Good Sabbath day to you all dear family. Let peace be over us this day and hear the Word of the Lord. Let us all see to it that we come in the unity of faith, having one mind, being one in spirit and striving together for the faith of the gospel so that we can prepare the way of the Lord.
Philippians 1:27 - ...stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
As we continue to draw closer to the last great conflict, we are feeling the attacks of Satan intensifying more in each of our lives. Every day, it seems something is happening in brethren’s lives. In many lives who are walking in the truth, it seems the attacks of Satan are occurring every other hour of the day. It almost feels like every day and night we do not have rest from these attacks. No matter what we may encounter, we must not draw back and be like those who have been among us but drifted away. God has no pleasure in those who draw back because it is a proof that they have departed.
Hebrews 10:38-39 - Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Let us never draw back and walk away from each other, because in doing so, we separate from the Author and Finisher of our faith. Many think that they are safe walking away and still in good standings with the Lord, but it is a deception and a trap that many cannot get out of. For some reason, many leave and walk away or use some other term to water down the truth regarding the condition that they are truly in that has caused them to step away.
When we walk away from the Lord, from His Church, which is His voice upon the earth, we risk sinking into the depths of darkness, which it is very difficult to return after knowing the truth. It is almost impossible to return after tasting of the heavenly gift and then walk away. It is a dangerous thing to sever the unity that the Lord calls for by walking away for whatever reason.
2 Peter 2:20-22 - For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Hebrews 6:4-6 - For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.
And while many may read this, they may not have gone fully back to where they once had been right now, but it is continual drawing back step by step until Satan draws them far enough away that it is impossible for them to return, which will not happen overnight, but it will happen over a period of time where it can even be a few years or several. I have seen so many come and go that became like such wonderful family members in the truth and then they slowly stopped listening to the voice of God and the ministers and now are back to Sunday-keeping churches after several years have passed. Some of these that draw back we just see vanish away into the wind and are never heard from again. Some go away from the unity of the church putting up a fight or causing much discord, accusing and back-biting and blaming others, which is an assault on God.
Matthew 25:40 - Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
When evils are harbored in the life of those professing the truth, they are not in the unity of truth. If any are holding onto things that are dividing their call to unify with all the likeminded brethren, then they are drawing back into darkness and walk away from God. We cannot be in unity with God when we are harboring evils. It is the fruit of Judas who was a pretender. He was one of the 12 disciples and was close to Jesus. He was so close to Jesus that Judas was entrusted even with the Lord’s treasury. He sat down next to Jesus when the first communion took place with the Lord, but in the end, he became a sellout and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. He professed to love Jesus as so many do and kiss Jesus with lip service but prove in the end their heart was far from the Creator.
Luke 22:47-48 - And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
Matthew 15:8 - This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.
Let us make sure again and again that we examine our lives and make sure we are in the faith and if we find that we are in error or that we are lacking that we correct it as fast as possible.
2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Let us not be found walking away as so many have come and gone over the years in this Lord’s end-time Remnant Church but are no longer among us. We need to continue to pray for all those in the world because if they will not be in unity with the Lord’s church, they will go into unity with Satan in the end. I tell ya, it is sad to see how so many had drawn close to God with us and the brethren over the last two decades, but then they walk away when tests and trials had come like it was for Job and his life, but Job sinned not.
Job 1:22 - In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Many times, we have heard from the lips of all the pastors in the Seventh Day Remnant Church and those ordained in other positions that in this life, we must meet the fiery trials we are called to meet and make those costly sacrifices that we are called to bear and walk as Christ walked and be full of joy.
1 Peter 4:12-13 - Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Truly, during these hours of our visitations, the true sons and daughters of God will have perfect peace in the storm because the Holy Spirit is abiding, which is their reward. Their hearts are right before God and He blesses them for that, while others are sinking further into the trap of Satan.
Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
As the remnant is passing through review and the shaking that is upon the house of God, we can see how there is but little self-denial in the lives of those professing the faith of Christ today whose fruits are seen in those not bearing the credentials of pure Christlikeness that calls forth the works of charity, which is perfecting all things that are good in love. And so little suffering for Christ's sake is found in the professed, that the cross today is almost entirely forgotten. Study the suffering and self-denial of Christ to the fullest and let us see if we be found on that same path and walk Christ bore. Again, examine I say, examine dear brethren. The world is a clear view of this fact today that so many profess the Name of Christ have not shown that they are suffering and denying self as we are called, but with the little remnant who are standing faithful in their lot as watchmen today and are becoming the repairers of the breach, they are continuing in their unity with the church of the end times and taking their talents to the ends of the earth, giving all that they have and doing the work that they were called to do. “Many are called," the Christ says, "but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:14 - For many are called, but few [are] chosen.
If we would all just try so hard to remember this simple one truth; how we are on test and trial before the heavenly universe right now to see who is going to be fit for the citizenship of God’s kingdom, then we would double time our efforts to put away the old self and die and be free from sins!
Romans 6:6-7 - Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Truly God is proving us, to see what spirit we are of. And while we learn this, there should be more a serious heart searching through much prayer. We should be daily changing into the image of Christ because our time is short. The clock is ticking away, and probation is soon to end. There are still so many sitting on the line that will distinguish the good from the bad. We need to choose this day who we are going to serve and make the tree good or bad.
Matthew 12:33 - Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit.
If we are going to make the tree good, then we must be partakers with Christ of His sufferings, if we would sit down in triumph with Him. If we are going to choose the easy path of self-indulgence and are frightened at self-denial where we are called to give all to the Lord, our faith will never become firm, and we will be shaken. We will not know the peace of Christ, or the joy that comes from the victory, but if we do those...
Philippians 4:9 - Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
The most exalted of the redeemed who are standing in their lot, who are to stand before the throne of God and the Lamb, clad in white, know the conflict of overcoming. These who are preparing and are coming into the perfect unity of faith, they are preparing to pass through the great tribulation such as never has been.
Matthew 24:21 - For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Revelation 7:14-15 - And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Those who are yielding to the circumstances in their lives rather than engaging in this conflict of overcoming, they are not coming into the unity that is required for entrance into heaven and thus, they will not know how to stand in that day when anguish will be upon every soul; just as when it came in Noah’s time, just as this testing came during Job’s life, and the prophet Daniel in his life. They and the alike were all tested, tossed, afflicted and proven. Mark this with great remembrance; for everyone must deliver his own soul by his own righteousness in proving who he professes to be in Christ. There is no free pass for the children of righteousness. The kingdom to come is the reward for those who diligently seek for the kingdom and His righteousness.
Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
AMEN...
1 Corinthians 1:10 - Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Furthermore, if we do this...
Philippians 2:2 - Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.
Being of one accord is crucial, especially in our time for these last days where we stand in the last and final battle over the souls that are living on the planet. Let us be reminded of what our Lord said in...
Mark 3:24-27 - And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
Church unity is essential for us to have a strong Church for the Lord on the earth. Anyone doing the works of sowing seeds of doubt, harboring evils against another, casting blame on others, back-biting, sowing discord, accusing is not in harmony with God, but with Satan. It is Satan’s studied efforts to cause division among the remnant church. I can see how through studying Biblical history that those who do too much of folding the hands and hardly any work, who have too much time on their hands to sit around and talk, they often find themselves in trouble like the slothful servant. A slothful servant will work the works and fruits that are not after the Christlikeness that we are called to obtain. A diligent worker of Christ will perfect holiness, seek the lost, be a great watchman, will become his brother’s keeper, they will come into the one mind that is required to stand in the end and will put on charity, which again is perfecting the love of God, bond of perfectness in all good things.
Colossians 3:14 - And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
If we are Christ’s, dear brethren, then we will endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 - Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
So, let us work so hard to be...
Romans 12:16 - [Be] of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
How true it is when king David said in the book of Psalms chapter 133 verse 1...
Psalms 133:1 - ...Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Let us all understand, that for the perfecting of the saints...
Ephesians 4:12-32 - For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
And as we do this, we will come into perfect unity and we will make our calling and election sure.
2 Peter 1:10 - Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
If we do this, we shall NEVER fall...We shall stand in the storm that is coming, we shall pass through the great tribulation and come out victorious in Christ and receive that crown of life that fadeth not away.
1 Peter 5:4 - And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
James 1:12 - Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
And who are they that love Christ supremely? The saints of God are those who love Christ supremely. And who are the saints of God who will clearly have right to the tree of life?
Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 22:14 - Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
So dear family...
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 - Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.
Do all good things in perfection. And by doing so, we shall all be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:48 - Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
2 Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. ...Unify, unify brethren for the time of the end is at hand...God bless!