The Spirit of True Devotion

Devotional Reading: The Spirit of True Devotion

What did Jesus Have Against the Pharisees?

Historically, rejection and oppression based on ethnicity, culture, religion, and socioeconomic status have existed since biblical times. Jesus continuously exposed the oppression of the Pharisees against ordinary people. The Pharisees felt their political and financial statuses made them superior to others.

“And they tie up burdens heavy and hard to bear and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.” –Matthew 23:4

“They Added Tradition To The Scriptures: The Pharisees added an enormous amount of traditional material that was passed down from one generation to the next.” blueletterbible.org. The Pharisees interpreted the scriptures according to their mindsets, yet they did not follow their manmade rules.

The Pharisees are a prime example of Israelites seeking to establish their own righteousness. They created manmade rules to control others and elevate themselves. Ordinary Jewish people could not enjoy serving God. Rituals create unnecessary burdens, are meaningless, and destroy the integrity of true worship.

Sadly, many believers feel that worshipping God is a burden. We have lowered our standards by living worldly and proclaiming at the same time that God is good. The issue is that today’s Christians are tired and weary of God’s standard of holiness, which they consider unrealistic and impossible to achieve. Their perception of God is skewed. They do not view God as holy and righteous but as one who is an unloving taskmaster with a list of too many “don’t do this.”

The similarity between the Pharisees and today’s church leaders is that they love money. But unlike the Pharisees who made additional rules to make lives harder, pastors are doing all they can to please their members [and keep their churches filled to capacity]. Many are not preaching about living righteously nor are their sermons focusing on Jesus and His Second Coming. The focus has changed to keeping people happy and if the truth is mentioned it is watered-down to keep the membership numbers stable and the money flowing in.

Recently, I watched an interview with Pastor TD Jakes who admitted if he preached from the Bible over 90% of his members would not understand because they lack knowledge of the Scriptures.

“Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 20:7

We have lost sight of the fact that God is Holy. The atmosphere of our homes and churches has become common and irreverent from our spoken words and the music, programs, and social media we eagerly watch. We attend or watch a virtual service weekly to hear a sermon or we choose the Scriptures of the Bible that are pleasing to our ears.

Biblical Israel’s Spiritual Condition: “The spirit of true devotion had been lost in tradition and ceremonialism, and the prophecies were interpreted at the dictate of proud, world-loving hearts.” E.G. White

Christianity [Spiritual Israel] has experienced a significant spiritual decline that is worse than biblical Israel. In the time of Moses, the Nation of Israel had complete knowledge of God’s laws, commands, and precepts which they rejected. As time progressed, God revealed to the prophet Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee… (Hosea 4:6). The knowledge deficit has created a misunderstanding of the purpose of living consecrated and holy lives.

The Dilemma in 2022: Either we lack knowledge or we have basic knowledge of only the Scriptures that keep us happy. “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4) is an example of not understanding the spiritual meaning of this scripture by thinking God will give us everything that we ask for.

God tells us, “I change not.” We can only have a relationship with Jesus Christ based on love, surrender, consecration, obedience, prayer, and study of the Scriptures. Our earthly life of true worship is preparing us to worship God forever in the New Heaven and New Earth.

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” –Joshua 24:15

There is no middle ground. We cannot choose or select parts of the Word of God [the Scriptures] and fit them into our lifestyles. Either we are all in as evidenced by consecrating our lives to Christ and dedicating meaningful time to worship God through prayer and studying the Scriptures for ourselves, or we will continue to do what is pleasing to our dictates and miss out on the heavenly mansions that Jesus promised us in John chapter 14, verses 1-3.

The Spirit of True Worship is the willingness to surrender all to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” –John 14:3-4

Prayer: God, we repent for doing things our way. Jesus, we desperately need You. Please reveal our areas of disobedience and Your plan and purpose for our lives. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus, Amen.

To Everything, There Is a Season–Facing Grief During the Holidays

Devotional Reading: To Everything, There Is a Season—Facing Grief During the Holidays

“To everything, there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven” –Ecclesiastes 3:1

To many, the holiday season is [or was] their favorite time of the year. In 2022, there have been a substantial number of deaths, from infants who ate food with pathogenic organisms to the many victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Loss of relationships from divorce and break ups with family and friends has escalated to an all-time high. Hundreds of video posts have flooded social media with heart-wrenching words of sorrow from the loss of marriages, relationships, and the death of children, husbands, wives, parents, and grandparents.

It would be remiss for us not to mention the increasing rate of suicide in 2022. “An estimated 703,000 people a year take their life around the world. “Creating hope through action” is the triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021 to 2023. This theme is a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-suicide-prevention-day/2022.

The loss of loved ones remains the most significant reason for loneliness leading to depression leading to suicidal ideations leading to suicide.

The Unexpected: We cannot plan for the things that happen in our lives spontaneously—illness, loss of jobs and homes, divorce, severing of friendships or family relationships, tragedies, and death. God created humanity to have lasting family ties and immortality. It was not part of God’s original plan for us to suffer loss. Yet, because of the fall of Adam and Eve, loss from family hostility and death are normal occurrences during our earthly lives.

“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow].” –Psalm 147:3, Amplified Bible

Whether expected or unexpected, loss always creates a crisis. What makes the difference is if we have a strong relationship with God and believe in His promises. Healing is a spiritual journey. We have the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, to provide hope and healing for the righteous believer. Yes, losing loved ones will always devastate our lives, and we will grieve, yet, we are not hopeless.

The beautiful hymn, It is Well With My Soul was written by Horatio Spafford in a time of extreme distress—the loss of his four children in a sinking ship.
https://ecbpublishing.com/what-is-the-meaning-behind-the-song-it-is-well-with-my-soul/

We can never pray enough! “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)

God does not crush us. He will not allow us to be overwhelmed and drown in a sea of hopelessness, even when the crisis of death invades our lives. Remember that nothing we face is unexpected from a spiritual perspective—God is aware of every trial and sorrow we face.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart [have courage], because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Although the vicissitudes of life will remain until the Second Coming of Christ, praying the simple prayer of “God, I need Your help” allows the Holy Spirit to bring peace and comfort to our wounded hearts. When we humbly acknowledge our dependency on God, we have a Spiritual Team—God, the Father, Jesus, His Son, the Holy Spirit, and messenger angels who bring spiritual comfort to the depths of our hearts and souls.

Cry, Cry, Cry and Pray, Pray, Pray

“You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?”–Psalm 56:8

“When David wrote eloquently that God collected all of his tears in a bottle, it means that God cares about each individual tear we cry, and He remembers the pain that causes our tears.” http://www.christianity.com

We were created with the ability to express grief and disappointment through tears. The tears we cry are words to God. He knows loss causes us to have fragile hearts.

Live day by day with the faith that you are given. Every day seeking Christ in private worship allows us to abide with Him in times of deep distress. Listen to the soothing promises of worship music. Developing the habit of studying the Scriptures and breathing several prayers throughout the day and evening fortifies us with spiritual strength that will sustain us in the harshest times. When we have an intentional relationship with Christ, we can expect Divine Intervention for every unexpected loss, even from the permanent earthly separation of loved ones.

God knows whom we need in our lives during our times of grieving. Jesus will perform miracles and send people to assist us during every crisis and afterward until we have the strength to move forward. We cannot rush through our healing journey. God knows our hearts and Jesus when on this earth experienced significant loss. Healing from loss occurs in micro steps. Remember that God has never expected us to forget the loss of loved ones.

Know that you are loved. Jesus experienced the death of Joseph, His earthly father. On the cross, in His humanness, Jesus felt as if God had abandoned Him. We know that God’s promise of “I will never leave you or forsake you” is binding even until we take our last breath.

We must Create Hope Through Action by actively witnessing the Love of Jesus to those who have no hope. Every day tell someone that Jesus loves you with everlasting love!

For those who have gained strength, hope, and a renewed purpose in their healing journey, this is the perfect time to use social media to post Scriptures of promises and make phone calls to provide a listening ear to those who have recently lost a loved one from death, divorce, or separation from family.

I recall a time when my faith and hope were at an all-time low. I was at Walmart and an older man passed by and said, “God loves you, everything will be alright.” Before I could say anything he disappeared. Perhaps when I get to heaven one of the angels will tell me that he gave me those words of comfort.

Our spiritual victories include the ability to heal by regaining hope, peace, and the strength to gradually move forward following a loss. Use an Audio Bible on YouTube to listen to The Lord’s Prayer [Matthew 6: 9-13] and Psalm 23 to comfort yourself or to read to someone who has experienced loss from death, divorce, or estrangement from family and friends. Spread the message, Yes, Jesus loves you and He died to give you a new life.

Scripture: “…strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.” (Acts 14:22)

Bible Study: Ecclesiastes chapter 3

Prayer: God, for many of us, we are grieving during this holiday season. We pray for Your power to comfort and strengthen us. We still praise and give you gratitude for our lives. Thank You for loving us. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen.

The Spiritual Journey of a Healthy Lifestyle

Devotional Reading: The Spiritual Journey of a Healthy Lifestyle. Also available as a podcast on Spotify.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. –3 John 1:2

Two factors determine if our lifestyle is in sync with God’s Plan for our mind and body to achieve optimal health: Our perspective of God and the use of our time.

How would you describe God’s Character? Our perception of God is dependent upon our scriptural knowledge and personal experience. Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself which gives us head knowledge. There are many scriptures and stories of His interaction with humanity that tell us that He is a dependable God, but it is our love relationship with Christ [through daily worship, our struggles, defeats, and victories] that give us a heart-to-heart connection with our Heavenly Father.

In 5 days, Jesus created everything that Adam and Eve needed for a healthy lifestyle. On the sixth day, our parents were created. Yes, they had a peaceful and aesthetically beautiful home with food to sustain their lives. They did not live a lazy—do-nothing life. Although we do not have detailed knowledge of their daily lives. We know that our parents were assigned a few things. Adam named the animals and lovingly took care of them, Eve gathered their food every day, and they enjoyed each other’s companionship in marriage.

Until their fall, Adam and Eve enjoyed face-to-face interaction with Jesus who visited with them frequently in their garden home. We know this from Adam’s response after their fall into sin, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). They were accustomed to hearing the sound of Jesus walking in the Garden of Eden. How wonderful that must have been to sit down and talk with Jesus.

The Creation gives us God’s design for a healthy lifestyle—essential use of time, structure, discipline, and the companionship of godly friends. Jesus created the world and humanity in perfect sequential order. We were created to worship God. He is Omniscient and all-knowing. Jesus was aware that we would need a 24-hour break from the daily labors of life to receive the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical restoration necessary for us to have productive lives. And then on the seventh day–Sabbath, He rested.

“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” –Genesis 2:2-3

With the decline in morals and values and the coercion to accept noise from every technological advancement, and ever-changing worldviews, how much of our lives do we control?

“Locus of control is how much individuals perceive that they themselves have control over their own actions [internal] as opposed to events in life [external].”

Many believers have fallen away from the godly principles of faith, obedience, rest, and restoration because they have embraced worldviews. Like the Israelites who loved the Egyptian pagan worship and eating unclean foods, we also disregard God’s health laws by eating the toxins of processed high-calorie, high-fat, and sugary foods. Alcoholism and illicit substance are promoted to take the edge off of an unpredictable life but mesmerize and cripple our intellects by promising to provide us with a false sense of peace and relaxation.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own… (1 Corinthians 6:19).

The prophet Jeremiah tells us, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived proclaims, “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9).

The incurable mental and physical illnesses of today’s society continue to escalate. A three-digit emergency number [988] for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has been established for those who are hopeless and overwhelmed–thinking they have no other option than to end their lives. Urban churches are teaching self-help for anxiety, depression, worries, and burnout instead of focusing on Jesus, His love, the plan of salvation, redemption, living holy, and receiving the reward of eternal life.

We need Jesus! And we need to disciples to witness that we have a Savior who loves them!

The battle between God’s truth and false teaching is raging. Yet, the number one controversy is God’s commandment [the fourth] of the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath.

My upbringing does not include being a Sabbath keeper. Yet, after extensive research, I find no evidence of God changing or abolishing the Creation Sabbath. Emperor Constantine was involved with changing and making Sunday a holy day. I decided to observe all of God’s commandments including Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, the seventh day Sabbath because I believe that when Jesus died and the veil was torn from top to bottom, exposing the Holy of Holies in the Sanctuary that the ceremonial law of sacrificing lambs was abolished not the Ten Commandments. “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot [smallest letter] or one tittle [stroke of a pen] will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).

Each of us will have to give an account to God, the only true and righteous Judge. During Judgment, either we will be on the side of Christ, covered by His righteousness, be vindicated—and receive eternal life or we will be condemned to the second and final death. [Read Matthew 25:31-46].

Our destiny is reflected by our willingness to surrender to God’s precepts and righteous standards. God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus for the redemption of our sins. And Jesus paid with His life on Calvary’s cross that our sins would be covered by His blood.

It should not be too much for us to dismiss prevailing worldviews and pray for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom, discernment, and the strength to persevere in our spiritual journey. Worshipping God requires humility, surrender, faith, obedience, prayer, and diligent study of the Scriptures. Whisper a prayer, hum or sing a worship song, and use your work breaks to have a little talk with Jesus. Study the Bible and memorize God’s promises including Jesus’ Second Coming.

Our mental, emotional, and physical conditions are reliant on our spiritual status. Unless we commune with God daily, eat nutritious healthy food, exercise, and get proper sleep, our minds and bodies will not function properly. We will lose the mental acuity that is required to have an in-depth study of the Bible. Our prayer life will consist of a few murmuring words. And we will not have the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to discern God’s truth from false teachings.

“Each person is morally responsible for his or her own destiny. Judgment is when God finalizes the choice that we made to accept or reject Him. Our earthly lives manifest that choice as evidenced by our works.” SDA SS 2022 Q4 Lesson 13—The Judging Process.

Heaven is real! Perilous times are here. Give Jesus your heart, soul, and mind. And you will be transformed day by day into His likeness. Pray without ceasing to our Lord and Savior who is in heaven as our Intercessor. Our reward awaits us when He comes again.

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” –Revelation 22:20-21

Prayer: God, in the chaos of our lives, we have not prayed and studied the Scriptures to learn Your truth. And for this, we ask forgiveness. We pray for the anointing, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, we desperately need You. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.

Pastor John Lomacang In Concert in Singapore–December 3, 2022

Pastor John sang for many years in the Heritage Singers. He is currently pastoring the Thompsonville SDA Church in Illinois. He is a dedicated man of God who preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ who is coming soon for the righteous. He is married to Angela, a dedicated and devoted woman of God for 39 years. Be blessed.

Being a Christian Is Tough!!!

Historically, the United States Marine Corps had a catchphrase, The Few, The Proud, Always Faithful. The Corps has always boasted that only those who achieve excellence [which requires going beyond human strength] become Marines.

As an outsider looking in, I am challenging their proclamation that becoming a Marine is the highest victory that one can achieve in life. Yes, they withstood the grueling environments, but once they have completed their enlistment or retirement from the Corps, they can live according to their dictates.

The Toughest Journey in Life: Christianity Requires Human Effort Plus Divine Intervention to Succeed Because Our Spiritual Journey lasts a Lifetime. Once we become soldiers in the Army of God, we are always soldiers [if we remain faithful].

Accepting Jesus as our personal Savior with earnest conviction is Conversion. And then the grueling journey begins! Endurance and perseverance through the hard times of suffering that may last for months or years is God’s spiritual process of Sanctification which takes a lifetime.

Jesus forewarned what would happen when we decided to become a soldier in God’s Army: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world, you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] –John 16:33, Amplified Bible.

Military soldiers complete their enlistment unless they receive an early honorable [based on medical diagnoses] or a dishonorable discharge. AWOL–Not completing one’s enlistment time is a criminal act.

Becoming a Christian does not mean one will stay a Christian. The Apostle Paul tells us there will be a great apostasy–falling away from God before Jesus comes.

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled …Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition…(2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).

The continuous cycle of unexpected harsh trials or chasing carnal desires causes many to fall away. We do not understand that our characters are being changed for a perfect and holy life for eternity. Suffering is the way we can become righteous. Those who fail to endure trials and tribulations will not receive their heavenly reward of eternal life.

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. –Revelation 21:8

Yet the Apostle John says there is another group of Christians who made it first on the long list of sinners–the cowards—those who are fearful will also miss out on eternal life. Those who deny Christ, as evidenced by their cowardly actions–take the side of the opposers by verbal agreement or remain silent when controversial subjects such as pro-choice arise. Cowardly Christians do not stand for the truth around their friends because they fear rejection.

An example of falling away: Living a double life by attending church weekly but sinning on demand because you love pleasure. God will not interfere in our decision not to serve Him.

Some situations call for immediate spiritual intervention. Christians who become overwhelmed with their trials and those who are confused about the Biblical truth because they do not understand the role of the Holy Spirit are the first to fall away from God. Praying for yourself must be done first, but additional spiritual counseling from a pastor or a fellow believer who is a steadfast prayer warrior is also needed.

When fear overpowers our minds, it indicates a loss of faith in God. Christians who fear persecution from unbelievers, rejection from family members and friends, do not believe angels keep us safe by fighting spiritual warfare, are afraid of spontaneous demon possession, and fear the Second Coming of Jesus are just a few examples of cowardice.

Because fear is based on our mental perception, not even therapeutic counseling can eliminate our fear. Sadly, fearful Christians are at the highest risk for apostasy. Only faith can erase fear!

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” –2 Timothy 1:7.

The Apostle Paul mentored young Timothy as Pastor of the Early Church. When Paul was imprisoned, Timothy was afraid that he would also have to endure persecution. Paul’s spiritual reminder to Timothy was a loving but stern rebuke reminding him of our spiritual gifts and responsibilities to Christ.

God does not expect us to do the impossible. He never created us to bear our earthly burdens without Jesus’ Divine Intervention. When we are at our limits, trapped by out-of-control emotions, and ready to give up, pray, Jesus, I cannot stay on this journey without Your help.

Something happens when we call on the name of Jesus for help—the Holy Spirit arrives immediately, and extra angels are sent from heaven to fight the spiritual warfare we are going through. Study Daniel chapter 9.

When you are ready to throw your Christianity–relationship with Jesus away, go to a quiet place to be alone and take a bottle of water with you. Drink the water. And then pray and cry out to Jesus, our Lord and Savior. His promise, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8). Close your eyes and believe that your prayer has been sent faster than the speed of light to Jesus, Our Heavenly Intercessor.

If you quietly wait, you will feel the rush of a Mighty Wind–the Holy Spirit imparting spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical strength to your mind and body. And then make certain that you pray a prayer of gratitude.

To my brothers and sisters, I am not writing a fictional story or referencing biblical history. This is my testimony of a meltdown experience today. I felt that the vicissitudes in my life were too overwhelming. And I reacted first instead of praying immediately. Still, through my tears, I began to ask Jesus for His help. The power of God brought spiritual strength to my mind and body. I started singing, grabbed my laptop, and started writing these words of encouragement.

We do not have to be ashamed of our weaknesses. Yet, we must present ourselves to Jesus through prayer.

Yes, the struggle is real, but Victory through Jesus is guaranteed! We have come too far to give up. Praying several times a day during peaceful times enables us to develop a lifestyle of prayer and reliance on God. Even when the overwhelming trials come, our first response will be to pray. Jesus never fails!

Bible Study: John chapter 17

Prayer: God, we thank You for your Love and Divine Intervention. We bring our burdens to You in faith. We know that You will take them and will deliver us. We pray for the patience to wait on Your timing. Anoint us with the power of the Holy Spirit so we can view life through spiritual eyes. For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory. In Jesus’ name, we have victory. Hallelujah! Amen!

Watch “CeCe Winans: Surrendering To God Brings Us In Line With Our Purpose | Better Together TV” on YouTube

I listened to a sermon last week about the true meaning of taking up our cross, it is surrendering our will every day to Christ. Pastor CeCe is the only other anointed disciple that has stated our cross is to surrender. The Holy Spirit is working to bring us to a deeper understanding of the truth. Last days and perilous times, we must have the faith and surrender to the will of God. Jesus is coming soon. Amen. Be blessed! YouTube link below.