"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
April - June, 2013
"There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is 'PRESENT TRUTH' that the flock needs now." Early Writings, p 63.
Elder: robert sessler
E-mail address: lightmin@terragon.com
O LOOK TO YOUR ELDER BROTHER --
See The Strength Of Temptations He Endured (final)
In all that we have learned so far through this series, we have understood that when Jesus Christ was born into humanity, He was born with the same fallen nature as we are born with. He was also born with the same sinful flesh as we are born with. This means that when Jesus Christ was tempted, He felt every bit of the strength and downward pulls towards giving in to that temptation and committing sin that arise from the natural inherent desires of fallen, sinful human nature that we all experience when being tempted. But never once did Christ give in to these natural inward desires of the fallen nature and sinful flesh He was living in, but always resisted these. And since this particular issue is so hard for some to really comprehend and fully understand, let us again show what inspiration stated about this fact of truth:
“But Christ was unmoved. He felt the strength of this temptation; but He met it in our behalf, and conquered.” Selected Messages, book 1, p 255.
“He has taken our nature upon him, and has himself felt the force of our temptations.” Bible Echo, January 15, 1889 par 9.
“Christ was suffering as the members of the human family suffer under temptation...” Selected Messages, book 3, p 129.
“For our sake He exercised a self-control stronger than hunger or death.” Desire of Ages, p 117.
“[Christ was] touched with the feelings of our infirmities...[and] was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.
“The Lord will hear. He knows how strong are the inclinations of the natural heart, and He will help in every time of temptation.” Testimonies, vol 5, p 177.
Now we also previously learned that Christ’s humanity was “perfectly identical with our own nature, except without the taint of sin” (Christ Triumphant, p 208). But this fact of truth then raises the question: How could Christ experience these natural downwards pulls towards sin that are common to fallen, sinful human beings, and yet still be without the taint of sin? The difference lies between the natural desires and tendencies of the flesh, verses Christ’s own desires.
Jesus Christ was both God and man, divine and human, in the same Being. His divine nature was naturally pure and completely unfallen, while His human nature was naturally sinful and fully fallen. Since Christ was both God and human in one Person, then both the divine unfallen nature and the human fallen nature were mysteriously blended. This blending of the two natures allowed Christ’s human nature to be fully without the taint of sin, and yet still allow Him to experience all the natural downward desires of the fallen nature towards sin which are common to all humanity. This then meant that as long as Christ did not Himself choose to sin in the least degree, He still retained His absolute unfallen purity from His divine nature which enabled Him to be that perfect innocent Victim that was absolutely necessary in order to fulfill the plan of our Redemption and become our Substitute and Sacrifice for sin. While at the same time being that perfect example for fallen human beings to follow of how to resist the internal natural desires and indeed condemn sin in the flesh!
But if Christ Himself would choose to give in to the natural downward pulls towards sin from His fallen and sinful human nature, then His absolute unfallen purity would become tainted with sin and corruption. The consequences of this would be that He could no longer be that perfect innocent Victim or Substitute or Sacrifice for sin, the plan of salvation could not be fulfilled, and thus we would be lost without a Saviour to save us! In addition, Christ would no longer be the Servant of God, but now would be the servant of Lucifer, and since Christ was both God and human, then all of Christ’s divine powers would now be under the control of Lucifer. If this occurred, then Almighty God and Father of Jesus Christ would be forced to instantly destroy His own Son in order to protect the entire sinless universe from a rogue God!
Dear ones, please understand that Jesus Christ was both God and human at the same time, which we can never be. Christ’s nature was both unfallen and yet fallen at the same time, which our natures can never be. This is why no other human being except Jesus Christ could have become that perfect Substitute and Sacrifice for the sins of mankind! Yet also understand that Christ’s humanity was perfectly identical and fully complete in all areas like our humanity is. Christ’s human nature was fallen and sinful just like our humanity is, which meant that He felt all the strength and force of the fallen sinful nature naturally desiring to give in to the temptation and commit sin. The difference is that Christ never committed any sin, but we have. He never chose to follow the downward desires and will of His sinful flesh, but instead always followed the desires and will of God. Thus Christ’s own desires and passions were always to do God’s will, but to do so meant that He always had to resist the natural desires and passions of His fallen and sinful human nature. This unique condition is brought out in the following two inspired quotes:
“He is a brother in our infirmities, but not in possessing like passions. As the sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil. He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and privilege. He required all the stronger divine support and comfort which His Father was ready to impart to Him, to Him who had, for the benefit of man, left the joys of heaven and chosen His home in a cold and thankless world.” Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 455.
“Though He had all the strength of passion of humanity, never did he yield to do one single act which was not pure and elevating and ennobling.” In Heavenly Places, p 155.
So Christ’s own desires and passions were always to do God’s will, but to do so meant that He always had to resist the natural desires and passions of His fallen and sinful human nature. But even though this is true, some still cannot believe that their sinless Lord Jesus Christ really felt all the downward pull of these natural evils and lustful desires that are inherently part of the fallen nature and sinful flesh of humanity. We have already seen inspired testimonies stating this to be true, but maybe the following inspired quotes will further help.
“Every sin, every discord, every defiling lust that transgression had brought, was torture to His spirit.” Desire of Ages, p 111.
“He realized the strength of indulged appetite and of unholy passion that controlled the world.” Review and Herald, August 4, 1874.
“Christ alone had experience in all the sorrows and temptations that befall human beings. Never another of woman born was so fiercely beset by temptation; never another bore so heavy a burden of the world's sin and pain. Never was there another whose sympathies were so broad or so tender. A sharer in all the experiences of humanity, He could feel not only for, but with, every burdened and tempted and struggling one.” Education, p 78.
“Unless there is a possibility of yielding, temptation is no temptation. Temptation is resisted when man is powerfully influenced to do a wrong action; and, knowing that he can do it, resists, by faith, with a firm hold upon divine power. This was the ordeal through which Christ passed.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 132.
“Jesus was placed where His character would be tested. It was necessary for Him to be constantly on guard in order to preserve His purity. He was subject to all the conflicts which we have to meet, that He might be an example to us in childhood, youth, and manhood.” Desire of Ages, p 71.
So Christ Himself realized and experienced the same natural inward downward pulls and desires to sin that are inherently part of fallen nature and sinful flesh. And in order to preserve His purity, Christ was constantly on guard to resist these fierce temptations. But just how powerful did these natural desires and temptations become?
“In order to carry out the great work of redemption, the Redeemer must take the place of fallen man. Burdened with the sins of the world, he must go over the ground where Adam stumbled. He must take up the work just where Adam failed, and endure a test of the same character, but infinitely more severe than that which had vanquished him. It is impossible for man fully to comprehend Satan's temptations to our Saviour. Every enticement to evil which men find so difficult to resist, was brought to bear upon the Son of God in as much greater degree as his character was superior to that of fallen man.” General Conference Bulletin, February 25, 1895 par. 3, p 332-333.
“...the world's Redeemer was passing through inexpressible suffering to achieve the redemption of man....He had endured a more close and severe test than would ever be brought to bear upon man.” Selected Messages, book 1, p 288-289.
“Christ was tempted by Satan in a hundredfold severer manner than was Adam, and under circumstances in every way more trying.” Manuscript Releases, vol 8, p 40.
“It is impossible to take in the depth and the force of these temptations (to Christ) unless the Lord shall bring man where He can open these scenes before him by a revelation of the matter, and then it can only be but partially comprehended.
“But the facts of this history are not fable, but a living, acting, experience. [To deny this] would rob Jesus of His greatest glory--allegiance to God--which enshrouded Him as a garment in this world on the field of battle with the relentless foe, and He is not reckoned with the transgressor. He descended in His humiliation to be tempted as man would be tempted, and His nature was that of man, capable of yielding to temptation.” Manuscript Releases, vol 16, p 181-183.
So just how much force and strength did Christ feel when tempted to indulge these inward natural tendencies and inclinations towards sin that originated from the fallen nature and sinful flesh He took upon Himself? Infinitely more severe than we do; at least a hundredfold more severe than Adam endured; more trying that any of us will ever have to suffer through! In fact, it is impossible for any of us to fully comprehend the actual force of these temptations that Christ resisted and suffered through, without divine help for us to understand, and even then we can only partially comprehend it!
Dear ones, let us raise our voices in praise to the Almighty that Jesus was willing to become one of His fallen and sinful creations in order to show you and me that it is indeed possible to deny all our inward feelings and strong downward urges towards sin! Praise our Heavenly Father that Jesus always denied the clamors of fallen sinful flesh even though it caused Him suffering, but this suffering indicated that He had gained the victory over these natural desires of the fallen nature, and thus showed that He was perfect in character!
So this means that it is an absolute fact of truth that Christ felt, suffered through and successfully resisted any and all sinful inherent natural desires of His fallen nature and flesh! This fact of truth is therefore not a fable, or error, or heresy because inspiration positively declares that “Jesus knows all about the strength of temptation” (Manuscript Releases, vol 8, p 66). So this is an absolute truth founded upon the inspired word of God Himself! And woe be unto those who continue to deny this truth, or who continue to falsely claim that it is heresy to teach this truth, because in doing so they are robbing Jesus of His greatest glory – maintaining His allegiance to God while living in the fallen nature and sinful flesh of humanity!
Any who blindly or wilfully continue to deny that Christ took upon Himself our fallen nature and lived in sinful flesh, and any who continue to deny that Christ felt the same inward tendencies, downward pulls and inclinations toward sin which we experience when tempted, are actually believing and teaching a doctrine which is directly opposed to Christ and His gospel of salvation! They are not following God or His truth in this issue, but are guilty of robbing a perfect and complete Saviour from others, and thus are truly arranging themselves against Christ!
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3.
“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John 7.
The flesh that these verses are referring to is not just the fact that Jesus was born in human flesh, because even the anti-Christian Roman Catholic Church teaches and believes this. But these verses are talking about Christ having the same sinful flesh as you and me, and yet Christ resisted all the natural inward downward pulls, inclinations, desires and urges toward sin no matter how overpowering they were!
But who exactly, besides the Babylonian Catholic and apostate Protestant churches, are deceivers by arranging themselves against our Lord Jesus Christ by believing and advocating such an anti-Christ doctrine?
The Seventh Day Adventist Church teaches:
“Jesus had the absolute, perfect, sinless nature of Adam before he fell....Jesus never had to go through the sinner's struggle [of overcoming temptation and sin]...” Salvation by Faith and Your Will, p 86, 93, 96.
“Although born in the flesh, He [Christ] was nevertheless God, and was exempt from the inherited passions and pollutions that corrupt the natural descendants of Adam. He was without sin, not only in His outward conduct, but in His very nature.” Questions on Doctrines, p 383.
“Because His humanity was sinless, Jesus could not experience the inner...urgings of sinful humans.” Adventist Review, February 1, 1990, p 21.
Now most of us have realized the corruption and apostasy within the Babylonian SDA church and then have separated away from her, and thus these anti-Christ teachings have little effect upon us. But sadly dear ones, these same anti-Christ beliefs and doctrines are being both privately and publicly taught to our precious Remnant people from deceivers within our very Movement!
“Rob's [robert sessler’s] preaching on the nature of Christ: "So in all areas, Christ was tempted like as we are with the same fallen nature, with the same driving and almost overpowering desires to commit sin, yet He did not sin in one instance." http://www.lightministries.com/SDA/Booklets/id122.htm.
“hmmmm...it sounds rather like "another Jesus..." 2 Corinthians 11:4 ‘For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.’
“I don't believe that that's the meaning of "temptation." It is sort-of hard to explain, something that can only be spiritually discerned. But I believe that Jesus did not have a desire to sin (like we do). But He was tempted, which I suppose is like being invited, to sin....
“Rob changes the SOP to fit Satan’s presumptions...As far as I am concerned, this statement of Rob is sinful and misrepresents the human nature of Christ....Hope that this has helped. Brother Craig.” Craig Kalkofen, in an e-mail sent to a Seventh-Day Remnant believer, who then sent me a copy on October 5, 2012 at 8:56 am Pacific Time.
“...yes he [robert sessler] is preaching heresy on his site. Ask Bro. Craig about it. I don’t recall what page it was on. Or look on Rob’s site regarding the nature of Christ. Rob has been approached by more than one on this heresy and refuses to change it. God bless, Nicholas.” Nicholas Patula, in an e-mail sent to a Seventh-Day Remnant believer, who then sent me a copy on October 5, 2012 at 8:56 am Pacific Time.
“He [robert sessler] also preaches strange theology about the nature of Christ, among other things. How can we post his website on the “official” site when we will be held accountable for the babes in Christ that are lured away by his...strange theology? Is it not plainly written in 2 Thessalonians 3:14 that ‘if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.’ God bless, Nicholas.” Nicholas Patula, in an e-mail sent to a Seventh-Day Remnant believer, who then sent me a copy on September 4, 2012 at 3:10 pm Pacific Time.
“He (Satan) has to first cause confusion. Just like today. Look at the Protestant churches and Catholic churches. This all started with confusion! Once confusion sets in, then Satan can work.
“So let us take a look at an example of a quote from those who are supposedly preaching Christ today. Here is a new sly new understanding that is designed to cause confusion or doubt in the minds of those who are not grounded in the truth – babes in Christ, in other words – who are searching for the truth, and they stumble along this kind of quote that we can see is presumption.
“Quote: ‘So in all areas, Christ was tempted like as we are with the same fallen nature, with the same driving and almost overpowering desires to commit sin, yet He did not sin in one instance.’”
“See! This is false. Did Christ, our King of the universe, brothers and sisters, have the same drive and almost overpowering desire to commit sin as we did? I don’t think so. Absolutely not! Christ did not leave us this to follow and believe or think about Him!...God was only tempted as we are; He did not have a desire to commit sin, brothers and sisters. Absolutely not!...So you have to be careful. Search the Scriptures when things like this come up so that we will not be confused and have a wrong understanding of who our Lord and Saviour is.” Craig Kalkofen, sermon broadcasted worldwide to the public from the SDR church of Indiana, hosted by Nicholas Patula, on July 21, 2012.
So you can see that it is not just the corrupt and apostate Catholic, Protestant and SDA churches that believe and publically teach that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ did not experience natural and inherent strong desires and temptations to sin from the fallen sinful nature He lived in, which is just like we experience. But now this same doctrine of anti-Christ is also being taught by deceivers within our Remnant Movement!
But is it really like Nicholas tells others, that it is strange doctrine and even heresy to teach that the temptations which Satan brought to Christ through His fallen and sinful nature were with such intensity and power that at times they were almost overpowering to Jesus? Is it really like Craig tells others and even preaches, that it is false and satanic confusion to teach that Christ was tempted like as we are with the same driving and almost overpowering desires from His fallen sinful nature to commit sin? Is it really preaching another Jesus to believe and teach such a doctrine as this? Let us not trust to our own erring and fallible minds to determine whether this is truth or error, and especially let us not trust in what others tell us is truth or error. But instead let us allow the infallible God through His inspired messenger to tell us what is truth in this issue.
“His (Satan’s) first temptation to Christ was upon appetite. He had, upon this point, almost entire control of the world, and his temptations were so adapted to the circumstances and surroundings of Christ that his temptations upon appetite were almost overpowering.” Selected Messages, book 1, p 274-175.
“Satan comes to man, as he came to Christ, with his overpowering temptations to indulge appetite.” Testimonies, vol 3, p 561.
“Then the tempter's voice was heard: ‘All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine’ [Luke 4:6, 7].
“This was the most subtle and overpowering temptation that Satan could bring against Christ in His human nature to unsettle His faith in His heavenly Father and to separate Him from God.” Manuscript Releases, vol 18, p 86.
“Christ was amazed with the horror of darkness which enclosed him. The temptations of Satan were almost overpowering. These words, ‘O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,’ were borne upon the sympathizing air, to his disciples, in tones of startling agony.” Signs of the Times, August 14, 1879.
I sincerely hope that all our precious Remnant believers will allow these truthful words of inspiration to forever settle this question in their minds and understanding in this issue. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ did not pretend to take our fallen and sinful nature upon Himself, and then resist all temptations with ease! And neither did He pretend to live in and then condemn sin while living in our sinful flesh! But it is solemn reality that Jesus Christ did indeed have and lived in our fallen nature and sinful flesh, and this meant that just as Satan comes to you and me at times with his overpowering temptations to give in to the natural downward desires and urges from our fallen and sinful nature to commit sin, so “he came to Christ, with his overpowering temptations”!
So inspiration has clearly revealed to each one of us that Jesus did experience and victoriously resisted all of the natural inward downward pulls, inclinations, desires and urges toward sin no matter how strong and overpowering these were! As this is true, then when the Bible states that Christ was “in all points tempted like as we are” (Hebrews 4:15), then it really and truly means just what it says – IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE! And when the Bible states that Christ was ‘In all things...made like unto his brethren” (Hebrews 2:17), then it really and truly means just what it says – IN ALL THINGS MADE LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN! So then do not allow anyone, including those within our Remnant Movement, to deceive you with an anti-Christ doctrine in trying to convince you otherwise, and thus rob a full and complete Saviour and true Elder Brother from you!
All who oppose the truth that Christ endured through almost overpowering natural inward desires and temptations to sin and yet successfully resisted all these in order to remain loyal to God, have chosen to cling to the erroneous doctrines and custom and tradition of apostate Catholicism, Protestantism and Adventism! By doing this, they are all arranging themselves against Christ and are standing on the side of anti-Christ and Babylon on this issue – whether they realize it or not! And dear ones, you definitely do not want to be found united with or believing anyone who has chosen to connect themselves with anti-Christ either in membership or in doctrine! The hour is too late to risk losing eternal life!
“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:22.
“...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.
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:8-9.
Now this inspired truth of God that Christ victoriously resisted all the natural desires of His fallen nature and sinful flesh no matter how overpowering these natural urges were, meant that Christ also experienced the keenest internal suffering!
“He was subjected to the fiercest assaults of Satan, but not for a moment did he yield to the terrible temptations brought against him, or become discouraged in his work of bringing redemption to the race. He gave his life for the salvation of a fallen race. Who can understand the depth and the breadth of love so amazing!” Review and Herald, January 3, 1907 (vol 5, p 305).
“But why this severe conflict with the prince of the world, when Jesus, through his childhood, youth, and manhood, had lived the law of God? By a word Christ could have mastered the powers of Satan, but he came into the world and took humanity that he might endure every test, every provocation that it is possible for man to bear, and yet not be provoked, or retaliate in word, in spirit, or in action. For the honor and glory of God he was to offer himself a living, spotless sacrifice to the Father. He must bear, under fierce temptations, the test that Adam failed to endure. He suffered, being tempted; but there was no yielding to the temptations of Satan. He did as the Father had given him commandment.” Signs of the Times, November 25, 1897.
“Christ was Himself without spot or stain of sin, but having taken the nature of man, He was exposed to the fiercest assaults of the enemy, to his sharpest temptations, to the keenest of sorrow. He suffered being tempted. He was made like unto His brethren, that He might show that through the grace given, humanity could overcome the temptations of the enemy.” In Heavenly Places, p 41.
“Jesus was placed where His character would be tested. It was necessary for Him to be constantly on guard in order to preserve His purity. He was subject to all the conflicts which we have to meet, that He might be an example to us in childhood, youth, and manhood.” Desire of Ages, p 71.
“Only by the inexpressible anguish which Christ endured can we estimate the evil of unrestrained indulgence....He has endured all that it is possible for us to bear.” Desire of Ages, p 122-123.
“From a study of his life and labors and his struggles with temptation, we are to learn how to become partakers of the divine nature, and overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. Nowhere shall we find anything that will help our spiritual life as will a study of the life of Christ. And as we seek to walk in his footsteps, there will come to us a supply of divine grace such as sustained him under every circumstance.” Review and Herald, January 6, 1910.
“...the course that Christ followed...was a course of constant overcoming. He wrestled with temptations greater than any you will be called to meet; and he stood the test. He refused to yield to temptation. Though physical strength failed, His faith did not fail.” Visitor, October 2, 1912.
“More than we could possibly endure Christ endured in our behalf. Sinless to the last, he died for us. Justice demanded not merely that sin be pardoned; the death penalty must be met. The Saviour has met this demand. His broken body, his gushing blood, satisfied the claims of the law. Thus he bridged the gulf made by sin between earth and heaven. He suffered in the flesh, that with his robe of righteousness he might cover the defenseless sinner.” Youth's Instructor, April 16, 1903.
So Christ was subjected to the fiercest assaults and the terrible temptations which Satan could cast at Him; He struggled and wrestled with temptation and suffered inexpressible anguish so severe that there are not words to describe it; He endured all that it is possible for any human being to bear, and even more than we ourselves could ever bear, in order to bridge the gulf that sin had made between God and us. Jesus did all this to provide you and me with salvation, and prove that through the divine grace given, humanity could overcome the temptations of the enemy!
“Many claim that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome by temptation. Then He could not have been placed in Adam's position; He could not have gained the victory that Adam failed to gain. If we have in any sense a more trying conflict than had Christ, then He would not be able to succor us. But our Saviour took humanity, with all its liabilities. He took the nature of man, with the possibility of yielding to temptation. We have nothing to bear which He has not endured....In man's behalf, Christ conquered by enduring the severest test.” Desire of Ages, p 117.
“Solitary and alone He had been pursued by the rebel chief, who had been expelled from heaven. He had endured a more close and severe test than would ever be brought to bear upon man. The warfare with the power of darkness had been long and intensely trying to Christ's human nature in His weak and suffering condition. The angels brought messages of love and comfort from the Father to His Son, and also the assurance that all heaven triumphed in the full and entire victory He had gained in behalf of man.” Selected Messages, book 1, p 288-289.
So the temptations that come to mankind and are so severe that they seem overpowering, Christ Himself has also felt a hundredfold more severe and almost overpowering, yet He endured through it all and never once gave in to commit sin! As this is true, then with such internal struggles against the natural and inherent desires of the fallen sinful flesh within Christ, how was He able to resist all these at all times and in all circumstances?
“...Jesus had taken upon Himself human nature, and was in the likeness of sinful flesh, and was tempted of Satan as all children are tempted. He was able to resist the temptation of Satan through His dependence upon the divine power of His heavenly Father, as He was subject to His will, and obedient to all His commands. He kept His Father's statutes, precepts, and laws. He was continually seeking counsel of God, and was obedient to His will.” Sons and Daughters of God, p 128.
“This specious reasoning was a temptation to Christ. His humanity made it a temptation to Him, and it was only by trusting his Father's word that He could resist the power of the enemy. He walked by faith, as we must walk by faith, and turned from the artful deceiver, who feigned to doubt his divinity....As man's representative, He was to bear the trials of man, leaving a perfect example of submission and trust in God.” Bible Echo, November 15, 1892.
“Christ was the only one who walked the earth upon whom there rested no taint of sin. He was pure, spotless, and undefiled. That there should be One without the defilement of sin upon the earth, greatly disturbed the author of sin, and he left no means untried to overcome Christ with his wily, deceptive power. But our Saviour relied upon His heavenly Father for wisdom and strength to resist and overcome the tempter. The Spirit of His heavenly Father animated and regulated His life. He was sinless. Virtue and purity characterized His life.” Selected Messages, book 3, p 134.
So Christ chose to leave heaven and to come down to this evil world to become one of His fallen creation and voluntarily taking upon Himself our fallen sinful nature and sinful flesh, thereby feeling everything we feel when tempted to sin. All this was so that we, through His strength and righteousness, might be connected back to our God. Out of infinite love Christ eternally humbled Himself in order that He might cover and shield us, and instead bear the wrath of God for our sin!
Please join with me in proclaiming: WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN TO RECEIVE POWER AND RICHES AND WISDOM AND STRENGTH AND HONOR AND GLORY AND BLESSING! WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN AND HAS REDEEMED US BACK TO THE FATHER THROUGH HIS BLOOD!
But after everything that we have so-far covered, there is still a question remaining. Why did Christ voluntarily take upon Himself our fallen nature and sinful flesh? Why did He choose to condemn sin in the flesh instead of just outside His flesh? Why did He choose to suffer internally by being tempted? Why did Christ choose to feel all the inward inclinations and natural desires toward sin? Why did He choose to experience all the strength of Satan's fierce temptations, even though these almost overcame Him? Why did Christ take, “our nature, and in it lived a life of perfect obedience” (Signs of the Times Jan. 25, 1899)? Why was there not a single principle of fallen, sinful human nature in which Christ would violate? Why did He take everything that is common to humanity in fallen nature? Inspiration tells us why.
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:4.
“Christ was willing to go through everything that He did so that the righteousness of God's law might be fulfilled in you and me if we walk not after the desires of the flesh, but after the desire of the Spirit. Christ declared...‘I will endure every temptation wherewith man is beset. I will call to My aid the powers of heaven, that men and women, imbued with My Spirit, may overcome as I overcame.’” Manuscript Releases, vol 5, p 114.
“The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome.” Ministry of Healing, p 180.
“In order that the human family might have no excuse because of temptation, Christ became one with them.” Signs of the Times, October 14, 1897 (vol 3, p 422).
“Therefore in the simplest language the Saviour assures us that God is full of mercy and compassion, and that He, our Saviour, is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, having been in all points tempted like as we, are yet without sin. Fully acquainted with the temptations and devices of the enemy, He presents before His children what they may expect, assuring them at the same time that He will help them bear whatever may come. He knows our difficulties, He understands our distresses. Not a sigh is heard, nor a throb of anguish felt, but the pang vibrates in the heart of Christ. With tender sympathy for our weakness, He points us to the care God has for the little sparrow which flits from bough to bough, and tells us that not one of these tiny birds falls to the ground without the knowledge of the Father: ‘Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.’” Signs of the Times, August 1, 1900.
So why did Christ go through everything that He did? Why did He condescend to humiliate Himself by taking our fallen nature and living in sinful flesh? So that He could condemn sin in His flesh and prove to each one of us that we ourselves should have no fear, when we experience these same natural inner urges from our fallen nature and sinful flesh, that we could not overcome these and be able to keep God's law! Jesus Christ Himself has forever proven that while living in sinful flesh, all these natural desires and temptations – no matter how severe and almost overpowering they might be – can indeed be overcome, because He endured the same, only infinitely more fierce and severe than we will ever be called to resist and endure through!
As this is true, then dear ones, Jesus Christ says to you: “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11)! And you know that what your Elder Brother commands you to do, He will give you all the grace and strength to successfully accomplish it!
In closing dear ones, please do not listen to or follow any deceivers in our Remnant Movement who are bringing you anti-Christ doctrines directly from the apostate churches of Babylon. But instead follow the inspired words of God on this issue of Christ and temptation. Understand that Christ chose to bridge the gulf that sin had made between humanity and God by taking our fallen, sinful nature upon Him and living in sinful flesh. Thus Christ is the connecting Link between a holy God and sinful humanity. He is indeed our Elder Brother whom we can flee to in any time of need with the assurance that He knows exactly what we are going through when tempted – because He has Himself felt the same inwards pulls and desires of sinful flesh, and thus we also have the assurance that He will indeed help us in any time of our need! And I pray that these following words of inspiration will give you courage to stand up for God and Christ and fight manfully and womanfully the battles of the Lord in denying and overcoming self, temptation and sin in all areas in order to do God’s will – no matter how overpowering these may be – so that you can thus become perfect and sinless through Christ which strengthens you!
“But our Saviour took humanity, with all its liabilities. He took the nature of man, with the possibility of yielding to temptation. We have nothing to bear which He has not endured.” Desire of Ages, p. 117.
“Christ...took man's human nature upon Him that He might come right down to man in the temptation wherewith man is beset. The pitiful Redeemer knows just how to help us in every one of our strivings.” In Heavenly Places, p 263.
“...having passed through man's experience, having in man's behalf met and conquered temptation, having, though Himself sinless, borne the shame and guilt and burden of sin, He becomes man's Advocate and Intercessor. What an assurance here to the tempted and struggling soul, what an assurance to the witnessing universe, that Christ will be ‘a merciful and faithful high priest’!” Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 925-926.
“The Saviour came to our world to bring to every tried, tempted soul strength to overcome even as He overcame. I know the power of temptation; I know the dangers that are in the way; but I know, too, that strength sufficient for every time of need is provided for those who are struggling against temptation.” Messages to Young People, p 81.
“He suffered all that it is possible for human flesh to suffer and endure, that we might pass triumphantly through all the temptations Satan may invent to destroy our faith.” Sons and Daughters of God, p 294.
“Let no one try to carry his own sins, for they have been atoned for by the great sin-bearer. The only begotten Son of God voluntarily met the claims of God's violated law. He was stricken of God and afflicted in our behalf. One with the Father, he was fully able to bear the penalty of our disobedience. By connecting his divinity with our humanity, Christ has exalted the human family. His divinity grasps the throne of the Infinite in behalf of man. As our substitute, he took our sins upon himself, and now he intercedes before the Father in our behalf. ‘In all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of his people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.’” Review and Herald, September 15, 1896.
“With His human arm, Christ encircled the race, while with His divine arm, He grasped the throne of the Infinite, uniting finite man with the infinite God. He bridged the gulf that sin had made, and connected earth with heaven. In His human nature He maintained the purity of His divine character.” Youth's Instructor, June 2, 1898.
“Temptation will come to every one of us as it came to Jesus Christ, and what is our hope? We may be pressed sore with temptations, but we may overcome, because Christ has brought moral power within our reach.” Christ Triumphant, p 206.
“Those who enter there must be loyal and faithful servants of God, yoking up with Christ, working his works, overcoming as he overcame, wrestling day after day with hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, which must be oft crucified....
“If you would work as Christ worked, if you would overcome as he overcame, go straight to him for help needed to subdue the inclinations of the carnal mind and the passions of the natural heart. Resist every sinful indulgence, every inclination to gratify wrong desires, remembering that Christ is all and in all, and that he is able to do "exceeding abundantly, above all that we ask or think.’” Signs of the Times, April 1, 1897.
“As one of us He was to give an example of obedience. For this He took upon Himself our nature, and passed through our experiences. ‘In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren.’ Hebrews 2:17. If we had to bear anything which Jesus did not endure, then upon this point Satan would represent the power of God as insufficient for us. Therefore Jesus was ‘in all points tempted like as we are.’ Hebrews 4:15. He endured every trial to which we are subject. And He exercised in His own behalf no power that is not freely offered to us. As man, He met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him from God. He says, ‘I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.’ Psalm 40:8. As He went about doing good, and healing all who were afflicted by Satan, He made plain to men the character of God's law and the nature of His service. His life testifies that it is possible for us also to obey the law of God.” Desire of Ages, p 24.
“All are accountable for their actions while in this world upon probation. All have power to control their actions, if they will. If they are weak in virtue and purity of thoughts, and acts, they can obtain help from the Friend of the helpless. Jesus is acquainted with all the weaknesses of human nature, and if entreated, will give strength to overcome the most powerful temptations. All can obtain this strength if they seek for it in humility. Jesus gives all a blessed invitation who are burdened, and laden with sin, to come to him, the sinner's friend. ‘Come unto me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’” An Appeal To Mothers, p 31-32.
“There will come to you, as there came to Christ times of special difficulty and need. But in every trial and difficulty know that Christ has passed this way before you. And He who came forth from the most severe test without one stain of sin, stands ready to strengthen all who struggle with Him against the powers of evil. He understands every difficulty. He waits to hear and answer prayer.” Visitor, October 2, 1912.
“We must not think that by walking in the path of obedience, we shall escape trials; for the enemy will do all in his power to hinder us from gaining heaven. But the Saviour has promised to help us. Have you trials? So had Jesus. Are you tempted? So was He--in all points like as we are. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received him not. ‘But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.’ ‘There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’” Manuscript Releases, vol 5, p 251.
“‘There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man’ (1 Corinthians 10:13). Every trial is weighed and measured by the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is not beyond man's ability to endure through the grace given unto him. ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it’ (Ibid.). Will this dear brother, who is so young in the faith, lay hold upon the promise? ‘The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations’ (2 Peter 2:9). This means that, while everything may appear overwhelmingly dark, the Lord will bring forth the tried one with firmer faith and a richer experience.
“Our gracious heavenly Father does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men. He will accomplish the work of purification by the furnace fire of trial, and will overrule every event to His own name's glory in the good of the afflicted one. He will communicate grace and strength, and will manifestly interpose His own power to restrain the cruel power of the adversary. But we must be steadfast in the faith, demonstrating to the world a devotion to Jesus and a love for Him that nothing can destroy.” Manuscript Releases, vol 12, p 81.
MINISTRY NEWS
NEW ONLINE HOME CHURCH
Our Let There Be Light Ministries Online Home Church is still being richly blessed by God. Precious souls are being led to understand and embrace the full present truth, prayers are being heard and answered by our Lord God, and sweet fellowship in brotherly and sisterly love and unity is continuing to be experienced! Please come and join with us and see for yourself.
Our weekly Home Church meeting schedule is:
Women’s group each Monday beginning at 5:30 pm (Pacific Time).
Midweek church service each Wednesday beginning at 6:00 pm (PT).
Friday night church service each week beginning at 6:00 pm (PT).
Sabbath church services each week:
– Sabbath School for Children begins at 9:30 am (PT).
– Sabbath School for Youth and Adults begins at 10:00 am (PT).
– Sabbath Church Service begins at 11:00 am (PT).
If you are able to join with us, please visit the following link for easy steps on how to do so: http://www.lightministries.com/id947.htm. These steps are simple, and most will be quickly connected. For those who have no or limited internet capabilities, you can also join with our live Church Services over your telephone. Simply dial 1-559-726-1200, and then after being prompted enter the access code 740570. You will then be automatically connected to listen to our live Church Service.
For those who would like to listen to past church services, please visit http://www.lightministries.com/id14.htm.
Our Home Church Music section currently contains over 230 Scripture songs, as well as over 100 Gospel songs. These are all recorded in mp3 format for your free listening and downloading pleasure at http://www.lightministries.com/id1873.htm.
We thank you for your prayers and support, and we look forward to being able to fellowship and worship with you in Spirit and in truth in the near future.
NEW INTERNET RADIO STATION
Let There Be Light Ministries is now broadcasting our recorded messages over the Internet Radio 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year! Our Internet Radio Station is WLMR, which stands for Worldwide Light Ministries Radio. Please visit the following link to listen: http://www.shoutcast.com/Internet-Radio/wlmr.
As our Internet Radio Station is available to most anyone who has access to the internet, then this means that the Biblical Gospel message is being made available to millions of potential listeners from all around the world!
Please pray with us that God will bless this new avenue of outreach evangelism with an abundance of listeners so that they may come to learn more of the Gospel Truth centered in Jesus Christ, and thus find true and lasting salvation.
TRUE CHURCH WEBSITE
The Lord is continuing to bless our TrueChurchofGod.info website. In the month of January we had 14,493 hits, which were generated by 2,650 visitors. In these Visitor Sessions, 6,604 documents of Present Truth were viewed, and over 844.2 million bytes of information were downloaded.
In the month of February we had 15,572 hits, which were generated by 2,505 visitors. In these Visitor Sessions, 5,724 documents of Present Truth were viewed, and over 820.9 million bytes of information were downloaded.
In the month of March we had some website problems and only obtained about 15% of average monthly data. But what data we have shows that we had 2,870 hits, which were generated by 395 visitors. In these Visitor Sessions, 1,065 documents of Present Truth were viewed, and over 175.5 million bytes of information were downloaded.
So for these past 3 months, over 1.84 billion bytes of information were downloaded from this Gospel Truth website by over 5,500 visitors!
LTBL MINISTRIES WEBSITE
The Lord is also abundantly blessing our LightMinistries.com website! In the month of January we had 170,801 hits, which were generated by 25,702 visitors. In these Visitor Sessions, 51,805 documents of Present Truth were viewed, and over 54.80 billion bytes of information were downloaded.
In the month of February we had 157,091 hits, which were generated by 23,204 visitors. In these Visitor Sessions, 44,283 documents of Present Truth were viewed, and over 60.78 billion bytes of information were downloaded.
In the month of March we had our best month yet! We had 195,541 hits, which were generated by 29,447 visitors. In these Visitor Sessions, 59,689 documents of Present Truth were viewed, and over 70.95 billion bytes of information were downloaded.
So for these past 3 months, over 186.50 billion bytes of information were downloaded from this Gospel Truth website by over 78,000 visitors! MAY GOD BE PRAISED!!
SPANISH BIBLE STUDIES
We have our Bible Study Lessons translated into Spanish and available on-line for any Spanish speaking people who are interested in learning more of what the Bible teaches. The actual link to these important studies is: http://www.lightministries.com/id1875.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 and Radio Station 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!
MINISTRY NEEDS
"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.
Your gracious prayers and support is greatly appreciated and needed. Without the Lord's guidance, blessings, and your support, this Ministry could not continue to reach out worldwide with the precious message of Revelation 14:6-12 & 18:1-5.
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!
GENERAL FOREIGN MISSION WORK NEEDS
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.
Please financially help us to continue supporting our current ministers and workers on a consistent basis, so that the spreading of the truth will not be interrupted but can quickly lighten this dark world with the glory of God.
"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.
SPECIFIC MONTHLY FOREIGN MISSION WORK NEEDS
KENYA, East Africa:
M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Kenya.
M Printing of booklets and tracts in Kenya.
M Projector, screen, and evangelistic film for non-SDA outreach.
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
M Purchase of printing machine to aid in publication of present truth--$3,500.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA:
M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to PNG.
M Printing of booklets and tracts in PNG.
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
M Used SOP books.
M Clothes to pass out to naked villagers.
PHILIPPINE Islands:
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
M Printing of booklets and tracts in Philippines.
M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Philippines.
M Printing 100,000 tracts in Philippines--$1,450.
UGANDA, East Africa:
M Monthly operating expenses for the publication work already established there.
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
ZAMBIA, Central Africa:
M Monthly operating expenses for the publication work already established there.
M Start up costs to open a Health Center and Herbal Store--$6,000.
M Donations of any amount to help with construction of a home–$12,000 total cost.
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
M Donations of any amount to help purchase a vehicle–$6,000 total cost.
ZIMBABWE, Africa:
M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Zimbabwe.
M Printing of booklets and tracts in Zimbabwe.
M Donations of any amount to help with construction of a home–$12,000 total cost.
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
M Donations of any amount to help purchase a vehicle–$6,000 total cost.
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.
LETTERS to "LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
Dear Sessler,
After conducting an evangelistic meeting in ____, ____ region, I found myself having lost my voice. I have regained alot since I can speak without problem and less coughing. I am going to another region, ____, to arrange for another evangelistic meeting. We expect to have it in Mid-March or end of March, 2013. I expect to have a total of 8 meetings this year plus printing some booklets/books, 1000 copies each title. I have done with the first title (1000 copies), another may be out by the end of this month. Selling books/booklets is not easy as the SDA Church leadership is against this and propagating in their churches.
Dear Sessler, regardless of the limited funds, we are happy that the Sanitarium in our care has proved to be a blessing since it can sustain us in food and other expenses. The hindrance to this has always come from among ourselves. There are those who have left the SDA Church to join us but they are worse than the Devil. Any time we have put them to keep the money, they have become worse than Judas. As such, we have cut the number to almost 5 and I do not think that we can add more in a short time to come. Provided that we can preach and print, we shall move slowly unless providence decides.
Dear Sessler, our preaching is unique since we touch the sensitive parts that excites many people: (1) Paganism in all Christendom...and that Babylon is composed of all churches..., (2) Godhead..., and (3) Prophecy – Daniel 12 and Revelation 13, 17 & 18.
Dear Sessler, if ever there is any new update, keep me informed. The Lord has been merciful to us and we have never gone to bed hungry, regardless of our hand to mouth income. The Lord’s business has been done through His wondrous provision even when we thought it could not.
Yours in the Blessed Hope, B.P., Tanzania, East Africa.
Dear Elder Robert,
Thanks for the good and encouraging message to us: the group that is growing now. Our prayer is that you continue keeping us in mind and pray for the saints here [for] God to minister to us as His will. Your are always in our prayer and think about you. Please move close to us in sharing and hearing from each other.
Finally salute every saint over there.
God bless you. Yours, B.J., New York.
Light Ministries,
Dear Pastor, I have received the reading material from you and it was so blessings to read. I will soon read all of them.
I was thinking and praying if God make a way to translate them into Pakistan National language to bless all this Nation.
Many blessings., P.N., Pakistan.
My dear most beloved brother Elder Robert Sessler in Christ,
Heartily greetings to you and your family and all your Ministry members in the Mighty name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Brother, today I am very happy to meet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. How are you brother? I and my family and all our co-workers we are always praying for you and your family and your great work, please remember us in all your prayers.
Brother, today I received your kind cover and valuable tracts, name is SUNDAY HOLINESS. So I am feeling very happy about your love and kindness...Brother I and my family and all our co-pastors are all very poor pastors. We are all getting so many financial problems, so brother please remember us in all your kind prayers...Thanking you brother.
Your brother in Christ, P.J., Internet.
Dear Elder Robert,
Shalom and greetings from Benin. We are praising Jesus for the success of our trips to Togo Republic few months ago. Hope you are be blessed of the Lord?...We pray for more blessings and good health to you all. Since we returned back from Togo outreach we have been sick with influenza. Brother ____ is getting better and need also your prayers.
I traveled to Togo with ____ to see our scattered brethren and those who have been rejected by the families because of Jesus and His Sabbath. It was after spending 3 days with the brethren here in ____ with different congregations. Our journey to Togo was a huge success because the brethren were so happy to meet us. They are all doing well in Jesus despite the economic hardship. They are full of spirit and are working in the truth giving to them.
We had fellowships with the orphans, widows, disadvantaged brethren in the 3 congregations and several home cells in Togo. There are so many needs in Togo and I want you all to pray for God’s intervention and that hard times will not affect their faith in Jesus. We met Elder ____ and family along with Elder ____ whose aged mother is very sick. Pray for the work in Togo. We need God to raise men and women for the work in Africa and we prayed especially for you for financial blessings.
We spent extra 3 weeks in Togo visiting the brethren, new converts, evangelism groups, orphans, widows, rescued prostitutes, aged ones, and sick brethren praying for them and encouraging them in the Lord Jesus Christ. The house fellowships are growing, believers are doing well though there are occasional threats and attack from the Voodoo adherent and some Catholic churches.
Many people here in the ____ Togo republic are receiving the 7th Day Sabbath teaching well. But there are great needs for French Bibles, evangelical materials, PA Systems, auto bikes, bicycles, etc., for effective outreach. Some of the full time evangelists need some monthly financial helps for their families while they preach the good news and the 3 Angel’s message without hindrance.
We have the same needs here in ____ and ____ where we have brethrens too. It is a very great task keeping the converted prostitutes and other brethren in the faith when we can’t help them to become self reliant. It is a life full of temptation, etc. Many of the widows, orphans, rescued temple prostitutes, converted prostitutes, etc., besieged me for help to start some trade to feed their families and to become self reliant. I don’t know exactly what promise to make, hence I struggle myself and depend on faith. The needs here are enormous. My heart aches for these young girls whose age ranges from 10-21 years to be left to roam the street in search of food, clothing, education, etc., and return back to their former lives.
I really don’t know how to approach this very terrible and pitiable situation. They need little money to earn some living instead of being let loose to the lions out there to devour them. All these contributed to our sickness. Oh Jesus please come and assists your people. Please pray for these little ones who have embraced Jesus as their Lord and Saviour not to return back to the world. Can anyone of you help and search for such group that can help our brethren not only in Togo Republic but also here in Benin?
We left Togo to Benin very late on a public transport, on arrival at the Togo-Benin border post our luggage were checked by the Customs at the border post but on getting home to ____ we could not see one of our luggage were I put my digital camera, PC, etc. We can’t be able to explain what really happened. The following day I went to the border post but no one could explain to me what happened or who took my luggage. That’s the way I lost my digital camera which I used to record all the events during the visit of the brethren. I lost also my PC, etc. We give God the glory for everything.
Please do not fail to pray for us and we will continue to do same to you all. God will bless you and your family for your unflinching love and support towards my family and God's work here in Benin, Africa.
Shalom, B.M., Benin, Africa.
CORRESPONDENCE FROM FOREIGN WORKERS
FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Dearest brother Sessler,
1John 3:1.
Satan is attacking our church leaders now. [There is a] Big demand on booklet "Why Protestants Bowing to Pope" both Eng/Pidgin. [Also] My laptop is gone to thieves. Peace officers are still work around to settle our problem, and many thanks for your prayers.
[Hope to] Hear from you and God bless you and all.
B.K., PNG.
FROM THE PHILIPPINES
(Combination of 2 letters) Dear bro Bob,
3 John 2....
How are you now and your family? I’m sorry that I wasn't able to write you for a while, we just got busy this past few months because of the training that we did to our youth here and for our work here.
And last ____, we went to ____ for our ____ camp meeting with my family and with all the trainees. We just came back home last night. A very tiring travel but we got home blessed. We were refreshed and blessed to hear messages from the Lord during the camp and to see our brethren in ____ again.
We went there one week before the camp meeting, and before the beginning of the camp meeting we labored those houses nearby the campsite. We did house-to-house there giving out tracts and inviting people to attend for our camp. We are so grateful to the Lord that He provided us the need in our travel going to ____ and coming back home and for keeping us safe always. Also, before going to ____, we did a house-to-
house labor here, giving out tracts and giving Bible study to those areas that we are laboring here. Please continue to pray for our work here. May God blessed all our efforts in doing His work. May God continue to guide us and provide us all our needs.
I am praying for you too bro Bob, especially for your ministry as well as your family.... As of now, we are taking care of a brother who is sick, who had a problem with his liver, kidney, and lungs. As of now he stayed with us so that we can properly take care and treat him. At first, his liver enlarged already but now after two weeks only of treatment, we noticed that his stomach flattened already and he is feeling good and okay now. Praise and thank God for this! But still we will continue the treatment that we are doing with him until he is fully recovered through the healing power of the Great Doctor-
Jesus.
Also, last week I went to ____ because there is an Adventist lay pastor there who kept on sharing with one of our youth missionary. We thought that he is open to hear our stand, so I decided to go there to have time sharing with him. I told our youth to tell him that we will study with him. So I went there and stayed there for few days, waiting and looking for the time to meet and talk with him. But sad to say, he didn’t appeared until on Saturday night, when we were preparing to leave, he came and for a while have talked with. And since we were leaving that time already, we just hand out to him some of our booklet, like the SDA and WCC, Abomination of Desolation, Image of the Beast, Corporate Responsibility and some others. I hope that although we have not talked that long that through those booklets, God will open his mind and see the truth.
This afternoon at 1pm, we will visit the couple that we meet the other day. They are born again Christian. They are willing to share with us about our faith. We are praying that God will open their minds and touch their hearts. Also this coming Sabbath, we will spend our sabbath in ____, ____, because they invited us to spend Sabbath there.
Till here for now bro Bob. May God continue to bless all of us especially all the things that we did for His name's glory. Take care and be strong always. God bless! Joshua 1:9.
In Christ, s.b., Philippines.
FROM UGANDA, EAST AFRICA
Dear Elder Sessler.
Greetings from Jonah 3:5-6...The heathen monarch repented in sackcloth, [and] the message of repentance is for all. The Lord is doing a great work with our silent messengers “tracts” [and] hearts have been touched by the Sabbath question.
I did not make it to Kenya camp because the program came late, and I was not well prepared.
Brother Nahate Joel has promised to come print some booklets. We need to do more tract printings, save things have not been good for most our brothers and sisters. O how I wish that we would spread the tracts as the leaves of autumn.
“The night of trial is nearly spent. Satan is bringing in his masterly power because he knoweth that his time is short. The chastisement of God is upon the world, to call all who know the truth to hide in the cleft of the Rock, and view the glory of God. The truth must not be muffled now. Plain statements must be made. Unvarnished truth must be spoken, in leaflets and pamphlets, and these must be scattered like the leaves of autumn.” Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 231.
“Publications must be multiplied, and scattered like the leaves of autumn. These silent messengers are enlightening and molding the minds of thousands in every country and in every clime.” Review and Herald, November 21, 1878.
For almost a week I have sharing with a Sunday keeping Pastor, called ____ from ____ for he visited me this side. In our devotions we have been going through the whole Bible [and] we began with Genesis. Right now we are finishing the book Ezra....
Besides the nodding diseases that has affected northern Uganda, mostly this has affected children from one year to 15 years. We have also felt a flu bug/virus which blocks respiratory system and gives heavy cough with lots of phlegm/yellowish heavy mucus, it has been on most of us for almost a month....
We need your prayers for God’s interventions..., for “physician heal yourself notion”, it is at best, a total failure. We need some one [Jesus Christ our Great Physician] to stand in our gap and plead on our behalf.
God bless you. B.I., Uganda.
FROM ZIMBABWE, AFRICA
(Combination of 2 letters) Dear Elder Bob,
I salute you my brother in the name of Jesus Christ.
It is my privilege brethren, and not my obligation to give you this update as to how the work in Zimbabwe is progressing....The year 2012 was quite a very difficult year for me. As I look back, the cause of God has been conducted in great sorrow and deep anxiety as our minds have often been called to review how our former beloved brethren have sadly left us alone in this movement. We recovered to the shock of their separation from us so late since we least expected it. And we loved our brethren and we still love them most. Some of our friends in the faith were easily affected by this crisis, and have since gone away. Very few have remained, but the truth is struggling to take root in them.
Consequently, we suffered a major blow in finances, both for welfare of the ministering brother and for his traveling to edify our weak membership. And this state of things has continued up until today....But the grace of God has been sufficient...I thank you brethren for the support that you have continued to extend toward me in finances and in prayers.
We arranged a prayer meeting in March. We met, the few us, to pray for strength and a revival of the church that was on the brink of collapsing. For it appeared to us that the responsibility of the work was now rested upon our shoulders. The Lord depended on us to accomplish this work for Him.
The work that was established in November of 2004 had grown steadily forward through the years that passed by, when until October 2011, due to the name and organization issues, the enemy of souls seemed to have prevailed to thwart it all. But praise God, for He sent us an answer to our united prayer within a week of the meeting and soon afterwards we began an aggressive work which lasted for 2 whole months. We had almost won about 8 souls to Christ, but before the close of the work the Devil won them all back to himself again. Still we were not discouraged.
By the beginning of June, I set on a missionary journey to ____, a city about 50km away from ____, the ____, where I had a different way of labouring. I targeted the SDA Churches most, I had to distribute literature in their churches and many other noble areas of work for 3 whole months, until by the end of August. By this time brother ____ of ____ sent me money to attend their campmeeting. Suffice me to say that the meeting, though arranged with the intention to uplift and revive the spirit of true religion that was wanning in ____, I was the more uplifted. May the Lord remember brother ____ and family for such a sacrifice.
When I came back from ____ early September, I expected my wife to deliver so soon that I could not make any movements. I stayed at home helping my wife [with] some of the domestic duties until on the 10th of November, when she was delivered a baby boy. Soon afterwards, I began preparations to revisit back into the field of labour. I planned to hold a public ministry in December and at least I needed resources for such a work to be a success.
By the grace of God late in November, I received a major boost of support money from our beloved Namibian brethren, part of it was used to print one large banner having the image of Daniel 2. Resources were not enough, however, to print 2 more, one with the beasts of Daniel 7and the other containing the chronology of the longest time prophecy of Daniel 8 - unto 2300 days. I thought of trying to attract the attention of the people to these portraits and then seize the opportunity to present the truth for this time to them. This is because in the present world very many have entirely lost the taste of the word of God, than they would the follies of pleasure.
On the 13th of December, I left my family to travel approximately 370km journey to ____ Service Centre-the nearest fast growing business centre to where our former ministering brother (br ____) stays. Its population is close to 1500 residents. The following day was a Friday and I quickly walked around town to look for the best possible sites to conduct my presentations. I found two separate sites from the 2 large locations of the Centre and was very careful not to attract the attention of the local council authorities. My plan of work was to present in the morning in one location and in the afternoon in another.
On Sunday the 16th December, I began my public ministry. It was the first time to do a work of that nature. People flocked from all directions anxious to know the meaning of the image of Daniel 2 which was on the banner. I concentrated on one site for 3 hours each day, though I could not hold the people for quite long. Questions were asked, answers were given, confessions were made, people recommitted themselves to God. I closed each presentation with an earnest appeal and invited the people to attend the next lectures the following day. Thus I continued my work throughout the whole week.
I met membership of close to 15 various denominations including Adventists, both young and old. I had a difficulty presenting new lectures since each day some new audience visited my sites eager to know of the truths contained on the banner and even of their fate. My message for the whole week was "Repent, for the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." Approximately150 people came to my presentations. More than 750 pages of literature were distributed; tracts, tabloids, booklets, etc. I soon began to receive calls from interested candidates for further studies.
But the Devil was also aroused and soon he was at hand to annoy and to discourage. Evil reports and messages began to be circulated around to prejudice minds. The Lord, however prevailed and blessed the work, for on the 4th day of my labor, a family of 4 members had been won to Christ. If I was to do door to door ministry, I could not have met such a number of people per that given time frame. Otherwise pray for this family as we still have an insurmountable task to teach them and to nurture them....
Since I last conducted that public ministry in December, I had resolved to start a free correspondence Bible School by January, but could not manage due to lack of resources. And I hoped to do so by the beginning of February when I would have recieved my support. However, while I was waiting, I took time to visit our brethren in ____ to forge our way forward in regard to the work of soul winning. Instead I managed to see Br ____ family only, due to much rains and the limited time that I had. We talked over how we can unite our efforts together. I had night there and the family was very encouraged and recommitted themselves to the Lord. This was the beginning of January, and I went back home.
By the end of January, I once again visited ____ for to see the other households to spearhead the same agenda. This time I managed to meet the whole church and we came up with a plan to evangelize the city. This time, after getting my support, instead of starting to print and photocopy materials for the school, much of my resources were diverted to the trip to ____ as brethren in ____ had also remembered me to give of that which pertains to the welfare and support of my family. Please note that I do not have printer and photocopier of my own to do the intended work. If you have other means and ways to help purchase these items, I will appreciate the more.
The journey to ____ and back home took me about five days. I managed to meet with br ____ and family even though I searched for other brethren but without success. After Sabbath, I gave to the church my intentions to visit our brethren, who since the organization of the church of Namibia are outside the perimeters of the church. It was arranged that I should call them to secure appointments with them. Out of the three families I only managed to visit br ____'s household and talked over their problems with the church....Other families, are br ____'s family and br ____'s family. These families were held by commitments though at least I managed to talk over the phone with each member per family.
On my way back home, I had a stopover in ____, where I intended to see a brother in the faith, br ____ who is a blind man who also is at the ____ Training center. This brother was very pleased with this visit, and as soon as I arrived, he immediately arranged with the principals of the institution that I should deliver a message. Opportunity was granted and soon the whole institution was gathered in a Hall. I gave a word of Hope to more than 100 handicapped people in only 15 minutes. I then received invitations to return back to the institution for more.
On the 23rd of February, I had another remarkable presentation, this time I gave the truth for this time - Rev 18:1-6, to another breakaway Adventist group. They had invited me to attend their all night prayer meeting. I was given up to 2 hours and what a time it was! They were close to 70 members and suffice me to say that it was their first time to hear such a message. However, before I concluded the pastor of that group protested aloud to the whole congregation that I was preaching a delusion. He was backed by one other member out of the whole group. His concern was that it is not true that Babylon consist of all churches and that they are not supposed to come out of the church since they are the "Little flock" which Christ referred to when he said "fear not...for your heavenly father is pleased to give you a kingdom". With this event I have learned that this truth will be treated the same way as it was treated in 1888.
May God bless His work.
Many greetings to you all. Amen. B.N., Zimbabwe.
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