(J.R. Miller, "Family Prayers")

Heavenly Father, we would be strong for this new day, and we wait upon You to renew our strength. We need spiritual strength for the day that is before us. We shall have . . .
   burdens to carry,
   and battles to fight,
   and trials to endure,
   and duties to perform,
   and temptations to conquer,
   and conflicts with the evil world.
We need strength for all these experiences. You alone can give us what we need. You are our refuge and our strength — a very present help in times of trouble. You have promised to be with us, and to strengthen us. You have said that as our days are — so shall our strength be; and that Your grace is sufficient for us. We accept these assurances, believing that we shall obtain help from You for every duty and every struggle this day.

We would lean . . .
   our weakness — on Your strength,
   our ignorance — on Your wisdom,
   our trembling insecurity — on Your unchangeableness.

Restrain us . . .
   from all excess, of whatever kind,
   from all extravagance of speech,
   from all foolish vanity,
   from inordinate affection and emotion.
Make us thoughtful, serious, solemn, watchful, and prayerful.

May we be . . .
   stronger in faith,
   more earnest in purpose,
   more holy in thought and feeling —
because of our communion with You this day.

We ask You for grace . . .
   to perform our allotted tasks with diligence;
   to guide our affairs with discretion;
   to do all things, whatever we do, in the name of the Lord Jesus;
   and in all our ways to acknowledge You.
Order our steps in Your word — and let not any iniquity have dominion over us.

Take all the tangled threads of our lives into Your own hand, and unravel them, weaving them into a web of beauty.

"Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength! They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint!" Isaiah 40:31

The seed, the source, the essence of unhappiness
(James Smith, "The Way of Salvation Set Forth")

Sin is the seed, the source, the essence of unhappiness. "There is no peace to the wicked," nor is there any happiness for the sinner in his sins. The carnal mind may find something like pleasure in carnal things — but real, solid, lasting joy, cannot be found, never has been found by the sinner, until converted to God. Carnal pleasure is empty, fleeting, and unsatisfactory in its very nature.

The true Christian has enough to make him genuinely happy!
All of his sins are forgiven and forgotten.
He is adopted into God's family.
His person is justified before God.
He is clothed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus.
He is a child of God.
He is regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
He has the Spirit of adoption in his heart.
He is at peace with God, and God is at peace with him.

All the promises of God are his, which represent Jehovah as pledged to support, sustain, comfort, supply, and bless him in time and eternity! His God is with him. His God is for him. His God will never fail him in any trial, nor leave him under any circumstances for one moment.

Such is the Christian's blessed state, and such are his blessed privileges — though he may appear poor, afflicted, and despised among men.

In proportion . . .
  as sin is subdued,
  as sanctification is deepened,
  as the Savior is prized,
  as our talents are laid out for the Lord's glory
 — are we happy. But if sin is allowed to conquer, if personal sanctification is neglected, if the intimations of the Holy Spirit are slighted — then the believer is not, and cannot be happy.

Let the Christian therefore . . .
  cleave unto the Lord with full purpose of heart,
  cultivate close fellowship with God,
  walk softly, uprightly, and daily with God —
so will his peace be like a river, and his path be like the shining light which shines more and more unto the perfect day.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You!" Isaiah 26:3

Altogether lovely!
("Solitude Sweetened" by James Meikle, 1730-1799)

"Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved,
 and this is my Friend!" (Song of Solomon 5:16)

Why does the world reject the Savior of the world?
Why do they abhor Him who is altogether lovely,
and hate Him who is the best Friend of mankind?

O men of the world! what good can you desire which
is not in Christ? The excellencies of earth are but His
footstool; the excellencies of heaven are but His
throne! How excellent, then, must He himself be!

His treasures are infinite--and open for you!

In Jesus are . . .
  riches--if you are poor;
  honor--if you are despised;
  friendship--if you are forsaken;
  help--if you are injured;
  mercy--if you are miserable;
  joy--if you are disconsolate;
  protection--if you are in danger;
  deliverance--if you are a captive;
  life--if you are mortal;
  and all things--if you have nothing at all.

Time and eternity are His! He can give
you all the glorious things of eternity!

Moreover, He can deliver you . . .
  from all your fears;
  from sin--the worst of all evils;
  from self--the most hurtful of all companions;
  from death--the most dreadful of all changes;
  from Satan--the most subtle of all enemies;
  from hell--the most horrible of all prisons; and
  from wrath--the most horrifying doom of all sinners!

Now, where will you find such a one as Jesus?

Why, then, refuse life, and seek after death?

All heaven is enamored with His beauty!

The longer we look on 'created gaieties', the leaner
and less lovely they grow; so that, by the time we
have viewed them forty, fifty, or sixty years--we
see nothing but vanity in the creature! But when
ten thousand ages are employed in beholding the
perfection and beauty of Jesus--He still appears
more and more lovely--even altogether lovely!

Alas! I can say nothing of His true excellencies!
They overwhelm my laboring thought, and are
too vast for my feeble conception to bring forth!

FALSE TEACHING # 2: SABBATH-KEEPING
Seventh-day Adventism says that the sabbath was given to Adam in the Garden of Eden and that God intended for all men to keep it.
“God instituted the Sabbath in Eden; and so long as the fact that He is our Creator continues to be a reason why we should worship Him, so long the Sabbath will continue as its sign and memorial. ... The keeping of the Sabbath is a sign of loyalty to the true God” (Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 386).
Adventism says that Jesus and the apostles kept the sabbath and that it is binding upon all Christians.
“... from this it is evident that all Ten Commandments are binding in the Christian dispensation, and that Christ had no thought of changing any of them. One of these commands is the observance of the seventh day as the Sabbath...” (Bible Footlights, p. 37).
“The example of Jesus is clear and consistent. His custom was a Sabbath-keeping custom. ... Yet in spite of this, we find a strange situation in the world today. For though we have the same Christ as our example, the same Bible as our guide, yet we find two Sabbath days kept by Christians...” (George Vandeman, Planet in Rebellion, p. 277).
They claim that Christians kept the sabbath until the fourth century when Constantine changed the law and forced churches to worship on Sunday.

“Constantine was the Roman emperor. He was a sun worshiper, but he was also a keen politician. He wanted to please everybody. It was while still a pagan that he decreed that all government offices should be closed upon the first day of the week—’the venerable day of the sun.’ The church, which had now been established in Rome, had been quick to see the temporal advantage of compromise with paganism ... so it was that after a few brief years, when Sunday had gained a foothold, the Roman church in the Council of Laodicea set aside the clear command of God and decreed the change from the seventh to the first day of the week” (Planet in Rebellion, p. 290).
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

1. The sabbath, though mentioned in Genesis 2:2-3, was not delivered to man until it was given to Israel in the wilderness (Nehemiah 9:13-14). Ellen White added to Scripture when she taught that Adam and the patriarchs kept the sabbath.

2. The sabbath was not given to mankind in general, but to Israel alone as a special sign between her and God (Ex. 31:13, 17). If the sabbath had been kept by mankind from the creation, it could not have been given as a special sign to Israel.

3. The New Testament teaches that the believer is not bound by the sabbath law. See Colossians 2:16-17.

4. The sabbath was a type of salvation. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his” (Heb. 4:9-10). As God rested on the seventh day from His work of creation, the believer today rests in the completed work of Christ. In order to enter into God’s rest, a person must accept God’s work and must cease from his own work (Jn. 6:28-29). Salvation must be accepted as God’s gift.

5. Jesus kept the sabbath because He was born under the law to fulfill the demands of the law. See Galatians 4:4-5. The Lord Jesus made Himself a servant and was born under the law of Moses that He might redeem sinners from the curse of the law and bring them into the eternal liberty of sonship.

6. It cannot be proven that the apostle Paul and the early churches observed the sabbath. It is true that Paul met in the synagogues on the sabbath in order to preach to the Jews assembled there, but this does not mean that he observed the sabbath. According to the Bible, the reason Paul visited synagogues on the sabbath was to preach the gospel. Paul’s desire was to preach Christ. He was burdened for his own people, the Jews. So he went where the Jews were to preach Christ to them. Consider Acts 13:14-44; 16:13-14; 17:2-4; 18:4.

7. There is much evidence in the Bible and elsewhere that the early Christians met and worshiped on the first day rather than on the sabbath.

On the first day Jesus rose from the dead (Mk. 16:9).

On the first day Jesus first appeared to his disciples (Mk. 16:9).

On the first day Jesus met with the disciples at different places (Mk. 16:9-11; Mt. 28:8-10; Lk. 24:34; Mk. 16:12-13; Jn. 20:19-23).

On the first day Jesus blessed the disciples (Jn. 20:19).

On the first day Jesus imparted to the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 20:22).

On the first day Jesus commissioned the disciples to preach the gospel (Jn. 20:21; with Mk. 16:9-15).

On the first day Jesus ascended to Heaven, was seated at the right hand of the Father, and was made Head of all (Jn. 20:17; Eph. 1:20).

On the first day the gospel of the risen Christ was first preached (Lk. 24:34).

On the first day Jesus explained the Scriptures to the disciples (Lk. 24:27, 45).

On the first day the Holy Spirit descended (Acts 2:1). Pentecost was on the 50th day after the sabbath following the wave offering (Le. 23:15-16). Thus, Pentecost was always on a Sunday.

The Christians met to worship on the first day (Acts 20:6-7; 1 Cor. 16:2).

Since those days, the vast majority of Christians have met to worship on the first day of the week. They do this in honor of the resurrection of their Savior. Christ was in the tomb on the sabbath and rose as the firstborn from the dead on the first day. The sabbath signifies the last day of the old creation (Gen. 2:2). Sunday is the first day of the new creation.

8. Sunday is not the sabbath. Bible-believing Christians do not observe the sabbath by assembling on Sunday. The New Testament believer is redeemed from the obligations of the Law of Moses. Romans 14:1-13 and Colossians 2:16 clearly state that believers are not to be judged in respect to holy days. The Galatians’ respect of holy days caused the apostle Paul to fear that they were not even saved! See Galatians 4:10-11, 20.

9. The idea that Sunday observance will be the mark of the beast is not found in Scripture. This idea came from Ellen White. It is true that the Antichrist will “think to change times and laws” (Daniel 7:25), yet nowhere does the Bible say that this will involve the sabbath or Sunday. The Bible does not reveal exactly what laws the Antichrist will change.

Christian Parents are Losing Their Children

Oct/10/13 17:44 Filed in: Family

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The following article by Evangelist Paul Freeman was first published by us in O Timothy magazine Vol. 7, Issue 7, 1990. It was first preached more than 30 years ago, but it is still relevant today. See the book Keeping the Kids from Way of Life Literature for more on this subject.

It is quite obvious today that many Christians are losing their children. There is nothing in their lives to give rise to the hope that they are bound for Heaven. In the light of Prov. 22:6, it appears that they are not being raised in the way they "should go," or they would not depart from the Lord. I would like to look at some of the reasons why Christians are losing their children.
THEY WILL NOT MAKE THEM ATTEND ALL THE SERVICES
As long as they live in your home and receive all the benefits of that home, they must be made to be in all the church meetings. You are not to stick around and lament their lack of spirituality; church attendance is required whether they are loving it or not.
THEY WILL NOT THROW OUT THE TELEVISION SET
The “sin box” is the greatest detriment to your child's salvation that you can have in your house. The Lord's name is taken in vain, and you sit there and do nothing. Fornication comes into your living room, and your children are feeding on it until they become inflamed and strike out after the world.
THEY WILL NOT KEEP THEM FROM DATING THE LOST
We are commanded to keep our children from marrying the lost (2 Cor. 6:14; Deut. 7:3,4). Since dating always precedes marriage we must not allow them to date the unsaved while they are under our roof.
THEY WILL NOT HAVE MEANINGFUL FAMILY DEVOTIONS
Most Christians have no family devotions at all. When they do become convicted about this neglect, they often have family devotions just so they can say they did it. The father should see that a meaningful time of Bible reading and prayer is conducted with questions and answers for all to profit.
THEY WILL NOT SPANK THEIR CHILDREN
A father who does not spank his children does not love them (Prov. 13:24).

A failure to discipline will lead to a surly manner and lack of respect.

Overlooking disobedience will lead to open defiance in the teen years. It is great wisdom on the part of a parent to spank the child (Prov. 19:18; 23:13,14).
THEY WILL NOT ENROLL THEM IN A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Fathers who keep their children in public school for sports are very foolish. There is nothing spiritual about sports in a pagan schoolhouse. Enter them in a Christian school and don't ask them whether they want to go--just do it. Cancel your IRA, trade down the car, sell the house, do what you have to do, but don't let the heathen have them to educate (Jer. 10:2). [Note from Brother Cloud: In our experience, a good home schooling education is often superior educationally and spiritually than one from a Christian school.]

THEY SET SUCH A POOR EXAMPLE BEFORE THEM
Space will not permit the listing of things we do that keep our children from coming to the Lord Jesus. We sin, and we do not care, and our children are watching. Our failure in church attendance shows them how serious we are about "serving the Lord." We do not want them to be "so wicked," but we do not want them to be "so spiritual" either.
THEY HAVE TAUGHT THEM TO LOVE THE WORLD AND ITS THINGS
We talk about Heaven, but our real love is for the world and all of its things (1 John 2:15-17--Have you ever memorized this passage?) The Lord Jesus came to extricate us from this world (Gal. 1:4), but we are spiritual adulterers who dive back into it (James 4:4). Our children need to see us turn a deaf ear to the world as it calls to us.
THEY WILL NOT KEEP MOM IN THE HOME
A mother who is uncorrupted by the world can keep the home a spiritual retreat (Titus 2:3-5).
THEY STAY IN A COMPROMISING CHURCH
Parents who stay in the wrong church are courting disaster with their children. The greatest need in their lives is for a good fundamentalist, Bible-preaching church. You are compromising to stay in a church which doesn't obey the Word of God, and when your children grow up, they will leave church altogether.
THEY WILL NOT BAN TRASHY MUSIC IN THE HOME
Many a Christian home contains the Devil's music. The ungodly rock and country stars are the children's heroes. Mom and Dad do not have enough courage to throw it all out. Many children are on the broad road to Hell and no one objects.
THE PARENTAL ROLES ARE REVERSED
In too many cases, the man is in subjection to his wife, and she is the head of the house. It is contrary to God's plan, and the children know it. As a result, they have no respect for Dad, and they despise Mom.
THEY ABANDON THEIR CHILDREN TO "SERVE THE LORD"
Many parents have been told that they should be out every evening serving the Lord, and God will take care of their children. There is no Bible reason to believe that leaving the home every night for Deacon's Meeting, Visitation, Bus meetings, Planning meetings, Missionary Society meetings, etc., will help your children come to the Lord. A child "left to himself" will still bring "his mother to shame" (Prov. 29:15).

We are losing our children. When are we going to make up our minds to do something about it?
___
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Distributed by Way of Life Literature Inc.’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service, an e-mail listing for Fundamental Baptists and other fundamentalist, Bible-believing Christians. Established in 1974, Way of Life Literature is a fundamental Baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. Brother Cloud lives in South Asia where he has been a church planting missionary since 1979. OUR GOAL IN THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF OUR MINISTRY IS NOT DEVOTIONAL BUT IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO ASSIST PREACHERS IN THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCHES IN THIS APOSTATE HOUR.

PLEASE PRAY FOR MY FRIEND ,WHO IS GOING OFF INTO THE S.D.A, CULT.

HERE IS SOME OF HIS POSTS, FEEL FREE TO SHOOT SOME SCRIPTURE THIS WAY, THAT I CAN SHARE WITH HIM ,TO TRY TO RESTORE HIM BACK TO THE RIGHT PATH.
  HE GOES BY THE NAME HOLY SMOKES.

THANKS, BRO. LARRY.

Holy Smokes commented on his own status.

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  Holy Smokes

  Many times when folks try to defend themselves for not keeping sabbath(Saturday) they use this verse..."Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (Colossians 2:16 KJV).... But little do they know that the Colossians (the recipients of this letter from Paul) we're actually keeping the sabbath and the feast days. So, using this verse actually shows a lack of knowledge on this subject matter. Now, the next time u read this verse read it from this perspective.

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    April Lucero Hunt People can take a look for themselves and discover the sabbath truth but have a open mind with the holy spirit because that link is very informative with history and biblical truth that is not taught in Sunday going churches.

    57 minutes ago via mobile · Like · 1
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    April Lucero Hunt I am skeptical on anybody that is not God but she claimed to be a prophet from God. Who knows? Her books are helpful though. I like reading on the health message for God's people. We can prevent and reverse alot of diseases.

    54 minutes ago via mobile · Like · 1
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    Holy Smokes Yeah me too a lot of people like to put prophet and apostle in front of their name, but is it for show? I've never read the health message, but I know that God's dietary laws prevent many illnesses and they are necessary for a good life.

    44 minutes ago via mobile · Like · 1
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    April Lucero Hunt Or when they call themselves Dr. just because they are a pastor lol

    42 minutes ago via mobile · Like · 1

Holy Smokes shared Yisrael.me's photo.

The Catholic Church actually said these things. This is y u go to church on Sunday

"Sunday is our MARK of authority...The [catholic] Church is above the Bible, and this transference of the Sabbath observance is proof of that fact." -Catholic R...ecord (September 1, 1923) "Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act…And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." -C.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons (October 28, 1895)

Holy Smokes

Good morning how y'all doin out there? I have some disturbing news for y'all today...1st let's examine what the definition of sin is according to the word..."Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4 KJV)... So anytime we break any part of Yah's commandments, we commit sin. And do u realize that keeping the sabbath holy is right in the middle of the "big" 10 commandments. Notice also that father Yah used the specific term "remember" because He is all-knowing and He knew what would happen to this day that He made special, blessed, and holy. I know that it may hurt to hear this, but now we have the opportunity to repent and live holy. Be blessed y'all

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Holy Smokes shared Yisrael.me's photo.

Very true. The apostle peter gives us a stern warning to not misinterpret Paul. He says that those who do misunderstand Paul are lawless. Y would he say that? Because out of every author in the bible, Paul is the only 1 people quote to say the law is done away with. Listen yo Peter he knows what he is talking about.

Notice that Peter refers to those who misunderstand Paul as "lawless" people... "Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort ...to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish. Also, regard the patience of our Master as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother PAUL has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters in which THERE ARE SOME MATTERS THAT ARE HARD TO UNDERSTAND. The untaught and unstable TWIST THEM to their own DESTRUCTION, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures. Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the ERROR OF LAWLESS PEOPLE and fall from your own stability." -2 Peter 3:14-17-  please pray for the salvation of my friend, trying to keep the law!!

 

MY dear BRO. LOOK UP 119 TEST EVERY THING

Holy Smokes

Yeshua (Jesus), Paul, Peter, Moses, King David, Mary, Martha, John, and even Yah almighty kept the sabbath.... So what is your reason for not keeping it?

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  Holy Smokes Amen and thanks sista, u r always an encouragement :)

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  Lynn Mcghee Don't you go getting nervous now!!

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  Lynn Mcghee You are a Mighty Man of God!!
  God has blessed you exceedingly,and abundantly.

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  Holy Smokes Amen! I'll try not to haha

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