Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Like me, you are probably finding this COVID-19 lock down a little long and rather trying. During such a time we will really need to seek help from above in order to be overcomers. In an effort to avoid wearing you out, I will try to be a little brief.
“In the great conflict before us, he who would keep true to Christ must penetrate deeper than the opinions and doctrines of men. My message to ministers, young and old, is this: Guard jealously your hours for prayer, Bible study, and self-examination. Set aside a portion of each day for a study of the Scriptures and communion with God. Thus you will obtain spiritual strength, and will grow in favor with God. He alone can give you noble aspirations; He alone can fashion the character after the divine similitude. Draw near to Him in earnest prayer, and He will fill your hearts with high and holy purposes, and with deep, earnest longings for purity and clearness of thought.” {Gospel Workers, 100}
What a privilege we have to be able to study God’s Word!
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:11-12 KJV)
Escudriñando cuándo y en qué punto de tiempo significaba el Espíritu de Cristo que estaba en ellos, el cual prenunciaba las aflicciones que habían de venir á Cristo, y las glorias después de ellas. A los cuales fué revelado, que no para sí mismos, sino para nosotros administraban las cosas que ahora os son anunciadas de los que os han predicado el evangelio por el Espíritu Santo enviado del cielo; en las cuales desean mirar los ángeles. (1 Pedro 1:11-12 SRV)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:1-5 KJV)
LO que era desde el principio, lo que hemos oído, lo que hemos visto con nuestros ojos, lo que hemos mirado, y palparon nuestras manos tocante al Verbo de vida; (Porque la vida fué manifestada, y vimos, y testificamos, y os anunciamos aquella vida eterna, la cual estaba con el Padre, y nos ha aparecido;) Lo que hemos visto y oído, eso os anunciamos, para que también vosotros tengáis comunión con nosotros: y nuestra comunión verdaderamente es con el Padre, y con su Hijo Jesucristo. Y estas cosas os escribimos, para que vuestro gozo sea cumplido. Y este es el mensaje que oímos de él, y os anunciamos: Que Dios es luz, y en él no hay ningunas tinieblas. (1 Juan 1:1-5 SRV)
George Muller says: "The first three years after my conversion I neglected the Word of God. Since then, I have read the Bible through 100 times, and each time with increasing delight. When I begin it afresh, it always seems like a new book to me. I look upon it as a lost day when I have not had a good time over the Word of God."
And what a privilege we have in prayer!
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. (Matthew 26:36 KJV)
Entonces llegó Jesús con ellos á la aldea que se llama Gethsemaní, y dice á sus discípulos: Sentaos aquí, hasta que vaya allí y ore. (Mateo 26:36 SRV)
Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird dedicated a room in the Pentagon as a quiet place for meditation and prayer. Mr. Laird explained that "though we cling to the principle that church and state should be separate, we do not propose to separate man from God."
On this 4th of July, we should learn a lesson from George Washington. Robert Lewis of Fredricksburg, Virginia, was Washington's private secretary. During the first part of the presidency, he said that he accidentally witnessed Washington's private devotions, both morning and evening. He saw him in a kneeling posture, with an open Bible before him; and he said that he believed such was his daily practice. His custom was to go to his library at four o'clock in the morning for devotions.
Said the great and devout scientist, Sir Isaac Newton: "I can take my telescope and look millions and millions of miles into space, but I can lay it aside and go into my room, shut the door, get down on my knees in earnest prayer, and see more of heaven and get closer to God than I can assisted by all the telescopes and material agencies on earth."
When it comes to self-examination, we need to consider this passage:
Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: "There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. "The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. "But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. "And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." So David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! "And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity." Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 'I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 'Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' (2 Samuel 12:1-10 NKJV)
Y ENVIO Jehová á Nathán á David, el cual viniendo á él, díjole: Había dos hombres en una ciudad, el uno rico, y el otro pobre. El rico tenía numerosas ovejas y vacas: Mas el pobre no tenía más que una sola cordera, que él había comprado y criado, y que había crecido con él y con sus hijos juntamente, comiendo de su bocado, y bebiendo de su vaso, y durmiendo en su seno: y teníala como á una hija. Y vino uno de camino al hombre rico; y él no quiso tomar de sus ovejas y de sus vacas, para guisar al caminante que le había venido, sino que tomó la oveja de aquel hombre pobre, y aderezóla para aquél que le había venido. Entonces se encendió el furor de David en gran manera contra aquel hombre, y dijo á Nathán: Vive Jehová, que el que tal hizo es digno de muerte. Y que él debe pagar la cordera con cuatro tantos, porque hizo esta tal cosa, y no tuvo misericordia. Entonces dijo Nathán á David: Tú eres aquel hombre. Así ha dicho Jehová, Dios de Israel: Yo te ungí por rey sobre Israel, y te libré de la mano de Saúl; Yo te dí la casa de tu señor, y las mujeres de tu señor en tu seno: demás de esto te dí la casa de Israel y de Judá; y si esto es poco, yo te añadiré tales y tales cosas. ¿Por qué pues tuviste en poco la palabra de Jehová, haciendo lo malo delante de sus ojos? A Uría Hetheo heriste á cuchillo, y tomaste por tu mujer á su mujer, y á él mataste con el cuchillo de los hijos de Ammón. Por lo cual ahora no se apartará jamás de tu casa la espada; por cuanto me menospreciaste, y tomaste la mujer de Uría Hetheo para que fuese tu mujer. (2 Samuel 12:1-10 SRV)
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV)
Examinaos á vosotros mismos si estáis en fe; probaos á vosotros mismos. ¿No os conocéis á vosotros mismos, que Jesucristo está en vosotros? si ya no sois reprobados. (2 Corintios 13:5 SRV)
Notice this surprising statement: “ I have been shown that many are in the greatest danger of failing to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. Ministers are in danger of losing their own souls. Some who have preached to others will themselves be cast away because they have not perfected a Christian character. In their labor they do not save souls, and fail even to save their own. They do not see the importance of self-knowledge and self-control. They do not watch and pray, lest they enter into temptation. If they would watch, they would become acquainted with their weak points, where they are most likely to be assailed by temptation. With watchfulness and prayer their weakest points can be so guarded as to become their strongest points, and they can encounter temptation without being overcome. Every follower of Christ should daily examine himself, that he may become perfectly acquainted with his own conduct. There is with nearly all a neglect of self-examination. This neglect is positively dangerous in one who professes to be a mouthpiece for God, occupying the fearful, responsible position of receiving the words from God to give to His people.” {Testimonies for the Church 2:511}
“‘Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth,’ was the prayer of Christ for his disciples. In every age God has committed to his people some special truth which is directly opposed to the desires and purposes of the human heart, and which tends to separate his church from the world; and it has been the duty of his ministers to proclaim this truth, whether men would hear or forbear.” {Signs of the Times, January 28, 1886}
Yes, there is such a thing a present truth. A truth that needs special emphasis now.
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. (2 Peter 1:12 KJV)
Por esto, yo no dejaré de amonestaros siempre de estas cosas, aunque vosotros las sepáis, y estéis confirmados en la verdad presente. (2 Pedro 1:12 SRV)
Let us draw near to God, studying His Word, praying before Him, remembering each of our brothers and sister in these petitions. Let us spend enough time in reflection so that we know where we are standing with God and bring to our contacts the Present Truth the Lord has entrusted to us. God bless you.
Pastor Richard Parent