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Check back daily for inspiration from the Word of God Just Call on Him and He will Hear you Part 5 Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Is this promise just for Israel? Is it not for all who would call on the name Jesus? God has a plan for you. Call on Him while He may be found. Where there is breath there is hope. New International Version 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you Pastor Jeff Lane Just Call on Him and He will Hear you Part 4 New International Version 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” It is not a right because of natural birth or good works but he hears you when you open your month and call on the name Jesus. Simply by faith that He answers those who call upon Him. He even puts the word in your month so that you might be saved. From what you may ask. Whatever you need, Jesus has provided you salvation from it. Pastor Jeff Lane Just Call on Him and He will Hear you Part 3 New International Version Invitation to the Thirsty 55 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” 6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Though we are all sinners and wicket He hears our cries and answers our voice when we call upon Him. We must but repent and He is there. Oh, if only we would call upon Him so He could rescue us. He is watching and waiting, just look to Him and He will lift you up not because you are worthy but because he loves you. Pastor Jeff Lane Just Call on Him and He will Hear you Part 2 New International Version 6 “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. 7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. 9 Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” 11 The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael,[a] for the Lord has heard of your misery. 12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” 13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” 14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. This story of Hagar should bring great comfort to those of us who are gentiles or non-Jews by birth. Hagar was Egyptian and a slave. She was pregnant not by choice but duty as a slave. She was run out of her home and dying in the desert but God had a plan for her and her son. He heard her and saw her tears. God does not play favorites but sees all who call on Him. He has a plan and a purpose for your life. Call on Him while He is near. Pastor Jeff Lane Just Call on Him and He will Hear you Part 1 My daughter lay dying in the hospital. It had been a week since she had been in a horrible auto accident with five others. She could not walk and was in a wheelchair. Broken pelvis in seven places, broken collar bone, and we were told she would never have children or walk again. She was only sixteen years old. The nurse had just told me she had minutes to live because she was bleeding out and if they opened her up, she would instantly die. They moved her into a room so we could say goodbye. I was alone in another room and had no strength to tell Becky she would be gone in a few moments. I collapsed on the floor and cried out to God for help. He heard me and answered me. I rose after only a few minutes and knew she would live and be normal again. I went to Becky, and we walked in the room. We prayed again when all her vital signs went back to normal. She stayed five more days without any evidence she had an issue, so they released her and said complications from a previous injury because they did not know what to say. Within weeks God healed her of everything else and she not only walked but she went rollerblading then bike riding for miles. She told me, “Dad, God was your God and I always listened as you told of all the miracles He gave you. Now I know the God who knows you and He is my God and hears me too. All I could do was cry and praise God through the tears of joy. Pastor Jeff Lane I Will Never Leave You Part 5 Jesus was the water from the rock in the wilderness. He is manna from heaven. He is quile in the lonely place. Ravens brought Him to Elijah in by the stream. He is oil in the jug and flour in the jar. Wine at the wedding. Life to the widows' sons. Fish and bread to the five thousand and the four thousand. He was gold coins in the mouth of the fish. Healing to the waters of Mara, site to the blind and strength to the cripple, skin to the leper, and all in all to us. Jesus is all you need and the rest is disappointment. Pastor Jeff Lane I Will Never Leave You Part 4 New International Version 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Do Not Worry 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. We all know something is terribly wrong in the world today. People are stressed and full of anxiety. What about the future, where will I live, will I have enough to eat, can I afford gas, will I have a job and the list goes on? Last night I was putting gas in the car and a man looking very embarrassed asked me; “Please sir could you put a little gas in my can and help me.” I looked at him and filled his can. People can’t even afford to drive their cars to work. God says don’t look at the storm, but at Him. He will carry you though, but we must seek Him before everything else. He never changes and He never leaves us if we seek Him first. God will take care of all these things. Pastor Jeff Lane I Will Never Leave You Part 3 1 Timothy 6:6-12 New International Version 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Pursue Righteousness not money. The love of money will lead you to sin and destruction. I was telling some people last night about a man who was very successful in the eyes of the world. He was a big-time professional athlete, multiple college degrees, and very wealthy, but he was lying in the hospital dying. Why? He was depressed, an alcoholic, and tried to commit suicide. Though it would seem that he had the world by the tail, nothing was fulfilling to him. Then he met two carpenters. The first told him about the second. He gave his life to Jesus and has been happy ever since. God has returned much of his success as the world would see it, but that makes him no difference. He loves Jesus now. In fact, he found himself back in the hospital recently, but this time he wanted to live but was dying. Jesus healed him and gave him more time. The doctor’s were amazed. People, pursue God’s righteousness and take hold of eternal life. The things of this world, like satan, promise life but only take it. Jesus came to give life to the full. Pastor Jeff Lane I Will Never Leave You Part 2 Hebrews 13:7-8 New International Version 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. The things of this world always fade away. You cannot depend on the government because it is not God, as some look at it. Pharaoh was humbled by God putting His first born to death. Why? Because they believed in the physical god. What was that? The god of self, mankind. They believed in secular humanism and that man could overcome every problem, but he cannot overcome the sin problem. Men come and go but God remains the same. He cannot leave His children because His character does not change. As we look at the people who have served Him humbly, we see He always delivered them and even from death for He is the God of the living. Our God does not change, nor can He lie He will always deliver His people. Pastor Jeff Lane I Will Never Leave You Part 1 Hebrews 13:5 New International Version 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Money is declining in value everyday just as I told you it would. Love God who is ever increasing glory to us who love and obey Him. The God of money will disappoint, but the God of righteousness will never fail you. He will never leave you. I have found money tends to always find a way to leave us. Laugh out Loud, but our God cannot forsake us. Pastor Jeff Lane Could History Repeat Itself Yet Again? Part 5 Genesis 4:1-12 New International Version Cain and Abel 4 Adam[a] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[b] She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[c] a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” New International Version 21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. I see this happening before our eyes. Sadly, it is church people too. They think they are doing God a favor. Pastor Jeff Lane Could History Repeat Itself Yet Again? Part 4 New International Version 51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” The Stoning of Stephen 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Yep! History is repeating itself yet again. The religious establishment and many people of God are still resisting the Holy Spirit and His work. The Holy Spirit is God. Do no harden your heart but instead ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to you and fill you. Pastor Jeff Lane Could History Repeat Itself Yet Again Part 3 New International Version 31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 New International Version 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Satan’s tactics never change. He keeps repeating himself over and over. He will deceive many and proclaim himself God yet again in these last days. People will follow him to the lake of fire unwilling to repent and be saved. How could this be and by a false church having a form of godliness and yet deny the power of God. Just as Seven said they deny the Holy Spirit. Pastor Jeff Lane Could History Repeat Itself Yet Again? Part 2 New International Version The Plot to Kill Jesus 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” 49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life. 2 Timothy 3:13 New International Version 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. James 3:16 New International Version 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. The Jewish ruling council (Religious leaders) were only concerned about themselves, not God’s people. They didn’t even ask if this could be God. They simply deceived themselves and as a result God deceived them. He prophesied through the high priest that Jesus would need to die for the Jewish nation, but he did not know this was God’s will because Jesus was the Messiah not of Satan. Their selfish ambition blinded their eyes to the truth. Could this still be happening? There is a very popular pastor who preaches against the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Of course, tongues are the power of God to release His will on earth. They never attack the baptism, just the tongues saying it is of Satan. He is loved by the media and many follow him. I call him an instrument of Satan. Masquerading as an angel of light. People if the world loves you are its own. These so-called preachers of light would not dare say anything positive about tongues because they fear reprisal by their own. They fear man more than God. Just keep the tongues buried with the Apostles and you too can be accepted by them. They pay their followers off with prestige, praise, and positions. Wake up church. It will be the traditional church who will be false prophets for the anti-Christ. Pastor Jeff Lane Could History Repeat Itself Yet Again? Part 1 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 New International Version Warnings From Israel’s History 10 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. New International Version The Guards’ Report 11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. I have often thought how could these Israelites see and witness all these miracles God had done and yet turn their backs on Him? Could we do it again and have men covered God’s works so as not to face Him? I think the answer is obvious. Yes and yes. Hosea 4:6 says God’s people perish for a lack of understanding and knowledge. People like Hitler and Stalin tried to cover or destroy all truth and now a spirit of antiChrist in our world does the same. Satan acts like he has science and knowledge to back his lies and yet it is a lie itself. Fake news, false information, and lying politicians repeat history yet again as people eat their lies like comfort food to be a pain killer so they can continue in their sin all the time destroying the lives of the unborn and poor of the world. Just to have the material things of this world they relish these lies. Just like Egypt would destroy all evidence of an undesirable moment in their history these people cover the truth though their false propaganda and courts they control. Know the past or repeat it. Seek the Lord while He may be found. You have a Bible, read it. Know the Lord and know the truth while it may be found. Swallow the lie and be deceived even more. God will allow you to be deceived so to bring down on your head His wrath for those who turn their backs on Him. Look at the guard’s report. Who came up with that idea? Was it not the church leaders? Pastor Jeff Lane Will You Deny Him? Part 5 Zechariah 4:6 New International Version 6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. New International Version 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’[a] 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:11-14 New International Version 11 In him we were also chosen,[a] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. New International Version 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” It is only through prayer inspired by the Holy Spirit that you can survive what is to come. Only with the Spirit’s help can you keep from denying Him and to deny the Mark. Lean not on your own understanding. Our weapons are mighty through Christ Jesus. Pick up the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Pastor Jeff Lane Will You Deny Him? Part 4 New International Version Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives 39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[a] 45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” If Jesus went through this kind of anguish to do the will of God and drink the cup God prepared for Him, are you ready to say no to the Mark? Can you survive even a little of the Tribulation should you have to? What are you going to do to prepare? We need to Pray! Pastor Jeff Lane Will You Deny Him Part 3 New International Version 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” New International Version Peter Disowns Jesus 54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. 59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly. Now if Peter who walked on water with Jesus, healed the sick with His power, listened to His teaching for three years, watched Him raise the dead and saw Moses and Elijah with Him on the mountain gave in and denied Christ what makes you think you will not? Peter and the others only were martyred after receiving the Holy Spirit and praying as Jesus did. Then and only then were they able not to deny Him. Pastor Jeff Lane Will You Deny Him? Part 2 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 New International Version Warnings From Israel’s History 10 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[a] 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ,[b] as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Now I ask you; what makes you think you have more on the ball than these who were freed from slavery, saw God destroy Egypt, drown their armies, ate manna, drank from the rock, walk through the parted sea and still did not believe and entered the promise land that you would not deny Christ? Most the church today can’t even say not to sin not realizing every time they do they deny Him. Wake up church and pray you don’t fall into temptation! Pastor Jeff Lane Will You Deny Him Part 1 Revelation 13:5-17 New International Version 5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.[a] 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear. 10 “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed[b] with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.”[c] This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people. The Beast out of the Earth 11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. I have unsaved people tell me they will never take the Mark of the Beast if or when it comes. My answer is if you can’t live for Jesus now when times are still good and you say so arrogantly you could stand up for Christ and take that mark as you, your spouse, and your children are starving or being put to death before your eyes. Or You are all being beaten while others simply take the Mark and live. Pardon me but I have my doubts. You say you will not deny Jesus then, but you can’t live for Him now? Right. Tell yourself that if it makes you feel better, but you are self-deceived. Don't wait until it's too late to serve Him, serve and follow Him now! Pastor Jeff Lane Where is the zeal ? Part 5 Acts 1:4 New International Version 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. Why is the church not consumed with zeal to be filled with the fire of God and His Holy Spirit? Like a government committee they discuss it, talk, debate about it, but do nothing. A form of Godliness but denying the power. Pastor Jeff Lane Where is the zeal? Part 4 New International Version 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” Matthew 3:11 New International Version 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Christ's zeal for the church was to cleanse it so the church would do God’s will. He was consumed with it. Where is the cleansing fire for God’s church? Pastor Jeff Lane Where is the zeal Part 3 James 3:5 New International Version 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. Please consider how little it would take to start a revival. David was a boy, Mary a child, and John the Apostle a teenager. Size doesn't matter, but the Spirit of God does. Where’s the spark? What is in your heart? Pastor Jeff Lane Where is the zeal Part 2 Revelation 3:14-22 New International Version To the Church in Laodicea 14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The church is lukewarm at best. We bind the hands of God due to our lack of fire. To overcome lukewarmness is the only place where the church is promised to have the right to sit on the throne with Jesus. Where’s the fire? Pastor Jeff Lane Where is the zeal? Part 1 New International Version 14 Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” 15 Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. 16 “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. 17 “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.” 18 Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. 19 The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.” 20 Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. There was enough fire left in Elisha’s bones to raise the dead. God’s not dead. God is the chariots and horses of Israel and yet there was not enough zeal for God to lose or release the power of God to destroy the enemies of Israel. Think about it. Where is the zeal for God today? People don’t have enough zeal for God to get out of bed and go to church. Pastor Jeff Lane Stand Firm Part 8 New International Version 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” 13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” This story reminds me of my father because it sounds like something he would say to me. You do this and don’t doubt because I am sending you in other words “I got your back”. God got your back so stand firm. He will go and be with you. Pastor Jeff Lane Stand Firm Part 7 Joshua 1:7-9 New International Version 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” I have always believed that God is no respecter of persons. One He does for one He will do for another as long as we obey Him and remain faithful. We are all to be strong and courageous, but in this we will only be successful if we obey Him. God tells us to stand firm and He will deliver us. Now then, be very strong and courageous and He will be with you as He was with Moses and Joshua. Pastor Jeff Lane Stand Firm Part 6 Ephesians 6:10-13 New International Version The Armor of God 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. God did not tell us to put on the full armor of His to go on a picnic. We are to fight and will fight in the Spirit or fall. Be prepared so you can stand on the day of battle. Some will tell you that there will be no battle and no need for your armor, but God says put it on so you can stand against Satan's onslaught. The day of evil will come no matter what some may say. If you stand you will stand, but if you flee and hide you will not make it through to the end. When you have done all else, stand and see the salvation of the Lord. Pastor Jeff Lane Stand Firm Part 5 1 Corinthians 15:49-58 New International Version 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we[a] bear the image of the heavenly man. 50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[b] 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. When Jesus returns we are to be about the Father’s business. Let nothing move you but do the work God has given us. The saving of souls. We are now being made in the image of Jesus and as He died at the hands of men and rose from the dead, so we have nothing to fear. Even if they should slay us yet shall we live. So stand firm in your faith and all you do because we will no matter what. Pastor Jeff Lane Stand Firm Part 4 New International Version 6 Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. WE are not to trust in the weapons of this world. We can only trust in the name of Jesus. David a young boy came against the giant in the name of the Lord not javelin and sword. In the times we live in, carnal weapons will be of no use, but the word of God will prevail. Every knee shall bow at the name of Jesus, but His children can stand firm in their faith against all worldly weapons. Pastor Jeff Lane Stand Firm Part 3 Isaiah 7:9 New International Version 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’” When Ahaz was king of Judah a vast army was coming against them, but God points out they are not gods but only human. God mocks them and tells Ahaz to stand firm in his faith or not at all.. Faith is our fortified city and strength against our enemies. We can stand firm against all odds. God is our shield and great reward. What can man do to me? Pastor Jeff Lane Stand Firm Part 2 Jeremiah 1:17-19 New International Version 17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Can you even imagine God saying this to you? Jeremiah was a young man and yet He stood his ground and spoke the word of God fearlessly. The more he stood up to his people and the enemies the stronger he became. Unlike many preachers today he spoke against sin. If we hold back the word of the Lord, we become an enemy of God. We will no longer have to worry about the world, the world will be the least of our problems. Stand firm in the word and hold none of God’s words back. Whatever you bind on earth you bind in heaven. It is not a good idea to try to hold God back. Pastor Jeff Lane Stand Firm Part 1 New International Version 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. God tells us we will go through some hard times, but HE will not forsake us. We must stand for Him firmly in our faith till it is over. Being a Christian is not for the faint of heart. People often see us as weak and just stupid, but God has shown us what is to come and makes us strong. Pastor Jeff Lane Left Behind? No Worries part 5 1 Thessalonians 5:9 New International Version 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Wow! First Thessalonians 5:9 sums it up. God will not pour out His wrath on His righteous people who are saved by the blood of Jesus. What a comfort. I can not hide from God, fool God or escape His judgment, but He is willing to make me righteous as He is righteous if I will only accept Jesus. No other way but Jesus. Pastor Jeff Lane Left Behind? No Worries part 4 New International Version The Sons of Noah 18 The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the whole earth. 20 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21 When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. Ham committed a homosexual act on his father and God judged him. He may have made it through the flood, but he did not escape God’s judgment. Like Lot’s wife his sin was exposed and judged. God knows the heart and only Jesus can save us. Pastor Jeff Lane Left Behind? No Worries part 3 New International Version 23 By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. 24 Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. New International Version On Not Loving the World 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. You can take the person out of the sin but you can’t take the sin out of the person. Sin has to be out of your heart, but physical location will not save you. Lot’s wife, like so many, looked back and longed for what she had. People say the sinner’s prayer but then keep looking back at their life of sin as the good times. They even brag about it. We often put them in front of the church to tell of their life of sin as though we gave that up. No, we gained so much more. The problem of much of the church is facing the wrong direction to see it. Living out of the city won’t save your soul or body. Only the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus can do that. Pastor Jeff Lane Left Behind? No Worries part 2 New International Version 12 The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13 because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. 15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” 16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” 18 But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! 19 Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. 20 Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.” 21 He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. 22 But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.) God would not let the angel destroy Sodom for the sake of one righteous person. He would spare the whole earth for the sake of one righteous person. If only one would stand in the gap. It is also noteworthy that God still spared the town of Zoar at Lot’s request. God even gave a chance of life to Lot’s son in law but they laughed at him. I saw a program lately and they were mocking a lady who believed in the rapture. They were laughing at her and I could not help but think of Lot’s sons in law. The world is not ignorant of God’s word for it says the word would be preached in all the earth before Jesus returns and sets up His kingdom. Pastor Jeff Lane Left Behind? No Worries New International Version Abraham Pleads for Sodom 16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.[a] 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” 22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.[b] 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[c] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.” 29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” 33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home. Soon God will begin the Tribulation and His wrath on the earth. He will destroy the works of Satan and all those who follow him, but what about us? Will any be left behind to suffer God’s wrath? Well in the case of Sodom Abraham pleads for the righteous and of course with Lot his nephew in mind. God says for the sake of ten He would not destroy the city and Abraham is consoled thinking surely there will be ten righteous people left in Sodom and Lot’s safety is assured, but he was wrong because there were not ten righteous. God said that the end times would be like then and there will be few who are righteous, but like then, He will remove the righteous from the wicked. How many will be left behind? Well you will have to wait for the next devotional. Pastor Jeff Lane Overcoming Sin Part 5 New International Version 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. Faith without Deeds is dead as love without deeds is dead. You cannot separate faith and love. They are one as the Godhead is one. Pastor Jeff Lane Overcoming Sin Part 4 New International Version 19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. There is no condemnation (Romans 8:12) in Christ Jesus. Our hearts nor anything else in all creation can condemn those who walk in His love. If we believe in His name we are saved and will walk as He walked love our brothers and sisters as He loves us. Think of the greatest commandments. Mark 12:29-31 New International Version 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” If we do all this it sums up all the law and the prophets. We will live! To do all this is to believe in Jesus. These are the evidence of righteousness. Pastor Jeff Lane Overcoming Sin Part 3 New International Version 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. Love like faith is an action word not a noun. There is evidence if we walk in love. We want and do what is best for others just as God does for us. Where you treasure is your heart is. Is your treasure in others or your own selfish ambitions? Remember selfish ambition is where you will find every evil practice. Pastor Jeff Lane Overcoming Sin Part 2 New International Version More on Love and Hatred 11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. How do I know if I am overcoming sin and the world? The world will hate you without reason wanting to kill you, but you will love your sister and brother and be willing to die for them. “No murderer has eternal life residing in him” or in other words they do not have Jesus. If we harbor hatred for others, we do not have the love of God in us nor do we have eternal life. Sin resides in our bodies. Pastor Jeff Lane Overcoming Sin Part 1 New International Version 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. What a place to start a teaching on overcoming sin, but we must. There are many preachers out there that teach once saved always saved and that it is ok to sin and do whatever you want and you will still go to heaven. Yet John teaches if you are saved you will stop sinning because you're born of God. Now it is dangerous to take one or a few scriptures to build a doctrine. We must use the whole word and all it says to understand what Jesus did for us. If I am born of this world I will act like this world. Kind produces after kind. A simple but profound truth. If I am born of this world I keep on sinning, but if I am born of God I will stop. Jesus often said look at the evidence to make a right judgment. If I am born of God, I will be like Him and If I am born of the devil I will be like him. We know that if we are born of God we will love our brothers and sisters. We will die to our own earthly desires and serve each other. How do we overcome sin? We must love each other. Pastor Jeff Lane It’s always been God reaching out to us Part 5 Genesis 4:5-7 New International Version 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” God once again is reaching out to man. He wants obedience not sacrifice. Cain refused to listen and killed his brother as though that would fix his own soul. Man trying to fix himself, but God was always trying to forgive and save us. Pride of man is his downfall. Pastor Jeff Lane It’s always been God reaching out to us Part 4 Genesis 22:6-8 New International Version 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. God provides the sacrifice for us to return to Him. We have nothing to offer to Him that would be adequate to cover our sins. Most everyone just offers excuses. Pastor Jeff Lane It’s always been God reaching out to us Part 3 Genesis 3:21 New International Version 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. God made the first blood sacrifice for our sins. He made a covering of animal skins to cover our shame. Life is in the blood and so is sin. Sin must die so there must be a sacrifice in our place to save us and return us to a relationship with Him. Pastor Jeff Lane It’s always been God reaching out to us Part 2 Genesis 3:15 New International Version 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” God referring to Jesus coming makes the promise of a redeemer for us. Making a way back to Him. Pastor Jeff Lane It’s always been God reaching out to us Part 1 Genesis 3:8-10 New International Version 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” After Adam and Eve sinned, and God knowing what they had done, He reached out to them. They hear the sound of His footsteps in the garden which means He must have come to them often. He calls them, but they hide. God is not hiding from us but we are Him. We still try to hide behind our fig leaves from Him and each other. You can’t hide from God. Until we remove our fig leaves of self-goodness and excuses, we cannot have a relationship with Him. He will provide the way home we can’t. Pastor Jeff Lane Beautiful Place Part 5 New International Version Gethsemane 32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[a] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” Jesus Arrested 43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Here we are in another garden, a beautiful place. Listen to my words, young people. Be alert and always on your guard. Be prayed up on all occasions. Jesus was in a beautiful place and betrayed with a kiss. Satan never changes. He used the things of showing love to fool the fool. Such a beautiful thing, a kiss but used to betray a friend. It puts you off your guard. Arrested means to be taken into custody. You are restrained from everything that is good. Satan owns you. Do not be betrayed with a kiss. You may be hurting and lonely but there is a place that steals your hope of having the things that are beautiful in life. Stay alert and look for the devil’s schemes. Only Jesus can restore you to a beautiful place again. Pastor Jeff Lane Beautiful Place Part 4 New International Version 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side[a] of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Love forgives and makes a covering for our sin but is no fool. Only a repentant heart can receive forgiveness. It may cover sin, but it will not and cannot let it live in the relationship. Love is patient and kind but strong. Sin has no place in the presence of love. God will not tolerate it and it cannot remain in a covenant. It must be totally destroyed and the heart made clean for there to be a relationship that can flourish. Want to live in that beautiful place again? Get rid of sin. Pastor Jeff Lane Beautiful Place Part 3 New International Version 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 1 Peter 4:8 New International Version 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Love provides a bridge of forgiveness to restore a relationship. It covers or pays the price of a wrong or sin. Don’t be deceived and miss an opportunity to go back to the one who loves you. I have seen many married couples break up because of adultery. The one in sin is so deceived that they miss the opportunity to be forgiven and have the marriage restored. It usually lasts about a year or so. Then the one wronged moves on, oftentimes bitter, worn out, and numb to the situation. Many times, they cease to feel anything for their ex. Then the one who left realizes what they lost and how stupid they were, but they can bring about no change of mind to the one they hurt. It’s too late. They have moved on. Love is rare and precious; many never find it. Handle with care and appreciate it with every breath, it may never come your way again. Lust is plentiful and destroys your very being. It never satisfies and never says enough. It robs you of all that is good in your life and destroys all those around you like a consuming fire blinding you to the truth. Know the difference and don’t go down that road that leads to destruction. Pastor Jeff Lane Beautiful Place Part 2 Genesis 3:8-12 New International Version 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Once again man was in that beautiful place that God created for him and satan perverted. God calls to His people, but they hide from Him, not only destroying their relationship with Him but each other. God is love and without love there is only darkness and loneliness. I hear the term a lot today, love is love, and it is, but sin and betrayal are not love. Only God is love and the rest is fake like so many things that deceive us today. Love builds up, grows and multiplies thinking of the good of others. If it does not multiply and takes others into consideration, it’s not love. It may taste good in the mouth but turns bitter in the stomach. Love builds relationships but sin tears them down. Sin points the finger, love holds the hand. How could man betray God again in such a beautiful place? God reaches out to us in our sin, don’t miss the hand that tries to grasp yours. Pastor Jeff Lane Beautiful Place Part 1 Genesis 3:1-7 New International Version The Fall 3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. It seems strange that man would betray and leave God in such a serene and beautiful place. Why is it that man seems to leave God in a peaceful place, but returns in a hard place? We should take note that this is where our faith tends to fade. Samson in the lap of Delilah, David walking around on the roof of the palace, or the people before the flood marrying and being given in marriage. Many a Christian have fallen while dating another Christian. Letting down their guard. Oh, but pastor we were in love. They backslide at peaceful times not realizing they were going to their demise. Satan’s tactics have not changed. He looks for an opportune time to entrap us. His bait is the same. He comes when we are distracted from God’s presence. Beware oh sleeper. Stay alert to the devil’s schemes. Pastor Jeff Lane Condemned or Justified Part 5 New International Version 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. Christ has fully met the requirements of the law for us so why would we return to those requirements again. We walk in the Spirit so being set free from the law by living in the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. If we return to the law, we must live by the law and so condemning ourselves all over again. We become self-condemned by returning to that which we cannot live. Pastor Jeff Lane Condemned or Justified Part 4 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 New International Version The Greater Glory of the New Covenant 7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! We who are in Christ are under God’s Glory that surpasses the glory of the law. It brought condemnation, but Christ brought us life, free of the condemnation that the law and sin brought. We have a glory that will never fade but surpasses all other glories. We have Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, so that we may live with Him forever. Pastor Jeff Lane Condemned or Justified Part 3 New International Version More Than Conquerors 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. The Father is for us. Jesus died in our place and is still interceding at the Father’s side for you. The Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will. What more could we ask for? We have more than peace with God; we have His undying love. Be at peace with the Father. Pastor Jeff Lane Condemned or Justified Part 2 Romans 8:1-4 New International Version Life Through the Spirit 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. When we walk in the spirit as Christians there is no condemnation that comes from God. The condemnation of death does not hang over our heads, for Christ died for us fully meeting the requirement of the law for us, so we don’t have to feel the condemnation for our sin. We are free to walk and worship God being at peace in our daily walk-through life. Pastor Jeff Lane Condemned or Justified Part 1 New International Version 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. God has never wanted to condemn anyone. It is self-inflicted. God sent Jesus to save us. Pastor Jeff Lane Do Not Despair Part 5 Isaiah 49:23 New International Version 23 Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” The Jews were in big trouble at this time, but God delivered them yet again. Have you ever got to the point that you refuse to put your hope in others? They always disappointed you. Those who hope in Jesus will not be disappointed. They shall rise on the wings of eagles. Joy comes in the morning. Pastor Jeff Lane Do Not Despair Part 4 Hebrews 11:1-3 King James Version 11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Hope is the foundation of faith. The men and women of chapter eleven of Hebrews put their hope and confidence in God. That if He could make all things out of nothing He could and would deliver them from their despair. God did and gave them more than they could think or imagine. Put your hope in Jesus. He is the Word, and faith will come and you will overcome. Pastor Jeff Lane Do Not Despair Part 3 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 New International Version 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, God did not promise that you would not have trials of many kinds, but that He would deliver you through them. Now this is Paul we're talking about in the above passage. He was Despairing of living. He was miserable and yet he was in God’s perfect will at the time. Now if Paul had to face trials of many kinds so will we, but God will always be there and carry you through them. Paul set his hope not on man but God and so we must do the same. Pastor Jeff Lane Do Not Despair Part 2 New International Version 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. Hebrews 13:7-8 New International Version 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. The Jews were going to stone Jesus because He called Himself the I AM. He is the one who takes away our misery. He always did and always will. Look at those who went before us. They went through hard times also and He delivered them and He will deliver you. James tells us Elijah was an ordinary man and yet God noticed Him and delivered Him Just as He will deliver you. Pastor Jeff Lane Do Not Despair Part 1 New International Version 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[a] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,[b] the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation. 16 “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery … I think we all have times when we think God has forgotten us. Even Jesus cried out; “My God My God Why have you forsaken me”? God wants you to know He is there, He exists He is the I Am and always will be. He will deliver you out of your misery. He is the God who sees you, now open your eyes and heart and see Him. He is not going to send you another redeemer for He already has. What you're going through will pass. Pastor Jeff Lane Greed part 10 New International Version 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. If people would give God one tenth of their life to seek Him, they would know true riches and joy. Instead, they spend their lives going to school, college, and scheming of ways to have wealth and the things of this world and yet never finding true joy. Worrying about not having what others have or if they will lose what they have. Unable to enjoy their family, spouse or things. They are found wanting but never complete. What a curse greed brings. Pastor Jeff Lane Greed part 9 New International Version 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? Matthew 25:29 New International Version 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. Do you want the things of God and to know Him better? Be a good Steward of what God has given you if you desire more of Him. IT IS SIMPLE AND YET SO HARD FOR SOME. Do you really want more of Jesus or money? Pastor Jeff Lane Greed Part 8 Matthew 6:24 New International Version 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Who do you serve? Are you in debt? Do you work for the things of this world? Who’s your master? Where is the majority of your time, life spent? You can only have one master. Who or what is it? Do you despise and look for ways to get out of reading the Word, going to church, or tithing? Do you see tithing as a problem or answer to your finances? Does it make you angry when the pastor talks about tithing? Now I ask you, who do you despise or love? Be honest and measure by God’s standards, not yours. Pastor Jeff Lane Greed part 7 New International Version 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 5:28 New International Version 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Proverbs 6:32 New International Version 32 But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself. What catches your eye? The things of this world. What is it you look at? Wealth, cars, the opposite sex or power. All these things are spiritual adultery if you lust after them. They are darkness and will lead to destruction. Make a mental note. What catches your eye? Do you long for the things of God or the world? Pastor Jeff Lane Greed part 6 New International Version Treasures in Heaven 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Where is your treasure? Do you want the things of this world or of the kingdom of God? There is an ad that says, “What’s in your wallet?” Well what is in your heart? Examine yourself and see if there is any greed or selfish ambition. Don’t cover it up but confront it and find a person you can trust to hold you accountable. Let the blood of Jesus and the fire of the Holy Ghost purify your heart and motives. Pastor Jeff Lane Greed Part 5 New International Version Treasures in Heaven 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[c]? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Oh how this sums up all I am trying to say. Do you want to be blessed with true blessings? Then seek God first and He will take care of the rest. He will give you what you need to be blessed and stay in that blessing. Pastor Jeff Lane Greed part 4 Jeremiah 8:10 New International Version 10 Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. Listen to what the word says. Those who are greedy for gain will be under a curse. How many pastors, prophets, or evangelists can you name today whose original wife is now married to another? They lost what they had because they ran after the wrong things. Be careful who you follow. Pastor Jeff Lane Greed Part 3 1 Timothy 6:6-10 New International Version 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Be content with what God has given you for it is of great gain to you. Greater than the wealth of this world. Being rich is not what it is cracked up to be. I have known many wealthy men and have not met a happy one yet. They have all told me in private they wish they had what I had and yet after sharing how to have it they can’t give up their riches for it. Like the rich young ruler they go away sad. Why do the people of God run after something that can lead to evil, ruin and destruction? It may cause you to leave the faith. Be careful what you ask for, you may get it and be found wanting. It is a trap set by satan. He tried to get Jesus to take the bait but He refused. Money is not evil but the love for it is. I find many cannot give to the ministry and why? Because they are afraid that the pastor might get rich and they are envious of him. They have blocked a blessing with their own evil desires. Pastor Jeff Lane Greed Part 2 New International Version 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. Greed keeps you from getting your prayers answered. It leads to fighting with others and will destroy your marriage and family. Do you want peace in your home? Be content with what you have. Pastor Jeff Lane Greed part1 New International Version 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. Proverbs 14:30 New International Version 30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. I look around and see so much greed and envy in the world and church today. People have so bought into the ‘dog eat dog’ mentality. I went to look at electric cars recently and the dealerships were adding $2,000 to $20,000 to the manufacturer's price. I asked why and they said “because they can”. I was at a fruit stand that we have gone to for years and the prices were doubling and in some cases many times more than they were. I asked the owner about it. Why so high? His answer was because we can and why not? I asked are your costs going up? He said very little. I see people trying to get rich in the stock market, crypto currency, and so many other things. They would sell their mother to get rich and in many cases are sacrificing their family time for a buck. It’s just plain selfish ambition and greed. They envy the rich and are never satisfied with what they have. Even pastors preach it from the pulpits and don’t blush. They teach being rich is a blessing and if you're not you have no faith. They envy other ministries and fail to minister to their people. Let’s look into what God’s word says about this in the next few devotionals.. Pastor Jeff Lane Where’s the Fire Part 10 Jeremiah 20:7-18 New International Version Jeremiah’s Complaint 7 You deceived[a] me, Lord, and I was deceived[b]; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. 8 Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. 9 But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. 10 I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side! Denounce him! Let’s denounce him!” All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.” 11 But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. 12 Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause. 13 Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. 14 Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! 15 Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, “A child is born to you—a son!” 16 May that man be like the towns the Lord overthrew without pity. May he hear wailing in the morning, a battle cry at noon. 17 For he did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave, her womb enlarged forever. 18 Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame? There is a price to be paid to walk in the fire. You must count the cost. It will consume you and your life will belong to God. You will go where no man would dare and do what only God can. It can be terrifying as well as Glorious. You must not have even a hint of this world left in you. I have had many soldiers from past wars tell me there is a time in battle where you are just trying to survive. You are no longer thinking I am American, or fighting for family, but in the chaos you are fighting to survive. You can’t hear the man or commander beside you, you just fight. People there will come a time when you will cry out my God why have you forsaken me? Where are you but He will never leave you or forsake you no matter what you feel. Jeremiah was not going it alone even though it felt that way for the moment. Even Jesus felt that way for a moment. Pastor Jeff Lane Where’s the Fire Part 9 New International Version 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. We see that Elisha was the army of Israel. Elisha's servant was as blind as the enemy. The enemy did not understand they had not set a trap but walked into one. The servant's eyes were opened through the prayer of Elisha. God, open the eyes of your church that they may see that it’s not by might, nor by power, but by your Spirit. Pastor Jeff Lane Where’s the Fire Part 8 New International Version 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. It was at that moment Elisha realized Elijah was the one who was used to release the army of Israel on the enemies of Israel. He has senses enough to pick up the mantle and wrap himself in the fire of God. Where is the church and why does the church not do the same? The captain of the host has sent us His mantle of fire to release the power of His army to defeat the devil. Pastor Jeff Lane Where’s the Fire Part 7 New International Version The Lord’s Judgment on Ahaziah 1 After Ahab’s death, Moab rebelled against Israel. 2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.” 3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!’” So Elijah went. 5 When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you come back?” 6 “A man came to meet us,” they replied. “And he said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, “This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!”’” 7 The king asked them, “What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?” 8 They replied, “He had a garment of hair[a] and had a leather belt around his waist.” The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.” 9 Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’” 10 Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. 11 At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, this is what the king says, ‘Come down at once!’” 12 “If I am a man of God,” Elijah replied, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. 13 So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! 14 See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!” 15 The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king. This reminds me of the two witnesses in Revelation. They will call fire down from heaven and anyone who tries to harm them must die in this way. James tells us Elijah was an ordinary man and yet God used him in this way. He is still using ordinary men and will in these last days protect them in this way. The fire of God is not dead but the church acts like it. Unless you have been consumed with the fire of God it will consumed you. Leviticus 10:1-3 New International Version 10 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: “‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’” Aaron remained silent. Pastor Jeff Lane Where’s the Fire Part 6 New International Version Elijah Flees to Horeb 19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. The Lord Appears to Elijah And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” Sometimes the fire of God comes in a whisper. When the Azusa Street revival started and a great Pentecostal revival broke out it was not loud or crazy but came in a whisper. When people entered the sanctuary of the church they were told to be quiet or leave, but it was my understanding none were asked to leave because the Holy presence of God was so strong there was great reverence. People were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues in a whisper not a shout. When God shows up a whisper is a shout in your soul. Pastor Jeff Lane Where’s the Fire Part 5 New International Version The Lord’s Judgment on Ahaziah 1 After Ahab’s death, Moab rebelled against Israel. 2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.” 3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!’” So Elijah went. 5 When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you come back?” 6 “A man came to meet us,” they replied. “And he said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, “This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!”’” 7 The king asked them, “What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?” 8 They replied, “He had a garment of hair[a] and had a leather belt around his waist.” The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.” 9 Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’” 10 Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. 11 At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, this is what the king says, ‘Come down at once!’” 12 “If I am a man of God,” Elijah replied, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. 13 So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! 14 See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!” 15 The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king. God sent Elijah to install Elisha as prophet to the nations. God confirms Elisha’s calling with fire. Elisha looked to have accomplished very little because the people's hearts were hard, but God confirmed his calling with fire. Pastor Jeff Lane Where’s the Fire Part 4 New International Version 18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing. 22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good.” 25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention. 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs[a] of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.” 34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again. “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench. 36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!” 40 Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there. Though God sent his fire, men still turned back to their sin. It started a revival that was short lived. We often look for great signs, but men must turn their hearts to God. Elisha felt like a failure because he did not get the desired results, he wanted but no man is a failure who does God’s will. God confirmed His word and Elijah by fire. The people simply did not want it. Pastor Jeff Lane Where’s the Fire Part 3 2 Chronicles 7:1-6 New International Version The Dedication of the Temple 7 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” 4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. 5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. 6 The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the Lord’s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing. This temple was built on the same spot where Davis sacrificed to God for His sin of counting the men. God sanctioned this temple with fire also. God stopped the curse of the sin of David with fire and He did the same at this temple. Pastor Jeff Lane Where’s the Fire Part 2 New International Version David Counts the Fighting Men 21 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.” 3 But Joab replied, “May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”………………………………………….. 22 David said to him, “Let me have the site of your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to me at the full price.” 23 Araunah said to David, “Take it! Let my lord the king do whatever pleases him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give all this.” 24 But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” 25 So David paid Araunah six hundred shekels[d] of gold for the site. 26 David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then the Lord spoke to the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 28 At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there. 29 The tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time on the high place at Gibeon. 30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord. David had sinned against God by trusting in numbers instead of God to fight and determine if to fight his battles. He could not appear before God in the temple because of his sin and the judgment that was to come for it. He had to go outside the camp so to speak to sacrifice to God to make atonement for those sins. God answered and cleansed Israel by fire. Pastor Jeff Lane Where’s the Fire? Part 1 New International Version The Priests Begin Their Ministry 9 On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. 2 He said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf for your sin offering and a ram for your burnt offering, both without defect, and present them before the Lord. 3 Then say to the Israelites: ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without defect—for a burnt offering, 4 and an ox and a ram for a fellowship offering to sacrifice before the Lord, together with a grain offering mixed with olive oil. For today the Lord will appear to you.’” 5 They took the things Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the entire assembly came near and stood before the Lord. 6 Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” 7 Moses said to Aaron, “Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and the people; sacrifice the offering that is for the people and make atonement for them, as the Lord has commanded.” ………………………………………………………………………………… 22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down. 23 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 24 Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown. It was the fire of God that purified and sanctioned the people and the temple of God. It is that fire that God shows His glory to us. We need the fire of God to consume God’s people again. Purify us and make us fit to preach His word. Without the fire of God, they are only words we speak. Words without glory. Pastor Jeff Lane Zeal for God Part 5 Ephesians 5:26-27 King James Version 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. God is coming back for a glorious church without sin. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 New International Version 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Hebrews 12:16 New International Version 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. It was one sin that got us thrown out of the garden and God’s presence. God is looking for a perfect church that puts to death every misdeed of the flesh through the blood of Christ and by the fire of His Holy Spirit. We are called to be perfect as He is perfect. No spots or wrinkles. Remember nothing is impossible with God. Pastor Jeff Lane Zeal for God Part 4 New International Version Jesus Clears the Temple Courts 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” Like I pointed out, Jesus is the same as he has always been. He very thoughtfully braided those leather strips together and cleared His temple. Today people would scream abuse. He knew what he was going to do and it was not just a fit of anger. He did this more than once. Jesus cleanses His temple still our bodies. Sometimes He must use His whip and thank God Almighty He does. He loves you that much to save you from yourself. Jesus has a zeal and passion for you His church. Do you have that same zeal and passion for Him? Pastor Jeff Lane Zeal for God Part 3 New International Version 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. We cannot continue to deliberately keep sinning but must have a zeal to stop sinning and put a spear through it. We are in a spiritual battle, sin is the power satan has over us, but the righteousness of Christ is our power over sin and satan. Put on the full armor of God and put sin under your feet. An army with no zeal cannot stand. New International Version 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Without faith we cannot stand. Faith is action zeal. Pastor Jeff Lane Zeal for God Part 2 Judges 2:1-5 New International Version The Angel of the Lord at Bokim 2 The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3 And I have also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; they will become traps for you, and their gods will become snares to you.’” 4 When the angel of the Lord had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, 5 and they called that place Bokim.[a] There they offered sacrifices to the Lord. 1 Samuel 15:22 New International Version 22 But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. King James Version 12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Repenting is to turn from sin, not just have remorse for it. Abraham was considered righteous for what he did, not just for what he said. Giving God a sacrifice in the place of sin does not move Him; we are to stop, hate, and do away with sin. Pastor Jeff Lane Zeal for God Part 1 Numbers 25 New International Version Moab Seduces Israel 25 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. 3 So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them. 4 The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lord’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.” 5 So Moses said to Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death those of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor.” 6 Then an Israelite man brought into the camp a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand 8 and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear into both of them, right through the Israelite man and into the woman’s stomach. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; 9 but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000. 10 The Lord said to Moses, 11 “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal. 12 Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. 13 He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.” Hebrews 13:8 New International Version 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Like Abraham, God rewarded Phinehas for what he did, not just his tears of remorse. We are called to be zealous for the Lord. He is not interested in lip service but a son who hates wickedness and loves righteousness. Jesus had not changed. He loves the one who honors His name. The people of God are sick and broken because there is no zeal in the pulpits. Where is the power of God in the believer’s life? It’s time the preachers put a spear through sin, not coddle it. He is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle, not a self-righteous church. Pastor Jeff Lane More Faith Part 9 New International Version 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. Philippians 2:9 New International Version 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, Ephesians 1:18-23 New International Version 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Our faith is to be in the name of Jesus. It is the inheritance and the power of the saints. Pastor Jeff Lane More Faith Part 8 New International Version 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” Our faith must be planted, and we die to what we hope for. We plant it in Jesus. We must give it over to God. 1 Corinthians 3:7 New International Version 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. God will show His glory by multiplying it and make it grow. Pastor Jeff Lane More Faith Part 7 New International Version 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. Faith that is not put into practice is dead, useless and is of no value to us or God. It must be lived and exercised in the life of the believer. Faith when planted will multiply. Pastor Jeff Lane More Faith Part 6 Hebrews 11:1-4 King James Version 11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Faith becomes the substance, something that is tangible, of that which we hope for. God made everything out of what cannot be seen or touched. Like Abel ,when we bring our best to God, He makes something out of nothing because what we bring is burned up to us. Like a pleasing aroma before God, He is moved by our love and multiplies it back to us making it tangible again but increased. Our faith is also multiplied as we use it and see the results of our exercise in faith. Pastor Jeff Lane More Faith Part 5 King James Version 14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Faith can be activated and increased through fasting and prayer. Faith like a seed must have the right things to make it grow. Pastor Jeff Lane More Faith Part 4 Romans 12:3 King James Version 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. New International Version 31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” Faith like a seed has great potential. If you are good ground, it can grow and be a blessing. God plants His seed of faith in every person. Every person knows there is a God, but faith undeveloped is useless. That seed may be small but if allowed to grow others can enjoy it. It will overflow on all those around. Pastor Jeff Lane More Faith Part 3 New International Version 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Faith increases through God given anointed preaching. Pastor Jeff Lane More Faith Part 2 New International Version 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Faith is a gift from God, and if He can trust you with little faith, He will give you much. It is when we obey Him with things as simple as tithing and giving, He gives us real Spiritual wealth. Wealth in God’s eyes is a small thing. God’s faith is a huge thing. Pastor Jeff Lane More Faith Part 1 New International Version 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. 7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” New International Version Faith and Deeds 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. When we do our duty, or obey God, our faith is at work and the natural consequences is more faith. Pastor Jeff Preaching Repentance Revival Part 13 Proverbs 27:17 New International Version 17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Genesis 50:20 New International Version 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. We must forgive others for what they do to us, because God uses men to mold us into a tool fit for service. They may mean to harm us but God is doing good in your life. Can the clay say to the potter you have no hands neither can we question God’s means for it is God who does the work and decided beforehand to make us into that tool to do His work. New International Version 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Pastor Jeff Lane Preaching Repentance Revival Part 12 New International Version 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[a] 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” Here we see God talking about that great shaking, or revival. It is to coming, it is here. The Holy Spirit was always leading men into the wilderness to be purged of sin and overcome it. Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Jacob, Paul, Jesus and more. It was the Holy Spirit's leading and He still leads those who will follow. Pastor Jeff Lane Preaching Repentance Revival Part 11 Zechariah 4:6-10 New International Version 6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. 7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” 8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. 10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” Haggai 2:1-9 New International Version 2 1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,[a] the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ 6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” One of the biggest mistakes I used to make in understanding the Bible was not seeing that we cannot separate Christianity from the Old Testament, but it is a continuation of it. We are on this continuum and the Jews lost their way. They turned away from God like Balaam did in their own way. Zechariah is talking about the birth of the church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh not just the Jews. When Peter spoke on this on the day of Pentecost he didn’t even know what God was saying until God revealed it to him when God let down the sheet and he went to Cornelius’ house. Haggai in reference to this tells us God would send a great revival and shake the Devil out of us, so to speak, and not only return His glory to the people of the earth but increase it dwarfing what He has done in the past. This is to take place before Jesus’ coming. As wheat is shaken and gathered in the store house so shall the earth and the chaff burned. Pastor Jeff Lane
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महान् विवाद नयाँ देशमा ज्योति- Contents - १ — तीर्थयात्री पुर्खाहरू - २ — बिहानका अग्रदूतहरू - ३ — अमेरिकाको सुधारक - ४ — अँध्यारोद्वारा ज्योति - ५ — एक महान् धार्मिक जागृति - ६ — एक चेतावनी इन्कार भयो - ७ — अगमवाणीहरूको पूर्णता - ८ — पवित्रस्थान के हो? - ९ — पवित्रहरूका पवित्रमा - १० — परमेश्वरको अपरिवर्तनीय व्यवस्था - ११ — एउटा सुधार-कार्य - १२ — आधुनिक जागृतिहरू - १३ — जीवनको अभिलेख सामु - Results - Related - Featured - Weighted Relevancy - Content Sequence - Relevancy - Earliest First - Latest First ७ — अगमवाणीहरूको पूर्णता जब परमप्रभुको आगमन पहिले अपेक्षा गरिएको समय अर्थात् १८४४को शरद् ऋतु पार भयो, तब जसले उहाँको आगमन विश्वाससाथ प्रतीक्षा गरे तिनीहरू केही समयसम्म सन्देह र अनिश्चिततामा डुबे। जब संसारले तिनीहरूलाई पूर्ण पराजय भएको भन्ठान्यो र भ्रमलाई आत्म-सात् गरेको भनी प्रमाणित गऱ्यो तब परमेश्वरको वचन नै तिनीहरूको सान्त्वनाको स्रोत भयो। तिनीहरूको विश्वासका प्रमाणहरू जाँच गर्दै कैयौँले धर्मशास्त्रहरूको अनुसन्धानलाई कायम राखे, र थप ज्योति प्राप्त गर्न होसियारसाथ अगमवाणीहरू अध्ययन गरे। तिनीहरूको विश्वासको समर्थनमा बाइबलका गवाहीहरू स्पष्ट र निर्णायक देखिन्थ्यो। सही चिन्हहरूले ख्रीष्टको आगमनको निकटतालाई केन्द्रित गरे। पापीहरूको परिवर्तन र इसाईहरूको बीचमा आत्मिकी जीवनको जागृति दुवैमा परमप्रभुको विशेष आशिष् थियो, त्यसले त्यो सन्देश स्वर्गबाट आएको हो भनी गवाही दियो। विश्वासीहरूले तिनीहरूका नैराश्यताको वर्णन गर्न सकेनन्, तापनि परमेश्वरले तिनीहरूलाई विगतका अनुभवहरूमा अगुवाइ गर्नुभएको थियो भनी तिनीहरू ढुक्क भए।MBND 127.1 तिनीहरूले दोस्रो आगमनको समयमा लागू हुन्छ भनी सोचेको अगमवाणीसँग मिसिएको शिक्षाचाहिँ विशेष गरेर तिनीहरूको अनिश्चितता र सन्देहको अवस्थाको लागि उपयुक्त थियो, र वर्तमान समयमा तिनीहरूका समझमा अन्धकार भए तापनि उचित समयमा स्पष्ट हुनेछ भन्ने कुरामा तिनीहरूलाई विश्वासका साथ प्रतीक्षा गर्न उत्साह दिलायो।MBND 127.2 यी अगमवाणीहरूमध्ये हबकूक २:१-४ पनि एउटा थियो: “म मेरो पहरामा नै उभिरहनेछु, र पर्खालमा म आफै खड़ा रहनेछु, र उहाँ मलाई के भन्नुहुन्छ सो म हेर्दैरहनेछु। यस उजूरको कस्तो जवाफ मैले दिनुपर्ने सो म हेरिबस्नेछु। तब परमप्रभुले मलाई जवाफमा भन्नुभयो, ‘तैंले यो प्रकाश पाटीहरूमा प्रष्ट गरी लेख्, र समाचारवाहक त्यससित दौड्न सकोस्। किनकि प्रकाश ठहरिएको समय पूरा हुनलाई पर्खिरहेछ। त्यसले अन्तको विषयमा बताउँछ र त्यो झूटो ठहरिनेछैन। त्यो पूरा हुन ढिलो भए तापनि त्यसको प्रतीक्षा गर्दैबस्, किनभने त्यो निश्चय नै पूरा हुनेछ, त्यसले ढिलो गर्नेछैन। हेर्, त्यो घमण्डले फुलिएको छ, त्यसका इच्छाहरू सोझा छैनन्—तर धर्मीचाहिँ आफ्नो विश्वासद्वारा जिउनेछ।’”MBND 127.3 “प्रकाश पाटीहरूमा प्रष्ट गरी लेख्, र समाचारवाहक त्यससित दौड्न सकोस्,” भन्ने यो अगमवाणीमा दिइएको निर्देशनले १८४२को आरम्भतिर दानिएल र प्रकाशको दर्शनहरूलाई व्याख्या गर्ने एउटा अगमवाणीक नक्सा तयार गर्ने चारल्स फिचलाई सल्लाह दिइयो। यो नक्साको प्रकाशनमा हबकूकले दिएको आदेश पूरा भएको भनी ठानियो। जे भए पनि उति नै खेर त्यही अगमवाणीमा दिइएको दर्शनको पूर्णतामा प्रत्यक्ष ढिलाइ भएको अर्थात् प्रतीक्षाको घड़ीलाई कसैले ध्यान दिएन। नैराश्यपछि त यो धर्मशास्त्र असाध्यै अर्थमुलक बन्न गयो: “किनकि प्रकाश ठहरिएको समय पूरा हुनलाई पर्खिरहेछ। त्यसले अन्तको विषयमा बताउँछ र त्यो झूटो ठहरिनेछैन। त्यो पूरा हुन ढिलो भए तापनि त्यसको प्रतीक्षा गर्दैबस्, किनभने त्यो निश्चय नै पूरा हुनेछ, त्यसले ढिलो गर्नेछैन। ... तर धर्मीचाहिँ आफ्नो विश्वासद्वारा जिउनेछ।”MBND 128.1 इजकिएलको अगमवणीको एक अंश विश्वासीहरूको निम्ति एक सान्त्वना र सामर्थ्यको एक स्रोत बन्न गयो: “परमप्रभुको यो वचन मकहाँ आयो: ‘हे मानिसको छोरो, “दिन बित्दैजान्छ, र पनि दर्शन भने कुनै कुरा हुँदैन” भन्ने तिमीहरूको देश इस्राएलमा चल्दैआएको यो उखान के हो? यसकारण तिनीहरूलाई भन्, “परमप्रभु परमेश्वर यसो भन्नुहुन्छ: ... दिनहरू नजिकै छन्, जब हरेक दर्शन पूरा हुनेछ। ... मैले भन्ने कुराहरू म, परमप्रभु आफैले नै भन्नेछु, र त्यो ढिलो नभई पूरा हुनेछ।”’” “इस्राएलका घराना यसो भन्दैछ, ‘त्यसले देखेको दर्शन धेरै वर्षपछि मात्र पूरा हुनेछ, र त्यसले धेरै समयपछिको कुराहरूको अगमवाणी कहन्छ।’ यसकारण तिनीहरूलाई भन्, ‘परमप्रभु परमेश्वर यसो भन्नुहुन्छ: मैले भनेको एउटै कुरा पनि अब ढिलो हुनेछैन, तर जे कुरा म भन्दछु, सो पूरा हुने नै छ, परमप्रभु परमेश्वर भन्नुहुन्छ।’” इजकिएल १२:२१-२५, २७, २८।MBND 128.2 जसले आदि र अन्त जान्नुहुन्छ उहाँले युगहरूसम्म देख्नुभएको थियो र तिनीहरूका नैराश्यताको पूर्वदर्शन गर्नुभएको थियो, त्यसकारण तिनीहरूलाई आशा र साहसका वचनहरू प्रदान गर्नुभएको थियो भन्ने विश्वासका साथ प्रतीक्षारत जनहरू रमाए। यदि यस्ता प्रकारका धर्मशास्त्रका अंशहरूले धैर्यसाथ प्रतीक्षा गर्न र परमेश्वरको वचनमा भरोसा स्थिर राख्न तिनीहरूलाई चेतावनी नदिएको भए त्यो प्रतीक्षाको घड़ीमा तिनीहरूको विश्वास डग्मगाउनेथियो।MBND 128.3 मत्ती २५को दश कन्याहरूको दृष्टान्तले पनि दोस्रो आगमनको प्रतीक्षा गरिरहेका मानिसहरूको अनुभवलाई व्याख्या गर्दछ। मत्ती २४मा उहाँको आगमन र संसारको अन्त्यका चिन्हहरूको विषयमा जब चेलाहरूले प्रश्न गरे तब ख्रीष्टले जवाफमा संसार र चर्चको इतिहासमा हुने केही महत्वपूर्ण घटनाहरूको विषयमा भन्नुभयो जुन उहाँको प्रथमदेखि दोस्रो आगमनसम्म हुनेथियो; विशेष गरी यरूशलेमको विनाश, मूर्तिपूजक रोम र पोपको रोमको अधिकारको शासनमा हुने चर्चका सतावटहरूको महासङ्कष्ट, सूर्य र चन्द्रमा अँध्यारो हुने र ताराहरू खस्ने जस्ता कुराहरूमाथि उहाँले ध्यानाकर्षित गराउनुभयो। त्यसपछि उहाँले आफ्नो राज्यमा आफ्नो आगमन हुने कुरा गर्नुभयो, र उहाँले आफ्नो आगमनको प्रतीक्षा गर्ने दुई वर्गका कमाराहरूको विषयमा दृष्टान्त भन्नुभयो। अध्याय २५ यी शब्दहरूद्वारा आरम्भ हुन्छ: “तब स्वर्गको राज्य दश कन्याहरूसँग तुलना गर्न सकिन्छ।” यहाँ अन्तिम दिनहरूमा बाँचिरहेको मण्डलीलाई देखाइएको छ र अध्याय २४को अन्ततिर त्यही कुरालाई केन्द्रित गरेको छ। यो दृष्टान्तमा एक पूर्वीय विवाहको घटनाहरूद्वारा तिनीहरूको अनुभवलाई वर्णन गरिएको छ।MBND 129.1 “तब स्वर्गको राज्य दश कन्याहरूसँग तुलना गर्न सकिन्छ। तिनीहरूले आ-आफ्नो बत्ती लिएर दुलहालाई भेट्न निस्के। तीमध्ये पाँच जना निर्बुद्धि र पाचँ जनाचाहिँ बुद्धिमती थिए। किनकि जब निर्बुद्धिहरूले आफ्ना बत्ती लगे, तब तिनीहरूले साथमा तेलचाहिँ लगेनन्। तर बुद्धिमतीहरूले चाहिँ आफ्ना बत्तीसँगसँगै पात्रमा तेल पनि लगे। दुलहाले बियाँलो गर्दा ती सबै निद्राले लट्ठ भए र निदाए। तर मध्यरातमा ‘हेर दुलहा, उनलाई भेट्न आओ,’ भन्ने आवाज आयो।” [मत्ती २५:१-६]।MBND 129.2 पहिलो स्वर्गदूतको सन्देशको घोषणाअनुसार ख्रीष्टको आगमन दुलहाको आगमनद्वारा प्रतिनिधित्व गरेको थियो भन्ने बुझाइ थियो। उहाँको शीघ्र आगमनको घोषणामा व्यापक भएको सुधार-कार्य नै कन्याहरू बाहिर निस्कने क्रिया थियो। मत्ती २४मा जस्तै यो दृष्टान्तमा पनि दुई वर्गहरूको प्रतिनिधित्व गरेको छ। सबैले तिनीहरूसँग बत्ती अर्थात् बाइबल लिएर गएका थिए, र त्यही ज्योतिद्वारा तिनीहरू दुलहा भेट्न बाहिर निस्केर गए। तर “निर्बुद्धिहरूले आफ्ना बत्ती लगे, तब तिनीहरूले साथमा तेलचाहिँ लगेनन्।” “तर बुद्धिमतीहरूले चाहिँ आफ्ना बत्तीसँगसँगै पात्रमा तेल पनि लगे।” पछिल्लो वर्गले चाहिँ परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह, पवित्र आत्माको नयाँ बल प्रदान गर्ने, उज्ज्वल पार्ने शक्ति प्राप्त गरे, जसले उहाँको वचनलाई गोड़ाको निम्ति ज्योति र बाटोको निम्ति उज्यालो बनाउँछ। परमेश्वरको भयमा तिनीहरूले धर्मशास्त्रहरूको सत्यता सिक्न अध्ययन गरेका थिए, र उत्सुकतासाथ हृदय र जीवनको शुद्धता खोजेका थिए। यिनीहरूले परमेश्वर र उहाँको वचनमा विश्वासको व्यक्तिगत अनुभव प्राप्त गरेका थिए, जसलाई बियाँलो र नैराश्यले नष्ट पार्न सक्दैनथ्यो। अरूले “आफ्ना बत्ती लगे, तब तिनीहरूले साथमा तेलचाहिँ लगेनन्।” तिनीहरू भावनाद्वारा अगि बढेका थिए। तिनीहरूको भय गम्भीर सन्देशले सचेत पारेको थियो, तर तिनीहरूचाहिँ आफ्ना साथीहरूका विश्वासमा भरोसा राखेका थिए, सत्यताको पूर्ण समझ वा हृदयमा हुने अनग्रहको साँचो कामविना नै असल भावनाहरूको धिपधिज बत्तीमा नै सन्तुष्टि थिए। यिनीहरू तुरुन्तै इनामको अभिलाषामा पूरा आशा लिई परमप्रभुलाई भेट्न गएका थिए; तर तिनीहरू बियाँलो र नैराश्यको निम्ति तयार थिएनन्। जब परीक्षा आयो तब तिनीहरूको विश्वास डग्मगाउन र तिनीहरूको ज्योति निभ्न लाग्यो।MBND 130.1 “दुलहाले बियाँलो गर्दा ती सबै निद्राले लट्ठ भए र निदाए।” दुलहाको बियाँलोले त्यो पार गरिएको समयलाई प्रतिनिधित्व गर्दछ जसमा परमप्रभुको आगमन आशा गरिएको थियो, र नैराश्य र बियाँलो मात्रै देखियो। यो अनिश्चितताको समयमा देखावटी चासो हुनेहरू र अल्प-हृदयकाहरू दोधारमा परे र तिनीहरूका प्रयत्नहरू शिथिल हुन थाले; तर जसको विश्वास बाइबलीय व्यक्तिगत ज्ञानमा आधारित थियो, तिनीहरूको गोड़ा चट्टानमाथि बसालिएको थियो, जसलाई नैराश्यको बाढ़ीले बगाउन सक्दैनथ्यो। तिनीहरू “सबै निद्राले लट्ठ भए र निदाए;” एउटा वर्गले आफ्ना विश्वासको बेवास्ता गरे र परित्याग गरे, अर्कोले भने अझै स्पष्ट ज्योति प्रदान नगरिएसम्म धैर्यसाथ प्रतीक्षा गरी नै रहे। यद्यपि त्यो परीक्षाको रातमा पछिल्लोको पनि उत्साह र समर्पण केही मात्रामा हराएको जस्तो देखिन्थ्यो। अल्प-हृदय र देखावटीहरू अब तिनीहरूका साथीहरूको विश्वासमा भरोसा गर्न सकेनन्। प्रत्येक व्यक्ति आफै खडा रहनु वा लड्नुपर्नेथियो।MBND 131.1 लगभग यही समयमा कट्टरपन्थ देखा पर्न थाल्यो। जसले सन्देशको जोशिला विश्वासीहरू हुन् भनी दाबी गर्दथे, तिनीहरूमध्ये केही जनाले परमेश्वरको वचनलाई एक अटल अगुवाको रूपमा मान्यता दिन इन्कार गरे र तिनीहरूलाई आत्माले अगुवाइ गरेको छ भन्ने कुरा दाबी गरेर तिनीहरूले आफ्नै भावनाहरू, विचारहरू र परिकल्पनाहरूको नियन्त्रणमा आफैलाई छाड़िदिए। त्यहाँ यस्ता मानिसहरू पनि थिए जसले तिनीहरूको कार्यमा सहमत नगर्नेहरू सबै जनालाई घृणा गर्दै अन्धो र अमिल्दो जोश प्रकट गर्थे। तिनीहरूका कट्टरपन्थी विचारहरू र व्यवहारहरूले गर्दा येशूको दोस्रो आगमनलाई प्रतीक्षा गर्नेहरूको ठूलो समूहबाट सहानुभूति प्राप्त गरेनन्, अझै पनि तिनीहरूले सत्यताको कार्यमा अपमान ल्याउने काम गरे।MBND 131.2 यही कार्यद्वारा परमेश्वरको कामलाई शैतानले विरोध गर्ने र नाश गर्ने प्रयास गरिरहेको थियो। येशूको दोस्रो आगमनको कार्यद्वारा मानिसहरूको मन अति छोएको थियो, हजारौँ पापीहरू परिवर्तन भएका थिए, र त्यो प्रतीक्षाको घड़ीमा पनि विश्वासयोग्य मानिसहरू आफै सुसमाचार घोषणा गर्ने कार्यमा समर्पित भएका थिए। दुष्टताको राजकुमारले त्यसका जनताहरू गुमाइरहेको थियो; र परमेश्वरको कार्यमा अपमान ल्याउनका लागि त्यसले विश्वासीहरूलाई बहकायो र तिनीहरूलाई चरमसीमासम्म पुऱ्याउन खोज्यो। त्यसपछि त्यसका समर्थकहरूले प्रत्येक गलत, प्रत्येक असफलता, प्रत्येक अनुचित व्यवहारलाई लिएर येशूको आगमनका विश्वासीहरू र तिनीहरूको विश्वासलाई घिनलाग्दो प्रकट गर्न बढाइचढाइ गरेर मानिसहरूको सामु प्रस्तुत गर्न तयारी अवस्थामा खडा थिए। यसरी उसले दोस्रो आगमनमा विश्वास गरेको दाबी गर्नेहरूलाई जति सङ्ख्या भित्र्याउन सक्थ्यो तैपनि तिनीहरूको हृदयचाहिँ उसको शक्तिले नियन्त्रण गरेको हुन्थ्यो, त्यति नै मात्रामा विश्वासीहरूको पूर्ण समूहका प्रतिनिधिहरू स्वरूप तिनीहरूप्रति ध्यानाकर्षित गर्नेद्वारा उसले धेरै फाइदा हासिल गर्न सक्थ्यो।MBND 131.3 शैतानचाहिँ “भाइहरूलाई दोष लगाउने” हो, र त्यसको आत्माले नै प्रभुका मानिसहरूका गल्तीहरू र खोटहरू खोज्ने र त्यसलाई बाहिर ल्याउने प्रेरणा दिँदछ, जबकि तिनीहरूका असल कार्यहरूको चाहिँ चर्चा नभई पार हुन्छन्। जब परमेश्वर मानिसहरूको मुक्तिको निम्ति काम गर्नुहुन्छ तब जहिले पनि ऊ क्रियाशील हुन्छ। जब परमेश्वरका छोराहरू परमप्रभुको सामुन्ने उपस्थित हुन्छन् तब शैतान पनि तिनीहरूको बीचमा आउँछ। प्रत्येक जागृतिमा अपवित्र हृदय भएकाहरू र असन्तुलित दिमाग भएकाहरू ल्याउन तयार हुन्छ। जब तिनीहरूले सत्यताका केही बुँदाहरू स्वीकार गर्छन्, र विश्वासीहरूसँग स्थान प्राप्त गर्छन् तब उसले तिनीहरूद्वारा यस्ता सिद्धान्तहरू समावेश गराउँछ जसले बेहोशीहरूलाई बहकाउँछ। कुनै व्यक्ति परमेश्वरका सन्तानको समूहमा छ, आराधनालयमा छ र परमप्रभुको टेबुलमा नै छ भन्दैमा सत्य इसाई प्रमाणित हुँदैन। शैतानले जसलाई आफ्नो माध्यम स्वरूप प्रयोग गर्न सक्छ, तिनीहरूलाई माध्यम बनाएर ऊ पनि प्राय: ती अति गम्भीर उत्सवहरूमा उपस्थित हुन्छ।MBND 132.1 स्वर्गीय सहरतर्फ गरेको यात्रामा परमेश्वरका मानिसहरू अघि सर्दा दुष्टताको राजकुमारले त्यसको प्रत्येक इन्चमा झगड़ा गर्छ। चर्चको सम्पूर्ण इतिहासमा कुनै पनि सुधार-कार्य गम्भीर बाधाहरूविना विकसित भएको छैन। पावलको दिनमा पनि त्यस्तै थियो। जहाँ-जहाँ प्रेरितले चर्च स्थापना गर्दथे त्यहाँ विश्वासलाई ग्रहण गर्न दाबी गर्ने केही मानिसहरू हुन्थे, जसले झूटा शिक्षाहरू ल्याउँदथे कि यदि ती स्वीकार गरेको भए बिस्तारै सत्यताको प्रेमबाट टाढा बनाउनेथिए। लुथरले पनि कट्टरपन्थी मानिसहरूको कामबाट ठूलो चिन्ता र तनाव भोगे जसले परमेश्वर तिनीहरूसँग प्रत्यक्ष बोल्नुभएको कुराको दाबी गरे र त्यसकारण तिनीहरूले धर्मशास्त्रको गवाहीभन्दा पनि तिनीहरूका आफ्नै विचारहरू र धारणा राखे। धेरै जना विश्वास र अनुभवमा कमी थिए, तापनि तिनीहरू ठूलोरूपले आत्म-निर्भर भएका महसुस गर्दथे र कुनै नयाँ कुरा सुन्न र भन्न मन पराउने गर्दथे, तिनीहरू ती नयाँ शिक्षकहरूका भेषद्वारा भ्रममा परे र परमेश्वरले लुथरलाई जुन कुरा निर्माण गर्नका लागि अगुवाइ गर्नुभएको थियो, तिनीहरू त्यसलाई भत्काउन शैतानका कामदारहरूसँग समावेश भए। वेश्लीहरू र अन्य मानिसहरूले तिनीहरूका प्रभाव र विश्वासद्वारा संसारलाई आशिषित तुल्याएका थिए, तिनीहरूले पनि अति जोशिलो, असन्तुलित र अपवित्र मानिसहरूलाई हरेक योग्यताको कट्टरपन्थभित्र धकेल्ने शैतानको चतुऱ्याइँसँग हरेक पाइलामा सामना गरे।MBND 132.2 विलियम मिलरले कट्टरपन्थमा पुऱ्याउने प्रभावहरूलाई कुनै पनि सहानुभूति देखाएनन्। तिनले पनि लुथरले झैँ भने कि प्रत्येक आत्मालाई परमेश्वरको वचनद्वारा जाँच्नुपर्छ। मिलरले भने, “वर्तमान दिनमा कति जनाको दिमागमा दियाबलसको ठूलो शक्तिले शासन गरेको छ। ती कस्ता प्रकारका आत्माहरू हुन् त भनी हामी कसरी जान्ने? बाइबलले जवाफ दिन्छ: ‘तिनीहरूका फलबाट चिन्नेछौ।’ ... संसारमा धेरै प्रकारका आत्माहरू निस्केर आएका छन् र हामीले आत्मालाई जाँच्नुपर्ने आदेश पाएका छौं। जुन आत्माले हामीलाई यस वर्तमान संसारमा संयमी, धर्मी र भक्तिसाथ जिउन अगुवाइ गर्दैन त्यो आत्मा ख्रीष्टबाट आएको होइन। म झन्-झन् विश्वस्त भएको छु कि यी असभ्य कार्यहरूमा शैतानले धेरै काम गरेको छ। ... हामीहरूमध्ये जतिले पूर्ण पवित्र भएको बहाना गरेका छन् तिनीहरूले मानिसहरूका परम्पराहरूलाई अनुकरण गरिरहेका छन्, र तिनीहरू पनि अरू त्यस्तो बहाना नगर्नेहरू जस्तै सत्यताप्रति चाहिँ त्यत्तिकै अनजान छन्।” —Bliss, pages 236, 237. “झूटो आत्माले हामीलाई सत्यताबाट टाढ़ा लैजान्छ र परमेश्वरको आत्माले हामीलाई सत्यतामा डोऱ्याउनुहुनेछ। तर तपाईं भन्नुहोला कि कुनै मानिस झूटमा हुन सक्छ र ऊसँग सत्यता छ भनी उसले सोच्छ। त्यसो भए के त? हामी आत्मा र वचन सहमत हुन्छ भन्ने जवाफ दिन्छौं। यदि कुनै मानिसले आफैलाई परमेश्वरको वचनद्वारा जाँच्छ र सम्पूर्ण वचनभरि पूर्ण मिलाप पाउँछ भने त्यसपछि ऊसँग सत्यता छ भनी उसले विश्वास गर्नुपर्छ; यदि उसलाई अगुवाइ गरेको आत्मा परमेश्वरको व्यवस्था वा पुस्तकको सम्पूर्ण प्रवाहसँग मिलेको पाइएन भने त्यसपछि ऊ होसियारसाथ हिँडोस्, नत्रता ऊ दियाबलसको पासोमा पर्नेछ।” —The Advent Herald and Signs of the Times Reporter, vol. 8, No. 23 (Jan. 15, 1845). “इसाईजगत्को सम्पूर्ण हल्लाबाट भन्दा आँखाको उज्ज्वलता, भिजेको गाला र घाँटीमा अड्केको उच्चारणबाट मैले प्रायः आन्तरिक भक्तिको प्रमाण प्राप्त गरेको छु।” —Bliss, page 282.MBND 133.1 सुधार-कार्यका दिनहरूमा जसले त्यसको विरुद्धमा बडो उत्सुकतासाथ परिश्रम गरिरहेका थिए सुधार-कार्यका शत्रुहरूले तिनीहरूलाई नै कट्टरपन्थको सम्पूर्ण दुष्टताको दोष लगाए। येशूको दोस्रो आगमनको अभियानका विरोधीहरूले पनि उस्तै कार्य गरेका थिए। चरमपन्थीहरू र कट्टरपन्थीहरूका झूटहरू कुव्याख्या र बढाइचढाइ गरेर सन्तुष्ट भएनन्, तिनीहरूले प्रतिकूल विवरणहरू फैल्याए जसमा सत्यताको केही समानता थिएन। ती मानिसहरू भेदभाव र घृणाद्वारा परिचालित भएका थिए। ख्रीष्ट ढोकामै हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने घोषणाद्वारा तिनीहरू बेचैन भए। यो सत्य हुन सक्छ भन्ने कुरामा तिनीहरू डराए तापनि त्यसो होइन कि भन्ने पनि आशा गरे, र दोस्रो आगमनका विश्वासीहरू र तिनीहरूको विश्वास विरुद्ध लड़ाइँको रहस्य यही नै थियो।MBND 134.1 पावल वा लुथरको दिनको चर्चमा कट्टरपन्थीहरू र ठगाहाहरूको उपस्थितिकै कारणले तिनीहरूको कार्यलाई दोष लगाउनुभन्दा पनि केही कट्टरपन्थीहरूले दोस्रो आगमनका विश्वासीहरूका समूहमा प्रवेश गरेको भन्ने कुराचाहिँ सो कार्य परमेश्वरबाट आएको होइन भनी निष्कर्ष निकाल्ने पर्याप्त बहाना छैन। परमेश्वरका मानिसहरू तिनीहरूका निद्राबाट जागून् र पश्चात्ताप र सुधार-कार्यको काम उत्सुकतासाथ सुरु गरून्; तिनीहरूले येशूमा भएझैँ सत्यता सिक्नका लागि धर्मशास्त्र खोजी गरून्; तिनीहरूले परमेश्वरमा पूर्ण समर्पण गरून् र शैतान अझै पनि क्रियाशील र सचेत छ भनी प्रमाणको अभाव हुनेछैन। उसको अधिकारमा भएका सम्पूर्ण पतित दूतहरू उसलाई सहयोग गर्न बोलाएर सम्पूर्ण सम्भावित छलका साथ उसको शक्ति प्रकट गर्नेछ।MBND 134.2 दोस्रो आगमनको घोषणाले कट्टरपन्थ र विभाजन ल्याएको होइन। जब दोस्रो आगमनका विश्वासीहरू आफ्नो वास्तविक विश्वासको विषयमा शङ्का र चिन्ताको अवस्थामा थिए तब यी कुराहरू १८४४को ग्रिष्म ऋतुमा देखा परेको थियो। पहिलो स्वर्गदूतको सन्देश र “मध्यरातको कराइ”-को प्रचारले कट्टरपन्थ र झगड़ा दबाएको प्रत्यक्ष देखियो। जो यी गम्भीर कार्यहरूमा संलग्न भए तिनीहरू एकै मनका थिए; तिनीहरूका हृदयहरू आपसी प्रेम र येशूप्रतिको प्रेमले भरिएका थिए, जो तिनीहरूले चाँडै नै भेट्ने आशा रोखेका थिए। एउटै विश्वास, एउटै आशिषित आशाले तिनीहरूलाई कुनै पनि मानविक प्रभावभन्दा पनि माथि उचालेको थियो र त्यो शैतानको आक्रमण विरुद्ध एक ढाल प्रमाणित भयो।MBND 135.1 “दुलहाले बियाँलो गर्दा ती सबै निद्राले लट्ठ भए र निदाए। तर मध्यरातमा ‘हेर दुलहा, उनलाई भेट्न आओ,’ भन्ने आवाज आयो। तब ती सबै कन्याहरू ब्यूँझे, र आफ्नो-आफ्नो बत्ती ठीकठाक पारे।” मत्ती २५:५-७। २३०० दिनहरू अन्त हुनेछ भनी पहिले सोचेको समय र पछाड़ि ती पुग्छ भनी पत्ता लगाइएको त्यही सालको शरद् ऋतुको बीचमा, १८४४को ग्रीष्म ऋतुमा त्यो सन्देशचाहिँ धर्मशास्त्रकै शब्दहरूमा घोषणा गरिएको थियो: “हेर, दुलहा आउँदैछन्!” (KJV)।MBND 135.2 यरूशलेमको पुनर्स्थापना गर्ने अर्ताशास्तको आदेश जुन २३०० दिनहरूको अवधिको आरम्भ थियो, त्यो ४५७ बि.सी. को शरद् ऋतुमा लागू भयो तर अघि विश्वास गरेजस्तै वर्षको सुरुवातमा चाहिँ थिएन भन्ने पत्ता लगाइएको कुराले त्यस गतिविधितर्फ डोऱ्यायो। ४५७को शरद् ऋतुबाट हिसाब गर्दा २३०० वर्षहरू १८४४को शरद् ऋतुमा अन्त हुन्छ। (एपेण्डिक्समा हेर्नुहोस्, ३२९ पृष्ठको नोट)।MBND 135.3 पुरानो नियमका सङ्केतहरूबाट पनि यस्ता तर्कहरू निकालिएका थिए जसले “पवित्रस्थानको शुद्धीकरण” हुनुपर्ने घटनाको समय शरद् ऋतुतर्फ नै केन्द्रित गरिएको थियो। जब ख्रीष्टको पहिलो आगमनसँग सम्बन्धित सङ्केतहरू पूरा भएको तरिकाप्रति ध्यानाकर्षण गरियो तब यो कुरा स्पष्ट भयो।MBND 135.4 निस्तार चाड़को थुमा मारिने कार्यले ख्रीष्टको मृत्युलाई सङ्केत गरेको थियो। पावल भन्छन्: “हाम्रो निस्तारको थुमा, ख्रीष्टको बलिदान भइसकेको छ।” १ कोरिन्थी ५:७। जुन पहिलो फलको बिट्टा निस्तार चाड़को समयमा परमप्रभुको सामुन्ने डोलाउँदथ्यो सोचाहिँ ख्रीष्टको पुनरुत्थानको सङ्केत थियो। प्रभु र उहाँका मानिसहरूको पुनरुत्थानको विषयमा बोल्दै पावलले भने, “ख्रीष्टचाहिँ अगौटै फल, त्यसपछि उहाँको पुनरागमनमा ख्रीष्टका आफ्नैहरू।” १ कोरिन्थी १५:२३। कटनीभन्दा अगाड़ि भेला गराइएको पहिलो पाकेको अनाजमध्ये डोलाउने बिटाजस्तै ख्रीष्ट पनि उद्धार पाउनेहरूको अमरत्व कटनीको पहिलो फल हुनुहुन्छ, त्यसपछि भविष्यमा पुनरुत्थान हुनेहरू परमेश्वरको धन्सारमा जम्मा हुनेछन्।MBND 135.5 यी सङ्केतहरू घटनामा मात्र नभएर समयमा पनि पूरा भए। जुन दिन र महिनामा पन्ध्र शताब्दीहरूसम्म निस्तारको थुमा मारिएको थियो त्यही दिन र महिना अर्थात् यहूदीहरूको पहिलो महिनाको चौधौँ दिनमा ख्रीष्टले उहाँका चेलाहरूसँग निस्तार चाड़ मनाउनुभयो र उहाँले त्यो चाड़ स्थापना गर्नुभयो जुन “संसारको पाप उठाइलैजाने परमेश्वरका थुमा”-को रूपमा भएको उहाँको आफ्नो मृत्युको स्मृति बन्न गयो। त्यही रात दुष्ट हातहरूद्वारा क्रूसमा टाँगिन र मारिन उहाँ लगिनुभयो। हाम्रा प्रभु डोलाउने बलिको वास्तविकताको स्वरूप तेस्रो दिनमा बौरिउठ्नुभयो, “सुतिजानेहरूमध्येमा उहाँचाहिँ प्रथम फल हुनुहुन्छ,” उहाँ पुनरुत्थान भएका धर्मीहरूको एक उदाहरण हुनुहुन्थ्यो, जसको “हीन शरीर” परिवर्तन हुनेछ र उहाँले उहाँको “महिमाको शरीरजस्तै हुनलाई परिवर्तन गरिदिनुहुनेछ।” १ कोरिन्थी १५:२०; फिलिप्पी ३:२१।MBND 136.1 त्यसै गरी दोस्रो आगमनको विषयमा वर्णन गर्ने सङ्केतहरू पनि साङ्केतिक सेवामा देखाएअनुसार समयमा नै पूरा भएको हुनुपर्छ। पवित्रस्थान शुद्धीकरण हुने मोशाको पद्धतिअनुसार यहूदीहरूको सातौँ महिनाको दशौँ दिनमा प्रायश्चित्तको दिन पर्दथ्यो (लेवी १६:२९-३४), जसमा प्रधान पूजाहारीले सम्पूर्ण इज्राएलीहरूका निम्ति प्रायश्चित्त गर्थ्यो र यसरी तिनीहरूका पापहरू पवित्रस्थानबाट मेटाएपछि बाहिर निस्केर मानिसहरूलाई आशिष् दिन्थ्यो। त्यसरी हाम्रा महाप्रधान पूजाहारी अर्थात् ख्रीष्ट पाप र पापीहरूको विनाशद्वारा पृथ्वी शुद्ध गर्न र उहाँको प्रतीक्षारत मानिसहरूलाई अमरत्वको आशिष् प्रदान गर्न आउनुहुनेछ भन्ने विश्वास थियो। सातौँ महिनाको दशौँ दिन अर्थात् महान् प्रायश्चित्तको दिन, पवित्रस्थानको शद्धीकरण १८४४को अक्टोबर २२मा परेको थियो र त्यसै दिनलाई प्रभुको अगमनको समय स्वरूप मानियो। यो २३०० दिनहरू शरद् ऋतुमा अन्त हुनेछ भनी प्रस्तुत भइसकेका प्रमाणहरूसँग पनि मिलेको थियो र यो निष्कर्ष शक्तिशाली देखियो।MBND 136.2 मत्ती २५को दृष्टान्तमा ढिलाइ र निदाएको समयपछि दुलहा आएको छ। योचाहिँ अगमवाणी र सङ्केतहरू दुवैद्वारा अघि प्रस्तुति गरिएको तर्कअनुसार नै थियो। तिनीहरूले आफ्ना सत्यवादिताको शक्तिशाली विश्वासलाई कायम राखे र “मध्यरातको कराइ” हजारौँ विश्वासीहरूद्वारा घोषणा गरियो।MBND 136.3 वेगवान् छालजस्तै त्यो कार्य देशभरि फैलियो। सहरदेखि सहरसम्म, गाउँदेखि गाउँसम्म र दुर्गम गाउँहरूसम्म पनि त्यो पुग्यो, यहाँसम्म कि परमेश्वरका प्रतीक्षारत मानिसहरू पूर्ण जागा नभएसम्म फैली नै रह्यो। उदाउँदै गरेको घामको सामु आरम्भित तुसारोझैँ कट्टरपन्थ यो घोषणा सामुन्ने हराएर गयो। तिनीहरूका शङ्का र चिन्ता हटेर गएका विश्वासीहरूले देखे, र तिनीहरूका हृदयहरूमा आशा र साहस जिवन्त भए। त्यो कार्य अतिवादविहीन थियो जुन परमेश्वरको वचन र पवित्र आत्माको नियन्त्रणको प्रभावविना नै जहिले पनि मानवीय उत्तेजनामा देखिन्छ। त्योचाहिँ प्राचीन इस्राएलीमा उहाँका दासहरूबाट हप्कीका सन्देशहरू पाएपछि आउने नम्रताका समयहरू र परमप्रभुतिर फर्कने कार्यको उस्तै प्रकारको थियो। त्यसले यस्तो चरित्रगुण धारण गऱ्यो कि परमेश्वरको कार्य प्रत्येक युगमा चिनायो। हृदयको गहिरो अनुसन्धान, पाप स्वीकार र संसारप्रति परित्यागमा नै ठूलो आनन्द थियो। परमप्रभुलाई भेट्न गरिने तयारीचाहिँ छट्पटाइरहेका हृदयको लागि बोझ थियो। त्यहाँ अथक प्रार्थना र परमेश्वरप्रति पूर्ण समर्पण गरिएको थियो।MBND 137.1 त्यो कार्यको विषयमा वर्णन गर्दै मिलरले भने: “त्यहाँ कुनै आनन्दको ठूलो वक्तव्य छैन: किनकि त्यो भविष्यको समयको लागि लुकाइएको छ जसमा सम्पूर्ण स्वर्ग र पृथ्वी सँगै अवर्णनीय आनन्द र महिमाको पूर्णतामा आनन्द मनाउनेछन्। त्यहाँ कुनै चर्को आवाज छैन: त्यो पनि स्वर्गबाट आउने चर्को आवाजको लागि लुकाइराखिएको छ। गायकहरू शान्त छन्: तिनीहरू स्वर्गबाट आएका सङ्गीतका दल अर्थात् स्वर्गदूतका दलहरूसँगै गाउन प्रतीक्षा गरिरहेका छन्। ... त्यहाँ कुनै मतान्तर छैन: सबै जना एउटै हृदय र एउटै मनका छन्।” —Bliss, pages 270, 271.MBND 137.2 यो कार्यमा सहभागी भएको अर्को एक जनाले गवाही दिए: “यसले उच्च स्वर्गको परमेश्वरको सामुन्ने हृदयको अति नै गहिरो जाँच र प्राणको नम्रता जताततै उत्पादन गरायो। यसले संसारका थोकहरूप्रति मोह त्याग्न, वाद-विवादहरू र दुश्मनीहरू समाधान गर्न, गल्तीहरू स्वीकार गर्न, परमेश्वरको अघि चकनाचूर बन्न र पश्चात्तापी बन्न, उहाँमा क्षमा र ग्रहणका लागि निर्धारित हृदयको निवेदन गर्न अगुवाइ गऱ्यो। यसले आत्म-नम्रता र प्राणको निर्बलता ल्यायो कि यस्तो पहिले कहिले देखेको थिएन। परमेश्वरले योएलद्वारा आज्ञा गर्नुभएझैँ, जब परमेश्वरको महान् दिन नजिकै हुन्थ्यो, तब त्यसले कपड़ा होइन हृदय फटायो, र उपवास बसेर, रुँदै र शोक गर्दै परमप्रभुतर्फ फर्कने बनायो। परमेश्वरले जकरियाद्वारा भन्नुभएझैँ, अनुग्रह र निवेदनको आत्मा उहाँका सन्तानमाथि खन्याइयो; तिनीहरूले उहाँमाथि हेरे जसलाई तिनीहरूले घोचेका थिए, त्यो देशमा तिनीहरू अत्यन्तै विलाप गरे, ... र जसले परमप्रभुको प्रतीक्षा गरिरहेका थिए तिनीहरूले उहाँको सामु आफूलाई इन्कार गरे।” —Bliss, in Advent Shield and Review, vol. 1, p. 271 (January, 1845).MBND 137.3 सम्पूर्ण महान् धार्मिक कार्यहरूमध्ये प्रेरितहरूका दिनहरूदेखि यता १८४४को शरद् ऋतुमा जस्तो मानवीय अपूर्णतारहित र शैतानका चतुऱ्याइँहरूरहित कहिल्यै पनि भएको थिएन। धेरै वर्षको अन्तरालपछि पनि अहिले त्यस कार्यमा सहभागी हुनेहरू र सत्यताको पक्षमा स्थिर उभिनेहरू सम्पूर्णले त्यो आशिषित कार्यको पवित्र प्रभाव अझै पनि महसुस गर्छन् र त्यो परमेश्वरबाट नै आएको थियो भनी गवाही दिन्छन्।MBND 138.1 “हेर दुलहा, उनलाई भेट्न आओ” भन्ने बोलावटमा प्रतीक्षारत जनहरू “ब्यूँझे, र आफ्नो-आफ्नो बत्ती ठीकठाक पारे।” तिनीहरूले कहिल्यै पनि अनुभव नगरेको उत्कट इच्छासाथ परमेश्वरको वचन अध्ययन गरे। जो-जो निराशमा परेका थिए तिनीहरूलाई जगाउन स्वर्गबाट स्वर्गदूतहरू पठाइए र तिनीहरूलाई सन्देश ग्रहण गर्न तयार पारे। मानिसहरूको बुद्धि र शिक्षाले त्यो कार्य भएको थिएन, तर परमेश्वरको शक्तिले भएको थियो। त्यो बोलावटलाई सबभन्दा पहिले सुन्ने र पालन गर्नेहरू सबभन्दा प्रतिभाशाली मानिसहरू थिएनन्, तर सबभन्दा नम्र र समर्पित मानिसहरू थिए। किसानहरूले तिनीहरूको बाली खेतमै छोडे, मिस्त्रीहरूले तिनीहरूका सर-सामानहरू थन्काए, र आँसु र आनन्दसाथ चेतावनी दिन बाहिर निस्केर गए। जसले पहिले परमेश्वरको कार्यमा अगुवाइ गरे तिनीहरू त्यो कार्यमा सहभागी हुन पछि परे। साधारणतया चर्चहरूले यो सन्देश विरुद्ध ढोका बन्द गरे, र जसले त्यो ग्रहण गरे तिनीहरूमध्ये ठूलो सङ्ख्यामा तिनीहरूको सम्बन्धबाट निस्केर आए। परमेश्वरको कृपाले गर्दा दोस्रो स्वर्गदूतको सन्देशसँगै यो घोषणा भएको कारण त्यो काममा शक्ति प्रदान गरियो।MBND 138.2 धर्मशास्त्रद्वारा प्रमाण स्पष्ट र निर्णायक भए तापनि “हेर, दुलहा आउँदैछन्” भन्ने सन्देश त्यति विवादपूर्ण विषयवस्तु थिएन। त्यसका साथै एक उत्साहपूर्ण शक्तिको परिचालित भयो जसले मानिसको मन छोयो। त्यहाँ कुनै शङ्का थिएन, कुनै प्रश्न पनि थिएन। यरूशलेममा ख्रीष्टको विजयपूर्ण प्रवेशको अवसरमा देशका विभिन्न क्षेत्रबाट चाड़ मान्न भेला भएकाहरू जैतुन पहाड़मा थुप्रिए, र जब तिनीहरू येशूलाई घेर्ने भीडमा सहभागी भए तब तिनीहरूले त्यो घड़ीको प्रेरणा प्राप्त गरे र त्यो आवाज गुञ्जायमान पार्न सहयोग गरे: “धन्य उहाँ, जो परमप्रभुको नाउँमा आउनुहुन्छ!” मत्ती २१:९। त्यसरी कति जना अविश्वासीहरू जिज्ञासाले, कति जनाचाहिँ गिल्ला गर्न दोस्रो आगमनका सभाहरूमा थुप्रिए, तिनीहरूले त्यो सन्देशमा विश्वास दिलाउने शक्तिको महसुस गरे: “हेर, दुलहा आउँदैछन्।”MBND 138.3 त्यो समयमा यस्तो विश्वास थियो कि प्रार्थनाको जवाफ प्राप्त गरिन्थ्यो—यस्तो विश्वास थियो कि इनामको पुरस्कारसँग सम्बन्धित थियो। सुक्खा पृथ्वीमा पानीका वर्षा भएझैँ इच्छुक अनुसन्धाताहरूमाथि अनुग्रहको आत्मा वर्षियो। जसले तिनीहरूका मुक्तिदातासँग आमने-सामने उभिने अपेक्षा गरेका थिए, तिनीहरूले व्यक्त गर्न नसकिने गम्भीर आनन्द महसुस गरे। जब उहाँको आशिष् विश्वासयोग्य, विश्वासी जनहरूमाथि प्रशस्त गरी प्रदान गरियो तब पवित्र आत्माको नरम पार्ने र वशमा पार्ने शक्तिले हृदय पगाल्यो।MBND 139.1 जसले सन्देश ग्रहण गरे तिनीहरू होसियारी र गम्भीरतासाथ त्यो समयसम्म आइपुगे जुन समयमा तिनीहरूले आफ्ना प्रभुलाई भेट्ने अपेक्षा गरेका थिए। प्रत्येक बिहान परमेश्वरले तिनीहरूलाई ग्रहण गर्नुभयो भन्ने प्रमाण प्राप्त गर्ने तिनीहरूको प्रथम कर्तव्य थियो भनी तिनीहरूले महसुस गरे। तिनीहरूका हृदयहरू एकै थिए, र तिनीहरूले सँगै र एक-अर्काको लागि धेरै प्रार्थना गरे। तिनीहरू प्रायः एकान्त ठाउँहरूमा परमेश्वरसँग कुरा गर्न भेला हुन्थे, र ती खेतहरू र जङ्गलहरूबाट मध्यस्थताको आवाज उचालिन्थ्यो। तिनीहरूलाई तिनीहरूका दैनिक खानाभन्दा पनि मुक्तिदाताको सहमतिको आश्वासन झन् धेरै आवश्यक थियो; र यदि तिनीहरूको दिमाग बदलिएर अन्धकार भयो भने तिनीहरू त्यो सफा नभएसम्म विश्राम गर्दैनथे। जब तिनीहरूले क्षमापूर्ण अनग्रहको गवाही महसुस गरे तब तिनीहरूले उहाँलाई हेर्ने इच्छा राखे जसलाई तिनीहरूले आत्माबाटै प्रेम गरेका थिए।MBND 139.2 तर फेरि तिनीहरू नैराश्यमा पर्नुपर्नेथिए। अपेक्षा गरेको समय पार भयो, र तिनीहरूका मुक्तिदाता आउनुभएन। अचल भरोसाका साथ तिनीहरूले उहाँको आगमनको प्रतीक्षा गरेका थिए, र अब तिनीहरूलाई पनि मरियमलाई जस्तै लाग्यो जब तिनी मुक्तिदाताको चिहानमा आई र खालि भेटाई, तब तिनी आश्चर्यसाथ रुँदै भनी: “तिनीहरूले मेरा प्रभुलाई लगेछन्, र उहाँलाई कहाँ राखेका छन्, म जान्दिनँ।” यूहन्ना २०:१३।MBND 139.3 यो सन्देश सत्य हुन सक्छ भन्ने भय अर्थात् डरको महसुसले यो अविश्वासी संसारमा केही समयसम्म नियन्त्रण गऱ्यो। त्यो समय पार भएपछि पनि यो महसुस तुरुन्तै हटेन; सुरुमा तिनीहरू नैराशित जनहरूमाथि विजय हुने आँट गरेनन्; तर जब तिनीहरूले परमेश्वरको क्रोधको कुनै चिन्ह देखेनन् तब तिनीहरू भयमुक्त भए र तिनीहरू घृणा र गिल्ला गर्नतर्फ लागे। जसले प्रभुको शीघ्र आगमनमा विश्वास गर्ने दाबी गरेका थिए, तिनीहरूको ठूलो समूहले आफ्ना विश्वास परित्याग गरे। त्यसमा यति विश्वस्त हुनेहरूमध्ये केहीको गौरवमा यति गहिरो चोट पऱ्यो कि यस संसारबाट नै भाग्न मन लाग्यो। योनाजस्तै तिनीहरू परमेश्वरको विषयमा गनगन गरे, र जीवनभन्दा बरु मृत्यु नै छाने। जुनहरूले तिनीहरूको विश्वास परमेश्वरको वचनमाथि नभई अरूको विचारमाथि राखेका थिए, अब तिनीहरू आफ्ना विचारहरू फेरि पनि परिवर्तन गर्न तयार भए। गिल्ला गर्नेहरूले कमजोर र कायरहरूलाई तिनीहरूको पक्षमा ल्याए, र अब कुनै डरहरू वा अपेक्षाहरू छैन भनी घोषणा गर्न तिनीहरू सबै जना एकत्र भए। समय पार भएको थियो, प्रभु आउनुभएको थिएन, र संसारचाहिँ हजारौँ वर्षहरूसम्म यस्तै रहन सक्थ्यो।MBND 140.1 उत्सुक र इमान्दार विश्वासीहरूले ख्रीष्टको खातिर सर्वस्व छोडेका थिए र कहिले पनि महसुस नगरेको उहाँको उपस्थितिमा तिनीहरू सहभागी भएका थिए। तिनीहरूले विश्वास गरेअनुसार तिनीहरूले संसारलाई आखिरी चेतावनी दिएका थिए; तिनीहरूका ईश्वरीय मालिक र स्वर्गीय दूतहरूको सङ्गतमा चाँडै नै स्वागत हुने अपेक्षा गरेर सन्देश ग्रहण नगर्ने सङ्गतबाट तिनीहरू झण्डै पूर्णरूपले अलग भएका थिए। तीव्र इच्छासाथ तिनीहरूले प्रार्थना गरेका थिए: “आउनुहोस्, प्रभु येशू र चाँडै आउनुहोस्।” तर उहाँ आउनुभएको थिएन। अब फेरि जीवनका चिन्ताहरू र फिक्रीहरूका गह्रुङ्गो भारी उठाउनु र खिसी गर्ने संसारका ठट्ठाहरू र गिल्लाहरू सहनुचाहिँ विश्वास र धैर्यको डरलाग्दो जाँच थियो।MBND 140.2 तापनि यो नैराश्यचाहिँ ख्रीष्टको पहिलो आगमनमा चेलाहरूद्वारा अनुभव गरेको नैराश्यभन्दा ठूलो थिएन। जब येशू विजयीपूर्ण साथ गधामाथि चढेर यरूशलेममा आउनुभयो, तब उहाँका चेलाहरूले विश्वास गरे कि अब उहाँ दाऊदको सिंहासनमा चढ्नै लाग्नुभएको थियो र इस्राएललाई अत्याचारीहरूको हातबाट छुटकारा दिलाउनै लाग्नुभएको थियो। उच्च आशाहरू र हर्षित आकाङ्क्षाहरूसाथ तिनीहरू आफ्ना राजाप्रति आदर प्रकट गर्न एक-अर्कामा होडबाजी चलिरहेको थियो। धेरै जनाले तिनीहरूका बाहिरी वस्त्र बाटोमा ओछ्याइदिए, वा उहाँको अघि पातले भरिएको खजूरका हाँगाहरू छरिदिए। तिनीहरूका जोशिलो आनन्दमा तिनीहरू आनन्दले एकसाथ कराए: “दाऊदका पुत्रलाई होसन्ना!” जब फरिसीहरू त्यो आनन्दपूर्ण उत्तेजित जमातद्वारा झर्को माने र रिसाएर येशूले उहाँका चेलाहरूलाई हकारून् भन्ने इच्छा गरे, तब उहाँले जवाफ दिनुभयो: “यिनीहरू चूप लागे भने ढुङ्गाहरू कराउनेछन्।” लूका १९:४०। अगमवाणी पूरा हुनुपर्नेथियो। चेलाहरूले परमेश्वरको अभिप्राय पूरा गरिरहेका थिए; तापनि तिनीहरूमाथि तीतो नैराश्य आउनै लागेको थियो। तिनीहरूले केवल केही दिनपछि नै मुक्तिदाताको संतापपूर्ण मृत्यु देखे र उहाँलाई चिहानमा राखे। तिनीहरूका अपेक्षाहरू कुनै पनि कुरामा पूरा भएन र तिनीहरूका आशाहरू येशूसँगै मरेका थिए। तिनीहरूका प्रभु विजेता भई चिहानबाट बाहिर निस्की नआउञ्जेलसम्म तिनीहरूले बुझ्न सकेनन् जुन अगमवाणीद्वारा सम्पूर्ण कुरा पूर्ववाणी गरिएको थियो र “ख्रीष्टलाई अवश्य दुःख भोग्नु र मृतकबाट जीवित हुनुपर्थ्यो।” प्रेरित १७:३।MBND 140.3 पाँच सय वर्ष अगाड़ि नै परमप्रभुले जकरिया अगमवक्ताद्वारा घोषणा गर्नुभएको थियो: “हे सियोनकी छोरी, खूब रमाऊ। हे यरूशलेमकी छोरी, जोरसित कराऊ! हेर, तिम्रा राजा तिमीकहाँ आउँदैहुनुहुन्छ। उहाँ धर्मात्मा र मुक्तिदाता हुनुहुन्छ। उहाँ भला हुनुहुन्छ, र गधामाथि, अर्थात् गधाको बच्चा एउटा बछेड़ामाथि सवार भएर आउँदैहुनुहुन्छ।” जकरिया ९:९। ख्रीष्ट न्यायमा र मृत्युमा जाँदैहुनुहुन्छ भनी चेलाहरूले जानेको भए तिनीहरूले यो अगमवाणी पूरा गर्न सक्दैनथे।MBND 141.1 त्यसरी नै मिलर र तिनका सहकर्मीहरूले अगमवाणी पूरा गरे र संसारलाई प्रकट गर्नुपर्छ भन्ने प्रेरणाले पूर्ववाणी गरेको सन्देश तिनीहरूले दिए, तर यदि तिनीहरूले आफ्नो नैराश्य प्रकट गरेको र परमप्रभु आउनुभन्दा अगाड़ि सारा जातिहरूलाई प्रचार गर्नुपर्ने अर्को सन्देश प्रकट गराउने अगमवाणीहरू पूर्णरूपले बुझेका भए तिनीहरूले त्यो दिन सक्दैनथे। पहिलो र दोस्रो स्वर्गदूतको सन्देश ठीक समयमा प्रचार गरियो र परमेश्वरले तिनीहरूद्वारा पूरा गर्न चाहनुभएको काम पूरा भयो।MBND 141.2 संसारले हेरिरहेको वा आशा गरिरहेको थियो कि यदि समय पार भयो र ख्रीष्ट आउनुभएन भने दोस्रो आगमनको विश्वास बिलाएर जानेछ। तर कति जनाले शक्तिशाली परीक्षाको कारण तिनीहरूको विश्वास छोडे भने कति जनाचाहिँ स्थिर भई खडा रहे। दोस्रो आगमनको कार्यका फलहरू स्वरूप नम्रताको आत्मा र हृदयको जाँच, संसारको परित्याग र जीवनको सुधार जस्ता कार्यहरू भए, जसले यो परमेश्वरबाट नै आएको थियो भन्ने गवाही दिएको थियो। दोस्रो आगमनको प्रचार पवित्र आत्माको शक्तिद्वारा नै भएको थियो भन्ने कुरा तिनीहरूले इन्कार गर्ने साहस गरेनन् र तिनीहरूले अगमवाणीको अवधिको हिसाबमा पनि केही गल्ती पत्ता लगाउन सकेनन्। तिनीहरूका विरोधीहरूमध्ये सबभन्दा सक्षम विरोधी पनि तिनीहरूको अगमवाणीको वर्णन प्रणालीलाई नष्ट गर्न सकेन। बाइबलको प्रमाणविना तिनीहरूको विश्वास त्याग्न सहमत भएनन् जुन उत्कट प्रार्थनाका साथ धर्मशास्त्रको अध्ययनबाट परमेश्वरका आत्माद्वारा दिमागहरूमा प्रकाश पाएको थियो र त्यसकै जीवित शक्तिले हृदय पोलिरहेको थियो; जुन विश्वासले सबभन्दा कठोर आलोचना र प्रसिद्ध धार्मिक शिक्षकहरू र सांसारिक बुद्धिमानी मानिसहरूको सबभन्दा तीतो विरोध सामना गरेको थियो र जसले शिक्षित र भाषणकलायुक्त मानिसहरूको संयुक्त फौज, र प्रतिष्ठित र नीचहरू दुवैका उस्तै गिल्लाहरू र खिसीहरू विरुद्ध दृढतासाथ खडा भयो।MBND 141.3 यो कुरा साँचो थियो कि अपेक्षा गरिएको घटना असफल भयो, तर त्यसले पनि परमेश्वरको वचनमा भएको तिनीहरूको विश्वासलाई हल्लाउन सकेन। जब चालिस दिनमा सहर नष्ट हुनेछ भनी योनाले निनवेका सड़कहरूमा घोषणा गरे, तब परमप्रभुले निनवेका मानिसहरूको नम्रता ग्रहण गर्नुभयो र तिनीहरूको पश्चात्तापको समय थपिदिनुभयो; यद्यपि योनाको सन्देश परमेश्वरले नै पठाउनुभएको थियो, र निनवेचाहिँ उहाँको इच्छाअनुसार जाँचियो। त्यसै गरी दोस्रो आगमनका विश्वासीहरूले विश्वास गरे कि परमेश्वरले तिनीहरूलाई न्यायको चेतावनी प्रदान गर्न अगुवाइ गर्नुभएको थियो। तिनीहरूले घोषणा गरे: “सुन्नेहरू सबैका हृदयहरू यसले जाँचेको छ, र परमप्रभुको आगमनप्रति एउटा प्रेम जगाएको छ; अथवा यसले उहाँको आगमनको विषयमा खुल्लमखुल्ला वा गुप्तमा घृणा जगाएको छ, तर परमेश्वरलाई पहिल्यै थाहा थियो। यसले एउटा रेखा कोरेको छ ... ताकि ज-जसले तिनीहरूको आफ्नै हृदय जाँच्नेछन्, तिनीहरूले जान्न सकून् कि तिनीहरू त्यो रेखाको कतातिर भेटाइनेछन्, यदि त्यति बेला परमप्रभु आउनुभएको भए ‘हेर, यहाँ नै हाम्रा परमेश्वर हुनुहुन्छ; हामीले उहाँको बाटो हेऱ्यौं, र उहाँले हामीलाई बचाउनुहुनेछ’ भनी तिनीहरू कराएका हुन्थे कि तिनीहरूले चट्टानहरू र पहाड़हरूलाई तिनीहरूमाथि खसोस् र सिंहासनमा बस्नुहुनेको मुहारबाट र थुमाको क्रोधबाट तिनीहरूलाई लुकाओस् भनी कराउनेथिए। परमेश्वरले यसरी हामीले विश्वास गरेझैँ उहाँका मानिसहरूलाई जाँच्नुभएको छ, तिनीहरूका विश्वास जाँच्नुभएको छ, तिनीहरूलाई प्रमाणित गर्नुभएको छ, र सङ्कष्टको समयमा उहाँले तिनीहरूलाई राख्न उचित ठान्नुभएको अवस्थाबाट पछि हट्छन् कि हट्दैनन् भनी उहाँले हेर्नुभएको छ; र तिनीहरूले संसारलाई त्यागेर परमेश्वरको वचनमा मात्रै सम्पूर्ण भरोसा राख्छन् कि राख्दैनन् भनी हेर्नुभएको छ।” —The Advent Herald and Signs of the Times Reporter, vol. 8, No. 14 (Nov. 13, 1844)MBND 142.1 परमेश्वरले तिनीहरूका विगतको अनुभवमा अगुवाइ गर्नुभयो भनी जसले अझै पनि विश्वास गरे तिनीहरूका भावनाहरू विलियम मिलरका शब्दहरूमा व्यक्त भएका छन्: “यदि मैले फेरि जीवन जिउन पाएको भए जुन प्रमाण त्यो समयमा मैले पाएको थिएँ, त्यसैको आधारमा परमेश्वर र मानिससँग ईमानदारितासाथ भन्नुपर्दा मैले पहिले जसो गरें, म फेरि त्यसै गर्नेथिएँ।” “मैले मेरो पोशाक मानिसहरूको रगतबाट मुक्त बनाएको छु भन्ने मलाई आशा छ। मेरो शक्तिले भ्याएसम्म तिनीहरूको सम्पूर्ण दोषबाट आफूलाई मुक्त गराएको म अनुभव गर्छु।” यो परमेश्वरको मानिसले लेखे, “म दुई पल्ट नैराश्यमा परे तापनि म अहिलेसम्म त नष्ट वा निराश भएको छैनँ। ... ख्रीष्टको आगमनमाथि मेरो आशा पहिले जस्तै बलियो छ। गम्भीर चिन्तन-मननका वर्षहरूपछि मात्र मेरो गम्भीर कर्तव्य मलाई जे महसुस भयो मैले त्यही गरें। यदि मैले केही गल्ती गरें भने त्यो त्यही नै थियो कि सँगी मानिसहरूप्रति माया, प्रेम र परमेश्वरप्रति कर्तव्यको महसुस गरेको थिएँ।” “मलाई एउटा कुरा थाहै छ, मैले विश्वास गरेको कुराबाहेक मैले अरू कुनै पनि कुरा प्रचार गरेको छैनँ; र परमेश्वर मसँग हुनुभएको छ; उहाँको शक्ति यो कार्यमा प्रकट रहेको छ, र धेरै असल काम भएको छ।” “पूरै मानवीय दृष्टिकोणमा धेरै हजार मानिसहरू त्यो समयको प्रचारद्वारा धर्मशास्त्र अध्ययन गर्न लागेका छन्, र विश्वास र ख्रीष्टको रगतको छर्काइद्वारा परमेश्वरमा मिलाप भएका छन्।” —Bliss, pages 256, 255, 277, 280, 281. “मैले कहिल्यै पनि घमण्डीहरूको मुस्कान चाहना गरेको छैनंँ, नता संसारको रिसबाट नै म डराएँ। अब म तिनीहरूको समर्थन किन्न चाहन्नँ, नता तिनीहरूको घृणा उक्साउन मेरो कर्तव्यभन्दा पर जानेछु। म कहिले पनि मेरो जीवनको सुरक्षा तिनीहरूको हातबाट खोज्नेछैनँ र यदि परमेश्वर उहाँको असल कृपामा निर्देशन दिनुहुन्छ भने तिनीहरूको हातबाट जीवन गुमाउनदेखि पछि हट्नेछैनँ भनी आशा गर्दछु।” —J. White, Life of Wm. Miller, page 315.MBND 143.1 परमेश्वरले उहाँका मानिसहरूलाई त्याग्नुभएन; जसले हडबडीका साथ तिनीहरूले प्राप्त गरेका ज्योति इन्कार गरेनन्, नता दोस्रो आगमनको कार्य इन्कार गरे तिनीहरूसँग अझै पनि पवित्र आत्मा रहनुभयो। हिब्रूहरूलाई लेखेको पत्रमा यो सङ्कष्टको समयमा जाँचमा परेकाहरू र प्रतीक्षारत जनहरूका लागि साहस र चेतावनीका शब्दहरू छन्: “त्यसकारण आफ्नो यो भरोसा नत्याग, जसमा ठूलो इनामको प्रतिफल छ। परमेश्वरको इच्छा पूरा गर्न र प्रतिज्ञा गरिएको प्रतिफल प्राप्त गर्न तिमीहरूलाई स्थिर रहनु आवश्यक छ। किनकि अब एकै छिनमा, ‘आउनुहुनेचाहिँ आउनु नै हुनेछ, र बियाँलो गर्नुहुनेछैन। तर मेरो धार्मिक जनचाहिँ विश्वासद्वारा बाँच्नेछ, र यदि ऊ पछि हट्छ भनेता म उसँग खुशी हुनेछैनँ।’ तर हामी पछि हट्ने र विनाश पारिनेहरूमध्येका होइनौं, तर विश्वास गरी बचाइएकाहरूमध्येका हौं।” हिब्रू १०:३५-३९।MBND 143.2 यो चेतावनी अन्तिम दिनहरूको चर्चलाई सम्बोधन गरिएको छ भन्ने कुरा प्रभुको आगमनको निकटता देखाएका शब्दहरूले प्रमाणित गर्दछ: “एकै छिनमा, ‘आउनुहुनेचाहिँ आउनु नै हुनेछ, र बियाँलो गर्नुहुनेछैन।’” यो स्पष्ट सङ्केत गरिएको हो कि त्यहाँ प्रत्यक्ष ढिलाइ भएको थियो र परमप्रभु बियाँलो गर्नुभयो जस्तो देखिएको थियो। यहाँ दिइएको शिक्षा विशेष गरी यो समयमा भएको दोस्रो आगमनको विश्वासीहरूको अनुभवमा उपयुक्त छ। यहाँ सम्बोधन गरिएका मानिसहरूले विश्वासको जहाज ध्वंस गर्ने खतरामा छन्। तिनीहरूले उहाँको आत्मा र उहाँको वचनको अगुवाइलाई अनुकरण गरेर परमेश्वरको इच्छा पूरा गरेका थिए; तापनि तिनीहरूले आफ्ना विगतका अनुभवमा उहाँको उद्देश्य बुझ्न सकेनन्, नता तिनीहरूले अगाड़ि भएको मार्ग नै चिन्न सके, र परमेश्वरले साँच्चै अगुवाइ गर्नुभएको छ कि छैन भनी तिनीहरू परिक्षित भए। यो समयमा ती शब्दहरू उपयुक्त भए: “धार्मिक जनचाहिँ विश्वासद्वारा बाँच्नेछ।” जब तिनीहरूको मार्गमा “मध्यरातको कराइ”-को उज्ज्वल ज्योति चम्केको थियो र तिनीहरूले अगमवाणीहरू खोलिएका र ख्रीष्टको आगमनको निकटता निर्देशन गर्ने चिन्हहरू निकै छिटो-छिटो पूरा भएका देखे तब तिनीहरूले देखेको जस्तै गरी हिँड़े। तर अब निराशपूर्ण आशाहरूद्वारा ढलेर तिनीहरू परमेश्वर र उहाँको वचनमाथि विश्वास गरेर मात्र खडा हुन सक्थे। उपहास गर्ने संसारले भनिरहेको थियो: “तिमीहरू भ्रममा परेका छौ। तिमीहरूको विश्वास छोडिदेऊ, र दोस्रो आगमनको कार्यचाहिँ शैतानको थियो भनी भन।” तर परमेश्वरको वचनले घोषणा गऱ्यो: “यदि ऊ पछि हट्छ भनेता म उसँग खुसी हुनेछैनँ।” अहिले तिनीहरूको विश्वास त्याग्नु र त्यो सन्देशमा रहेको पवित्र आत्माको शक्तिलाई इन्कार गर्नुचाहिँ विनाशतर्फ गएको हुनेथियो। तिनीहरू पावलका शब्दहरूद्वारा दृढ रहन साहस प्राप्त गरे: “आफ्नो यो भरोसा नत्याग,” “तिमीहरूलाई स्थिर रहनु आवश्यक छ,” “अब एकै छिनमा, ‘आउनुहुनेचाहिँ आउनु नै हुनेछ, र बियाँलो गर्नुहुनेछैन।’” तिनीहरूको एउटा सुरक्षित उपायचाहिँ यही थियो कि तिनीहरू परमेश्वरबाट प्राप्त गरिसकेको ज्योति कायम राख्नुपर्ने, उहाँका प्रतिज्ञाहरू बलियो गरी पक्रनुपर्ने, र निरन्तररूपले धर्मशास्त्र खोजी गर्नुपर्ने, र धैर्यसाथ प्रतीक्षा गर्नुपर्ने र बाँकी ज्योति प्राप्त गर्न जागा रहनुपर्नेथिए।MBND 144.1