This week in ANN First in the news, the Adventist church leaders of the different Conferences under the North America Division issued a joint statement of sympathy and consolation to the family and friends of the victims of the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. The statement also condemns such mindless and premeditated act of hatred and violence and encourages people to use their voices and platforms to denounce hatred in all of its forms. Online evangelistic campaign over Central America and the Caribbean resulted to great harvest. The series has had more than 5.2 million views on YouTube and Facebook. The 71 Adventist radio stations also broadcast the evangelistic series and reached more than 219 thousand people. As the 'Hope for a Sick World' evangelistic campaign came to an end, more than 6 thousand and 7 hundred people were baptized. Adventist Church in Iloilo, Philippines introduces healthy lifestyle through its newly opened restaurant. Piato Verde is a one-stop-rest shop situated in the heart of Iloilo, a highly urbanized city in the center of the island country. This Adventist restaurant aims to further expand its influence on the community. With the theme “Celebrating God’s Providence and Affirming our Values”, the Inter-America Division leaders and members celebrated the 100 yearsof church organization in their territory. The celebration held in Miami, Florida, was attended by the General Conference’s highest administrators. The intriguing question "Who is behind Intelligent Design?" brought the Adventist community from different parts of the Cyprus Region to Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. Senior scientist at the Geoscience Research Institute, Timothy Standish, shared impressive scientific findings affirming the complexity and precision of design in nature. Through a sequence of captivating lectures, he attested to the existence of our intentional Creator. Sabbath School Members Partner with Community Center to Feed the Homeless in St. Croix. For seven months, Sabbath school members from the St. Peter's Rest Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean, have been assisting the homeless in the town of Christiansted. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMk8TbzgDZs
Quite the Trip: Adventist Hospital’s Cancer Center Explores Use of Magic Mushrooms to Treat Depression
Recent and ongoing studies show that psilocybin, a psychedelic substance derived from mushrooms, has promising therapeutic effects for hard-to-treat disorders such as addiction, depression and end-of-life anxiety. The DEA classifies psilocybin as a drug that has a high potential for abuse, has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and has […] Source: https://atoday.org/quite-the-trip-adventist-hospitals-cancer-center-explores-use-of-magic-mushrooms-to-treat-depression/
Sabbath: Jacob-Israel
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Genesis 32:22-31; Hosea 12:3-4; Jeremiah 30:5-7; Genesis 33:1-20; Genesis 34:30-35:29.
Memory Text: “And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed’” (Genesis 32:28, NKJV).
The family saga of Jacob continues, both the good and the bad. Yet, through it all, the hand of God and His faithfulness to the covenant promises are revealed.
This week follows more of Jacob, now that he left Laban and, returning home, had to face Esau, the victim of Jacob’s treachery. What would his brother, so grievously wronged, now do to him?
Fortunately for Jacob, amid the fear of what was coming, the Lord God of his fathers appeared again to him in an incident that was a precursor to what would later become known as the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (see Jeremiah 30:5-7). And that night Jacob, the supplanter, became “Israel,” a new name for a new beginning, a beginning that would ultimately lead to the creation of a nation itself named after him.
In other words, despite all that happens, the story of the patriarchs and their family is told in Scripture in order to show us that God is faithful to fulfill what He has promised and that He will do so despite what, at times, seems to be nothing but His people doing all that they can to stop that fulfillment.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, June 4.
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Belief #18: Gift of Prophecy [What is It?] – Pastor Ted Wilson
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdPLmZ7K4sQ?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-GB&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=1280&h=720]
In the previous episode, Pastor Ted Wilson talked about spiritual gifts. Today, he’s going to discuss one of these, the gift of prophecy.
We read in Revelation 12:17 that “the dragon was enraged with the woman and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” And verse 10 of chapter 19 tells us that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
In connection, the eighteenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists states: “The Scriptures testify that one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and we believe it was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. Her writings speak with prophetic authority and provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction to the church. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.”
The gift of prophecy was in operation throughout the Old Testament times. For instance, when Aaron and Miriam rebelled against Moses’ leadership, God said to them, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream” (Numbers 12:6).
Before his death, Moses told the Israelites, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear” (Deuteronomy 18:15).
This prophecy was fulfilled through Joshua and the prophets who succeeded him. But its ultimate fulfillment was in the appearance of the Messiah, Who was the Prophet to lead God’s people from the slavery of sin into the heavenly Canaan.
Meanwhile, the gift of prophecy was working in the New Testament times as well. Paul wrote to the Ephesians that it would remain in the church “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Ephesians 4:13).
God bestowed this gift of prophecy on a woman by the name of Ellen G. White. She was a woman of remarkable spiritual gifts who lived most of her life in the nineteenth century.
She wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books. Her writings made a revolutionary impact on millions of people around the world. These cover subjects including religion, education, social relationships, evangelism, prophecy, publishing, nutrition, and management.
Ellen White was more than a gifted writer. She was also appointed by God as a special messenger to draw the world’s attention to the Bible and prepare them for Christ’s Second Advent.
From age 17 until her death at 70, God gave her 2,000 dreams and visions. The knowledge and counsel she received through these revelations were all in her writings. Thus, we, Seventh-day Adventists, accept her writings as inspired by God.
However, “the writings of Ellen White are not a substitute for Scripture. They cannot be placed on the same level. The Holy Scriptures stand alone, the unique standard by which she and all other writings must be judged and to which they must be subject” (Seventh-day Adventists Believe…, p. 227).
Indeed, Ellen White was a remarkable woman who met all the tests of a true prophet as in the Scriptures. She helped found the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Through her counsels, God has blessed the church immensely.
As an appeal, 2 Chronicles 20:20 reminds us to “believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets and you shall prosper.”
Let us embrace this gift of prophecy God has bestowed upon the church.
More about the gift of prophecy at www.adventist.org/gift-of-prophecy/the-gift-of-prophecy/ and Ellen White’s writings at www.egwwritings.org.
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/belief-18-gift-of-prophecy-what-is-it-pastor-ted-wilson/
May 2022 President’s Video: “Ambassadors for Jesus”
This past weekend, I had the privilege of spending time with our Adventist World Radio Ambassadors in Loma Linda, California. These dedicated men and women travel to churches across the United States sharing stories of the incredible things God is doing through Adventist World Radio right now. Our Ambassadors told us that one story that has really gotten people excited is that of Lily, our “secret weapon” working on the other side of the world. Her conversion story is a dramatic one, and I wanted to ensure you were able to watch it, because it showcases the creative ways in which God reaches people where they are. Watch this video and see how no one is unreachable with the Gospel. Lily is now working to bring even more people to Christ, so please continue to pray for her (and Adventist World Radio’s) ongoing outreach! Yours in the Blessed Hope, Duane McKey
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MB010PYIUU4XL6X Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gVBsnd3xHs