Thoughts on Victory

Thursday, January 25, 2002

Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18.

When we hear this verse, we often begin to bask in the belief that our church will stand forever. But what is the church? Is it the building? Is it the organizational structure? Just what is it?

As Jesus prayed in the garden, He said, "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee...that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him," (John 17:1, 2). Notice He said, "eternal life to as many," not to it.

On another occasion, He said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day, " (John 6:44). Again, He said, "I will raise him up at the last day," not raise it up.

Then John, the revelator said, "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ," (Rev. 12:17). The devil, in attacking the remnant, attacks people, because he has already joined the church. (See Jer. 14:14; Matt. 7:15; Matt. 24:11, 24; 2 Peter 2:1, 2; 2 Thess. 2:3, 4; 1 John 2:18, 19; Rev. 12:17).

My friends, God is not returning on that great day to save a building, an organization or anything or that sort, He is returning to save a people. Will you be among that body, the church?

Walk with the Lord today and receive a blessing from Him.

Wednesday, January 23, 2002

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Rev. 1:3.

One of the most interesting things about many Christian churches is their belief that the book of Revelation cannot be understood. Many of their leaders teach that the book is sealed, to difficult to understand, or that we will never fully understand it. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The name comes from the Greek work apokalupsis, which means, "to unveil," "to reveal," "to lay bear," "to make naked," or "to disclose the truth." Then to make matters worse, by claiming that we can't understand it, we make God unfair, because He said, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things." How could we get the blessing since we couldn't keep His words due to lack of understanding?

My friends, it is very simple. The understanding comes as God bestows upon His remnant church, the "one faith" that Paul talks about in Eph. 4:5, the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 12:17; 19:10).

So, if your church is saying that the book is sealed or it cannot be understood, I beg you to pray God for the strength to find one that thinks other wise. Remember that God has promised a blessing to those that read, hear and keep the words of this book.

Walk with the Lord today and be a blessing to someone else.

Monday, September 17, 2001

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Cor. 10:13)

All who profess godliness are under the most sacred obligation to guard the spirit, and to exercise self-control under the greatest provocation…God has made ample provision for His people; and if they rely upon His strength, they will never become the sport of circumstances. The strongest temptation cannot excuse sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel anyone to do evil. Satan attacks us at our weak points, but we need not be overcome. However severe or unexpected the assault, God has provided help for us, and in His strength we may conquer.

Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 320.

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37, NKJV).