4 August 2022 | When Rita Corbett, her family and friends decided to fund a large school and conference center in South East Andhra Conference in India, they didn’t know they’d not only be dealing with corruption, but that church leaders wouldn’t listen to their story. Read the original story of the Hope Center here. […] Source: https://atoday.org/atss-interview-what-happened-to-the-hope-center/
How to Defeat the Fear of Death
Are you afraid to die? The Bible tells the story of courageous souls who were willing to die for their faith? How did they do it? Take a look and learn How to Defeat the Fear of Death. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJZDrOFhaE8
Missioni dal mondo – 6 agosto 2022
La sorpresa di Dio – La missione nella Divisione SudAmericana Missioni dal mondo 6° episodio – 3° trimestre 2022 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq3cUvcl4aE
Did the Lesser Light Accurately Reflect the Greater Light?
by Richard W. Coffen | 4 August 2022 | During my approximately nine decades of membership in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, I’ve heard Ellen White referred to as an “inspired commentator” who wrote “inspired commentaries.” After a careful search I haven’t been able to find one instance in which she described herself in such terms. […] Source: https://atoday.org/did-the-lesser-light-reflect-the-greater-light/
I did my Very Best! Or not.
In the third grade I was diagnosed with learning disabilities. I was told I could do the work, I just needed to try harder. Well, sometimes I was not just tired of trying harder, I was just tired of the work, period. For example, in English we had to find the noun, verb and adjective in several sentences. Each assignment had about 20 sentences as I recall. However, I thought 10 sentences was plenty and 20 was just unreasonable. So after actually trying during the first 10 sentences I just hurriedly guessed on the last 10. One time, just to throw my teacher off, after guessing on the last 10, I turned my paper over and started writing over and over, “I did my very best. I did my very best.” For some reason, writing “I did my very best” 20 times seemed easier than actually doing my very best. It worked! The teacher showed the paper to my mother and told her, “I guess we have been too hard on Willie. Look how frustrated he must have been when he wrote over and over I did my very best.” I wasn’t doing my very best. I knew it and God knew it. In the end, I wasn’t cheating my mother or my teacher. I was cheating God.
…or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, Colossians 3:23 NKJV
In Acts 5:1-11, Ananias and Sapphira tried to make it look like they were giving 100% but God knew better. Even though I tried to make it look like I was giving 100% in 3rd grade English class God knew better.
Sometimes people think we are trying our best when we are just being lazy. Sometimes though, people think we are not trying our best when we really are. Only God knows.
I have been an avid golfer since 2007. I have practiced, I have watched golf instruction videos. I play regularly. However my golf score has not changed much since I first began. When someone asks me what my handicap is, I tell them, “It’s my swing.” Several times I have gone golfing with a friend who has told me, “I have not played in several years, and you play all the time, so I know you will win.” And then they are surprised when we walk off the 18th green and they have won. My score clearly does not show how much I have practiced and how much I have tried. My scores today are only slightly a little better than my scores 15 years ago. That may not be entirely true because I do not give myself as many mulligans as I did in the past. So my scores 15 years ago were probably even worse had I not given myself so many mulligans. Still, I don’t think my poor scores reflect how hard I really try.
Golf is just a game, but I have to remind myself in life, just as I am trying harder than my golf score reflects, many in the church are trying harder than their actions reflect. Golf is just plain easier for others than it is for me. The score does not really show how hard you have tried. In life it may be easier for me to study my Bible every day than it is for others. After all, liking to read or not liking to read, does not make you a better person. And even after all the Bible studying I do, during the day I am amazed at how much more Christlike people can be who don’t even believe in Christ! There are atheists who act more like Jesus in every day life than I do! Then again we meet people who are really struggling. It seems like they are living their whole life in a sand trap. It may be easy to criticize, but God may know their hearts, and know they are actually putting more effort into their Christian walk than some of us who come by certain things more naturally. This is why we should never judge. We simply don’t know what is going on inside their lives and minds. Ellen White puts it this way.
“While some are continually harassed, afflicted, and in trouble because of their unhappy traits of character, having to war with internal foes and the corruption of their nature, others have not half so much to battle against. They pass along almost free from the difficulties which their brethren and sisters who are not so favorably organized are laboring under. In very many cases they do not labor half so hard to overcome and live the life of a Christian as do some of those unfortunate ones I have mentioned.” Ellen White, Testimonies Volume 2 page 74
Let’s remember to be patient with others. We don’t have a clue the crucible they may be enduring. And after all,
Often we regard as hopeless subjects the very ones whom Christ is drawing to Himself. – Ellen White, Christ Object Lessons, Page 71.
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Christian Behavior [How Does God Want Us to Live Life?] – Pastor Ted Wilson
This week, Pastor Ted Wilson talks about Christian behavior and how God wants us to live life as stated in the twenty-second fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists. God cares about how we live our lives. In fact, He wants an abundant life for us. He says in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly." This abundant life means both a successful, holy life here on earth and a taste of the promised eternal life in heaven. To have eternal life, we must make the most of our earthly life by following God's counsels. We are called to live as Christ's followers not only for our own good but also for the influence we have on others. 1 John 2:6 reminds us, "Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked." On this note, the Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental Belief #22 reads, "We are called to be a godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with biblical principles in all aspects of personal and social life." It continues, "For the Spirit to recreate in us the character of our Lord, we involve ourselves only in those things that will produce Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our amusement and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty." "While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit." "It also means that, because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we are to care for them intelligently. Along with adequate exercise and rest, we are to adopt the most healthful diet possible and abstain from the unclean foods identified in the Scriptures. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our bodies, we are to abstain from them as well." "Instead, we are to engage in whatever brings our thoughts and bodies into the discipline of Christ, Who desires our wholesomeness, joy, and goodness." In addition, since our appearance reflects who we are as Christ's ambassadors, we are to dress simply and modestly. Outward adornment such as jewelry is not necessary as God-given beauty shines from within. Also, what we feed our minds with and how we spend our time affects our relationship with God and other people. So, we must carefully choose what we watch, listen to, and read. Philippians 4:8 advises us, "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." We do these things not to earn our way to heaven for Jesus has already paid the price of our salvation. Instead, we do them because we love Him and want to live a life that gives Him honor and glory, shedding light in this world of darkness. In her book, The Desire of Ages, on page 668, Ellen White notes the result of a life lived in a healthy relationship with Christ, saying, "All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us." What a beautiful promise from God! To learn, visit www.adventist.org/christian-behavior/. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ0T_k6Xpsg
Inside Story: Part 6 ~ Temple Plot Foiled
Part 6: Temple Plot Foiled
By Andrew McChesney
Months passed before Junior and Mother found out why Father had changed his mind and went to Junior’s baptism. Evil spirits had forbidden Father from going to the Sabbath afternoon baptism, so he had turned down his son’s invitation to attend. On the day of the baptism, Father felt restless and asked Mother to drive him to the Candomblé temple in Manaus, Brazil. Around 5 p.m., spirits at the temple told Father to dress in his high-priestly robes and go to Alpha Seventh-day Adventist Community Church. They promised to possess people in the church to prevent Junior from being baptized.
Father donned his robes and hailed a taxi. He could hear an invisible legion of evil spirits swirling around him. At the church’s entrance, the spirits suddenly declared that they could not go in.
Father remembered the most important lesson that the spirits had taught him years earlier: Never leave a job undone. If he started a task, he had to finish it. Father boldly entered the church. As he walked into the crowded main hall, a sweet, sanctified energy flowed over him. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced, and it felt good. Later he realized that it must have been the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Father’s anger about the baptism vanished. A deacon, Roberto Fernandez, met him at the back, gave him a hug, and led him to the baptismal pool. Father turned around and looked at the congregation, where he saw people with bowed heads. He thought they were frightened but later understood that they were praying. When he saw Junior in the baptismal pool, he realized that the spirits had lied to him. Junior wasn’t being forced to join the Adventist Church. It was his own decision.
After a song, Pastor Ricardo raised his arm and said, “As a minister of the gospel, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Then he immersed Junior under the water.
After the baptism, Junior took the microphone and looked at Father.
“Daddy, despite your religion, I love you very much,” he said.
He hugged Father and started crying. His words broke Father’s heart.
When the ceremony ended, church members showered Father with hugs. He was shocked. He never expected to be treated with such love. “This is such a nice place, and the people are so nice,” he said as he got into the car.
Back home, Father called everyone he knew to announce proudly that his son had been baptized. He described the experience as incredible.
Mother realized that the Holy Spirit had started to work in his heart. An unbelievable peace filled their home. For four days. Then the evil spirits ordered Father to kill Mother and Junior.
Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help open eight churches in the South American Division, including four in Brazil, where Father (Eduardo Ferreira dos Santos) and his family live.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/inside-story-part-6-temple-plot-foiled/
Friday: Further Thought ~ Struggling With All Energy
Further Thought:
Read Ellen G. White, “The Night of Wrestling,” Pages 195-203, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “Consecration,” Pages 43-48, in Steps to Christ.
“This will, that forms so important a factor in the character of man, was at the Fall given into the control of Satan; and he has ever since been working in man to will and to do of his own pleasure, but to the utter ruin and misery of man.” — Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 515.
“In order to receive God’s help, man must realize his weakness and deficiency; he must apply his own mind to the great change to be wrought in himself; he must be aroused to earnest and persevering prayer and effort. Wrong habits and customs must be shaken off; and it is only by determined endeavor to correct these errors and to conform to right principles that the victory can be gained. Many never attain to the position that they might occupy, because they wait for God to do for them that which He has given them power to do for themselves. All who are fitted for usefulness must be trained by the severest mental and moral discipline, and God will assist them by uniting divine power with human effort.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 248.
Discussion Questions:
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/friday-further-thought-struggling-with-all-energy/
Elohim: The Supreme Being Who Is Always With You #sermon #shorts
What is the name, “Elohim”, all about? This #short clip from the message, “Elohim, With You & For You”, by Pastor Sam Neves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdadjgtkSjc&list=PL-k2Gb-DBYo_n_2Dh95i_CuVORnFlRIk1&index=2&t=340s demonstrates how deeply God cares for us because as Elohim, the Creator of the Universe, He is on our side and lives within us. Watch the entire video to learn more about the name ‘Elohim’ and its significance in our lives. ————————————————————————————
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 21 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. We are believers who promise to help people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/ Click the notification bell so that you never miss a new video! Find us on social media by following the links below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAdventistChurch
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventistchurch/ Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysK4EwfFZYk
Dio prima di tutto – Chi può superare Dio?
Mini devotional n. 6/3 trimestre 2022 – Chi può superare Dio?, della serie Dio prima di tutto. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogY19TSnLw8