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The purpose of Bible studies, at least in the Church of Yahshua, which is preparing a people first to stand in the judgment and then to abide with the Father and Son forever, is to bring about change. It is good, and pleasant, when a Bible study is encouraging, and beautiful, and insightful… but if it does not bring about change, then it is useless. In fact, if it provides more light without bringing about sanctification, it is worse than useless, because it makes the readers more accountable. In this time of judgment, when we are solemnly preparing for the return of Yahshua, it would be better not to hear a Bible study at all, if one does not intend to commit to the truths that it reveals. Let us keep this in mind as we learn more about our Father’s nature and character.
Bible studies are intended to teach us something that will shape our characters for the world to come, and sometimes this requires a big change, a total reversal on something we have been thinking or doing, a major detour in the life. Sometimes the change is a minor adjustment, a bit of refining on something we already believe or practice. In either case, it is a manifestation of new light to the world; the same principles, because those do not change, but a new way of understanding or expressing those principles.
When we speak of Victory over sin, what we are talking about is the perfect and holy life of Yahshua the Messiah lived out in a people of sinful flesh. By walking in the Son, by walking in the Spirit which is His, the Spirit overcomes the flesh such that, although we are tempted because of the existence of sin in the universe and in the earthly body, we never become subject to it. We are never overcome by it. In the life of Yahshua, which we live, sin is overcome at the level of temptation.
James writes, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust [or, his own desire], and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14, 15)
We know that, in a variety of contexts, life begins at “conception.” Thus, in order to prevent sin as a living reality, it must not be conceived in us. It must not attach to us and take root, finding a place to grow. In order to prevent the conception of sin, it is the duty of every believer to process his or her thoughts, to examine the mental and emotional experience of this life, and compare it to what is taught in Yahweh’s Word. As it was written of Yahshua, so it will be with us: “Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” (Isa 7:15) Butter is a symbol for something nourishing and high in fat, high in energy. Honey, of course, is something sweet. When the Word is allowed to be the voice of Yahweh to us, sweet and nourishing to us, then self dies and life becomes a sanctifying experience.
The question is often asked, even among us from time to time, “How can we be certain that the voice we are hearing in our heads, and the influence we feel on our consciences, is from God, and not from the flesh or from the Enemy?” How can we know to refuse the evil and choose the good? How do we recognize the spiritual butter and honey?
It is not always an easy distinction to make. We have said, “Study the Bible.” We have said, “Pray.” We have said, “Consult with the Brethren.” These are all the right responses to troubling experiences, and they all involve recognizing and appreciating the tools that our Father has given to us.
When describing the Victory, or Righteousness by Faith, we have said that we receive the very life of Christ, entire, perfect, complete. We do not yet understand it fully, however; righteousness is a foreign language to anyone who has grown up in this world, and so we must learn to do well after we have ceased from all known evil. We must learn how to use the life that our Father has given to us, each tool of the toolbox for its proper use, so that we are equipped to meet every temptation and snare of the enemy.
How do we gain knowledge of our tools?
I would say this: as human history draws to a close, it becomes increasingly important to cultivate an attitude of thanksgiving. It is by offering thanks for what we have received that we learn how to use what has been given. The change this study is intended to bring about is an increase in our thanksgiving, an increase in our appreciation for the gifts we have received from our Father. This is how we will learn to overcome the Dragon, the Beast, and His Image. We read, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev 12:11)
The blood of the Lamb was shed for all, but the word of our testimony is that we have received His sacrifice, and as a result our lives are not our own, but are given unto Him. Here also we see the three elements of the divine character, the Three Angels’ Message. The Blood of the Lamb is what has provided us with our victory, the word of our testimony is our rebuke to Babylon, the confusion of this world, and it is our pledge to resist the Mark of The Beast even unto death, even unto imprisonment or any other persecution. It is a single people that take up this work, and overcome by these three things with a single, redeemed heart.
But it is thanksgiving that drives and motivates us in all these things. It is thanksgiving that enables us to receive Yahshua’s Blood, to give our straight testimony, and to endure the tribulation to come. It is by thanksgiving that the character is purified for the spiritual Kingdom.
In the Book of Colossians, Paul describes the saints in this way: “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His Dear Son.” (Col 1:11-13)
What Paul is doing here is speaking by faith. We do not “see” that we are partakers of the heavenly inheritance yet. Our senses do not inform us that we have been delivered from the power of darkness; often enough, our senses try to tell us just the opposite. And certainly, the natural eyes do not reveal to us the scenes of the “Kingdom of His Dear Son” just yet. But what does Paul say? Accept all these things; believe all these things “with joyfulness, giving thanks unto the Father.”
Thanksgiving activates the promises. I gave a study some time ago about one of the most important lessons I learned from the CSDA Church, and it is about prayer. When we pray, we are told to Ask for what we want, and then Believe that we have been heard. But there is another step, in fact, there are two more, as I discuss in “Prayers of Faith.” We have learned about the “ABCDs of Prayer.” We Ask, then Believe, but then we Claim – we accept that not only have our prayers been heard, they have been favorably answered, and we lay claim to that answer. Finally, D is to Declare; we testify that we have received the blessing of our request, and live from that point forward in the knowledge that we have been given what we need.
We ask and believe; that is how we submit our requests to the Father; but after that, everything else must work by thanksgiving. By claiming the result of our prayer, we receive it with thanksgiving, and that is an internal effect. By declaring it to the world, we provide an outward testimony of our giving of thanks. This fulfills both the spirit and the letter of the system of communication that our Father has provided for His people. This is prayer, as understood by the 144,000.
I have given studies about thanksgiving more than once, but today I want to focus on the attitude of thanksgiving as the key to understanding, and thus gaining the ability to use, the things our Father has blessed us with – these tools in our spiritual toolbox.
Let us look at a few examples of how this works.
We read, “And He [Yahshua] said unto them [the Pharisees], ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.’” (Mark 2:27) Nothing that we have witnessed of Yahweh’s words or actions in the Scriptures, in the inspired writings, or in our own individual experiences, have been for His benefit. He has need of nothing. He desires nothing that He cannot make, except for unforced love and affection. He cannot “make” a creature that loves Him, because that would not be an exercise of free will, which is necessary for true agape. He must make creatures, give them freedom, and invite all who are willing to return His love. The Sabbath Day is a significant aspect of that invitation.
Everything that Yahweh has done before us has been for the benefit of mankind. In this, we see that “selflessness” is truly an aspect of the divine nature. It may be a new thought to some, to consider the Almighty God as “selfless,” but it is selflessness that first loved us, before we knew how to love. It is selflessness that sent His only Begotten Son to die and be forever transformed into our likeness, so that we may be redeemed from sin.
Among mortals, being selfless is actually an act of faith. Those who are selfish reveal that they do not trust God to take care of their needs, so they must do it themselves, and do it themselves to the point that they deny others their generosity, their service, and their aid. This is one of the lessons that the Sabbath was intended to teach. We read about the manna, bread from Heaven, in a time even before the Law was written on stone, which the people were instructed to gather on a daily basis:
“And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. And Moses said, ‘Let no man leave of it till the morning.’ Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses, but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank, and Moses was wroth with them.
“And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating; and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man, and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, ‘This is that which Yahweh hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto Yahweh; bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.’
“And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade; and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said, ‘Eat that today; for today is a Sabbath unto Yahweh; today ye shall not find it in the field.’” (Exo 16:17-25)
There are lessons to be learned in this passage about faith, trust, and thanksgiving. There are lessons to be learned here about the spirit of the Sabbath rest. Those who were selfish, or who did not trust that Yahweh would provide for their needs, tried to save some for later, despite Moses’ assurance that they would always have enough. This is why he was angry with them when he saw that they had left some back so that it rotted. It was not because food was wasted, but because the people were not resting in Yahweh’s promise.
This is the same evil spirit that has always resisted the Sabbath rest, even to this day. Why is the Mark of The Beast a Sabbath issue? This goes so much deeper than just a Sunday Law. Those who would use the law of man in an attempt to enforce religious observances do not trust that Yahweh will protect them. They do not believe His promises, and therefore they have no rest. They go to the world and its methods, when they should be eating their fill of holiness, and when the True Sabbath comes, and mankind is called to its rest, they will find that all they reserved, all that they tried to keep to themselves, has been ruined. They will not inherit everlasting life.
What we read is a passage that perfectly explains the spirit of the Sabbath. No matter how much work you do, you will have enough when you trust in Yahweh’s promises. Anyone who tries to work contrary to the will of the Father will find no rest, and will be left without. When we see the Sabbath as it is, when we see it as a part of that invitation to rest in our Father, and to freely return His love in a time dedicated to His worship, then we unlock that tool in the toolbox, and we learn its lessons – patience, trust, peace of mind. We learn selflessness, that great principle of our Father’s nature, and so – trusting that all of our needs will be perfectly met – we can serve others without reservation.
Gifts are just that… offerings. They are not forced upon us. They can be accepted, and they can be refused. If a gift is offered to us by another human being of limited understanding, we might refuse that gift without risking any real loss. Did we need the gift that offered? Was it for our pleasure, or our necessity?
But our Father’s gifts come from perfect wisdom. He would not flatter us. He would not have us live to excess. He desires us to be happy, but only in the healthiest and most sanctifying way. Thus, when He gives us a gift, especially when He provides it for us in some supernatural, direct, manner, it is always for our sanctification as well as our pleasure – if not our immediate pleasure, then certainly for our joy in the life to come.
It is written, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see Yahweh.” (Heb 12:14) That word, “holiness,” as I have pointed out before, is the same word as “sanctification.” Without holiness, without sanctification, we will not see the Lord. How does one obtain holiness? What is the gift that He has given to us that provides sanctification?
There are a few, but one chief among them for Christians is this: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for It, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph 5:25-27)
And from the human’s perspective of the same experience, we read, “And God hath set some in the Church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” (1Cor 12:28)
As we have seen quite a lot recently, the purpose of the Church into which these gifts have been placed is the perfecting of the saints. (Eph 4:12) It is for their sanctification, it is for their holiness. It is so that they will see God.
It has become fashionable, in just the last few decades, to view the Church as a global, invisible organization in which the members are connected by a loose, uncommitted, magical, psychic link. “We may not go to the same congregation,” they say, “Our pastors and priests may teach totally different things,” they say, “We will call ourselves by different names, and have completely different ideas about practically every doctrine, but we are ONE,” they conclude.
That is ridiculous; and I use that in the original meaning of the word – it is worthy of ridicule. Not only is that nothing like what any Scripture describes, but this mindset makes it impossible for any teacher, or any receiver of spiritual gifts, to bring about holiness among those who call themselves the Church. And what of the witness to the world? Was it not written that the world will know of the Son’s love because we are one with Him and one another? (John 17:23) This was the express teaching of the Savior concerning Christian unity.
Church Membership has come up a lot in our recent studies. That was not by my planning or design. It is a gift of our Father, with a definite purpose, and those who are thankful for it, those who receive it with thanksgiving, are those who will unlock this tool and receive its benefit – sanctification, correction in righteousness, holiness. That is the purpose of this gift, this holy covenant.
We need sanctification, all the sanctification we can get. Every one needs to receive the gifts our Father gives us, in their right order, in their right time, for our soul to be refined as He intends. This is true generally, in receiving the circumstances of our lives without murmuring or complaint. When a challenge arises, we meet it with what the Sabbath has taught us, patience and trust. When we encounter a temptation, or a direct attack of the enemy, we meet it with what our fellowship in Christ has taught us – a sanctified spirit that overcomes.
And this is not a casual matter. Everything we have been offered is something that we need. The Sabbath gift is something that few Christians understand, and joyfully accept. Covenant relationship is something that few today receive with thanksgiving; and yet, the Bible repeatedly describes it as a part of our sanctifying experience... the act of binding yourself to a people in love, in fulfillment of the two great commandments, is something that is necessary for perfecting character, putting away all sin so that there are no “unknown” sins left, no overlooked defects of character, and we need to teach people this with our doctrine, with our testimony, and with our examples.
A casual, or even frequent, acquaintance with Yahweh and His people does not teach how to overcome sin. And why? It is largely because of this verse: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Heb 12:11)
No chastening is pleasant, but there are times when, for our benefit, we must be corrected. If there is only a casual relationship, what is the incentive to stay, to remain, when times get tough?
If a man and a woman are dating, but not married, and one of them displeases the other, he or she may leave. There is no spiritual or legal bond between them; if they discover that they desire to separate, they can do so with no real consequences. But a marriage... that is a commitment. And the severity of it, the finality of it, can seem frightening to the modern mindset. In fact, fewer and fewer people are getting married at all these days, regular, human marriage. It seems that commitment at all levels is an idea that is fading from the world. “What if we want to break up later? What if things don’t work out?” But these are not questions that trouble the minds of wise virgins, because they know their Bridegroom is the perfect One for them.
We read of Yahshua teaching, “‘Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.’ Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, ‘This is an hard saying; who can hear it?’ From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then said Yahshua unto the Twelve, ‘Will ye also go away?’ Then Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.’” (John 6:54, 60, 66-69)
This was the beginning of the New Testament Church covenant. There were times when Yahshua’s words were hard for them to hear. Their flesh, certainly, desired to be separate from Him, because they were learning spiritual things, things that could only be properly expressed in dark sayings and mysterious parables. “Eat My flesh, drink My blood.” These were not comfortable times of growth… and yet, because they knew that they were committed, sealed to this Teacher, they remained, and they overcame the desire to flee the chastening. Peter’s confession there was not a joyful one; but even though they could not see it at the time, the commitment held them safe, in place, until they day they could understand. It preserved them until their defects subsided enough that they could appreciate the correction. And, as the Church became more organized over time, so too did the nature of the covenant of membership.
In this generation, when so many lessons must be learned so quickly, there will be times when growth feels uncomfortable. Unless those who hear the words of life are sure that they are coming from Christ, unless they are committed and sealed together in spiritual unity, some will turn back, some will flee from the light, and they will not receive holiness, that requirement for seeing the Father.
In my early days in this Church, I experienced correction. And it wasn’t always a rebuke from a human being, either... The Spirit would come to me and convict me of things that the Father would be pleased for me to do instead. And if I was not committed to Him, to righteousness, to His people… if I did not know I was in the right place, what would stop me from simply walking or drifting away? It is the commitment that binds. If a man and woman are married, and they disagree, even sharply, the covenant says, “It doesn’t matter what you feel in the moment, you are one because the Word of God says you are one.” Entering into these bonds of safety requires an overcoming of fear. It requires a step of faith.
If Church members disagree, even sharply, the covenant remains the same. We are One, because the Word says we are One. If this simple idea was understood down through the generations, the covenant as Yahweh intended, there would be only one Christianity in the world today, the right one, with dissenters bound in place to the apostles’ teachings until they died to self, surrendered their opinions, and came into agreement. This is how the saints are sanctified, made holy.
In the last days here, we have the opportunity to do this perfectly – Perfectly! And so we shall, as we are willing to sacrifice our “self” to do it, not to surrender our individuality, but our selfishness, our un-sanctified ambitions, to become eager students in this school of Christ.
When self is dead, when the flesh is subdued (for we know that schisms, or seditions are a work of the flesh 1Cor 12:25, Gal 5:20) there will never be an enduring divide. There will never be a split in the Body of Christ. This understanding, this knowledge, is what is taught to us through the covenant, just as peace and patience are taught to us by the Sabbath. Both are very necessary gifts.
Sin will never arise in the world to come. This is not because God becomes a divine slave master. No, it is because we have learned the lessons of our necessary gifts. There will be saints, holy ones, with powerful wills, but no willfulness, no “My way or else I rebel.” We have learned peace from the Sabbath. We have learned mutual submission and joyful cooperation from the Covenant. We have learned diplomacy and gentleness of speech and action, from our undergoing the tribulation imposed by the Mark of the Beast without any carnal thoughts of revenge. Now, am I calling the tribulation under the Mark of the Beast a third gift? I certainly am.
We are to receive even the persecution of the last days with thanksgiving. If we did not need it, our Father would not allow it. This, just like remembering the Sabbath, just like submitting to Church Membership, requires great trust in the promises of our Father, and a step of faith. In the moment, it may not feel like a blessing for which we are to be thankful, but we will survive the last storms of the enemy. We will be protected from the wrath of the dragon. We will see those storms. We will feel that wrath. But it will not harm us, and for that, we can certainly be thankful.
When the storm passes we will see things as they are. We will see that these things have perfected the character, so that we become powerful beings, greater than the angels in our ability to use our Father’s grace to accomplish divine, omnipotent work. We know how our Father creates; it is with His Word. When we are restored to His divine image, He will give this gift to us also. We will speak in His name, and it will be so. We will command, and it will stand fast. No angel has been given this power… it is for the redeemed of Yahweh, and will demonstrate to the universe what it means to be created in His image.
I may have more to say about this in the future, but for now it is sufficient to understand this: the born-again experience requires a testimony. The saints overcome by their testimony. Those who truly have victory over sin will declare it to the world as their testimony.
Those who receive Yahweh’s gifts, unlocking the tools in their spiritual toolbox, will declare this with their thanksgiving and with their testimony. It is training for the world to come. It is learning how to use our speech, to control our tongues, as James says, only to bless the world. It is training for the powers of the world to come. Perhaps next week, I will share more about that.
To conclude for today, I will summarize briefly what I have shared with you. Thanksgiving is the key to understanding and properly using the tools in our spiritual toolbox. As we give thanks for the blessings we have received: patience, commitment, understanding, peace, diligence, and all the fruit of the spirit, we come to understand them, and how to apply them in the great and small things of life.
We have been given precious gifts indeed. We have been given the Sabbath, and when we are thankful for that, we learn peace. We have been given the challenges of this life, including the final trials under the Mark of The Beast. When we learn how to receive even the trials with thanksgiving, we will learn divine patience, and the fullness of love for even our enemies. We have been given the gift of Church Membership, this covenant that, when gratefully received, will teach us commitment and joyful submission. These things, gratefully accepted, will bind up the work and prepare us for the wonders of the age to come. Let the words of Yahweh concerning these blessings bring about whatsoever is needed – a change, a change to thoughts, feelings and attitudes, so that our study of the Word will truly be effective in its purpose.
David.
An Enduring Witness
“When the doctrine we accept kills sin in the heart, purifies the soul from defilement, bears fruit unto holiness, we may know that it is the truth of God. When benevolence, kindness, tenderheartedness, sympathy, are manifest in our lives; when the joy of right doing is in our hearts; when we exalt Christ, and not self, we may know that our faith is of the right order.” [Thoughts From The Mount of Blessing, p. 146]
“When difficulties and trials surround us, we should flee to God, and confidently expect help from Him who is mighty to save and strong to deliver. We must ask for God's blessing if we would receive it. Prayer is a duty and a necessity; but do we not neglect praise? Should we not oftener render thanksgiving to the Giver of all our blessings? We need to cultivate gratitude. We should frequently contemplate and recount the mercies of God, and laud and glorify His holy name, even when we are passing through sorrow and affliction...” [Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 268]
“True faith lays hold of and claims the promised blessing before it is realized and felt. We must send up our petitions in faith within the second vail, and let our faith take hold of the promised blessing, and claim it as ours. We are then to believe that we receive the blessing, because our faith has hold of it, and according to the Word it is ours.” [God’s Amazing Grace, p. 207]