Sabbath study: The Eternal and Moral Purpose of Prophecy

Sabbath Sermon: The Eternal and Moral Purpose of Prophecy

05/12/20

Opening Hymn: 316- Live out Thy Life within me

Closing Hymn : 308- Wholly Thine

Scripture reading: Colossians 1: 27-28 "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:"

Introduction

Sabbath blessings and kind regards from this cold Scotland, may the Word of God warm our hearts today and lead us to the obedience of faith. Let us begin our study by reading Colossians 3:9-16 "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord".

The gospel of Jesus Christ offers us eternal life besides the natural life that the old man had; in order to obtain the second life; God told Nicodemus that man must be born again. Paul exclaimed in Galatians 2:20 that “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me”.  Therefore, we have to put off the old man and put on the new man. This renewal comes through obtaining the revealed knowledge by our Creator who will impute his Righteousness by “Creates in me a clean heart, O God; and renews a right Spirit within me” Psalm 51:10. The eternal and moral purpose of prophecy is the Revelation of Jesus Christ so that He can live in our within through the obedience of faith. I truly believe that learning Truth as it is in Christ Jesus is the True blessing of the Sabbath but without the influence of the Holy Spirit I am afraid that instead of receiving the knowledge of Jesus Christ the pulpit can be a podium of humanism full of hellish torches of false light and many will be caused to imbibe gimmicks masquerading as gospel. Let me be clear, if prophetic message does not lead me to Christ and the obedience which comes by faith, that prophesy is as good as going to the witches of Endor or Ekron. I am glad that the word of God give to the new man deliverance from the fear of death; "deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" Hebrews 2:15. To live is God and to die is God, we are here because of His breath which at the appointed time shall return to Him and the dust shall return to the earth, no oils and gimmicks shall overrule the will of God. What happened to 2015 prediction, the Nashville Tennessee debacle, why do we get caught up in errors like these? What is the purpose of prophecy? Few years ago in Zimbabwe a false prophet desired so much to convince his followers that he could walk on water like the trickery of Kanye West but as soon as he stepped on the water, he was met by the jaws of a hungry croc; this is what happens if you trust the lying spirits. "And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase" 1 Kings 13:24. So what is the reason for the prophetic message?

Ephesians 3: 9-11 " And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"

Ephesians 1:9-10 "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:"

Colossians 1: 27-28 "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:"

Morality is defined as " Relating to the practice, manners or conduct of men as social beings in relation to each other, and with reference to right and wrong. The word moral is applicable to actions that are good or evil, virtuous or vicious, and has reference to the law of God as the standard by which their character is to be determined. The word however may be applied to actions which affect only, or primarily and principally, a person’s own happiness" Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary.

"The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. As the Son of man was perfect in His life, so His followers are to be perfect in their life. Jesus was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of man; yet He was the blameless Son of God. He was God in the flesh. His character is to be ours. The Lord says of those who believe in Him, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16. DA 311.4

In contrast human moralists teach what we can coin “Situational Ethics” is the doctrine of flexibility in the application of moral laws according to circumstances. “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” Judges 21:25.

Many who call themselves Christians are mere human moralists. They have refused the gift which alone could enable them to honor Christ by representing Him to the world. The work of the Holy Spirit is to them a strange work. They are not doers of the word. The heavenly principles that distinguish those who are one with Christ from those who are one with the world have become almost indistinguishable. The professed followers of Christ are no longer a separate and peculiar people. The line of demarcation is indistinct. The people are subordinating themselves to the world, to its practices, its customs, its selfishness. The church has gone over to the world in transgression of the law, when the world should have come over to the church in obedience to the law. Daily the church is being converted to the world. - COL 315.3

Judges 2:10-22 “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not”.

We need to know the future otherwise we will stumble on the traps which are now converted according to the modern order of things. "(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)" 1 Samuel 9:9.The year 2020 began with people speaking about the 20/20 vision but we were all blind in regards to the Covid19 crisis and it's effects. Now we are living in the"new normal" and our quarantined prophets are now back from the brink with their prophecies, how can we be fooled again? Last month Zimbabwe was gripped by the sad and tragic death of a prominent businessman Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure who was buried in Domboshava. A report by a prominent journalist Gambakwe of Gambakwe Media, stated that Ginimbi's death was foretold by one of the many false prophets who claimed to have gotten his vision from the "spiritual realms". Our curiosity about the future is a lucrative business for the "so called prophets" who prophesy for profit. Why is it that we need to see afar of? I believe that it is natural to fear to walk into the future through darkness lest we stumble into unknown ditches. "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he" Proverbs 29:18. The  reason for the revelation of the future is to help us keep the law for our happiness. Our first inquiry is how we can be able to live righteously and soberly in this present world and in the future. The devil has always been converting himself according to modern order of things therefore without vision, the people will stumble upon traps of the future, the tyranny of the past has now been re-imagined under the garb of "Common Good". Recently the globalists who work in darkness to author futuristic agendas, are already on course to implement a "global reset", we cannot remain in darkness regarding to what is coming up. So where do we go to inquire about the future? Shall we go to the dumb dogs that failed to bark to us regarding Covid19? "His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter" Isaiah 56:10-11. I refer to you my friends to the Word of God, " Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him" Daniel 2:20-22.

Earlier I mentioned that the goal for knowing the prophetic message is to prepare ourselves to walk in righteousness in the present life and also in the future. "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" Romans 16:25-26. The obedience of faith is the ultimate goal and anything outside this leads to corruption. What is the meaning of the term "obedience of faith", in other prophecies we are told that those who will be rewarded in the future are those who chose the path of right doing through faith in Jesus Christ. "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" Revelation 14:12.

"Paul and his fellow workers proclaimed the doctrine of righteousness by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ. They presented Christ as the one who, seeing the helpless condition of the fallen race, came to redeem men and women by living a life of obedience to God’s law and by paying the penalty of disobedience. And in the light of the cross many who had never before known of the true God, began to comprehend the greatness of the Father’s love" AA 207.2.

2 Corinthians 6: 14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Romans 16: 25-26 "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:"

 

 So closely will resemble the truth...

And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. - Luke 4:3

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. - Luke 4:4

All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.  - Deuteronomy 8:1

[03/12, 06:45] Tarisai: And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. - Deuteronomy 8:2

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. - Deuteronomy 8:3

Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: - Deuteronomy 8:11

 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; - Deuteronomy 8:12

 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; - Deuteronomy 8:13

Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; - Deuteronomy 8:14

And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. - Deuteronomy 8:17 (###just like Nebuchadnezzar)

But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. - Deuteronomy 8:18

And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. - Deuteronomy 8:19

As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God. - Deuteronomy 8:20

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. - Judges 21:25

The everlasting gospel is Christ defeating the old serpent the devil

The snake cannot be overcome by bruising its tail alone (exposing it's errors), the head has to be crashed ( the mind of Satan in the within has to be put off)

There is bruising of the heel that comes with the great controversy between Christ and Satan

No cross no crown

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. - Genesis 3:15

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. - Genesis 3:16

 (Church is the woman and husband is Christ)

Christ loves His wife (the Church) and laid His life to serve the Church

The serpent is violent towards the woman and sacrifices the woman to save himself

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. - Revelation 12:6

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. - Revelation 12:13

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. - Revelation 12:14

And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. - Revelation 12:16

And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. - Revelation 12:15

And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. - Revelation 12:16

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. - Revelation 13:11

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. - Revelation 14:1

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. - Revelation 14:4

(**This time Eve doesn't wonder from her husband)

And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. - Revelation 14:5

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. - Judges 21:25

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, - Revelation 14:9

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: - Revelation 14:10

To close, let's examine the story in Judges 19