July-August-10

Last time we discovered that God considered His law to be of such importance that He would not allow any human being to tell it to others, but He personally spoke each one of these 10 commandments with His own voice in the hearing of all the people, and then wrote these same commandments with His own finger onto two stone tablets. Thus these 10 commandments came directly from God and not man proving that this law was not the product of the mind of men, but was from God Himself. Also since they were written by God Himself with His own finger in stone instead of on cloth or paper, plainly shows us that God considered His law to be permanent and unchanging. And these commandments were His covenant or agreement with the people that He would be their God, and they would be His people, if they would keep and “perform” all 10 of them (Deuteronomy 4:13).

We also discovered that the God who spoke this law in the hearing of all the Israelites was not God the Father, but was the Mighty Lord God Michael – the Word, the Great Prince, the Great I Am, who was to become Jesus Christ – the Son of God, the Messiah, the Saviour of mankind, the way, the truth and the life – when He should be born into human flesh.

Last time we examined the 1st through the 4th commandment and we discovered that these first 4 commandments were very simply stated and were easy for all to understand, yet they were so broad and far reaching as to encompass all aspects of daily life. Now we will examine the remaining 6 commandments of this great divine law from God Himself.

The fifth commandment of this covenant revealed how God wanted His people to respect and uphold authority by honoring “thy father and thy mother”, and in doing so He would bless them so they could live a long time in the promised land. Notice that God did not say to only honor your parents if they worshiped the same God you did, or if they treated you properly while growing up, or if they raised you without making any big mistakes or blunders. The Hebrew word for “honor” used here is “kabed”, which translates and means “to be heavy in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable), to be chargeable” (Strong’s, word #3513). Thus this commandment to honor our parents was not to be taken lightly, but was a very heavy or weighty responsibility.

All offspring were chargeable to honor, respect and care for their parents irregardless of whether their parents were rich and had ability to take care of themselves, or were poor and had become burdensome in their old age. They were chargeable to care for their parents whether they had been loving and numerous with their kindnesses, or had been very dull and unloving; whether they had indeed been honorable by properly and unselfishly raising their children, or had been too severe, demanding, and selfish.

By keeping this commandment and honoring, obeying and respecting their parents and their parent’s authority over them, the offspring were also learning how to honor, obey and respect God Himself and His authority – who had manifested such Fatherly care over them all. Thus in following this commandment, they not only would obtain the blessings from God which would allow them to live a long life on the promised land of the earth, but also to be able to live forever in the future promised heavenly land.

Yet not only were they learning how to honor, obey and respect their parent’s and God’s authority, but also to honor, obey and respect others in positions of authority over them – whether these were religious or civil and governmental leaders, and irregardless of whether or not they felt these leaders deserved their respect. Thus this commandment worked to promote harmony and contentment, while discouraging and eliminating disorder and rebellion. It brought peace and order within the family, within the religious and civil or governmental community, and between the people and their God, while preventing unrest and chaos.

But honoring, respecting and obeying parents, religious leaders and civil or governmental leaders has its limitations in one and only one area. The only time the authority of our parents, religious leaders or civil and governmental leaders falls outside of this fifth commandment’s jurisdiction, and they can therefore be safely disrespected and their commands disobeyed without displeasing God, is when their authority and commands directly disagree with the authority and commands of God.

When either our parents, or religious leaders, or civil and governmental leaders urge or command us to do something that God commands us not to do, or not to do something that God commands us to do, then “we ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) in that issue. While we are still to respect our parents and other leaders since they are in positions of authority over us, yet when their laws or commands conflict with God’s laws and commands then we are instead to obey God first and foremost as He is the greatest authority. Whatever consequences we have to suffer, because of our polite yet firm disobedience of the commandments of men so that we can remain faithful to the commandments of God, we can safely trust God to help us bear and carry us through. This is because God promises that “them that honor me I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30).

The sixth commandment of this covenant revealed how God wanted His people to respect and uphold life, declaring that they were not to kill any other person. Yet this commandment does not forbid all taking of life because then God Himself would be guilty of breaking His own law in regards to the flood killing all those who chose not to enter into the ark, as well as in the killing of many of the Egyptians throughout the plagues.

The Hebrew word for “kill” used here is “ratsach”, which translates and means “to murder” (Strong’s, word #7523), and murder means “the unlawful and malicious or premeditated killing of one human being by another” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, under word “murder”). Thus this commandment does not forbid all killing, but it forbids all unlawful or unjustified killing or murdering of others.

The seventh commandment of this covenant revealed how God wanted His people to respect and uphold moral purity, declaring that adultery was not to be committed. So instead of God permitting His followers to give loose reign to their sexual passions like the pagans around them, He desired them to be morally pure by keeping their bodies and passions under the control of reason, and to reserve any and all sexual intimacy for their own married spouse.

Yet not only does this command apply to human relations with other humans, but it also applies to human relationships with God. The Hebrew word for “adultery” is “na’aph”, and it translates and means “to commit adultery, to apostatize” (Strong’s, word #5003), and to apostatize means to “abandon one’s faith” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, under word “apostatize”). Thus all who have chosen to enter into a covenant agreement with God to keep His commandments have actually entered into a relationship between God and them – like a marriage contract between partners – with God promising to be their faithful God, and they promising to be His faithful people. If after entering into this covenant relationship with God, they should then choose not to live up to their agreement, would mean that they were no longer faithful in their relationship with God – their faithful Partner, and thus would be in apostasy or adultery against Him.

The eighth commandment of this covenant revealed how God wanted His people to respect and uphold the property rights and possessions of others, declaring that all stealing was prohibited. Yet it was not just the stealing of the actual property or possessions of another by your own personal action that this commandment alone forbids. The Hebrew word for “steal” is “ganab”, and it translates and means “to thieve, to deceive” (Strong’s, word #5003). Thus any and all deception which might be utilized to gain the property or possessions of another, whether through lawsuits or other legal processes, is also prohibited.

The ninth commandment of this covenant revealed how God wanted His people to respect and uphold the truth, declaring that they were not to bear false witness against their neighbor. The Hebrew word for “false” is “sheqer”, and it translates and means “an untruth, a sham, falsehood, lie” (Strong’s, word #8267). The Hebrew word for “witness” is “ed”, and it translates and means “a witness, testimony, recorder” (Strong’s, word #5707). Thus God prohibited His people from lying, telling untruths or spreading falsehoods under any conditions, whether they were a witness to some event, or were giving testimony about some person or group, or were writing and recording something about another. This meant that His people were to be very careful in all that they said, spoke or wrote about their neighbors.

But this restriction against all forms of lying included more than just the people living next door to you. The Hebrew word for “neighbour” is “reya”, and it translates and means “an associate whether close or not, a brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, or another” (Strong’s, word #7453). Thus this prohibition against all forms of lying and spreading falsehoods included every person that His people had any form of contact with – whether close or not. Thus God did not care whether these people were family, or relatives, lovers, companions, friends, or associates. Nor did He care whether these people were close in relationship or very distant; whether they were known or were complete strangers; whether they were an Israelite, or from a different nation; whether they were or were not of the same faith, religion, race, color or class distinction. This commandment prohibited all forms of lying and spreading of false information about anyone else without limitations or conditions.

Yet this commandment did not just prohibit all forms of untruths and falsehoods being personally spoken, written, or otherwise provided by you against another, but it also prohibited listening to all falsehoods being told you about others! The Hebrew word for “bear” is “anah”, and it translates and means “to heed, pay attention, to testify, announce, hear, utter” (Strong’s, word #6030). So not only did this commandment prohibit God’s people from themselves bearing or uttering false information about another, but it also prohibited them from hearing or paying attention to false information being told them about another, and went even further in prohibiting them from giving heed to what they were told and then announcing or uttering it to others. Thus telling as well as listening to all forms of gossip, story telling, and otherwise exaggerated statements about others were prohibited by this commandment. And how quickly would character destroying gossip die for lack of listeners?

The tenth commandment of this covenant revealed how God wanted His people to respect and uphold contentment with what He had already provided them with, declaring that they were not to covet their neighbor’s house, or his wife, servants, animals, or anything that he owned. In being content with whatever possessions you already have would eliminate envy and jealousy over the spouse, property or prosperity of others – no matter how beautiful and pleasing to eye all these things might be. Thus it would elevate the trap of overspending or borrowing in order to “keep up with the Jones”, and then having to overwork in order to pay the bills that such selfish indulgence brought. Thus this commandment was actually promoting economy and the need to live within one’s own means, and the contentment it brought was producing peace, rest, and health among God’s people.

Now, as you examine each of these ten commandments, you will notice that they can actually be divided into two main areas. The first 4 commandments are seen to be dealing with our relationship with God. While the last 6 are seen to be dealing with our relationship with other human beings. The first 4 commandments dealt with our commitment to God: showing who He was and His supremacy in our lives, how to worship Him, how to communicate with and about Him, and how to spend our time with Him. The last 6 commandments dealt with governing our interactions with others, showing that we are to respect and uphold authority, life, moral purity, possessions and property of others, truth, and contentment.

But there was one common principle running through each one of these commandments and binding all ten together into a perfect whole. That principle was love: the first 4 commandments dealt with love to God, and the last 6 dealt with love to our fellow human beings. And there was also one common area which all ten commandments was specifically directed against. That area was selfishness: doing our own will either against God or against other human beings. So this law of God led its followers to deny self by loving God supremely above all else, and then to deny self by loving their fellow human beings as themselves. So if followed, the ten commandments would produce perfect peace, rest, happiness, contentment and prosperity, while eliminating envy, unrest, disorder, rebellion and chaos. Thus while on one hand God’s law upheld righteousness and moral purity in the daily life of His people, on the other hand it restricted and downplayed the wicked desires of their fallen, sinful nature throughout their daily life. And there was not an area in daily life that the law of God did not address.

All ten commandments were seen to be so broad and far-reaching in all its governing areas of life that one could not give in to selfishness without being found breaking one of the commandments in some way, nor could they choose to deny self without being found keeping one of the commandments. As these commandments were seen to be so broad and far-reaching that it affected in some way every aspect of daily life, without a single aspect of life being left out, then all ten of these commandments formed a complete governing law.

In fact, so complete was this law which the Lord God Michael gave that when one closely examines it they discover that each one of these commandments are not isolated from each other, but are all very closely connected together. They are found to interweave and blend together so fully that they actually form a complete whole. So even though God’s covenant was made up of 10 distinct commandments, yet they all blended into each other thereby making up just one body of law. This meant that no one could be considered obedient to God if they neglected to keep all ten commandments, because to ignore or refuse to obey just one of the commandments, would actually make you a breaker of the whole law or the other nine commandments as well because of this intricate relation and connectedness to each commandment with the other.

An example of this interconnectedness is as follows: If one of God’s followers decided not to worship God on His Sabbath day – being the seventh-day of the week or Saturday, then they would have clearly broken the 4th commandment. By choosing to do their own pleasure on God’s rest day, then this follower of God would be making their own desires to be greater than following the will of God, thereby making their own desires into a god, and thus breaking the 2nd commandment. They would also be placing their own will as a supreme god before the Lord God, and thus would be breaking the 1st commandment.

As the Sabbath day itself is the day of the Lord God – His holy day, but this follower of God wanted to do their own thing upon this day, then they are actually coveting what belongs to God, and thus breaking the 10th commandment. Since they choose not to devote this day to worshiping God, then they have actually stolen time away from God that should have been given to Him, thus breaking the 8th commandment. Neither are they showing the honor and respect due to God who has manifested such fatherly love and care over them, thus breaking the 5th commandment.

By not keeping the seventh day as a holy worship day to God, yet they profess to be a follower of God, then they have broken the 9th commandment by falsely claiming to be something that they really are not. They have also taken God’s name or character in vain and broken the 3rd commandment because they are not following God’s example of resting upon this Sabbath day, and thus are not manifesting the same righteous character of God whom they profess to serve.

By choosing not to remember to keep the Sabbath day holy, thereby willing committing sin and deserving the penalty of death, then they have actually chosen death for themselves – or are committing suicide – which breaks the 6th commandment. And finally, since they voluntarily chose to be a follower of God, and entered into a covenant relationship with Him – they agreeing to remain faithful to Him as His bride, and God agreeing to remain faithful to them as their Husband, because they have now chosen to break the Sabbath, then they are no longer upholding their part of this marriage contract or covenant. As they are no longer faithful to their righteous God and loving Husband, but have committed sin, then they have actually left His side and united with another – who is the author of sin, and have thereby committed adultery and broken the 7th commandment.

This wholeness and oneness of God’s law clearly reveals that it is a perfect law in all aspects. As anything that is perfect could only be created by someone else who was already perfect, then this perfect law proved that God was indeed perfect in all aspects, and that there was no imperfection in Him. And as this perfect law of God dealt with all aspects of action and relationships towards God and others, thus dealing with character, then this law was seen to be a perfect reflection of the perfect character of God – just like a written transcript. As this is true, then anyone who would follow all ten commandments to the letter would thereby become perfect in character as God is. While anyone who chose not to keep all ten commandments of this perfect law would thereby not become perfect in character. Thus this perfect 10 commandment law of God is clearly seen to be the standard between what actions were perfect, versus what actions were imperfect. It is seen to be the deciding factor between righteousness and unrighteousness; between what is not sin versus what is sin, because “all thy commandments are righteousness” (Psalms 119:172), and “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17).

Since this perfect 10 commandment law is the standard of righteousness, and is also a perfect reflection of God in character, then this proves that God Himself is the Author and Originator of all righteousness. Therefore disobedience to this righteous law is a perfect reflection of the character of the one who first disobeyed God – or Lucifer, proving that he is the author and originator of all disobedience or sin. So if one chooses to keep all ten commandments in every aspect, then they would become just like God in character – perfectly righteous because “it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments” (Deuteronomy 6:25). But if they should instead choose to disobey one or all of the commandments in any aspect, then they would actually become just like Lucifer in character – perfectly sinful because “the devil sinneth from the beginning” (1 John 3:8). Thus this perfect law of God is seen to be the deciding factor between those who serve God, versus those who serve Lucifer; it is seen to be the standard to judge between those who are the followers of God, versus those who are the followers of Lucifer.

As this is true, then no one ever needs to deceive themselves by hiding behind a empty name or profession alone, and also no one needs ever be deceived again by someone professing to be a follower of God when they are really a follower of Lucifer. This is because all that anyone need do is to examine their own life and actions, or the life and actions of another, by this perfect law of God in order to clearly see whose follower they really are. Any disobedience of God’s great perfect law and standard is sin, and since “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4), then anyone “that committeth sin is of the devil” (1 John 3:8) and is not a follower of God.

So this law was not only complete in itself; it was not only bound together into such a whole law that one part could not be violated without breaking all the rest in the same violation; it was not only the standard of judging between who was worthy of blessings or cursings; it was not only the deciding factor between what was sin versus what was righteousness; but this law was absolutely perfect in all areas! All these things showed conclusively to any thinking person – whether Israelite or pagan – that this law had to be of divine origin and could not have been the product of any sinful human mind.

No other pagan god or sinful human being had ever before produced such a complete and perfect law as this – ever. This was because no other pagan god had been depicted, nor any human being has been, perfectly righteous in their character as God is, and since their characters were less than perfect, then the only law they could produce would be one that is less than perfect. Therefore such a perfect and complete law could have only come from the Lord God Himself, and this was further substantiated and backed up by God Himself speaking it and writing it down at Mount Sinai. These facts proved beyond any doubt that all others, whether human or pagan gods, were less than perfect, and thus no gods at all, and that the Lord God of the Israelites was the one and only true God of this earth.

As “all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking” (Exodus 20:18), and knew that God Himself had “shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice” speaking His 10 commandment law out of the “midst” of this great weighty devouring and intense fire (Deuteronomy 5:24), they became afraid. They knew that they all were guilty of breaking God’s law and had thereby committed sin, and they also realized that “the Lord thy God is a consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24) towards sin, and knew they would all be instantly destroyed if God chose to come down into their midst and visit them at that instant, and so they were very fearful that “this great fire will consume us” (Deuteronomy 5:25).

Yet “Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not” (Exodus 20:20). The Hebrew word “fear” in “fear not” is “yare” which translates and means “to frighten, to be afraid” (Strong’s, word #3372). But the second word “fear” in “his fear” is “yirah” which translates and means “to reverence, dreadful, exceedingly” (Strong’s, word #3374), and “dread” or “dreadful” in this context means “fear mixed with awe, inspiring awe, awesome” (Webster’s New World Dictionary). So the Lord God Michael did not want the worship of His followers to be based solely upon fear, but wanted their worship to be founded upon reverence for Him because they recognized His exceeding awesomeness as a God.

Worship from the motive of fear alone produces those who only grudgingly give service and obedience so they can avoid being punished or destroyed. While worship from the motive of reverence produces those who give willing service and obedience out of honor and respect. The one can only produce slavery without choice. While the other produces freedom through choice. The one leads to discord, rebellion and sin. While the other leads to harmony, devotion, and righteousness. The one can only generate disrespect and hatred in the heart for the one being served and obeyed. While the other can generate respect and love in the heart – which is exactly what Michael was seeking to produce in, and receive from, His people.

Yet Michael did not want all fear to be removed from His followers, because no fear at all leads to unappreciation, disrespect and carelessness in worship and service. Thus while on one hand His followers were not to worship the Lord God Michael because they were afraid of Him, on the other they were to honor and respect Him and keep His commandments, worshiping Him with reverence and love and tempering their fear with awe of Him, because they recognized that He was their Mighty God who had manifested so much loving-kindness upon them. Just as children honor, respect and obey their father out of love and devotion for all that he has done for them, yet fearing to disobey his commands and cause his displeasure and receive punishment from his hand, so the same with the Lord God Michael. He was seeking the same kind of honor, respect and obedience from His followers because He was as a father to His people, and thus deserved their love and devotion. And it was only under these motives and conditions that their worship and service to God would indeed keep them from sin and disobedience. Any other motives or conditions would utterly fail to prevent disobedience and sin.

Moses wrote down “all the words of the Lord” (Exodus 24:4) in a book called “the book of the covenant” (Exodus 24:7). The covenant spoken of here is the same covenant that the Lord God Michael had made with Adam, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and now with all their offspring in the children of Israel. The Hebrew word for “covenant” in all these instances is “beriyth”, and it translates and means “a compact, or league” (Strong’s, word #1285). All these patriarchs were faithful and obedient to God and His law, and now God made it very plain to all of their Israelite offspring gathered together before Mount Sinai that if they also wanted to enter into a covenant or compact or league with Him, then they also had to be faithful and obedient to His law just as their patriarchal fathers were. Thus promising to keep God’s 10 commandment law was the necessary requirement for entering into this compact or league or covenant with God. That is why the Lord God Michael referred to His law as a covenant.

As God’s 10 commandment law was the focus of this covenant, and promising to keep God’s law was the terms necessary to enter into this compact or league with God to be His people and He their God, then it was very easy to determine whether or not one was remaining true to their covenant with God. If they were keeping all of God’s commandments, then they were also keeping their covenant and agreement with God, and were also showing themselves to be righteous in life. But if they were breaking one or more of these commandments, then they were also breaking their covenant and agreement with God, and were also showing themselves to be sinful in life. Thus God’s 10 commandment law was not only the distinguishing factor between those who served God versus the pagans who served Him not, but was also the distinguishing factor between all those who claimed to be His people. Those who did in fact keep all 10 of God’s commandments were indeed remaining faithful to their covenant agreement with God to be His obedient people, and their obedience proved their claim to be true. But those who were not keeping all 10 of God’s commandments were thereby showing that they were not remaining faithful to their covenant promise with God, and their disobedience proved their claim to be false.

After the Israelites had heard the 10 commandments spoken directly to them by the Lord God Michael Himself, and also had heard all the judgments and statues that God had spoken to Moses, “all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do...and be obedient” (Exodus 24:3, 7). Moses then took sacrificial blood and “sprinkled it on the people” (Exodus 24:8) signifying that their covenant promise of faithfulness and obedience to the Lord God Michael was now ratified and binding.

So by agreeing to obey and keep all the commandments and words of the Lord God Michael, the Israelites had bound and pledged themselves in a compact or league or covenant agreement with Him to be His faithful followers, and Michael in turn had bound and pledged Himself in this covenant agreement with them to be their faithful Lord God. Thus this binding covenant of pledging faithfulness to one another was just like a marriage contract between husband and wife. The Lord God Michael pledging Himself to be their faithful God/Husband, and they pledging themselves to be His faithful people/wife.

Yet the big question to be answered is, dear reader, will you also agree and pledge yourself to obey and keep all the commandments and words of the Lord God Michael? Will you covenant with the Lord God to love and remain faithful to Him as a bride would to her husband? If you do, then the Lord God Himself will agree and pledge Himself to be your God, and will also remain faithful to you as a husband would be to the one that He truly loved and adored above all others!

Now after the Israelites had bound and pledged themselves to faithfully keep this covenant of God’s 10 commandments, did you know that the Lord God Michael then did something so completely amazing and astounding that it stands alone in recorded history? Nowhere is it recorded in any of the sacred writings from any culture that any of their pagan deities ever did what the Lord God Michael was now going to do! And this great, amazing and marvelous occurrence is what we will examine next time.

The Lord is also abundantly blessing our LightMinistries.com website! In the month of May we had 116,828 hits, which were generated by 13,025 visitors. In these Visitor Sessions, 24,237 documents of Present Truth were viewed, and over 21.7 billion bytes of information were downloaded.

We would like to encourage our readers to check out a website that is dedicated to providing a “voice” to the people who have joined the separation movement out of the SDA church, as well as out of all the other churches of Babylon. The website is www.SDRVoice.org. This site also publishes an excellent Magazine called “The SDR Voice”, and on the site you can view past articles of interest, and can also request to be added to their mailing list to receive future copies for free.

For those who are not able to have a home church to attend and who miss the benefit of fellowshipping together with others of like faith, there is an on-line Home Church which meets every Sabbath at 12:00 noon Central Time. This is a live broadcast of one of our separated Home Churches in Indiana which is pastored by brother Nicholas Patula. Please feel free to come and fellowship with others of like faith and enjoy the spiritual uplifting experience. You can also stay after the church service and be able to chat with brothers and sisters, as well as visitors, from around the world. Many come away with their questions answered, their hearts uplifted and filled with gratefulness for all that God has and is doing for His people! If you would like to fellowship with us, go to www.RemnantofGod.org/pogmchat.htm.

TO OUR SUPPORTERS: Please know that "Let There Be Light" Ministries is not using your support to build itself up into a kingdom, nor are we trying to acquire expensive video, TV or shortwave facilities. But we are trying to spread the truth as quickly and economically as possible. Please also know that you have played an important part in helping spread the Present Truth into various parts of this world, including through the printed page, through the living full-time workers and ministers we sponsor, and also through our Web Sites on the internet. This is how the Loud Cry of the third angel will be spread, and is now being spread! If the Lord impresses you to help in these endeavors, your donations and prayers will be greatly appreciated, and not just by this Ministry. MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU!

"Let There Be Light" Ministries is committed to the spreading of the full present truth gospel message worldwide, and has been doing so since 1986. This Ministry has operating expenses covering the areas of: printing, publishing, and writing of present truth books, booklets, tracts, and other literature; DVD, video and audio taping, production, and distribution; supporting several ministers and workers in foreign Countries; mail order – both domestic and foreign; traveling to hold meetings – both locally, nationally, and internationally; answering correspondence and questions regarding the message of truth; offering National and International Bible studies; sending free present truth literature to contacts in many poor Countries; etc.

May our God and Saviour continue to lead and guide all those who have helped us reach souls who sit in darkness with the precious light of gospel truth. May our supporters remember that they share in each and every soul who has been reached by this Ministry and converted to the Lord and His present truth!

We are currently supporting several workers in many different Countries on a monthly basis. We check into the economy of each area and supply a base support which is adequate depending on their situation, but not extravagant. This base support is to ensure that the monthly needs of each worker and family is met for that month so that the worker may devote full time to the ministry work. In addition to this, we are sending extra materials for evangelism, and money for printing, publishing, holding meetings, traveling, and other necessary areas in spreading the Present Truth in their Country. And as the work extends, especially will the expenses for evangelism expand. Whatever you can send to help in this necessary and vital area is greatly appreciated.

The work of spreading God's present truth is not to be limited, but must extend world-wide to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people before our Saviour can come (Matthew 24:14). What better way of spreading the Present Truth Gospel than by having workers who speak the native language, who reside in that particular Country, who can live and preach the truth, visit the interests in their homes, and spread the printed truth translated into their native language!

"Our publications should be printed in other languages, that foreign nations may be reached. Much can be done through the medium of the press, but still more can be accomplished if the influence of the living preacher goes with our publications....The Lord has moved upon men of other tongues and has brought them under the influence of the truth, that they might be qualified to labor in His cause." Testimonies, vol 3, p 204-205.

"Every opportunity should be improved to extend the truth to other nations. This will be attended with considerable expense, but expense should in no case hinder the performance of this work. Means are of value only as they are used to advance the interest of the kingdom of God. The Lord has lent men means for this very purpose, to use in sending the truth to their fellow men." Testimonies, vol 3, p 208.

Please be sure to mark all donated monies for any of the above Ministry or Foreign Mission needs. 100% of all donated monies will go where specified. Unspecified donations will go where needed. Thank you very much for making this evangelistic work possible, and may God's richest blessings attend you and yours.

Yesterday (Tuesday), I traveled from ____...to ____ and reached [there at] almost midnight. Today I have been preparing since I am traveling to ____ tomorrow first, then ____ where I shall have baptism and short seminars on important issues regarding the Present Truth. Besides, I shall be helping those new brethren in Burundi to go through with the registration.

Last time, we went to the Ministry of Home Affairs where we were given guidelines until securing the registration. Unfortunately, I do no know French. I had to ask for assistance of which was given. I have finished the procedures and they called me to see the government officials for interrogation. In case they are registered, of which I am certain they will, they may go ahead of us since they are very attentive to the Present Truth.

Dear Sessler, before, I was alone in Tanzania. However, as of now we are almost coming to a number of 100. [Editor’s Note: May God be praised for His merciful kindness!] I cannot do the job alone. I shall be working in the ____ part of Tanzania while my fellows in ____ will be working in the ____ part + Burundi and Congo.

The work is a great challenge. Regardless of the computer which was donated for translating, the challenge is that no young man/lady has appeared to date and assist in the translation job. The work is still resting on my shoulders + helping and guiding the new converts to work and support the gospel. In the ____ part of Tanzania, they have put one evangelist [into the work] who is supported through tithe and offering, even though the amount is about US $ 40.00 per month and the work is expanding....

Greetings to you from Malawi the Warm Heart of Africa. The Lord has been so good for us in Malawi Home Church; with the missionary work has been going on well from January, 2010 to date. We thank God for that there been no serious sickness amongst us the workers of God in Malawi, ____ Home Church.

I translated some of these materials for conducting some Bible Lessons to some of the brethren and sisters from of different denominations regarding the GOD’S DAY OF REST - THE SEVENTH-DAY. Many people are in a position to understand that the truth about the Sabbath Day is being understood by some members from other denominations. Sometimes in our Ministries does not have more tracks that could be distributed to these brethren and sisters during Bible lessons. I discovered that Track Evangelism and Bible Lessons once combined could assist some people to know the present truth about the Sabbath. More that I have mentioned are not from Seventh Day Church, but there are from other churches such as Charismatic Churches in Malawi. Some of these peoples are thirsty of knowing the Biblical truth about the Sabbath, only that we have few brethren and sisters.

There is more work that needs to be done in our country, but the problems is that [I] am not doing as a full time worker in this field at present because of that financial hindrances. I normally conduct these Bible Studies after work and during the Sabbath Day. There is more work that there is need to be done so that people know God’s day of rest.

I have thrice visited the ____ College, a college where students in Malawi pursue their high education. Some of the students whom I visited were very keen to know more about who is Catholic Adventists after I distributed the Newsletter to them. I [only] had few copies that were photocopied, this due to financial hardships as I am out of work, after [I] retired from government sometime in the year of 1998. [Few] tracks are limiting us to do more evangelism in some parts of Malawi.

The grace of GOD is still abiding with us despite financial hardship that is minimizing us to visit some parts where we have some of the branches of Home Churches due to the stated problem. As I have a personal vehicle, sometimes the vehicle is not on the road due [to] fuel problems, hence I could not conduct Bible Studies far from the Home Church. It's my prayer that [the] Lord should still be blessing me so that one day my vehicle shall have fuel that can make me to visit some parts which are far from ____ Home Church. Please [help] to assist feeding the flock [here] and praying that Malawi Seventh Day Remnant Church (SDRC) should have some brethren and sisters [visit us who live] in the Central and Northern [parts of Africa].

I have a story to share with you about the...the Lutherans and homosexuality [connection]. The things that are happening in ____ have spread also to Africa by these unrighteous missionaries [who] have brought this phenomenon to Africa, where Malawi has also men who started marrying each other as men which [are] ungodly. True, the unrepentant practice of homosexual behavior will exclude persons from the Kingdom of God.

I should thank God by providing us with sisters who have received the Light of Truth [and scriptural] Word by accepting the True Sabbath of God. Through these Bible Studies is where these brethren and sisters accepted. I have translated tracks that are explaining the WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE, Part 1; and 2) The Armor of God; 3) The Sword of the Holy Spirit - Bible and The Blood of Christ. The Brethren and sisters of the Home Church have asked me again to translate these in our own language. So this means is having a lot of work to do and that these works [include] the cost of typing the track [which] is very expensive.

Elder Robert, with the current information from the LET THERE BE LIGHT Newsletter regarding DRINKING FROM THE CUP OF SUFFERING: [thank you]. This message has really come [in] the time [when] we are having persecution from different sides - in the family and from the society. True, we have stand firm, [and] this reminds me with the Scripture from Mathews 10:34-39.

We [also] ask for God’s guidance for the proposed event has been planned to [take] place during the month of July, 2010. Some of the money have been planned that will be from some of us, we may ask some donations from others to assist in for the printed materials as we need to cover for the shortfall of $150.00 from those [of your readers] who can assist. Christ told us that men must ask if they would receive, seek if they would find, and knock if they would have the door open (Matthew 7:7)....

Good day brother. I wish that the grace and peace from our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. I am very thankful to the Lord and I praise Him for all that He has done in granting us sufficient grace to move forward in His great harvest field and to triumph over trials through his care.

The Lord is blessing our efforts here [as] we have opened new centres where the truth we have has never been heard. We went to ____ [to] the place called ____ [and] there we stayed for one week. There is a centre where believers gather every Sabbath. From there we then proceeded to a place called ____ (____ Province). There we worked for a week also, and there is a gathering of God’s people. Some of them were with us in the camp meeting which was held at ____, ____.

It is also great that the Lord has united us with the Tanzanian brethren whom we shall camp together with this month there in their country. The [tribal] Chief of the area at ____ is one of the believers. The Lord did us much through him, and we glorify our Lord because of him and what he did to us and to the cause of God. I wish if we had such Chiefs all over the land. [If so, then] God’s work will go much faster and finish in righteousness.

Hi! How are you? I am sorry for the delayed report. We just came back from ____ City. We visited our brethren from ____ and ____ and ____. We spend Sabbath with them and we plan to organize our churches there by presenting to them the need of electing qualified elders and deacons that will be a help for the prosperity of the work of the Lord, not only in that place, but also in other places. This we see the need of our church by organizing our churches through simple organization as set forth in the New Testament scripture. ]Editor’s Note: Praise God![

Anyway, about what happen during our last camp meeting; the Lord really blessed us, especially those brethren that newly come to the faith and those brethren who for a long time were not able to attend our camp meeting. This kind of gathering really help all of us to strengthened more our faith and established us in our doctrine. Four souls decided to be baptized. Please pray also for these souls that they may continue to walk in the narrow way till the end.

This June 6 I will be going to ____ to help our other coworkers there because there will be a training for those youth who dedicated and consecrated themselves to be a missionary for the Lord. The field are very great, and added help are needed through this youth so that we can do it fast. So please continue to pray for all our work here that all of this may glorify our Lord.

The Lord in His own understanding brought Br ____ ]here[ though he was ill and under treatment from the brothers of ____. He had some good news concerning where he has been staying, for he issued out some copies of the booklets to elders of an SDA Church in ____ and ]to[ some Church members, which to some they developed interest. But to others ]came[ hatred that were mostly elders who raised warnings to the church ]about him[. But those interested in eternal things were still inquisitive to find out if those things were so. ]So[ we photocopied some booklets and others that I still had, for that timely mission. Thus armed with these few silent messengers we believe, with God’s blessing, alot will be accomplished.

Brother ____, who has been swimming in the waters of Satan, for he had abandoned ]the[ Church and his home ]in order[ to have ]a[ 2nd wife. But as the scripture always stand out to be true, then as it ]is[ written ]in[ Proverbs 13:15 part b “but the way of transgressors is hard”, ]and[ if there has been a scripture which has came to life, then it is this ]one with[ brother ____. Every thing has been hard. People at his work place have been making fun of him, for they ]once[ had ]a[ high regard of him in matters of morals, telling him openly that he as a Pastor should be the example of the community and stand for what he has openly been teaching them; hence ]his actions is[ causing isolation with those who would give ]him[ social support. And he has been greatly depressed, that ]appeared[ from his appearance to ]be[ worn out ]in[ body and health. Putting on one shirt, the brother had opted to come out ]of[ this situation, but due ]to[ threats of witchcraft, ]as well as threats of [ murder by this so called second wife ]has hindered him[; for after the brother had stayed with her he found out that some of her relatives were robbers and snipers. The brother was now in catch 22. We have been praying with his ]first[ wife ]who is[ the mother of his children, that sense comes ]back[ his way and he sees the eternal realities of his situation. ]But[ thanks be to God ]as[ He has thousand ways of helping.

This ]second wife[ lady decided ]to[ move away with another man, ]and[ this ]is[ how ]this[ brother was caged out of the dismal pit of eternal destruction. For I and brother ____ braved the Panga and threats of all evil visited ]from[ this lady whilst still with ]this[ brother ]and[ had a straight talk with her about her relationship and the danger of loss of her eternal life. Like John the Baptist we gave the message ]and[ rebuked sin. In ]presenting[ the Gospel we should be ready to make enemies and friends. After we had gone, she wrote an SMS with threatenings to me, but this ]is[ what we should expect from those to whom the gospel cuts across their ]chosen[ way of life.

It is coming to three weeks since by God’s grace I helped a young man by the names of ____, he had a burning problem, ]and[ he also says he cannot tell how God directed him to me. He is a student of private medical school offering a course in nursing assistants. He had reached ]to the[ degree of doing evil to the Land Lady where they rent a single room. This lady drinks and ]is[ always off her senses and buzzed ]which is a[ direct ]result of[ her to abuse, snort and do all things to make life difficult for these young men. He came ]and confided in me all this[ with tears rolling on his chin and sobbing with gasps of anger.

I shared the experience of Christ Jesus, how He was misused of men to the height of ]them[ spiting in His face, even to the ignominious of evil cross, but still had strength to say forgive them Father. I asked if ]he[ goes to Church? He nodded, meaning he goes. I told him to copy from Jesus’ example and go back and live in harmony with every person. That is what the Gospel teaches, ]and[ with these simple explanations the young men’s hearts melted to the power of the Gospel. We ]are[ to reconcile men to God - 2nd Cor 5:20, for Christ has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Verse 18.

Thanks a lot for the Ellen G. White Writings Comprehensive Research Edition 2008. It is a precious gift ]of[ great value. I’m yet to learn how ]to[ open it quickly and the extract ]the[ thing I want. I know I will get to that, otherwise I’m at the foundation stage, hence slow to get what I want.

I count it a privilege to have a part also in the completion of this great work of the gospel. For the first time in the wake of this movement in Zimbabwe, we have been privileged to witness the results of one of “God’s appointed means of saving souls” - “the foolishness of preaching.” 5T p 300.

Praise the Lord also that our country is still observing religious liberty, as we managed by faith to do this work without major hindrances. We began by giving our notices to the Ministry of Home Affairs branch of the police and other local authorities of such a work. I was simply told to put the notices and requests in writing and handed them over for record’s sake. I went a step further on to prepare invitation posters for this crusade on the computer, printed and photocopied over 50 copies which we later placed all around the whole community...

This move brought fear to the SDA church in our area, and soon the SDA church quickly arranged two emergency efforts of one week each and held concurrently a week prior to ours, as a way to try to curb or hinder the success of our work. The Church was divided into two in such a way as to place our venue for the meeting in between. But praise God that their efforts ended prematurely as they dissolved before the end of their one week duration, when they discovered that their meetings were not being attended by any visitor.

We did not manage to secure the tent for the meeting as previously planned, as it was too expensive to hire. However, we managed to get the services of the nearby local council school premises of which we were charged $6 per day/night. Of all the brethren I had invited for this work, [they] came almost late for the one week’s work of clinching the interest in the community, except for the brethren from ____ and ____. Despite being invited earlier, “they did not come to the help of the Lord against the mighty” (Judges 5:23). We gave ourselves much to prayer that the Lord may co-operate with us in our feeble efforts...

When we finally began on the 2nd of May, we felt that Lord was really among our little company. The first two days were attended by one visitor each. But as we progressed, on the third [day] the class was half full in capacity. What we later discovered was that the Holy Ghost had melted the malice of prejudice in the hearts of our fellow SDA brethren as they attended, and composed nearly one half of all the attendants.

We took turns to present the subjects with my fellow gospel worker - Br ____. And here is how the subjects were arranged in their order: 1. The Bible; 2. The Godhead vs Trinity; 3. The Fall of Lucifer; 4. The Fall of Man; 5. The Plan of Redemption; 6. The Moral Law; 7. The Ceremonial Law; 8. The Sabbath; 9. Who Changed the Sabbath?; 10. The Power of Appetite Indulgence; 11. Signs of the Times; 12. The Second Coming of Jesus; 13. The Millennium (1000 years); 14. The State of the Dead; 15. The Prophets and Tongues; 16. The Sealing; 17. The Judgement; 18. The Mark of the Beast; 19. Babylon; 20. The Baptism; [and] 21. The True Church of God. Especially were the Godhead vs the Trinity, Signs of the Times, Babylon, and the True Church of God [well attended and] generated the highest interest among the attendants, that when we concluded on the last day, about six former SDAs among others stood at the appeal desk.

The results of this meeting were more than what I expected. My prayer was always been “Let the Lord add to our number at least one truly repentant soul.” We used some other lighting system which gave us much problems other than electricity, since we had not the services of the PA system also. During the day we entered into the homes for Bible studies, and we could be seen moving up and down the locality in twos. We however failed to make use [of] the blessed agency of Medical Missionary work together with the gospel, [which is] one thing we need to correct in the next meetings for more results, as we are told that it is the entering wedge of the gospel (see CD p 76).

At the moment I am busily engaged in the nightly meetings confirming the believers in the truth for this time. The donation that you sent us is greatly appreciated, and [even though it was little] hopefully you will be comforted as you will take note of this quotation from Last Day Events, “There will be no one saved in heaven with a starless crown. If you enter, there will be some soul in the courts of glory that has found an entrance there through your instrumentality.”--ST June 6, 1892 {LDE 282.3}. These words left us all deeply convicted, and pondered if we will ever make it to heaven without being engaged in active labour for souls.