Many have heard of the familiar proverb that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and this is certainly the case when living within the threefold cord of God’s blessing. In our last chapter we spoke about how those who are under authority are blessed when they respect and obey that authority. This then raises the question of what shall we do if a person in authority asks us to do things that are not revealed in God’s Word or if they themselves engage in activities that are not of God. Praying for Leaders The first thing…

Placing ourselves correctly in our communities means that we need to identify who are the people and institutions that we are to show respect to as well as identify those who are under our care and that we are to protect and bless. Living in western society has flattened many aspects of the divine pattern and blurred the channel system for many. Even so, most of us can identify two cords of the threefold cord. Most of us can identify our parents or guardians from childhood and the civil authorities in our lives such as government leaders and police are…

The more and more we bring ourselves into line with the divine pattern and we learn more and more to honour the authorities God has placed in our lives, the more our motivation to see that leaders speak and do the right things will come from a recognition that this person is ordained to pass a portion of God’s blessings to us.

In chapter one we noted the following Apart from the direct blessings of joy, happiness and fellowship that flow to us through this divine pattern there is also the protective blessings that we can accrue through the channel. In each case, the one “through whom” things come, is under the protection and possesses the authority of the one “by whom things come”

With the history we have considered in the previous chapter revealing the blind drunk state of our church, it is natural for many to assume that there is no blessing in looking to the leaders of the Adventist Church. Yet I believe that there are lessons for us in the story of Hannah that apply to our current situation. In the first chapter of Samuel we have the case of Hannah who was struggling under the weight of being childless and beyond this she had to face the scornful words of another wife who could boast of producing children while…

Here is our premise and underlying assumption again: Premise: There are three Persons in the Godhead. Hidden/Underlying Assumption: Position of Divinity is only ascribed to beings of highest inherent power. Let’s apply this premise to the problematic passages of Scripture. Deu 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: Because we have clearly proved there are three Persons of the Godhead based on the premise I would suggest the following. The Lord (Singular) our God (Plural) is One (Singular) Lord. The plural indicates the trinity and the word one “Echad” is the same word used as for…

In this series we have been beholding the divine pattern of Father and Son as reflected in many aspects of our families, communities and churches. By simply beholding this divine pattern in faith through Christ we will be transformed into their likeness as the Bible states: 2 Cor 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. While some members of society are given positions to copy aspects of the “Of Whom” role of…

As God’s people we know that it is the faithful observance of the Sabbath that is the mark the reveal’s God’s ownership of the person. We also know that it is through the sanctifying power of the Sabbath that God’s people will be sealed. Eze 20:12  Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. In chapter 2 we explored the fountain structure of the law that reflects the divine pattern at the centre. It is through this divine pattern that the…

This date still commands the attention of Adventists today. Seems like each generation takes a crack at it. Church historians spin their own version of what “really” happened in Minneapolis 127 years ago. It was in a Minnesota school house where the 90 delegates of a 27 year old church with 27,000 members met, already divided over “The Law in Galatians.” 1888. How can anything that old be of any value (let alone interest) to us today? Aren’t there more important issues that deserve our time and attention? Like Sunday laws, Prophecy, Terrorism, Illuminati, the Papacy, Isis, the economy... The…

The subject of the Holy Spirit is a mystery to us in many ways. Jesus indicated the mysterious nature of the Spirit when speaking to Nicodemus. Joh 3:8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." Perhaps it would be good to remind ourselves of the care needed when discussing such a subject as this. When discussing the personality of God we are on Holy Ground and must approach it reverently taking great care to…

A. Character Identification As a young person growing up, I had the misfortune of being exposed to endless hours of television. One of the programs I watched on a regular basis was a program called “Happy Days”. For some of you, there will be an immediate knowledge of the program I am talking about. The program traced the lives of one particular family and their friends living in the late 1950’s One of the main characters was Richard Cunningham. After watching many episodes of this program I developed quite a connection with this character. I was familiar with his habits…

A. Questioning the Plain Statements of Scripture From the beginning of time Satan has tried to confuse the human race about the meaning of God’s statements. Satan’s first statement to Eve was not a direct attack on what God had said but rather an insertion of doubt as to what God really meant. “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” The implication and manner of question assumes a completely different framework of understanding. Satan’s question suggests that there must be some kind of mistake here.[1] Satan does not seek to establish any reason…

1. A Spiritual view of Father and Son as opposed to Literal Position (Addressed in Chapters 23, 25, 26)  One of the key arguments used against a true Father and Son relationship is that it is too literal and is a superimposing of human concepts onto God. A true Father and Son relationship is seen as diminishing the equality of the Son with the Father. The central flaw of this argument is to fail to define the basis of equality. Power based equality is naturally assumed in exactly the same manner as William Miller assumed the Sanctuary to be the…

I witnessed firsthand the disfellowship of my brother and sisters in Christ John, Joy and Annie Penman by the Whyalla SDA Church of SA on the 15th of May 2016.  The family have been loyal members of the church for so many years until that night. I praise God for their faith and courage in standing together as a family in what they believe. This is my story.

E. False Worship Exposes Believers to Destruction.

In the previous chapter we noticed how the flow of life preserved as a channel of blessing from Father to Son to man to woman. The structure of the male/female relationship in the image of God – The Father and Son is vital to preserve the life flow. In this chapter we want to focus on the spiritual nature of this life flow. A. Physical and Spiritual Channel of Blessing Man has been created with two fountains reflective of the body plus breath formula of Gen 2:7. Man passes his physical seed through the sexual union but he passes his…

A. Life/Blessing flow through the Individual Channel Eze 14:14  Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness," says the Lord God. People are saved as individuals and the ultimate responsibility for a person’s salvation is themselves. The channel of blessing for the individual comes through personal prayer and Bible study. Through this process a person receives spiritual life directly from God and is blessed and guided. In terms of receiving instruction the only authority that the conscience can completely submit to is the Bible and the Bible alone.…

From the time that Lucifer (who is also known as Satan, or the Devil), first entertained thoughts of rebellion against God, to when sin is finally vanquished when death is cast into the `lake of fire' with him (Revelation 20: 10, 14), the entire issue of salvation has from eternity hinged upon the principle of the character of God, in contrast to the character of Satan. Philippians 2: 5 - 8 contrasts the selfless mind of Christ (of which we are exhorted to partake of), with the selfish mind of Lucifer, the fallen angel of God:`Let this mind be in…

A Covenant Of Peace and Showers Of Blessing Scripture Compiled by Frank Klin   During my devotional time I was reading Psalm 44. When I started to cross reference verses from that chapter a stream of Scripture came together painting a picture of the character of our heavenly Father and those who trust in Him in contrast to those who trust in another power. One group will destroy themselves, the other receives a covenant of peace and showers of blessing, not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit. “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers…

Upon reading the book ‘’Acts of our Gentle God”, it impressed me to look into the First Angels message. This message contains an everlasting Gospel to be preached to all nations: Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.…