Sabbath Message: Gross Darkness in Egypt but Light in Goshen

Sabbath Message: Gross Darkness in Egypt but Light in Goshen

03/10/20

"When the Scriptures are suppressed, and man comes to regard himself as supreme, we need look only for fraud, deception, and debasing iniquity. With the elevation of human laws and traditions, was manifest the corruption that ever results from setting aside the law of God". - GC88 55.1

Scripture Reading: Exodus 10:22-23 " And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings".

Blessed Sabbath family of God, the year 2020 has been strange. There are thick clouds of darkness covering the earth. The future for many is uncertain and mysterious but praise God, that the Truth of the prophetic message is as a light that shines in a dark place and lights our paths until the Day Star arises in our hearts. We are told in Isaiah 60:1-3 " Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising". That time to let our lights so shine is now. "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light" Luke 11:33. So brethren and sisters, the light which is illuminating from the face of Jesus which we are to behold openly is to cause faithful believers who a represented as angels to light up the world that is in darkness; "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory" Revelation 18:1.

Have you ever wondered how in one country, a small portion of it had light while the rest of the nation languished in gross darkness. The miraculous working of the power of God is the only power that separates darkness and light, truth and error, death and life. "In him [Jesus Christ] was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not" John 1:4-5. The reason why darkness comprehended not the light was because of hatred of the light " And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. 

One of the topics rarely discussed in polite society is the Roman Church-State's role in supporting the fascist and Nazi regimes of the twentieth century. That support is not accidental, but flows from the social teaching and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Church-State. Christopher Dawson, a Roman Catholic historian, wrote that Roman Catholicism is by no means hostile to the authoritarian ideal State. Against the liberal doctrines of the divine right of majorities and the unrestrained freedom of the opinion the [Roman] Church has always maintained the principles of authority and hierarchy and a high conception of the prerogatives of the State. [Roman Catholic social ideas] have far more affinity with those of fascism than with those of either Liberalism or Socialism. [They] correspond much more closely,vat least in theory, with the Fascist conception of the functions of the "leader" and the vocational hierarchy of the Fascist state than they do with the system of parliamentary democratic party government..." John W . Robbins [ Ecclesiastical Megalomania Pg 161].

Our scripture reading was taken from Exodus 10: 22-23 which showed us that though darkness of ruin covered Egypt, God spared the land Goshen where Israel dwelt. As national apostasy ( from the executive branch to the electorates) is followed by national ruin, we have an assurance that we shall be saved from the mouths of lions in this time of crisis. "Not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem. Christ had given his disciples warning, and all who believed his words watched for the promised sign" GC88 30.4.

We have to be careful that we have true light which comes by understanding the written will of God as revealed by the scriptures. " "Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness" Luke 11:35.“To the law and to the testimony. If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [Isaiah 8:20.] The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness. Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances reveal his deceptions. At every revival of God’s work, the prince of evil is aroused to more intense activity; he is now putting forth his utmost efforts for a final struggle against Christ and his followers. The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true, that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested. - GC88 593.1

Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in his Word; they can honor him only as they have a right conception of his character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test, Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable Word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus? - GC88 593.2

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. - 2Corinthians 4:6

The consecrated messengers who in the early days of Christianity carried to a perishing world the glad tidings of salvation, allowed no thought of self-exaltation to mar their presentation of Christ and Him crucified. They coveted neither authority nor pre-eminence. Hiding self in the Saviour, they exalted the great plan of salvation, and the life of Christ, the Author and Finisher of this plan. Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever, was the burden of their teaching. - AA 209.1

If those who today are teaching the word of God, would uplift the cross of Christ higher and still higher, their ministry would be far more successful. If sinners can be led to give one earnest look at the cross, if they can obtain a full view of the crucified Saviour, they will realize the depth of God’s compassion and the sinfulness of sin. - AA 209.2

When the eyes have been enlightened with the spiritual eyesight, then we shall see altogether clearly. The things of time and sense that now attract attention will lose their value, for there will be disclosed to men eternal interests. As God made known His will to the Hebrew captives, to those who were most separate from the customs and practices of a world lying in wickedness, so will the Lord communicate light from heaven to all who will appreciate a “Thus saith the Lord.” To them He will express His mind. Those who are least bound up with worldly ideas, are the most separate from display, and vanity, and pride, and love of promotion, who stand forth as His peculiar people, zealous of good works,—to these He will reveal the meaning of His word. The very first exhibition of God’s power to the Hebrew captives was in showing the defective wisdom of the great ones of the earth. The wisdom of men is foolishness with God. The magicians revealed their ignorance of the light before the Lord revealed His wisdom as supreme. The wisdom of human agents who had misappropriated their God-given talents, God showed to be foolishness. - CW 101.2

“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised.” - CW 102.1

All who shall unite to praise and honor and glorify those who have lifted the banner of Satan are fighting against God. Our work now is to enlighten the world, in the place of bearing a peace-and-safety message. A banner has been placed in our hands, upon which is inscribed, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” This is a distinct, separating message,—a message that is to give no uncertain sound. It is to lead the people away from the broken cisterns that contain no water, to the fountain of living waters.—Letter 60, 1898. 

Agitate, agitate, agitate! The subjects which we present to the world must be to us a living reality. It is important that in defending the doctrines which we consider fundamental articles of faith, we should never allow ourselves to employ arguments that are not wholly sound. These may avail to silence an opposer, but they do not honor the truth. We should present sound arguments, that will not only silence our opponents, but will bear the closest and most searching scrutiny. - GW 299.3

Whatever may be man’s intellectual advancement, let him not for a moment think that there is no need of thorough and continuous searching of the Scriptures for greater light. As a people, we are called individually to be students of prophecy. We must watch with earnestness that we may discern any ray of light which God shall present to us. We are to catch the first gleamings of truth; and through prayerful study, clearer light may be obtained, which can be brought before others. - GW 300.1

When God’s people are at ease, and satisfied with their present enlightenment, we may be sure that He will not favor them. It is His will that they should be ever moving forward, to receive the increased and ever-increasing light which is shining for them. GW 300.2

The present attitude of the church is not pleasing to God. There has come in a self-confidence that has led them to feel no necessity for more truth and greater light. We are living at a time when Satan is at work on the right hand and on the left, before and behind us; and yet as a people we are asleep. God wills that a voice shall be heard arousing His people to action.—Testimonies for the Church 5:703-709.

Have a Blessed Sabbath Church