careless and stupid, and ministers have no power to arouse them; they are asleep themselves. Sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people!A great work must be accomplished for ministers in order for them to make the preaching of the truth a success. The word of God should be thoroughly studied.”(Testimonies, vol. 2, p.338)
Details my brethren, let us concentrate on them as our Maker does.
Godsloveandlaw's Blog 
March 9, 2017 at 5:12 pm |
Amen.. faithfulness in little things means a lot.