Good day to you all dear family and Sabbath blessing to all of you. May this day bless you all with ears to hear and eyes to see so that we may learn of another parable and become wiser with who we are trying to be in Christ Jesus. Praise His Name for all His love that He has shown to us in His Words that are found in the Beautiful Bible. There is so much knowledge there that it is just amazing. So many hidden treasures that are there for us to understand, and by His tender love that He has for us, we are going to fulfill all that is required to become those children of light, and by doing so, we will not be found as the children of darkness.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 -Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
If we are children of the light, then we are going to walk in that light and reflect it as you know. There are some that are appearing to be of the light, but inside their temples is darkness, a form of love, a form of worship, a form of sacrifice, a form of love towards others, but yet these professed Children, these self-righteous professed Children are not who they claim to be and is the reason why they are full of dead men’s bones inside like the Pharisees of old.
Matthew 23:27 -Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness.
We can learn a lot about the two worshippers who have always been there in this world; all the way from Abel and Cain, down to the Pharisees and sinners that were in the time of Jesus and down to present day. There will always be two classes for everything: the two roads, the right and the left, the correct and the wrong, the repentant and the unrepentant, the sheep and the goat, the righteous and the unrighteous, the children of light and the children of the dark, the wise and foolish, the fruitful and the unfruitful, and you have the true worshipper and the false.
So with that being said, let us open up our Bible in the Book of Luke, the gospel of truth and turn to chapter 18 verses 9 thru 14.
Luke 8:9-14 -And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
In this parable, we see two types of worshippers; we have the Pharisee and the publican. The publican goes to the temple because he knows he is in need of the Pardoning Saviour. The Pharisee goes up to the temple to worship, not because he feels that he is a sinner in need of pardon, but because he thinks himself righteous and hopes to win commendation; they believe their outward works as like as what you see in the synagogue of the Papacy. The entire system of the Papacy is built around the character of the ancient Pharisees of old when Christ spent His time rebuking them as you see in this parable. Their system is based on outward ceremonies and works that are designed to appear holy, but they are far from Christ; and like with what you even see in their never-ending prayers of vain repetition. We are informed to be not like these heathen.
Matthew 6:7 -But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
These heathen who are filled with dead men’s bones and of outward works of who they profess to be, they love to be seen of their outward works, but that work is not after the heart of God, but of self, which has no value or worth and the Bible says that they shall have their reward because even though we cannot sometimes tell, Christ reads the heart.
Matthew 6:5 -And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
This worshipper believes that his act of service will be rewarded of God, and at the same time, he feels that he will be highly seen as some great one by the people; like with what you have in the real first pope Simon Maggie.
Acts 8:9-11 -But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
These types of worshippers who seek to be lifted up by the people because of the things they do and yet still claim the favor with God, they are sadly mistaking. We cannot secure favor with God and man.
Matthew 6:24 -No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
We cannot have a form of worship that is the outward sort, that is built after the Pharisees of old, which has not praise of God, because it is prompted by self-interest.
The Bible tells us how we are to pray.
Matthew 6:6 -But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
A true worshipper of God is one who does not need to receive praises of men, but of God.
Romans 2:29 -…whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.
Those outward showings that are done by these false worshippers are simply just full of self-praises and of men. That is why they do it because they love the praises that can be seen. With all their outward displays of claiming holiness, they look it, they walk it, and they pray it. By what these men do as you see in the Vatican today, which is the perfect parallel to the Pharisees of old who clearly love to draw themselves apart from others even with their black attire where they say, "Come not near to me; for I am holier than thou".
Isaiah 65:5 -Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These [are] a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
They love to stand and pray "with self." Wholly self-satisfied, this class of worshippers think that God and men regard him with the same complacency. "God, I thank thee," he says, "that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." They judge their own character, not by the holy character of God, but by the character of other men and who they are not. Their mind is turned away from God to humanity and it has proven to be a snare over and over again to mankind who love self. We see it running wild in the world today. The world is built around a “SELFIE” life… It is all about me, me and me. This chokes out God. And this is the secret of these false worshippers who are in self-satisfaction in what they do as outward works that are not after God, but to have the praise of men.
The false worshippers have a problem with recounting their good deeds: "I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess."
Luke 18:12 -I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
The religion of these false worshippers that are likened unto the Pharisee, their religion does not touch the soul or have the Spirit of God; it is nothing more than a form of religion with like what you see in the synagogue of Satan who looks good outwardly, but has not the religion and love of Christ abiding in the soul to do what truly is good. These false worshippers are not seeking to be like God in character, a heart filled with love and mercy. These false worshippers are satisfied with a form of religion that has to do only with outward appearances. His righteousness is his own standard—the fruit of his own works.
And so, as these Pharisees who are likened unto all these false worshippers today who need prayers, they judge themselves by other men, so he judges other men by himself. His self-righteousness is estimated by theirs, and the worse is that they are the more righteous in contrast to how he appears. You can see how his self-righteousness leads to accusing others. "Other men" he condemns as transgressors of God's law. Thus, he is making manifest the very spirit of Satan, the accuser of the brethren.
Revelation 12:10 -And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
With this spirit that comes from Satan, it is impossible for these false worshipers to enter into communion with God. They go down to his house destitute of the divine blessing and remain as a gentile by truth.
If you look at the publican who went to the temple with other worshipers, but he soon drew apart from them as unworthy to unite in their devotions. Standing afar off, he "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast," in bitter anguish and self-abhorrence.
Luke 18:13 -And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
He feels his transgression against God, that he was sinful and polluted. He could not expect even pity from those around him, for they looked upon him with contempt. He knew that he had no merit to commend him to God, and in utter self-despair he cried, "God be merciful to me, a sinner." He did not compare himself with the others. Overwhelmed as he was with a sense of guilt, he stood as if alone in God's presence. God sees brethren and He knows the heart and saw that the publican desired pardon and peace; his only plea was for the mercy of God. And he was blessed. "I tell you," Christ said, "this man went down to his house justified rather than the other."
Luke 18:14 -I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
And so, the Pharisee and the publican represent the two great classes, which those who come to worship God are divided like you see with the wheat and tare, the sheep and the goat. Their first two representatives are found in the first two children that were born into the world. Cain thought himself righteous, and he came to God with a thank offering only. He made no confession of sin and acknowledged no need of mercy. But Abel came with the blood that pointed to the Lamb of God who was to take away the sins of the people. Abel came as a sinner, confessing himself lost; his only hope was the unmerited love of Jesus. The Lord had respect to his offering, but to Cain and his offering He had not respect. Until we have scenes of need, until we will recognize our poverty and sin, no one will truly accept God.
Matthew 5:3 -Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
We can see both the classes of the true and false worshippers in the life of the apostle Peter. In his early discipleship, Peter thought himself a strong one. Like the Pharisee, in his own understanding he was "not as other men are.” When Christ on the eve of His betrayal forewarned His disciples, "All ye shall be offended because of Me this night," Peter confidently declared, "Although all shall be offended, yet will not I."
Mark 14:27, 29 -And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet [will] not I.
Peter did not recognize or know his own danger. He had self-confidence just as the Jewish nation by letter holds on to till this day. Self-confidence misled Peter, and it is misleading billions today. And just as Peter thought of himself able to withstand temptation where he thought highly of himself; but in a few short hours later the test came, and with cursing and swearing he denied his Lord.
1 Corinthians 10:12 -Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
So, when the crowing of the cock took place, Peter was reminded the Words Christ had spoken who was surprised and shocked at what he had just done where he then turned and looked upon His Master. It was at that moment that Jesus looked at Peter, and beneath that grieved look, in which compassion and love for him were blended, Peter understood himself in that hour. He went out and wept bitterly for what he had done. How true it is when Proverbs says, “Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
Proverbs 16:19 -Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
That look that Peter saw that had proceedeth from the Saviour’s face, I cannot imagine the pain that that trained apostle must have felt. I know that anyone who truly loves the Lord as Peter did, our hearts would have melted in pain. Peter had come to the turning point in his life and relationship with His Master that he had come to know in the last 3.5 years that he was with Him; and bitterly did he repent of his sin and confessed his love for His Saviour. Peter was like the publican in his contrition and repentance, and like the publican he found mercy.
Romans 9:15 -I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
The self-confidence was whipped out and removed from Peter. We truly learn by experience.
Romans 5:3-4 -… knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And so, never again were the old boastful assertions repeated by Peter.
Christ after His resurrection thrice tested Peter. "Simon, son of Jonas," He said, "lovest thou Me more than these?" Peter did not now exalt himself above his brethren because He was humbled by the Saviour. He appealed to the One who could read His heart. "Lord," he said, "Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee."
John 21:15-17 -So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Then he received his commission; Christ bade him to feed the sheep and the lambs. In thus committing to his stewardship the souls for whom the Saviour had laid down his own life for, Christ gave to Peter the strongest proof of confidence in his restoration. What a loving Saviour we have that saw and heard firsthand of the adultery that Peter would perform against the God of Heaven and turn his back on Him, but yet later repented and the Saviour gave Peter his duty and charge over the Master Shepherd’s flock. What tender love and forgiveness our Master has towards the sinners who humble themselves and learn from their sins and adulteries against heaven.
The once restless, the once boastful, self-confident disciple had become subdued and contrite. That is the power of the Saviour and what He can do for those who loveth Him. From that day forward, Peter followed his Lord in self-denial and self-sacrifice. How true it is that so many of us have to fall so hard to be able to see our Lord and He permits our courses to enlighten us and give strength in the end while learning from our sins. Many true worshippers of God will depart from their Master for a season sometimes and God will permit it so to bring us back and mold us into His image like with what you saw in the prodigal son. No matter what we have done, no matter what sin we have committed, there is nothing that can keep the sinner, who realizes his sins and confesses with a repentant heart, out of heaven. He will be made pure and white like the rest of the sinners who have fallen and repented.
Isaiah 1:18-19 -Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Amen, and so, Peter was a partaker of Christ's sufferings after he had repented; and when Christ shall sit upon the throne of His glory, it is clear that Peter will be a partaker in His glory. We can see the visible historical facts of Peter’s humbleness when history shows how Peter was crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero Augustus Caesar. It is known to history that Peter was crucified upside down at his own request, since he saw himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as his Saviour was. This is a fruit of a true worshipper of God to request and do such a thing. What love that this disciple had of His Saviour.
The evil that led to Peter's fall and that shut out the Pharisee from communion with God is proving the ruin of billions today. There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency, dear brethren.
Proverbs 8:13 -The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Of all sins, it is this sin called pride that is the most incurable. Peter's fall was not instantaneous, but gradual. Self-confidence led him to the belief that he was saved, and step after step was taken in the downward path, until he could deny his Master as so many billions of people are doing today who profess Jesus as Lord. Never brethren, never can we safely put confidence in self or surely, we will fall into temptation; those who accept the Saviour however sincere their conversion is should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved. This is misleading. Everyone should be taught to cherish hope and faith, but even when we give ourselves to Christ and know that He accepts us, we are not beyond the reach of temptation, falling into. The Word of the Lord says, "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried."
Daniel 12:10 - Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
And let us be reminded that…
James 1:12 -Only he who endures the trial will receive the crown of life.
Those who accept Christ, and in their first confidence say, “I am saved,” are in danger of trusting to themselves as we see happening in the modern-day false prophet apostate fallen Protestantism who love to shout they are saved and nothing can remove the crown they profess to already have, but the Word of God gives no assurance to this boastful claim. In fact, the Word of God clearly says
Revelation 3:11-12 -Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
The true worshipper will never make such a boastful claim that they are saved. They lose sight of their own weakness and their constant need of divine strength. They are unprepared for Satan's devices, and under temptation many, like Peter, fall into the very depths of sin as we see happening today and thus, the false worshippers cannot get out till they humble themselves and stop listening to these false preachers who are turning them into false worshippers.
Our only safety dear family is in constant distrust of self, and us holy depending on Christ. Self can do nothing and until self is crucified, there is no reward or a crown of life that will be given to anyone who is stuck on selfie as the Pharisees of old and the lost professed world today is.
When we look into the life of Peter and his fall, we can see how, like us, it is was necessary for him to learn his own defects of character and his need of the power and grace of Christ. The Lord could not save him from trial, just like He cannot with us, but the Saviour can save us from defeat as He did Peter.
2 Peter 2:9 -The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Had Peter been willing to receive Christ's warning, he would have been watching unto prayer. He would have walked with fear and trembling lest his feet should stumble. And he would have received divine help so that Satan could not have gained the victory when he denied the Saviour three times.
Matthew 26:41 -Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.
Let us take heed to this warning too brethren because our day of testing is coming, and it is the test of all test that this world has ever come to know. The warning has been given to fear God and keep His commandments. The line will soon be drawn between the faith and the true worshippers and those who are not. Many in the churches today are sleeping in their form of religion. There are many who have thought to be safe even in the Lord’s Seventh Day Remnant Church, where they put their trust in the church, but we can’t do that lest ye fall away. We are never to put our trust in anything that even belongs to the Lord such as His church or His undershepherds. Trust in God alone!!! Never look to anyone else because you will surely reap the consequences if you do. And surely, as you have learned, do not lean on self.
This is what Satan wants because he knows that he will gain the victory if we do not obey the truth as it has been shared this day. The Mark of the Beast is standing in our midst. The stage has been set, the papers are being signed, the armies of Satan are preparing, and the nations are prepared to receive the Mark of the Beast. The time is at hand when all that can be shaken will be shaken.
In the last days of this earth's history, the voice that spoke from Sinai is still declaring his law today. Truly though, rebellious men have set their own will against the will of God, but they will never silence the Lord’s command to enlighten the earth and enlarge His borders with true worshippers. The human mind cannot run away from their obligation to the Creator of the universe. It does not matter how many crazy theories these institutions today may present their falsehoods and their speculations that will continue to abound like in the days of Noah; men may try to set science in opposition to the clear-cut revelations of Christ, and thus do away with God's law and place in its place man’s law; but stronger and still stronger comes the command, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve"; and who is the Lord of the Sabbath day.
Matthew 4:10 -Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Mark 2:27-28 - And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Therefore, honor the Lord and Remember the Sabbath day…
Exodus 20:8-11 -Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Let us proclaim this truth today and enlighten the earth of their obligation to the keeping of the commandments.
Revelation 14:7 -…Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
If we are not doing the works we are called to do and just sitting idle, how doeth thou honour the Lord? Because a true son will honoureth his father, just as a true servant honoureth his master. The Lord says, “if then I [be] a father, where [is] mine honour? and if I [be] a master, where [is] my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you.”
Malachi 1:6 -A son honoureth [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I [be] a father, where [is] mine honour? and if I [be] a master, where [is] my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
Let us not be found today despising His Name and not honouring Him with our good works. Let us be found faithful and true today so tomorrow we can stand strong in the hour of testing. Let us be the true and faithful worshippers of God by honouring Him with all that we can and not fall victim and be lost forever. May the Love of God bless us all who have ears to hear and eyes to see. Peace be unto all who are contending and striving daily and overcoming through the power of the Lamb. Good Sabbath day. Bye.